Justin Muturi blames local leaders for school placement gaps after Gachagua generated debate
By Kenneth Mwenda, January 12, 2026Former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has publicly backed Rigathi Gachagua’s remarks on secondary school placements, shifting the focus from tribal divisions to accountability in the management of devolved funds.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, January 11, 2026, Muturi argued that Gachagua’s comments have sparked a necessary national debate on education inequality and governance failures.
He titled his statement “When School Admissions Expose the Politics of Unequal Citizenship,” pointing out that the discussion reveals more than regional differences. It highlights weak leadership and mismanagement in areas meant to benefit from devolution.
Muturi noted that residents of North Eastern Kenya have largely agreed with Gachagua’s observations. Many have directed their frustration not at other regions, but at local leaders who live comfortably in Nairobi while rural communities continue to struggle.
“The reaction from North Eastern Kenya has been especially telling. Far from rejecting his words, many residents have embraced them, turning their frustration not against Mount Kenya, but against their own leaders who have presided over abundance in Nairobi while villages back home remain trapped in scarcity,” he stated.
He explained that education in Kenya is more than classrooms; it determines life chances. National and extra-county schools act as gateways to elite universities, professional careers, and political influence.
Control over these schools shapes the future ruling class. Muturi referenced philosophers John Rawls and Amartya Sen, emphasising that fairness comes from equal opportunities, not political speeches.
Funding flows
According to Muturi, current education gaps in North Eastern counties are no longer primarily due to colonial history. They result from governance failures today.
Counties have received billions in funding through devolution, NG-CDF, county budgets, and national equalisation transfers. Yet, competitive public secondary schools remain few, leaving talented students unable to access national placements.
Muturi stressed that devolution gives both resources and responsibility. Leaders in counties like Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir often spend most of their time in Nairobi, neglecting the communities that elected them.
Schools do not appear through speeches or press releases; they grow through investment and consistent local leadership. Teachers and facilities improve only when leaders engage with the system directly.
The public anger in North Eastern Kenya, Muturi said, is a sign of real democracy. Citizens are questioning where the money has gone. Despite over a decade of managing education budgets, including bursaries, school infrastructure, and support for national schools, visible improvements remain minimal. Muturi called this mismanagement, not marginalisation.
He also highlighted inequalities within regions. Villages lack electricity and laboratories, while political families send their children to schools in Nairobi or abroad. Leaders avoid public schools, insulating themselves from the consequences of poor governance. Without experiencing these issues firsthand, there is little pressure to make changes.
Muturi’s intervention reframes the debate. It is no longer about Mount Kenya versus North Eastern Kenya, but about ordinary citizens versus a political class that fails to build the foundations for fair opportunity. The anger is not about school placements themselves but about the lack of local investment that would make fair placements possible.