In a statement posted on his X platform on Friday, January 23, 2026, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader said he was overwhelmed by reports and evidence emerging from the area, detailing daily misery endured by vulnerable families who lack food, water, and basic necessities.
“God have mercy on these innocent children and women from Mandera,” Gachagua said.
“The scale of suffering in the North has been ignored for far too long.”
The former Mathira MP said he had received disturbing firsthand accounts during an interview with Northern Kenya radio stations at his Karen residence a day earlier, painting a grim picture of families struggling to survive in the face of severe food insecurity and water shortages.
He called on Kenyans from all walks of life to stand in solidarity with communities in Northern Kenya, insisting that their plight should not be treated as a regional issue but as a national responsibility.
“We must, collectively, without fear, come through for our fellow Kenyans in the northern part of our nation,” he said.
Gachagua also took aim at leaders from the region, accusing some of living in luxury while residents continue to suffer.
According to him, public funds meant for development and drought mitigation have failed to translate into meaningful relief for affected communities.
“They are going through unspeakable indignity while their leaders wallow in opulence and luxury using taxpayers’ money meant for development in the North,” he said.
The former Deputy President urged citizens to speak out and demand accountability, stressing that the people of Northern Kenya deserve dignity, protection, and equal treatment like all other Kenyans.
“I call upon all Kenyans to rise up and speak for the North. They too are Kenyans,” he added.
Northern Kenya has been grappling with severe food insecurity following years of prolonged drought, with humanitarian agencies warning that women and children are the most affected due to malnutrition, displacement, and lack of access to clean water and healthcare.
The situation in counties such as Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, and Isiolo has deteriorated sharply, with communities forced to walk long distances in search of water and pasture, while livestock deaths have further undermined livelihoods in a region heavily dependent on pastoralism.
Gachagua said the crisis could not be explained by a lack of resources, arguing that massive public funds have flowed into the region over the past decade with little to show on the ground.
“Since devolution began in 2013, the counties of Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Isiolo have received over one trillion shillings in taxpayer money through national transfers of the equitable share, NG-CDF, the equalisation fund, and disbursements from the Kenya Roads Board,” he said.
He added that trillions more had been channelled into the region through multilateral development finance institutions, bilateral development partners, United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and other international partners.
“Yet, despite this massive inflow of resources, there is no tangible progress to show on the ground,” Gachagua decried.
The former DP said the persistent suffering was not a failure of the people but a failure of leadership and accountability.
“Their leaders have treated public office as a private investment vehicle. They spend most of their time in Nairobi, building apartments in every corner of the city, instead of translating public resources into water, roads, schools, and health facilities for their people back at home,” he said.
Gachagua warned that Northern Kenya must not be condemned to further prolonged suffering, adding that meaningful change would only come if Kenyans confronted leaders with firmness, fairness, and fearlessness.
“This tragedy is not inevitable. It is man-made. And it can be reversed if we choose accountability over complacency,” he said.
He also called on the national government to intensify drought mitigation efforts, expand water infrastructure, and strengthen social protection programmes for vulnerable families.
Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that the region is facing one of the worst droughts in decades, with rising malnutrition rates among children and pregnant women, as well as increasing cases of waterborne diseases.
“They are going through unspeakable indignity while their leaders wallow in opulence and luxury using taxpayers’ money meant for development in the North,” he said.
The former Deputy President urged citizens to speak out and demand accountability, stressing that the people of Northern Kenya deserve dignity, protection, and equal treatment like all other Kenyans.
“I call upon all Kenyans to rise up and speak for the North. They too are Kenyans,” he added.
Northern Kenya has been grappling with severe food insecurity following years of prolonged drought, with humanitarian agencies warning that women and children are the most affected due to malnutrition, displacement, and lack of access to clean water and healthcare.
The situation in counties such as Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, and Isiolo has deteriorated sharply, with communities forced to walk long distances in search of water and pasture, while livestock deaths have further undermined livelihoods in a region heavily dependent on pastoralism.
Gachagua said the crisis could not be explained by a lack of resources, arguing that massive public funds have flowed into the region over the past decade with little to show on the ground.
“Since devolution began in 2013, the counties of Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Isiolo have received over one trillion shillings in taxpayer money through national transfers of the equitable share, NG-CDF, the equalisation fund, and disbursements from the Kenya Roads Board,” he said.
He added that trillions more had been channelled into the region through multilateral development finance institutions, bilateral development partners, United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and other international partners.
“Yet, despite this massive inflow of resources, there is no tangible progress to show on the ground,” Gachagua decried.
The former DP said the persistent suffering was not a failure of the people but a failure of leadership and accountability.
“Their leaders have treated public office as a private investment vehicle. They spend most of their time in Nairobi, building apartments in every corner of the city, instead of translating public resources into water, roads, schools, and health facilities for their people back at home,” he said.
Gachagua warned that Northern Kenya must not be condemned to further prolonged suffering, adding that meaningful change would only come if Kenyans confronted leaders with firmness, fairness, and fearlessness.
“This tragedy is not inevitable. It is man-made. And it can be reversed if we choose accountability over complacency,” he said.
He also called on the national government to intensify drought mitigation efforts, expand water infrastructure, and strengthen social protection programmes for vulnerable families.
Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that the region is facing one of the worst droughts in decades, with rising malnutrition rates among children and pregnant women, as well as increasing cases of waterborne diseases.
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