Gachagua Faults Wajir Leadership Over Water Crisis, Governance Failures

Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on the leadership of Wajir County, questioning how nearly KES 200 billion received since the advent of devolution in 2013 has failed to translate into basic services for residents.

In a strongly worded statement, Gachagua said it was unacceptable that after more than a decade of devolved governance, Wajir County continues to grapple with perennial water shortages, poor sanitation, lack of electricity, weak infrastructure and dysfunctional healthcare facilities.

“It is difficult to understand how a sitting two-term Governor, who is also the current Chairman of the Council of Governors, can publicly describe his own county as unattractive, ungoverned and lacking electricity, after presiding over the expenditure of almost KES 200 billion meant to address exactly these challenges,” Gachagua stated.

He questioned whether the county leadership could not allocate even a fraction of its budget—“as little as two shillings out of every thousand”—to permanently solve the water crisis that continues to afflict women, children, orphans and widows who walk long distances daily in search of water.

Gachagua said the situation was especially painful as the holy month of Ramadan approaches, a time when access to water, sanitation and healthcare becomes even more critical for families observing the fast.

“These are not luxuries. Water, decent sanitation, electricity, healthcare and roads are the bare minimum required for human dignity and survival,” he said, calling on the county leadership to show compassion and mercy toward its people.

The DCP leader warned that leadership would not be judged by media appearances or interviews in Nairobi, but by tangible impact on the lives of wananchi. “The people of Wajir are not asking for miracles. They are asking for the basics of life,” he emphasized.

Invoking moral and religious accountability, Gachagua reminded leaders that public office is a trust that carries consequences beyond politics. He cited the Qur’an, noting that every action, injustice and misuse of public resources would ultimately be accounted for.

“For over 60 years since independence and more than 13 years of devolution, Wajir still lacks a decent sanitation system. This is a collective failure of leadership,” he said.

Gachagua urged the Wajir County government to urgently prioritize sustainable water solutions, improve sanitation, and invest in functional healthcare facilities, saying true leadership is measured by service to the people.

“Be fair, be just, and be true to the people who entrusted you with their future,” he concluded.