Gachagua criticised leaders from North Eastern counties for what he claimed was a failure to build institutions like schools and properly utilise devolved funds, questioning why development is limited despite years of county allocations.
His tone has been described by some observers as fearless and unfiltered, asserting he will not be intimidated when speaking on national or regional leadership issues, despite backlash from political opponents.
Supporters argue that his comments reflect frustrations felt by some residents about governance and accountability in arid and marginalised regions, with public debate on development gaps gaining renewed attention.
However, elected leaders in Northern Kenya have strongly rebuked Gachagua’s claims, attributing underdevelopment to historic policy neglect rather than incompetence or theft, and warning against oversimplified narratives.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi challenged critics to an objective comparison of devolved resources and development outcomes, defending the leadership’s record in balancing county needs with security and social service delivery.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif emphasised that structural issues and past national policies contributed to persistent inequality, rejecting characterisations of local leaders as uniformly ineffective.
Political analysts note that Gachagua’s outspoken style, including phrases about not fearing political consequences, resonates with parts of his base while provoking concerns about ethnic or regional polarisation in the run‑up to the 2027 elections.
