Wajir South MP Mohammed Adow has condemned the government for failing to distribute resources fairly, saying that national budgets continue to favor regions that already have access to water and basic infrastructure.
Speaking on Radio Generation, Adow revealed that many communities in his constituency have gone decades without running water, despite billions of shillings being allocated to county governments.
“In my constituency, some people have never had running water for 60 years. Others haven’t had it for 50 or even 45 years. Out of the seven wards, only three have access to safe, potable water. The rest are drinking water filled with fluoride, calcium, magnesium, and other harmful chemicals,” Adow said.
He questioned why government funds seem to prioritize areas that already have enough water, while his constituents’ basic needs remain unmet. “Is the policy of Kenya to give water to those who already have it?” he asked.
Adow said the problem reflects a wider issue of marginalization in northern Kenya. “When devolution came into being and the Constitution was implemented, we elected our own governors, deputy governors, and county leadership. What we expected from the billions poured into the region was quick and successful development and a solution to age-old problems,” he said.
He also criticized the need for MPs to intervene in issues that are devolved functions. “Water, for example, is devolved. Why should I, as a Member of Parliament, be dealing with water issues?” he asked, adding that mismanagement extends to other sectors such as health and agriculture.
“Money is being pocketed by the people who are running the funds for the government. It’s a problem every day,” Adow added.
The MP warned that unless the government ensures accountability and equitable allocation of resources, communities like those in Wajir South will continue to lag behind.
He called for urgent reforms to guarantee that devolved funds reach the people they are intended to serve, and that all Kenyans have access to basic services like clean water.
Mohammed Adow and other North Eastern MPs had criticized President Ruto’s State of the Nation address on November 20, 2025, calling it “tone-deaf” to their region’s challenges, with several lawmakers walking out in protest.
Speaking at a joint press conference outside Parliament, they argued that the speech served as a “blueprint for the south, but a blank page for the north,” highlighting key grievances including the neglect of the ongoing drought in counties like Wajir and Marsabit, lack of support for the livestock sector—which contributes over 12% to GDP—dilapidated infrastructure such as the Modogashe–Samatar road, and the absence of a plan to tackle persistent banditry and insecurity.
Other MPs included Wajir North’s Ibrahim Saney and Wajir East’s Adan Daud, who emphasized that Northern Kenya continues to be treated as an “appendage” in national development and called for equitable resource allocation, warning that their support in the 2027 elections would depend on tangible development outcomes.
