Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim Mohamud has said public anger over development spending in Northern Kenya exposes deeper inequalities in the country, arguing that similar or even larger commitments elsewhere pass with little attention while allocations to the north trigger backlash and suspicion.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Mohamud said criticism aimed at northern counties often ignores the wider national picture and reflects long-standing bias in how development and accountability are discussed in Kenya.
“If it is so bad that the northern Kenya region and leaders are very corrupt, please bring them to the law,” he said. “Let them be prosecuted.”
He questioned why corruption claims against leaders from the region often remain in public debate without action from authorities, despite the existence of strong oversight bodies.
“We have serious institutions in this country that can really deal with these things,” he said, referring to investigative and prosecutorial agencies.
“Unless you are really casting aspersions on these regulatory institutions, then your claims are all fake, wrong.”
Mohamud said public outrage is often selective, shaping negative views about the north while downplaying similar cases elsewhere.
“You keep talking about governors and the like, yet we have people in jail,” he said, adding that corruption cases outside Northern Kenya rarely dominate national discussion in the same way.
According to the Deputy Governor, these narratives are closely linked to opposition against fair sharing of national resources.
“The drivers of this narrative right now were the same people, claiming that you should change the formula, you should do one vote, one shilling,” he said.
He contrasted reactions to development pledges made in different parts of the country, pointing to a recent announcement by the President in Nyeri County.
“When the President went to Nyeri Cunty, it was 98 billion in one pronouncement,” he said. “Nobody even talked about that.”
His remarks come a few months after the President announced a major government investment package for Nyeri County during a tour of the Mount Kenya region, which he said was meant to support balanced development across the country.
Speaking to grassroots leaders at Sagana State Lodge, the President said funds had been set aside for several key projects in Nyeri, including Sh4 billion for road construction to improve transport and complete long-standing projects such as the Mau Mau roads, which he said had moved from about 20 percent completion to between 60 and 70 percent since 2022.
The President also announced Sh21 billion for affordable housing, markets and hostels in the county, alongside Sh1.4 billion to expand electricity connections to households.
He said the investments were part of a wider push for unity and shared growth, calling on Kenyans to rise above divisive politics and focus on national development.
During the same period, the President launched the NYOTA youth business start-up project, releasing more than Sh173 million to young entrepreneurs from Nyeri and neighbouring counties to support business growth and jobs.
Mohamud said such announcements are rarely questioned, yet similar commitments in Northern Kenya would attract harsh criticism.
“But what if it is done in Mandera? Then it’s crazy,” he said. “Oh, how can they get that amount of money?”
He described this difference in reaction as a reflection of everyday inequality that has become accepted.
“It’s just, normalized. It’s everything every day,” he said.
The Deputy Governor argued that northern counties have historically received fewer resources compared to other regions.
“Mandera, each one of them gets about 100 billion in 10 years,” he said, noting that this amount is often equal to a single announcement made elsewhere.
He warned that treating development spending in the north as suspicious fuels division and distracts from real national challenges.
“This is what we are saying. We have very fundamental problems in our country,” he said.
Instead of fighting over limited funds, Mohamud urged leaders and citizens to rethink how resources are generated and shared.
“Why don’t you think about how to expand the basket?” he asked. “So that each one of them can win together.”
He cautioned that internal competition and blame distract Kenya from keeping pace with neighbouring countries.
“Meanwhile Uganda, Tanzania and all the countries around you are moving at a very fast speed,” he said.
Mohamud blamed what he described as weak leadership for slowing progress.
“There are people who are not visionary, who are not transformative,” he said, adding that some leaders focus only on their immediate areas instead of the bigger picture.
He said Kenya’s future depends on confronting bias and entitlement in national debate.
“Until this type of entitlement, we cross this, then this country is not going anywhere,” he said.
The Deputy Governor concluded that fair treatment, honest discussion and unity are key to addressing corruption and achieving inclusive development across all regions.
