Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on the people of Northern Kenya to take legal action to force a thorough audit of public funds allocated to the region since 2013, citing ongoing mismanagement and neglect by county leaders.
He said such a move would reveal how resources meant for development have been diverted and help communities hold leaders accountable.
During an interview on Thursday, Gachagua said the audit should include all disbursements from the Constituency Development Fund and the Equalisation Fund.
He argued that a detailed, on-the-ground examination is necessary to uncover the truth and ensure justice for communities that have been left behind.
Gachagua blamed leadership failures, rather than residents, for the region’s long-standing challenges such as poverty, poor infrastructure, and recurring drought.
“I want to challenge the people of Northern Kenya, and those who support them, to file a petition before the High Court to compel the Auditor General to carry out a special audit on the utilisation of all funds given to county governments since 2013, including CDF since its inception, and the Equalisation Fund since the Constitution,” he said.
“That audit must be done on the ground, but we want a special audit so that action can be taken, people can be taken to court, and so that this money can be recovered. All the properties they are building in Nairobi must be seized and forfeited to the state and sold to recover public funds that have been diverted from helping the people of Northern Kenya into personal use.”
He warned that auditors face resistance and security threats, and said police must be compelled to protect them.
“There are challenges with auditors going there. They claim insecurity to avoid auditing projects in Northern Kenya. Members of Parliament bring returns to the auditor, CDF boards and create crises, fake insecurity problems, so auditors do not go beyond,” he said.
“In the same petition, the Inspector General of Police must be compelled to provide security for auditors to carry out the audit. From there, the people of Northern Kenya will make informed decisions on their next leaders.”
Gachagua urged the youth and other residents to demand accountability from their leaders, stressing that funds exist but have allegedly been misused.
“Our MPs must share their itinerary with their constituents because they claim millions of shillings every month but don’t go home. Even when they go, they go by air once in a while, and the work ticket alone costs between Sh1.5 million and Sh2 million,” he said.
“Why don’t you go and serve your people through Parliament using taxpayers’ money? Governors don’t stay there; they live where they are elected. How do you run a county government from Nairobi? Surely, that is very unfair to the people of Northern Kenya.”
He added that planning decisions are often made from Nairobi, leaving children and families without essential services.
Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party, said he will engage local media to educate residents on their situation and encourage informed choices.
“As a Kenyan and a patriot, it is my duty to help the people of Northern Kenya. I will be engaging with local radios to take people through how they are suffering and what is happening,” he said.
“They must also consider seeking new leadership through a political party they can trust because the current leaders under President William Ruto are the same leaders who have persecuted and abandoned them. There is no way they can find good leadership through those vehicles. I am willing to partner with the people of Northern Kenya through DCP as we look for good leaders who are committed to their people and mean well for their people.”
He also urged immediate action on the drought crisis, calling on MPs to convene a special parliamentary session to declare it a national disaster, which would unlock support from NGOs, development partners, and other stakeholders.
