United Green Movement Party leader and a presidential hopeful, David Maraga, has blamed failures in national and county governance for the deadly floods that have killed more than 40 people across Kenya.
In a statement issued on March 9, 2026, he accused the government of prioritising taxation and corruption over disaster preparedness and proper urban planning, while calling for competent public appointments, transparent procurement and stronger investment in drainage and disaster management systems.
Maraga said the country was once again mourning preventable deaths caused by floods, noting that the tragedy had claimed more than 40 lives over the weekend, including four children.
“My heart is heavy as I join you in mourning the over 40 lives lost to devastating floods this weekend, including four innocent children. To every family sitting with that grief: I am deeply sorry,” he said.
The former Chief Justice argued that recurring flood disasters in Kenya are not simply natural events but a result of governance failures.
“Year after year, our people die in foreseeable floods. This is not simply an act of nature; it is the consequence of a government that has become utterly uncaring,” Maraga said.
He added that while rainfall cannot be prevented, the government has a responsibility to invest in systems that protect lives and property.
“We cannot prevent the rain, but we can prepare for it. We can build drainage systems, protect wetlands from illegal encroachment, and appoint competent professionals to lead disaster preparedness,” he said.
Maraga criticised what he described as misplaced national priorities, accusing the government of focusing on raising taxes while failing to tackle corruption and wasteful spending.
“Over the past three years, the National Government has focused on two clear priorities: extracting money from Kenyans through taxation and corruption, and gaslighting the public into believing life is getting better,” he said.
Citing findings from the Auditor-General for the 2023–2024 financial year, Maraga claimed the country has lost billions through stalled projects and wasteful expenditure.
According to his campaign’s analysis, the report identified Sh700 billion in stalled projects, Sh35 billion in avoidable interest charges, and Sh60 billion in illegal contract variations, alongside more than Sh200 billion in spending that lacked value for money.
He also said Kenya spent nearly Sh2 trillion on debt servicing last year, accounting for more than 75 per cent of government revenue.
Turning to the situation in the capital, Maraga said the flood tragedy in Nairobi exposed failures by the county government.
“The tragedy in Nairobi is a direct indictment of the County Government. Despite receiving Sh165 billion since 2014, the same failures persist: blocked drains, illegal developments on waterways, and collapsed waste management,” he said.
Maraga further criticised what he termed poor professional appointments within county departments responsible for disaster management.
“With all due respect to theology, why does Nairobi’s disaster risk management team include theologians instead of trained professionals? Kenya has the finest engineers and climate scientists in Africa, yet these positions are filled through patronage,” he said.
He called for reforms in governance, urging authorities to prioritise competence in public appointments, enforce zero tolerance for corruption and invest more heavily in urban planning and disaster preparedness.
“We cannot bring back those who died this weekend, but we can ensure their deaths force us to confront the truth. It is time for honest leadership that values human life,” Maraga said.
Maraga’s statement comes as the death toll from the floods that struck on Friday evening has risen to 43, with heavy rains continuing to cause widespread destruction across the country.
In Nairobi, the rains and flooding have also disrupted water supply to several neighborhoods after key distribution pipelines were damaged, the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company announced.
In a customer notice, the utility said: “Nairobi Water wishes to notify its customers that the heavy rains from last night and consequent flooding have damaged several water distribution lines, affecting water supply to the following areas."
