Lawyer Ahmednasir blasts northern Kenya leaders for 'neglecting' their counties
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Ahmednasir's criticism is directed at the five counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, and Marsabit.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has accused governors and other political elites from the northern Kenya region of neglecting their duties and failing to show meaningful leadership.
Speaking out on what he described as a "slash-and-burn attitude" toward governance, Abdullahi argued that these leaders are more interested in exploiting their counties for personal gain than in serving their people.
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Ahmednasir's criticism, which he shared on his official X handle, focuses on the five counties in the Northern Frontier District (NFD) region. These are Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, and Marsabit.
These counties, which are among the most marginalised in Kenya, have long struggled with issues of poverty, underdevelopment, and inadequate government services.
However, Ahmednasir argues that the very people elected to address these problems are absent when it matters most.
"The pastoralist political elite has no attachment to the areas they govern," he stated in a recent interview.
"None of the governors, MPs, senators, or other elected officials from these counties live in the region. They all reside in Nairobi, in upscale areas like Muthaiga, Karen, and Runda.," he said
Ahmednasir added that they have no real connection with their constituencies and have no interest in addressing the issues that affect the people living in places like Takaba, Tarbaj, or Garbatula,
The lawyer's critique draws a parallel between the situation in northern Kenya and the governance issues facing neighbouring Somalia.
"This phenomenon is not limited to northern Kenya; it's also a problem in Somalia. In both places, the political elites live in comfort far from the very people they are supposed to represent," Ahmednasir said.
“These leaders don't feel the pain of the citizens because they are far removed from it. The pastoralist elites see their counties as places to exploit, rather than regions they must develop," he added.
About that, the lawyer has recommended that international donors, who fund large portions of public services and salaries, must hold leaders accountable for their absenteeism.
Specifically, Ahmednasir proposed that donors should insist that political leaders, including those in northern Kenya and Somalia, have their families reside within their countries as a condition for receiving aid.
"There is no accountability when leaders live in Nairobi or abroad while their people suffer," he argued.
"Why should Western donors continue to fund these leaders if they are not committed to living in the regions they govern? There must be a real commitment to local engagement and accountability," he said.
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