Northeastern leaders demand equitable share of national revenue, end to marginalisation

Leaders from Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties have called for urgent government action to address long-standing marginalisation in Northeastern Kenya.

During a Mombasa three-day conference organised by the North-Eastern Parliamentary Group (NE-PG), former senior government officials, and stakeholders discussed the region’s pressing challenges, including poor infrastructure, insecurity, and underdevelopment.

The group demanded a thorough review of resource allocation, calling for a fair share of the national government’s 85 per cent sharable revenue. “For more than 60 years, our region has been excluded from the national development agenda. We need an audit of the resources allocated to ensure Northeastern gets its rightful share,” said Hussein Weytan, the MP for Mandera East.

“We do not even have vehicles moving from Garissa to Mandera. What is our percentage share? That’s what we are following up on.”

The leaders highlighted the region’s neglected infrastructure, emphasizing the need for road development.

They urged the government to remove the annuity programme from the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project and engage other partners to finance the Modogashe-Samatar and Rhamu-Mandera sections.

“The current administration is the most friendly government the people of Northeastern and pastoralists have ever had,” said Adan Keynan, the MP for Eldas.

Dadaab MP Farah Maalim and Eldas MP Adan Keynan at the Northeastern Parliamentary Group meeting in Mombasa on October 12, 2024. (Photo: National Assembly)

“However, we don’t want to keep complaining about what has or hasn’t been done. The question is, what’s there for us in terms of development? This must not just be an election issue, it needs to be a reality.”

Key road links

The leaders also demanded the urgent construction of key road links, including the Moyale-Wajir, Moyale-Mandera via Takaba, and the Garissa-Liboi routes, as well as security roads like the Mandera-Lafey-El Wak-Liboi-Lamu circuit.

Ummulkheir Kassim, MP for Mandera, issued a strong message to the people of Northeastern, warning against the destructive social issues affecting the youth. “If our people continue the consumption of miraa and drugs, it will destroy families. This is especially affecting our young boys and girls,” she said. “Responsibility starts with you. As your leaders, we urge you to avoid activities that derail your lives. These are uncultural practices that are causing havoc in our communities.”

The North-Eastern Parliamentary Group (NE-PG) has successfully concluded a 3-day stakeholder engagement forum with leaders, professionals, and opinion shapers.

Together, the leaders explored ways of addressing the region's pressing challenges. pic.twitter.com/HEl5bbu0as

— National Assembly KE (@NAssemblyKE) October 13, 2024

Salah Yakub, MP for Fafi, decried the negative stereotypes that have long been associated with the region. “We do not want to be labelled as bandits, refugees, or terrorists. Our identity as the Somali community has been mischaracterised by the authorities, and this must be corrected,” Yakub said.

“It is time we claim our rightful place in the national development conversation.”

Education sector

Mohamed Adow, the MP for Wajir South raised alarm over the state of education in the region, revealing that nearly half a million children remain out of school. “This is a ticking time bomb. The 2013 Basic Education Act enshrines the right to basic education, yet the reality is that our children are being left behind. We are doing our part, but the government needs to step up and do theirs,” Adow said.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan (left) and Mandera North MP Major (Rtd) Bashir Abdullahi at the Northeastern Parliamentary Group meeting in Mombasa on October 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

The group called for the Teachers Service Commission to deploy all trained but jobless teachers to Northeastern Kenya, along with efforts to strengthen adult education programmes and revive low-cost boarding schools.

The leaders also urged the government to invest in the livestock sector, which is critical to the region’s economy. They called for the immediate enactment of the Livestock Bill 2024, which would establish the Livestock and Livestock Products Marketing and Development Authority.

“The livestock sector is the backbone of our economy. We need better access to markets, increased budgetary allocations, and the establishment of a livestock research organisation,” they stated.

To address the region’s perennial water shortages, the MPs demanded the construction of one mega-dam in each county and medium-sized dams in every constituency. “The lack of water is an ongoing crisis. In Garissa, we need dams upstream to solve the flooding problem in farmlands along the Tana River.”

The group also called for the extension of the national electricity grid from Garissa to cover the entire region, emphasising the potential of solar and wind energy given the region’s climatic conditions.

According to the leaders, insecurity and violent extremism remain significant obstacles to the region’s growth. The leaders pledged to work closely with security agencies, civil society, and local communities to promote peace and security. “We recognise that insecurity has severely hampered our region’s development. We are committed to working together to ensure peace and stability in Northeastern Kenya,” they said.

The Northeastern leaders stressed that this conference marked the beginning of a renewed effort to secure the region’s rightful place in Kenya’s development agenda. “Our region has suffered from marginalization for far too long. We will not rest until the people of Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera receive the development they deserve," they added.

The NE-PG plans to monitor the progress of these initiatives, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of resources allocated for the region’s development.