Keynan opens Eldas for two-week development audit amid Gachagua claims

Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan has taken an unprecedented step by inviting stakeholders to his constituency for a two-week, constituency-wide development assessment tour.

The move comes against the backdrop of controversial remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party.

Three weeks ago, during a press briefing, Gachagua argued that more than a decade after the introduction of devolution, continued calls for preferential treatment—particularly in the placement of students in national schools—were no longer justifiable.

“The region has been ravaged by underdevelopment, drought, suffering, and entrenched poverty. This tragedy cannot be explained by lack of resources,” Gachagua said.

He noted that since the advent of devolution in 2013, the counties of Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Isiolo have received over one trillion shillings through equitable share transfers, NG-CDF, the Equalisation Fund and Kenya Roads Board allocations.

“This is not a failure of the people. It is a failure of leadership and accountability. Their leaders have treated public office as a private investment vehicle,” he added.

Gachagua accused leaders of prioritising personal investments over delivering water, roads, schools, and health facilities to their constituents.

In a letter, Keynan invited all media houses, relevant national government agencies, the Wajir County Government, the Wajir County Commissioner, the NG-CDF National Board, the Eldas Constituency NG-CDF Board, Eldas professionals, Friends of Eldas and any interested members of the public.

He said the tour is aimed at independently verifying development projects on the ground.

The initiative comes amid heightened national debate on the state of development in the region following Gachagua’s remarks, which attributed Northeastern Kenya’s underdevelopment to failed leadership and lack of accountability.

Keynan, who chairs the Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group and is one of Kenya’s longest-serving legislators, said the tour seeks to dispel what he termed misleading narratives and affirm verifiable development gains in Eldas Constituency.

“Following sustained public discourse on the state of development in Northern Kenya, largely framed within the context of historical marginalisation, the respective roles and contributions of the National Government, County Governments, and the NG-CDF have come under heightened scrutiny,” read part of the letter.

“In this regard, Eldas Constituency has also featured within this broader national conversation. To decisively dispel misleading narratives and affirm verifiable development gains already achieved, I have taken a deliberate, transparent and bold step,” it added.

According to Keynan, the tour—scheduled to begin on Saturday, July 11—will allow for independent inspection and on-the-ground verification of development initiatives across the constituency.

Concluding his letter, the MP emphasised the importance of firsthand observation, noting that “seeing is believing.”

While some leaders and residents strongly condemned Gachagua’s remarks as insulting and intrusive, others agreed with aspects of his critique.

Northeastern Kenya continues to grapple with structural challenges, including a harsh climate, vast distances, fragile ecosystems, historical insecurity, and decades of delayed infrastructure development.

Keynan’s planned tour is expected to test competing narratives and place Eldas Constituency at the centre of a rare, open and verifiable accountability exercise.

The move makes him the first political leader in North Eastern Kenya to subject an entire constituency to such extensive public and institutional scrutiny.