Wajir Governor and Council of Governors (COG) Chair Ahmed Abdullahi has stirred controversy after criticizing the proliferation of national government agencies in Kenya, claiming they drain resources that should instead serve counties.
Speaking to local media, Abdullahi said, “There are a lot of resources being expended in our counties by all manner of peripheral national government agencies that should have been dissolved with the advent of devolution.
You’ll find an agency in one of my constituencies spending more on water than the entire budget that I have for water for the whole county. It is not fair.”His remarks triggered a strong reaction from Kenyans on social media, with critics accusing him of hypocrisy. Comments ranged from sarcastic calls to invest in real estate to anger at perceived county mismanagement.
One user wrote, “You’d have used the money to buy apartments. You’re complaining that an agency is spending on water! That money should be under you! Yaani they get more than others and waste it all and still have the guts to complain that it’s not enough.
”This debate follows former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s earlier criticisms of North Eastern counties, alleging that funds meant for development were being misused on urban projects like apartment construction in Nairobi.
The comments highlight ongoing tensions between county governments and national agencies over budget allocations and resource management.
Governor Abdullahi’s statement has reignited discussions on the balance of power in Kenya’s devolved system, accountability for national agencies, and whether devolution has truly empowered counties as intended.
