Former Chief Justice Maraga Criticizes President Ruto Over Handling of Northern Kenya Drought, Labels Him ‘Out of Touch’

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has sharply criticized President William Ruto for his approach to the worsening drought crisis in Northern Kenya, accusing the President of being disconnected from the realities facing residents in the region.

In a social media post shared on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Maraga, who is a presidential hopeful currently undertaking a road trip dubbed the #UkatibaCaravan across Northern Kenya, endorsed concerns previously raised by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding neglect in North Eastern Kenya. He highlighted persistent challenges including severe drought, lack of proper roads, absence of electricity, inadequate water supply, and limited opportunities for young people.

Maraga stated that these issues are legitimate and that he has observed them firsthand during his ongoing travels in the area. He contrasted his ground-level engagement with the President's methods, noting that Ruto travels to the region by helicopter and addresses crowds that appear pre-arranged. According to Maraga, the President limits direct interaction with ordinary citizens by allowing only selected speakers, such as Aden Duale, to address the gatherings. This approach, he argued, prevents genuine engagement and leaves the President unaware of the true suffering on the ground.

Maraga's remarks came as President Ruto commenced a three-day tour of Northern Kenya, beginning in Garissa on the same Wednesday. During the visit, the President inspected the Garissa Airstrip and affordable housing projects, spoke at a public rally, and oversaw the distribution of Sh63 million in NYOTA funds to support 2,520 youths.

The drought in Northern Kenya has intensified, impacting millions of people with severe food insecurity and threatening lives as well as livestock. At least ten counties remain in critical condition, prompting urgent calls for stronger government intervention. Gachagua has described the current assistance as insufficient, pointing to a Sh4 billion allocation against a backdrop of high needs, and has urged authorities to declare the drought a national disaster.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended the government's response, noting that more than Sh10 billion has been disbursed in the past three months to deliver food, water, medical supplies, livestock feed, vaccines, and other essentials to approximately 3.3 million people across 23 counties. He cautioned against turning the crisis into a political issue.

The exchange reflects broader political tensions surrounding development and relief efforts in Northern Kenya, with leaders trading views on the effectiveness of interventions, resource allocation, and the pace of progress in addressing long-standing infrastructure and service gaps in the region.