Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on his successor, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, dismissing his popular “fire si fire” and “noma si noma” slogans as meaningless at a time when Northern Kenya is grappling with a prolonged drought.
Speaking during an interview with North Eastern-based local media stations on Thursday, January 22, 2026, Gachagua accused Kindiki of prioritising political messaging over addressing the humanitarian crisis affecting the region.
He faulted the Deputy President for maintaining what he termed as silence while residents of Northern Kenya continue to suffer the effects of drought that has persisted for months.
According to Gachagua, Kindiki should have convened urgent meetings with leaders from the region to coordinate interventions and mobilise resources to address the crisis.
Gachagua claimed that instead of focusing on governance, Kindiki has been preoccupied with advancing slogans such as “fire si fire”, “noma si noma” and “mbegwese”, which he said have become synonymous with early 2027 re-election campaigns for President William Ruto.
The former Deputy President also raised concerns over the alleged diversion of relief food meant for drought-hit areas. He claimed that food supplies intended for Northern Kenya were instead being transported to parts of the Mt Kenya region, including Kinangop, which he said are not experiencing similar levels of hardship.
According to Gachagua, the alleged diversion of relief food was aimed at advancing political interests rather than addressing genuine humanitarian needs in counties such as Garissa and Wajir, where food shortages remain acute.
He further criticised the government’s response to the drought, arguing that President Ruto should have declared the situation a national disaster to unlock donor support and emergency funding. Gachagua claimed that the government’s failure to do so had worsened the crisis in the region.
Reflecting on his time as Deputy President, Gachagua said drought situations in Northern Kenya were swiftly addressed during his tenure and never allowed to persist for extended periods. He added that he regularly visited the region to assess conditions on the ground and coordinate response measures, a contrast he drew with the current administration’s approach.
Gachagua accused the current leadership of allowing droughts in the North to become recurring crises, saying effective leadership required action and presence on the ground rather than political rhetoric.