Gachagua & Mombasa Governor Trade Barbs Over Flood Response

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir are embroiled in a public dispute over the handling of the El Nino-induced floods that have ravaged parts of Mombasa County.

On Tuesday, November 21, Deputy President Gachagua visited Mombasa and publicly lambasted Governor Nassir for alleged inaction, accusing him of failing to provide adequate support to residents struggling in the aftermath of the heavy rains.

Gachagua challenged the governor to allocate funds from his own budget for immediate relief efforts, urging him to temporarily suspend other programs to prioritize the needs of the affected residents.

“We don’t want any governor to blame the national government for lack of support. Governors too have budgets, and if people are dying, what use is that money in the bank?” Gachagua asserted in Mombasa.

“They should suspend all programs and help the people with food, blankets, and medical supplies. We will go back to development once we are through with this crisis,” he added.

In response, Governor Nassir vehemently defended his administration’s actions, dismissing claims of negligence. He maintained that the County Government of Mombasa had effectively managed its disaster response using internal revenue sources and support from organizations such as the Red Cross and other NGOs.

Nassir called for an investigation into the alleged disbursement of Sh10 billion by the National Government, questioning its whereabouts and emphasizing that it did not reach the counties