Garissa Watchdog Group calls on MPs to step up service delivery

Garissa county Community Development Watchdog Group chairman Hassan Gumo speaking on Tuesday./PHOTO: STEPHEN ASTARIKO 

The Garissa County Community Development Watchdog Group has called on local MPs to improve their performance.

The lobby further urged the lawmakers and provide transparent, effective leadership for their constituents.

Speaking in Garissa Town on Wednesday, the group’s chairman, Hassan Gumo, emphasized that elected leaders must stay true to their duty of serving the people.

His remarks came during the release of the 2024 performance assessment for the county’s six MPs.

Gumo explained that the assessment, which ran from January to May this year, combined both quantitative and qualitative data.

It focused on six constituencies: Fafi, Dadaab, Ijara, Lagdera, Balambala, and Garissa Township.

The report revealed stark differences in how MPs performed across key areas, including development, transparency, and community engagement.

Up to 800 residents in each constituency were surveyed, ensuring statistically reliable results with a 95 per cent confidence level and a 5 per cent margin of error.

Key areas of assessment included development projects, investment in infrastructure, education and health services, transparent use of NG-CDF funds, responsiveness to constituents, youth and women empowerment programmes, parliamentary performance, and community engagement.

Salah Yakub of Fafi emerged as the top performer with a 70 per cent approval rating, credited for inclusive development, visible projects, and active public engagement.

Farah Maalim (Dadaab) and Abdi Ali (Ijara) shared second place with 65 per cent, recognised for transparent fund use and consistent presence in their constituencies.

Lagdera MP Abdikadir Hussein scored 55 per cent showing moderate success in education and outreach efforts.

Garissa Township’s Dekow Mohamed followed with 53 per cent, receiving mixed reviews on project visibility and community involvement.

Balambala’s Abdi Omar Shurie ranked lowest at 47 per cent, with residents citing limited project delivery, weak engagement, and minimal parliamentary activity.

While praising the high-performing MPs, Gumo urged those lagging behind to step up.

“The Watchdog Group appreciates MPs who have shown real commitment to serving their constituents and urges them to continue raising the bar,” he said.

“At the same time, we call on those who are underperforming to listen to public feedback and take immediate action to improve service delivery, accessibility, and transparency.”

Gumo also affirmed the group’s commitment to continued monitoring of leadership and governance in Garissa County.

“We remain dedicated to advocating for a government that truly serves the people,” he said.

Just last month, the watchdog group pressed the Kenya Rural Roads Authority and Kenya Urban Roads Authority to address the county’s worsening road conditions.

In a formal notice, they highlighted the dire state of many roads, which have become impassable and are disrupting transport and businesses across the county.