Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe has outlined significant development milestones achieved under his administration since resuming office in August 2022. Delivering the State of the County address at the Kitui County Assembly, Dr. Malombe emphasized infrastructural development, water access, agriculture, health, and education as key areas of progress.
Central to his address was the implementation of 1,921 infrastructural projects across all 40 wards and 247 villages, with 989 carried out under the Community Level Infrastructure Development Programme (CLIDP). The programme, pioneered during his first term, aims to ensure equitable development and poverty reduction across the county.
In the agriculture sector, over 527,000 farmers have been trained on climate-smart techniques and modern livestock practices. The revival of the Kitui Agricultural Show drew a record 52,355 attendees in 2024, offering a platform for showcasing innovations and strengthening agribusiness networks.
Water accessibility, a longstanding challenge in Kitui, has also seen major improvements. The county has constructed 347 sand dams, 19 sump wells, 60 earth dams, and drilled 55 boreholes. Dr. Malombe clarified that while the county has sufficient water sources such as Rivers Tana and Athi, accessibility remains the key issue, which his administration is actively addressing.
The health sector recorded notable gains, including the operationalisation of the Phangisile Mtshali Cancer Centre, which has served over 3,800 patients since its launch in November 2023. Additionally, a 70-bed Newborn Unit at Kitui County Referral Hospital and a new maternity wing at Nuu Sub-County Hospital have helped reduce infant mortality from 47 to 13 per 1,000 live births.
In education, 179 new ECDE classrooms were built, and 1,688 teachers were absorbed into permanent roles. Over Ksh.244 million in bursaries supported more than 31,000 learners under the Pro-Poor Fees Support Programme. Vocational training enrollment also tripled, aided by upgraded facilities and distribution of 660 sewing machines.
Governor Malombe also cited the “Dustless Towns Programme”, which has seen roads upgraded to bitumen standards. He, however, decried delays by the national government in disbursing funds, calling for more timely support to sustain county development.
