I'm Coming Back To Serve At Public Pleasure - Dr Malombe

Former Kitui governor Dr Julius Malombe has said that he will honour the people's call for him to return to office in order to satisfy their hunger for real development.

Speaking during an interview with Athiani FM, Dr Malombe said that he was listening to voices of the people across the entire county who are making passionate calls for him to return to county leadership. Dr Malombe assured that he will not fail in that endeavour. 

"I have been listening to what the people are saying...calling on me to come back to public service. I feel their warm gesture as they welcome me in several events and you know actions speak louder than words. The people have spoken and have shown it with their actions...they want us to come back..." Dr Malombe said during the interview.

"I want to confirm that I will be running for the governor's seat in 2022 according to the wishes of the people" he  stated. 

The former governor hailed the BBI proposal that seeks to increase the county allocation from 15 to 35 percent, saying with sound and proper leadership, counties will realize meaningful development. 

Dr Malombe cautioned that the increment would amount to nothing if the county leadership remained rotten and corrupt. 

"Everything rises and falls with the leadership. It matters a lot to be given the 35 percent but it also matters what the governors  do with the funds" Dr Malombe noted.

He pointed out that good planning during his tenure ensured that county workers got their paycheck by 29th of every months. Development budget was also being used prudently and according to the laid down allocations, ensuring that every corner of the county got services.

Dr Malombe decried cases where some governors allocate only 20 percent to development while 80 percent of the county allocation goes to recurrent expenditure.

"Development should take the bulk of the county allocation. That's the only way to make devolution a success for all," he said. said.

Dr Malombe who is currently serving as the chairman of Kenya Water Towers Agency cautioned against senseless hiring which makes the county wage bill shoot through the roof.

The former governor is credited with thorough planning that saw development projects and service delivery reach every corner of the  county. 

During his tenure, everything ran smoothly; roads were passable, agriculture was promising, water projects were coming up, ICT had reached the village level, hospitals had full stocks of medicine and consumables. Besides, health workers were highly motivated and every professional wanted to work in Kitui.

Enter failed Kaluki Ngilu and her Juakali Mbee Nzei government, everything went south. Roads became cattle tracks. Road graders are being stolen by her cartels. Hospitals equipment have been looted and sold to private facilities. 

Hospitals have shut down and become death traps for lack of medicine. Health workers alongside other county workers go for 3 months without pay. Theft, rent seeking, high graft and looting have been institutionalized. Mysterious fires gut offices in desperate bit to hide evidence of grand theft and looting. 

The county under Ngilu has literally been razed down. Doctors are fleeing in droves as nurses join private facilities. 

Kicotec is the only development the failed governor can show. In addition to shenzi tales!