Why County Residents Are Reluctant to Let Governor Malombe Go

Governor Malombe alias Kyuma 

Our Senior Writer 

For many in Kitui, the question is no longer whether Governor Julius Malombe has left a mark. It is what happens when he eventually leaves office.

Across the 40 wards, a quiet conversation is growing: his shoes, residents say, are too big to fill.

When Governor Malombe returned to office, he inherited a county that had lost its development rhythm under Kaluki Ngilu — stalled projects, strained services, delayed salaries and outright mismanagement. 

That picture has since changed and it is visible far beyond the county headquarters.

Transformative development...

Water sector has been the most transformative. Solar-powered boreholes, sand dams, sump wells and pipeline extensions have taken water closer to communities that walked for kilometres. 

In our County, a water point is not just infrastructure. It is a mother saving half her day, a child staying in school, livestock surviving the dry season, and a farmer moving from subsistence to income through small scale agriculture. Governor Malombe has delivered all these. 

Healthcare tells a similar story. New and upgraded facilities, modern diagnostic equipment and better drug supplies have brought services closer to home. 

For families, that change is personal; a child treated locally, a mother not forced to travel to Nairobi, an elderly resident accessing care without selling livestock. 

Beyond water and health, Governor Malombe administration’s footprint is spread across agriculture, irrigation, roads, markets and livelihoods. 

Every Friday in your village ...

The strategy has been simple: development must be felt in the villages, not just announced at the headquarters. This is why every Friday of every week, the Governor is out there in the field, not launching, but commissioning completed life changing projects. 

In his administration, Governor Malombe has emphasized on accountability and transparency. 

By linking budgets to tangible projects, the County has shifted the public question from “What has the governor said?” to “What has the county actually delivered?”

Collectively, that may be Malombe’s biggest achievement: Kitui truly found its footing after the five years of Ngilu's plunder, pilferage and run down.

A county long defined by drought and scarcity is now telling a story of investment and expanding public services.

Transition...Hope....

The County is not there yet. The County residents are happy and satisfied that Dr. Malombe rolled up his sleeves and worked for the people.

There are still unmet needs. And that is exactly why transition makes the County residents uneasy.

The fear is straightforward: Who will take over from Dr. Malombe? 

Can the next governor match the pace, maintain what has been achieved and understand the County’s priorities with the same depth and administrative experience?

This is the paradox of successful leadership. The more you deliver, the higher the expectations you leave behind. And this is what Governor Malombe has done. 

He is not leaving behind a blank page for his successor; he is leaving a demanding standard. The Governor has set the bar too high.

Not so fast Sir, people say ...

That is why many residents are politely asking him not to disappear from Kitui’s leadership architecture. 

They are ready for a new chapter, but not ready to lose the author of the previous one. The county residents say that they want to continue feeling Dr. Malombe's warmth. Feeling his midas touch. 

To the people of Kitui, Dr. Malombe has become part of Kitui’s recent development story. Their only request as the next chapter begins is simple: Don’t let the progress stop.