Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe is facing mounting pressure after National Liberal Party leader Dr. Augustus Kyalo Muli accused him of silence, inaction and insensitivity amid a wave of killings and insecurity that has gripped parts of the county.
Speaking a day after leading peaceful demonstrations in Kitui Town on Wednesday, Dr. Muli launched a blistering attack on the Governor, faulting him for failing to publicly address the killings, comfort bereaved families or engage residents demanding answers over the deteriorating security situation.
The opposition leader particularly criticized the decision to deny him and other leaders access to the Governor’s office during the protests, describing the move as undemocratic and evidence of a leadership increasingly detached from the suffering of ordinary citizens.
“Residents who gathered peacefully to seek answers over the killings deserved to be heard, not locked out by leaders elected to serve them,” said Dr. Muli.
*Open letter sets deadlines*
In a strongly-worded open letter addressed to Governor Malombe, the NLP leader escalated pressure by issuing four demands with deadlines.
Among them, Dr. Muli wants Governor Malombe to issue a public apology to him, the National Liberal Party and families affected by gender-based violence, rape, killings and other injustices by June 20.
He also wants the county government to operationalize a policy requiring the Governor to hold at least two public barazas every month beginning July, where residents can directly raise concerns and seek accountability from county leadership.
The NLP leader further called for the convening of an emergency Gender-Based Violence Summit by June 27, bringing together the County Commissioner, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, FIDA, women leaders and other stakeholders. The summit, he said, should address safe houses, free P3 forms for victims, free sanitary towels for vulnerable girls and the installation of 200 street lights to enhance security.
Dr. Muli additionally demanded a joint statement between Governor Malombe and the County Commissioner within seven days outlining concrete measures to end killings in Kitui Central and violence linked to conflicts involving herders.
*‘Women can’t walk at 7pm’*
The opposition leader accused the Governor of ignoring a worsening crisis while residents continue to live in fear.
“Kitui women can’t walk at 7pm. Farmers are being killed, and when citizens organize peacefully and come to your office, you call it politics and lock the door,” reads part of the open letter.
The letter states that refusing to meet the community leaders had diminished the office of the Governor and reinforced perceptions that county leadership was out of touch with public concerns.
*Censure threat, fresh demos*
Dr. Muli warned that failure to meet the demands would trigger a new phase of political action. He threatened to push for a motion of censure at the County Assembly if no public apology is issued by June 20 and vowed that the NLP and other stakeholders would convene the proposed summit independently if the county government fails to do so by June 27.
He also warned of fresh demonstrations outside the Governor’s office on June 27, invoking Article 37 of the Constitution on the right to peaceful assembly.
*Context: Leaders admitted crisis*
The demonstrations in Kitui Town were sparked by growing public outrage over a series of killings. On April 30, Dr. Muli publicly issued a 14-day ultimatum for the government to declare insecurity in Mwingi a national emergency after seven people were killed in Kwa Kamari and a child died in Ukasi.
The same day, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua told the Senate that at least eight people had been killed and called for urgent government action. On May 6, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, while in Kitui County, confirmed that eight people had been killed in the county in the preceding two weeks and said security agencies had been directed to intensify operations.
The Governor had earlier urged police to swiftly investigate the killing of seven people at Kwa Kamari in Tseikuru.
Dr. Muli says the time for issuing statements is over and he wants to see action as nothing seems to change on the ground.
*County silent*
Attempts to get a comment from Governor Malombe were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages to the County Communications Director had not been returned by press time.
