Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe is facing mounting pressure after National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Dr. Augustus 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, 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 demonstrators access to the governor’s office during Thursday’s 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.
In a strongly-worded open letter addressed to Governor Malombe, the NLP leader escalated pressure on the county boss by issuing a series of demands and deadlines aimed at addressing insecurity and gender-based violence in the county.
Among the demands, 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 operationalise 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 (DCI), FIDA, women leaders and other stakeholders to formulate urgent interventions.
The summit, he said, should also address concerns over safe housing, 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 being taken to end the killings in Kitui Central and violence linked to conflicts involving herders.
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 further states that refusing to meet demonstrators had diminished the office of the governor and reinforced perceptions that county leadership was out of touch with public concerns.
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 GBV summit independently if the county government fails to do so by June 27.
He also warned of fresh demonstrations outside the governor’s office, invoking constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to peaceful assembly.
The demonstrations in Kitui Town were sparked by growing public outrage over a series of killings that have heightened insecurity concerns across the county and renewed calls for intervention by both county and national government authorities.
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