Malombe under pressure as Muli criticizes response to Kitui insecurity
National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Augustus Muli.
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Kitui Governor Julius Malombe is facing growing criticism from National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Dr. Augustus Kyalo Muli, who has accused the county administration of failing to adequately respond to rising insecurity and a series of killings reported in parts of the county.
Speaking a day after leading peaceful demonstrations in Kitui Town, Dr. Muli faulted the governor for what he described as a lack of public engagement with residents concerned about the deteriorating security situation. He said county leadership had not sufficiently addressed public concerns or offered reassurance to affected families.
The opposition leader also criticized the decision to deny demonstrators access to the governor's office during Thursday's protests, arguing that residents seeking answers over insecurity deserved an opportunity to present their concerns to county leadership.
"Residents who gathered peacefully to seek answers over the killings deserved to be heard, not locked out by leaders elected to serve them," Dr. Muli said.
In an open letter addressed to Governor Malombe, Dr. Muli outlined several proposals aimed at addressing insecurity and gender-based violence in the county.
Among them, he called on the governor to publicly address residents' concerns and engage families affected by killings, gender-based violence and other security-related incidents. He also proposed regular public forums where residents could directly raise issues with county leaders.
The NLP leader further urged the county government to convene a Gender-Based Violence Summit bringing together security agencies, civil society organizations, women's groups and other stakeholders to discuss interventions. He suggested the forum should also consider measures such as improved street lighting, support for vulnerable girls and enhanced protection mechanisms for women and children.
Dr. Muli additionally called for closer collaboration between the county and national governments, including a joint statement by the governor and the County Commissioner outlining measures being taken to address insecurity in Kitui Central and areas affected by conflicts involving herders.
He argued that residents continue to face significant security challenges and called for more visible action from both levels of government.
The open letter also warned that the NLP could pursue further political and civic action if its concerns are not addressed, including seeking accountability through the County Assembly and organizing additional peaceful demonstrations.
The protests in Kitui Town were driven by public concern over a series of killings that have heightened fears about security across the county, prompting renewed calls for intervention by both county and national government authorities.
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