Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe and County Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya have outlined the county government administration’s development achievements and priorities for the final year of the 2022–2027 term, pledging closer cooperation to improve service delivery across the county.
In a joint communiqué issued after a consultative retreat held at PrideInn Flamingo Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa from October 4 to 11, 2026, the County Executive and County Assembly said their discussions focused on reviewing progress under the Kitui Promise and identifying priority projects for the 2026/2027 financial year.
According to the communiqué, the county has implemented 4,053 projects and programmes across its 40 wards and 247 villages. Roads and construction accounted for 818 projects, followed by water with 739, education and skills development with 394, energy with 354, health with 330 and agriculture with 285 projects.
The water sector emerged as a key area of investment, with the county reporting 739 water and irrigation projects valued at approximately KSh1.65 billion. The Kangu Kangu Water Supply Project, implemented in partnership with World Vision Kenya at a cost of KSh840 million, includes a 224-kilometre pipeline network and 52 water kiosks serving approximately 100,000 people.
In healthcare, the county reported an increase in public health facilities from 307 to 341, while maternity units grew from 81 to 186. The average distance residents travel to health facilities has reduced from 10.2 kilometres to 6.8 kilometres, while specialised services, including dialysis, cancer treatment, CT scans and digital X-rays, have been expanded at major hospitals.
Education and skills development also featured prominently in the review. The county said it had constructed 301 Early Childhood Development Education classrooms and converted 1,688 ECDE teachers to permanent and pensionable terms. Additionally, the Pro-Poor Fee Support Programme has provided KSh301.2 million to 40,566 beneficiaries, while 56 vocational training centres continue to support technical and practical skills development.
On roads and infrastructure, the county reported grading 6,853.71 kilometres of roads, opening and widening 950.30 kilometres, and constructing drainage structures to improve accessibility. For the final year, the administration plans to strengthen road connectivity through expanded gravelling, drainage works and a target of grading 100 kilometres of roads per ward annually.
The communiqué also highlighted improvements in county revenue collection and financial management. Own-source revenue increased from KSh361 million in the 2021/2022 financial year to KSh1.2 billion in 2025/2026, representing approximately 170 per cent growth. Pending bills were reported to have declined from KSh2.56 billion in 2022/2023 to KSh449 million in 2026/2027, while the county secured KSh184 million in Level II grant funding under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme II.
For the final year, the county has prioritised the construction of 240 modern ECDE classrooms, expansion of water infrastructure, strengthening specialised healthcare, completion of the Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Kanyonyoo, and support for 3,000 micro, small and medium enterprises. The County Assembly, meanwhile, plans to strengthen oversight, conclude pending legislative business and enhance public participation through initiatives including ward offices across all 40 wards.
The two institutions reaffirmed their commitment to sustained consultation, completion of ongoing projects and stronger partnerships with residents, the National Government and development partners. The communiqué also raised concerns over anticipated heavy rains between October 2026 and January 2027, warning of possible flooding and disruption of livelihoods while urging residents to prepare. The county said it had set aside three per cent of its development budget for emergency response, as the administration enters the final phase of its five-year term.
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