Kitui County Governor Dr. Julius Makau Malombe has fired a fierce warning shot at what he dramatically termed a “cartel of rogue bloggers” prowling the corridors of Kitui County. The Governor accused the group of masterminding a racket aimed at blackmailing his senior government officials by concocting fake scandals — all in a calculated scheme to extort money under the pretense of exposing corruption.
Speaking during the inauguration of the County and Sub-County Alcoholic Drinks Control Committees on Friday, the head of the Kitui Government condemned the trend, warning that such acts of digital extortion would not be tolerated. Dr. Malombe emphasized that while his administration welcomes genuine oversight, it will not bow to intimidation, falsehoods, or cheap blackmail tactics disguised as whistleblowing.
Reports reaching Channel 15 News indicate that a number of local bloggers have been specifically naming and calling out senior county officials, attempting to corner them into paying bribes. When the officials refuse to give in, the bloggers allegedly escalate the attacks by fabricating scandals and aggressively discussing the officials in WhatsApp groups and other online forums. The goal, sources say, is to create pressure and anxiety, hoping the targeted individuals will eventually offer cash to silence the negative narratives.
In recent months, Kitui Finance Minister Peter Mwikya has been among the officials who have found themselves on the receiving end of such coordinated smear campaigns. Insiders say that after witnessing repeated attempts to extort his officers, Governor Malombe appears to have had enough, vowing to protect his administration from what he called “daylight digital extortion.”
“It has become a habit — some bloggers have perfected the art of blackmail, associating our officers with fake scandals just to extort money,” Governor Malombe said firmly. “If you try to do that against me, you will get nothing. The people of Kitui know our track record and will put you in your place because we have delivered as promised in our manifesto,” he declared to thunderous applause.
The Governor’s tough-talking remarks come as Kitui County strengthens governance and regulatory oversight with the operationalization of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Committees, which are expected to play a pivotal role in regulating the licensing, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drinks across the county.
