For a governor who returned to office promising experience, stability and mature leadership, the administration of of Julius Malombe is increasingly finding itself trapped in controversy, internal confusion and growing public frustration.
Barely halfway into his term, Governor Malombe’s government is now battling one of its most politically damaging moments yet — a budget war with the County Assembly that has exposed deep cracks within his administration and triggered serious questions over who exactly is advising the governor.
From broken public relations machinery, endless clashes with the Assembly, weak project visibility, allegations of partisan politics by senior county officials, theft of county resources and growing governance complaints, critics now argue that the Governor’s once respected legacy risks being steadily eroded from within.
Budget War Exposes Deep Internal Crisis
The latest storm exploded after Members of the County Assembly resisted sections of the Supplementary Budget II for FY 2025/2026 and the proposed FY 2026/2027 budget.
MCAs accused the Executive of failing to prioritise critical development needs such as road grading, road opening projects and employment of ECDE teachers while allegedly allocating huge sums to non-essential expenditure.
Minority Leader publicly accused the Governor’s advisors and cabinet of misleading him and failing to read the political mood on the ground.
“We expected ministers and political advisors to guide the Governor wisely, but they have failed,” the MCA said while warning that the County risks delayed access to National Treasury funds if the budget impasse persists.
The standoff has now escalated into a wider confrontation between the Assembly and the Executive, with some MCAs warning that the county risks delayed access to National Treasury funds if the impasse persists.
Even more damaging has been the perception that the Governor’s communication machinery has failed to professionally contain the crisis.
When formally sought clarification from the County Government regarding allegations of Ksh 380 million in hospitality expenditure and Ksh 85 million linked to bloggers and propaganda operations, the response from a senior county communications official appeared dismissive.
“Ignore hii kelele,” the officer responded informally before claiming the Ksh 380 million allocation related to insurance costs.
The casual handling of serious accountability concerns has since fueled criticism that the administration’s PR structure has become defensive, reactive and disconnected from public expectations.
A Government Struggling to Tell Its Own Story
Despite rolling out several projects across the county, Malombe’s administration has repeatedly faced criticism over poor communication and weak public engagement.
Several projects launched by the county government often receive minimal visibility beyond official county social media pages, while opponents have successfully dominated public discourse around the administration.
Political observers now say the government appears trapped between governance and politics — unable to effectively defend itself while simultaneously allowing political loyalists and officials to engage in partisan confrontations that further damage the administration’s image.
Questions have also emerged over the growing influence of a former politician now serving as a senior county official, with insiders alleging the individual has become one of the most influential voices shaping the Governor’s political and administrative decisions.
While Channel 15 News could not independently verify all the claims surrounding the official’s influence, multiple political sources within Kitui allege that key government strategies, political mobilisation activities and responses to critics increasingly revolve around the figure’s personal political calculations.
The allegations have intensified concerns that sections of the county administration are now operating more as political campaign structures than neutral public service offices.
Partisan Politics Allegations
Senior county officials have increasingly faced accusations of participating in partisan political mobilisation during official county functions.
Critics claim public resources, county vehicles and administrative structures are being used to mobilise crowds and stage-manage political support during government tours.
Some MCAs and local leaders have questioned whether this conduct violates Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act and principles requiring political neutrality within public service.
The Governor has largely remained silent on the accusations, further fueling speculation and internal discontent.
Drug Theft, Sand Cartels and Questions of Accountability
Beyond politics, Malombe’s administration has also faced governance challenges involving protection of county resources.
In 2025, reported on a suspected drug theft syndicate linked to county medical supplies after police uncovered stolen hospital materials during a raid in Kitui Town.
The incident raised serious concerns over internal controls within the county health system and whether enough action had been taken against those responsible.
Meanwhile, the long-running sand harvesting crisis continues to haunt the administration despite promises of reforms and new laws.
Governor Malombe himself previously admitted that the county government had become like a “toothless bulldog” in dealing with illegal sand harvesting cartels.
In February this year, the Senate County Public Accounts Committee directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate revenue collection from sand harvesting in Kitui amid fears of massive under-reporting and possible loss of public funds.
Senators questioned how the county could report relatively low annual revenue figures despite claims that dozens of trucks ferry sand daily from Kitui rivers.
The concerns echoed earlier investigations into alleged collusion between government officials and illegal sand harvesting cartels operating within the county.
Ironically, despite the enactment of the Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilization and Conservation Act aimed at regulating the sector, illegal harvesting complaints and environmental destruction continue being reported across parts of Kitui.
Legacy at Risk?
For many residents, the growing concern is no longer about isolated controversies but the overall direction of the county government.
Political analysts warn that unless the Governor urgently reorganises his advisory structure, restores trust with the Assembly and reins in partisan excesses within his administration, his second-term legacy could become defined not by development achievements but by governance wrangles and missed opportunities.
The larger question now dominating Kitui politics is simple:
Is Governor Malombe fully in control of his government — or are powerful insiders increasingly driving the administration into political and governance turbulence?
As pressure mounts and the budget battle intensifies, the coming months could determine whether the Governor regains control of the narrative or whether the current crises permanently reshape public perception of his leadership.
