Former Kitui County Governor Charity Ngilu has openly signaled her intention to reclaim the county’s top seat in 2027, declaring that the people of Kitui are suffering and have been calling on her to return and “finish the work she started.”
Speaking during a visit to ailing veteran councillor Muthoka Mwaniki on Saturday in Chuluni, Ngilu fiercely defended her flagship Kitui County Textile Centre (KICOTEC) project, dismissing its critics as short-sighted and politically driven.
“Anyone who fought KICOTEC must be foolish. That was my project. We had created an EPZ-kind of industry that we were proud of,” Ngilu said.
She lamented that the once-thriving textile factory, which she envisioned as a cornerstone of industrialisation and job creation, has stalled since she left office.
“My plan was to build a KICOTEC in every sub-county to create jobs for our people. Since I left, that dream has stalled,” she added.
Ngilu revealed that during her tenure, KICOTEC employed over 1,000 workers, offering stable livelihoods in a county long plagued by unemployment.
“The lowest-paid worker at KICOTEC earned Ksh 600 a day — that is about Ksh 18,000 a month. That was real empowerment,” she said.
The former governor called for unity among Kitui leaders, saying leadership must be about service, not endless political battles.
“All of us must come together and remember why we are in leadership. Time has come for us to work together. There are many gaps, and our people are suffering,” Ngilu noted.
She insisted that her previous administration laid a solid foundation for social and economic development, pointing to major institutions established during her time in office.
Ngilu took pride in bringing key educational and training institutions to Kitui, including South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Kitui Teachers Training College, and the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI).
“The many things we did helped our people. Show us what you are going to do for our people,” Ngilu challenged current leaders.
In a deeply emotional moment, Ngilu poured praise on Councillor Muthoka Mwaniki, describing him as one of her greatest mentors in leadership.
“I learned from the best — my friend Muthoka Mwaniki. He was an institutional leader who helped so many people during his years of service,” she said.
Muthoka Mwaniki, now 95 years old, is a revered figure in Kitui politics and governance. His frail health and advanced age added a symbolic weight to Ngilu’s remarks, framing her visit as both a personal and political moment rooted in legacy and service.
Ngilu concluded by declaring that her next term, should she be elected again, would be deliberate, focused, and transformative.
“My agenda for the next five years will be very special when elected again,” she said.
Her remarks are widely seen as a clear opening salvo in the race to succeed Governor Julius Malombe in 2027, setting the stage for an intense political contest in Kitui County.
