Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe on Tuesday delivered a comprehensive State of the County Address at the Kitui County Assembly, underscoring his administration’s strides in agriculture, water access, and sustainable development.
Dr. Malombe hailed agriculture as the cornerstone of Kitui’s economy, noting that it supports more than 66% of the county’s workforce. His government has trained over 527,000 farmers in climate-smart agriculture, livestock management, and agribusiness. He cited the revival of the Kitui Agricultural Show and Trade Fair, which attracted over 52,000 attendees in 2024, as a symbol of renewed enthusiasm in the sector.
Key interventions included disbursement of Kshs.79 million to 486 farming groups under the Emergency Locust Response Programme, and inclusion grants to 4,381 farmers. The county also rolled out nine small-scale irrigation schemes and equipped eight boreholes, benefiting more than 4,400 farmers.
Through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), 229,396 farmers have been profiled, and 280 youth agri-preneurs engaged to connect farmers with input suppliers and markets. In addition, 40 ward-level SACCOs have been formed to boost access to agricultural credit.
On water access, the Governor outlined transformative investments aimed at improving availability and sustainability. These include construction of 19 sump wells, 347 sand dams, and 32 solar-powered irrigation clusters, expected to expand irrigated land to 7,200 hectares by mid-2026. The county has also drilled 55 boreholes, equipped 33, solarized 31, and laid 134 kilometers of new water pipelines. Over 11,000 households have benefited from these interventions.
A major milestone is the Kangu Kangu Water Project, a Kshs.839.7 million partnership with World Vision. Initially set to launch in June, the project is now scheduled for commissioning on August 22, 2025, following final testing. Once operational, it will serve 100,000 residents in six wards. The Governor condemned recent acts of vandalism targeting the project and urged community vigilance.
In efforts to professionalize water management, the county has delegated operations to KITWASCO and KIMWASCO. Looking ahead, Dr. Malombe announced plans to recruit 128 agricultural extension officers to support the growing demand for farmer support services.
The Governor concluded by reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to inclusive growth, agricultural resilience, and raising the living standards of Kitui residents.
Written By Rodney Mbua
