The Kitui county government’s own-source revenue has increased to Sh1.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, marking a significant increase from Sh361 million recorded five years ago.
The milestone was highlighted in a press conference in Mombasa on Thursday following a three-day retreat bringing together the county executive and county assembly.
Leaders reviewed the achievements of Governor Julius Malombe’s administration since September 2022.
“Our own-source revenue increased from Sh361 million in 2021/22 to Sh1.2 billion in 2025/26, representing approximately 170 per cent growth,” Malombe who read the statement said.
The statement was signed by both Malombe and county assembly speaker Kevin Katisya. The governor was accompanied by
Katisya and his deputy Augustine Kanani during the press conference.
Malombe said the improved revenue collection had expanded the county’s financial capacity to support service delivery and development projects.
He also cited a substantial reduction in pending bills, which declined from Sh2.56 billion in the 2022/23 financial year to Sh449 million in 2026/2027, representing an 82.5 per cent reduction.
The governor said the retreat provided an opportunity to assess progress made under his pre-election manifesto, dubbed the Kitui Promise. The promised was pegged on the reclamation, transformation and prosperity agenda and the County Integrated Development Plan 2023–2027.
“Guided by these frameworks, we have implemented 4,053 projects and programmes across our 40 wards and 247 villages,” Malombe said.
Roads and infrastructure accounted
for the largest share, with 818 projects, followed by water with 739. Education
recorded 394 projects, while health accounted for 330.
Malombe singled out the Sh840 million Kangu Kangu Water Supply Project, implemented in partnership with World Vision Kenya among his flagship projects.
The project comprises a 224-kilometre pipeline network and 52 water kiosks, serving approximately 100,000 people. It supplies water closer to households and eases the burden of fetching the precious commodity.
“We have implemented 739 water and irrigation projects valued at approximately Sh1.65 billion,” the governor said.
The initiatives include 29
constructed or rehabilitated sump-well systems, 283km of pipelines,
411 sand dams, 18 on-farm ponds and 46 established or rehabilitated irrigation
clusters.
In the health sector, Malombe said his administration had increased the number of public health facilities from 307 to 341. Some 26 idle village facilities were operationalised and maternity units expanded from 81 to 186.
“Thirty-nine of our 40 wards now have Level III facilities. Consequently, the average distance to health facilities has reduced from 10.2km to 6.8km, bringing services closer to communities,” he said.
The governor also highlighted investments in specialised healthcare, including the Phangisile Mtshali Cancer Centre, commissioned at Kitui County Referral Hospital in 2023.
The centre has served 9,101 patients, while the county’s functional intensive care unit and high-dependency unit have attended to 95 patients, strengthening access to specialised treatment locally.
Malombe expressed
optimism that his administration will achieve more during the remaining months of his term through constructive engagement with the county assembly.
“As we navigate the final year, we will endeavour to complete outstanding projects and consolidate our achievements to improve service delivery to the people of Kitui,” he said.
Ends…..
