The County Government of Kitui (CGKT) took center stage during the Radio Citizen Utep̄eni Programme Public Forum held at the Kitui Multipurpose Hall, where leaders and residents gathered to deliberate on key development issues affecting the county.
The forum attracted a wide range of participants including county officials, national leaders, administrators, and members of the public. The event created an open platform for citizens to directly engage leaders and discuss priority development concerns in their communities.
Stephen Mbaya Kimwele represented Julius Malombe at the meeting, accompanied by several County Executive Committee Members. The delegation highlighted ongoing county initiatives and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to addressing challenges raised by residents.
During the forum, participants discussed major sectors that affect daily life in Kitui including healthcare, road infrastructure, water supply, agriculture, and food security. Residents were given an opportunity to present their concerns and seek clarification from government officials.
Farmers raised concerns about the need for increased agricultural support, including extension services and access to farming equipment. Civil servants also sought clarity on retirement benefits, while residents questioned the availability of essential drugs in public health facilities.
Water scarcity and infrastructure were also prominent topics during the discussions. Citizens urged the county government to invest more in water harvesting initiatives to support households, farming, and livestock in the semi-arid region.
In response, county officials outlined several initiatives already underway. These include the recruitment of 88 agricultural extension officers to strengthen support services for farmers and the repair and redistribution of county tractors to enhance mechanized farming.
The county government also highlighted ongoing water projects such as the construction of dams, water pans, and sand dams across different wards to improve water harvesting and storage capacity.
Market infrastructure development also featured prominently in the discussions. Leaders announced plans to complete the stalled Kithomboani Market project and expand Kalundu Market in order to improve trading facilities and create more economic opportunities for local traders.
Security and youth-related concerns were also addressed. Residents raised issues including insecurity along the Tana River boundary, safety of boda boda operators, youth unemployment, drug abuse, and the need for regulation of sand harvesting activities.
The forum was attended by leaders including Makali Mulu and Nzengu Malili alongside county officials, administrators, and Radio Citizen presenters. Leaders encouraged continued public participation in such forums to strengthen transparency, accountability, and inclusive development in Kitui County.
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