Wambua Launches Official Bid For Kitui Governor
Politics & Elections

Kitui County Governor Race Heats Up as Wambua Launches Bid

August 2026

The Kitui County governor race picked up fresh momentum this week after Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua officially launched his campaign for the top county seat at a rally held at Kitui Municipal Stadium. Wambua told the crowd his administration would be built around equitable development, accountability and merit, positioning himself as the man to succeed Governor Julius Malombe when his final term ends. It’s one of several stories shaping Kitui County this week, alongside a high-profile visit from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, a leadership change at the county assembly, and a push by boda boda riders for more driving licences.

Wambua’s Launch Draws Sifuna’s Backing

According to The County Diary, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has officially launched his bid for the Kitui gubernatorial seat at Kitui Municipal Stadium, outlining an administration anchored on equitable development, accountability and merit. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna attended the launch and praised Wambua for what he described as exemplary leadership in the Senate, backing him as the best choice to steer Kitui County forward. The launch marked a major step in Wambua’s campaign to succeed Governor Julius Malombe, with the senator positioning himself as focused on accountable leadership, equitable development and efficient management of county resources.

Sifuna’s Whirlwind Kitui Stop

Sifuna’s appearance at Wambua’s launch came in the middle of a packed travel schedule tied to his nationwide Linda Mwananchi mobilisation drive. According to People Daily, there appeared to be no rest for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as he landed in Kitui County for another public engagement shortly after concluding a series of late-night rallies in Kakamega County. Sifuna was welcomed by Kitui Senator Enock Wambua at Ithookwe Stadium, and the Nairobi senator had not disclosed the exact nature of the engagement lined up for his Kitui visit beforehand. The visit reflects the closer ties building between Sifuna’s opposition-leaning movement and some Wiper leaders from Kitui, including Wambua.

New Broom at the County Assembly

Away from the campaign trail, the Kitui County Assembly has a new top administrator. According to The County Diary, the County Assembly of Kitui has approved Harrison Maluki Mawia as the new Clerk of the Assembly following a resolution passed during the afternoon sitting of the House. Mawia had been serving as the Member of County Assembly for Migwani Ward and as Majority Leader, and was endorsed by the Assembly after the County Assembly Service Board concluded its recruitment process for the position. As Clerk, his duties include serving as custodian of Assembly records, providing procedural and administrative support to members, and acting as secretary to the County Assembly Service Board.

Boda Boda Riders Push for More Licences

On the transport front, riders are asking Kitui’s MPs to match the county government’s efforts to get more boda boda operators licensed. According to The Star, Kitui County Boda Boda Association chairman Kevin Kivala said Governor Julius Malombe’s administration had so far supported the training and licensing of about 2,000 riders, who were equipped with professional riding skills and provided with smart driving licences. Kivala said three of Kitui’s eight MPs, Makali Mulu, Charles Nguna and Vethi Nyenze, had already supported riders in their constituencies to acquire licences, and urged the rest to do the same. He said Kitui has roughly 14,000 riders in total, with about 10,921 still operating without valid licences, and credited the county’s sensitisation campaigns with cutting road crashes and traffic violations involving riders. A separate report from The County Diary gave slightly different figures, putting registered riders at 13,909 with only 2,968 holding valid licences, so the exact numbers appear to vary depending on when each count was taken.

Taken together, these stories show a county where campaign politics, governance changes and everyday livelihood issues are all moving at once. As the 2027 election clock ticks louder, expect more twists in the Kitui County governor race even as county institutions and ordinary residents get on with business.

Read More