Malombe questions senator Wambua's oversight mission

Malombe avers that although Wambua had the right to oversight the county government, he was not doing it right but taking advantage of oversight tours of Kitui to campaign for the governor’s position.

The governor on Wednesday declared that the way Wambua was carrying out his oversight work was unacceptable as some recommendations he was making about some county projects unrealistic.

“I want to point out that we are totally opposed to the way he is doing his things,” affirmed Malombe. He faulted what he viewed as Wambua’s  lone ranger style saying senators should instead carry out oversight through various senate sectoral committees.

Governor Malombe who was addressing a press conference after presiding over the roll-out of the Court Annexed Mediation at Kitui Law Courts where he was  the chief guest. Malombe charged that during his visits to Musovo dispensary, stalled Kabati slaughterhouse and the multi-million shillings collapsed Kwa-Kilui stone crusher, Wambua’s speech was 70 per cent political.

The governor accused the senator of being obsessed with campaigning for the governor’s seat. He said it was overt that Wambua, the Kitui Women representative Irene Kasalu and Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu and 10 others were salivating at the Kitui governorship.

The governor said if the senator was genuinely concerned about the failure to operationalise Musovo dispensary that was set up many years back, he could have taken advantage of his time as senator between 2017 to 2022 to get a donor to intervene. Malombe also accused Wambua for demanding that his administration pays the contractor for Kabati Slaughterhouse projects KSh. 38 million while the initial project sum when it was started in 2008 before devolution was KSh. 4 million.  He disclosed that the county government had already paid KSh. 6 million for the project ruling out further payment. 

Dr Malombe also faulted the senator for suggesting that the county government should erect a perimeter fence around a private land where the Kwa-Kilui stone crusher stands. It was acquired on lease agreement.

“He wants us to fence off a private land. Can anyone use tax payers’ money to build a fence around a private land where you have parked vehicles or  a crusher,” wondered Malombe. 

He said such a thing would obviously attract audit queries. 

The governor also ruled out any possibility for the County government engaging in  commercial running of the Kwa-Kilui stone crusher like it happened during the reign of his predecessor Charity Ngilu. He said the government was not  supposed to engage in competition with private entrepreneurs.

“The idea of  stone crushing was borne during my administration as the pioneer governor.