Dr. Julius Makau Malombe of Wiper party won gubernatorial seat with 198,004 votes among three other candidates. Speaking after he was being certified by IEBC yesternight, he congratulated the electoral body for working hard to deliver results promptly.

"I thank all who worked closely with me and people of Kitui to make me get this seat. I won't let you down. I can't forget the team from IEBC through the County Returning Officer Dr. Macharia Gichichi. He can testify that I didn't bother him. I gave him time to do his job. Asanteni sana." Assured Dr. Malombe.

In senatorial seat, Kitui County has voted for another Wiper Democratic Movement candidate Enoch Kiio Wambua who has garnered 191,317 votes among nine candidates who were his competitors v. 

He was re-elected for the second term."I thank everybody who voted for me, for those who never voted for me. You are my people. I will serve you equally. In fact I will start working with the areas which didn't vote for me." Declared Kiio.

In Woman Rep electoral position, Dr Irene Kasalu of the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party managed 201, 899 votes were her closest competitor of UDA got 78, 783 votes.

"Elections have come to an end. It was a game and now the game is over. It is time to work." said Irene 

Apart from the top electoral positions, Wiper also managed to get seven parliamentary seats in Kitui county including Kitui Central with Dr Makali Mulu, Edith Vethi Nyenze Kitui West, Gedion Mulyungi, the MP-elect Mwingi Central, Charles Nguna Mwingi West MP and Paul Nzengu Musyimi from Mwingi North constituency.

The party also dominated both Makueni and Machakos counties sealing the region with a stamp of approval of Wiper party leader as the regional kingpin.

STORY By JOSPHINE MWENDE

 THE launching of Wote Green Park statues has attracted mixed reactions from Makueni County residents.

Governor Kivutha Kibwana took to Facebook on November 22 informing residents of the new facility which offers ambience for recreation and innovation, according to him.

He further went on to say that it will be a place for guests to replenish with rich history of Akamba community through profiled icons of its great legends.

But most residents Mwingi Times interviewed said that it was a misplaced priority given they lacked adequate water and other amenities such as roads.

They also think that the sculptures were ugly and of low quality.

Mwania Martin dismissed the launch as misplaced resource saying that they need water. “Chief Kivoi etutethya ata!!! (How will Chief Kivoi help us?) he paused.

His sentiments were echoed by Mikey Michaels who opined that for poverty to be eradicated, water should be made available to all sections of the society.

Serene environment

To underline the need for professionalism in coming up with the serene environment, a resident said that the hands and faces should be a little realistic unless they are cartoon versions of Akamba ancestors.  

“Whoever did this work is an embarrassment to the Kenyan people. I am not an expert but the hands and the faces should be a little realistic”, said Jamisiwi Jamisiwi.

Most residents said that the statutes were poorly done and they needed a good artist to bring out something close to reality.

Another resident said that the government should invest in CBC system and avoid “drawing scarecrows” as pupils did in class two and three. Living Testimony Raphael ends by said that whoever did the work did not deserve full payment.

Kenyans who supported Prof Kibwana’s initiative said it will go a long way in preserving the Kamba culture and its history. They said that the current generation has assets to pass to the young ones and their grandchildren.

Governor Kibwana did not disclose how much it cost the county to put up such structures.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI, EDITED By BONIFACE MWANIKI