Former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu will run to recapture the seat during the 2027 elections. Ngilu held the position between 2018 and 2022.
The former county chief on Saturday said she has heeded calls from residents to seek a comeback in 2027 when current officeholder Julius Malombe’s term ends.
Although her name was on the ballot in 2022, Ngilu withdrew from the race and declared support for Malombe, making it an easy win for him.
“If it is a matter of my coming back to continue where I left off, I am ready to take the challenge. I am able to continue serving Kitui people. It is important for the people of Kitui to be served well,” Ngilu said.
She was speaking at Ivovoa village in Kyangwithya, Kitui Central subcounty during the burial of former teacher Felix Mutio. Ngilu sought the blessings and endorsement to run for re-election in 2027, to which the mourners shouted, seemingly in approval.
“Henceforth, I am moving forward for the sake of you and the sake of many,” Ngilu said. I would serve you with love and devotion and to the attention of everything that the people want done,” she added.
Ngilu would maintain her open door policy for effective service delivery, as she did in her first term, saying all leaders in the county should adopt a similar approach.
The former governor added that voters had the right to freely access and interact with the people they elected to office.
“People must be served with dignity irrespective of their social standing. Whether they have shoes, barefoot or are pregnant must be respected and served indiscriminately,” Ngilu said.
“No one has the right to proclaim an office as his own; it belongs to the people of Kitui.”
The Constitution of Kenya 2010, was passed so that citizens could access services and reach their leaders, Ngilu said.
She took a swipe at officials who “barricade their offices”, thus blocking access to voters.
“Others are moving around in
a fleet of cars and walking on the
red carpet forgetting that they campaigned as ordinary people not special beings,” the former county boss
said.
Ngilu pledged to remain accessible
to the people if re-elected.
