MP Mbai threatens to petition Ruto to replace CS Malonza for neglecting Ukambani

Kitui East Member of Parliament Nimrod Mbai has faulted President William Ruto's appointees in Ukambani, accusing them of ignoring the region's needs and perpetuating a sense of isolation.

Mbai, who spoke in Kitui Town on Wednesday during a meeting with the county UDA party delegates, called out EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza saying she had turned a deaf ear to the people and their needs following her appointment.

The self-declared Ruto point-man in the region thus threatened to petition the President to replace Malonza with another competent person from the region if she fails to deliver.

“We are grateful that the President gave us positions in his Cabinet. The problem is that the people are not feeling the warmth of being in the government at the grassroots. Those elected from Ukambani into the government, si watu wa kupenda watu, ama kuleta maendeleo kwa wananchi. As regional leaders, we will not allow lazy or selfish people,” he said.

“Our sister Malonza, we don’t know what her problem is; whether she is selfish…we have never seen her in this region since she was appointed. Either the President tells her to change and go back home to take care of the people or if she has already been told and is not doing that, let her step down and allow other capable leaders to take over.”

MP Mbai went on to draw parallels between the current administration and the previous governments pointing out that former ministers from the region such as Mulu Mutisya and Francis Nyenze put their names on the map for solidifying support for former President Daniel Moi by prioritizing needs of the people.

"We want to know what our people are getting from these appointments. Instead of pushing development for our region, all we see is relief food being brought to us. It's time for change,” he added.

During the meeting, the delegates resolved to elect Mbai as the Kitui County UDA Chairman in the forthcoming party grassroots elections.

“We have resolved and agreed that Nimrod Mbai will be the UDA Kitui County Chairman. The rest of us will take over constituency leaderships, wards and will later compete for county organizing chairperson and secretary seats,” said Nzambani Ward MCA Joseph Musyoka.

The decision was made at the meeting attended by all 2022 UDA aspirants and candidates from across the 40 wards of Kitui County.