Kitui East MP hopeful Henry Nyamai has called on residents to strengthen environmental conservation while exploring ways of turning the area’s natural resources into opportunities for tourism and local livelihoods.
Nyamai spoke on Sunday, September 27, 2026, when he joined Kitui Deputy Governor H.E. Wambua Kanani and tourism and conservation stakeholders at Mutitu Hill Forest during celebrations to mark World Tourism Day. The annual event is observed on September 27, with the 2026 theme focusing on the role of digital technology and artificial intelligence in reshaping tourism.
The Chief Officer for Energy and Minerals Resources commended the Mutitu Site Support Group and neighbouring communities for their conservation work, saying the area’s biodiversity could support tour guiding, hospitality, creative enterprises and other tourism-related businesses.
Nyamai urged residents to reduce the cutting down of trees for commercial charcoal burning and instead embrace alternative livelihoods. He called on the community to work with conservation organisations and government agencies to protect Mutitu Hill Forest for future generations.
Turning to politics, Nyamai urged Kitui East residents to carefully consider their leadership choices ahead of the 2027 General Election, arguing that the constituency has experienced a development gap for many years. He cited concerns over bursary access and other constituency services, saying residents deserve stronger attention to their development needs.
Nyamai, who is positioning himself to challenge incumbent MP Nimrod Mbai in 2027, promised to prioritise development if elected. He said his ambition would be to accelerate projects and deliver within five years what he believes should have been achieved over a longer period.
He also highlighted his experience serving in the Kitui County Government, thanking Governor Dr Julius Malombe for giving him an opportunity to serve as Chief Officer and saying the position had given him valuable exposure and experience in public administration.
On the Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital, Nyamai criticised what he described as attempts by Mbai to take credit for the project. He attributed the project to Governor Malombe while questioning the incumbent MP’s role in its conception.
Available records show that construction of the hospital was launched in May 2026 through a partnership between the National Government, through the Ministry of Defence, and the Kitui County Government. The project received KSh200 million in national government support, while Malombe has said the facility was inspired by lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and named in honour of the late constitutional lawyer Philip Nzamba Kitonga.
Mbai is the sitting Member of Parliament for Kitui East, according to the National Assembly’s official profile.
Nyamai said that, if elected in 2027, he would seek to make Kitui East a model constituency by combining effective representation, development partnerships and stronger community engagement.
