Kitui County Governor, H.E. Dr. Julius Makau Malombe, will today preside over the official launch of the Kitui County Tourism Circuit at the iconic Nzambani Rock, an event that coincides with the global celebration of UN World Tourism Day.

Kitui County, strategically located within the Eastern Tourism Circuit, serves as a vital link to both the Coastal Tourism Circuit through Tsavo East National Park, which borders the South Kitui Game Reserve and the Northern Tourism Circuit through the Mwingi Game Reserve, which connects to Meru National Park.

The proposed Kitui County Tourist Circuit has been mapped into four distinct routes, each designed to showcase the county’s diverse natural, cultural, and historical attractions:

Kitui Central Circuit: Kitui County Referral Hospital – Mutito Important Bird Area (IBA) – Miambani Hills – Museve Shrines – Nzambani Rock – Kalundu Eco Park – Kitui Town.

Kitui South Circuit: Ithumba Elephant Sanctuary (Tsavo East Kasala Gate) – Kisou Caves – Ikutha A.I.C Church – South Kitui Game Reserve – Mutha Hills Forest Reserves – Mutomo Reptile Park.

Mwingi Central Circuit: Kanyonyoo Conservancy (Route: Nguutani – Kwa Muthusi – Kwa Siku – Migwani) – Ikoo Valley – Mwingi Town and Environs (Yambiu Rock).

Mwingi North Circuit: Mwingi Town – Mumoni IBA – Kasyongo Caves – South Eastern Heritage Site – Mwingi Game Reserve – George Adamson Grand Falls – Ngomeni.

This year’s UN World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” emphasizes tourism’s potential to drive positive change beyond economic growth. It calls for good governance, strategic planning, robust monitoring, and a sustainability-centered approach that ensures tourism development benefits both people and the planet.

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Speaking ahead of the launch, Kitui Deputy Governor H.E Augustine Wambua Kanani noted that Kitui’s tourism potential remains largely untapped and that the newly defined circuits will open up opportunities for investment, job creation, and cultural preservation. “When we launch the Kitui Tourism Circuit, we will open doors for people to come and invest in our county, especially in the tourism and hospitality sectors. As you know, we have faced challenges with human–wildlife conflicts, particularly elephants crossing from Tsavo East Game Reserve. That is why I encourage our people to establish conservancies, and for those interested in setting up campsites and hotels, this is the right time to do so. These initiatives will not only protect our environment but also create much-needed job opportunities for our young people,” he said.

The launch at Nzambani Rock, one of Kitui’s most iconic landmarks, symbolizes the county’s ambition to place itself firmly on the national and global tourism map while ensuring that sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity remain central to its tourism agenda.

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