Category Archives: VILLAGE NEWS

Kenya: Children sheltered by their widowed and jobless grandmother

Story By Dickens Wasonga.

Somewhere in a remote village in Siaya County of Western Kenya lives a 57 year old jobless widow.

To Consolata Wagua and her five grandchildren,life has never been rosy.

The challenge of fending for herself and that of her grandchildren abandoned by her two daughters due to failed marriages is clearly taking a toll on the life of this granny of Siaya who lost her husband in 1984.

Before he died,her late husband , a former game warden with the Kenya Wildlife Services was the sole breadwinner in the family,but life has not been the same again after his death.

Now the poverty stricken grandma not only look after the young grandchildren but must also ensure they acquire basic education and somehow she has resolved to try.

But one issue has remained her biggest nightmare.The living condition for her and the hapless children given they do not have a shelter that would be described as fit for human habitation.

The family stay in a mud house with several gaping holes and a leaking roof. While rainy seasons are a blessing to many villagers here , for this widow’s family, the rains brings with it such a pathetic experience.

But even when it does not rain, matters are not any better.At night the glares of the moon and the condition of her house cannot allow them to have a wink of sleep.

They cram into a corner in the room at night where they hope that day will break . The nights are chilly and long.What they know as their house is two roomed with what they use as their sitting room which is almost bare.

When asked why she has to stay with the young ones in such a house she says,” I arrived at this decision after receiving information that my grandchildren were continuously being battered by their father at their home.”

She says that her eldest daughter got married at Karariw in Gem District but divorced husband several years ago due to domestic problems forcing her to find another husband to take care of her.

She adds that the daughter got married for the second time but her second husband demanded that he would only stay with her on condition that her two sons Vincent Onyango, now aged 14 and Kennedy Ochieng’, 12, were out of their home.

Aluoch adds that her daughter tried to oppose the demands thus the infuriating husband reacted by consistently battering the children. “The children then abandoned their home and sort refuge here,” she says.

The soft spoken Aluoch said that her second born daughter who was married at More village, Nyamila sub-location in Siaya however lost her husband forcing her to get married to another husband under customary laws.

Since the duo could not provide for their 3 children Millicent Akinyi, 15 years, Beatrice Atieno, 11 and Edwine Onyango, 5, their grandmother Aluoch decided to take them for assistance.

She says she could not sit back and watch her innocent grandchildren suffer in the hands of an inheritor.

“I even wanted my daughter back home but due to Luo customs, it is a taboo for a widowed lady to go back and stay at her parent’s home,” she said.

Despite all the upheavals, Aluoch says that she has tried much as she can to feed and educate the siblings, thanks to the free primary education.

She says she practices subsistence farming where she reaps to feed the family. “In addition to the small farming I carry out, I also work on people’s farms where I earn to feed the young ones,” says Aluoch adding that her biggest problem is when there are no farms to work on.

The biggest hurdle that boggles her mind however, is the condition of her house. She says days and nights have turned into 8 years of despair for her and the young children in their deplorable shelter.

She says she has never made good money to construct a house from the services she provides on people’s farms.

However, she says she decided to actively participate in helping local leaders in Alego/Usonga constituency in their campaigns with an aim of getting assistance to construct a new house but her dreams have never become true.

Aluoch says that she campaigned for former councilor in Siaya Municipal council Dolphine Oduor Otieno who won and became a councilor till 2002 when she contested for the Alego/Usonga parliamentary seat but lost to former MP Sammy Arthur Weya.

She however, adds that no assistance was offered to her by the former councilor despite the fact that she helped her in the campaigns thus emerging the victor.

In the run up to the 2007 general elections, Aluoch says she actively participated in the campaigns of Siaya town ward councilor Julius Ochieng’ but still did not manage to get a new house.

“Ochieng’ has since not offered me any assistance despite the fact that he made that promise during the campaigns,” she says.

The 57 year old widow also pointed out having taken an active role to help in the campaigns of former Alego/Usonga parliamentary loser Charles Odunga Mamba.

She says she participated in mobilizing local women in her area to vote for the Kisumu based businessman who came second to the incumbent Alego/Usonga MP Edwine Ochieng’ Yinda in the 2007 ODM parliamentary nominations.

Aluoch says she has however, tried in vain to contact Mamba for help as those close to him have often prevented her way through.

At Aluoch’s home, they even lack a toilet and are compelled to use flying toilets- plastic bags that are then thrown into the nearby bushes.

And with Alwala stream where they fetch their water just a stone throw from their home, this has risked their lives most.

It has exposed them to diseases such as typhoid and other sanitary infections thus posing their lives at great danger.

She says she has however, managed to take back her grandchildren to school who had earlier on dropped due to lack of uniforms.

“A friend of mine offered them the uniforms and currently they have reported to the nearby Nyakongo primary school,” she says.

She adds that the eldest of her 5 siblings Millicent is a pre-candidate (class 7) at Nyakongo primary school while the youngest Edwine is in nursery school at Siaya Central.

She says the reason as to why the siblings delayed to go to school was due to the many problems they face as a family.

She thus appealed to well-wishers and the local leadership in Alego/Usonga constituency to come on and help her before the condition of her house worsens.

Ends

Kenya: SONYSUGAR told to repair the damaged Rapogi-Uriri road

SONYSUGAR COMPANY TOLD TO REPAIR URIRI-RAPOGI ROAD WHICH WAS RECENTLY DAMAGED BY IT’S HEAVY MACHINERY AND TRACTORS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Awendo-based SONYSUGAR Company has been urged to undertake the repair work of feeder and access roads within its cane growing zones, which have been damaged by its heavy machines, tractors and worsened by the current long rains.

Uriri politician, who is also a Nairobi businessman, Mr. John Bob Awiti Otange last week wrote an open letter to the management of the government-owned white sugar manufacturing firm, and pointed out that an 8 kilometer section of Rapogi-Uriri road, which is linking the interior parts of the district to the main-Kisii-Awendo Migori highway is in a pathetic state. It has become impassable, particularly during the current heavy rains, and need urgent gravelling.

Mr Awiti-Otange pointed out that the on going heavy rains, which is pounding the Lake region incessantly, has damaged a number of roads in the district, including the Rapogi-Oria and Oyani Achuth, as well as Rapogi-Awendo. The situation has been worsened by the recent harvesting of cane in farms adjacent to Rapogi market, where the Awendo based sugar miller used heavy machinery, while winching its tractors stuck in the mud.

The state of these roads has now made it impossible for motorists, including residents, who works in towns in other parts of Kenya, as well as those who live in Nairobi, to access their rural homes, forcing many families to walk on foot for long distances before they can access their rural homes. Some motorists are forced to abandon their vehicles at Awendo town or in Uriri shopping centre and then trek between eight and 15 kilometers by foot, in order to be able to reach their homes.

The businessman-cum-politician reminded the SONYSUGAR management that Rapogi-Uriri road has for many years been an all weather road until its tractors used it a couple of weeks ago while ferrying cane from the field to the factory. This was done during the current heavy downpour and has devastated nearly all section of Uriri-Rapogi-Oria.

Rapogi-Oria is so important economically as it links an area where both tobacco and sugarcane are grown in abundance and it is now not possible for the farmers to have their products and crops transported to the market. The pathetic state of road hurts the local farming communities. It has hit them below the belt as they are now stranded with their produce at home.

Mr. Awiti-Otange also urged the Provincial administration and police authorities to curb the upsurging waves of crime rate around Rapogi trading center and its environs, saying the local communities are now living in fear, following the recent spate of cowardly attacks and violent robberies against traders and individual within the vicinity of Rapogi. The government, he added, should use its chiefs and their assistant in combating and stamping out thuggery in the area.

Apart from Rapogi Oria road, which is linking Uriri and Ndhiwa district, the Rapogi Awendo road is a busy road for the economy of the region, and the SONYSUGAR company should undertake its repair, together with the Ministry of Works, so that people returning home for Easter Holidays can access their rural homes.

He suggested that the repair work should start at field 3A, Moses Awiti farm, near the junction of Rapogi Awendo and Rapogi Uriri road, and run-over Nyarago bridge, towards Ramuom School and Kaminolewe, covering Nyamilu shopping Centre, to the Uriri D.C’s office. This particular section needs urgent attention.

Mr Bob-Awiti-Otange also urged those charged with the responsibility of handling CDF within Uriri constituency to ensure that the damaged small bridges linking the villages are repaired immediately, as this would make it much easier for the farmers to transport their wares to the marketplaces.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: River Rangwe Bridge on Rangwe-Oyugis Road – A Time bomb!

River Rangwe Bridge on Rangwe-Oyugis Road – A Time bomb!


To all visionary Rangwe constituents:
It is a big pity that our constituency has been lagging behind in development and other basic necessary services.
Just to mention, haven’t we realized that the Daraja Aora Rangwe is an eyesore and a time bomb just waiting to explode?

Our honorable MP Otieno Ogindo, and your CDF Office, do you wait until such a time when the news headlines and Radios will shout “River Rangwe Bridge swept away?”.

Right now, Asumbi Teachers’ College have withdrawn their buses from the route due to poor conditions of the Road: where drainages were blocked instead of enlarging them to ensure water does not lodge on the road surface.

Honestly, what tangible development can we brag of as constituents of Rangwe? Which new projects have our leaders initiated? Is there any rural electrification programmes? What of clean water, when we have plenty supply from the lake (Victoria).

I can say without reservation that we virtually have no Member of Parliament, but if there ever existed one, then he is serving the interest of his own home and not Rangwe.

Our elected leaders, Ogwang’ Mandela, Adede, etc, cant you all shout and correct the situation?

Honorable Ogindo, remember the warning slogan your electorate chanted at you when you won nominations: “Ogindo to watero gowi”.

Contributor: Arreddo Nyang’
Rangwe Constituency, Gem Central Ward
Rabango Primary School

——————————————————–
You Call Me Arreddo Nyang’, I’ll Respond
Permanent Address:
P.O. Box 36 Rangwe, Homa Bay Kenya
Mobile: +254 – 724 – 203 – 516

KENYA: PARTISANSHIP FORCES MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO NEW HEIGHTS OF FECKLESSNESS

Dear Sir/Madam,

The departure from partisan politics is obligatory if this country has to steadily march towards its developmental programs. Indeed, impartiality is what we all demand for from all public servants. Unfortunately, in Kenya today, the propensity for public officers and especially cabinet ministers to engage in electioneering governance with a view to bolstering their political popularity and that of the political parties they are affiliated to ahead of the 2012 general, is, sadly very high. They mistakenly think that theirs is a calling to self perpetuate themselves rather than in impartially serving Kenyans from all walks of life.

The Ministry of Finance in particular stands out as a splendid example of how partisanship underdetermines the country’s efforts to socio-economic development. Events in the last one year alone are indicative of a ministry whose actions and inactions point to an increasing disconnect between the language of politics and the actual problems bedeviling this country.

This is why for instance a year after the cabinet’s decision to revive the stalled Pan Paper Mills in Webuye Town, the minister for finance literally sat on the funds for over a year oblivious of the festering problems of the residents of Webuye, yet he was part and parcel of the cabinet meeting that arrived at that noble decision. Moreover, he never raised any objection with regard to the unavailability of finances.

In fact was it not for President Kibaki`s belated intervention, it is unlikely that these funds would have been ever released. One wonders whether the residents of Webuye are supposed to be all song and dance while profusely thanking the Finance Minister and the President for their philanthropic gesture when in fact it is their right as tax payers and citizens of this country to benefit from such public funds.

In another related incident, the minister sat pensively in parliament and supported parliament’s amendment to the Mau Task Force report that had already been endorsed by the cabinet. This unfortunate amendment sort to kowtow the government into compensating all title deed holders irrespective of whether such title deeds were fraudulently acquired or not. Not even once did he caution parliament of the enormous financial implications that would arise out of such a populist legislation. Later on the finance minister backtracked after belatedly sensing political backlash occasioned by the titleless Mau evictees. He realized the political wisdom in compensating the latter rather than the executive Mau squatters.

It behooves the intelligence of the conscientious public that a minister can, for political reasons, deliberately veto cabinet decisions or ensure that such decisions are steeped in messy ambiguities and discomforting contradictions so as not to be implemented. The net effect of such tampering is the crippling of noble ideas whose dividends would have had enormous triple down effect to the country’s fragile economy.

Not even during the Moi Era did the public get too cynical of the operations of the ministry of finance. This Ministry has never failed to disappoint. It tends to be sluggish in its work and supine in its conclusions. By its indulgent standards, the ministry has reached new heights (or is it lows) of fecklessness.

TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA,
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis

Alego-Usonga, President Barack Obama’s ancestral home constituency in rural Kenya is sliding backwards in economic development due to incompetent representation in Parliament

ALEGO-USONGA CONSTITUENCY APPEARS TO BE SLIDING BACKWARDS, AS FAR AS RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSTITUENCIES INSIDE LUO-NYANZA ARE CONCERNED.

The Political Profile of Alego-Usonga Constituency, By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Once considered as one of the most advanced parts of Luo-Nyanza region, Alego-Usonga constituency seems to be sliding backwards, due to what the residents describe as poor political leadership and lack of motivation.

During colonial rule in Kenya, the area produced the top class civil servants, primary and high school teachers, clerical officers in both public and private sectors, doctors, engineers and many experts in various fields and professionals.

It produced traditional Nyatiti Luo Musicians and even excellent soccer players, like Otieno Kepher, Otieno Orocho, Kenya’s finest goalkeeper of the 1950s Stephen Ochieng, clerics like the late Canon Ezekiel Apindi, a pioneer Anglican priest who founded both Ng’iya and Pe-Hill Anglican Missions in both Central and Southern Nyanza regions.

Alego-Usonga produced one of the black African top police sleuths, who rose through the ranks to become the second African director of CID in Independent Kenya, the late Peter Okola. Okola was one of only three finest police officers in post independent Africa, who was among the first black men to be promoted to the rank of sub-inspector, and later full Inspector in 1939.

The signs that the constituency is sliding backward became apparent during the ODM branches conference, which was held at Homa-Bay two weeks ago, and which was chaired by the party leader Raila Odinga.

Alego-Usonga sent three sets of delegations opposed to each other, who travelled in five big Nissan Matatu to Homa-Bay. One delegation was representing the branch which is allied to the area MP, Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda. The second delegation was led by Siaya business magnate, and a former Town’s Mayor, Mr Orwenjo-Umidha, and the third delegation was led by one Francis Odhiambo. All the three delegations claimed to have been duly elected and registered as branch officials at the party’s headquarters based at Orange House in Nairobi.

The Alego-Usonga MP, Edwin Ochieng’Yinda, who was present at the Homa-Bay ODM branches conference in Nyanza, that brought together close to 1000 delegates from all Luo-Nyanza, appeared not to be bothered by this pathetic scenario of events. All the three sets of delegations demanded for admission and were all accommodated into the conference hall, to the chagrins of other branches.

Yinda seemed neither bothered nor ashamed of the unbecoming scenario. But it was a good pointer to the direction to which the politics of Alego-Usonga is presently heading to.

Alego-Usonga is currently represented in Parliament by one of the richest Luo personalities in the region, and even in Kenya as a whole, but locally, the constituency is poorly managed in terms of economic development and infrastructures. All the feeder and access roads across this expansive rural constituency are impassable, especially during the rainy seasons, when the red soil becomes so muddy. According to the locals, the recent Elnino rains washed away most of the bridges on the small streams, and this has made travelling across the constituency very difficult for the locals.

During the dry seasons, Siaya Township becomes so dusty. Due to poor state of roads, the only mode of reliable transport is by motor-bike taxis. But even these hard-core motor bike riders at times refuse to take passengers on certain roads, or they charges double, due to poor state of the road.

The major road that leads out of Siaya Town via Ndere, Boro and headed to Uranga Nyadorerra is poorly maintained, dusty, full of one to two feet deep pot-holes, and washed away murrums. Indeed, these areas need all whether murrum roads.

The devolving funds given to every constituency by the government appear not to have been disbursed well in this constituency, taking into account many small bridges that were recently washed away by the El-Nino rains have not been replaced, which is some of the areas where the funds should be used.

Alego-Usonga MP is rarely seen in the constituency, because he is living in Mombasa, where he is running and managing a chain of multi-million shillings businesses. He is being accused by his electorate of telling off those demanding for his frequent visit to the constituency. He has been heard frequently bragging that he spent a lot of money during his campaign for the seat in 2007, dishing out cash to the voters. As such, they have no business asking him to be around the constituency.

Yinda is on record as the only Luo MP in the 10th Parliament who went public in rejecting and severely criticizing the list of cabinet appointment made by President Kibaki and the Prime Minister, during the formation of the grand coalition government. He particularly criticized Raila, claiming the PM did not consult widely with the ODM MPs as required.

He is seen therefore as not being in good books with the Prime Minister, though he has on several occasions denied there exists any friction between him and “Agwambo”. But the locals acknowledge that he is an independent minded politician.

Residents also accuse their MP for having hand-picked members of the CDF, School Bursary and road maintenance funds, filling them with semi-illiterate individuals, with no knowledge of government accounting system. As such, the disbursement of funds has been so poor to an extent that many people do not even know whether such funds exist for real or just in the paper work. There is not even one single project that benefits the electorate, which Yinda can count put his name on.

Alego-Usonga in fact looks like an isolated island, a place not covered by the government devolving funds at all.

It is even worse, and sad, that the constituency is surrounded by three other parliamentary constituencies where the tempo of development is so competitively being done. These are Bondo in the west, Gem in the East, and Ugenya in the north. It has a small borderline with Budalangi, along the Rwambwa area. In all the three surrounding constituencies, the MPs, namely Dr. Oburu Oginga{Bondo], Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem}, and James (Nyatieng’) Aggrey Orengo [Ugenya } are working round the clock, and competing for development activities in their respective constituencies. Whereas the case Alego-Usonga, each time Yinda is around the constituency, he is surrounded by political goons at his Ng’iya Home, and usually has no time, even forr the elite in Alego-Usonga.

Alego-Usonga constituency was created in 1963, and its first elected MP was a former police officer turned journalist, the late Luke Rarieya Obok, whose originality was said to have been from Sakwa, Bondo, but was planted by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to become the MP for Alego-Usonga on a KANU ticket in 1963. The late Luke Obok was a confidant of the late Jaramogi, though the two parted the companies in later years, when the late Obok joined the retired President Daniel Arap Moi, and served the KANU government as chairman of various parastatal organizations.

Obok was detained by the KANU government, headed by the late President Jomo Kenyatta, along with other KPU MPs in October 1969, following the disturbances in Kisumu, which resulted in the massacre of close to 27 people, most of them from gun shots fired by police and members of the Presidential Escort, and MPs and cabinet ministers from Central province. Kenyatta had gone to Kisumu to open the New Nyanza General Hospital (Russia) when the Kenyatta convoy and entourage was stoned by the angry crowd, blaming Kenyatta for the political assassination of Tom Mboya.

In the general election that followed in December of the same year, the late Peter Okudo, a former member for Alego-Usonga in the now defunct Nyanza Regional Assembly clinched the seat on a KANU ticket.

Okudo is credited for having initiated a lot of development between 1969 and 1964. He hails from the minority Usonga community in Uranga Division. Okudo, however, lost his seat to a former Nairobi Polytechnic lecturer, Peter Castro Oloo Aringo in 1964. The latter went on winning a series of elections thereafter.

Oloo Aringo represented Alego-Usonga for a total of 22 year, and his representation was only interrupted in 1972, when a former Editor of the East African Standard, and a confidant of Raila Odinga , Mr. Otieno Makonyango won the seat on a Ford-Kenya ticket, beating Oloo Aringo hands down.

But just like Yinda, Oloo-Aringo had one of the poorest track records of development in Alego-Usonga, despite having served in the cabinet as a Minister for Information, Narural Resources and Education for close to 13 years. He was at one time one of the most powerful politicians during KANU rule, when he served as the party National Chairman.

It later emerged that Oloo Aringo , who hails from the Jo-Kakan, the largest and dominant sub-clan, used the numeracy of his clan to stay afloat in Parliament for close to 22 years. But he left no trail of any tangible development. He was always sure of getting re-elected, but politics of clannish was later smashed with the advent of pluralism system of politics. Oloo Aringo bounced back in 1997, but lost again in 2002 when the youthful Sammy Weya, who also hails from Jo-Kakan won the seat. And in 2007, Edwin Ochieng’Yinda, who for many years had become a perennial parliamentary election loser in Alego-Usonga, finally won the seat, even as he was shrouded under suspicions and protests that he was still a KANU loyalist and a mole in ODM.

Yinda beat the high profile aspirants like Prof. Jackline Oduol and a prominent Kisumu hotelier, Mr. Charles Odunga Mamba, who were then the favorites of the ODM members within the constituency. He is believed to have parted with a fortune that enabled him to overcome his opponents.

Yinda, however, seems to be a one term MP, as the strong opposition against him is mounting all over the constituency. He hails from the minority Ka-Mululu, within Mur sub-clans. His disappearance from the eyes of the electorate soon after clinching the seat, and making only cosmetic appearances in Siaya, whenever there is elections within the County and Municipality bodies, are unlikely to persuade the electorate or the ODM party to give him another chance.

Alego-Usonga country-side is an agriculturally rich area. The Dominion Farm Limited is currently encouraging cotton farmers to redouble their efforts, and the company has revived the nearby Ndere Ginnery. This company is paying handsomely for the cotton delivered, and it is also about to establish its own ginnery within its own compound at the Yala Swamp.

Dominion Farms Limited, owned by an American business magnate, Calvin Burgess, is also encouraging the farmers to expand to bee keeping, as it has established a honey refining plant at the Yala River plant. But all these require political patronage and encouragement at a parliamentary representation levels, something that Yinda has failed at miserably.

Alego-Usonga is conducive for production of cash crops, and for domestic food grains, though like any other areas along the shoreline of Lake Victoria, the rainfall at time is unpredictable, and falls short of, or way above the farmers expectation. But crops like maize, sorghum, bananas, cassavas, ground-nuts, vegetables are doing well in the area most of the time.

Alego-Usonga constituency regained some of its lost old glory when President Barack Hussein Obama Jr. won the US presidency, and the area became instantly famous, and well known globally. President Obama’s family tree lineage is from a small village located in the southeastern part of the expansive Alego region. The place is called Nyang’oma village in Kogelo sub-clan. It has since become the centre of attraction for thousands of tourists visiting Western Kenya from the US and other parts of the world.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Amorous School head ejected out of two schools after pupils accuse him of impregnating them

PARENTS GANG UP TO EJECT AN AMOROUS PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADMASTER ON ALLEGATIONS THAT HE IS SEXUALLY INVOLVED WITH HIS FEMALE PUPILS.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo From Rongo.

Parents of a primary school in Rongo have ganged up against a school headmaster, whom they accused of allegedly making love to his female pupils.

The incident took place at Utoma Primary School in Sakwa South Location.

The rejection has since translated into bad omen for the teacher in question, who was transferred to another school within the locality. But parents there had been tipped of his unbecoming behavior with the female pupils, and he was met with hostile reception, forcing him to stay at home temporarily, without being posted to any other school.

The incident was confirmed by the location Chief, Mr Orwa Odipo, who said he was aware of the incident, but declined to discuss its full details.

When the school re-opened last week, the amorous teacher found his way into the school compound blocked by angry parents who turned him away, and even threatened to beat him up.

The head teacher, who hails from within the locality, has since not been posted to any school, following his ejection by the parents, and is reportedly staying at home.

The teacher’s predicament started when parents converged in the school to hear complaints, when three pupils, who claimed to have been the teacher’s secret lovers, and had conceived by him, came forward before the parents, and confirmed their sexual escapades with him, during a stormy parents/teachers meeting held at the school.

A good number of other female pupils, who had fallen victim to this head teacher are also reported to have left their studies quietly and prematurely, cutting short their education. Most of these victimized girls have been forced out of school at the tender ages between 14 and 16 years.

The politics of teachers/parents relations is said to have become more sensitive in that locality, especially when young primary school pupils are reportedly made to become under aged mothers. This is what prompted the parents at Utoma Primary School, in East Alego sub-location to reject their headmaster, following accusations that he is fond of making love to the pupils.

The habit of teachers in primary schools seducing young pupils under their pupilage is not an isolated incident. In most cases, nobody takes any measures to punish the teacher involved. This is one of the few rare cases where the parents have ganged up and ejected the head teacher on this kind of accusation of immorality.

In most cases these kind of incidences are handled quietly within the families of those involved. But the Utoma incident is the first such known incident in which the parents decided to gang up and eject the offending teacher, and go public about it.

Speaking to this writer, the chief said that the school belonged to the community, and once the community has rejected any particular teacher for misconduct, the Provincial Administration has no authority to impose the rejected teacher and keep him in the school. “Our role is only to ensure that peace and harmony prevails in all school, and it is up the members of the teaching profession to maintain high degree of good morality wherever they work”.

The teacher in question is said to have gone underground and could not be reached for his immediate comment. However, parents interviewed around Mariwa Market vowed to expose all male primary school teachers working in the area, who are found to indulge in this kind of immorality, which they said is unlawful and also against Christianity teachings.

Ends.

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The construction of President Barack Obama, Kogelo Community Center to commence before the end of the year

THE CONSTRUCTION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA COMMUNTY CENTER AT NYANG’OMA KOGELO TO COMMENCE BEFORE THE OF THIS YEAR.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kenya’s Ministry of National Heritage has announced that the construction of the multi-million shilling, President Barack Obama Kogelo Community Center, will commence before the of this year.

In a message read on his behalf to the participants at the President Barack Obama first anniversary cultural festival, held over the weekend, at Alego Nyang’oma Kogelo, the Minister for National Heritage, William Ole Ntimama said the area is the home of the father of the US President, and the area has emerged a major tourist destination, making it necessary to develop the cultural centre in place.

The minister said development of Kogelo Cultural Centre is in line with Kenya’s Vision 2030 development blueprint, which endeavors to make the country one of the top 10 long haul tourist destination in the world.

“Currently”, the Minister said, “North America has emerged as a leading tourist source market for Kenya, accounting for about 10 per cent total arrivals, only second to the United Kingdom”, the Minister added.

The speech was read before a huge crowd that attended this year’s cultural festivals at the Senator Barack Obama Kogelo Primary School, which is an area adjacent to Senator Barack Obama Secondary School, during the celebrations, to mark President Obama first year in office

“Kenya”, the Minister said, “is a rich, diverse cultural heritage, and the ministry has a major role to play in fostering appreciation and development of cultural heritage for the benefit of the Kenyan people”.

The closure of the four day festival was graced by the US ambassador to Kenya, Michael Rennerberger, who was accompanied by Mama Sarah Obama, the step grand mother of President Obama and other family members.

Kenya’s Prime Minister, Raila Oodinga who was expected to attend the function did not show up, as he was reported to have travelled to the Far East, on official government duties.

A visit to the nearby Nyang’oma market, the usually dusty rural market place, revealed that the area has undergone a facelift. Small kiosks and food stalls have been turned into permanent buildings, and more are under construction. The local business community were optimistic of a booming business in the near future, so they are trying hard to ensure that they will be able to tap the resources to be availed by the expected tourists from the US and other developed nations of the world.

There were all signs of booming business at Nyang’oma market. The murrum road that branches off from Ndori Market in Rarieda, heading northwards to Nyang’oma, across River Yala, has been graveled to an all whether road. Plans are also said to be a foot to have this portion tarmacked before the end of the year. Other plans are also a foot for the establishment of a tourist class Hotel along River Yala, and the project is being undertaken by the Kenya Tourist Board.

ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

POLITICAL BIKERING IN LUO NYANZA RETROGRESSIVE TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

LUO NYANZA, VIOLENT POLITICS AND NAME CALLING

Of late, your paper has reported about political quarrels that have
degenerated to near physical confrontation among elected leaders in Luo Nyanza. Some have quarreled publicly between themselves, but mainly, between them and former aspirants for elective parliamentary seats in the last general elections. This means that there have been a lot of political under currents in Luo Nyanza, that has led to public name calling, and physical confrontation, between sitting Members of Parliament, and the aspirants whom they defeated in the last 2007 elections. This also means that development agenda is not in their minds, but politics of war and defeat.

The recent public quarrels and near physical confrontation between Members of Parliament and former aspirants in their constituencies of Muhoroni, South Nyanza, Nyakach and many unreported ones speaks volumes.

These undercurrents are consequences of unfairness/cheating, inequity in party nominations, block voting and euphoria that have characterized Luo politics in the past, just to mention a few. This cheating makes the so called defeated feel cheated. and the elected, who have managed to go through, feel insecure, hence the war that leads to primitive physical confrontation in the public.

In this world when you end up in a physical fight it means that you have failed to think and you are bereft of any options. The flawed party nominations have been a problem in this region over the years. I ask for any better way to address the cause.

Such differences and quarrels of such magnitude has a tendency of making potential investors destined into Luo Nyanza drag their feet as far as economic development for Luo Nyanza is concerned. As a matter of fact, development issues are relegated to the periphery or just given lip service.

For example, the devolved funds of over Kshs.150,000=per constituency is not felt in Luo Nyanza constituencies as opposed to what is happening in places like Gatanga constituency of central province. The current issues, like the falling standard of education in Nyanza are not tackled. The leaders have not, and do not have time to explain the contents of Harmonized Constitution Draft to their constituents. What a pity!

A good leader is one who agrees to make one step backward for the purpose of peace, and makes three steps forward when a peaceful opportunity arises in due course. Good leadership is not about chest thumbing, but being humble and empathetic to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged.

So Nyanza leaders, please wake up for the sake of your poor constituents. Kenya is moving forward.

Felix Owaga Okatch

Tel:254-721-735489

254-733-735489

Email: felixokatch@yahoo.com

Kenya’s Kano Community want the AG to prosecute those who were fraudulently involved in the sale of Miwani farm

THE KANO COMMUNITY WANTS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KACC INVESTIGATIONS REPORT ON MIWANI SUGAR FARM

Report Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

MEMBERS of the Jo-Kano community in Nyando district have sent out a passionate appeal to the Attorney General of Kenya, Amos Wako, urging him to expedite the prosecution case involving the sale of Miwani Sugar Farm, according  to last year’s recommendations contained therein a report  compiled  by a team of Kenya Anti Corruption Commission {KACC}, and submitted to him on Miwani Sugar Company {currently under the official receivership}
Miwani Sugar Farm, investigations report, was among dozens of criminal files forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers last year, requesting his office to institute prosecution against a magistrate , an advocate of the High Court, and a number of personalities, for conspiring to sell 9,934 acres of land valued at Kshs 2 billion, belonging to Miwani Sugar Company {currently under receivership} to a private company in a suspicious manner.

It was alleged that the said parcel of land had been fraudulently transferred to Crossly Holdings Ltd.

A Kisumu Resident High Court Magistrate, Mr.Justice Mwera , after listening to argument by both sides in a civil case, said in his judgment that it has been established that the transactions were fictitious and meant to defeat justice, and recommended for action against the persons involved in the alleged fraud by the relevant authorities.

According to the anti-graft body report to the AG, the Kenyan Sugar Board, the debenture holders of the property, were planning to sell the property through competitive bidding when they learnt it had already been sold through auction in a purported execution of a court decree, which the High Court found to have been fictitious.

Any more delays in prosecuting the suspects as per the recommendations of the KACC would provide them with an opportunity to continue with their maneuvers in a concerted effort to defeat justice.

The Jo-Kano community wants the matter resolved with uttermost urgency.

The AG is said to have accepted the KACC recommendations after investigations unearthed a maze of conspiracy involving the suspects.

But yesterday when speaking on behalf of members of the Riwruok Dongruok Jokano Manyien {RIDOKAM}, a welfare organization catering for the Kano sub-clans living in the Kano Plains, Mr. Walter Kitoto Adell, who is the chairman of the group, urged the Attorney General, Amos Wako to expedite the matter, and institute the legal proceedings against the suspects  without delay.

The Jo-Kano people are the original owners of the farm, which for years was used by the Miwani Sugar Company as its nucleus estate . The fertile sugar cane farm was handed voluntarily by the community to an Australian white settler, who pioneered into white sugar manufacturing between 1917 and 1922. At the time, Miwani was known by its original name as Bungu Ka-Marienga.

The company has since changed hands several times ever since 1948, finally landing into the ownership of the Hindocha family. This was at the time when it was jointly owned by the government of Kenya as a parastatal on a 49 per cent shareholding with the a private company, which is associated with the Kenyan business magnate, Mr.Ketan Somaia, which had 51 per cent of the shares.

It owed its creditors billions of shillings in unpaid bills for the farmers who supplied the raw sugarcane, banks, contracted transporters, and its work force slightly in excess of 2000 , at the time it went burst.

Some of the workers were later to become destitute, as the company owed them salaries in arrears for several months, making it impossible for the lower cadre of workers to leave and vacate their houses at the farm, due to lack of money for their transportation back to their rural homes.

Farmers, large and small, were not paid for the cane supplied and crushed and the made sugar sold. The shareholders had entrusted its management to a private company owned and managed by a family of wealthy Asian businessmen in Kisumu and Miwani area.

But it finally went burst several years ago while it was managed and jointly owned by a firm which is associated with the controversial Kenya business magnate, Ketan Somaia and the government of Kenya on a 51 and 49 per cent shareholding.

The community wants to move back into their community farm and ensure it reverted to its original owners, if the government is not interested in the revival of Miwani Sugar Mills, but would contest any attempt top have it change its ownership.

The issue is a volatile one, and the local communities are just being restrained  from invading the farm and splitting it into small parcels of land plots. “It is our property. If its status remained the same and Miwani Sugar Mills is revived, then our people have no problem with that, because it will offer employment to the youths and other workers”, said Mzee Adell.

Mr Adell alleged that some cartel of wealthy Kisumu Asians, known to have perfected the art of land grabbing, have been heard bragging in private places that they will get the Miwani farm through the hook and crock. If the government allows this to happen, it will provoke serious racial hatred and unrest in the area.

Mzee Adell explained that the local communities have no problem with an investor who can buy the entire Miwani Sugar Mills and its supporting farms as well as its newly installed distilleries. “But we are vehemently opposed to the idea of selling Miwani property on a piece meal basis. If this is allowed, then Miwani will never be revived, and put back to production, something which the local community is eagerly waiting for”, Mr. Added went on to say.

Miwani file was among those submitted to the AG in a report covering October 1 and December 31 last year. KACC investigated and forwarded 33 files to Attorney General Amos Wako for prosecution.

But Mzee Adell said that his people were getting impatient because of the delays in  having the Miwani case taken to court. It is a sensitive issue, which needs to be resolved the soonest.

Ends
leoderaomolo@yahoo.com

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ONE YEAR IN OFFICE CELEBRATIONS AT HIS ANCESTRAL RURAL HOME IN ALEGO KOGELO APPEAR TO BE HEADING FOR A FLOP DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ONE YEAR IN OFFICE CELEBRATIONS AT HIS ANCESTRAL RURAL HOME IN ALEGO KOGELO APPEAR TO BE HEADING FOR A FLOP DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Nyang’oma Kogelo.

The much highlighted one week festivities planned for Nyang’oma village in Alego Kogelo in Siaya appear to have attracted less enthusiastic crowd than it was last year. The celebrations end today, but so far, none of the expected dignitaries has turned up to grace the occasion.

It’s organizers have been forced to cut down some of the events, as well as the duration, which were originally slated to take one week, but have now been reduced to only four days.

The organizers, however, are still optimistic that the US Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Michael Rennerberger, who was expected to attend, will still grace the event with his presence. Another important guest who was expected to attend is the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, who is currently on an overseas tour, putting his possible attendance in doubt.

The organizers of the event, led by Alego Kogelo civic leader, Councilor Okeyo Omedo, who is also the chairman of the celebrations steering committee, revealed that his committee was facing financial constraints, and this is what has forced them to cut down the duration from one week to four days.

He disclosed that the committee had forwarded its request for funding to the Ministry of National Heritage, with a budget of Kshs one million, but only received Kshs 50,000 which is inadequate. Moreover, the corporations that they had requested to chip in something have yet to respond.

The event, which is meant to celebrate the US President Barrack Obama’s inauguration in Washington D.C as the first black President of the most powerful nation on earth, kicked off this with several teams of tribal dancers, musical bands, football teams arriving from various locations, within the locality.

Most of the events are being held at the Senator Barrack Obama Kogelo Primary School, which is less than a kilometer from the Obama’ ancestral home, and also few meters from Nyang’oma market.

Those already arrived and converged at the venue, are members of Jo-Kogelo sub-clans, who traveled back to their ancestral home from many other Luo locations as far away as Rongo, Nyatike, Tanzania, Kano plains, Asembo, Ndhiwa, Kasipul-Kabondo, Karachuoyo, Asembo, Kisumo and  other places. The majority of this sub-clan members are living in Southern  Nyanza.

Since President Obama’s ascension to the presidency of the United States of America, this particular community, which is scattered in many places, has been elevated and placed in the highest esteem by their fellow Luos.

The Jo-Kogelo sub-clan, though scattered in many places inside Luo-Nyanza, have produced two MPs in Parliament. The incumbent MP for Kisumu Town West, Hon John Olago Aluoch, is a descendant of the Kogelo sub-clan, and so is the former Bondo MP, John Ougo Ochieng’, the man who is in record and credited for having vacated his Bondo parliamentary seat in favor of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in the early 1980s. Hon Ougo Ochieng’ hails from Asembo Kabondo, a sub-clan whose members are also the descendant of the larger Jo-Kogelo.

There is also a big concentration of this particular community in East Sakwa Location, Awendo-Division in Rongo district, in Southern Nyanza. Others are also to be found in Central Kadem in Nyatike district as well as in parts of Kodera in West Kasipul, Karachuonyo. Members of the Kanyakwar sub-clan, which has a big concentration in East Kisumo Location, in the outskirt of Kisumu City are also inter-related to the Kogelo Groups. This is the sub-clan of the present Kisumu Town West MP, Hon John Olago Aluoch.

Other members of this now important sub-clan are living in the North Mara region of Tanzania

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The case of the barren woman and a dead baby: Nurse in police custody for supplying the dead foetus for use in faking a pregnancy

A KAMPALA NURSE IS IN POLICE CUSTODY FOR SELLING A DEAD FOETUS TO A BARREN WOMAN FOR USE TO FAKE A PREGNANCY.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Police in Uganda have arrested a 29 year old Kampala nurse for allegedly selling a dead foetus to a woman who had faked pregnancy, and presented the dead child to her husband.

Shadia Nakanwagi, a resident of Kamwokya Central Zone, was arrested on Tuesday from a clinic where she works at Mulage Hospital, Kampala, following reports that she had helped Maria Gorretti Nantongo obtain the dead child.

Nantongo was arrested last weekend at her husband’s home in Makindye, a Kampala suburb, where she had taken the corpse of the baby, claiming to have delivered a baby, who had died soon after birth.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Henry Kalulu, said Nantongo had confessed to the police that she bought the corpse for Ushs 230,000. “Our investigations established that Nantongo went to the nurse with intent to purchase a baby, but the nurse only had a six months foetus”.

Mr. Kalulu said Nantongo wanted to use the dead baby to prove to her husband that she was fertile, but had a miscarriage. He suspected that the nurse got the foetus from an abortion process.

However, Nakanwagi, after being interrogated by the police denied selling the foetus or having any knowledge about it. She admitted that Nantongo had asked her for help, as she wanted to prove to her husband that she had actually delivered a child.

“Nantongo told me that she needed something to show to her husband that she had either had a miscarriage or had given birth to a baby who later died”, the nurse told the police.

The nurse claimed she performed an ultrasound scanning on Nantongo, but found no signs of pregnancy and advised her to return to her husband.

Both the women are currently detained at Kitwe police Station, located in the outskirt of Kampala City.

The nurse will be arraigned later this week, to answer charges of supplying drugs to procure an abortion and performing an abortion.

Last week, Nsangi magistrate found another woman guilty of giving false information to the Police and faking pregnancy, and sentenced her to a fine of Ushs 300,000 or 12 months imprisonment in default..

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Barua Kwa Raisi Kikwete Toka Kwa WANANCHI TARAFA YA NYANJA MAJITA MUSOMA VIJIJINI

Barua Kwa Raisi Toka Kwa WANANCHI TARAFA YA NYANJA MAJITA MUSOMA VIJIJINI

Kilio Chetu Kwako Mh Rais Wa Jamhuri Ya Muungano Wa Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

Sisi wananchi wa Musoma Vijijini Tarafa ya Njanja Majita tunapenda
kuleta kilio chetu kwako Mh. Rais tuliyekupigia kura wakati uchaguzi
uliopita na ambaye tutakupigia kura uchaguzi ujao 2010 ili uweze
kumaliza kipindi chako cha miaka Kumi katika madaraka.Tunakuomba usome waraka huu vizuri kasha utujibu sisi wananchi hata kupitia vyombo vya habari,hatutaki Mbunge wetu aje aseme kwa niaba yako kwani si mpenda maendeleo hasa huku Majita.

Tarafa ya Nyanja ina Kata 12 ,na kila kata kuna shule zaidi ya
moja,Tarafa hii inasifika sana kwa uvuvi wa samaki na dagaa hasa kule
Busekera,na baadhi ya vitiongoji vilivyopo kando kando ya ziwa .
Wananchi tunachangia kulipa kodi ya serikali kama itavyotakiwa
japokuwa hatujawahi kuambiwa ni kiasi gani cha kodi tumechangia katika mwaka wa fedha.

Tarafa yetu hii imekuwa na matatizo mengi sana na sugu ambayo
yametufanya tuachwe nyuma kimaendeleo ukilinganisha na upande wa pili wa musoma vijijini nazungumzia Butiama na vitongoji vyake . Nadhani hata wewe Mheshimiwa Rais ulipokuja kwenye Mkutano Mkuu wa Halmashauri ya Taifa miezi michahche iliyopita ulipata fursa ya kuonyeshwa maendeleo ya huo upande hasa kujengwa kwa shule za kisasa ambazo baadhi zao kuna Computer na madawati lakini kwa bahati mbaya Mbunge wetu hakuchukua jukumu la kukuleta wewe au mawaziri wengine katika tarafa yetu ili waone nini amefanya,huku majita hakuna kabisa alichofanya zaidi ya kutoa misaada ya mabati na genereta ambayo nayo ipo hapo takribani miaka mitano na itaoza.

Matizo tuliyo nayo sisi wananchi ni mengi ambayo Mbunge wetu
hameshindwa kuyatatua kabisa na kuegemea upande mmoja wa kwao.
Naomba nianzie upande wa shule za Msingi kwa ujumla shule si nzuri na hazipo kwenye hali ya kuridhisha kabisa ,wanafunzi wanakaa nchi
kutokana na ukoisefu wa madawati ,vyoo hakuna ,na isitoshe hata kama vyoo vipo basi vimejaa tayari Kwahiyo ,watoto wetu wanakuwa kwenye hatari ya kupata maambukizo kutokana na kutokuwepo na vyoo safi .Mbali na hilo shule hazina madawati ya kutosha ambapo wanafunzi wanakaa kwenye mawe kama enzi ya Mkoloni.Walimu pia hakuna kabisa,mtoto anamaliza shule hafahamu hata kuandika au kuongea kiingereza sababu kubwa wanadai uhaba wa walimu ,vifaa vya kufundishia hakuna kabisa japokuwa tunalipa kodi zetu kwa Serikali ili tuweze kunufaika kodi yetu.Kwa kweli Mh Rais kama kuondoa ujinga katika tarafa yetu hii itakuwa ni historia.Tunasikia kwenye radio kuwa kumetokea ubadilifu wa pesa za ualimu,Serikali inawasomi kwani wasitatufe njia ya kufatilia ni walimu wangapi wamelipoti kazini na pia kuwe na unique namba za ku track record za walimu.

Sekondari zipo 15 katika tarafa ya njanja ,tatizo ni uhaba wa ualimu
hakuna ,vifaa hakuna vya kufundishia wanafunzi,mahabara kw ajili ya
kufanya practical hakuna kabisa,watoto tunawalipia karo kila mwaka
lakini inapofikia wakati wa kumaliza shule na matokeo yakitotoka ni
zero ndiyo nyingi na wachache tu hawafiki hata 20 ndiyo wanachaguliwa kuendelea na kidato cha tano.Ili tatizo limekuwa sugu nenda rudi lakini hakuna uvumbuzi wowote ule,tumejaribu kumwambia Mbunge wetu amekuwa ni Mbunge wa kuturidhisha na vijibati vichache huku akiegemea kwake tu.Zaidi la hilo walimu hawaingii darasani kabisa na wanalipwa mishahara mwisho wa mwezi,kumbuka pesa ya mshahara niya walipa kodi.Inaumiza kama mlipa kodi hapewi huduma ya kuridhisha.Kadhalika amekuwa akijenga shule huko kwao tu na kupeleka wafadhili kuona maendeleo je huku majita hapaoni?na kama wafadhili wanatoa misaada je wanatoa kwao?Rais tusaidie ili na sisi Majita tuendelee.

Hospitali ambayo ndiyo huduma muhimu hapa katika tarafa yetu ya
Nyanja,cha kushangaza tuna dhahanati moja tu ya Mrangi ambayo
imekuwepo hapa tangu enzi ya Mkoloni hadi leo na haijawahi kufanyiwa
marekebisho ya haina yoyote yale wa upanuzi,Kweli Mh Rais fikiria
tu,tangu enzi ya Mkoloni idadi ya watu itabakia kuwa ile ile?Hapana
idadi ya watu imeongezeka sana kwa hiyo dhahanati hii ni ndogo sana na haiwezi kukidhi huduma kwa jamii kwa hiyo tunaishia kupoteza
watu,Mbali na hilo wakina mama wajawazito wanakufa sana hasa wakati wa kujifungua,sababu kubwa ni ukosekanaji wa wakunga na vifaa au wakunga hawapati mafunzo ya kutosha na siyo tu wakina mama pia watoto wetu wanafariki kila kukicha kutoka na kutokuwa na Zahanati nzuri na kubwa yenye huduma bora zikiwemo na madawa, Zahanati yetu hii wakati wote haina madawa kabisa.Mbali na watoto kuna magonjwa mengine yanatumaliza bila sisi wenyewe kufahamu mfano,Kisukari,Ugonjwa wa Moyo,Shinikizo la damu, Malaria , Transmission disease. Kisa hakuna waganga,ma nurse, mahabara, madawa, pia choo hazilidhishi kabisa.Kwa kifupi hudumu hakuna kabisa wakina mama,watoto,wazee wanakufa kila kukicha,kwa wale walio na ndugu wenye uwezo ndiyo watasafirishwa kwenda Musoma Hospital
kutibiwa japokuw ana yenyewe mpaka ufahamiane na mtu.

Huduma ya Maji hakuna kabisa ,bado wananchi wanasafiri mile 10 kwenda kuteka maji ili aje atoe huduma nyumbani,Kweli serikali inashindwa kupata wafadhili wa kusambaza maji majita wakati ziwa lipo?Kama Musoma mjini wamepata wafadhili kutoka Ufaransa na wemetoa kiasi cha bilioni 14 ,je sisi tunashindwa nini?Mbunge anafanya kazi gani?Yeye ni kwao tu ,tumechoka Rais na Mh Mkono. Sisi wazee tunakuomba baba utuletee mfadhili wa kusambaza maji safi.Mpaka tunazeeka hatujawahi kuona bomba japokuwa enzi za mkoloni kulikuwapo na bomba.

Barabara bado ni mbovu sana hasa ukizingatia tunatoa huduma ya uvuvi wa samaki huku ,wakati mvua zikinyesha inakuwa shida kubwa sana. Kwa ujumla barabara ni mbovu sana,kwa hiyo tunahitaji lami kama itawezekana Hatufahamu serikali inatoa kiasi gani cha pesa hasa katika tarafa yetu hii,sisi hatujui kabisa,tunasemewa na viongozi tu ambao hata kufika huku hakuna,report unayopewa niya uongo kwa wakandarasi hawajawahi kufika huku kujionea taabu tunazopata..

Umeme hakuna japokuwa ,tunasikia kwenye vyombo vya habari ya kuwa serikali ya Marekani ilitoa pesa kwa ajili ya kusambaza umeme vijijini lakini na kama ni kweli sisi wananchi hatupati taarifa kabisa hata Mh Mkono hasemi chochote.Hayo ni baadhi ya huduma kwa jamii ambayo kwayo sisi wananchi wa Majita hatupati na hatufahamu tunapata fedha kiasi gani katika bajeti.

Mh. Rais unaweza kutuuliza swali sisi wananchi kwanini hatujapeleka
haya malalamiko kwa Mbunge wetu ili yeye aweze kuyafikisha kwenye
vyombo husika vya Bunge?,Jibu ni kwamba Mbunge wetu ni shida sana
kumpata ,pia anatudharau sisi wananchi kwa sabau hatujui kitu na
hatujasoma ni kweli hatujaenda shule lakini ni vyema atusikilize sisi
lakini cha ajabu ,anadiriki kusema kwetu kwenye ubunge hawezi kutoka
kabisa hata msiponipigia kura ,anadai ataununua ubunge kwa gharama ya aina yoyote ile ili kwamba aendelee kubakia madarakani.

Hii inamaanisha kuwa rushwa itatolewa kwa wananchi hasa kwa wale
watakao rubunika ili kwamba wampigie kura mwakani aendelee kubakia
Mbunge.Mbunge wetu anadiriki kudharau hata baadhi ya viongozi wa kata na Wilaya kwa sababu ya pesa aliyo nayo na kuleta mabati tu,na kutoa vijisenti kwa mfano alileta generator kwenye sekondari miaka mitano iliyopita baada ya muda akaleta simtank la lita 1000 kutokea hapo hakuna kitu chochote kile ,sisi kama wananchi hatuna uwezo. Japokuwa vyote vipo hapo havifanyi kazi anasubiri uchaguzi ufike amwage pesa,khanga na vitenge ili achaguliwe tena.RUSWA AU TAKRIMA

Mh Rais sisi wananchi hatuelewi tunachangia kiasi gani kwenye kodi , na pia hatujui inatumika vipi,mbali na hilo serikali inatoa pesa kwakila
wilaya lakini sisi tukimwuliza Mbunge wetu hatuambii kitu chochote
kile,zaidi ya kutuambia nyie nyamazeni tutawaletea maendeleo wakati
yeye anaishi Dar es Salaam kwenye jumba zuri,tunafahamu ya kuwa anazo pesa nyingi sana ambazo hata kama akitokea mtu mwingine wa kugombea atamshinda tu.

Mh. Rais tumechoka kutawaliwa na watu wenye pesa kama hawa, hawatujali kabisa hasa pale wanapopata ubunge ,udiwani.Kazi yao ni kupeana posho lakini sisi wananchi tunaendelea kuteseka na hali ngumu ya maisha na kukoswa huduma kwa jamii.Tunashindwa kufahamu sisi tarafa ya Nyanja tunapewa kiasi gani cha pesa kutoka central government wakati wa budget,mbali . Mbali na hilo Mbunge ameshindwa kutuelezea matumizi ya pesa hizo ,Mkuu wetu wa wilaya hatujawahi kumwona zaidi ya kwenda ofisini kwake pale musoma Mjini.

Mh Rais imefikia wakati tunataka serikali yetu iwe ya wazi kwa
wananchi ili kwamba tufahamu ni nini kinachofanyika kwetu,wabunge na watenda kazi wanakula 10% kila kukicha,chukulia walimu hawaingii
darasani lakini ikifika mwisho wa mwezi wanalipwa na kuna walimu wengi ambao ni hewa na wanaendelea kulipwa mishahara.

Mh Rais kuna kipindi tuliomba jimbo ili likatwe mara mbili ili kwamba
na sisi tuwe na mbunge wetu,lakini lilipofikishwa katika mkutano wa
halmashauri kuu ya taifa ya CCM ,mbunge wetu alitupilia mbali hoja
yetu.Sababu kubwa ni Tarafa ya Nyanja ina vyanzo vingi vya utajiri
hasa samaki na dagaa ,pia kuna madini mbali na hilo kuna wapiga kura
wengi .Kwa Mh Rais tunahitaji kwa lazima kwa kufuata taratibu za
serikali ili na sisi tuwe na jimbo letu linalojitegemea. Mh.Rais
tunahitaji jimbo ili likatwe mara mbili ikiwezekena iwe ni wilaya
inayojitegemea.Au kuna sifa zinazohitajika kuwa wilaya?

Mbunge wetu anapoenda kwenye vikao vya bunge hatusikii chochote zaidi ya kusema amejenga shule lakini ukitazama shule nyingi zimejengwa upande wa kwako ,hii inaonyesha ubaguzi ambao na sisi hatuutaki kabisa,na pia hatutaki tufikie kukatana mapanga kama ilivyokuwa Rorya.Tumemchoka Mkono

Mh Rais kuna hii Basket Fund je na sisi tunafaidika vipi na huu mfuko
hasa vijijini?Mbali na hilo hatuna huduma zingine kama bank,vituo vya
polisi je lini huduma hizi zitawekwa?.Hata pia viongozi wa juu wa
Serikali wakija wanafikia Butiama na Wilaya zingine au kusikia Rais ,
Wawaziri ,Mkuu wa Mkoa amekuja kututembelea sisi wananchi zaidi ya
kuishia Butiama,tatizo lipo wapi?Kwanini wajita wamesahaurika katika
nyadhifa za juu za serikali hasa kwenye uwaziri na sekta zingine
?Tangu wakati wa Mwl Nyerere mpaka leo hii bado tupo nyuma jetulikosea nini Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano?.

Mh Mbunge (Mkono) amekuwa akija kwetu hasa kwa sabubu ya uchaguzi ambao umekaribia,na kutoa vijipesa vidogo kwa wananchi na kuhaidi kutuletea au kuto mabati kwenye mashule ,Na pia kukutana na baadhi ya viongozi wa Tarafa na kuwapa pesa kidogo ili waanze kampeni taratibu kwa wananchi .Sisi tunasema hapana hizi pesa chafu hatuzitaki kabisa na hazituletei maendeleo katika tarafa ya Nyanja. Tunafahamu anazo pesa nyingi sana na anaweza kufanya chochote ili aendeleaa .

Mh. Rais sisi wananchi na hasa kupitia wazee wetu ambao hawana uwezo wa kujieleza hasa kwa Kiswahili wameshindwa kuelewa uongozi wa huyu Mbunge tajiri Mkono,Kwani yeye ni Butiama tu na sehemu zake hasa upande wa kwao ndizo anazoendeleza na kutafuta wafadhili.

Sisi hatutaki Mbunge tajiri tena mfanya biashara kwa sababu hawa ndiyo chanzo cha kuwepo na vurugu ,rushwa na pia hawatusaidii .Tunadhani kutoka na kauli yako ulisema wabunge wafanya biashara ndiyo mwisho wao wa kugombea ubunge kwani wanaharibu sifa ya nchi yetu Tanzaia ,wanatumia pesa zao chafu kutuharibia nchi na amani na utulivu tulio nao.Tunaomba kama ikiwezekana tume ya kudhibiti rushwa itumwe huku kwetu kutadhimini hali ya uchaguzi wa mwakani 2010.pesa chafu zinameanza kutembezwa.Tunafahamu ya kuwa Mkono ni mjumbe wa NEC ila hasitumie ubavu wake ili kwamba kwenyekura za maoni apitishe. Wajita tumechoka kununuliwa kwa pesa Mh.Rais tunahitaji maendeleo yanayoonekana na pia serikali iwe wazi inapotoa fedha hasa kwenye tarafa yetu.

Kilio chetu tumekuwa nacho zaidi ya miaka 10 na hakuna ufumbuzi wa
matatizo yetu inawezekana unaletewa reporti yenye kupotosha , kwahiyo sisi wananchi kupitia wazee wetu tumeona leo tuchukue jukumu la kukuletea wewe mh rais ili jambo kabla ya mwaka kuisha kwa kupitia vyombo vya habari,

Tumemchoka Mbunge wetu kabisa japokwa anadai ya kuwa hakuna wa
kumwondoa mpaka hapo atakapoachia madaraka,pesa anadai anayo na viongozi hakuna wa kumtoa hata wewe Rais .Tukimpigia simu kutoa shida anatujibu vibaya kiongozi gani asiye tujali sisi tuliomweka
madarakani?.

Mh.Rais uchaguzi umekaribia sana tunafahamu sana utashinda tena
kupitia tiketi ya CCM na tutakupatia kura zote ila mbunge wetu hapana
tunaomba mtupatie jina ili kwamba sisi wananchi tumchague ., tumechoka kununuliwa kwa pesa chafu ambazo hatujui zimetoka wapi , sasa Mh Rais tumeamka na macho yameona mbali .Tunasema , RUSHWA HAINA MAHALI PAKE TENA, Sisi Tarafa ya Nyanja tunaomba wananchi wenzetu walio na matatizo kama yetu hasa wa Vijijini tusinunuliwe kwa rushwa ya baiskeli kwani inatulemaza kabisa.

Rais tunakuomba haya matatizo utupatie ufumbuzi wa kina hasa katika
Tarafa yetu ya Nyanja na pia tunakuomba kabla ya kuanza kampeni uje Tarafa ya Nyanja na kama siyo wewe basi waziri Mkuu.

Tunakutakia Heri ya Mwaka Mpya 2010

WANANCHI TARAFA YA NYANJA MAJITA MUSOMA VIJIJINI

Western Erotic techniques leads to divorce in a Kenya Village

Oyugis Woman says NO to husband’s new sex techniques.
Collins Odhiambo
Wed, Dec 23, 2009

What started as a mere bedroom squabble between a husband and his wife ended up with the woman leaving her matrimonial home.

The incident took place in Kasipul-Kabondo constituency on the outskirts of Oyugis town two Saturdays ago. The 39-year-old woman left after her husband, whom it later emerged is a porn addict, forced her to adopt new sex styles, 11 years after they got married.

According to a neighbour, the couple’s conflicting sexual preferences resulted in regular quarrels and fights.

Reading mischief in the husband’s sudden transformation, the woman reported it to the village elders and accused him of being unfaithful. According to the woman, the husband must have been cheating on her to learn such “weird styles”. The mother of two said the man was forcing her into positions that could make her throw up. “I have been asking him where he learnt such things, but he has refused to explain, and instead beat me up, insisting that I have to be flexible like other women, or cease to be his wife,” she complained.

According to the husband, they had lived for 11 years without a baby boy and he believed his new styles would work wonders.

Although the elders acknowledged he had a right to sex, they were unwilling to listen to his explanations because he had a poor reputation in the village. The man, who in his late 40’s, is a former primary school teacher, and was sacked over sexual scandals. According to an elder, the man was fired two years ago for attempting to defile a minor of nine.

Elders’ decision
The elders’ decision to force him to confess produced unanticipated results. After being whipped in front of women and children, the man pleaded for mercy and accepted to confess.

“I beg you people to forgive me so that I can confess. I watch pornographic films every evening at Oyugis town but I am not being unfaithful,” pleaded the man.

That evening the area chief, accompanied by the elders stormed the video show to see for themselves what went on there. To their surprise, there were rooms where men spent time with the young girls who usually attend the show.

The chief and his entourage impounded pornographic cassettes and magazines. Scores of young men and women were arrested. The video owner has since been arraigned in court.

The incident, which has been the talk of the village, has elicited mixed reactions. Many people have not been shy to give their opinion. According to a local council aspirant, pornography is the manual for exciting sex. However, staunch Christians think otherwise. According to them, pornography is to blame for the moral decadence in the region.

Meanwhile, the man’s wife has left with her two daughters to her parents’ home, saying she could not live with such a lecher who might soon turn to his own children. The man’s in-laws have refused to return the dowry, saying that it was their compensation after suffering disgrace from the man’s behavior.

Merry Xmas

Karachuonyo is a potential tourist destination in Western Kenya begging to be developed

KARACHUONYO CONSTITUENCY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY AND ITS POTENTIALITY AS A TOURIST DESTINATION IN THE FUTURE.

Second Profile By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

A political history of Karachuonyo constituency cannot be complete and comprehensive without mentioning one of Luo political giants of yester-years and a fallen hero.

This is the legendary Daniel Ojijo Oteko, who waged a war against the British Colonial rule in Kenya.

Ojijo Oteko died in suspicious and mysterious circumstances in 1944 at the peak of his active agitation against the country’s colonizers. His death arose suspicion that he was murdered by the British colonial masters.

At the time of his death, he had traveled to Kisumu. His mission, according to those privy to his story, was to have his nagging and painful teeth removed at the old Nyanza General Hospital. He was expected back home the same day. But this was never to be so. The great Ojijo Oteko was never to be seen alive again.

The information received by the family at home indicated that this great nationalist had died while in an operation theatre for the removal of one of his rotted teeth. The death raised eyebrows with the local people.

But what fueled most trouble and suspicion was the manner in which his dead body was handled by the Colonial Administration. It was brought back home under heavy police and soldiers guard. The coffin was completely sealed. Nobody was allowed to come close to the coffin. His wailing wife and relatives were kept at bay, at a safe distance by the soldiers, who had cocked their guns at the ready, to deal with anyone moving close to the graveside.

Up to this day, no one could tell whether the casket containing the remains of the late Daniel Ojijo Oteko was entered into his grace, which was later well cemented, with a concrete cross and inscription of his names, next to Wagwe-Pala road. And it was no surprise that some mischievous thugs recently dug out the body and stole it.

The rumors making the round at the time, was that Daniel Ojijo Oteko was injected with drugs that induced death by sleep, and that his head was separated from the rest of his body and sent to the UK, in similar fashion as the colonialists had done with the great Nandi Orkoyiot {Laibon} koitalel Arap Samoei in 1905, after he was lured into a fake reconciliation meeting and shot dead by a white officer.

Daniel Ojijo Oteko served the colonialists as a telegraphic officer at Maseno. There he linked up with early Luo nationalists like John Paul Olola, Barrack Owuor, Nathan Ojungo Otumba, Nyamunga Gor and others, and formed what was first known as Kavirondo Taxpayers Association around 1922, and became its Secretary General in 1926. The Association became popular by the name “Piny Owacho”, which loosely translates as “The Country has said”.
The Association is reputed to have established the link with the much more radical and aggressive Kikuyu Central Association{KCA}, led by the late Hurry Thuku.

Ojijo left Maseno and settled in his native rural home at Kanjira in West Karachuonyo. His leadership quality  was quickly realized by the local population who elected him to the African Local Native Council {ALNC}.

The visit to Karachuonyo by the KCA leaders from Central Province made Daniel Ojijo Oteko a marked man under security surveillance for twenty four hours. On one occasion, as the story goes, and this happened at the peak of the Second World War, Ojijo Oteko was walking towards his home. On the way, somewhere near Wagwe Health Centre, he met with  soldiers driving a large herd of cattle, which were seized from their owners at gun-point.

The soldiers were under the command of a white officer in the rank of a District Officer, a Mr Morgan Walker from the Kisii D.C’s Office. Ojijo Oteko inquired about where the animals were being taken to, and was told that the animals were destined for Kisii, and would eventuality be slaughtered, and the beef taken  for feeding the African soldiers fighting alongside the British and allied forces, fighting against Adolf Hitler’s German forces.

Ojijo Oteko engaged the DO in classic queens English, telling the white officer how Karachuonyo community had contributed hundreds of young soldiers to the KAR, and as such cannot part with their animals. He ordered the animals be returned to their rightful owners.

The heated argument alarmed the soldiers, who were armed with guns. They got scared, and sensing the danger of possible rioting by the natives, the white officer concurred with Ojjo Oteko, and released the animals back to their rightful owners. This was the turning point in the life of the late Ojijo Oteko, as the colonialists, working in cohort with their local chiefs and collaborators, increased their surveillance on him wherever  he went.

This particular incident also earned him a nick name “Ojijo polo Mor Yimbo”, which loosely translates {Ojijo the thunderstorm is roaring in the west}.

A year later, he was pronounced dead and buried secretly under heavy armed guards.

Karachuonyo Tourism potential
Karachuonyo is an area which is potentially important as a tourist destination in Western Kenya. It is a place, which is filled with pre-historic scenarios, like the volcanic lake “Simbi Nyaima”, the crocodile shaped rock which is located on the hill top near Kadel in Kibiri area, the hot spring which produces Bala mineral salt for animal feed on the eastern slopes of Huma-Hill. The hill has many folklore and folk tales. The Kipsigis community calls it “Tiluet ab Kumiyat” loosely translates {The Hill of Honey}.

Simbi Nyaima lake is the seasonal home of the ever migrating flamingos from other places like Lake Nakuru, Lake Baringo, Lake Natron and other lakes in the Rift Valley. The bird sojourns the lake once every year and then flies out. Deep and strikingly smelling, lake Simbi Nyaima is not suitable for swimming, as it is said to be the deepest, and has some internal connection with Lake Victoria, although its waters are salty.

The geological story of Simbi Nyaima differs sharply with  the tales of the local communities. The volcanic lake is as old as  six centuries. It came about as a result of tremor or earthquake accompanied by volcanic eruption, perhaps in 1680, according to geologists and technical experts.

But according to the local community, Simbi Nyaima was a curse and bad omen brought upon a community which was greedy and full of arrogance.

It is said that an ugly and starving woman had visited the village at Kolonde, near Lake Simbi Nyaima, and asked to be given shelter and food. She came when the villagers were  busy feasting on native alcohol {beer} in a homestead, and animals were also slaughtered.

On seeing the dirty and ugly woman, the villagers sent her away. Her attempt to get food was thwarted by the work of several able bodied men, who gave her escort out of the beer hall and homestead.

The dirty, ugly woman took shelter in the next homestead, where she found a young woman with her four children. This particular woman gave her food, and after she had warmed herself around the fire place, the ugly woman asked the woman if she was married. She replied in the affirmative, and the ugly woman instructed her to go to the beer hall and call her husband.

The young woman did that, but when she told her husband that it was the ugly woman the group had expelled from the beer hall who was calling him, the husband slapped his wife and sent her parking.

She went back to her children and narrated the incident to the ugly old woman. The ugly woman, in turn asked the woman to collect all her children and that they should leave the home as quickly as they could.

They did this, and no sooner had they stepped out of the village than followed a heavy downpour, accompanied by lightening. It rained continuously for twenty four hours, and the whole village was flooded, and the people at the beer party all got drowned in the water. The people and their domesticated animals perished.

And that is the  genetics of the lake “Simbi”. The events happened  during the time when the inhabitants of the area were the Luo sub-clan called Jo-Waswa, who were the earliest inhabitants of what is today called Karachuonyo. They were followed immediately by Jo-Wagwe, Jo-Kagan and others, with jo-Karachuonyo, the largest group, arriving much later, followed by the Jo-Kano groups.

The Jo-Waswa are today scattered all over Luo-Nyanza, and the bulk of them live in the North Mara or Tarime district in Tanzania. Few of them are also scattered amongst the Jo-Kano sub-clans.

The Kendu-Bay Pier, which was built by the defunct East African Railways and harbors in the early 1930s could be used as a jetty for both motorized boats and steamers as well as big ships. And even for water sporting purposes. It used to be the place for calling steamers and lighters, which were ferrying grains from Southern Nyanza for storage by the NCPB in Kisumu. But for close to two decades, what used to be one of the busiest piers in Lake Victoria is now idle.

There is plenty of scenery for birds watching. What is required is the implementation of the forty year old sleeping Western Kenya Tourist Circuit, which was formulated as a tourist attraction policy in 1966, but which has never been put into effective use.

Another industry, which has yet to be fully exploited is the doormats making processes around Otok, Kiltal  and other places in Central and East Karachuonyo.

As for communications, these important roads need to be upgraded to be all weather:
(1)The road leading from Kendu-Bay Kanyadhiang’ Bridge to Pala in West.
(2)The road crossing the West from Pala via Gogo back to the main Homa-Bay Kendu Bay road at Kandiege.
(3)The Oyugis Kendu-Bay road via Kosele.
(4)Gendia Mawego-Kadongo road.
(5)Mawego-Rakwaro and Mawego Sino-Kagolla-Sikri road.
(6)Mawego-Kadongo as well as Mawego-Rakwaro.
(7)Mawego-Kokwanyo-Sikri and back to the main Kidumu –Oyugis Kisii road.
(8)Another important link is the Kadiedo-Omboga-Karabok road and so many other small feeder rand access roads.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

COURT INJUCTION ON PROPOSED GEM DISTRICT

GEM DISTRICT QUARRELS AND WAR OF WORDS INCLUDING COURT INJUNCTION

GEM DISTRICT ISSUE

By Felix Owaga Okatch

wuod Gem Nyawara

The issue of district headquarters is now generating a lot of heated debates and discussions among us in Gem, Kenya and the rest of the world. It is has put us on spotlight as JoGem mane ochiew chon. The inauguration ceremony which was to take place at Sawagongo/Nyangweso on Friday 4/12/09 was postpones to 8/12/09 and this time again the postponement was due to a court injunction to stop it.

Some say that the headquarters should be at Yala, others
Nyangweso/Sawagongo and some Nyawara Chiefs Centre near the famous Gem Hall.

It is now heading for name calling which should not be the case.

As JoGem, we are generally ahead of most Luos and we need to maintain that status as had been set by our fathers, grand fathers, leaders like Odera Akango, Odera Ulalo, Odera Sande, Ogada etc.

Even our elected leaders since independence of Kenya have guided us well despite many challenges and changes in time and space.

For this reason it would be good for us to debate honestly, with sober minds and do so intelligently, based on the circumstances on the ground. This will enable us come out with amicable solution to the problem.

To appeal to Jo Gem and illustrate that we have a common descendant, I take this opportunity to share with you in DhoLuo, a brief history of GEM.

Oral history of JoGem as recorded by Shadrack Malo in his book on Luos of Central Nyanza states that:

Joka Gem ne gin Anyanga, Kwenda gi Ojuodhi.

Anyanga nonyuolo wuowi achiel ma nyinge Nyakota. Kuom yawuot Gem adekgo,ariyonochamoni Anyaga chira nikech ginyuolore ahinya, mit koro Anyanga onindo ei Ojuodhi.To kawa wach moro nitie moriwo Joka Gem duto, Kwenda gi Ojuodhi podi gimiyo Anyanga duog’ mare, tinde ni ka gir liswa moro nitie to Jokanyanga ematieko. Anyanga ema ne duong’.

Luos are superstitious people and have evolved by principle of
primogeniture, that is respect to first borns to avoid bad omen.

Kwenda nonyuolo yawuowi abirio:
Uwoga,Thomo,Rariw,Nyikwaya,Gilo,Wiri gi Were.  Kuom yawuowi abiriogo, auchiel ema karegi ochung’maber . Were kare oke kendo en ema ong’ere ni Kanyiwuor. Kuom JokaGem adekgo Kwenda onyuolore ahinya to Ojuodhi oloye mana gi ongenda maduong’.  Ojuodhi nonyuolo yawouwi abich magin; Ndolo (Ulolo), Okwiri, Adhaya, Opiyo gi Odongo Achier.  Kuom nyithind Gem adekgo emane onyuolore ahinya.

Higni mokadho kapodi Jasungu obiro Yala, delini momako Kwenda kod Ojuodhi ne gin kaka :

KWENDA
Korango ka Ndeda, Odendo Kowino, Yath Olalo Kokach,  Kombok, Osira Kolare,  Ndori Kayuo,  Nyaolo Kolweru,  Gombe Kowuor Aluru, Ramula Kodundo,  Gamba Korege, Siala Kaduol, Yenga Koriwo,  Lwand Minyowo,  Bar Kopata, Bar Kokong’o, Uriri Korek,  Siriwo Kogweyo, Pundo Kosare, Sipoklo Kaduol, Gongo Kachuth,  Migosi Kodiembo, Nango Kaserwa, OmindoKamagundho, Bar aumara, Masogo Onuro Yath,  Nyandiwa Kotina, Nyawara Kogwel,  Uyonga Kondier,  Muhanda Kobodi, Luri Karadier etc

OJUODHI
Maungo Kanyalia, Uhanya Kanyamwanga,  Murumba Kodera Rangira, Got Nyangwira Kodera Ulalo,  Lwanda Koloo Ramoya,  Jemo Kodera Rangira, AnyikoKaluoch (sgt. Maramba Koluoch grandfather to Felix Okatch), Ulumbi Kaweyo,  Marenyo Kogot,  Sagam Kachola,  Lihanda Kowuor,  MudhineKadet Obondo, Rabuor Kodwar Osumba,  Uranga Kodera Ulalo, Umiru Kanyangao,  Muhanda Kotwenyo,  Dudi Kagina, Ukaya Koyoo,  Sirandu Koyugi Anyango,  Ngolo Kanyanjom,  Lundha Kolwande wuon Oduge,  Rang’ala Konyalo,  Hundro Kowuodha, Wanyiegore Komeno,  Nyabeda Kolero,  Ndegwe Koriwo,  Bar Otwero Komenya,  Nyanya Kouko wuon Akumu,  Ng’ut Mbaka Kowenga, Kamuyare wuom Magolo,  Nyanya Kajaoko,  Ochok Tong’Konyango,
Umdongo Kowendho, Usiku Kosure etc.

FELIX OWAGA OKATCH

Tel: 254-721-735489

THE BATTLE FOR THE CONTROL OF OFAFA HALL RAGES ON AS RAILA GROUP TAKES IT OVER BY FORCE

A SHAMEFUL BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWO WARRING LUO EDERS GROUPS RAGES OVER THE CONTROL OF OFAFA MEMORIAL HALL IN KISUMU CITY.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

A silent, but shameful battle between the two warring groups of Luo Elders rages on despite an impeding hearing of a judicial review in court next week, to determine the ownership and custodians of Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu City.

The battle is pitting the Luo Council of Elders and the Luo Elders, Cultural and Development. Each group is claiming legal custody of the property of the defunct Luo Union East Africa, which include the Ofafa Memorial Hall.

A group led by the Luo Council of Elders early this week forcefully moved and took the possession of the Ofafa Memorial Hall, and placed pad-locks in all its entrances. The group under the command of Mr Edward Adera Osawa, the deputy chairman of the Luo Council of Elders also posted a dozen of youths, or political goons, who are now guarding the building on  a day and night basis.

The original trustees, led by the former Chief of Police Michael Ochieng’ Obiero, were last night reported to be contemplating posting their own guards to the facility, causing fears of possible physical confrontation between the supporters and guards of the two groups at the facility.

According to a document in our possession, the Minister for Land James Orengo, had registered the new group of trustees on November 20th,2008 . The group of the new trustees consist of Mr Seth Oluoch, Joseph Oyuga Tado and Meshack Okello Ouma. This group was granted registration by the Minister for Land James Orengo, allegedly at the instruction of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, despite the fact that another group of trustee, comprising of David Oluoch Opar, Wera Ambitho and Obare Aura had a registration still in force until October 2010.

The group that is backed by the Luo Elders,Cultural and Development, which is claiming to be the de facto custodians of Luo Union East Africa, a defunct welfare and cultural organization, moved to the High Courrt and obtained court injunctions that barred the Luo Council of Elders from entering the Ofafa Memorial Hall or carrying any businesses therein.

The status quo still remained the same, and the group further moved to the court for judicial review, whose hearing is schedule for December 16th,2009. The The original trustee now view the move by their rivals, and the forceful taking over of the Ofafa Memorial Hall as an act of flagrant defiance of court, which amounted to an open contempt of court.

But the Luo Council of Elders, under the leadership of “Ker” Meshack Riaga Ogalo, claimed that the instruction permitting them to move and take the possession of the property of the defunct Luo Union East Africa had come from above, implying it had come from the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.  Politically, the group is closely associated with the ODM party and allied to Mr. Odinga, and on occasions acting as his political pressure group inside Luo-Nyanza,

The memorial Hall was constructed with funds collected from members of the defunct Luo Union East Africa, which had its headquarters in Kisumu, but with strong and vibrant branches in Nairobi, Kampala, Dar Es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret, Jinja, Tanga,, Kericho and in all other urban centres in the entire East African region.

The original trustees of the Luo Union were Pastor Joel Omer, F.Adala Otuko and Mathews Ondiek in East Africa. The three were registered as the trustee of the organization on 3rd August 1956. And the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, acting as the first Ker of the Luo Union East Africa, with Mr. Adala Otuko as the organization’s secretary general. The group launched the funds drive for the construction of the multi-million shillings Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu the same year.

The Hall was built as a monument in the memory of the late Mr. Ambrose Ofafa, one of the pioneer African Councilors in the City Council of Nairobi. Mr. Ofafa was shot and killed on Jogoo Road, in an area adjacent to Burma Market and Kaloleni estate, when his car had stalled by the roadside.

A gun man shot him dead. The killing was suspected to have something with the Mau Mau uprising, which was taking place at the material time, under the State of Emergency, which was declared by the  Colonial Governor in Kenya, Sir Evelyn Baring on October 20th,1952.. Another City Councilor, Mr Tom Mbotela, was also slain by the suspected Mau Mau adherents. The two were suspected to be collaborators with the colonialists.

After its completion and official opening in 1961, Ofafa Memorial Hall has remained under the custody of the Trustees of the Luo Union  East Africa all these years. But in the 1980s, the retired President Daniel Arap Moi banned all the tribal welfare organizations, the Luo Union East Africa included. During this ban period, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, while acting on his capacity as the patron of the Ramogi Institute of Advance Technology {RIAT}, handed over the management of Ofafa Memorial Hall to the Institute, which in turn turned it to be its Kisumu City Campus.

But the trustees moved to the court and secured the Hall back to its original status. This was after it had been established that Jaramogi was no longer a trustee of the Luo Union East Africa and therefore had no right of transferring any of its assets to another organization, without the express consultation and permission of the trustees.

This was the turning point, which was followed in earnest by the seemingly endless  legal tussles before the courts.

The Ofafa Memorial Hall has other facilities, such as a bar and restaurant, offices, church house and is believed to be earning close to Kshs 80,000 in rents each months, and the battles seemed to be targeting its resources.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Ever changing pattern of Rangwe politics is full of contradictions and intrigues

THE EVER CHANGING PATTERN OF RANGWE POLITICS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO STAGNATION OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AGRICULTURALLY RICH CONSTITUENCY

Local Rural Feature by Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Rangwe electoral constituency, in Homa-Bay district, in the greater Southern Nyanza, is an area which is full of contradictions, controversies and political intrigues.

This centrally situated semi-rural constituency, which was previously the largest, and known as Homa_bay constituency, before it was sub-divided and split into two constituencies, namely Rangwe and Rongo constituencies, has had the highest turnover of MPs, eleven in total ever since its inception in June 1963.

Those political giants who have had the opportunity of representing Rangwe’s electorate are the late Ngala-Abok {1963-1969, Aloys Phillip Achieng {1969-1974}, the late Isayiah Owalla Orwa {1974-1979, Phares Oluoch Kanindo “Galamoro”{1979-1983 and 1983-1988}, Prof Joseph Ouma-Muga {1988} and Raymond Oloo Ndong’ {1992}.

Prof Ouma Muga never had a chance of completing his first term. He was expelled and dismissed by the KANU big-wigs in very intriguing circumstances somewhere midway on his term. The man who completed this term was a former banker, Raymond Oloo Ndong’, who won the seat in the subsequent by-election that followed the controversial expulsion of Prof Ouma Muga from both parliament and the cabinet, where he was serving as an Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

This was during the 1988 and 1992, when the constituency, then the largest, was covering from Kochia on the Karachuonyo Homa-Bay border, to the Luo-Maasai border in South Sakwa Location, in what is today Rongo district.

And when the first multiparty general election were called, Prof. Muga, who after his expulsion from KANU, had joined hands with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s Ford-Kenya party, bounced back and won a parliamentary term for the second time, but this time on a different political party, and in a different constituency.

The newly created Rongo constituency was then won by the late John Linus Aluoch Polo on a Ford-Kenya ticket, sealing the fate of KANU politicians in Luo-Nyanza for the first time, a trend that has continued haunting the party of independence up to this very moment.

After the death of the late Jaramogi in January 1994, there came a major fallout between the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa, who had taken the mantle of Ford-Kenya, after a bruising battle with the late Odinga’s son, Raila Amolo Odinga.

A large number of Luo MPs joined Raila’s bandwagon in the newly formed National Development Party of Kenya {NDP} . However, those who insisted that they must stay put in the party of their mentor, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, were to be consigned into political limbo in the 1997 general elections, as they were swept out by the euphoria of NDP in Luo-Nyanza.

They were James Denis Akumu {Nyakach}, Aloo Ogeka {Muhoroni}, Clarkson Otieno Karan {Nyando}, Ra,ogi Achieng’ Oneko {Rarieda}, John Linus Aluoch {Rongo}, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o{Kisumu Rural}, and Otieno Makonyango[Alego-Usonga}. They were all voted out in the new waves of the LDP, which was simply baptized as {Luo Dar Pile}, simple interpretation “Luos are always on migratory politics”. The only Ford Kenya Luo MP who retained his seat was James Aggrey Orengo {Ugenya, and the green horn Joe Donde[Gem}.

The two, Orengo and Donde, however, were not lucky in 2002. They were swept out in the bonfire of the Narc Kenya euphoria.

After Prof Ouma Muga lost his Rangwe seat in 1997, then came the youthful firebrand, Dr Shem Ochuodho. But the outspoken top computer scientist immediately fell out of favor with Raila Odinga, and his brief parliament career was brought to premature end in 2002.

Ochuodho was floored by the much experienced corporate manager and wealthy politician, Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi. The former managing director of both Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Bureau of the Standards, however, is being credited by the electorate for having done a good job.

Okundi was voted out when a former County Treasurer and Clerk, Martin Otieno Ogindo, won the controversial election, which only fell short of sparking off the sub-clans warfare between the populous Jo-Kanyada group and the Jo-Kochia.

Rangwe is made of five major sub-clans of the Luos. These are Jo-Kanyada, Jo-Gem, Jo-Kagan, Jo-Kochia and Jo-Gongo. Jo-Gem groups are loosely related to Jo-Kochia in a loose alliance called {Nyang’ur}. This alliance has always given candidates from the Jo-Kochia sub-clan upper hand in Rangwe elections of the past.

Out of the eleven MPs who have represented this constituency, the Jo-Kochia have had a lion’s share. Four of the eleven people who have had the opportunity of representing both Homa-Bay and Rangwe constituencies hailed from the Jo-Kochia sub-clan. They were Clement Ngala Abok, Aloys Phillip Achieng’, Prof, Ouma Muga and Eng. Phillip Okoth Okundi. The sub-clan’s rival, Jo-Kanyada had two of their own representing the area. These are Raymond Oloo Ndong’ and the incumbent Martin Otieno, Ogindo. The Jo-Kagan have had only Dr. Shem Ochuodho, while the second largest sub-clan, Jo-Gem, have had no representation and so is the minority Jo-Gong.

Rangwe constituency remains one of the most populous and the largest constituencies after Kasipul-Kabondo, Rongo and Ndhiwa. Sub-division of the constituency would bring the clans rivalry to an immediate end.

Out of all the ten previous Mps, only Phares Oluoch Kanindo represented the constituency for two consecutive five year terms. The rest were shown the exit door after only one, five year term. This has contributed to relatively poor record of development, making the constituency to be one of the most backward in the region.

The upper parts of the constituency, covering areas like Marindi, Rodi Kopany, Asumbi, Rangwe are rich with arable red soil, which is capable of producing maize, sornghum, bananas, sweet potatoes and sugar cane as cash crops. Some parts of Gem are good for production of coffee and tea. The local still prefer keeping zebu native cattle, instead of the more economically viable grade cows.

Northern areas of Rangwe constituency, especially Gongo location, which is neighboring West Kasipul and Bonchari locations, is rich in agriculture and produces a lot of maize. Kagan locations are suitable for ground nut, cattle rearing and production of maize, while upper Kochia is suitable for production of pineapples and ground nuts and other domestic crops. Lower part of Kochia has good black soil, which is good for production of cotton. There is also intensive fishing activities along the shores of lake Victoria in both Kochia and Kanyada locations.

The amount of work put on the ground as far as modern farming is concerned is negligible. In many parts of the constituency, the land is still lying fallow, with peasant preferring to cultivate small plots for family subsistence. This is making only paltry contributions towards the effort to eradicate poverty among the rural folks.

There is a lot of laxity in approach to modern farming, though the area is endowed with good annual rainfall, particularly in areas of the upper part of the constituency, which are close to the ever-green Riana Valley. In upper Kanyada, covering Marindi and Ongeng’, along the Kanyada-Kabuoch locations, the land is fertile for both maize and sugar cane crops. The farmers here only needs someone to motivate them so that the area could be turned into a bastion of food granary in the region.

However, there are serious allegation against the current MP, Martin Otieno Ogindo. He has deserted the constituents, and poorly supervises the needy projects being funded with CDF and other devolving government funds.

All the projects in the constituency were initiated by his predecessors, including the African Development Bank funded Oluch Nyangweso irrigation scheme, which is so important to the communities living around Oluch River on both sides. This river is the natural boundary between Rangwe and Karachunyo constituencies. The Project was initiated by Eng. Phillip Okundi.

The rumours making the round in Homa-Bay Municipality and its environs is that the Rangwe MP has deserted the electorate. He has taken his entire family to Nairobi and rarely appears in the constituency. The disbursement for the CDF cash money for the budgeted projects is being poorly executed by his political cronies and sycophants. Most of them are semi-illiterate busy bodies, who are armed with half-baked elementary education, not being conversant with the government accounting system.

The MP therefore is likely to join the long list of one term MPs in this particular constituency, which is so famous for cutting short the careers of many politicians, after only five years, sometimes less.
At the moment, the individual personalities whose names are being mentioned as possible candidates, come the year 2012 include that arrogant, strikingly and excessively wealthy Mumias Sugar Company Managing Director, Dr. Evans Kidero, who hails from East Gem, near Asumbi Teachers Training College and the RCM Catholic Mission.

Eng. Okundi, going by his clean and most illustrious record as a development conscious person, would definitely not shy away from making a second shot at the constituency politics. Okundi is a close political associate and friend of “Agwambo”, whereas the incumbent Ogindo is being accused of wavering between Raila and William Ruto’s camps, with no clear cut sorts of convictions.

The man who appears to be the darling of the youths and women, is the US based intellectual, Dr. George Omburo, who hails from Kochia. If this young man choses to stand, he will give both Okundi and Ogindo a run for their money. Taking into account that the youth are the majority of voters, Dr. Omburo seems to be leading the pack in so far as popularity in Rangwe.

Dr Omburo’s fame came as the news from the United States, filtering back home, said he was one of the key fund raisers among Kenyans living in America for the ODM, and Raila’s presidential election campaign of 2007. ODM is the darling of the residents of Homa-Bay region, and the name of Dr. Omburo is frequently coming out in almost every political conversations and gossips, though he has yet to make his position known publicly as to whether he will join the race or not.

As for Dr. Kidero, it will cost him a fortune to be able to convince the electorate to vote for him, because it is being alleged that he a man of class and inaccessible to the ordinary Wananchi, However, of late, he has been trying hard to bend his lifestyle. Other hurdles, which he must clear includes the claims that he belong to a minority “Wakeru” sub-clans, which is suspected to be of the Luo Abasuba descendants . This particular sub-clan is considered as immigrants and not indigenous Jo-Gem people.

These are some of the hurdles ,which Mumias Sugar-Guru will have to clear, in order to market himself and endear himself to the electorate . Dr. Kidero is said to be one of the few wealthy Luos who are allegedly bankrolling the ODM. Of late, he has bee going round Rangwe constituency, attending funerals and giving hefty cash donations towards the various Harambee fund drives. Other remote, and seemingly unfounded allegations against the Mumias boss, is that he is fond of making use of political hirelings and goons in settling old scores, with his perceived political enemies, either real or imaginary.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

In support of Harmonized Draft Constitution

PRESS   RELEASE.

November 23, 2009.

From Nyanza Council of Church Leaders comprising of 240 Churches.

WE as Interdenominational Church leaders from Nyanza Province would like to support the committee of Experts on the constitution, for a job well done.

As Men of God, we would like to take this early and utmost opportunity to make an impassioned appeal to all Kenyans to fully rally behind the harmonized Draft and support it.

At the same time we agree with sections of the Draft that seeks to whittle down some powers of the t President.

It is for the simple reason that Kenyans have for many years suffered and had immense problems at the hands of an imperial head of state..

As people who talk when driven with the spirit of God, we are humbled to submit that Presidential Powers should be devolved in the direction of the Prime Minister.

As members of the Nyanza council of Church leaders, we feel that the ongoing debate on the harmonized draft is healthy, but should not be narrowed down to individual parties or groups.

The stand taken over the weekend by a number of leaders, that the Draft should not be trivialized around parties or individuals, is quite in order.

The church fraternity in the country, including ourselves, is perplexed by rules given out by the Minister for environment, John Michuki, over noise.

Our stand is that the rules are repugnant and an affront to our faiths, and do not promote the freedom of worship, that is enshrined in the constitution of the republic of Kenya.

The rules should be suspended henceforth since it negates the very principals that are enshrined in the constitution.

We need the noise in order to target the modern youths. During the time of prophets and even John the Baptist, they preached outside with noise. We totally disagree with the Minister to return us to dark days.  Soviet Union and Eastern Germany, they banned Churches from preaching outside,  and plunged their Countries to poverty far worse, Compared to America and Britain.

Signed By:

Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede. H.S.C.

CHAIRMAN NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS.

HIV AIDS prevalence in Usigu Division

Hi, am trying to get information regarding the above subject and cannot get anything. All documentation on HIV prevalence in Kenya doesnt have detailed information on such areas or even Bondo. The talk is all about the reduction of rates in the country but Nyanza area doesnt have that story. Could you kindly suggest which websites I could get the information?

Txs

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Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 10:38:55 -0400
From: rebecca mutuli
Subject: HIV AIDS prevalence in Usigu Division