Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya: Suba region is the richest area within the Homa-Bay County

News Feature By Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town.

Sub-region, which is part of the Homa-Bay County, the largest in the greater Southern Nyanza is potentially and versatile in facilities which could rack in millions of shillings in terms of revenue collection if such resources could be properly developed.

Suba region is covering areas like Mbita and the newly created Gwassi administrative districts. This region along with its abundance resources is capable of making he vat Homa-Bay County one of the richest among the 47 counties countrywide.

It potential source of the resources and revenue include tourism, fishing and fish trades, hidden minerals, pre-historic sites and its proximity to the cross border trades across Lake Victoria and the neighboring states of Tanzania and Uganda.

Mbita and Gwassi parliamentary constituencies are parts of the eight parliamentary constituencies, covering Kasipul, Kabongo, Karachuonyo Rangwe, Homa-Bay and Ndhiwa, which forms the larger Homa-Bay County. The region needs only he good governance to be put n place at its administrative headquarters, which is located at Homa-Bay Town. The regional headquarters can now be accessed by good tarmacked roads via Rongo and also via Kendu-Bay in Rachuonyo North district.

The pre-historic sites on the twin islands of Rusinga and Mfangano could also be accessed by roads using the ultra-modern Ndori-Luanda-Kotieno road in Bondo that links Kisumu and Mbita Towns. Here the visitors could be ferried in a von voyage 40 minutes journey of crossing the narrow Nyanza Gulf using well maintained and serviced Mbita Ferries.

The Mbita Ferries, a company which is owned and managed exclusively by he local entrepreneur maintains two ferries with one sailing across while the other one stand by in case the one sailing across the channel is stalled in the middle of the lake.

The yet to be fully developed tourist attraction sceneries include Ruma National Game Park in Lambwe Valley, pre-historic sites on Rusinga and Mfangano Islands, Gwassi and in Rachuonyo. It is also a versatile region for lovers of birds watching and fishing leisure.

Ruma National Game Park is rich in abundance game animals of all species, and it is the home of the rare Roan Antelope, a very special species only found at the Simba Hill Game Reserve in Kwale district at the Coast and also in the famous Kruger National Game Pak in the Republic of South Africa.

The park is also housing other wild animals species like elands, reed-bucks, water-bucks, bush-bucks, Rothschild’s giraffes, tofi, the rare waiter antelopes which is only known in vernacular language as “Nyambaja”which resides on the summit of the nearby Ruri Hills and only occasionally come down to the plains in search of drinking waters during dead hours of the night. But only seen by the locals and visitors during the drought and dry spells of time when grass on the hill tops are burnt down by poachers.

However, the “Big Five” namely elephant, lions, rhinos are missing from the list f the wild animals currently stocked in the park. But the fifth which is evasive leopard is there with a few herds of the fiercest buffaloes, which rarely comes out of Bungu-Ruma forest. There are other predators like Hyena.

Next to Ruma National Game Park is the Gwassi Hills which reputed as being full of tree with medicinal substances and herbs. The beauty and value of the Gwassi Hills have in the recent years been vandalized due to intensive human settlement and farming. However, a Kisumu based NGO, the OSIENALA working in collaboration with foreign based financial agencies has made frantic efforts to save the Gwassi Hills with an intensive reforestation program, which has seen millions of tree seedling being planted on the hills and illegal settlers, sent packing.

Also located near Nyandiwa Trading Centre in Central Gwassi is the famous pre-historical site known as “Nyamgondho Wuod Ombare”. In this place mystery human foot-prints and those f domesticated animals could be seen on the rocks, especially during early morning hours when the lake waters are so clean.

The foot-prints are related with the mythological story of an estranged wealthy woman who rebelled against her foster husband and walked back into the lake where she had earlier on been fished out by Nyamgondho a fisherman after some alleged serious family disagreement. The woman is said to have run back to the lake and disappeared with all her worldly wealth including her domesticated animals.

The newly to be instituted County government must go out full blast and source the funds with which t could support the local entrepreneurs to establish luxury hotels and the beaches on both Rusinga and Mfangano islands, Gwassi, Kaksingiri and Rachuonyo North districts along the shorelines of Lake Victoria a part of tourist attractions.

Another pre-historic site s the two rocks resembling the fighting bull which stands a few kilometers off Wanyama beach in Rusinga Island. The stories go that the bull christened Nyama-Gi-Ware, representing the families of two brothers who are ancestors of the Waware and Wanyama sub-clans. One bull as the stories goes belonged to Mnyama while the other one belonged to his brother Ware. It is being alleged that the bull had fought fiercely until they enter into the lake waters while locked their horns and turned into permanent rocks erected inside the lake.

At a place called Soklo Kipenji, which is an island located off the Mirunda and Malela beaches I Lambwe Location, the story goes that the rock island is inaccessible by any human being. Travelers sailing from Rusinga Island to Homa-Bay town are always getting a forewarning not to ask about this mysterious island as their canoe, boats or dhow passes by the uninhabited island. A common and popular say goes that I the early 1930 two British tourist had made an attempt to land at the rocky island and all disappeared without trace to-date. Even local fishermen keep a safe distance from the rocky island while on their fishing expedition in nearby areas. The place, the local fishermen says even birds such as fish eagles and other kept away from.

Other potential spot for the possible development of tourist attractions includes the volcanic Lake Simbi Nyaima in Central Karachuonyo, which is also the center of attraction to lesser flamingoes and other migratory birds during certain period of the year.

Homa-Bay County is also endowed with abundance mineral resources such as the now disused Awuoro Mines in West Kisipul, Limestone in Lambwe Valley, the suspected uranium deposits in Gwassi and other parts of Suba region, gold, copper and nickels.

The region therefore required men and a woman of the highest caliber to man it is resources to generate revenues and good governance to be in place.

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KENYA: OTIENO KAJWANG’ HAS SWITCHED FROM DEFENDING HIS OTHERWISE SAFE MBITA PARLIAMENTARY SEAT TO CONTEST THE HOMA-BAY COUNTY SENATE; IS IT A BLUNDER OR POLITICAL SUICIDE?

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The sudden change of heart, which has seen the Immigration Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ in a surprise move to contest the Homa-Bay County Senate seat instead of defending his otherwise safe Mbita parliamentary seat, has thrown political thinkers in the region into a total confusion. Political pundits were quick in suggesting that the Minister’s move is a “big blunder or a political suicide”, that could see the Minister’s early ext from the local political derby in the region.

For Kajwang’, the man who had done very little in his Mbita constituency in terms of development to wine the voters in all the eight parliamentary constituencies would be an up-hill task.

Residents of Mbita says this is Raila’s secret scheme aimed at locking out of regional politics the people of Suba origins who are believed not to be in his favor.

Local pundits, however, maintains that the move has some political connotation and intrigues involving a scheme suspected to have been hatched with the blessing of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga with express purpose of creating a safe parliamentary constituency for the entry into the August House by a young son of his father’s long serving aide, the late Mbewa Ndede.

The late Mbewa Ndede, was among several Luos who were rounded up by the KANU regime under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi and taken to the Nyayo House Torture Chambers, tortured and later prosecuted for being members of the outlawed “Mwakenya” underground movement.

The late Mbewa Ndede was convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labor. He completed his jail sentence and after his release from prison he succumbed to injuries which he had sustained during the interrogations at the Nyayo House Torture Chambers and died. The rumor making the round have it that Raila Odinga wants to compensate the family by supporting the youthful Eng T.J.Mbewa an engineer working with the Roads Ministry as an engineer.

Insiders have informed us that Raila Odinga is interested in sponsoring one wealthy NGO executive in the name of Phares Ogweno Ratego a resident of Rusinga East Location. On June 19th this year Raila Odinga attended the burial of one Mrs Turphena Agutu Okombo in Kolo village, which is close to the homes of both Ratego and the nominated MP Millie Odhiambo, Before flying out to Ndhiwa where he and President Mwai Kibaki and other government leaders were in attendance during the burial the same day of Mzee Michael Ojode Oteno, the father of the Assistant Minister for Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode at Ratang’a Central Kwbwayi in Ndhiwa district.

MIllie Odhiamb is by far the most favorites of the voters in Mbita due to her consistency and enormous and regular contributions in parliament on issues of national importance. She is has yet to made up her mind as to whether should be running for the County women Senate seat or in the Mbita parliamentary seat. Kajwang’ decision to switch position from defending her parliamentary seat to the wide open contest of the County Senate seat is viewed by local political pundits a an act of gross miscalculation and an act which could easily cost him his long an rewarding political career.

The Immigration Minister was among the youthful politicians who had branded themselves as the “Young Turks” who together with other joined hands with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and vigorously campaign for the re-introduction of political pluralism system, which saw the death of the old KANU monolithic one party system.

He won the Mbita seat during the first multi-party election in 1992, and has repeatedly successfully defended his seat ever since. The Minister, however, had a lackluster performance and poor track record of development, something which could not augur well in his ambition to become the Senate representative of the Homa-Bay County, which is covering eight parliamentary constituencies and perhaps the largest in this region.

He will therefore join the race for the Senate seat with less than 10 per cent support and backing from his home constituency to battle with others in areas unknown to him.

The Homa-Bay County Senate seat covered areas like Gwassi, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo.His chances of galvanizing votes in Kasipul and Kabondo constituencies is ruled out. This is because it was Otieno Kajwang’ who was used by Raila Odinga and spear-headed the controversial ousting of the influential Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo, from the mantle and leadership of the moribund Luo Council of Elders from his office. And as such the residents of the two constituencies where Ker Riaga Ogalo has enormous influence will definitely vote against Kajwang’.

He is unknown to the voters in Ndhiwa constituency, and known not to be getting well with the people of Suba origins from both Gwassi and Mbita. He is said to be banking on the support of the residents of Gembe and Lambwe Valley his home turf locations. Gembe area includes Mbita Town, which is has a mixture of residents from the various Luo- sub-clans operating in town as traders and government workers and fishermen.

Kajwang would face much more awkward situation f the Ndhiwa MP Joshuia Orwa Ojode, whoi is an Assistant Minister for Internal Security make up his mind to contest the same Senate seat as it is being rumoured. Ojode would join the race with a solid support and backing of Ndhiwa residents, and area which he has turned into ne of the most vibrant area in terms of socio-economic development. Before Ojode was elected to represent Ndhiwa, the agriculturally rich region was considered as one of the most backward areas in the greater Southern Nyanza region.

Ojode and Kajwang’ are sworn political rivalries ever since the latter was named it full cabinet slot by Raila Odinga during the formation of the grand coalition government and Ojode was relegated to a junior position of the deputy Minister. Ojode had previously served as an Assistant Minister for education during the brief period of KANU/LDP merger under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi. He was re-appointed an Asistant Minister under President Kibaki’s Narc government, but following the out of the 2005 constitutional referendum voting which pitted Kibaki on one side and Raila Odinga on the other side, Kibaki which resulted on the government under the slogan of Banana and Raila’s group Orange symbol, Kibaki kicked out government ministerial positions Raila and his supporters. The President offered Ojode a full cabinet position in the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. But the latter turned the appointment down in solidarity with Raila and his colleagues.

Surprisingly when Rail and Kibaki formed the current coalition government of PNU/ODM, Ojode was relegated to the junior position of the deputy Minister. The abrasive Ndhiwa MP took an offence and considered himself as having been short-changed by Raila, who in turn brought to the government Kajwang’ who is a green horn and also Dalmas Otieno who only joined ODM the other days shortly before the 2007 general election. Otieno prior to this was the National Vice chairman of KANU, but ditched KANU in eleventh hours to secure an ODM ticket which enabled him to win Rongo Seat.

After the formation of the coalition government Ojode has stayed away fro all the public functions involving the Prime Minister leading to suspicion and insinuations from other quarters that he had turned out to be a sympathizer of PNU, the accusation which the Assistant Minister has vehemently denied. Unlike the position of the Homa-Bay County governor, the Senate seat has attracted very a handful aspirant. They are the former Kasipula Kabondo MP William Oloo Otula and a Ndhwa politician –cum-business man Hilary Ocheng’ Alila, who is also the ODM coordinator of youths in Nyanza. Alila is a successful businessman operating in both Nairobi and Kampala Cities. His candidature has drawn large support from mainly youths and women. In the case of the governorship position, the bruising battle is expected between the three leading contenders, namely Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi, the immediate former Rangwe MP, Dr. Mark Matunga, the leading computer technologist working with Microsoft International.

Other who have declared their interests in the County governor’s position included the incumbent Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo, a Mbita businessman Opiata Ogada and others who are considered as” big jokers”.

Rumor, however, persist that Raila Odinga is not comfortable with the people of the Suba origins, and that “Agwambo” is still nursing the old wound of the ideological battle between his father the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the late charismatic leader and KANU secretary General Tom Mboya that saw Odinga being edged out of KANU and post-independence cabinet of the late founding president Jomo Kenyatta. Many people in this region want Raila Odinga to forget politics of four to five decades ago and work with the people’s choice of leadership in this region for the better A and success of the ODM as the way forward.

An incident which occurred in few months leading to 2007 general election could be a testimony to this claim. Sammy Wakiaga a civil servant and a prominent Nairobi based businessman was heading for a landslide election victory over Otieno Kajwang’ in Mbita constituency on an ODM ticket. But what emerged later was that Raila Odinga had prevailed upon Wakiaga to step down and wait for other job opening up in the event of the ODM forming the government. Wakiagais said to have reluctantly chicken out of the race giving the room for Kajwang’ to retain his seat comfortably. Wakiaga has since then kept a low profile and always steered clear of local political derby.

Kajwan’ who hail from Waondo sub-clan, which is not related to the Suba group is said to have joined the anti- .groups within the ODM and that is why is just about to vacate his parliamentary seat in favor of TJ Mbewa a member of the Karachuonyo sub-clan from Kobuya, but not in genuinely in favor of Ms Millie Odhiambo or Phares Ratego as such hoping that the this strategy will also work against the populist Dr Mark Matunga another Suba from Mfangano Island who is vying for the County Governor position, and who appeared to have already galvanized big support from the two Suba districts, namely Gwassi and Mbita. Major Luo sub-clans who will be voting for Country Senator, governor and other regional representatives ickude, Jo-Gwassi, Jo-Kakisigiri, Jo-Rusinga, Jo-Mfangano, Jo-Kanyidoto, Jo-Kanyikela, Jo-Kwabwayi, Jo-Kanytamwa, Jo-Kabuoch, Jo-Kanyada, Jo-Gemn, Jo-Kagan, Jo-Gongo, Jo-Kochia, Jo-Karachuonyo, Jo-Kasipul and jo-Kabondo.The region covering an area which is close to 140 kilometers in length and about 60 and 70 in width. The area stretches from Sondu-Miriu nd goes up to Mfangno Island and other mall islands scattered Lake Victoria. The region consist of people from diverse background grouped together in eight districts and it would be an up-hill task for anyone who does not control home turf votes to win any of the County positions.

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Four partner states in the EAC region to relax travelling documents to members of the EAC

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo.

Four partner states o the East African Community have resolved that national identity cards issued to the citizens by member states can now be used officially as the inter-states travelling documents instead of passports.

From now onward citizens of the four countries, namely Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi can use their national identity cards as the recognized official travelling documents in the region.

Information emerging from the Arusha-based secretariat of the EAC says the four nations are in the process of issuing electronic identity cards that will be used as travelling documents. The EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera made the disclosed of the decision by the four states during an address to the just concluded symposium of the East African Legislative Assembly MPs.

The symposium was held to mark the tenth anniversary of the EALA, the political umbrella of the community.

Among the principal speakers at the workshop was the retired President f Kenya Daniel Arap Moi who urged the partners states to hasten the creation f the pliticalfederati0n so as to harmonize the regional integration The seminar brought together close to 300 experts, professional and academicians from the region who gathered in Arusha to brain storm on several contentious issues affecting Africa’s most vibrant and successful economic bloc.

“I am informed that Kenya is making arrangement to issue the electronic identity cards to its national by September this year, ”said Dr Sezibera, adding Tanzania has n t made the decision yet, but he urged Dar Es Salaam to do so in order to harmonize travelling documents that will enable free movement of people as provided in the Common Market Protocol.

Dr Sezibera also stated that though the East African Passports should be an international travelling document it uses was rather cumbersome for the citizens of the region.

The Secretary-General was responding to the various issues raised by the EAlA MPs during the symposium.

Other requirements for free movement of persons across the EAC border include a single tourism visa.

He speaker f the EALA Abdirahaman Abdi raised the issue passports having to be stamped so many times a s one moves within EAC states occasioning the need to fast-track the issuing of travelling documents acceptable for use in the region.

“People must have travelling documents that will not be stamped at the point of entry or exit,” says the Speaker.

The Common Market is yet o be fully operationalised as some of the requirements are not yet in place. Electron8ic readable cards is one of the documents EAC partners states are required to issue to their citizens to facilitate the four freedom in the region-free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

Meanwhile an expert has advised the EAC partner states that they will have write a constitution to oversee the implementation of the much touted political federation of East African states.

The Deputy Secretary General Ms Beatrice Kirasi one of the brain behind the Community’s successes while addressing the EALS workshop held specifically to disseminate findings of a study conducted on key areas of the federation. She said this was one of the major proposals made by experts to oversee the operation of the regional economic bloc.

“Existing individual EAC states national constitutions have very little regional integration issues.”We have proposed the drafting of an EAC constitution that will have to be negotiated to oversee the political federation after adoption of a monetary union,” she said.

The proposed EAC constitution will accommodate those of the five EAC partner states, she said, adding that a number of constitutional provisions in existing individual EAC member states would be retained under the political federation. Kiraso said that the election of presidents in the EAC member states would be retained under the political federation.

Kiraso said the views recorded during the workshop would be presented to the EAC Heads of state summit to chat the way forward before the end of the year.

Presenting a paper entitled “A comparative Study on the Structure and Functioning of Federation, a Kenyan scholar Prof Tom Ojienda who is also a Commissioner in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission said there are a number of convergences and divergences in the five constitutions of the EAC member states {Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi} that can be harmonized to drive the process.

“The executive, judiciary and legislative framework in the EAC are similar in a number of ways including election of presidents and MPs. However, there is divergence on the terms that the president is expected to serve,”

In the four of the five EAC member states, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, the constitution allow the president to serve foe two terms or fixed periods. In Uganda the number of terms for the president is unlimited,” he said, adding that this will have o be harmonized in the long run.

A scientist at the Dodoma University and a leading Kenyan scholar Prof Amukwa Anangwe was among hose who presented papers for debate and studies during the workshop. The latter is also a former Cabinet in the Ministry of Health.

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Kenyans alarmed as lightning kills 20 people within one week

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

TWENTY Kenya were strike dead by lightening at different locations and districts within last week alone.

Experts maintain that this is the highest figure ever reported in the country’s history of natural calamities ever since 1960/1961.

On Sunday, he residents of Minjeiwa village in Keiyo South district in Elgeyo/ Marakwet County within the North Rift gave a tearful send off a 46 year-old mother and her seven children.

The entire family of eight was wiped out plus their two sheep when the thunderbolt struck their grass thatched house last Saturday evening as they assembled waiting to be served with the evening meals.

All the eight were burnt beyond recognition, while utensils were strewn all over the compound. The only living things were chickens. All the eight victims of catastrophic death were buried in mass grave.

A neighbor who heard the deafening blast rushed to the compound and saw the house on fire. When he peeped his eyes through a window, he saw the bodies were on fire.

Alice Chemurgor, a 46 year old, was living alone with her seven children after separating from her husband a couple of years ago. The husband did not attend the funeral. And in according to the Kalenjin customs people killed in search tragedies are buried immediately after which a cultural cleansing ritual will be performed by the elders from both families of the failed marriage.

Last Friday, three pupils at Toku Primary School, South Kanyajuok in Kamagambo South Location, Rongo district in Migori County were also struck dead by lightning. The thunderbolt injured more than 30 other pupils when it strike heir classroom during the late afternoon down pour. The injured were rushed to Rongo sub-district Hospital and to other medical institution within the nearby districts where most of them were treated for burns and discharged.

The Rongo MP who is also Kenya’s Minister for Public Service, Dalmas Otieno, visited the school lat Saturday and consoled the bereaved families. The Minister and the residents of the area later conducted an impromptu Harambee fund drive and raised money for the assistance of the bereaved and the injured pupils families to secure medical treatment.

Las Sunday afternoon at abut 6.30 pm lightning strikes once again and killed a man. Mzee Obura and his son was taking shelter in a house at Pala, in Pala Division, Ndhiwa district, in the County of Homa-Bay when the tragedy occurred. His body has since been taken to Homa-Bay district hospital morgue. His son received treatment at Ndhiwa sub-district Hospital.

Also killed in the previous week were three pupils of a primary School in Nyamira district within the Gusii County, and one pupil died in Trans-Mara East district when he was strike by the thunderbolt as he walked home from school during dressings.

In Silibwet in Kirinyaga district, a school girl was last Sunday struck dead and he companion seriously hurt while they were walking home after attending church service.

Other incidents involving lightning death have been reported in Trans-Nzoia, Mt.Elgon, Baringo, Bomet, Trans-Mara, Gucha, Kisii, Nyamira, Rongo, Homa-Bay, Bungoma, Kakamega, Molo, Kericho,Bomet, Bureti,Keiyo, Marakwet and other areas which are located on the highlands west of the Rift Valley and areas close to the Equator. It is also common within the locations and villages neighboring Lake Victoria. But Kenya still comes third after Zimbabwe and Zambia. The highest incidents recorded in 1984/85 were 166 people struck dead in Zimbawe. During the same period more than 220 died in Zambia while Kenya lost 186 lives during the same period under review.

Incidents of lightning tragedy usual occurred during the beginning of the short rains I the month of August and September, and also at the beginning of long rains which comes between April and July.

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THREE KENYAN LAKES EARNS UNESCO RECOGNITION AS WORLD HERITAGE LISTED SITES ALTOGETHER WITH THE 400 YEAR OLD FORT JESUS NATIONAL MONUMENT AT THE COAST

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

The pre-historic monumental site Fort Jesus the 400 year old, which is located at the Kenya coastal town of Mombasa has been inscribed into World Heritage list by the Unesco.

Fort Jesus therefore becomes the sixth Kenyan to get into UNESCO list.

Also inscribed were three Kenyan hinterland lakes, Elementaita, Bogoria and Nakuru,which have now joined the coveted Unesco’s World Heritage List.

Refereed to as the Great Rift Valley Lakes System, the three lakes is an integral part of one of the largest bird migratory routes sustaining 75 per cent of the global population of the lesser Flamingoes.

It also supports one of the major breeding colonies of the greater white pelican and provides a vital wintering ground for over 100 species of migratory birds.

The three lakes have been recommended for inscription by the International Union for Conservation of Nature {IUCN}.

Kenya’s Minister for National Heritage William Ole Ntimama in his reaction after receiving the t news from Paris, France hailed the inscription terming as a milestone for the country’s tourism.

“We are happy that Unesco has noted the heritage value of the three Kenyan lakes, which are located I the north and central part of the Rift Valley Province,” said the Minister.

IUCN, the independent advisory body on nature to Unsco presented the finding of its comprehensive evaluation of the natural value of 13 monumental sites to the World Heritage Committee.

With new additions announced last Sunday at the meeting in Paris, France, number of the natural and mixed sites now stands at 210.

“It is wonderful to see these spectacular lake site I Kenya and their rich birds life, achieving recognition as natural site of the highest global importance,” remarked Mr Tim Badman, the director of IUCN’s World Heritage Programme during the Paris event.

“We especially welcome this inscriptions, as the first natural World Heritage listed in Africa since 2007.”

A total of 35 nominations, including natural, cultural and mixed properties are being reviewed by the committee, which is holding its 35th session at the Unesco headquarters in Paris, France.

On Monday this week, Fort Jesus, which is more than 400 years old, was also identified as of outstanding universal value.

Fort Jesus become the sixth Kenyan heritage site to get into the Unesco list, The facility’s national monument and the museum principal curator Mbarak Abdikadir said the recognition is a major win for the residents of Mombasa City and Kenya’s tourism industry.

“It means our effort in conservancy and maintenance have been recognized the World over. This is expected to bring in more local and foreign tourists who may wish to find out what makes this Fort unique,” he said.

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Kenya: Battle for Kisumu County governor’s position has intensified following the entry of Mumias sugar top manager

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By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The forthcoming contest for the position of Kisumu County has taken a new political dimension following the entry into the race by several leading personalities in the region.

The former Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Peter Raburu is among those rumored to be eyeing the County’s Governor seat. If Raburu plunge himself into the contest, he will have to square it with Jack Ranguma a fellow clansman from Kano Kobura sub-clan. The latter is a former KRA senior official who at one time served s the joint receiver manager for Muhoroni Sugar Mills Ltd.

The majority of those who have already shown interest in this seat hail from the Kano plains with exception of Peter Hongo, the head of sales with the Mumias Sugar Company Limited in Western Province.

Others who are being rumored as having keen interest and claim on the seat include Walter Adell Kitoto, a prominent Kisumu City based businessman, the deputy clerk of the National Assembly Owino Omolo.

Adell Kitoto is the chairman of the powerful RIDOKAM {Riwruok gi Dongruok Mar Jokano Manyien}, a social welfare organization whose aims and objectives is to empower the people of Kano sub-clans economically.

The County of Kisumu is one of the largest, and only next to Homa-Bay in terms of geography and population. It covered seven parliamentary constituencies, namely Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando, Kisumu Town East, Kisumu Central, Kisumu Town West and Seme. It will be housed in Kisumu City as its new administrative headquarters.

The region’s main economic stay is sugar cane farming and sugar factories. There are four white sugar manufacturing mills. All located in the Nyanza Sugar Belt, namely Miwani Sugar Mills, Chemelil Sugar Company, Muhoroni Sugar Mills Limited and Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries. Other economic activities in this region include fishing and fish trades.

There are also three other manufacturing industries, namely Agro-Chemist plant at Muhoroni, Kisumu Molasses, situated at Otonglo within Kisumu Municipality and the run down Miwani Distillery, which together with Miwani Sugar Mills are currently under the official receivership.

All the industries when operation according to their manufacturing capacity have a combined labor force of about 12,000 . But owing to the recent economic recession, most of these industries are currently operating at half capacities of the production turn out.

The construction and the completion of the much expanded and improved Kisumu Airport is expected to enhance economic activities and confirm the City as the “Gateway” to east African true to its coined name which has been associate with Kisumu for ma Southern Sudan and other countries within the Great Lakes Region.

Horticulture and vegetables farmers in the highlands west of the Rift Valley will be able to export their crops via Kisumu Aiport as the facilities expected to accommodate bigger passenger and cargo planes on daily flight to Europe and other destinations.
Kisumu City s served with four connection highways, namely the Kakamega road, Kisumu Ahero Kericho and Ahero Oyugis-Kisii road, Kisumu Maseno and Kisumu Bondo road all tarmacked.

Kisumu County is bordering Kericho in the South East, South Nandi in the Northeast, Vihiga in the North, Siaya in the Northwest Bondo in the west, Rachuonyo South in the South East and Rachuonyo North in the Northwest and also the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kavirondo Gulf}.

Local political pundits says Peter Hongo, the Mumias sales corporate director has a head star. This is because he hails from the Jo-Kisumo sub-clan where there is no one else eyeing for the same position.

Hongo is said to be an outgoing personalities who is liked by many people, particularly the youth and women. It is being rumored that the ODM Secretary General who is also the Minister for medical services Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o is currently considering the option of switching from defending his Kisumu Rural Parliamentary seat and contesting the Senate seat for the Kisumu County instead.

If Nyong’o joins the race for Senate seat, he would have to face off with the like of the populist Eng Maxwell Otieno Odongo, a Nairobi based architect Ochola Ogoda, who was once the chairman of Gor Mahia Football Club.

Ogoda is originally from Nyakach, but has since settled in the Muhoroni Settlement Scheme.Other rumors making the round says that former Nyakach MP Peter Odoyo is also keen in contesting the Kisumu County governor’s seat. But Odoyo could not be reached immediately. Another personality who is being mentioned as the possible aspirant for the governor’s seat is the US based Kenyan who is an accountant Fred Otieno Waga. He too hails from Jokano-Kobura sub-clan.

If clan’s politics raises its ugly head during the campaign, then candidates from the majority Jo-Kano from the Kano plains could have the advantage and one of the could clinch the seat. But hey could at the same time disadvantaged by the fact that there is likely to be more contestants from the same clans and sub-clans, and someone like Peter Hongo who is a resourceful person might stand a better chance of winning the governor’s seat in Kisumu County.

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Tanzania: CHINESE to construct another multi billion railway line in Tanzania’s mineral rich Southern region

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

TANZANIA, Africa’s third largest gold producing Africa nation has envisaged plans to construct a railway line to open up its mineral rich Northern region to boost the country’s coal and iron ore revenues.

The planned rail project is estimated to cost a colossal amount of money to the tune of USD 1.5 billion {Tshs 2.3 trillion}.

The 850 kilometer railway line whose construction is set to begin next year, will link coal and iron ore mining projects in Mchuchuma and Liganga respectively to the Mtwara port in Southern Tanzania.

The deputy Minister for Transport Athumani Mfutakamba was last week quoted in the local press as having made the announcement while in the country’s political capital, Dodoma that negotiations between the National Development Corporation and Sichuan Hongda Corporation of China over the necessary infrastructure were at an advanced stage.

The Mchuchuma iron ore and Liganga Coal reserves located in the Southern highlands have the potential to create an estimated 40,000 jobs to spur iron and steel industries in the country and boost coal exports.

The project will be the second largest single operation since the 1970s when China built the USED 500 million 1860-kilometer long Tanzania-Zambia Railway line {TAZARA} from Dar Es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi,

Another senior government official disclosed that investor in the Liganga and Mchuchuma iron ore project has set aside Tshs 10 trillion {USD 625 billion} for the project implementation.

The Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Marketing Lazaro Nyalanda said the project is expected to contribute between 20 and 25 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Coal deposits at Mchuchuma which is located near the border of Malawi and Mozambique are provisionally estimated at 1253 million tones while iron ore deposits in the Liganga area are estimated to be 45 million tones. These are to be exploited jointly to stimulate an iron and steel industry that depends largely on the agricultural sector.

Transport Minister Omari Nundu in his part said the railway line will boost trade with neighboring Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.

“The railway line will attract passenger traffic because of the huge potential in mineral and agricultural activities in the region, said Minister Nundu.

Thd Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo reported that the government plans to spend USD 34 million in 2011.202 financial year in conducting feasibility studies and detailed design of Mtwara-Songea-Liganga railway line.

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Kenya: When Raila came face to face with placard waving youths demanding that he keep off Kisumu Mayoral election

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

For the first time in his long and rewarding political career, the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga last Saturday came face to face with placard displaying youth in Kisumu City protesting against his involvement in the mayoral election.

The youths were protesting against the re-election of Kisumu Mayor Sam Okello whose tenure comes to an end on July first. The embattled Mayor had accompanied the Prime Minister t the School’s function which was held at Nyamasaria Primary School within Kisumu Municipality.

A group of 17 Councilors allied to Okello’s rival Odhiambo Oyolo who is the Town’s Planning Committee were notably absent at the function.

The group skipped the function and were reported to have gone underground in their hideout believes to be somewhere in Entebbe City in Uganda to strategize how to dislodge Okello, The Kisumu Mayoral election is slated for July 1st.

One of the placards reads “Raila we love as a democrat, but Mayor Okello must go home”. We support Coun. Odhiambo Oyolo {Soldier} for Mayor.

More noisy and unprintable words displayed in placards unfolded at the nearby Oyile Market when the Prime Minister asked Mayor Okello to address the residents.

Raila criticized the move by a group of civic leaders opposed to Mayor Okello for displaying the placards at the function saying they were hired to disparage the mayor. “

“What can a new Mayor achieve in one year? We don’t want politician when some people hide somewhere in attempt to win the mayoral election”.

Raila’s remarks were viewed as veiled attack against a group of 17 Kisumu Municipal Councilors who are said to have gone underground, reportedly hiding in the Ugandan City of Entebbe to strategizing about how to win the Mayoral elections.

The previous weekend a group of elders led by Ker Willis Otondi the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders accompanied Mayor Okello to Raila’s residence in the posh Milimani estate and pleaded with the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure the status quo remained unchanged at the Kisumu Town Hall.

But Raila who initially appeared to be neutral referred the Otondi and Okello team to the ODM party branch chairman Dave Okwatch to convene the meeting and have the matter resolved.

The two camps later on Tuesday the previous week, but no deal was struck any consensus reached. And the branch chairman Dave Okwatch later stated that his office would remain neutral on the issue of Mayoral election to enhance democracy.

Other sources confided to us that the group opposed to Mayor Okello had ignore the ODM reconciliation effort and was determined to ensure the Mayor was ousted on July 1st at all costs.

Mayor Okello has recently come under scathing criticism over his style of leadership with allegation that he has become one of the most expensive Mayors. His critics are citing his frequent trips overseas and in the region at the expense of the Council and the rampant sales of the town’s land plots.

The Mayor’s critics says that the impending administration of Kisumu County would run into trouble because it will have no land to offer to the new potential investors.

Other accusations being level against Okello include excessive arrogance and having presided over the Council which had gone into rampant sale of the Council Houses and land spaces in Town..

During the Nyamasaria meeting last Saturday, two Kisumu MPs John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town West} and Shakil Ahmed Shabir { Kisumu Town East}who were also present steered clear of the Mayoral election.

At the time when Mayor Okelo was brought to Kisumu and hastily nominated to the Council by he ODM on Raila instruction he was said to be an industrialist operating in the Coastal town of Mombasa and that his being the mayor of Kisumu would be an asset to the town because his presence will attract more investors. But throughout his tenure of office no tangible investment has come up in Kisumu.

Okello was previously a staunch KANU member a leader and perennial election loser in Muhoroni constituency on KANU ticket,but only switched to the ODM after losing the Muhoroni parliamentary seat to the incumbent Prof.Patrick Ayiecho Olueny.

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Kenya: Sugar Millers In Nyanza engaged in a war of attrition over row cane and harvsting zonal dispute

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The ongoing scrambling for raw cane from the farmers by millers in the Nyanza Sugar-belt is a blessing in disguise to the growers who for many years have been subjected to a lot of suffering, delayed harvestings and other injustices.

Three sugar milling companies are currently engaged in the war of attrition over cane harvesting zones with claims of intensified poaching of raw materials and encroachment on each other’s cane growing scheduled zones.

The Millers involved in the cane harvesting war include the Chemelil Sugar Company, Muhoroni Sugar Mill and Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries based at Kibos in the outskirt of Kisumu City.As the result of competition, the prices of row can has gone up with Kibos paying Kshs 3300 per tone, while Chemelil is paying Khs 3200 whereas Muhoroni Sugar mill is paying Khs 3100 per tone.

The two factories Chemelil and Muhoroni are public owned enterprises, while Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries is privately owned by a family of entrepreneurs. The latter is much more aggressive to an extent that it has constructed and established cane yards in places previously considered as exclusively Chemelil Sugar Company’s vane growing zones.

Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries has established weighbridge and cane-yard near Awasi only a few kilometers from Chemelil Sugar Factory and another at Chepsweta on the main Kisumu-Miwani and Chemelil road also approximately about eight kilometers from Chemelil sugar factory, an action which observers viewed as aimed at encircling Chemelil and preventing the factory from receiving row cane from its cane growing zones.

But the management of Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries has responded with argument that they are acting within the law taking into account the recent liberalization process. The liberalization process now allows a cane farmer to sell his crops to whichever factory or whoever he wished to do business with.

But the crux of the matter is the competition over the prices and the mode of payment. Kibos sugar Factories pays the farmers promptly on delivery of the row cane. It takes less than three weeks for the farmer to collect his cheque once his delivery is confirmed.

In Chemelil and Muhoroni the payments now takes up to one month. In the old days, this could take as many as six months long after the delivery is made, cane crushed into made sugar and sold to the consumers before the farmer received his money.

The situation is made difficult by the fact that Kibos sugar factory has got no nucleus estate farm of its own, and depends entirely on out-growers in other factories growing and harvesting zones in the outlaying districts prompting the outcry of “cane poaching”.

During its construction, the investors ignored the laid down rule and regulations, which require explicitly spelt out that a new sugar processing factory must be established in distant of 40 kilometers from the existing facility. This is the rule set out by the Kenya Sugar Board and well entrenched in the Sugar Act an article of Parliament.

The flagrant defiance of this particular clause of the Sugar Act is also the main source of the prolonged court battle between the Western Kenya Sugar Factory and the newly established Butali Sugar factory in Kakamega in Western Province which has seen a protracted legal battle through courts.

The other source of the ongoing discontent is the hurdles facing Muhuroni and Chemelil sugar companies. The firms had advanced the farmers in their harvesting zones with cane development loans for cultivations, land preparation planting, seedling and weeding in the form of loans, which are only recovered after the farmers had their cane harvested by the loaning company and delivered their row cane to the particular factory.

The same cane crop if harvested and delivered, crushed in another factory, the sugar company which had funded the cane development in the field loses its money as it cannot have the right of deduction of the same.

This has been the contentious issue, which required the government to move in with speed before the issue developed from bad to worse. The government, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture must come out with a clear-cut-policy on cane harvesting and delivery.

Concerted effort by the stakeholders to have the issue sorted out and harmonized has hit the rock. A hastily called meeting of the stakeholder recently held at Soliat in Belgut constituency and chaired by the Kricho District Commissioner turned chaotic and near violence. The meeting was also attended by the outgoing KSB board member from Chemelil/Nandi Zone, Muhoroni

The Kericho DC Samuel Njora was menacingly confronted by of rowdy and angrily farmers of Zoin zone in his district when he tried to impress it upon them to take their canes to the government-owned millers, Chemelil and Muoroni factories.

The administrator had convened the meeting to bring harmony, following a recent standoff pitting security agents and farmers who were defiantly ferrying their canes to other favorite millers instead of making delivery to the government-owned factories of Chemelil and Muhoroni.

It took political magnanimity and quick action and intervention of the former cabinet Minister Eng Kipng’eno Arap Ng’eny and local civic leaders to cool down the flaring tempers before the meeting could proceed.

But after two and half hours of the standoff the meeting kicked off with speaker after speaker castigating the DC and accusing him of being partisan in resolving the ragging zonal dispute bedeviling the rival millers Kibos, Chemelil and Muhoroni.

The two millers Chemelil and Muhoroni have been castigating Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Ltd for encroaching into their cane growing zones causing superficial an artificial cane shortage.

The two outgoing Kenya Sugar Board directors Nicholas Oricho and David Kadongo whose areas zonal are dogged by zonal dispute also attended the meeting and took issue of liberalization of cane with the DC for allegedly being partisan in solving the prevailing wrangles.

Observers, however, maintains that the only sensible course of resolving the ongoing zonal war in the Nyanza sugar-belt is to allow the factories which had loaned or advanced the farmers with cane development cash loan recover their money before the liberalization take its effect. In the absence of a well defined rule, the factories like Chemelil and Muhoroni stand to lose millions.

The Kibos sugar mill has installed another weighbridge at Chepsweta and also near Awasi to save cane farmer from the Nandi zone with rigorous of transport and also to avert spillage in Awasi Township.

The scrambling over row canes has of late become incentive to the growers and made sugar cane as one of the highly valued cash crops. And the competition could even be worse once the currently out of production Miwani Sugar Mills in its zone is revived.

But farmers say they were happy, because they can now expect a visit by agents of the millers at their own step exploring the possibility of having their cane harvested. They are everywhere even looking for premature cane crops. They come with a couple of kilos and a few shillings in hand for the purpose of persuading the cane farmers to allow them to harvest his field unlike in the old days when they millers were asking for bribe money before any talking of harvesting cane from a famer’ field is initiated.

It is now the turn of the Millers to bribe their way in order to get immature cane to harvest for their factories which are reported to b running at half their daily turn out and crushing capacities.

The Awendo-based SONYSUGAR would soon find itself to a similar situated when the new factories currently being established in Ndhiwa and in Trans-Mara district goes into production next year.

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Uganda: Tullow Oil has announced more discovery of oil and gas in Uganda’s Lake Albert basin

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

NEWS emerging from Kampala says that the London-based Tullow Oil has announced its discovery of two more oil wells in Western Uganda.

The Irish company says it has encountered oil line with pre-drilling expectations in Albertine basin.

The oil prospecting company said it had discovered hydrocarbon {oil and gas} bearing reservoirs in Jobi-East 1 and Mpyo-3 well sunk in exploration area EA-1 seismic in the Lake Albert Rift basin.

A gross one billion barrels of oil has been discovered to date in Uganda’s Albertine Rift. With many prospect still to be drilled, Tullow Oil Plc believes the basin has an additional 1.5 billion barrels of oil yet to be found.

“Jobi-East-I and Mpyo 3B well results mark an excellent start to the next phase of exploration and appraisal campaign in the basin to determine the total oil resource base, says Angus McCross, the Tullow’s exploration director.

The logging and sampling operations confirmed the presence of oil in two high quality reservoir zones. In addition, gas has also been logged and sampled with sands.

Tullow Oil has interest in EA-1 as well as exploration area 2 and 3A in Uganda. This firm gained a foothold in the landlocked country through the acquisition of Energy Africa in2004 and Hardman Resources in 2007.

“We look forward to more exciting wells as we endeavor to determine the total oil resources base, which will underpin the basin-wide development preparation in progress,” adds McCross.

At the same time Tullow CEO Aidan Heavy was also quoted as saying that plans to accelerate production stage of highly successful Uganda blocks are underway.

In the neighboring Kenya meanwhile, a Canadian oil exploration firm, Vanoil Energy, will spend USD 4.6 million on acquisition of seismic data in Block 3B in Northern Kenya in preparation for drilling of oil and gas wells.

The Canadian firm has contracted the Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting {BCP] to carry out the seismic survey to map out potential drilling sites.

Completion of the data acquisition is expected by the end of September 2011. Dal Brynalsen the Vanoil CEO said the objective of the 2011 seismic program me is to delineate more leads in Block 3B and upgrade three known leads to possible drillable target.”We are very pleasant to have executed a second agreement and look forward to engaging such a high quality organization to implement our seismic plans,” he said.

Evaluation is going on for 2010 seismic program which cost over USD 5 million Vanoil has executed another contract with BGP for USD 3.5 million involving acquisition of 373 kilometer data.

Additional costs will be incurred on technical equipment audit, quality assurance control, data reprocessing, interpretation and integration with other geophysical or geological data.

A crew is being mobilized to commence field operations as a sensitization grass roots resident in the area is ongoing.

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Tanzania: Following a visit by Secretary of State Clinton Washington is injecting money into energy and infrastructure projects in Tanzania

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

The recent tour of Tanzania by the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Washington is injecting at least USD 206 million into energy projects in that country that will help boost the country’s power generation.

The money will be used to construct and rehabilitate 24 power sub-stations as will as install a new 100MW sub-marine power cable between the mainland and Zanzibar

The financing is part of deal of a USD 698 million grants extended to Tanzania in 2008 under the Millennium

Challenge Corporation to fund water, energy and infrastructure projects in Tanzania.

During her cent visit to Dar Es Salaam, Clinton said the success of the project will mean Tanzania can cut the present power crisis by over half and boost the country’s economic growth.

“The future of Tanzania depends on the availability of a reliable power service,” she said.

The power shortage has triggered rationing and pushed up the cost of production in the manufacturing sector.

The government plans to spend Tshs 4.7 trillion {USD 2.96 billion under a five year development program that end in 2015 to boost electricity output from 1,000MW to 2,780MW.

An American energy firm Symbion Power LLC will construct a 100MW plant at Ubungo in Dar Es Salaam and another 60MW in the lakeside northwestern City of Mwanza.

The CEO of Symbion Power Paul Hinks was quoted in the local media has government has entrusted his firm with almost USD 100 worth of electrification work across Tanzania.

Energy and Mineral Minister William Ngeleja also disclosed that talks were underway between Pan-African, TANESCO and Petroleum Development Corporation to increase gas supply from 90 million cubic feet to one million cubic feet to meet the rising demand.

“One gas unit produces 15 MW and additional supply from Symbion will step up this to 75MW,”the Minister added.

Symbion Powr management said last week it had signed an interim agreement with Tanesco to sell power to the state-owned utility. The company charges a rate of USD 4.99 per kilowatt hour.

Symbion Power and Pick Electronic Corporation based in Mount Airy, North Carolina, won a contract of USD 110 million and USD 18 million respectively, from the Millennium Challenge and Corporation account to build a sub-station and extend electricity distribution in Tanzania,the us Embassy said in its website.

Early this year Tanzania started the construction and expansion of nearly2,88o kilometers of the national power grid after it acquired USD 65 million from the MCC account.

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African leaders discussion plan to launch mega free trading area for East and Southern African regions

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PLANS are underway to establish one of the biggest trading blocs in Africa, which will bring together the common Market for East and Southern Africa {Comesa}, the East African Community {EAC and the Southern African Development Community {SADC}.

This was one of the several resolution reached by the Heads of State from East and Southern Africa when they converged in Johannesburg South Africa two weeks ago to thrash out issues ahead of the planned integration.

The existing three African trading blocs made up of 26 countries, with a market of close to 600 million people and with an estimated gross domestic product {GDP} OF USD 860 billion, are pushing for a free trade area.

But according to one participant, drawing the line from the South African meeting, individual blocs have huge tasks ahead of them as the meeting agreed on a raft of agreements.

The three blocs agreed on a three phase roadmap including a preparation phase of between six months to one year from June 2011.

Phase one will have involved negotiations on the trading of goods which would take place for between 24 to 60 months and the last phase will deal with the actual integration

Te officials, however, were unable to set up the time table for the final phase, signaling that “Mega Bloc” could be years away from being a reality.

The first phase required the three Tripartite Free Trade Areas member to disclose their trade agreements with countries within and outside the newly earmarked bloc in the first phase.

Different member countries have varying agreements with similar countries and there is urgent need for harmonization if the 26 countries with a combined gross domestic product of USD 860 were to trade freely amongst themselves.

The East African Community, however, is reported to have agreed that as much as the greater bloc offered a larger market for its goods, it was ahead for its members to belong to more than one bloc and need to agree to the terms of the two blocs for the achievement of the final bloc.

The Kenyan Permanent Secretary to the East African Community David Nalo said during an interview that the most successful of the three blocs might attract more attention leaving the EAC in peril.

“The world market prefers the stronger and bigger bloc with an extended market,” explained the PS.

Nalo, however, added that the blocs would enhance harmonization of tariff among he three member countries. Each of the three blocs has different tariffs therefore its member countries making hard for fast growing extra trade compare with other blocs.”We do more business with outsiders and we are a core market to many of them.”

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East African currencies hit the lowest record against the dollar

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

A week after the joint presentation of the annual budget for the expenditure of governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for the financial year 2011/2012 the currencies of the three sister states touched new low in trading against the US dollar, putting pressure on Central Banks across the region to raise interest rates in the face of accelerating inflation.

Kenya shilling breached the Kshs.90 level against the dollar, while the Ugandan shilling touched US 2,428 to the dollar and the Tanzanian shilling traded at the record lowest rate of Tshs 1,595 to the dollar.

In the coming weeks, demand for the dollar, especially from the importers in the energy sector, is expected to intensify pressure on the East African currencies.

As importers – mainly in energy and food sectors- pass on the extra costs, inflation is likely to remain high within the region, stifling growth in some key areas.

Moreover, if commercial banks anticipates that local currencies will lose to the dollar, they will hold onto their dollars, further reducing supply.

Central banks have in the past tried to rein in speculative activities by commercial banks with little success.

There have also been attempts to mop up local currencies through repurchase agreements but with limited success.

The only tool that the three central banks are likely to deploy is a hike in key interest rates, such as the Central Bank Rates, the rate at which banks borrow from them.

So far, the Central Bank of Kenya has preferred a moderate increase of 25 basic points to the CBR. But with the shilling trading at record lows, the rate rise is expected to double to 50 basis points at the next Monetary Policy Committee meting.

Analysts said should the benchmark interest rate rise, commercial banks will also read from the same script, increasing the cost of borrowing to consumer and businesses.

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EA states told to speed up reforms to create jobs or face violent unrest

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

East African region faces social unrest if governments fail to speed up reforms aimed at job creation and wage growth.

This warning is contained by the latest edition of the African Economic Outlook 2011.It states that while East Africa will record the highest growth in Africa in 2011, governments need to invest more in generation of jobs and boosting basic social service to match up the growing number of graduates entering labor market.

The report, co-authored by the African Development Bank {AfDB}, the OECD Development Center, UNDP and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, says the region’s projected to growth of above six per cent in 2011, compared with North Africa’s 1per cent, Southern Africa 4.5 per cent, Central Africa 5.3 per cent and the continent’s projected average growth of 3.7 per cent.

Experts say rising food and fuel prices have taken a heavy toll; persistent poverty and income inequality are reminders that the fruits of strong headline growth have been unevenly distributed across the region.

“The thing is for the government to recognize and work towards an agenda that will make it inclusive” says Mthuli Ncube, chief economist and vice-president of the AfDB.

While countries are focusing on attracting foreign direct investment, he said it is critical for governments to devote resources to easing business for the local business community.”Sometimes countries spend so much on trying to attract FDI and they {foreign investment} do not come but meanwhile there are local people who are dynamic, who want to invest and create jobs,” Mthuli said.

To enhance growth prospects the region has to accelerate its regional integration agenda. Governments, he said, have to promote investment by making it easy for business to move across borders “Regional integration is not just about goods and services. A Kenyan company in the region should have as much ease as within the country. These are the things that will make the region more dynamic,” he said adding “people with skills can find something to do and re likely to create a small enterprise.’

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Tanzania is seeking multi billion dollars to upgrade its ports

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging from the Tanzanian commercial City of Dar Es Salaam says that the Tanzania Ports Authority {TPA} is seeking for colossal amount of money to he tune of USD 800 billion to upgrade ports all over the country.

Economic analysts say the new ports will be able to accommodate more vessels, thus easing congestion and reducing the waiting time for ships.

In April 2007, the TPA commissioned a master plan study covering both sea and inland ports, which experts says will enhance the country’s economic growth.

The study proposed a new port at Mbegani in Bagamoyo to ease congestion at the Dar Es Salaam port about 75 kilometers away. A total of 40 hectare of land has been identified for the proposed new port.

The planning manager of the TPA Modest Kakusa was last week quoted by the media as saying that the feasibility study for the ports was completed in December 2008.

He said the Master Plan will work to sustain continuous growth of port traffic and provide better services to landlocked countries in Southern, Central and East Africa. The master plan will also alert to change in shipping technologies. It hoped to restore capacity-in inland ports and help develop other ports for commercial purposes.

TPA has been pursuing a strategy on private sector involvement in port operations, as well as management and training of ports investments.

Major Private Sector participation started in 2000-with the licensing of the Dar Es Salaam Container Terminal Services {TICTS}.

This year, TPA has been planning to lease its ports in Kigoma and Kasanga in Lake Tanganyika. The money accrued will be used to develop and promote licensing of port services, trade facilitation, fishing industry and environmental support.

“To enhance provision of services and cost effective port services, the TPA continued to invest in modern infrastructure, equipment and technology,” he said.

The TPA envisaged developing and managing ports to provide good services and promote logistics services in East, Central and Southern African regions.

TPA’s chairman of the board of directors Raphael Mollel says that the authority has been seeking private sector involvement in port operations, as well as management and financing of investments, adding that as an organization specified to privatization, TPA could not invest in any major capital project.

Following de-specification, Mollel said, TPA revised its development capital budget upward from USD 32 million to USD 40 million to procure critical equipment and facilities.

In July 2006, the TPA was empowered to improve port infrastructure, equipment and capacity. The authority’s long term measures include development of a new container terminal and cargo freight station at Dar Es Salaam and construction of anew at Mbegani, Bagamoyo.

The required land area for port expansion under the TPA strategy, which on the coast as well as Kigom will be financed by the World Bank, have been earmarked and acquisition process are underway.

Among the targeted ports are Dar Es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, Bagamoyo and Mwmbani on the coast as well as Kigoma on the Lake Tanganyika.

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Uganda seemed to be toning down over Migingo Island and has asked its survey team to resume work so as to ease tensions

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Ksumu City.

UGANDA appeared to have succumbed to heavy pressure mounted by Kenya on the need to have the dispute over Migingo Fishing Island in Lake Victoria resolved amicably.

This followed the recent harsh remarks by Kenyan leader castigating Kampala for having unilaterally seized the islands, which they knew were right on the Kenyan side of the border.

According to a statement released on Monday this week by the Permanent Secretary in the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs James Migume, the Ugandan Minister for Land and Housing Daudi Migereko flew into the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Monday on a mission to meet with his Kenyan counterpart James Orengo to set up a joint technical team to tackle the issue.

The two controversial islands of Migingo and Ugingo, each measuring an acre and half in Lake Victoria, have been the subject of heated dispute between the governments for years, and most recently since 2008.

Experts from both sides will immediately begin work to determine the exact position of the border between the states using concessions already agreed upon by the leaders of the two nations.

President Yoweri Museveni and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had agreed that the survey be resumed in order to ensure continuity of the cordial relationship between Kenya and Uganda.

Kenya and Uganda together with Tanzania are the founder member of the East African Community an economic unit that also groups Rwanda and Burundi with its secretariat based in the Northern Tanzanian City of Arusha.

Both governments are therefore expected to take into account their commitment to the EAC and the relationship between the countries as the border survey gets underway.

Mugume said the technical team will initially work on logistical for the survey covering equipment and experts that could be needed in the survey work.

The experts will use the Kenya’s constitution of 1963, and Ugandan constitution of 1995 and an array of British colonial maps in addition to the physical survey to determine the position of the Uganda border. Kenya has been persistently protesting Uganda seizure f the two islands and hoisting of its national flag on the disputed islands.

When the dispute heightened last year the two governments agree to conduct a joint survey so as to establish and determine the ownership of Migingo Island, which was then one in dispute. Both governments contributed million s of shilling for the work. But the Uganda team pulled out and abandoned the work after the preliminary reports showed that Migingo was several meters inside Kenya side of the Lake Victoria waters, saying they were going to consult their bosses in Kampala, but never returned to-date. Kenya team continued with their work and completed their side.

At the same time Kenya MPs representing constituencies neighboring the lake have been pressing the government so hard, urging it to secure the islands by means of force, They consider Uganda’s action as an act of the declaration of war. But the government has been playing it cool insisting that there is other avenues f having the matter sorted out amicably.

President Mwai Kibaki has been in the forefront advocating for peaceful resolution of the conflict insisting that the government would use diplomatic means to resolve the issue, adding that Uganda was a friendly neighbor and big and reliable business partner.

But on June 1st this year while addressing a mammoth crowd which attended this year’s Madaraka Day anniversary at the Nyayo National Stadium, President Kibaki reiterated that Migingo and Ugingo Islands were in Kenya and therefore the property of the Republic of Kenya.

He repeated the same while addressing thousands of mourners in Ndhiwa constituency last Sunday during the burial of Mzee Michael Ojode Otieno, the father o the Assistant Minister for Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode at Ratang’a in Kwabwayi Central Location in Ndhiwa district only a few kilometers to the shoreline of Lake Victoria.

The Prime Minister Raila Odinga who also was among the principal speakers disclosed that Kenya would send a strong delegation consisting of the Internal Security Minister Prof.George Saitoti, Minister for Lands and Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs James Orengo and others to tackle the issue with their Ugandan counterparts and seek for lasting solution.

But as the issue of Migingo was still boiling up, Uganda moved northward and seized another Island. This time it was Ugingo and posted more security personnel most of them marine police to protect the Ugandan businessmen and fishermen who moved in and began erecting houses on it.

On e morning early this month, a Kenya Army Helicopter made a reconnaissance flights flying low over Migingo while its crew were seen taking aerial photographs as the chopper circled over the tiny island. The next two days, Uganda moved in fresh men with heavy military equipment an even beefed up the number f its marine police from 10 to 40.

Kenyan fishermen and fish traders were not allowed to construct their houses on Ugingo, though the Ugandan traders could be seen cruising in speed boats to do shopping for building materials, particularly corrugated iron sheets and timber from Kenyan businessmen off-shore at Karungu Bay and Muhuru Bay. This is due to logistic problems as the nearby Ugandan trading center or town is ten hours voyage whereas it takes only one hour or less to reach the mainland Kenya.

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leodera@yahoo.com

KENYA: RAILA AND HIS KEY OPPONENTS MET IN A FACE – TO – FACE- ENCOUNTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NDHIWA DURING BURIAL OF OJODE’S FATHER AS HUGE CROWDS WATCHED IN DISBELIEF

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RAILA AND HIS KEY OPPONENTS MET IN A FACE — TO – FACE- ENCOUNTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NDHIWA DURING BURIAL OF OJODE’S FATHER AS HUGE CROWDS WATCHED IN DISBELIEF

Reports By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The weekend high profile funeral of the father of the Assistant mister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration Joshua Orwa Ojode was a blessing in disguise in the true sense of the word.

Mzee Michael Ojode Otieno a highly respected community leader was laid to rest at his Ratang’a home in Central Kwabway Location, in Nyarongi Division, Ndhiwa district. Hs son Orwa Ojode acted as the master of ceremony and ushered the VIP and other dignitaries.

While addressing the mammoth crowd that had turned up to give Ojode’s father a heroic send off, President Kibaki, was wildly cheered by the huge crowd when he made an impromptu announcement of new plan to improve the key link road in the greater Southern Nyanza.

The President told the cheering mourners that the government would construct Opapo –Magina Pala and Oria road which is traversing Ndhiwa constituency, parts of Rongo, Awendo and Uriri constituencies. He also disclosed that plans are a foot to construct Migori-Muhuru Bay road and also another key road that is linking Mbita and Magunga in both Mbita and Gwassi districts. The roads mentioned covered several parliamentary constituencies of Migori, Nyatike, Ronmgo, Awendo, Uriri, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and Mbita and therefore are s vital for economic activities and access to the markets by farmers and fishermen alike.

President Kibaki also made a light touch about the two controversial fishing islands of Migingo and Ugingo reiterating his earlier statement that the two islands are part and parcel of Kenya, but he was rather diplomatically when he said there was no need for the two friendly sister countries to engage in unfruitful quarrelling over the small islands, something which could easily be sorted out amicably.

The most interesting feature of the event was the presence at the function of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga who met his key opponents on a face-to-face encounter for the past time.

Raila’s key rivals were the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto and the Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and to a lesser extent the Internal Security Minister Prof Goerge Saitoti who is also being rumored to be eyeing the presidency.

The three are, together with other presidential hopeful under the auspices of the so-called G7, who are known to be jointly strategizing to floor Raila Odinga in the 2012 general elections.

Thousands of people had travelled from all over the Luo-Nyanza when it became known by Saturday evening that the two principals together with other political luminaries would be in attendance at Mzee Ojode’s funeral.

In their addresses, however, the rival political camps steered clear of the politics of succession only dwelling in more calls for national unity and cohesion to spur the faster development and economic growth.

It is a real show of national solidarity as the rivals mingled and easily interacted with each other and at time engaged in hearty chatting at the VIP dais in full view of the crowd.

Other members of the G7 present at the function were Samuel Pogisio, MP Cyrus Jirongo, former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara.William Ruto, Eugne Wamalwa, William Kabogo, Simeon Lersima, Ferdinand Waititu, Kambi Kazungu and Jamleck Kamau.

Those in attendance from the OIDM side include Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’, Land Minister James Aggrey Orengo, Finance Assistant Minister Dr.Oburu Odinga, Assistant Foreign Minister Richard Onyonka, Education Assitant Minister Prof. Ayiecho Olueny, Goerge Otieno Ogindo ) Rangwe), John Mbadi {Gwassi}, Edwin Ochieng Yinda {Alego-Usonga},Yusuf Chanzu {Vihiga},James Gesami {Nyaribari Chache} Millie Odhiambo {Nominated} and Fred Outa {Nyando},

Some of the local MPs were later heard complaining that they were not given due attention and respect as leaders

One man who stole the show was Uhuru Kenyatta who instantly became the darling of the crowd earning the longest applause and cheers from the mourners. Many people seemed to having keen interest in seeing Mr. Kenyatta who appeared to be the darling of the crowd as the Gatundu South MP exchanged hearty greeting with almost everybody who came his way becoming instant center of attraction.

Raila Odinga heaped a lot of praise to President Kibaki and his style of leadership, which he said, had seen the country moving much faster in terms of development. He has changed the development tempo from the previous regime where people were forced to kneel down before the President while begging for development.

He told the crowd that the government has instituted a Ministerial team comprising of the Internal Security Minister Saitoti, Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’, Lands and Acting Foreign Minister James Orengo to resume talks with their Ugandan counterparts on the status of the two fishing islands in Lake Victoria which are currently in dispute between Kenya and Uganda.

Two Minister from Luo-Nyanza praised President Kibaki’s development record, and Otieno Kajwang’ of the Immigration dwelt on the new major roads linking districts headquarters in the region, which are being constructed a fresh or in the process of being constructed as some of the example of massive development being experienced in the region.

Orengo pleaded with President Kibaki to restrain his PNU leaders from publicly vilifying the Prime Minister Odinga, adding, ” We in ODM , we respect you as the President of the Republic of Kenyan and the Commander In-Chie of the Armed Forces, and at no time have we talked ill of you in public.

The PNU MPs should reciprocate and show respect to the Prime Minister as an important coalition government partner.

Ojode thanked the President Kibaki for ordering the tarmac king Opapo-Magina-Pala road and for upgrading Mirogi Boys Secondary School to be the constituent college of the Maseno University.

The funeral gathering rekindled the old spirit of unity with which Kenyans fought the mighty British forces and won their political independence after many years of blood-letting struggle. Politics were set aside as the leaders in attendance showed the true spirit of being true Kenyans and a united team.

Ends

leoodera@yahoo.com

Kenya: Uhuru on a quiet political manoeuvres to win voters in Luo-Nyanza in his quest for presidency

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By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta last Saturday made a triumphant entry into Kisumu City and was well received by enthusiastic supporters and political operatives .

Accompanied by the Embakassi MP Hon Mutito, and the immediate former Alego-Usonga MP Sammy Weya, Kenyatta who is among the leading contenders for the presidency in the impending general election and his entourage were booked at the posh Imperial Hotel, which is locate right in the middle of the City’s Central Business district {CBD} was soon joined by Ndhiwa KANU branch chairman Tom Alila and quiet a number of political operatives in town.

And from the look of things, the Gatundu South MP appeared to be very comfortable among his Luos friends. Last year, he hosted a group of Luo professional and businessmen caucus in a Nairobi Hotel and expressed his wish to wok together with the members of the community.

Uhuru had travelled to Kisumu after attending the colorful home-coming ceremony held in Ikolomani within Kakamega County to celebrate the recent election victory of the area MP Dr. Bonny Khalwale who had recaptured his seat during a recent bruising by-election.

Immediately after the news of Uhuru arrival in town spread like bush fire, the Imperial Hotel became instantly the beehive of activities with various interested groups and local political operatives jamming the place to capacity.

Upon his arrival in Kisumu Uhuru received an impromptu invitation to visit Migori County and conduct Harambee fund drive for the youth projects.

Extending an invitation Eng. Jared Ochieng’ Baraza, who is a senior lecturers at the Faculty of Science and Engineering t the Kenyatta University said,” Tell Hon Kenyatta that in 2012 he will get Nyanza votes. We need a change of leadership. There is no genuine multiparty democracy in Nyanza.”

“Nyanza leaders are not development conscious and they have continued fighting he youths, particularly young people like myself who are helping the Wananchi with water supplies, electricity and agriculture. Please ask Uhuru to visit us Migori County and preside over Harambee for youth projects, said Baraza.

Baraza is a member of an international organization of engineers- calling them “Engineers without Boundaries”. The group has been sourcing funds from donors and their affiliates abroad and construction borehole and construction water supplies using diesel-powered engines in the remote rural villages.

Uhuru weekend visit to Kisumu an area considered as the stronghold and home turf of his arch-rival the Prime Minister Raila Odinga signifies some elements of a change of heart and attitudes by the local population indicating that the next election battle for the presidency will be the toughest.

There are significant signs that Uhuru is becoming increasingly acceptable to the younger generation of Kenyans including those residing inside Luo-Nyanza considering the amount of invitation he has received and continued receiving from the various interested parties inviting to visit the region and conducting various fund raising meetings for the youths.

The situation has changed dramatically to the hostile reception he received in the region in the year 2002 when he first ventured into the presidential contest. In that year Uhuru who was perceived to be the project of the retired President Dniel Arap Moi stood on a KANU ticket, but he was badly mauled and trounced by President Mwai Kibaki of Narc-Kenya.

In 2007 Uhuru did not contest the presidency, but threw his weight behind President Kibaki who narrowly retained the presidency in a much flawed presidential contest between him and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The election dispute sparked off the violence and orgies which claimed close to 1500 lives and displaced close to 350,000 from their homes.

The next day (Sunday) Uhuru headed to Ndhiwa district in greater Southern Nyanza where he was due to attended the burial of Mzee Michael Ojode Otieno, the father of the Ndhiwa MP and the Assistant Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration.

The late Mzee Ojode was given a heroes send off at a colourful ceremony, where President Kibakji and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga were also expected to be in attendance. The burial ceremony took place at Mzee Ojode’s homestead which is locate next to Ratang’a Secondary School and Market in Kwabayi Location Nyarongi Division Ndhiwa.

Prior to the funeral ceremony unconfirmed rumor went around Kisumu City and its environs that the Hon Orwa Ojode and sent a SMS message to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga informing him that President Kibaki will his guest of honor during the burial of his father.

The message was politically interpreted to be in bad taste as meaning that the Assistant Minister had wanted to lock Raila Odinga out of his father’s burial ceremony, an event, which the Luos considered as a solemn occasion which does not require politicking. This is because people always volunteer into condolence the bereaved families on their own volition. The PM, however, is said o have vowed to attend and condole all his people in Ndhiwa who had voted for him on one-on in 2007.

It also reveals how there existed some kind of deeply rooted differences between the Prime Minister and some of the Luo MPs which need to be ironed out before the next general elections.

Indications are some of the Luo MPs and their supporters are warming up for the G7 group consisting of Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and others. Najib Balala is said to have already pulled out of the amorphous alliance.

Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, however, the duo are said to be slowly making major inroad into Luo-Nyanza the region which is considered as having been sealed in favor of Raila Odinga and the common talks making the round is that all the presidential aspirants be given free hands to sell their policies all over Kenya without any hindrance so that the voters could make their own decision as to who deserve the op most job on the land.

For the Vice President Musyoka, it is bad luck. Nobody talked about him in the entire Luoland. Perhaps this is because of his persistent inconsistency, which has made him the villain in the region. H is the only politician nobody one to be identified with in Nyanza.The locals treat the Vice President as a political turn-coat and someone not guided by principles.

Uhuru Kenyatta, however, appeared to be the darling of the youth clamoring for peaceful transition and transformation from the old guards and to the youths. He is seen as someone who stands for the youth and what he need is only to organize a good team of campaigners.

The son of the late Jomo Kenyatta visited Nyanza in what the political pundits were quick in describing as a quiet political maneuver to recruit supporters and agents in readiness for the next year’s big contest, first at the G7 preliminaries to choose the group torchbearers in the general election proper. And last weekend visit to the region has placed him ahead of his other colleagues in he G7 group.

Uhuru made the promise that he would soon return to Nyanza to meet his supporters in a venue to be agreed on in order to strategize for the next year’s general election.

Ends

leoodera@yahoo.com

Kenya: ANOTHER US based high profile Kenyan is eyeing the newly created Awendo Parliamentary seat

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By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu

ANOTHER us based Kenya with the most attractive profile has declared his interest in contesting a parliamentary seat in the newly created Awendo constituency in Awendo district.

Reuben O Oduwo, who before moving to the US had served as the deputy principal and the principal at the various secondary schools in Rachuonyo and Nyando districts.

Oduwo who is well known to his peers as “Jomo Oduwo”hail from Waware sub-location in Sakwa East Location, Awendo district within the Migori County. In his message for declaration of intention to contest the seat, which is hived out of the old Rongo constituency, Oduwo said that the tome for electing mediocre into high offices such as Parliament or Senate are long gone.

Kenya can only move forward under the new constitution if the electorate could be wise enough and choose wisely to make sure that the right people were elected to the house, especially those with broad knowledge of legislative system, interpretation and their implications.

Oduwo holds a Mater’s Degree in biology {Aquatic and Conservation} at the University of Nebraska at Omaha post-graduate, and a certificate in geographic and Information Science. He studied for a diploma in science education at the Kenya Science Teachers College, a certificate in environmental education at the Moi University, Eldoret in Kenya.

Oduwo is the former Principal of Magunga Secondary School in Nyando district and also worked as the deputy principal Hum Girls Secondary School in Kisumu district and later at Atela Mixed Secondary School in Kasipul-Kabondo in Rachuonyo South district.

A son of the Awendo based business magnate the late Mzee Joash Oduwo Owino whose rural home situated near Ranen Market in Sakwa East Location

He said Awendo is agriculturally rich area, which is producing a lot of maize, sugar cane, tobacco and other cash crops therefore the region’s potentiality in contributing to rapid economic growth f the region need to be addressed by the relevant government ministries.

Oduwo pledged to fight for the down trodden cane farmers in Awendo and its environs who have suffered a great deal in the hands of the Awendo based SONYSUGAR company including undue delays in paying the cane farmers their dues, poor harvesting plans and system.

He also said that he would spearhead the privatization of SONYSUGAR and press the demand that the farmers get 45 per cent of the share equity.

The region, said Oduwo is prone to crime waves, and that he would work closely with the provincial Administration and police authorities to ensure that crime rate in the region is reduced drastically and pave the way for faster development. He would also work hard to create peaceful atmosphere and cordial relations among the people of different ethnicity living in the region like the Kisii, Luos, Kuria and the Maasais.

He will thrive to develop economically important infrastructure such as good roads to enable the farmer to access market places for their farm crops, construction of new bridges for easy cross through feeder and access roads. Improvement of the education standard, providing the residents with more well stocked health center and dispensaries.

Ends

leodera@yahoo.com

Kenya: aspirants told to build more schools for disabled children to adequately prepare them for the future

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay

The Residents of Luo-Nyanza were at the weekend urged to establish more schools for the children with the body disabilities so that the handicapped youth could be prepared for the future real task of nation building.

The number of children with the body disability are on alarming increase, therefore it is the responsibility of the parents, members of the public and stakeholders to consider the possibility of establishing more schools which could offer specialized training.

This sentiment was expressed by Hilary Ochieng’ Alila, the ODM youth coordinator in Nyanza when he addressed well attended and a successful Harambee fund drive for Ogande Disabled Children School in Central Kanyada, Rangwe Constituency, Homa-Bay County.

He said people with body disability could be trained and prepared to be productive members of the society, therefore they should not be discarded. More schools offering specialized training for the disabled should be established in almost every location because the number of children wiih their body disability was on alarming increase, and people must prepared to meet the challenges of offering them adequate training.

Alila who is on of the leading contender for the lucrative position of Homa-Bay County Senate seat was accompanied by a Homa-Bay and Nairobi lawyer George Opondo Kalumawho is also aspiring for the newly created Homa-Bay parliamentary seat.

The new parliamentary electoral constituency is among the newly created 80 parliamentary constituencies country-wide. It is to be hived out of the old Rangwe constituency to cater for mainly the residents of Homa-Bay and its environs.

A total of Kshs 300,000 was realized with Kaluma donating kshs 100,000 while Alila who was the chief guest donated Kshs 70,000.

Alila advised the old-guards to voluntarily give the way for the youthful and energetic leaders with vision to turn the country around. Those who have served in the past regime and enriched themselves should retire honorably and live the field open for the younger generation.

He sounded stern warning to an elderly but unnamed politician who is operating within the Homa-Bay county and who is on the record as bad-mouthing the youths aspiring for the various positions in the country, parliament and Senate that his days are being numbered. He need to shut his big mouth or else the youths would soon take him head-on.

He told the government to urgently consider sending relief food to the hunger stricken region within Homa-Bay County, saying residents of Suba, Rachuonyo, Gwassi, Rangwe and Homa-Bay, specially those living along the shoreline of Lake Victoria are currently experiencing acute shortage of food grains.

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Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

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KENYA: RAILA AND HIS KEY OPPONENTS MET IN A FACE – TO – FACE- ENCOUNTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NDHIWA DURING BURIAL OF OJODE’S FATHER AS HUGE CROWDS WATCHED IN DISBELIEF

Kenya: Uhuru on a quiet political manoeuvres to win voters in Luo-Nyanza in his quest for presidency

Kenya: ANOTHER US based high profile Kenyan is eyeing the newly created Awendo Parliamentary seat

Kenya: aspirants told to build more schools for disabled children to adequately prepare them for the future