Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya: many people injured following skirmishes between police and residents of Awendo Town

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Writes Leo O dera Omolo in Awendo Town.

SCORES of people including a policeman were injured following violence protest by the residents of Awendo Town in Awendo district in Migori County.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the residents blocked the main Kisii-Rongo-Awendo-Migori highway with big boulders and set old lit the bon-fire thereby blocking the main rod that passes through Awendo Town.

This followed the Saturday night incident in which a petrol station attendant was captured by unknown armed thugs from his house within the town and forced hi to accompany them to the station. They tied him and stabbed hi on the head and stomach. The night security guards was also murdered.

The attackers were reported to have picked the fuel station attendant Mr Isaac Onyango 24 and forced him to accompany to his workplace so that he could show they where the money was kept for the night. On reaching the station, which is located only a few yards from the District Commissioner’s Office, which is guarded by he Administration {Policemen for twenty four hours, the thugs tied him and stabbed him several times. The night security Stephen Ogutu was also killed in the same manner.

Insecurity in Awendo and its environs has been the subject of bitter complaints by the resident who had petitioned both the D.C’s of Rongo, Migori, Uriri and Awendo requesting the government to improve night patrols by the police.

The residents have also appealed to the Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to effect the transfer of the Officer In Charge of Awendo Police Station who is said to have overstayed in one work place for close to 12 years and has since became unproductive.

The residents other bone of contention is that some senior and junior police officer have over stayed in the region and have become unproductive and perhaps conduits to criminal activities in the area. Any officer transferred from any of the three stations, is always recycled and posted to the next station within the region, which is making nonsense of it.

Five traders and businessmen have been reported killed within Awendo Town and another businesswoman running an MPESA outlet at the nearby Ranen market was killed two months go when thugs raided her residence and shot her four times in the presence ofher small and school going children.

Her husband was also attacked, but he fainted death and was presumed dead and left.He was later hospitalised. The businesswoman had been attacked previously and robbed of unspecified amount of money. So the thugs suspected her to have known them and they came back and finished her out and killed her while her five small children watched helplessly.

A trader dealing in women and men’s hand-bags at Awendo market was ambushed in his residents and shot three times. Two people suspected to by Motorbike thieves were also set alight and burnt to ashes by the mob of people within Awendo Town.

Local leaders have voiced their concern at the rapidly deteriorating security situation at Awendo Town. The residents said they have lost confidence in the OCS and his team of policemen and wanted the station completely overhauled and new men and women posted there.

The chairman of Awendo Town Council Councilor Johnson Omolo Owiro and his Deputy Coun Martin Ondong’ has appealed to the Provincial Administration and the police authorities to intervene on matters of insecurity in Awendo town, saying that traders and businessmen in the small farming town were worried about their safety.

On Sunday, the enraged residents came out in full force and staged violence protest against what they termed as” serious collapse in security system and laxity on the part of the police officers serving at Awendo Police Station.

Despite of five people having been killed within the last two months, no arrest has been made and investigation is said to have been carried out in haphazard manner.

The residents say there several police officers who have worked in the region for close to 15 and have since became laxto performing their duties as required of them. Some of those who have been transferred have found their way back to thee same station through unclear reasons.

Some suspect with serious allegations have found their freedom through backdoor negotiations and the situation is so pathetic that it now call for the entire Awendo Police Station to be overhauled and new staff posted in.

Chiefs and their assistants in the outlaying locations and division have also complained that each time they arrested some suspect with serious criminal offences, the culprits easily find their way out of Awendo Police Station before being arraigned in court to answer criminal .

On District Commissioner in the neighboring district confirmed that his chiefs and their assistant have complained to him about the undoing work at Awendo Police Station have found their freedom without charges preferred to them. This laxity on the part of police has placed the region as one of the area prone to crime.

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Kenya: Academic giant joins the race for Migori governor position and with a pledge to turn the region around

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Write Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

A top most academician with the highest profile in medicine and surgery has joined the race for the lucrative position of Migori County governor.

Dr. K’Obuoyo Luo Rachillo is currently working as surgeio with the United States Air force. He was at one time President Barack Oama chief campaign in California and he is now acting as the US President adviser on Africa and Middle East Affairs.

He has attained the rank of Lt.Col in the US Air force,but always remember the down trodden Kenyans back home and has frequently participate in development activities back home.

The 35 year old heart surgeon {specialist} trained at the Harvard University School of Medicine said in his message of declaration that if elected to the position of Migori County governor, his first and foremost task, would be to make true the policy of zero tolerant to corruption and economic crime.

The son of the late mathematics and science genius teacher, Jakwth Obuoyo Awino Rachillo, the aspirant hail from Wachara village in Sori Sub—Location, Karugu West, Karungu Division, Nyatike Constituency in Migori County.

Dr K’obuoyo is an associate professor of medicine and surgery at Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and also Flight Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Research Cardiologist with United State Airforce.

He took his early education at Wachara and Mirogi Primary Schools, and later moved to Koele Scondary School and lenan High School before joining the University of Nairobi-Rhodes University of Cape Town, South Africa and later moved to Oxford University in the UK for his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgeon {MBcHB}.

He obtain his Phd degree t Harvard and later joined Yale University –MD/JD, Doctor of Medicine and Juris Doctorate. He moved to University of California Medical Center Residency Training and post-graduate fellowship and the United States Airforce Academy-Flight surgeon and Commissioned Officer Trainings.

Talking about his vision to Migori County, he said the new County would require someone with vst experience and both national and international outlook, which are the best ingredient for full sourcing funds from national and international financial agencies.

His other other priority would be develop infrastructure in the entire Migori County and ensure that access and feeder roads of all weather are in place to facilitate quicker economic growth. Farmer and traders would use the ultra-modern rod to access markets for their farm products.

He would promote fishermen and fish traders and those involved in the export of fish to foreign destinations. He would also promote agriculture and ensure that the residents of Migori County are self-sufficient in food grains.

One of his priority is to improve educational standard and to upgrade all primary secondary schools in the region.

Migori County has a lot of kjineral and he would ensure that mineral resources are exploited for the betterment of the local communities. The is abundant minerals such as gold, copper, nickel, uranium, which are yet to be exploited to the maximum.

Medical facilities, water supplies ans sanitation would be part of his priority and he would ensure that Mnigori County become the most vibrant regional authority. Tobacco and sugar cane farmer would need to bring them on board for improved production of sugar and tobacco which are grown in the region in abundance.

Dr. K’Obuoyo felt that the current corruption ridden coalition government of President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga has no vision to eradicate corruption nor is it capable of stamping out the ever alarming surging rate of crime.

Dr K’obuoyo has the most attractive track record of active participation I the development of economic projects in Migori and has always sent hefty donation whenever Harambee fund drive is called. He is currently paying school fees for 17 orphan children I from Migori who are learning in the various secondary schools and other institutions of higher learning.

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Kenya: SONYSUGAR is on the turn around to become a vibrant economic enterprise in the greater Southern Nynzan region

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Writes Leo Odera omolo In Awendo Town.

The Awendo-based white sugar manufacturing SONYSUGAR has envisaged tentative plans to turn itself as one of the most vibrant sugar companies in Nyanza region.

The company has envisaged a plan to diversify its production and use of its by production to produce ethanol from its molasses and also to produce power using its bagasse.

When all these come to full scale production, it is hoped the company would be the most stable in the region.

The company’s managing director Paul Odolla said during an exclusive interview with this writer at his Awendo factory office.

Odolla said the company was satisfied with the performance of its close to 2400 employees and workers. It is also pleased with the cooperation and the existing cordial relations with its close to 25,000 cane growers providing it with row materials. It has a similar number of cane farmers covering districts of Rongo Gucha, Trans-Mara, Kuria, Ndhiwa, Migori and Awendo.

The company, said Mr Odolla, is playing significant role in the economic growth of the larger Southern Nyanza Region.

Despite all these, SONYSUGAR, is still facing other hurdles such as the impending privatisation programme, stiff competition in both sales and row cane expected from the up-coming sugar manufacturing factories within its neighborhood. One such firm is the Sukari Industries now under construction at Paw-Otange in Ndhiwa district. Another factory is coming up in the Trans-mara district.

There are tentative programme for another project, a medium sized sugar factory under the proposal to be established at Opapo also in the neighbouring Ndhiwa district.The plant has yet to take of and is stillin the drawing board.

Odolla, however, blamed the local leaders for not sensitizing cane growers and residents of the region about the impending privatisation of the company,which they ought to have done by now.The farmers are entitled to know the effect of such scheme, its benefits and the percentage that should be allocated to the farmers and the investors respectively in order to pave the way for smooth transition from a public to a private company.

Other hurdles is the Comesa deadline, which required the local sugar companies to reduce the cost of production drastically so that they could compete effectively with sugar produced by Comesa countries and the share of the market.

He said owing to the commitment of both the workers and the cane growers within Awendo and its environs, the company has realized stability enabling it to play its pivotal role in the economic growth of the region.

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Uganda has dispatched more security personnel to the two disputed fishing islands in Lake Victoria

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PERHAPS alarmed by the tough talking by Kenyan leaders who include President Mwai Kibaki and MPs and last week’reconnaince flight staged by Kenyan military helicopter which flew over the two disputed Lake Victoria islands,Uganda is reported to have beefed its security personnel.

Travellers and fish traders who came out of the two disputed islands of Migigo and Ugingo have reported spotting the arrival of close to 30 more marine police over the weekend.

The new arrivals of men in military uniform, they said have brought with them military equipment including anti-aircraft rackets and heavy guns. They arrived in a speed boat from either Jinja or Kampala and took position on the islands.

Kenyan fishermen said Ugandan security personnel continued controlling the two islands in Lake Victoria despite President Kibaki insistence that the islands lie squarely on the Kenya side of th lake.

Juma Ombori who is serving as the Migingo Island Beach Management Unit confirmed by phone that a senior Ugandan army officer has called on Ugandan businessmen and fishermen living in Migingo and Ugingo islands to ignore the reports of outbursts by Kenyan leaders.

He said Kenyan fishermen and fish traders sharing the two fishing island were also told not to expect any change on the islands and that they must continue obeying the rules and regulations set by Ugandans or else they would be kicked out.

The senior army officer, according to Juma Ombori insisted that the situation would only change with the joint official announcement from Nairobi and Kampala simultaneously. The officer whose names was not given had told Kenyans that Ugandan business will continue with the construction in Ugingo and others will cross to Kenyan mainland towns of Sori in Karungu By, Muhuru Bay in search of building materials because the next large commercial town on Uganda’s mainland is far way and travellers needed ten hours to cruise in a voyage through the lake using boats, so the nearby places they can purchase the constructions materials are the two Kenyan lake side towns.

Three fisheries officials sent by Uganda to the Island from Bugiri as well as about40 marine police officers went on with their operations as usually ,seemingly undisturbed.

Kenyan fishermen have asked the government to stop making empty statements in Nairobi and Migori if they want to resolve the row over the ownership of the two islands. Such pronouncements usually endangered the lives of Kenyan fishermen living on the two islands as Ugandan armed security personnel always react angrily.

Statement made in Nairobi or even carrying out aerial survey by Kenyan military helicopter as it happened last week will not make Ugandans leave the islands, one Ugandan officer told Kenyans.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of Kenyans who thronged the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi on June ist to commemorate the 48th Madara Day anniversary celebrations, President Mwai Kibaki assured Kenyan that the islands of Migingo and Uhgingo lie squarely on Kenyan territory.

He said the government would provide its citizens with the maximum security.”I wish to assure Kenyans that the islands of Migingo and Ugingo lie squarely on Kenyan territory in Lake Victoria.There should, therefore, be no cause for alarm on this issue,” he added

President Kibaki said the government would opt for diplomacy rather than use of force to resolve with dispute with its neighbors.

“My government is committed to providing security to every Kenyan.We have intensified border patrols along our frontier to contain any forms of crimes.”

The dispute between Kenya and Uganda over Migingo Island began way back in 2009 when Uganda lid claim to the fish-rich rocky island, which is very close to the Kenyanb mainland, but takes ten hours to travel to the nearby Ugandan mainland town.

A survey carried out found that the two neighboring island are 510 metres inside Kenya territory, in an are situated east of Kenya Uganda border.

Meanwhiletwelve Kenyan fishermen arrested at Osieko beach, Bondo district in Siaya County, by Ugandan authorities were on Sunday released after being held for more than 24 hours at Sigulu Island in Uganda.

Bondo DC Salim Muhamum confirmed and said the 12 were released on Sunbday morning after being grilled by the Ugandan security forces for trespassing into their territory and using illegal fishing nets,which are not alowd on the Ugandan side of the lake.

The D.C said four boats belonging to the fishermen were impounded by Ugandan during the operation.Th boats were towed to Sigulu Iusland in Uganda where they were still be held.

Fishermen who managed to escape said the boats were taken with fish catches that the fishermen had harvested from traps laid at night..

According to the fishermen on the beach, marine police officers from Bugiri have been patrolling the beach for 24 hours. At some time, civil society members have vowed to lead a protest match against the posting of Ugandan security officers at Migingo and Ugingo islands.

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Kenya: Biwott’s causing ripples in Luo-Nyanza by garnering many more votes in the civic by-elections

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The National Vision Party of Kenya has sent signals to he leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} in Luo-Nyanza that it would not be a pushover comes the next general elections.

The party which is associated with the former powerful cabinet minister Nicholas Kiprono Biwott pulled a surprise in two civic by-elections held in the region in the recent past.

In the first civic by-election was held in Rusinga East Ward in Mbita district, in the Homa-Bay County where Okuku Miregi of the Vision Party of Kenya gave Enos Nyagwalla Odindo of ODM a run for his money. The two battle it out tin he by-election with ODM squeezing a narrow Victoria of a small margin of only ten votes.

Miregi has since moved to court to challenge the election of Odindo saying he was robbed of victory by the returning officer. He claimed he had won the by-election by a reasonable margin, but he was deliberately robbed of his victory and rigged out.

The second by-election was held two week ago in Gem constituency currently represent in Parliament by the abrasive legislator Jakoyo Midiwo who is also the party’s Chief Whip In Parliament.

Here the NVP candidate performed miracle garnering close to 736 votes against ODM candidate who again squeezed a narrow victory with less than 200votes polluting 900 votes.

It is a miracle and believable how the NVP could garner such large number of votes in region where many believed the ODM is invisible and in Raila Amolo Odinga’s backyard of Luo Nyanza.

Political pundits now say that had Biwott himself actively participated in the by election campaign by visiting he region and addressed one of two campaign meetings things could have worked differently. In the Mbita by election, Biwott had sent his torch bearer in the South Rift Bishop Daniel Tanui a former MP for Kipkellion MP who addressed a series of meetings in Rusinga Island.

In Kericho and Bomet Counties people who had briefly trooped back to the United Democratic Movement, when they heard that William Ruto the MP for Eldoret South Nyanza had taken over he party from the team that was headed by Lt. Gen {rtd} John Koech are said to have made a quick-about turn when they got the wind that Gen Koech had moved to the court and challenged the take over have now turn back to National Vision Party.

It has also been noted that the majority of the Kipsigis people did not approve Ruto’s political association with Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. They want Ruto to go it alone and have a shot at the presidency or else they will vote for Raila Odinga instead of Kenyatta.

Uhuru however, is being crucified for the mistakes which were made nearly four decades ago by his late father the late President Jomo Kenyatta whom the community is accusing for having settled thousands of his Kikuyu tribesmen in the places the Kipsigis people consider as their ancestral land like Molo Elburgon, Njoro, Kuresoi, Londiani, Burnt Forest, Rongai, Subukia, Nandi Hills, and other places in total disregard of the plight of the indignant people who previously owned those places before the arrival of the white men.

The Kipsigis believes and maintains that the late Kenyatta’s biased decision in settling only the Kikuyus on the former White Island after the departure of the white settlers at around independence is the major cause of frequent blood land clashes in the Rift Valley and as such they wouldn’t like seeing another Kenyatta occupying State House.

They claimed the biased decision in allocating land for the Kikuyu families in total disregard to other landless Kenyans from other communities and sparked tribal animosities and enmities in the region which has witnessed bloody clashes resulting in the loss of lives.

The influence of NVP is reported to be spreading like bushfire in the South Rift region and has extended into the nearby districts of Trans-Mara Eat and Trans-Mara west.

Biwott’s party had sponsored a candidate in the South Mugirango by-election who performed poorly, but thereafter the party strength in the Kisii region is said to have moved from strength to strength.

It is only he time will tell, but those ignoring the Vision party must do so at their own peril taking into account up-turn it has penetrated its clout in the hitherto close-nit Luo-Nyanza.

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Kenya: mr omolo is very much alive, healthy and happy in kisumu and NOT STRANDED IN EUROPE

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From: Leo Odera

LEO ODERA OMOLO IS NOT STRANDED IN EUROPE BUT FIRM AND COMFORTABLE IN KISUMU CITY WHATEVER STORY ANY BODY RECEIVED TO THAT EFFECT IS THE WORK OF CROOKED HACKERS AND CON MEN.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

The veteran Kisumu based journalist Leo Odera Omolo has gone to nowhere nor has ever left Kisumu City for anywhere in the recent past or he is he stranded somewhere in Europe. The last time he was in Europe was in 1998 and he has not even left Kisumu City for his rural home in Uriri near Awendo Town in the greater Southern Nyanza region.

Anybody who knew the bulky and well bult scribe should contact him at his mobile phone number 0722486181 or 0734509215 for clarification or report the request for donations to the nearby police station or contact INTERPOL so that the wicked hackers could be disciplined before making any donation to the con men and fraudsters as requested by the hackers.

Mr Omolo has been unwell for sometime, but he is making progressive and quick recovery. Please igonre the appeal for funds as the work of fraudsters and tricksters.

ALL MY CONTACTS SHOULD IGNORE THE MISCHIEVOUS FICTITIOUS AND PHANTOM APPEAL FOR FUNDS

Leo odera omolo {BINGWA THIRING’INYI} alias the Earl of Rusinga, alias Gromyko, alias Ndemu

Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya & Uganda: Prsident Kibaki talks tough about Uganda’s illegal occupation of fishing islands in Kenya waters

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu

PRESIDENT Mwai Kibaki yesterday gave a ray of hope to the communities living along the shore of Lake Victoria when for the first time went public and acknowledged that the two islands of Migingo and Ugingo are actual part of Kenya’s territorial waters.

Addressing a huge crowd which gathered at the Nyayo Nation Stadium to mark the 48th anniversary celebrations of “Madaraka Day”,the Kenyan Head of State emphatically and categorically declared “Migingo and Ugingo islands in Lake Victoria are in Kenya and that the government will use diplomatic means to free them from Uganda’s illegal occupation.

The President statement cam amid reports that the Ugandans have seized the second Island called Ugingo, which is located just a few kilometers from the controversial Migingo Island, and that Ugandan businessmen were busy erecting building on it using corrugated iron sheets, The reports says the Ugandan authority have already posted a dozen of armed marine police to guard the island.

However, Kenyan members of Parliament differed sharply with President Kibaki’s contention that the country would pursue the peaceful means through diplomacy to regain the control of the lost islands.

The want force used to solve border dispute and not diplomacy. They made this clear on Thursday night during hushed debate as Foreign Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka said Preside Kibaki will soon make decision to secure Kenya’s borders if diplomacy fails.

“The Commander-In-Chief will make a decision when the time comes otherwise we are on our guard for now,” the Assistant Minister told the MPs.

Onyonka pleaded with the MPs for patience saying Kenyan should use law and diplomacy before opting for military force.

Onyonka argued that Kenya strongly valued its position in the East Africanb Community and its relations with neighbors and that fighting might jeopardise this.

The Minister spoke after President Kibaki said disputed Migingo and Ugingo Islands were on Kenyan territory.

Juja MP William Kabogo was so blunt. He said how can they claim the islands belonging to Kenya yet Uganda security forces remain on the Island?

Nominate MP Musa Sirma asked,”How can you deal with Uganda in a diplomatic way when it is dealing with us carelessly?.

Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi {Sonko} was ordered to withdraw and apologise remarks he made that he has a squad of youth in Nairobi who only need to be armed to secure Kenyan borders.

Nominate MP Ms Millie Odhiambo asked if Kenyan should set up their own militia to secure the islands.

The Minister said the government was aware of cross border crimes and dispute with Uganda over Migingo was not the only case.

Ms Odhiuiambl and Budfalangi MP Ababu Namwamba re the two MPs who belonged to the communiy loving along the Kenya-Uganda borders on Lake Victoria. Odhiambo hail from Rusinga Island while Namwambva hail from Bunyala in Budalangi constituency in Busia County in Western Prorinvcde an area which is also bordering Uganda extending into the Lake Victoria.

Kibaki pronouncement abut the two disputed island was well received in Kisumu and other parts of the Lake region where the communities depend n fishing and fish trade for their daily breads.

Kenyan fishermen, according to report merging from the area are not allowed by Ugandan to erect any building on the island, and were kept at bay by he armed Ugandan security personnel.

Kibaki broke his long silence over the disputed ownership of the twin fishing islands in Lake Victoria, the world second largest sweet waters lake, which is shared between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Tanzania has the lion’s share it owned 52 per cent while Uganda 42 per cent with Kenya owning only 6 per cent, mainly along the Nyanza Gulf [previously known as Kivirondo Gulf}.

“I wish to reassure all Kenyans that the two Islands of Migingo and Ugingo lie squarely in Kenyan territorial waters in Lake Victoria. There should be no cause for alarm,” he added.

Kibaki told the cheering audience that security patrol had been stepped up along the country’s frontiers with the neighboring states.

Uganda claims Migingo and Ugingo islands and has since stationed marine police officers to guard the twin islands in total defiance of Kenya’s persistent complaints and opposition to its move.

Migingo’s wealth lies in its proximity to some of the richest remaining deep water fishing places inside Lake Victoria.

Kenyans living on the twin islands have often complained of harassment and that are forced to pay taxes to Uganda so a s to be allowed to go fishing in Lake Victoria.

President Kibaki assurance to the country over security also comes in the wake of the recent killing of 40 Kenyans pastoral community of the Turkana by Merille militias who crossed the border from Ethiopia in early May.

The killing raised tension and criticism of Kenya’s defense forces when the Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited the bolder region in the north and accused the military of failing to secure the country’s borders.

Since the killings President Kibaki and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi have met twice.

“We should always remember that Kenya is the biggest promoter of regional integration and had always aspired to live harmoniously with our neighbors.”

“A peaceful region holds much promise for out people who have the greatest potential for our people who have the greatest potential to do business and get jobs across our borders, “said the President.

In his call for diplomacy to end conflicts with the neighboring states, the President assured Kenyans that his government would pursue all the issues through diplomacy to their peaceful conclusions.

Kenya is also facing direct threat by the al-Qeda backed Islamic militias in the neighboring Somalia who on many occasions have issued a threat to attack Kenya for supporting the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.

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KENYA: THE EXPLOITATION OF TOBACCO FARMERS IN MIGORI COUNTRY BY MULTINATIONAL By BUYING COMPANIES MUST COME TO AN IMMEDIATE END.

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By Martin Owiny.
Forwarded By Leo Odera Omolo

Tobacco farming in Uriri District of Migori county has generated intense heat arising from a significant threat to food security and a catalyst to increased poverty in the local communities growing the crop.

Arising from the campaign mounted against tobacco in the West, multinational tobacco firms are increasingly turning to the developing countries where their activities face little challenge, if any.

In Kenya agricultural production of tobacco has assuming a very significant prominence.Tobacco growing introduced into the country 30 years ago has increased tremendously over the years. Today, it is grown by about 20,000 small scale farmers over on 15,000 hectares of land. Current annual production is estimated at 16,000 tonnes.

The Kenyan Government, as most other developing countries, treasures the tobacco firms because of the revenues generated by the tobacco firms through taxes remitted. In fact between the tobacco firms, the farmers and the government, it is the government that is the greatest beneficiary. For instance, in 1997, BAT Kenya Ltd – one of the leading tobacco firms in the country – had a gross turn-over of over Kshs. 10 billion and remitted over Kshs. 6 billion.

Data from researches indicate that during the same period the farmers in the country are estimated to have earned about Kshs. 900 million. however this is debatable. In Uriri, tobacco farming has turned out to significantly act as a catalyst to degradation of the environment, increase of poverty among the farmers and is a threat to local community food security.

Negative Impacts

Past and current trends in tobacco control haven’t been geared towards campaigning against smoking alone, very little, if any, effort is directed at assessing the impact of tobacco growing on the farmers and the environment.

Many questions remain unanswered in regard to tobacco growing in the country. A lot of biomas is used in processing tobacco leaves. How safe is this practice to the environment? How commensurate are tobacco earnings to the effort put in by farmers? And what are the health implications of tobacco growing on the farmers? These are very important questions that need to be answered. They can only be answered properly after a well-executed study.

Nevertheless, preliminary investigations reveal that tobacco farming is highly labour-intensive-involving almost an entire family, leaving no room for growing of food crops. The effect is perpetual famine in the tobacco growing zones leading to malnutrition especially amongst the children.

Earnings from tobacco are not commensurate with the input by the farmers.Tobacco farmers are not in positions to feed, educate or clothe their children adequately. Child labour and school drop-out are common features in the tobacco growing zones.

During drying of tobacco leaves (curing) a lot of biomas from indigenous flora is used. This leads to deforestation and even soil erosion. Moreover the curing plants (barns) are designed in such a way that the farmers are exposed to tobacco smoke – potentially making them candidates for tobacco-related diseases.

Attempts to persuade farmers to opt out have not been successful. While some farmers understand the dangers inherent in tobacco farming, majority do not understand and are not ready to opt out. In Uriri, an important tobacco growing zone, the farmers do not envisage any alternative income generating activities as lucrative as tobacco farming. After all the tobacco firms provide inputs on easy terms and readily available market for the tobacco leaves and do not pay promptly.

Currently, o major tobacco processing companies in Migiri county have no paid farmers for tobacco delivered in as far as last year. Faced with this income gap farmers are reduced to abject poverty as the best arable land was used to grow the tedious, labour intensive, health threatening crops for which returns have become a tug of war with the companies.

Asking the farmers to seek alternative income activities is in itself the least leaders can do. These companies should be sued for all the direct and in direct effects of these crops to the farmers and their family in the long term.

Urir, generally, like most tobacco growing zones is endowed with fertile land, adequate and consistent rainfall and therefore supports most crops.Sugar cane planting do well in this region, the main drawback is lack of companies to pay on time leading almost the same result.

Another potential strategy of trying to disengage the farmers (most of whom are aged between 30 – 40 years and therefore still energetic) from tobacco farming would be to introduce and support micro technical enterprises e.g. carpentry, masonry, brick-making, welding, shoe repair, etc. In this regard provision of electricity at strategic centers/points and provision of start-up funds would be important towards diverting the attention of the farmers from tobacco.

It is time for the leadership in this areas to start influencing the farmers to drop tobacco farming and come up with strategic and viable alternatives. The world bodies (WHO, UNEP, World Bank, FAO, etc.) working on controlling the epidemic of tobacco in the world should take the tips and come in appropriately.

Obviously the Kenyan Government should not sit contented with receiving the revenues from this dangerous weed and assume that all is well. Through its various ministries concerned (Health, Agriculture, Environment, etc.) the Government should take the initiative and address the tobacco menace in totality.

Tobacco war is a big challenge and calls for a wider partnership. Networking involving local NGOs and even CBOs is very crucial. The extent to which farmer are being exploited alone call for criminal investigations. Why should one not be paid for services and good the have delivered?

As a leader in this tobacco growing regions i am saddened by the development
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About the author.

Martin Owiny is one of the youthful technocrats from Uriri district who is working with an NGO in Nairobi. He is a stakeholder in tobacco farming in Uriri district, and also a local politician one of the potential aspirants for the Uriri parliamentary seat in the yearn 2012.

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Kenya: The Kipsigis families are demanding back their land seized by the British colonialists by force and turned into a tea estate

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

The Kipsigis County Council has been served with a four months quite notice to surrender back the 470 acres Kabianga Tea estate back to its original owners or else face court action.

Kabianga was one of the first institutions which was established by the colonial authorities in Kenya first as a Government African School and later as a Teachers Training College and expanded to the Farmers Training School in the early 1950s.

At the time of the establishment of the Farmers Training School in the area, there was a big demand for more land to cater for the school experiment farm, and so the colonialists moved into the Kipsigis reserved land and forcefully evicted close to 30 families out of their ancestor’s land.

Those evicted by the colonialists out of their ancestor land were never compensated, so most of them ended up living squalid life as squatters in other parts of the region.

But around 1962 shortly before Kenya attained its political independence, the Farmers Training School was disbanded, and the land measuring about 470 acres was converted into a tea nursery by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with local authorities. The Ministry for some unclear reasons later handed the farm under the sole management of the County Council of Kipsigis.

It was, however, turned into a full fledged tea estate, and the County Council of Kipsigis took charge, and for close to four decades, the council has been fetching close to Kshs 4 million monthly from the sales of the farmers green tea leaves to the multinational tea companies in Kericho and its environ.

But last week 28 representatives of the families whose land was forcefully taken by the colonialists to make room for the tea estate without compensation got together and issued a four months notice to the Council to return their ancestor’s land or else face legal redress through a court of law.

Through the lawier of the former High Court Judge, Mr. Justice Johnson Mitei, the families said they would seek legal redress should the Council fail to surrender the land back to its original owners in the newly created Kericho west district.

The families said in the letter addressed to the Clerk to the Council of the Kipsigis County Council and dated May 27, 2011 they stated that at around independence, the colonial authorities abruptly vacated the land when Kabianga Farmers Training School was disbanded and the vacant land was converted into a tea nursery by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the local authorities..

In the demand notice, the 28 representatives of the displaced families said the farm under the name of Kabianga tea estate was originally known as “Koitab Kipsimot, but the Council moved in and illegally registered it under the name of Kericho Kabianga.

They further claimed that on February 16, 1970, without consulting or seeking the opinion of the families concerned, the Kipsigis County Council registered the land under its own name, a move that said is illegal.

“Without consulting or seeking our client’s concurrence, the Council caused the said piece of land to be registered in its name and purported to have reserved it for the Kenya Tea Development Authority {KTDA}, Kabianga an entity whose existence is in doubt,” said the lawyer’s letter.

They claimed that as the result of the degrading and inhuman treatment they were subjected to, they are now living in squalid conditions.

“Our instruction are that you make arrangements to vacate the said and parcel of land a within four months,” said the notice.

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Kenya: Scores injured as Awendo residents battle with the police for several hours in violent protests over insecurity

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Writes Leo O dera Omolo in Awendo Town.

SCORES of people including a policeman were injured following violence protest by the residents of Awendo Town in Awendo district in Migori County.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the residents blocked the main Kisii-Rongo-Awendo-Migori highway with big boulders and set old lit the bon-fire thereby blocking the main rod that passes through Awendo Town.

This followed the Saturday night incident in which a petrol station attendant was captured by unknown armed thugs from his house within the town and took him hostage forcing him to accompany them to the station. They tied him and stabbed him on the head and stomach. The night security guards was also murdered.

The attackers were reported to have picked the fuel station attendant Mr Isaac Onyango 24 and forced him to accompany to his workplace so that he could show they where the money was kept for the night.On reaching the station, which is located only a few yards from the District Commssinmer’s Office, which is guarded by he Administration Policemen for twenty four hours.

The thugs tied the victims’ hands at their back and stabbed him several times. The night security Stephen Ogutu was also killed in the ame mannr.Insecurity in Awendo and its environs has been the subject of bitter complaints by the resident who had petitioned both the D.C’s of Rongo, Migori, Uriri and Awendo requesting the government to improve night patrols by the police.

The residents have also appealed to the Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere to effect the transfer of the Officer In Charge of Awendo Police Station who is said to have overstayed in one workplace for close to 12 years and has since became unproductive.

The residents other bone of contention is that some senior and junior police officer have over stayed in the region and have become unproductive and perhaps conduits to criminal activities in the area. Any officer transferred from any of the three stations, is always recycled and posted to the next station within the region, which is making nonsense of it.

Five traders and businessmen have been reported killed within Awendo Town and another businesswoman running an MPESA outlet at the nearby Ranen market was killed two months go when thugs raided her residence and shot her four times in the presence of her small and school going children.

Her husband was also attacked, but he fainted death and was presumed dead and left.He was later hospitalised. The businesswoman had been attacked previously and robbed of unspecified amount of money.So the thugs suspected her to have known them and they came back and finished her.

A trader dealing in women and men’s hand-bags at Awendo marke was ambushed in his residence and shot three time. Two people suspected to by Mtorike thieves were also set alight and burnt to ashes by the mob of people within Awendo Town.

Local leaders have voiced their concern at the rapidly deteriorating security situation at Awendo Town. The residents said they have lost confidence in the OCS and his team of policemen and wanted the station completely overhauled and new men and women posted there.

The chairman of Awendo Twn Council Councilor johnson Omolo Owiro and his Deputy Coun Martin Ondong’ have appealed to the Provincial Administration and the police authorities to intervene on matters of insecurity in Awendo town, saying that traders and businessmen in the small farming town were worried about their safety.

On Sunday, the enraged residents came out in full force and staged violent protest against what thay termed as ”serious collapse in security system and laxity on the part of the police officers serving at Awendo Police Station.

Despite of five people having been killed within the last two months, no arrest has been made and investigation is said to have been carried out in haphazard manner.

A police corporal has been working at the Awendo who was suspected to be working in cahoots with people suspected to be not upright characters was sered with transfer, but only moved to the next police station in Migori.Such a move are not fair to the suffering members of the public.

“We are demanding for the transfer of the entire staff at the Awendo Police Station and we have already petitioned the Nyanza PPO to come to the rescue of the residents of this town”, said a local businessman.

Thugs are also said to be targeting the wealthy sugar cane farmers whose homes have been raided on many occasions by heavily armed gunmen in search of easy money.

On Sunday, some of the Matatu drivers manoeuvred their way and used alternative “Ppanya Routes” passing the sugar cane plantation and managed to reach Migori Twn safely. But big lorries, buses and other users of the road were not lucky.

Police at Awendo was forced to seek reinforcement from Rongo, Migori and Uriri to be able to disperse the menacing crowd that had set bon-fire and prevented everyone from driving thoriugh Awendo Town unti their grievances were adequately addressed. They engged police men in a running battle which lasted for the better part of Sunday morning.

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East African nations in top gear to combat the spread of Ebola virus which has caused alot of panicking in the region

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Competence and efficiency of health ministries in East Africa and their medical teams of experts has once again put to test following a recent fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola scourge in Uganda.

When the outbreak of Ebola virus hit the cities within the region, particularly in the member state of the East African Community it caused alt of panicking forcing the health official to get into combative mood, scaring travelers and even in some places seemed to have hurt and dis harmonized the tourism industry, which is the mainstay of the region economies.

Ebola virus has been on and off in the region and in the wider Sub-Saharan Africa ever since it struck in the DRC {Congo} in the early 1980s.It spreads into the neighboring countries of Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon and Uganda and claimed the lives of close to 300 people including a medic doctor.

The news of Ebola scourge sent the governments into high state of alertness, beefing security and medical checks along their frontiers. It has since caused havoc with traveling crossing borders into the neighboring countries causing undue delays at the immigration and health check-points.

At the same the Kenya government has ordered that all the children under the ages of five years, particularly those living in the villages and locations close to its common border with Uganda be vaccinated against polio.

The exercise which will last for the whole of this month{June 2011}targeted children in Busia and Butula districts, which borders Uganda, the district Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ambrose Fwamba has disclosed.

The mass vaccination exercise came as the result of the outbreak of polio in the neighboring Uganda since last October in Bugiri district in eastern part of that country which border Busia County across the common borders.

The polio vaccination on the Kenyan side of the border is just a follow of an earlier one in November, December and early in January, said the MOH.

The polio vaccination will be carried out by the government in collaboration with the developing partners, Dr Fwamba said, adding that the medical personnel would move from home to home to ensure that every child living in those homes is vaccinated.. It will involve 108 health workers will be involved, they would undertake the exercise between June 4, and 8th.These staff have been trained for the job.

Last year, polio vaccination was undertaken by the public health ministry in partnership with development partners. Those targeted were 902,721 children under the age of five I the 22 high risk districts.

In 2009, the oral polio vaccination coverage for Kenya was 73 per cent. Children under five years of age are most vulnerable to polio, infection virus disease that affects the nervous system.

In the history of the deadly Ebola, the first case this year was registered two weeks ago of a 12 year old a Ugandan girl in Luwero district, since then health officials in that country have been carrying out the vital investigative procedures in the district, which is situated only about 22 kilometers south west of the capital, Kampala to curb the virus from spreading.

Ebola virus has, since discovery, been categorized by the World Health Organization {WHO} into five species, depending on which area it has struck. The species are classified as “Zaire Ebola-virus, Gabon Ebola-virus, Sudan Ebola-virus Reston Ebola-virus, Cote d’Ivoire Ebola-virus and Bundibugwo Ebola-virus.

The Ebola virus is the most feared disease, was first detected in 1976 in Yambuku a small village in Mongala Province in north eastern region of DRC Congo formerly Zaire. Here, the lethal attacked one Mabala Loleka a school teacher, who became the first case recorded of the previously unheard deadly epidemic.

From the DRC Congo the virus invisibly “sneaked into the neighboring Sudan. In the same year only this time I different species form.

A worker in a cotton factory in Nzara, a county in Sudan, was the first to test death at the hands of Ebola fatality in the region.

N 1989, the Reston Ebola virus a sub-type was detected by health scientists in Reston, Virginia, USA.I was not a human being case, this time, and according to WHO assessment, the virus was quarantined in laboratory monkeys between 1987 and 1996, a period documented and record the death several monkeys reportedly imported from the Philippines to the US and to Italy.

The Cote d’Ivoire Ebola-species had claimed only one human life, but several Chipanzees were confirmed dead in the Western African coastal nation, also formerly known as Ivory Coast. The outbreak was reported to have occurred in November 1994.

Cutting a cross the borders of several African countries, the Ebola virus found its way back into its origin-DR Congo in 1995 only to claimed more lives in Kwikit {250 people died}I had more deaths in Yambuku {151 dead},19 years before then.

Gabon did not escape the Ebola a virus with the test case reported in 1994, leaving the trails of nine deaths in its path. The Ebola virus later dominated the region with sequential outbreaks in February and July 1996, having had a fair share of its dominance in the Sub-Saharan Africa, Ebola went into slumber and was unheard of for four years after the 1996 Gabon outbreak.

At the dawn of 2000, The Ugandan community was awakened by frightening news of the outbreak of a virus clearly unheard of by most Ugandans then in Gulu in the northern part of the country. However, it did not take long for the name “Ebola” to become a household name, considering the attention its prevalence was in the local and international media. Even with 21 million populations then, the average reported death of 162 as of December 2000 reported by WHO was too much contain.

Dr Mathews Lukwaya, who succumbed to the deadly bug at Lacor Hospital that fateful year become the first medical doctor to die of Ebola in Uganda. When the virus of sub-type Bundigwo Ebola-virus struck, Uganda lost yet another medical doctor from the disease. Dr Jonah Lule was his name. He was serving as the medical officer of health at Kikyo Health Center.

A highly contagious disease, Ebola is transmitted disease by direct contact with the blood, stool, secretions, organs or other body fluids of the infected persons. WHO has warns that any direct contact with the body of the deceased person, especially during burial ceremonies can accelerate the transmission of the virus.

Dr Lukwaya and Dr Lule were reported not to have got with patients of the virus ,which could explain the cause of their demise.

The WHO reports also indicated thathandling0fn Ebola infected o the dead Chimpanzees, gorilla and forest antelopes to a large extent account for the infection of the human in Cote d’Ivoire and DRC Congo and Gabon.

The WHO advice for Ebola reported cases, the isolation strategy is the key in containing the virus within a limited area. In medical facilities, suspected person should be isolated from other patients and highly protective medical attention provided. It is important to trace and follow up any persons the suspected individual might have come into direct contact with to prevent unknown consequential deaths.

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Kenya: Two Homa-Bay County aspirants for governorship clashed at a funeral gathering in Rachuonyo

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

THOUSANDS were stunned as two populist aspirants for the lucrative position of Homa-Bay County governor clashed at a tension packed funeral gathering.

The two aspirants were Cyprian otieno Awiti a former country director of Marie Stoppie Clinics and Dr. Mark Matunga an executive with Miscrosoft Computer Africa.

The incident occurred at Anding’o-Kanyakwar village in Kokwanyo Location, Kasipul-Kabondo in Rachuonyo South district.

It was during the burial of Andrew Abonyo Aloys, a retired former production manager with the Eggerton University. At the time of his death a couple of weeks ago the late Abonyo was a businessman in Nakuru town.

This was the first occasion when the two aspirants both whom have laid the claim on he Homa-Bay governorship in the forthcoming general election met on a face-to-face encounter at a public function.

The venue was in Awiti’s backyard because his rural homestead is located at Mawego Roman Catholic Mission which is situated only about three kilometers. He was accompanied by a large delegation from his Kobuya sub-clan owing to the fact the deceased was his brother-in-law. Awiti hails from eastern part of Karachuonyo constituency in Rachyuonyo North district and had a huge cheering crowd in attendance.

Dr Matunga who hails from Mbita in Suba region also within Homa-Bay County attended the funeral as friend and a guest of the late Abony’s brother Otieno Aloys a prominent businessman in both Kisumu and Nairobi, and was alone with nor cheering party.

When he took to the podium to address the mourner Dr. Matunga delivered a hard hitting statement against unnamed people whom he accused as being recycled back to the public service after long they had tired, saying these people were tired and spent forces who should retired honorably.

Talking about the devolution of power Dr. Matunga caused a prolonged laughter when he said that the County governance under the new constitutional dispensation would require youthful and energetic leaders. And not tired and retired people.

There is a big task laying ahead for the County governor and his team and it requires people with vision and foresight like the late T.J. Mboya. It will need people with the ability and with both local, national and international outlook who could go out there and attract funding from national and international financial agencies. He said if elected, he would improve education, infrastructure.

He stunned the audience with his oratory gesture and after condoling the family of the late Abonyo their relatives and friends, Matunga who appered to have been worked by the earlier remarks made by a civic leader Coun. Orao who told the mourner that Cyprian Awiti is the only man who fit for the governor and there should be nobody else. Coun Urgent Dr. Matunga to distribute more computers to schools in the region and leave the field open for Awiti to become the first governor of Homa-Bay County

Apart from Dr. Matunga and Councilor Orao nobody else talked about politics and the funereal gathering ended on a peaceful note, but only after the man from Mbita had caused prolonged laughter among the mourners with his skillful delivery of the controversial speech.

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Kenya: odm grassroots election in Luo-Nynza faces a big dilemma as the forces opposed to the MPs are said to be ready to teach the legislators a big lesson.

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ODM LEADERS IN RONGO AND AWENDO DISTRICTS HAVE AGREED TO CONDUCT ELECTION FOR ONLY ONE PARTY BRANCH FOR THE TIME BEING.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

DESPITE the recent sub-division of Rongo district into two, namely the creation of the new Awendo district and a parliamentary constituency in the area, ODM leaders in both districts have resolved to conduct the party grass root election for only one branch.

This they said, is a temporary measure pending the official the gazette announcement of the proposed new parliamentary constituencies as per the recommendation of the disbanded Interim Boundary Commission led by Anrew Ligale.

Speaking over phone, Mr Jared Otieno Kopiyo, one of the potential aspirants for the newly created Awendo parliamentary seat said, “it will be a power-sharing between the party leaders in both Rongo and Awendo districts”.

It has been resolved that Awendo the chairmanship position will be retained by the Awendo group while the vice chairman will come from Rongo. The same will be with the branch secretary and other office will be shared equally

Meanwhile ODM grassroots election which has repeatedly been postponed ever since January this year is said to have sparked jittery between the current party MPS from Luo-Nyanza and the losers of the 2007 general election.

Fear persist that the elections now scheduled for June 6th would be a repeat of the previous elections which had produced two sets of branches in almost every constituency. Attempt by the party headquarters at the Orange House in Nairobi made futile attempt to resolve these disputes in vain leaving several branches to operate in parallel to each other. In some places the party big-wig had brokered such branches for power-sharing system, which also did not work.

All these were the result of the confrontations between the sitting MPs and their opponents t the constituency levels.

Differences still persist between the so-called pro-Raila and “unwanted leaders” as the party leadership is known to be operating under such classifications. People who are purported to be close to Raila’s elder brother Dr.Oburu Oginga, the MP for Bondo and Finance Assistant Minister are the one being blamed for engineering divisive politics thereby causing discontent in the party in this region which is considered to be the ODM stronghold.

Politics of undercutting is the order of the day within the ODM rank and file and the source of discontent. Dr Oburu Oginga and his youngest sister Ruth Adhiambo who is also reported to be eyeing the Kisumu Town West parliamentary seat in the 2012 are said to have the ears of the Prime Minister. The two are said to have the poorest public relations. Other personalities said to be fuelling jittery in the party are businessmen, building contractors-turned political sycophants seeking favor of securing government contracts and businesses.

A number of the present MPs from Luo-Nyanza are said to be uncomfortable with the characters who claims to be close to the ODM are coalescing around the defeated former MPs who lost their seats in 2007.

The electorates wants these categories of leaders to be locked out of the party positions in Nyanza as their presence would only serve in furthering the differences and split among the party leaders in the region.

Other have been heard saying that even the much highlighted differences between the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Kalenjin MPs led by the suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto could have been easily be resolve internally without much fuss had it not been the kind of loose talking in the lips of some Luo power brokers.

And now that the new constitution has the provision for independent candidates, many current Luo MPs who are said to be tired of politics sycophancy and hero-worshipping are reported to be considering other option, which might result in some of them defending their seats as independent candidates come the year 2012.

What is causing jittery in the Raila led party is the highest number of votes garnered in the last week civic election in Gem by a candidate who contested on the civic by-election on the ticket of Biwott led National Vision Party of Kenya. The Vision sponsored candidate received 746 votes against the winner the ODM candidate who received 1,500 votes, and political pundits consider this to be closest contest

In another civic by-election held early this year in Rusinga Ward in Mbita district, the ODM candidate managed to squeeze a narrow win with slim majority victory of votes almost succumbing to defeat by National Vision Part man. The slim victory by the ODM has forced the loser Mr Okuku Miregi to move to court complaining that he was robbed of the victory and rigged out. Such scenario only pointing out that the ODM superiority is rapidly declining in the region where the party had received votes on man-to-man in 2007.

Insiders blame the rapidly changing trend of politics in the region on the ODM usually flawed nominations. The party, they say has refused to change with time and is still pursuing outmoded dictatorial policy of the Moi KANU REGIME OF THE PAST.

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Kenya: Defeat of the ODM in Ikolomani was a case of betrayal by party MPs in the region

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News Analysis By Leo Odera omolo

A NUMBER of articles have appeared in the local dailies, some of them placing he blame at the doorstep of the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi or his party leader for failure to capture the Ikolomani seat in Kakamega County during the just concluded by election.

The by-election results cannt be used to paint the Prime Minister Raila Odinga as having lost the clout in Western.After all it was just an attempt by Raila’s party to wrestle this particular seat fro the New Ford Kenya party,which had won it in 2007. But if the party had accepted Dr Khalwale in its rank and gave him the nod to contest the by-election on an ODM ticket, he could have won the election by much larger if not overwhelming majority.

All the analysis given by experts and opinion leaders are far from the true picture of what happened during the bruising campaign in Ikolomani and therefore devoid of facts.

It is true that the ODM won 19 parliamentary seats in the entire Western Province during the 2007 general elections leaving only 5 seats to be shared by other parties, Ford-Kenya and New Ford-Kenya and PNU among others included, which was won by Dr. Bonny Khalwale on the New Ford-Kenya ticket. And as such it was apparent that the incumbent had a upper hand from the onset of the campaign.

The other factor which contributed to the ODM defeat is the party’s much flawed nomination system and the seemingly endless internal wrangling. This same problem has led to losses after losses in other recent by-elections starting with South Mugirango,Makadara, Matungu and in other places.

In lkolomani, the ODM leadership had failed to put their act together. Close to 60 ODM civic leaders in many parts of the region ganged up openly campaigned for Dr Khalwale, and so were some of the party MPs from the region. Those who turned up and joined Mudavadi in the campaign did so half-heartedly.

Another factor which contributed immensely to Khalwale success is the fact that his campaign team was well drilled and highly liquid in terms of cash money in the by-election which was shrouded rampant bribery of voters and intimidation and at time violence. In same polling stations, voters were bribed with cash money within the eyesight of the security personnel who did not act, though such action amounted to committing an election offence.

Rumors were ripe to the effect that most ODM MPs, even those from a far field like Nyanza, Rift Valley and other regions gave their morale and material support tot the “Bull Fighter of Ikolomani” whose vital and regular contributions in the House during crucial issues of national importance debates has won him a place in the heart of many Kenyans.

It is not uncommon to hear dark corner gossips in the public domain and mostly in the public joints in town, people discussing in low tones, classifying Khalwale as one among the MPs who have excelled and became formidable debaters in the August House. Others being mentioned in this category included Martha Karua, Dancan Mungatana,Ababu Namwamba,Millie Odhiambo,Kilonzo,Gitobu Imanyara among others. Their contribution to the debates covering national issues is far much beyond party allegiance. It was therefore for the ODM to manage and to dislodge Khalwale, they needed to put their act together, which they didn’t.

It is also imperatively important to mention it here that, the fight was not between Raila Odinga and Bonny Khalwale, but a healthy competition between ODM and New Ford Kenya parties. It is therefore wrong for anyone to invoke the name of the Prime Minister insinuating that the outcome of the Ikolomani by-election is pointer abut the shape of things expected to come in Western Province come the year 2012.

A seemingly divided house of ODM had no chance of winning the Ikolomani set due to the fact that most of the party members from the region like Nambale’s Chris Okemo, Mumias Ben Washiali, Khwisero’s Evans Akula,while Matungu’s Were made a cosmetic appearance only during the visit to the constituency by the prime Minister Raila Odinga, but was later spotted sipping drinks in one of the posh hotels in Kisumu at the eight of the campaign.

At the same time rumors hit Ikolomani like Tsunami that several cabinet minster from the region, though members of the ODM were secretly backed Khalwale.

Other reasons, which gave Khalwale the ammunition with which he fought off the resurgence of ODM was untimely and poorly planned visit by Raila Odinga and his act of commissioning the Sigagala-Butere-Sidindi Road,which is currently under the construction.. The Prime Minister claims that it was himself who initiated the construction of these particular several years ago while he was serving in the docket of the Ministry of Work was successfully countered and watered down by Khalwale who told his people that the road network was his pat project.

The commissioning of this particular road and that particular time during the height f the electioneering campaign for the by-election was ill-timed. It convinced the electorate to believe that the Prime Minister was using government resources in campaigning for his party’s candidate, the idea which did augur well.

The Ikolomani by-election, however, is good an eye opener for the ODM a party which must put its house in order. It must end petty political squabbles within its rank and file.

Th ODM must change its nomination system and move out from that of handpicked. The party must give the room for the local leaders and party member the right to choose the right candidate via ballot boxes, and not direct nomination or pointing out the names of “wanted people”

This unpopular system has seen ODM suffering humiliating defeats in Kitutu Chache {2007

Where the party big-wigs had backed the former PS Ongware in place of Richard Onyonka who had won comfortably I the preliminary nominations. ODM did the same in Nyaribari Chache where Dr. Monda had won in the preliminary nomination and gave the clearance certificate to Chris Bichage. Both Onyonka and Dr Munda sought for other party tickets with which the two used to eventually trouncing the party’s favorite candidates during the election proper, though after winning the election on their own, they both agreed to work with the ODM team in parliament..

Despite Raila and Mudavadi having made a frantic effort to see their man win the by-election, the candidate himself was working in parallel to the team headed by the Minister for Local Government who is the de facto flag bearer of the party in Western Province given his party seniority.

For the ODM to maintain its dominance and superiority in Western Province the party must clean up all the cobwebs within its house, and stop internal wrangling, otherwise the party is likely to have a lean time in the region and could be booted out in the year 2012.

ODM defeat in the Ikolomani by-election is a clear case of betrayal from within its rank and file.

The court’s nullification of Khalwale’s victory in 2007 with a narrow margin of only 200 votes is now something of the past. The “Bull Fighter of Ikolomani, this time around performed perfectly well by polling a clear majority of 2,500 votes, which now put the question of who is the most popular leader in that constituency to a rest.

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Tanzania: Environmentalists and conservationist have sounded alarm that lesser flamingos could face extinction if Tanzania consents to the construction of Soda Ash plant in the Lake Natron

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

NEWSPAPERS in both Kenya and Tanzania have reported environmentalists in the region as having voiced concern over the renewed plan by private investors to construct a soda ash plant at Lake Natron.

They are bitterly arguing that the project would adversely affect the breeding site of the flamingos.

The environmentalists and conservationist claim that Tanzania government had shelved the construction of the plant in 2009 after it emerged that Lake Natron was the breeding site for million of lesser flamingos in East Africa.

Situated close to the border of Kenya and Tanzania, but most part of it right inside the Tanzanian territory, the volcanic lake is not far away from Kenya’s Lake Magadi, which is the site of intensive mining of salt and soda ash, Lake Natron is also an important tourist attraction site.

Wetlands International {WI} and Kenya Wildlife Services {KWS} want the multimillion dollar project halted as it would endanger the population of the Lesser Flamingos.

In a statement, WI expressed shock over on the renewed plans to continue with the project despite the vehement opposition from environmentalists and conservationists locally and the world over.

“The plans to mine at this very precious, but vulnerable lake conflicts with the government’s international commitment and could cause the loss of one of Africa’s most important wetlands of international importance, being the only breeding site of the Lesser Flamingos, “read the statement in part.

The statement stated that there have been recent announcement of the representatives of the Tanzanian government that the project would go ahead regardless of the objections.

Kenya is vehemently opposed to the project, Dr James Njogu, the head of the Conventions at the KWS said the project would affect between two and three million flamingos that breed at Lake Natron.

“Flaming migrate from various lakes in Kenya to breed at Lake Natron. Any disturbance on the lake would affect the hydrology of the lake by either dilution or pollution.”

“The Tanzania government had suggested having the plant at a distance place from the lake, but I am not sure whether they did so,” said Dr Njogu.

According to Wetlands International about 75 per cent of the Lesser Flamingo in East Africa breed at Lake Natron which is a Ramset Site.

The project was abandoned in 2008 due to the concern from the Tanzania’s National Environmental Management Council {NEMC} that the mining of soda ash in the area would adversely affect the ecology of the lake Natron and its highly importance biodiversity.

In the same year, Ramset Advisory Mission recommended that the Tanzanian government should suspend the Soda Ash project and consider completing the development of the Tanzania Wetland Strategy and other policy framework before taking any decision on the Sod ash project.

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Kenya: Government urged to stmp out thuggery along the Kericho-Kisumu highway

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Writers Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

Insecurity is on the alarming increase on the Kericho-Kisumu highway and the time is ripe for the Provincial Administration and police authorities in both Nyanza and Rift Valley Provinces to urgently consider the possibility of beefing u night patrol along this particular rod.

The worse part of the road is the portion around the Kaitui Market and the Muhoroni junction. The road is currently undergoing major repair forcing motorist to be diverted through the narrow and poor murrum roads pushing them out of the tarmac. This is slowing down the motorists and as such exposing them to attack by heavily armed thugs.

The latest incident occurred two weeks ago when 15 members of the Administration Policemen from various stations in Western Kenya who travelling to Nairobi for routine course and dozens of passengers during the night were ambushed by six men armed with six pistols and AK 47 rifles and robbed of money, mobile phones and other valuables at gun-points.They criminals ransacked pockets and luggage of the passengers and made away with unspecified property worth thousands of shilings

This particular incident occurred near the Muhoroni junction, a dangerous spot where some motorist has been attacked even during day lights. The road has become extremely dangerous to the users either motorist or motor bike and even pedestrians.

The criminal thugs usually and positioning themselves at strategically isolated part of the road, which is far away from the usually crowded trading centers and market places.

An incident which left residents of Kericho Town in the state of shock was when the eight heavily armed men and a woman stormed a major wholesale shop right in the middle of the town and made an attempt to steal more than Kshs 2 million

During the early morning attempted robbery at the Mutai Wholesalers. This was the first major one to occur in Kericho score of people were left injured or suffered gun shots. The police acted promptly and killed four of the attacked and nabbed two of them one of the later to turned to be a serving soldier in the Kenya army.

It was through the spirit of cooperation by members of the public which enable the police to overcome the gun-totting criminals after a long hide and seek chase through the densely populated Kipsigis villages. Some of the thugs were clobbered and stoned by members of the public who joined the police in the long chase, which ended up near Kenegut Center in Soin Division. The sounds of guns sent the villagers scampering for safety not knowing what was happening in the surroundings. On e of the thugs was fishing out of a sugar cane plantation after his gun had run short of ammunition.

Residents of Kericho and its environs, however, were grateful for the quick action by the police who handled the situation with seal and in a high professional manner. Such commendable action by police in Kericho by would definitely deter thugs to think twice before embarking on similar heist the future.

In other word, the residents of the area, which is prone to thuggery have urged the road construction contractors to hasten their work and ensure that they completed the Kaitui-Awasi portion within the quickest period of time possible, as it expose members of travelling public to danger.

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Uganda: The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda has sent East Africa into great panic

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Writes leo Odera Omolo

The East African region was last week scared and left in the mood of double checking safety controls as fears spread that an outbreak of the rare and deadly Ebola virus reported in Uganda could spread to other neighboring countries.

The scar which spread like bush fire came after what is suspected to be Ebola killed a Ugandan girl in Luwero area near the capital, Kampala.

Health officials said the case from Luwero district, which is located only 75 kilometers north west of Ugandan capital, Kampala was the first outbreak of the virus in four years, leaving the region in fear of a repeat of re-endemic threat in past years.

“Laboratory investigations are said to have confirmed Ebola to be the primary cause of the illness and death. So far there is one case reported, but we expect others cases,” said Antony Mbonye, the Ugandan government’s commissioner for the Community Health.

Health officials are keenly following up and observing 33 people who were in contact with the deceased girl,” Mbonye said.

It is the third time Uganda is hit by the epidemic following 2000 and 2007 outbreaks and the closest it has been reported near the capital City. The last time Uganda was hit by Ebola – a deadly disease in which those affected often bleed t death – it killed 37 people.

Rwanda and Kenya are some of the Uganda’s immediate neighbors which have so far confirmed they already on alert.

Rwandan official in Kigali held an emergency meeting last week with the health minister reported as saying there was adequate equipments to deal with the deadly Ebola virus in the event of an outbreak.” We have internationally approved materials that will enable us to handle the situation,” Dr Agnes Binagwaho.

On it part, Kenya announced that it had directed its immigration officials and health center situated along the Kenya-Uganda border to take precaution following an alert by the American Center for Disease Control according to Public Health Director, Sharif Shahnas.

In 2000 and 200, Kenya set up screening centers along its borders with Uganda following an outbreak of the virus that killed at least 170 people in Uganda’s northern Gulu district and 37 more in Bundiguywo in Western Uganda in the respective years.

In 2007, DRC Congo health authorities closed the lake and land border with Uganda and shut down two markets situated along the border of the two countries as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease from its neighbor. DRC Congo experienced Ebola epidemics in 1976, 1995, 1999, 2007 and 2009.

In 2007, The Permanent Secretary in the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Wilson Mukama warned that villages bordering Uganda were at great risk of contracting the epidemic prompting the government to dispatch medical teams to regions of Kagera Mwanza and Mara.

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EAC: Cross border trades between some EAC member states is still cumbersome despite of the last year’s signing oft the Common Market protocol

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

KENYAN businessmen are still facing many obstacles, which are yet to be eliminated despite the recent signing of the East African Community Common Make protocol.

A survey carried out by this writer at Sirare and Namanga and also at Busia and Malaba borders posts has revealed.

It shows the initial high expectation have been dampened and merchants say free trade is not yet to be on the practical sight, but remained only on papers.

Nearly a year after the take off of the Common Market protocol a number of Kenyan traders, especially those involved in transportation of cargoes across the border says there is no sign of proper coordination of activities between the three countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, which are the founding members of the East African Community.

The traders gave the example of border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania at Sirare and Namanga border posts as the most cumbersome.

For instance, they say, the two countries at the very different levels of making cargo clearance faster, which frustrates the transport companies a lot.

In Kenya, one can now get clearance in less than six hours, while in Tanzania it may take up to 14 days before the truck is allowed to enter into that country unless one makes prior arrangements, “One frustrated trader said.

The agencies involved in quality assurance and certification such as bureau of the standards are also very detached, causing losses for manufacturers and transporters.

“Coming from Tanzania, transporters are allowed to enter Kenya with their first consignment while it is being tested, but if it is to Tanzania, the cargo stays at the border while the samples are tested, which can take even up to six months,” he added.

There is also inconsistency in the maximum weight allowed for trucks. In Kenya for example, the maximum truck weight is 47 tones while in Tanzania it is 50 tones, the three differences is unused capacity wile exporting to Tanzania, but while importing to Kenya one pays heavy fines if it exceeds,” lamented one exporter.

Mr Hajj Noor Burrow a Kenyan exporter was quoted this week by the Nairobi publication the NAIROBISTAR as saying that there are continuous efforts by Tanzanian authorities to frustrate Kenyan business people..

Burrow says, sometimes Kenyans are denied entry into Tanzania on grounds that their travel documents are invalid, despite such document having accepted and cleared by the immigration officials on the Kenya side of the b order as being the valid ones.

Burrow further explains that the frustration is not only in the public offices, but are also visible in private companies.

“Banks in Tanzania are refusing Kenyan traders to open transaction accounts restraining them from doing business there, and ye the Tanzanian citizens can easily open accounts in Kenyan banks,”

He explained, in some instances, “We have to use Tanzanian citizens to open accounts for transactions which carries a high risk as some have run away with our money”

Currently the statistics show that Kenya exports to Tanzania stands at Kshs 30 billion a year and imports from there stands at around Kshs 8 billion annually.

The Ministry of the EAC Affairs, however, says that there are some practical procedures, which the Kenyan traders are not aware of and that si what is leading to frustrations.

Prof Helen Sambili, the Kenyan Minister for the EAC Affairs says implementations is a gradual process, even though traders may expect some issues to be ironed out and resolved overnight.

She said this while official opening the Regional Integration Centers {RICs},adding that “the task of RICs is to facilitate cross border trade and open an automated system for handling customs data and declarations which will shorten clearance times.

On the Kenyan-Uganda border the clearance exercises seemed to have loosened and trucks were quickly accessing their destinations.

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Kenya & Uganda: Kenyan military helicopters are making reconnaissance flight over Miugingo and Ugingo island as Prime Minister assured Parliament of the government plan to improve security of its people along the borders

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Kenyan fishermen operating on the twin islands of Migingo and Ugingo in Lake Victoria have reported sighting the Kenya a military helicopter flying low over the disputed island while its crew were seen taking aerial photographs.

Both the islands are subjected to a heated dispute between Kenya and Uganda. Ugingo Island is the latest area said to have been seized by Ugandan security personnel who are numbering about 20 are said to be busy supervising the construction of makeshift corrugated iron sheets temporary structures being put up by Ugandan traders.

The Uganda security personnel have expelled the Kenyan fishermen and told them to keep off the island.

A Kenyan fisherman confirmed having seen the Kenya army helicopter circling the island on Tuesday during early morning hours. Said he saw the copter which was flying low over the one and half acre island while its military crew were taking photo of the ground.

But the Copter did not land.

Odhiambo’s testimony was corroborated by several witnesses including the chairman of Migingo Beach Management Unit, Mr Juma Ombori who told this writer by phone that he had also seen the same Helicopter circling the controversial and nearby Migingo Island.

The new development came in the wake of plan envisaged by local politicians in Homa-Bay and Nyatike ,Gwassi and Mbita districts to invade the islands and eject the Ugandan policemen guarding them.

The invasion plans were announced last week by the former chairman of the defunct County Council of South Nyanza Elisha Aketch Chieng’who made the announcement in Homa-Bay Town.

Chieng’; said the residents were tired of the government failure to sort out the issue with its Ugandan counterpart

“We hope the Kenya government will soon reclaim the two islands from the Ugandans. We hope this trip by military helicopter was meant to show the country’s seriousness to protect its territories,” said Juma Ombori.

He said that Ugandan have already constructed 30 structures on the tiny island and were in the process of building more additional facilities with building material being ferried to the island from Bugiri district in Eastern Uganda.

On Wednesday night the Prime Minister Raila Odinga told hashed Parliament in Nairobithat the government that Kenya’s military has been ordered to crack down on Merille and Rendille tribesmen from Ethiopia who have been attacking Kenyan communities living along the common border.

The government, he disclosed, has also given quit notice to the Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa to relocate the Merilles and Rendilles voluntarily or the face forceful eviction by the Kenyan security agencies.

The Merilles, said Raila, are responsible for the recent killing of more than 40 people during an attack two weeks ago.

The PM told parliament that Merilles have already been told to move out of Kenyan territory through a notice.” If they do not leave they will be evicted forcefully,” he added.

Odinga further disclosed to the tentative House tat an estimated 900 of the total population of Merilles who have pushed out the Turkana and other communities from the area near Lake Turkana are armed militiamen the rest were farmers farming on Kenyan soil.

These foreigners are now living 17 kilometers inside the Kenya border. He also attributed the invasion of the Ethiopian Merilles and their continued stay in the area they have been occupying to a collapse of security at the Kenya borders. He absolved the Kenya Police; the General Service Unit {GSU} from the blames, adding that it is the cardinal duty of the military to protect the country’s territories from external aggressors.

“We spent millions of shillings on our military training. We train, promote and retire our soldiers who never go to any war, said the Pm during his weekly address to Parliament.

He assured the MPs that serious measures have been put in place. These include the upgrading of Todonyang’ police post to a fully fledged police station with more personnel to man it.

He disclosed that the government of Kenya had also taken other measures to protect the co8untry’s borders. The plans include the deployment of the military and police to Migingo and Ugingo islands where the Kenyan fishermen are at the mercy of Ugandan security personnel which have seized the islands and established control.

He said the military had already dispatched a plane to the island for surveillance purposes and had established that no Ugandan national flag was hoisted there as has been alleged by some of the residents and fishermen from the area.

The MPs severely criticized the government for being “too soft to the neighboring countries violating Kenya sovereignty and being too slow in securing the country’s territories being frequently seized by its aggressive neighbors with expansionist tendencies.

“This is a shocking admission of the government failure on a section of it citizenry.”How much money does the government need to set aside for the plans to improve security of its people,” wondered Imenti Central Mp Gitobu Imanyara.

Mandera East MNP Mohammed Hussein said the idle Kenya military should be put on use to scare away external aggressors targeting the country’s borders.

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Kenya MPs blames the government for being insensitive as citizens of neighboring countries massacred its own citizens along the internationally recognised borders in the north of the country

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

MEMBERS of Kenyan Parliament have come out in full force in wholesale condemnation of the government’s insensitiveness on its neighboring countries violating the country’s international boundaries with impunity.

Kenya has one of the strongest and boasting the most efficient military powers in the East African region, though untested in combats, but its neighboring countries of Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia have been violating its international boundaries unchallenged either militarily or diplomatically.

The legislator who spoke in unity in total disregard of political parties divides cited the recent seizure of Migingo fishing Island in Lake Victoria and the latest reports that Uganda has further seized another nearby fishing island called Ugingo and posted its security forces there.

The massacre of close to 50 Turkana tribesmen living along the Kenya Ethiopia border at a place called Todonyang by the Rendille tribesmen. On the eastern border with the Ethiopia at Moyale, members of the Oromo Liberation Army fighting to dislodge the Ethiopia regime of the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have intermittently crossed the border into Kenya unchallenged and harassed peace loving Kenyans.

The same has happened along the Kenya border with Southern Sudan, where members of the Sudan Liberation Army {SPLA} have crossed into Kenya at will and harassed inn0cent Kenyans.

And on the Kenya-Somalia border, the al-Qaeda backed al-shabaab militia have incurred into Kenya and killed Kenyans at will. The al-Shabaab terrorist is also said to be conducting recruitment exercise inside Kenya and enlisting jobless youths into its militia forces that is fighting to dislodge the UN/AU backed Provisional Transitional Government of Somalia in Mogadishu.

Speaker after speaker blamed the government for keeping large military force that is only idling in the army barracks, but cannot effectively defend the country’s territories even when it is being threatened by aggressors from the neighboring nations..

The MP expressed concern over the recent killing of over 50 Turkana tribesmen at Todonyang. Those massacred included men, women and children.

The Kenyans had crossed the border mainly to buy some food commodities in market across the border when they were ambushed and shot at random by heavily armed Rendille tribesmen from Ethiopia

Both Rendille and Turkana are pastoral communities and herders who whose historical past have been shrouded with violence cattle rustling operations which resulted in the massive loss of lives. The two communities live across the internationally accepted common borders facing each other. The Rendilles are believed to have crossed into Kenya and settled along the border villages after vandalizing beacons marking the exact border between Ethiopia and Kenya.

The Prime Minister Raila Odinga visited the border areas and was shocked to learn that the Rendille tribesmen living inside Kenya have gone as far as uprooting the beacons marking the common border. The Prime Minister was also prevented from visiting the border area by his security details following advice of the police that it would go against his personal safety.

Officially and diplomatically, Kenya and Ethiopia have no known or reported boundary dispute and the two neighboring nations are serving in various regional organizations such as IGAD, AU, Nil Basin Commission, Comesa and several other regional bodies. There has never been any diplomatic thaw between the two countries, which share many things in common. So the massacre of close to 50 Kenyan Turkana tribesmen by the Rendilles came as a shock to both governments.

Residents of the Turkana region maintains that the recent disarmament exercise carried by the Kenya government in which thousands of guns from the Kenyan tribesmen has exposed them and made the community vulnerable to their enemies from neighboring pastoralist communities. It deprived the impoverished Turkana of their weapons which they could use in defending themselves and their properties from external aggressors.

The Turkana people had consented to the disarmament exercise on the understanding that the government would post Kenyan security personnel along the common border to protect them. But nothing like that has come.

There are several security personnel at the Todonyang border post, but the few who are there are ill-equipped and could not match the Rendilles tribesmen armed with much more sophisticated weapons with higher fire power.

The disarming of Turkana herdsmen appear to have given their hostile neighbors from both Ethiopia and Southern Sudan courage to carry out attack in their territory.

This is what happened at Todonyang Massacre on May 2,2012.The disarmament operations netted a total of 737 illegal guns..And in the last two weeks to the end of an amnesty period issued by the government, Turkana residents voluntarily surrendered a record 250 illegal firearms.

The government carried out the exercise despite the fact that neighboring Ethiopia and Sudan had no pan to disarm their equally armed border residents

Before the disarming the Turkana, the government should have beefed up security along the border areas separating the two countries. Apart from Rendille tribesmen, there are also the heavily armed Oromo Liberation Army across the Ethiopia-Kenya borders operating around the border town of Moyale.

Since independence in 1963, the Turkana tribesmen have been defending themselves from their hostile neighboring communities, which are equally pastoralists’.

Reports from the region say that during the disarmament the government through the Deputy Provincial Commissioner in the Rift Valley Province Christopher Musumbu is reported to have promised the Turkana community of the maximum security protection. Musumbu said the government had mapped out areas prone to insecurity along the border areas where more security personnel would be deployed and stationed on permanent bases.

The Turkana residents have been equally facing internal aggression from their hostile and much drilled Pokots tribesmen in the South who intermittently attack or cattle rustling. But the Pokots were also recently disarmed thereby minimizing the threats to the Turkana.

In Parliament there were heated exchange between MPs and front benches during which an Assistant Minister for Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojpde readily admitted that there was a total collapse in security adding that although neighboring countries had beefed up security along the border military personnel, Kenya was still dragging its feet.

Ojode said the setting of military bases in Turkana region has been in the drawing board for along time.

In parliament the legislator decried insecurity along Kenya’s border with its neighboring nations. One core function of the military and all other armed forces is primarily to protect the country’s territorial against any external aggression from foreigners, but this has not been the case in Kenya.

It was only Uganda which jointly carried out similar disarmament exercise with Kenya in an operation that has since yielded in the relative peace between Kenya’s Turkana and Uganda’s Karamojong pastoralists’ after the recovery of 27,000 illegal guns.

The MPs blamed the government for keeping members of Kenya armed forces idle in army barracks while the country’s boundary is being violated lft, right an center by the neighboring states with impunity.

In the Western front, Kenya has lost fishing islands in lake Victoria one after the other. Uganda this week announced that it has seized Ugingo Island which is only a few kilometers from the controversial Migingo Island it seized five years ago.

Kenya residents were told by the Ugandan armed forces to keep off the Island. Speed boats were seen ferrying building materials from Bugiri district in Easter Uganda to the island, where Ugandan traders were seen constructing makeshift corrugated iron {Mabati houses}.

And those Kenyans resident fishermen who were previously operating on the island were expelled and warned to keep away. Ugandan police official told the Kenya that they had come to the island in order to keep the pirates who in the past have been raiding the island and robbed the Kenyans at will at bay.

At least 30 makeshift houses were put up at the weekend by Ugandan traders under close supervision of the Ugandan armed security personnel.

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