Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

KENYA: KISUMU AND HOMA-BAY COUNTIES STANDS BETTER CHANCE OF TURNING THE FACE OF LUO-NYANA INTO A VIBRANT ECONOMIC HUB FOR WESTERN KENYA.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

TWO regions in Western Kenya stands a better chance of setting up fast and vibrant development, if the two County governance could pull up socks and redouble efforts in the real task of development.

Both Kisumu and Homa-Bay Counties are rich in natural resources which include fisheries, minerals while endowed with fertile arable land for the production of nearly al cash crops such as sugar cane, coffee tea, and vegetable horticulture.

The two counties are sharing the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kavirondo Gulf, a narrow and shallow waterway that winds up at the eastern shoreline of Lake Victoria.

However, the two regional assemblies, will have to look for urgent sources of funds with which could be used to eradicate the water hyacinth weeds which has chalked the lake for the last ten years and so.

The fishing industry is arguably the main economic stay of the resident of the two counties. The dreadful water hyacinth weeds has become an impediment to further development of fishing activities, and means and ways must be found for its immediate removal either manually or mechanically.

Ships, steamers an fishing boats are finding it difficult to navigate their way through the water hyacinth weeds, which at time even blockades the narrow waterway into Kisumu Pier and thereby blocking ships plying the narrow water way while ferrying cargoes and goods to the neighboring land-locked counties of Tanzania, Uganda ,Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic and the Dr Congo, republic and Southern Sudan.

Recent government statistics showed that Kenya has done well in exporting its fish to the,Israel,Japan and US,though the country owns only small fraction of Lake Victoria waters at only 20 per cent, while its two other partners in the East African Community {EAC} have the Lion’s share with Tanzania 50 per cent, Uganda 46 per cent.

Judging from the type of personnel recently appointed to serve in the two regional cabinets by the two governors o Kisumu and Homa-bay, the resident have a goods reason to smile ,expecting the assembly cabinet and representatives to deliver the goods to the electorate within the quickest period of time possible to deliver.

Both governors Cyprian Otieno Awiti [Homa-Bay}, Jack Ranguma {Kisumu}The two men boost vast and wealth experience in the management of pubic affairs. Rumors making the round that Oil and natural gas were recently discovered in Nyakach area with the potential commercial could boost the two counties economically value could give the region a boost.

The two counties are sharing the Nyanza Gulf with the Homa-Bay have the largest area covering Nyakach Rachuonyo North,Rangwe, Homa-bay and Mbita districts.

Kisumu Countyhas the advantage of hosting five sugar manufacturing companies, namely Chemelil, Miwani, Kibos and Muhoroni, though the ailing industry has permanently on its death bed.These factories need to be resuscitation in order to improve the circulation o cash money in the two regions.

During the recent long rains which had caused the massive flood of many parts of Nyanza, there were the sighs of relief on the faces f the fishermen and those involved inn the fish trade. They woke up in the morning only to find the dreaded water hyacinth weeds blown away by strong wind during the night leaving many parts of the lake clean and clear. However, this did not offer the permanent solution and this is the main reason why the two counties must sources for the funds in order to combat the menace of water hyacinth.

Another value added project, which would soon pace Kiumu city ino theglobal map is the rent expansion o the Kisumu Airport in which the Kenya government has so far sunk billion of shillings into.It is increasingly becoming incentive to the famers I Kisumu, Kisii and Homa-Bay Counties to go for more lucrative earning cash-crops like horticultural, which could be airlifted directly from kisumu Airport to any destination globally

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KENYA AND TANZANIAN LOCKED THEIR HORNS N BIG LEGAL TUSSLE OVER CROSS BORDER TOURISTS BETWEEN THE FAMOUS SERENGETI AND THE MASAI MARA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

REPORTS EMERGING from the Northern Tanzanian town of Arusha say that tourism stakeholders in both Kenya and Tanzania wants the border between the two countries two world famous tourists attraction sites be opened in line with the principles and spirits of the East African Community.

The two world famous tourist sites are the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti National game Park in Tanzania.

According to the latest newsletter of the East African Tourism Platform {EATP}, the opening of the Bukologonja border which was closed by Tanzania unilaterally following the collapse of the first East African Community in 1977, would save tourists the five hour drive through the nearest border crossing point and encourage regional tourism.

The border at the Sand River is on the route used by wild bests during their spectacular annual migration that attracts thousands of tourists to both countries. Besides its closure, it was a convenient route for tourist visiting the Serengeti National Game Park-Maasai Mara ecosystem.

Following the collapse of the first EAC in 1977, Tanzania closed all border crossing points with Kenya for nearly seven years.

In the mid 1980, it reopened the main highway border points, but left the Bukologonja one closed.

According to EATP coordinator Wafart Matu, visitor to the Maasai Mara wishing to cross into Serengeti sometimes have to drive to Nairobi for an overnight stopover before proceeding to Arusha via Namanga border post and on to Serengeti.

Some tour operator firms based in the Kenya capital Nairobi have complained of extra distance owing to the closed border ,increased the cost of the Serengeti-Maasai Mara package.

Tanzania National Parks spokesman Pascal Sheleti, was widely quoted last week as having said hat Tanzania would not open the border because the differences between the two countries tourism polices.

“Kenya encourages mass tourism while Tanzania prefers quality tourism for a low volume of tourists, but with higher revenue so we feel that once we open Bukologonja border posts, tourist traffic from Kenya can be extremely high at the expense of the fragile Serengeti ecology.”

On his part Mr. Adrian Akiyo an official of the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry in Tanzania said his Ministry would not bow to any pressure on the matter.” At the Bukulugonja border notwithstanding the East African Community Common Market Protocol that provides for the free movement of goods, persons, labor, services and capital within the EAC region.

“The EAC arrangement is not everything, Tanzania like other partners states is still a sovereign country. We are only obliged to implement those policies we agree with and not everything. Our orders must be respected,” he said.

In addition to the closed border, the stakeholders have also complained about the requirement for tourists to change vehicles at the border of Namanga, Sirari and Taveta, which they said was not only humiliating for the visitor but veiled bid by Tanzania to keep business competition away from its border crossings.

The stakeholders have called upon the two countries to resolve their differences bilaterally

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KENYA: SCORE OF PEOPLE INJURED FOLLOWING THE FIGHTING FOR THE COMPOSITION OF SEME CONSTITUENCY CDF LOCAL DISBURSING COMMITTEE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Scores of people sustained minor bodily injuries following the fighting which broke out at Manywanda health centre in Seme West Location where the local had gathered to install the new CDF disbursing committee.

Unconfirmed report from the area say, the area MP Dr. James Nyikal left the fighting venue with the torn up long trouser following the fighting which last for close to six hours.

Seme is one of the newly newly created parliamentary constituencies within the Kisumu County having been hived from the old Kisumu Rural constituency whose representative in the 11th parliament was the now ailing Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o

The Mp had fronted a senior lecturer at the Bondo University to be the new CDF local committee chairman, something which did not please the locals. The security were present mainly the APs, but did not intervene in separating the combatants who were consisting mainly of the ODM youth

The MP left the vanue of the melee quickly and the local people installed the new committee of their own choice after vehemently opposing the one proposed and fronted by the area MP.

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KENYA: HOMA-BAY COUNTY GOVERNOR HAS COMPLETED THE NOMINATION OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE {CABINET} WITH CLAIMS AND ACCUSATIONS THAT SOME OF THE POSITIONS ARE FILLED BY GIRL FRIENDS OF SENIOR ODM POLITICIANS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

THE Homa-Bay County governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti has completed nomination and vetting of members of the Assembly committee comprising of seven individual talented men and three women.

The governor, however, faced serious accusation and allegations that two of the women nominated to the Assembly executive governing committee are known for political activities and long time social associates of senior ODM leadership in the region.

Mrs Consilata Yambo Migowa from Gwasssi will head waters services and environment, Ms Dorothy Atieno Okello will head Tourism, culture and Sports, Ms Beatrice A.Olomo will head housing physical planning,Nicholas Obuya Koriko will head the Finance and Economic Planning,

Also included in the County cabinet is Phrase Ogweno Ratego from Rusinga Island who will head the Natural Resources, Dr Odiwuor David Okeyo will be in-charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Lawrence Odong will take care of Health Services , Naphutally Matta will head Education, Information Communication and Technology and Eliud Otieno Ochieng is to head Transport and Infrastructure.

Governor Awiti was away and could not be reached to clarify the claims that his cabinet is dotted by women of low immorality who have been associating socially with some of the former ODM party Big-Wigs.

On two occasions his phone No 0722 539627 rang , but he promised he would contact this writer, but never called again.

Political pundits and local observers felt that only Mrs Consilata Yambo Migowa is fit to sit in the cabinet, but others two would fail to pass the immorality test.

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Kenya: Attempt to heckle Francis Atwoli was an act of shame and misguided

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Commentaries By Leo Odera Omolo.

A shameful act and politically motivated propaganda against the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions {COTUK} during the Labor Day celebrations of the Uhuru Park by a few misguided elements was an act of shame, unwarranted and uncalled for.

The two hecklers, who have since been dealt with under the law of the land, had the ulterior motive of a shaming Atwoli before His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.

The unfortunate act of shame should now be forgotten and considered as having boomeranged on the perpetrators, because the thousands of Kenyan workers who thronged the venue left with smiling faces after our good President had officially sanctioned for the increment of salaries of the lowest paid workers in this country by 14 per cent.

The former photo-journalist Boniface Mwangi and his accomplice Mr Amwai should consider themselves the luckiest people because the narrowly escaped from being lynched by the angry Kenyan workers.

The good gesture at the end of the function showed that President Kenyatta equally loved the Kenyan workers and therefore was not shaken by Mwangi antics. Whoever sponsored Mwngi to cause commotion and mayhem during such important occasion when Kenyan workers were commemorating May Day / Labor Day, which is celebrated globally, should feel ashamed.

Atwoli is a dedicated servant of the workers of his country. He has come the long way struggling for the Kenyan workers and achieved a lot, and as such he deserved some amount of respect.

Whatever grievances or grudges Mr Mwangi is nursing against the secretary-General of COTU {K}, choice of forum and venue for airing such grievances was totally wrong..

If at all he disagreed with Atwoli for demanding that the MPS salaries should be left at where they were at the end of the 11th parliament.

Moreover Francis Atwoli is aiso acknowledged globally as an accomplished trade unionist of high reputation .He had all the mandate of the Kenyan workers to defend them on any contentious issues, MPs included because even the MP are also the workers in this country and they al falls under the armpit of cotu{k}

I passionately appealed to Mr Atwoli to soldier on with his service dedication to the workers and ignore the by irresponsible political demagogues and goons.

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Kenya: Siaya villagers in the mourning mood after the Nile crocodile grabbed and devoured a 14 year old student

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

RESIDENTS of Kokise village in Central Asembo, Location,Siaya County were on Thursday thrown into the mourning mood following an ugly incident in which a Nile crocodile grabbed and devoured a 14 year old Form Two student at Kokise Secondary School.

The boy had gone along the shore of Lake Victoria to have a bath when the reptile struck. The deceased, Bramwel Otieno, screamed hard while trying to free himself from the grip of the reptile in vain.

People working in the nearby farms along the lake shore heard Otieno’s screaming and rushed to the scene, but it was too late as the reptile had already overpowered the victim and dragged him into the deep waters.

This was the third incident within a short period of time where rogue hippo had killed two fishermen in similar fashion.

According to the area’s administrative chief, Mr Eric Okal, Otieno could have been saved had there been more people at the scene at the material time.

So far the deceased body had not been retrieved or recovered from the lake, but a search team, who included divers and policemen, were at the scene.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rassanga appealed to the officials of the Kenya Wildlife Services “KWS” to dispatch game rangers to the area to try to relocate the reptile or shoot it dead.

The governor, however, warned the residents to steer clear of the lake’s shorelines,specially at this time when it is raining heavily in the area. He declared the lake shore line the most dangerous area.

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Kenya: Ruto is blamed for having exported his fellow Kipsigis tribesmen into Nandi and \uasin gishu County to clinch lucrative political appointments at the expense of the locals

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kapsabet Town

DISCONTENT is high in the north rift part of the expansive Rift Valley Province following the allegation and accusations that the Deputy President William Ruto had influenced the nominations and elections to the plum position within the jubilee alliance of his fellow Kipsigis tribesmen at the expense of the indigenous Nandis.

This has now turned the Nandi County into an enclave of the Kipsigis. All the plum elective positions went to the Kipsigis aspirants. These position included that of the County Senator and that of the governor, leaving the Nandis with nothing to take home, retorted Joshua Kiplimoa, Kapsabet politician.

The Nandi County is covering several parliamentary constituencies, which included Aldai, Emngwen, Tinderet,Mosop. There are two other coveted and lucrative position, that of County governor and that of Senate, said Mr. Kiplimo.

The newly elected Senator for the area is Stephen Sang who is a Kipsigis by blood. And so is the Nandi County Senator Stephen Sang, Nandi Hills MP Afred Keter is also a man of Kipsigis by blood. The MP for Kapsaret Hon Sudi In Uasin Gishu is also a Kipsigis.

The residents of both North an southern Nandi district have faulted the jubilee alliance for having given the preferences to the people with the Kipsigis blood, and as such have short-caned the indignant Nandis.

William Ruto himself is a man of mixed blood between the Kipsigis and the Nandis. His family had migrate fro Kiptere / Sosiot area of upper Belgut and have settled in Nandi many years, but later moved further to the Uasi Gishu County after Kenya had attained its political independence in 1963.

The Nandi elders further decried the importation of Kiposigis people from Kericho and Bomet Counties in the South Rift by William Ruto and giving them plum political appointments at the expense of the Nandis.

A resident of Nandi Hills claimed that even most of the County representatives in the entire region were carefully chosen from people with Kipsigis blood relations.

The scheme was hatched by Ruto and his henchmen

Ruto and his protégés and even extended to areas further interior like West and East Pokot, Cheranganyi, Tran-Nzoia an other places. This is a modern day tribal discrimination, said Mr John Chepkuony, of a son in Kericho.

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KENYA: REVELLERS FLED IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE SHAMEFUL ACT OF A NANDI POLITICIAN WHO ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACT WITH A DRUNKEN WOMAN AT AN ELDORET HOTEL

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

Revelers at a popular joint I Eldoret town took to their heels after a senior Nandi politician who had requested for permission to enjoy privacy and his drinks with his lady companion in a cubicle out of the main hotel hall was discovered naked and right on the sexual act.

The politician who is was said to have been an MP from the Nandi County had arrived at the Rosewood Cottage Restaurant at about 9p.m.

The two approached the hotel manager for a cubicle outside the main hall and the permission was granted because the gentleman is said to have been a frequent patron of the facility.

A few minutes late as the time was approached 11,P.M a waiter walked in the cubicle with intention of inquiring whether the couple needed more drinks and other services. The waiter was shocked and taken back when she discovered the to couple naked and in a compromising position enjoying full scale sexual inter-course. The guest was asked why he was behaving a shameful act like that in public, but he rudely replied that he had been spending a fortune at the facility therefore did not want to be harassed.

A bitter argument ensued drawing the attention of many patrons to the back of the hotel where the small dining cubicles are located.

The matter was put to rest when the politician and his companion dressed up and sought for a hotel room instead of staying the cubicle, but before the rumor had spread like a brush fire reaching many parts of the Eldoret Town. The politician could not be named owing to legal complications, however, our mole who sneaked into the hotel during the commotion has confirmed that the man is a former member of parliament in one the constituencies with the Nandi County.

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EAC: Kenyatta attended the EAC summit in Arusha for the first time

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya’s newly elected Head of State President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was among the heads of states and governments of the East African Community{EAC} who were in attendance at the Summit of the regional trading bloc held in the Northern Tanzanian City Arusha last Sunday.

The one day Summit, which brought together heads of states of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania was held at the Ngurudoto Mountain Lodge, which is located about ten kilometers outside Arusha town.

Other heads o state who were in attendance included Yoweri Museveni {Uganda}, Jakaya Kikwete {Tanzania} Pierre Nkurunzinza {Burundi} and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

At the end of the one day summit, the EAC leaders sign draft resolution in which they sent out a strong message that the region would not tolerate insecurity or destabilization that would scare off investors an undermine development efforts.

The leaders further stated that with the recent discovery of oil and gas deposits, the region must get rid of any efforts o derail its quest to settle down and tap the vast natural resources for development.

“No one should be allowed to derail or to destabilize the region. Our region is now conducive for massive investment and development ‘” said President Museveni who read the final draft to the newsmen.

President Kenyatta on his part stressed that instability must be fought off in order to make the ac region a pace which is conducive for investment and development. CHEERED TO BY HIS COLLEAGUES, President Kenyatta who attended the summit for the first time since he was elected to the office following March 4 ,2013 general election in Kenya was the center of interest by onlookers and government officials.

President Kenyatta said the stability must remain a critical ingredient for the future development and prosperity.

The Kenyan leader said that his country’s priority will be to work closely with the EAC partner states.

Meanwhile other information emerging or the EAC Arusha based secretariat says the five member countries have raised concerns about Tanzanian reluctance to scrap the work permit stance that is still undermining the free flow of labor across the region.

THE LAST Sunday summit meeting asked Tanzania to consider resolving the issue and report on it during the net East African Legislative assembly meeting scheduled for Uganda next months.

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ARMED CONFLICT IN THE DR CONGO PUT TANZANIA INTO A CATCH 22 POINTS AS IT IS CONFLICTING WITH DAR’S SADC MEMBERSHIP.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging from the Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar Es Salaam says that armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is likely to shift to the East African Legislative Assembly this week with the regional parliament taking Tanzania to task over its support for a new UN sanctioned peacekeeping force following the recent breakdown talks between the M23 rebels and Kinshasa government.

Tanzania currently chairs the Southern African Development Community {SADC} peace and security Council, that political pundits and analysts argue that leaning towards SADC give Dar’s conflicting obligation to the international conferee on the Great Lakes and east African community, leaves on a collision course with Uganda and Rwanda, which are vehemently opposed to troop deployment under the UN.

A Ugandan member of the East African Legislative Assembly Fred Mukasa Mbidde was last week quoted as having tabled a motion at the regional parliament asking Tanzania to support the position that “military confrontation can only escalate war”.

THe EALA member said, ”Our position is based on three facts,
One, that Uganda and Rwanda may be drawn into an unnecessary war,
Two, that Uganda and Rwanda sometimes, Tanzania always suffer the humanitarian burden,
Third, war can only lead to further proliferation of arms in the region.”

The motion at the EALA meeting which is scheduled for April 16 will also propose that SADC AND THE un Security Council resolution or an “offensive international peacekeeping force” against M23 rebels be kept in abeyance to give dialogue a chance.

The newly elected Kenyan head of state President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta will attend the EALA meeting o the first time since winning his presidential race on 4 March 2013.

However, this latest development comes as Tanzania prepares to seek parliamentary approval for its troops participation in the mission when the government tables on 3 May 2013, the Ministry o Defense and National Service budget, which its national security council has already endorsed.

Tanzania is also engaged in other UN peace keeping missions in Liberia,Sierra Leone,Ivory Coast and Sudan It has committed itself to deploying 850 troops in the DR Congo, part of UN Security Council sanctioned 2,000 –man “Intervention Brigade” approved a week ago.South Africa is another SADC member state wit economic interest in the SADC has also agreed to contribute troops, according to the Uganda EALA member Mbide.

The M23 rebels and the Kinshasa government of President Laurent Kabila have been in talks aimed at ending fighting which ha claimed many lives and displaced thousands since late last year when a section of rebels that had joined government after brokered deal opted out and resumed fighting citing marginalization.

A UN probe committee accused Rwanda and Uganda of supporting the M23, but Uganda was .Kampala in spite of the accusations, brokered the dialogue between the belligerents citing the talks broke two months ago following a violent split in the M23 leadership. Uganda’s Defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga however, continued with the efforts to brig the belligerents back to the talking table.

The Permanent secretary in the Ugandan ‘s ministry of Foreign affairs James Mugume dismissed talks as ridiculous exercise between Uganda and Tanzania.

He said, It is entirely untrue. We are currently hosting SADC and EAC Joint Chief of Staff we are doing truck carrot we are supporting dialogue but if dialogue fails then members can resort to other means of resoling the conflicts ,he added.

Mbidde said the regional parliament {EALA} has ten a position for dialogue and Tanzania position for troop deployment is against this spiriti of dialogue

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KENYA: TERROR GANGS ARE STILL KILLING PEOPLE UNABATED IN OYUGIS TOWN AS A CHIEF INSPECTOR OF POLICE DIES IN A SAVAGE PANGA ATTACK.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

POLITICALLY motivated thuggery which was so rampant in Oyugis town during the recently concluded general elections is still thriving prompting the residents to call upon the Provincial Administration and police authorities to declare the town an emergency area.

Oyugis town is the largest commercial an administrative town in Rachuonyo south district. The residents want the authorities to intensify night police patrols of this busy commercial town after close to three people have been reported killed by night gangsters.

The town became so much prone to thuggery during the recently concluded general election, when marauding went into the rampage of hunting or the supports of different and preferable candidates with machetes and other crude weapons.

Last weekend, a Chief Inspector of Police who was in-charge of the prosecution Oyugis courts became the latest victims of thuggery. The officer was walking back to his house after purchasing some milk in the shops in the town when the attackers whose numbers remained unknown pounced on him with pangas and other crude weapons.

Other unconfirmed sources said tat Chief Inspector John Kipyegon was armed with his services revolved, which the thus I suspected to have stolen. He was found by a good Samaritan who rushed him to Kisii hospital about 32 kilometers away where he was pronounced dead before receiving treatment. The incident occurred at about 8.p.m

Another young man who was walking to his home in Kokal village, which is located next to Oyugis town was killed in similar circumstances. Oyugis own, which is located right in the middles of the main Kisumu-Kisii road which houses the main-bus terminals.

Thugs are said to be targeting those travelers alighting out of Matatus and county buses late in the evenings. Several people have reported being attacked by gangs said to be numbering between six and eight, but so far no arrests have been made despite of the town having a full fledged and well equipped police station.

The former MP for Kasipul-Kabondo William Oloo Otula appealed to the area OCPD whose offices are situated at Kosele district headquarter to consider increasing the number of officers to be on patrol of Oyugis town to stamp out insecurity there.

The fast growing Oyugis town, he said, is yawning or investment, but as the situation stands today, he said no sane person would risk investing his/her money in the crime prone town.

Otula appealed with the officers from the CID department operating the area to work closely with the local population so as to enhance the security of the area.

Since the election is long over, bands of youths hitherto marauding youths who were supporting various parliamentary aspirant I he area should be disbanded and it is up to their members to embark on gainful development activities instead of thuggery, aid one trader in Oyugis town.

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KENYA: NYANZA LEADERS READY TO WORK WITH UHURU KENYATTA’S GOVERNMENT, BUT WANT THE PRESIDENT TO KEEP POLITICAL REJECTS OUT OF THE NEW CABINET.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The political mood inside Luo-Nyanza after yesterday’s swearing in of President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his deputy William Samoe Ruto is all soberly and the residents of this region have said they are willing to cooperate fully and work with new Kenyatta administrati9on for the better future.

Contrary to the beliefs in certain quarters that the chaos which had erupted last week following the Supreme court’s verdict on electi9n petition filed by the CORD leader Raila Odinga would erupt again.

But no ugly incident was reported in any parts of the Luo-Nyanza as Kenyans celebrated the colorful swearing-in ceremony at the Ksarani Sports ground in Nairobi

Some motorists, particularly matatus which are usually plying the Eldoret Kisumu and Kericho Kisumu roads kept out of business for the better part of yesterday morning fearing that youths would set illegal road blocks and lit bonfire on the roads.

This caused a lot of difficulties for passengers travelling the same distances would set illegal road block sand lit bonfires as they did last week that provoked the two day running battles between them and the police.Two people died from the police gun-shot wounds, scores were arrested and 24 others were hospitalized.

The popular issues, however, is that President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto and their closest advisers should be given free hand and breathing space to select the new cabinet team of youthful technocrats with unstained names

All the political deadwoods and old and tired politicians whose performance in the past regimes were riddled with the mega financial scandals should retire honorably and go home.

Across section of those interviewed by this write within Kisumu City and its environs have supported the views expressed by Kiambu governor William Kabogo that those who had lost the elections on March 4, 2013 should be excluded from the cabinet after their rejections by the voters.

Govern9or Kabogo had mentioned the names of Charity Ngilu, Najib Balala,ChirauAli Mwakwere,and Naomi Shaban.

But also the persons the residents of Nyanza be excluded from the cabinet included the former Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof. Sam Ongeri, Raphael Tuju and Omingo Magara, Otieno Kajwang’of Anyang’ Nyong’o.Charity Ngilu’s yesterday speech at the State House did not go down well and was not well received by the residents of this city who argued that despite being a partner in the jubilee alliance an election loser like Ngilu should not beall9owedtoaddress Kenyans n an important state functi0n.She is a political reject and should stop pestering Kenyatta and Ruto for cabinet appointment

Appointment together with other election loser would amount t an insult to Kenyans.The new cabinet should be free of political turn-coats, party hoppers and political chameleons.

Meanwhile the news making the round in Kisumu and its environs is that prominent Luo leaders and members of the Luo Council of elders are currently conducting the behind the scene meetings while plotting and strategizing or plans to have the community send a very powerful delegation to President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in the near future on a mission dabbed as “To pledge the community’s unswerving loyalty to the new government.”.

The community had voted form President Kenyatta arch-rival Raila Odinga during the recently concluded general election. Although their presidential candidate had lost the election to Kenyatta, thr community did not want to live in isolation, but wouldliket9pulltheir strength and resources together wit other Kenyatta in the real task of nation building, “said one the elders in Kisumu who is part of the team, but who requested for his identtytobeke0tmsecret for the time being.

‘Ker” Meshack Riaga Ogalo, the de facto chairman of the Luo Council of Elders is said to have already blessed the plan for the community to warming itself up to President Kenyatta and, the new government.

Ker Riaga Ogalo could not be reached for his immediate comment over the issue.

Another rumor making the round in Kisumu City and its environs is that the youthful MP for,Kisumu Town Central Ken Obura has accepted to stand down and resign his parliamentary seat in order to facilitate the entry into parliament by the CORD leader Raila Odinga.The deal is said to have been concluded and its in its advanced stage.

Hon Obura who hails from Kabonyo area of West Kano has the blood relations with Mr.Odinga his mother hails from Bondo not far away from Raila’s rural home.When his father the late Obura MaugoTipo a former civic leader in the defunct Kisumu County Council, the young Obura moved out of Kano plains and established a home for his mother in Bondo among their uncles.

Obura could not be reached immediately to confirm or deny the rumor..

TANZANIA PLANS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR REHABILITATION OF ITS RAILWAYS NETWORK TO EASY THE TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO AND GOODS TO ITS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Tanzania is expected to spend the colossal amount of USD 330 million to upgrade its railways network in order to make it competitive with those across Central and Southern Africa.

The venture involves track repair and up grades including changing the national network rail line to the standard gauge.

The move according to an impeccable source in Arusha follow tripartite agreement to harmonize operations between the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority [Tazara] Zambia Railways Limited,and the Societe National des Chemine des Fer do CongoSari of the Democratic Republic of Congo,the National Raiway operation of Tanzania,Zambia and DR Congo respectively.

The deal which was signed recently is expected to facilitate smooth and seamless transportation of goods and passengers in the three states.

Tanzania’s Transport Minister Harrison Mwakyembe was quoted last week as saying the sums of Tshs 6 billion {USD 3.7 million] had so far been spent on the renovations, train carriages and railway infrastructure for the Tanzania Railway ltd.

The government has ordered 274 passenger wagons,22 locomotives,23 wagons and 34 railway stocks,brakes {brakes vans},which are expected in the country before the end of June this year.

According to Minister Mwakyembe, the government of Tanzania through Tazara has also secured USD 39 million from China to buy six new locomotives 80 new wagons and spare parts as well as to renovate nine locomotive engines.

The Central rail line running westwards from Dar Es Salaam through Dodoma will be improved substantially this year, he added.

The upgraded Tanzania Central line on a standard gauge is expected to carry 35 million tones of freight annually to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and eastern DRCongo..

Dalmas Ndamburo the managing director of the Tazara said the acquisition of the new locomotives and other measures by the management is expected to increase the tonnage of cargo that it hauls.

Dr Ndamburo said the government of Zambia is providing the USD 82 milion needed to keep the UHURU railway line afloat.

Tazara operates in two countries of Zambia and Tanzania –both which have regional managers working on the set performance benchmarks. Tanzania hosts the headquarters. Each regional manager has been tasked with the responsibility of increasing tonnage of cargo and goods from 30,000 to 809,000 tones.

The railway line which is to connect Rwanda,Burundi and Tanzania is now under construction.

Charles Tireba, the deputy Minister for Transport sasid the Dar Es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali / Reza, Getag M Mosongoti Railway project which is estimated to cost USD 52 billion will take four years to complete and is expected to lower Rwanda’s and Burundi’ transport costs.

Rwanda and Burundi have had to bear high transport costs when ferrying goods from the Kenyan coastal port of Mombasa and Dar Es Salaam, which has increased the cost of doing business in the two countries. The new railway line is also expected to reduce the time it takes to transport cargo from Dar Es Salaam.The use of road takes four days while the railway will take just two days.

Tanzania is currently seeking USD 13,3 billion to finance infrastructure projects.

These projects include the rehabilitation of the railways from Dar Es Salaam to Tabora as well as Kilimapanda line to Kasanga port on Lake Tanganyika.

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Kenya: Luo Community wants a stake in the Kenyatta’s jubilee cabinet

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

MEMBERS of the Luo community have pleaded with the President – elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to consider the possibility of picking up for cabinet appointment two of its modera5e and neutral technocrats.

According to a number of the members of Luo Council of elders interviewed across the Luo-Nyanza, this gesture would be inline with the pledge made earlier by Mr Kenyatta that his jubilee government would be all inclusive and that all Kenyans would be incorpoa6ed in the government.

The elders have been seeking the way of meeting Mr Kenyatta before his swearing in scheduled for next Tuesday so that they could plead with him to include a number of uo technocrats in his Jubilee cabinet.

Names being floated for such appointment included the two former members of Parliament Joe Donde [Gem} and Dr Shem Ochuodho [Rangwe}. The two had their political career cut short as the result of disagreement with the Luo political kingpin Raila Amolo Odinga. All the two were elected in 1997 on an LDP ticket, but later fallout with Mr Odinga on matters of principles.

Donde is still being remembered with his famous Donde Bill. He is a financial genious and is level minded. He lost his Gem seat to Raila’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo in 2002, while Dr. Ochuodho fell out of favor with Mr Odinga and was replaced by Eng. Phillip Okoth Okundi in Rangwe in 2002.

Ochuodho a computer geneous who has since served the government of Rwanda as an ICT adviser and was recently serving the new South Sudan government in the same capacity.

Joe Donde had earlier indicated that he would contest the Siaya governor positi9n on an ODM ticket but later changed his mind and did not contest. Dr.Ochuodho too did not contest for any elective position.

Those interviewed were up-beat that the two gentlemen could serve in Kenyatta’s cabinet while at the same time serving the interests of the 3 million Luos living in Kenya. The elders are vehemently opposed to the possibility of recycling some o deadwood and including them in the new government. These included some of the Minister wh9 had served in the Kibaki’s administration and whose names were tainted wit numerous financial scandals and mismanagement of the public resources.

In order to restore the confidence of all Kenyans President Kenyatta must move out of those whose names are dented and stained with past scandals. The new President must have a free hand to start with fresh people of high caliber and reputation, said one Luo elder in Kisumu.

The inclusion of the two Luo technocrats would be the best way forward of reconciling all Kenyans to work together for the better future of this country

The elder who requested for his name to be kept anonymous said the community would work with President Kenyatta despite of the cut-throat bruising election election contest between him and the ODM Raila Odinga so that the co7ntry moves forward to a better future.

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Governor Awiti has the biggest challenge to turn the mineral rich Homa-Bay County sround into an economic hub of the Western Kenya

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

The newly elected governor of Homa-Bay County Cyprian Otieno Awiti faces a big challenge of turning the mineral, fisheries and tourism rich region into a vibrant economic hub.

If Governor Awiti and his team could work hard and put into good use of the reportedly abundant natural resources such fisheries, tourism and turn the region into a vibrant economic hub in the entire Western Kenya.

Homa-Bay County has the longest shorelines with the Lake Victoria, particularly the Nyanza Gulf which stretches from River Sondu Miriu in Nyakwere in Eastern part of Karachuonyo constituency and running up to Gwassi district.

Experts have also hinted of the presence of abundant, but untapped mineral resources such as gold, nickel, uranium, iron – ore, copper and cement.

His is the only region in Nyanza with a game viewing park, the Ruma National Game Park, which is located in Lambwe Valley partly in Mbita district and partly in Homa-Bay districts.

The County is covered by seven parliamentary constituencies, which included Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo-Kaspul.

The upper part of the region is endowed with fertile and arable land, which produces cash crops like tea in area of Kabodo – Kasipul. Coffee is also being grown in both Kasipul East ad West.

Bewfore Kenya attained its political independence in 1963, there used to be full fledged gold mining at Awuoro mine, which is located next to Ruga market on the border of Kitutut – Chache – Kasipul constituency. However, the investors closed the mine prematurely on fears that independence could bring chaos and mayhem. The investors were Bowers from South Africa who packed and went away not to wait to for an African independence government after many years of economic suppression and persecution of the locals, particularly the workers.

Experts say these people left a lot of gold underneath the mine shafts as they were leaving in huff. It is obvious that the county devolved government would try and lure new investors to come and resuscitate these abandoned mines.

Governor Awiti has an up-hill task to secure investors for cement factory near Ruri hills. And possible an investors to put up a five star hotel inside Ruma National Game Park. Beach hotels could also be established around the pre-historic sites such as Nyamgondho Wuod Ombare shrine in Gwassi.

Other pre-historic site could be traced in Lihanda areas of Rusinga island.

There is the Nyama – Gi – Ware bull stones, with a lot of myth tales about two bulls one belonging to two brothers of whom once upon a time lived on Rusinga Island Ware and the other belonging to Mnyama & his brother, which are said to have fought until they enter into the lake and turned to be two rocks ressembling bulls.

However, the new County authority will have to battle the menace of the water hyacinth, which has of late hampered the fishing activities in the region. Fish from Lake Victoria has of late become one of the greatest economic assets being exported to European Union countries, Japan, Middle East. Israel and the United States. Fish trade, according to the latest statistics available is raking in close to Kshs 16 billion annually, particularly the more prized Nile Perch.

Homa-Bay region has one of the best road networks after the recent completion ofKendu0Bay-Homa-Bayroad and also Homa – Bay -Mbita road.

Mbita could also be accessed by Ndori – Luanda Kotieno road which traverses the area via Uyoma Peninsula in Rarieda district.

Travellers can now travel deep into the interior part of the Suba region by using Mbita – Mfangano Ferry, which can also transport several motor vehicles on board, and the visitor drivers off as soon as after the Ferry landed on Mfagano, an all whether roads has been constructed on Mfangano Island.

The lower parts of the region, especially in those locations which are laying along the shoreline of Lake Victoria the new County government will have to move much faster and encourage cotton growing in areas with black cotton soil such as Karachuonyo Central and Karachuonyo west,

Governor Awiti’s team will have to grapples with more road network, particularly the Kendu-Bay Oyugis, Oyugis Rangwe and Kendu-Bay Pala and makes sure that this road traverses Homa Hills .

Road infrastructure between Karungu Bay and Laknyiero in Gwassi also need to be constructed a fresh.It could link Gwassi and Nyatike district and create the opportunity for traders to visit market places in the hinterland.

Governor Awiti a shrude politician is no stranger to development activities. Before being elected to the coveted office, he had traversed the full length and width o Homa-Bay region while making hefty cash donations to schools, health centres, youth groups, women groups and churches.

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KENYA: SCORE OF HOUSES TORCHED IN TINDERET IN SOUTH NANDI DISTRICT FOLLOWING FLARE UP BETWEEN THE TALAI AND LOCAL COMMUNITY OVER CLAIMS OF WITCHECRAFT.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Seven dwelling houses were set ablaze by unidentified attackers forcing 19 families members of the Talai {Laibons} to flee from their homes narrowly escaping deaths.

The Talai, a, minority community or a sub-clan with sorcerers who are scattered in most of the Kalenjin sub-tribes have had no peace ever since they were forcefully evicted from their ancestral land by the colonial administration in 1934 and forced into exile in the remotest area of Southern Nyanza.

The Talai suffered the brunt of colonial persecution including forced exile out of their ancestral land in Kericho, Nandi, Baringo and other places over the accusation that they practiced witchcraft, Close to 2700 members of the sub-clan together with their herds of cattle and other domesticated animals were forced out of their land in 1934 following a proclamation endorsed by the colonial legislative Council.

The colonialists worked in collaboration with chiefs, white missionaries and white settlers who accused them of sensitizing the community against giving their land away for the plantation of tea bushes in Kericho and Nandi Hill region at the turn of the 20th century.

It was hoped most of them would die of starvation and lack of water for themselves and their animals. They were settled on top of Gwassi Hills in what is today called Gwassi district in the Suba region. Heir hard-core leaders were taken cross the Lake Victoria and exiled on Mangano Island. Others were consigned to detention camps in Nyeri and other places far away from their homes.

It was in 1962 when the diminutive Kipsigis politician, who was then the Member of the Legislative Council for Kipsigis, Dr. Taaitta Araap Towett, moved a motion in the Council and urged the government to revoke the ordinance that had banned the Talai community from Gwassi so that they could go back to their ancestral land and live happily among their fellow Kalenjin

Upon their return, the majority got scattered among many areas within the North and South rift regins and purchased farms,while other remain and less and have been living under a very squalid condition on a two acre Municipal land in Kericho Municipalty. All the previous governments had promised to secure land plots for the Talai, but in vain.

The Talai began mass exodus from Gwassi to their homes in Nandi, Baringo and other places. Unfortunately there was no land to settle them back home because when they were living in exile, the Land Consolidation Programme and land adjudication were introduce and all their land were dished out to other people. To the surprise and shocking of the colonial administration the Talai population had doubled and close to 7,000 could be accounted during their return in 1962.

This is the clan of the renown freedom fighter, Koitalel Arap Samoei, who was shot and killed by the British soldiers IN 1905, He was betrayed and lured into a faked peace talk where he was shot by a British soldier and killed. Nandi rebellion that lasted for close to nine years during which the Nandi warriors engaged the British expedition forces in running battles thereby sabotaging and preventing the construction of the Mombasa-Kisumu Railway line.

Descendants of Koitalel Arap Samoe had settled in Kbirer village in Tinderet in the Nandi Hills district. But on Tuesday night last week unknown persons had invaded the village and torched several houses forcing the occupants to run for shelter into the nearby church. The Talai said they had been warned of the consequences by the local community who claims they were practicing witchcraft causing the villagers some misfortunes.

Former Kapsisiywo civic leader David Sulo said the community had lived peacefully with their neighbors in Kabbirer for close to 50 year, but he suspected the latest flare up as politically motivated as the Talai had coexisted with their neighbors harmoniously for many years. He called upon the Provincial administration in Nandi Hills to intervene and restore order. He could not disclose the location of the whereabouts of those who hadn’t taken shelter in the churches for security reasons.

An impeccable source in Nandi Hills said that three people have already been apprehended and put into police custody on suspicion of being involved in the incident, and police were actively hunting for the rest.

Kabirer Locational Chief Sammy Keter could not tell the exact number of those in custody. The Nandi Hills D.C could not be reached for his immediate comment over the incident which has been roundly condemned by politicians and leaders in the entire Nandi Coounty.

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Kenya: The recent election has created political leadership vacuum in the South Rift

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

The recently concluded general election in which the euphoria of the URP party swept the board in the South Rift like a tsunami winning nearly all parliamentary, senatorial and governorship positions has created a new political dimension in the South Rift region of the expansive Rift Valley Province.

IT has created a new political dimension among the members of the most populace Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups. It has also created what the political pundits have termed as vacuum political leadership in the agriculturally rich region.

For many years ever since KADU a political party that was involved in s cut-throat competition with the ruling KANU during the pre-independence and post-independence era voluntarily dissolved itself soon after independence in 1963 and merged with KANU.

The Kipsigis land has ever since steadfastly remained under the grip of the ruling KANU. However, the miraculous turn of events occurred during the 2007 general election when the former Kipsigis political kingpin, the late Donald Kipkemoi Kipkalya Kones, the longer serving cabinet Minister under the Moi KANU regime rebelled and teamed up together with the influential Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the combined armed forced of Kenya, Lt. General John Arap Koech and changed the political land-map of the region.

The two forcefully introduced the ODM and its leader Raila Amolo Odinga in the region against the vehement opposition from the pro-Moi die-hard elements. The two criss crossed the full length and width of the region and vigorously campaigned for the ODM, which in turn clinched all the eight parliamentary seats in the South Rift.

Kones retained his Bomet parliamentary seat and was appointed to the Ministry of Works slot in the PNU / ODM coalition government. Unfortunately Kones perished in an aircraft mish up together with the former Sotik MP Miss Lorna Laboso.

Raila Odinga then appointed the colorless former State House Comptroller and businessman Franklin who succeeded Kones at the Works Ministry. Bett, however, lacked the political masterly and magnanimity of the Kones caliber. Under Bett’s stewardship, the former Eldoret North MP William Ruto who had fallen out with the ODM and Odinga began fishing out the party MPs one by one and at the time of March 4, 2013 general election it was only better and the youthful Kipkellion.

The man who should have taken over from Kones had left is Zakayo.K Cheruiyot the current Kuresoi South MP elect. He had served in a powerful position of the PS for the International Security in the Office of the President under the Moi regime.

However, Cheruiyot who is highly respected in Kipsigisland is a man who did not cherish controversies. He is always shying away from controversial political issues, most of the time preferring to concentrate on his own expansive businesses and farming empire. He is arguably the wealthiest Kipsigis man.

Heruiyot the son of an assistant chief in the colonial era the late Mzee Daniel Arap Komuilong from Kapsuito near Litein runs an ultra dairy farm in Kuresoi, several large scale tea farms, sugar cane farm in Kimwani area near Songhor, a wheat farm in Njoro a mixed maize farm in Trans-Mara, and a horticultural farm in Kitengela near Nairobi.

He has also established an ultra modern ICT commercial college in Litein town and sent most of hi spare time supervising his own business and as such shies away from intrigues of local politics.

The politics of the South Rift region has had along history of intrigues. This could be traced back to the days of the late Dr Taaitta Araap Towett, the early Kipsigis nationalist who dominated the politics of the Kipsigis land ever since 1958 when he first won the election to the colonial Legislative Council as the member for Southern area. Towett and his team won all the four seats in the national Assembly. However, Towett resigned his Buret seat when KADU dissolved itself and merged with KANU arguing that since he was elected on KADU ticket he must go back and consult the electorate and seek for their permission.

IN the consequence by-election that followed, Daniel Moi sponsored a primary school teacher in the name of Alexander Arap Bii who consigned Dr. Towett into premature political retirement. After Towett’s defeat it was the late Ex-Senior Chief Cheborge Arap Tengecha who led a group of ex-chiefs, councilors, missionaries and local leaders to the late President Jomo Kenyatta and to presurerize him to appoint Danile Arap Moi his Vice President, though man believed Dr. Towett had already been tipped for the veep job.,

Toweett regained his seat three years later, but while serving as the Education Minister, he was confronted by Moi at a public rally in Kapkatet and forced to vacate his Buret seat in order to give way for the entry of Prof .Jonathan Ng’eno into parliamentary politics.

At the moment the power politics of the South Rift is gravitating between Isaac Ruto and Charles Keter. The two are staunch supporters of Ruto, but at times acting as protagonists when it comes to local political derby.

In the 2007 there were only eight constituencies in both Kericho and Bomet Counties, but during the March 4 general elections four more constituencies were added. These were Sigowet in lower Belgut near Sondu and Kipkellion West in Chilchila area, Bomet and Chepalungu. This can now give the region a total of 12 parliamentary strength, plus two in Kuresoi South and Kuresoi North in Molo.

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See photos of the swearing ceremony of the Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma with Bishop Dr Washington Ogonyo Ndegfe and the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Willis Otondi.
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KENYA: ALREADY SETTLED IDP AND FORMER MAU FOREST SETTLERS ARE SNEAKING BACK and forcefully RECLAIMING THEIR FARMS – – EVEN THOSE WHO HAD SOLD THEIRS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho town.

UNCONFIRMED reports making the round in this town says, that some of the already settled IDPs and former illegal settlers in Mau Forest water catchment areas were slowly sneaking back and forcefully demanding that those who had been allocated the land by the government quit.

Some of them are allegedly returning to both Mau Forest and Mau Narok and other areas like Molo, Elburgon, Likia, Njro, Kuresoi and even in Uasin Gishu, Burnt Forest and forcefully demanding back their old farms. Other unconfirmed allegations say the returnees are always coming in the company of armed security personnel.

THe common saying is that with the new Jubilee government likely to be in office soon after the March 4, 2013 general election, even those who were forcefully expelled from their farms as the skirmishes of 1992 / 93, 1996 / 1997 and 2007 / 2008 are sneaking back and putting up new houses in some places where the government had already spent the colossal amount of money in reforestation efforts.

Our informer who requested for his name to be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals said those returning to the vacated land are members of the two communities, namely the Kikuyus and the Kalenjin, and that tensions is likely to go up in the region.

He said he had some information that even those former settlers who sold their land on their own volition long time ago before the tribal skirmishes were now demanding their property back in total disregard of new developments already made by new owners on such property. This, he added, is likely to raise political temperature by way of touching on old wounds.

New settlers have also been sighted in the Mau West and Mau Narok, Kuresoi and areas, while new structures have also
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Africa: LAKE VICTORIA FACES ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IF THE DRY WATER HYACINTH IS SUNK IN THE WATER.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Experts have once again sounded a stern warning that Lake Victoria is facing ecological disaster if the particles from dry hyacinth weed are left to rot and sink inside its waters.

The Kenya Marine and fisheries Research Institute {kemri} said in Kisumu this week that if the hyacinth weeds sunk, aquatic life would be placed at the high risk.

Several fish species in the lake, especially the much cherished Nile Perch and Tilapia and small fish like [Omena} that cannot survive inside the water with few oxygen concentration might be completely wiped out, said Dr Ojwang’ Oweke the KEMRI’s senior scientist.

Mad fish, locally known as “Kamongo” and cat fish locally called “Mumi”are among the specifies that can survive in the water with low oxygen concentration.

According to KEMRI’s researcher’s water hyacinth produces humid acid when it decomposes in the water-a process that used oxygen and deprives aquatic plants and animals of fresh air.

The acid contains harmful elements lie iron and manganese which the scientist attributed to the brown color of water supplied in the region by the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company ltd.

Dr. Oweke called upon the government to make use of colleges and universities in the region to assist in removing the dry weed by use of conveyor belt.

“This is the time for the government to come and try to use the conveyor belt mechanism t remove the dry hyacinth so as to save the lake.:

“The manual removal used by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project in 2011 and late last year was a total waste of money, and time because this poised a high risk to the laborers and it also led to ever sprouting of the dreadful weed.

The scientist the machine would clear the dry water hyacinth and ump on the shore where it would be burned.

Reupen Omondi, another scientist said the hyacinth had turned brown because weevils had fed on it as it was drying up.

He insects were introduced in the lake by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in 2005.

“Weevils are killing the weed and the government need to respond quickly to remove danger from destroying ecosystem, he said.

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KENYA: CLERIC DENIES CLAIMS THAT KENYA’S PRESIDENT – ELECT UHURU KENYATTA NARROWLY ESCAPED SNAKE BITE INSIDE HER WORSHIP PLACE IN THE COASTAL WON OF MOMBASA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A female cleric has severely criticized the media report over a highly sensational report that a highly venomous African bush-snake almost struck Kenya’s President – elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta when he attended the church service with other worshipers in her church.

The incident took place when the Kenyan leader went to worship at a church, which situated at the Coastal port City of Mombasa two weeks ago.

Bishop Mary Kagendo Francis of the Kisimu Cha Mwana wa Daudi church also denied that the reptile had slithered into the place of warship where Mr Kenyatta was seated and was with9n the striking distance, but it was quickly shot and killed by one of the presidential security guards after it attempted to attack the jubilee leader.

The Bishop was quoted by the Kenya News Agency {KNA]as saying she only learnt of the snake story through the media and after some enquiries, but she discovered that it was only a small green mamba snake, which was killed by a young boy using a walking stick.

Speaking in Kitui about 100 kilometers south east of Mombasa after conducting a crusade at her Mlango home, Bishop Kagendo blamed the local media for over-blowing the report thereby creating national storm out of a small incident, adding that wildlife animals are always frequenting as a garden situated outside her church.

“We have monkeys, baboons, birds and occasionally we see snakes at our place of worshipping, but we cannot resort to killing them because we embrace nature,” Bishop Kagendo said.

She said that he church attracts a huge crowd of worshippers at time forcing them into open air prayers where they do occasional interacting with wild animals is inevitable.

He Bishop also down played claims that the snake could have been sent by Mr Kenyatta’s political nemesis or the work of witchcraft was involved.

The cleric, however, vowed to take some actions against those peddled this information terming them as alarmist.

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