Category Archives: HEADLINES

Eac member states may be losing the lucrative tourism revenue to other African region due to several factors

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The position of East African region as the continent’s most attractive tourist destination has come under serious threats from other regional blocs taking advantage of the region’s lengthy business procedures, insecurity and poor infrastructure to boost their competitiveness edge.

The latest publication of the World Economic Forum {WEF] survey on global tourism and travel competitiveness is jointly written by experts and just released.

It shows that Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi are badly trailing emerging global tourism giants in sub-Saharan Africa as Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa.

In the sub-Saharan region, the three countries were ranked at the top followed by Cape Verde, Namibia, Gambia, and Botswana.

Kenya, the EAC’s top tourism investment destination come eighth. The WEF cited the insufficient property rights, protection, insecurity, lengthy and costly business procedures as well as dilapidated infrastructure as the main drawbacks.

In the sub-Saharan Africa ranking Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda took position nine 112 and 13 respectively while Burundi was ranked at 30.

At the global level, only Kenya made it to the top 100 countries of the 140 surveyed, coming in at position 96, Rwanda was ranked 105, Tanzania 109, Ugfanda 116, Burinbdi was two positions shy at the last position.

The EAC has been pushing to increase its share of the growing global tourism market. Last month, the EAC secretariat in Arusha reported that it had lined up several projects to increase tourism earnings from USD 7 billion to USD 16 billion annually by the year 2020 .

The planned investment is expected to cost the USD 3.95 billion by the year 2020 up from the current USD 1.65 billion.

The coordinator of the East Africa’s Tourism Platform, Wateri Matu was recently quoted as saying tha6 whereas the traditional tourism products based on the region’s natural resources will continue playing a crucial role in the industry, there is the need for innovations and creativity.

The region’s problems, he added, is the over reliance on traditional source markets. Europe and the US with little emphasis on Africa and in particular the EAC,” Matu said.

The WEF ranking came at a time when East Africa’s tourism sector is preparing for a bumpy ride in 2013, caused by a show down over fears of insecurity and Euro zone crisis.

In Kenya, the managing director of the Kenya Tourists Board Murithi Ndegwa was last week quoted widely by the local media as having said that the country’s recently investment in transport infrastructure such as the up-grading of the Kisumu Airport and the on-gong expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport could boost the county’s competitiveness.

In what may be affecting the market is the Euro zone crisis because the most of the country’s visitors come from Europe. The other effect is the issue f the travel adversaries, adding that that now that the general elections in Kenya are over Kenya are over, the Tourist Board hopes the travel adversaries would be lifted.

The Kenya Tourist Board, Ndegwa disclosed, has been meeting with its counterparts in the EAC to plan joint marketing initiative and strategies. The project line up included the introduction of a single tourists’ visa classification of hotels, increased marketing expenditure and training of industry players in the hospitality industry.

“We also need to harmonize immigration management system and introduce some sophisticated equipment in collaboration with the relevant authorities in the five member countries, mainly for security reasons.

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Kenya: Chemelil Sugar Company is insolvent and on the verge of total collapse exposing its 850 workers to extreme danger of hunger and starvation

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

CHEMELIL Sugar Company Limited, the wholly state owned sugar manufacturing company based in Muhoroni district within the Kisumu County has ground its production to a halt.

The company owed its suppliers cane farmers, worker and other stakeholders close to Kshs 2 billion.

Its employees estimated to be numbering about 850 have yet to be paid their salaries since December,2012 last year. This has exposed these workers to extreme suffering starvation and diseases as the can no longer afford to cater for themselves and their families or pay for their medical bills due to lack of money.

Unconfirmed reports say one worker had died of what his workmates have described as caused by extreme starvation and hunger. The body of the deceased whose name was given as Walter Marega is still lying at the morgue in hospital.

The facility, which for many years ever since its inception was the centre of excellence, and the mainstay of sugar production within the Nyanza sugar belt has been run-down owing to what an insider has described as “gross political interference” into its day-to-day management, corruption, and “pilferage with impunity.”.

Although aware of the tremendous suffering of the employees of the facility the political leadership in the region couldn’t care less and made no effort to install the sanity in the once vibrant and prosperous sugar industry management.

Human Rights groups and NGOs operating in the area have raised an alarm about the pathetic state of affairs at the Chemelil sugar company to no avail.

The current managing director of the Chemelil sugar Company is Charles Owelle, a man who has for many years been involved in its previous management team, which were discredited with numerous allegations of looting and excessive pilferage and vandalism of the firm’s resources.

Owelle, a Luo, took over from Eng. Edwin Otieno Musebe, a Luhyia, whose concerted effort had turned the facility around from being run-down to a vibrant profit making firm. His removal was viewed as having been instigated by excessive tribalism. Owelle by then was the company’s agricultural manager and had even twice before acted as an interim MD.

The company’s debts have increase to about Kshs 2 billion The most affected groups are the suppliers, cane farmers and the 850 workers who have not been paid their salaries since August 2012 and are still living in squalid conditions in their dilapidated houses while penniless and suffering not to be able to cater for their basic needs such as food and school fees for their school going children.

Sugar can farmers and other stakeholders have also not been paid their dues since last year either the Kenya Sugar Board doing the reportedly never ending annual mechanical maintenance since last year has also been informed of the extreme difficulties the stakeholders were undergoing, but has done nothing.

Other reports emerging from the facility says that on the night of Friday March 15, 2013 an employee of the company by the name Walter Marega had complained to his neighbor about extreme hunger and starvation he was experiencing.

A generous neighbor sympathized with Mr Marega voluntarily offered to take him to a food kiosk in the nearby market so that he could get some porridge. The deceased then went to the estates shop to look for some eggs, but he got nothing because he had exhausted all his credit facilities. All this happened while the late Mr. Marega’s wife had given birth to a new born baby at Nambale hospital. A neighbor offered him 500/- loan to enable him to travel to Nambale, but the same night Marega died lonely inside his company estate house even before seeing his new born baby.

The recent change in political patronage of Muhoroni in which the former immediate MP or the are Prof.Ayiecho Olueny was voted out an a new MP elect James Onyango Koyoo voted in has given the residents, especially members of the farming community the ray of hope that things could change to the better.

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KENYA: THE KWS OFFICIAL HAS DISPELLED THE DREADFUL RUMOR WHICH ALMOST PLACED PART OF NANDI AND UASIN GISHU COUNTIES INTO DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW ABOUT MAN EATER BEAST

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kapsabet Town.

The dreadful rumor which kicked off two weeks ago later spread like bush fire into the neighboring Uasin Gishu County.

The rumor was about the myth about the existence of the”Man Eater” beast in the region.

The rumor was sparked off following the discovery of a half eaten man Unknown people or person took the photograph of the half-eaten body an posted it to one of the social media outlets, the Facebook.

Earlier this week, the villagers mobilized themselves and while armed with arrows, bows,spears and rungus and other crude weapons went into hunting spree ransacking all the nearby thickets and bushes in search of the alleged ‘Man Eater Beast’.

The incident also kindled an old myth about the existence of a mysterious beast alleged the Nandi Bear.The story o f the existence of the Nandi Bear has remained unresolved for decades, and even during the colonial era, some whites conducted a thorough studies in search of the Nandi Bear’ but never traced the animal, though its existence has remained so famous I the local folk-tales.

The Whites farmers and administrators working in Nandi district had established a social Club called Nandi Bear Club, which is located next to the Nandi Hills town. The Club is one of the most exclusive one in the region surrounded by an ultra modern Golf Club.

The Nandi Bear is known in Kalenjin as “Getet” its mythological existence is associated with clams that the Nandi Bears used to struck into the villages, beheaded people and took away their carcasses.

The myth of Getet was mainly used by nursing mothers in calming heir crying babies or children during the dead hours of the night, by frightening the minors that their cries would attract “Getet” the Nandi Bears to come and kill the family.

After raiding several bushes and thickets the villagers came into face to face encounter with three “Jackals”. They cornered the Jackals and killed two of them, while the third one escaped.

Jackals are smaller than dogs and cannot kill a grown up person. The carcasses of the dead jackals were handed to the officials of the Kenya Wildllfe Services, but nothing like a man eating beast.

A senior KQWS official has discounted the rumor about the existence of the “Man Easter Beast”. He said the deceased who appeared to have been stabbed all over the body by unknown assailants had blood oozing from the stab wounds, and this could have attracted the stray dogs.

The KWS official Joel Kunda said the police in both Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties were actively investigating those who might have posted the photographs of the half-eaten body to the social media thereby sparking rumors and fears among the population.

The rumor has caused a lot of panicking with parents believing that they should not send their small children to school for fear of being attacked by the ‘Man Easter Beast”Even those fond of visiting the Chang’aa dens have curtailed their movement and chose to remain indoor after darkness.

The rumor has clamped down on what one resident of Chepterit Market Samuel Limo described as “down to Dusk Cufew.

On the other hand it has made young married women happy, especially those whose husbands are known to have been spending long hours of the night in chang’aa drinking den.”They do come home much earlier and even had time for supper with the children before retiring to be, “ remarked Rachel Jebet a mother of four.

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KENYA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS DISPUTE IS CLOSELY BEING MONITORED BY TANZANIAN AND OTHER REGIONAL LEADERS

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

INFORMATION emerging from the multiple sources in the Tanzanian city of Dar Es Salaam are all indicating that the majority of Tanzanian citizens are closely watching the unfolding political events inside their northern neighboring state.

All the indications that leaders of the various political parties, the ruling CCM party and its ach-rival the CHADEMA are said to be keenly watching events in Kenya.

President Jakaya Kikwete is reported to be neutral and keeping his cards to his chest. He has yet to sent a personal congratulatory message to Kenya’s president – elect Uhuru Kenyatta. However, junior cadre of CCM leadership including member of parliament are said to be leaning towards the Jubilee side of Kenya’s political divide, while Chadema leadership is said to be sympathetic to the CORD alliance.

The CCM stand on the Kenya’s election dispute is said to have been prompted by unfounded rumor that CHADEMA has been covertly cultivating close working relation with the CORD ALLIANCE.

Chadema is reported to have donated several motor vehicles to the CORD alliance during the recently concluded electioneering campaign in Kenya. It has also been reported that President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is another regional leader who has yet to offer any comment about the election despite in Kenya. Rwanda is another important trade partner of Kenya. Lie the other land-locked countries, which depended entirely on the Kenyan port of Mombasa or their export and import.

From the neighboring Uganda the current presidential election results dispute between the h . . .

Uganda was embroiled in a mega financial scandal involved the reported theft of millions of dollars from donor nations meant for its development in the North. The money is said to have been siphoned with the Office of the Prime Minster in Kamala.

Although it has its own sea port of Dar Es Salaam, its northern parts of the country as well as western, especially towns and gold mines , which are allocated around the LAKE Victoria also depended on Kenya for supplies via Lake Victoria.

The mayhem that broke out following a similarly the disputed presidential election of Dec. 2007 had impacted negatively to the economies of both Tanzania and in particularly when the political goons in Nairobi uprooted the rail LINE LINKING THE Kenyan port of Mombasa and Uganda at a section in Kibera within Nairobi suburbs.

The incident sparked off the fuel shortage in Uganda and other land-locked nations in the hinterland and almost crippled that country’s economy.

These are some of the valid reasons why Tanzanians and Ugandans, particularly the big business people would not entertain seeing Kenya collapsing into a distasteful conditions.

A correspondent operating in the northern Tanzania town of Arusha described the recently concluded presidential election in Kenya a sham and not credible enough to convince the neighboring states that it was held in good faith.

However, we love Kenya and its people and as such would go with their wishes, said the TANZANIAN WRITER, ADDING THAT IT WAS TIME Kenya learn how to organize its elections and put only the most credible people to the task of overseeing the elections.This time around people tasked with the handling of the elections in Kenya were not sufficiently qualified for the task.

One Tananian politician commented that the time is ripe or those organizing elections in Kenya to put aside their monetary interest and make sure that such elections are helped in a better manner for the prosperity of the country and its future generation. Must be strictly devoid of corruptive deals.

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Kenya: notorious randy kisumu asian caught in the act

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By Shem Kosse

The notoriously amorous kisumu based Asian business magnate,was ultimately caught red handed in a man’ house having “good time” with an African woman wife and beaten close to death,by the husband,in one of the estates bordering moi stadium.

It all started when the youthful husband,who too, is of an African descent and a renowned businessman in the lakeside city,started receiving scanty information late last year over the illicit affair and consequently mounted a well oiled intelligence network, to bust and nab the newfound lovebirds.

And acting on a tip off from a reliable hawk eyed informant,the disgruntled husband was phoned that the libidinous Asian tycoon a Mr Bachulal has closed his shop for lunch break and that he is driving,with the first sojourn being the residence of his new catch,en-route to his house at the posh estate of millimani.

With his car-a fuel guzzler light blue pajero of KAH series- improperly packed outside the gate and unaware that the aggrieved husband to the immoral woman was privy to the offing marathon love making,the bespectacled Bachulal disembarked from the vehicle,adjusted his spectacle,bravely opened the gate and confidently proceeded to the house where he was whisked directly to the bedroom by the lady,who is a mother of three.

No sooner had he reached the midstream of the sweet natural game,than the husband who was breathing and spitting fire, flanked with the battery of journalists that he had alerted earlier over the shameful matter: Struck.

By-heart kicks, blows and other assorted weapons was rained on the besieged randy Asian from all angles by the jilted husband, that saw him screaming through out like a fateful goat that has sensed its destined to abattoir and that its earthly days is numbered since its going to be slaughtered. Thanks to the promiscuous woman’ athletic prowess,for she managed to slip and escaped the husband’ physical wrath,by a whisker.

And on a brief interview conducted by the scribes at the sour-love- scene as to why he is doing that : “i came here to sell my vehicle,she told me to come” he claimed while stammering and shaking visibly.

And pressed further, why the sale transaction had to take place in the bedroom with both the seller and would be buyer all in their birth suits(read naked): ”Tafadhali ambia bwana ya mama samea mimi!pana rudia tena! sisi yote wanaume! Please tell the husband to forgive me…i’ll never do it again….we are all men” Pleaded fruitlessly,the bulky Asian,who was a victim of a crime of passion,as tears roll down his chicks uncontrollably.

The ugly though consensual incident, left in its wake, a trail of broken household equipments and sexual paraphernalia (libido enhancers,condoms among others) spewed all over the house.

To non starters, the amorous Asian whose sexual escapades has allegedly taken Kisumu city and its environ for decades by storm, is a man of repute and talent in a rare,though much loathed field. He has Singlehandedly and successfully broken many marriages courtesy of his unrelenting extension of sexual overtures to married women,claimed further by those who are abreast to his immorality world.

Not left out in his alleged dragnet of unquenched thirst for pedophile operations, are the downtrodden minor female lot who are lusting for materialistic and luxurious lifestyle,but they are monetarily unsound. He showers them with niceties to the chagrin of the society.

By the time of going to the press,”the bull of kisumu Asians” who deals with shell gases along obote road,was reportedly bedridden ,hospitalized, nursing serveere bruises inflicted on him courtesy of a botched ex-marital affair.

Ends Shem Kosse

sex scandal,caught in the act

KENYA: RESIDENTS OF SUBA AND MBITA DISTRICTS ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DELAYED COTNSRUCTION OF HOMA-BAY-MBITA ROAD

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

Residents of Homa-Bay, Suba and Mbita districts have expressed grave concerned at the slow pace with which the construction work on the Homa-Bay Mbita road.

The construction work on the 44 kilometers road was commissioned by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga three years ago, and as expected to be completed within the next three years.

This road, which is linking Homa-Bay town to the several fish landing beaches in Gwasssi Kakisingiri, and in the twin-fishing islands of Mfangano and Rusinga, is economically so important to the region, especially o the fishermen and fish traders who can use it to access market outlets in the hinterland.

This road is also the main link between the mainland Homa-Bay and Ruma National Game Park in the Lambwe Valley, and also to numerous pre-historic sites in Suba region. Only about 30 kilometers has been completed. Many heavy earth moving machineries e seen just parked idly by the roadside. The workers who were found idling themselves by the construction sides said the construction is slow due the Treasury taking a lot of time before disbursing the project fundst to the contractors.

The resident have appealed to the two MP-elect from the Suba region to take up the matter with the relevant Ministry of Roads and other authorities with the view to ensure the work is moving on at speed and much faster.

The two MP included Millie Odhiambo [Mbita} and Jon Mbadi {Suba]. The portion linking Mbita town, Luanda, Waondo,and Kamata Roads are half-way completed. The work between Kodiera and Kodoyo junction are moving at very slow pace. It has sine ma the half-way completed areas became risk for the motorists

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KENYA: CARTEL AND MANDARINS OF BUSINESS TYCOONS IN AWENDO TOWN ARE WARNED TO STOP FRUSTRATING THE WORK OF THE MP – ELECT FOR THE AREA.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Members of the sugar cane farming fraternity within Awendo cane growing zones have issued a stern warning to a cartel and mandarins with vast economic and business interests in the Awendo-based SonySugar Company Limited to desist from the bad habit of frustrating the work of the newly elected MP for the area.

The farmers through their spokesmen said that the elections are over, the resident of this agriculturally rich area should renew their concerted efforts in growing more cane. This, they said is the only way forward to promote economic activities and poverty eradication in the area.

The farmers were reacting on rumors and speculations, making the round within Awendo Town and its environs, to the effect that unknown persons suspected to be the associates of a cartel and mandarins of big business tycoons within the town have been issuing threats against the life of the newly elected Awendo MP Hon Fred Otieno Kopiyo.

Kopiyo, the former Principal of Gamba High School, which is located about ten kilometers to the west of Awendo town, had won the election against a half a dozen of other contestants on a Ford Kenya ticket.

This was after his victory for the ODM ticket was cancelled by the party headquarters following the intervention of unnamed senior politicians and businessmen in the area, which saw the ODM nomination certificate being handed to the nomination loser one Walter Owino who was the ODM official candidate.

The MP elect beat the latter hands down and other aspirants, and immediately swore to serve the much exploited and marginalized sugar cane farmers in the area to his best.

IN a phone conversation with this writer, Hon Kopiyo said that since the elections were now over the resident should work together in unity of purpose and I a concerted effort to develop the area to the highest level.

The MP – elect extended an olive branch to all those who competed against him, saying there is a room for all to work together for the interests of the residents.”Our common goal should be how quickly we could succeed in eradicating poverty among our people, ”he said.

He said despite of the area producing a lot of sugar cane and other cash crops, the poverty index is the highest

There must be no more witch-hunting, but leaders worth their salt should stand united together and developed the common approach toward the elimination of abject poverty in the area.

Symptoms that there were some people who were working secretly and covertly by placing the barriers before the newly elected MP had emerged during the height of electioneering campaign. One aspirant was allowed to hold public rallies within the Sonysugar company’s compound, while Hon Kopiyo could not even come close to the company estates and talk to the workers. But he said yesterday that he had forgiven the Sonysugar management for that kind of discrimination and was willing to work hand in hand with its managers for the benefits of all.

Another allegation against the SonySugar management was that some of its top managers are working in business partnership with the cartel of the Awendo based tycoons in partnership in the chains of fuel stations operated by the Kenyan Oil Company. “There is nothing wrong in people coming together and forming business partnership, but such partnership should not be operated while based on the malice.”

“People with business interests such as providing services to the SonySugar company or suppliers must desist from exercising undue influence on this public owned company”.said one Tom Okello a cane farmer in Oyani area.

The farmer also asked the Provincial administration and police authorities in Migori County to investigate the alleged threats being issued to the elected individual personalities and ensure that those responsible area brought to book.

Kopiyo, however, denied having received any direct threat for his life from anyone, but have heard the rumors that some people, especially those involved in multi-million shillings businesses with the SonySugar company were not happy with his recent election victory

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KENYA: POLITICAL ROW LIKELY TO ERUPT BETWEEN THE KURIA AND LUOS OVER THE DISHONORED POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT IN MIGORI COUNTY.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

Political row is simmering between the Luos and their neighboring Kuria community in Migori county following the power-sharing deal which was hurriedly brokered by the cord leader Raila Amolo Odinga shortly before the March 4, 2013 election.

Under the deal, most key positions within Mogori County governance were supposed to be the preserved to the minority Kuria community.

In return the Kuria voters in the two parliamentary constituencies of Kuria East and Kuria west were to vote as a bloc for the ODM and Raila Odinga.

One of the posts which was at stake is that of the Senate representative for Migori County. The deal was brokered by Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Services and the four other former Luo MPS representing various constituencies and the former Kuria MP Dr Wilfred Machage.

The deal, however, flopped and did not materialize. On march 4th, 2013, the voters in both Kuria east and Kuria West constituencies voted heavily for the jubilee candidate Uhuru Kenyatta who appeared to have shared the votes in the region with Raila Odinga on almost equal terms.

The elective positions which were at stake include the coveted Senate seat, women representative, deputy county governor.

Dr. Machage went on and contested the Senator seat during the ODM primary nomination and was beaten hands down by one John Magaiwa from.the party headquarter in Nairobi which turned the results of the election upside down and handed the nomination certificate to Dr.Machage, who went on to win the seat.

The Minority Kuria community are sharing the Migori County with their neighboring majority Luos. However, the Luos have a bone to chew with Raila Odinga and all those who brokered the deal which left the community with no senior position in the County governance.

However, the Kuria attitude leaned toward voting for Uhuru Kenyatta, instead of Raila Odinga as had earlier been agreed on between the two communities. The issue has raised political temperature in the region. And the Luos are now demanding that the ODM should appoint Gilbert Ochieng’ Mbeo, the former Mathare MP as the Speaker of the Migori Regional Assembly in order to strike the tribal balance.

After the deal was struck, Ochieng’ Mbeo, Magaiwa and Phares Oluoch Kanindo who is also the former Homa-Bay Mp who were on the campaign trail for the Migori Senate seat, were prevailed upon to stop their bid so that Dr. Machage could win the seat.

And now the Luos feel they were short-changed in the deal. They want the ODM to appoint Mbeo the Assembly speakers because their Kuria neighbors failed to honor the arrangement and voted for the jubilee candidate instead of the ODM and Raila Odinga.

The mandarins at the ODM head office who took part in the discussion and negotiation for this arrangement have been urged to reconsider the possibility of appointing Ochieng’ Mbeo the Speaker of the regional Assembly.

The Luos clinched the position of County governor which was won by Zachariah Okoth Obado, who had also a Kuria as his running-mate, meaning the Luos have been left empty handed.

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EAC plans is targetimg multibilion dollsrs tourist revenujre in the year 2020

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The East African community member states have lined up several projects to increase tourism earnings from the current USD 7.billion to USD16 billion annually.

Sources at the Arusha based secretariat of the EAC have quoted top officials as saying that the plan is aimed at doubling the number of tourists visiting the bloc from 5 million to 10 million annually.

The planned investments are expected to cost USD 3.95 billion by the year 2020 up from the present USD 1.65 billion.

THe envisaged projects include the introduction of a single tourist visa, a single passport, classification of hotels, increased marketing spend and training of personnel’s in the hospitality industry.

The EAC ministers responsible for tourism are expected to hold a meeting before the end of June, this year to discuss the establishment of the single tourism visa and hotel classification in the member states.

Frustration is growing among the business people over delays in pushing through key projects like opening up the regional airspace, rolling out a single passport and visa, the elimination of non-tariff barriers {NTBs}

They claim the delay in implementing the EAC Common Protocols are slowing the expansion of tourism, trade and business envisaged by the protocol.

EAC Principal Tourism Officer Shedrack Mashauri said the bloc plans to negotiate with the regional airlines like the Rwandair and the Kenya Airways to increase the connecting of flights across the region.

Nearly 60 per cent of tourists budgets goes into air tickets. This money could remain in the region, if we had well established local airlines with strong connection into local market,”said Mashauri,adding that such arrangements would also be made with the international airlines.

According to the plans, a tourist would apply and pay for a visa fee in any of the five member states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Brundi and South Sudan, and thus visa would be applicable for travels to all the countries in the region, thus necessitating a proper revenue sharing formula.

It is anticipated that issuance of a single of a single EAC visa and passport will not only ease the movement of people across the region, but significantly boost the regional drive to promote the bloc as a single tourist destination.

Plans are also underway to harmonize policies and have standard training and certification, particularly the tourist guides and hoteliers.

“We want tourists to stay longer in the region, hoteliers and tour guides will be required to be committed to exceeding tourists expectation with great customer service and highest degree of professional ethics,” said Mashauri.

The classification of the hotels is nearly six years overdue said to be due to financial constraints.But the executive secretary oif the Association of Tanzania tour operators ang guide has assured the stakeholders that the matter would be resolved soon.

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KENYA: EXTRA SECURITY PRECAUTION PUT IN PLACE IN KISUMU CITY AHEAD OF NEXT MONDAY GENERAL ELECTIONS AS HATE LEAFLETS HIT URIRI DISTRICT IN MIGORI COUNTY.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kisumu City is one of the areas classified as the trouble spots in the country following the acts of lawlessness and massive looting as well as destruction of property witnessed in 2007.

However, with only three days to go before the polling date next Monday, the security personnel’s have taken up their the patrolling positions in strategic point within the Central Business District {CBD} .

Police patrolling teams have been beefed up in all corners of the town. They included the regular police and members of the paramilitary crack unit, the General service Unit {GSU} to ensure that the elections will be peaceful.

The business communities in the town have reinforced their premises with steel doors and other security measure to avoid the looting that was witnessed in 2008 following the disputed presidential election results. The City traders and business community are said to have lost property valued at Kshs 6 billion. Some of them have yet to recover fully.

Some of the dukawallahs have removed important and highly valued shop goods and kept them in stores pending the end of the impending general elections.

The residents of Kisumu, particularly the Matatu touts working and operating at the main Kisumu Bus terminals have reported having seen the unusual increases in passengers heading the westwards. Most of the passengers are families working in Nakuru and Naivasha. Some of them passengers have reportedly fleeing their places of work following rumor spread by some unpatriotic characters that their lives would be in danger after the Monday elections. Other said they were simply heading for their rural homer where they had registered as voters in order to be able to cast their votes for the persons of their own choice seeking elective positions.

The business communities in Kisumu City in collaboration with the civic society, NGO have recently conducted their most elaborate campaign to sensitize the youths in Town about the need to maintain peace and tranquility during the election time.

The ODM, which is the most popular political movement in the region has also played its part in urging its members to maintain peace and to avoid acts of provocation which could lead to a breach of the peace and breakdown in lawlessness.

Meanwhile the police in Migori were actively investigating the source of the hate leaflets which have hit Uriri district warning non-indignant residents to pack up and go back to their ancestral

The agriculturally rich Uriri district is a cosmopolitan region where there is a large number and concentration of Maragolis and people of Luhyia origins, Kisiis and Suba. There are members of other Luo-sub clans from Siaya, Mbita, Gwassi, Karachuonyo, Kisumu, Ugenya who arealso soujourners in the area.

The local major sub-clans are the indignant Jo-Kanyamkago and the Jo-Kamgundho group. The immediate former MP for the area Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo is a member of the Jo-Kamgundho. He had been beaten hands down by Eng John Kobado a member of the indignant Jo-Kanyamkago.Omolo is still in the race on a Ford Kenya ticket, a party which is a member of the enlarged CORD alliance.

The police have indicated that a double cabin Toyota pick up was seen dropping the leaflet along the Uririr-Rapogi Oria road. Its number place was also secured, and eye witnesses said it was being driven by one political activist from Kisumu who is believed to be backing the former M P in his bid to clinch the seat against the ODM official candidate.

The resident want the author of the hate leaflets apprehended and taken to court to answer the charges of incitement. The suspect, according to the eye witnesses was among the key supporters of one of the aspirants who had lost the ODM primary nomination, and both have since switched side by supporting the former legislator in his bid to recapture the seat.

The author and distributors of the hate leaflets have received whole-sale condemnation by elders from both the Luos and Luhyias community.

The police Chief in Migori Alfred Makomo has thanked the residents, especially those who have recorded the statement with the police and thanked them for their cooperation

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Tanzania: Religious conflict flare ups in Zanzibar as Muslim and Christians go for each other’s throat following the torching down of churches in the Isles

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

INFORMATION emerging from the Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar Es Salaam say investigations into the recent killing of a Catholic priest and the blowing up of a church in Zanzibar are pointing to an act of religious intolerance orchestrated by Muslim fundamentalists.

These attacks being linked to the recent infiltration of the Al-Shabaab terror group into the hitherto peaceful and politically stable United Republic of Tanzania.

This has emerged as local journalists have established that the government of Tanzania has called in security intelligence officers from the US and the UK to help it track down the killers of Evarist Munishi.

A church still under the construction in the largely Muslim archipelago of Zanzibar was set on fire within only 48 hours after the priest’s murder.

The police sources in Dar Es Salaam said that Father Munishi way was blocked by two young men at the entrance of the church compound who shot him at the close range in the head killing him instantly.

The Zanzibar shooting came barely a week after the religious attack that saw the killing of Mathayo Kachili of the Assembly of God church in Geita Region. The slain pastor was beheaded by Muslim extremists on the Tanzanian mainland as religion tensions increase between the Christians and the Muslims.

Local investigators are said to be in constant touch with those of the United States to exchange information related to the murder, including whether it was carried out by the homegrown terror outfits, having links across the border or by terrorists based in neighboring countries.

Local media have quoted Bishop Obeid Fabian, head of Zanzibar Pastor’s Fellowship as saying that churches in Zanzibar had in recent months appealed to the government to step up security, especially for pastors working on the Muslim majority Island.

But nothing much has been done. The Bishop said it was unfortunate that over seven Christian churches had been burnt down while the Isles government had not arrested anyone in connection with the violence.

The Tanzania National Security Council last week ordered the government security agencies to immediately negotiate with foreign security intelligence agencies over the killing of the Catholic Priest.

The US Ambassador to Tanzania Alfonzo Lenhedent was last week quoited as saying that the State Department in Washington DC ready to lent the Tanzanian government some assistance as it needed.

Ends

EAC defense ministers sign peace and security pact to combat terror groups

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The East African Community Defense ministers have signed a peace and security protocol that will see the five partner states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi warning on peace and security threats, genocide and transnational crimes.

The move came in the background of reported increase in the activities of the Alqaeda supported Al-Shabaab terrorist group said to be slowly extending their infiltration and activities into the hitherto peaceful stable United Republic of Tanzania.

Ugandan defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga who is one of the signatories said by signing the agreement, partner states will cooperate on peace and security issues as well as collaborate with the international and regional security agencies.

“EAC member states will therefore be required to develop common measures program and strategies and enter into agreement for the effective implementation of the early warning mechanism ,”The Ugandan Minister added.

A recent report by the EAC head of Anti-Narcotic and human trafficking units indicated the drug dealers have penetrated the region transnational crime is the main challenge to peace and security in the region, a threat to one country is viewed as a threat to the whole region.

Article 24 also, of the EAC Treaty, states that a threat to one country is a threat to the whole of the region.

The objective of the protocol is to promote peace, security and stability within the region, and the good neighborliness.The protocol also states that partner states will manage and seek to resolve any conflict between two or more partner states,or within foreign countries, through peaceful means in consultation with the Security council of the African Union and the UN Security council any conflict

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Kenya: Villagers retrieved the half-consumed body of a girl killed by crocodile near Kisumu

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

RESCUERS and search team have retrieved the half consumed body of a 17 year old girl who was killed by a Nile Crocodile as she went to the lakeside to fetch for waters.

Anne Auma was killed early last week, but her half eaten body was recovered last Saturday inside the reed plantation.

The search team was joined by the staff of the KWS. Residents have since appealed to the KWS and the government to hunt down the killer reptile and ensure that the villagers were safe from such attacks in future.

Report reaching us says that there are upsurge of incidents of crocodile attacks in various parts of Lake Victoria. An incident was recently reported around Kokwiri in Uyoma West .Rarieda district where a fisherman was devoured by a crocodile.

Another incident occurred on Rusinga Island in Mbita district. There are numerous incidents involving crocodile attacking and killing domesticated animals such as sheep and goats.

IN uriri district in Migori County a 12 year old school girl who had gone to the River Oyani with her mother on clothes washing mission was attacked and killed by a crocodile.The animal population had declined after the massive hunting down and killing hundreds for their valuable skins in the early 1950s. However, the colonial government reintroduced the reptiles back into the lake in early 1960.

The menace of crocodile attacking human being and animals in Lake Victoria has risen..

Crocodiles feeds on fish, but in the absence of sufficient number of fish in the lake for its feeding it can resort to hunting down human beings and domestic animals for prey..

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KENYA: KISUMU COURT GIVES MUHORONI ASPIRANT GO AHEAD TO THE BALLOT.

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By Agwanda Saye

THE High court in Kisumu yesterday gave Muhoroni PDP parliamentary aspirant James Onyango K ‘Oyoo the nod to vie for the seat after dismissing a petition lodged by a voter seeking to stop his candidature.
The petition which was filed by a voter was seeking to stop K’Oyoo from contesting for the seat on grounds that he flouted IEBC rules by defecting to a party after the expiry of the party hopping Period.

Justice Hilary Chemitei dismissed the petition lodged by Mr. Peter Oyuko against Mr K’Oyoo who defected from ODM to PDP after being denied the ticket in his former party.

In his petition Oyuko contended that Mr K’Oyoo defected from ODM to PDP after the grace period which was given by the registrar of political parties.

The petitioner wanted Mr K’Oyoo’s name not to be included in the IEBC ballot papers for the forthcoming general elections.

He also wanted the court to declare that K’Oyoo is still a bona fide member of the ODM and therefore bar him from contesting the seat on a PDP ticket.

K’Oyoo’s lawyer Onyango Jamsumba argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the petition and instead the petition should have exhaust all the dispute resolution mechanisms before moving to court.

In his ruling the judge observed that the ODM elections shad been shambolic and said that K’Oyoo has a right to participate in the general elections.

Justice Chemitei further found out that the petitioner’s right had not been infringed as he could not explain the right in question.

The petition the judge ruled had no locus standi in filing the petition before court.

The petitioner is a primary school teacher at Sanda primary school in Muhoroni and was represented by a Kisumu Mr Stephen Aluoch K’Opot.

Ends.

An American who fell in love with Kenya and its people is planning for a big international forum in Nairobi in the year 2016

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Please find attached is our official News Release in a PDF format. Please note that we live in the 21st Century and News Releases are no longer written words, we now use both Multi-Media and Social Media to promote change and ideas in the world. We created this document in format that goes not only to the Kenyan Media, this document should go directly to the people of Kenya. We both know what happen in the “Middle East” with the “Arab Spring.” Social media can bring change in the world. In order for Africa to move into a 21st Century paradigm we must use “Social Media.”

Let me explain a very important concept to you. We are asking the “Republic of Kenya” to honor its “African/American Family” with a “Formal State Reception.” State Receptions are only given to Heads of State.

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In the history of Africa and African/Americans being taken as “slaves to America” not African country has ever offered “African/Americans a Formal State Reception.” A formal State Reception has to come from and be agreed upon by both the U.S. and Kenya State Departments. It is one thing to give a “Head of State” a Formal State Reception but how do you give African/American people a “Formal State Reception.?” This means that the total Republic of Kenya government and people must format a way to honor its “African/American Family.”

Please note that I have taken groups to Kenya for over a decade and I understand both Kenya and America and I am an expert in this area. I have an above average background regarding Kenya’s culture and history. Please understand that travel to Kenya will be long and grueling and beyond the usual travel time that most Americans have experienced. We have to look at “Jet Lag” and a way to promote such an event. We must develop a comprehensive “marketing strategy” that will attract 1000’s of African/Americans to Kenya.

For the record we have created a “Brand Name” for the event. The most noted African word in the English Language is “SAFARI.” It was American writer Earnest Hemingway that introduced the word Safari into the English language. The Kenyan Government must officially expand the meaning of the word “SAFARI” We give its many acronyms.

We have 5 major components as a way to promote the event. We must make the event a spiritual movement.

1. The Safari Home Coming Celebration is the story of the Prodigal Son. Preachers worldwide will relate Africa’s Children coming home to the “Prodigal Son” in the Bible

2. The event will start in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is important because Memphis was once the “Slave Capital of the World.” Symbolically the Children of Africa come from Memphis, Tennessee to Kenya.

3. Dr. Martin Luther King was Killed in Memphis and this event honors Dr. King’s Legacy by us bringing the gauntlet of Dr. King to Kenya

4. This event connects and completes the Legacy of Tom Mboya. Tom Mboya went to America to help Kenya students. That connects started by Mboya brings African/Americans home to Kenya.

5. Kenya is the home of Barack Obama Sr. and all African/Americans must travel to the Ancestry home of America’s President Barack Obama Sr.

Rev. Otura it is urgent that the Kenyan Government and the Kenyan people officially agree to honor its African/American family. Once the agreement is agreed upon we will take 3 years to plan and promote the celebration. We will have so many jobs to do to promote the event. When it comes to the area of the “Christian Faith” we expect you to tell the story that only such a celebration is from “God.” Rev. Otura since you and I connected you and other Kenyan ministers will visits 100’s of churches in America to tell them to come home to Africa. We must develop our website so that anyone in America can simple look on their Cell phone and see videos of the event. Since the event will take place in Kenya’s “High Season” Kenya will not have enough Hotel Rooms.

Such an event will be like the Olympics and it takes a lot of planning and infrastructure. South Africa has better “infrastructure” for such an event. Outside of Nairobi many areas cannot accommodate many African/Americans. Such an event will change the culture of Kenya.

Rev. Otura I would like to thank you for you help. Prior to our going to Kenya we can do a lot of the preliminary work out of the way. We must meet with every Airline that travels from America to Kenya to work out “Budget Travel packages.” We must make the trip affordable to 1000’s of people who could not otherwise travel to Africa.

The most Important Factor

The most important element to the “Safari Homecoming Celebration” is the Barack Obama factor. We must get the date and agreement signed so that President Barack Obama Jr. can officially put the event on his calendar. Because the Kenya State Department and American State Department will sign an official Historic Agreement this will allow President Obama to officially come to Kenya and be the Key note speaker. Please note that in July of 2016 the President will only have 6 months left in office. Hillary Clinton will be running for President. Since this event will be on the “World Stage” Hilleary Clinton may attend the event. Many American legislators will come from America. Because some many American legislators will be in Kenya all African leaders will be at the event.

When you add up African leaders, Church leaders, The President Kenya will not have enough hotel rooms. We will need tents and need camps to support this event. President Obama will come to Kenya. President Obama loves Kenya and he will come to Kisumu.

I think that I have written enough. I think you understand how urgent and important the work we are doing. Now is the time for you to return home to assist in promoting this event. You must stand on stage with President Obama.

End

AFRICA: PREPEX A MALE CIRCUMCISION DEVICE LAUNCHED.

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By Agwanda Saye

The National AIDS/STI Control Programme and the Male Circumcision Consortium has launched a study of a novel medical device that could transform the way male circumcision is provided for HIV prevention.

The PrePex adult male circumcision device has shown promise in clinical studies conducted in Rwanda and Zimbabwe, but this study is the first to assess the safety and acceptability of PrePex assisted adult male circumcision in routine health care settings in Kenya.

“Our study will provide the information that the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation needs to decide whether to add PrePex to the national program me on Voluntary Male Circumcision “say Dr.Peter Cherutich, NASCOP Director for HIV Prevention and Co-investigator for the study.

The study will enroll 425 men ages 18 to 49 who seek VMMC services including 200 men at UNIM clinic in Kisumu and 225 men at dispensaries or health centres where VMMC is provided on specific days by mobile teams

Dr.Paul Feldblum Family Health International 360 project leader of the study notes that PrePex offers another potential advantage over clinical surgery, “the procedure requires no injected anesthesia for most me that means with training, community based health workers might be able to use the device to perform male circumcision in settings outside the clinic” he added

KENYA: KISUMU CHURCH LEADERS FIGHT OVER MONEY.

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By Our Reporter.

For the second time church leaders within Kisumu are up in arms with a leading female priest within the laleside town with her bunch of hanger ons of taking away with them offerings which was collected in Kisumu during peace prayer day at Jommo Kenyatta Sports Ground

This comes only days after she took off with money a politician had given her to share with men of clothe when they met in Kisumu.

And now angry church Leaders in Kisumu are now up in arms against her accusing her of having gone underground with funds which was given out by as aspirant in the newly created Kisumu Central constituency.

The female woman of God is said to have is said to have duped other bishops and Pastors that she would pick over 200,000/- which had been given out by a an aspirant in the area as their token following a lengthy meeting at a Kisumu Hotel last week.

She is said to have convinced the clerics that it would not be prudent to take the money inside the hotel since it is fitted with CCTV cameras hence severe reprisals from the independent electoral and boundaries commission monitors.

The angry bishops have threatened to storm both her private and church locations residences.

The clerics have tried in vain to locate her on her cell phones which have been ringing unattended to for more than days after the meeting.

Those who are familiar with the modus oparendi of the self styled Bishop say that this is not the first time she has disappeared with money meant for other clerics.

“That kind of behavior is not strange to us since it was witnessed at the last general elections and the referendum” quipped one of the cleric on condition of anonymity. Mrs Owiti is said to be a pretender who feigns artificial smiles in order to cover up her inward weird character.

Church leaders in Kisumu now want her probed since her latest character border of blasphemy of the Holy church and are at most sacrilegious.

They want their share of the loot which the aspirant gave out as a token to various churches noting that it was not a bribe but geared towards the work of God in Kisumu and its environs. They have threatened to storm her residence in the next few days if the funds are not released immediately.

Ends.

KENYA: ODM GOON TURNS TO SERIAL KILLER

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By Our Reporter

RESIDENTS of Kisumu East district have called on the area district security committee to crack down on an ODM goon who has now transformed himself into a serial killer in the area.

The residents who mostly reside in various parts of Kolwa say that the goon wears a Legio Maria sect catena at night while in the course of his reign of terror.

The terrified residents says that the goon whose name has been released wears the catena at night while caring an iron bar which he uses to silence members of the public. Many residents of Nyalenda where the hit man operates have called on the government to arrest the man who is a standard three drop out before he causes further harm to innocent members of the public.

He recently went underground after leading a vicious attack against supporters of Kisumu central aspirant Abdul Omar where CORD effect official John Kiarie was also manhandled. Supporters of Omar such as Martin Shikuku sustained deep cuts on the head following the ugly incident.

Kisumu police Chief Musa Kongoli promised to take stern action against the man.

Fearful members of the public say that the man who is a standard three drop out is out to harm everyone in sight once he is gripped by a strange spell of fits. Four people have been injured as a result of the attacks using an iron bar.

He normally hangs around Alfa house in the morning before teeming up with politicians and aspirants whom he extorts money from with menaces. Many leaders who have known his activities take cover once they spot him at various Hotels in Kisumu town.

ENDS.

Fishing business activities in lake Victoria has resumed in earnest after the dreadful water hyacinth weeds was blown off by current and strong winds

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

FISHING business activities has resumed in earnest after the current and strong winds swept away the water surface of Lake Victoria leaving it clean.

The stakeholders and those involved in fish mongering business as well as thousands of fishermen operating in the rake were on Wednesday this week seen preparing their boats and other fishing gear in readiness to re-deploy them on the lake.

The menace of the water hyacinth weeds did not only hampered the fishing activities, but also blockaded the water surface and even ships steamers and all vessels plying the region, especially those ferrying cargoes and shop-good between the eastern shore of Kisumu pier to neighboring countries like Uganda, Rwanda and Northern Tanzania had come to virtual the last seven months.

The worse hit areas were along the shorelines of the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kivirondo Gulf covering Bondo, Rarieda, Seme, Kisumu, Nyando, Nyakach, Rachuonyo North and Homa-Bay.

The weed had blocked the lake water making the navigation of steamers and even fishing boats impossible. On two occasions, the government was urgently summoned to avail police helicopter to come to the rescue of fishermen whose boats were stranded in the lake for several days without food or water for drinks.

This happened near Soklo Island ,which is just located a few kilometers outside Homa-Bay town and in Karabondi area in Karachuonyo east.

The invasion of water hyacinth weeds in the last seven months had hampered the fishing activities and has sent the price of fish skyrocketing. Close to 50,000 fishermen are operating inside the Kenyan side of the second largest water mass, which is shared between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

A good number of fishermen had abandoned their trade and quit the trade in search of green pasture elsewhere. The fishing industry is the mainstay of the economy of the region, coming only second to sugar cane farming.

Experts say that there are close to 4000 fishing boats operating in Nyanza Province and the industry is supporting close to 3 million people, especially those living close to the shorelines of the lake.

The Kenyan fishing communities stretches from River Sio and Rwambwa areas Busia, Busia district and covered the widest area which included the two Nyakach, Nyando, Seme in Kisumu County , Raried and Asembo, Yimbo, Mageta Islands, Oyamo Island, in Uyoma peninsula in Siaya County and,,Gwassi, Mbita, Rachuonyo, Rangwe, in Homa-Bay County,and also small portion of Nyatie in Migori County.

Statistics recently made available by the fisheries department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment moderately indicated that Kenya is raking in Kshs 13 billion annually in foreign exchange as the results of its export of the highly prized Nile Perch filets to the Middle East, Japan, Israel, EU and the US.

Residents of Nyanza Provnce, however, have appealed to the government to find the lasting solution to the menace of water hyacinth weeds.

It could be either removed by mechanized means or manually by hired youths the same way the Ugandan government has done.

A recent report released by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute revealed that the number of fishermen and fish landing sites in Nyanza Province has decreased and reduced drastically in a span of two years.

The report released in Kisumu two weeks ago indicated that fishing landing sites decreased from 324 in 2010 to 311 last year due to the menace caused by the water hyacinth on Lake Victoria.

It also send a warning signal about the dwindling stock of fish in the lake due to over-fishing, the use of illegal fishing methods

The problem is blamed squarely on lack of protection of fisheries resources and corruption by those assigned the duty of protecting it by the relevant Ministry.

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Kenya: Raila’s convoy almost ran into tear gas as the police battle with rowdy youths in Ahero Town

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By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

POLICE in Ahero town, Nyando district within the Kisumu County were at the weekend forced to lob tear gas canister against a section of unruly crowd that turned up to welcome the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his entourage.

Two former MPs for Nyando and Muhoroni constituencies were the new targets for booing and heckling. These were the Muhoroni MP Prof.Patrick Ayiecho Olueny, who is also an assistant Minister for education and Fred Outa the former Nyando MP.

Raila travelling with a team of cabinet Ministers and MPs were on their way to Kisumu after addressing a series of campaign rallies in Kipkellion and Nandi Hills which the incident occurred. During his brief stop at the Chemelil roundabout, the residents booed and heckled Prof.

Accompanying the Prime Minister were the Lands Minister James Orengo, Local Government Minister Fred Gumo, Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey, Health Services Minister Prof.Anyang’ Nyong’o, Energy Assistat Minister Magarer Lang’at Prof.

The crowd became highly agitated after the Prime Minister tried to introduced the two local MP and told the audience that they should vote on six piece voting pattern, saying that he needed to win the presidency with a strong and experienced team.

The situation remained the same at Awasi, but it developed into very noisy when the group reached Ahero town.The crowd disapproved the candidature of both Ayiecho Oluenya {Muhoroni}, and Fred Outa {Nyando} arguing loudly that the two did not win the elections during the recently concluded, but much flawed ODM primary nomination.

During the violence confrontation between the police and the crowd which fought the running battles into the nearby villages, Ahero-Oyugis-Kisii and Ahero-Kisumu road was blocked from 5.30 P.M. to 8 P.M. Motorists stopped and parked their vehicles by the roadside. They included Matatus,tracks and buses. their vehicles voluntarily while fearing the worse and having them damaged by flying stones.

It became apparently clear that the six piece voting system would not work inside Luo-Nyanza,though the Prime Minister has been crusading for this system aggressively wherever he goes.

The bone of contention everywhere is that the majority of the aspirants for the various elective positions who were sanction by the ODM and cleared by the IEBC to contest the election were not adequately elected by the popular votes, and therefore lacked the blessing of the electorate. The electorate as result are insisting that they should be allowed to cast votes on individual personality cult and not on party line due to the flopped ODM nominations.

Prof Ayiecho Olueny is facing the populist Nairobi businessman James Onyango K’Oyoo who had won the rim\ry in Muhoroni with landslide, but who the ODM party big-wigs had rigged and denied victory, which was corruptively handed over to Prof. Olueny.

In Nyando J.Okello a youthful aspirant had trounced Fred Outa, but the ODM headquarters issued Outa with the nomination certificate to the chagrins of the voters.

Ends