Category Archives: HEADLINES

KENYA: MINISTER DALMAS OTIENO”S MOTORCADE CAME UNDER HALE OF STONES AMID ACCUSATIONS BY ODM ASPIRANTS IN MIGORI COUNTRY THAT HE HAD HATCHED A DICTATORIAL PLAN OF DISHING OUT DIRECT NOMINATIONS CERTIFICATES TO THE PREFERRED CANDIDATES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town

The on going electioneering campaign by people who are vying for various elective position in ODM tickets had become the sources of discontent in many parts of Luo-Nyanza with aspirants vying for the various elective positions within Migori County have accused Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Service of gross interference in what could otherwise be a smooth and peaceful elections campaigns in the region ahead of next week’s ODM nomination exercise.

Earlier this week Minister Otieno ‘s convoy of several sleek campaign vehicles had come under halls of stones, a clear indication that things are not moving smoothly in favor of the Minister who is also the incumbent Rongo MP, and who is defending his parliamentary seat.

The Minister was driving back to his Rongo rural home after addressing a series of campaign rallies at Kamgundho, Cham-Gi-Wadu when rowdy and drunken youths hurled stones to his motorcade.

The symptoms that the Minister is not all that a comfortable man even at his family level is the fact that his elder son Jared Oteno aged 46 is among the aspirants who have signed a statement requesting the ODM headquarters at the Orange House to instill some amount of discipline to the Minister.

The aspirants want the ODM to stop his plan of dishing out nominations certificates to certain preferred candidates a head of the ODM nomination exercise schedule for January 17, 2013.

The protest by ODM aspirants came about after Dalmas Otieno had released a press statement detailing how all elective positions will be dished out in Miori County. The statement has it that the position of Miogori governor would go to Prof. Edward Akong’o Oyugi, while the deputy governor positions will go to Zachary Okoth Obado, and the Senator seat will go to Dr Walter Machage the current MP for Kuria.

The aspirants have said that Dalmas Oteno ha no constitutional mandate of giving direct nomination to any aspirants and they insisted that all the aspirants irrespective of their status within the society should be subjected to open, fair and just nomination. They termed Dalmas Otieno’s action “dictatorial and mockery to the democratic principles.

The Minister’s own son Jared Otieno is among those contesting for the Migori governor seat and he is in a different and parallel election campaign camp.Jared Otieno launched his campaign last Sunday with pop and pageantry in Migori town.

He has since been tearing into his father’s private life and questioning the Minister’s integrity as a leader. While the Minister is reported to have disowned his son in private, but never uttered any tired vitriols against his son publicly, and the campaign by the two against each other is drawing a lot of interests in the region and could weaken the ODM voting strength unless the party acted with speed and have the sanity restored.

The Senate seat has also attracted the former Mathare MP Ochieng’Mbeo who has twice served as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, John Magaiwa,the ODM Migori County branch chairman,Prof. Chacha Nyaigoti. One of the aspirants who got disgusted Phrares Oluoch Kanindo a one time two terms MP for the large Homa-Bay constituency has since pulled out in anger and declared that he would contest the Senate seat as an independent candidate.

Many other aspirants on ODM tickets in Migori County said they would consider ditching the party unless Dalmas Otieno is disciplined by the ODM head office.They are arguing that the Minister is contradicting the party’s declared policy that nobody would be given a direct nomination,a stand which the Prime Minister RailaOdinga has persistently reiterated many times make it quite clear that no such a thing will happen and that all must go to the ballot boxes to determine the winner.

The protest note was signed by one Paul Abuor who is perceived to be a Dalmas Otieno’s protégé and who is an aspirant in Rongo parliamentary seatand Jared OtIeno the Minister’s own sons.

The stoning of the Minister’s vehicles came in the wake and after only a week after another aspirant for the governor position Mrs Anne Omodho Anyanga had her cart windscreen smashed by rowdy youths suspected to be supporters of Dalmas Oteno I Rongo Town. The youth roughed up Mrs Anyanganga who is the wife of the Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga,who has mounted the most elaborate campaign using a hired chopper.

Mrs Anyanga, who was traversing the entire Rongo constituency, had landed at Rongo Primary School, which is allocated inside main Rongo market.

Market and a crowd rushed to the scene where she was addressing a huge crowd which had formed itself instantly at the places .
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The youth were shouting “Gonywa Gonywa” and menacingly demanding that she give the money, but sensing the danger of her persona l safety Mrs Anyanga jumped into her vehicle which drove to the Choper.The chopper took off amid hails of stones thrown to it in the air by the youth.

Looking shaken Mrs Anyanga flew out of Rongo and landed in some other places within the constituency like Opapo, Ranen, Kodero Bara, BUT SCATHINGLY CONDEMNED THE INCIDENT , WHICH SHE SAW AS AN ATTEMPT TO DISCRIMINATE THE GENDER AND WOMEN FROM CONTESTING PUBLIC OFFICES.

ENDS

Kenya: Nairobi based business magnate has joined the race for Awendo seat causing great panic among other aspirants

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

The latest entry into the contest, for the newly created Awendo parliamentary constituency, of a Nairobi based business magnate, Walter John Owino Sirawa, has sent a half a dozen or so parliamentary hopefuls into great panic.

Owinoi Sirawa entry into the Awendo race has hit the ground with thud forcing his rivals into resorting to unorthodox means including character assassination

Sirawa is the managing director of Gillies Security Guards. His entry into the race has drastically changed the contest while his popularity has hit the region like Tsunami. His candidature has attracted a large following by the youths and women folks within Awendo Town and its environs.

Walter Owino photophotograph of Walter John Owino Sirawa

Within only a week or so Mr.Sirawa’s campaign trail has hit the sugar cane growing region like thunderstorm attracting the attention of the usually marginalized and manipulate sugar cane growers in the area.

Sirawa told this writer by phone that his vision for the Awendo residents is to thrive for the unity of purpose of all the stakeholders without discrimination based on clanism.

His other visions include youth empowerment through training for self sustenance and fighting for the rights of cane farmers.

Also to be given priorities under his leadership is women economic, empowerment – strengthening women groups. Poverty eradication, better educational facilities, good feeder and access roads and the stamping out of the menace of cattle rustling in the region.

Other priorities included economic infrastructure such rural electrification. He will thrive to ensure that the residents get good and clean water for health in their homes.

Other priorities include taking care of the old and aged people and ensure that they enjoyed the government funds, To protect and assist the boda-boda motorbike and bicycle riders.

His other priority will be to ensure that Awendo has a well equipped technical school and village polytechnics in all the five administrative locations that makes the constituency. And to facilitate funds for the assistance of both primary and secondary school teachers to pursue their further academic ambition and to work close with the teachers to ensure their welfare.

Insecurity in Awendo and its environs will get top priority so that the residents of the agricultural rich rural constituency could go about their daily business without being molested by criminal thugs. On CDF projects, he said there will be zero corruption.

During his tenure as the MP for Awendo, Sirawa said he would work hard in collaboration with the NGOs, all registered farmers’ primary co-operative societies, and civil servants, in order to expedite development activities in the region.

He challenged his rivals to get prepared for a bruising election contest, to stop panicking or getting involved in unorthodox and cowardly crude methods of undercutting through character assassination.

He an ODM stalwart and life member who had been dong everything in promoting the party in the region and appealed to the residents to vote as a bloc for the Prime minister Raila Odinga to realize his presidential ambition come March 2013.

Sirawa is facing five other aspirant who included the former KRA top official Jude Ayieko, a former Gamba High School Principal Jared Kopiyo, and executive with the NGO Eric Oyoo, Joseph Owuor who is the PA to Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Services.

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from: ” . . . gillyssecurity . . . ”
Sent: Monday, 7 January 2013, 17:02
Subject: Fwd: Picture for Walter Owino

Mr Leo,

Trust you are well, we spoke earlier. Please find attached my photo.

My vision for Awendo people are outlined below,

1 Unity of purpose for Awendo people (no clan discrimination)

2. Youth empowerment through training for self sustenance

3. Fighting for the rights of farmers

4. Women empowerment – strengthening women groups.

5. Infrastructure – roads/electricity.

6. Clean water for all homes

7. Good health care for all

8. Care for the old – funds for the aging elders

9. Road safety – Boda boda riders welfare

10. Equitable college, high schooland primary school bursary for students

11. improve school infrustructure

12. Have a technical institution in Awendo

13. Have a university college in Awendo

14. Assist teachers pursue further studies

15. Improve teachers morale.

16. Empower widows,orphans, people with disabilities & special interest groups.

17. CDF projects for all – ZERO discrimination.

18. Improve security for all.

19. Collaborating with NGOs/civil societies to improve livelihood for the people of Awendo.

regards
Walter.

Kenya: Karachuonyo ODM aspirant is under probe in land and government house grabbing

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Writes Our Staff Reporter

A parliamentary aspirant in Karachuonyo constituency within Homa-Bay County could face court action before the next March 4, 2013 genera election.

Tom Dolla who is vying for Karachuonyo constituency in Rachuonyo North district is currently under probe for allegedly having grabbed a government house in Kisumu City.

The House which belongs to the Lake Basin Development Authority is located in the posh milimani estate in Kisumu City. Dolla was once an employee of the LBDA, a government parastatal organization.

Sources at the Kisumu based LBDA have hinted that the authority is contemplating suing Mr Dolla for illegal occupation of its house for close to a decade, and that the matter could land the aspirant before a court of law within the net few weeks.

The LBDA want to reclaim and retrieve its property, in which it had no tenancy agreement with the politician despite the latter having occupied it for close to a decade.

Dolla, who is wearing two hats and at one time acting as the ODM REGIONAL OORDINATOR IN Nyanza is among half a dozen of parliamentary aspirants vying the Karachuonyo seat. The incumbent MP is Eng. James K Rege.

Other contestants include the perennial election loser in Karachuonyo Adipo Okuome, a Kisumu dentist Dr.Ofafa Adede, and others.

Information making the round on the ground says the immediate former MP Dr. Paul Adhu has also been campaigning mostly in West Kareachuonyo. However, a check with the ODM headquarters indicated that the former cabinet Minister for Planning during the brief KANU/LDP brief merger under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi Awitihas yet to deposit his nomination fees, though his campaign is said to have already hit the ground.

Karachuonyo is one of the most populous rural constituencies within the Homa-Bay County and residents interviewed were in full praise of eng. Rege the current MP for having restored political sanity in area previously prone to political violence.

Eng. Rege is also being credited for having made use of the CDF and other government devolving funds such as school bursary and road maintenance. The area has realized other development in infrastructure, and this is being attributed by the residents that it is due to the MP’s political magnanimity and dynamism, which has witnesses all the local committee charged with the task of distributing government development funds being handled with credible individual personalities, most of the intellectual and university lecturers. As opposed to the common practice in many constituencies in Luo-Nyanza where CDF steering and disbursement committees are full of semi-illiterate people with no experience in government accounting system .Other committees are filled with MP’s relatives, political cronies.

All the indications are that Eng Rege is on his way to retain his Karachuonyo seat come the March 4, 2013 election. Several other possible contestants who had already declared their interest in the seat appeared to have pulled out one by one living only a handful of aspirants, some of who lacked the track record of development in the area.

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KENYA: THE ATTACK AND STONING OF MIGORI WOMAN ASPIRANT HAS SPARKED OFF WHOLESALE CONDEMNATION BY THE REGIONAL LEADERS WHO CALLED FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN AND GENDER RESPECT.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

ODM LEADERSHIP IN Migori County have come out in full force and severely criticized those who hatched the heinous criminal attack on one of the aspirants aspiring for the powerful position of Migori County governor.

Mrs Anne Omonndi Anyanga who is vying for the position of Migori County governor was attacked in Rongo Town by rowdy youth suspected to be supporters of the Public Service Dalmas Otieno, who is also the incumbent Rongo MP.

The goons tore into pieces the T-Shirts bearing her portrait, which she had just been distributing to the electorate for free. THey demanded that she give them the money, shouting “Gonywa Gonywa”.

Sensing the danger of her personal safety Mrs Anyanga dashed to her waiting car, which drover her to safety amid hails of stones, one of which hit her car front windscreen.

Mr Omomndi Anyanga, who is the wife of Nyatatike MP Edick while on her campaign trail flew into Rongo Town and landed at the nearby Rongo Primary School which is located in the middle of the Town.

Her arrival had coincided with another political function which was taking place at the nearby Kuja School of the Deaf and Blind.On seeing the Chopper huge crowd of people who were attending the function, in which the area MP was launching his campaign in defense of his Rongo seat surged forward and dashed towards Mrs Anyanga’s Chopper.The crowd abandoned Dalmas Oteno’s meeting and went to the venue where the Chopper had landed.

Some of the rowdy youth looked excessively intoxicated with chang’aa and menacingly demanded that Mrs Anyanga give them the money.

Looking disappointed Mrs Anyanga condemned political thuggery saying some people appeared to be hell-bent on intimidating her. She asked his rivals to respect democracy and gender.She defiantly flew to other places like Opapo. Kodero Bara, Rakwaro and Raneni and continued with her campaign.

It was learnt immediately that the eldest son of the Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno Fred Otieno was also simultaneously launching his campaign for the same position of Migori governor at a different function held in Migori Town.

Mrs Anyanga has been traversing the entire Migori County in the last two weeks using rented helicopter, which has taken her to many places inlcuding the two Kuria district of Kuria East and Kuria west, Nyatike, Uriri ,Rongo and Awendo while conducting roadside shows and public rallies.

SHe is facing one of the ODM’s stalwart Prof. Edqward Oyugi Akong’owho is perceived to be Raila Odinga’s closest friends and political adviser for the same seat. Prof Akong’Oyugi launched his campaign in Migori town last week, but it attracted only a paltry crowd.

Other candidates included the ODM’s stalwart Prof. Edward Akong’o Oyugi, who is perceived to be a close friend of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and political advisor. The Prof. Oyugi was among the radical politicians who were detained for many years by the former Moi’s Nyayo regime for radical political activities.

Prof Oyugi who hails from Suna West launched his campaign officially last week in Migori town, but the function attracted only a paltry crowd. Other aspirants included the Kenya Sugar Board Awendo zonal director Zachary Okoth Obado who hails from North Kanyamkago in Urirri district who appeared to be the darling for the majority of sugar cane farmers in the region.

Also in the race is the youthful senior manager with the Airtail in Nairobi Mark Nyamita who hails from Central Kanyamkago in Uriri district whose candidature appeared to have attracted many youths.

However, Mrs Anyanga who is a business woman in Nairobi seemed to be the strongest and serious contender and someone to watch.

The late entry of Dalmas Otieno’s son Fred Otieno for the same position is likely not to alter anything significantly among the gains already secured by both who have been on the ground longer than one year.

Rumor making the round within Awendo and Migori as well as in Rongo is that Fred Otieno is not enjoying the political goodwill and patronage of his father Dalmas Otienm and as such his candidature is expected to make very little impact

Mrs Anyanga therefore stands the better chance of clinching the Migori governor steas, because she is the only aspirant from the votes-rich Nytatike constituency, whereas the majority of aspirants are people from Urirri and Migori constituencies.

Among those politicians who strongly condemned the attack on Mrs Anyanga is Eng.Phillip Odero Makabong’o who is contesting the Rongo parliamentary seat against Dalmas Otieno.Makabong’o appealed to the ODM headquarters to instill the highest standard of discipline including disqualification of those candidates found to be promoting war-mongering and political thuggery. He condemned the use of political goons to intimidate opponents by some politicians in the areas.

Dalmas OItieno could not be reached for his immediate comments about the attack on Mrs Anyanga by goons suspected to be his supporters in Rongo town.

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KENYA: ANOTHER HIGH ACADEMIC PROFILE WOMAN JOINS THE RACE FOR KISUMU WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE SEAT.

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REPORTS Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Kisumu County Women Representative position has attracted another high profile aspirant in the name of Dr.Rose Kisia Omondi a senior lecturer at the Moi University Eldoret.

Dr Kisia-Omondi who is commonly known as Nyar-Suba, grew up in Awendo town and its environs. She is married to another University lecturer Dr. ndi from lower Nyakach Kabondho.

Rose kisisa Omondi; Kisumu_rep.jpg
photo of Dr.Rose kisisa Omondi

She is the second woman to show interests in the seat and will face it up with the moneyed Mrs Nyamunga, from Kano Plains and the wife of the former Nyando MP Eng. Eric Opon Nyamunga who is also a business tycoon in Kisumu Town.

Dr Rose Kisia Omondi took her early education at Sare Primary School in Awendo Town before moving to Ogande Girls High School , which is located near Homa-Bay Town.

She is the holder of the PHD degree in management and economics {NZ}, MBA which she obtained from the University of Wales in the UK, Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi.

Dr Rose Kisia-Omondi said she has travelled extensively all over the world and gained sufficient experience, which if elected to be one of the next Women Representative in parliament she could put into good use for the purpose of poverty eradication.

THe vision, she declared is to give the people of Kisumu County whose population is now close to 900,000 the most effective representation and leadership which is based on action oriented.

She told this writer that Kiksumu has a lot of potentiality for economic growth, citing Lake Victoria and its resources, fishing industry, cash crops production such as sugar cane, horticulture.

The land in this region , she said is fertile and could be used to produce a lot of cash crops.And now that the Kisumu Airport is expanded to accommodate bigger planes, it could be used in exporting horticultural products to Europe and destination directly.

Dr Kisia –Omondi said she is a life member of the ODM and she is a social democrat who believes in the democratic principles as well as in equity and fairness and social justice for all.

Dr.Kisia Omondi has appealed to all those contesting various elective seats in the region to conduct their campaign in peaceful manner while respecting the law of the land.

She challenged her opponent to speak less, but to think hard how the abject poverty could be eradicated and whipped out of the region through concerted efforts.

Dr. Kisia Omondi is the younger sister of the long-serving KNUT EXECUTIVE SECRETQARY FOR Migori district, the late MijunguKisia.

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KENYA: THREE LUO CABINET MINISTERS GOT RUDE AND SHOCKING MIXED RECEPTION IN THEIR CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN SIAYA AND HOMA-BAY COUNTIES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

THREE Luo Ministers got a rude and shocking reception in Siaya County over the weekend after they were accused of killing the democratic space which Kenyans have fought for many years.

The Ministers James Aggrey Orengo {Lands} Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ {Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister and Dr. Oburu Oginga who is the Finance Assistant Minister had gone to Sega Town in the Ugenya constituency to drum up the support for Dr. Oburu Odinga who is vying for the Siaya County governor.

Close to 2,000 delegates from all over the six parliamentary constituencies within Siaya County attended the meeting, but flatly refused to be coerced to endorse Dr. Oburu Oginga as the sole ODM candidate for the lucrative and powerful position of Siaya County governor.

Dr. Oburu Oginga is facing a Siaya business man William Oduol in a two men horse election race for the same position. The rowdy delegates made life difficult for the Minister and MPs accompany them. At one point one of the enraged delegates stood up and grabbed the microphone from Minister Orengo raising tension as the delegates engaged in the shouting match drowning the Ministers voices.

The delegates were arguing that there be no sacred cow and that all the aspirants interested in contesting various elective seats should be cleared by the ODM for the electorate to finish their work at the ballot boxes come March 4, 2013.

Present at the meeting were Rarieda MP Eng Nicholas Gumbo, Alego-Usonga MP Edwin Ochieng Yinda, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo.

The same shouting match was witnessed when the Ministers and MPs moved out of Sega Primary School ground and moved to Ugunja Town for the public rally.

Meanwhile in Homa-Bay County three prominent Luo politicians vying for the various elective seats launched their campaign officially at the different venues.

The first to launch his campaign for the contest for the position of Homa-Bay County governor was Cyprian Otieno Awiti, the retired former Country Director of Marrie Stoppie Clinics. Awiti’s colorful launching was graced by the secretary-General of COTU {K} Francis Atwoli.

After the launching Awiti drover in a convey of close to 50 motorcade and snaked around Gwassi constituency, visited Kisegi, Sindo and Magunga,God-Bura, Nyandiwa before sailing across the Mbita Channel to Mfangano Island using Mbita Ferry.

On Sunday Awiti attended the Sunday Mass and prayers at the Mausoleum of the Late Tom Mboya near Matenga Beach in Kamasengre , Rusinga West in Mbita constituency.He addressed a public rally at Kolunga Beach in Kamasengre. He later toured Wanyama, Utajo fish landing beaches in Rusinga East Location and Mbita town where he addresses huge crowds of enthusiastic supporters.

Awiti and his entourage crossed the MBITA Channel on Monday and moved to Osodo Primary School in Kamireri and at luanda in Gembe Location before moving to Lambwe West and Lambwe East location within Mbita constituency.

On the mainland, Awiti’s arch-rival for the same position Eng.Phillip Okoth Okundi conducted a marathon road-show which took him around Homa-Hills in West Karachuonyo before addressing a huge crowd at PALA Market in KANJHIRA IN Karachuonyo constituency.

The Immigration and Registration of Persons Gerald Oteno Kajwang’ who is vying for the Homa-Bay Senate seat also took his team to a road-show.

He officially launched his campaign at Rodi-Kopany about 8 kilometers outside homa-Bay town. His Caravan snakes out of Rodi Kopany and drover through Rangwe town before heading to \ndiru in Kagan Location before reaching Oyugis town where he addressed a huge crowd.

Kajwabng’’s trip, however, was not all that smooth. He encountered booing and heckling by rowdy youths at Rodi Kopany, who were believed to be the supporters of his rival Hilary Ochieng’Alila. The youth engaged the Minister in shouting match asking him to explain the reason why he had abandoned his Mbita parliamentary seat after representing the area for close to 17 years.

In Rangwe Town the Minister met with a hostile crowd of youths shouting the names of Hilary Ochieng’Alila and urged the Minister to move out of the place because they did not want him.

Minister Kajwang’, however, was well received at Oyugis Town where he addresses a huge crowd of people and urged them to elect reliable and credible leaders who would deliver the goods and alleviate poverty in the region.

From the looking of things, Awiti appeared to be having the upper hand in his bid to capture the Homa-Bay County governorship seat. He appeared to have captured the Suba region as well as Ndhiwa constituency well ahead of his opponents.

Homa-Bay County is covering seven parliamentary constituencies which included Gwassi, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul and is the largest County in the region.

Other aspirants or the governor position included Prof.Akeyo Omolo of the Maseno University, while the Senate seat appeared to be a two horse race between Kajwang’and the youthful Nairobi based business tycoon Hilary Ochieng’Alila whose popularity has hit the region with thud like thunderstorm.

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Kenya: Olago Aluoch is facing defeat by Mrs Rosa Buyu in Kisumu Town West parliamentary contest

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Kisumu CITY, which in the year 1969 set the political history by voting in the first woman who was popularly elected MP, is set to repeat the same history by voting a woman to Parliament under the new constitutional dispensation.

In 1965 the lake side town picked Mrs Grace Aketch Onyango as the first woman Mayor in Kenya. The City repeated the same achievement by voting overwhelmingly in favor of Mrs Grace Aketch Onyango as the first woman MP in the 1969 general election on a KANU ticket. Mrs Onyango thereafter represented Kisumu for the next 22 years.

From the face of things Mrs Rosa Buyu, a Nairobi-based business woman who has a family root in Bondo like the previous MP Grace Onyango, is set to become the next MP for Kisumu Town West under the newly realigned parliamentary constituency which was curved out of the Kisumu Toiwn West, now Kisumu Central.

The incumbent MP is John Olago Aluoch, a prominent Kisumu lawyer. In 2007 Mrs Buyu is believed to have beaten Olago Aluoch hands down during the ODM nomination, but her she was robbed of election victory through rigging by some ODM operatives who wanted to sideline her because of her family relations with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. However, Odinga remained non-committed and neutral through out the hotly contest ODM election battle between Buyu and Aluoch.

Rosa Buyu is the daughter of Kisumu business magnate the late Mzee Parick Onyango Ochang, the former proprietor of the Nyataya Bus Company. Her father for many years was the confidant of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

The new regional Kisumu west constituency now comprises exclusively rural locations which were previously included in the Kisumu Rural constituency and part of Kisumu town and its environs like Nyahera, Ojola, Chula-Yimbo and Karateng’ and Kiboswa.

The majority of the residents of these rural Locations are the indigenous people jo-Kisumo.Although Mrs Buyu has a family root in Bondo, she is married to a Mr Randiak of Kadawa Kisumo near Holo market. Her mother in-law Mrs Dorothy Randiek is the former trusted sister of the late Roberet John Ouko, the slain former Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation who died in February 1990.

The residents of these rural locations are the indigenous jo-Kisumu, while the outgoing MP Olago Aluoch is a member of the Jo-Kanyakwar an immigrant clan whose roots could be traced in Alego Siaya.

An eloquent speaker in both English and Dho-Luo vernacular, Mrs Buyu is a graduate of Nairobi University is so popular with rural folks and women as well as youth. She is a resourceful and generous lady who is reported to have been assisting many families in distress and need of school fees and other problems.

The beautiful Rosa Buy is a wit and unbeatable in a political platform. She has displayed her ability to mobilize the crowds during her recent appearances in a number of funeral homes within the Jo-Kisumo sub-clans.

Olago Aluoch, however, is credited for having been the most effective defender of Raila Odinga both inside and outside parliament, but he should have been advised to defend his own parliamentary seat in Kisumu Central, an area comprising mainly residents of the peri-urban areas of \nalenda,|Pand-pieri, kibuye, Obunga, Kondele and the Central Business district [CBD} instead of going for the Kisumu West seat.

Olago Aluoch tenure is shrouded with multiple accusation of poor disbursement of CDF and other government revolving money, the worse being the school bursary fund, where mothers of the poor students seeking bursary for their children have allegedly being asked for sexual favors before their children could be issued with the bursary fund, money which is always ranges between 3,000 and 4,000 not exceeding Kshs 5,000 , Whereas in the neighboring Kisumu Town East constituency the incumbent MP Shakeel Ahmed Shabir is credited for being so generous in giving out busary money for the needy students ranging from Kshs 10,000 and above.

Olago Aluoch is facing other allegations of having sidelined the indignant Jo-Kisumo people and having engaged outsiders to man the CDF and constituency offices, most of the managers are people from Siaya, South Nyanza, Migori and Rachuonyo with none from among the jo-Kisumu.

These outsiders are being accused of having vandalized the revolving funds and converted the money for personal use in total disregards to the plight of the electorate.

These are some of the major issues which are likely to dominate the campaign in Kisumu Town West. Mrs Buyu is said to have used her own resources helping the students from poor families. She is also unlike Olago Aluoch is accessible both in Kisumu and in Nairobi.

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KENYA: ODM YOUTH IN URIRI WHO IS THE BROTHER OF THE FORMER AREA MP IS KILLED IN MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND HIS BODY DUMPED IN A DAM

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Police in Uriri district are actively investigating the circumstances which led to the grisly murder of the younger brother of the former area MP the late |Herman Odhiambo Omamba.

The body of Joshua Omamba aged about 35 years was fished out of a dam near Ayiego Center in North Kanyamkago Location, Uririr district, Migori County.The body had a deep cut at the back of the head and multiple knife stabs all over.

The area Chief Milton Obote told this writer that they suspected the killing to be as the result of long standing family feuds. And at the same time it could be as the result of love-triangle as the deceased is suspected to have picked a quarrel with one of his younger brothers a few days earlier who he was suspecting of having an affair with his wife,

THe deceased’s younger brother is also an aspirant for the North Kanyamkago Katieno Ward County Representative seat.

The area D.C, George Lagat could not be reached immediately for comment. However, the killing has attracted wholesale condemnation of nearly all political leaders in Uriri including parliamentary aspirants

Among those who expressed concerned and urged the government to beef up the security in the area is Martin Owiny who is vying for Uriri seat current held by Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo.

The elders in the area have also cautioned the parliamentary aspirants in the area to desist from the bad habit of feeding rowdy youths with “Chang’aa’.

The incident occurred on the night of December 27, 2012 when the deceased failed to return homer from the chang”aa drinking dens near Ayedo Chief’s camp. So far no arrest has been made in connection with the killing of the deceased who was an ODM operative in the areas.

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KENYA: NYONG’O SENATOR LAUNCH BOYCOTTED.

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By Otit Mach.

Confusion together with booing, jeering marred the launching of ODM secretary general and Medical Services Prof. Anyang Nyongo’s bid for Kisumu County Senatorship.

Coupled with that five Members of Parliament drawn from the entire Kisumu County which he purports to want to represent skipped the event that was staged at the Kisumu Kenyatta Sports Ground and attended by outsiders namely Ministers James Orengo and Paul Otuoma.

The MPs who included Ochieng Diama (Nyakach), Fred Outa (Nyando), Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West) and Prof. Ayiecho Olweny (Muhoron) all failed to attend without any apology.

Only Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu Town East) showed up briefly and left before the function kicked off, Nyongo was also not in sight to see him off.

The absence of the MPs even though they were all invited left many supporters of the medical minister wondering whether they approve of his candidature.

During his speech Prof. Nyongo failed to show cause why his colleagues had given his launch a wide berth.

Some of the aspiring candidates for the same post include Eng. Ocholla Ogoda and Eng. Otieno Odongo.

Ends.

Kenya: Uriri MP may face court suit for not paying for the meat he consumed from a local butchery

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AN ODM MP IN MIGORI COUNTY IS FACING A TRICKY LEGAL COURT CASE WHICH COULD LOCK HIM OUT OF THE PARLIAMETARY CONTEST.

Writes Bob Ndira-Uradi in Migori Town

An outgoing ODM MP in Migori County is likely to face a tricky civil court case, which could easily lock him out of the parliamentary contest under the Chapter Six of the new constitution unless the matter is resolved in time before the official IEBC nominations.

Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, the Uriri MP owed a butchery operator at a local Rapogi Market a colossal amount of money to the tune of Kshs 220,000 for the meat which he and his supporters are reported to have consumed during and thereafter the 2007 general elections.

Omolo owed a businessman Mr Benard Otieno Jobando the sums of Kshs 220,000 which owed the trader at a local Market, which is located near near the MP’s rural home in North Kanyamkago Uriri district, within Migori County.

In a terse demanding note,a Migori –based lawyer S.Odingo has written to the MP giving him an ultimatum to clear the outstanding debt of Kshs 220,000 plus the legal cost of Ksh 20,000 and an interests accrued of Kshs.11,000.

According to the letter written on December 11, 2012 and posted by hand delivery to the MP’s home, the lawyer wrote.”With due respect, we do refer to the above matter and to our letter dated the 17th September 2010 and reference SOO/MIG/DN/BOJ/2010, the content which are well within your knowledge.’

‘You will appreciate that your letter has gone unanswered for years, neither have there been any communications from your side to our client.’

NOTE THAT we are on the verge of instituting same in court of law for determination bearing in mind that the said claimed amount had definitely risen because the interests and costs have accrued.

In light of the above, kindly make the payment of the said amount of Khs 220,000/- plus costs of Kshs 20,000/- and interest of Kshs 11,000/- to our client through this office for onward transmission to him within 7 days from the date thereof.” Says the lawyer’s letter in part.

The Uriri MP could not be reached in time for his comment over the matter.But the complainant Mr Benard Oteno Jobando, who runs a butchery at the local Rapogi Trading Center has confirmed that his effort to approach the MP to offset the debt, which has been outstanding for close to five year have httherock. At first he said the MP had threatened him with a counter legal suit if he persisted with claims when he first raised the matter with his lawyer.

The MP then gave him kshs 10.000 and told him to be patient and that he would settle the bill in due course.

Ends



Here are two copies. One is from a cheque issued by the Uriri Mp in September 2010 in respect for payment for Kshs 220,000 to a butchery oowner which bounced and for which has never paid to cover the debt. Second is a terse letter from the businessman’s lawyer giving the MP an ultimatum to pay the debt within 7 days or face court action.

LAKE VICTORIA BASIN COMMISSION TO ENSURE LAKE SAFETY .

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Fishermen on a fishing expedition in Lake Victoria’s Kenyan side.


By Dickens Wasonga.

According to maritime experts, an estimated 5000 people drown in Lake Victoria annually as risks of navigating through the lake waters persists. These are people who perish in the lake while either using it for transport or on fishing expedition.

Addressing journalists from Kisumu during a special media briefing organized by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission last week in Kakamega town to give a report on achievements by the commission since 2006 , the LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Canisius Kanangire said the trend was worrying EAC member countries and revealed that efforts to reverse it were already being enhanced.

The LVBC boss said bad weather, unstable boats, over loading, lack of safety gadgets and poor seamanship amongst others are some of the reasons being attributed by maritime authorities as being behind the increasing cases of accidents within the world’s second largest fresh water lake.

However all is not lost . Lake Victoria Basin Commission which was established 6 years ago by the EAC member’s states to promote and facilitate sustainable utilization of the natural resources within the basin has embarked on the implementation of an ambitious four year strategic plan which amongst other measures will address safety of the lake.

Already the East African Legislative Assembly that draws its membership from the five EAC partner states has enacted Lake Victoria Transport Act which will soon be fully operational zed to help in regulating navigation and shipping laws to be jointly applied by the member states in order to improve safety within lake Victoria.

Amongst a raft of measures, the commission’s four year strategic plan also seeks to establish 16 search and rescue stations around the lake. Out of the 16 stations, 3 will be on the Kenyan side, 8 in Tanzania and 5 in Uganda. The allocation , according to LVBC was pegged on the size of the lake each member country occupies.

The stations will also serve as training centers where people can learn about maritime safety among them the fishermen many of whom have perished in the lake waters in the past. The commission is also in the process of putting in place a maritime telecommunication network which is set to cover the lake surface as well as the entire shoreline.

Towards this end an emergency number 110, which can be used for search and rescue services in Lake Victoria by anyone in distress has also been adopted for use by the national regulatory authorities of each of the EAC states.

According to the LVBC Maritime Communication and Safety on Lake Victoria project coordinator Eng. Vincent Hagono, a pilot emergency response control and positioning center has already been launched and tested in Kampala Uganda in the network that will cover over 80 per cent of the fishing areas of the lake.

Eng. Hagono said phase one of the project that seeks to ensure safety in the lake started three years ago at a cost of 20 million US dollars while its second phase will require additional 10 million US dollars to complete.

LVBC , headquartered in Kisumu Kenya is facilitating and promoting the implementation of a number of key community driven projects executed by various state actors in each member state amongst them, water supply and sanitation projects, protection of water catchment areas, income generating activities which in the end should aid it in its vision of having a prosperous population living in a healthy and a sustainably managed environment .

Currently the commission which receives 90% of its funding from the World Bank is headed by Dr. Canisius Kanangire of Rwanda as its Executive Secretary and has a staff of 60 people drawn from across the EAC partners’ states. It plans to build a state of the art offices in Kisumu where the host country Kenya has donated 2.5 hectares piece of land for the project.

ENDS.

Kenya: Fresh mega financial scandal hit the Sonysugar company in Awendo

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A private security providing firm, which is closely associated with the family of the former ODM Cabinet Minister, is allegedly minting thousands of shillings from the cash-strapped SonySugar Company.

The firm which is called Gillis Security Guard has over 100 security guards, who are protecting the company premises, property and cane farms within Awendo Town and its environs. The sugar firm is coffing out its coffers a cool Kshs 17,000 per head of each guard per month.

However, reports reaching us from various sources in Awendo says, the firm is only paying the guards the peanut of between Kshs 5,000 and Ksha 7,000 while pocketing the rest.

The same sources have told us that

each security dog is minting Kshs 27,000 per month for its maintenance, while the dog’s handlers are taking home just peanuts.

The firm is closely associated by the former Energy Minister George Ochillo-Ayacko,and it was in roaring business during Ayacko tenure as the Energy Minister winning lucrative tenders from nearly all the parastatal organizations under the Eneregy Ministry such as Ken-gen and KPL, up –to-date it is still providing security services to those firms.

Its interest in Awendo zone is under the local manager called John Walter Odhiambo Sirawa,alias John Walter Owino Ogur “Odari”. Who has since declared his interest in contesting the newly created Awendo parliamentary constituency

Awendo constituency is one among the 80 extra parliamentary constituencies which were created by the IEBC and later endorsed by an act of parliament. Its electoral areas are covering several administrative locations which included Sakwa West, Sakwa Central, Sakwa North, Sakwa South and Sakwa East.

Members of the cane farming fraternity are up in arms questioning the exorbitant payment for the security guards from this firm, alleging that its charges are too excessive from the perennially financially ailing sugar millers.

The farmers wants the matter to be investigated by a competent government investigation institution so as to establish how this firm had secured tender to provide the sugar mill with its guards and as to whether there were element of political connotation involved .

It has also been established that the second name of the security company is believed to have been faked. He true and real John Walter Owino Ogur [Hodari} who is ma close cousin of John Walter Sirawa is a deceased person.

Our investigations have revealed that the real Owino Ogur (hodari} was once a to student at the nearby Manyatta Secondary School where he passed his {O} level with flying color, and was later admitted to one of the High Schools to study for his {A} level certificate, but died while in the Form Five. The deceased died around 19887.

The current bearer of the same name John Walter Sirawa is believed to have studied up to upper primary standard seven at a local school called Ombasa Primary School, which is also located in Sakwa West Location and did not go beyond. That.

Sirawa it is being alleged to have fake the deceased academic certificate and used it to secure entry into the police force, but deserted and left the force in huff after the word went round that the force was actively investigating his academic background to escape punishment. He was later employed as a watchman by the Gillies Security Guard.

All the revelation of the startling and shocking information come into the surface after Sirawa who is now the top manager of the security firm guarding the property of the Awendo Sugar miller had declared his interest in contesting the Awendo parliamentary seat.

He is actively campaigning for the seat and is believed to have already deposited substantial amount of money with the ODM headquarters in Nairobi as one of the aspirants vying for the Awendo .parliamentary seat.

The allegations have sparked off the bitter complaints from other aspirants vying for the same seat who have expressed fears that the ODM headquarters could easily pass the applications from one who is armed with fake academic certificates.

The aspirants have called on the ODM to conduct a thorough investigation on all the applications submitted by aspirants vying for the various elective positions within the County governance, national assembly, Sanate and governorship.

The Awendo parliamentary seat has attracted other aspirants who included the former top KRA manager Jude Ayieko, who hails from Sakwa South, the Principal of Gamba high School Fred Otieno Kopiyo, Erick Oyoo, who is an executive with an international NGO Joseph Owuor who is the PA to the Public Service Manager Dalmas Otieno who hails from Central Sakwa, Lameck Okoth from Sakwa East ad Dr. Abwao from Sakwa West

The real bruising election battle is expected to be a two horse race between Eric Oyoo and Fred Kopiyo. Both are university graduate with high profile.

The ODM is the dominant party whose flag bearer is expect to carry the day after its preliminaries, and the electorate have appealed to the party not to allow anybody with fake academic certificate to pass the party’s nomination test and that the academic certificates of the aspirants should be thoroughly scrutinized with double checking’s.

Ends

Kenya: Minister Kajwang is among seasoned politicians in Luo-Nyanza said to be in great panic

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Writes Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo in Homa-Bay Town

The Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ is among the seasoned Luo politicians in Nyanza who are said to be in great panick following the recent entry into the Homa-Bay County Senate seat contest by the youthful and populist challenger Hilary Ochieng’ Alila.

Kajwang’ who is the outgoing MP for Mbita and a closer confidant of the ODM leader Raila Odingahas shifted his political camp from Mbita to Homa-Bay Town and declared that he would not defend his parliamentary seat next March. Instead he is contesting the Homa-Bay County Senate seat.

Fears and discontent persist in many constituencies that many aspirants for the various elective seats within the County governance, parliament, senate, governorship and county ward representatives could be locked out of the race during the ODM nominations exercises, which are known not to be free and fair.

Such fears still persist despite the repeated assurances given by the party leader Raila Odinga that ODM nominations will be free and fair.Many aspirants are suspicious that the nomination certificates will be issued through the back door, and that certain individuals earmarked as favored candidate could get their clearance certificates from the back door.

He recent power-sharing arrangement between the Luos and Kuria communities in Migori County has fueled such fear because the majority of the would be candidates have made it clear that they have never heard of the negotiated democracy, and have urged the ODN leadership to allowed those who have spent enormous resources in the campaign to go into the ballot boxes with their opponents instead of what they termed as ”primitive and unworkable negotiated democxracy”.

It appears as if the contest for the highly valued Homa-Bay Senate seat would be a two horse-race between Kajwang’ and the youthful Alila.

JKajwang’s fears aroused from the trip made by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga to Ndhiwa constituency during the recently conclude by-election to fill the vacant Ndhiwa seat left by the death of the former incumbent the late Joshua Orwa Ojode.

During the tour, the Prime Minister flew in one chopper with Alila and later traversed the full length width of the expansive Ndhiwa constituency, an act which sparked a lot of rumors and speculation the local immediately went into high notch of rumor that Alila is the favorite aspirant for the Homa–Bay Senate seat.

It got worse for Kajwang’ when Alila appeared at the controversial ODM Mashinani rally held in Homa-Bay town.He was mobbed by the enthusiastic crowd and given an arousing ovation and praise. The meeting was convened by Kajwang’ in his capacity as the chairman of the ODM Homa-Bay County branch.Other MPs who attended the rally included Eng James Rege {Karachuonyoi} Joseph Oyugi Magwanbga {Kasipul-Kabondo} and Martin OItieno Ogindo {Rangwe} The nominated M P Millie Odhiambo attended the meeting briefly, but only after the fracas in which scores of people sustain knives wounds and other bodily injuries.

From the looks of things Otieno Kajwang’ appeared to have been scared by the standing ovation that greeted the arrival of his challenger Hilary Alila whom also addressed the rally and urged the voters to go for the energetic and youthful aspirants.

The Homa-ay is covering the widest area which included seven parliamentary constituencies, which included Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe Karachuonyo, Homa-Bay Town, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul.

After the Ndhiwa tour by Raila Odinga in the company of Alila the rumor-mongers went into full gear spreading that Alila is the most favorite candidate by “Jakom’, But so far Kajwang’ has had no chance of clearing the waves of this miking it appear credible of rumors and speculation leaving the room for the voters to make their own intelligence guesswork.

However, a good number of ODM leaders who attended the rowdy Mashinani rally in Homa-Bay town last month which ended in scor of people being injured with knives stabs and other missiles, have pointed an accusing fingers at the police force in the region accusing the security personel of laxityand complacency.

So far no arrest has been made despite the fact that many people recorded statement with the police, and even those who had sustained serious bodily harm have given their version of statement to the police. Other sources have it that the Homa-Bay police have sent signal to the police in Rachuonyo South district asking them to arrest and escort the suspect back to Homa-Bay to face criminal charges, but to no avail.

Kenya & Tanzania: Massai issued a threat to block tourist from accessing Serengerti park and Ngorongoro World Heritage Site

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Maasai pastralist community living in the Northern Tanzanian region of Arusha has issued the government with ultimatum to either supply its starving members with free food or else it would block tourists from accessing the famous Serengeti national game park and the adjacent Ngorongoro World Heritage site.

The community has accused the Tanzanian government of reneging on an agreement and pushing its people into starvation.

The community, which is spread across the Tanzania-Kenya borders with half of its people living on the Kenyan side while another half on the Tanzanian side has given the Tanzanian government until December 22 to start issuing its members with free food as stipulated in the Ngorongoro agreement or allow them to cultivate the game park land and conduct farming therein.

The Northern Tourists Circuit comprises the world renowned Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Manyara and Tarangire National Parks, which accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s annual tourism earning estimated at USD 1.3 BILLION.

According to the pastoralist community leaders, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority {GCAA} has failed to provide for the community.This failure has resulted in the deaths of three children from starvation and hunger.

The NCAA is legally bound to take care of the |Maasai patoralist population living within the conservation area in order to protect the wildlife and other natural resources.

He community says it will block tourists from accessing the parks to pressure the government to honor its part of the deal, or allow its people to cultivate the land in the parks and conduct farming activities therein.

The Maasai said the would turn the tourist circuit into a no-go zone for tourists during this Christmas season.

He ultimatum was issued last week by the secretary of the Ngorngoro Pastoralist Committee .Lazaro Saitoti who said that the government must immediately supply the community with 9000 tons of emergency food grains.n addition to the NCAA giving the pastoralist community the sums of USD 9,375 million,which is equivalent to 30 per cent of the NCAAtuoirst collection of USD 5,215 million,up from the current USD 812,200 million.

The committee protect the interests of the 64,000members of the Maasai community living within the Ngorongoro Conservation area.

Other demands by the Maasai contained in the statement is that none members of the community living in the area be forcefully evicted from the protected areas..

Further demands were that hotels and lodges operating within the conservancy areas should give the community the lion’s share in terms of employment opportunities.

The community is also demanding for three representatives on the NCAA board. Currently the board has only one member from the community. They also wanted to be assured of the political goodwill to develop the community along with its neighbors

The Ngorongoro member of parliament Kaika Sabubg’o Telele warned that the community threat to block the access to the famous tourist attraction sceneries was serious and things could get out of hand unless the government take the quickest action to address the problem.

IN the MP’s view, the delay in supplying food May be a calculated move to frustrate the indigenous Maasai to leave the NCAA and find places to stay away from the conservation zones.

A senior govern ment official, however, dismissed the threat as politically motivated and asked the community to channel its case through the right channel to register their complaints.

ends

EXPERTS HAVE WARNED THAT THE NILE PERCH LAKE VICTORIA FISH STOCK IS DWINDLING TO THE POINT OF FACING EXTINCTION.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu

Lake Victoria the world’s second largest inland water mass is rapidly losing its fish stock. The worse affected is the economically prized Nile Perch species.

According to the information contained in statistics compiled from various fish landing beaches on the Kenyan side of the lake, the Nile Perch, which is commonly known as “Mbuta”, is an asset to the country because Kenya export tones of its fillets to the European, Japan, US and Israel markets.

The statistics are backed up by a study report by the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute {KMFRU}. Nile Perch species stocks in the lake has reduced to 34 per cent.

Mbuta was among many alien species of fish introduced into Lake Victoria in 1950s by the British colonial authorities to boost its economic benefits, but this has turned to be unsustainable in the long term since the lake ‘s ecological function and ecosystem suffer from elements beyond its boundaries.

According to the research, 49 per cent of Nile Perch is harvested before it reaches maturity stage, thereby interfering with the reproduction process.

A mature Nile Perch weights over 200kgs and is more than six feet long; but the KMFRI study says fishermen do not let the fish grow to this size. The Nile Perch is also a predator that dominates its surrounding and feeds on other fish as well as its own offspring.

KMFRI researcher Simon Agembe was recently quoted as saying that due to reduced fish yields, reducing biodiversity and water borne diseases, the livelihood and well being of more than 40 million people who depended on the lake’s resources, remains at risk.

Dr Agembe said if the fishing is not regulated, stocks of other species like dagaa {Omena} is likely to decline since fishermen are piling pressure on them.

Dagaa’s decline stands at 54 per cent. The study recommends that the government puts measures that will protect Nile Perch and other species in place.

The study proposed the protection of breeding areas and introduction of an alternative source of food in the lake region and income for fishermen to reduce the pressure on the lake.

Expert attribute the deflation of fish stocks in Lake Victoria to over-fishing, the use of unlawful and wrong fishing gears such as fish nets, the illegal use of chemicals which kills fish in their thousands, .

Fishermen and villagers around Luanda Koteno in Rarieda district were recently reported to have cornered and killed one fisherman who was caught red-handed while using chemicals at night in this way.\

A good number of youths, who are suspected to have lynched the fisherman they found using chemicals on fish, were later rounded up and charged with the murder in a Kisumu court., But the use of chemicals on fish is said to be still on the upsurge.

Ends

KENYA: THE HOME BAY COUNTY GOVERNOR ASPIRANT CYPRIAN AWITI RETURNS AND HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AFTER TAKING A TWO MONTHS SABABATICAL LEAVE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

Cyprian Otieno Awiti who is the leading contender for the elective position of Homa-Bay County governor last week made a surprise visit to the region to resume his campaign for the lucrative and powe4rful position of the County governor.

Awiti a former Marie Stoppie Country director has kept a low profile for close to three months sparking off speculation that he had withdrawn his candidature.

But last weekend the candidate hit the ground with thud like a thunderstorm and traversed the full length and width of Homa-Bay County while meeting the people, addressing roads side rallies.

Awiti told the voters at the numerous roadside addresses that he had taken a two months sabbatical leave and gave a break to the campaign trail n order to re-organize his campaign team and at the same time new contacts with his supporters in all the seven parliamentary constituencies.

He began his tour with a tour of Rusinga Island in the Suba region where he had attended the colorful opening ceremony of the multi-million shillings ultra-modern SDA Church at Gunda Kaswanga.

He later toured Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachunyo, Kasipul and wound the tour with the visit to the newly created parliamentary constituency of Kabondo-Kasipul while addressing small meetings here and there as well as ins0ecting the numerous socio-economic projects which he had been supporting

The populist Awiti warned his rival for the seat to get prepared well for a bruising election campaign battle, which he termed “will be the mother of all campaign s ever seen in the region.”

He told his rivals to strictly adhere to the ODM doctrine of non-violence campaign. At the same time he urged the voters to register as voters in their thousands so that they could vote for the party leader Raila Odinga to realize his State House ambition. But also to remember to vote for him to enable capture the County’s governorship.

Before he started his extensive tour of the region rumor had gone ahead that he was heavily armed with millions of campaign money, thus attracting hundred of people who scrambled to have a glimpse of him wherever he stopped to greet the electorate.

In his native Karachuonyo Awiti visited all the major sub-clans and villages to consult with the elders, women and youths leaders. Some of his meeting with the villagers went up to late in the evening only coming to an end at around 9 P.M. In some places he was forced the car headlights after dark, but he continued talking to the voters.

Awiti is credited and well documented for having spent millions of shillings in donations to various projects across Homa-Bay County. He is on record of being one person who has conducted more Harambee across the County than any other leaders in the expansive region.

He is facing two challengers, one of his rivals for the same seat them being the immediate former MP for Rangwe Eng.Philip Okundi, and a Maseno University professor of mathematics Prof.Akeyo Omolo.

Okundi is, however, disadvantaged by his advanced age as well as recent removal from the powerful ODM Board of elections where he performed dismally causing the ODM to lose out to other parties in series of parliamentary and civic by-elections due to much flawed and poorly organized nominations exercises.

Ends

THE CHANCES OF KENYA JOINING THE LEAGUES OF THE AFRICAN OIL PRODUCING NATIONS IS BOOSTED BY THE DISCOVERY OF THE SECOND OIL WELL BY THE TULLOW OIL PLC.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya, an African nation whose economic mainstay has for many year depended largely on agriculture with no sign of mineral resources is now edged close to joining the league of the oil producing nations following the latest announcement made by the Tullow, the British oil exploration company that it has made more discovery of substantial oil deposits at a second well in the Northern part of the country.

Long regarded by the big explorers, as frontier market, the second discovery by Tullow is now expected to generate ever greater interest in oil exploration in the country-even as companies are expected to start drilling early next year.

Tullow said in a statement that the discovery was made following successful drilling of the new well to the intended depth of 3,250 meters.

According to the announcement the well also holds potential for more oil that will be established once the planned testing to determine the exact amounts of oil in the well is complete. The tests are scheduled to take place in the next two months.

The British oil firm announced that the Twiga South-1 exploration well has encountered 30 meters of neat oil pay with further potential to be assessed on test. A series of flow tests will now be conducted on the well over the 4-8 weeks’” read Tullow’s statement in part.

While making the announcement, the company also said that it will be going back to its first well,Ngamia-1 located on Block 10818 in Turkana County where it made its first discovery in March this year, f to carry out tests in order to establish the quantities of deposits at the well.

Drilling at the Ngamia-1 well was suspended mid this year following what the oil exploration firm Tullow PLC termed as an encounter with an unexpected rock, structure that prevented further drilling at the well.

At the time of the suspension, Tullow announced that it had encountered 143 meters of net oil pay at the well with data indicating that the well could be holding more potential should it b dug to the full depth.

So far Tullow Oil Plc has drilled three wells in Kenya including the Paipai well located on Block 10A whose results are expected by the end of the year. Of the three, two have ended up in discovery.

Since the March announcement that Kenya had struck oil, the country’s oil exploration space have generated interest from leading international oil exploration firms with the data from the Ministry of Energy showing that all the 47 blocks have already been licensed to the various exploration companies.

The demand for licenses to explore in the local oil blocks has also been accelerated by the announcement of a discovery of natural gas in Block 1.8 in Lamu Basin by Apache Corporation which operates the block jointly with Origin Energy Pan-continental Oil and Gas and Tullow Kenya B.V.

However, in just 24 hours after making the announcement, Apache Corp came under the spotlight following what the Energy Ministry termed as malpractice in making its discovery public by the failure to adequately brief the government of the natural gas find before making the announcement.

The announcement by Tullow earlier this week now placed Kenya closer to becoming an oil producing nation which is hoped to provide great relief to the strained current a count and ease fuel-based inflation that has thrived as a result of a huge oil import bill.

Meanwhile newspaper reports emerging from the Ugandan capital, Kampala say the future of Tullow Oil Plc in Uganda still hangs in the balance, as the Irish Oil prospecting firm is reported widely to be temporarily frustrated by the lack of progress on arriving at “a final investment decision” about whether to build an oil pipeline or a refinery.

As senior company official was last week quoted by the newspaper as saying “ Our program for appraisals is complete and the development mean we either pump crude oil or refine it, so there is currently not much work in the field.”

Despite the company’s overall spokesman George Casenove stating in an e-mail response that “Tullow is not planning to exit Uganda and has stated repeatedly that it is committed to Uganda for the longer term,” several well placed sources in the oil industry say the lack of movement on the issue is causing the company to internally consider its exit options, reported the influential Nairobi based weekly publication, the EASTAFRICAN.

‘This is informed by the protracted nature of the disagreement between the oil companies and the government of Uganda on whether crude of refined products are the best way to commercialise oil production in Uganda”, the paper adds.

“Unlike the two other oil companies in Uganda-France’s total and China’s CNOOC, both giants – Tullow does not have the financial resources to play out a prolonged waiting game. According to its interim management statement released on November 14, Tullow says together with its partners, it has presented ‘a joint development plan” to President Museveni. This plan was presented in July, almost four months ago. This plan emphasizes a crude-pipeline option while the Ugandan government prefers a medium sized refinery to begin with..

Consequently, no tangible agreement has been reached ‘We can’t agree on anything,” a senior official of Tullow Oil who requested for his anonymity said.

Other sources the Ugandan capital is a buzz with the word that the industry players have put together a rebuttal of the official document that the Uganda government is relying on in pursuing its refinery option.

Ends

KENYA: BISHOP OGONYO DENIES ENDORSING NYAGUDI

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By Chak Rachar

A SECTION of Clergy from Nyanza region has refuted claims that they have endorsed a Parliamentary aspirant eyeing the newly created Kisumu Central Constituency seat.

Led by the chairman of the Nyanza Council of Church leaders Bishop Dr. Washington Ngede, the bishops said they only conducted prayers during a breakfast meeting held in Kisumu early this week for Ken Nyagudi who has declared his interest in Kisumu Central.

They said their work is not to endorse any politician for any elective post but to pray for all of them whenever they seek divine intervention from the clergy.

They were reacting to media reports that appeared in a section of the local dailies that they met Ken Nyagudi, an aspiring MP for Kisumu Central Constituency early this week where they endorsed his candidature for the seat.

A section of aspirants for the same seat has taken issues with the Bishops and have since condemned the alleged endorsement of Nyagudi.

But the bishops maintained that they have conducted similar prayers for various politicians who are garnering for different seats within and outside Kisumu County but have never endorsed anyone at any time.

The Chairman who was accompanied by his Vice Chair Bishop Julius Otieno said they are expected to be neutral and will not support any politicians for any seat only to offer prayers for them whenever need arise.

“We have prayed for various politicians who have sought for divine intervention and never at any point have we endorsed any of them aspiring for political seat as this is not our duty as the clergy,” they said.

The clergy at the same time appealed to the government to recognize the various contributions the religious bodies have made towards the progress in peace-building initiatives, adding that it should strengthen the strategic partnerships with religious bodies.

ENDS:

Kenya: Wildlife / human conflict continues umabayed as the mysterious beast kills 20 livestock while hippo devoured fishermen in Lake Victoria

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Write Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

LIVESTOCK farmers in the North Rift district of Nandi are having counting losses after a yet to be identified wild animal attacked their stock during dead hours of the night.

More than ten local farmers at Chepterit and Tukon villages in Nandi Central district have reported that several of their goats and sheep had been killed by a wild animal.

The mysterious animal has also attacked more than ten cattle by biting off their tails. Two local farmers who are among the affected farmers said their individual losses were amounting to over Khs 200,000.

Mr Abraham Kago and Mrs Rose and Mr Wesley Saina told the newsmen that the animal, which has been roaming the villages for the last two weeks, had killed a total of ten sheep, three goats and two cows.

The mysterious attack the livestock at night by breaking into livestock shed and biting the throats of sheep and goats. It only sucks blood and leaves the carcasses,“ said Mr Kago.

The farmers said that attempt to hunt for the mysterious for the mysterious animal and kill it have been futile despite assistance from the Kenya Wild life Services [KWS} game wardens an rangers.” Even though we have been working I hand with KWS officers, we have not succeeded because the armed game warden just avail themselves during the day when the beat is hiding,”added Mr Kago.

The game warden in-charge in Nandi County Joel Kanda could no be reached on phone of Central Nandi County. However a local source that KWS men were there on the ground hunting down the mysterious beast.

This incident came barely three months after Tsavo cat attacked livestock in the neighboring Ndalat location in Nandi North district killing over 30 sheep and goats.

Experts were, however, still analyzing the nature of the latest attack on livestock in Nandi, but could not agree on which type of animals could be responsible. Other says it could be a rogue leopard or wild dogs, but leopard is known not to attack big prey such as cows, but only prey on smaller domestic animals such as sheep.

While in the lakeside town of Bondo about 80 kilometer northwest of here, residents of Usigu Division in Yimbo Kadimo Division, Bondo district within Siaya County residents on Monday this week held demonstrations to protest over rampant incidents of hippo on fishermen working on Lake Victoria fish landing beaches. The demonstrators while carrying twigs and chanting anti-Kenya Wildlife Service slogans, the residents led by one parliamentary aspirant William Abuonji marched to the DC’s office to demand solution to their grievances.

The demonstrators claimed they have lost several relatives to hippo an crocodiles attacks against human being, but KWS had taken no action to protect their people

‘We have lost 20 people in the last three months, but KWS has not even attempted check human wildlife conflict here. We cannot afford to lose more lives,”Said Abuonji.

The number of people who have died due to hippo attack on lake shoreline or beaches along Lake Victoria have increase three times.

The protest followed an incident in which a 40-year old fisherman drowned to the lake last week after his boat was hit and overturned by a rough hippo off Siungu Beach in West Yimo location last Sunday night.Two weeks before that a 20-year old fisherman also died from another hippo attack off the same beach.

In September six people drowned in the lake after their boat was hit by hippo at Goye in Bondo and a week later a father & son died between Misori Beach and Magare Island in the neighboring Rarieda district in similar circumstance.

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Kenya: US president Obama’s half-Kenyan brother is to contest for the position of Siaya County governor

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PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA’S ELDER BROTHER HAS JOINED THE ELECTION RACE FOR THE SIAYA COUNTY GOVERNOR IN DIFFERENT PARTY AND NOT RAILA ODINGA’S ODM

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

INFORMATION emerging from Siaya town, says that the US President Barack Obama half-brother Malik Abong’o Obama is contemplating running for the governor’s election in Siaya County, but on a TNA’s ticket and not as expected to be on Raila Odinga’s ODM party ticket.

This is so despite of the perceived closeness between the Prime Minister of Kenya and the Obama family.

TNA is the party which Raila Odinga’s arch-rival in the Kenya’s presidential race Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta intend to use in his presidential ambition. It has no following in Siaya County and are perceived to be the stronghold of Raila Odinga’s ODM and Obama candidature on a TNA ticket is likely to complicate and even worsen the cordial and warm relations between Raila Odinga and the Obama family.

The report from various sources in Siaya say Malik Obama is among those who are listed as potential TNA’s candidate to contest the lucrative and powerful Siaya County governor seat.

However, Malik Abong’yesterday confirmed that he is in the race, but insisted that he would be running for the post as an independent candidate, but not Uhuru Kenyatta’s party ticket.

“I have never registered myself as a member of TNA nor do I belong to any political party, you are the one now informing me that my name is there, Malik Abong’o told an interviewer.

Malik Obama had made an application to run for the election on a TNA ticket, but his application is still under scrutiny and consideration, a Nairobi publication, the STAR quote senior official of the TNA as saying.

Mali claimed he does not know who who had registered him with TNA, adding that he had many friends everywhere who might have enlisted him .

He added, “ Obviouly I am Obama and people may tend to use my name for their own selfish reason.He told the interviewer. “you can check for my name with the Interim Election Board of Kenya [IEBC] which show that I have never registered in any political party. I also wrote to the registrar’s office saying I a m an independent person,’ he added.

Malik Abongo’ Obama the first born of the late Barrack Hussein Obama was born In 1958 in the Kenya . He studied at the University of Nairobi and graduated with an accountancy degree.

The controversial Malik Obama met his half-brother President Barrack Obama for the first time in 1985 when he flew fro Chicago to Washington DC to see him. The two were best men during each other’s wedding.

He has since then taken more wives and become a polygamous in according to the Muslim belief and doctrine.

He is a frequent visitor to the UD, but runs a small electronic shop at Nyang’oma Trading Cent and also the famous Barrack Obama Guest House I an area adjacent to the same centre on whose roof he has defiantly hoisted the two national flags of Kenya and the US despite the vehement opposition by the local provincial administration and police authorities., which is located next to the Kogelo home of the Obamas.

During the election campaign of president Obama’s second tenure of office, Malik was the principal spokesman of the extended Obama family in Kenya. He said he is willing to work with any other parties if shares its visions, ideals and agenda.

Asked if TNA was such an ideal party, Malik Obama said,” it will depend on the TNA vision for the Country and Siaya County.

He went on,’ I am a public figure and I decide to join any party, I will do so in daylight and invite everyone to witness,”’he said.

None of the TNA top national officials could be reached to confirm or deny that Malik Obama had made an application to contest the Siaya governor position on their party ticket.

But political pundits in Siaya were quick in pointing out that, Malik Abong’o Obama stand very little chance of clinching the pot unless a miracle work

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