Category Archives: HEADLINES

KENYA: SUBA LEADERS IN BOYCOTT OF RAILA ODINGA’S FUNCTION AT THE MAKE-SHIFT NEWLY ESTABLISHED HOME OF MILLIE ODHIAMBO IN LAMBWE VALLEY.

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Writes Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo in Mbita Town.

A cross section of leaders in Suba region of Homa-Bay County on Monday stayed away from a function which was attended by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the make-shift newly established home of the nominated MP Millie Odhiambo in Lambwe Valley .

An account by an eye witness indicated that even the area MP Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ was nowhere to be seen at the function despite of the fat that the Prime Minister was visiting his constituency.

Instead Kajwang’and other local dignitaries had assembled at Magunga district headquarters in Gwassi where they were all waiting to received the PM. Also nowhere to be seen at the function were members of the powerful Suba Council of Elders and Luo Council of Elders whose vice chairman Ex-Senior Chief Omolo-Anditi hails from Mbita constituency.

The nominated MP Millie Odhiambo’s home is in Rusinga Island, but she is married to a Zimbabwean man. And for the purpose of winning the Mbita parliamentary seat during the impending general election she had decided to establish a home within the localty for the purpose of attracting votes.

According to Luo tradition and culture a woman who is married into another community outside her home region is called “Migogo” therefore a woman who is classified as ‘Migogo” has no right to come back to her home of origin and claim political leadership once she is already married into another community. She and her siblings are considered as outsiders and foreigners

For such a woman to come back home and demand the right to contest the election for political leadership is viewed as an insult and total disrespect to her people, particularly her cousins in Waware sub-clan in Rusinga Island Therefore Milie Odhiambo has a daunting task to convince the voters in Mbita to vote for her parliamentary bid. This would be an up-hill task, hence the reason for her hurriedly invitation to Raila Odinga into her make-shift home.

The idea of her building a new home in Lambwe Valley within Mbita constituency so as to dupe the electorate did not go down well with the local politicians who are competing with her for the same seat. He is being treated as foreigners with many claims that even in Zimbabwe there is a parliament there, and that the place where she should go and contest for a parliamentary the election there. It is Zimbabwe where she belongs to and not Mibita, said a civic leader in Mbita town.

Raila flew to Lambwe on Monday morning, and according to some account given by sources presence at the venue, the Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Mrs Ida Odinga, but she is said to have refused to disembark and remained inside the chopper.

After a brief stop-over the PM resumed his flight to Magunga in Gwassi where he was given n arousing welcome by all the Sub region leaders. But Raila arrived there when the word had already reached the local Suba leader’s of the refusal of his wife Mrs Ida Odinga refusal to into a make-shift home of Millie Odhiambo.

A number of the elders interviewed heaped a lot of praise to Mrs Ida Odinga saying that by the Prime Minister visiting the make-shift home of the nomination MP he had stooped low and that in according to the norms, tradition and cultural virtues of the Luos the Prime Minister should have only gone thereto open a new house and not to grace the empty ground for political mileage.

Ms Odhiambo earned an accusation of misusing Raila to intimidate and bull-dose her opponents in the Mbita contest.

Such a make-shift home is called “Ligala” in the Luo vernacular and it is not a place worth a visit by a person of Raila Odinga caliber and status.

Milllie Odhiambo is a staunch supporter of the Prime Minister, but the visit to her still a bush site where she intended to put up her permanent home in the future world not augur well with the four other ODM members who are locked up in the stiffest election battle with Millie Odhiambo.

The ODM boss who has repeatedly said that this time around nobody would enjoy his political patronage during the forthcoming general election an each and every aspirant must get prepared to sort out his or her problems with the voters is viewed as having gone to Lambwe to offer the biased support toms Odhiambo. In the opposite Millie Odhiambo might have have hatched an idea of inviting the Prime Minister into the site of her still bush home for the purpose of intimidating her opponents in the Mbita seat contest.

The issue is likely to impact negatively and adversely during her election campaign because her rivals have said they will use the visit as an attempt to intimidate and scare them away that she is too powerful and invisible.

“Whoever had invited the Prime Minister to that function had the ulterior motive to reduce his status.’,said one Suba elder who scathingly criticized the PM’s handlers for the incident.

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Kenya: KCA Launches Journalists Training and Mentorship Project

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By Dickens Wasonga reporting from Coast.

The Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) has launched a media training and mentorship project for journalists based in the Coast Region of Kenya to enhance issue focused, in-depth and fair reporting of issues affecting the region.

The initiative is meant to build the capacity and sharpen the skills of journalists based in the region to adopt a more investigative and analytical approach to reporting about a number of key issues that have lately dominated the media and national attention from the region.

The Coast Region, which has enjoyed peace as a tourist hub, has in the recent past witnessed flare-up of conflicts, some between communities over land and pasture, mostly in Tana River Delta and between the state and the loyalists supporting a militant secessionist group calling itself Mombasa Republican Council (MRC).

The group has taken up the case of advocacy over the claims of historical marginalization of the region and the land problems to new levels, often sparking off violent confrontation with security personnel that have been cracking on its supporters.

The MRC saga remains clouded in sensational media reports with reports that some of the group’s leaders have been involved in oath taking, calls for boycott of registration of voters, and attempts at secession from Kenya based on the per-independence ties with the Sultan of Zanzibar who for centuries ruled a 10 mile strip of the Kenyan coast.

In both the Tana River and MRC cases, hundreds of people have been killed, property destroyed and scores of people displaced.

Media reporting of these issues has been based on the voices of a few dominant voices including government officials, political and religious leaders and a few leaders of the MRC.

The KCA initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of journalists to do more investigation into some of these issues and offer opportunity to more diverse voices to speak out on the issues, particularly the social, economic and the political impact of the conflicts on the ordinary people, particularly the women, children and the elderly and on the tourist based economy of the region.

There have also been claims of biased, inaccurate and sensational media coverage that has led to a picture of the Coast Region being unsafe for investors and tourists and looming possibilities of religious, ethnic and other sectarian conflicts ahead of the March 2013 General Elections.

The project, which is supported by the Kenya Transitional Initiative (KTI)/United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was formally launched at a Stakeholders Planning Meeting in Mombasa on Friday last week at event which brought together journalists and representative of local stakeholder groups.

“ We hope to enhance a sustained in-depth and a more responsible media coverage of the key issues in the region by offering space to more voices and focusing on the benefits inherent in the timely and faithful implementation of the new constitution which promises solutions to some of these problems,” said Oloo Janak, KCA Chairman during the launch.

Under the project, 20 journalists drawn from different media channels based in the Coast Region will be taken through a short intense training and there-after, months of mentorship to build the requisite skills on the job.

The Project will be implemented through various strategies and stages and will involve active and regular media engagement with leaders and other stakeholders in the region aimed at generating credible, fair and reform oriented media reports.

END.

Kenya: Atwoli appeals for peaceful polls

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BY JEFF OTIENO.

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has appealed to all Presidential aspirants to embrace duologue and tolerance as the General Elections approaches the corner.

He applauded the prevailing gestures of negotiations or alliances bid by leaders across the political divide but further urged that it should be all inclusive.

“In order for the country to remain peaceful and united we should engage each other positively and not appear to be side lining other leaders or else we risk going back to the previous 2007 election scenario”, he said.

Atwoli was speaking to the press when he went to register as a voter in his rural home at Ebukwala pri School Kwishero constituency. He urged voters to register in large numbers a head of march 4th elections.

Atwoli further lauded President Mwai Kibaki statesmanship and development track record during his tenure and urged his would be successor to follow suit.

On the recent formation of a rival trade union-Pesatu to clip the wings of Cotu Atwoli said that the scheme which was hatched by two corrupt government ministers he declined to mention is doomed to fail. He said that some two union officials names with held were the ministers side kicks and one of them was recently bought a house worth staggering millions in the leafy suburbs of Nairobi in obvious circumstances.

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KENYA: KISUMU TEACHERS APPEAL TO POLICE BOSS ITEERE

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By Our Reporter

Two Kisumu based teachers are appealing to the Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere to help them get justice through arresting and persecution of two Mwalimu Sacco officials Chairman Dan Omotto and Committee Member Sande Ochieng’ whom they said obtained money from them in the guise selling for them the said Sacco plots which they have not got after six months.

The teachers Dan Owino Nyakwaka and Everline Anyangop Dero while speaking in Kisumu said they each paid the duo kshs 800,000 each and that their attempts to bring the two culprits to book have been thwarted by some junior CID officers based at the Kisumu DCIO office.

“We have recorded statements and even brought all the documents the said detectives wanted and surprisingly they have done nothing and anytime we make enquiries they say that they are still hunting for the duo” they lamented,.

They expressed shock that one of the CID officers who were investigating the matter told them that Omotto and Sande were ready to refund them their money in installments and wondered if arbitration is the role of the police.

“We opted to follow the law because we could reach any form of compromise, how is it then a man who should be neutral in the issue is calling for arbitration?” they wondered.

They are calling on Mr Iteere to instruct Nyanza CID boss Joseph Mugwanja to look into there issue and necessary legal action be taken.

“We might not be left with any other option but take law into our hands” thy threatened.

Contacted both Omotto and Sande wondered why the aggrieved teachers opted to go to the press.

“Why are they coming to you yet we have pleaded with them that an amicable solution can be reached through dialogue?” they wondered

KENYA: NYANDO MP’s CHIEF FINANCIERS JOINS HIS RIVAL.

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By Our Reporter

The political woes facing Nyando MP Fred Outa deepened further last week when one of his leading fanciers who were responsible for his winning the seat promised to support his leading opponent Thomas Ouya “Kalausi”

Addressing the press in Kisumu ,the duo Dr.Samuel Oron who is accredited with various charitable organizations within Kisumu County and Victor Ochieng;”Jakochoggo who is a businessman based in Kisumu said that they were listening to the voice of Nyando resients who have pleaded with them to support ouya.

“We are businessmen who have one leg in politics and the other in business, so if the people we depend on for our business survival makes a request to us then we have to adhere and respect their wishes” they added.

Dr.Oron said that the area voters have lost confidence in their area MP and there continued support for him would be in vain.

“They claim that the MP wanted to have Prison build within the area and his contemptuous attitude towards them,when we asked them whom they would wish us to support, the chorused that we back Ouya” read there statement.

For the ODM to win the next election it must weed out political thuggery and excessive use of hired goons

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

WITHIN the brief spell of two months, there have been serious incidents involving violent disruption of public gatherings either at funeral homes or political rallies inside Luo-Nyanza.

This is the region where the ODM arguably has the largest following and support. Of course there are no any other competing political parties, which are rivaling the ODM in this region to warrant such magnitude of violence

However, all these incidents involving breach of peace and tranquility are all pointing to the direction of the shape of things to come during the impending general election schedule for March 4, 2013.

What happened at Homa-Bay Town last weekend was the most shameful act of lawlessness and political thuggery, which the ODM leadership must urgently brainstorm together and make the concerted effort to weed out such unbecoming behaviors of its leaders at branches levels, supporters and MPs included before the situation got out of hands or before precious lives are lost.

The Homa-Bay rally last Sunday was called for the purpose of “Mashinani Campaign” for the popularization of party leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid in the next year. Presidential election slated for Mach 4,2013.

A similar meeting was held in Kisumu City last Saturday at a field next to the ODM offices, located next t0 Tuskies Supermarket It ended peacefully and all the delegates from the entire Kisumu County who attended the meeting dispersed and went home peacefully.

Instead of campaigning to popularizing the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Home-Bay rally was turned into the battle ground in which crude weapons such as knives were used causing bodily injuries to score of unspecified numbers of people who went home while nursing their wounds.

Within a brief spell of time and within the last two months, there have been several incidents in which VIP were forced to fled the venue of public functions either funeral gatherings or political rallies as the result of skirmishes and disruptions caused by hired political goons.

These incidence could be chronicled as follows; A man was spotted flushing a sharpened machete [panga] at a political campaign addressed by the Finance Assistant Minister Dr.Oburu Oginga in Siaya town

The Ministers body guards and supporters wrestled the man to the ground disarmed him .He was arrested and taken into police custody. But within minutes another gang of nine drunken goons emerged and made an abortive attempt to storm the police station with the aims of freeing their friend who had been taken into custody there causing anther commotion in which the police applied full force and overcome the youth who were numbering nine and took them into custody

At Kolwa East Ward within Kisumu Muncipality, the ODM MP for Kisumu Town East Shakeel Ahmed Shabbir caused another commotion at funeral church service, The MP’s security details drew their guns while the other mourners were struggling with the MP and trying to force back to his car.

During the commotion the gun rang and one youth was hit in the leg by a stray bullet. It was not clear as to whether the bullet had been fired by one of the MP’s armed security guards or the bullet went off accidentally during the commotion. The bullet which was lodged in the victim body or two days was later remove at the New Nyanza General Hospital following a surgery operations carried out by Dr. Otieno Obondi

The MP has since fiercely denied that any shooting occurred as the result of the commotion caused by him, though several eye witnesses have confirmed the incident. So far n arrest has been made, though the doctor has kept the bullet which he had removed from the youth’s body in safe custody in case it is needed as an exhibit in court. All this are pointing out to the laxity and complacency on the part of the forces of law reinforcement in the region.

,In the same month the Education Assistant Minister Prof.Patrick Ayiecho Olueny, was forced out of a funeral home where other mourners also took to their heels and scampered in all directions for their dear lives.

The Minister who is also the MP for Muhoroni had gone to attend the burial of the brother of the chairman of Nyando County Council Samuel Onyango Ong’ou in Wang’aya Location within Kisumu County.This area falls under Muhoroni constituency.

The trouble stated after the triumphant arrival of the populist aspirant for Muhoroni James Onyango K’Oyoo who was accompanied by close to 300 youths almost bringing the burial ceremony to a standstill. The MP made futile attempt to calm the situation, but in vain and sensing the danger that the situation could get out of hand also fled the venue followed by his armed body guards amid hails of stones.

In all these incidences, nobody has so far appeared before any court of law to answer criminal charge of causing disturbances in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace. And all these are pointing at the laxity and complacency on the part of the forces of the la reinforcement operating in Nyanza region.

Back to the last Sunday ugly incident which took place at Homa-Bay town, the conveners of the rally stands blamed for poor organization and lack foresight in that they allowed the otherwise and become platform for the introduction of aspirants vying for the various elective positions with the County governance, parliament, Senatorial and governorship as well as civic County Wards

The party leaders in the Homa-County branch who were the joint convener of the meeting had allowed the “ODM Mashinani Campaign’ rally to be used by aspirant vying for the various elective positions as their platform deviating from the original agenda of the meeting, which was mainly and specifically to campaign for Raila Odinga presidential bid.

It also exposed a lot of weaknesses within the party leadership at the grass root structures. There are still many disputes involving the various grass root leadership which have remained unresolved for years. This is what caused the skirmishes at the VIP dais, and started exchanging fists blows.

The two constituencies of Kabondo-Kasipul and Kasipul send two school buses full of youths estimated to be numbering about 150,000 while five other constituencies posted eight delegates each.

The two school buses, one from Wang’apala High School In Kabondo and other from Nyang’iela secondary school I West Kasipul ferried the youths from Oyugis to Homa-Bay. Other had travelled in the CDF van and in a four-wheel drive second hand Pajero van owned by the area MP Joseph Oyugi Magwanga and machetes and other crude weapons. In some account of eye witnesses the group of youths who travelled from Oyugis town to Homa-Bay Town were heard singing war-mongering songs as the uses snaked through Rangwe, Rodi Kopany and to Homa-Bay Town.

And as if the commotion and skirmishes a Home-bay were not enough, the group drove back to Oyugis and immediately launched a full scale hunt for the people they perceived to mall cafeteria owned by one of the potential opponent hey were on a mission hunting do those opposed to the MP’s leadership for the owner of the cafeteria.

The general elections are still five months away, and if the ODM could allow political thuggery of this magnitude in its stronghold area where there is stiff opposition, then this could plunge the country into a distasteful condition of mayhem and anarchy.

There are several dangerous spots inside Luo-Nyanza and Rachuonyo South, particularly in the newly created constituency of Kabondo Kasipul and the older electoral area of Kasipul. Hundreds of goons are roaming menacingly in Oyugis town and its environs.

ODM need to crack its whip and ensure that those its leaders who are conducting the war-like political activities thereby endangering the lives of innocent citizens are banned and barred from contesting the election on its ticket.

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South Sudan bid to join the regional trading bloc is to be deliberated upon in Nairobi by regional leaders late this month

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Africa’s newest independence state of South Sudan’s bid to join the regional trading bloc will feature prominently at this year’s final East African Community Council of Minister meeting that kicks off in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi from November 19 – to 24.

The decision the Council of Ministers make will then be presented to the Heads of State Summit slated for November 28 in the same venue.

During the last extraordinary summit held in Tanzania in April, the heads of state directed the Council of Ministers to come up with a verification report by November regarding South Sudan request to join the regional bloc.

The presidents had expressed concern about the then conflict between the newly independent South Sudan and its former rule from the north, the Sudan, and urged leaders of the two countries to return to the negotiating table for a peaceful resolution.

According to an article, which is appearing in the current issue of the influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN, Tanzania is expected to give its final decision on the admissibility of South Sudan to the EAC following its request in the last Council of Ministers held in Bujumbura in August, that it needed more time for consultation.

Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya gave their consent based on the EAC Verification Committee Report presented to them earlier.

Among the issues that guided their decision are that south Sudan had established mechanisms for ratifications, the and access to international treaties, the country had acceded to UN and AU charters, it had also has been admitted to several regional and international organizations such as IGAD, Nile Basin Initiative and UNESCO.

The heads of states will also be required to make a decision on the jurisdiction 0f the E.A Court of Justice to cover, among others crimes against humanity.

The E.AC J’s extension of jurisdiction came up following pressure piled on Kenya early in the year not to allow four of its citizens facing charges for crimes against humanity to be tried before the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

The heads of states then ordered that the treaty establishing the E.A.J be amended an d that EAC Council of Ministers considers the matter and present the report at the Summit.

They will also be required to make a final ruling on proposals to setup a single customs territory in the region, a common external tariff structure and rules at origin in the community.

Also other related reports originating from the EAC secretariat in Arusha says that Tanzania face regional protest over its proposal to amend the East African Community Treaty. The member state is seeking to overhaul the regional body’s lawmaking process.

The Tanzanian government has been pushing to broaden the role of the EAC Council of Ministers as representatives of partner states in the Community’s legislative process.It also wants the provision that empowers the Council to initiate and submit Bills to the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA] amended.

Tanzania wants the Council to be allowed to approve Bills together with EALA. The proposed amendments first moved in January, have sharply divided an EAC member state which further complicates the region’s integration process.

The Tanzanian government also wants the Council a role created in the regional law-making process for national parliaments. This change would see a Bill introduced to EALA also sent clerks to the national assemblies of partner states for deliberations. The national assemblies shall within a period of three months provide their comments through the clerk, who will then table them before EALA and the Council of Ministers for consideration.

Sources in Arusha say Tanzania’s contentious proposal have divided the partner states into three groups; Rwanda and Burundi are against the proposal, Uganda is partly in support of the move, while Kenya has been silent on the matter.

Rwanda’s Minister for EAC Affairs Monica Mukuruliza said her country does not support Tanzania’s proposals.He Tanzanian counter-part Samuel Sitta defended the proposal, arguing that they would provide for a more workable mechanism where the process of initialing private members Bill becomes more consultative.

”Our idea is not to trim the powers of EALA as is widely misunderstood, but rather to make the process of initialing Bills more consultative would, which would minimize the number of Bills not being assented by E.A.C heads of states,’’ said Minister Sitta.

Critics say Tanzania proposal could cripple the separation of powers among EAC organs. ”The proposals, if passed, would defeat the very proposals of having, EALA as a regional lawmaking body as it would basically become a rubber stamp for the Council’s decisions.” The bid as a direct assault on EALA’s only arena of original and exclusive jurisdiction.

The proposed amendments have prompted EALA to pass a resolution asking EAC member states to reject Tanzania’s proposals. Such a move would fetter the independence of the assembly and in effect sends a negative signal to the community,”said EALA to pass from Rwanda Patricia Hajabakiga.

Ganda said national assemblies should not be involved in the EAC legislative e process.

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Kenya: Awiti is endorsed by Karachuonyo elders to contest the powerful position of Homa-Bay County governor

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kendu-Bay Town.

The charismatic former Marie Stopie County director Cyprian Otieno Awiti was last weekend unanimously endorse to contest the lucrative and powerful elective position of the Homa-County governor by over 30 elders representing all major sub-clan in Karahuonyo constituency.

The meeting took place last Friday night inside one of the posh hotels in Kendu Bay town. In attendance were over 30 elders representing major sub-clans within Karachuonyo constituency, Rachuonyo North district within Homa-Bay County Major sub-clans represented at the meeting were Konyango, Kanyaluo, Kanyipir, Kakidhimu, Kanam, Kanjira, kanyipir, Kauma, Kotieno, Kogweno, Kogweno-Kobala, Kajiei, Kakwajuok, Karabondi,Wagwe, Kokoth ,Kanjiraand Kawadhigone.

The tentative meeting which started late in the night at about 10 P.M lasted for the whole night ending at about 5 A.M.

The elder said in a statement t the end of the meeting that their action was a good gesture and response in recognition of Awiti’s selfishlessness and massive contributions towards numerous socio-economic development projects within Karachuonyo and beyond.

Awiti is credited as one person who has been traversing the entire Luo-Nyanza while making hefty cash donations for the improvement of educational facilities, health centers and dispensaries, churches, women and youth groups.

Awiti hails from the Eastern part of Karachuonyo constituency in Kobuya sub-clan which is a member of the most populous and influential clan called Kadwet clan, whose members occupies the most part of Central and Eastern Karachuonyo constituency in Rachuonyo North district.

The elders said their action was in line with the famous oldage saying that goes that “Charity Begins at Home””If it was our own wish Awiti should have been elected to be the first governor of the Homa-Bay County under the new constitutional dispensations. He deserves the job taking into account his vast managerial experience and ability’ said Ker Nyandiko Ongadi.

A staunch member of the Roman Catholic church, which is enjoying the largest following in areas like Rangwe, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and parts of Western and Eastern Kasipul constituency in Rachuonyo South district. ,

Awiti who has worked closely with the church by promoting its activities and church sponsored projects would be difficult and near impossible and perhaps an up-hill task for anyone of those characters challenging for the seat to beat him at the polls.

Going by the arithmetic of voters registration in which the Kasipul-Kabondo had slightly over 65,000 registered voters while the neighboring Karachuonyo constituency had more than 55,000 registered voters, this indicated that the whole for Rachuonyo region had about 115 registered voter. This number is expected to swell upward to about 150,000 as the result of the registrations of voters with new on-going registration exercise for the youths with the new generations national identity cards.

This figure could give twice more than voters expected to be register in all other five parliamentary constituencies that forms the part of the expansive Homa-Bay County. The constituencies include Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe and Homa-Bay Township.

The figures shown above would give Awiti the head-tart and with the majority of voters in Rachuonyo region behind him, the outcome would therefore be in favor of Awiti who is likely to carry the day.

Awiti’s main challenger Phillip Okundi could also be banking on marshaling the support of the two larger sub-clans among the groups that alias themselves Joka-Nyang’ur, which is grouping together the resident of kochia East and Kochia West,Gem East,Gem Central and Gem West Locations in Rangwe constituency because he hails from Kochia West which is part of this historical background. But he h as since lost the backing of the Kanyada group who will in the next elections be voting in the newly created Homa-Bay. Town constituency.

The recent newspapers advertisement announcing for the impending auctioning of some of Eng.Okundi’s properties is likely to have adverse repercussion on his candidature for the Homa-Bay County governor. His rivals are likely to exploit this to the maximum by pinning him down as someone who is heavily indebted and as such incapable of managing his own businesses and properties and therefore cannot be trusted to manage the County resources efficiently a its governor.

Okundi therefore urgently need to do more public relations and damage control exercise to re-brand and market himself a fresh to the electorate.

Other accusation against Okundi came as the result f the recently concluded, but highly controversial Ndhiwa by-elections. The by-election was called to fill the vacant seat left by the late abrasive Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode who died on June 10th together with his boss the former Internal Security Ministe Prof.Geworge Saitoti. Okundi was then the chairman of the ODM board of elections which he had performed poorly in that by- -election which led to his being shown exit-door by the party leadership There were unconfirmed rumors and allegation that Okundi was allegedly favoring one of his campaigners in Kabuoch who eventually emerged the winner of the highly flawed by-election Augustino Neto Oyugi.

Ndhiwa is part of the Homa-Bay County with close to 46,000 registered votes and the voters in this area might rebel against Okundi for his part in the much flawed by-election.

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Kenya: Senior politicians in big shock as they were banned from speaking at the church ceremony in Gunda-Kaswanga in Rusinga Island

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo
.
MORE then 30 senior politicians who included several parliamentary and senatorial aspirants who converged at Gunda Kaswanga SDA Church In Rusinga Island left the place shocked and disappointed as all were barred from addressing the colorful church opening ceremony.

The multi-million shillings ultra modern Gunda SDA church, Kaswanga opening was attended by the President of the East African SDA church union. The ceremony had attracted many politicians some of them who drove long distances and all the way from Nairobi to grace the opening ceremony.

Also in attendance was the President of the East African Union of the SDA Church. The ceremony was witnessed by thousands of SDA church adherence’s and faithful, who had also traveled from distant places.

Among the senior politicians who were not allowed to address the occasions included the former MP for Rangwe Phillip Okundi, who Is contesting the Homa-Bay County governor, former Marie Stoppie Country Director Cyprian Otien Awiti, the nominated MP Millie Odhiambo whose home is in Rusinga Island and an aspirant for the Mbita parliamentary seat, Okuku Miregi, a local politician, Owino Ooroand Aduke.

Two prominent women Roselyn Onyuka,Gladys Wanga, they are in the race for Homa-Bay County Women Representative, Ben Odero[Gwasii} Ted Odero {Ndhiwa, Opiata Odero {governor}.

The only senior personality who addressed the gathering was Sammy Wakiaga, the donor who single handedly donated fund for the construction of the ultra modern church, one of its own kind in the region.

The only politician who supported the banning of politicians from addressing the public on such occasion was Ted Odero, an aspirant in Ndhiwa parliamentary seat who said the SDA Church had its own program such occasion and not every Tom, Dick and Harry could not have been allowed to speak at the ceremony.

“Politicians had their own day of polluting and poisoning gatherings and this has been witnessed occasion during funeral gatherings in the region,‘ said Ted Odero when asked for his comment, adding that church meetings cannot be turned into political platforms.

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KENYA TO GET ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITIES, SAYS PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI

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By Dickens Wasonga reporting from Kisumu.

President Mwai Kibaki has announced that the government will soon elevate 13 constituent university colleges into fully fledged public universities.

The move will see the number of fully fledged public universities in the country moving up from the current 7 to 20.

Speaking during the award of charter to Great Lakes University of Kisumu president Kibaki said the government was intensifying efforts aimed at enhancing access ,equity and relevance in higher education. He said the award of the charter was significant the university which became the 15th private university in the country to have attained full accreditation status.

The president who was accompanied by the minister for higher learning prof.Margaret Kamar and two other ministers from the Orange Democratic Movement ODM said the increased production of high quality and relevant human capital in the country will enable it to participate more effectively in the rapidly globalizing and increasingly knowledge based world.

” In response to development needs as captured by both our vision 2030 and the Kenyan constitution ,some of these universities will be dedicated to science and technology education and training” said president Kibaki.

Prof. Kamar who spoke before the president said many Kenyans qualifying to join universities were being denied access due to limited number of university places that the current 7 public universities can absorb through the joint admission board that select students joining public universities in the country.

She said out of the 400,000 students who sat Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in the year 2011 a total of 114,236 students qualified after they obtained mean grade of C+ being the minimum university admission requirement but only 41,879 students were admitted to the public universities through Joint Admission Board (JAB).

” It is disheartening that a total of 76,377 students who got the mean grade were not absorbed.This is why there is great need for government to work towards expanding access to meet the growing need of getting university education” she said.

The minister however called upon the existing institutions of higher learning to ensure quality, relevance and equity in terms of choice and delivery of their programs is maintained.

” Our universities must ensure those who graduate from their institutions are acceptable globally and are able to compete at par with those from the rest of the world” She added.

Public service minister Masada Otieno who represented the Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the event asked the universities and faith based institutions to help rid the country of ethnicity which he claimed was the biggest problem the country was facing.

” The issue of ethnicity is deeply rooted in our nation and its high time our universities and churches combined forces to rid this nation of the pandemic. Matters have not been helped by the fact that many people are educated. We still think as tribes first and not Kenyans.”Said the minister.

Renowned scholar prof David Wasawo was installed as the first Chancellor of the Great lakes University university of Kisumu (GLUK) which was initially known Tropical Institute for Health and Community Development when it began in 1998. Prof Dan Kaseje was also installed the university’s Vice Chancellor in a ceremony presided over also by the chairman of the university board of trustees Bishop Wayi Abiero of Maseno Anglican Church Of Kenya Maseno Diocese.

Cabinet Minister James Orengo (Lands) and assistant minister Prof Ayiecho Olweny (Higher Education) and members of parliament Ocheing’ Polyns (Nyakach) and Shakil Shabir ( Kisumu Town East )attended the ceremony which was also graced by several dignitaries and top academicians.

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Kenya: A populist Homa-Bay politician Alila returned home after a month long business trip overseas

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

A prominent Homa-Bay County prominent ODM activist Hilary Ochieng’ Alila jetted back into the country on Thursday morning after being away and missing from the political scene for over one month.

Immediately after his plane touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Alila who had travelled abroad on a business trip issued a stern warning to his only opponent in the contest get prepared for a bruising fight.

His only rival for the Senate seat is the Immigration and registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who is also the incumbent Mbita MP saying he would evict the Minister out of Homa-Bay camp where he has set his new political camp after absconding from his Mbita constituency.”We shall sending him packing and back to Mbita in hasty.

Mbita is where Otieno Kajwang’ belonged therefore it mischievous for him to desert his voters there and take refuge in Homa-Bay town. He had absconded and run away from his Mbita voters after failing to deliver the goods, though he has been an MP there for close to 17 years.

The populist and youthful politician had travelled abroad immediately after successfully campaigning for his friend Augustino Neto Oyugi who the recent by-election during the recently conclude Ndhiwa by-election with the landslide.”This by election has pointed out the new political dimension in the region.”It is now a clear-cut that the electorate are for change, and it is time for the political ”deadhoods” and unproductive leaders to go home and take a rest honorably and respectably,” said Alila who sounded jovially when he phoned this write from the JK Airport on Thursday morning.

Alila also challenged aged and tired politicians to leave the scene for the youthful energetic and focused leaders. He said he was very optimistic of clinching the Homa-Bay seat. The coming weeks will see him extensive tour of all the seven parliamentary constituencies which included Kabondo Kasipul, Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Ndhiwa, Gwassi, Mbita.

“As far as the campaign for the Prime minister’s bid for the State House bid, some MPs from Luo-Nyanza have become the biggest liabilities than being assets to the party. The MPs, he added, “spent most of their weekends either drinking in big hotels, or causing chaos and mayhem in funeral homes. Instead of this,he said they should go out visiting out neighboring friendly communities and team up with their counterparts in those areas in lobbying and canvassing for votes for Raila Odinga.

“ We would like to her MPs fro Luo-Nyanza spreading their wings and making in-roads into other regions like Gusii counties, Kericho and Bomet Counties,Naro, Vihiga,Kakamega, Busia, Bungma and Nandi County sharing platforms with their counter-parts from those area while canvassing or votes for or party leader Raila Oding

‘Thee is nothing at stake at funeral gatherings inide Luo-Nyanza, All those I attendance happened to be Luos with unswerving loyalty the ODM and to to the Prime Minister and therefore do not need to be lectured about it. The MP should visit other area and open new fronts instead of polluting and polarizing the Luo-Nyanza,’said Alila.

He promised that with effect from first December he would lead the team of professions and youthful politicians from Nyanza and make extensive tour of other counties outside Nyanza where they will conduct door-to door votes hunting campaign for Raila Odinbga to enable him score a comfortable victory in the presidential election on march 4,2013.

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Kenya: A sugar cane farmer joins the race for the newly created Awendo parliamnetary season in Miugori

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The newly created Awendo parliamentary electoral constituency has attracted another parliamentary hopeful whose candidature is so unique and likely to attract members of the sugar cane farming fraternity.

He is the 42 year-old Seth Odiwuor Okoth who apart from being an accountant by profession is also a prominent sugar cane farmer within the locality.

Photo of Mr. Seth Odiwuor Okoth, a parliamentary hopefull for the newly created Awendo constituency seat in Migori County

Born in 1970 in Rabuor Kogelo in what used to be Sakwa East Location within Migori County, Okoth received his early education at Rabuor Primary School before proceeding to Kamagambo High School. He joined the Moi Institute of Technoo0gy{MIT} in Rongo and enrolled in the accountancy studies and later studied accountancy in Nyeri and wound up at Kimathi Institute of Advance Technology from where he proceeded to the prestigious Hong Kong University.

This is the University when he encountered some problems with the Hong Kong Immigration authorities forcing him to cut short his study tour and returned home his happened at the time when he had already enrolled for a law degree course

Despite of the shortcomings, Okoth finalized his CPA 11 and later completed CPA11.A staunchest ++ supporter of the ODM, the aspirant until last month was the Rongo district branch treasurer of the party. He only relinquished his position the other day after realizing that he was going to contest.

Okoth ‘s candidature is so unique that he is the only a farmer-cum-politician who is the race contesting a parliamentary seat and an area which forms the better ray hope to cane growers in the region that this time around thee will be some who will be tackling their problems t the highest level.

.Other aspirants are people who have excelled in other fields and professionals. They are well established in big job either with the government of parastatals and quasi government organizations.
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Peaking during an exclusive interview this writer, Okoth decried what he termed as the row deal the cane farmers were getting from sugar millers who cares very little about the cane farmer’s predicament. As a farmer, he has gained a lot of experience and well versed how the cane farmers, were being mistreated impoverished and enslaved by unscrupulous millers who makes huge profit from their sweats.

Awendo constituency is one of the 80 constituencies which were recently created by IEBC and approved by Parliament. It was curved out of the old Rongo constituency. It has also attracted other aspirants who include Fred Otieno Kopiyo who is the Principal of Gamba Secondary School, John Owuor who the Personal Assistant to the Minister for Public Service Dr and others.

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Kenya: Okundi endorsed in Kisumu

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By Dickens Wasonga.

The race to clinch Homa Bay county governor’s seat is hotting up. On Monday prominent politician and immediate former Member of Parliament for Rangwe engineer Philip Okundi also eying the seat got a boost for his bid when he was endorsed by eight civic leaders from the area.

The civic leaders made the endorsement after a daylong meeting convened and attended by the wealthy and influential politician at an exclusive upmarket resort in Kisumu City.

Led by the Homa Bay municipal council Mayor Councillor Charles Katinga the leaders said they have opted to throw their weight behind Okundi given his past development record over the years in the area.

He said that Okundi is the only candidate who has come out to openly seek for their support for his bid for the governor’s position in the forth coming general elections

Okundi worked in public service for a long time holding key government positions amongst them as the managing director of the Kenya Bureau of standards. He was also the MD Kenya Ports Authority at one point among other positions.

Before he resigned from the government recently to contest the governor seat, he was the chairman of the Communications commission of Kenya.

Okundi lost his Rangwe seat at the last general elections to a relative newcomer in politics Martin Ogindo who is the current sitting Mp.

ENDS.

Kenya: President Obama’s 91 year old Kenyan grand mother is taken ill after prolonged days and night of election victory dances and celebrations

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WRITES Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

For the third nights celebrations festivities coupled with excessive feasting on meat of the four slaughtered fat huge bulls unlimited supplies of beer, other alcoholic beverage and soft drinks, music and all sorts of traditional dances and songs, the US President Barrack Obama’s 91-year-old granny was taken ill.

Mama Sarah Obama who has defied her advanced age and kept nights of vigil sine Monday while anxiously waiting to hear the fate of grandson ‘s re-election without sleep was on Thursday evening taken ill and hospitalized.

Family sources said she needed a minor surgery on her hand. The operation which took an hour-long was conduct at Bama Hospital in Siaya town about 10 kilometers away from her Alego-Kogelo Nyang’oma home.

Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the granny was driven into the facility by her son Said Obama in the company of her daughter Massat Obama at about 6.30 PM [local Kenyan time].

After the successful operation which last or an hour Mama Sarah Obama was driven back tom her Kogelo village home where she is currently recuperating.Her condition was said to be stable, though the doctors who carried out the surgery declined to divulge more details about her ailment.

Impeccable sources told this writer that the pain in Mama Sara Obama’s hand may have been triggered by dancing and wielding here walking [support} stick for long dancing celebrating her grandson Obama’s poll victory in the just ended US Presidential elections.

But the celebrations continue uninterrupted because the huge crowd of relatives, friend and well wishers who had converged in Kogelo was not immediately informed that Mama Sarah had been taken ill and the dancing continued unabated.

Said Obama hinted that the family was planning a trip to the US to join President Obama in celebrating his election victory.

The 91-year-old Obamas’s step grand mother’s health has of late been subject to a lot of speculations and rumors. Earlier this year, she spent several days at the Aga Khan hospital in Kisumu City where she was treated for undisclosed ailment.

She was at one time involved in a motor accident, but escaped with shock and minor injuries after her care skidded and rolled several time on the Kisumu-Siaya road.

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KENYA & USA: IT WAS AN ECSTATIC MOMENTS IN NYANG’OMA ALEGO KOGELO VILLAGE AS PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA KENYAN FAMILY AND RELATIVES AS THEY RECEIVED THE NEWS OF HIS ELECTION VICTORY IN THE US.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Nyang’oma Kogelo Village.

It was indeed an ecstatic moments for the thousands of enthusiastic Kenyans who had gathered in Nyang’oma Trading Center, and also at the Obama family home on Tuesday morning Siaya County while anxiously awaiting for the US Presidential election results.

Carrying twigs, seats and traditional clubs the huge and enthusiastic crowd burst into loud songs. They danced in rows of youth, women an elderly people. They were joined by President Obama’s 90 year old

Those who had kept vigil and slept in the open and braved the heavy down-pour as the rains pounded the area at the market place . They burst into song and danced, while heaping a lot of the US President as they matched toward the Obama’s family home with songs.

This prompted the overjoyed 90-year old Obama’s step grand mother Mama Sarah Obama to jump up on her feet and joined the dancers. They song {Wan wadhi Ka Sarah wan wadhi rwakoObama”}. Loosely translating “We are heading for Mama Sarah’s home to welcome Obama”.

The song and noisy sounds even awoken those who had already retired to bed at the nearby Kogelo Resort jumped out of their sleep. Earlier on the anxiety had gripped the KOgelo village when the results from Kentucky indicated Romney was leading. Some of the hotel guest slipped back into their room and went sleep in protest.

But all of a sudden they rushed back to the venue in thud and even the boda boda motorbike taxis riders roared back to the center to celebrate the victory when the news came thro8gh the huge TV screen, some women screamed and other even shade tears in joy.

This followed a call by a friend of the Obamas who phoned from the US to break the news.The caller called the proprietor of the Kogelo Resort Mr. Nicholas Rajula who is a cousin of Obama to beak the good news..The news was greeted with sounds of vuvuzelas, blowing of motor vehicle horns and all sort of noisy making musical instruments.

Rajula immediately announced that they would slaughter four more bulls for the crowd to feast on as their morning breakfast!!.

Braving the torrential rains the villagers and visitors danced to the tone of the numerous music including live bands and Ohangla

Batteries of international and local journalists took their positions to monitor celebrations in this tiny village that transformed in the last four years

Addressing newsmen Mama Sarah Obama attributed her step-grand son’s election victory in the US to “Humility and the grace of God helped Barrack Obama win the hotly contested election.”

The grand old granny who kept vigil for the last two nights ever since Monday thanked the American voters for giving her grandson another chance to lead them.

She said there were many people who are perhaps ten times better than Obama, but it was God’s will that he gets the second term.

“I knew he was going to win. We are happy for the victory and we are embracing everyone who visits our home.” she said as women and youth danced in groups.

“My grandson is loving and down to earth. I am asking him to work hard for the people ho voted for him and his opponent Mitt Romney also should consider working with him.” She said, adding that I prayed hard for his victory, because this time around he was competing against very tough opponent.’

Asked by newsmen if she would be travelling the US to witness President Obama inauguration as she did the previously, Mama Sarah shouted , “To bende nanyalo dong {How can I remain behind”}

Mama Sarah expressed her heartfelt thanks to those who have been keeping vigil in the village and in her home following the development via Television Screens sets mounted around and wished them safe journey back to their homes.

For the first time, the Kenyan police officers who have always received order of vetting who to be allow into Mama Sarah’ home on Tuesday morning allowed jovial villagers into the home to celebrate the much awaited victory with Mama Sarah and her immediate family members and relatives inside her compound which has remained heavily guarded ever since the threat of the Alqaeda backed Al-Shabaab in the neighboring Somalia.On the burning issue of President Obama not having considered Kenya a country where he had a family root for a visit Mama Sarah defended her grandson saying he has always been busy working for the people who voted or him.

Unlike in the previous occasion President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and the prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga who is a distance of the Obama immediately appeared in most of the local Television stations in Kenya and promptly offered their congratulations to President Obama in his election victory.

In his message President Kibaki said the re-election was a re-affirmation of the confidence of the Americans to you for your well deserved victory, I commend the American people for showing their confidence in your leadership.

On behalf of the government, the people of Kenya and on my own behalf, I convey our congratulations to you, for your well deserved victory. Kenya, as always, is proud of our association with you. We look forward to deepening of relations between our two countries, during your second term in office.

IN his message the Prime Minister for Kenya Minister Raila Amolo Odinga sent congratulated President Obama. He said Obama had electrified the world with his re-election, something that ha made Africa and Kenya in particular proud.

“It is a tribute to the people of the United States that they have re-elected an African American President amid an immensely trying economic environment that would have tested any incumbent.’”It is therefore also a message of congratulations from Kenya’;s Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and several cabinet Ministers, MPs and leader from all walks of life.

However, the big question which appeared to be in the lips of the many senior African diplomats in Nairobi and elsewhere is “what President Obama re-election meant to the world in general and African continent in particular.

Sub-Saharan Africa has only received one cursory trip from Obama during his first term. So how much will change in President Obama’s second term? That question was, perhaps understandably, barely mentioned in an election campaign that focused on pressing US domestic issues and the Arab uprisings.

The start o Obama’s second term is likely to b preoccupied with more of the same international efforts to remove Al-Qaeda linked rebel from the north of Mali and efforts to ensure that Zimbabwe and Kenya avoid repeating the violence that wrecked their last election.

So far there is no sign of a “grand Obama Doctrine for Africa and perhaps that’s a good thing, given the diversity and complexity of the continent, Obama has left to others to warn about the danger posed by insatiable China, but the second term may give him an opportunity to move away fro preoccupation with war on terror and focusing the broader issues- trade in particular that he raised thee years ago in China,”Commented the Kenyan popular daily The STANDARD’.

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KENYA: FEARS PERSIST THAT COMMERCIAL BANKS OPERATING IN KISII AND MIGORI TOWNS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SWINDLED OUT OF MILLIONS THROUGH FRAUDS AND FORGERIES OF BANK PAYSLIPS.

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Reports Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo in Kisii Town.

SEVERAL commercial banks operating in the Western Kenya towns of Kisii and Migori could have lost millions of shillings through the syndicate of fraudsters and master forgers.

The matter came into surface when a hawk-eyed bank manager in Kisii town last week discovered that a bank document presented to his bank by a primary school teachers from Migori County had fake rubber stamp purporting to have been issued by another bank in Migori showing that the application for loan presented to the bank had forged document and pay-slip.

The teacher a female found herself in a catch 22 when the bank manager summoned the police officers to the bank who cornered the heavily sweating lady teacher and whisked her away.

Her fate remained unclear as it was reported that she had repented her sin and was later released in an unclear circumstances after being detained briefly by the men from the forces of law-reinforcement.

The loan applicant a teacher in Migori County had gone to the bank and requested to be given loan f Kshs 500,000. She was requested to bring her pay-slip and any document showing she had already cleared another loan from another bank based in Migori town.

It was at this juncture that the teacher went back home and brought the documents purported to have been cleared and stamped by the other commercial bank in Migori town. Upon screening and checking the documents, the bank manager discovered that the rubber stamp on them was fake and made in the ‘Jua Kali back streets” prompting to call the police.

Impeccable sources have told us that the scam involved pay-slip scandals have been going on in this region for a longtime, an even some teachers have become instant millionaires after getting the huge sums of money in bank loans. Some of those teachers who have benefited through this scam are reported to have absconded from their job and crossed the border into the neighboring Tanzania, where there is big demand for Kenyan trained teachers.

Others, accord to our source used the money in purchasing sugar cane farmers or bought “Matatus” vehicles. Other re said to have used the money borrowed through this kind of arrangement for building decent homes for their families, and got away Scots-free.

The money obtained through this scam are shared between the owner of the pay-slip used in securing bank loan, and the master forgers, who are said to be operating in an office building in Kisi town and also in Migori town who get large chunk of the money as their fees for the work well-done. The scam is well-orchestrated fraud, though the rubber stamps usually – presented to banks lacked the official banks seal. The fraudsters are also said to be minting thousands from the would be loan applicants whenever the deals are through the applicant get his or her money.

Following last week attempt at fleecing one of the banks of Kshs 500,000 in fake loan deal, banks in the region are now said to have tightened their security and all the document presented for business deals are being subjected to thorough electronic screening.

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KENYA & USA: THE FAMILY AND RELATIVES OF THE US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN KENYA HAVE EXPRESSED HIGH HOPE THAT HE WILL EMERGE THE WINNER IN THE NOVEMBER 6, 2013 ELECTIONS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The on going UAS election fever appeared to has hit family members and relatives of the US President Barrack Obama back in their rural native home in Alego Kogelo,Siaya County in Western Kenya.

Family members and relatives last weekend gathered in the homestead around Malik Abong’o Obama, the US President elder brother who told newsmen that the family has been following the American presidential debate keenly I the count-down to November 6 elections.

“We have been watching how debate has been unfolding and we are sure Obama will emerge the winner in the elections,” he said during the press briefing at his Kogelo home.

Abong’o expressed confidence that his brother will emerge victorious” because his four year leadership has helped to transform America,” he said adding that the majority of US citizens supports Obama’s candidature.

Malik disclosed that the family will host a major party in their home if Obama gets re-elected for a second term.

Another close relative of the Obama, the Siaya nominated Councilor Nicholas Rajula said the once sleepy and dusty Kogelo village will be transformed into the economic hub of Siaya County if Obama wins,

IT was Nicholas Rajula who led the delegation of family members to Washington D.C during President Obama inauguration in 2009, and ever since then Kogelo Nyang’oma village and market place has witnessed rapid development activities which included two medium size hotels, an ultra modern guest house for tourists accommodations, the construction of the community center and many modern shopping premises have sprung up, water and electricity supplies, construction of new road and many other economic activities.

Rajula further disclosed that plans are underway to mount a giant TV screen in Kogelo to enable Obama relatives, supporters and admirers back home in the village to follow the US elections.

However, there was a small hitch when it was learnt that members of the press were not allowed to access the home of President Obama step grand mother Mama Sarah Obama’s home.

Her security details said a directive to barring the press from entering into the home had come fro the US Embassy in Nairobi. It bars the media interviewing the 90 year old granny.

Rajula said,”I have asked her daughter if she can allow to interview Mama Sarah Obama.but she said there is a sanctions from the US Embassy in Nairobi.

A US Embassy official had visited the Obama homestead four days earlier on a private mission for a meeting in which the press and local security officers were also locked out.

The new men and media fraternity viewed this action of barring the pres from access the grand old granny’s home as an exercise of excessive arrogance.

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Kenya: Local farmers have rejected the Kshs 11 billion or the revival of the collapsed Miwani Sugar Company saying its suspicious and another Anglo Leasing scam

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

The deal which was recently entered into between the government an a South African firm for the revival of the closed down Miwani sugar Mills in Nyando district within the County of Kisumu is said by the stakeholders to be suspicious and faulty.

According to members of the cane farmer’s fraternity, the deal is sounding like another Anglo Leasing and Grand Regency Hotel scandals in the offing.

The farmers wants the deal be negotiated afresh and should involved all the stakeholders, including cane farmers within the Miwani zone, out-growers, primary co-operative societies and its terms simplified to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders before its implementation.

The controversial was negotiated and brokered by Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and co-operatives, which is led by the Naivasha MP John Mututho.

A statement put to the news media by the South African Company, which is also said to have a root in the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius says in part, ”The revival of Miuwani Sugar Company in Western Kenya inched a step close after a committee of parliament approved the Kshs 11 billion investment plan by a south African-based Eaglefin Structure Finance Mauritius Limited.

The South African company has proposed to give 51 per cent of the revived sugar firm’s shares to cane farmers and out-grower societies got the nod of the Agriculture, Livestock and Co-Operatives parliamentary committee.

‘We can now confirm that we will be able to accommodate out-grower community at 51 per cent shareholding, ‘said the statement issued by the company’s managing director Helgaard Muller.

However, this would require the government to underwrite the farmer’s participation through promissory notes that would help the company raise funds externally.

The Sugar [Amendment0 Act stipulates that cane farmers and out-grower hold 51 per cent stake in all sugar companies which are set to be privatized.

The South African company also wants to be allocated extra land for either purchase or on a long term lease of at least 60 years.

The government of Kenya is undertaking the process of privatization of all state-run sugar millers including Muhoroni, Chemelil ,Sonysugar and Nzoia to raise efficiency ahead of the lapse of Comesa safeguard rules which restrict sugar imports into the country.

According to Eaglefin’s plan sugar cane farmers would not pay directly for the share holding, but would have their dividends used to pay the financiers cover a 10-year period.

The model aims to replicate that in the tea and coffee sectors where growers are allocated shares in new ventures and part of the proceeds used to clear their obligations.

In the Miwani case, however, farmers would get full payment for cane deliveries during the term of the loan, foregoing dividends until the debt is fully settled.

Muller said the company would put in place a private insurance that would guarantee the government and external funders of the discharge of the promissory notes and payment.

The company would put in place a private insurance that would guarantee the government and external funders of the discharge of the promissory notes and payment respectively. The South African government would put in place a private insurance provide commercial underwriting of us as minority shareholders of 49 per cent stake to secure 100 per cent external funding from a senior lender,” said Muller.

The firm is said it had made a commitment to its technology suppliers and ente5ed into fixed contracts to start the construction of the new factory as soon as governmen’s approval is granted.

“We are impressed wit the plan especially the modern technology that will be employed in sugar production said Hon John Mututho after the conclusion of the agreement.

According to the industry players, the deal sounded like that which is not very clear and honest, and need some amount of simplification so that the farmers could understand it. It is normally takes between 15 to 20 year for a newly established sugar mill to make profits worth dividends.

The clause that says the South African firm wants to purchase or lease extra land for 60 years also complicate the whole thing. ”Who will be there after 60 year from now? Asked one farmer in Kibos,adding. “It means by then all the present farmers who are expected to be the shareholders would be dead.

The locals wants the government to off-load its shares at the facility and offer it for outright purchase by a credible private firm with sufficient reputation to generate its own funds without involving the farmers in complicated huge debts..

The common and popular opinion is that the government should advertise all the state-run sugar factories in the local and foreign media so that they could attract bids from straightforward and honest buyers from oversea and locally that will go into the purchasing arrangement I a much more simplified deals which does not put the local farmers in many year of debts slavery.

Miwani Sugar Mill one of the oldest Sugar manufacturing firm was first established by an Australian farmer in the year 1927 It has since then changed hands to the various private and public companies after it went burst following the auctioning of most of its movable properties in 1970s. But about 12 years ago, the government became its minority shareholders with a cartel of local Asian businessmen-um-farmers went in went burst as it because apparent that the firm old not clear it debts to the suppliers, farmers, and the workers.

The receivership was meant to be protective one while its books of accounts were to be adjusted. The official receivers managers, however, have stayed for over 12 year dashing the hope of the revival of the facility. But the local community wants the factory to be disposed off in a transparent manner not through kangaroo deals.

All the previous attempt to offloaded Miwani under its privatization programme were thwarted by the cartel of wealthy local Asians who have had hands in its collapse and who frustrated the effort for its privatization perhaps hoping to have it as scraps and .

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KENYA: JUDICIARY HOLDS MEDIA TRAINING WORKSHOP ON REPORTING ITS TRANSFORMATION

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By Dickens Wasonga reporting from Kisumu Kenya.

The Judiciary is set to hold a two-day media workshop in Nairobi from today as part of its efforts to open up to the media and enhance effective reporting of the ongoing transformation in the Kenyan courts.

The two-day workshop will bring together more than 250 journalists drawn from the state – owned Kenya News Agency (KNA) and members of the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) drawn from all the 47 counties, Kenya’s new governance units.

In a communication to the journalists invited to the conference, the Director, Public Affairs and Communications at the Judiciary, Naim Yaseen Bilal said the workshop was part of the efforts “to make the institution more accessible to the public”.

“The Judiciary is transforming as part of its efforts to live up to the dictates of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Many of its aspects and approaches are changing,” he added.

The workshop, organized by the Judiciary in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications and Kenya Correspondents Association, is expected to herald the start of a sustained engagement between the Judiciary and the two institutions and journalists based in the counties to enhance effective and accurate reporting of judicial matters.

“We are convinced that a sustained engagement between the media and the Judiciary will enhance public confidence in the courts and improve service delivery to the ordinary Kenyans. Journalists will also have their capacity built to improve the reporting of court proceedings and related judicial processes,” said Oloo Janak, the KCA Chair in a statement.

During the two day workshop, media experts and judicial officers will discuss among others, the ongoing Transformation of the Judiciary, the Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities of Reporting the New Judiciary and Building partnerships between the Media and the Judiciary.

The journalists will also give the experiences and challenges they have faced in reporting the judiciary in the past and make recommendations on how to improve their interaction with and access to information from the judiciary.

END.

Kenya: Millie Odhiamnbo political future as the next Mbita MP now hangs in the balance as more credible aspirants joint the election race in the same constituency

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By Bob Ndira-Uradi

The nominated ODM MP Millie Odhiambo who is known as one of the Prime minister staunch female politicians supporters of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga will not get the Mbita parliamentary seat in a silver platter as was previously expected.

Odhiambo will now face one of the aspirants who is equally powerful and popular wit attractive track records of development to his credit.

The entryof Dr.Mark Matunga into the Mbita election race now leaves Millie Odhiambo in precarious position in which her successes in the election cannot be assured.

Announcing his entry into the Mbita election on Thursday morning this week, Dr. Matunga said in a terse statement posted to media houses that he was bowing down to the mounting pressure from the electorate who asking him to abandon his quest to become the first governor of the Homa-Bay County.

The 41 year old genius expert working for Mircosoft International Computer Company, but based in Nairobi, Kenya while covering East, Central an Southern Africa regions and is also a church minister with Phd doctorate degree in theology from an American University and clergyman hails from Wasamo sub-clan in Mfangano Island.

His campaign for the Homa-Bay County governor hit the ground two years ago and he has been t5aversng the full length and width of the County lobbying and canvassing for votes. He was considered by many people to be the leading contender for the governorship position.

However, his abrupt about-turn took place after attending a crucial elders meeting in his home turf in Mfangno Island last Friday.

The meeting which was held in his home drew hundreds of the participants from all over the Mfangano Island who resolve to request him no abandon his quest for Governor position and instead d to contest the Mbita parliamentary seat.

Millie Odhiambo hails from Rusinga Island, where she is also facing another challenge by her close cousin Phares Ogweno Ratego who is an executive with one of the NGO working closely with USAID. The two hails from Nyamuga village in Kolo sub-clan which is close to Waware Secondary School. Their homes are stone throw apart.

However, fears persist in Rusinga that the candidature of Odhiambo and her cousin Phares Ogweno Ratego would split the voters in Rusinga so their candidature could work to the advantge of Dr. Maunga, and for their own peril and disadvantage.

The fear has gripped Rusinga Island that the candidature of Odhiambo and Ratego could split the votes in the area thereby giving advantage to Dr.Matunga from the tin island of Mfangano.

Both Millie Odhianbo and dr Matunga are said to be friends for along time. Bopth had worked closely with the outgoing Mbita MP Gerald Otieno Kanjwang,’ the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister before and thereafter the 2007general elections

The statistics of voter’s registration in Mbita constituency is pointing out that our of over 28,000, Mfangano Island has registered close to over8,000 voters followed by Rusinga Island, and Gembe comes third with close 6,000-voters wit the Lambwe valley Division coming last with the registration of 5,000 voters. .

Kajwang’ has now opted out of the race and will not be defending his seat. He has switched his attention to the contest of the Homa-Bay County Senate seat.

Two other aspirant have also sprung up from the mainland Gembe and lambwe locations.They are Caleb Orwa who hails from Gembe and Omondi Odalo who are from Lambwe area.The two are, however, considered as political novices in comparison to much experienced Millie Odhiambo and Dr Mark Matunga.

In this interesting election contest which would be pitting the two old friends fighting for one ODM ticket durng the party’s primary nomination scheduled for next month, Dr Matunga will bank on his very illustrious tack record of development in both Mfangano and Rusinga islands.

He has also participated in development activities on the mainland Mbita

Ends