Category Archives: HEADLINES

KENYA: PROF AYIECHO OLUENY FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN HIS ELECTION BATTLE TO RETAIN MUHORONI SEAT AT THE NEXT YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTION AS HE FACES SERIOUS HURDLES.

By Arrum.Tidi Ogonglo In Muhoroni Town.

The collapsing and limping sugar factories, pathetic state of access and feeder roads, poor and biased disbursement political thuggery and insecurity of CDF money, couple with bad political leadership are some of the issues which are likely to feature prominently during the during the campaign in the impending general election slated for March4,2013.

The incumbent MP for the area is Prof.Patrick Ayiecho Olueny, who is also the Education Assistant minister in the coalition government.

The MP is facing the stiffest opposition from two prominent political personalities in Muhoroni district. They included the populist Nairobi based businessman James Onyango K’Oyoo, a former IT manager with the Shell BP oil firm in Houston US, Agwenge Mbeche.

All the four white sugar manufacturing mills are located in Muhoroni constituency. They are Miwani Sugar Mills, Chemelil Sugar Company, Muhoroni Sugar Company and the Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries.

Out of the four sugar mill, two of them Miwani and Muhoroni Sugar Mills are currently under the official protective receivership with Miwani having been closed down over 12 years ago after being heavily indebted to its suppliers, workers and sugar cane farmers in its cane growing zones.

Both Muhoroni an Chemelil are still functioning, but not producing enough sugar as per their daily production capacities with Chemelil almost grounding to a halt due to many reasons, which included the alleged mismanagement of its resources, failing to pay its suppliers in time.

The Company,which a public firm is reportedly heavily indebted to the KRA, Kenya Power and Lightning Company, the workers and cane farmers.

Chemelil fired its former managing director Eng.Edwin Otieno Musebe, at Luhyia last year and replaced him with the company’s former Agricultural Manager Charles Owelle in a controversial ridden politically and tribally motivated appointment that took many stakeholder by surprise, because Owelle had on two occasions acted as the managing director in which his performance were said not to be attractive enough to warrant his appointment.

The farmers have since placed the blame at the doorstep of the Kenya Sugar Board and the parent Ministry of Agriculture which were the joint appointing authorities.

IT is only the Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries Mill a privately owned firm, which is still operational, while Muhooni also is functioning, but also limping due to acute shortage of raw materials {cane} duet poor planning f cane husbandry within its cane growing zone.

The signs that Prof Ayiecho’s future s the MP for Muhoroni is gloomy surfaced during the recent funeral of the brother of the Nyando County Council chairman Samuel Onyango Ong’ou in Wang’aya location where mourner were forced to scampered for their dear lives as the ell attended burial ceremony became chaotic.

The trouble started when the populist Onyango K’Oyoo turned up triumphantly, but late at the well attended funeral accompanied by about 300 youth shouting obscene words at the MP.

The plea by the MP to the huge crowd of mourners to remain calm and remain seated were never heeded forcing the legislator to himself to fled the scene amid hails of stones and other missiles.

The MP himself had to fled during which unconfirmed report says his body guards were forced to fire gun shots to the air to scare away the life threatening situation.

At another recent function K’Oyoo made a call to the government and the Kenya Anti Corruption authority to send a team of competent auditors to carry out the forensic auditing of CDF and other government devolving funds in Muhoroni constituency.

There have been a lot of hue and cry by the electorate who blame the MP for having filled all the seats in the local CDF disbursing committee with his own political cronies and sycophants and thereby making sure that only projects which are located in areas where the MP had deceived votes during the 2007 general election got the better part of the money.

The MP who has represented Muhoroni or the last 15 years is also facing other allegations of gross interference in the work of school heads, failing to articulate the problems facing the sugar cane farmers, poor working relations with the members of the sugar cane farming fraternity in the area, who have suffered the brunt of mismanagement of sugar factories.

Other allegations, which the MP must come out clean include the alleged increase in political hooliganism and thuggery especially those witnessed during the ODM grass root elections and the 2007 genera election in which political goons were recruited and imported from outside Muhoroni and also during the Kenya Sugar Board zonal directors elections.

The electorate in the area have made it clear that the are is now ripe for a major political shake up ,and that the time for a change is long over due .They are saying the area is yawning for a new face of an MP who will work loosely with all the stakeholders, particularly the cane farmers.

Ayiecho who previously never fail to mentioned the Prime minister Raila Odinga in all his undertakings is said to be of lately rather silent and not mentioning the name of the Prime Minister as frequently as he used to pointing out the possibility of a an eminent fallout.

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KENYA: THE SCORECARDS OF SOME LUO MPS FROM NYANZA IS INDICATING THAT HALF OF THEM WILL BE SENT PACKING BY THE VOTERS ON MARCH 3, 2013.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In KisumuCity.

AS the clock is ticking much faster drawing the date for the next general elections closer by days, the heartbeat of the 21 legislators from Luo-Nyanza might also be ticking to fast following the fears that persist in many constituencies to the effect that more than half of these gentlemen would be sent packing come the March 4, 2013.

The Luo MPS are the most worried lot. Most of them seemed to be not sure whether they will make it to the next parliament or not.

Many voters in the region appeared to have coined the common biblical saying’ “You’ll harvest only the seeds that you had sowed when the harvesting time comes.

What is in the scorecards of the majority of the Luo MPs’ clearly pointing out the gloomy picture of leaders who have reached the crucial point of no return. The scorecard of most of them is pointing to the direction that hey had sowed the seeds of discord among the electorate and as such only deserved to be sent packing.

The MPs from Luo-Nyanza faces myriad of problems with accusation of failing to delver the goods, poor management of the government devolved development funds, vandalizing the CDF money and poor disbursement of the same.

In some areas the MPs are facing allegations of having formed or established their own construction companies with their spouses as the directors and managers of the firms specifically for the purpose of tapping all the CDF money through biased awarding tender and construction contracts involving CDF money to the phantom companies in which they had the economic interest in.

Other allegations goes that some of the MPs vandalized the CDF money by ensuring that their crones, most of them semi-illiterate and oldest people with no knowledge or experience in the government accounting system to mange the CDF. Other unconfirmed reports says tat prior to the 207 general elections, some of the MP had become heavily indebted to local traders, particularly those trading in hardware and wooing the voters by way of making hefty donations using such materials donating borrowed items like corrugated iron sheets, nails, roofing materials and timbers from the shops as they were canvassing for votes.

But immediately when they were sworn in as the new MPs they hatched plans devising the method of ensuring that the businessmen they owed thousands of shillings were the one awarded the tenders of supplying materials for the construction of CDF funded projects at very exorbitant prices so that the traders could recover the money owed to them by the MPs.

Our sources have informed us that such debts repayment arrangements between some MPs and the traders, immediately become the source of discontent and conflicts of interests between the MPs and government appointed CDF managers in various constituencies earning some of the CDF mangers who questioned the modalities of such arrangements to be transferred from one station to the other. Some of the disgusted CDF managers had to voluntarily request for their immediate transfers fearing about the consequences that would befall them when they books of account are finally audited by competent government auditors.

Following these conflict of interests, some constituencies remained without CDF managers for several months. Other MPs are suspected to have spent colossal amount of CDF monies in buying trucks and Lorries, which in the names of either their wives or companies which were later contracted for ferrying building materials for the construction of CDF funded projects at a higher prices above the market prices.

Some members of the Provincial Administration, especially D.Cs,D.0s and Chiefs appeared to have been compromised. In one constituency even it is even being alleged that even civic leader and chiefs as well s Dos were paid handsomely for having attended the CDF meeting, though they were doing so as members of the public service and as part of their duties as civil servant. Such sitting allowances were reported to be ranging from 4000/-.4000/- or even at the higher rate of 6000/- per person per day.

However, a number of MPs from this region are said to have used the government devolving funds, which include the CDF, School Bursary, Roads Maintenance and HIV/Aids controls fund efficiently with the seal of diligently.

It claimed that those MPS in whose constituencies the socio-economic projects which were funded by the CDF money have remained phantom and invisible are the ones who have switched and changed their status and declare they would not be defending their seats. And instead they will contest the forthcoming general elections in other elective positions in the County governance instead of their seats in parliament.

However, report emerging from various parliamentary constituencies in all the four Counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Homa-Bay and Migori reveals that some of the MPs have scored the highest marks, and all the indications are that they stands the better chances of being re-elected back to the next parliament.

In Migori County, the outspoken Nyatike MP Erick Omondi Anyanga is one person who is sue of recapturing his seat owing to his colorful track record of commitment to the socio-economic development of the area.

In Siaya County, the abrasive Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo has the head-start against his challenger and is expected to perform well during the next general elections. Another MP who stand the best chance of being re-elected to parliament is the Lands Minister James Aggrey Orengo [Nytieng’]. However, the legislator has switched his stand and opted to contest the Siaya Senate seat instead of defending his Ugenya seat.

Also in Siaya, Eng. Nicholas Gumbo, the MP for Rarieda, is among those MPs who are expected to sail through in the next election and possibly retain his seat.

In the same Siaya County the Finance Assistant Minister Dr Oburu Odinga has also switched and instead of defending his parliamentary seat is challenging Orengo in a bitter and controversial contest for the County Senate seat.

Following the latest political dimension and scrambles for the Siaya Senate seat, it is now apparent that Bondo and Ugenya will have new MPs after the March 4, 2013.

The region could expect another greenhorn MP as the result of the newly created Ugunja parliamentary seat. The same could be said of the millionaire Alego-Usonga MP Edwin Ochieng Yinda whose performance at the constituency level is said to have been dismal and full of lackluster below the expectation of the voters. A new face of an MP could emerged in this particular electoral area of Alego-Usonga.

In Homa-Bay County, the Karachuonyo MP Eng. James K. Rege,who is the only MP in Luo-Nyanza who had allowed the local CDF disbursing committee to have the intellectuals and professionals to be members.

The CDF committee is headed by Prof Akeyo Omolo of Maseno University as its chairman and all members are people of colorful academic background and experience, making it the only constituency in the region which has had no complaints from the public about the misuse of vandalizing of the CDF funds.

Although Rege may face opposition, but his chances of recapturing y are in the highest on card.

In Homa-By bay County, the two neighboring constituencies in Rachuonyo South district that of Kasipul and Kabondo-Kasipul wile finitely post two new MPs at the next polls. The incumbent MP for the old Kasipul-Kabondo Joseph Oyugi Magwanga appear to be heading for the exist door.

The recent sub-division of the constituency into two with the creation of Kabondo-Kasipul appeared to have worked against Magwanga, who in earlier days in Parliament had started very well scoring the highest mark for his management of CDF and other devolving funds in style and personally supervising development activities.

The creation of the new constituency and the emergence of clans politics haves hit the MP the hardest and below the belt with other allegations that he has been promoting political thuggery in Oyugis and its environs.

In the same Homa-Bay County, the Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo is likely to be one of the causalities in the greater Southern Nyanza.Ogindo whose origins is being traced in Asembo in Rarieda is not an indignant of Rangwe. He has performed poorly and failed to repair feeder and access roads traversing the constituency.

The worse road being the Oyugis-Rangwe-Rodi-Kopany. He has failed to fit into the shoes of his predecessor Eng Philip Okoth Okundi who was a high performing MP and is still being remembered by the electorate for having initiated and even completed many projects using the CDF money.

The MP is only being credited for having been a regular contributor to the debates in the House, but is reported to be not good performer at the constituency level.Roads traversing Rangwe-Sinema{Asumbi}, Rangwe-Oboke and Miranga-Marindi remained pathetic state and impassable and so is the Ndiru junction which is branching off Oyugis-Rangwe.

The residents have accused the MP for having migrate with his entire family to live permanently in Nairobi with unsubstantiated claims that he is rarely seen around the constituency.

In the neighboring Ndhiwa constituency also within Homa-Bay County the leadership vacuum created by the untimely demise of the abrasive former MP Joshua Orwa Ojode is still being felt, though the a new young and energetic MP in the name of Augustino Neto Oyugi. It is, however, too early for anyone to conduct the proper assessment of the youthful mps performance within only one month after his election victory in the controversial by-election.

In Suba region, the recent elevation of the Gwassi MP John Mbadi to the cabinet position of an Assistant minister has enhanced the chances for the re-election, though the elections always attract a large number of aspirants in this particular constituency, the cans arithmetic is expected to be in play during the impending election and Mbadi could be in the next Parliament.

Also in the same Suba region, Mbita constituency, which has been deserted by the immigration and Registration of Person Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ is expected to post a new face as the next MP for the area.

Kajwang’ who is the current ODM Homa-Bay County branch will now contest the Homa-Bay County Senate seat. He has never been a high performing mp, and his dismal performance in Mbita might continue to haunt him in quest to become the first County Senator in the region.

Un Kisumu County, all the six MPs are expect to be sent home for their lukewarm performance.They included NyakachMP Polyns Ochieng’ Daima, Muhoroni MP Patrick Ayiecho Olueny, Fred Ota [Nyando, Shakeel Ahmed Shabbir [Kisumu Town East, John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town West and Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyonng’o [Kisum Rural}

In Migori County, the Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno could find himself in trouble if the youthful lawyer Gradus Oluoch could choose to challenge his re-election In Rongo constituency

Rongo was among the constituencies which were sub-divided into two due to it densely population with the creation of Awendo constituency.

At the same time reports emerging from Awendo indicating that the former Energy Minister George Ochillo-Ayacko has opted out of parliamentary contest. There are, however, the possibility of both Rongo and Awendo posting new faces of MPs .to parliament cannot be ruled out.

The position of the two MP from Migori remained unclear. They are the Uriri MP Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, and the incumbent Migori MP John Pesa. The possibility of two new faces of MPs face emerging fro thee constituencies cannot be ruled out as the incumbent are reported to be facing the stiffest challenge in their bid to be re-elected. Migori in particular will have two MP following the sub-division of the old Migori into two constituencies, namely Migori West and Migori East.

However, the coming weeks will see many changes in the campaign style, realignment of politician, aspirant for the various constituencies, in County governance and Senatorial as well as civic bodies. The ODM is the dominant party, but the orange party is known for its poor nominations system, which might end up disappointing some of the aspirants who are expected to perform well during the election proper.

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Uganda plans to screen and vet foreign workers seeking jobs in the oil and gas sector

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

The Uganda government has envisaged the plan for screening and vetting all foreigners seeking for jobs oil exploration and prospecting companies operating I the country.

The Daily Monitor has reported that the plans to have the expatriate workers vetted were disclosed to the member of Parliamentary Ad-Hoc committee investigating the oil sector.

The revelation was made by the Commissioner for Petroleum Exploration and Production in the Ministry of Energy, Mr Ernest Rubondo whose department is tasked with the responsibility on the running and management of the oil sector.

He stated that the aim was to ensure that Ugandans do not lose out on jobs to the expatriates. Rubondo was responding to the member of the committee who had questioned the government commitment to ensuring that Ugandans and local fully benefited from the oil sector.

“If a company does not find suitably qualified Ugandan, it will be allowed to have an expatriate to fill the job. But the firm will be compelled to employ a Ugandan on the same job to understudy the foreigner and gain the necessary experience and eventually take over from the expatriate so that more foreigners do not come here,”he said.

Rubondo, however, told the committee members that the biggest challenge for Ugandan companies was lack of capacity to provide goods and services due to lack of funds to enable them compete effectively with foreign firms.

Rubondo further stated,” I believe the companies we have here are improving.”There are 77 wells so far. But all the wells pads were constructed by local firms “There is also a consultancy firm we hired to design a strategy plan on how best to achieve local contents.”

The MPs have been complaining about the lack of local employment in the oil sector, arguing that most of the foreign employees earn higher salaries than the Ugandans on the same job specification.

But Tullouw Oil Company’s president and the chairperson of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and petroleum Mr Elly Karuhanga commented, “This has been the practice because the government has an agreement with foreign firms of hiring specific foreigners with specific expertise.

Karuhanga added,”it is good that the Ugandan are employed to understudy the foreigners, “There are many foreigners whose applications for work permits are still pending.’

He disclosed that Tullouw Oil Company has employed between 15 and 20 per cent foreigners out of it workforce of about 200. Some oil companies are too technical and they are always under pressure to fulfill the immigration requirement to complete heir jobs.

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Kenya & USA: Obama’s family members and relatives back home in Kenya expresses confidence that he will emerge the winner in the US presidential race

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The on going USA 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.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: AWENDO D.C WAS RIGHT WITH CLAIMS OF RAMPANT CANE POACHING AND CUT-THROAT SCRAMBLING FOR RAW MATERIALS BY THE THREE SUGAR MILLS IN THE REGION.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Awendo Town.

The Awendo D.C was very right when he made a claim that the Ndhiwa based Sukari Industries was involved in excessive cane poaching from Sony Sugar Company cane growing zones.

The concern of the Awendo D.C. Arthur Mugira is a matter of utmost urgency concern of all the stakeholders in the region because the “poaching of cane has become the source of insecurity in the region.

First of all, it is the sole responsibility of the D.C of a given area of his or her administrative jurisdiction as the chairman of the District Security Committee to ensure that peace and tranquility is prevailing and a matter of paramount importance. And law and order is maintained at all costs.

The D.C. had accused the Ndhiwa based Sukari Industries Limited that the company is poaching and harvesting cane crops from farmers contracted by SonySugar company during night times.

The relevant facts, which must be taken into account in order to crown up this argument , is the fact that the Sukari Industries went to into operations and productions late last year after the completion of its establishment, installations of its crushing machineries, stores and administrative bocks and all other facilities and accessories.

The Mill, which is located near Oria market right on the border of Ndhiwa an Uriri districts has continue harvesting cane and milling despite the fact that it had no nucleus estate farm of its own on which it could grow its own cane for the raw materials and maintained continuous steady supplies for its mill

It is therefore depending entirely on harvesting raw cane crops from out growers inside both Ndhiwa and Awendo, Rongo and Uriri district, which it has no material/financial inputs on, but which were developed with the resources of SonySugar company with impunity.

So far the Sukari Industries has not seen it fit to develop its own cane by way for financing the out growers within its own cane growing zones. And it has continue milling using cane harvested at night from the out growers farms which were developed with funds made available to the farmers through land preparation loans and cane development programs by SonySugar, running into millions of shillings.

Prior to the establishment of the Sukari Industries, the Awendo based SonySugar had contracted close to 27,000 small scale cane farmers within its sugar cane growing zones and similar number of non-contracted farmers. But even these non-contracted out growers farmers had benefited from some kind of farm input from Sony Sugar such a cane seedlings, fertilizers and transportation costs. The only sensible way for the SonySugar to recover its money that it had used in loans to the farmers for the company to be allowed to harvest, crush and sell the made sugar to the consumers. If the same cane is harvested and taken into another mill, which had not played part in its development, then SonySugar would not be in legal position to recover its money through the deductions of the proceeds from the cane bills so that it could replenish its books of accounts and the money could be consider as well as lost.

The argument, therefore require the simplest and most elementary arithmetic. In this context, the concerns expressed by the Awendo D.C. Arthur Mugira are genuine and represented the true picture of the happenings on the ground.

To be more honest, both Sukari Industries and the nearby Trans-Mara Sugar mills were established in total defiance and flagrant violation of the rule and regulations set by the Kenya Sugar Board, which is tasked with the responsibility of regulating the industry in this country. It explicitly stipulates that any investor or investors intending to establish a new white sugar processing mill must ensure that such a factory is established in area which is not less than 40 kilometers apart from the existing sugar mill.

The potential investor is also required to disclose its source of cane supplies to keep the mill running and strictly not to encroach into another mill’s cane growing zone.

Due to allegedly corruptive deals, the two mills were established against the entire existing rule governing the industry and sugar production in this country, and hence the current cut-throat competition in scrambling for raw cane being witnessed in this region.

Mr Lalji Divecha, the general manager of the Sukari Industries must accept these facts as presented above and should not fly out of the truth. His remarks that the D.C.’s complaints were baseless only amounted to “excessive arrogance on his part.”

I have been informed that the KSB is just about to disburse close to Khs 300 million plus to the

Sukari Industries for the company to advance its out growers farmers with advance loan for land preparation, cultivation and development of cane crops in its own zones. I hope the money will be utilized to the letters and that there will be no repetition of the old Madhvani case in Kwale District some years ago. In Kwale, the money which was given to the company as an advance for the resuscitation of the then run-down Ramisi Sugar Company had gone to the dogs an the investors disappeared in the thin air not to be heard off up to-date.

One thing which the Sukari Industries must come out clean is the question of its importation of close to 35 unqualified workers from India and Pakistani, though this is the common practices in this country where the investor happens to be Asians. In all the sugar mills owned by Asians, the indignant Kenyan workers are getting row deals.

Kenyans are only used for the manual work as laborers, whereas all the staff jobs goes to Indian and Pakistanis workers imported from foreign countries. In the case of African workers, they are only engaged as casual workers, and never issued with the letters of employment by the employers. Mandatory deductions such as PAYE, NSSF and NHIF are things of the past. The employees have no workmen’s compensation arrangement.

Tax-evasion is some of the normal features in the sugar mills. Both the Labor Ministry inspectorate teams and the sugar workers unions appeared to have been compromised and only singing and dancing to the tones of the employers, who appeared to have taken the government for ransom immigration ministry include. Most of the Indian and Pakistani workers imported into this country to work in the sugar mills are not sufficiently qualified to hold the jobs they are engaged on.

Whereas the SonySugarhas employed close to 2500 Kenyans in its establishment who are making important contributions to this country’s economy through the mandatory salary deductions for NSSF, NHIF, PAYE and other important national funds and KRA. Moreover, the SonySugar is using its money and grades repairing the roads and building bridges within its sugar cane producing zones, the Sukari Industries and Trans-Mara Sugar Companies are making good use of these roads at the expense of SonySugar.

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Kenya: Joe Donde is headed for a big victory in the contest of the Siaya County governor

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Say Town.

JOE Donde the former Gem MP who is considered as one of the most articulate and highly polished politicians inside Luo-Nyanza is the man moist favored to clinch the powerful position of Siaya County governor come March 4th,2013.

The signs of Donde’s impending victory in the contest for the powerful position of Siaya County governor were visibly witnessed during the last Sunday ODM campaign rally held in Siaya Town and which was attended by a huge crowd of ODM supporters.

The campaign rally was called by the Lands Minister James Aggrey Orengo. The Ugenya MP also used the meeting for officially launching his campaign for the Siaya County Senate seat. The contest for the Siaya County Senate seat has become so controversial due to the fact that it pitted the two regional political power base.

It pitted Orengo and the Finance Assistant Minister Dr. Oburu Odinga, who is the MP for Bondo and the elder brother of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. So far there are no signs that the PM will come to the aid of his brother. Both Orengo and Dr Oburu Odinga are considered as the closest political advisers of Raila Odnga.

The last Sunday meeting came in the wake of another controversial rally held at the same venue the previous week. The controversial rally was convened by Dr. Oburu Odinga and his supporters. The Finance Assistant Minister also used the rally to launch his campaign for the Siaya County Senate seat.

It turned chaotic when a group of people suspected to the hired goons storm the venue and causing those in attendance to dispersed in disarray after a man carrying a panga {machete} was spotted mingling with the crowd and moving menacingly towards the direction of the dais. Dr Odinga’s security detail and supporters wrestled the man to the ground and beat up u mercilessly before the man was frog-matched to the nearby Siaya Police station where the man was locked up in police custody.

Within minutes the accomplices of the man had regrouped and matched to the police station and storm it with the demand that the man be released forthwith, they too were overpowered and nine of them were apprehended and taken into police custody.

Addressing the mammoth crowd, Orengo said that he had offered his candidature and wanted to serve the Siaya people as their Senate representative, therefore it was jp to the residents of the region to decide. He had come forward and wanted to conduct his campaign in a peaceful manner, adding that he had no feeling of enmity to Dr. Oburu Odinga, it was therefore up to the electorate to decide as to who should be their Senate after the polls slated for March 4, 2013., In attendance were the Sports Minister Dr.Paul Otuoma, Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo, Alego Usonga MP Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda and the Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo- who is also the government Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo who is also the government Chief Wip and a maternal cousin of Dr.Oburu Odinga., civic leaders from all over Siaya County representing six constituencies.

It emerged that behind the scene reconciliation meetings have been going on for sometime, but these meeting had produce no amicable solution as the two D Odinga and Orengo instead that they will go full length to the ballot boxes.

Jakoyo Midiwo whose mentor is arguably Dr. Oburu Odnga launched the most scathing criticism of the Finance Assistant Minister charging that instead o working for an amicable solution to the issue, he was issuing threats. Leaders in Siaya County had agreed that all the elective positions either in the County governance, national assembly, senate or governorship would be shared proportionately.

In the previous week’s rally convened by Dr.Oburu Odinga which was held in at the same venue, ony one MP ha attended the meeting. He was eng. Nicholas Gumbo the MP for Rarieda who is the only one supporting Dr. Odinga. It has since emerged that the rest of Siaya ODM leadership are firm in their support for Orengo.

In the case of Joe Donde, he will square it with his fellow man from Gem constituency Julius Okinda

Born I the house of a former senior journalist Isau Donde Odinga who retired shortly before his demise in the late 1970 after serving the government in various capacities and finally as the Provincial Information Officer, Nyanza

Soft-spoken and well mannered Joe Donde is also the brother of the former career diplomat at one time Kenya’s Ambassador to Egypt ms Mary Donde who retired after heading many of the country’s diplomatic missions abroad, Joe Donde lost his Gem seat to Jakoyo Midiwo in 1997 and has since kept a low profile preferring to work quietly as an international consultant.

Siaya County has six parliamentary constituencies, namely Raried, Bondo, Gem, Alego-Usonga, Ugenya and the newly created Ukwala which was curve out of Ugenya by the IEBC as part of the newly created addition 80 seats.

Judging from the utterances of the people I the huge crowd which had attended the campaign rally called by Orengo the governorship will definitely go to Joe Donde who is headed for a landside election victory an will be the next Siaya County representative in the Senate.

ENDS

Kenya: ODM is urged to postpone its primary nomination date from 4/5 December to another date as the exercise will coincides with KCE national exam dates

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo IN Kisumu CITY.

A prominent politician in Homa-bay County has called upon the ODM board of election to reconsider the possibility of postponing the party’s primary nomination dates from December 4/5 to another suitable date towards the end of the same month.

Dr Mark Matunga, who is also an aspirant for the Homa-Bay County governor position cited the KCE national examination, which would be taking pace at the same, adding this could have an adverse implication on the performance of students.

“Most schools classrooms will be used as polling stations, counting halls, wile candidates will be traversing the villages while making a lot of noisy through signings and blowing loudspeakers and aujas, vuvusellas and drums. The campaign noises in villages which are located next school could have negative effect on the performance of students sitting for national exam.

Moreover many teachers would be engaged as counting clerks, supervisors, returning officers and counting clerks at the time when they would be required to invigilate and supervise the exam to ensure that their student performed ell at the exam.

D Matunga has suggested that the ODM primary nomination dates be pushed forward to after December 20th . This will be after the schools re closed and the student gone hoe for the end of the year school holidays so the campaign noises will have no negative effect on the student’s performance.

He said his calls for the postponement of the ODM primary nominations must not be construed as meaning he is opposed to the party tentative nominate program, but feels that the logic must prevail, because Kenya valued education of their children highly.

Meanwhile the information emerging from the Suba region of the greater southern Nyanza says that Dr. Matunga is currently the leading contender for the Homa-Bay County governor position is under heavy pressure to switch his candidature fro that of the County governor and contest the Mbita parliamentary seat.

The aspirant who hails from Mfangano Island in Mbita district has yet to respond to the voters demand nor could he be reached for his reaction and comments on the latest demand could not could be reached through mobile phone.

Mbita constituency which was originally part of the Lambwe constituency which was established in 1961 has had half a doze of MPS previously, but none has ever come from Mfangano Island.

The first MP for Lambwe Valley constituency was Dr Joseph Gordo Odero-Jowi from Karungu in what is today Nyatike constituency. This was during the Lancaster Constitution, which had a tri-cameral parliamentary system with the National Assembly.

The late Senator Sellemiah Mbeo-Onyango from Mfangano was elected to represent the entire larger South Nyanza district I the Senate. But when the tri-cameral parliamentary system together with regional assemblies were abolished following the constitutional changes of 1965/1966 which were effected by an ct of Parliament, a new Mbita constituency was created after Lambwe constituency was sub-divided into two with the creation of Mbita constituency specifically to accommodate the South Nyanza district Senator. The late Mbeo Onyango therefore become the first MP for Mbita.

Under this new arrangement Dr. Oero-Jowi switched his political cmp to the newly created Ndhiwa prliamentary seat.

In the 1969 general election, the Late Mbeo-Onyango defended his seat, but he was trounced by a fellow islander George Osingo Migure from Rusinga Island. Migure, however, lasted for only five year one terms, and the seat was gabbed by the late Aphonce Okuku , the younger brother of the late Tom Mboya

Alphonce Okuku hails from Rusinga Island. He successfully defended his seat in 1974, but lost badly to Peter Clever Otieno Nyakiamo in 1983.BOTH Okuku and Nyakiamo served in the cabinet of President Moi as an Assistant Minister and full cabinet minister respectively.

Nyakiamo was from Kaksingiri in what is now Suba South, although he had a family root in Wakula sb-clan who are his uncles and who lives in Mfangano Island whose Wasiambi sub-clan lives in Kakasingiri, he was defeated was won by the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works Dr. Valentie Omolo–Opere who whose time as Mbita MP saw the constituency being splinted into two with the creation of Gwassi constituency into two with the creation of Gwassi constituency, and the late Dr. Valentine Omolo Opere, another person from the mainland. Omolo Opere lost the seat to Felix Nyauchi a Nairobi lawyer who who the seat during the euphoria of Ford-Kenya in the 1992 first multiparty elections.

It was during Nyauchi time when the constituency was splinted into two with creation of Gwassi. Nyauchi as trounced by a Nairobi businessman Zadock Syong’o in1997 while during the same period of time Gerald OtenKajwang.won the Mbita seat and successfully defended it n2002 an 2007. Kajwang’ hail from Waondo in Gembe location in Lambwe Division. Looking deeply at the background of Mbita constituency, one could easily see that it is the residents of Mfangano Island who have yet to produce a parliamentary representative in Mbita ever since the inception of the constituency, though their voting strength is almost equal to those of the registered voters in the twin-Rusinga Island.

All the previous representatives have either come for the mainland or the neighboring Rusinga Ind, hence a strong demand by the residents of Mfangano that this time they be given a chance to produce one of their own as the next MP.

The Islanders have picked on Dr Matunga. However,Dr Matunga’s candidature, however, would complicate things for the Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo who hails from their neighboring Rusinga Island and who is so popular in Mbita at the moment an expected to sail through easily. This is because Dr.Mutunga is arguably the mentor of Milie Odhiambo.

The two have had a good rapport and cordial working relationship on friendly term, and people in the region expect Dr. Matunga to lend a hand of support by backing Ms Odhiambo in her bid to be elected as the next Mbita MP and she is equally expected to campaign for Dr.Matunga bid for the Homa-Bay County governor position.

Although she could be termed as a young firebrand legislator, Millie has performed very well in parliament even above the average of men and women sitting in the current 10th parliament. She has been an effective contributor to almost every local and international issue when such issues comes up for debate in the house to the house for debate. She has proved to be so eloquent an effective and formidable debater and one whose leadership has been tasted as a leader.

Since both Matunga and Odhiambo had one background of being the indignant Suba, and belonging to the two Islands whose inhabitants have the same background voters in the Sub region would like to see both Odhiambo an Matunga serving in senior positions in the next government an parliament.

Both Odhiambo an Matunga are wit armed with proper educational background and working experience.

This writer could not reach either the two, Odhiambo and Matunga to clarify these rumors, though the rumor about heavy pressure being put on Matunga to switch from contesting the governorship to that of Mbita parliament is so rampant in Mbita town and its environs.

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KENYA: MUROHONI MP FLEES A FUNERAL IN HIS CONSTITUENCY

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By Our Correspondent

Drama was witnessed within Muhoroni Constituency when the area MP Professor Ayiecho Olweny was forced to leave a funeral ceremony in Nyando county council in a huff after his political archrival James Onyango K‘Oyoo arrived triumphantly at the same function in Nyando.

K’Oyoo arrived in the company of his supporters forcing Olweny to protest bitterly before leaving the place in a huff as two of his bodyguards shot in the air as angry mourners bayed for his blood.

Olweny whose political fortunes have been dwindling very fast protested over the scenario

He equated himself to a river which can not be stopped on its course saying that he is pragmatic leader.

A number of youths were injured during the stampede.

Olweny said that he was grateful that some youths were stabbed as a result of the incident.

“That is what those who are opposing me will get in Muhoroni knife stab” he said in a shrill voice

Both the leaders were attending the burial of the brother of the Nyando County council chairman Samuel Onyango.

Among those present were medical services minister Peter Nyongo and Nyando Mp Fred Out who left the venue amidst tension.

The Muhoroni parliamentary aspirant equated himself to running streams which cannot be prevented at all costs.

Olweny blamed K’Oyoo for the chaos where several people were injured after Ayiecho told his hirelings who were high on drugs to charge “and discipline”Koyoo’s followers.

Nyongo who was also present took to his heels

Among those present were former Muhoroni town council chairman Billy Adero and Nyando aspirant Lumumba Ouya.

Kenya: Scores of people taken into police custody in siaya town following an attempted panga attack on Minister Oburu odinga

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Writes Bob Ndira-Uradi

Scores of people were arrested and taken into police custody in Siaya Town on Monday following an attempt by a group of suspected hired political goon attempted to disrupt the ODM campaign rally.

The meeting turned chaotic after a man who was spotted brandishing a machete and suspected to be preparing to attack the Finance Assistant Minister Dr. Oburu Odinga was beaten savagely before being frog-matched to Siaya Police Station where he was taken into custody.

Siaya police Chief Stephen Cheteka confirmed the incident. The man whose name was given as simple as Otieno had attempted to disrupt the meeting. This prompted the youth allied t Dr Oburu Odinga to swang into action pounced on the panga man, and unleashed kicks and blows on the him before pinning the suspect to the ground

His nine other accomplices were also cornered by the police and taken into custody bring the number of those arrested to ten.

The multiple sources in Siaya town the battle for the coveted Siaya County Senate seat has turned nasty with the supporters of the two leading contenders for the seat threatening to unleash terror to each other.

The Siaya County Senate seat is being contested by two political giants in the region, namely the Lands Minister James Aggrey Orengo and the Finance Assistant Minister Dr.Oburu Odinga, who is also the elder brother of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga

Concerted efforts have been made by the stakeholders, sitting MPs from the region include to have the two men reconciled in vain. Each one of the two politicians is insisting that they would full length to the ballot box, and that none is wiling to stand down for the other, though both of them are staunch member of the ODM.

Information reaching us and rumors making the rounds in Siaya town says, Orengo is having the upper hand and would definitely touch Dr. Oburu Odinga, whose candidature appeared to have the blessing of the resident of only in two parliamentary constituencies, namely Bondo and Rarieda.

Siaya County has six parliamentary constituencies, namely Gem, Ugenya, Ukwala, Alego-Usonga, Rarieda and Bondo. Orengo has the upper hand in the other four constituencies and he is expected to perform better than Dr.Oburu Odinga.

Orengo’s campaign has yet to hit the ground, the Minister is, however, said to be using his proxies who have amounted elaborate and effective campaign and hunt for votes all over Siaya County.

Information making the round is that the electorate have unanimously agreed that they would vote for the Prime Minister Raila Odinga on man-to-man in his presidential bid but are said not to be very comfortable with Dr. Oburu Odinga’s candidature for the Senate seat.

Information emerging from Bondo itself say that a sharp division has emerged between the two major sub-clans residing in Bondo district, namely Jo-Sakwa, Dr. Oburu Odinga’s own sub-clan and who have the majority of the registered voters and the Jo-Yimbo, who are the minority sub-can shariung Bon

The Bondo parliamentary seat has remained the exclusive preserve of the Jo-Sakwa ever since its inception in 1963 starting with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as its first MP.Dr Oburu Odinga has represented the area for close to 19 years ever since the death of his father Jaramogi Ogings Odinga in January 1994.

The popular opinion making the round is that it is time the Odinga family to vacate this seat for another man from Jo-Yimbo. This has came about following the rumor that Dr. Oburu Odinga had panned to front son Elijah Abonyo Oburu to succeed him as the next Bondo MP, while he himself settle in the Senate.

This is the issue, which those proxies campaigning for Minister Orengo against Dr. Oburu Odinga are reported to be exploiting to the maximum.If The campaign by the two goes to full length and the two fail to agree, the electorate might switch their support to the Roman Catholic former Nun Sister Agnes Awuor who is contesting or the Siaya Senate seat as an independent candidate.

The former nun is reported to have been sacked by the Vatican for having joined politics which is contrary to the doctrine of the Catholic Church. But on the ground her name and euphoria is sweeping the region like Tsunami. She is the one to watch because she is increasingly attracting the women and youth votes and she could the two political giants of Siaya a run for their money.

On the election of the Siaya County governor, the name of the former Gem MP Joe Odonde is sweeping the region. He is contesting against another fellow from Gem Julius Okinda.

Ends

Kenya: Awendo parliamentary candidate says he will fight for the sugarcane farmers to get better return for their sweat if voted in as the area’s next MP

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Writes Bob Ndira-Uradi In Awendo Town

A Parliamentary aspirant in the newly created Awendo parliamentary electoral constituency has pledged that he would struggle hard to ensure that the much exploited sugar cane farmers get the better return for their crops.

He will work hand in hand with the Provincial Administration and to ensure police authorities in a joint concerted effort to get rid of cattle rustling, thuggery and insecurity in the small farming town of Awendo and it environs..

Joseph Otieno Owuor who is billed to be in the forefront of beating his rivals and a possible favorite of the electorate in the forthcoming contest the in the new constituency which was recently curved out of the old Rongo constituency said sugar cane farmers working within the sugar cane growing zones of the Awendo-based SonySugar company have a bone to chew with the management the facility.

He accused SonySugar for having made the unilateral decision to reducing the cane prices from K.shs 4.800 per ton to Kshs 3,800 per ton arguing this radical reduction would seriously hurt the cane growers economically.

SonySugar management made such drastic decision without consultation with the stakeholders, who is in this context are the cane farmers in the region. The reduction has negative impact on the income of the farmers.

The move is viewed as one way of impoverishing the cane growers, taking into account the current exorbitant prices of farm inputs. The cane growers still faces extra costs, including the costs of harvesting an transportation from the field to the factory which leaves them with only a peanut payment for their cane bills.

Owuor was speaking during an exclusive interview with this writer at his rural home near Dede market in Central Sakwa Location, Awendo district within Migori County. He said poverty index I the area remained high despite of high circulation of money in the areas as a result of sugar cane farming, production of made sugar and its sales by SonySugar, and something must be done to arrest the situation before it got out of hand

Owuor who is currently serving the Minister for public Services Dalmas Otieno as his Personal Assistant {PA} said members of the farming fraternity in the Awendo cane growing zones have a lot of grievances to complaint about, and which must be addressed urgently.

The farmer’s complaints are genuine and need to be addressed, taking into account that farm input such as fertilizers, labor and other overheads

“The costs of harvesting and transportation have also gone up threefold, exposing the cane farmers to a lot of suffering. Some of them could not adequately feed their family and at the some time pay school fees for their school-going children, hence the need for the prices of raw cane to e o the upward trend all the time.,” said Owuor.

Touching on the rate of crime waves in the region Owuor said this has impacted negatively on the business community in Awendo town and traders in the outlaying marketplaces.

The problem, he added, has come about because of the recent influx of so many people into the small farming town of Awendo and its environs. These people have come from all over Nyanza Province and beyond in search of green pasture and business opportunities, but some of them are suspected as having dangerous past criminal records and needed some kind of vetting by the local chiefs and police before they were readily allowed to access rental houses in Awendo town which they are using as hideouts while executing their heinous crimes.

Owwor scathingly criticized Awendo zonal director who represented the zone in the Kenya Sugar Board for working in isolation without effectively engaging the management of the Awendo-based SonySugar Company into a dialogue on various issues and problems affecting the cane farmers.

The KSB director for Awendo zone is Zachariah Okoth Obado who’s working relations with top manger of SonySugar Company is reportedly not very cordial.”The area KSB director is not serving the best interest of the farmers.

Owuor appealed to youth and women to register s voters in their thousands when the exercise started. This, he said, is the only way of ensuring that they voted for the ODM leader Raila Odinga to realize his presidential ambition and also to ensure that the party secure good number of MPs in the next parliament.

He said by registering in large number as voters the residents of Awendo district and Migori County would give the ODM a comfortable victory at the next polls,” The Wananchi must also ensure they enrolled as party paid up members to facilitate their active participation I the day to day activities of ODM in their localities.’

Owuor urged the ODM leadership to soldier on with the votes hunting campaign while ignoring the activities of political turn-coats and party hoppers who have fled fro the party in search of green pasture in other parties hoping to lay their hands in the campaign resources which is said to be in abundance and unlimited supplies plus ill-gotten drugs money included.

Owuor who is facing three other aspirants vying or the same seat is believed to be somehow much experienced in public affairs, having gained a lot of experience during his services with Dalmas Otieno, which has exposed him to access the operations of the government system works, while most of his rivals for the same seat are said to be green horns.

Ends

photo of Joseph Owuor an aspirant for the Awendio parliamentary seat on

This entry was posted in Africa News, Business, Elections, Farming, HEADLINES, Kenya, Political Party, Politics, Sugar on October 9, 2012 by alangreen.

Kenya: The only woman aspirant for Nyakach parliamentary seat urged the government to stamp out of the menace of rampant cattle rustling in the area

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

A PARLIAMENTARY aspirant for the Nyakach seat in Kisumu County has decried the rampant cattle rustling in the area saying the practice was repugnant, primitive and retrogressive to peaceful development of the region.

Grace Atieno Akumu who is the only woman among the 13 aspirants vying for the Nyakach seat called upon the government through the Provincial Administration and police authorities to step up the effort of stamping out the menace.

Akumu is the wife of the veteran trade unionist James Danish Akumu made these remarks while addressing a group of students from Nyakach at the Kisumu Polytechnic over the weekend. Her ailing husband J.D.Akmu was once a two terms MP for Nyakach in the early 1970s and in the 1990s

She said cattle rustling in Nyakach district is not only a real menace to peaceful development activities in the area, but is also the source of insecurity in the area thereby retarding progress and development activities. Many people have lost their precious lives in the hands of mercy less rustlers.

Akumu urged the students to place high value on their education so that when they come out at the completion of their studies they could form enterprising contracting companies, which in turn could offer employment opportunities to other school leavers in their home regions.

She decried the misuse of the government devolving funds such as CDF, schools bursary fund and roads maintenance funds arguing that the development projects in which the money is budgeted and channeled for have refused to take ff the ground everywhere in the constituency making the residents to be suspicious that these funds were not being put into proper use.

She appealed to the government to ensure that now that Nyakach has been identified by experts as having sufficient oil deposits for commercial exploration and prospecting, Nyakach people must be given a better deal and shareholding in the international oil companies once the drilling and prospecting began.

She pledged that if elected the next MP for the area, she would press the government hard to build new dams in the upstream of Sondu-Miriu river so that its water could be utilized in irrigation in the lower Nyakach which is semi-arid area for production of more food. The lower Nyakach is constantly prone to perennial floods menace and yet the flood water could be tapped and stored in dams for later use in irrigation of farms to ensure food security in the region.

She said that her other priorities as an MP will be to organize a series of peace meetings between her people and residents of the Neighboring constituencies, such as Sigowet, Belgut, Ainamoi, Mugirango West and Kabondo-Kasipul for the purpose of creating understanding between the diverse communities living in those areas with the view to sensitize them to the danger of allowing criminal elements involve in cattle rustling and other anti-socio-economic activities, which are so detrimental to peaceful co-existence of the communities..

She promised to revive the cotton growing in Nyakach which has been on the cline for years and to fight had for the reduction o poverty indexes in the area by demanding for better return in the prices of agricultural products and food crops for the local farmers, and good access and feeder roads for transport their farm produces to the market places.

She said she will fight for economic empowerment of women and youth in Nyakach as one way of poverty eradication of the support for her bid for the area parliamentary seat.

Members of the Nyakach Students Association at the Kisumu Poytechnics assured Mrs Akumu of their support in her bid for the Nyakach parliamentary seat.

Ends

This entry was posted in Africa News, Crime, HEADLINES, Kenya, Leo Odera Omolo, Politics on October 8, 2012 by alangreen.

Kenya: Reports say William Ruto was barred from addressing high profile funeral gathering in his own constituency

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

It has been established that the Eldoret North MP William Ruto for some unknown reasons was technically barred from addressing thousands of mourners in his own constituency forcing the outspoken politician to leave the venue prematurely.

The incident took place during the high profile burial of the former Assistant Minister Elijah Sumbeiywo at his home in Sergoit on the Eldoret Iten road.

The funeral which had attracted the huge crowd was also attended by among other mourners, the retired President Daniel Arap Moi, the Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, and the Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey who read the Prime Minister Raila Odinga condolence message to the bereaved family.

It has been confirmed from the multiple sources in Eldoret that Ruto who is the presidential candidate on the United Republican Party of Kenya {URP}was in attendance with a large number of Kalenjin politicians and MPs, but looked restless and unsettled during the ceremony, which had attracted many Kalenjin luminaries and leaders from other regions of Kenya.

The URP leader according to the same sources was in pensive mode and left the venue abruptly while the ceremony was still going on.

The report further revealed that the bereaved family of the late Sumbeiywo who was at one time the head of the presidential Security Escort for the retired President Moi had requested the mourners tat here be no political speeches in keeping up with the norms of Kalenjin culture and tradition.Sumbeiywo briefly represented the Keiyo North constituency in parliament after his retirement fro the police force upon reaching the mandatory retirement age. He left the force while serving in the rank of Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police and the venture into parliamentary politics.

Local political pundits were quick in interpreting the incident as meaning rejection of Ruto’s political leadership by a section of the larger Kalenjin community, an issue which could have negative repercussion on his presidential bid.

Ends

This entry was posted in Africa News, Elections, HEADLINES, Kenya, Leo Odera Omolo, Political Party, Politics on October 8, 2012 by alangreen.

Kenya: Ministe Nyong’o’s bid for Kisumu Senate seat may flop in the face of his unpopularity and stiffest opposition by two high profile aspirants

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Writes Arrum –Tidi Ogonglo in Kisumu City.

The battle for Kisumu County Senate seat has taken a new political dimension with the voters in all the six parliamentary constituencies appear not settled with the candidature of the Medical Services Prof.Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o who has already declared his interest in the seat.

Prof.Nyong’o lance his campaign for the seat in a colorful ceremony held at the Tom Mboya College in Kisumu on September 17,2012. This was only a week after another high profile aspirant for the same seat had launched his well attended campaign for the same seat a the same venue.

The aspirant is a Nairobi based managing director of an international engineering firm Maxwell Otieno Odongo {The Aga Khan} as he is known to his peers.

Eng Otieno Odongo is the managing Director of Otieno Odongo and Partners Engineering company, which is involve in word-wide construction and consultancy projects, and a prominent businessman in both Nairobi and Kisumu. He is a large scale sugar-cane farmer in Kibos-Miwani area and running other chain of businesses including rice factory at Ahero Town and the Homa-BayTourist Hotel.

The contest for the Kisumu County Senate sea has also attracted another wealthy Nairobi based quantity surveyor Ocholla-Ogoda who at one time was the successful chairman of the populist Gor Mahia Football Club during the clubs hay-days when it won triple of cups and trophies in Kenya and Africa.

Ocholla Ogoda also launched his campaign or the same seat two weeks ago at a well attended ceremony held at the Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu City, which was also attended by the Assistant Minister for Education Prof P Ayiecho Olweny and other political personalities in the region.

Kisumu County is made of seven parliamentary constituencies, namely Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando, KisumuTown East, Kismu Town West, Kisumu Central and Seme. Out of the seven constituencies two were recently created by the IEBC while one had its electoral boundaries realigned This is Kismu Town West which was separated from the original Kisumu Rural that has also created the new Seme constituency and Kisumu Central, which is exclusively covering the City center and its environs making the constituencies to seven instead of the previous five.

The general elections are only five months away. It comes the time when Prof. Nyong’o’s medical Services Ministry has come under severest criticism putting the Minister’s integrity to question.

Prof. Nyong’o has also come under heavy fire and scathing criticism for his Ministry’s handling of the National Hospital Insurance Fund’ board of management. The doctors strike, which has left many inpatient an outpatient in government hospitals and health enters dying due of luck of doctors attentions.

Prof. Nyong’o in his poor handling of doctors strikes has clashed with stakeholders in the NHIF like COTU {K} the Federation of the Kenya Employers {FKE} both of which have stakes in the NHIF. He is also known not a high performing MP at the constituency level and his decision of shifting from parliamentary politics is viewed by local pundits as an act of desertion from the electorate after dismal performance in the past.

Unfortunately, the same voters in the old Kisumu Rural constituency will be the same people, the Minister is expecting to vote or him to capture the more lucrative Senate seat, but which is promising to very competitive How he would be fairing on is nobody’s intelligent guesswork.

Eng Otieno Odongo, who is also a lawyer by profession, is a man of substantial means. He has established several medium and small scale cottage industries in Kisumu, where hundreds of local youths are currently employed, while his enterprising engineering consultancy firm is said to be contracted in many parts of the world appeared to be the man to watch in the impending contest, which the pundits have christened as the “Battle o Giants”.

KISUMU County is made of four Luo sub-clans, Namely Nyakach, Seme, Kisumo and Jo-Kano which is the most populous. If the clans arithmetic is anything to go y, then the Kano voters are expected to carry the day. But this might not be the case, and what expected to be o the play s party politics.

The region is an ODM stronghold. This one of the reasons why many residents of the ODM primary nominations, which is schedule on January 4,2013. This is the only sensible way of creating the level playing ground for all the aspirants who would be vying for the elective posts in various.

Eng Otieno-Odongo hails from Kochogo sub-clan in Kano plains, while Ocholla Ogoda originally came from Nyakach, but is family has settled in Muhoroni settlement area. He could still manage to harvest more votes in Nyakach, his original Songhor, Fort Tennan, Chemelil, Kopere.and Koru.

Prof Nyong’o hails from Seme community one of the major Luo-sub-clans living in Kisumu County. His previous role was to represent a small portion of the Jo-Kisumo sub-clan known a Kisumo Karateng’. The sub-clans happen to be the minority voters in the old Kisumu Rural constituency where the groups were grouped together with the Jo-Seme forming Kisumu Rural constituency since its inception in 1962.

However, Jo-Seme have had the lion’s share with their own sons represent the constituency ever since its inception with only the late John Robert Ouko a member of the Jo-Kisumo sub-clan having won the election for the first time in the late 1970s. Ouko had represented the constituency for only five years before he switched his political camp to Kisumu Town.
At the independence elections of 1963, the late Tom Okello Odongo was made the firs MP for Kisumu Rural. He was from the Jo-Seme-Group.He was followed by the late Whycliff Onyango Ayoki in the ate 1960s and Wilson Ndolo Ayah in the 1970s and later by Ochoro Ayoki in the late 1990s
Owing to the fact that that Jo-Seme had the superior in voting number, something which ha created ill-feeling among the Jo-Kisumu people and Jo-Seme. The two sub-clans, however, were recently separated with Jo-Kisumu people having their own constituency in Kisumu Town West which is mainly or the Jo-Kisumu, it would be an up-hill task for Nyong’o to succeed in successfully canvassing the Jo-Kisumu to vote for him in his bid for the Senate seat.

There is another sub-clan called Jo-Kajulu, which forms the part o Kisumu Town East constituency, but could essentially plays a, important ole as the source of a wing votes.

The Jo-Kano clan would definitely lay the claim on the Senate seat. This clan has spreads its wing into three administrative districts, namely Muhoroni, Nyando and Kisumu East and the Nyanza Sugar belt area. Eng Otieno Odongo stands a better chance of clinching the Senate seat going by the sub-clan arithmetic. However, the winner will depend on individual’s campaign style and strategies.

All the three aspirants are men of substantial means and well known personalities to the residents of Kisumu County and how each and every candidate would be interacting with the voters, though the soft spoken Eng.Otieno Odongo had the upper hand

Prof Nyong’o could only perform better if the odm boss Raila Odis own protracted battle for his presidential campaign and might no find time of coming to the rescue of his friend Nyong’o.

Ends

This entry was posted in Africa News, Elections, HEADLINES, Kenya, Political Party, Politics on October 4, 2012 by alangreen.

KENYA’S ANTI-DRUGS AND ALCOHOL BODY SUPPORTS BILL,

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By Agwanda Saye,

NACADA the Kenya’s agency tasked with fighting drugs and alcohol is supporting the proposed amendment to the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act of 2010 which initially criminalised those who were selling alcohol to the underage and now wants [parents enjoined and committed to jail.

The agency’s Chief Executive Officer DR.William Okedi says that they as an agency welcomes the said amendment which will criminalise parents who are primary caretakers of the underage to be held responsible or be fined kshs 10,000 or three months in prison or both.

He however lamented that its no secret that substance abuse is a major global problem with serious ramifications to the society adding that though previously viewed as a criminal problem, alcohol and drug abuse has in recent years become a threat to the socio economic development of the country and Kenya risk loosing the nation’s hard earned gains.

He added that drug abuse is observed to not only affect the individual drinker but the society at as its usage goes beyond the physical and psychological health of the drinker.

“Diminished academic performance, insecurity, hooliganism and motor vehicle accidents are some of the social effects of alcohol consumption , others include, infertility, reduced work performance as well as wide range of social ills such as child abuse, rape ,domestic violence and murder” he added he added that after the government acknowledged the negative impact of alcohol and drug abuse, it responded to the alcohol and drug abuse challenge by requiring that all public institutions mainstream alcohol and drug abuse prevention in their programmes.

This entry was posted in Africa News, Drugs, HEADLINES, Health, Kenya, Law, Politics on October 4, 2012 by alangreen.

KENYA: RESIDENTS OF NYAKACH EMBRACES TOILETS TO CURB DISEASES.

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BY Agwanda Saye

Residents of Nyakach District within Kisumu County have embraced Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) which is aimed at the community deciding to take care of their own sanitation and have constructed pit latrines aimed at curbing numerous diarrhoeal ailments.

As a result, cases of diarrheal cases have been reduced from one thousand and eighty monthly to the current two hundred and thirty cases

The area District Public Health and Sanitation Director Anne Osero says as a result no cases of cholera has been reported within the area .

Speaking in Nyakach during the celebrations to mark the even, Osero added that there has been increased latrine coverage and use in the community and in schools as well as health facilities , improved hand washing facilities in homes, schools and health facilities ,training for one hundred and fifty school management committees as well as training nineteen health clubs.

“The most challenges we have witnessed includes the perennial water shortage affecting hand washing ,lack of trees for building materials especially reinforcement, dependence on subsidy, adverse climatic conditions –droughts and floods, understaffing of Public Health staff as well as peri-urban being difficult to manage”Osero added.

She further said that there is need for continuous health education, use of their locally available materials, improved technology in pit lining as well creation of technically qualified self help groups to construct cheaper and better latrines as well as partner-community collaboration.

Community Led Total Sanitation was started in October 2010 and five Public Health Officers were trained by UNICEF and has been conducted through house hold registration, triggering follow ups, verification by DPHO, third party verification and declaration of ODF status celebration.

This entry was posted in Africa News, HEADLINES, Health, Kenya, Politics on October 4, 2012 by alangreen.

KENYA: NYANZA WOMEN TO GIVE BIRTH FREELY IN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES,

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By Agwanda Saye

All Health Centres and Dispensaries within Nyanza Province must not charge delivery fees to any Clinic or Health Centres within Nyanza Province to any woman who delivers in the said facilities, Says Nyanza Provincial Public Health and Sanitation Officer Dr.Jackson Kioko.

Dr.Kioko says that any one found charging the said fees will face full disciplinary measures adding that all fees have been paid courtesy of Health Sector Service Fund.

“the only payment the delivering mothers should pay at those facilities is only registration and fee for hospital book ,otherwise no further payment should be made” he added.

He said that presently any woman who has delivered in the said facilities must be given sanitary towels and nappies must be given to the newborn babies when they are inside and outside the facilities.

“Cotton gauze, gloves and any other related thing must also be given to the mothers after deliveries as well as tea, warm water and porridge” he added

This entry was posted in Africa News, HEADLINES, Health, Kenya on October 4, 2012 by alangreen.

Kenya: Sugar cane politics to dominate the electioneering campaign in the newly created Awendo constituency

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Writes Bob Ndira-Uradi in AwendoTown.

The battle line is drawn between the scores of candidates who have set their eyes on the newly created Awendo parliamentary constituency seat in Migori County.

This is one of the 80 extra parliamentary constituencies country-wide which were recently created by the Interim Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC} and endorsed by an act of parliament.

The new electoral constituency has already attracted four aspirants who have already declared their intention of vying for the seat.

The newly created constituency w hived out of the old and larger Rongo constituency. It is located in area whose residents represented people of diverse communal, clan and tribal background, making it to be true cosmopolitan constituency in the true sense of the word.

Furthermore, Awendo constituency is arguably the smallest among other parliamentary constituencies in the greater and larger Southern Nyanza region. Its economic mainstay rotate around sugar cane farming and the Awendo-based SONYSUGAR company, a wholly government owned brown sugar manufacturing mill

The newly created Awendo parliamentary era is the smallest constituency I the greater Southern Nyanza region covering only Awendo district, which ha no administrative Division.except Awendo town,

Its area of jurisdiction is covering only for administrative location, namely Sakwa West,Sakwa North, Sakwa North,Sakwa South and Sakwa Central an area in which Awendo town is included.

The inhabitant of this constituency which is a cosmopolitan constituency in the true sense of the word represents people of diverse tribal and communal backgrounds.

Resident of the constituency represents the indigenous Sakwa people, who are occupying most parts of the west and lower parts along the Kuja River, while the inhabitants of the upper parts comprises of Jo-Alego Kogelo, Jochula who migrated from Rusinga Island in Suba region,

There are also non-Luos like the Luhyias, Maragolis, Kisiis,Somalis and immigrants from other major Luo locations like Nyakach, Kachuonyo,Uyoma,Asembo and Kano.

Owing to the areas proximity to the borders, cattle rustling business has refused to go away in this particular district ever since the country attained its political independence. These rustling. It borers the nomadic communities like the Maasais, Kurias who believe in cattle rustling as part of their cultural behaviors. Also the other neighbors are the Kisiis who are relatively much more civilized farmers. Cattle rustling have been a real menace to the residents, taking into account hat rustlers were now using sophisticated modern weapons like guns when executing their heinous crimes, resulting in deaths.

Amongst the individual political personalities who declared their interests in the new seat includes John Otieno Owuor, a Nairobi University graduate, who is currently working as the Personal Asistant[PA} to the Minister for Public Services Dalmas Oieno, who is also the incumbent Rongo MP.

Owuor is considered to be highly experienced in public service because before he joined the staff of the Minister, he was involved in the work with NGO and had initiated development projects of the infrastructure such as Schoos, medicare,women and youth groups.

Owuor is also credited for having been linked to the acquisition of school buses for several secondary shoos in Awendo, one of them being Manyatta Secondary School.

His work with the Minister has brought him close to the electorate in both Rongo and Awendo district and if he is to use his contacts with the voters, he will be advantaged over his rivals.

Another aspirant is Jude Michael Ayieko a former senior official with KRA who resigned his lucrative job with the government in order to contest the Awendo seat. He hails from near Pe-Hill Secondary School in Sakwa East Location.

Also in the race is the Principal of Gamba High School in Sakwa West Fred Otieno Kopiyo who will also square it up with Eric Oyoo who hails from Sakwa West and currently working it an NGO in Nairobi.

The former MP for Rongo George Ochillo-Ayacko who was expected to give the new entrants a run for their money is reported not to be in the race and that he has shifted his interests elsewhere, though he has yet to make his stands known to the electorate.

The creation of the Awendo constituency has now brought to abrupt end the bloody and violent campaign pitting the supporters of the two political giants in the region.

The two are now placed in different constit8encies with Dalmas Otieno remaining in the old Rongo constituency while Ochillo-Ayacko is in Awendo constituency. The list of aspirants may not be the final one, because the rumor making the round in Awendo and its environs say more aspirants are expected to join the race within the next few weeks.

The prices of raw cane is likely to dominate the campaign with each of the aspirants articulating how he will have the farmers in the region served better. There are numerous complaints against the management of the Awendo based SONYSUGAR with allegations of poor relations with the cane farmers.

The company, which is wholly owned by the government has recently unilaterally reduced the cane price from Kshs 4,800 per ton fro Kshs 3,800 per ton The farmers are complaining that they were not involved in the decision.

The other issues include the on-going cut-throat competition and scrambling over the scarce raw cane between the SONYSUGAR and two newly established sugar mills. On of the new mills is located near Oria market on the Ndhiwa side of River Kuja. The second one is Sukari Industries are reportedly giving SONYSUGAR hard times by way of unlawfully harvesting the cane which were developed with SONYSUGAR money..

Ends

This entry was posted in Africa News, Business, Elections, Farming, HEADLINES, Kenya, Land, Politics, Sugar on October 3, 2012 by alangreen.

KENYA: AN OPEN LETTER TO ODM MINISTERS; OTIENO KAJWANG’ AND ANYANG’ NYONG’O .

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By Chak Rachar

I do hope that both of you are fine as you still day dream that ODM is likely to form the next government,

Actually, I usually pay very limited attention to your murmuring blabber and you seem not to know exactly what entails you as cabinet Ministers.

Kajwang’, you really made a fool with yourself when you declared in an ODM function that you had waived all the charges in regard to the national identification cards while Nyong’o doodles and grope with Doctors issues forgetting that when he had the obvious which made him almost die, its the same doctors who “resurrected” her back to life.

Actually that is not the reason why I have chosen to write to you an open letter, the reason being in regard to your recent press conference in Kisumu in regard to the violence which had rocked the Lakeside City pitying some groupings.

The two of you had seemed to be in a slumber and woke up and started “blubbering, shit and nuisance and words not meriting your status in regard to the issue.

I thought as two cabinet ministers there were better ways for you to have been briefed by the concerned security organs then you go to your said press conference which I saw nothing out of “but two hungry less informed ODM Ministers who were seeking” publicity at all costs.

For both of you to have insinuated that “a Senior Politician from outside luoland” was the one funding the said was the most ignorant,stupid,less informed opinion emitting from “a less informed,thick,narrow headed and an imbecile of Kenya’s cabinet Minister.

The whole incident took a whole two weeks, where were you two “clowns” if I may ask? to me you seemed to have had nothing to say rather than bringing issues which do not merit anything.

How about us meeting and telling you what happened?

Let ,me hear from you

This entry was posted in Africa News, HEADLINES, Health, Kenya, Political Party, Politics on October 1, 2012 by alangreen.

KENYA: RAILA SISTER HECKLED AND BOOED BUT VOWS THAT SHE WILL BE KISUMU GOVERNOR “BY FORCE”.

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By Chak Rachar

Drama was witnessed during the burial of former East Africa PS David Nalo in Kisumu County when agitated residents of the area told Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s sister Ruth Adhiambo who is aspiring to be Kisumu Governor that they will never elect her and she first of all tell them her roots.

This happened in the full glare of his brother who started dumbstruck at the unfolding events as many refused to listen to her drowning her speech in ululations and catcalls.

“Ok wanyal yiero owadu kaka President, Owadu Oburu kaka Senator halafu in Governor” (we can’t elect Raila your brother as president and Oburu too as a Senator, then u also as a Governor? That can’t happen)

The 200Kg weighing lady then was forced to cut her speech vowing in dholuo that she will be elected whether Kisumu County voters likes it or not.

“You will know who my brother is, he has seen what you have done by embarrassing him” she said as she put her heavy down while breathing menace in her eyes.

This entry was posted in Africa News, Elections, HEADLINES, Kenya, Politics on October 1, 2012 by alangreen.

KENYA: THE KAKAMEGA MILESTONE COURT RULING ON SUGAR HARVESTING ZONE DISPUTES WILL BRING SANITY AMONG THE VIOLENTLY SCRAMBLING MILLERS OVER THE SCARCE RAW CANE

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From: Arrum Tidi
News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The High Court judgment in which the West Kenya Sugar Company on Tuesday this week lost in the round one the battle to control sugar cane crops harvesting in Busia County’s cane growing zone to the Mumias Sugar Company is expected to bring sanity within the sugar industry where millers have been reportedly violently scrambling and poaching for the scarce raw cane.

The High Court Judge within Mr Justice Said Chitambwe sitting in Kakamega Court dismissed with costs an application filed by West Kenya Sugar Company that sought to overturn the temporary orders obtained by Mumias Sugar Company.

Mumias Sugar Company got the injunction barring West Kenya Sugar Company from harvesting and ferrying sugar cane fro Busia cane growing zone on September 11,2012.

The orders also restrained West Kenya from operating a weigh-bridge within Mumias sugar belt, Busia zone is within Mumias sugar belt.

West Kenya which is located within Kakamega County had filed objections to the orders by Mumias Sugar.

There has been a spirited battle and scrambles for cane crops in the region following acute shortage of the same in the area.

These battles have led to loss of lives and destruction of properties. Tractors found conveying sugar cane to either factory have been set ablaze and crew savagely beaten up by hired goons and the millers engaged in war of attrition over raw materials.

The same problems have occurred in other sugar cane growing regions in both Nyanza and Western Provinces. In some places it has been a total war as the competing miller deployed short-cut methods to undercut their competitors.

The worse hit is the Awendo-based SONYSUGAR company following the recent commissioning of two newly established sugar mills, one of them the Sukari Industries which is situated at Oria Market right on the boundaries of Ndhiwa and Uriri districts.

THE new sugar mill, which is a medium size mill with low production capacity has no nucleus estate farm of its own on which to grow cane and ensure it is a float in business throughout the year. This mill depended entirely cane crops “poaching” cane from sonysugar growing zones in the region.

The Sonysugar which has been operation for over 30 year has its own nucleus estate farm of over 6000 hectares. It has contracted close to 27,000 out growers cane farmers in several districts in the region which included Migori, Awendo, Rongo, Gucha, Uriri, Trans-Mara West, Kuria, and Homa-Bay. It has similar number of non-contracted cane farmers and almost the same number of non-contracted farmers. And sonysugar has also spent millions in shillings in financing its out grower farmers in land preparation, supplies of cane seedlings, cultivation and other good cane husbandry supports.

The Sukari Industries, however, has yet to envisage immediate plan of supporting out grower cane farmer in its Ndhiwa district zone in order to alleviate its perennial raw material supplies problem, and it appears as if the war of attrition and scrambling or the scarce cane would continue for some unforeseeable future.

Moreover the Sukari Industries sugar mill was established close to SonySugar company in flagrant and total defiance of the rules and regulation set up by he Kenya Sugar Board, which stipulates that anyone intending o invest in new sugar factory should ensure that the new facility is set up in a distance of not less than 40 kilometers away from the existing sugar

Owing to the unconfirmed allegation members of the KSB corruptively and hurriedly approved and licensed the new factory against the board’s own laid down rules of cane growing zoning, leaving the mills to fend for themselves hence the source of discontent and rampant poaching of raw cane.

The police and the provincial administration in Migori County appeared to be of no much help, perhaps having been compromised, taking into account that the investors in the to new mills are Asian tycoons.

The distance between SonySugar at the Trans-Mara Sugar Company, which is also owed by Asian investors is about 15 kilometers. Similarly this mill also has no nucleus estate farm of its own and depended entirely on crops planted and developed with SonySugar money and has been harvesting these cane with impunity, depriving the Awendo Mill of its cash which it has used in financing the cane development in the farms allocated along the Migori Narok Counties boundaries.

It is high time the government get involved practically by forcing official demarcation exercises and allocating each sugar mill its own clearly marked cane growing zone in order to bring to an end harvesting zones for each sugar factory.

In the Nyanza sugar belt covering Kisumu and Nyando districts where four sugar mills are operating, the situation is no different fro that facing SonySugar in Southern Nyanza.

The four sugar mills included Miwani Sugar Mills, Kibos Sugar and Allie Industries at Kibos, Chemelil Sugar Company at Chemelil and Muhoroni Sugar Mills based at Muhoroni town.

Out of the four mills, Miwani and Muhoroni is operational, but in a small scale the two facilities went burst ten years ago due to their inability to servicing debs running into billion of shillings Miwani has remained closed while Muhoroni is still operating in a small scale under the official receivership management.

With Chemelil company,which used to be the center of excellence in the sugar industry sub-sector on its death bed, the prospect of Kenya experiencing acute shortage of sugar in the near future cannot be ruled out.

The problem at Chemelil has just came about as the result of the prevalent cut-throat competition over raw sugar cane.The company has been crushing cane below its capacities for close to one year forcing the mill to be operational only thrice or twice a week.

It all started when the Kenya sugar Board approved and licensed the Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries at Kibos near Kisumu without properly assessing it source of cane supplies. The Mill has since then constructed a weigh-bridge at Awasi where it is receiving cane destined for Chemelil and Muhoroni Sugar Mills, which is only eight kilometers away from Awasi.The Awasi weigh-bridge has also the negative effect on the cane supplies to Muhoroni Sugar.

The Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries has also established another weigh-bridge at Chepsweta or near Kibigori where it is also receiving raw cane from the Nandi Escarpment which were previously going to Chemelil and those coming from Miwni zone, though Miwani is long close down, the cut-throat exercise is not good for long term planning or the continuation of cane supplies to the mills within Nyanza sugar belt the mills were only allowed to undercut one another.

The government must come out with a clear-cut sorts of policy guideline to impose sanity in the important sugar industry on which millions of Kenyans depended on fr their livelihood.

Claims, speculations and rumors are also abound with allegation of poor weighing system at the sugar mills operated by Asian investors where unsuspecting and illiterate and poor African farmers are allegedly losing millions on technically faulty weigh and measures at the factories weighbridges.

Members of the sugar cane farming fraternity are placing the blame squarely at the doorsteps of the elected members of Parliament [MPS} representing sugar cane growing constituencies for the inability to articulating the farmers problems. Some of the MP it is being alleged have joined the league with Asian millers and investors who are exploiting the cane farmers to the maximum.

Ends

This entry was posted in Africa News, Business, HEADLINES, Kenya, Law, Sugar on September 28, 2012 by alangreen.

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Category Archives: HEADLINES

KENYA: PROF AYIECHO OLUENY FACING UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN HIS ELECTION BATTLE TO RETAIN MUHORONI SEAT AT THE NEXT YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTION AS HE FACES SERIOUS HURDLES.

KENYA: THE SCORECARDS OF SOME LUO MPS FROM NYANZA IS INDICATING THAT HALF OF THEM WILL BE SENT PACKING BY THE VOTERS ON MARCH 3, 2013.

Uganda plans to screen and vet foreign workers seeking jobs in the oil and gas sector

Kenya & USA: Obama’s family members and relatives back home in Kenya expresses confidence that he will emerge the winner in the US presidential race

KENYA: AWENDO D.C WAS RIGHT WITH CLAIMS OF RAMPANT CANE POACHING AND CUT-THROAT SCRAMBLING FOR RAW MATERIALS BY THE THREE SUGAR MILLS IN THE REGION.

Kenya: Joe Donde is headed for a big victory in the contest of the Siaya County governor

Kenya: ODM is urged to postpone its primary nomination date from 4/5 December to another date as the exercise will coincides with KCE national exam dates

KENYA: MUROHONI MP FLEES A FUNERAL IN HIS CONSTITUENCY

Kenya: Scores of people taken into police custody in siaya town following an attempted panga attack on Minister Oburu odinga

Kenya: Awendo parliamentary candidate says he will fight for the sugarcane farmers to get better return for their sweat if voted in as the area’s next MP

Kenya: The only woman aspirant for Nyakach parliamentary seat urged the government to stamp out of the menace of rampant cattle rustling in the area

Kenya: Reports say William Ruto was barred from addressing high profile funeral gathering in his own constituency

Kenya: Ministe Nyong’o’s bid for Kisumu Senate seat may flop in the face of his unpopularity and stiffest opposition by two high profile aspirants

KENYA’S ANTI-DRUGS AND ALCOHOL BODY SUPPORTS BILL,

KENYA: RESIDENTS OF NYAKACH EMBRACES TOILETS TO CURB DISEASES.

KENYA: NYANZA WOMEN TO GIVE BIRTH FREELY IN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES,

Kenya: Sugar cane politics to dominate the electioneering campaign in the newly created Awendo constituency

KENYA: AN OPEN LETTER TO ODM MINISTERS; OTIENO KAJWANG’ AND ANYANG’ NYONG’O .

KENYA: RAILA SISTER HECKLED AND BOOED BUT VOWS THAT SHE WILL BE KISUMU GOVERNOR “BY FORCE”.

KENYA: THE KAKAMEGA MILESTONE COURT RULING ON SUGAR HARVESTING ZONE DISPUTES WILL BRING SANITY AMONG THE VIOLENTLY SCRAMBLING MILLERS OVER THE SCARCE RAW CANE