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KENYA RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE PUBLIC FIGURES AND SHOULD TOLERATE A HIGH LEVEL OF CRITICISM

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By Article 19

ARTICLE 19 is increasingly concerned about threats and attacks against journalists in Kenya who report on matters of public interest involving religious leaders.

On 29 June 2012, Erasto Agwanda Saye, a journalist based in Kisumu, was physically attacked after writing an article alleging that an ‘Overseer’ (or pastor) in A Kisumu based church situated along Kisumu Nairobi road was engaged in adultery.

Saye reported that church-goers were criticizing the appointment of the new Overseer, who they claimed was a serial ‘wife-inheritor’ and adulterer. When Saye asked for comment from the Bishop who made the appointment, he was warned of ‘dire consequences’ should he report the story. In a text message to Saye the Bishop wrote ‘Try and write the story, you will know who I am.’ Saye’s attackers have been arrested and charged with beating the journalist.

On 22 July 2012 two Nation TV journalists were threatened after attending a church service before ‘Fire Ministries Church’ Pastor, Michael Njoroge. The journalists were pursuing a story that Njoroge had paid prostitutes to falsely claim that they had been healed after receiving prayers from him. Njoroge warned the journalists that they would ‘eat grass’ (meaning they would be cursed and equated to an animal) and suggested that he could invoke the power of God to transfer illness to those who challenged him. The threats were later broadcasted on Nation TV.

ARTICLE 19 is concerned both by the threatened and actual violence against journalists in these cases, as well as the underlying reasoning that religious leaders should not be offended nor criticised in the media.

The right to freedom of expression protects not only the expression of information and ideas that are favourably received but also those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population. Freedom of expression can indeed be restricted if it is necessary to do so to protect the rights of others. However, public figures are legitimately subjected to criticism and should, given their position, role and influence, tolerate increased public scrutiny. Religious leaders are public figures as they play a role in public life. Therefore ARTICLE 19 affirms that certain aspects of their private lives may be of legitimate public interest and justify journalistic enquiry. The issue of alleged corruption in the functioning of churches in Kenya is topical and of real public interest.

The Human Rights Committee has made it clear that under no circumstances can an attack on a person for exercising freedom of expression be justified. ARTICLE 19 recalls the Joint Declaration of 25 June 2012 on Crimes Against Freedom of Expression which calls on States to create a new category of ‘crimes against freedom of expression’. Governments are under a duty to prevent, prohibit and protect people from, such crimes. International human rights law not only protects individuals from rights-violations by the State but also obliges the State to protect individuals from violations of their rights by other private individuals.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and Media Practitioners in Africa also notes that press freedom and freedom of expression can only be enjoyed when journalists are free from pressure, intimidation and coercion. Violence and other crimes against those exercising their right to freedom of expression, particularly journalists who investigate corruption and other issues of public interest, has a chilling effect on the free-flow of information.

ARTICLE 19 therefore calls upon the Kenyan Government to ensure that any allegations of threats or attacks on journalists are promptly and properly investigated. Perpetrators must be prosecuted and victims must be offered appropriate redress and remedy, whether civil or criminal, in order to protect the fundamental right to freedom of expression, and, in particular, media freedom.

Further information

A wife- or widow-inheritance is the practice in which a man inherits the widow of his deceased brother or other close relative. Originally a protective custom, reports abound that it is much abused and women are forced into sexual relations and, if inheritance is refused, women can be driven out of their communities.

KENYA: THE KISUMU GOVERNOR POSITION ELECTION BATTLES WILL BE BETWEEN ACADEMIC ALUMNIES, AND POLITICAL ELITES AND BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The election battles for the coveted position of Kisumu County governance appear to have attracted what one local pundit had termed as some of the “ best brains in the region.”

Among the candidates who have already declared their intention to contest this highly lucrative position included academic luminaries, business magnates, entrepreneurs and seasoned politicians as well as the most highly experienced administrator’s per-excellence

However, one of the leading aspirants has come out in the open and issued a challenge to his opponents to discard what he described as “the retrogressive clans and tribalism politics.

Peter Hongo a senior marketing -guru with the Mumias Sugar Company said everyone should be eligible and free to contest any elective position so long as he or she is a Kenyan citizen irrespective of his birthplace or places of originality.

All the aspirants must preach the gospel of peace and love and articulate to the electorate their party and individual policies in regards to service delivery to the voters..

“it is very essential that the candidates must exhibit the politics of maturity and preach only for peace and tranquility which is devoid of acts of violence and political thuggery.” said Hongo.

Hongo who hails fro Kisumo East Location in Kisumu Town West constituency within Kisumu County for along time has been the marketing manager of the Mumias Sugar Company, and the man behind the company’s sales success story during the genius managerial prowess during the reign of the former Managing Director Dr. Evans Otieno Kidero who has sine retired from the company services and is now aspiring to become the first City governor of Nairobi under the new constitutional dispensation arrangement.

The soft-spoken and stoutly built Hongo says he had all what it takes to be the County governor in Kisumu region and that if elected to the position he would use hi wealth of experience

One of his worthy opponent is equally an experienced manager. He is Ojawng’ K’ombudo former long serving Kisumu Town Clerk, who had switched to politics and was made the Regional Development Minister under the KANU last regime of the retired President Daniel Arap Moi. K’ombudo who is a very successful businessman in Kisumu Tow had served as a two terms MP for Nyakach constituency.

The same position ha attracted a former senior accountant with the Kenya Revenue Authority {KRA] Jack Ranguma who at time was the joint official receiver manager for Miwani and Muhoroni sugar companies. He hails from West Kano in Nyando district.

Also reported to be in the race is a senior lecturer in one of the US based universities Dr Barrack Abonyo, who is a close friend of the Prime Minster Raila Odinga.Abonyo also hails fro Kano plains in Nyando district and has been an instrumental in raising fund for Raila’s campaign kitty in the US. He is being credited as one of the strongest Raila supporters in the diaspora.

Dr. Makobewa a 40 year old trained medical doctor who is also the executive director of OGRA FOUNDATION an NGO with the strong British government financial support. Dr Makobewa who runs chains of ultra modern medium size hotels in Kisumu City also hail from Kano Plains. His candidature is reported to have bee endorsed by the elder from Kano clans sending out negative signal of clan’s politics involvement in the race or Kisumu County governor position.

The race for Kisumu governor has also attracted the younger sister of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga Ms Ruth Adhiambo Odinga who is the managing director of the Odinga family business flagship, The Spectre International which is runs and managing the Kisumu Molasses plant near Otonglo Market n the outskirt of Kisumu City.

Also I the race is the youthful insurance executive I London an Nairobi Simon Ogendo, who is the son of the former Kisumu Mayor, the late Ogendo Ponge. Ogendo, hails from Kolwa Location around Nyamasaria suburb in the outskirt Kisumu City, and is candidature is said to be attracting mostly youths ad women groups.

Kisumu County which covers six parliamentary electoral areas of Seme, Kisumu Town East, Kisumu Central, Kisumu Town East, Nyando, Muhoroni an Nyakach has the vast resources such as fish, tourism spots, farming with sugar cane and sugar factories as the mainstay of its economy need the right people at the helm of the County governance in order to turn it. This requires men and women of proven ability and experience to manage it and turn it around.

Kisumu City recently acquired the multibillion shillings new Kisumu Airport, which is soon expected to serve larger passenger planes. The site is the getaway to East African countries and cities with good connection to other destinations in the region b either roads and by air.

Already the Cit is hosting several secretariats of the East African Community whose senior and junior staff need good housing accommodation.

However, Kisumu City is the only major urban center in Kenya without functioning manufacturing industries.All the major industries such as the Kenya Breweries plant, Kisumu Cotton Mills Limited, Kibos Industries and others closed down a decade ago, splitting hundreds youth out of employment. The new Count top leader will have a daunting task of working toward the rehabilitation of the ’ closed down industries and possible establishment of new ones to absorb hundred of thousand of jobless youths who have since became a real security menace to the city dwellers, especially the school lever. The city woes could be rightly attributed as having been caused by politically motivated and economical marginalization of the Luo-Nyanza region by he previous KANU regimes.

ends

KENYA: WORSHIPERS TOOK TO THEIR HEELS AND FLED IN GREAT STAMPEDE AFTER A LION WAS SPOTTED ROAMING ABOUT WITHIN THE CHURCH COMPOUND IN NAKURU TOWN.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

WORSHIPPERS and faithful too to their heels and fled in great stampede in Western Kenya town of Nakuru about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital city, Nairobi after they found a wild lion had strayed I the church compound the previous night and was roaming about menacingly.

The incident took place last Sunday morning hours when the worshippers had arrived in the church for the morning service at St Nicholas Anglican Church of Kenya {ACK}, which is located at the Lakeview estate, not fat away fro Nakuru National Game Park.

A senior church elder Peter Mungoya told the newsmen that he had been alerted by and warned a fellow parishioner about the danger. The ma told me when I arrived or the morning service that a full grown lion had strayed into the church compound forcing some of the early arrivals to lock themselves inside the church hall.

“The church caretaker told us that he had spotted the lion sneaking into the church compound at about 4.AM {local times}and said the beast had e alerted the officials of the Kenya Wildlife Services {KWS}.

Lake Nakuru National Game Park warden in-charge Joseph Dadacha said the beast might have escaped fro the par after a fight with other lion over territorial disputes.’”We struggle to catch it, but when morning came we could not shoot it a we risked injuring members of the public”,said the game warden.

He said the lion would be relocated and taken to the animal orphanage to ensure its safety. The beast was later sedated. The KW official asked residents to report cases of stray wild animals to the KWS, and captured at the nearby Kimathi Primary School and returned to the game park.

Over the past few months several pythons have been caught in the nearby Flamingo an lake view estates within Nakuru town’s suburbs

At the same time a 12 year old school boy at Ogaka Primary School at Mikei village in Nyatike district within Migori County was devoured by a crocodile.

Distress calls was made by the locals who attracted many people I the nearby villages who managed to retrieve the minor’s body. Area police Chief Richard Bitonga immediately appealed to the locals to be careful when at the Crocodile infested River Migori.

In the recent past several isolated incidents involved Nile crocodile attacks and killing have bee reported in both Migori and Kuja rivers as well as in the nearby River Oyani. The deceased in this particular case had gone for a swim in the in Migori River in the company of two other boy after the school holiday started.

Meanwhile fears persist in NORTHEN Kenya covering following the reports of massive invasion by swarms of desert locusts.

Farmers at Kingilitis irrigation scheme in Loima district have raised fears that their crops yields would be lost this season if the authorities do not intervene.

Pouline Nakala an agronomist working I the region ha appealed to the government and door partners to salvage the situation before it gets out of hand.

“We are immediately sending the experts to go and assess the damage inflicted the crops by the pests we swing into action Province LEONARD Nyambuyathe regional director of Agriculture.

He added, “We are experiencing big loss of crop to the locusts invasion and we expect losing large quantity of crops this season.

Dr Poul Omanga of the Food and Agriculture Organization {FAO}promised that his organization would assist the Kenyan farmers in their fight against the pests. However, all agreed that the appearance of the desert locusts in the region posed a bi threat to food shortage and security I the region and needs concerted effort by all relevant stakeholder to brainstorm together for solutions.

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KENYA: TOP MEDIC JOINS KISUMU COUNTY GOVERNOR RACE

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BY JEFF OTIENO

London trained Medical Doctor cum Hotelier Dr. Hezron Mackobewa has joined the race for Kisumu County Governor.

The medic made the declaration early this week in a Kisumu Hotel in a colourful ceremony which was attended by his native Kano Clan Elders and Kisumu County Key Stakeholders.

Dr. Mackobewa aged 40 years told the attentive gathering, that his quest has been precipitated by the County Wealth potential which has not been tapped well for decades and he has ideas to ensure that status quo is changed if given the chance by the Electorate.

He hails from Ombeyi in Kano and has got chains of hotels webbing across the region. The medic is also the Director of OGRA FOUNDATION which is being credited for offering education and medical support to the destitute through their well laid outreach programmes since early 2000.

The wealthy and soft spoken medic cum hotelier will rely on his grassroot network to propel his bid. He will however contend to battle it out with a group of equally vibrant, well educated and monied aspirants among them Mumias Sugar employee incharge of Business Development and Water Peter Hongo.

He hails from Kogony Clan (native) and has been criss crossing the terrain for a couple of years doing harambees for schools, churches and sponsoring bright but poor students a move which has really catapulted him to a force to reckon with. The youthful tycoon was one of the brains which made Mumias Sugar to be unrivalled in the sugar industry during the term of the immediate former C.E.O Dr. Evans Kidero.

London based Insurance Executive Simon Ogendo the son of former Kisumu Mayor Ogendo Ponge has also joined the fray. Ogendo who has been busy for now two months overseas since he declared told this journalist during a recent telephone interview that he has finalized his campaign strategy and will soon hit the road before the end of August.

Atieno Otieno who is a Nairobi based Lawyer cum business-woman has also been aggressively campaigning. She has been busy appealing to men to realize that time for discriminating against gender is parochial and overtaken by events.

Another candidate is Ruth Odinga, the sister to Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Ruth has been on the ground trying to counter her critics that being Prime Minister’s Sister shouldn’t be a harbinger to her quest.

But in an area where clannism politics seem to be the hallmark of everything, it remains to be seen what change her bid will have on the litmus paper. She’s the Managing Director of Kisumu Molasses Plant, a company associated with the family.

Former Town Clerk and Cabinet Minister Ojwang Kombudo has also vowed that age is nothing but a number. Kombudo says he has what it takes in terms of experience and his tenure as a clerk of Kisumu Municipality and as a Minister is crystal clear and unrivalled. He come from Lower Nyakach and is nearing 80 years.

Crowing the list is former Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner Jack Ranguma who is a native of Kano-Kobura. He has been very active in the ground but he seems to have run out of steam due to the fact that he started abit early.

END

Kenya: Raila’s men are leading the campaign fr Migori Conty governance positions

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town, Migori County.

TWO men who are believed to be the most trusted confidants and close political associates of the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga appeared to have taken an early led in the battle for the two prime positions in the Migori County governance thereby sending the other aspirants eyeing the same positions into great panicking.

The two are Prof. Edward Oyugi Akong’o who appeared to have already emerged as the leading contender for the lucrative position of the Migori County governor.

The other Raila’s political associate of long standing is the former Mathare MP Gilbert Ochieng’ Mbeo who is contesting the covenant position of Migori Senate seat.

Before winning the Mathare parliamentary seat during the 1992 first multiparty elections, Ochieng’Mbeo was among the so-called Young Turks who joined hands with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga the doyen of the opposition in Kenya and fought gallantly for the introduction of the multiparty system of politics in Kenya as opposed to hitherto most dreaded one party monolithic system.

Prof Akong’o Oyugi who hails from Suna Migori was detained along side with the late George Moseti Anyona the former Kitutu Masaba MP and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Raila Odinga and others after a long period of torture at the now infamous and defunct Nyayo Torture Chambers under the hawk eye of the then dreaded Special Branch security intelligence under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi and he lost his teaching job at the University of Nairobi upon his release from detention camp, forcing him to fled the country in search of green pasture in Europe as he could longer be employed by any public University in Kenya.

The crime committed by the trio was alleged attempt to launch an opposition party in Kenya during the clamor for the multi-party political system which was sweeping the country lie Tsunami at the time.

In the 1992 first election held under the multiparty system, Ochieng’ Mbeo comfortably won the Mathare parliamentary seat of a Ford Kenya ticket. He was later nominated by the LDP then led by Raila Odinga to represent Kenya in the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha where he was returned twice before serving in the ODM electoral system for a couple of years.

Armed with an American degree Ohieng’ Mbeo is considered the most experienced and suitable person to represent Migori County in the Senate due to his vast experience and wealth of experience in parliamentary system.

Mbeo is to square it with the one time two times MP for the old larger Homa-Bay constituency Phares Oluoch Kanindo, a man who is well known for party hoping or party hoper who contested the Rongo parliamentary seat on PNU ticket in 2007 and who is considered by the electorate as a spent force and politically non-entity.

He had twice served as the chairman of the board of the directors for the Awendo-based SonySugar Company which he left in huff after failing to turn the government-owned sugar mill around into a vibrant profit-making outfit.

After sitting in the August House for close to ten year Kanindo is on record for not having made his maiden speech s or asking questions. The majority of the electorate in Migori say his time is up and as such he should vacate the political field for more the youthful and properly educated lots.

Kanindo of late has been making the round while appearing in almost every funeral gathering making sugar-coated speeches in Dho-Luo vernacular dialect for which he is so fluent in, but which the locals consider as ‘big joke” and ineffective and stale as for as modern politics in Kenya f today are concerned.

Ochieng’Mbeo is therefore stand a better chance of clinching Migori Senate seat in the absent of any other credible challenger. The ODM party loyalty will also count a great deal This is because the ODM will not take the risk of issue anyone whose loyalty and total commitment to the party presidential victory with a ticket to contest any elective position on its behalf. He paty’s vetting and screening would be the toughest this time around.

The Migori County in a complex that the region is shared by two ethnic tribal group,namely the luos the majority and the Kurias who are the minority. However, the Kuria and Luos have worked together from the time immemorial since 1962 when the former South Nyanza district was split into two one for theKiii and the Southern Nyanza fr the Luos. The Luos went home Bayalog with their neighbors the Kuriapeople.

The two communities have lived and worked together harmoniously. During the formation of the larger County Council of the greater Southern Nyanza, the late Mzee Paul Mboya Akoko became the first County Clerk. Mboya was a Luo from Karachuonyo while his deputy was Chacha Marama from Kuria and when Mboya finally bowed out ad retired Chacha Marama took over the County Clerk position and served for long time. The two communities plans to share the County positions of the County governance in equal terms and in a democratic manner.

In the case of governor Prof Akong’o Oyugi who is serving as political adviser to the Prime minster on matters of politics is expected to battle it with several other aspirants who have already declared their interest in the seat.

They included the KSB zonal director for Sonysugar zone Zacharia Okoth Obado from North Kanyamkago, in Uriri district,Ezra Odondi Odhiambo from Central Sakwa in Awendo district, Mark Nyamita also from Uriri distrct, Christopher Rusanat.

However, Prof Oyugi appeared to be more popular than the rest of the aspirants an acceptable by the electorate to the entire region.
Migori Cunt has eight parliamentary constituencies, namely Kuia East, Kuria Wes, Migor East,Migori West, Nyatike, Uriri,Awendo and Rongo..

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Kenya: Minister Kajwang in great panic as the campaign for senate seat heats up in Homa-Bay

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

DEGGARS seemed to have already been drawn up for the election battle in the race for Homa-Bay County Senate seat.

The contest for this important County governance seat appeared to be heading for a two men horse race between the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ and the populist Nairobi based youthful and populist businessman Hilary Ochieng’ Alila..

A number of the would be aspirants for the same seat appeared to have backed out of the race, leaving the field open for the two Kajwang’ and Alila to battle out.

Kajwang’ is the outgoing Mbita MP and a seasoned politician who has represented the Mbita people for the past three consecutive terms ever since 1997. The Minister, however, is leaving the Sua region without the blessing and confident of the voters in the region following his recent patch up with the Suba community over the change of the name o two parliamentary constituencies, namely Gwassi and Mbita, which had been changed by the IEBC to Suba South and Suba North.

The hurdles facing Kajwang’ is his reported concerted effort to rubbish the existence of the Suba community, failure to recognize the existence community and failure to come into terms with political realities that the existence the Suba community is not negotiable and a reality.

The Minister who is known to be one of Raila Odinga’s confidants, and infamous or his Bado Kuna Mapambano lyrics political song, is being accused for having made no significant contributions in terms of development of Mbit constituency and Likened by the constituents like “someone who is flying out of political realities in the region” and seeking a soft landing spot in the Homa-Bay Senate seat.

Kjawang’ had previously underrated his worthy challenger Hilary Hilary Alila and apparently concentrated his energies fighting the late Joshua Orwa Ojode, the former Ndhiwa MP who before he met his sudden and accidental death on June 10, 2012 in a helicopter crash had indicated that he too would contest the same Homa-Bay

This paved the way for a tactful and mobilizer per excellence Hilary Alila who is a very resourceful young politician to concentrate in building his power bases in all the eight parliamentary constituencies stretching from Kabondo-Kasipul, Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and Mbita.

Meanwhile report reaching this writer from Ndhiwa constituency says the constituents there have faulted Tom Otieno Alila the elder brother of Hilary Alila who made the announcement at the weekend that he too would be contesting the impending Ndhiwa by-election .

The rumor making he round in Ndhiwa Town and it environs, is that Tom Alila’s candidature is a deploy tactics of Minister Otieno Kajwang’ which are meant and aimed at weakening the most effective campaign being mounted by the latter’s younger brother Hilary Alila against him in the race for Homa-Bay County where the two are battling it out for the County Senate seat.

Ndhiwa electorate wants Tom Alila to withdraw his candidature in the Ndhiwa by-election to allow Hilary Alila to put p a strong challenge against Kajwang’ in the battle for Senate seat. “Moreover Tom Alila is not an ODM member and as such his chance of clinching Ndhiwa seat are too remote”, they said, adding unless he is being used as spoiler he should pull out immediately. His younger brother has invested a lot in the Senate campaign.

In the same context, Ndhiwa constituents also wants Sam Ojode to pull out of the by-election race so that Orwa Ojode’s widow Mary Ojode could carry out the family flag and recapture the vacant seat. to continue implementing the soicio-economic projects were initiated by her late husband ,but left unfinished.

Both Sam Ojode and Tom Alila were not available for their immediate comments on the latest development. Phone call placed to their mobile phone numbers went unanswered.

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KENYA: MAN COMMIT SUICIDE OVER WIFE’S ALLEGED INFIDELITY

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BY DICKENS WASONGA.

RESIDENTS of Wath Orego Village of Kisumu’s Winam division woke up to a rude shock on Monday last week after they stumbled upon the body of a man dangling on a tree outside the gates of one of the homesteads in the area.

According to the residents who spoke to this writer, the deceased identified as Ronald Omondi 27 reportedly committed suicide to protest his wife’s alleged unfaithfulness.

The deceased who hails from Kamrongo Village of Miwani division is said to have trekked to Wath Orego, his in-laws place where he allegedly took away his life by hanging himself with a rope a to a tree right at the gates leading to his wife’s rural home.

Sources who claimed to have known him told reporters that before his death, the deceased had on several occasions visited his in laws and sought help from them over the alleged infidelity practiced by his wife.

They claimed he was not helped by the in laws whom they alleged defended their daughter over the accusations.

Those close to the family claimed the two disagreed repeatedly and the woman was always going back to her parents whenever they fell out.

Through a suicide note left behind and recovered by villagers at the scene where he ended his life, the deceased gave a detailed account on why he committed suicide.

He wrote in the suicide note that he chose to hang himself than continue to face frustrations visited upon him by his wife.

The police from Kondele later took away the body of the deceased person for postmortem.

ENDS.

KENYA: SHOCK AS AMOUROUS STUDENTS FROM TWO NYANZA SCHOOLS TURNS INSTUTIONS INTO A BROTHEL OF SOUGHTS.

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By Dickens Wasonga.

An ugly sex incident reportedly took place in two Nyanza schools that has left education stakeholders within the area deeply concerned over the waning discipline amongst students in the region which was once known for academic excellence.

On two separate incidents a group of form four students from Onjiko High school in Kisumu county reportedly sneaked their way in to two neighboring girls schools, namely Rae and Ahero Girls secondary schools allegedly on a sex quest mission.

According to the principal of Onjiko Boys High school Mr. Alfred Ochiel , five form four boys from his school sneaked out of their school at 8.pm on the night of 21 July last month and went to Rae Girls which is almost 10 kilometers away where he alleged the students were received by a group of waiting form four Girls from the girls school who then went on to engage in sex.

” Upon arrival the boys from my school were warmly welcomed by five girls from the school who ushered them to an a abandoned building which once served as a classroom within the school compound where they reportedly engaged in sex ” said the principal Onjiko Boys High school.

The principal who spoke to journalists at his office who visited the school on Thursday last week to seek his comment over the unbelievable incident gave the scribes a detailed account of how sex encounter between some form four students from his school and that of the Girls school went on as though it was allowed to happen.

He shocked the scribes with his openness while describing it all and vowing he could not keep quite or shy away from speaking about an incident he too agreed had damaged the reputation of the two schools which should be shining and setting pace as centers of academic excellence and not reduce themselves to what is a kin to brothels.

While at it, the principal narrated to the dumbfounded journalists how the daring students, while allegedly enjoying moments of passion even had the audacity to have some of the girls watch over them .

” Three form four girls from Rae stood guard and two others guided the ”guests” within the compound just to make sure nothing went amiss. Said Ochiel

” While others were having sex in the abandoned building , three girls from Rae were guarding the entrance while the other two made sure the visiting boys were safely guided in and out of the school compound ” he added.

The principal who told journalists in his office that he was at his rural home attending to his sick father when the incident occurred also revealed that while investigating the incident they manged to recover a Sim card that the students were reportedly using to coordinate the whole thing weeks before they executed it.

This, he said showed that the whole thing was preplanned.

But the high school principal who claimed his boys were hired to commit crime of passion in the girls school is a bitter man. He is bitter that his deputy who was informed about the incident by one of his teaching staff allegedly chose to sit on the information for reasons which he still can not comprehend.

” When it happened for the first time at Rae my deputy was promptly told about the incident through a colleague who once taught at the girls school. The teacher had been told of the incident by another teacher from the girls school through a text message.When I asked her why she concealed the information about the incident, she told me she had informed my deputy.She even showed me the text message” said Ochiel.

According to him, his deputy was fully aware about the incidents and in the second one where four form four boys stormed Ahero over a similar mission, he claimed it was actually his deputy and the senior master who were called in by the administration at Ahero girls to piclk up their student who had been arrested there.

But still the principal was kept in the the dark, so he alleged.

Mr. Ochiel told reporters at his office on Thursday last week that he only got wind of what took place after another group of boys from his school again stormed the neighboring Ahero Girls High school on a similar mission but this time they were unlucky. He received a phone call from the principal Ahero girls informing him about the unfortunate incident.

According to him, one of students, a form four boy had been arrested by the security guards at Ahero girls high school .

” I do not want to speculate who is actually behind the twin incidents but I can tell you for sure that I have been fought ever since I came to this place. Several interested groups appears to have ganged up and want me out of here. I have never settled and this is why I must talk frankly to you about this incident which we can not hide anymore to help the school and other students who are here to learn. It happened and that is the truth”. He said.

Ochiel added that he suspects that even the incident at Rea was planned by those who want the principal in that school to be transferred.

” My students were hired to commit crime in those two girls schools.Does it not surprise you that students who should be preparing for their KCSE examinations have all the time to waste on side shows?Our students were already taking their end term tests at the time of the incident while those at Rae were also just about to start.” he added.

The principal revealed that so far nine of the form four students who were involved in the two incidents, four at Ahero and five at Rae have all been suspended.

He told the journalists that ten girls from Rea were reportedly involved in the alleged sex scandal. However , he said investigations which himself and the administration carried out after they became aware of the incident narrowed down to only three students who were suspected to have been deeply involved as the key planners of the ugly episode.

We could not verify the correct number of students from Rae who were involved in the incident as stated by the principal Onjiko high school who insisted they jointly tried to unravel the meastry behind the episode together as CEO of the two learning institutions.

Our efforts to seek comments from the principal Rea, Mrs Pamela Mola remained futile. When this reporter together with other journalists visited the school on Thursday last week to investigate the matter, the principal was not around.

Her deputy Mr. Ida Ojino flanked by the school’s senior master Mr. John Okelo remained would not dare speak to the press over the matter.

The duo told the journalists that only the principal could comment on the issue given its sensitivity but efforts to get her to speak over the alleged scandal were fruitless as she was repoeedly sick and was said to have been admitted at a Kisumu hospital.

When reached for comment, the Kisumu county education director Mrs. Beatrice Adu confirmed she had been informed about the alleged incident in the three schools adding that she had dispatched a team of investigators from her office last week to visit to the affected schools and probe the matter.

” I am ware about the matter and we have launched our investigations. On Thursday we visited Rea girls and we interviewed the girls, the boarding master and the deputy principal. We did not talk to the principal who we were told was sick” said Adu.

The director said although the girls interviewed by her team denied claims that they engaged in sex with the Onjiko boys, she said they confirmed to them that the boys visited the school at 10 pm that night while in civilian’.

” They they even revealed that they had communicated with them prior to the visit.However they claimed that they shouted when they entered the school’s compound to alert the security guard at the gates before the boys took off ” Adu added.

She promised to give a comprehensive statement today after receiving a complete report from the team who visited the schools to investigate the matter.

Security guards at Rae who talked to this writer on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization by the school administration claimed that the school has only one watchman at night and pleas to have more employed have always been rebuffed on grounds that there was no money to pay additional security personnel.

” Can you imagine one security guard manning this whole compound at night with a population of about 800 girls. It is impossible” said the watchman.

ENDS

Kenya: Human wildlife conflicts have intensified as big cats kills domesticated animals forcing the nomad maasais to take revenge by killing elephants

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

WITHIN a brief span of five days the wildlife / human conflict have intensified with report that un-identified wild animals, but suspected to be lions attacked a village within the vicinity of the capital city of Nairobi and killed twenty pigs and piglets worth Kshs 400,00.

This incident came within only to days a report that a rogue leopard strayed in Kirinyaga district and killed ten sheep and goats..

At the same time, residents a village Gatundu district near Nairobi are living in fear after a leopard killed seven sheep at the weekend.

The big cat is said to have strayed into Mrs Lucia Wangari’s compound in the dead hour of the night and mauled the sheep.

‘It was around 3AM when I was watching the Olympic Games on TV when I heard dog barking and sheep bleating. When I went out to check, I saw a leopard. Said Lucia’s son Martin Gakunya.

“When we switched security lights on, the leopard took off and fled and disappeared into the darkness leave behind seven sheep dead.”

Villagers in this particular village reported that the latest attack brings to 15the number of sheep killed by wild animals in this area in the last two months..

Another farmer, Patrick Kamau, said last month, the stay leopard killed five sheep, and three others belonging to his brother. The farmer bitterly complained that they have reported the three incidents to the Kenya Wildlife Services by so far no compensation has been paid out.

In Kajiado district several Maasai morans were admitted at the various hospitals for treatment following a fight with KWS game rangers. The Maasais had mobilized armed themselves and went on hunting spree against wild animals following the death of one herds boy who was gored to death by a rogue bull of buffalo in Tsavo West National Game Park, not far away fro the Kenya-Tanzania borders. The Maasis avenged and killed several elephants which they speared to death before the combined reinforcement police and are rangers arrived.

Meanwhile a farmer in Kapsoo in Baringo County is counting loses after his highly prized dairy cows were struck dead by lightning following late afternoon downpour I the area.

According to a herds boy who witnessed the Monday evening incident, there was heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning.

“It occurred at around 6 pm local time and the cows were sheltering under trees. Lightning struck when I was just preparing to milk the cows,” said Peter Koech

Koech recounted that immediately after the incident, heavy smoke covered the scene. He rushed to inform the owner of the animals as neighbors thronged the scene. He said he was lucky to have survived the ordeal that occurred only a few meters fro where he was standing.

A family member said the incident was a major loss because the four cows were the only source of their livelihood. The cows were purchased with the money borrowed from a government financial agency which is funding farmers with loan money on easy repayment terms. The four dead cows were valued at Kshs 200,000 and those left are three orphanage valves.

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Kenya: William Ruto’s agents nearly scuttle ODM Orange Women Democrats meeting at the Bomas of Kenya and managed to recruit their moles from Raila backyard of Luo Nanza

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Writes Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo in Kisumu

The Eldoret North MP William Ruto is reported to have made an inroad into rank and file of the ODM Women Orange Democrat organization’s national office and may be now operating deeply behind his arch-political rival Raila Odinga’s rear-guards.

News about Ruto’s breakthrough Raila Odinga behind the line came following he recent fiasco during the ODM Women Democrats elections of the organization’s national office bearers.

The election meeting was held on July 17 at the Boma of Kenya. Raila and his wife Ida Odinga are reported to have attended the meeting briefly.

Apparently unaware of what had transpired due to intensive behind the scene maneuverings the previous evening when most delegates from up-country converged in Nairobi.

Prior to their trip to Nairobi, delegates from within the Kisumu County had held a meeting in Kisumu City and agreed on the line up. The delegates were supposed to have traveled together and had resolved to give their baking and support to only the women who are loyal to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Strange thing, however, happened. Upon reaching Nairobi, the Kisumu delegates lost contact with their colleagues, who had travelled much earlier and had already been booed into a posh hotel by a woman who is suspected to have been acting at the behest of William Ruto and other anti-Raila forces.

It was at this time hen Kisumu delegates came to realize the intrigues surrounding heir much highlighted meeting. The chairman of the Kisumu Women Orange Democrat organization, Mrs Rosa Buyu was nowhere to be seen. The phone lines were all switched off. Communication between her and Kisumu delegates were severed.

On arrival In Nairobi, However the Kisumu County delegates were shocked to find there was another line up of proposals involving Assistant Housing Minister Bishop Margaret Wanjiru. Two ODM nominated MPs Rachel Shebesh and Millie Odhiambo had their own line up, which was immediately allegedly joined by Buyu who for some unknown reasons had abandoned the Kisumu delegation and even disowned Mrs Nancy Matara who had been tipped earlier by the Kisumu delegates to contest the position of the national organizing secretary. She was abandoned.

The young woman, however, stuck to the Ida Odinga’s line up and squeezed a slim victory to become he Deputy National Organizing Secretary, despite having been abandoned and disowned by her own delegates

Her branch secretary Mrs Grace Akumu lost contact, and the situation was only saved following he intervention of Mr Ida Odinga, her sister –in-law Ruth Adhiambo Odinga and Grace Akumu who quickly worked out for a alternative new-lineup that show Mrs Elizabeth Syeng’o from Kitui North victory over Mrs Farida Ahmed from the coast.

There were 20 slots and countrywide and Kisumu County ODM Orange Democrats got one position to the chagrins of the ODM Women parliamentary caucus.

What has emerged since is that there infighting between Mrs Ida Odinga and the ODM women parliamentary caucus. After the parliamentary caucus had lost their line-up, one of the Rachel Shebesh confronted the ODM election board chairman with unsubstantiated accusation that the elections had been rigged, though it was conducted transparently according to the made which had been agreed upon by the delegate themselves.

From all the intrigues, pundits were quick into pointing out that some members of the party’ women parliamentary caucus are covertly fighting Raila, though some of them are the same members of the much touted ODM Reloaded team. He group had a hidden agenda to scuttle the ODM Women Democrats national office elections. The ODM Youth Orange Democrats had their election the previous day at the same venue, which went on smoothly.

Last weekend the Kisumu County branch ODM Women Orange Democrats had called a meeting at the party offices along the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway, The purpose of the meeting was nowhere. She did not show up nor did she send in an apology.

The women who attended the meeting appeared to have been brain-washed while they were in Nairobi where other reports says plenty of money had changed hands. What followed the weekend meeting in Kisumu was full of the acrimonies, followed by accusation and counter accusations.

All clearly pointing to the direction of unconfirmed rumor making the round that some members of the ODM parliamentary caucus were not happy with the active role being played by Mrs Ida Odinga in mounting the most aggressive the campaign for her husband to realize his presidential ambition

Unconfirmed report says the money which almost scuttled the organization meeting at the Bomas of Kenya came from either a source connected to Wiliam Ruto or senior, but un-named, members of the G7.

The same money has sine derailed the unity of the Kisumu County Women Orange Democrats.

Ends

KENYA: WABUKALA CASTIGATES POLITICIANS OVER POLLS

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By Jeff Otieno

Anglican Arch Bishop Eliud Wabukalla has strongly castigated a clique of “selfish” politicians who are pushing that the next General Elections be held in August 2013 instead of March 2013.Speaking in Boya in Nyando District Kisumu County during working tour in the regions diocese, Wabukala said that Kenyans have already tuned their minds for the march 2013 polls and any attempt to reschedule it will be contested to the bitter end.

During a morning press briefing at the home of a Nairobi business man Erick Okeyo who is also a staunch member of Anglican church,wabukhala appealed for calm and humility ahead of the elections.

He further emphasised the need for restrain among the communities and said dialogue should be key whenever there is a stalemate or misunderstanding.
The routine pastoral work by the Arch Bishop will extend to four Diocess a move which has seen a sharp growth of the faithfuls in the region in the last few years since he took the mantle of leadership.He was accompanied by the Bishop of maseno South Diocess Mwai Abiero.

END.

KENYA: RESIDENTS OF NDHIWA CALLS FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN DURING THE BY-ELECTION AND STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE USE OF HIRED POLITICAL GOONS AND CRIMINAL THUGS.

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Writes Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo In Kisumu City.

NDHIWA residents have vowed to voluntary stamp out the use of political goons for the purpose of intimidating the electorate in the area during the impending by-election to fill the vacant parliamentary seat following the untimely of the former MP for the area Joshua Orwa Ojode.

The Interim Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC}. The by-election is slated or September 13, 2012.

A number of political luminaries in Ndhiwa, however, have come out gun blushing and strongly condemned the use of political goon and criminal hugs in the areas.

The wholesale condemnation followed the last Monday fierce battle in Ndhiwa Town which resulted in cores of people sustaining bodily injuries

Aye-witnesses reported that the fight which involved close to 300 combatants was between the loyalist supporter of the late Joshua the three have been criss-crossing the full length and width of the expansive constituency in the company of mobile crowds and excessively drunken goons appearing in almost each and every funeral home.

One of the leading aspirants Ted Odero yesterday called upon the ODM head office to ensure that anyone whose name I associate with the use of political thuggery and promotion of acts

Speaking to this writer from his office based in the lakeside Tanzanian town of MwanzaTed Odero emphasized the need for the Ndhiwa people to maintain peace during the campaign for the by-election and called on all the aspirants to ensure they engage in gentlemen and peaceful campaign, which is devoid of the use of violence. “We would like to have a peaceful transition from the late Joshua Orwa Ojode to the new MP. We would like to do it the Ghanaian style where the dead head of state was replaced in a peaceful style without any political hustling,”

Ted Odero is one among those highly favored to clinch the seat is to face the stiffest opposition from two other populist aspirants, Jeremiah Owiti and Louis Onyango Otieno who is a cousin of the late Ojode. Louis Otieno who is a senior manager with the Microsoft Computer International in East, Southern and Central African regions based I the Kenyan capital, Nairobi

Louis Otieno who is currently on a short visit to the US could not be reached for his comment, But multiple sources within the late Ojode’s clan of Kabwayi has confided to us that the clan which I the third largest I the constituency would lie to back one of their own to succeed the ate Ojode, and that Louis Otieno is also the favorite of the ODM members who are scattered in the expansive. Otieno who has yet to declare his candidature in the by-election join the race then it will be the battle of Titans between him and the most eloquent and aggressive competitor in the name Ted Odero who is credited for his oratory and a smooth political operative

Unconfirmed report reaching us indicated that the widow of the late Orwa Ojode Mrs Mary Ojode is under the heavy pressure by the supporters of her late husband and also close family members of the late Joshua Orwa Ojode to join the race.

So far it is not clear as to whether the recent indications that there is likely to be some court l legal tussle between Mary Ojode and her brother-in-laws over the sub-division and succession saga in the late Ojode’s vast estate could have adverse effect in her popularity. So far her popularity I the vast constituency has yet to be properly assessed and evaluated.

Ojode’s widow, however, has kept the press guessing and has so ,however, have intimated to us that Mrs Ojode is in the process and considering the option of joining he race in the by-election in order to succeed her late husband. However, Mrs Mary Ojode has yet to make her intentions known publicly over the by-election issues and could not be reached for her immediate comment.

However the senior-most member of the Ojode family is the Hon Matthews Otieno Ogingo, former two terms MP for Ndhiwa who is currently said to be unwell and is receiving medical treatment in the United State of America. Ogingo was conspicuously absent during the high profile burial of the late Ojode at his Unga farm in Central Kanyamwa.

The tension charged funeral was attended by President Mwai Kibaki the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the entire cabinet, Assistant Ministers Permanent Secretaries and close to 100 MPs.

The coming weeks will witnessed intensified campaign activities as he more that a dozen aspirant would be trying to out do each other. The residents are expecting it to be conducted in a peaceful manner and have appealed to the ODM as a party to ensure that it will be devoid of political thuggery.

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KENYA: SCORES OF PEOPLE INJURED FOLLOWING ODM SUPPORTER’S FIERCE BATTLE IN NDHIWA TOWN

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Reports Arrum Tidi Ogonglo In Homa – Bay Town

Scores of people were hurt following an outbreak of heavy fighting between the ODM supporters on Monday morning in Ndhiwa town.

Scant reports reaching here from Ndhiwa says the battle which involved close to 300 youths were between supporters of he former Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode, and those supporting a number of candidates who have declared their interest in vying forth the vacant seat in the forthcoming by-election slated for September 7,2012.

It all started when a group of party members and officials believed to be allied to a number o candidates aspiring to contest for the Ndhiwa seat during he forthcoming by-election scheduled for September 7. 2012.
One group moved to Ndhiwa town and attempted to open a new party office in the in the town. Loyalist Ojode’s supporters, however, saw no valid point in opening a new office town and insisted that all the factions within the branch could use the old office for party activities.

Dispute and serious argument ensued when each group stood its ground resulting in fierce battle. The combatant used crude weapons like rungus, jembe handles and stones. Business at the busy small rural trading center came to a halt as traders’ hurriedly closed their shops for fear of looting and scampered for safety. Market stall owners and petty traders also follow suit.

The locals blamed three unnamed would be aspirants who had launched premature campaigns in the area even long before the seat itself was declared vacant. Three unnamed aspirants have been making the rounds touring various centers addressing mobile crowds here and there.

Unconfirmed reports say 12 people sustained bodily injuries, which requires medication. Unconfirmed report says several combatants were taken into custody. This could not be confirmed immediately by either the police or members of the Provincial Administration in Ndhiwa district. It appears as if one group had preconceived plan to start the fight ad had brought weapons along with them from home, which hidden with the picnics of the town.

Joshua Orwa Ojode, the former Assistant Minister for Internal Securing together with his former boss Prof. George Saitoti and four others perished on June 10when the Police Helicopter they were flying crashed in Ngong Forest near Nairobi.

Ojode had represented he area for close to 17 years ever since 1994. Nudging by the number of people who have already declared their interest in the by – elections, all indications are that the field would be heavily crowded with even over 30 contestants join the race.

Ends

Tanzania to launch exploration of oil in Lake Tanganyika

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TANZANIA TO START OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN LAKE TANGANYIKA AND ALSO TO BUILD A MULTIMILLION DOLLARS BUSINESS CENTER AROUND KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging out of Dr Es Salaam says Tanzania now envisages three multimillion dollars ambitious development program which include the launching of oil exploration in Lake Tanganyika.

Dar seeks to join other East African Community partners nations like Kenya and Uganda, which of late have join the ranks of oil producing African nations.

Tanzania also plans to construct a city around its Kilimanjaro International Airport {KIA} to tap into tourism and business opportunities.

The government, says the report, has secured at least USD300 million to develop a state of the art commercial hub at Dar Es Salaam Port.

It has revealed that an Australian firm Beach Energy Limited has commenced 2D seismic acquisition over its Lake Tanganyika South concession in Tanzania.

The acquisition is being undertaken by Fugro Oceanseismica, and is expected to take approximately two months to acquire and seven months to process and interpret.

“Currently Beach Petroleum [Tanzania limited} has spent approximately USD 11million on its exploration efforts in Tanzania and by the end of 2012 it will be close to USD 18 million,” says Danny Burns, the company’s manager international and new ventures.

The ferry MV Mwongozo was upgraded into a seismic acquisition vessel with the necessary equipment with the on board to check the quality of the 2D seismic data after it is acquired.
Beach Energy through its contractor Fugro Oceansismica Oceansis mica SPA, has a lease agreemen with the owners of the ferry, MSCI, and has already spent more than USD one million refurbishing the vessel.

Burns was also quoted in the local media a saying that Lake Tanganyika is frontier oil and gas exploration area where little data had been collected before Beach Energy commenced exploring in 2010.

It has also been reported that Tanzania has secured at least UYSD 300 million {Tshs471.6 billion} to develop a sate of the art commercial hub at Dar E Salaam port.

The project is funded by Mara Group, a 15 year old Pan-African multi-sector business conglomerate with operations covering Information Technology, Business Process Outsourcing real estate development asset management infrastructure hospitality packaging and media. The group has a presence in 18 African countries and employs more than 4,000 people in its establishment.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Mara Group Mr Ashish Thakkar was quote last week as having said that the project will include the largest retail mall in East Africa, two internationally branded hotels, a modern convention center and a medical tourism hospital.\ The CEO said the facilities will include a modern business park, residential compound, police station and 500 residential units for the policemen.

The project consists of internationally branded hotels one five star and the other three star, and a huge convention centre,” he said adding that there will also be office blocks and service apartments.

According to the CEO Tanzania has a huge gap in the market for high quality integrated mixed use real estate developments?

The project located in Dar es Salaam will offer Tanzanians a modern environment to “live work and play”,and change the face of the City.

The contract for the construction project was signed by the Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mbarak Abduwakil, Inspector General of police Said Ally Mwema and the directors of Mara Group Thakkar and Prashant Manek in Oystrabay suburb.

On the envisaged plan to construct a city around its Kilimanjaro International Airport,Tanzania ants to tap into tourism and business opportunities.

Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company {KADCO} is developing a five-year master plan to transform KIA into a modern tourist and duty-free shopping city.

The chairman of the KADCO board of directors Hassan Kibelloh said experts from the company are working on the plan, which will be ready in a few weeks to create a city that can compete with UAE’s Dubai.

He added that apart from the 41-year old air terminal, the KIA area, which lies at the meeting point of the Northern Zone regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara, is a wide stretch of unoccupied land.

“The location is to become a ‘city” at the center of Moshi and Arusha, where prospective investors will establish massive shopping centers, high class tourist hotels, duty free ports,

Export Processing Zones, educational institutions, custom bounded warehouses, curio shops, golf courses and large game ranch,” he said.

“We are now inviting potential investors to establish major ventures in the locality, all roads and international air routes will be leading to Kia, said the board acting managing director Bakari Mrusuri I a recent interview

Ends

Kenya: Has the Kasipul-Kabondo MP became an internally displaced person {IDP}:

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Southern Nyanza district of Rachuonyo South is in the offing of making a history for having an elected member of parliament who has fallen under the rank of the internally displaced persons{IDPSH}

Honourable Joseph Oyugi Maguwnga is the incumbent MP for the densely populate Kasipul-Kabondo constituency is currently embroiled n total confusion as to whether to defend his sea in the old Kasipul Kabondo or shift his political base to the newly created Kabondo Kasipul constituency.

Credited for having been one of the MPs from Luo-Nyanza in the 10th parliament who has been politically very active, Magunwanga is technically and administratively displaced.

This followed the recent realignment of the new constituency boundaries. Kabondo-Kasipul is one of the several new parliamentary constituencies which were recently created by the IEBC.It is one of the 80 additional parliamentary seats, which now brings the total number of MPs in Kenya’s parliament to 290.

It has occurred that the new boundaries between the two neighboring constituencies has placed Hon. Maguwanga in a very awkward situation.

The MP is a resident of the old larger Kasipul where he has established his own home in a pace not very far from the nearby Oyugis Town. However, the new boundary has shifted and placed the homestead of the parents of the MP to be in the new Kabondo-Kasipul constituency administratively.

Three major administrative locations in an area previously known Eastern Kasipul have been include in the new constituency.The three locations included Kakelo, Kokwnyo and Kojwach.

Maguwanga who is a member of a small and minority immigrant sub-clan known as Wasweta. His parents had their family home in Kakelo, which is now part of Kabondo-Kasipul constituency.

Members of the Wasweta clan a sub-clan whose oriins could be taed back to the Suba of Suna Migori an Suba of the Suba region also settled among the Jo-Konyango in Kasipul while part of them have settled in Kakelo near Mikaye-Ober in Kakelo Location

The huge bulks of hi supporters have also been moved to the east and will now be voting in Kabondo-Kasipul. The boundary changes has put the MP in a very difficult situation forcing him to make a tough choice whether to defend his seat in the old Kasipul constituency or to shift his political base to the east and contest the coming general election in the newly created Kabondo-Kasipul constituency.

The MP is said to have lost the substantial number of voters supporter to the new electoral area, though he count on his uncles in Kojwach location where his mother hail from, it would be an up-hill task for Hon Maguwanga to make an impact and win the confidence of the electorate in the new constituency, because he is now being treated as stranger and an intruder and an outsider

On the other it would futile and disastrous for the Mp to stick to his old constituency now renamed Kasipul where he is residing without the bulks of his supporters who have been transferred to the new constituency of Kabondo-kasipul.

Reports reaching us, however, say Hon .Maguwanga has already made up his mind and that he would defend his seat in the newly created constituency.

The MP was among half a dozen of aspirants who turned up during the tearful sending off f Mr Dorah Oswago, the step-mother of Dr.Odhiambo-Olel of Kisumu who was buried at her home in Wang’chieng’ in eastern part of Kabondo a week ago. Other aspirants were Prof. Richard Otieno Muga the Vice Chancellor of the Great Lake University, Dr. M.T.Ayodo a senior lecturer at the Kabarak University, Herbert Ojwang’ a prominent Nairobi businessman an a former chairman of the board of director of the Awendo-based SonySugar Company a Mr Ogutu and others who have made it publicly clear that they would be vying for the new seat.

Local political pundits, however, were quick in pointing out that Maguwanga re-election in the new constituency of Kabondo-Kasipul will depend entirely on his track record of development activities and effective representation during his tenure in

Technically and administratively, Hon.Maguwanga fits into the description of the internally displaced persona displaced person{IDP} As to whether he would succeed in defending his seat and make it to the August Hose I still a matte of public conjecture. He will, however, will be forced to summons his strength and public relations prowess.

Ends

Kenya: The contest for the new Kabondo-Kasipul seat will be between the high profile intellectuals

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THE CONTEST FOR THE NEWLY CREATED KABONDO-KASIPUL CONSTITUENCY WILL BE THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE LETTERS AS THE TOP INTELLECTUALS BATTLE IT UP FOR SUPREMACY.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The newly created Kabondo Kasipul constituency in Rachuonyo South district is likely to be center of attraction as it will attract the best brains in the region.

This is one of the 80 parliamentary constituencies which were created by the IEBC and endorsed by parliament. It has since sub-divided the densely populated former larger Kasipul-Kabondo consituency into with the new electoral area being located at the extremely eastern tip of Homa-Bay County.

It has already attracted eight aspirants, most of hem senior university lecturer and experienced political operatives an elites.

One of the perspective aspirants is Hebert Ojwang’,the former PA of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and a former director of Kenyatta National Hospital.

Ojwang’ who served one full time as the chairman of the board of directors of the Awendo based Sony Sugar Company is credited or having turned around the hitherto run-down facility.
Under Ojwng’s pragmatic and shroud leadership Sonysugar company escaped from going under and into burst to the satisfaction of both the workers and the out grower farmer who have since his departure have continued getting paid their dues for cane deliveries to the facilities at regular basis. Before that it was taking he farmers between six months to one yea before they were paid their dues for cane delivered and crushed, crushed and sold by the facility.

Ojwang’ is known as one of the shrewdest businessmen and a sooth political operative
He will, however, battle it out with political giants lie the former Kasipul-Kabondo Mp Dr Ralph Otieno Kopiyo, Prof,Richard Otieno Muga, the former director of the Medical Services in Kenya, who is now the Vice Chancellor at the Kisumu-based Great Lakes University, a senior lecturer at the Kabarak University Dr. T.M.Ayodo.

Also reported to be eyeing the seat is the former one ter MP from Kasipul-Kabondo Paddy Ahenda, the incumbent MP Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga a Mr Enock Ogutu and the beautiful and populist leader of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake in Nyanza Mrs Eve Obara, who is the CEO of the Kenya Literature Bureau in Nairobi.

Located in the extremely North-eastern tip of Homa-bay County, Kabono-Kasipul constituency is an agricturally rich area, which is bordering Sigowet in the North East, Mugirango Wet in the south east, Nyakach in the sou southeast.Mrs Obara, however,has yet to declare her interest I the seat but only the word is being spread like the bush fire by hundreds of her supporters
Its main economic activities is agriculture. The area produces thousands of tones of sweet potatoes, coffee, tea,bananas vegetable, maize, and other cash crops.I t has two major trading centers,Kadongo and Chabera ad is served by the Ahero-Sondu-Oyugi-Kisii highway with several access and feeder roads, part curly those funded by the CDF.

End

THE COMMENCING OF COMMERCIAL OIL PRODUCTION IN WESTERN UGANDA COULD SPARK OFF VIOLENT PROTESTS AS TRADITIONAL LEADERS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS LAY DEMANDS FOR THEIR SHARES OF OIL REVENUES.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Tension is building up following growing agitation for direct sharing in oil revenue by communities in Western Uganda oil wells regions are reportedly is casting a pall over the future prospects of the country’s political stability as it moves to the commencing of commercial oil production.

The traditional leaders of Bunyoro, the areas where the bulk of the oil reserves lies underneath, led the charge in late May his year, when they stormed parliament in the capital, Kampala demanding a 12.5 per cent royalty on oil revenue.

And last week another cultural institution in North Western Uganda joined the bandwagon. Although no figures are available to give an idea of exactly how much the Nebbi Cultural Institution would be expecting, experts say ,the development raises the prospect of possible wrangling as marginalized communities resource rich areas stand up for what they believe to be once in life time opportunity to improve their lot.

Fear persists, however, that these demands could take a direction of violent protest if a sense that they are not being adequately compensated for their land, employment or getting community development and broader social investments emerges.

“I communities begin demanding for higher percentage in shares, it will set a precedent where mineral sites may brig conflicts as they start fighting for their shares of royalties. Far from brining wealth and health, we may get ethnic politics,” said Ndebesa Mwbestya, a Makerere University don in the Department of History and Development studies.

Apparently the cultural institutions view their demands as a necessity for peaceful co-=existence with the oil companies operating in their localities. That is why mid June the Nebbi Cultural leader Rwoth Charles Umbidi spelt it out what hi flock expect from the oil companies- improved schools, hospitals and construction of cultural sites on top of jobs to appease the gods ‘ of our ancestors”. We do not want our gods to be annoyed with noise during exploration, so to appease them we must perform our rituals.” said Umbidi.

While it is a popular view that the communities hosting the mineral wealth got a share of revenues, Bunyoro’s demand is likely to escalate the tension between the Kingdom and the central government of President Yoweri Museveni, if government’s amendments to the Finance Bill is passed in its current form A district may, in consultation with the ministries responsible for culture and local governments, grant a share of the royalties due to the district, to a cultural or traditional institution, “reads the proposed law.

Ideally, this leaves the traditional leaders at the mercy of the local government which is expected to raise disagreements and political temperature.

Ends

5,000 Kenyans displaced along the Ethiopian border following intermitent raids and killing of ten vilagers in the past one week

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5000 KENYANS HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES ALONG THE KENYA-ETHIOPIAN BORDER FOLLOWINGTHE RECENT KILLINGS OF TEN VILLAGERS BY MERILLE MILITIAMEN IN BORDER RAIDS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

MORE than 5,000 people, mainly Kenyan nomadic Turkana tribesmen have been displaced and forced to flee their homes along the Kenya-Ethiopia common border after the attacks by Merille militiamen.

The militiamen from Ethiopia Merille tribe have been attacking villages and fishermen on Lake Turkana. They have been reportedly killed close to ten people in the past two weeks.

A senior Kenyan government official operating on he Kenyan side of the borer confirmed the incident.

“We are deploying security teams along the border to help deal with invaders who have been tormenting our people,” said the District Commissioner for the Turkana North Mr Albert Mwlitsa, adding that the displaced families have since fled their homes and moved away from the villages close t the borderline.”

The D.C said although tension is high in the area, the security personnel posted there will soon bring the situation under control

Ethiopian authorities have also moved their security personnel and deployed their teams a five key border points along their common borders with Kenya.

The official further disclose that tension rose in the area two week ago after the heavily armed Merille militiamen had attacked the innocent Kenyan villagers and killed two people at a place called Mayan a few kilometers from the volatile Todonyang’ border post.

He added, however, that it has been difficult for the security personnel to stop the militiamen frequent raids. “We are working round the clock together and jointly with Ethiopians, but the prevailing high tension has made it difficult to have the community elders in the areas to engage in dialogue so that we could find a lasting peace,” said Mr Mwilitsa over the phone interview.

At the same it has been reported that 500 fishermen from the two countries have fled Lake Turkana following the recent killing of their five colleagues by Merille militiamen.

This particular incident has brought the fishing activities on the lake to halt. Fishing operations inside lake Turkana have been paralyzed.
Clashes between fishermen from the two countries are blamed on Merille militiamen. The Kenyan fishermen were attacked and shot dead on the shores of the lake as they were preparing their fishing nets.

Fishing cannot flourish with insecurity all over. We have agreed that we would jointly restore the security situation so that our people can engage on commercial fishing”, said the D.C. the government has agreed to increase the number o marine polic in the lake from ten to 35. They will be given extra motor boa to be used in patrolling the lake,which is shared by the two countries.

However, Lake Turkana is largely controlled by Ethiopian groups making it difficult for Kenyan fishermen to eat there peacefully.

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Kenya: The campaign for the Ndhiwa by-election has kicked off in earnest with would be aspirants hitting the ground

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FEARS PERSIST THAT THE OLD INTER-CLAN RIVALRIES COULD ONCE AGAIN RAISE ITS UGLY HEAD IN THE FORTHCOMING NGHIWA BY-ELECTION.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

FOLLOWING the breaking of news last week that President Mwai Kibaki has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly assenting to the law that allows him to call for the by-election in all the vacant parliamentary seats politicians In Ndhiwa district have stared running u and down canvassing for the votes.

Ndhiwa seat fell vacant following the death of the former Assistant Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration Joshua Orwa Ojode who perished in helicopter crash in Ngong forest near Nairobi that also killed his boss Prof. George Saitoti, the Security Minister, two pilots and the Ministers bodyguards.

Ndhiwa is one of the eight parliamentary constituencies within the larger Homa-Bay County

What is emerging in Ndhiwa is that hi time the old inter-clans rivalries is slowly raising its ugly head ahead of the impending by –elections.
During hi long and rewarding parliamentary politics that begun way back in 1994, Orwa Ojode had succeeded in bringing inter-clan political rivalries to an end. He had neutralized the ground by encouraging the diverse sub-clans into working together in unity as a team. This pragmatic policy worked well and saw the area developing much faster even surpassing all the neighboring constituencies.

The expansive Ndhiwa constituency which is located I the middle of the old greater Southern Nyanza region is made of four major Luo sub-clans and a few immigrant communities from outside the region who had settled among the indignant sub-clans.

The major clans include he Jo-Kabuoch and Jo-Kanyamwa. Members of thee two sub-clans considered themselves as the indignant. The third largest clan is Jo-Kwabwayi {Ojode’s own clan, Jo-Kanyikela and Jo-Kanyidoto. There are also small pockets of smaller immigrant sub-clans such s the Jo-Kaguria, Jo-Kogut, Jo-Komenya,Kajulu, Kawango, Kadhola and a few people who migrated from the Suba community.

During the colonial era, the two major clans were classified and categorized in two different administrative sets called West Nyokal Location comprising of the Jo-Kwabwayi, Jo-Kanyikela and Jo-Kanyidoto.
The other group consisting of the Jo-Kabuoch and Jo-Kanyamwa were called East Konyango Location due to the fact that the two major u-clans are cousins.

The inter-clans rivalries flourished during the early part of independence in 1960s,especially during the tenure of Dr Joseph Gordon Odero-Jowi as the MP first for Lambwe and later for Ndhiwa, but it was fizzled out soon after Odero-Jowi lost his Ndhiwa seat to Matthews OtienoOingoi1969.,politicians in Ndhiwa have began criss-crossing he expansive rural constituency on votes canvassing missions.

Already three names of the would be leading contenders for the seat have hit the ground and public domain.

They included that of the marine management expert Edward Ogonda Odero who is commonly known to his peers as “Ted Odero”. He is working for a group of shipping companies operating in Lake Victoria, but stationed in both Mwanza and Kisumu as the managing director. Odero hails from Karading sub-clan in Central Kabuch with Riana Division. He is an ODM operatives believed to be close to the party leader Raila Odinga.
Odero’s Kabuoch community has the largest registered voters in Ndhiwa followed by the Kanyamwa group. Although many see him as the possible winner of the by-election, local pundits say this could only happen if there will be no more aspirants from within the Kabuoch group.

Another aspirant who is worth watching is Louis Onyango Otieno,who iiis a cousin of the late Orwa Ojode. He is the son of Matthew Otieno Ogingo,who was one time two terms MP for Ndhiwa.

Louis Otieno is the regional Chief Executive Officer of the Microsoft Computer International company in-charge of East, Southern and Central African region based in Nairobi. He a soft spoken intellectual properly armed with several degrees from the US universities. Louis Otieno is likely to earn a lot of sympathy from Ojode’s family and political supporters and friends across the region.

Louis Otieno’s father Otieno Ogingo was Ojode’s political mentor and the Jo-Kwbwayi clan would definitely like to see him step into Ojode’s shoes.

The other person who may pose a serious challenge to the two aspirants is Jeremiah Owiti who hail from Kanyidoto. He is the son of a retired former trade unionist. J.R.Apollo-Owiti was at one time the general secretary of the defunct Kenya Sisal Plantation Workers Union and an old confidant of the late Tom Mboya.

Know to his friends as “Jerro”, owiti is a populist leader who is highly respected in the entire Ndhiwa constituency for his massive contribution towards the development of socio-economic projects. Although he contested the election against Orwa Ojode in 2007, the two were later to develop a close working relation. He is an executive with an international NGO in Nairobi.

The three are emerging clearly as the leading contenders for the Ndhiwa seat. Other names being mentioned quite often included that of the former Ndhiwa MP Tom Okello Obondo. He represented the area briefly after winning the seat in the first multi-party elections in 1992 on a Ford-Kenya ticket, but immediately ditched the party and crossed back to KANU, and thereafter he has never made it back to the August House despite of numerous attempts.

There re other insignificant names like that of Washington Ogutu Kale from Kanymwa, Augustino Neto from Kabuoch, and there could be other people rearing to go, but have yet to make their intentions known publicly.

Stepping into Ora Ojode’s shoe will be an uphill task due to the late legislator colorful and shinning example of achievement in the area

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Kenya: One man is seriously hurt after the villagers engaged in fierce battles with the marauding lions

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ONE MAN IS GRAVELY ILL AFTER BEING MAULED BY THE LIONS – – WILDLIFE / HUMAN CONFLICT INTENSIFIES IN KEAYA’S JUNGLES REGIONS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

One man is gravely ill and is being hospitalized following an attack by a group of three lions which had strayed I the Maasai village, killed a cow and killed goats and sheep.

The incident took place on Wednesday night at Loitokitok near the Kenya-Tanzania border. The man from the nomas Maasai tribesmen fought the lions, but one of the as mauled seriously and has since been admitted to the nearby Rombo hospital which is locate in he sloes of Mt Kilimanaro with serious bodily harm.

The incident occured only a week after another incident which took place at Kitengea in the outskirt of the capital, Nairobi, in which he Maasai Morans armed themselves with spea4rs and other crude weapons killed six lions including two cubs. The animals had attacked the villages and killed 20 goats and sheep. The villagers said they had reported the incident to the Kenya Wildlife SERVICES {kws},but the Organisation’s armed ranger took along time before coming to he villagers rescue.

The following day another group lions invaded the same area and killed thee cows, a donkey and ten sheep and goats. Services

{KWS} is the body that is tasked by he government in regulating and policing he wild life sanctuaries and game arks.

N the North Rift parts of the expansive Kenya’s Rift Valley Province a combine force of members of the public and Kenya Wildlife Services rangers {KWS} armed themselves with spears, arrows and boys plus other crude weapons have bee regrouping I groups comprising f 5 men to hunt down a group of leopards but failed to ace the big cats that have killed close to 40 goats and 20 sheep within the last one week.

The swamps area is located in Sigot Location in lelmokwo areas where the cats are believed to have

The leopards suspected to be six ii numbers are believed to be hiding and living in the last ten years.The are suspected to have strayed from the nearby Kapkiptui Hills in Ndalat where they have been spotted dug er last ten years, last week attacked several homes where they killed sheep and goats.

For sometime these cats roamed about the villages an looked harmless, and we had no cause and reason to worry abut,” said one villager.

Further more the residents are cautious not to take unnecessary alarm that could result in killing them.They only attack as from midnight and before dawn they retreat to their hideouts.”

Hundred of residents including he location chief Mr Nicolas Kosgei are now living in fear since the cats could end up attacking them unless the KWS intervenes a d dives them out f the villages.

Leopard and can inflict injuries twenty or or thirty at ago.once provoked. But always shy when it encounters human being. The are extraordinarily clever and intelligent as well as good fighter. It fights it enemy using the knife like laws.

Relatively smaller in size in comparison to the African lion, gown up leopard are weighing between 90 kg and 120 kg depending on the location of its natural habitat.

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