Category Archives: HEADLINES

EAC member states jointly sharing waters of lake Victoria are blamed for not policing bad fishing practices including the use of chemicals for killing fish in breeding grounds

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

MEMBER states of the East African Community {EAC} would soon find it difficult to export their fish to the European Union nations unless they put in place joint effort to stamp out chemical fishing in Lake Victoria.

Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda shared the waters of Lake Victoria, However reports appearing in local press indicated there is alarming increase in cases where some unscrupulous fishermen are using chemicals fishing to boost their catches and other unconventional fishing methods, the use of unauthorized fishing gears such as the banned fish nets etc.

Countries that share Lake Victoria are also reported to be unwilling to invest money in joint campaign that would reduce overfishing and protect fish species threatened with extinction in lake despite the contribution these activities make to the economies of these countries.

Overfishing has led to the reduction of fish stocks in Uganda’s big natural water bodies, which contribute over 75 per cent of the total fish catch, thus threatening the country’s second biggest commodity export after coffee.

Fish prices have been on increase, but increment has not been reflected in earnings due to the reduction in the fish catch, which experts blame on dwindling stocks.

Information from Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization {LVFO} shows that Uganda,Tanzania and Kenya promised to contribute USD 600,000 each for the “Save he Nil Perch Fund”, but so far none has given a single penny.

The Nile Perch has, over the years, seen a reduction in it stocks and the money was meant to improve the stocks of this important fish in East Africa. The money was meant to increase to finance the capacity building of partner state institutions, research and combating of illegal fishing activities.

The highly prized Nile Perch is a key fish export for three countries and part of the money was meant to finance capacity building of partner state institutions, research and combating of illegal fishing nets.

The Executive Secretary of the LVFO Mr Dick Nyeko was quoted as having said that the institutions also suffers because states lack the willingness to pay their quotas to his organization. for example, he said, the financial year which is ending within a month time, but so far Uganda hasn’t paid its quota. Two months to the end of the financial year, official at the LVFO sat the organization is limping because it lacks money.

Uganda has paid 19 per cent of its USD 300,000 quota while Kenya gave only USD 200,000 which is 46 per cent of its quota, Tanzania has so far paid USD 247,136, which Is 15 per cent of its quota.

LVFO top official adds that without the threat of expulsion for failure to meet EAC obligations, ministries of agriculture in partner states receive the money and divert it to other remitting it to LVFO, Institutions fighting illegal fishing and for improvement of water quality are also grossly underfunded.

Uganda mostly depend on from EAC projects to safeguard Lake Victoria, with increasing agriculture agriculture in Kalangala Island, there is increased silting due to land recreation and fertilizers from a palm oil project running into Lake Sewage, processing industries and runoff from the surrounding towns is also threatening the lake.

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KENYA: WILLIAM RUTO’S URP EUPHORIC SUPPORT IN THE SOUTH RIFT REGION HAS SUFFERED MAJOR SET BACK FOLLOWING KALENJIN MPS SABOTAGING OF THEIR FELLOW KALENJINS NOMINEES TO THE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE BODY {EALA}.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

The controversy surrounding last week’s nomination of nine Kenyans to represent the country to the East African Legislative Assembly{EALA}has created a new political dimension in the Kipsigis dominated South Rift region of the Rift Valley Province.

The Eldoret North MP William Ruto, the leader of the United Republican Party of Kenya {URP} has suffered a major political set back in presidential ambition by losing the populous Kisigis community in the South Rift.

Kipsigis a sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups is arguably the most populous among the eleven or more sub-tribes that forms the larger Kalenjin.

The community is capable of turning out more than 1.5 million voters. The Kipsigis voters have the big and extended influence in the neighboring regions lie Kilgoris in Trans-Nzoia, Kuresoi, Molo, Rongai and Koibatek and Nandi South district.

It will vote for eleven members of parliament in the next general election within the two Counties of Kericho and Bomet.

The community supported the ODM in 2007 and voted for its presidential candidate Raila Odinga on a man-to-man.

The region then boost eight parliamentary constituencies covering Cheplungu, Bomet, Sotik, Buret,Belgut, Konoin, Ainamoi and Kipkellion. However, the region benefited by getting three new additional parliamentary constituencies following her splitting of Kipkelion, Belgut and Bomet by the Independent electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC}. The three parliamentary constituencies were among he 80 additional seats, bringing the total number of MPs 290 instead of the previous 210.

In 2007 Zakayo K. Cheruiyot the former powerful Permanent Secretary in-charge of Internal Security and Provincial Administration under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi’s last KANU regime that los power to the combined opposition forces under the umbrella of NARC had won the Kuresoi seat. Kuresoi has also benefited from one additional seat in parliamentary constituency called Olenguruone.

Given the high number of Kipsigis people living in the diaspora, the Community is likely to increase its parliamentary strength from 9 MPs to a total of 14parliamentarian.There is also the likelihood that a member of the community could clinch the Kilgoris seat in the neighboring Trans-Mara district, which fall under the County of Narok.given the fact that the number of Kipsigis and other Kalenjin settlers have since outnumbered the indiginant Maasai residents.

The indications are all that William Ruto last week action in sabotaging the nomination of the influential members of the community to the important regional legislative body has betrayed his hitherto raising star in the South Rift region. He is now being treated as an enemy of the Kipsigis community.

Ruto and his political surrogates had sabotaged the nomination of Donald Ng’eny and Lt.Gen John Koech under the pretext of fighting the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. But the locals have since misinterpreted his actions to mean that he is trying to marginalize the Kipsigis in the same way and manner they community was marginalized by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi.

Political pundits in Kericho town and its environs were quick in pointing out that the last week’s controversy surrounding the nomination to the EALA, Ruto and his URP has virtually locked himself out of the Kipsigis region, something which could have adverse repercussion on his presidential bid.

On senior Kipsigis politician accused Ruto for having looked upon the Kipsigis as the backward people. William Kipkemoi Arap Kettienya, a prominent politician in Kipsigis and recalled that while William Ruto was serving in a very fertile Ministry of Agriculture. Despite having close to 28 parastatals and boar, he never appointed not even one Kipsigis as the board member.

It was only soon after the {Ruto} had been kicked out the Ministry when President Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga appointed Dr. Sally Kosgey the new Minister when she promptly appointed the former Health Minister Paul Sang, the immediate former Buret MP as the chairman of the board of directors of the Nyayo Tea Zone.

Leaders in the South region are fondly remembering that a year ago, the same Kalenjin MPs allied to Ruto had ganged up and mounted a spirited opposition to William Kirwa whose name had been proposed by President Mwai Kibaki to the post of Director of Budget.

The same bunch of Kalenjin MPs allied Ruto supporters had also opposed the appointment of Dr P Rotich as the deputy Director of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission on some flimsy grounds.

The last incident in which Ruto is alleged to have mobilized his URP supporters and had ganged up with some MP from Mount Kenya region to derail the nomination of three prominent Kipsigis to the EALA has hit the South Rift region like Tsunami.

An ODM supporter in Kericho Nicholas Tum described Ruto action a tragedy and hypocrites to the Kalenji community. It ha exposed the Kalenjin politician as cheap lots which could be bought and pushed around when handling matter of national importance. If they could deny a Kalenjin an opportunity to serve in such important regional legislative body like EALA, then Ruto and his friends have no business claiming to represent the view of the community, but their own self-interests”,said Tum who is an ODM nominated Councilor in the Kericho Municipality.

Tum urged the Kipsigis to remain steadfast in ODM and voted for the party massively .The community will be much safe under an ODM government led by Raila Odinga as the President. “Our people must guard against the politics of opportunism and those of deceit.

Meanwhile a campaign has been launched in the South Rift region where the residents have been told to boycott called and addressed by the so-called anti-Raila Odinga elements”, said Coun.Tum.

It would be n uphill task for anyone among the sitting MPs allied to William Ruto to retain their parliamentary seat come the next year’s poll, said Robert Koskei, a Bureti politician. These people have spent five years directing their energies fighting Raila Odinga at the behest of William Ruto, and yet the Prime Minister is not an issue no is he the enemy of the entire Kipsigis community.

Our people must keep away from parties that is preaching h balkanization of the communities such as Kamatus and Gema and join only those political parties with the national outlook and whose leaders are armed with attractive agendas and policy for he well being of Kenyans and not a section of the communities.”

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KENYA: GREAT PANICKING GRIPS KENYAN CITIES FOLLOWING THE THREAT BY SOMALI TERRORIST GROUPS AL-SHABAAB THAT IT WILL BOMB IMPORTANT SKYSCRAPERS IN KENYA WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Kenyans living in big cities are currently in great state of panicking following the threat issues by the Alqaeda trained Somalia based terrorists that they are planning to bring down all the tall buildings in the country within the next two weeks.

A local daily had carried the content of the threat in its front page news headline on Saturday .The NAIROBI STAR while quoting an American intelligence company that has warned that the Alshabaab is planning a major fresh attack on the tallest buildings in Kenya’s cities within two weeks.

Keeya Defene Forces last week overrunned an Al-Shabaab stronghold and captured Almadhow town,while Kenyan warships killed several militia fighters in an exchange of fire in Kismayu,the Al-Shabaab controlled port city.

However, Kenya’s Defense Minister Yusuf Haji said on Thursday tha Kenan troops will soon flush out the terrorists fighters out from their remaining stronghold in Kismayu.

One major international new agency AP reported quoting private intelligence firm,the Intel-Center as saying Al-Shabaab has threatened to bring down Kenya’s skyscrapers within two weeks.

On Monday last week a large and powerful bomb went off on Moi Avenue in one of the busiest Nairobi streets in the capital. A woman trader was killed while close to 30 people were injured and have to be rushed to several hospitals within the city, where some of them are still undergoing treatment.

Al-Shabaab quoted an internet threat last Wednesday that “Something big is coming” and Kenyans would soon watch your towers come down,within two weeks from now and you will weep.”

This is the third time Al-Shabaab has aid it would target Kenya’s tall buildings.The first threat came in December last year.

Al Shabaab is suspected of being behind the Monday last week’s bomb attack in Central Nairobi that killed one person and wounded more than 30 although no one has claimed responsibility so far.

The Intel-Center said that the latest threat of a large attack in Kenya over the next months is high given increasing number of threat from Al-Shabaab.

“The Tower most likely to be targeted are those housing big hotels,especially those frequented by Western government offices, media and prominent corporations. The building volume and low level activity indicate that such an attack may be attempted sooner or later.”The Virginia based Intel-Center was quoted as saying that Al-Shabaab and Alqaeda formally linked up earlier this year though their ties has hundreds of foreign fighters including many with combat experience from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In April the US government warned that it continues to receive information about potential terrorist attack in Kenya.

An Amisom / TFG offensive on three fronts is threatening to push the Al-Shabaab militia fighters out of their stronghold hideout at Kismayu. As it is a set-back,security experts have warned that the Al-shabaab are likely to resort to terror attacks and guerrilla warfare in Kenya and in the neighboring countries.

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Raila is the most suitable presidential candidate judging from his tireless effort to improve the lives of Kenyans

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Homa-Bay Town.

SOME of the many presidential aspirants would only turn the country into a tribal fiefdom by balkanizing some tribes and pitting against their neighbors.

The only presidential hopeful with genuine agenda to turn this country around into a better home for every Kenyan is the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

Odinga should be judged by his exemplary dedicated service in the trouble-ridden grand coalition government. While other Cabinet members spent their valuable time preaching tribal politics and incessantly making his work rather difficult, he has defied all the tricks in the books being place on his way to the presidency.

So many tribal alliance have been formed with no agenda for the better future for Kenyans, but simply for the purpose of blocking Raila’s path to the State House.But the ODM leader has always whither the storm and continued serving Kenyans diligently and tirelessly despite of what at times looked like high provocation and near insults directed at him by those disgruntled politicians who ganged up under the umbrella of ethnicity.

This remarks were made in Homa-Bay by the youthful ODM youth leader and coordinator in Nyanza Hilary Ochieng’Alila.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with this writer, Alila recently has launched a high profile campaign for the lucrative position of the Homa-Bay County Senate seat told more than a dozen or so presidential hopeful to change tactics and preach for the unity of all Kenyans.

They must be told that Kenyans are very much awake and keenly following their vitriols and would teach them the best lessons at the polls.”Every one will have to harvest only what he or she had sown.

“Those who are currently busy sowing the seed of discord and thriving on politics of malice will reap the fruits of their sweats. For any leader who want to be the ruler of this country it is imperative that such leaders preach only the gospel of unity and love among Kenyans. They must desist from running back to their communities and mobilizing them into tribal warriors or inciting them ageist their neighbors. Kenyans voters will in future only consider those preaching for cohesiveness and peaceful co-existence of all Kenyan communities.

“Those who have run short of ammunition with which to carry out canvassing or votes should opt out as soon as they realized that they had run short ideas and had nothing to tell Kenyans,” said Alila.

Alila reminded those who have deserted ODM in search of green pasture elsewhere to conduct” gentlemen campaign in their new political homes while exercising some amount of respect towards their former ODM colleagues.

He cited the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi who lost his Sabatia parliamentary seat in 2002 and was consigned into political limbo for close to five years only to be resuscitated politically to recover his lost seat in 2007 due to the ceaseless efforts of the ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Mudavadi was rescued from premature and forced retirement by ODM and he should be so grateful. He recovered from the shock of his dismal performance in 2002.The ODM offered him a second chance in the coalition cabinet and made him deputy leader of the party.

If there is any politician in this country who should be so thankful to Raila Odinga is none other than Musalia Mudavadi.”There are all the signs that those who have moved close to the DPM with ulterior monetary motives hoping to lay their hands in his reported unlimited campaign resources made available I abundance by the clique of anti-Raila elements within the coalition government have since disappeared in the thin air living him in loneliness,” said Alila.

He is one of the former Moi disciples who are known to have been the stumbling block against all kinds of reforms in this country.

Alila appealed to ODM members, leaders and their friends to double their effort with the view to ensure the outright decisive victory for the party in the next polls.

He urged them to strengthen the party at the grass root levels. ODM should win cleans all the civic seats in all he 47 Counties, Senate and return the largest parliamentary majority in the next general elections.

He went on,” Those placing her barriers on Raila’s path to the presidency will live to regret when they come to know that Kenyans are more intelligent voters.

Alila disclosed that it a bunch of anti-reformist who are still dreaming that he politics of impunity would return to protect their status quo who have ganged up behind the amorphous tribal alliances such as Kamatus,Gema etc.

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Uganda has floated tender for consultancy to build 2 billion dollar oil refinery in Kabaale, Hoima district

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

INFORMATION emerging from the Ugandan capital, Kampala reveals that the government has floated an international tender for consultancy service on the logistics for building a USD 2 billion oil refinery in Kabaale, Hoima district, some 420 kilometers South West of the capital, Kampala.

Officials at the state-owned Petroleum Exploration and Production {PEPD} at the Ministry of Energy confirmed this adding that they were also looking for a lead investor for the refinery, which will have an initial capacity of 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

“The search for the lead investor will start next month through international bidding, according Mr Ernest Kubondo, the Commissioner in-charge of PEPD, the planned refinery will be operated under a public private partnership.

The Ministry of Energy is soon acquiring some 29 square kilometers of land from local communities as part of the preparatory phase for the refinery.

The successful consultant will conduct a route survey from the Kenya’s coastal port City of Mombasa to Kabaale to Kasese limitations for transport and recommend specific location of the site for the refinery and its boundaries. advise on shipment expected during construction and overall operation of the refinery,’ said Kabambe Kaliisa, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy.

The PS said the interested consultants are required to obtain bid documents after paying USD 40 {Ushs 100,000}and submit them by June 21,2012.

Notice of he best bidder will be issued and published on July 11 and contract awards by the end of July in an exercise to be carried out under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act of 2003.

Uganda consumes about 550,000 cubic meters of refined fuel annually,85 per cent of which is imported through Kenya and 15 per cent through Tanzania.

Local production of crude oil has not started,

Tullow Oil PLC a British oil exploration firm, jointly with Total of France and China National Offshore Oil Corporation are currently working on details of refining 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Lake Albert basin by 2015.

“The parties are currently discussing how the investment in the project to build a refinery near Lake Albert will be shared,” the report quoted Elly Karuhanga, the chairman of the Uganda Chambers of Mines and Petroleum.

Major production from the Lake Albert basin is expected approximately 36 months after Ugandan government approves a plan for the development.

“Options are being weighed to allow the sale of small volumes of crude oil from well testing to industry as well testing as some small scale power projects,” said George Casenove who is in charge of Tullow’s media relations.

Uganda’s nascent oil and gas industry provides opportunities for both local and international investors to make money following the free-market policy adopted in the early 1990s.

“There are opportunities in the entire value chain from exploration,”said Energy Minister Irene Mukoni.”

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EAC is seeking the better way of funding its institutions independently

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

INFORMATION EMERGING FROM THE East African Community’s secretariat in Arusha says that the Secretary General Richard Sezibera is pushing forward for merger of the budget for all institutions attached to the EAC to help improve their funding.

Somme semi autonomous institutions like the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization {LNVFO} and The Inter-University Council of East Africa{IUCEA] have been operating below budget due to a funding gap after partner states failed to meet their quotas for the financial year that ends this June.

Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, which make up LVFO, have paid 27.6 per cent of the expected USD 837,258.33 while partner states have paid less than 40 per cent of the USD 800,000 they are supposed to pay to IUCEA.

The budgets of the two institutions will be merged with that of the EAC for the first time in the 2012 / 2013 financial year, but partner states will still pay their quotas to thee institutions independently.

Dr Sezibera who was on a visit to Uganda last week to inspect the projects of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission {LVBC} and LVFO however, said in future, the secretariat will have the powers to compel partner states to pay their quotas to all institutions of the EAC on time.”If the money is coming directly from the ministries of education and agriculture into the EAC, we have more leverage,”said Dr Sezibera during a brief address to newsmen at the end of his Ugandan tour.

The secretariat via instruction from the Council to the Summit, will force defaulting member countries to pay up, with help from their presidents.

The EAC secretariat is also seeking to strengthen IUCEA, which received the mandate of the in February to accredit universities in the region through the Inter University Council of East Africa Amendment Bill 2010.

The Secretary-General is also looking at increasing the mandate of the LVFO to cover all the waters of East Africa and for the region to have full control of the fish resources.

Expected Rwanda, Burundi membership.This process will start with the admission of Rwanda and Burundi into LVFO in July this year.

The coming financial year will also see EAC turn LVFO into an East African Fisheries Organization EALFO using a protocol or an East African Legislative Assembly Bill. The EALVFO will help seal loopholes in over-fishing which are exacerbated by having different administration units controlling different waters. EALVFO is also expected to improve the region’s capacity to effectively police its waters.

He went on,”As we address the issue of Somalia, the governments of East Africa have to ensure control of their waters,” Dr Sezibera said, adding that Somalia’s problems like piracy are a result of that country’s failure to control its territorial waters.

The EAC Chief Pointed out that illegal fishing of the Somali coast had denied local residents a key source of livelihood.

The Lake Fisheries Organization promotes the sustainable use of the water bodies resources.

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Kenya: Karachuonyo MP wants ODM to discipline its loose talking leaders and rumor-mongers

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In KIsumu City

The Karachuonyo MP Eng. James K.Rege has strongly condemned a group of disgruntled and idle local politicians in his constituency who he has accused of manufacturing falsified and unfounded rumors about him.

Speaking to this writer via the phone from Mongolia near India where he had gone on a tour of parliamentary duties, Rege strongly refuted claims and allegation making the round inside his expansive rural constituency in Rachuonyo North district within Homa-Bay County that he is a sympathizer to the DPM Musalia Mudavadi and was not loyal to ODM

The legislator accused one of his perennial rivals in Karachuonyo political derby of being responsible for such dreadful rumors.

He called upon ODM as a party to introduce the most stringent disciplinary measures in order to deal with erratic members who engages themselves in character assassination against their fellow elected leader for political expediency.”Such stringent rule would instill discipline and restore respect and unity among her party leaders at all levels.

Rege said he wholeheartedly support the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his presidential bid. His working relation with the ODM leader is cordial and warm.

The MP accused an unnamed politician in his constituency whom he accused of being fond of manufacturing and spreading unfounded and malicious rumors.

“This man he added is unelectable to any elective position either within the ODM hierarchy or in any constituency.” This man is a spent force, and his time for political leadership is over and gone for good.

He appealed to ODM members and followers in Karachuonyo to exercise some amount of respect to the elected leaders. Respect is two way traffic. It must reciprocate. Anybody who is hell-bent in manufacturing falsified rumors against fellow leaders is not worthy being treated as a leader.

Eng Rege reiterated that he was a loytal member of the ODM and a staunch supporter of Raila Odinga, and would not sit idle and entertain anyone preaching he gospel of despondency between him and the Prime Minister or with any other leader in this country.

He told the rumor-mongers in Karachuonyo to look for any other avenue of endearing themselves to the party leader, but not through discrediting other party members.

ODM has no room for gossipers, and therefore must also discard the loose talkers and idle talkers. As a party the ODM has a daunting task of marketing its presidential candidate for the purpose of winning the next general election and forming the government.

“We should not spend our energies and valuable times fighting each other, and yet we are surrounded by many political enemies who have ganged up against our man. We must put our act together and ensure that we succeeded in popularizing our presidential candidate,” he added.

Rege said he was very much aware that one discredited politician was on the loose roaming about in Karachuonyo feeding the electorate with pack of lies with aims of making political mileage over his rivals.”This kind of politics must be considered now as being outmoded, destructive and counter-productive.

Rege appealed to those candidates aspiring or the various elective positions within the Homa-Bay County to conduct their campaign in a rather mature manner, which is devoid of names calling. At the same time, he said, ODM members and leaders must work hard to ensure they maintained unity of purpose and work as a team.

A number of people interviewed by this writer at Kendu-Bay town and its environs, pointed an accusing finger at the former Karachuonyo MP Dr.Paul Adhu Awitias the person who fitted the description of the unnamed leader in the region who is being accused of spreading dreadful rumors against the MP.

Dr Adhu-Awiti who is currently working in the Office of the Prime Minister as political adviser to Raila Odinga could not be reached for clarification.

He defended his seat in 2007 .but lost the election to the incumbent during the ODM preliminaries.

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Kenya: More women leaders in Nyanza will contest the elections against seasoned male politicins

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The forthcoming general elections for the first time in Kenya’s political history witness several high profile women leaders in Luo-Nyanza taking their men compatriots in several parliamentary, senate, County and civic positions.

A new political dimension, which seemed to favor women representatives, is slowly cropping up. The ground seemed to be getting fertile and yawning for a change in favor women than men.

Among the leading women leaders in the region who appeared to be the favorites of the electorate include those who have excelled in the academic fields, past exemplary services to the community.

Among the leading women leaders tipped to clinch seats including he retired former Nyanza PDE Mrs Roselyn A Onyuka. She has already declared her interest in the position of Senate women representative in the Homa-Bay County.

Also expect to feature prominently in the election is Mrs Eve Obara, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Literature Beaurau. Shehas has yet to declare her interest in the parliamentary politics, but Obara who hails from Kasipul-Kabondo and the current coordinator for the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake in Nyanza Province, the position which has even a facility to interact with women leaves all over the Province.

If she choose to contest the election, Mrs Obara would probably contest the newly created Kabondo constituency.

Another popular women is Mrs Rose Buyu, a Nairobi based business woman who in 2007 gave the incumbent Kisumu Town West MP John Olago Aluoch a run for his money almost flooring the outspoken Kisumu lawyer to the ground.

Popularly known to her peers as “Dwasi” {cow} Buyu is much favored to win the election in the newly realigned Kisumu Town West,which covered most parts of Kisumu rural locations,and which exclude Kisumu Central constituency which covered the Central Business Distinct {CBD} and pera-urban areas of Nyalenda, Pand-Piwei, Airport, Kibuye, Industrial Areas and the posh Milimani Estate.

The newly created Kisumu Central constituency does not seem to favor the incumbent John Olago Aluoch. The MP would also be a stranger if he chose to defend his seat in Kisumu Town West constituency due to several factors.

Although actively participating in parliamentary debates and contributing a lot on most issues of national importance, Aluoch appeared to have burned the bridges between him and the Town’s population, especially those who voted for him in 2007. He is being blamed for having favored non-indigents and appeared to have sidelined members of the indigent Jo-Kisumu people. He is facing myriad of accusations that he had filled all the important posts in the CDF with outsiders, especially people from Southern Nyanza and Siaya regions.

Mrs Buyu hail from around Holo market in Kisumo West location and she is a member of an influential family of the late Mr Radiak, who was the former sales and marketing manger with the Kenya Breweries Limited.

She has made major inroad in nearly all the rural locations turning up with hefty donations during fund drives for important community socio-economic projects.

Mrs Buyu is originally from Sakwa Bondo the daughter of a prominent entrepreneur and a close friends of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the late Mzee Patrick Onyango Ochang’one of the first African who pioneer into big businesses in Kisumu City long before independence in 1963.

She is commonly being offered as the sister of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga owing to their long standing family tie with the Odingas dating back to 1950s.

Another high profile woman leader who stands a better chance of winning any elective position in the region is Prof. Jacklyne Oduol who is the current Secretary for Genders and Children In the Coalition government.

Oduol contested the election in Allego-Usonga constituency in 2007, but narrowly lost to the incumbent Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda.She is related to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga because she is married to the Kaka sub-clan I Alego who are the uncles of the PM and the place where Raila’s mother came from.

Oduol is highly respected personalities in addition to her colorful academic background and credibility.She has yet to declare her interest in any of the seats in the new set of constitutional dispensation.

In Migoti County, Prof. Suda has made her position clear that she would be challenging a team of men for the lucrative position of Migori County Senate representative.

Prof. Suda hails from Kanyamkago West in Uriri district. So far no credible aspirant has come forward to challenge her. The only person who has been campaigning for the same position in the region is the former two times KANU MP for the old larger Homa-Bay constituency Phares Oluoch Kanindo. He is, however, betrayed by he fact that he was in Parliament for well over ten years but made no maiden speech, and he considered as a spent force. He is no match to the firebrand and youthful professor.

In Mbita constituency, the ODM nominated MP Millie Odhiambo is expected to be in the race in a bruising election battle against her close cousin Phares Ogweno Ratego an executive with an NGO in Nairobi.

Miss Odhiambo who has made a name for herself as a firebrand and formidable debtor in the tenth Parliament is one of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s troop soldiers. Her rising popularity with youths and women in Mbita is what it is widely believed to have sent the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ packing.

Kajwang’ has witched his position and will now be contesting for the Homa-Bay County Senate seat instead of defending his Mbita parliamentary seat which he has held ever since 1997.

The move is viewed by the electorate as strange happening because Kajwng’ is considered to be one of the Luo MPs who is very close to the ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The election battle between Miss Odhiambo and Ratego in Mbita is expected to be one of he toughest election ever witnessed in the area featuring two prominent members of one family. Odhiambo and Ratego hail from Rusinga Island in a sub-clan called Kolo in Waware in Rusinga East Location. And their rural homes located near Waware Secondary School is only separated by a fence measuring about 30 yards.

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Kenya: The use of chemical fishing is soon whipping out all fish stocks inside Lake Victoria unless it is stamped out

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The entire fish stocks in Lake Victoria could be wiped out within the next few years unless the Kenyan government moves much faster and with speed to stamp out the use of chemicals in fishing by unscrupulous fishermen engaged in the use of unconventional and unauthorized fishing methods.

The Fisheries Ministry stands blamed for having abandoned the lake. The fisheries scouts who are usual deployed to oversee the orderly fishing in the lake by stopping those using unauthorized methods of fishing in the lake appeared to have abandoned the lake.

There are alarming increases in cases whereby unscrupulous fishermen engaged in illegal fishing activities with impunity.

Chemicals are used in fishing and not only reported to be killing fish in their thousands, but also destroying fish breeding grounds as well as killing fish fingerlings in the lake as well as endangering the lives of the consumers, something which is likely to put into jeopardy the marketing of Kenya’s fish into the overseas markets.

The environmentalists and conservationist have abandoned their duties and responsibilities of protecting Lake Victoria from environmental degradation pollution, overfishing and the increase use of unauthorized fishing methods by racketeers and profiteers

Lake Victoria is shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. All the three countries are known to be earning millions of dollars in foreign currency through the export of fish to the overseas markets, and the East African Community and donor agencies have poured millions of dollars in support of fishing programmes, research and environmental preservation..

Members of the fishing communities who are living along he shorelines of the lake have alleged that each time they arrest those using chemicals, the offender and the culprits are readily getting released by the authorities after bribing their away out of police and fisheries scouts custody.

A shocking incident recently occurred last month in Rarieda district where those enraged as fishermen lynched a man who was caught red-handed during the dead hours of the night to be using chemicals in the lake. The incident has resulted in dozens of people being arraigned in court facing prosecution on murder charges.

Those who were rounded up after the lynching incident have already appeared before a Kisumu court as murder suspects.

The fishermen in Rarieda told this writer that sometime last year, a senior officials from Fisheries department held a public Baraza near Luanda Kotieno beach. The officer was asked by those in attendance to state what they should done with those caught using chemicals, but the officer under pressure responded by telling the Baraza that they should in turn poison such uncouth fisherman and lynch them.

This is exactly what the move justice did near Luanda Kotieno last month. A fisherman who was caught red-handed using chemicals while fishing near the center was chased in the night by a mob of people who beat him to death.

They meted move justice to the illegal fisherman. This was in desperation after several incidences of cases of people caught using chemicals and handed either to the police or the Fisheries department officials quickly gained their freedom after bribing their way to freedom. Fishing regulations are being flouted all over.

As for now eight people are in custody waiting to be tried for murder. The suspects are mostly youths who work at the busy Luanda Kotieno beach as Matatu toughts or petty traders. They had responded to distress call by those who found someone using chemicals in the lake at night and catching hundreds of dead fish.

The suspects were later rounded from villages in Naya Kogweno sub-Location Uyoma West Location, Rarieda district, Siaya County.

The culprit who is now deceased took to his heels with vigilante youths in hot pursuit, and when they caught up with him they beat up him senselessly killing him instantly.

Incidents of chemical fishing have been reported in Busia, Bondo, Mbita, Rachuonyo and Seme area in Kisumu West district.

Lake Victoria fish is being exported to the European Union counties in Europe, Middle East, Japan, Israel and to a lesser extent to the United States, particularly the fillets from the economical and highly prized Nile Perch and Tilapia. The fish stock or both species have been depleted to near zero.

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Kenya: The government is asked to issue speakers at funeral gatherings in Nyanza with police licences

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Oyugis Town.

The popular making the round in many parts of Luo-Nyanza, especially in the greater Southern Nyanza is that the government should consider the possibility of introducing stringent rule that would require speakers at funeral gatherings to be subjected to the police licensing.

The proponent of this school of thought maintains that owing to the fact that the general election is around the corner, such a move would be most appropriate for the maintenance of law and order and would ensure that the peace and tranquility prevails during he electioneering campaign in the entire region.

The recent incidents where funeral goers were forced to scamper for their safety are testimony. Some politicians have shameless turned funeral gatherings into political platform.

Such commotions have resulted in innocent peace-loving citizens sustaining bodily injuries and such must come to an immediate end.

Unpopular aspirants vying or the various elective position are known to have been using funeral gatherings for making reckless and provocative pronouncements against their perceived opponents either real or imagined.

At the same time two senior ODM politicians in Southern Nyanza region have been warned to desist from making slanderous utterances in public gatherings which are meant to discredit the reputation and image of their perceived political enemies either real or imagined.

The two unnamed ODM leaders in the region are all candidates aspiring for the various positions of Senate, Parliament and County governorship.

The warning came as the result of numerous accusations and allegations against the two disgruntled ODM politicians in the region whose chance of winning any seat are said to be too “slim’. The two have been quoted in certain quarters as having engaged themselves in utterances considered to be provocative and bordering on character assassination.

All the aspirants vying for the various elective positions either in the County governance, parliament, senate and location Wards in the Council should guard against making sweeping and unfounded allegations against their opponent. The party should move fast and instill discipline that would require aspirants to engage themselves on the issues-based campaign as opposed to threats intimidation and uncalled for personal attacks, which are the recipe for chaos.

The kind of public gathering guidelines being asked for would compel the bereaved families to have the names of their earmarked speakers’ submitted to the police in advance. This would also require the speakers at such gatherings to account for all kinds of allegations and insinuations whenever required by police to account or heir utterances.

One of he ODM operatives in Rachuonyo South district said it had become evidence that some politicians were now roaming the entire region in search of places where there are expected huge crowds of people to the burial ceremony. Burial ceremonies should be the solemn peaceful sending off of the departing loved ones, and therefore should not be turned into political platform for electioneering campaign speeches.

One of the unnamed politician who is being accused for bad mouthing his rivals, it is being alleged to have recently branded some of the populist youthful aspirants, particularly the Nairobi businessmen, accusing them of being “drug dealers’.

The politician who is said to be eyeing the position of the County governor, is said to be too old and worn out and as such cannot offer any effective leadership to the community.

A group of youths allied to one of the contenders for the County senate seat have advised the bad mouthing politician to take a rest as he is time bar for any elective position and should vacate the field for the young and energetic aspirants for the position.

Meanwhile reports emerging from Homa-Bay say the contest for the position of Senate representative ha kicked off in earnest.

The Senate seat ha s attracted the youthful Nairobi based businessman Hilary Ochieng’ Alila who is likely to face two senior ODM politicians I the region. The two include the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Otieno Kajwang’ and the Internal Security Assistant Minister Joshua Orua Ojode.

Kajwang’ is the ODM Homa-Bay County branch chairman and the MP for Mbita constituency in Suba South district while Ojode is the MP for Ndhiwa.

Minister Kajwang’ has already declared his interest in the seat, while Ojode has yet to make his intention publicly known.

Both Ministers are seasoned politician who are well known to the voters in the entire Homa-Bay County, while Alila who had started his campaign as an underdog has taken the early lead owing to his effective campaign which has endeared him to the youth and women groups.

Alila has made major inroad into all the eight parliamentary constituencies, which include Kasipul-Kabondo, Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and Mbita.

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Tullow now extends its oil exploration to Western Kenya district of Nyakach near Lake Victoria

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

Encouraged and buoyed by its recent major discovery of massive oil deposits in the remotest Northern Kenyan district of Turkana, Tullow, the British oil exploration firm has now focused its attention to the Western Kenya region of Nyakach within the County of Kisumu in Nyanza Province.

Tullow is now set to begin a round of oil prospecting in Nyakach district following a visit to the region by its technicians.

The company team of experts were welcome to the area last week by he Nyakach District Commissioner Chaunga Mwachunga who was accompanied by the area MP Polyns Ochieng’ Daima.

In a joint address to members of the Hindu Council of Kenya said officials from Tullow have secured a certificate of exploration from the Ministry of Energy.

The MP said the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry o Energy had informed him of the potential for oil in the area and that he will take up the matter to Parliament to expedite the exploration.

He said the prospecting is part of the government efforts to explore mineral in the region, with Nyakach believed to have oil deposits.

Speaking in his office at Pap Onditi, the DC confirmed that he had received technical officers from Tullow who toured the area early last week with a promise to start putting up a drilling machine in the area b middle of June.

The government, He said, had already earmarked some regions for exploration of certain useful minerals and oil.”This region was marked and Tullow were awarded the certificate to carry out exploration activities for oil.

Tullow Oil general manager for Kenya Martin Mbogo confirmed that an advance team had visited the area to conduct a block assessment.”What we are doing is surveying the area and checking issues of infrastructure, security and community issues. We expect too start the prospecting around August,”Mbogo said.

The discovery of oil deposits in Nyakach could open up the area for development and raise the standard of living. The oil wells be the first to be sunk in the region, which is very close to Lake Victoria eastern shorelines.

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Tanzania: Chinese business influence in East Africa may soon come to an end following accusations of having sold obsolete aircraft to Air Tanzania Corporation Limited

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The recent upsurge in the sweeping waves of the Chinese businessmen in the East African market may soon come to an abrupt end following allegations and claims that a Chinese firm had sold obsolete aircraft to the Tanzania national carrier.

One of the plane crushed within weeks after the delivery to the Air Tanzania Corporation Limited {ATCL}.

Of late the Chinese construction companies are on the lead clinching nearly all the major roads construction contracts in Kenya, also been accused in certain quarters of doing shoddy works.

The Chinese firms win the tenders after corrupting their way through the top government officials.

They have since replaced the traditional construction companies from Western European countries,which used to handle major road construction projects in the region.

In the latest development,. China Sonagol International Holdings limited, the Chinese government investment firm has been plunged into fresh controversy following recent startling revelation that it procured obsolete aircraft for the Tanzania national flag carrier.

On of the three aircraft purchased by China sonangol, a Dash 8-300 series operated by ATCL crushed in April this year at Kigoma Airport in Western Tanzania injuring85 passengers and four crew members.The aircraft is now a write off.

This information has come to the surface following a detailed report by the Controller and Audit General released last week says that China Sonangol ltd as the lead investor in ATCL, with 49 per cent stake in 2007 leased two second hand aircraft contrary to the memorandum of understanding entered with the Government of Tanzania that same year,after the breakup of the partnership with the South African Airways in September 2006.

The planes were bombardier Dash 8-Q300 and an Airbus A320-214 that was all of ten years old in January 2009,the Airbus A320 underwent a check D, also known as a heavy maintenance visit, which is done after every four to five years.

Subsequently in July 2010, the aircraft was returned to the lessor, a Lebanese firm, Wallis Trading Company. The government on paper incurred a loss of USD 39 million on the lease of the Airbus, which according to the report did not fly, but the report further shows that the debt accumulated from the transactions with the two Lebanese firm rose to Tshs 322 {USD 200 million}, enough to purchase three brand new Airbuses of the same series.According to Airbus aircraft 2012 average prices,the purchase order price of a brand new Airbus 320 series is USD 88.3 million.

The Controller and Audit General Lodvick Utpouah says thwqt the government involvement in business decision making at ATCL is a serious problem.

Uto says that the parties involved in the acquisition of two Dash 8-400 series aircraft that are currently being operated by ATCL were the government and China Sonangol and the airline’s board of directors and management were not part of the negotiations.”They were only informed of the decision to procure the two aircraft and asked to advance USD 500,000 as commitment,” he says. Mr Uto has now recommends that the government officials who participated in the controversial Airbus A3200-214 leasing deal be taken to court and prosecuted for forcing ATCL I the first place ATCL exists as a private company wide section three of its article of association,” he writes, add9inbg that its governance,organizational structure and business processes are therefore to be viewed from a private prospective rather than than that of a public company.

He CAG’s report also notes that ATCL has for the past year been operating without a board of directors to oversee its operations and activities.When the previous board of directors tenure expired in March 2010,another board was not instituted until August 2010 when the government extended the tenure of the old board to March 31 2011,that has no board of directors in place ,”said the report.

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Kenya: Alila’s campaign style hit the ground in Homa-Bay County like Tsunami

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GREAT PANICKING GRIPS HOMA-BAY COUNTY AS THE CAMPAIGN BY THE YOUTHFUL ASPIRANT FOR THE REGIONAL SENATE SEAT HIT THE GROUND WITH THE THUDS LIKE THUNDERSTORM SENDING SEASONED POLITICIANS INTO SCARE.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

The waves of popularity of one of the youthful aspirants vying for the Homa-Bay County Senate seat has hit the ground with heavy bang sending the established seasoned politicians into great panicking and scare.

Hilary Ochieng’ Alila, then a 37 year old Nairobi based businessman, had started his campaign two years ago and were initially viewed by his opponents as a big joker and not a serious contender for the coveted political positions in the regional governance.

One of Alila’s rivals in the contest for the Senate seat is the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’.

The latter is also the incumbent MP for Mbita, which is one of the eight parliamentary constituencies within the Homa-Bay County.

Another potential rival expected to join the race soon is the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Johua Orwa Ojode, who is an Assistant minister for the Internal Security. Ojode has yet to declare his intention publicly, while Otieno Kajwang’ has made his position publicly clear that he would not defend his Mbita seat and instead has switched to the Senate. The Minister has since pitched his political camp from Mbita Town, which is his home turf to Homa-Bay. He is also the ODM Homa-Bay County branch chairman. a powerful position which has given him an overriding influence and advantage over his competitors.

Ojode whose track record at the constituency level is said to have the blessing of his Ndhiwa constituents who he has represented in parliament as an MP ever since 1993 when he won the seat for he first time.

Kajwang’ is, however, reported to have burned the bridges with his Mbita constituents due to his dismal performance ever since he first won the seat in 1997.

He will be leaving the constituency without the political goodwill of the electorate following his recent outbursts about the true background and the existence of the Suba sub-tribe. The Suba people are the majority of the inhabitants of Mbita.

The controversy involving KaJwang’s reported disapproval of the recent realignment of the two parliamentary constituencies within the two Suba districts by the Interim Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission{IEBC], which had renamed the present Gwassi Constituency as “The Suba South while Mbita was renamed Suba North Constituency. Kajwang’ who has since moved to court challenging the IEBC decision renaming the two constituencies. He was quoted as having vowed that Mbita could only be renamed Suba Norrth constituency over his dead body.

The feuds between Kajwang’ and his Mbita constituents has since given more room of maneuvering the Minister out of Mbita by his two political rivals, Namely the Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo and the supporters of a wealthy Nairobi based business tycoon Sammy Wakiaga.

Reports emerging from Mbita town says that a CDF local committee meeting which was scheduled to be held in Mbita Town at the weekend was cancelled at the eleventh hour and switched to Homa-Bay town instead. The meeting was to be chaired by Kajwang’, but could not take place in Mbita due to intensive internal feuds between the Minister and he CDF committee members.

Hilary Alila’s organizational and mobilization ability has placed him ahead of the two senior and seasoned politicians in the region, namely Kajwang’ and Ojode. Alila has made Homa-Bay Town his operational headquarters where the bands of youths allied o him are roaming the streets freely and ready to harass and dismiss any politician who do not agree with the politics of the Nairobi-based businessmen. His popularity has spread like bush fire in all the eight parliamentary constituencies within the Homa-Bay County,namely Kasipul-Kabondo, Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Ndhwa, Suba South[formerly Gwassi] and Suba North {formerly Mbita}.

Within the shortest period time since his name came into the political limelight, Alila has moved much faster making major inroads in all the eight constituencies sending his detractors into great panicking and scare.

The Nairobi tycoon has gained foothold in the two Rachuonyo districts, Ndhiwa and Gwasi districts. He has conducted several successful harambee fund drives for women groups, youths projects, schools and medical facilities.

Kajwang’ who is considered to be man closest to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the ODM leader and Ojode are not on speaking terms. Speculations are ripe that Ojode could throw his weight behind Alila who has the family root in Ndhiwa. This could spell dooms to Kajwang’political ambition of becoming the first Senator for Homa-Bay County

Alila, however, appealed to his two rivals to conduct their campaign in a mature manner which is issues-based and devoid of hate speeches and names calling.

Alila scathingly criticized unnamed politicians in the region who have already engaged on issuing threatening SMS short message via their cellphones.

Political maturity will give the electorates ample opportunity to pick only the best candidate who will deliver the goods and not those engaged in empty political slogans.

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THE ONLY ASIAN MEMBER OF KENYAN PARLIAMENT SHAKEEL AHMED SHABBIR IS FACING A LEAN TIME AND MIGHT FIND HIMSELF OUT OF THE AUGUST HOUSE COME NEXT POLLS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The battle for the Kisumu Town East parliamentary seat has began with several candidates declaring their interest in the seat.

Kisumu Town East is currently represented by an ODM MP Shakeel Ahmed Shabbir, the only Indian elected member of Kenyan parliament.

A former Mayor of Kisumu, Shabbir was imposed on the voters by the ODM leadership in an electoral area where close to 100 per cent of the voters are Luos, majority of them are the residents of Kajulu and Kolwa Locations and parts of the peri-urban areas of Kisumu City.

However, the MP dismal performance and failure to fulfill some of the promises which he had made to the voters are likely to dodge his effort to defend his seat at the next polls.

Shabbir had made a pledge that he would dedicate half of his parliamentary salary and allowances to the constituents to be used in funding development activities and helping the poor.

However, the MP is facing scathing criticism for only using CDF devolving fund for buying coffins for the dead, and not making any significant contributions or parting with half of his parliamentary income in aid of the poor. He had made the pledge in his election posters in 2007.

This time around he will face it with one of the most influential Kisumu Municipal civic leader Councilor Roberts Oruko Otuge of Kolwa East Ward.

Coun Otuge is the son of the late Alderman Q.C. Otuge Muoso, who for a long time was an aide of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and later served as the overall leader of the KANU Youth League in Central Nyanza.His father had served as the Kisumu Municipal Councilor and was later promoted to the now defunct position of Aldermanship, which was later abolished in Kenya’s Municipalities reflecting colonial relics by an independent Kenya government.

Otuge is one of the most influential civic leaders within Kisumu municipality represent Kolwa East Ward. He was prevailed upon in 2007. He was prevailed upon to stand down in favor MP Shabbir in 2007 by ODM leadership.

The tough talking Otuge has severely criticized the MP for having run-down development projects I the constituency despite of the availability of government devolving funds such a CDF, Road maintenance funds and the School Bursary Funds.

The Mp has appointed his own political cronies, most of the outside to run and poorly manage the funds.

Bridges built o the Kibos-Chiga Rabuor access and feeder roads were constructed in a shoddy manner. Most of them have since been washed away by the rising flood waters. The same could be said of roads in Kajulu East, especially in Nyabondo.

Otuge accused the MP for not having fulfilled the pledges, which he made during the 2007 general election. One of the promises was that the MP would dedicate half of his parliamentary salary and allowances towards helping the poor member of his constituents in donating the money towards the construction of public utilities such as schools and medical facilities in the area to cater for the sick people.

Instead the MP is only sending CDF money buying coffins for the dead. “We need this money to assist the living ones and not the dead. Al the devolving funds should be used to up lift the standard of living among he poor rural folk,” he said.

School bursary is being disbursed in a discriminative manner, which is only favoring he sons and daughter of the MP’s political cronies, and not the general public.

The CDF local disbursing committee is flooded by people from outside the constituency who have no interest in the development of the area and were only there to enrich themselves. Some of the CDF members were now see driving brand new sleek cars in town, whereas most of the CDF funded projects have yet to be completed.

Construction contracts tenders are dished out to friends of the MP. In most cases these people have done shoddy job and made away with millions of shillings.

Coun Otuge and also called for a team of investigators from the Kenya Integrity and Anti Corruption Commission and also from the office of the auditor general to carry out the forensic auditing of the CDF money in the area. How it has been utilized and where the millions have gone to.

Otuge disclosed that he had been requested to contest the sea by many members of the constituent as a result of dismal performance by MP Shabbir. He said the MP who lives in the comfort of Kisumu Town had no interest in the welfare of the constituents who are suffering perennial flood waters, lack of good roads and poor school and other infrastructure. He is even married to a woman from Bugoma in addition to his Indian wife who is living abroad and her children.

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CAPTION IN ANOTHR ATTAHED MAIL PLEASE FIND THE PHOTO OF COUNCILLOR OTUGE THE MAN WHO WANT TO UNSEAT THE KISUMU TOWN EAST MP SHAKEEL AHMED SHABBIR

KENYA: KISUMU ERUPTS INTO JOY WITH THE DEATH OF FORMER MASENO VARSITY V/C

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By Chak Rachar

Joyful ululations,car blaring horns and Vuvuzelas rent the air when the death of former Maseno University Vice Chancellor Prof.Fredrick Onyango reached the lakeside town of Kisumu ten kilometres from Maseno University.

Across section of tuk tuk,boda boda and motor cyclists and taxis operators who were celebrating his demise along Jommo Kenyatta Highway then Oginga Odinga Street around 8pm couldn’t believe that Onyango had died saying they had been his targets and bribed the municipality to send them out of business within Kisumu’s Central Business District. Lecturers in most Higher Institrutions within the area were seen toasting beers in bars and other social places saying tthe late had denied them working opportunities while he was heading the institution.

“Its true the giver and taker of life is God,i would not lie that his soul to rest in peace,may he rest in eternal fire in hell”one lecturer said while toasting champagne.

It was all joy as many streamed at Maseno University Hotel when people streamed there as he had said that “idlers and busy bodies were out of bonds at the facility”.

The late’s death might have been contributed to depression as of late he was seen talking alone within the major streets of Kisumu. “He looked miserable,distraught,worn out and really distressed,at times he still forgot that he was the boss at Maseno”one lecturer said.

WESTERN KENYA POLICE PETITIONED OVER THREAT ON JOURNALIST’S LIFE

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By Agwanda Saye

Kenyan authorities must immediately investigate recent death threats against a Kenyan journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists says. Local businessman Armstrong Pino allegedly threatened Joel Eshikumo, a reporter for “The Weekly Citizen” and a political columnist for the weekly “Western Times”, in public on Saturday over photographs the journalist had taken of him in court on April 27, local journalists said Eshikumo told CPJ that unidentified callers had threatened him every night since Saturday, saying they would burn his house down and telling him to be prepared to die over the pictures he had taken of Pino in court.

The journalist, who is based in Mumias, a town in Western Kenya, said that Pino had complained to the court magistrate after he was photographed, but the judge said Eshikumo was a journalist and was allowed to take pictures. Attempts to reach Pino for comment were unsuccessful as the police had confiscated his phone for evidence, according to George Seda, Mumias Officer Commanding Police Division.

Eshikumo has filed a statement with the police, news reports said. Seda said they were investigating the case: “People cannot live in fear like this, so we are trying our level best to track these calls.”

“Journalists are routinely threatened in western Kenya simply for doing their job, and some of these threats have been followed by direct attacks,” said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. “Authorities must do their utmost to investigate the threats against Joel Eshikumo and allow him to work without fear of reprisal.”

In April, a businessman in the western town of Kitale threatened two journalists, Osinde Obare of The Standard and Radio Citizen reporter David Musindi, for their report on fake maize seeds being sold in his supermarket.

Kenya: Daggers are drawn in Migori East Constituency where the most bruising election campaign contest is expected

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town

The newly created Migori East parliamentary constituency in Migori town is likely to witness one of the most bruising election contest ever seen within Migori County in the recent years.

The new electoral area was hived out of the old Migori constituency, which has since been realigned and renamed as Migori West constituency

Both Migori East and West have cut the fast growing town by two halves, one half in Migori East and the other half in Migori West.

In the past the voting pattern in the old Migori has been gravitating between the town dwellers and the rural Suna East and West Locations with the town population having an upper hand. The political scenario has been that candidates with the support of the town’s population have always triumphed over those from the surrounding rural locations.

The rural population comprises the member of the Abasuba communities, which is considered to be the indignant people in Migori district whereas the Town’s population consisting of immigrant workers, traders and businessmen from the various Luo sub-clans from as far field as Siaya, Rachuonyo, Bondo, Mbita, Suba, Luhyia and Kisii as well as sizable population o Somalis traders.

This past tend is likely going to have a drastic change in the next general election due to the fact that the Town’s population has been cut into half a political scenario which is expected to turn around the voting pattern in favor of the indignant Suna people.

Another factor which is likely to make the election campaign in this new constituency is the fact that two former MPs hail from Migori East technically an immigrant from Karungu in Nyatike constituency. But his family had settled in Nyarongi area of Suna Norhwest which is located right on the border of Suna-Kanyamkago West administrative locations.

It will therefore an up-hill task and a strange fit for the MP to defend and retain his seat in this newly created constituency in which the rural folks voters will be the majority of the voters.

The two former MPs for Migori include the immediate legislator and the populist Charles Oyugi Owino {Jalikowa} who hail from Kakrao one of the largest sub-clans of the Suna group, but ho has since switched his residency and settled in a new home located in Wasio sub-clan which is located in Suna East Location only a few kilometers in the eastern side of the outskirt of Migori Town.

Owino Jalikowa, however, is being scathingly criticized for having facilitated the arrival of so many Somalis and their settlement in Migori Town. The immigrant Somalis some of them from foreign countries and the North Eastern Province and the Somalia Republic have since dominated businesses in the town.

The Somalis have also acquired many prime plots on which they have built permanent business and residential plots, and are known to be still scrambling for more even at time grabbing public utility land plots including those spaces set aside for schools, something which has raised political temperature at times. The Somalis have dominated the trade and businesses in town.

The other former Migori MP is the one time two times representative of the former old larger Migori constituency George Owino Acholla, a resident of Kwa village in Suna East, but an immigrant settler from Seme in Kisumu West district.

Arguably Owino Achola who represented Migori while it was sill the largest parliamentary constituency covering areas including what is today known as Uriri Constituency was the most effective and successful legislator who is widely acclaimed for having done a lot to the electorate in terms of development of both economic an social infrastructure in the region. He has been out of parliamentary politics ever since 2002, but his names still rungs into the minds of the electorates.

All the former legislators have already indicated their intention of contesting the next general election scheduled on March 4th, 2012 in the same Migori East constituency.

The new constituency, however, has attracted three other aspirants, all of them newcomers to parliamentary politics. One of them is a prominent Nairobi businessman Pete Jobando, who hails from Wasio in the Suba East Division within Migori district.

He is the son of a prominent elder, the late Yuda Hosea Jobando, the former Market Superintendent in the defunct County Council of South Nyanza.

Other prospective contestants include Ogola Ogola who hails from Ngege area in Suna East and Martin Odipo who is a resident of Kadika village in Wasweta East also in Suba East. The two, however, are not considered to be posing a big threat to the sitting MP.

Also expected to join the race is Bishop Ogwada a perennial election loser in the old Migori constituency. Ogwada hails from Osingo in the Suba-East.

The constituency has a strong presence of sizable Luhyia community, mainly the Maragolis of Kakirao who have always acted as the swing votes in the past elections. But so far no member of this community has come forward to declare his or her interest in the seat.

This is a semi-cosmopolitan constituency whose inhabitants are also reputed of having come from various Luo-Sub-clans like Nayakach, Gwassi, Rusinga and Mangano Islands, Karachonyo, Kasipul-Kabondo, Kadem and other like Kisii.

The Nairobi based business magnate is considered as leading the pact other aspirants including the incumbent MP John pea. He runs an electricity installation firm Loitech Limited, which is involved in the installation of street lights and another firm called DNS Limited which is involved in the building construction businesses.

He is so frequent at home, over the weekends conducting Harambee fund drives for the schools and other essential development infrastructure and has build a sizable following among the youths, business community and women folks.

The new constituency is bordering Uriri in the north, Kilgoris in the east, Kuria East n the South East, Miori West in the west, Nyatike in the southwest. It is an agriculturally rich region where farmers are growing both sugar cane and tobacco are cash crops

However, cattle rustling between the Maasais, Kuria,Kisii and the Luos have always resulted in petty intra-community squabbles leading at time to full fledged tribal clashes an loss of lives thereby hampering development activities. The new mp will have to pull up his sacks and ensure the harmony and peaceful co-existence among the three major tribes.

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Kenya: Chemelil Sugar Company is on its deathbed as the result of poor management and embezzlement of its resources

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By a Special Correspondent

CHEMELIL Sugar Company, which for many years used to be one of the most vibrant and efficiently managed sugar producing mills in the country is ailing and headed for a total collapse.

It owed its raw cane suppliers millions of shilling in unpaid bill for the cane delivered to the facility during the months of March, April and this month, forcing the cane farmers to divert their cane from its growing zones to other factories.

The Company has yet to pay its senior staff and mangers, their salary for the month of April. It has, however, paid the laborers and the junior staff on fears of facing possible strike and demonstration protests.

It has had a change of guard in recent months, which saw the long serving agricultural manager Charles Owelle a Luo from Ugenya being confirmed as the new managing director .He replaced the former MD Eng.Edwin Otieno Musebe, a hard working Luhyia man who had turned around and steered the hitherto run-down facility.

Musebe’s unceremonious removal was both tribally and politically motivated, which saw members of the local Luo community had ganged up and they did everything possible including the staff sabotaging of the mechanically ailing factory, which has had no annual mechanical maintenance running into several years.

Politically Eng. Musebe was viewed to be leaning to the former Minister for Agriculture now the MP for Eldoret North William Ruto, while the local workers and many staff wanted the facility to be managed by a Luo who is allied to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the ODM.

They did this to the chagrins of the sugar cane farmers who had very cordial and warm relations with the company during highly profiled skills during Musebe’s managerial prowess. That saw the local cane farmer getting paid for their cane delivered to the facility n monthly basis.

THE former chairman of the company’s board of directors Dr M Mining, a Kalenjin was replaced by Ms Margaret Chemengich a fellow Kalenjin who is a retired former Permanent Secretary.

The abrupt change of top management after the Ministry had refused to renew the contract of the former MD was expected to bring in some skills an efficiency in the management of the facility, which is based in Muhoroni district in the region classified as the Nyanza Sugar-belt, but it has made it the worse instead.

According to unsigned and anonymous documents circulating within Chemelil and Muhoroni towns, the company sale of made sugar indicated that the firm sold 30,000 50kg bags at Kshs 4000 each earning Kshs 120 million, but still could not meet its financial obligations. Where this money did goes to?

By the end of April the Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited {KPL} was owed Kshs 30 million unpaid for power bills. This forced the company temporarily disconnect the power supply to the factory last week. However, it later restored the supply following the intervention of by the higher authorities on fears that plunging the facility into to total darkness would pave the way for criminal minded people to vandalize its property.

The cane farmer have yet to be paid for the cane delivered and crushed in the facility between the month of March, April and this month amounting to a total of Kshs 114 millions.

The employees ha received their salary in March and had been warned in a circular that their salary for April would be affected much later. The pay bill is amounting to Kshs 20 million.

Mandatory deductions from the employee’s salary had yet to be remitted to the relevant authority such as NSSF and NHIF. This has now hit the Kshs 14.4 million in arrears. Medical cards covering the employee’s medical schemes are no longer valid and the employees cannot use them, to access medication.

For the rehabilitation of the mill, the company is believed to have received close to Kshs 340 million from the Kenya Sugar Board, but experts says this amount is inadequate taking into account that the mill had gone for years without its annual maintenance. It is now experiencing persistent mechanical breakdown thereby drastically reducing its production capacity.

The frequent breakdowns and the scarcity of raw cane had also drastically reduced the company revenue base. The employees were recently disturbed and disillusioned when they heard that the company had planned to take 18 of its senior managing staff an 11 members of the board of directors for a couple of day retreat to Sarova Lions Hotel in Nakuru.

The retreat was supposed to have taken place around May 8 to May 11th. But both farmers and the workers alike say there is nothing to celebrate while the financially ailing government wholly-owned firm is still facing myriads of problems.

Unconfirmed reports say that Chemelil Sugar Company might have lost between 400 and 400 million shillings between October last following the change of guard to date and due to poor management of its resources.

The local farmers have placed the blame squarely at the doorsteps of the parent Ministry of Agriculture whose some of the officials are being accused of collaboration with inefficient m one on political an tribal considerations

Bothe the new MD Charles Owelle and the Company’s public relations man Bosco Magare could not be reached for their immediate comment. Effort to trace them were fruitless

Ends

KENYA: PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI HAD A BRIEF MEETING WITH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF OVER THE FEAR OF CHAOS ERUPTING DURING THE COMING ELECTIONS

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

President Kibaki met Director General of National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) Michael Gichangi to discuss, among other issues, reports of possible chaos before and after the General Election.

Sources said the meeting, which took place at Harambee House, also discussed other security matters.

No further details on the meeting were available. Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua was seen at Harambee House, but it is not clear if he attended the meeting.

The meeting comes a day after Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he had received a report from Gichangi warning of violence after the next elections.

community interests

It appears President Kibaki may either not have been in the know or wanted further briefing from Gichangi, hence the urgency of Thursday’s meeting.

Raila said NSIS has informed the Government that there are strong indicators of violence due to increase in tribal politics.

“The service has warned and I quote; The recent trend where a section of political elite have resorted to using ethnic groups for political mobilisation to advance personal and community interests to the exclusion of other sections is posing a threat to national cohesion and security,” the PM said on Wednesday.

He added 7,000 police officers have been recruited to provide security during elections and more will be hired before the next polls.

Ends

Multinational oil and gas exploration firms scramble for eight new offshore blocks in Kenya

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

SEVERAL multinational oil exploration companies are expected to begin bidding for eight new offshore oil and gas exploration sites in Kenya I the coming weeks.

According to the reports appearing in the local media, this follows a move by the Ministry of Energy to publish an official gazette notice of eight new offshore sites.

While the government had indicated in March this year that it was marking out the eight blocks, delays in gazetting the sites meant the blocks could not be leased out.

The gazette notice brings the total number of exploration blocks in the country to a total of 46.Major natural gas finds in the past three years mainly in Tanzania and Mozambique have increased investors interest in Africa’s offshore blocks.

Meanwhile other report says that the Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to buy in cash-money, the exploration interests of London based Cove Energy Plc, East Africa for USD 1.8 billion.

The cash offer will enable Royal Dutch Shell to gain entry into the East African region, which is at the center of global interest due to the recent years.

“East Africa has seen a significant increase in exploration activity in recent years. Shell already has interests in Tanzania, and the acquisition of Cove would mark Shell entry into Kenya and Mozambique.

Shell’s latest offer is subject to receiving written consent from Mozambique’s mineral resources Minister. The Anglo-Dutch firm has a 50 per cent interest in offshore exploration areas five and six with a depth of 3,000 meters in Tanzania.

In February, Thailand state-owned PTT topped Exploration and Production {PTTEP} topped off Shell’s initial offer to buy Cover Energy, sparking a takeover battle for the acquisition of the London Stock Exchange listed company.

PTTEP announced it would offer USD 1.77 billion for Cove, which was a premium of some USD 200 million, to counter Shell’s earlier offer of USD 1.57 billion.

Cove Energy Plc has a 8.5 interest in Mozambique’s Ruvuma offshore area one; and a 10 per cent stake in Ruvuma offshore.

In Kenya, Cove Energy Plc has a 10 per cent in offshore area 1.5,10 per cent in 17;25 per cent in 1.10A;;15 per cent in1.10B and a 10 per cent in 1.11A.

“Shell will make an excellent partner in the Ruvuma liquefied natural gas project given its extensive project given its extensive project development experience,” said Cove’s executive chairman Michael Elaha.

In the case of the new scrambles for the new offshore blocks in Kenya experts believe there is a high probability of a gas find in Kenya because its coastline shares the same geological formation with some geological formation with some of the exploration blocks found in Tanzania.

Increased activity in the oil and gas exploration business is expected to come as good news to Kenya as the country seeks to reduce its fuel imports.

The firms are expected to negotiate with the government for rights to explore acreage in water depths of between 3,000 and 4,000 meters.

Interest in Kenya’s exploration blocks has raised since UK firm Tullow Oil announced the country’s first oil discovery in Turkana in March this year. The announcement resulted in firms listed on the New York and London stock exchanges such as Premier Oil and Apache Oil staking a claim in Kenya’s exploration business such as Cove Origin Oil, and Pan-continental heightened their exploration work.

Total France is said to be negotiating with the government for Production Sharing Contract for one of the new blocks 1.22 Apache Corporation. Exxon Mobil and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation of the United States, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil of Norway and Petronas of Brazil are among firms interested in exploring the new sites.

Kenya’s Petroleum Commissioner Martin Heya said discussions with prospecting firms seeking to be awarded new acreage will be on a first come first-serve basis.”We want to award acreage to firms that have technical muscle has seen smaller players like Cove, Origin Oil and Pan-continental either exit the scene or remain with monitoring interests through buyouts.

Kenya’s Ministry of Energy in December 2011asked the Director of Survey to expedite the survey work of new offshore areas to facilitate the publication of sites and award acreage to prospecting firms.

Total wants the 1.22 acreage to increase its presence in Kenya. Last year, the firm announced its acquisition of 40 per cent interest in areas 1.5, L.7,1.11A, 111B and 1.22 subject to approval by Kenya authorities.

Ends

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KENYA: PRESIDENT MWAI KIBAKI HAD A BRIEF MEETING WITH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF OVER THE FEAR OF CHAOS ERUPTING DURING THE COMING ELECTIONS

Multinational oil and gas exploration firms scramble for eight new offshore blocks in Kenya