Category Archives: HEADLINES

EAC Ministers lift ban on staff recruitment and shelves the environmental Bill

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Reports Leo Odra Omolo

More than 20 new professional staff will be hired by the East African Community at its Arusha-based secretariat after the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA} relaxed its decision not to recruit any more workers issued a year ago.

The freeze on recruitment followed a request by Rwanda and Burundi to be integrated fully by filling employment positions as the other partner states.

The matter has been pending for review by the Council of Ministers, according to a Kenyan Assistant Minister to the EAC Peter Munya, there have been divergent views among the partner states on the way the EAC staff should be appointed.

“Some member states feel it should be on the merit system while other feels we should use the quota system so that each member state is equally represented,” said Munya says both the quota and merit system should be applied for Rwanda and Burundi.

At the same time plans by the EAC partner states to harmonize their environment laws have suffered a setback after Ministers disagreed over a new bill.

The EAC Council of Ministers last week asked the EALA to adjourn debate on the EAC Trans-boundary Ecosystems Management Bill, 2010 to November this year.

On the staff recruitment, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania dominate staff members at EAC since they are the original members of the community.

However, EAC Deputy Secretary General {Finance} Dr Julius Rotich, said of the 21 vacant positions advertised to be filled by Burundi and Rwanda in 2007/2008, only one-principal transport economist-was not filled as there was no specialist from the two countries.

“This was the Council of Ministers decision as a way of integrating them into the EAC as both countries were still new in the bloc,” said Dr Rotich.

Rwanda’s East African Community Minister Monique Mukaruliza said that the adoption of a quota system to recruit staff for the bloc is crucial and beneficial to all member states.”We have not had an appropriate mechanism of recruiting people to work at the EAC, if the quota system is adopted, the recruitment of staff will be fair to all partner states as part the EAC treaty, she said.

Under the quota system, recruitment of staff is based on the principle of equity and gender balance without compromising merit.

The EAC secretariat, according to reports, recently undertook a comparative survey of staff recruitment including the Common Market for Eastern Africa and Southern African Development Community and the Economic Community of West African States to assess the use of the quota system and identify what is applicable in the region.

The coordinating Committee of Permanent Secretary recommended that the quota system be adopted.

As far as the environmental bill is concerned, EAC nations are in the league of countries that are headed for an environmental implosion caused by pollution, environmentalists and policy makers said.

The take-up of electronic gadgetry, for example, is rising quickly among the EAC population without proper mechanism to dispose of obsolete devices, posing a challenge for policymakers to devise a common environmental law.

The chairperson of the Council of Ministers Hafsa Mossi said placing transboundary ecosystems under the management of the EAC the Bill goes against the Common Market Protocol that has placed land as a resource under individual partner states control.

“There are mixed composition in the Bill that are likely to give rise to conflicts of interests and lack of consensus in decision making, much as the Community is people centered and private sector driven,” noted Ms Mossi The minister feels they need at least a month to review the Bill and analyze critical issues that arose from it.

Kenya’s Assistant Minister to the EAC Peter Munya, the Bills fail to define a clear mandate between the existing institutions notably the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, and the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization and the new commission – East African Trans – Boundary Economic Commission-reflected in the Bill.

Munya said that the proposed Bill, which would include the private sector and civil society, was designed to be in a public domain institutions that would be accountable to the Council of Ministers.

The Bill, does not cater for transnational issues that arise when one partner state seeks to engage in a development project on a transboundary project ecosystem which may be considered a threat to the environment by a neighboring partner,” he said., Hafsa Mossi of the EAC Council of Minister said.

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Kenya: Conman on the loose in Rongo, Migori, Nyatike and Uriri targeting CDF and politicians

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

A smartly dressed and sweet talking conman masquerading as building contractor is said to be on the rampage causing havoc with the life of unsuspecting politicians, government officials and local CDF committees.

The man who is said to be in thirties is sad to be have perfected in the arts of conman ship is always bragging of having connection in higher authority and within the corridor of power.

His tricks and thieving escapades have on earned him jail terms twice. He said to have several cases related to conning escapades pending before the courts at Rongo, Kisii and Migori.

The well bred and well educated conman is also said to be fond of writing malicious letters the people in higher positions within the government making generalized and unfounded allegations and accusations against junior officers working in the field. After authoring such malicious letters to the higher authorities, he turn to the junior officers issuing threats and intimidation telling the victims how he is capable of causing them a lot of suffering.

He is reported to have swindled a number of local CDF committee huge sums running into million. He is said to be using the names of big people to secure contract under the pretext that he was a registered contractor.

After irregularly securing such tenders using the names of senior men in position, the man turns up and engages the same crude and crafty method of arms twisting the local CDF committee with the demand for advance payment even before setting his foot on the project’s site.

Once he had secured the advance payments of some money, which our source says usually reported to be involving quite substantial amount of money, the man vanished in the thin air without touching anything in the targeted project.

The conman is said to be on the loose. A member of Parliament from Southern Nyanza region recently suffered from the conman is silent. The conman is said to have approached Mheshimiwa with the documents purporting that he had worn a tender worth millions of shillings from local CDF, and request the MP to lend him some money so that he could buy some materials and place the same on the site before he could attract the first batch of payment from the CDF kitty.

The conned MP obliged and borrowed for him some substantial amount of money running into the excess of Khs 300,000. The man disappeared and it later emerged that he had not won any CDF tender. The MP made a frantic effort and later traced him. He cornered the conman who readily agreed that he would refund the MPO’s money by way of depositing cash on the legislator’s bank account.

He did so on two or three occasion and then melted in the thin air. But he had retained the pay-in bank slips in which he deposited the money to the MP’s bank account. He later turned up and claimed that it was he who had lent the MP a hand of financial assistance and later displayed the pay-ins bank slips to several people and attempted to blackmail the MP who is now very jittery about the whole exercise.

After spending a couple of months in jail, the conman’s wife who is a non-Luo is reported to have deserted him and went back to her parents place in Eastern Province. The man is now operating as widow’s inheritor. He is being credited of being so immune from HIV/Aids because some of the women he is now cohabiting with in Migori town re said to have lost their husbands through the scourge of HIV/Aids.

Reports reaching us from Migori said the man was recently conneed by the brother-in-laws of a of a beautiful young woman a widow who he had eloped with from the rural village and was now cohabiting in a rented house in Migori town who gave the conman proper beating.

The man is also credited for being a master forgery. He was jailed for three months by a court in Mombasa who found him guilty on a charge of forging a project’s cheque.

The rude and arrogant conman is said to be a frequent visitor to police headquarters, office of the President and other offices manned by people in high places, and after such visits he come back to Migori County armed with good reasons to intimidate junior officers working in the field.

Previously he was so much feared by members of the police and provincial administration authorities in the entire Migori County, but after he was arrested and arraigned in court, he has since lost his immunity and is said to be on the run with he police sleuths hot pursuit on his heels. He is no longer untouchable, and plans are said to be a foot to have him account for all the money he has received from the various CDF projects in the region.

CFD officials, MP, civic leaders, the police and members of the provincial administration have been wane that this conman is on the loose and he is capable of causing havoc with the lives of others.

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Kenya: Fake currency circulation in Rongo and Awendo Towns

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Rongo Town.

TRADERS in various parts of greater South Nyanza have reported that large quantities of fake Kenya currency notes are in circulations.

The fake currency notes bearing 1,000 as denomination have been appearing in towns like Rongo, Awendo, Migori and Oyugis. Unsuspecting traders have been duped with these fake currencies.

The thugs minting the fake currency are said to be targeting mostly those operating MPESA outlets, bar and restaurants, retails and wholesale shops and even bus and matatus conductors.

On Tuesday this week, this writer watched in disbelief when a well dressed young man walked into Zamil MPESA shop in Rongo town. The man produced a brand new Kshs 1,000 note and wanted it deposited in his MPESA account. But all this time the man was unaware that the girls working in the shop were equipped with the currency detecting machine. When the currency note, which looked genuine with all its future including the security line water marks, was put into the machine it was out rightly rejected by the machine, and then when told that the note was fake the man walked out of the shop hurriedly and disappeared in the crowd at the market place.

The Rongo incident is not an isolated one. Bar owners and busy wholesale and retailing shops as well as kiosk owners have suffered the same fate.

MPESA shops have been warned to be on the alert and ensure that any brand new currency note of Kshs 1,000 is thoroughly scrutinized before being put into transactions. The culprits are also said to be visiting small shop keepers in isolated market places and fuel stations in the company of some unscrupulous motorists who pays racketeers genuine currency notes in return to fake money for filling the tanks of their vehicles.

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Kenya: Mrs J.D.Akumu is to challenge half dozen of male contestants in the battle for Nyakach Parliamentary

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

WHILE women politicians are making an all out effort to secure specially reserved parliamentary, senate and county positions, one iron lady has decide to take the male contestants in an election battle for the Nyakach parliamentary seat in Kisumu County.
Grace Adhiambo Akumu is not a new comer in the race for Nyakach seat. She contested the same seat in 2007 but came in second to last. Her dismal performance could as well be attributed to her joining the race rather late. She lost in the ODM preliminary, but went on contesting the election proper on the Narc ticket.

photo of Mrs Grace Adhiamo Akumu who has declared her interest in the constest for the Nyakach Parlamntary seat in Kisumu County and the first woman in LuoiNyanza to come forward and make it public that she will battle in the election with the male contestants

Akumu is an NGO executive and the wife of one time two terms MP for Nyakach, J.D.Akumu. She is also a veteran trade unionist. Her husband, Dennis Akumu, once served as the Secretary General of Cotu {K} and Also the founding Secretary General of the Accra based Organization of African Trade Union Unity {OATUU].

Speaking in Kisumu City, during an exclusive interview with this writer, Akumu said her mission is to economic empowerment of the poverty stricken rural folks in Nyakach. She said, if elected the next MP for the area, she would work very closely with the electorate and try hard to resolve myriad of problems including the pathetic situation of insecurity caused by bloody cattle rustling.

Her other priories include the effort to have the perennial flood in lower Nyakach placed under control and to sensitize the population in semi-arid areas to grow crop which are suitable for areas with less annual rainfalls.

Akumu was born 51 years ago in a political family. Her father, Benjamin Okang’ Tolo, is an ex-Kisumu Municipal Councilor, a one time Deputy Mayor of Kisumu City, and a prominent businessman who is well known contractor in the construction industry with his firm BOT Construction Company Limited.

She is the CEO of the African Network for People’s Empowerment {ANEPE}, an NGO which is her own brainchild. It has the aims and objective of aiding socio-economic projects in rural areas. She has served with the Climate Africa for many years and gained a lot of experience after exchanging ideas with representative of the relevant bodies from all over the world. The organization has made Akumu one the most globe totting women in Kenya. She has interacted with many experts at the various conferences and symposiums on climate change.

During her weekend visit to Kisumu, Akumu presented corrugated iron sheet and water tanks to Nyabande Primary School in Nyakach, and also at Nyang’ande in West Kano Location in Nyando district.

One way of creating peaceful co-existence among the various communities neighboring Nyakach district, she said, is to call for dialogue among the leaders and stakeholders with the aims of sensitizing the residents of the region to discard the outmoded negative traditional practices such as cattle rustling.

As an MP she will work towards peace and ensure that peace prevails among the residents o Nyakach and their neighbors and instead of uncalled hostilities people should redouble their effort in farming as the sure way of maintaining food security.

The ANEPE organization has been conducting studies at the various locations within Nyakach district to find out which crops are suitable for which area, and in some cases providing the farmers with free seedling of the crops recommended for the given areas.

She said her plan for economic empowerment will concentrate on women, but will include men and youths too. All the people must be sensitized to be productive and business minded as she believe that hard work and less talk are the keynote of successes in any forward looking society.

Akumu said she is not afraid of male competitors. She strongly abhorred the use of violence for one to achieve his or her objectives. The campaign must be peaceful and each candidate should be free to move around and for canvass for votes in a free atmosphere which is devoid of any intimidation of some sorts.

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KENYA: RUMA NATIONAL GAME PARK IS GRADUALLY LOSING ITS SPECIAL AND RARE ROAN ANTELOPE

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RUMA NATIONAL GAME PARK IS GRADUALLY LOSING ITS SPECIAL AND RARE ROAN ANTELOPE WHICH IS THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION FOR TOURISTS UNLESS CONSERVATION EFFORT IMPROVES.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay.

The rare roan antelope which for decades ago was roaming the hills plains in Eastern, Mt.Elgon and many wild animal sanctuaries in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania is gradually facing inevitable extinction.

Experts say only about 50 are left and their last home is Ruma National Game Park in Mbita district within Homa-Bay County.

The fierce and beautiful almost the size of Greater Kudu and Oryx, the roan antelope is arguably the center of attraction to tourists visiting the Ruma National Park, which is located abut 23 kilometers southwest of the lakeside town of Homa-Bay. The park, however, is administratively part of Mbita district.

During the recently concluded workshop held in Homa-Bay to sensitize the local communities on the importance of the community backed conservation, the Director of the Kenya Wild Life Services Julius Kipng’etich issued an alert signal that the rare roan antelope is gradually facing extinction unless join conservation measures are put in place.

He told the participants that the future of roan antelope in Ruma National Game Park is a matter of urgent concern to the local leaders and the entire communities living within the villages surrounding the park.

The rare roan antelope is great asset to the park, which is expected to play an important economic role in the newly created Homa-Bay County under the new constitutional dispensation as sure way on its revenue and source of the region’s economy. The County is expected to be constituted and inaugurated next year after the general election and will have to improve infrastructure jointly with KWS so as to make it attractive to the tourists and vibrant.

Ruma National Game park houses variety of wildlife, bird and pre-historic sites and there is high expectation that the park, which is he only one in the Southern Nyanza region would be an asset and major source of revenue to the County.

The KWS boss said that the beautiful and rare roan antelope now facing extinction could only be found at Ruma National Game Park. And the workshop was held specifically to be brainstorm on the recovery and conservation of the endangered species of antelope.

Kipng’etich disclosed that the population of roan antelope is rapidly declining at an alarming rate, He attributed this trend to several factors predation, disease and threat to forest habitat.

He said the last position of refuge of the roan antelope globally is in the 120 square kilometers Ruma National Game Park which is found I the Lambwe Valley, about 425 kilometers South West of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

That not withstanding, Kipng’etich warned tat the population of roan antelope at the Ruma National Game Park has drastically declined from202 in 1976 to only about 50 individual currently roaming the park.

“The decline in number shrinking in distribution roan antelope in Kenya necessitate to the formation of a national task force.

The task force will spearhead the process of formulating a national recovery, conservation and management strategy.

The strategy was released by the government last month {August 2011}, is expected to guide the conservation efforts of the roan antelope. It will explore all available options to ensure the species thrives for the present and future generations.

Originally the roan antelope occupied fairly large areas of Southern Kenya. Conservation experts say the antelope used to abundantly occupy all wild animal sanctuaries from Lake Nation to Lake Victoria, Mt Elgon, and Cherangany hills, as well as pockets of Central and Thika, Kitui as well as an area east of Chyulu Hills.

But is populations have declined rapidly during the last 40 years throughout its traditional natural habitat.

The KWS experts say there have been no confirmed reports of species from either Eastern or Mara and Oloolal Escarpment of the Mt Elgon region over the last region..

Kipng’etich told the communities living next to the Ruma National Park to participate fully in the conservation effort of the park if they want to benefit for it.They should imagine and take it serious that this is the last home of the roan antelope in Africa.

He called on local people and leaders from the entire Homa-Bay County to step up their cooperative effort to enhance the county’s rare resources, which he noted is very strategic for the development of the region in terms of employment opportunities..The workshop was also attended by participants from Tanzania and Uganda and the Chief Game Warden at the Ruma National Game Park John Wambua.

uma National Game Park used to be rich in all sorts of wildlife including the Big Five, but owing to human population pressure, the colonial authority in Kenya in the early 1940s ordered to for the physical removal f elephants, the shooting and killing of lions while the few population of rhinos moved out and settle at the nearby Manyuru Forest in Central Kabuch Location, where they were whipped by poachers and this forest is now human villages. The elephants were escorted to Ang’we Forest, which is located six kilometers east of Awendo town, and eventually escorted to the Sikawa Hills now part of the Maasai Mara.

What used to be part ofAng’we forest is now part of the nucleus estates of the SONYSUGAR company based at Awendo’ Effort by the leaders of the former County Council of South Nyanza to have the elephants returned to the park in the early 1960 hit the rock due to logistic problems, but a few herds of buffaloes numbering about 60 are still holed deep in the Lambwe forest and rarely comes out during the day. The buffaloes have become the target of poachers from the surrounding villages using snare wires to capture them for meat and other crude method of killing the animals.

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EAC forces and US military exerts are conducting joint exercise in Zanzibar in readiness to combat the terrorists threats in the region

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

As precaution step to keep the terrorists infiltration on check, member states of the East African Community in collaboration with the American military experts launched a joint exercises in Zanzibar,Tanzania.

The joint exercise which was launched last Friday comes in the wake of complex that facing the region, including terrorism, piracy and natural disasters and calamities.

The East African Community may have a fundamentally development vision, it is a fact, however, that peace and security are the prerequisite for social and economic development, Tanzania’s deputy secretary general {Planning and Infrastructure}Dr Enos Bukuku said during the launching of the exercise ceremony held at Chukweni Military Center in the northern town of Arusha.

The official noted that various threats facing East Africa, the partner states have a collective responsibility to ensure the region is secure.

Also involved in the joint military exercise code named ”Natural Fire 11”,which brought together more than 300 personnel from the region, are officers the United States Africa Command {USAFRCOME} ,whose head of contingent, Brigadier General James Owns, emphasized the need to have a more stable and secure East Africa.

“This collaboration between the EAC defense forces and the US is another positive step towards a more stable and secure region. Let us ensure that what is gained here will have a lasting impact on the ability of our militaries to respond to complex challenges we face today and in the future,’ he implored in a speech made available to the newsmen.

Tanzania’s Minister for Defense and National Service Dr Hussein Mwinyi flagged of the command post exercise, hailing the EAC partner states continued cooperation in defense.

Dr Mwinyi also called for the speedy creation of a framework for cooperating with partners such as USAFRICOM.

“Peace, security and stability are the lynchpins for accelerating socio-economic development,” Dr Mwinyi asserted, adding;”It is this regard that the EAC partner states recognized that collective defense enhance regional peace and security.”

The Minister heaped a lot of praise to the US government calling it “ a good friend and strategic partner.”,

However, the Minister stressed that any assistance should complement EAC efforts, adding that defense cooperation with the bloc’s partners needs to be clearly structured.

The joint military exercise sees to develop the capability of EAC defense forces to respond quickly and efficiently to complex security challenges.

The exercise aims to enhance cooperation between the defense forces, civil authorities and international organizations.

The Zanzibar will focus on peace support operations, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, counter terrorism and counter piracy. It ends on Wednesday this week.

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Kenya: The new Kisumu International Airport is complete and ready to accommodate big planes

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

BUSINESS people as well as horticultural farmers in Western Kenya have good reasons to smile for the Kisumu Airport is complete and ready to handle more passengers and cargoes.

The Kshs 3.3 billion new facilities are ready for use. The extended Kisumu Airport now confirmed that the lakeside city is the true gate away to East Africa.

The horticultural farmers and exporters now stand to benefit a great deal because the facility will now offer them quick aerial shipment of their products to any destination in the world.

THE Kisumu Airport manager Mr Joseph Okumu told newsmen that the airport is now ready to welcome receive and see big planes.

”We have already shifted our operations to the new terminal. All the airlines currently flying Kisumu route have been allocated new offices at the new terminal. There are still more spaces for new airlines expected to come.”

The Kisumu Airport whose upgrading work started in 2008 will now be able to accommodate big planes like the giant Boeing 737.

The new facility boast modern control tower and terminal with several lounges for arrivals and departure, cargo handling facilities, the passengers cafeteria, VIP lounge and offices. The airport will also later this month, have new international departure and landing facilities.

The manager revealed that the terminal facility is already attracting inquiries from airlines keen on using Kisumu route to international destinations.

He further disclosed that direct flight from Johannesburg in South Africa will soon be operational. Currently the airport has three international routes which are operational. These include Kisumu-Entebbe, Kisumu -Musoma, Kisumu-Mwanza and Kisumu -Addis Ababa.

The completion of the Kisumu Airport now makes it Kenya’s fourth international airport after Nairobi’s Jommo Kenyatta International airport , Moi International Airport at Mombasa and Eldoret international airport at Eldoret.

Business people in Kisumu and its environs have expressed their gratefulness and hoped the expanded facility will now opens the way for investors and particularly the revival of the forty five year old sleeping Western Kenya Tourist Circuit, which was launched in 1967, but which has remained in the drawing board ever since.

Currently fish and flowers from the Western Kenya regions are transported by road to Nairobi resulting in many losses in terms of time lost, wastage and added transportation costs.

For the much expected improvement in tourists visiting the region, the business community in Kisumu Town have successfully put up dozens of medium sizes luxury hotels making he City to be self-sufficiency in hotels.

Apart from the Imperial, Sunset and New Kisumu Hotels, there are several new facilities such as the Great Lakes Hotel, Kisumu City Royals.Lakers,Vunduba, Lakeview. There are close to seven new medium size hotels led by Kisumu Milimani Resort and others ready to supplement the hotel bed accommodation in the town.

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An Australian company has started mining for coal in Tanzania to help in power generation

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

REPORTS emerging from the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salam say an Australian firm Intra Energy Corporation {IEC} has started coal mining in Tanzanian coastline of Indian Ocean.

The work has started at Mbalawala Mine, Ngaka coalfield in Tanzania and is targeting both domestic and export thermal coal markets of Kenya, Mauritius and India.

The Tanzania government awarded the firm a mining license in August that allows it to provide domestic coal in Tanzania for power generation and coal export starting before the end of 2012.

The executive chairman of the firm Graeme Robertson was quoted last week by the local media houses as saying that starting this month they will produce between 120 and 500 kilo tones of coal per annum, going for between USD 80 and USD85 per tone on the domestic market.

The firm will also start producing 120 megawatts of coal fired electric power with target of 1,000 MW in 2013.

Robertson further stated that after 12 and 18 months, IEC plans to ramp-up coal production to as much as 3.5 metric tones per annum to support domestic power generation in addition to industrial sales of 0.5 metric tones per annum.

“The coal- fired powered stations could be constructed by IEC and a joint venture partner, or by the government. or a third parties with a specific energy-intensive project,” he said.

IEC said that until coal-fired power plants are constructed in the region, initial customers are likely to be East African industrial users such as cement manufacturers, who are currently using expensive imported coal or low-quality alternative products.

“IEC understands that at least two contracts have been signed, though the details are considered confidential,” said Robertson, adding that 1,000 tones of Seam Three bulk samples has been sent to Tanga Cement and Mbeya Cement for testing.

Tanzanian Minister for Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja disclosed that mining license was granted on August 22 after receipt of an Environmental Impact Statement and that the mine site and port infrastructure is under construction.

The Mbalawala Mine was officially opened to the community and local government on May 19 this year.

The IEC says it prefer to own and operate services that are critical to mining as opposed to out sourcing, including establishment of business units such as mining, geology and technical services, catering assaying and drilling.

The strategy, according to IEC, is to set up an “ integrated profit center” that can boost the local economy and allow internal control of costs and scheduling.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals January Makamba said investment in coal is a way to fight the persistent power deficit in the country.

“Countries like the US and the UK were dependant of coal, which drove them to development. So coal will bring significant progress to rescue Tanzania from darkness, “he added.

While Tanzania has a mineable reserve of 40-million tones of coal, about 250,000 tones of coal is imported from South Africa per year.

Meanwhile a report has revealed that East African coastline is increasingly attracting investors interests as a major natural gas hub following recent commercial discovery in Tanzania and Mozambique.

Mozambique is estimated to have over 6 trillion cubic feet {tcf} of gas while Tanzania has 7.5 trillion cubic feet of the resource.

Petroleum Development Consultants {PDC} said China, India and Japan are the potential export markets for liquefied natural gas {LNG} from Tanzania nd Mozambique once the infrastructure is in place.

“The interesting question is whether there will be a liquefaction plant in both Tanzania and Mozambique or whether a single shared location could be developed,” said PDC managing director David Aron.

He said natural gas from the Pande and Temane onshore fields in Mozambique is currently exported to South Africa while Tanzania gas, produced from offshore fields, is used primarily for power generation.

Toronto-listed Orca Exploration, through its subsidiary Pan-African Energy, is operator of the offshore Songo Songo gas field, jointly with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation {TPDC} and Bermuda’s Globleq.

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AU Ad-hock committee on Libya crisis meeting in South Africa as French and British arrives in Tripoli

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Reports Compiled By Leo Odera Omolo {From several African news sources}

The one-day AU high level Ad hock committee on Libya that took place in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday has committed itself to working with the National Transitional Council (NTC) and other Libyan stakeholders towards the goal of the early establishment of an all-inclusive national unity government in Libya.

The French and British leaders arrived in Libya on Thursday to congratulate the new rulers they helped install, but families fleeing besieged bastions of ousted strongman Muammar Gaddafi are a reminder that peace is still far off.

The visit is a victory lap for Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron, who defied doubters at home to lead a NATO bombing campaign that succeeded in ushering in a victory by forces who swept away Gaddafi’s 42-year rule last month.

The Committee also encouraged the African Union Commission to do the same.

This is contained a 3-page communique that was issued at the end of the AU high level committee meeting on Libya that was held at the Government Guest House in Pretoria.

It was attended by Presidents’ Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jacob Zuma of South Africa and host of the meeting as well as President Dennis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazaville.

Mauritania, whose President is the Chairman of the Committee was represented by its Ambassador to South Africa and Mali, another member, was also represented by its envoy in Pretoria.

The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the African Union Commission Dr. Jean Ping and the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra.

In the communiqué that was read by Ambassador Lamamra, the members of the ad hoc committee welcomed the assurances provided by NTC leadership in Libya, including a the letter addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on September 5, 2011 in which the new authorities in Tripoli stressed the strategic commitment to the African continent by NTC, the commitment to give priority to national unity in Libya and to bring together all Libyan stakeholders without any exception as well as to rebuild Libya and the commitment to protect all foreign workers within Libya, including the African migrant workers.

The AU high level committee meeting requested the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to convene an urgent meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the margins of the 66th Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to review developments in Libya and take appropriate positions to reinforce efforts to bring peace, democracy and development in Libya including ensuring a united African position.

The AU High Level Committee, having reiterated the relevance of many positions of the AU roadmap and of the proposals adopted in Malabo last July, for the long term stability of Libya and the fulfillment of the legitimate aspirations of its people, recommended to the AU Peace and Security Council to encourage the NTC to spare no efforts in ensuring its effective follow-up to living up its pledge to formally institute an all-inclusive transitional government in Libya.

The AU high level committee requested the Chairperson of the AU Commission to submit, as early as possible, a report to the Peace and Security Council covering all relevant developments in order to enable the Commission authorize the all-inclusive transitional government in Libya soon to be formed by the current authorities in Tripoli to occupy the seat of Libya in the AU, as soon as it is established.

The AU high level committee meeting stressed that such a decision should be based on the exceptional circumstances in and the uniqueness of the situation of Libya, and without prejudice to the relevant instruments of the AU, particularly those on unconstitutional changes of Governments.

The ad hoc committee reiterated its readiness to work with the United Nations, the League of the Arab States, and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, the European Union and NATO to ensure a coordinated support to the Libyan people.

The ad hoc Committee pledged the AU’s readiness to extend full support in this respect and to the overall efforts to stabilize the situation, promote democracy and reconstruction in Libya and to this end encouraged the Chairperson of the AU Commission to expeditiously take all steps required for the AU to play an active role in the ongoing efforts in Libya in line with relevant Peace and Security Council (PSC) decisions.

The ad hoc committee reiterated the AU’s call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in Libya

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Kenya: Some Luo-Nynza MPs are said to be inaccessible by their constituents back at home

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

WHAT happened to Nyando MP Fred Outa at the weekend is good lesson to most of the MPs from Luo-Nyanza.

Outa was heckled and forced to cut his speech short by irate school teachers during the homecoming party in honor of the KNUT Secretary General Okuta Osiany.

The MP found himself in trouble when he made a spirited effort to defend the government over its handling of teacher strike last week.

The incident occurred at St. Agnes Educational Center in Ahero Town in Nyando district within Kisumu County.

The angry teachers did not mince their words and they greeted the MP with heckling forcing hi to vacate the venue at huff.

The MP had arrived at the venue in style when the KNUT national chairman Wilson Sossion was addressing the thanks giving service and homecoming party for Okuta Osiany who had led the teachers to success in securing some of their demands which made them laid down their tool a week ago.

Similar treatment could be in store for a number of MPs from Luo-Nyanza – – a majority of them said to have lost touch with the electorate.

A survey carried out by our team revealed that most the Luo MPs don’t communicate with their constituents. They have severed their phone connections, even with those close to them such as members of local Constituency Development Funds {CDF}, paving he way for the government devolving funds to be vandalized by their political cronies.

The majority of the Luo MPs with exception of a few are said to have severed their links with the electorate and not even accepting phone calls from their constituents and the same time they hardly seen at the local scenes.

Among those Luo MPs whose phone lines are said to permanently unobtainable include the Minister for Public Services Dalmas Otieno who is the Rongo MP within Migori County, Cyprian Ojwng’Omolo who represented Uriri constituency within Migori County, Martin Otieno Ogindo {Rangwe}, Fred Outa {Nyando}, Eng. Nicholas Gumbo {Rarieda}, John Pesa {Migori}, Poylins Ochieng’ Daima {Nyakach, Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda {Alego-Usonga},Ahmed Shakil Shabbir {Kisumu Town East},Prof.Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o the Minister for Health Services and MP for Kisumu Rural.

One MP, who won the election in 2007 in Rarieda constituency in Bondo County, where his predecessor had done a sterling performance in Parliament between 2002 and 2007, could not fit into the shoes of the former.

This is Eng. Nichoilas Gumbo who stepped into Raphael Tuju’s shoes, but has since found it to be too big and too hot for him to fit in.

The MPs who are being credited by their constituents for being easily accessible include Joshua Orwa Ojode{Ndhiwa} and an Assistant Minister for Internal security, Edick Omondi Anyanga {Nyatike}, LANDS Minister James Orengo {Ugenya,Joseph Oyugi Magwana {Kasipul-Kabondo}, Eng. James K Rege{Karachuonyo} John Mbadi {Gwassi} Ayiecho Olueny {Muhoroni}.Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ the Minister for Immigration and Registration of Persons who is also the MP for Mbita.

One of the MP is said to be notorious for receiving phones through proxies – – either body guards or drivers. This is the Finance Assistant Minister Dr. Oburu Oginga. However, despite of the difficulties faced by his constituents in accessing him, Dr Oburu Oginga at time does interact with members of his constituents easily.

Having lost the touch with their constituents, the majority of MPs from this region are said to be scrambling for the lucrative positions within the Counties such as governorship and Senate representatives after sensing that their re-election to the August House would be nightmarish.

One MP is known not to have made his maiden speech ever since he was elected in December 2007. This is the MP for Uriri Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo allegedly owing to lack of sufficient command of the language and poor communication skills. And another MP who is allegedly experiences difficulties in expressing himself eloquently in the House is Prof.Ayiecho Olueny of Muhoroni and Ahmed Shakil Shabbir {Kisumu Town East}.

The tenth parliament, however, produced several most eloquent and formidable debtors among the Luo MPs. They include John Mbadi{Gwassi}, Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa},John Olago AluochKisumu Town West}, John Pesa{Migori}, Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem}, James Rege{Karachuonyo}, Geralf Otieno Kajwang’ {Mbita}

And the Nominated MP Ms Millie Odhimbo, the only female MP from Nyanza stole the show for having been the most effective and eloquent debater and a major contributor to most important national issues in Parliament followed closely by John Olago Aluoch of Ksumu Town West and John Mbadi of Gwassi.

Dalmas Otieno the Rongo MP is said to have his phone line permanently shut down, and could not be reached even by his close political association back at home. Those close to the Minister said he briefly open his line early the morning, but most time of the day it is shut down and he Minister is permanently inaccessible.

Among the MPs from Luo-Nyanza with the most shinning score cards reflecting good performance in terms of achievement in development activities.include Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa}, Edick Omondi Anyanga{Natike], Dr Oburu Oginga { Bondo},Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul-Kabondo}, Eng. James K Rege {Karachuono},John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town},Gerald Otieno Kajwng’ {Mbita},Jakoyo Midiuwo {Gem},John Pesa {Migori},

Topping the list of those who have performed poorly is Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, Martin Otieno Ogindo, Ahmed Shakil Shabbir, Fred Outa,Nicholas Gumbo, Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda and Dalmas Otieno.

Cutting off from the electorate is viewed as failure on the part of an MP because as a representative f the people the MP need to interact with his constituents so that they could brainstorm together and plan for the development programme of a given constituency. But an MP who shy away from the constituents is considered to have abdicated from his responsibilities.

Other political pundits in the region are placing their blames squarely at the door steps of the heavily moneyed individuals whom they favor for nomination on the party ticket after bribing their way to the August House in total disregard of their academic qualification and understanding of local and national politics. This has produced many mediocre to become MPs in places they don’t deserve.

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Kenya: Moi & Raila possible new political alliance would be most welcome in the South Rift region

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Leo Odera Omolo Reports in Kericho Town

The political topic which dominated the lips of many people in the South Rift region is the newspaper disclosure that the retired President Daniel Arap Moi is warming up to the Prime Minister Rala Odinga an overture which many believes could yield into KANU/ODM alliance ahead of the 2012 general elections.

This latest topic dominated the air in public joints cafes and restraints in Kericho Town where local politician were quick in welcoming the move saying it would be fruitful if Moi could prevail upon the current crops of KANU leaders in the region to wok with Odinga’s ODM.

Moi is still a force to reckon with in the South Rift region where he has the largest following among members of the populous Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic group. Of late, however, the community which supported the ODM on man -to-man basis in 2007general election has been tossed around by selfish interests serving youthful politicians advocating for political alliances one after the other with no end result on sight.

A meeting which took place between the Prime Minister and Moi last weekend coincided with public vow by four MPs from the region who reaffirmed their intention to stay in the ODM despite pressure coming from their colleagues in the North Rift led by the sacked former Higher Education Minister William Ruto who have been criss-crossing the region urging the area MPs to ditch ODM and join the UDM.

It come simultaneously with an assurance given by four MPs from the Kipsigis community who have vowed to remain in ODM until the current tenth parliament is dissolve citing the interest of their community which compels them to support the government of the day so as to benefit their electorate.

The Kipsigis MPs were led by the Road Minister Franklin Bettwhos the MP for Buret within the Kericho County, an Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Mrs Beatrice Kones who is the MP for Bomet, within the Bomet County, Magerer Lang’atwho is an ASssistant Minster for Energy and the MP for Kipkellion also within Kericho County and Dr.Joyce Laboso, the MP for Sotik in Bomet County.

The legislators were speaking at Tenwek Day Primary School during a fund drive in aid of the school.

The four MPs makes a half of the total legislators representing the Kipsigis community in the current parliament. The region currently has eight parliamentary electoral constituencies, which include Kipkellion, Ainamoi,Belgut,Konoin,Buret,Bomet,Chepalungu and Sotik.

The other group of MPs include Charles Keter who it is being alleged has since become William Ruto’s spanner boy and abdicated from his responsibility of serving the electorate adequately ever since he was sacked as an energy Assistant Minister two years ago, Benjamin Lang’at Ainamoi} ,Dr.Julius Kones {Konoin} and Isaac Ruto {Chepalungu}. In the next elections, the region will have ten MPs following the sub-division of Belgut into two with the creation of the Sigowet constituency.Also sub-divided into two constituencies namely Kipkellion East and Kipkellion West.

The culture and nature of the Kipsigis people could be sad to be conservative. They don’t rush into issues in a hasty manner before thoroughly examining all the implications involve. The campaign recently launched by William Ruto urging the Kipsigis and the entire Kalennin community t ditch Raila Odinga’s ODM for unpredictable amorphous alliances with the people the community seemed not to trust appeared to have hit the rock.

The anti-ODM campaign in the region seemed to have boomeranged on the face of its advocates. The people re being told to ditch the ODM and join UDM, but the latter seemed to have got no structure on the ground, and is shrouded with legal tussles in court between its real national chairman the Lt.Gen {rtd} John Arap Koech, who the former Deputy CGS and is himself a Kipsigis tribesman. As far as the court cases involving the UDM are concern, there is no party called UDM under William Ruto’s leadership, and what the Eldoret North MP has been telling he Kipsigis to join remain a fiction if not a phantom.

The General is said to have a soft heart for both Raila Odinga and Daniel Arap Moi therefore if he eventually emerged the winner of the court case, then UDM will definitely expected form a genuine alliance with both KANU and ODM and not PNU oasis. So far the General is also being urged by his supporter to contest the presidency on UDM ticket an option which he said ws receiving his attention.

Ruto appeared to have shot himself in the leg by incessantly criticizing Raila Odinga and blaming hi for his own woes, the criticism which the locals leaders in Kericho say lacked constructive agenda, but based on jealousy and personal conflicts of interest. Ruto, they said has failed to pi Raila down on any mistake the latter has committed against the community. “What we are seeing is selfish interests by someone who want to go to the top while ridding at the back of his erstwhile colleague and political associate” said Councilor Nicholas Tum of Kericho Municipality.

A Kericho politician who is a staunch supporter of Raila Odinga,Tum is the opinion that I he latter form an alliance with Moi and his KANU supporters in the South Rift the latter two will swept the board clean. Our region extends into the neighboring Trans-Mara region, and we shall make sure that the ODM win all the votes in this region.

Tum said the ODM leadership in the region was happy with the unequivocal support the MPs led by Bett were giving the party, and effectively articulating its policy.

“What the Ruto group is involved in is verbal twisting and purely the case of miscalculation and underestimation of the intelligence of the electorate in this region, but they will live to regret comes the year 2012.,” said Tum.

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Tanzania now prohibits its sugar from being exported to he neighboring countries

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

REPORTS emerging from Tanzania say the government has banned the export of sugar the neighboring countries to protect to domestic stock.

The action is viewed of as part of testing its commitment to open trade in the region in other East African Community member states battle a bitter sugar deficit.

The government has already directed all regional and district authorities in border areas to ensure that no sugar is transported out of the country.

The Tanzania Sugar Board {TSB} which is the regulating authority said at the weekend that the shortage is due to smuggling was to blame for the sharp price increases by some areas as kilogram of sugar is retailing at between Tshs 2,200 {USD 1.35} and Tshs 2,500 {USD 1.54} compared with Tshs 1.500 {USD one} a few days ago.

In the neighboring Kenya the price of sugar rose to Kshs 200 {USD 2.2} per kilo as retailers took advantage of supply shortages to raise price of the commodity.

In Uganda and Burundi, a kilo of the commodity is gong for Ugshs 5,000 {USD 2.2} AND Ush 2000 {USD 1.64} respectively.

TSB is not advocating border closure but instead the government to take swift measure to address the mushrooming sugar smuggling into neighboring countries which is subjecting the country to massive revenue loss TSB Director General Mathew Kombe said.

“We know local traders have been exporting the commodity to various countries the deficit.”

The government said premium prices offered in neighboring have pushed up prices in some regions along the border on a retail basis.

Exports are expected to have pushed up prices

In some regions along the borders on a retail prices.Export as expected to seek export permits to other countries but many were doing so.

The local industries mainly production stands at 40,000 tomes against consumption of between 30,000 tones at 35,000 tones.

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Kenya: Gold prospectng in Nyanza are flayed for exploiting local wokers and siphoning their proructs to foreign markets

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

A member of Parliament has bitterly complained over what he termed as “exploitation of gold diggers” working for foreign investors prospecting for the precious stones in Nyatike and in the neighboring Migori district.

Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga further alleged that the gold prospecting companies working in his Nyatike constituency have employed only Chinese workers and not locals. The locals are used only as labors, and yet the all the executive jobs such as clerical and supervision goes to foreigners, mostly Chinese.

The investor using a forty five old prospecting license issued by he government to the late Minister for Economic Planning and development Tom Mboya who was assassinated in1969 must be compelled to pay statutory compulsory salary deductions such as NSSF and other payment due to the government through the Kenya Revenue Authority.

The investors are Mid-Migori and Red rock working in partnership, the angrily MP alleged could be suspected of exporting their gold through Tanzania and thereby evading taxations. “These are big companies which are regularly quoted in London Stock Exchange meaning they are minting million of dollars for the exports of the precious stone from Kenya.”They must be mad to account for every single cent they make out of the sales of gold.

Under the devolution and new system of government which comes to force under the new constitution dispensation, the prospectors are suppose to be accounted for their trade within the County of Migori. The must be forced to be transparent and accountable for their gains, the MP added.

Anyanga said he was disappointed that the bear chest local workers who are made to be toiling for the whole day under the humid weather conditions and also risking death underground are paid only peanuts.

He disclosed that the two foreign companies were currently prospecting for gold in Mikei, Mcalder and in Osiri area of Nyatike constituency. They are also prospecting in Migori district, and most of their staff and top managers are Chinese not Kenyans. Local Kenyans are only engaged in gold digging manual work,

The MP termed this like the “modern day slavery” and we want the government to move in with speed and to make sure that every ounce of gold is accounted for and taxes paid promptly to the revenue authority.”

Manager of the two companies could not be reached for their immediate comments.

Migori County and the neighboring Trans-Mara regions are mineral rich area, but there seemed to be lack of proper arrangement that would ensure the prospectors are operating within the law and adequately paying their taxes due to the revenue.. Suspicion is high that some of the prospectors could be siphoning their products to export through the neighboring Tanzania.

Between the 1930s and 1963 British and South African as well as Australian companies had established full fledged gold and copper mines at Macalder, Masara, Kihancha and Kitere Gold Mines near Rongo. Most of these mineral outlets were later sold to the Commonwealth Development Cooperation {CDC} which for political reasons closed their operations in those areas around 1961 and 1962 mainly for fears that an Independent Kenya could go the Congo way and marred with acts of violence.

Mines shafts in those establishments and facilities were abruptly close down and thousands of workers declared redundant. However, the locals are known to have been carrying on with the gold mining work in the disused mines in primitive manner and ways, which at time carries a lot of risk for the miner’s safety.

Other areas suspected to be have a lot of minerals underneath include Ruri and Gembe Hills in Mbita district, Gwassi Hills,Oyugis and Kihancha regions in Migori and Homa-bay County. Lime and Cements are also sad to be in abundance in Ruri Hills in Lambwe valley. But the government has made little effort to attract foreign and local investors

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Kenya: Minister Kosgey’s car was ordered out of Mbita ferry to pave the way for mrs Ida Odinga’s vehicle

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

AN ugly incident occurred at Luanda Kotieno beach last Sunday in which the vehicle of the Minister for Agriculture DR Sally Kosgey was ordered pulled out of a ferry destined for Mbita point to give room for the limousine carrying Mrs Ida Raila and two other vehicles carrying her entourage and security personnel.

Both Mrs Odinga and Dr.Kosgey were heading to Rusinga Island across the Nyanza Gulf to attend the burial of Mrs Damaris Auma Odhiambo, the mother of the ODM nominated MP Ms Millie Odhiambo.

Dr Kosgey had come to the Luanda Kotieno in time to enable her to board the 12 noon ferry. The ferry had already cruised in the water for about 600 yards when Mrs Odinga and her entourage pull up at the jetty. She phoned the Ferry manager asking for the vessels to be returned ashore, but the manager Mr Jamali appeared to have been somehow reluctant to obey the order arguing that doing o would disappoint his passengers. But he succumbed to the pressure after the Mbita D.C. phoned him and ordered to turn the vessel back.

He obliged and upon coming ashore it was discovered that Mrs Odinga had two other cars, which included the one ferrying her security details. The situation developed into a very ugly one when three other vehicle including the one which belonged to Dr.Kosgey were pulled out. The manager frantically argued that one of Mrs Odinga’s car be left behind so that he could return for it to allow the Minister car to be taken across, but Mrs Odinga could not hear of this.

The Minister despite an assurance that the ferry would return for her and her vehicle appeared o have been disappointed because he had driven all along from Eldoret to Lund Kotieno about 160 kilometer for the purpose of attending the burial of the mother of her parliamentary colleague.

The incident has been condemned roundly by several Nyanza leaders who felt the treatment meted out to Dr. Kosgey portrayed the highest degree of excessive arrogance on part of Mrs Odinga.and the Mbita D.C. A solution could have been found in which Mrs Odinga and her security details taken aboard and one of her vehicle could have been left behind to allow Dr Kosgey to attend, and the ferry could have come back for the vehicle left on ashore.

Jamal said he was disappointed and pleaded with the Provincial Administration always to make early arrangement for the transportation of VIPs and the one bigger and one smaller one. The bigger ferry could carry up to six or even eight vehicles while the smaller one could only carry four vehicles.

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Kenya: 9 Houses belonging to suspected criminal elements torched to ashes by angry villagers in Uriri

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town

Nine dwelling houses belonging to people suspected to be involved in series of criminal activities in Uriri were torched and burnt to ashes by the enraged villagers.

The angry villages had joined the administration police in manhunt for people suspected to be thieves who have been terrorizing the villagers.

The incident occurred at Rombe Village, Central Kanyamkago, Uriri district within Migori County. The area D.C. George Kiplagat confirmed the incident, but blamed the local for not willing to come forward and give evidence in courts whenever the criminal characters are nabbed and taken to court by the police.

The D.C. told the residents that the only sensible way of eliminating crimes in the area is for the people to volunteer to give evidence whenever the suspects are arraigned in courts. So far there is a lot of laxity by the residents in helping the government stamp out crimes in the area.

Of late reports emerging from Uriri district says there is outbreak of series of burglaries in the villages by organized gang of criminals who invade home of wealthy farmers and traders and robbing them money and other valuables and at the same time hurting them after subjecting the victim to beating in the attacks.

“It is up to the residents to co-operate with the administration so that criminal’s hideout could be traced and those arrested suspect arraigned in courts. Once they have appear in court the villagers who knew something related to their heinous activities should come forward and give evidence against them before the courts.

In the latest incident the villager mobilized and armed themselves with crude weapons, raided the dwelling homes of the people suspected to be engaged in criminal activities to flush them out. The villagers were accompanied by police who managed to arrest a number of suspect. One suspect who is said to have had a rifle and fired in the air to scare the villager pursuing him was also cornered disarmed and arrested.

The worse hit is Ong’ora Kamireri and Obuongo Otwagi areas in Kanyamkago North Rapogi Division. Also affected are villages with Rapogi Trading Center and its environs. The well coordinated attack by band of criminal has become the nightly routine and residents have lost property worth thousands of shilling in the raids by thugs who raided their homes at night.

The thugs are suspected to be residing in the small village known as Kakiremba near Awendo town while other come from Jiw Dendi slum in Awendo Town.And the administration sources say the night patrol by police lone cannot resolved the situation unless the public themselves take an active part in identifying the suspected criminals and also volunteer information to the police

These marauding bands of thugs have life difficult for the villagers. The residents have appealed to the government to lunch massive hunt for illegal firearm in both Mgori and Uriri district. Two weeks ago criminal thugs shot and killed a young entrepreneur known by the name of Jack who run a chin of public joints and a night club in Migori town. The incident sparked off public protest through the street demonstration, which saw Migori town sealed off and its major roads closed for the better part the day.

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Kenya: Funeral of the mother of an ODM marred by political jostling and confrontation in Rusinga Island

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town.

WHAT could have been a solemn and tearful sending off of a highly respected woman who had served her people diligently in her life time was turned into an ODM public rally and marred by heated confrontation between the dozens of aspirants for the various elective positions within the County, parliament and Senate.

This was during the burial last Sunday of the late Mrs Damaris Auma Odhimbo at Kolo village, Rusinga Island East Location, Mbita district. Mrs Odhiambo was the wife of a prominent politician the late Harrison Midiang’a Odhimbo Opiyo a former member of the defunct Nyanza Regional Assembly and prominent KANU leader in the larger South Nyanza district.

She was the mother of the ODM nominated MP Millie Odhiambo. The late Mrs Odhiambo who served for a long time as a social worker with the former County Council of the larger South Nyanza district, although she had earlier trained as a nurse at the Kendu SDA Mission Hospital {Gendia} as a nurse. She is survived by five daughters and three sons. One of her sons is a Nairobi lawyer Dan Odhiambo.

In attendance were dignitaries who include Mrs Ida Odinga, the wife of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Immigration Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who was the political host and acted as the master of ceremony COTU {K} Secretary General Francis Atwoli, The Lanbds Minister James Aggrey Orengo,Assistant Ministers Beatrice Kones,Elizabeth Ongoro,MPS Eng James Rege {Karachuonyo}, Ababu Namwamba {Budalangi} Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul Kabondo}, Nominated MP Rachel Shebesh, Dr Joyce Laboso {Sotik}, Martin Ogindo (Rangwe},the CEO of the Kenya Literature Bureau Mrs Eve Obara, who is also the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake representative in Nyanza.

Also in attendance was the ODM Director of Elections Board Eng. Phillip Okundi, several aspirants for County governor Dr Mark Matunga, William Oloo Otula, .

Minister Otieno Kajwang’, however, was faulted for having failed to recognize the presence of a dozens of members of the Suba Council of Elders led by their chairman Apollo Okeyo Omuga. The group had travelled from distance places like Suna Migori, Nyatike, Mfangano, Lambwe Valley. The master of ceremony ignored local community leaders from Rusinga and Mfangano islands and instead spent time introducing some politically non-entities who turned out only for making sycophantic outbursts for the purpose of attracting hand outs from politicians and those who were described as “ bunch” of hero worshippers.”

In his brief, but moving address Atwoli pleaded with the politician to help him make achievements for the workers. He made it categorically clear that he would not contest any political office, but want to dedicate his energy and strength to the service of Kenyan workers, further saying that this would be his last mission and he would not seek for another term of office.

One of the leading contenders for the position of governor Dr Mark Matunga told his opponent for the same seat who were present and who included the former MP for Rangwe Eng.Phillip Okundi that they should expect a bruising battle for the seat, which he was sure for certain that he would beat them all at the polls with comfortable majority of votes.

Another aspirant Opiata Odero who is a close relative of the Odhiambos and a resident of Rusinga island only made a traditional war-cry and sat down amid prolonged laughter made a war cry and sat down.

Prior to the funeral ceremony, there was evidence of jostling for power as to who is suitable to contest the Mbita seat in the next general election as Otieno Kajwang’ his decided to move a high notch to contest the Homa-Bay Senate seat. The strong jostling was between the supporters and relatives of the two local politicians Millie Odhimbo and Phares Ogweno Ratego an executive with an NGO in Nairobi who has declared his interest in contesting the same seat.

Millie Odhiambo and Ratego hails from one village called {Kolo} and have close blood relationship while their homes are situated only 100 yards apart, and the jostling almost marred the funeral ceremony, but the situation was saved when Ratego steered clear of making any speech at the tension parked funeral ceremony. Supporters of Ratego insisted that Millie Odhiambo is married to a Zimbabwean husband therefore she is a foreigner in Mbita and that Zimbabwe is her home turf and that even in Zimbabwe there is also a parliament and she should go and contest for a seat in Zimbabwe Parliament instead of Mbita. Due to tension that prevailed, Rtego was prevailed upon by elders to keep away from making any speech at the gathering which he obeyed, though he was present.

In her summary of the event, Millie Odhambo who was full of uncalled fore self-glorification styling herself as “Amillo Geza Geza Nyar Rusinga” heaped a lot of praise to a Nairobi businessman Sammy Wakiaga who he said had contributed immensely towards her mother’s funeral expenses and thanked him whole heatedly.

Wakiaga got another showering praise from Obilo Opiyo the brother of Odhiambo Opiyo and brother in-law of deceased who said the Nairobi businessman had donated to him as a person Kshs 30,000 to assist him take care of hundreds of guests and funeral attendance and expressed the family gratitude.

The Lands Minister James Orengo told the mourners that it was time for President Mwai Kibaki to endorse the candidature of Raila Odinga as his successor the same way Ral had endorsed him in 2002. The late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, said the Minister had also endorsed President Kenyatta’s leadership in the early 1961, it was therefore as a good gesture of appreciation of the Kikuyu his time to keep the field open for Raila’s presidential bid.

The Minister said that as far as political situation I the country stands today, if Kibaki endorses Raila for the presidency, the country would be peaceful and the transition would be very smooth. Kibaki has already declared that he will not endorse anybody for the next presidency, but Orengo argued that this would not augur well with his legacy of ten years presidency, smooth.

Former Information Minister Raphael Tuju who has declared his bid for the presidency came under scathing criticism. Orengo said Tuju is heading for a failure and will not make it to anywhere. “If I personally failed to tame Raila when I stood for the presidency in 2002 against him, I expect Tuju to perform much poorly..

Some former and present civic leaders in South Nyanza, who of lately have become politician for hire, attacked Tuju saying he had been sent to spoil the field for “Agwambo” but their utterances carried no weight and were ignored as they are known to have perfected in the art of political sycophancy ready to be hired by anyone with money to go and vilify his opponents.

They argued that according to Luo tradition virtue and cultural value, a woman is not suppose to go to a front line in a war.-in her home of birth because she transformed by the virtue of her marital status to be a foreigner and an outsider.

Mrs Odhiambo funeral attracted thousands of grim faced mourners who included members of her family from Kanyada Kanyabala near Homa-Bay the family of her husband, friends and relatives

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KENYA: DC , MP ASSES FLOOD DAMAGE CAUSED IN KISUMU AND NYANDO AREAS

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dateWed, Aug 24, 2011 at 5:01 AM
By Dickens Wasonga

The heavy rains that has been pounding most parts of Kisumu and Nyando of Nyanza for the last one week continue to wreck havoc in the area.

Several families within the flood prone Nyando plains are now considering moving to higher grounds as the raging floods sweeps across the area known for rice growing.

There is now fresh fears amongst affected residents of a possible cholera out brake and reemergence of malaria attacks.

However the government said it has put its health personnel in the region on high alert giving an assurance at the same time to the locals that there was enough drugs to handle any disease out-brake should the rains continue like has been predicted by the meteorological department.

On Monday last week Kisumu East district Commissioner Mabeya Mogaka and the MP for Kisumu town East Shakill Shabir toured the affected areas to assess the extent of the destruction which resulted from the floods.

Speaking to the Truth in his office last week , the DC confirmed that the worst hit areas included Kolwa East and Nanga where 8 houses were destroyed and over a 100 homesteads remained submerged in the waters.

Mogaka said the government lost money running into millions of shillings after 60 fish ponds were swept away by the raging floods.

The fish ponds were for the fish farming projects being implemented by various groups and individual fish farmers under the economic stimulus package within the Kisumu east constituency.

” All that money has now gone to waste.This area had the highest concentration of the ponds with each of them having 1000 fingerlings which has gone with the water in to the lake.”said the DC.

He spoke as red cross teams from Kisumu regional office gave out non food items such as canvas and blankets to 50 families in the affected areas.

Mogaka said the district disaster committee in its rapid assessment established that the area requires 10,000 gunny bags to protect the rivers that flooded.

” We have asked Kisumu town east emergency fund to give us Sh.2M to help drain river Awuji and Nyamsaria which are silted so that water can begin to flow easily again to the lake.” he said.

The DC said the situation was still manageable but it could reach crisis levels if the rains persists.

He however assured the residents that members of the district disaster committee were ready for any eventuality adding that the food situation was not yet out of hand.

In areas such as Korowe, Ayweyo RC, and Dunga, families were desperately making efforts to move to safer grounds.

In the past, flood victims usually turn to higher grounds in places such as schools and churches in a bid to escape the raging floods which has become a yearly calamity event during any rainy season.

Most of the affected families in the County of Kisumu and Nyando also had their properties worth millions of shillings destroyed in the wake of the heavy downpour which is pounding also most parts of the country.

In these areas, crops and animals were not spared either as Rivers Nyando, Nyamasaria and Awuji burst their banks.

In Kisumu’s Nyamasaria area ,heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorm led to flooding at Orongo and the famous Nyamasaria shopping center making the areas a no go zone for several hours on Saturday last week..

It was apathetic site at the ultra modern Nakumatt Mega City shopping complex which was flooded after the rains thereby disrupting business for several hours the same week.

It was a hectic time for motorists plying the Kisumu – Nairobi highway as their negotiated their way through the flooded section of the road in and out of the lake side city.

Several passengers remained stranded in Kisumu town while others could be spotted wading through the flood waters.

There was a traffic snarl-up,the first of its kind witnessed in the area where traffic jam is not common from Ahero to Kisumu and from Kisumu to Ahero delaying operations in the busy highway.

Most vehicles could not pass the Nyamasaria bridge that was overflowing with water and other debris picked upstream.

The havoc saw the Nyanza Golf club’s wall collapsing among other numerous structures in slum areas of Kisumu.

Two cyclists were also reportedly swept away by the raging floods near Awuji- Nyamasaria area.

According to eye witnesses, the cyclists did not have passengers at the time of the accident.

Search for the bodies was reportedly still underway according to our sources.

A farmer in Nyando said he lost several goats, Sheep and chicken as a result.

His entire horticulture garden was washed away by the raging floods that caught the resident’s unaware thus creating panic in the area.

ENDS.

KENYA: JIRONO. WETANGULA, WAKOLI, AND WAMALWA NOT SERIOUS – OPARANY ON PRESIDENTIAL RACE

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By Dickens Wasonga.

Five presidential hopefuls from the Western Kenya region who have since declared they will contest the seat in the 2012 general elections are not serious candidates, minister Wycliffe Oparanya has claimed.

Speaking in Rarieda constituency on Friday last week, Oparanya who is the planning minister dismissed as ”passing cloud” the candidacy of MPs Eugine Wamalwa [Saboti], Cyrus Jirongo [Lugari], Moses Wetangula [Sirisia] and Wakoli Bufwoli [Bumula] which should not worry other serious contestants.

The minister said the declaration by the five to seek the presidency was not genuine but a plot hatched by those opposed to Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid, hoping they will split the western Kenya votes come the polling day.

The Butere MP claimed the same politicians were behind the sustained calls to have deputy prime minister Musalia Mudavadi declare his interest in the presidential race.

He said it was clear that Mudavadi would be Raila’s running mate adding that the schemes to divide the Luhyia leadership will this time round flop.

” These are moles.Most of them are too broke to mount any significant presidential campaign machinery.What they want is to pretend to be in the race so that they are bought off by strong and serious candidates or play the role of moles but we already know that.We must tell our people to be on the look out so that they are not duped.” said Oparanya.

He however challenged those who have ID cards from Nyanza and western regions to ensure they register in large numbers when the electoral body begins voter registration in the next two months.

Oparanya observed that in the past elections in the areas have been marred by low voter turnout which usually act against the candidates running for various seats from the two provinces and urged them to ensure they cast their ballot.

” In the past elections, only about 70 per cent of registered voters from Nyanza turn up to vote while in Western just about 65 per cent do so. During campaigns , you attend rallies in huge numbers and give the impression that you have a solid support but in the polling day, its a different story.You really let us down” He said.

Oparanya who was accompanied in a tour of CDF projects in Rarieda constituency by the Arabela MP Nicholas Gumbo and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo also asked his colleagues to ensure the fund is not scrapped.

While supporting the minister on the continued existence of the fund Midiwo said the infrastructural development that government has managed to put in place since the introduction of CDF in 2003 can not have been possible.

Midiwo claimed a section of ministers and MPs who were opposed to devolution were out to see the fund done away with so that other regions that relied on the fund to develop remains behind.

” Kenyans wanted the government to devolve resources and CDF has archived a lot and we must support it further existence because that is the way to ensure resources are equitably distributed.” said Midiwo.

Oparanya at the same time asked his colleagues to ensure all CDF projects are fully completed by June next year.

” We want to start on a new chapter. We do not want the incoming MPs who will be elected in the forth coming polls to inherit incomplete projects like was the case in the last elections.” said the minister.

ENDS

KENYA: YOU HAVE UNTIL JUNE TO COMPLETE YOUR CDF PROJECTS – OPARANY TO MPs.

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By Dickens Wasonga.

The Government has directed Members of Parliament to ensure all the projects funded under the Constituency Development Funds and the economic stimulus program are fully implemented by June next year.

Wycliffe Oparanya who is the minister for Planning and National Development and Vision 2030 said all government development initiated projects should be delivered within the project periods if the needs of the people who stand to benefit from them are to be met.

Speaking in Rarieda constituency when he toured the CDF funded projects in the area on Friday last week, the Minister said early completion of such projects also helps the government to get value for money and guard against possible attempt by some MPs to divert the funds especially during the campaign periods ahead of next year’s General Elections.

“Whether the next General Election is going to be held next year or not, my Ministry will ensure that all the projects funded under the CDF and Economic Stimulus Program {ESP} country wide are completed by June next year,” he said.

The Minister therefore urged constituency Development Fund committee officials to ensure the funds are prudently utilized before the next general elections.

Oparanya said the government lost substantial amount of money during the transition period in the last general elections where most projects stalled due to poor implementation practices.

The mister directed that funds which will not have been utilized by that deadline be returned to treasury and be channeled back to the CDF accounts after 2012 general elections.

He said all CDF accounts should be cleaned after successful completion of the projects before the next polls, adding his ministry has set aside funds that will be used to evaluate the CDF projects across the country.

The Butere MP also called upon the district commissioners to monitor the usage of the CDF projects in their jurisdiction because the kitty is just like any other government fund.

The planning minister was accompanied by MPs Dr.Oburu Oginga {Bondo} Eng. Nicholas Gumbo {Rarieda} and Jakoyo Midiwo of Gem.

Constituency Development Funds Board Chief Executive Officer Agnes Odhiambo hailed the quality of projects she visited in Rarieda constituency.

She urged ordinary citizens to monitor the CDF projects in their areas and forward any complaint regarding the misuse of the CDF Kitty to her office for action.

ENDS.

KENYA: KISUMU NGO DONATES FOOD AND DRUGS WORTH 5 MILLION TO HUNGER VICTIMS

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By Dickens Wasonga.

The Kenyans for Kenya initiative over the weekend got a boost when a Kisumu based non-governmental organization donated food and medicine worth Sh.5 million to help those currently faced with starvation in the northern parts of the country.

OGRA foundation, a Kenyan local NGO in partnership with Direct Relief International responded to the Kenya Red Cross Emergency appeal by making a donation worth Sh.4.5 M which included drugs, medicines and food to hunger stricken families in areas such as Turkana North and Central and Lokolir which are the worst hit by the food crisis.

Part of the food donated and presented to the Red Cross Kisumu regional office by the foundation’s C.O.E Dr.Hezron Makobewa included 150 bags of maize.

Mr. Ken Wafula, the national chairman of the NGO council who received the donation before handing it over to the Red Cross Society in Kisumu appealed to all active NGO countrywide to support the food initiative.

Wafula noted that it was a pity Kenya which is blessed with fertile farming lands was in dire need of food attributing the current food scarcity to poor and bad governance.

” It is shameful that our people should go hungry in a country that can grow enough food to feed everybody and even export the surplus. We fail to plan well.In times of plenty, our farmers get stuck with their produce in the farms.Most of the yields even rot and poor markets is the order of the day’ he said.

The NGO boss called on the government to allocate more money into agriculture and give subsidies to farmers to boost food security.

The Red Cross Society’s deputy secretary general Dr.James Kisia said the situation was still dire in north Turkana where malnutrition rates were at between 37-38 per cent with emergency rates being at 15 per cent in most of the hardest hit areas.

” In the worst hit areas , 9 year old children weigh as a low as 3kgs.” In areas of Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit and Mwingi malnutrition rates is over 20 per cent.These are not just figures.They have profound effect on the development of this nation.” said Dr.Kisia.

The appeal which was launched after reports indicated millions of people across the country were facing starvation due to prolonged drought sought to raise over 600 million shillings and has seen an overwhelming support from many Kenyans.

” We feel greatly humbled by the response. We have seen pouring of assistance even from regions where hunger is hardly an issue, people who are very compassionate.” said Kisia.

OGRA Foundation also responded to the humanitarian crisis three years ago which resulted from the disputed results of the2007 general election by donating both food and medicine through its partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society.

The intervention saw the restoration of the health care to hundreds of both vulnerable and general population in western parts of Kenya.

ENDS.