Category Archives: HEADLINES

KENYA: CIRCUSES REPORTED AT MIWAMI SUGAR MILL AS HIRED GOONS CHASE AWAY INVESTORS AND NEMA OFFICIALS

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reports Leo Odera Omolo

THERE were circuses and near physical combat on Tuesday this week when a group of local land foreign investors toured the facility for the purpose of making assessment about its viability ahead of its privatization ,which is scheduled in two months time.

The investors were accompanied by the officials from NEMA, but they were confronted at the gate cf the facility by rowdy goons masquerading as local farmers and stakeholders who threatened to beat them up forcing the group to cut short and call off their mission.

It has since been established that a cartel of wealthy Kisumu based Indians with the vested interest in Miwani Sugar Mills had held a secret night meeting the with the goons previous night at undisclosed venue within Miwani and instructed the youth not to allow any other groups of potential investors to access the facility.

Mi9wani sugar Mills the oldest sugar factory in Kenya which was the first to be established in the country in 1927 by an Australian white settler farmer is currently closed. It went burst in 2001 and was placed under the joint official protective official receivership together with the Muhoroni Sugar MILLS by the government which is the sole shareholder.

The goons acting at the behest of their invisible hirer masters insisting that there should be no visit to the facility before it was advertised for privatization and were adamant not to allow any such visit. They also threatened to burn down the vehicles that conveyed the investors to the facility unless the owners made a quick about-turn.

Businessmen intending to make their bid for Miwani Sugar Mills are said to be very much scared after getting the information about the expected cut-throat competition involving the hiring of criminal thugs. \they have expressed the fear that unless the government moves much faster with speed and advertise when it plan to off-load its shares as all the five public owned sugar factories in Western Kenya the possibility of the exercise being sabotaged by the interested parties cannot be ruled out.

All the previous attempt to have Miwani sold to private entrepreneurs have always hit the snag. The attempts were followed with series of court cases filed on flimsy grounds deliberately to have the exercise time barred. When the cases were finally over and determined, some unnamed officials at the lands Ministry corruptly and deliberately withheld the facility’s land title deeds pre-empting the transactions.

The major source of all the commotions is the 10,000 hectares Miwani nucleus estate farm, which some wealthy cartel of RICH Indians tycoon based in Miwani and Kisumu have focused their attention and hell-bent grab through the hook or crook. These cartels of crooks have been putting all sorts of barriers on the path of Miwani Sugar Mll’s privatization, while its owner which is the government seemed to be toothless bull=dog on the issue.

The carcasses which erupted at the facility is the clear indication that something fishy is going on, which calls for the government action.

Ends

KENYA: KISUMU MCA INFECTS COLLEAGUE WITH SYPHILIS DISEASE

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By Our Reporter

Some members of Kisumu County Assembly are calling upon the area Medical Director Dr.Ojwang’ Lusi to invoke the Public Health Act and arrest one of their colleagues who has a sexually transmitted disease which he infected a female colleague with during their recent retreat in Kwale within Coast Region.

The agitated MCAs are saying that if their colleague is not treated then he will paint the county red with his veneral disease as witnessed recently.

“The female MCA who comes from Nyakach Constituency no longer stays with the husband as she infected the husband with that “thunder” and she was sent away, I am really surprised that in this era some people still have sexual intercourse without protection “lamented one of his colleagues.

Another MCA added that if the said people’s representative is not forcefully taken for treatment then they will introduce a bill to compel the Medical Director to treat him or obtain a court order.

They wonder how many of the leaders’ female voters have faced what their female colleague underwent.

“Seems he has infected many with that STI as he has a very itchy loins and he is always randy” added another female MCA.

The always shabby haired, thick, squawky walking and illiterate MCA who is behind the damage was once the late Kisumu Town MP Job Omino’s house boy and later became a pimp for most luo leaders which has twice earned him nomination on Raila Odinga led party for two terms as he has never won any of the party’s primaries.

He is said to have had the STI disease since he entered the assembly and has been spreading it like bush fire.

Contacted for comment, the legislature said that its his closeness to Raila that is making his fellow MCAs to say those things against him.

“That my fellow MCA wanted to blackmail me with the said issue but I told her off regardless of anything which happened, we were all given allowances for the meeting why did she want my money” he added saying he was going to make an official report to the police about the incident

KENYA: LUO MPS BITTER WITH AREA POLICE FOR MISSING RUTO’S HANDOUT

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By Our Reporter

A section of luo Members of Parliament are up in arms against Kisumu County police and the Provincial Administration for having “hidden and failed” to invite them to Deputy President William Ruto’s function last week in Kisumu and missing the generous handout from the DP.

Ruto who was being hosted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Kisumu towards the the construction of their Western Kenya Headquarters caught many by surprise whewn he landed directly at the venue with a chopper after seeing off President Uhuru Kenyatta at Kisumu’s International who flew to Rwanda after they had flown in from Nairobi then headed to Funyula.

Surprisingly none of the luo Members of Parliament nor any Senator attended the function save only for Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti and the host Jack Ranguma.

The MPs who were in various functions within and out of their constituencies were said to be making ranting calls to their men on the ground demanding to know if they could catch up with Ruto.

However Ruto took only thirty minutes to raise over kshs 20 million and left for Nairobi as most of the MPs were on their way to his function not to contribute towards the harambee but to see him with a view of “milking him”.

“My boss was disappointed as we were making our way from Kericho to Kisumu only for us to reach Kaitui and see the DP chopper heading to Nairobi, he was on his private errands and had hoped to get some little money from the DP” lamented one aide of luo MP.

Ruto had earlier been accompanied by his youthful MPs who gave generously during the function.

One MP called a senior police officer within the County and threatened him with a transfer if that is how they will be handling them in regard to both the Presidential and the DP tour.

“How can they hide such a visit from me yet I am an MP within this area, either they did it intentionally or they had firm instructions to keep us in the dark “said another MP.

Another one is said to have called a Provincial Administrator within the county crying to him why he was never told of such a visit.

“Bwana Governor, you know how generous that man usually is, surely what wrong did I do to you to hide such a visit from me, imagine I have been trying to see him for the last four months in his Nairobi office in vain over money’ said another.

But a section of the area Police and the provincial administration have told off the MPs saying there mandate doesn’t extend to telling the legislatures who is to visit the county.

“They are with them in Nairobi, they can be going to to the said offices and look for the itineraries of anyone senior in the government who is to visit their constituencies, ours is coordination and security provision” said a senior police officer within the county who never wanted his identity revealed.

Later most of the MPs were seen physically going to leading hotels within Kisumu town with a view of “being lucky” to see any senior government officer who could have spent a night in Kisumu

KENYA: RONGO MP DALMAS OTIENO ANYANGO SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND ABANDONS RAILA.

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By Agwanda Saye

Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno has said he will spearhead the formation of a new party to rival the Orange party in Nyanza.

The declaration by the MP who is a former Orange Democratic Movement ( ODM) bigwig comes after months of speculation about his loyalty to the party.

Mr Otieno recently accused former Prime Minister Raila Odinga of dictatorial tendencies and cited events in the build up to the party’s national elections. “Chama to biro, Kalausi ma ilando wachne to en mana nying mar batiso makalo (The party is coming and the whirlwind that is being speculated is just a baptismal name that is on the tipping),” Otieno said.

The MP said he stands a chance of being elected president just like Raila. Addressing his constituents at the new Chamgigwadu divisional headquarters in Rongo sub-county of Migori County, Otieno said it was not correct for the Odinga family to brand him a Jubilee mole even after fighting hard to ensure that Raila won in the last General Election.

The legislator claimed he played a crucial role in the formation of the CORD and bringing on board former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

KENYA: POLITICAL DAGGERS DRAWN OUT IN NYANDO CONSTITUENCY AFTER THEIR MP’s EXIT

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Our Political Reporter

The recent Court of Appeal revocation of Fred Otieno Outa’s election as Nyando MP has elicited a mixture of anger,uncertainity,joy and surprise as many of the area voters had not thought of going back to the ballot boxes given that the High Court had dismissed the petition which had been filled by the man who came second to Outa during the general elections Jared Okello.

In spite of losing the seat, Outa suffered another setback when the three bench judge comprising Justices; Philip Waki,David Maranda and Festus Azangalala directed the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko to prosecute Outa for election bribery.

Outa’s current woes was as a result of issuing CDF cheques ten days before the polling day with Justice Festus Azangalala who read the judgment on behalf of his colleagues saying that they had complied with section 86(1) and 87 (1) of the election Act to nullify his election.

As a result of this ,the political temperature within the rice and cane growing constituency is so high to a point that voters are calling upon their respective preferred candidates to go for the seat and take over from Outa who many say his chances if not nil then very thin.

It is worth noting that the constituency is where the Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma hails from and they use not to see each other eye to eye with Outa and at one time during the funeral of the parents of Nyakach MP Joshua Aduma Owuor he literally kicked the seat of the Governor from the main dais saying “Ceremonial Mayors” should not share dais with MPs.

Many of the critics of the outgoing MP says his arrogance and coupled with his second tenure’s entry to parliament are most of his undoing plus the issue of rice farming which he once act as a broker to rice processors outside the region.

“He was treating himself as a King and one who could not return to the electorates,now he will conme back to us and if he comes back?” pondered a pro Okello supporter while demonstrating in Ahero to celebrate his removal as the area MP

The Constituency’s voting pattern will heavily rely on the clans making the area majorly comprising Kochoggo,Wawidhi ,Kadibo and Kakola.

Its worth noting that there might be chances of Outa’s clan voting to any one asa revenge on what they believe is an injustice did to their son by Okello and hence their votes are really crucial in determining who will be the next Nyando MP.

So far the man who was to defeat Outa during the last general elections Joseph Owino Ogendo is being implored to contest by top luo ODM leadership saying the going might not be cosy for Jared and if he wins On a Ford –K ticket then it will reflect that the Raila Odinga led party is losing its clout within luo land.

Raila’s factor might not count so much within the constituency given that his convoy was stoned during campaign times when he went to campaign for Ouya after the sham ODM nominations .

Nyando Cponstituents are said to be so charged that they might opt to go for their own candidate and ignore the “our party” syndrome which was ignored by Muhoroni voters in electing James Onyango Koyoo on a PDP party and Olago Aluoch on Ford-K party within the county.

The others who are being contemplated for the seat are;Kisumu based Fianncial Adviceser Victor Ogutta,a leading Insurer Lawrence Obat,Medics Dr.Ojwang Lusi,Dr.Sam Oron and Dr.Richard Olewe,then there is Lumumba Patrick Ouya and former area MP Calrkson Otieno Karan

Owino Ogendo

He comes from Wawidhi Clan where one time area MP Eric Opon Nyamunga hails from.

He was the man who was better placed to have defeated Outa during the last general elections but it took the intervention of top ODM leadership to implore him not to contest the seat and he opted to continue with his work in one of the key parastatals within the country.

He is a man of a strong financial base who can sustain his campaigns single handedly given his strong financial base, the fact is that Ogendo is one of the few billionaires in Kenya courtesy of his vast interest in hotels,oil,clearing and forwarding ,construction as well as real estate’s within Kenya.

Should he opt to resign from his current job to contest the seat then he is likely to contest the seat.

We have established that top ODM leadership are imploring him to resign from his current job to go for the seat something his close aides are wary of saying he should wait till the next general elections.

“Biggy should ignore this by-election and wait proper for the 2017 elections because igf he opts to go and win this election then he is likely to be judged as afive yearMP”lamented George Opalo.

Victor Ogutta “Ja- Kochoggo”

Victor is a youthful, progressive entrepreneur who hails from the Kochoggo Clan which voted head to toe to the outgoing MP Outa during the last general elections.

Ogutta sits as a junior luo elder within the Luo Council of Elders and his father was one of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s security details which culminated to Jaramogi taking him to Russia for a proper Military training in the sixties.

He has a cozy relationship with luo political leader Raila Odinga given that he contributed immensely during the last general elections.

He is a graduate of University of Nairobi, and then did his Masters at Moi University and he is presently pursuing his PHD at the same institution.

He is a financial management expert based in Kisumu and he too can sustain his own campaigns given his massive strong financial base courtesy of his real estate and banking business.

He is the man who hired the chopper the current Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma used for the entire duration of his campaigns when he appeared to be financial low during the last general elections.

He commands most of the youths within the constituency given that he lobbied them to elect Ranguma.

Lawrence Obat

Obat also hails from Kochoggo and he is one of the leading Insurance brokers within Kisumu coupled with his petrol products business within Nyanza and Western Kenya.

He is the best option for the seat given his soberness coupled with his practical approach on issues.

He was one of the leading professionals within the constituency who campaigned for Ogendo before he dropped out of the race.

He is well versed with the Constituency’s politics given that he did it with Nyamunga,Outa and Ogendo.

He has been elusive in regard to contest the seat though he had set his eyes for the 2017 general elections.

Clarkson Otieno Karan

“Ja Migingo” as he is known by his supporters was the area MP from 1992-1997 and later became Kisumu Mayor after which he served as a Member of Parliament within the East Africa Legislative Assembly after quitting the banking sector where he worked for various banks as the manager.

Karan hails from Kadibo clan the same as Ouya,Outa and Olewe and his clan might decide to vote as a block to “revenge” on a seat they believed was taken awy from them

He is presently involved in large scale farming within Nyando and Muhoroni Constituency though he had hinted that he was focusing on trade unions elections but with this coming unexpectedly he is said to have changed his mind on top of that he is one of the best orators within luoland who can only be rivaled by Rongo MP dalmas Otieno.

“Ja Migingo” might go for the seat and if the elections would be pegged on seniority, expertise and experience then he is a sure bet for the seat” said Solomon Ouko who has been his political strategist.

Lumumba Patrick Ouya “Kalausi”

He is India Schooled and worked mostly within the defunct local authorities as a clerk having served in Homa Bay,Siaya,Malindi,Lamu and Embu.

He is close to Kisumu and Siaya Sentors Anyang’ Nyong’o and James Orengo respectively who are said to be having close ears of luo de facto leader Raila Odinga who if the push come to shove might have a second thought about him.

He contested the shoddy ODM nominations during the last general elections and lost to Outa whom they have not been seeing each other eye to eye.

He has the following of the youths and women within the constituency which might become handy for him if he decides to go for the seat though he tells some that he is unlikely to contest and support Okello given that he fought the court battle alone.

His critics however says that he has to redeem himself as his own man and should not be seen as a political wheeler dealer and brief case man of some luo tycoons.

Jared Okello

He also hails from Wawidhi , he was never satisfied with the flawed ODM party nominations and he jumped ship to Ford-K which was an affiliate to Cord during the last general elections.

He gave Outa agood run for his money and should he have the same strength ,will and zest then he is likely to cause more problems to his opponents.

He is a darling of many due to his oratory skills when he takes the podium, he has portrayed himself as a poor people’s man as he mingles freely all the voters within the constituency freely regardless of one’s class or economic status.

His critics however points out that he need to change his wardrobe for him to look like a serious contestant.

“He should discard his t-shirt trade mark and venture into serious African attires or suits” said one of his supporters.

Erick Opon Nyamunga

He also hails from Wawidhi, however given that his wife Rose Nyamunga is Kisumu County Women MP, he might not go for the seat and whoever he will throw his weight behind might have some advantage over the rest.

He opted not to venture into an elective post during the last general elections as his supporters hinted to us that it was due to what he underwent in 1997 during the ODM nominations when he is said to have defeated Outa in the primaries but was denied victory.

However he joined NARC party and came second giving Outa a run for his money.

Many aspirants might go for him for his political blessings.

Dr.Ojwang’ Lusi

He is currently Kisumu County Medical Director, he is said to be contemplating going for the seat but leading lights within the County are said to be advising him to concentrate on his current employment and throw his weight behind one of the aspirants.

Dr.Richard Olewe

Dr.Olewe is a medical doctor who is presently consulting for the World Health Organization in Sub Africa, he hails from Kadibo Clan.

Dr.Samuel Odhiambo Oron

He worked in Marie Stopes for many years before venturing into consultancy; he has financial muscle to manage his own campaigns as he is also a large scale farmer in Sugar cane, rice and maize farming both in Muhoroni and Nyando Sub Counties.

He was one of the clear favorites for the seat but he is said to have developed a cold feet due to what his supporters say favoritism within the popular ODM party nominations.

“Daktari has all along been Raila’s man and he is ready to contest as long as he is guaranteed that the nominations will be fair and the ground will be leveled to all the aspirants” said one of his key strategists who declined to be named.

He is a Russian trained medic,he hails from Kochoggo Clan, he was one of the lead campaigners for Ouya a head of the botched ODM nominations.

He has a wider knowledge of the constituency and he might leave a mark if he plunges into the race.

His critics say that he has to shake off himself from his NGO operative brother Joshua Odongo Oron if he has to be his own man.

KENYA’S LAVEMP 2 WORLD BANK FUNDED PROJECT TO DELAY FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Agwanda Saye.

The second phase of Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme has been extended by two years by the respective donors according to the project’s National Coordinator Francisca Awuor.

According to Awuor despite many hurdles which they have experienced they have implemented various activities and realized various achievements as the project was suppose to end in June 2003 but has been extended to June 2015.

Speaking after an extension tour with journalists on LVEMP 2 projects within Busia,Siaya,Homa Bay and Migori Counties Awuor added that the donor funded project had a budget of $ 30 million which was to be spent within four years but now six year.

“The good about the project’s four main four components phase: Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Managing Shared Water and Fisheries Resources, Point Source Pollution Control and Prevention, Watershed Management and Project Coordination and Management is that so far we are almost achieving all of them as at now we have absorbed 50.6% but we out to have reached 80% to be allowed to move to the next phase”Awuor added.

Already two hundred and twenty five Community Driven Development groups have benefitted from the fund as kshs.300, 950,021 has been disbursed to them while kshs 359,950 021 is yet to be distributed.

She however added that for efficiency measures LVEMP 2 project doesn’t give each individual group money in full but its broken in phases which commensurate the group’s activities progress.

However she cautions the groups against diversifying the fund’ from their initial intended purpose warning that the groups made an agreement with the Kenya government and any found to squander the fund will face the full force of the law.

So far LVEMP 2 in collaboration with the Kenya Maritime Authority is involved in the removal of Water Hyacinth within both the two counties of Migori and Kisumu.

Awuor further said that kshs 0.5 billion has been set aside for the expansion two sewer treatment plants in both Homa Bay and Kisumu Counties while a new plant is to be constructed within Bomet County.

“The Kisat Sewer treatment plant in Kisumu will cost kshs 110 million while the Homa Bay will be done a cost of kshs 210 million with the construction of a new Sewer plant in Bomet will costing kshs 135 million” Awuor added.

Currently, six water laboratories have been completed within Kisumu and are housed in Kisumu and are housed in one building.

The six water labs will help in monitoring quality and quantity of water whether borehole, spring, ground and spring water as well as industrial and disposal waste.

The Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project phase two (LVEMP-II) is a regional initiative implemented by the five East African Community (EAC) Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. LVEMP II complements and upscales the LVEMP I activities which ended in December 2005.

LVEMP II is regionally coordinated by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) through its Regional Project Coordination Team (RPCT) based in Kisumu, Kenya. In Tanzania, the project became effective on 20th August 2009, and its implementation covers Lake Victoria Basin Tanzania part in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera Regions, with a total number of 23 districts. The Project is funded by the World Bank, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Government of Tanzania and Communities. The project, which is multi-sectoral and coordinated by the Ministry of Water, is expected to be implemented for a period of 8 years in two phases, from 2009-2013 and 2013-2017.

The Overall Objective of LVEMP II is to contribute to the achievement of EAC’s vision for the Lake Victoria Basin, which is: “creating a prosperous population living in a healthy and sustainable managed environment and providing equitable opportunities and benefits”

The Project development/global environmental objectives (PDO/GEO) of APL1 are to:

i. improve collaborative management of the trans-boundary natural resources of LVB for the shared benefits of the EAC Partner States; and

ii. reduce environmental stress in targeted pollution hotspots and selected degraded sub-catchments to improve the livelihoods of communities, who depend on the natural resources of LVB

The project has four main components: (i) Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Managing Shared Water and Fisheries Resources; (ii) Point Source Pollution Control and Prevention; (iii) Watershed Management; and (iv) Project Coordination and Management.

ENDS

KENYA: SO KISUMU RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM INTERNET? HOW DOES THAT ADD FOOD TO THEIR TABLE?

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By Our Reporter

Kisumu County residents will be benefiting from a free Wi-Fi connection from 11th April this year when proper network connection will also be felt in the county.

This is through a partnership between the County Government and the State House Digital team that was made public today in the governor’s office.

The State House Digital Director Denis Itumbi said they want to unveil what will transform service delivery in the county and possible increase people’s job performances.

Itumbi said the Kisumu Wi-Fi connection will consist of 16 economic sectors and cover a radius of 10Kilometer from the Central Business District.

He said the County government and the National government through tax payers will not incur any cost from the project as it will be done freely to the residents, saying the project is done through various partners.

He said this will cooperate hotspots area, markets and villages who will instantly benefit from the project.

The Digital Director said they will have digital impact centre for training people from difference sectors on how they can benefit from using the internet.

The County Governor Jack Ranguma said the county will be one among the countries to have free Wi-Fi in Africa.

Ranguma said the free internet will allow residents to utilize the advantages provided in building their careers.

He said they would be able to register their business online and pay for their licenses through available mobile platforms.

The governor said the platform will enable the residents to engage and participate in the county development issues by airing their views and raising their voices on state services.

KENYA: NYANDO MP’s ELECTION NULLIFIED AS HE AWAITS PROSECUTION.

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By Our Reporter

Kisumu Court of Appeal has ordered Kenya’s head of Prosecution Keriako Tobiko to prosecute Nyando MP Fred Outa after nullifying his election as he area mp.

The election as per the judge did not meet the required threshold of the election regulations as some of the candidates were humiliated in a way and Outa and his CDF Treasurer James Yogo were found to have bribed the area voters .

The presiding Judge Justice Festus Azangalala who gave the judgment on behalf of the other three Court of Appeal judges,Justices Sankale ole Kantai, Maraga David and Phillip Waki said the election of that constituency was marred with a lot of irregularities as well as bribery.

Azangalala said during the entire campaign period, a number of public resources were misused to an extent that could not be ignored by the court.

He said at some places there were cases of bribery that were reported, a factor the presiding judge said could not be entertained by the court as election procedures were severely abused.

The Nyando constituents are now heading for afresh election as per the courts directive, which is to start soon once the IEBC has been notified.

Alternatively, the candidate who appealed Jared Okello said he was sure that the victory was theirs and he will always be ready to battle Outa at all cost.

KENYA: YATIKE LEADERS ANGERED BY ATTACK ON THEIR MP

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From: LEO ODERA

NYATIKE LEADERS WARNS MIGORI GOVERNOR TO DESIST FROM POLITICS OF MALICE.

A CROSS section of ODM leaders in Nyatike constituency, Migori County have come out very strongly in defense of the area MP Edick Omondi Anyanga and advised the MIGORI GOVERNOR Zachary Okoth Obado to desist forthwith from pursuing destructive and retrogressive politics of malice..

Instead of pursuing the outmoded malicious politics of using hired power brokers and discredited political hirelings to discredit other elected leaders, the governor should fulfill his mandate of initiating more development which are beneficial to the residents of the region.

The group comprising of three leaders from Nyatike were reacting to an article which appeared this week in a section of media criticizing the MP on what they described as far-fetched uncalled for and unwarranted attacks.

In the article, according to the group purporting it to have been written by Natike professionals, they charged the work is by an individual masquerading as professional, but is instead a common Nairobi street broker who is Eric Oloo Kinyaga whom they accused of peddling rumor and writing slanderers articles against their hard-working MP.

The group identified the man as one of numerous power brokers and political hireling who has never visited his rural Nyatike in Kanyuor Kadem for long after getting embroiled in protracted land cases with his kinsmen. He is therefore not conversant with the goings in Nyatike.

Kinyaga is running an insurance brokerage firm which almost has gone burst and as such is not qualified to criticize their hard-working MP. The group comprised William Okello {Macalder},. Tobias Ocholla, Joakim Okoth {Got Kachola },Tobia Ocholla {North Kadem} and madam Zilpa Orwa [Karungu Kachieng’}

Speaking in Migori Town the group expressed their anger at what they described as mischievous attack against their MP which is devoid of even an iota of truth. They cited numerous projects initiated by the MP such as rural electrification, the installation of solar panels now providing street lights to all schools, trading centres, and other public institutions covering the entire constituency.

They advised Migori governor, whom they accused of having sponsoired the destructive and maliciously damaging article against their MP, that Ho.Edick Omnondi Anyanga is not interested in taking over the position of governor and was satisfied with what the public had bestowed on him.

During March 4, 2013, it was Mrs Anyanga and Pro. Edward Oyugi Akong’o who contested the governor position against governor Obado and not the who has so far expressed his wish to continue representing his Nyatike constituents and only to retire as an MP when the time comes.

The group told governor Obado to come out clean over the allegations of nepotism in the recruitment of County workers the allegation of massive corruption including taking of kick-backs from those contractors who have tendered to construct various projects including medical theatre at Awendo sub-district hospital and MTC.”He should clean his house first before embarking on hiring other people to make unfounded allegations against the MP,” they said.

Unconfirmed Rumors making the round in Migori and its environs says governor Obado has employed his brother, sister in-law and brother in-law in the services of Migori County. and to the chagrins of the electorate and these are some of the job seekers are being asked. “This are some of the vices which the governor should spare his energy and efforts in fighting,” they said.

Other rumors and speculation which are rampant in Migori is that governor Obado who was elected on a ticket of the PDP party of the former South Mugirango MP Oming

The Migori governor is also being accused for not being cohesive wit his fellow elected leaders and is working in isolation. The region is the ODM stronghold and unless he changed jhis tactics and humble himself to the dominant party he should count himself out of political leadership come the next elections.

Ends

Kenya: LUO ELDERS PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT KENAYYATTA

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LUO ELDERS WANT KENYATTA AND RUTO TO VISIT NYANZA.

Reports leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu CITY

Members of the Luo Council of Elders held an urgent meeting in kisumu city on Monday and passed several far-reaching resolutions, one of them urging president Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to visit Luo-Nyanza in the near future at their on convenience time.

The meeting chaired by Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo and attended by 30 elders from all the four Counties within Luo-Nyyanza was held at the Museum view hotel within the posh milimani estate within in Kisumu CITY also urged the community to re-brand itself and avoid the politics of confrontation with the government og the day in order to foster fast development in the region.

This was the meeting of the management steering committee of the Council. It will be followed by another meeting of the governing council scheduled to be held at the Ofafa Memorial Hall at a later date net month.

The elders issued a stern warning to the youthful members of parliament from Luo-Nyanza most of them the so-called “Green Horns” to humble themselves to the government of President Kenyatta and to stop issuing reckless utterances, which are viewed as hostile to the government in order to attract development in the region.

The elders also called upon the government to use all the means at its disposal to fight the up surging insecurity situation .They expressed concern particularly on the deteriorating security along Nyakach-Kericho border by apprehending those instigating trouble in the area.

Flanked by the Council’s secretary Mzee Edward Adera Osawa the elders said the would like President Kenyatta and DP Ruto to extend their tour of Nyanza to cover all the 20 parliamentary constituencies in the region, and to visit all the Counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Homa-Bay and Migori and meet the people.

The meeting urged the government to ensure equitable distributions of the national cake so that all the Kenyan communities could benefit from the country\s recourses irrespective of the party of affiliation.

Party of the affiliation

The elders called upon the two communities living along the Rift Valley-Nyanza Provinces, namely the Kipsigis and the Luos to live in peace and harmony, and to abandon retrogressive practices such as cattle rustling, which caused the losses of lives.

The elders reaffirmed their loyalty to President Kenyatta and his Deputy Ruto and disclosed that the next meeting will hammer out the contentious plans for the members of the Luo Cuncil of elders to visit state house in to discuss political and socio-economic development matters in Luo-Nyanza.

Another resolution asked the government to do everything at its disposal to stop the illegal importation of sugar in to the country saying that the practice is hurting sugar millers in Nyanza, some of them are just about to halt their operations and send thousands of workers home.The situation is getting out of hand and the President should use his political magnanimity dynamism to restore sanity in the sugar industry.

ENDS

KENYA: GOVERNMENT URGED TO ARREST SUGAR SMUGGLERS

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SONYSUGAR IS ON THE VERGE OF TOTAL COLLAPSE AS IT IS UNABLE TO SELL ITS SUGAR.

Rports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Unable to sell its made sugar and stuck with huge stockpile of the commodity in its warehouses, the Awendo based SonySugar is on its death bed and on the verge of total collapse. If the production at the government wholly owned multimillion shillings facility, located in Migori County stopped production, this will spill thousands of its close to 2500 workforce out job.

The leader of the majority at the Migori County Assembly Johnson Omolo Owiro has appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and the government to bring to a halt the illegal importation of sugar from foreign sources and protect Kenyan workers from being declared redundant.

Omolo Owiro is the MCA representing Central Sakwa ward in which SonySugar is situated. The ward also houses Awendo Town. He complained that the illegally imported sugar from outside and inside Cmesa region has flooded the market and were selling as cheaply as 70 per kg as opposed to SonySugar products, which is selling at Kshs 140 per kg. The company has has reduced the price of its sugar from Kshs 3800 per 50 kg to kshs 3200 per 50 kig, but still is unable to market its sugar due to the saturation of the market which is currently flooded by the illegal imports.

The problem has spilled over to the sugar cane farmers within the SonySugar cane growing zones. The miller is also unable to pay the cane suppliers in time. Most of the millers have reduced the price of raw cane from Kshs4800 per ton to almost kshs 300o per ton, and sooner or later it is likely to go down to Kshs 2500 per ton.

The cost of cane production for an acre is almost close to Ksh 6000. The government should arrest and prosecute the sugar barons involved in this racket. Some of the smugglers are said to be business magnates and politicians with connection in high places. Illegal sugar imports comes from Egypt, Tanzania and via some ports along the Kenya Somalia borders. “This must stop, because we cannot go on paying our hard earned money to the foreign workers at the expense of our own people. “Kenya must protect its citizen working for the sugar millers, ” said Omoloo Owiro.

SonySugar, he added is the largest manufacturing industry in Southern Nyanza and therefore a major source of employment to the locals. ITS collapse and closure would therefore impact negatively to the economic growth and development of the region.

Meanwhile reports reaching us say that nearly all the sugar millers in Western Kenya have got huge accumulated stockpile amounting to over 50,000 tons of sugar worth millions of shillings. The illegal sugar imports by smuggler has also affected the sales of the same commodity in other mills like Mumias, Chemelil, Muhoroni, Trans-Nzoia, Sukari Industries, Kibos and Trans-Mara millers.

Omolo Owiro, who is the former Mayor of Awendo, said his people, particularly cane farmers, were experiencing a lot of difficulties, unable to pay for their children’s school fees and to buy basic food commodities because SonySugar has run short of money to pay for the cane bills in time. The company is limping, though its top managers are making concerted efforts to keep it afloat and in business, but it can not go on like this when it can not sell its products to the consumer who most have opted for the illegally imported sugar ,which is selling cheaply.

The smugglers of sugar should be arrested and charged with economic crime and treated as saboteurs. Sabotaging the national economy of the Kenya nation. Owiro called upon the Senators and MPs from the sugar producing region to introduce a motion authorizing the immediate arrest of the racketeers.

Ends

KENYANS TOLD TO IGNORE CALLS FOR NEW CONSTITUTION

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To: jaluo@jaluo.com

By Agwanda Saye

The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has raised a red flag over calls to amend the constitution.

The EALS President James Aggrey Mwamu has urged the public to reject demands to amend sections of the supreme law on flimsy grounds.

“Proposals to reduce counties from 47 to 14 are cheeky and dangerous towards returning the concentration of power and resources to the Presidency,” Mwamu said.

The EALS explained that devolution has nothing to do with the wage bill arguing that counties receive from the national Government a paltry 15 per cent of the national revenue.

“The 15 per cent is equivalent to the Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATIF) which used to be given to municipal councils,” Mr. Mwamu said.

The EALS President said that the wage Bill problem has been caused by rampant corruption and unemployment with a bias to ethnic origins of the people who are in power.

“Kenya has experienced economic wastage that cannot be compared to other nations. Many countries have managed to have two Houses of Parliament without problems,” Mwamu said. Mwamu regretted that the problem in Kenya is the Legislators who feel they can earn anything and have everything.

“They (legislators) flout every rule to achieve their desires without thinking what their actions are going to impact on the country,” Mwamu said

The EALS President said recent calls to scrap Senate and constitutional commissions should be ignored.

“This country has a lot of money lost in mismanagement, stealing and graft. Powerful individuals have colossal amount of money stashed in foreign banks,” Mwamu said.

The EALS regretted that the billions of shilling deposited in foreign accounts were obtained from public coffers.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) must double efforts and ensure the money is brought back to the country,” Mwamu said.

The EALS President challenged Attorney General (AG) Prof. Githu Muigai to explain what he has done with mutual recognition agreements to bring back public money illegally stashed abroad.

“We are now paying Anglo Leasing projects following negligence and the careless manner the matter was handled. We need action and immediately,” Mwamu said.

“Kenyans must be careful about calls to amend the Constitution. The Constitution is not the problem. The scapegoat that is being used at this time is devolution,” Mwamu said.

Ends

KENYA: KISUMU BASED CIVIL SOCIETY’S ENDEVOUR TO BRING PEACE AMONG THE KALENJINS AND LUOS

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to: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Agwanda Saye

A Kisumu based Civil society charged with promotion of use of alternative dispute resolution mechanism for peaceful co-existence Uhai Lake Forum Organization is now engaging youths in useful ventures as away of reducing insecurity and has also brought on board elders within the luos and Kalenjins fighting over cattle rustling.

The organization which is now based a long the volatile Kisumu and Kericho Counties has also brought on board elders from where the two communities have been fighting over cattle rustling which has resulted into seven people being injured, fifty seven houses being burnt down and five hundred households being displaced have died resulting to who works in the region to bring the elusive peace among the warring communities have now organized meetings among elders from both sides to address the insecurity situation. Tom Onyango the Co-coordinator of the organization that is being funded by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFORD) said they have identified elders they been engaging in the past and will organize for peace meetings across the border.

“The locals say that the absence of jobs is the reason for the rice in criminal activities that has seen the rise in cattle rustling sparking conflict in the region” Onyango said. But elders in Nyakach are now calling upon the national and the county governments to create employment to the youths and offer soft loans for business start up to make them become self reliant. John Rasare, an elder from Nyakach said the national government needs to assist county governments to earmark projects that could engage the youths in the country. Rasare said that a free and secured society is for the government to invest in its youths who are believed to be the strength of every economy. The locals now want the county governments to establish a youth databank to help develop policies and services geared for young people. “Lack of job opportunities has been blamed for the youths engaging in criminal activities, including engaging in cattle rustling and the government should address the social, economic and security challenges facing the youth. “He added Onyango who led the organization to the ground that was hit with clashes further announced that they are mooting plans to establish community peace committees along the troubling Nyakach-Kericho boarder. He said that in the wake of skirmishes in the area that has led to the killings of six people, the committees should strive to incorporate the youth, women and other interested parties drawn from the border. “The conflict along the border is an issue that has taken the government along time to bring to end and should now resort to home grown solution by involving the locals themselves,” he said. Onyango said they had organized more forums within these areas and have identified peace ambassadors who will work closely with the communities to create awareness on the need to co-exist peacefully.

He also says that youths should maintain peace and learn to live with harmony with each other “As a civil society we will strive to ensure our people live peacefully and put the government on spot over the creation of more jobs for our youths,” said Onyango.

Ends.

KENYA: CALM HAS RETURNED ALONG KERICHO-NYAKACH BORDER AFTER ETHNIC SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THE LUOS AND KIPSIGIS.

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Writes leo Odera Omolo .

RELATIVE calm has returned along the volatile Kericho-Nyakach after three days of ethnic clashes, which left six people dead and scores sustained serious bodily injuries and close to 60 dwelling houses torched with household worth thousands of shillings destroyed.

The peace only returned after the government had dispatched a contingent of the crack paramilitary police unit, the General Service unit [GSU} who have joined other security personnel in patrolling the tension parked border areas separating the two communities in Nyanza and Rift Valley Provinces.

This came about only after Nyakach uutspoken MP Aduma owuor had fired the first salvo s and pointed an accusing finger at an unnamed senior politician from Eldoret North who he alleged is responsible for inciting tribal animosity in the area.

The MP at the same time issued a threat that he would be contacting and consulting the prosecutors at the Hague based International Court of Criminal Justice {ICC} asking it to explore the possibility of instituting fresh investigations on the violation of human rights against his constituents with the possibility of opening up fresh prosecution against the perpetrators of violence against his people

Other sources linked a Senator in the Rift Valley and a Ward Representative from Sigowet area in Kericho West sub-county of fueling ethnic clashes. The MP further alleged that the attackers were being ferried into the border by lorries and Matatus hired by the politicians who areas allegedly sending them fresh supplies of food , mainly loaves or breads and bottled mineral waters, which the criminal thugs have been seen enjoying in their hideout bushes in remote areas where there are no nearby shops.

Nyakach MP recalled that the Kipsigis and Luos have lived together harmoniously from the time memorable years and have always enjoyed peaceful co-existence while involved in batter trades across the common borders.

The Provincial administration who included the County Commissioners in Kerich West and Nhakach have also played the pivotal role in calming down the situation by way of holding joint peace meetings.

Their works were supplemented by a visit by Sigowet MP Justice Kemei who together with Justice Kemei who together with the Kericho Senator Charles Keter flew into the area and addressed a meeting at Kipsitet Market and urged the warring communities in give peace a chance and find ways of solving their problems amicably instead of engaging in combative attack against their neighbors. The flare ups which have so far left six people dead began last Friday night and continued on Saturday and Sunday. The attack covered several villages on the Nyakach side, which included Ngege in Koguta Eas. Onyuongo, Holo, Asao and Cherwa in Agoro area as well as Kandaria areas. Those interviewed said the attackers came in waves of dozens armed with arrows, bows, machetes, swords and spears. They are usually come around in the wee hours of the night and then retreated back to the Kericho West side at dawn.

The victims were puzzled and mesmerized and could not tell exactly what was the cause of the problems. The police Commandant in Nyakach district Ng’etich suspected the politician son both side of the common border for having incited their people into fighting each other, and wondered why some politicians have been holding separate meetings at this time when they need to have joint meetings and talk to the protagonists in a joint effort to end the conflict.

The volatile Nyaka-Kericho border has always been prone to incessant cattle at rustling, which some times ends up in the loss of lives

The two communities, Luos and Kalenjin went into full scale tribal war during the politically motivated Kalenjin Warriors attack in 1992, and in 1996/1997. Thus was durng the clamour for the multiparty politics as opposed to the hitherto monolithic one party system which was favored by the KANU regime under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi. THhe Kalenjin warriors launched spontaneous attacks against Luhiya, Kisiis and Luos in all fronts. Mainly these are the communities which were perceive to be in the opposition against the Moi regime.

ENDS

KENYA: NYANDO MP SELLS HIS LAND FOR KSHS 800m to Madam R Enterprises FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Our Investigative Reporter

Nyando MP Fred Outa who is at the centre of the storm loudly supporting the controversial Solid Waste Management is to sell to Madam R the company which was awarded the multi-billion Solid Waste Management his land at Namba Okan at a cost of kshs 800 million hence his strong agitation for Madam R.

The area MPs ;John Olago Aluoch, Aduma Owuor and himself have so far been enjoined in the case as interested parties together with six Ward Reps;the ever hungry Prisca Auma Misachi, Yona Maina Koko ,Jane Omollo and the fatherless “Banian” Aslam Khan.

Outr has of late locked horns with Kisumu Governor Jack ranguma who has so far disowned the tender award vowing that he will fight the Governor to the full until he achieves his desire of selling the land to Madam enterprises.

All those who are enjoined in the petition have been promised good cash rewards if the tender will finally be awarded to the said company.

The MPs have been promised kshs 10million each while the Ward Reps are to take home kshs 5million each.

“I am surprised that our leaders can stoop this low and be bribed and okay such a project just because one of their own is to sell his land to the Company and they share the loot from the tax payers money from Kisumu” lamented aConty Rep who was approached to be a friend of the Court but declined.

So far no Environmental Impact Assessment report has been conducted and submitted to the National Environment Management Authority, lead agencies like Kisumu Civil Aviation Authority, Water Resource Management Authority and Kisumu County on the said land the MP is selling.

Ranguma has vowed that the project will only take place over his dead vowing that the award of the tender was un procedural.

This comes at a time Kisumu High Court ordered the Kisumu County Government to respond to a petition filed by businessman Erick Okeyo regarding the controversial solid waste management project.

High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule has given the lawyers representing the County government (Wasuna Advocates) three days to file a response against the allegations made by the petitioner.

Okeyo through his lawyer Charles Njuguna wants the county government compelled to produce certified copies of the advertisements for invitation to tender, the valuation report of the tenders, and proof of public participation in the process.

Muchelule ordered lawyers representing both parties to move with speed because the matter is of public interest since it involves huge amount of money and must be expedited as soon as possible.

However Advocate Yogo representing Madam R enterprises which was allegedly offered the Sh. 18 billion tender maintained that no tender was signed and that the county government has not spent any money on the project.

KENYA: KISUMU BASED CIVIL SOCIETY’S ENDEVOUR TO BRING PEACE AMONG THE KALENJINS AND LUOS

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by Agwanda Saye

A Kisumu based Civil society charged with promotion of use of alternative dispute resolution mechanism for peaceful co-existence Uhai Lake Forum Organization is now engaging youths in useful ventures as away of reducing insecurity and has also brought on board elders within the luos and Kalenjins fighting over cattle rustling.

The organization which is now based a long the volatile Kisumu and Kericho Counties has also brought on board elders from where the two communities have been fighting over cattle rustling which has resulted into seven people being injured, fifty seven houses being burnt down and five hundred households being displaced have died resulting to who works in the region to bring the elusive peace among the warring communities have now organized meetings among elders from both sides to address the insecurity situation.

Tom Onyango the Co-coordinator of the organization that is being funded by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFORD) said they have identified elders they been engaging in the past and will organize for peace meetings across the border.

“The locals say that the absence of jobs is the reason for the rice in criminal activities that has seen the rise in cattle rustling sparking conflict in the region” Onyango said.

But elders in Nyakach are now calling upon the national and the county governments to create employment to the youths and offer soft loans for business start up to make them become self reliant.

John Rasare, an elder from Nyakach said the national government needs to assist county governments to earmark projects that could engage the youths in the country.

Rasare said that a free and secured society is for the government to invest in its youths who are believed to be the strength of every economy.

The locals now want the county governments to establish a youth databank to help develop policies and services geared for young people.

“Lack of job opportunities has been blamed for the youths engaging in criminal activities, including engaging in cattle rustling and the government should address the social, economic and security challenges facing the youth. “He added

Onyango who led the organization to the ground that was hit with clashes further announced that they are mooting plans to establish community peace committees along the troubling Nyakach-Kericho boarder.

He said that in the wake of skirmishes in the area that has led to the killings of six people, the committees should strive to incorporate the youth, women and other interested parties drawn from the border.

“The conflict along the border is an issue that has taken the government along time to bring to end and should now resort to home grown solution by involving the locals themselves,” he said.

Onyango said they had organized more forums within these areas and have identified peace ambassadors who will work closely with the communities to create awareness on the need to co-exist peacefully.

He also says that youths should maintain peace and learn to live with harmony with each other

“As a civil society we will strive to ensure our people live peacefully and put the government on spot over the creation of more jobs for our youths,” said Onyango.

Ends.

KENYA: KISUMU JOURNALIST WAS CARJACKED TORTURED AND ROBBED

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

A Kisumu based investigative freelance journalist last week carjacked robbed, robbed of mobile phones and money before being abandoned in a disused Murom quarry, which is located four kilometers outside the City’s outskirts.

Shem Kosse who is a regular contributor to the popular WEEKLY CITIZEN, while in the company of a friend who is a prominent businessman in the town had a very pleasant evening. They had taken few bottles of beers at the famous hotel’s restraint where they also enjoyed an evening meals of the delicious tilapia fish.

The two left Lakeview hotel at about 11 PM and drove to the Club Signature which is only one street away from the hotel. The Club, they found had no parking space for their car. They moved further to another street down and found a parking space at the nearby petrol station.

After securing the parking space, they parked their vehicle and walked on foot back to the Club Signature a short distance where they stayed until almost close to midnight.

Kosse and his companion left the Night Club at about 1.A.M and walked on foot back to the Petrol station where they had left their vehicle. Upon reaching their car, they found another vehicle parked too close to their. The second vehicle had four occupants who appeared to be chewing “Miraa” and relaxing. And because it was parked too close to their car, the two went to the other vehicle and kindly requested them to move their car backward to create a space for them to move out. The men obliged and reversed a few steps backward their vehicle. But hell broke out when Kosse and his friends tried to open the door of their vehicle. All of a sudden the four occupants of the second vehicle turned out to be criminal thugs. They swiftly whipped out pistils and ordered Kosse and his friend inside their own car at the back seat. The men produced ropes and tied Kosse and his friend on the vehicle”s back eats. Three of the thugs got into their own car leaving one who was heavily armed with two pistils who took the command of the steering wheel and drove of from the scene and through the town with the other car following closely.

At this point one of the thugs hit Kosse on the forehead with the gun bat. He was bleeding profusely from his facial wound, but the thugs did not bother. They were driven to Kanyakwar area near Miwani Junction road on the main Kisumu-Kakamega road. The thugs then branched off and drove into a disused quarry, which is located next to the stalled headquarters of the Lake Basin Development Authority { LBDA}.

The two captives were made to scrawl into the quarry walking on their knees. Inside the quarry the thugs produced more ropes from their heavy jackets and tied their hands from behind as well as their legs and abandoned them for a while, only to return a few minutes later and threatened to shoot them .At this juncture the four thugs stood on the edge of the quarry and pointed their guns down on the captives. The thugs then selected the ignition key of Kosse”s friends sleek car a brand new Rav-4. They threw down into the quarry the rest bunch of keys which hit Kosse’s friend hard on the chest.

The thugs then drove away on both cars, but only after ransacking the captives pockets and fleecing them of their money. Kosse lost Kshs 3900. While his friend lost Kshs 12,000 in hard cash.

It was now approaching 4AM in the morning the two struggled for hours before untying themselves using a sharp stone. From there Kosse and his friend walked by foot in the darkness up to Kondele suburb about 4 kilometers from where they took a boda boda motorbike which took them to Kisumu Central Police Station where they reported the incident. Of late there is a sharp increase of carjacking by heavily armed thugs, and on sharp increase incident the stolen vehicle are hardly retrieved or traced.

Ends

KENYA AND TANZANIA IN CROSS-BORDER TOURISTS DEAL

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya and Tanzania have finally agreed to allow the visiting tourists freely access each to each others tourists sites in border crossings into each other territory.

This follows an agreement signed between the two countries last week during a crucial meeting held in the Northern Tanzanian town of Arusha.

From now onwards tour operator firms in Kenya will be allowed to drop tourists into specific towns inside Tanzania.

Under the new agreement Kenyan registered vehicles will now drop tourists at Namanga border post and then proceeds to other towns further interior parts of Tanzania and also to other towns like Dodoma, Arusha, Musoma ,Moshi and Lungfa Lunga.

In the past, Kenya Tour firms have been voicing vehement opposition against the existing rule for them to be picked up by Tanzanian tour operators companies for onward trip to the interior parts of the country and also to the tourist attraction sites and national game park in Tanzania.

In the new agreement signed between Kenya’ s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and East African Community affairs Ms Phyllis Kandie and her Tanzanian counterpart Lazaro Nyalandu; tourist vehicles from from the neighboring country will continue dropping tourists in all towns in Kenya except in airports and tourist sites,

Ms Kandie described the new agreement as a win-win for the two countries. “It will allow Tanzaniians involved in tour operator to have business partners in Kenya and vice-versa and thus promote regional integration.” She added.

She explained that the new agreement would also help in marketing the region as a single tourists destination; adding that she hopes the new found relationship with Tanzania would continue to flourish.

ThE TWO COUNTRIES Kenya and Tanzania also urged the three other EAC member states of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to develop bilateral agreements to grow regional tourism.

Tour associations tour guides, wildlife agencies, tourist boards from K

The EAC partner states were also asked to consider regional cooperation on conservations of fauna and flora, to review legislation to ensure the region’s endangered wildlife resources are protected by December and that there should be cross-border efforts to fight poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and forest products.

Ends

KENYA: IN NYANZA TENSION IS BREWING OVER REGISTRATION OF OLDER PEOPLE WHO QUALIFIED TO FOR THE GOVERNMENT STIPEND

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.Writes Leo Odera Omolo

TENSION is brewing in various parts of LUO-NYANZA over the classification of the categories of aged, poor people who should benefit from the billions of shillings recently set aside by president Uhuru Kenyatta to benefit old and poor people.

The scheme is causing ripples and discontent that some of the local administrators were deliberately misinterpreting the scheme to suit their own selfish interests. Other unconfirmed allegations are that the Chiefs and their assistants were favoring their friends and relatives making it nightmarish for those who wanted to be registered as the beneficiaries of the scheme.

In many districts, the registration went on smoothly the whole of last week with hundreds of aged and poor running up to be registered.

Things did not work well, however. The exercise did not go well in Awendo and Uriri districts, Migori County. Hundreds of elderly people who turned up at Ayego Chiefs camp in North Kanyamkago location, Migori County encountered a lot of difficulties in having their names registered as the beneficiaries of the government stipend money.

The elders who gathered there were told that before they could dream of getting paid any money, officials from the Ministry of Social Services based in MIGORI D.C.’s office would visit their homesteads on very special missions to assess their poverty status. And that those found to be in extremely poor and having no houses and farms would automatically be the beneficiaries of the scheme.

However, from the looks of things on the ground, the government, particularly the Office of the President in Nairobib should come out with a comprehensive statement clarifying the details of the scheme explaining the categories of those old people who qualified for the stipend.

At the Rinya Chiefs Camp in Sakwa East Location also in Migori County a heated argument and exchange of harsh words ensued between Chief Ezra Odondi and his assistant Poul Ogweno and an enlightened elder called Henry Oguta Ouma, aged 80 and retired former police office who inquired as to why the names of only 65 people have been registered in the whole location with the population in excess of 15,000 people.

The exercise, Mzee Ouma said, locks out over 3,0000 older people who would miss the chances of enjoying the government stipend money. The two administrators were accompanied by an official from the social services department stationed at the Rongo D>C’s office who appeared not to be conversant with the government policy and rule governing the scheme for the aged people, people with disability and orphans

Failure by the official to give the proper and satisfactory explanation sparked off discontent and tension among the elders who left the venue while cursing corruption as the source of problem.

Mzee Ouma appealed to the area MP to convene an urgent meeting and explain to the public about the classic qualification for anyone to benefit to benefit from the government stipend for old people.

In other regions, old people were simply required to hand the photocopies of their national identity cards and leave everything to be sorted out by the officials.

Mzee Ouma later told the administrators that he would personally lead a delegation to petition President Kenyatta and sought for proper interpretation of the scheme.

Other unconfirmed reports reaching us say some officials were asking for bribe money form the poor old people so that they could have their names included in the scheme, while in other areas other were favoring their relatives and friends.

Reached on phone Uriri D.C George Kibet Lagat assured members of the public that who qualified for the stipend would get their money without any hunch or discrimination

ENDS

KENYA: THE GOVERNMENT IS TOLD TO STOP LUO – KIPSIGIS TRIBAL SKIRMISHES IN NYAKACH.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Sondu market.

It was as if the hell broke loose on Tuesday night when a band of 80 Kipsigis youth descended on 14 villages with crude weapons during the wee hours of the night and started spearing, slashing and hitting everybody on sight before torching dwelling houses in ten homesteads.

The raid left one man dead with several others injured. a young girl was stabbed in the stomach with what looked like a Somali or maasai swords.

The attacks who an eye witness estimated to have been between 70 and 80 youths were armed with crude weapons like bows and arrows, spears, rungus and swords. The night raid came at between 1. am and 2.am and caught the villagers unaware and apparently in deep sleep.

The unprovoked bloody night raid occurred in the village close to the Luo – Kipsigis border around Holo Trading center almost nest to the main Kisumu –Sondo road. These villages are lying only 2 Kilometers northwest of Sondu borer town where there is full fledged Police station.

The villages which had come under the bloody attack were Ramogi, Kisai, Onyuongo, Koguta, Kandaria, Jimo and Kasai. All the residents of the above villages are members of the various sub- clans of the larger Nyakach. The attack was similar to the one staged by the defunct Kalenjin warriors who carried out politically motivated bloody attack on the same villages during the tribal clashes of 1992.

The attack came only a week after the Kericho County governor Prof. Paul Chepkwony and his Kisumu County counterpart Jack Ranguma had held a peace meeting and urged the border communities to live in peace and harmony and advised them against the outmoded culture like cattle rustling..

The attackers seemed to have been well drilled and both the police and the members of the provincial Administration were at a loss and could not figure out the motive behind it.

Elders in Nyakach said they suspected the attack to be an act of revenge following the recent killing of a Kipsigis man who was in a group of cattle rustlers. He was speared to death and his accomplices fled and disappeared in the darkness. The incident took place a couple of weeks ago.

Communal relations between the Luo-s and the Kipsigis in the area has always been very cordial and warm as members of the two communities mingled easily in Sondu and flourishing border town while carrying out butter trades.

The attackers took away unspecified herds of cattle, sheep and goats. The attackers also stole all valuable house hold goods, utensils, and destroyed cooking sufurias, or anything of value they set their eyes on, in the house whose owners had led the deadly night orgies.

The raiders turned the villages up and down and forced some families to flee their homes leaving their clothes behind as most of the fled naked to save their skin from being lynched by the merciless attackers. Although the situation is relatively calm there is tension and the Nyakach resident have called upon the government to arrest the situation, restore peace and apprehend the trouble makers from both side of the border before it goes out of hand.

It was reported that both the regional commissioners for Kericho County and its Kisumu County were having a series of crucial security meeting while exploring the possibility the lasting solution.

Ends.