Category Archives: HEADLINES

Kenya: KISUMU IS PARALYSED AS YOUTH STAGE PROTEST AGAINST A SIKH COMMUNITY MONUMENT

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From: LEO ODERA
Date: Sat, Feb 8, 2014 at 8:07 AM
KISUMU POLICE IN THREE DAYS BATTLES WITH THE YOUTH OVER STATUE

Reports leo Odera Omolo

The police in Kisumu city fought a running battle with hundreds of rowdy ODM youths who had staged near violence demonstration in Kisumu city central Business District (CBD) demanding that a statue erected by members of the Sikh Community be removed.

The monument is meant to commemorate 100 yeas since pioneer members of the community settled in the town 100 years ago.

The statue made of bronze metal is erected on the round about on Mosque road right behind the Siri Guru Sabha Mosque.

It has attracted hundreds of youth who are usually idling themselves at Kondele, Nyalenda, pandpieri and the main Kisumu Bus Terminal, boda boda motorbike and bicycle riders.

Business was paralyzed in severeal streets as the shop owners hurriedly closed doors fearing the possibility of looting

The demonstrators, some of the armed with and bottles filled with petrol in readiness to set the monument a blaze. It forced the police to lob tear gas canisters on the demonstrators who fled in on directions, but immediately regrouped at a distant spots.

The ODM leader Raila Odinga visited the scene, on late Friday afternoon and pleaded with the protesters to disperse in vain. The former Prime Minister returned to the scene on Saturday morning and pleaded with the youth to disperse, but none could hear him. The youth heckled him and shouted obscene words. The youth and mistaken the statue to be an idol God erected by Devil worshipers and vowed to bring it down even at night. Some had brought the old tires and fuel ready to set the monument ablaze. Aiaoleft quietly after his pleas landed on the rock.

Sensing the danger that some of the demonstrators had ulterior motives of looting Indian shops the police have kept vigil at the scene.since Thursday when the project was started.

The youths according to some of the eye witness were incited by a woman who claimed that she represents the church Ministry of the Prophet Dr. Owuor and had insisted that the monument would symbolize devil worshiping – – Something, which they claim was an insult to the mainly Christian Kisumu residents.

Curious onlookers milling around the statue fled in disarray after the police fired teargas at the protestors. The youth vowed that they would not rest until the statue is pulled down.

Two religious leaders in Kisumu commented they had objected the construction of the monument when their opinion were sought by the county Governor Jack Ranguma whose office is believed to have concerted to the by members of the Sikh community

Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede of the Power of Jesus Around the World and Bishop Mwai Abiero of the Anglican of Kenya said they had voiced their objection that the statue was a sign of idolatry.

However, head of the Sikh Community in KisumuMr C S Hayerin vehemently denied that the statue was offensive to any religion. The monument was erected for the single purpose of commemorating 100 years of the Community arrival and presence in the town. It has nothing to do with religion

ends.

KENYA: JUBILEE POLITICIAN IN KUIRIA’S SHOP TORCHED DOWN BY UNKNOWN ARSONISTS

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town

John Magaiwa, a prominent Jubilee politician in Kuria, has reported that unknown arsonists recently set his shop a blaze torching shop goods and other property estimated at Kshs 20 million.

The incident took place at Mabera Trading Center in Kuria West district, Migori County. Unconfirmed reports says the police are holding one suspect who is assisting them In their investigations.

Magaiwa said the incident took please during the night of January 17-18, 2014 Before March 4,2013 general election, Magaiwa who is an ex-civic leader was the ODM branch chairman in Migori County. He had prior to the elections declared his interest in contesting the Migori Senate seat on the party ticket , and even campaigned vigorously for the seat fro close to three years and was tipped as the possible winner.

Magaiwa, however, ditched the ODM and left the party in huff after some of the party MPS from the region held and a locked door secret meetings in an hotel in Nairobi and came up with the idea that the ODM Senate ticket be given directly to the former Kuria MP Dr. Wilfred Machage in perception that his nomination would lure the Kuria voters and convince them to vote for the ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga on man-to-man.

The MPS floated the idea to Raila whom made several impromptu visit to Migori and told his Luo supporters that they should Forget the Senate seat for the area because it would be given on a direct nomination to a candidate from Kuria a minority community which is sharing Migori County with the majority Luos because the Kurias were a marginalized minority.

Among those who had already declared their interests in the Migori Senate seat included the former two the Homa-Bay MP Phares Oluoch Kanindo, the former Mathare MP Gilbert Ochieng” Mbeo. All the three together with Magaiwa had already deposited their money with the ODM head office and were only waiting for the green light to go on with their election contest.

DR Machage was still a top official of the defunct PNU party then headed by the retired President Mwai Kibaki and had not yet ditched the then ruling party.

Magaiwa felt he was betrayed and short-changed by the ODM leadership and crossed into the TNA/URP coalition. The Kuria voters rejected Raila Odinga and the two ODM parliamentary candidates for Kuria East and Kuria West constituencies, which were all swept by the Jubilee.

In the final analysis, the local political pundits believes that it was Magaiwa who became an instrumental tools that helped the Jubilee to an easy major victory over ODM in Kuria. Raila was told that Dr Machage had lost touch with the Kuria voters. But he could not hear of this and bulldozed his way by prevailing upon the party headquarter is which issued a direct party nomination to Dr. Machage,

The former MP won the Senate seat specifically owing to Luo votes, and not Kuria’s.After the March 4, 2013 election Magaiwa went back to his shop business at Mabera Trading Center, which is located along the Migori Sirare road.

Pundits were quick in pointing out that the torching of Magaia’s shop could have some elements of political undertone. This is because of his massive popularity and influence which had helped the Jubilee made inroad into the two Kuria districts dislodging the ODM.

ENDS

VAT TAXATION IS HURTING THE FARMING REGIONS IN WESTERN KENYA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

DISCONTENT has arisen in DISCONTENT the three highly agriculturally productive regions in Western Kenya following claims and allegations that the tax regime and the KRA have unrealistic increase the highest percentage of VAT charged on farm inputs and implements.

Previously farm inputs did not attract any taxation. Exempted from paying duties included trucks, tractors,and all the equipments used in farming.

However, according to the VAT Act, which was recently enacted by parliament, all these machineries now attract tax of 16 per cent, making them inaccessible to the farmers.

At the same time the Vat taxation system, it is being alleged, has exempted equipments used in the building construction industry.. Analysts say the construction work is only booming in Central Province and in the capital, Nairobi.

The players in the agriculture sector see some elements of discriminative taxation by the tax regime, which is deliberately and systematically targeting the communities living in the three Agriculturally rich Western Kenya region consisting of the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western Provinces

Members of parliament representing the various electoral constituencies, which are close to maize producing, sugar cane growing and other areas with high insensitivity of farming have been asked to come out of their slumber .They should introduce motions in both Parliament and in the Senate challenging this discriminative taxation,” said one key player in the agricultural sector who requested for his identity to be kept secret for fear of possible reprisal.

The highly mechanized sugar industry is the hardest hit. There are so many prohibitive taxes charged such as ncess. “If the situation remain unaddressed for long, then Kenya will not be able To beat the COMESA deadline, “hr added.

A visit by this writer in the farming regions 0f Trans-Nzioia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kisumu, Kericho and Trans-Mara region revealed that due to heavy VAT taxation now imposed on tractors and other farm inputs farmers can no longer afford to purchase new tractors and other farm implements owing to the skyrocketing prices..

VAT charges have also affected the sales of spare parts. One key player in the sugar industry6 asserted that may be there is a cartel of top government officials working in cohorts with the sugar barons to facilitate the importation of the same commodity so that they in turn could make a kill.. MPS should demand an explanation as to whether the high VAT taxation has any elements of political undertone aimed at the economic strangulation against the communities living 8in the agricultural productive regions in Western Kenya..

If It is true, as it is being alleged, that there is a cartel among the government officials collaborating with the sugar barons with the intent of creating artificial shortage of sugar in the country for their own selfish interests then the sooner such groups would be kicked out of Treasury and the KRA the better. It is sad that such people who are out to impoverish members of the farming fraternity.

The tea industry is another sector which is highly mechanized, which is also suffering from the effect of the heavy VAT taxation system.,

The government should set up a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations about unnecessarly high taxation imposed through Vat so that it could protect the farming community. Unless something positively is done to streamline the excesses in Vat taxation the country could in the near future experience acute shortage food grains.

Companies dealing in the sales of farm inputs have also reported sharp decline in business, which has seen the sales going down with huge percentage .No inquiries about the sales of new tractors, trucks and pick-ups are forthcoming, said one dealer in Eldoret, adding that the government need to move much faster and have the VAT btaxati9n rectified.

Sugar cane is grown in abundance in Western and Nyanza Provinces, whereas maize, wheat, barly is produced in the South Rift region of Narok County and some parts of Uasin Gishu, Tea is grown and produce in the North Rift regions of Nandi and also in the South Rift counties of Kericho, Bomet and also in parts of Trans-Mara.

Other areas where farming is thriving in the ift alley included Nakuru, Molo, Kuresoi,Naivasha, Gilgil, Subukia, Rongai and Molo.

ENDS

KENYA: THE GOVERNMENT IS ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THE ACTIVITIES OF LAND CONMEN IN AWENDO

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

The Provincial Administration and police authorities in Migori County have been asked to launch a thorough investigation with the view to apprehending a group of conmen who are reportedly cheating the residents of Awendo and its environs that they could help them regains thousands of hectares, of land on which hey were removed from 30years ago to make room for the establishment of the SonySugar Company.

Before the establishment of SonySugar company in 1977, thousands of local residents were removed from their ancestral land,which now forms the bulks of Sony Sugar on exclusive estate estimated to be measuring about 5,000 hectares. Two sub-locations were affected, These were Waware and Waundha located in Sakwa East location, Awendo district, Migori County..

The land was acquired compulsorily under the Land Acquisition act. The affected families were adequately compensated by the government and asked to move on. Those whose land was acquired had their names gazette in he official Gazette showing the acreage of land each farmer had before it was taken away.

About a month ago a group of people suspected to be conmen formed a committee, and told the affected farmers that their land was not taken away by the government, but had been bought by GEMA As part of its investment wing, and that the cultural-cum-investment organization , which for many years was led by the late Njenga Karume has since surrendered the land and it wanted the same to revert to its original owners. The group has opened an office in Awendo town and Its coordinator is called Mr Richard Mamba Nyamani who is issuing forms and asking the farmers to sign it.

The group has held a series of meetings, the last one was held last week at the home of one William O. Okola, which is close to Miriwa Market.Owing to land scarcity in the area, many farmers who appeared to be ignorant of what is going on have signed those forms hoping that parts of SonySugar nucleus estate farm would be slashed, re-surveyed and given back to the former owners these meetings take places in behind closed door shopping centers in private homesteads instead of being organized in government facilities a such as at the D, Chiefs or D.’s office, and from the looking of things it appears that the local provincial administration is not aware of what is going on.

Some of the enlightened farmers who have seen these forms, immediately became suspicious that this could be the work of conmen out to fleece them of their hard earned money. Some of the resident became suspicious when the group invoked the name of the defunct GEMA and were left baffled and wondering why and how the organization which was mainly operating in Central, Nairobi and Rift Valley region could have managed to acquired thousands of hectares if land in South Nyanza in 1976/1977. Most of them viewed the information as far fetched and as such devoid of the truth and have now called upon the government to investigate.

The residents have called on Migori Governor and Awendo D.C to come out of their slumber. They should come out and enlighten the public on this contentious issue before members of the public are conned of their money.

A survey carried in the area by thus writer revealed there is no land space in the area. All the parcels of land which the government had acquired was handed to he SONY SUGAR Company and almost all under the sugar cane plantations with exception of the small portion of land which was reserved for Awendo Town, and which was under the management of County Council of Migori and later Awendo Town Council. There is not even an iota of vacant land parcel left for anyone to retrieve back.

Asked by thus writer how the land would revert back to the original owners, Mr Mambas said over the phone that all the forms and signatures would be handed to a the group’s lawyer in Kisii Town who in turn would file the case in the High Court to demand that the land inquisition be returned to the owner. The coordinator , however, could not reviel the name of the group’s lawyer in Kisii,

This is not the first time for the residents of the area to suffer under the cunning conmen. A couple of years way back, another group of conmen had emerged in the are which fleeced the residents of thousands of shillings under the pretext that the landless people would be given land and settled in Maasaland at place called Keiyan In Trans-Mara district in Narok COUNTY. The group got away scot-free while laughing all the way to the bank. So far nobody has been given land in that area..

The forms are being distributed ibn an office in Awendo town, where people go and sign them giving particulars of their national identitity cards etc. Those inquiring about the scheme are shown some of the most outdated land maps and copies of stale official gazette publication showing where they former homesteads were located before the mass eviction of 1977.

ENDS

Kenya: Atwoli reacts

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By JEFF OTIENO.

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli Has dismissed claims by some section of Coast politicians that their people in plum government positions are being targeted. Claims which appeared in a section of the press was emphatic that plans had been hatched and finalised to ensure that their people be sacked from the government.

“If you’re corrupt and incompetent as an officer in the establishment don’t hide in your tribal cocoons as away of salvaging your diminishing image or fate”,

The coast leaders were trying to defend the besieged Cabinet Secretary for Labour Kazungu Kambi who has been taken to court by a civil society crusader Charles Omanga on grounds of alleged incompetence and dubious academic credentials.

The case is slated for hearing on 11th Feb. in the High Court Nairobi.

Kambi is of late marooned with accusations that together with NSSF CEO and the board they failed to follow procurement procedures to award a Chinese firm multi Billion project. Atwoli together with FKE Chair person Jackline Mugo have maintained that procurement provisions were violated to favour the Chinese outfit culminating to cancellation of the tender.

“As Cotu we will always remain steadfast to ensure that Kenyan workers interests is catered for and we won’t condone these heartless cartels whose only agenda is to milk our workers dry”, Atwoli said.

ENDS

USA & KENYA: RUMORS ABOUT THE OBAMA MARRIAGE CAUSED PANICKING IN HIS KENYAN RELATIVES HOME

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By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

PANICKING and anxiety has gripped the home of Kenyan relative of the US President Barrack Obama after a local daily newspaper made a startling speculative report that the Obama’s 21 year old marriage is headed to the rock.

THE PEOPLE, a Kenyan daily whose ownership is closely associate with the family business flagship of President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday this week devoted the whole page with the banner headline “Is Obama’s glamorous marriage ending soon?

The speculative article is well illustrated with series of photographs showing the Obamas in an unusual gloomy mood during couple recent trip to South Africa for the burial of the country icon Nelson Mandela, a clear sign that President and Mrs. Obama are no longer reading from the same script.

In one of the picture had a caption showing highly agitated Mrs Obama yelles at her husband in an animated chat with blonde Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning Schmidt during the burial of Mandela in South Africa.

Another interesting photo is showing President Obama engrossed on his smart mobile phone as unimpressed Michelle looks away and unconcerned.

The original report appeared to have been written by a US based journalist based In Washington D.C. a Mr Tom Leonard. A visit made by this writer to the Obamas family home in Alego Nyang’oma Kogelo in Kenya’s Siaya County about 50 kilometers west of Kisumu City found the grim faced family members gathering in small groups and carrying the copies of Monday edition of the PEOPLE while discussing the issue in low tones.

Although the Obamas have yet to visit Kenya their ancestral home where the President’s, father the late Barrack Obama senior, is buried, the couple are very popular with Kenyan people of all shades of life. Many people in this region are known to be most proud of the Obamas.

And even President Obama’s eldest step brother Malik Abong’o Obama who is a businessman-cum-politician could not offer any comment. Everybody is tight lipped including the usually flamboyant step-grand mother of the US President, the 90 year old Mrs Sarah Obama. The news appeared to have hit the family like the Tsunami.

The newspaper article opened with the following phrases citing the family invitation to guests for the Michelle”s 50th birthday. The invitation email message says in part ”guests to snack.sip and dancing, but advised the guests to wear comfortable shoes and practice their dance moves.”

“ Purse-lipped Washington etiquette, but it says experts were baffled at the informality of it all.” The Obamas have always been keen to appear accessible even if the stand offers vitality is somewhat different.

The report extensively quoted the US based newspaper, The National Enquirer. It adds that the Obamas are the world’s most scrutinized couple at the best of times, but was rare to find guests at the bash who did not secretly watch them with particular interests. After all,

the last time they were photographed together at the Nelsom Mandela memorial-The First Lady was looking none too pleased as the husband posed for for photographs with the leggy blonde Danish Primier Helle Thorning Schmidt.

ENDS

KENYA: KIDERO’S GROWING INFLUENCE AND POPULARITY IN LUO-NYANZA UNSTOPABLE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

THE Rapidly growing influence and popularity of the Nairobi governor Dr Evans Odhiambo Kidero in Luo Nyanza is unstoppable judging from the rousing welcome and deafening applause which he received during the last weekend Kisumu rally at the Kenyatta Sports Ground.

The Nairobi governor was the centre of attraction and his speech and endorsement by the luge crowd must left all and sundry convinced that Luo MPs who have been dissenting his fundraising activities in the region were at a loss and became disillusioned and disgruntled.

Buoyed by the prolonged cheering by the enthusiastic crowd of thousands of ODM supporters speech obviously might have caused a lot of panicking among his detractors.

The Kisumu rally was also attended by the three principals of CORD coalition led by the party leader raila Odinga, the former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moaea WetangulA, Dr Kidero was wildly cheered despite some early wild rumors that a section of ODM youths and hirelings had been intoxicated and instigated to heckle him. Nothing lie that happened, and those responsible should feel themselves ashamed.

Kisumu rally followed an exclusive closed door meeting of all governors from the 25 Counties countrywide, which are under the CORD administration. Also in attendance were MPS from Nyanza and other regions.

The meeting came in the backdrop of the raging debate over the governors recent massive fundraising activities in the region, which did not go down well with the Raila loyalists.

AT THE END OF December last year a meeting of Luo MPs and other party stalwarts held aT Opoda BAR-Opuk, which is the rural Country home of the party leader Raila Odinga discussed and dwelt at length over Dr Kibero’s fundraising activities in Nyanza, with some of the dissenting it with claims that such activities had some elements of political undertone in Luo-Nyanza with the long scheme of wrestling don the political influence of the Odinga family.. This family has dominated the politics of the region ever since independence in 1963.

The debate went on despite Dr Kidero’s repeated denial that he had no political ambition ambition of challenging Railla supremacy in the Region. Such claims saw Dr Kidero and Raila sharing political platform at the Shauri-Moyo Primary school in Kisumu town during the home coming part of Ms Prisca Auma Misachi a member of Kisumu County. Ms Misachi is a sister to Dr Kidero’s mother-in-law the late Mra Pamela Mboya..

The two happily addressed the crowd and jointly denied there existed any friction between two of them with Kidero coming out bold when he told the gathering that a son cannot challenge his father and mentor The two reiterated theiir commitment to work towards the unity if purpose within the Luo community and also in the ODM with the aims and objective of making the party a popular vehicle for development and future election victory..

It was also most interesting that some of the leaders who had attended the meeting at Raila home last December and who deliberated in bad gossip crowd for the Nairobi governor. When Kidero asked the crowd whether he should continue with his fundraising activities the crowed roared back with wild shouts”Harambee iendelee”..

The Nairobi governor took to the podium immediately after the crowed had jeered and booed the Kisumu governor Jackton Ranguma who was forced to cut short his speech and had come down on earth amid prolonged cheers, adulation and wild cat calls “Kidero Kidero”.

The huge crowed endorsed the Nairobi governor’s fundraising activities and renovations of schools, health facilities and other socio-economic projects in the region.

IT IS worthwhile to remember that the issue of questioning the sources of massive funds which Dr.Kidero was donating in his fundraising meetings was raised Raila’s home by by the Homa-Bay Senator who had alleged that such money could be used in dividing the Luos.

Ends

KENYA: TWO NIGHT GUARDS BATTLED IT OUT WITH A HYENA OVER THE CARCASS OF A GAZELLE ANTELOPE THEY HAD HUNTED FOR THEIR MEAL

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Two night guards sustained grievous bodily harm during a tough fight with the hyena who sneaked into their makeshift house and snatched the carcass of a gazelle antelope which they had hunted and killed for their meal.

The incident took place in Narok North in the heart of Maasailand, not far away from the famous Maasai Mara Game reserve. The beast ventured in a makeshift house, where the guards lived, while they were asleep and snatched the carcass of an antelope.

The commotion then followed when the hyena was dragging the carcass out of the house. The guards were woken, but, it was too late because the hyena had already dragged meat into the thicket. They quickly armed themselves with bow and arrows, spears and machetes and gave chase.

Battle ensued and the guards manage to retrieve the carcass. ”We bravely followed it into the forest. The incident took place at a place called EOR-Kule in Narok district, Narok Count. The hyena did not gave up. It followed the guards and the carcass menacingly up to their s door steps, forcing them to light up a bonfire to keep the hyena at bay.. The beast then fled and disappeared in the nearby forest.

The two guards were treated of their injuries at the Narok district hospital and discharged. The senior game warded of the KENYA wildlife Service, KWS}Mr Benard Koruta, advised those who live next to the forest to be more cautious, adding that the current biting drought in the area was responsible for the rise in human-wildlife conflict.

In November last year a woman successfully fought off three hyenas which attempted to drag away her three year old son into the forest. Another Maasai woman braved a fight with a grown up male leopard which mauled her savagely last month.

And last week, two Maasai Morans were mailed by a lion they were trying to kill as part of their cultural initiation into manhood.. The two Maasai Morans are still being treated for their injuries at the Narok district hospital.

ENDS

EAST AFRICAN STATES SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO JOINTLY COMBAT TERRORISM IN THE REGION

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

SECURITY Ministers of the three Eastern African nations of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda met in Kigali, the Rwandan capital early this week and signed an important pact to jointly combat the activities of the terrorists bin the region.

The new pact according to an impeccable source, will address threats posed by marauding genocidal entities such as { FDRL}, terrorists groups like ADF-Nalu, and the islamists Al-Shabaab, and several transnational crime groups, that require collective security framework.

Kenya”s cabinet secretary for Defense Ms Rachelle Omamo and internal security counterpart Joseph Ole Lenku went Kigali and met with their Ugandan and Rwandan counterparts..They Signed the pactwith the Rwandan Defense Minister James Kabarebe while Ugandan Defense Minister Grispus Kiyongsa signed on behalf of the Kampala regime.

Under the new pact, the three countries which are member states of the East African Community joint forces will tackle the terrorism in the region following the steady raise of terrorism menace in the region.

Addressing newsmen on behalf the group, Rwandan Defebse Minister Kabarabe that the landmark Mutual Defense and security agreement will help the three countries jointly tackle “Negative Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda” [FDRL], WHICH Rwandan government accuse ofhaving links with the perpetrators 0f the 1994 genocide in Rwanda which claimed the lives of close to one million people..

The minister said the Rwandan government has refused to negotiate with FDRL and has accused the UN of backing the rebel movements in the DEMOCRATIC republic of the {DRC} and deploying death squad to murder opponents abroad.

The document was also endorsed by thr Rwandan Internal Security MIinister MUSA fazil Haremana and HIS Kenyan counterpart Arounda Nyakiraima \nd Ole Lenku respectively..

According to Rwandan officials, the pact will seek to address the security challenges that may come with free movement of people..”, he said adding that co-operation between the three countries will bring more benefits t the population.”

The Rwandan Minister hinted that after signing the pact,the next step will be to develop the common foreign policy for the three countries in order to have one voice on the global stage.

He added, “We need to harmonize defense and security with foreign policies.” We must be inclusive and outward looking because dealing with the current global maters require us to work together in the region.

Ends

KENYA: KISUMU CLERGY UP IN ARMS AGAINST THEIR OFFICIALS

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By Our Reporter

Members of the clergy drawn within Kisumu Town are up in arms against two officials of their umbrella body called Kisumu Pastors Ministries Fellowship and Church Network whom they accused of having duped them to pray for Governor Jack Ranguma during a thanks giving in which the Governor.

They said the duo Reverend Wendy Magan and Bishop John Kuyo took away with them all the money which were collected that day in form of offerings and told them to tell them how much the offerings were.

The agitated clergy who spoke to the press after failing to meet Governor Ranguma in his office have vowed to camp at his office daily till they are paid for services rendered.

“The Chairperson of the Network together with another man who introduced himself as Ranguma’s cousin called us for a meeting and told us to turn up in large numbers to pray for him at the Jommo Kenyatta Sports Grounds which we did on the promise that we would be paid kshs 10,000 flat rate so that we wash our clergy frock with, to date we have not received the money and they don’t pick our calls, look at us how we look like,broke,tired and whether beaten” they lamented.

Through their spokesman, the Clergy also vowed to get the said money through hook or crook and warned Ranguma of their curse if he refuses to pay the said money.

“We are telling him that should we not be paid by Friday then we will call for overnight prayers to curse him and his leadership, either he pays the said money or begin a spiritual with us as we talk to the almighty God directly “ they added.

They further added that some of them had projected to take their children to school with the said money and use the remainder for other uses and now their plans have come to hilt.

Asked by this reporter why they demand to be paid for prayers yet the prayers should be free, the clergy never gave any direct answer but quoted a verse which says that “one should eat from his sweat” and what that’s exactly what they are doing.

“If Governor Ranguma thought the lunch he gave us was our payment then he is misled, we will get him from every hole he is in, he better owns up and pays us”they added.

Contacted for comment the Chairperson of the network failed to answer any of our sms but the said Ranguma cousin said the Clergy should be patient as they are compiling their details so that they are paid.

“We have a list of those who attended the prayers and we will pay them depending on their seniority, the payment will not be the same as we have a pecking order of seniority, in fact those who are making noises do not even have churches and I doubt if they indeed prayed for Ranguma” he added.

He made it clear that the clergy should not expect any penny from the offerings obtained that day as the said collections went to logistics adding that they will eventually be paid “however long it takes”

KENYA: FARMERS CALL FOR SPEEDY PRIVATIZATION OF MIWANI AND MUHORONI SUGAR COMPANIES

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

DISCONTENT is high up among the sugar cane farmers in the Nyanza sugar belt over the seemingly endless official receivers management of two sugar companies.

Miwani Sugar Mill and Muhoroni Sugar Company Limited, all government owned parastatals, were placed under the official receivership management in April, 2001. The then Agriculture Minister, Chris Mogere Obure, said at the time that the two companies were to be under the joint official receivers for protective purposes. THe receivership for Miwani was to last for three months while the Muhoroni Sugar Company was to last for six months

In the case of the heavily indebted Miwani Sugar Mills, Obure said government was to appoint financial experts to write its books of accounts and offset its debts. Miwani was heavily indebted to banks, suppliers, cane farmers and workers to the tune of about Kshs 4 billon.

At the time, Miwani had planted cane crops in its 9,700 neucleus farm, which experts had estimated that when harvested, crushed into made sugar and sold would generate sufficiently enough cash money which could offset its debts.

HOWEVER, Reports making the round says that the resources of the two public companies were later subjected to massive vandalization of the highest order. Following the appointments and dismissals of team of joint receiver managers after the other.

And ever since 2001 year after years passed without any signs as to when the joint receivership management would be lifted. Miwani the oldest sugar factory I the country grounded to a halt and stopped crushing cane about five years ago, while the ailing Muhoroni Sugar Mills is still functioning, but and ailing and limping.

Muhoroni MP James Onyango K’Oyoo recently raised objection to the latest appointment of the joint receiver manager of persons of not well proved credibility who however, stood his ground

The songs about the privatization of the five government owned sugar companies have been in the air for the last two decades while the joint receiver managers have continued milking the resources of the two companies. The deals also involved the Kenya Sugar Board KSB}, which is the official regulating body in the sugar industry as well as the parent Ministry.

The appointment of joint official receivers is said to be attracting a lot of goodies, thus confirming allegations and claims that the two companies have since become the “milking cows” for some unscrupulous Ministry’s officials and board members.

The farmers in both Nyando and Muhoroni districts now want the government to expedite the privatization of Miwani and Muhoroni Sugar Companies.

Other rumors making the round within Kisumu and its environs the round within Kisumu and its environs is say that an influential and crafty entity is currently working in cahoots and clandestinely with the wealthy Indian business while targeting the Miwani’s 9,700 acres nucleus estate land for the grab. A source has confided to this writer that it won’t take long the farm which has been subject to a heated exchange between the farmers and the receiver managers as well as protracted legal tussle through courts between the wealthy Indian businessmen in Kisumu is grabbed by the politicians and his collaborators.

The residents of Kano plains and the surrounding rural location are now urging the government either to hand over the two sugar mills to credible investors altogether with their assets including farms. They are insisting that anybody interested in Miwani and Muhoroni Sugar Mills should be ready to invest in the two companies with their crucial land farms intact as it could only play pivotal role in boosting the economy of the region if they are resuscitated and floated for privatization to investors.

The Kano people as well as farmers in the Muhoroni, Chemelil, Kibios,Koru, Fort-Tennan and those farming in the surrounding Locations of South East and North East Kano, Miwani and Kibos. Anything short of this will not be tolerated by the stakeholders.

The farmers are now bold and want the government to kick out the official receiver managers out of Miwani and Muhoroni as their presence is undesirable. This is because their resources. Five sugar companies, which are still under the public investments included the Awendo-based Sony Sugar, Chemelil, Nzoia, Miwani and Muhoroi sugar companies.

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KENYA LAWYERS BODY TO CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT BILL IN COURT

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To: jaluo @ jaluo dot com

By Agwanda Saye

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) will seek to be enjoined in a suit challenging the controversial Kenya Information and Communication Amendment (KICA) Bill 2013.

The LSK Secretary/CEO Mr. Apollo Mboya said that the Society has instructed Senior Counsel Mr. James Orengo over the public interest matter.

“LSK has instructed Mr. Orengo to have it enjoined as an interested party in the suit scheduled to be filed by Senior Counsel Paul Muite challenging KICA Bill,” Mr. Mboya said.

Mr. Mboya said that LSK is seeking to be enjoined as an interested party for purposes of articulating the broader constitutional issues.

“Our concerns are on the freedom of expression and information with a view of safeguarding constitutional provisions on the same,” Mr. Mboya said.

Mr. Mboya said that one of the objects of the Society as provided in the LSK Act Cap 18 is to represent, protect and assist members of the legal profession in respect of conditions of practice and otherwise.

“The KICA Bill raises several constitutional questions…we have further analyzed the President’s Memorandum on the Bill and its implications on the Media Council Act 2013,” Mr. Mboya said.

The LSK Secretary/CEO said that even though President Uhuru Kenyatta forwarded a Memorandum on the Bill to Parliament, it did not adequately address the constitutional issues therein,” Mr. Mboya said.

According to the analysis, the complaints commission should be retained under the Media Council Bill as the sole body to regulate professional ethics of journalists.

The Multi-Media Appeals Tribunal undermines constitutional principles on free and independent media under the principle of self-regulation and co-regulation.

“The Media council of Kenya should also be allowed to set standards and continue enforcement of professional ethics in line with Article 34(5) of the Constitution,” Mr. Mboya said.

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KENYA: MUHORONI VILLAGE IN SHOCK AS 68 YEAR OLD GRANNY IS BEHEADED BY HIRED THUGS

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

RESIDENTS of Kanjuro village in Sidho East Location within Muhoroni sub-county, KISUMU County woke up last Thursday to a rude shock when they discovered that a 68 year old grand mother had been killed in a grisly murder and beheaded and some parts of the body missing.

The lifeless and mutilated body of Mrs Doris Amolo 68 year old grand mother Matete was placed on a plastic chair, while the head was kept besides it. Her both arms, particularly the little fingers were also severed off altogether with her lip.

Her 78 year old husband was in the house and they house door was locked from outside. The husband William Matete a retired employee of the Kenya breweries Limited had gonr blind, and the two were living alone in the house. Villagers became suspicious that something fishy had gone wrong when the deceased family house door remain locked from morning to noon hours. They later forced the door open when they discovered the body. The blind husband was still struggling to open the door locked from outside in vain.

POLICE IN Kisumu immediately swung into action and arrested three people. The suspect included a former civic Councilor in the defunct County Council of Nyando representing MSOGO Ward.

The police visited the home of a family relative and recovered several items suspected to have been stolen by the old woman’s killers. The items included a gas cooker, 50 corrugated iron sheets, several kilograms of roofing nails, 12 bags of cement. The police are holding the three who are likely to appear before a court in Kisumu to answer murder charges.

The deceased was the mother an unsuccessful aspirant for the Muhorooni parliamentary constituency in 2007 and now a director director of Algiers, East African Air Condition Limited in Kisumu.

After a thorough interrogation by the police, the two youths readly admitted that they were paid Kshs 20,000 by the ex-Councilor and were to be paid a balance of Kshs 30,000 to add it up to a total Kshs 50,000 upon the completion of the job. The youth told relatives and the police that they had taken the missing parts of the body to the e-civic leader to justify the payment of the balance money.

A local source confided to this writer that there has been a long standing enmity within the larger MATETE family arising from unresolved old land dispute,. The Ex-Councilor, it was further alleged is fond of issuing death threats to members of this family., Most of these threats were reported to the police. Last year his son by the name Okoth attacked the deceased and assaulted her causing her bodily harm when the old grand mother cautioned him to stop grazing hers of cattle in her home compound. The deceased reported the matter to the police. She was issued with a P3 form, which was duly filled by a competent medic who had assessed her injuries as grievous harm. The P3was handed to the Police at Chemelil Police, but for the whole year the police did not act on it until the deceased met her death last Thursday.

The grisly murder come within only a month after the parents of Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor were killed and their house partly burnt in Kabete, Upper Nyakach region.

Muhoroni MP James Oyango Koyoo strongly condemned the cowardice killing of Mrs Matete and appealed to the police to step up surveillance in the area with the view to wedding out criminal thugs who are making the lives of fellow citizens difficult.

Koyoo at the same time appealed to his constituents to co-cooperate with the forces of law reinforcement in eradicating The alarming increased in criMe waves in Muhoroni.

At the time of writing this report, residents were still wondering why the neighbor of the deceased in whoise house the stolen items were discovered, and who is a school teacher living only 600 meters from thre victim”s house had yet to be arrested and charged with the offense of hadling stolen goods or items he had reasons to believe were had been stolen. The man is still moving around scots free.

The Ex-Councilor, according to residents who requested for their anonymity is a man who is fond of bragging off saying he had a lot of money and can hire thugs to eliminate anybody who crosses his path and bails himself out free.

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KENYA: THE POLICE SHOULD CARRY A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE SEVEN ACRES NYATIKE BHANG PLANTATION FARM

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Once again police in Migori have impounded a bhang haul with a street value of Ksh. 1.6 million near Sori Bay town in Nyatike district. The discovery of the drug comes only three days following last weeks discovery of a seven acres of bhang plantation farm on top of Kimaye Hill near Wath Ong’er in North Kadem location, Nyatike District.

In the first discovery forced the police to call up 100 officers’ reinforcement from nearby station. The officers also sought for the lorry. Lord of prison inmates from Migori. GK prison to associate them in uproading the bhang which an eye witness were planted were planted on 7 acres of land on top of Kimaye hills in central Kadem.

Rumors making the round allege that the six suspects who were taken into police custody to face the full force of the law were merely the employees of a senior politician in Migori County who is suspected to be the owner of the plantation.

The uprooted plants were packed in vehicles which took them to Nyatike District headquarters where the drugs was burnt and destroyed. Six men who looked like the workers in the farm were taken into custody and would appear in court in due course.

In the latest incident Nyatike OCPD, Richard Makwata confrimed the incident. He said the police also arrested two suspects who were transporting the bhang to a house within Sori town centre.

He said the police got a tip off from members of the public who saw the suspect move. He added that when the police visited the house they found the bhang heavily packaged in under containers and full bags ready to go into the market.

The police also impounded the three boda boda motorcycles which were used on ferrying the drugs were also impounded at the riders taken into custody.

This later incident comes only three days after police in the area destroyed seven tones of bhang plantation worth Ksh 50 million during the raid on secret bhang farm in Ngatiu sub-location of Mrori county .

More than 100 policemen were drawn from the various Police Administration and Police Ground Investigation departments.

The vast on the term which it is they alleged belonged to a pronounced politician this was only after the police tip was led by Midori Police county commission Clement Gitongo who said the police that reveled information of the existence of bhang farms along the banks of River Keja.

Consignments of bhang from Migori County have always found a way into the cities and towns.

Several motorist have been nabbed at the police road checks and road blocks far away in places like molo, Nakuru and Naivasha after finding their ways from Migori ,kisii Kericho, but only land intrusion far busy in the region . This is a clear indication the lucrative bhang trade involved some powerful politician in Migori who have been operating claimleely with help of local policemen.

The bhang trafficking business has been thriving in the region in for a long time. Most isolated hill-tops are known to be the hideout of bhang farms not only in Nyatike su-county, but also in the neighboring Mbita and Suba regions.

The drug-lords are said to be stinking in wealth and would therefore go into full length to ensure that vehicles transporting the products to the big Cities like Nairobi and Mombasa passes through the police road blocks unnoticed.

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KENYA: THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES IN NORTHERN KENYA AS TRIBAL WARFARE INTENSIFIED.

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By a special Correspondent

Reports emerging from the northern Kenya town of Moyale, which is close to the Kenya – Ethiopia border in Marsarbit county has its 48,000 people displaced following incessant fighting between rivals tribal militias groups have left the town in dissolute state.

Out of the 12 locations that make up Moyale sub-county of Marsabit County only a two people have remained in their homes which the track of the turn’s population estimated to about 82,000 have fled leaving only a few people behind following incessant fighting between the tribal militias groups, which has claimed dozen of lives in the recent past

The rural militias groups represented the various different communities which included Gabra and Burji on one hand and the Borans on the other.

It is only in three locations of Bori, Dabel Somare and Nana locations where people are still holding on to there properties. These areas are mainly occupied by members of minority Gorse and Sakuye communities who are not taking part in the ethnic war.

The regional parties’ boss in the area confirmed that the fighting had erupted in the area way back in July this year and has continued intermittently with properties worth millions of shillings destroyed.

At the same time the government has announced plans to disarm the armed police reservists operating in the war ravaged county. The deputy regional commissioner Kanunyaan Chedotum said the reservist who are commonly referred to as home guards, are reported to have been taking sides in the fighting on tribal line while using their licensed guns.

The home guards are supposed to supplement the work of the police but most of them have been tribal militias using the officially licensed guns which fighting alongside their tribal militias.

Moyale is the Commercial border town that connect Kenya with Ethiopia, is reported to the admires on its knees, especially from December 4, when the war erupted for the first time.

So far houses belonging to Boranas and Burji have been burned down.

The fighting recently intensified as the militias taught for close to five consecutive days using heavy artillery, and the train in those areas are said to be rugged making it impossible for security personnel to reach trouble spots. It is rushed into deep hills and valleys that are impassable. The region is rugged with deep hills and valleys that are impassable.

KENYA: KISUMU INDIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN FEAR OF BEING TARGETED BY CRIMINAL THUGS

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By Special Correspondent

Members of the Asian business community are living in fear that they are being targeted by gun toting criminal gangs which has been terrorizing them.

The lakeside city which hitherto has been the haven of peace and security has of late been experiencing the alarming upsurge of crime waves which includes armed robberies, thugging and other petty crimes like pick pocketing.

A young Asian who recently graduated with a degree from one of the public universities was shot dead inside his parents shop down town. His killers have yet to be apprehended.

Ramal Kotak was just about to close his parents shop which is located in Accra street when two men, one of them armed with a pistol, walked in while pretending to be customers. They accused him, demanding money. He resisted. One of them opened fire and shot him at close range killing him instantly. The men ransacked the shop and took all the day’s collection, an unspecified amount of money, and walked away.

The killing of the young Kotak sparked off the day long boycott by the Indian dukawaka. The ships in the Central Business District remained closed for the whole of last Tuesday making Kisumu working like a shock town. The Asian merchants were protesting against insecurity which they claim has reached an alarming proportion.

A month ago an elderly European volunteer had his home in the posh Milimani Estate raided by a gang of armed men who strangled him to death.

In Kibuye area criminal thugs raided Midway Hotel, which is owned by Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and robbed revellere money, mobile phones and valuables. One of the customers had a licensed gun .

In the same Kibuye area, a prominent surgeon, Mr. Opande, was shot and killed when a gang of criminals raided Wayside Bar. His killers are still at large.

In the same area a prominent businessman cum-politician Shem Onyango “Kwega” was way laid as he drove to the bank to deposit weekend collection at his kondele based fuel station. His wife who was with him in the vehicle sustained gun shot injury in her arm, but she survived and was hospitalized.

The thugs escaped in a stolen car with more than Kshs one million, which the deceased was taking to the bank at the time of the incident, which his believed to have been the day collection at his fuel station business. N all these nobody has been convicted to the for this serious crime offence

The town is full of thugs and petty offences such as mugging, pick pocketing sre the order of the day. At the Kisumu main bus terminal it is being estimate that close to 200 thieves are operating there targeting unsuspecting travelers who they rob with complete impunity..

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KENYA: THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR A NEW SUGAR FACTORY IN RONGIO IN THE NEAR FUTURE

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By a Special Correspondent

There are no plans for the establishment on a new sugar processing factory at Riana in Rongo in the near future, according to farmers in the area.

The only plan which is in the pipeline is the construction of a new white sugar plant at Aoch Muga in east Gem Location, Rangwe constituency In Homa-Bay County. The farmers have scathingly criticized the Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno who recently made an announcement that two new factories would take off in the area In January next year.

The farmers, who spoke to this writer and requested for their anonymity, said the MP”s statement has caused a lot of confusion.in the area. NDEGE oriedo in Riana near Opapo is very close to the Awendo-based Sony Sugar company whereas the Kenya Sug to establish a new sugar plant must ensure its continuous source of supplies of raw material which is the sugar cane.

This rule is meant to ensure that there will be no cut-throat scrambling for the raw material. In the case of Riana the area is less than 40 kilometers from the existing sugar plant at Awendo, there fore what the MP has been telling his constituents is a phantom with not an iota of truth.

In the recent past the Ringo MP has been criss-crossing the region telling his constituents that a new sugar plant would be constructed at Riana and that the investors have already intentions on the site and were training dozens of farmers ahead of the construction. He said 124 acres of land has already been set-aside at Riana for the site of the new plant.

One farmer lamented that it could be that the MP is out to sabotage the new project, which is far away away from Riana. The project has already received the blessing of the Homa-Bay governor Cyprian Awiti and his team.

The multi-million project has also received the blessing of the Kenya Sugar Board, which is the official body tasked with with regulating the sugar industry, therefore we really don’t know what the MP is talking about. We have checked through the relevant Ministry and the KSB and discovered that no second sugar plant has been licensed for the area.

ONE farmer from Rongo disclosed that the MP has recently bought and acquired several parcels of land In and around an area called Ndege Oriedo perhaps in anticipation that when the project takes off at Aoch Muga he would be able to make a kill in the re-selling the pieces of land which he had acquired and this is the 124 acre of land, which he has been speaking about.

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Kenya: Migori governor in political war with odm leaders

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From: LEO ODERA

POLITICAL WRANGLINGS BETWEEN MIGORI GOVERNOR AND ODM LEADERS INTENSIFIED AS SUPPORTERS ACCUSED THE GOVERNOR OF practicing NEPOTISM

The political war of attrition has intensified between Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado and the local ODM branch officials following accusation and allegations that the governor is hostile towards the supporters and leaders of the party.

Other sources have revealed that the Migori governor has employed his own two brothers (two in total).

The same source gave the names of governors two of them as Daudi Obada the head of revenue and Uhuru Obado market attendant. The two n belong to one father with the governor, the two shared one father with the governor bur from different mother

The governor is a besieged man following allegations and complaints that he had investigated the sacking of the county workers who are perceived to be the staunchest supporters of the ODM from the county services and replaced them with his own kins.

Governor Obado won the March 4, 2013 on the nomination ticket of the unknown People Democratic Party (PDP), which is led by the former South Mugirango Mp Omingo Magara. This was after he failed to secure the ODM nomination certificate at the Party’s primaries.

The ODM ticket was won by Prof Edward Okong’o Oyugi who was later beaten at the election proper by Zacahry Obado. Prof Oyugi thereafter moved to the High Court and filed a petition seeking for the nullification of Obado’s election on March 4, 2013.

The court however ruled in favour of Obado. Prof Oyugi and co-petitioners Mrs Omondi Anyanga the wife of Nyatike MP who was one of the election losers in the contest for Migori governorship. The petition is left pending before the Court of Appeal.

Back to governor Obado home town in Uriri Constituency a group of about 20 youths were his chief campaigners are so frustrated and disgruntled. About 12 youth are fully licensed drivers. But are presently idle, although the county recently purchased a fleet of 12 vehicles and employed drivers, none of the governor’s supporters were considered for employment.

These frustrated youth could be seen idling themselves around Rapogi Uriri trading centres with nothing to lay their hands on.

Nyatike Mp Edwin Omondi Anyanga is the one who fired the first salvo when he went public and accused governor Obado of being alone ranger who work in isolation without consulting with other elected leaders in the county. The working relations between governor Obado and the MPs representing various constituencies within Migori County except the Awendo MP Jared Kos within Migori County is said not to be so cordial, but the governor is reportedto be co-operating very closely with the Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo who also got into parliament through the ticket of Ford Kenya party

The seemingly governor’s supporters last week lamented that Obato has sidelined and short – changed them. He is no longer picking up their phone cells.

This writermade a frantic effort to reach governor Obato via his mobile phone no 0722467587 but the calls were unanswered.

These frustrated youth said they might be forced to consider the possibility of organization street demonstrations against the Migori governor for having short changed them.

Effort to reach the governor by the group has failed. He is no longer cropping at Rapogi or at Uriri Center. His relationship with other Migori MP is no longer cortias.

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KENYA IS HOSTING AFRICAN FISHERIES STRATEGIES MEETING

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A new partnership for African development (DEPAD) will this morning hold a two days meeting in Kenya, which is expected to finalize strategy aimed at improving returns for small scale players for the fishing industry across African Continent.

The meeting scheduled to be held in the Kenyan resort town of Naivasha about 100 kilometers from the capital Nairobi on today and tomorrow, is expected to agree on fisheries policy for Africa that will then be localized by individual countries on the continent.

The December 17 and 18 meeting aimed at incorporating the views of the small scale sector and fishing dependent communities and generate a shared vision on a Pan-African strategy to guide exploitation of a gigantic resources. The meeting brings together policy makers, government representatives and non-state outers from across the continent.

The strategy expected to boost the management the fishing industry that for long been neglected.

The meeting is expected to finalize the Pan-African strategy is critical for once approved by stakeholders at the second conference of African Ministers of Fisheries and Africa culture (CAMFA), scheduled to be held in February 2014.

The strategy is expected to boost the management of Fishing industry that has long been neglected, according to NEPAD and African Union Interactrican Bureau on Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) statement.

A recent United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) state of Fisheries and aquaculture report noted that many fisheries in Africa are characterized by weak management system and threatened by over-exploitation in situation has gradually worsened since 1974 eroding initial successes seen in fisheries projects and turning them to failures.

The meeting is part of the wider efforts following the comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Progarmme which was endorsed by the African Heads of State and Government in Maputo Mozambique in 2003 as a framework for Agriculture – economic development.

Despite the potential of the fishing Industry in Africa it has largely been sidelined in the National Development Plans of many African Countries and players still use old fishing methods giving them original returns and at the same time causing damage to the breeding grounds for fish.

The statement adds that the meeting will respond directly to the CAMEA resolution urging African member states to urgently incline small scale fisheries their natural strategies.

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KENYA: PROF LARRY GUMBE HAS JOINED THE ELECTION RACE IN CROWDED CONTEST FOR ODM SECRETARY – GENERAL

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu CITY

The impending ODM national officials party election, scheduled for February next year, is likely to be crowded by many contestants.

The coveted important position of the party Secretary – General is expected to be the most crowded. The position is currently held by the Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who has held it for close to ten years. However, the post seemed to have attracted many party stalwarts, particularly the group of the younger generation, calling themselves the Young Turks.

The group comprising mostly first time members of Parliament has one old and experienced party stalwart in the name of Prof. Larry Gumbe and the Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba.

Others reported to be interested in the same post to included the outspoken Gwassi MP John Mbadi, Kisumu Town West MP Ken Obura, Ndhiwa MP Augustino Neto Oyugi. Also reported by some unconfirmed sources to be eyeing the same position is the ODM Executive Director Magerer Lang’at who is the immediate former MP for Kipkellion.

The young Turks blamed the old guard for having largely contributed to the party’s devastating defeat in the March 14 general election due to their laxity and poor leadership.

The name of the Siaya Senator JAMES Aggrey Orengo has been featuring prominently in other quarters as the one who is likely to succeed Prof Nyong”o. The incumbent of late has been keeping low profile over party activities.

Speaking to this writer via the phone, Prof Gumbe said ODM needs principled and consistent leadership to guide the party become a true grassroots visionary and democratic political movement which will lead Kenya into industrialization.

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