Category Archives: HEADLINES

Kenya: Siaya villagers in the mourning mood after the Nile crocodile grabbed and devoured a 14 year old student

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

RESIDENTS of Kokise village in Central Asembo, Location,Siaya County were on Thursday thrown into the mourning mood following an ugly incident in which a Nile crocodile grabbed and devoured a 14 year old Form Two student at Kokise Secondary School.

The boy had gone along the shore of Lake Victoria to have a bath when the reptile struck. The deceased, Bramwel Otieno, screamed hard while trying to free himself from the grip of the reptile in vain.

People working in the nearby farms along the lake shore heard Otieno’s screaming and rushed to the scene, but it was too late as the reptile had already overpowered the victim and dragged him into the deep waters.

This was the third incident within a short period of time where rogue hippo had killed two fishermen in similar fashion.

According to the area’s administrative chief, Mr Eric Okal, Otieno could have been saved had there been more people at the scene at the material time.

So far the deceased body had not been retrieved or recovered from the lake, but a search team, who included divers and policemen, were at the scene.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rassanga appealed to the officials of the Kenya Wildlife Services “KWS” to dispatch game rangers to the area to try to relocate the reptile or shoot it dead.

The governor, however, warned the residents to steer clear of the lake’s shorelines,specially at this time when it is raining heavily in the area. He declared the lake shore line the most dangerous area.

ENDS

EAC: Kenyatta attended the EAC summit in Arusha for the first time

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya’s newly elected Head of State President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was among the heads of states and governments of the East African Community{EAC} who were in attendance at the Summit of the regional trading bloc held in the Northern Tanzanian City Arusha last Sunday.

The one day Summit, which brought together heads of states of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania was held at the Ngurudoto Mountain Lodge, which is located about ten kilometers outside Arusha town.

Other heads o state who were in attendance included Yoweri Museveni {Uganda}, Jakaya Kikwete {Tanzania} Pierre Nkurunzinza {Burundi} and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

At the end of the one day summit, the EAC leaders sign draft resolution in which they sent out a strong message that the region would not tolerate insecurity or destabilization that would scare off investors an undermine development efforts.

The leaders further stated that with the recent discovery of oil and gas deposits, the region must get rid of any efforts o derail its quest to settle down and tap the vast natural resources for development.

“No one should be allowed to derail or to destabilize the region. Our region is now conducive for massive investment and development ‘” said President Museveni who read the final draft to the newsmen.

President Kenyatta on his part stressed that instability must be fought off in order to make the ac region a pace which is conducive for investment and development. CHEERED TO BY HIS COLLEAGUES, President Kenyatta who attended the summit for the first time since he was elected to the office following March 4 ,2013 general election in Kenya was the center of interest by onlookers and government officials.

President Kenyatta said the stability must remain a critical ingredient for the future development and prosperity.

The Kenyan leader said that his country’s priority will be to work closely with the EAC partner states.

Meanwhile other information emerging or the EAC Arusha based secretariat says the five member countries have raised concerns about Tanzanian reluctance to scrap the work permit stance that is still undermining the free flow of labor across the region.

THE LAST Sunday summit meeting asked Tanzania to consider resolving the issue and report on it during the net East African Legislative assembly meeting scheduled for Uganda next months.

Ends

KENYA: THERE IS NO TENSION BETWEEN THE KURIA AND THE LUOS IN MIGORI AFTER THE COUNTY GOVERNOR APPOINTED HIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In MigoriTown.

The inter-communal relations between the Luo and their minority Kuria neighbors with whom they two communities are sharing the devolution governance of Migori County is cordial and very warm.

The two communities are forging ahead with the real task of development after the County governor Zachary Okoth Obado had instituted his executives committee for the County.

This followed the swearing in of the County Speaker a Mr Gordon Ogola, a Nairobi based lawyer and the deputy speaker.

The former chairman of the defunct Awendo Town Council Johnson Omolo Owiro who is representing Central Sakwa in the regional legislative body was elected the leader of the majority while Daniel Okello clinched the leadership of the minority.

The assembly members categorically denied there was tension between the two communities. Out County has taken off and what we are aiming for is the real task of nation building said Representative Johnson Omolo

Representatives said the reported tension was the figment work and imaginations of some NGOs operating in the area who are sowing the seeds of discord.

KENYA: KISUMU COUNTY TO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT

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By Agwanda Saye

Kisumu Governor, Jack Ranguma has said that his government will prioritize environmental cleaning up of Lake Victoria to remove water hyacinth and check unabated dumping of industrial effluent into the shared water mass.

Ranguma, while presiding over the official opening of Kisumu County Assembly, stated that the county government will also invest in comprehensive healthcare and agriculture to address persistent food insecurity without losing sight of environmental conservation.

“We are committed to improving the abundant potential in health sector, tourism, fishing industry and production of ethanol by local sugar industries through expanding existing capacities alongside removal of water hyacinth to enable lake transportation”, he explained.

The Governor who earlier in the week toured Nyando, Nyakach and Muhoroni areas which bore the brunt of flash floods, announced that elaborate plans had been put in place to improve existing dykes to effectively control perennial flooding that resulted in the loss of lives, crops and animals.

Ranguma said his government will embark on turning Kisumu into a city of the future to ultimately serve as a study for the country and regionally.

“Our County will promote foreign investments and attract donor funding, while remaining committed to stamp out corruption, neglect and waste to facilitate economic growth”, he reassured.

The governor swore to seal all the corruption loopholes and smash the elaborate syndicates hell-bent on thwarting Kisumu County’s development efforts.

“Each one of us has a duty to protect public wealth, considering that we have the best human resource and stand up against the exploits of opportunists and say no to the Lords of corruption”, he said exuding confidence.

Ranguma vowed to embrace consultative leadership through engaging the diverse and competent resources at their disposal by establishing growth centers at specific sub-Counties (Districts).

The Governor also pledged to spearhead a comprehensive, cost-effective healthcare for Kisumu County residents and transform The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital into a preferred regional facility for locals and neighboring counties.

ENDS:

KENYA LAWYERS ORDERED BY COURT TO DRESS PROPERLY.

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By Agwanda Saye.

The High Court has ordered lawyers to adhere to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Revised Dress Code.

High Court Judge Justice David Majanja dismissed a case seeking to declare the Advocates Revised Dress Code (2013) unconstitutional.

The dress code sparked public debate as it barred female lawyers from wearing revealing clothes including sleeveless shirts or dresses. It also made it mandatory for male Advocates to appear in court clad in dark coloured suits.

Lawyer Andrew Barney Khakula sued LSK and the Attorney General on January 24 arguing that the dress code violated Article 47 of the Constitution that guaranteed fair administrative action.

“The petition is frivolous and dismissed with costs to the first Respondent (LSK),” Justice Majanja ordered.

Following the Judgment, LSK CEO Apollo Mboya dispatched a circular to the 10,240 Advocates countrywide to abide by the Revised Dress Code. “Members are now expected to adhere to the dress code for appearance before courts and Tribunals,” Mboya said. The CEO warned that Advocates who appeared in court or tribunal dressed contrary to the code commited a professional misconduct.

Justice Majanja said that neither the petitioner (Khakula) nor his advocate failed to appear in court despite the hearing date being taken by mutual consent,” Justice Majanja ordered.

Justice Majanja said – in a two page ruling – that Khakula further failed to comply with an earlier order to file written submissions before he directed the matter to proceed for hearing.

Khakula was seeking a review of the Advocates Dress Code which is to give guidance to lawyers concerning matters of dressing for purposes of appearance in Court.

“I am satisfied that the petition does not disclose a cause of action as he does not state how his rights have been violated or identify the manner in which the dress code infringes on his personal rights and fundamental freedoms,” Justice Majanja ordered.

LSK opposed the petition arguing that its Council is empowered to issue regulations and directions regulating the conduct of Advocates including the manner of dress in court.

The dressing code barred wearing of culottes, shorts and jeans are not allowed – whether they bare suites or not – skirts must be of dark colours and at least knee length.

And blouses must be black, charcoal, grey, navy blue or similar colours and may be printed materials of a combination of the colours together with cream and white.

Shoes that expose the toes of both male and female lawyers are banned unless suffering from a feet ailment when sandals can be allowed. Shoes must be black, grey, navy blue or brown.

However, it allowed female lawyers to wear trouser suits and braid their hair when appearing before Judges, Magistrates and Tribunals.

The hair braids must be neat and held back from the face with a hair band, ribbon or hair grip when appearing before court. Braids should not be intertwined with coloured threads or flamboyant so as to bring the legal profession into disrepute.

Ends…

KENYA: A MOVE TO PAY SOME FRESH IDPS ANGERS 2007 IDPS FROM NYANZA

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By Dickens Wasonga

The country may not know that even in the just concluded polls there were IDPs, only that this time they were quickly compensated and they moved back to their homes.

This was the case in Kisumu’s Kondele and Car wash areas where some people pitched camp at the Kondele police station albeit briefly. However its the good gesture by the government in Kisumu to coordinate efforts facilitated by well-wishers to appease these Kenyans that has left tongues wagging with a section of Nyanza IDPs of 2007 election related violence lamenting that they were a forgotten lot .

At the heart of the matter is the Sh 10,000 payment each of the more than fifty families said to have been evicted from their homes in Kisumu after the Supreme Court verdict on March 4 polls received.

Some fifty three families allegedly dashed to police stations in Kisumu out of fear immediately the court upheld Uhuru Kenyatta Presidency.

Spontaneous protests rocked parts of the city among them Kondele, Nyalenda, Nyawita and Obunga areas immediately the ruling was made but police moved swiftly to quell the tension.

Later, Kisumu East District Commissioner Willy Cheboi told Journalists that the security team had directed all the families camping at the police stations to vacate them since there was no cause for alarm.

The DC warned that some people were masquerading as Internally Displaced Persons to seek favors from the Government.

However, it later emerged that the families were compensated despite the government officer’s earlier claims that they would not be compensated since their property were safe.

When contacted for comments regarding the payment of the families, Kisumu East DC Willy Cheboi said he would not comment on the matter since his office did not coordinate the payments.

“The coordination of the payment was made by the County Commissioner’s office hence the officer is at the right position to comment on the matter,” Cheboi said.

The County Commissioner Lorna Odero when contacted confirmed payment of cash to the said families.

She however, denied the payment being from the Government.

“We paid the families but not from government funds. The payment was coordinated by my office but the money came from well wishers,” Odero said.

She pointed out that The Kenya Red Cross, the disaster committee and the Kisumu Rescue Committee gave out the funds for compensation.

Several IDPs in Nyanza have in the past raised concerns over the delay in compensation by the government.

They have raised complaints of not receiving compensation as their colleagues from other parts of the country and wondered how quick “a few in Kisumu were paid after the Supreme court verdict.”

Their leaders claimed the move was a clear pointer to their earlier claims that the government was favoring some IDPs while ignoring the plight of some who have been kept waiting for assistance five years down the line especially those from Nyanza who returned to the region after fleeing violence of 2007 election .

According to the chairman of 2007 IDPs from Nyanza Mr. Nelson Owegi not even a half of the 126,000 returnees from the region have been compensated by the state over the loss they suffered in the skirmishes.

Owegi said this was despite earlier promises made to them last year in August by the PS Andrew Mondoh during a meeting held at the PCs office which was atttended by representatives of the victims from across the region.

” We even visited the PS in his office in Nairobi four months later for a follow up meeting and he promised us payment before the general elections. We feel we are being discriminated by the government” he said.

Owegi was forced to flee the violence from Limuru where he was doing business and suffered a great loss during the violence which rocked the country following the disputed results of 2007 polls.

ENDS.

ARMED CONFLICT IN THE DR CONGO PUT TANZANIA INTO A CATCH 22 POINTS AS IT IS CONFLICTING WITH DAR’S SADC MEMBERSHIP.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging from the Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar Es Salaam says that armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is likely to shift to the East African Legislative Assembly this week with the regional parliament taking Tanzania to task over its support for a new UN sanctioned peacekeeping force following the recent breakdown talks between the M23 rebels and Kinshasa government.

Tanzania currently chairs the Southern African Development Community {SADC} peace and security Council, that political pundits and analysts argue that leaning towards SADC give Dar’s conflicting obligation to the international conferee on the Great Lakes and east African community, leaves on a collision course with Uganda and Rwanda, which are vehemently opposed to troop deployment under the UN.

A Ugandan member of the East African Legislative Assembly Fred Mukasa Mbidde was last week quoted as having tabled a motion at the regional parliament asking Tanzania to support the position that “military confrontation can only escalate war”.

THe EALA member said, ”Our position is based on three facts,
One, that Uganda and Rwanda may be drawn into an unnecessary war,
Two, that Uganda and Rwanda sometimes, Tanzania always suffer the humanitarian burden,
Third, war can only lead to further proliferation of arms in the region.”

The motion at the EALA meeting which is scheduled for April 16 will also propose that SADC AND THE un Security Council resolution or an “offensive international peacekeeping force” against M23 rebels be kept in abeyance to give dialogue a chance.

The newly elected Kenyan head of state President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta will attend the EALA meeting o the first time since winning his presidential race on 4 March 2013.

However, this latest development comes as Tanzania prepares to seek parliamentary approval for its troops participation in the mission when the government tables on 3 May 2013, the Ministry o Defense and National Service budget, which its national security council has already endorsed.

Tanzania is also engaged in other UN peace keeping missions in Liberia,Sierra Leone,Ivory Coast and Sudan It has committed itself to deploying 850 troops in the DR Congo, part of UN Security Council sanctioned 2,000 –man “Intervention Brigade” approved a week ago.South Africa is another SADC member state wit economic interest in the SADC has also agreed to contribute troops, according to the Uganda EALA member Mbide.

The M23 rebels and the Kinshasa government of President Laurent Kabila have been in talks aimed at ending fighting which ha claimed many lives and displaced thousands since late last year when a section of rebels that had joined government after brokered deal opted out and resumed fighting citing marginalization.

A UN probe committee accused Rwanda and Uganda of supporting the M23, but Uganda was .Kampala in spite of the accusations, brokered the dialogue between the belligerents citing the talks broke two months ago following a violent split in the M23 leadership. Uganda’s Defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga however, continued with the efforts to brig the belligerents back to the talking table.

The Permanent secretary in the Ugandan ‘s ministry of Foreign affairs James Mugume dismissed talks as ridiculous exercise between Uganda and Tanzania.

He said, It is entirely untrue. We are currently hosting SADC and EAC Joint Chief of Staff we are doing truck carrot we are supporting dialogue but if dialogue fails then members can resort to other means of resoling the conflicts ,he added.

Mbidde said the regional parliament {EALA} has ten a position for dialogue and Tanzania position for troop deployment is against this spiriti of dialogue

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KENYA: TERROR GANGS ARE STILL KILLING PEOPLE UNABATED IN OYUGIS TOWN AS A CHIEF INSPECTOR OF POLICE DIES IN A SAVAGE PANGA ATTACK.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

POLITICALLY motivated thuggery which was so rampant in Oyugis town during the recently concluded general elections is still thriving prompting the residents to call upon the Provincial Administration and police authorities to declare the town an emergency area.

Oyugis town is the largest commercial an administrative town in Rachuonyo south district. The residents want the authorities to intensify night police patrols of this busy commercial town after close to three people have been reported killed by night gangsters.

The town became so much prone to thuggery during the recently concluded general election, when marauding went into the rampage of hunting or the supports of different and preferable candidates with machetes and other crude weapons.

Last weekend, a Chief Inspector of Police who was in-charge of the prosecution Oyugis courts became the latest victims of thuggery. The officer was walking back to his house after purchasing some milk in the shops in the town when the attackers whose numbers remained unknown pounced on him with pangas and other crude weapons.

Other unconfirmed sources said tat Chief Inspector John Kipyegon was armed with his services revolved, which the thus I suspected to have stolen. He was found by a good Samaritan who rushed him to Kisii hospital about 32 kilometers away where he was pronounced dead before receiving treatment. The incident occurred at about 8.p.m

Another young man who was walking to his home in Kokal village, which is located next to Oyugis town was killed in similar circumstances. Oyugis own, which is located right in the middles of the main Kisumu-Kisii road which houses the main-bus terminals.

Thugs are said to be targeting those travelers alighting out of Matatus and county buses late in the evenings. Several people have reported being attacked by gangs said to be numbering between six and eight, but so far no arrests have been made despite of the town having a full fledged and well equipped police station.

The former MP for Kasipul-Kabondo William Oloo Otula appealed to the area OCPD whose offices are situated at Kosele district headquarter to consider increasing the number of officers to be on patrol of Oyugis town to stamp out insecurity there.

The fast growing Oyugis town, he said, is yawning or investment, but as the situation stands today, he said no sane person would risk investing his/her money in the crime prone town.

Otula appealed with the officers from the CID department operating the area to work closely with the local population so as to enhance the security of the area.

Since the election is long over, bands of youths hitherto marauding youths who were supporting various parliamentary aspirant I he area should be disbanded and it is up to their members to embark on gainful development activities instead of thuggery, aid one trader in Oyugis town.

Ends

Kenya: Kiva Opens Office in Nairobi, Africa’s Hot Spot for Social Innovation

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By Dickens wasonga,

The founders of the world’s largest micro-lending platform for social good, Kiva are in Kenya to officially open its Anglophone Africa Regional office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Matt Flannery and Premal Shah, the CEO, the President and Co-founders, respectively, officially open the Kiva Regional office based at the Strathmore Business School at Madaraka tomorrow.

The Nairobi office is Kiva’s first outside of the U.S., a tremendous milestone for the nonprofit organization, which was founded in 2005 to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty, expand economic opportunity and generally change lives for better.

“As we open the doors to our new office in Nairobi, we are opening the door for new opportunities at Kiva and exciting partnerships across Africa,” said Matt Flannery, CEO and co-founder of Kiva. “Nairobi is an emergent hub for social enterprise because of the entrepreneurial spirit that is nurtured here. By laying down roots in Nairobi, Kiva will be able to strengthen and expand innovative partnerships that help to advance our mission to alleviate poverty and advance economic opportunity throughout the region.”

Through Kiva, anyone with an Internet connection can make a loan as little as $25 to the borrower of their choice on Kiva.org. And with Kiva’s repayment rate of 98.9%, lenders are able to relend their money again and again, or withdraw it from the system. Kiva’s community of 900,000 lenders have crowdfunded more than $410 million in loans for one million people worldwide. In Kenya, more than 63,000 people have received a combined total of $20.5 million in loans funded by 250,000 people from 125 countries.

These microloans help borrowers start and grow businesses, go to school, buy clean energy products, and finance sustainable agricultural practices in Kenya and more than 65 other nations.

“Fundamentally, Kiva is about recognizing and supporting the potential that each person has whether they live in the next town or across the world,” said Premal Shah, Kiva Co-founder and President. “When we recognize and act on the potential in ourselves and others, as lenders or borrowers, powerful things can happen.”

Kiva leverages the power of collective good and new technologies to push the boundaries of economic opportunity in unique ways. To reach people on a local level — including some of the most remote places on earth — Kiva works with upwards of 150 partners, 14 of whom are in Kenya. These partners have traditionally been microfinance institutions that administer loans for borrowers. Increasingly, Kiva is partnering with organizations that do not have their own lending programs; partners such as universities, social enterprises, and non-governmental organizations.

Kiva’s partners in Kenya are opening up new and innovative loan products through Kiva’s flexible, risk-tolerant capital. Together with Strathmore University, Kiva offers smart students from low-income backgrounds an 11-year tuition loan, with a five-year grace period. These students are proving that tuition loans are viable investments, opening doors for students in the region and around the world. Students like Lydia from Turkana County in northern Kenya, who is the first in her family to graduate from secondary school.

“There are a lot of challenges that I have faced, but normally I encourage myself by saying, ‘What matters in life is not really where I am now, but rather the direction I am heading,’” said Lydia, who is studying for her Bachelor of Commerce degree at Strathmore. “I will never allow my past experiences to compromise the quality of my future. Given this chance by Kiva, my higher education can be achieved. Thanks to God for this opportunity.”

Kiva partner, Juhudi Killimo, provides financial services to over 7,000 smallholder farmers in rural Kenya, approximately half of whom are women. Juhudi’s mission is to provide market-driven, wealth-creating financial services including loans to acquire productive assets such as dairy cows, chickens and irrigation equipment. Another partner Komaza, helps borrowers convert drylands into productive family tree farms in Eastern Kenya. Komaza equips local farmers with the supplies and training they need to plant fast-growing trees on their unused land. This generates income for their families and creates a sustainable wood supply for local markets.

Kiva is continuing to innovate in Kenya through their new pilot project, Kiva Zip. Kiva Zip enables anyone –organizations or individuals who care about economic opportunity—to become Trustees and vouch for entrepreneurs seeking microloans to start or expand their small business. Once endorsed, borrowers can post their loan request on Kiva Zip and connect directly with Kiva’s growing global community of lenders to receive an interest-free loan. Loans are received and repaid via M-PESA.

Among the 53 Kiva Zip Trustees in Kenya is Shining Hope for Communities. Shining Hope combats gender inequality and extreme poverty in the Kibera slum, serving people who are generally not able to access traditional sources of credit. In just five months, Shining Hope has vouched for more than 50 women seeking to start or expand their small businesses, bringing additional income into their homes and families.
Kiva is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that connects millions of people around the world through lending to alleviate poverty and expand opportunity. With as little as a $25 loan, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy and realize their potential. Since its inception in 2005, Kiva and their growing global community of 900,000 lenders have crowd funded more than $400 million in loans to over 1 million people, with a 98.9% repayment rate.

ENDS.

KENYA: NYANZA LEADERS READY TO WORK WITH UHURU KENYATTA’S GOVERNMENT, BUT WANT THE PRESIDENT TO KEEP POLITICAL REJECTS OUT OF THE NEW CABINET.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The political mood inside Luo-Nyanza after yesterday’s swearing in of President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his deputy William Samoe Ruto is all soberly and the residents of this region have said they are willing to cooperate fully and work with new Kenyatta administrati9on for the better future.

Contrary to the beliefs in certain quarters that the chaos which had erupted last week following the Supreme court’s verdict on electi9n petition filed by the CORD leader Raila Odinga would erupt again.

But no ugly incident was reported in any parts of the Luo-Nyanza as Kenyans celebrated the colorful swearing-in ceremony at the Ksarani Sports ground in Nairobi

Some motorists, particularly matatus which are usually plying the Eldoret Kisumu and Kericho Kisumu roads kept out of business for the better part of yesterday morning fearing that youths would set illegal road blocks and lit bonfire on the roads.

This caused a lot of difficulties for passengers travelling the same distances would set illegal road block sand lit bonfires as they did last week that provoked the two day running battles between them and the police.Two people died from the police gun-shot wounds, scores were arrested and 24 others were hospitalized.

The popular issues, however, is that President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto and their closest advisers should be given free hand and breathing space to select the new cabinet team of youthful technocrats with unstained names

All the political deadwoods and old and tired politicians whose performance in the past regimes were riddled with the mega financial scandals should retire honorably and go home.

Across section of those interviewed by this write within Kisumu City and its environs have supported the views expressed by Kiambu governor William Kabogo that those who had lost the elections on March 4, 2013 should be excluded from the cabinet after their rejections by the voters.

Govern9or Kabogo had mentioned the names of Charity Ngilu, Najib Balala,ChirauAli Mwakwere,and Naomi Shaban.

But also the persons the residents of Nyanza be excluded from the cabinet included the former Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof. Sam Ongeri, Raphael Tuju and Omingo Magara, Otieno Kajwang’of Anyang’ Nyong’o.Charity Ngilu’s yesterday speech at the State House did not go down well and was not well received by the residents of this city who argued that despite being a partner in the jubilee alliance an election loser like Ngilu should not beall9owedtoaddress Kenyans n an important state functi0n.She is a political reject and should stop pestering Kenyatta and Ruto for cabinet appointment

Appointment together with other election loser would amount t an insult to Kenyans.The new cabinet should be free of political turn-coats, party hoppers and political chameleons.

Meanwhile the news making the round in Kisumu and its environs is that prominent Luo leaders and members of the Luo Council of elders are currently conducting the behind the scene meetings while plotting and strategizing or plans to have the community send a very powerful delegation to President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in the near future on a mission dabbed as “To pledge the community’s unswerving loyalty to the new government.”.

The community had voted form President Kenyatta arch-rival Raila Odinga during the recently concluded general election. Although their presidential candidate had lost the election to Kenyatta, thr community did not want to live in isolation, but wouldliket9pulltheir strength and resources together wit other Kenyatta in the real task of nation building, “said one the elders in Kisumu who is part of the team, but who requested for his identtytobeke0tmsecret for the time being.

‘Ker” Meshack Riaga Ogalo, the de facto chairman of the Luo Council of Elders is said to have already blessed the plan for the community to warming itself up to President Kenyatta and, the new government.

Ker Riaga Ogalo could not be reached for his immediate comment over the issue.

Another rumor making the round in Kisumu City and its environs is that the youthful MP for,Kisumu Town Central Ken Obura has accepted to stand down and resign his parliamentary seat in order to facilitate the entry into parliament by the CORD leader Raila Odinga.The deal is said to have been concluded and its in its advanced stage.

Hon Obura who hails from Kabonyo area of West Kano has the blood relations with Mr.Odinga his mother hails from Bondo not far away from Raila’s rural home.When his father the late Obura MaugoTipo a former civic leader in the defunct Kisumu County Council, the young Obura moved out of Kano plains and established a home for his mother in Bondo among their uncles.

Obura could not be reached immediately to confirm or deny the rumor..

TANZANIA PLANS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR REHABILITATION OF ITS RAILWAYS NETWORK TO EASY THE TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO AND GOODS TO ITS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Tanzania is expected to spend the colossal amount of USD 330 million to upgrade its railways network in order to make it competitive with those across Central and Southern Africa.

The venture involves track repair and up grades including changing the national network rail line to the standard gauge.

The move according to an impeccable source in Arusha follow tripartite agreement to harmonize operations between the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority [Tazara] Zambia Railways Limited,and the Societe National des Chemine des Fer do CongoSari of the Democratic Republic of Congo,the National Raiway operation of Tanzania,Zambia and DR Congo respectively.

The deal which was signed recently is expected to facilitate smooth and seamless transportation of goods and passengers in the three states.

Tanzania’s Transport Minister Harrison Mwakyembe was quoted last week as saying the sums of Tshs 6 billion {USD 3.7 million] had so far been spent on the renovations, train carriages and railway infrastructure for the Tanzania Railway ltd.

The government has ordered 274 passenger wagons,22 locomotives,23 wagons and 34 railway stocks,brakes {brakes vans},which are expected in the country before the end of June this year.

According to Minister Mwakyembe, the government of Tanzania through Tazara has also secured USD 39 million from China to buy six new locomotives 80 new wagons and spare parts as well as to renovate nine locomotive engines.

The Central rail line running westwards from Dar Es Salaam through Dodoma will be improved substantially this year, he added.

The upgraded Tanzania Central line on a standard gauge is expected to carry 35 million tones of freight annually to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and eastern DRCongo..

Dalmas Ndamburo the managing director of the Tazara said the acquisition of the new locomotives and other measures by the management is expected to increase the tonnage of cargo that it hauls.

Dr Ndamburo said the government of Zambia is providing the USD 82 milion needed to keep the UHURU railway line afloat.

Tazara operates in two countries of Zambia and Tanzania –both which have regional managers working on the set performance benchmarks. Tanzania hosts the headquarters. Each regional manager has been tasked with the responsibility of increasing tonnage of cargo and goods from 30,000 to 809,000 tones.

The railway line which is to connect Rwanda,Burundi and Tanzania is now under construction.

Charles Tireba, the deputy Minister for Transport sasid the Dar Es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali / Reza, Getag M Mosongoti Railway project which is estimated to cost USD 52 billion will take four years to complete and is expected to lower Rwanda’s and Burundi’ transport costs.

Rwanda and Burundi have had to bear high transport costs when ferrying goods from the Kenyan coastal port of Mombasa and Dar Es Salaam, which has increased the cost of doing business in the two countries. The new railway line is also expected to reduce the time it takes to transport cargo from Dar Es Salaam.The use of road takes four days while the railway will take just two days.

Tanzania is currently seeking USD 13,3 billion to finance infrastructure projects.

These projects include the rehabilitation of the railways from Dar Es Salaam to Tabora as well as Kilimapanda line to Kasanga port on Lake Tanganyika.

Ends

Kenya: Luo Community wants a stake in the Kenyatta’s jubilee cabinet

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

MEMBERS of the Luo community have pleaded with the President – elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to consider the possibility of picking up for cabinet appointment two of its modera5e and neutral technocrats.

According to a number of the members of Luo Council of elders interviewed across the Luo-Nyanza, this gesture would be inline with the pledge made earlier by Mr Kenyatta that his jubilee government would be all inclusive and that all Kenyans would be incorpoa6ed in the government.

The elders have been seeking the way of meeting Mr Kenyatta before his swearing in scheduled for next Tuesday so that they could plead with him to include a number of uo technocrats in his Jubilee cabinet.

Names being floated for such appointment included the two former members of Parliament Joe Donde [Gem} and Dr Shem Ochuodho [Rangwe}. The two had their political career cut short as the result of disagreement with the Luo political kingpin Raila Amolo Odinga. All the two were elected in 1997 on an LDP ticket, but later fallout with Mr Odinga on matters of principles.

Donde is still being remembered with his famous Donde Bill. He is a financial genious and is level minded. He lost his Gem seat to Raila’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo in 2002, while Dr. Ochuodho fell out of favor with Mr Odinga and was replaced by Eng. Phillip Okoth Okundi in Rangwe in 2002.

Ochuodho a computer geneous who has since served the government of Rwanda as an ICT adviser and was recently serving the new South Sudan government in the same capacity.

Joe Donde had earlier indicated that he would contest the Siaya governor positi9n on an ODM ticket but later changed his mind and did not contest. Dr.Ochuodho too did not contest for any elective position.

Those interviewed were up-beat that the two gentlemen could serve in Kenyatta’s cabinet while at the same time serving the interests of the 3 million Luos living in Kenya. The elders are vehemently opposed to the possibility of recycling some o deadwood and including them in the new government. These included some of the Minister wh9 had served in the Kibaki’s administration and whose names were tainted wit numerous financial scandals and mismanagement of the public resources.

In order to restore the confidence of all Kenyans President Kenyatta must move out of those whose names are dented and stained with past scandals. The new President must have a free hand to start with fresh people of high caliber and reputation, said one Luo elder in Kisumu.

The inclusion of the two Luo technocrats would be the best way forward of reconciling all Kenyans to work together for the better future of this country

The elder who requested for his name to be kept anonymous said the community would work with President Kenyatta despite of the cut-throat bruising election election contest between him and the ODM Raila Odinga so that the co7ntry moves forward to a better future.

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Governor Awiti has the biggest challenge to turn the mineral rich Homa-Bay County sround into an economic hub of the Western Kenya

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town

The newly elected governor of Homa-Bay County Cyprian Otieno Awiti faces a big challenge of turning the mineral, fisheries and tourism rich region into a vibrant economic hub.

If Governor Awiti and his team could work hard and put into good use of the reportedly abundant natural resources such fisheries, tourism and turn the region into a vibrant economic hub in the entire Western Kenya.

Homa-Bay County has the longest shorelines with the Lake Victoria, particularly the Nyanza Gulf which stretches from River Sondu Miriu in Nyakwere in Eastern part of Karachuonyo constituency and running up to Gwassi district.

Experts have also hinted of the presence of abundant, but untapped mineral resources such as gold, nickel, uranium, iron – ore, copper and cement.

His is the only region in Nyanza with a game viewing park, the Ruma National Game Park, which is located in Lambwe Valley partly in Mbita district and partly in Homa-Bay districts.

The County is covered by seven parliamentary constituencies, which included Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo-Kaspul.

The upper part of the region is endowed with fertile and arable land, which produces cash crops like tea in area of Kabodo – Kasipul. Coffee is also being grown in both Kasipul East ad West.

Bewfore Kenya attained its political independence in 1963, there used to be full fledged gold mining at Awuoro mine, which is located next to Ruga market on the border of Kitutut – Chache – Kasipul constituency. However, the investors closed the mine prematurely on fears that independence could bring chaos and mayhem. The investors were Bowers from South Africa who packed and went away not to wait to for an African independence government after many years of economic suppression and persecution of the locals, particularly the workers.

Experts say these people left a lot of gold underneath the mine shafts as they were leaving in huff. It is obvious that the county devolved government would try and lure new investors to come and resuscitate these abandoned mines.

Governor Awiti has an up-hill task to secure investors for cement factory near Ruri hills. And possible an investors to put up a five star hotel inside Ruma National Game Park. Beach hotels could also be established around the pre-historic sites such as Nyamgondho Wuod Ombare shrine in Gwassi.

Other pre-historic site could be traced in Lihanda areas of Rusinga island.

There is the Nyama – Gi – Ware bull stones, with a lot of myth tales about two bulls one belonging to two brothers of whom once upon a time lived on Rusinga Island Ware and the other belonging to Mnyama & his brother, which are said to have fought until they enter into the lake and turned to be two rocks ressembling bulls.

However, the new County authority will have to battle the menace of the water hyacinth, which has of late hampered the fishing activities in the region. Fish from Lake Victoria has of late become one of the greatest economic assets being exported to European Union countries, Japan, Middle East. Israel and the United States. Fish trade, according to the latest statistics available is raking in close to Kshs 16 billion annually, particularly the more prized Nile Perch.

Homa-Bay region has one of the best road networks after the recent completion ofKendu0Bay-Homa-Bayroad and also Homa – Bay -Mbita road.

Mbita could also be accessed by Ndori – Luanda Kotieno road which traverses the area via Uyoma Peninsula in Rarieda district.

Travellers can now travel deep into the interior part of the Suba region by using Mbita – Mfangano Ferry, which can also transport several motor vehicles on board, and the visitor drivers off as soon as after the Ferry landed on Mfagano, an all whether roads has been constructed on Mfangano Island.

The lower parts of the region, especially in those locations which are laying along the shoreline of Lake Victoria the new County government will have to move much faster and encourage cotton growing in areas with black cotton soil such as Karachuonyo Central and Karachuonyo west,

Governor Awiti’s team will have to grapples with more road network, particularly the Kendu-Bay Oyugis, Oyugis Rangwe and Kendu-Bay Pala and makes sure that this road traverses Homa Hills .

Road infrastructure between Karungu Bay and Laknyiero in Gwassi also need to be constructed a fresh.It could link Gwassi and Nyatike district and create the opportunity for traders to visit market places in the hinterland.

Governor Awiti a shrude politician is no stranger to development activities. Before being elected to the coveted office, he had traversed the full length and width o Homa-Bay region while making hefty cash donations to schools, health centres, youth groups, women groups and churches.

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KENYA: GOVERNMENT ASKED TO CONTROL FLOODS

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By Agwanda Saye

The East Africa Law Society (EALS) wants the Government to control perennial floods that leave trails of death and misery.

EALS President James Aggrey Mwamu said that it was sad for the Government to watch as citizens drown and homesteads marooned after down pours.

“The right to life that is enshrined in Article 26 of the Constitution must not be taken for granted,” Mwamu said.

Mwamu said that it was disheartening that lives are being lost over floods even after the meteorological department announced the coming of long rains.

“We express concern at the dilatory in which the Ministry of Special Programmes is dealing with the floods issue,” Mwamu said.

The EALS President regretted that the Ministry of Special Programmes made no preparations to evacuate families from flood prone areas.

Mwamu said that the Government had capacity to control the ravaging floods in areas like Kano Plains in Kisumu County.

“Budalangi in Busia County experienced the worst floods in the history of this country but was controlled…why not other areas in the country,” Mwamu said.

Mwamu spoke as raging floods reportedly claimed human lives and displaced several families countrywide.

On Sunday night, raging waters killed four passengers in separate incidents in Kajiado North District.

“Raging floods leave a trail of death and misery especially to rural homesteads that leave from hands to mouth,” Mwamu said.

Recently four people were swept away and killed by raging floods in Taita Taveta and Tana River Counties as heavy rains pounded Coast Province.

The EALS President said that the Constitutional rights of families living in flood prone areas must be upheld.

“We demand urgent action towards fulfilling fundamental rights of families that are perpetually marooned and lose members over raging floods,” Mwamu said.

The EALS urged the Government to improve and act on disaster preparedness especially after early warning signs from the meteorological department.

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EAST AFRICA LAWYERS CONDEMN KISUMU KILINGS

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By Agwanda Saye

Lawyers from East Africa have accused police officers of shooting to kill demonstrators in Kisumu over the weekend.

They called for prosecution of the trigger happy police officers towards bringing to an end perpetual shooting of demonstrators using live bullets.

The East Africa Law Society President James Mwamu said firing of live bullets when quelling down demonstrations at the lakeside city must stop.

“We demand an explanation from the police force as the officers seemed to have been given orders not only to shoot but shoot and kill,” Mwamu said.

Mwamu said that several of the civilans who are nursing gunshot wounds at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Provincial Hospital were shot while running away.

“It seems that it is has become a rule in the police force that every time there is demonstration in Kisumu live bullets must be used,” Mwamu said.

The EALS President said that the security officers have in the past five years shot to kill protestors at the lakeside city.

Mwamu was reacting to media reports following demonstrations that rocked parts of Kisumu after the Supreme Court upheld the Presidential election of Uhuru Kenyatta.

Gun shots were heard up to almost midnight as armed police officers dispersed youth from Kondele and chased them to areas such as Nyawita, Obunga and Nyalenda.

“The Constitutional right to life must not be taken for granted and can only be taken away legally,” Mwamu said.

Article 26 of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to life and shall not be deprived of life intentionally except when authorized by the Supreme Law.

“We strongly condemn the shootings in Kisumu that led to the death of two civilians and injuring several others on Saturday evening,” Mwamu said.

The EALS President said that the police must up hold the rule of law arguing that use of excessive force must stop under the new Constitutional dispensation.

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KENYA: SCORE OF HOUSES TORCHED IN TINDERET IN SOUTH NANDI DISTRICT FOLLOWING FLARE UP BETWEEN THE TALAI AND LOCAL COMMUNITY OVER CLAIMS OF WITCHECRAFT.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Seven dwelling houses were set ablaze by unidentified attackers forcing 19 families members of the Talai {Laibons} to flee from their homes narrowly escaping deaths.

The Talai, a, minority community or a sub-clan with sorcerers who are scattered in most of the Kalenjin sub-tribes have had no peace ever since they were forcefully evicted from their ancestral land by the colonial administration in 1934 and forced into exile in the remotest area of Southern Nyanza.

The Talai suffered the brunt of colonial persecution including forced exile out of their ancestral land in Kericho, Nandi, Baringo and other places over the accusation that they practiced witchcraft, Close to 2700 members of the sub-clan together with their herds of cattle and other domesticated animals were forced out of their land in 1934 following a proclamation endorsed by the colonial legislative Council.

The colonialists worked in collaboration with chiefs, white missionaries and white settlers who accused them of sensitizing the community against giving their land away for the plantation of tea bushes in Kericho and Nandi Hill region at the turn of the 20th century.

It was hoped most of them would die of starvation and lack of water for themselves and their animals. They were settled on top of Gwassi Hills in what is today called Gwassi district in the Suba region. Heir hard-core leaders were taken cross the Lake Victoria and exiled on Mangano Island. Others were consigned to detention camps in Nyeri and other places far away from their homes.

It was in 1962 when the diminutive Kipsigis politician, who was then the Member of the Legislative Council for Kipsigis, Dr. Taaitta Araap Towett, moved a motion in the Council and urged the government to revoke the ordinance that had banned the Talai community from Gwassi so that they could go back to their ancestral land and live happily among their fellow Kalenjin

Upon their return, the majority got scattered among many areas within the North and South rift regins and purchased farms,while other remain and less and have been living under a very squalid condition on a two acre Municipal land in Kericho Municipalty. All the previous governments had promised to secure land plots for the Talai, but in vain.

The Talai began mass exodus from Gwassi to their homes in Nandi, Baringo and other places. Unfortunately there was no land to settle them back home because when they were living in exile, the Land Consolidation Programme and land adjudication were introduce and all their land were dished out to other people. To the surprise and shocking of the colonial administration the Talai population had doubled and close to 7,000 could be accounted during their return in 1962.

This is the clan of the renown freedom fighter, Koitalel Arap Samoei, who was shot and killed by the British soldiers IN 1905, He was betrayed and lured into a faked peace talk where he was shot by a British soldier and killed. Nandi rebellion that lasted for close to nine years during which the Nandi warriors engaged the British expedition forces in running battles thereby sabotaging and preventing the construction of the Mombasa-Kisumu Railway line.

Descendants of Koitalel Arap Samoe had settled in Kbirer village in Tinderet in the Nandi Hills district. But on Tuesday night last week unknown persons had invaded the village and torched several houses forcing the occupants to run for shelter into the nearby church. The Talai said they had been warned of the consequences by the local community who claims they were practicing witchcraft causing the villagers some misfortunes.

Former Kapsisiywo civic leader David Sulo said the community had lived peacefully with their neighbors in Kabbirer for close to 50 year, but he suspected the latest flare up as politically motivated as the Talai had coexisted with their neighbors harmoniously for many years. He called upon the Provincial administration in Nandi Hills to intervene and restore order. He could not disclose the location of the whereabouts of those who hadn’t taken shelter in the churches for security reasons.

An impeccable source in Nandi Hills said that three people have already been apprehended and put into police custody on suspicion of being involved in the incident, and police were actively hunting for the rest.

Kabirer Locational Chief Sammy Keter could not tell the exact number of those in custody. The Nandi Hills D.C could not be reached for his immediate comment over the incident which has been roundly condemned by politicians and leaders in the entire Nandi Coounty.

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Kenya: The recent election has created political leadership vacuum in the South Rift

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

The recently concluded general election in which the euphoria of the URP party swept the board in the South Rift like a tsunami winning nearly all parliamentary, senatorial and governorship positions has created a new political dimension in the South Rift region of the expansive Rift Valley Province.

IT has created a new political dimension among the members of the most populace Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups. It has also created what the political pundits have termed as vacuum political leadership in the agriculturally rich region.

For many years ever since KADU a political party that was involved in s cut-throat competition with the ruling KANU during the pre-independence and post-independence era voluntarily dissolved itself soon after independence in 1963 and merged with KANU.

The Kipsigis land has ever since steadfastly remained under the grip of the ruling KANU. However, the miraculous turn of events occurred during the 2007 general election when the former Kipsigis political kingpin, the late Donald Kipkemoi Kipkalya Kones, the longer serving cabinet Minister under the Moi KANU regime rebelled and teamed up together with the influential Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the combined armed forced of Kenya, Lt. General John Arap Koech and changed the political land-map of the region.

The two forcefully introduced the ODM and its leader Raila Amolo Odinga in the region against the vehement opposition from the pro-Moi die-hard elements. The two criss crossed the full length and width of the region and vigorously campaigned for the ODM, which in turn clinched all the eight parliamentary seats in the South Rift.

Kones retained his Bomet parliamentary seat and was appointed to the Ministry of Works slot in the PNU / ODM coalition government. Unfortunately Kones perished in an aircraft mish up together with the former Sotik MP Miss Lorna Laboso.

Raila Odinga then appointed the colorless former State House Comptroller and businessman Franklin who succeeded Kones at the Works Ministry. Bett, however, lacked the political masterly and magnanimity of the Kones caliber. Under Bett’s stewardship, the former Eldoret North MP William Ruto who had fallen out with the ODM and Odinga began fishing out the party MPs one by one and at the time of March 4, 2013 general election it was only better and the youthful Kipkellion.

The man who should have taken over from Kones had left is Zakayo.K Cheruiyot the current Kuresoi South MP elect. He had served in a powerful position of the PS for the International Security in the Office of the President under the Moi regime.

However, Cheruiyot who is highly respected in Kipsigisland is a man who did not cherish controversies. He is always shying away from controversial political issues, most of the time preferring to concentrate on his own expansive businesses and farming empire. He is arguably the wealthiest Kipsigis man.

Heruiyot the son of an assistant chief in the colonial era the late Mzee Daniel Arap Komuilong from Kapsuito near Litein runs an ultra dairy farm in Kuresoi, several large scale tea farms, sugar cane farm in Kimwani area near Songhor, a wheat farm in Njoro a mixed maize farm in Trans-Mara, and a horticultural farm in Kitengela near Nairobi.

He has also established an ultra modern ICT commercial college in Litein town and sent most of hi spare time supervising his own business and as such shies away from intrigues of local politics.

The politics of the South Rift region has had along history of intrigues. This could be traced back to the days of the late Dr Taaitta Araap Towett, the early Kipsigis nationalist who dominated the politics of the Kipsigis land ever since 1958 when he first won the election to the colonial Legislative Council as the member for Southern area. Towett and his team won all the four seats in the national Assembly. However, Towett resigned his Buret seat when KADU dissolved itself and merged with KANU arguing that since he was elected on KADU ticket he must go back and consult the electorate and seek for their permission.

IN the consequence by-election that followed, Daniel Moi sponsored a primary school teacher in the name of Alexander Arap Bii who consigned Dr. Towett into premature political retirement. After Towett’s defeat it was the late Ex-Senior Chief Cheborge Arap Tengecha who led a group of ex-chiefs, councilors, missionaries and local leaders to the late President Jomo Kenyatta and to presurerize him to appoint Danile Arap Moi his Vice President, though man believed Dr. Towett had already been tipped for the veep job.,

Toweett regained his seat three years later, but while serving as the Education Minister, he was confronted by Moi at a public rally in Kapkatet and forced to vacate his Buret seat in order to give way for the entry of Prof .Jonathan Ng’eno into parliamentary politics.

At the moment the power politics of the South Rift is gravitating between Isaac Ruto and Charles Keter. The two are staunch supporters of Ruto, but at times acting as protagonists when it comes to local political derby.

In the 2007 there were only eight constituencies in both Kericho and Bomet Counties, but during the March 4 general elections four more constituencies were added. These were Sigowet in lower Belgut near Sondu and Kipkellion West in Chilchila area, Bomet and Chepalungu. This can now give the region a total of 12 parliamentary strength, plus two in Kuresoi South and Kuresoi North in Molo.

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See photos of the swearing ceremony of the Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma with Bishop Dr Washington Ogonyo Ndegfe and the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Willis Otondi.
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KENYA: ALREADY SETTLED IDP AND FORMER MAU FOREST SETTLERS ARE SNEAKING BACK and forcefully RECLAIMING THEIR FARMS – – EVEN THOSE WHO HAD SOLD THEIRS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho town.

UNCONFIRMED reports making the round in this town says, that some of the already settled IDPs and former illegal settlers in Mau Forest water catchment areas were slowly sneaking back and forcefully demanding that those who had been allocated the land by the government quit.

Some of them are allegedly returning to both Mau Forest and Mau Narok and other areas like Molo, Elburgon, Likia, Njro, Kuresoi and even in Uasin Gishu, Burnt Forest and forcefully demanding back their old farms. Other unconfirmed allegations say the returnees are always coming in the company of armed security personnel.

THe common saying is that with the new Jubilee government likely to be in office soon after the March 4, 2013 general election, even those who were forcefully expelled from their farms as the skirmishes of 1992 / 93, 1996 / 1997 and 2007 / 2008 are sneaking back and putting up new houses in some places where the government had already spent the colossal amount of money in reforestation efforts.

Our informer who requested for his name to be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals said those returning to the vacated land are members of the two communities, namely the Kikuyus and the Kalenjin, and that tensions is likely to go up in the region.

He said he had some information that even those former settlers who sold their land on their own volition long time ago before the tribal skirmishes were now demanding their property back in total disregard of new developments already made by new owners on such property. This, he added, is likely to raise political temperature by way of touching on old wounds.

New settlers have also been sighted in the Mau West and Mau Narok, Kuresoi and areas, while new structures have also
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Africa: LAKE VICTORIA FACES ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IF THE DRY WATER HYACINTH IS SUNK IN THE WATER.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Experts have once again sounded a stern warning that Lake Victoria is facing ecological disaster if the particles from dry hyacinth weed are left to rot and sink inside its waters.

The Kenya Marine and fisheries Research Institute {kemri} said in Kisumu this week that if the hyacinth weeds sunk, aquatic life would be placed at the high risk.

Several fish species in the lake, especially the much cherished Nile Perch and Tilapia and small fish like [Omena} that cannot survive inside the water with few oxygen concentration might be completely wiped out, said Dr Ojwang’ Oweke the KEMRI’s senior scientist.

Mad fish, locally known as “Kamongo” and cat fish locally called “Mumi”are among the specifies that can survive in the water with low oxygen concentration.

According to KEMRI’s researcher’s water hyacinth produces humid acid when it decomposes in the water-a process that used oxygen and deprives aquatic plants and animals of fresh air.

The acid contains harmful elements lie iron and manganese which the scientist attributed to the brown color of water supplied in the region by the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company ltd.

Dr. Oweke called upon the government to make use of colleges and universities in the region to assist in removing the dry weed by use of conveyor belt.

“This is the time for the government to come and try to use the conveyor belt mechanism t remove the dry hyacinth so as to save the lake.:

“The manual removal used by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project in 2011 and late last year was a total waste of money, and time because this poised a high risk to the laborers and it also led to ever sprouting of the dreadful weed.

The scientist the machine would clear the dry water hyacinth and ump on the shore where it would be burned.

Reupen Omondi, another scientist said the hyacinth had turned brown because weevils had fed on it as it was drying up.

He insects were introduced in the lake by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in 2005.

“Weevils are killing the weed and the government need to respond quickly to remove danger from destroying ecosystem, he said.

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KENYA: CLERIC DENIES CLAIMS THAT KENYA’S PRESIDENT – ELECT UHURU KENYATTA NARROWLY ESCAPED SNAKE BITE INSIDE HER WORSHIP PLACE IN THE COASTAL WON OF MOMBASA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A female cleric has severely criticized the media report over a highly sensational report that a highly venomous African bush-snake almost struck Kenya’s President – elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta when he attended the church service with other worshipers in her church.

The incident took place when the Kenyan leader went to worship at a church, which situated at the Coastal port City of Mombasa two weeks ago.

Bishop Mary Kagendo Francis of the Kisimu Cha Mwana wa Daudi church also denied that the reptile had slithered into the place of warship where Mr Kenyatta was seated and was with9n the striking distance, but it was quickly shot and killed by one of the presidential security guards after it attempted to attack the jubilee leader.

The Bishop was quoted by the Kenya News Agency {KNA]as saying she only learnt of the snake story through the media and after some enquiries, but she discovered that it was only a small green mamba snake, which was killed by a young boy using a walking stick.

Speaking in Kitui about 100 kilometers south east of Mombasa after conducting a crusade at her Mlango home, Bishop Kagendo blamed the local media for over-blowing the report thereby creating national storm out of a small incident, adding that wildlife animals are always frequenting as a garden situated outside her church.

“We have monkeys, baboons, birds and occasionally we see snakes at our place of worshipping, but we cannot resort to killing them because we embrace nature,” Bishop Kagendo said.

She said that he church attracts a huge crowd of worshippers at time forcing them into open air prayers where they do occasional interacting with wild animals is inevitable.

He Bishop also down played claims that the snake could have been sent by Mr Kenyatta’s political nemesis or the work of witchcraft was involved.

The cleric, however, vowed to take some actions against those peddled this information terming them as alarmist.

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