Sent by Leo Odera Omolo
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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By Our Special Correspondent in Migori Tow

The second edition of the NYANZA STAR, the recently launched English weekly newspaper hit the ground like thunderstorm and quickly sold out like hot cake.

A survey conducted by hired team of experts has revealed.It has further disclosed that there is lust for newspaper readership inside the rural Luo-Nyanza.

The survey further revealed that despite the fact that the national dailies like the NATION, THE Standard and the Nairobi Star are widely circulating in the region, but there is still much more room for other publications and the NYANBZA STAR could be the possible filler of the existing gap, especially those written in simple English and catering for the local communities.

The second issue of the newspaper carried out numerous articles on the disbursement of CDF and other government revolving funds for rural development in each one of the 21 parliamentary electoral constituencies. It further examined the performance of individual MPs representing those constituencies and their chances of successfully defending their seats comes the year 2012.

The paper gave an insight forensic auditing of MPs performance and provisionally predicted the number of those who would face the wrath of the electorate at the next polls as well as those who might be shown the exit doors and possible winners and losers. The article was a real thought provoking.

In greater Southern Nyanza, reports filtering in indicated that there was near fight when readers scrambled for copies of the Weekly in places like Awendo, Rongo and Migori. Some readers are reported to have purchased more than one copies, particularly those coming from the far end of the region like Nyatike constituency.

It revealed for the first time that primary school pupils In Nyatike who sat for the last year CPE exam had carried the day beating schools in the entire Migori County. Nyatike had come on top of the rest.

It also revealed the rising star of the Lands Minister James Aggrey Orengo in his Ugenya constituency predicting that MPs who us known to his peers as {Nyatieng’} stands a better chance of retaining his seat either in Ugenya or in the newly created Ugunja constituency, whichever the way.

It further revealed how the Bondo MP Dr.Oburu Oginga is no longer hanging on his late father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’c coat-tail, but has cut a niche for himself and proved himself as a hard-working MP.

The MP who is the Finance Assistant Minister and the eldest brother of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga is among those MPs from the region whose popularity are said to be on the upward trend and expected to retain their parliamentary seats comes the year 2012.

The weekly had heaped a lot of praise for the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode and placed him on top of those who have turned their constituencies around by way of initiating massive development. Ojode is also the Internal Security Assistant Minister and one of those tipped to retain their seats come 2012.

There were also other articles on various topics such as the confusion over the recent creation of an extra parliamentary seat in Kasipul Kabondo and the controversial issue of having it named.

Residents of the area have since come out with the suggestion that because the newly created constituency though has the majority of its voters being those of the Jo-Kabondo indigenous, it has three major administrative locations slashed from Kasipul and as such it is should be called Kasipul Kabondo, while the old constituency be either named Oyugis or Wire constituency.

The three locations, which have been included in the new constituency, include Kakelo, Kokwanyo and Kojwach.

With successes of the two previous editions, it is hoped that the publishers would reconsider the possibility of increasing more copies in the future publications. The distribution of the paper, however, is still in its teething problem, but the publishers were said to be working round the clock to ensure that copies reached the readers everywhere including remotest region like Gwassi, Mbita and the twin islands of Rusinga and Mfangano.

Our hawk-eyed reporters and correspondents would be stationed in every major town and trading centers through the six counties of Nyamira, Kisii, Migori, Homa-Bay, Kisumu and Siaya to bring to the readers an up-date news and the goings on in those regions.

We stand to be corrected whenever we go wrong, and criticized provided such criticism are constructive, healthy and devoid of individual confrontation, please join us and work with us as a team. Articles from individuals on topic issues are also welcome so long that as they re kept short and to the point.

Ends