ODM has censured Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma over Monday’s ejection of Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o from the County Development Board meeting. The party’s seven subcounty branch leaders have accused Ranguma of causing the mayhem that led to the ejection of five MPs. Addressing Journalists at the Kisumu Central ODM office yesterday, the officials called for proper investigation into the incident. ODM secretary Samuel Nyabinda, chairman Seth Ochieng, Kisumu West chairman Mark Modi. Edward Ogolla and Florence Olang’o demanded an explanation from Ranguma over the incident. “We want to know how the...
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Ranguma under fire over Nyong'os ejection from board meeting
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Governors told to back farming
GOVERNORS from Luo Nyanza have been asked to prioritise agriculture and poverty eradication programmes. This will reduce the high HIV-Aids prevalence rate in the region, politician Samuel Otieno has said. A recent report by the National Aids Control Council ranked Homa Bay, Kisumu and Siaya at the top in the country's HIV-Aids prevalence. The report attributed the prevalence to high poverty levels. Speaking to reporters in Siaya town yesterday, Okanja said counties should invest in farming to eleviate poverty. "The high prevalence rate of new infections is because unsuspecting young men and...
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MCAs want changes to merge funds
SOME MCAs from Nyanza and Western regions have opposed the bill that seeks to transfer the management of the Equalisation Fund to the Constituency Development Fund. Instead they called for amendment of the constitution to ensure all county funds are put under one kitty. The MCAs from Siaya, Kakamega, Kisumu and Vihiga counties said they will push for amendments of the County Government Act to have the funds put under County Development Boards. Speaking separately to the Star on the phone yesterday, MCAs Robert Makhanu (Kakamega), Andrew Andera (Vihiga) and Edwin Ochieng (Siaya), said the bill...
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Residents urged to accept cut
RESIDENTS of North Alego location, Bondo constituency have been urged to take up Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision as a preventive measure to fight HIV-Aids. Chief Thomas Ojero said residents should positively view the circumcision initiative to reduce the rate of HIV-Aids infections. "It is disappointing to read the recent National Aids Control Council report that placed Nyanza counties at the top in new HIV-Aids infections," he said. Ojero directed assistant chiefs and village elders to lead the fight against HIV-Aids. "You should come out strongly and educate our people on the benefits...
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Siaya finance report urges changes
THE 10-member committee, established to identify contentious issues for amendment in the Siaya County Finance Bill 2013-2014, has presented its report to the county assembly. The report was presented on Tuesday by the Finance and Appropriation Committee. It proposes major amendments, especially on the levies imposed on health services and purchase of drugs. The team comprised traders, community leaders, the civil society and church leaders. Committee chairman Pascal Abanja said the report recommends complete waivers on HIV testing to encourage locals to attend to such services. "High levies...
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Chiefs assured of their jobs
KISII county commissioner Chege Mwangi has assured chiefs and assistant chiefs they will not retrenched. "You should not misinterpret the government’s capacity assessment and rationalisation of public services to mean retrenchment," he said. Mwangi said the chiefs should understand the government's concept as an instrument for service delivery. “There have been rumours among you that the government is planning to retrench you but I want to assure you that there will be nothing like that,” he said. Mwangi was addressing deputy county commissioners, investigattion officers and the chiefs at the...
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Clerics condemn shootig of colleague
RELIGIOUS leaders from Nyanza have criticised police over Monday's beating of a pastor and shooting of his colleague. Police intercepted a car used by four pastors at Katito on claims they were suspected robbers. Addressing the press as Kendu Bay police station on Tuesday, Bishop Winnie Owiti, chairperson of the Kisumu Clergy Fellowship, said police from Kendu Bay beat up Bishop Bishop Jonah Obonyo of Cathedral of Praise of Nairobi and three others on claims they were suspected robbers. She said during the incident at Katito trading centre, Bishop George Atanga was shot in the stomach and...
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Nema starts environmental mapping in Kerio valley
THE Elgeyo Marakwet government is mapping out Kerio Valley escarpment after a massive destruction. Director of the National Environment Management Authority Sally Kiboss said the escarpment has been destroyed by residents through farming, herding and building houses. Speaking in his Iten office yesterday, she said they will come up with an assessment report to assist them on conserving the escarpment. Kiboss said the mapping will prevent residents from landslides. “Residents should stop grazing on the escarpment and other doing other activities that loosen the soil,” she said. Kiboss said...
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MP roots for referendum
Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa has urged Cord and governors to supply more books for collecting signatures in Trans Nzoia. Speaking to the Star yesterday, he said only seven 800-page booklets have bee supplied. Wamalwa said the government’s move to pledge goodies to MCAs is a ploy to kill Cord’s referendum. He said MCAs have the right to be treated like MPs. Wamalwa said the government is worried about the referendum because it will address ethnicity, give counties more money and initiate land and electoral reforms.
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Mandago withdraws support for referendum
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has withdrawn his support for the referendum, claiming it is a plot by Cord to undermine the Jubilee government. Mandago said he will instead work with other governors to ensure the government increases revenue to counties. "What the Council of Governors and Cord are doing has confused Kenyans. People no longer understand what the issues are and that is why we are saying we no longer need the referendum,' he said. Mandago said the governors' council has given leaders the freedom to make their own decisions. He denied claims that the Jubilee government is...
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County to demolish houses in Eldoret
MORE than 1,200 Uasin government houses in Eldoret town will be demolished. The county government has asked the occupants to vacate. Most of the houses are in Kidiwa, Macharia and Pioneer estates. Houses in Kodhek estate will however be repaired. Governor Jackson Mandago said the county will build modern flats, which will be rented out or sold to residents at fair prices. He said some of the houses will be allocated to county staff. Mandago said the tenants should leave before demolitions start. “They know the houses are in a pathetic state and we cannot leave them as they are,” he said in...
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Dad gets 10 years for rape
A man has been sentenced to 10 years by Iten law courts for defiling his 15-year-old daughter. He committed the offence on March 16, 2013 in Lelan location, Marakwet East. The man had denied that the girl was his daughter. The girl said her father took advantage of the mother's absence. She said he threatened to kill her if she told anybody. Senior resident magistrate Rose Ndombi said the sentence will act as deterrence.
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Two suspected rustlers nabbed
Administration Police officers in Naivasha have arrested two suspected cattle rustlers. The officers recovered two stolen bulls. The two were nabbed trying to sell the bulls to unsuspecting traders at a slaughterhouse. Area AP boss Robert Maingi said the bulls were stolen in Mai Mahiu town on Wednesday night. He said police officers tracking them got a tip-off from the public. Maingi said they are investigating them for past cattle rustling cases.
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Two charged with forgery
TWO people have been charged with forgery in in a Narok court. Nick Irangi and Patrick Ombogi are accused of opening an illegal bank account where they channelled revenue from the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. They were arrested by CID officers on August 22 at First Community Bank in Westlands, Nairobi. The duo denied the charges and was remanded. They will appear in court today. The police requested more time to conclude investigations.
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Cooperative society members clash with police over Naivasha land sale
A group of farmers on Wednesday morning clashed with armed police in Maella, Naivasha over the sale of a disputed land. The Ng’ati Farmers Society members blocked the Maella-Naivasha road protesting the sale of 3,093 acres to Kengen for geothermal exploration. The farmers said Nakuru county assembly had suspended the sale until their petition is heard and determined. Naivasha subcounty commissioner Abraham Kemboi said any dispute should be solved through the right channels. He warned leaders inciting the public to violence. “I have visited Maella and advised the aggrieved parties to follow...
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Nakuru bans land division of five acres
THE Nakuru county government has suspended sub-division on plots measuring less than five acres. The move is part of plans to reclaim agriculture and development land. Land executive Rachel Maina said division has negativelyaffected agriculture, with many residents resorting to real estate business. She said Naivasha subcounty is the most affected. Maina said the suspension will remain in force, despite resistance from land owners. She said increased land subdivision has hampered efforts by the county to build an industrial park. “The governor is committed to an industrial park in this county...
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Warning on board meeting
Governor Patrick Khaemba has warned Senator Henry Ndiema against calling for a county development board meeting. “There is no way the senator should call any board meeting. Each elected leader knows their roles,” he said. Khaemba was speaking at the launch Trans Nzoia Pastors Sacco at Kenya Ministries Training Institute of Theological Training in Kitale town yesterday.
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Man struck by lightning
A 34-year-old man has been struck by lightning at Kiwapos village. Police said Barnabas Kangogo sheltered himself from the rain under a tree. He was headed to his Kapyego home in Chesoi market when the incident occurred. Marakwet East OCPD said the body was taken to Kapsowar Mission Hospital mortuary.
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Land grabbed, says executive
Private investors have encroached on the road reserve leading to Mwatate market Roads executive Alexander Mwangeka has said. Several permanent houses have been put up on the land, which has now been reduced to a footpath. Mwangeka was speaking during an inspection tour of roads under construction in Mwatate town on Monday. He sais he will seek court orders to evict the grabbers if they will not willingly move out of the road reserve.
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Man held over CID attack
Detectives yesterday arrested a suspect over Tuesday night’s shooting of Mombasa urban CID boss Ndumba Thangarani in Tudor and seized the assailants’ getaway car. Abdul Faraj was arrested at Masters Guest House. Thangarani, area police boss Geoffrey Mayek and two undercover officers were trailing the assailants when they were shot at. Mayek and the two undercover detectives escaped unhurt in the 8pm incident. Area deputy police boss Sevelino Kubai said Thangarani is in stable condition, but is still in the Mombasa Hospital intensive care unit. Thangarani was shot in the stomach. He said the...
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