Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete have sent condolences to Cord leader Raila Odinga following the death of his Fidel. In his message, read by Roads minister John Pombe during Fidel’s burial in Bondo on Saturday, Kikwete said the death robbed Kenyans an enterprising man. Museveni said Uganda has been close to the Oginga family since 1980s.
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Museveni, Kikwete mourn Fidel's death
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Kimilili Subcounty Women's Sacco collects Sh1.31 million in funds drive
Sh1,310,000 was raised during a funds drive for Kimilili Subcounty Women's Sacco at the weekend. President Uhuru Kenyatta sent a donation of Sh500,000 through Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka. Lusaka donated Sh300,000 while Kimilili MP Suleiman Murunga sent Sh100,000. Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula pledged Sh100,000. The 450-member group chaired by Violet Namisi is targeting to improve the economic lives of women.
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Firm cashes in on T-shirts with Fidel's picture
T-shirts with Cord leader Raila Odinga’s late son Fidel sold like hot cake in Busia yesterday. Vivid Media director Edwin Oluvita said they sold many T-shirts ahead of Fidel's burial at Kango Kajaramogi in Bondo on Saturday. Oluvita said he distributed more than 1,500 pieces to the border town and were all sold out. A T-shirt was selling at Sh1,000. Oluvita said the design and printing firm printed memorial posters with the message “Fidel R.I.P Jenerali”, which were used by motorists who attended Fidel's burial. Transport firms said thousands of residents booked vehicles to attend the burial...
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Enact laws that deter child labour, counties told
Counties have been urged to enact laws to tackle child labour. Kisumu County Youth Caucus Coordinator Dennis Menya said child labour is denies children the opportunity to get education. He said most children in Nyanza drop out of school to look for jobs. Menya said children have been spotted in Kisumu streets selling boiled maize and groundnuts. He was addressing the press in Kisumu town on Monday.
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Row emerges in Suna West over bursaries
Confusion has marred the allocation of Suna West CDF bursaries. MP Joseph Ndiege and CDF manager Bernard Konya have differed on disbursing the funds. Parents and students said there is a scheme to ensure applicants from the Katiga sub-clan where Ndiege comes from are given priority. Speaking to the Star yesterday, Ndiege said the bursaries committee will vet applicants to establish the most needy ones but Konya disagrees there should be vetting. “On Thursday we held a meeting with board members and agreed to vet applicants so that we directly issue forms to the beneficiaries,” Ndiege said. He...
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Charge patients less, Ongwae tells medics
KISII Governor James Ongwae has warned the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital management against exploiting patients. He said patients are entitled to health services without being discriminated against. Ongwae said the facility was upgraded to safe residents from travelling long distances in search of health services. The governor was speaking at the facility when he unveiled the first CT scan machine yesterday. “We do not want our people to die because they cannot afford CT scan services. That is why I am directing the management to ensure the charges are subsidised,” Ongwae said. He said...
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Teachers reject Duale idea
TEACHERS in Kisumu have termed suggestions by the National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale to devolve education as a tactic to derail their resolve to have a pay rise. Speaking to the Star yesterday, Kisumu Kuppet chairman Zablon Awange said no amount of intimidation will overcome them. “In the new constitution, education is centralised with a purpose and just like security, we we will not entertain debate about further watering down standards through devolution,” he said.
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Bias alleged in bursaries
NORTH Mugirango MP Charles Geni should disburse bursaries fairly, area professionals have said. Through the North Mugirango Constituency Professionals Association chairman Josiah Moriasi, they said the MP is rewarding his supporters. “We have received complaints that needy and deserving students are left out by the bursary committee,” Moriasi told journalists in Kisumu yesterday. However, Geni told the Star on the phone his opponents are sponsoring student demonstrations to spoil his name.
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End strikes, Migori parents urge
PARENTS in Migori county have called on the government and teacher unions to find a long-lasting solution to tutors' grievances. They said the current strike should be the last in the country and warned Knut and Kuppet that they risk making the public lose faith in the education sector. “Teachers have been striking for decades, with students ending up in staffrooms with the same striking teachers,” parent Alfred Onyango told the Star yesterday. Onyango said parents who cannot afford private schools have borne the brunt of the strike. Teachers in public schools have been accused of taking...
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Robbers shoot Ahero ward rep and snatch cash in Nyando raid
AN MCA from Kisumu county was on Sunday night shot on his left thigh at his home in Nyando subcounty. Ahero ward representative Maurice Aloo was accosted by two thugs armed with guns and robbed of Sh10,000. They were reportedly armed with a pistol and AK 47 riffle when they attacked Aloo at Boya area, along Ahero-Awasi Road. He was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu after being transferred from Ahero District Hospital. Speaking to the Star last night at the hospital, Aloo said the thieves confronted him and his family and demanded money. “After giving them the cash I had, they demanded...
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I'm not too young to lead, Kajwang' tells Homa Bay
THE Homa Bay senatorial by-election has turned into a battle between Jubilee and Cord. ODM nominee Moses Kajwang’ and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma on Sunday said the senate seat belongs to ODM, an affiliate party in the Cord coalition. “If anybody from a ticket other than ODM is voted in, you will have elected Jubilee,” Kaluma said. Speaking during a prayer service at Rodi Kopany Catholic Parish, Homa Bay town, Kaluma and Kajwang' asked where those who participated in ODM party nomination got alternative certificates from. “Cord and its affiliate parties agreed not to support any candidate...
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Wrongful stay case date set
A case of three Ethiopians charged with being in Kenya illegally has been slated for Thursday, when an Amharic interpreter will be available. Lawde Majoj, Hayul Demeke and Terefe Elias appeared before Bomet resident magistrate Gideon Kiage but could not take the plea. They were arrested on the Bomet-Narok highway on January 3.
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Youth group to pay pupils’ fees
A youth group has offered to pay school fees for five bright needy pupils. Speaking in Iten town yesterday, group leader Dominic Otieno said the children were spotted burning charcoal for sale to raise money for fees. The children will receive new uniforms and shoes, Otieno said.
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Sossion told to call off strike
TRANS NZOIA Marakwet East MP Bowen Kangogo has criticised Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion over the ongoing strike. He addressed Endebess residents during the homecoming of Matumbei MCA Philip Sakong on Saturday. Kangogo asked Sossion to call off the strike. He asked teachers’ unions to be open to dialogue with the government.
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Foot-and-mouth prevention jab
BARINGO The county has launched a three-day vaccination against the foot- and-mouth disease. The county will focus in Baringo North and Baringo Central following an outbreak in Kerio Valley. Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Agriculture executive Luka Rotich said farmers will be charged Sh80 for every animal.
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Nakuru finance chief denies revenue hitches
THE Nakuru county Finance executive has denied speculation that the county government is experiencing low revenue collection. Francis Mathea said the Nakuru government is the second highest revenue collector with Sh1.8 billion. He said the now-defunct Nakuru Municipal Council only collected Sh1.4 billion at the close of 2013 financial year. “It is shocking because in our first year in office we were ranked second best,” Mathea said yesterday in Nakuru town during inspection of county projects.
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Kapsowar teachers blame CS Kaimenyi for ‘failure’
Teachers held a demonstration in Kapsowar town on Friday demanding the resignation of Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi. Knut branch secretary John Cheberi said Kaimenyi has failed to resolve the standoff between teachers and the TSC over pay increase. Cheberi said Kaimenyi has not embraced dialogue while dealing with the teachers. The teachers marched to Marakwet West subcounty Education ministry offices. They said they will not be cowed by threats to sack them if they continue with the strike.
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North Rift counties enforce rule on 50kg bag packaging
Counties in the North Rift have moved to enforce the new rule on packaging of cereals in 50kg bags. On Friday, Governor Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet) launched the enforcement of the new packaging rules at Flax trading centre, Keiyo South subcounty. Uasin Gishu Health executive Ambrose Cheruiyot said they are working with the National Cereals and Produce Board to ensure farmers comply with the new law. Farmers said it will be more costly to transport potatoes and other produce in 50kg bags.
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Baringo loses Sh20m levy to imposters every month
THE Baringo government every month loses about Sh20 million worth of revenue collected from roads. A source at the county assembly said the money is lost to imposters. He accused the county government and the Finance department of not streamlining the docket. Speaking to the Star on Sunday, the source said some individuals pretend to be county government employees and collect money from road users for their personal use. “Sometimes the imposters use county workers uniforms,” he said. He said the fraudsters mostly ply the Mogotio-Saos-Eldama Ravine, Esakeri-Mogotio-Kambi ya Moto and Cheploch-...
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20 health centres for West Pokot county
TWENTY new health facilities are to be put up in West Pokot county at a cost of Sh20 million. Governor Simon Kachapin said the project is part of the government’s plan to improve community health. The county will invest Sh400 million in the health sector this year, Kachapin told the Star on the phone yesterday. In Uasin Gishu county, two hospitals will be upgraded to referral institutions at a cost of Sh700 million. Ziwa and Burnt Forest subcounty hospitals have been earmarked for upgrading. Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno said there is a need to improve access to health care in the...
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