The leadership tussle in Narok county government should not be mistaken for discontent in URP, an official has said. National deputy secretary Leah Ntimama said the differences between Governor Samuel Tunai and the MPs are not about the party, but the rights of the Maasai community. Ntimama accused Tunai of misusing the county’s resources, going against the party’s manifesto which promotes transparency and accountability. “It must remain clear that this is not about URP but rather a governor who does not want to be asked to be financially responsible,” she told the Star on the phone yesterday...
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URP official accuses Tunai over Mara deal
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50,000 fingerlings for Lake Naivasha
THE Fisheries department and fishermen have announced plans to restock Lake Naivasha with 50,000 fingerlings by the end of this month. This came as the department announced that fish production in the lake has dropped by around 20 per cent in six months due to harsh weather conditions. Naivasha subcounty Fisheries officer Mathew Ngila said each fisherman has contributed Sh3,000 towards the project, which will be an annual event. “We have a meeting on Wednesday to plan how the restocking will be carried out,” he said. Ngila said a poor rainfall pattern in the catchment area has seen water...
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Jubilee to be one party by 2017
Jubilee leaders have hinted at plans to dissolve their political parties and form one ahead of the 2017 polls. Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Kericho Senator Charles Keter and MPs Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo), Robert Pokuse (Endebess), SilasTiren (Moiben) and Bwoen Kangango (Marakwet East) have revealed that Jubilee will seek reelection as one party. “We want to remain united for the betterment of this nation,” Kamau said. He said the Central Kenya region will support Deputy President William Ruto for presidency in 2022. He was speaking on Saturday at Matumbei Primary School in Trans Nzoia...
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Six children saved from Naivasha fire
SIX children escaped death narrowly in a Naivasha estate after their houses caught fire. During the incident at Kabati estate property worth thousands of shillings was reduced to ashes before the fire was contained. At least six families were left homeless. A witness James Mureithi said the fire began in one of the houses. He said quick action by residents saw the children, who were playing in one of the houses, rescued in the nick of time. A senior police officer, who declined to be named, said no one was injured.
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Wait for 2022 polls, Khaemba tells rivals
TRANS Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba has asked his rivals to hold their horses until 2022. “There are people desiring this seat. They have to know that it is now fully occupied and I am ready to recapture it in 2017,” he said at Kiptoror Secondary School in Cherangany last Friday. “If they are seeking a wife, tell them she has a proper husband and they should wait until 2022.” Former Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa, his ex-Forestry counterpart Noah Wekesa and politician Kakai Bisau are said to be eyeing the governor’s seat.
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Elgeyo leaders to meet on Friday
ELGEYO Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos will on Friday hold a meeting with local leaders. The meeting is meant to resolve their differences and discuss development matters. All MPs, MCAs and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen have been invited to the meeting in Iten. Tolgos and Murkomen have agreed to end their wrangles, which led to a bitter exchange of words between them through the media. “We will be discussing key issues affecting our county,” Tolgos said. Among the issues is the location of a new university in the region. Leaders have disagreed on whether the institution should be at Tot in...
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Rivals clash in demo over Bomet varsity
TWO groups of residents clashed in Bomet town yesterday. Supporters of Governor Isaac Rutto on the one hand and those of MPs Ronald Tonui (Bomet Central), Benard Bett (Bomet East) and former Local Government PS Sammy Kirui on the other confronted each other over the site of the proposed Bomet University. Rutto’s group disrupted a peaceful demonstration on Bomet-Kaplong Road by Tonui’s supporters. The MP’s supporters were protesting the relocation of the university to Sigor in Chepalungu subounty by the governor. Police shot in the air to disperse Rutto’s supporters. OCPD Abel Sande told them...
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Duale criticised over remarks
The Senate Education Committee chairman Daniel Karaba has differed with National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale’s proposal to devolve education. Karaba questioned how devolved education would work when some counties have not hired nursery school teachers. He said Duale’s idea is far-fetched. Karaba spoke at a church in Kibingoti, Kirinyaga, on Sunday.
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Lawmakers’ call to serve
Two MPs from TNA have urged party legislators to focus on development instead of party wrangles. Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi and women’s representative Priscilla Nyokabi said legislators should focus on fulfilling the Jubilee manifesto and campaign pledges. Speaking in Nyeri town on Friday, Murugi said those engaging in party politics are busybodies. They were disbursing Sh12 million Uwezo Fund cheques.
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Police, locals party together
Police officers and residents in Othaya town on Saturday held a party together. Police, the business community and members of the public shared prayers, meals and drinks at Othaya AP camp. Area police boss George Ouko said the party would have been held at the end of the year but police were busy during Christmas and New Year. Ouko said such occasions are healthy and will improve the relationship between police and residents.
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MP slams Nyeri TNA leadership
TETU MP Ndung’u Gethenji has said Nyeri legislators are concerned over the county TNA party leadership. He said elected leaders are never involved in the party branch matters. Speaking during a meet-the-people tour in his constituency on Sunday, Gethenji said the party requires elected leaders in its branch, not political losers. “All party elected leaders must be involved in its affairs and its elections. The party headquarters must bring normalcy in the county office and all leaders involved but not get involved in wrangles all the time,” he said. The MP said he trusts top party officials...
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Laikipia school shelves bus for dorm
A legislator in Laikipia county has defended a school for diverting money for buying a school bus to build a dormitory. Laikipia East MP Anthony Mutahi yesterday said the Sh6 million for a bus was not misappropriated by Loise Girls’ School management. Speaking at the school, Mutahi said there was no logic in buying the bus while the school does not have adequate dormitory and laboratory. “Some criticisms are not logical. Why would one rush to buy a bus while there are no basic facilities? Would the students be sleeping or conducting laboratory studies in the bus?” he said. Mutahi said the...
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Stop this strike, says legislator
Laikipia East MP Anthony Mutahi has urged the Parliamentary Committee on Education to convene an urgent meeting to address the nationwide teachers’ strike. Speaking at Ukumbusho market in Nanyuki town on Sunday, Mutahi said the committee is yet to meet and discuss the strike. “The government should find a way of addressing the teachers’ plight. However, the teachers must also understand that the nation is greater than any of us,” said the former Garrison Secondary School principal. The legislator said strikes do not solve grievances. He said even though Parliament is on recess, the committee...
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Youths urged to do sports
The Murang’a county government will use sports to empower the youth, Governor Mwangi Wairia has said. Wairia said the county government has set aside Sh100 million to help youth and women. He spoke at Gakoigo Stadium during the launch of the subcounties tournament. Wairia said the tournament will be used to search for talent among the youth. “The county has a lot of talent in sports as three of our players in the county team have now joined Mathare United,” he said. Wairia said the county has the potential to produce prominent sportsmen and women if the industry is given sufficient funds and...
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Lari family needs help for boy’s kidney transplant
A family in Lari, Kiambu county, is selling its property including household items to pay for their 14-year-old son’s treatment. Richard Muigai’s two kidneys have failed and he requires special care. His parents, Stanley Ng’ang’a and Pauline Waringa, said the boy fell sick last year. Waringa had to stop helping Ng’ang’a on the farm to take care of their son. Ng’ang’a, a casual labourer, said Muigai is on dialysis. A December 17 letter issued by Dr Okanga Okanga at Kenyatta National Hospital says the boy needs an urgent transplant, which costs Sh1.5 million at KNH. Waringa says they pay Sh6,...
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Kimende road users protest daily carnage
A huge traffic jam ensued on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway at Kimende town, Lari, when residents made three bumps with soil on the road. This was after a 19-year-old man was hit and killed by three cars on Sunday. Simon Kariuki had left Amazing Grace Fellowship Church accompanied by youth members. “We were crossing the road when he was hit by a Land Cruiser that threw him onto two other cars. We heard a loud bang, and we started running away,” said Ann Wanjiru, a youth member. Residents said many people have been killed and maimed by speeding cars on the road. Area traffic boss Benard Indeke...
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Groups benefits with Sh12 million Uwezo funds
ABOUT 140 youth and women’s groups have received Sh12 million Uwezo funds in Nyeri Town constituency. The money was disbursed to the groups by Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi and Nyeri women’s rep Priscilla Nyokabi. The groups have been trained on how to utilize the funds wisely. “Few disability groups applied this time. Youth groups were also fewer, compared to women’s groups,” Murugi said. She was speaking at Nyeri town youth centre in Ruring’u on Friday. The funds are part of the Sh6 billion given by the government two years ago in a revolving fund at no interest. Some Sh3 million has been set...
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Vigilante scaring away investors in Kirinyaga
Kirinyaga county commissioner Joseph Keter wants the public to work with security personnel to get rid of vigilante groups. He addressed the media in his office yesterday as he welcomed new county police commander David Rono. Keter said the high number of vigilante groups operating in the county has affected security. The administrator said the illegal groups scare away potential investors. “We cannot allow these groups to operate as if there is no government in Kirinyaga, after all, they are illegal groups,” he said. The commissioner was responding to an incident in Sagana, where a landlady...
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Peddler arrested in Kinangop
Kinangop AP officers have arrested a suspected drug peddler. The suspect was arrested two months ago with 300 stones of bhang. He was out on bond. Geoffrey Mwangi was yesterday arrested in Thinde village, Engineer location, following a tip-off from the public. The suspect locked himself in his house and refused to open up forcing officers to break in. Witness Jacinta Wangui said an officer stumbled upon hundreds of bhang rolls hidden under the bed. “For years the suspect has been packaging the drugs and selling them to youth and secondary school students,” she said. Meanwhile, police in...
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National Nurses Association urge government to allow Murang'a nurses resume duties immediately.
THE National Nurses Association of Kenya has urged the government to allow nurses under the Economic Stimulus Programme to resume duties. He urged the Ministry of Labour to reach out to the health workers’ representatives to find a lasting solution. Association chairman Jeremiah Maina addressed nurses from Murang’a county, who camped outside the Ministry of Labour offices yesterday. Maina said in 2011, the Public Service Commission promised health workers they will be employed under permanent and pensionable terms on expiry of a three-year contract. “Following the devolution of health, the...
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