Category: General

The 5th Ministry of Justice and Regional States Justice bureaus and the attorney general institutions joint national forum kicked off today in Addis Ababa.

Opening the two-day forum, Minister of Justice Gedion Timothewos said the forum is pivotal to evaluate the six months performance of respective institutions.

The evaluation will also be essential to continue strengthening the best achievements gained and improving the weakness which have been witnessed during the stated period.

The forum is expected to deliberate on the six months performance of justice sector transformation process among other related issues.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Murang’a County leaders have implored on the government through the ministry of water, irrigation and sanitation to ensure water connectivity in Murang’a’s semi-arid areas.

The areas ostensibly would be highly productive and contribute to the country’s food basket but lack the wherewithal to yield anything as residents grapple with lack of water for domestic and even farming.

Led by the women representative Betty Maina and Senator Joe Nyutu, they noted that the large volumes of water in the county including the newly commissioned projects and dams in Maragua and Ithanga would go a long way in ensuring the people of Makuyu and Kambiti areas get water.

They spoke in Makuyu, Maragua constituency, during a NGAAF projects meeting organized by the women rep.

‘The farms here are fertile and highly productive especially fruit trees like mangoes and oranges which do well in this area,’ observed the women Rep.

‘If the residents would get connected to water for drinking and farming, this area alone would contribute
massively to the country’s food basket,’ she added.

Maina applauded the government for ensuring good road connectivity that would make it easier for the farmers to take their farm produce to the markets.

‘The people here are not lazy, they are hard workers and if they have water it would cut on the long and torturous trips they make to search for the basic commodity and instead use that time to farm and feed their families as well as the neighbouring counties,’ she further said.

Echoing her sentiments, Kambiti ward MCA Laban Chomba noted that time had come for the elderly in those areas to put their jerricans down.

‘We are committed to ending our elderly parents’ trips in search of water and we therefore will try and get all the resources necessary so we can sink boreholes in Makuyu and Kambiti even as we call on the national government to ensure our people get water for farming and drinking,’ he stated.

One of the residents painted a gleam picture of the hardships they go through everyday in search of w
ater.

‘All we want is clean drinking water because as young women in our most productive years, we make long trips in search for water which is not even safe for human consumption.

Our children get ill often as the water we drink has been contaminated’ said Adonesia kangai from Mithini.

On her part, Jane Wanjiru notes that they have to rely on handouts as the area is perennially dry yet if they had water they would farm and sustain themselves fully.

‘We often wake up at 2am or 3am to go search for water oblivious of the security threats that may arise from the long trips at such an hour,’ she said.

The women Rep further encouraged the women to form registered self-help groups as that is the only way they will benefit from government grants and funds.

‘Today four women self-help groups will receive cheques worth Sh.550, 000 cumulatively for their mashinani developments.

Seven learning institutions in Makuyu will also receive a 5000 litres water tank each so as to keep our children in schools as they spe
nd a lot of time fetching water for their use in school,’ she noted.

During the event, elderly person above 67 years each received a blanket. A total of 1300 blankets were given out as well as food essentials for all the attendees.

The event that was graced by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Murang’a South DCC Gitonga Murungi, the area MCA Thomas Muteti, the sub-county security committee, and a host of other Murang’a MCAs.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has handed over a Sh39 million state-of-the-art multi-purpose hall with a capacity of 1000 people to Mazeras Girls Memorial Secondary School in Samburu Sub-County, Kwale.

The commissioning of the hall by KPA Chairman Benjamin Tayari was received with jubilation by the 1200 learners of the school who used to eat and train for dramas under the scorching sun.

Five years ago, the school administration made a humble appeal to KPA for a multi-purpose hall. The authority sent a team for a need analysis before the construction commenced.

‘I am thrilled to witness the realization of this magnificent development. This project which cost Sh39 million made a significant milestone in our Corporate Social Investment (CSI), reflecting our commitment to giving back to the community we serve,’ said KPA Chairman Benjamin Tayari.

The project is one of the most expensive projects the authority has undertaken through CSI.

The completion of the hall according to the chairman serves as a testame
nt to KPA’s unwavering commitment to giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the lives of the people it serves.

The multi-purpose will be used for education, extracurricular activities, workshops, community events, and celebrations.

‘As we hand over this multipurpose hall to Mazeras Memorial School, we do so with the hope that it will catalyze positive change and growth. We believe that education is the key to a brighter future, and it is our privilege to support the next generation of leaders and innovators,’ said Tayari.

He further revealed that the authority has been at the forefront of socio-economic development growth, aiming to achieve human and community development.

KPA through its CSI policy mainly focuses on health, education, the environment, sports, humanitarian aid and relief, and women empowerment projects.

Tayari said the CSI programs had made significant contributions to the development of over 60 infrastructures, including a dispensary clinic, school laboratories, li
braries, dormitories, classrooms, a centre for rescued girls, and administration blocks administrative buildings across the country and in the neighbouring nations.

He urged the students to work hard and to strive for excellence in everything they do. ‘Education is the key to unlocking your full potential, and with determination and perseverance, you can achieve anything you set your mind to,’ said Tayari.

The school’s Chief Principal Faith Waithaka thanked KPA for the splendid hall. She said the authority’s commitment to education has been a beacon of hope and the girls will no longer take their meals under the scorching sun.

The hall, she said will also be used for academic conferences and nurture artistic talents in the school.

On his part, area MCA Victor Nyanje called for the collaboration between schools and government agencies to augment the Constituency Development Fund in improving schools’ infrastructure.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Leaders drawn from various religious organizations in Murang’a want the government to change tactics used to fight illicit brews and alcoholism in central region.

The leaders, under an umbrella group dubbed Mulika Initiative Forum which draws members from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and SUPKEM have faulted the methods being used to fight alcoholism in the region.

They noted that corruption is fueling the menace saying liquor licensing bodies are being compromised to issue permits allowing selling of substandard liquor.

Coordinator of Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Nairobi branch Simon Muiruri said efforts should be directed at the sources of the substandard and illicit brews.

Speaking Tuesday during a stakeholders meeting held in Murang’a Muiruri said the act of destroying liquor impounded from shelves will not have a long-term solution and asked the government to actively involve the church in the fight against alcoholism and drugs
.

‘Our youths are greatly affected by alcoholism. Unemployment also pushes them to abuse alcohol and drugs. As a forum we ask the government to check how to address the matter effectively,’ added Muiruri.

Mulika Initiative forum, he said is following up to ensure monies sent to counties are well utilized saying corruption deals are mostly done at the procurement department.

‘As a watchdog forum, we are working to ensure funds meant for devolved administration are prudently used and we will be having meetings with the county government of Murang’a to find out how allocated funds have been utilized,’ said Muiruri.

‘Secondly county governments have the responsibility of licensing liquor outlets and we have information that some of the licenses are issued through corrupt means. We want this to stop and those operating bars illegally be stopped from operating the businesses,’ noted Muiruri.

Chairman of SUPKEM, central region Shaban Bakari said a large number of young men in the central region have been reduce
d to zombies by alcoholism.

He said the region is more affected by the illicit brews saying cheap and substandard liquor are finding their way to Mount Kenya counties.

‘Our region is greatly affected by excessive alcoholism and this puts the future of our young people in a precarious situation. We want the government to fully engage the community, religious among other stakeholders in the fight against the menace.

‘It was sad to lose 23 lives in Kirinyaga two weeks ago after consuming poisonous brews. As members of the community, we are worried since in every homestead there is a person who has been reduced to a zombie by these brews,’ Bakari lamented.

He called upon the government to change the tactic of fighting alcoholism saying destroying already manufactured brews will not yield much in the campaign against the menace.

‘Those manufacturing these brews are known, those selling them are in the community but nothing much is being done about them. We need concerted efforts to stop this problem in our co
mmunity,’ averred Bakari.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru county government has embarked on the rehabilitation of Malewa Road to facilitate easier transportation, particularly for farmers and students attending Kenyatta Primary, Afraha and Langalanga high schools during the anticipated long heavy rains.

Speaking today while inspecting status of roads, the Engineer in-charge of roads Michael Kamau disclosed that the department of infrastructure aims to upgrade as many roads as possible to improve access and connectivity to enable farmers move their produce to markets even during the rainy season without much struggle.

He noted that several other access roads have undergone upgrades, including the heavy grading of the 5.4km Ndeffo-Mtarakwa Primary School Road in Kihingo Ward, the Marram-Kaboch Road in Solai Ward, and the 3.7km grading of Gathengera Access Road in Malewa West.

Additionally, Engineer Kamau said new roads spanning 1.9km have been opened in Kabazi Ward, while the Kimugul-AIC Road in Amalo Ward and the Kagumo Primary-Catholic Church Road in Waseg
es Ward have undergone substantial grading.

Furthermore, the rehabilitation efforts extend to Subukia Ward with the grading of Kanu Street access roads, as well as the 2.1km Njeru-Shati Road and the 2.5km Ol-doinyo Eburru Village Road in Elementaita Ward.

The tarmacking and improvement of Roads in Nakuru city, which is funded by the World Bank has changed the face of the city, and reduced heavy flooding due to improvement of stormwater pathways and instalments of call vaults.

The Engineer noted that one of the gains of devolution, especially to Nakuru county has been the upgrading of rural and urban roads, which were in a pathetic state, and curtailed movement during the rainy seasons.

The Engineer expressed his gratitude for the current state of the roads which has enabled farmers to transport milk and other farm produce to the markets without hindrance even when it rains heavily.

He assured the residents that the county has plans of tarmacking as many roads as possible, especially those leading to sub-
county towns, in a bid to encourage local and international tourists to tour the entire county instead of just concentrating on Naivasha town and Nakuru city.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A state witness in a case where a female police officer is accused of killing her husband recounted before the Eldoret High Court how she had frantically tried to convince her colleague to quit her abusive marriage.

Police Constable Noela Cheruiyot testifying before Eldoret High Court judge Justice Reuben Nyakundi said she had attempted to convince her colleague, Lilian Biwott, who she said was her close friend, to terminate the relationship with her abusive husband a few days before she (accused) was linked to his killing.

She informed the court that the accused had confided in her about the tribulations she was going through in her marriage.

Biwott 32, and a mother of four, is said to have shot her late husband Edwin Kipchumba 12 times in their Kumumu estate rental house following family differences.

She narrated how the accused would come to her police line house to change into her official attire before reporting for night shift duties at the Kenya Bureau of Standards Eldoret branch.

Ms. Cheruiyot sa
id that although Biwott was secretive in matters related to her private life, she opened up to her about her toxic relationship and how she had tried to seek help from family members and church elders to no avail.

She said it was at that point that she advised the accused to seek separation from her abusive husband, instead of persevering in the marriage characterized by frequent quarrels and fights.

She said she had even promised to surrender her police line house to her colleague so that she could occupy it with her four school-going children.

‘My colleague and close friend told me her husband was abusing her to the extent of accusing her of infidelity and threatening to kill her although she was faithful to him,’ narrated Cheruiyot.

Biwott is charged with killing her spouse on October 14, 2023, at Kimumu estate, along the Eldoret-Iten road in Uasin Gishu County.

The accused, who denied the murder charges is currently held at Eldoret Women GK remand prison after being denied bond on security grounds.

Another Police Officer, Bernard Ouma attached to Turbo police station narrated how the accused surrendered to the police after killing her husband without the killer weapon.

‘When we interrogated her about the whereabouts of the riffle, she had signed for the night duty, she accepted to take us to where she had hidden it in a bush, some few metres from the police station,’ said Ouma, who was the officer in charge of the armoury.

Justice Nyakunid adjourned the case until March 10th and 11th for further hearing.

Source: Kenya News Agency