A caucus of young professionals from Kisii County has urged lawyer and public servant Charles Nyachae to consider running for the county’s top seat in the 2027 general election. The group says it is seeking what it describes as renewed leadership capable of accelerating development and restoring confidence in governance in Kisii County. Through its chairperson Kevin Mamboleo, the caucus said it has been closely monitoring leadership and governance trends in the county and believes a leadership gap has emerged that requires credible and visionary direction. “If he heeds the call to contest, Nyachae would join a race that has…
Author: Magati Obebo
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into the use of National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) resources in Kitutu Chache South Constituency following allegations of financial irregularities in several development projects. The probe was triggered by a petition filed by Juhudi Kenya activist Bernard Nyamwaro, who raised concerns over the management and implementation of NG-CDF projects in the constituency across multiple financial years. In the petition, Nyamwaro also sought clarification from the NG-CDF national board regarding actions taken against officials implicated in alleged financial irregularities in the utilisation of the fund for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial…
For many people, menstruation remains a topic shrouded in silence—spoken about in whispers or avoided entirely. Yet for countless women in Kenya, it is a recurring battle: a struggle that arrives quietly each month but leaves a very real mark on their bodies, minds, and daily lives. For them, menstrual cramps are more than a minor discomfort. They are a form of pain that can range from mild to severe, affecting each woman differently. While some sail through their cycles almost unscathed, others endure persistent aches that disrupt their routines. For Linda Nyatichi, 30, the experience has often been severe.…
Coffin dealers who had been operating around private hospitals in Kisii County say their businesses have suffered a sharp and unexpected downturn following a government crackdown on suspected fraud linked to the Social Health Authority (SHA). The sweeping enforcement action has dramatically reduced activity around several private health facilities, leaving traders who depended on hospital traffic struggling with dwindling customers and uncertain livelihoods. Fruit vendors and food sellers are also reporting losses as the once-busy hospital surroundings fall quiet. Some traders have already relocated their businesses, saying it could take time before affected facilities are re-chartered and allowed to resume…
Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba on Monday urged political leaders to avoid politicising education, warning that partisan attacks risk undermining reforms in the sector. “Keep politics out of the students. However important your career in politics is, never sacrifice the lives of our young people on the altar of your ego,” he said. While acknowledging challenges within the Ministry of Education, Ogamba said critics should also recognise the efforts being made to address them. “We are definitely not idle; work is ongoing,” he added. The CS was speaking during celebrations marking 66 years of Nyambaria Boys High School in Nyamira…
Civil society organisations in Kisii have called for increased government investment in women, saying it is essential for Kenya’s sustainable development. Speaking during celebrations to mark International Women’s Day on Saturday, the groups urged the government to strengthen collaboration with grassroots organisations and expand opportunities for women in economic, social and leadership spaces. Stella Achoki, the chairperson of the organisations, said empowering women is not only a matter of equality but also a long-term investment that benefits entire communities. “Women continue to experience challenges such as gender-based violence, femicide, defilement and teen pregnancies. These vices must be addressed to ensure…
Bar owners in Kisii County have raised concerns over what they term as excessive taxation and multiple licensing requirements, warning that the high cost of compliance is forcing many operators out of business. Officials from the Kisii Bar Owners Association said on Friday that the numerous county levies and permits required to run a bar have become increasingly difficult for small and medium-sized operators to sustain. Association Secretary General Evans Nyaboga told Kahawatungu that several members have already shut down their establishments due to the rising operational costs. “We are being forced to pay numerous licences every year, and the…
Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda condemned alleged ethnic slurs made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during the United Opposition’s tour of the Gusii region. Jhanda described the remarks by the former Mathira MP as “uncouth and deeply regrettable,” accusing him of promoting divisive rhetoric at a time when the country needs unity. “The Deputy President’s comments were not only inappropriate but also disrespectful to the people of Kisii,” said Jhanda. During the opposition tour, Gachagua reportedly urged residents to elect a local leader instead of a non-local candidate. Jhanda said Kenyans are gradually rising above bigotry and self-centered leadership,…
Members of the clergy from Kisii County Tuesday urged calm and tolerance amomg politicians as campaigns for elective seats gather momentum across the country. Group chair Bishop Robert Nyamwange of the House of Bishops said the country risks sliding into anarchy if politicians and their supporters embrace divisive and violent rhetoric. “Politics of violence should not be allowed in civilised societies,” said Nyamwajge . He further urged Kenyans to uphold peace and unity during the heated campaign period. “We must learn to compete with ideas and policies, not stones and insults. Leadership is about service, not confrontation.” The clerics spoke…
Health workers in Kisii County marked World Hearing Day Monday with a strong appeal to parents and teachers to prioritize early hearing screening for children, warning that undetected hearing loss is affecting academic performance and social development in schools. The event, held at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, brought together ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists and other healthcare professionals who emphasized the importance of early detection and intervention. World Hearing Day is set aside annually by the World Health Organization to raise awareness about hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care globally. This year’s theme, “From Classroom to…
Grief and anger have engulfed parts of Kisii County following the death of an expectant mother at Kenyenya Sub-County Hospital, with a governorship aspirant, Dr Ondari, calling for urgent investigations and sweeping reforms in the county’s health system. Early reports, citing the bereaved family, indicate that the deceased spent long hours in distress at the facility without timely medical intervention, proper management, or an effective referral. She later died in what relatives described as “a preventable tragedy.” Dr Ondari, himself a medical practitioner, termed the circumstances surrounding the death as deeply troubling and demanded accountability. “I am deeply saddened and…
Leaders of Kenya’s United Opposition coalition on Friday mounted a scathing attack against President William Ruto, accusing him of colluding with international criminal networks and tarnishing the country’s global reputation. Addressing supporters during a series of stopovers across Nakuru County, the opposition principals — Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa — alleged that the Head of State had issued Kenyan passports to “dubious international figures,” a move they claimed poses a serious national security risk. Speaking in Maimahiu, the first stop of the tour, Gachagua criticized what he termed as the careless issuance of citizenship…
The national government has pledged to complete the long-awaited Sh3 billion Kisii Cancer Centre by the end of the year, signalling renewed urgency in the fight against Kenya’s growing cancer burden. Speaking during an inspection tour of the facility, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga said the project is part of a broader national strategy to decentralise cancer care and reduce congestion at major referral hospitals. Dr Oluga noted that more than 45,000 Kenyans are diagnosed with cancer annually, while over 29,000 die each year. Currently, more than 110,000 patients are undergoing treatment across the country. “We have a…
A section of residents from Nyaribari Chache Constituency in Kisii County have strongly criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over remarks he allegedly made on Monday targeting area MP Zaheer Jhanda. The residents described the comments, reportedly made during a United Opposition rally at Gusii Stadium, as divisive and disrespectful, accusing the former Deputy President of using what they termed as racial undertones against the legislator. “We were shocked to hear a leader of his stature resort to such language,” said Faith Kemuma, a local trader. “Leadership is about bringing people together. We cannot normalize profiling or attacking someone because…
Opposition leaders on Tuesday escalated their criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing it of sponsoring violence to disrupt their public rallies and vowing to proceed with a nationwide campaign tour ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking in Kisii, Fred Matiang’i, Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Eugene Wamalwa accused state operatives of facilitating violence aimed at intimidating opposition supporters. The leaders also took aim at Simba Arati, accusing him of fanning unrest during recent opposition rallies in the Gusii region. They urged the governor to uphold peace and support what they termed a united opposition front. “We cannot allow…