A section of leaders in Kisii County on Thursday strongly condemned the violent attack on Ichuni Ward MCA, Wycliffe Siocha, describing the incident as a serious threat to democracy and peaceful political engagement. Kisii gubernatorial aspirant Ezekiel Machogu led the condemnation and called on security agencies to conduct swift investigations and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Siocha was reportedly attacked in broad daylight at a mechanic’s repair shop near Hema Hospital in Kisii town. Speaking to journalists outside the hospital, where the MCA was receiving treatment, Machogu said political differences should never be resolved through violence. He warned…
Author: Magati Obebo
Kisii Governor Simba Arati said his county had assembled a team of health professionals ready for deployment to the Democratic Republic of Congo to assist in containing the Ebola outbreak. He said this is subject to approval and support from the national government. “We have qualified medical personnel who are prepared to support our neighbours during this public health emergency. Africa must stand together in times of crisis,” he said. He emphasized, however, that any deployment would require authorization and logistical backing from the national government. The governor used this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations to highlight his administration’s achievements and…
More than 12,700 national identity cards remain uncollected in Kisii County, even as Members of Parliament raised concern over persistent delays and alleged discrimination in the issuance of IDs in Kenya’s border counties. The National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security said the backlog of 12,774 uncollected IDs highlights ongoing challenges in the registration process, despite improvements in document production following the introduction of live capture technology. The concerns emerged on Saturday after the committee conducted inspection visits to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and Civil Registration Offices (CROs) in Kisii County. Lawmakers questioned why applicants from border communities…
Former Constitution of Kenya Implementation Commission (CIC) chairman a Charles Nyachae endorsed lawyer and governance expert Okeng’o Nyambane for the Nyaribari Chache parliamentary seat. The endorsement made during a burial ceremony in Keumbu on Friday, is expected to inject fresh momentum into Nyambane’s growing campaign ahead of the next General Election. Nyambane is among several aspirants positioning themselves to challenge incumbent MP Zaheer Jhanda for the constituency seat. Addressing mourners, Nyachae urged residents to support leaders with integrity, vision and the capacity to deliver meaningful development. “I believe Okeng’o Nyambane has what it takes to provide effective leadership to the…
Nairobi-based lawyer and gender activist Skeeter Kwamboka has called on the government to fund sanitary towels to female students across the country. Kwamboka who has also hinted at running for Kisii Woman Representative seat said menstrual poverty remains a serious but often ignored crisis that continues to affect thousands of girls, especially those from poor and rural families. She noted that many girls are forced to miss school during their menstrual periods because they cannot afford sanitary products, a situation she described as unacceptable in modern society. “It is painful that in this day and age, some girls are still…
At 2 pm, a few goats lazily browse along the streets of Nyamira town. In hidden backstreets, peasant farmers freely feed cows in large troughs outside their shops. At the same time, along the road connecting the matatu terminus to Nyaigwa Girls, a resident chases chickens to keep them from being run over by speeding boda bodas. The scenes reflect a rural lifestyle that still survives within the growing county headquarters, offering a glimpse into the town’s deep agricultural roots. Yet beneath that traditional appearance, Nyamira is steadily transforming into a vibrant urban centre marked by expanding businesses, new buildings…
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, on Monday, cautioned politicians against making reckless claims about election rigging, saying such remarks threaten the country’s democratic space and could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Speaking in Kitutu Chache North in Kidii, Kindiki said Kenya’s democracy must be protected through responsible political discourse and respect for independent institutions. “We respect democracy. Careless talk about rigging should not be part of the political discourse,” he said. The Deputy President maintained that the Kenya Kwanza administration supports free and fair elections, adding that President William Ruto was elected through a credible and independent electoral process.…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has announced that his administration will recruit at least 300 nurses and doctors alongside 200 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) instructors in a major move aimed at improving service delivery across the county. The the recruitment would shore up the existing shortage of personnel in hospitals and ECDE centre besides spuring up service delivery Arati observed. Arati spoke while addressing hundreds of clergy members during a meeting held at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Kisii town. “The purpose is ensuring our people get the services they are entitled to,” Arati stated. He said strengthening the…
Governor Simba Arati on Wednesday intensified his political attacks against former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, accusing him of corruption and questioning his suitability to lead Kisii County in remarks that further heightened the emerging 2027 political rivalry. Speaking during a meeting with small-scale traders and boda boda operators at the Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii, Arati claimed questionable dealings tainted Machogu’s public service record. She argued that integrity should remain central in choosing future county leadership. “Who doesn’t know what he has done when he was District Commissioner and later Education CS? His entire career is sullied by questionable…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati is staring at the political fight of his life — battling for re-election as a storm brews in his backyard over his controversial alliance with William Ruto instead of rallying behind homegrown political, a move likely to send him into further political isolation and complicate his re-election bid. By Monday, another key ally, Ichuni MCA Wycliffe Siocha, who spearheaded the impeachment motion against Deputy Governor Robert Monda ,also announced his exit from Arati camp. He later ddescribed the deflection as giving him an ephipany and “the Damascus experience.” “I am a happy man now, I have…
Ex-Chief Justice David Maraga Friday called on legal professionals to uphold integrity in handling client funds and to embrace value-driven leadership, as he officially confirmed his entry into the 2027 presidential race. Speaking during the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) South West Branch Prayer Breakfast, Maraga used the platform to deliver a strong message on ethics within the legal profession before shifting into a broader political declaration. He said his decision to join active politics was influenced by wave of Gen Z-led protests and growing concerns over alleged extra-judicial actions, which he described as signs of a nation in distress.…
Former Chief Justice and presidential hopeful David Maraga has urged the church not to demonise politics, saying leadership remains a critical tool in addressing the many challenges facing the country. Maraga, who has already declared interest in the presidency ahead of the 2027 General Election, spoke during a Sabbath service at Kisii Central Seventh-day Adventist Church where he fellowshipped with congregants and challenged Christians to actively participate in governance. He was accompanied by former Kisii County Woman Representative Sally Mary Otara. “The church should not demonise politics because leadership determines the direction a country takes. We need leaders with integrity,…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati on Saturday strongly defended his administration’s development record, saying his government has transformed Kisii County through key infrastructure, health and education projects. Speaking at his Nairobi home, Arati dismissed claims by governorship hopeful Ezekiel Machogu that the county had stagnated under his leadership. “I even heard someone saying I am a mess. Does everything I am doing reflect the so-called mess? Is helping Shabana a mess? Is putting cabros on the streets a mess?” Arati posed. The governor said his administration inherited stalled projects, pending bills and a struggling health sector, but had since revived service…
Chaos and political drama erupted at the burial of Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka’s mother, Teresa Omoke, after South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro and Kitutu Chache North MP Japhet Nyakundi were loudly heckled by mourners over their close association with President William Ruto. Also jeered was Nominated ODM Irene Nyakerario who claimed allegiance to the Oburu Odinga faction of the party. The tense Friday burial ceremony at Monarch hotel grounds turned into a political mind battlefield as angry mourners and opposition leaders vented frustration over the soaring cost of living, rising fuel prices under the Kenya Kwanza administration. Trouble began moments…
Hundreds of parents and students in Masimba Ward, Kisii County, were left stranded and frustrated after allegations emerged that bursary application forms meant to be issued freely were being sold to desperate applicants. By 9.am , there were claims that only 300 of the 1000 the bursary forms that had been disbursed . There was no explanation about the whereabouts of the other 700. Outside the Masimba County offices, the long queues of the potential applicants quickly turned into angry scenes when it dawned that there were no further bursary forms availble for them. And By 10 am, reports begun…