The race for the Kisii governorship took a dramatic turn on Monday after Governor Simba Arati launched a personal attack on his chief political rival, former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, questioning his age and suggesting he was too old to seek the county’s top seat. Speaking during a public function at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Kisii County, Arati said the county required energetic and youthful leadership capable of driving development and meeting the aspirations of its growing population. “You recently said you’re not 80 years old. Now tell us whether you’re 81, 82 or 84,” Arati said,…
Author: Magati Obebo
Kisii gubernatorial hopeful Dr Ezekiel Machogu has criticised Governor Simba Arati’s administration over delayed salaries for community health promoters, janitors and other county workers, saying the county has neglected frontline employees while healthcare services continue to suffer amid an ongoing nurses’ strike. In a statement on Monday, Machogu described the situation as “deeply shameful,” arguing that workers who play a vital role in healthcare and sanitation had gone for months without receiving their wages. “It is unacceptable that men and women who wake up every day to serve our people are being rewarded with endless promises instead of salaries. A…
Outgoing Kisii County Woman Representative Donya Toto has dismissed claims that she is an outsider in Bonchari Constituency, insisting that her marriage into the area gives her every right to seek the parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election. Speaking during a consultative meeting with Bonchari residents at a Kisii hotel on Sunday, Toto rejected assertions by critics that she is not a native of the constituency, arguing that leadership should be judged by the ability to deliver development rather than by one’s place of birth. “Those peddling the narrative that I am a stranger should find something useful to…
The battle for State House is gathering momentum as presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i prepares for a high-profile two-day campaign tour of Migori County, targeting thousands of voters in the vote-rich Kuria region. The tour, whose itinerary was unveiled by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, signals an intensified push by the former Interior Cabinet Secretary to expand his support base as political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election gathers pace. According to the programme, Matiang’i will kick off his campaign on Wednesday in Kuria West Constituency, where he is expected to address rallies at Nyankore, Masaba, Kehancha, Ikerege and the busy…
When Kisii Governor Simba Arati launched the Green Army programme in Nyamarambe, South Mugirango, the youthful recruits were expected to restore cleanliness and order in the county headquarters while creating jobs for hundreds of unemployed youth. Instead, the initiative was soon engulfed in controversy, with allegations of harassment, intimidation and heavy-handed enforcement threatening to overshadow what had begun as an ambitious environmental programme. Months later, however, the impact of the Green Army is difficult to ignore. Across Kisii town, overflowing garbage collection points have largely disappeared, roadsides are cleaner and litter that once clogged drainage channels has been significantly reduced.…
A youth lobby has endorsed Kisii Governor Simba Arati as its preferred candidate for Deputy President in the 2027 General Election, backing him to deputize President William Ruto under a proposed power-sharing arrangement between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM. In a statement issued on Saturday, the group, calling itself the Broad-Based Youth Council (BBYC), said the political cooperation between UDA and ODM should evolve into an equitable power-sharing framework after the 2027 elections in recognition of ODM’s contribution to political stability and national unity. BBYC Chairman Beavon Magare said members had unanimously settled on Arati, who also serves…
South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro says his journey from a difficult childhood marked by poverty and the loss of his parents to the highest levels of political influence has shaped his commitment to transforming the lives of ordinary Kenyans. In an interview with Kahawa Tungu, the second-term legislator recounted how growing up in hardship instilled resilience, determination and a desire to ensure children from disadvantaged backgrounds have better opportunities than he did. Today, Osoro is one of President William Ruto’s closest political allies, serving as the National Assembly Majority Chief Whip and regularly accompanying the Head of State during major…
With less than a year to the 2027 General Election, Kisii Governor Simba Arati is increasingly relying on visible development projects to bolster his bid for a second term. A growing network of upgraded rural roads, made possible by newly acquired road construction equipment, and a soon-to-be-commissioned milk processing plant have emerged as the administration’s flagship projects. Supporters believe the two initiatives could significantly shape the county’s political landscape ahead of the polls. Across many parts of Kisii County, particularly in Arati’s political backyard of Bobasi, residents acknowledge that roads once rendered impassable during the rainy season have been rehabilitated,…
A police officer attached to the Kisii Central Sub-County Police Headquarters was found dead on Tuesday morning in what authorities suspect was a suicide. The deceased, identified as Corporal (W) Marjorie Bosibori, 42, a police signaller attached to the sub-county radio room, was discovered at about 8.00am inside the radio room office by a fellow officer who had gone to open the facility. Police said the officer was found seated and unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the chest and blood oozing from the injury. An AK-47 rifle was lying beside her body. Senior police officers who visited the scene…
Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda has announced the resumption of its operations after weeks of disruption, assuring audiences, advertisers and business partners that its television, print, radio and digital platforms will progressively return to normal. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the regional media house said services would be restored in phases as it finalises operational arrangements following the prolonged closure that affected its Ugandan operations. “Nation Media Group Uganda is pleased to announce the resumption of its operations. Our services across television, print, radio and digital will be restored progressively as we complete the necessary operational arrangements,” the statement…
As artificial intelligence transforms medicine, scientific research and global innovation, a pioneering initiative emerging from Kisii aims to ensure Africa’s indigenous knowledge is preserved, protected and recognised before it is lost—or commercialised without the consent of the communities that have safeguarded it for generations. Cambridge-educated geneticist Dr Priscilla Mosomi is spearheading plans to establish the Indigenous Knowledge Research Centre (IKRC), a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to documenting, scientifically validating and digitally preserving Africa’s traditional knowledge systems. The proposed centre will focus on medicinal plants, indigenous healing practices, oral histories and cultural traditions while creating a secure digital repository that future generations…
Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku has defended his close working relationship with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, saying the partnership has enabled his constituency to secure development projects worth more than Sh4.5 billion over the past four years. Speaking exclusively to Kahawatungu on Sunday, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator dismissed criticism of his cooperation with the National Government, insisting that his priority is delivering tangible development rather than engaging in political rivalry. Manduku said the decision to work closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration has unlocked investments in roads, markets, housing, electricity, water, education and security infrastructure across…
The Uganda Union Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has appealed to its members to remain calm and prayerful as church leaders engage the government over the implementation of the country’s National Cleaning Days, which coincide with Sabbath worship. In a statement issued on July 24, 2026, Uganda Union Mission President Pastor Kajoba Samuel reaffirmed the church’s support for initiatives that promote a clean and healthy environment, but stressed that the Seventh-day Adventist Church remains committed to the biblical observance of the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. The church said the government’s directive requiring community participation in National…
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) South Nyanza Branch has welcomed the conviction of former Migori Governor Okoth Obado in the murder of university student Sharon Otieno, describing the judgment as a landmark decision that reaffirms the independence of the Judiciary and the principle that no one is above the law. Branch Secretary Davin Biyaki said the ruling comes at a time when many Kenyans have questioned the credibility of public institutions, making the court’s decision a powerful demonstration that justice can prevail regardless of an accused person’s wealth, status or political influence. “This is a time when almost every…
Healthcare workers at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) have been urged to uphold their professional oath and continue providing quality medical services despite mounting workplace challenges. The appeal comes amid growing concerns over delayed salaries and other welfare issues affecting health workers at the county’s largest referral facility, raising fears that patients could suffer as administrative and labour disputes persist. In a statement on Friday, Rigena Human Rights officials led by Thomson Osoro called on doctors, nurses, clinical officers and other medical personnel to ensure that politics and workplace frustrations do not compromise healthcare delivery. “We fully recognise…