Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has challenged National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to substantiate claims that politicians are receiving teachers’ employment letters at State House and selling them to desperate job seekers for hundreds of thousands of shillings. Ogamba, speaking during a local media interview at Kisii University on Wednesday night, distanced the Ministry of Education and State House from the alleged recruitment scheme, insisting that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is an independent constitutional commission with the exclusive mandate to recruit, employ and promote teachers. The CS, however, said he could not explain allegations involving employment letters that Wetang’ula…
Author: Magati Obebo
Several people are feared trapped after a four-storey building collapsed in Ogembo town, Kisii County, on Tuesday evening. Rescue teams, assisted by members of the public, have launched an operation to locate and rescue people who may be trapped under the rubble. The circumstances surrounding the collapse were not immediately clear, and the number of people inside the building at the time of the incident had yet to be established. Emergency responders were at the scene as efforts to clear the debris and search for survivors continued. More details to follow.
It had begun quietly. Then it grew. For days, pilgrims had been trickling into Charles Onsombi’s compound in Emenwa, Bogichoncho village, Nyamache, drawn by claims that an image resembling the Virgin Mary had appeared inside one of the houses. What began as whispers among villagers was quickly becoming something bigger — a pilgrimage site. Then some unruly boda boda riders ripped off the door of the house where the suspected apparition was said to have appeared. For Onsombi, that was the tipping point. He did not believe in the apparition. He had reportedly told friends that his wife, Mary, had…
At least two people were injured on Monday morning following a confrontation between pilgrims and guards hired by a homeowner in Emenwa, Bogichoncho village, Nyamache, Kisii County. The confrontation came amid a growing influx of visitors to the compound following claims that an image resembling the Virgin Mary had appeared there. But homeowner Charles Onsombi says the constant stream of pilgrims has disrupted his life and denied his family privacy. “I have lost my peace. This is my home, not a shrine,” Onsombi said as pilgrims continued arriving at his homestead. The situation escalated on Monday, forcing him to hire…
It began with an ordinary wall. There was nothing remarkable about the wall at a modest home in Emenwa village, Nyamache, Bobasi, Kisii County—until villagers began claiming they could see the unmistakable outline of a woman on it. Then came the whispers. “It looks like Mary.” Within hours, word had spread from one homestead to another, carried along village paths and amplified by mobile phones and social media. The quiet rural village was suddenly at the centre of an unusual mystery. Hundreds of curious residents began streaming to the homestead, with some travelling from neighbouring areas to see the image…
At dawn in Nyamesocho, Masaba South, the quiet of the countryside is increasingly broken by raised voices at the Rianyabicha water springs. For years, the springs have been a lifeline for families in the area. But as a prolonged dry spell tightens its grip, the precious commodity has become a source of tension — and, increasingly, confrontation. Two taps at the spring have already dried up, leaving residents to scramble for the little water that remains. The situation is similar at a spring in neighbouring Ikenye, Gesusu Ward, where women and young girls spend hours in long queues waiting for…
Nyaribari Masaba MP Dr Daniel Manduku has urged the Gusii community to support President William Ruto, arguing that the region stands to gain more by working with the government than backing an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election. Manduku also questioned the political prospects of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, claiming that the opposition alliance was unlikely to give him a presidential ticket. The MP alleged that political alliances that had initially appeared receptive to Matiang’i had lost momentum, leaving the former CS without a clear political path. “Yes, he is our son, but at the…
Kenyan Ambassador to Belgium Joash Maangi has dismissed opposition calls for President William Ruto to serve only one term, describing the campaign as “pure hogwash” and warning that frequent changes in government could undermine Kenya’s long-term development plans. Maangi, a former Kisii Deputy Governor, said Kenyans should give the Ruto administration sufficient time to implement major development programmes rather than replacing governments before long-term projects are completed. “There is this clarion call that most opposition politicians have specialised in saying — one term, one term, one term. Nothing can be more misleading than that call,” Maangi said. “It is pure…
Political aspirants seeking the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket in the 2027 General Election in Kisii are growing increasingly anxious as uncertainty persists over the ruling party’s strategy in Gusii politics. The unease is being fuelled by fears that UDA could remain non-committal on fielding candidates in some races to avoid what party insiders describe as “friendly fire” with its broad-based government partner, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). By Friday, several aspirants said they remained in limbo, with some privately expressing concern over whether they would be allowed to pursue their ambitions under the UDA banner. Others were already weighing…
A section of Kisii MCAs has intensified pressure on Governor Simba Arati over stalled development projects, poor roads and alleged delays in implementing programmes for which funds have already been approved. The ward representatives protested on Saturday, accusing the county administration of failing to prioritise service delivery and leaving residents to grapple with deteriorating infrastructure and incomplete projects. Masimba MCA Bouse Mairura said residents in his ward were bearing the brunt of stalled projects, impassable roads and what he described as a lack of urgency in addressing basic development needs. Mairura singled out road maintenance, saying the County Assembly had…
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has warned politicians against interfering with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying attempts to dictate how the electoral agency conducts its affairs could undermine public confidence in the 2027 General Election. Wetang’ula said politicians preparing to contest the 2027 elections should allow the commission to independently procure election technology and other materials required for the polls. His remarks come amid a growing political dispute over IEBC’s procurement of a new Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleging that the tender specifications had been designed to favour South Korean…
For more than two decades, Timothy Arege has built a formidable reputation in literary and academic circles, establishing himself as an author, scholar and educator whose work spans creative writing, Kiswahili scholarship and educational publishing. His literary portfolio includes Mstahiki Meya, a Swahili play that was once a high school set book. The work explores political themes including corruption, power and leadership and has been catalogued by university libraries and international library collections. Arege has also authored Kijiba cha Moyo, Chamchela, Kielezi cha Tungo, Majira ya Utasa and Duara, among other works. His bibliography stretches beyond creative literature. Library records…
Kisii University is set to receive a major boost in student accommodation with the construction of a 19-storey student village within the campus, Vice Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi has said. The high-rise facility is expected to provide much-needed accommodation for students as the institution expands its infrastructure and seeks to position itself as a world-class academic institution. Prof Ogechi said the Government-funded project, being undertaken under the affordable housing programme, would also transform the skyline of Kisii town and become the tallest building in the county capital once completed. Speaking on Tuesday during the university’s matriculation ceremony for newly admitted…
Kisii University Vice-Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi has warned newly admitted students against sexual predators, reckless relationships and peer pressure as they begin university life with greater freedom and independence. Speaking during the university’s freshman induction ceremony on Tuesday, Prof Ogechi urged the about 7,000 first-year students to exercise responsibility and remain vigilant as they adjust to life away from the close supervision of parents and guardians. The Vice-Chancellor used the phrase “Team Mafisi” to caution students against individuals who may prey on young people, particularly those who are inexperienced and financially or emotionally vulnerable. He told the students that university…
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has dug in on its demand for the Deputy President’s position in the emerging political partnership with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration. ODM Deputy Party Chair and Kisii Governor Simba Arati said the party would not surrender its claim to the position, insisting that discussions on the sharing of power should focus on institutions rather than individuals. Arati said ODM was not targeting Deputy President Kithure Kindiki personally and urged him not to feel threatened by the party’s position. “Yes, we tell our brother Kindiki not to fear. He should only be aware of…