Tempers are rising in Nyaribari Masaba Constituency after residents accused the Kisii County Government of withdrawing road maintenance machinery from the area, leaving several wards with impassable roads and fueling claims of politically motivated discrimination. The controversy erupted after county tractors completed road works in Kiamokama Ward before being redeployed elsewhere, leaving residents of Gesusu, Masimba, Nyamasibi and Ichuni wards questioning why their roads remain unattended despite repeated appeals. Speaking during a burial ceremony in Suguta, Masimba Ward, Masimba MCA Hon. Bouse Mairura said he had submitted a list of roads requiring urgent repairs to the county administration but alleged…
Author: Magati Obebo
Human rights activists in Kisii have raised concerns over the allocation of Sh225 million for the purchase of new ambulances in the 2026/2027 Kisii County Government budget, questioning whether the move offers value for taxpayers’ money. Rigena Human Rights agency boss Thomson Osoro, wants Governor Simba Arati’s administration to explain why it is prioritising the acquisition of new emergency vehicles while some ambulances previously bought by the county are allegedly facing maintenance and operational challenges. In a statement addressed to Governor Arati, the Kisii County Assembly Speaker, Members of the County Assembly and the County Executive Committee Member for Health,…
Kisii County Woman Representative hopeful Skeeter Kwamboka on Saturday warned that rising political violence poses one of the greatest threats to women seeking elective office, saying intimidation, harassment and attacks could reverse gains made in women’s political participation. Kwamboka said female politicians are often among the biggest casualties whenever political contests degenerate into chaos, as violence and threats create fear among aspiring women leaders. “Many women are forced to rethink joining politics when they see what their colleagues go through during political conflicts,” she told journalists on the sidelines of the opening of a new Catholic parish in Iranda, Kitutu…
Armed with jembes, shovels and sheer determination, residents of Gesabakwa Village in Nyaribari Masaba Constituency have taken matters into their own hands by repairing roads they say have been neglected for years despite repeated appeals to government authorities. The unusual sight of villagers filling potholes, clearing drainage channels and rehabilitating damaged sections of roads has laid bare growing frustration over what residents describe as decades of neglect and unfulfilled promises on infrastructure development. Rather than continue watching roads deteriorate, residents mobilised themselves for a community road repair exercise aimed at restoring access along key routes that have become increasingly difficult…
What was meant to be a joyous religious celebration descended into chaos on Saturday after rival political groups clashed during the official opening of St. Mathias Murumba Catholic Church Parish in Iranda, Kitutu Chache South Constituency, Kisii County. The violence erupted shortly after political leaders attending the ceremony had departed, bringing a dramatic and unsettling end to a milestone event for the newly established parish. An unknown number of youths sustained injuries during the confrontation, while at least six motorcycles were destroyed along the road between Iranda Township and the church. A woman was also injured after she was allegedly…
Presidential hopeful and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i blamed President William Ruto for what he described as a growing culture of political thuggery and lawlessness, warning that the trend could undermine democracy if left unchecked. Speaking in Nyanguru and Kisii town in Kitutu Chache South on Thursday, Matiang’i expressed concern over increasing cases of political violence and intimidation, saying security agencies had failed to act decisively against perpetrators. “We have now even reached a level where elected leaders are getting attacked and no action is being taken by security agencies,” Matiang’i said. He cited last week’s attack on Ichuni…
The wave of student unrest sweeping across schools in the country has sparked the closure of at least four schools in Gusii region. In some other high schools, principals said they were monitoring the situation closely. “We are leaving nothing to chance. We have deployed teachers to keep even night vigils to ensure we are not caught unawares,” stated a school chief requestong anonymity. On Saturday, students at Kisii School were sent home after some rogue students razed down the cubicle where the school captain slept. Other schools that have since closed include Sameta Boys High School, Masosa Mixed Secondary…
The High Court in Kisii has temporarily halted disciplinary sanctions imposed against Masimba Ward MCA Bouse Mairura, granting him a reprieve pending the hearing of a petition challenging the decision of the Kisii County Assembly. Justice Prof. Nixon Sifuna issued the stay orders on Thursday after Mairura moved to court under a certificate of urgency, contesting the Assembly’s decision to suspend him from House sittings for six months. The disciplinary action had also affected Ichuni Ward MCA Wycliffe Siocha, who was removed from all County Assembly committees following the proceedings. Siocha was attacked by suspected hoodlums in Kisii town earlier…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector after distributing 100,000 free Ruiru 11 coffee seedlings to farmers across the county. Speaking during the flagging-off ceremony at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre, Arati said agriculture remains the backbone of the county’s economy and pledged continued investment in programmes aimed at increasing farm productivity and improving household incomes. The governor noted that the high-yielding Ruiru 11 coffee variety is expected to significantly boost production, with each plant capable of producing at least five kilograms of coffee cherries per season when properly managed. “We are determined…
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…
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…