Supporters of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i have mounted a spirited defence of his political ambitions, dismissing claims questioning his loyalty to the United Opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election. The leaders, drawn from the Linda Matiang’i team in Gusii, challenged Nyandarua Senator John Methu to stop casting suspicion on Matiang’i, insisting that political alliances and friendships should not be used to portray him as a mole within the opposition. The leaders spoke at Masimba in Nyaribari Masaba Constituency during a grassroots mobilisation meeting in support of Bouse Mairura, who is seeking the constituency’s parliamentary seat. Borabu parliamentary…
Author: Magati Obebo
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is exploring new international markets, including the United States and Georgia, in a fresh push to improve future earnings for tea farmers amid mixed bonus payouts across the Gusii region. The move is aimed at diversifying export destinations, expanding the customer base for Kenyan tea and reducing reliance on traditional markets affected by geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Kisii’s Zone 11 representative to the KTDA national board, Omweno Ombasa, said the instability in some established markets, particularly Iran, had affected earnings and underscored the need to identify new buyers. “Instability in our traditional markets like…
The entry of flamboyant Kitutu Chache North politician Don Bosco Gichana into the Kisii senatorial race has introduced a new twist to the county’s increasingly fluid political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election. Gichana has declared his intention to contest the Senate seat, reportedly on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, setting the stage for a potentially bruising nomination battle that could complicate Senator Richard Onyonka’s political calculations. The prospect of the two politicians seeking the same seat is particularly intriguing given their shared clan roots, history of rivalry and subsequent reconciliation. Their possible clash could test the influence…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has threatened fines of up to Sh400,000 per truck in a crackdown on illegal soapstone transportation from South Mugirango, as he raised alarm over teenage pregnancies, which he claims account for 40 per cent of deliveries in public hospitals across the county. Arati said at least 20 large trucks were seized during a coordinated night operation involving police and county enforcement officers on Monday, warning that his administration would intensify efforts to protect local resources and curb illegal mineral transportation. Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Igonga in Bonchari, where thousands gathered to mark the national…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has launched a blistering attack on his political critics, accusing them of being driven by hatred, envy and malice in what he described as attempts to distract his administration from its development agenda. Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Igonga in Bonchari on Tuesday, Arati challenged his opponents, including Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, to account for their development records instead of questioning his administration’s projects. The governor was particularly incensed by criticism of his administration’s acquisition of road construction machinery from China, daring those opposed to the purchase to…
A section of Kisii Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) has challenged Governor Simba Arati to include himself in the leadership changes he is demanding ahead of the 2027 General Election, accusing him of failing to deliver on his own leadership promises. The ward representatives, led by their chairperson, Bouse Mairura, who also represents Masimba Ward, said Arati should be prepared to leave office if he believes Kisii needs fresh leadership. Mairura argued that the governor could not demand the replacement of other elected leaders while exempting himself from similar scrutiny. “You cannot tell people you want this and that…
Presidential hopeful David Maraga has criticised President William Ruto’s administration over its handling of the university lecturers’ strike and what he described as a worsening healthcare crisis. Maraga said the two sectors would be central to his 2027 presidential campaign, accusing the government of failing to prioritise essential public services at the expense of ordinary Kenyans. Speaking at Kerumbe Village in North Mugirango, Nyamira County, on Friday, the former Chief Justice said prolonged disruptions in universities and challenges facing public health facilities were undermining the welfare and future of Kenyans. “The future of this country is being compromised when university…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has called on voters to elect a new senator, woman representative and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in the 2027 General Election, saying the county needs fresh leadership to accelerate development. “We must have a new Senator, a new Woman Rep and new MCAs,” Arati said on Friday during a meeting with various groups, including members of the Green Army, at the Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii town. The governor, who is also an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader, urged residents to elect leaders committed to serving the electorate and advancing development across…
For an expectant mother in Giesembe, Ichuni Ward in Masaba South, a journey to a referral hospital can become a race against time when poor roads stand between her and lifesaving medical care. For Sophia Oyweri, 28, such challenges reflect what she describes as years of inadequate representation under incumbent Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Wycliffe Siocha, whom she blames for the ward’s development challenges. Oyweri is now seeking to change that narrative by contesting the Ichuni Ward MCA seat in the 2027 General Election, promising to prioritise road infrastructure, early childhood education, sanitation and economic opportunities for vulnerable…
The government is expanding digital infrastructure to support technology-based learning, with 332 public junior schools in Kisii County set to receive interactive smart boards and laptops. Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke said the initiative was part of efforts to bridge the digital divide and equip learners with skills needed in an increasingly technology-driven economy. “Our goal is to ensure that learners acquire digital skills from an early age. By introducing technology into classrooms, we are giving them the tools to access knowledge, conduct research and compete in the global economy,” Isaboke said. The government’s Digital Superhighway programme targets…
Nyamira County Referral Hospital is set for a Sh1.7 billion upgrade under a partnership between the county and national governments aimed at expanding infrastructure and improving access to specialised healthcare services. Governor Amos Nyaribo, speaking in Nyamira on Wednesday, said the project would involve expanding hospital infrastructure and equipping new units to strengthen the facility’s capacity to provide specialised medical services. He said the county government had already signed an agreement with the national government to facilitate the implementation of the project. According to Nyaribo, the upgrade is expected to double the hospital’s operational capacity and bring it closer to…
In Kisii town, Ishmael Keraka once imagined himself repairing engines, wielding spanners and diagnosing mechanical faults in a busy workshop. Today, he pushes a mkokoteni loaded with fruits, navigating the streets in search of customers. The trained mechanic has traded his workshop ambitions for the daily struggle to put food on the table. “Sometimes you look at your hands and wonder whether all those years of training were worth it. I trained to repair machines, but today I push a cart to put food on the table,” he says. Keraka’s story reflects a painful reality facing many Kenyans whose professional…
At 44, Richard Okindo Ombuna, popularly known as Professor among his fans in Kisii, is still pursuing a dream rooted in passion, perseverance and a deep commitment to preserving Gusii culture. A father of four from Nyaribari Masaba, Ombuna discovered his love for music long before leaving school. What began as an interest in musical activities and competitions gradually grew into a lifelong calling, with the traditional obokano becoming the centrepiece of his artistic journey. “I used to participate in music activities in both primary and high school, sometimes plucking my way to national music competitions,” he told Kahawa Tungu.…
For years, Magena Boys’ High School in Bomachoge Borabu, Kisii County, quietly built a reputation for posting respectable examination results despite the challenges facing the institution. Then, on February 26, disaster struck. A devastating night fire swept through all five dormitories, reducing years of investment to twisted metal, ashes and rubble and plunging the school into one of its darkest chapters. For an institution accustomed to overcoming adversity, the inferno represented a painful reset. “Everything changed that night. We lost facilities that had taken years to put together, and suddenly we had to start thinking about how to rebuild almost…
A land-buying venture that promised hundreds of families in Borabu, Nyamira County, a fresh start has turned into a bitter dispute, with victims claiming they lost a combined Sh234 million in a deal involving the acquisition of Kimintet farm in Trans Mara, Narok County. The aggrieved residents, accompanied by human rights activists, staged protests on Monday demanding answers from a lawyer they accuse of facilitating the controversial transaction. The residents allege that the advocate presented himself as the person who would facilitate their acquisition and eventual occupation of the expansive farm. However, they claim the promised parcels of land never…