Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has challenged the perception that Kenya is a poor country, arguing that the nation’s greatest problem is not a lack of wealth but the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Speaking in Nakuru on Wednesday during a dinner hosted by Women Engineers of Kenya, the outspoken legislator said Kenya’s visible economic transformation reflects substantial private investment, even as millions of citizens continue to struggle with the high cost of living. Odhiambo said many urban areas have undergone remarkable transformation over the years, pointing to signs of sustained economic growth across the country. “Everywhere…
Author: Magati Obebo
Nyaribari Masaba MP Dr Daniel Manduku on Thursday declared his intention to seek a second term, saying his first stint in Parliament has laid a solid foundation for accelerated development across the constituency. Speaking during a consultative forum at Rionsune in Borabu, attended by more than 1,000 residents from Nyaribari Masaba, Dr Manduku said he remains committed to delivering more transformative projects if re-elected in the 2027 General Election. “I am ready to serve you even better in my second term in Parliament. We have made significant progress, but there is still more work to be done. My focus remains…
Nominated Kisii Senator Essy Okenyuri has demanded an explanation from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection over delays in the disbursement of funds under the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme, saying the hitches have left thousands of vulnerable beneficiaries in distress. Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Okenyuri sought a statement from Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua regarding the disruption of the programme following the government’s migration to a mobile-based payment system. The senator said the transition has triggered technical challenges that have prevented many elderly persons, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable beneficiaries,…
Frequent electricity outages across Kisii County are disrupting businesses, causing financial losses and undermining investment and economic growth, traders have said. Business owners say the unreliable power supply has become one of the biggest obstacles to operating their enterprises, with repeated blackouts damaging equipment, interrupting operations and driving away customers. From welding workshops and salons to cyber cafés, butcheries, posho mills and retail shops, traders say they lose valuable business hours whenever electricity goes off unexpectedly. Many have been forced to invest in costly backup power sources or scale down their operations. In Kisii town, salon owner Eunice Nyanchama said…
Parents of students at Moi High School Gesusu in Masaba South, Kisii County, will shoulder the cost of rebuilding a dormitory destroyed by fire after the school’s Board of Management extended the institution’s closure until the start of the third term. In a notice to parents and guardians dated July 21, the Extra County school announced that learning would not resume for the remainder of the second term, saying the few weeks left were insufficient for meaningful academic work as repairs to the damaged dormitory continue. The Board said the Department of Public Works had prepared a Bill of Quantities…
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday criticised President William Ruto’s directive ordering police to crack down on criminal gangs, accusing the Head of State of presiding over what he described as “state-sponsored goonism.” Gachagua’s remarks came hours after President Ruto directed security agencies to deal firmly with gangs and criminal elements terrorising Kenyans, saying the government would not tolerate lawlessness and that those behind violence would face the full force of the law. However, Gachagua dismissed the directive as political theatre, claiming the government itself was responsible for the rise of violent gangs. “Mr. William Ruto, I have heard…
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has warned political leaders from the Gusii region who have yet to declare support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s 2027 presidential bid that they should not expect a warm reception if they attempt to join the campaign later. Speaking at his Kitutu Chache South home in Kisii County during an interview with a local vernacular radio station, Onyonka said the movement backing Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions had been built on commitment, sacrifice and loyalty, not political convenience. The senator said leaders who genuinely believe in Matiang’i’s vision for the country should have already declared their…
When Kisii Governor Simba Arati launched the Green Army programme a fortnight ago in Nyamarambe, South Mugirango, it was billed as an ambitious initiative to clean up the municipality, create jobs for unemployed youth and restore civic pride. Equipped with brooms, wheelbarrows and distinctive green uniforms, the recruits quickly became a familiar presence across Kisii town. Under the programme, each participant was to earn a monthly stipend of Sh10,000 before being replaced by another batch, with the county government projecting that more than 25,000 young people would eventually benefit. However, only weeks after its rollout, the programme has become the…
Nyaribari Chache parliamentary hopeful Dr Joseph Birundu has criticised area MP Zaheer Jhanda over remarks linking his purchase of high-end vehicles to the poor state of roads in the constituency, saying the comments amount to an admission of failed leadership. Speaking to journalists at his Keumbu residence on Saturday, Dr Birundu said it was regrettable for a sitting Member of Parliament to justify buying luxury campaign vehicles instead of prioritising the improvement of road infrastructure. “It is unfortunate for a sitting MP to boast about buying expensive vehicles to navigate bad roads instead of fixing the roads themselves. That statement…
Nyaribari Masaba parliamentary hopeful Bouse Mairura has challenged Kisii Governor Simba Arati to explain the delay in implementing several county-funded development projects, accusing the county administration of failing to deliver services despite allocating millions of shillings in the budget. Mairura, the outgoing Masimba Ward MCA and a UDA politician, claimed a number of projects approved through the Kisii County Assembly budgeting process remain stalled, denying residents the benefits of public investment. He said he had successfully lobbied for the projects during the budget-making process but expressed disappointment that many are yet to be implemented despite receiving funding. Among the projects…
A political row has erupted in Kitutu Chache North after Jubilee Party National Chairman and West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi accused Kitutu Chache North MP Japhet Nyakundi of allegedly importing voters into the constituency ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking in Marani, the constituency headquarters, on Thursday, Kemosi, without providing evidence, claimed that Nyakundi was orchestrating the transfer of voters from neighbouring constituencies in a bid to influence the outcome of the next parliamentary election. He called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to closely monitor voter registration and transfer activities in Kitutu Chache North, alleging that…
Healthcare services in Kisii County have been thrown into uncertainty after doctors commenced an indefinite strike over delayed salaries and unpaid employment benefits, raising fears of major disruptions in public hospitals. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nyanza Branch announced that its members withdrew their labour from 11.59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, and will remain on strike until all outstanding salaries and related dues are paid in full. In a letter addressed to the County Secretary and Head of Public Service, the union said the industrial action followed the county government’s failure to honour repeated demands…
A senatorial aspirant in Kisii County has challenged leaders from the Gusii region to publicly declare their political allegiance, accusing some of sending conflicting messages by professing support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Okeng’o Matiang’i’s anticipated 2027 presidential bid while appearing at rallies organised by the Linda Mwananchi movement. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Dr. Denis Masenge said politicians should stop confusing voters by claiming to back Dr. Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions while using public platforms to promote a different political agenda. “The people of Kisii deserve honesty, consistency and principled leadership,” Dr. Masenge said. “It is politically contradictory…
Religious leaders in Kisii County have called for urgent investment in young people, warning that unemployment, poverty and political exploitation are fueling a rise in goonism ahead of the 2027 General Election. The clergy spoke amid growing concern over politically instigated violence reported in various parts of the country, including recent clashes in Kisumu in which at least two youths were killed during confrontations between rival groups. The church leaders accused some politicians of allegedly recruiting unemployed youths to intimidate opponents, disrupt public meetings and destroy property, warning that the trend could undermine peaceful campaigns and national cohesion if left…
Political leaders from Kisii and Kisumu counties have intensified calls for decisive action against political goonism, warning that unchecked violence threatens peace, democracy and economic development as the country heads toward the 2027 General Election. Speaking in Kisii on Monday, gubernatorial aspirant Ezekiel Machogu warned that political violence would leave deep and lasting scars if leaders and security agencies fail to act swiftly. He condemned the growing trend of politicians allegedly hiring gangs to intimidate opponents, saying such practices undermine the county’s hard-earned peace and democratic gains. “If goonism is not tamed now, it will leave a scar that will…