A court has ordered former Kisii Governor James Ongwae’s son off a parcel of land he was found to had illegally occupied. Kisii Environment and Land Court Senior Principal Magistrate Sila Munyao, in a ruling dated September 10, 2025 declared Kevin Ongwae’s continued occupation of the land by unlawful. He thus directed immediate vacation and restoration of the property to its rightful owners Samuel Mokaya Momanyi and Stanley Memba Mokaya. He further ordered the demolition of a 7 storey apartment block the defendant had already set up. The land, located in the Nyanchwa area, has been at the center of a…
Author: Magati Obebo
A Kisii County UDA party youth leader embarked on an ambitious solo marathon journey to Nairobi early Monday to meet President William Ruto even though no one showed up to flag him off as planned. Caleb Ondieki said his resolve remains unshaken. The five-day odyssey, through rainy weather, would take him on a 314 km run to Nairobi. Development and environment, among other themes, are embedded in his passionate trip. Kisii County Commissioner Joseph Kibet, who had earlier assured them he would be at hand to flag him off, did not turn up. It is not clear why he failed…
Kisii County’s Nyaribari Masaba Member of Parliament Dr. Daniel Manduku emphasized the need for educated and visionary leadership in the constituency to drive meaningful development and uplift local communities. Dr. Manduku said there was more to political leadership than mere public rhetoric. The legislator lashed out at his main critic Ben Momanyi, UDA, saying there is much that goes on in the legislator that requires scholarship. “There is policy formulation, there is substantial legal work required and all this required and educated mind,” the MP said Sunday. Dr Manduku was speaking at St Mokorogoinwa and Riuri Catholic churches during worship…
Gusii leaders have begun to rally young people to register as voters ahead of the 2027 general elections. They said the youth can no longer afford to be bystanders but be destiny shaper’s by participating in the shaping the country’s future through the ballot. “We cannot afford to sit back while decisions are made for us, you have better bargaining chances in a democratic process through voting” said Kisii Governor aspirant Dr Enock Ondari. He said it is especially momentous for Gusii as a region because they would have Fred Matiangi at the ballot for the presidency. “The power lies…
A 30-year-old man from Kisii County has captured the attention of many after announcing his ambitious plan to do a 314 kilometre trip to Nairobi with hopes of meeting President William Ruto. The United Democratic Alliance party, regional office administrator Caleb Ondieki l says the journey is driven by a burning desire to directly engage with the President and share ideas he believes could transform the livelihoods of youth in his home region. “I believe the President needs to hear directly from ordinary Kenyans like me. I’m not doing this for fame or money. I have something meaningful to present…
U.S.-based journalist cum activist Peter Makori wants the Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission (EACC) to press graft charges against a school principal over missing cash. He claimed at least Sh11.5 million so far cannot be accounted for at the school in Bonchari, Kisii County. Makori said he had held talks with education and EACC officials over the claims. “Today I have had talks both with the director of Education and the EACC and as a community we ask that action be taken and the money recovered to help in the uplifting of the school infrastructure,” Makori told journalists at a Kisii…
Nominated Kisii Senator Essy Okenyuri has raised concern over glaring disparities in tea bonus payments this year. She said most disadvantaged are farmers from Kisii and Nyamira counties who she said were constantly “being unfairly disadvantaged” compared to their counterparts in other regions. Kenya Tea Development Authority has since attributed the decline to a slump in the global economy. While farmers in Mt. Kenya region receive bonuses averaging Sh50 per kilo, those in Kisii and Nyamira are earning as little as Sh12 per kilo, observed Okenyuri. “This glaring disparity continues to cause deep frustration and triggered anger, the farmers feel…
Kitutu Chache South parliamentary hopeful Dr Felix Atisa, Thursday, strongly condemned the “culture of violent skirmishes” in various burials in Gusii region. The aspirant making inroads into the constituency asked political leaders to exercise restraint and show respect for the bereaved families. “Funerals and burials are sacred and should never be used as platforms for political showdowns. We are witnessing a shameful wave where the perpetrators are our elected leaders themselves. This is not only disrespectful to the grieving family but also a stain on the values we hold as a community,” said Atisa during an interview with journalists at…
Leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties raised concern over ‘unfairly low’ tea bonuses paid to farmers in the region. They accused Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) of being insensitive to the farmers who entirely depend on the crop for their livelihoods. This year’s bonuses for most factories range between Sh10 and Sh20 sparking fury. Already, in some areas, some tea armers had since uprooted the crop citing the low returns in the bonus payments this year. The payouts in Central Kenyans was reportedly higher as Sh60 per kilo while most factories in the larger Gusii region managed less than Sh20.…
ODM party leader Raila Odinga was a no show in Kisii Friday at an event meant to mark the party’s 20 years since its launch. No single ODM MP from Kisii and Nyamira counties also showed up save for nominated senator Irene Mayaka. But officials said it was not a must to them to attend. Raila posted a message on his facebook to thank the locals for the event. “The People’s Party ODM has celebrated 20years of resilience in Kisii. Massive reception. Mbuya mno Kisii!!!” a post said. By Friday dawn, some hundreds had turned at the 30,000 sitter stadium…
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula warned the Abagusii community against clinging to “outdated tribal politics,” cautioning that such divisions could isolate them from the rest of the country. Speaking on Thursday during an empowerment programme in Kitutu Chache South Constituency, Wetang’ula appealed to residents to embrace inclusivity and national cohesion. “I want to beseech the Abagusii community not to fall into the trap of segregating yourselves from the rest of Kenyan communities. That kind of politics has no place in modern Kenya,” said the Speaker. He emphasized that Kenya’s identity transcends ethnic boundaries, noting: “From the coastal towns to the…
Street cleaners in Suneka, Bonchari in Kisii on Thursday protested months of delayed payments by the County government. They accused Governor Simba Arati of neglecting their welfare despite their critical role in maintaining public hygiene. The workers, who are part of the county’s casual labour force, claim they have gone for over two years without receiving their wages. Many now say they are now struggling to meet basic needs like food, rent, and school fees for their children. “We report to work every night at to clean the streets, sometimes amid the unrelenting elements, to collect garbage, and keep the…
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has announced that it will hold its 20th anniversary celebrations in Kisii County, a region considered one of the party’s strongholds in the Nyanza region. Party officials among them Kisii Governor Simba Arati, revealed on Tuesday that preparations are underway for a grand fete scheduled for September 27, 2025 marking two decades since the party’s formation in 2005. Party leader Raila Odinga is among guests expected to grace the function, said Minority leader Junet Mohammed. Arati, in a press conference outside his office, said he does not anticipate any chaos . “We are looking forward…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati was Saturday asked to choose if he was genuinely supporting Dr Fred Matiangi or President William Ruto’s two term push. Governor Aspirant Dr. Enock Ondari said the governor was a stumbling block in the community unit bid to rally support for Dr Matiangi’s cause. “There is no middle ground, it is with us or our political enemies, no lukewarmness should be entertained,” Ondari told congregants in Nyamache Saturday during a church service. Ondari especially said he was perturbed by the constant use is of slurs against the former CS terming by Arati terming it unhelpful. “Today…
Presidential Aspirant Fred Matiang’i Saturday said the dismissal of contempt of court charges against him by the Court of Appeal now makes him a free person to challenge William Ruto in 2027. The former education CS was with two others were slapped with Sh200,000 as fine for failing to set free controversial Canada based lawyer Miguna Miguna. The lawyer had illegally sworn in ODM boss Raila Odinga as the People’s President sparking a string of arrests and forced expulsion for others like Miguna. Also indicted alongside Matiangi was former Immigration Permanent Secretary Gordon Kihalangwa and former Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet.…