Rights activists have accused the management of Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) of failing to address what they describe as a deepening healthcare crisis, citing shortages of critical medical equipment, personnel and essential supplies. Speaking on Monday, Rigena Human Rights activist Thomson Osoro claimed patients seeking specialised treatment at the region’s largest referral facility were increasingly being denied services due to operational challenges that have persisted for months. In an open letter addressed to Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Osoro said urgent intervention was needed to restore public confidence in the hospital. “The current state of Kisii Teaching and Referral…
Author: Magati Obebo
Tension briefly flared at a burial ceremony in Borabu on Friday after Inject Party leader Morara Kebaso confronted area MP Patrick Osero over alleged corruption, triggering a heated exchange that nearly turned physical. The confrontation unfolded before mourners after Kebaso, who had been invited by the MP to address the gathering, used his one-minute speech to question Osero over the alleged misuse of public resources and demand accountability for taxpayer-funded projects. Kebaso accused the legislator of failing to prioritise critical development needs in the constituency and challenged him to explain how public funds had been utilised. The situation escalated after…
Security agencies and the Judiciary in Kisii on Friday destroyed 700 kilograms of bhang and 500 kilograms of contraband sugar valued at more than Sh18 million, bringing to an end years of storage of the illegal exhibits. The destruction followed court orders issued in various cases, with the seized goods incinerated at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) facility to ensure the prohibited substances do not find their way back into circulation. Kisii Chief Magistrate Ada Obura said the exercise demonstrated the Judiciary’s commitment to combating drug and substance abuse while creating much-needed storage space in courts and other…
Jubilee Party National chairman Vincent Kemosi Thursday vowed that united opposition would not relent from fighting for what he termed the liberation of Kenya from tyranny. Kemosi said his arrest and a night at the Nyamira Police Central cells would not deter him from championing the rights of Kenyans, insisting that the country’s democratic space must be protected. The former West Mugirango MP spoke to journalists at a Kisii hotel after being set free from the cells. He was flanked by lawyer Cliff Ombeta and political allies, as he narrated his experience in detention and accused authorities of attempting to…
Business activity in Kisii Town remained largely subdued on Thursday morning as traders stayed away from their premises amid heightened security and uncertainty surrounding planned protests. A spot check across the Central Business District revealed a calm but tense atmosphere, with only a handful of businesses open by 9:30 a.m. Most shops and market stalls remained closed as traders opted to wait and monitor developments before resuming normal operations. Many business owners cited fears of possible disruptions and property damage should demonstrations turn chaotic. At the Capital Roundabout, a traditional hotspot during public protests, police officers in riot gear maintained…
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…
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…