By all measures, Kisii Woman Representative Doris Donya Aburi Toto has had a steady stay in office as Women Representative. Methodical in approach and careful with her political alliances, the former radio journalist has cultivated a demeanor of a worker -rolling up the sleeves and digging up boreholes enhancing water accessibility across the county. But as the next electoral cycle gathers momentum, she finds herself walking a political tightrope, with a string of determined contenders — Janet Ongera, Essy Okenyuri, Vicky Onderi and Betty Michomi — lining up to challenge her grip on the seat. Toto is serving her first…
Author: Magati Obebo
As schools reopen across the country, the familiar bustle of a new academic term has returned with crowded bookshops, busy tailor stalls and long queues. Beneath the surface of this routine, however lies a growing sense of distress among parents, many of whom say the current economic climate has made preparing children for school more difficult than ever before. Most parents in Kisii describe a reality marked by shrinking payslips, rising prices and tough financial choices. While education remains a top priority for most households, the cost of sustaining it is increasingly stretching family budgets to the breaking point. Some…
Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners across Kisii County are set to benefit from a free fresh milk distribution programme introduced by the county government under Governor Simba Arati. The programme, which targets public ECDE centres, is aimed at improving child nutrition and boosting school attendance, Governor Arati said over the weekend. Speaking during a thanksgiving service at Nyamagwa SDA Church, Arati said the initiative is part of his administration’s broader plan to strengthen the foundation of education in the county. “Good nutrition is critical to a child’s ability to learn and concentrate. By providing milk to our ECDE learners,…
In the green, hilly landscapes of Kisii County, water has long been a reliable gift of nature. Today, however, many rivers and springs are shrinking worrying residents and environmental experts. At the centre of this growing concern is the widespread planting of blue gum trees along river banks and springs. The ucalyptus species is popular with farmers and gives the farmers quick returns. Along most riverbanks and near natural springs, blue gum trees stand tall with their presence quietly draining the land. According to David Bokea, an environmental expert, the trees consume large amounts of water through their deep root…
Kisii County’s Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda Friday pledged to spearhead an ambitious development agenda aimed at transforming the constituency’s infrastructure and improving the livelihoods of residents. Top in priority is the construction of tarmacked roads to enhance connectivity, ease movement of goods and services, and spur economic growth. Jhanda said that poor road networks have for years hindered trade, access to markets, and service delivery in several parts of the constituency. “We are committed to ensuring that key roads are upgraded to bitumen standards so that our people can move with dignity and do business without unnecessary challenges,” the…
Residents of Kisii ushered in the New Year with colourful celebrations marked by music, dance, prayer and renewed hope for the future. Families and friends gathered across the town and surrounding villages to welcome 2026. County Governor Simba Arati, led staff, Ward Representatives, artists and journalists to usher the new year at his Motonto residence in Bobasi. The governor urged for responsible jounalism further urging the musicians present to sell the region positively. He said away from politics, the region has huge economic potential to be tapped. The County boss said his administration was welcome to criticism as a common…
Kisii regional Catholic Church leader Bishop Joseph Mairura on Wednesday urged families to remain united, prayerful and resilient amid growing social and economic pressures. He said strong family values are the foundation of a stable society. He called on parents and guardians to reclaim their role as moral anchors, particularly for young people facing uncertainty, unemployment and negative peer influence. “Families must be places of love, dialogue and faith,” the prelate said. “When the family is strong, the Church is strong, and when the Church is strong, society stands firm.” Bishop Mairura was speaking during an end-year homily for Catholic…
A burial event in Masimba, Kisii County was Tuesday treated to a circus after Deputy Governor Elijah Obebo and a parlimentary hopeful clashed with a Ward Rep over development and resource allocation. Mr Bouse Mairura (Masimba Ward) had accused the County of skewed recruitment of staff especially from wards that are hostile to Governor Simba Arati sparking applause from the mourners who had gathered to send off Japez Ayeni, 95, at Masimba. The vocal MCA cited the recent recruitment of medical staff which he described as blatantly biased and unfair raising concerns over transparency and equity in public employment. The…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati is in the eye of a fresh political storm over claims that he was the bonafide regional community spokesman. The utterances made at a burial in Nyamira Tuesday have ignited huge controversy on who between the ODM party deputy leader and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi should be the community spokesperson. Politicians especially those allied to Matiangi have called the governor to order, feeling perturbed and aghast at the assertions. Instead, they now accuse him of overstepping his mandate, insisting that he has no authority to position himself as the community’s sole spokesman on national…
As families across the country continue to celebrate Christmas, widows and other vulnerable residents in Kisii County were not left out of the festive spirit thanks to a generous donation drive supported by well-wishers. At the Pefa church in Daraja Mbili, at least 40 widows received a range of Christmas food and non-food items and festive gifts courtesy of Purity International. Local charity coordinator Rebbeca Moseti valued the donations at Sh200,000. She said the initiative was part of the organisation’s efforts to help those whose circumstances make celebrating the festive season difficult. She underscored the numerous challenges widows face —…
Residents across Gusii region experienced early Christmas cheers as local politicians distributed food items and other essentials to mark the festive season, bringing relief and smiles to many households. In Kisii, Governor Simba Arati led County staff Wednesday in spreading compassion to dozens receiving treatment at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. He also visited the neighbouring Mediforte Hospital and cheered up patients. “This season reminds us to care for one another and to stand with families who may be facing challenges” he noted, urging residents to celebrate peacefully. Earlier, the governor, together with his teams, crisscrossed several outlying villages…
Kisii County’s South Mugirango parliamentary aspirant Denis Sonko on Monday launched a scathing attack on area MP Sylvanus Osoro, accusing him of failing to deliver meaningful development to the electorate. Sonko stated that South Mugirango continues to lag in key development indicators, despite Osoro’s prominence in national politics. Many of the ordinary residents in the vast constituency, the hopeful said, still grapple with poor infrastructure and limited access to education support. “For years, the people of South Mugirango have listened to promises, but the reality on the ground tells a different story,” Mr Sonko said. The politician who has unsuccessfully…
Residents of South Mugirango Thursday announced plans for the region to host an annual Tabaka Soapstone Exhibition Week. The event is aimed at promoting local artisans, preserving cultural heritage and expanding market access for the globally renowned Tabaka soapstone. Former Tabaka Ward MCA Daniel Apepo said the exhibition starts on a pilot basis Sarturday December 20, 2025 and run through the week. The week-long exhibition would bring together sculptors, traders, designers, and buyers from across the country and beyond, providing a platform to showcase the craftsmanship that has defined the region for generations Apepo stated. “Tabaka soapstone is not just…
Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba wants universities to shift their focus from purely academic instruction and invest more in entrepreneurial activities that equip students with practical, job-creating skills. The CS observed that higher learning institutions must begin to rethink how they prepare students for the job market. Ogamba said there is a strong need for universities to become centres of innovation, enterprise, and problem-solving, rather than institutions that only produce job seekers. “Universities must go beyond issuing degrees and begin to nurture innovators, entrepreneurs, and employers who can create opportunities for themselves and others,” he said. The CS also challenged…
Kisii University Tuesday officially launched a modern lactation centre aimed at supporting breastfeeding mothers among its staff. This marked a significant step toward promoting employee welfare and family-friendly workplace policies. The centre is designed to provide a private, hygienic and comfortable space for nursing mothers to breastfeed or express milk during working hours. With the launch of the centre, the University joins a growing number of institutions in the country embracing policies that support maternal health and work-life balance, in line with national and international labor and health standards. University Vice Chancellor Nathan Ogechi said the initiative is part of…