SPECIAL REPORT The PARTIES ACT TO INCULCATE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS — Pages 14 & 19 SUPPLEMENT LEnhancingink governance for all THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EU FEBRUARY 2012 Issue No. 088 Kshs 40/= — Pages 15 - 18

Why Ongeri banned forced Health sector repeating of classes By HENRY OWINO acumen in numeracy has been ranked highly by the Southern Africa on the brink Consortium for Monitoring Education- By FAITH MUIRURI Despite glaring needs, budgetary allocations al Quality (SACMEQ) The country came second after ESPITE the expansion of for the ministries remain dismal Mauritius with a mean score of 557out health facilities in the coun- of the 15 SACMEQ countries. How- try, provision of health serv- ever the country’s literacy level was D ranked at number five with a mean ices remains uneven and continues score of 543 behind Tanzania, Sey- to face a challenge on the basis of chelles, Mauritius and Swaziland. geographical distribution. The low ranking in literacy behind The scenario is likely to complicate 4 countries including Tanzania that matters for the County Governments that topped in literacy was largely blamed are expected to become operational after on the adulteration of basic language the next General Elections. by the sheng slung which is common A report on the sector presented by the among the youth. PS in the Public Health Ministry Mark The Minister urged: “Our suspi- Bor reveals that many health facilities in cion is however that adulteration of the country are not adequately equipped our Kiswahili and even English where according to the recommended standards. even very senior members of our socie- ty including top politicians have turned The PS cites the many dispensaries that to talk “Sheng” to endear themselves to have been constructed under CDF without the youth. While this has short gains in the corresponding increase in human re- terms of popularity, it seems to trans- source and medical supplies. late itself in drop in quality of our chil- Further, the report states that about 108 dren’s performance in both Kiswahili model health centres have been complet- and English. I therefore urge everyone ed under the Economic Stimulus Project to take note of this damaging effect and (ESP) with very little to show of the in- do something about it.” vestment. Education Minister Prof Sam The PS says that lack of an investment Ongeri said the SACMEQ III results plan for infrastructural development poses released in December 2011 however challenges related to planning and hence indicated that Kenyan pupils in stand- ard six ranked among the top in literacy mushrooming of unplanned health facili- and numeracy in the 15 countries in ties. Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Minister for Medical Services. Africa that participated in SACMEQ The report reveals the fact that health studies. spending has remained relatively low as a For instance, during the 2008/ 2009 fi- ing out a deficit of Kshs40 billion. In the He reiterated that the ranking was share of overall Government budget (4.6 nancial year, resource requirement stood at subsequent financial year, the sector had a evident that the quality of education percent) and as a proportion of the GDP over Kshs 72 billion. However, only Kshs 8 Turn to Page 2 Col. 1 (5percent) despite the many challenges. 32 billion was allocated to the sector leav- 8 Turn to Page 2, Col. 1

Amiran launches youth Angry parents storm Kenya doing better enterprise fund school, eject teachers than its neighbours —Pg. 4 de —Pg. 13 — UNDP —Pg. 22 i Reforms needed to Global standards Cane poaching crippling change police image sought in coal project Nzoi sugar

Ins —Pg. 8 —Pg. 21 —Back Page The Link, February 2012 2 GOVERNANCE

From page 1 projected budget of Kshs 73 bil- lion but managed to get Kshs43 billion. Health sector on the brink During the 20/2011 financial tors per 100,000 population and year, the budget requirement was 153 nurses per 100,000 popula- estimated at Kshs 79 billion but tion); compared to WHO recom- the sector only received Kshs mended minimum staffing levels 57,376. In the current financial of 36 doctors and 356 nurses per year which ends in June this year, 100,000 population. the sector had a projected budget He says that although 3,866 of Kshs 92.6 billion but the gov- nurses and 4,800 health work- ernment has only managed to al- ers have been recruited under the locate Kshs 64.1 billion. ESP package and posted to health Projections for the 2012/2013 centres and dispensaries within financial year currently stand at the constituencies countrywide, Kshs143 billion. “The overall the shortages are still glaring and inadequate funding of the sector require immediate attention as the has resulted in huge pending bills country ushers in the devolved at the hospitals and compromised system of government. access to health services across He says that regional dispari- the country,” adds the PS, in a ties in the distribution of the exist- medium term report of the sector. ing health workers has complicat- He says that poverty estimated ed the scenario with arid and semi at 46 percent remains a major ac- arid areas being disadvantaged cess barrier to health services es- due to less staff and predominant pecially by the poor. urban bias The report says that over de- The report at the same time pendency on donor assistance points out that research funding both in terms of amounts and has been relegated to the periphery disbursement had impacted nega- and in some cases research find- tively on the subsector, with about ings have been ignored instead of Health facility in one of the hospitals in . 90 percent of the projects in the being translated into policy. sector pegging their survival on The medium term report rec- The report also proposes the The report advocates for a re- the facilities. donors. ommends that the implementation fast tracking of community health view of the existing staffing and Further, the report recom- The PS says that the situation of the new health policy frame- strategy by training more com- infrastructure norms and enforce- mends the hiring of additional had hampered budgetary provi- work be fast tracked to delink the munity based health workers on ment to ensure compliance. health workers to cope with in- sions for health products and tech- sector from service delivery. preventive and promotive health The report underscores the creased demand to health services nologies. “This will ensure the sector care. need to strengthen the Kenya arising from population growth. The report says that the situ- focuses only on policy, regula- It calls for the establishment of Medical Supply Agency (KEM- It also calls for the training of ation has been aggravated by tion and supervision in line with a Health Services Commission to SA) to transform it into a strategic more public health providers and inadequacy of key health staff the new constitution,” reads the allow the sector to focus on policy procurement agency through au- provide incentives for their reten- like doctors and nurses (17 doc- report. and regulation. tomation that links KEMSA and tion in public service. Why Ongeri banned forced repeating of classes From page 1 the minister therefore urged head marks when he released the 2011 several studies that identify learner It only makes the performance of in Kenya is still above average teachers’ to stop the practice be- Kenya Certificate of Primary Edu- achievement at the various forma- the child generally worse. despite the high enrolment figures cause it is detrimental. cation (KCPE) results at the Kenya tive stages so as to put in place in- “I have directed this practice registered since the introduction of Prof Ongeri said teachers who National Examination Council terventions to enhance quality edu- to cease but head teachers do not the Free Primary Education. forcefully make pupils to repeat (KNEC) headquarters, Mtihani cation. seem to have taken this seriously. I Despite the impressive per- classes do them harm than good House in Nairobi. Prof Ongeri cited the National am therefore asking my Permanent formance in SACMEQ III, the re- as research had revealed that most The Minister affirmed that Assessment for Monitoring Learner Secretary to take urgent action,” search findings also showed that pupils perform much better at through his ministry, the KNEC in Achievement (NASMLA) as one of Education Minister, Prof Ongeri repetition has had a negative ef- younger age than when they are collaboration with other stakehold- the barometer used to monitor the reiterated. fect on learning progression and older. Prof Ongeri made the re- ers including donors carried out quality of education. This fact was attested in some of Kenyan children have a right to the worst performing counties such education and should be allowed as Tana River, , Taita Taveta to go through the education cycle and . When the age profile of without any hindrance. Forcing the 2011 KCPE candidates in the children to repeat increases their above mentioned counties was an- age at the end of the cycle and re- alysed, it emerged that they had the search findings have shown that highest numbers of overage stu- children perform poorer when they dents at 19 years and above. KCPE are older,” Prof Ongeri directed. candidates with Kilifi and Kwale The research evidence indicates led the pack with 2,766 and 1,453 that performance is affected nega- over-age candidates respectively in tively by old age. The older the can- the country. didate, the poorer the performance. Parents, teachers and other edu- In 2010 KCPE, the 13 and 14 year cation stakeholders should there- olds scored an average of 227.5 and fore take the Ministry of Education 264.9 respectively while the over- directives seriously and stop forc- age KCPE children of 19 and 20 ing the children to repeat classes years scored an average of 203.11 unless otherwise there is need for and 195.57 respectively. it and an agreement made between Making children repeat classes parties involved. and also taking them to school Eyes are now on the KCSE re- when they are over age (above 14 sults which are set to be released Education Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri and ministry officials shows the compact disc (CD) holding the 2011 years) does not therefore add value. late in February. KCPE. Photo/Henry Owino The Link, February 2012 EDUCATION 3 Coast international Knut blames poor results varsity in the offing on shortage of teacher By BEKADZO TONDO PLANS are underway to put a multi- By BEKADZ0 TONDO million higher learning facility in Kil- and BOB OMBATI ifi County. The Coast International Universi- THE Kenya National Union of Teach- ty, which has been funded to the tune of Kshs 4 billion by investors includ- ers (KNUT) in has ing Suleiman Shahbal foundation, blamed teacher shortages for the poor the Gulf Energy, international banks performance registered in the last among other institutions, is to be built Kenya Certificate of Primary Educa- on 158 acres of land. tion (KCPE) exams in the area. “This project has followed all the The Kilifi County KNUT chair- legal channels that precede the estab- man, Mr. Patrick Rasi, who was lishment of a university befitting the flanked by a women’s leader in the standards of a public or international area Ms Naomi Sidi, accused the university and has been approved government of failing to deploy more by the higher education board in the teachers in the area despite the glaring country,” said Mar Shahbal. shortages that continue to impact neg- Mr. Shahbal who is the chairman atively on the standards of education. of the university board of trustees said Mr. Rasi who is also the executive the facility has capacity to admit 5,000 secretary of KNUT Kilifi branch said by September 2013. Kilifi and Ganze districts alone had He said the ground breaking cer- a shortage of about 1000 teachers in emony has been earmarked for June Primary Schools while the Secondary at Ganda location in District. Schools face a shortage of about 130 “Plans to jumpstart the project are teachers. at an advanced stage and in six months “Acute shortage of teachers in time the ground breaking ceremony both primary and secondary schools will take off,” said Shahbal in Kilifi County is to blame for the Shahbal who spoke last month poor performance registered in Coast during the official launch of the province” he adds. project at the site, said the project will , Tana Delta, Kilifi, Kwale be carried out in phases with the first and Taita Taveta counties were ranked Prof. Sam Ongeri addressing the public during the release of KCPE results last year. phase slated to cost Kshs 1 billion. as the lowest performing Counties in “This special education probation the country when Education Minister disrupted operations in most schools The unionists faulted parents who nate that the key officers in our educa- project in Coast Province will be car- Prof Sam Ongeri released KCPE re- and affected learning programs. shut down schools and chased away tion system are few. The government ried out in phases where the first phase sults. Ms Sidi however said lack of She said some school head teach- teachers whenever their schools per- should increase their number to ad- will cost Kshs1 billion,” said Shahbal political support in the education sec- ers and principals are highly indebted formed dismally, noting that it was a dress the wanting education standards who plans to vie for the governor’s tor had adversely affected the schools by supplies who sometimes withhold waste of time, aggravated the problem nationally,” said Mokua. seat in county. performance in the national examina- essential supplies due to outstanding and demoralized teachers and strained He asked the government to de- Scholars who addressed the gath- tions. bills. their relationship with parents. ploy QASOS away from their com- ering lamented that the Coast region ‘Our political leaders have not “Funds to supplement the primary “You cannot solve a problem by munities to avoid being compromised had been marginalized since inde- shown their commitment in support- and secondary education are ear- creating another problem. Stakehold- by lazy and lethargic teachers who pendence as none of the successive ing the education of our children and marked from the national budget and ers should engage in dialogue and have been spared at the expense of the regimes had plans to put up a public thus the poor performance,” said Sidi. it beats logic when disbursements are solve the problem instead of demoniz- children’s education. university in the area. The leaders further complained not made on time,” said Sidi ing teachers and crucifying them for Mokua recalled that previously, Led by Prof Abdallah O. Bujira, that area education offices lacked Meanwhile, KNUT wants the gov- collective mistakes,” stated Mokua. schools used to perform better in the scholars said the former govern- enough personnel especially from the ernment to deal firmly with education Mokua urged parents to be closer national exams when children were ments had channeled enormous re- quality assurance and inspection de- officials whose areas performs dis- to their children, monitor their educa- taught by teachers from other com- sources to build universities in their partments. Mr. Rasi said some schools mally in national examinations. tion progress to know how they are munities with close supervision by political backyards and ignored other have been operating for a whole year Kisii South KNUT Executive Sec- taught instead of attacking teachers, strict education officers, stressing that regions, among them Coast Province. without being inspected by the school retary, Charles Mokua says it is unfair assuming the role they have played in the system should be re-introduced to Prof Bujira said education was the inspectors from the ministry of educa- to continue blaming teachers for poor shaping the children morally and edu- reclaim the crippling sector. key to development and wondered tion, saying this had hampered the bet- performance while sparing education cationally. He deplored the existence of clan- how the Coast region is expected to ter performance. officials who have been mandated to The passing of exams, noted based schools managed by incompe- realize development when the area “The government ought to deploy oversee curriculum delivery. Mokua should not be used to gauge tent and unqualified local personnel lacks the required human resource to more quality assurance officers and Mokua notes that unlike before, the success of the child, stressing that who enjoyed community protection steer the process. schools inspectors to intensify inspec- supervision in schools is weak with talented children who fail in exams while they ruined the future of the “Am happy to witness the launch- ing of the construction of the first fully tions and evaluation in the area to majority of schools lacking enough can be assisted to exploit theirpoten- school children. fledged university in the Coast t re- ensure that the children are well pre- teachers to deliver the curriculum ad- tial and lead better lives than even Some teachers noted Mokua equately to boost education standards highly educated people. earned their promotions through cor- gion and I hope this is the beginning pared for the national examinations,” of a new life as people acquire higher said Rasi. The official said frequent in the country. Attributing exam cheating to poor ruption, saying they compromised The official, who talked to The supervision, he lamented that teach- education officers who recommended education required by the developing transfers of teachers had drastically countries like Kenya,” added profes- Link challenged education stakehold- ers have been condemned, roughed for their promotions while hard work- affected performance and urged the sor Bujira ministry of education to give teachers ers to commit themselves to uplifting up, demoted, sacked and displaced by ing and performing teachers remained Other prominent scholars’ present time to do their work. education standards from Early child- members of the public who ignored stuck as classroom teachers. included Professors Mohamed Haid- He argued that teachers are not hood until they sit for their national the role played by education officials “We want to embrace the culture ar, David Koech, and two lecturers given time to concentrate on their examinations instead of waiting for in supervision and curriculum deliv- of meritocracy where qualified, com- from Pwani University College Dr work in guiding children to doing the examination results to crucify ery. petent, honest and hardworking teach- Najyah Mohamed and Dr Hassan better in the national examinations as teachers who play a small in the sec- He urged the government to punish ers are promoted on merit as opposed Mwakimako they were frequently transferred from tor. He stressed poor ECD foundation education officers, whose areas were to corrupt individuals who acquired Malindi MP Gideon Munagaro one station to another. and lack of supervision partly con- registering poor results in national ex- promotions through corruption,” ob- welcomed the project saying it will “The Teachers’ Service Com- tributed to poor education standards amination, adding that it is unfair for served the unionist. give opportunity to youth in the area mission (TSC) should stop effecting and performance in national exams them to continue earning huge salaries He underscored the need to intro- to acquire higher education as well as transfers within shorter periods to and urged the government to employ which they could not justify. duce refresher courses for teachers the aged to advance their education. enable teachers concentrate on their qualified ECD teachers to reverse the The country, noted the official had to improve on their skills and adopt Mungaro thanked the founders of work so that the children can do bet- trend. few Quality Assurance Standards of- modern technology to enhance cur- the first university in the area for of- ter,” said Rasi. The leaders further Mokua noted that it was illogical ficers (QASOS) who have been una- riculum delivery education standards fering 20 percent scholarship to bright urged the government to ensure funds to imagine that a child who had a poor ble to cope with the huge workload in and performance in national exams. students from poor families. meant for the free primary education foundation from nursery will all of a both secondary and primary schools, The officials called for concerted “Offering scholarships to needy and the sub subsidized secondary edu- sudden improve and do well in na- leading to low education standards efforts among stakeholders to ad- student by the Coast International cation are released on time to ensure tional examinations amid weaknesses and performance in national exams. dress problems ailing education in university will be a great boost to smooth operations in schools. and challenges by various stakehold- “The standards officers ensure that Kenya instead of engaging in blame achievement of higher and quality ed- Ms Sidi said delays in the disburse- ers, which, he stressed should be ad- that the curriculum is implemented ef- game once examination results were ucation by our youth,” said Mungaro. ment of the free education funds had dressed first. fectively and adequately. It is unfortu- released. The Link, February 2012 4 GOVERNANCE

Kenya Ltd has played the role of pioneer in the Kenyan agricultural sector, being Amiran launches youth enterprise fund the first company to introduce large scale green houses in the late 1980’s. THE Youth Enterprise Development protection products for one season, a after installation of greenhouse shall be Amiran has also introduced the first Fund (YEDF) and Amiran Kenya Ltd COMMENT farmer’s sprayer, nursery set, health and grace period, 5- 8 months is the high drip irrigation systems to Kenya in the have partnered to support young farmers safety protective gear, training, agro- yielding season therefore, the group will mid 1970’s and has continued to drive in acquiring a tailor made Amiran Farm- support, and AFK insurance. pay Kshs.17,425 per month and 9-12 the incorporation of modern agricultural ers Kit (AFK) designed specifically for By CAROLYNE OYUGI Most youth perceive farming as months is the lower yielding season in inputs into the country’s agricultural the AgriVijana Loan. The project seeks something one does to survive or when which the group will pay Kshs. 10,000 sector throughout the years. Amiran to help youth, who are in groups, to get one retires. As part of the AgriVijana per month during this period. continues to provide innovative agribus- involved in Agribusiness by purchasing product, AgriVijana Loan. The loan will loan, YEDF and Amiran will embark To qualify for the loan, 70 percent of iness solutions to the Kenyan market for the special AFK’s each with two green- be provided to youth groups across the on an advocacy campaign that aims to the group members must be youth (18- large and small scale growers. houses and a large irrigated area. country to buy a complete farmers kit raise awareness among the youth to the 35 years) with the leader being youth In recent years Amiran has changed This is the first Public Private Part- from Amiran Kenya. financial opportunities that modern agri- and must be registered in the respec- the face of small scale farming in Kenya nership that seeks to reduce youth un- In the first phase about Kshs. 150 business offers. tive constituency. Other qualifications and East Africa through the introduction employment. During the first phase, the million have been set aside to help pur- Yariv Kedar, Amiran’s Head of Agro include access to land and water and of the Amiran Farmers Kit (AFK) which AgriVijana Loan will benefit two groups chase 420 Farmers Kits, two per constit- Division underscored the need for the knowledge or experience in agriculture. has been recognized with the Millen- each with 10 members in every constitu- uency. Further, over 5,000 youth are tar- youth to engage in agribusiness, “The The groups must also show evidence nium Development Goal Trust Fund ency. Phase two of the loan, which will geted at the initial stage in a bid to create future of Kenya is in the youth who are of ability to raise the 10 percent of the Award for MDG-1, the Eradication of follow in several months, will offer the instant jobs for them. The project will the ones that have to meet the demand investment outlay and be registered Extreme Poverty and Hunger in 2010 loan to youth throughout the country. also improve food security considerably. of creating and producing food. As it with the relevant government ministry. and again in 2011, receiving the MDG Speaking during the signing of the We expect that thousands of youth will stands today, many people look at agri- Groups with sponsors / guarantors will Award for Youth Empowerment. This MoU between the two organizations at- be attracted to this cool farming concept culture as something for the older gen- have an added advantage recognition follows several initiatives tended by CEO YEDF, Juma Mwatata, and therefore be gainfully engaged. We eration which is not popular. The Youth Enterprise Development taken by the company with its various Managing Director Amiran Kenya Pin- shall be putting out adverts in the media “In this partnership, we are introduc- Fund was established in year 2006 with partners such as the “Amiran Next Gen- has Moskovich, Board and staff of the to invite young people interested in this ing food security, teaching people how the sole purpose of reducing unemploy- eration Farmers Youth Polytechnics” in Youth Fund and Amiran, Mr. James product to submit their applications” to produce, the possibility to generating ment among the youth who account for partnership with the Ministry of Youth Gitau Singh, Chairman of the Board of The Amiran Farmers Kit (AFK), income and to make agribusiness some- over 61percent of the unemployment Affairs, and the “Amiran Next Gen- the Youth Enterprise Development Fund a tailor made kit designed to meet the thing that is sustainable and attractive. in the country. The target of the fund is eration Farmers Initiative” together with said, “Starting last year the Fund has fo- farmers specific needs, was created with We also bring them modern technology young people within the age bracket of the Kenya Red Cross Society, which has cused on providing sector specific loan the aim of allowing small scale farmers and very high quality inputs,” he adds. 18 to 35 years who number 13 million. placed the AFK in over 500 schools ex- products to the youth, to enable them affordable access to modern agricultural The loan allocated by the YEDF The fund was then transformed into a posing the technology to over 100,000 take advantage of their talents as well as technologies, methods and inputs of to acquire an AgriVijana AFK is Kshs. State Corporation on May 11, 2007. Kenyan students and the “Farming is resources in their locality. the highest standards. The AgriVijana 358,344. The group is expected to raise The Fund’s strategic focus is on en- Cool” initiative, which has brought To this end the Fund is actively ex- Amiran Farmer’s Kit, contains 2 green- 10 percent of the loan amount. Repay- terprise development as a key strategy agribusiness to the attention of youth all ploring partnerships with likeminded houses, a drip irrigation system for the ment will start after a 4 month grace pe- that will increase economic opportuni- over Kenya. institutions. “We are therefore glad to greenhouses and 400m of open field, a riod, which is adjustable in the case that ties for, and participation by Kenyan Amiran was also the first agricultur- formalize this partnership with Amiran water tank, plant support system, Gold the crops planted by the group take long- youth in nation building. The govern- al company to take its revolution to Fa- Kenya Limited”. Under this arrange- Medal seeds to be grown inside the er to mature. The loan shall be repayable ment has so far released Kshs. 1.75 bil- cebook opening up the agribusiness dis- ment the Youth Enterprise Develop- greenhouses and in the open field, high in three years. Each cycle of 12 months lion to the fund. cussion to thousands of Kenyan youth ment Fund has established a new loan quality fertilizers for one season, crop shall be as follows; the first four months Since its inception in 1963, Amiran engaged in the social media network.

By BEKADZO TONDO

THE Government’s failure to support the early childhood program has been Coast leaders blame state blamed on the poor performance reg- istered in Coast province in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations. Leaders complained that most par- for poor KCPE results ents have been unable to enroll their children for the pre-primary school leaders have not taken education as an program due to poverty, thus missing important component in supplementing the educational foundation which could development programs and had left it help pupils do better in national exami- entirely in the hands of the electorate, nations. majority of whom wallow in poverty. Engineer John Lenga from Kaloleni “Education is the baseline of all sorts in Kilifi County said it was dishearten- of development but our leaders especial- ing to note local schools register poor ly those in the political wing have not performance in national examinations been bothered to find the best ways of and urged the government to establish empowering the local people academi- the underlying factors that had resulted cally,” said Lenga. in poor performance in Kilifi, Kwale, Lenga who has declared his candi- Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta dature for the position of a governor in counties. Kilifi County vowed to allocate bigger Speaking to The Link at Kaloleni percentages of the county finances to Junior academy, Engineer Lenga said the education sector to improve the aca- area children had the capacity to do bet- demic standards if elected. ter but they lacked the necessary sup- “Those to be elected in the counties port. in Coast Province have to sit and rede- “Most schools in Coast Province es- fine the childhood education program by pecially those from the public sector are allocating the sector enough finances to faced with many challenges including equip the pre-schools with enough and an acute shortage of teachers, poor infra- qualified teachers and better infrastruc- structure and learning materials, which ture to make the children perform bet- made the children do badly in national ter,” said Lenga. examinations,” said Lenga. Mitangani ward councilor Daniel Lenga urged voters in the Coast Mangi accused politicians in the area counties to elect visionary leaders in the of failing to provide leadership in edu- next year general Elections who could cation matters and concentrating their give education a priority. energies on matters that were not benefi- He argued that the current political cial to the community. Pupils taking an exam. Photo/File East to get more teachers By JOHN NYAMBUNE of Excellence, which is also a second- District Development Committee meet- centre of excellence. The Kisumu Town rective from the Ministry of Education ary school, in is almost ing, that the board will hire people to East Constituency Development Fund was to have a centre of excellence in ABOUT nine primary and nine second- complete and will soon open its doors officer services and not politicize opera- (CDF), Fund Manager, Mr. Kipng’etich each district across the country. ary school teachers will be recruited to interested learners. She says that the tions. Some of the challenges facing the Lang’at, said the school was allocated The directive said there would be in Kisumu East District along with 10 Teachers Service Commission (TSC) school include lack of furniture, equip- Kshs.30 million under the Economic two primary schools, one of which must Early Childhood Development (ECD) will soon deploy a school head at the ment and a security fence. Mr. Shabiir Stimulus Package of the Ministry of Ed- be rural and the other urban as well as teachers at the municipality level school to make it operational as plans to pledged to ensure the sanitation services ucation. The DEO said the school’s lo- a secondary school. The identification Kisumu East District Education launch the school’s board are finalised. are adequate by supplying water. He cation was identified after consultations was to be done after consultations and Officer (DEO) Ms. Jane Mtange at the Kisumu Town East Member of said specific criteria should be put in between the District Education Board, a needs assessment by local leaders to same time reveals that the Kibos Centre Parliament, Mr. Sharkil Shabiir, told a place to filter those who will join the the MP and other leaders. She said a di- identify the academic needs of a district. The Link, February 2012 EDUCATION 5

Irate parents storm school Equity offers help to protest transfer of head teacher to needy students By MALACHI MOTANO By MORRIS GITHENYA ABOUT 2,140 needy students are set to enjoy fully paid secondary school LEARNING at Ndikwe Pri- scholarships courtesy of the Equity mary School in Murang’a Bank Group Foundation. East District was paralysed Under the Wings to Fly program after irate parents stormed the launched earlier this year by Presi- school to protest against the dent , Equity Bank, transfer of the headmistress. Equity Group Foundation and The Over 100 parents forcibly MasterCard Foundation with support ejected pupils from classrooms from USAID will offer comprehen- as teachers scampered for safe- sive scholarships across the country ty in fear of attacks. to children from needy backgrounds The parents vowed to desta- who have attained 350 marks and bilize learning at the school above in this year’s KCPE examina- until the government revokes tions. the move to transfer Mrs Grace Equity Bank Group Managing Kabiru to the nearby Rurii pri- Director James Mwangi confirmed mary school. that deserving students from needy The protesting parents said family backgrounds countrywide are they had no confidence with encouraged to apply for the scholar- the incoming headmaster as ships. More than 1200 students who sat they had fostered better work- Equity Bank boss who also chairs for their KCPE in 2010 managed to ing relationship with the out- the Equity Group Foundation ap- access the comprehensive scholar- going head teacher owing to pealed to members of the public to ships. Of the current 1200 Wings her administration. widely share this information to en- to Fly scholars, 400 attend national Murang’a East Education sure that all deserving and eligible schools while more than 800 attend Officer Mr Kaugi Micheni children get the chance to apply for provincial schools countrywide. confirmed parents protest. Equity Bank. Inset: Mr. James Mwangi, the Bank CEO the comprehensive secondary school “This is part of our scholarship “The changes were effected scholarships. Bank branch or Equity Bank Agents Upon application, shortlisted stu- initiative to assist 10,000 deserving with a view of improving edu- The Wings to Fly education where they will collect application dents will subsequently be invited students to go through secondary cation standards without other scholarship and leadership develop- forms,” Mwangi explained. for oral interviews that will be con- school education. We appeal to all intentions,” said Micheni. ment program, Mwangi explained “Students should carry their re- ducted by the Equity Group Founda- members of the public to share this Last year, Ndikwe primary covers tuition, books, uniforms and sults slips or a letter from their head tion District Scholarship Selection information widely to ensure that all school parents blocked a move pocket money for students who are teacher as evidence of their score in Board. deserving and eligible children get by the Ministry of Education academically gifted yet economi- order to be issued with the applica- This year, the Wings to Fly the chance to apply for these scholar- to transfer the headmistress cally and socially marginalised. tion forms. Only very needy children program will offer 2,140 scholar- ships,” said Dr. Mwangi. to St Mary Primary School “Needy candidates, who have who will score 350 marks and above, ships that will cater for school fees, The Wings to Fly Program is an saying she had demonstrated scored 350 marks and above in this and who, without the scholarship pocket money, personal retail prod- initiative of Equity Group Founda- commitment on improvement year’s KCPE are invited to present would not be able to join form one ucts shopping, books, and uniforms tion and The MasterCard Foundation of infrastructures. themselves to the nearest Equity will be eligible to apply.” throughout the secondary education. with support of UKaid and USAID. Study reports little learning in schools By LUKE KAPCHANGA This was revealed during the is a shortage of 4 teachers while lates that children enter class one class two learners cannot access launching of the report in west- the teacher pupil ration stands at a at the age of 6. supplementary learning materi- THE retention levels of pupils ern region, which was attended by high of 1:52. The general enrolment de- als. in primary schools in Mount Elgon Resident(MERA), has the high- creases progressively from class 1 The findings, according to County are very low, with more coordinator Peter Chem. Mera has est teacher deficit with the teacher to class 7, then drops drastically in Uwezo have demonstrated that children opting out of classroom partnered with Uwezo Kenya, on pupil ratio standing at 1: 64 while class eight. schooling is not translating into to work as casual labourers. educational issues in Mt.Elgon. has the lowest ra- The drastic drop in class eight learning. Absenteeism is high in the MERA coordinator observed tion. is attributed to class repetition and It notes that billions of shil- County, with only half of those that the area had continued to reg- One out of five teachers is em- absenteeism. lings are being wasted each year going to school attending class- ister poor performance in national ployed by parents, in a situation Despite the government ban on and aspirations of parents and es at any given time. examinations due to high levels of where 13 out of 100 teachers are extra tuition, the practice still per- students dashed . Mt. Elgon district leads in the absenteeism by teachers. not in school at any given day, na- sists, with two out of ten children It warns that as a Nation we county with most teachers miss- Learning levels in Western tionally. in public schools and 6 out of 10 in are at risk of losing the gains ing classes daily due to conflict province are 28 percent lower than About eight out of ten Children private schools being subjected to registered in social development and laxity. in Central province, and 12 per- aged between six and 13 years extra tuition. and economic progress due to In , four out cent lower than the National aver- respectively are attending public It adds that the higher the class regional disparities which may of ten children aged between 3 age. schools, while four out of 100 are the more likely it is for the child jeopardize the future of children -5 years are not attending pre- The findings reveal that as out of school, countrywide. will pay for extra tuition. in marginalized areas. school notably in Busia and Sa- much as children are going to There are more boys out of It is also interesting that the The report recommends that mia districts. school, they are not learning. school than girls within this age higher the level of education of the as a Nation , we need to shed the This is according to a report For example one out of five bracket, with those from North parent, the more likely that they obsession with counting school- by Uwezo Kenya on the status children in class four cannot read being 16 times will pay for extra tuition. ing inputs and focus on learning of learning in the country. a paragraph. more likely to be out of school Nairobi has the best learning out comes. The 2011 report which cov- And nine out of 100 children than those from Central and Nai- environment for children as there Stakeholders are advised ers 123 out of the total 158 in class eight cannot do class two robi provinces. is no child found seating on the to consider a few things which districts in the country, notes mathematics On enrolment, the report re- floor, as compared to North East- make a difference in learning that nationally seven out of 10 The report attributes the sce- veals that half of the children aged ern province where 43 out of 100 such as motivating teachers and children in class three cannot nario to absenteeism by both 3-5 years are attending pre-school, seat on the floor in the class rooms. holding them accountable, cre- do class two work, with poorest teachers and pupils, teacher short- with one out of five children aged Half of class two teachers in ating an environment for chil- levels of learning being in arid ages with the findings indicating 5 years in primary , contrary to the do not follow dren that is engaging and inter- districts and Western province. that in every primary school, there government policy, which stipu- the time table, and one out of four active. The Link, February 2012 6 EDUCATION

Kilifi parents demand release of KCPE results Don donates By BEKADZO TONDO tions cheating’ said Mr. Chiro. affected schools was that of collu- ies, same to those of Mbomboni pri- Kilifi District Education Officer sion but investigations are yet to mary while those at Dzitsoni cheated computers to PARENTS from five primary Mr Dickson Ole Keis confirmed that be done to clearly establish the na- in English and Kiswahili subjects. schools in Kilifi want the Kenya cases of cheating had been regis- ture of collusion and whether it was ‘The ministry of education has Gusii schools National Examination Council to tered in some of the local schools. between pupils to pupils, pupils to launched thorough investigations on release KCPE results for their chil- Mr. Keis identified the schools invigilators and other things of that the alleged cheating incidents in Kil- By JOHN NYAMBUNE dren after they were cancelled over as Dzitsoni, Bungu , Mbomboni and kind,” said Keis. ifi schools so as to get the root cause alleged cheating. Majaoni public primary schools and According to KNEC, the pupils of the irregularities’ said Mr. Keis. TEN Secondary schools in Mr. Josphat Chiro who led other one private school he mentioned as are said to have been affected in dif- MP Dav- Gucha district have benefitted parents in protesting the cancella- Bahari parents academy. ferent subjects’ cheating mostly in id Kombe termed the poor ratings of from a donation of 80 com- tion of the results demanded that “It is true results for some pupils the English, Kiswahili and social/ schools in the area as political and puters. the Ministry of Education launches from four public primary schools religious studies called on local leaders to stand firm The computers donated investigations to clear their children and others from a private school in Mr. Keis sated that majority of and demand a through analysis from by Organisation Informa- from the cheating allegations. Kilifi had their results cancelled af- pupils at Majaoni primary had their the Ministry to justify the rating. tion Technology Awareness “Cases of examinations cheating ter they were found to have partici- results canceled for cheating in the “As a leader, I can see some po- (OITA) will go a long way in are mostly found in the urban cent- pated in cheating,” said Mr Keis. English subject while majority of litical hand in the poor ranking of equipping schools in Western ers where children are exposed the The District Education boss said pupils at Bungu are said to have schools in Coast region in the KCPE and Nyanza provinces with modern communication technology the children colluded to cheat in the cheated in English and Kiswahili results and Education Minister Prof computers for learning. and it is unfortunate that children in exams but it has not been established subjects. Sam Ongeri must unveil clear in- The programme was some rural based schools were listed how they colluded. Bahari Parents Academy pupils dicators for the performance,” said initiated by Prof. Kennedy to have participated in the examina- “The nature of cheating from the cheated in social and religious stud- Kombe. Nyabuto, a scholar from Bo- basi constituency as he stud- ied in Germany for his PhD programme. Prof. Nyabuto, a lecturer at Masinde Mu- KNUT opposes demotion of teachers liro University, says the pro- By NYAKWAR ODAWO gramme will help empower the youth in ICT before they THE Kenya National Union of Teach- complete their fourth year in ers (KNUT) Busia branch has strong- secondary school. ly opposed the move to demote head The don spoke at Riobara teachers whose schools performed Secondary School where 10 dismally in last year’s Kenya Cer- schools received computers tificate of Primary Education (KCPE) valued at Kshs 700,000 at an examination. event attended by other stake- The Busia branch KNUT execu- holders. tive secretary Mark Oseno termed the actions as counterproductive because Prof. Nyabuto said plans it was likely to demoralize head teach- are underway to replicate ers who had worked tirelessly to have the programme to Primary the County ranked in the fifth position schools to ensure that youth nationally. acquire computer skills at an “Busia County was among the early stage. best after scooping fifth position na- Prof. Nyabuto said ICT is tionally, but I am surprised to note key to development and cited that instead of the district education sectors, including banking, office congratulating head teachers transportation, communica- for a job well-done, they are doing the tion and medical services opposite,” said Oseno, adding that the which had embraced technol- move, unless reversed was likely to ogy. affect academic performance. He said the National Coun- The KNUT executive secretary cil for Science and Technolo- singled out the head teacher of Nasira gy initiative on computer use R.C Primary school William Wesonga in Kenya classrooms is still who has been demoted by the District in its earlier phases, and con- education office despite his school cluded that the perception and having registered an improvement of experience play an important 20percent compared to the previous role in the use of computers in year’s performance in the Kenya Cer- tificate of Primary Education (KCPE) Kenyan classrooms. examinations. The Gucha Kenya Second- The KNUT official however ap- ary School Heads Association pealed to parents and all the education chairman, Mr. David Ogega, stakeholders in the county to embrace said Gucha faces numerous dialogue to resolve issues regard- challenges in ICT education ing dismal academic performance in KNUT Secretary-General Mr. David Okuta addresses teachers outside Knut house in Nairobi. Photo/File caused by the lack of financial national examinations instead of at- resources. tacking head teachers whose schools of Nabalaki Primary school in Samia John Owino however said that the “No teacher can be demoted just He claimed the Govern- register poor results , adding that good District sustained serious body inju- teachers who have been demoted for the sake of demotion. One is re- ment has not been able to academic performance requires joint ries after being attacked by irate par- lacked commitment towards their du- warded based on their commitment to employ enough ICT teachers, effort by all stakeholders. ents over dismal results. ties in order to improve on their aca- duty and non-performing teachers will and provide resources to keep Another school head, Titus Matioli Education Officer demic performance. not be spared,” he said. up with the demand. Nakumatt school fees redemption plan on By MALACHI MOTANO fees cheques drawn in favour of the Shah confirmed that the firm has is an effective avenue to extend your benefits for shopping at Nakumatt.” shopper’s school of choice. embarked on the project to assist gratitude to your neighbour, domes- Nakumatt Smart Card holders NAKUMATT Holdings has an- Going by previous experienc- their loyal customers. tic staff, or even colleague and will enjoy various benefits, which in- nounced the commencement of its es, Nakumatt Holdings will in the While commenting on the re- go a long way in relieving them clude discounts, earning extra points unique smart points redemption next few weeks draw out school demption plan for school fees of their school fees burden,” Shah on purchase of products and higher program for school fees cheques. fees cheques valued at more than program, Shah explained that the noted. redemption value for products dur- The redemption program is one Sh40million to more than 4,500 program is open to all shoppers in- And added: “All Nakumatt ing specific offer periods. In ad- of the numerous benefits extended public and private schools country- cluding those who may not neces- Smart Card holders are encouraged dition, with Nakumatt Visa Credit to loyal Nakumatt Smart cardhold- wide. sarily have school going children. to routinely redeem their accumu- card, customers can now earn points ers who can now redeem their ac- Speaking in Nairobi, Nakumatt “The Nakumatt smart points for lated points at every start of a school whenever they use their credit cards cumulated smart points for school Holdings Managing Director Atul school fees redemption programme term as part of their value added worldwide. The Link, February 2012 EDUCATION 7 residents reject Ligale report TSC plot By KAVYU-KURA Nguli was joined by fellow aspir- ple of Kyome while councilor Patricia in the proposed Mwingi central con- ants Jonathan Mutambu, Koki Musau Kisio cited Enziu. stituency for better representation. strong and a number of several civic leaders A presentation by councillor Cos- He argued that if the two areas AN aspirant for the Mwingi South mas Merete on behalf of fellow civic remained in Mwingi south, the elec- parliamentary seat Philip Nguli has in protesting against the use of exotic names for proposed county assem- leaders from Migwani district with the torates would be disenfranchised and presence in accused the defunct Andrew Ligale- endorsement of the Mwingi South MP disadvantaged. led IIBRC of ignoring the views of bly wards. The leaders said that local names were more appealing and ac- , proposes to have Mui The Mwingi South IEBC coor- locals as it prepared the report on crea- and Nuu divisions of Mwingi East dinator Linah Kilonzi who had con- Counties tion of new electoral units. ceptable. They also proposed the re-align- district in Mwingi south constituency vened the meeting said that all their Nguli said the report that was rebuffed. views would be given due considera- By PETER MUTUKU adopted by the new Independent ment of boundaries to ensure that some wards that they claimed were Merete suggested that both Mui tion and factored where feasible. She Election and Boundary Commission and Nuu division be removed from advised the locals to refine their views THE Teachers Service Commis- (IEBC) did not adequately reflect the missing or had been misplaced in the Ligale reports were placed in their Mwingi south Constituency as pro- and present them to IEBC in writing sion (TSC) has proposed to increase wishes of the local people during their posed in the Ligale report and placed before the lapse of 21 days. senior staff at the County level to sitting in Mwingi but “they only came ideal areas. Mutambu gave the exam- up with their own things.” handle disciplinary cases and pro- “The IIBRC commissioners came motion ahead of the formation of here. They wasted tax payers’ money County Governments after the next but they did not factor our views when General Elections developing the report on the new Communication from TSC indi- constituencies and electoral wards cates that the commission plans to in Mwingi,” Nguli said of the Ligale recruit about 702 staff at senior level Commission. in a bid to realign its operations to The politician was speaking when conform with the new constitutional he gave his presentation during an dispensation which transfers most IEBC forum held at the Mwingi functions to the County level with County hall. Leaders from Mwingi the headquarters playing a supervi- South and proposed Mwingi Central sory role. constituency gave their views of the “TSC has proposed a county reports of the new 80 constituencies structure with 76 staff members and wards released by the IEBC. per county, bringing to 3,572 the The IEBC has adopted a report number required in all the coun- prepared by the Interim Independent ties,” read the communication from Boundaries Review Commission (II- the commission. BRC) and presented it as its own for The communication came as it public hearings. He said this time round the IEBC emerged that TSC has conducted should listen and factor the concerns interviews to replace Provincial Di- of the locals before the proposals were rectors of Education (PDEs) with gazetted. He said there was need to County Directors in line with the redraw the proposed boundaries as re- constitution. flected by geographical and commu- The interviews were conducted as the Kenya National Union of nication factors as per the wish of the Mwingi South parliamentary aspirant Philip Nguli making his presentation at the Mwingi County Hall. Mwingi residents. Teachers questioned the delays in Photo/JoseKavyu-Kura deploying officers to the county. However, TSC blamed the de- lays to the large number of appli- cants who had shown interest in the Bad governance blamed for Africa’s woes positions. “We only need 47 direc- By AGGERY BUCHUNJU countries to stop talking about torture nent of Africa. 25 persons; one (1) person from each tors but about 1,200 candidates have and instead start to look for healing The meeting whose theme was, centre a cross the continent. applied for the positions,” said a CONFLICTS, genocide suppression, interventions within the context of de- how to empower victims of torture as a Kenya has two (2) centres; torture source at the TSC headquarters. torture and political instability in Africa mocracy and rule of law. form normal rehabilitation was organ- survivor organization and Independent Information available at the TSC have been attributed to the high rate of Speaking in Thiers town, 70 kms ized under the umbrella of Internation- Medical Legal Unit (IMLU) hence had indicates that the exercise targets bad governance on the continent. from Dakar in Senegal, Wanyanja said al Rehabilitation Council of Torture two participants in the Senegal meet- to recruit 20 teacher management The coordinator of torture survi- that in Kenya many people were tor- Victims. ing. county directors in Job group R vors’ organization Mr. Taiga Wanyanja tured during the post election violence In the whole continent of Africa During the five (5) day meeting while another 15 officers are to be and emergence of militia groups. there are 25 centres that participate in participants resolved that all centres said that poor governance in Africa recruited in job group Q and the re- needs to be confronted so as to heal the Wanyanja made the remarks in his this regional meeting held every year should be encouraged to source for presentation during a regional meeting on rotational basis. funds to assist victims of torture in maining 12 officers recruited in job continent of the five ills. group P in a an attempt to deploy Wanyanja challenged African of sub –Saharan region, dealing with The Senegal meeting was hosted terms of loan so they can start income victims of tortures in the whole conti- by Vivre Caprec centre and attended by generating activities. staff in the counties. Mahiga girls praised for discipline

By JOSEPH MUKUBWA “I have been much attracted by the good discipline of these students STUDENTS of Mahiga Girls Sec- and therefore I decided to donate this ondary School have been commend- TV to help them. It will go along way ed for upholding high standards of in improving their education stand- discipline in the last one decade. ards,” said Kioni. Mr. Esau Kioni, a board member The TV which has been connect- of the school, noted that the school ed to the DStv can be able to show which is in Othaya , County, over 30 channels. has continued to post impressive per- The school Principal Mary formance in the KCSE exams over Wang’ombe said she was very happy the last four years with a mean grade for the generous donation saying it of over B minus because of the high has come at the right time when stu- standards of discipline. dents can be able to watch educative At the same time, he urged the programmes. Teachers Service Commission to post Wang’ombe and the students re- at least five teachers in the school to ceived the TV set. address the shortage at the institution. “The hard work and discipline has He was speaking at the school led to the good performance of the recently where he donated a state- students. We hope to improve even of-the-art Television set which will more in future,” the principal added. help them to watch educative pro- The school has a population of Mahiga Girls BoG member Esau Kioni (left) donates a state of the art TV set to the principal Mary grammes. 750 students. Wang’ombe and students of the school recently. Photo/Joseph Mukubwa The Link, February 2012 8 EDITORIAL & COMMENTARY The

LinkEnhancing governance for all We must stand up to the dogs of impunity

T was Phyllis Schlafly who famously said: Bite us once, shame on the dog; bite us repeatedly, Ishame on us for allowing it. Are Kenya’s al- lowing the lords of impunity to steal or stall their revolution. In our view, it was never meant to be this way. After the enactment of the new constitu- tion, Kenya glimmered with hope. We envisioned accountability and integrity at all levels of the gov- COMMENTARY ernment. But, reality is dawning fast, the script might have changed but the cast remains all the same. Reforms needed to The deputy chief justice saga and the reac- tions from the government on the confirmation of charges on the ICC suspects are a clear indication that the more things change, the more they stay change police image the same. I believe it’s time for Kenyans to evoke HE Kenya Police has been ety has not invested enough in the of- the spirit of the constitution. We need to keep the ranked by Transparency Interna- COMMENT ficial security sector. The salaries are government accountable or otherwise someone will Ttional-Kenya as the most bribery low and working conditions wanting. continue playing Russian roulette on us. prone institution in Kenya yet again. It By MWANGI KIBATHI We therefore may be getting just what The government through the advice of Githu is topping the annual bribery index for we pay for. Some conspiracy theorists the tenth year in a row. According to the could even argue that the police man- Muigai, the AG, has decided that “The suspects are 2011 East African Bribery Index, there fall to the temptation to bribe your way agement and the government at large appearing in their individual capacity. The govern- was a 67% chance that you would be out. The system simply does not sup- perhaps overlook bribery to either al- ment cannot speak on their behalf on what to do expected to pay a bribe every time you port any genuine desire to establish low the police to take care of the pay and what not to do.” If that’s the case, why is the interacted with the police. This means ones guilt or innocence. shortfall or to avoid internal discontent. government forming commissions to advise it on that out of every ten interactions with The Kenya Police is also an institu- Whether this is true or not, it does not the police, seven will be tainted with tion on the move. You do not have to take away from the fact that the average the ICC cases? bribery demands. Sampled Kenyans visit their offices to find yourself in a policeman is a rational being with im- Why did and resign reported that more than a quarter of all bribery situation. They are all over the pulses to survive. The police have needs when they were charged in court or is the ICC a petty bribes in the last twelve months streets, alleys, roadblocks and other just like all of us do – families to feed, lesser court? Why are people holding public office were paid to the police. public places ‘enforcing the law’. The health matters to take care of etc. The adverse ranking has now be- survey does not ask exactly where the Whenever reports unfavourable to being allowed to treat those offices as private enti- come the norm. There must be talk bribe was paid or demanded. It might the police come out, my tears fall for ties? Why is Uhuru still holding on to the DPM’s on whether it is necessary to keep re- be interesting to measure what pro- the lone guy standing in the rain at road post despite public outrage? minding the police of this rather dubi- portion was paid or received outside junctions every evening ensuring we get It’s not easy to get answers to these questions. ous distinction. Are audits not done to the precincts of a police station. This home on time. I feel for the police of- strengthen the adversely mentioned requires a study focused more on the ficers whose lives are perpetually on the We are in a maze created by the leaders of this na- institutions? police force and geared specifically for line in the dark alleys in the deep of the tion. They will act the way they do as long as it’s The million dollar question that that purpose. night. Majority of the police officers are convenient for their power struggles. They have the civil society and the general public The police are also involved in surely selfless and honest Kenyans. It is taught us to tolerate bad leadership, bad roads. ought to focus on is whether the police agency arrangements with govern- for their sake that the top police man- view the surveys as objective. Without agement must root out the dishonest lot Sadly, we have learnt to reconcile easily with bad ment ministries, parastatals and weigh- this, more and even worse rankings will bridges. One is most likely to encounter and have a serious introspection on their governance. We keep re-electing corrupt politi- be churned out without causing as little the police providing security and order own efficacy as managers. Unless that cians because of their looted wealth – and spend all as a flip of an eye lid at Vigilance House at any public institution of note. Many happens, the morale of the upright po- the time whining about how bad they are. (Police Headquarters). The Ethics and Kenyans are likely to be duped into lice officers will remain forever pricked Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC, by negative rankings. The tipping point We are in an election year. We can choose to paying bribes to these auxiliary service formerly the Kenya Anti-Corruption staff believing they can intercede on will be when this majority comes to whine for the next five years, or we can decide to- Commission) and the Ombudsman’s their behalf to get a service. doubt the wisdom of being selfless and day to make a difference. If we don’t, we will for- office, both government institutions, The slow pace of judicial proceed- honest to a seemingly ungrateful society. ever blame ourselves for allowing the same dogs of have also adversely ranked the police in ings also places police in a precarious Failure to address integrity lapses in any impunity to bite us repeatedly. similar surveys. Public service vehicle situation. Most of the criminal cases in institution must be the responsibility of operators are always up in arms com- the local courts are petty in nature. The the managers and is grave enough to re- plaining of police extortion. courts, even with the current and past quire change of guard. But what exactly places the police reform efforts still find it hard to dis- The National Police Service Com- force as a fertile ground for bribes and pense with the cases fast enough. With mission Act and the yet to be enacted extortion? The police enjoy an ad- the high poverty levels, bail payments Independent Police Oversight Author- The Link is published vantage reserved to only a few public are out of reach for ordinary Kenyans. ity Bill propose far-reaching reforms to monthly by the Institute bodies. They have coercive power on The courts, unable to compel a speedy strengthen the police service. It is hoped demand. The most feared form of such hearing resort to issuing remand orders that all actors involved in the police re- for Civic Affairs and manifestation is arrest. In Nairobi, it in doses of two weeks. Sharing a roof form process will move with speed to is rumoured the most ‘expensive’ day with suspected murderers and robbers support this very important institution Development (ICAD) to be arrested is Friday. The threat of when a couple of hundreds of shillings to reinvent itself and live to the immor- being in a stinking cell with drunk- can wipe out the possibility immensely tal spirit of ‘utumishi kwa ’ (serv- ards and street boys is chilling. When taxes the resolve to resist corruption for ice to all). you imagine three such nights while many citizens. P.O. Box 7438-00200, Nairobi, Kenya. awaiting a Monday morning court ap- The writer is a Research Officer with The police salaries, working condi- Transparency International-Kenya. Tel: 020 6001776 / 020 6001274 pearance, rational beings will respond tions and benefits while not an excuse Email: [email protected] irrationally. Add a skeptical spouse and for corruption are a push factor to make The opinions raised in this article do employer in the picture and you might an extra set of coins. The Kenyan soci- not necessarily reflect TI-Kenya’s views. The Link, February 2012 GOVERNANCE 9 LinkThe Enhancing governance for all Land under irrigation EDITOR DANIEL OTUNGE SUB-EDITOR farm set for expansion FAITH MUIRURI By PETER MUTUKU ASSOCIATE EDITOR OLOO JANAK THE government has earmarked Kshs 8.3 billion for the expansion of land under irrigation at the rate of 40,000 hectares per year during the current WRITERS financial year. Permanent Secretary in the Minis- MORRIS GITHENYA Central try of Water David Stower says the in- 0735 855586 itiative is part of government plans to scale up investment in water storage in order to address the recurrent water JOSEPH MUKUBWA Central scarcity caused by climate change. 0724 039787 Said he “Changing weather pat- terns have made a significant portion BEKADZO TONDO Coast of the country to experience drought, 0728 341240 so we hope to build reservoirs to make water available throughout the year,” said Mr Stower. PETER MUTUKU Eastern In early 2011, the country ex- 0721 455048 perienced devastating drought that exposed over 3.5 million people to KAVYU-KURA Eastern starvation, forcing the government to divert over Kshs10 billion of de- 0721 000000 velopment resources to famine relief responses. But when the rains came BOB OMBATI Nyanza later in the year, they were so heavy 0728 435255 that they left more than 40,000 people affected by heavy flooding, destroying An irrigated land: Lands under irrigation set for expansion. homes and crops. OJWANG OGOCH Nyanza Kenya Reds Cross Society Com- Kenyans usually find themselves on sector to among other things, discuss 0725 690223 munications Officer Nelly Muluka the receiving end in situations of both strategies to assist Kenya develop warned that many of the areas affect- plenty of rain and drought yet there is laws and policies on sustainable use of Split Kiharu NYAKWAR ODAWO Western ed by floods were in danger of water plenty of technology on sustainable water resources in line with provisions 0726 264153 borne diseases caused by submerged use of water resources. of the new constitution. latrines that discharge refuse into wa- She says that already the govern- Kenya hopes to learn from the ex- constituency, ter sources. As the government rolls ment is looking for over $1 billion periences of South Africa and Brazil, LUKE KAPCHANGA Western out short term emergency measures over the next decade to build over 30 which have successfully devolved wa- leaders demand 0723 622136 in the form of relief aid such as food, dams as part of a marshal plan to de- ter delivery services to the grassroots. mosquito nets, tents and medicine, it velop water storage facilities that will Ms Ngilu said water storage pro- By MORRIS GITHENYA AGGREY BUCHUNJU Western must also embarked on strategies to provide water security for Kenyans in gramme will aim at raising Kenya’s mitigate the effects of climate change. times of drought caused by the effects water availability from the current 600 LEADERS from Murang’a County 0733 537002 The PS revelations came as it is of Climate change,” said Ngilu cubic meters per capita to over 1,000 want split into emerged that the government plans to Speaking at the opening ceremony before the year 2030, adding that the two saying the report by the Independ- JOEL JUMA Western build 30 large dams to harness rainy of an international conference on fu- government hopes to avoid the scenes ent Electoral and Boundaries Com- 0723 622136 water in areas affected by both floods ture management and development that were witnessed during this year’s mission (IEBC) did not address their and drought. of the water sector in Kenya, Ngilu drought where water had to be deliv- concerns. Water and Irrigation Minister said that climate change is a reality ered via trucks to semi and arid areas. Led by Gatanga MP Peter Ken- LAYOUT AND DESIGN: says that plan will entail that Kenyans cannot afford to ignore, “The dams will be strategically neth, leaders however warned the the use of modern technology to ex- pointing out that it is responsible for placed throughout the country in or- commission that they will not accept WALTON DESIGNS ploit the enormous water resources in the erratic weather patterns that result der to eliminate the need for short any bid to hive off parts of to the country to help forestall the devas- in drought and flooding. term emergency interventions to fight and Kiharu to Mathioya and 0725 903 938 tation caused by drought and flooding. The conference brought together drought which are very costly,” she Kangema constituencies. The Minister regretted that many over 100 stakeholders in the water said. [email protected] The leaders spoke as residents pro- tested at proposals to include sections of Murarandia and Gaturi to Kangema and Mathioya districts respectively. Kilifi leaders press for county land offices Kangema residents led by By BEKADZO TONDO the perennial land ownership problem ernment on critical issues such as land Kennedy Wanjohi said they will reject which has seen buildings worth bil- which is widely regarded as a source any bid to include Murarandia in the LEADERS in Kilifi County plan to lions of shillings being demolished for of wealth. area as the proposal was not reflective press for the establishment of land lack of genuine title deeds,” adds Mr. Mr. Kwaka said land is a thorny of their wishes. commissions in each of the 47 coun- Kalinga. issue not only in Coast Province but Kangema residents exoner- The leaders made the remarks at also in the entire nation and supported ated Cabinet Minister John Michuki This Newspaper appreciates ties to augment services offered by the national land commission and find Mnarani club in Kilifi where they had the leaders in Kilifi County for advo- against accusations that he was re- the facilitation accorded by lasting solutions to the land ownership converged to discuss issues of good cating for the creation of land com- sponsible for the inclusion of Murar- the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung problems in the country. governance and how to audit individ- mission in each county. andia to Kangema in order to under- (KAS) in Kenya The leaders intend to file a petition uals aspiring for leadership positions. “The Constitution has empowered mine Kiharu Division. with the government to push for the Mr. Kalinga laments that about 2 Kenyans to petition the government In Mathioya leaders petitioned formation of the land commissions at million people in Coast region were on matters they feel aggrieved about IEBC to exclude Gaturi within their the county level. They argue that al- living as squatters in their own land and I strongly support the move by constituency boundary. lowing land transactions and alloca- as title deeds are being held by other the leaders in Kilifi county to press for Leaders who included Kiharu MP All correspondence and people who have irregularly acquired the creation of land commissions to tions to be handled from the central Muturi Mwangi, Elias Mbau (Mara- government through the national land the vital documents. directly deal with land matters at the enquiries to the editor, “The squatter problem in Kilifi grassroots’ said Mr. Kwaka. gua), Clement Wambugu (Mathioya), commission will leave gaps open for Maina Kamau (Kandara) and Jamleck abuse by influential people. county and Coast province in general He said the residents have the P.O. Box 7438, 00200, will be something of the past if the rights to carry social audits on their Kamau (Kigumo) united in their calls Led by Mr. Henry Kalinga from to have Kiharu split into two. Nairobi, Kenya. Malindi, the leaders say that people county governments form their own political leaders to ensure they do not land commissions to supplement the misuse their powers to enrich them- Former Members of Parliament at the county level are better placed led by Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya) Tel: 020 6001274 to articulate their land problems and work of the national land commis- selves and leave them poor as has therefore must be allowed to handle sion,” said Kalinga. been the case since independence. Ngenye Kariuki (Kiharu and Ambas- Telefax: 020 6001776 land issues within their jurisdiction. The director of Community Aid “Our politicians can only commit sador also expressed “Counties must be allowed to es- International Mr. Joseph Kwaka said to serving their people better if the similar sentiments saying the split of e-mail: [email protected] tablish their land commissions if the members of the public have the con- residents audit their performance on a Kiharu Constituency was long over- government is to amicably address stitutional right to question the gov- regular basis,” said Mr. Kwaka. due. 10 The Link, February 2012 GOVERNANCE NEMA threatens to shut down Kilifi hospital By BEKADZO TONDO quent breaks ups,” said Dr Mulewa. pacity to hold the current waste from wastes spills freely to their residing The MOH further said the capac- the quick growing health center,” areas. THE National Environment Man- ity of the tank was small as it was said Dr.Mulewa. He further said the residents leaders agement Authority (NEMA) has designed to serve small quantity Dr Mulewa said the hospital re- have been using effluent from the threatened to shut down Kilifi Dis- of both human and general wastes quires at least Kshs.300, 000 to re burst sewer to irrigate their crops oppose trict hospital to pave way for repairs generated from the hospital and said empty the sewerage tanks in every like vegetable and paw paws saying boundaries of the dilapidated sewerage tanks. since the hospital was expanded a two weeks. such food from such plants could be The officer in charge of NEMA few years ago, it needs bigger sew- ‘The hospital has been spending hazardous to health. report in Kilifi district Mr. Bashir Salim erage tanks and improved drainage about Kshs 300,000 in every two Dr Mulewa said lack of a works says the hospital’s sewerage tank has system. weeks to re empty the sewerage tank officer at the hospital has made it By PETER MUTUKU burst and thus the raw waste from “The sewerage tank has been and that is a lot of money which the difficult to repair the sewer and keep the facility has been draining to wa- overstretched as it had been de- hospital is finding too hard to raise it in good conditions all the time. LEADERS in Kitui Coun- ter pipes serving the neighbouring signed to accommodate little waste all the time,” said Dr Mulewa He noted that the tank’s wa- ty are strongly opposed to areas inhabited by human beings. both from the human and effluent Mr. Salim feared that residents ter level has become saturated and the just released report by Mr. Salim said the spillage posed generated from the hospital opera- living adjacent to the hospital could therefore it could not hold more the Independent Electoral heath risks to the residents living tions and therefore it lacks the ca- contract diseases like cholera as the wastes thus the frequent overflows. and Boundary Commission adjacent to the hospital and must be (IEBC) on the delimitation of repaired immediately. constituencies and wards in “A spot by our office on the hos- the area. pital sewerage system and its tanks The leaders say that bound- exposed the deplorable conditions aries of proposed Mwingi which must be addressed without de- Central and Kitui Rural are lay. We have instructed the hospital not reflective of their recom- management to repair the burst sew- mendations to the disbanded er or face closure,” said Mr Salim. Ligale led Interim Independ- Kilifi District Medical Officer of ent Boundary Review Com- health Dr David Mulewa confirmed mission (IIBRC) and there- that the sewerage tanks at the hospi- fore was likely to alienate the tal were in bad shape and required community in terms of repre- repairs. sentation and resource redis- “The sewerage tanks and its tribution. drainage system are in horrible con- Speaking during public ditions and require urgent repairs to hearings on electoral bounda- avoid outbreak of waterborne dis- ries at the Kitui Multi Purpose eases to the residents living around Training centre, the leaders the hospital’ said Dr Mulewa. told Commissioner Albert Speaking to The Link in his of- Bwire that the area has been fice, Dr Mulewa said the hospital given a raw deal and required sewerage tank and its general sys- two more constituencies to tem had worn out as it was built guarantee proper representa- many years ago. tion envisaged in the constitu- “Our hospital sewerage tanks and tion. its drainage system is old as it was The leaders spoke as Wa- built many years ago and therefore ter Minister Charity Ngilu, needed urgent repairs or new ones Defence Assistant Minister built immediately to avoid its fre- One of the sewerage tanks to be repaired. David Musila, MPs Charles Nyamai (Kitui West), Isaac Muoki (Kitui South) and Kie- ma Kilonzo (Mutito) support- ed the creation of additional Taita youth trained in business skills constituencies in the area say- ing they will ensure increased By BRIGHTON KAZUNGU the funds and initiate projects for their started. representation of the local self betterment. Youth groups from the The Faza Fishermen Cooperative residents. MORE than 30 youth groups in Taita area have been criticized for not being society which will manage the plant The MPs however protest- district, Taita Taveta County, have proactive in soliciting for loans. will put in place an organized market- ed at the proposed 39 county been trained by the Ministry of Youth A trainer, Mr. Julius Mwangi, urged ing structure for the catch and improve assembly wards which they and Sports Affairs (MOYAS) on pru- the groups to aspire for innovation and fishermen’s way of life through value insisted had contravened Arti- dent management of their business creativity. “Be aggressive and pursue addition. cle 188 (2) of the constitution enterprises. the goals you have set out with deter- Elsewhere on representation and did not The training held at mination. This training has been about Drought Management Officer, Mr. equipping you with what you need to Omar Morowa, wants residents living reflect aspirations of the peo- County Council Hall focused on capi- ple. tal dynamics, book keeping, business become better people,” he said. in flood-prone areas along river Tana planning and revenue projection to en- Meanwhile, fishermen in Lamu are to move to the highland areas to avoid Cabinet Minister Ngilu sure success of the projects. poised to triple their production from being swept by flooding waters. however said that the bound- Most group members admitted the current 2,500 to over 8,000 metric Speaking at Hola DC’s office re- aries of the proposed Kitui they had had limited knowledge on tonnes annually once the Government cently during the District Environment Rural Constituency should be business and project management and completes the construction of Kshs 14 Committee meeting, Mr. Morowa said retained as proposed. termed the training as a gift. Mr. Jacob million cold storage plant at Faza in Dr. Paul Otuoma, Minister for he had received emergency calls from However, other leaders Mwambela, the secretary of Mwanda Lamu East. Youth Affairs and Sports the KENGEN Communication Officer who included Kitui South MP Youth Bunge, said he was confident he Fish farmers are optimistic that the indicating that the power generating strongly differed with the pro- would manage his business better as completion of the Faza Fish Process- leading to improved prices that are company will open gates for Mas- posal saying that the bounda- the training opened eyes to opportuni- ing Plant will boost their earnings expected to improve fortunes for the inga and Kiambere dams due to over- ries should be reviewed in a ties he had been missing. from Kshs 8 million to Kshs 40 mil- fishermen, majority of whom have suf- accumulation of the dams following way that is sensitive to the as- “It was a momentous event for me lion per annum. fered high poverty levels. the heavy rains that have pounded the pirations of the people in order as I have realized what it means to run The plant has capacity to process Faza Fish plant will produce both Country. to address historical injustices. a business. I will implement the les- 8 tonnes of fish daily once it becomes flake and block ice which will enable He appealed to chiefs, assistant “My constituents have sons and hope to start seeing the out- operational besides increasing the fish- fishermen to preserve thousands of chiefs and village elders to ensure all been marginalized by succes- come soon,” he said. ermen’s bargaining power by cooling kilogrammes of fish for value addi- residents immediately move to safer sive regimes since independ- Mwatate District Youth Officer, their products thus increasing the shelf tion,” he said. areas. ence and thus the need to cor- Mr. Allex Ojango, urged the groups life and value of the catch. The two types of ice are sourced Mr. Morowa identified the high- rect the injustices once and for to put into practice skills they had ac- Fisheries Officer, from Mombasa which is hundreds of lands areas as Minjila in Garsen, Bilbil Mr Simon Komu says that fishermen kilometers away hindering many fish- in Bura division, Chewani, Laini and all,” said the said. quired at the workshop. Musila on other hand de- “The knowledge that has been in the area will reap highly as the plant ermen from actively engaging in ac- Wachakone areas, in Galole Division. passed will be the best tool to em- has been equipped with storage fa- tivities due to prohibitive costs. Those who are unable to reach the manded that the IEBC re- power you. Put it into application and cilities and farmers will no longer be The fisheries officer said the new safer areas should move to the nearest views the boundaries to reflect spread it to the others to benefit more forced to sell their produce at throw contractor has been installing ice chief’s camp for assistance. wishes of the people. youth in this county,” he said. away prices to agents who have been processing machines to replace faulty He said about 150 hectares of Mr Bwire assured the resi- Officials from the Youth Enterprise exploiting them. ones that were installed by another maize, green grams, tomatoes have dents that their petitions will Development Fund (YEDF) appealed He says that the completion of the contractor during the 2008/2009 fi- been washed away in Shirikisho and be considered during the com- to the groups to apply for loans from facility will ensure ice preservation nancial year when construction work Mwina locations. pilation of the final report. The Link, February 2012 CITIZENS’ WATCH 11 @

Special Miserably, it’s no longer a crime to Sudan should be treatment to given chance to public school insult the modesty of a woman in Kenya defend itself UP to about five years ago, it was a pupils depraved crime to insult th modesty of any I REFER the article by Mr. woman under the Penal Code intro- THE Government discriminatory Mutuma Mathiu regarding the duced in 1930, and even under the case against Sudan in the US. I criterion used in selecting pupils to Indian Penal Code which it replaced. join national secondary schools is The crime, punishable by a year in followed the case in which Su- creating the impression that acad- jail, was supplanted by the Sexual Of- dan was asked to pay Nairobi emies perform very well in the na- fences Act in 2006, leaving a regret- bomb blast victims. tional exams because they admit able void. This is the second time the bright pupils. The Act repealed section 144(3) Sudanese Government is on I work in a private academy of the Penal Code which made it a trial. It comes after the case of where we admit pupils in beginner misdemeanour “to insult the modesty the American warship, the USS class (pre-primary) just like in pub- of any woman or girl”. It was bsed on Cole. lic primary schools. These learners the morality of Victorian England but enroll in this class when they are it served Kenyan women well. I wonder how Mr. Mathiu brely three years. At this age there Section 144(3) criminalised sexu- judges a case without giving are no interviews to ascertain the ally insulting, harassing or tormenting the accused a chance to defend entry behaviour of the child. We a woman. For example, you could not himself. It seems funny the call a woman a prostitute or loose or just admit the little baby. The little Courts: The Sexual Offences Act sometimes hinders courts from prosecutor recited his allega- child undergo the normal KIE cur- make obscene gestures and catcalls, punishing sex pests despite their obnoxious behaviour. tions against an innocent state riculum as is clearly stipulated in or pester her for sex, without legal consequences. It would have been a that does not even know what the syllabus. to any person against his or her will.” quashed the award and conviction on misdemeanour, a crime that is legally It is punishable by imprisonment May 7, 2010. the American court was talking As the child grows it is thor- less serious than a felony such as mur- for a term nt exceeding five years or Many people are now unhappy about. oughly prepared for KCPE that der and arson. a fine not exceeding Kshs.50,000, or that anybody can sexually pester, har- I am sure there are many comes after eight years of primary All the same, for the women vic- both, if committed with an adult. ass, bait, torment, tease, taunt and bug people playing this game and education. At the end of the pri- tims, psychologically and emotion- Though section 144(3) did not de- women, without legal consequences. mary course, the pupil in an acad- fabricated these allegations ally, the sexual insults were, and still fine what it means to “insult the mod- One of them is chief magistrate Kiarie against Iran and Sudan. emy outshines his counterpart at are, no “less serious” than a felony as esty of any woman”, courts punished Waweru Kiarie. In an article, “The public primary school. The teach- they touch on their very dignity and such acts as obscene catcalls, calling a Sexual Offences Act: Omissions and They want to find a scape- ers in both schools trained in the violate their rights. woman a harlot, exposing one’s geni- Ambiguities”, in he current issue of goat to appease their voters be- same colleges. So, what happens The Sexual Offences Act falls tals to a woman, writing letters mak- the Kenya Law Review Journal, he fore the presidential election in between the two schools? short of the provisions of section ing indecent overtures and displaying says section 144(3) played “a very 2012. As a school policy serious acad- 144(3). It leaves women helpless in pornographic material to a woman. central role” in checking conduct You remember the case of emies demand that each teacher a patriarchal culture which holds that Today, courts can only take on that is not covered in the definition of the weapons of mass destruc- buys own copies of syllabus books the body of a woman belongs to man. such acts if they amount to a breach “indecent act” in the sexual Offences tion in Iraq and many other The Act, modern as it is, only of public peace, or if they are said to Act. — they do not just use the library similar cases raised by the copies, unlike the situation in most criminalises sexual harrassment by defame the woman, as in the case of He says he recently tried a case public schools, where the library a person “in a position of authority Anisia Kagwiria Mungania vs Lucy where a man harassed a 12-year-old Western media. They had no copy is even sometimes hard to or holding public office”, and then Gakanyi Kirema. by pestering her to have sex with him ground to be based on let alone come by. The library copies are only if that person makes the sexual Ms. Mungania claimed Ms. Kire- until she ran way from home. Since to be believed. They are politi- only used as reference materials advances or requests “persistently”, ma called her, in Kimeru, a prostitute the Sexual Offences Act does not ca- cally motivated agenda. and if he knows, or has reasonable never to leave the library! and uncircumcised. The words, she ter for such acts, he says he had no The Security Council adopt- grounds to know, the advances or re- said, were uttered in the presence of option but to acquit the man “in spite Teachers in public schools quests are unwelcome. other people, including children, and of his obnoxious conduct,” Mr. Kiarie ed a resolution against Iraq but should borrow a leaf from their The Act also criminalises “inde- her reputation was injured and, as a concludes, rightly, that the Sexually ultimately the truth prevailed. colleagues in academies — after all cent act”, defined as “an unlawful result, children disrespected her. Ti- Offences Act should be amended to All these allegations were false they take their kids to these acad- intentional act which causes any con- gania district magistrate D.J. Nyaga incorporate the provisions of the re- and fabricated by the CIA. For- emies because they expect the to tact between any part of the body of a awarded Ms. Mungania Kshs.10,000 voked Section 144(3) of the Penal tunately Sudan has no assets in excel. person with the genital organs, breasts in general damages. However, Ms. Code. USA to be blocked to compen- Most academies have invested or buttocks of another, or exposure or Kirema appealed to the High Court Peter Mwaura, sate those US victims. heavily in systems and structures display of any pornographic material in Meru and Justice Mary Kasango via e-mail that enable us remain on target es- As a Sudanese, I denounce pecially as far as the syllabus cov- terrorism and consider peace erage is concerned. There is a tem- and good neighbourliness with plate specifically designed to track our friends in Kenya as essen- weekly syllabus coverage. Our tial. Let us spread these values colleagues in public schools hardly among our people. complete the syllabus by the time Hassan Ali Osman, KCPE comes. Sudan Embassy, Learners in these schools are, Via e-mail. therefore, forever affected by learning gaps as a result of failure to cover the syllabus in their lower classes. They are simply ‘pushed’ to the next classes because the year has ended. To them the end of a year marks ‘completion’ of the syl- labus. * I do not think pupils in public The editor welcomes letters and primary schools deserve prefer- comments on a variety of issues. ential treatment at the expense of The letters should be brief, their colleagues at academies. This topical and issue based. encourages laziness and makes the The editor reserves the right to hard working teachers in academies edit for brevity or clarity. feel shortchanged. Knec should strive to make KCPE a fair game. Write to: Pupils deserve same treatment re- The Editor, gardless of the schools they go to. The Link, Ashford Kimani, P.O. Box 7438 – 00200, Nairobi. via e-mail E-mail: [email protected] 12 The Link, February 2012 GOVERNANCE

Bahari leaders happy with Nyeri, Kieni leaders demand proposed split By BEKADZO TONDO more constituencies POLITICAL aspirants in have welcomed a re- By JOSEPH MUKUBWA they do not give a clear picture of last year and denied them another the expiry of 30 days,” said Keega. port by Independent Electoral and the scenario on the ground. constituency, they will look for a A local leader Machira Gichohi Boundaries Commission (IEBC) leaders have re- Commissioner Letangule said team of lawyers to move to court noted that they have over 175,000 proposing the delimitation of the jected the report by the Independent they will collect all the views from soon. people and yet they needed 186, electoral unit into two. Electoral and Boundaries Commis- around the country to come up with They said they will not rest until 000 people population adding that The aspirants said the proposal sion (IEBC) on delimitation of con- a report so that they can make nec- ‘justice is done.’ those remaining were those in Solio has given them an impetus to launch stituencies and wards and called for essary changes. The leaders who included area Ranch Settlement Scheme. their political campaigns ahead of the creation of additional two new “We are not here for a Public Re- MP Nemesyus Warugongo said it Nyeri County Council chairman the General Elections. constituencies. lations exercise. We are not here to was very much unfair to deny them Wachira Maina lamented that it was According to the IEBC report, The MPs who included Kabando rubber stamp the Ligale report,” he a new constituency despite their unfair and unjust since Kieni has Bahari Constituency currently held wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini), Fran- added. He said they have powers to land mass being 52 per cent of the over 200,000 people but has since by Mr. Benedict Gunda is to be split cis Nyammo (Tetu), Esther Mu- propose for more constituencies and Nyeri County. migrated to other areas for greener into two. rugi (Nyeri Town), Ephraim Maina the Ligale report was just a primary “The IEBC say we have a defi- pastures. The report appears to support (Mathira) and Nemesyus Warugon- report to guide them. cit of 10,000 people and yet Solio Njoroge Wainaina wondered a proposal by the defunct Interim go (Kieni) told IEBC that Kieni and The leaders vowed to move to Settlement Scheme has over 20,000 what protected constituencies meant independent Boundaries Review Mathira constituencies must be split court and stage demonstrations if who were counted on the side of adding that Kieni badly deserves an Commission (IIBRC) headed by into two each. they are denied two extra constitu- and yet they be- extra constituency Mr. Andrew Ligale which recom- The leaders united in their griev- encies. long to us administratively,” said They were speaking during a mended the creation of Kilifi South ances and produced one memoran- At the same time Kieni lead- Warugongo. public hearing meeting at Chaka and Kilifi North constituencies. dum which was read by Special ers have vowed to move to court if Kieni Parliamentary Aspirant grounds which was chaired by Kieni Aspirants lined up for the Kilifi Programmes Minister who is also their expansive constituency is not Mathenge wa Simon said the IEBC Constituency elections coordinator South seat include the incumbent the Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi. split into two by the commission on relied on wrong information from James Maingi Mwangi. MP Gunda, former permanent She said the memorandum had boundaries. the word go since the area is a semi A resident of Solio Settlement secretary Rachael Dzombo and the blessing of Othaya MP who is The leaders who met at Chaka and arid area. Scheme, Samuel Muhoro expressed a former administrator Mr Ken President Mwai Kibaki. trading centre recently said that ‘The whole report is based on his shock that all the views they sug- Chomga among many others. She told Commissioner Thomas since the Independent Electoral provinces instead of regions as per gested to the commission when they Those gunning up for Kilifi Letangule who headed the IEBC Boundaries Commission (IEBC) the new constitution. Definitely we visited Nyeri were never reflected in North seat include a former loser of team at Information Hall that the collected views from the wananchi shall have to move to court before the report. the Bahari seat Mr. Joe Tete and a county needs two extra constituen- former senior officer at Kenya Ferry cies to make them eight from the Service Mr. Deche Kashero among current six. others. The five MPs who were present Speaking to The Link, Mr. during the presentation however Chonga welcomed the IEBC re- asked IEBC to take their plea seri- port saying that aspirants now have ously and ignore proposals by the ample time to prepare for the cam- Ligale team which visited Nyeri last paigns. year. Mr. Chonga who has been cam- “We are in dire need of the two paigning for the seat for the last four constituencies. The year 2009 cen- years appealed to voters in Kilifi sus report was erroneous since our South constituencies to elect leaders population is big than what was in- who will steer the constituency into dicated in the report. The two con- greater heights of development. stituencies qualify for delimitation,” “The new constituencies are said Murugi. now official according to the latest She argued that Kieni Constitu- reports given by IEBC but the major ency is bigger than the entire Kirin- work now rests on the voters them- yaga County, Maragua district and selves,” said Chonga. district. The area MP Benedict Gunda “Kieni is more than twice the played a key role in pushing for the size of . It is also split of the constituency saying it bigger than County, had a big population and the poverty Kisumu County, Nithi County, index was high. , Trans Nzoia County, Gunda had argued that the high County and all the districts poverty index could be addressed if in Kisii. the current constituency was split However, the MPs hoped that the adding that leaders could be brought public hearing was not just a gim- closer to the people. mick to hoodwink the public adding “The current Bahari constituen- Nyeri County MPs from left Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini), Francis Nyammo (Tetu), Esther Murugi cy is big in size and has a high pov- that the Ligale report and Oparanya (Nyeri Town), Ephraim Maina (Mathira) and Nemesyus Warugongo (Kieni) during the IEBC public erty index which can only be man- census report should be ignored as . Photo/Joseph Mukubwa hearing at Nyeri town recently aged by splitting the electoral unit to bring leadership closer to the people and address the poverty problems,” By BEKADZO TONDO said Gunda CIVIL society organizations in Kilifi Further leaders in Kaloleni con- County plan to come up with criteria Kilifi CSOs to vet politicians stituency also praised IEBC for di- to vet leaders aspiring for elective bark on elaborate civic education cam- pected to become operational if the to repeat past mistakes by identify- viding the constituency into two to positions in the area. paigns at the ward level to sensitize the General Elections are held this year ing key areas that require immediate create Kaloleni and Rabai constitu- The organizations working under electorate on virtues of good leader- and it will be devastating for us in intervention to transform the area encies. the Kilifi civil society network in- ship that must be inculcated in the yet Kilifi County if we will not have struc- into an economic hub,” said Mr. Mrs Patience Chome said the tend to establish a panel comprising to be formed county governments. tures in place to guide leaders in the Ngoma. creation of the new constituency of experts to vet individuals aspiring The CSOs made the resolution development of our region,” said Mr. Another leader Mr. Daniel will make the area develop faster as for leadership positions. moments after they launched a strate- Ngoma. Mwayaya said Kilifi County cited government resources budgeted for The experts who are to include gic plan to guide in the development of Mr. Ngoma encouraged the locals the tarmacking of the Mariakani- the area will go up. academicians and political experts the county ahead of the next General to identify the untapped resources Mavueni road and Mariakani-Bam- Mrs Chome who has declared are to come up with a team that is Elections. Mr. Mzungu Ngoma who is within the county to ensure their full ba road to Kilifi as some of the pri- her interest to vie for the position ready to work with local people to the director of Integrated for Participa- exploitation. ority areas that must be addressed to of a governor in Kilifi county urged bring development in the region. tory Development (IPD), a local Non He said the Kilifi County and the open up the county for business. voters to change their tactic of elec- The network says that aspirants Governmental Organization (NGO), entire coast region had lagged behind “The road network is in a de- tions and give women powers. who fail to appear before the panel expressed the need to put in place in development since independence as plorable state and therefore we need A senate aspirant Naomi Sidi will be blacklisted and voters urged structures that will accelerate develop- local leaders lacked any plans to guide leaders who can come up with vi- urged the electorate to vote wisely to reject them at the ballot. ment in the county. them in the development of the area. able solutions to our problems,” said and elect women as men had failed The organizations vowed to em- “The County Government is ex- “Kilifi County must be careful not Mr. Mwayaya. to deliver in the past 40 years. The Link, February 2012 GOVERNANCE 13 Police obtains eviction orders Angry parents storm against squatters By BEKADZO TONDO SQUATTERS residing on land ear- marked for the construction of the Kilifi police headquarters are set for school, eject teachers eviction after the police obtained a let- ter of allotment. By JOSEPH MUKUBWA They claimed that the head teacher Kahiga said several teachers who head teacher of exaggerating some of Kilifi OCPD Mr. Clement Wangai has not convened a meeting to deliber- have been sent in several schools in the exam fees many saying that the confirmed that the ministry of lands HUNDREDS of parents of Muruguru ate on the issue over the past one year the area have no skills of learning the teacher does not give receipt after they had issued a letter of allotment on the Primary School in Nyeri County re- adding that performance of the school school adding that his colleague in the make payments. 1.66 hectares of land situated at the cently stormed the school and ejected has dropped compared to other years. school was a financial manager. After the exit of the head teacher, junction to Kilifi town a few meters the school head over poor perform- Nyeri KNUT Executive Secre- “We urge parents to calm down parents latter cooled down where from the Kilifi Bridge. “We have ob- ance in the KCPE results. tary Mutahi Kahiga who tried to calm and deliberate on the issues that are af- they were addressed by local district tained the letter of offer for the piece down irked parents accused the gov- fecting them in the school for the sake education officer Wilfred Gaichu who of land which had been earmarked for The irate parents who held demon- the construction of the police head- stration at the school after they were ernment for hiring teachers with no their children,” said Kahiga. promised to call another meeting soon experience. The irate parents also accused the to discuss the way forward. quarters and we are soon going to ob- called for a parents meeting rejected tain a title deed,” said Mr. Wangai. the call from the area District Educa- He further said they have received tion Officer Wilfred Gaichu to allow the plot development plan following dialogue between them and the head an approval by the Ministry of Land teacher and instead insisted that he which has allocated them plan number must leave the school immediately. 126 and the land allotment letter “We are here for one reason to number 209163\8\56. eject the head teacher and allow our The police boos said they will em- children to continue learning, we are bark on the development once they not here for any dialogue since the get the land title deed and funds. Mr. teacher has not been respecting us”, Wangai said according to the past said a parent Jacob Wandere. national census about 23 household They claimed that the nursery reside on the land which by then had school was closed due to poor man- 101 building structures. agement during the tenure of the However the planned eviction has current head teacher Fredrick Math- been opposed by local leaders who angani adding that “We are worried have demanded that the government that even the nursery school teachers looks for an alternative price of land to build the police headquarters. The were not paid their dues thus paralyz- leaders led by Bahari MP Mr. Ben- ing operations at the facility,” edict Gunda said it was not fair for the They protested that they are fed up government to evict the squatters who with the head teacher urging the DEO have lived on the piece of land for to transfer him immediately. many years. “My people have been Armed police officers were called living on this piece of land for many to beef up security as the teacher got years and it will be unfair if they will exit. be evicted from the land to pave way The parents claimed that since for the construction of a police head- Mathangani was posted into the quarters,” Gunda. The MP suggested school several operations have stalled. that the government identify another They said school water and some piece of land to put up the police head- of the board teachers have not been quarters and leave the squatters on the paid. Angry parents of Muruguru Primary school in Nyeri County after they stormed the school recently over current plot. poor performances. Photo/Joseph Mukubwa But, the OCPD said the only way to address the problem was for the leaders to get another piece of land and resettle the squatters and not the other way round. Councilors accused of sabotaging sugar factory Meanwhile, the chairlady of Kilifi town council Esther Kache and local By NYAKWAR ODAWO where the company has invested heav- councilors have vowed to reclaim ir- ily over the years in the development regularly acquired land and revert the A SECTION of leaders from Busia of cane,” said the sugar zone leaders. plots for public use. are opposed to plans by West Kenya The other issue that raises concern Mrs. Kache claimed that most of Sugar Company to set up a weigh- is how the sugar company intends to the public utility plots in Kilifi have bridge in the area saying this could gain from the venture when transpor- been grabbed by prominent people who she said have 14 days to surren- destabilize cane farming. tation cost alone is likely to eat up on der them or face forceful eviction. The sugar zone leaders led by the all the proceeds accruing from the “Most of public utility plots in vice- chairman of Western Develop- long distance involved and the higher Kilifi have been grabbed by promi- ment Initiative Association Joseph prices the company is purportedly nent people in the government whom Barasa, cane growers spokesman going to pay sugar cane farmers per we know and we are kindly urging Venshwa Okwara and area councillor tonne of cane delivered at the buying them to return the plots,” said Kache. Lucas Wakuloba have vowed to mobi- centre. Last year, the chairlady clashed with lize farmers into rejecting the project. “What the sugarcane farmers in an Asian businessman over a 3 acre Barasa says the move by West the county want at the moment is non piece of land at the Kilifi creek near Kenya Sugar Company is highly sus- other than the eagerly awaited sugar the Kilifi district headquarters which picious and meant to create serious factory, not a weighbridge,” they said, he claimed to have bought in 2009. rifts between cane farmers and the gi- adding that West Kenya Sugar Com- However, Mrs. Kache claimed that ant sugar company which has pany is trailing in the list of companies the piece of land belonged to the coun- contracted local farmers. who had applied to the Kenya Sugar cil and it had officially allocated the The sugar zone leaders argue that Board for a license to construct a sug- plot to a youth group in Kilifi which the construction of the weighbridge at ar factory. established recreational facility at the site. “This piece of land officially be- Tangakona area beats logic since the The sugar zone leaders at the same PM miller is based in time said that for nearly two years, longs to Kilifi town council and we which is more than triple the distance West Kenya Sugar Company has been Mumias Sugar Company which they dustry, we are appealing to the Prime recently allocated to a group of youth from Mumias Sugar factory. embroiled in bitter rivalry with Butali said is ready to leave once farmers Minister Raila Odinga through the in Kilifi who have since developed a build their own factory. Ministry of Agriculture and the Kenya recreational center and the informa- “If the plan succeeds, West Kenya Sugar Company over market share tion you are giving me is misleading,” Sugar Company will be transporting after farmers ditched the former af- The Sugar Cane Zone leaders Sugar Board to intervene as a mat- she asserted. sugarcane right through the Mumias ter decades of neglect in undertaking spokesman on the other hand urged ter of urgency and order West Kenya The area OCPD had to intervene Sugar belt zone in Busia and this cane development. cane farmers in the region not to allow Sugar Company to halt the planned by asking both the Asian businessman could result in poaching of farmers They added that sugarcane farmers themselves to be misled by people out construction of a weighbridge in Bu- and the Kilifi town council to produce contracted to supply cane to Mumias in the area will continue to be served to destroy cane farming in the region. sia because the move is likely to cause papers to justifying their ownership to sugar factory from Busia sugar zone by the existing weighbridge built by “As stakeholders in the sugar in- a lot of confusion,” they said. the plot.

The Link, February 2012 SUPPLEMENT 15

PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE A monthly supplement funded by the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Use media reports with caution TRAVEL extensively in ever, still, I working in fields closely connected to ther deliberated upon in both print and MANAGER’S COLUMN Kenya both in my profes- cannot with human rights or an academic institu- electronic mediain the next coming sional and private capaci- certainty tell tion are that the newspapers capture months. Based on what I have written Ities. Hence I can tell you the reader different perspectives on the same is- above, I want to encourage you as a that even if the traffic can be By that this is sue. Also the journalists are influenced reader to read newspapers with a criti- sinister, the beautiful scenery the truth. by their subjective opinion when writ- cal eye. Also, when friends retell stories keeps your mind at peace and HANNA In most ing and trying to find biases which will that they have either read or heard, I the colourful painted houses CARLSSON offices in attract the reader. For some of us, this ask you to be vigilant, use your critical along the way, covered with Kenya, with is basic knowledge, for others it’s not. thinking and try to find other sources commercials from different more than If I was brought up in an area where that are sharing the same information products, make the trips very four employ- the national newspaper reached two before you embrace and further retell informative and interesting. For ees, you will days after publication, I would most what you have heard. By being observ- instance,a commercial that has always find both leading national newspapers. probably believe that everything writ- ant with the so called news we share, amazed me is from one of Kenya’s The reason may be that the employ- ten in the newspaper was the gospel we can prevent unnecessary tension leading national newspapers. The ees have different preferences, also truth. and subsequently violence. amazement is not because I think it that historically one of the newspapers The year 2012 is a very important Meanwhile, I am pleased to inform is innovative or funny, I am amazed would be pro-government while the year for Kenya and the newspapers will you that the Partnership for Peace because the newspaper claims to be other one would be more critical. Also, have many vital topics to report about. Project was granted a six month ex- “The truth”. In my opinion no newspa- the owners of the newspaper influence The main topics in the month of Janu- tension which means that we will have per can claim to report the truth. Truth the content. In Europe, depending on ary was the confirmation of the ICC further activities on the ground start- is very subjective. If I would write an the editor or the owners, newspapers hearings, the ruling from the supreme ing in February. We will continue to article about an event, I would report can among others be conservative, lib- court on the election day, and the In- strengthen our regional peace-building my subjective observation of what took eral, social or non-political. They will still dependent Electoral and Boundaries networks and in hot-spot areas organ- place. To make my article more objec- report about the same events but write Commissions’ preliminary report on the ize community dialogues to discuss tive, I could ask other people who took with their ideological lenses. In Kenya, first review relating to the delimitation preventive measures but also find solu- part in the event how their experiences I believe that the main reason to have of constituency boundariesand wards. tions to brewing tension. were, and add that to my article. How- both newspapers in an organization I believe that these topics will be fur- The writer is the International Project Manager of the Partnership for Peace Project. For comments or suggestions write to: Youth told to use social networks for their rights [email protected] BY JANE MURUTU jective of the parliament was to with disability and the youth. discuss emerging human rights is- The facilitator elaborated about IT was awe and joy as the sues, challenges and strategies for article 27 of the constitution, which INSIDE THIS ISSUE: youth gathered at the Kenya enhancing respect of human rights deals with Equality and Freedom Borabu-Sotik border Red Cross hall on 14th Janu- in Rift Valley. from discrimination, commenting ary 2012 for the first regional The meeting commenced with that nobody should be discriminat- residents preach peace human rights youth parlia- the national anthem and then ed which includes the youth. The — 16 ment in Rift Valley. The par- hinged on the topic on human participants were urged to be very liament brought 80 youths rights as enshrined in the Consti- vocal for their rights to be respect - organized by the Kenya Mus- tution. Mr. Joseph OmondiofMid ed and upheld. The untold story Rongo lim Youth Alliance. A host of Rift Human Rights Network talked The participants were also taken other stakeholders were in at- about article 55 of the constitution through article 43 of the constitu- politically instigated tendance. They included rep- that says that the state shall take tion, which talks about Economic massacre resentatives of the Provincial measure, like affirmative action to and Social rights. Theylamented Administration, Police, Provin- ensure that the youth get opportu- that the lords of impunity had — 17 cial Peace Forum, Center for nities to be represented and partici- turned majority of this country`s Democracy and Good Gov- pate in among others the political citizens to beggars yet with the ernance (CEDGG), sphere of life. He also cited article vast resources that the country Reforms and transition: Youth Forum, Mid Rift Human 177 (1) that captures the represen- has, a lot can be achieved and Lessons learnt Rights Network and Konrad tation of different groups in a coun- Adenauer Stiftung. The ob- ty assembly and particular people Turn to Page 16 — 18

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and her partners and associate

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. The Partnership for Peace Project is responsible for the views reflected in this supplement. 16 The Link, February 2012 SUPPLEMENT

Borabu-Sotik border residents preach peace

By BOB OMBATI hi, and her Borabu counterpart, Leonard Okari said they will mobilize youths not OLITICIANS and other peace to be misused by politicians during the groups along Borabu-Sotik border electioneering year to cause violence. Phave vowed to spearhead peace They said they were ready to be in- talks and campaigns ahead of this year’s volved in peace building and not to be general election to enhance peaceful co- wasted by unscrupulous politicians as existence among border communities. agents of violence, as this led to blood- The leaders who attended a peace shed and bad relationship between meeting at Chepilat shopping centre communities. along the common border asked the Okari said that youths will vote in the provincial administration to curb pe- 2012 general poll, return home and wait riodic cross border cattle rustling that for the results adding that they will not creates conflicts and inflames intertribal go to the streets to cause chaos over tension and clashes. the outcome. Leaders from Gusii and Kipsigis com- “Youths will not be incited to violence munities, led by Abagusii Cultural and by throwing stones at each other. That development council chairman, James is history as we mark the new era of Araka Matundura and his Kipsigis coun- peace, responsible and accountable terpart, Josiah arap Sang said they will leadership,” said Okari, stressing peace never incite their communities against was an engine for development. each other over politics. Mutahi urged the leaders to help set North Member of Parliament, up a talent academy along the com- William Ruto and his NyaribariMasaba Prof. Ongeri Mr. Ruto mon border to help youths from the two counterpart, Prof. Sam Ongeri decried long to various political parties and sup- said Matundura. communities interact and exploit their the events that characterised the dis- port various politicians but they cannot Women and youth leaders from two talent to improve their welfare. puted 2007 presidential poll results. mix it with the peace initiative meant to communities said they will preach peace She said youths will follow the foot- They noted that the Gusii and Kalen- heal and reconcile tribes after the cha- and expose anybody involved in cattle steps of the council of elders in enhanc- jin communities have co-existed peace- otic 2007 polls,” said Sang. rustling to curb the vice which has im- ing peace and unity between the two fully for a long time and had a common Matundura said God had chosen the poverished border residents. communities, which, she noted have co- ancestry, saying unity and peace should two tribes to share a common border, Former MaendeleoYaWanawake existed peacefully since independence. be restored and fostered to enhance na- adding that it was necessary for them chairperson, WilkistaOnsando and Ka- The youth asked leaders to set up in- tional cohesion. to co-exist peacefully since they were lenjin elder Rebecca Laboso urged par- dustries and factories along the border Sang said the council of elders from bonded through marriages, businesses, ents to inculcate moral values among and in their communities to add value to both communities had embarked on education and shared churches along their children and discourage them the agricultural produce and create jobs peace meetings to reunite the com- the border. from engaging in cattle rustling which to enable them eke out a living. munities torn apart after the clashes, He said the council of elders had sparked tensions and violence along the MPs Dr. Robert Monda (NyaribariCh- stressing that peace was imperative for been mandated by the communities common border. ache), Wilfred Ombui (North Mugirango any nation to realize any meaningful to initiate and spearhead peace talks The leaders, who addressed the Borabu), Richard Onyonka (KitutuCha- social, economic and political develop- which, he noted will culminate in the peace meeting urged parents to teach che), Dr. Joyce Laboso ( Sotik), Kazun- ment. sharing of a common meal along the their children about patriotism at a ten- gu Kambi (Kaloleni), Walter Nyambati Sang said they wanted Kenyans border and sporting activities to seal the der age to promote national unity, add- (KitutuMasaba), George Nyamweya along the common borders to go the peace deal. ing cattle rustlers should be cursed, ar- (nominated) and Franklin Bett (Buret) polls united and continue partnering Matundura lamented that some indi- rested and prosecuted as criminals. joined hands and echoed peace mes- in businesses, education, cultural and viduals were grumbling over the bound- “This is a new beginning. We can- sages. other social activities to cement their ary between the Kipsigis and the Kisii, not change history. We have to co-exist Others were David Koech (Mosop), relationships. saying the colonialists marked it and peacefully said Onsando, adding that Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Joshua He said the peace initiative was not a therefore it should be respected by women were peace makers and would Kuttuny (Cherangany), political process and the elders were not members of both communities. not allow their children and husbands to (Belgut), Beatrice Kones (Bomet) Isaac aligned to any political party and politi- “We have today agreed to jointly sup- be involved in clashes which subjected Ruto (Chepalungu), and former MPs, cians and urged politicians to stop politi- port the peace talks, end cattle rustling women and children to much suffering. OmweriKebwage (former Wanjare cizing activities spearheaded by elders, and respect our tribal boundaries to en- He called for the promotion of joint South), Omingo Magara (South Mugi- saying such acts may derail the process. hance healing, reconciliation, peace and social activities to enhance harmony. rango), NyarangiMoturi (North Mugi- “Individual council members can be- unity between the two communities,” Sotik district youth leader, RaelMuta- rango/Borabu). Youth told to use social networks for their rights From Page 15 tion, especially on the social net- youths have not strongly come out through the ICC process.The mod- many rights mentioned in the con- works like Facebook and Twitter. to demand to know why the gov- erator said that it was important for stitution can be realized. The par- The participants were asked to ernment is not employing them yet the participants to know the proc- ticipants were asked to use the rethink on economic empower- economic empowerment is part of ess of the ICC, especially now that technology at their disposal to post ment and look at ways that benefit the agenda 4 of the national ac- charges of crimes against human- articles that can help fellow youths them and to avoid being misused cord. ity have been confirmed against to learn more about the constitu- by the politicians. He said that the The participants were also taken four prominent Kenyans.

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and her partners and associate

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. The Partnership for Peace Project is responsible for the views reflected in this supplement. The Link, February 2012 SUPPLEMENT 17

The untold story of Rongo politically instigated massacre By NANCY AKINYI and The victims-to-have been, go district hospital. The body had 4 cuts, GEORGE CHACHA immediately regrouped and and was burnt in several parts. came back with vengeance; Asked what message she wishes to THE Rongo ODM politically instigated bi- armed with all sort of weapons send out there both to the government and zarre and grotesque murders were a grim they could lay their hands on. youths. Margaret, the first wife had this to reminder to the deadly post-election vio- They repulsed the attack- say, amid tears, “The government owes me lence of 2007/8. It was a scene like from ers, chasing them back, into an explanation; they have what it takes to hell; one that nobody wants to see in his sugarcane plantations, corner- detect and prevent such beastly acts before or her life. As part of our peace building ef- ing them, hacking them, burn- they happen. It is my hope that severe ac- forts we felt duty bound to dig out the real ing them with plastic materials tion will be taken against those involved. reasons behind the deaths. But unfortunately prisons are for Hence, on December 26, a very chilly the poor; politicians are above morning; while families in theMigori County the law. As a-nobody and a wife were counting and opening box- to a-nobody, I don’t expect any- es, we decided to visit the affected families thing from the government.” The to find out the truth. This is the story. second wife Helen simply said:, “I We started off at local hotel in Rongo hate politics, I hate politicians”. town. We hurriedly sipped our tea as we went over our plan of action, and immedi- The need Kitere area is very tense; with ately boarded a motor bike which we had Lucas and his 2 wives during the happy assigned to ferry us to some distant land some residents having deserted days. Inset: Slain Lucas’ grave; in his their homes for fear of arrests and which held answers to the numerous ques- homestead, buried on 24/12/2011 tions which must have crossed the minds revenge. They feel frustrated that whispers could be seen amongst the locals; the forthcoming general elections many, with hidden treasure of information may bear worse consequences to we were looking for. the residents. There is general We entered a typical homestead with feeling that the residents both in four grass-thatched houses and one simple Asumbi and Rongo- tin-roofed. Sitting arrangement common to and the whole area was engulfed in anger, need dialogue and civic education. burials was still evident. Behind one of the vengeance and death. grass-thatched was a fresh grave. Together By 10 pm word was going around in The response with our “chauffer” we went straight to pay Nguta’s village that the youths who had The area residents from both regions are been ferried from Sinema to Rongo had still fresh with reality of “politics of owner- been killed. Since Nguta had not yet come ship”; whereby individuals want to own an back by that time, the family claims they aspirant for personal gains. As such they decided to call his mobile number using a themselves would be ready to share the neighbor’s phone. The person who received pains and loses of the same. the call rudely answered: “We have killed The popular boda-boda service in the him and cut him up; come for your person,” area reaches so many people per day. Not- and hanged up. ing that their livelihood depends on this, with Asked what message she has to the na- some rally, T-shirts/reflectors with message Mother to deceased, Mama Jenifer Ojwan. tion, she had this to say, Right Wife of the deceased, Jackline and two children, by the Graveside. “Every parent invests in her children. The govern- of many democratic peace loving Kenyans. ment has failed to protect It took us one hour 15 minutes to reach my investment. I am at a the first destination; Gem Central Location, our respect and prayers by the grave side; loss.” Sub-Location, Konguenya Village, with wilting flowers on the grave. A brother says that he Homabay District. All heads turned as we Deceased: Peter Oluoch Nguta, 38, mar- hopes the government will snaked along the village road and signs of ried, and fatherof three children aged 18 leave no stone unturned months, 4 and 7 years. Ngu- until the mobilizers are ap- ta was a charcoal dealer; he prehended. left home at 9.00 am on bicycle to collect some debt The Second homestead from a client at the trading We walked intoa modest center, Sinema in Asumbi, homestead in Gem Cen- we are told. On the way tral, Kajulu Sub-Location someone allegedly called on where yet another victim him so that the can join a of political intolerance, Lu- delegation to meet a politi- cas Opana, born in 1961, cian in Rongo. There were a father of 12 children from vehicles already assigned to two wives, had just been ferry them to Rongo: three laid to rest. Lucas’ family of 12 children outside his house. Nissan matatus and a red According to is family, Lucas had left for these operators could be crucial resource pick-up. church. Then he realized that he was very for the spreading the cohesion message On reaching Kitere Cen- late and decided to come back home. Short- with ease; even as they go about their jobs, tre, a scuffle for suprema- ly after, a caller invited him for the fateful which they want to sustain in peace. cy ensued and there was meeting at Sinema. stampede, fighting and hail At 4 pm, a call came in from Rongo to The writers report on behalf of Nyanza of stones from nowhere fell the effect that Lucas has been hacked by Peace Partners Alliance. The 2 wives (seated) of Lucas Opana, sons and brothers in Kitere. machetes and is in critical condition, in Ron-

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and her partners and associate

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. The Partnership for Peace Project is responsible for the views reflected in this supplement. 18 The Link, February 2012 SUPPLEMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE Reforms and transition: Lessons learnt By MANASSEH WEPUNDI The on-going ICC proceed- According to the study, whatever peace ings in the absence of a local tri- and conflict scenarios play out in future de- N December 2011, Saferworld finalized bunal to handle middle to lower pends on three main issues: a study titled “Transition and Reform: level perpetrators were cited as l That the country’s future peace and IPeople’s Peacemaking Perspectives on a potential cause of future re- conflict dynamics will be influenced by the Kenya’s Post-2008 Political Crisis and Les- venge missions. This becomes strides made in aligning the country’s le- sons for the Future,” authored by James more real considering the eth- gal, political and economic systems to the Ndung’u and Manasseh Wepundi. The study nic polarization that has fed the new constitutional provisions. The extent to analysed the public’s present (or post-2007) rise of organized gangs like the which the country adheres to the new laws conflict concerns and generated scenarios Mombasa Republican Council. and the level of commitment to a just, fair, around that. A third issue regards high un- and democratic system of governance will The findings of the study point to citi- employment and poverty rates largely determine how cohesive and pro- zens’ concerns about the pace of constitu- and harsh economic conditions. gressive Kenyan society becomes. tional and institutional reforms. Under the This fact especially tempts the l Considering that all post-1990 elections new constitution, the parliament is expected youth to join organized gangs, have been marred by violence, peaking in to pass about 50 new laws within a pre-de- which are used to spread politi- 2007/2008, any future build-up to conflict fined timeframe. The fear is that the execu- cal violence. will be slow and discernible provided key tive and legislature are bent on weakening Fourthly, devolution was seen indicators are monitored. For example per- the force of the new constitution. Examples as having both positive and sistent hate speech, clearly ethinicised poli- that were cited include the inability of the negative effects. People are con- tics, political elites’ conflicts, and exclusion- Constitution Implementation Commission cerned about how counties will ary leadership behaviour would all serve to (CIC) to ensure full compliance in the for- relate to the central government, gradually escalate conflict. mulation of the bill on the Ethics and Anti- especially about the fate of the l That national stability will allow further Corruption and the Political Parties Act. provincial administration. Ques- de-escalation of political conflict from a A second concern was about the divi- tions about how counties will be President Kibaki during Promulgation of new 2007/8 peak. To sustain the conflict de- sive nature of national politics. “Statements managed are also sources of tensions. Com- Constitution. escalation process however, there is need made at the national level by politicians munities are interested in issues of location of is the challenge of the availability of illegal for stability of the country’s legal, gov- from our area have a big impact on relations county headquarters, county boundaries, and small arms. “The threat of militia and gangs ernance and economic systems. This will among the communities on the ground,” the relationship between governors and the is real. Apart from the bulging numbers of guarantee the requisite environment for observed one citizen. People felt that poli- provincial administration. The public would unemployed youth easily getting persuaded enhancing social cohesion without which ticians divide communities for their selfish not want counties governed as isolated units. to join these groups, the inability of the peace cannot be guaranteed. This would interests. An example that was given was “We get maize from Nandi while Nandi re- government to provide security to citizens in turn create a strenuous environment the formation of alliances based on ethnic ceives fish and rice from Kisumu. We rely on in some areas of the country, including in for reform and development efforts. And considerations (e.g. the KKK alliance). each other. There is no way we can survive the towns is creating an alternative informal unless Kenya can move beyond mere con- alone,” noted a member of the public. security led by militia. Sometimes we rely on flict management towards genuine conflict Fifthly, the public wants sufficient fo- these groups to provide security at a fee,” transformation through inter-group recon- cus in analysing the role of politicians and said one person. ciliation and building greater social cohe- A NOTE FROM the provincial administration in creating the Last but not least, people are concerned sion, efforts to implement the new consti- land problem in Kenya. Beyond making it a about porous borders, which have contrib- tution will be strained. THE DESK OF campaign issue, politicians are seen to have uted to the insecurity in the country. Inse- directly or indirectly contributed to the land cure borders have led to easy access of fire- The full version of the report can be down- crisis. arms. If the problem is not controlled, the loaded from www.partnershipforpeace.eu. CO-MANAGER A sixth concern is the problem of organized public is afraid that armed crime will grow in It is also possible to contact Saferworld, Dear all, gangs, some of which have grown to have se- urban areas while rural areas will be subject James Ndungu on +254 (0) 20 273 3250, Last year, I got the great news that I cessionist ambitions. Alongside gangs, there to more intense inter-communal violence. and inquire about a hardcopy. had received a Rotary Peace Scholar- ship; professional certificate option, to study at ChulalongKorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, for three months. CONTACT ADDRESSES: It is an intensive and practical peace study course where we will have two Partnership for Peace, Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, Mbaruk Road 27 field trips, one being in Thailand and P.O. Box 66471 - 00800, Nairobi, Kenya, ten days in Nepal, a small country north Telephone. +254 - 20 - 2610021 of Thailand and the host of the world’s Fax: +254 - 20 – 2610023 highest peak, Mount Everest. There- e-mail: [email protected] fore, I wish to inform all our partners and stakeholders that I will be away from 13th February through the 6th PARTNERS May, 2012. When I am back, I hope to Mt. Elgon Residents Association (MERA) Community Initiative Action-Group (CIAG-K) Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) share my experiences with you so that Chem Ngeywo, Project Coordinator Edwin Adoga, Project Coordinator Mr. James Kimisoi, Project Coordinator my personal professional development Western Province Nyanza Province can benefit Kenya as a country. More P.O. Box 21-50201, Cheptais, Mt. Elgon Milimani (Hosted by CADIF Kenya, The Catholic Diocese of Eldoret information on how you can become Mobile : 0720-744827; 0734-517489. next to Plan Intern. Milimani) P.O. Box 842-30100, Eldoret. a Rotary peace fellow can be obtained Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 9104-40140, Kisumu. Tel 2031272; 0722-448110 from www.rotary.org.rotarycenters. Tel: 0705-266 057 or 0735-865 026 E-mail: [email protected] The application deadline is 1 JULY E-mail: [email protected] 2012. -Jane Murutu

This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and her partners and associate

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. The Partnership for Peace Project is responsible for the views reflected in this supplement.

The Link, February 2012 20 GOVERNANCE

CDF board sued Bogus orphanage closed in Matuu over alleged By KAVYU-KURA dren Josphat Mogaka, the plight of their children would be educated for on its registration at the District Edu- the children was brought to the atten- free. cation Office. “This is not really a graft tion of the authorities by law abiding He said the institution was illegal school. It is just a bogus facility,” Ki- AN orphanage in Matuu town in Yatta By NYAKWAR ODAWO District of County alleg- Kenyans. He said the rescued children as it had not been licensed and its man- lili told The Link as he released the edly owned by a traditional healer was variously hailed from Nairobi, Mach- ager and six other persons had been children to their parents. MEMBERS of the Budalangi Con- in January shut down and all the 347 akos, Kitui and Mwingi. arrested. He said parents and guard- Parent, Alice Pius, who had come stituency Community Development pupils sent home. Mogaka whom we met at the Ma- ians need to establish the authenticity to pick her child said that contrary to Forum have moved to court to recov- The private children home that tuu Memorial School as he supervised of institution passing as orphanages assertion that the institution would of- er Kshs 147 million allegedly stolen doubled up as an academy was or- the handing over of the rescued chil- before handing in their children. fer free tuition, meals and accommo- from the Constituency Development dered closed by Yatta DO Margret dren to their parents and guardians Assistant chief Peter Kilili dis- dation, she had coughed up to Kshs Fund (CDF) kitty between 2007 and Thuo only days after its initial admis- said that the phony school’s manage- missed the institution as a bogus 3,000 to have her child admitted in 2011 respectively. sions. The lady owner is said to have ment had duped gullible parents that school since there were no records the troubled school. According to the community gone underground after she got wind chairman Mbaga Gero, the forum has of the imminent closure of the institu- sued the CDF board while four com- tion. munity representatives namely Peter Matuu OCS William Kaptich said Araba, Pantaleo Bwire Ouma, Mar- although some people including the garet Achieno Jacton and Bethwel manager Philip Munguti, cooks and Mango have been named as plaintiffs some parents were initially arrested in the case filed late last year. when the authorities moved to close The residents say they suspected down the facility, they were not found mischief after they were sidelined at directly culpable and were thus re- all stages of project implementation leased. “We have released them but contrary to guidelines outlined in the we are pursuing the proprietor who is CDF (Amendment) Act of 2007. said to be hiding in Kitui,” Kaptich. Among the complaints lodged be- The institution that had admitted fore the court include the closure of the over 300 children under the guise a CDF account held at the National that their education and upkeep would Bank of Kenya, Busia branch by the be financed by a generous donor had CDF Committee chairman under un- allegedly exposed them to dehuman- explained circumstances during the izing and debilitating conditions for 2007/2008 financial year and that he lack of adequate food, water, beddings has to date yet to account for the bank and shelter. balance of Kshs9.2million. The Yatta DO and the District Chil- Further, the community alleges that within the period under review, a dren officer Jackson Mogaka stormed total of 14 projects have been inflated the congested hired premise in Matuu by the CDF committee to the tune of town where the children were housed Kshs84.7million while 28 projects and rescued them. The children were valued at Kshs 49.5 million had been taken to the Matuu HGM Memo- done without the Bill of Quantity. rial girls’ school where they were held The community also accuses the overnight as their parents and guard- CDF board of flouting provisions ians were sought. Parents and children leave for their homes after their orphanage in Matuu was closed only days after in the CDF Act which outline that According the Yatta district Chil- they were admitted. Photo/Kavyu-Kura ongoing CDF projects must be com- pleted before any other new projects are started. “If there is a change in the membership of CDFC, then the Busia residents happy with boundaries report incoming committee has a duty to complete all the existing projects be- By NYAKWAR ODAWO The leaders and residents who ing opinions that may interfere with the newly established wards. How- fore initiating and funding new ones,” had attended a forum convened the compilation of the final report, ever, the leaders and residents of adds the community chairman. LEADERS and residents of Busia by the Independent Electoral and adding that as chairman of the par- Nambale opposed the move. The complainants now want the County have commended the Inde- Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at liamentary select committee on In a joint report presented to court to compel the defendants, Bu- pendent Electoral and Boundaries the Busia County Council hall on the Elections and Constitution, he will the IEBC, the residents of Funyula dalangi Constituency Development Commission for creating two more delimitation of constituencies ap- ensure the report is adopted by par- suggested to the Commission that Fund board and the CDF chairman to constituencies in Teso South District pealed to IEBC not to interfere with liament. the name Funyula be replaced with give a detailed account as to how the and Matayos in Busia District. the newly established constituencies Ababu at the same time urged the Samia and urged the commission to Kshs147million disbursed during the Led by Sports Minister Dr Paul as they guarantee effective service IEBC to consider creating more wards give them an additional ward. Their 2007/2008/2009/2010 and 2010/2011 Otuoma, Budalangi MP Ababu delivery to the residents. in Busia County especially in Bu- counterparts from Budalangi, Ama- financial years was spent. Namwamba and Amagoro MP Sos- “We are appealing to you to dalangi adding that the commission goro and Butula similarly requested “We are also calling on the Min- peter Ojaamong who is labour as- leave the newly created constituen- should adhere to the rules and regula- for additional wards. istry of Finance to withhold any addi- sistant minister, the residents said cies as they are so that we can be tions stipulated in the new constitution Commissioner Muthoni however tional funding earmarked for the Con- the newly created constituencies that able to serve our people better,” said while creating the said wards. assured the residents of Busia Coun- stituency in the current financial year have been hived from Amagoro and the MPs. At the same time the leaders and ty that their opinions and proposals until the matter in court is finalized,” Nambale constituencies will ensure Budalangi MP Ababu residents from Amagoro, Funyula, would be taken into consideration, they said in their sworn statement. equal representation in line with the Namwamba on his part urged the Butula and Budalangi have unani- adding that they should agree on Meanwhile, a former MP Raphael requirements of the new constitu- IEBC led by Commissioner Mu- mously agreed that IEBC makes important issues before they submit Wanjala has welcomed the move by tion. thoni Wangoi to ignore any differ- changes in the final report regarding their final report to the commission. the residents of Budalangi constituen- cy to take the CDF committee to court for failing to exercise transparency and accountability in the implementa- tion and utilization of the fund. “The decision of Budalangi con- Coast MPs told to leave PC alone stituents to take on the CDF commit- By BEKADZO TONDO the drug business. politicians in Coast Province to fisheries development Mr. Amason tee is timely because since they took “The war launched by some concentrate on development matters Kingi ganged up and demanded over the office, most projects initiated COAST MPs have been accused of MPs from Coast region to push for and not to fight other leaders simply for the immediate transfer of My during my tenure have been sidelined pushing for the removal of the Coast the transfer of the P.C Mr. Munyi on to gain political mileage out of it,” Munyi. instead of being completed so that Province Commissioner Mr. Ernest grounds that he had contributed to said Shahbal. The legislators accused the ad- the community can benefit from the Munyi to cover up their underhand the land ownership problem in the Speaking during an interview ministrator for perpetrating land same,” said the former legislator, who dealings in drugs businesses has area was meant to shield them from with the press in Malindi soon after grabbing by enforcing court orders cited Busagwa dispensary which has claimed that a section of. the drug business,” said Mr. Shah- he launched the establishment of to evict squatters from their land. stalled yet it was 80percent complete, Mr. Suleiman Shahbal, a Mom- bal. the first fully fledged Coast Interna- However, the PC later convened a situation that has forced the area basa businessman, said the poli- Mr. Shahbal who has declared tional University at Ganda in Ma- a press conference at his office and residents to seek medical services to ticians were using the squatter his interest for the governorship of lindi, Mr. Shahbal urged the MPs to distanced himself from the claims. as far as Port Victoria district hospital. problem facing Coast people and Mombasa said leaders have a duty concentrate on the development of “As a Provincial Commissioner, The case filed before High Court ongoing demolitions as a pretext to help the people in development their respective constituencies in- mine is just to implement the gov- judge Florence Mucheni is slated for to fight the administrator but the programs and not to wage war on stead fighting the PC. ernment policies and eviction are hearing on February 16, 2012. The real problem is that Mr. Munyi has others for political reason. A section of MPs from Coast enforced in compliance with court community of Budalangi is being rep- vowed to fight people involved in “I would like to appeal to our province led by the minister for orders,” he said. resented by lawyer Aggrey Etyang. The Link, February 2012 GOVERNANCE 21 Ligale Global standards sought in coal project commission By KAVYU-KURA coal basin. Block C and D to do business with the all residents who will be affected during He noted that such policy measure companies contracted to mine coal. He the coal mining that is set to kick off in A LOBBY group allied to the residents were prudent because past historical said that the locals were encouraged to the area. under fire of the coal rich Mui basin in Kitui evidence indicate that in many places have shares with the Mui Mines Lim- Omenge who is in charge of the coal By AGRREY BUCHUNJU County wants internationally accepted where minerals or natural resources ited Company which was a registered projects noted that his department has standards applied in all attributes of the have been found and mined the local outfit. Mutua also added that his group PREVIOUS commissions tasked embarked on a campaign to educate and coal mining project. communities have remained an ex- was grateful that the Ministry of energy sensitize residents of Mui basin on the to delimitate units for political rep- The team chaired by Nairobi lawyer tremely poor lot. He said they would had disbanded a consultative committee resentation have been accused by nitty-gritty of the coal mining project. Erick Kyalo Mutua agreed in Mwingi guard against the same happening in headed by former Kitui East MP Muth- Omenge spoke in the wake of a visit residents of having hotel that the commencement of coal Mui. usi Kitinga. created constituencies that suit the to the Mui basin where he held public mining would only be allowed if World Mutua added that his committee Mutua pointed out that decision by awareness meeting with local leaders, whims of the ruling elites. would also push for water tight policies Speaking recently at Bungoma Bank recommended standards were the Ministry of energy to allow Block government heads of departments and County hall during a public hearing agreed upon. Already a Chinese com- to ensure that the locals did not suffer C and D to have an independent com- residents in a bid to enhance full resi- on boundaries review, the residents pany has won the contract to mine coal the debilitating aftermath of coal min- mittee was commendable. He said the dents’ involvement in the coal project told the Independent Electoral and in the area. ing once the mineral is expended and annulled Kitonga’s committee was not and to allay fears of massive displace- Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that “We have agreed to only accept in- mining stops. people driven and dully representative. ments and exploitation. the county is under-represented due ternational standards in compensation, “We are aware that coal is a very He said his committee had the man- to its political affiliation. resettlement, profit sharing and environ- dangerous mineral that can adversely date to effectively protect the interests of Led by the western Kenya Human mental once the projects takes off in affect lives. We must ensure that there 3000 families in Block C and D to en- Rights watch executive director Mr. the Mui basin’s Blocks C and D,” Mu- are safeguards to ensure that people of sure they were not unduly exploited or Plan urges Job Bwonya, the residents asserted tua told the media recently following a Mui are not adversely affected,” he said. shortchanged before, during or after the that Bungoma County was denied its meeting at a Mwingi hotel. He added that his team would seek mining of coal. Meanwhile, the govern- NACADA to rightful number of constituencies be- The lawyer pointed out that his to moderate between the government, ment has moved to assure residents of cause the previous electoral commis- group will seek the formulation of poli- the people of the coal belt and the Chi- 5000 square Kilometres coal rich Mui sions including the Andrew Ligale cies similar to the South Africa’s Black nese mining company that has already basin in that they will not step up war commission were politically guided/ Empowerment Bill where 25 percent of been given the contract to mine coal in be disenfranchised or short changed in party affiliated. profits drawn from mineral extraction Blocks C and D to avoid conflict and any way. on drugs Bwonya argued that since constit- go to communities. He said his com- misunderstanding. Energy ministry chief geologist uencies are units of employment and mittee would demand 10 percent of He said the committee was also in John Omenge assured them of equity By JOHN NYAMBUNE re-distribution of the national cake, the process of mobilizing the people of in the relocation and compensation to Bungoma County has not gotten its Chinese profits to go to the people of the rightful share of devolved funds and PLAN International wants the Na- recruitment of the youths in the public tional Campaign Against Drug Abuse sector. To demonstrate how extreme Authority (NACADA) to step up the disparities in representation affect war on drugs. re-distribution of national resources, The Programme Manager Mr. Phi- Bwonya tabled CDF allocations and talis Were says if the youth are left at populations for the mercy of drugs, the country’s fu- in Tranzoia County verses the com- ture will be compromised and called bined four constituencies of Elgeyo/ for urgent action to avert the situation. Marakwet county; Marakwet East, “If we leave drugs and substance Marakwet West, Keiyo North and abuse to spoil our young generation; Keiyo South. we shall have nothing to smile about Between 2003 and 2010, Bwonya as leaders. A nation without youth has said that Saboti constituency with a no future and is like a river without its population of 387,366 people was al- source,” says Were. located a total of Kshs. 251,169,133 He urged NACADA to initiate as CDF while the four (4) constitu- more programmes to ensure the youth encies in Elgeyo/ Marakwet County are captured in their endeavors. with a combined population of 369,998 people were allocated a total “This is a symptom of a deep-seat- of Kshs. 752,867,734. ed menace in our society that we have Consequently, Bwonya asserted failed to scrap out,” he said. that for constituents to get good value He urged the youth to engage of their taxes, population should be their minds in meaningful activities, strictly used to delimitate constituen- including theatre groups as a way of cies as enshrined in article 89, (5) and reaching out to their colleagues. (6) of the constitution. He also appealed to the clergy to Bwonya took a swipe at the dis- stop regarding drug addicts as sinners banded Andrew Ligale, Interim In- but consider them as people in need of dependent Electoral and Boundaries assistance. Review commission (IIBRC) saying Meanwhile, as campaigns against the criteria it used to delimitate one drug and substance abuse intensify, of the nine proposed constituencies the Kenya Medical Training College, in the four (4) counties in the former campus has launched anti- western province were discriminatory Energy Ministry Chief Geologist John Omenge shows Mui basin residents samples of coal collected narcotic club to curb drug abuse. and politically motivated. from well drilled during exploration. Photo/Kavyu-Kura The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Pre- He wondered which constitution vention (ADAP) club will organize a and population quota the IIBRC used series of meetings in schools and the to sub-divide Emuhaya constituency adding that the constituency did not Bungoma roads in dire need of repair entire District to create more aware- meet the constitutional threshold as ness among the students about drugs spelt out in article 89 of the consti- By AGGREY BUCHUNJU rural roads. Assertions by Kanduyi MP Alfred and substance abuse and provide cor- tution. Bwonya demanded to know Besides the Government’s devolved Khang’ati that he has no control over rect information about drugs abused. why the IIBRC skipped Kanduyi THE infrastructure which is key to roads funds, respective sugar factories, the dilapidated and impassable road C41 Speaking at the launch of the club constituency which is number 7 on Bungoma County’s social-economic de- coffee factories and tobacco industry in since the road falls under the Kenya Na- recently, the Principal, Mrs. Karen the merit list in the region in terms of velopment in terms of marketing of farm different regions also pay cess to Bungoma tional Highways Authority (KeNHA) is Oyugi, said the club will empower population and landed on Emuhaya produce appears to have been neglected County council to help improve rural ac- defeatist and unacceptable. students to make right decisions to which is number 11. by local political leaders. cess roads. Apparently all devolved funds Khang’ati should be reminded that help eradicate the menace which con- According to 2009 population No repairs have been done on major meant for improvement of roads are at the Kenya Roads Act of 2007 was enacted tinues to pose a grave threat to the so- census Kanduyi constituency has roads across the county’s six current con- local political leaders’ disposal. in order to put in place effective manage- ciety. 229,701 people with a surface area of stituencies for the last four years. Consequently the current Mps and ment of roads sector in the country with She urged the students body to 318.5 square kms while Emuhaya has The unprecedented situation has also civic leaders in Bungoma County should funds being trickled down directly to the enroll in the club and keep off drugs 185,069 people with a surface area of hurt the matatu industry since the roads be held responsible for the poor state of villages. The Act does not prohibit MPs since they are on the verge of being 173.5 kms square. are potholed and impassable during the roads. The MPs and Civic leaders should from petitioning the government to grant addicted to the substances. The lobby group added that if the rainy season. explain to area residents how they have them adequate funding for rehabilitation been using roads funds channeled through of national roads as MPs want Kenyans Mrs. Oyugi said the club will li- IIBRC was not biased in the distribu- This key infrastructure has worsened aise with the community to discard tion of the 9 new constituencies slot- and continues to worsen despite the fact the constituencies and cess respectively. to believe. that the Government allocates cash for Political leaders are duty bound to en- Khang’ati who is also assistant min- practices that encourage irresponsible ted for the region then it should have drinking among the youth. “Drug and sub-divided Malava constituency and roads repair to each constituency in the sure that roads funds are utilized prudently ister in the office of the prime minister not Nambale. county every financial year. to improve roads in their areas. has on many occasions distanced himself substance abuse is a national issue not Malava constituency in For instance during the current fiscal One of the key roles of MPs is to pe- from the woes of road C 41 arguing that a community affair and everyone has Kakamega County is number 10 year the Government through the Minis- tition the Government for more funding it is the government which is supposed to an equal share in the war to achieve with a population of 205,166 peo- try of Roads allocated Kshs.30 million to and immediate measures whenever a situ- rehabilitate it. our vision. We need support to make ple and surface area of 427.4 square each of the 210 constituencies in the coun- ation seems to get out of control. Road C41 is one of the roads that our dream a reality,” she said. kms while Nambale in Busia County try for roads repair. It is therefore irresponsible for politi- enhance trade and regional integration in The Principal said they expect to is number of 9 with a population of Each constituency was allocated cal leadership to say that rehabilitation and western region hence should not be al- incorporate students from other col- 205,982 people and surface area of Kshs.7 million more through the con- maintenance of class B or class C road is lowed to waste on the pretext that KeN- leges in future as well as from the 433.9 square kms. stituencies roads committees to improve beyond their mandate. HA is responsible for its management. community. The Link, February 2012 22 DEVELOPMENT Kenya doing better than its neighbours — UNDP By BRIGHTON KAZUNGU nomic growth to addressing the exist- in part. country in Africa at position 64 in ing social and economic inequalities. It continues: “The Ministry of En- the world, followed by Tunisia at State launches water “Development is a complex and ergy adopted a feed-in tariff in 2008 position 94 which feature in the cat- DESPITE the harsh economic times, difficult process. It is, therefore, nec- to supply and diversity electricity gen- egory of High Human Development management plan Kenya has made more robust efforts essary to prioritise national issues ac- eration sources, generate income and countries while Algeria (96), Gabon By BRIGHTON KAZUNGU to improve the lives of its people com- cording to their urgency, impact and employment and reduce greenhouse (106), Egypt (113), Botswana (118), pared to its neighbours, says Planning implement ability.” gas emissions. The tariff covers bio- Namibia (120), South Africa (123), THE government has rolled out the Assistant Minister Mr. Peter Kenneth. He spoke as the Human Develop- mass, geothermal, small hydroelec- Morocco (130), Cape Verde (133), second phase of the natural resourc- He points out that the Government ment Report 2011 published by the tric, solar and wind power.” Ghana (135), Equatorial Guinea (136) es management programme in the has been able to identify various ways United Nations Development Pro- According to the findings of the and Swaziland (140) featured among Upper Tana catchment to restore of eradicating challenges associated gramme (UNDP) lauded the country’s report presented by UNDP Resident the Medium Human Development water sources and the environment. with sustainability and equity through efforts towards promoting a green Representative Mr. Ainea Chuma, countries. During the launch, 68 community- the new constitution and other policy economy and its continuous improve- extreme poverty has also declined Overall, the 2011 Human De- based organizations (CBOs) from documents such as the Kenya Vision ment in education and health sectors. in both Kenya and Nigeria and these velopment Report notes that steady Nyandarua, Murang’a and Kiambu 2030 and its Medium Term Plan. The report whose theme is, “Sus- advances are attributable, in part, to advances in human development in counties received Kshs.22 million These measures include provision tainability and Equity: A better future improvements in water, sanitation, sub-Saharan Africa could stall and to promote income generating ac- of an enabling environment to facili- for all” appreciates the country’s new health and other living standards. even reverse unless bold steps are tak- tivities among members at a fete tate the participation of all sections Constitution as one that recognizes Kenya which was ranked 143 out en to reduce environmental risks and held in Gatura Primary School in of the population in the production equal rights to a healthy environment of the 187 countries in the study is inequalities in the region and around . process through access to productive and promote equity. the highest ranked in East Africa fol- the world. The report indicates that Water resources management resources and opportunities, expan- “Kenya’s new Constitution grants lowed by Tanzania, , Rwanda following current trends, inequality authority (WARMA) chief ex- sion of human capabilities by improv- the right to a clean environment and and Burundi at positions (152, 161, and deteriorating environmental con- ecutive officer Eng. Philip Ollum ing access to basic education, health, requires the government to maintain 166 and 185) respectively. ditions will together pose obstacles to said the programme was meant housing, water and sanitation, in- its natural resources,” the report reads Libya was the highest ranked progress in Africa across the globe. to support residents living in the crease access to employment opportu- catchment areas to start money- nities for the rapidly expanding labour making activities like dairy and force and increasing people’s capacity poultry farming, bee keeping, food to assert their rights. processing and rabbit raring. The other strategies are; redefining Eng. Ollum said the pro- the value of life in Kenya to increase gramme, funded by the World respect for life and self-esteem in so- Bank and which in the first tranche ciety, addressing the different forms of rolled out another Kshs.22 million, inequalities existing between regions is to provide the communities who and also addressing the problem of have been targeting trees for sur- insecurity to enable increased invest- vival through commercial charcoal ment and participation by a wider sec- burning and sale of timber with an tion of the society. alternative source of livelihood. He however says the achieve- The CEO said the project being ments should not be used to bench- coordinated in conjunction with mark performance in other East Af- National Irrigation Board and the rican countries. “The challenge for us Kenya Forest Service will enable is to compare ourselves with Norway the communities to generate mon- and find out what is it they have done ey to source alternative sources of to be number one in the world and energy like gas and solar which are what Gabon has done to be number environmentally friendly. one in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said the The communities that border minister. For the country to realize her forests were encouraged against development goals, Mr. Kenneth said, encroachment and farming along the focus must be on fewer projects river lines in order to check on soil and priorities that have lasting impact erosion which has been a major on the people rather than having many hindrance to fish farming activities projects that have no benefit to Ken- owing to pollution. yans. Eng. Ollum said the grants “Kenya is not short of good plans. ranging from Kshs.50,000 to What we seriously lack is alignment Kshs.500,000 are monitored and of funds for what Kenyans have evaluated by both the implement- planned and unless funds are availed, ing agencies and the donor to en- our good plans like the Kenya Vision sure compliance members of the 2030 will just remain a vision,” the benefiting CBO contributes 30 per minister added. cent of the amount sought. The country’s human develop- Stating that the protection of ment challenges, the minister pointed water catchment areas was a core out, go beyond simply increasing eco- Menengai Geothermal Project under construction to enhance power production in the country. Photo/File function of WARMA, Eng. Ollum decried the wanton destruction of water sources which he linked to poverty as people cut trees in an effort to survive. The authority se- State releases fund for ASALs water projects lected the region for the 12-month pilot project because it was expe- By PETER MUTUKU in water covering 18 supply systems, tion of private sector development in the stipulated time, the PS said the riencing excessive soil erosion. It while WRMA will receive Kshs113 and investments and provision of partners will outsource key services to was extended after the donor gave THE government has earmarked over million for the development and im- knowledge on management of natural allow the incorporation of individuals the Phase I a clean bill of health. one billion shillings to oversee the plementation of 18 water resource as- resource and economic development willing to invest in the sector. The approach which also sets to establishment of water projects in six sociations. opportunities. The WSTF Chief Executive Of- mitigate climate change has worked counties in the Arid and Semi Arid Speaking after the signing of the “These MOUs will provide the ficer, Jacqueline Musyoki said the well in countries like China, Ni- Lands (ASAL) in the country. MOU, Permanent Secretary in the framework for basic elements of the projects will be ideal in providing es- geria and South Africa. The gov- The projects are to be implemented Ministry of Development of Northern activities and fund flows, arrange- sential water services to the residents ernment is working out modalities in , , Tana River, Gar- Kenya and Arid Lands Mr Lawrence ments on how to transfer and utilize of the ASAL areas as a long term solu- of extending it to other parts of the issa, and Lamu counties from Lenayapa said the programme will the money are underway, we expect tion to their water problems. country. Eng. Ollum observed that the beginning of this month and will help alleviate food shortages besides that activities in Isiolo, Lamu, Garisa She said the plan will be inter- the introduction of the programme cover a period of two years in readi- empowering and enhancing resilience to commence in February this year,” related and mutually supportive and had seen the rate of encroachment ness for the integration of a planned among citizens in ASALs. he said. Prof Lenayapa says that over give opportunity to work with local into the Aberdare catchment area multi donor long term joint arid land “While the support areas are in- 14 million Kenyans living in the ar- communities to ensure sustainable de- decline but expressed concern that programmes. ert related and mutually supportive, eas have to contend with acute wa- velopment. the trend was worrying within Mt. The projects are to be implement- climate change adaptation measures, ter shortages due to erratic rainfall “These projects will empower the Kenya catchment region. ed jointly by the Ministry for Devel- gender balance, good governance and patterns and prolonged periods of communities and we want to ensure According to the project man- opment of Northern Kenya and Arid human rights issues are to be main- drought. that our services have impact in sus- ager Mr. Mutavuta Kinyua, other Lands Water Services Trust Fund streamed into the activities,” said the “ASAL thus remains the last fron- taining livelihoods,” she added. agencies involved in livelihoods (WSTF) and Water Resource Man- PS. tiers of development but has the poten- The funding of development part- improvement for the communities agement Authority. Under the projects, emphasis is to tial to turn the fortunes of this counties ners will provide technical assistance, like the Department of Agriculture According to a Memorandum of be placed on direct water investments but only if the available natural re- Mr Musyoki said and expressed opti- and that of livestock have been Understanding signed recently, WSTF for production, county level planning sources are exploited in a sustainable mism that the projects will go along brought on board to check on du- will receive Kshs537.3 million to un- and devolution for natural resources manner,” he said. To expedite the im- way in the providing long term water plication and misallocation of re- dertake 360 small scale investments and economic development, facilita- plementation of the programmes with- solution in ASALs. sources. The Link, February 2012 23 DEVELOPMENT

By JOHN NYAMBUNE

THE Water Services Trust Fund plans to streamline management of Bunyore residents form water supply and sanitation services. The Managing Director Kennedy Ochuka says the trust fund will con- tinue to finance the provision of wa- ter services in areas that have inad- water users association equate supply. Speaking during the commis- improve health, eradicate poverty ing beneficiaries can now access earn a living after losing a husband a metre cubic storage tank. However, sioning of South West Bunyore and create wealth. water. year ago. The chairman South West the chairman said challenges expe- community water users association Community receives funding Mrs. Emmersberger says Fin- community Water User Association, rienced during the implementation funded jointly by Finland, the MD through legally registered communi- land will continue supporting the Mr. Joash Oniango, expressed grati- phase included the sharp rise in added that the organization plans to ty based organization or NGO. Sup- community in several ways and tude and hailed donor partners and prices of materials, transporting of mobilize adequate resources nation- port for improvement of facilities is urged the community to maintain the Water Service Trust Fund direc- material from the store to the site, ally to enhance provision of water given on condition that the owner the project. Other projects that have tors from Lake Victoria North Wa- slow pace of community contribu- services, develop systems that en- contributes to the project implemen- been funded include the construc- ter Service Board for supporting the tion due to poverty, deliveries of sure proper implementation and tation by sourcing locally available tion of VIP latrines in 15 schools (COMMCAP) services. material from suppliers due to long sustainability of water and sanitation material labour as well as cash. and water kiosks at Mukhalakhala Mr. Oniango said South Water bureaucracy involved and change in projects, establish and nurture part- Users are expected to meet the market. Bunyore Water Users Association, the pipe water project design which nership with stakeholders. cost of operation and maintenance The project came as a reprieve serves Emmasaba and Mukhalakha- increased the cost of the project. “We source our funds through of the facilities upon completion of to the community with beneficiar- la locations in Luanda Division of Finally, Oniango thanked mem- government budgetary allocation, the project and come up with a well ies saying that they will save on the Emuhaya District, Western Kenya. bers of the CBO and the Lake Vic- development partners, grant and structured revenue collection sys- time they spent fetching water Oniango added that since its toria Water Service Board for the donation from institutions and indi- tem. “I have been moving for several establishment in 2008 it has been support towards the project and the vidual,” he adds. Further, the project should be kilometers to fetch water during dry involved in several activities includ- stakeholders at large for their tireless He says that projects that benefit environmental friendly and should season while during the rainy season ing training of members in various and sacrificial support towards the from the funding must be initiated demonstrate gender equality and I have to be rained on while fetch- aspects of water and sanitation man- implementation of the project. by the community or non-govern- governance. Ochuka calls on com- ing water. But the agony in over as agement. It was after they received Among the guests present was mental organization, must be de- munity groups to submit their pro- the South West Bunyore community the fund that they embarked on con- the director of planning western re- mand driven and managed by the posal adhering to the above named water users association with support struction of 15 VIP latrines in 10 gion, director Lake Victoria Water communities themselves. criteria for consideration. from Water Services Trust Fund and primary and 5 secondary schools Services Board, Harry Namubeyi Ochuka says beneficiaries are to During the function held at Finland Government have brought within the targeted areas and spring and the DC Emuhaya Muthama meet the costs of survey and design Ebwiranyi Primary School at Emu- piped water in my compound,” says protection at Nang’oli water springs. Wambua who conveyed there thanks of the facility should be economi- haya in County, the Finland Sarah Atiengo. The project also entailed the con- to the Finland Government for the cally and technologically sound with Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Sofie Atiengo says with the availabil- struction of the pump house and 50 support to the community to estab- suitable management structures. Emmersberger, commended the ity of water, she can be able to es- metre cube masonry tank, laying lish several project and the major He says all projects must seek to work done by the organization say- tablish a green house to enable her of pipes from the intake to the 100 one being the water project. Hunger programme set for expansion

By PETER MUTUKU try with the purpose of using key ex- October 2010 which later transformed periences as benchmarks for launch- into Kenya National Public Private Partnership (PPP) in 2009. THE Business Alliance Against ing similar programmes in Africa. The government has already in- The activities in were cen- Hunger (BAACH) plans to roll out a tred on increasing food production, ADVERTISING RATES project that seeks to spur food secu- corporated the initiative into the ag- ricultural sector development plan for giving access to affordable products rity, job opportunities, income gen- and services as well as sustainable in- eration and business opportunities in vision 2030. Ten more constituencies Your support as our reader or advertiser ensures that the stories have been earmarked for the activities. come generation through engagement selected areas in the country. of entrepreneurs, says the bulletin. that matter - the stories that help people make decisions about The project that was initially start- Piloting activities in Siaya, Nyan- za Province, included rice retailing, It says 20 traders engaged in rice their education, health, governance, their livelihood, and their ed on a pilot basis in Siaya in 2008 will retailing in partnership with Domin- soon be replicated in Yatta, Murang’a honey production and irrigation farm- communities - reach them in a simplified but factual way. ing. For Kithendu, iria-Kiriga Irriga- ion Farms generated a net income and Bungoma Districts in Eastern, of Kshs 15 million, with the price of Central and Western provinces with tion scheme in Gatanga and Kanduyi projects, BAACH plans to work with commodities reducing by 33 percent How to Advertise specific areas being Matuu, Gatanga due to the retailing transactions. and Kanduyi respectively. Already 22 Community Based Organizations Send us the details of what you want advertised and we’ll do the (CBOs) to ensure increased agri busi- Revenue generation per each of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the 300 households involved in bee rest. These can be sent in electronic form as e-mail attachments or agriculture Dr Romano Kiome has ness development solutions for in- creased impact on food security and keeping in collaboration with Honey in diskettes/CDs as well as hard copies. officially launched the Programme in Care Africa, Equity Bank and Millen- Eastern Province. growth. Under the initiative, 2,000units nium Village was Kshs 15,000. Speaking at Wikwatyo Youth Access to financing increased Our advertising rates are as follows: Group farm in Matuu, Yatta District, of irrigation schemes will be intro- duced, including drip, green housing, from 17 percent to 41 percent, fertiliz- Full page colour Kshs. 72,000 the PS said similar launches will be er use from 20 percent to 70 percent, carried out in Central and Western improved seed, fertilizer and disease Full page black and white (inside) Kshs. 40,000 control application as well as post har- improved seeds use from 30 percent Provinces. Dubbed Imarisha Kenya, to 90 percent while diseases dropped Half page (Black and White) Kshs. 20,000 the project seeks to develop micro vest handling, quality management. Other objectives include promo- from 45 percent to 20 percent. Quarter page inside Kshs. 10,000 enterprises and irrigation agriculture In a tabulated presentation, the and is currently being supported by a tion of water harvesting, prudent water The Link Classified Kshs. 4,000 usage and management discipline, fa- publication cites Kshs 106,072,080 conglomeration of 22 local and inter- million as the net income for 1,000 Front Page Earpiece (colour) Kshs. 8,000 national companies. cilitate route to markets, market links among farming communities in the households hosting 5,000 people Front page strap Kshs. 6,000 BAACH was mooted at the World since piloting begun 3 years ago. Economic Forum in 2006 during a target areas and improved marketing Back page strap Kshs. 4,000 and value addition of farm produce as It says 200 Micro and Small Enter- conference held in Davos, Switzer- prises (MSEs) had engaged 300 youth Back Page Earpiece Kshs. 7,000 land, with partners bestowed with well as equipping entrepreneurs with skills to run and grow businesses. in gainful employment. At Iria-Kiriga Front Page Solus (colour) Kshs. 20,000 the responsibility of defining and im- irrigation scheme, the public invested plementing commercially viable and A report compiled by BAACH Back Page Solus (colour) Kshs. 15,000 reveals that 7,200 jobs have been cre- in 24 hectares irrigation infrastructure sustainable business solutions to fight covering 120 farms with potential to hunger and poverty. ated through micro small enterprise agribusiness, micro small enterprise be expanded to 56 hectares at a cost Special Rates It is jointly sponsored by the Unit- of Kshs 36 million. The report says 60 ed Nations Development Programme development and expansion of retail We offer very special rates for advertisement of charitable activities and services, thus ensuring consumers percent of local population rely on re- (UNDP), USAID, Rockefeller Foun- lief food in the event of drought but Dr programmes or services. To get special rates, contact the Editor or dation, Bill Gates Foundation, Sealed access better and affordable goods and services. It says BAACH was work- Kiome is optimistic the reliance cul- the Editorial Assistant. Air, Monsanto, Nike, General Mills, ture will stop with successful imple- Kraft, TNT, Techno-serve and MDG ing with 18 partnerships and com- munity based organizations that are mentation of the projects. Citing drip The details should be mailed to the Editor, P.O. Box 7438, 00200, centre/ millennium village project. irrigation as a success story in Israel, Local organizations include Amiran being facilitated to increase capacities Nairobi, Kenya. Telephone 020-601776, 020-3572365. You can also at constituencies to realize the targets. the PS said the same was being rep- Kenya Limited, agriculture, Finance licated in Kenya to boost production. e­mail us at [email protected] or [email protected]. and trade ministries, Kenya Com- To oversee the expanded Pro- gramme, BAACH entered into public He vowed to continue monitoring NOTE: All payments should be made through cheques, payable to: mercial Bank, National Oil Refiner- progress of the projects through quar- ies, Equity Bank, Eye Kenya, Maseno private partnership with the Govern- Institute for Civic Affairs and Development (ICAD). ment through the Ministry of Agricul- terly reports to be generated by teams University among others. drawn from relevant ministries. Kenya was picked as a pilot coun- ture and other private sector players in The Link, February 2012 24 DEVELOPMENT Forestry body launches plan for Mt Kenya region By JOSEPH MUKUBWA forest occupies a total of where over 106 hectares have been agro- forestry among other activities. 9, 854 hectares of which 1,227 hec- rehabilitated. The various communities of THE Kenya Forest Service has tares is plantations. The community also benefits Narumoru and Ragati forests may Anti-FGM launched a management plan for According to the management from silvicultural and provision of identify other benefits they can draw Nanyuki, Narumoru and Ragati for- plan of the forest, the user groups of fodder for their livestock,” he added. from the forests and include them in groups target est station in Mt Kenya forest. Mt Kenya West Nanyuki CFA identi- The groups will be involved in the management agreements to be The plans were launched recently fied eco tourism, tree nursery estab- grazing of livestock, apiary, tree nurs- signed later after consultations with cultural by the senior Deputy Director of For- lishment, firewood collection, bee ery establishment, eco- tourism and various stakeholders. ests for field operations Emilio Mugo keeping (apiary), pruning, grazing leaders who reiterated the commitment of and extraction of herbal medicines as KFS to the proper management of the main activities they intend to car- By BOB OMBATI forests adding that the service will ry out in the forest. The community follow the letter and spirit of the will also be involved in the fencing ANTI-FEMALE Genital Mutila- law in managing of the forests in the and protection of the forest. tion (FGM) activists in country. “Narumoru forest occupies 7,195 want community leaders involved “I call upon the Community For- hectares and is located in western in the fight against the retrogressive est Associations (CFA) and other part of Mt Kenya forest ecosystem. practice that violated on the rights stakeholders to cooperate in the The forest groups will mainly engage of the girl-child. Stema Women in extraction of medicinal plants, eco Development Group (SWDG)and drawing up of the plans in order to Young Women Christian Associa- incorporate all sustainable activities tourism activities and industrial plan- tion (YWCA) officials say the prac- that will bring benefits to the whole tation establishment through con- tice continues unabated due to lack community,” said the director. cessions. Already, the community is of cultural goodwill and support, He said that already over 50 for- involved in plantation establishment which has hampered the campaign est management plans had been and livelihood improvement scheme against FGM. drawn while over 15 forest manage- Kisii Branch YWCA manager, ment agreements had been approved Mary Mogaka and SWDG chief by the KFS director which gives the programme officer, Nyabuto On- community and the KFS a leeway to yambu lament that the vice has re- start utilizing the forest resources as fused to go in Gusii region despite agreed. the new Anti FGM legislation and “I call upon all concerned to has- relentless campaigns by various ten the process in order for communi- Non Governmental Organizations ties that are doing a good in conserva- (NGOs). Addressing a one-day tion to start drawing benefits from the stakeholders strategic planning forests,” he added. workshop in Kisii, the officials re- The launch of the plan is in ac- solved to change the approach to cordance to the forests Act 2005 win the war against FGM. which stipulated that all gazetted for- Mogaka urged the Ministry of Education to introduce anti-FGM ests shall be managed on the basis of messages in the school curriculum Forest Management Plans which lay to sensitize the girl-child on the out all activities to be carried out in dangers of the practice at a tender the forest as well as the responsibili- age to enable them resist attempts ties of both the community and the to subject them to the dehumaniz- Kenya Forest Service. ing practice. “This is meant to ensure that for- She noted that FGM practition- ests are managed sustainably for the ers collaborated with parents and benefit of the community and the sus- were targeting young and innocent tainability of the forest for the long children whom they ‘cut’ during term,” he added. August and December holidays. The director was accompanied by According to Mogaka, parents in- Head of Central Highlands Conserv- vite circumcisers to their homes at ancy John Wachihi, Chairman Forest night to circumcise their daughters Conservation Committee Central re- Senior Deputy Director of Forests Emilio Mugo (right) hands over a guide book to the Head of Central while others took their children to private hospitals where they face gion John Kibaki and area DC Daniel Highlands Conservancy, John Wachihi, during the launch of management plans for Nanyuki, Narumoru Ondambu. the cut. and Ragati forest station. Inset: Part of Mt Kenya forest. Photo/Joseph Nukubwa Onyambu faulted some medics for perpetuating the vice for mone- tary gain and urged the government to take action against such indi- viduals who flouted the anti-FGM Officials out to debunk AIDs myths Act, 2011. He said that elders from Gusii community will be educated By BRIGHTON KAZUNGU urged residents to go to take the test. “Men are not going for testing and Boji area in Wenje division of Tana on the dangers of the practice to “The first major step in wiping that places their wives in peril. Hus- River District at a cost of Kshs10.6 sensitize their peers on the need to PUBLIC health officials in Taita Dis- this scourge from our community is to bands must come forward and lead the million. discard the outdated practice. “Cir- trict have embarked on a rigorous learn your status. Without the knowl- way,” said Mr. Abdalla. The facility targets crop and live- cumcisers will be helped to start campaign to debunk myths associated edge of one’s status, we can never ef- He said the level of stigma in the stock farmers who will be equipped alternative businesses to eke out a with HIV/Aids which have been cited fectively fight this disease,” he said. district was gradually dropping as with relevant skills to enhance their living, abandon FGM and be used as a major obstacle to winning the war He advocated for incorporation of people living with HIV/Aids were capacity to improve agriculture and as role models to fight FGM,” stat- against the scourge in the area. lessons on Aids to students and pupils no longer being viewed as evil. The livestock production. ed Onyambu. Taita district Public Health Officer in schools to help provide facts about gradual change of perspective has Galole MP, who is also an As- The official regretted that inno- (PHO), Mr. Christopher Senge, says transmission, effects and how the dis- been caused by a decision by some of sistant Minister for Information and cent children aged between six to AIDS patients in the District were still ease/virus can be controlled. the affected people to go public about Communications, Major (rtd)Dhado seven years were being subjected to the inhuman act in complete dis- being stigmatized owing to the inabil- “To dispel the fear, people will re- their status and demystify the disease. Godana says that the area in endowed quire lessons in schools so that as chil- “Aids is not different from other with good soils for crop and livestock regard of health risks involved. ity by the residents to debunk myths He disclosed that stakeholders linked to HIV/AIDS. dren grow up, they will be given the ailments but out of ignorance, people production and thus the need for resi- dents to exploit the underlying poten- will help the children to undergo This, he says had negatively af- factual information about AIDS. That thought and some still do AIDS is the an alternative rite of passage to end fected efforts to encourage people to will give rise to an informed society worst form of disease to get. But the tial in agriculture. The MP says Tana River has the stigma. “These children will then know their status as majority fear they with no delusions about the disease,” public awareness campaign and civic serve as role models while vulnera- will be ostracized in the community if said Mr. Senge. education on AIDS is bearing fruits,” potential of being the bread basket for ble groups will be aided to join res- they turn positive. The County Aids Control Com- said the official. the Coast region due to the presence cue centres to help end the practice. The Public health official says that mittee (CACC) Coordinator of Taita District Officer (DO), Mr. of Hola and Bura irrigation schemes. Reach Out women and Youth majority of the residents suffer most , Mr. Abdalla David Boen, urged residents to go for He notes that recent developments Director, Paul Nyamweya said an- from an acute dread of discovering Mwachama, urged men to attend the testing, saying the move would foster at the schemes were turning the area ti-FGM organizations had resolved their status and preferred to live in ig- testing session to learn their status. positive living. The DO said learning into a major food production area. to use videos in seminars, schools, norance. He said preliminary data on the of one’s status was a sign of height- “Tana has remained a pastoral shopping centres and families to He said the onslaught against Aids number of people taking tests revealed ened awareness on the disease and the district for long but due to irrigation sensitize parents and the girl-child would not be won unless residents more women than men were attending impact it had in society. projects, the area is being transformed on the side effects of the harmful change attitude towards Voluntary their centres, a trend, he said, had be- Meanwhile, the government plans to also accommodate crop farming,” practice that has been cherished for Counseling and Testing (VCT) and come a major cause for concern. to put up a farmers training centre at he adds. long. The Link, February 2012 FEATURE 25

market. Mr. Hirani says soils in the re- gion were suitable for floriculture MOA parastatals set for reduction with coco peat that is the main requirement for maintenance of By BRIGHTON KAZUNGU “All the parastatals should pay Central Kenya. the profitable activity. moisture readily available. attention to what the ministry, the Other parastatals were also A one time, the Kilifi Town He urged the Kenya Airports THE Ministry of Agriculture is public and the media is saying,” awarded for various efforts, with Council chairman, Mr. Premji Authority to invest in cold storage planning to reduce the number of said Kosgei. “We need to be more the Tea Research Foundation be- Hirani, who has been growing facilities at Malindi International parastatals under its wings from cost-effective in our operations.” ing awarded for their asset man- Athurium flowers at Mtwapa in Airport for the benefit of farmers the current number 36 to 31 due She said that due to the cur- agement while the Coffee Re- Kilifi County, says he has prac- interested in floriculture and hor- to the current crisis of inflation, rent shortage of sugar, the Sugar search Foundation was awarded ticed floriculture for over 30 ticulture production. Agriculture Minister Dr. Sally Board of Kenya needs to explore for their responsiveness among years. Mr. Hirani said the high cost Kosgei has said. ways to boost the production of others. Mr. Hirani says for the 10 involved in transporting produce “By reducing the number of sugar in the country. On its part, the ministry re- acres he has planted anthurium from Kilifi to Nairobi and the parastatals, it will help the gov- The minister also urged all ag- solved to enhance competency flowers, he has been harvested stringent phytosanitary require- ernment cut on costs that have af- ricultural co-operations to review in all the parastatals and enhance 5,000 stems per week. This did ments were a hindrance to many fected our economy to an alarm- their strategic plans and have a employee satisfaction at all lev- not meet local demand even as farmers. ing level,” the minister said. clear implementation framework els, a move that the minister said global demand stands at two mil- He says using courier serv- Addressing a meeting last indicating activities and timelines would yield maximum benefits lion stems per week. ices for transportation had forced week at the Kenya Plant Health for ease of monitoring and evalu- from all agricultural sectors. Mr. Hirani, who speak at his many florists in the East Africa Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) ation. Meanwhile, most parts along farm, asked the Government to region to receive anthurium flow- in Nairobi, Dr. Kosgei said there During the function, the Cof- the coastline are suitable for flori- give him 50 acres at Ganze Dis- ers from the two largest anthu- was need to analyse the perform- fee Board of Kenya was applaud- culture but lack of knowledge by trict for cultivation and produc- rium growers based in Kilifi, Mr. ance of all parastatals with a view ed for its swift move in curbing residents remains an impediment tion of anthuriums, orchids that Hirani and Kenthurium Kenya to rationalizing the functions. coffee berry theft problems in for those willing to venture into fetch good prices at the global Limited. Hort turns man’s dreams into reality By JOHN NYAMBUNE areas could get a major boost if hor- ticultural farming is adequately pro- CASSIM Bilali has defied the odds moted and funded. to introduce horticultural farming in Many youth in Nyanza region . are facing a major challenge of un- Cassim, 41, has set up a horticul- employment yet many owned in- tural farm, in Rarieda District, Siaya herited land that lies idle. If you are County and the initiative resonates empowered with skills and funded with success. on horticultural production, unem- “I wish I could have ventured ployment related challenges such as into horticultural farming much ear- the high rate of crime can be reduced lier after enjoying the sweet fruits significantly,” he says. since venturing into the farming,” Horticultural production is the he adds. best investment one can indulge as He says horticultural produc- one only needs a small piece of land tion, especially pawpaw and passion to grow your crops as it does not re- fruits, have provided him with self quire huge amounts of capital such employment, a high and reliable in- coffee and tea. come to his family that have changed Bilali has urged the youth to ac- his life. “Horticultural farming can quire technical and vocational skills give you everything that you ever instead of staying idle which leaves dreamed of having in your life. I can them vulnerable to misuse by politi- now provide to my family a very up- cians to fight their wars. right lifestyle,” says Mr. Bilali. Mr. Bilali aims at providing em- The farmer ventured into the pro- ployment opportunities to youth duction in 2003 after resigning from in his County and expects to plant office employment to embark on more pawpaw, vegetables, passion horticultural production using mod- fruits and water melon in a 2.5 acre ern technology that most producers piece of land. are reluctant to embrace. Nyanza Provincial Director of “I use fertility trenched system Agriculture, Mr. Joas Owiro, says to preserve water,” he says. He digs his office would give necessary sup- terraces in between pawpaw trees, Pawpaw plantation Photo/File port and was encouraging farmers puts manure and covers with dry to venture into horticultural pro- grass to act as mulch and reduce the before it can no longer bear fruits as ting back to wait for famine relief hole, manure site (cow dung) to take duction. Going by last years’ cen- rate of evaporation. expected to. food if farmers can embark on seri- care of a tree until harvesting time. sus results, the population numbers Siaya County has favourable Pawpaw takes about 6 months to ous farming activities using modern A farmer, Ms. Mary Okello, and are a threat to dairy, maize, beans, climate conditions for horticultural mature, while it takes a shorter time farming methods such as irrigation who has been trained by Bilali on groundnuts and sorghum farming. production that farmers should take depending on climatic conditions of system,” Mr. Bilali says. the production of pawpaw and water The major concern of Bilali and advantage of to enable the region a given area and how you take care He says farmers should take ad- melon. Horticultural production can Owiro is the low uptake of horticul- grow crops for export soon after the of plants where you find that it can vantage of the lake and river waters ensure maximum profit with rearing tural farming but is optimistic farm- official opening of the Kisumu Inter- take 3 to 4 months before the plant to irrigate farms, especially during cattle and goats combined. ers will steadily take up production. national Airport. bears fruits. the short rainy season to improve Ms. Okello says she quit her job The County may be far in work- Mr. Bilali has prospered from an Mr. Bilali has challenged farm- on food production and as source of as a cleaner to venture into farming ing out a solution to food shortage initial investment of a single paw- ers in Siaya County and other parts income. and grows water melon and pawpaw. and improve economic activities in paw tree bearing over 200 fruits to of Nyanza region to diversify their The programme has also en- She has 20 trees of pawpaw and 0.5 Nyanza region. his current plot of 1.5 acres plot. He production and not focus on the tra- hanced his income. He charges acres of water melon that generates Mr. Owiro says farmers should says he has over 80 pawpaw trees ditional maize, sorghum, beans, and Kshs.10,000 for training that lasts at income to her family. seek assistance from the Govern- in his farm and a pawpaw fruit sells peas. He says farmers should em- least three months. Mr. Bilali says horticultural pro- ment for funding of their activities at between Kshs.30 to Kshs.50 de- brace horticultural production using Bilali has so far trained over 80 duction may costs a farmer more so as to exploit the advantages of the pending on the size. modern methods. farmers who have later joined hor- than Kshs.50,000. international airport that has worked A bag of pawpaw sells at He conducts training on horti- ticultural farmers associations, in- Market for pawpaw fruits is to reduce unemployment rate in the Kshs9,500 while produce from cultural farming for those who have cluding Care for the Earth Environ- available and during harvesting region. one tree fetches him not less than shown interest with the hope of gen- mental Resources Centre which he time, vendors and companies that “Why don’t we give horticultural Kshs12,000 that collectively gener- erating income to ensure a change in is the Founder and Director. manufacture soft drinks compete for farming a trial and see the benefits ate at least Kshs.900,000 after every lifestyle. Mr. Bilali says horticultural pro- his produce for its high quality of it has as this would help to improve two months. “We should focus on farming ac- duction (pawpaw) is cost-effective production. on the socio-economic development Pawpaw is a perennial crop that tivities that can generate income to and requires simple inputs. One only He says Government efforts to that will culminate the food shortage one is able to harvest for 3 to 4 years change our lifestyle rather than sit- requires a piece of land to dig a bore- reduce poverty especially in rural in the County? says Mr. Bilali. The Link, February 2012 26 FARMING Kisii coffee farmers reject new secretary Farming skills By BOB OMBATI the reinstatement of Obwocha. the devolved system of leadership who took advantage of illiterate in Wenje set He said farmers were satisfied was being felt in the grass-roots farmers to steal their hard earned Coffee farmers from Motonto co- with Obwocha’s honesty in her by all and sundry. money by underpaying them. to improve operative society in Kisii County work and were not interested in The irate farmers directed the “The farmers rush to be paid have rejected a clerk posted to the level of education unlike oth- Society’s chairman, Julius Ma- and they do not countercheck with By BRIGHTON KAZUNGU er corrupt clerks who stole their ganga to speedily intervene and the Clerks to verify that they have their society, claiming he was im- FARMERS are set to benefit from posed on them by unscrupulous earnings in complete disregard of have Obwocha reinstated and been paid well. So it becomes dif- a training centre to be set up at Boji officials and his appointment was the hard labour committed to their threatened to withdraw from the ficult to return to the Cashiers to area, in Wenje division, Tana River questionable. coffee farms. society if he declined. complain after realizing the mis- District, at a cost of Kshs.10.6 mil- They blame Gusii Coffee The farmer told the meeting They appealed to the society takes,” said Maganga. lion. Farmers Cooperative Union they had recommended to the officials to invite coffee experts Maganga said a farmer was The facility will provide crop (GCFCU) officials for replacing management to employ Obwocha to educate them on proper coffee hurriedly paid Kshs. 700 instead and livestock farmers with relevant Alice Obwocha with Josephat permanently but the management husbandry to help increase the of Kshs. 7000, panicked and skills in order to improve agricul- Maroro without consulting the ignored them and went ahead to quality and quantity of coffee to cried, forcing him to intervene to ture and livestock production. farmers. conduct interviews and settled for gain from the rising coffee prices have her paid her money in full, Galole MP, who is also an As- Charles Ombati, a farmer says Maroro. in the international market. adding such cases were rampant sistant Minister for Information that Ms Obwocha has served the “Farmers are not concerned Maganga accepted their re- with the Clerks perpetuating them and Communications, Major (rtd) society diligently, honestly and with Maroro’s high level of edu- quest, stressing they will undergo with impunity. Dhado Godana, said recently while for a long time and could have cation. They want someone who training besides being supplied He urged the farmers to seek inspecting the site that land in Tana been promoted to reward her for has been tested, has experience with chemicals and fertilizer to help from their literate colleagues River the region has high potential the exemplary work she has done and can serve them honestly,” said boost their production. if they doubted the Clerks to avoid for crop and livestock farming and for the society instead of replac- Ombati, claiming that majority of He noted that coffee prices in conflicts and report clerks who ig- urged farmers to form co-operative ing her. educated people were manipula- the international market had gone nore their plight to the society’s societies for the Government to of- Ombati, who spoke during a tive and corrupt especially when up unlike before when they kept management to address the prob- fer them loans. special coffee farmers meeting at they were dealing with illiterate on fluctuating, adding that the so- lem. The MP said Tana River has the farmers. ciety had paid the farmers at the The chairman stated that vari- potential of being the bread basket Nyamonya main coffee society re- for the Coast region due to the pres- cently accused area District Coop- Ombati said that farmers had rate of Kshs. 79 up from the previ- ous Saccos levied various charges ence of Hola and Bura irrigation erative Officers of interfering with been enlightened on their rights ous Kshs. 10 due to poor manage- on their services and products schemes. the society’s management, stress- under the new constitutional dis- ment and low prices. for their customers and urged the He said recent developments at ing that farmers will not condone pensation and they will not sit and The chairman lashed at errant farmers to be conversant with the schemes were turning the area highhandedness and will use all watch as few individual trample clerks in some Savings and Credit them to avoid underpayment or into a major food production area. means at their disposal to push for on them with impunity, adding Cooperative Societies ( Saccos) overpayment. He said: “Tana River had re- mained a pastoral district for long but due to irrigation projects, the area is being transformed to also accommodate crop farming.” Biting frost roasts tea in Central Meanwhile, plans are underway to construct a cold storage plant at Faza in Lamu East. By JOSEPH MUKUBWA The plant which is expected to triple production from 2,500 to KENYA Tea Development Agency over 8,000 metric tonnes annually (KTDA) has warned that the biting on completion has been funded to frost affecting many tea farmers in the tune of Kshs.14 million. the country might continue up to next Officers in Lamu County are month. also upbeat that the completion of KTDA national chairman Peter the Faza Fish Processing Plant will Kanyago however said the crop will also enhance earnings from Kshs.8 recover within few weeks if it rains. million to Kshs.40 million per an- Kanyago who was assessing the num. damage the frost has caused at Chinga Lamu County Fisheries Officer, area in Othaya said that the agency has Mr. Simon Komu, told The Link fishermen in the entire archipelago lost three per cent of the total produc- will eliminate rudimentary gear and tion so far of tea kilogrammes coun- agents who have been exploiting trywide which amounts millions of them once the plant is complete. shillings. Mr. Komu said due to lack of Hundreds of farmers from around cold storage facilities, fishermen the country were up to last week at the archipelago have been held counting losses after the worst ever hostage for years by unscrupulous frost hit their farms recently. middlemen. The farmers started experiencing He said the completion of the the effects of Climate Change which facility will also ensure ice preser- is a national phenomenon with many vation leading to improved prices tea farms turning brown in colour. that are expected to improve for- He says frost damage is expected tunes for the fishermen, majority of to extend especially this month of whom have suffered high poverty January following adverse effects of levels. climate change. “Faza Fish Plant will produce “The conditions that precipitate both flake and block ice which will enable fishermen to preserve frost bites include very high day tem- Some of the tea which has been destroyed by biting frost in Othaya of Nyeri County. Photo/Joseph Mukubwa peratures and very low night tempera- thousands of kilogrammes of fish tures. The drop in temperature from for value addition,” he said. The at the normal height (instead of prun- during the dry months of January/Feb- raptures resulting in chemical reac- two types of ice are sourced from day to night is very rapid, so young ing the plant) at which they would ruary in low lying areas mostly adja- tions normally associated with green Mombasa which is hundreds of kil- shoots tend to freeze,” says Kanyago. have been plucked. cent to river courses. leaf fermentation thus the leaves turn ometers away hindering many fish- Most of the areas affected are “In most mildly affected areas, the Continued transpiration through- brown. ermen from actively engaging in along river valleys and areas where tea plants will recover in one or two out the dry season, result in marked The extent of browning in differ- activities due to prohibitive costs. there are no many trees and so farmers months time after the rainfall, though alteration of the diurnal heat balance- ent fields reflects degree of cell rapture The officer said the new plant have been advised to plant more trees in severely affected areas it may take high air and soil temperature during and subsequent fermentation; the dead is expected to process 8 tonnes to increase forest cover. up to three months to recover fully,” the day and low at night leading to a leaves dry up in the course of the day daily once it becomes operational Most of the affected tea factories adds the chairman. likelihood of occurrence of frost. as the day time temperatures rise. besides increasing the fishermen’s includes Ngere Tea factory with 20 If the scenario continues, it is The young shoots are most sus- Central Provincial Meteorological bargaining power by cooling their per cent affected which accounts for likely production will go down which ceptible because they are tender and officer Francis Nguatah says that frost products, thus increasing the shelf over 500 hectares of tea destroyed, may adversely affect the volume of succulent with high moisture content had been an annual phenomenon but life and value of the catch. Kagwe area where 15 per cent of the made tea. In Rift Valley workers in tea and least protected by temperatures its magnitude had intensified. He said a new contractor has tea has been destroyed by the frost, plantations have been laid off until the approaching freezing point of water He says weather changes had been been installing ice processing ma- and Ikumbi and Kanyenya-ini with crop sprouts again. which has a potential to cause injury occasioned by lack of cloud cover, chines to replace faulty ones that 12 per cent respectively. Frost is a weather phenomenon to the tea plants. which means heat is lost from the were installed by a contractor over Kanyago recommends that the showing adverse growing condition The low temperatures cause water earth’s surface at night and is not re- the 2008/9 financial year when con- broken shoots should first be removed of tea that may be experienced mainly in the cell sap to expand, the cell wall flected back to maintain some warmth. struction works started. The Link, February 2012 FARMING 27

By JOSEPH MUKUBWA OVER 400 coffee farmers from Mutheka coffee farmers Kisiis urged Tetu district affiliated to Muth- eka Cooperative Farmers Soci- against ety recently marched along Nyeri protest over poor management streets protesting over poor man- hawking tea agement of the society. “We have been suffering very meeting. “We were heading for coffee until the management is By BOB OMBATI The irked farmers who were much and we now want a split. the meeting only to be confronted ousted. mostly from Kiandu Coffee Fac- This merger has led to poor pay- with notices at the doorstep of Central Provincial Coopera- THE Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is up in arms over the hawking tory marched for about a kilom- ments. We also want the society YMCA , the venue of the meeting tives Officer Stephen Mwenje later of green leaf tea by growers to multina- eter from YMCA hall to Central management to be probed over informing us that the meeting has addressed the farmers who prom- tional companies. Provincial Commissioner’s head- mismanagement and embezzle- been put off”. ised them that a special general A board member with the agency, quarters in Nyeri town where they ment of funds,” added another This prompted them to march meeting will be conducted within John Nyagarama reveals that Nyankoba demanded to be addressed by the farmer John Maina. along the streets. The farmers a fortnight. He also urged them not tea factory in County loses Central Provincial Cooperatives The farmers accused the man- vowed to close down Mutheka of- to take law into their hands. over 3 million Kilogrammes of green Officer Stephen Mwenje. agement of being insensitive to fices located at Ruring’u area until The farmers insisted that the tea leaf annually due to tea hawking. Waving twigs and placards and their plight and cited the unortho- their issues are addressed. agenda of the meeting should be Nyankoba tea factory board chair- chanting anti-society slogans, the dox manner used in calling off the They also declined to sell their that of splitting from the society. man, Andrew Nyarango adds that the factory has been operating below its farmers claimed that the society capacity to churn out 15 million kilo- has embezzled millions of shil- grames of green leaf per year. lings. Nyarango however blames the sce- Administration police officers nario on poor application of fertilizer had a rough time trying to block and neglected farms over land disputes them from accessing the PC’s of- which have resulted in the factory’s low fices. crop intake. The chairman lamented that The farmers also caused a if tea hawking was not checked, it will heavy traffic jam along the roads destabilize the sector by fueling con- vowing that they want a split from flicts and criminal activities in the area. “We have to concert our efforts to the society. end the vice. Our farmers are selling The society is made up of sev- their raw tea leaves to agents of multina- en coffee factories which include tional companies and the malpractice is Muthua-ini, Kaiguri, Kigwandi, impoverishing them,” stated Nyarango. Kiandu, Chorong’i, Kamuyu and Nyarango, flanked by the agency’s Kihuyo with over 7,000 farmers. Regional manager, Willis Odhiambo A farmer John Icheera from said the factory jointly with others have Kiandu said that they were op- formed Nyakwana hydro power project posed to the last minute cancella- to generate energy, noting that construc- tion at the site will begin after the feasi- tion of a special general meeting bility study is over. which was scheduled to pass a “Feasibility study is on going. The vote of no confidence against the duration for research and construction management. of the first proposed site is projected Another farmer Esther Mach- within 36 to 42 months,” Nyarango aria lamented that the society has said. been paying them peanuts despite He said the factory had put meas- the rise in coffee prices and thus ures in place to mitigate the effects of majority cannot even afford to pay Protesting Mutheka Cooperative Farmers Society marching along the major streets in Nyeri town the fluctuating dollar against the shil- school fees for their children. recently. Photo/Joseph Mukubwa ling, adding that the management has developed strategic plan to diversify its activities, expand and fully embrace modern technologies to benefit farmers. The chairman cited the acquisition of Nyagah gives Nyamira Coffee society reprieve land in Transmara where the factory has planted trees to use in processing tea and By BOB OMBATI three years ago. during the electioneering period, noting Peter Ndemo said the union will use the reduce energy costs to enable farmers to He challenged farmers to adopt bet- that retrogressive politics had previously funds to transport milled coffee to the reap maximum benefits from their pro- COFFEE societies in Kisii and Nyamira ter coffee husbandry to boost the quality affected coffee industry, demoralized market. duce. counties have received a reprieve after and quantity of coffee to increase their farmers and affected coffee production. Agata, flanked by the union’s Chief The chairman said the factory will the government waived Kshs. 16 million earnings and uplift their standards of liv- The Sacco’s chairman, Zedekiah Ag- Executive Officer, Robert Mainya urged also venture into geothermal, solar and owed to Wakenya Pamoja savings and ing as the country strive to attain vision ata said the society will use the funds to the government to avail Coffee Devel- wind energy to generate power for use Credit cooperative society (SACCO) 2030. empower women and youths to alleviate opment Fund (CODF) regularly and on and sell to boost farmers income and and Gusii Coffee Farmers Cooperative “Coffee farmers can only fight pov- poverty by giving them soft loans with time to help the farmers increase coffee make them self reliant. Union (GCFCU). erty through production of quality coffee little interest while the union’s chairman, production in the area to feed the miller. Cooperative Development and Mar- which will fetch higher prices in the in- keting Minister, Joseph Nyagah says the ternational market,” said Nyakenyanya. # waiver is part of Kshs. 1 billion that has He said the government has started been set aside to cushion the heavily in- reviving Kenya Planters cooperative The SUBSCRIPTION FORM debted coffee farmers in the country to union to help coffee farmers and chal- spur coffee production nationally. lenged youths to join the cooperative Nyagah says Kshs. 13 million will LinkEnhancing governance for all movement to alleviate poverty, adding be remitted to the union while Kshs 3 cooperatives were a solution to the job- million will be channeled towards the less youths in the country. Sacco. The officer decried rampant coffee Please accept my/our subscription to The Link for the period of ...... months The Minister made the remarks in theft in the area and warned members of a speech that was read on his behalf by the public and society officials against Permanent Secretary Seno Nyakenyan- protecting the culprits who should be ap- dating from ...... to...... ya during the presentation of the cheques prehended and arraigned in court to deter to the union. He said the waiver will go others. I/We …………………….………………...………………… of P.O. Box...... ….…...... …… a long way in enhancing coffee produc- Soi assured coffee farmers of securi- tion to cope with the increasing demand ty at the societies and implored members Code ……...…… Town …...... ….…..….…Tel No.…….……...... …. Street ...... in international markets. of the public to volunteer information The PS, accompanied by Commis- that will help in the arrest of the suspects Building ...... Floor ...... Room No ...... Mobile ...... …… sioner for cooperatives, Fredrick Odhia- to curb coffee theft in the area. mbo, Deputy Commissioner, Patrick Odhiambo urged officials of the so- Email: ……...... have paid Kshs...... Musyimi, Nyanza Provincial Coopera- cieties to ferry their dried coffee to the tive officer ( PCO) Zephaniah Osok and union’s coffee mill to reduce cases of (Attached, please find money order No ...... area District Officer (1) Philip Soi urged theft at the societies instead of transport- managers of cooperative societies to ing the coffee to far flung millers which Please send me ……...... ………....………..copies per issue every month. embrace modern technology that will reduces their profit margin due to trans- enable them to provide efficient and ef- portation costs. Signature and /or stamp of client/:...... …...… Date ...... fective services. The Commissioner asked the farmers He challenged officials of the socie- to patronize the coffee mill to strengthen Back issues No/Months: ...... ties to shun wrangles and guard against Kisii county economically, adding that coffee theft which threatens to destabi- as the cooperative movement was being lize the sector. Nyakenyanya disclosed devolved into counties, farmers should Fill in this form and attach a postal money order of Kshs. 660 and post back to:- coffee prices had registered remarkable embrace the changes to gain. improvement in the international market He urged the coffee sub-sector stake- Institute for Civic Affairs and Development with one kilogramme of processed cof- holders to shun politicians who are likely fee fetching Kshs. 103 up from Kshs. 25 to interfere with the sector especially P.O. Box 7438 - 00200 Nairobi The Link, February 2012 28 REGIONAL NEWS KCPE results: Mwingi private schools cry foul By KAVYU KURA we have only seven candidates with over 400 marks while we ex- PRIVATE schools in Mwingi re- pected 40,” lamented Wanjohi. gion that performed well in the The chairman whose school 2011 KCPE examinations have in the periphery of Mwingi town cried foul doctored the results. managed to produce the top girl- The Chairman of the Mwin- Angeline Mwende Musee- in gi chapter of the Kenya private Kitui County with 425 marks, schools association, Stanley Wan- said he could not comprehend johi, rued that the results were not how only seven candidates in the a true reflection of the hard work school got over 400 while the tar- and commitment the schools had get was 40. put in preparing the candidates. “This decline is not possible. “We strongly feel that they The government must appreciate have reduced marks for our chil- the fact that it takes hard work for dren. We expected a far much bet- kids to achieve this. It is not easy. ter performance,” said Wanjohi as They should give us an upper he announced that his Kanginga hand and not ignore our pleas,” Oasis Academy had emerged top said Wanjohi. in Kitui County with a mean score He said it was prudent for the of 363. government to consider that they Wanjohi who is the director of were in partnership with private the heroic Kanginga Oasis Acad- schools in improving the educa- emy charged that the government tion standards. “The government chose to reduce marks for pri- should understand that it is com- vate schools candidates in order mitment and hard work that makes to deny them places in national us post sterling performance.” schools during the form one se- Nevertheless, Wanjohi said lection. that his school community would “Even though we are celebrat- only take solace in the fact that it ing the comparatively good per- led in the KCPE results in Kitui formance, we are not very com- and produced to top female candi- Stanley Wanjohi, the Director of the Kanginga Oasis Academy, with Mwingi DC peter Kinuthia (left). fortable. I do not understand why date to boot. Photo/Kavyu-Kura Youth cautioned against Rights groups flay state over persistent impunity selling their votes By AGGREY BUCHUNJU arguing that there is enough evidence associating the officers with the theft. By MORRIS GITHENYA youth in the country have for years “The new constitution however THE culture of impunity still persists Bwonya wonders how a person been used as political turn coats as places an obligation on the youth even with the new constitution now in who hails from Kisii can travel all the YOUTH have been cautioned the rich ascend to leadership posi- to participate in pertinent national place. way to Bungoma to steal coffee in a against selling their votes during the tions. issues and ensure that only leaders Human rights defenders now want rural set up like Namang’ofulo. electioneering period as the vice de- He, however, said that with the committed to change are elected,” all government agencies to comply One of the lynched thugs, identified establishment of county govern- said Kariuki. with the requirements of chapter six of as Hosea Onyiengo, is rumoured to be nied them the right to exercise their a police officer and his body was al- ments, the youth will be expected On issuance of identity cards, he the constitution which outline respon- fundamental freedom to spearhead sibilities of leadership and integrity. leged to have been secretly sneaked out change. to play a major role in ensuring only asked the government to speed up Western Kenya Human Rights of Bungoma District hospital mortuary. Kiharu youth leader Munyi Ka- visionary leaders take up leadership the process saying millions of the watch executive directors Mr. Job “We cannot sit back and watch as riuki said effective leadership can positions. youth risk being locked out of elec- Bwonya, and Mwatikho Torture sur- innocent Kenyans lose their lives and only be achieved if youth resist po- He lamented that Murang’a re- tions for lack of the vital document. vivor’s organization coordinators Mr. institutions mandated to investigate litical maneuvers that encourage the gion has continued to lag behind in “Millions of the youth have at- Taiga Wanyanja accused the govern- such cases turn their tables in an ef- sale of votes among other malprac- development due to lack of a clear tained age of 18 yet they are turned ment of allegedly continuing to pro- fort to institutionalize impunity in tices’. agenda by the political class to initi- away owing to lack of materials at tect its agents who perpetrate crimes the society”, says Bwonya. He adds Addressing a youth forum in Ga- ate development programmes to al- the registration offices in the dis- against humanity. that Kenyans can no longer afford to turi location, Kariuki lamented that leviate poverty. tricts,” said Munyi. They claim that the government continue hearing rumours that these is trying to employ every trick in the people were police officers yet there book to cover up the intrigues sur- are institutions with the capacity to in- rounding the violent robbery that took vestigate and tell the public the truth. place at Namang’ofulo coffee factory The other two thugs lynched were; in December last year. Christopher Otieno from Raihonyo During the night attack, three south and John Eshiemi Mumia from guards employed by the coffee factory Makunga, Mumias and their bodies and one village were hacked to death were claimed by Mr. Mitui Sodo and by the attackers. The villagers caught Mr. Walter Shitandi respectively. up with the three thugs and in retali- Namang’ofulo coffee factory ation lynched them as others escaped guards killed during the robbery in- with some bags of coffee. cident include; Isaac Kuywa, Fes- As they were being lynched, one tus Sitati Wabomba, and John Kiabi of the thugs allegedly implicated the Mwalie. then Bungoma West District Commis- Former area councilor Noah Sitati sioner (DC) Mr. Paul Merinyang and concurs with the two human rights de- administration police officers (APs) fenders saying that nothing substantial attached to his office and Namubila has come out of the investigations. chiefs camp in the theft. Sitati wonders whether any seri- The DC was immediately inter- ous investigations and eventual justice dicted and all the APs transferred to will be done given that the authorities other stations to pave way for inves- are allegedly harassing people who tigations. Bwonya and Wanyanja are demand that no stone should be left however filled with anger in the way unturned during the investigations. investigations have been conducted He discloses that the three killed by the government. watchmen hailed from poor families They want the government to and had accumulated salary arrears prosecute the administrator and police at the coffee factory of about Kshs. Kenyan voters at a polling station. Photo/File officers instead of transferring them 200,000 each. The Link, February 2012 29 REGIONAL NEWS Nyambati Residents want bandits under heavy disarmed and arrested fire from By KAVYU-KURA been allowed to own guns while Os- The meeting was attended by sen- best way to handle the insecurity man questioned why suspected ban- ior government officials who included problem was by cultivating peaceful the youth LEADERS in Mwingi have called for dits were not arrested even after their DCs Martin Mwaro (Mwingi East), and harmonious co-existence among a massive disarmament exercise to names were given to DCs. James Kianda (Mbalambala),Stephen the warring communities. By BOB OMBATI mop up illegal firearms in the hands The Warden in charge of the Kora Momanyi (Tseikuru),Reuben Loyota- Kianda however doubted whether of criminals behind numerous bandit park Wilson Njue who was present man (Tana north) and Kyuso DC Peter animals stolen in rustling were hid- A CROSS section of youths from and rustling attacks in peripheral areas announced that he had given sus- Maina who was chairman. den in Tana river saying that regular of the region. Kitutu Masaba constituency in pected criminals who masqueraded DCs Kianda and Loyotaman security operation could have exposed wants their area Leaders attending a security cum as herders one week to move out of claimed that the people who perpetu- them. He said he highly suspected that Member of Parliament, Walter peace meeting in Mwingi town in the Park as well as the Mwingi north ated banditry in the area had migrated the cattle thieves slaughter them soon Nyambati, to involve them in the mid-January concurred that it was game reserve lest they would be force- from other parts of Eastern and NEP after raids and sell them as carcasses development agenda. prudent for the government to confis- fully evicted and face court action. provinces. They suggested that the to butcher men. They assert that community cate firearms held by criminals hiding participation, good leadership, in parts of in Tana River County and planning and proper management Kora National Park. and usage of public funds are vital It was also agreed during the meet- to the area’s social and economic ing that all illegal squatters residing development, which, they claim within the Kora Park and the Mwingi had stagnated since independence North corridor be evicted as the area compared to other neighbouring had been turned into a criminal den constituencies. where gunmen unleash terror with Led by Paul Makini, the youth impunity. urged Nyambati to ensure prudent The meeting held at a Mwingi management of public funds ear- hotel was sponsored by the World Vi- marked for the constituency or sion Non-governmental Organisation face the wrath of the community. and brought together district secu- Makini told The Link that pre- rity committee members from Mbala viously unscrupulous committee Mbala in county, Tana north officials embezzled public funds, , Mwingi East, Tseikuru and Kyuso resulting in the stalling of Con- in Kitui county as well as respective stituency Fund supported projects Peace committees. and conflicts that derail develop- The meeting was held in the wake ment. He said Kitutu Masaba of killings of five people in Tseikuru youths had waged a relentless war district by bandits believed to have on graft and plan to expose corrupt emanated from Tana River almost a individuals regardless of their po- fortnight ago. litical affiliation, economic status Two peace committee members, or god fathers. Jones Munyithya (Mwingi) and “We will not sit and watch Juri Osman(Tana River), accused corrupt officials drain the con- the government of laxity in address- stituency’s public funds kitty with impunity while we wallow in pov- ing the banditry issue. Munyithya The Kyuso DC Peter Maina speaks as he chaired security-cum-peace meeting in Mwingi town. He is Flanked wondered why known criminals had by DCs Stephen Momanyi (Tseikuru), and Martin Mwaro (Mwingi East) extreme right. Photos/Joseph Mukubwa erty and projects stall,” quipped Makini, adding they won’t spare them either for all the monies they have stolen, misappropriated or mismanaged before. The youths alleged that Nyam- Busia Sacco disbanded over funds bati’s re-election in the November By NYAKWAR ODAWO no meaningful improvement at all in “We have unanimously agreed here is one that has failed to live up 28 by-election was marred with their standards of living despite in- that the local authority should stop to its obligation,” said Njoga, adding anomalies and blamed the provin- WITH the declaration by the United vesting for a better future. deducting our monthly contribution that the same is expected to create co- cial administration and security of- Nations that 2012 is a special year for “Initially, our Sacco had a strong until further notice,” they said, adding hesiveness among the members. ficers for allegedly abetting them. savings and credit cooperative organi- financial base, but was later turned that the district cooperatives office The cooperative official at the They claimed they reported zations (SACCOs), majority are now into a cash cow after officials begun should intervene as a matter of urgen- same time said that the district audit the anomalies to the Independent preparing for their Annual General to siphon our- hard earned cash with cy and order auditing of the society’s officials have already embarked on an Electoral and Boundaries Com- mission ( IEBC) officials but they Meetings (AGMs). the promise that they will do every- books of accounts. inspection audit after which liquida- thing at their disposal to make the The members at the same time ac- tion will follow. never took heed and action. Most of these meetings are usually Security officers, averred the characterized by reports that display society vibrant in order to increase cused the Sacco officials and the chief “Auditors are already inspect- youngsters failed to arrest individ- their successes or failures, election of members earnings,” said a member officers of failing to refund the money ing the society’s books of accounts uals who allegedly bribed voters new officials or re- election of exist- on condition of anonymity. contributed by members who have and after that the society will be liq- and doctored poll results to favour ing ones. The members accused the offi- since retired from the local authority. uidated,” he said, adding that sacco some candidates. But for members of Busia County cials of receiving members monthly The Busia District Cooperative officials found culpable will be sur- They appealed to the handlers Counci’ls Akili ni Mali Savings and contribution during 2010/2011 finan- Officer Silas Njoga who presided charged and forced to repay the same of the Commission to put meas- Credit Cooperative Organization, cial year but failing to remit the same over the charged meeting at the Busia through their monthly salary until the ures in place to ensure that the there is nothing much to celebrate to the bank with the express knowl- County Council chambers, blamed entire amount is fully recovered. 2012 general election is conducted since their Sacco is faced with liqui- edge of the local authority’s chief members woes on gross mismanage- Njoga at the same time said local freely, fairly and transparently for dation owing to gross mismanage- officers. ment by Sacco officials who colluded authorities that fail to remit members the commission to win public con- ment and corruption which has cost “As members we regret having with chief officers in the council to contributions will have their accounts fidence. “We want the Commis- them of Kshs 1 million through fraud- joined the Sacco because at no time exploit members with impunity. frozen in line with section 28 (6) CAP sion officials to be work profes- ulent dealings. have we received any development Njoga said the Sacco officials had 490 of the law of Kenya. sionally, impartially and honestly In a closed door meeting between loan to invest on income generating failed to live up to their mandate by He however says it is unfortunate to ensure that the Commission de- the society and the district coopera- activities. Whenever we apply for a offering effective services to mem- to note that most councils sack af- livers the 2012 poll with minimum tive officials held at the Busia County loan we are told the society has no bers, adding that due to poor manage- fected employees and underscored anomalies,” said Makini. Council chambers recently, the irate adequate funds at the moment,” they ment, the Sacco members have lost the need to adopt measures that will He said Kenyans will not ac- members accused the society officials said, adding that they suspected all a significant amount of their savings protect employees from victimization cept a botched election like one witnessed in 2007 which left 1133 of failing to exercise transparency and was not well when the chairman plot- amounting to Kshs.1million as re- for demanding their rights. ted to resign without notice,” said a vealed through the society’s balance ‘There is need to come up with a people dead, over 500 thousand accountability in the management of displaced and properties worthy their savings and shares. member. sheet. law that will protect the affected em- billions go up in flames. The Sacco which was formed in During the closed door meeting, “The savings and credit society ployees from being sacked by their The Commission has not taken early 80s with active members stand- the irate members unanimously re- organizations are normally formed employers for demanding their right- any action while Manga District ing at 60, has registered drastic drop solved that the Sacco be disbanded to empower members through the ful dues,” said Njoga, adding that he Commissioner, Onesmus Kyatha in membership over the years with forthwith and demanded that the lo- issuance of development loan facili- will ensure justice was done to the has since refuted the bribery alle- the figure currently standing at 38 cal authority stops deducting their ties to enable them undertake vari- members of Akili Ni Mali SACCO gations, maintaining the exercise members as majority them have opted monthly contribution until further ous income generating activities and as well any other within his area of was free, fair and transparent. out after they noticed that there was notice. improve on their living standards, but jurisdiction. The Link, February 2012 30 REGIONAL NEWS

By KAVYU-KURA Gusii leaders AMBITIOUS plan to popularize cremation as a cost effective way endorse creation of disposing off the dead among Group launches Kenyan communities has been of Borabu mooted. Already, the Cremation Society constituency of Kenya has been formed with By BOB OMBATI Nairobi hotelier Haroun Nyamon- pro-cremation go Omari as chairman, an account- MORE than ten thousand residents of ant Daniel Njoroge as secretary Borangi and Bokeira locations in North and businesswoman Ms Margaret Mugirango/Borabu in Nyamira County W. Ndaba as the treasurer. want the government to recognize them Speaking to The Link the sec- by availing services closer to them. retary said that the official launch lobby group Dismas Oyollo, a resident from of the Cremation society will take Borangi says that since independence, place at a ceremony to be held in they had not had any form of represen- Nairobi soon. and 60 percent in Canada. He away with use of chemicals that The Cremation society of tation from provincial to civic level, yet Njoroge said that the plan to said the cremation societies have are used to preserve the body as Kenya, he said, will advocate and they have been voting for subsequent form the society was borne out of been formed in many countries to people engage in prolonged peri- sensitize cremation to be generally Members of Parliament from North the fact that the traditional Ken- encourage cheap disposal of the ods of mourning. Some of these acceptable to Kenyans and remove Mugirango/Borabu constituency. Oy- yan methods of disposing the dead dead. chemicals are harmful to the at- the stigma that is associated with ollo, told the Independent Electoral have proved too costly for the be- He noted that cremation was mosphere,” he said. it. “The society will popularize and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) reaved families. He added that due quicker, thus cutting down the pe- He further said that whereas cremation so that many Kenyans at Uhuru Gardens in Nyamira that resi- to rising population growth, ceme- riod of gatherings for mourning some countries have increasingly opt for it and get their relatives dents, who speak both Kisii and teries in major Kenyan towns were and reducing the cost of feeding been embracing cremation, Ken- and friends accept their choice to languages are descendants of Gusii community. also filling up fast. the mourners. yans have not yet embraced it in be cremated,” he said. “Cremation is cheaper; it any significant level. He added “The society will advocate for He said Abakeira and Bonyengwe He pointed out that it was obvi- clans occupy the two locations which ous that cremation was the way to brings social harmony and it is that persons who opt for cremation passing of laws that will accom- environmentally friendly as it are seen as odd and their choice to modate and facilitate cremation to lack piped water, electricity, good go for Kenyans because cemeter- roads, markets, adding the area’s ies in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru will cut down on use of wood that be cremated is not accepted by make it cheaper and easily accept- schools are understaffed due to lack of and even Karatina and many other makes the coffins and also does their relatives and friends. able to Kenyans,” he said. representation in various organs of the urban centres were filled up with government. authorities being forced to look for The residents claimed that they scare land for new burial sites. were only recognized during elections, The secretary noted that trans- adding that once the exercise was over, porting the deceased for long dis- politicians allegedly forgot about them. tances to be interred in their rural He told the Commission chaired by homes was not only emotionally Kule Galma Godana that they have no and socially draining for the be- representatives in committees at the reaved relatives but an economic constituency level, adding that the area nightmare due to the huge fiscal had been neglected. cost involved. Oyollo, flanked by elders, Michael “Socially, cremation reduces Abuga, Lawrence Jaoko and Ezra the social burden on the bereaved Otieno said they would like to remain families by ensuring faster dis- in North Mugirango constituency and want to elect their County Ward repre- posal of dead relatives while it is sentatives and access various govern- economically feasible because it is ment services and public funds without cheap and affordable. It is also en- discrimination. vironmentally friendly as it mini- He said that Abakeira, known as mizes the use of harmful chemi- Mikiria and Bonyengwe commonly cals that preserve dead bodies,” called Onyengwe clans speak both said Njoroge. Kisii and dholuo languages, adding that He added that there was ab- majority of Onyengwe dholuo speakers solutely nothing queer about cre- occupy Chapella, Owidi and Misambi mation in Kenya considering that geographical areas. a number of prominent person- The residents said they wanted to alities including environmentalist know whether they are under Nyamira Wangari Mathai, former cabinet or Homabay counties, adding that the Minister Peter Okondo and Angil- two languages- Kisii and dholuo were can prelate Mannases Kuria were allegedly being used by leaders from criminated. both sides to marginalize them. Njoroge said that cremation During the hearing of public views was fast gaining international ac- on electoral boundaries, Gusii lead- ceptance with up to 98 percent of ers unanimously endorsed the creation the dead in Japan being cremated, Coast PC Ernest Munyi, next to a casket of a Kinango District officer Peter Syengo Kyavoa that had to be of Borabu constituency to be curved transported to his Nguni home in Mwingi East district for burial recently. Photo/Kavyu-Kura out of North Mugirango/Borabu Con- while in Britain it was 56 percent stituency. Lawmakers- Wilfred Ombui (North Mugirango Borabu), Dr Rob- ert Monda (Nyaribari Chache), Simon Ogari (Bomachoge) and Walter Nyam- Insure examiners against risks — KNEC told bati (Kitutu Masaba) resolved that Wards from Kitutu Masaba should not By AGGREY BUCHUNJU rir want KNEC to include in- Bungoma south district. ams until KNEC agrees to ne- be hived off to include parts of Borabu surance cover in the scheme of The two were among five gotiate with us new terms and constituency. Veteran politician, Zeph- KENYA National Union of service for examiners. teachers who died in a tragic condition for examiners” says aniah Anyieni Mogunde, who served Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya The trade unionists argue that road accident in Machakos Omboko. Bassi/Majoge before it was split into Union of Post Primary Educa- since the exams marking exer- shortly after finishing marking Nganga challenges the gov- Bobasi and Bomachoge, said Borabu tion teachers (KUPPET) are up cise involves risks; examiners KCSE Kiswahili paper 2. ernment to be proactive to is- was a settlement scheme with Omo- in arms over poor scheme of gusii’s seven clans adding that electoral must be insured by KNEC. Ng’ang’a and Omboko now sues and not reactive. boundaries and peoples views should service for National examiners. They made the remarks in want KNEC to compensate the Speaking at the same funer- be respected to avoid conflicts. The two trade Unions have Bungoma County last Decem- bereaved families arguing that als former Alliance Boys High The MPs told the Commission that asked Kenya National Examina- ber during the burial of two the teachers met their deaths School Principal Mr. Christo- the views presented to the disbanded tions council (KNEC) Chief Ex- teachers, Protas Karandini and while on official duty. pher Khaemba urged the gov- Ligale -led Commission were inter- ecutive Officer (CEO) Mr. Paul Erick Walumbe. The trade unionists at the ernment to put sanity in the fered with by some unscrupulous in- Wasanga to revise examiners’ Walumbe was before his same time are calling upon matatu industry by enforcing dividuals for their selfish interests and terms and conditions of service. death deputy principal at teachers to boycott marking this Michuki rules. told the Commission to guard against Bungoma South KNUT Chebosi Secondary School in years’ KCPE and KCSE exams Khaemba challenged the such malpractices. The leaders said branch executive secretary M. Bungoma East District while if KNEC declines to revise the government to also unveil per- they had proposed to the Commission Ken Ng’ang’a, Kuppet national to split the proposed without merging Karandini was Director of terms and conditions. formance contracting for traffic clans or shifting civic Wards to meet chair Mr. Omboko Milemba, studies (DOS) at St. Martins “We will not allow teachers police officers in order to reduce the requirements of creating the con- and his deputy Mr. Julius Ko- Mwibale secondary school in to mark this years’ national ex- road accidents. stituencies. The Link, February 2012 REGIONAL NEWS 31

Wamunyinyi Troubled land companies to be wound up By MORRIS GITHNEYA in office,” said Ng’ang’a. calls for Ngimu Farm has been dogged by THE government policy that seeks to numerous controversies which have outlaw land buying companies has be- been subject to a number of court bat- peaceful come operational. tles with officials allied to the com- Officials from the registrar of com- pany being implicated in fraudulent elections panies are now sensitizing sharehold- deals that touch on the sale of land us- ers of various companies on the need ing fake titles deeds. By AGGREY BUCHUNJU to wind up their operations to help In the past ten years’ the compa- recover assets lost to corrupt manage- ny has been embroiled in protracted ASPIRANTS for political ment committees. leadership wrangles which has seen At the troubled Ngimu farm lim- shareholders petitioning the govern- leadership in Bungoma Coun- ment to intervene to enable them hold ty have been asked to embrace ited in Murang’a County, sharehold- ers unanimously endorsed a resolve to meetings to deliberate affairs of their peace and democracy during wind up the company. investments. electioneering period. The shareholders mandated the But even as majority of sharehold- Former Kanduyi MP Wafu- board of management led by Henry ers endorsed a resolve to wind up the la Wamunyinyi says that lead- Mwangi to identify and compile all operations of the company, another ers of all political parties and the remaining assets to pave way for faction led by former chairman Dan- their agents have a constitu- the dissolution of the company and the son Githuka vowed to oppose the tional right to tour the county disposal of assets whose proceeds will move saying they had not been con- and solicit for votes and sup- be shared out among the members. sulted. port. Office of the Registrar of Com- “ let the matter on winding up the Wamunyinyi challenges panies had listed Ngimu, Muhotetu, company be approached with fresh Bungoma County residents to Ereri and Mboi-I-Kamiti in Central minds to ensure all the systems are shun leaders who hire goons Kenya region as some of the troubled pursued to ensure justice is done,” to disrupt meetings by their institutions that should be wound up said Githuka. opponents saying that Kenya with immediate effect. The Board chairman however said is now in the era of competi- During a recent extra ordinary the move was final and accused indi- tive politics. meeting held at a Kenol hotel un- viduals fronting the interests of former He decries zoning of areas der tight security, the sharehold- Mr. , Lands Minister officials of trying to sabotage the reso- saying that the scenario may ers of Ngimu land buying company lution. He further accused the former mounted pressure on the management it up and demand that the matter be nies were financially crippled due to board of flouting government direc- lead to political violence and concluded within a year and proceeds massive corruption which thrived in tive by failing to hand over the office poor political leadership. to wind up the company and dispose off the remaining assets in shared equally. the absence of information to share- to the new board as required by law. The former legislator ob- Division to conform with the govern- Senior Deputy Registrar of Com- holders on the progress of their in- “With help of the shareholders, the serves that it is only through ment’s policy. panies Francis Ng’ang’a and State vestments as required by law. board has managed to trace many of listening to all and sundry The shareholders further directed Counsel Ms Doris Wangui said most “It has been noted that most of the assets that were disposed off irreg- without disturbance that Ken- the board recover parcels of land dis- officials of land buying companies these companies have not been hold- ularly. The board will recover all as- yans can elect the best leaders posed off without their approval. The had continued exploiting sharehold- ing meetings as outlined in the law sets and dispose them before sharing to steer this country to the next board had not listed the winding up ers. and board of directors have been forg- out proceeds equally to all members,” level of development. agenda but members were able to pick Ng’ang’a said many of the compa- ing minutes to justify their existence said Mwangi the company chairman. Wamunyinyi says that poli- ticians who do not strive to unite people have no business Judicial service being in positions of political US asked to assist Kenya avoid chaoes leadership in Bungoma Coun- desks set at Kisii ty and the country at large. By LINK WRITER growing conflict in late 2007, Kenyan gagement and support for local preventive He further asks those who civil society, regional African groups and efforts. Invest in the U.S. civilian capac- law courts have developed appetite for IN 2012, Kenya plans to hold national the broader international community were ity necessary for effective prevention and political leadership seats not elections. These general polls will be the able to respond with humanitarian assist- response to potential violence (including By BOB OMBATI to insult their opponents but first since December of 2007, when the ance, citizen advocacy and rapid diplo- tools like the Complex Crises Fund and A NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organi- instead tell voters how they country’s disputed presidential race pro- macy. The efforts led to a peace agreement Civilian Response Corps). l zation has entered into partnership with intend to improve things if voked a deadly crisis that threatened to that both put an end to the immediate vio- Coordinate preventive diplomatic ef- the government to train paralegal offic- erupt into civil war. Ultimately, more than lence and called for commitment to long- forts with key Kenyan and international elected. term reform, demonstrating how the tools partners, including the African Union and ers and police officers to enhance serv- 1,000 people were killed and an estimated ice delivery in Kisii. Wamunyinyi at the same 500,000 displaced. of diplomacy, civil society mobilization United Nations. Support others’ leadership time also challenges Bungoma and international cooperation can be used and contribute U.S. assets where most use- Legal Resource Foundation ( LRF) Many Kenyans have since worked will implement the programme jointly County residents to set priori- tirelessly toward breaking their country’s to halt atrocities and restore peace. ful. ties for the political leadership cycle of electoral violence, and the upcom- Once again, the United States and l Direct U.S. diplomatic engagement with the law society of Kenya ( LSK), arguing that the county’s de- ing polls will mark a critical moment in the greater international community have toward pressing Kenya’s leaders to im- Kisii chapter to help offer fast, efficient velopment plan must reflect attempt to prevent crisis renewed. As the a significant stake in helping to ensure a plement the constitution and to advance and effective services. the wishes and aspirations of elections approach, the U.S. government peaceful outcome to the Kenyan election. government accountability at both national The branch’s LSK chairman, Mom- the people. should proactively take part in the effort Kenya has long served as the anchor of and local levels. Support the International anyi Aunga says the officers will be The former MP was speak- to help prevent deadly conflict and sup- U.S. policy in the region, and its strong Criminal Court investigations, as well as sensitized on human rights and civil proceedings to enable them serve wa- ing recently in Mwimbale port long-term peace - not only because of economy, vibrant civil society and mean- Kenyan judicial and criminal justice re- Kenya’s longstanding economic and po- ingful contributions to regional organiza- form. Urge greater demonstration of com- nanchi better. village of East loca- Aunga, who spoke during the tion during the burial of the litical partnership with the United States, tions and peacekeeping efforts make the mitment to volatile issues, including land but because of the crucial role Kenya plays country critical to East African and global reform, corruption and the resettlement of launch of the Judiciary service care Chebosi secondary school desk and LRF desk at Kisii law courts deputy principal, Erick Wa- in its wider region. stability. those internally displaced. While much has been achieved in Though Kenyans themselves will take l Increase funding for U.S. assistance said police officers will be trained on lumbe, 51. how to uphold the rights of suspects to Speaking at the same func- Kenya since 2007, many of the grievances the most important steps toward lasting focused on conflict prevention and man- most responsible for past electoral violence peace, the Obama administration and Con- agement, as well as funding for aid that avoid conflicts. tion Bungoma south KNUT continue to plague its citizens. Tensions gress can and should join them in support- addresses root causes of conflict and sup- “Police officers must learn to arrest branch executive secretary around issues including inequality, ethnic ing the prevention of deadly conflict. By ports stability in the long-term. Provide suspects without harassing them. The Mr. Ken Nganga accused division, lack of land reform, corruption investing in grassroots peacebuilding and more resources for initiatives related to suspects must be told why they are be- Bungoma County political and high rates of youth unemployment civic education, coordinating preventive civic education, community peacebuild- ing arrested. The suspects must also be leaders of doing nothing to remain. Though Kenyans peacefully ap- diplomatic efforts, encouraging greater ac- ing, civil society, fair elections and youth made aware of their rights once they improve residents’ lives. proved a new constitution in 2010 that con- countability from the Kenyan government economic empowerment, particularly in take pleas in courts,” said Aunga. Nganga claimed that poli- tains many much-needed reforms, political and preparing to respond rapidly to any vi- volatile areas. The chairman lamented that some ticians take advantage of the resistance to changes in the status quo con- olence that might occur, the United States l Ensure that U.S. assistance does not people purporting to be lawyers had de- residents’ poverty especially tinues. The government has also been slow can make concrete contributions toward inadvertently enable further human rights frauded unsuspecting members of the among the youth to buy lead- to hold perpetrators of the 2007 post-elec- preventing another crisis - well before the violations. Undertake a full review of public millions of shillings, adding the ership through handouts and tion violence accountable, causing Ken- election begins. U.S. security assistance to Kenya that is two desks will help eradicate the vice. hire of the poor youth to har- yans to question the government’s commit- informed by a conflict assessment and a He said the desks will also help ass and intimidate opponents. ment to ending impunity and leading to an Key Recommendations for the U.S. thorough examination of the current state members of the public to follow up on their cases and familiarize themselves He urged Bungoma County external investigation of the crimes by the Government of Kenya’s security forces. Proactively International Criminal Court. l Develop and implement an interagency monitor units receiving U.S. assistance with court processes to curb on time residents to go for responsi- wastage. ble and accountable political At the same time, Kenya’s relatively prevention strategy focused on Kenya well and halt all lethal aid. in advance of the 2012 elections. Utilize l Provide funding to support the disarma- Aunga asked the local Chief Magis- leadership and not money if robust institutions and infrastructure pro- vide much of the foundation necessary the new Atrocities Prevention Board at ment of local militias and increase efforts trate to engage officers to man the judi- they want their lives improved for long-term stability. Moreover, its past the National Security Council to create a to help reduce arms trafficking in the great- cial Desk to direct the public to various through the devolved govern- demonstrates that action to avert violence coherent, prevention-focused strategy that er region. Continue to facilitate the de- courts for their cases to avoid wasting ance system. can be effective. Even in the midst of the emphasizes early, sustained diplomatic en- struction of small arms and light weapons. time and crowding at the registry. The Read The Link monthly for issues affecting LinkEnhancing governance for all communities across Kenya The Link, February 2012 Cane poaching crippling Nzoia sugar By LUKE KAPCHANGA The yields in many fields situ- ated close to the factory according HEFT of harvested cane by a the available information were very cartel, which allegedly com- adversely affected by cane poach- prises of senior employees, ing, with most of them recording T negative incomes. at Nzoia Sugar Company, is threat- ening to cripple its operations. Plant crop in field 8020 was Senior managers in the agricul- harvested on 24TH February 2011 ture department who serve in privi- recorded very poor income of Kshs leged positions have allegedly been 348,089.78 from a surface area of colluding with contracted trans- 8.83 hectares. porters to fraudulently sell cane to Cane that was harvested from poachers. field 7061 on 11th March,2011 A report compiled by the Crimi- yielded negative income of Kshs nal Investigation Department (CID) 823,806.88 from a surface area of in Bungoma indicate that the com- 8.95 hectares. pany lost close to Kshs 215 million Similarly, the cane that was har- in fraudulent sale of cane to poach- vested on the same day from field ers between 2008 to August 2011. 171 also yielded negative income of According to the report, the Kshs 1,691,428.80. poaching of cane is planned and ex- The field completion report of ecuted through cohorts as follows:- the harvesting activities from field Senior managers create deliber- 243A indicates that: Cane was har- ate lapses in control mechanisms vested from field 243A for a period to give a safe passage to illegal of five (5) days from24th to 29th cartels. This essentially means ig- July 2011. A total of 198 stacks were noring control mechanisms put in realized. All the harvested stacks place to ensure that all cane from were transported from the field. the Nucleus Estate is harvested and Only 189 stacks were recorded delivered to the factory as Nucleus at the weigh bridge as having been cane. received. Errant officials in the company Cane cutters at work. A total of nine (9) stacks went also deliberately use unserialized missing and have to date not been harvest tickets to undermine ex- There are many weaknesses on tate by Bungoma CID notes that,” of the Tractor produced out grower accounted for as indicated by pend- isting procedures and ensure that accountability of cane for the Nu- there is collusion between the em- harvesting ticket which was used to ing/hanging harvest ticket numbers there is no continuity. Consequent- cleus Estate that allow for cane de- ployees of various departments in- weigh the cane. 21560, 23720, 23721, 454120, ly, field clerks issue harvest tickets liveries to be traded under private cluding farmers. It was found that The cane was allegedly collected 2164600, 2174400, 9240610, during transit of harvested cane care. Key among them include a there is laxity in supervising the em- from the farm of one Abraham Bu- 9240810 and 39850000. along the roads or at the weigh- ploy by errant delivery managers to ployees and guarding of company suru. A person who noticed, what The Nucleus Estate is essentially bridge without ascertaining the deploy “friendly staff (mostly their properties” was happening informed the weigh the backbone of the agribusiness source of cane. relatives) in strategic sections in the In 30th July, 2011, the com- bridge clerk and acting supervisor manufacturing operations of Nzoia Further, the Nucleus Estate cane nucleus Estate and support services pany lost cane which was being but they disregarded him and went Sugar Company Limited. It spans a is then exchanged with cane from (e.g. harvesting transport, cane yard delivered by a tractor registration ahead with the weighing process. surface area of 3600 hectares. It is the Outgrowers zone to gain heavier and patrol section to facilitate im- number KBE 075P which belonged The transport supervisor also divided into five (5) districts and 55 weight and it is finally delivered at plementation of the fraud activities). to Koomo Transporters from the nu- came to the scene, had the tractor fields for growing sugar cane. the weighbridge as private cane at The investigation report into cleus. impounded and later released under It contributes to about 30% of the expense of the company. theft of cane within the nucleus es- At the weighbridge, the driver unclear circumstances. the total annual cane requirement Six suspects appeared in a for the factory. Bungoma court on 8th August 2011 During the financial year charged with the offence which they 2010/11, about 184,577 metric denied and later released. tonnes of cane (equivalent to 28.3%) Statements recorded at the out of the total of 652,170 tons were weighbridge by the employees were delivered. different from the account given by The company’s enormous in- the acting supervisor who denied vestment in the Nucleus Estate (in knowledge of the cane, while data terms of cultural activities and farm entry clerk admitted being aware. inputs such as seed cane, fertilizer The report mainly indicts indi- and chemicals) is in essence intend- viduals who work at security, nu- ed to secure the availability of sugar cleus, transport or finances depart- cane raw material for supply to the ments. factory on regular and sustainable The CID report, recommends basis and also to bridge any lapses/ that the following persons be dis- gaps that might occur from the Out- ciplined for negligent in their du- grower communities sometimes ties. They include Francis Mukheli, caused by striking drivers/staff of Suhura Sikuku, Alfred Barasa Has- contracted transporters san, Michael Kulundu Okumba, Nzoia Sugar Company being Chaka Aggrey Butasi, Tennar Wan- the only thriving economic en- yama Webala and John Ouma Odhi- gine that provides livelihood and ambo. hope to the people of Bungoma Because cane poaching is ex- County, is now under pressure ecuted by managers, information to take stringent action against the regarding the declining state of unscrupulous employees who use the nucleus Estate and the rampant their privileged positions to under- theft has never been reported to the mine the operations of the company Tractors transporting sugarcane to the factory. Board of Directors. for self- enrichment.

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The Link, February 2012 14 SPECIAL REPORT Parties Act to inculcate democratic ideals or the symbol INTRODUCTION (a) is obscene or offensive (b) is the name or is an Political Parties are recognized in mature democracies as crucial institu- HERE are 47 political par- abbreviation of another tions of good governance. In Kenya, however, they are mere vehicles for ties on paper, but only 19 political party that is Thave parliamentary repre- registered moneyed tribal chiefs’ self-aggrandizement. The enactment of Political sentation. They include ODM, (c) resembles the name or PNU, ODM-Kenya, Narc-Kenya, symbol or an abbreviation Parties Act marks the genesis of a solid foundation to oversee the formation Ford Kenya, Safina, Ford People, of the name of another of strong and ideology-driven parties as institutions of public governance UDM, KANU and Narc, among political party registered others. Strong political parties under the Act. in the country. The specter of tribal outfits which have for decades been likely to survive under the new used to advance a tribal agenda is headed for extinction. The new dispen- dispensation have to make politi- Further, the new law requires that cal sacrifices, especially on elec- existing political parties amend sation demands that members of political parties have to reflect regional tions and gender provisions. The their rules to comply with the con- and ethnic diversity, gender balance and representation of minorities and Act (Section 25 ((2) (b)), blocks stitution, the Act and any other political parties whose office bear- written law or face deregistration. marginalized groups. Further, the new legislation introduces stringent rules that may compel ers account for more than two Political parties that form a coa- more than two thirds of the registered parties to disband, writes FAITH MUIRURI, The Link thirds of the same gender from lition before or after election are to receiving funding from the newly deposit the Coalition agreement Sub-editor. established Political Parties kitty. with the Registrar. Further, the law allows politi- Registration of a political party for the formation of another politi- The declaration is to be made pub- reasons behind the act, intention to de- cal parties to merge as long as the cal party or promotes the ideology, lic through a Gazette notice and register and give the political parties For a party to qualify for registra- merger is not in violation of the tion in the new Act, it has to re- interests or policies of another po- in a daily newspaper with a large ninety days to rectify the breach. constitution, rules and procedures litical party. circulation cruit not less than 1,000 registered of the political parties voters in at least 24 counties and The law spells out that a mem- Winding up political party Respective governing bodies of ber of a political party who intends Deregistration of Political In case the political party is deregis- reflect ethnic diversity, gender bal- merging political parties have to ance and representation of minori- to resign from the political party Parties tered, the law mandates the Registrar determine the constitution, rules, has to notify the political party, The law empowers the Registrar to notify the Attorney General who is to ties and marginalized groups. regulations and the principles This is a major departure from clerk of the relevant house or clerk to deregister a political party file an application before the high court which are to act as reference points of the county assembly within 30 which seeking the dissolution of the political tradition where political parties for the merger and the registration only required 200 members from dirty days. l Has contravened provisions of party and disposal of the property, as- of the new political party. Article 91 of the Constitution sets and liabilities of the party each of the eight provinces, bring- The law outlines that in the ing the total to 1,600 members Declaration of Assets l Does not promote free and event that a member of parlia- The new law requires that political fair nomination of candidates Effects of deregistration with no particular emphasis on ment or county assembly rejects special groupings. parties declare their assets and ex- l Does not adhere to the law Once the political party has been dereg- the merger, they are free to join penditures including all contribu- relating to the nomination of istered, no person can Under the new law, the govern- another political party or choose to ing organ of a party is not allowed tions, donations or pledges made candidates l Convene a members’ meeting be an independent member for the to the initial assets. The Act directs l Contravenes national values other than for purposes of to have more than one member remaining term in parliament. from one county and not more that the declaration must include and principles of the winding up the political party or Under the new law, party hop- the following: constitution for challenging the deregistration than two thirds of the members ing has been outlawed. from one gender. l Sources of all funds and other l Obtains its registration of the political party The Act (Section 14 (4)) states assets of the political party through fraud l Attend or instruct people to attend Members of the governing that a person shall not be a member council must also meet require- l Relevant particulars as l Has instigated or participated meetings on behalf of the political of more than political party at the outlined by the Registrar in the commission of an party ments of Chapter Six of the consti- same time. A person is deemed to tution on leadership and integrity l Statutory declaration made election offence l Publish a notice or advertisement have resigned from their party if he by the person designated to Prior to the deregistration, the inviting people for a meeting and laws relating to ethics. or she forms another political par- A political party has also to es- issue such a declaration by the law demands that the Registrar l Invite people to support the ty, joins in the formation of another governing body. informs the affected political party political party tablish branch offices in more than political party, publicly advocates half of the 4 counties. l Make contributions or loan to All political parties are to be funds held or to be held on behalf registered with the Registrar of of the party Political Parties. The Act outlines the process of registering a new Political Parties Fund political party. New applicants The law provides for the establishment are to be issued with a certificate of a Political Parties Fund to be admin- of provisional registration which istered by the Registrar has a shelf life of one hundred and eighty days after which the new Sources of the Fund party has to seek for full registra- They include tion. l 0.3 percent of the national Prior to issuance of a registra- government revenue tion certificate, the Act directs that l Contributions and donations from the Registrar publishes the ap- lawful sources plication in a Gazette notice and newspapers with large circulation Distribution of the Fund within seven days to invite objec- The fund is to be shared as follows tions from any person or any po- l 95 percent of the Fund to be shared litical party in respect to the name, based on the total number of votes symbol or colour of the party or secured by each political party in any other issue relating to the reg- the preceding general election istration of the party. l Five percent for the administrative expenses of the Rejection of an application fund. The registrar may reject an appli- However political parties that are cation if the name of the political Sheria House: Where the registration of political parties done. Inset: Ms. Lucy Ndung’u, Registrat unable to garner at least five percent of party, the abbreviation of the name of Political Parties the total number of votes at the preced-

The Link, February 2012 SPECIAL REPORT 19 Parties Act to inculcate democratic ideals (d) members to hold office for a Political Parties are recognized in mature democracies as crucial institu- non renewable term of six years tions of good governance. In Kenya, however, they are mere vehicles for A person is not be qualified to be appointed as a member of the Tri- moneyed tribal chiefs’ self-aggrandizement. The enactment of Political bunal if that person is a member of Parties Act marks the genesis of a solid foundation to oversee the formation the public service or takes an ac- tive part in the activities of a politi- of strong and ideology-driven parties as institutions of public governance cal party. in the country. The specter of tribal outfits which have for decades been Jurisdiction of Tribunal The tribunal has powers to deter- used to advance a tribal agenda is headed for extinction. The new dispen- mine sation demands that members of political parties have to reflect regional (a) arbitrate disputes between members of a political party and ethnic diversity, gender balance and representation of minorities and (b) disputes between a member of a political party and a marginalized groups. Further, the new legislation introduces stringent rules that may compel political party more than two thirds of the registered parties to disband, writes FAITH MUIRURI, The Link (c) disputes between political parties Sub-editor. (d) disputes between an independent candidate and a ing general elections are not entitled to political party receive funding. (e) disputes between coalition partners Members of Parliament in session. Purposes of the Fund (f) appeals from decisions of the The fund seeks to inculcate democrat- Registrar Public Accountants of Kenya parties and the symbols of the Commission is to examine the The tribunal is to determine a ic ideals in political parties including (d) Association of Professional political parties petition to establish valid grounds l Promoting the representation dispute within a period of three Societies in East Africa l Ensure and verify that no before submission of the same to months from the date the dispute in Parliament and in the County (e) two persons nominated by person is a member of more the President. assembles of women, persons is lodged. the political parties than one political party and The President shall upon ex- The Judicial Service Commis- with disabilities, youth, ethnic, represented in the National notify the commission of his amination of the petition other minority and marginalized sion may remove a member of the Assembly according to their findings (a) suspend the Registrar or Tribunal if the member communities proportion of members in the l Investigate complaints assistant Registrar pending l Promoting active participation by l Is declared bankrupt Assembly received under this Act the outcome of the petition l Is convicted of a criminal individual citizens in political life (f) two persons nominated by Additionally, the Registrar has (b) appoint a Tribunal as outlined l Covering the election expenses offense the political parties been empowered to provide guide- in the Act l Is incapacitated of the political party and represented in the senate lines for The tribunal is to consist of promoting policies of the political l Violates the constitution according to the proportion (i) Registration of political (a) chairperson nominated by the l Unable to discharge the party of members in the senate parties Judicial Service Commission l Civic education and other functions of the office (ii) Regulate the activities of and qualified to hold office as Political Parties Liaison electoral processes Qualifications political parties that a judge of a superior court l Bringing the political party to Committee To qualify for appointment in the are registered under this (b) two other persons, The law provides that the Com- bear on the shaping of public office of Registrar, a person must Act as provided by the representing both gender opinion mittee is established both at the (a) have a degree from a law nominated by the Law national and county levels. l Administrative and staff expenses recognized university (iii) Regulate or restrict society of Kenya and of the political party which must The committee is to provide a (b) have proven knowledge in the use or changes of qualified to hold office as a platform for dialogue between the account to less than 30 percent of the following fields names, symbols or judge of a superior court the total allocation Registrar, Commission and politi- (i) Finance colours of political (c) two persons nominated by cal parties (ii) Management parties the Association of Offenses related to sources of Funds (iii) Political science (iv) Prescribe the forms Professional Societies in East Offences The law provides that no person or or- (iv) law which may be used for Africa and who have The law provides that a person ganization is allowed to contribute to (v) Governance carrying out the knowledge and experience in convicted of an offense for which a political party an amount which ex- (vi) Public administration provision of this Act public affairs and are no penalty is provided is liable to a ceeds five percent of the total expendi- (vii) Fifteen years post (v) Securing the competent to assess the facts fine of not less than Kshs 1 million ture of the political party. Political par- qualification experience submission in respect of the particular or to imprisonment for a term not ties that contravene the provision are in the relevant areas to the Registrar of ground for removal exceeding two years or both. to be penalized and forced to forfeit of expertise and in the the audited accounts and The tribunal investigates the mat- l Where a political party the amount to the state. case of an Assistant financial accounts ter, reports on the facts and submits commits an offense, the Officials of political parties who Registrar, has at least relating to the assets recommendation to the president Registrar has been fail to disclose the funds or other re- ten years post and liabilities, income who is to respond thirty days empowered to sources or gives false information in qualification experience and expenditure of l Issue a warning and direct relation to the same are liable on con- in the relevant area of political parties Political Parties Dispute the political party to comply viction to a fine equal to the value of expertise. (vi) Prescribing fee for Tribunal with the law within a the resources not disclosed or to im- anything that is to be The law provides for the establish- specified period prisonment to a term not exceeding Functions of the Registrar done under the act ment of the political parties Dis- l Suspend the registration of two years or both. The act enumerates functions as (vii) Requiring submission putes Tribunal. the political party for a follows to the Registrar of The tribunal consists of the fol- period not exceeding twelve Office of Registrar l Register, regulate, monitor, annual or other periodical lowing members appointed by the months The law provides that the President investigate and supervise returns relating to Judicial Service Commission l Withhold funds to the with the approval of parliament is political parties to ensure the constitution, objects (a) a chairperson qualified to be political party for a period to appoint a selection committee to compliance with the Act and membership of appointed a judge of the High not exceeding twelve nominate the registrar. The panel is to l Administer the Fund political parties Court months comprise l Ensure publication of audited (b) four other members one of However the law stipulates that (a) a chairperson nominated by annual accounts of political Removal of the Registrar or an whom is an advocate of the even after dissolution of a political the president parties assistant Registrar High Court of five years party, members who are already (b) a person nominated by the l Verify and make publicly The law directs that a person seek- standing serving in parliament or county Law society of Kenya available the list of all ing the removal of the Registrar (c) the chairperson and members assembly will remain in office un- (c) a person nominated by members of political parties must file a petition before the of the Tribunal to serve on til the expiry of the parliamentary the Institute of Certified l Maintain a register of political Public Service Commission. The part time basis term.