Free cleft lip and palate operation offered at Webuye District Hospital

Written by Rosemary Wachiye

Webuye District Hospital will be offering free of charge operation to patients from 3 months of age and older with cleft lip and cleft palate for five days from September 8th to 12.

The operations are sponsored by the Help A Child Face Tomorrow organization in conjunction with AMREF and targets to reach out to at least a hundred patients by the end of the exercise on Sunday.

According to doctors performing the operation led by Dr. Meshack Ong’uti explained the main causes of the cleft lip and cleft palate to be malnutrition on the part of a pregnant mother during the first six weeks of the pregnancy.

“The child’s face is formed in the womb in the first six months of the pregnancy and if a mother does not feed on a balanced diet then that’s when the cleft palate and cleft lip are bound to form,” said Dr. Ong’uti.

He explained that it is a case where a child is born with basing on how the mother conducted herself during the pregnancy. He cautioned mothers from drinking and smoking during their pregnancy because they also contribute to the child being born with a cleft lip or a palate.

He added that the lack of vitamin A and folic acid in the food taken during pregnancy is the main cause of the deformed mouth.

A cleft lip patient before undergoing corrective surgery and posing for a photo with Dr. Ong'uti at the Webuye District Hospital. [Photo/Roselyn Wachiye/WestFm]

According to Dr. Ong’uti, the case mainly appears in children from poor background or children who are a product of early pregnancy by mothers at a young age who may not be aware of the condition and when they fall sick and visit the hospital they are administered medication that to common illness like malaria typhoid which affects the child’s growth in the womb.

“It’s mostly experienced in children whose mothers got pregnant at an early age and took medication that affects their growth in the womb,” said Dr.Ong’uti

“It also affects mostly people from poor background who may not have access to quality food or balanced diet during pregnancy that leads to giving birth to a child with deformed lips and mouth,” said Dr.Ong’uti.

Environmental factors are also contributing factors for the condition more so when a pregnant woman is exposed to smoke and fumes from vehicles, the doctor said.

The Medical Superintendent of Webuye District Hospital Dr.Bitta Ceaser called upon parents with children suffering from such a condition to come out and get help from the doctors as it is free of charge and the child gets a chance to live happy again.

“There are parents with children suffering from such a condition and yet they have hidden them back at home I urge them to come out to get help that is free of charge from the qualified surgeons who will be with us for five days,” said Dr. Ceaser.

“It’s an opportunity of a life time that the people from around this region should take advantage of and come get help,” said Dr. Ceaser

The Public Relations Officer the organization of the organization Mrs. Pauline Matana, stated that so far 43 patients have registered awaiting operation.

“We hope that by the end of the five days period that we will be at Webuye District Hospital the doctors will have operated on at least 100 cases,” said Mrs.Matana

Adding that those with children below three months of age but with the condition, their children will not be operated on but they will be referred to where they can get help free of charge when their children come of age.

Pan Paper workers protest over jobs loses

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-08-27 12:16:00 Read 135 Times Aerial view of Pan paper Former workers of the stalled Pan Paper Mills in Webuye held protests in the town amid worries over their job lose on what they call conflict of interest among the management. The government is set to give its decision September over the possible revival of the plant that closed a year ago. Represented by Mr.Joseck Wafula, the workers disclosed that there is the existence of two centers of power that makes it hard for the workers to know from whom to take orders from. “There is the Katimbu’s team and Munguti’s team, now we don’t know who is above who and from whom we should take orders,” said Mr.Wafula The workers demand to be paid their terminal benefits for working for the company that has now accrued to Sh 400 Million. They complained of lack of communication to them leading to some working under hard conditions with no pay, others have been left out since its closure. “It’s painful to some of us who left immediately after the company’s closure while there are those who are still working and being paid as usual up to date, it’s so unfair,” said Mr.Wafula Mr.Wafula also noted that the company was working under bis-mill process that is very uneconomical as it leads to procurement of unnecessary goods for the company that is costly than if the factory was working on full time basis. They stated all these while addressing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialization Mr. Kibichu Karanja who had toured the company to check on its progress of reviving it. Attention was directed to embezzlement of funds meant for reviving the factory by the people appointed by the Ministry to facilitate its re-opening. The councilors from Webuye constituency led by the Municipal Mayor Mr.Ali Machani, wanted the outgoing Team Leader of the task force appointed to revive it Mr. John Munguti to account for all the cash bestowed to the company during his reign. Mr.Machani stated that, “The ones sent here to revive it are taking advantage of factors and instead misappropriating funds meant for procurement,” said Mr.Machani. “There is also a wrong procedure at the gate of denying entrance to people something that creates a problem giving the locals of the area an idea that that they are there to still,” he added. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialization Mr. Kibichu Karanja, responded to their complaints by wanting them to realize one fact that the Pan African Paper Mills is a private asset and not governmental. Adding that the governments’ contribution towards it was because it’s for the human interest its revival will offer job opportunities to the people of Kenyan and all the same contribute towards improving economy in Kenya. “As much as you are complaining and you want the government through our ministry to act there is so little the government of Kenya can do because it only owns 39% of the company shares and the rest, is owned by private sector,” said Mr. Karanja He stated that Pan African Paper Mills’ shares were owned by Barclays Bank 1.1%, 3.6% by another company, 5.4% by ICDC and 54.8% by the Indian Opin group. He also surprised the workers in his speech when he mentioned that the closure of the company was a blessing in disguise to the people of Webuye since it gave them an opportunity to live in hardship but there was light at the end of the tunnel of being the owners of the company from the Asians that fled. He also made it clear to the former workers to note that its revival is the only solutions to all the problems and complains they had risen. “The monthly turnover of the company before its closure was, Sh.500 Million and there for that means that even in working for only a month the comp-any can be able to pay off the workers and in the next month’s income be able to settle the debts it owes,” said Mr.Karanja The Pan Paper Mills owed the long term lenders whose loan security was the company’s machinery, Sh.6 Billion, the short term lenders whose security was floating assets, spares, stocks, Sh.1.265 Billion and it owed the non secured creditors who are KPLC, Kenya Forestry and Kenol Kobil, Sh. 1.8 Billion, that totals up to Sh.10 Billion. With that said the workers have lost hope in its revival, many think it has been a sing song that it will be opened soon but it never comes to pass. Mr.Karanja stated that the government had released Sh.600 Million, Sh.200 Million meant for operation and Sh.400 Million for paying of the short term lenders.

It runs in our blood, our singing talent says, Gloria Muliro the gospel Diva from Bunyore

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-08-09 12:14:00 Read 160 Times Mrs. Gloria Omba commonly known as Gloria Muliro has been a gospel artist since 2005 when she released her first song Omwami alesta which a popular song not just in Western Province despite being sang in luhya language. Born in the year 1980 in Bunyore at Emanyinya Village, a daughter to Mr. David Muliro and the late Mrs. Esther Muliro and got her primary education in the same village before going to St.Terezas secondary school in Nairobi. In an interview at the West Fm studio during the interactive gospel Barikiwa show, she disclosed that her music is both in praise form and worship which she was happy to note that it has blessed many. Her first album, Omwami alesta, is intended to give people hope in life that despite the challenges and hurdles of life, people should never lose up hope because there is a reward a head to all those who believe in God. The song goes further to explain that there is a God who listens and answers prayers and any time as a believer you call upon him he will be there to assist. She also stated that she sang the song in luhya so as to identify herself with her origin and her people, but it ended up proving to be a very popular song even among the people outside the province who don’t understand the language but still feel touched by it. She said that singing has been her talent since she was a child something that she inherited from her parents both her father and her late mother were singers, also her brothers and sisters. “I started singing even as a young girl something that I emulated from my late mother, I used to like her singing and it made me discover the talent I had. I have nurtured it till now that I can sing before multitudes of people,” said Gloria. “My dad too was a musician in a way there is a song he loved so much and he will play the litungu to go along with it, it made me realize that music is an art that comes from within,” said Gloria The challenges she has faced as a gospel artist have been  piracy which she proudly stated that she conquered by finding a cheap way of packaging her recorded CD so as to reduce the cost of production and sell the original CD at the same price as the pirated CDs. “Right now what I do is to package the records with cheap but presentable material to enable me to sell it cheaply without going at a loss,” she said. Her voice when she started singing, she says was not good enough and any time she would sing her friends would laugh at her but she never got discouraged she continued trying because she knew what was in her until now she is amazing. Lack of funding to produce her first album was also a challenge which forced her to seek refuge in River Road but all the same the major issue comes in distribution of the produced music. “I want the music to reach everyone in the outcasts of towns but it’s a big challenge to me because I can’t mange to get them to every town and suburb.” Gloria is married to Pastor Ken Omba who has supported her in her musical career and they have been married for a year now and have not had kids yet. Upcoming artists are always neglected she said but in her opinion since she has been in the same situation before she wants to help those who want to nurture their singing talent in to renown artists. Apart from singing Mrs. Gloria Muliro is a qualified primary school teacher and also loves performing live at weddings.

Western Province leaders task government on insecurity

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-08-14 11:11:00 Read 191 Times

Bumula mp Wakoli Bifwoli, Kwanza Mp Dr. Noah Wekesa  and the Siria Mp Moses Wetangula consoling the wife of the late Deputy Mayor for Webuye Timothy Karandin Wekesa, Mrs.Chistabel Karandini who was killed by unknown people. Worried by the spate of constant insecurity in Bungoma County and parts of the country, political leaders from Western province  have called has called on concerted efforts of all leaders and security officials to focus more attention and energy on resolving the crises and restoring lasting peace in the nation. Addressing mourners Saturday at the burial of the late Webuye Deputy Mayor Mr Timothy Karandini Wekesa, in Webuye, they raised their concern over the untimely death of the deceased and firmly profound their feelings towards the killings and the perpetrators. Former Member of Parliament for Webuye Mr. Musikari Kombo, complained over the laxity on the part of the police in responding to crimes.  “You wonder wants the work of the policemen if all they do is seat back until when the perpetrators are out of reach is when they want to behave as if they are concerned,” said Mr. Kombo The MP for Eldoret North William Ruto also raised his concern on the same stating that insecurity was a big problem in the country because it was robbing off talented people like the deceased “Insecurity is robbing away geniuses, tough leaders and making it hard for us to live safely knowing that anyone can be killed anytime,” said Mr. Ruto He added that as a nation we should focus our energy on ensuring that there is total security in every part of the country. The MP for Sabaot Mr. Eugene Wamalwa called upon the government to work on ensuring that justice prevails in the matter of the killing and stated that next week in parliament they will demand to know from the Minister for security to tell the members who did the killing and what action has been done He also told the press and other stakeholders who might have mentioned something to do with his death to come forward and register statements explaining from whom they got the information to help in the investigation The Member of Parliament for Bumula Mr. Bufwoli Wakoli also mentioned that Webuye was not as safe as it used to be before where they could come and find safety “Webuye is not safe nowadays we can’t come to seek solace there anymore,” said Mr.Wakoli The Malava legislator Mr.Soita Shitanda reiterated that insecurity was not just in Webuye but in most parts of the Western province and paused a challenge to the provincial administration to check on it and improve in their services to Kenyans “The police department should find mechanism to fight insecurity otherwise it’s too rampant,” said Mr.Shitanda.

Bungoma leaders demand proper economic investment strategy from Govt

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-08-13 14:37:00 Read 215 Times

Leaders from western region have attended in full swing the burial of the late Deputy Mayor Mr Timothy Karandini Wekesa who was a civic leader in the Webuye zone.

Many of them joined the mourners to remember the life of the late.

 As usual they could not miss to use the burial as an arena to express their political affiliations and way forward.

The Kanduyi legislator, Alfred Khangati assured residents to look into the issue of the H-Young company that is constructing the Eldoret – Malaba Highway to employ residents of Webuye and its outskirts.

Khang’ati complained of the high prices of sugar being experienced in the country, adding that it’s time for the price of cane to also go up so that the cane farmers can benefit with high profits from the sale of cane to the sugar factory. He disclosed that a meeting is going to be convened with the cane farmers and other stakeholders in the sugar industry to discuss on the sugar price issue.

Wakoli Bufwoli the Bumula legislator, warned the citizens that death should be taken as a lesson that everyone will die, he added to say that the issue of insecurity in Webuye are mainly being brought about by the closure of the Pan Paper mills which was the main source of livelihood for the people of Webuye.

He cautioned the integrity of the people being given the mandate to re-open the Pan Paper mills and said that the government should investigate on them because the money set aside for its revival is being spent but nothing is seen of it.

Wakoli challenged the citizens to work together because those as leaders who have different political opinions and in different parties are in unity.

"It’s a challenge to you people to work together because as the leaders still work together despite our political differences." 

The Member of Parliament of Sirisia Moses Wetangula, called upon the police force to weed out crime in the region,

"We want every resident in Webuye to live in peace and not in worry."

He also urged the residents that during this harvesting season, they should not sell their maize at a cheaper price because they will urge the government to open up the cereals board and give them a chance to sell at a price they will profit.

Subsequently, Mukhisa Kituyi former Kimilili legislator reiterated Noah Wekesa’s sentiments on the re-opening of the Paper Mills and the cost to be incurred.

Present at the funeral were the Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti), Soita Shitanda (Malava) , Alfred Sambu (Webuye), Khanga’ti  ( Kanduyi), Moses Wetangula (Sirisia), Noah Wekesa (Kwanza) ,Wakoli Bifwoli (Bumula) , William Ruto (Eldoret North and former Kimilili legislator Dr. Mukhisa Kitui and they all had a chance to express their political affiliations.

Unite us, Bungoma politicians tell church leaders

Written by Rosemary Wachiye and Nandemu Barasa 2011-07-31 13:23:00 Read 294 Times

Dr. Noah Wekesa (L) and Moses Wetangula (2nd R) at a past event. The call for Luhya unity has gone a notch higher as political leaders from the region now want the church to intervene. Speaking at the funeral of Mr. Joseck Wasike, the father to Mr. Abiud Wasike a Commissioner with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), Dr. Eseli Simiyu decried the lack of unity among leaders in Bungoma County adding that it was the reason for the infamous post election violence in 2007. The Kimilili MP said that leaders are divided hence there has never been a president from this area. He also blamed President Kibaki’s kitchen cabinet fro disunity in parliament caused by their poor advice to the president leading to people taking different sides. He challenges elders and religious leaders to help bring about unity in politics despite the different parties and affiliations. He challenged them to rise to the occasion and summon all the leaders and make sure unity is achieved for the good of the region in economic development. Speaking at the same function, Bumula Member of Parliament Wakoli Bifwoli (L), echoed Dr.Eseli’s sentiments on disunity among political leaders blaming citizens for not being straight forward with the leaders they elect in telling them their mistakes whenever they go wrong. “Whenever as a politician I go wrong no one is brave enough to tell me because I have money and even when am wrong, once I give out cash am always praised,” he said. Wakoli challenged the locals to always challenge their leaders whenever they are wrong arguing that was the only way they can get justice and good service from their leaders and not just to focus on handouts from politicians. On his part, Sirisia Member of Parliament Moses Wetangula told citizens and his fellow political leaders to support the leaders so that they could register positive results saying that the continued negative pressure and abuses directed upon leaders makes them perform dismally. “I want to urge you citizens to offer support to their leaders to enable them perform because with negative pressure you are pulling us down,” said Wetangula. The Minister of Wildlife and Forestry Dr.Noah Wekesa who also attended the funeral, stated that all political parties should come together before the forthcoming election in 2012 to elect one candidate that will go for the presidency. “As usual the different parties will come together and select one candidate that will take up the fight for presidency in the forthcoming elections,” said Wekesa. The Bishop of Anglican Church of Kenya Mr. Eliud Wabukala who was officiating at the funeral at the Kamusinga village in Kimilili Division, said that there must be unity amongst all political leader s vying for different seats in the 2012 elections. He urged leaders to stop fighting among themselves and have respect for each other adding that leadership was from God and need to be respected. Other dignitaries who attended to pass their condolences were West Fm Chairman Dr. George Masafu, IIEC Coordinator Western Province Patrick Odame, Ministry of Livestock Permanent Secretary Mr. Ken Lusaka among others.

Sambu encounters a heckling fan fair in his Webuye backyard

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-08-13 18:27:00 Read 197 Times

From (L) Alfred Sambu the Webuye MP who received an uncomfortable welcome from mourners for calling upon other political leaders to join the ODM party, besides him is then Saboti mp Eugene Wamalwa, William Ruto (Eldoret North), and Dr. Bonny Khalwale (Ikolomani.[Photo RoseMary Wachiye] Webuye legislator Alfred Sambu received a rather aggressive home ground welcome Saturday during the burial of the late Webuye Deputy mayor Timothy Karandini  at Nangoto area in Webuye for persuading politicians affiliated to other parties to decamp and join the Orange Democratic movement –ODM. The highly charged political burial ceremony began peacefully; with the Saboti legislator Eugene Wamalwa calling called upon Sambu to defect from ODM to the New Ford Kenya party amidst cheers from the mourners.  “It’s high time that my friend Sambu joined us on the other side of New Ford Kenya,” said Mr. Wamalwa Eugene told Prime Minister Raila Odinga to wait in the field since he has a bigger match up front to deal with him. “I want to tell my brother Raila that it’s not going to work for him this side because we are beyond the cat and mouse game kind of politics and right now we want real politics and not just football games he is used to,” said Mr. Wamalwa. Consequently, reacting to Wamalwa’s comment, amid to save his political party’s reign and strength as well as save the face of his party leader, Hon.Sambu stood on the platform and responded back saying the only party to be was ODM. He was forced to seat down by the mocking crowd and as the crowd went bazaar at his speech and refused to calm insisting for him to leave the podium. That was mainly for lack of tolerance of different views among the luhya community leading to them taking one side and not shifting. Sambu in his attempt to roar and woe the crowd, his persistence to speak on the platform was shunned off by the angry crowd that gave him no attention. The situation was later on saved by the Ikolomani Member of Parliament, Dr. Bonny Khalwale who calmed the crowd and cautioned Sambu fro refuting other parties in such a forum knowing well that it consisted of people with different political opinions.  “That was a wrong move Sambu of trying to dismiss other parties in such a place,” said Khalwale.  Mr.Sambu was not given another opportunity by the audience to speak as any time he stood to address them they could heckle him down. However, politicalopponent Mr. Musikari Kombo seemed to be moving the crowd with his insecurity speech wanting action to be taken against the laxity on the part of the police force. “It’s reported that the police took so long to arrive at the crime scene and yet they are the ones employed to protect us. It has been a trend now in the region as people are killed aimlessly and no action is being taken against the perpetrators, where are we headed, “asked Mr. Kombo