Webuye and Matulo residents still puzzled over Deputy Mayor Karandin killing

Written by Rosemary Wachiye

Residents of Matulo in maraca Village of Bungoma County many questions still surround them over the killing of their Deputy Mayor Timothy Karandin who was brutally shot by unknown gunmen.

Many say they have lost a leader, not just any leader but one of his own kind who would stand independent as long as he knew he was right no matter the consequences and where the crowd was moving.

Further, they say, “The deputy mayor always passed unopposed in the polls for the whole five years he has been in office.

Karandini Wekesa, a father of two with one wife was killed on 2^ndAugust 2011 at around 8.45 pm in his home when he had just arrived and was parking his car before two armed gangsters approached his car and shot the side of his car door and the bullet passed through and caught him on the leg just above the pelvic bone.

The postmortem results show that he suffered from severe internal bleeding which led to his death, the investigators at scene also noted that there was no external bleeding at all, basing on the lack of blood spots at the scene.

A dog was found dead at the banana plantation evidence that the dog was killed earlier before Mr. Karandini went back home to avoid the dog from barking to create suspicion at the compound.

The armed gunmen are alleged to have also arrived earlier at the home of the deceased and set a strategy of killing him.

The housemaid to the deceased disclosed that she had opened the gate for him then went back to the house leaving the door open as usual waiting fro the boss to enter but after a long wait and she didn’t see him she then heard a shot outside, that frightened her and the children of the deceased she then ran and closed the door and went with the children to the bed room in fear.

The wife of the deceased Mrs.Chistabel Karandini (centre). [Photos /Rosemary Wachiye /West Fm]

Then came another shooting which they suppose was the one that was targeted towards the deceased before the  voice of the deceased crying calling for help, the housemaid was still in fear so she went to the main door and shouted to the neighbors for help.

The neighbors then came though also in fear but since they didn’t have the means to take him to hospital. They resorted to call the police and the area chief.

The police took long to turn up at the scene and it forced them to go to the home of a bishop who owned a car who came to transport him to hospital.

After they were long gone in like an hour’s time is when the police men arrived in the home.

The deceased was first taken to Webuye District Hospital then to Lugulu Mission Hospital but he died before reaching the hospital.

Different reactions have been raised about his shooting and death, many blaming the police men for their slow response to crime and something that many a times leave the perpetrators to go scot free

Many say that if the police would have turned up on time they might have saved his life.

The car door where the bullet passed.

Wednesday, parliament discussused over the matter and the Assistant Minister for Internal Security Mr. Orwa Ojode, stated the occurrence at the scene and paused a challenge to the police to do their work.

“If I find any laxity on their part in doing their security work then I want to promise Kenyans that I will definitely transfer all of them,” said Mr.Orwa Ojode

He sited the example of Eldoret town where  there was high rate of insecurity and the policemen were relaxed in carrying out their work and he transferred them to other places and vowed to do exactly the same in areas like Webuye, Bungoma and Kakamega.

The area Member of Parliament for Webuye Mr. Alfred Sambu said he was waiting for the results of investigation before making any comments.

The area Member of Parliament for Kimilili Dr. Simiyu Eseli raised concern over grassroots leaders dying over insecurity and being killed unceremoniously by unknown thugs. He cited examples of the former mayor of Kitale, former KNUT secretary who was buried over the weekend and the previous Bungoma Mayor who was brutally murdered in his home at Mandizini Estate in Bungoma.

“In all of those cases, no person was caught, no witnesses and no case was filed since the investigation could not link anyone with the murder” said Dr. Simiyu Eseli

He stated that many political and charismatic leaders in Bungoma county were at risk if the security in those areas were not looked into, adding that it was a big failure on the parts of the police force if leaders keep on being killed and there perpetrators go scot free

“I want to pause the challenge to the assistant minister for internal security, to ensure that this time round fro this case the perpetrators are caught and justice be taken upon them,” said Dr. Simiyu Eseli

“It’s a pity that we have police officers and yet thugs and gangsters are at liberty to do unlawful acts and are never caught,” said Dr. Simiyu Eseli

Child Sexual abuse: How safe is your child with people within the family circle?

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-07-21 13:11:00

The Rural Education and Economic Empowerment program REEP an organization that fights for the rights of children, under privileged, molested and works towards fighting the spread of HIV AIDS, is pausing the big question to all parents and guardians, how safe is your child?

Speaking to West Fm, the Director of REEP Mary Makokha was keen on child sexual abuse cases that she termed to be on the rise because of ignorance and neglect by parents and guardians.

She stated that many parents and guardians tend to put so much trust on the people around the family circle and have branded outsiders as the criminals and danger around children forgetting that no one can be trusted with a child.

“Many cases of child sexual abuse like rape, molestation, defilement and sexual harassment on the children are carried out by the closest people to the family,” said Ms Makokha

“We have branded strangers and outsiders as the danger and yet no one can be termed as safe with a child because we have seen that even parents have been involved in hurting the child in one way or the other, “said Ms Makokha

She added that mothers are not exempted since there was recent case reported in their office of a mother tying her son’s hand with a mosquito net then she set the child’s hand on fire, although the boy was recued amid the neighbors hearing his cries, he suffered severe burns.

“As REEP we want to find out through the radio program from these involved  parents what prompted them to do such inhumane acts on their children and how it felt like from them watching their child suffer in their own making?” said Ms.Makokha

According to her, most of the children who were molested while young, end up replicating the same on others in boarding schools since they were never opened up to their guardians and parents and hence were not taught that such acts are bad and condoned by the society

“The children caught in gayism cases in schools are victims of sexual harassment at an early age and since they were never told of the consequences and unrightfulness of the act they go a head to try it on others,” said Ms Makokha

She urged parents to be free and open with their children so that they may feel free to tell them incase of any incidence of sexual harassment so that the parents may assist in counseling

She also cautioned against assumptions by the parents that the closest people of the family can not harm the child since according to the research findings they did in Butula region most cases of rape and molestation are carried out by the least expected that is the closest people to the child.

“Most parents have put so much trust in relatives and yet they are the danger to our children, I pass this to all, never to trust anyone with your child not even your spouse,” Said Ms Makokha

Just how safe is your child, if your spouse in the house can be raping your 6 year old child daily and because you are blinded by love you never seem to note, if your brother-in law can inhumanly insert his manhood in the ass of your son and since you trust him so much you never seem to note, if the mother who carried the child for nine months can burn him or her or literally chop his hand for no appetent reason then, REEP is asking how safe is your child?

Ms Makokha also added that while talking to the perpetrators she came to realize that most cases of child abuse takeplace in homes with domestic violence between the husband and wife

Citing the most recent case of a child of three months who died of fight between the father and mother, when the father was about to hit the wife a blow she escaped placing the child in front as defense and unfortunately the blow caught her neck and she died on the spot.

REEP has changed Butula region where there were rampant cases of wife battery and to date there are minimal, it has moved to schools too where there were cases of teachers molesting the boys or having sex with their students and the cases are reported to have reduced in that region.

Wes tm Radio hosts a half hour REEP  talk show every Friday by the title, “PROTECTING TOMMOROW” from 7.30pm to 8.00pm aimed at sensitizing to know and learn more on the causes of molestations and rape from the perpetrators themselves and share in the pain of the victims to be careful in child upbringing.

Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-2829.htm#ixzz1T6r51JVd

Cane Farmers worried over the Sugar industry as COMESA exemption expires in 2012

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-07-21 20:47:00

Bukembe cane famers line up at one of the 22 polling centers to elect their Kenya Sugar Board representatives who will cast their doubts away ahead of the liberalization of the sugar industry. [Photo/ Rosemary Wachiye/ West Fm]

Over 50,000  sugar cane farmers contracted with Nzoia Sugar company  are worried over the status of the  Kenyan sugar industry ahead of the repeal of COMESA safeguard by end of February next year.

They are saying they are bound to lose if the elected representatives won’t lay proper strategic measures to counter the liberalized market.

The farmers want the new leadership to move with speed and come up with strategic measures to counter COMESA market insisting there was no way the price of sugar can be at par with other countries under the coming trade zone owing to the high cost of sugarcane farming and sugar production.

Subsequently, they urge the government to immediately sensitize farmers on the possible ways of dealing with the COMESA market amicably.

Kenya Sugar Board should come up with new marketing policies to ensure there is a ready market for Kenyan sugar elsewhere away from COMESA region.

The sugar sector has been shielded since 2000 when Kenya was allowed to limit duty-free sugar imports to 200,000 tons annually.

Further, farmers said the contract between them and Nzoia Sugar Company be renewed saying the current contract confines the factory alone.

‘’We want the contract reviewed so that we have the freedom to sale our cane to any factory including private millers,’’ they asserted.

Farmers also appealed to the coming leadership to address with great concern the issue of payment as normally they are supposed to be paid within one week after delivery at factory but this has never been the case.

The cane farmers spoke Thursday as they cast votes to elect their representative of Nzoia Zone which experienced a low turnout in most of the 22 polling centers.

Though elections went on peacefully, the whole exercise was marred with voter transportation and buying with farmers saying there was political interference in the whole exercise. 

‘’It is wrong for leaders to use government vehicles to transport people to vote for their accomplices’’ Sinoko farmers said.

An elderly woman cast her vote during the elections at one of the polling center in Nzoia Zone.

Joseph Wafula, a cane farmer, requested to be given humble time to elect a person who could champion their rights arguing that majority of them wallowing in acute poverty as a result of bad leadership.

‘’This time round we want to elect visionary people who will come up with policies that advocate for the rights of farmers not those who are out to use such positions to accumulate wealth,’’ he warned.

Farmers said the chance should be given to fellow common farmer who truly understand predicaments of farmers insisting that for every long time they have given mandate to wrong people to represent them.

The issue of Weigh Bridges raised a lot of concern as they looked forward for the new director to fight for the introduction of mobile weigh bridges.

A lot of cane is lost while on transit, we want this to be done at the factroy in order to maximize profits adding that the weigh bridge itself is questionable as it is almost constant.

Bukembe farmers wondered why cane across the entire eight sugar district could have a similar weight despite different soils and environment.

‘’Even the tracts, whether single or double, our cane will have a very minute variation in weight, a situation which raises eyebrows,’’ one farmer said.

Farmers also wanted the issue of mileage to be addressed since there is lack of standard criteria to ascertain the difference of a distance of a farm to another in the same zone from the factory.

This, they explained the mileage charges vary even from neighboring farms where the distance calculated from the factory differs. More shockingly, the farmers complained that the distance of their farms from the factory is never static from each harvest.

‘’This year you are charged 20KM for mileage and the next harvest they charge 36km on the same farm…..somebody must be out to ripe what rightly belong to us,’’ farmers lamented.

Adding that most farmers receive their pay after three months without proper explanation given concerning the delay.

The Nzoia Sugar Zone attracted eight candidates who battled out with the incumbent chairman of Kenya Sugar Board Saul Busolo.

Others are Ambassador Eliud Wafula Maelo, Isaac Mukenya and Walter Mukinginyi not forgetting Simon Simiyu Masalange, Bramuel Watiti and David Wanyonyi wafula.

Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-2834.htm#ixzz1T6lrsWrc

Kenya’s Vision 2030 lies in the hands of the youth, Uganda High Commissioner says

Written by Silas Kemboi and Rosemary Wachiye 2011-07-17 20:09:00 Read 275 Times

Achievement of Kenya’s economic blue print Vision 2030 lies in the hands of Kenyan youth the Permanent Representative to the UNCHS (UN-HABITAT) and UNEP who is also Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kenya Angelina C. Wapakhabulo said on Sunday. She was speaking during the 2nd commemoration ceremony of the late senior District Commissioner Mr. Walter Peter Masibo Saisi who was also the BOG chair of Milo Secondary School in Bungoma East district in Bungoma County.  “In the youth you learn a lot and people need to practice what they want to be as every country depends on another on millennium development goals as for instance, Ugandans depend on Kenyan ports in different ways by 70 per cent,’’ she said. She challenged the family of the deceased to ape their late father in engaging in active and productive activities just like how their late father did. She promised a personal contribution 500 dollars towards school projects saying exchange programmes will help strengthen ties within East African countries. At the grave side she attributed the efforts of the late saying he was a kind of a person his achievements should be emulated. "I’m much humbled and privileged to lay these flowers on this grave yard,’’ she said. She proceeded to Milo secondary school where she officially opened a dormitory named after the late Saisi and planted a tree to mark the occasion. On his part, the Milo Boys Secondary principal Mr. Albert Mutambo commended the people who have contributed to the success of the school. The current BOG chairman Reverend Abraham Simiyu of the Anglican Church of Kenya encouraged the family to be strong saying Saisi was a staunch supporter of the school in terms of advice and money. "He brought up his family in a godly manner and I encourage his family to emulate the same," he said while he encouraged the students to work even harder in their studies to be successful in their future career life. Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Andrew Saisi encouraged the students, family members and residents to put in more efforts in their respective fields so as to achieve desired results. He thanked his late father saying the greatest achievement he got from his father was education. He added that the family will continue supporting the school until it becomes a centre of excellence in the region. One of the close relatives to the late Mr. Renson Chakava ‘Museveni’ requested Ms. Wapakhabulo to invite the Milo secondary principal to grace Uganda’s 49th independence celebrations. On her part, Mrs. Irene Muronji, the chairlady Maendeleo ya Wanawake Western province, expressed gratitude to the High Commissioner for being an exemplary leader. The High Commissioner said she will work to her best to make sure the existing relationship between East African countries is further strengthened to achieve its goals. "I will make follow ups and by the time we will be having the next commemoration you will see change,’’ said the high commissioner.

Western Kenya leaders urged to work together in reviving Webuye Paper Mill

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-06-02 18:05:00 Read 286 Times

Mr. Adan Gedow the new District Commissioner of Bungoma East.  Western leaders have been urged to work in harmony to ensure the Webuye Paper mills  is back to normal activities after the government released Sh 1billion for its revival. Mr. Adan Gedow the new District Commissioner of Bungoma East, revealed that after the task force and parliamentary implementation committee towards the restarting of the factory had completed its work. “The Government has already done its part; it has released Sh1 Billion towards the restarting of the PanPaper Company. The money is there and therefore the remaining task is upon us the leaders to work together to see that the factory starts working as soon as possible,” said Mr. Gedow. Speaking at the function, one of the former workers of the Panpaper Factory, Mr.Joseck Wafula complained on behalf of his fellow workers who since the company’s closure, have been left with no income generating program leading to their suffering in hunger. He also added that the lack of employment in the region was the major cause of insecurity in Webuye town as people who don’t have any means to earn a living are forced to find easier ways like stealing. “I am speaking on behalf of my fellow former Pan Paper workers, who are back in their homes with no means of earning a living, we are suffering and we urge the government to come to our rescue,” said Mr. Wafula. “We have heard there are people working in the factory, and yet us the valid workers of the factory are in our homes with no jobs, we want the government to tell us who they are and why it’s not taking us back,” Mr. Wafula. Speaking in the function, the chairman of Nzoia Out growers Company (NOCO), Mr.Joash Wamang’oli, challenged the DC to work towards re-opening of the Panpaper Factory since it was a government parastatal and had the government as a major stakeholder. “I urge the DC to consult with the government and tell us openly if the Company is open or when it will be re-opened,” Mr. Wamang’oli. He also noted that during the leadership of the former Company’s, Director, Mr. Alexanda Katimbu, the factory produced papers, unlike now during the new leadership of Eng.John Munguti. “At some point during the leadership of Mr. Katimbu we  thought the factory had been opened since it used to produce papers as opposed to now as it seemingly is dead and its not producing any,” Mr. Wamang’oli. The leaders spoke during the marking of the 48th Madaraka day celebrations where they cited that the shortage of food due to the increase in food prices that was complained about by most speakers among them the Webuye Municipal Deputy Mayor, Mr. Timothy Karandin. He complained of the rise in food prices, stating that during Hon. Ruto’s reign as the Minister for Agriculture there were no cases of hunger in the country urging the current minister to copy the same. “Lack of food is an alarming issue in the country, residents of this area are suffering a lot over the issue and the government should help the people by reducing the prices of food,” said Mr. Karandin. The Webuye Municipal Mayor, Mr.John Ngome echoed the words of his junior in blaming the Webuye Cereals Board for not supplying the farmers in the region with seeds and fertilizer as expected. This he said made most farmers to either plant their maize which is the staple grain in the region, late or to plant without fertilizer that will lead to low production.   “Any time our farmers go to the board seeking for planting materials they are denied saying that there are no seeds the same case to fertilizer and yet when you go to the Indian shops in town you find the seeds and fertilizer there being sold. Therefore it has come to my office’s notice as to where the materials meant for farmers go to?” said Mr. Ngome. Responding to the hunger complains the District Commissioner, Mr. Gedow was quick to exonerate the Government from the blame of food crisis, pointing out that the same people complaining of the rise in food prices are the ones who sell their maize produce at a cheap price during harvesting season and never save any grains fro future use. “You are the ones complaining of the increase in food prices and yet you never store any of your harvest for future use, its high time we stopped blaming the government for our own mistakes and be ready fro the consequences when such shortages arise,” said Mr. Gedow.

KNUT wants govt to implement agreements on their salaries

Written by Rosemary Wachiye 2011-07-08 09:33:00 Read 171 Times

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is appealing to the government to keep its assurance of increasing teacher’s salaries as teachers are the most underpaid civil servants. KNUT vice chairman Mr. Wycliffe Omuchei stated that as an organisation they did not support the issue of employing teachers on contracts and demanded for permanent employment for its teachers. Similarly, the Sirisia Member of Parliament, Mr. Moses Wetangula speaking at the homecoming ceremony of the KNUT secretary Mr.Aggrey Namisi, complained about the challenges that Bungoma County is going to face with the upgrading of the top best performing provincial schools in the County: Lugulu Girls and Friends School Kamusinga to National schools. Mr.Wetangula stated that the two schools have been taking 60per cent of students from the Bungoma County and through the upgrading the number of students taken from this area will decline which is a disadvantage to them. “These schools have been taking most of our students from this region and they are upgraded then where are we going to take our children to since the government has not confirmed of building other schools to replace them,” said Mr.Wetangula Mr.Wetangula advised the government to use Constituency Development Fund to get land in the region to build other two schools that will be made National Schools and that is where students from all over the country can go to, hence not affecting the intake at provincial schools. Consequently, the Bumula Member of Parliament Mr.Wakoli Bifwoli called upon the Bungoma leaders to work together despite their political differences and affiliation fro the betterment of the region. He also asked the teachers, who were the biggest percentage of the guests at the function, to cooperate with political leaders in the region for there to be development. “I want to urge teachers to work in cooperation with political leaders in this area to enable development in the area. Political leaders should also set aside their political differences and work together fro the benefit of their electorates,” said Mr.Wakoli. On the issue of the former Foreign Affairs Minister Mr.Wetangula, stepping aside for investigation over fraud allegations, Mr.Wakoli stated that the investigations had taken too long and urged the government to put forward its findings as soon as possible and he is found innocent, to be re appointed back to the ministry.  “These investigations have taken too long its almost a year since since Mr.Wetangula had stepped aside pending investigation and I want to ask t5he government to release its findings soon,|” said Mr.Wakoli. Mr.Wetangula stated his innocence and he is sure he will be re-appointed back to the position soon.