Kenya: Human Rights group plans to petition the Inspector General of Police over the conduct of an army officer

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API, KENYA

A lobby group in Bungoma”centre for human rights”led by its chairman Philip Wekesa have threatened to petition the Inspector General of police and Kenya military disciplinary committee over the conduct of an army officer based in Mariakani.

This resurfaces a week after API exposed a story highlighting the plagues of a traumatized Bungoma housewife was undergoing after the army officer demolished her house and later justice became her enemy.

The group claimed that the officer has used his rank to oil senior officers both in military and police force after he was accused of palatial demolition/arson against his wife.

James Machasio a corpral at Mariakani camp was accused on April 9^th 2012 vide OB No.18/9/4/2012 against demolition and arson.

According to charge sheets seen at Webuye police station,Mr.Machasio was to be arraigned in court of law to act as a deterrence to other public officers who defiles their crown of power.

It is said that the officer collaborated with his senior military officers to defy the order as stated earlier in the charge sheet.

A police officer at webuye police station who spoke to this writer on condition of anonymity said that they were intimidated by officer Machasio if they dare to institute any criminal proceedings against him.Another officer said that the army boss had his brother at the force who was a close friend to several commanders in Kenya and no action could be taken against him.

In a rejoinder a human rights activists who wished not be named for fear of security has also threatened to move to the officer of director of public prosecutions to have the case reviewed in order to have justice granted to the traumatized woman.

end

 

Kenya: Director of Public prosecution Keriako Tobiko asked to move swiftly

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API-KENYA

Jacinta  Nabucha, a mother of one,living in Bungoma, thought married life was a bed of roses and without any hesitation,she threw her towel into the ring.She was soon to learnt a few tips that marriage can also be a bed of prickling thorns.

She left her parent just to delve into marriage, but to-day with nobody to turn to and nowhere to call. Narrating her ordeal to this scribe, she says that things worked well for the first 12 years of their marriage but in subsequent things have been very tough for her.

In the middle of the year 2012,a man she knew as  her husband under unclear circumstances ran amok and demolished her house before transporting all her properties including utensils, beds and other belongs to the  house of his cousin for the safe custody.

Her middle-aged husband,James Machasio Musundi  working in Kenya Defence in Mariakani,prior to this,is said to have developed a habit of idling and insulting her on petty disagreements.

Whipping thoroughly while narrating her trauma,Jacinta says whenever she questioned his weird behavior he could attack her with insults.

Since the two could no longer become compatible after palatial demolition,Jacinta took a new dimension by filing a report to Webuye Police Station under the officer commanding the station Richard Tuei.

In a letter in our possession dated April 9^th 2012 vide OB No.18/9/4/2012 from the station recommended that James Machasio  has a case to answer in a court of law to act as a deterrence to other public officers who have little respect for the law.On April 10^th ,the said arsonists undertook an oath to before a renown advocate in the area that he would construct the said house and to remit Ksh 20,000 to her per month as upkeep.

“There is no doubt that ugly scene has been one of the tormentful issues in my life, but it is me who has remained on the receiving end”she narrated her ordeal in the hands of her brutal husband.

Few months later,the authorities that the woman had  hoped would help her suddenly became enemies after her husbands late brother influenced by using all means at his disposal to have her justice denied.

According to the victim,despite of the issue being reported to police,no action has been taken.Efforts by various authorities to bring them together and work on the solution has not borne any fruits as it is alleged that the officer has used his military rank to oil the law enforcers and implementors.

She added that it would be of good help is Director of Public prosecution Keriako Tobiko to move in swiftly to have justice granted.

End

Marriage can be a bed of prickling thorns.

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API-KENYA

Jacinta  Nabucha, a mother of one,living in Bungoma, thought married life was a bed of roses and without any hesitation, she threw her towel into the ring. She was soon to learn a few tips that marriage can also be a bed of prickling thorns.

She left her parent just to delve into marriage, but today with nobody to turn to and nowhere to call. Narrating her ordeal to this scribe, she says that things worked well for the first 12 years of their marriage but in subsequent things have been very tough for her.

In the middle of the year 2012,a man she knew as  her husband under unclear circumstances ran amok and demolished her house before transporting all her properties including utensils, beds and other belongs to the  house of his cousin for the safe custody.

Her middle-aged husband,James Machasio Musundi  working in Kenya Defence in Mariakani,prior to this,is said to have developed a habit of idling and insulting her on petty disagreements.

Whipping thoroughly while narrating her trauma,Jacinta says whenever she questioned his weird behavior he could attack her with insults.

Since the two could no longer become compatible after palatial demolition,Jacinta took a new dimension by filing a report to Webuye Police Station under the officer commanding the station Richard Tuei.

In a letter in our possession dated April 9^th 2012 vide OB No.18/9/4/2012 from the station recommended that James Machasio  has a case to answer in a court of law to act as a deterrence to other public officers who have little respect for the law.On April 10^th ,the said arsonists undertook an oath to before a renown advocate in the area that he would construct the said house and to remit Ksh 20,000 to her per month as upkeep.

“There is no doubt that ugly scene has been one of the tormenting issue in my life,but it is me who has remained on the receiving end”she narrated her ordeal in the hands of her brutal husband.

Few months later,the authorities that the woman had  hoped would help her suddenly became enemies after her husbands late brother influenced by using all means at his disposal to have her justice denied.

According to the victim,despite of the issue being reported to police,no action has been taken.Efforts by various authorities to bring them together and work on the solution has not borne any fruits as it is alleged that the officer has used his military rank to oil the law enforcers and implementors.

She added that it would be of good help is Director of Public prosecution Keriako Tobiko to move in swiftly to have justice granted.

End

 

Kenya: Police re-open rape case against Kimilili ward county representative.

• BY GODFREY WAMALWA, API,KENYA

Police in Bungoma have reopened a rape attempt case  against Kimilili ward representative David Baraza.

The politician  was  accused  last month  of attempting to rape a room attendant at a popular hotel in Bungoma town with police forwarding the file to the director of public prosecutions.

A police source yesterday told the star that the director of public prosecutions had written back to the police to record two more statements of two key witnesses before Baraza is taken to court.

“We forwarded the file to the DPP and he has written back  advising that we record statements of  two more witnesses before we arraign the guy in court ,”said the police source.

Police are expected to record statements from a motorbike rider who came to save the room attendant

The  county representative popularly also known as Webuye Jua kali  is also a popular vernacular musician has since denied the incident.

The room attendant had told police that the politician had checked in the room with a female visitor who later left after some time.

Baraza is alleged to have then called the hotel room attendant to serve him claiming some “basics” were missing in the room. “As I entered the room he grabbed me and tried to throw me to his bed,” said the room attendant. ….

/ENDS

 

Kenya: Bungoma county speaker defends himself over Ksh.1million regalia

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API,KENYA

Bungoma county Speaker John Makali has dissociated himself with the public allegations over his sh1million budget for him for regalia.

This comes shortly after the county officer charged with budget Mr.Paul  Masinde released the erronios budget that sparked protest among Kenyans.

Speaking to the press in Bungoma,the veteran lawyer said that it was typographical error and said he will just use the court crown.

Makali added that his regalia cannot amount to such cash.”I want to assure Kenyans that the budget had a typing error and the regalia is around sh400,000″said Makali.

The report had earlier indicated that Bungoma county, Governor Ken Lusaka has been allocated kSh53 million for entertainment, Ksh8M for local travel and another ksh22m for foreign travel this financial year.

The protest came as a result of Bungoma having  high unemployment rate and the money should be channelled into value addition ideas like grants to youth to expand businesses and to enable the government increase exports. Residents have earlier proposed that the budget should be slashed to Kes10M and the rest kes73M to be channeled to the youth.

pornography has been still an issue at this digital age that ksh20 million was set to create awareness causing dispute with locals.

The speaker has however urged residents to cooperate with Bungoma governor to steer developments and desist from rumours.

 

End

Kenya: Webuye school for the deaf receive sh20million donation

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API, KENYA

Over 350 pupils with hearing impairment of St. Anthony’s School for the Deaf in Webuye  have received donations from the Help Khachonge Association that has funded three projects worth Sh. 20 Million in their school.

Addressing stakeholders of the school during the inauguration of the projects at the school, the Association coordinator in Kenya Mrs. Everlyne Fluckiger, said that the projects will assist the children to access education.

“The projects that include a 120 bed capacity dormitory, a professional kitchen and a water tank took 18 months to complete and that the association is determined to help the pupils’ access education easily like most normal children”she added.

The association has put up a girl’s dormitory, a kitchen and a water tank for the school to enable the students get access to basic needs easily for better performance.

On the other hand,head teacher of the school Mrs. Christine Orwaya voiced her gratitude to the help group narrating that the school previously had challenges in accessing clean water and at times during dry seasons the pupils were forced to walk a long distance in search for the essential commodity.

According to the Chairman Help Khachonge Association Mr. Alfred Fluckiger, the Association was founded 10 years ago in Switzerland with the aim of conducting development oriented projects in western Kenya.

Mr. Fluckiger claimed that the decision to fund the projects at the school was reached at after the sponsors of the association visited the school two years back and witnessed the challenges faced in the determination towards providing education for those pupils.

“The donor of these projects visited the school in 2010 and it’s during that visit that she noticed the problems faced by the pupils and she decided to empower them through the funding of the dormitory, the kitchen and a water tank,” said Mr. Fluckiger.

 

ENDS

Kenya: Giants Ndivisi Girls reawakens

• BY GODFREY  WAMALWA, BUNGOMA,

The problem of being or having an average child with a near perfect child and discipline is that you always be tussling to measure up and your shortcomings are likely to be magnified many times over.

And that could be what it feels like to be at Ndivisi Girls High School in Bungoma East district, the next school that is literally next door neighbor to the famous Lugulu Girls High School.

While Lugulu Girls is renown to be quintessence of excellence and discipline Ndivisi Girls has had its share of laying proper strategies to appear in a national map.

Yet Ndivisi Girls is determined to change its images for the better,with the school Sh.18 Million project  funded by webuye CDF for establishing  classroom block in Ndivisi Girls High School which is a provincial school situated in the new Webuye East Constituency that now educationists  believes might pose academic threat to  the much revered Lugulu Girls that is now in Webuye West Constituency but within the same district.

The recent book harvesting event,which saw school lovers donates book in hundreds, is considered to be one of its strategic plan aiming to turn the institution to be a centre of academic excellence and a product of high achievers that it was in the past.

The initiative has been received with enthusiasm from parents,teachers and students.The school now is expects exemplary performance from Form Four candidates because teachers have already  rolled up their sleeves through lead them in a series of exams  and other revision materials.

Gracing the colorful event,Bungoma east secondary schools head association chairperson Mr Christopher Manyonge applaueded the girls discipline as it has shown to do better compared to other years.

The noble event is set to provide the girls with enough learning materials to improve its national exam results.The school has risen from a mean score of 4.3(2009)5.3(2010) , 5.792(2011)and 5.077 in (2012).

On having a better disciplined body of students and flamboyant teaching staff,the school principal Mrs.Judith Wamocho has made significant strides since she took over as the principal.

With a manageable population of  360 students,Mrs.Wamocho vision is to see the school stand out as an oasis of academic and sporting success. She believes the feat can only be achieved through the institution’s ability to strike a balance between academic work and co-curriculum activities.

The school which in the recent past won national and the East Africa netball title,saw the gallant girls tour various parts of Africa and Kenya.

API has also established that due to its growing popularity, many students and parents have been trooping to the school hoping to gain admissions.

Mrs.Wamocho who is credited of her impressive development records and no-nonsense approach issues affecting her team, girls are now rolling up their sleeves for a duel of the century despite of the remoteness of the institution.

She is also determined to see her girls being assimilated at the national level and is trying to establish links with more learning materials.

The school idyllic setting is perfect for study and recreation.The management has also invested heavily in turning the premises green hence maintaining a clean,healthy environment while the strong Christian foundation influence puts discipline and self respect ahead of everything else.

An academician,Moses Andati,who admires  her  style of school management,argues that if given full support both from the government and entire Ndivisi community,the institution might be one of the admired schools in the region in the near future.

Attached is the school learning block that was funded by Webuye CDF.

 

ENDS

 

 

 

 

Kenya: Lugulu mission Hospital in Bungoma County is now surviving on borrowed time

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API KENYA

Lugulu mission Hospital  in Bungoma County is now surviving on borrowed time if details of a well-guarded corruption networks unmasked by weekly citizen is anything to go by.

Even before the dust settle in the air after a shocking exposure of corruption at controversial Lugulu Mission Hospital in Bungoma County, fresh details are now emerging over the bleak future of the facility. For the third week in a row, the hospital which   a week ago was reported by your  favorite   Weekly Citizen to  have  lost  hundreds of millions if not  billions of  shillings through fraudulent  deals by it Managers, CEO and some of  its Board of Directors is now in the  thick of another  scandal involving another million scandal.

And following recent happenings at the once vibrant medical facility that have seen several directors and officials exit and others are now hauled to court  to answer unprocedurally terminations, details have emerged exposing even more sleaze.

 The facility is widely known within the region to conduct this malpractices and it is no longer news to hear that yet another multi million financial scam  has resurfaced.

Ironically , these cases even when reported are never dealt with accordingly by the relevant authorities.

After several ill-financial reports erupted one week after an exposure by your popular weekly citizen,this scribe pitched investigative tent to unmask what was detailed in the hidden but shocking auditing reporting.

The report in white paper but written with black ink cites numerous glaring cases of unvoiced expenditures, conflict of interest and accounting lapses at the hospital.The report details that a total of Sh14.7million was stolen through unvoiced expenditure and further recommends that the Financial director Evelyne  Efumbi should be investigated and arraign in court to pay for the loot.

Situated along Webuye-Kitale,the facility which receives huge funding from Friends United Mission,Aphias Plus and government support, has allegedly cut itself a special place on matters of corruption.Another Sh729,520  was lost whereby the hospital was required to carry out a monthly Bank reconciliations to detect any direct debits by Bank which was not captured in the hospital financial records.

The examination held by the hospital reveals that the expenditure totaling to the above amount during 2010/2011 financial year was incurred on clearing hospitals debts,no records were produced to show how transaction was done.

Documents in possession with weekly citizen reveals that sh 3million was not accounted for and the items purchased were not procured professionally.

An amount of sh6million was withdrawn from the hospital bank by former Dr.Simon Kisaka while another sh 1.6million withdrawn by Evelyne Efumbi who allegedly handed over the withdrawals,there is no documents to support such transaction.The report further indicates that the hospital might have lost sh 27million through fraudulent withdrawals.

The estimated average monthly collection(revenue)ksh 4million,but from available schedules,a total of sh 2.1m was banked and the sh1.9 was directly spent but there was no tangible evidence of banking sh2.1m.

The hospital however,lost sh900,000 through unaccounted for travelling and subsistence allowances but no supportive documents attacked to the payment vouchers,no receipt acknowledgement of the cash pai or payment vouchers and that the said payments were treated as expenditure instead of temporary imprests.

However officers implicated in the above scam are as follows.Wilson Maungo (former internal auditor)two junior staffs,and the acting administrator Jackson Fuko. Our expansive investigation has however, unmasked that mismanagement and inefficiency  is the cause of financial troubles at the Bungoma based hospital.

This revelations comes as the fate of about a section of employees hangs in balance,after being sacked under shady circumstances

The tradition by top management to single source suppliers is behind the fleecing of the company of profits, with no tendering process.

“There is too much inefficiency at the hospital”, a highly placed source said.

The source who has been working at the firm as a senior manager for over the years, but declined to be named blamed top managers for not having fixed rates for buying of items at the hospital.

The recent appointment of Jackson Fuko to head administration office has threatened to impair the smooth running of the hospital bearing in mind the he is incompetent and holds a mere certificate in storekeeping. In a recent meeting where he was to address staffs,saw him prefer using Kiswahili a situation which provided a perfect insight of his disastrous academic background. His anarchic act,selfish and outright office abuse has put his competence as an administrator in question something that is now evident at the hospital struck with mass exodus of managerial experts.

According to impeccable sources,his anarchic acts and selfishness has led to a number of senior officers moving out.However,the recent mass exit was that the immediate administrator William Wambugu who recently resigned at the hospital citing frustrations and forcefully embezzlement of donors funds,lack of commitment by a section of management,and issuing of payment vouchers to non-existing projects.

But what followed after the taking over the office of administrator very perturbing as a new turn of events emerging where a section of the locals who are well versed with the million scandal is now embroiled in got agitated and threatened to hold demonstrations.

End

 

Kenya: How poverty drives minors into child labour

• BY GODFREY WAMALWA,API,KENYA

Stella Barasa, 13, a resident of Webuye suburb Malaha estate,wakes up at 4am each day and trudges to a nearby river to fetch water for his bosses.Stella also helps prepare and serve the family with meals and sweeps the whole compound among other chores.

surprisingly, stella has no shoes but a half-heel chopped off red flappers which she uses to protect her cracked feet.

Stella narrates that she found herself in this horrible situation four years ago at a tender age of nine years after she lost both of her parents due to deadly HIV.

After her parents death,she was adopted by her aunts in Nakuru but her stay there was short-lived. Circumstances forced her to quit the place due to harassment from family members.

The poor girl while at her aunt’s place,she was forced to sleep on an empty 90 kg sack.  Narrating to this scribe,the young girl said was often beaten up on the slightest provocation of her aunt who forced her to feed on leftovers that dropped from the family table.

Now Stella,is a young domestic worker who does know her fate.The child labor ,which is now broadly defined as the employment of minors, is often a harsh and most exploitative condition among children.

But the vice has remained in practical both in developing and even industrial countries.The human cost of child labour leaves the victims gaunt, crippled, illiterate and sick.

International Labour Organisation(ILO) that was founded in 1919 has since transformed into special agency of the United Nations (UN)

The introduction of child labour conventions by ILO among members,including a minimum age of 16 years for admission to all kinds of work. While others including a higher minimum age for particular employment,medical examination and regulation of right work.

In early 21st Century,ILO was compelled to add the worst forms of child labour to its list including slavery,debt bondage(where children work to pay off loans owed by parents)prostitution and forced military services.

A growing concern now in Bungoma County has been the increase in prostitution among young girls in urban ares especially in drinking spree.Some of the children have been forced in the ugly practice due to abject poverty.

The 1997 Unicef report concerning child labour stated most employers try to hire workers who are easier or cheap to exploit.It was also estimated that over 3 million minors in Kenya engage in child labour, usually working under hazardous conditions.

The report also highlighted that the most vulnerable and weakest workers are children usually paid less than the adults and are often ignorant on their rights or how to protest against poor working environment.

“Poverty plays an enormous role in the phenomenon.Desperate for money,poor families around the world including Kenya are forced to push minors to increase overall income among the families. “The report read in part.

The poor families,the small contributions of child’s income or the assistance can make a huge difference between a bare sufficiency and hunger, the survey reveals.

In various towns of Bungoma county,a stroll in the streets at night leaves one gasping for breath over the ages of girls frequently visiting clubs at night for prostitution.

A study carried town in seven districts in Kenya in 1997 by child Welfare Society of Kenya indicated that child prostitution is widely practised in big towns. Some victims were as young as 11 years old. Malindi and Mombasa topped underage children selling sex.

In Nairobi,the number of street children has risen to 60,000 with the Government estimating their numbers to grow at 10 percent annually. The children are often involved in drug trafficking,assault, theft, trespass and property damaging.

A survey carried out in 1996 in a lower class estate in Nairobi found that 30% of households employed children.In 1997 the figured dropped by 12%.

In Kenya, a study of girls working as housemaids found out that 25 girls aged 9-16 years,18 were HIV positive. Most of the girls  had worked in homes had reported sexual abuse in all or most of them.

Statistics available in labour officer in larger Bungoma region indicates that more than 13,000 underage girls in the region have been lured or forced into commercial sex by wealth men.

According to Hariet Owulo, a child rights activists in Bungoma, says that apart from prostitution, a high percentage of underage children in the region are involved in stone crashing,charcoal kilns and bricking making as others are employed as housemaids.

On the other hand,a survey in six districts in Bungoma county reveals that most children drop out of school due to a rigid curriculum to an extent they prefer to look interesting jobs.

 

end

 

Kenya: Insecurity in Bungoma County

• By GODFREY WAMALWA, API – KENYA

A wave of crime in Bungoma County has in the month of April 2013 witnessed an unprecedented upsurge of criminal attacks following a recent raids of five villages in the area where over 100 people are now hospitalized after succumbing to severe injuries.The merciless criminals armed with pangas, rungus, matchetes and other guns suspected to be hired from Provincial Administration are said to be just killing, maiming, raping, cutting, inflicting and unveiling all manner of injuries on the old and the young, men and women and forcefully taking people’s property.

The recent vicious cycle of criminal attacks witnessed in Bungoma south district on the nights of 25^th, 26^th and 27^th Kimilili district, Bumula district, Bungoma East district and Bungoma North district with in April, 2013 where over 100 residents were injured has proved that the security in the region has gone out of hands that now the criminal gangs have no fears of the Police or they are convinced that the security agents are impotent and cannot do anything and that is why the criminals could inflict terror within the same County on one consecutive nights.

Our expansive investigation in the county indicates that the challenge of insecurity in the region has gone on for too long, so far and without any tangible solution. The obvious narratives of criminals terrorizing peace-loving and law-abiding citizens has become the order of the day in the area for the last three years.

The area Governor,senator and, elected Members of the National Assembly and Ward representatives have been uged to spearhead the mass shake ups of police chiefs in the region starting from Bungoma county commissioner Jamleck Mbaruk.

Recently a middle-aged woman was gang-raped by twelve people at Kamukuywa market in Kimilili district . The mother of four is admitted at the Mt.Elgon Hospital in Kitale where she is recovering from multiple injuries she sustained.

In an interview with this scribe she said she was attacked and cut on the head in the market at around 7pm. Also records at the hospital indicate s that it has been admitting victims of crime in the region on daily basis.

A businesswoman was attacked and robbed of her car as she returned to her home in Bungoma town. The gang stuffed her mouth with clothing and tied her hands and legs before making away with her new car. “No suspect has been arrested in connection with the unending attack and police are not bothered over the increased gang attack”said Beatrice Olwesi,a teacher.

.

. “People are being attacked daily as if there are no security systems in this county,” said a n activist in Webuye town.

However the Bungoma south OCPD Amos Cheboi police has been mobbed by politicians and locals that accuses him over the security machinery of being complicit. The officer has been in charge of Bungoma south divisional headquarters for over a half a decade is now under pressure from both politicians and residents to have hi transferred.

According to injured residents led by James Munyange,said the officer with his area district criminal investigation officer (DCIO) has got reliable reports on insecurity matters but they do not act on them and locals believes that money exchanges hands.”The police chiefs in the region have continued to connive with criminals”lamented Munyange.

He further noted with disappointment that a rapid overhaul of the overstayed polices officers in the various stations is still far from being secure.

Recently four regular police officers from Webuye police station and three administration police were linked with robbery of over 200 bags of cement at Kaburengu centre when a long distance trailor overturned.

The allegations that police force has been colluding with the criminals in the area has called Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo to act on the said officers.

According to a civil society group in Bungoma Jukwaa la Katiba led by secretary General Mr.Philp Wekesa,the county chief officers ranging from county commissioner Mr.Jamleck Mbaruk and police chiefs from affected areas should be transferred immediately.In this case the affected sub counties includes Bungoma south,Bungoma North,Kimilili district,Bungoma East and Bungoma central where over four OCPDs are expected to be transferred.

Despite the fact that Bungoma south OCPD Amos Cheboi promising that they are dealing with criminal gangs which have been terrorising residents in the region. Mr. Amos Cheboi stated that crime cases in Bungoma County have reduced drastically in the recent past since the beginning of this year with only few cases being reported unlike the past.

After several reports of alleged deaths and injuries resulting from the police laxity from provincial administration which invokes more fears than hope to the locals, this writer decided to carry out investigations while under cover.

After four days of intensive search for a an administration police willing to aid out the gun, this journalist in the company of another man disguised as a relative paid a visit to the AP camp in Bungoma North district and sought to be ”assisted”

And strange as it might sound, the group of three experienced senior police officers in the area promised to provide their services after depositing sh 10000 to each officer but in accompany with them.

It however took this writer two days to reach and negotiate with one of the senior police officer on the terms and conditions of service i sought to receive.

This scribe was ushered in an Ap post and after about twenty minutes of negotiation the under cover team agreed to pay Ksh.7000 and the process of lending the gun began.

I was cautioned against mentioning or discussing the process with other person willing to be assisted in the same manner by the officers.

The police officers were also keen not to even disclose their faces or name and could not allow the ”clients”(this reporter) to know his designation in the police force.

I was only assured that all will be well but in case of any emergency they can visit the scene to save the government tool.

But things changed when I was asked to leave with them my contacts and national identification card.

According to Hon Wetangula people of Bungoma county leave in fear because they don’t know who is next, security in the region has deteriorated in the past three years.

“We want tangible solutions, tangible steps – transfer of incompetent security officers, deployment of more vehicles to facilitate patrols , establishment of more functional police stations, posts among other measures”said Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka.

A civil society in the County “Jukwaa la katiba” Mr.Philp Wekesa wants the area leaders led by Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka to quickly deal with security issues in the country. “Security is a major concern to us and to investors in the county. We want the police chief and other security agencies to take action ,” Wekesa said.

In a recent meeting chaired by Bungoma county chief executive officer Ken Lusaka,senator Moses Wetanula and area Mp Wafula Wamunyinyi resolved to have some police officers who have been manning the various stations for over three years transferred.

Wetangula said the officers have proved to be incompetent in fulfilling their duties of keeping the residents safe, he added that they no longer have confidence in the officers because they are not doing their work.

End

 

Kenya: Clerics in Bungoma up in arms over rising attacks

• BY GODFREY WAMALWA, API-KENYA

Religious leaders in Bungoma county have condemned last week criminal attacks in Bungoma villgers in which over 100 people were injured,maimed and killed.

In a joint press briefing in Bungoma,the leaders led by Bungoma Gospel believers Church Bishop Francis Bushepi condemned the witnessed killings of several people and maiming others at mayanja,mukwa,Naburereya, Ndengelwa and kikwechi areas.

According to bishop Bushepi the target was not just the ordinary citizens in the region but is yet to be also unleashed to the clergy and elected leaders as well.”The move is to ensure that the newly elected county Governor does not succeed in implementing his development agenda and provision of services to the people”lamented Bushepi.
He further revealed that the security agents have carried out investigations and have found that the issue to be a political move by losers in the just concluded general elections trying to avenge for being interchanged in the whole political game. They further conveyed their condolences to the families of those who lost their beloved ones in the savage attacks.
Meanwhile ACK Archbishop Eliud Wabukala called upon human rights team to move in and bring to board those behind the ugly attack.Speaking through the phone,he called for a mass shake up of over stayed police officers in the region.

 

End

 

Kenya: Former civic leader Erick Soita says there is need for the government to construct a modern bridge in his area

• BY GODFREY WAMALWA, API, KENYA

Piece soft wood strewn together using barbed wires of different lengths and sizes are what hold together makes hire bridge that precariously over the flowing waters of River Nzoia and connects Milo village of Bungoma East district of Bungoma county and Lugari district in Kakamega County.

The swinging bridge or Mvunje as is popularly referred by area residents is situated at the foot Milo village, Webuye division. It is indeed a sight to watch as one has to see to believe.
However, the journey across the bridge is not for the faint-hearted beings. I gave it a try just to have a feel of what users normally go through and as I went cross, heart ran to my mouth as it swung from left to right just like a pendulum and were it not for my guide who held my left had tightly to make sure I reach the opposite end, I would have collapsed/fainted on my journey. Surprisingly, it was my longest 5 minutes of life as more experience only takes 3 minutes.

Built in 1968, the bridge is held firmly in place by the side strings where one can place their hands on either side. From the sideways, says in the middle as if it is about to fail into the river. Some 8 or 10 meters below, the brown colored waters of the 257 km along river Nzoia bubble will rage as if flows using from Mt. Elgon flowing South than West and eventually flowing into lake Victoria.
The river has a number of spectacular waterfalls and thought to possess a good hydroelectric potential despite the fact that it also causes an annual ritual of destruction and misery to the villagers of Budalangi during rainy season.

Waters at this crossing point are believed to be particularly deep and during the rainy seasons usually come within a few meters of the lowest parts of the bridge. The 44 years old rare bridge has since survived the effects of evolution and huge blue gum trees on both banks of the river which serves as pillars on which the bridge hangs. Also lies wooded structures nailed to the trees on both banks of the river that serve as ladders for users to get to the bridge.

It stretches 70 meters across the river and acts as the boundary between, Bungoma county and neighboring Kakamega county (Lugari district) thus serves as a shortest for travelers who would otherwise have to go through Webuye town which is longer and more expensive.

The bridge is preventing owner. It is owned by Mr. Alphay ( Lugari side) and Mr. Joseph Wanyembi (Bungoma side) both are owners of the adjacent panels of land on either side of the river on which the bridge settles. Both are said to be the brains behind its construction. Indeed thus kind of intention only a quinsy brain can come up with. A fee sh. 10 is charged for one to be able to use it. The two owners take towns to work at the bridge which serves over 600 people daily as from 7 am- 6 pm in the evening. Only those crossing during the day pay and only once regardless of have many times one cross. No fee is charged at night. Those with luggage also pay for them depending what it is.

Eucalyptus trees have been planted on both sides of the banks on which the bridge stand to serve not only as pillars but also check soil erosion on the banks. They also provide a cool shade for travelers who need to take a rest before the dreaded crossing.
According to Charles Anyona, the regular user, says the bridge is an improvement compared to what was used before. The earlier bridges were provided by nature –a fallen tree over a stream, an arch formed by erosion, a vine grown from one tree to another.
However, those are many varieties of bridges, generally, bridges is a structure built over water or a ground depression for railway, highway or foot traffic.

The bridges substructures rest on the ground and support the substructure carrying the roadway or other facility.
Nowadays, the logs and timber of the early bridges have been replaced by concrete and metal. The recent trend has been to fabricate metal bridge members in welding sector by welding and the connect parts together at the bridge site with high strength bolts.
According to Esther Musioli, a teacher and a resident attributes that something needs to be done to avert a looming. “Most of the pieces of wood used is dry and broken and it is also time-consuming as only 4 people allowed to cross the bridge at the time” Says Musioli.

Former civic leader who is also a resident Erick Soita says there is need for the government to construct a modern bridge that can be also used by motorist to replace the wooden one. Same sentiment are shared by Julius Kakai a religious leader that the funds that will be dispersed to Bungoma county should be prioritized in such areas as improvement of infrastructure in the region.

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