Day: July 15, 2023

At least three people have been killed and property destroyed in Al Shabaab attacks in Kenya’s Mandera County.

The militants are said to have split into groups targeting at least four areas.

They first attacked Iresuki, damaging the only communication mast in the area, while the second group attacked the Jabibar Quick Response Unit (QRU) camp.

Another group laid siege at the Elwak Kenya Defence Forces camp, ensuring that the soldiers remained in their camp.

A fourth group attacked the Wargadud police station, killing two police officers and a teacher who lived in the police station compound.

The group first destroyed a communications mast in the centre of Wargadud before attacking the police station.

Several vehicles parked at the station were burnt and a police car was hijacked.

A police reservist manning the communications mast at Iresuki raised the alarm that they had been attacked at around 1am.

Mandera County Commissioner Amos Mariba said a joint security team had cordoned off the area in pursuit of the attackers.

“We had a problem, but an operation is under way. I will give an update later,” he said.

Mandera has remained one of the counties hardest hit by Al Shabaab since it launched an onslaught in the Northeastern region.

The county has recorded at least 21 terrorist attacks in two months, killing more than 20 people.

In Garissa County, police are holding two people found in possession of firearms.

The two men went to a construction site armed and unaware of the police presence.

They were found in possession of two AK-47 rifles and five magazines containing 180 rounds of ammunition. They also had Ksh396,000 ($2,792) in cash.

They are being held at Garissa Police Station.

Source: Nam News Network (NNN)

With the current high cost of living people have become more creative in search of a livelihood. They are innovatively challenging what is considered impossible by doing extraordinary to make ends meet.

People, especially the young generation are using talents not just as a hobby but to make a living as well.

Meet Augustine Macharia, a 33 years old man who creates magic in the air, defying limits and challenging what is impossible to others.

He can walk miles wearing 4.5 ft stilted legs weighing six kilograms.

While entertaining people in Maua town, Meru County by moving around the streets with his stilt legs, Macharia explained that his income comes from entertaining people with his incredible performances and wonders.

He said that he realized his talent during his childhood when he would participate in jumping, dancing, and drawing at school.

He however narrated the ordeal which took away both his parents forcing him to drop out of school when he had two years to complete his primary school education.

‘My mother became ill when I was in class three and died, later in class six my father also succumbed to illness making it hard to get basic needs and later decided to drop out of the school and seek a job,’ Macharia said.

He later met a well-wisher whose identity he did not disclose, who introduced him to the field of dancing where they would spend most of their time dancing in social halls and events around Embu County which is his original homeland.

‘The man noted that I had some acrobatic skills and decided to give me a helping hand to grow my talent. He introduced me to other dancers who made me become more famous in the dancing field,’ Macharia narrated, adding that they would spend days and nights in clubs and other social gatherings to entertain people and earn some cash.

Macharia explained that he later on realized other acrobatic skills like walking on a line and using stilts to make him appear as if he is walking on the air, which he has done for the last 10 years now.

Macharia said that he earns a living through his acrobatic dance and ‘walking on the air’, adding that his clients are students and people working around marketplaces.

‘I perform my magic in schools and marketplaces where I walk along the streets wearing my stilts which makes me the tallest man in the universe hence attracting attention from many,’ he humorously stated.

He added that some people also pay him between Sh 50 to Sh 200 to take photos with him.

The acrobat who hails from Embu noted that his work is highly mobile and he considers showcasing his talents during market days.

‘I have traveled and performed in almost all the counties in Kenya. This year I have been in Mombasa, Nairobi, Narok, Nakuru, and Meru respectfully,” he added.

On how much he makes in a day, Macharia said that he is able to cater to all his family’s needs including giving his children the best education that he missed during his early childhood.

He noted that what makes him flexible as he walks using stilts, is the daily exercise that he performs saying that to him exercise is like a daily meal that he cannot do without.

What surprises many is how he balances his weight on those long stilts without any falls.

Macharia revealed that his biggest challenge is invasion by people who try to make him fall thinking that he is not a human being.

The 33 old man who has so far trained the other three acrobats wishes to become an international acrobat coach in the near future.

He further urged the youths to exploit their talents considering the scarcity of white-collar jobs in the country to make ends meet.

‘When youths discover their talents, cases of theft and other social evils will minimize if not end,’ he said.

Macharia praised the government for implementing the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) which is key in focusing on developing skills such as critical thinking, imagination, creativity, and communication skills which are very crucial in the growth of one’s talent.

” I was very happy when the new curriculum which has put much emphasis on talent-oriented disciplines like sports, arts, and music unlike the old 8-4-4 system that focused primarily on knowledge-based learning became functional in our schools,’ he said.

According to Macharia, talent nurtured can bring a variety of opportunities to the country’s ever-evolving social and economic needs.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof Kithure Kindiki has read a riot act to security officers and leaders fueling chaos at Nkararo in Transmara West, Narok County.

Urging government officers always to observe impartiality while dealing with border issues and disputes, the CS warned that errant security officers found to be perpetuating violence will not be transferred to other areas, but will instead be sacked be prosecuted.

Speaking at Nkararo-Enoosaen Cutline in Transmara West during a security gathering on Friday, Kindiki ordered the security team to mop up guns and all other weapons including arrows, being used to escalate crime in the region.

Calling for a speedy end to the Nkararo-Enoosaen land clashes, Kindiki said that long-standing border disputes cannot be an excuse to be used by one to kill, injure or destroy people’s property.

He said that the government will use all means to ensure that the clashes are brought to an end including setting up of a General Service Unit Camp on the disputed border.

The clashes have been witnessed since 1956 and in the past month, the situation went out of hand as several acres of sugarcane plantations and houses were torched as hundreds of people were displaced.

The visit by the CS follows a series of other high-powered meetings in the region aimed at helping to restore peace which has for a long time been elusive.

However, residents are hopeful that the Friday visit by the Interior and National Administration CS and the pronouncements made will help bring long-lasting peace.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro on Friday reiterated that the government will not allow leaders of the opposition to stage demonstrations in counties within the central region.

Nyoro termed the proposed anti-government demonstrations as actions meant to cause mayhem and destroy people’s property saying as leaders from the region, they will not allow any maandamano to take place.

Speaking as he distributed development cheques to various schools in his constituency, the legislator who is also chairperson of the parliamentary committee for budget castigated leaders allied to Azimio One-Kenya alliance saying their aim is to destabilise operations of the government.

Nyoro observed that chaos witnessed during the demonstrations on Wednesday where nine people died clearly indicated it was a pre-planned violence terming it unacceptable.

On Wednesday, anti-government demonstrations were witnessed in various counties leading to destruction of properties.

Nyoro claimed that the demonstrations which are being led by the opposition leader Raila Odinga are heavily financed and choreographed by some forces who want to destabilise the government.

He said the anarchy perpetrated by the leaders on Wednesday will be the last kind of violence that should be witnessed in any part of the country.

‘What the anarchists, the promoters of violence calling themselves the opposition, are purporting to be demonstrations, we have clearly seen that they are not demos but well organised violence.

‘People of the central region are business oriented and we will not allow demonstrators to destroy what we have invested. The leaders behind the violence should respect Kenyans and leave them to carry on with their daily activities,’ he added at Withaga Primary school.

The lawmaker alleged that the opposition leaders are sponsoring maandamano in efforts to get a stake in the government saying there will be no ‘handshake’ between the president and opposition leader.

‘Let them continue demonstrating, but I assure them there will be no coalition government between Kenya Kwanza and the opposition. They can continue with their picketing,’ he alluded.

Nyoro further termed the exercise of collecting signatures to oust President’s Ruto administration a futility saying Kenya Kwanza’s government was legally elected by majority of Kenyans.

He claimed that the so-called dynastic families are looking down on President Ruto because they felt he should not be holding the position.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The acting Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko has encouraged the residents of Kisii to unlock their potential by planting fruit trees and raising fruit tree seedlings in order to contribute to the government’s agenda of attaining 30 percent tree cover by 2032 while supporting food security.

Speaking during the launch of the national strategy towards the attainment of 30 percent tree cover by 2032 at Nyangweta forest in Etago Sub County, Mr Lemarkoko said Kisii has a massive capacity of producing fruit seedlings due to its comparative advantages such as adequate rainfall, fertile soil, and manpower to raise the seedlings.

‘Fruit trees are going to be a critical agenda for us because we are required to have at least 30 percent of what we produce as fruit trees and this county is capable of producing the fruit trees that we require nationally,’ he said.

The acting Chief Conservator noted they will be working with Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in the communities to show them the possibilities of increasing their productivity on the tree nursery side and enhancing the species composition, particularly the giant bamboo which grows well in the region.

Lemarkoko lauded the county for being at the forefront in the protection of forests and urged the various stakeholders such as schools, NGOs, and NGAOs to partner with Kenya Forest Service and plant more trees in order to attain the target trees cover.

He encouraged the Kisii county government to be at the frontline in forest conservation within the county.

‘We need you to now take up the roles of the 21 devolved functions and have your own foresters that have been trained by the Kenya Forest Service so that you can be at the forefront in elevating the tree cover in your county,’ added Lemarkoko.

On her part, Vicky Green Farm CEO, Vicky Onderi lauded the national strategy of achieving the 30 percent tree cover by 2032 saying that it will support economic empowerment in Kisii County by creating jobs for women and youth.

The Green Zones Development Support Project Manager, Mr Jerome Mwanzia noted they had supported the Nyangweta CFA through two income-generating activities, that is, dairy farming and beekeeping in order to boost the farmers’ income.

Mr Mwanzia promised to continue working with the association and supporting them through training and exchange visits to bridge the gap that was left by retired Forest Extension officers in the counties.

The Green Zones Development Support Project- Phase II is a 6-year project (2018-2024) that comprises three main components including forest conservation and livelihood support, sustainable and inclusive value chain development, and project management and coordination.

Kisii County is among the 15 implementing counties of the project which cover four forest conservancies and three of Kenya’s water towers including Mt Kenya, Aberdares, and the Mau complex.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National government has said it will extend fiber internet connectivity to reach all insecurity-prone areas in the North Rift region.

State Department for ICT and The Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng John Tanui said his department will team up with the private sector and other development partners to connect the six affected counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia with fiber internet.

Eng Tanui who spoke when he launched the JITUME Digital laboratory at Kapchepkor Technical Training Institute in Baringo North Sub- County, Friday, underscored the need for internet and mobile coverage which he said will assist in timely conveying of information in a region faced with banditry and cattle rustling challenge.

‘We have planned and sent a team of experts and they have surveyed and identified the exact spots where the internet connectivity as well as mobile phone masts will be set,’ Tanui said.

He noted that the government is working on modalities to extend broadband connectivity by road, adding that for the lower parts of Baringo South, North, and Tiaty region the connectivity will pass through Emining to Marigat, Mukutani and link up with neighbouring counties of Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana and West Pokot.

The PS while encouraging the youth to embrace the Jitume programme said it will support them to tap opportunities beyond the country now that white collar jobs are hard to come by.

Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap noted that insecurity rocking the sub-county was a major hindrance to development but said he is hopeful that the current government will sort out the challenge for once.

He called on the youths to make good use of such centres in his constituency so that they can earn for themselves income and in turn improve their livelihoods.

‘I am urging all our youths to enroll in Jitume since it is a hub where they can do programs and assignments and at the end, they can earn a living out of it,’ said Makilap.

At the same time, the legislator said that he is hopeful that in the next few years, the region will produce skillful young women and men who will be able to create self-employment opportunities for others.

Baringo Women representative Florence Jematia who is also a member of the National Assembly ICT committee challenged women and youth to be tech savvy as the world was now a global village and the use of the internet eases trade and communication.

Principal Secretary for CT and The Digital Economy Eng John Tanui when he officially launched JITUME Digital laboratory at Kapchepkor Technical Training Institute in Baringo North Sub-County

On insecurity, Jematia said she will champion support of victims of banditry who she pointed out are languishing in abject poverty after the loss of livelihoods.

She said that it is high time communities embrace peaceful coexistence and those widows and orphans who need assistance be prioritized by both national and county governments and other charitable organizations.

Deputy governor Felix Kipngok in his remarks urged the ministry to FastTrack fiber connectivity to enable youths to access information online and also boost the network connectivity across the county to help in reducing the insecurity incidences.

The Institution Principal Elly Koross lauded the ministry for the initiative saying the youths would benefit from the training and get equipped with digital skills to enable them to venture into online work that could earn them a living and in building the economy.

He called on local leaders and well-wishers to sponsor some of the needy students in the institution which has over 500 learners so that they can finish their respective courses without any major challenge.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenyans for Peace Movement officials have come out to condemn the demonstrations that rocked some parts of the country on Wednesday.

Led by their Chairman Edward Maina, the officials said although Naivasha remained relatively calm during the countrywide demos initiated by the Azimio-One Kenya movement on Wednesday, the town being a prime tourist destination and a home to over 70 percent of all the cut flowers exported from the country lost over Sh.3 billion due to the said demo.

In a statement read by their Secretary, Bernard Macharia Mwangi, the organization said the loss occurred due to loss of business as most businesses in the area remained closed following the tension that had gripped the country due to the demos.

‘Businesses did not operate due to fear of vandalism and looting, tourists could not come for fear of their own security, and flowers could not be transported as the road leading to the airport was barricaded by the demonstrators,’ Macharia said.

Speaking in Naivasha on Friday, the officials said although the right to picket is enshrined in Article 24 of the Constitution, Article 24d of the same Constitution is very clear that one person’s right to picket should not prejudice the rights of other people.

‘Many sectors such as; transport, tourism, manufacturing among others were adversely affected, lives were lost, but at the end of the day, we did not see Azimio present any petition to the Government,’ they said.

They said the Ruto administration inherited a myriad of problems such as; huge debts, adding that the economic challenges Kenya is going through are global and many countries are going through the same, noting that these challenges have been occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change among other issues.

‘In every election, there is a winner and a loser, Kenya has a legitimate Government in place, duly elected by a majority and we Kenyans have not sent anyone to speak for us, patriotic Kenyans are guided by the Article 10C of the Constitution which states that we must adhere to the rule of law and principles of governance including patriotism, democracy, and public participation. Where was patriotism when the businesses were looted, property destroyed and the economy stifled?’ Macharia paused.

They called on all patriotic Kenyans at the grassroots to come out on Monday, July 17, to show that Kenyans want peace and said they will prepare a petition to the parliament urging the government to gazette selected places in all major towns where protestors can put their grievances in designated ‘talking boxes’ to make demonstrations orderly in line with the constitution.

On Wednesday, property worth billions of shillings were destroyed around the country as Azimio-One Kenya mobilized Kenyans to go to the streets to protests against the high cost of living. Key installations such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Expressway in Nairobi were destroyed.

With the Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mr Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the destruction of the Expressway could cost Kenyans in excess of Sh. 700 million to repair. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that about 10 people died in the Wednesday demos around the country with Azimio blaming police for shooting at innocent, unarmed demonstrators.

Source: Kenya News Agency