Khaoya the Luyia elder and fate of death

BY  LUKE  KAPCHANGA& BERNARD KWALIA   DN/BUNGOMA      27/2/2008     KHAOYA

The  death of the Luyia elder Joseph Khaoya and his first wife , same night , while not bed ridden has  shocked the family, the community  and political fraternity.

With the country just coming from the post election violence which saw families lose spouses and children at one go, the death could not have been  peculiar.

What makes Mzee Khaoyas demise different is his position in society of the Luyia community at large and the active role he played while hosting the ODM leader Raila Odinga  some time last year.

The bold decision he took that of handing to Raila the spear and shield at Muliro gardens in Kakamega, was what provoked political observers in the region, particularly in Bungoma to wake up.

Mr. Lucas Watta, one of his closest persons  then described the decision as “ very bold and instrumental for the people”.

Mzee  Khaoya called on the Luyia and the Bukusu in particular to support Raila, saying the time predicted by the late prophet Elijah Masinde about Luyia leadership had come.

He insisted that the prediction by Masinde the legendary Dini Y a Msambwa leader about the the Luyia or Bukusu ascending to the country’s leadership through Lake Victoria was indeed now.

He urged, according to his close friends that if they supported Odinga for the presidency, and he in turn appointed Musalia Mudavadi as the vice president then chances, are that he will succeed him after serving his full time.

This argument is   what infuriated the Ford-K brigade in the district who saw Khaoya as a traitor.

The Ford-K leadership from the Bungoma countered by explaining at length , that the prophesy by  the late Masinde had already been fulfilled through the late vice president Kijana Wamalwa.

They reasoned that because Wamalwa deputized the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and later took over as the Ford-Kenya chairman then, the said leadership was achieved.

This sparked off , a series of debates as visits to the shrine of the late Masinde became a hot issue , with family supporting the ODM pentagon team to visit while Ford-K opposing.

Mr. Watta said that handing Raila the traditional instruments of  power, was to identify him as the emerging leader, and this was the expression of trust in him by the elders.

There was nothing wrong or improper in handing the shield and spear to the ODM leader, he added, because the elder was giving direction to the community to take politically.

It is the direction, which those opposed to him say may have contributed to his untimely death , together with the wife.    

Mr. Mulunda Khaoya one of the sons, who described the death as tragic said Mzee Khaoya was determined to have the Luyia community united.

“My father always talked of Luyia unity and by presenting the Shield and Spear to Odm Leader , was done on behalf of the community elders , who wanted the ODM pentagon team to have their blessings’, he said.

Kanduyi MP Mr. Alfred Khangati descried the late elder as a visionary and daring leader.

In his condolence massage,the ODM MP said the late Khaoya  was instrumental in introducing the party in Bungoma , which was considered the Ford-K stronghold.

Mr. Khangati said the his courage to present the Odm leader Raila Odinga with a shield and spear at Muliro garden in  Kakamega changed the politics of the area.

He praised the late elder for initiating meaningful development projects during his time as the MP and assistant minister, whose record has not been broken.

Mzee Khaoya is reputed to have been behind the construction and installation of Nzoia sugar factory, Sangolo Institute of Science &Technology, Mabanga Framers Trainig centre  and Bungoma prisons

The institutions remain the only meaningful developments in the greater Bungoma district  initiated during the Kenyatta administration .

However, history has it that he lost the 1974, elections to the late Dr. Fredrick Masinde when the prisons was built in Bungoma town.

The prisons was considered by the voters then as , an institution of torture and suffering for law offenders.

Mr. Khangati says, the Bukusu community  has lost a leader who had the personal initiative to defy popular believes to bring development or  unite them with other Kenyans.

Mr. Patrick Wangamati the founder chairman of the Bukusu council of Elders Asssociation,  on his side said the death of the elder together with the wife at the same time was a bad omen.

“As elders we  take  the simultaneous death of the couple suspiciously as it is rare and could be a bad omen,” he said.

Mr. Wangamati reminded the Bukusu to respect culture and their traditions , saying it is a taboo to introduce outsiders  to what holds them together.

He said as much as the dead are never blamed, but the late acted wrongly to take the ODM leaders to the shrines of the Dini Ya Msambwa leader Elijah Masinde against the wishes of the community.

This was rebuffed as misleading because traditionally couples who are very close normally die at the same time.

Mr. Muliro Kunikina an official of Trans- Nzoia branch, dismissed Mr. Wangamatis views as politically inclined and has no basis.

“All along when visits to the shrine of the late Masinde were arranged, Mzee Khaoys never personally got involved and he did not even accompany the Pentagon team as being claimed”, Mr. Kunikina added

The newly elected mayor of Bungoma Mr. Majimbo Okumu , said the loss is big for the Bukusu community , particularly when the country is at the cross roads politically.

“We were expecting to get advise and direction from such like elders, for the community not to be isolated politically”, Mr. Majimbo said.

Mzee Khaoya 77 and his wife Bethsheba 72 died on the night of 23, the man at Kenyetta national hospital while the wife at Mt.Elgon  view hospital in Bungoma town.

According to Mulunda their father traveled to Nairobi to see his personal doctor, Dr. Mac Gligeyo at Kenyatta National hospital  for routine medical check up on Wednesday last week .

Mulunda says it was him who drove the elder  to Kisumu where he boarded a plane alone, without any signs of serious sickness.

 Dr. Bulimo Khaoya , another of  his sons based in Kisii said the late Khaoya was in good spirits but the check up was normal as he was a diabetic.

As a family Dr. Bulimo explained they have an arrangement for Mzees regular medical check up to get proper treatment on time.

It was said that when he arrived at Kenyatta, his doctor recommended him for admission, and the conditions deteriorated with time.

They  said their mother  died at around 3.40 on Saturday  night  after developing  asthmatic attack.

They explained that the mother was sickly and died on arrival at the hospital.

The late Khaoya at one time served as a chief of the current day Bungoma South district before venturing in politics.

He was elected to parliament in 1966 and appointed assistant minister of agriculture in 1969.

He at time time also contested the Saboti   parliamentary seat , when the late vice president Kijana Wamalwa  opted not to run in 1989 after a petition against him.

He came to the limelight last year when he openly supported Mr.Odinga for the presidency, when his clansman Mr. Musikari Kombo the Ford-k chairman was supporting the president Kibakai.

Mr. Khaoya was the chairman of Balunda clan of which Kombo belongs, who bury the dead in a sitting position.

He is survived by 60 children and three wives Mary, Wilbroda and Florence .

Nzoia and farmers problems remain

BY   LUKE  KAPCHANGA  DN/BUNGOMA     5/3/2008   NZOIA

Problems affecting sugarcane farmers contracted to Nzoia factory seem to have refused to go away.

From around 1990, the complains about corruption, mismanagement , poor harvesting and delayed payments of farmers  dues, have kept on propping up every other time.

With close to 30,000 farmers in the greater Bungoma district, elective politics had always  revolved around the factory and its management.

The farmers suffering has played part in shaping up the politics of the area, as those elected usually tend to be on the side of farmers.

So, on Tuesday last week, they came in hundreds at Bukembe market, this time round to be told why burnt cane is being abandoned .

Hundreds of millions of shillings is feared could be going to waste , as the factory has refused to harvested burnt cane since the start of dry spells late last year.

They felt that the management was playing tricks with them, because as where as the nucleus estate cane , is set ablaze almost on daily basis, it is harvested immediately .

While as much as they try to plead, when a farmers cane has been accidentally burnt , management just turns a deaf ear.

During the meeting farmers, together with their leaders declared war to the board of directors over the refusal to harvest burnt cane.

Particularly on the spot was chairman of the board of directors Mr. Burudi Nabwera, who called upon to be dismissed.

Kanduyi MP Mr. Alfred Khangati said” Am declaring war on Nabwera to listen to farmers complains or he quits”.

The ODM MP, who described himself as a man of “stamina”, vowed not to give up until 

the issue of burnt cane is solved.

“Am a person of stamina, who should be taken seriously , and Nabwera has no point to be the chairman among the people he has no respect for”, he added.

This was followed by the resolution by Bungoma mayor, Henry Majimbo Okumu, demanding for the entire board of directors to be replaced.

The board, Mr. Okumu said has deliberately refused to harvest their cane, which is over mature and that burnt during the try spells.

But the managing director Mr. Francis Oyatsi stood his ground , saying burnt cane can not be harvested due to congested program.

He defended their policy on out grower burnt cane , insisting that when hundreds of tons of cane is burnt at once, the factory can not cope.

The MD attributed the failure by the factory to absorb standing mature cane to weather.

He pointed out that last year, cane from the swampy areas was not harvested  as the area never experienced try seasons between the months of December and March.

What is more threatening again even this time round is that, their projection is to harvest 300,000 tons of cane in five months.

Yet the worry is that they are expecting long rains in the next two months, so this means most of the cane in swamps will be left to rot.

The solution to harvesting lies in the factory expansion according to the Kenya sugar board chairman Mr. Saulo Busolo and Webuye MP Mr. Alfred Sambu.

They both stressed the need to have the factory expansion given priority when addressing farmers  problems with the factory.

A Mauritian firm has shown interest Mr. Busolo told farmers in the expansion of the factory, to reach the crashing capacity of 10,000 tons per day.

They are responding to the Nzoia management request for experts to advise them on the much anticipated expansion program  to bring the harvesting nightmare to an end.

They have been  identified as specialists in the sugar industry who could give guidance for the company to improve on productivity.

Speaking last year, Mr.Oyatsi noted that “We have the potential to produce upto 85,000 tones of sugar:  and make shs.850million profit”.

The experts will look among other issues on the Arkel machinery which have been lying at the factory yard since 1992, if they can be installed.

The Arkel machinery according to factory sources has had vital components extracted and installed quietly  and indicated as newly imported spares.

Another issue will be what measure is required to  clear over mature cane which is going to waste , after farmers started planting the crop without following laid down regulations..

 

On his part Mr. Sambu blamed management for giving false figures on crashing of cane per day.

Management he said, used to talk about being capable of crashing 3,000 tons per day, which has decreased to 800 tons, when area under cane  had expanded rapidly.

They could not even maintain the 3,000 tons, he complained at least to be consistent with maturing cane in the fields.

He blamed poor forecasting by agriculture team at the company, who seem not bothering to tour farm fields to know the area under cane.

The refusal by the company not to harvest cane, Mr. Busolo said was contravening the sugar Act.

According to the Act, a farmer whose crop is burnt is penalized when harvested and delivered to the factory.

He accused the Nzoia board of directors for working outside the Act, when they should get direction on the steps to take from it.

Farmers he added can not be punished, by having their crop to go to waste when arsonists sets it on fire.

He told farmers, that the company still owes them hundreds of millions of  shillings in arrears which has to be paid in full.

The money Nzioa is supposed to pay include , interests on over mature cane , waived interests on loans to farmers by president Kibaki and presumptive tax.

He called on farmers to work as a team and come up with a scheme which will force the factory management to pay interest on cane after reaching 18 months as one way of committing them to stick to the harvesting program.

He accused the management for defying the government directive of 2001, to stop deducting presumptive tax which should be refunded  and estimated to be above shs.300million.

Afarmer Mr. Goeffrey Njuhilili accused elected leaders for being compromised by management as one reason for their suffering.

He claimed that past leaders used their positions to get tenders as suppliers , colluding with senior company managers, who become corrupt as they seek their protection.

Leaders mostly MPS from the region he cautioned should declare publicly if they are doing business with the company so that farmers   do not waste time taking complains to them.

Most of the speakers wanted to have the freedom to sell their crop to private harvesters so that they do not lose completely. 

 Mr. Oyatsi  who was appointed to the post late last year, pointed out that the future plans of the factory is to have milling capacity of 8000 tones per day.

“our thinking of the company’s future is to have the milling of not less than 8,000 TCD , translating into 2million tones annually”.

The MD , said currently they were milling 3.000 tones which he insisted was insufficient to handle all the standing cane.

To achieve this, he stated , was to motivate workers through recognition of their performance  and building team work..

“As much as I want to have  the most committed framing community around,  employees have to be productive and not waste their time while at  work stations”, he went.

The problem at the mill , he noted which has made the company not to perform is fear and distrust among workers.

“Workers spent most of the time fearing, or regretting about the past, thus they lack confidence when told  about setting and achieving targets “.

What annoys farmers most is that , now they have nobody to sp[aek for them.

During the last general elections politicians never made it a hobby to use sugarcane as a platform for election.ottom of Form

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Saboat land defence force

BY LUKA   KAPCHANGA   DN/BUNGOMA   14/3/2008  MILITIA.

Members of the Saboat Land defence force(SDLF), arrested in the military operation going in Mt. Elgon , should be  charged for crimes against humanity.

Mr. Job Bwonya the coordinator of the Western Kenya human rights Watch, proposed that the international legal experts should be involved in drawing charges against members of SDLF because of the killings and destruction of property in the past three years.

Speaking in Bungoma town, Mr. Bwonya who gave his express support to the military operation described the rag tag militia as evil and destructive.

More than 607 people so far, he stressed had killed in the mountain since the clashes started over what looked like differences over the allocation of Chebyuk farm.

The coordinator, also revealed that 109 people who had been abducted have disappeared without trace.

Another 33, had their ears chopped off, after being classified as traitors or failing to pay taxes for the up keep of militias.

He called on the army to expedite the operation  and flush out the criminals, have them arrested and be arraigned in court.

Time , he said has come for the criminals who have been operating freely with impunity in the mountain to face the full force of the law .

He also asked the government to consider compensating victims of the SDLF attacks as it took them long to act.

Most of the families he went has lost everything and should be compensated to start life afresh after the operation is over.

Being a planting season, he appealed to the military, to ensure that peace is restored  for the region to start planting.

“If residents fail to prepare their farms on time, then after getting rid of one problem, the government could be creating another of donating food to the the part of the country which is self sufficient “,he remarked.

Security personell are said to have rounded up hundreds of men and taken to army bases and questioned.

Those suspected  to be members of SDLF, are handed over to police.  

 

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Musikari Kombo has to quit Ford-K Chair

BY  LUKE  KAPCHANGA    DN/BUNGOMA      30/4/2008      FORD-K

Ford-Kenya chairman and nominated MP Mr. Musikari Kombo is under siege, to quit the post.

But if shoving   comes to pushing, the former minister for local government is likely going to put up a fight.

Mr. Kombo who by last year believed was carrying the destiny of the Luyia community and by extension the Ford-Kenya supporters country wide on his back , could be heading to oblivion as calls for his removal grows louder by the day.

Yet he is not without defence, as those who still have confidence in his leadership are pointing an accusing finger at one of the cabinet ministers from western province for being behind the quit calls.

Ford-Kenya officials from Trans/Nzoia have openly supported their chairman, whom they say had managed party affairs with a lot of humility.

Even at his backyard of Webuye, councilors allied to the party, are optimistic that Kombo still  holds the destiny of the Luyia.

Cllr. Eric Soita dismissed those who want changes in the party as sellouts and detractors who are after personal benefits from enemies of the party.

Bumula MP and assistant minister Wakoli Bifwoli has cautioned those agitating for KOmbos removal, to expect a tough fight which they will loose with disgrace.

He reminded the party supporters ,of former minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi who fell from grace after undermining Kombos leadership of the party, adding that those making quit calls will not be spared.

The political troubles of Mr. Kombo began immediately he lost the Webuye seat to his perennial rival , Alfred Wekesa Sambu of ODM in the last general elections.

He had held the seat since 1992, when the multiparty democracy was introduced by defeating the first area MP  Joash Wamangoli, and has been winning subsequent elections with comfortable majority against Sambu.

The former Kanduyi MP Mr. Wafula Wamunyinyi was the first to come out openly calling  for Kombos removal as party chairman, citing the party’s poor showing in the last general elections.

He complained that the party has been shrinking and even in Bungoma it only has majority support in Kimilili and Bumula constituencies.

Mr. Wamunyinyi stated that “the world over, party leaders always gracefully steps aside when they perform dismally for the new blood to take over and steer supporters to new heights’.

Surprisingly, Wamunyinyi was Mr. Kombos closest supporters and even went on record warning those aspiring to contest against him in Webuye constituency of dire consequences.

The chairman, he used to tell meetings was to go unopposed , to prepare him for the presidency in 2012.

Mr. Kombo, has been a survivor as getting the PNU nomination was a shocker to his detractors but was greeted with relieve among his supporters who see a lifeline for their chairman.

Last weekend a top Ford-Kenya officials revealed in Bungoma that by fronting Mrs. Mary Wasike as the party’s choice  for nominations, some key members were indeed scheming to shutout Kombo from the limelight.

The choice of Mrs. Wasike , who has since been  appointed the PS in the ministry of  Labor  was mischievous and whose motive was for the party destruction not wellbeing.

According to the official who is well versed with party affairs, this annoyed MPS, Eugene Wamalwa of Saboti and Dr. John Eseli Simiyu of Kimilili who came to the defence of Kombo to get the nomination slot.

This  however infuriated some party supporters in Trans-Nzoia and Bungoma who felt that , the slot should have been left to the woman.

After kicking of the quit calls at a  press conference in Bungoma town, the former MP who is also the Bungoma party branch chairman has on several occasions been convening meetings with party officials and councilors.

The strategy according to the people who have been attending such  meetings at various hotels and Mabanga FTC,  was  mainly to lay  grounds  for    discreding Kombos performance  and his lack of vision for the party .

This seem to work as several branches country have picked up the cue and are demanding to see Kombos back.

The most vocal was from Nyanza and North rift, the areas which both have the historical  backing of the party and enjoys support.

Five branches of Trans Nzioa, West Pokot, Marakwet, Pokot North and Mt. Elgon issued a statement in Kitale saying,” its time for the party to think of its future if it has to remain relevant in future”.

Their disappointment and frustrations comes from what they complain was dismal performance in last years polls, so it requires revitalization and re-organization.

But the calls have been dismissed by  Kombos supporters as the work of a senior minister from Western and the only minister who comes from the province and could have the interest in the party leadership  in none other than foreign affairs minister Moses Wetangula.

Though , Wetangula has never publicly declared interest in the post of chairman, close confidants of his support the assertion that he is also angling to go for presidency in 2012.

During his campaigns last year he used to hint to his supporters that in the event Kombo was reluctant to contest the presidency, then he will step in.

And if the foreign minister is the position himself for the Kibaki succession race , the only option in the coalition politics the country is witnessing is through F-K

Mr. Wetangula some time in March,while attending a funeral at burial at Lwandanyi   in his Sirisa constituency allegedly blamed Kombo for the partys poor showing in the polls.

The minister who was accompanied with a group councilors from his Sirisia constituency described Kombo as “ a political spent force”.

When Mr. Allan Chenane , one of his close confidants was asked about Wetangulas position on the calls for Kombos removal , he maintained that the party was stable.

“The minister has  confidence in Kombos leadership and those making allegations about schemes to have changes in the party want to create tension and unnecessary divisions’, Mr. Chenane said.

Mr. Kombos troubles may have started with the death of Bukusu elder Joseph Khaoya, whose burial was marked with changed political fortune favoring ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Mr. Odinga then prime minister designate was received with pomp and song, as dance and singing filled the air while attending the burial in Wamunyinyis former constituency.

Saboti MP, Eugene Wamalwa stole the show by cautioning party leaders present to read the signs and unite theLuyia community or risk being eclipsed by the young generation of MPs.

“Young MPs from this community are watching carefully actions by our leaders and we want to move as one people  to have our voice heard”, he told mourners.

He added that should leaders not heed them, and keep the community divided politically, then come 2012, they will be booted out.

He received standing ovation at the funeral, and charging from the silence which followed his address, pundits opined that Kombos position was in trouble.

Then Party supporters on the grassroots started discussing openly about having changes at the party helm, and went further by proposing the younger Wamalwa to takeover the party leadership.

When asked if he has the ambition of heading the party, he replied” the peoples power is supreme and being privileged to serve them need to be appreciated at all levels”, Wamalwa remarked.

As the party lawyer , however he did not come out clearly if he wants to push the chairman out, insisting that the party constitution has to be defended at all costs.

According to him, the party will have elections in 2010, when it will be prudent for those calling for Kombos removal put in their man or woman of choice.

Yet another option to hold elections can be through resolution passed by the National delegates council(NDC), when  demanded by members.

With the growing calls to have Kombo quit is one signal for the NDC, to be convened  by none other than Kombo himself who is vested with the powers and have his fate discussed .

The party supporters are of the  assumption that given his resilience and behavior, the younger Wamalwa could replicate the  late  Vice –Preisdent Kijana Wamalwa, who was his elder brother to  steer the party  to greater heights.

Mr. Hilton Otenyo a regular commentator on Luyia politicis from Kakamega agrees that, “it is Wamalwa who can revamp the party to regain its foothold in TransNzoia and Bungoma”.

Mr. Otenyo observed that as of now, nobody can talk of Luyias being in F-K, with change of leadership making in roads to western province could be possible.

Replacing Kombo , may not be easy, as talk is gaining ground about possible merger with the New Ford-Kenya.

New Ford-Kenya a splinter group led by minister Soita Shitanda , who walked out on Kombo after a failed coup is also chaired by former minister Mukhisa Kituyi.

Dr. Kituyi who has kept a low profile since losing his Kimilili seat to a new comer, was a thorny in Kombos leadership , after losing the party chairmanship in 2003.

If the merger comes out to be true, then possible candidates list to replace Kombo as chairman will be very long and cause more fallouts after the party polls, if they were to be held.

Mr. Kombos undoing  was his over confident during elections of being appointed the VP, after the polls was PNU to win fairly.

The Ford-K chairman is said to have spent very little time in the constituency and changed or disregarded advice from his closest aides.

He therefore opted not to campaign nor had no  time campaigning in his constituency , using any available to chance todrum up support for Kibaki.

His handling of the party affairs annoyed even his close friends, but underestimated them due to his closeness to the president.

Those close to him claim that he kept to himself campaigns funds both during the referendum and last years elections.  

During all his tenure as a senior minister, Kombo is accused of locking out people from Webuye to getting  any senior government appointments.

Most of the projects he promised on the ground none has taken off, to benefit the people.

The notable one , the banana tissue culture project is cited were he is said to have instructed his close friends to buy seedlings from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology by refusing free seedlings given by KARI.

 He is also accused of failing to appoint his party officials both at the local and regional level to any

TENDERING PROBLEMS AT NZOIA SUGAR COMPANY

 

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 10:01 AM

BY  LUKE KAPCHANGA   DN/WEBUYE   NZOIA         6/4/2005
The Kenya Anti-corruption committee has been called to investigate the tendering process at the Nzoia sugar company.
Mr Lucas Watta who is the official of the Kenya sugar cane growers association  has claimed that the company was losing million of shillings in corrupt deals and those involved  need to be prosecuted.
Mr Watta said the management should be probed on how they gave out shs.121million to a company supposed to supply fertilizer without delivering the product.
He claimed that cane yields among out grower farmers had dropped due to lack of fertilizers yet the money was paid out to the supplier.
The official said there is enough evidence showing that the money was paid yet those behind the syndicate are not bothered with the suffering they have inflicted to farmers who depend on the company to get fertilizers.
Cane farmers contracted to Nzoia sugar company have written a protest letter to Agriculture minister Mr Kipruto Kirwa for his failure to intervene  and have their problems addressed by the management.
The Kenya national  sugarcane growerrs union chairman Mr Joseph Nato Muleme has written to Mr Kirwa asking for his reponse on illegal deductions and overcharges on delivered crop.
The letter dated  23/3/2005 says in part,"We shall be grateful to hear from you as soon as possible because the situation of farmers at Nzoia is getting worse".
Mr Muleme complains that the minister has not respondend to the letter he wrote to him on 17/11/2004 demanding payment of shs.415,878,488. accrued interest for cane delivered from 1999-2003 from Nzoia management.
Then  the  union official claimed the interest was realised after the government waived the interest rates from sugar development fund(SDF),and also lowered interest on loans from 10%-5% last year.
Mr Muleme accused the management at Nzoia for charging interest on payments to farmers against the directives of the government.
He  stated that farmers who benefited from shs.300million released by the government in May to clear the outstanding debt were deducted interest on land preparation, seed cane,harvesting and fertilizers yet this was money from SDF,
The chairman said then that the accrued amount covered the period between 1999-M ay 2003 as the management had flouted the guideline spelled out making farmers to continue suffering.
He accused the management at the factory for denying out grower farmers from getting high yields when the cane is harvested by not supplying them with fertilizers.
He said most of the farmers depend on the fertilizer from the company because poor payment system has made them not to operate independently.
The union chairman accused the management of stealing from farmers by raising transport costs when the distance from the farm to the weighbridge remains the same.
He also claimed that more than 3000 farmers have  not benefited from from shs.300million released last year to clear the 1999-2002 arrears.

TYPHOID AMONG STUDENTS

Saturday, April 9, 2005 11:21 AM

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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE TYPHOID 9/4/2005
The outbreak of typhoid in Bungoma district which has killed three students and a villager were caused by expired chlorine used in the treatment of water.

The minister of water & Irrigation Mrs Martha Karua said on Friday that contaminated water due to expired chlorine may have been the cause of the outbreak which has affected hundreds of people in Kimilili division.

The minister admitted that officials in her ministry were found treating water at the supply system with chlorine which had expired in November last year.
"Expired chlorine was found in the stores but strict instructions have been given to stop using it immediately," She said.
Mrs Karua who was touring the affected area with trade & industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, announced the formation of a monitoring team to ensure a continous use of proper chlorine in the treatment of water at the source in Mt Elgon district.
She hinted that the ministry may take displinary action against those involved in the procurement and supply of expired chlorine.
"The ministry may be forced to take internal steps of displinary action only after consultations and investigation", she said when asked to comment on her reaction about the use of expired chlorine,
However, she said the purpose of her visit was not to pronounce the sanctions on the ministry employees who were accused of failing to perform their work .
Dr Kituyi who is the area MP demanded for the removal of the district water officer Mr Anthony Mweje for not knowing his work and just misleading the public on water treatment.
The minister is said to have told a closed door meeting at the Kimilili municipality that the water deptment in the district was in a mess as a reason for frequent outbreaks of water borne diseases.
The source from the meeting were the press was barred said the area Mp also called for the resignation of Bungoma medical offficer of health Dr Isaac Wasike for not acting fast to contain the outbreaks.
The meeting was attended by district commisioners of Bungoma Mr Joseph Irungu and Mr John Ole Serian of Mt Elgon, The Western provincial medical officer Dr Olango Onudi , Commisioner Jack Tumwa, officials from both ministries of water and health and Kimilili mayor Mr Wycliffe Tabani.
Dr Kituyi complained that information on the ground was being distorted by government agents on the extended of the outbreak and efforts being taken to contain it.
He said the figure of those who have died of typhoid is not clear due to poor record keepning or refusal by the concerned persons to put records correct.
On the side of treatment for typhoid patients the minister accused the health staffs for charging them when drugs had been supplied by the government.
He told the patients at Kimilili sub-district hospital not to pay for services or buy drugs until he will tell them to start paying.
"The government has supplied enough drugs and nobody should be asked for money , the services here are free and report anyone who will demand for money", Dr Kituyi said.
He observed that patients suffering from typhoid are being told to buy expensive drugs at near by pharmacies while at the hospital are given just painkillers.
The ministers who were visiting patients after the outbrea last month promised that the government was going to iprove on water supply systems in the area to provide clea and safe drinking water.
The disease which was fisrt reported at Moi girls Kamusinga and later Kimilili boys claimed the lives of students one in each school.
The PMO Dr Onudi dismissed reports that those who have died had reached 20 puting the number at only four.
He maintained that according to thier records those diagonised and found to be invected with the disease and later died was four ,saying other reported deaths within the affected areas was due to other causes not typhoid

MUKHISA KITUYI AND POVERTY AMONG THE LUYIA

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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE KITUYI 11/4/2005
Trade & industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has said that members of the Luyia community will remain poor if they do not change the attitude of being reluctant to venture into business.
Dr Kituyi observed that the community will always be labelled as producers of cooks and watchmen when they leave business opportunities slip away.
He complained that the people of Western province have taken poverty to be away of life and do not struggle to get out of it.
Addressing mourners at the burial of the late Samuel Wamalwa Wanyonyi at Chebukaka village in Sirisia constituency, Bungoma district , the minister challenged the youth to fight poverty like a disease.
He said the region was marginalized during the KANU government and people thought poverty was part of them and to make money is like an accident.
"Our people have to raise up and fight poverty mercilessly like a plague to make money and develop the region" he remarked.
He told the people of the region to take a brake from political squabbles and concentrate on income generating projects which will change their living standards.
Dr Kituyi said the Luyias were not taking risks and are only waiting for the government sponsored projects to claim that development was coming to their respective areas.
"Development is not building of roads, schools, hospitals and supply of electricity only but is about involvement of local people to generate money", he said.
He gave the example of the community to two watchmen, one with shoes and another barefooted. He explained that the one with shoes will buy new ones when they get stollen yet the barefooted will never think of buying a pair because he is comfortable in that state.
He claimed the community was not being ambitious enough to participate in the global economy when the doors are open to third world countries.

The minister was accompanied by more than twenty councillors drawn from Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia and Lugari districts .

Dr Kituyi appealed to the residents of the province to concentrate on development issues and leave politics to the next general elections in 2007.
"There will always be elections after five years in this country unless the military takes over, so people should waste time on politics every time they have the opportunity to address the public" he said.
He said elected leaders were dwelling much on politics to hide their failures in addressing peoples needs and ensuring that government services are delivered.

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KIRWA AND FARMERS PAYMENT AT NZOIA

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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE KIRWA 23/4/2005
The minister of agriculture Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa is to recall the farmers list of Nzoia sugar company to srutinise the beneficiaries of shs.300million given by the government last year.
Assistant minister for foreign affairs Mr Moses Wetangula told cane farmers at Mabanga yesterday that they had requested for the ministers intervetion.
Wetangula said elected leaders from Bungoma had approached Mr Kirwa to have the list properly checked to establish the farmers who were paid after compalins that some were left out.
"The minister will definately ascertain the beneficiaries who were not farmers following complains of shortcomings at the company with management,"he said.
He also promised farmers that the issue of missing files which made most of them not to be paid will be investigated as the minister is very much concerned to have the debt cleared.
Mr Kirwa led a high powered government delegation in March last year at Bukembe primary school were he announced that Nzoia sugar company was to recieve shs.300million to clear the accumulated debts .
The money was supposed to clear debts piled up from 1999 -2002 but farmers have been complaing about the poor payment procedure.
The farmers claim that management caused the loss of files and tampered with the records leaving most of them out.
In September last year the company board of directors chairman Mr Burudi Nabwera told the press that they had identified ghost farmers who were to be handed over to police for action.
Mr Nabwera said then that ghost farmers were being paid in collusion with some corrupt managers leaving oput genuine farmers.
The chairman explained that ghost farmers were discovered after a rigorious screening exercise by registering farmers afresh physically assisted by chiefs.
Mr Wetangula on his part promised farmers that MPs from the sugar belt are fighting to have the price of sugar increased to motivate them.

He however called on the goverment toremove VAT and reduce taxes on sugar to make it appealing to farmers and profitable.

He complained that the major problem in sugarcane farming is taxation and the leaders were consulting with the government to remove VAT the way it is with coffee and tea.
He claimed taxation is discouraging farmers because they are being paid peanuts when the crop is harvested and the proceeds goes to the millers and transporters.
He asked farmers not to vote for the Kenya sugar Board director who will oppose the increase of cane tonnage because the current directors were the ones who reduced the prices.
He said MPs want a director who understands sugar cane problems and willing to coperate with them to protect farmers interests.

WETANGULA ON FAMILY PLANNING

BYLUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE WETANGULA 23/4/2005
Family planining is not good for competitive politics which is about numbers ,an assistantminister has said.
Mr Moses Wetangula of foreign affairs said people of Western and Bungoma in particular should have more children to make Ford - K a strong party.

Mr Wetangula explained that politics of alliances the country has adopted each party in parliament need more votes in areas they dominate to enable it have better chances to negotiate for power.

"Leadership is about people not trees .Every one big or small has got just one vote and we require numbers to make our party vibrant" Mr Wetangula said.
Addresing the public at Sirare , in his Sirisia constituency, the assistant minister urged women not to use contraceptives because the party depends on themto increase the number of supporters.
He complained that health facilities in the constituency are being constructed but women who are pregnant are rarely seen to make use of them.
He caused amusement among the women and men at the meeting when he remarked that one will traverse the constituency without finding a single woman who had concieved.
He observed that failure by mothers not to concieve defeats the purpose of having health centres within walking distances and also diminishes chances of F-K ascending to power.
"Necessity is the mother of invetion.The more children a couple has the harder they will struggle to get out of poverty," he added.
People he said should not fear having many children because presure of populayion growth will force those trapped in the circle of poverty to seek ways of survival .
He however clarified that he is not opposed to the government effort on couples having small families but was urging his people to make use of sprouting dispensaries and health centres.
The assistant minister called on his copnstituents to be vigilant in monitoring the use of constituency development funds and the projects under implementation.
People he said should be constantly demand how the CDF is being spend and should not fear inquiring on the progress of project implementation.
"The public has the right to access informantion and everything done has to be open ,transparent and those concerned be accountable for the electorates to benefit,"he said.
He stated that schools were the most likely areas were the public need tobe very investigative on constructions and equipments.
The assistant minister also said the district of Bungoma has to be split into two to enable it get more resources fromthe governmnt.
He appealed to local leaders not to oppose thr creation of another district as it will be for the benefit of the peopleand the call be supported.
He complained that one constituency districts were getting similar allocations from the government as Bungoma which has five saying this was not fair.

FINANCING CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTS A PROBLEM

UNMET PROMISES ON CLIMATE FINANCE:

RICH NATIONS SCORE POORLY IN MOST DETAILED ANALYSIS TO DATE

by LUKE KAPCHANGA

 So far, only US$23.6 billion of the US$30 billion promised has been committed as funds to tackle climate change.
And of this, only 20 per cent of the fast start finance has been allocated to projects that will help poor nations adapt to a changing climate.
The most detailed analysis to date of how well rich nations have kept promises to provide poorer ones with funds to tackle climate change which was released late November says.
The research concludes that they have collectively failed to fulfill eight substantive pledges.
Published by the International Institute for Environment and Development — the study comes as countries prepare for the latest round of intergovernmental climate-change negotiations, which begins late November in Doha.
The poor track record of rich nations in meeting their fast start finance pledges has raised serious concerns that these countries will also renege on their bigger promise to ensure that US$100 billion flows to developing nations each year by 2020 to help them to respond to climate change.
The wealthier nations promised in 2009 to provide developing countries with US$30 billion by the end of 2012, and saying this should be “new and additional” finance balanced between support for adaptation and mitigation activities. 
They made additional pledges about transparency, governance and the need to help the most vulnerable nations first.
“Without transparency about how and when rich countries will meet their climate finance pledges, developing countries are left unable to plan to adequately address and respond to climate change,” says co-author Timmons Roberts of Brown University in the United States, whose Climate and Development Lab led the research.
Less than half of the fast start finance is in the form of grants. The rest is loans, which means poor countries must repay with interest the costs of adapting to a problem they have not caused.
And rich nations have not provided enough transparent information to prove that their contributions are really new and not just diverted from existing aid budgets.
David Ciplet, also of Brown University, adds: “Only two of the ten donors we assessed are delivering their fair share of climate finance, based on their ability to pay and how much they have contributed to climate change through emitting greenhouse gases in recent decades.”
To examine transparency in more detail, the researchers evaluated donor nations across 24 measures. On the resulting scorecard, no donor nation scored more than 67 per cent.
On these measures, Norway has performed best, providing five times its fair share. At the other end of the scale, both Iceland and the United States contributed less than half their fair share.
The broken promises will make it harder for developing countries to take seriously what richer nations say at the UN climate change talks, which take place in Doha, Qatar from 26 November to 7 December.

One way to restore trust would be for rich countries to channel their climate finance through funds that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change set up as they have a governance structure with equal representation from developed and developing nations.
Also critical will be to fulfil the US$30 billion promise by the end of the calendar year, and to ensure that this money is delivered to support projects in a timely manner.
This is something that, in 2010, all rich countries agreed should be a feature of funds through which they channel their climate finance. Yet, so far, rich nations have channelled only two per cent of the climate finance through these UNFCCC funds.
“With trust in short supply, and little time to negotiate a global response to climate change, the UN talks need an injection of goodwill,” says Saleemul Huq of IIED.
“The rich nations can provide this by making good on their past promises and showing the poorer nations that they are serious about working together to tackle this global challenge.”

ECONOMY AND POLITICS

Thursday, August 21, 2008 2:23 PM

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BY  LUKE  KAPCHANGA    DN/ BUNGOMA      21/8/2008   COMMENTARY.

On August 15^th , two functions were simultaneously held in Bungoma, whose purpose was to spur economic development of the people.

One function at the Kenya Industrial  Estate, within Bungoma town, which was to be presided over by deputy prime minister and minister for  trade , Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta had the initiative focusing on Micro and Small Enterprises.

The other held at Mabanga Farmers training centre, to be presided over by minister for Agriculture Mr. William Ruto, was  a framers field day.

Both ministers failed to turn up, for the official opening and in there places delegated junior ministry officials .

The functions turned out to be very low keyed even local MPs did not attend or sent apologies.

Mr. Kenyatta was to launch the Bungoma district Business solution centre, which is to serve as a one-stop-shop for businesses.

The centre is expected  to provide a number of business services to the youths and any other individual or groups , taking up self-employment within  the micro-and small enterprises sector.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring that businesses in the area flourish to create more employment especially among the youths.

The District Business Solution Centre(DBSC), is to provide among such services as :business skills and entrepreneurship development; identification of  potential business opportunities ; provision of facilities for business services ; information on potential markets , investments and technology; development of incubations in support of micro and small enterprises; avenue for accessing financial services and development of rural markets and linkages.

On the other part, the farmers field day at Mabanga , was the only opportunity the local people can access new developments in the farming sector after the closure of the Harambe Agriculture show, when its land was grabbed by mainly politicians.

More so for the sugar cane farmers, the occasion was to meet the minister and ask him in person questions regarding the collapsing Nzoia sugar company.

Currently private sugar cane harvesters are supplying cane to upto Kibos in Kisumu, Lubao, and west Kenya factories in Kakamega ,at throw away prices.

Most of the agricultural produce has no markets and government interventions , when available in assisting farmers mostly on fertilizer normally comes late.

The planting season for maize in Bungoma starts in March , and whenever the minister for agriculture announces reprieve is around May or June, indicating that the people here feel abandoned by government programmes.

What beats logic is the failure by elected leaders to attend the  two meetings and also mobilize the residents to come in big numbers .

Another worry is how comes two senior ministers arrange to come and then fail at the same time, pointing out that possibly local leaders did not approve of their coming.

Leaders from Bungoma, including the minister of foreign affairs Moses Wetangula, assistant ministers Bifwoli Wakoli and Alfred Khangati and MPs Alfred Sambu and David Eseli and nominated MP and Ford-K chairman Musikari Kombo ; are people one could be impressed as development conscious .

More so, Kombo and Wakoli have declared presidential ambitions.

But when they deliberately refuse to mobilize their foot soldiers for a noble cause of economic empowerment , then truly what intentions do they have?

Bungoma is in the category of the Millennium district, implying that its poverty level is high, so one thinks the politics should be about improvement  of living standards.

But this actions by elected leaders is a clear statement that government services coming from people they perceive as political enemies are not encouraged.

Since 1992,  when Bungoma voted almost to the man against retired president Moi, a mistaken believe has been created that until one of their own occupies state house no meaningful development will ever take place.

That stupid notion has created room for the local people to put politics ahead of development . making them to loose opportunities.

PANPAPER CLOSURE

Monday, December 1, 2008 10:54 AM

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BY  LUKE  KAPCHANGA   DN/WEBUYE          1/12/2008       PANPAPER.NEWSFEATURE.

Mismanagement and inefficiency  is the cause of financial troubles at Pan Paper mills.

This revelations comes as the fate of about 1,500 employees hangs in balance , with the closed down mill not re-opening after closure.

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

“There is to much inefficiency at the mill”, a highly placed source said.

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

Different buyers have different buying prices, with Asians having advantage of discounts and taking papers on credit.

The retaining of retired employees who have no special skills is another avenue from which the company losses money.

The company with about 70 retired employees , who are enlisted as consultants are said to get three pay slips, yet are not productive.

Yet the company management have given the government from which it seeks a package to be salvaged a  different version of reasons behind its financial woes.

“Our recent difficulties have been caused by  external factors , which have  seriously impacted cost of the vital inputs of energy and wood” says the report to the government.

The mill which closed down two weeks ago, was said to be under maintenance by top managers, but employees disputed this saying it was a cover up.

The machinery is obsolete as the spares said to be imported are merely sent from the parent company in India , and indicated as new.

One employee said, that annual maintenance can not take place when there are no spares purchased and already talk of re-opening is gaining currency when no major work has not been seen.

The closure came when the suppliers of fuel oil,  Kobil cut supplies for accumulated debts and demanded down payment for resumption.

For the first time of the company’s history employees are getting their salary in installments, amid heightened fears that retrenchment is on the way. 

The problems which are traced to 2006, are solely attributed to the rising cost of both fuel oil and electricity as the firm is indeed one of the largest consumers in the country.

“Pan paper is forced to depend upon fuel oil and KPLC Power, as there is no alternative energy sources such as coal,  which is available to competitors in South Africa , Egypt and Indonesia etc,”, the report says further.

Management have come up with a five point recovery program, which it has requested for government support,  as a short term measure to take five years.

This includes reducing of wood royalty from shs.700 to shs360.

They urge that 90% of their packaging grades  for the product mix is exposed  to duty free imports mostly from Tanzania paper mills.

They are calling on the government to impose import duty on imported paper upto 35%.

Importers are also accused of enjoying exemptions, by not paying duty on paper used for export packing,  imported paper from COMESA and East African community, Text Book printing papers under UNDP , in addition they do not attract VAT.

They want the duty paid on imported machinery waived.

They are also demanding the KPLC, to charge them special interests.

The last being asking the government to inject in shs.900million.

Shs. 700million is to be used in clearing outstanding overdrafts with various banks and the balance for internal operations.

In the long term program, they are requesting for 80 hectare of land to plant trees for their bio-fuel project as an alternative source of  energy.

“In absence of a level playing field, it is becoming impossible to compete. We there fore request for a rational review of the tariff structure to safeguard the local industry’s interest”, the report urges further.

But the source is of different view, ”the  government should not just respond with a review package without change in management”.

The source called for the government to appoint one of the top managers to oversee restructure program and for purposes of good corporate governance .

The factory is said to be a bottomless pit , which has not been able to make a profit since 2006, yet pays monthly shs.100million as technical fee.

Most bizarre is the writing of shs.1billion debt by Malde transporters, as circumstances behind the accumulation of the debt is suspicious.

The debt was written off, shortly before the current Chief Executive Officer, Mr. N.K. Saha took over.

Since taking over the running of the firm, Mr. Saha  has not managed to to steer the firm to make  a profit  other than sinking deeper and deeper.

Because of single   sourcing suppliers inflate prices and the machinery  delivered are of reconditioned nature.

Pan Paper as a project was conceived by  the government in the late sixties to utilize the vast forestry plantations and develop socio- economic status of the Western region.

Orient Paper & Industries Ltd(OPIL),  provided technical know-how and management services to the company since inception.

The Paper mill commenced production in 1974 with rated capacity of  45,000 tons of paper per year.

It has gone through several diversified expansions raising its rated capacity to 120,000 tones per year. 

Fixed assets of the company are currently re-valued at over shs.15.5billion compared to original value of shs.360million.

Pan paper is a large industrial complex, catering to fragmented domestic paper and board requirements.

It houses chemical and mechanical pulp mills, waste paper recycling and Deinking plant, four paper machines, Chloro-Akali plant including power generation plant and workshop.

Its been accredited with ISO 9001 for product quality and ISO 14001 for ensuring and environmental friendly operations.

Webuye mayor Dinah Wattimah is worried about the changing fortunes of the paper mill and does not want to see its demise.

“Webuye is pan paper, and Pan paper is Webuye”, she said in her office.

The government she stressed has no option but come to the rescue of the paper mill because of its economic importance not only to the people of Webuye nut the country at large.

“According to the records the company contributes shs.6billion to the government , by paying taxes in various ways, and it can not be allowed to sink”, she added.

Her greatest worry, is the lose of livelihoods of thousands of town residents , whose income revolve around the activity of the company.

Insecurity will increase , she says, if the company is to retrench workers most of whom are causal and rent house within town

Small business she laments may also suffer, and single mothers who are vendors on the streets will be affected

The municipal council gets most of its revenue from the company in from of rates, but currently owes it shs.1.3million.

The town came into existence due to the presence of the mill, in 1974 and most of the town estates are owned by the company.