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.