By Reporter
Residents of Western Kenya will tomorrow, Saturday 14 December 2024 have a date with leading rhumba artists including Koffi Olomide after the county government of Kisumu decided to ignore the demand notice by Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).

ASK through its lawyer Lilan and Koech Associates wrote to the County Secretary of Kisumu claiming ownership of the facility and demanded that the county government should seek approval before it could host the music extravaganza at the facility.

The letter titled “ Trespass over Mamboleo showground property of the Agricultural Society of Kenya.”

The memorandum of understanding signed between county government of Kisumu and the Agricultural Society of Kenya dated 16 th September 2020 lapsed on the 28 th November 2024 thereby ending any conceived collaboration between the society and the county government.

We are in shock and awe to learn that the county government in collaboration with other entities has planned an event dubbed “Mzuqa Fest” featuring among other performing artists Koffi Olomide on the 14 th December 2024 without the society’s approval.

”Take note that these actions amount to trespass and are actionable in any court of law. For the reasons above we are instructed to demand from you, which we hereby do that the county government of Kisumu does the following within seven days of this letter.That you desist from propagating or promulgating the promotion of the occasion slated for 14th December 2024. Immediately abstain from any misrepresentation or false pretension as the proprietor of the mamboleo show ground” read the demand letter.

But Acting City Manager Abala Wanga dismissed the claim saying the show will proceed as planned and that various artists have already arrived for tomorrow’s extravaganza.

“ASK is aware that the area has been zoned differently by the new Kisumu local and physical land use development plan. The area has been marked as a commercial sports and convention Centre,” he said.

Abala said the current ASK is to be relocated to Kibos, which has been zoned as an industrial and agricultural zone.

Abala urged the locals and visitors from various parts of the country that various security measures have been put in place and that the event will be peaceful.

By Anderson Ojwang Doublespeak
In the last five months, President William Ruto has made two strategic political moves that have exposed the depth of doublespeak in the country.

President Ruto’s moves have exposed the deep-seated jealousy, rivalry and political conniving that have ruled the country for the last six decades.

Picture two strategic scenes President Ruto pulled in his turbulent political moment, to rescue his boat from capsizing.

The first scene President Ruto extends a handshake to Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga and the move thaws away the surging Gen Zee demonstrations that had threatened to bring down his regime.

From the handshake, President Ruto and Raila agreed to form a broad-based government. The move subsequently, resulted in top Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership joining the high table.

They included ODM National chairman John Mbadi who was made Treasury and Economic Planning, the first person from Nyanza to hold the post after independence.

The two deputy party leaders namely Hassan Joho and Wycliff Oparanya and Parliamentary Account Committee (Pac) Chairman Opiyo Wandayi were all rewarded with the cabinet slots.

Equally, President Ruto agreed to support Raila’s quest for the chair of the African Union (AU) and has been on a campaign trail to whip votes for the latter.

The Government is also sponsoring Raila’s candidature with Prime Secretary Musalia Mudavadi mandated by the President to lead the campaigns.

The formation of the broad-based government and the bromance between President Ruto and Raila have been criticized mainly by the political class from Mt Kenya who viewed it as a betrayal by the latter and chastised him for supporting the former.

After talks with Ruto, Raila claimed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta calmed tensions for the Kenya Kwanza administration by advising him to have a sit-down with President William Ruto.

Thus assertion drew criticism from Mt Kenya leaders who claimed Raila had betrayed them and was using Uhuru’s name to blackmail them. Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui cautioned that Uhuru would only advocate for well-structured talks.

“Although I do not speak for Uhuru Kenyatta, for the country to descend to anarchy would be a cause for major concern. However, power sharing without a long-term commitment to resolve matters raised by Gen Zs is suicidal.”

Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri said Raila had invoked the name of the former president to gain the confidence of the Mt Kenya people, who are accusing him of betraying their cause.

Ngunjiri said Raila had exposed himself as a leader who could not be trusted as he had given several conflicting accounts of what transpired before he accepted to work with President Ruto.

“He initially said the four ODM leaders who were given Cabinet Secretary posts went to work with the government on their own. He told us that President Ruto had begged him to help him stabilize the country following the challenges brought about by the demonstrators, only to fabricate another new story,” said Ngunjiri.

In scene two, President Ruto recently visited his predecessor and immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Ichaweri home in Gatundu.

The two leaders held a consultative meeting on national matters with speculations on the air over the possible inclusion of Uhuru allies in the broad-based government.

But the political class and the public from Mt Kenya have gone mute on the meeting and it has not stirred any political storm.

If anything, it has been welcomed by the Agikuyu elders as a positive move.

The storm and criticism that marked Ruto and Raila’s handshake and subsequent formation of a Broad-based government were not replayed and replicated in scene two.

The Agikuyu elders welcomed that the meeting would help bring peace and that it was important for the two leaders to meet.

“We welcome the gesture of the two leaders as it will help bring peace and stabilize the economy. As Agikuyu elders we encourage such consultations,” they said in a recent press
statement.

And this begs the big question, when will the Murima accept the lake moving to the King’s table to preside over the cake distribution?

Political Commentator Mwalimu Odoyo Owidi said this double-speak didn’t start today but is historical and has been part and parcel of Mt Kenya region in the distribution of the national cake.

“Historically, Mt Kenya has been behaving so. Whenever the lake gets or sits closer to the cake, they feel agitated and will demonize any move to that end,” he said.

He said Mt Kenya wholeheartedly supported the handshake between President Uhuru and Raila and wondered why they have been against the broad-based government.

“In the last general elections, they had two choices, Ruto and Raila. They saw Ruto as a lesser devil and what is wrong with the main devil joining the lesser one? Let them eat their cake,” he said.

Odoyo said it was time Mt Kenya accepted equitable sharing of the national cake for the sake of peaceful co-existence.

Political analyst Michael Agwanda said there is an inherent fear by Mt Kenya about the lake assuming leadership and that is why they have remained critical of moves that bring the community near national leadership.

“The mistrust between the two communities usually plays out and more so when the lake gets closer to the cake when the Murima is not in the driving seat. They want the lake confined to the
periphery,” argued.

By reporter

Panic and anxiety have gripped Kisumu county after the government embarked on headcount and verification of academic and employment letters.

The move aims to address the ballooning wage bill at the county, which now stands between 450 m and 550 m and is said to be undermining operations.

Similarly, the government also want to address any instances of ghost workers on the payroll.

All the employees have been directed to deposit their papers at various county points

A memo from the county secretary captioned ” schedule for mapping of staff and physical verification exercise, department of public service, county administration and participatory development directed the staff to deposit various documents with the government ”.

The list of requirements included a letter of current employment or current contract renewal, a letter of transfer or current deployment, the latest letter of promotion or redesignation applicable, an October 2024 payslip and a national identity card.

Sources at the county told Western Insight newspaper that the move is aimed at addressing wage bill and skewed job designations and aligning the staff according to their qualifications and competence.

The government’s decision to undertake headcount has with immediate effect stopped any promotion and contract renewal to staff.

Recently, the public service board postponed contract renewals and promotions after they were advised to do so by the county secretary Mr Hesborn Hongo.

Hongo has embarked on strategic measures aimed at creating sanity in the county government and recently ordered that the government will no longer pay for out-of-station allowances to staff not approved by his office.

Some of the employees who spoke but did not want to be named said the move was strategic and would help address the huge wage bill.

“We support the initiative as it will help correct the messes in the government and address serious gaps in the staff designations and promotions going forward. ” they said

.

By Reporter

Establishing such a test centre is part of quality assurance, product development and regulatory compliance.

Under Homa Bay Public Health Officers Union, the officers will be able to identify contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, microbial pathogens and allergens in the foods.

Chairman of the union Kennedy Omollo and Secretary General Duncan Odiver argued that the county’s lack of food testing laboratories has been inconveniencing them as they undertake their mandate.

Omollo said the absence of such a laboratory forced them to take food samples to Nakuru and Kisumu counties for testing.

“Establishing a laboratory for food testing will enable the county government to cut costs. I assure Homa Bay residents that we’re ready to effectively discharge our duties,” Omollo said.

Speaking during this year’s annual general meeting in Homa Bay town on Tuesday, Omollo said the availability of a test centre will enhance disease prevention, which is their core mandate.

Water and food samples are taken to Kisumu or Nakuru for testing.

Some of the communicable diseases associated with poor environmental conditions are cholera, dysentery, typhoid and bilharzia among others.

They asked the county government to hire and train more officers in the same cadre to enable them to undertake their duties effectively.

“There is a need for capacity building of the officers on artificial insemination and latest ways of disease prevention. Because prevention is better than cure, Homa Bay public health officers should be empowered,” he said.

Odiver said Homa Bay has only 131 public health officers which is much below the World Health Organization (WHO) required standard.

He wants the county government to expedite and hire at least 400 more officers to meet the WHO standard ratio.

Homa Bay has a population of 1.3 million people. This means that one public health officer should serve at least 6000 people in the county.

Odiver said they want some of their colleagues who have stagnated at the same job group for a long time to get promoted.

“Hiring and training more public health officers will help in bridging the gap for effective operations. We want to improve sanitation and improve the working conditions in Homa Bay,” Odiver said.

Homa Bay Public Service Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ruth Aloo said they are consulting the county executive ahead of recruiting more officers.

She acknowledged that the shortage of public health officers is hampering service delivery in Homa Bay.

“Grievances raised by our public health officers are genuine and need urgent attention. The board is talking with the executive to solve the issues,” Aloo said.

By Anderson Ojwang
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta is turning out to be the new bride in the presidential race for 2027 with the Murima now seen as restive, edgy and slippery.

The scramble and race to court the son of Jomo reached a fever pitch over the weekend and on Monday after Mutu wa kati hosted the former president during his daughter’s wedding.

And on Monday, the eggs seller of Sugoi was in Gatundu meeting his former boss, in a move viewed by analysts and the public as seeking a new entry point in the mountain that is fast becoming hostile to him.

Welcome to the battle royale over the new bride in the house that pits President William Ruto and Wiper leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. The battle for Uhuru constituency.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been out of the country for most part of the year and his return to the country has reactivated a flurry of activities aimed at wooing him to the two political divides.

Already, Kalonzo is emerging as the strongest challenger to President Ruo after the exit of Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga from the local political scene to try his luck in the continental battle, where he is seeking the chair of the African Union.

Raila recently allowed his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lieutenants to join the broad-based government and currently enjoys a cordial relationship with President Ruto.

Top ODM officials namely, John Mbadi, Hassan Joho, Wycliff Oparanya and Opiyo Wandayi were included in the executive, and have become the main defenders of President Ruto’s administration.

This bromance has allowed President Ruto to get a positive reception in the hostile and volatile region in the recent past and he has now earmarked Nyanza as a possible vote bloc to boost his bid for a second term.

Kalonzo has been trying to climb the Mountain and on several occasions claimed that former President Uhuru was supporting his journey in the Murima and usually conveyed his greetings to the people.
Uhuru’s confidantes in the Mountains and outside including former Cabinet Minister Eugene Wamalwa, and Jubilee party official Jeremiah Kioni among others have been accompanying Kalonzo on mountain climbing trips.

At the wedding, Kalonzo thanked former President Uhuru for attending the ceremony of his daughter Damarie Saada and Martin Nyaga in Naivasha.

“I thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for his friendship and solidarity with my family by attending the wedding ceremony of our daughter in Naivasha”. President Ruto said his visit and discussion with the former President concentrated on key national matters, including the resolution of court cases related to the constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission

They emphasized the importance of fostering a harmonious working relationship among all Kenyans and stakeholders, with a shared commitment to national unity.

President Ruto expressed gratitude to Uhuru for laying a solid foundation during his tenure, which has enabled the government’s implementation of critical programs under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

“President Ruto took the opportunity to reiterate his appreciation and commendation of His Excellency President Kenyatta’s statesmanship in overseeing the peaceful transfer of power after the 2022 general elections,” read part of the statement from the Presidential Communication Team.

Ruto said he reached out to Uhuru to bring leaders together and to build bridges instead of erecting barriers.

Kioni said Uhuru was only giving Ruto a supporting hand in his leadership but that will not affect the 2027 presidential contest.

Political analyst Mr Michael Agwanda argued the move by President Ruto to visit his predecessor was mainly aimed at forestalling any would-be alliance between Uhuru, Kalonzo and the impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“Ruto fears the alliance of Uhuru, Kalonzo and Rigathi. The slippery and
edgy murima is a time bomb for Ruto in 2027. The constituency controlled by the three leaders will have a big say on the presidency in 2027,” he argued.

Agwanda said the visit by President Ruto to Uhuru cannot change the political decision the mountain has taken and Gachagua is now seen as the official leader of the region.

He said in politics there are no permanent enemies but interests and if Kalonzo happens to be ready to serve the interest of the two, it is possible they will support him.

“Mtu wa kupitia kati may just pull another shocker and that is why currently he is playing safe and endearing to the opposition leaders and may just gain from that arrangement and challenge President Ruto in the 2027 elections,” he said.

Former Nyakach MP Ochieng Daima said President Ruto’s move to visit Uhuru was strategic and was aimed at pacifying the mountain and controlling the slip after the fallout with Rigathi.

He argued that Uhuru still has a say in the region and with President Ruto seeking his support, the president is still interested in getting the mountain vote.

“You cannot rule Uhuru out of Central and it is possible Ruto may bring in the broad-based government some of the Uhuru allies and this may work in his favour in getting votes in the Murima,” he said.

Ochieng said former president Uhuru is turning out as the new bride and constituency in the Mt Kenya region and by extension, nationally and that is why Ruto and Kalonzo are scrambling over Uhuru.

Ochieng said the rattled President is not leaving anything to chance and that is why he wants Raila and Uhuru on his side to help him stabilize the boat and anchor his 2027 presidential defence.

By Reporter

Employees of the county government of Kisumu will not be paid allowance for out of station assignment without approval from the office of the county secretary.

In a memo dated 5th December 2024 written to all employees and copied to the governor and the deputy governor captioned’ ” Re- Authority to travel out of the station”

Following the executive committee meeting held on 4th December 2024, it was resolved that the employees of the county government of Kisumu travelling out of the duty station must obtain approval before travelling.

This is to ensure smooth running of county offices.

”The purpose of this letter is to ensure the directive is strictly adhered to and by a copy of this letter, the chief officer of Finance, ICT services is instructed not to pay claims without supporting approval from this office,” wrote Hesborn Hongo, the county secretary.

The move came hot in the heel after the government was losing millions of shillings on claims by officers who had formed a habit of being out of the work station .

Sources told the writer that some employees had turned out of station claims as a money milking scheme and were raking huge claims.

” In Kisumu, employees were ever out of their work station in claims that they had gone to work out of the station. It was becoming very hard to get service at the county ” they said.c

Our sources revealed that some employees had formed habit of travelling to major towns every week with a view to making money and this had compromised service delivery at the county.

Hongo who was recently sworn in as county secretary last week read riot cat to the finance department and demanded accountability from them.

Hongo directed the officers to remain professional and that the government will crack whip on officers found to be engaged in unethical practices.