A 25-year-old resident from Mwingi died when a truck ferrying bags full of cement lost control and veered off the road.

Police said the deceased was identified as Kimanzi Musyoki aged 25 years old.

The truck was carrying cement coming from Nairobi heading to Mwingi general direction according to area police boss.

The incident occurred today at around 1.15pm along Mwingi-Thika road in Tulimani area.

The 51-year-old driver Juma Saidi Makhoha sustained injuries on the head while the turn boy Mr Ali Mursal was injured on his left leg. 

Confirming the incident, Mwingi OCPD Peter Mutuma said, "the injured were rushed to Mwingi Level Four Hospital and the body was moved to the same hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem."

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

A Bodaboda rider in Mwangea location, Tseikuru district was nearly swept away by ragging floods as he tried to cross a flooded section of the Mwangea river on Thursday at around 5pm.

 

Muimi wa Kyoa had bought the motor using a loan was still repaying for it. Sources told MWINGI TIMES he had a pending balance of KSh 30,000.

The river had a deep end where the man was swept into. His motorbike was damaged and swept away. It took a tractor driver to pull some remaining pieces of the machine which we understand was initially stuck in the mud before it was swept away.

To underscore the force of the water flowing in the river, Mr Peter Mwandikwa, a witness told our reporter that the man was undressed by the water. “He had no pieces of trousers when he was saved by good Samaritans.”, he said.

Earlier in the week, Kenya Meteorological Department had forecast heavy rains across many parts of Kitui County. Mwingi North was part of the areas expected to have plenty of rains.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI

Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe today signed a joint work plan with the USAID’s Mr. James Flock, the Chief of Party, Resilience Learning Activity (RLA).

The joint work plan between the county and the USAID implementing partners among them Resilience Learning Activity, 4Better Health Program, USAID Advancing Nutrition, World Food Program (WFP), World Vision, Afya Ugavi has a total budget of KSh. 1, 110, 593, 444.

The first phase of the joint work plan workshop was held on May 24-26, with the second phase on October 25-26. The Joint work plan validation meeting was held on November 15, 2022.

To facilitate the co-implementing and joint monitoring of activities, the county and the USAID will continue conducting regular monthly and quarterly progress review meetings.

In this working arrangement only, the county will contribute KSh. 742, 436,564 with the other USAID partners contributing KSh. 368, 156, 880.

This will be used in co-implementing activities in the sectors of agriculture, water and livestock, trade, industry, MSMEs, Innovation and Cooperatives, Education, Training and skills development, Finance, Revenue management & Economic planning, Governance, Culture, Gender, Youth, Sports, ICT and social services.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

A class eight pupil from Kandae Primary School which is in Mutomo Sub County, Kitui South is battling a painful journey of recovery from injuries he sustained after he was beaten by his cousin by the name Daniel Nyaga. 

The boy who is sitting for his final exams this year met the cruel treatment where he was restrained into a room and hit with a club on his head, chest and his private parts by his cousin who sources said they live in the same homestead.

After the incident the boy's mother Anna Kakuu took him to the chief's office to report the matter first but the administrator observed the condition of the mother’s son and ordered her to take case to the police. 

Anna took his child to the public hospital where he was examined and later in the day, got referred to Mutomo Mission Hospital for further check-ups. He got the medication and was discharged to go home.

After four days of agony, the boy got back to the hospital but first he went to the police station and got a stamped document which is an OB (Occurrence Book) then proceeded to the hospital.

The boy went through the surgery in his private parts and got admitted in the Mutomo Mission Hospital for a week where he was discharged later issued with other doses to relief the pain.

He went on crying due to the severe pain for some days without going to school. This forced him and his mother to go back to the hospital for further medication and was referred to Kitui General Hospital which is in Kitui town. His mother took him there. The health officers worked out his condition and issued him some medicines and they went back home. 

One week ago, the boy was still in pains but under a better medication where he was able to attend his classes in school since this month started.

The young man was given time to heal so that the case can be taken to court. The case is under police investigation whereby the accused person has not been taken to face the law.

"After they got out of the house his (son)mouth was bleeding but I didn't give it attention. After showering he explained to his aunt that Dan had harmed him and he complained that he was in pain. That is when I took him to the area chief and he told me that is a police case. He called a member of World Vision in the area who helped me to take the matter to the police and they gave us an OB letter. Then we went to the hospital but the police told me to wait until my son is well then, I can go to proceed with the case” the boy's mother explained.

STORY By JOSPHINE MWENDE

Anti-Gender Based Violence (GBV) crusaders in Kitui County have decried increasing cases of defilement and teenage pregnancies.

The crusaders regretted that 80 per cent of the GBV cases reported were of defilement in nature and there was a need for urgent intervention to save the underage girls from sexual abuse as well as from becoming mothers at a tender age.

The crusaders were speaking on Monday November 21 during a forum to sensitize anti-GBV stakeholders drawn from various government agencies on the alarming vice held at Kenya Forestry Research Institute (Kefri) in Kitui town.

"GBV cases reported are increasing at a rate of 12 per cent yearly with over 80 per cent of cases being defilement followed by domestic violence and assault among others cases," Kitui County Director for Gender Affairs Luciana Ndila expressed concern while speaking during the meeting organized by State Department for Gender. 

Ms Ndila lamented that local communities were insensitive to GBV crimes being committed in their respective areas.

According to the county health data presented during the meeting, there were 4128 cases of teenage pregnancies of young girls of between 9 years to 17 years as the data compiled from June 2019 to January this year across the county revealed. "We need to discuss the matter urgently and with much sensitivity so as to comprehend what we are doing wrong and what we should do right.” advised Ms Ndila.

Justice for victims

The meeting further regretted that out of the alarming cases of reported teenage pregnancies very few cases were prosecuted. This curtailed justice for the victims of the abuse.

According to the report, only 27 cases of defilement from across Kitui county are in court. The youngest victim was aged 4 years while the oldest was 17. The 27 cases as per regions includes one from Mwingi North. Kitui Central had nine cases. Mwingi Central and Kitui South had five and six cases respectively. 

Others are Mutula village which had two cases while Kwa Vonza, Kanyangi and Kyusyani regions had two case each.

The stakeholders’ meeting blamed illiteracy for contributing to the increasing vice and especially among rural areas folks, observing that the vice was mainly happening at the grassroots in the rural areas.  

The stakeholders lamented that due to the illiteracy and low level of education, Majority of victims GBV are unaware of their rights and even how respond on GBV cases. 

The forum decried that due the illiteracy most cases were either settled through cash compensation between parties concerned with the least amount being KSh40,000 while other cases end up at Kangaroo courts leading to perpetrators to evade judicial justice. 

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Gunshots were heard as Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki addressed residents of Ngomeni ward in Mwingi North.

The CS met the locals at Mandongoi Primary School.  His visit came following escalating incidents of deaths caused by Somali camel herders who have been roaming the area along the volatile Kitui-Tana River border.

The CS was accompanied by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, area MP Paul Nzengu among other leaders.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

 A middle-aged man was killed by suspected Somali camel herders on Monday. The killing happened at Wikithuki area of Kyamalutu village, Usueni location in Tseikuru district, according to sources.

A source told MWINGI TIMES that Musee Maliku Mati was killed by an alleged bandit yesterday. 

Another man was injured and taken to hospital. His name was not given by the time we went to press.

In a phone interview with MWINGI TIMES, a local administrator said "please wait I will confirm with you shortly". 

Residents took to social media on Monday night to condemn the killing. Musee Kumanda, a resident wrote, “Very sad news at Wikithuki”. His post attracted comments calling for security to be beefed up in the area.

One user calling himself Jac Tomlin said “One murdered. The other escaped with injuries”.

Local elected leaders have remained mum over the deteriorating incidents of insecurity in Mwingi North.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI

FORMER Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke has been nominated by President William Ruto as the Permanent Secretary Sports and The Arts. He is among 51 PSs nominated by the Head of State.

 

Mueke unsuccessfully vied for Kitui governor seat on UDA party ticket. He was the third in the race after governor Dr Julius Malombe and former senator David Musila.

In a press release signed by chief of staff and head of public service Felix Koskei, another notable face appointed as PSs was Veronica Mueni Nduva for State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action.

Other accounting officers who have made a comeback are ex-Langata MP Nixon Korir as Lands and Physical Planning PS, Dr Belio Kipsang as PS State Department for Basic Education.

Scholar Prof Edward Kisiangani will be State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS.

Koskei said the names were sent to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in accordance with the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act No. 33 of 2011.

President Ruto’s number of PSs is bigger than former President Uhuru’s that was pegged at 42. The taxpayer will part with more than KSh321 million in payment of salaries to the new president’s PSs.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments has rejected Peninah Malonza’s nomination by the President William Ruto as CS for Tourism and National Heritage.

This is according to a report tabled by the Leader of Majority Kimani Ichungw’a. The committee has given a nod to all the rest of the other nominees.

Ms Malonza had pledged to restore Kenya’s reputation as one of the best tourism destinations in the world.

However, the National Assembly Committee on Appointments appeared to criticize her on her relationship with the then governor Kitui County. She told her committee that her remarks were taken out of context.

Malonza was the pioneer deputy governor of Kitui County serving under the then Governor Dr Julius Malombe who is currently the governor of the county serving his second and final term.

The committee said she had “made unpalatable remarks while addressing the public in Kitui County”.

In disqualifying her the committee said that Penina Malonza did not demonstrate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues concerning the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.

“Consequently, the nominee lacks requisite abilities and expertise to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage”, said the report by the Committee on Appointments on page 109.  

 Separately, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse said he will move an amendment to the motion to ensure Malonza’s name is included in the list of approved nominees.

Led by National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Azimio-One Kenya coalition members of the committee gave a dissenting opinion over two nominees who went on to be approved by the House.  The nominees were Aisha Jumwa and Mithika Linturi.

Other dissenting members were MPs Robert Mbui, Junet Mohammed, David Pkosing, Naisula Lesuuda, Mishi Mboko, Abdi Shurie and Caleb Amisi.

They accused Linturi of having questionable academic qualifications including the elusive Indian university degree which could not be traced.

The Opposition committee members also held the minority view that the attempted rape charges of January 30, 2021 “are so grave as to demean the office which Hon. Linturi has been nominated, notwithstanding a subsequent move to have them dropped”.

On Hon Aisha Jumwa, the dissenting opinion legislators shed light on her pending murder case.  The committee, notwithstanding, agreed that she should not be denied an opportunity to serve under the principle of presumption of innocence until one is proved guilty.

The dissenting members disagreed with the majority stating that they held a strong view that the principle of presumption of innocence until proved guilty should not apply in situations of appointment to a high public office such as that of a Cabinet Secretary.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI