"I am in the process of amending the compensation schedule to introduce snake bites to compensation so that if a person is bitten by a snake they should be compensated like the ones bitten by a lion", said Kitui Senator Wambua.

The late Mwende John  was set to join form one in Gankanga secondary school after scoring 209 marks in KCPE. She was killed on Saturday while fetching water in Tana River. Her badly mutilated body was located three days later.

Members of Parliament allied to President William Ruto have trashed some of the National Dialogue Committee proposals in the report that was released yesterday. The members led by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said the proposals will subject the constitution to referendum that will affect the economy of the country.

Speaking during a church service at St Andrew  Old Stadium ACK church in Embu town, they said they won’t allow any contest that will interfere with the growth and stabilization of the economy. Nyoro reflected on the 2003 election and the referendum of 2005 and other elections that preceded saying the activities of those years is a clear indication that there was economic slow down.

‘’I have read the report by the National Dialogue Committee and the way I stated earlier, Kenyans went to election and they completed. Kenya is a democratic country. I am requesting that our country can no longer continue to discuss about which leader will occupy which position’’.

‘’ As for the matters of leadership positions, it’s the wrong time to talk about those things now. Some of the issues they have proposed for them to be actualized they need referendum and we cannot subject Kenya to a contest’’ said Nyoro.

Nyoro who is also the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly said some of the demands by the Azimio team was the cost of living to be lowered but laughed at them saying nothing was agreed on the report.

He noted that the cost of Unga was going down due to some interventions that the government had put in place .

Nyoro's  sentiments were echoed by Manyatta member of parliament Gitonga Mukunji who said the Azimio team only targeted the leadership positions and not the fight for Kenyans worsening living conditions. 

Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku also took issue with the National Dialogue  Committee recommendations that he said did not reflect the wishes of many Kenyans to tackle the cost of living.

The agreement on the report that was released yesterday is the creation of the office of Leader of the Opposition, which will be occupied by leader of the party that garnered the second highest number of votes in the presidential election with two deputies and the entrenchment of Prime Cabinet Secretary's office into the Constitution.

The previously sticky issue of ensuring party fidelity was also agreed upon.

The two sides are proposing the creation of an office to oversight party fidelity to be entrenched in the Constitution. The role currently played by office of Registrar of Political Parties.

On electoral justice, the two sides agreed on the audit of 2022 electoral process. Other leaders who were present included Runyenjes Member of Parliament Eric Muchangi ,Embu Woman Representative Njoki Njeru Double N , Embu flamboyant businessman Ken Java among other leaders.

During the service led by Bishop Dr Kathita, the former president urged Kenyans to remain united for nation building. He beseeched them to shun divisive politics while embracing unity of purpose in order to achieve the dreams of our independence heroes.

Retired President Kenyatta also advised political leaders to be selfless and put first the interests of wananchi in serving them with humility.

"If we are being led by the spirit of servant leadership, knowing very well that we are in those respective  positions we hold given to us by God, then we ought to serve not for ourselves but for the people we lead", he said.

The former President was accomplished by former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti among other leaders.

Reading the results of the motion, Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya said 41 members supported Nzioka's removal from the position while 3 members voted no. 16 members did not take part in the vote since they were absent. None abstained.

"These are the results of the removal of the Deputy Speaker from office, Honorable Christopher Nzilu Nzioka.", said Speaker Katisya declaring the removal of Deputy Speaker approved by the House.

Moving the motion, Kanyangi MCA Boniface Katula Mukwate read the reasons why they removed the Deputy Speaker. He said Nzyoka had insubordinated the operations of the Assembly. "He has worked tirelessly to ensure he sabotages the operations of the Assembly by employing divide and rule tactics", he said. He was seconded by his Migwani counterpart Harrison Mawia Maluki.

The former Deputy Speaker was accused of lacking impartiality in his conduct of House duties. This caused disharmony in the house hindering the operations of the committees, the MCAs were told.

Nzioka's removal was consistent with county assembly Standing Order number 146 and Kitui County Assembly Act (amended,2020).

Given the significance of office of Deputy Speaker, holders are supposed to conduct themselves in a way that brings honour to the office and with integrity. 

MCA Nzioka's conduct was regarded as not expected of him since he posted on WhatsApp group called Wiper Big 13 and appeared in a local radio station to report matters before the house.

As the former chair of the liason committee, Nzioka was accused of the not convening the meetings as required. He was also accused of abuse of office.

Mr Abdalla said this was after Wiper Democratic Movement held a National Executive Council [NEC] meeting on October 3, 2023 resolving the members were elected as per House Standing Orders.

"The decision to accept these changes were informed  by the fact that  the new leaders were elected as per House Standing Orders. Secondly, WDM intends to avoid divisions and promote unity between members.", read the letter announcing the changes in part.

The SG requested Speaker Kevin Katisya to communicate to members of the above changes.

Kyuso MCA Munyoki Mwinzi is replacing his Migwani counterpart Harrison Mawia Maluki as the Majority Leader while Ngoima is the successor of Boniface Mukwate Katula [Kanyangi].

In an update posted at the county assembly's Facebook page, the notice of motion to remove MCA Nzioka was posted.

The session was chaired by the Speaker Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya.

This is after majority of the members in the party voted to remove Migwani MCA Harrison Mawia Maluki as majority leader and ejected his Kanyangi counterpart Boniface Mukwate Katula as the Majority Chief Whip. They were replaced with Kyuso and Kitui Township ward MCAs respectively. The duo are Munyoki Mwinzi and Daniel Kimanzi Ngoima.

The changes were communicated by Mr. Ngoima a fortnight ago. 

 

Last week during  a special sitting gazetted to table Supplementary budget and the County Annual Development Plan  attempts by the new leaders to occupy seats made for the leadership on the majority side of the Assembly chamber were thwarted by Speaker Kinengo after he ejected the two leaders for ostensibly violating his directives.

Tuesday as the house reconvened from a short break, tensions were high in the Assembly. Early morning a contingency anti riot police were deployed in the Assembly precincts to disperse a group of youth who had staged a demo at the entrance. 

But in the afternoon sitting Speaker Kinengo called a section of MCAs in what he termed as a continuous disrespect to his office. This after the Kyuso MCA occupied the seat reserved for the majority leader. 

In a report MWINGI TIMES has reviewed, the young assembly boss remained firm and stern as he told Kyuso Ward representative that " I will act professionally and look into the law".

Speaker Katisya told off Kyuso MCA Munyoki Mwinzi that he will not allow what he termed as cat and mouse games. He ordered MCAs to respect his office and follow orders he issues. "My rulings must be respected", he said. Katisya informed Kitui MCAs that sergeants will maintain order in the house and that they must be seated before he enters the chamber. He was responding to MCA Mwinzi while he ordered him to vacate the Majority Leader seat. 

The Speaker said that MCAs were supposed to follow party constitution, Standing Orders and the Constitution of Kenya 2010 in their conduct.

Later in a response letter addressed to Mr. Ngoima the assembly boss maintained the letter the former had addressed the latter on the party changes as null and void. "The sitting circumstances renders your communication void", wrote Speaker Kevin Kinengo  in a letter to Kitui Township MCA Daniel Kimanzi Ngoima on September 26.

A motion moved by Nominated MCA Agnes Gakungugu demanded that the County Executive implements an asset coding policy to promote accountability, transparency, and efficient management of public resources and also enable tracking of the movement and status of assets within the organisation.

She pointed out that the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 requires public entities to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date inventory of all their assets, including fixed assets and consumable items, but the County Government had not adhered to this law.

The MCA cautioned that failure to comply with the legal requirement to code all assets could lead the county being unable to track the movement and status of assets within the organisation and inefficiencies in the management of assets, which could result in losses or misuse of public resources.

Gakungugu now wants the County Government to conduct a physical inventory of all assets to ensure that all assets are accounted for and properly labelled to prevent risk of misappropriation or theft of public resources, which could be prevented by the implementation of an effective asset coding system.

While seconding the Motion, Kagaari North MCA Mucangi Mwariama observed that the County Assembly appropriated colossal amounts of money for the purchase of computers and other supplies, but the same could not be accounted for a few months after purchase due to lack of an inventory. His Mbeti South counterpart Murithi Kiura disclosed that land parcels bought by the previous regime to extract murram and to construct a sewage facility to manage waste water in the ward could not be traced. He also claimed that the County Government was unaware of the location of its graders.

On his part, Mavuria MCA Ngari Mbaka regretted that six tractors at the Agricultural Mechanisation Services (AMS) offices in Machang’a worth millions of shillings had disappeared without a trace following outright theft, vandalism by drivers and cannibalism for spare parts by mechanics.

Muminji MCA Newton Kariuki wondered if the County Government was aware that some county vehicles had been grounded in local garages for up to 15 years. He said lack of a motor vehicle inventory had led to overemployment of drivers while the vehicles they were meant to drive rotted away in garages.

The young lawyer said that the high cost of living had adversely pushed Kenyans to dire straits as the cost of fuel and maize flour was beyond reach for majority of wananchi.

He said that Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei's proposal that the president's term limit be amended from five to seven years was only possible through referendum to amend the 2010 Constitution. He also added that the electoral body IEBC should be reformed.

Katisya dismissed increasing presidential term limits as Kenya was not a mature democracy. He added that changing the top office in the land's tenure will attract calls to increase term limits of all other elective seats. "If you touch on the term limit of the president, remember to touch on that of governor, MP, Senator, woman represent, everyone".

The Kitui County Assembly Speaker revealed that as the legislative body of county government, they are advocating for financial autonomy of the county assemblies as well as formation of the Ward Development Fund. They wrote to the National Dialogue Committee on this.

He said the ruling Kenya Kwanza government should work for Kenyans instead of blaming the former government of president Uhuru Kenyatta. "When you assume office, you assume office the way it is. The current leadership should not blame former president Uhuru government. They should take charge" , he said.

Speaking to the Nation newspaper, a section of legislators decried what they termed as as allowing seven year presidential term will be a precursor for "president for life". Article 136 (2) (a) of the constitution stipulates that a president can only serve for a five year term and is only eligible once to serve in the same capacity.

Members of the opposition expressed concerns that if the ruling UDA party gets its way, it will reignite the electoral cycle that was rolled by former president Moi in 1992 when he sought a fresh mandate.

A furious Muturi at the same time warned his political detractors against dragging him into “market politics” saying he was more preoccupied with his ward’s development agenda than petty rhetoric. He as well advised reporters to contact him for clarification before going on air with any news that touches on him even remotely because he is a County leader whose standing matters to his people.

The MCA was responding to reports by two vernacular stations claiming that he had been involved in a verbal spat with Manyatta market chairman Kinyua wa Makara, causing civil disobedience.

Unconfirmed reports indicated that traders at the market demanded for an apology from the leader and refused to pay levies to the County Government over the perceived disrespectful remarks.

He said he had neither set foot in Manyatta market nor engaged the chairman in exchanges of any nature; political or personal, terming the claims by traders as “sponsored political mudslinging”. Muturi expressed his disgust over the matter but swore that he would not be drawn into "meaningless fights" but would instead focus on delivering on his campaign pledges and ensuring that Ruguru-Ngandori ward prospers during his tenure.

He also urged his political opponents to respect the fact that he is the elected MCA until 2027 and asked them to give him ample time to execute his mandate before they give the seat another jab after four years.

The MCA asserted that no amount of provocation, slander or intimidation would dampen his resolve to lead as a Ward Representative, daring his political adversaries to try harder to get into his nerves.

In a declaration made at Mathuki play grounds, the leaders led by their area MCA Cornelius Muthami called the Mwingi Central MP out of order for the most recent incident where they evicted the MCA out of a fundraiser and goons beat up locals who protested the move. 

The area MCA vehemently castigated the move, terming it as uncouth and quite unfortunate. 

Area residents were also angered by the recent happening, including the one where MP Mulyungi attempted to oust a senior medic from Mui who was recently deployed at Mwingi Level IV as the deputy Medical Superintendent.

The residents also called upon MP Mulyungi to restructure the CDF kitty since bursaries were not sufficient in supplementing the fees of their children.

Mr Munyoki Kilungu who worked with the Mwingi Central MP in the past warned residents of Mwingi Central not to idolize the MP saying he was not God. "I left Mulyungi camp after it lost leadership", he said.

Leaders and residents from the larger Mwingi Central which is comprised of six wards said that they supported the leadership of Dr Julius Malombe and made a declaration that MP Dr Gedion Mulyungi should not interfere with the work of the second term Wiper county boss. They collectively voiced reservations against the work of Dr Mulyungi.

Speaking during the same venue, Mr Kitovoto Mutinda said during the 2027 general elections, they may not vote for the architect as an MP for another term. "Even if Mulyungi will be reelected, he will do so without our votes ", he said amid cheers from the Mathuki residents and guest leaders.

Mutuse said since Munuve had agreed to work with the Kenya Kwanza government, it would be fair for him to get a government job. He was speaking at the Kora Township AIC Church in Mwingi North constituency when he presided over a fundraiser in support of the construction of the church building that had stalled for some time.

The church stands on land that was donated by  the Munuve family. He unsuccessfully tried to unseat current MP Paul Nzengu in the August 8, 2022 general elections.

Speaking ahead of MP Mutuse at the occasion, Munuve demonstrated that Mwingi North region had been sidelined by the Kenya Kwanza government in the state appointments. 

Ex-MP Munuve asked Mutuse to remind the president that Mwingi region deserved a share in government jobs just like other parts of Ukambani. He said he deserved a position after he abandoned his former Jubilee party in support of Kenya Kwanza.

Mutuse sought the approval of Nzengu for him to talk to the president to give Munuve a government job. MP Nzengu who was present responded in the affirmative saying he had no problem with Munuve getting a government job. "I have no problem with Munuve getting a job. Although he has no responsibility to pay school fees for any of his children, he deserves a good life", MP Nzengu said.

At the fundraiser that was also attended by the chairperson of the Special Economic Zones Fred Muteti and Kemsa CEO Dr Andrew Mulwa, a total of KSh 1.34 million was raised. Mutuse gave a personal donation of KSh 156,000 while veteran lawyer Nyamu Mati who is a worshiper at the church donated in excess of KSh 430,000.

The governor made public changes on the accounting  officers through a Kenya Gazette notice dated 6th September 2023. 

Key among the new changes is in the department of Trade, Industry, MSMEs, and County Economic Investment zones where Michael Mutisya Kalii who served as CO for Land and Housing now moves in to replace Stephen Makau   Musili alias Kivunzi as the accounting officer. 

Kivunzi is the immediate former MCA for Kyuso and a former Majority Chief Whip in the second County Assembly of Kitui. He replaces Mr. Kalii at the the Lands and Housing docket. 

Mr. Kalii, a former senior banker comes from Kiomo/ Kyethani ward in Mwingi West and is the only chief officer drawn from the constituency. 

Others affected in by the first ever reshuffle by the county boss include Gladys Mami Wambua who was the CO for Irrigation. She now moves to Agriculture and fisheries in the same capacity. 

Her position at the Irrigation docket has been taken up by Bretta Mwangangi who was the chief officer for Culture, Gender and social services.

Ms Nelly Kavuu Mutisya who was the Chief Officer for Agriculture & Fisheries has been re-assigned duties to Culture, Gender and social services. 

Meanwhile in the same Gazette notice, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Ms Peninah Malonza has appointed a Mwingi West UDA politician Mr. Muthengi Ngere to be a board member at the Kenya Tourism Board. Ng'ere expressed interest in the Mwingi West Parliamentary seat during the last elections but bowed out of the race to pave way for former Kyome/Thaana ward MCA Alex Wambua who was the  UDA candidate in the ballot. 

“I am not a loser. As the people of Ngomeni, we are not losers. We wanted a goat but God delivered a cow for us. All we have to do is thank and praise God,” said Peter Musya on Sunday.

Musya who holds the transport and boda boda docket in Kitui County government was addressing a thanks-giving  ceremony at his rural home in Ngomeni ward. 

He said that he has shunned politicking "to give  development and progress in the area a chance". Musya said he was no longer interested in politicking. He added that he was not only supportive of MCA Nzungi Ngwele but would work with him to ensure he delivers on his mandate.

The Chief Officer further said he closed ranks with the MCA because he had established that he was an invaluable asset for the people of Ngomeni ward. He further said that due to the fact that Ngwele had showed a resolve to  work with his boss, governor Julius Malombe, he had thus decided to give him easy time to do his work unperturbed.

Musya said that it gave him immeasurable pleasure that Ngwele had a soft spot for Malombe as that gave the governor two formidable henchmen in himself and the MCA in Ngomeni ward.

He at the same time  also called on the local residents to shun detractors engaging in incessant political talk that adversely affected development in the larger Mwingi North constituency as well.

“I am not interested in politics. I beseech  the people of Ngomeni to allow our MP to carry out his development programme without undue detraction,” he said.

He  said he was aware there were people who would wish to take on the local MP, Paul Nzengu, in the next election but it was only fair that the MP be allowed time deliver on development until his time elapses. "We are  just smarting from voting a short while ago. Curiously, the names  of possible future MP for our area are being floated. These people should hold their horses until after five years,”  he said.

He said he was vouching for Nzengu because the MP was to a large extent collaborating with and was also 100 per cent supportive of governor Malombe.  “The message  I have for you from the governor is that we must support all leaders who have been elected by the people. No leader should be  undermined,” he said.

During a press conference in Nairobi, Kalua said that the issue of winner-take-it-all in elections should be addressed in the amendments.

Senior Counsel Lumumba on his part said that offices that were created without being envisaged in the constitution should be examined. They include the office of Prime Cabinet Secretary and Chief Administrative Secretaries.

"We have seen the creation of the prime cabinet secretary and chief administrative secretary's offices that are not directly mentioned in the constitution and we are saying the time is now to check the Executive architecture and satisfy ourselves that it can work within our means", said PLO Lumumba.

The panel of eminent persons thing the constitution should be amended to help curb runaway corruption that has severally crippled various government institutions when scandals break out.

Past attempts to amend the constitution failed. They included the former president Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga's Building Bridges Initiative [BBI] which was struck down by the Supreme Court. Kenyans are not yet convinced that creation of new offices improve public service delivery or it is a conduit to burden them with more taxes and reward cronies.

The proposed areas to look at for amendment were Leadership and Integrity, National Elections, the structure of the Legislature and Representation.

Others were Independent Commissions and Offices as well as the structure of both the National Executive and Devolution.

While appearing in Citizen TV interview, Kitui Central MP Dr Makali Mulu said that the country's second in command should respect Kalonzo. "We demand respect. That kind of lecture coming from the DP of this country, we did not take it kindly", said the MP.

DP Rigathi Gachagua was speaking at Ulaani village in Machakos County during the burial of the late Anne Kalekye, the mother of Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka. He said that talks cochaired by Wiper leader Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah will not succeed.

"Nothing will come out of the talks they are sending Kalonzo", said Mr Gachagua.

Speaking with a local radio station , Mwingi Central MP Dr Gedion Mulyungi reminded Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the Wiper leader was Ukambani regional kingpin and "he must be respected". His counterpart from  Yatta constituency in Machakos County Robert Basil told Mr Gachagua that he is the Deputy President of Kenya not Kenya Kwanza government alone. He called upon the government of the day to equally work for all Kenyans regardless of their political persuasions.

In the report tabled by County Assembly Budget Chairman Mucangi Mwariama who is also the MCA for Kagaari North, the total resource basket was KSh. 6,766,825,854 comprising of KSh. 5,341,810,744 for Equitable Share of Revenue from National Government and a projected own source revenue target of Ksh 750M.

Also in the budget are conditional grants of KSh 8,163,074 for Transfer of Library Services, KSh 110.6M for Leasing of Medical Equipment, KSh 69.6M for National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP), KSh. 250M for National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and KSh 3.4M for Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) II.

Additionally, the County will receive conditional grants of KSh 13.8M for Primary Health Care in Devolved Context from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), KSh 106.4M for Emergency Locust Response Project (ELRP), KSh 137M for Financing Locally Led Climate Action Program (FLLoCA), KSh 14M for Aquaculture Business Development Project (ABDP) and KSh 10M as Kenya Nutrition Support Grant.

In total, Embu County’s resource basket is Kshs. 7,762,125,613 broken down as KSh 3,802,806,389 for personnel emolument representing 49.99% of the total budget, Ksh 1,425,377,832 for Operations and Maintenance representing 18.36% of the total budget and KSh 2,533,941,392 for development expenditure representing 32.64% of the total budget. 

A total of KSh 100M has been set aside for Murraming, grading, bush clearing and re-shaping of the various feeder roads in the portfolio on Roads, Energy, transport and Public Works in the twenty (20) wards. 

An addition of KSh 150M for construction of Aggregation and Industrial Park has been factored on top of KSh 100M allocated in the previous Fiscal Period.

For the Mbeere region, KSh 14.5M has been allocated for purchase of a borehole of the drilling rig, with an extra KSh 10M for the completion of Thura bridge connecting three wards namely; Kiambere, Mavuria and Muminji to ease transport between the three Wards. 

KSh 28.5M has been allocated for drilling 25 new boreholes as well as repairing and equipping the existing ones.

The County Government of Embu will spend KSh 10M to start a program to empower women through the Women Enterprise Fund in the portfolio on Youth, Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services, while the youth will benefit from eight million shillings in the “Talanta Hela” program which will be implemented in collaboration with the National Government.

The county has also included KSh 300M for payment of unremitted verified statutory and third-party salary deduction for its employees, which represents 51% of the outstanding pending bills declared, KSh 48M Community Health Promoters stipend and KSh 19M for completion of the Badea Wards at Embu Level Five Hospital.

Each of the 20 elective wards will benefit from KSh 420M in Ward equalization projects, a kitty pushed by the elected MCAs to implement identified priority development projects in the respective areas they represent.

Among Mwingi North top politicians, he is a rare true Philosopher King.He's carving out a  space for himself and stands a chance to reap big in fullness of time.

Lets dig deeper. Engineer Nzengu isn't a novel face to Kenyans.He is had his share of controversies since he joined Parliament in 2017.He has been criticised by small-time politicians as heavy handed.

His low point came when he lost to Mr Munuve in 2013 following the botched Wiper Primaries.

Engineer Nzengu is among the minuscule cadre of younger leaders who could very well go all the way to the top in our lifetime.I have a confession to make, Nzengu for a long time worked in Muthungue village as a water technocrat, a multimillion project funded by the European Union.He was congratulated by the Whites for the perfect project and accounting for every coin including the few coins his workers used in softening palettes in Ngururuni and Muka Mukuu local dens.

By all accounts, Eng Nzengu was an excellent academic leader and policy wonk during his work with Malili Contractors and Engineers company.He holds a degree from Moi University. He is one of the few accomplished, worldly and erudite senior officials in the state.

I don't think Mwingi Northerners had seen Eng Nzengu in his true element until last year's August election. In a do or die,What English men call a "Obama-Puttin" Moment.Eng Nzengu took Mr Munuve and his brigade to the cleaners.

I would be a happy man to see Hon Nzengu charting his way forward,I overheard him speaking about how he should be re-elected for a third time in Mwingi North Constituency at some burial in Katakani village,Kyuso Ward. The burial was attended by dozens of Mwingi North leaders including Hon Muema Nduku who was complaining about IEBC discrepancies in  last year's Election.

There aren't many high profile competitors in that relatively youth league.MP Nzengu is in a pole position because Northerners only elect those with experience and a track record and he has got lots of it.

Like him or hate him,Eng Nzengu is now firmly in the public zeitgeist as a possible future head of state. He is the third Kamba since the late Mutula Kilonzo and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka with a clear shot.