The number of the locals who have died after consuming illicit brew in Cianyi in Mbeere North has reached 5.

Cianyi market where victims drunk illicit brew.

This is after two more locals succumbed this evening after consuming the brew.

While confirming the deaths, Embu County deputy county commander Batian Kantai said it was a regrettable turn of events that the locals have died after consuming the illegal product.

"We shall do thorough investigations to bring to book all those who are involved in this business. That is an assurance we are giving this community,"Kantai said.

Further Kantai noted that five people lost sight after consuming the brew.

He said others are also receiving treatment in different hospitals in the county with various complications.

At the same note he called on locals to volunteer information that will lead to the arrest of the culprits.

Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku who accompanied detectives when they visited the joint where the victims are said to have drunk the illicit brew urged the administrators to fast track the investigations so that arrests can be done to those involved.

"It is a sad state for a village to mourn five lives in a day. We need investigations on this matter," said Kiringa.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Five people have died in a road accident at Mtito Andei along Mombasa-Nairobi highway. They were on board Kinatwa Prestige matatu.

Five more sustained injuries when the accident occurred on Sunday afternoon. This was after a lorry collided with a matatu.

The injured were rushed to Makindu Level Four Hospital for treatment.

Among those who died in the accident were three children. The accident happened at Kanga area in Tsavo.

Kibwezi Sub County police commander George Kisimiri confirmed to the media that the accident occurred after a head on collision between the matatu and a lorry.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Kamba artist Alex Kasau aka Katombi has his latest hit on the airwaves for a week now.

Kindu song averages over 220,000 views after a week of uploading on YouTube.

Listeners can access the song on other social media such as Facebook and Instagram.

It is also available on Skiza tone, Boomplay, Apple Music and Spotify for online streaming.

More than 1,000 viewers on YouTube shared their take on Kindu.

Katombi’s songs are listened to by viewers from across the country not just Kambas. The online streaming is available for worldwide listeners too.

Hashim Ashuku says that Bazu is a talented artist who never disappoints.  “He can’t stop fascinating his fans. He never fails us”, he adds.

His video quality, creativity and content are what makes the fans declare that he is real dope!

Missing Embu retired chief inspector Stanley Njiru Kabaci has been found dead in an Isiolo lodging. The ex-police officer went missing on 2nd September 2022, in unclear circumstances.

While confirming the death, Isiolo North Subcounty police commander Collins Sainna said the former police left home at Majimbo area in Embu West to buy some construction materials that were required in a house he was putting up in the area but a resident reported that he had seen him board a matatu.

He said that Mr Njiru checked into the lodge in Isiolo town alone the evening of the day he went missing.

His body would later the following day be discovered by the lodging attendant lying on bed with the room left unlocked.

Detectives said that his legs were leaning on the ground and his shoes were still on his legs.

The hotel management reported the matter to police who visited the scene to see what had transpired.

Sainna noted after visiting the scene the police documented it and circulated the information across the country until when Njiru's family visited the area and identified the body.

The police boss said Njiru's wife Sarah Wangui positively identified the body as that of his husband.

"Investigations are underway to establish the circumstances that forced him to leave Embu and find himself in Isiolo," said the OCPD.

Police are investigating how Njiru travelled from Embu to Isiolo, the mode of travel and who had accompanied him.

"We are investigating circumstances under which the deceased travelled from Embu to Isiolo and checked in an hotel. We are engaging the family to have more information on what transpired," said Sainna.

One of the deceased's family members later told MWINGI TIMES that the body has been moved to Embu awaiting post-mortem to unearth the cause of the death.

STORY By BRIAN MUSYOKA

The County Government of Kitui and the World Vision Kenya have struck a deal to mitigate drought to end food and water shortage in the semi-arid area.

Kitui Governor Julius Malombe meeting World Vision Kenya officials and his county government senior staff at his boardroom on September 22, 2022. MWINGI TIMES/Courtesy

Governor Julius Malombe on Thursday met a delegation from the World Vision Kenya at his boardroom where they discussed possibilities of reviewing and reviving a stalled River Athi-Kanyangi-Mutomo-Kanziko multimillion water project which is aimed at benefiting 100,000 people in Kitui South.

Dr Malombe and his senior staff met the delegation where they deliberated on the financial implications and other technicalities towards making the project a reality.

The governor told the delegation that the river Athi-Kanyangi-Mutomo-Kanziko commonly referred to as Kangu water project which he initiated in 2016 has a total pipeline length of 295 kilometres.

The project is aimed at enhancing development of rural areas by increasing access to water, both for domestic use and small irrigation.

“This project, which I initiated as a pioneer governor in 2016, will go a long way in easing water scarcity in the areas it passes through and beyond once completed,” Malombe said.

Long-term benefits

He said the project will have a long-term benefit to residents living in Kanyangi, Kiseuni, Nzambia, Maluma, Athi, Mutomo, Kibwea, Kiati, Mathima and Syamatani areas.

Other areas to benefit from the grand project include Kanziko, Muthue, Mwangala, Kituvwi, Muvuko, Kyoani, Ikutha, Kalivu, Kyandula, Mwangeni, Kituti and Ndauni.

When he took oath of office on August 25, Malombe pledged to complete various abandoned projects.

“We will prioritise and complete abandoned projects, including but not limited to Kangu Water Project that was to benefit over 100,000 people in Kitui South, incomplete ECDE classrooms such as at Ciokereke in Tseikuru ward as well others in other wards whose completion was ignored by the outgoing administration,” the second term governor said.

Other projects he named include outpatient hospitals facilities in various sub-counties like Mutomo and Zombe, grading and culverting of neglected county access roads including the rehabilitation of farm and road construction machinery, levelling of schools’ playing fields, operationalisation and equipping of maternity hospitals in various sub counties among many others. 

STORY By PAUL MUTUA