Manyatta Member of Parliament John Gitonga Mukunji has threatened to blacklist contractors who are lazy and those who won't deliver high quality work.

 

Speaking when he toured to inspect progress of construction of several roads in his constituency, he said that he will not tolerate shoddy work during his tenure.

He as well confirmed that the recarpeting of Mutunduri -Kianjokoma road will be complete in two months’ time.

"We want to ensure the locals get the best services ever. Roads should be made in better way. Shoddy work won't be entertained”, said Mukunji.

The road has been a challenge to locals due to pot holes on the road which has seen many accidents occur.

The youthful MP also urged the contractors to ensure they employ casuals from the areas where they are making the roads.

Mukunji stated that the progress of tarmacking Kairuri -Irangi Mau Mau road has been slow since it has encountered challenges with water projects that are touching on the road.

He said that together with the contractor, they have agreed to engage stakeholders in water supply so that they can give them a leeway to finish on the road construction works.

“We will be engaging stakeholders of water companies in the area to see how we can do because some water projects here are touching on the road thus slowing the construction," said Mukunji.

STORY By BRIAN MUSYOKA

 A sombre mood engulfs St Augustine Mwingi School following the news of Sunday afternoon crash along Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

The Mtito Andei crash involved a matatu colliding head on with a lorry.  Madam Telesia Mumbe, a teacher who worked at the Catholic sponsored boys’ school was one of the accident victims together with her two sons.

MWINGI TIMES has established that the teacher and her two young sons were among the five people who died in the grisly accident. The accident occurred at a spot sandwiched between Voi town and Mtito Andei, Makueni County. This was confirmed by Kibwezi South police boss Mr George Kasimiri.

Kibwezi South Police Commander George Kasimiri told the media that the ill-fated public service vehicle was travelling to Nairobi City while the lorry was going in the opposite direction.

Later, the matatu was to go up to Nuu market in Mwingi Central, Kitui County, its final destination. That was not to happen.

When MWINGI TIMES paid a visit to Mwingi School on Tuesday morning, the principal was away on duty attending to matters related to the demise of Ms Mumbe. Senior teacher Mr Ernest Muthui told us that the school was still reeling from shock of demise of the Kiswahili and CRE teacher.  

The teacher was recently posted to the institution as she was not more than a year old in the school. “It is sad for us to have lost the young teacher and her equally young children. She was an absolutely social and friendly person who did not have problems freely interacting with other people. She was also very hard working and result-oriented,”, Mr Muthui eulogised his departed colleague.

The family had travelled to Mombasa where the husband works as schools were closed for a short vacation. It was during the return journey when the accident happened.

The husband is the only remaining member of the family as he was not in the Kinatwa Prestige matatu that crashed head-on with a lorry.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Three Safaricom employees have died after the car they were traveling in lost control and rolled several times along Embu-Kiritiri Road.

While confirming the incident, Embu West subcounty police commander Julius Kyumbule said the staff were on their daily routine noting they suspect that the victims were sellers of credit cards and offer other services for the company in the county.

The subcounty police boss said the driver and other two occupants who were seated on driver's seat died on the spot with other five occupants who were in the vehicle sustaining serious injuries.

Locals who responded immediately to rescue the survivors had hard time because the occupants were trapped in the wreckage.

"The Safaricom staff who we suspect are sales persons were moving from Embu town to Kiritiri then upon reaching Donbosco it is when the accident occurred. Three died on spot and other five sustained serious injuries," Kyumbule said.

He said the injured were rushed to Embu Level Five Hospital for treatment and the deceased's bodies were taken to the same hospital morgue awaiting identification.

Kyumbule also urged drivers to be keen while on the road to avert such accidents.

He said investigations have been launched to ascertain circumstances under which the accident occurred.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

 With Kitui being one of the 10 counties classified by the NDMA as being on alert stage of the drought situation in the Arid and Semi-Arid (asal) region this month, the county government has partnered with development organizations to address likely outbreak of malnutrition in case the much-anticipated short rains fail. 

This involved training health workers today on managing acute malnutrition. They are on a two-day workshop.          

The Kitui CEC in charge of Health and Sanitation Dr Winnie Kitetu today opened the training workshop on management of acute malnutrition Kitui town.

Speaking while addressing over 180 healthcare workers drawn from various facilities across the county, Kitetu asserted the objective of the training was to equip and enhance healthcare workers with skills and knowledge on management of acute malnutrition. 

Technical skills

“The objective of this two-day training is equip you (healthcare worker) with technical skills and knowledge on how to handle and manage acute malnutrition among children under five years, pregnant and lactating mothers in our county,” said Kitetu.

Kitetu further guaranteed the healthcare workers of immense support from the county leadership. 

“The Governor, Dr Julius Malombe is keen on this programme. He is committed to see fully implementation of the supplementary feeding programme where over 5000 children under five years,1300 pregnant and lactating mothers across the county benefit from this initiative within the stipulated timeframe of nine months,” said the ministry’s boss.

The World Food Programme (WFP) Associate Fidelia Mwende, on the other hand guaranteed the leadership of the ministry that commodities are in the process of disbursement from the warehouse to the various healthcare facilities across the county. 

The training which brought over 180 healthcare workers is sponsored by USAID-Kenya and implemented by WFP-Kenya in partnership with Kenya Red Cross. 

The CEC was accompanied by Health Director Administrative Services Francis Musyoka, Deputy Director Public Health Faith Mutinda and County Nutrition Coordinator Jackson Matheka among other health officials.                   

STORY By MARTIN MWENGA

 Moses Kirimi who has been a long-time architect working with Chuka University has been found murdered this morning at his Giampampo home a short distance from Chuka University.

Police say he had serious head injuries from a blunt object probably a metal bar that was around which is believed to have resulted to his death.

It is alleged he was killed by his wife Pamela Wanja who later committed suicide by hanging herself from outside of the second floor of the incomplete apartment they have been residing.

Confirming the incidence, Maara Sub County police commander Mohamed Jarso said the woman left behind a note apologizing to their three underage kids. However, further investigations are underway to establish the motive behind the heinous act.

Following heightened homicide cases in the County, Mohamed advised couples to always find a way to amicably settle issues without taking away lives.

"When a conflict arises in a marriage, it is good to have a boundary considering the innocent kids left behind to suffer like these little ones here now left as orphans," he said.

The murder has happened just day after a man from Itugururu in Igambang'ombe Sub County took own life over wife's infidelity.

The couple left behind 3 young kids.

The bodies of the two have been taken to Chuka County Referral Hospital Mortuary.

The late Arch Moses Kirimi Mati’s employer Chuka University has condoled with the family. In an internal memo seen by MWINGI TIMES, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Finance, Planning and Development Prof Henry M’Ikungu said that staff should consider counselling when they have family disputes.  “On behalf of the Management and the entire Chuka University fraternity to condole with the family and also encourage all members of staff who encounter family disputes to seek counselling early enough before things get out of hand”.

The police are investigating the heinous crime.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES TEAM