MOST parts of Kitui County will receive more than 50 mm of rainfall this week. This is classified as heavy rainfall by the meteorological department. They include Kitui Central Sub County which the weatherman expects to have very heavy amount of downpour ranging from 200-250 millimetres.

The neighbouring sub counties will get heavy amounts of rains. Kitui South is expected to have the least amount of rainfall. It will receive between 6-50 millimetres. This is termed as moderate amounts of rain by the Kenya Meteorological Department.

Mumoni ward will get highest amount of rains in Mwingi North Sub County.

Kitui County Director of Meteorology Daniel Mbithi urges farmers to consult local extension officers for advice on the best farming practices in the light of the weather forecast.

STORY By JOHN MUSEMBI

Over a hundred residents of Mbuvori Location in Nginda Ward, Embu County, who gave up land for the construction of 63km ring road have petitioned the government to fast track their compensation.

 

The affected landowners said that there has been a long wait by them to see the government compensate them KSh73 million which they had agreed but since 2018 this has never been actualized.

They said they have been taken round for long wondering why the government was mean with information on how they will get their compensation.

The road famously known as Embu ring road connects the four constituencies in the county and it has costed the government KSh 3.1 billion.

Speaking on Monday at Mbuvori Shopping Centre during a meeting with KeRRA officials and area (Manyatta) MP Gitonga Mukunji, the agitated locals stated that they felt short-changed after agreement with KeRRA to give out their land for the project saying four years down the line they have not been compensated.

KeRRA officials had hard time addressing the unruly locals who wanted to hear nothing from them other than how they will get their payment.

Loss of livelihoods

James Muchangi, a resident and one of those who have been affected said many of them lost their livelihoods through damage of portions of their tea and coffee bushes they rely on as the primary source of income alongside others such as macadamia and avocado trees as well as food crops.

“These rounds we are being taken by the government that we agreed to pay us are hurting us. imagine I lost three quarters of an acre that had tea bushes which I had used to secure a Sacco loan from a bank and now am struggling to repay it. This is unfair and we need our money now," he said Mr James Muchangi, the local resident affected by the delays in compensation.

"Auctioneers the other day were in my home to take some household items to pay the loan because they think I am defaulting. We urge the government to pay us,"Muchangi added.

Moses Njeru said if the government won't compensate them, they will stage demonstrations and match to the president's office to seek assistance.  

"We cannot withstand the circles further. We will seek president's interventions because the KeRRA officials have decided to short-change us," said Njeru.

He stated that there are students still loitering at home because the parents cannot afford to take them to colleges due to financial problems.

“Some of our children who are school leavers are still at home since their parents cannot afford to enrol them in colleges to further their education owing to the losses suffered as a result of the road construction,” farmer Moses Njeru said.

MP Mukunji said that he will follow the matter to the latter to see the locals get what is due.

He stated that it has not been fair for government to fail to compensate the locals yet it was an agreement that it vowed to abide by.

"We have a new administration now and I am certain that the locals will get their pay soon. I will follow the matter to the end. It is painful that locals are seeing the road that they gave their land for construction in use yet they got nothing (in return),"said MP Mukunji said.

KeRRA said they have had a challenge with pending bills and that is why they have not been able to settle their dues adding that the contractor was also yet to be paid fully.

STORY By BRIAN MUSYOKA

Tharaka MCA Godfrey Muthengi Ndagara moved a motion about the proposed construction of KSh425billion High Grand Falls Dam in the County Assembly of Kitui on Friday.

The project will be undertaken by the national government. Some of the wards in Kitui County to be affected by the multibillion project will be Tharaka and Tseikuru wards. The United Kingdom will fund the project in a partnership Kenya secured with UK to be undertaken in energy and agriculture sectors.

In Tharaka Nithi County, six locations will be affected by the High Grand Falls dam.  They are all in Tharaka constituency. They are Marimanti, Gituma, Kamarandi, Maragwa, Kirukuma and Kamwathu locations.

The project was inked in Egypt when President Dr William Ruto met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this month.

Benefits of the dam

While underscoring the benefits of the dam to the locals, MCA Ndagara criticised the government for dragging its feet in compensating the residents who will be displaced by High Grand Falls.

In a 2012 report, Tana and Athi River Development Authority (Tarda) said that an estimated 4500 families will be affected by the project. Leaders and residents in Tharaka Nithi County have opposed the construction since they view it as not able to offer adequate compensation to them. They also took issue with the relocation that is expected to make them leave their ancestral homes.

It is expected that residents who live in the area to be constructed the grand dam will be relocated.

While giving an update on its official Facebook page, County Assembly of Kitui informed residents that debate on the motion is scheduled to continue next week. Tseikuru MCA Kimanzi Muange seconded Ndagara’s motion. He is the new Environment, Energy and Mineral Investments Committee chairperson in the Assembly, a docket which will be key in handling the High Grand Falls dam debate. “While seconding the Motion, Hon Daniel Kimanzi Muange (MCA Tseikuru Ward) reiterated the importance of this project terming it a second mega project after the SGR project and urged members to fully support it”, said the Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya-led assembly.

The project will straddle Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kitui counties. It is part of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor projects aimed at helping the country achieve the Vision 2030.

Ndagara’s motion echo Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s views about compensation of affected residents. Speaking in Itung’uni village in Tseikuru ward earlier this month, Kalonzo said the affected residents should be adequately compensated. “People must be given adequate monetary compensation so that they can choose where to resttle and not be forced into a settlement scheme”, he said.

The leaders urged the government to consult residents for them to appreciate the importance of the grand project as they are relocated.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT  

FILMED at Matuu town in Machakos County, Maima’s new song Tuthi Matuu Lillian promotes local tourism industry.

As the festive season starts, Matuu is one of the places Kenyans can visit for sumptuous meals and a dance that will relieve stress of the whole year and beyond.

Published only five days ago, Tuthi Matuu Lillian (Lets go to Matuu Lillian) has been viewed more than 79,000 times on YouTube. This indicates that it is a big trending topic as fans attest. MWINGI TIMES sampled a few of their views.

Sara Ndunge says “Nimependa”. But Stephen Mutunga goes back to Maima’s older song called Nthi Ino Nditei claiming “Ni kaseo kawathi bt nthino nditei”. He did not explain further.

Other listeners welcome Maima to perform in their home areas like Embu town, as well as leading academic institutions such as Kenyatta University.

“Kana kau kako chonjo. Kenyatta University uuuka indiiii tumatonye?”, asks Benedict Mutunga.

Others credit Maima for transforming Kamba Music saying that is the quality they want. His music is listened to by many both locally and internationally.

The successful presentation is made possible by a number of video vixens, dancers and gymnastics who have perfected their moves at times making them effortlessly.

This is the first bit hit after he took part in major political endorsements for Azimio-One Kenya Alliance coalition. Analysts think Maima is the man to watch in Ukambani entertainment scene.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI

COLUMN: TRENDY AND CLASSY

Hello to everybody. I hope that you have been doing great and keeping safe as well. It's been a minute but well we are back for our very favourite segment of Trendy and Classy. 

As we all know, the rainy season is here with us and we are grateful for it. There is always a lot of mud during this time and it might be a challenge putting on white clothes because of muddy stains here and there. Today I want us to talk about how we can put on our fancy white-coloured clothes and still maintain the spark.

Firstly, always ensure that you soak in your white clothes before washing them. This helps in ensuring that the stain soak off for an easy wash. Stains can be a pain especially with our coloured clothes. They can even make us never wear our favourite piece. I always want you to step out looking all great with so much confidence.

Separate white clothes from coloured ones. This one will help in making sure that in case you have a clothe that fades colour, it doesn't affect your white piece. Just like I had mentioned above, stains can be quite stubborn and some are permanent. Once your white garment stains with another colour, it might be so hard to change the colour to the original one. Sort out your dirty laundry before washing.

Treat stains as they happen. Our major focus especially with coloured clothes is stain. We all have done this before. You realize that you've stained your clothe, you'll rush to wiping it so that it won't be so hard when washing or even become a permanent one. Once the stain happens and you are in a position to soak it immediately, do so.

If not, make sure that when you get home, you get it soaked. Remember that we've said soaking in your clothes makes the washing so easy.

Dry the clothes outdoor. There is always a myth that the sun makes white clothes whiter. I don't know how true this is but then there is always a spark on our clothes once outside on the sun. They also get dry so fast considering there is also wind. So at least your clothes don't have to spend a day and a night on the cloth line.

This point is so crucial. Most of us don't check the cleanliness of our hanging lines. Most times our cloth lines are not in a clean state due to dust. Make sure you wipe your lines before hanging so that you can be sure that your clothes will be hanging on a very clean line.

Avoid wearing your white-coloured clothes more than once. You might be tempted to think that you've only worn the top, or trouser or even vest once so it's not dirty. You fold it and take it back to the closet.

Dirt does not always have to look so intense for a cloth or shoes to be washed. For the dull coloured outfits, this may be ruled out because of they are fade in colour.

For the bright coloured ones, there need to wash them after every wear to avoid change in colour.

Do a rinse cycle. Stains can be obtained from not well rinsed clothes. Make sure you always do a good rinse cycle to make sure that the water is not coloured. Our clothes take in the dirt from the water we rinse from but it'll reflect once the cloth dries.

You also need to ensure that your washing troughs are washed before you commence on the laundry process. Where you get your water from should be a clean source as well.

DEAR esteemed reader, these tips will come a great way for you to make sure you don't keep on hiding that stain or even stop wearing your favourite piece. Step out in confidence and own that look. Always remember step out looking ALL Trendy and Classy.

The writer, FAITH NDINDA is a budding Journalist with passion on Health and Lifestyle matters.