Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza interacts with Kitui MCAs yesterday when she explored areas of mutual interest. The MCAs were led by Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya/CS PENINAH PRESS TEAM

Led by Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo Katisya, the MCAs affirmed their support to the CS and promised to work closely with her to bring an end to human-wildlife conflicts that have been witnessed in different parts of Kitui County.

The aim of the meeting was to explore areas of mutual interest between Kitui County Government and the National Government. These areas include acceleration of compensation of victims of human-wildlife conflict and the use of preventive measures like fencing of game parks and reserves within the expansive county.

CS Malonza urged Kitui County Government to create enabling environment for investors in the tourism sector.

"I am committed to working with County Assemblies in areas of legislation necessary to stimulate tourism, wildlife and cultural sectors in line with the government's bottom -up economic agenda" said Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage CS Peninah Malonza.

In July 2021, 382 domestic animals were devoured by wildlife in Kitui County as drought worsened.

Herds of lion, leopard, hyenas and monkeys 

were reported by Kitui County Steering Group on Food Security as having killed goats, donkeys and cattle when they escaped from their habitats in the county.

The report was released by National Drought Management Authority Coordinator in Kitui County Francis Koma.

Kitui County has Kora National Reserve and South Kitui National Reserve as some of the parks the wildlife live in for tourist attraction and are a source of employment to many.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

The Ministry of East African Community, Arid and Semi Arid Lands and Regional Development has conducted a survey in partnership with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) to assess the food security in readiness of the March-April-May short rains season.

Other counties listed to be at Alarm stage are Kilifi, Kajiado,  Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Samburu, Isiolo and Turkana.

Isiolo county has witnessed high number of livestock mortality due to diminishing pastures.

 Other counties with deteriorating vegetation cover are Wajir, Garissa, Kwale, Mandera and Samburu.

Isiolo has also been cited as one of the counties battling child malnutrition. Others in that category are Mandera, Garissa and Isiolo.

Already, 13 counties have been grouped as being in high Alert stage of drought meaning they are approaching Alarm stage if interventions by relevant government agencies fall short.

Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Meru are part of the counties in Alert stage of drought, according to East African Community, Arid and Semi Arid Lands and Regional Development CS Rebecca Miano.

Ten other counties in the Alert category are Garissa, Lamu, Narok, Tana River, Baringo, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, West Pokot, Kwale and Nyeri.

Traditionally, Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASAL) have been the ones that were affected by drought. However, the narrative is changing given urban and counties in high altitude areas were cited as being affected by the drought.  They include Kiambu,Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Migori, Siaya and Homa Bay counties.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI

The early cessation of the 2022 long rains season has worsened the drought situation in 19 of the 23 arid and semiarid (ASAL) counties, National Drought Management Authority has said.

The drought situation is getting worse due to three previous consecutive failed seasons. The 2022 long rains season failure is the fourth consecutive poor rainfall season since the 2020 short rains.

The worst affected counties are majorly those that practice herding as the main economic activity. They are classified by NDMA as being in the Alarm stage. 

Laikipia, Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Isiolo and Samburu are the hardest hit by drought in Kenya, according to NDMA.

13 counties are in the Alert drought phase. Kitui is the only county in Ukambani that is in this stage. Others are Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Garissa, Tana River, Meru and Baringo.

Many families in Kenya cannot afford three meals a day due to general increase in prices of most consumer goods and decline in livestock prices.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI

An Occurrence Book seen by MWINGI TIMES detailed that David Muema Kasi had cultivated the bhang along a seasonal river that passes at his shamba.

When police arrived at the crime scene, they uprooted 75 plants, arrested the suspect and took him to Kyuso Police Station where he was detained.

The dry plant material suspected to be bhang was weighing 205 grammes.

Police kept the material as exhibit awaiting the suspect's charging in Kyuso Law Courts tomorrow.

Kyuso Sub County Police Commander Nicholas Mutua said the suspect will be arraigned in court tomorrow for possessing and cultivating cannabis sativa.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

There will be light rains this week for the whole of Mwingi North Sub County.

Kitui County Director of Meteorology Mr Daniel Mbithi said that the far north area is lucky to be enjoying off-season rains as the October -December rain season ended in the third week of December 2022.

The Weatherman revealed that Mumoni Ward will receive light rains on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

Light rains is the one that is below 5mm as recorded on rain gauge.

Ngomeni Ward is forecast by the Kenya Meteorological Department to experience light rains on Tuesday.

Tseikuru will get its last rains of OND season on Thursday, a market day.

Makutano junction in Tseikuru township./MWINGI TIMES 

Just like her neighbor Mumoni ward, the cosmopolitan Tharaka Ward will have three days of short rains downpour on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Mwingi North Sub County headquarters, Kyuso will be having light rains on Wednesday and Thursday, read a dispatch sent to MWINGI TIMES by KMD Kitui Director Mbithi. The weather forecast period is from January 10 to 16, 2023.

Kitui Central, the hilly parts of Kitui East, Kitui West and sections of Kitui South will possibly get moderate rains earlier in the week as the rest of the county gets light rains.

The forecast shows that the latter part of the week will be characterised with dry weather conditions.

STORY By JOHN MUSEMBI