GIVE MY CLAN PIECE OF CAKE OR I BACK RAILA, TNA MP TELLS UHURU

A Narok  MP allied to The National Alliance party has broken ranks with party boss Uhuru Kenyatta and  threatened to lead the Maasai community in supporting referendum being planned by Cord leaders.

Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta said that his unexpected move has been provoked by the Jubilee coalition and Narok county government led by Governor Samuel ole Tunai to allegedly blacklist his Narok North constituency on development matters and appointment and employment of senior government officers

He said that although the decision has not been fully arrived at, plans were under way for an all inclusive meeting  to  deliberate on their push for a referendum alongside Cord leaders because the  local and central governments have marginalised Maasais from the Purko clan and other community members living in the county.

Kenta was speaking after inspecting ongoing roads repairs in Nkareta ward funded by his Narok North CDF.

The MP was accompanied CDF chairman Benson Suyadet and community leaders including chiefs.

“The majority of the members of the Maasai community from my constituency are asking the leaders to support referendum calls since they have been sidelined in all areas despite huge support they accorded Jubilee through me on TNA ticket,” said Kenta at Nchurra Eshumata Primary School.

He explained that it will be unfair for him to oppose the push for referendum while the people he is leading are supporting changes to be done in the constitution which they claim if implemented, will be favourable to them and will see them treated like others in society.

The legislator regretted that even the recent ambassadorial appointments by Uhuru did not favour any person from the Maa community.

He reminded Uhuru of overwhelming support his Narok North people gave Jubilee coalition and demanded a reciprocate gesture through employment of some of his people to senior positions.

“Despite stiff opposition from ODM led by veteran politician William ole Ntimama, the TNA team put up a spirited campaign and saw me cut short the political life of elderly politician Ntimama whom I respect a lot and we are together in the push for our rightful share of the national and county cake,’’ said Kenta as he vowed not to retreat if his case is not addressed with the seriousness it deserves.

The MP said it will not take  long  to see other senior Maasai leaders with similar views emerge when they launch the call for a meeting to discuss and come out with the community common stand on the plebiscite.

“We us Maasai community and other non Maa communities living in Narok county will meet and table our problems and that is the reason for us to resolve to support the referendum,”  said Kenta. 

He said he had no apology to make to anybody because it’s a fact most of the Maasais are agitating for parliamentary system of governance as opposed to the current presidential system.

Kenta said that illegal settlers in the Mau forest must be evicted because they are destroying the Mau ecosystem through illegal timber harvesting.

“The wildlife at the Maasai Mara depends on the waters from the Mau Forest. Destroying these forests means we are destroying our tourism sector. As leaders, we have a duty to stand firm and tell the people the truth,” said Kenta.

Kenta joined Ntimama in criticising the Deputy President William Ruto for saying that squatters in Mau Forest will have the cases dealt with in the next two years.

GOVERNOR STANDS HIS GROUND ON HOSPITAL, TELLS OFF MP

Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba has come out fighting over his decision to purchase the controversial Sh185 million proposed teaching and referral hospital in the county daring legislators to go ahead with their demands for an independent audit “as everything was done above board”.

The governor said that he was willing to meet any of the parliamentary watchdog committees to explain a purchase that he said would help the county tap millions of infrastructure programmes rolled up by the national government to counties with requisite facilities.

Trans Nzoia county rep Janet Nangabo and Kiminini counterpart Chris Wamalwa have opposed the purchase of the facility that is built on a 4.5 acre piece of land.

They argue that the cash was enough to refurbish the 60-year-old Kitale District Hospital and equip it.

The two leaders say that they were not involved in the purchase, apparently on the Kitale Kari land.

But while seeking to put the record straight, the governor who was in the company of his deputy Stanley Tarus, the chief officer in charge of health Ken Simiyu and the county secretary Wafula Wakwofula said that the aging district hospital did not have enough space left to factor emerging health technology.

He also said that the county government sought expert advice from the government valuer, county architect and civil engineer   before the purchase.

“In addition the county government sought further sought advice from independent consulting team of experts including architects, surveyors, structural engineers, service engineers and medical consultants,” he said while displaying to the press the evaluation reports giving the purchase a clean bill of health.  

“Both teams found the structural integrity of the facility to be sound and intact. The design is excellent, with wide passages, ramps, doors and spaces provided for all the critical hospital functions like casualty, theatres, laboratory, pharmacy, diagnostic departments and maternity wards,” he said.

Khaemba was at pains to explain that the deal was the best the county could undertake under the circumstances as it was 65pc complete and would therefore take less time to complete adding that estimates from valuers would give the facility at Sh324 million at the current state.

He   accused   leaders opposed to the purchase of trembling under the weight of change saying that they had been invited at the planning stages but declined.

While raising the red flag about the project dubbed “imprudent and extravagant”, Nangabo and Wamalwa threatened to take the matter to the parliamentary accounts committee and its sister watchdog the parliamentary investment committee to unearth the rot they said was manifest “and glaring for all to see”.

They claimed that the vendor of the facility, a certain Vipul Dhodhia, had purchased the hospital at a paltry Sh23 million through auction, as it was tinkering towards collapse and decay. They added that the hospital had been condemned as unsuitable for human habitation.

But in his statement, the governor wondered how a government which had approved the facility as sound could on the other had condemn it.

“Who has the responsibility to condemn structures in Kenya is not the ministry of Public Works and Housing? Who has produced this report declaring it fit, is it not the government? Come on, give us a break!” he retorted.

The governor revealed that the national government was in the process of boosting the health facilities of various counties by equipping existing facilities and added that if Trans Nzoia government did not put its house in order, they would be overlooked during the rare windfall.

“If for example the government decides to equip three theatres, or install a scanning facility, how would we benefit when we do not have the requisite infrastructure? Why are some counties overtaking others while we are busy lamenting?” he posed.

The facility which the county has already paid an initial deposit of Sh60 million has room for expansion with a possibility of the availability of a 30-acre adjacent land.

POLITICIANS WITH EYE ON 2017 ELECTIONS LINKED TO PAG FUEDS

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga has been linked to the current infightings among members of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God with its headquarters in Nyang’ori.

Akaranga is said to be backing a group allied to the current general superintendent Patrick Lihanda and his general treasurer Elisha Kimaiyo. Sources say Akaranga has been using the group to establish a political network in Vihiga county ahead of 2017. A number of faithful associated with the church have been appointed to hold political position, all the way from wards to county head offices.

In a bid to fight back, politicians eyeing Akaranga’s seat in 2017 are backing a splinter group to divorce the mainstream church. They are financing ‘United PAG’ a faction headed by Simon Muhindi who is the superintendent general. They have their headquarters in Jepkoyai in Hamisi constituency said to be enjoying support from 300 assemblies in 70 districts.

They accuse Lihanda and Kimaiyo for putting earthly favours at the expense of Godly ones in running the main church. To complicate matters worse are claims of sex exploitation rocking the church with church pastors and officials being implicated.

The assemblies involved in the power struggle are based in Emuhaya and have been joined by Wamuluma/Lugaga location of Vihiga county. They were demanding their own districts Hobunaka assembly has been rocked with infighting leading to a big split among its followers.

At Vumale PAG, faithful openly engaged in physical confrontations forcing local police to intervene. Two pastors claim to be in-charge. Only recently, Lihanda in order to diffuse tension had transferred and pastors in Wamuluma/Lugaga districts but they have refused to follow his orders.

We have established another third force within the church going by the name “Kongamano” is in the offing and wants to stage a coup at the Nyang’ori headquarters. Muhindi camp has Rev James Owingo as general secretary and Hesbon Lihanda as treasurer. It is said to enjoy support from Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu who will oppose Akaranga in 2017.

Lihanda was elected to the position in June this year and has failed to unite the church and instead takes sides in running it as it has happened in case involving Hobunaka district.

HIDDEN FACE OF MOMBASA COUNTY LAND CARTELS BOSS UNVAILED

With the rising cases of land, the government has been appointing various commissions to investigate historical injustices at the Coast and whose findings have not been made public.

The Truth and Justice Commission, the Akiwumi Report among others have not been made public. The amalgamation of the new constitution under the devolved system of government, created the independent National Land Commission headed by Mohammed Swazuri as its chairman while the chief executive is Tom Chavangi.

The coastal counties have been grasping with historical injustices back from the colonial period, with thousands having been maimed and land taken away from them. The cabinet secretary for Land Charity Ngilu has been fighting to get rid of powerful cartel that has infiltrated the ministry.

It is being pointed out that powerful cartels are working in cahoots with land officials  forcing land owners to lose miserably. Mombasa land office is among the most affected with one Bakari Mwamboga, married to ambassador of peace, Tawheeda Aidarus, allegedly at the centre of controversy.   

 The two have been dropping the name of the cabinet secretary Francis Kimemia for their dirty dealings, it is claimed.

Surprisingly, they have been alleged to be connected within top security apparatus in Kenya and are alleged to have swindled millions in dubious land transactions which have rocked the ministry.

On of those who have fallen victim include Charo Ndaro,  a resident of Mwakirunge Ngungombe who narrated how Bakari would drop a business card of powerful senior government official and command him on phone of being frustrated by the local area chief.  Charo was dragged in a land dispute which the senior assistant chief a Mr Lumwe of Mwakirunge intervened and frustrated the cartel. The committee of Guu-Ngombe could not hold their anger to the sub-county commissioner a Mr Ngaira who assured them that the report be tabled to the security committee for appropriate action.

Edwin Fondo’s family, who bought the land from Mweru Mbetsa cried foul following threats on his life and dear consequences should they fail to surrender the prime plot in Kashani, Bamburi location which legally acquired in the 1990s. Bakari is believed to be untouchable according to those privy to his operations in Kisauni constituency.

The imposter who allegedly claims to be the personal assistant of Kimemia has fleeced thousands of poor families in Kisauni. Residents claim the government should move with speed to assist those falling in the hands of the imposter. They called on the National Land Commission to address the historical injustices and apprehend cartels who continue to reap from the poor who can not afford legal redress.

Most recently, the president and  Ngilu issued title deeds which raffled feathers of  National Land Commission, the constitutionally mandated  body give out the deeds. But the Land Registration Act 2012 is clear that Chief Land Registrar, which the Public Service Commission has failed to fill after recent interviews is the bone of contention. There has been bad blood between the two offices, which got the nod from the opposition. The opposition has been on the forefront for agitating the distinct role of the two offices.

Residents are now calling the county commissioner Nelson Marwa to intervene and take action on the cartels as this may lead to unnecessary tension in the county. They vowed they would resort demonstrations in the streets if the fraudster was not apprehended.