Friday, 15 July 2016

PANIC IN MP KALUMA CAMP AS OCHOLA DECLARED CANDIDATURE FOR HOMA-BAY TOWN SEAT

Businessman Noah Ochola’s entry into the Homa-Bay Town parliamentary seat has caused panic in the area MP Opondo Kaluma camp. Sources well versed with Homa-Bay town politics revealed that Ochola’s candidature has been overwhelmingly received across the constituency.

Ochola who is yet to launch his campaigns has been holding consultative meetings meeting opinion leaders, elders, women and youth leaders across the constituency and who have pledged to vote for him first to clinch the ODM ticket then to the main general elections slated for August 2017.

Campaigning under the slogan “Saa Oromo” which translates to mean “It’s Time”, he has pledged to be the servant of the electorate and promising to launch his campaign agenda after further consultations with Homa-Bay Town stake holders.

Although he is making debut in elective politics, political analysts say for the short time he has been touring the constituency, his candidature has been well received as voters see him as a man who can deliver the Homa-Bay people from the poor leadership.

Even before his entry into the race, he is known to have been assisting the electorate in a number of development projects including conducting harambees for schools and churches. The Kaluma camp is said to have retreated to the drawing board since Ochola’s entry has caught them off guard and considering the support he has received even before campaign proper begins, for Ochola, it is all systems go, a move that has been discussed as unstoppable.

Wednesday, 13 July 2016

KISUMU KANU MEMBERS UP IN ARMS AFTER ODM OPERATIVES GRABBED PRIME P LOT LEASED TO THEM BY FORMER PRESIDENT MOI

BY OUR REPORTER

A rift is looming in KANU party following a row over prime plot leased by former President Daniel Moi to life members in Kisumu City.

Trouble started after a group of ODM members conspired and forged land tittle deed for a plot at the notorious Kisumu bus park and secretly disposed it to an hotelier.

According to investigations by the Weekly Citizen Newspaper, one Fred Kowido who is allied to ODM party seems to be the man playing pivotal role over the shocking land grabbing game.

Other sources further indicate that the space was sold to the proprietor of Victoria Comfort Hotel after collusion between a team led by Kowido,the county odm youth leader and an employee of the county government who recently vied for the kisumu county workers union position, and cartels from the ministry of lands.

The long standing battle has seen KANU members, other developers in court against their rivals who have applied dubious tactics to grab the space.

The land was acquired during former president Moi’s helm and was privately developed by traders.

The case was initially forwaded to political parties tribunal where they were advised to conduct a search only to be met by rude shock after search failed to show.

Part of the letter from the political party disputes tribunal read ‘’the claimant called only onr witness namely, Mr. Nick Salat, who is the claimant’s secretary General.The Secretary General confirmed that he was the custodian of all party property.

In the letter it’s recorded that the suit property namely L.R NO. Kisumu municipality Block 9/118, Kisumu, was owned by KANU.

And now, KANU members are up in arms demanding for the intervention by the anti-corruption unit given the fact that the land was illegally sold without the knowledge of its own members.

They are accusing lands officials based in Kisumu for colluding with ODM members to grab land which was leased to KANU members.

Those behind the game have been loudly bragging that the area is ODM zone and the tenants who are allied to KANU should quickly move to Rift valley failure to which they will storm with heavy bull dozers to flatten all the buildings.

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Joy at Kisii School over sterling performance

Okoth Ong’aro

It was joy at Kisii School in Kisii county following the release of 2015 KCSE exam results where all the 381 receive their results. Parents, students, guardians, education stakeholders, the clergy and local politicians from within and without Kisii county have saluted the hard working Principal Casper Maina for a job well done.

The school had an enrolment of 381. “I am happy that all 381 students received their exams after the 2014 dark moment. As principal, I do not condone examination malpractices and I have never believed my students engage in the uncouth practice,” he said.

“It’s now a vindication that this institution adheres to best practices of examination ethics against what we have been subjected to before. The number of candidates we had was huge and producing this magnificent result is a reprieve to both students and dedicated teachers,” Maina added.

He said that the institution managed a performance index of 10.0, emerging second after Nyambaria High in the Gusii region and managed to record the highest number of students who scored a straight A grade.

“We decided to put the 2014 nightmare behind us and worked for the grades in 2015. We managed a performance index of 10. 0 and 172 students managed to score grade A, the highest in the region,” he said.

The school’s 2014 exams were cancelled but according to Maina, that has not stopped the boys from giving their best last year. Whereas Maina is known to be a no-nonsense principal; who does not entertain laziness in the staffroom and who teachers say is a down to earth man, his managerial skills has helped the school to remain a centre of academic excellence not only in Kisii county but nationally.

Education stakeholders in Kisii county have sent warnings to local politicians who have been attempting to drag Maina’s name in political issues and further warned them to keep off Kisii school and to let Maina run the school professionally and without political interference as has been doing.

Sunday, 21 February 2016

NCIC descends on Maasai Maara University

NCIC descends on Maasai Maara University

Our Reporter

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission officers have pitched tent at the Maasai Mara University probing claims of nepotism, tribalism, irregular hiring and firing of staff as well as corruption related activities.

The NCIC officers were acting on a tip-off through an

anonymous letter addressed to it and copied to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, cabinet secretary ministry of Education, Governor Narok county and area MP Ole Kenta.

Under corruption related activities, the EACC is also said to be investigating the procurement of a car for the VC, Mary Waling’o at a cost of Sh12million but sources say the market value is far below the Sh12million. It is suspected that she uses the car and at the same time withdraws car allowance unlike her deputies who are using their own vehicles after it was agreed that they draw allowances.

Also under investigations is the procurement of the university bus at a cost of Sh11m but which sources say was initially to be purchased at Sh9million. Sources say the procurement of the bus did not follow the right procedure. Already, the university’s tender committee is under pressure to approve procurement of a certain finance system (Enterprise Resource Planning System) at a cost of Sh20million.

The NICIC officers are said to be investigating claims of irregular hiring, promotion and firing of university staff. Of interest is one Mr Omuse who is a computer technician. Sources said in the last two years, Omuse has been promoted two times and is now in grade 12. Those who know him well say that his academic and professional qualifications do not allow him to be in grade 12.

The EACC is also said to be investigating circumstances under which Omuse took Sh990,000 in cash to pay for subscription by university to Africa association of universities and others. This money was allegedly approved by the VC and up to date, this money has never been accounted for.

It is claimed that the VC has gone tribal and creates positions for people from her ethnic community or to people who are loyal to her and who never raises queries on issues and directives and orders by the VC. The NCIC is also said to be investigating claims that most heads, chairmen and directors are appointed on tribal basis as close to 80 pc are from same ethnic community.

Already, word is out that some of her trusted and loyal lieutenants who have reached retirement age are still being retained. The officers who are said to have reached retirement age but are still in payroll are security officer, human resource officer and registrar academic affairs.

Sources say the VC has been single handedly appointing temporary staff while retrenching casuals who have worked for the university for many years on continuous basis. The VC allegedly employed Prof Oyaro’s wife unprocedurally. Oyaro is the dean of Science.

The EACC, according to well-placed sources, has also been called upon to investigate an allegation that the VC is plotting on how to clear Prof David Serem of a debt of Sh9million from the suspense account. Serem is a former Principal of Maasai Mara University. When the finance officer detected the plot, he objected and was sent on forced leave. It is suspected that the VC cleared Serem during the absence of the finance officer.

On mismanagement of university funds, the letter claims that she has been visiting all over the world and financing Chinese and French to visit Narok to see the so-called botanical garden and in all her visits, there has been no impact or returns which is a clear case of misuse of university funds.

The letter further claims that the VC goes to Nairobi on Thursdays and Fridays and the trips are fully financed by the university claiming she is on official duties but investigations have revealed that she travels to Nairobi to attend classes. She is currently doing MBA at the University of Nairobi.

It is claimed that the university looses close to Sh100,000 every week through the VC’s office for security purposes. Sources say whenever she travels to Nairobi; she is accompanied by a bodyguard who is paid allowances which are made in cash.

It is alleged that in all her dealings, she does not append her signature on approved documents and only puts initials (VC and the date) and rather than signing and approving the original documents, she does it on photocopies of the same documents.

The letter further alleges that the VC has hired the services of one Makokha who is a former university employee to spy on the university staff and another from Safaricom to tap other staff phones. On political patronage, she is said to have been sending emissaries to William ole Ntimama in an effort to compromise him. Sources say the VC has now employed a close relative to Ntimama in an effort to silence him.

One of the projects under investigations is the Sh15billion hospital. Stakeholders are wondering what happened to the project and if there was money allocated, where did it go? It is imperative to note that no single project has been done at the university since her appointment despite taxpayers’ money channeled to the university for the last two years amounting to Sh300 million for projects.

The EACC is also said to have been investigating claims that the University Council chairman Joseph Okumu who through the influence of the VC has become an executive chairman. Records indicate that he draws a monthly allowance of close to Sh350,000 per month. The EACC sleuths are said to be pursuing documents which shows that he draws Sh80,000 responsibility allowances instead of Sh25,000.

Sources say Okumu is now performing administrative activities on a daily basis in which he addresses all deans of schools and all heads of departments and also signs letters of appointments to staff. A good example is that he signed for Ogola to act as the dean school of education.

Sources say the VC is manipulating the chairman by all means by approving and giving him allowances and honoraria on a daily basis. The two also possess some issues together without the knowledge of the full council of the university.

Part time lecturers at the Maasai Mara University are also bitterly complaining that they are never paid and are owed hundreds of thousands in unpaid salaries and allowances.

Also under investigations are circumstances under which the VC brought the Presbyterian University students to graduate at Maasai Mara University during the third graduation ceremony.

Tender scam at Athi Water Services Board

Our Reporter

With barely two months before the Athi Water Services Board CEO Malequen Miulgo proceeds for terminal leave pending end of his contract in November, details of how he manipulates the tender committee in awarding multi-million tenders have emerged.

According to sources from the tender committee, the CEO is a man obsessed with the big man syndrome and dictates on who gets what tender.

A perfect example is the augmentation of the Tigoni water supply where 28 companies submitted their tenders among them Yarrow Construction, Machiri Ltd, Oriental Construction, New Age Developers, Tisco Construction among others.

Shockingly and by order of Miulgo, the tender was awarded to Flozziz Construction Ltd which had quoted Sh121,975,587 yet it was not the lowest bidder. Sources allege the directors of Flozziz Construction Ltd offered the CEO Sh2m.

In another tender for Athi Water Boreholes Phase II, 20 companies submitted their bids. Among the companies are Insta Pumps, Prime Rigs, Njuca Consolidated, Shanxi Geological among others where the lowest bidder was Turn-O-metal which had quoted Sh197m but it was awarded to Njuaca Consolidated. Sources alleged that the company’s directed gave a Sh6m bribe.

Another tender is the Oloitoktok water supply and sanitation where 14 firms submitted their tenders namely Penelly Construction (Sh845,223,494), Lee Construction (Sh895,831,031), Vaghjigai Enterprises (Sh894,940,801), Byusuff and Sons Ltd (Sh875,555,937) and Unibee Construction (Sh679,738,830) among other tenderers. Sources again allege that the CEO was allegedly given Sh200m by Byusuff and Sons Ltd and was unprocedurally awarded the tender yet it was not the lowest bidder.

To block the disgruntled tenderers from filing complaints at the Public Procurement Oversight Authority, Miulgo withholds regret letters to the unsuccessful bidders after 21 days to technically knock them out from taking the case to the PPOA for review. Sources say by the time he releases the letter, contracts are already signed making it impossible for the unsuccessful bidders to demand a review.

Section of the tender committee and staff are now appealing to the board under the chairmanship of Keen Wachira never to attempt to renew Miulgo’s term which expires in November 2016. Already the tender scam allegations have been forwarded to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission for action. Sources say he has confided in his close allies that he has sent emissaries to the Deputy President William Ruto to sweet talk Water minister Eugene Wamalwa to give him another term. The board is expected to give him a six-month leave pending retirement beginning June 1 2016.

Monday, 27 July 2015

HOMA-BAY MAJORITY LEADER NAME CLEARS IN LOVE DRAMA

BY JARED OPIYO

LOVE drama that saw a sexy Homa-Bay nominated MCA admitted at the Agakhan hospital with serious injuries following a dog’s beating by her husband has taken a new twist after the husband came out clearing the name of majority leader Michael Ooro as the one he caught red-handed with the wife.

Mr. Ooro found himself into the ugly mix after he responded to the woman's distress call and facilitated her transportation to the hospital by virtue of being the majority leader.

''I was called to the scene and after casual assessment of the magnitude of her injuries volunteered sh. 10, 000 for her transportation to the hospital'', said the majority leader.

He accused regional politicians including Sammy Wakiaga of working round the clock that he remains political doomed a head of 2017 even as he aims for higher position.

The husband Mr Enock Okoth Oliewo was reluctant to reveal the identity of the man that made him beat his wife to near death but was quick to admit that the matter was working against his political ambitions.

Oliewo who lost Kaksingri seat to the current Homa-Bay deputy speaker, while speaking at the Agakhan hospital while he had gone to visit his victim downplayed things saying that the ‘’incident was a normal domestic affair which was however exaggerated by political rivals’’.

‘’As much as I beaten my wife to this degree I don’t think the matter should have attracted the attention of the media and let me reveal to you that I am not finding it easy as voters keep calling me to clear the air over the matter’’, he lamented to this writer.

He said the damage was so fatal that their daughter who is in form four is being ridiculed by other students.

The nominated MCA Beatrice Akoth is currently admitted at the Agakhan hospital Kisumu Surgical ward bed 5 and confirmed to journalists that she was responding positively to traetement.

She was initially rushed to St.Paul’s hospital in Homa Bay after the husband reportedly found her red-handed with another randy MCA whose identity is now being investigated by the Weekly Citizen Newspaper.

The fury husband has according to sources privy to the drama has made several apologies to the woman and has remained by her bed side for the last few days possibly to put damage control on the family’s political life.

Despite the fact that the husband has since denied being arrested by police over the incident, multiple sources including senior police officers at Homa-Bay police station have made a confirmation that he was indeed arrested and locked at the polices station after some of the victims relatives reported the matter to the police.

HOMABAY MAJORITY LEADER NAME CLEARS IN LOVE DRAMA

BY JARED OPIYO

Mr. Ooro found himself into the ugly mix after he offered to transport the fatally injured MCA to hospital by virtue of being a majority leader.

He said the damage was so fatal that their daughter who is in form four is being ridiculed by other students.

The nominated MCA Beatrice Akoth is currently admitted at the Agakhan hospital Kisumu Surgical ward bed 5 and confirmed to journalists that she was responding positively to treatment.

Even has the husband denies that he was not arrested by the police following the matter investigations by the Weekly Citizen reveals that he was locked at the Homabay police after the relatives of the woman reported the matter.

The fact that the woman involved in an accident was stage-managed for the purposes that she enjoyed insurance medical cover as opposed to domestic violence which is not covered.

When contacted, the majority leader said he was a man of God who would not wish to break other people’s families.