2 POLITICS NEWS
Document 20 Billion expenditure, Senator Mong’are asks Nyagarama
Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama (Right) Senator Mongare
Bwo’kongo.
By Solomon Kinuthia
O
utgoing Nyamira Senator Kennedy Mong’are
has asked Nyamira governor John Nyagara-
ma to document and account for the over 20
billion he has received from the national govern-
ment for the last four years.
Senator Mongare who is also running for Nyamira
gubernatorial seat under the National liberal party
which he heads as a Party leader, also asked all the
four Members of parliament from Nyamira County
to account for the millions of shillings and show
Youths urged to maintain peace during campaigns
By Dan Nyamanga
Youths in Nyamira have been warned of dire con-
sequences if they try to destabilize peace in the
region during the campaign period.
Addressing different county departmental heads
during a peace meeting, Nyamira County Commis-
sioner Mr.Isaiah Nakoru noted that youths are the
projects done in their respective constituencies.
Speaking to Gusii star Mongare says that he has
played his role as the Senator as per the constitu-
tion which mandates him to oversight and protect
county interests.
“I have played my role of fighting for the county of
Nyamira for the last four years. But unfortunately
my office has never been involved nor updated by
the county executive headed by John Nyagarama on
the details of the said funds”, Mongare said.
He further said that now that the governor’s term
is about to end let him document everything as per
article 35 of the constitution, which gives the citi-
zens the right to information.
However Nyamira governor is on record to have
said that the county executive has completed two
hundred Kilometres of roads and several other
projects like equipping hospitals, Manga Stadium,
Kiabonyoru University, Kiabonyoru Sports academy,
irrigation scheme among others.
To this, the Nyamira senator says is just a political
gimmick to hoodwink the people of Nyamira for
a re-election for a second term which the current
governor does not deserve.
“The people of Nyamira require urgent answers
from all of us as leaders from the region and this
is the time to answer our employers”, Mong’are
asserted.
Senator Mong’are further said that they had diffi-
culties in their working relationship with the gover-
nor Nyagarama and the Nyamira county Assembly
members who the senator accused of abetting
corruption, Nepotism and clanism within the county,
most vulnerable of being exploited by politicians
for their own gains.
“We don't want to see a repeat of what happened
in 2007/2008 in our county again, I want to urge
our youths to restrain from politicians whose aim
is to divide our people and destabilize the peace
we have enjoyed for years," warned Nakoru.
He said a peaceful environment improves economy
and the livelihood of the electorate.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
which he termed as “utter incompetence”
In his part governor Nyagarama has been on record
saying that the senator had failed to approach his
office for any information and was out to tarnish his
good track record for political gain.
Nyamira County is divided into four sub counties,
North Mugirango represented by Charles Geni alias
Makuti, Borabu represented by Ben Arori Momanyi,
West Mugirango which is also represented by out-
going Member of Parliament James Gesami now a
gubernatorial aspirant as an independent and lastly
Kitutu Masaba represented by the vocal outspoken
National ODM treasurer Timothy
Bosire.
The county is also represented by Alice Nyanchoka
chae as the Women representative now that the
August elections are around the corner, voters at
the county are left with the final say on who will be
fixed and who may be retained in both the county
assembly, national assembly, Senate, and guberna-
torial seat.
Let’s pray for
our country
By BRIGHTON MAKORI
Kisii County residents have been challenged to put
prayers first as the country heads to the general
elections.
Addressing residents at Gusii stadium during the
interdenominational prayers, Deputy President
William Ruto’s wife, Rachel Ruto said the country
cannot succeed without Gods intervention.
She said the church is a pillar in achieving peace
and national cohesion.
"As Christians we should be able to pray and give
directions to our people in order to live harmonious-
ly," she said.
At the same time she called upon Kenyans to shun
tribalism.
The function was attended by Christians from dif-
ferent denominations who pledged to uphold peace
during and after elections.
Rachael Ruto is attending a series of prayers across
the country organized by various interdenomina-
tional churches.
Dp Ruto's wife, Rachael kneels to pray joins other Chris-
tians in Kisii to pray for Kenya
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Is Odinga, Kenyatta ghosts haunting their sons ?
By Eric Bosire
erycohme@gmail.com
As we head to the awaited August polls, the country
is more than divided on tribal cocoons more than
ever before in Kenya’s political history.
It is a political watershed moment that will bring
the curtains down on a 53-year political rivalry
involving sons of Kenya‘s independence-era politi-
cians.
Historians and political actors try to piece the origin
of this political state of affairs which may redefine
Kenya’s political future to the sons of former friends
turned foes MZee Kenyatta First Kenyan President
and his Deputy the Older Odinga. Raila Odinga and
Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila is the son of Kenya‘s first Vice President and
doyen of opposition politics Jaramogi Oginga Odin-
ga while Uhuru is the Son of Jomo Kenyatta. The
rivalry is pinned down to a bloody history that has
claimed hundreds of lives in sporadic flashes of
insanity. Their fathers were ideologically disconnect-
ed shortly after independence: The senior Kenyatta
was a capitalist; the senior Odinga a socialist. Thus
the government became too small for the two egos
and strong independent minds to stick together.
It will be the final time for Uhuru Kenyatta, the
current President and son of Kenya‘s founding Presi-
dent, Jomo Kenyatta as stipulated by law, as he will
face off with his formidable charged rival former
Prime Minister Raila Odinga who have teamed up on
a National Super Alliance (NASA.
Raila Amolo Odinga the self-proclaimed “peoples
president” is seeking to try his luck for the Fourth
time after a long stay as the opposition leader.
Pre-independence
Half of Kenya’s population may not understand the
origins of the Kenyatta - Odinga political hegemony
and its incumbent significance. It’s upon the media
to dig down the memory lane and update Kenyans
on where the rains started beating us as Kenyans.
History tells us that the struggle for Kenyans inde-
pendence was fought by a number of tribal groups
from the famous Mau Mau groups in the central
Kenya to the other cultural groups at that time like
the Maasais’, Nandi, Kisii and the coastal tribes the
Mijikenda.
At the advent for independence, a very peculiar
situation arose. Where the colonial masters in this
case the Britain, chose to render the thrones of
power to Kenyans.
At this point in time the proponents of Kenya’s in-
dependence were Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, then in Jail,
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Paul Ngei, Ochieng Oneko,
Kungu Kiamba, Ronald Ngala at the time who were
all in Jail among other fighters.
The British chose to bestow the thrones of power to
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who in unexplained cir-
cumstances chose to refuse to take over as Kenyas
first Prime Minister and is reported by History Books
to have said that he was to await for his “Brother”
Jomo Kenyatta to be released before Kenya attained
her independence.
This came to pass. Kenyatta was released and be-
came Kenya’s first Prime Minister and later Kenya’s
First president.
As History will have it, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who
was Kenya’s First Vice President became Kenya’s
first political casuality as he fell out with his boss
Kenyatta in 1969. He broke ranks and started to
chart for his political patch as an opposition leader
the action that caused arrests, detentions under the
Kenyatta and Moi’s administration.
He later died a desperate man wanting to be presi-
dent even for a single day. Which never happened.
The rift between Jaramogi’s Luo Community and
that of Kenyatta community the KIkuyu widened
from then and it has never healed.
Now 53 years down the line the act is replaying
itself in a very different political environment. With
Ghosts of Jaramogi and Kenyatta which have come
to haunt their sons Uhuru and Raila which threatens
to divide the whole country into two formidable evil
forces.
Post independence
There was silence in 1978 when the senior Kenyatta
died their sons – who played together in their child-
hood were now grown-ups. This later changed when
in 2002, Raila shattered Uhuru’s dream to state-
house by declaring Mwai Kibaki ‘Tosha’ that swept
all pro Uhuru antagonists out of power.
Fast-forwarding the scenario to 2017, these scions
of the two strong leaders are stuck in their respec-
tive angles, provoking political arsenals and thrilling
their respective fanatic supporters into battle-ready
mode.
They are engaged in a populist duel, where one,
President Kenyatta, is riding on the dividends of
incumbency and painting Raila as a power-hungry
opposition leader and inciter; while Raila is playing
the people‘s champion(“Peoples President”) painting
Uhuru as the mastermind of a hard-hearted elite,
sustained by looting public coffers, which needs to
be defeated.
The times have changed so much that the President
can threaten the US government by reneging on an
agreed programme of electoral reforms, and even
publicly saying they can sort themselves them and
leave Kenya matters to Kenyans.
The final political stretch is taking place different-
ly, with players now sharpened to tear each other
using serial issues that either affect lives directly or
indirectly like the Land issue.
It is a different time:
In 2013, Raila’s age was e really used against him
with political leaders aligned to the Jubliee calling
for his resignation from politics so as to award him
his pension. Raila is 72, Uhuru is 56. The Kenya
Demographic Health Survey estimates that two-
thirds of the population is under 25 years then
it will be a do or die situation for him this year.
Because if he doesn’t ascend to power it will be
unlikely hard for his reform agenda to be relevant
after the August 2017elections.
If things turn upside down and he loses, he will be
77 thus he will have the energy to vie againand
most likely the shift and allure of fighting the Ken-
yatta‘s directly would have glowed. And most likely
the young generation by then world not be well
interested with the reform agenda thus regarding it
as history and old records.
Then Uhuru who was 46 while Raila was 62 in 2007,
saw no need and supported Mwai Kibaki in his sec-
ond term thinking the Raila cloud would be settled
down. In 2013 at 55-year-old Raila ran against him
and same giving it a last shot in 2017 as their NASA
pointmen says he seeks to be a one term president.
Raila who has now managed to keep all opposition
bigwigs to his corner, has managed to vigorously
campaign against a government that has deeply
POLITICS NEWS 3
President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA flagbearer Raila Odinga
PHOTO/COURTESY
corrupt alienated some other regions of the country
through lop-sided tribal appointments.
The civil society has been daunted to be as strong
as it was with the the diplomatic community turning
quiet. The Church too, which has been the voice of
reason in the past turned to just “political” sabo-
teurs in the election process by supporting specific
sides of the political terrain. Thus tended to be
‘loosing’ the voice of reason as it was deamed to
be. Odinga who came second in 2013 General Elec-
tion, has been saying the situation has became soo
bad that he seeks to rectify it through a one term
presidency.
When they speak, Uhuru and Raila have no kind
words for each other just like their fathers. At one
time the Older Odinga caused stir in President
Kenyatta’s function in Kisumu that saw young men
loose lives.
In his Mt Kenya region stronghold, President Uhu-
ru called Raila “a mad man”; his deputy William
Ruto called him a mganga (witchdoctor). And when
Raila’s supporters – actually an angry opposition
lawmaker Millie Odhiambo— responded with insults,
Uhuru dismissed those insulting him as “idiots”.
Past August 8th
Whatever happens on Election Day – August 8,
2017— will mark the end of a long political duel,
between the two antagonists until their children
comes of age to take up the mantle just like their
fathers and Grandfathers.
But what comes out clear is that, unless Uhuru los-
es in 2017 and bows out with the disgrace of being
Kenya‘s only one-term President, and tries again in
2022; or most unlikely unless Raila loses in 2017
(in his 4th presidential attempt) and tries again in
2022 – a highly unlikely event because of his coali-
tions ties, there is no possibility of another head-to-
head duel between the two antagonists.
If Uhuru goes home this year and decides to vie
again in 2022, he will be 61 years old, a year
younger than Raila was in 2007, and Raila will be
77, a year younger than Kibaki when he began his
second and final term after the controversial 2007
poll. President Kenyatta has repeated he won‘t give
up power just yet; that he is in it for the long haul,
and the only time he will step down is in 2022 and
when he hopes to give his Ruto another decade in
office.
Eyes will be now set to see between the two who
carries the day and what will happen after the Au-
gust polls.
 4 POLITICS NEWS Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR

Keep off cabinet Use resources wisely, Matiang’i to head teachers

secretaries Arika
By Dennis Zadock

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has

tells Opposition urged all school head teachers to make good use of
resources they get to improve education standards
in Gusii region.
Speaking in Nyamecheo primary school Nyaribari
By Dennis Zadock Chache constituency, during donation of text books
Mating’i urged education stakeholders to join hands

I
beno ward MCA in improving education standards in Gusii region
aspirant Steve Arika and in the country at large.
has asked opposition “I want to urge all head teachers once you get
leaders not to duel on resources either by donation, ministry, and govern-
non-issues but strive to ment or by well-wishers make sure you make good
sell their agenda to the use of it to help our children improve their educa-
Kenyans. tion standards,” Matiang’i said.
Arika said the issue He donated books to Nyamacheo primary in Nyarib-
of Cabinet Secretaries ari Chache constituency and to Borangi secondary
following the president schools in Bobasi constituency.
during rallies should not Education cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i [courtesy
be an agenda for NASA.

Elderly to be given pro-

“The Cabinet Secre-
taries, Education CS Fred Matiang’i included are
performing their duties and not campaigning for
UhuruRuto as NASA claim. They are telling Kenyans
what the Jubilee government has achieved since it

tection in Kisii County

came to power,” he said.
“I have never seen our Education Minister Fred Ma-
tiang’i in a jubilee uniform as NASA claim, let them
keep off ministers’ affairs and watch how Jubilee
government is performing in fulfilling its promises
and jubilee is ready to show opposition how devel-
opment projects are done.” By Brighton Makori
Arika claimed that the Jubilee government has done
many projects in Gusii region that guarantees them Kisii County government will ensure elderly people
a second term in office and urged area residents to are given fair treatment in the society.
vote for the duo.
Arika is vying for Ibeno ward MCA seat on a Jubilee Deputy Governor Joash Maangi has said the county
ticket in the August general election. government is committed to ensure that elder peo-
ple are protected from mistreatments as it has been

End the nurses

observed in previous years.
Addressing the elderly at Kisii cultural hall during
the marking of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,

stalemate, -MP Deputy Governor Joash Maangi said the county gov-
ernment has passed bills that gives elder people the
protection they deserve.
“We have laws in place that safeguards elder people
from being mistreated and we will keep ensuring
that they are well protected,” said Maangi.
According to General Secretary to the national
Gender and Equality commission Paul Kuria, elderly
abuse is rampant in Kilifi, Kwale, Nyamira, Kisii and
Kirinyaga counties.

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Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR EDITORIAL / OPINION 5

Editorial

Women leadership
should be encouraged
to ensure an equitable
society within the
region
O
verall, the percentage of women in senior
leadership roles has seen only miniscule
change over the past decade, with represen-
tation increasing slightly from 26% in 2004 to 28%
in 2017. As shocking as this may be, it’s not out of
kilter with some prominent developed countries —
in fact, it is substantially higher than the UK (19%)
and about the same as Australia (23%).
But being average should never be an aspiration —
and this is where it gets interesting. The majority of
executives, male and female, interviewed by Bain
support greater gender equality. But digging down
a bit, Bain asked a simple but penetrating question:
why? When asked to choose the primary reason for
their belief in gender equality from three alterna-
tives — moral imperative, government legislation
and business performance — only 20% of men cited
business performance. This figure jumped to 30%
when women were asked the same question. Both

Opinion
numbers are extremely low and worrying.
Back to Gusii, the role of women in the political are-
na has slowly and is not at any time seen to be pro-
viding a better platform for them to express them-
selves in the right way. There have been claims in
social media on where some of the regions women
leaders are married and who their spouses are.
This notion does not Augur well in the 21st century.
Why BodaBoda Menace needs
It should also be noted that as a society, the right
intentions to growth is when all accepts change and
embraces it.
to be tamed at an early stage
Therefore all should recognize why and how gen- By Boniface Thadayo sector; many operators have no insurance by motorcycle accident is significant.

der equality influences business performance, life
and political scopes, true progress in the workplace
respectively.
In a research done by European Union, One of
the big problems highlighted is what it calls "mid-
dle-management permafrost"; where it says women
tend to rise as quickly as men to middle manage-
ment but then get stuck there. Often women, par-
ticularly in middle management, feel marginalized,
ignored or simply worn down by trying to get their
efforts recognised. As a consequence, promotions
generally take longer and the loss in confidence is
reflected in the decline in advocacy scores by wom-
en a few years into their careers, the report says.
So what should be done? One important aspect is
to formally connect women with a mentor or spon-
sor and encourage more on-the-job coaching to
increase senior advocate support. An aspect our
regional leaders who have been in both leadership
and politics should embrace to raise more women
elected leaders from the region.
Another is to ensure that checks and balances are
in place to identify biases in reporting and process-
es. Another is to apply a zero-tolerance policy and
increase awareness of negative experiences.
Editorial Team
Managing Editor: Eric Bosire
Chief-in-Editor: Erick Nyakundi
Contributors: Brighton Makori, Zadock Dennis, Dennis Kirwa,
Nelson Mandera, Vincent Munga, Elizabeth Angira, Enock Okong’o,
Stephen Michieka, Solomon Kinuthia, Obed Nyaswabu and Stephen
Maranga
GUSII STAR is published by RURAL PUBLICITY NETWORK
and Printed by Standard Media Group.
P.O. BOX 31312-00600. Nairobi
Hotline: 0726655552
Email:gusiistar@gmail.com | www.gusiistar.co.ke
T
he boda boda or use of motorcycle
as a means of public transport
since the beginning of the 21st
century has been significant to serve the
local Mwananchi whenever movemement
of people and goods is concerned. But
what has proven to be a substitute to the
expensive matatu fare is turning out to be
a menace, nightmare and chaotic spectacle
in the public glare.
According to some of the earliest so-
cialists who coined physiological needs,
Abraham Maslow hypothesized that once
a human being is contented with basic
needs like food, security and movement is
vital. It is evident that most of riders are
mostly young men with no experience.
The common cause was to address unem-
ployment and take advantage of poor road
network and lack of vehicles to earn a
living by offering services by transporting
pillions and goods from end to the other.
With groups of young men organized
through informal associations-complete
with a chain of command for easy mobili-
zation, bodaboda business appear to thrive
on lawlessness, despite attempts to tame
them. The lure of majority school leavers
being bought motorcycles by their parents
and guardians has also attracted flamboy-
ant presences in funerals, political rallies
and any other functions during which
events; thus causing untold traffic jam on
highways and roads.
At a times the crime activity is over-
whelming, for example ferrying of
burglars to break and steal into homes,
transporting illicit brews, cannabis sativa
in the wee hours hence making the se-
curity apparatus hard to deal with them.
A further indication of the chaos in the
cover or valid driving licences. Cases of
them being intoxicated while on move are
on the rise. Theft of motorcycles is quite
common.
Immediately after being involved or
causing an accident the operators usually
run away leaving the pillion[s]in suffer-
ing. Others will overwhelm the victim or a
motorist by calling other bodaboda to re-
inforce and demand money before release
even when the victim or motorist was not
at fault. In extreme cases the boda boda
assault the victims, part with motorists
vehicle parts such as mirrors,sparewheels
notwithstanding the progression of snatch-
ing mobile phones, bracelets and opening
boots of unsuspecting vehicle owner to
search for valuables and escape with such
properties.
In other incidents boda boda operators are
hired by goons to commit felonies such
as murder, robberies or larceny. It is a
handicap by security agents to trace the
operators, motorcycle[s] and the alleged-
ly owner. The escape routes are easier
compared to a motor vehicle which needs
a bigger passage manourver.Do you ever
mark the registration number plate of a
motorcycle carrying you?
In nutshell some carriers can waylaid a
victim on a path and more so cases of
women being raped are rising depicting a
runaway crime! Could we be sitting on a
time bomb in the pretext of using criminal
gangs in the name of boda boda opera-
tors? Cases of riders overcharging their
pillions or carrying goods in excess than
the required capacity are of grave concern.
Staging violent protests and closing roads
for hours is an impunity that should not be
tolerated.
Lest we forget injuries and death caused
Just visit any established health facility
and a police station to see for yourself. In
hospitals admissions of injury fatalities
is big and in police station yards lie a
large lot of damaged motorcycles due to
accident occurrence and involvement. The
operators, many of them do not wear hel-
mets and those meant for pillions are not
there or laced with a lot of dirt and dirty
so to speak. Others have no heavy jackets
falling to prey to diseases like the dreaded
pneumonia. The speed at which the riders’
spans one may think it’s a safari rally yet
it can thrill but a disaster like death is in
waiting in a mix of seconds.
All is not lost. It would be affordable if
all motorcycles are insured and opera-
tors undergo training on safety and risks
pertaining on the trade. Alternatively, a
valid driving license should be mandatory
and on top of that the criminal records of
applicants must be cleared with an issue
of a police clearance certificate otherwise
known as ‘good conduct’.
In addition the easiest way to locate a
rider, owner and motorcycle registration is
through Sacco’s on designated routes. Er-
rand operators can be known, reported and
action taken by Sacco officials, adminis-
tration and in extreme cases face the wrath
of law. Traffic officers, National Transport
and Safety Authority and other state safety
machine that are mandated to sensitize the
public on road safety and carnage should
come in handy to advice, educate, counsel
and rehabilitate the boda boda industry
through seminars, workshops, programs.
The writer is a Social Science student at
Kisii University
 6 POLITIES NEWS
Kibagendi defects to Jubilee, promises
a fierce battle for governors post
Kibagendi (RIGHT) is received at the party headquarters by Secretary General Raphael Tuju, National Assembly Majority leader
Aden Duale / Vincent Munga
By Vincent Munga
F
ormer Kitutu Chache South ODM parliamentary
seat aspirant Antony Kibagendi has defected
to Jubilee and promised to help clinch the Kisii
and Nyamira governorship.
He also said he will ensure the Jubilee Party win at
least seven out of thirteen parliamentary seats in
Gusii land.
Speaking at the Jubilee headquarters after his
defection, Kibagendi cited Jubilees’ commitment to
democracy, unity and inclusion of the youths in gov-
ernance as the reason why he had opted to jolt out.
“I call upon young people across the country to get
themselves a space in elective politics and I see
the opportunity in Jubilee party. Here young people
contest and are given chances without necessarily
bribing party machineries,” he said.
Kibagendi who was formally received at the party
headquarters by Secretary General Raphael Tuju
Moses kuria faces hostile
crowd in Gusii counties
Gatundu Member of parliament Moses Kuria addressing Kisii
youths in a Past forum. He faced resistance from Kisii youths
when he attacked NASA flagbearer Raila Odinga PHOTO/
bMAKORI
By Nelson Mandera
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who’s also the leader of ‘Mbele
iko sawa na uhuroto’ team met hostility
in Nyamira and Kisii towns after he started criticizing National
Super Alliance (Nasa) Presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
and National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale,
said he now doesn’t belong on the side of old poli-
tics where leaders ‘incite’ people to attract votes.
Criticism
On the other hand youth leaders from Kisii county
led by Youth party chairman Janganya have dis-
missed his defection saying he was only a liability to
the party and just a serial looser.
“We dare him if he thinks he can outdo us let’s wait
on August when he will be defeated in broad day-
light”, Janganya said.
Kibagendi was trounced by Samuel Omwando in the
ODM party primaries in the ODM Party primaries for
the Kitutu Chache Parliamentary seat. Before decid-
ing to contest as an independent candidate.
Sources privy to Gusii star intimate that his de-
fection might be caused by his disagreement with
his county party boss James Ongwae whom he has
accused of meddling with party structures within
the county.
Kuria who was at Gusii land for two days was booed by a crowd
that had gathered to listen to his speech in Nyamira town and
Along the Kisii Kusumu road where his entourage was headed to
Mash park hotel as he campaigned for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Gatundu lawmaker was accompanied by former Trade Min-
ister Amos Kimunya and other jubilee leaders.
His voice was drowned in chants of “Nasa, wapi Unga” (Nasa,
where is mazie flour) even as he pleaded for calm. His attempts
to calm the crowd by reading a list of projects the government
has initiated in the county and
locals appointed into plum state posts failed as the jeers contin-
ued.
“I have come to request you to vote in President Kenyatta be-
cause he loves you. He has appointed Mr Matiang’i CS for Edu-
cation who has clubbed down exam Mebace, Susan Mochache PS
and (Walter) Nyambati chairman as Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
chairman,” said Kuria above the din of more protests.
However, he angered the already charged crowd when he
attacked the opposition leaders by saying that Raila, Kalonzo
and Musalia Mudavadi had collectively tried but unsuccessfully
failed to capture the presidency.
“Raila has tried three times, Kalonzo twice and Mudavadi twice.
How do you expect people who have tried all those times to be
President?” he told the rowdy gathering.
On his side Kimunya thanked the Nyamira people for being
peacefully despite being of different political parties.
“I thank you for being peacefully as always despite of being
of different political parties, here we have Jubilee, NASA ,and
others more but we have a choice to make come August”, said
Kimunya
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Recruits warned over
misuse of NYS equipment
Deputy Director NYS Mr Philip Tanui (right), with Deputy
County Commissioner Mr Albanos Ndisso during the NYS
inaugural launch Photo /Jeremiah Kimori
By Jeremiah Kimori
The National Youth Service (NYS) recruits have
been warned of using service equipment for person-
al duties.
Senior Deputy Director, paramilitary and training
service Mr. Philip Tanui said the youths should be
ambassadors of the government and carry good
example when using government resources.
Addressing hundreds of recruits at Jamuhuri gar-
dens in Nyamira during the NYS inaugural launch
in the county, Tanui urged them to observe the law
when using the equipment.
He also asked them to observe discipline.
"What you are wearing represents NYS and any-
body with that uniform is not supposed to indulge in
world pleasure like alcoholism,” he said.
During the exercise, more than 500 youths were
recruited.
The Rangenyo Catholic Priest Lawrence Machogu during the
past cerebration Photo/Jeremiah Kimori
Catholic Church warns
faithful over fake IDPs list
By Jeremiah Kimori
Following the last week outrage over fake IDPs list
in Nyamira, now the Catholic Church has intervened
and warned its faithful’s to stop masquerading as
evictees if they are not.
Speaking in Rangenyo Catholic Parish, Fr. Lawrence
Machogu said ‘robbing the poor is wrong before
God.’
He slammed Catholics who want to be compen-
sated and yet they were not displaced in the 2007
post-election.
‘‘The IDPs compensation has genuine individuals,
therefore as a catholic don’t involve yourself false-
ly claiming to be evictee so as to be fed with their
money. It will land you in trouble,” added Machogu.
He advised genuine IDPs not to waste their fortune
when they are compensated but put it into good
use.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR Review NEWS 7

Motorcycle Helmets: To Wear or Not to Wear, Which is Safer

By Eric Bosire obey traffic rules. set standards by Kenya Bureau of Statistics, putting
"They jump lights, driven at high speed, overtake their lives and that of their passengers at risk.

W
hen you hop on your bike, you want to feel
the wind in your hair, the sunshine on your
skin, and the road beneath your feet. The
open road makes you feel free. You don't want to
restrict this feeling by wearing a helmet. Plus, does
it really help? Will it make a difference in an acci-
dent? What's the law in Florida anyway?
Helmets Save Lives
Should you wear a helmet? Yes! You may not want
to wear it, but there's no debate, helmets save
lives. This fact needs to be shared, especially in
light of the rise of motorcycle fatalities in recent
years.
Data from Kenya’s National Transport and Safety
Authority (NTSA) shows that in 2005 motorcyclists
and pillion passengers made up 6 percent of traffic
road accidents deaths but the number had in-
creased almost three-fold to 22 percent in 2014.
Motorcycles are a popular mode of transport in
most parts of Kenya. They are preferred in rural
areas as they are not only affordable but also ply
routes that are not accessible by other vehicles. In
crowded urban areas, they are the best way to beat
traffic jams.
The number of registered motorcycles rose from
6,250 in 2006 to 111,124 in 2014. They now ac-
count for 51 percent of the total number of motor
vehicles on the road, according to NTSA statistics.
NTSA Director General Francis Meja says several
issues contribute to the rise in traffic deaths by the
two-wheelers.
The main cause, he said, is failure of drivers to
from the wrong side and carry more than the re-
quired number of passengers. This is impunity and
general lack of discipline," Meja said in one of the
national Televison station talk show.
He said most of the drivers do not go for driving
lessons and most of them do not know or follow
traffic rules.
Another contributing factor is the large number of
motorcyclists who ignore Kenya’s helmet law or who
wear substandard helmets.
The WHO’s 2015 road safety report says that that
wearing a good quality helmet can reduce the risk
of death by 40 percent and the risk of serious inju-
ries by 70 percent. The report also notes that most
motorcycle deaths are as a result of head injuries.
Eric Nyamanya , the bodaboda driver, says that he
has never had an accident for the few years he has
operated a motorcycle.
He told Gusii star that a helmet would safe some-
one if he/she is involved in an accident and he
usually advocates for it but many of his customers
are reluctant to wear it whenever he prevails upon
them.
“Its sad that most of our customers don’t value the
helmet. It saves lives and I urge all others to use
it,” he said.
He also says that mostly in the evenings, many of
his colleagues have been involved in road accidents
due to their ignorance to use them. He further says
that it helps to keep at bay small insects which
might injure the cyclist while on duty
According to the NTSA, the majority of motorcy-
clists in Kenya use helmets that do not meet the
Boda boda operators
at Nyamira -Ikonge
road competing on who
among them is
the fastest. There has
been concern on how
they operate their busi-
ness without
even wearing helmets.
BELOW/ A Boda boda
operator with a pas-
senger in one of the
political roadshows in
the county recently.
Concerns have been
raised on
their safety. PHOTO/
ERIC BOSIRE
Several motorcyclists interviewed by the Gusii star
said they were not aware that they need to have
helmets that meet a certain standard.
“To me a helmet is a helmet. I am not aware that
there is one that am supposed to buy because it
meets certain standards,” said miruka a cyclist at
Nyamarambe.
Kenya does have a national helmet law that applies
to both driver and passenger, but according to the
WHO’s most recent road safety report, the law is
largely ignored and rarely enforced.
The NTSA, the agency responsible for enforcement,
says it does not have enough manpower to crack
down on motorcyclists.
A new report released by the International Motorcy-
cle Manufactures Association points to human error
as the major cause of road crashes worldwide.
"Human factor is of critical importance to any ef-
forts to improve road safety for powered two wheel-
er riders," the report says.
The numbers of motorcycle deaths in the Florida
and across the United States is way too high, but
do helmet laws help? The Advocates for Highway
Safety (AHS) emphatically says yes. They claim
motorcycle laws save the country $17 billion dollars
in medical bills annually, but they estimate that this
could be bumped up to $25 billion per year if all
states adopted motorcycle helmet laws.
If this could be applied to Kenya the landscape
and scope could drastically change thus creating a
smooth environment for the same.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Usually it’s a vehicle that carries a handcart
popurally known Mkokoteni in case of a break-
down. But this trader in Nyamira was seen
transporting parts of a probox car. PHOTO/
DENNIS KIRWA.

I Concur with banning rallies or to ferry passengers.

This comes the time where mostly school buses in

of school buses for the recent past have been used to ferry supporters
to campaign rallies.

hire- Okong’o Mr Okong’o at the same time has urged those who
are vying for electoral seats to conduct their cam-
paigns peaceful to avert plunging the country into
By Erick Maranga chaos.
erickmaranga@gmail.com He further called upon the church to put the coun-
try into prayers during this electioneering period

O
utgoing Nyamira Senator who is also seek-
ing gubernatorial seat Mong’are Bw’ Okong’o
has said he supports the ban of school buses
from ferrying passengers instead of students they
are only meant for.
In an exclusive interview with the Gusii Star Mr
Okong’o lauded Education Cabinet Secretary Fred
Matiangi for issuing that directive to all school
heads not to hire school buses for either political
where the political temperatures are high more so
from the government and the opposition.
Mr Okong’o at the same time has exuded confi-
dence of clinching Nyamira’s gubernatorial seat in
the August polls arguing that he is the only suitable
candidate to bring real development Nyamira peo-
ple have been yearning for a long time.
Nyamira Senator Mongare
 8 POLITICS NEWS
Has Kenya Power added more than two
million homes to the electricity grid?
President Uhuru Kenyatta shares a moment with one of the families that have benefited from his government's rural electrifica-
tion programme. PHOTO/PSCU
By Eric Bosire
I
n the last few days, there has been raging de-
bate on the state of electricity connection. Gusii
star seeks to explore and explain this
On June 1st during the Madaraka day celebrations,
President Uhuru Kenyatta said electricity connec-
tion has been added to more than 2 million homes
to the national electricity grid thus making Kenyan
streets been made safer by the street-lighting pro-
gramme.
According to the Economic survey 2015-2017, the
number of new customers connected under the
Rural Electrification Programme doubled to 972,018
customers as at July 2016 from 453,544 July 2013.
KPLC which is the utility company mandated by law,
says that the demand for electricity rose to 1,586
megawatts (MW) in the 2015/2016 fiscal year from
1,468MW in 2013/2014, an increase of eight per
cent seen in the decade. This increase however
suggests a modest increase to a slow expansion of
commercial or industrial demand for electricity.
With a record of 1,278,469 new customers having
been connected to electricity in the financial year
2015/2016, rising to 843,899 new connections the
previous fiscal year, as indicated by the Kenya Pow-
er and Lighting (KLPC) Annual Report as at June
2016 financial year and its five year strategic plan.
Translating to approximately more than two million
people being connected within two years.
Information available on the company website indi-
cates that it made about 570,041 new connections
raising the global figure for connected users to over
6,075,724 connections as at January this year. Thus
615,310 connections happened between July and
December last year.
In 2015/2016 KPLC further says that the connec-
tions vigorously expanded the total connection
to 4,890,373 in addition to 7,402 public primary
schools which were connected under the national
public schools electrification programme that was
implemented in conjunction with the Rural Electri-
fication Authority (REA). Primary schools connec-
tions hence brought the cumulative connections to
18,793.
The data however available does not differentiate
between connections made at home consumption,
commercial or industrial use.
The Government has been pushing the connections
agenda on grounds that it would improve security
and make the 24-hour economy a reality. “Trad-
ers like Dominic Ombaka in Mathare; Asha Abdalla
and Mabel Barasa in Kisii can keep their businesses
open longer because of improved security. Asha and
Mabel, have moved from using kerosene to using
electricity,” Kenyatta told Parliament.
However on March 20th this year, the KPLC Manag-
ing director Ken Tarus said that the speed of cus-
tomer number growth has seen critics question the
accuracy of the connections data. He further said
that the total number of customers connected to
the national grid on prepaid meters and have not
loaded their meters for months and not yet bought
any tokens had risen.
“Most of the beneficiaries he said were beneficiaries
of the World Bank’s GPOBA (Global Partnership of
Output Based Aid), and the Last Mile Connectivity
programmes who mostly come from informal settle-
ments. And their monthly consumption is estimated
to be two units on average who have not yet ex-
hausted the initial pre-loaded units”, said Mr Tarus.
The figures quoted by President Kenyatta are
equally the same as those of the utility company,
but what fails to come clear is to which extent the
controversy has affected the numbers.
VERDICT TRUE.
Additional information Economic Survey 2016/2017
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Live Live By Ekebengi Black
A section of politicians from Nyamira County
were chased out of a Nairobi Hotel where they
spent most of their time after they decided to
‘run’ away from the heating political campaign
in Kisii.
The politicians who are royal to one of the
senior politician from the region are believed
to have gone broke and they decided to seek
refuge in Nairobi if their political Godfather
could come to their rescue.
Ekebengi black could not reach the senior
politician as most of the time his phone went
unanswered. However the said Aspiring Hono-
rable Members were forced to seek for alterna-
tive means to return to the village to face the
wrath of the voters come August.
………………………………………………………………
There was drama recently when Nyamira
ODM offices were locked with a pair of diffe-
rent padlocks as the area leaders wanted to
use the premises. The ODM Nyamira Office
is believed to be owned by a close confidant
of a senior politician from the region who lost
in the nominations. So he decided to payback
by frustrating the officials who were forced to
conduct their meetings in a Nyamira Hotel.
………………………………………………………………
All is not well in the NASA camp in Kisii camp.
Reliable sources within the camp has told Ekebengi
black that they are not Happy at the way Governor
Ongwae who happens to be their leader in the reion
is treating NASA affiliated MCAs. The Aspirants
who sought anomity due to sensitivity of the matter
have said that they are contemplating on who to
support depending on how for the next few days
they will ‘greased their hands’ to facilitate their
campaigns.
The Aspirants are furious and vowed never to
attend any NASA meeting due to what they terms
as a waste of their time and energy as their welfare
is not taken care of their boss who happens to be
Governor Ongwae.
………………………………………………………………
Several Aspirants seeking the Kisii and Nyami-
ra county women representative seats have been
heard murmuring on the effective of mainstream
media correspondents from Kisii county. One vocal
Women representative aspirant from Nyamira was
heard complaining on how they have been treated
by local vernacular stations who seem to have their
preferred candidates on the same seat from Nyami-
ra and Kisii counties respectively.
However Ekebengi Black has established that the
Aspirants all from the two counties have formed a
negative opinion about all media outlets from the
region even when contacted by the same reporters.
One reporter who spoke on anonymity says that
they have of late been ignoring Journalists calls
when contacted
………………………………………………………………
The West Mugirango Member of Parliament Ben
Momanyi was humiliated and shouted upon by
irate residents of Kisii County.
In an audio clip that has been going round social
media earlier last week, it’s heard from the irate
residents who said he was trying to intimidate the
Kisii county governor James Ongwae.
This happened in one of the vernacular radio sta-
tions event that was meant to raise funds in one of
the top hotels that saw are leaders converge to give
their support.
It’s heard the presenters trying to persuade the Ho-
norable Member of Parliament to come down from
the stage as irate residents shout him down.
.
Reach me via email ekebengib@gmail.com
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Is the IDPs compensation, a raw deal for Gusii?
Irate IDPS at the Nyamira County headquarters when they had demonstrated over allegations of a fake compensation list. There
has been controversies regarding their payments as claims of fake IDP lists have emerged. PHOTO BMakori
By Dan Nyamanga, Brighton Makori and Dennis Kirwa.
W
hen President Uhuru Kenyatta visited Kisii
and Nyamira counties recently, one thing
stood out. The IDPs compensation. For
almost 10 years, the 14,000 IDPs have a reason to
smile after their compensation kicked off few days
ago.
This translates to an average Sh50, 000 to each
of the IDPs. The IDPs, uprooted from their homes
during the 2007/08 post-poll chaos, have waited for
this pay-out for more than 10 years, long after their
colleagues from Central and Rift Valley had been
resettled by the government.
The move by the government has however raised
mixed reactions among the larger Gusii community
with views that the compensation was much little
compared to other communities, who were compen-
sated ‘handsomely’.
For the past few days the IDPs have been holding
demonstrations over the delayed compensation. But
the millions given by the President appear to have
opened a Pandora’s Box that has not only exposed
the Jubilee administration to harsh criticism, not
only from the Opposition, but from thousands of
other IDPs who feel side-lined in the government’s
resettlement plans for the past 10 years.
Several concerns have been raised questioning
the criteria used in paying their Kisii and Nyamira
colleagues while leaving them out. The compen-
sation exercise which has run to accusations amid
claims of imposters who have had their way into the
compensation list. Which made state officials from
both counties to put the exercise on hold for further
investigations.
A section of the IDPS have questioned the criteria
used to arrive at each person receiving Sh. 50,000
which they claim cannot be anywhere equated to a
fraction of what they lost during that time of vio-
lence. They say the president and his government
was being partisan in the compensation process.
In an exclusive with one IDP, whose identity we
cannot disclose for fear of being victimised, said
that the payment was a raw deal to the Gusii
community and a plot to woo votes as Election Day
approaches.
He said that their counterparts for the R. Valley
and Central region were handsomely compensated
with each person awarded an individual cheque of
Sh.400 thousand, built a house and bought a piece
of land. “Are the Kisiis lesser IDPS compared to the
ones from the R. Valley and the Central region?”
Posed the angry IDP.
“We cannot be used as bridges and be deceived by
this meagre money in the name of resettlement
when our counterparts from the Central and R.
Valley region were handsomely compensated. They
didn’t lose much being their homelands. What can
GENERAL NEWS 9
However a section of Kisii MCA aspirants have urged
the state to scrutinize the IDPs listed for compensa-
tion exercise to array fears of paying monies to fake
IDPs .
Speaking in a Kisii Hotel when they pledged to
work as a team, the MCAs affiliated to Jubilee party
said that there are fears of persons who were not
affected in the 2007/08 post-election violence being
compensated.
The MCAs led by Joash orora, Masimba MCA, further
castigated the opposition over claims that President
Uhuru Kenyatta was only using the issue by issuing
cheques to seek for votes in the region as cheap
and mere propaganda.
"Those claiming that the President gave the money
because he is seeking re-election are misleading
Kenyans," the MCA said.
Speaking separately, Nyaribari Chache MP Richard
Tong’i has told his opponents to stop using the IDPs
issue as a tool to gain political mileage.
He has instead told them to concentrate on selling
their policies noting that it is high time the elector-
ate to get rid of such leaders by voting them out
since they have nothing to offer.
Sh. KSh 50,000 buy when what we lost is worth
Claims which have been disputed by the Kitutu
more than that? Are we not IDPS like those of any
Chache Member of Parliament Richard Onyonka,
other in other regions?” He charged.
who says that the government is not willing to set-
President Uhuru’s prompt charm offensive in Ki-
tle the IDPS.
sii and Nyamira counties which saw him distribute
more than Sh800 million has exposed his govern-
Short-changed
ment to criticism and is likely to affect his ratings in
Kisii County Commissioner Samuel Njora and his
runners up for the August polls if this is to go by.
Nyamira counterpart said that the Government
But the President has reaffirmed in the past that all
was aware that some names had been inserted by
IDPs who had not been compensated will get their
crooked people out to get a share of the compensa-
share and directed the National coordinator of IDP
tion money.
resettlement, Mr Allan Wachu to ensure all victims
On his side, Mr Njora promised that the list would
are paid.
be made public before the excercixe kicks off to
After ascending to power in September 2013, the
allow residents to participate in the verification
President and his deputy President William Ruto
process.
launched a Sh3.2 billion Cash Payment Programme
Those from Nyamira had earlier last week also
for IDPs and each household was to receive
held demonstrations from Ekerenyo to the Nyamira
Sh400,000 accros the board. Then they made an
county headquarters to raise their dissatisfaction on
IDP resettlement plan, which indicated that each
what they said some officials were colluding to pay
household was to receive a lump sum compensation
those who were not affected.
of Sh400,000 for land purchases, construction costs
The group Led by William Arisi said that they had
and perhaps start-up capital for businesses.
sensed they were being short-changed when they
However the President has dismissed his critics and
were being asked by one of the officials to pay Ksh.
instead asked people to forget about the past and
1000 before they could be given a payment card.
move on as a united nation.
"We walked all the way from Ekerenyo when we
“We need to forget about the past, Move on as
realized that the list didn't contain our names even
one united Nation,” said President Uhuru during
when we were paid ksh. 10,000 in the first phase,”
the handing over of the cheques at Masimba and
Arisi said.
Ekerenyo in Kisii and Nyamira counties respectively.
Vincent Matagaro Kiang’o told Gusii star that most
Sentiments which are echoed by Kisii county Sen-
of his friends who are genuine IDPS were left out
ator and Gubernatorial Aspirant on a Jubilee party
and he is optimistic that they will be compensated.
Chris Obure.
“We call upon the Government to come in and solve
“Regardless of our political affiliations we must
this matter so that each one of us can get an equal
applaud what the President has done. We cannot
share as it was indicated,” said Matagaro
casually dismiss the cash given. It is unfair to fight
However, Isaiah Nakoru Nyamira county Commis-
to receive an equal share with other IDPs in other
sioner and his Kisii counterpart Samuel Njora says
parts of the country,” he said.
that those who received the KSh.10, 000 in the
Mr Obure further said that those criticising the Pres-
previous phase were not eligible for compensation.
ident’s move are alive to the fact that no amount of
money is enough to cater for challenges the IDPs
have faced and the government cannot compensate
them fully equivalently to what they lost.
“The governments’ gesture is a show of compassion
and that they care about their plight. So let’s forge
ahead and support the government,” he said.
However Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire has
however dismissed the compensation exercise
saying the government for the past four years has
never headed their calls to equally compensate
their people same as others from different regions
within the country.
“The Government cannot run away from the fact
that the IDPs payment is being used as bait for our
people. They have only bowed to pressure at the
end of their term hoping they will get more votes President Kenyatta handed over the Sh358 cheque at Masimba
from the region. Which is quite wrong,” said Bosire. in Kisii where he urged Kenyans to never again engage in acts
Screening that will create displacement of people
PHOTO/ PSCU
10 POLITICS NEWS
I have fulfilled all my 2013 campaign pledges insists Ongwae
By Eric Maranga
erickmaranga@gmail.com
K
isii governor James Ongwae has defended his
development record since he took the office
terming the criticism from his opponents as
a mere propaganda propagated to achieve political
mileage.
Mr Ongwae says through his leadership Kisii County
has achieved a lot promising more once he gets a
second term in office.
“I must admit that it has been a long learning curve
for all Counties in the past four and a half years of
devolved governance. We had to begin from scratch
and institutionalize requisite governance systems of
service delivery,” says Ongwae.
Education
In his 2013 campaign Ongwae says he promised
to improve and boost education standards in the
County. Through his efforts Mr Ongwae notes that
his pledge on education has been fulfilled in that
under his tenure the County has received more
than 500 million through County Bursary Fund, the
highest figure he says ever disbursed among the 47
Counties. According to the Kisii County Boss, the
fund has benefitted over 40,000 needy students.
Health sector
Another pledge Ongwae banks on is that of Kisii
Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH). Mr Ongwae
says through his term in office has been able with
collaboration with Kisii University to elevate Kisii
Level 5 Hospital to a Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“Four and a half years ago, I inherited Kisii Hospital
built over 70 years but was completely neglected in
terms of developmental funding. Through my able
leadership the county government have installed
an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency
Unit (HDU) reducing referrals of critical cases to
facilities outside Kisii.
Additionally Mr Ongwae says through his regime,
patients at the KTRH can access modern diagnostic
service including Computerized Tomography (CT)
scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and digi-
tal X-rays.
Mr Ongwae at the same time notes that services
which were not initially provided at the health facil-
ity four years are now being offered reprieving the
patients the burden of travelling outside the county
to seek medical attention.
“Patients in need of kidney dialysis no longer travel
to Nairobi or Eldoret to undergo the kidney dialysis
as it is available at the 10-bed renal unit installed
by the County government,” he notes.
At the same time Mr Ongwae says that through his
governance the number of doctors has increased
from 79 in 2013 t0 170. He also says that the
county has seen improvement in Maternal and Child
Health Care procedures like Caesarean Sections fol-
lowing the establishment of theatres and New Born
Units at Nyamache, Keumbu, Gucha and Gesusu
Sub-County hospitals respectively.
In a bid to eradicate non-communicable diseases
such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension which
says he has secured KSh2 billion in funding to es-
tablish a modern cancer diagnostic and treatment
center in Kisii. According to Mr Ongwae the treat-
ment center is funded by the Middle East States.
Upon its establishment Mr Ongwae says the medical
center will be third cancer treatment center after
those at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi
Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
Infrastructure
Kisii County government Chief says through the use
of equipment purchased by the County, more than
1,500KM of rural roads have been done and paved
with Murram over 1,000KM of the roads across the
County.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Mr Ongwae notes that due to heavy downpour
which is being received in the County, the roads
needs to be maintained on regular basis so as to
facilitate smooth transportation within the county.
“However, due to the heavy rains we receive in this
great County, most of these roads require constant
gravelling. This is why we have set up a road main-
tenance unit to carry out routine maintenance of
these roads,” he notes.
Mr Ongwae further states that he his county gov-
ernment has signed an agreement with African De-
velopment fund (ADB) to fund Ahero-Isebania road
project that traverses through the Kisii County.
“We have successfully negotiated for the inclu-
sion of a number of feeder roads among them
Oyugis-Gamba; Suneka-Riana-Rodi; Nyamata-
ro-Daraja Moja; St Stephen-Christa Marriane and
Nyanchenge-Ikoba-Ogembo roads are set for up-
grade for bitumen standard,” he says.
Additionally Mr Ongwae says that through market
projects such as Daraja and Suneka will get a new
facelift as well the establishment of a dual carriage
from Nyamataro to Kisii town to ease traffic jam
which has remained headache to motorists and
businessmen for a long time.
Physical planning and development
Mr Ongwae says through the Integrated Street
Lightening Program initiated by the County govern-
ment has seen Kisii to have grown into a 24-hour
economy. He notes that in Kisii town 360 solar pow-
ered streetlights have been installed whereas 52
have been as well installed in market centers across
the County.
“We have installed a total of 430 solar lights sig-
nificantly improving conditions for our traders and
residents,” he says.
Mr Ongwae also pledges to install an additional 100
solar street lights and 16 high mast in the remain- schemes and sunken boreholes across the 45 wards
ing 20 markets across the county. the county.
Governor Ongwae says due to friendly and condu- Additionally Mr, Ongwae says the Kisii County gov-
cive business environment the number of financial ernment is set to roll out KSh1.4 billion KFW water
institutions has increased from 13 in 2013 to 22 at supply in the County to resolve the current water
the present. crisis which is being witnessed.
He adds, “Equally the number of insurance firms
and tertiary institutions has increased tremendously Youth and Women empowerment
pointing to an environment conducive to invest in Through the Kisii County Trade Credit Scheme, Mr.
Kisii,” Ongwae says that 200 youths have acquired motor-
cycles for self dependency. He further says that he
Economic empowerment has signed into law the Kisii County Youth Em-
Mr Ongwae says the county government has suc- powerment Fund Act, 2016 that provides the legal
cessfully marketed the county as an attractive trade framework for the County to support the Women
and investment destination. and the Youth groups through affordable credit.
On the establishment of KSh5 billion Sugar factory Despite banking on his development record for his
in South Mugirango, Mr Ongwae notes that the proj- re-election Mr Ongwae admits that devolution has
ect is in its final stages and soon it will commence. not been fully realized citing challenges such as
“As the county government we have finalized the delayed disbursement of funds from the National
necessary documentation and secured approval for Treasury which are released on monthly instead of
this project that will create 10,000 direct and indi- quarterly basis as stipulated in the constitution.
rect jobs for our people,” says Ongwae. “This coupled with rampant disruption of the IFMIS
In a bid to boost dairy commercialization, Mr Ong- system due to the network challenges that affects
wae notes the county government has unveiled sub- implementation and planned projects while disrupt-
sidized Artificial Insemination (AI) services where ing payments to our contractors and suppliers,” he
farmers access certified animal seed as low as says.
KSh5, 00 down from KSh3, 000 charged by private Mr Ongwae at the same time has urged his op-
veterinary officers. He adds that the project has ponents to conduct peaceful campaigns based on
picked up well with the uptake standing at 2,500 issues as opposed to cheap propaganda.
dozens monthly. “My plea is that we conduct peaceful campaigns and
He further notes that the County has disbursed compete on issues not insults. In line with the elec-
KSh30 million to Kenya Tea Development Agency toral code of conduct we all sign as politicians, we
for the construction of Sombogo Tea Factory in Kitu- should desist from misusing our youth to achieve
tu Chache North. Mr Ongwae says the tenders have selfish gain,” he notes.
been advertised for this project. Mr Ongwae will be battling it out for the covet-
ed seat with Chris Obure of Jubilee Party, Manson
Water Supply and environmental manage- Oyongo Nyamwenya of KNC, Boniface Omboto of
ment Mandeleo Chap Chap, Patrick Lumumba of Wiper,
Govenor Ongwae says the county government has Charles Bagwassi of CCMD and Vincent Gekone an
made progress in efforts to address water short- Independent candidate.
age in Kisii County. He notes that over 600 wa-
ter springs have been renovated, revived water
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR POLITICS NEWS 11

Beef up security ODM Kisii county launches campaign and dares Jubilee to arrest Raila

says an aspirant
By Solomon Kinuthia

E
sise aspiring Member County As-
sembly on a National Liberal Par-
ty ticket Jared Abicha has urged
the Nyamira County Commissioner
Isiah Nakoru to beef up security in the
region in this electioneering period.
Speaking during the burial of Adminis-
tration Police Officer Lameck Arasa at
Kineni Village in Esise Ward, in Borabu
Constituency in Nyamira, Mr Abincha
reiterated there is need to put up
measures to ensure there is securi- From Right, Kisii county Aspiring Senator Prof Sam Ongeri, Deputy Governor Joash Maangi,
ty during the campaign and election Kisii Governor James Ongwae, Nominated Senator and Aspiring Women Representative Janet
period. Ong’era and Homabay Women Representative Gladys Wanga PHOTO/BMAKORI
“I urge the relevant security organs
to beef up security within the region By Alvin Ratemo Wanga who represented the party officials from

so that we can realize a peaceful elec-
tion”, said Abincha.
He further said that though it is the
government’s role to protect its peo-
ple, also the same people should be
ready to work with them by providing
them with the relevant information
concerning security.
Lameck Arasa was killed in Lamu after
stepping on an Improvised explosive
device (IED) believed to have been
planted by the Alshabaab militia.
Abincha has further asked the Na-
tional police service to compensate
the relevant families and protect their
interests whenever such cases arise.
On the IDPs issue urged the govern-
ment not to trivialize the IDPs issue
and the amount of money allocated to
them is not equivalent to what they
lost.
“I am concerned and worried because,
the Sh50, 000 given is not enough.
Other regions received more than
that. The government should look
deeply into the alleged list that was
believed to have been changed by un-
known people and make sure all those
who were affected are compensated”,
Abincha said.
Abicha further said that it is sad that
most of those people who were affect-
ed came from the ward and now they
have not been catered for as their
names were missing from the list.
K
isii county ODM leaders have dared the
Jubilee administration against the arrest
threats given by the majority leader in
the national assembly to the NASA flag bear
and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The leaders accused the national government
and some clique of leaders within the govern-
ment, singling out the leader of majority Aden
Duale to a person who has lost focus and ‘loose
mouth’ who always bases his failures on Raila.
The Leaders led by Kisii county Governor
James Ongwae were speaking at Tendere
Secondary school during their official ODM
campaign and Manifesto launch. They said that
the Jubilee administration has failed and the
threats directed to their party leader will not be
intimidated ahead of the August polls.
''I am sure that Duale is not sure whether he
will retain his Garrisa township seat, that is why
he has decided to have his baseless arguments
about the arrest of our party leader'', said Gladys
Orange House.
The leaders accused Jubilee government of their
failure to deliver their promises and hence said
that NASA is the government of the people
which can liberate the people of Kenya from the
Jubilee intimidation and suffering for the past
four years they have been in power.
The leaders pledged to deliver the regions votes
as a brock to their NASA flagbearer come 8th
August and form the next government.
They further urged the Kisii county people to
re-elect Governor James Ongwae so as to com-
plete his projects he initiated within the county.
Among other Leaders who were present in-
clude the Kisii county Deputy Governor Joash
Maangi, aspiring Senator Professor Sam Ongeri
(ODM), and Nominated Senator Janet Ongera
who is now seaking the Kisii county women
Rep seat, Speaker of the Kisii county Assemby
Kerosi Ondieki and several NASA Aspirants
Members of Parliament, MCA'S among others
across the county.

The race for Kitutu Masaba Residents urged to maintain

Parliamentary seat narrows peace during campaigns
By Solomon Kinuthia

to a three horse race

B
osamaro Aspiring County Assembly Member
William Mongare Omingo on a national Lib-
By Gilbert Kobi eral party ticket has urged his electorate to
gilbertmetobo@yahoo.com maintain peace and be tolerant during the campaign
period.

T
he race for the Kitutu Masaba race that is represented by the ODM National Treasurer Speaking to Gusii star, Omingo further asked the
Timothy Bosire has narrowed down to a three horse race pitting him, Shadrack Mose(- electorate to elect visionary leaders who are vibrant
Jubilee) and Victor Swanya Ogeto of Wiper. and progressive for the sake of development of the
Speaking at Rigoma recently the Jubilee Member of Parliament Aspirant Shadrack Mose ward.
urged the electorate to vote in leaders based on their ability to deliver as opposed to party “I urge all people to shun retrogressive, un-useful
inclination. and egocentric leaders who deprieve the electorate
Shadrack questioned why the current MP is discriminating other areas when doing develop- and divide them for their own selfish interests”, he
ment projects. said.
He at the same time accused Bosire of taking much of the kitutu Masaba people time to Also he has asked all bodaboda youth operators to
foster his selfish interests at orange house. be careful as they are mostly used to settle scores
“The electorate did not elect a leader to be from forefront on ODM issues other than seeking during this campaign period. An issue he says
modalities on how develop kitutu Masaba”he said stating that this time round is not about should be avoided at all costs.
movement but visionary leader that will be elected from whichever party. Omingo Further says that as the community all
Timothy Bosire refuted claims saying his development record can speak for itself for he has people should be embraced regarding he/she comes
for the first time given out bursaries on an equal basis across the academic divide. from. But urged residents to be worry and vigilant
“I have done my part working for my kitutu Masaba people,I believe they have got every rea- of their security.
son to re-elect me again”,he stated arguing that jubilee has no agenda for the kitutu Masaba Omingo is banking on his past record and experi-
people since the time it was sworn in power. ence to digitize the ward through various partner-
In a quick rejoinder Shadrack asked the MP to state what the constituents have benefited from ships that would see the ward youths and women
the opposition even when the ODM leader was a Prime Minister other than party politics. abled to make meaningful employment through use
“Let him tell us what really benefited our people other than singing of ODM party empty of technology in networking. He has also promised
promises”, said shadrack. Aspiring MCA Omingo to improve the welfare of the electorate through
With over 100,000 votes the aspirants are fighting for it then leaves the electorate with home- Mong’are Willy in a past setting up a kitty through the ward development
work of scrutinizing aspirants from all over to ascertain their eligibility to lead them. function PHOTO/EBOSIRE funds to improve basic infrastructure within the
ward.
12 POLITICS NEWS Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR

Jubilee will win majority seats in Kisii MCA aspirants

By Brighton Makori

A section of Kisii MCA’s aligned to the Jubilee

partyhas assured President Uhuru of total support
from the region.
The MCA’s say Uhuru has done a lot for the region
and they will work together to ensure he gets ma-
jority of the votes.
Led by Masimba MCA Joash Orora who is seeking
re-election, they said the president is committed to
transform the country and the Kisii region going by
the projects he has initiated in his first term.
Bokimonge MCA George Bibao who is also seeking
for a reelection said they will be doing a door to
door campaign to ensure that Jubilee wins majority
of the seats.
At the same time they defended Education CS for
accompanying the president in his recent trips to
the region saying education is important and the CS
should be near the president to guide him over the
same. At the same time they have urged the area
residents to turn up in large numbers and elect all
Jubilee candidates for the respective seats. A section of Jubilee Aspirant MCAs addressing the press in Kisii recently PHOTO/BMAKORI

munity to vote wisely so as to protect their interests

SAFINA party makes
inroads in Gusii
Makongeni MCA Aspirant Justine Ontita shows his supporters
his clearance certificate Last month when he was cleared by
IEBC to contest for the Seat on a NARC ticket. PHOTO/EBO-
SIRE
in the city.
“Let's vote wisely in the coming elections. Let's turn
up and vote for Raila as our next president but on
other seats lets choose a person who can accommo-
date our interests as a community,” he said.
At the same time Nyandika warned Omogusii com-
munity to support candidates who will guard and
protect their business interests in Nairobi basing on
the nature of the community.
“Soon we will be issuing directions on whom to
support for the gubernatorial seat as a community”,
he said.
Sources close to Gusii star have indicated that
Nyandika is routing for the election of Peter Ken-
neth who was trounced by Mike Sonko Mbuvi in the
Jubilee nominations and opted to contest for the
same seat as an independent candidate.

I am still the
National director for Elections Safina party, John Wamagata
candidate to
addressing the press as Getenga ward MCA Onduso looks on
PHOTO/bMAKORI
By Brighton Makori
beat -Ontinta
G
By Eric Bosire
etenga ward MCA Ronald Onduso has urged

M
Kisii County electorate to vote in visionary
akongeni ward MCA aspirant Justine Ontinta
leaders without considering party affiliations
has said he is the only candidate who is best
in the coming polls.
suited to replace the incumbent in the com-
Onduso who is also Kisii County Safina party chair
ing elections.
called upon the electorate to vote for Safina candi-
Speaking at a forum held at the Ward recently, On-
dates in the coming polls so that they can trans-
tita said it is high time people of Makongeni chose
form the county.
leaders based on servant leadership and not empty
"Let us vote visionary leaders regardless of the
promises from selfish leaders.
parties, I was elected through Safina party but I
He also dismissed allegations doing rounds that he
have delivered in the assembly as the PAC chair-
has dropped his bid in favour of another candidate.
man," said Onduso.
“There is propaganda doing rounds that I have
National director for Elections Safina party, John
been bought by my competitor but I urge you not
Wamagata said that they are not affiliated to
to listen to dark forces trying to deviate electorates
either Jubilee party or NASA but they are allowing
mind from real issues. We are focused to liberate
their members to support the candidate of their
the people of Makongeni,” he said.
choice.
Ontita is campaigning on a platform of restoration
Safina has fielded 26 candidates in various po-
and independence of the electorate through youth
sitions within Kisii County and 18 candidates in
and women empowerment programmes that will
Nyamira.
provide financial independence.
Onduso is the only leader in the region elected
Speaking at the same function, Nairobi Gusii Com-
through Safina party in the last general elections.
munity chairman, Joseph Nyandika urged the com-
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
From grass to grace
Mr.Elijah Kamanda
Road to
journalism
starts here
By Dennis Kirwa
E
very individual has in one way or the other
dream to be someone in lifeand all this starts
at childhood.
Zipporah Kerubo Nyakang'o is a form 3 student at
Senator Kebaso secondary school in Nyamira South
sub County and all through her studies she has
been inspired to be a journalist photographer but
because she can't afford to purchase a camera she
decided to make one from boxes.
As Gusii star reporter a lights from his car at her
school, Zipporah pretends to 'take several photo-
graphs' using her box made camera as journalists
do when dignitaries arrive at functions.
This makes the Gusii star get interested to engage
Zipporah over what made her make a box camera.
Zipporah says she always attends public gatherings
and she gets interested on how journalists take
photos at a close range to even the President or big
people and she dreams to be among them once she
completes her university studies.
"I really desire to be a photo journalist, have been
seeking and trying to fund ways I can own a cam-
era all in vain till when I found myself preparing
this from used boxes when I heard that their could
be a function in our school so I 'take photos' when
By Elizabeth Kwamboka
D
espite of the abject poverty that surrounded
him during his childhood years, Elijah Ka-
manda has scaled academic heights and now
he uses the acquired skills to help the less fortunate
in the society.
Kamanda, a father of one started from humble
beginnings where schooling was not a luxury but he
persevered and now he is a Master degree holder.
“I hated being given homework in school because
my parents were unable to afford kerosene. To
avoid the thorough beating, I came up with the idea
of using an improvised torch so as to do my assign-
ments,” says Mr. Kamanda.
He says his parents were peasant farmers and the
income was not enough to cater for the big family.
“I am the 7th born in a family of ten and the earn-
ings could not sustain us so we knew our shortcom-
ings something that encouraged me to work even
harder in my studies,” he says.
His form four points didn’t guarantee him a direct
university entry so he resorted to doing menial jobs
to fund his education.
“I was employed in one of the barber shops where
I worked for 2 years as a barber. I could save
Ksh.300 daily,” he says.
Zipporah Kerubo Nyakang’o with her toy camera that she has improvised from carton boxes photo/dkirwa
visitors come" said Zipporah
Like other and talented students Zipporah notes
that talents are never well natured in the communi-
ty and most of them end up in wrong professionals
because they lack means to expose their strengths.
"Most of the upcoming talented people are never
assisted because people want to be associated with
the already known celebrities where those who can
even perform better never get platforms to show-
case them"
"I wish to appeal to my leaders who can find time
to read that they should find ways in which talents
can be identified especially at an early age. And our
country can be far if the youth can be given op-
portunity to give their input even in leadership and
POLITICS NEWS 13
The savings enabled him join College where he
did marvelously and was recruited to coach other
students.
After he was through with his course, he volun-
teered to work as a computer tutor at Nsemia Infor-
mation Technologies Limited in Nyamira County.
In 2008, he joined St.Ann’s College Kisii and was
employed as a computer instructor.
“My dreams has been to transfer the very skills I
had learnt to impact people and also get the privi-
leges I missed when I grew up,” he says.
He later joined university of Nairobi as a part time
student where he pursued a Diploma in Human
resource management and a Bachelor degree in
project planning and management.
In 2013, he secured an employment with an NGO
in Kenya which works towards alleviating poverty
among families.
“I’ve been empowered to coordinate key programs
in the organization and do assessments in East Af-
rica, all this has been successful due to the passion
and great urge to better life and create a future for
someone.”
“My greatest aim is to ensure that the less priv-
ileged are also advantaged to live like the rest.
Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t
commit. The imbalance between the rich and the
poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all hu-
man beings.”
He has this message to the youth: “With a positive
mind you start changing the world. With a negative
mind you start ditching the world. It is not our wish
or choice to be born in a deprived community and
live in poverty but by circumstances. Let us not
blame anybody for where we come from we can
always change the world.”
matters of development", noted Zipporah
Zipporah commends the efforts the education
ministry under Fred Matiang’i has laid to ensure
that there is equity and fairness in a Kenyan child
education.
"I thank Dr Fred Matiang'i for the best work he's
doing to ensure we have quality education and I
ask him to extend this to ensure that talents are
identified and even those who perform well in other
activities to be also ranked in final results of their
studies in either primary, secondary or university
studies" Said Zipporah
14 POLITICS NEWS
The race for Nyaribari Chache Parliamentary seat remains open
Mr Zaheer Jhanda Dr. Chris Bichage
By Erick Maranga
erickmaranga@gmail.com
T
he winner for the Nyaribari Chache seat
remains a riddle as all the six prospective
contenders have equal chances of carrying the
day. According to political pundits the race for the
seat remains open in that none of the contestants
has an upper hand in clinching the seat.
Out of the six frontrunners only one is new to the
Nyabari Chache’s politics. Among those who have
expressed interest are incumbent MP Richard Tong’i
(JP), Robert Monda (ANC), Zaheer Jhanda (Wip-
er), Rael Otundo (KNC), Chris Bichage (ODM) and
James Kenani (PDP).
The incumbent MP Tong’i has on the other hand is
said to have minimal chances in that his develop-
ment record is poorly rated something many argue
my cost him on the ballot.
According to area electorate Mr Tong’i has wasted
precious time campaigning for Jubilee administra-
tion which many says his bid is bound to fail due to
the strong Nasa political wave in the region.
Mr Tong’i he is being accused of initiating less prior-
ity projects instead of bigger ones something which
at many times has left him with an egg on his face.
However, political analyst observe that all is not lost
for Tong’i to retain his seat adding that the only way
left for him is to try hard to convince the elector-
ate on the less perceived projects and amplify their
significance by so doing he then stands better
chances to retain his seat. Additionally the politi-
cal pundits say that bearing in mind of the voting
pattern of his clan,Tong’i has an upper hand since
his Abaguche clan are unlikely to betray their own
adding that if he gets additional votes from other
clans he can be assured of 6am victory.
The other one who is also facing an uphill task is
Mr Bichage who is said to be spending sleepless
night in his bid to reclaim his lost glory amongst
the electorate. The controversial MP candidate has
been linked with electoral malpractices in the recent
past. He may find it hard to convince the electorate
to vote for him. In the year 2013 he was accused of
stealing an ODM ticket from his competitor by then
Robert Monda in the nominations. Despite flying
Ongwae defends
himself over
nepotism claims
By Erick Maranga
erickmaranga@gmail.com
K
isii governor James Ongwae has refuted
claims by outgoing Senator and his main chal-
lenger in the August polls Chris Obure over
skewed employment in the county.
In a statement sent to newsrooms Mr Ongwae
terms the allegations as malicious and baseless
aimed at tainting his image during this electioneer-
Dr. Robert Monda Richard Tong'i
the ODM flag and the party dominance by then that
could not favour him as he was floored by the same
Monda on NARC ticket the general elections.
Five years later (2013) Mr Bichage flying the ODM
flag was also accused of rigging an election which
he had won and had led for only four months. The
court overturned his victory and called for fresh
election where he lost to incumbent Tong’i who had
filled the petition. The political analysts say it is
almost impossible for him to reclaim his lost glory
since he has tainted his image politically. But others
argue that if the electorate will be carried by the
ODM party factor and as well he (Bichage) convince
his Amobea clan to rally behind him, then he is like-
ly to find his way to parliament.
The other candidate who is likely to find it rough
on the ballot is one term MP Mr Monda. Having
dramatically trounced the Gusii Kingpin Mr Sime-
on Nyachae bringing to end of the 15 years of his
reign, Monda’s dream of inheriting leadership man-
tle and spearheading the legacy of his predecessors
hit a snag has he was bundled out after leading for
one term.
Political analysts attributes his downfall to clansim
way of leadership which made the electorate from
other clans feel sidelined and at the same devel-
oped a feeling that they were not part of his lead-
ership adding that all avenues to reach him were
sealed by selfish cronies who surrounded him 24/7
making him unapproachable and inaccessible.
On the other hand political observers point out that
Monda stands a better chance to win the hearts
of the electorate if plays his political cards well to
convince the voters that he will bring about servant
and inclusive leadership which he failed to observe
while at the helm of his leadership. Another factor
that favours Monda is his ever divided Kamba Nane
clan which many argue that if he will be able to
persuade and sway them to rally behind him as one
then he will be assured of victory.
Another contender who is likely to sweat as tries to
consolidate his votes is Mr Kenani. It is said despite
being monied, Mr Kenani has done little to ensure
his candidature is felt. The other thing which might
bring him down is despite coming from populous
Abatondo clan he has not been able to unite them
ing period.
“He should stop misleading citizens that there is
skewed employment in Kisii County, he knows as
my Senator that we consulted on every agenda
concerning running of Kisii County. He should stop
using this as a campaign tool,” read a statement in
part.
According to Mr Ongwae all the employment were
fairly employed based on qualifications as opposed
to any influence or favour.
He further says they (he and Obure) regularly
consulted each other on the available employment
opportunities before hiring.
This comes barely a couple of days after Obure
and Manson Oyongo had vowed to crack a whip
on Kisii County government staff who were either
employed unfairly and those without required job
qualifications upon clinching victory.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Ms Racheal-Otundo
to vote for him as a bloc. However, political analysts
say if Kenani comes out and make his candidature
felt as well unite his clan and get a handful votes
from the other clans he will most probably win the
seat.
Being the only female candidate MS Otundo is likely
to find it hard to get votes from the typical Kisii
men who still lives in the 17th century who major-
ity of them do not subscribe to women leadership.
According to political pundits the level of democracy
has not been fully matured in the area hence Ms
Otundo may find it hard selling her political agenda
in the male perceived and dominated political seat.
However, political analysts on the other hand do
state that having that Ms Otundo is a new entrant
into politics as compared to her competitors who
majority are political rejects she can easily find her
way into the 12th parliament and beat all the odds
of becoming first duly elected MP from Gusii Land.
Mr Jhanda who is trying his luck for the second time
he too has a hard nut to crack in that majority of
the constituents sees him as an outsider who can-
not be entrusted into leadership. Despite growing
up and marrying a Kisii lady Mr Jhanda’s dream of
leading Abanyaribari is farfetched in that his victory
can be likened with that of squeezing water out of
a rock. Political analysts do observe that the politics
of Abanyaribari has not matured to vote for the per-
ceived outsider. However, many are of the opinion
that if Mr Jhanda capitalizes on his philanthropy as
well use his fat pockets well pitting in his youthful-
ness which augurs well with majority of the elector-
ate who are his fellows he is likely to win the heart
of many and vote for him overwhelmingly.
Also in the race is Ben Mogaka contesting on KSC
ticket. He is too trying his lucky for the third time
after unsuccessfully vying for it in 2007 and 2013
respectively.
Complicating matters more out of the 9 constituents
in Kisii County Nyaribari Chache is the only the con-
stituency which did not conduct party primaries as
well has not fielded an independent candidate.
Political arithmetic, clanism, and financial muscle is
likely to play a major role on who is likely to clinch
the coveted seat.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Six-piece suit will cost us says Magara
Former South Mugirango Member of Parliament and Kisii senatorial aspirant James Omingo Magara addresses a rally, looking
on is Jubilee senatorial candidate Charles Nyachae photo /Brighton Makori
By Brighton Makori
F A
ormer South Mugirango Member of Parliament
and Kisii senatorial aspirant James Omingo
Magara has asked the electorate to avoid a six-
piece voting in the coming General election.
“If the electorate decide to vote for leaders in a six
piece, then there will be no one to take responsibil-
ity and question other leaders in case there is mis-
appropriation of funds as they are from one party,”
he said.
Magara said he has opted not to support any gu-
bernatorial candidate as he wants to put on task
Elect credible leaders -Nyangeso
By Brighton Makori
F
ormer Kenya National Library Service Chair-
man Samuel Nyangeso has accused the Kisii
county government for ignoring people with
disability.
Nyangeso says the disabled are languishing at their
homes due to lack of funds for empowerment be-
cause they can’t access loans minus basic require-
whoever that will be elected.
His Competitor Sam Ongeri (NASA) has been going
round with Governor James Ongwae and Janet
Ongera calling people to vote in a six- piece in the
August polls.
Magara called on voters to elect visionary leaders
regardless of their political parties.
“For instance, if you elect all leaders from ODM par-
ty to be in charge of our county then it means they
are not going to be accountable as no one will be
asking them questions about the mismanagement
of funds since they will be walking together,” added
Magara.
ment of holding a national identification card.
He claimed that critics have taken advantage of
the situation to blame the government of incompe-
tence.
Nyangeso, was addressing faithful’s at NyatiekoSDA
church, Kitutu Chache Sub- County in Kisii County
where he urged Christians to pray for the country
and observe peace ahead of August polls.
He also challenged politicians seeking leadership to
desist from utterances that may lead to incitement.
POLITICS NEWS 15
Shem Osoro receive a clearance certificate from S.Mugirango
constituency returning officer Mr. Wilson Mutai in Nyamaram-
be on 31st May PHOTO/ Dan Nyamanga
Journalist promises
to develop his ward if
elected.
By Daniel Nyamanga
vernacular radio station reporter turned politi-
cian has promised to bring development in his
ward if elected.
Shem Osoro alias Papa who until his announcement
was a Minto reporter in Nyamira County, said he will
be serving his people's interest in another capacity.
He will be vying for Moticho ward MCA seat in
South Mugirango constituency, Kisii County.
Addressing his supporters outside the IEBC offices
in Nyamarambe town, Shem said the sitting MCA
has failed to articulate resident’s wishes in the
county assembly.
"What makes me join politics is to save my people
who have been turned away by their current MCA,
he has avoided them in the last four years,” he said.
Shem banks his win on the support he enjoys from
electorate.
This year's election has recorded high numbers of
journalists opting for politics on what they term as
offering alternative leadership and bring sanity in
the political world.
Is Jubilee taking Gusii
voters for a ride?
By Dennis Zadock
N
ASA coalition chairlady in Gusii, Ms.
Asnas Nyaramba has accused Jubilee
government of hoodwinking Kenyans in
order to be reelected.
Speaking to Gusii star, Nyaramba said the delay
of compensation of Gusii region IDPs was a
scheme of vote hunting in a NASA stronghold.
She urged the government to look for other
ways of helping Gusii IDPS other than compen-
sating them with a meagre Ksh50,000.
Ms Nyaramba also urged women candidates
who are vying for different political seats not
to fear their men counterparts but to endeavor
and sell their policies for the electorate.
16 BUSINESS News Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR

Firms Launch
insurance
product
By Vincent Munga

Capex Life Assurance and GrassRoot Bima have

launched ‘Maisha Enhanced Cover’ as they seek to
increase insurance penetration to low income earn-
ers.
The joint life insurance product can be accessed
through a mobile application platform known as
WazInsure.
The WazInsure App that can be downloaded from
Google Playstore is designed for underwriters to
distribute and administer insurance policies online
and is integrated with a mobile app for customers
to access products. President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto in Miritini during the launch of the first SGR passenger train. /PSCU

Kenya Power implements Sh13

Users will buy the insurance cover after they have
registered their details such as National ID num-
bers, date of birth, their next of kin and dependents
details.
Also there is a provision for agents to register
details for their clients especially those who lack
smartphones.
billion underground cabling project
Peter Ogunniran, CEO, Capex Assurance Limited By Vincent Munga supply points to minimize interruptions,” said Kenya
Power’s Ag. Managing Director & CEO Dr. Ken Tarus.

said the emergence of insurance technology firms
has opened a direct path and open interaction be-
tween the consumers and underwriters
Groups that have already joined the platform are;
Micro-Small Entreprise Ltd (MSEL), Umande Trust
and Chama Insurance Agency and Bodaboda Safety
Association of Kenya.
K
enya Power is implementing a Sh13 billion un-
derground power network project to improve
the quality of electricity supply in Nairobi.
The underground cabling project is expected to
reinforce the Nairobi City Centre bulk power supply
system by providing alternative supply to existing
substations.
This will create a redundant network around the
City, thereby improve flexibility of the existing sys-
tem. It will also scale down system losses riding on
extension of the transmission line into the city.
“Initially focused on Nairobi, the underground
cabling project will involve construction of a new
substation and associated lines to increase the
length of the existing network and offer alternative
The project involves establishment of a new
220/66kV substation at the city centre and con-
struction of 16.5 kilometres of 220kV underground
cable from Embakasi substation to the proposed
City Centre substation at a cost of Sh10.56 billion.
It will also entail construction of 25.71 kilometres
of 66kV transmission lines in underground cable to
connect the new City Centre substation to proposed
Likoni Road substation, Nairobi West, Cathedral,
City Square, Muthurwa and Parklands substations.
Currently, 22 kilometres of the planned 25.71 kilo-
metres of 66kV transmission lines is complete while
installation work on the Likoni Road substation is
finalized and pre-commissioning test is ongoing.

Government bets on bamboo

trees to save Nairobi
residents from drying taps
By Vincent Munga

K
enya has deepened its efforts to reduce the
country’s susceptibility to the severe effects of
climate change by planting rapidly maturing
bamboo in selected catchment areas.
“Bamboo can grow in almost any kind of climate
and thrive in the poorest of soils. To tap into this
lucrative green economy, the government has po-
sitioned itself to commercialize bamboo. The profit
potential has become even greater as environmen-
talists link bamboo with climate change mitigation,
and the possibility of increased income carbon
credits,” said Professor Judy Wakhungu, Cabinet
Secretary for Environment.
Nairobi is currently experiencing acute water short-
age caused by low water levels in Ndaka-ini dam
which serves 84% of Nairobi residents with water.
The bamboo planting program is a Kenya Vision
2030 project under the greening Kenya initiative.
It is designed to encourage and enable Kenyans to
participate widely in environmental activities by de-
veloping small bamboo forests in pursuit of achiev-
ing the targeted 10% forest cover by 2030.
BIDCO Africa, one of the partners in this ambitious
program has contributed a total of 1,000 bamboo
seedlings to the project.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR POLITICS PICTORIAL 17

Colgate Palmolive winners, in all schooling phases for children

offers financial aid

aged 7 to18 years old.
Winners will receive the money to use towards
tuition fees, stationery or textbooks.
to needy students In the campaign, a winner will be randomly
selected every week from June 5th through
July 2017.
By Vincent Munga To enter, consumers should purchase any Col-
gate toothpaste and SMS the last four digits of

K
enyan families now have an opportunity the barcode to the number, 20332.
to win a scholarship that will help them Speaking during the launch of the campaign,
ease financial costs of educating children, Professor Loice Gathece said students must
thanks to Colgate- Palmolive. be free from oral disease that cause low birth
The company has launched a campaign weight, pre-term births, loss of school hours
dubbed "Bright Smiles, Bright Futures" that which in turn affects children’s performance.
will see a total of 16 scholarships awarded She said the diseases are preventable yet still
across Kenya. remain prevalent not only in Kenya, but the
Scholarship prize money totaling kes1 323 world.
353, 60 (12,800 USD) will be split among the

Kenya Power to reduce customer connection timeline Kenya Power to prioritise education in CSI
By Vincent Munga By Vincent Munga

Kenya Power is targeting to bring down the timeline for connecting new commercial
customers to less than two months.
Acting Managing Director & CEO Dr. Ken Tarus said that the Company is focused on
streamlining the customer connection process and is carrying out continuous follow-up
of all premium applications through regional marketing officers tasked with enhancing
investor relations.
“We have managed to reduce connection timeline from 97 to 63 days. We are working
to further bring this down to 50 days. We are focused on enhancing our infrastructure
through investment in new substations and additional distribution lines to enable us con-
nect more customers to the national grid,” said Dr. Tarus.
Kenya Power targets to achieve 70 per cent access to electricity by the end of the current
financial year and universal access by the year 2020.
K
enya Power will spend 60 per cent of its Corporate Social Investment
(CSI) budget in promoting education programs across the country.
“Kenya Power is committed to improve education standards across the
country by investing in educational infrastructure especially for the disadvan-
taged communities to ensure improved performance,” said Ag. Managing Direc-
tor & CEO Dr. Ken Tarus.
In addition to CSI projects to support primary and secondary learning insti-
tutions, the Company will also take up sponsorship of needy female students
taking up engineering courses in technical institutions and public universities.
Traditionally, Kenya Power has set aside one per cent of its net profit to support
its CSI initiatives every financial year.

Livia app, a drugs ordering & delivery

platform launches in Nairobi

Chief Executive Officer of Neotech Dr. Samier Muravvej(centre) demonstrates how Livia app works
By Vincent Munga

N
eotech Kenya has launched a mobile app that will empower Kenyans to
buy medicine and personal care items.
The app called Livia is wired to help partners grow their customer base
as well as patients get access to a large network of Livia partners.
The app will also enable users get the best possible price on medicine and per-
sonal care items from a wide selection of chemists that have been boarded on
it.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, Chief Executive Officer of Neotech Dr.
Samier Muravvej said they have signed up reputable chemists as Livia Partner
Chemists.
Director of Curative Science, Dr Izaq Odongo said the app is using technology
to ease the burden of access to healthcare and medication across the country.
He urged Kenyans to embrace technology as millions are now techno savvy.
To promote safety and build customer trust, Livia ensures its partner chemists
go through a rigorous vetting process to ascertain that they can supply safe
drugs.
The app is available on the Google Playstore and Apple Appstore.
18 AGRI BUSINESS NEWS
Kenya’s potential in
Agriculture lies in
rural transformation
It is estimated that 10 million peo-
ple in the country are categorized
as chronically food insecure and
with the current looming drought
2.7 million people are at risk, the
most affected being women and
children in rural areas
By Gabriel Rugalema and Alessio Colussi
A
griculture plays a pivotal role in the livelihoods of Ken-
ya’s majority, providing both formal and informal em-
ployment with women accounting for about 70 percent
of the agricultural labour force.
The sector, dominated by smallholder farmers, generates approxi-
mately 60 percent of Kenya’s exports and directly contributes
about 30 percent to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
However, considering the country’s vision for the agricultural
sector, the sector has performed below its potential.
Kenya’s vision is outlined in the Agricultural Sector Develop-
ment Strategy, an amalgamation of the priorities laid out in both
the regional Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) and the national Comprehensive African Agricultur-
al Development programme (CAADP) to be achieved through
specific targets.
The sector aims at significantly contributing to the reduction of
hunger and the number of people living below absolute poverty
lines to less than 25 percent as set under the Sustainable Devel-
opment Goals.
The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands which make up to 80 percent of
the land, present an enormous potential of contributing to the na-
tional agricultural production and income for resident farmers yet
this region has the lowest development indicators and the highest
incidence of poverty and food insecurity.
HEALTH Nyamira
Nyamira receives
health equipment
from China
By Dan Nyamanga
N
yamira county health department has re-
ceived a consignment of assorted health
equipment worth Sh. 15 Million aimed at
boosting the healthcare services to the resi-
dents from the China government.
The consignment will see 20 more health facil-
ities opened in the county and operationalize
the maternities constructed across the county.
Speaking when he launched the assorted
medical equipment the deputy governor Amos
Nyaribo said that the county has so far made
strides in equipping health facilities to ensure
residents get better health services.
Nyaribo at the same time urged all health
workers to utilize the equipment in the best
Traders at the Kisii Daraja mbili market / FILE PHOTO
It is estimated that 10 million people in the country are catego-
rized as chronically food insecure and with the current looming
drought 2.7 million people are at risk, the most affected be-
ing women and children in rural areas. The Semi-Arid Lands
represent Kenya’s next agricultural frontier and are identified in
the agricultural development strategy as a key priority for future
development.
Creating farmer-market linkages has great potential to spur
tremendous growth in the agricultural sector. There continues to
be a huge unmet market demand for specific crops particularly
pulses and cereals in both domestic and international markets.
Market opportunities for agricultural products continue to grow
in national, regional and global markets around the world such as
in large retail supermarket chains and in emerging markets like
India, Poland and South Africa. These new market conditions
Nyamira Deputy Governor Amos Nyaribo flag-off the Sh. 15
million Health consignments at the County Headquarters / Dan
Nyamanga.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
provide great opportunities for farmers to increase their produc-
tivity, incomes and employment opportunities as well as improve
the food security situation and nutritional status in the country.
However, despite these opportunities, there is a total disequi-
librium in the market dynamics in the rural semi-arid regions
of Kenya. Owing to a low history of commercialisation, these
agricultural chains are dominated by middle men who often do
not provide value but instead, exploit the farmers who get caught
up in a vicious cycle of poverty as they are permanently indebted
to the middle men.
One approach towards a solution is through increased produc-
tivity and profitability of small holder farmers by promoting
and upscaling good agricultural practices and the context-based
farming approach of conservation agriculture (CA) in productive
semi-arid areas of Kenya. This approach is based on three core
principals which are minimal tillage, maintenance of soil cover,
and crop rotation that help farmers to increase yields, reduce the
costs of production, improve soil fertility and to conserve water
and the environment.
An on-going four-year project (2014-2018) financed by the
European Union and implemented by the Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is currently being
implemented in eight counties across Kenya.
The project focuses on the promotion of conservation agriculture
and targets 80,000 farmers with at least 40 percent being women.
Its strong agribusiness component involves facilitating linkages
between farmers and end markets. This is done through contract
farming that is a pact between the farmers and companies for the
production and supply of specific agricultural products based on
an agreement and at a price which is pre-determined by the farm-
ers and the firms. The project is executed in collaboration with
both the national and county governments, local organisations,
farmer groups and the private sector.
Rural transformation is a process that requires an appropriate
institutional framework and financial inclusion to provide an
enabling environment for improved productivity and commer-
cialisation to happen.
With improved market access and direct linkage to end buyers,
rural communities are increasing their profitability, incomes and
livelihoods. This in turn is having a direct contribution on rural
communities’ improved food security, nutritional status and
economic freedom.
Gabriel Rugalema is FAO Representative to Kenya and Alessio
Colussi is the Head of Crops and Agribusiness Sector of the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
way to deliver quality maternal and child
health services.
“As you may have noticed, these equipment
mainly targets maternal and child services. As
a county we have deliberately focused in im-
proving maternal and child health because this
is the backbone of our society and economy,
so make use of the equipment professionally
for the purpose intended to serve the public”,
he added.
Among the equipment flagged off include, 20
delivery beds, 100 hospital in-patients beds,
20 suction machines, 30 weighing scales both
for adults and children, 20 examination couch-
es, 20 stretchers, 10 screens, 100 infusion
stands, 30 height /weight scales.
On the ongoing nurses’ strike, Nyaribo said
that the county government of Nyamira was
doing efforts all efforts through the Council of
Governors to ensure the outstanding issues
are solved within the shortest time possible to
restore normalcy in service delivery.
He further said that his government is look-
ing forward to ensure that none of its peo-
ple seeks any medical treatment outside the
county has it has laid down measures and set
aside and the huge amount and prioritized in
the health sector.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
Race for Nyamira
Gubernatorial seat
shapes up Mongare
takes lead-poll
By Eric Bosire
erycohme@gmail.com
T
he race for the Nyamira Gubernatorial seat is slowly shaping
up as major political players are gaining support as opinion
polls reveal.
The opinion polls which were conducted between June 1st to June
18th showed that Senator Mongare has a slight commanding lead over
his Political rival Governor John Nyagarama of ODM by 19% to 18
percent with a huge number of voters still undecided.The research
which was commissioned by Rural publicity network Africa which
polled a total Number of 600 correspondents across the four Sub coun-
ties in Nyamira (150 from each constituency) indicates that Jubilees’
Walter Nyambati trailed at Number three if elections were to be held
at the same time at 13%, Mwancha Okioma (PDP) comes fourth at
8%, Gesami James who was trounced in the ODM primaries now an
independent candidate with 6% of the votes casted. John Kumenda
who is also an indepent has 4%, Ongaga Nyatigo of CCM, polling at
2% and Erneo Nyakiba of PFD has 1% respectively. However, despite
being out of the Race Mochama …… was adversely mentioned in the
polls as the most probable and appropriate replacement for Nyagara-
ma.
On the number which are undecided citing lack of proper flow of in-
formation and outreach programs from the candidates and thus waiting
for the right time as campaigns gear up to decide on who to choose
in the August polls as the Governor. Majority of the voters within the
region however said that the race will be likely to be determined by
clanism which most likely determine the voting pattern of the Gusii
people.
In West Mugirango Kemosi Mogaka (Ford Kenya) would
have trounced his closests rivals Matwere Julius (ODM), and Mogaka
Stephen (Wiper) by a close margin of 23% to 20% and 16 percent
respectively.
This is due to the fact that the incumbent member of parliament is
contesting for the Gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate.
However, the research further indicated that Ongoto Charles Mong’are
of Jubilee polled at 12%, Makamara Fred (KANU) 4%, Former Coun-
cillor Alfred Mokong’u (NLP) polled at 2 percent each respectively.
“The undecided voters stood at 21 percent with the rest of the remain-
ing 8 contenders polling one percent each respectively,” showed the
research.
Senator race
In the Senatorial Race, Having the incumbency gap, quite a huge Number
of voters 44 per cent of the respondents are undecided on who to elect as
their senator if the polls were to be held today.
The research showed that Nyambega Mose (Wiper) could beat his closest
rial Eric Okong’o of ODM by 33& to 32 % respectively.
Those polled said that Nyambega’s candidature would most likely be
appropriate because of his openness and humbleness to help those in need
while those against Eric termed him as arrogant and unresponsive.
Former East Africa legislative assembly Joseph Kiangoi(Jubilee) polled
at 15 percent.
Others in the race include Tom Mogaka Nyayiemo (RBK) with 4%,
Mounde Samuel Walter (ANC), 2%. Nyanchama Moikabu Nyarinda who
is the only lady in the race polled at 1 %, Rioba Timothy (Independent),
and Abuya Abuya of KSC polled at 1% each respectively.
However the
Samson said that the number of the undecided voters for the Senatorial
race reduced to 11% . He further said that the margin error was +/- 2 per
cent, with a 95 per cent degree of confidence
Members of Parliament
In the 150 correspondents interviewed the research showed that three
Members of parliament Borabu Mp Ben Momanyi, North Mugirango Mp
Chalres Geni, and Kitutu Masaba Mp Timothy Bosire could have retained
their seats by a slight margin.
In West Mugirango Kemosi Mogaka Vincent could have emerged the
winner by 23% of votes cast having the fact that the incumbent James
Gesami is contesting for the Nyamira Gubernatorial seat if elections were
held today.
In North Mugirango the incumbent Chalres Geni of ODM would
have trounced his closest rivals Obike Ndege (MCC), and Nyamoko
Joash (Jubilee) by 30%, to 20% and 14% respectively if elections were
held today.
Others in the race Nyangau Amos (NLP) polled at 10% with Mosinga
Jason (Ford Kenya) garnering 7% and Ombui Moriasi (KANU), Nyaka-
bararia Nyamwaro (NAP) garnering 5% and @% perspectively.
Those who are yet undecided on who to choose as their next Mp polled
at 7% while the rest of the five other contenders in the race made 1%
significance each.
POLITICS PICTORIAL 19
Women rep race
In the over 600 correspondents polled indicate that they would have
voted out the incumbent women Rep Former Radio personality Alice
Chae (ODM) with a preference of Jerusha Momanyi of Jubilee by
wide margin of 31% to 15%.
The newcomer in to the race Euniah Ochoki Nyanduku (CCM) pulls
a surprise coming at second at 17 percent of those polled.
Among those interviewed 22 percent of the respondents were unsure
of which candidate to vote for as woman representative.
Nyamongo Grace Bosibori (Wiper) polled 10%, Dr. Grace Bosibori
Nyamongo (Wiper) 9%, Janet Kumenda Bochaberi (Ford Kenya) and
Nancy Onsongo Nyaboke (RBK) polling at 3 percent respectively.
Others in the race include Annede Nyakerario (Kanu)who polled at
15 percent each respectively.
“The main factor in the race determines whoever can be able to con-
vince the 18% percent undecided voters in the county will carry the
day”, the research stated. Going by the numerous trips the Jubilee ad-
ministration has made to the region, the voter perception towards the
government hasn’t changed hence majority of voters still would vote
for candidates based on their ideologies but not party perception.
In Borabu constituency the incumbent Ben Momanyi (ODM) Ste-
phen Manoti polled at 47 percent the highest in the county as his Rival
Naftal Okong’o (ODM) 24 per cent. With independent John Omboga
Makori polling at 8 percent while Samson Kirioba (MCC) 3 percent and
the undecided polling at 9 percent.
However clanism and political affialitions followed Ford Kenyas Osoro
Mogikoyo and Kambi Ndoro (ODM) who the respondents said whose
clans are far from their natives in Kisii county.
Catherine Moraa Nyamwatu who is contesting as an independent Gar-
nered 2% while the undecided stood at 8 percent and other five contend-
ers in the race mentioned polling at 5 percent with 1% percent each.
However clanism and political affialitions followed Ford Kenyas Osoro
Mogikoyo and Kambi Ndoro (ODM) who the respondents said whose
clans are far from their natives in Kisii county.
Catherine Moraa Nyamwatu who is contesting as an independent Gar-
nered 2% while the undecided stood at 8 percent and other five con-
tenders in the race mentioned polling at 5 percent with 1% percent each.
However clanism and political affialitions followed Ford Kenyas Osoro
Mogikoyo and Kambi Ndoro (ODM) who the respondents said whose
clans are far from their natives in Kisii county.
In Kitutu Masaba, The research showed that Timothy Bosire who
is the incumbent would have heard a slight margin lead over his rivals
Shadrack Mose (Jubilee), Ogeto Victor Swanya (Wiper) by 28 percent to
27% and 18 percent respectively if elections were held today.
The constituency having registered a huge number of voters, has a 15
percent voter apathy whom majority said they are yet to decide on who
they will vote for.(Read related story Page 14)
The other contenders Edward Obwocha (Ford Kenya) and Mochere
Moreka John polled at 6%, 2percent and the rest shared 5 polled 1percent
each.The survey 600 respondents were surveyed on face-to-face inter-
view across Nyamira County between June 1st to June 18th 2017.
To continue with the debate on this topic log in www.gusiistar.co.ke
20 ENTERTAINMENT & lifestyle
Gusii artists rub
shoulders with
international
artists in rapping
By Andy Maranga
marangaandy@gmail.com
Gone are the days when the vernacular musicians were the
talk of the village. But with the technological advancement
Gusii region has found itself in the world map not for the
wrong reasons but because of dedicated and versatile
Gusii Born artists who are know rubbing soldiers with the
Hip Hop Super Stars such as Jay Z, Kanye West, Drake Lil
Wayne just but to name a few. One of some of Hip Hop
artist who is doing quite well is Jim Nyakundi alias Small
Lethal.
He hails from the outskirts of Kisii town in a small village
called Nyanchwa. The artist has released a bestselling
album Mogaka Music. The album has 15 tracks. It compris-
es of hits such as Omoisia Omobe, Moraa ft Didge, Proud
Black ft Kev Mamba, Get Money, Cheza Mbali ft Cannibal
My City among others.
Health Benefits of Avocado
There are some amazing avocado benefits for your
health and appearance.
If you would like to lose weight, improve your skin
and lower your risk of many life-threatening diseas-
es like cancer, diabetes and heart disease, here’s
why it’s well worth including more of this extremely
healthy fruit in your diet.
Also ahead is how avocado helps high blood pres-
sure and constipation, why it’s beneficial as a
arthritis treatment, important for pregnant women
and has even been shown in studies to help you live
a longer and healthier life.
1. Cardiovascular Health
Many experts now believe that high consumption
of pro-inflammatory processed vegetable oils are
a significant risk factor in cardiovascular disease.
They advise lowering polyunsaturated fat intake and
increasing the amount of healthy monounsaturated
fatty acids in your diet.
Avocado is an excellent source of monounsaturat-
ed oleic acid. Research has shown this beneficial
form of fat reduces dangerous LDL cholesterol in
the blood at the same time as increasing the more
beneficial HDL cholesterol.
As well as lowering LDL cholesterol, studies like this
have found eating avocado can also decrease high
blood triglyceride levels, another common predictor
of cardiovascular problems.
2. Avocados for Blood Pressure
Many people don’t get enough of the mineral potas-
sium in their diet. This deficiency can lead to high
blood pressure, which is in turn a significant risk
factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Avocados are particularly rich in potassium, even
higher than the often touted bananas, and a good
food to eat for normal blood pressure and a lower
risk of kidney failure and heart disease.
Aside from healthy blood pressure, the oleic acid
and dietary fiber in avocados help normalize blood
sugar levels, providing further benefits for heart
health and lowering the risk of diabetes.
3. Cancer Prevention
Avocados are a good source of antioxidant carot-
enoids like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, be-
ta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. These anti-
oxidants protect your body’s cells against cancerous
changes due to free radical damage and are con-
sidered your front line of defense against numerous
diseases.
Alpha-carotene appears to be especially important
for cancer prevention. This study found a signifi-
cantly lower risk of death for cancer and heart dis-
ease for those with the highest levels of alpha-caro-
tene in their blood over a 14 year period.
The monounsaturated fats in avocado also help with
carotenoid absorption and studies suggest it has a
protective effect
4. Avocado Skin Benefits
The monounsaturated fats in avocado are also ben-
eficial for improving your skin tone and appearance.
They are vital for maintaining good moisture levels
in the epidermal layer of your skin that make it look
and feel soft and healthy.
These omega-9 fats are known to assist in reducing
skin redness and irritation and are involved in re-
pairing damaged skin cells. A good dietary intake of
monounsaturated fat can moderate sebum produc-
tion as well, which helps control acne, blackheads
and excessively oily skin.
Avocado benefits also include protecting your skin
from wrinkles and other visible signs of aging with
its antioxidant carotenoids; vitamin E which helps
guard against photo-aging from sun exposure; and
vitamin C which is involved in the creation of elastin
and collagen for maintaining your skin’s elasticity
and firmness.
5. Avocado for Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease reaching epidemic proportions
and there are believed to be a significant number
of undiagnosed sufferers. If the rate of new cases
continues it will put a huge strain on the medical
system and our ability to treat people with the dis-
ease.
The most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabe-
tes include a sudden and large increase in thirst and
hunger and much more frequent urinating. A dry
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
mouth, significant unexplained weight loss, vision
problems and leg pain are also common symptoms.
6. Arthritis Treatment
Avocados contain high levels of monounsaturated
fats, phytosterols and antioxidants like vitamin E,
vitamin C and a variety of carotenoids that can help
reduce the inflammation that leads to arthritis.
Pineapple, with it’s anti-inflammatory bromelain and
rich antioxidant content, is another exceptional food
for arthritis sufferers and many notice a reduction
in arthritic pain when they eat it regularly.
7. Benefits of Avocado for and Pregnant Wom-
en
Avocado is a particularly important food for women
who are pregnant, and those trying to be, due to
its high concentrations of folate (also known as folic
acid).
This B vitamin is needed to prevent birth defects
like spina bifida and doctors advise women to get
high amounts of folate both before and during preg-
nancy.
Vitamin K is another valuable nutrient found in high
concentrations in avocados that benefit women
during pregnancy and their future babies.
Vitamin K deficiency-related bleeding, or VKDB,
is a condition where newborn babies cannot stop
bleeding as their blood doesn’t contain enough vi-
tamin K. Getting more high vitamin K foods in your
diet during pregnancy can help pass more of it onto
your unborn child.
8. Avocado for Constipation
Despite their creamy texture, avocados are actually
a high fiber food, with 8 grams of both soluble and
insoluble fiber per cup of the fresh fruit.
This fiber is beneficial for improving digestion,
encouraging regular bowel movements and well
known to help prevent constipation. In fact, avoca-
dos are often recommended as a mild laxative for
people having trouble going to the toilet.
The fiber in avocados isn’t just good for constipa-
tion either, it also helps lower your risk of colon
cancer and can even assist in losing weight by mak-
ing you feel more full and wanting to eat less.
9. Avocado Benefits for Weight Loss
Many people would be surprised that a food high in
fat and calories like avocado would be recommend-
ed for weight loss. However, research has shown
that avocado’s monounsaturated fatty acids are
much more likely to be used as slow burning ener-
gy than stored as body fat.
This steady energy and the feeling of satiety or sat-
isfied fullness that you get from eating an avocado
is one of the reasons they are so good at reducing
hunger and appetite.
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR SPORTS NEWS 21

Are African footballers more

likely to die on the pitch?
T
he recent death of Ivorian black basketball players is around Africa, what we do have seems to
footballer Cheick Tiote on three times more common than indicate players from there do
the pitch brought an out- for white players. not suffer as badly as their
pouring of sadness in the world But, he added, that is not the only West African counter-
of football. This left us asking if place he has seen that pattern. parts.
there is any evidence to suggest "There is data from the National Heart screen-
that African players are more like- Collegiate Athletic Association in ing is rarer
ly to die on the pitch than other the US that shows that the over- in poorer
players, writes Jordan Dunbar. all risk of sudden cardiac death African
In the past few years there have during sport is around one in
been a number of players who 48,000.
have died while playing football. "But when someone actually
Perhaps the most high profile examines this more closely
incidents involved two African that risk is consider-
players; Cameroonian Marc Vivien ably higher in black coun-
Foe, who died during a game, and athletes; one in tries so
Congolese Fabrice Muamba, who 18,000 in black problems in play-
had a cardiac arrest on the pitch males." ers do not always get
but survived. Professor Shar- picked up.
There is no official register of ma said that in the "Overall the risk of
people who have died playing UK the Football Asso- sudden death is
football. So instead we have used ciation has done research one in 48,000 to
a list from Wikipedia as, though on young players. The death rate one in 50,000."
not ideal, it is the most complete for white footballers in that sam- The answer to
we could find. ple is one in 25,000 but it is one the question
And we are looking at people who in 4,000 for black players. "are more
died playing the game, that is ei- In other words, a black player is African
ther in training or during a match. about six times more likely to die football
Robert Mastrodomenico from than a white player, though the play-
Global Sports Statistics has done chances are still very small. ers
some calculations to give us a "The precise reasons aren't clear," dy-
rough estimate. said Prof Sharma. But he thinks
Restricting himself to the last 10 that the evidence he looked at
years he found that 64 footballers suggests black sports players are ing?"
had died during that period, but more likely to suffer from cardiac is
said it was not easy to figure out arrest because the wall of the "per-
what all their nationalities were. left side of the heart seems to haps".
This means this list certainly has thicken more than players of The
its limitations, and yet, he perse- other ethnicities. lack of
vered to crunch the numbers and "Which may be a situation good
we think it still shows something that causes abnormal elec- data, the
interesting. trical disturbances that national
The analysis suggests that 26 of can cause a sudden and ethnic
the 64 players who have died in death." differences, African footballers who died on the pitch
the last 10 years are from African Professor as well as Former Gabon international Moise Brou Apanga died in
countries. That is nearly 40%. Sharma said not enough training for Libreville 105 this April, aged 35
Fifa, football's world governing this can monitoring Cameroon international Patrick Ekeng died while playing
body, estimates that there are be made means it is for Dinamo Bucharest in Romania in May 2016, aged 26
about 265 million people playing worse by too difficult to Zambia's Chaswe Nsofwa died during a club match in Israel
in recognised teams around the higher give a definitive in 2007, aged 28
world. Around 17% of those are blood answer. Nigeria's Samuel Okwaraji died playing a World Cup qualifi-
playing in Africa. But the medical er against Angola in 1989, aged 25
That is not an ideal measure research seems to By BBC Sport
as many African players are in suggest that there
leagues in other continents. But it are good reasons to Cheick Tiote, who was 30, collapsed and died on the pitch.
is a useful benchmark. think that this is a
Therefore, while Africans make serious issue.
up 17% of the world's
footballers they ac- pres-
count for nearly sure
40% of the known during exer-
deaths. cise.
Overall, the biggest Most of Prof Sharma's re-
cause of death of footballers on search has looked at black players
the pitch was sudden cardiac in the US and UK. But it turns out
death and this was particularly the picture is more complicated. The late Cameroonian footballer
Marc Vivien Foe who collapses
true for African players, as 25 of "There is going to be some ge-
In the 73rd minute of the Con-
the 26 died from this cause. netic variation amongst the black federations Cup semi-final 10
Could African players really be population. Our information in years ago, on 26 June 2003 be-
more susceptible to sudden cardi- the UK and from the US is based tween Cameroon and Colombia
ac death? predominately among black ath- at Lyon's Stade de Gerland, the
Professor of cardiology Sanjay letes who have originated in West powerful midfielder was jogging
Sharma told the BBC that evi- Africa." along innocuously
dence from the US shows that Prof Sharma added that while we
sudden cardiac death amongst do not have much data on East
22 SPORTS NEWS
AFTER NATIONAL
RECORD RUN IN
ROME, OBIRI
ASCENDS TO A
NEW LEVEL
T
hey say a good way to judge someone’s char-
acter is to look at those around them, and
when it comes to athletics, the best gauge of
an athlete’s ambition is often who they choose to
train with.
For Hellen Obiri, who shredded a world-class 5000m
field at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rome
on Thursday night, sailing to a Kenyan record of
14:18.37, her choice speaks volumes.
“I train with men,” she says. “We have a lot of
groups in Kenya, but I like to train with men be-
cause they’re good to push hard.”
It’s as much out of necessity as choice, given the
27-year-old has now ascended to a level where few
can draw breath, which was made clear on Thurs-
day night in the Stadio Olimpico.
The race had been billed, once again, as a world
record attempt by Genzebe Dibaba, but as it came
to crunch-time, when Obiri asked the pertinent
question shortly before 3000 metres, the Ethiopian
had no answer.
On the build-up to the race, Obiri’s coach Ricky
Simms – who is also her manager – had cautioned
his protegee against an early move, given the obvi-
ous ability of Dibaba, who had requested a sub-14-
minute pace in the days before.
“I thought Genzebe would push it forward,” said
Obiri, “but when she did not, I tried to push it my-
self.”
'NOBODY CAN BEAT ME'
After reaching 3000 metres in 8:38.3, Obiri dropped
the hammer with a 64.8-second lap, which proved
an immediate knockout punch to her weary ri-
vals. Thereafter it was a solo run to the finish, the
Kenyan squeezing every ounce of energy from her
muscles as she sprinted to the line in a world-lead-
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR
ing 14:18.37.
“When I came to this race, I told myself that no-
body can beat me,” said Obiri, who took two sec- Sights Set Firmly
On London
onds off the previous Kenyan record of 14:20.87.
In many ways, the race was an arrival of sorts for
Obiri, who despite having a handful of global med-
als had so often existed in the shadows of either
By IAAF
Dibaba or Vivian Cheruiyot, the previous national
B
record-holder who is Obiri’s close friend and long-
eing coached remotely requires a certain
time training partner.
level of independence, but Obiri has full trust
Indeed it was through working together with
in Simms. “Ricky is a good coach, he has
Cheruiyot, who is also coached and managed by
experience,” she says. “He has managed many
Simms, that Obiri earned an Olympic silver medal
athletes like Mo Farah, Usain Bolt, so I know I’m in
last year, the Kenyan pair outsmarting and outlast-
safe hands.”
ing Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana in a memorable 5000m
Next on the agenda is the Kenyan Trials on 22
final in Rio.
June, where Obiri will contest the 5000m, her sole
To Obiri, who had returned to running after missing
focus for the IAAF World Championships London
all of 2015 through pregnancy, it felt as good as
2017. Then, after another block of training, she
gold. “It was my first 5000m at a championships
reckons Monaco will be her next stop on the IAAF
and I’m proud of it,” she said. “But this year I’m
Diamond League circuit.
running the race well.”
Given her proximity to the world record, held by
That’s quite the understatement, given Obiri’s mark
Tirunesh Dibaba at 14:11.15, it seems obvious to
moves her to number five all-time over 5000m and
ask Obiri if feels capable of surpassing it.
makes her the first non-Ethiopian to run faster than
“No,” she says with a laugh. “Not for now.”
14:20.
Instead, her attention is on London. With Cherui-
The key, she believes, has been consistency. “When
yot having moved to the marathon, and Ayana
I train well, with no injuries, I know I can do well,”
unseen since last summer, Obiri appears to have
she says.
a golden opportunity looming. After becoming the
Like most Kenyan athletes, Obiri’s day typically
fastest ever Kenyan over 5000m, she’s well aware
starts before dawn, setting out on dusty roads for
of the responsibility to bring that title back home.
a 10km run. Her baby girl, Tanya, is just two years
“Maybe we will do tactics like the Ethiopians, to
old, but already well aware of her mother’s exploits.
work together,” she says. “I am trying to work on
Her first question in the morning, Obiri recalls,
my speed and my finishing kick.”
“Mommy, are you going running?”
As the 2013 world bronze medallist over 1500m,
Later in the day Obiri completes either a second
she should prove a tough riddle to solve for any of
easy run or a harder workout and, she says, “a lot
her competitors in London, and that’s just how she
of exercises”.
wants it.
 
“The goal is to win at the World Championships,”
she says. “I’m going to try that.”
Friday, June 23 - Monday, July 03, 2017 GUSII STAR SPORTS NEWS 23

months of speculation that Kenya would not be

ready in time to host the second-tier continental
tournament.
Omari, who spearheaded a CAF inspection of all
the five venues that are scheduled to host the
tournament, said that both the Kenyan govern-
ment and federation had made great strides in
making CHAN 2018 a reality for the East African
country
“We wish to put an end to rumors that Kenya will
not host CHAN. Yes, there are challenges but the
positives are more. We are impressed with the
progress made towards the hosting of the games
but we also feel that a lot has to be done within
the next few months,” said Omari
“The progress has been good from the inspections.
We hope the Government continues the work in
fast tracking the areas lacking
Kinoru Stadium
“CAF is happy with the progress of Kinouru stadi-
um in Meru but feels that there is a bit of work to
be done at Nyayo, Kasarani and Machakos Stadi-
ums
“It is also our feeling that if Kipchoge Stadium in
Eldoret is to host the tournament then the gov-
ernment needs to put in extra effort as it is way
behind schedule,” added the CAF second Vice
President
(From left) Ministry of Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, CAF 2nd Vice President Constant Selemani Omari and FKF President Nick Mwendwa “We are focused on eliminating any doubts out
there and we know our challenges. We will be

CHAN 2018: CAF express

ready,” Football Kenya Federation President, Nick
Mwendwa assured
Earlier Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports had
assured the CAF delegation that the government

optimism Kenya will host CHAN was committed to ensuring that Kenya hosts CHAN
2018
“As a government, we are committed to ensuring
that Kenya Hosts CHAN 2018 that said, we know
that we are not where we want to be in terms of
infrastructure development but a lot of work is
By Football Kenya Federation going on behind the scene to ensure that all our
As a government, we are

T
facilities are ready in time,” said the Cabinet Sec-
he Confederations of African Football (CAF) retary
has expressed optimism that Kenya will be committed to ensuring
CAF will have a final inspection in August to as-
ready in time to host the CHAN 2018, this that Kenya Hosts CHAN certain if Kenya is indeed ready to host the CHAN
despite slow progress in the building and renova- 2018 2018 scheduled to begin in January next year
tion of key infrastructure
The pronouncement by CAF’s Second Vice Presi-
dent Constant Selemani Omari on Saturday ended Hassan Wario

Manchester City boss

Pep Guardiola could
turn to Juventus' Dani
Alves to strengthen
his full-back options
City do not have an experienced right-back after
releasing out-of-contract duo Pablo Zabaleta and
Bacary Sagna.
Guardiola has been linked with Tottenham's Kyle
Walker but is understood to be considering whether
to bid for 34-year-old Alves, who played for Juve in
their Champions League final loss to Real Madrid on
3 June.
It is thought Juve want £5m for Alves.
Guardiola knows Alves well having brought the Bra-
zil international to Barcelona from Sevilla for £23m
in 2008.
The pair won three La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups
and two Champions Leagues together before Guar-
diola left the Nou Camp in 2012.

By BBC Sport
 Thursday, June 08 -
Sunday, June 18, 2017
WWW. /GUSIISTAR NEWSPAPER
GUSIISTAR.
@GUSIISTAR
CO.KE
Kisii Women Rep Seat-A
Bonchari Affair
Kisii county Women Rep Mary Sally Otara in a past function
PHOTO/BMAKORI
By Gilbert Kobi
D
uring the introduction of devolution into Ken-
yan constitution all Kenyans witnessed the
coming in of the new entrants into politics in
all 47counties from senators, governors, Members
of County Assembly and women rep seats.
In Kisii county the seats were won as in ODMs well
organized power sharing agreement mode that saw
senator come from Bobasi, governorship come from
Kitutu and Woman Rep come from Bonchari constit-
uencies in that order.
During this electioneering period the Woman Rep
seat has been viewed as a Bonchari constituency
affair after the current Woman Rep Mary Sally Otara
who is vying on an independent candidate ticket
now going to battle it out with Donya Dorice Toto
Aburi of Jubilee party.
The just concluded nominations that were disputed
by some candidates saw Donya Dorris Toto floor
Mary Sally Otara in the Jubilee party nominations
by garnering over 50,000 votes against Otara who
got below 15,000 votes prompting her settle on an
independent ticket.
The incumbency of the current MP Ms Otara may
play in to her benefit having the experience of
overseeing projects and activities done during her
tenure and creating connections all over nine coun-
ties that may help her sail through.
On the other hand Donya having been a radio
GUSII STAR is published by RURAL PUBLICITY NETWORK and Printed by Standard Media Group. P.O.BOX 31312-00600. NairobiHotline:0726655552 Email:gusiistar@gmail.com
presenter for some time and enjoying the goodwill
Are African footballers more
likely to die on the pitch?
of listeners who have now turned to be her corner- Full story >>> Page 21
stone of her political campaigns and success, this
has been seen as an uplift for her political roadmap.
Donya and Ms Otara come from Bonchari constit-
uency where many of Kisii county voters observe
a political indicator that the seat is a “Bonchari
constituency affair” with the massive support of the
two from all over 9 constituencies of Kisii County.
While Ms Otara is enjoying support of her incum-
bency with affirmative action funds helping many of
the vulnerable, orphans and promising to do more
if re-elected again Donya is arguing that much has
not been done with the funds put in place within the
stipulated time frame the incumbent MP has been in
A fter national record run in
rome, obiri ascends to a new
level >>>Page 22
office.
“I am devoted to change the face of Kisii county
if elected again into office with presence of funds
that we never used to have before “,said Otara who
added that she has experience that may take a new
entrant time to familiarize and take the pace.
On her side Donya explains that it is not how much
time taken to do a development project but a well
plan that will see efforts put together to enhance
success of development of Kisii county people.
“It’s a great opportunity for the Kisii county people
to try me for I have realized where the mistake is
and rectifying it is my sole target “,she said insist-
ing that the party she is vying on has the same
CHAN 2018: CAF
development agenda as she does that is well for
the people. express optimism
The current political matrix of Kisii County from two
Kenya will host
big political alliances that is Jubilee and ODM has
seen agreements of seats given to each and every
CHAN
constituency to ensure all are represented.
In jubilee,they have Charles Nyachae, Chris Mogere
Obure, Albert Mbaka Nyaundi, Donya Dorice Toto as >>>Page 23
whereas ODM settled on Prof Sam Ongeri, James
Ongwae, Joash Maangi and Janet Ongera to contest
as senator, Governor,Deputy governor and women
rep respectively.
ODM’s Janet Ong’era cannot be down looked upon
for she has been in politics for and much more
something which saw being given a direct ticket to
run for Kisii Woman Rep. She too enjoys support of
the ODM family and followers and cut across border
on an equal basis.
Much as Gusii region may not play into six peace
election policy of these alliances the two front
runner parties will reap well in the region compara-
tively.