Kidero backs harambees

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has said the planned ban on harambees must be stopped if the country expects to develop. He said fundraisers have improved lives of many less fortunate Kenyans and funded several projects.
“Not all people are equal in life. Let those who are willing to help others do so and those who do not want should just leave,” Kidero said. He was speaking at Dudi Girls Secondary School in Kabondo Kasipul constituency, Homa Bay county, during the launch of the school’s strategic plan on Friday.
Kidero was hosted by MP Sylvance Osele, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti and was accompanied by Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka.
“As some of us are busy fighting harambees, our opponents are using it. This ban will not help our people at all,” he said. Kidero said despite the ban, he will lend a helping hand in various development projects whenever there is need.

Governor Awiti woos Mombasa investors to Homa Bay with tax, land incentives

HOMA Bay governor Cyprian Awiti has launched a charm offensive for potential investors in Mombasa to invest in his county.
Awiti offered businessmen and investors he met in Mombasa on Saturday and Sunday free land and tax holidays.
He guaranteed security for any investment and investor.
The governor said Homa Bay has opportunities in the real estate industry, tourism sector, and agriculture sectors.
“We have land for investment in both agribusiness and horticultural opportunities,” he said during a meeting with Homa Bay investors living in Mombasa county at Mombasa Beach Hotel on Sunday evening.
He was hosted by Nyali MP Hezron Awiti.
The Homa Bay governor said land in his county is lying fallow.
The governor said his county's hotel industry is still untapped despite the presence of Ruma National Park and other heritage sites.
“If you want to put up a hotel, we will partner with you and give you land and you bring your money to invest,” Awiti said.

Homa Bay staff reject promotion scheme

CIVIL servants from Homa Bay county have rejected the new promotion scheme adopted by the Public Service Commission.
The scheme requires civil servants who have acquired new qualifications to prove that they merit a higher grade.
It bases promotion on workers' productivity and experience rather than the academic qualifications.
County union executive secretary Chora Midumbi termed it a government plan to oppress civil servants.
Speaking on Monday in Homa Bay town, Midumbi said the civil servants rejected the new scheme on the grounds that it lacked a common point of reference for promoting civil servants.
“We foresee a situation where a person with a diploma is going to be made the boss of people with Master's degrees or even PhDs,” he said.
Midumbi urged Kenya Union of Civil Servants to file a court petition against the new rules.

Two homa bay MCAs deny night gun drama

TWO Homa Bay MCAs were on Monday night allegedly involved in a gun drama in Kisumu town.

The driver of Ben Ombima, a Vihiga county nominated MCA, has lodged a complaint with the police over the behaviour of Sylvance Wanjala (Kanyikela) and Julius Gaya (Central Karachuonyo).

Kennedy Omondi said Wanjala threatened him with a gun.

“I had dropped my boss home and was returning to my house in Ondiek estate when the incident happened,” he said.

Omondi said he hooted when he found a white Hummer parked on the road near his house.

“Wanjala was driving while Gaya was seated on the co-driver’s seat with other people in the back seats,” he said.

Omondi said after the car cleared the way, Wanjala alighted and rushed towards him as he waited for the gate to be opened.

“He was wielding a gun. I could not run because I thought he might shoot at me,” he said.

"I thought he was irritated by the hooting.”

Omondi said the MCAs sped off when he raised the alarm.

He said his neighbour identified the MCAs.

When contacted Wanjala, denied the allegations and threatened to seek legal redress if the story is published.

“I think you know the repercussions of defamation. Let the driver tell you exactly what happened,” he said on the phone.

Wanjala said he is licensed firearm holder but denied claims he uses it to intimidate people.

Gaya said he was not in Wanjala’s company during the incident.

“I was not with Wanjala and we could not do that. What did the driver do to be threatened with a gun?” he said.

"Wanjala is a very harmless person. I do not think he can do that. I also own a gun but cannot use it to intimidate people.”

Gaya said he spent the night at Great Lakes Hotel, which is near Ondiek estate.

Lake Victoria is world’s largest septic tank, Awiti tells the EAC

HOMABAY Governor Cyprian Awiti has urged the East African Community to clean up and preserve Lake Victoria.

He said it is sad that the lake is full of industrial waste from factories along the rivers that feed the lake.

“Lake Victoria is the second-largest fresh water lake in the world but it is now the world’s second-largest 'septic tank',” the governor said.

Awiti was speaking at Homa Bay pier yesterday, where he joined more than 400 Lake Victoria Regional Local Authorities Cooperation members in a cleanup during their 13th Annual General Meeting.

Also present were Deputy Governor Hammilton Orata and cooperation chairman Alpha Mordekai.

More than 100 local authorities and county governments in the Lake Victoria catchment area in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are attending the event.

Council of Governors chairman Isaac Rutto was set to give a keynote address during the grand opening yesterday, as one of 10 governors expected to attend.

The leaders will discuss the sustainable use of Lake Victoria as a source of livelihood to more than 34 million people living across East Africa and parts of Rwanda and Burundi.

Our Lake, Our Responsibility is the slogan of the event.

It started with a thorough mop-up of the beaches and markets, planting of trees, and a visit to the Homa Bay Children’s Home, where the delegates donated assorted goods.

The event is titled: Promoting Community Participation in Sustainable Utilisation of Lake Victoria Resources.

Sh2,000 not enough, say the elderly

Elderly people in Homa Bay county have urged the government to increase the Sh2,000 they receive to Sh10,000 due to high cost of living.

Homa Bay Subcounty Retirees and Pensioners Sacco secretary Henry Odeko urged the Jubilee government to honour its promise of improving retirement benefits.

He said the elderly have difficulties in paying school fees, medical cover and transport expenses.

Speaking in Homa Bay town on Wednesday, Odeko said the money should be released between the 25^th and 30^th of every month.

Call to beef up Raila’s security

HOMA Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang has condemned the whipping of Cord leader Raila Odinga in Kwale county on Monday.
Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Kajwang urged the national government to reinforce Raila's security.
“It is the duty of the government to provide security to the citizens,” Kajwang said.
He said caning by Kwale resident Lengo Mdzomba clearly showed that Raila's security is "wanting".

Kajwang praises vote rally for signatures in Homa Bay

HOMA BAY Senator Otieno Kajwang has lauded the Wednesday’s Okoa Kenya campaign launch by some MPs from the county.
Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Kajwang urged county residents to turn up in large numbers and sign for the referendum.
“We thank the move by the MPs for ensuring the Okoa Kenya campaigns reach the people on the ground. We want to call upon Homa Bay residents to sign the books in their numbers,” he said.
Kajwang said the MPs' move was also instrumental in strengthening ODM's unity in the county.
“Through the Wednesday road show by the MPs Bay, ODM has gained popularity, Cord has told wananchi that they want to amend the law to suit their needs,” he said.

Major boost for nurseries

THE Homa Bay government has signed an agreement with the Kenya Literature Bureau to provide printed and e-learning materials to pupils and teachers.
Governor Cyprian Awiti signed an MoU with KLB's chief executive officer Eve Obara on Thursday.
It involves provision of learning materials and identification of training opportunities for pre-primary school teachers.
KLB will help the county government in printing bills, newsletters and other periodicals at subsidised rates.
“We hope to receive good value for our county because KLB is known for high standards in the printing industry,” Awiti said.
Obara said KLB will ensure ECDE centers receive quality learning materials to raise education standards.

Residents urged to report crime

RESIDENTS of Homa Bay county have been urged to work with police to fight crime.
County police boss Gabriel Musau said police are investigating two criminal offences and need the help of the public.
 He said police have launched a manhunt for a suspect, John Kawala, who went into hiding after assaulting his inherited wife, Pamela Akinyi, at Kochia village, Rangwe subcounty.
Musau said Pamela Akinyi’s right hand was also fractured and police recovered the panga used in the attack.
He said police are hunting for the killers of an unidentified man, whose body was dumped near a maize plantation in Sero village, Homa Bay subccounty.

Okoa Kenya unstoppable, say seven Cord lawmakers

Seven Cord MPs have vowed that the Okoa Kenya referendum push is unstoppable and the only way the constitution can be protected.
The MPs said they will continue with the campaigns to ensure all the loopholes in the constitution are sealed.
They include Agostino Neto (Ndhiwa), George Oner (Rangwe), James Rege (Karachuonyo), Jared Opiyo (Awendo), Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), David Ochieng (Ugenya) and Ken Okoth of Kibra.
They cited land issues, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and equitable distribution of job opportunities as some of the issues they want addressed.
Speaking at Kendu Bay, Homa Bay county, during the launch of the signature collection on Wednesday, Rege said the constitution was not debated before it was passed and has a number of loopholes.
“The constitution had a number of errors, but we agreed to ammend them after its passage. Now is the time,” he said.
The MPs accused the government of discrimination in national appointments.
Neto said since the Jubilee took over power, most of the "powerful" positions have been awarded to the President and Deputy President's cronies.
“One of the issues in our quest for the referendum is that every community gets a fair distribution of government appointments. We cannot have a government made up of two tribes,” he said.
Oner said they want the constitution amended so that every community in the country can access title deeds.
“This issue where some communities cannot get title deeds for their land to enable them access loans must stop and this can only be done through a referendum,” he said.
Obura, Ochieng and Okoth insisted that the IEBC must be sent home so that the country can have a new electoral body, which can deliver free and fair elections.
They said the IEBC, in their audit report, admitted that they had multiple registrations, BVR kits were improperly procured, and this shows that the elections were not free and fair.
 “We are not just taking them home, but they must also be charged in court,” Okoth said.
Speaking at Rangwe, Opiyo hit at those claiming that it is early for a referendum, saying the vote can be held at any time.
“We must ensure we protect the constitution, which we overwhelmingly voted for. We must amend it to make it better,” he said