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

RAILA: ODM nominations in 2016

The ODM will change its rules so that party nominations are held a year in advance before the 2017 elections said Raila. This will help to keep popular condidates within the party instead of outside.

He further said that ODM nominations to an extend makes people feel cheated. Though the same party structures that brought this mess, has not changed.