MP calls for women empowerment

By Eric Sindabi

Rongai Member of Parliament Luka Kigen has called on the Kenyan society to empower the woman folk economically as they are more trustworthy and dedicated. He said that women group’s development activities in the recent past had helped improve local communities’ livelihoods.

Speaking during a luncheon organized by Rongai Social and Economic Women Organization (ROSEWO) a local NGO to welcome the Rongai new District Commissioner, the MP said that empowering women was like empowering the whole society as women assist in family and social obligations on constant capacities.

Kigen added that the fact that women form 51% of the entire population of the country, there was a need to consider their plight on a serious ground. He noted that the government had resolved to review the fate of women, the youth and the disabled at the foremost as they are the most vulnerable of society.

While congratulating local women groups’ development initiatives, the MP encouraged them to register and borrow loans to expand their activities. He however reminded them to be active in repaying the loans borrowed in order for them to create a good credit record that will enable them to borrow more funds.

Kigen clarified that the government had set aside enough funds to empower women in the country and they should be fully aware and take advantage of the incentives.

“Women of this country have been suppressed for long but now are speaking in one voice which is encouraging.” He said.

Rongai District has over 300 registered women groups under the umbrella of Rongai Social Economic Women Organization (ROSEWO).The NGO coordinates the activities of the women groups through programmes like; Table banking,and Training in community based projects like; poverty eradication, Agriculture, Food security, HIV and Aids prevention and immerging technologies.

The executive Director of the organization Mrs .Jennifer Kigen said that the NGO liaises with local and international stakeholders in its activities.

The amazing, un-known sand dunes

of Rongai

By Eric Sindabi

Rongai is a legendary area of the vast Nakuru region having evolved as a key Kenya ’s colonial white highlands settlement area. It has been recommended as a cheap access point for tourism within Nakuru that provides ample camping, nature trails, adventure and cultural facilities.

The untold story of the towering sand dunes in the region however is a disturbing phenomenon to those who have ever experienced these wonderful geological formations in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya .

A drive from Nakuru town to Rongai centre off the main Nakuru/Eldoret highway leads to moricho village where the amazing sand dunes of are natured, along the Molo river basin. Here one comes face-to-face with the wonders of Mother Nature that make memories live forever.

Known locally as “Matweku” a Kikuyu ethnic word for a forest or bushy area, these mighty land forms are a site to behold and would confuse one with the renowned Egyptian Piramits,but alas! This is Kenya ! To an architect, the sand dunes can be a great inspiration. Yet to a nature lover, the sandy hills fused in savannah vegetation are a source of endless memories. To the natives it is the beginning and end of life, as they treat the site with sacred thoughts, and greatly value its socio-economic attributes.

Geologically, sand dunes are external geographical landforms that are as a result of weathering, mass wasting or wind erosion. Always the detailed configuration of peaks, slopes, valleys and plains is as a result of external land formations in a process referred to as denudation. Sand dunes are also a result of an accumulation of wind eroded sand. The direction of wind and sand supply determine the shape and size of dunes.

“Sand dunes are very complex geological features that occur every where in the world” says a source on the internet. Nevertheless through out history, towering formations-the awesome sand dunes against golden horizons, blue skies or full moons have always been favorites for nature lovers, explorers, naturalists, photographers and film makers.

The seemingly lonely dune land of Rongai is however far from the well known attractive sites of Kenya but ideally very meaningful to the local communities, who dearly value the 5km square mass of weathered land. The sand hills are ideal grazing, hunting, fruit and firewood gathering destiny. On the other hand the jungles have been historically and to date viewed with sacred thought. Our sources said that circumcision and cleansing rituals are performed from this site by the local native Kipsigis community.

A village opinion elder Mr.Francis Maina says that the poor state of roads in Rongai has greatly contributed to the little that is known of this potential key tourist destination site. As a result, says the opinion elder, possible economic manipulations that can be derived from the site by the locals are hindered. Mr. Maina is of opinion that the government should gazette “Matweku” as a protected area to prevent over exploration by locals and eventually conserve the site as a national heritage and tourist attraction site.

The opinion elder observes that locals can benefit by offering tour guide, camping and accommodation, cultural education and artifacts services to tourists. “If the government considers constructing roads in this remote area of Rongai, can open gates to tourism venturing that can benefit both the local community and the government” He says

According to the opinion leader, a few of the tourists who visit the site are foreigners who get connected by locals who live and work in urban areas while others are local tourists within and out Rift valley. “People out there are yet to know more of the wonders of Kenya ” He notes.

As we trail through the endless sand hills jungle, young boys and girls grazing sheep, goat and cattle accompanied with dogs keep as company and eagerly answer some of our questions while willingly posing for photographs. As the jingles tied around their livestock necks sing, they sing along traditional songs, harvest wild fruits from shrubs and trees, tease each other, play hide and seek as they climb up and down the sandy hills.

To the youngsters “Matweku”is just a normal site in the village where their every day’s livelihood is centered. It is part of them and they part of it. However to a visitor, it is a site to behold- the wonders of Mother Nature that can make one pose for some minutes to give thanks to the creator, for nature is so good.

Crying for the fate of Bishop Eddy Long Bondeni Maternity

Story & Pictures By Eric Sindabi

Back in 2003, what started as a simple game drive by some visiting American philanthropists accompanied by the then mayor Cyrus Ngoru and a nominated councilor Sabina Owiti would later turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Recent medical survey in the country indeed shows that a high number of women and infants die during child-birth. It was to this fact that a local maternity facility got an opportunity to get a face-lift enabled by African Resource Group (ARG) that is managed by the one Bishop Eddy Long the senior pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church based in Dekalb county, Georgia,in the USA.

ARG is an international charity organization that supports the needy and sponsors religious training all over the world especially in Africa.

The former Bondeni Maternity and children’s health center was renovated and equipped with safer birth equipment ranging from; beds, gloves, thermometers,baby bags, incubators among others. The hospital also got a face-lift in sanitation facilities. When Bishop Eddy Long visited Nakuru in August 2003 the hospital was renamed to Bishop Eddy Long Bondeni Maternity.

Nevertheless according to M/s Owiti who together with the then Nakuru Mayor Cyrus Ngoru brokered the deal when they were invited in the US, the initial plan was to build a multimillion health facility to cater for women and children. In a recent exclusive interview with NCN Owiti who by then was in-charge of the Environment Department at NMC, the hospital was to serve the South of Sahara and a referral facility as a project of the ARGb in Africa.”We discussed about many issues but the one that attracted Bishop Long was the issue of the maternity and children health. “She said.

The former nominated councilor said that the ARG had pledged to pump in US dollars 100million to implement the project after giving out an initial amount of sh.3.5 million to cater for architetural and structural planning. She says that according to the agreement between the Nakuru Municipal Council and ARG the council was to dish in sh.15million before the sponsors release the rest of the funds for the project.

Owiti said that the former local government Mr.Musikari Kombo had appointed a Board to oversee the project while the then Director of Medical Services Dr.Nyakal had pledged to post more doctors and nurses at the hospital. The Board was refereed to as Bondeni Eddy Long.(BEL) and was gazetted and its activities financed by the government in 2004 “She stressed adding that the Board comprised of high-ranking doctors, ministry of health, and ministry of local government and NMC officials and was to serve for three years.

Owiti said that the Board was however un-ceremoniously disbanded before realizing its mandate as local and national politics glared its ugly face into the activities of the Board some time before the 2007 general elections. She clarified that minutes of the Board’s meetings and those of the full council were documented at the Town Clerk's office including the decision by the council to release sh.15million from LATIF to go towards the implementation of the project.

Located in the low class area of Bondeni, the health facility is among the many health facilities that are run by the NMC. It offers labor, anti-natal, post natal and children health services. The facility serves mostly slum dwellers and even people from rural areas outside Nakuru Municipality.

A spot check by NCN showed that the hospital has a large number of patient turn out but still lacks adequate facilities to offer efficient services. This includes a theater, washing machine, incubator and a mortuary. Also lacking are enough specialized doctors and nurses.

Born in 1953 at Huntersville North Carollina Baishop Eddy Long has received various awards in leadership and charity works, though implicated in various monetary and sex scandals. He has authored books like; I don’t want Delilah,I need you, Power of a Woman, Talking over, It’s your Time, Gladiator; The Strength of A Woman, Deliver me from Adam and Blessing in Giving.

The wonder new-born of Nyandarua

BY ERIC SINDABI

It is said that wonders never cease. This was the case at Ndunduri market centre in Nyandarua District recently when residents woke up on the morning of 14^th October this year to the shock of a new member of their society James Mwangi who was born bearing 28 natal tooth on both his upper and lower jaws,a fact that is very rare.

Stunned residents streamed in the homestead of Martha Wanjiru and Simon Wanderi to witness the rare happening that they confessed was a wonder that had never occurred before in the area. Never the less doctors at the local Ndundori Community Dispensary confirmed that both the mother and the child were health and referred them to the Rift valley General Hospital for advice from dental specialists.

When we arrived at the scene the area Chief Jane Wanjiru helped by the local police were busy trying to contain the curious residents wanting to get a glimpse of the rare James Mwangi with little success, save for the many gifts they brought along with them for him. We found her in her shanty rental house at the market centre in company of her two sisters, Joyce Muthoni and Jane Njeri preparing mbosho (beans) for a meal together with a group of local Christian women who had come to pray for the family, before we requested for a permission to interview her.

She certainly agreed to be interviewed in presence of her company though looking nervous and suspicious. She said that since the news of her new born baby had burst out, she had never had a piece of mind as tents of residents and news men kept on streaming at her house wanting to see her child and asking her endless questions. When we asked her where was Mwangi she said. “My husband has resolved that enough is enough, the kid needs to rest”. Nevertheless we went on with the interview.

According to the mother of four, she had an ordinary pregnancy with no complications being detected at all during the pre-natal clinics. When labor begun on the evening of 13^th October, she was helped out by her neigh ours to deliver her child successfully, with no signs that it would turn out to be an abnormal child. She confessed that she got a shock of her life when she made to breast feed the baby for the first time when she discovered that the infant bore teeth, a fact that is not normal to newly born babies.

When the family later consulted doctors at Ndundori Community Dispensary a stone throw away, from their home she said doctors ruled that both her and the child were healthy but should consult dental doctors at the Rift valley Provincial General Hospital for advice. To dispute assumptions that many abnormal new born babies in the country are as a result of complications caused by Family Planning methods used by women,Wanjiru revealed to us that she never applies the formal family planning methods, but she does it the natural way.

Wanjiru complained that she got difficulty during breast feeding as the teeth pinch as the child sucks. She said that she sometimes was forced to milk the milk and artificially feed the kid. She however bears no regrets or hatred for her baby as she believes that it was the will of the creator. “God works in so many ways and can test ones faith in different ways. I believe my child will grow up normally “She said.

Interestingly the mother confessed that a similar incident had some time back happened in the area, which though was never made public after a local self proclaimed prophetess commonly referred locally as Mnabii gave birth to baby boy who seemingly was circumcised at birth.

Her sister Joyce Muthoni a staunch Christian told journalists that she had advised her sister to treat the birth of James Mwangi as normal and give thanks to God as rare is always a blessing. A local Christian Ngwataniro(co-operation )group leader mama Veronica Njambi said that they had had the reports through the media and decided to come to pray for the family. “Every thing is as a result of the hands of God, we heard it on radio and so we came to give thanks to him as he is the creator” she said.

Born 27 years ago of Mzee James Mwangi whose new born son is named after, and Mama Ruth Wanja in Piavi village in Njoro on the west of Nakuru town, Wanjiru attended Ngano Primary School up to standard eight before she got married to Simon Wanderi 12 years ago who is a butherman based in Ndundori market centre. The couple so far has four children including the new born. Others are; Agness Mumbi aged 12, Joseph Chege, 7 and Ruth Wanja, 3.The mother practices small scale farming at her husband’s parent’s farm in Ndundori.

Medical reports on the internet however indicate that cases of children being born with teeth are normal though very rare. According to the reports, at least one child out of two thousand children being born is likely to have natal teeth. The reports say that a baby can develop buds also called milk teeth due to genetic and hormonal complications that are inherent. Certain genetic syndromes that make a baby likely to grow teeth prematurely is high and can be passed from generation to generation”. says the report.

It adds that on the treatment perspective not only is aspiration ,a condition of inhaling foreign substances into the lungs a major concern but also a complication known as Riga Fede disease develops. The natal tooth can cause an ulcer on the bottom of the toque interfering with feeding of the child. Hence, the report concludes that a child born with teeth or who gets teeth soon after birth should be examined by dental experts for possible removal of the natal tooth.

political parties forum

ERIC SINDABI
8/11/2010
A consultative forum among political parties in the country organized by the Registrar of Political Parties and other stakeholders has resolved that political parties will abide by new regulations provided in the new constitution under the Political Parties Act.

The forum was held at Cathy Hotel in Nakuru town from 4th to 6th November and attended by representatives from all the 47 registered political parties in the country.Other stake holders included the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) and the National Democratic Institute(NDI) officials.Invited guest speakers to the retreat included political and electoral experts from Ghana and Mozambique who delivered speeches on inter party dialogue and electoral matters.

IIEC commissioner Mrs. Hamara Ibrahim told NCC that the retreat was aimed at having a consultative dialogue among the stake holders to forge the way forward a head of the next general elections.She said that the three day meet had come up with resolutions that will guide the political parties hence forth.She noted that there was no such dialogue and mutual agreement among political parties during the 2007 elections where a political impasse was witnessed after the elections.

She hinted that a National Political Parties Liaison Commitee (NPPLC) that was formed recently will always address parties matters in relation to elections in the country.The commissioner added that the retreat had come up with possible amendments to the Political Parties Act and the Interim Independent Electoral Commission Act that will be presented to parliament for debate by the minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

According to the Registrar of Political Parties Mrs.Lucy Ndungu the forum had agreed on a number of amendments over the parties operations as provided for in the new constitution.The solutions dabbed;"Nakuru Resolution" provide for accountability and transparency,honesty,orderly conduct,patriotism,fairness, mutual respect and tolerance,Gender balance and exclusivity and the spirit of consultation.
Ndungu also said that the political parties forum had resolved to advocate and champion for a free,fair and peaceful elections and to eliminate mistrust and suspicion among political parties.
"Political parties representatives to the forum will be nominated in writing and approved by the Electoral Management Board.Only one representative from each political party will attend meetings at any level of the forum".She said in a statement to the press.

The Registrar of Poplitical Parties also said that the National Democratic Institute had resolved to continue sponsoring consultative and dialogue activities of registered political parties in the country.
Leading political party leaders who attended the retreat included former Local Government Minister Mr.Musikari Kombo of Ford Kenya,Prof.Julia Ajiambo of the Labor Party of Kenya,former Magarini MP Mr. David Kombe of KADDU and former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile among others.

Recently the IIEC chairman Mr.Ahmed Isaak Hassan asked the Registrar of Political Parties to audit and De-register those that do not comply with the Political Parties Act provisions.If implemented the directive will affect major political parties in the country who so far have loop holes that do not conform to the new constitution's Political Parties Act.

These include;The Orannge Democratic Movement (ODM) that is led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga,President Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU),Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka's Orange Democratic Movement of Kenya (ODM-K) and the Kenya African National Unity (KANU) led by the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.According to the Registrar of Political parties, the parties have not held elections and remitted their returns.The new constitution also prohibits civil servants and cabinet ministers from holding political party leadership positions.

Bizarre killings

Bizarre killings stun

Nakuru residents

By KEN OKABININI

PANIC and confusion reigned high in Nakuru town recently when residents of two estates in the west of the town woke up on the morning of August 12 to to come to terms with news of a bizarre killing of seven members of the area.

The post of Nakuru established that residents of Kaptembwa were griped in fear and confusion when four members of the estate were discovered murdered in a most bizarre manner. The sources said the youthful men were discovered murdered with their mutilated bodies hardly without bloodstains, private parts and tongues.

In the neighboring Bangladesh estate off Nakuru/Eldoret highway other three middle-aged men were also found grisly murdered with tongues and private parts missing from their mutilated bodies. Our sources said that police arrested one person in connection with the incident to help with investigations. Early this year a similar incident was reported at Railways estate in which several night guards fell victims.

Members of the public who talked to the Nakuru post said that such strange killings were linked to witchcraft practices in a neighboring country. According to the wananchi, it was most likely that the perpetrators of the strange murders were linked to witchdoctors who allegedly use some human beings body parts to manufacture witchcraft enchantment.

Only recently, the public was treated to a rare revelation of a syndicate involving the selling of dead people’s body parts that involved some mortuary workers and human

Filthy adverts

Shame of

Filthy adverts

BY A CORRESPONDENT

SEX literature and graphics advertising adult and young intimate relationships have stunned residents of Nakuru. According to sources, the immoral adverts are targeting young people in local colleges and other institutes of higher learning in the region.

Sources said that the advertisements in form of posters are posted at strategic positions where the target groups can receive them. The contents of the adverts simply ask whether one wishes for a “sugar mummy” or a “sugar daddy’ and provide a mobile phone number and a web site address.

The source said that the posters are pinned on trees and walls on streets where local college and university students often use and near local hostels. A comment on the face book read: Maze Naks kumeendelea siku hizi mpaka wase wana advertise ma sugar mummy na ma sugar daddy (Nakuru is so advanced that Sugar Mummies and Sugar Daddies are advertised)

Local colleges and University student leaders however, when contacted for comment condemned the development and called upon the local police to investigate the matter. The students’ leaders also urged the Nakuru Municipal Council to investigate the same matter.

According to the Local Government regulations, all advertisements made within the local authorities’ area must be certified. Posters must bear a stamp while road shows and signboards must have a license.

It is however unethical according to communication principles to carry out an immoral or an anti-social advertisement campaign. On the other hand pimping is an illegal practice in many countries in the world including Kenya .

This however comes in the wake where many parents in the country are a worried lot about the sex behaviors of their children in secondary schools, colleges and universities.

Many cases of unwanted pregnancies and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases is a trend that is worrying among teenagers in the country. In most public Universities in the country, the number of student mothers is increasing a fact that has caused an alarm with University authorities.

AMORIOUS PASTORS PUT ON NOTICE

EVEN as most church leaders are still stripling with the effects of their recent involvement in a political event of a new constitution making, attention now goes to amorous church leaders who have been put on notice as citizens continue loosing faith in the church..

According to investigations most local church leaders are engaged in adulterous behaviors with female members of their flock a vice that is against the teachings of the Bible that is the foundation of Christianity.

Our sources described a local church leader in a Nakuru area as monotonous in seducing young female church goes where the said pastor woos them with money and other goodies.

According to the source, the pastor has been caught red handed on several occasions having intimate moments with young women inside the church compound. The source hinted that several church compounds in the area have special rooms set aside that are referred to as “pastors resting room”

The source divulged that it is from here that the clergymen commit adultery, as most of them are married people. That, Such episodes take place mostly during night prayer sessions commonly known as Keshas.

A case is on record in which a local pastor was found making love to a widowed woman also a member of his church in the special room as other church members engaged themselves in deep prayers during a kasha.The source said that the two had earlier excused themselves for an allegedly special prayer for the widow.

However, an anxious group of other revealers who also wanted special attention from the pastor had ventured to the special room only to be greeted with a shock of their lives as they found the pastor making love to the woman.

According to our source, the ashamed pastor hurriedly jerked out of the room and bolted in his car leaving his flock stunned and awestruck. The woman in question, the source said had defended herself and the church leader saying that he had a right to have an affair with her since she was a widow.

Elsewhere in Nairobi’s Githurai 44 estate, drama unfolded when a wife of a church leader stormed a single woman’s house and found her husband there. The source said that the young woman who was an usher in the pastors church had earlier given birth to child she named after the pastor’s mother giving an indication that the pastor was the biological father to the child.

According to neigh ours who earlier had tipped off the wife of the amorous pastor, on that material day the wayward man of God was spotted doing shopping in the nearby market before venturing into the single woman’s house. The enraged wife the source said, amid vulgar had gone back to her house a few meters away and came back with a paper bag containing underpants of her husband.

“Take over my responsibility you harlot. This is your most precious moment “She had cried out. According to the sources the church leader and the woman in question have since disappeared from the area.

Lugari

In another related incident in Lugari District in western Kenya a Pentecostal Assemblies of God pastor’s illicit sexual escapades with another man’s wife almost turned tragic when angry villagers attempted to lynch him after thoroughly beating him up.

The media were informed that the amorous man of God had formed a habit of sneaking in the matrimonial home of a woman whose husband works in Nairobi.That the in-laws of the woman had hatched a plan to discipline him when one night they stormed into the house and caught him red handed in the sinful act.

The sources told the media that the clergyman was beat up and tied on a tree from where he spent the night in the cold. The following morning he was frog marched to the market centre from where he was forced to confess in public his immoral deeds.

Lumakanda OCPD Bernard Kibe who was among police officers who rescued the man said that his officers had a hectic time trying to control the angry members of the public who wanted to lynch the said pastor.

He said that police detained him briefly to save his life and later released him as there was no complainant to acknowledge charges against him.

Early campaigns in Nakuru

By OUR REPORTERS

THE ever hotly contested Nakuru Town parliamentary seat is up for grabs even as voters will have to wait until December 2012 to seal the fate.

According to unconfirmed sources, residents are outraged with the current MP Mr. Lee Kinyanjui also the roads assistant minister for what they term as neglect.

The source also confirmed that a section of residents, cry foul and highly question the manner in which the local CDF fund is being utilized.

Early campaigns are being witnessed with key contesters’ going round the constituency trying to create good will among voters through development activities and political strategies that are in line with majority of the local voters.

Such include a prominent local businessman Paul Madaraka Mwithaga and the controversial and outspoken cleric Mike Brown who our sources indicated that were making inroads in the constituency with development agendas.

The two, our sources said were leading the local voters in taunting at the current MP for allegedly misusing CDF funds and neglecting the well fair of locals politically. The two aspirants accuse the MP for allegedly not supporting the guest for a new constitution as was the wishes of the majority of the constituents during the referendum campaigns.

In what seems to be a political ambush on Kinyanjui our sources said Madaraka has over one hundred development schemes he has officiated in the constituency over the last two years.

These include charity works to local children’s homes, hospitals, and women groups and sponsoring of projects by local college students, youth groups, schools and churches.

Madaraka recently recorded a statement at Kilimani police station in Nairobi following alleged threats on his life.He said during a recent political rally in Molo that he believed those making threats on his life were out to intimidate him for exposing “fishy’’deals in the management of local public funds.

Mwithaga said: The era of silencing critics in an orthodox way is long gone and instead leaders should accommodate divergent views when handling public resources and issues.”

A recent call in radio programme for Q FM highlighted Nakuru voters’ dismay. The residents according to the sources were concerned over their MPs continued silence and negligible development record.

Madaraka was among those who missed parliament with a small margin in the highly competitive last general elections and those who monitor local politics closely are quick to comment that this round the entire wealthy young businessman will make a kill.

“He is a down to earth person who is ready to listen to people’s problems and aspirations and hovers not to his promises” said a supporter of the aspirant.

Kinyanjui’s supporters however have dismissed the allegations that the MP is absent and non-performing.The loyalists said that Kinyanjui’s development agenda was on record and could not be disputed.

Library bracing for Automation

By Eric Sindabi

NAKURU TOWN Library services are soon going to be computerized in order to realize the need for Library Automation in offering quality information services. The senior Librarian Mary Khayesi announced this during a recent meeting of the Library Automation Committee which she is the chairperson.

The committee subsequently un- veiled plans for the implementation of the programme. The librarian said that the programme is expected to kick off early the year 2011.She said that her office was liaising with that of the University Librarian and NTC Director to put proper infrastructure in place for the implementation of the plan.

The meting deliberated on logistics and modalities involving aspects like; Library Automation Software, Computer terminals, Network working machinery and accessories, Data entry, training staff on applications and maintenance of the facility.

Committee members include; representatives from all sections of the library, Information Communication Technology department representative and two members of staff from Njoro main campus in charge of IT services.

Library Automation involves the use of computer aided procedures to offer library services. The overhaul for example eases search and retrieving of information materials in a library through the use of a computerized catalogue and also advances circulation services that include issuing and discharging of library resources to users. The service also enhances security, on-line services and interlibrary loaning.

Criticizing Ideology and the Media

By Eric Sindabi

I

IDEOLOGY is about how people think and identify themselves in society. It is also the process of criticizing or challenging other people’s ideas. Karlmax cast a negative shadow on ideology while critiquing media for propagating ideology of a few in societies to influence the masses. According to Karlmax the minority brainwash the majority and once they achieve this they rule.

Rulers apply all classes of ideology to suit their egos. Corruption, tribalism, racism, culture, prejudice, religion, class, and economic power can all be applied in ideology. Since time immemorial however many societies in the world have experienced the phenomenon of ideology where a few rule and dominate in society.

Critics of ideology however urge that ideology is an enslavement of the masses by the few dominant and results to inhumanity. The notion of mental slavery thus comes to surface. The masses always assume that there is no other way of thinking about reality other than the way their rulers think. It is to this point that critics feel, the media comes in as an agent of ideology because it is mandated by society to survey and transmit information.

Theory

According to an Italian philosopher Atonio Gramsci, the co-operation of the masses in the production or success of an ideology by a minority helps the rulers satisfy their goals. Critics observe that the sub-ordinate majority are subjected to social institutions that support the powerful. The media is one of them.

When the media for example fails to be objective but biased and un-ethical, it directly supports the aims of the dominant few in society through the information they circulate. From side to side opinion leaders propagate the ideology of the few that roots into the masses and justifies the goals of the media and that of the rulers. The media sales while the rulers gain.

Media theorists indeed believe that the media is powerful in this role. The masses are directly influenced by media content and shape opinions, beliefs and characters. Because the media is in business, it is controlled by the few dominant because of their economic powers. It sets the agenda for public opinion by psychologically affecting the thinking patterns of the majority in society through propaganda.

Hitler

Hitler was a racist. His ideology was that his Arian race was supreme over other races and that only Arians were the justified human beings in the world. This ideology was planted in his German followers who went at all bounds to support him achieve his political goals. He promised his followers that his ideas would help rebuild Germany into a mighty empire that would last for over a thousand years.

The Nazi Movement went ahead to exercise an in-human ruling style where millions of Jews in many European countries were oppressed and massacred to justify Hitler’s ideology. The regime spread death and hatred that provoked world war in 1939.As a result the Nazi killed about 6 million Jews as well as about 5 million other people that Hitler regarded as racially inferior or politically dangerous.

National Guidance and Counseling

Association formed

By AMOS WAIGORO

A national Guidance, Counseling and Psychological Association has
been formed to serve as an umbrella organization for professional
practitioners in Kenya.
During the association’s first national conference held at Egerton
University recently, Professor Aggrey Sindabi of Egerton University
was elected the national chairman of the association.
Other national officials elected included Dr.Mary Kariuki (Egerton
University) secretary, Dr.Micah Chepchieng (Egerton University)
treasure, Ms Lucy Kung'u (United States of America International
University) vice-chairperson, Dr.Peter Odera Masinde Muliro University
of Science and Technology (MMUST) vice-secretary. Representatives from
other universities and the ministry of public service and tertiary
institutions will also serve in the national office of the new
association.
Speaking to the media, Prof. Sindabi said the aim of the conference
that attracted over 200 participants and invited guests was to launch
a national Guidance and Counseling Association to enhance holistic
human adjustment and development in Kenyan contemporary society.
Documents from the conference proceedings indicated that the
objectives of the event were to:
-Create a forum for professional councilors from universities and
related institutions in order to deliberate on issues pertaining to
the profession in Kenya in the 21st century.
- Form a national association for professionally trained counselors
and within it a regulatory council to formulate and enhance relevant
policies for appropriate guidance and counseling standards and to form
a code of professional conduct in the practice.
-To establish a secretariat for the association.
The don added that the association would initiate a scholarly journal
to be published regularly to provide a medium and forum for
dissemination and exchange of ideas and knowledge in the field. “This
will enhance the development of guidance and counseling profession” He
said.
Guest speakers in the conference included the National Commission
Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) chairman Dr. Frank Njenga,Dr .Gladys Mwiti
and Prof. Freida Brown the Vice -chancellor of USIU.
The speakers presented papers on issues like; the status of mental
health in Kenya and its implications for counseling ,ethics and
professionalism in the practice of guidance and counseling, counseling
in a developing nation and challenges of youths in society and its
implications for counseling.
The NACADA Chairman cautioned parents and teachers to understand that
technological advancements affect communication to children.
He said multimedia and social networks have influenced the behaviors
of young people hence calls for advanced guidance and counseling
standards to be formulated.

Film to highlight indigenous customs

By Eric Sindabi

Egerton University is sponsoring a documentary film project by communication and media students based at Nakuru Town Campus that will highlight the indigenous cultures of Kenya . The director of the film and also Audio/ Visual Production instructor at the University Mr.Manoah Mukhwana said that the film will in particular focus on the plight of the girl -child in Kenya as depicted among traditional customs of various tribes in the country.

He said that the aim of the project was to provide practical journalistic experience in Audio/Visual Production for the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media students of Egerton University .

The class has so far visited various parts of the country, interviewing and recording audio/visual information from selected indigenous groups. These include all the sub-tribes of the Mijikenda tribe (Coast province), Meru, Akamba, (Eastern) Bukusu, Isukha (Western) Luo, Gusii, Kuria,Suba (Nyanza), Maasai Kipsigis, Nandi, Turkana Marakwet (Rift Valley) and Gikuyu (Central).

The trips, says Mukwana, earn each student 20% of the course requirements. “Students get practical experience in film production aspects like reporting, photography, interviewing, directing, presentation, script writing, site management and public relations.

They get exposed to journalistic conditions outside the studio”. He said.

The film focuses on key indigenous customs among different Kenyan ethnic groups like; wife inheritance, cleansing, education, initiation, naming, gender roles and beliefs among others.

The project will in general highlight on gender issues in Kenya by focusing on the plight of the girl-child. It will also highlight on the diversity and similarities of Kenyan traditional heritage.

Mean while major changes have been effected in the Bachelor of Arts in media and communication degree course at the University aimed at adding value to the course in order to meet competitive market demands. Egerton is among a few other institutes of higher learning in the country that offers degree courses in journalism. The Self Sponsored training attracts form four leavers and Para-professionals who wish to pursue a career in communication and mass media.

The coordinator of Media and Communication studies at Egerton University Ms Mareri says that the University’s academic policy requires for a review of academic programmes curriculums after every five years.

New courses which have been introduced include; communication and language skills in Kiswahili, Introduction to sociology, Communication and critical thinking, Public speaking, Desk top publishing, Entrepreneurship, Interpretation and translation in communication, Internet technology and communication, Communication in global context, Information technology; communication systems and social change, Leadership and management, and Digital graphics in communication.

On the other hand, some courses like Introduction to computer programming, Data structures, Computer graphics and Introduction to economics have been removal from the syllabus.

The coordinator said that the new changes were based on suggestions from students and past performances evaluation and critical market demands for graduates.

Egerton and China

Egerton and China in research and technology collaboration

By ERIC SINDABI

A stakeholders’ series on quality and safety of agro-products sponsored by the government of China in collaboration with Egerton University seeks to provide skills and knowledge in using new technologies and research in agricultural production to provide food safety in Africa continent.

The second in sequence of the programme that was held recently at the Crop Research and Technology Management Centre(CMRT) at Egerton University Njoro main campus drew stakeholders across the country and the continent.These include;Kenya,Uganda,Tanzania,Burundi,Rwanda,Ethiopia and Nigeria.

The coordinator of the course Dr.Arnold Opiyo said that the course aimed at addressing issues of food security and safety through cutting down on post harvest loses by use of research and agricultural production research.

The senior lecturer at the department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils Sciences at the faculty of Agriculture observed that the issue of food safety has not been addressed properly in most African countries. Though we tend to move forward in food quality production, the issues of food safety and quality fit for human and animal consumption are sidelined “said the don. He said that the course analyzed aspects like the use of pesticides, fertilizers, food stora ge and simple food handling hygiene measures.

The course dabbed;Quallty and Safety of Ago-Products is sponsored by the ministry of education of the Peoples Republic of China through the Nanjing University of Agriculture that has a Memorandum of Understanding with Egerton University.Throgh the M.O.U the two universities facilitate research and teaching exchange programmes not only in Kenya but across the continent.

Prof.Qinsheng Wu one of the organizers of the programme says that the problem of the course lies in the reality of changes in environment and climates that course reduced production of agricultural products due to droughts,floods,chemicals and diseases. The phenomenon, he said lead to reduced food security and safety because of low production and quality.

“Governments in Africa should therefore take measures on how to increase peoples health and food supply through the agricultural research and immerging technologies’’ He said.Prof.Wu added that the task of scientists and University researchers was to know how new techniques in agricultural production could help improve peoples lives. He noted that the government of China puts a lot of priority to agricultural production research and technology.

Prof.Wu has been stationed at the department of Horticulture of Egerton University under the M.O.U for over ten years teaching and conducting research. He is a specialist in Plant Tissue Culture a technological field that promotes the production of disease and virus free and variety breeding in agricultural production.

The course was held between November 10 and 26 2010 and was facilitated by researchers from both the Universities while participants involved agricultural production specialists and other stakeholders.

Topics that were covered in the course included;

- Agro-food quality and safety control,

- Agro-products storage and quality testing technology, plant tissue and modern agricultural technology

- Plant chromosome engineering and its application in agriculture

- Production and status of organic agro-products

- Agricultural development in Kenya

- Chinese language and culture

- Post harvest technology of agro-products, pest and disease control and

- Plant bio-technology in agricultural production among others.

The training also involved field visits and laboratory experiments in several agricultural research centers and companies in Kenya.Participants from Kenya included personnel from; Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA), The Ministry of Agriculture and a number of private flower companies.

A similar course was held at the university in 2008 based on quality and safety of horticultural crops. According to the organizers; this year’s course attracted more participants and drew a closer attention to the issue of food safety in the continent.

A representative from Nanjing University of Agriculture Prof. Li Yuan said that the series is also supported by the China Africa Corporation (CAC).The corporation, said the professor, seeks to promote human resources development in Africa through the dissemination of agricultural production and management information.”Through the cooperation, the people of china also learn about the experience of Africa in agriculture’’. He added.

Eye opener

Lumumba's story was an eye opener
An opinion By Eric Sindabi

The story carried by The Saturday Nation of 22nd January of this year a bout Patrice Lumumba was quite fulfiling and an eye opener to up coming leaders not only of this country but Africa as a whole.
Lumumba's political life as a young aggressive leader was a real inspiration to many Africans and to our young leaders it should be a big lesson. It calls for selflessness and a burning desire to liberate the masses from injustices and slavery being subjected upon them. At the age 35,Lumumba met his death in the hands of people who were opposed to his political philosophy. He had plunged into politics at a mere age of 20 to fight for the liberation of his country Congo.Lumumba adamantly gave up his life as martyr for his country after a long struggle to bring freedom to his people.
When some leaders in kenya claim that they deserve to be in top leadership simply because they are young,it makes me think of Patrice Lumumba.His story should be an eye opener to the so called young leaders in this country. They should pose and ask themselves what they have done for their country even at their advanced ages as compared to Lumumba.A course to liberate Kenyans from political domination by a few that brings about socoi-economic sufferings by Kenyans. Corruption and impunity has been the order of these so called young leaders as history shows and they have little they can do to improve the lives of Kenyans. Theirs is to protect the corrupt means of their political godfathers but they have no other better agenda for this country. They should learn from Lumumba.Let them tell Kenyans what they have done for the nation if not stealing public resources and dividing citizens on tribal lines and war mongering hoping to get to power as to continue protecting their corrupt ways. Shame on them!

HERBAL MEDICINE

HERBAL MEDICINE STILL CURVE A NICHE

By Mark Mutai

Herbal medics still curve a niche in the 21st century despite medical
technological growth and trends experienced across the world.

Long practiced, herbals are becoming more relevant as up-to-date
analysis and research confirm their value in treatment and prevention of
diseases. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that
80 p.c of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of
their primary healthcare.

Mzee Timothy Yebei of Kebeneti village in Kericho District who is in his late 80s says that in traditional times, almost all ailments had a cure. “Whether snakes bite, cut injuries, stomach ailments, bareness, persistent headaches among other diseases were treated by med icemen,” recollects Mzee Yebei. He says that traditional medicine men had testing instincts leading to preferable medications.

He adds that as a medicine man approached old age, he passed the tools of trade to his children and other relatives who seemed keen on medication. This he says ensured that traditional medicine never went out of touch with society. “But things have now changed”, he notes.

William Busienei a Nakuru-based Herbal practitioner has been
practicing traditional medicine for the last 30 years. With his family background known for herbal treatment, Busienei inherited his father who was a famous medicine man among the Kipsigis community in the 1960s.

“My herbal journey began in early 1960s when I was a young boy. I
usually accompanied my father to the forest to collect medicinal herbs,” remembers Busienei.He says they harvested the herbs from natural regions like; The Mau, Mt. Elgon, Transmara and Kakamega forests.

As he takes us through the herbal processing unit at his clinic situated in Kaptembwa estate in the West of Nakuru town, the herbalist asserts that processing and packaging of the medication is a specialization in itself separate from having knowledge of medicinal herbs. “One can be good at identifying the herbs from the forest and other natural sites but may be poor in administering the medicine into functional medication,” warns Busienei.

He states that tree backs, leaves, seeds, berries, roots, stems and flowers of
particular herbal plants can either be dried and crushed into powder
form, boiled to produce juicy substances or several substances mixed up to come up with a particular medicine, adding that the herbal medication process is diverse and complex.

“Desired therapeutic effect in the herbs is achieved when whole part
of the plant is used. It also cuts down on side effects and toxicity
of the herbs,” He says.

According to the indigenous med iceman, herbal medication has been successful in the
treatment of complicated infections in human beings like; asthma, premenstrual syndrome, chronic fatigue, and irritable
bowel syndrome.

Busiemei decries the massive destruction of natural forests like the Mau complex as a threat to the practice of traditional medication. He further notes that besides the
extinction of medicinal plants in the country, climatic and
environmental changes will have lasting effects on the local traditional medicine practice.

To curb losses and scarcity of some of his favorite medicinal plants, Busienei has
planted some of the herbs in his backyard garden. He has no kind words for
political leaders who have always sought wealth but forget issues concerning the preservation of natural resources and environment.

He scooped an award during an environmental preservation campaign dubbed “Clean-up the World” organized by the United Nations Environmental Progaramme (UNEP) in Nakuru recently and says he will continue participating in environmental and natural resources conservation initiatives.

Busienei receives patients drawn from the lager Rift Valley,
Central Province, Nyanza and Coast parts of Kenya.I the 2003, he cured a four-year old child suffering from cardiac arrest that is a kind of tumor.

Stella Wanjiru from Sagana had called for help through the Standard
Newspaper. Though scheduled to fly to India for an operation, she ended up in
Busienei’s hands.

The herbalist who travels to many parts of the country selling his herbal medication and ideas calls on the government to organize workshops and seminars where herbalists can exchange ideas and also market themselves locally and internationally.

Busienei says he has personally taken up this idea by involving local herbalists and medical professionals in carrying out research to keep up with overwhelming ailments in the country like kidney failure, thyroids, urinal ailments, and the deadly HIV & Aids.He said he has in particular been in constant consultation with the University of Nairobi Health Science Department.

The conservation of the African indigenous plants is taking shape
as environmentalists in higher learning institutions as well as both
government and non-governmental bodies seek ways of preserving
indigenous flora and fauna. Including botanical gardens and arboretums where indigenous plans are conserved, nature lovers have vowed to stump out extinction of
traditional environment.

Despite the vast challenges edging local herbal medicine practitioners out of market, they
have grouped themselves in attempts to press for their legal rights including intellectual rights and patents.

Attempts to push a bill in the August house in the recent years hit a
snag as legislators never bothered about the concerns of traditional med icemen.

Formalities in legalizing herbalists to practice as well as patent rights have
been a drawback due to lack of constitutional frameworks.

The ‘jinny’ black spot of Nakuru

By KEN OKABINI

JINIS have been blamed for a spate of death at a Nakuru highway spot. According to residents who talked to Nakuru post , the dark spot near blankets factory along Nakuru/ Nairobi highway claim over 50 people a year who die in fatal accidents involving vehicles plying along the highway.

According to the residents of Free Area estate near the black spot, drivers allegedly visualize a woman and a kid crossing the highway. Thus, in an attempt of avoiding an accident by hitting the mother and child, the drivers allegedly collide and cause accidents.

The residents say that jinis or evil spirits suspected to be owned by a local tycoon are behind the wave of accidents. The sources that sought not to be named told of strange accidents where blood from victims allegedly disappears after drying up straight away and linked this to demons.

A recent accident along the highway claimed over five different family members after a bus and a lorry collided head on.

Other black spots in Nakuru include the section near Nakuru State House and KFA round about near Total Petrol station along Eldoret /Nakuru highway.

Veteran Nakuru politician, educationist and researcher Dr.Taita Toweet perished in a horrendous smash-up with a pick-up ferrying food stuff along the highway two years ago. Yet tears had not dried on the faces of gospel music fans in the country mourning the untimely death of the then renowned gospel music queen Angela Chibalonza in another tragic accident on the same road.

Jinis or evil spirits in form of human beings and scanty animals are encountered especially at Kenya’s coast region and the neighboring Tanzania republic.

Locally many people believe that wealthy people own jinis as a source of their riches and that the evil spirits now and then demand sacrifices of human beings. People link many strange happenings in society like tragic accidents to the works of jinis, yet often discussed in hushed tones.

While addressing a roads safety stakeholders meeting in Nairobi the minister for roads Franklin Bet hinted that though the rate of roads accidents in the country had recorded a decline from 11347- 8449 in the past one year at least ten people die every day on Kenyan roads.

Bet said that the 1.3 vehicles in the country have a low level of motorization. He said that the government would soon establish a national road safety authority to address the problem.

OPINION

By Eric Sindabi

POLITICAL LEADERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS

Globalization calls for all harmonized cultural, technological economical and social standards and experiences. he world is becoming more and more boundary less and so similar in many aspects. As such Kenyans ought to be aware of this and wary over being put on the spot for whatever they do or the situation we get into .Irrespective of our sovereignty, at one point or another we are obliged to account or play and pay attention on our attitudes and life principles which as expected should conform to global standards. We are not in a world of our own but in one world with the rest of the world!

Take for instance it was not a surprise when the international community was so concerned and indeed intervened to help us solve the political impasse that griped the country after the 2007 elections. It was because we are part of the globe if not so important, as part.

The 2030 vision that will propel Kenya to greater heights, the Grand Coalition Government that helped solve the political impasse in the country, the intensified fight against graft that will mould transparency and improve equal distribution of resources, and above all the new constitution that will enable a devolved power and resources for all citizens of this country, are for example the revolutions in our country that indicate the road towards globalization.

As we embrace such standards we move ahead to conform to global standards of society. Above all, all it calls for is fairness, justice and equality in all aspects. All social and economic institutions should work towards fulfilling these principles. We are moving ahead not looking backward, improving our lives for us and for future generations.

It is to this note that political leaders ought to be cautious in the manner in which they address issues of national interest. Many a political elite seem not to be reading the signs of times and are caught up in the reality of the revolutions in our society. They ought to wake up once and for all!

Here, we mean that, never again shall discrimination,prejudice,tribalism,nepotism,corruption,oppression,gender or class biasness nor racisms rule in our midst as such vices have no room in modern societies, where justice, transparency, hard work, cosmopolitanism and above all, the rule of law, are the guiding principles.

As more and more Kenyans come to terms with these developments, politicians who continue embracing backward ideologies such as tribalism and oppression will naturally be faced out and replaced with upright people who serve society in upright ways.

Global Democracy means ideas that are good for all and supported by majority, on logic and merit but not on race, tribe, class, age or gender. Kenya will be a great nation the time we shall wipe out wayward leaders and when true democracy shall be embraced.

Scramble for Nakuru

Scramble for Nakuru as new law become

By OUR TEAM

EVEN as Kenyans prepare for the implementation of a new constitution, cold wars and bickering over the control of Kenya’s fourth largest urban centre-Nakuru, seem to be boiling over. We can authoritatively report that this fact indeed is the next big issue that is set to be a centre stage of political calculations in the region that is deemed as most potential economically.

The new law creates 47 counties in the country under a devolved government system that Kenyans hope will bring resources closer to them. This new development will see the vast Rift valley province split into at least 15 counties. These include;

Nakuru,Turkana,West Pokot, Uasin Gishu,Elgeyo-Marakwet,Kajiado,Baringo,Nandi,Laikipia,Kericho,Trans Nzoia, Narok, Samburu and Bomet.

Nakuru County that has a cosmopolitan population of about 4,000,000 people according to the recently announced national census results is expected to comprise of; Rongai, Njoro, Naivasha, Kuresoi, Molo, Subukia and Nakuru town. According to political analysts, most of these areas however are dominated by non-Kalenjin ethnic communities a fact that is the cause of the controversy being agitated by a section of political leaders in the region.

The region is considered a political hot bed considering its past experiences of ethnic tensions. Although Nakuru County is cosmopolitan with members of other ethnic communities like Luhya,Gusii,Luo,Kamba,Maasai,and Turkana also having permanent residences in the region, members of the Kikuyu ethnic community are the majority in Naivasha,Nakuru town,Subukia and Njoro.Molo,Kuresoi and Rongai areas on the other hand are dominated by the Kalenjin community.

A group of leaders claim that Nakuru being a home town of the native Kalenjin ethnic community will be controlled by other people whom they refer to as ‘outsiders’. Recently KANU vice- chair Gideon Moi let the cat out of the bag when he warned that Kalenjin leaders would not watch in silence as the community was being shortchanged.

He claimed that by “outsiders taking over” the control of Nakuru town would mean taking over the entire Rift valley region- tending to mean the dominant Kikuyu ethnic community members who control a large portion of business investments in the town.

According to the politician, also son to the former president Daniel Moi, Nakuru town has been the historical headquarters of Rift Valley and indigenous communities should not be sidelined. “We will not sit back watching Nakuru being grabbed”. He said at a recent rally in Bomet.

This comes however in the wake of revelations by the media that indeed professionals, businessmen and politicians drawn from the Kikuyu ethnic community in Nakuru region were making spirited strategies on how to sponsor members of their ethnic community as to bag all political seats in the county come the 2012 elections.

Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot however wants a compromise deal by Nakuru county leaders to be made so as key county seats be shared by the different communities in the region to avoid the fear that minority groups would feel locked out of leadership. He said that though democracy allowed for the simple majority, the notion would be manipulated to sideline minority groups in the region by voting in leaders from one ethnic community.

Rongai MP Luka Kigen said;Minority communities are talking and although democracy cannot be legislated, voting along tribal lines cannot be wished away”

Menengai

Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto on the other hand says that amendments should be made on the new laws to avoid historical injustices on land issues. According to him, the community would not tolerate the “grabbing” of Nakuru.

He says the Interim Independent Electoral Commissioniiec(IIEC) should move fast to amend the boundaries of Nakuru in line with historical realities. The MP says Nakuru town should be split into two-Nakuru East and Nakuru West to accommodate the interests of different communities.

“Those who created Nakuru County did not consider historical issues like the Menengai hill which is named after a Kalenjin clan of the Tugen community. This means that historically Nakuru belonged to the Kalenjin and it is unfair for the community to be locked out from the town’s resources” He said.

History

According to political pundits, the bawl over Nakuru is a far reaching political out cry by some big –wigs in the region. Looking far back in recent political history of the country, pundits say the region emerges out of a grand unsung pact between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin elite in a bid to control the politics of the country.

To contain power, the founding president of Kenya,Jomo Kenyatta made Moi his VP and that meant the end of KADU and the marginalization of the Luo political uprising. This witnessed mass movement into the region by the Agikuyu in the 1960’s onwards.

Surprisingly many pieces of land in the region were dished out to Kenyatta’s lieutenants who later sold them to their kin and followers from central Kenya at low prices. One of them was the late former post -colonial powerful politician Kiheka Kimani who owned vast pieces of land in Njoro,Molo,Naivasha,and Subukia.

Because of this Kiheka became a darling of his followers-the peasants whom he had helped secure land. He is the only politician in the country who successfully managed to be a Member of Parliament in more than two constituencies. He was once MP for Nakuru North that comprised of the current Rongai and Subukia constituencies, Molo and Naivasha. This was made possible by his popularity in the areas over the dishing out of land to poor Kikuyu tribesmen under small co-operatives known as Ngwataniro.

When Moi assumed power, he too used land to bargain power and to contain the Kalenjin identity in the country. The region was hence declared a total KANU zone. Those who were loyal to him were rewarded with chunks of land in Rift Valley to an extend of encroachments on gazetted areas like the Mau Complex and other public lands.

Dissenting voices were ruthlessly crushed as to those who owned property in the region especially in Nakuru town. The infamous land clashes in the region that begun in the early 1990’s, according to political pundits were politically instigated as the KANU government sought to hold on to power.

New law

The Narok North MP Wiliam Ole Ntimama says that the creation of counties in Rift valley has ended the large ethnic hegemony in the region. He believes that those who used power to amass wealth in the region were the most disturbed by the passing of the new constitution.

He says this will dramatically weaken the political bargaining powers of local big boys of politics. Ntimama believes that threats by some Rift valley leaders are just signs of a dying horse but do not hold any water. He said that the leaders should be arrested and prosecuted for inciting members of their community against other Kenyans.

Development

Nakuru county is expected to be one of the most coveted county in terms of development as the new constitution of devolved government takes shape. According to economic analysts, Nakuru County is expected to lead as it has huge potentials in agriculture, tourism, industry and business.

Already foreign investors led by Chinese businesspersons are piloting the county with full eyes open on business investment opportunities. The setting up of a battery manufacturing plant Xiang Hui International awaiting clearance by the government is one-step forward. According to the director of the industry Mr.Chen Leija, the plant is expected to create over 200 jobs on its first operation.

Three ultra modern hotels and a Casino owned by the Chinese are already in the offing in the town and are expected to boost the number of Chinese business and tourists in Nakuru.

The Chinese are dominant in the motorcycle transport sector in the sale of motorbikes and spare parts at low prices a fact that has improved the local transport sector and the economy as many youth have been employed.

The motorbike transport system is also free-fuel costly and enables improved transport in local rural areas where no PSV reach or due to poor road networks.

“There are many Chinese investors in Nakuru and many more will come as they have realized an opportunity and a low cost of investment,” said a local Chinese businessperson.

Game meat galore in Nakuru

BY OUR REPORTER

A SECTION of Nakuru residents are exposed to danger for reportedly consuming unhealthy game meat suspected to be the work of poachers. Investigations revealed that the meat is sold in food kiosks and butcheries at extreme low prices in some sections of Nakuru town residential areas that border the Lake Nakuru National Park like

Our sources divulged that a kilo of “meat” costs as cheap as Kshs.30 and Kshs.20. Further investigation bare that some food kiosks in the town center’s back streets are also peddling game meat in the popular “nyama choma” joints.

Two years ago, Lord Delamere’s grandson Tom Cholmondley shot dead a local in his Soysambu farm whom he suspected to be among a group of poachers who ravage the game reserve located along Nakuru -Nairobi highway. He was acquainted of manslaughter.

Our reporter accompanied a local to one of the food kiosks in a low class residential area that border lake Nakuru National Park.This is where most locals come for a good bite of Nyama choma at affordable prices.

The meat is very red, hard to bite and chew with a strange taste. Served with a plate of Ugali or chapatti it costs only ksh.60 for the two and weighs about a kilo each meal.

At a nearby butchery, village women rush in to secure a good super for their families as a “meat” suppler has just arrived. “Customers” get alerted through mobile phones communication once there is a supply ready.

The suppliers are men in their mid thirties look messy and in a hush, they glance from one direction to the other seemingly in a hurry to settle the illegal deal. The meat supplies stuffed in bloody sacks is hastily off-loaded from a motor bike before butcher men distribute to waiting anxious customers.

Though game meat is illegal in the country investigations, reveal that it is rampant because of poaching.

President Kibaki while opening the former Kenya Meat Commission had hoped that it would reduce poaching for illegal meat supply. Kenya looses about 50% of annual wild life population growth to poaching a trend that nature conservationists believe is a threat to wildlife diversity.

On the other hand, public health experts believe that game meat consumption is dangerous as it exposes consumers to harmful meat products not certified for human consumption.