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.