Speaking separately, the clerics said the abuse of the platforms, especially by the youth, was reason fueling the growing number of abductions in the country.

The latest disappearances have been primarily young men who have criticized President William Ruto online.

Some of the victims have been released traumatized.

Police have denied involvement, but activists have questioned why they appear not to be investigating the disappearances.

“Social media is open to all of us, let there be honest efforts to exploit the space with meaningful communication not defaming the country’s leadership,” said Pastor Denis Sosi of Glorious Life International church.

Social media, he added, is an important means of disseminating information today and provides large space which should be exploited for the good of society.

“They (youth) can use it to market things online and innovations but not abusing leaders disparaging them with caricature in a way that erodes the significance of such spaces,” added the cleric.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) says there had been 82 abductions carried out “clandestinely, with unidentified armed persons” since June, with 29 still missing.

Refecting on 2024, Sosi said the was truly a tumultuous both economically and politically for most Kenyans but expressed optimism that things would brighten as they walk the path of 2025.

“Around Kisii, especially funeral, there were constant skirmishes engineered by politicians. Such are among the things that we should abandon as a people and forge forward on the path of development,” stated Sosi.

He also called for surveillance against prevalent drug use amon the youth.

He especially asked the chiefs to scale up vigilance in the villages where drug abuse was steadily growing.

“In fact before we begin blaming the youth, let our security agencies go for those who trade in these drugs,” he said.

Speaking separately, Pentacostal Evangelistic Fellow of Africa (P.E.F.A.) cleric Rev Andrew Ogola asked the government to streamline higher education in the country.

He said issues that have been raised are critical and should not be triviliazed by those in authority.

Ogola also urged leaders to invest more time in action, undertake development and stop early campaigns for the sake of the country.

“When people already campaigning when they are already in office it smells of incompetence. It is time to work not make noise around,” Ogola said.

He was speaking at an event at the Pefa church in Kisii town where widows were gifted with merchandise and food by Purity International.

The Charity leader Rebecca Moseti asked the government to empower widows so as to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

The post Clerics Urge Sober Use of Social Media  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

It further fingers suspicious payments to unauthorized staff among them a senior officer employed irregularly.

In most incidents, Governor Simba Arati was at pains explaining the expenditure of funds allocated to him in 2023-2024 fiscal year.

He breached the law by also supplying to auditors doctored records on spending.

For instance a staggering Sh14 million could not be accounted for after the administration reported using Sh96 million on domestic travel and tea.

The Auditor however reported variation in the data captured in the Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifmis) with the officers saying they had expended Sh82.7 million.

As a result Sh14 million could not be accounted for.

The report narrates how the County officers sold a lie of receiving at a total of Sh96 million in reimbursements when in fact they were paid before setting out for field assignment.

The officers had reported that they were paid as reimbursements for using own cash in carrying out official assignments.

An analysis of the Ifmis system, indicated that money was actually paid out to them before going out for work related activities pointing to suspicion of graft.

The report has also raised concerns on the county attorney, who continues to earn a salary despite his appointment getting quashed in court early this year.

According to the Auditor General, a private citizen moved to the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisumu to challenge the appointment of the county attorney, which was done on December 1, 2022.

On January 24, 2024, the officer’s appointment was quashed by the court.

But an analysis of the financial statements as per September 2024, found out that the officer was still drawing salary from his account.

It was established that between January 2024 and August 2024, the officer had taken home a hefty pay of Sh3,384,632.

Another anomaly was discovered in the Department of Trade Development and Regulations where an excess of Sh698,000 was paid to a contractor for the printing and the supply of assorted materials.

The contractor had been given a contract sum of Sh2,298,500 but he ended up receiving Sh2,997,000 with no explanation being given for the excess payment.

Audit queries have also been raised on the running of the banana processing plant at Kisii Agricultural and Training Centre (KATC).

The auditors noted that there was great secrecy in the manner in which the investor who is currently running the plant was brought on board even if the leasing of the factory was advertised through an open international tender.

The plant’s construction was co-funded by the County Government of Kisii and the European Union with an ambitious vision of helping banana farmers reap maximum benefits from the cultivation of the crop that is grown in plenty in the region through value addition.

Upon its completion, the plant according to the auditor general was handed over to an irregularly appointed investor who was supposed to pay a rental income of Sh150,000 per month.

However, it was established that the amount had been un-procedurally slashed to Sh90,000 after the grace period of six months given to the investor elapsed.

Interestingly, after that reduction, auditors established that the investor who was given the responsibility of running the factory had not paid any rent to date and the 30-year lease given to the investor also remains a mystery on how it was arrived at.

The Department of Education has also been put on the spotlight in terms of how it distributed bursaries to needy students.

An analysis of the records from the sampled beneficiaries list revealed that 54 students were evaluated and given bursaries of Sh289,000.

However, these beneficiaries did not have school admission numbers.

There was also a double allocation of bursaries amounting to Sh225,100 to 37 students who had identical student and parent details but were listed as coming from different wards.

In addition, the auditors also noted that there was another double allocation of bursaries of Sh344,000 to 46 students who had identical student and parents’ details but were listed as coming from different schools.

It was also established that some 18 students were awarded double bursaries amounting to Sh416,000.

Each bursary ranged between Sh10,000 to Sh20,000 but no justifiable reasons were given for the double allocations.

The department is also said to have allocated Sh20,000,000 to 1,854 students whom were classified as special needy cases but no evidence was provide that this money was actually given out.

Auditors also raised concerns whether the value of money was achieved in several projects that are currently being undertaken by the devolved unit.

Top of the projects whose implementation has been flagged as irregular, is the ongoing construction of the new county headquarters that is taking place next to Kisii school.

The project, which is being done by a private company will gobble Sh500,000,000.

But auditors have queried why the contractor was paid an advance payment of Sh99,999,113 yet he had been deemed to be financially sound and there were no any exceptional circumstances that guaranteed this payment.

This was done in total disregard of section 146 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2025, which provides that contracts for works, goods or services may only be paid for after they are executed and approved by the accounting officer.

The Auditor General asked why the county government had to use another Sh24,921, 817 to renovate the old municipal building which hosts the current county executive offices yet it had other ambitions of building new county headquarters, a few metres from Kisii town.

A similar scenario has been raised in the ongoing construction of the county industrial and aggregation park in Bomachoge Borabu Constituency.

This park, whose construction fee is being co-shared with the national government was allocated Sh477,941,470 by the devolved unit.

The company, which was given the tender is said to have been given an advance payment of Sh95,588, 294 yet it had been deemed as financially stable.

“No evidence of exceptional circumstances that warranted the advance payment of the company deemed financially sound was provided,” the draft report said.

The Auditor General now wants the county government of Kisii to respond to these findings before it makes its final comment on the matter.

In a letter addressed to the county’s finance executive Kennedy Abincha, dated December 9, 2024, the Auditor General asked the county executive to submit its written responses within three days from the issue date, failure to which, the findings in the draft report would be taken as they were for further processing.

“Kindly submit your written responses to this draft Audit Report within three days from the date of this letter for further examination. If no comments are received by 11 December 2024, it will be assumed that you agree with the facts as stated and the report will be processed as it is for issue,” part of the letter signed by Dr Simon Nabosu on behalf of Auditor General Nancy Gathungu said.

The post Auditor Flags Astounding Misappropriation of Funds in Kisii County  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Ruto would be breaking the tradition where other presidents had been hosting the new year fetes in Mombasa.

He last year ushered in the new year in Nakuru.

In Kisii, South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, also Majority Chief Whip, in a tweet, welcomed the head of State to the County Capital.

“We are looking forward to hosting the President, this is definitely a special gesture to the community at large,” he later told this journalist in a text.

By late Monday, the Kisii State Lodge was a hive of activity with tents being hosted to accommodate about 1200 invitees.

Invites to journalists were however, yet to be formalized by Tuesday morning.

County Commissioner Joseph Kibet said they would be handled by Statehouse itself.

“What we have are general invites which have already been depleted,” he said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba was at hand leading the preparations ahead of Ruto landing in town.

County Police Commander Charles Kases said all was set for the event.

Surveillance appears to had been heightened in the streets of Kisii following fresh outburst of protests against a string of abductions in the country.

Already activists have fingered security agencies for orchestrating the abductions of bloggers critical of Ruto administration.

Police have since denied the claims.

The post Ruto to Usher in New Year in Kisii  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The Juhudi Africa communications executive, Benard Nyamwaro, was however, rescued by police officers after raising alarm through a proxy.

Speaking to journalists, Nyamwaro claimed the goons had descended on him while visiting the office of a senior Kisii County executive Friday afternoon.

He was accompanied by Cephas Tungai, also an activist.

“We were visiting him with a friend when a group of goons sauntered into the office and viciously attacked me,” he told journalists outside Kisii Central Police Station where he went to file a complaint.

He said he sustained injuries to the abdomen from the kicks the thugs rained on him.

Tungai witnessed the drama.

It was not immediately established what the vocal activist had gone to do at the County office when he was manhandled.

Nyamwaro is, however, known for being vocal in criticizing the County administration.

The post Vocal Kisii County Critic, Activist Injured in Office Scuffle  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The wife and children were stabbed with a knife, villagers and local administration officials confirmed .

The amorous elder identified as James Mose was rushed to hospital with machete injuries.

Bodies of the dead were found sprawled on the floor of their house Friday morning.

The killer suspect was reported to to had picked a quarrel with his father early late Thursday attacking and injuring him with a machete.

Later, he stormed his house in rage, butchered his two sons and wife in a suspected homicide.

Villagers at Riomuga, in Bomanyamasicho area said Mr James had for a while suspected his father of having an adulterous affair with his wife.

The incestuous relationship, villager said, later drove the suspect into drinking.

Weeks later he turned a sharp knife on his family wiping it out in maddening fury before hanging himself on house rafter.

Jane Onchoke, an aunt to the James, said the talk about the uncle involving himself in an incestuous relationship with his son’s wife was known well in the village and there had been various attempts at addressing it.

“It was no surprise then that he (James) had reached out to his father at night and attacked him with a machete. It was said that even the said woman even sired the two children killed in the carnage,” she told journalists.

Violet James, a villager elder, said as villager leaders, they had severally tried to intervene in the family dispute for a while but in vain.

“He had been lamenting that his dad was having sex with his wife and as leaders, including the chief had sat down to address it in vain,” she told journalists.

Area chief Douglas Onchari at certain point they had referred the matter to Nyanturago church where the two and their father were worshiping.

He said the pastor and elders tried to arbitrate and it appeared as if settled.

“It was actually talked over and personally i advised that because he (James)had another house near the shopping center to move there only a few days to be called and told he has killed his family,” he said.

The post Kisii Church Deacon Slaughters Wife, Children in Suspected Adulterous Affair  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

At Mwembe, in Kisii town they said the mounds of garbage along the access roads have remained uncollected for more than a week attracting flies and rodents.

In some swelling heaps, cows and goats from the neighborhood villages leisurely munch the food remains dumped there.

Gesare Osero, a shopkeeper, she keeps the door to her house closed all the time to keep flies away.

“I had bought sprays but there are are expensive, they are already eating into whatever little i am getting from this kiosk,” she told Kahawa Tungu.

John Kerosi, a businessman, said his young children had been wandering into the dumps.

“My son was coughing uncontrollably yesterday night and i suspect the garbage has something to do with this,” he said.

Most affected are traders at Menyinkwa, Mwembe, Milimani and Jogoo.

Down town, traders at the grocery market lamented constant delays in collecting garbage from the bins.

“There was a time this town was clean, not anymore. We can’t precisely explain what is going on at the moment,” said Jane Gesare, a fruit vendor.

She said even the number of buyers purchasing from them has shrunk considerably.

“Some now prefer going to the supermarket than coming here, we are registering loses.,with no other place to go we will continue to suffer,” she narrated.

In Keumbu, Nyaribari Chache, the market sweepers had been on strike for two years over salary arrears.

The traders voiced concern over delays by the municipal staff from collecting the garbage.

“We have raised this issue severally but the responses is tardy,” he said.

He had vowed to bring sanity during the period to the polls, it is sad we are not seeing the results.

“Severally he said he was to do with until angels in heaven get happy. Today only garbage greets us from each street. Governor kindly do something,” stated the trader.

At Magena, the traders said they may hold protests if the situation persists.

“Governor Arati, during the campaigns had promised to work like a donkey to improve services but that is not what we are seeing now,” said Rose Kemuma.

At Masimba, the town dwellers are disposing waste at a riverbank with some refuse washing down the streams,” said George Thomas.

The post Fury as Garbage Buries Kisii County Towns  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

He said no pain was being spared in the broad efforts aimed at ensuring no university is left struggling with debts by 2027.

Already the new university funding model has helped most universities significantly slash their pending bills, stated the CS.

Already Sh41 billion has since been disbursed to universities under the contested model easing pain among students struggling with fees challenges.

Migosi was speaking at Kisii University during its 13th graduation on Thursday.

The University alone has been servicing Sh1.7 billion in pending bills which has since been slashed down to Sh1.3 billion due to the funding model.

The CS strongly defend the funding model against a wave of attacks saying it still holds strong ray of hope for most students.

He also said many of the challenges that had been cited are being handled.

“As with any new initiative they are bound to be challenges and that is why the president has already drafted a committee to look at the model with view to streamlining the model,” Migosi stated.

The recommendations by the committee would significantly help the ministry to address any existent bottlenecks,” he stated .

“In the meantime we continue to urge our universities to accept all students when they are reporting for studies,“ Ogamba said.

He especially commended the Vice Chancellors for being understanding as the government moves to address the Grey issues in the model.

This year’s theme, “Knowledge without borders creating sustaining communications and enriching lives”, he said, resonates well with the needs by universities to strive to remain relevant in the fast moving world.

Migosi also advised universities to ensure all courses offered are properly accredited by recognized bodies.

At least 3700 graduands were conferred with various degrees and diplomas during the colorful event held at the University grounds.

University Chancellor Sara Ruto challenged the graduands to scout gor job opportunities beyond borders in the face of shrinking job market.

She asked the area political leaders to stand with the university as it crawls out to international stardom.

University Vice Chancellor Prof Nathan Ogechi told graduands to be be good Ambassadors as they step out the gates of the school.

“Graduation is not end to learning, it is only q step stone to more studying opportunities,” he cautioned the graduands

Kisii Governor Simba Arati who attended the event challenged university students to think innovation and be part of the solution society is looking for.

The post Gov’t Says No University Would be Saddled by Debts by 2027 appeared first on KahawaTungu.

By Wednesday, the employees said they are now mulling a strike to pressure Governor Simba Arati to pay them their dues.

They said they have gone without pay for more than two months pushing them deeper into misery.

So dire is the situation, angry staff said, that most work stationaries are now reporting dismal turnout of staff due to lack of fare.

“This is the second month am reporting to duty without salary. Back in my house all essentials including sugar, salt and flour have run out,” a female staff lamented.

The situation gets embarrassing with school children now back home for the December recess.

“This morning my grade four girl asked me why we are not buying sugar and bread each morning as we used to. You would want the earth to swallow you to forget when things get this bad,” said a staff member.

A male staff said their spouses had begun to pester them asking them where they were taking their money.

“Recently my wife came fuming and bursting on me accusing me of squandering all my money on prostitutes. No amount of explanations were making sense any more,” stated the victim.

“Without salaries, chances of holding a Christmas celebration for their families were slim,” he added.

“Imagine a whole government worker who cannot afford unga for chapati at home for his family? Shameful,” he said.

Some workers protested the poor working conditions citing lack of vital tools to do work.

“I work in an office requiring constant use of papers. With no fresh supplies in months we just come and idle in the offices and go home. There is nothing going on,” she said.

The post Pain as Arati Staff Face Christmas Without Money  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The meeting was underway when the goon set loose the insects which he had stashed inside a polythene bag.

The event resumed after the goon was cornered, clobbered and forced out of the venue.

The event held at historic Nyanturago playground in Nyaribari Chache was aimed at galvanizing unity the larger Nyaribari region unity.

Sitting local MPs Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache) and Daniel Manduku (Nyaribari Masaba) skipped it despite invites extended to them.

County Deputy Governor Elijah Obebo also sent apology through a proxy.

Sitting Ward Reps from both constituencies also absconded the invites but for aspirants angling for the seats in the coming polls .

Only Kisii Central MCA Wilfred Monyenye turned up among the elected.

Many that attended, however, vowed a fresh unity bid among the electorate from both Nyaribari Masaba and Nyaribari Chache ahead of the 2027 polls.

More and similar upcoming forums would gravitate around positioning the region in both national and local politics as an agenda even as the leaders leader sounded alarm over the diminishing stature and waning influence of the region’s politics years after the death of political fathers Simeon Nyachae and Andrew Omanga.

“Today was just the start but going forward we shall be engaging our leaders to leverage our bargaining power in all levels of governance,” stated Rachel Otundo who unsuccessfully vied for the Kisii Woman Representative seat.

She said the region would continue to lag behind in the absence of unity among the leaders.

“It pains that a people initially united, a people trusted to make key decisions for the community are now being used as doormats. We were here to say no to this,” she told journalists during a briefing.

Lawyer Fred Orora who read the memoranda said the Monday function provided the region with a refreshing start on how it will be engaging in politics.

“There are definitely very sobering lessons that we have learnt , we are determined to slowly crawl back to where we initially were,” he said.

We must come together to leverage our bargaining power and the time is now, he said.

“It is not about where we begun from but where we are determined to to head to after these deliberations,” he said.

He hailed the forum as a watershed that would turn the tide of Nyaribari politics.

Isaac Ogero, from Nyaribari Masaba, said the forum at the historic venue was decisive and offers solid political direction to the residents.

“We must tame our appetite to field so many candidates in polls which only fritters away important opportunities to put in power credible leaders,” he stated.

Samuel Siriako from Nyaribari Masaba said there must be voice in the concerted voice to bring unity to the region.

“Without unity we can achieve little, our children would continue to rot at home, let’s be more deliberate in identifying crucial investment opportunities for our region” , he said.

John Sagero, from Nyaribari Chache said all fear was now gone in the quest to tackle issues troubling the region.

“We must entertain honest conversations about ourselves and important issues that are dear to us ,”, he told the dozens who turned up.

He said as a people we must shun violence.

“Let us begin to instill key values in our children from now. We must also stand strong and support those elected into office amongst us.”

“Let’s start by seeking forgiveness from those who we have already fought off power among them CS Machogu and Monda,” he said.

Christopher Matara reminisced moments when Nyaribari was firmly united.

He said the time is now that we must water the same unity, grow ot again.

Samuel Ocharo said With 180000 votes the region has opportunity to redeem itself.

Other leaders include James Kenani and ex-Nyaribari Masaba MP Elija Moindi.

The post Bees Nearly Scatter Nyaribari Leaders’ Unity Bid in Kisii  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The County, said an aggrieved staff, had sent army of more than 500 staff empty handed to the sports event.

The event is held rotationally among the participating devolved units across the country.

Protesting staff from Kisii and who played in Kakamega said the governor had promised that the allowances were to be paid shortly before leaving for Western but by Tuesday there was no money reflecting in their accounts.

“Today is the second week and nothing is in the accounts… ,” the source told Kahawa Tungu early Tuesday.

He said life was already becoming unbearable in the face of delayed payments.

Another staffer narrated how they had to resort to emergency services because some participants fainted because of hunger.

“Such is the shame…. In fact with little motivation you can guess none of us got selected to proceed to the upcoming event,” he said.

Another staffer spoke of the County constantly delaying their salaries thus affecting their chances of securing loans from local banks.

“There had been salary payments since he (Arati) took over as governor, looks like people elected a crisis into the office,” added another aggrieved staffer.

A female staffer lamented using her savings for travel, accommodation and food during the Kakamega sports event as she hoped and waited for the non-existent allowances.

“You can magine the wrath from an agitated landlord and the grocery dealers whose debts are piling up as we press the Governor to pay us our money,” she told journalists in Kisii Tuesday.

The landlord has threatened to kick us out by the weekend, the single mum disclosed.

“Please Mr Arati wherever you’re and if you happen to read this, kindly pay us our dues, our children are starving,” she said.

The County’s sports executive Eric Miyienda admitted non payment of the dues.

He however said more other counties are affected and not Kisii alone.

“It is a problem that cuts across the board, let them indulge patience,” Miyienda spoke by phone.

The post Angry Kisii County Staff Read Riot Act on Arati Over Delayed Kicosca Dues appeared first on KahawaTungu.