NYANZA LEADERS COME OUT GUN BLAZING IN PROTECTION OF KISUMU POLICE

BY OMARI AKELLO

SHARP divisions have emerged between Nyanza leaders over what appears to be baseless allegations that the local police are colluding with criminals and that nepotism is the order of the day at Kisumu police station.

The leaders were reacting to constant scathing attack at Kisumu police by one of the Weekly Newspaper that screamed two weeks in a row accusing the local police of corruption.

The Weekly Citizen Newspaper widely known for its extremist recently embarked on carelessly attacks on Kisumu police even as locals hails the current police formation for the peaceful environment they have been enjoying of late as oppose to per-reshuffle when insecurity was the order of the day at the lake side city.

In what appears to be outright malicious war against the current crop of security in the region wild claims emerged that insecurity within Kisumu town was attributed to a dangerous criminal aided by senior police officers within central police Station to escape from police custody.

According to the story, the criminal is operating with full protection of a senior police officer in the area and is the man who gives him daily updates of police operation, an information angled to help him escape police dragnet whenever he's marked as the target.

However investigations by a number of concerned bodies including SCOOPDESK have revealed that the current war against the regional police is something well oiled by political leaders bent to ensure that they have their cronies posted in the area.

Reliable statistics fully supports the theory with indications that criminal activities in the area has drastically declined under the current police structure and many interviewed expressed their satisfaction on the level of security.

TNA activist James Kirunda was quick to add that those attacking the current police order in the region were leaders with questionable interest as their aim was to see Kisumu become a town of lawlessness where security personal can be intimidated by politicians.

Kirunda challenged those aggrieved by security structure in Kisumu to consult constitution as opposed to their weird thinking that only Luos should head every department in Nyanza, a foolish interpretation of devolution.

The leaders who have singled out hardworking officers surprised many with their constant protest that security in Kisumu has a full tribal picture a fact that has been roundly rubbished.

Evidently Kisumu Police structure is infested by ''boys'' from Rift valley and not from the OCS's tribal, Kikuyu has claimed by the leaders.

In one the recent meeting and which SCOOPDESK planted a mole the same leaders unanimously agreed on ensuring that they put pressure on the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to ensure that the current crop of senior police officers in Kisumu are replaced by another ''friendly'' group, and that was their agenda number four.

KISUMU WOMEN REP CALLS ON YOUTH TO FORM SACCOs

BY OMARI AKELLO
Kisumu County women  representative Rose Nyamunga has called on boda boda operators across Nyanza to consider forming SACCOs as away of fast tracking development in the region.

Nyamunga told boda boda operators and those in the matatu sector in the region to embrace the idea noting that it has worked well in other areas across the country.

Speaking after presiding over a funds drive to over 200 boda boda operators at Ojola Kisumu County, Nyamunga said she was ready to exploit her position in ensuring that Youths in the region realize full development through SACCOs.

And while speaking in a separate meeting in a Kisumu hotel where women from the region were train women on how to access and handle Uwezo funds, Nyamunga urged the beneficiaries not to divert the funds to other avenues but to channel it to the intended purposes.

Accompanied by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's wife Ida Odinga, she expressed disappointment that in most cases money has not been well managed by the beneficiaries.

She said Uwezo fund was all round friendly unlike other lenders with the history of harassing their beneficiaries despite the high interest rate slapped on them.

Nyamunga pledged that immediately after the women benefited from the Uwezo fund she would introduce fish farming projects across the county and would ensure that every village prospers in every project they have identified.  

NIS UNDER MORE FIRE AS PRESSURE MOUNTS ON SPY AGENCY TO PRODUCE TERROR EVIDENCE

PRESSURE now mounts on Kenyan spy agency to produce evidence on a tycoon the unit sensationally marked as a terror man cleared in work permit scandal by Interior cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku.

A section of top government officials and investors in the country have challenged the troubled National Intelligence service to table evidence in support of its claim that the Pakistani national Mohammed Igbal Wasim a deadly terrorist engaged in organic crime,money laundering and financing Al-Shabaab.

Mr. Wassim was slapped with the allegations and subsequent  permit cancellation following a hot letter from the National Intelligence service to the department of immigration that demanded the businessman permit application be cancelled.

It took the intervention of the CS Ole Lenku to have Wasssim get a work permit after those behind the controversial permit cancellation failed to support their action with evidence. 

Those behind the Interior CS Ole Lenku have described him as a true professional when he declined to recommend action against Wassim on the basis of his brother and his subsequent order to NIS to provide his office with evidence.

The unfolding drama brings to the minds of many a pending case at Kisumu court in which another Pakistani has been   accused of harbouring   illegal immigrant at the lake side City.

The controversial Pakistani businessman  was arrested after word leaked that the brother he was accused of harbouring was secretly jetted into the country a head of the drug haul intercepted in Mombasa.

The family which is not new to troubles had to fight hard throwing money after their  father another business tycoon  was dramatically arrested with 150kgs and deported before the then Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang ostensibly silently intervened and have him back in Kenya.

Sources familiar with their crime and drug deals indicated that the Old man has been hiding in Mombasa four years down the line from the time he was sneaked back into the country and it's at the coastal side where he's said to have graduated in the shoddy deals and boats of local security protection.

The twin cases coupled with current insecurity in the country have led to chorus condemnation of the two pivotal units in the nation, the NIS and the department of immigration as pressure mounts on President Kenyatta to stage a serious overhaul in the two units.


             

EBOLA THREAT IN KISUMU AS RESIDENTS PROTEST ''PANYA ROUTES'' USED BY UGANDANS INTO KENYA

 BY OMARI AKELLO

THE rapid illegal entrance of Ugandans into Kenya through lake victoria has caused Ebola scare as East Africa remains on the alert of the deadly disease that has swept across West Africa.

Residents of Kisumu have called on the government's intervention to stop with immediate effect those entering Kenya at night through ''panya routes'' after the government heightened screening at the official borders.

Led by regional TNA activist James Kirunda, the residents are scared that those entering the country through such illegal routes can easily transport the disease into the country.

Investigations by SCOOPDESK have also revealed most Ugandans entering Kenya now preferred illegal routes after the government issued border alert on the disease.

A spot check at  a beach next to prestigious Yatch Club   in Kisumu revealed that most of those using ''panya route'' are chorcaol traders from Uganda and the security and the locals have remained tight-lipped over the matter as claim action against them would amount to economical devastation.

While addressing press conference in Kisumu, Kirunda asked the county government to move with speed in ensuring that the  illegal entrance into Kenya is controlled as that was the only way to keep the deadly disease at bay.

KISUMU TNA ACTIVIST RUBISHES REFERUDUM CALL

 BY OMARI AKELLO

KISUMU TNA activist James Kirunda has rubbished calls for referendum terming it a waste of national resources.

Addressing a press conference in Kisumu Kirunda noted that a lot of cash will be channeled at referendum at the expense of  reasonable projects.

He called on  those behind the call to reconsider their stand by joining other leaders in building the nation instead of putting the country on camapaign mood just few months after the general elections.

Kirunda who was flanked by over 30 other activists said those calling for the national referendum are self seekers who want to mislead the masses by diverting the attention of the government from implementing promises made to the voters.

 

COCA-COLA PARTNERS WITH THE OFFICE OF KISUMU COUNTY WOMEN REP TO INITIATE PROJECTS

BY OMARI AKELLO

EQUATOR bottlers has partnered with the office of Kisumu Women representative to boost sanitation in the region.

Speaking recently after signing the partnership the two parties said that the move will also see implementation  of a number of other projects in the area.

Under the partnership COCA-COLA has pledged to offer loans to small and medium businesses as well as giving help to talented youth.

COCA-COLA company boast of numerous projects that have improved the living standard of the locals.

Kisumu women rep Rose Nyamunga has hailed the gesture and promised to work closely with the company in ensuring that development is rapidly realized in the lakeside region.

Nyamunga challenged other corporate bodies to take cue from COCA-COLA by initiating projects  under corporate social responsibility.

The women rep promised that her office will ensure that the county government does not demolish property of COCA-COLA unlike in the past.

ROT AT COUNTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE TRANS NZOIA

According to a report by Auditor general, the Office of the County Commisioner, Trans Nzoia, made a payment of Kshs.764,250.00 to a communications company and Kshs.1,175,000.00 to an office equipment supplier on 7 June 2013 and 11 June 2013 respectively, for the supply of communication equipment to be used by the County Executive and the County Assembly.

However, quotations were not invited for the supply of the equipment and no explanation has been provided as to how the prices were determined.

Further, the Local Purchase Order supporting payment of Kshs.1,175,000.00 to an office equipment supplier, had initially been issued to another company. No reason or documentary evidence has been provided to support why the payment of Kshs.1,175,000.00 was made to the latter company instead of the former which had initially been issued with the order.

The Office of the County Commissioner also made payments totalling to

Kshs.864,200.00 to two firms for the supply of furniture. The first company was paid an amount of Kshs.660,200.00 on 18 April 2013 while the second was paid an amount of Kshs.204,000.00 on 19 April 2013. It was noted that the two firms are the only ones that submitted quotations instead of the required minimum of three.

Additional furniture worth Kshs.1,134,800.00 was ordered from a third company and paid for in full on 24 June 2013. However, the furniture was bought through single sourcing and no reason has been provided for not using the competitive bidding process as required by the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005.