CANDLE NEWS KENYA

University of Embu plans to have lecturers acquire PHD FILEX MURIITHI FROM RIGHT: Gen. Sec. Church Army Africa Rev. Capt. Dr. Danson Kihwaga, Mbeere ACK Bishop Moses Masamba, UoE VC Daniel Mugendi and Rev. Dr. Robinson Kariuki, principal Kabaare College The University of Embu (UoEm) has laid out plans to ensure all her lecturers acquire a PHD within the shortest time possible, the vice chancellor has said. This is in the move to comply with the Commission for University Education (CUE) that all lecturers must acquire a PHD degree by October this year for them to qualify to teach in universities. “Acquiring a PHD is a process. As a university, we have a plan to ensure our lecturers acquire it very soon as they continue to teach. Our aim is that every lecturer in our institution will attain a PHD at the long and we have a road map and a process to make sure we achieve this soon,” said Prof. Daniel Mugendi. Speaking during the annual Diocese of Mbeere ACK church

Embu County Assembly to legislate on Ksh 6.6 Million budget BY JOEY KIMEU The County Assembly has reallocated more than Ksh 100 Million meant for settling of County Government pending bills to development projects for lack of supporting documents. The Legislature had earlier approved a budgetary allocation of Ksh 110 Million in the 2019/2020 Financial Year for payment of authenticated County Government pending bills in adherence to prudent financial management, but upon scrutiny, it was observed that there were no supporting documents availed in support of the pending bills. The amount was therefore reallocated to finance other development priority projects except Ksh 7.8 Million for the pending bills in the Education Science and Technology docket which were supported. The county has been grappling with pending bills from contractors and suppliers totalling to Ksh 1.3 Billion and had factored about Ksh 100 Million in the 2018/2019 budget. I

Tobacco farming still popular in parts of Mbeere BY JOEY KIMEU For several decades, tobacco was a popular cash crop for many farmers in Mbeere North sub-county of Embu County. They would sell their produce to the British American Tobacco (BAT), which had contracted them. From the proceeds, they were able to educate their children, build permanent houses, buy property and do other home developments. This changed when BAT exited the Embu tobacco market and many farmers who were left without a reliable market for their produce switched the crop for miraa or horticultural farming. However, a handful of farmers held on to tobacco cultivation and have no regrets for farming the controversial crop. Mzee Severino Thitima from Gatituri village grows tobacco in an acre of land, which yields an average of 500kgs per season. He sells it at Sh300 per kilogram at the local market and thus pockets Sh150,000. The crop takes six months to grow and mature, from the nursery

Runyenjes students get Sh8 million in bursaries BY EMMA MUGECHI Students in need of school fees from Runyenjes Central Ward in Embu County have a reason to smile after area MCA Steve Simba disbursed bursaries amounting to Sh8 million. The students had waited for close to two terms for the county bursaries. Speaking at Runyenjes social hall, Simba said 1877 secondary and college students benefitted. The MCA who is also the Deputy Speaker told parents and teachers that all the students from poor family backgrounds who had applied for money had been considered. “We vetted the applicants and all of them qualified to be awarded bursaries. However, the amount each of them got depended on some factors including the level of education and whether the applicant was an orphan or not including other factors,” he said. He said each student in secondary school received between Sh3, 000 to Sh5, 000 while those in colleges received Sh8, 000 each adding that he is committe

Mbarire and Kivuti in early campaigns to succeed Wambora BY KAMUNDIA MURIITHI A calm that prevailed in the Embu political scene for over a year since Governor Martin Wambora was elected for his second and final term has now been broken by aspirants seeking to succeed him. Nominated MP Cecily Mbarire and former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti have announced their aspiration for the powerful Embu governorship position in 2022, albeit for a second time, after failing to clinch it in 2017. The two are popular, influential and have a grassroots network that they will use to endear themselves to the voters. Pundits expect that the duo have set the stage for other aspirants to commence series of activities that would popularise them for the elections due in 2022. Ms Mbarire made the announcement recently while attending church at AIC Gategi in Mbeere South sub-county, where she also made a case for electing of female governors. Ms Mbarire was in the race in 2017 but lost in

Special groups to benefit from Embu’s business expo BY CORRESPONDENT People with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups will have an opportunity to exhibit their products, services and talents in an upcoming Special Groups Business Expo in Embu town. The expo to be held at the Embu Talent Academy on July 5 will also acquaint the special groups with knowhow on applying for government tenders and securing funding. According to the organiser, Rindi Group Ltd, the expo will be the first of its kind in the country targeting only the special interest groups. Wangui Kaweru, the Rindi Group CEO, said even though Government rules stipulate that 30 percent of its Procurement opportunities be reserved for women, youth and persons with disabilities, many in the target groups lack the know how or resources to utilize the opportunity. Ms Kaweru calls on the government to facilitate the special groups by easing access to funds set for them such as the Youth Fund. She says

Embu’s fishy land deal spurs hot debate at Assembly BY JOEY KIMEU County said to have secretly received Sh50.8 million refund of money in secretive land deal A ward representative has exposed an alleged corrupt dealing where the Embu County Government is said to have secretly receive a Sh50.8 million refund of monies paid to two individuals to purchase a controversial parcel of land at the Mwea Settlement Scheme. In 2017, the County Government was said to have irregularly allocated two parcels of land in Makima Ward to individuals at no cost. The devolved government then bought the land back from the beneficiaries at a consolidated price of Sh60 million for the unapproved highly confidential purpose of establishing a luxury resort next to Masinga Dam. Makima MCA Phillip Nzangi today said acquisition of land parcel numbers 4531 and 4045 through Njeru Ithiga and Company Advocates and from Njue and Company Advocates at Sh23 million and Sh7 million respectively has s

Embu e-passport office to lessen long queues in Nairobi BY JOEY KIMEU Kenyans in Central, Eastern and North Eastern regions can now acquire their e-passports at the Embu immigration office instead of travelling to Nairobi. Those applying for e-passports in Nairobi have borne the inconvenience of long queues as thousands of Kenyans scramble to acquire the travel document ahead of the August 31 deadline. The Embu e-passport office was officially opened on Friday by Director of Immigration Services Alexander Mutesh. Mutesh cautioned Kenyans against relying on brokers in applying of e-passports saying they may end losing their money whereas the service is available in relevant government offices that are staffed with committed employees. Those making new applications for e-passports wait for 21 days to have the document processed while those replacing old passports that are being phased out wait for only 14 days. Mutesh said medical cases were handled quickly wi

School dormitory, residential plot gutted in evening fire BY JOEY KIMEU Property running into millions of shillings was reduced to ashes in two separate incidences of fire in Embu County; at a school dormitory and at Dallas estate. No one was injured in both infernos that started at around 8pm and whose cause is yet to be established. In Dallas estate of Embu town, a residential plot of about 10 timber houses was gutted by a fierce fire. Nothing was salvaged. Samuel Ngari, who lost all his property in the fire said they heard an explosion like that from a gas cylinder and within no time the houses were engulfed in fire. “Because the of timber walls, the fire spread very fast. We were unable to extinguish it and had to wait for the Embu fire fighters who took too long to respond and arrived when everything had been razed down. If they arrived earlier, perhaps we could have minimised the losses,” he said, Kirimari Ward MCA Morris Nyaga the delay by the fire fight

County disburses Sh103 million bursaries as 10,000 applicants unsuccessful BY JOEY KIMEU More than 10,000 applicants for the Sh103 million Embu County Government bursaries were unsuccessful. Even though that was the county’s highest allocation issued in a single financial year, the applications were many and they considered the neediest cases, according to the fund manager Jeremiah Ireri. Ireri revealed that out of the 35,000 applicants only 23,400 were awarded the bursaries that would help pay their school or college fees. Secondary schools took the lion share amounting to Sh58 million while the rest was shared among special schools, vocational training centres, universities and colleges. Speaking during the bursary launch at St Benedict Kithimu Secondary School, Ireri who is county acting Education chief officer called on MCAs to consider increasing the bursary kitty so that as many applicants benefit. Education CEC John Kiamati who was the chief guest said the

Police asked to beef up security following robbery cases BY JOEY KIMEU Traders in Runyenjes town, Embu County have called for intensified night patrols and intelligence gathering by the police officers following cases robbery break ins On Friday around 1am, a gang broke into a butchery and a bar in the town and stole property whose value is yet to be ascertained. The proprietor Taratisio Kawe who was away at that time said his wife who was sleeping in another room heard the robbers breaking into the premises and she called him. Kawe said he immediately phoned security officers and police officers led by Runyenjes deputy OCS responded urgently. “The robbers had carted several equipment and property outside the premises when the police arrived. On sighting the police, they fled with some of the property and money,” he said. Five days earlier, robbers had broken into the premises of a beer distributor about 100metres away from Kawe’s premises

Clergy "cleanses" newly tarmacked, but killer road The clergy of various churches in Embu County and their congregation recently held thanksgiving and cleansing prayer walk on the recently tarmacked Kianjokoma-Kanja road. Tarmacked in January, the road has claimed more than 10 lives through motorcycle, vehicles and bicycles accidents, according to Kagaari North West location chief, Mark Nyaga. The worshippers who were led by Redeemed Gospel Church Bishop, Rev Samuel Nginyi and St Joseph Kianjokoma Parish, Fr Robert Namu made an 8km procession along the road. They made 10 stops to pray and pour anointing oil, making a symbol of the cross. The event started with briefing and prayers at Kianjokoma Parish where Rev Nginyi said the clergy had put aside their differences for the interdenominational prayers. “The tarmacked road is a blessing to us, but it has also brought deaths and injuries. God promised us that when his people repent of their sins and turn to him in prayers

Embu: Close relatives likely to sexually exploit children Most cases of sexual harassment against children in Embu County are perpetrated by close relatives or people expected to play a parental role to the minors in schools and places of worship. Embu County Coordinator of Children Services Davelyne Mundi said in many cases, people who defile or sexually harass children escape scot-free as they resolve the cases at homes. Mundi condemned sexual harassment and exploitation of the children as well as the perpetrators walking away unpunished, pointing out that it leaves the children traumatised and in bitterness. “Sexual offences perpetrated by close relatives are hard to follow up. Others are never reported as relatives resolve the matters out of court. We urge family members or neighbours who get wind of such unfortunate things to report to us,” said Mundi Addressing participants during The Day of African Child at Embu stadium, Mundi said child labour was another ramp

Embu to set up oxygen plant at level five hospital   BY JOEY KIMEU The County Assembly has approved the allocation of Sh88 million for the establishment of an ultramodern oxygen plant at the Embu Level Five Hospital. According to Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Harrison Mwaluko, the plant will be the largest in Kenya and will be able to supply oxygen to all public hospitals in the county and also sell the surplus to private hospitals across the country. “The plant has the capacity of working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to produce oxygen gas in large-scale volumes,” he said. The Mwea MCA expressed confidence that the problem of shortage of oxygen which has bedevilled the county for the last two years will be addressed with finality. He said the county would also experience a boost in local revenue generation resulting from sale of oxygen. He spoke during a County Assembly plenary sitting to consider the second Supplementary Budget for the 20

BY CORRESPONDENT Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi has been advised to vie for the presidency in 2022 instead of waiting to be picked as Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate. Former Transport Permanent Secretary Dr Cyrus Njiru said Muturi had what it takes to win the country’s big seat and should not go for a lower seat, as a section of MPs from Embu and neighbouring counties have been lobbying for. Dr Njiru who was a gubernatorial candidate in Embu in the last general election cited Muturi’s extensive experience in leadership as an elected MP for Siakago constituency for two terms, as a speaker for two terms in addition to his training in law and having worked as a magistrate. “As a speaker, Muturi is well known all over Kenya and has more experience than some of the people eyeing the presidency seat. Why should he settle for anything less? I’m ready to campaign for him all over Kenya and if need be I can shelve my political ambitions for his,”

BY JOEY KIMEU Users of Kamumu- Kanyuambora road in Mbeere North, Embu County have protested the slow pace of work by a contractor, which has rendered the road almost impassable. Their dissatisfaction culminated in bodaboda operators blocking the road by digging trenches across IT and planting banana stems to protest the delay in finishing the road construction. They faulted the contractor for heaping murram without levelling it hence blocking the road. Joel Nyamu, a boda boda operator, said crisscrossing the lumps of murram heaps is a tough hustle while school children find it hard walking to school. “When the graders were removed, they left a lot of loose soil along the road which predisposes us to frequent accidents,” said Nyamu. Another rider, Njiru Njeru said the residents and schools along the roads are suffering due to the heavy dust blown whenever there is wind or vehicles pass along the road. He suggested that the contractor should have sprinkled w

BY EMMA MUGECHI Villagers have retrieved the body of a middle-aged man who was buried alive when the latrine he was digging at Gichugu Primary school in Embu County caved in and collapsed on him. The exercise took more than 24 hours by villagers using spades and later using an excavator from SS Meta Contractor excavator, which was working on a nearby road. The victim, James Kinyua, was working together with his brother Paul Sephane and they had reached 34ft when the accident happened on Tuesday. Sephane says he worked his shift inside the hole from 7.30am until 12.30pm when they took a break for lunch. “In the afternoon Kinyua was digging and we had reached the day’s target when the hole just collapsed. I screamed to alert the people,” he said adding that they had started work on Tuesday last week. He said they had been working together since year 2000 and could dig a 30ft toilet in just four days, but even with their experience they had not seen signs of colla

BY JOEY KIMEU Property of unknown value was burned down by a fire that engulfed a dormitory at Kanja Secondary School in Embu East sub county on Wednesday evening. The inferno started at around 8pm when the students were in class for preps and no one was injured.  The cause of the inferno in the 100 student capacity dorm is yet to be established even though police are investigating. Speaking in the school, a teacher who sought anonymity said the cause of fire had not yet been established but police officers are investigating. A teacher who sought anonymity as he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the school said locals responded to screams from students and managed to contain the fire but it was too late to salvage the students’ properties. Boxes, uniforms, bedding, beds and books were reduced to ashes and charred debris. Parents who had visited the school yesterday morning to find out the status of their children demanded for an explanation on the scores of

BY JOEY KIMEU Speaker Josiah Thiriku welcoming  Governor Wambora at a past event Embu Ward Representatives have been sternly warned against fighting Governor Martin Wambora’s administration on the floor of the County Assembly by shooting down his requests. Deputy Speaker Steve Simba singled out Nominated MCA Margaret Lorna Kariuki as having tried to quash Governor Wambora’s proposals to fund various items in the second Supplementary Budget for the 2018/2019 Financial Year. He said the Supplementary Budget contained proposals from the County Executive and therefore asserted that opposing the budget was a direct attack on the Governor. The Runyenjes Central MCA warned Kariuki and any other MCA opposing Wambora that they risked “rotting in (political) hell” due to the resultant loss of popularity amongst the electorate. He cautioned that firebrand Ward Reps may be doing disservice to their political careers without their knowledge by posing as opponents of every pr

BY CANDLE NEWS CORRESPONDENT UoE VC, Prof Daniel Mugendi samples coffee prepared by experts  from Beanstitute The University of Embu has partnered with Beanstitute to revive the ailing coffee sector in Embu and neighbouring counties. Beanstitute promotes a coffee consumption culture and offers coffee educations in the   countryh. The two institutions will work closely in coffee research and provision of extension and training to farmers to build their capacity to increase coffee production and quality. Vice Chancellor, Prof Daniel Mugendi signed the memorandum on behalf of the university while Sophie Mukua represented Beanstitute. Prof Mugendi said the pact will seek to help farmers reap better yields and returns from their farming the way the industry was years ago. “Together with our partners such as Beanstitute and Fair Trade Organisation, we hope to reach farmers and work with them to take coffee farming back to where it was years back as a top income e