CANDLE NEWS KENYA

Groups plant 3,000 trees to conserve Embu river The Kenya School of Government (KSG) joined hands with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and residents of Mbuvori location in Embu County to conserve Thambana River. The initiative saw the groups plant over 3, 000 indigenous and exotic trees along the river course to mitigate climate change in the region, which borders the Mt Kenya forest water tower. KSG Director General Dr Ludeki Chweya said they planted plenty of bamboo trees since it is suitable in the area. He said by rehabilitating and conserving the riverine areas through tree planting the aim is for the regions to receive adequate rainfall that would support the Big Four agenda of food security. “We have started by planting trees in the upper wet regions of Embu. We will plant trees in the dry lower regions of Eastern in the next rainy season. We appeal to all citizens to take up call to plant trees and mitigate against desertification,” he said. Chweya who

Groups wants politicians to keep off fresh subdivision of scheme land BY REPORTER A section of residents has reawakened calls to divide afresh the disputed Mwea settlement scheme in Mbeere South Embu-county. The Nyangi Ndiiriri cultural group wants the National government to exclude politicians in demarcating and allocating  the 44,000 acre scheme land for the exercise succeed. The group led by their chairman Andrew Ireri accused politicians of using the scheme distribution issue as a campaign tool to bag votes in the process scuttling its fair distribution. In 2016, the Embu County Government in conjunction with the National Land Commission subdivided the land and issued 7,232 title deeds but many residents claimed they were left out. Attempts to resettle the beneficiaries turned bloody and it was called off. The Nyangi elders want President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and have the land distributed to the deserving beneficiaries. To minimise unfairness in the

Walk raises money to build home for HIV positive children BY KAMUNDIA MURIITHI Pupils from primary schools near Embu town joined adults in a 10km walk to raise funds for the construction of a home for orphaned and abandoned HIV positive children. The walk also purposed at fighting stigma and discrimination against HIV positive people . Toto Love Children Home which has for 13 years provided an abode for neglected children and those living with HIV plans to relocate to bigger premises to accommodate more children. The home organised the Saturday walk which culminated in a fundraiser at St Paul’s Cathedral Grounds. The Founder, Ruth Ndwiga said the 17 kids under their care live in a rented three-bedroom house at Spring Valley Estate. Two house mothers and two volunteers from Germany also live in the same house. Ms Ndwiga said they are unable to take in more children due to constraint of facilities yet they get requests to accommodate more kids. The Kenya HIV