CANDLE NEWS KENYA

The two suspects stripped naked after being nabbed presenting fake  The two suspects stripped naked  after being nabbed presenting fake  A man and a woman who allegedly presented forged currency to an Mpesa agent in Embu town, intending to pass it as genuine money were arraigned in an Embu magistrate’s court Geoffrey Kamau Maina and Elizabeth Wanjiru Kamau were charged with being in possession of Sh30,000 in forged currency. They denied the offence before Embu Resident Magistrate Samuel Mutai who released them on a Sh100,000 bond with surety in similar amount, or a Sh50,000 bail. The court heart that together with others still at large, they were found in possession of Sh19,000 part of which they had allegedly presented to Pawasmart Investment Limited Mpesa. Kamau also faced a different count of being in possession of an additional Sh11,000 in forged currency. They were accused of committing the offence on April 20, 2018 and the money p...

Runyenjes Central MCA Steve Simba Embu MCAs have challenged Governor Martin Wambora to consult his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya on effective stadia construction techniques. The MCAs who spo ke after touring Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County to see what a well-constructed sports arena should look like, in a bid to salvage the stalled Embu Moi Stadium said Wambora had a lot to learn from Oparanya in terms of quality construction, utilisation of funds and timely delivery. Runyenjes Central MCA Steve Simba also proposed that all 33 Embu Ward Reps pay a courtesy call onthe Kakamega Governor after the 5th Devolution Conference to try and understand how he has managed to upgrade the iconic stadium in a short time, while Embu is still struggling to pump funds into a white elephant. He said the speed at which the Bukhungu stadium was build, plus the quality of construction was a dream that seemed unattainable in Embu County and urged for consultative dialogue after the...

The University of Embu is in the process of establishing an innovation centre to help in supporting new and innovative ideas that will provide solutions to local problems in the community. The institution plans to partner with the Embu County Government and other stakeholders to establish the multi-million facility would be used to offer training on innovations and research. According to an official Dr. Milca Nyaga the areas of training will be those of high impact and value to the society in sectors such as agriculture, health, forestry, energy among others. Residents will also be trained on new innovations to be at par with others across the world, they will also be allowed to benchmark at the centre so as to embrace the ideas in their areas of work. “There are many creative ideas that need to be developed to major innovations that can be used to solve local problems. This should be the way to go instead of relying on government interventions or foreign aid. This will be ou...

Embu County Assembly Clerk Jim Kauma Uraia Trust’s Executive Director Grace Maingi  The public and the state departments oversighting counties have been challenged to give the 47 devolved units time to perform their core development functions before criticising them. Speaking at his office after receiving a team of Civil Educators from Uraia Trust, the Embu County Assembly Clerk Jim Kauma, the electorate was exhibiting too much negative energy, consequently disorienting the elected Ward Representatives. He said attacking an MCA allegedly due to non-performance barely six months after elections was rush and unfair. He cautioned that Kenyans might experience a high turnover of leaders because some gave up on pursuing development projects due to unnecessary pressure from the electorate.Kauma said exercising patience over the leaders’ elective term, then giving credit where it is deserved would prove more beneficial in the long run than overwhelming politicians with “hum...

Embu County has secured deals totalling to Sh321 billion worth of investments that were pledged during the just concluded second investors conference. Most of the areas of investments will be in green energy, value addition industries, financial services, mining and, manufacturing. About 300 local and international investors participated in the conference. Deputy Governor David Kariuki said the investors had committed to establishing their mega projects in the coming months and that that the county government would support them touch base quickly. “This would open up the many opportunities that the county has and will enable us achieve the county’s transformative agenda. Jobs will be created, idle land would be utilized and this will create space for development,” he said. Speaking during the closing of the conference, Kariuki called for political tolerance to enable the county to benefit from the pledged deals. He said if it were not for the political turmoil th...

Kithumbu speaks to Mwea Settlement Scheme beneficiaries at Umau Grounds.   The final phase of surveying and subdividing the 44,000 acre Mwea settlement scheme takes place this week when lands officials will assign beneficiaries their respective parcels on the ground. Embu County Lands Executive Josphat Kithumbu revealed the controversial scheme, which is located in Mbeere South, had been divided into 34 blocks comprising individual parcels totaling 7,232 pieces. Speaking when alongside the county security team, they met the beneficiaries at Umau Grounds on Monday, Kithumbu said the beneficiaries will be taken to their parcels on three different days. Showdown, however, looms as current settlers in the scheme who are discontent in the way the sub-division was done have vowed to oppose the settlement of beneficiaries on the land. As the Umau meeting continued, the squabbling residents held a meeting at Makima area where they claimed the subdivision was unfairly undone and...

A senior Embu County Government official has proposed that teachers should earn more money than county ministers due to their huge workload. Embu education executive member John Kiamati said teachers pocket meagre salaries despite contributing heavily to nation building, and many were suffering as a result. . “I have been a teacher and I am now a CEC member. I can assure the Commission that the work of CEC members is even a bit lesser than that of a teacher. Therefore in job evaluation, we expect a teacher to earn more than a CEC member,” he said. Kiamati recounted to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) chair Lydia Nzomo and hundreds of teachers how he was first employed on a salary of Sh3,000 minus any allowance in 1,992 and rose through the ranks to become a principal. He said whereas teachers today earn much more than that plus various allowances, the ever rising cost of living reduces the purchasing power of what they get hence many are suffering. “I...

        Embu Ward MCAs have started impeachment proceedings against Deputy Speaker Steve Simba to protest against his alleged “ineffective hands-off leadership style.” At least 30 out of 33 MCAs endorsed the tabling of a Motion moved by Nominated MCA Edna Muisyo, stating that the entire August House had lost confidence in the Runyenjes Central MCA. The Motion at the same time demands that a fresh election to pick Simba’s successor be held within the next 10 days. The MCAs are accusing Simba of belittling his colleagues and being carried away by hefty allowances in endless during retreats by the County Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations committee, consequently failing to perform his duty as the conduit between MCAs and Speaker Josiah Thiriku. Simba is also charged of abdicating his housekeeping duty as chairman of the Liaison Committee. In addition, the Runyenjes Central MCA was said to have adopted dictatorial tendencies towards newly elected and nominate...

Embu County Government in partnership with local macadamia processors has introduced macadamia farming in the lower, semi-arid parts of the county where the crop is rarely grown. Governor Martin Wambora yesterday flagged off the first consignment of 5,000 macadamia seedlings for distribution to various parts of the semi-arid Mbeere region. The Murang’a 20 and Embu 1 varieties are expected to do well in the region and provide an alternative cash crop to khat (muguka/miraa) that is predominant there. For every seedling a farmer purchases, they will be provided with a similar amount free of charge in a bid to encourage them to embrace macadamia farming, according to Wambora. The seedlings were provided by Privamnuts Kenya Ltd, Ten Sense Africa Ltd and Afri China processors. A seedling costs Sh30 0 but Wambora said plans are underway to issue some seedlings for free to families in Mbeere that cannot afford to buy. The governor said despite Embu being the leading produ...

 “A section of residents have on social media criticised the idea to hold the conference saying it amounts to wastage of resources considering the first one did not yield much” A three-day investor’s conference aiming at maximising value addition of raw agricultural produce and setting up industries in Embu County starts tomorrow. Governor Martin Wambora said investors from America, Europe, Far East, Africa and locally had confirmed they would attend the conference that will be held at Kenya School of Government, Embu. Wambora said the three day event will create a platform for both national and international investors to explore the vast investment opportunities in the county. He said the county has identified five focus areas that will form the core interest of investors. They include value addition of agricultural produce, Tourism, Health, Housing and Mining.   “The investors will also be given an opportunity to explore ...

Artists in Embu County whose products stand out in creatively depicting the county’s culture will be linked to international market. Deputy Governor David Kariuki told art exhibitors that the county government will increase budgetary allocation next year so as to support those who make a living through art. More 600 exhibitors participated in a County Expo to showcase various cultural artefacts, in an event aimed at marketing the county’s culture and talent. The event that attracted participants both the young and the aged as individuals and groups was held at the various constituency headquarters of Manyatta, Runyenjes, Mbeere North and Mbeere South. Some of the products exhibited showcased various cultures such as pottery, sculpture, carving, weaving, knitting, cooking and poetry and attracted buyers from across the country. While acknowledging that the county has unique cultures, the Deputy Governor said they were in a brink of extinction if youths continue embrac...

The National Authority for the Campaign against Drug Abuse (Nacada) has faulted Embu County Governments for derailing their fight against rampant alcoholism by issuing bar licenses to operate anytime of the day. Speaking when they raided several bars in Embu County to monitor compliance yesterday, the anti-drug abuse agency said they will not allow county governments to contravene national laws recklessly for their gains. Nacada Regulatory Services Manager Judy Twala said only the Alcohol Drinks and Control Act that allows bars to open at 5pm up to 11pm during week days and 2pm to 11pm during weekends and holidays is supreme. “We will not allow county governments to give permits to bars to operate all day. This contravenes the alcohol and drinks law. When will we work as a country when bars open early in the morning?” she posed. She said they will engage county governments to ensure they align their county laws on bar operations to conform to national laws for ease in moni...