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...

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 20...

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...