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Early marriages hindering girl child education at the Coast

By
Peter Kombe
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Mombasa, KENYA: The girl child education at the Coast of Kenya is faced with several challenges despite various attempts to support the initiative, this is according to human rights activists.

Francis Auma, a civil rights crusader at HAKI Africa on Thursday told Baraka FM  cases of girls being married at an early age is rampant at the Coast.

Auma attributed the vice to strong cultural and traditional practices deeply rooted amongst the coastal dwellers.

“Our young girls are being married at an early age and the mostly affected counties are Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi and Kwale.” Auma said.

He added that through their women advocacy programme, they have rescued several girls by sending them back to schools and even suing parents who have been practicing the vice.

On the other hand, Amina Hemed the programmes officer at HAKI Africa, said the organization has championed the sensitization process in eradicating the vice.

She said as human rights crusaders, they have played a leading role by educating the community on consequences of early marriages.

The activist noted that the organization has taken stern action to parents who have been marrying off their daughters instead of sending them to schools.

“We have championed the sensitization process and educated the entire community on the vice.” She said.

New twist as company director charged in court over TSS fraud saga

By
Hillary Makokha
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Mombasa, KENYA: The director of KAAP Company owned by late Tahir Said alias TSS was on Thursday charged in a Mombasa court for allegedly committing a sh. 9 billion fraud.

James Mwangi Muturi is alleged to have forged a guarantee indemnity which he purported to be a genuine document from TSS, enabling him secure a loan from Kenya commercial bank in February 2011.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr. Muturi is also alleged to have stolen documents from TSS Company including valuation reports, company certificate, PIN number and feasibility study booklet property, to enable him secure a sh.9 billion loan.

Meanwhile, Senior Director of Public Prosecution Alexander Muteti has called upon the court to ban Mr. Gikandi Ngibuini from acting as the counsel to the accused.

Mr. Muteti informed court that Gikandi had earlier represented the sons of TSS who are the complainants in another civil suit and he was in possession of information that will directly raise a matter of conflict of interest.

Mombasa Resident magistrate Martin Rabera ordered Mr.Muturi released on a  Sh. 3 million bond with one surety.

Mr. Rabera also ordered prosecution to raise the issue of recusal of the counsel in March 14, 2017 during pre- trial.

Mr. Gikandi is also representing Zein Mohamed Ahmed, Zahirabbas Khaku and Aweys Ahmed Mohamed charged last week in a similar case.

Kenya in need of sh. 11 bn for drought as EU dangles sh. 3 bn

By
Baraka FM Team
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Nairobi, KENYA: With the drought being declared a national disaster by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the government held talks with humanitarian agencies to bridge the sh. 11 bn gap needed to finance the situation.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi EU Regional Co-ordinator Amb. Stefano Deja, said the European Union EU has pledged sh.3 bn that will be used in money transfers to people in drought affected areas.

“This is the most effective way to reach the vulnerable. The severity of this dramatic drought that is developing is something that cannot be entirely predicted,” said Amb. Stefano Deja.

Speaking at the same event United Nations UN Resident Co-ordinator Siddarth Chatterjee said that the drought situation was worsening and that no Kenyan should die of hunger.

“What has challenged us now is that the scale of this situation has erupted. And no one can turn this off, the weather is not a switch. 2.7 million people in 23 counties have been affected by the drought. We are expecting to reach 4 million Kenyans by April,” Mr. Chatterjeee noted.

He advised that the Government could request the UN to redeploy resources from its existing national development and humanitarian programmes to respond to the drought issue.

The Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Richard Lesiyampe noted that the number of those affected doubled since last year with government having spent sh. 5.5 billion in various interventions.

“Scientific empirical evidence is needed to declare a national disaster of this magnitude. The situation has encroached counties that are not even categorized as arid and semi-arid areas,” Dr. Lesiyampe who also chairs the inter agency national coordination committee explained.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, Kenya will continue to experience depressed rainfalls during the period March-May 2017 which is commonly known as the long rain season.

Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and South Sudan have declared the drought national disasters while the impact in Somalia is severe and has been declared a famine.

On Fri 10 Feb 17 Pres. Kenyatta after being briefed on the situation on the ground by Cabinet Secretaries involved in drought management and food security, declared the current situation a national disaster.

“Support from our partners would complement Governments efforts in mitigating the effects of drought,” concluded the President in a statement.

Mpeketoni residents worried as Lake Kenyatta on verge of extinction

By
Natasha Nema
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A hippo carcass at Lake Kenyatta. PHOTO: NATASHA NEMA.

Lamu, KENYA: Mpeketoni residents and the environs are a worried lot following the drying up of Lake Kenyatta in Lamu due to the ongoing drought.

Water volumes at the lake which is depended upon by over 60,000 residents of Mpeketoni and neighboring places have dropped drastically from a normal 12 meters to 1.5 with other sections of the lake having even lower water volumes.

There are fears of a crisis since the lake is now under intense use by humans, wildlife and fishermen.

There are also health concerns due to increased contamination caused by increased deaths of hippos, buffaloes, snails and other animals.

Residents have also expressed worry of a possible outbreak of illnesses related to use of dirty water and dirty environments.

The lake which was named after the founder of the nation Mzee Jomi Kenyatta has been a major area of concern since the drought began and especially following the deaths of more than 20 hippos at the lake early this year.

The remaining muddy puddles of water at the lake have turned salty adding to the frustrations of residents.

According to the chairperson of the Lake Kenyatta Conservation Trust Ayub Kamau,most parts of the lake have dried up.

Dependence on the lake has however risen from at least 60,000 to over 100,000 people and over 200,000 heads of livestock due to the drought,a situation that has clearly strained the capability of the lake.

Intense human activity including fishing and sand harvesting have also played an integral part in the ever dropping water levels at the lake.

“We need environmentalists and health experts to come and help us out. We need to save this lake;at the moment humans,wild and domestic animals are all reliant on the lake.You can imagine the mess combined with daily carcasses of fish,hippos and other animals that die after getting stuck in the mud when they come for a drink,”said Kamau.

There are concerns that the lake might completely die out without prompt interventions to save it.

“Over 200,000 livestock are brought here for a drink daily.This is the only remaining source of water after all other lakes,rivers and swamps dried up in Lamu and neighboring Tana River and Garissa,” said Kamau.

World Wide Fund for nature Kenya Coast Programmes manager Kiunga Kareko has appealed to all stakeholders to come together and find ways of rescuing the lake.

Police recover huge consignment of stolen medicine in Mombasa

By
Weldon Kemboi
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The 300 boxes of assortment of medicines seized and parked at police headquarters in Mombasa. PHOTO: WELDON KEMBOI.

Mombasa, KENYA: Police on Thursday recovered  300 cartons of medicine which are believed to have been stolen while on transit to Nairobi.

According to Police, armed robbers had hijacked a trailer which was transporting several different kinds of medicine at  Taru along Mombasa -Nairobi highway.

Coast region DCIO Pius Macharia told reporters detectives received information from the public regarding a warehouse in Mirirtini, Mombasa that looked suspicious.

The officers then proceeded to the said house and found stolen goods including different boxes of medicine.

The DCIO boss said the driver of the truck transporting the goods had been hijacked by thugs who offloaded the goods and vanished.

The said driver later proceeded  to Taru police station where he reported the matter to police.

“On 1st February a lorry ferrying the medicine to Nairobi was hijacked between Taru and Maungu road and suspects offloaded the goods to another vehicle before leaving,” said the DCIO boss.

He said police have launched investigations into the matter.

The consignment was loaded to a police lorry and transported to Regional police headquarters.

Environment degradation rampant in Kilifi, Say activists

By
David Ngumbao
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Kilifi, KENYA: Kenyans have been urged to join the war against environment degradation in various parts of the country.

According to environment activists, this been on going especially in mining areas where trees are cut down and not replaced.

Phylis Omido, an environmental activist said the locals have been giving out lands to investors who go against the mining laws not knowing the end result.

“Our communities have been supporting degradation of the environment in one way or the other by accepting investors who careless for the health of the locals, this will affect the next generations if no mitigation will be taken now.” ” said Omido.

She said the only solution to the ongoing environment degradation all over the country is coming together of Kenyans to fight against it.

Omido blamed the National and County governments for failing to execute fully the environment laws and instead giving out licenses to mining companies with no credibility.

She said the two governments have failed to sensitize the communities on the importance of conserving the environment.

“Our Communities might be receiving money from these rich people who call themselves investors due to hunger and poverty not knowing that what they are doing now would cost their children for years,” Omido added.

“This means all stakeholders including NEMA have the challenge to sensitize the communities on the benefits and significance of conserving environment,” added Omido.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Lule, HURIA director called upon the two governments to be tough on their regulations of the environmental laws.

“I think if the two governments under their jurisdictions ensure proper regulations of the environmental laws, these distractions would be something of the past,” said Lule.

“If we look at the upcoming industries countywide, most of them do not meet the standards of carrying out their activities but because nothing concrete has been executed against them, they carry on distracting our environment.”

Efforts by Baraka FM to get Kilifi County CEC Environment, Water, Forestry and Natural resources Mwachitu Kiringi to comment on the matter proved futile.

Kenya’s Victor Wanyama named EPL African best player

By
Wyclif Okumu
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Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyam has been named the English Premier League EPL African best player for the Month of January.

The monthly accolade organized by New African Soccer Magazine saw the Tottenham Hot Spurs midfielder beat Chelsea and Nigerian winger Victory Moses and Ivorian Yaya Toure of Manchester City.

During that period Wanyama aided Spurs to a 2-0 victory over league leaders Chelsea before thumping West Brom 4-0 and later followed with a two all draw with Manchester City.

Wanyama who joined Tottenham from Southampton last summer has been of great significance to the club featuring in almost all its matches this season.

No title deeds for persons compensated for LAPSSET land, says Swazuri

By
Natasha Nema
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NLC chair Mohammad Swazuri outside lamu county offices. Swazuri has been arrested over fraudulent acquisition of SGR land PHOTO: NATASHA NEMA.

Lamu,KENYA: The National Lands Commission-NLC chair Muhammad Swazuri has categorically stated that the national government shall never issue title deeds to persons whose lands were acquired and compensated for at the Lamu Port-LAPSSET.

Swazuri said since those whose lands were acquired for the LAPSSET had already been compensated in millions for the said land,a title deed specifically drafted for the 70,000 acre piece of LAPSSET land had been procured and that the continued stay by some of those who have already been compensated is illegal.

Persons whose lands were acquired for the port and who have already been compensated want the NLC to issue them with title deeds for the lands.

The NLC however says the landowners are up to no good since the land no longer belongs to them and as such they no longer have the authority to demand for anything as far as the land is concerned.

Speaking in Lamu on Monday,Swazuri said ownership of the land located and Kililana and Mashunduani now fully belongs to the Lapsset.

In February 2015,the national government issued a total of Sh.1.3 Billion to the NLC as compensation monies for over 100 individuals whose lands had been acquired for the Lapsset.

The NLC boss stated that there was no law that allows for someone who has already been legally paid for a certain piece of land to be issued with a title deed for the same land later on since ownership is already transferred.

“People have already been paid for their lands which were acquired for the Lapsset but now apparently,they are now demanding that we issue them title deeds for the same lands.where has that ever happened?we can never ever make such a mistake.We have already drafted a single title deed for the lands which now belongs to the Lapsset,”said Swazuri.

He however pledged to ensure land owners whose lands border the Lapsset are issued with title deeds in order to protect from grabbers.

Minnows Mwatate United shocks Bandari 2-0 in test match

By
Wyclif Okumu
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Mombasa, KENYA: Coast based Kenya Premier League club Bandari FC fell 2-0 to lower division side Mwatate United in a friendly match staged at Danson Mwanyumba Grounds in Wundanyi on Tuesday.

Thomas Nyokole and Babu Kulinda both hit the target as Mwatate cruises to a famous victory over Bandari who is building up for the forthcoming KPL 2017 season.

Bandari had defeated nationwide side Msambweni Combined 1-0 over the weekend but despite lining up its first eleven, failed to overpower the Wundanyi based club.

The defeat is Bandari’s second in the build up matches having lost 2-1 to National Super League NSL club Modern Coast Rangers a fortnight ago.

Elsewhere, Kenya Premier League KPL 2017 season will kick off on 25th February as per last week’s directives from Sports Dispute Tribunal SDT.

KPL CEO Jack Oguda has asserted they will respect SDT orders and that they are in the process of drafting a new fixture to ensure the league kickoff in time.

The season had previously scheduled to kick-off last weekend only to be suspended due to impasses between the federation FKF and KPL.

Over 100 livestock perish in drought hit areas

By
Natasha Nema
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A cows carcass in Pangani village in Lamu. PHOTO: NATASHA NEMA.

Lamu, KENYA: At least 100 heads of livestock have perished in areas hard hit by the ravaging drought in Lamu County in the last two months.

Lumshi and Pangani areas in Witu are leading in the mortalities.

County Veterinary Officer Gichohi Mathenge said the biggest challenge is tsetse fly transmitted tryapanosomiasis disease (Gandi) that is causing increased mortalities in drought affected livestock.

Herders in Pangani,Lumshi,Chalaluma,Dide Waride and Hongwe areas that are worst hit in Lamu said their livestock mainly portray symptoms of fatigue,weakness after which they collapse and die.

The herders have expressed worry of losing all their livestock is the current situations persists and are now urging for aid in terms livestock feeds and drugs in order to help them deal with the situation.

According to County vet Gichohi Mathenge, samples taken from cattle in late January in affected areas were sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratories in Kabete to see if there are any other notifiable livestock diseases and that results are still being awaited.

Mathenge said there is an increase of tsetse flies owing to the drought situation which has greatly increased deaths of livestock apart from the obvious lack of food and water for the animals.

“We are currently trying to immunize the remaining animals but the challenge is that it’s hard to do so on an animal that’s already infected or on the verge of dying but we are trying our best,” said Mathenge.

The vet urged herders to be on the lookout and report to his office any weird symptoms they might witness in their livestock in order to allow for prompt interventions.

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