𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 Migori 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭

 

Governor Ochilo Ayacko spearheaded a delegation of County leaders in a meeting with the Head of State at State House in Nairobi Thursday 10th April.The dialogue was primarily focused on accelerating the implementation of vital government programs currently underway in the county.In addition, the leaders presented a comprehensive array of development priorities for the county, which were meticulously tabled for the President’s thoughtful consideration.

In his address, President William Ruto underscored the necessity for leaders to place service delivery above political considerations, advocating for a united front to address the needs of the populace effectively.

During the discussions, the County leadership extended a formal invitation to President Ruto to embark on a working tour to Migori. The President graciously accepted, confirming his visit to Migori on the 4th and 5th of May 2025, where he will engage in initiatives that support the developmental aspirations of the  county.

The President reaffirmed his commitment to foster a seamless partnership with the County Government and its leadership, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in driving progress.

In response, Governor Ochilo expressed gratitude on behalf of the leadership and residents of Migori, thanking the President for the fruitful discussions and warmly welcoming him for his forthcoming visit. He urged the people of Migori to prepare enthusiastically to receive the President on the scheduled dates, highlighting the significance of this engagement for the County’s development trajectory.

Courtesy; GPS

ISIOLO HAS NO MONEY TO THROW AWAY

We are not giving away money because we are busy with the county’s development

During the electioneeringng period politicians are always seen giving away cash to people all over, on the way, rallies and even door to door campaign but this is yet to be seen in the county Isiolo county.

Speaking at a get together party held by the Luo community residing in Isiolo, the County secretary of Isiolo Dr. Ahmed Galgalo said that the reason as to why they are not seeing the Governor and other county officers throwing away money anyhow is due to the developments going on in the county stating the county stadium, county market, county headquarter offices and abattoir as few of them including the ones they still have plans to do.

Dr Galgalo further asked Isiolo residents and the minority groups in Isiolo to give the Governor, Dr Mohamed Kuti another term to accomplish the developments he started in the county.

However, Dr Galgalo rubbished claims that he wants the Governor’s seat and said that he will consider that once the sitting governor completes his 10 years term in office as that was his promise to the governor that he will walk with him through the ten year term. 

“I am with Mzee, the Governor and I have been walking with him down from MP, Senator and now governor. I have been like his right-hand man and I want us to help the governor with our votes to see that the Governor get another five year term.”

Either Dr Galgalo applauded the Luo community leadership as they made it possible to bring the people of that community together and to ensure that they live in harmony with one another and other communities in the area. He also added that Isiolo has become a cosmopolitan county and there is nothing like minority and urged them to stay united to foster the development agenda that the governor has started as this will also make them be counted and also enable them get a slot in the county government of Isiolo.

OCHALY EDWINE , 

7TH NOVEMBER 2021 

If someone tells you they love you, take it to heart!

For many years brotherly love faded in the heart of many and the need for community was also slowly moving away

They say experience is the best teacher, a genre that many including me agreed to for so many years. But this was just then, here is the best teacher so far that I have ever come across “The COVID-19” or you can just call it Mr.Corona.

For months now I have heard people saying “I just can’t wait to see things going back to normal.” I remember myself saying the same sentiments too many times, but as I’ve thought about our current situation I have just realised how much I don’t want things to go back to the way they used to be anymore. Here are the reasons as to why I don’t want things to be the way they were…..

 I just want to recall the first big gathering that was supposed to be held few months after Corona pandemic was pronounce a disaster. The Madaraka Day, a day that for 56 years back have been celebrated in a big gathering of thousands of people from different parts of the nation and world at large.

 This time round when we were to celebrate the 57^th Madaraka Day in the same style, the tune changed and now only a few number of people found themselves gathering at the State house to celebrate this big event.

 The entertainments we used to enjoy on this day were done differently, the military parade was done differently and even the president style of coming to such events changed. What a serious disease this is?

 The dignitaries from all over the globe were nowhere to be seen. People like President Yoweri Museveni, John Pombe Magufuli, Paul Kagame just but to name a few who my instinct keeps telling that would have not missed the event were too missing in action.

 I really pray that the next time a friend offer me their hands for handshake or grabs me and pulls me in for a hug, I actually take the time to appreciate the gift of their embrace. Many a time’s people have just taken this as normal and never feel how the heart that is offering the hug feels. Now that there is no hugging anymore, when I meet a friend, I just feel I should be able to do the screening and testing for a second and just grab the person, hold tightly and feel the gift of their embrace.

 I pray that when school resumes and I’m seeing children off to school, I take the time to thank the teachers and staff for the amazing gift they are to our family. In just some few weeks, I have heard most parents complaining of that they are tired of having these children at home and just pray that school should resume. This simply tells how precious and blessings our teachers are to our children, the burden of having them for the whole year. This is a lesson that without Mr. Corona no one would have been able to teach. Covid-19 has just opened the eyes of most parents who took the teachers for granted to know the worth of teachers and the roles they play in their children.

 For many years brotherly love faded in the heart of many and the need for community was also slowly moving away, but now I pray that the next time I’m sitting in a crowded restaurant I take the time to look around at the smiling faces, loud voices and thank God for the gift of community.

 I sincerely pray that the next time I’m standing in church listening to  the voices of praise and taking communion that I take a  moment to thank God for the gift of congregation. Many a time, people have taken this gift as granted and didn’t even bother to take time to congregate and say thank you to the Most High.

I pray that the next time I see a person or situation that needs prayer; I hope I pray as passionately and fervently as I have these past few months. Before the Corona Pandemic, I really took prayer for granted but what I have learned within these few months when there was no gathering to pray, I saw the real need for prayer since it is the only way we can communicate to our God to hear us during times of trouble. I remember our president calling for a nationwide prayer just to supplicate our problems to Him and at least have mercy on our land and take this disease away from the face of our land and world at large.

 There are some people who provide us with some necessities but most time we have not taken time to appreciate their efforts to avail these essential commodities near us, we just think that it’s our right to have them near us whenever we want to use them. I pray that next time when I am at the grocery store that I take a moment to thank God that He provides us with the necessities of life and the amazing people who work so hard to keep us supplied.

 I pray that I never again take for granted the ability to hop in the car and travel to where I want, visit a friend, go to the mall, etc. it has been a lesson when learnt that we need to thank God whenever we travel to places for He always make it easy for us to sit in that car or bus congested and we still reach our destination safely without anyone complaining of maybe contracting a diseases from the fellow passenger.

 So, the truth is, I don’t want things to return to the way they once were. I pray that we take the lessons and challenges of the past few months and create a new normal. My goal is to pray more, love harder, and truly appreciate the daily abundance of blessings that were so easily overlooked just a mere few months ago. If someone tells you they love you, take it to heart!

 -Ochaly Edwine-

Police in Isiolo County have seized more than 850 thousand shillings worth of cannabis from Marsabit to Nairobi.

 

Isiolo police commander Joseph Kigen Confirming the arrest of the vehicle revealed that it was a sniffing police dog at the Archer post security checkpoint. They were able to alert the police who searched the car and found it hidden under the seats of a car transporting five students. .

Kigen also added that they had arrested a 21-year-old man who was the driver of the car that was transporting the cannabis in bundles of 19 1 kilos each and suggested he would be brought to court to answer charges.

Photo:Courtesy

He called on young people to stop engaging in drug trafficking and drug abuse.

Commander Kigen has now called on security officers to be more vigilant and increase traffic inspections while warning drug traffickers that their days are numbered after being arrested several times for what he called a new police arrests while traffickers are also using different tactics to smuggle bangs. as well as the use of motorcycles passing through shortcuts.

He advised them to stop speculating and engage in business that would benefit them and bring development to the nation.

The police commander is also concerned that as we approach the political season, speculation may increase but he has called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to address the issue.

He urged residents to ensure that they report prompt reports to the police so that the suspects can be arrested immediately and strict legal action taken.

-By Edwine OCHALY-

Rais Uhuru Kenyatta amekutana na viongozi wa Kaunti ya Marsabit juu ya Usalama wa eneo hilo

 

PHOTO:COURTESY

Rais Uhuru Kenyatta ametoa makataa ya siku 5 kwa viongozi wa kaunti ya Marsabit kuhakikisha kwamba wanapata suluhu ya kudumu kwa machafuko na vita vya kikabila ambavyo vimekuwa vikishuhudiwa katika kaunti hiyo la sivyo hatua kali zichukuliwe.

 Kwenye mkutano uliandaliwa katika ikulu ya rais Jijini Nairobi, gavana wa kaunti ya marsabit Mohamud Ali alitwikwa jukumu la kuwaleta pamoja viongozi wenzake jimboni humo ili kuhakikisha kuwa wanapata suluhu ya shida hiyo katika muda huo mfupi.

 Kiongozi wa taifa aliyeghadhabishwa na machafuko ya mara kwa mara marsabit alitoa fursa ya mwisho kwa viongozi hao kuhakikisha kwamba wanapata suluhu ya changamoto hizo la sivyo mwenyewe atachukua hatua kali.

 Hata hivyo katika ujumbe wake kwa viongozi hao, rais Uhuru Kenyatta aliwataka kutambua mbinu za kutatua shida hiyo kabla ya hatua hiyo kuchukuliwa, na kuwataka wasilaumu serikali iwapo hatua hiyo itaafikiwa.

 Mkutano huo ulihudhuriwa na wabunge wa kaunti hiyo ya marsabit, viongozi wa kidini, uongozi wa bunge la kaunti ya Marsabit na maafisa wa usalama.

 Waziri wa masuala ya ndani Daktari Fred Matiangi, kamishna wa ukanda wa mashariki mwa Kenya, Isiah Nakoru, na kamishana wa kaunti ya marsabit Paul Rotich ni miongoni tu mwa maafisa wa usalama waliohudhuria mkutano huo.

 Baadhi ya viongozi waliohudhuria mkutano huo ni pamoja na gavana Mohamud Ali, wabunge Dido Ali Rasso wa Saku, Francis Chachu Ganya wa North Horr, Musa Arbelle wa Laisamis na Qalicha Gufu wa Moyale, seneta Naomi Jillo Waqo , mwakilishi wa kike Safia sheikh Adan na spika wa bunge la kaunti ya Marsabit, Mathew Loltome na kiongozi wa wengi katika bunge hilo, Alkano Konso.

 Hata hivyo waziri wa fedha, Ukur Yatani hakuhudhuria mkutano huo kwani aliarifiwa kuwa nje ya nchi kwa shughuli rasmi za kikazi.

 Viongozi wa dini waliohudhuria ni pamoja na Askofu wa kanisa katholiki jimbo la Marsabit, Peter Kihara, Sheikh Mohammed Noor Kuli, miongoni tu mwa viongozi wengine.

 Wakati hayo yakijiri, mbunge wa Laisamis Musa Arbelle amehoji kuwa wao kama viongozi hawana budi ila kuafikia makataa ya siku tano waliopewa na rais Uhuru Kenyatta kutafuta suluhu ya shida inayokumba gatuzi hili.

 Arbelle amesema kwamba kiongozi wa taifa alitaka kujua changamoto inayopelekea vita vya mara kwa mara jimboni na kuonya kwamba iwapo viongozi watafeli kuleta suluhu ya shida zinazokumba kaunti hiyo hatua kali zitachukuliwa.

Kutokana na mkataa ya siku tano, viongozi wa kaunti hiyo wameafikiana kufanya kikao na kuanza majadiliano ya kutafuta suluhu ya shida ya kaunti hiyo  kuanzia Jumatatu wiki ijayo katika taasisi ya Kenya school of government, jijini Nairobi.

 Kulingana na mbunge huyo, waziri wa masuala ya ndani, Fred Matiangi amehoji kwamba sasa rais Uhuru Kenyatta ndiye amechukua jukumu la kuhakikisha kwamba shida hiyo inasuluhishwa.

 Viongozi hao pia wametakiwa kutolaumiana na badala yake kuketi pamoja na kutafuta suluhu ya shida ya Marsabit huku Wakaazi wa kaunti hiyo pia wakitakiwa kujihusisha katika juhudi za kuleta amani ya kudumu.

 

ununuzi wa vipakatalishi kugharimu mlipa ushuru Sh105 milioni

 

KAMATI ya Bunge kuhusu Utangazaji na Maktaba sasa inapendekeza kuwa wabunge wote 349 wanunuliwe vipakatalishi za matumizi katika mikutano yao kupitia mitandaoni.

Kamati hiyo inapendekeza kwamba wabunge wanunuliwa aina ya kisasa ya laputopu kwa jina Apple MacBook Pro, ambayo inaweza kugharimu hadi Sh105,000 kila moja.

Hii ina maana kuwa ikiwa mapendekezo hayo yataidhinishwa na wabunge, ununuzi wa mitambo hiyo utamgharimu mlipa ushuru Sh105 milioni ikizingatiwa kamati hiyo inapendekeza Spika wa Bunge la Kitaifa Justin Muturi pia anunuliwe kipakatalishi cha aina hiyo.

Photo:Courtesy

Huenda mlipa ushuru akagharimika zaidi ikiwa maseneta 68 pia watapendekeza wanunuliwe vipakatalishi kwa gharama ya mlipa ushuru.

Ripoti hiyo ya kamati ya Utangazaji iliyowasilishwa bungeni wiki jana, ilisema kuwa wabunge wanapendelea kutumia vipakatalishi katika mikutano yao ya mtandaoni badala ya iPad.

WOMEN VOICES COUNT

Making Women Voices Count

 Gone are the days when many African communities regarded women as weaker, feeble and most of the time viewed as people whose main chore was to bear children and look after them and who would never be called a leader anywhere where men were. They were to be under the control of men.

 But now this has changed in most places for instance in Marsabit County, the process has been launched under Making Women Count Project which aims to give the women from this region a chance, more power and a greater voice in issues related to leadership, security and peace to ensure that women too are given an equal opportunity to be heard and felt in the community and world at large in tackling various issues that affect the community. 

Top leaders from the county as well as the national government vowed to sensitize the heads of both governments on the planned programs in the project to see that this gender discrimination is eradicated in the region. The contribution of these leaders have made great achievements in the success of the project. 

Making Women Count Project is a project that will provide opportunities for mothers to be fully involved in leadership planning as well as decision-making.

This three-year project here in the region is funded by the United Nations Women.

Other Organizations that will implement the project in the region include the Saku Accountability Forum SAF, Marsabit Women Advocacy and Development Organization MWADO, Community Initiative Facilitation Assistance CIFA and Strategies for Northern Development SND 

The director for Saku Accountability Forum James Jarso Forole said the time has come for the women of Marsabit to share the same table with their male counterparts in senior positions in leadership, security issues and also decision-making.

The non-governmental organizations in the region will implement the project in different parts of the county. Making Women Count Project is a three-year project in the region.

"We have agreed with other organisations that in the first year, we as the main organisation who came up with this project, that we shall divide this project as follows; SAF will be serving SAKU, SIFA will be carrying out the project in Laisamis, MADO will be serving North Hole and SND will be carrying out the project in Moyale. " added Mr. Forole.

Despite the existence of other similar projects, Forole said the implementation of the Making Women Count Project will take a different direction as it will assist the Marsabit county government and the national government in devising a plan to directly involve women in Marsabit region.

Forole also said a similar plan but at the national level is being implemented by the central government but the one they are creating will fully enlighten the woman of the pastoralist community of this region as it has completely different needs from other counties in the country.

"Just like other countries, Kenya as a country has come up with a plan and the first one was carried out between 2016 and 2018 and when that period elapses the national government in May 2020 came up with another one which will run till 2024 and it is because of this directive that we people of Marsabit has come up with our own project because the needs of Marsabit people is far different from other places in Kenya and we want to deal with issues that affects us directly, "said Forole 

According to Forole Marsabit province would be the first in Kenya to have a comprehensive plan to empower mothers and play a role in the implementation of major leadership and peacekeeping responsibilities.

The Making Women Count Project said Forole will reach out to rural women through in-field training provided by paralegals, women leaders and grassroots organizations.

He said mothers in the state of Marsabit face many challenges including lack of education, a culture that is outdated, according to Forole, their main aim is not to fight tradition that has been there for years but to enlighten the community elders to be able to see the benefits of involving women in developmental and leadership agenda so as to be able to balance between the tradition woman and the enlighten one, who is more beneficial to the community than the other, among other obstacles.

He said that after three years the Making Women Count Project would have achieved its key goals and would be glad to see that mothers are well presented and effectively participating in peace building, conflict management and disasterised governance and also to be able to be heard in various debates and be influential and see that the women from the region benefit from this process.