County by County

What you need to know:

  • Cases of incest and defilement are on the increase in Gatundu South and Gatundu North.
  • Excitement is high in Mandera as the county plans to start construction of various roads covering 24.5 kilometres in total in Mandera town this week.

KILIFI/KWALE: New study on teachers’ absence
Absenteeism by teachers is undermining the success of getting children in school, a new survey carried out in Kilifi and Kwale counties says. According to the study titled Missing in Action: Where are the Teachers?, tutors miss school or simply stay out of the classroom. In Kilifi County, teachers abscond nearly a quarter – 23 per cent – of classes. And in Kwale, teachers abscond up to 18 per cent of classes. – Correspondent

KITUI: Bill should safeguard community, experts say
MPs from mineral-rich counties have been urged to ensure the Mining Bill, 2014 protects locals. According to public policy analyst Kiema Mwandia, the proposed law provides for involuntary settlement of people. The chairperson of the Geological Society of Kenya, Ms Gladys Kianji, said the Bill should sufficiently address concerns raised by communities to foster harmony in mining. – Kitavi Mutua

KIAMBU: Incidents of incest, defilement on the rise
Cases of incest and defilement are on the increase in Gatundu South and Gatundu North. Children’s Officer Gabriel Kitili also said one defilement incident is reported in local courts daily. He noted most of the recorded acts are carried out by persons known by the victims and the Children’s Department . – Kenya News Agency

ISIOLO: Three schools in drought ambassadors’ club
Atan, Emejen and Kilimani primary schools have been integrated into the drought ambassadors’ club, through which pupils will be informing their parents on the drought situation by reading bulletins on the prolonged periods of low rainfall to them. The county coordinator for the National Drought Management Authority, Mr Lordman Lekalkuli, said every child will be getting a monthly bulletin on drought. – Kenya News Agency

MANDERA: Building of roads to commence
Excitement is high in Mandera as the county plans to start construction of various roads covering 24.5 kilometres in total in Mandera town this week. “Some of the residents have never seen a tarmac road and are happy the county government wants to achieve in its first year of devolution what the national government has failed for more than 50 years since independence,” Governor Ali Roba (above) said. – Lucas Barasa

NAIROBI: Stop drinking a lot of alcohol, Kibaki tells youths

Former President Mwai Kibaki yesterday advised youths to stop engaging in excessive drinking of alcohol. He made the remark at St Andrews PCEA Church in Nairobi at the wedding of his nephew Lee Njoroge and Ms Janet Kuria. – Correspondent

ISIOLO: Court to decide if accused will get bond
A local court will on Tuesday determine whether or not Mr Douglas Mutwiri, who was charged with assaulting constable Bernard Onyango while executing his duties at Isiolo police station’s report office on August 9, will be granted bond. Acting Principal Magistrate Joan Irura will also receive an age assessment report on the same date. – Kenya News Agency

MOMBASA: You are part of us, President tells Bohras
President Uhuru Kenyatta Saturday thanked the Bohra community for its positive contribution to the development of the country when he met the group’s leaders at State House, Mombasa. He also said: “We look at you as our brothers and sisters, and be assured that we consider your community as part and parcel of our nation”. – PSCU

LAIKIPIA: Kenya “not a high-risk country for Ebola”

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has stated that Kenya is not a high-risk country for the deadly Ebola virus. Speaking at Ndindika Health Centre in Kinamba, he said the government has put in place all mechanisms to screen passengers arriving from West Africa to curb the threat. – Kenya News Agency

KISII: Unit to take education conference ideas forward

An 18-member task force will oversee the implementation of recommendations made at the Kisii County Education Conference. It includes Professors Genevieve Wanjala and Misia Kadenyi. One proposal is schools should appoint capable leaders to boards of governors. – Brian Moseti

NAIROBI: CS asks agencies to fight drug, alcohol abuse

Different government agencies have been asked to come together to address drug and alcohol abuse in the country. On Friday, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, Mr Joseph Ole Lenku, said this would help fight overindulgence in the consumption of alcohol in the country. – Kenya News Agency

TAITA TAVETA: Fathers “embarrassed” by children

Fathers of children with albinism are in the spotlight after it was said the role of raising the young ones was left solely to mothers. At a recent drive to issue sunscreen lotion to people with the condition, 95 per cent of parents who accompanied their children there were mothers and they said that fathers are embarrassed to be associated with sons or daughters with albinism. – Kenya News Agency

MERU: Artiste promotes peace in her music

An upcoming musician is encouraging Kenyans to embrace peace for development and shun those out to divide them on tribal grounds. Through her song “Amani Kenya” from her album “Amani”, 35-year-old Sarah Muinii is emphasising the importance of calm in the country. – Phoebe Okal

BARINGO: County ministers sign performance contracts

10 county executive committee members have signed performance contracts. By doing so, they have committed themselves to executing departmental mandates and delivering public service for the period 2014/2015. – Wycliff Kipsang and Florah Koech

MERU: County slowly becoming a force in fishing
Meru has emerged second in a ranking of counties in which fishing is not carried out as a tradition but have embraced aquaculture. Kisii is in the first position. The national government has been promoting fishing in the country through its Economic Stimulus Programme. – Lucas Barasa

NAIROBI: 654 for secondary school games in Tanzania

654 students will represent Kenya at the Federation of East African Secondary School Sports Association championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from August 23 to August 31. 327 girls and 327 boys will take part in football, hockey, handball, volleyball, rugby, athletics, swimming, badminton table tennis and lawn tennis contests. – Kenya News Agency

THARAKA NITHI: Two in custody for alleged forgery

Two people were last Thursday arrested by police officers in Chuka town for alleged forgery of land documents. According to the county police commander, Mr Johnstone Ipara, the suspects will be arraigned in Chuka Law Courts this week. – Kenya News Agency

NAKURU: Four perish in highway accident
Four people lost their lives yesterday morning when two lorries collided head-on at the narrow Molo River bridge along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway. The Rongai divisional police commander, Mr Joseph Mwamburi, said two trailer drivers and their assistants died on the spot. He stated that a Nairobi-bound bus that was driving behind the vehicle rammed into it, causing six passengers to suffer serious injuries. – James Kariuki

MANDERA: Leaders want equality in appointments

Positions of political leadership and those of top security officers should be shared equally among various communities in Mandera County in order to reduce clan conflict, local leaders have said. Led by Guba MCA Abdullahi Hassan, they also stated the Degodia clan is becoming a soft target of attacks by dominant clans. – Billy Muiruri

NAROK: County to address girls dropping out of school

Deputy Governor Evelyn Aruasa has said the county government is partnering with non-governmental organisations to reverse the trend of girls dropping out of school due to undergoing female genital mutilation and early marriages. He was speaking yesterday at Eselenkei Girls Boarding Primary School at a graduation ceremony for 58 girls who had gone through an alternative rite of passage. – George Sayagie

MACHAKOS: MP endorses new legislation

Matungulu MP Stephen Mule (above) has supported the County Government Amendment Act, 2014. ‘’The new law will encourage public participation and will also reduce the cost of the projects as inflated project cost will be a thing of the past since all development projects will be monitored from initiation to the end,’’ he said. – Gastone Valusi

NAKURU: Child molesters put on notice

The county director of education for Nakuru, Ms Esther Muiru, has warned teachers who abuse pupils sexually that their days are numbered. She stated that investigation into a recent incident in which a teacher was accused of molesting 30 girls in Naivasha has started. – Francis Mureithi