Two people die after accidentally drowning in a dam

By Daniel Mwendo

Two people died after accidentally drowning in Yambuu dam in Mutomo Sub-County early this morning. Mr. Ndiisya, a seasoned water peddler in Mutomo Township perished while trying to rescue Tonny Peter Moki, a form four student at Mutomo mixed secondary who had slipped into the dam. The dam is located about 1 KM away from Mutomo township.

Residents during the rescue operation 
(Photo:Daniel Mwendo /MCV) 

The day was a beehive of activity as residents converged at the dam to witness the sad incidence while  rescue efforts by fellow residents got underway. Mutomo police personnel arrived at the scene at around 9.15 a.m but with no rescue gear to retrieve the bodies, they concentrated on pushing away the curious crowd from the dam.

Kitui County Deputy Governor, Ms. Pennina Malonza arrived at the scene at around 11.00 a.m in company of CDF officials and galvanized the rescue operations which involved pumping out the water and using local divers for the rescue mission.

By around 4.30 p.m., Tonny Peter’s body was retrieved. However, by the time this reporter left the scene, water was still being pumped out with Mr. Ndiisya’s body still lodged in the dam.

Members of the public who were present expressed their shock at how the county has not factored in disaster preparedness in their development agenda.

Mutunga Musyoki, a resident said that he expected the county team to come with rescue gear. Another resident, Muthoki Ntheesya told this reporter that so far seven people have perished the same way in the dam.

“It is time that a piping system was connected to the dam and people barred from drawing water directly from the dam,’’ said Mr. Ntheesya.

Mutomo township enjoys improved education standards

By Daniel Mwendo

The standards of  education provision has gone a notch higher in Mutomo township as private academies have sprouted all over, all on a mission to providing quality education to the residents. The latest entrant into the field is St Christopher Rockview academy which opened its doors on 7^th January this year.

Located approximately fifty metres off Kitui-Kibwezi road near Mbeke towers, the day primary school, boasts of an enrolment of forty seven pupils with classes ranging from pre-school to standard four. According to Crispus Mutia Kimutu, the proprietor, plans have been finalized to have standard five and six next term.

St. Christopher Rockview academy primary school
staff and pupils pose for a photo outside the school
(Photo/Daniel Mwendo :MCV)

“The school has very qualified teachers-two ECDE and four P1 trained teachers- who are able to give the children the tender lovely care they need for their mental development,” says Mr. Kimutu.

For Mutomo residents, the school is one of its kind for it is the only school with school van services in town. The proprietor says this measure is geared towards ensuring the pupils’ safety.

Bretta Malombe, a parent applauds the school van services stating that it avoids the parents unnecessary worrying about their children’s safety.

Pocket friendliness is a factor which gives the academy a competitive edge over its other private counterparts in the township. Additionally, to prepare the children to be digital compliant, plans have been finalized to have computer classes at the commencement of next term.

The school provides a balanced diet fruits inclusive and as we visited the school, the children were happily taking a half loaf of bread with soda, a fatherly gesture which Mr. Kimutu extends from time to time.

Kitui South Residents enjoy a free medical camp

By Daniel Mwendo

Over 2,000 people of all ages and sexes availed themselves from different sides of Kitui south constituency to benefit from a free medical clinic held today at Mutomo primary school grounds. The medical clinic, sponsored by the Khaki Foundation in conjunction with the Safaricom Foundation, KEMSA, Pharmacy and Poisons Board and Diabetics Management Institute (DMI) saw people with different ailments receive tests and drugs. The event was one of its kind and magnitude since independence.

Medical personnel from Mutomo sub-county converged at the primary school grounds to ensure the success of the event as residents started streaming as early as 6.00 a.m. There were heart wrenching cases like Mr. Maleve Kitema’s two girl twins from Mutha division, Voo location who were born without mouth openings and doctors had to improvise a small mouth opening which only allows them to feed on liquid foods.

Medical experts present educated those present about the various diseases and were quick to point out that diseases like diabetics were life style diseases which can be prevented by doing exercises and going back to traditional foods like millet and sorghum, a sentiment echoed by Professor Muasya, the chairman of Khaki Foundation and the deputy vice chancellor, administration and planning SEKU University.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Irungu of DMI hinted that a project targeting 12 year olds will be launched  with an objective of sensitizing these children on good eating habits as they can easily influence the type of food taken at the family level.

The local MP,Dr.Rachael Kaki Nyamai addresses the crowd
during the free medical camp (Photo:Daniel Mwendo/MCV)

“Kitui County will benefit from the second phase of the project,” she said

The Deputy County Commissioner, Mr. Cherop appreciated the event organizers’ efforts stating that it was the first of its kind for the seven years he had been in the sub-county. Mr. Cherop cited poverty and illiteracy as twin challenges which were preventing the locals from accessing health facilities.

“I am therefore urging other elected leaders to consider emulating the local MP and initiate such free medical clinics” said the administrator.

In her brief speech, the local Member of Parliament, Dr. Rachael Kaki Nyamai thanked the sponsors of the event and all the other parties for making the event a success. Using the twin analogy, the MP said that Ikutha district will be the venue for the next event .To boost education, hence reduce poverty, the politician said that her CDF office had given bursary worth over 12 million.

Dr.Kaki additionally promised that she will ensure that Mutomo and Ikutha health centers are alleviated to district hospitals.

Land encroachment and insecurity issues take centre stage during Mashujaa day celebrations

By Daniel Mwendo

Mutomo sub county commissioner has warned local leaders against territorial encroachment. Speaking during Mashujaa day celebrations held at Mutomo stadium, the administrator implored the leaders to put aside party differences and serve the citizens who had elected them

.

“ I am also directing Chiefs and Sub chiefs to ensure that no illegal structures are erected at road reserves and other undesignated areas,” added Mr.Cherop who also  advised residents to use traditional methods of settling land disputes before the land commission was put on board to ensure a peaceful co-existence.

Mutomo Sub County Deputy County Commissioner

Mr. Cherop speaks during the Mashujaa day celebrations 

(Photo:Daniel Mwendo/MCV)

 Citing that Kitui South game reserve was a gazetted government property, Mr. Cherop ordered residents living on the reserve to leave with immediate effect.

Speaking during the event, the Local Member of Parliament, Dr.Rachael Kaki Nyamai informed her constituents that among the plans underway for implementation were; piping of water from Kithini to Mutomo town, issuing of university and college bursary in two weeks’ time and issuance of tittle deeds which the residents could use as collateral security to access financial aid.

She also criticized the county government for issuing a big chunk of money for building a mortuary citing that Mutomo residents were in more need of a spacious district hospital than a mortuary.

The ICC issue was not left out with the MP stating that she was of the opinion that the President should not go to the Hague based court.

Other local leaders who spoke during the event were Mutha member of County assembly Mr.Kavindi, Mutomo Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Mr. Benjamin Kyalo among others.

Mr Kavindi asked the government to provide a vehicle to Mutha police station because they were hiring motor cycles which is expensive thus hindering quality security services to the residents considering that Mutha Division borders Tana River district which poses a major security threat.

The Ikanga/Kyatune member of county assembly Mr. Jamhuri, said that the Kitui- Kibwezi road has remained un tarmacked because of disunity among the leaders in the area .He added that it was very unfortunate that this is the only B7 road in Kenya which is un tarmacked

The chairman of the chamber of commerce Mr. Kyalo Benjamin complained of the on-going harassment of businessmen whose buildings were constructed without council approval as this was both frustrating and embarrassing and retarding development in the area.

The local Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairlady Mrs. Esther Musau implored residents to protect their resources through supporting the government in the war against poaching and charcoal burning.

Stephen Muliki ,a former colonial era chief caused laughter when he said  that the local member of parliament,Dr Rachael should be regarded as  one of the local heroes because she is the first woman member of parliament in Kitui south since independence. Other local heroes are the late chief Nzuki Muliki from kanziko who made it mandatory for every person in Kanziko to go to school, Chief Mwanduka Kisemei who donated land for the construction of the Mutomo Mission Hospital ,Matuku Muoka from ikutha among others.

Mutomo residents celebrate global hand washing day

By Daniel Mwendo

Global hand washing day celebrations are held every 15^th October worldwide. In Mutomo, the celebrations were held at Mutomo primary school grounds.The function was sponsored by World Vision (Mutomo) in partnership with the Ministries of Water, Health and Education among others.

The event is annually held as a reminder to the people that hand washing should be made a routine activity in order to keep the chances of bacterial infection at the minimum.

The Deputy District Public Health Officer,Mr. Stephen Mbeni  Musyoka 

demonstrates proper hand washing technique (Photo:Daniel 

Mwendo/MCV)

Mr Robert Kusinga, Mutomo location’s chief  read the official speech on behalf of the Deputy county director who was absent.In his speech, the deputy county director indicated that little emphasis was being placed on hand washing and that they were using the children as change agents.He asked education officers at all levels to promote cleanliness.

During the occasion, the Deputy District Public Health Officer, Mr Stephen Mbeni Musyoka, demonstrated to the gathering how hand washing is done from a professional aspect.He also emphasised that children are very effective because they easily pass the information to the mothers.

“One is supposed to do hand washing after visiting the toilet, before and after preparing food, before and after eating food, before breastfeeding, after visiting sick people, after having an interaction with animals like milking and after doing any cleaning exercises and on arrival from any journey”, said Mr. Musyoka adding that 97% of communicable diseases are controllable if through good hygiene observation.

The District technical officer,Ministry of Water, Mr Benjamin Munyalo,said that most of the water they are getting in Mutomo especially in boreholes was very clean but people make it unclean by using dirty containers.He said that there is a need to boil the water and use aqua tabs.He also  advised those present to  get water from only designated water points and avoid destroying water pipelines as this not only risks their health but also defeats the governments effort to supply clean water to the public.

Kitui South bursary fund launched

Dr.Rachael Nyamai (Centre) presents a dummy cheque

to Kitui South  Secondary school heads( Photo:Daniel Mwendo/

MCV)

By Daniel Mwendo

One thousand and one hundred students from Kitui South Constituency will benefit from the Constituency’s school bursary this year. This is after the local Member of Parliament, Dr. Rachael Nyamai launched the Constituency’s bursary. The total funds given out from the CDF kitty amount to five million and seventy four thousand shillings.

The launching of the bursary had been delayed due to a CDF case in the Machakos high court pitting the former Member of Parliament and a Kitui South resident who has sued on behalf of other residents (public interest) on allegations of  mismanagement of funds.

The launching was done at Kanthi Good News Church of Africa (GNCA) church in Kandae Sub location of Mutomo District. Most needy students were selected from each of the 55 sub locations of the constituency. 20 most needy students were selected from each sub location.

The Member of Parliament promised school head teachers to work hand in hand with them to promote the level of education in the region. She also informed the school heads that she will assist twenty schools to get electricity connection in this financial year.

During this occasion, head teachers present out competed each other in marketing for their schools most of which are very new and with low student population.All the headteachers present promised quality education from their institutions.

Dr.Nyamai also informed residents present that two Government doctors had been posted to Ikutha and Mutomo district hospitals respectively.

“The Mutomo district hospital has already been supplied with twenty beds for the women ward,” said the politician adding that Mutha dispensary has also received hospital beds.

Do county Governments have proper policies for nurturing talents?

By Daniel Mwendo

Lule's art I (Photo:Daniel Mwendo/MCV)

We have different types of talents which God has given to each of us. To nurture these talents, combined efforts by leaders and professionals is required. Unfortunately in Kenya, talent discovery and nurturing has been taking the back seat and most of the youths with talents end up being wasted.

During games seasons, there are those pupils who go up to national levels and there is no follow up of these pupils to take them to respective talent academies so that they can be nurtured.

Since the government has devolved its functions to the county level, it is important that the counties set up talent academies and equip them properly so that we can have well trained youths who can compete at international levels. Take a good example of our fellow Kenyan athletics and the way they have excelled in this sport. Another good example is our footballers who have done well despite having done it through the hard way without any proper nurturing especially through academies.

Lule's art II (Photo:Daniel Mwendo/MCV)

For instance,Lule Ibrahim is a talented artist from Mutomo Township who has been doing wall hanging and masking arts and makes very good portraits. However, Lule’s biggest problem is finding market for his art. This more than ever stresses the need for good leadership which identifies talent at the grass root level as well as linking talented youth with the right market.

According to Lule, there are so many youths who are frustrated by life yet they have talents which they can use to earn their daily bread. He suggests that counties need to establish talent academies and start trade fairs for artist to showcase what they have made.