Ngilu confronts insecurity in Kitui County

Ngilu meets IG Boinet over

Endless killing of Kitui people

GOVERNOR Kaluki Ngilu today took up insecurity concerns in Kitui County to the office of the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinet.

Firm fails to dispose Kitui asbestos waste

Asbestos waste firm

stares at contempt case 

 By Martin Masai

A firm associated with the family of Kenya’s first African Chief Justice faces contempt proceedings after it failed to comply with a court order to remove toxic asbestos waste from a Kitui site.

The High Court gave the firm- Sonata Limited a 15 day ultimatum on September 28 to remove and dispose of the poisonous cargo. The deadline ended on October 13,2018. Sonata first buried the waste at Kiongwe Valley on land associated with the Kitili family, raising hue and cry from residents over looming danger of contaminating water sources at the valley.

Upon assuming office, Governor Kaluki Ngilu, in response to calls from Kitui residents, moved to secure the water tower by removing the waste that is now held in two containers at a yard in Kanyoonyoo.

When the matter came up before Machakos Resident Judge Justice A O Angote the court barred Kitili’s son-Maluki Kitili Mwendwa and the company- Sonata Limited- from depositing any hazardous waste in Kiongwe Valley LR Number Nzambani/ Maluma/ 690, pending the hearing of a suit filed by the Kitui County Government against the pair.

The order signified a major victory for Governor Ngilu who made an election pledge to protect Kitui people from the poisonous effects of the asbestos waste that Maluki and Sonata Ltd buried at Kiongwe valley, endangering the lives of thousands of residents who draw water from streams originating from the area marked as a water tower.

The judge partially allowed prayers sought by the County Government of Kitui in an Environment and Land Court Petition Number 2 of January 16, 2018.

A spot check today by this writer at Kanyoonyoo noticed the containers defiantly placed at the yard without any indication as to when the Court Order would be obeyed.

Contempt proceedings could result in a hefty fine, a jail term or other sanctions against the offending firm jointly with its advocates, that court would deem fit to meet the ends of justice.

Lawyer Simon Saili Malonza, who successfully prosecuted the petition assisted by Mr. Davidson Makau and Marriane Mutuvi indicated today that he will be filing contempt proceedings against Sonata Ltd for failure to comply with the court order.

When he gave the order, Justice Angote also directed that costs of the removal of the waste be met by Sonata Ltd and directed that the company, Nema and Maluki pay costs of the application to the County Government.

 “ A mandatory injunction be and is hereby issued compelling the 1^st respondent to identify and relocate the asbestos which had been deposited on the suit land to a different and suitable site, within fifteen(15) days, for disposal of the waste in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act pending the hearing and determination of the petition” said Justice Angote.

The County Government has listed as respondents Messers Sonata Kenya Limited, Maluki Kitili Mwendwa, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) as Ist, 2^nd and 3^rd respondents.

Maluki is the immediate former NEMA Chairman and it is curious that he is facing a suit that runs in the face of the public obligation that he was appointed to serve.

In the petition, the government is seeking 9 prayers that include a declaration that Sonata Kenya Limited is in breach of Article 42 of the Constitution of Kenya and that the act of dumping asbestos waste in Kiongwe valley in connivance with Maluki, had denied the residents of Kitui County the right to a clean and healthy environment as guaranteed in Article 42 of the Constitution, thus leading to a breach of the Constitution.

The government also seeks and order for the restoration of Kiongwe valley to its original state before it was violated by dumping of the poisonous waste and refund of tax payers’ money that the County Government used to remove the waste.

Machakos, Makueni, Kajiado governors meet over Kilimanjaro water

Chelugui, 3 governors meet

 to end Nol-Turesh water woes

By Governor's Press Service 

Cabinet Secretary for Water and Sanitation Simon Chelugui on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado) and Machakos deputy governor Francis Maliti to resolve the Nol-Turesh water conflict piting the three counties.

The Anchor (Web Edition): Fervent defense for KCHIC

The Anchor (Web Edition): Fervent defense for KCHIC: Drop the scorn,  K-CHIC is a blessing to Kitui A COMMENTARY By Munyasya Musya Assistant Director The face of K-CHIC campaign Co...

The Anchor (Web Edition): Ngilu scores big on pledge to remove asbestos wast...

The Anchor (Web Edition): Ngilu scores big on pledge to remove asbestos wast...: Firm gets a 15 day deadline to remove asbestos waste The High Court today gave a company that dumped poisonous asbestos waste i...

The Anchor (Web Edition): Dr Wasanga records statement with EACC

The Anchor (Web Edition): Dr Wasanga records statement with EACC: Dr Wasanga grilled by EACC In storm over his new job By Anchor Reporter The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission ( EACC ) ...

The Anchor (Web Edition): Victory for Ngilu as Mount Kenya wholesalers case ...

The Anchor (Web Edition): Victory for Ngilu as Mount Kenya wholesalers case ...: Ngilu’s big victory in Public Health case By Martin Masai GOVERNOR Kaluki Ngilu today won a decisive victory for the people...

Victory for Ngilu as Mount Kenya wholesalers case collapses

Ngilu’s big victory

in Public Health case

By Martin Masai

GOVERNOR Kaluki Ngilu today won a decisive victory for the people of Kitui when a case by Mount Kenya Wholesalers against the County Government dramatically collapsed at the High Court.

Dr Wasanga records statement with EACC

Dr Wasanga grilled by EACC

In storm over his new job

By Anchor Reporter

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have grilled the Makueni County Secretary Dr Paul Wasanga over circumstances resulting in his appointment for the job.

The Anchor established yesterday that Wasanga had recorded a lengthy statement that covers how he elbowed his way to become the county boss after he chaired the panel that interviewed other applicants for the post

An EACC source that is versed with the investigation said Wasanga and other panelists, along with applicants who sat for the interview had recorded statements.   

Names of those who have recorded statements include Mr wasanga, who also is a former CEO of the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), Eng .Jacqueline Musyoki..former CEO..Kenya Water Trust Fund, Mr Benjamin Mutie who is the Chairman of the Makueni County Public Service Board. Incidentally, those who have been grilled comprise a team that is seen as Governor Kivutha Kibwana’s advisors.

Four other people who were candidates for the post have also recorded statements with EACC. Investigators are analyzing score sheets for each of the candidates and minutes generated by the interviewing panel after each appearance.

The records were seized by investigators when the EACC swooped in Dr Wasanga’s offices and those of the Makueni County Public Services Board.

At the time of the interviews both Mr Wasanga and Dr Musyoki did not have official designations at the County Government and investigators are questioning the circumstances that catapulted them to the panel. Mr Charles Mutuku, a monied.businessman viewed by many as chief financier to Governor, who also sat in the panel was yet to record a statement by the time we went to press,

“Investigators have recorded detailed statements from virtually all of them. Only two members of the panel are yet to record their versions of what took place”, the source said adding that the entire account looks like a circus.

Investigators are trying to unravel how Wasanga presided over the interview panel as Chairman and ended up slotting himself as the successful candidate.

EACC is looking at the whole process of employment from the application, shortlisting, interviews,vetting  to appointment of the substantive County Secretary.

The most intriguing aspect is that Dr Wasanga interviewed his competitors, some viewed as better qualified than him. Questions are being raised as to why the Makueni Public Service Board did not do its job independently..

The employment of Wasanga got  into trouble when two residents from Makueni brought a sworn petition to the  Makueni Assembly opposing his appointment as the county secretary. 

They cited his tenure at the Kenya National Examination Council where the yet unresolved bribery saga nicknamed  Chicken Gate was hatched under his watch.

EACC is also keen to establish the authenticity of a certificate of clearance from the EACC that Dr Wasanga may have presented to prove that he had no baggage carried over from KNEC.