Men make New Year vow

Men must sit down and Talk

Over 100 Members of Mukuyuni Development Forum, who are mainly men have declared that "Men Must Rise up and provide leadership" for any community to achieve meaningful social and economic development.

The forum,the first in 2024, observed that the male gender is often absent in social, economic and spiritual matters.

It was noted that men rarely meet in social groups, church, barazas or school meetings  like their female counterparts do.

The forum concluded that the absence of the male gender is of negative consequence to community development as well as mental health.  

The forum agreed to do away with Akamba culture that demands that the boy child be "hardened" and to deal with his challenges internally and privately without sharing with anyone. This was noted to be the main reason why suicide cases are rising among the male gender.

On their part, women are allowed to be soft and often meet in forums where they share their personal challenges and this particularly helps them to deal with their mental challenges.

Speakers highlighted the worrying trend where men are absent in school meetings where their input is required to formulate effective school policies and thus improve academic performance in schools.

The forum chair the Reverend Jackson Kainde who is also Africa Inland Church (AIC) Machakos Area Administrative Secretary, quoting Ephesians 4:13, encouraged forum members to be kind and compassionate with one another. Further, citing Acts 20:35, he emphasized the need for members to continue reaching out to the less fortunate as they did when they contributed Christmas Gifts to 20 vulnerable families.

The forum declared that Men must attend every forum."  To this end, members vowed to be attending public meetings.

The Forum carried out community need assessments and tasked its leadership to come up with short-term and long-term work plan to address the identified challenges.

The Forum is focused on community development through persuing three pillars- Capacity Building, Infrastructure, and Resource Mobilization.

Wavinya's big sweep of revenue officers

Swift transfers ordered
 for hundreds of staff

 Hundreds of revenue officers in the County Government of Machakos have been moved in mass transfers in what seems to be Governor Wavinya Ndeti's response to her administration's dismal performance in revenue collection. 

During the last three months, the Controller of Budget reported that the county government only collected 2.5 percent of the projected local revenue, indicting the entire revenue collection strategy of Governor Wavinya.

No reason was given for the dismal performance in revenue collection though it is suspected to be a collection of causes from inefficiency, outright theft, corruption and sabotage.

Yesterday, over 500 transfer orders were distributed to Revenue Officers, Clerks and Accountants. Those moved include newly recruited revenue clerks who are hardly three months on the job. Terse transfer letters filled with individual staff names, staff numbers and designation instructed each of them to report to Sub- County Senior Revenue Officers with immediate effect for processing. The latest reporting date is Friday, January 5, 2024.They should also file handing over notes before departing their current stations.

Each of the officials were given instructions on their precise stations , meaning that the Senior Revenue Officers they are reporting to will not have latitude to deploy them to work stations. 

The transfer letters, fashioned as circulars, are dated December 28,2023 and signed for Mr Mike Jace, the Chief Officer for Revenue Management. It is believed Mike is also widely known as Mr Mike Senga and served under Governor Alfred Mutua who most likely actual substantive designation is Director of Revenue Collection.

Some of the revenue workers do not have staff numbers as manifested in the transfer document, meaning that some issues about their employment are still outstanding. 

Informed sources said though the transfers appeared to target lower cadre officers on the fields, the sweep will be completed with the mass transfer of the officers in charge of each of the sub-counties.

Details of the transfers for the accountants remained scanty and The Anchor is unable to confirm the numbers involved and who was moved to where.

Shock waves hit the staff after it also became evident that  older officers were posted to the furthest sub counties and remote markets even when they have 1-3 years of service remaining.

Those transferred started reporting to their new stations yesterday, some without Staff IDs, the fabled Yellow Dustcoats emblazoned 'Revenue Officers' at the back or even the  electronic revenue collection gadgetry.

Efforts to obtain a comment from  Ndeti's Chief of Staff Mr Lawrence Ngovi did not succeed after phone calls on his line were unanswered.

Critics of the move say the Governor has victimized the wrong people. " She has moved those who collect revenue and left untouched those who raid the coffers. Let us wait and see if her theatric will solve the problem", said   a source privy to the matter.

The source said the problem is endemic in nature as it runs through the revenue organization of the county government where every department collects revenue, creating pilferage opportunities at every level. " Moreover, everyone from the Minister for Finance, Chief Officers, Directors and other senior cadre become revenue collectors at one point or another, creating an organizational overlap that results in lethargy and zero morale levels", the source said.

7,000 Mwala students get bursaries,MP hits at Wavinya

By Alexander Kieti

Mwala MP Eng. Vincent Musyoka Kawaya has led distributed bursaries for over 7000 university and college students in Mwala Constituency at Makutano DEB Primary School.

In this year's exercise 7123 students from across the 6 wards of Mwala Subcounty are set to benefit from bursaries worth Kes.48 million from the Constituency NG-CDF fund after applying through the constituency's online platform designed by the MP.

The legislator, speaking at the event, faulted the county government of Machakos under Governor Wavinya Ndeti for continuously giving little amount to few needy students as bursary even though the county receives a greater allocation of funds from the national government compared to Constituencies that receive lower amount yet MPs give more money and to more students.

Mbiuni-Kathama ward MCA Peter Kilonzo PK backed the MP stating that the county government has been giving 800,000 per ward which adds up to 2.4 million for Mwala Constituency alone. 

 Kilonzo added that it has been difficult for MCAs across Machakos County to reach the needs of wananchi in the grassroots with such little budget allocation from the county government crippling the efforts to support education.

Besides education, Eng. Kawaya also raised a concern for the increased suicide cases which are higher among the youth particularly the male gender with Mwala recording more than 20 suicide cases in the last quarter of 2023 a lone for different reasons with the cost of living and family feuds as the major causes.

He called upon the youth to take personal initiative and protect their dignities by avoiding stress factors including drugs and seeking assistance when pressed instead of taking their lives.

Further, on the cost of living Kawaya argued that the national government is working tirelessly to harmonize the biting economy to ease the spiking cost of living. He defended the government measures including taxation saying it seeks to reduce national borrowing with the external date hitting a record 11 trillion.

According to Kawaya the current measures will come with many benefits which will fruit with time as it is no haste in relaxing the current economy status asking Mwala residents and Kenyans to be patient with the government.

Ever eaten donkey meat?

By Daniel Kituku. 

Police in Makueni have arrested 10 suspects in connection of slaughter and sale of donkey meat  .

Confirming the incident Makueni Sub County police Commader Winfred  Siele said the suspects admitted trading in Donkey Meat at Shauri  Moyo Market Nairobi. 

 Siele told the press that the incident was reported by Ms Jane Ndawa ,  the Assistant Chief for Kambi Mawe that within the homestead of one Makau Kimolo alias Jones Katiku  within KwaKathoka village  slaughtering of suspected stolen donkeys  was going on and 2  vehicles  were waiting to collect the meat.

Officers stationed at  Kwa Kathoka Police Post  laid an ambush at a feeder road and intercepted two motor vehicles Reg.No. KDB 991U make Toyota Fielder and KCK 434 M make Toyota Wish and inside the vehicles was discovered  suspected donkey meat .

The suspects admitted that they had slaughtered 15 donkeys 

Police visited the scene where the suspects slaughtered the Donkeys  necessary police action  taken and  established that hooves and heads of the donkeys were buried at the said compound.

The suspects and the exhibits were later escorted to Makueni Police Station as investigations begun .

With the admission that the suspects have been slaughtering donkeys, it is difficult for anyone who buys meat between Makueni and Nairobi  to confidently state that they have not fed on donkey meat.

Or can they?

Machakos misses World Bank's Kes 2b

Machakos County has missed out on Kes 2b from the World Bank fund for improvement of its Municipalities. 

Governor Wavinya Ndeti 

Machakos County has  missed out funds for two years running- first being 2022, the last year under former Governor Alfred Mutua and second in 2023, being the first year under current Governor Wavinya Ndeti.

At the centre of the funding fiasco is Kes 89m that the Machakos Municipalities Board earmarked for a road in Machakos Municipality that the two leaders seem to have vested interest. 

The road runs from Kimutwa Workshop and rips behind Lauh Hotel,Women Finance Trust, KFA and links to the road facing Equity Bank.

Our sources say Mutua wanted the funds used for construction of an air strip at the still born New Machakos City but the Board chaired by Mr Malcom Kateta resisted and Mutua ran out of time. 

The board, sources say, is fighting for autonomy to be able to run its programmes without interference from central or the County government. 

Matters have not improved after the arrival of Governor Ndeti at the Machakos White House. Since May when bids were floated for construction of the road by use of cabro, the tender has not been awarded. 

Tired of this administrative dithering,  the World Bank has given an altimatum to recall the Kes 89m and pull out of funding the needy Municipalities of Machakos County. 

WB donates Kes 1b annually to Machakos County under the Kenya Urban Transport Improvement Programme(KUTIP) to be shared between Machakos,Mavoko and Tala / Kangundo urban areas.

The programme targets improvement of Urban roads to bitumen standards to make the Municipalities dust free and boost standards of living.

Sources tell The Anchor that the current stalemate is as a result of cartels that are opposed to the contractor who won the tender.

" Since May, the winner has not been announced and we suspect that a tooth an nail fight is being conducted so that those allied to the current administration are awarded the works", the source added.

This development exposes an administration that failed to deploy a single shilling to development in the last quarter as citizens wait in dire need.

Wavinya's Chief Officer quits

Governor Wavinya Ndeti's Sewerage,Sanitation and Waste Management Chief Officer Mr Paul Wambua has quit his job.

Wambua send a two paragraph letter headed " Notice of Resignation as the County Chief Officer"(sic) to Governor Ndeti to herald his departure. 

The letter, dated December 18

2023, stated he was leaving due to personal reasons- the euphemism used by officials overwhelmed by work conditions and circumstances.

The letter gave a 30- day notice as per Section 45(6) of the County Government Act. He concluded be assuring governor Wavinya of his support 'wherever I will be' and thanked her for the opportunity to serve for almost one year.

He leaves as the wavinya administration battles allegations of massive corruption over works on 80 dams that activists claim were underlined by nepotism, cronyism, corruption and unaccountable procurement processes.

Chief Officer ousted

Kitheka is Suspended

By Brian Malasi

Simeon Kioko Kitheka,the Trade Chief Officer in Governor Wavinya Ndeti has been suspended. 

A letter written to him by County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr. Muia Ndambuki said Kitheka is suspended indefinitely.

He is not authorised to act for the County Government of Machakos, the letter added.

He is the second Chief Officer to leave office in as many months after the exit of his Investments counterpart Peter Mutwiwa who  used fake University of Nairobi papers to get his job.

Mr Kitheka, an ex- school principal and immediate former chairman of Universal Traders Sacco was also given  24 hours to cause the surrender of his official car keys. It was not clear how he ended up keeping the keys.

No reasons were given for the suspension. The letter of suspension appears to be a follow-up of a memo from Kitheka's boss, the County Minister for Trade Ms Mutua, dated May 19,2023.

Though the contents of the minister's memo remain unclear, a video has emerged from an incident in Kitale where protesters were condemning Kitheka for tempering with Chamber elections in Kitale.

More to follow .

Why Climate Justice is a moral imperative

 A CSO's review of Kenya’s 
amended Climate Change Act

By Mercy John

In May 2016, former President Uhuru Kenyatta introduced the Climate Change Act, the first of its kind in Africa. It was designed not only to establish mechanisms and strategies for achieving low-carbon climate development, but also to mainstream climate change as a central agenda in the development process. The legislation was enacted as a response to a need for a regulatory framework that could address climate change more effectively, especially in the face of challenges, such as a severe drought affecting approximately two million Kenyans at the time.

Verbatim report: Part 2

Verbatim:How  MCAs tried,
convicted County clerk

Committee observations

The Committee observed that the Hansard report dated 23rd May, 2023 presenting the tabling and approval of the Machakos County Supplementary Appropriation Bill (No 2), 2023 shows that amendments done and approved by this Honorable House in schedule R004 of the Machakos County Supplementary Appropriation bill, 2023 were altered in the final published Machakos County Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2023 where the amendments that had been proposed in the House were not captured.

A verbatim report on how Clerk was removed- Part 1

A blow by blow account of  how
 Clerk was  tried and convicted

Assembly votes to remove Clerk

By Anchor Reporter

The  Machakos County Assembly clerk Joseph Mutisya Laban has been send home summarily. 

This came as 41 Members of the County Assembly voted  to dismiss him for claims of gross misconduct, incompetence, altering assembly legislation,  abuse of office among a plethora of other charges.

Speaker Anne Kiusya on the chair

Mutisya snubbed summons to defend himself after he was summoned to do so after expiry of the 14 days he was given to reply to his suspension letter.

However, the assembly committee probing the clerk went ahead and held hearings, called witnesses and convicted the disgraced assembly administrator on all charges.

 So when the entire assembly sat and the Speaker Anne Kiusya called on Majority Leader to table case papers, Mutisya's goose was already cooked.

After a much heated  debate, the motion was put to vote where 41 members voted to oust the clerk. 10 MCAs voted  to save him while ,6 members abstained.Only  2 MCAs were absent.

Mutisya's fate now lies with the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi where he ran to seek refuge after he failed to face his accusers in the assembly. 

The court made orders to halt his ouster even after his replacement had been gazetted.

It is a matter that  will be placed before Justice Nduma Nderi  on December 8 for further directions.

Suspended Clerk halts ouster

The Employment and Labour Relations Court today stopped the suspension and replacement of former Machakos County Assembly Clerk  Mr Joseph Mutisya.

Justice B.Manani issued a  conservatory order, staying the decision made by the Machakos County Assembly Service Board on November 14,2023, 

The board suspended the clerk for 14 days during which he must respond to three allegations of official impropriety. 

The  Nairobi court further stopped the County Assembly Public Service Board from instituting removal proceedings against the Clerk until the matter is heard and determined.

 Mutisya was suspended for altering County legislation, failure to implement county resolutions and incompetence. The stay order however seemed to imply that Mutisya was suspendef fot unspecified reasons.

The order also seemed oblivious of the fact that the litigant had been replaced  the next day and his successor, who was his deputy Mr Dennis Muthui gazetted in his place, albeit on acting basis.

Mutisya  moved to The Employment and Labour Relations Court on Monday, November 27,2023, to challenge the decision by The County Assembly Service Board.

Why Assembly Clerk was ousted

By Anchor Reporter

DETAILS are emerging on the exact reasons that led to the suspension of the Machakos County Assembly Clerk Mr Joseph Mutisya.

Mr Mutisya, the Suspended Assembly Clerk

It now transpires that Mr Mutisya obtained a loan of Kes 100m to fund loans for MCAs at a commercial rate from a local bank without authority of the  County Assembly of Machakos. How the banks acceded to the request deepens the mystery even further, exposing the downsides of devolution.

Informed sources say top authorities from the County Government of Machakos instructed Mr Mutisya to obtain the loan and assuage pressure from the MCAs on the County Executive. 

A source that is privy to the matters boiling at the assembly says Mr Mutisya went blindly to obtain the loan, even without any written instruction from the County Executive. The County Executive is reported to have denied ever giving such instructions. The events are the climax of illicit connivance between individuals within the two arms of government in Machakos County and are likely to split the MCAs down the middle.

" His most grave mistake to failing to seek concurrence with the County Assembly Service Board before executing the directive of the County Executive- begging the question- Whose interest does he serve" said the source, who pleaded to remain anonymous.

Mr Mutisya is also accused of procuring insurance for the Assembly assets and fleet of vehicles including the Speaker's limousine on Third Party General Insurance- instead of a Comprehensive Cover. This means that his actions put at a huge risk not just the buildings but indeed the human resource, including over 60 MCAs who serve the County Assembly.

Worse still, the assembly's procurement office was not consulted over the insurance acquisition and neither was the Service Board's concurrence sought before it was effected. Questions are flying around as to how the previous comprehensive cover lapsed without action being taken on time to renew it.

Mr Mutisya was sent home last week after a session of the Assembly Service Board meeting that gave him a 14 day notice show cause why he should not be summarily dismissed.

 He was accused of incompetence, inaction in implementing Assembly resolutions and altering Assembly Legislation. He is alleged to have been making the alterations in collaboration with the Finance Department of the County Government of Machakos- to an extend that he acted as if he was the assembly itself.

Mr  Dennis Mutui, the Deputy Clerk for Legislative Affairs was appointed to act as Assembly Clerk.

Graft: Ex Minister detained

By Anchor Reporter 

Former Agriculture CECM Mr Urbanus Wambua Musyoka is detained at Machakos GK Prison over corruption charges.

The former minister in Governor Alfred Mutua' s administration was detained after he was arraigned in a Machakos Law Court last Thursday to answer corruption charges.

Urbanus Wambua Musyoka

Musyoka was detained after he failed to raise the stringent bond and cash bail terms he was offered to regain his freedom. Machakos Senior Principal Magistrate  James Omburah released him on a bond of Ksh. 6 Million or a cash bail of Ksh. 3 Million.

He was still holed up in the prison as relatives seek how to raise the cash as we went to press.

Musyoka pleaded not guilty to the offences listed by the State.It is alleged that on diverse dates between January 2019 and May 2022, the accused knowingly held an indirect private interest in a contract award by Machakos County Government to M/S Wisdom Holdings Limited, a private company he was associated with for a contract amounting to a sum of Ksh. 45, 497, 609.

The accused also faces a charge of unlawful acquisition of public property amounting to a sum of Ksh. 19, 600, 000 in diverse dates between January 2019 and April 2021.

He was also charged with fraudulent practice alongside Antony Mbindyo, Fiona Muthoki and M/S Wisdom Holdings Limited.

Other accused persons charged jointly with Urbanus were Thomas Mutinda, Josephat Ndiku and Paul Kimeu.

Mention of the case was set for November 30, 2023.

New Assembly Clerk gazetted

By Martin Masai

Changes in the Office of the Clerk of the Machakos County Assembly have swiftly been published  in the Kenya Gazette, signifying the removal of Mr JL Mutisya.

The notice was published today, November 15, 2023, informing the County Assembly Members,staff and the general public that the former Deputy Clerk in charge of legislative affairs Mr Dennis Mutui has been appointed as Clerk of the Assembly.

The notice, signed by the Speaker of the assembly Mrs Anne Kiusya said the appointment was made by the County Assembly Service Board. Mrs Kiusya is Chairperson to the board. The appointment is effective from November 14, date when the board voted to remove the outgoing Clerk.

Mutisya is on a 14- day suspension arising from allegations of altering County budget legislations, official inaction and incompetence. 

He is to provide his defence within the 14 day window after which the matter will be tabled on the floor of the assembly for debate and action.

martinmasai@gmail.com

Assembly Clerk suspended

The Clerk of the County Assembly of Machakos. Mr Joseph Mutisya was on Tuesday  suspended for  14 days.

The action was the outcome of a County Assembly Service Board session that was chaired by Machakos County Assembly Speaker Mrs. Anne Kiusya. The meeting is said to have had full attendance including two members of the County Assembly and two external representatives. 

Mutisya was served with a letter that asked him to provide a response to at least three grave accusations that sources say may culminate in criminal charges.

The sources  say Mutisya is  accused of, among other issues  altering county legislation on budgets in connivance with the county's Finance. The source said " He is seen as solely acting as the  entire County Assembly". Further charges include failing to implement  assembly decisions actions and exhibiting general incompetence.

The board appointed his deputy Mr Dennis Mutwii to act as clerk during that period. 

Kitui Launches myCountyApp

Kitui today became the  Second County after Makueni toulaunch myCountyApp as a payment platform for all its services. 

The platform enables the county to digitise all services in one place providing a single, citizen access channel.

The platform will include payment for county services, revenue management systems, a citizen reporting and engagement tool and solutions around agriculture, health, utility bills and SME programs.

Kitui becomes the second county to integrate to myCounty.

 Governor  Julius Malombe, speaking at the launch said the ”platform underscores an important milestone in the advancement of technology in Kitui’s service delivery to the residents”.

The Governor said the “launch is in line with SDG (17) which focuses on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development technology”.

“This is also in line with the focus on enhancement of government service delivery through digitization and automation of all government services. It also mirrors out our 16 point development agenda for Kitui County”.

He said the county ministry of ICT has partnered with Safaricom to effectively serve the people of Kitui by creating a digital platform where residents can access services effectively and efficiently in a one stop shop through a single e - citizen access channel.

Governor Malombe further indicated Safaricom’s partnership as key pointing out the network connectivity increase from 36% in 2013 to 83% currently. 

On his part, Safaricom’s Chief Corporate Security Officer representing CEO Peter Ndegwa commended the county for the progressive partnership with focus to transform lives.

“We are partnering with Kitui not as friends but because the county - as an organization has a plan” he said. 

Mulila said Safaricom has plans to gradually include all 47 counties in coming months into the plan.

Ndeti dismisses minister

By The Anchor Reporter

Machakos County Executive Committee Member for Education, Philip Mutua Kilonzo was summarily dismissed yesterday.

His dismissal was announced in a press statement signed by Governor Wavinya Ndeti. 

The statement released on Monday afternoon stated that Kilonzo was found incapable of  discharging  duties delegated to him in the education ministry. 

The docket was immediately re assigned to the Roads, Transport and Public Works Cecm Dr.Consolata Mutisya.

His dismissal comes hardly a week after he was shoved from the Lands docket. It seems Wavinya was mulling over what to do with him when she announced the transfer, which affected a few other ministers. Observers are wondering when she discovered  the minister to be ineffective. 

Kilonzo now becomes the second Cecm member to part ways with the County. The first member was the former Youth and sports Cecm Onesmus Muasya alias 'Sky' who left office under yet unexplained circumstances.

Here is the award winning story

Machakos journalist
receives award in Sydney 

Steffany Ndei was today feted in an event in Australia after emerging among  top three global writers.

The Anchor now brings you the Award Winning Story as written and published. 

Kisilu Mutua dies at 80

He is alleged to have killed
politician Pio Gama Pinto 

By Kivutha Kibwana

Kisilu Mutua, who was jailed in 1965 for allegedly assassinating Pio Gama Pinto, died last Sunday evening at the age of 80.

He hails from Masii in Machakos County,  and also lived in Eastleigh, Kyambiu. 

Kisilu leaves behind a widow, Ruth Minoo, and three children -Stephen Mutuku, Lazarus Munyao and Mariam Ngami.

In 2017, the High Court of Kenya found that he had been tortured by the police in 1965 so as to force him to sign a document which was used as evidence to incriminate him  in his murder trial. 

Kisilu who was 22 years at the time of his arrest spent 36 years in prison before a belated  presidential pardon in 2001.

May his soul rest in peace. 

May the Kenya government begin an investigation into who assassinated  the revolutionary Pinto and the others who faced similar fate in independent Kenya.