Latest Updates: Embu

Showing posts with label Embu. Show all posts

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Embu gubernatorial candidate quits race, joins rival

Eric August 06, 2022 0

Embu Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Emilio Kathuri dropped his bid in favour of his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) rival Cecily Mbarire.

Mr Kathuri, who announced his decision Alliance on Thursday evening, also said he will be backing Deputy President William Ruto presidential bid.

While defecting, Mr Kathuri said he was happy to be “accepted into the Hustler family”

Following his defection, Jubilee leaders in the county have thrown their weight behind Devolution empowerment Party gubernatorial candidate Lenny Kivuti.

"Kathuri was not even popular in the region and it is good that he has left so that we can back the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) gubernatorial candidate Lenny Kivuti whose political outfit is affiliated to Azimio," the Jubilee Senatorial candidate Lilian Mbogo said.

Martin Wambora cleared to vie for Embu Senate seat

Embu

Eric June 01, 2022 0

Embu Governor Martin Wambora has been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest for the Senatorial seat during in the August 9th elections.

Wambora who is serving his second and final term will be vying on his Umoja na Maendeleo Party.

Speaking moments after clearance, the Council of Governors (CoG) boss exuded confidence of winning the seat promising to “protect devolution” as well as lobby for more share of devolved funds.

“It is all systems go now and we will henceforth hit the ground running selling our transformation agenda to the great people of Embu,” Governor Wamora said.

Wambora will face a dozen others who have been cleared to vie for the seat they include former Youth PS Lillian Mbogo of Jubilee Party, Democratic Party’s Alexander Mundigi, Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga who is vying as an independent candidate and his Deputy David Kariuki.

UDA nominations: Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga disputes election, quits UDA

Embu

Eric April 18, 2022 0

Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga has officially ditched DP Ruto's United Democratic movement (UDA) party days after losing in the party primaries.

Speaking to the press in Embu town, Ndwiga announced he had opted to defend his seat as an independent candidate.

Ndwiga who had last month joined UDA after quilting Jubilee saying that the ruling party had lost popularity in the Mt Kenya region claimed the nominations were marred with massive irregularities denying a rightful win.

During the Thursday's primaries held across 36 counties, Embu Deputy Governor David Kariuki bagged the party ticket for the senatorial seat.

Mr Kariuki garnered 27,000 votes against Mr Ndwiga's 19,062.

Mr Ndwiga will now face-off Embu Governor Martin wambora who is contesting for the seat on Umoja wa Maendeleo party and his deputy David Kariuki who bagged the UDA ticked on the August 9th polls.

Embu brothers died of head injuries caused by blunt object - autopsy reveals

Embu

Eric August 06, 2021 0

Autopsy results for two brothers who died under mysterious circumstances in Kianjokoma, Embu County, have revealed their cause of death.

According to the results, the brothers died due to multiple injuries which could have been caused by a blunt force trauma.

The autopsy was conducted by Goverment Pathologis Martin Mwangi at the Embu Level V hospital morgue in the presence of the deceased's family representative John Ndwiga.

22-year-old Benson Njiru Ndwiga and 19-year-old Emmanuel Mutura Ndwiga had multiple bruises to the left and right arms.

Further tests will be done on samples taken from their bodies.

Nthiga stated, "We believe the truth will come out soon. As our family, we are crying to the government to do investigations and bring the culprits to book so that our late children can get justice."

Reportedly, the two died in police custody and their deaths instigated protests by Irate residents in Embu County who demanded justice.

However, police officers have distanced themselves from the incident saying that the two died after jumping out of a moving vehicle.

Embu locals protest over the alleged killing of two brothers in police custody

Embu

Eric August 05, 2021 0

Residents of Kianjokoma in Embu County on Wednesday morning torched a police vehicle protesting the death of two brothers who were allegedly arrested on Sunday for flouting curfew regulations.

22-year-old Benson Njiru, a student at Kabarak University and his 19-year-old brother Emmanuel Mutura were last seen alive on Sunday, when they were arrested at Kianjokoma market for violating curfew protocols.

The family of the two brothers said their efforts to search for them the Manyatta police station were futile and they finally found the brothers' lifeless bodies on Tuesday at the Embu general hospital morgue.

The family added that they were informed that the two boys died as they tried to escape police custody.

Their father Ndwiga Kamunyoti said,

“I tried to ask how possible it is that the two jumped out of moving car together, suffered similar injuries in the same spot and had no other physical marks. Later on, we were able to identify the bodies at the morgue but no clear answer is coming.”

According to the family, suspicion on the circumstances that led to the death of the two siblings was raised by the report indicating that their bodies were found 30 kilometres away from home.

Residents involved in the protests against the police in the area accused the law enforcement officers of unprocedural enforcement of covid-19 containment protocols.

Pius Mutungi, a resident of Kianjokoma said,“Police wanakuja hapa every Friday, kushika watu, na hizi arrests hazifanyikangi ata Tuesday ama Wedneday, tunaambia polisi hii maneno ya Covid sio mambo ya biashara, waache kufanya biashara na mambo ya curfew.”

The bodies of the siblings are at the Embu Hospital Morgue awaiting an autopsy to establish the cause of death.

Rise in husband battering raises concern among elders in Embu

Embu

Eric August 04, 2021 0

The increasing husband battering in Embu has raised concern among a section elders from the region.

According to the elders, the vice which is most common at Kiriari village calls for urgent intervention.

Through Inua Wazee Self Help Group, they lamented that women are assaulting men over trivial issues and denying them conjugal rights.

Joseph Wega stated, “Gender-based violence is rampant in Embu. Men are suffering and that is why we have formed this group to protect them and fight for their rights.”

The self help group pointed out that some women have been subjecting their husbands to all forms of mistreatment and taking over their role as family heads.

Samuel Muturi said, “Men have become a laughing stock in villages as they have no voice in their homes. The situation is serious and it should be urgently addressed.”

The elders pointed out that most men do not report the incidents to the police because they fear being mocked.

Wega said, “Majority of men don't like informing the police when attacked by their wives fearing that they will be mocked by the officers. Many such cases in the region go unreported.”

Furthermore, some victims of gender violence resort to suicide.

David Murage said, "Some men become depressed after being beaten by their wives and hang themselves."

"We shall use diplomacy to end the vice. We shall also be reporting cases of gender-based violence on behalf of the victims to the police and other relevant authorities so that legal action can be taken against the offenders,” he added.

Embu evictions: MP, nine journalists arrested

Embu

Eric April 25, 2021 0

Police on Saturday arrested nine journalists and a Member of Parliament as they conducted evictions in Makima area, Mbeere South, Embu County.

The officers were evicting thousands of families from the contested land an exercise that had drawn opposition from local leaders.

According to the Media Council of Kenya, nine journalists who were covering the Saturday event were arrested alongside area MP Geoffrey King'ang'i.

The journalist includes Solomon Mwaniki, William Moige( Standard Media Group) Dennis Fundi( Meru TV) Brian Mlila( County FM) Mary Wangare ( Coro FM) U-TV's Dan Makenge and Josephat Makundi, Peter Mungai ( Citizen TV).

They were detained at Matuu Police Station before being released unconditionally

The MP however was released on a Sh 50,000 police bail.

The Saturday exercise saw 5000 families in Makima and traders from Ndunguni market left homeless and their business premises demolished after Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) claimed ownership of the said land.

Area leaders led by MP King'ang'I and nominated MP Cecily Mbarire condemned the evictions accusing TARDA of violating the rights of the residents

The leaders that no notice was given to the residents.

More than 5,000 families evicted in mass demolitions in Embu

Embu

Eric April 24, 2021 0

A mass demolition exercise in Embu County conducted by the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) has rendered over 5,000 families homeless.

According to the authority, the demolition exercise was necessary because it was an attempt to reclaim the riparian land in the Makima area.

Bulldozers also destroyed the structures of traders in Ndunguni market, leaving them in losses.

The residents lamented, saying that they had not been given a notice to vacate the land so the demolitions were unfair.

One of the residents said, "We only saw the police officers come with men in bulldozers and they gave us little time to pick our things and leave."

"Where will we go and we have been living here for years? We have nothing and nowhere to go to," another resident expressed his frustration.

A month prior, TARDA had issued eviction notices to residents living near Kiambere Dam and Masinga dams.

The residents also complained that the order to vacate the area without compensation was unfair as it would render them homeless.

TARDA is a state corporation under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources mandated to undertake integrated planning, development, coordination and management of the resources within the Tana.

Runyenjes Law Court closed after 8 staffers test positive for coronavirus

Embu

Eric April 14, 2021 0

Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has ordered the closure of Runyenjes Law Courts in Embu County for seven days after 8 members of staff tested positive for coronavirus.

In a statement, Mwilu said the eight out of eighteen members of the court have since proceeded to self-isolation.

According to Mwilu, the Ministry of Health officials on Tuesday visited the court to assess the situation and thereafter recommended the temporary closure and screening of the staff members

During the closure, all urgent matters shall be handled by Embu and Kerugoya Law Courts.

"In light of the abovementioned developments, the recommendations from Ministry of Health officials in Embu County, the Court User’s Committee at Runyenjes Law Courts, and upon consultation with the Presiding Judge of the High Court at Embu, we have arrived at the considered decision to temporarily close Runyenjes Law Courts for a period of seven (7) days from today, Wednesday 14’h April 2021,”

“The closure will enable all personnel at the station test for COVID-19 and self-isolate pursuant to Ministry of Health Covid-19 protocols, facilitate the required disinfection and fumigation exercise, and contribute towards breaking the chain of transmission.”Mwilu said in a statement

70-year-old father slashes his 42-year-old son to death

Embu

Eric February 15, 2021 0

A 70-year-old man slashed his 42-year-old son to death after a quarrel in Ivari village, Embu East Sub County over family conflicts.

Screams from Benjamin Njiru's homestead drew residents to the scene where they found the body of Alexander Munene, Benjamin's son, lying in a pool of blood with deep cuts on the head and the neck.

The suspect is being held in custody at Runyenjes Police Station where he sought refuge after angry residents threatened to lynch him if they found him.

According to the Assistant Chief Gikuuri sub location Patrick Muriithi Njiru, the family had continually recurring family conflicts that were often sorted out by elders and other family members.

“The son is farmer just like his father. They have been having issues which have not been big but usually solved after intervention by elders and other family members,” the assistant chief said.

Muriithi said that on the day of the incident, February 14, Munene had a quarrel with his 33-year-old wife Beatrice Mutitu at around 5 pm. His 70-year-old father intervened but Munene was unhappy with his fathers’ intervention, as they have had outstanding issues.

Alexander left the homestead after telling his father that he would be back shortly.

The Assistant chief said that Alexander went back home at around 8pm after going on a drinking spree at Kawanjara Shopping Centre. He then went to confront his father who responded by slashing him twice with a panga on the head and the neck.

Muriithi urged the public to involve the elders, other members of the society or the local administration so that they sort out family issues amicably.

“There have been issues over land in the area and it could be the reason for the family conflicts but I don’t think it should end by people taking the law into their hands. Residents should let the law take its course,” the assistant chief added.