Latest Updates: Homa Bay

Latest Updates: Homa Bay

Showing posts with label Homa Bay. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Homa Bay. Show all posts

Saturday, April 2, 2022

Kidero to vie as independent, dismisses Wanga's endorsement

Eric April 02, 2022 0

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has announced he will contest for Homa Bay governor seat as an independent candidate days after Orange Democratic Movement party bypassed him and handed Women Rep Gladys Wanga a direct ticket.

Kidero who made the announcement on Saturday during a rally in Karachuonyo sub-county defended his move arguing he was not fighting the former premier in his bid to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti who is serving his second and final term.

Kidero was among seven candidates who had declared interest in the seat that had also attracted several seasoned politician who include Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga and ODM national chair John Mbadi.

The former Nairobi county boss who attributed his move to pressure from Homa Bay voters expressed dissatisfaction with how the Raila-Odinga led party edged him out and gave the party nomination ticket to Wanga arguing that his opinion was not sought.

“It is common knowledge that consensus involves bringing all concerned parties together so that all of them agree. But I was not called for the meeting,” Kidero said at Simbi Primary in Karachuonyo Constituency.

“I am contesting this seat as an independent candidate because the people of Homa Bay want a change in leadership. They say that they should be the sole decision-makers,” Kidero said.

However his move has drawn sharp criticism with ODM youth leader Dan Opande calling on residents to abide by the party's decision.

“I urge residents who are ODM members to abide by the decision of the party,” Opande said.

Former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga who shelved his bid will now be Wanga's running mate.

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Gladys Wanga launches bid for Homa Bay Governor seat

Eric February 13, 2022 0

Homa Bay Woman Represenative Gladys Wanga has launched her bid for the county gubernatorial seat.

The County MP announced her candidature during a public rally held in Homa Bay town that was graced by several leaders allied to the Azimio La Umoja movement.

" I do formally declare that I will be running for the post of Homa Bay governor in the August 9 election." She said pledging to better the health care services and economic growth of the county by focusing on agriculture, infrastructure development and job creation also promising to fight corruption in the devolved unit.

"My goal is to renovate and expand the Homa Bay teaching and Referral Hospital to meet the level five requirements. I will create an efficient healthcare infrastructure build on Universal Healthcare Coverage that will make the residents of this county enjoy the benefits of Baba Care which is Raila Odnga's pillar on health," she said.

"I want to make Homa Bay part of the National grand coalition against corruption. My government will not tolerate corruption because it rips our people of the development that they should get."

She also stated that in order to achieve her agenda she will borrow ideas from other counties like Kitui, Makueni, and Kisumu that have succeeded in the achievement of remarkable economic growth.

" I will form partnership with other county governors.I know Governor Charity Ngilu has succeeded in putting up a textile industry," she stated.

Wanga exuded confidence in clinching the seat from incumbent Cyprian Awiti who is serving his second and final term.

Among other candidates who have declared interest in succeeding Governor Awiti include former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Suba West MP John Mbadi and former Kasipul Kabondo MP Oyugi Magwanga.

Monday, September 27, 2021

Postmortem on the 10 bodies retrieved from Homa Bay boat tragedy concluded

Eric September 27, 2021 0

The Postmortem conducted on the bodies of 10 people who died on Tuesday last week in a boat tragedy in Lake Victoria near Pier beach within Homa Bay Town has been concluded at the county Referral Hospital.

Dr. Peter Ogolla conducted the postmortem on Monday morning in the presence of the deceased's family members.

According to Dr. Ogolla, who is also the hospital's CEO, all the ten bodies were identified by their relatives during the process of postmortem burial permits have already been handed over to the families.

A requiem mass for the deceased will be held on Tuesday at a ground near Homa Bay Vocational training centre about 500 meters from the shore of Lake Victoria.

The county Chaplain will preside over the mass

before the bodies are handed over to families and relatives for burial.

According to the County Director for Disaster Eliud Onyango, the Homa Bay County Government will cater for all the burial expenses including buying coffins and paying for transport.

The tragedy claimed the lives of the 10 people who were traveling to Ndhuru beach in Mbita Sub County from Pier Beach in Homa Bay Town. Eight other people who were on board were rescued.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Death toll in Homa Bay boat tragedy rises to six

Eric September 22, 2021 0

The death toll in the Homa Bay tragedy in which a boat capsized on Tuesday in Lake Victoria near Pier Beach has risen to six after the body of a minor was retrieved on Wednesday.

The boat, which had 19 passengers on board from Homa Bay Pier Beach heading to Ndhuru Beach in Suba North constituency, capsized just about 400 meters from the landing site.

On Tuesday evening, two people, a woman and an infant, were confirmed dead and four others bodies including that of a minor were retrieved on Wednesday.

Eight passengers were on Tuesday rescued and hospitalized at the County Referral facility where they are still undergoing treatment.

However, search efforts for bodies of the other remaining passengers who died in the boat tragedy are still underway.

According to Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan, a temporary command centre has been established at the beach and it consists of a multi-agency team from the Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Coast Guard Services, Beach Management Units as well as the County Government Department of Disaster.

Lilan added that the accident might have occurred because the boat was overloaded with passengers and luggage like bags of cement, timber, pieces of iron sheets and food stuff beyond its recommended capacity.

However, the boat coxswain Felix Ouma, who survived the incident, said bad weather and water hyacinth are the main factors that led to the accident.

Monday, September 13, 2021

Retired soldier stabs 91-year-old mother in land row and flees

Eric September 13, 2021 0

A retired army officer is on the run after allegedly killing his 91-year-old mother following a land dispute in Kamagak location, Rachuonyo South sub-county.

Reportedly, the former soldier differed with the mother, Hellen Ajwang Odiango, over a piece of land which belonged to her and the row escalated to the point that he stabbed her with a knife on the chest and head.

Police in Homa Bay County have since launched a manhunt for the suspect, who served as a soldier in Tanzania.

Reportedly, he left home last year for an unknown place with his family and returned on Friday.

According to Rachuonyo South sub-county Police Commander Lilies Wachira, the woman died while being rushed to Rachuonyo South sub-county hospital.

Wachira believes the ex-soldier who is on the run went back to Tanzania where he used to live when he was serving as a military officer.

The matter has already been handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who are now pursuing it, the police boss added.

The body of the deceased was moved to the Rachuonyo South sub-county hospital mortuary for postmortem.

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Two minors strangled to death in Homa Bay

Eric September 12, 2021 0

A three-year-old Henry Ochieng and five -year-old Vanteli Otieno in Kawakungu village, Homa Bay County were reportedly killed under unclear circumstances on Friday and their bodies dumped at River Sare.

The minors were pupils at Achuth Primary School.

According to Area Assistant Chief Faraja Malit, the murder suspect is a stone crusher at a quarry belonging to the father of one of the minors.

Reports indicate that the suspect left home on Friday morning with the two minors to go and look after animals at a grazing field but he never returned

Malit said that the minors' bodies were found on Sunday by family and relatives who traced their whereabouts on Friday night and part of Saturday.

According to preliminary investigation reports, the minors were strangled to death.

The incident was reported at Kendu Bay Police Station and the Assistant Chief said his office is working together with officers from the police station to trace the suspect who is still at large.

The deceased’s bodies were taken to Kendu Adventist Hospital Mortuary awaiting autopsy.

Monday, March 1, 2021

Fire breaks out at Okela Mixed Secondary School in Rarieda

Eric March 01, 2021 0

A fire broke out at Okela Mixed Secondary School in Rarieda on Sunday night leading to the destruction of property worth thousands of shillings.

The fire razed a dormitory that hosts 20 students and it was discovered at around 8:30pm when it had already burnt most of the students’ belongings.

The Assistant Chief of West Katweng’a sub-location Esau Oduru said that the inferno was discovered by a student who had gone to the toilet.

The student then rang the alarm to alert the school staff and other students who were in class for evening study.

All the belongings were destroyed even though they battled with the fire.

Mr. Oduru also clarified that there were no casualties or injuries during the incident, adding that investigations are ongoing as the cause of the fire has not yet been established.

Sunday, February 28, 2021

woman beheads son for allegedly refusing to breastfeed in Ndhiwa

Eric February 28, 2021 0

A 23-year-old woman in Ndhiwa in Homa Bay County mother beheaded her one-year-old son for allegedly refusing to breastfeed.

It was reported that Night Akoth Otieno used a panga to behead her son who died on the spot on Saturday at around 9pm.

Konyago sub–Location assistant chief Gabriel Nyatame said that the woman suffers from a mental disorder.

" She was angered when her third born son refused to breastfeed after making several attempts.” Nyatame told a local radio station

The body of the deceased was found lying in a pool of blood while seperated from the head, confirming that the woman used a sharp panga as the weapon.

Residents filed a report at Ndhiwa Police Station after alerting the area administration officer regarding the incident. They had tied the woman with a rope.

Furthermore, the woman confessed that she committed the crime, claiming that he refused to breastfeed several times, the administrator added.

She is currently detained at Ndhiwa police station while the son’s body was taken to Manyataa Kobodo mortuary.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Homa Bay County Assembly passes BBI Bill

Eric February 11, 2021 0

The Homa Bay County Assembly has passed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020 thereby becoming the third assembly to do so after Siaya and Kisumu.

Justice and Legal Affairs committee chairman Ajimba Ayieta tabled the bill before the house and nominated MCA Kevin Onyango seconded it.

The MCAs passed the bill unanimously. Before it can be tabled in parliament, it requires the approval of at least half of Kenya county assemblies.

Siaya County, which is Raila Odinga's home turf, was the first to pass the bill.

According to the ODM leader, 24 assemblies will have passed the bill by end of February. He affirmed after his meeting with Nairobi county leadership comprising of both Jubilee and ODM,

He expressed his confidence to the bill’s critics, saying that the wave of the BBI is unstoppable.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Grade two pupil in Homa Bay commits suicide

Eric February 03, 2021 0

A grade two pupil in Homa Bay County is believed to have committed suicide after her body was found dead in unclear circumstances.

Faith Achieng, aged 10, was found hanging from the rooftop of her step mother's house at Rayuer village, Kowuor Sub-location in Rachuonyo North Sub-county.

According to reports, Faith left home Tuesday morning heading to Emmanuel Mercy Academy. However, she was never seen until evening.

Her parents began to search for her and they made enquiries at the school, which revealed that she never reported there. They resorted to looking for her in the village.

One of the family members found Faith's lifesless body in her step mother's house which is located a few meters away from her parents’ homestead.

According to the Local Assistant Chief Clement Owuodho, the girl's body had bruises around the stomach with a stab wound that appeared to have been inflicted by a knife.

On the floor and next to the body were a kitchen knife, a match box and a plate of ‘githeri’.

Owuodho said the girl is suspected to have committed suicide but the reason behind it remains unclear.

“Her parents said the girl had not shown any signs of depression prior to the incident,” said Owuodho.

Rachuonyo North Police commander Sarah Chumo said police were investigating the matter and they will probe the girl's school to determine the cause of the death.

The deceased's body was taken to Kendu Adventist Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem.

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

23-year-old nurse in Homa Bay commits suicide

Eric February 02, 2021 0

A 23-year-old nurse in Homa Bay Homa Bay County is alleged to have committed suicide.

It is believed that Evans Odhiambo, who worked at the county government at Ngodhe Island dispensary, committed suicide in his house on Sunday.

Reportedly, he hanged himself with a rope tied to the roof.

The nurse reported to work on Sunday morning, took a break at 1pm and went back to his house which is in the facility where he was resting, reports indicate.

However, the reason behind the alleged suicide has not been established.

In May 2020, Odhiambo was employed to work under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme.

According to Homa Bay County Health Executive Richard Muga, Odhiambo did not join his colleagues in the ongoing health workers strike.

“The health officer was attending to patients up to the last moments before his death,” Muga said.

The County Health Executive added that, the death of the nurse was discovered when other medics were looking for him to report back to the facility to reduce the work load as there were more patients seeking medical care.

Muga stated, “One of his colleagues went look for him in the house and found the body dangling from the roof.”

The County Health Executive stated that security officers are conducting investigations as he appealed to nurses to remain calm.

Mbita Sub-county Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Commander Philip Sang said the deceased never left a suicide note.

He stated, “The reason why he committed suicide is not been known. Meanwhile, we are conducting the investigations to unearth circumstances surrounding his death.”

The body of the deceased was taken to Kirindo mortuary for postmortem.

Sunday, January 24, 2021

Kuppet election in Homa Bay cancelled after chaos erupt

Eric January 24, 2021 0

The election which was to be held at GEB Girls secondary school in Kosele town was supposed to start early in the morning on Sunday but it delayed up to around 11:30 am due to complaints by a section of teachers who were supporting particular candidates.

The teacher's complaints of alleged plans to steal elections in favor of a particular team of candidates.

The teachers argued that the irregularities were going to work against their preferred candidates.

The tension escalated at about 1 pm when a group of teachers arrived at the polling station, chanting songs to indicate that they could not allow the election to proceed.

They alleged that rigging had already occurred in the election thus it could lead to the disadvantage of their preferred candidates.

They alleged that some candidates were stuffing unauthorised ballot papers into the ballot boxes.

Efforts by the election officials to calm them down proved futile.

They went straight into the polling station and got hold of the ballot boxes and discarded ballot papers that had been cast.

Upon noticing what had happened, other teachers were infuriated and became unruly.

The scenes almost resulted to a fistfight with each side supporting their candidate.

Police had to intervene to disperse the teachers.

Kuppet national organizing secretary Paul Maingi who was overseeing the exercise said they decided to cancel the election after the teachers became unruly.

The election was postponed to an unknown date.

“There were cases of irregularities and the teachers were so unruly that we could not control them,” Maingi said.

He said they are going to deliberate on the matter with the Kuppet national office on when to hold another election.

“We expect to call contestants to the head office so that we schedule a date for another election,” Maingi said.

The Kuppet election has attracted two line-ups of teachers eyeing various elective positions.

They are Team Focus headed by the incumbent executive secretary Stephen Yogo who is defending his seat and team petition for change led by Samuel Owee who is eyeing the executive secretary position.

Friday, January 22, 2021

Cops rescue 1-month-old baby abducted in Homa Bay

Eric January 22, 2021 0

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested Bella Achieng Ogolla who had abducted a 1-month-old baby from his mother at a salon in Homa Bay.

The baby was re-united with his mother Benta Achieng after a 3-week search for the suspect who went missing after the incident.

Detectives probing the matter discovered that Ms Ogolla had met the baby’s mother in hospital just days before she delivered.

Unbeknownst to the baby’s mother, the suspect was hatching a plan that would see her steal the baby a couple of days later.

Its still not clear how the 42-year-old suspect managed to convince her husband Bernard Okello that she was pregnant and had finally borne him a son.

Friday, January 1, 2021

40-year-old man arrested for defiling his brother’s daughter

Eric January 01, 2021 0

A 40-year-old man was arrested for defiling his brother’s daughter in Kasipul, Homa Bay County.

The suspect identified as David Ochieng was arrested on Thursday evening at Kawuon Auko village in Kasimba sub-location.

He is accused of repeatedly defiling the 11-year-old girl who is in Grade Four.

According to Senior Assistant Chief Pius Odoyo Ayugi, the suspect’s neighbors saw the girl walking in the compound with difficulty.

They questioned her and she revealed to them what had been happening.

According to the administrator, the girl is an orphan and has been staying with the suspect since the demise of her parents

Monday, December 28, 2020

Man arrested with sh36,000 fake currency notes in Homa Bay

Eric December 28, 2020 0

Police have arrested a 37-year-old man in Homa Bay after they found him with fake currency notes worth Sh36,000.

The officers found the notes in denominations of Sh1000 and Sh500 notes when they arrested the suspect at Nyakwere market in Rachuonyo North.

Locals at the market detained and tried to beat him up after noticing his fake notes since his spending spree raised suspicion. However, the police came to his rescue and arrested him.

According to Kobuya Location Chief Damianus Osano, the residents made the arrest possible as they raised the alarm.

Osano said, “Members of the public were very angry with the suspect hence I had to intervene in the matter to save his life.”

The chief found the suspect with fake notes worth Sh14,500 when he conducted a search on the suspect before handing him over to police from Kendu Bay Police Station.

Further search inside his bag by the police revealed more fake notes valued at Sh21,500.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

EACC grills Governor Awiti over irregular staff recruitment

Eric December 23, 2020 0

Homabay Governor, Cyprian Awiti has been questioned by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) over the irregular recruitment of Health workers by his County Government.

EACC Head of Corporate Communications, Philip Kagucia said the Governor recorded a statement at their Kisii offices.

Kagucia also said the Commission is investigating the recruitment of 183 health workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program and sixty-nine interns in the same department.

In August, EACC had summoned three officials of the Homabay County Public Service Board over the same matter.

A month earlier, a section of the Board's members had dismissed the recruitment of personnel for the county Universal Health Coverage.

The members had written to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject the appointment of 100 health workers over an alleged irregularity in the hiring process.

Board Chairman Daniel Ogada, Collins Odhiambo (Secretary) and Tobias Odundo (member) wanted the commission to disregard the list on grounds that the recruitment process was done out of order.

Monday, December 21, 2020

Chaos as Governors Awiti, Nyong'o barred from attending Ida Odinga's event

Eric December 21, 2020 0

Homa Bay governor Cyprian Awiti and his Kisumu counterpart Anyang Nyong’o were barred from entering a venue where Mama Ida Odinga was holding an event.

According to reports by the local news outlet, the two arrived at Ogande Girls High School after Mama Ida, CS Fred Matiangi, CS Education George Magoha had entered the venue.

The police were instructed to limit the number of people who would access the venue, with the two governors and their bodyguards being among those locked out.

The bodyguards of the two governors alongside irate youth caused a scene trying to force the officers on duty to give way to the two.

Mama Ida and the CS’s had gone for a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Ida Odinga Library, Research, Innovation and Resource Centre.

The local news outlet reports that a senior official had to intervene before the two governors were allowed to access the site.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Homa Bay County has the highest HIV/AIDs prevalence rate

Eric December 01, 2020 0

A new report now says at least 1.5 million Kenyans are living with HIV and more than 20,000 deaths were recorded in 2019 alone.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV and AIDS appear to have taken the back seat, but the report suggests that the AIDS virus is still very much alive and well in Kenya since the early 80s when it was first discovered in the country.

Statistics from the National AIDS and STI Control Program (NASCOP) showing that infections in the country currently stand at 1.5 million, with more than 41, 000 registered in 2019 alone.

The researchers say the figures could be higher since many Kenyans are yet to test to know their status owing to the stigma attached to the virus.

What should however, however,enyans is the number of lives lost, with 2019 recording 20,000 deaths.

Latest records showing that 10 counties that had initially seen an improvement were now on a steady rise

Monday, November 23, 2020

Two boda boda riders arrested for defiling school-going girls in Homa Bay

Eric November 23, 2020 0

Two boda boda riders have been arrested for allegedly defiling two primary school girls at their rental house in Simenya area, Homa Bay County.

The riders – Evans Ouma, 19, and John Otieno Onyango, 20 – were arrested on Monday morning by Asego sub-location Assistant Chief Tom Ondiek for defiling the Class Seven and Eight pupils.

The suspects reportedly hid the two girls inside their single-roomed rental house where they have been sexually abusing them.

Mr. Ondiek said that he received a tip-off from members of the public that the suspects have been hiding the girls since Friday last week.

The administrator said they stormed the house at 4am and caught them in the act sexually abusing the girls.

The two are presently being detained at Homa Bay Police station awaiting to be arraigned in court while the girls were taken for medical examination.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Suspected robber shot dead during burglary attempt

Eric November 22, 2020 0

Police shot a suspected robber on the rooftop of a bar in Oyugis Town, Homa Bay County, after a burglary attempt.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning.

Police reports indicate that the police shot the suspected robber as he failed to surrender and was caught cornered on the rooftop.

He is also said to have been part of a five-man gang planning to rob the bar but the other four managed to escape.

According to Rachuonyo South Sub-county Police Commander Lilies Wachira, the suspected robber threatend the police officers.

Wachira said, "He was found removing iron sheet from the roof of the bar with intention to steal. Instead of surrendering to the officers who were at the scene, he threatened to hack the officers."

The body of the deceased was moved to Rachuonyo South sub-county hospital mortuary.

Police have launched a search in Oyugis town to find the four suspects who escaped.

Residents in Oyugis town called on the police to beef up security in the area as there is an increase in insecurity incidences

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