Latest Updates: Kirinyaga

Showing posts with label Kirinyaga. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Jubilee's Charles Kibiru concedes defeat in Kirinyaga gubernatorial race

Eric August 10, 2022 0

Kirinyaga county gubernatorial candidate Charles Kibiru has conceded defeat.

Mr Kibiru who was flying the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Coalition flag in the contest said he was satisfied with the electoral process.

“I take this early opportunity to accept and respect the choice of Kirinyaga voters in relation to the just concluded gubernatorial elections where I was a candidate,” he said in a statement shared in his official social media handle.

He thanked his supporters, friends, his running mate, Peter Ndambiri, and family for their support during the campaign period.

"May God bless our great County of Kirinyaga and its people.”he added.

Mr Kibiru was facing off with the incumbent Governor Anne Waiguru (UDA), Wangui Ngirici (Independent) and former Governor Joseph Ndathi (TSP).

Kibiru was the sole Azimio candidate in the race after his Narc Kenya rival Muriithi Kagai stepped down in his favour.

According to provisional results , Waiguru is leading and she is followed by Ms.Ngirici.

Governor Waiguru unveils her running mate

Kirinyaga

Eric May 25, 2022 0

Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru has appointed education county executive committee member (CECM) James Kinyua as her running mate.

While unveiling him in Wamumu on Tuesday, Waiguru described Mutugi as a diligent servant who has exhibited hard work in his current capacity.

Waiguru said the appointment will not only help strike gender but also regional balance in the county leadership positions.

Mutugi comes from Mwea West substituting Peter Ndambiri from Mwea East who deputized Waiguru during her first term.

Mutugi previously served as Wamumu ward MCA between 2013-2017 before being nominated to the position of county education CEC in 2017.

While accepting the nomination, Kinyua thanked the governor for consideration pledging to continue being loyal to the governor and demonstrate servanthood and result-oriented leadership.

Police in Kirinyaga arrest man for killing girlfriend

Kirinyaga

Eric October 13, 2021 0

A man has been arrested for allegedly brutally killing his girlfriend at Kianjege village in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga County.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect, Kennedy Nyamu, attacked 27-year-old Edith Muthoni by inflicting a deep cut on the back of her head.

Muthoni succumbed to the injuries upon arrival at Kerugoya referral hospital where she was rushed by a wellwisher.

The DCI said, “According to Kerugoya referral hospital manager Norman Gitari, the deceased was brought to the hospital in critical condition, by a well wisher. His medical staff tried in vain to save her life, prompting the hospital manager to inform our officers based at Kerugoya police station.”

The deceased’s boyfriend was then arrested after investigations were carried out.

He led detectives to the murder scene where they spent the better part of the night looking for more clues into the crime.

Waiguru: It's still early for a conversation on joining UDA

Kirinyaga

Eric September 06, 2021 0

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has said that though it is unlikely for her to join UDA, it is still early for that conversation.

Speaking on Spice FM on Monday, Waiguru said, "I don’t think it’s the right time to have that conversation. I can’t say I would, I can’t say I would not. This is politics, it’s unlikely but a bit early. Let’s see what the ground looks like."

According to her, the next political move will be decided by the people.

"I will not be ignorant to try and go against the people, I cannot vote myself in so, I’m listening very carefully to what it is that they want. Do they want me to run for governor for a second term. In politics it’s not just about performance, you can be a fantastic performer and not be re-elected," the governor said.

She added that sometimes politicians are elected on waves of political parties.

Waiguru said she will be spending a lot of time with people on the ground to listen to what direction they want her to take.

Accident involving a matatu and ambulance leaves 11 people injured in Mwea

Kirinyaga

Eric July 29, 2021 0

A crash that involved an ambulance from the County Government of Kirinyaga and a matatu from NENO sacco occurred on Wednesday evening, leaving eleven people seriously injured.

Gichugu sub-county police commander Anthony Mbogo confirmed the incident, adding that the ambulance was heading to Kerugoya from Embu hospital while the matatu with 9 passengers was heading to Embu from Nairobi.

He said, “I called my officers to the scene shortly after the accident where 11 people were taken to Embu hospital.”

The Gichugu police boss also said that both drivers from ambulance and matatu sustained serious injuries but the patient in the ambulance was not injured.

“The patient who was a middle-aged woman was not injured ,officers made sure everything was safe,” Mbogo said.

Locals living along the Mwea-Embu highway have expressed concerns over the increasing number of accidents on the busy highway, urging the government to erect more bumps in the area.

Venue of Mashujaa Day celebrations announced

Kirinyaga

Eric June 11, 2021 0

Kirinyaga County will host this year's Mashujaa Day Celebrations, Governor Anne Waiguru announced on Friday.

The announcement came hours after the Governor hosted Principal Secretaries Karanja Kibicho( Interior) ,Paul Maringa( Infrastructure) ,Charles Hinga ( Housing and Urban Development), and Jerome Ochieng (ICT).

"We later inspected Wanguru Stadium which will host the upcoming Mashujaa Day celebrations & officially launched the joint technical team which will handle the preparations," said Governor Waiguru

"Kirinyaga County is greatly honored to have been selected to host the upcoming events." she added

Kirinyaga will host the second national celebration this year after Kisumu County hosted Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1.

In October 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that the national celebrations will be held in the devolved unit on a rotational basis in a bid to promote cultural diversity.

Irate residents lynch man suspected to have hacked his mother in Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga

Eric June 05, 2021 0

Furious residents of Kibingoti area of Ndia in Kirinyaga County have lynched and buried a 28-year-old man who came back to try and kill his brother after hacking his mother to death on Thursday and fleeing.

However, the suspect identified as Moses Gitau, was ambushed by neighbour's who burnt him to death before he accomplished his second mission. They then buried him.

On Saturday morning, police officers exhumed the body of suspect and took it to the Kerugoya hospital morgue.

The residents said the suspect fled after killing his mother on Thursday night.

According to them, relatives said they were living in fear since the suspect killed their 58-year-old mother Tabitha Muringo Mwai before showing up at home on Wednesday evening, so it was important to lynch him.

One resident said, “Huyo mama tumemjua kwa muda mrefu, alikuwa na bidii kujifanyia kazi na kulea watoto wake.”

“Alikuwa anataka kuua ndugu yake…alikuwa anamnyonga, huyo ndugu yake akapata nguvu akapiga nduri watu wakakuja wakamsaidia,” another resident added.

Kirinyaga farmers’ earnings boosted by coffee roasting machine

Kirinyaga

Eric May 28, 2021 0

The Kirinyaga county government provided coffee farmers from Mwirua Farmers’ Cooperative Society in the county with value addition equipment thereby enabling them to earn more.

They can now roast, package and sell their own coffee to local residents as they have been enabled to do so by the coffee roaster, a grinder and a packaging machine they received.

According to the society’s manager Mr. George Muthii Karimi, the society sourced for the requisite licenses and authorizations from entities such as the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) as well as barcoding for their product while the county government provided the value addition equipment

He added that in December 2020, the society began roasting its coffee and so far it has added value to 130 bags of coffee.

The roasted coffee has a guaranteed market from the member farmers who agreed during their January 2020 annual general meeting that each one of them will be buying at least 500 grams of roasted coffee, Karimi added.

He said the remaining coffee is then sold to local residents through coffee factories and local shops.

They endeavor to improve the society’s income and payout to farmers by encouraging local consumption of 20% of their coffee after which they plan gradually introduce the value added coffee to supermarkets and other outlets in and outside the county.

Kariani, Mitondo, Getuya, Gathabi, Kiaragana, Kiambwe, Rwamuthambi, Riakiania and Ihara are the nine coffee factories that constitute the society.

According to the society’s Chairman, Geoffrey Kinyua, the value addition equipment has been of great help to the farmers as it enables them to add value to lower grades of coffee thereby boosting their earnings.

He thanked Governor Anne Waiguru for enabling the value addition initiative that is set to turn around the fortunes of each one of the cooperative society’s members, hopeful that their roasted coffee will be trading in the international market.

Governor Anne Waiguru spoke during the equipment handover event at the society’s offices earlier, saying that value addition is in tandem with the Big Four Agenda and will go a long way into improving the farmers’ returns from coffee, encourage local consumption of coffee and provide employment.

Police arrest two women for allegedly drugging, stealing from man in Mwea

Kirinyaga

Eric April 11, 2021 0

Police have arrested two women for drugging a man and robbing him of an unknown amount of money in Mwea, Kirinyaga County

According to Mwea-East police commander Daniel Kitavi, the 32-year-old man was drugged and robbed by the suspects at local bar in Ngurubani town when the incident occurred on Saturday evening.

Kitavi said, “They even took his ATM and visited two banks before they were arrested.”

They robbed him at a local lodging where they used a motorcycle rider to take him, the police commander added.

Kitavi also revealed, “We discovered several items that will help us prosecute the two suspects who are being held here at Wang’uru police station.”

The victim was taken to a local hospital by police officers.

Kitavi said thatt the victim felt better and has recorded a statement with the police.

However, the victim wanted to remain anonymous for security reasons.

The suspects have allegedly been targeting men in towns such as Ngurubani, Kerugoya, Kagio, Sagana among others, are to be arraigned at Wang’uru Law Courts on Monday.

Waiguru asserts that 188 nurses sacked over misconduct will not be re-instated

Kirinyaga

Eric April 01, 2021 0

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asserted that the 188 nurses in Kirinyaga who were fired over alleged misconduct will not be reinstated.

According to the governor, the fired nurses were replaced immediately.

Waiguru was speaking from her Kagio home on Wednesday where she disbursed Ksh.3m in bursaries.

She pointed out that the sacking was a directive from the High Court and therefore there cannot any reinstatement despite a directive from the Public Service Commission.

The decision by the High Court cannot be overturned by the Public Service Commission, Waiguru noted.

However, the sacked nurses can apply for jobs within the county when there are job vacancies advertised to the public.

Waiguru said that at the moment her government does not have the budget to hire more workers as the primary focus is on battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor stated, “We have not budgeted for more workers. At the moment we are busy fighting the third wave of COVID-19 which is spreading fast.”

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Kirinyaga Branch on Wednesday called their members, who are the fired nurses, to return to work basing the call on the PSC's directive indicating that they had been sacked illegally.

The health workers to return to work on March 31.

Kirinyaga bar owners appeal to President Kenyatta to lift Covid-19 restrictions

Kirinyaga

Eric March 12, 2021 0

Kirinyaga bar owners have urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to lift Covid-19 restrictions so that pub operating hours can be seamless for business boost and sustainability.

According to the chairman of the Kirinyaga Bar Owners Association, Mr. Anthony Mucheke, Covid-19 restrictions have adversely affected their businesses.

Mucheke said, “We are appealing to him because we know the President is scheduled to address the nation today (Friday) on the issues regarding the country’s COVID-19 status.”

The bar owners are urging the president to reduce curfew hours.

As part of measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, in January this year, Kenya extended its nightly curfew to March 12 and the curfew runs between 10 p.m and 4 a.m.

The government closed schools, imposed a curfew, banned public gatherings and restricted movement in and out of the most-affected regions when the confirmation of the first coronavirus cases in the country was announced in the country in March 2020.

However, since the Covid-19 measures were later relaxed and schools reopened fully. Still, extracurricular school activities such as sports were banned for 90 days.

The pandemic has ravaged Kenya’s tourism, education and other key business sectors just like in other countries.

As per March 11 records of Covid-19 cases, Kenya has recorded a total of 111,185 coronavirus cases and 1,899 deaths so far.

Karoti school teacher arrested for attacking colleague with a panga

Kirinyaga

Eric March 03, 2021 0

A teacher from Karoti Girls High School was arrested after allegedly attacking his colleague with a panga in the staffroom over a love affair.

According to Mwea East police commander Daniel Katavi, the suspect is being held at Wang’uru Police Station.

Kitavi said, “We have also recovered the weapon he is said to have used to attack his colleague in the school compound.”

The police boss said the suspect attacked his male colleague because of allegedly having an affair with a female teacher who is on teaching practice.

“The two male teachers are in a love affair with one female teacher,” Kitavi said adding that the suspect thought he had killed his colleague.

The police boss further stated, “He was still in the school compound after the incident when his colleagues were struggling to help the victim with others calling police officers. He will be charged with attempted murder.”

Reportedly, the victim, who was identified as Alfose Orina, is in serious condition at a private hospital in Mwea.

Police arrest student from Kamama Boys over Mugumo Girls arson

Kirinyaga

Eric February 22, 2021 0

Police have arrested a student from Kamama Boys High School in Embu County over a fire incident at that occurred in Mugumo Girls High School in Kirinyaga.

According to Gichugu Sub-county police commander Anthony Mbogo, the Form 3 student was arrested at Kimunye village.

The police boss said, “His parent told us Kamama Boys in Embu was closed last week after student destroyed school properties.”

The suspect is said to have sneaked into Mugumo Girls Secondary School and given his girlfriend a cigarette lighter to torch a dormitory with a capacity of 220 students.

Mbogo added that on Friday nine students from Mugumo Girls High School were arrested in connection with the fire incident.

“Some students who are being held here at Kianyaga Police Station mentioned the suspect and they have agreed to be State witnesses,’ he said.

The police boss said the fire incident occurred last Sunday between 2pm and 3pm when other students were studying.

Mbogo affirmed, “We are looking for another student who accompanied the suspect.”

Kirinyaga County Commissioner Jim Njoka has warned students torching schools saying “We will treat them as criminals.”

Residents appeal to KWS regarding animal targeting human body parts

Kirinyaga

Eric January 17, 2021 0

Residents of Kangaita village in Kirinyaga County have appealed to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for help regarding a strange wild animal said to be targeting private parts attacking several people.

According to a report by Citizen TV on Sunday, January 17, the dog-like wild animal said to hunt for victims as it hide near rivers attacked several residents in the area.

The latest case involved in the incident which has been ongoing in the area for two weeks is of a victim who has been admitted at Kerugoya Hospital after losing his private parts.

The 39-year-old victim, Julius Kabue, said that he was headed to work in the morning when the attack occurred.

He also revealed that he was already

badly injured with his right finger missing by the time neighbors came after he had struggled with the animal.

Kabue told the press, "I was walking and it secretly followed before pouncing on me between my legs. It proceeded to bite my manhood but I fought it and that is when it bit my fingers."

Two of the people who came to his rescue sustained minor injuries as the animal also attacked them. However, they were treated at the same hospital and discharged.

The residents are depending on KWS contain the animal and prevent future attacks in the area.

Reportedly, the animal attacks between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.,making the road impassable for students going to school in the morning.

Man who impregnated his two daughters jailed for 140 years

Kirinyaga

Eric January 14, 2021 0

A man who defiled and impregnated his two daughters in Ndia, Kirinyaga County has been jailed for 70 years for each of the two counts he was convicted of but the sentence will run consecutively.

He is said to first have defiled and impregnated his 16-year-old firstborn daughter but the case was not reported after he allegedly threatened his wife.

The girl now has a seven-month old baby, allegedly from the violation.

Had it not been for the second-born daughter revealing to her aunt about her ordeal in the hands of her father, their suffering may have continued undiscovered.

The 51-year-old man, who is said to have been a church elder, shocked the court when he admitted to defiling his daughters, 14 and 16.

Pastor arrested on suspicion he impregnated his two teen daughters

Kirinyaga

Eric January 04, 2021 0

John Gichuki, a pastor in a local akorino church, is accused of impregnating his 16-year-old daughter who has a seven-month-old child and his 14-year-old daughter who is 5 months pregnant.

“The suspect was arrested yesterday (Saturday) evening in his hide-out in Mbeere South, Embu county after he switched on his phone,” Ndia Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Moses Ivuto said.

The 45 year old suspect hails from Kathaka village in Ndia Constituency.

He went missing after his sister in-law Nancy Wambura Muriithi reported what had happened.

“He has been threatening his wife against reporting his misdeeds sparking fear in his family. I want justice for my sisters family,” Ms. Wambura said

Student slips, drown while taking selfies at River Nyamindi

Kirinyaga

Eric December 17, 2020 0

A Form two student in Gichungu, Kirinyaga County has drowned after slipping into River Nyamindi

Lucia Mwende 15, is reported to have been taking selfies together with her friends when the tragedy occurred on Wednesday, December 16th.

According to her mother Lurencia Wambugi, the girl had left home with her friends.

The friends later alerted her that her daughter had drowned into the river.

Friends and relatives gathered at the river bank as the process of retrieving Mwende's body commenced.

Two remandees died of suffocation in Kirinyaga-autopsy reveal

Kirinyaga

Eric December 09, 2020 0

Two men who died while in remand at Wang’uru police station in Kirinyaga in November, may have been tortured to death.

According to government pathologist, Dr Johansen Oduor, the deceased persons could have also died of suffocation due to overcrowding in the cells.

Dr Oduor also noted that more samples have been taken to ascertain what killed the remandees.

“Once the results of these analyses are released plus what we have found out after the postmortem then we will be able to determine the actual cause of death,” he said.

John Njeru, 28 and Martin Musyoka, 57, had been arrested on November 27 only for the police to report that they had developed Covid-19 related symptoms.

They were rushed to Kimbimbi Hospital but were later discovered in the morgue. They were marked “unknown African males”.

Their families are demanding justice for their departed loved ones and want causes of death ascertained.

OCS at the police station, Francis Bundi, and his deputy are said to have been transferred soon after the incident.

Blow to Kirinyaga Senator in battle to retain seat

Kirinyaga

Eric November 23, 2020 0

The High Court has dismissed an application by Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru to quash a case which seeks to have him recalled and his seat declared vacant for participating in Jubilee Party’s affairs yet he is an independent legislator.

According to the 31 petitioners who filed the case, Mr Kibiru, having been elected as an independent candidate, is not supposed to participate in the affairs of any political parties.

“He vied for the Kirinyaga senatorial seat as an independent candidate and emerged the winner after he garnered 147,921 votes. He was elected based on his manifesto and the strong conviction that he was the right candidate to represent their interests in the senate,” reads the petition.

Through lawyer Waithera Kinuthia, the voters want the court to find that Senator Kibiru’s participation in the election of Jubilee leaders amounted to joining the ruling party.

As a result, the lawyer says, the senatorial office should be deemed vacant, in line with Article 103 (1) (e) (ii) of the Constitution.

The law says the office of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if, having been elected to Parliament as an independent candidate, the member joins a political party.

"The trust bestowed upon Mr Kibiru by the people of Kirinyaga County has indeed been watered down by his actions to join a political party and to take part in the affairs of the party by attending their Parliamentary Group Meetings and by participating in an election of the party leaders as a voter," the six-page petition reads.

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka is listed as the second respondent in the case.

Two remandees succumb to COVID-19 in Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga

Eric November 23, 2020 0

Two remandees on Sunday, November 22 succumbed to Covid-19 complications at police cell in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.

Kirinyaga County Police Commander Leah Kithei confirmed the news stating that the two died at the Wang’uru Police Statio after testing positive for Covid-19.

Kithei stated that the remandees succumbed to the virus while receiving treatment at Kimbimbi sub-county hospital.

They were rushed to the facility in morning after developing breathing difficulties.

The county police boss revealed that three other remandees at the same police station also tested positive for the virus and have been admitted in the same hospital.

He added that the remaining remandees have also undergone Covid-19 test and are awaiting their results.