FAHAMU NETWORK

Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has claimed that the ongoing graft case against Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya is politically motivated and intended to silence the vocal county boss due to his fierce criticism of the national government. Speaking during a church service in Tuwan Ward on Sunday, Mr. Amisi alleged that the charges facing Natembeya are part of a larger scheme to weaken his influence and discredit the Tawe movement, which the governor leads. “There are many governors with serious graft allegations in the public domain, but they have not been treated like Natembeya — simply because they are not as vocal,” said the legislator. Mr. Amisi also criticized leaders from the Western Kenya region for failing to support Natembeya during what he described as a politically charged attack. “We have to demonstrate our unity by standing by our colleagues whenever they are in trouble, irrespective of our political affiliations,” he emphasized. The MP’s remarks c...

Trans Nzoia, Kenya — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has warned political leaders against issuing inflammatory statements while promoting their political ideologies, saying such actions threaten national cohesion and security. Speaking during a church service at AIC Nuru in Trans Nzoia County on Sunday, Murkomen raised concern over a growing trend where some leaders appear to be capitalizing on ethnic divisions for political mileage. “There are leaders who are banking on ethnicity,” said Mr. Murkomen. “But I want to give you my personal assurance that our security is firmly in place.” He further condemned the practice of politicians mobilizing gangs to intimidate opponents during public events, including funerals. “We have seen worrying trends where leaders are walking with gangs, even at funerals where they are supposed to show empathy,” he said, adding that such behavior undermines public safety and would not be tolerated. Also present at the event, Trans Nz...

Cherang'any parliamentary aspirant John Njuguna has launched an avocado farming initiative targeting smallholder farmers—particularly women—in a bid to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods across the constituency. Mr. Njuguna, accompanied by area Senator Allan Chesang, unveiled the project at Nyakinyua Primary School, where 1,000 Golden Hass avocado seedlings were distributed to women farmers. Njuguna emphasized that the initiative directly addresses the high poverty levels in Cherang’any and forms part of his broader vision to economically empower residents through sustainable agriculture. "The burden of poverty here is real, and women bear the brunt of it. We need solutions, not just promises. This avocado project is a step toward long-term empowerment," he said. The project, which is also being rolled out in other wards, includes training beneficiaries on proper propagation and crop care. "The market for avocado is highly lucrative. Beneficiaries will no...

The government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate Kenya’s coffee industry, aiming to triple production from the current 50,000 metric tonnes to 150,000 metric tonnes by the 2027/2028 financial year. The Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, emphasized the government’s determination to restore Kenya’s global stature as a leading coffee producer. "Kenya was once among the world’s top coffee exporters, but we have fallen behind Ethiopia, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tanzania," said Oparanya. He spoke at Kipkeikei. He added: "Revitalizing this sector means strategic planning and improved farm practices, including targeting over 20 kilograms per bush." To spearhead this revival, the government has committed Sh500 million and launched the Cherry Fund, which will offer farmers advance payments while awaiting auction sales. Oparanya also kickstarted the distribution of 250,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in the r...

Kwanza Member of Parliament Ferdinand Wanyonyi has thrown his weight behind the leasing of Nzoia Sugar Company, saying the move will help revive the struggling miller and significantly benefit sugarcane farmers and the broader economy. Speaking at the launch of a tututom block at Liyavo Primary School, Wanyonyi said the leasing plan is a timely intervention that will restore the company’s operational capacity and ensure farmers receive better returns for their produce. “We fully support the leasing of Nzoia Sugar. It is a step in the right direction that will help bring the company back to life and improve the livelihoods of farmers,” he said. The legislator also emphasized the need to ensure that farmers supplying cane to the company are paid promptly, noting that delays in payment have historically discouraged production and deepened poverty in farming communities. “Farmers must be paid on time. That is the only way to restore confidence in the sector and motivate them to...

Kwanza Member of Parliament Ferdinand Wanyonyi has expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of child labour, linking the trend to a sharp rise in school absenteeism among students. This follows a report by Keese Secondary School Principal Henry Bunyasi, who revealed that over 200 students from Form Two to Form Four have failed to report for Term Two. According to Mr. Wanyonyi, many students are now working as casual labourers on maize farms, which is negatively impacting academic performance, particularly at the high school level. "I have received worrying reports from school heads who complain that some students skip classes to work alongside their parents," said the MP during a bursary cheque issuance event at Keese Secondary School. He urged government investigative agencies to crack down on parents who allow or encourage their children to engage in child labour. Mr. Wanyonyi also raised concerns about a growing culture of gambling among students, warni...

Cherangany MP Mr. Patrick Simiyu has opposed plans by the government to implement a revised hardship allowance policy that could see thousands of teachers lose their benefits. Simiyu termed the proposal by the government to cut the hardship allowance for educators in classified regions in the country as misguided and discouraging. Speaking in Kachibora during public participation on NG-CDF and NG-AAF forum, the MP vowed to mobilize his colleagues to reject the proposal. The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) MP termed the process to cut teachers' allowance as lacking transparency and equity. "Government policies should be subjected to public participation to avoid backlash when being implemented. There is no transparency and equity in the process to cut the teacher's hardship allowance," he said. The MP argued that the move to slash the allowance of the teachers working in the region mapped as hardship areas will discourage teachers and have a negati...

The High Court in Kitale has granted local businessman Bonface Ndura permission to enjoin three additional parties in his ongoing legal challenge against the Bigamy Act.  The parties—Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Ministry of Education, and the Kenya Law Reform Commission—will now be involved in the case following a successful application to amend their participation in the proceedings. Mr. Ndura has taken issue with the current religious education syllabus, particularly its emphasis on monogamy as a normative family structure.  He argues that this portrayal is misleading and inconsistent with Kenyan law, which recognizes other forms of marriage, including polygamous unions. While Ndura's legal team also sought the formation of a three-judge bench to hear the petition, the court declined to grant this by consent.  The presiding judge stated that such a request must be substantiated in court, with evidence demonstrating complex constituti...

A group of elders and peace advocates from the Luhya 17 group in Trans Nzoia County paid a courtesy visit to 104-year-old Jamin Lubang’a at his home in Matisi, hailing him as a national hero for his enduring efforts in peacebuilding and community cohesion. During the visit, the group urged President William Ruto to officially recognise Mr Lubang’a as a hero, citing his remarkable contributions to fostering unity during periods of ethnic tension in the region. “We call on President Ruto to recognise Mzee as one of the country’s heroes during this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations, since he played a major role in preaching peace during ethnic clashes in Trans Nzoia,” said the group’s chairman, Wycliffe Ongola. Mr Ongola noted that Mr Lubang’a, widely credited with founding the Friends Church in Trans Nzoia, used his Christian principles to promote peace among the region’s diverse communities. “He offered refuge to victims of ethnic clashes who had been left homeless. He ha...

Residents of Endebess constituency have thrown their weight behind the Constitution Amendment Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 4 of 2025). This support was expressed during a public participation forum on the bill, organized by the Parliament of Kenya at the sub-county headquarters. The bill seeks to entrench three key development funds in the Constitution: the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), the Affirmative Action Fund (NG-AAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund. The public participation forum, part of a nationwide initiative, attracted passionate pleas from locals urging the government to protect the NG-CDF from being scrapped, following a recent High Court ruling declaring the fund unconstitutional and ordering its cessation by June 30, 2026. Lucy Chebet, a resident of Chelalus village, emotionally recounted the transformation the fund has brought to her community. “I neighbour Mt. Elgon National Park, and before CDF, our boys hunted wild animals...

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has declared himself the most qualified leader from Western Kenya to succeed President William Ruto. Wetang'ula made the announcement amid ongoing campaigns, which he and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have been spearheading, aimed at uniting the Luhya community.  As the leader of Ford Kenya and third in command in government, Wetang'ula argued that his current position places him in a favorable spot to take over from President Ruto when his term ends in 2032. Speaking in Kikwameti village, Trans Nzoia County, while condoling the family of former Sikhendu MCA Eric Musumba, Wetang’ula revealed that senior political figures from the Luhya community have endorsed him to vie for the presidency. “I am the most senior leader from the Western region, and my position as third in command gives me a strategic advantage to succeed President Ruto,” Wetang’ula asserted. To bolster his presidential bid, Wetang’ula outlined ...

Botwa Mwangaza Community-Based Organization (CBO) is set to hold a high-impact Harambee on Saturday, May 10, 2025, as part of its ambitious drive to complete construction of its community centre in Botwa Village. The event aims to raise funds to finalize four remaining rooms out of the planned eight and to build a mini-conference facility that will host table banking sessions and other community development programs.  Already, the table banking initiative has drawn close to 100 members from within and around the village, offering financial empowerment and cooperative growth for local residents. Launched in 2015, the Botwa Mwangaza CBO has steadily advanced its vision of creating a central hub for local economic activities. Through members' contributions and support from friends of development, the group acquired 0.4 acres of land at the heart of the village, where the Botwa Mwangaza Centre now stands. Among the dignitaries invited to attend the fundraiser is...

A Sudanese family residing in Kitale is in distress after their son went missing late last month. The family of Reverend James Chuol Tang has endured sleepless nights since the disappearance of Thok Chul, aged 31, on April 28, 2025. Reverend Tang, a Christian missionary, had arrived in Kitale on April 24, 2025, and rented a house in Kibomet Estate for his family of six. The missionary was scheduled to carry out religious work in Trans Nzoia County before proceeding to Tanzania. Reverend Tang recounted that on the day of the incident, his son had walked to a nearby shop to buy some items and never returned. "We were in the house when my son walked to a nearby shop to buy some items but not to return back," said Reverend Tang. The family reported the incident to the Kibomet Patrol Base and Kitale Police Station. Police confirmed that a missing person report had indeed been filed by the family. "It is true that the report of a missing person was reported to us a...

Health personnel in Trans Nzoia County used this year’s Labour Day celebrations to defend themselves against allegations of sabotaging healthcare service delivery, asserting that the accusations are baseless and ignore the hardships and systemic challenges they face. Through the county branch of the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives, the health workers raised concerns about staff shortages, burnout, and low morale due to what they termed poor treatment by the county government. “We are not sabotaging services — we are overwhelmed, demotivated, and exhausted. The county has failed to address our grievances and instead dragged us to court. Our work environment is grossly demotivating,” said Edward Cheruiyot, the Secretary of the Union. Cheruiyot called for dialogue between the county government and health workers, citing discrimination in the employment of nurses and lack of proper consultation. He urged the county administration to confirm the employment status of ...