NEWS/ KISUMU Police nab two suspected robbers

news24 By Oduor Omondi

Police in Kisumu Tuesday evening intercepted two people armed with crude weapons and police uniforms at Kombewa.

The suspected robbers were intercepted in a 14-seater Nissan matatu travelling from Bondo to Kisumu.

They were in possession of a machete, pair of shears, hand cuffs and police uniforms in a bag. The hand cuffs were hid...den in a shoe polish tin.

Kisumu District Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) Henry Ndombi who was heading the operation said they have received numerous complains regarding the suspects.

“The suspects are known criminals who execute criminal activities in Bondo and Kisumu,” said Ndombi, adding that they were on another mission before the ambush.

Ndombi said they laid a trap after they were given the number plate of the vehicle the suspects were travelling in.

He said the two were part of a group responsible for a series of crimes in Kisumu.

The DCIO said the suspects usually queue in the banking halls like other customers looking for vulnerable people who might be depositing or withdrawing large amounts of money.

They then follow them outside where they kidnap and rob or force them to withdraw the money from the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

According to an eye witness, passengers of the vehicle were ordered out of the vehicle and all men told to lie down facing the ground as the police ransacked their luggage.

The suspects are currently being held at the Kisumu Central Police Station.

Ndombi further assured Kisumu residents of their security adding that night patrols will be enhanced in the estates to stem the escalating crime in the lakeside city.

He warned members of the public against buying mobile phones from people they do not know saying the gadgets might have been used in criminal activities.

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NEWS Good news as water hyacinth clears from Lake Victoria Kisumu shores

Kisumu port has witnessed increased traffic in the last one month after clearance of water hyacinth in Lake Victoria that businessmen claimed has occasioned losses of over Sh1 billion annually.

Michael Disi, the port manager, said currently there is an average of four ships that dock per week, up from only one a month ago.
“There is about 1,000 tonnes of cargo being imported and exported per week. This is after the water hyacinth cleared last month,” said Mr Disi, adding that the exports are more than the imports.
He said two months ago, a ship would not dock as the weed inundated the area, making it impossible for ships to navigate the waters.
He said the hyacinth has moved to part of Lower Nyakach, in Kisumu, adding that in January and February only three ships docked at the port.
“The effect of the hyacinth is severe and only one vessel known as Orion would dock as it has a strong engine,” Mr Disi said of the ship owned by a Tanzanian.
The main product being exported is edible oil, with most ships being owned by Tanzanians.
Some of the exports from Tanzania include Coca Cola products from Nyanza Bottling in Mwanza and sugar from Uganda.
The port was started as a wagon ferry, over 100 years ago, but currently it is a pale shadow of itself.
Storage space
Tuesday, Disi said the port has potential for serving three ships per day, translating to 90 monthly.
Ports along Lake Victoria include Bukoba, Kimondo bay, Mwanza in Tanzania, Jinja and Port Bell in Uganda.
The facility has a store with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes, with large open storage space.

 

Meanwhile, businessmen in Kisumu are losing over Sh1 billion annually due to invasion of water hyacinth in Lake Victoria.

Under their umbrella Kisumu Business Association, the traders said the weed has impeded several sectors.
“The hospitality and transport industries are the most affected. The cost of doing business has also gone up,” said Aba Eban, the organisation’s secretary.
He said many products from Kisumu have to be transported to neigbouring Tanzania and Uganda through road yet through the lake is much cheaper.
Some time back, twenty boats each with an average of four fishermen were trapped in Lake Victoria, Kenya Red cross had reported.
The boats were trapped by water hyacinth along Rambira Beach in Karabondi sub-location in Rachuonyo North District.
Homa Bay was facing a serious threat by water hyacinth, a deadly weed that has covered over 100 acres in Lake Victoria. The floating mats of water hyacinth weed had severely affected fishing, navigation, drainage, water supply and power generation schemes.

NEWS Kisumu West MP sued over Constituency Development Fund committee members’ appointment

standard By Maureen Odiwuor

Kisumu; Kenya: Kisumu West MP Olago Oluoch has been sued for interfering with the election of eight Constituency Development Fund Committee members.

Mr Phillip Ogol through his Lawyer Ken Amondi told the court that Mr Olago acted contrary to the law by appointing the members without any secondment by an officer from the CDF board.
Amondi told Kisumu High Court judge Aggrey Muchelule that the MP had contravened the County Government Act 2012.
“Section 50(g) of the law demands that a sub-county administrator who will be appointed by the county public service board will consult with the MP and CDF Manager in appointing eight out of the 25 elected members of the board,” he said.
Amondi said there is currently no County Public Service board, hence no sub-county administrator; therefore the MP had appointed the board illegally.
He said the sub county administrator will represent the public interest which will promote citizen participation on development of policies, plans and delivery of services.
In his affidavit, Ogol claimed three people complained that CDF Committee member’s election in South West ward was done on short notice of three days. The three are Edwin Oindo, Joseph Adika and Pamela Obiero.
In response, the Kisumu West CDF manager, Mr Weldon Langat’s lawyer Patrick Otieno said the Transition Authority Act supports the appointments of the board after the first election.
He pointed out that the applicant had come to the wrong court and said the CDF Secretariat tribunal was capable of handling the matter.
“We ask the court to strike off this matter because it is a waste of judicial time, since there have been complaints of backlog of cases. The matter should be taken to the CDF tribunal,” he said.
The ruling of the case will be delivered on Wednesday

.http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000083612&story_title=kisumu-west-mp-sued-over-constituency-development-fund-committee-members-appointment&pageNo=2

Photo Dunga Beach- Kisumu

SWAN CENTRE Kisumu city

Individual Profiles Of The Kisumu County Executive Committee Nominee Members

1.Engineer Vincent Kodera - Physical Planning, Roads and Public Work. He  is an Infrastructural and Technology Engineer and CEO of Span Engineering Company.

2.Rhoda Ahonobadha- nominated as the Executive Member for Environment. She has held the position of Deputy National Chairperson of Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).

3.Omulo Okal- has been nominated as the executive member of County Treasury. Omulois currently the Western Kenya Regional Manager at Family Bank

4.Dr Rose Kisia-has been nominated as the Executive member of Commerce, Tourism and Heritage. She is a lecturer at the Department of Marketing and Management Sciences at Moi University’s school of Business and economics.

5.Prof Barrack Abonyo - currently serving as an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Florida A&M University College was nominated for Water, Energy and Natural resources.

6.Elizabeth Ominde  - will serve as the Health services Executive member. She currently is the Deputy Chief Pharmacist in Kenya

7.Jenifer Kere - willbe the member for Education, Youth, Culture and Social services. She  currently been serving as Women in the FishingIndustry Programme (WIFIP)’s Executive Director

8.Dr Stephen Orot- has been nominated as the Member for Agriculture, Livestock and Public works.He had risen to be a senior Assistant Director of Veterinary Services

9.Hanif Rana- was nominated to the Industrialization, Enterprise Development and Transport docket, and has vast experience in ICT

10.George Ongaya Communication, Planning and Development
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 And two directors:
1.Lorna Omuodo, an expert in renewable energy will be director of the same in the governor’s office as

2.Meshack Nyabenge directs matters of resource management.

NEWS Kisumu Governor Ranguma unveils cabinet nomin...

By Maureen Odiwuor
Kisumu, Kenya: Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma has finally unveiled his team of executive members that includes four politicians
The governor released the list of 10 cabinet members and two directors who will assist him in developing the county’s economy under the devolved government system.
Rhoda Ahonobadha, Vincent Kodera and Dr Rose Kisia lost in the ODM nominations that were held in March, ahead of the March 4 polls.
Omulo Okal who in 2007 contested for the Muhoroni parliamentary seat and did not make it has been nominated as the executive member of County Treasury.
Omulo is a holder of Bachelors Degree in Business Management from the United States International University, with an MBA in Banking and Finance from Moi University.
For over 25 years, he has developed skills in financial management, strategic marketing and planning.
Omulo is currently the Western Kenya Regional Manager at Family Bank and has previously held senior management position in the finance and banking sector at Cooperative and Diamond Trust Banks.
Ahonobadha who was among Ranguma’s competitors for the gubernatorial seat in the recently concluded general elections has been nominated as the Executive Member for Environment.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and Zoology and a Master of Science in Animal Production. She has held the position of Deputy National Chairperson of Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).
Kodera who was nominated for the Executive Member for Physical Planning and Development is an Infrastructural and Technology Engineer and CEO of span Engineering Company.
He has previously worked as Project engineer with Industrial Plant East Africa Ltd, site manager at Kenya Breweries Ltd and Project Manager at Nile Breweries Ltd in Uganda.
Dr Kisia who recently vied for women representative post in the county has been nominated as the Executive member of Commerce, Tourism and Heritage.
She is a holder of PhD in Management (Tourism) from the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, and MBA from University of Whales, UK and a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Nairobi.

She is a lecturer at the Department of Marketing and Management Sciences at Moi University’s school of Business and economics.

Prof Barrack Abonyo currently serving as an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Florida A&M University College was nominated for Water, Energy and Natural resources.
Deputy Chief Pharmacist in Kenya Elizabeth Ominde will serve as the Health services Executive member, while Women in the Fishing Industry Programme (WIFIP)’s Executive Director Jenifer Kere will be the member for Education, Youth, Culture and Social services.
Dr Stephen Orot who has risen to be a senior Assistant Director of Veterinary Services has been nominated as the Member for Agriculture, Livestock and Public works.
Hanif Rana who has vast experience in ICT was nominated to the industrialisation, Enterprise, Development and Transport docket.
Lorna Omuodo, an expert in renewable energy will be director of the same in the governor’s office as Meshack Nyabenge directs matters of resource management

.http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000083550&story_title=kisumu-governor-ranguma-unveils-cabinet-nominees&pageNo=2