Gachagua is all alone, thats why he is seeking mama Ngina's attention

 Leaders from Mt.Kenya have expressed mixed reactions over Deputy President’s apology to Mama Ngina Kenyatta some saying he is doing it since he has realized that he is a lone ranger while others says it’s a point of leadership.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua sort forgiveness from Mama Ngina an year after subjecting her to humiliation and ridicule.

In 2023, Kenya Kwanza administration put the Kenyatta’s family in bad taste what Kenyans believed could have been revenge after former president Uhuru Kenyatta fell out with the then deputy president whose the current president Dr William Ruto; that led to the invasion of Northlands where Kenyans stole animals reared in the farm.

In the incident at Kenyatta’s Northlands farm in Kiambu county, property estimated to be worth millions of shillings was destroyed when goons broke the fence to the expansive property, stole goats and trees, and burnt part of the farm.

Former Embu senator Njeru Ndwiga and also a friend of former president Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Mama Ngina to accept the apology saying the manner the apology was delivered wasn’t the right one. Ndwiga said that Gachagua ought to have sort for a one on one meeting with the first lady to deliver the apology and not use the media; urging other leaders to follow suit.”As a leader that’s a very good gesture of leadership that other leaders need to adapt, this shows point of leadership”Said Ndwiga.

“The manner in which the apology was used wasn’t the right one, Gachagua ought to have had a one on one conversation with the first lady and not through the media,” said Ndwiga.

The former senator also added that maligning amongst politicians should stop saying one can forgive but can never forget; said leaders should not malign others during campaign period.

“We should not subject leaders to endless agony then after we realize our mistakes we start seeking forgiveness, as leaders we need to keep off maligning others to woo voters at the expense of hurting others”He went on to say.

He said mama Ngina will forgive but the damage that was done will not be easy to forget.” The time on the earth is very limited, Mama Ngina kindly accept the apology and move on”, He added.

Emmah Wambui apolitical leader has said that Gachagua has realized that he is soon going to be alone and that Ndindi Nyoro is becoming more popular.

She said that Gachagua is trying to get his alignment with the Kenyatta’s to remain relevant, but his time is barred.

“Gachagua has realized that he is time barred, Gachagua is trying to align himself with the Kenyatta’s so as to look for space and remain relevant since he has seen soon he will be alone”said Wambui.

John Gathungu KANU chairman Kirinyaga chapter said that before tendering his apology, he first needs to seek forgiveness from the Kikuyu elders and the youths who he had branded as Mungiki adherents.

Gathungu said that before going to mama Ngina, he needs to first sit with Kikuyu leaders and seek forgiveness as this will pave way to Mama Ngina; saying Gachagua hates his own clan-men.

“Gachagua has been branding our youths, men as Mungiki adherents putting them in bad light, if he feels he is since to seek forgiveness, he needs to start with the Kikuyu elders and youths, it’s the route to proceed to Mama Ngina”Said Gathungu.

                                                    

To address gender and mental issues,the county moves to community dialogue for inclusivity

 The County Government of Kirinyaga through the gender department is carrying out community dialogues on financial inclusion as a way of reducing cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBVE) in the county.

The forums that are targeting community opinion shapers across both genders ahead of the oncoming International Women’s Day (IWD), are aimed at creating awareness among the county residents on how to better manage financial issues in families in order to avert conflicts that at times escalates to grievous levels.

Led by the County Executive Committee Member for Gender and Youth, Millicent Nyawira, the forums delved into pressing issues surrounding financial inclusion, property succession, new economic opportunities, and the urgent need to empower and protect women.

The CEC said that the topics in discussion were in line with this year’s IWD theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” since women in the county disproportionately suffer from financial inequalities in families. 

“We have been speaking with both women and men on financial literacy emphasizing on matters such as economic empowerment, proper inheritance and succession planning to mitigate conflicts within families,” the CECM emphasized. 

She said that the forums have been teaching the importance of proper inheritance and succession planning by encouraging parents to dialogue with their children and be open about all the property they have as a family, and the best way to share it equally and fairly.

Evans Muriithi, an opinion leader and a participant in a public dialogue held in Baricho sub-county, expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating, “We are happy about this exercise as we are getting knowledge and support on how to manage and invest our money to have stable homes,” he said. 

On succession disputes, Muriithi noted that in Mount Kenya, there are countless succession conflicts which are mainly due to ignorance and lack of proper planning. He appreciated the County Government’s effort for championing GBV issues in an inclusive manner that incorporated men.

The CECM said that Governor Anne Waiguru is committed to implementing sustainable interventions for GBV in the county. She said that the County government is putting up a GBV Recovery Center at Kerugoya Hospital which will soon be commissioned. The governor has also been implementing an economic empowerment program-Wezesha Kirinyaga- that has been funding groups to undertake income generating activities for sustainable livelihoods.

Majority leader in the assembly of Kirinyaga Muriithi Kibinga said that with counselling centers operational in all helath facilities,Kirinyaga residents will be able to get the help needed.

Kibinga also urged the residents to grab the opportunity to address mental health problems.

The dialogues were organized in partnership with Rainforest Alliance, whose representative, Elizabeth Njenga said that it has heavily invested in empowering the community in understanding market opportunities available in the county and encouraging farmers to diversify their sources of income from tea and coffee farming to other agricultural ventures.

Njenga also shed light on the challenges faced by women, including barriers to financial inclusion and succession due to patriarchal systems. 

“The main issues affecting women include succession as the system is still very patriarchal, and it is mostly men who own the land, thus women find it difficult getting financial inclusion or even loans," she said. 

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Lets join hands,Ndia MP calls for collaborative efforts from wananchi

 Drug and substance usage in Kirinyaga west sub-county has been attributed to recent cases where men have rocked havoc; causing damages and death.

On Thursday night a 30 year old man hacked his mother to death in Riakiania village and a 22 year old man torched a family house in Kamuthanga slums in Sagana town after a disagree, over water bill with the father with the support of the mother.

Speaking while issuing bursary funds worth Sh 52 million where the war against drug and substance usage has taken a new turn where political class has shown their support in the fight against drug usage.

Ndia MP George Kariuki said that this is the time that politicians have joined hands with the government officers to eradicate the vice.

He said this is the time for manufacturers to know that there is no room for brewing such killer brews.

“I am telling wananchi and brewers that there is no room for such vices to continue, it cannot be business as usual in Ndia or even Kirinyaga county”,Mr.Kariuki said.

The Kenya kwanza legislature said that as the government has started the fight; it heed collaborative effort from all Kenyans to ensure youths and the young generation is saved.

He also pointed out that if the youths can get technical courses at our own technical institutes, then there would be no room for youths to engage in substance abuse.

“We want to save a generation that is yet to know what drugs are, with such we want parents to take up a bold step in enrolling their children to technical institutions to also occupy their minds to avert causing harm in the society”he added.

He said through National Government Constituency Development Fund(NG-CDF) all students who will enroll at the Ndia Vocational Institute will have their fees paid for.

“We have a vocational institute in Ndia, let parents take a step of taking their children to the institute to get skills, CDF will pay the fees” He went on to say.

Kirinyaga West deputy county commissioner John Mbugua said that the fight is bearing fruits urging wananchi to also be part of it; pointing out that the sub-county is known to use bhang.

“Ndia constituency is known to use bhang, the cases we record daily is of people found in possession of the drug, we urge the community to also join hands so that we can win against the war in drug and substance use”said Mbugua.

 He also said that most cases reported are as lack of respect and discipline;saying as the security team try to tackle peddlers and traffickers, parents to take their responsibilities in talking to their children on drug use.

The fight against second generation and illicit brews have been after 17 people who died while over 20 went blind in Kangai ward,Mwea East sub-county, where the county became a crime scene.

“Kirinyaga became a crime scene after we recorded the highest deaths in Kangai, we have to fight all brews” Mr.Mbugua added.

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TVET trainers to train on digital literacy, digital freelancing and digital marketing.

Kirinyaga County government is set to roll out digital space skills courses in its youth polytechnics to help young people tap into the available online job opportunities. 

 

To prepare for the roll out of the courses, the County Government has started training tutors who will offer the courses to students.

 

The first lot of the trainers drawn from all the 16 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres have already completed the training on digital literacy, digital freelancing and digital marketing.

 

The training is being conducted by the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT).

 

In a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Governor David Githanda during the closing ceremony of the training for the first lot of tutors to acquire the training, Governor Anne Waiguru said the initiative will help young people tap into job opportunities available through the online platforms.

“I believe that the knowledge that our tutors have acquired will be well utilized to increase the uptake of technology in polytechnics and our youth will be in a position to take advantage of the many online job opportunities offered in the digital space,” said the Governor.

Waiguru said digital platforms provide a wealth of online resources levelling the playing field for people who might not otherwise have access to high-quality education.

The Council of Governors Chair (CoG) said the training on digital literacy will give young people and women the skills they need to succeed in a work market that is becoming more and more tech-driven.

She challenged women and youth to take the lead in acquiring the digital skills so as to change the trajectory of their lives through the available money-making opportunities.

“Furthermore, ICT access cuts across geographical boundaries, allowing marginalized populations to communicate, exchange ideas, and take advantage of opportunities that were previously out of their reach,” she added.

Waiguru said her administration has invested in ICT infrastructure in county TVETs by establishing fully equipped computer labs with internet access.

“This training has therefore been a timely intervention and is in line with our ICT ambitions. We also expect that our polytechnics will become centers of ICT learning from which the surrounding communities will be imparted with knowledge,” the Governor said.

She said Kiamikuyu, Kaitheri, Mutitu and Mucii wa Urata polytechnics are among TVETs which already have computer labs.

“We are also in the process of equipping Nguka, Kiambwe and Kimwathi polytechnics in order to have their computer labs running,” the Governor added.

To inculcate digital competences from an early age, the Waiguru said the county government is piloting digital literacy in selected ECDE centers with a plan to eventually roll out the program in all the centers.

“Access to ICT has a significant impact on women and young people, not just in terms of employment and education but also in terms of promoting a more inclusive society. The society is able to magnify its voice, promote social justice and gender equity and equality, and dispel stereotypes that impede their advancement using online platforms,” Waiguru noted.

Elizabeth Wanja, ACWICT's head of programs, stated that there is need for students to acquire and enhance their freelancing skills before enrolling in colleges or universities in order to secure digital jobs such as online writing for them to be self-employed.

"I would describe this type of skills as short high impact courses and would therefore recommend it for every youth. For the polytechnics, you have curved a niche, there is no competition with other TVET institutions," she said.

Bernadette Wairimu Karanja, a tutor at Kaitheri Polytechnic who is one of the beneficiaries described the course as "eye-opening."

"Integrating ICT in Education will make the learning process more interesting, allowing learners to understand better and even ensure they have jobs after school," Wairimu said.

Ndiriti Polytechnic Principal Nelson Karani said he will utilize the digital marketing training to increase student population in the facility and help young people earn money through online jobs.

"Through digital marketing, the number of students in our institutions will grow. This course is also marketable and once we roll it out, we know it’s bound to arose lot of interest,” Karani said.

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Kianyaga stadium gets a facelift

 

Officials from Sports Kenya have visited General Kassam playfield in Kianyaga to access its status before the government commences process of upgrading the facility.

The technical team which toured the facility on Wednesday is expected to prepare a detailed report, potential designs and get financial estimates for the upgrade.

Sports Kenya Deputy Director for Technical Services Gabriel Komora said that the team had come to collect accurate data on the facility.

“We came to conduct a preliminary assessment of the facility to get an accurate picture of the space available, see what can fit in the field and know all the requirements we will need to transform it into a facility that is up to the required standards,” Komora said.

The visit comes just three weeks after President William Ruto agreed to Governor Anne Waiguru’s request for the national government to help the county government in upgrading the field into a modern stadium.

On his part, President Ruto who spoke during the commissioning of the Gichugu Affordable Housing project in Kianyaga last month, committed to upgrade the facility once the county government allocates sh.100 million promised by Governor Waiguru to kick-start the works.

The Council of Governors (CoG) chair said once upgraded, the stadium will host more local, regional and national sporting events and the same time generate more revenue

Komora said the team would hand over its report to the Ministry of Sport once its completed.

Deputy Governor David Githanda who represented Governor Waiguru during the tour, said that the visit by the technical team shows President Ruto’s commitment to fulfil his promise to the people.

He expressed optimism that the construction work would start soon.

“Residents are excited as this stadium will provide a venue for local sports matches as well as provide a well-equipped place for high altitude training,” he added.

Githanda said the county government was waiting for the official commissioning and handing over of Wang’uru Stadium for use by members of the public.

The Deputy Governor said that for the last six years, the county government has put emphasis on upgrading sports fields so that the county can nurture local talents.

Once upgraded, the facility will become second stadium in the county after Wanguru International Stadium.

The sport field is named after a renown independence freedom fighter General Kassam and is strategically located at the heart of Gichugu Constituency which is branded as a resort city in Governor Waiguru’s Mountain Cities Blue Print.

Sports enthusiast in Kirinyaga have welcomed plans to into a stadium saying upgrading of the facility was long overdue and offers hope for upcoming sportsmen.

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