Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Residents of Rombo Ward, Kajiado County in agony as Heavy Rainfall Makes Roads Inaccessible

Illasit-Njukini-Taveta Road: Mailitatu-Olgira Section

By Nick Waigwa

Perishable farm produce famers and transporters in Rombo Ward, Loitokitok Sub County of Kajiado County are calculating losses after a heavy downpour in the area on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 rendered the Illasit-Njukini-Taveta road completely impassable.

The rainfall according to locals lasted for over seven hours causing flashfloods that cut off a section of the delapidated road between Mailitatu and Olgira Market Centers.

Although the road cutting through Kajiado & Taita Counties serves, neibouring Makueni & Kwale Counties in addition to linking locals to fresh farm produce markets in Machakos, Nairobi and Mombasa Counties, successive governments and local political leaders have continued to leave it unattended over the years.

Access roads to farms are also now obstructed forcing tomato famers to sell their produce at throwaway prices to opportunistic brokers, with transporters avoiding the risky road or taking advantage of the situation to increase transportation rates.

It's ironical that in some parts of Kenya food is still going to waste at a time when the country is appealing for relief food to feed an estimated 4.3 million Kenyans currently facing starvation due to an acute famine occasioned by failed rains.

“Tomato famers are crying. It’s so hard that after investing heavily, tomato is being given to cows, we cannot access the markets, main reason being - poor road infrastructure. They are being forced to accept KES 5000 ($50) for a small size vehicle such as Probox.” lamented Muya Ndun’gu, a Rombo resident.

A month ago, Monday, October 16, 2022 Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was in Rombo Ward to preside over the annual World Food Day celebrations whose theme was “Leave no one behind. Better production, Better nutrition, Better environment and a Better life.”

During the event the Deputy President is said to have promised locals that action was going to be taken against the deplorable condition of the Illasit-Taveta Road.

Mailitatu-Olgira:Truck swept off the road by raging waters.15/11/22.

In November, 2019 the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) produced a “Udated Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)” for the Illasit-Njukini-Taveta Road project – lot 32 signaling the possibility of visible action on the ground under the Anuity Road Project Program.

According to KENHA, Illasit-Njukini-Taveta Road Project was among various lots identified for implementation under the “Finance, Design, Build, Maintain and Transfer” as a strategy for the Kenyan government to bridge road infrastructure financing gaps.

A construction camp site that is believed to be linked to this road project was done over a year ago in Rombo, but nothing much, according to locals, has been tangibly happening from the site located about 3 miles from the Rombo Market center. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Kenyans urged to maintain peace, prepare for the outcome of August 9, 2022 General Elections

By Nicholas Waigwa

Secretary General of the Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA) Sr. Bridgita Samba Mawasi has advised the electorate in Kenya to be prepared to embrace the outcome of the 2022 presidential election.

ACWECA Secretary General Sr. Bridgita Samba Mawasi (SSJ)

Sr. Samba Mawasi at the same time urged Kenyans to accept and work with whoever will win in the Tuesday, August 9, 2022 general elections and to continue praying so hard that God gives the country "...a leader who will be sensitive to know that even the people who did not vote for him are Kenyans and his people, and that the leader will lead Kenya into unity and not into division.”

The member of the religious institute of Sisters of St. Joseph of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa (SSJ) also appealed to Kenyans to remain peaceful as she cautioned politicians in the East African nation against making utterances or taking actions that are likely to undermine peace or cause disunity among Kenyans.

“It’s a moment that we need to be very responsible to know that what we say, what we do is very important; it can build peace or bring chaos in the country. Let us not allow our emotions to take us, let us listen with our hearts and with our minds and be able to be promoters of peace in our country at this time.” Advised Sr. Samba

The Secretary General who spoke ahead of the general elections in Kenya, during an exclusive interview over the weekend at the ACWECA headquarters located in Nkoroi – Kajiado County, within the Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Ngong called on Kenyans to continue advocating for peaceful coexistent even after the election.

Kenya has previously experienced violent elections that not only left many people dead but thousands displaced and property worth millions of Kenya Shillings destroyed. The 2007/2008 post-election violence was the deadliest and the most destructive to have ever been experienced in the country.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission cleared four Presidential Candidates: David Waihiga Mwaure of Agano Party; George Wajackoya of Roots Party; Azimio One Kenya Party’s former Prime Minister, Raila Amollo Odinga and Deputy President, William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance for the race to succeed President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta whose two constitutional terms in office have concluded.

Voters will in addition to voting for president in the seventh general election under the multiparty system and third after the promulgation of the 2010 constitution also be casting ballots to elect County Governors, representatives to the National Assembly, Senate, and County Assemblies.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Conflict in Ethiopia - Africa Union Calls for Immediate Cessation of Hostilities

Northern Tigray Conflict threatening to spread to other parts of the country

 

By Nicholas Waigwa 


Chairperson of African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has in a statement released November 3, 2021 on the situation in Ethiopia called for immediate cessation of hostilities.

Faki Mahamat also urged parties to engage in dialogue for a peaceful solution. Ethiopia's government has for the past one year been battling with regional forces in Northern Tigray region.

On November 2, 2021 the government declared a nationwide state of emergency in a move aimed at protecting civilians from atrocities committed by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Small scale traders by the roadside in Ethiopia
Citizens are required to carry identification documents all the time, and they have also been warned against illegal trading or any activities that would constitute to economic sabotage.

Media houses have also been cautioned against broadcasts or publications that might appear to be promoting the TPLF group.

State of emergency compounding the escalating conflict

Deed Misgana from Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa told this reporter in an interview that, “…the state of emergency is making things worse, it restricts people's daily life and is going to affect businesses. Government is forcing citizens to take up arms instead of setting the table for dialogue.”

According to Misgana Ethiopia currently needs, "...a state of urgency for a political dialogue." He opines that the government has a legal duty and moral responsibility to safeguard Ethiopia's existence and sovereignty.

Misgana hopes that conflicting parties will heed advice from the African Union Commission to engage in dialogue.

African Union Commission leadership had slightly over a year ago implored upon all parties to safeguard the nation's territorial integrity, unity and national sovereignty and reaffirmed its continued readiness to support Ethiopia in their pursuit of peace and stability.

Faki Mahamat has in his recent appeal underscored the importance for the respect of life, property of civilians, state infrastructure and further urged parties to dissuade their supporters from engaging in any acts of reprisal, hate speech or incitement to violence.

“The Chairperson reminds the parties of their international obligations regarding compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, with particular regard to the protection of civilians and ensuring access to humanitarian assistance by communities in need.” Reads part of the AUC statement.

Conflict forced US government to suspend Ethiopia from AGOA

According to a report on ABC News, the US government has suspended Ethiopia's preferential status under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) for what President Joe Biden termed “gross violation of internationally recognized human rights” in a recent message to Congress.

Suspension of Ethiopia from AGOA preference program effective January 2022 denies the populous Horn of Africa nation access to the US market. The move is expected to push conflicting parties to dialogue, but some analysts have already warned that such a suspension is very likely to have an adverse effect on the country's economy.