taifaleo.nation.co.ke
@taifaleo Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:55:27
Kunanyesha pesa na miradi Ol Kalou uchaguzi mdogo ukiweka historia kuwa ghali zaidi
HUKU zikiwa zimesalia siku nane kabla ya uchaguzi mdogo wa eneobunge la Ol Kalou utakaofanyika Julai 16, eneo hilo linashuhudia kampeni zinazotajwa kuwa miongoni mwa ghali zaidi katika historia ya Kaunti ya Nyandarua. Vyama vya United Democratic Alliance (UDA) na Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) vinaongoza kampeni hizo kwa kutumia mikakati mbalimbali ya kuwashawishi wapigakura. Mbali na mikutano ya kisiasa, wagombeaji na wafuasi wao wamekuwa wakigawa fedha, zawadi na kuandaa mikutano ya uhamasishaji huku serikali ikiendelea kuzindua miradi ya maendeleo katika eneo hilo. Kiti hicho kilibaki wazi baada ya kifo cha Mbunge Njuguna Kiaraho wa chama cha Jubilee, Machi 29, 2026. Wanaowania kiti hicho ni Kamau Ngotho wa DCP, Muchina Nyaga wa UDA, Wilson Kigwa wa Jubilee, Rachel Wangui wa People's Democratic Party, Mathenge Mwaniki wa Kenya Moja Movement, Abdifatah Hussein wa Federal Party of Kenya, Timothy Kamau wa People's Renaissance Party, Stephen Wanyoike wa National Liberal Party na Edwin Muchiri wa Party of National Unity. Kwa mujibu wa walio karibu na kampeni za DCP, makazi ya Seneta wa Nyandarua John Methu katika eneo la Mugumo yamegeuzwa kuwa kituo kikuu cha uratibu wa shughuli za chama hicho. [caption id="attachment_189921" align="alignnone" width="720"] Wakazi waliohudhuria mkutano wa kisiasa wapewa magodoro. Picha|Hisani[/caption] Kila asubuhi, makundi mbalimbali hukusanyika hapo kabla ya kutumwa katika maeneo tofauti kufanya kampeni. Washiriki hupewa kifungua kinywa na fedha za kujikimu zinazokadiriwa kuwa kati ya Sh500 na Sh1,000 kabla ya kuanza shughuli za siku. Akizungumza jana, kiongozi wa DCP Rigathi Gachagua aliwataka wakazi wa Ol Kalou kutodanganywa na miradi ya maendeleo inayotekelezwa na serikali wakati huu wa kampeni. "Serikali inaweza kuleta hata boti, transfoma, treni za kasi, matangi ya maji pamoja na miradi mingine ambayo haijawahi kufikishwa Ol Kalou tangu 1963. Msikubali kuuza haki yenu ya kupiga kura kwa sababu ya zawadi za dakika za mwisho," alisema Bw Gachagua. Kwa upande wa UDA, kampeni zinaonekana kuwa na mtandao mpana zaidi. Chama hicho kimeunda timu mbalimbali zinazolenga makundi tofauti ya wapigakura huku washiriki wakipewa fedha za kujikimu kulingana na aina ya shughuli wanazoshiriki. Baadhi ya timu hizo husafirishwa hadi miji jirani kama Gilgil kwa mikutano ya kupanga mikakati, ambapo kila mshiriki hudaiwa kulipwa kati ya Sh1,000 na Sh2,000. Duru zenye ufahamu kuhusu kampeni hizo zinaeleza kuwa UDA huandaa wastani wa mikutano sita kila siku, huku viongozi wa serikali na waliochaguliwa wakihusika moja kwa moja katika shughuli hizo. Mbali na mikutano ya hadhara, chama hicho pia kimekuwa kikifanya mikutano na viongozi wa dini, wazee wa makanisa na waumini wenye ushawishi mkubwa, mikutano ambayo huwasilishwa kama warsha za amani na elimu ya uraia. Kiongozi mmoja wa kidini aliyeshiriki katika baadhi ya mikutano hiyo alisema kiwango cha fedha kinachotolewa hutegemea hadhi ya mkutano. Alidai kuwa mikutano ya kiwango cha kaunti washiriki hupokea takriban Sh5,000 kila mmoja huku mikutano ya ngazi ya mashinani wakipata karibu Sh3,000, bila kujumuisha fedha zinazotolewa kwa makanisa na viongozi wa dini wanaoratibu shughuli hizo. Kwa mujibu wa watu wanaofahamu mipango ya kampeni, mikutano mingi ya ndani huvutia takriban watu 500 wanaopewa kati ya Sh1,000 na Sh2,000 kila mmoja. Wanaoongoza kampeni pia hulipwa kati ya Sh5,000 na Sh10,000. Makadirio yanaonyesha kuwa UDA inaweza kutumia zaidi ya Sh3 milioni kwa siku kugharamia mikutano ya ndani pekee, bila kujumuisha gharama za usafiri, malazi, chakula na shughuli nyingine za kampeni. Baada ya mikutano ya hadhara, washiriki wengi huripotiwa kupanga foleni katika makundi ya watu kumi, utaratibu unaojulikana kama "ikumi ikumi", ambapo kila mmoja hupokea kati ya Sh300 na Sh500. Kutumiwa kwa fedha kumeibua biashara mpya kwa baadhi ya vijana wa eneo hilo. Makundi ya vijana hukodisha pikipiki kwa siku nzima na kuhama kutoka mkutano mmoja wa kampeni hadi mwingine ili kuongeza kiwango cha fedha wanachopata. Mwendesha bodaboda James Kanja alisema vijana watatu au wanne huchangia takriban Sh3,000 kukodisha pikipiki kwa siku pamoja na gharama ya mafuta. "Ni biashara nzuri kuliko kusubiri abiria mjini. Tunaweza kuhudhuria zaidi ya mikutano mitano kwa siku na kila mmoja akaondoka na kati ya Sh2,500 na Sh4,000," alisema. Mwendesha bodaboda mwingine, Robert Kiambati, alisema vijana hufuatilia ratiba za kampeni ili kujua mikutano inayotarajiwa kutoa fedha nyingi zaidi. Huku kampeni zikiendelea, serikali nayo imeongeza kasi ya kuzindua miradi ya maendeleo katika eneo hilo. Miradi hiyo ni pamoja na usambazaji wa mitungi 20,000 ya gesi, matangi ya maji, godoro, vyakula, vifaa vya kidijitali kwa shule za sekondari msingi, pamoja na boti mbili za thamani ya Sh5 milioni kwa Bwawa la Gwa Kiongo. Mawaziri na Makatibu mbalimbali wamekuwa wakizuru eneo hilo mara kwa mara kuzindua miradi ya barabara, umeme, nyumba za bei nafuu, masoko ya kisasa, reli na huduma za kidijitali. Kwa upande wa DCP, uchaguzi huo pia umegeuka kuwa uwanja wa kujitambulisha kwa wanasiasa wanaojiandaa kugombea viti mbalimbali katika uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2027. Baadhi ya wanaotaka ugavana, ubunge na uwakilishi wa wadi wamekuwa wakifanya kampeni za nyumba kwa nyumba kwa gharama zao wenyewe ili kuongeza nafasi za mgombeaji wa DCP, Kamau Ngotho.
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@standard Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:00:00
Untouchable cop: Police officer under scrutiny after woman plunges from sixth floor
Nicole Omondi, 25, is lucky to be alive today after she was allegedly pushed from the sixth floor of a building at Thome Estate in Kasarani on June 4, 2026.
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@kahawatungu Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:21:19
DPP calls for greater public awareness to combat rising human trafficking
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, has called for intensified public awareness campaigns and community empowerment initiatives to curb the growing threat of human trafficking, warning that criminal networks are increasingly exploiting technology and a lack of public knowledge to target vulnerable people. Speaking during a meeting with Marco Bufo, Regional Coordinator for CIVIPOL, [...] The post DPP calls for greater public awareness to combat rising human trafficking appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@kahawatungu Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:29:54
Ex- journalist, wife charged over Sh1.17 billion Syokimau land fraud
Former Nation journalist John Mugo Njeru and his wife, Editor Irima Mugo, were charged with 12 counts related to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a parcel of land worth Sh1.176 billion in Syokimau. The two appeared before the Mavoko Law Courts, where they denied charges of conspiracy to defraud, making false documents, obtaining land registration [...] The post Ex- journalist, wife charged over Sh1.17 billion Syokimau land fraud appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@standard Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:11:00
Ndindi Nyoro seeks annulment of Safaricom stake sale
Ndindi Nyoro has intensified his opposition to the governments sale of its stake in Safaricom, calling for the transaction to be annulled over what he described as deliberate share price manipulation
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taifaleo.nation.co.ke
@taifaleo Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:18:55
Wakazi Mbeere walia kuondolewa transfoma 'baada ya kura'
WAKAZI wa eneo bunge la Mbeere North, Kaunti ya Embu, wamelalamikia kuondolewa kwa transfoma za umeme miezi minane tu baada ya serikali kuwaunganishia umeme kupitia mpango wa Last Mile Connectivity na Stima Mashinani. Wakazi hao wanasema walipata umeme kwa mara ya kwanza wakati wa uchaguzi mdogo wa Novemba 27, 2025, lakini sasa wanahofia kurejea gizani baada ya Kampuni ya Kusambaza Stima Kenya (KPLC) kuanza kuondoa transfoma bila maelezo ya kina. Faith Kithaka wa kijiji cha Muramba asema maafisa wa KPLC waliondoa transfoma katika eneo lao wiki mbili zilizopita na hawajairejesha. Wakazi wanasema kuondolewa kwa transfoma hizo kumekatiza shughuli zao za kila siku na kuwarudisha katika maisha ya kutumia mishumaa na taa za mafuta. "Tuliishi gizani kwa miaka mingi. Serikali ilituunganishia umeme wakati wa uchaguzi mdogo, lakini kabla hatujafaidika kikamilifu, transfoma zimeondolewa," alisema Bi Kithaka. Katika kijiji cha Njarange, hali ilikuwa sawa huku wakazi wakishuhudia maafisa wa KPLC wakiondoa transfoma nyingine. Julius Njeru wa kijiji cha Rwanjeru alisema kukosekana kwa umeme kumeathiri biashara na masomo ya watoto. "Biashara zimeathirika na watoto hawawezi kusoma usiku kwa sababu stima zimekatika," alisema. Baadhi ya wakazi walikumbuka jinsi viongozi wa serikali na wanasiasa wa chama cha UDA walivyozunguka eneo hilo wakati wa uchaguzi mdogo wakiahidi maendeleo iwapo wangemuunga mkono mgombea wa chama hicho. "Tuliwapigia kura na tukaletewa umeme. Sasa miezi michache baadaye wanaondoa transfoma. Hii si haki," alisema mkazi mmoja. Wengine walidai kuwa transfoma hizo zinapelekwa Ol Kalou, ambako kutafanyika uchaguzi mdogo Julai 16, ili kuvutia wapigakura. Wakazi walitishia kuandamana iwapo vifaa hivyo havitarejeshwa haraka. Hata hivyo, Mbunge wa Mbeere North, Leo Wamuthende, alipuuza madai hayo akisema baadhi ya watu wanapotosha umma kwa maslahi ya kisiasa. "Nimeona taarifa zinazodai serikali inaondoa transfoma katika Mbeere North. Madai hayo si ya kweli na yanalenga kupotosha wananchi," alisema. Alifafanua kuwa KPLC inaendesha mpango wa kawaida wa kukarabati transfoma, hasa zile za zamani, ili kuboresha uthabiti wa huduma ya umeme. Meneja wa KPLC Kaunti ya Embu Vincent Okello, pia alikanusha madai kuwa transfoma hizo zinapelekwa Ol Kalou kwa sababu za kisiasa. Alisema kampuni hiyo "haijihusishi na siasa" na kueleza kuwa baadhi ya transfoma ziliharibiwa na wahalifu huku nyingine zikiharibika kutokana na hitilafu za kiufundi. "Katika Mbeere North na Runyenjes, transfoma tatu ziliharibiwa na ziliondolewa kupelekwa Nairobi kutengenezwa," alisema. Hata hivyo, baadhi ya wakazi walitilia shaka maelezo hayo wakisema baadhi ya transfoma zilizoondolewa ni mpya na hazikuwa na hitilafu zozote. "Transfoma hazikuharibiwa wala kuvurugwa. Tunataka tuambiwe ukweli kuhusu zilikopelekwa," alisema mkazi mwingine.
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@kna Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:38:44
Eldoret National Polytechnic embraces digital systems to boost efficiency and security
The Eldoret National Polytechnic has adopted digital management technologies aimed at enhancing security, streamlining operations, and improving academic tracking across the institution. At the main entrance, security personnel now utilize hand-held electronic devices to register visitors and vehicles. The digital visitor management system automatically logs names, arrival times, vehicle registration numbers, and the purpose of...
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@kna Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:43:26
NGAO team challenged to boost TVET enrollment among youth
The National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) have been challenged to work closely with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to mobilize and encourage more young people to enroll in vocational training programmes as part of efforts to equip them with employable skills and curb drug and substance abuse. Speaking during a TVET and...
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@kna Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:25:52
Farmers embrace indigenous knowledge to strengthen food security amid climate change
Smallholder farmers in Nakuru County are increasingly turning to indigenous knowledge, traditional seeds and agroecological practices to cope with unpredictable weather patterns and improve food security amid growing climate change challenges. Experts say preserving indigenous seeds and traditional farming methods is no longer just a cultural practice but a critical strategy for building resilient food...
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@kna Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:28:53
Environmental Health Union issues strike notice to Kakamega County Government
Kenya Environmental Health Practitioners Health and Public Union (KEHPHPU) has given the County Government of Kakamega a three-day ultimatum to sign a Recognition Agreement with the union or else brace an industrial action. The Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Union, Brown Ashira Olaly spoke in Kakamega after a meeting convened by the...
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@kna Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:33:02
How e-bikes are making inroads in rural Kenya
The familiar roar of petrol-powered motorcycles is slowly giving way to a quieter hum across the streets of Nyeri. As fuel prices continue to soar and Kenyans search for affordable transport alternatives, electric motorbikes are emerging as a practical solution, offering riders lower operating costs, reduced maintenance expenses, and a cleaner environment. The transition from...
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