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Edwin Watenya Sifuna, the stone that was rejected at home has now begun to reign

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By Anderson Ojwang

Edwin Watenya Sifuna can easily relate to the biblical verse of the stone that was rejected but has now begun to reign. Rejected at his home, Kanduyi, and by the party, thrown to the vultures, Sifuna’s spirits refused to fade but came back stronger and brighter.

Apart from Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o, who identified, believed and trusted in Sifuna, and later the former Prime Minister and the immediate former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the majority, including his villagers in Kanduyi, never saw any potential in him.

In Nyong’o, he has a simple prophecy that Sifuna was made for the future when he first identified him, and a decade later, his prophecy has come to pass with his emergence as a potential presidential candidate.

Nyong’o headhunted Sifuna to be the ODM Secretary-General and predicted that he was built for the future.

“I think none of you knows how Edwin Sifuna came into ODM. The guy is built for the future. If you don’t know what I am saying, go home and think,” he predicted then.

No honours for a king at home

They say a king is not honoured at his home. While he may draw respect in other regions, back at home, he is belittled and frowned upon until that time his prominence becomes so significant that they cannot ignore him.

That will be the time they turn around not to recognise but to woo him because of the trappings.

In the 2017 ODM primaries in Kanduyi, Sifuna, as the ODM Secretary-General, failed to win the nomination, and instead, the constituency went for the alternative. Sifuna came second with 3,111 votes to John Makali, who won with 6,473 votes, while Gilbert Wangila came last with 234 votes.

No letting up

Raila and Nyong’o did not give up on Sifuna and gave him a direct ticket for the Nairobi senatorial election.

In the 2017 elections, Sifuna lost to then-Jubilee candidate Johnson Sakaja after garnering 691,414 votes against the winner’s 832,841.

In 2022, Sifuna easily rode to victory, defeating United Democratic Alliance candidate Bishop Margaret Wanjiru after he garnered 716,651 votes, while she came second with 524,091 votes.

The loss did not thaw Sifuna’s quest for elective office, and he became very visible in ODM, becoming part and parcel of the then-party leader Raila Odinga’s political activities.

Sifuna found himself in the blanket of teargas fumes and protests, endearing himself to the electorate.

Rejected by ODM

After the death of Raila, Sifuna found himself on the wrong side of the story and became a victim of emerging political circumstances: the ODM-UDA pre-election coalition pact.

ODM sacked Sifuna from the post of Secretary-General over his opposition to the alliance.

In a statement, ODM said: “Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect. Effectively, Catherine Omanyo, who is one of the deputy secretaries-general, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office is elected.”

ODM Party leader Dr Oburu Oginga had invited NEC members for a meeting meant to crack the whip on Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Geoffrey Osotsi and his younger sister Ruth Odinga.

“The minority will have their say but the majority will have their way, and so those with dissenting voices must respect the wishes of the majority. Democracy must be guided,” he said.

But the decision by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to effect the sacking of Sifuna came too little, too late in the battle.

In a letter dated 9th July 2026, signed by J.C. Lorionokou, effecting the removal of Sifuna as Secretary-General to have been in line with the Political Parties Act and the ODM constitution, the Sifuna political train had already left the station.

“Upon the review of the documents submitted by the party and lack of response from Sifuna, we note that the removal of the Secretary-General was in line with the Political Parties Act and the ODM constitution. This office has effected the change and updated the party records,” it read in parts.

The rise

The sacking of Sifuna was a blessing in disguise. It marked his rise and significance in Kenya’s political terrain in the 2027 contest.

Even fellow Luhya leaders who had ignored and dismissed him woke up to the wave and quickly identified with him.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino aptly captured it, saying: “Sifuna, we will walk with you. We have gone to 16 counties, and we must go to all 47. We will have to go to the 290 constituencies. From Western, let’s go to Nyanza and ask for votes; they love you.”

Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale was more categorical and said Sifuna was a wave they never anticipated and that it was a force they could not ignore.

“I have a message for you, the Luhya community. This respect, honour and love you have shown today in Bungoma to us is humbling. There is a greater responsibility. On 10th August 2027, go and vote for Edwin Sifuna to become the President.

My work today is to speak for the 8 million Luhya people in Kenya. Why must the only two men from our community eat on our behalf? I want to beseech you, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula, go and think on and about Sifuna’s presidency,”he said.

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya dropped his presidential ambition to support Sifuna, saying: “We have come to unveil our son Sifuna for the presidency. Now it is time to reject Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Oparanya. We must also reject UDA and ODM parties.”

But Mudavadi dismissed them, saying: “Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi does not have what it takes to vie for the presidency. I was the first person in the Mulembe Nation to contest for the presidency, so I know the stakes. They do not have the muscles to run for something close to the President.”

Polling

The recent opinion poll by TIFA placed Sifuna ahead of all his opposition colleagues and left him sprinting behind Ruto ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.

The poll by TIFA revealed that support for Ruto stagnated in the months of May and June, remaining at 24 per cent, while Sifuna had a significant rise from 0 to 15 per cent.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who had peaked at 25 per cent, witnessed a significant drop to 13 per cent in June.

Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i, who was touted as a frontrunner earlier at 32 per cent, has currently declined to 14 per cent in the May-June polls.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua peaked at 9 per cent and has declined to 7 per cent.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, at the beginning, showed a steady rise, peaking at 8 per cent in 2025, but expressed his interest in the Nairobi governor seat. Thus, he has become dormant in the race but was still polled at 2 per cent.

Other presidential aspirants peaked at 8 per cent in 2025 but have now slumped to 2 per cent.

The people

Sifuna believes in the power of the people and told ODM leadership that they were free to take whatever Raila gave to him.

“Everything that they will take that I was given by Baba and the people, the people will give it back to me. I believe that is the truth,” he said.

The foundation Nyong’o and Raila built on a rock is becoming a nightmare in the current political climate.

Owili unveils 10-point ‘Kisumu Promise’ at media breakfast

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By James Okoth

Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili has unveiled a 10-point development agenda dubbed “The Kisumu Promise”, setting out his vision for the county as he positions himself to succeed Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o in 2027.

Owili launched the blueprint during a media breakfast in Kisumu, framing it around “Building on the Foundations, Safeguarding Kisumu’s Future.”

At the centre of the agenda is a pledge to create a government that listens, delivers and remains accountable to residents.

  1. Government from the centre to the village: Owili proposes Village Councils and Village Administrators in every village to bring services closer to residents and give communities a direct role in planning, budgeting and monitoring projects.
  2. Quality healthcare: He promises to upgrade health facilities, improve staffing and equipment, ensure reliable medicines and strengthen maternal, child, emergency and community healthcare. Kisumu County Referral Hospital would be elevated into a premier facility.
  3. Roads and clean energy: The plan prioritises rural access roads, drainage in flood-prone areas and better links between farms, beaches, schools and markets. Solar lighting and floodlights would also be expanded across market centres.
  4. Agriculture and fisheries: Farmers would receive stronger extension services, subsidised inputs and support for mechanisation, while the fisheries sector would benefit from completed landing sites, cold storage, processing and value addition.
  5. Youth jobs and opportunities: Owili proposes expanding vocational and digital skills training, establishing digital hubs, supporting youth enterprises and creating apprenticeship and internship opportunities, alongside investment in sports and the creative economy.
  7. Women and SME empowerment: The agenda proposes revolving funds, better access to finance, insurance and markets, as well as One-Stop SME Support Centres to help businesses navigate registration, licensing and financing.
  8. Water, sanitation and better towns: Owili promises faster pipeline and sewer extensions, improved drainage, stronger waste collection and better urban planning, particularly in informal settlements.
  9. Education and VTC development: The blueprint targets improved ECDE facilities, upgraded Vocational Training Centres, timely bursaries and scholarships, and stronger links between education, technology, innovation and employment.
  10. Transparent and accountable governance: Owili pledges to publish county projects, budgets and implementation timelines, audit stalled projects, reduce wastage and link public spending to measurable results.
  11. Safeguarding the gains: The final pillar focuses on major strategic projects, including the revitalisation of Kisumu Port, completion of the Lakeside Promenade, establishment of Special Economic Zones, urban renewal programmes, fish landing sites, a comprehensive cancer centre and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Owili also commits to lobbying for the Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway, strengthening specialised healthcare and supporting major housing and investment projects.

The blueprint presents Owili’s candidacy as one of continuity rather than disruption, with the Deputy Governor emphasising his nine years working alongside Nyong’o.

He says the experience has given him an understanding of the county’s achievements and challenges and positioned him to guide Kisumu into its next phase.

The political test now is whether voters will accept his argument that the county needs to build on the Nyong’o foundations while correcting what remains unfinished, rather than taking a completely different direction.

Ochieng’s Siaya Gamble: Can the MDG Leader Break ODM’s Hold?

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By James Okoth

MDG Party leader David Ochieng has opened another front in the increasingly competitive race for the Siaya governorship, positioning himself as an alternative to the county’s established political order.

The Ugenya MP has made corruption, accountability and quality leadership the centrepiece of his emerging campaign.

Speaking at the MDG headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Ochieng accused leaders in Nyanza and Western Kenya of putting personal interests ahead of public service.

“We have a big problem in the majority of our counties in Nyanza and Western regions where leaders have abdicated the responsibility of serving the people and are instead serving personal interests,” he said.

His message could resonate with voters frustrated by the performance of devolved governments.

But whether it can translate into votes is a different question.

The Ochieng factor

Ochieng enters the race with an established political base in Ugenya and experience in national politics.

His ability to retain Ugenya against strong political currents has given him a reputation as an independent-minded politician.

He also has an advantage that many aspirants lack: a political party through which he can organise his campaign.

MDG says it is preparing to field candidates across the country in 2027, giving Ochieng an opportunity to build a broader political network.

The ODM challenge

The major obstacle remains ODM’s longstanding influence in Siaya.

The party has traditionally maintained strong support across the county, making any attempt to capture the governor’s seat outside its fold a difficult proposition.

Ochieng’s challenge is therefore to demonstrate that his support in Ugenya can be replicated in Alego Usonga, Ugunja, Gem, Bondo and Rarieda.

That requires more than a strong personal profile.

It requires a functioning countywide organisation.

The zoning question

The emerging debate over political zoning could significantly shape the contest.

Ochieng has opposed attempts to determine political positions through negotiated arrangements, arguing that voters should have the final say.

The position could strengthen his appeal among voters who want competitive elections.

However, it could work against him if major political parties eventually agree on a broad coalition and consolidate their support behind a single candidate.

The post-Raila era

Siaya politics is also entering unfamiliar territory following the death of Raila Odinga.

For decades, Raila’s influence helped anchor the political direction of Siaya and much of Nyanza.

The emerging succession politics could create both opportunities and risks for Ochieng.

A fragmented political landscape would improve his prospects.

A highly consolidated opposition to his candidature would make the race considerably harder.

How prepared is he?

Ochieng appears to have started early.

His leadership of MDG gives him a vehicle outside the traditional parties, while his parliamentary experience gives him visibility beyond Ugenya.

But the real test will be at the grassroots.

A gubernatorial campaign requires structures in every ward, polling-station agents, resources and alliances with candidates seeking parliamentary and ward positions.

Whether MDG has the capacity to build such a machine in Siaya will be critical.

Ochieng should be viewed as a serious contender, but not yet as the favourite.

His strengths are clear: an established electoral base, political experience, an independent party and a governance message that could appeal to voters demanding greater accountability.

His weaknesses are equally evident: limited party reach compared with ODM and the challenge of translating constituency-level support into a countywide coalition.

His best route to victory could therefore lie in a divided field.

“If ODM and other major political forces fail to agree on a single candidate, Ochieng could benefit from a fragmented vote,” says a city-based political analyst.

“If they consolidate early, his task becomes significantly harder,” he adds.

The 2027 Siaya contest may ultimately be decided not by who has the loudest campaign, but by who can assemble the broadest political coalition.

Can Ochieng turn the Ugenya advantage into a Siaya-wide movement?

Kisumu County faces a Barabas moment as Owili offers an alternative

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By James Okoth

Kisumu County could be approaching its own Barabas moment in the 2027 gubernatorial election, a defining choice between political spectacle and leadership that puts the interests of ordinary citizens first.

The choice facing voters may not simply be about who can command the loudest crowds, deliver the most electrifying speeches or generate the biggest political hullabaloo.

It could ultimately come down to a more consequential question: Who can be trusted with the county’s resources, institutions and future?

For Kisumu, the cost of getting that decision wrong could be enormous.

A governor is not merely a political mobiliser. The office is the engine room of county government, responsible for translating public resources into functioning health facilities, better roads, reliable water systems, support for agriculture, jobs and opportunities for young people, and services that reach the most vulnerable.

When voters elevate political interests above these priorities, the consequences are felt long after the campaign rallies have disappeared.

That is where Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Owili presents himself as a markedly different proposition.

Owili’s political pitch is less about political theatre and more about administration, institutional experience and continuity in government.

His argument is straightforward.

“Kisumu needs a governor who understands how government works, how policies are developed, how budgets are implemented, how departments are coordinated and, most importantly, how public programmes ultimately affect the ordinary resident.” Owili says.

His experience inside the county administration gives him an understanding of both the opportunities and weaknesses within the devolved system.

That experience could prove particularly important as Kisumu enters another election cycle in which competing political narratives are likely to dominate public discourse.

The danger for voters is that personality could once again overshadow performance.

A candidate may possess political popularity but lack the administrative capacity required to manage a county whose budget runs into billions of shillings. Another may promise dramatic transformation without demonstrating how such transformation will be financed, implemented and sustained.

For Kisumu residents, therefore, the 2027 election presents a test of political maturity.

The county cannot afford to choose leadership simply because of slogans, ethnic arithmetic, political alliances or the excitement generated by campaign rallies.

The real test should be competence, integrity, accountability and the ability to put people ahead of personal political ambition.

This is where the Barabas analogy becomes particularly relevant.

In the biblical account, the crowd was confronted with a choice between two very different figures. The metaphor has endured because it speaks to the consequences of collective choices and the possibility of choosing what is politically attractive in the moment over what may ultimately serve the greater good.

“Kisumu’s choice in 2027 should therefore not be reduced to personalities. It should be about what kind of county residents want to build.” Owili emphasises.

Do they want leadership consumed by political contests, endless positioning and the pursuit of individual power?

Or do they want an administration focused on hospitals that work, roads that are maintained, water that reaches households, schools that receive proper support, farmers who can earn from their work and young people who can see a future within their own county?

Owili’s advantage is that he enters this contest with an administrator’s understanding of government.

He has operated within the county’s executive structure and understands the machinery through which political promises become programmes or fail to become programmes.

That distinction matters.

Kisumu does not necessarily need another leader whose greatest qualification is the ability to generate political noise.

It needs someone capable of sitting behind the machinery of government, asking difficult questions, demanding results from departments and ensuring that public money delivers public value.

That is the space Owili is seeking to occupy.

His challenge, however, will be to convince voters that administrative experience can translate into a stronger, more accountable and people-centred government.

For the electorate, the responsibility is equally heavy.

The 2027 gubernatorial election should be treated not as a popularity contest but as a five-year contract between citizens and the person entrusted with their county.

The question should be simple: Who will put Kisumu first?

If voters make that the central question, the political noise will matter less.

And in that quieter contest of competence versus spectacle, Dr Mathew Owili has an opportunity to present himself as the experienced administrator Kisumu needs, not merely another politician seeking power, but a leader seeking to make devolution work for the people.

Kenya Sugar Board suspends election after Court grants interim orders stopping it

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By Valentine Omondi

Kenya Sugar Board has suspended this weekend’s elections of growers’ representatives following a petition filed in court challenging the exercise.

The action threw the upcoming election of the Grower Representative to the Kenya Sugar Board into uncertainty and confusion after three petitioners moved to court, citing alleged irregularities and the possibility of fraud in the electoral process.

The petition was filed by Richard Ochieng Ogendo, Moses Kibet Biegon and Jared Omullo Okowa against the Kenya Sugar Board and the Chairperson of the Election Committee for the Grower Representative to the Kenya Sugar Board.

The election is scheduled for September 5, 2026.

The petitioners have raised concerns over the voter register being used in the election, arguing that alleged illegalities have not been adequately addressed by the respondents.

Court grants interim orders

In directions issued at the Kericho High Court, Justice Odera Teresa Achieng certified the matter as urgent and allowed the application to proceed under the vacation rules.

The judge further granted interim orders in terms of Prayer 2 of the petitioners’ application, although the specific contents of that prayer were not contained in the documents provided.

The court directed the respondents to file and serve their submissions within three days, while the petitioners were given two days after receiving the response to file their own response and submissions.

The respondents were subsequently directed to file and serve submissions within two days of receiving the applicants’ submissions.

Case transferred to Vihiga

The Kericho court also noted that a separate constitutional petition, Vihiga High Court Constitutional Petition No. E008 of 2026, concerns the same subject matter.

The related matter is scheduled for hearing of an application for conservatory orders on September 10, 2026, before Justice Nyakundi, the Presiding Judge of the Vihiga High Court.

Justice Achieng consequently directed that the Kericho case be transferred to the Vihiga High Court for hearing and determination.

The matter will come up for further directions on September 10, 2026.

The petitioners’ lawyer, John Mark Emukule, had, in the certificate of urgency, argued that the matter required priority because the election was imminent and concerns over the voter register could affect the credibility and sanctity of the poll.

According to the certificate, the Kenya Sugar Board and its Election Committee had published the voter register on the Board’s website and at various factories, regional offices and county ward offices to allow farmers to verify their registration details.

The petitioners, however, maintain that their concerns over alleged illegality and possible fraud have not been adequately addressed, prompting them to seek the court’s intervention ahead of the election.

Suspend

The chairman of the election, in a signed statement, said the election had been suspended.

“The committee hereby notifies all growers and candidates that the election of growers’ representatives to the Kenya Sugar Board scheduled for 5th September 2026 is hereby suspended to a later date to be communicated,” read the statement.

Regional Railway collaboration to unlock railway potential in East Africa as Kenya Railways handles over 10 million tons of cargo

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By Sandra Blessings

Kenya is currently handling more than 10 million tons of cargo through the Kenya Railways’ two systems, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR).

Kenya Railways Managing Director, Mr Philip Mainga, said the strategic value of investment and having the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) operate as complementary networks have ensured huge cargo traffic in the country.

Mainga spoke during a meeting with a delegation of Ugandan Members of Parliament Committee who visited Kenya Railways for a benchmarking tour of the Corporation’s SGR and MGR operations.

Collaboration

He said stronger regional collaboration will unlock the full potential of railway transport in East Africa.

The Chairperson of the Ugandan delegation and Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Mwine Mpaka, said cooperation between Uganda and Kenya Railways was critical to unlocking the potential of Uganda’s own railway network and strengthening the movement of cargo across the region.

The Ugandan Chairperson highlighted Uganda’s strategic position as a transit and distribution hub for cargo destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi, noting that efficient railway connectivity with Kenya would have a significant impact on regional trade.

Mr Mainga observed the strategic importance of Uganda, saying that the country was a critical logistics hub for the Great Lakes region and that Kenya and Uganda must work together to improve the efficiency of transporting goods and services across East Africa.

“Regional collaboration was non-negotiable. East African countries must work together to bring efficiency to the transportation of goods and services to our people,” Mr Mainga said.

Progress

The Ugandan delegation shared its progress in rehabilitating its railway infrastructure, including the replacement of steel sleepers with concrete sleepers and plans to rehabilitate the Malaba-Tororo MGR section.

The Chairperson said Uganda was keen to draw lessons from Kenya’s experience in operating, rehabilitating and integrating its railway systems.

The discussions also explored how Kenya was leveraging its railway infrastructure beyond transportation to stimulate economic development.

Mr Mainga said Kenya Railways was pursuing the development of Commercial and Logistics Hubs along its railway corridors, transforming the rail corridor into an economic corridor.

Under the SGR, planned commercial hubs include Voi, Konza, Athi River, Bomet, Nyamira and Malaba, among others, while hubs were also planned under the MGR in Voi, Taveta, Nakuru, Eldoret and Malaba.

“With adequate land along the railway network, Kenya Railways is turning the rail corridor into an economic corridor,” Mr Mainga said.

They underscored the importance of the East Africa SGR Master Plan, approved by the Heads of State of the East African Community, which seeks to connect the countries of the Great Lakes region, including Uganda, the DRC, South Sudan and Burundi.

Mr Mainga said the integration of rail and lake transport would further strengthen regional trade, with cargo potentially moving seamlessly through Lake Victoria, supported by MV Uhuru I and II and enhanced connections through the Port of Kisumu, Port Bell and Port Jinja.

The engagement also highlighted the progress of the Naivasha–Kisumu SGR Phase 2B and 2C, which Mr Mainga said was currently on course.

The delegation was also briefed on the Nairobi Railway City Project, which demonstrates the role of commuter rail in improving urban mobility and helping to decongest cities.

Capacity building

Capacity development will form the foundation for Uganda’s railway revival.

The Chairperson of the Budget Committee of the Ugandan Parliament, Amos Kankunda, underscored the importance of developing a skilled workforce, supported by a strong regulatory framework and alignment with international standards.

Kankunda, who spoke during a visit to the Staff Safety Training Centre and Benchmarking, underscored the importance of sharing railway heritage and knowledge between the two sister organisations.

“I would like to thank you for this important initiative. Capacity development must be our starting point,” he said.

Kankunda lauded the high standards being set in railway training and certification, noting China’s significant progress in the field.

“If Uganda is training students from here, we must ensure that the certification meets international standards. China is doing very well in this area, and it is important that we benchmark against such best practices to ensure our workforce is globally competitive and ready for SGR operations and maintenance,” he said.

Inducted

Kenya Railways Senior Heritage Resource Centre Assistant, Ms Lorrine Ubindi, led the delegation on a museum tour tracing the remarkable journey of the railway in Kenya and across East Africa — a 582-mile (931 km) line which was built entirely by hand.

The delegation was taken through a treasure trove of artefacts, from steam engines — the genesis of railway locomotives. The tour brought history to life with the legendary tale of the Man-Eaters of Tsavo, the two lions that halted construction of the Uganda Railway in 1898, and a pause at the preserved seats used by Queen Elizabeth II on her Royal Train during her historic 1950s visit.

In the outdoor yard, the delegation came face-to-face with the true giants of that era: colossal steam locomotives and early 1900s passenger coaches.

The engineering marvels of the original Uganda Railway, famously dubbed the “Lunatic Express,” were built by the British administration through the tireless labour of thousands of Indian indentured workers.

For over a century, this line has been the backbone of freight and passenger transport, giving rise to major towns along its corridor, including Mombasa, Nairobi (formerly Nyrobi), Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu (formerly Port Florence).

The historical immersion concluded with an appreciation of recent developments in both the Meter Gauge Railway and the Standard Gauge Railway, showcasing how technology in wagons and locomotives has evolved as a testament to adaptation and human imagination.

When Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital came in handy to find a new home for an abandoned child

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By Sandra Blessing

For two months, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) became the home of an abandoned child. They did not only give him a name, Baby Miracle Blessing, but took care of him and found a permanent home for him.

They became the new family after he was left for nature to take its course, and indeed fate worked wonders for Miracle Blessing. JOOTRH came calling and answered the cry.

The cry of the pain of abandonment after birth, helplessness and loneliness were turned into tears of joy on Wednesday during the handover.

Baby Miracle, who did not ask to be brought into the world, found the arrival a painful journey on the earth, a total contrast to the warmth and plenty in his mother’s womb for the nine months of the formation.

On Wednesday, Ag Chief Executive Officer of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), Dr Joshua Clinton Okise, and the hospital family were all in tears of joy over the mission accomplished.

The CEO handed over Baby Miracle Blessing to New Life Home after the newborn spent two months under medical care and protection at the hospital.

Baby ‘Miracle Blessing’ seemed to be only three days old when he was found abandoned in Lower Milimani Ward, Kisumu Central Sub-County, near the Innovation Eye Centre.

Two security officers who discovered the newborn immediately alerted the National Police Service, helping to secure his safety and initiate the process of getting him medical attention.

He was subsequently brought to JOOTRH on 28 June, where he was admitted to Obama Children Hospital for medical assessment and care.

Dr Okise said for the next two months, Miracle Blessing became part of the daily routine at the hospital, receiving medical attention, feeding, monitoring, vaccination and nurturing care from healthcare workers as he steadily grew.

“From the vulnerability of being found alone to the security and stability of hospital care, the baby’s journey reflected the critical role healthcare institutions can play in protecting children in vulnerable circumstances,” he said.

He said while the clinical team focused on his health and development, the hospital’s Medical Social Work Department worked to secure his longer-term protection and welfare.

Led by the Medical Social Work In-Charge, Ms Eunice Gor, the department coordinated assessments, documentation, follow-up and engagement with relevant child-protection stakeholders to ensure that the child’s needs were addressed and that an appropriate placement was secured.

“The journey culminated in the baby’s formal handover to New Life Home, where he will continue to receive shelter, protection, nurturing care and support as he grows,” he said.

Dr Okise presided over the handover, marking the end of the baby’s period of hospital-based care and the beginning of a new chapter in a safer and more supportive environment.

“JOOTRH cares beyond treating illness — extending its responsibility to protecting vulnerable patients and working with partners to ensure their welfare beyond the hospital walls,” he said.

Sh5.9 Billion Question: Can Dr. Richard Ayah Reset Kisumu’s Senate?

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By James Okoth

Kisumu is staring at a Sh5.9 billion question: how did a county with billions in public resources end up carrying such a mountain of unpaid bills, and who will finally fix the system that keeps creating them?

The figure, recorded as at June 30, 2025, represents a painful reality for ordinary people.

Behind every unpaid contractor is a business struggling to survive. Behind every delayed supplier payment are employees, families, creditors and dependants waiting for their livelihoods to stabilise.

And behind every stalled project is a resident waiting for a road, water connection, health facility or other public service.

Although Kisumu has reported progress in reducing the pending-bills burden, the problem remains a major test of financial management and oversight.

This is where the 2027 Senate contest acquires a much bigger meaning.

The question is no longer simply who will occupy the Senate seat.

It is who has the competence, independence and institutional understanding to protect Kisumu’s money and make devolution work for its people.

A Senator for the people

Dr. Richard Ayah is emerging with a proposition built around accountability, evidence and service delivery.

His argument is that Kisumu does not merely require a louder political voice in Nairobi.

It requires a Senator capable of asking difficult questions about public expenditure and following those questions until answers are produced.

Why are contractors going unpaid?

Why do pending bills accumulate?

Why does recurrent expenditure continue to compete aggressively with development?

Why do residents continue to experience water shortages and inadequate sanitation?

Why do health facilities struggle despite substantial public investment?

These questions directly touch the lives of ordinary Kisumu residents.

And they are questions that fall squarely within the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to protect county interests and oversee nationally allocated resources.

Why Ayah’s professional record matters

Ayah enters the political arena with a professional profile that is markedly different from the conventional political career.

He is a medical doctor and public-health specialist with an MBChB, MSc and PhD, and has built a career around health systems, health policy, service delivery and implementation science.

His University of Nairobi profile records his work in health-services management, evaluation of health services, communicable and non-communicable diseases and the implementation of health policy.

He has also undertaken research on hospital governance, health-service delivery and the systems required to improve healthcare outcomes.

His academic work has included research into how governance structures affect maternal healthcare delivery and how health systems can respond to equipment needs.

That experience gives his political proposition a practical foundation.

From health systems to county systems

Ayah’s leadership experience extends beyond the classroom.

He is Board Chair of the Centre for Health Solutions–Kenya, an organisation that has managed a large portfolio of health programmes and places emphasis on internal controls, evidence-informed interventions and programme implementation.

That experience is particularly relevant to Kisumu.

The county’s problems are not simply about money.

They are about systems.

“Money must be planned properly, spent properly, monitored properly and translated into services that people can see and feel,” says Dr. Ayah.

That is the governance philosophy Ayah would bring to the Senate contest.

The pending-bills test

For Ayah, the pending-bills crisis presents an opportunity to redefine what Senate oversight should mean.

The Senate should not wait for financial problems to become political scandals.

It should demand early disclosure, verification of genuine obligations, credible settlement plans and stronger controls to prevent the accumulation of fresh debts.

The objective should be simple:

Pay what is genuinely owed, protect local businesses and stop the cycle from returning.

A wider Kisumu agenda

The same philosophy can be applied to health, water, sanitation, agriculture, fisheries and urban infrastructure.

Kisumu’s water and sanitation challenges are not merely infrastructure problems; they are public-health and economic issues.

Research involving Ayah has specifically examined water, sanitation and health risks in informal settlements in Kisumu.

That gives his professional record an unusually direct connection to some of the county’s everyday challenges.

For fishing communities around Lake Victoria, farmers in irrigation schemes and residents of Kisumu’s rapidly expanding urban settlements, the expectation is ultimately the same:

Public resources must produce public value.

The Senate race takes shape

Ayah’s emergence adds a new dimension to a race that is already expected to attract several political heavyweights.

Among the names being discussed in the wider Kisumu political arena are Stephen Nyandiare, Samuel Odoro and Willis Raburu, among others, although the field remains fluid ahead of the 2027 elections.

For Ayah, however, the contest is increasingly being framed around a different question.

Not simply who can win the seat.

But who can give the people of Kisumu a Senate that watches the money, challenges failure and turns devolution into something citizens can actually feel.

And that is where his professional experience in public health, research, governance, institutional leadership and systems thinking becomes the central pillar of his political proposition.

Kisumu’s Senate question is ultimately a people’s question: who will stand between public money and public waste?

Kimani Wamatangi, a man who speaks through action

By
Western Insight Newsroom
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By Anderson Ojwang’

Governor Kimani Wamatangi hardly speaks, but you feel and hear him through actions.

While the majority of his colleagues have been engaged in political theatrics, clout-chasing and attention-seeking, Wamatangi dived deep into development, the reason why Kiambu residents elected him.

“I am not engaging in politics currently like some of my colleagues. I know the problem of Kiambu and we have a huge population in the county. We don’t have large tracts of farms like other regions. I must plan and that is why I asked to be allowed to work until December. I will come with my scorecard,” he said.

And now the governor has released his scorecard for the public and the residents to mark and award scores ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He won the seat on a United Democratic Movement (UDA) ticket with approval of 42.7 per cent, accounting for 348,371 votes, and was followed by Patrick Wainaina, who received 237,361 votes, and third came former governor William Kabogo with 106,980 votes, while James Nyoro of Jubilee Party got 99,562 votes and Moses Kuria came last with 24,512 votes.

FOUR-YEAR SCORECARD

In his social media platforms, Wamatangi gave a detailed report on his performance from revenue collection to infrastructural development.

Wamatangi presided over the increment of own-source revenue (OSR) to Sh6.5 billion.

Before Wamatangi was elected governor, the OSR was at, as of the 2021/2022 Financial Year: Collected Sh3.15 billion out of a target of Sh4.3 billion, a 73.4% collection rate).

In the 2022/2023 Financial Year, the government collected Sh2.42 billion out of a target of Sh4 billion, a 71.5 per cent collection rate.

CRA Potential Assessment:

A 2022 assessment by the Commission on Revenue Allocation estimated Kiambu’s total annual own-source revenue potential much higher, at Sh13.95 billion.

“We increased our OSR to Sh6.5 billion during the 2025/2026 financial year. This amount is the highest ever realised by the county since devolution began in 2013, growing from KSh2.8 billion in 2022,” he said.

Governor Wamatangi said the milestone was achieved without increasing existing taxes, fees or levies, relying instead on streamlined collection systems and closing financial loopholes.

“Our target is that within the next three years, God willing, we are going to match a shilling for a shilling for every disbursement to this county and to those who have been watching to see whether the cup will fall, by 2028 this county will raise KSh11.5 billion plus and we shall be ensuring services in Kiambu are at the level we want,” Wamatangi stated.

ECDE and feeding programme

Governor Wamatangi presided over the construction of 512 new ECDE centres with comprehensive feeding programme that serves 52,000 learners in the county.

Medical tourism

Wamatangi moved to transform Kiambu as a medical tourism centre by building 32 new hospitals, with modernised medical equipment.

“We constructed six Level 4 hospitals, 26 Level 3 and fully equipped all the medical facilities in the county,” he said.

Wamatangi said his administration constructed 12,000 solar streetlights to enhance security and create a 24-hour economy in the county.

Apart from the streetlights, Wamatangi built seven bus parks, 26 markets and undertook 100,000 water connections.

“We upgraded 19 VTCs, supported over 750,000 farmers with farm inputs, developing nine stadia, now working on roads, bridges and drainage,” he said.

Politics

The Governor recently declared that he will not defend his seat on UDA party but will seek an alternative political.

“I have remained calm and I have got a good political party. I will be waiting to be re-elected. Some people think Wamatangi doesn’t know where he is going. I know where I am going. We cannot go back to that party,” he said.

He also said currently he was busy with the development projects and would embark on politics in January next year.

Wamatangi has reiterated that his focus remains on delivering on his 2022 campaign promises and that he will not be dragged into early campaigns that could put him off track from his development agenda.

“We have so far managed to undertake significant development, such as the construction of 512 ECDE centres, 6 Level Four hospitals, and 26 Level Three facilities and many others. But there are people who have been keen on pushing me to politics so that I can remove my sight from service delivery. That is what I have continuously faced: onslaughts, even an attempt on my personal life.”

“Their intention is that I can concentrate on this sideshow and forget my development agenda and get into political confrontation, and when the real campaign starts, the same characters will come with narratives that I am a non-performer who did not deliver. But I am not as foolish as they think. I will remain focused,” Wamatangi said.

Former Murang’a Governor Wa Iria, Eight Others Charged Afresh in KSh351 Million Tender Case

By
Western Insight Newsroom
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By Valentine Omondi

Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria and eight others have been charged afresh over the alleged irregular award of publicity tenders by the Murang’a County Government.

The accused appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday, where they took a fresh plea after the prosecution amended the charge sheet in the KSh351 million tender case.

The charges relate to a media-buying contract worth KSh351 million awarded to Top Image Consultants Limited during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 financial years. The prosecution alleges that the tender resulted in the unlawful acquisition of public funds.

Those charged alongside Wa Iria are Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, David Maina Njeri and David Maina Kiama, directors of Top Image Consultants Limited; Jane Waigwe Kimani and Solomon Mutura Kimani, directors of Value View Limited; and Peter Muturi Karanja, who served as the former governor’s personal assistant.

The two companies, Top Image Consultants Limited and Value View Limited, are also accused in the case.

Defence Challenges Amended Charges

The fresh plea followed a defence application challenging changes made to the charge sheet by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The defence argued that the amended charge sheet had been introduced without the necessary leave of the court. The prosecution, however, maintained that it had obtained permission to make the amendments.

The court ruled that the prosecution had obtained leave to amend the charges and admitted the revised charge sheet.

Wa Iria and the other accused were subsequently required to take a fresh plea. They all denied the charges.

They face allegations including conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, unlawful acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, money laundering and dealing with suspected property.

Case Dates Back to Wa Iria’s Governorship

The case stems from investigations into publicity and media-buying contracts awarded during Wa Iria’s tenure as Murang’a governor between 2013 and 2022.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) began investigating allegations surrounding contracts awarded to Top Image Consultants Limited, with investigators questioning how the county government procured and paid for media services.

The matter gained prominence in 2022 when the EACC pursued allegations involving more than KSh500 million in payments linked to the contracts. Investigators alleged that companies connected to individuals close to the former governor benefited from the transactions.

In April 2024, Wa Iria was first arraigned over corruption-related allegations arising from the contracts. He denied the charges and was released on bond as the case proceeded.

The prosecution has previously alleged that Wa Iria benefited from approximately KSh31.8 million linked to Top Image Consultants Limited. The broader allegations have included abuse of office, conspiracy to commit corruption, unlawful acquisition of public property and money laundering.

The former governor has consistently denied wrongdoing.

The court directed that the matter be mentioned virtually on September 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

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