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Where Is the Truth Behind Migori’s Sh220 Million DNA/PCR Equipment Procurement?

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Anderson Ojwang

A storm has erupted over the procurement of a Sh220 million state-of-the-art DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic equipment installed at the County Molecular Laboratory at Migori County Referral Hospital.

While Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko has credited his administration with acquiring the equipment, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has challenged the claim, alleging that the equipment was donated through support from development partners.

Nyamita has demanded that the county government produce procurement records to establish how the equipment was acquired and whether public funds were used in its purchase.

Governor Ayacko recently said Migori was the first county in Western Kenya to install the advanced diagnostic equipment, describing it as a major milestone for healthcare in the region.

“In the entire Western Kenya region, it is only my administration that has been able to procure a state-of-the-art DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment which is installed at our County Molecular Laboratory at Migori County Referral Hospital. The equipment is worth KSh220 million,” Ayacko wrote.

Nyamita Raises Questions

In a rejoinder, Nyamita challenged the governor to provide evidence supporting the claim that the county government procured the equipment.

“Governor Ochilo Ayacko has claimed that his administration purchased the Sh220 million DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment installed at Migori County Referral Hospital.

“Available records indicate that the equipment was acquired through support from KEMRI/CDC and development partners, and was already at the facility before the current administration took office,” Nyamita wrote.

The MP questioned whether the subsequent commissioning and operationalisation of the equipment was being presented as a procurement by the county government.

According to Nyamita, the equipment had already been acquired before the current administration took office and was later commissioned in January 2024.

“When the machine was commissioned in January 2024, the Governor himself acknowledged the role of donors, the national government, hospital management and development partners in making the equipment operational,” he said.

Ayacko Defends Investment

Ayacko has described the installation and operationalisation of the equipment as a major achievement for his administration and a significant step in improving healthcare services in Migori.

He said the acquisition of the technology marked a pivotal turning point in his commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to residents.

“This tremendous investment in advanced diagnostic technology enables us to further enhance our diagnostic capabilities and improve patient outcomes in our county and the entire Western Kenya region,” he wrote.

The governor also described the DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic equipment as a game-changer in modern medicine.

“By utilising the power of DNA analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, this sophisticated equipment provides us with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing various diseases, including infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and even forensic analysis,” he wrote.

Where Is the Procurement Record?

Nyamita, however, wants the county government to substantiate the Sh220 million procurement claim.

“If the Sh220 million was indeed spent by your administration to purchase this equipment, where is the procurement record? Where is the tender? Where is the payment evidence? And where did the Sh220 million come from?” he asked.

The Uriri MP said he welcomed investments aimed at improving healthcare but insisted that public resources must be accounted for transparently.

“We welcome every investment that improves healthcare in Migori. But public leadership must be anchored in truth, accountability and proper attribution of public resources,” he said.

Nyamita further argued that equipment obtained through donations or development-partner support should not be presented as a purchase by the county government.

“A donated asset cannot become a government purchase simply because it was later commissioned or operationalised. The people deserve the truth. Facts must prevail,” he said.

The Question

At the centre of the emerging dispute is a straightforward question: Was the Sh220 million DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic equipment purchased by the Migori County Government, or was it acquired through donor and development-partner support before being commissioned by the county?

The answer could be established through procurement documents, tender records, payment records, acquisition agreements and other official documentation relating to the equipment.

Until such records are made public, questions will remain over who financed the equipment and whether the Sh220 million figure represents an actual expenditure by the county government or the value of equipment provided through external support.

For residents of Migori, the dispute is therefore not only about who should take credit for the equipment, but also about transparency, accountability and the proper attribution of public investments.

Where Is the Truth Behind Migori’s Sh220 Million DNA/PCR Equipment Procurement?

By Anderson Ojwang

A storm has erupted over the procurement of a Sh220 million state-of-the-art DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic equipment installed at the County Molecular Laboratory at Migori County Referral Hospital.

While Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko has credited his administration with acquiring the equipment, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has challenged the claim, alleging that the equipment was donated through support from development partners.

Nyamita has demanded that the county government produce procurement records to establish how the equipment was acquired and whether public funds were used in its purchase.

Governor Ayacko recently said Migori was the first county in Western Kenya to install the advanced diagnostic equipment, describing it as a major milestone for healthcare in the region.

“In the entire Western Kenya region, it is only my administration that has been able to procure a state-of-the-art DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment which is installed at our County Molecular Laboratory at Migori County Referral Hospital. The equipment is worth KSh220 million,” Ayacko wrote.

Nyamita Raises Questions

In a rejoinder, Nyamita challenged the governor to provide evidence supporting the claim that the county government procured the equipment.

“Governor Ochilo Ayacko has claimed that his administration purchased the Sh220 million DNA/PCR Molecular Diagnostic Equipment installed at Migori County Referral Hospital.

“Available records indicate that the equipment was acquired through support from KEMRI/CDC and development partners, and was already at the facility before the current administration took office,” Nyamita wrote.

The MP questioned whether the subsequent commissioning and operationalisation of the equipment was being presented as a procurement by the county government.

According to Nyamita, the equipment had already been acquired before the current administration took office and was later commissioned in January 2024.

“When the machine was commissioned in January 2024, the Governor himself acknowledged the role of donors, the national government, hospital management and development partners in making the equipment operational,” he said.

Ayacko Defends Investment

Ayacko has described the installation and operationalisation of the equipment as a major achievement for his administration and a significant step in improving healthcare services in Migori.

He said the acquisition of the technology marked a pivotal turning point in his commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to residents.

“This tremendous investment in advanced diagnostic technology enables us to further enhance our diagnostic capabilities and improve patient outcomes in our county and the entire Western Kenya region,” he wrote.

The governor also described the DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic equipment as a game-changer in modern medicine.

“By utilising the power of DNA analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, this sophisticated equipment provides us with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency in diagnosing various diseases, including infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and even forensic analysis,” he wrote.

Where Is the Procurement Record?

Nyamita, however, wants the county government to substantiate the Sh220 million procurement claim.

“If the Sh220 million was indeed spent by your administration to purchase this equipment, where is the procurement record? Where is the tender? Where is the payment evidence? And where did the Sh220 million come from?” he asked.

The Uriri MP said he welcomed investments aimed at improving healthcare but insisted that public resources must be accounted for transparently.

“We welcome every investment that improves healthcare in Migori. But public leadership must be anchored in truth, accountability and proper attribution of public resources,” he said.

Nyamita further argued that equipment obtained through donations or development-partner support should not be presented as a purchase by the county government.

“A donated asset cannot become a government purchase simply because it was later commissioned or operationalised. The people deserve the truth. Facts must prevail,” he said.

The Question

At the centre of the emerging dispute is a straightforward question: Was the Sh220 million DNA/PCR molecular diagnostic equipment purchased by the Migori County Government, or was it acquired through donor and development-partner support before being commissioned by the county?

The answer could be established through procurement documents, tender records, payment records, acquisition agreements and other official documentation relating to the equipment.

Until such records are made public, questions will remain over who financed the equipment and whether the Sh220 million figure represents an actual expenditure by the county government or the value of equipment provided through external support.

For residents of Migori, the dispute is therefore not only about who should take credit for the equipment, but also about transparency, accountability and the proper attribution of public investments.

Why Winnie May Leave ODM If Left With No Option

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Anderson Ojwang

Emerging political circumstances and the changing political climate within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) may force the daughter of the party’s founder and former leader, the late Raila Odinga, Winnie Odinga, to leave the outfit if she is left with no other option.

Winnie, an EALA MP, finds herself in a situation that bears similarities to the one her father faced 32 years ago following the death of her grandfather, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, in 1994.

Raila was instrumental in the building of Ford-Kenya after the repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution and became the party’s first Director of Elections. However, with his father serving as party chairman, Raila encountered roadblocks in his efforts to inherit the party’s leadership.

Winnie has been part of the development of ODM and has played a significant role in her father’s political journey, including managing his campaigns during the last three presidential elections.

Signs of Movement

In an interview with a Nigerian YouTube channel, Winnie hinted at a possible political move if the climate within the party becomes untenable.

She said Kenya was currently in a period of political realignment, with politicians changing alliances and parties ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“It’s a transfer window. People change teams. I believe it is a transfer window in Kenya. People will change team,” she said.

Referencing the events following the death of her grandfather and Raila’s subsequent political decisions, Winnie remained open to the possibility of making a similar choice.

“When my grandfather Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died, he was the leader of Ford-Kenya. After he died, he moved around with the people of his age, and a lot of those people had a lot of trouble with my father because he was younger and he had different ideas,” she said.

Parallels Between Ford-K and ODM

After the death of Jaramogi, a power struggle broke out in Ford-Kenya, initially over the position of party vice-chairman, which Ugenya MP James Orengo won ahead of Raila.

Raila then turned his attention to the party’s national chairmanship, a position held by the late Wamalwa Kijana.

Orengo and most of the MPs supported Wamalwa against Raila, who subsequently resigned from the party and sought re-election on the now-defunct National Development Party (NDP) ticket. He overwhelmingly recaptured the Langata parliamentary seat against Kanu’s Fred Amayo.

The political circumstances facing ODM following Raila’s death have drawn comparisons with that period.

Winnie said a new team should be instituted to continue managing the broad-based arrangement between President William Ruto and ODM after her uncle, Dr Oburu Oginga, became the acting party leader.

“There is something I wanted to tell you. When it came to the matter of broad-based government, the people of ODM entrusted one person with the management of that relationship. That person was Baba Raila Amolo Odinga.

“That relationship is complicated and therefore we are looking and we are wondering, those who are taking upon themselves to manage it now, are they capable of managing that relationship?

“I don’t think that is the question for me to answer. That is the question for the people of ODM to answer. That is why, as the party leader, I am requesting, we need to go back to the people and have an NDC to see who the people want to pick to manage that same relationship,” she said.

SNDC

Attempts to have Winnie installed as a deputy party leader following a proposal by the Nairobi branch went unfulfilled during last year’s Special National Delegates Conference (SNDC).

ODM Deputy Party Leader Abdulsamad Nassir had said there was a possibility of Winnie being considered for one of the deputy party leader positions.

He said the proposal had been made by the Nairobi branch and could be considered by the SNDC after the position of party leader was ratified by delegates.

“Winnie qualifies to be deputy party leader. There is a proposition which has been made by delegates in Nairobi. In this SNDC, the agenda has been published, but in the same way we got into office, a proposal can come in to make her deputy party leader and the proposal can be considered once our party leader has been ratified.

“It is something that can definitely be discussed. She has a future. I said this at Raila Odinga’s funeral,” he said.

However, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga said Winnie qualified for the position, but the SNDC had been convened specifically to ratify party officials. She said the party would hold an ordinary NDC at the end of the five-year period.

Makadara MP George Aladwa said consultations over the previous two months had culminated in the decision to front Winnie.

“We have had several meetings in the last two months to look for a representative. Every region has representation in the party. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga left us with no representative in the Nairobi region,” Aladwa said.

Winnie had earlier insisted that Nairobi deserved representation at the SNDC because of its contribution to the party and maintained that ODM remained her political home.

“ODM is our home. ODM is the party my father built. Why should I leave and go where? I will remain in ODM. In this journey, it has not been easy.

“We still have a place to go and the party position should be considered for those people who have put their lives in the struggle. It is in Nairobi where we demonstrate and not the villages.

“There are no demos in the villages. You cannot deny Nairobi its right. Nairobi must have a seat on March 27th. Nairobi will have our day and say,” she said.

The Movement

In the interview, Winnie said her father could not compromise his beliefs for political convenience and eventually chose to move on.

“He just moved differently. He wanted everything to remain, but he wrote in his book, if the time comes whether I will pick political convenience or the comfort of convenience over what I stand for and I believe in…” she said.

Winnie said that if faced with a similar situation, she would choose her convictions over comfort and convenience, even if that meant walking alone.

“If the time comes whether I will pick political convenience or the comfort of convenience over what I stand for and I believe in, I will always pick the latter. And if that means I will walk alone, then I will walk alone,” she said.

History Repeating?

Winnie said the current political situation could be repeating history and that she would not ignore the will of the people she represents.

“I feel that a similar situation may be happening and mimicking too. As much as I love this thing my father built, I have been part of building it.

“I understand, and I want this thing to have life. I cannot ignore the will of the people that I represent. They still have anger; they still have frustrations,” she said.

Winnie said her political decision would ultimately be influenced by the feelings and aspirations of the people she seeks to represent.

“The decision is, I have to be able to capture the feelings of the people I want to represent adequately,” she said.

ODM Shift

Winnie said that if ODM refuses to listen to the people, she may have no option but to move out.

“If this vehicle is hell-bent on opposing the feelings of what they want, then I am left with no option.

“I will stand with the right I believe in and will not compromise. I will not compromise them for convenience or comfort,” she said.

For Raila’s party, the emerging question is whether Winnie Odinga will remain within ODM and fight for the direction she believes the party should take, or whether she could eventually follow the path her father took three decades ago and seek a new political home.

Could history be repeating itself — this time with Raila’s daughter?

NPS Names Bedi Investments as Police Uniform Contractor, Denies Nalitex Link

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Valentine Omondi

The National Police Service (NPS) has moved to set the record straight over the procurement of Kenya’s new police uniforms, denying reports linking Nalitex Limited to the Sh2.8 billion tender and identifying Bedi Investments Limited as the company awarded the contract.

In a statement issued on Sunday, August 30, NPS Director of Corporate Communication Muchiri Nyaga said Nalitex did not participate in the procurement process at any stage and was neither awarded the contract nor engaged as a subcontractor.

The Service further said Nalitex had not received any purchase order or payment from the NPS, describing reports linking the company to the procurement as false and malicious.

“For clarity, the new police uniforms are being manufactured by M/s Bedi Investments Limited, which was lawfully awarded the contract by the National Police Service,” the statement said.

NPS Explains Procurement Process

According to the Service, the new General Duty uniform is part of wider police reforms and was not introduced as a sudden decision.

NPS said the change followed recommendations of the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga. Police officers were consulted during the process, with the Service saying many expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and preferred a change.

The Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee subsequently worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop standards for the new attire.

NPS said four local textile manufacturers with previous experience supplying police uniform material were invited to submit samples. They were Bedi Investments Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Thika Textile Mills Limited and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills.

Only Bedi Investments and Rivatex submitted samples within the stipulated period. Following evaluation and public participation, the sample submitted by Bedi Investments was selected and approved, after which the company was awarded the contract under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

The clarification comes two days after President William Ruto unveiled the new General Duty uniform during the passing-out parade of police recruits at the National Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, on August 28.

The rollout has since attracted public and political scrutiny, particularly over the identity of the contractor and the reported cost of the procurement.

Leaders Question Cost and Priority

Before the NPS clarification, Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa had demanded answers over the procurement, with reports putting the value of the contract at nearly Sh3 billion.

Wamalwa called for the cancellation of the tender, arguing that the government should prioritise police reforms, better remuneration and improved working conditions instead of spending heavily on new uniforms.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also questioned the expenditure, describing the reported Sh2.5 billion allocation for the uniforms as a misplaced priority. He argued that the money could instead support job creation, factories and students struggling to meet education costs.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has also questioned the reported cost of the uniforms. During an opposition rally in Meru, Khalwale claimed he had been told by a River Road tailor that a set could be produced for about Sh14,000, contrasting this with a figure of Sh39,000 that he cited at the rally.

The NPS statement, however, puts the focus back on the procurement process, maintaining that Bedi Investments was the legitimate contractor and that Nalitex had no role in the development, selection, procurement or manufacture of the new police uniform.

Tuju Reveals Secret of Where Broad-Based Government Was Formed: “In My House”

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Anderson Ojwang

The secrets behind the formation of the broad-based government between President William Ruto and the former opposition leader, the late Raila Odinga, have started to emerge.

Former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju, speaking on Friday at a funeral in Kasipul, told mourners that the broad-based government was formed in his house.

Tuju, for the first time, revealed how he helped facilitate the formation of the broad-based government and named the prominent figures who were involved in the discussions.

“Broad-based was formed in my house. Let anybody else deny it. Broad-based was formed where? In my house,” he said.

Tuju said the first move towards forming the broad-based government came when he and Raila held their first meeting before inviting others into the discussions.

“I can tell you those who were there. First, it was me and Raila,” he said.

After the first meeting between the two, they co-opted Joe Ager and brought others on board to advance the agenda.

“We co-opted Joe Ager. The first meeting was held in my house with then ODM Secretary Edwin Sifuna. With Joe Ager, we brought in Dr Oburu Oginga, the current ODM party leader, Junet Mohammed and Prof Adams Oloo,” he said.

Tuju said the idea of the broad-based government was based on the need to secure Kenya’s peace and avoid a hostile and violent transfer of power.

“What I want to remind everyone is, why did we get to the broad-based in the first place? As a person who has occupied public positions, I believe in peace,” he said.

Tuju said his experience as a journalist, including covering wars in Africa, convinced him that maintaining peace in Kenya was paramount, and that he and Raila converged on the same position.

“Because I know what would happen if we don’t have peace. I was in Rwanda in 1994 as a young journalist, and I saw dead bodies floating in River Kagera.

“As a young journalist, I covered Southern Sudan and Mozambique. I do not want us to get there. We would rather have even the worst government but have peace until we have an orderly transfer of power,” he said.

Tuju said he had no problem with the current political formations but was more concerned about maintaining peace.

“I have no problems with those who say two terms or one term. It is their right. I want us to have peace. I was there in the morning when I discussed with the late Raila Odinga about doing everything to make sure we have peace, and that is what the broad-based arrangement is all about,” he said.

Tuju said they were concerned about a hostile and violent transfer of power and that this informed their decision to support the formation of the broad-based government.

“I remember the morning when I had this discussion with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. I worked with him. My name is on record. When I was at Bomas, which I don’t want to mention names like James Orengo, joined us there. I know what happened, and I do not want to go there because it is not useful.

“The only thing that informed that decision was that we cannot afford a violent and disorganised change of government in the country,” he said.

Homa Bay Violence

Tuju condemned the recent violence in Homa Bay that left several people dead and caused massive destruction of property, saying it went against the principles that informed the broad-based government.

The Broad-Based Arrangement After Raila

The debate over who should manage the relationship between ODM and President Ruto intensified after last year’s ODM@20 celebrations, when Raila’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, called for the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) to appoint new leaders to negotiate with President William Ruto.

“There is something I wanted to tell you. When it came to the matter of the broad-based government, the people of ODM entrusted one person with the management of that relationship. That person was Baba Raila Amolo Odinga.

“That relationship is complicated, and therefore we are looking and wondering, those who are taking it upon themselves to manage it now, are they capable of managing that relationship? I don’t think that is the question for me to answer. That is the question for the people of ODM to answer.

“That is why the party leader, why I am requesting, we need to go back to the people and have an NDC to see who the people want to pick to manage that same relationship,” she said.

Oburu did not respond immediately. He waited and chose the burial of his aunt in Alego to respond and reveal what he described as the guarded details of the broad-based arrangement.

The Chairman

Oburu later opened the lid on the arrangement by declaring that he had been chairing all the broad-based meetings between Raila and Ruto, a role that potentially made him a key negotiator in the arrangement.

“Those who are saying that Oburu is not validly elected, I challenge them. If they say it is the NDC, let us go with them to the NDC, and I will call it very soon,” he said.

Oburu said he was the one who had been chairing all the broad-based meetings between Ruto and the late Raila.

“Those who are saying Oburu does not talk are talking nonsense. In this broad-based arrangement, I want to assure those who are saying that it was only Raila who could handle it and that Oburu does not know anything about it.

“I want to tell them that all the meetings of the broad-based arrangements with Ruto, the chairman has been Oburu Odinga before you here today,” he said.

How Oburu Presided Over Broad-Based Cabinet Appointments

Dr Oburu revealed that the meeting which culminated in the appointment of ODM leaders and experts to President Ruto’s Cabinet was chaired by him.

He said he negotiated for Cabinet positions as well as the 14 Principal Secretary positions.

“I have been the chairman of the meetings, including the one which appointed Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi and Hassan Joho to the Cabinet.

“I want to tell you that we currently have 14 Principal Secretaries in this government and directors. We got into this government by accident because the government was shaken by Gen Z,” he said.

Secret Committee

Nyakach MP Aduma Owuor revealed that Raila had a three-member committee comprising Oburu, Wandayi and himself, which advised Raila on the broad-based arrangement.

According to Owuor, the committee helped inform and drive the arrangement.

Suitors Circle Magwanga for Homa Bay Gubernatorial Seat

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Anderson

Immediate former Homa Bay Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga’s market value for the gubernatorial seat is appreciating, thus attracting suitors.

Magwanga, who has declared interest in the seat, will finally have a date to settle scores with his mentee-turned-boss, the incumbent Gladys Wanga.

Magwanga has declared an all-out war on Wanga and recently declared that for her to contest in the ODM primaries, Wanga, who is the party chairperson, must resign from the post.

Resign

Magwanga demanded that Wanga must resign or be removed from the party leadership to ensure free and transparent nominations.

He said if the party fails to act on his demand, then he will be left with no alternative but to seek a new political vehicle to unseat his former boss.

“Wanga must resign, or the party must act to remove her from her position to ensure a fair playing field for all aspirants, free from external influence.”

Wanga was recently confirmed as the national party chairperson during the Special Delegates Conference held in Nairobi.

Suitors

The demand is unlikely to be met, and this leaves Magwanga open to various political formations and suitors.

Already, the broad-based parties have been sending feelers to attract his attention, and they include President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the MDG of Ugenya MP David Ochieng, among others.

On Friday, in Kasipul, at the burial of his nephew, the Linda Mwananchi group of Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also extended an invitation to Magwanga to join their fold.

Orengo said, “Brother Oyugi Magwanga, I ask you to join us and become part of us. That other side is parked, and you will be our candidate,” he said.

Magwanga has declared he will be on the ballot for the gubernatorial race.

“Come the 2027 general elections, my name will be on the ballot papers, regardless of the party I represent.

“I want to tell the people of Homa Bay, come the 2027 general elections, vote for me as Magwanga, regardless of which party I am with,” he said.

Cagey and Coy

Magwanga has been cagey and coy on the political vehicle he will use in the 2027 general elections.

The former deputy governor has continued to play his cards close to his chest, leaving his supporters and opponents guessing about the vehicle.

In 2017, Magwanga contested as an independent candidate and gave the incumbent Cyprian Awiti a run for his money. In the election, Awiti won by 52 percent, with 210,178 votes, against Magwanga’s 47 percent, with 185,050 votes.

Awiti won the controversial elections but lost the High Court and Court of Appeal cases and was only saved by the Supreme Court.

Forced Marriage

In the 2022 general election, the former Prime Minister and Orange Democratic Movement party leader, the late Raila Odinga, forced a marriage between Wanga and Magwanga.

Raila prevailed upon other aspirants and tasked Magwanga to deputize Wanga.

“In 2022, I accepted the honour of serving as the running mate to H.E. Gladys Nyasuna Wanga after consultations presided over by the late former Prime Minister and party leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. Following our electoral victory,

The marriage built on sand crumbled after Raila’s death, and early this year, Magwanga resigned and termed Wanga a thankless person.

“Today, after deep reflection and consultations with leaders, supporters, and my family, I have resolved to resign from the office of Deputy Governor with immediate effect.

“I have concluded that it is neither tenable nor honourable for me to remain in office under these prevailing circumstances. I therefore step aside with dignity and clarity of conscience.”

2022 ODM Ticket

In the 2022 general elections, the ODM leadership, under the late Raila, prevailed on several aspirants to support the Wanga-Magwanga ticket.

Raila prevailed on Magwanga to be Wanga’s deputy and agreed on a power arrangement between the two leaders.

Former Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero differed with Raila’s move and opted to run against the Wanga-Magwanga joint ticket as an independent candidate.

Kidero lost the gubernatorial election and the election petition against Wanga at the High Court.

One Term

Magwanga recently told Wanga that she was a one-term governor and a failure.

He claimed Wanga had failed to manage the county and that the county was in shambles, incapable of paying contractors and securing basic necessities for the daily running of offices.

Magwanga told Wanga that she was an ungrateful person to the people who helped her become governor in the 2022 general elections and that her time was up.

“Wanga is a one-term governor and her time is up. I sacrificed for you to be the governor, but you are a very ungrateful person. Now it is the time for payback,” he said.

Dynamics

Magwanga comes from the greater Rachuonyo, which consists of Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul, forming 46 percent of the vote block in the county.

Wanga is from Rangwe, with 58,886 registered voters, while Karachuonyo has 94,184, Kasipul 67,513 voters and Kabondo Kasipul 59,980 voters, as per the 2022 IEBC data.

Homa Bay Constituency has 58,338 registered voters, Ndhiwa 96,764, Suba North 60,678 and Suba South 54,182.

For Wanga, she has to work extra hard to break the Rachuonyo vote block and seek alliances to boost her vote basket or else perish.

For Magwanga, he will need to consolidate the greater Rachuonyo vote, and the choice of a deputy will hand him a swing vote to win the election.

But the choice of the party will be crucial in his next game plan.

Winnie: My Decision to Run Cannot Be Just an Odinga for Odinga’s Sake, but I Will Stand with the Right I Believe In and Will Not Compromise

By
Western Insight Newsroom
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By Anderson Ojwang

Kenya’s political terrain is likely to get more interesting, intense, trickier and phenomenal after Winnie Odinga opened up on her next political move.

With only a month to the first anniversary of the former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga, her father, Winnie could be preparing the ground and the public for her next thunderous political move.

In an interview with a Nigerian YouTube channel, Winnie said her decision to run for a political office cannot just be an Odinga for Odinga’s sake.

“The decision for me running cannot just be an Odinga for Odinga’s sake,” she said.

In the Footsteps of Her Father

Winnie could be walking right into the footsteps of her father, Raila’s earlier political moment after the death of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, then the leader of Ford-K.

Winnie rightly finds herself in the thick of things that her father found himself in 32 years ago. History is repeating itself, with huge political consequences once again.

She said that currently in Kenya, it was a transfer period, with politicians changing political alliances and parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The manager is different now. The transfer window is open; people change teams. I believe it is a transfer window in Kenya. People will change teams,” she said.

Referencing the events after the death of her grandfather and Raila’s next political move over convenience, Winnie remained open to options.

“When my grandfather Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died, he was the leader of Ford Kenya. After he died, he moved around with the people of his age, and a lot of those people had a lot of trouble with my father because he was younger and he had different ideas,” she said.

Power Struggle in Ford-K

After the death of Jaramogi, a power struggle broke out in Ford-K, first over the position of the party vice chairman, in which Ugenya MP James Orengo defeated Raila. Raila then turned his eye on the party national chairman position, occupied by the late Wamalwa Kijana.

Orengo and most of the MPs supported Wamalwa against Raila, and the latter resigned from the party and sought re-election on the now-defunct National Development Party (NDP) ticket to overwhelmingly recapture the Langata constituency seat against KANU’s Fred Amayo.

The Movement

Winnie said her father could not compromise for convenience and subsequently moved on.

“He just moved differently. He wanted everything to remain, but he wrote in his book, if the time comes, whether I will pick political convenience or the comfort of convenience over what I stand for and I believe in,” she said.

Winnie said, faced with a similar situation, she would walk alone over comfort and convenience.

“If the time comes, whether I will pick political convenience or the comfort of convenience over what I stand for and I believe in, I will always pick the latter, and if that means I will walk alone, then I will walk alone,” she said.

History Repeating

Winnie said the current situation could be history repeating itself and that she would not ignore the will of the people.

“I feel that a similar situation may be happening and mimicking too. As much as I love this thing my father built, I have been part of building it.

“I understand, and I want this thing to have life. I cannot ignore the will of the people that I represent, and they still have anger, they still have frustrations,” she said.

Winnie said her political decision would be influenced by the feelings of the people and that she would not compromise.

“The decision is, I have to be able to capture the feelings of the people I want to represent adequately,” she said.

ODM Shift

Winnie said if ODM doesn’t listen to the people, she would have no option but to move out.

“If this vehicle is hell-bent on opposing the feelings of what they want, then I am left optionless.

“I will stand with the right I believe in and will not compromise. I will not compromise them for convenience or comfort,” she said.

Ruto Support

Winnie said she had not decided to support President William Ruto’s re-election.

“I have not decided to support Ruto in 2027,” she said.

But the current ODM party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, who is her uncle, has declared full support for President Ruto’s second term.

ODM NDC

Winnie said it was the duty of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to decide whether to present a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

“On the ODM party presidential candidate, we will have a national delegates conference this year, and that is where the decision will be made,” she said.

Briefcase Movement

The immediate former secretary-general of ODM, Edwin Sifuna, complained of a huge amount of money in the party coming from outside the party.

Sifuna revealed that the funds and resources being used in the ongoing Linda Ground engagements did not come from the party.

“The money and the resources you see being spent on the ODM rallies called Linda Ground do not come from ODM headquarters.

“For me, I can only account for the monies because I am a signatory to the bank accounts, and Timothy Bosire is also a signatory. The last money we expended as ODM officially was for the celebration in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what you saw there,” he said.

Sifuna said there was parallel funding of political activities in the party, and they did not know where the funds were coming from.

“For a fact, there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours, and they go around saying they are ODM delegates.

“The Linda Ground activities are not financed from the ODM coffers and headquarters. There is no money that I executed a cheque for those activities.

“We didn’t have any money. The third-quarter remittance from the Exchequer came two weeks ago, amounting to about Sh100 million, and it is a drop in the ocean compared to what ODM is supposed to receive.

“ODM was owed a total of Sh12 billion by the Treasury, yet we are being told that my former chairperson is the Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury,” he said.

Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga also complained about the flow of money in the party, which did not happen during Raila’s time.

“Where is the money used to fly choppers, procure big tents, and mobilise and brand crowds in ODM colours coming from, yet the same money cannot be sent to the ODM Party bank accounts? That only means one thing: control.

“So they must be the ones controlling the show, where they decide who is ‘invited’ to the Linda Ground tents and what they say once they get there,” she said then.

Winnie said there was a need for the party to let the people decide and listen to what its supporters want and think.

“There is a lot of briefcase carrying and shuffling about as people are searching for self-survival. Therefore, the will of the people may not be the priority for some of the operatives,” she said.

Nyanza Will Be on the Table with President James Orengo

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Billy Mijungu

Ahh, it is that moment — the “aha!” moment when James Orengo declares interest in the presidency, and suddenly the political conversation changes. The contest becomes clearer, the stakes become higher, and the road to 2027 acquires an entirely different dimension.

But there is another development that should not be lost in the excitement: the Linda Mwananchi movement may have just gained additional firepower, with its reserve force for the future being none other than Babu Owino, particularly as his political influence continues to move beyond Nairobi.

Suddenly, the noise is no longer simply about betrayal, one candidate, confusion or party politics. The contest has taken shape.

For Linda Mwananchi, this should be the moment to put its house in order, strengthen its structures and establish a clear political framework. The movement should set the pace for open, transparent and credible presidential nominations in which all interested candidates are given an opportunity to participate.

That would be good for democracy.

It would also demonstrate that the movement is prepared to build politics around institutions, ideas and the will of the people rather than personalities alone. The road to the presidency has suddenly become longer, but that may ultimately be a good thing for democratic competition.

There are already persuasions within the political landscape sympathetic to the ODM tradition, even as the party faces questions about its diminishing fortunes and leadership. Recent political tensions and allegations of violence have only deepened concerns among citizens who want political competition conducted peacefully.

The appearance of Orengo and Babu Owino in Homa Bay without the kind of disruption that has characterised some political gatherings elsewhere is therefore significant. It suggests that political engagements can take place without intimidation, and that voters can listen, debate and make their own choices.

The most urgent task, however, is for Nyanza and regions politically friendly to it to begin thinking beyond personalities and individual electoral cycles.

There is a compelling case for an alternative political party capable of providing a broad regional and national platform — one that is organised, democratic and capable of negotiating power from a position of strength.

Such an initiative could draw on the political experience of James Orengo, the organisational and policy instincts of Caroli Omondi, and the youthful energy and mobilisation capacity associated with Babu Owino.

The region is watching.

What is required now is speed, organisation, courage and clarity of purpose. If the idea of a new political vehicle is to take root, the groundwork must begin early enough to give citizens a genuine alternative.

Nyanza wants to be on the table — not on the menu.

Senator Otieno Kajwang, a Man in Two Worlds

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By Anderson Ojwang

Senator Moses Otieno Kajwang is a man in two worlds.

The Homa Bay senator’s soul is in the Linda Mwananchi, where it belongs, finds peace, love and harmony—the Linda Mwananchi of his Senate colleague Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

Kajwang’s body is in the ODM by virtue of the party that gave him a political life after the death of his elder brother, the late Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang.

Similarly, his body is in ODM because of the long relationship between the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family and the Kajwang-Nyakwamba family.

But with the unfolding political climate, Kajwang has developed a delicate balancing act, pleasing all the sides whenever they are together.

It’s just a matter of time before Moses changes camp to arrive in Canaan.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, at a funeral in Kasipul, moved a step to explain Kajwang’s dilemma and said that they share a similar agenda.

“ Kajwang says everything perfectly, but when it comes to the answer, he gives a wrong one. He has the hardware and the software. If you give Kajwang the hardware and software for the programme, the only problem he will give you the opposite answer,” he said.

But Kajwang responded, saying the political differences were merely issues of hardware and software, which should not divide the Luo community.

“We must focus on the software of the nation. We have differences on whether to prioritise hardware or the software,” he said.

He said the slight differences should not be turned into hatred and enmity in the Luo community.

“We have slight differences on whether we should go one term or two terms. Personally, I am in the two-term movement, but that does not make me fight Orengo.

“Personally, I am with Dr Oburu Oginga, but that doesn’t stop my friendship with James Orengo, to whom I am a son.

“Personally, I am in ODM, and the last time I checked, Babu Owino was still a member of ODM.

“There is no reason why we should be killing each other and creating a sense of confusion and commotion in Luo land,” he said.

He said the allies of Oburu and Orengo’s differences were on hardware and software, and they each need one another to survive.

“For Oburu’s allies and Orengo’s brigades, the difference is only hardware and software.

“Hardware cannot run without the software, and software cannot run without hardware. We want to encourage Orengo and Babu; let us find a convergence,” he said.

Condemn

Kajwang said Homa Bay people were peaceful and did not encourage violence.

“Homa Bay is usually peaceful and welcoming. Jim, you have been my senior, and you taught us something in the Senate: that I may not disagree with you, but I will defend to death your right to say it.

“We might have slight disagreements politically, but I will defend your right to state your case,” he said.

Kajwang wondered why the Luo community was fighting and butchering itself.

“Ask why the Luos are fighting among themselves and what are we fighting over to the point of killing one another for?

“We are all in politics. Babu is looking for power to become the Nairobi governor, and we too are looking for power with Oburu Oginga.

“We are in politics in pursuit of power. It is to help our people and deliver justice to our people,” he said.

Apology

Recently, in Kakamega, Kajwang offered an apology to Sifuna, the Luhya community and Kenyans over the violence in Homa Bay during the Linda Mwananchi rally.

In Homa Bay, MP Opondo Kaluma warned against and banned the use of the words “one term”, terming them provocative to violence.

The Homa Bay MP recently received summons from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to help in the investigation into the last weekend’s events.

“Let nobody say there is Linda Mwananchi. As a region, we are firmly behind Ruto.

“If you come to Homa Bay, do not come to abuse President William Ruto. The words ‘one term’ are provocation to violence for people in Homa Bay. Don’t provoke our people. If you want to give Homa Bay joy, say ‘two term’. That is where Baba left us,” he said.

Kajwang, while in Kakamega, publicly apologised to Kenyans and Linda Mwananchi over the violence that was witnessed in Homa Bay.

“I must, as the leader of the people of Homa Bay, bear political responsibility for the acts of omission and acts of commission of last Sunday. Goons have no place in contemporary Kenya. What happened in Homa Bay last Sunday?” he said.

Kajwang said the gains that the country has achieved in the democratic process cannot be violated by a section of leaders.

“I want to make it very clear that this is not the position of the Luo community. That is not the position of the ODM party.

“This ODM party, Edwin Sifuna has been the secretary for the last nine years.

“There is nowhere in our ideology where we say we are going to zone Kenya and we are going to prevent other Kenyans from accessing other parts of Kenya,” he said.

Kajwang criticised those behind last Sunday’s violence and asked the government to act.

“We cannot commit the same injustices that have been committed upon us. That is why I offer an unconditional apology. We take responsibility for whatever was committed and omitted,” he said.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Milestones, a Year After Its Elevation to Level 6

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Hope Barbra

A year after its elevation, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital has leaped high in its service delivery and growth.

In the report card released after the elevation to a Level 6A national teaching and referral hospital, the institution has moved closer to the possibility of open-heart surgeries in Kisumu.

JOOTRH has spent the year building capacity, expanding specialised services and bringing complex care closer to millions of people.

Challenge

The hospital has had to navigate a major transition from a county-managed institution to a national government parastatal while simultaneously strengthening its workforce, infrastructure, equipment, financing systems, research and clinical services.

Milestone

The most significant milestone came on June 18, 2025, when JOOTRH was formally elevated to a Level 6 national referral hospital through a special Gazette notice.

The move transferred the institution from the county system into the national government structure and gave it a broader mandate in specialised healthcare, teaching, training and research.

By September, the hospital had been categorised as a Level 6A, Category 5 parastatal, a status that placed new expectations on the institution to provide increasingly sophisticated services to patients from Western Kenya and beyond.

In August 2026, the hospital achieved what for years had seemed beyond reach in Kisumu: open-heart surgery became a reality.

The procedure marked the arrival of a cardiothoracic surgical service capable of undertaking one of the most complex forms of surgery.

The CEO, Dr Joshua Clinton Okise, said the programme has been supported by specialist training, modern theatre infrastructure and investment in cardiothoracic capacity.

“For patients in the region, the achievement means that some people who previously had to travel long distances for such care can now receive it closer to home,” he said.

Dr Okise said during the year, JOOTRH also expanded its thoracic surgical capabilities, including minimally invasive chest surgery and major procedures such as pneumonectomy.

“Its surgical services now span cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, paediatric surgery, ENT, ophthalmic, dental and emergency surgery,” he said.

He said the hospital has also strengthened its capacity to treat some of the most complicated neurological conditions.

“Neurosurgical camps have brought specialist teams to Kisumu to undertake complex brain and spine procedures, offering patients who might otherwise have faced long journeys for treatment an opportunity to receive care closer to home,” he said.

Dr Okise said management of sickle-cell disease has been another achievement of the hospital.

“In September 2025, JOOTRH’s Victoria Annex made history by performing Kenya’s first automated Red Blood Cell Exchange in a public hospital. The procedure uses an apheresis machine to remove abnormal sickled red blood cells and replace them with healthy donor cells,” he said.

He said the service has since grown, and the Victoria Annex sickle-cell clinic, which initially saw about 30 patients, was reported to be attending to approximately 60 patients every week as awareness and demand increased.

“For a region with a significant burden of sickle-cell disease, this represents more than a technological achievement. It is a change in the kind of care available to families who have for years had to manage a disease characterised by painful crises, complications and repeated hospitalisations,” he said.

He said for years, one of the biggest challenges facing cancer patients was not only treatment but the time spent waiting for a diagnosis.

“Through its partnership with Kisumu Breast Cancer Project, JOOTRH has now introduced same-day biopsy services, shortening the journey from suspicion to diagnosis and treatment planning. The hospital says the service is helping reduce diagnostic delays that previously stretched for weeks,” he said.

He said the hospital has taken the fight against cancer beyond its walls through partnerships that launched the Clinic on Wheels.

The mobile clinic is designed to take screening, health education and referral services directly into communities, targeting breast, cervical and prostate cancers.

“The programme also links community screening with JOOTRH’s same-day biopsy capability, creating a potentially faster pathway from screening to treatment.

“This represents a significant shift in philosophy: instead of waiting for patients to arrive at the hospital, the hospital is increasingly taking specialist services to the people,” he said.

The same principle is visible in JOOTRH’s community outreach programmes, including sickle-cell awareness and screening, medical camps and other preventive health initiatives.

Behind the clinical breakthroughs has been a major investment in infrastructure and equipment.

He said in April 2026, JOOTRH received 92 distinct equipment line items to modernise its surgical and critical-care services.

The equipment included new operating tables, surgical lights, anaesthesia machines and electrosurgical platforms. The hospital said the upgrade was intended to replace ageing equipment and improve efficiency, patient safety and surgical capacity.

“The hospital has simultaneously been strengthening its human-resource base. The Public Service Commission approved a new establishment of 1,805 positions, including 1,545 technical and 260 administrative and shared-service positions,” he said.

The new structure provides room for the institution to recruit and retain the specialist workforce required of a national referral hospital.

He said the staff have had to move from the county system into the new national structure, while governance and management systems have been redesigned to support the hospital’s expanded mandate.

Teaching and research are also becoming increasingly central to the institution.

The CEO said JOOTRH has expanded its research portfolio to include studies on cancer diagnosis, open-heart surgery, community cancer screening and trauma systems.

“The hospital’s research platform describes research as a key component of its role in advancing healthcare, innovation and knowledge sharing.

“The hospital has also been developing its role as a training institution, with specialist training opportunities and accreditation supporting the development of the next generation of health professionals,” he said.

For mothers, newborns and children, the year has brought its own important developments.

JOOTRH has expanded paediatric and neonatal services and is developing additional critical-care capacity. Its maternity services have also been strengthened, while the hospital continues to build capacity for the management of critically ill newborns and children.

The institution’s growing specialised dental, paediatric, neurosurgical and reconstructive services further demonstrate the expanding range of care available under one roof.

JOOTRH has continued strengthening its emergency and trauma services and, in August 2026, joined the national rollout of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and Ambulance Evacuation Services Benefit Package. The national system provides 24-hour emergency ambulance access through the toll-free 922 service and links ambulance providers across the country to a coordinated dispatch system.

The CEO said the boldest statement of where JOOTRH is headed is its proposed KSh4.9 billion transformation into a 2,000-bed medical city.

“The plan is ambitious and remains a work in progress, but it represents the institution’s long-term aspiration to become a major specialised medical hub serving Western Kenya and beyond.

“JOOTRH’s current public information describes the transformation as part of its journey towards becoming a modern 2,000-bed facility serving a catchment of more than five million people,” he said.

Kisumu Schools Brace for National Exams as El Niño Rains Threaten Learning

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By James Okoth

Schools across Kisumu County have recorded encouraging learner turnout as preparations intensify for the forthcoming national assessments, even as institutions in flood-prone areas confront the prospect of renewed disruption from the anticipated El Niño rains.

A visit to Odienya Primary and Junior School, Rabuor Comprehensive School and Alendu Primary and Junior School painted a mixed picture of resilience, preparedness and persistent infrastructure challenges facing schools as the country enters a critical examination period.

At Odienya, Head of Institution Prof. Timon Owenga said the school opened on Tuesday rather than Monday after administrators had to put in place measures to prepare for learning in an institution that has historically been cut off by flooding.

About 90 per cent of learners reported when the school opened, with Owenga attributing the relatively strong turnout partly to the role the institution plays in the community.

“For our learners, school is not just a place of learning. It also provides an opportunity for interaction with teachers and other learners, access to lunch and other amenities,” he said.

Odienya has 58 candidates sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).

The school has also invested in co-curricular activities, with learners participating in ball games and music. Its music team reached the regional level, while its ball games teams advanced to the county level. Some learners have also represented the school at higher levels of competition.

In the Junior School Science and Engineering Congress, Odienya emerged among the leading schools in Kisumu and progressed to the regional level, although it narrowly missed the national stage after finishing third.

But behind those achievements lies a history of serious accessibility challenges.

Owenga said learners and teachers were still accessing the school by boat as recently as last year, before road access improved.

“Today, Odienya is a normal school, but previously it was not accessible by road. Learners and teachers had to use boats,” he said.

The school has since become the main social centre for the surrounding community, increasing the pressure on its facilities.

Flooding has also left a trail of infrastructure needs, with the institution undertaking repairs to sanitation facilities, classrooms and offices.

Owenga called for support from the national government, county government and well-wishers to construct additional classrooms and improve school facilities.

He said an affordable school feeding programme had also helped keep learners in school, particularly given the high poverty levels within the catchment area.

At Rabuor Comprehensive School, Head of Institution Manase Okia reported a similarly strong start, with more than 90 per cent of learners reporting.

The school, however, is undergoing a major transformation through a Sh96 million M-Pesa Foundation project designed to give the institution new infrastructure.

The construction has temporarily displaced some learning activities, with learners and teachers operating from temporary classrooms.

Okia said congestion, intense heat and poor air circulation in the temporary facilities were making learning difficult.

“We are hopeful that by the second term of next year, we shall be in our new classrooms,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Rabuor continues to maintain a strong record in co-curricular activities.

The school has produced learners who have progressed to regional competitions in sports and music, including a Scottish dance performance. Some ball-game players have also been selected to represent the school at regional level.

Rabuor has additionally introduced chess, with the administration reporting encouraging progress.

The school is preparing 60 KPSEA and 90 KJSEA candidates, with Okia expressing confidence in their prospects.

At Alendu Primary and Junior School, the focus has shifted towards intensified academic preparation.

Head of Institution Maurice Okoth said 97 per cent of learners had reported and that the school had begun an opening assessment to establish their academic preparedness.

The school is also benefiting from strong parental support, which Okoth said has made it easier to organise both curricular and co-curricular programmes.

However, the looming rains remain a concern.

Following weather warnings over the possibility of El Niño conditions, a stakeholder helped facilitate an all-weather feeder road linking Alendu to the main road.

Okoth said the improved road would ease access during wet weather but called for additional support, particularly protective equipment such as gumboots for learners.

The experiences of the three schools mirror a broader national education challenge as the Ministry of Education and schools prepare for the next phase of national assessments while simultaneously dealing with infrastructure and weather-related risks.

The strong learner turnout is a positive indicator of continuity in learning, but schools in flood-prone areas remain particularly vulnerable. For institutions such as Odienya, where flooding has historically severed road access, heavy rains could quickly reverse gains made in accessibility.

The situation also highlights the importance of preparedness beyond examination materials and academic revision.

Schools need functional classrooms, sanitation facilities, safe access roads, adequate feeding programmes and secure learning environments if learners are to sit national assessments without disruption.

For schools operating from temporary facilities, the challenge is even greater. At Rabuor, for instance, the ongoing Sh96 million infrastructure project promises a significant transformation, but the transition period is placing additional pressure on both teachers and learners.

As the examination calendar approaches, school administrators are therefore calling for a coordinated response from the education authorities, local governments, parents and development partners.

The message from Kisumu is clear: learners are ready to return to class and schools are preparing for the assessments, but sustaining that momentum will depend on how effectively authorities respond to the twin challenges of infrastructure deficits and the impending rains.

For communities such as Odienya, the school is more than an examination centre. It is a social anchor. Ensuring that such institutions remain accessible and operational during the rainy season could be critical to protecting learning continuity at a time when thousands of learners are preparing for nationally administered assessments.

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