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Why Kasipul by-election is a do or die for Wanga and Magwanga ahead of the 2027 elections

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By Hope Barbra

The expected Kasipul parliamentary by-election is shaping up to be the battle ground for Homa bay governor Gladys Wanga and her deputy Joseph Oyugi Magwanga.

The by-election is so crucial and strategic for both Wanga and Magwanga ahead of the 2027 general elections where they may face each other at the ballot box for the county seat.

For Wanga, the demise of the area MP Charles Ongondo Were left a vacuum and avoid that she must fill with her preferred candidate, Boyd Were, the son of the deceased.

Ongondo was the checkmate to Magwanga and the two were bitter rivals and rarely shared a podium. Ongondo was used by Wanga to checkmate, tame her deputy and control his political influence in the constituency.

For Magwanga, he wants to have a say in the constituency that he once represented for two terms before he decided to have a stab at the gubernatorial seat in 2017 and 2022 elections.

Kasipul remains his fulcrum if he intends to pursue his ambition and wants a new MP allied to him to take over from Ongondo.

This explains the recent meeting of some aspirants from the area who converged in Nairobi to champion a united front in the party nominations.

In Kasipul two teams have emerged with Wanga leading the call for direct ticket to Boyd Were.

While the other team is led by Magwanga wants the party to conduct a free and fair nomination without having to force a candidate on the electorates.

Last week, a secret meeting by a section of the aspirants in Nairobi agreed that the aspirants will campaign but will rally behind one of them should be the party fail to conduct nomination.

In a statement signed by Rateng Kotiende, Philip Aroko, Kepha Ogada, Okindo Majiwa, Robert Ouko and Collins Okeyo they resolved to work together, engage in constructive dialogue and promote peaceful campaigns in the area.

Magwanga welcomed the meeting saying it was important for the aspirants to chat their own destiny without any interference from the outside.

“The meeting is in the public knowledge.

There is nothing wrong if the aspirants meet and chart their own political course.

I know all the aspirants and all we ask for is a free and fair nomination to allow democracy to mature in the party,” he said.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing unprecedented moment in the coming by-election in Kasipul  constituency as the local and national leadership are sharply divided over nomination of the candidate to fly the party ticket.

Top ODM leadership fearing a fall out in the party and possibility of losing the seat should they opt to give direct nomination ticket, have resolved to conduct nomination.

The party secretary Edwin Sifuna, during a live TV interview with Citizen Tv revealed that the excitement over ODM ticket was waning and that aspirants were opting for other parties are part of the concern the party have to contend with.

The differing political stand between Wanga and Magwanga was observed after the former visited the latter at his home with a view to seek his support for Boyd Were.

Wanga and her team tried to prevail over Magwanga to support Ongondo’s son, Boyd Were, but the latter was reluctant and did not commit to the proposal.

On the table, sources told Western Insight, that Wanga asked Magwanga to support Boyd and in return she would support his candidature for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Homa Bay County chairman seat.

Magwanga confirmed the visit saying they discussed various issues and neither denied or confirmed whether he was approached to support the son of his political nemesis and would return get the county ODM chair seat.

“The Governor visited me last night and we discussed several issues. 

You are free to speculate whatever we discussed.

I have been having several visitors to my home and everyone is welcome,” he said.

Recently, Western Insight report that attempts by a section of MPs from Nyanza led by Wanga, who is ODM national Chairperson to have Boyd get direct nomination was hitting a snag and had split the party.

Wanga and the leaders recently presented Mr. Boyd Were at a local church and asked the residents to support his candidature to inherit his father’s seat.

Wanga, Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma, Senator Moses Kajwang, minority whip Millie Odhiambo and Roza Buyu (Kisumu West) said late Were’s son was the best suited family member to replace his father as Kasipul member of parliament.

The team promised to support Boyd who swore to stand strong with the people of Kasipul during his late father’s burial on his quest to become the next Constituency MP.

But the party top leadership hierarchy was uncomfortable with the move and want free and fair nomination conducted to avoid any fallout in the party.

“Kasipul constituency is volatile and that party is not ready to take any risk.

I do not see Were’s son getting endorsement from the party leadership.

ODM wants to contain any internal rebellion and that is why once election is called, they will prefer nomination to award of direct ticket,” said our sources.

According to the ODM brigade from Homa Bay and other parts of the County, Boyd was seen as the best person to inherit his late father’s seat

The seat has attracted Otiende, Boyd,  Aroko, Majiwa, Okeyo Ouko Robert Ajwang Mabior, Omondi Swaleh, George Otieno, Victor Mbaka and Ogada.

Kenya to further deepen relations with Egypt

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By OPCS Press Service

Trade, investment and tourism new frontiers for future collaboration.

Kenya and Egypt are working to increase their trade and investment partnership, as evidenced by recent high-level discussions and agreements.

These efforts aim to strengthen bilateral relations, boost trade volumes, and foster economic growth in both nations, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said.

“Trade between Kenya and Egypt has been on an upward trajectory, with the total trade volume estimated at between 600 million and 700 million US Dollars in 2025.

Notably, Egypt is Kenya’s second largest tea market in the world.” he added.

Mudavadi said the signing of a joint declaration for a strategic and comprehensive partnership between Presidents William Ruto and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi early this year was a major milestone in further deepening the collaboration between the two nations.

“The State Visit by President Ruto to Egypt in January 2025 was historic, marking the first State Visit by a Kenyan President to Egypt.

Our two Heads of State made a commitment when they jointly witnessed the signing of 12 Memoranda of Understanding in various fields.” noted the Prime CS.

Mudavadi was speaking when he graced the national day celebrations of the Arab Republic of Egypt at the residence of the Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya in Nairobi, a celebration that marked the 105th anniversary of Egypt’s independence.

While congratulating President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the People of the Arab Republic of Egypt on behalf of President William Ruto, Mudavadi said Egypt’s triumph over colonialism serves as a powerful reminder that the struggle for freedom, though difficult, is necessary and achievable.

He noted that the 62 years of flourishing diplomatic relations between Kenya and Egypt have continuously enriched the citizen-to-citizen relations while cementing the cordial and longstanding partnerships between the two nations.

“Our mission in Cairo is Kenya’s second diplomatic post to be established abroad.

This milestone reflects the depth of our historical, cultural, and economic bonds, as well as our shared commitment to cooperation and mutual prosperity.” he said.

“Kenya is home to several Egyptian businesses, while Egypt hosts a vibrant Kenyan diaspora community, comprising professionals, students, businesspeople and skilled workers” added Mudavadi.

“Our import from Kenya amounts to almost 14% of the total exports of Kenyan tea. On the Investment side a number of new Egyptian investments are flocking Kenya.

With 76 Egyptian companies now registered with Kenya Invest.” said Attiya, the Egyptian Ambassador toe Kenya.

Mudavadi also the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, pointed out Egypt as Kenya’s strategic partner in the region notably in the cooperation within the fields of Education, research & Technical Training, Health, Agriculture & Food Security, Tourism & Culture, and people-to-people exchanges among others.

According to the Prime CS, Kenya is working towards actualizing the 12 memoranda signed in January 2025 which span across political consultations, Diplomatic Training & Capacity Building in Foreign Service and Investment Cooperation.

Other memoranda are Gender Equality, Maritime Partnerships between the Lamu Port Authority and the Alexandria Port Authority, Red Sea Port Authority and Kenya Ports Authority.

Youth Empowerment, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Telecommunication and IT, Space Cooperation, Governance and Sustainable Development, and Housing, Construction and Urban Development are the other agreements aimed at unlocking immense opportunities for the two nations and their citizens.

“Kenya and Egypt’s active participation in regional frameworks such as Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) reflect our commitment to advancing economic integration and boosting intra-African trade in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.” said Mudavadi.

“The Commercial International Bank, CIB is Egypt’s largest private bank, and it now operates seven branches in Kenya under its own branch name CIB-Kenya, reflecting the political will to intensify and further deepen economic and commercial ties with Kenya and the commitment to support Kenya’s development plans.” noted Attiya.

In his remarks, Mudavadi also acknowledged that Kenya and Egypt remain steadfast in supporting multilateral efforts to promote peace and stability in conflict-affected regions such as Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and the Sahel.

He said this is achievable through active participation in the African Union led missions, and in close collaboration with the United Nations in championing for African-led solutions to African challenges.

The celebrations were also used to bid farewell to Amb. Wael Nasreldin Attiya, the outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya who is concluding his tour of duty.

Mudavadi conveyed his sincere appreciation to the outgoing Ambassador lauding him as a friend to Kenya whom during his tenure he played a pivotal role in deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Kenya and Egypt.

“Under Ambassador Attiya’s stewardship, we witnessed the successful State Visit of His Excellency President William Ruto to Egypt in January 2025.

He also oversaw the convening of the 7th Session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) in Nairobi in March 2024.” Mudavadi remarked.

Mudavadi said Amb. Attiya distinguished himself as a dedicated champion of economic diplomacy and further under his leadership, business engagements between Kenya and Egypt grew significantly, as exemplified by the successful Kenya–Egypt Business Forum held alongside the Joint Commission for Cooperation in March 2024.

Why I think Mbadi is doing a good job at the Treasury

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By Kiboga Warandah

I have always believed that the appointment of John Mbadi as the cabinet secretary that came at a time when Kenya’s economic ship was sailing through turbulent waters was a good decision by the president considering how he has performed so far.

We have been experiencing rising debt, inflationary pressures, public discontent over opaque fiscal policies and a widening gap between policy and people the appointment of John Mbadi as Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury was not just a political decision; it was a national imperative.

A seasoned politician with a deep understanding of finance, accounting, economics and governance, Mbadi arrived at the Treasury not as a bureaucrat removed from the people, but as a leader forged in the furnace of public service.

His ability to balance the delicate line between politics and administration has been nothing short of transformative.

While most technocrats are often swallowed by the complexity of economic planning or paralyzed by the rigidity of political interests, Mbadi has skillfully navigated both realms; bringing policy to the people, and people into policy.

Perhaps one of Mbadi’s most incredible feats is his oversimplification of financial and economic gobbledygook.

For decades, fiscal policy was viewed by the average Kenyan as the domain of elites — spoken in acronyms, models, and concepts that excluded the majority.

Mbadi changed that.

He introduced “People’s Budget,” summaries of the national budget communicated into Kiswahili for the locals complete with relatable analogies, and town-hall explainer sessions.

He launched a Treasury communication unit specifically tasked with converting economic data into digestible content for radio, social media, and rural forums.

Now, Kenyans no longer wait for commentators to explain the budget to them; they hear it from the Treasury itself, clearly and directly.

In doing so, he restored the link between public finances and public participation.

When he took office, inflation was threatening household stability.

Prices of basic commodities had risen beyond the reach of many.

Mbadi initiated bold, well targeted interventions: subsidies were redirected to production rather than consumption; strategic reserves were managed transparently; and import-export policies were recalibrated to favor local markets.

Today, inflation is within manageable bands.

The cost of living is more predictable, and confidence in the government’s ability to manage economic shocks has returned.

Even more significantly, taxation long viewed as punitive and arbitrary is now better understood and gradually being accepted.

Mbadi’s overhaul of the tax code wasn’t just administrative; it was psychological.

He pushed for civic tax education in Bunge la wananchi who to him are wenye nchi, social and mainstream media, and expanded digital platforms for easier filing and payment, and held national tax dialogue forums.

Through this, Kenyans have begun to see taxes not as a burden, but as a collective contribution to national development.

Transparency has always been a buzzword, but under Mbadi, it became policy.

He opened the Treasury to public scrutiny, setting up online and physical interactive avenues where citizens can track expenditure in real time, from major infrastructure projects, national government outlay, down to county-level disbursements.

For the first time, the Annual Financial Statements are no longer hidden in 500-page PDF documents, but are accessible, summarized, and interpreted for the average citizen.

Budget-making is no longer an exclusive affair in Nairobi.

Mbadi institutionalized public hearings of what would be styled “treasury mashinani” ensuring that resource allocation reflects the ambitions and aspirations of the people.

Civil society and media are now partners in economic oversight a radical departure from previous cultures of secrecy.

Mbadi’s vision for Kenya isn’t short-term; it’s strategic and generational.

He understands that moving Kenya to a middle-income economy is not a miracle but a process — one that requires consistency in leadership, clarity in communication, and courage in execution.

As he marks a year in this coveted office, he has laid the foundation: stabilizing the macroeconomic environment, restoring fiscal discipline, bridging the gap between government and citizens, and making economic literacy a national agenda.

But transformation takes time. Kenya now needs more years of Mbadi to deepen these reforms, embed them into institutional culture, and ensure that we do not slip back into the opaque, top-down, inefficient systems of the past.

Under his stewardship, the Treasury is no longer a fortress it is a forum.

The economy is no longer an abstract idea it is a lived experience.

And public finance is no longer a mystery it is a shared responsibility.

John Mbadi is not just a Cabinet Secretary.

He is the economic bridge between Kenya’s potential and its prosperity.

And we must walk that bridge with him into a future where every Kenyan is part of the economy, not just a spectator.

The writer is a public policy analyst and commentator on economic issues.

Raila’s Handshakes from 1963: A Reign Without Rule

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By Billy Mijungu

It might surprise you, but Raila Odinga could easily go down in the Guinness Book of Records as the global king of political handshakes.

Few leaders have mastered the art of political pacts without power like him.

He has made more consequential handshakes than perhaps any other politician in Africa, each one steeped in business, politics, or survival.

Never mind their spirit or outcome.

The first handshake came early with Jomo Kenyatta.

A young Raila, then managing his father’s business interests while Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was in detention, was supplying gas cylinders to Kenyatta’s Gatundu home.

Raila himself recounts this moment in The Flame of Freedom.

That handshake was business centric, not revolutionary.

His ideals were never purely about social justice; they had a capitalistic hue.

Once a businessman, always one.

The handshake with President Moi was perhaps the most misunderstood.

After a short-lived collaboration following the 1993 elections, it was in 1998 that Raila formally joined forces with Moi, an alliance many viewed as betrayal, but which offered him political growth in the executive. ]

These handshakes, it seems, often quiet dissent while opening doors to opportunity.

Then came the Kibaki handshake after the 2007 post-election violence, an election many believe Raila won.

This was his closest taste of executive power.

As Prime Minister, he made impactful decisions, but never with full authority.

It was power in theory, rarely in execution.

Still, it allowed him to rally support, shape policy, and redefine leadership without presidency.

The Uhuru handshake of 2018 was the most curious of all. It was silent, sudden, and seismic.

This truce sidelined Raila’s key allies and seemed to alienate his core supporters.

But it also gave him access to state machinery and allowed him to influence governance without contesting power directly.

Ironically, it became the very handshake that cleared the path for William Ruto’s rise by fracturing the Jubilee coalition and altering Kenya’s political balance.

The Ruto handshake, if we dare call it one, wasn’t born out of political strategy but public pressure.

It was brought about by the Gen Z protests in 2024, a youthful uprising that forced both men to acknowledge the limits of power and the power of the people.

This handshake may be Raila’s most transformative yet.

It isn’t anchored in political convenience but in national necessity.

It signals a pivot to genuine democratic engagement, where Raila’s demands can no longer be ignored and where government must listen or risk breaking.

In all these handshakes, one thing is constant, business is king.

Whether through deals, influence, or survival, Raila Odinga has mastered the art of reigning without ruling.

His handshakes have shaped Kenya’s history, often without him ever holding the presidency.

Multifaceted approach is the root to make sweet potato industry viable to farmers in Kenya

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By Perez Ochieng

The sweet potato farming cannot be a local initiative if it is to succeed. 

It is not only adding value at the source but also designing products that meet real global demand, using three critical tools:

– food technology 

– ⁠food innovation 

– ⁠food science 

The idea is to make the farmers, stakeholders, the national and county governments to understand the opportunities and to address the challenges and to witness the real impact in order to change the livelihoods.

It is important we come up with solutions that have global focus and trends to make potato farming viable and profitable to all players.

It needs resilience, pragmatism, determination, expertise and finance and more grace.

A lot of hard work to produce viable impact and change.

This means even though Kabondo has the ecological condition and seasonality for growing the sweet potatoes, the farmers still need to adopt improved farming methods like green house for example to ensure the sweet potato supply throughout the year. 

This sort of approach requires a supporting infrastructure supported by the government such as controlled temperature storage facilities, drying and preservation technologies. 

By this I don’t mean grinding and drying. No, I mean the storage for the sweet potato roots (centers similar to national cereals board), where farmers can also deposit their crops for onward purchase.

We have done this kind of thing very well in the coffee and tea sub-sectors and the same can be replicated to sweet potato.

And more specifically, in fixing broken sweet potato value chains with innovation, infrastructure, and intentionality.

Farmers must get organized and be intentional not persuaded to make short term gains offered by short term grant funding that make them switch from one crop to another just because there is a new project that promises better pay and better market (quick wins).

We aren’t just solving business problems; we are building entire ecosystems from scratch, educating markets, navigating regulatory ambiguity, lobbying policymakers, and plugging infrastructural gaps, all while trying to stay financially afloat.

And by this I don’t mean the idea of just copying, duplicating and relocating same ideas (like everybody is making sweet potato flour).

But rather pricing food chance combined with the local Indigenous knowledge of traditional uses and health benefits and then integrating into the global markets with the use of innovation.

Understanding the market dynamics

Tackling challenges  in building those cross-border bridges like trade barriers and compliance.

Compliance with both trade agreements that exist between the country and the target export market.

At this stage the challenge is not at the local farming level but at country level.

Tackling challenges of root to market, understanding the target market, being intonation about collaborating with other stakeholders to improve logistics in the supply chain.

From farming (agricultures) which is what the local Kabondo farmers know. 

But the things they don’t know is getting to market which includes product care and quality control, storing the sweet potatoes (post-harvest handing), bulking and sustainable supply (not seasonal).

Global markets don’t understand seasons.

They require continues supply through the year.

This means we have to organize sweet potatoes farming and production collaborative and cooperatively in such a way that we do not run on seasons or weather.

Solving the market problem

So, this cannot be solved by farmers as marketers.

Marketing products in the global market is sophisticated than people assume and requires a visit to and understanding of those markets . 

This knowledge is not available to the sweet potato farmers .Unless of course they make those journeys to visit on trade mission which are rare occurrence, costly and can be quite technical  and it is not possible to understand an entire market by a single visit or exhibition .

This involves doing market development alongside business development and product development .

What we did as a company 

And this is the critical winning element that my company brought into play, the fact that we are present, trading and doing business in the UK and Europe markets

We understand the dynamics and the consumer trends and how consumer trends link and drive market dynamics, access data such as healthy eating , safety , regulation, regulatory confidence and now sustainability in terms of both supply expectations as well as climate change issues not to mention other issue like child labor laws, quality and diversity as well as proofing of product origins ,authenticity and traceability 

And nowadays there are consumer demands on proofing all these require supply chains to adopt technologies such as block chains and AI to back up and share date with the very demanding sophisticated consumer markets . 

I did consumer trials with things like taste preferences , texture, convenience (e.g. the pancake mix package is a plastic bottle (bio-degradable ) but user only need to add milk into the mix , Shake and make the mix ready to cook without clatter of all the mixing tools required to make every day pancakes .

And more specifically, in fixing broken value chains with innovation, infrastructure, and intentionality.

My intention was not just exporting raw sweet potatoes —we’re transforming it into instant food innovations like:

sweet potato floor for baby food industry ingredients 

 sweet potato Creme brûlée

High end desert the UK  and EU consumer market

Sweet potato snack bars.

clean-label snacks made from sweet potatoes  for gluten-free consumers

Sweet potato pancake mix. 

our pregelatinized food starch alternative to oats, corn and wheat

Sweet potato soup .

Designed as a Medi-food (good for prediction nutrition used by people who have difficulty swallowing whole foods )

These are real products, built for real markets, solving real pain points for health-conscious families, smallholder farmers, and proving exciting ingredients for food manufacturers to make new products 

I am still intentional about progressing the sweet potato initiative in Homa bay and the wider western Kenya .

Setting up systems and supply chain model that  empower farmers to earn more from their hard work even as they become move up the supply combining farming with post-harvest handling earning more as they become integrated into the supply chain 

All these factors left uncoordinated are the cause of ecosystem delays 

How to educate these growers, how to press for quality over quantity and with it consistency.

This is what we have to do  across sectors as talented, entrepreneur, I  ended  up wearing multiple hats that, in more developed ecosystems, are shared with others.

I am planning to building co-manufacturing hubs and distribution bridges between Kenya sweet potatoes  and Europe with planned entry into Asia   – opening up new value streams, reducing post-harvest losses, and creating ownership pathways for Homa bay -led sweet potato brands.

– [ ] Introducing smart farming technologies 

– [ ] Processing at the source.

– [ ] Market entry strategies for local + global adoption.

– [ ] New certifications 

– [ ] Research & Development 

– [ ] Diaspora-led Offtake and 

– [ ] farmer-inclusive systems.

We just don’t want to  talk about Homabay , Kenya or  Africa’s opportunity. We’re building it.

Strong traceability to cut costs and keep value with producers with a framework that understands our farmers realities and challenges and balances with economic viability, and earns global trust to accelerated and depend market access endless possibilities with a pipeline of many sweet potatoes based products for diverse consumer needs 

With my  knowledge, expertise, and extended global network ( in the industry, consumer and academia ) I remain committed to  supporting the improvement for  enabling environment for example to supporting local policy decisions with robust, data-driven evidence to help improve market access for the sweet potato products. 

I hope I’m not wrong to conclude that sometimes as entrepreneurs we are too early for the market and our  first task is educating the market rather than selling products and services. It’s a long game

Because an Industry is made up of multiple players providing similar or vertically integrated solutions. Together they build a market that brings together demand and supply. 

CHARLENE RUTO’S GROUND ZERO INITIATIVE: WEAVING A NATIONAL TAPESTRY FROM LOCAL YOUTH SOLUTIONS

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By Remmy Butta

Nairobi – Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Samoei Ruto, is spearheading a bold grassroots movement aimed squarely at unlocking the potential of Kenya’s youth.

Through her Ground Zero Initiative, she is mobilizing young leaders across the nation to foster candid dialogue, bridge generational divides, and cultivate homegrown solutions to local challenges, with a powerful vision: that national progress is built stitch by stitch from these community-level breakthroughs.

The initiative, gaining significant traction, places County Students Association Presidents (CSA-Kenya) at the forefront of this engagement drive.

These young leaders, deeply embedded within their communities and acutely aware of local realities, are the catalysts for the Ground Zero program.

“We are broadening the intergenerational conversations through the Ground Zero grassroots program,” Charlene Ruto declared, outlining the initiative’s core mission.

“Championed by young leaders from County Students Association Presidents – Kenya, we plan to engage young people in all the 47 counties to have real, candid conversations, connecting with local leaders and creating local solutions.”

This approach signifies a crucial shift:

Grassroots Focus: Moving beyond national forums and capital-centric dialogues, Ground Zero deliberately starts at the community level – the “ground zero” of lived experience and immediate challenges.

Youth-Led Engagement: Empowering CSA-Kenya leaders ensures the conversations are peer-driven, relevant, and authentic, fostering trust and genuine participation.

Candid Intergenerational Dialogue: Facilitating open and honest discussions between young people and established local leaders (county officials, elders, business leaders) aims to break down barriers, foster mutual understanding, and harness diverse perspectives.

Local Solution Creation: The ultimate goal is not just talk, but action. By identifying hyper-local issues – from unemployment and skills gaps to environmental concerns and access to services – young people are encouraged and supported to develop context-specific solutions.

Charlene Ruto articulated the profound underlying philosophy driving Ground Zero: “National breakthroughs are the culmination of local solutions knitted together.” This statement captures the essence of the initiative’s ambition. It rejects a one-size-fits-all national approach, instead championing a decentralized model where innovation and problem-solving flourish in every county. The vision is that these diverse, locally-crafted solutions, when connected and scaled, form the resilient fabric of Kenya’s national development and transformation.

Ground Zero Promises a Nationwide Reach with systematic engagement targeting youth in all 47 counties.

Amplified Youth Voices providing a structured platform for young Kenyans to articulate their concerns, ideas, and aspirations directly to decision-makers.

Community Ownership with solutions emerging from within communities are more likely to be sustainable and embraced.

Leadership Pipeline by empowering CSA-Kenya leaders builds vital skills and experience, nurturing the next generation of national leaders.

Bridging Divides by ostering understanding and collaboration between generations and between youth and local governance structures.

The Ground Zero Initiative represents a significant investment in Kenya’s most abundant resource: its young population.

By starting at the grassroots, empowering youth leaders, facilitating honest dialogue, and championing locally grown solutions, Charlene Ruto and her team are attempting to weave a powerful tapestry of progress.

The success of this ambitious endeavor hinges on sustained commitment, genuine collaboration, and the ability to effectively “knit together” the myriad local innovations that emerge, proving that true national transformation indeed begins at Ground Zero.

Breaking the barriers for Kabondo’s sweet potato to the King’s dining table, UK markets

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By Anderson Ojwang 

For eons, sweet potato farmers in Kabondo of Homa Bay county have only grown the crop for domestic consumption with little or no commercial value on it.

The sweet potato is the Kabondo’s gold that has failed to trigger meaningful economic returns despite its high food nutrition value and demand globally.

For people of Kabondo, where potato growing is the main food and cash crop, lack of innovation, value addition and investments have been some of the barriers to the growth and expansion of the sector.

And that is why a Kenyan born, Citizen of United Kingdom Mrs. Perez Ochieng found herself in dilemma when her father-in-law asked her to go and purchase some sweet potato in Kabondo for family consumption back at home in Karachuonyo.

“I was shocked to see a long queue of women selling sweet potato along the road and how they rushed to attract my attention.

I bought from all of them and when I returned home, my father-in-law and other relatives asked me why I had bought so much.

I told them, I couldn’t buy just from one seller and opted to buy from all but we could donate to the people in the village and friends.

But the villages responded that they would rather be given bread or soda which are sweet and rare to come by. 

This was a wakeup call to me on what was needed to be done to explore and exploit the existing opportunity to add value and open market for the commodity,” she says.

Perez whose background is in Finance and Accounting but had zero knowledge on agricultural and post-harvest handling of crops had to navigate through the challenge of learning and finding market for the sweet potato in UK.

Perez took the tough decision to pursue Masters in Post harvest food handling while at the same time she was pitching for sweet potato market in the United Kingdom.

“I visited the Chambers of Commerce in United Kingdom, placed my proposal to import and sell sweet potato from Kenya.

At first, they were hesitant but later they called me back to inform about the availability of the market,” she said.

That was the first challenge Perez had to navigate to make first delivery to the UK market and through her company, SACOMA, she mobilized resources and returned back to Kabondo to make the first purchase.

“After a month, they called back and told me they have got a place for me to sell the product, they gave me the number, and I made a call to the facility.

I went to view the market.

I didn’t have the knowledge of the volume required and I sat down with the Directors of the market.

I told them, I want to sell a commodity to open a market for some farmers in Kenya.

They asked me, what do you want to sell? I replied to sweet potatoes.

They also asked me if I had sold sweet potato before which I said no.

I did not understand why they were asking me those questions, they at first thought I was joking and that I did not have the capacity to undertake the venture.

I told them, I just wanted to find an opportunity to open the market and I was excited about the opportunity and I came back to Kenya.

I went back to Kabondo and spoke with the women to understand how they farm their products, and I was introduced to one Mr. Vincent Okatch,  who had been doing export for a while. 

He became my mentor; trainer and I am thankful for his support.

He informed that sweet potatoes sold by the roadsides are not for export quality.  

I put in place the financing for him to get warehousing and other facilities.

After buying from farmers about 1000Kg and grading for export, he told me that we could technically export only between 20-50kgs.

I asked him, what do you mean by that?

I need 120,000 tons of sweet potatoes.

Later on as I got into sweet potato business, I was able to acquire more knowledge, and I went back to the university to undertake masters in post-harvest handling with bias in sweet potato.

Through that, I innovated other products of sweet potato instead of concentrating only on the bulky ones,” she said.

Perez was forced back to the basic by the emerging challenges and started investing and capacity building for the sweet potato farmers.

“We went back to the basic and started with farmers, on how to grow the crop, handling during weeding, harvesting and post harvesting handling.

We had to ensure we had certifications and safety measures for the products to be accepted at the international market.

I worked with markets in UK to determine the quality and ensured that the products had no   microbial contamination.

Some eat them raw, boil in the oven.

On the production, we started specializing on the sizes of the sweet potato.

We got the quality.

As a pioneering company we had to perfect the art of innovation and creativity to find the best way to raise the profile of the Kenya’s sweet potato.

I had to find someone who is so revered and senior in the country to raise the profile of the product.

Working with my partners, Brilliant Restaurant.

We thought of how we could of to engage the King to raise the profile.

We developed sweet potato products to be served to the King and this is how we got him, and we were able to serve him with various potato products and he liked it.

We did not stop there, we started working with his brother, Prince Andrew on his program to support African entrepreneurs. 

I have developed several products including flour, desert, snack bars, and crisps,” she explained.

But the challenges came from developing flour locally which sometimes have high aflatoxin and bacteria.

Perez said if the county government and national government could invest and exploit the UK and other markets, the farmers would viable commercial production of sweet potato.

Court restrains Gem Mp from publishing or uttering defamatory words against a solicitor at County

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By Reporter 

Siaya Court has issued restraining orders to Gem MP Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo from publishing, uttering or disseminating defamatory words against Leonard Otieno Okanda, who is solicitor at the County Government of Siaya.

The Magistrate Jacob  Mkala Punga gave the temporary injunction and certified the application as urgent and said further directions will be issued on July 30th 2025.

“ Temporary order of injunction be and is hereby issued , restraining the defendant/ respondent , whether by himself ,his agents , servants, or otherwise from further publishing , uttering or  disseminating the defamatory words or similar words concerning the plaintiff that the defendant/plaintiff had published on 27th July 2024 and 12th July 2025 and  threats  made on 6th July 2025 pending  the hearing and determination of the application.

Okanda had earlier has threatened to sue the Gem MP over alleged defamation and wants him to publicly apologize to him.

Leonard Okanda through his Advocate, Rakewa Otieno and Co. advocates, he wrote “demand for retraction, apology and admission of liability for defamatory statements.”

He alleges that on separates dates of July 27th, 2024, and July 12th 2025, Odhiambo at a funeral and memorial service in Nyachwinya village in Alego Usonga constituency uttered scandalous and inherently defamatory statements, suggesting criminality, dishonesty, corruption and professional misconduct on Okanda.

Otieno wrote “The natural and ordinary meaning as well as the client’s innuendo, conveyed by your words is that our client:

Knowingly and unlawfully withheld a sum of  Sh 232M owed to the late Evans Oruenjo, that he demanded a bribe before releasing Sh 102M to the late Evans Oruenjo.

That he intended to benefit personally from money due to a deceased person, misappropriated or diverted funds meant for the support of children of the late, implying theft, deceit and dereliction of duty.

That he is corrupt, dishonest and unfit to hold public office.”

Otieno said his client Odhiambo knew that his client does not owe the late Evans Oruenjo any money, personally or professionally and that he had no contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation to the deceased or to hie estate.

He said his client is a civil servant employed by the County Government of Siaya and that county government of Siaya is a distinct legal entity, separate and independent from Okanda  as an individual.

“Any liabilities or dealings relating to county finances, if any related, would rest solely with county government of Siaya and nor our client in a personal or professional capacity,” he wrote.

Otieno said should the Mp fail to apologize within the prescribed time frame, he will institute appropriate legal proceedings against him.

When we contacted Odhiambo, he neither picked our calls nor responded to our text messages.

Let us engage on issues and not personalities

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By Billy Mijungu

In a candid and wide-ranging interview on NTV Tonight, Azimio leader Raila Odinga broke his silence and sent a powerful signal to Kenyans: he may have sat out the Gen Z led protests of 2024, but his next move, a return to full scale opposition politics, could reshape the country’s political landscape more drastically than his historic 2002 walkout from KANU.

With characteristic calm and defiance, Raila warned that the issues agitating Kenyans today will not be solved by simply removing President William Ruto or any one individual.

“We don’t want to hear about Ruto, Raila, Kalonzo or Gachagua.

We want to talk about Kenya,” he declared.

“Let’s talk about issues rather than personalities, about issues affecting Kenyans.”

But behind that sober voice is a seasoned political fighter preparing for what could be his most consequential pushback yet.

From Dialogue to Stalemate
Raila traced the country’s growing political crisis back to the failure to implement the NADCO report, a product of earlier talks between him and President Ruto following violent protests in 2023 that claimed over 70 lives.

“Had the NADCO report been implemented earlier, we would not have ended up with the 2024 Gen Z protests,” Raila noted. When the youth eventually asked him to stay home, he complied.

“They stormed Parliament, the Judiciary, and were on their way to State House before they were stopped.

We were on the brink of military takeover.”

What followed was an uneasy truce brokered by international pressure and a call from former President Uhuru Kenyatta urging Raila to engage with Ruto, an engagement Raila says he only accepted for the sake of national stability.

Even so, the country remained in limbo.

“At that time, the country was at a stalemate,” he said.

“I was against a broad-based government, but some within ODM felt we should go in to steady the ship.”

Crossing the Red Line
Now, Raila says ODM has drawn new boundaries, especially on issues of human rights and extrajudicial killings.

“We held a National Executive Committee meeting last week.

I won’t go into details, but there’s a red line.

If it is crossed, we will act.”

This is not the talk of a retired statesman winding down.

If anything, Raila’s tone signals a resurgent opposition leader with one eye on history and another on the streets.

He spoke of organizing national grassroots led dialogue, beginning from polling stations and building up to a National Conclave.

“We must find a way of dealing with these issues once and for all,” he insisted.

“Dialogue must begin from below, not just at the top.”

A Political Awakening Beyond 2027
On whether he’ll run for President in 2027, Raila was non-committal: “I have not said that I am running.

I don’t have to.

I can support someone else.

At the moment I am more focused on organizing ODM.”

He dismissed reports of a Ruto Kalonzo ticket involving his support as “rubbish,” and warned that individuals within ODM who declare their 2027 support for Ruto are speaking for themselves.

“There’s still two years to elections, and these issues aren’t going to die away,” he said.

“How many more people are we going to lose before we talk?”

A Lethal Opposition in the Making?
Unlike in 2002, when Raila’s dramatic walkout from KANU helped end Moi’s 24-year grip on power, today’s Raila is not a rebel in the wilderness.

He is a political veteran with deep networks, both within and beyond Kenya’s borders, and perhaps for the first time, he is backed by an awakened and angry youth demographic.

He has avoided direct calls for mass action.

But by drawing attention to red lines, proposing grassroots dialogue, and signaling a readiness to reassert himself as an opposition force, Raila is writing a new script.

If 2002 was a political revolution led by elites, Raila’s potential swing to the opposition in 2025 may be one fueled by the people, and that could make it far more lethal. “People must talk,” he concluded.

“If you don’t find a solution to the crisis, you create anarchy.”

The warning is clear.

The question now is, who’s listening?

UNLOCKING TINDERET’S HIDDEN TREASURE: THE IMPERATIVE FOR MINERAL EXPLORATION IN TINDERET, NANDI COUNTY

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By Remmy Butta

Nestled within the verdant landscapes of Nandi County, Kenya, the Tinderet volcanic complex stands as a silent sentinel to a unique and geologically significant past.

This region isn’t just rolling hills and fertile farmland; it holds a subsurface secret with potentially transformative economic implications: volcanic rocks containing blocks of carbonatite lavas.

The presence of these rare igneous rocks isn’t just a geological curiosity; it represents a compelling scientific and economic argument for intensified mineral exploration in Tinderet.

  1. Carbonatites: Geological Rarity Laden with Potential

Carbonatites are exceptionally rare rocks, constituting less than 1% of all igneous rocks on Earth. Unlike the familiar silica-rich lavas, carbonatites are primarily composed of carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite) and are formed from carbonate-rich magmas originating deep within the mantle. Their rarity alone makes them significant, but their true importance lies in their exceptional propensity to become enriched in economically critical minerals.

√ Critical & Strategic Minerals: Carbonatites are globally recognized as the primary source of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and niobium (Nb). REEs are indispensable for modern technologies – permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles, phosphors in screens, catalysts, and advanced electronics. Niobium is crucial for high-strength, low-alloy steels used in pipelines, automotive frames, and aerospace components. Both are classified as critical minerals by major economies due to supply chain vulnerabilities.

√ Other Valuable Companions: Beyond REEs and Nb, carbonatites and their associated rocks often host significant concentrations of phosphate (for fertilizers), fluorite (for industrial processes), copper, apatite, barite, and even vermiculite. The specific suite depends on the complex magmatic and hydrothermal history of the intrusion.

  1. Tinderet’s Specific Geological Endowment

The documented presence of blocks of carbonatite lava within the Tinderet volcanic sequence is a powerful indicator. It suggests:

√ Proximity to Source: These lava blocks are likely fragments (xenoliths) ripped from a deeper-seated carbonatite intrusive body during explosive volcanic eruptions. Their presence at the surface signals that a potentially mineral-rich carbonatite intrusion exists at depth within the Tinderet complex.

√ Exploration Vector: These surface occurrences act as natural signposts, guiding geologists towards the most prospective areas for detailed exploration. They confirm the geological processes necessary for carbonatite formation occurred here.

√ Underexplored Potential: While known geologically, Tinderet’s carbonatite-associated mineral potential remains significantly underexplored using modern techniques. Previous work may have identified the geology, but systematic, technology-driven exploration for specific commodities like REEs and Nb is likely in its early stages.

  1. The Driving Need for Exploration

Given this geological foundation, why is exploration urgently needed?

√ Confirming Economic Viability: Surface rocks hint at potential, but only systematic exploration (geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys like magnetics and gravity, and ultimately drilling) can determine the size, grade (concentration), and distribution of mineral resources. Is the potential truly world-class, or more localized? Exploration provides the answers.

√ Unlocking Kenya’s Mineral Wealth: Kenya seeks to diversify its economy beyond agriculture and tourism. A significant mineral discovery in Tinderet could be a game-changer, attracting major investment, creating high-value jobs (geologists, engineers, technicians, skilled laborers), and generating substantial government revenue through royalties and taxes.

√ Securing Critical Supply Chains: Global demand for REEs and niobium is soaring, driven by the green energy transition and technological advancement. Discovering new, viable sources like Tinderet would contribute to diversifying global supply chains, reducing over-reliance on a few dominant producers, and enhancing Kenya’s strategic importance.

√ Local Economic Transformation: Responsible mineral development, preceded by thorough exploration, could bring significant infrastructure development (roads, power), skills training, and ancillary businesses to the Tinderet area and Nandi County, boosting the regional economy and improving livelihoods.

√ Scientific Understanding: Detailed exploration would also yield invaluable scientific data about the formation of the Tinderet complex and the behavior of carbonatite magmas in this specific tectonic setting, contributing to global geological knowledge.

From Volcanic Past to Economic Future

The carbonatite blocks scattered across Tinderet are not mere geological relics; they are tantalizing clues pointing towards a potentially rich subsurface endowment of minerals critical to the 21st-century economy. Ignoring this potential is to overlook a significant opportunity for Nandi County and Kenya.

While exploration carries inherent risk and must be approached with diligence and responsibility, the potential rewards – economic diversification, job creation, technological relevance, and regional development – make a compelling case.

Systematic, modern, and responsible mineral exploration in Tinderet is not just a scientific endeavor; it’s an economic imperative.

It’s the essential first step to determine if this unique volcanic landscape holds the key to unlocking sustainable prosperity for its people and contributing vital resources to the world.

The time to explore is now.

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