Eight Die in a grisly road accident

September 2, 2014

Eight people perished and 35 others critically injured following a gruesome  road accident in River Isiukhu along Kisumu Kakamega highway today morning.

The accident involving a bus heading to Kakamega collided with a pick up carrying a corpse from Kakamega provincial Hospital Mortuary.

Patricia Shivachi, a survivor recounts how the accident occurred.

 “The pickup from Kakamega was speeding and overtook a saloon car but our bus was also coming down to Kakamega and this forced our vehicles to collide head on. Our vehicle overturned and I found myself thrown out of the vehicle,” she said.

Brian Alukwe another survivor of the tragedy said that it’s God’s grace that he is alive.

“I was sitting on the back seat when I heard a loud bang. The next thing was seeing a crowd gather around us when the bus was down and pulled me and other passengers out,” Said Alukwe

 An eye witness Justus Chungani, said the pickup was overtaking a saloon car when it rammed into the oncoming bus.

“The pick-up was coming from Kakamega and headed towards Savanna in Shinyalu and was overtaking that saloon car that is currently parked there. The bus driver tried to swerve to give way but it was too late,” said Chungani.

Chungani who was dressing in safety gloves offered by Red-Cross after helping load corpses and the injured onto passing vehicles with bare hands says that he counted around six bodies at the scene,

“We loaded about six bodies and the critically injured on passing

Kakamega traffic Boss Evans Gatemba said they carried bodies to mortuary and the injured to Kakamega County General Hospital and could not confirm the exact deaths at going to press,

“As you see we are in the process of rescuing the injured, we have taken some to hospital and the dead to hospital,” he said.

Police were busy at the scene clearing the crowds as Red-Cross officials and St. Johns ambulances loaded the injured in their ambulances to take them to hospital.

The pickup driver died on the spot as the bus driver was taken to hospital with critical injuries the bus conductor was crushed when the bus turned.

The body that was being ferried from Kakamega County General Hospital mortuary was returned to the same mortuary after it poured on the road as the wooden casket which it was in fell on the road and burst.

County Director of Health Brenda Makokha said that 35 were admitted at the county Hospital and dead taken to the hospital’s mortuary,

“We took 35 injured to our County General Hospital and so far there is no major case to warrant a referral to other Hospitals” Said Makokha.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya arrived at the accident scene to console families of the dead and said he was going to visit the sick in hospitals,

“I am very sorry to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones. I heard of the accident 30 minutes ago and came to condone with you,” said Oparanya.

Angry eye witnesses however questioned the governors over the narrow nature of the road claiming it a reason for accidents on the said road Oparanya said the process of expanding the rad was going on,

“Expanding the road is a longtime thing and I assure you that the expansion is already on,” Oparanya said.

A man stealing sandals and other valuables from the scene was chased by the angry mob from the scene.

ENDS

Governor blames poor police reaction over increased insecurity

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has blamed security personnel over recent increase in insecurity in the county and condemned what he termed ‘a mediocre working attitude’ of police.

This comes after a gang of thieves on Monday night terrorized residents in Bukura where they left atrail of blood after a night of stealing hacking and raping.

 “The police are sleeping on their work because how can a gang of thugs invade the village unnoticed yet we have three AP camps in the area? What is the use of the AP camps in Ebushitinji, Lunza and Shiraha and the Kenya Police stationed at Bukura if people can be attacked at will?” posed Oparanya.

He wondered why it took the police more than six hours to respond to the residents’ distress calls for rescue yet they are stationed a few kilometers from the area of attack.

 “It took more than six hours for security personnel to respond to the distress calls by residents, police officers should be accountable of increased insecurity incidents in the county” he said.

The incident which left seven people nursing serious machete injuries on the head is the sixth to happen in a series of one year alone.

The governor questioned why the police officers have never arrested any suspects who are terrorizing area dwellers and bashed them for their cliché utterances that ‘investigations are underway.’

Kakamega County Commissioner Mwongo Chimwaga said that it is very unfortunate for security agencies to take hours to respond to security matters.

“It is unfortunate for security personnel to respond to security matters an hour later after they are informed of any attack. They should practice professionalism and respond quickly to save residents” said Chimwaga.

He urged the county government, MPs and MCAs to set aside funds for the construction of a new police post in the area because it will take longer time for the national government to budget for it.

“The simplest measures to be taken is the county government, MP and area MCA to set aside some funds for the construction of a new police post in the area because it will take longer time for the national government to allocate funds to build it” he said.

He also called on all leaders in the area to work together with the security agencies to enhance security of residents.

“All leaders should work together to ensure that security is adhered to, residents should also be involved by tipping police on plans that may disrupt peace of residents” he stated.

..ENDS..

28 years old man made a 'real man'

A 28 years-old man was yesterday forcibly made to undergo a cut in Ilesi in Shinyalu Kakamega.

 Edwin Amboso a pottery was nabbed in Ilesi market center and forcibly ‘made a real man’ by a traditional circumciser.

This follows the ongoing Western Kenya bi-annual traditional ritual circumcision.

"I was alerted this morning through phone call by a woman that we have a man who has not shed off his fore skin in this market. I then took a motorbike and knife to come and usher him into manhood," said Francis Likhovera, the circumciser.

The man of the moment was later paraded along the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway next to where he makes pots to receive presents for undergoing the ritual pursuant to the traditional circumcision customs.

He was offered a leso by a lady in the market, a wrapper he proudly wrapped around his west and hobbled to the nearest kiosk to avoid the scotching mid-day sun.

"What do you want me to say and you have seen, I Amboso and was circumcised this morning," seemingly shy father of two said.

With blood tripling down his legs, the newly initiated man struggled to maintain a straight face as pain gripped him.

Traditionally, a Luhyia man is not supposed to shed a tear when circumcised.

With people mingling to witness and reward “Imbangala” an old man circumcised in Luhya dialect, Amboso received gifts worth Sh. 250 on top of Sh. 100 fare to take a motorbike to his home.

The prize consisted of a loaf of bread, tea leaves, Ng'ombe petroleum Jelly, half a kilo of sugar and a bar-soap.

His boss at the pottery Jacob Mate, said he was not aware that Mr. Amboso was a 'kid' in the years he has worked as a casual laborer for him.

"We are happy that Amboso has now graduated to a man. He has worked for me for over five years yet I had no clue he was uncircumcised because you cannot go peeping on a man to check whether he is cut or not," said Mate.

Fellow casual labobourers whispered to him on the dos and don'ts when nursing his new look manhood.

“Please avoid 'Omena' as the plague and don't look direct into a woman's eye," Whispered Francis Mumia his working mate.

Omena is a dish associated with those who fear the knife whereas looking at a woman may cause the 'male member' unnecessary injury at the time of healing after circumcision, says an old man at the scene.
The circumciser was paid Sh.50 by Ambos's boss to 'wash hands' and will return for Sh.1000 when Amboso heals from the circumcision wound, according to Luhyia customs.

"I inherited this circumcising exercise from my father in 1987 and have since been circumcising all these years, Amboso's skin was however tough forcing me to use a razor rather than a knife," said the traditional circumciser waving a razor and knife in both hands.

Are Luhya political leaders ready to unite?

August 18, 2014

Budalangi MP Ababu Nmwamba has hinted that Luhya community will form another party in preparation to 2017 general elections.

He said there will be a formation of political movement will shock and shake the entire country in the coming general election.

In what he termed as “being mistreated in ODM,” Ababu said it was time leaders with the interest of Kenyans at heart moved first to salvage the country from tribal, ego-centric politicans determined to see the country go to the dogs.

“An army of one million men can be stopped but you cannot stop an idea whose time has come the reason I am being fought is because I am good, a threat to certain interests,” said Ababu.

He observed that what kills the country aspiration is lack of listening leaders.

He pleaded with the leadership of major parties to listen to the cries of Kenyans and not push tribal agendas to the national table.

“The late vice president Goerge Saitoti once said times come when the country is bigger than an individual. I urge all political leaders to reflect on his assertion and protect our country,” said Ababu.

He explained that Luhyia community needs to register in large numbers so that they can give him a good bargaining ground in national politics.

He was speaking during a fundraiser at Mushiliro Anglican Church in Navakholo Constituency Kakamega County

 He called for a paradigm shift in Luhyia land saying that their numbers were ‘tyrannical’ yet not reflective in national politics,

“We must not always dance to the tunes of others, let’s make our own tune so that when others come with theirs’ we can blend and dance together,” said Ababu.

“On paper, we have numbers but in reality, we are just a group that is compromised by other people. We are easily swayed to dance to the tune of others, when we will learn to support one of our own. We are the solution to this tyranny of numbers acclamation.”

Also present included Kakamega county women representative Racheal Ameso who said it was not fair for Ababu to be swindled of ODM party Secretary General Position when he almost died fighting for the party during last elections,

“We tell you Ababu not to accept to be led by retired people who lost focus with the flow of Kenyan politics. They sacrificed you (Ababu) because you are smart and would easily take on Kenyan leadership.” Said Ameso.

Will the electorate be charmed by their unity talks without action? Time will tell

 …ENDS..