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Nyanza’s Sugarcane Farmers Defy Repayment: A Battle Over Sh3.7 Billion Loans

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The Kenyan government is grappling with a potential financial setback as sugarcane farmers, particularly in the Nyanza region, refuse to repay loans amounting to Sh3.7 billion. These loans, issued by the Commodities Fund, were intended to support agricultural improvement and operations. However, local political promises of loan forgiveness have fueled the farmers’ defiance. The Kisumu Sugar Belt Cooperative Union and the Muhoroni Multipurpose Cooperative Union, alongside Muhoroni Sugar Company, are major debtors. This defiance underscores the broader frustrations of sugarcane farmers who have long felt exploited, especially in Nyanza. These…

Echoes of the Past, Hopes for the Future: The Powerful Message of the Nyanza Dialogue Report 2023

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The Nyanza Dialogue Report 2023 is an evocative and detailed account of the 54th anniversary commemoration of the Kisumu Massacre, an event that has profoundly shaped the socio-political landscape of Kenya’s Nyanza region. The report meticulously chronicles the historical context, discussions, and reflections that emerged from this seminal gathering, underscoring the enduring legacy of state brutality and the quest for transitional justice. The report begins by situating the Kisumu Massacre within a broader historical framework, highlighting the sustained state violence and marginalization experienced by the Luo community in Nyanza. The…

The Nyanza Investment Conference: Economic Ambitions or Political Battleground?

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The Nyanza International Investment Conference (NIC), slated for June 28-29, 2024, in Kisumu, has become a hotbed of political machinations and territorial disputes, particularly among the ODM-aligned professionals and their UDA-aligned counterparts. Organized by the Nyanza Professionals’ Forum, this event purportedly seeks to galvanize economic growth and development across the six counties of Nyanza province—Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, and Siaya—by courting both local and international investors. However, beneath the veneer of economic aspirations lies a battleground for political supremacy and influence. This high-profile conference, expected to draw over…

Spectacular Sh5 Billion Anderson Estate Project Set to Transform Kisumu’s Housing Landscape

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Kisumu city is on the brink of a transformative housing revolution with the launch of the Sh5 billion Anderson Estate. Spearheaded by the Local Authorities Pensions Trust (LAPTRUST) and the County Provident Fund (CPF), this ambitious project aims to deliver over 1,200 affordable housing units, addressing the critical shortage of homes in this vibrant lakeside city. At the heart of this visionary endeavor is the esteemed architect Peter Wasilwa, whose designs promise a blend of modernity and elegance. The housing blocks, soaring up to the 16th floor, will feature a…

Establishing the Lake Region Creative and Blue Economy Public Youth Discourse for Secondary Schools

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The Mama Grace Onyango Cultural & Social Centre proudly presents the Pre-FESTAC Lake Region Creative and Blue Economy Public Youth Discourse for Secondary Schools. This initiative aims to foster a culture of debate, constructive engagement, and public speaking among young people, encouraging them to actively participate in environmental conservation, commercialization of their talents, leadership, and governance. The Lake Region Creative and Blue Economy Public Youth Discourse for Secondary Schools emerges at a crucial time when the blue economy is gaining national and global attention as a vital component of economic…

Former ICT Principal Secretary Defends Move to Kisumu County Role Amidst Intense Scrutiny by MCAs

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Former Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Innovation Principal Secretary (PS) Jerome Ochieng found himself under scrutiny as he defended his decision to accept a nomination for a county-level position, a move seen by some as a step down from his previous high-profile national role. During the vetting session, Market Milimani Ward MCA Seth Kanga voiced a common concern, questioning why Ochieng, who once oversaw national projects worth billions of shillings as the Accounting Officer for the State Department of ICT and Innovation, would opt for the position of County Executive…

Climate Havoc Forces Postponement of Africa’s Premier Cultural Festival – FESTAC24 – in Kisumu City

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The postponement of the fifth edition of the World Blacks and Africans Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), originally scheduled for May 20-26, 2024, in Kisumu City, Kenya, underscores a series of broader issues related to event planning in the face of climate change and infrastructure vulnerabilities. The decision, driven by “aggravated and unpredicted weather conditions,” including heavy rainfall and consequential massive flooding, reflects a significant disruption not only to the festival’s logistics but also to the regional stability of Kisumu County. Eng. Yinka Abioye, the chairman of FESTAC Africa…

Lake Victoria Authority’s Mega-Mall Dream Turns Into a Ksh 4.5 Billion Financial Nightmare

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In a striking revelation to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Regional Development, Lake Victoria Development Authority’s (LBDA) Managing Director, CPA Wycliffe Ochiaga, unveiled the daunting fiscal challenge the authority faces. The LBDA is grappling with a staggering Sh. 2.5 billion loan taken from Cooperative Bank to construct the monumental Lake Basin Mall in Kisumu City—a financial burden that has ballooned to a hefty Sh. 4.5 billion due to accruing interest and penalties. Initiated on August 7, 2013, the construction of the mall, a landmark project and one of the…

Catastrophic Floods Unleash Havoc in Kisumu County: Urgent Calls for Government Action as Hundreds are Displaced

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Kisumu County in western Kenya is grappling with severe flooding, prompting urgent calls for governmental intervention. Residents, particularly from the hardest-hit areas, are appealing to both the national and county governments to take immediate action to alleviate the crisis by clearing clogged drainage systems and redirecting river flows back to their natural courses. The crisis has been precipitated by the overflowing of River Nyando, which has led to extensive damage across several villages. Maurice Akoko, a clan elder from Kochogo village, highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that multiple…

Kenya’s Election Rigging Mastermind Chebukati Serously Sick: Terminal Fate or Devine Retribution?

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Wafula Chebukati, the disgraced Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), finds himself ensnared in the grip of illness, teetering on the precipice of mortality. Whispers in the corridors of power suggest a dire state of health, as he languishes within the confines of Nairobi Hospital, later to be whisked away to the esteemed halls of Aga Khan Hospital for specialized care. Reports even dare to speculate that he’s been clandestinely transported to the distant shores of Germany, seeking solace in the arms of expert healers. This is…