Additionally,  sources told MWINGI TIMES that three goats were shot dead by stray bullets in the incident. 

Speaking to MWINGI TIMES as he attended a burial in Kithaiyoni village,   Tseikuru MCA Daniel Kimanzi Muange said he had information about the attack but it was not clear how many people where killed.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

 In a communication delivered during the County Assembly plenary sitting on Wednesday, Katisya informed Members of the County Assembly that he could not commit for debate documents that failed to comply with the law.

Speaker Katisya noted that when the budget documents were first presented to the Assembly in mid-May, he directed that they be returned to the County Executive Committee Member for Treasury, Peter Kilonzo, for alignment with the law. 

However, he added, the two documents were later resubmitted to the assembly without the necessary corrections and rectification.

“The CECM for Finance declined to address any of the issues I had raised. He instead responded with a letter in which he claimed that the Speaker does not know what he is doing by declining to commit the budget for consideration,” Katisya said.

The Kitui Speaker maintained that if the County Treasury CECM believed he was acting unlawfully, he was free to seek legal redress in court. He insisted that he would not be pressured into violating the law through political intimidation.

Katisya further stated that it was wrong for anyone to view the Speaker merely as a Master of Ceremonies, emphasizing that the office holder is a presiding officer mandated to admit documents for Assembly's consideration only when they meet the required legal standards.

“I cannot allow any agenda on the floor of this House that is unconstitutional. Likewise, I will not allow a budget that is unconstitutional. They have dared a lawyer,” he said.

In rejecting the budget documents, Katisya said he had identified several legal, fiscal and procedural deficiencies that rendered them unsuitable for consideration by the Assembly. The Speaker indicated that he would not direct the documents to be returned to the Treasury Department again, but said the concerned offices “should stand guided” by the communication he had delivered to the House.

If the budget impasse is not resolved promptly, it could lead to delays in the implementation of development projects and negatively affect service delivery across the county. The 2025/26 Supplementary Budget II is expected to be implemented before this June 30, while the 2026/27 Budget Estimates must be considered and approved by the County Assembly before the same deadline.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

Kasalu said at least four women have been raped, brutally murdered, and their bodies dumped in bushes over the past three months, creating fear among residents.

She criticized the police for what she described as inadequate efforts to address the disturbing trend, suggesting that a serial killer could be behind the crimes.

"There are a number of women who have been raped and gruesomely murdered. I want to urge the police to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice," said an apparently irate Dr Kasalu.

The Woman Representative lamented that cases of rape and murder involving women have been reported almost every two weeks in Kitui Central over the past three months.

"It is unacceptable that women continue to lose their lives in such horrific circumstances while no arrests have been made," she said.

Kasalu spoke on Wednesday during a meet-the-people tour of Voo/Kyamatu Ward in Kitui East Sub-county, where she was also seeking to popularize her 2027 gubernatorial bid.

"All we want to hear is that the police have apprehended the culprit. These incidents appear to be linked, and it could be a serial killer targeting our people," she said.

She noted that many women in Kitui Central are now living in fear due to the rising number of rape and murder cases, adding that the matter cannot be allowed to remain unresolved.

Kasalu questioned why no arrests had been made despite the growing number of incidents, accusing the police of laxity in handling the cases.

Last week, a middle-aged woman was found murdered and naked in the Kalundu area of Kitui Town. She was the fourth victim of rape and murder reported in the area within the last three months.

A few days earlier, the decomposing and decapitated body of a woman was discovered in a bush along the banks of the Tyaa River on the outskirts of Mwingi Town, near the Mwingi–Thika Highway.

Weeks before that, the body of a prominent Mwingi businesswoman and contractor was found dumped beside the Mwingi–Thika Highway near Kithyoko Town in Machakos County.

Efforts to reach Kitui County Police Commander Martha Ngetich for comment on the rising cases of femicide in the county were unsuccessful.

Ngetich told journalists that she was attending a series of security meetings and would communicate her availability to address the matter at a later date.

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

The support package comprises a wide range of income-generating tools, including agricultural equipment, carpentry and welding kits, sewing and knitting machines, as well as barber and salon equipment. The initiative is intended to help beneficiaries establish sustainable livelihoods and improve their economic independence.

Speaking during the flagging-off ceremony held at the Eastern Regional Headquarters in Embu Town, NFDK Trustee David Musila said the programme is aimed at empowering persons living with disabilities and enabling them to participate actively in economic activities.

Musila noted that apart from the tools of trade, the fund also allocated Sh4 million to special schools catering for learners with disabilities. A total of 20 schools received Sh200,000 each to support infrastructure development and improve learning conditions.

He emphasized that the assistance was designed to transform the lives of beneficiaries and urged recipients to use the resources responsibly to maximize their impact.

According to Musila, the donated equipment should serve as a foundation for self-employment and income generation, helping beneficiaries improve their standards of living and reduce dependency.

He further cautioned beneficiaries against selling or misusing the equipment, saying such actions would defeat the purpose of the programme, which seeks to uplift the welfare of persons living with disabilities.

Eastern Regional Commissioner Jacob Ouma praised the initiative, describing it as a major step toward promoting self-reliance among persons living with disabilities, many of whom often depend on relatives and caregivers for support.

Ouma also appealed to parents and guardians of children living with disabilities to enroll them in appropriate learning institutions instead of hiding them at home, arguing that education and social inclusion are essential in restoring dignity and hope.

At the same event, the Regional Commissioner urged Kenyans exercising their right to demonstrate to do so peacefully and avoid acts that may result in destruction of property or disruption of businesses.

He observed that when protests become violent, persons living with disabilities are among the most affected due to existing physical, structural and economic challenges that make them more vulnerable.

Beneficiaries welcomed the support, saying it would significantly improve their livelihoods. Among them was visually impaired beneficiary Ephantus Munene, who received a welding kit and described it as a life-changing opportunity. He said the equipment would help him earn a living, provide for his family and challenge the misconception that persons living with disabilities are a burden to society.

Male Goats

Large-11000-14000

Medium-8000-10000

Small-5000