‎By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

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‎Dr Musyoka described the late Stephen as a self -made entrepreneur who rose from being a second-hand clothes hawkerr to building Makindu Motors Ltd, a renowned automobile assembly company in the country. "Through vision, perseverance, and unwavering commitment, he created opportunities for many and became a source of inspiration to countless young people across Kenya", wrote the Wiper party boss on his Facebook page.

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‎Tina Clara, a young film producer was among thousands of Kenyans who took to social media to pass their condolences.  She said, "My condolences to everyone who know them. Poleni sana".

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‎The couple's devastating demise is a major blow to their family as well as the business community both in Ukambani and the entire nation.

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By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

The leaders who spoke during the celebrations of the Day of the African Child held at ACK Riakanau Grounds in Mwea Sub-county, expressed concern that many of the abuses are being perpetrated by individuals who are supposed to protect children. 

Embu County Coordinator for Children's Services, Devlin Mundi, said cases of sexual abuse involving minors remain a major concern in the region. "It is unfortunate that some of the people abusing children are close relatives and individuals entrusted with their care," said Mundi.

He emphasized the need for collaboration among government agencies, religious organizations, parents and the community to protect children from abuse and exploitation. "We must work together to fight this vice because it is exposing many children to serious risks and denying them their rights," he added.

Wang'uru Magistrate Philomen Lemei noted that courts in the area continue to receive numerous defilement and rape cases involving minors. "We are handling many cases of sexual abuse against children, and it is worrying that a significant number of the perpetrators are relatives who should be safeguarding these children," said Lemei.

Mwea Sub-county Deputy County Commissioner John Marete also raised concern over the increasing cases of child labour, particularly in farming areas around Masinga Dam and the Mwea Irrigation Scheme. He said many school-going children are abandoning their studies to engage in farm work, a trend that threatens their education and future prospects. "Many learners are leaving classrooms to work on farms. We urge parents and all stakeholders to join hands in addressing this challenge and ensuring children remain in school," said Marete.

Mbeere Diocese Anglican deputy Bishop John Kimani said the church was deeply concerned by the rising cases of abuse and exploitation targeting children in the region. "The church is astonished by the increasing number of such cases, and we are committed to working closely with other stakeholders to protect children and promote their welfare," said Bishop Kimani.

Thomas Tharau of the Bible Society of Kenya urged members of the public to report all cases of child abuse and avoid concealing offenders, saying justice can only be achieved when incidents are reported and acted upon. He added that the organization is partnering with various stakeholders to support and care for children who have experienced abuse while advocating for stronger protection measures across the community.

‎By MWINGI TIMES TEAM

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‎"You may destroy billboards, but you cannot destroy the will of the people. You may use goons, but you cannot stop a movement that is God-ordained and people-driven", said Mr Kavate.

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‎The young MP aspirant challenged those planting seeds of intolerance in Mwingi North to embrace peace, dignity and justice championed by the United Opposition. He declared that goons are cowards and enemies of the people.

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‎While appearing to blame his competitors for oiling the political carnage in Tseikuru, Hon Kanyanya dared them to get ready for a tough faceoff in Wiper party nominations. "To my political competitors and the political incumbent working in cahoots to sponsor goons and engineer backward politics in Mwingi North, I have a message for you, prepare yourselves for a very tight war -at the nomination for the Wiper ticket and at the ballot."

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‎The 2016 Elections Offences Act enumerates penalties relating to breaching of peaceful elections process including use of force or violence during the election period.

By FAITH BWARI NYABUTI

Addressing a distinguished audience that included Chief Justices from across Africa, senior judicial officers, governors, community elders, scholars, and development partners, Koome underscored the need to transform justice systems to better serve ordinary citizens. She emphasized that while formal courts remain critical, justice must be accessible, inclusive, culturally grounded, and responsive to the realities of people's lives.

The Chief Justice praised the University of Embu for hosting the conference and commended Professor Joel Ngugi and the National Steering Committee on AJS for their dedication in advancing the initiative despite years of limited funding. She noted that their commitment and passion had enabled the Judiciary to conceptualize, develop, and begin implementing policies aimed at bringing justice closer to communities.

Reflecting on the origins of Kenya's legal system, Koome challenged participants to question whether imported legal traditions adequately serve African societies. She argued that justice systems inherited from colonial administrations were never designed around the needs and aspirations of African communities and called for a renewed focus on indigenous approaches to dispute resolution.

According to Koome, Alternative Justice Systems represent a return to African values that prioritize dialogue, reconciliation, and social harmony. She described elders and community leaders as "champions of justice" who have for generations helped resolve disputes, rebuild broken relationships, and maintain peace within communities.

Drawing from her experiences visiting counties where AJS initiatives are being implemented, the Chief Justice shared stories of families who had successfully resolved long-standing conflicts through community mediation. She noted that many citizens find traditional justice mechanisms more accessible and effective than lengthy court processes, particularly in family and land disputes.

"For many citizens, justice is more than the conclusion of a case," she said. "It is about whether relationships have been restored, whether families have found healing after conflict, whether dignity has been preserved, and whether people feel heard and respected."

Koome challenged stakeholders to rethink how justice outcomes are measured. Rather than focusing solely on court statistics such as case clearance rates and backlog reduction, she called for consideration of broader social indicators, including restored relationships, strengthened communities, and enhanced human dignity.

The Chief Justice linked Kenya's AJS efforts to broader continental aspirations outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Union Transitional Justice Policy. She noted that these frameworks recognize the importance of justice systems that heal wounds, restore dignity, rebuild trust, and strengthen social cohesion.

"Alternative Justice Systems are not an alternative to formal justice," she said. "They are essential expressions of African jurisprudence rooted in our history, cultures, and communal wisdom."

Despite the progress made, Koome acknowledged the challenges facing AJS implementation, including limited public awareness, inadequate resources, and the need for stronger institutional support. She called on both national and county governments to invest more resources in the initiative, arguing that a system contributing significantly to peacebuilding and access to justice should not rely solely on goodwill and volunteerism.

The Chief Justice also recognized the contributions of various development partners, including the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, Strathmore University, and other research institutions that have supported the Judiciary's efforts to promote people-centred justice.

In a passionate conclusion, Koome reaffirmed that justice should be experienced as a lived reality by every Kenyan regardless of social status or geographic location. She stressed that constitutional rights belong to all citizens and that justice must reach every child, woman, elderly person, and marginalized community.

"Justice will be found in systems that place people at the centre," she said. "It will be found in systems that value dignity and respect, the same way they value efficiency, and seek not only to resolve disputes but also to heal and restore relationships."

The conference also marked the formal launch of the Embu County Alternative Justice Systems Action Plan, a significant milestone in the effort to institutionalize community-based dispute resolution mechanisms. As she officially declared the conference open, Koome expressed hope that future gatherings would attract even greater participation from across Africa, strengthening a continental movement committed to making justice more accessible, restorative, and relevant to the lives of ordinary people.

The conference reinforced a growing consensus among African judicial leaders that the continent's justice systems must evolve beyond legal procedures and court judgments to embrace approaches that restore harmony, promote dialogue, and strengthen communities.

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

The agribusiness finance solutions provider has intensified its operations across key agricultural counties including Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi and Laikipia, targeting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that play a crucial role in supporting local economies and Kenya's food production systems.

Despite the region being one of the country's most productive agricultural zones, many agribusinesses continue to face cash-flow challenges that hinder their growth and limit their ability to increase inventory, meet customer demand and maintain strong supplier relationships.

The affected businesses include agrovets, suppliers, manufacturers, processors, aggregators and distributors who rely on adequate working capital to sustain and expand their operations.

To bridge the financing gap, Avenews is rolling out trade-based financing solutions designed to improve liquidity and enable businesses to access stock financing when needed.

Speaking during stakeholder engagements in Nyeri, Avenews Business Development Director Emanuel Murai said timely access to financing is critical in driving the growth of agricultural SMEs. "Agri-SMEs in this region have strong demand and established markets, but liquidity often holds them back. By enabling them to finance stock purchases seamlessly, we are helping businesses grow, strengthen supplier relationships and operate with greater confidence," said Murai.

Under the financing model, businesses can access credit at the point of purchasing stock, allowing them to increase inventory and respond quickly to market opportunities. Once repayments are made, they regain access to credit and can continue borrowing as new opportunities arise.

According to the company, the approach enables distributors, traders and other agribusiness players to secure additional stock during peak seasons without straining their cash flow.

Avenews has also intensified engagements with agribusiness operators in Nyeri, Embu and Meru counties to better understand market needs and raise awareness about financing solutions tailored to agricultural value chains.

The company noted that the Mt Kenya region is serving as a key learning and data hub for refining its embedded trade-based financing model ahead of a wider national rollout.

Insights gathered from the region will help shape Avenews' expansion strategy aimed at scaling working capital solutions across Kenya's major agricultural corridors, strengthening trade systems and supporting sustainable growth among agribusinesses.

The firm expressed confidence that improved access to financing will enable more agricultural enterprises to expand operations, enhance supply chain efficiency and contribute to food security and economic growth across the country.