By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 

Installed in 2023, the plant ended oxygen shortages and replaced monthly spending of KSh 1.6 million on supplies, with the County now saving nearly KSh 6 million through local production.

Chief Officer for Drugs and Medical Supplies, Aggrey Kamba, said the County is ready to sustain operations. “We now have a stable oxygen system and will ensure continuous supply across our facilities,” he said.

The facility no longer experiences oxygen shortages and currently supplies oxygen to 14 hospitals across the county, strengthening emergency and critical care services.

Victor Okoth of Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) program, KE Oxygen Activity, implemented by Chemonics said the handover marks a successful transition to county management. “The system is now fully in the hands of the County to serve patients without interruption,” he said.

The transition was marked by the handover of critical oxygen plant support equipment from the United States Government, through Chemonics International, under the GHSC-PSM Program. The equipment includes service kits for oxygen compressors, generator spare parts, voltage regulators, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, and safety gear. The spare parts, are enough to sustain operations for the next two years. All items valued at KSh 4.1 million.

The Ministry has also secured maintenance contracts with suppliers to support the oxygen plant over the same period, with plans for renewal to ensure continuity.

Kitui continues to invest in health infrastructure in line with Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s Kitui Promise of improving access to quality healthcare, with a focus on sustainable systems that can be managed locally.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

The driver and conductor of the said vehicle were arrested and taken to Kanyonyoo police station where they are awaiting being presented in court to answer charges related to the shocking incident.

Speaking to the press, the county police boss revealed that the discovery happened at around 2.30am along Garissa-Thika road on Thursday morning. The bus was travelling from Dadaab in Garissa county to Nairobi City.

"Police impounded the  bus registration number KDG 358Q. It was travelling from Dadaab to Nairobi.  They found a bag with a milk container. Inside it had pieces of meat used to conceal 48 bullets of  the AK47 calibre," said Ms Kalondu.

She appealed to Kenyans to cooperate with investigating agencies as police commence the probe. She called for the volunteering information that will help restore security in the region.

By MWINGI TIMES TEAM

On Wednesday,  IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon announced the by-election date in a special Kenya gazette notice. "Following the declaration of a vacancy that occurred in the office of the MCA Migwani ward in Mwingi West Constituency,  Kitui County issued by the Speaker on August 6, there shall be a by-election in Migwani ward on Tuesday, November 17, 2026", said the IEBC boss Ethekon.

Election campaigns kicked off on October 21 and willl terminate on November 14.  

The IEBC announced voter registration will stay suspended until after the by-election day, November 17.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

A spot-check at the Assembly revealed that the few Ward Reps who show up during sitting days intentionally keep off the debating chambers and instead opt to while away time at the Member’s lounge.

On the other hand, several other MCAs also show up casually dressed in jeans and t-shirts instead of suits and ties as per parliamentary requirements in order to avoid attending the plenary sittings at the August House.

The go-slow by MCAs has also led to lethargy by legislative staff who have been adamant to schedule legislative business on the Order Papers. Several Order Papers for previous sittings have been blank, leaving the few MCAs attending plenary sittings to enter the House and leave immediately without transacting any business.

Committee meetings have also been hard hit by the quorum hitches, with Member’s failing to show up to deliberate on matters requiring their attention, leaving Embu County residents with a serious representation gap.

A source who did not wish to be quoted intimated to the press that despite absconding the plenary and committee sittings, the absentee MCAs always conspire to have attendance registers signed to draw sitting allowances.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the MCAs who have unofficially started campaigns to defend their seats in the August 2027 General Election are now opting to accompany senior politicians in the county during development project launching and commissioning ceremonies.

However, Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh was quick to downplay allegations of his counterparts being in a go-slow, saying quorum hitches are normal in the parliamentary setup.

Swaleh who is also the MCA for Kirimari ward nonetheless cautioned MCAs that the public was keenly watching their conduct, and therefore should always uphold integrity and avoid truancy.

By JOHN MUSEMBI 

Most mornings will start with partly cloudy conditions while the rest of the day will witness sunny intervals,  said Dr Daniel Mbithi,  the County Director of Meteorological Services.  Further, he said that maximum temperature readings will oscillate between 25°C and 35°C in Kitui County.  The lowest temperatures felt are likely to be ranging between 13°C and 21°C for the week between September 22nd and 28th, 2026.

There is also a likelihood of wind blowing at a speed of 25 knots from southern side of the county to south-eastern direction. 

This weather forecast is part of the government's measures put in place to help Kenyans prepare for the predicted El Nino rains which may disrupt various sectors of the economy.