By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

Led by New Life Pentecostal Church Bishop Godfrey Oburo, the church leaders said they will intensify peace efforts across the constituency, urging residents to reconcile, embrace dialogue and avoid allowing political differences to permanently divide their communities.

The initiative seeks to address tensions and differences witnessed during the by-election, with the church warning that unresolved political disagreements could deepen as politicians and their supporters begin positioning themselves for the next General Election.

Bishop Oburo said peace should begin with individuals and communities, urging residents to embrace dialogue whenever political differences arise rather than allowing disagreements to degenerate into hostility.

The church leaders said political contests are temporary, but the relationships among neighbours, friends and families are permanent, calling on residents to separate political competition from their day-to-day relationships.

Church leader Agnes Mwaniki urged residents not to hate one another because of political affiliations, noting that political candidacies are temporary while the people of Mbeere North will continue living together long after elections are over.

Mwaniki further cautioned residents against propaganda and inflammatory political messages that could fuel divisions as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election, urging voters to critically assess information before sharing it.

The church said it will continue traversing different parts of Embu County to preach peace and cohesion, with leaders maintaining that early intervention is key to preventing political differences from escalating during the electioneering period.

Evurore Ward MCA Duncan Muratia welcomed the initiative, saying the church has a critical role to play in helping residents heal from political divisions and fostering peaceful coexistence ahead of the next election.

Muratia called on both political leaders and residents to support the peace campaign while warning politicians against using young people to advance personal political interests or disrupt peace. He urged leaders to compete for votes peacefully and allow residents to make their political choices without intimidation or division.

By JOHN MUSEMBI 

In terms of cloud cover,   expect mornings to be partially cloudy while the rest of the day will have sunny intervals. 

Just like in the past, strong winds are expected to blow across some parts of the county at a speed of up to 25 knots. They are expected to blow from southern side to the south eastern direction.

By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

The development, which comprises 166 housing units, includes social housing units with one- and two-roomed houses, as well as affordable units featuring one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The project is expected to provide residents with access to decent and affordable housing, while creating employment and stimulating economic activity in Kitui town.

Speaking to the press during a site visit by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders, the project's site manager, David Malai, said construction was progressing well and that the project would be completed before the end of the year.

Malai said supporting infrastructure, including a power house, garbage collection facilities and an underground water tank, was also being put in place to support the housing development.“At the moment, this building has reached 75 per cent completion and we are hopeful that by the end of this year we will have completed it. The other amenities needed to support the project are also ready,” Malai said.

The UDA leaders, led by Kitui South MP Rachel Kaki Nyamai, urged residents to support Government development programmes and take advantage of projects being implemented in the county.

Dr Nyamai said the National Government had not forgotten Kitui County in the implementation of its affordable housing programme.“More than 200,000 affordable housing units have been built across Kenya. The President never forgot Kitui County and made an effort to establish this project of more than 160 units,” she said.

She urged residents not to be swayed by politicians opposed to the Kenya Kwanza administration, arguing that development projects should be supported for the benefit of local communities.“I urge the people of Kitui County not to be confused by politicians who claim they will support the people when they are elected. We do not know when that opportunity will come. 

Let us take advantage of the opportunities and projects we have from the national Government and protect them,” Dr Nyamai said.»

Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) Commissioner Ben Muasya said the project had contributed significantly to employment creation and increased circulation of money within Kitui town.

Muasya said more than 200 young people from Kitui County had secured employment opportunities during the construction period, while local businesses had benefited from the supply of construction materials and other services.“We should not just look at this as a building. It is a demonstration of how job opportunities are created. More than 200 youths from this county have been working on the project, while businesses have also benefited from the supplies they provide,” Muasya said.

He estimated that about Sh500 million spent on the project would remain within the local economy through wages, procurement of construction materials and other services.

State House Director of Coordination Boniface Musambi said construction had progressed despite challenges posed by the rainy season earlier in the year, saying the Government was committed to ensuring the project was completed before the end of December.

He also encouraged residents of Kitui Central to visit the site and familiarise themselves with the housing units and the process of acquiring them once they become available.

The project forms part of the Government's wider affordable housing programme aimed at increasing access to decent housing while creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

The decline in school attendance and increasing cases of learners dropping out of education have left some schools with classrooms and other infrastructure but very few, or no, learners and teachers.

Speaking in Kitui town, the County Director of Education, Dr Khalif Hassan, urged parents, education stakeholders and community leaders to ensure all children who have dropped out of school return and continue with their education.

Dr Khalif said low enrolment was also affecting government capitation, with schools receiving allocations based on the number of learners enrolled. He warned that some institutions were receiving insufficient funding to meet their operational needs.

He cited Mbusyani and Munyange secondary schools in Kitui Central, as well as Manooni and Soma primary schools in Katulani Sub-county, as some of the institutions affected by the enrolment crisis.“There are many schools in Kitui that are at risk of getting shut down because of poor enrolment. One of them is Mbusyani Secondary School, where there are no learners. We want to withdraw the principal and send them to another school. We have literally closed Munyange Secondary School and removed the principal and teachers. Manooni and Soma primary schools in Katulani Sub-county have already been closed for lack of learners,” Dr Khalif said.

He called on parents and the wider community to prioritise education and encourage children who have left school to return, warning that continued low enrolment could lead to wastage of public resources invested in school infrastructure.

Dr Khalif also called on school heads and Boards of Management (BOMs) to strengthen security in learning institutions following an incident in which a school dormitory in Kitui Central was reportedly burnt. “We request school heads and BOMs to strengthen security in schools. We are still investigating an incident where a school dormitory in Kitui Central was burnt by a villager, so there is a need for proper security,” he said.

He further urged schools to implement new guidelines issued by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba on learning hours. Under the guidelines, classroom learning should begin at around 8am and end between 3.30pm and 4.45pm, allowing learners sufficient time to participate in co-curricular activities such as clubs and games. “As schools have resumed, we request Boards of Management and heads of institutions to follow the new guidelines on learning hours. We want learning to start at around 8am and end between 3.30pm and 4.45pm to give learners time to participate in co-curricular activities,” Dr Khalif said.

He also encouraged day and boarding schools to introduce feeding programmes, particularly for day scholars, to improve attendance and learner retention. “I request school administrations, Boards of Management, parents and teachers in both comprehensive and senior secondary schools to provide meals for day scholars, even if it is once a day, to avoid absenteeism and help retain learners in school this term,” he said.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

CECM Kilonzo issued a statement to the press from Kitui County County headquarters on Wednesday explaining that Governor Julius Malombe's goverment submitted this financial year's budget estimates to the County Assembly on April 30, 2026.

The Assembly delayed approving the budget estimates until July 29. This was way past the required deadline of June 30.

The Finance CECM further said that after the County Assembly of Kitui approved the budget, it was submitted to the the office of Controller of Budget on August to ensure it was cleared and subsequently uploaded  to the IFMIS system.

The COB occassioned another delay as she sought clarification on several issues that emerged during the reviewing of the Kitui County budget. 

"On review of the budget,  the CoB wrote to the CEC for Finance on Friday, August 21 2026, 11 days late,  seeking clarification on a number of issues ", said CECM Kilonzo.  

He further said the Government of Kitui responded to the queries from CoB and expects it to approve and clear the budget for uploading onto IFMIS by September 1, 2026.

It is only after uploading and approval of the county budget onto IFMIS that the devolved unit will pay salaries and other financial obligations. 

Kilonzo assured staff that the county prioritises payment of their salaries as they are the most important resource whose welfare remains of utmost importance. He called upon them to stay patient as the budget and financial matters are concluded.