By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

On Mashujaa Day, area Assistant County Commissioner Edward Mwangi called upon Kamuwongo residents to protect the sand resources now being at the mercy of illegal sand cartels minting millions at the expense of the host community. "You must defend this resource and other natural resources in your area. Do not remain passive as cartels and fraudsters cart away your wealth, leaving you in poverty", said ACC Mwangi.

The Assistant County Commissioner was speaking during Mashujaa Day Celebrations held at Kamuwongo Modern Market.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

Kamuwongo Assistant County Commissioner, Edward Mwangi said the payments should motivate the elders to work harder, deliver tangible results and strengthen their contribution to grassroots administration. Mwangi, who described the elders as “village managers”, said the government expected them to justify the financial support by enhancing service delivery and demonstrating greater responsibility in their communities.

The newly posted administrator was speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kamuwongo Modern Market on Tuesday. He urged the elders to recognise themselves as an integral part of the national government rather than peripheral actors in the administration system.

“There should be no ambiguity about the government’s position on your role as village managers. You are part of the government, not an appendage. “That is part of the reasons the government has decided to provide you with stipends,” Mwangi told the elders.

He said their responsibilities mirrored those of chiefs and assistant chiefs, albeit at a lower administrative level, making them indispensable representatives of the national government at the grassroots. "The job description of village managers mirrors that of chiefs and their assistants, but at the lowest level. You are indispensable representatives of the national government at the grassroots,” he said.

Mwangi challenged the elders to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing challenges within their communities, warning them against turning a blind eye to wrongdoing or becoming complicit in activities that undermine law and order. “You have special responsibility and a serious role to play in society. You must not look the other way when things are going wrong or become complicit,” he said.

He urged the elders to intensify security surveillance, promote peaceful coexistence, help eradicate illicit brews and drug abuse, and ensure all school-age children attend school.

Mwangi also underscored their responsibility to resolve community disputes through dialogue and reconciliation, saying they should take the lead in restoring harmony whenever conflicts arise. "It is your responsibility to restore peace among community members in the event of conflicts by encouraging dialogue and reconciliation among disputants,” he said.

On education and child protection, the administrator called on the village elders to help curb child and teenage pregnancies among schoolgirls. He urged them to work closely with parents and other community stakeholders to ensure that girls who become pregnant are supported to resume their education after childbirth. “In cases where girls fall pregnant, you should seek solutions, including encouraging parents to take them back to school to continue with their studies after giving birth,” Mwangi said.

By MWINGI TIMES TEAM 

Kitui Women for Peace and Security Organization director Patricia Mutemi said residents from the three counties will be involved in finding a lasting peace. "We are ultimately seeking to find a gender sensitive solution to the frequent skirmishes that often arise from misunderstanding over pasture between camel herders from Garissa and Tana River who encroach  into Kitui to graze their animals" said Mutemi.

Last Friday,  the Kitui women group organised a stakeholders' peace dialogue with the Garissa County Women Movement at Madogo in Tana River county. "We are fully aware that it is women and children who bear the biggest brunt and consequences of the killings that often occur when herders from Garissa and Tana River encroach into Kitui County", said Director Patricia Mutemi.

During the meeting,  both national and county governments officers recommended amicable ways to solve the ensuing conflicts. This is important as the country goes into general elections next year. 

Mr Elijah Amoyo who is the Deputy County Commissioner for Bangale in Tana River county represented the county commissioner. He admitted that occasionally lives are lost due to clashes along the Kitui-Tana River border. "When camels stray in farms in Kitui, they react by shooting them with bows and arrows. In return, the herders who own illegal arms retaliate opening fire leading to mindless deaths", said the Bangale DCC.

Amoyo called upon residents from the three neighbouring counties to embrace dialogue over fighting for grazing fields.

"We must embrace the fact that we are all Kenyans and neighbours. We have to live in peace and seek dialogue whenever there is a dispute. There is no need to kill one another" he said.

Mwingi Central Deputy County Commissioner Catherine Njoroge who represented the county commissioner at the Friday meeting hailed the women leaders from Kitui, Garissa and Tana River counties for leading efforts in finding peace. "These women-led peace dialogue forums are essential in sustaining the prevailing peace. They should continue to ensure that the triggers that make people go into conflicts are preemptied", said DCC Njoroge.

The Chapa Dimba alumna will join Haymana Spor Kulübü for the remainder of the season, with an option to extend her contract.

The 21-year-old, who previously featured for Barcelona Ladies SC in Laikipia before joining Kayole Starlets in February 2026, left for Turkey on Monday 20th October to join her new club. Her contract runs from October 2026 to the end of the season in May 2027, with an option for an extension.

Nasambu joined Kayole Starlets alongside Barcelona Ladies SC teammates Sonia Wambui and Naomi Nanjala. Since joining the Starlets, she has played a key role in helping the team finish sixth in the Kenyan Women’s Premier League last season.

“This is a dream come true. It has always been my prayer to play outside the country, and today, I am heading to Turkey. I believe this is just the beginning, and I will do my best to go even further. Safaricom taking me to Spain through Chapa Dimba opened the door to international opportunities, and I cannot thank them enough. I am also grateful to Barcelona Ladies SC and Kayole Starlets for believing in me and giving me a platform to showcase my talent,” said Nasambu.

At Haymana Spor Kulübü, Nasambu will reunite with her former Kayole Starlets teammates Lavin Achola and Euphrasier Shilwatso, who joined the Turkish club in August.

Nasambu first rose to prominence during the fourth season of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament, where she represented Barcelona Ladies SC and emerged as the competition’s top scorer, helping her team qualify for the national finals in Kisumu.

Her performances at the regional and national finals earned her a place in the Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars team that travelled to Huesca, Spain, in 2025 for a week-long training camp. While in Spain, she also earned an opportunity to train with Huesca’s women’s first team after impressing during friendly matches played as part of the tour.

Born and raised in Sikhendu, Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, Nasambu developed her football career at Barcelona Ladies SC in Laikipia under the guidance of coach Emman Wafula Gullit before moving to Kayole Starlets, where she continued to develop her skills and showcase her talent.

“Calta is one of the most talented players at Kayole Starlets. The way she controls and possesses the ball clearly shows that she has a bright future ahead of her. As a club, we are happy that she has earned the opportunity to join Turkish women’s football club Haymana Spor Kulübü for the remainder of the season. I wish her all the best as she takes this important step in her career,” said Faith Odit, Team Manager of Kayole Starlets.

Safaricom Chapa Dimba is a nationwide football tournament targeting young people aged 14 to 17. The initiative provides young footballers with a platform to showcase their talent, compete at a high level, and pursue opportunities both on and off the pitch. Through the tournament, talented players gain exposure, access to professional development opportunities, and pathways to advance their football careers.

By JOHN MUSEMBI 

The forecast adds that across all the 40 wards in Kitui county, sunny intervals have been forecast to last throughout the day in the next seven days. 

However, it furthers says, morning rains as well as afternoon and night showers may be experienced in some parts of the county towards the end of the forecast period.

As indicated above, with sunny intervals being expected to last for a week, it is no doubt that this week has been described by the weatherman to be warmer than average. The maximum temperature range is forecast to be between 23°C and 37°C while the minimum temperatures readings are likely to range from 15°C and 24°C.

There will be strong winds likely to blow intermittently in some parts of Kitui county with speeds being forecast to be more than 25knots or over 12.86m/s.