Dr Kasalu said prolonged food shortages in Kitui County have left many pupils attending school on empty stomachs, a situation she described as detrimental to concentration, attendance and overall academic performance.

Kitui is among Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), where rainfall patterns remain highly unreliable, often resulting in poor harvests and chronic food insecurity.

Speaking to journalists in Kitui town on February 3, 2026 , shortly after launching a National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) full scholarship programme for Grade 10 to 12 learners, the Woman Representative said the hunger crisis has reached alarming levels.“Many families in Kitui County are struggling to put food on the table due to prolonged drought. Learners are expected to attend school daily, yet many of them do so without a meal, which puts their education at serious risk,” Dr Kasalu said.

She cited that the last rainy season, which was characterised by insufficient and poorly distributed rainfall across large parts of the county, leaving farms unproductive and households without adequate food supplies. According to Dr Kasalu, the situation has forced families to make difficult choices, often prioritising basic survival over education-related needs.“Kitui lies on the drought belt, and without deliberate intervention, life becomes extremely difficult for residents. Learners cannot be expected to perform well academically when hunger has become a daily reality,” she added.

Dr Kasalu noted that her office has already taken steps to seek support from development partners and humanitarian organisations. She revealed that she has written formal letters to several organisations appealing for food assistance, particularly targeting schools in the most affected and remote areas.“Through the Office of the Woman Representative in Kitui, I have reached out to organisations that can support the supply of food to schools. This will help learners stay in class and improve their learning experience, while also supporting vulnerable women and elderly people who struggle to access meals,” she explained.

She stressed that school feeding programmes have previously played a critical role in improving school attendance and retention, especially in drought-prone regions. Reintroducing them, she said, would provide immediate relief while long-term solutions to food insecurity are pursued.

Dr Kasalu called on organisations that have received her appeals to act with urgency, warning that delays could worsen the situation for thousands of households.“Hunger requires a rescue mission. Concentrating in class with an empty stomach is an almost impossible task. We urge both levels of government and our partners to act swiftly and restore school feeding programmes to protect the future of our children,” she said.

The inferno, whose cause is yet to be established, broke out at around 9pm on Monday, February 2, 2026, and spread rapidly through the area, which is largely occupied by furniture workshops, timber yards, and showrooms.

Within a short time, raging flames engulfed business premises, destroying finished furniture, raw materials, machinery, and tools, as traders watched helplessly while years of hard work and investment went up in smoke.

The scene was one of shock and despair, with some traders visibly shaken by the scale of destruction, while others stood in silence, unable to salvage anything from their burning businesses.

Peter Mwololo, the chairman of Shauri United Association, said about 300 traders had been affected by the inferno, noting that most of them depend entirely on the furniture business as their only source of livelihood.

Mwololo criticized the emergency response, saying the fire brigade that arrived at the scene did not have sufficient water to effectively fight the blaze, and called on the Embu County Government to improve preparedness for such disasters.

“This fire has destroyed livelihoods. About 300 traders have been affected, yet the fire brigade did not have enough water to put out the flames. We need better preparedness and proper equipment to protect our people,” said Mwololo.

Efforts by the Embu County emergency response team were further hampered after the fire engine’s water hose, used to draw and spray water, was reportedly vandalized by unknown individuals, slowing down the firefighting operation.

Joseph Njoka, the Director of Risk Management in Embu County, said the county fire brigade had been swiftly deployed to contain the inferno, but their efforts were frustrated by unruly members of the public. He explained that as firefighters battled the blaze, some individuals turned violent, cutting the fire brigade’s hosepipe with a panga and pelting the team with stones, effectively paralyzing the rescue operation.

“As we were putting out the fire, some people came with a panga, cut off the hosepipe, and started throwing stones at our fire brigade,” Njoka said.

The delay allowed the fire to spread further, causing more destruction before it was eventually brought under control, according to traders who witnessed the operation. Charles Mugambi, the chairman of Embu Business Owners Association, called for a thorough investigation into the incident, noting that fire outbreaks in the area have increased in recent days. “We are deeply concerned because these fire incidents are becoming frequent. Authorities must investigate thoroughly to establish the cause and prevent a repeat of such devastating losses,” Mugambi said.

One of the affected traders, Geoffrey Njeru, said he had invested about KSh2.6 million in his business, including raw materials, machines, and ready-made furniture that he was scheduled to deliver to clients on Tuesday. “I had furniture ready for delivery today, machines, and materials worth about KSh2.6 million. Everything was destroyed by the fire, and I don’t know how I will recover,” Njeru said.

For Titus Waweru, who has operated a furniture business in the Shauri area since the year 2000, the incident was particularly painful, as it marked the second time his business had been destroyed by fire despite having taken a loan from a sacco to rebuild.

“This is the second time fire has brought me down. I secured a loan to put up the business again, and now it has all been reduced to ashes. We are appealing to the government to come to our aid so that we can rise again and rebuild our businesses,” Waweru said.

The Shauri area has previously experienced similar incidents, including a major fire in 2022, raising renewed concerns about fire safety, emergency preparedness, and long-term prevention measures to protect traders and their investments.

He said the school bus for the little known school in Mumoni district will be acquired through the Mwingi North CDF kitty.

"The school has done us proud and since they had requested CDF to provide them with a school bus, their wishes have been answered because sooner than later they will have their own bus,' said the two term MP.

Nzengu was speaking at the Mwingi North CDF headquarters in Kyuso town during an event  that marked the commencement of the distribution of  bursary cheques worth KSh. 65,000 to heads of secondary schools and tertiary institutions in his constituency. About 15,000 needy learners are slated to benefit for the Mwingi North CDF  education bursaries this financial year.

Kaundu Mixed Day and Boarding Secondary school surprised many a folks by emerging from the blues to be ranked position five in the top 2025 KCSE schools in Kitui County. 

Among the 154  KCSE candidates  who sat their examination last year, all but  two qualified for direct university admission after scored grade C+ and above.

The school had the highest number of candidates who qualified for direct university admission in Kitui county. Speaking during the Kyuso bursary event, MP Nzengu said due to the harsh economic times Kenyans were faced with, Secondary school teachers should  not send learners who were unable to pay full school fees home. "I want school heads to understand that parents are hard up financially. They should accept whatever amounts parents can afford and retain students in school. Sending students home for school fees at this time will ruin their future as they will end up as school dropout," said the MP.

He said school heads with high number of learners in his constituency who have issues paying school fees should  approach the CDF for support. "If a school is experiencing fees balances amounting up to KSh. 2 million and we give them KSh 300,000 , is it not good enough  money to keep the school going for some time?" he posed.

The Gai Secondary school principal Peter Mwandikwa praised the MP for perpetually assisting needy students with bursaries via the Mwingi North CDF Kitui every other year. He however said the principals were currently in a catch 22 state after President William Ruto asked Grade 10 learned to go to senior school whether or not they had fees and uniforms.

The Kenya Meteorological Department weather forecast further indicates that the month of February will mostly be sunny and dry across most Wards of Kitui County. However,  occasional rainfall may be felt in high ground areas in the Western and Southern sectors.

The month of March,  on the other hand, is expected to mark the onset of rainfall season over several parts of the county.

The weatherman further anticipates April to be the peak of the March-April-May rainfall season with more widespread and enhanced rainfall distribution.

Ruku said Mt Kenya East comprising Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Isiolo counties, share common development priorities that require a coordinated approach to political participation and national dialogue.

Speaking at Jesus Christ Power of Resurrection Ministries in Isiolo County, the CS said regions that organise around shared interests are better placed to articulate their needs and participate effectively in leadership negotiations and development planning.

“Our focus is on internal cohesion and constructive engagement. Unity allows regions to speak clearly on issues that matter to their people, while remaining part of the larger national conversation,” Ruku said.

He noted that Mt Kenya East has historically played a key role in Mt Kenya politics and continues to contribute to the region’s overall political strength, adding that coordinated decision-making would help safeguard its long-term interests.

Ruku said residents of the region are increasingly keen to make informed and independent political choices that align with their development priorities, while maintaining cooperation with other Mt Kenya regions.

He pointed to the elevation of Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, who hails from Mt Kenya East, as an indication of the region’s growing presence in national leadership.

“As Mt Kenya East, we are committed to working together and engaging responsibly with other regions for the common good,” he said.

On the humanitarian front, Ruku addressed the ongoing drought and food insecurity affecting parts of the country, assuring residents that the government remains committed to ensuring no Kenyan goes hungry.

He said the government has set aside adequate resources for the purchase and distribution of relief food, noting that KSh6 billion has already been spent to support affected households and livestock.

The CS warned against the diversion or misuse of relief supplies, saying firm action would be taken against anyone found undermining the programme.

He also called on development partners, faith-based organisations and other stakeholders to support government efforts, saying collaboration remains critical in addressing food insecurity.

On security, Ruku reiterated the government’s commitment to ending cattle rustling, warning that the practice would no longer be tolerated and urging those involved to abandon the vice.

Leaders accompanying the CS maintained that they will not relent in ensuring Mt Kenya East political identity and interests are safeguarded for benefit of their people.