By MWINGI TIMES TEAM 

Sen Wambua challenged Health CS, Aden Duale, bestow on himself the responsibility of  regularly briefing and updating the country on the public health situation. "We want proper daily coordinated updates about Ebola", said the Senate  Deputy Minority Leader at Kabati Town, Kitui West constituency.

The Kitui Senator who has  declared his intention to vie for the Kitui Governor seat in 2027, vowed to tackle the issue of perennial camel invasions in the county. While clarifying that he had no issue with the Somali community who largely keep camels, he said camel herding is a situation that needs both county and national government  intervention. 

"When I will be elected Governor in Kitui County, no camel will be seen in Kitui County. I have nothing against Somalis as my best friend in the Senate is Ali Roba, the former Governor of Mandera County. But I will not equate the lives of my people in Kitui with those of camels", vowed Senator Wambua. 

On the recent groundbreaking of the launch of the Dangote Oil Refinery in Lamu County,  Senator  Wambua took issue with what he described as lies and lack of public participation  on the mega project. "Telling us it (the oil refinery) will employ 60,000 people is a white lie because the Lamu one is not the biggest refinery in the world. The biggest refinery in the world employs 7000 people. Besides, let's have it be opened", he said. 

The Wiper Patriotic Front Senator who is also a close ally of the party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka demanded that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote should however publish the contract details of oil refinery. He also lamented that there was little public participation yet the law and the constitution demands the same to be done.

The Senator took issue with President William Ruto's message about Ngaaie limestone mining.  Ngaaie is in Mwingi North constituency,  Kitui county. 

"I heard that the president said next month a refinery will be opened in Ngaaie. As the representative of the people,  I do not know the investor."

Further, he termed illegal sand harvesting in Kitui County as destruction of the environment questioning why the illegal sand harvesters don't allegedly pay cess to the County Government of Kitui.

He vowed to operationalize the moriband Kitui County sand harvesting and management law to regulate the industry once elected governor on August 10th, 2027.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

NG-CDF Chairperson David Musyoki handed over the bus to the school on Friday, drawing jubilant celebrations from students who broke into exuberant dancing at the sight of the yellow vehicle. The school principal, David Murithi, school patron Munyoki Kathuo, Mumoni Sub-County Director of Education Osman Omar, teachers and parents were at hand to receive the bus.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Musyoki said the donation was a fulfilment of the MP’s promise to reward the school for its impressive performance in the 2025 KCSE examinations. He said Nzengu had been particularly impressed by the school’s results and believed that providing it with a bus would further motivate students and help sustain its academic excellence. “The school impressed our MP by putting the constituency not only on the county map but also on the national map in terms of performance in national examinations,” Musyoki said.

Kaundu Senior School emerged as Kitui County’s leader in the number of candidates qualifying for direct university admission, outperforming established institutions, including Kitui School. Of the 154 candidates who sat the 2025 KCSE examinations at Kaundu, 152 attained the minimum qualifications for direct university admission, while the remaining two achieved grades that would enable them to pursue courses at tertiary institutions.

The school posted a mean score of 8.6, surpassing its target of 8.0 despite challenges that included inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages and limited student accommodation.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Murithi described the bus as a major morale booster that would motivate learners to aim even higher in this year’s KCSE examinations. He expressed optimism that the school would raise its mean score to 9.0 in the 2026 examinations, building on its impressive performance in the previous year.

Kathuo described the donation as a great honour for the growing institution, pledging that the school community would work hard to sustain and improve its academic standards.

He also announced plans to introduce aviation and marine studies, saying the initiative was aimed at broadening students’ academic opportunities and preparing them for careers in specialised fields. The school’s strong KCSE performance has strengthened its position as one of the region’s emerging academic giants with the bus expected to support school activities and further boost students' morale.

By EMMAH KIHIU

And the student who appears to be coping may be quietly reaching a breaking point.

Behind closed hostel doors, as most students are asleep,a different kind of struggle begins for some students. Some stare at their phones all night ,other lie awake worrying about the following day or problems they cannot bring themselves to discuss with anyone. 

To a passerby, they may look like ordinary university students attending lectures, laughing with friends and posting pictures and funny quotes online, but beneath the smiles ,some are fighting battles that nobody sees.

University is often described as a period of freedom, discovery and new opportunities, but with academic pressure, financial difficulties and relationship problems, emotional distress and depression arise.

Most carry the distress alone with fear that if they speak out nobody would understand them better. Stacy, a fourth year student battling depression recalls, "I hadn't slept more than two weeks. My heart was racing constantly and I felt this crushing weight in my chest.

CATs had began, exams were approaching, my fees was unpaid ,I had no gatepass meaning I couldn't access the school. 

There was no hope. Every time I thought about  asking for help, I froze. I thought everyone else was managing and if I break it means I am weak or simply don't fit here,so I kept quiet."

Many students, despite the mounting challenges, do not seek help. For some, admitting that they are struggling is viewed as a sign of weakness. Some fear being judged by friends and family members but they do not realise that it's causing a damage in their mental health.

They may describe themselves as simply being tired ,stressed or sleepy and continue pushing through the problem until it becomes more difficult to manage. The silence carry a more serious consequence.

Students needs to understand that seeking help is not a sign of failure. A simple statement like "I am not okay "can be the beginning of getting support. 

Most of the universities have guidance and counselling programmes that are accessible by all students and are confidential. Friends should play an important role by noticing when someone begins withdrawing or behave differently. Lecturers can create an environment where students feel comfortable discussing difficulties without fear of humiliation. 

Seeking psychological support should be viewed same as treating a physical injury. Until the society and institutions prioritize wellbeing alongside academic achievement, the silent struggle inside the hostels and lecture halls will continue to demand our attention. 

 

As universities prepare students for careers and professional life, they must also help them develop the support system and coping skills needed to face emotional challenges. Students should be encouraged to seek help and see asking for help as strength rather than weakness.

Some times the student who needs help most is the one who looks like they need it the least.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

He was speaking during a retreat for Kitui County Executive and Kitui County Assembly members. It was attended by the County Assembly of Kitui Speaker Kevin Kinengo and other legislative officials at a Mombasa hotel during which  the leaders reviewed the achievements of Governor Julius Malombe's administration now in its second and final term. 

"Our own-source revenue increased from Sh361 million in FY 2021/2022 to Sh1.2 billion in FY 2025/2026, representing approximately 170% growth ",  the joint communique read. 

It was signed by Governor Dr Julius Malombe and Speaker Kevin Katisya and was read to the media by the former.

Governor Malombe said that his County administration was able to support service delivery and roll out development projects better due to increased revenue collection. The county has also substantially reduced pending bills from Sh2.56 billion in 2022/2023  to Sh449 million in FY 2026/2027. This is an 82.5% drop in the pile of pending bills.

4053 projects were implemented in Governor Malombe's second term in office. The implemented projects are spread across all 40 wards and 247 villages. The biggest number of implemented projects were roads and infrastructure standing at 818. Water projects were in the second position at 739 while health projects implemented since 2022 are 330.

One of the signature projects done by Governor Malombe's administration in this ending election cycle is the Kangu Kangu Water Supply Project. World Vision Kenya was the devolved unit's partner in realising this important project.

Kangu Kangu Water Supply Project covers 224 kilometres with pipeline network in order to serve around 100,000 residents. It has 52 water kiosks to achieve this service delivery of an essential commodity. 

In the health sector, the county has slightly increased the number of public health facilities from 307 to 341 since the 2022 general elections. It also expanded maternity units from 81 to186. "Thirty-nine of our 40 wards now have Level 3 facilities. Consequently,  the average distance to health facilities has reduced from 10.2 kilometres 6.8 kilometres, bringing services closer to communities", he said.

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

The experts were speaking during a free eye medical camp held in Embu town to commemorate World Sight Day, with the exercise specifically targeting drivers.

The initiative brought together eye health professionals who screened drivers and members of the public for various eye-related conditions, including problems that could affect their ability to see clearly while driving.

Daniel Kige, the Vision Impact Coordinator in Embu County, said regular eye examinations among drivers were necessary because they play a critical role in ensuring the safety of passengers and other road users.

Kige said drivers require good vision to identify road signs, pedestrians, other vehicles and potential hazards, especially when driving at night or under difficult weather conditions.

He expressed concern that a majority of drivers rarely seek eye check-ups unless they begin experiencing serious problems with their vision.

He urged motorists to make eye examinations part of their routine health checks, saying early detection of vision problems could help prevent accidents and improve road safety.

Kige also called on drivers experiencing symptoms such as double vision, blurred vision or difficulty seeing clearly to seek medical attention rather than continuing to drive without treatment.

Pauline Nginyo, the County Health Promotion Officer, said the free eye screening was part of the county government's strategy to address eye-related problems among residents.

Nginyo encouraged residents of Embu County to undergo regular eye examinations, noting that many eye conditions can be detected and managed early when people seek medical attention.

She further urged members of the public not to wait until they experience severe vision problems before visiting health facilities for eye check-ups.

John Mwaniki, a driver who benefited from the free screening, welcomed the initiative, saying motorists often face eye-related challenges due to the nature of their work and the long hours they spend on the road.

Mwaniki called for more eye screening programmes targeting drivers, saying regular check-ups would help motorists maintain good vision and ultimately contribute to safer roads in Embu and beyond.