Follow Us on Social Media

LATEST POSTS

Kamuwongo Exporters Stuck with Goats as Iran War Rages

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

On Tuesday,  livestock farmers were taken aback by a sudden drop in prices of their animals in Kamuwongo Market,  Mwingi North sub county.
Market goers with their goats at the Kamuwongo Market in Kitui county on Tuesday. |MWINGI TIMES 

The prices plummeted for more than 25%. This affected all sizes of goats. Traders told MWINGI TIMES that the reason for this drop was disruption of export market as the Iranian forces battle United States and Israel following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. 

Katoi Muthengi, a trader said, "buyers who usually purchase our animals in bulk say the conflict has affected livestock exports. They are no longer shipping animals to the Middle East which has been our main market".

Mr Katoi said as a result, most international traders shied away from buying goats for export leaving the void to local butchery attendants and brokers.

He estimated the escalating Middle East war was likely to worsen our earnings from the livestock trade which supports millions of families.  "Because of the escalating conflict,  they were unable to export animals they bought last week. With their stock unsold, it makes little sense for them to return today and buy more", he elaborated.

A big billy that went for KSh20000 sold at about KSh15000.  A nanny that went for KSh17000 retailed at KSh12000. That trend swept across all other sizes for both he and she goats.

It remains to be seen how long the Iran war will last and its eventual toll on Kenyan traders affected by a conflict that is not their own.

Ongoing Rainfall to Decrease as Week Progresses, Met

By JOHN MUSEMBI 

The latest weekly weather forecast indicates that rainfall is expected to continue in several parts of Kitui county though the amount is likely to decrease as the forecast period progresses.  The Kenya Meteorological Department further notes that the eastern and northern sectors will receive less rainfall compared to other parts of the county. "The eastern and northern sectors of Kitui will receive less rainfall compared to the rest of the county", said Kitui County Director of Meteorological Services Dr Daniel Mbithi.
Expected rainfall outlook for Kitui county for March 24-30, 2026. | Kenya Meteorological Department

As per temperature ranges,  the weatherman estimates that the maximum temperature will vary from a low of 23°C to a high of 31°C. The minimum temperature,  on the other hand, will be between 16°C and 22°C.

For the most parts of Kitui county,  it is expected that strong north easterly to south easterly winds will blow across the landscape at a speed of up to 25knots or 12.86m/s.

The next month of April is expected to be the peak of March-April-May rainfall season where there will be isolated heavy rainfall. "Isolated heavy rainfall events are likely to occur in some parts of the county", the report reads in part.

May will mark the end of the MAM rainfall season.

EACC Detectives Raid Embu County Offices Over KSh95Million Conflict of Interest Probe

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

Anti-corruption detectives today raided Embu County Government headquarters as investigations intensified into alleged conflict of interest and procurement irregularities involving county officials and Members of the County Assembly.
EACC detectives perusing files with help of county officials in Embu County Government headquarters.|MWINGI TIMES 

The operation was led by EACC Central Region Manager Japhath Baithalu, who headed a team of officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission during the exercise conducted on Tuesday.

Speaking to the press outside the county offices, Baithalu confirmed that the raid was part of ongoing investigations into suspected abuse of office and irregular awarding of county tenders.

He said the Commission is probing allegations that some public officials used private companies linked to them to secure lucrative contracts from the County Government of Embu.

According to Baithalu, the investigations centre on three Members of the County Assembly and several county officials suspected of secretly benefiting from tenders issued by the county government.

He noted that preliminary findings indicate the officials allegedly used at least eleven companies in which they held beneficial interests to obtain the contracts.

Baithalu said investigators believe the companies were used as conduits to win public tenders, raising serious concerns about conflict of interest and abuse of office.

He added that early findings show the officials received approximately KSh 95 million through the alleged irregularly awarded contracts.

During the raid, EACC detectives spent hours inside the county headquarters collecting documents and reviewing procurement records believed to be key to the ongoing probe.

Baithalu told journalists that officers were also examining payment records and contract files to establish how the companies were awarded the tenders and whether procurement laws were violated.

He further revealed that investigators are looking into alleged procurement irregularities linked to the extension of a contract for a Revenue Collection System.

The EACC Central Region Manager said the county government is suspected of extending the contract without following the required procurement procedures, which may have violated public finance management regulations.

Baithalu maintained that investigations are ongoing and assured the public that appropriate action will be taken once the inquiry is completed.

Living on the Edge of Uncertainty: Growing up with a Father's Epilepsy

By DAMACKLINE ONDICHO

Imagine growing up in a family where every ordinary day carries the possibility of an emergency. Where a simple walk to work, a climb up a tree or a drive down the road can suddenly turn into a hospital visit. For my family, that has been our reality for years.

My father’s epilepsy has taught me the determination to rise up again after I fall,  though it's uncertain.  |ILLUSTRATION 

My father has lived with epilepsy for long. It is a condition that has shaped not only his life, but also the lives of everyone around him. Epilepsy does not simply bring epileptic attacks, it brings fear, uncertainty and at times deep emotional pain. For us, it has meant hospital corridors, sleepless nights and learning responsibility earlier than most children do.

My father is a mechanic, owning a small spare parts store and he is the sole breadwinner of our family. He is a husband and a father of three , myself and my two younger sisters. I am now at university, my second sister is in Form Three, and the youngest is in Grade Nine. But our journey to this point has not been easy.

There were times when my father would be involved in accidents caused by sudden epileptic attacks. Often, he would not even remember what had happened. When he got injured, he would be admitted to hospital and my mother would have to stay by his side. That left us at home alone, learning to cook, clean and look after one another in ways children are rarely prepared for.

I still remember the August holiday of 2023. My father climbed a tree to pick avocados. Moments later, he fell. He broke his leg so badly that doctors had to insert a metal plate during surgery. For weeks, our mother remained in hospital with him. At home, we tried to be brave. But spending two weeks without seeing either parent is not something any child easily forgets.

Epilepsy does not only attack the body, it also attacks the spirit. My father has been a patient in many hospitals not because the disease worsened, but because of injuries sustained during epileptic attacks. Falling anywhere, anytime, without warning, is a heavy burden to carry.

There were moments when he would lose hope and question his own worth. “What is the importance of living when you live with pain every day?” he once asked. After going for a casual job and failing to reach his destination because he collapsed on the way, he began to doubt himself even more. At times he would ask, “How can I be a useful and hardworking person like this?”

Even when we tried to comfort him, the frustration lingered. After his surgery, he began taking phenobarbital to control the epileptic attacks. The medication helped, but recovery was slow. Staying at home for months, unable to work, made him short-tempered and withdrawn. It was difficult for him to accept that his body could no longer function the way it once had.

Six months later, he started walking again slowly, with a limp, using crutches. But he was smiling. It was not the walk of a defeated man. It was the walk of someone who had survived.

Gradually, life began to stabilize. My father learned to accept himself as a person living with epilepsy. He became more careful and more disciplined with his medication. Though the disease remains unpredictable, he has developed resilience. And as a family, so have we.

Growing up in such circumstances has taught me lessons no textbook could ever provide. I have learned responsibility, patience and empathy. I have learned that strength is not measured by physical ability alone, but by the courage to continue despite limitations.

Epilepsy is often misunderstood in our communities. Some see it as a curse or something to fear. But it is a medical condition that requires understanding, proper treatment and emotional support. Families living with it need encouragement, not discrimination.

Today, as a university student, I carry my father’s story with pride. His journey has shaped my determination to succeed. Where I am today is not just for me , it is for the man who kept standing up after every fall.

Living with epilepsy in the family means living with uncertainty. But it also means living with courage. Sometimes courage is simply choosing to rise again, even when you know you might fall.

The Writer is a Second Year BA Journalism and Mass Communication Student at Chuka University 

From Lecture Halls to Mitumba Racks: The Quiet Hustle Helping Campus Students Survive

By VICTORIA JUMA 

As the cost of living rises and financial support becomes increasingly uncertain, many Kenyan university students are turning to the thriving second-hand clothing trade to sustain themselves while pursuing their education.

A thrift shop

At dawn in Nairobi’s bustling Gikomba Market, sellers navigate the narrow pathways stacked with tightly wrapped bales of second-hand clothes. The air fills with the sounds of bargaining, rustling fabrics and the occasional cheer when someone discovers a fashionable gem hidden among the piles.

Among the seasoned traders are an unexpected group of entrepreneurs and university students. In a few hours, many of them will be seated in lecture halls attending classes. But before lectures begin, they are already working, selecting jackets, jeans and shirts they hope to resell later in the day to fellow students on campus.

Across universities in Kenya, selling mitumba imported second-hand clothing has quietly become one of the most common side hustles among students trying to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Turning Necessity into Opportunity

University life often comes with financial pressure. Rent, food, transport and learning materials can quickly stretch students' budgets beyond their limits.

Even for students who receive financial support from parents or government loans, delays or limited funding often leave them searching for additional sources of income.

According to research by the global survey firm GeoPoll, about 71% of Kenyan youth engage in side hustles to supplement their income, highlighting a growing culture of entrepreneurship among young people aged between 18 and 35.

Within universities, this trend has become increasingly visible. Students are running small businesses ranging from photography and baking to online freelancing. Yet mitumba trading stands out because of its accessibility.

With just a few thousand shillings, a student can buy a small batch of clothes and sell them at a profit. For many young traders, identifying fashionable pieces such as oversized jackets, vintage denim and branded sportswear has become part of the business.

“Students want to look stylish but most cannot afford clothes from high-end fashion stores,” says Brian Mwangi, a third-year university student who sells thrifted jackets and hoodies on campus. “Mitumba allows them to dress stylishly without spending too much.”

Global conversations about sustainable fashion have also contributed to the popularity of thrift clothing, making second-hand outfits not only affordable but also socially acceptable among young consumers.

A Student’s Hustle Story

For Faith Mutua, a second-year communication student, selling mitumba began as a simple way to solve a pressing problem that is rent.

“I realised the money I was getting from home could not cover all the expenses,” Mutua says. “After paying rent and buying food, there was almost nothing left.”

Mutua started small, buying a few trendy ladies tops and dresses from  the Chuka local  market using KSh2,000 she had saved. She washed and ironed them before posting photos on her WhatsApp status. Within a few days, most of the clothes were sold.

Encouraged by the demand, she later began sourcing more fashionable pieces from Nairobi’s Gikomba Market, one of the country’s largest hubs for second-hand clothing.

Today, she sells jackets, vintage jeans and hoodies to fellow students, sometimes making enough profit to cover all her expenses. “Balancing business and school is not always easy,” she says. “But the hustle helps me avoid constantly asking my parents for money.”

Beyond the financial benefits, Mutua says the experience has also taught her practical skills such as budgeting, marketing and customer relations, lessons she believes will remain valuable long after graduation.

Balancing Books and Business

Despite its advantages, running a small business while pursuing a university degree is challenging. Student traders often divide their time between attending lectures, sourcing new stock and marketing their products.

A typical day might involve morning classes, afternoon trips to markets and evening hours spent advertising clothes online or delivering orders around campus. The balancing act becomes even more challenging during exam periods when academic responsibilities increase.Yet many students say the hustle is worth the effort.

Apart from generating income, running a small business equips them with practical skills such as negotiation, budgeting and time management. “These are things you don’t learn in class,” says Mwangi. “But they help you understand how business really works.”

The popularity of mitumba trading among students also reflects the broader importance of the second-hand clothing industry in Kenya. According to research by the Institute of Economic Affairs, the sector supports more than two million livelihoods in the country, making it one of the largest sources of employment in the informal economy.

At the same time, youth unemployment remains a major challenge. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that young people aged between 18 and 34 make up a significant share of the country’s unemployed population, pushing many to explore entrepreneurial paths.

As evening settles over university campuses, a few students remain outside hostels arranging thrifted jackets and dresses neatly on small racks, hoping to make one more sale before the day ends. Their stalls may be modest, but the determination behind them is unmistakable.

Moving between lecture halls during the day and mitumba racks in the evening, these students represent a generation navigating economic uncertainty with creativity and resilience proving that sometimes the path to opportunity begins with something as simple as a second-hand shirt.

The Writer is a Second Year BA Journalism and Mass Communication,  Chuka University 

Politics

POLITICS

Business

BUSINESS

Entertainment

ENTERTAINMENT

Science

SCIENCE

Sports

SPORTS

Fashion

FASHION

TECH, ART & INNOVATION

TECH ART & INNOVATION

LIFESTYLE & HEALTH

LIFESTYLE & HEALTH
© all rights reserved
made with by Skitsoft