Kitui County Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani.

During deliberations at a high level meeting held on December 18, 2025 stakeholders acknowledged a worsening trend which needs quick interventions.

The meeting co-chaired by Kitui County Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani and County Commissioner Erastus Mbui was also attended by Kitui county drought coordinator for NDMA Eunice Mutuku, development partners and line ministry staff from both national and county governments. 

The below average rainfall were characterised by false onset in late October leading to poor harvests, a report on the forum says.

As a result,  the County Steering Group came up with recommendations for better livelihoods of Kitui county residents. 

 They included scaling up food and cash assistance, rehabilitating water sources as well as supporting seed, kitchen gardens and small scale irrigation. The county will also enhance livestock diseases surveillance and strengthen nutrition screening and reporting.

Kenya Meteorological Department will play a key role in the drought phase given expected interventions are anchored on technical advice from KMD. Some of its recommendations include planting drought tolerant crops and aligning crop growing period with local rainy period. 

The weatherman also said going forward residents should embrace dry planting for better yields especially doing the  weeks before the onset of rains.

"Dry planting should happen a week before onset. Wet planting based on weekly forecast. Plant only when weekly forecast predicts more than three days of up to 20 mm rainfall", the report reads in part. It was based on OND rainfall season review by the weatherman.

Dr Augustine Kanani closed the meeting by appreciating all stakeholders and partners for taking part in the CSG meeting and their continued support.

St. Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School erupted in celebrations after recording an impressive mean score of 7.6083, making it the second-best school in the area, narrowly behind Joseph Alamano Wachoro Secondary School, which posted 7.6087.

Collins Nyaga led the school with an A- (76 points), followed closely by Peter Mugendi, who earned a B+. The school also broke its own record by producing 105 candidates with C+ and above, all qualifying for university admission.

Speaking after the release of the results, Principal Patrick Mwaniki said the performance reflected a major improvement from last year’s mean grade of 6.5. He attributed the success to teamwork between teachers and learners, discipline, and early completion of the syllabus, which gives candidates enough time for revision.

St. Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School Principal Paul Mwaniki congratulating Collins Kinyua who emerged position one in the school's KCSE examinations. MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

“Our strategy has always been to finish the syllabus early so that students can have sufficient time to revise. That has paid off,” he said.

For Collins Nyaga, the results mark the beginning of a long-held dream of becoming a medical doctor. His journey, however, was far from smooth.

After completing primary school, Collins was admitted to Nyangwa Boys High School, but was forced to drop out when his parents could not raise school fees.

He later transferred to Igumori Secondary School in Form Three as a day scholar, a move made possible by his grandfather.

“I struggled a lot as a day scholar because household chores limited my study time,” Collins recalled.

His dedication and strong academic performance caught the attention of the school’s Board of Management, which later supported him to become a boarder,  a move he says changed everything.

“I am grateful to the school for believing in me and giving me the support I needed to focus on my studies,” he said.

The remarkable results have placed Igumori Secondary School on the academic map of Embu County, proving that even modest, rural schools can rise to national standards through determination and teamwork.

The late Nzeluni Assistant County Commissioner Josphat Kiok.|FILE

Senior police officers from the region visited the scene of crime and processed the scene. They included DCC Migwani sub county and Nzeluni police station officers.

Police took the body of the deceased to morgue awaiting further investigations. The deceased officer was serving in his current station after being transferred from Wote town in Makueni county.

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Mwingi town. MWINGI TIMES|Alfred Mutua 

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Dated:7/1/2026

An image of a Jericho pistol. |FILE

While the police officer was away, gun shots rang inside the house to the chargrin  of neighbors. "At about 1630hrs, Inspector S.K., reported that after leaving his house within Kyuso Township where he had secured his loaded Jericho pistol,  he heard a gunshot", added the OB report.

It said that 30 minutes later the Inspector found his girlfriend,  Penina Mutethia, lying on the bed with a gunshot wound. The woman had two bullet holes on her body while one bullet head and one spent cartridge were recovered from the scene.

The injured  woman was rushed to hospital "in critical condition".  Investigations were still on ongoing by press time.

Farmers during training in Embu town. MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

The women, drawn from different parts of the county, came together to gain skills and knowledge designed to transform farming from subsistence activity into a sustainable and profitable venture.

The programme which was organized by the Women Farmers Association of Kenya (WOFAK) in collaboration with the Embu County Department of Agriculture saw farmers go through modern farming activities and pest control techniques aiming in a bid to ensure maximum production.

Speaking during the training in Embu town today 9th January 2025,  Embu County Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture, Njeru Mwita, emphasized the critical role women play in Kenya’s agricultural sector.

“Forty-three percent of farmers in Kenya are women, and that is the biggest percentage. Empowering women farmers is key to increasing yields and strengthening food security,” Mwita said.

He added that the county government will continue supporting women farmers through the distribution of quality seeds to boost food production.

“As a county, we shall be distributing seeds to support these women so that they can engage more in farming and increase food production,” he said.

WOFAK representative Winnie Murithi said the organization is working towards strengthening value chains that will unite women farmers in Embu County.

“We are mapping out a value chain that will bring women farmers together so that they can be empowered collectively and benefit more from their farming activities,” Murithi said.

She noted that WOFAK is evaluating sunflower farming as a viable venture for women farmers, with a focus on value addition.

“We are assessing sunflower farming to see whether women can engage in its production and later extract oil for added value,” she said.

The initiative also received support from the Rainforest Alliance through the Mt Kenya Sustainable Landscapes and Livelihoods programme.

Susan Kinyua from the Rainforest Alliance said their focus is to connect farmers with financial institutions to enable them to expand their enterprises.

“We will link these farmers with financial players who can offer sustainable financing so that they can scale up the enterprises they are planning to undertake,” Kinyua said.

Stakeholders said empowering women farmers with skills, inputs, and access to finance will significantly improve agricultural productivity, livelihoods, and food security in Embu County.

L-9,000-16,000

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Dated:8/1/2026

Mr Elias Njeru, the Chairman of Boy Child Justice Alliance addressing press at Embu GK Prison on Wednesday, January 7,2026.MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

The concerns were raised during a sensitization forum held at Embu G.K Prison today 7th January 2026, convened by the Boy Child Justice Alliance in collaboration with the Prison Administration. The forum brought together civil society actors, health professionals, and correctional officers to interrogate the impact of punitive laws on young men.

Speaking at the event, Patrick Nguu, Organizing Secretary of the Boy Child Justice Alliance CBO, argued that the legal system has increasingly tilted against the boy child, citing the Sexual Offences Act of 2006 as a key example. He noted that some convictions are secured solely on the testimony of a single witness, a standard he said exposes young men to wrongful or exaggerated prosecutions.

Nguu called for amendments to strengthen evidentiary thresholds and increase reliance on scientific and forensic proof. He claimed that a significant number of inmates are behind bars over consensual relationships that later escalate into criminal cases, sometimes fueled by family disputes or financial interests.

He further observed that limited legal awareness among young men often leaves them vulnerable during investigations and trials, underscoring the Alliance’s push for grassroots legal education to help youths understand and defend their rights.

“Parliament must urgently review the laws governing the prosecution of rape cases. Convicting a suspect on the testimony of a single witness is not fair. We need proper scientific and forensic tools to establish the truth, because many men in our prisons believe justice was not fairly administered,"said Nguu.

Echoing these sentiments, Elias Njeru Nyaga, Chairperson of the Boy Child Justice Alliance in Embu County, said the boy child has remained largely invisible in public policy and budget allocations. While women-focused empowerment initiatives continue to expand, he noted, programs addressing the unique challenges facing boys and men remain scarce.

Nyaga warned that excessively harsh sentences for minor offences have lifelong consequences, permanently disrupting education, employment, and family structures. He urged Parliament to urgently revisit laws he described as disproportionately punitive.

“Excluding the boy child from national initiatives is slowly killing an entire generation. When a man is lost, the future of society is placed at serious risk,” said Nyaga.

From a mental health perspective, Patrick Kariithi, Head of the Mental Wellness Department at Cynert Hospital Rehabilitation Center, raised alarm over the growing number of inmates under the age of 25. Many, he said, are serving sentences for drug use, alcohol abuse, and other minor offences that would be better addressed through rehabilitation rather than incarceration.

Kariithi called on parents, communities, and government agencies to work together to rescue vulnerable young men early, noting that rehabilitation centres have consistently demonstrated success in reforming behavior and restoring social responsibility.

 John Kanyugi, Deputy In-Charge of Embu G.K Prison, disclosed that the majority of inmates at the facility are serving lengthy sentences for sexual offences, with some ranging between 50 and 140 years.

Such sentences, Kanyugi said, effectively extinguish any realistic hope of rehabilitation or reintegration. He stressed that the core mandate of correctional facilities should be reform, not permanent punishment, and advocated for shorter custodial terms and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for less severe offences.

Our role is to reform those committed to our care. But when someone is sentenced to life, they ask us: after reform, where do I go if my entire life is meant to be spent in prison? We appeal for reduced sentences so that, once reformed, they can return to society and help build the nation,” he said.

Embu G.K Prison as of today holds 1,365 male inmates.

Health CS Aden Duale when he visited Tharaka Nithi County for Strategic Health Engagement to advance Taifa Care in December 2025.|MOH

The Constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health

Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution provides that “every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive health care.” This provision firmly entrenches the right to health as a justiciable socio-economic right. It is not aspirational, nor is it subject to the goodwill of the government of the day.

The phrase “highest attainable standard of health” is broad and deliberate. It encompasses access to healthcare services, reproductive healthcare, physical and mental health services, and, critically, access to affordable and essential medicines. Without medicines, healthcare services are rendered ineffective, and the constitutional promise becomes hollow and unattainable to the standards required by the constitution.

Health as the foundation of other fundamental rights

Kenyans needs to understand that health is not an isolated right. It is foundational to the enjoyment of other fundamental rights and freedoms. Denial of access to essential medication directly threatens the right to life under Article 26 of the Constitution. Equally, it undermines the right to human dignity protected under Article 28. 

A person who cannot access life-saving medicine is placed in a position of vulnerability, dependence, and suffering that offends the inherent dignity of the human person. As courts have consistently recognized, the rights to health, life, and dignity are inextricably linked. Without health, life is imperilled; without life and self-worth, dignity is compromised.

The State’s obligations on the right to health

Article 43(1)(a) imposes clear obligations on the State. First, the State has a duty to prevent, treat, and control epidemics, pandemics, endemic, occupational, and other diseases. This includes ensuring that medical services and attention are available when sickness occurs.

Second, the State is obligated to give effect to other fundamental rights and freedoms, recognizing that health is indispensable to their exercise.

Third, the right to health extends beyond hospitals and clinics. It includes the underlying determinants of health, such as adequate food and nutrition, access to clean and safe water, proper sanitation, housing, safe and healthy working conditions, and a healthy environment.

Health, therefore, is a holistic concept grounded in social and economic conditions. Scholars have correctly observed that the right to health includes both freedoms and entitlements. On the one hand, individuals must be free from unwarranted interference in making medical decisions. On the other hand, the State has an obligation to ensure the availability of health facilities, services, and essential medicines.

The central role of medicines

The right to the highest attainable standard of health obligates the State to ensure that essential medicines are affordable and accessible. In Kenya, one of the major obstacles to realizing this right under Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution has been intellectual property restrictions that limit the production and distribution of generic medicines. Generic drugs, which are therapeutically interchangeable with patented medicines, play a critical role in reducing costs, particularly in developing countries. Kenyan law recognizes this reality through Sections 58(2), 80(1), and 80(1A) of the Industrial Property Act, which empower the Government, on grounds of public health, national security, or public interest, to authorize the importation, manufacture, or supply of generic medicines without compensating patent holders. These provisions align with the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, which affirms the right of World Trade Organization members to use intellectual property flexibilities to improve access to life-saving medicines.

However, this progressive framework came into conflict with Sections 32 and 34 of the Anti-Counterfeit Act, 2008, which prohibit dealings in counterfeit goods and allow the seizure of suspected products, including generic medicines. This conflict was challenged in P.A.O. & 2 Others v Attorney General, where HIV patients argued that restricting the importation and supply of generic Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs violated their constitutional rights to life, human dignity, and health. The petitioners depended entirely on free generic ARVs provided through a government partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières and required daily medication to survive. They contended that denying them access to these medicines would not merely limit their rights under Article 24, but would extinguish the core and essential content of their right to life.

In declaring the impugned provisions unconstitutional, the High Court adopted a contextual and sociological approach, emphasizing Kenya’s HIV/AIDS crisis and its devastating human impact. The Court held that laws restricting access to essential medicines directly threaten life, health, and human dignity, which are inseparably linked. It affirmed that the State’s obligation under Article 43(1)(a) is both positive and negative: the State must actively facilitate access to healthcare services and medicines, and must also refrain from legislative or administrative actions that hinder such access.

Consequently, any law that renders essential medicines unaffordable or inaccessible violates the Constitution and undermines the State’s duty to protect the right to health.

The State’s positive and negative duties

The significance of this decision lies in its clarification of the State’s obligations. The right to health imposes both positive and negative duties. Positively, the State must take measures to ensure access to healthcare services and essential medicines. Negatively, it must refrain from enacting or enforcing laws and policies that hinder access to such medicines. Any legislation or administrative action that renders essential drugs unaffordable or inaccessible violates the Constitution.

Conclusion

Access to medication in Kenya is not an act of charity, nor a favour from the State. It is a constitutional entitlement grounded in the right to the highest attainable standard of health. As Kenya continues to reform its healthcare system and pharmaceutical policies, the guiding principle must remain clear: no law, policy, or commercial interest should stand between a patient and life-saving medicine.In Kenya’s constitutional order, denying access to essential medication is not merely bad policy it is unconstitutional.

January 2026 Rainfall Outlook. |KMD

However, a few places in Kitui County will get occassional rainfall. This is especially so in high altitude areas.

The latest weather forecast obtained by MWINGI TIMES from County Director of Meteoroloogical Services Daniel Mbithi further forecasts that the first three months of 2026 will be punctuated by sunny and dry conditions. This weather is likely to be experienced in most parts of the county. He stated that the OND rainfall season ceased and there was no onset of rainfall season.

A few areas, however, may experience occassional rainfall. There is also a likelihood of warmer than average temperatures in most parts of Kitui County between January and March.

As for this week, the maximum temperature range is expected to oscillate between 27°C and 35°C while the minimum thermometer reading will range from 14°C and 23°C.

As often predicted, strong southerly to south easterly winds will blow across most parts of the county at a speed of up to 25 knots or 12.86m/s.

The forum comprised of 40 participants from Kenya,  Nigeria, South Sudan, Algeria and Cameroon. Apart from South Sudan, all the four countries above were selected due to being host to a Pan African University(PAU) campus which is a strategic partner in implementing the Pan African Virtual and E-Learning University, PAVEU, digital learning across the African continent.

SEKU was among the eight universities selected to represent Kenya in the two-day workshop. Other Kenyan universities were Garissa, Kisii, Masai Mara, JKUAT, Pwani, Open University of Kenya and Turkana University College.

SEKU was proudly represented by Dr Sarah Ndanu Mwangangi Ngesu. Dr Ngesu is a Kiswahili and Translation Lecturer whose rich experience in technology-supported teaching is key in enhancing digital transformation in university teaching. "My rich experience in technology-supported teaching,  my publications Kiswahilli and English, and my research in machine translation provided a strong foundation for my participation. In addition, my extensive research on the teaching of Kiswahili as a second and foreign language through the use of technology further strengthened my expertise", said Dr Sarah Ngesu.

The Director,  State Department for Higher Education,Ministry of Education Mr Darius Mogaka Ogutu  coordinated Kenya's delegation to the workshop.

With Kenya being a leader in mobile technology, the country will play a critical role in integrating mobile-based learing solutions into the African Union's PAVEU initiative being implemented by Pan African University, PAU, and the Japanese EdTech partner.

SEKU's Dr Sarah Ngesu told MWINGI TIMES that the meeting was also a proud moment for her and her undergraduate colleagues  with whom she studied with during their undegraduate courses in Kenyatta University. Her two other former classmates from KU were Ms. Mary Kang'ethe currently working with KNATCOM and Prof Elijah Omwenga, Vice Chancellor, Open University of Kenya. Delighted, they posed for a group photo at the end of the occassion.

Some times go with the flow and see where the digital journey may lead in search of shillings and cents.|FILE

This column prides itself in offering practical tips on monetizing online gigs. We are already into the second point:Finish survey. Survey time takes roughly 15 minutes. Don't exit before it is done. Wherever it finds you, finish the tasks before worrying about crediting and cash outs.

Take your chance. When you see offers, try them out. This normally happens in the morning or evenings or [even rarely] at night.

Don't procrastinate. Defering equals lossing the opportunity.

Machine language demands your alertness. Random questions will be thrown to you to assess whether you are following the advertiser's thought trails. Be awake by not falling to forgetting your birthday or lying that you can ressurect the dead.

You are a world citizen. That is the stage in digital gigs. Have a paronamic view from Nairobi on your socials and stay consistent. This makes your eligility higher during sampling.

Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu and his die -hard supporter Muema Nduku follow proceedings at his residence during a New Year Party he has hosted for his constituents on Friday.|MWINGI TIMES

The massive crowd, drawn from across the entire Mwingi North Constituency, cheerfully partook of sumptuous meals that appeared to flow seamlessly from a makeshift kitchen erected outside the MP’s imposing ‘White House’ residence.

Attendees came from as far as Usueni in Tseikuru, Tharaka in Mumoni, Ngomeni in the marginal areas of Kyuso sub-county, and Kakuyu in Mumoni among other areas.

A section of constituents enjoying a meal as Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu throws a marathon New Year Party at his rural residence in Kitui County on Friday.|MWINGI TIMES

Representatives of delegations from Tseikuru and Kyuso wards hailed Nzengu for spearheading what they described as remarkable development across the vast constituency.

They also patted him on the back for ensuring equity in the distribution of education bursaries to needy learners. They said that previously the distribution of bursary support was discriminative.

Youth enjoy a meal at the rural residence of Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu on Friday.|MWINGI TIMES

By the time of going to press, the huge crowd was patiently waiting to be addressed by MP Nzengu, with some urging him to clear the air on rumours doing the rounds that he could be denied the Wiper Party ticket in the next election.

Nzengu is serving his second term as MP, having first been elected to Parliament in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. On both occasions, he was sponsored by Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party.

The ailing former military officer Nicholas Mutua displays medals he was awarded for distinguished service.|MWINGI TIMES

On the 2026 New Year day, Dr. Wambua donated Sh. 40, 000 to help 80-year-old Nicholas Mutua access treatment for Anguinal Hernia condition that has left him immobilized for several years.

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‎Mutua who served as a KDF officer from 1964 to 1982 has been indisposed for a while and lost the ability to walk on his own. He has visited many hospitals across  the country seeking assistance to no avail.

‎At the  elderly man's Malatani village home in Kamuwongo  division of Mwingi North subcounty, his family members were head over heels with joy as the Dr. Wambua handed over the donation to Mutua's wife, Agnes Kalunda.

Cleric Rev. Dr. Euticauls Wambua praying for the ailing former KDF man Nicholas Mutua  when he visited the latter at his home on the New Year day.|MWINGI TIMES

‎The family spokesperson John Mutua appreciated the church leader's compassionate gesture. He said Mutua would be taken to hospital today (Friday).

‎Rev. Dr. Wambua said that  although the world was full of challenges that appeared almost impossible, God always has ways to provide solutions. "We live in a world full of challenges. Let's us always turn to God for help. He will always provide  solutions," said Dr. Wambua. 

‎Dr. Wambua added that he was always ready to offer further support towards the treatment of Mutua should the need a rise.He also sought divine intervention for Mutua to be healed from the various ailments he has been suffering from. ‎Saying that he was personally appreciative that the clergyman and his family had delivered him a surprise New Year gift, the ailing Mutua lamented he suffers from seven health conditions.

‎Displaying some medals he was honoured with  for distinguished service, he said he wished that the government would come to his rescue and help him get a solution to his illness. ‎"When I served in government, I served selflessly and with dedication but here I am abandoned and wasting away since I am no longer in public service," regrets Mutua.

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An outside view through a window during a rainy day. |FILE

The wet conditions will then  give way to predominantly sunny conditions across most Wards in Kitui County. The weatherman forecast further shows strong southerly to south easterly winds of up to 25knots likely to blow across most parts of County #15 this week.

Of note is that the October-November-December short rains season has been marked by depressed rains. Rainfall distribution has generally been poor in both time and space. The long dry spells are likely to result in little or no harvest. A spot-check by MWINGI TIMES confirms this.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua addressing the media in Kitui Town on December 25. He called upon the government to stop illegal sand harvesting in the county.MWINGI TIMES|Boniface Mwaniki

The youthful senator laid bare the rip off orchestrated by shadowy Saccos which collect up to KSh6000 from every truck scooping sand. He told journalists that the cartels issue a receipt of KSh1000 per truck to be produced at cess points as evidence of payment. "It is a blatant rip off of our county resources by closely knit and dangerous cartel", he said.

From Senator Wambua's press release, Kitui county government has done little to fight the rampant environmental disaster. The largely arid and semi-arid county suffers from unregulated scooping of sand from its rivers as this affects its livelihoods.

"When these cartels descend on the rivers to scoop sand and ennrich themselves, they compromise a few community leaders and RUA officials. They lie to a section of the community that they have created jobs for the youth who load the trucks for peanuts", added Senator Wambua.

Despite the County Assembly of Kitui having enacted a law to regulate sand harvesting, cartels continue robbing current and future generations of their resources unabated. The Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilization and Conservation Act (2023) has done little in instilling sanity to the critical sector of our economy.

Nationally, the Environmental Managemennt and Coordination Act protects riparian zones. By cartels roaming the county to harvest sand, it is a violation of such law.

The senator concluded by tasking Governor Julius Malombe-led administration to outline measures it has put in place to regulate sand harvesting and conserve riparian ecosystems.

President William Ruto at Kamuwongo during the commissioning of the Kamuwongo-Kandwia road on November 13, 2025. He is flanked by Kitui Governor Julius Malombe (centre) among other senior government officials.|MWINGI TIMES

In November this year when President Ruto visited Kitui County, he commissioned the tarmacking of the Kamuwongo-Kandwia road, part of the Mwingi -Tseikuru truck road and said that funds would be sourced to tarmac the untarmacked section of the road upto Tseikuru.

He lamented at the time that despite some unnamed leaders from the area having held top government positions, residents had to make do with difficult terrain involving plenty of dust and mud to get to their homes. 

An advertisement on MyGov newspaper inviting bids from eligible contractors for upgrading to bitumen standards of Kyuso-Tseikuru road.|THE STAR

President Ruto, directed the CS in charge of Roads Ministry, Davies Chirchir who was part of his entourage to look for funds to ensure that the remaining 30 km Kyuso -Tseikuru section of the Mwingi – Tseikuru road was tarmacked.

The Kandwia-Kyuso section of the same road was tarmacked during the reign of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. However, the tender notice that was placed by Kenha on Tuesday said that the successful bidder would also strengthen the Kandwia-Kyuso road.

Last week, President Ruto publicly attacked Wiper Patriotic Front Party Leader Kalonzo accusing him of failing to tarmac the road leading to his Tseikuru home despite being in national leadership for 40 years. He chided the Wiper leader for having to endure a lot of dust and mud whenever he visits his Tseikuru rural home.

On Tuesday the Kenya National Highway Authority invited qualified contractors to bid for the projects by January 5th, 2026. Interested bidders have also been asked to Converge at Kandwia market by 10 am on January 15th, 2026 to proceed for a site visit. 

The tender advertised from the deputy director general of Kenha said that funds for the project would come from Development votes.

In a social media post, the Kitui County Assembly Speaker, Kevin Katisya, who also hails from Tseikuru welcomed the government’s clear plans to tarmac the Kyuso-Tseikuru road by publicizing the tender. "On behalf of the great people of Tseikuru, as one of the Kenyans living in Tseikuru, I am very grateful to H.E The President for advertising the tarmacking of the road to my rural home in Tseikuru,” said Katisya in a social media post.

In November this year when President Ruto visited Kitui County, he commissioned the tarmacking of the Kamuwongo-Kandwia road, part of the Mwingi -Tseikuru truck road and said that funds would be sourced to tarmac the untarmacked section of the road upto Tseikuru.

He lamented at the time that despite some unnamed leaders from the area having held top government positions, residents had to make do with difficult terrain involving plenty of dust and mud to get to their homes. 

An advertisement on MyGov newspaper inviting bids from eligible contractors for upgrading to bitumen standards of Kyuso-Tseikuru road.|THE STAR

President Ruto, directed the CS in charge of Roads Ministry, Davies Chirchir who was part of his entourage to look for funds to ensure that the remaining 30 km Kyuso -Tseikuru section of the Mwingi – Tseikuru road was tarmacked.

The Kandwia-Kyuso section of the same road was tarmacked during the reign of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. However, the tender notice that was placed by Kenha on Tuesday said that the successful bidder would also strengthen the Kandwia-Kyuso road.

Last week, President Ruto publicly attacked Wiper Patriotic Front Party Leader Kalonzo accusing him of failing to tarmac the road leading to his Tseikuru home despite being in national leadership for 40 years. He chided the Wiper leader for having to endure a lot of dust and mud whenever he visits his Tseikuru rural home.

On Tuesday the Kenya National Highway Authority invited qualified contractors to bid for the projects by January 5th, 2026. Interested bidders have also been asked to Converge at Kandwia market by 10 am on January 15th, 2026 to proceed for a site visit. 

The tender advertised from the deputy director general of Kenha said that funds for the project would come from Development votes.

In a social media post, the Kitui County Assembly Speaker, Kevin Katisya, who also hails from Tseikuru welcomed the government’s clear plans to tarmac the Kyuso-Tseikuru road by publicizing the tender. "On behalf of the great people of Tseikuru, as one of the Kenyans living in Tseikuru, I am very grateful to H.E The President for advertising the tarmacking of the road to my rural home in Tseikuru,” said Katisya in a social media post.

Safaricom company official  Mr Nicholas Mulila addressing the media in Kitui Town on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.MWINGI TIMES|Josphine Mwende

Speaking during a press briefing held on 23 December 2025, an officer from Kitui West working with Safaricom Company, Mr Nicholas Mulila, cautioned that the festive season often comes with heightened cases of recklessness, substance abuse and moral lapses, particularly among young people. He noted that many individuals tend to forget their values during this period, allowing themselves to be driven by lust and irresponsible behaviour, which in turn has destroyed promising futures for many youths.

Mr Mulila appealed directly to young people to remain disciplined and focused even as they celebrate. He emphasised that the country depends heavily on the energy and creativity of the youth, especially as the New Year approaches.“My request goes to the youth: as we party because it is a festive season, let us do so responsibly. Gen Z, Kenya needs its strength and energy from January. We need to remain strong, focused and committed to building our country,” he urged.

He further reminded revelers that celebrations should not come at the expense of personal safety or the wellbeing of others. According to him, cases of violence, unplanned pregnancies, drug abuse and other social vices tend to spike during the festive period, largely due to poor decision making.

Mr Mulila also raised concern over the rising number of road accidents reported across the country in recent weeks, warning that the situation could worsen if road users fail to exercise caution. He attributed most of the accidents to reckless driving, speeding, drug and alcohol abuse, and disregard for traffic rules.“As we continue travelling from one place to another, let us be cautious on our roads. Drivers should be careful, reasonable and mindful of the lives of others. Let us move steadily and responsibly,” he said.

He also called upon passengers to take an active role in ensuring their own safety by refusing to board vehicles driven by intoxicated or reckless drivers.“Passengers should be alert and bold enough to say no to drunk drivers. Protecting life is a shared responsibility,” Mr Mulila added.

Turning to parents and guardians, Mr Mulila urged them to prioritise education as the new academic year approaches. He noted that many learners have already completed their Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) assessments and are set to transition to the next levels of learning.“Learners have done their exams and results are out, with placements already made. I urge parents to ensure that all children report to their respective schools to continue with their education. Let us take all our children to school for a better and secure future,” he appealed.

As he concluded, Mr Mulila wished residents a peaceful festive season, reiterating the need for collective responsibility, caution and foresight to ensure that celebrations end safely and positively for all.