Ruku was reacting to chaotic scenes witnessed on Sunday during a church service in Nyeri attended by Gachagua, where disorder erupted, forcing police to lob teargas inside the church causing congregants to flee.

The CS claimed the incident was not accidental, alleging that Gachagua moves with armed goons who deliberately cause disruptions at meetings and church services he attends in order to attract sympathy and incite public anger against the government.

“This is the same pattern we witnessed during the Mbeere North by-election campaigns, where his goons attacked an innocent youth and broke his leg,” Ruku said. “The youth, identified as Fredrick, sustained a broken leg during a church service at Karangare that the former Deputy President was attending with his goons.”

Ruku cautioned Kenyans against falling for what he termed “well-organized schemes” designed to manufacture victimhood, spread hatred, and mislead the public about the true state of affairs within government. He warned that the government will not tolerate acts of lawlessness disguised as political victimization, adding that places of worship should never be turned into arenas for political drama.

The CS further noted that the recent chaos mirrors what he described as a pattern of violence linked to Gachagua’s political camp. 

He said intimidation and violence have no place in Kenya’s democratic space and urged leaders to stop using youths to advance personal political interests through fear and chaos.

Turning to regional politics, Ruku maintained that the Mt Kenya region remains firmly within government and dismissed claims that the region could shift its political allegiance. He declared Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki the undisputed Mt Kenya kingpin, saying he continues to provide strong and effective leadership for the region from within government.

Ruku urged residents of Mt Kenya Central and Mt Kenya West to remain loyal to the government, noting that with Kindiki at the heart of power, the region is well positioned to benefit from development projects. He warned that any attempts to lure the region into opposing the government would only derail development and deny residents essential services and opportunities.

The CS also accused Gachagua of political arrogance, urging him to respect the Deputy President and acknowledge the long-standing unity between Mt Kenya East, Central, and West. He emphasized that Mt Kenya East has consistently stood with the rest of the region and deserves mutual respect and recognition in national leadership.

Ruku further weighed in on the broader Mt Kenya regional debate, stating that Mt Kenya East also played a critical role in the struggle for independence and should not be sidelined. He said it was wrong for Mt Kenya West and Central to behave as though they were the only regions that sacrificed for the country’s freedom. He called for unity and mutual respect within the wider Mt Kenya region, urging leaders from the West to support the East, especially now that the Deputy President hails from Mt Kenya East.

Ruku maintained that the government remains firmly on course in delivering its mandate, adding that political propaganda and hostility would not derail its development agenda.

Chuka Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene echoed Ruku’s sentiments, describing the Nyeri church incident as a “well-scripted drama” by Gachagua and dismissing claims that police targeted him. Munene, however, condemned the use of teargas in a church, terming it a blatant act of disrespect to a place of worship and an affront to the dignity of religious institutions.

Tigania East MP Mpuri Apuri also condemned the Nyeri incident, saying Kenyans should not be subjected to what he termed “politics of conmanship” by selfish individuals.

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‎Dr Musyoka said that when he was vice president, he rejected pressure by a permanent secretary to have the road tarmacked from Tseikuru rather than Mwingi where it had reached.

‎"As a selfless leader, when I was vice president, PS Kamau was in charge of roads. He told me, I have money for 21km. Do you want us to start work in Tseikuru?

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‎I told him there is no need of people to come all the way from Mwingi till they reach Twimyua under dust. I said no way. Let it start from Mwingi coming to this direction. It will reach Tseikuru when it will. It is now time", said Musyoka.

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‎The former VP said the road has faced stoppages and revivals as interests of successive governments change. This has caused completion to stall despite having been under construction for years. "By now this road should have passed Maua, Isiolo linking up to Ethiopia", he said.

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‎Kalonzo told residents to vote out President William Ruto government in favour of his United Opposition alliance during the upcoming 2027 general elections. He was speaking during the burial of mother of his personal assistant James Mutemi Matiki in Matili Village, Ngaaie, Kyuso Ward.

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‎Other leaders present were DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe, Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu, and other local and national government officials.

The witness further told our reporter that the motorbike rider was overtaking a Probox when he collided with an oncoming lorry.

The accident took place at Kyanundu area which is located between Mutwangombe and Kivou trading centres, in Mwingi Central sub county. 

Efforts to obtain a police report on this grisly incident were not successful by press time.

The renewed political tension follows the clearance of candidates by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), a move that has officially set the stage for by-elections that are already attracting intense political interest.

The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) moved swiftly to assert its dominance after its candidates  Duncan Muratia Nyaga for Evurore Ward and Peterson Njeru Njiru for Muminji Ward  were cleared to contest in the forthcoming polls.

The return of nomination papers by the UDA candidates was marked by a show of political strength, as senior Kenya Kwanza leaders accompanied them in a symbolic procession for IEBC clearance.

The event attracted top leaders including Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, and Mbeere North MP Leo wa Muthende and Embu woman representative Pamela Njoki Njeru Double N, signaling the government’s determination to tighten its grip on the constituency.

Their presence underscored the strategic importance the ruling coalition has attached to the ward contests, viewing them as a continuation of the recently concluded parliamentary by-election.

On the opposition side, the Democratic Party (DP) cleared Albert Kigoro to contest the Evurore Ward seat, while the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) fielded Ngari Boniface Kariuki in Muminji Ward, setting up direct contests with the UDA candidates.

The unfolding scenario now presents a head-to-head political duel between the government and opposition forces, each keen to assert relevance and control at the grassroots level.

Addressing the press after the clearance exercise, CS Ruku launched a sharp attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) of political retreat.

Ruku expressed disappointment that DCP failed to field candidates in both wards, claiming the move was driven by fear of another defeat following Gachagua’s loss in the recent parliamentary by-election. “I am disappointed that DCP has no candidate in these by-elections yet Gachagua claims he commands Mt Kenya support,” Ruku said.

He expressed confidence that UDA would emerge victorious, arguing that residents of Evurore and Muminji are eager to align with the government in order to benefit from development and access to national resources.

Governor Cecily Mbarire echoed the confidence, dismissing the opposition as no threat and vowing that UDA would replicate its parliamentary by-election success in the ward contests.

She said the ruling party would traverse the two wards in search of votes, adding that the strategy that delivered victory in the parliamentary by-election would once again work in their favor.

MP Leo wa Muthende, fresh from his parliamentary win, urged the opposition to shelve their ambitions, insisting that the political ground was already settled.

“We will win against Wamunyoro. He is not a threat at all,” Muthende said.

The by-elections also carry symbolic weight for opposition heavyweights Justin Muturi of the DP and Kivuti of the DEP, both hailing from Evurore Ward, the most populous ward in Mbeere North Constituency.

Having lost the parliamentary by-election to the government, the two leaders now face another test of their grassroots popularity as their parties split candidates between Evurore and Muminji wards.

As campaigns gather pace, the ward by-elections are shaping up to be more than just local contests, increasingly becoming a political litmus test that will define dominance, loyalty, and future influence in post-by-election Mbeere North politics.

Kiema, who served for two terms as MP for the constituency from the year  2002 to the year 2012 before Mbai succeeded him, accuses the incumbent of  alleged felonious public utterances portraying him as corrupt, a thief, fraudulent, of questionable integrity, unfit to hold public office and that he has committed a criminal offence.

In a letter dated January 19, 2026, the former ambassador’s lawyers, Tom O. K’opere and company Advocates, told the the UDA MP unless he complies with the demands within the stipulated time, suitable defamatory proceedings will be instituted against him without any further reference to him and at his own risk to the attendant costs.

 The MP did not respond to our inquiry on the allegations. 

The demand letter said on about January 5, 2026 while addressing a public gathering and or political rally at Nzombe Market, Kitui East Constituency Mbai falsely and maliciously spoke, published and or broadcast of the defamatory utterances.

The advocates letter in our possession read in part “ take notice that unless you comply with our demand within the next Fourteen (14) days from the date hereof, we have instructions to institute defamatory proceedings as suitable against you without any further reference to you and at your risk to the attendant costs.”

“On or about 5th January 2026 while addressing a public gathering and or political rally at Nzombe Market, Kitui East Constituency you falsely and maliciously spoke, published and or broadcast of and concerning our client the words following (English translation), that is to say:  Kiema Kilonzo and……travelled to China, and were ………to sell coal that was discovered in Block A and B, that is in Nzombe and Mutito.”

The lawyers told the MP he should pay an appropriate sum in damages, the quantum of which shall be agreed, to compensate their client for the serious injury to his reputation, associated distress and embarrassment.

“You publish a suitable withdrawal and apology in terms to be approved by the client to be published in a daily newspaper of national circulation and in social platforms especially within Kitui County, give a written undertaking that you will not repeat the said or similar words and allegations concerning our client,” the latter continued.

Kiema lately served as Ambassador to Uganda. Before then he served as Kenyan ambassador to Turkey.

A Kenya delegation that visited China in 2012 returned findings that Fenxi Mining Company that won the contract for extraction at Mui Coal Basin in Kitui East has the capacity and ability to mine.

In 2011, Kenya picked China’s Fenxi Mining Industry Company to develop coal mining in Mui.

According to documents, the Chinese company, which won the controversial Mui coal concession, was introduced to Kenya by Dr George Kariithi, a Kenyan businessman with international business and links in Africa and Asia through his company Great Lakes Corporations which he co-owns with a New Zealand national, Mr Ian See Won.

Other documents show that Fenxi has 66,000 employees, and is incorporated in Shanxi Province, China where it excavates more than 30 million metric tonnes of coal per year in a coalfield with estimated 5.8 billion metric tonnes of the mineral.

It has also been established that the firm had a solid mining history spanning 50 years and has a registered capital of 31.6 billion Yuan (Sh379 billion). The company was founded in 1956.

However, Kiema teamed with other leaders to object to these findings challenging the Fenxi’s capacity to mine coal in Mui.

Kiema and the leaders had earlier in the same year travelled to China to disapprove that Fenxi lacked mines in China, leading to court challenges and questions about the vetting process, all part of broader scrutiny on China-Kenya ties.

The political bickering and protracted lawsuits smelt a rat in the extraction of estimated 400-million tonnes of commercially viable coal reserves in Block C in Mui coal basin, Kitui County.

The discovery of the Sh3.4 trillion ($40 billion) viable coal reserves at the basin was seen as a major breakthrough towards realisation of the dream of making Kenya an industrial hub.

 The simmering supremacy war pitting Dr Malombe, on one hand, and a section of MCAs led by Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo, on the other, had threatened to rock the county, frustrate and hold captive the county Executive in denying Kitui people development.

But in turn of events, the Speaker owned up, apologised to the Governor for the misunderstanding and promised to work together and build strong relationships, increasing trust for the county’s development and prosperity.

Speaking earlier, Kinengo gave assurance that within 45 days, the Assembly shall vet and approve the appointments of Agnes Mulewa, Timothy Muange and Christopher Okumu as substantive office bearers for county secretary, county attorney and county public service board secretary respectively.

He called for a ceasefire, saying the infighting and chest thumping had consequences that included unredeemable loss.

Mulewa, Muange and Okumo appeared before the appointment panel chaired by the Speaker at the assembly chambers where they were interviewed and told to wait for the approval by the plenary house sitting.

Ms Mulewa told the committee comprising the assembly’s Majority Leader Harrison Maluki (Migwani ward MCA), Minority Leader, Jeremiah Mutua (Nguni ward MCA) and the acting clerk Chris Mwangangi that her experience was borne out of her working during the former Governor Charity Ngilu and now the incumbent Malombe.

"I had an opportunity to transit from one government to the other and I can give assurance that there is not an easy transition. Leaders have got different visions and the way they conduct their business is also different,” the acting county secretary said. 

Mulewa, a former lecturer at the Southern Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) said she knows and believes that the office of the county secretary is crucial on matters of transition.

“Even if the county secretary was not to transit to the other incoming county government, by virtue of being in that office, you are obligated to chair functions and meetings of both governor-elect and the out-going,” she told the committee.

Mulewa said the holder of the county secretary is required to perform his or her duties diligently, to ensure that he or she gives the outgoing and incoming governor necessary support that needed and furnish the incoming governor with the state of the public service so that it will be easy for the governor to get along and proceed.

She said lack of clear transition was to blame for continuity of vibrant and sustainable programmes undertaken by outgoing governments which the incoming governments abandon resulting in waste of public funds.

“If this committee finds me suitable and endorses me and eventually appoints me substantively, I will be able to claim my role, act professionally without any prejudice", Mulewa said.

The attacks which left MCA Mutua nursing injuries took place in Nuu ward, Mwingi Central sub county during the burial of area MCA Judith Wanza's late mother. "We need to have politics of development and peace. Political differences should not result to political violence.  It is good that leaders respect each other's opinion. They need to coexist", said the Kitui County Speaker.

Katisya accused Kitui County Agriculture CECM Stephen Mbaya Kimwele for attacks meted out on the young Nguni MCA Jeremiah Mutua. "If a minister walks around with goons whom he has hired and those goons attack the MCA, the MCA is unhappy and he may also choose to react", he explained.

Hon Katisya has also called for tolerance and respect among leaders in the county government. He also accused the Agriculture CECM of insulting Mwingi Central MP Dr Gedion Mulyungi.  He  has called upon police to provide security to all ward representatives.

Former Kitui East MP Kiema Kilonzo.

The former Kitui East MP said MP Mbai falsely accused him of receiving a bribe from a Chinese company to carry out coal mining in his constituency. 

Kilonzo, a former Kenya's ambassador to Turkey and Uganda has  through a Nairobi law firm demanded immediate withdrawal of the defamatory statements. 

He also wants MP Mbai to issue a public apology failure to which his lawyer,  Tom,  O. K'opere of T.O. K'opere & Co. Advocates will take a legal action against Hon Mbai at the lapse of 14 days. 

Through a demand letter dated January 19,  2026 titled "Defamatory Statements Concerning Ambassador Kiema Kilonzo", the lawyer instructed MP Mbai to withdraw and apologise to his client via a newspaper as well as across the social media platforms circulating in Ukambani.

Further, MP Mbai was instructed to give an undertaking not to repeat or publish any further defamatory statements or allegations against former MP. Kiema Kilonzo. Mbai is additionally required to pay damages for alleged injury to former MP Kilonzo's reputation.

He was given 14 days to comply failure to which defamation proceedings will be instituted without further notice and at his own costs.

The lawyers said MP Mbai's remarks gravely injured former MP Kilonzo's credibility and standing exposing him to public ridicule and contempt both in Kenya and abroad. The letter claims that on January 5, 2026, Mbai falsely and maliciously spoke, published and broadcast words injurious to Kilonzo at Nzombe Market in Kitui East Constituency.

Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu during a public participation exercise in Ciampiu market,  Tharaka Ward where he unveiled NGCDF bursary distribution in the Ward. |MWINGI TIMES

Two  of the assisted learners will join senior school at  Tharaka Girls secondary school while one will proceed  to Gankanga secondary school. The legislator further committed to sponsor the trio throughout the rest of their academic journey.

Across the entire Mwingi North constituency, KES 65 million will be distributed by Nzengu to support students achieve their academic dreams with less strains on their parents' pockets. 

Mwingi North NGCDF has  partnered with KCB bank in a programme called 2jiajiri which Eng. Nzengu said so far has supported 120 beneficiaries. "That is a shilling for a shilling partnership  between CDF and KCB where all the beneficiaries are getting sponsored 100% in vocational training.They don't pay anything and they are trained on hands on skills including beauty, wiring and stuff like that," said the MP.

Mbeere North by-election materials secured at Embu High Court ahead of petition hearing. MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

On Tuesday, January 20, 2025, ballot boxes and other sensitive election equipment were moved from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Embu town to a designated secure facility within the High Court compound. The move is intended to preserve the materials as potential evidence should the court order a scrutiny or recount.

The tightly controlled operation was supervised by Resident Magistrate Mercy Kinyua, who oversaw the transfer of 134 ballot boxes containing used ballot papers, as well as additional boxes holding rejected votes and KIEMS kits.

The exercise was carried out under heavy security, with representatives of all parties to the petition, IEBC officials, security agencies and members of the media present to witness the process and ensure transparency.

The transfer followed a preservation order issued on January 15, 2025, by High Court Judge Richard Mwongo, directing that all election materials be placed under court custody ahead of the hearing slated to begin on March 9.

Deputy Registrar Mercy Kinyua said the court would enforce strict access procedures to safeguard the integrity of the materials throughout the petition process.

She emphasized that no party would be allowed to access the secure storage facility on its own, noting that any entry would only be permitted in the presence of all concerned parties.

Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia also assured the parties that the materials would be kept under maximum security for the duration of the case.

To promote joint accountability, all parties involved in the petitions including advocates for both the petitioners and respondents, the IEBC and the Judiciary have been issued with keys to the safe house where the materials are stored.

Lawyers representing the various sides were present during the transfer. 

Dr. Adrian Kamotho Njenga appeared for the declared winner, Leonard Wamuthende, while petitioner Newton Kariuki Ndwiga was represented by advocate Kiriuki Njiri. The IEBC was represented by Embu County Returning Officer Agnes Mutisya.

The court is currently handling two election petitions arising from the by-election. The first was filed by Julieta Karigi Kithumbu and Patrick Gitonga Gichoni, while the second was lodged by Newton Kariuki Ndwiga, who was also a candidate in the race.

In Election Petition No. E002 of 2025, the IEBC is listed as the first respondent, the Returning Officer as the second, John Mwii Kinyua as the third respondent, and the declared winner, Leo Wa Muthende Njeru, as the fourth. The petition alleges irregularities in the conduct of the election and seeks to have the results nullified.

The parties are expected back in court on February 12 for further directions, as the High Court moves to determine the matter within the constitutionally stipulated 60-day period, with judgment expected by May 28.

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Tseikuru Deputy County Commissioner Anetta Mwangi (centre), OCPD Joachim Meja (in striped shirt), police officers and area assistant chiefs show part of illicit brews recovered on January 19,2026 during a raid in Mukamene village, Nziitu sublocation, Tseikuru location,  Kitui county.  The area was thrust to the national limelight when MWINGI TIMES reported tens of locals taking Illicit brews at Mukuna Ikuu river banks just nearby. |MWINGI TIMES

In an coordinated manner,  the officers surrounded the household of Musyoki Mbaluka which had stored brews. Tseikuru OCPD Joachim Meja told MWINGI TIMES that the officers destroyed plastic tanks used to store the liquor in order to curb the brewing taking place in the area.

Leading the administrators was Tseikuru Deputy County Commissioner Anetta Mwangi. The notoriety of Mukamene village appear to underscore a deeper rot. During the raids, a few school going children sat idling in the village while their peers were in school. 

To underscore the shock that befell the village a kilometer from Tseikuru town,  drinking dens which are usually noisy and full of fermented frothy drinks were abandoned with owners and patrons taking to the bushes and river banks to take cover as well as preserve their illicit drinks.  Among those who fled was a pregnant woman.

They left nothing to chance including allegedly hiding liquors in brick stores, or tightly locking their houses not to be seen again. During the operation, police recovered at least two empty 20 litre jericans, and three mugs used by patrons to partake of illicit brews. 

When MWINGI TIMES arrived at Mukamene village a few minutes past 1pm, the team was upbeat to make arrests. Two hours later, the terrain had proven a big advantage to locals who went into hiding and those who remained behind didn't cooperate in giving crucial leads in nabbing suspects or uncovering more brew dens.

By the time we went to press, police were waiting for their Landcruiser to come and collect exhibits as investigations went on. The area has accessibility challenges. 

Mukasya which is prepared with yeast and other ingredients has adverse effects to users who report liver damage.

A section of over hundred locals taking mukasa illicit brews at  Mukuna Ikuu river, Nziitu sublocation, Tseikuru location, Kitui county on Sunday January  18, 2026.|MWINGI TIMES

Electricity outage in Muguusi trading centre, Kyuso Ward,  Kitui County has lasted for three months.  A welder in the area told MWINGI TIMES that he has incurred heavy losses due to prolonged blackout.|MWINGI TIMES

President Dr William Ruto greets young people from Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos Town during the launch of NYOTA programme yesterday. He was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (pictured),  Cabinet Secretaries and MPs.|PCS

The Head of State said due to digitisation of programmes like the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement(NYOTA), every young person had an equal and fair chance of qualifying for the startup capital.

"To eliminate brokers, middleman and use of connections,  and to make sure every young person in Kenya has an equal chance, we made a decision that no one would be recommended by anyone in the NYOTA programme. Everyone had to apply online", said Dr Ruto.

He was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki,  Labour CS Alfred Mutua, Cooperatives and MSMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya, Sports CS Salim Mvurya and Members of Parliament.

The President said NYOTA fund covers the whole country for young people to get business startup capital. "Today, this programme benefits between 70 and 80 young people in each of the country's 1450 wards".

From left; Dr Anifa Atuhaire  Kyambogo University, Uganda, Prof Mosol Kandagor, Moi University, Kenya,  Prof Idris A. Rai, Ag Executive Secretary, IUCEA, Dr Zainabu Idd, State University of Zanzibar, Dr Sarah Ndanu Ngesu, South Eastern Kenya University, Prof, Alexis Ndabarushimana, In-Charge of the Project, Dr Robert Ayine who facilitated the sessions and coordinated discussions in line with the East African Community’s higher education agenda and other IUCEA staff pose for a group photo in Entebbe,  Uganda during a regional workshop for developing academic benchmarks for the Bachelor of Arts in Kiswahili programme.  The workshop was held from June 16th to June 18th 2025.

The workshop convened Kiswahili experts from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to create a unified academic framework that will guide curriculum design, teaching practices, student assessment, and quality assurance in Kiswahili programmes at the university level.

Kenya was represented by Dr. Sarah Ndanu Mwangangi Ngesu of South Eastern Kenya University and Prof. Mosol Kandagor of Moi University, both respected leaders in Kiswahili education and curriculum development.

Other representatives included:

*Burundi: Dr. Irankeje Fiacre and Mr. Mahariyo Innocent

*Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Prof. Kaby Muhubao and Mr. Kitandala Lulonga Zola

*Rwanda: Dr. Wallace Kapele Mlaga and Mr. Sylvain Ntawiyanga

*Somalia: Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim Mohamed

*Uganda: Dr. Atuhaire Anifa, Dr. Richard Ouma, and Dr. Boaz Mutungi

*Tanzania: Dr. Zainabu Idd and Dr. Rajabu Chipila

The workshop was led by senior officers from IUCEA, including Prof. Alexis Ndabarushimana, Prof. Michael Mawa, and Dr. Robert Ayine, who facilitated the sessions and coordinated discussions in line with the East African Community’s higher education agenda.

The core aim of the workshop was to develop harmonized academic benchmarks for the Bachelor of Arts in Kiswahili programme, providing a shared standard for course content, learning outcomes, and pedagogical approaches. This harmonization will help ensure academic quality across institutions while reinforcing Kiswahili’s role as a scholarly and cultural pillar of East Africa.

In her remarks, Dr. Sarah Ngesu highlighted the long-term value of the exercise: “This process will ensure that the teaching of Kiswahili at the university level reflects shared academic standards across East Africa. It is about more than just harmonization; it is about safeguarding the future of Kiswahili as a language of knowledge, identity, and unity.”

One of the most promising outcomes of the benchmarking initiative is the potential to enhance student mobility across the region. A harmonized curriculum will make it easier for students to transfer credits, enrol in institutions outside their home countries, and have their qualifications recognized across East Africa. This will foster academic exchange, cultural interaction, and deeper regional integration.

The initiative supports broader continental goals, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the East African Community’s education harmonization strategy. By positioning Kiswahili as a language of instruction, diplomacy, and innovation, the benchmarks will contribute to the development of a robust, inclusive, and future-ready African education system.

As the workshop concluded on 18th June 2025, participants expressed confidence that the outcomes would serve as a cornerstone for the future of Kiswahili in higher education and as a catalyst for deeper academic collaboration across borders.

Kenya Dairy Board Chairman Genesio Mugo addressing milk farmers at Kigari Teachers' College Embu. MWINGI TIMES |Brian Musyoka

The farmers say placing the factory under farmer ownership would boost milk production, curb persistent wastage and increase incomes across Embu and neighbouring counties.

Speaking in Embu during the launch of the EMKITHA Milk Farmers Union on Thursday 15th January 2026, which brings together dairy farmers from Embu, Kirinyaga and Tharaka Nithi counties, Kenya Dairy Board Chairman Genesio Mugo said the Runyenjes factory has remained idle despite its strategic importance.

“The Runyenjes KCC factory is grossly underutilised yet it has huge potential. If it is given to Embu milk farmers through their cooperative, it can completely transform dairy farming in this region,” Mugo said.

He noted that milk wastage has been a recurring problem due to lack of processing capacity, especially during peak production seasons.

“When farmers have nowhere to take their milk, they are forced to pour it away. Giving them this factory will drastically reduce wastage and stabilise the market,” he added.

Mugo further said farmer ownership would allow value addition, enabling producers to earn more from processed products rather than selling raw milk at low prices. "Value addition is the future. With this factory, farmers can process milk into yoghurt, mala and other products, putting more money directly into their pockets,” he said.

Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire welcomed the proposal, saying the county government is ready to support the revival of the factory if it is handed over to farmers. "We have already set aside Sh200 million as county support towards the Runyenjes factory once it is given to Embu farmers,” Mbarire said.

She urged the national government to complement the county’s effort with additional funding to fully modernise the facility. "I am appealing to the national government to add Sh500 million so that the factory can be equipped with modern machinery and proper infrastructure to serve our farmers effectively,” she said.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government is open to the proposal and promised to escalate the matter to President William Ruto. “I will push this request to the President, but I want to urge milk farmers in Embu to first unite. Unity is key if you want such strategic assets entrusted to you,” Kagwe said.

He emphasised that strong, united cooperatives give farmers better leverage in the market. “When farmers come together and deliver milk to a central point, they gain bargaining power and can negotiate better prices,” he added.

The launch of the EMKITHA Milk Farmers Union was hailed as a major step towards regional cooperation, with leaders saying it will strengthen farmers' voices and improve coordination across counties.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that farmer-led management of the Runyenjes KCC factory would mark a turning point for dairy farming in Embu, positioning the county as a major milk processing hub in the region.

An elephant. Photo used for illustration only. Three stray elephants were spotted in Kiwanza area,  Ukasi village,  Mwingi East sub county, Kitui county.

According  to a resident who spoke to MWINGI TIMES, the animals are said to have been roaming  in the area for weeks now and reportedly invaded and destroyed a lorry that was in motion last night, though no injuries were recorded.

The jumbos are suspected to have strayed from the  Kora National Park and even though Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers have been seen visiting the area in the recent  days, they  have not managed to chase the animals away, posing a huge danger to the locals.