By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

Speaking to journalists in Embu Town, KUPPET Embu Branch Secretary General Jacob Karuraa said the transfer and deployment of teachers and principals is the sole responsibility of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and not politicians or other leaders.

Karuraa termed the incident at the school as regrettable and demeaning, arguing that it created tension among teachers and students and interfered with the normal running of the institution.

According to the union official, reports indicated that the MP allegedly led members of the public to the school compound, where the principal’s office was locked, an act KUPPET says amounted to intimidation of teachers and school administrators.

He maintained that elected leaders have no authority over the management of teachers, warning that continued political interference in schools could destabilize learning institutions across the county.

Karuraa further urged politicians in Embu and the rest of the country to respect the mandate of TSC, emphasizing that employment, transfers, promotions and disciplinary matters concerning teachers are protected by law.

On claims of ethnic discrimination, the KUPPET official stated that schools must remain neutral institutions where professionalism and competence are prioritized above tribal or political interests.

He insisted that the union would firmly resist any attempts to profile or intimidate teachers on the basis of their ethnic backgrounds, adding that educators deserve dignity, protection and respect while carrying out their duties.

Karuraa also linked the increasing cases of unrest and strikes in schools within Embu County to political interference in education matters, saying external pressure on institutions was negatively affecting stability in schools.

"We shall mobilize our members to protest outside the office of Wamuthende .He should stop intimidating teachers,"Karuraa said.

He warned that if the alleged interference by politicians continues, KUPPET would seek legal redress to safeguard teachers and clarify who is legally mandated to run schools.

The sentiments were echoed by KUPPET Embu Chairperson David Mbogo, who condemned the happenings at St. Bakhita Siakago Girls, describing the actions as unlawful and harmful to the teaching fraternity.

Mbogo accused politicians of creating fear among teachers and learners through acts of intimidation, saying no teacher should be targeted because of performance claims or ethnic considerations.

"The mandate of transfer and posting of teachers is solely with the Teachers Service Commission.We don't want politicians to interfere with teachers," he said.

He called on the Teachers Service Commission to protect teachers from harassment and ensure that educators are able to discharge their responsibilities in a peaceful and professional environment.

KUPPET officials further appealed to security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly, even as they warned that the union could consider industrial action if political leaders continue interfering with the management of schools and the welfare of teachers.

Parents and other stakeholders on Saturday 23rd May, staged protests at the institution demanding the removal of the Chief Principal over alleged poor academic performance and leadership concerns.They locked the principal's office using a chain.

Mbeere North MP Leonard Wa Muthende who was there during the closure revealed that he had written to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) a week earlier seeking the transfer of the principal, but had not received any response. He claimed the principal’s previous performance record had raised concerns among parents and leaders over her ability to match the school’s expectations.

By MULAIMU MAVUSYU 

I still stand by my earlier observation regarding the loud political statements that followed the tragic massacre of innocent residents in Tseikuru and Ngomeni Wards. At the time, I said that once the burials were over, the issue would slowly fade from public attention — and sadly, that is exactly what has happened.

Today, life appears to have returned to normal, except for the grieving families and relatives who continue to carry the pain and trauma of losing their loved ones. There have been no meaningful arrests, no sustained public engagement, and no serious long-term effort to address the recurring insecurity associated with the notorious Ngamia herders. As has happened before, the political rhetoric only resurfaces after another tragedy, before fading away once again until the next loss of innocent lives. Yet this is a challenge that can be addressed permanently if our political leadership approaches it with honesty, sobriety, unity, and long-term vision.

One of the most practical and timely solutions lies in the proposed opening and protection of the wildlife corridor linking Meru and Kora ecosystems through Mwingi North Game Reserve and extending down to South Kitui and Tsavo East. This is not merely a conservation project; it is a strategic opportunity to address insecurity while also unlocking major environmental and economic benefits for the region.

At the national level, there is already growing discussion around the protection and restoration of recognized wildlife corridors. This presents a rare opportunity for Kitui County to position itself within a broader national and global agenda that touches on climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and wildlife management.

Such a corridor would not only help reduce recurring human-wildlife and human-herder conflicts, but could also support the growth of a vibrant tourism economy across the county. With proper planning and political goodwill, this initiative has the potential to create thousands of jobs and economic opportunities for young people while contributing meaningfully to Kenya’s environmental commitments, including the global “30 by 30” conservation target.

What is lacking today is not opportunity, but a deliberate political action plan. This is therefore the time for the Woman Representative, Senator, Members of Parliament, MCAs, and all aspiring leaders from the affected regions to come together and hold an honest, solution-oriented conversation around the corridor agenda. The goal should be to pursue a permanent and sustainable solution to the insecurity challenge that has affected local communities for many years.

Other counties and regions have successfully used conservation corridors and structured land-use planning to reduce insecurity and stimulate economic growth. Kitui can learn from such examples and chart its own path toward peace, stability, and development.

This is an opportune moment to act. Our leaders must rise above politics of reaction and embrace politics of long-term solutions for the benefit of present and future generations.

By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

In a detailed judgment delivered at the High Court of Kenya in Embu today Thursday 21st May 2026, the court found that although several irregularities and electoral malpractices had been highlighted during the hearing, none of them substantially affected the final outcome of the election.

 The court consequently certified Leo Wa Muthende as the duly elected MP for Mbeere North Constituency.

The petitioner had challenged the election on multiple grounds, including allegations of violence, voter bribery, unlawful interference with the voter register, misuse of state resources, irregular appointment of election officials, and mishandling of election materials. He argued that the cumulative effect of the alleged violations rendered the election unconstitutional, illegal and invalid.

On the issue of appointment and dismissal of presiding officers, the court ruled that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient evidence identifying the officers allegedly irregularly appointed or dismissed.

 Justice Mwongo observed that the petition did not specify which legal provisions had been breached and found no proof of any disqualifying conduct by election officials.

The court also dismissed claims that failure to deploy printed voter registers disenfranchised voters. The court ruled that the evidence presented showed that physical voter registers were available at every polling station and that the KIEMS kits contained soft-copy replicas of the same registers. The judge concluded that no voter had been denied the opportunity to vote.

On allegations of unlawful interference with voter registration data, the court acknowledged evidence showing that an IEBC registration officer using an open KIEMS kit could alter voter registration details even after the register had been “frozen.” However, the court noted that only one voter was registered after the freeze and ruled that there was no proof the interference was widespread or intended to manipulate the election outcome.

Justice Mwongo further stated that while the isolated alteration of the register could amount to a criminal offence by the officer involved, there was no evidence that the single incident affected the will of the electorate in Mbeere North.

The petition also cited incidents of violence and intimidation at polling stations, particularly in Gitiburi and Kaungu. The court confirmed that violence occurred in those areas, especially at Kaungu, and that voter turnout dropped after the disturbances.

 However, the judge ruled that the violence was neither widespread nor systematic enough to substantially affect the election results.

On allegations of bribery and undue influence, the court found credible evidence from two witnesses suggesting that electoral bribery may have occurred. Justice Mwongo held that the acts complained of could amount to criminal electoral malpractice under Section 87 of the Elections Act. Despite this finding, the court maintained that there was no evidence demonstrating that the malpractice significantly altered the final vote.

The court also examined allegations relating to broken chain of custody and mishandling of election materials. While irregularities were identified at Gitiburi polling stations, the judge ruled that there was no evidence that votes were tampered with or that the irregularities were substantial enough to invalidate the election.

Claims that state resources and public officers were used to improperly influence voters equally failed. The court found that although names of public officers had been mentioned, the petitioner failed to provide evidence of their official roles, the alleged abuse of office, or how such actions influenced voters and affected the election outcome.

The scrutiny exercise conducted during the case also revealed inconsistencies between Forms 35A and 35B amounting to a ten-vote difference. However, the court described the discrepancies as clerical mistakes arising from translocation errors rather than evidence of fraud or manipulation. The judge noted that scrutiny of overwritten forms did not reveal any major discrepancies.

One of the most striking findings in the judgment related to assisted voters. The court established that Regulation 72(6) of the Elections (General) Regulations had been violated because over 1,000 assisted voters were not properly recorded in the physical registers, KIEMS records, or polling station diaries. Additionally, six individuals were found to have assisted more than one voter contrary to the law.

Despite these findings, the court ruled that the assisted voter evidence had emerged during scrutiny and had not been specifically pleaded in the petition. Justice Mwongo therefore held that the court could not rely on that evidence to invalidate the election.

The court capped the costs of the petition at KSh 4 million, with the IEBC and the first three respondents entitled to 70 percent of the costs while Leo Wa Muthende, the fourth respondent, would receive 30 percent. The judgment also directed that criminal aspects identified during the proceedings, including unlawful alteration of the register and double assistance of voters, be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.

The petitioner Newton Kariuki Ndwiga through his lawyer Ndegwa Njiru said he will make an appeal over the judgement.

"We will be moving to the court of appeal,"Njiru said.

Wamuthende on his side said the win was for the people of Mbeere North who stood in line to vote. He said he was ready to defend his win even in the Court of Appeal.

‎By JOHN MUSEMBI

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The maximum temperature across the county will vary between 26°C and 35°C while the. minimum temperature range is expected to be between 15°C and 23°C in the next one week.

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‎As has been happening before, strong winds will blow at a speed of around 25knots in most parts of the County.

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‎Residents have been advised to get in touch with extension officers from their localities for best advice on farm practices to use in light of this weather forecast.

By MUTUA KANYANGE 

  Barely a fortnight after the assembly rejected both the KSh14.3 billion Supplementary Budget II for 2025/2026 fiscal year and KSh13.78 billion 2026/27 financial budget estimates, Dr Malombe maintained he would not back down and questioned why the Speaker Kevin Kinengo was allegedly advancing witch-hunt against his leadership. 

  Malombe accused the assembly of being disgraceful and dishonest in its attempt to paralyse the county and derail service delivery to people at the tail end of his tenure in office.

 The governor accused the speaker and a section of his allied MCAs of undermining his government after he re-channeled money for construction of ward offices to build and complete Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) classrooms in various wards.

 Speaking at Lundi market and Yumbu health dispensary in Mui ward, Mwingi East Sub County during commissioning of KSh17 million Kaki-Kilali sumpwell water supply project and maternity wing respectively on May 15, 2026, the governor said the resolution by the assembly was unacceptable and would result in political and service delivery fallout.

 Malombe who was accompanied by his deputy Augustine Kanani, said his administration would not let the Speaker and a section of allied MCAs to cause destruction and ruin his leadership by playing partisan politics within and outside the assembly chambers for financial and egocentric interests.

  “Our stand as county government is that we won’t be shaken, intimidated or coerced by forces within or outside the assembly to lose focus and divert our attention in changing the livelihoods of residents between now and the 2027 General Elections. ‘The Kitui Promise’ in the 16-agenda development map shall be accomplished. No ifs, no buts,” Malombe said.

 County ministers Peter Kilonzo (Finance), Mbaya Kimwele (Agriculture) John Mwendandu (Environment) and Reuben Itiko (Roads) said it was laughable for the assembly with majority of youthful MCAs including the speaker to try to gag the Executive from political involvement.

  Kilonzo who was backed by chief officers, Stephen Salee (Decentralisation), Aggrey Kamba (Drugs), Lynn Kitwan (Public Health) and John Makau (Finance) told the assembly to shut up, maintaining the county executive committee members would not shy away from playing "constructive politics" to champion for Malombe’s achievements since 2022 and rallying the residents behind his leadership in accelerating development projects and improve public service delivery.

 “We are in politics to stay. Let them stop vomiting their dirt in public. We won’t buy their threats and demands,” Kilonzo said.

  This comes after the assembly condemned the involvement of some county officers in active politics, warning that such conduct was unlawful and contrary to the principles of public service neutrality.

 Reacting to the Speaker's communication during a plenary sitting, the MCAs questioned why some officers were allegedly engaging in early campaigns, terming the conduct a breach of law and public trust. They demanded that any such officers immediately desist or face exposure on the floor of the House.

 Speaker Kinengo cited key legal provisions governing the conduct of public officers, including Article 75(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which provides that public officers shall behave in a manner that avoids conflict between personal interests and public duties, and shall not engage in activities that compromise political neutrality.

  Section 23 of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012,  prohibits State and public officers from engaging in political activities that may compromise their impartiality or the performance of their official duties.

  The county assembly recommended that the Committee on Labour and Social Service to investigate the matter and oversight the County Public Service Board and report to the House within two months, all sectoral committees to investigate the conduct of county executive committee members and oversight all county executive departments and report to the House on any instances of partisan political conduct inconsistent with the constitutional and statutory requirements within two months.

 The Speaker emphasised that public office must remain politically neutral, and warned against any conduct that undermines professionalism and service delivery.