By MUSYOKA NGUI 

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By BRIAN MUSYOKA 

Speaking at Nica Kithare Church, Njeru said although tea factories do borrow money, the loans are obtained for various purposes, including factory operations, capital investments and expansion projects, and should not automatically be linked to farmers’ bonuses.

He said it was misleading to claim that factories have been borrowing loans to pay farmers their bonuses, noting that the financial position and borrowing needs of individual factories differ.

Njeru explained that some factories, particularly in the West of the Rift, may occasionally require financing to bridge cash-flow gaps arising from low tea absorption at the auction and weaker prices. However, he maintained that this should not be generalized to all tea factories.

He cited Rukuriri Tea Factory as an example, saying it secured a Sh150 million loan to facilitate the installation of orthodox tea processing machinery. He dismissed claims that the factory has a Sh300 million loan, saying the Sh150 million facility is almost fully repaid.

Njeru said most factories in the East of the Rift have stronger financial capacity to meet their operational costs and farmers’ payments while also investing in projects aimed at improving efficiency and increasing returns to farmers.

His remarks come amid claims that farmers could receive a lower bonuses because factories were allegedly still servicing loans taken during the previous payout.

Njeru maintained that borrowing by a tea factory should not automatically be interpreted as borrowing to pay farmers’ bonuses, insisting that each factory’s financial position should be assessed on its own circumstances.

He also called for patience as investigations into the Sh322 million fertilizer transaction continue, saying the outcome of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) probe will establish the facts surrounding the matter.

Njeru reiterated KTDA’s commitment to transparency, sound governance and safeguarding the interests of tea farmers.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT 

Rev. Mutua was installed Bishop during a colourful ceremony held on Saturday at the Tulanduli Jerusalem Miracle Church in Kyuso, Mwingi North Sub-County, Kitui County. The ceremony was attended by Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu and a large congregation of church faithful. 

Apostle Kisilu officiated the consecration and formally handed over the leadership of the church to Bishop Mutua.The enthronement was preceded by another significant ceremony earlier in the day, during which Apostle Kisilu solemnised the marriage of Bishop Mutua and his wife of 27 years, Josephine Kalumu.

According to Dr. Kisilu, formalising the couple’s marriage was a necessary requirement for Mutua to qualify for consecration as bishop. He led the couple in exchanging their marital vows as an excited congregation ululated and cheered, paving the way for Mutua’s subsequent installation as the church’s head in Kenya.

Dr. Kisilu said he had decided to hand over the leadership mantle after his recent elevation to the position of apostle, a role he said came with greater responsibilities within the body of Christ. “I have won many souls to Christ. I have mentored and trained many church leaders who are competent. I have no doubt that I am leaving the church in safe hands under Bishop Charles Mutua,” Kisilu said.

He challenged his successor to embrace the responsibility and authority entrusted to him by visiting the church’s congregations across the country and providing spiritual guidance and nourishment to the faithful.

In his acceptance speech, Bishop Mutua attributed his rise within the Jesus Miracle Family Church to Apostle Kisilu, whom he credited with helping him turn his life around and embrace Christianity.

Mutua said he first met Dr. Kisilu in 1998, when the latter led him to salvation. He said he had remained committed to the church ever since, serving in various leadership capacities within the ministry.

“I am here as your new bishop. You have elevated me to this high position in the church. The responsibility that comes with it is enormous, and I need your full support to excel,” Bishop Mutua said.

He pledged to work closely with the church’s leadership and congregation to strengthen the ministry and advance its mission across Kenya.

By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

The victims, a Grade Nine pupil, a Grade Eight pupil and a Grade Four pupil, reportedly developed severe stomach complications after their family consumed maize purchased from a local shop.

According to a family member, the children began experiencing stomach discomfort, bloating and vomiting a few hours after eating food prepared from the maize.

Their mother initially believed the symptoms were a normal stomach ailment, but their condition deteriorated, prompting her to seek medical attention at Mutomo Mission Hospital in Kitui South last Tuesday.

The family member said doctors at the facility suspected food poisoning and commenced treatment.  “The family went to Mutomo Mission Hospital last Tuesday, where the children were examined and the doctor said it was food poisoning,” the family member said.

The Grade Nine pupil, who was the eldest of the three, died while receiving treatment at Mutomo Mission Hospital. Doctors subsequently referred the remaining two children to Kitui Level Four Hospital for specialised medical care.

The family member said the children were in critical condition, with the eldest developing severe symptoms after admission. “Their urine was so yellow, and their stomachs were swollen. After being admitted at around 8 p.m., the Grade Nine pupil became worse and started vomiting blood. He later died,” the family member said.

The two children were admitted to Kitui Level Four Hospital on Wednesday, August 19. However, the Grade Eight pupil died later that night while undergoing treatment.

His younger sister, a Grade Four pupil, remained in hospital and continued receiving treatment until Saturday evening, August 22, when she also succumbed to her illness.

The deaths have left the family and residents of the area in shock, with questions being raised over the safety of the maize allegedly purchased from the local shop.

According to the family member, police were notified after doctors raised concerns that the children's condition could have been linked to poisoning. “After the doctors suspected that the children had been affected by poison from the maize, they called the Kitui OCS, who contacted the local administration. The administration then summoned residents who had consumed the said maize,” she said.

Police and other relevant authorities have launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the children's deaths and determine whether the maize was contaminated.

Authorities are also expected to establish whether the maize contained a poisonous substance and how it may have been introduced into the food supply.

The investigation will further determine whether any individual or business bears responsibility for the suspected contamination, with appropriate legal action expected if wrongdoing is established.

Authorities have not yet released an official statement confirming the specific substance allegedly responsible for the deaths.

By JOSPHINE MWENDE 

The concerns were raised during a multi-agency stakeholder engagement held in Kitui town on August 21, bringing together representatives of civil society organisations, the Ministry of Health, youth and women networks and other duty bearers.

Participants said congestion was among the most pressing challenges, particularly in the maternity wards, where some mothers were reportedly forced to share beds with their newborns, exposing both mothers and babies to unhealthy conditions.

They also raised concerns over long queues and congestion at the OutPatient Department (OPD), saying patients were spending excessive amounts of time seeking services. “There is something to be done. That congestion is real. From the wards to where people are registering cards, people are taking a lot of time,” a resident said.

Stakeholders further questioned delays associated with the SHA system, saying some patients had reportedly been held at the hospital after discharge because their claims could not be processed. “Patients have been discharged but instead of going home to rest, the hospital is holding them because SHA is not working. Others are being referred to other hospitals where SHA is working,” another stakeholder said.

The meeting also raised concerns over alleged negative attitudes among some healthcare workers. Participants attributed the situation partly to staff shortages, which they said had increased workloads and affected the quality of patient care.

Concerns over sanitation were also highlighted, with participants describing parts of the hospital as unhygienic and unsuitable for patients recovering from illness.

Stakeholders further called for an increase in the number of ambulances in the county, saying shortages had contributed to delays in accessing emergency care. One resident claimed families were sometimes forced to pay up to KSh15,000 for private ambulance services to transport patients to Nairobi.

The availability of medicines and medical supplies was another major concern, with participants alleging that some patients were being sent to private chemists to purchase drugs and other commodities.

County health officials attributed some of the challenges to the high number of patients seeking services at the referral hospital, noting that the facility receives more than 3,000 outpatient visits daily.

On medicine shortages, an official said the county’s health budget was often insufficient to meet the hospital’s needs, while reliance on the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) was sometimes affected by shortages of essential commodities.

Regarding SHA, officials said low registration among residents had delayed the flow of funds to the county health system. They urged residents to register with SHA to facilitate funding and improve healthcare services.

The stakeholders called on the county government and hospital management to implement urgent measures to improve service delivery and restore public confidence in the facility.