Kitui rising: The story of coal city as told by a resident

Kitui rising: The story of coal city as told by a resident

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

K

itui town’s potential is indisputable. The challenge is for the local leaders to harness the huge human and natural resources at its disposal so that they may transform the lives of Kituians and Kenya at large.

Being the headquarters of Kitui County, my town Kitui has many feathers decorating its hat. It is the seat of the expansive Kitui County Assembly where the MCAs discuss county bills and legislation agenda. The County Assembly also acts as the watchdog for the devolved executive led by Governor Dr. Julius Malombe.

           Economically, the town boosts as home to leading commercial backs such as KCB, Equity, Cooperative, Barclays, National Bank, Post Bank and Family Bank. These attest to the financial potential of the town as well as the entire county.

           The Kitui County Government is expected to be the next frontier for mining. This is due to discovery of colossal coal mining deposits in Mui Basin and a Chinese firm Fenxi Mining Cooperation did exploration and mining is set to kick off once the legal and environmental issues surrounding the natural resource are resolved.

          The Law Society of Kenya Chairman Mr. Eric Mutua, who is the lawyer for the residents of Mui  has been on the frontline to make sure that the owners of the land where the coal sits are compensated and do not get evicted inhumanely. Of course some of the dollars accrued from the mining business will trickle down to Kitui because is the main investment hub in the county.

          The South Eastern University of Kenya (SEKU) in Kitui has devised academic programmes touching on dry land and geology to make it relevant not only in Ukambani but also nationally and globally.  The national schools around here such as Muthale Girls and Kitui School have managed to send renowned intellectuals to the university. For instance, the former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is an old boy of Kitui School. Gospel artiste Hellena Ken of Ngoo Yakwa (My Heart) and Mambo Yabadilika hit songs is an old girl of Mulango Girls in Kitui.

           Kitui also has bragging rights as host to several technical and middle level colleges such as the Kenya Medical Training College and Kitui Institute of Professional Studies. Kenya University has a satellite campus at Kwa Vonza too.

   The cosmopolitan nature of Kitui is captured by the peaceful coexistence of the dominant Kambas with Somalis and Kikuyus among others. The Kikuyus bring farm produce to Kitui market where they sell without discrimination and the Somalis have set up various cloth shops along major streets such as Biashara and Kilungya streets which are strategic enough to attract customers. This being the Ramadhan season, Muslims frequent the Jamia Masjid Mosque at the heart of the city to pray and fast. There is also a sizeable Arab and Swahili population.

          Kitui’s Nzambani rock attracts tourists who relish the myth that climbers in the past used to change genders after making seven rounds along the perimeter of the giant rock. Adults pay only KSh.100 while children pay KSh.50.

There are plans to upgrade Kitui Level Four Hospital to Level Five in order to offer better services to the Kituians.

  Local politicians have invested heavily in the town. Leading by example is Kitui Senator Mr. David Musila who owns the Muli Mall. Muli Mall houses County FM which the senator holds shares and Britam Insurance Company which operates from there. Kalonzo has interest in Athiani FM while the Lands Minister Charity Ngilu provides employment opportunities for Syokimau FM journalists. Other prominent leaders who hail from and around Kitui include Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, LSK Chair Eric Mutua, Former Committee of Experts Chair Nzamba Kitonga S.C. and Prof. Makau Mutua S.C., Dean Sunny Buffalo University in the US.

          The opening of Masii-Machakos road by Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua opened Kitui County to Machakos and Nairobi regions and this is set to boost business. Kitui also enjoys close proximity to Nairobi-Garissa highway.

           However, Kitui is bedeviled by perennial water shortage and incessant food insecurity. Being an Arid and Semi Arid Region (ASAL), rain is unreliable thus making crops to dry up before being harvested when the rain ceases. Governor Malombe’s government should tour the entire county to appraise itself with the dire picture of those who lives in remote regions. In some areas they are further from the county headquarters that they are from Nairobi. Residents walk for long distances in search of water which is unfit for human consumption. In some places as Tseikuru, the water has a lot of fluoride deposits which make the teeth of the users brown. The common beast of burden in Kitui rural is donkey and where conditions are worse like in Mwingi and near Garissa they use camels.

           Kitui town’s potential is indisputable. The challenge is for the local leaders to harness the huge human and natural resources at its disposal so that they may transform the lives of Kituians and Kenya at large.

Battle of the radio queens as game to win followers heats up By Anjellah Owino and Esther Muchene Updated Friday, October 31st 2014 at 15:59 GMT +3 Tweet 0 inShare If you weren’t a radio presenter: I would be a doctor. I was in medical school and at the time it was something I was expected to do then I decided to follow my passion. Monique: Hot 96 Show: The Hot Breakfast and The Hot Spot. How did you get into radio: I initially started on TV as the host of Afrodizia on Citizen and I would get compliments on my voice and so I tried out for radio and got into Homeboyz before I got into Hot 96. First radio show: AfroCentral and Caffe Mocha while I was at HBR. Most embarrassing moment on air: Being over-complimented, which can get out of hand or when I get flirty comments. Challenging bit of radio: Compartmentalising your life; separating your life from radio and people’s perceptions of you can be challenging. Accent: I don’t think I have a heavy accent but maybe it’s because I’m not Kenyan. Then I also didn’t grow up in one place. If you weren’t a radio presenter: I would be doing music in some way. I would still be surrounded by music. On studies: I did community development and started social science but I didn’t clear my course. Relationship status: I am loved and happy at the moment. Work takes most of my time but there’s a special someone.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/pulse/article/2000140018/battle-of-the-radio-queens-as-game-to-win-followers-heats-up?pageNo=6