CS Duale Helds a Meeting with KNUT to Improve Health and Welfare of Teachers under SHA

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March 12, 2026

Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale today held a bilateral meeting with the leadership of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), led by Chairperson Patrick Munuhe, to discuss measures aimed at improving the health and welfare of teachers under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The engagement follows earlier consultations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), as the Government continues to streamline the transition of 413,577 teachers to the new health financing framework.

During the meeting, the CS outlined key actions from the joint communiqué signed on 10 March 2026, focusing on strengthening service delivery, improving system efficiency, and ensuring teachers access quality healthcare under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF).

Among the resolutions reached was the rollout of a continuous member education programme through the teachers’ national network, supported by a 24-hour toll-free helpline (0800 720 601 / Short Code 147) dedicated to teachers.

The initiative will guide members on updating portal information, understanding enhanced POMSF benefits, and using appropriate channels during emergencies. The meeting also agreed to introduce quarterly tripartite utilisation assessments to review data, monitor performance, and strengthen quality assurance across healthcare providers.

To enhance accountability, the CS also highlighted a digital incident reporting mechanism aimed at addressing fraud, double billing, and unauthorised charges outside SHA coverage.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, SHA CEO Dr Mercy Mwangangi, DHA CEO Eng. Anthony Lenayara, KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, and TSC representative Chrisantus Odhiambo, among other officials.

By Anthony Solly

Company Director Arraigned in Court for Allegedly Forging Minutes, Signature to Transfer Firm Vehicles

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Editor

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March 12, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

The Milimani Magistrates court has heard that a company director allegedly forged board meeting minutes and a co-director’s signature to transfer two motor vehicles belonging to the firm into his own name.

The testimony was presented before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Teresia Nyangena, where a forensic document examiner from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) told the court that one of the signatures appearing on documents used to facilitate the transfer of the vehicles was forged.

Inspector Vincent Chilongo, a document examination specialist based at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road, testified that he carried out a forensic analysis of documents submitted by the complainant to determine the authenticity of the signatures contained in them.

The contested document consisted of minutes allegedly signed by Boniface Gichane Maina, a co-director of Digitalent Systems Limited, authorising the accused, Boris Owiye Agonga, to transfer ownership of two vehicles belonging to the company.

The vehicles are Land Rover Discovery registration number KDL 560Z, valued at approximately Ksh6.8 million, and Nissan Sylphy registration number KCZ 648X, valued at about Ksh1.2 million.

According to evidence presented in court, the purported minutes indicated that Agonga had been appointed as the company’s representative with access to the firm’s eCitizen and NTSA portals, thereby allowing him to process the transfer of the vehicles into his personal name.

However, the court heard that Maina denied ever convening a board meeting to approve the transfer of the vehicles and also denied signing the minutes presented to authorities. Following the discovery, he reported the matter to the DCI for investigation.

Inspector Chilongo told the court that after examining the signatures presented for comparison, he concluded that they were authored by different individuals.

“When I examined the three signature specimens provided, I concluded that different authors made them,” he testified.

The court also heard evidence from Corporal Charles Malowa, an investigator attached to the DCI Headquarters Serious Crime Unit, who conducted investigations at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Malowa told the court that investigators obtained documentation showing that the Land Rover Discovery (KDL 560Z) had been purchased by Digitalent Systems Limited from Cars Guru Limited through a sale agreement dated August 15, 2024.

He further stated that the Nissan Sylphy (KCZ 648X) had been acquired earlier by the company from Fortune Automobiles Limited under a sale agreement dated May 27, 2022.

According to Malowa, records from NTSA indicated that both vehicles were transferred to the accused on June 12, 2025, based on the minutes that had been presented to the authority.

“The two vehicles were transferred to the accused person on June 12, 2025, pursuant to the minutes produced to the NTSA,” he told the court.

The court also heard that Maina and Agonga are directors of Digitalent Systems Limited, each holding 450 shares out of the company’s total 900 shares.

Agonga is facing several charges, including stealing by director, making and uttering forged documents and obtaining registration by false pretence.

The court is scheduled to deliver a ruling on March 18, 2026, to determine whether the prosecution has established a case for the accused to answer.

Narcotics Drug Traffickers Busted in Dawn Operation; 180KG Haul Recovered

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Editor

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March 12, 2026

A well-coordinated intelligence-driven operation by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) has dealt a significant blow to a narcotics trafficking ring following the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of a large consignment of suspected narcotic drugs in the early hours of today.

The operation unfolded at around 0200 hours, when vigilant ANU detectives acting on actionable intelligence regarding individuals involved in trafficking narcotic substances mounted a targeted operation in Ng’alalya area of Joska, within Mavoko Sub-County, Machakos County.

Upon arrival in the area, the officers intercepted a motor vehicle registration number KCA 484R, a navy blue Toyota Auris, which had been flagged as a possible carrier of the illicit consignment. The detectives swiftly moved in and secured the vehicle before conducting a meticulous search.

Their efforts yielded a significant discovery. Hidden inside the vehicle were three greenish gunny bags and eleven yellow-taped bales, all packed with greenish dry plant material suspected to be narcotic drugs. The seized exhibits were carefully secured as evidence.

Two suspects who were in the vehicle at the time were immediately arrested. They have been identified as 30-year-old Charles Otibong’or Muruga and 29-year-old Joel Dienya Swart.

However, during the operation, the driver of the vehicle, identified only as Newton, managed to escape from the scene by a whisker. Detectives have since launched a manhunt for the fugitive suspect as investigations intensify.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the recovered consignment has an approximate weight of 180 kilograms, with an estimated street value of Ksh. 5,400,000.

The recovered exhibits have since been securely transported and stored at the DCI Headquarters exhibits store, where they are pending official weighing and sampling to ascertain the precise weight and value as part of the ongoing investigations.

Meanwhile, the suspects are currently being held at Muthaiga Police Station, where they remain in custody pending arraignment before court on charges related to trafficking in narcotic drugs.

The motor vehicle used in the suspected trafficking operation has been detained at Joska Police Station, awaiting transfer to the DCI Headquarters yard as investigations progress.

Detectives are actively pursuing leads aimed at tracking down the escaped suspect and dismantling the broader network believed to be behind the trafficking operation.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reiterates its unwavering commitment to combating narcotics trafficking and protecting communities from the devastating impact of illicit drugs, and urges members of the public to continue sharing information that can aid in the fight against drug-related crimes.

By Anthony Solly

AI Chatbots Are Making People All Think the Same, Study Says

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Editor

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March 12, 2026

A new paper argues that humans are losing varied ways of thinking due to the use of chatbots, and that’s concerning.

Part of what makes us human is the unique ways we think and solve problems. But using large language models like ChatGPT might be eroding this uniqueness and leading humans to think and communicate the same way, according to a group of scientists and psychologists who have co-authored a new opinion paper.

“Individuals differ in how they write, reason, and view the world,” Zhivar Sourati, a computer scientist of the University of Southern California and first author for the paper, said in a statement.

“When these differences are mediated by the same LLMs, their distinct linguistic style, perspective and reasoning strategies become homogenized, producing standardized expressions and thoughts across users,” Sourati continued.

The paper, published Wednesday in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, examines how hundreds of millions of people worldwide use the same handful of chatbots and what that means for our individuality.

Pew Research found that one-third of all Americans used ChatGPT last year, double the 2023 figure. And chatbot use is much more common among teens: Two-thirds say they use chatbots, and almost a third use them daily.

Businesses are also going all in on artificial intelligence. Stanford found that 78% of organizations reported using AI in 2024, up from 55% in 2023.

So we’re using AI a lot. But the danger is that we could lose the diversity in the ways we think. The team points out that LLMs generate writing that varies less than what people come up with on their own.

Part of the reason LLMs may be pushing homogenized thought, according to the paper’s authors, is the data used to train them.

“Because LLMs are trained to capture and reproduce statistical regularities in their training data, which often overrepresent dominant languages and ideologies, their outputs often mirror a narrow and skewed slice of human experience,” Sourati says.

There’s a good reason why the authors warn against this trend. Homogenized thought reduces pluralism, which is essentially the idea that multiple perspectives are good for society as a whole.

“This value of pluralism is rooted in the long-held principle that sound judgment requires exposure to varied thought,” the authors write in the paper. “Unchecked, this homogenization risks flattening the cognitive landscapes that drive collective intelligence and adaptability,”

So we use different ways of thinking to figure out more solutions to a problem. If we lose the ability to think and communicate differently, it could affect how we adapt to new situations.

“The concern is not just that LLMs shape how people write or speak, but that they subtly redefine what counts as credible speech, correct perspective, or even good reasoning,” Sourati says.

The authors also say that this trend even impacts people who don’t use chatbots.

“If a lot of people around me are thinking and speaking in a certain way, and I do things differently, I would feel a pressure to align with them, because it would seem like a more credible or socially acceptable way of expressing my ideas,” Sourati says.

Drama as Woman Smashes Matatu Windscreen after Conductor Allegedly Disappears With Her Balance

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John Mutiso

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March 12, 2026

Drama unfolded in the Nairobi Central Business District after a young woman allegedly smashed a matatu’s windshield following a dispute over her bus fare change.

According to witnesses, the woman had left her residential estate of Buruburu together with her sister, who was escorting her to school.

During the journey, she reportedly handed a bus conductor Ksh 1,000, expecting to receive her balance.

However, upon reaching Luthuli Avenue, the conductor allegedly disappeared without returning her change.

The woman then confronted the driver, asking where the conductor had gone so she could get her money back. Witnesses say the driver responded rudely, telling her to “do whatever she wanted.”

Angered by the response, the woman reportedly picked up stones and hurled them at the matatu, shattering the vehicle’s front windshield.

The situation quickly escalated as matatu touts nearby attempted to grab and beat her. However, members of the public intervened and protected the woman from the mob.

Witnesses said the woman, believed to be a fan of online personality Mbavu Destroyer, later left the scene as tensions eased.

No police statement had been issued by the time of publishing, and it remains unclear whether the matatu crew reported the incident to authorities.

Lawmakers Inspect Progress of Rironi-Mau Summit and James Gichuru-Rironi Highway Project

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Editor

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March 12, 2026

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday conducted an inspection visit to key road infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity along the Nairobi–Nakuru corridor.

The team, led by Ndia Member of Parliament and committee chairperson George Kariuki, toured the ongoing works on the Rironi–Mau Summit Road Project (A8) and the James Gichuru Road Junction–Rironi Highway (A104).

They were accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir and Principal Secretary Joseph Mbugua.

During the visit on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the delegation received a detailed briefing on the progress of the projects from technical teams drawn from the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), and the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation.

Officials explained that the project forms part of broader efforts to upgrade the busy A8 corridor linking Nairobi to western Kenya and neighbouring countries. The Contracting Authority, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), received a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) from China Road and Bridge Corporation together with the Board of Trustees of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) under the Public Private Partnerships framework.

The proposal, submitted on May 25, 2025, covers the development of the Rironi–Gilgil (A8) and Nairobi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha (A8 South) corridor spanning approximately 138.1 kilometres.

Following the review process under the Public Private Partnerships Act, the contracting authority and project sponsors have negotiated and initialled the project agreement.

According to the project brief, the main scope includes the development of a dual carriageway covering about 59 kilometres of the A8 highway between Rironi and Naivasha. Another section between Naivasha and Gilgil, approximately 22 kilometres long, will be expanded into a six-lane dual carriageway.

The project will also include the development of additional sections of the A8 South corridor between Rironi, Mai Mahiu and Naivasha, including the upgrading of approximately 35.1 kilometres of the route to improve mobility and safety along the rapidly growing transport corridor.

Plans also include the construction of three toll stations along the A8 corridor and one along the A8 South Road as part of the Public Private Partnership financing model.

Preliminary works currently underway involve the design and construction of priority sections, including Section One covering the first five kilometres (Km 0+000 to Km 5+000) and Section Two covering approximately 3.2 kilometres between Km 55+000 and Km 58+200.

Project officials reported that the contractor has already opened several sections of the corridor for initial works, including stretches between kilometre 0+000 and kilometre 22+000 as well as other segments along the route.

Members of the parliamentary committee acknowledged the progress made so far by the ministry and the implementing agencies. However, they urged the contractor to prioritize local labour in order to create employment opportunities for youth and residents living near the project areas.

The lawmakers also took time to engage with Members of the public during the visit, reassuring them that the government remains committed to completing the road projects, which are expected to significantly ease travel along one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.

Cabinet Secretary Chirchir expressed appreciation for the Committee’s support and oversight, noting that collaboration between Parliament, the ministry and implementing agencies was key to ensuring the timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects.

By Anthony Solly

TikTok will let you stream full songs in its app if you’re an Apple Music subscriber

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Editor

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March 12, 2026

TikTok will soon let you stream full songs in its app via a new integration with Apple Music. The company’s new Play Full Song feature makes it possible to link your Apple Music account toTikTok, and play any song that strikes your fancy directly in the app while you’re scrolling.

Starting a song is as simple as tapping a button in the Sound Details page or your For You page. Assuming you pay for Apple Music, TikTok will then open up a streamlined version of Apple’s music player, which you can use to listen to the song, save it for later or add it to a playlist.

TikTok says that Play Full Song is built using Apple’s MusicKit APIs, which let developers surface elements of the Apple Music streaming service in their apps.

TikTok has previously offered integration with multiple music streaming services through a feature it calls Add to Music App, which made it possible to save songs you heard on TikTok to your streaming library.

What’s particularly interesting about this new integration is that because it’s using Apple’s APIs, songs streamed with Play Full Song count as normal streams for the artists in Apple Music, so they don’t lose out on any money.

Alongside the new feature, TikTok and Apple are also introducing a way for fans to listen to music live with their favorite artists.

TikTok’s Listening Party feature creates a live “shared environment” where people can listen to music and interact with artists directly, in what effectively sounds like an audio-only livestream.

TikTok livestreams are a whole ecosystem in their own right, and Listening Party seems like a way to leverage some of the same technology for a more controlled, music promotion-focused end.

TikTok is already a popular tool for music discovery and launching the career of new artists, and the platform also briefly dabbled in offering a streaming service of its own in 2023.

The company abandoned those plans in 2024, but under new owners, TikTok’s ambitions could ultimately be bigger than just offering nice integrations with existing streaming services.

TikTok says Play Full Song and Listening Party are rolling out worldwide “in the weeks ahead,” so if you don’t see either feature now, you may soon.

By Mary Mumbua

Gachagua hosts 10 Kirinyaga UDA MCAs in bid to consolidate Mt Kenya

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John Mutiso

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March 12, 2026

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has welcomed 10 Members of the County Assembly from Kirinyaga who have defected from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

In a statement issued on Thursday, March 11, 2026, Gachagua said the leaders visited him at his Wamunyoro residence, where they formally declared their decision to align with his political outfit.

According to him, the delegation informed him that their voters had directed them to join DCP and take a stand against what they described as the oppression and persecution of Kenyans.

The former deputy president praised the MCAs for following the wishes of their constituents, saying their decision reflects the political mood on the ground as the country begins positioning itself ahead of the next General Election. He urged the leaders to remain firm despite possible intimidation or political pressure following their defection.

“This morning, I received a delegation of 10 members of the County Assembly of Kirinyaga who visited me at my Wamunyoro residence. They conveyed that they have been instructed by their voters to join the DCP party and to stand as defenders of the community, abandoning those who persecute and oppress the people of Kenya.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua welcoming Kirinyaga MCAs to DCP party on Thursday, March 12, 2026. PHOTO//https://www.facebook.com/DPGachagua

“I commended the members for aligning with the wishes of their constituents as we prepare for the Next year General Elections.”

Gachagua also noted that the development comes at a time when he is preparing for a three-day political tour of Kirinyaga County, a region expected to play a key role in his growing political activities in the Mount Kenya bloc.

The MCAs who joined DCP include Jeremiah Makimi of Kariti Ward, Isaiah Mbogo of Kabare Ward, Mutithi Ward Deputy Speaker Jinaro Jemumo, Timothy Kariuki-Sedi of Njukini Ward, Thomas Mwangi of Mukure Ward, Fredrick Maina Karimi of Inoi Ward, Geoffrey Murimi of Kiine Ward, Peter Njiru-Weche of Wamumu Ward, Peter Karinga of Tebere Ward and James Wambu of Kangai Ward.

Their entry into DCP adds to other Kirinyaga MCAs who had earlier aligned themselves with Gachagua’s political camp. These include David Mathenge of Baragwi Ward, Kawangui of Mutira Ward and Eric Muchina of Kerugoya Town Ward.

Gachagua announces 3-day Kirinyaga County tour

By

John Mutiso

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March 12, 2026

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced a three-day tour in Kirinyaga County after a visit by select members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly.

Taking to his official X account on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Gachagua received a delegation of 10 members of the County Assembly of Kirinyaga who visited him at his Wamunyoro residence.

On his part, Gachagua revealed that the MCA’s were instructed by their voters to join his party at the height of the upcoming 2027 general elections.

“This morning, I received a delegation of 10 members of the County Assembly of Kirinyaga who visited me at my Wamunyoro residence. They conveyed that they have been instructed by their voters to join the DCP party and to stand as defenders of the community, abandoning those who persecute and oppress the people of Kenya,” Gachagua said.

On his part, Gachagua lauded the ten MCA’s, encouraging them to remain steadfast in the face of any intimidation, inducements, or harassment.

“I commended the members for aligning with the wishes of their constituents as we prepare for the Next year General Elections. I also encouraged them to remain steadfast in the face of any intimidation, inducements, or harassment that may follow after today’s bold yet politically sound decision,” he stated.

“This collective move by these leaders is timely, especially as I prepare for an extensive three-day tour of Kirinyaga County,” Gachagua said.

This morning, I received a delegation of 10 members of the County Assembly of Kirinyaga who visited me at my Wamunyoro residence.

They conveyed that they have been instructed by their voters to join the DCP party and to stand as defenders of the community, abandoning those who… pic.twitter.com/0vHEk2D0zY
— Rigathi Gachagua (@rigathi) March 12, 2026

The DCP Party leader further listed the MCA’s present, including the Kirinyaga County Assembly Deputy Speaker.

“The leaders joining us include Hon. Jeremiah Makimi (Kariti Ward), Dr. Isaiah Mbogo (Kabare Ward), Jinaro Jemumo, Deputy Speaker (Mutithi Ward), Timothy Kariuki-Sedi (Njukini Ward), Thomas Mwangi (Mukure Ward), Fredrick Maina Karimi (Tebere Ward), Geoffrey Murimi (Kiine Ward), Peter Njiru-Weche (Wamumu Ward), and James Wambu (Kangai Ward),” he added.

He further added; “their decision to join the DCP team strengthens the party’s efforts, adding to the ranks of MCA’s David Mathenge and Eric Muchina as defenders,” Gachagua added.

Gachagua’s meet-up came at the height of a political storm brewing within the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) following a public accusation by Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina against the party’s deputy leader and former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala.

In a scathing statement shared via her official X account on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in which she tagged Malala, Maina claimed that the former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general had met a section of Kirinyaga Members of County Assembly (MCAs) allied to Governor Anne Waiguru.

According to her, Malala facilitated the said MCAs with Ksh20,000 each, the money she claims was intended to create a splinter group in Kirinyaga County aimed at weakening DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua’s political influence.

“@Cleophasmalala I am aware that yesterday, between 8.00PM-10.00PM, you met a section of MCA’s allied to Gov. Anne Waiguru from Kirinyaga county at Golden Palm Kenol. I’m also aware that the agenda was to create a splinter group to fight H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH’s foot soldiers in that county. You facilitated the MCAs in attendance with Kshs. 20,000; monies you obtained from persons who seek to derail the agenda of the people and the united alternative government,” Maina stated.

Lands Committee Continues Probe into Ownership of Miwani Sugar LTD Land

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Editor

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March 12, 2026

The Departmental Committee on Lands today continued its probe on the ownership of a contentious land parcel forming the nucleus estate of Miwani Sugar Mills Limited.

The Committee chaired by North Mugirango MP Hon. Joash Nyamoko seoararely met the acting chairperson of the Kenya Sugar Board Mr. Jude Chesire, and the Chief Land Registrar Mr. David Nyandoro who was representing PS for Lands Hon. Nixon Korir on the matter. The Probe follows a petition filed by Suba South MP Hon. Caroli Omondi.

The meeting with Mr. Chesire, however, failed to kick off after the Committee raised concerns about the clarity of documents he had shared with the Committee.

The MPs directed that Mr. Chesire appears before the Committee on Tuesday March 24, 2026 accompanied by all his fellow members of the Board.

During the engagement with the Chief Land Registrar, the Committee sought to know the action taken by the Lands Ministry in light of a Court of Appeal Ruling in suit relating to the contentious parcel.

Mr. Nyandoro told the Committee that the Ministry was at crossroads having registered a more recent decision from a Constitutional Petition fron the Land and Environment Court in 2021 while an earlier contrary judgement from the Court of Appeal COA in 2008.

At the time, the COA was the highest in judicial hierachy.

“The COA determined a civil case while the ELC determined a constitutional petition. The ministry requires further guidance from the Judiciary/Courts,” noted Mr. Nyandoro on behalf of the Lands PS.

The Committed directed the lands ministry to prepare and present a cleaned up breakdown of events leadihg to the present stalemate.

Hon. Nyamoko, noted that the said land dispute was extremely emotive and tasked the ministry to speed up processing the said request for speedy conclusion of the matter as extremely emotive on the ground.

“As you have found out from this meeting, this issue is very emotive and we need yoy and the lands ministry to cooperate so that we can bring it to a logical conclusion,” noted Hon. Nyamoko.

Also expected to appear before the Committee is the PS for Agriculture to shed more light on specific concerns raised in the Petition.

The Muhoroni MP Hon. James K’Oyoo was also present during the meeting alongside Suba South MP Hon. Caroli Omondi.

By Anthony Solly

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