Investors seeking land around Lake Naivasha have been warned to keep off as majority of the title deeds are fraudulent.

Issuing the warning, Naivasha MP John Kihagi who is also a member for Institute of Surveyors of Kenya(ISK) said that many buyers were falling prey to unscrupulous land dealers.

Kihagi said that majority of the land been sold around the lake fell under the riparian area which belongs to the state.

“We have come to learn that some people are selling part of the riparian land to unsuspecting traders and we are calling on potential investors to be wary before buying this land,” he said.

Addressing the press in Naivasha, Kihagi said that the ongoing process of reclaiming all blocked corridors around the lake would continue.

He said that the parliamentary committee on land was working with the National Land Commission in opening the corridors.

The legislator noted that a committee formed by Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua had already identified all the blocked corridors around the lake.

“Some traders have grabbed public land and we shall make sure that all the blocked corridors are opened up,” he said.

This came as Naivasha sub-country commissioner Mohamed Abass issued the red alert over an increase in bogus land buying companies in the area.

Abass called on members of the public to be wary of the companies and uncertified surveyors who had invaded the lakeside town.

The alert comes barely a week after the sub-county security team expressed its concern over an increase in the number of land disputes in the region.

The commissioner said that his office was dealing with at least five cases of land disputes in the area every week.

“We are calling on members of the public to wary of bogus land buying companies and surveyors around Naivasha town,” he said in his office.

Abass identified Mai Mahiu and Longonot areas as some of the region with high number of land disputes.

- The Standard

Four years ago, I began a photo project on the sex trafficking of young women in Eastern Europe. I interviewed and photographed girls who had escaped. Some had been trafficked to Turkey and Russia. Others were taken as far as the United Arab Emirates, lured by the promise of legitimate jobs and a brighter future. Once they arrived in the new country, they were priced and sold, and their documents taken away. The young women told me they were forced to service mechanics, soldiers, priests, butchers, tourists, and even U.N. personnel who were supposed to protect them.

I grew up in Eastern Europe and met Vika on my second reporting trip to Moldova. She told me she had been trafficked to Dubai, at times serving 30 clients a day. She quickly learned the only English words necessary to keep her owner from hitting her: “How much?” and “With or without plastic?” Once, without plastic, her luck ran out and she got pregnant. It didn’t matter. Her pimp kept her working for the duration of her pregnancy.

After hearing Vika’s stories, Dubai became a place I felt I had to see to understand.

Dubai has been described as the Las Vegas of the Middle East. Emerging as a world business hub in the last decade, the city strives to keep breaking new records: the world’s tallest building, the world’s first seven star hotel, the world’s biggest shopping mall, the world’s largest manmade port. Dubai’s free trade zone is a major enticement for foreign investors, and the boomtown atmosphere has attracted more than 180 nationalities to come live and work here. In this playground of the Middle East, I found indoor ski slopes, camel races and dizzying skyscrapers.

When I arrived to report this story with my video camerawoman Sachi Cunningham, I was prepared to confront the human degradation of Vika’s experience, but I was surprised to find something else. I met women working as prostitutes who told me that they were doing so because they had chosen to. Sasha, for example, was trafficked from Siberia and serviced clients against her will. But then she managed to run away from her madam and decided to continue to work as a prostitute on her own. Her English was good, so I asked her why she didn’t find a job as a salesperson in one of the many shopping malls in Dubai. She said she could earn more in one night as a prostitute than working a whole month in sales. And she wouldn’t have to stand on her feet all day. Like many other girls I spoke with, Sasha charges $500 dirhams per hour (about US$140). She told me that the money she sends home to Siberia has allowed her family to build a house.

I met another woman from Azerbaijan who was living with a “boyfriend,” the term she used to describe one of her regular clients. She told me how he would often lock her in the apartment to keep her services exclusively for himself. When I first met her, she talked about her son back home and how she had sent money to buy him his first computer. The second time we met, she was drunk and missing a front tooth. When I asked her what had happened, she shrugged it off: “We got into a fight, he punched me,” she said, lighting up another cigarette.

Men outnumber women 3 to 1 in Dubai, and the variety of places to purchase sex is abundant — from the brothels where Vika described being sold and resold and the back alleys where migrant workers pay for a few minutes of pleasure, to the mainstream Westernized nightclubs, often inside upscale hotels, where women from all over the world congregate according to their nationalities awaiting the next client.

In a Muslim country, where prostitution is illegal, we decided the only way to get a closer look at Dubai’s barely disguised sex trade was to visit some of these clubs and capture for ourselves the city’s night secrets.

 PBS

Come celebrate the life of Rev. Mary Nkoyo who went to be with the Lord morning of June 4th after battling with a chronic illness for over 4 years.

She was a strong woman of faith who loved life and her family to the very end. She is survived by her husband, Rev. Wilfred Nkoyo, her daughter, Caroline Ngure (Waithaka) and son Mwaura Nkoyo.

She has also left behind a Son-in-law, Daniel Waithaka Ngure, grand-daughter, Tumaini Waithaka and daughter-in-law, Njeri Nkoyo.

Friends and family will be meeting at  7pm on Friday and Saturday June 6th and 7th at Nkoyos family residence located at:

13256 Poppy Hill Lane
Fortworth, TX 76244

There will also be a meeting on Sunday June 8th 4pm for a memorial service and fundraiser at:
ALL Nations house of prayer church
2108 Hurd Dr suite 100
Irving TX 75038

Donations & Contributions can be sent to:
Bank Of America
Routing #: 111000025
Account #: 48049511130
Direct wired deposit routing # 02609593

Checks can be mailed to:
Name: Wilfred Nkoyo
Address: 13256 Poppy Hill Ln
Fort Worth, TX 75244

Family and Friends will meet again on Wednesday June 11th 7pm at Nkoyo residence located at 2727 W Walnut hill Lane Apt 125. Irving TX 75038 and also on Friday June 13 at 7pm at Nkoyos family residence at 13256 Poppy Hill Lane, Fortworth, TX 76244

The Funeral will take place onSaturday June 14th at 10 am at North Dallas funeral home located at 2710 Valley View Lane Dallas TX 75234

Further details call

Celia 972-537-7026
Shiku 314-814-4601

Mwaura: 254-498-3848

VIRGINITY testing, widow cleansing, forced marriage and forced wife inheritance will now be classified as domestic violence under the new family protection law.

Police will not require a warrant to arrest a person suspected to have assaulted a family member if the bill becomes law. The Protection Against Domestic Violence Bill, 2013 empowers the police to arrest any person believed to have violated the Act.

They may also prefer charges where they “reasonably believe” that a suspect is committing, or is likely to breach the peace. The Bill to be tabled in Parliament next week also proposes the provision of temporary emergency centres or safe houses for victims of domestic violence.

“In designing the mechanisms referred, the county executives shall adequately provide the protection required by victims of domestic violence without exposing the victims to further or other forms of violation and without compromising the values of the constitution.” reads part 8(4)(b) of the bill.

The bill allows victims of domestic violence to apply for a protection order. A child may also make a similar application through a guardian, children’s officer or a police officer.

The law will take care of minors who have been married below the age of consent and those already married may apply for protection order. The Bill criminalizes repeated insults, ridicule or name-calling and repeated threats that “cause emotional pain” within the family.

Child marriage, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, forced wife inheritance, interference from in-laws and sexual violence within marriage, virginity testing and widow cleansing will now be classified as ‘domestic violence’.

Nyeri women’s representative Priscilla Nyokabi told a public forum at Panafric Hotel yesterday that the bill will be debated in Parliament next week.

“The constitution recognises the family as a natural and fundamental unit of the society and necessary basis of social order which should enjoy recognition and protection. This bill will ensure the family is protected from domestic violence to enhance development,” Nyokabi said.

“The police in the past used to refer violence as family issues that ought to be solved as such. The new law will enable them arrest and prefer charges on victims without turning them away,” Nyokabi said. The MP said victims are sometimes afraid of reporting domestic violence.

“Court taking into account circumstances of each case can direct the parties to participate in counselings and conciliation programmes including those provided by religious institutions and any suitable cultural programme,” the bill states.

- The Star

Councillor Elizabeth Kangethe is now  Her Worship the  Mayor of Barking & Dagenham in UK.The Kenya High Commissioner in the UK HE Ephraim Ngare and his wife Mrs. Jane Ngare joined other invited guests at the historical Mayor Making of Mayor Elizabeth Kangethe on Friday 6th June 2014 at the offices Barking and Dagenham council, Town Hall, Barking, London.

The colourful ceremony was officiated at the Council Chamber where it was witnessed by full council meeting. The head of the council, Councillor Darren Rodwell proposed for the confirmation of Mayor Elizabeth Kangethe and then it was seconded by councillor Sanchia Alasia. The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Hardial Singh asked the Chief Executive to conduct the vote and all the councillors voted for her.

The outgoing mayor asked the newly elected Mayor Kangethe to come to the dais to read the declaration of acceptance of her appointment and sign the book. The Chief Executive also signed the book. The Chief Executive announced that the newly elected mayor was to leave for 10 minutes to go and put on her mayoral robes and chains.

After 10 minutes the newly elected mayor returned, took her seat and then addressed the council and the guests. The newly elected mayor closed the meeting and was escorted with her party to the Mayor’s chamber. All the guests were then invited to the Committee Suite for food and drinks. Food and drinks were in plenty.

Among other guests was PCEA Moderator Rev. David Gathanju and Rev. Edwin Kibathi.

More reporting by misterseed.com

A Kenyan man  Jeremiah Kamau Ngengi, 50 of Seattle Tacoma (Sea Tac), Washington was treated at a hospital in Nebraska after a truck he was travelling in struck a vehicle killing the occupants.

A Canadian couple were killed Thursday in the crash on Interstate 80 west of Kearney, Nebraska.

The Nebraska State Patrol said the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. on eastbound I-80 four miles east of Overton in Dawson County.

In Kenya, May Lebo and Lavender Wachira never would have met, let alone become business partners. They were from different ethnic groups, different social classes and different parts of the country.

But in Pittsburgh, where they attended school, the two Kenyan immigrants were free to team up as entrepreneurs, launch their own cleaning business and plan together for future business endeavors.

Like many recent immigrants, they came to Pittsburgh as students and stayed on work visas to capitalize on the economic freedoms of the U.S. — freedoms perhaps best seen by contrast.

“In Kenya, in high school you take an exam that determines the rest of your life,” Ms. Wachira said.

“Whatever you went to school for is what you work in,” Ms. Lebo added. “You cannot be anything else. But here, you can be anything.”

Ms. Lebo, 34, is a self-described farm girl from Kitale, an agricultural center. She studied TV journalism at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and worked in TV communications and other media roles for seven years.

Her business partner, Ms. Wachira, 28, grew up in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. The daughter of a college professor, she was inspired by then-president Mwai Kibaki to follow his educational path and study economics at the University of Nairobi.

Though they didn’t attend school at the same time, the two women came to the U.S. as Point Park University international graduate students in the business program. They met through a common friend, and their business relationship kindled after Ms. Wachira graduated from Point Park and became frustrated with her job prospects.

“After school, I was at a point where I’m looking for a job, and the jobs that I was getting weren’t exactly paying what I felt a master’s degree should get me,” Ms. Wachira said, adding that, with her education, she thought she should be earning a minimum of $50,000 a year.

“I thought, these people wouldn’t hire me for what I felt I should get paid, so maybe I should start my own thing.”

That’s when she approached Ms. Lebo with the idea to start a business together.

After proposing and analyzing several business models, they started MayLav Elite Cleaning, an eco-friendly commercial, residential and party cleaning business.

They applied for counseling from Pittsburgh’s SCORE program, a nonprofit that mentors new small businesses, and from immigration supporters such as Mike Dawida, executive director of Scenic Pittsburgh and a former Allegheny County commissioner, state representative and senator.

“I have four grandparents who came from four different countries, and I think immigration has saved the country time and time again,” Mr. Dawida said.

Their 1-year-old business employs five workers, and they expect to hire more as they grow. Although they dream of branching out to other, similar cities and pushing into new areas of business, they don’t see themselves leaving Pittsburgh anytime soon. Ms. Wachira’s family has moved here, and Ms. Lebo prefers Pittsburgh’s urban and rural blend to the relentless bustle of New York City, where she once lived.

“Pittsburgh is not too fast, not too slow,” Ms. Lebo said. “It’s just the perfect balance for me.”

Their advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is best expressed in a common Swahili saying.

“Tembea uone mengi,” they said. “Traveling opens up your mind.”

Post Magazine

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has owned up he is the father of a son of a woman in Kwale who has sued him for child support.

Sonko admitted that the two were long time lovers and that he fathered the woman’s first-born child, but denied being the father of the second child.

The flamboyant senator has vowed to fight the suit that seeks to commit him to provide for the two children.

Sonko told The Standard that he is yet to be served with the suit papers in the case filed early last month. He further claimed that he bought the woman a car, which he later confiscated, and stopped giving her money after they disagreed.

Josephine Thuku wants the court to force the senator to provide her with a monthly maintenance of Sh140,000 that includes Sh100,000 for food and upkeep, Sh10,000 for clothing, Sh10,000 for medical expenses and Sh20,000 as house allowance.

Sonko said he is ready for the case, adding that he does not need a lawyer in “a straightforward matter like this one.”

Coincidentally, the woman also says she does not intend to hire a lawyer because; “I am afraid a lawyer will be compromised,” without elaborating.

When The Standard spoke with the senator, he admitted knowing Ms Thuku and admitted that she was his girlfriend but claims he only fathered a boy-child with her and not two as the woman claim.

“I know this woman and her first born is my child whom I am taking care of by paying school fees,” he said adding that Thuku has access to a supermarket where she shops at his expense.

“I am not the father of the second child and I am ready for a DNA test if she insists,” Sonko said adding that he can support the second child on ‘humanitarian’ grounds.

The Nairobi senator further claimed that he does not discriminate against the second child. “ Whenever I shop for my son, I also include the other child in my shopping list. I however, do not give a single penny to their mother,” he said.

Thuku mentions in the case file that she had a romantic relationship with the defendant (Mbuvi) when she was still in college.

“On August 17, 1999 the plaintiff and the defendant got a male child out of wedlock but thereafter the relationship between the two turned sour,” it reads in part.

- The Standard

The son of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was yesterday fined Sh 30,000 by a Nairobi court after he pleaded guilty to the offence drunk driving.

Fidel Castro Odinga was, however, not present in court to take his plea but sent his lawyer to represent him.

Prosecutor Noah Chemweno informed Senior Principal Magistrate Elisha Cherono of the traffic court that Fidel was driving landrover KBM 206 B on Ngong Road on Friday when he was flagged down by traffic and National Transport and Safety Authority officers at around 12 am on suspicion that the driver of the vehicle was drunk.

Chemweno told court that when the accused was subjected to the alcoblow test, the gadget indicated he had consumed 0.96 mgl which was above the recommended limit of 0.35 mgl. He was later arrested and taken to Muthaiga Police Station where he spent the night until he was released on Saturday morning after paying Sh20,000 cash bail.

However, the prosecutor informed the court that the accused was a first-time offender since there were no previous records of such an offence.

His lawyer Kihang’a Mwangi in mitigation pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client since he was a first-time offender and was remorseful of the offence.

“My client is indeedremorseful of the incident and on his behalf, I urge the court to demonstrate leniency by giving him an option of a fine,” Mwangi said.

However in his judgement, the magistrate noted that the offence the accused was facing is among the major causes of road accidents.

“The offence the accused is facing cannot be taken lightly as it has in the past and continues to be a major cause of road accidents in the country both during the day and at night,” the magistrate stated. He directed the accused to pay a fine of Sh 30,000 for pleading guilty to the offence.

Fidel joins a growing list of prominent personalities who have been arrested fordriving under the influence of alcohol. Among those arrested previously are a judge and a Senator.

In January a High Court judge was allowed to go scot free after being stopped for the alcohol test, where he was found to be over the limit. The judge was arrested at a check point on Ngong Road as he drove towards Karen shortly before midnight.

In a related incident nominated in March Senator Joy Gwendo was among 36 drivers who were arrested by police during a weekend operation in different parts of Nairobi.

Police crackdown on drink-driving is here to stay after the High Court yesterday ruled that alcoblow will remain in use after dismissing two cases filed by a bar owner and city motorist.

- The Standard

Kenyan men in Seattle held a Kings night in Seattle on May 3oth at the Rainier Conference center.

The event was sponsored by the Kenya Community International church with Rev. Geoffrey Wanyoike and Joy bringers’ Ministries in conjuction with Pastor Supeyo.

All the pastors in the city joined hands together in unity and had a glorious night. The speaker of the night was Texas based Dr. Solomon Waigwa and his son Dr. David Wachira Waigwa who spoke the word of God with great power and anointing.

“ We have paved the way. The meeting was inspiring and to see all pastors in the city come together, that was great and we will continue to work together for Gods glory”, said Joseph Karanja from Kenya Community International Church

Pastor Ben Kangethe of Gospel outreach Center said that “I have been blessed through this meeting and it was a privilege to connect with Dr Waigwa who is touching the lives of men in a great way, a man full of wisdom and anointing, together with aLl the men of God that I love in Seattle.”  It is our prayer that as women arise as queens, men are also empowering each other as the priests of their homes and leaders of the community. 

The fate of the Director for Digital, New Media and Diaspora Affairs at State House hangs in the balance following a confidential intelligence report that questions his academic credentials and suitability to serve in a sensitive government office.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) report seen by Sunday Nation alleges that Mr Dennis Itumbi is among 50 students from Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) in Nairobi whosequalifications are open to questions.

According to the NIS security vetting brief, Mr Itumbi allegedly led student unrest at the institution and used this as leverage to force the then management of thecollege led by Mr Eliud Sang to “award him and his class (of 50) Diplomas in Broadcast Journalism while they were enrolled to do a certificate course in the same”.

“In 2001, he joined Kenya Institute of Mass Communication as a parallel student to pursue a certificate course in journalism. He, however, was awarded a Diploma in Broadcast journalism in unclear circumstances,” says the brief.

Mr Itumbi, who commands huge social media following and actively campaigned for the Jubilee coalition in the last elections, is among top advisers in the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit led by Mr Manoah Esipisu.

Mr Itumbi’s confirmation to hold the position of “director” is also still pending at the Public Service Commission (PSC). It is unclear whether this has anything to do with educationqualifications as directors are expected to hold advanced degrees.

The NIS report has also attached Mr Itumbi’s PSC application foremployment form. The document shows that apart from KIMC, he has only attended short courses at various institutions without indications of a bachelor’s degree.

The NIS report was circulated to PSC among other concerned institutions.

The report alleges Mr Itumbi is a “self-motivated go getter who uses any means at his disposal . . . to get his way”.

The critical report also alleges that Mr Itumbi may have in the past been involved in leakage of classified documents through his Facebook page, Twitter handle, his blog and local media houses.

The NIS report also lines up past and current court cases that have faced Mr Itumbi.

- Daily Nation

Geoffrey Baraka and a team of Kenyans born and living in Australia have opened a school in Adelaide that focuses on the use of Kiswahili as a foreign language.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has delayed the burial of his wife and nephew to attend the Cord political rally in Mombasa together with Raila Odinga next Sunday.

The burial of Mellisa Wairimu Nyambere and Njenga’s nephew and driver, Dickson Mwangi Wanjiru, has been pushed from next Saturday to June 21, because Njenga will accompany Raila to the Mombasa rally in Tononoka grounds.

The decision to change the dates was reached on June 1, when Raila and Kisumu Town Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o visited Njenga at his Karen home. Sources familiar with the burial plans yesterday said Raila had requested Njenga to change the burial dates so that he and his supporters attend the Mombasa meeting. Raila is among prominent people expected to attend the burial of the two in Kitengela.

Last Tuesday, Cord Director of Communication Philip Etale tweeted that Raila will hold a consultative meeting in Mombasa next Sunday.

Yesterday, Njenga confirmed that the burial of the two will be held on June 21, but did not discuss the issues further. Njenga has at the same time been allowed to bury his wife, who died three weeks ago, after earlier protests by a section of the Nyambere family to the effect that he had not paid dowry.

The Nyambere family had objected to their daughter being buried in Njenga’s home because the man had also never gone to them to ask for her hand in marriage, according to a relative who requested anonymity. Njenga denied that there were protests from the Nyamberes and said the burial will go one as planned.

Mellisa’s mother Nyambere, a prominent Kikuyu gospel musician, was among worshippers who attended a church service at Njenga’s Hope International Ministries church in Kitengela yesterday but did not raise any objection to the funeral plans. She confirmed Mellisa would be buried in Njenga’s farm.

Njenga dodged death by a whisker, but sustained a bullet wound in his left shoulder. The fingers of one hand were grazed by a bullet.

Yesterday, Kitengela police chief Edward Wafula said his officers are closely monitoring events leading to the burial and that more officers will be deployed to Kitengela on the Saturday.

At the same time, a long-time associate of Njenga’s, Thiong’o Kagicha, who is said to be at the centre of the land controversy pitting two Mungiki factions, for the first time yesterday said that he was not in a fight with Njenga.

In an interview with the Star, Kagicha said Njenga was his friend and that he had welcomed him to Kitengela and helped him acquire land in the area a few years ago.

“I am only their landlord and those claiming that I am fighting with Njenga over my land are not telling the truth,” said Kagicha.

Kagicha however admitted that he was arrested in 2002 for housing a number of Mungiki members who were being sought by police. “I did not know they were followers of the outlawed sect. I was arrested and arraigned in court for housing the members, but was later released after I won the case”, Kagicha said yesterday.

Njenga has claimed that the police were behind the murderous attack on his convoy, but Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and CID chief Ndegwa Muhoro have blamed the spate of attacks on infighting in the Mungiki.

- The Star

Caroline Wanjiku has the most unlikely of stories. She runs a business shining shoes on Nairobi’s bustling streets. She once called Italy home and has a post-graduate degree in communication. She shares her story of trial and persistence on this week’s Women and Power.

Men are known for their unmatched love of the beautiful game of football. So deep is the relationship that they will without much trouble sit through the night in entertainment spots catching the World Cup action in Brazil.

But as they will be enjoying the action, their spouses and girlfriends back home will be complaining.

Our Sports reporter Edmond Nyabola sought the opinion of women, some of whom have come up with solutions to THE WORLD CUP PROBLEM.

A Kenyan artist who has been plying her trade between Kenya and Dallas is performing in London next week during the anti-sexual violence summit scheduled for June 10th to 13th at the Excel Center.

Christine Mumbi Karanja, a budding artist will team up with other artists who include Fena Guru and two rappers Wangechi and Xtatic (Sony Music) and will have a chance to personally meet actress Angelina Jolie.

Ms Jolie co-chairs the summit formally known as Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict as the UN Special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is also expected to attend as well as the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

The event is expected to draw about 1,200 delegates from 148 countries.

Mumbi and her colleagues will perform individually for the four nights.

The event illed s billed as “the biggest global meeting on this issue ever convened” and seeks to create “irreversible momentum against sexual violence in conflict and practical action that impacts those on the ground”.

SEE ONE OF MUMBIS’ VIDEOS