LOCAL NEWS - 11.07.10 - Confirmations at St.Gabriel Kangatosa parish - By Mary Tioko.

The Christian community of St.Gabriel Kangatosa Parish today received the sacrament of confirmation in a colorful celebration animated by His lordship Bishop Dominic Kimengich and Fr.Damien Eripon. The 284 Christians drawn from all the five outstations of Kangatosa Parish received the sacrament of confirmation. These include the Natiir outstation (65), Naoros (60), Kangatosa(74), Akatuman(22), Katagilae(43) and Kangagetei (20). Each station accompanied by the chairperson , Mr. Mike Ekiru, Mrs. Esther Ekiru, Mr.Dominic Losike, Mr.William Nakeor, Mr. James payan, Mrs. Christine Are respectively. The parish council chairman Mr. Johnson Ekwaar reported that the Parish was officially opened by His Lordship Bishop Patrick Harrington on 23rd September 2007 as a project of St.Gabriel which is a small Christian community of St.Augustine's Cathedral Parish Lodwar. In his homily His Lordship Bishop Dominic Kimengich commented in the readings of the day saying that they touched on the life of human beings. He said that God has given us an opportunity to choose life and not death. He encouraged the faithfuls to love one another and help them as Christians. He also echoed the stand of the catholic church on the new proposed constitution saying it is faulty as it permits abortion which is killing and is against the 5th commandments of thou shall not kill and thus advised the Christians to reject it and vote NO come August 4th. His lordship explaining why the church says NO saying that life is sacred and precious as it is a gift from God and no one has a right to take it away until natural death. He encouraged all those confirmed to keep their faith and guard it well from the evil one. He also commented on the development of the area encouraging the community members to be inquisitive on how the CDF funds are used. The community experience poor service delivery from the local authority. The Kangatosa community complained of lack of water, poor markets for their basketry and lack of Transport as the people depend on the Parish Vehicle as the only source of transport in the area. The parish priest Fr. Philip Lotiman thanked the bishop, and Fr.Damien Eripon for visiting his parish and increasing the Christian community through confirmations.

LOCAL NEWS – 10.7.10 - BY MARY TIOKO - JOURNALISM CLUB VISIT AKICHA FM RADIO STATION

The students from Salvation Army Nawoitorong secondary school belonging to the Journalism Club today visited Akicha Radio for the educative talks from Presenters and the management. The students were 15 in number and had an objective of getting exposure on Media in general. They raised various questions concerning Mass communication and the areas of presentation. The presenters on duty by the time Peter Esinyen and Teresa Kachila explained on audio production and mass communication.The students were on the learning experience so as to choose wisely their careers. The presenters also taught them on various sections in communication, saying that Some of them can venture into different field as in reporting, news anchoring, News Editing, Marketing, Programming and presenting. The students expressed gratitude to the management of Radio Akicha for giving them an opportunity for learninng more about the communication through Radio . They expressed the interest in communication . The team was accompanied by their chief executive officer of the Club (CEO) Mr. Ekwafi muya Charles

LOCAL NEWS – 10.7.10 - BY PETER LOKATUR - TURKANA YOUTH TAKE LEAD IN PROMOTING PEACE.

A group of youth led by the Turkana region sports chairman Mr. Patrick Njoroge has left for Moroto in Uganda for a peace mission. The group comprising of two re-known artists from Turk land wisdom records Lodwar, and Lodwar- based basketball players has landed in Uganda today, and is expected to promote peace and good coexistence between the youth in the two countries, more especially those in the Kenya – Uganda boarder.
After the game, Akidah and Ibruh will be performing. The two artist will be emphasizing the nature of peace between the two countries and the importance of peaceful co-existence between the Ngiturkana and the Karamoja of Uganda in their songs. The event was organized by the region sports officials in Turkana, in collaboration with some peace- initiating, Non Governmental Organizations in Lodwar. We wish nice stay in Moroto ans safe back home.

LOCAL NEWS - 09.07.10 - BY PETER ESINYEN - SPORTS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS KICKS OFF.

Schools from the larger Turkana today had a colorful beginning of the day as they meet from the ends of Turkana for regional sport.Sports that aims in promoting peace and unity within Turkana schools. Turkana south represented by AGC Lokichar, St.Francis Xavier ( katilu boys), Lokori high and Kangitit girls.Turkana north represented buy st. leo boys, our ladies girls, tarach and lokitaung high.Lodwar high, St. Kevin, Moi high and Turkana girls defending turkana central. In the beginning of the matches this morning, in lodwar mixed grounds, Lokitaung high beat Moi high school 3-1. qualifying to meet Lokori, Lokitaung still showed their spirit beating Lokori 3-1 in the same field. In prison ground, S.A Nawoitorong qualified for final after beating the popular Turkana champions St.leo boys 3-2. still on football grounds, Turkana south, Kangitit girls kept their football flag high beating St. kevin 3-1 gaining 3 point to 0 point over St,kevin.In St.Marys primary volleyball field, A.G.C Lokichar won 3 sets to Lodwar high school under the best of five. In the evening kangitit girls are expected to meet Turkana girls in St. Kevin football ground as S A Nawoitorong meet with St. Kevin in prison ground.

LOCAL NEWS – 27.6.10 - JESUS CHRIST CALLS US TO FREEDOM TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT THING - BY MARY TIOKO

Christian faithfuls of St.Augustine's Cathedral Lodwar today received homily from Fr.Francis Teo who elaborated on the days readings and gave example of the authority and power of Elija who called Elisha and gave him all his authority and immediately replaced him but Jesus calls us to freedom and He still has the authority as he is the one that was , is now and shall be. Christ calls us not to replace him but to be his followers. When christ freed us he wanted us to be free from all bad things and always choose to do the right things in our lives. All of us desire freedom in our lives. Youth also need freedom and in this, parents always restrict them because sometimes they end up choosing wrong things. Sometimes in our relationship we want freedom .Even priests want freedom from their Bishops but they are loyal to them. Now, the question we are supposed to ask ourselves is freedom from what and why we want it for? He said that In the standards of the world freedom means a lot . Fr. Francis Teo gave the christians an example of the new proposed constitution where people want to be left free to decide on what they want to do with their bodies to an extend of wanting to legalise abortion forgeting that their bodies are temples of the Lord. He continued to inform the congregation on the stand of the Church on Abortion saying it is “NO” and encouraged the faithfuls to stand and defend life by Voting against it come August 4th. He said that most people perform abortion for the fear of responsibility , shame and guilt. The standards of the world entails all this and that is why they use short cuts to terminate life of new born babies through abortion. He emphasized that the freedom we need should not create division, wars, hatred, Guilt, e.t.c. But should help us to do good. He finished by saying that God calls us to freedom to do good things always. Let us reflect on this call of Jesus to do good to avoid sin and evil in our day to day lives. AMEN.

LOCAL NEWS – 5.7.2010 - THE DIOCESAN STAFF RECEIVE BLESSINGS FROM THE AUXILARY BISHOP - BY MARY TIOKO

The Catholic Diocese of Lodwar staff today held a prayer day at St. Thomas Chapel. The Prayer day which was organized by Fr. Cosmas Longor and animated by Himself and the Auxilary Bishop Dominic Kimengich is scheduled to be taking place every monday of every week is to kick start the week for the staff as they are doing the work of Christ on Behalf of the Bishop of the Diocese. The staff who came from all the Departments participated in the lively mass which was the first one to take place for the Diocesan staffs and the subsequent days to follow. Speaking during his Homily The Auxilary Bishop Dominic Kimengich said that the work done by the staff needed the guidance of God and thus the staff have to implement the mission of the church and not their own missions. The Bishop also advised all those in authority to use their abilities for the Glory of God and do as God expects of them with honesty, integrity, faithfulness just as the father in heaven is faithful in his promises to us. Commenting on the Constitution, the Rt Rev. Dominic Kimengich cautioned the personnel to take into account the stand of the church of defending life. He told them to continue creating awareness to all the people so as they choose life as they are the voice of the voiceless in the community. He called them to show christ in all their work as they minister to the people of God through the various activities undertaken in various departments and God will bless them.