8.9.10 - LOCAL NEWS - BY MARY TIOKO - INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY CELEBRATION

The literacy day that had the theme of Literacy empowers people was organised at Nakapongoroit in Nakwamekwei village in Lodwar for this year. The event which was organised by the stakeholders , Share international, Diocese of Lodwar, Governament of Kenya, Association of Pastors fellowship, Turkana Education for All, Child fund, Literacy evangelical bureau among others. The Guest of honour , the District Officer 1 of Central Mr. Levi Senoga read the speech for the day from the Minister of Education Hon. Sam Ongeri and encouraged the people to go to school so as to Eradicate the illiteracy levels in the district and in so doing empowering the people in the District. Speaking also in the celebration the District Adult Education officer Mr. Dominic Ngoko said that the district is previledge to have more Adult Education teachers posted in the area than others . The Government recruited more 20 Adult Education teachers in the Turkana. Mr. Ngoko added that they had made a request of more 100 teachers in the next allocation which will boost the working force and also open more new ares that can give room for the people to access the services. He thus urged the Part time and Full time teachers in Government and other teaching force like the Diocesan staff, Share and churches to mobilise the illiterate group to join the literacy Classes.Touching on the enrolment for this year , Mr. Ngoko said that the number of women in the classes is more than men posing a great challenge to men. In the climax of the celebration ,the candidates who passed the proficiency test were awarded the Proficiency certificates by the D.O.1 Mr. Levi Senoga

LOCAL NEWS – 6.9.10 - BY PETER ESINYEN AND SOFARI WYCLIF - BACK TO SCHOOL

Students and pupils within Lodwar have streamed in shops and bookshops to fill the remaining gaps in their shoppings and some in full school uniforms ready to board their buses to various schools. In this, Shops in Lodwar town have experienced high sales and profits .
According to the report sampled by the Akicha reporters as they went around shops in Lodwar town,a shopkeeper at western Kanamkemer said that a lot of sales have been experienced this holiday as compared to the last holiday, but he commended that the prices are the same compared to the previous one.
At Kilimanjaro mini market,one of the attendants said that the most selling products are sugar and stationary among others, he further said that the price is the same as last holiday but customers have increased in their demand in school items.
Though the government has set aside 9 billion shillings for high school and other public School, parents were seen queuing at the banking halls for the deposition and withdraw of money purposely for school fees.
As the school opens,parents hope that the high demand for stationary will not give the shopkeepers an opportunity to increase prices of the highly demanded products.

LOCAL NEWS – 5.9.10 - BY MARY TIOKO -11 RECEIVED IN THE CATHOLIC WOMEN ASSOCIATION

The christian faithfuls of St. Augustine's cathedral received new members in a mass Animated by St. Stephen Holiday youth. Speaking in his homily, Fr. Simon Mutai received the women after along preparation from Sr.Adelide who is from Sisters of Mary and deals with pastoral work in the Parish.
The priest urged the women to follow the example of St. Monica so as they can continously pray for their children so that they can be transformed and follow the example of St. Augustines who changed from a bad person toan evangelist . Quoting St. Paul,Fr. Mutai encouraged the christian faithfuls to emulate his example of self sacrifice and commitment in following christ and in him the gospel of christ reached various places.
He Blessed students and pupils and gave them words of encouragement and informed them that they are ambassadors of christ wherever they go. He once again commissioned the 11 women to catholic women Association under the patronage of St. Monica who is their pillar and urged them to be women of prayer just like Monica.
He encouraged them to pray as christ will be there to guide them and protect them always. Fr. Mutai also gave a warning for those who always receive the holy communion without receiving the necessary instructions as required by the catholic Church that they do it at their own risk.
Elsewhere, St. Stephen youth group had a back to school party organised in honour of those going back to school to bid bye to their fellow colleagues and also got advise from the Church committee and the catechist as they go back to school.

LOCAL NEWS – 2.9.10 - SPORTS AT KERIO ZONE

The following teams participated in Kerio division tournament;kerio,Eliye springs,nadoto,kangatosa,lorengelup and nakurio.all the above teams played volleyball but Eliye and nakurio managed to get up to the finals whereby Nakurio won by beating eliye springs two sets by one.in football kerio and eliye springs managed also to reach to the finals,whereby kerio thrushed Eliye springs by beating them four goals by one and won the trophy.the closing ceremony was attended by Festus Erukudi lorogoi and all headteachers in kerio zone led by their chairman mr.patrick eregae samal.
All teams that participated were given balls except kerio,Nakurio and Eliye springs which got uniforms.Games were conducted well by bishop mahon referees,and the welfare part was seriously taken careof by the kerio youth chairman Mr.Wilson korima.

LOCAL NEWS – 30.8.10 - BY MARY TIOKO -RCEA YOUTH HOLIDAY CAMP AT LOKORI

The Northern youth convention conference which was held from the 24-29/8/2010 at the RCEA Lokori secondary school ended on 29/8/10. The workshop which was organised by RCEA pastors and world Vision Kenya was officially opened by NCCK Turkana treasurer Rev. Samwel Ekales and assisted by the host pastor from Lokori Jimmy Lomulen. Speaking to Akicha reporter on Phone Rev. Samwel Ekales said that the main theme of the workshop was from the scripture of Jeremiah 23: 29 which says that God;s message is a fire and like a hammer breaks rocks in pieces. The convention brought together 600 youths from the larger Turkana region ranging from Central,south and the North.The RCEA Parishes represented were Lokori which was the host led by pastor Jimmy Lomulen, Lodwar which was led by Rev. Samwel Ekales, Lokichar youth led by Philip Esinyen who is also Northern Presbyterian Moderator, Katilu youth were led by Rev. Sammy Kimeli and Marich youth were led by Rev. Ben Loreng who is also Northern Presbyterian Deputy moderator. The conference which was also attended by the evangelists was officially closed by RCEA general secretay Rev. Samson Akoru and assisted by the Northern Presbytery Moderator Philip Esinyen. The pastors encouraged the youth to be people of high integrity in both church activities and the country at large as they will be leaders of tomorrow and put the words of Prophet Jeremiah into practice as they prepare to go back to their schools.

LOCAL NEWS – 29.8.10 - BY MARY TIOKO - BUILD YOUR FAMILIES: PRIEST SAYS

The christians faithfuls of St. Augustine's parish received spiritual nourishment from the Parish Administrator Fr. Francis Teo and the parish assistant priest Fr. Simon Mutai. Speaking during the blessing of the marriage couples, Fr. Teo advised the couples who renewed their marrriage vows to work toward reuniting the broken marrages. The function also was characterised with the commissioning of the marriage council where 10 couples were chosen to become the committee which will be counseling the families in their journeys of life. The main objective of this council is to heal the families that are affected by the various troubles of the world. The other responsibility is to educate the families on the morals of the church and family life and to crown it all, offer seminars on family issues. The Priest also spoke of the patron saint St. Augustine and advised the christians to emulate the example of st. Augustines and convert ourselves from the unpleasing ways and turn to God in prayer, He thus encouraged the mothers to emulate the example of St. Monica who did not tire to pray for her son Augustine and that led to his conversion. Fr. Teo said that we can also be transformed from our bad dids and become great evangelisers of the word just like Augustino. Fr. Teo when advising the couples he told them to pray always for their children so as they can emulate the good role model: “Augustine.”.