Melvin 17, top student in Turkana County

17 years old Melvin Mabonga has emerged the top student in Turkana County after scoring a mean grade of A plain in the just released Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results. The former student at Turkana Girls High School in Loima Sub County said hot environment in the county was a challenge but used to utilize late night and early morning hours for her personal studies. The girl joined Turkana Girls after scoring 340 marks in 2009 at Afesomo Academy in Cherangany District, Trans Nzoia County. Melvin wants to study medicine at the University to become a doctor. She pointed out that she had exam phobia before she sat for her examinations but was always encouraged by her teachers. During the interview, she said she even had switched off her phone and kept distance from their television only to be informed by her father Mr. Isaac Waweru  Eyededia that she was mentioned as the top student in the County. Mr. Eyededia said that immediately she joined for her secondary education he warned her of possibility of early pregnancy which worsens girls’ performance in schools.

Water shortage among other challenges threaten learning at Nakabosan Boarding Primary School

Pupils at Nakabosan boarding primary school in Turkana South walk 7km in search of water for their daily use.

The poor academic performance at Nakabosan boarding primary school is associated with the enormous challenges facing the school. Speaking during an interview at Nakabosan primary school the senior teacher Mr. Evans Kipsegero said   the poor academic performance in the school, is due to the enormous challenges including lack of water, low teacher pupil ratio, insufficient classrooms and lack of lighting.

Mr. Kipsegero said, ‘Standard one to three use one class and they only have one teacher teaching them. Pupils come to class up to lunch time and walk seven Kilometers in search of water for their daily use, cooking supper and lunch the following’’.

The senior teacher said that Learning at Nakabosan School takes place half a day. Pupils go to class from morning to noon and there after break in search of water that is used for bathing, preparing super and lunch the following day.

He added that the school has four teachers employed by T.S.C against the school population of three hundred pupils. Class one, two and three are taught by one teacher.

In terms of  infrastructure  Mr.  Kipsegero maintained that it is a challenge since class one two and three learn under the same roof. Class one on one row class two on the other and three the other respectively.  This possesses a challenge to their teacher in terms of class control. Standard four is used as a classroom, boy’s dormitory and store at the same time. The class teacher says that children get injuries as they climb on the scraps that are kept at the back of their class room.

The senior teacher claims that despite the fact that area member of county assembly was a deputy head teacher in the school he has not done anything to his former school so far.

“The area member of the county assembly was the deputy teacher here but has never helped in anyway”. Said  Mr.  Kipsegero.

Local news - By Ken Simiyu and Mary Tioko - 3.2.2014 - DIOCESES OF LODWAR SIGNED MEMORANDAM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN WATER AND HEALTH SECTORS

His Excellency, Governor , Turkana county ,Hon Josephat Nanok  signed memorandum of understanding with Catholic Diocese of Lodwar in view to enhance mutual working relationship in future undertakings in sectors of Health and water. The ceremony took place at St. Mathews Block of Diocesan offices at Bishop Dominic Kimengich's Office. Hon. Nanok said that Turkana County Government is ready to work with all the Development -minded partners who wish to drive the development mantle of Turkana County forward. Hon. Nanok added that Turkana County Government acknowledges and appreciates the development work done by the Dioceses of Lodwar since time immemorial. However, The Governor is looking forward to see part of the development activities driven ahead by development partners. His Excellency advised other development partners in Turkana County to emulate the Diocese of Lodwar  in promoting close working ties with the County. His Lordship Dominic Kimengich  maintained that the Diocese will work closely with Turkana County Government with other partners in realizing the development vision for the Turkana County to be at par with other Counties in Kenya. In attendance  were, Exercutive of Water, Irrigation and Agriculture Hon. Beatrice Asukul, Representative County Director Water, Tito Nyakwaka, Chief Officer  of Health and Sanitation  Agnes Mana, Chief of staff Abraham Esinyen on the Turkana County Government side and Vicar General of the Diocese of Lodwar, Fr Joseph Ekalimon, Co-ordinator of Health Sister Veronica, Co-ordinator of Water Department Joseph Nga’ng’a, Diocesan Advisor Sandra Villegas, Social Communication Diocese of Lodwar, Mary Tioko, ARP Program Co-ordinator Linus Namoe from the Diocese of Lodwar side and one neutral witness Hon. Samuel Samal, Member of Parliament of Isiolo North.

Local news -13.2.14 - By Mary Tioko and Rose Achiengo - 2.5 million shillings to alleviate hunger in Turkana.

Catholic Bishops in Kenya last month during their Ordinary Plenary Assembly unanimously agreed to contribute Ksh. 100,000 from each individual Diocese towards alleviating hunger in Turkana County through Caritas Kenya.In an exclusive interview with Waumini Communications Limited at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) General Secretariat, Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth, who is also the Chairman of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission confirmed that all the twenty five Dioceses in Kenya would each contribute the amount in order to purchase food stuff to be distributed to the h

ungry and the refugees from South Sudan in Turkana.The Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth however called on the Government to find a way of utilizing the discovered large volume of water in Turkana that geologists say can feed Kenya for 70 year to eradicate poverty in the region. Archbishop Okoth said the water can be used for irrigation which can make Turkana the bread basket of Kenya.His Excellency Charles Daniel Balvo, the Popes representative to Kenya on 3^rd February 2014, extended a cheque of one million shillings to the Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, towards general food distribution to households and school feeding program. Meanwhile, the National Director for Caritas Kenya, Mr. Stephen Kituku, said the Directorate is mobilizing other Caritas organizations in Kenya to assess the drought situation in Kenya and plan the way forward on how to respond to the situation mainly to mitigate effects of drought and plan for emergency response.

TULLOW DONATED 20 MILLION SHILLINGS TOWARDS SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM ON 10TH FEB 2014

Tullow  Kenya  announced its effort to support the county government of Turkana in addressing the drought situation in the county. Tullow has committed a total of 20 million shillings towards a school feeding Programme in Turkana which will be implemented through the Kenya Red Cross Society. More than 50 Early Childhood Education Centers within Turkana County are expected to benefit from the Programme. The ceremony was officiated by the Turkana county deputy governor, Hon.Peter Ekai together with the Tullow Kenya Country Manager Mr. Martin Mbogo. Those who were present were Dr. James Kisia, Deputy Secretary General, Kenya Red cross society and the Executive of the International Center for Humanitarian Affairs at Kenya Red Cross Society.

Turkana County Deputy Governor, Hon Peter Ekai Lauded the company for supporting the relief efforts of the Government.