LOCAL NEWS - 1ST JUNE 2010 - MADARAKA DAY MARKED IN STYLE IN LODWAR. By Edaan Daniel.

The District Commissioner Turkana Central has strongly highlighted the importance of doing a survey of property in town, street children menace, youth employment, Lowasco issue, disarmament, tender committee and the hospital issues as the pertinent issues to be tackled in the DSG meeting on Wednesday. Humphrey Nakitare was speaking in the 47^th Madaraka Day marked today at Moi Gardens grounds. The area MP Honorable David Ekwee Ethuro has called the locals to surrender the illegal arms to the government but cautioned the state to deploy enough security personnel to the porous borders before doing the disarmament. He challenged all the leaders to play their roles well and bring about quick development in their respective areas of jurisdictions.

The District Commissioner asked the citizens to read the proposed constitution and make their own informed choices as the referendum approaches. He was accompanied by many other dignitaries and government officials in this colorful celebrations. The celebration brought together people from several parts of the district, together with them were chiefs and councilors from different wards. The Chairman of Commerce, in Turkana Central District, Mr. Peter Ejore was also present.

Local news – 31.5.10 - Music festivals held at resource centre Lodwar. By Mary Tioko.

Today was the greatest day for all pupils within schools in Turkana Central District where pupils and their teachers were prepared to face the tough competition and they all fought for one position in resource centre. The music divisional secretary Mr. Moses Ekidor, said that the main objective of the music festival is to promote unity among schools and even to the society at large. He also said that other objectives were to promote cultural practices of Turkana community and the pupils in schools to be aware of traditional practices through composition of songs. The secretary said, that the exposure was also another thing as the pupils find an opportunity to interact among various schools from outside and get to learn new things which will help them to expand their thinking capacity.

He added that Turkana District has been leading in music festivals as they always proceed to national levels. He also said, that the best performers are always rewarded to encourage them and give them heart to do more in future.

Local News - 30.05.2010 - Military Artillary Shell Found in Lodwar Town. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom and Peter Lokatur

The 20 Parachute Battalion Military based in Turkana region will detonate a military Artillery Shell, away from people reach, an object claimed to be a “bomb”. Addressing Radio Akicha at the provincial administration offices in Lodwar, Turkana Central acting District Officer 1, Mr. Levi Senoga said the artillery shell of 105 mm was recovered today afternoon on the way leading to Lodwar Lodge, opposite Beer Garden in Lodwar town.

Mr. Senoga said when they were informed over the phone that a bomb has been found within the Central Business District (CBD), they immediately activated all the security agencies and were quick to respond to the scene.

He said such shells are usually found when there are military exercises which involve live firing of bombs or artillery shells. He further said that the police is investigating on how it got its way to Lodwar town.

The D.O. 1 said the case is not a terrorism act, terming it as an isolated case which the police are investigating on the way forward about artillery shell. He disputed the claims of local resident on scrap dealers saying the Juakali Industry should not be blamed for what has happened since they only buy what they at times tend to thing it is scrap metal.

Since it is the third time to recover such artillery shell in the area Mr. Senoga asked the community to be very careful when dealing with such objects because they are highly explosive, very dangerous and can cause damage.

Local news - 28.5.2010 - Turkana North registration officers trained. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom.

More than 300 registration officers from Turkana North have received training today at Lodwar Youth Polytechnic (LOYOPO) ahead of the by-election exercise scheduled to happen on July this year at Kokuro and Lokitaung. Speaking to a Radio Akicha Reporter at Loyopo premises, the District Registration Officer Mr. Lokai, Emmanuel said that, the purpose of the training is to verify the registers of the previous exercise that ended early this month. He continued to say that it was also meant to develop accountability and accuracy of the interim independent electoral council on transforming good governance and to ensure good service is delivered to the people of Turkana. Mr. Lokai added that it was a platform form for everyone to prepare for the forth coming referendum scheduled to take place on 4 August and to capture the attention of their clerks in getting ready for the second exercise of register inspection. He said the dates for the by elections will be communicated later.

Local news – 28.2010 - 9 mobile groups trained at st augustine cathedral. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom.

Price Water-House Coopers Company Project's accountant, Mr. John Odero, has asked Turkana community to apply for funds from his office through the Turkana constituency Aids control office when the chances are advertised.

Speaking today at St Augustine's Cathedral, to participants from 9 mobile groups drawn from Turkana North and Central, Mr. Odero said that the purpose for the training is to teach the groups on how to account for funds, learn more about fundings and how to report about the funds in terms of mitigating Aids and its effects to the society.

He further said that, the training will impart them with skills on how to account for funds and in creating awareness to advocate people to go for VCT and behaviour change advise.

According to the cordinator, the agency does not expect refunds from customers but instead, the customers will sign an agreement for disembursment in which the agency will monitor the progress of the groups through monthly and quarterly reports.

Mr Odero who was accompanied by his assistant Mrs. Grace Akoth, Mrs Moureen Awor and Turkana Central Aids Control Coordinator also the convener of the training Mr. Alfred Ikeny Emanman said that the loans are located as follows, those who apply at the constituency level will receive kshs 350, 000 while those at the District Level Receive Kshs. 700, 000.

Price Water House Copers Company (Nairobi), is a financial firm, and is supporting "Total War Against Aids" (TOWA) programme coordinated by the National Aids Control Council.

Ordination News – 22.05.2010 - AUXILIARY BISHOP ORDAINED IN LODWAR. By OKOTH PETER.

St. Augustine’s Cathedral, Lodwar, was today thrown into festive mood as thousands of Christians turned up for the auspicious ceremony of consecrating an Auxiliary Bishop.

Dominic Kimengich was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar in ceremony presided over by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue. His Grace Arch Bishop Zacheus Okoth and His Lordship Bishop Patrick Harrington assisted him.

The important ceremony was witnessed by Arch-Bishops and Bishops from various Dioceses among them; Bishop Maurice Mukhatia from the Diocese of Nakuru; Bishop Norman King’oo from the Diocese of Bungoma; Bishop Emmanuel Kombo from the Diocese of Kericho and Archbishop Peter Kairo from the Diocese of Nyeri. Others were Bishop Cornelius Korir from the Diocese of Eldoret and Bishop Paul Kariuki from the Diocese of Embu. Priests, and other people from various parts of the country and outside also attended the function. Over 650 Christians from the Diocese of Nakuru where the Auxiliary Bishop comes from attended the function out of who, over 200 had came from Kituro Parish, Baringo. The Pope’s representative, Allain Paul Lebaupin and Fr. Fabian Koffi, from Ghana also attended the function.

Others were Labour Minister, who is also MP for Turkana North. John Munyes, Assistant Minister for Wildlife and Forestry, who is also Mp for Turkana South, Josephat Nanok and Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro.

Also KANU official, Gideon Moi, The former Turkana Central MP Immanuel Ichor Imana were present.

The important ceremony that was held at St. Augustine’s Cathedral, Lodwar, today amid music and dances was a landscape occasion as it was the third ceremony of such magnitude to take place in the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar.

The first one took place in 1978 when the first Bishop, the late Bishop John Christopher Mahon was ordained as the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar.

This happened after Lodwar Diocese had become a Prefecture in 1968 after having been curved off the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret.

It was at that same time that Rv. John C. Mahon became the Apostolic Prefect and was posted to Lodwar from Ogoja Teachers Training college in Nigeria where he used to work as a professor.

The second took place at St. Kevin’s grounds when the current Bishop, Patrick Harrington, was ordained in the year 2000.

Fr. Dominic Kimengich was officially appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar by Pope Benedict XVI in announcement made in Rome, Italy, on 20^th March 2010. This announcement brought joy to the people of Lodwar where he will work, to the people of Nakuru where he has worked most of his time and Baringo his home district.

Fr. Kimengich, who comes from the Diocese of Nakuru, is currently the National Executive Secretary of the Canon Law Office at the Secretariat of the Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC) as a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Catholic Doctrine.

The Bishop elect was born on 23^rd April 1961 in Kituro, Baringo District to Luka Kimengich Kipkosiome and Kabon Kimengich, both deceased. He attended Margat Primary School from 1967 to 1974 and later joined Kituro High School from 1975-1979.

Between 1980 and 1982, he did his diploma in Philosophy ay St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Mabanga. He did Diploma in theology at Urbaniana University from 1982 to 1986.

He was ordained deacon in 1985 and priest in 1986 before pursuing his Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law at Pontifical Holy Cross University in Rome.

The new Bishop has worked as an assistant priest at Ndanai Catholic Mission from 1986 to 1988, parish priest at Kipsaraman Catholic Mission from 1988 to 1993, rector and teacher at St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Molo from 1997 to 2001 and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Nakuru from 1998 to 2008.

The Bishop elect was also a diocesan pastoral director from 2001 to 2007 at the Diocese Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Nakuru from 2003 to date, Administrator of Christ the King Cathedral, Nakuru from 2003 to 2005 and rector and lecturer at St. Mathias Mulumba Major Seminary at Tindinyo from 2007 to 2008.

ADDRESS CONTENTIOUS ISSUES IN THE DRAFT: JOHN CARDINAL NJUE SAYS.

John Cardinal Njue has said there was no going back on the stand that the Catholic Church took on the Draft Constitution if the contentious issues are not addressed. The Cardinal said this while addressing Christians at St. Augustine’s Cathedral, Lodwar Parish, today during the consecration of Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich.

The Cardinal said that its only God that gives life and its sanctity should be respected and therefore no one should take it away.

He said that the Catholic community cannot accept and will not accept the document in its current form calling on Christians to be wary of issue that contradict the church virtues and tradition and only support those that conform to it. He advised Christians to support each other in whatever they do in love.

Meanwhile Turkana leaders have praised the role played by the Catholic Mission in the Arid Turkana. Led by Labour Minister, John Munyes. He said that without the Catholic Church, Turkana would not be what it is today. They singled out development of education, health and water as some of the areas that have been given immense assistance by the church and that many people have benefited from them. KANU official, Gideon Moi also attended the function that brought together people from various parts of the country among them, the Pope’s representative in Kenya, Allain Paul Lebaupin, four Archbishops, 14 bishops, various priests, nuns and brothers.

BE STEADFAST IN YOUR FAITH: CARDINAL NJUE ADVISES.

John Cardinal Njue has advised Christians to be steadfast in their faith and do whatever they do with love. The Cardinal said this while addressing Christians at St. Augustine’s Cathedral, Lodwar Parish, today during the consecration of Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar.

The Cardinal said that Christians should be ready to lead an upright life as true servants of God and be proud of what they are in the society. He called upon the clergy, the laity and all Christians to play their roles and always support each other with love.

The Cardinal called upon mothers to be proud of their important in the society, respect their roles in their families and avoid ungodly things that could lead them astray, among them abortion which is unacceptable by the Church.

Njue further advised the youth to reject being used as instruments and instead use their strength to better the society. He singled out the misuse of arms and cattle rustling as vices that should be avoided. to it. He advised Christians to support each other in whatever they do in love.