Local news -27.3.11 - By Mary Tioko - Physicaland spiritual thirst

he Diocese of Lodwar has Developed water resource all over Turkana County in her endeavors to address the physical and has constructed churches to cater for the spiritual thirst in the entire Turkana county. Addressing the faithfuls during his homily the parish administrator of St. Augustine Cathedral parish Fr. Teo today said that all the types of thirst have been addressed as a result of combined efforts of both the church, Government and the NGO's working in the county.
Fr. Teo said that the Diocese of Lodwar understands these two types of thirst water and spiritual and tries to address them in their various programmes initiated in the diocese. The priest informed the faithfuls that all of them need these two types of thirst, water and spiritual and the readings teach on thirst of water and all of them always feel thirsty of either, physical and inner thirst.
Fr. Francis Teo gave an example of the readings of the day where the Samaritan woman moved from one man to another due to dissatisfaction. The priest went ahead mentioning on the meaning of the two letters no. 6 and 7 , saying that No.6 means dissatisfaction, is a simple of imperfection, lack of something. He also said that Jesus comes to show us of another satisfaction. He said the No.7 means satisfaction and that woman in the bible looked for a 7th Husband who was by then Jesus Christ to show that the number means satisfaction. Fr. Teo said that when the woman came to christ all her spiritual and water thirst was solved and that she experienced complete conversion.
The priest urged the faithfuls to be ready to change their way of doing things if they want to change and be ready to break all the existing boundaries between them. Fr. Teo said that Jesus broke all these boundaries by talking to the Samaritan woman which is the longest dialogue experienced so far in the bible.

Local news – 27.3.11 - By Mary Tioko - U.S Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger visits Radio Akicha

U.S Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger today visits Radio Akicha. The US Ambassador explained to the listeners of Radio Akicha live findings of his tour in the County and the united states Government Assistance in Turkana County as a reason why he came all the way to Turkana county to launch the United States African Foundation Turkana Food security Program .
Michael Ranneberger also said that this marks the beginning of the African Development activities in Kenya. He also said that they opted to come to Turkana because it is the among Marginalized areas in Kenya that has been neglected by the government of Kenya for along time.
Highlighting on the development of the County, Ranneberger challenged the political leaders in the area to play their part in advocating for the developments of the County at higher levels. The Ambassador commented on the state of the poor infrastructure in the county including the poor state of the Kitale -Lodwar Highway. He challenged the young people to elect focused and transparent leaders come 2012, who have the needs of the Turkana people in their hearts. He informed the listeners to be having a list of what the leaders had promised them to do in their campaigns and analyse whether they did all that and also analyse the new aspiring politicians and rate them according to their performances.
Michael Ranneberger emphasized on the essence of groupings and encouraged all the youth to form groups and channel their activities through the National youth Forum.

LOCAL NEWS – 26.03.2011 - By Zacheaus Otaba - The New dawn to the Turkana people

Turkana county is one of the counties which more than 75% of its residents languish in poverty. From time immemorial this region has not experienced the so called economical projects until today.
The government of the united states through the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has unlocked the dream of the people of Turkana. The US government has donated more than 860M shillings to facilitate Turkana Food Security Programme. Launching the programme officially today at Moi gardens, the US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger said that the project will totally be independent, lest politicians interfere with it for them to acquire positions in the 2012 elections.
Ranneberger said that this is a new dawn to the people of Turkana and they have to decide on how this project should be run. He added that the project has come as a fulfillment of the previous research that he did in the region.
The ambassador was accompanied by the USADF chair person Jack Leslie and foundation's president Lloyd Pierson. They were welcomed by the area member of parliament Hon. Ekwee Ethuro and the MP for Turkana South Hon. Josephat Nanok.
The ambassador's convoy moved to Napeikar to access the irrigation scheme, that is one of the irrigation schemes along River Turkwel to determine its potentiality.

LOCAL NEWS – 25.03.2011 - By Zacheaus Otaba - Turkana county Youth meet the American Ambassador

The American Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger today visited Turkana county having a meeting with the youth at St. Teresa pastoral center. Speaking at the center, the ambassador said that youth is power in every nation if you empower youths, you would have empowered the whole process of working.
He said that youth have been used for destruction for a long time due to the lack of power, noting what happened in 2007-2008 during the post election violence. The Ambassador noted that youths are the real change, giving an example of president Barrack Obama, whom he said is part of his project.
He added that to curb the problem that the youth are undergoing, they should be given an opportunity to participate in developmental activities. High lighting that American government is willing to donate 10m dollars in partnership with African development foundation (ADF) to fund a project in Turkana county that will run for the next 5 years.
The Ambassador and his convoy will be addressing the members of the public tomorrow at Moi gardens stadium from 9.30am where he will launch a youth forum programme.

LOCAL NEWS – 24.03.2011 - By Zacheaus Otaba - World TB day Cellebrated in Lodwar

The world tuber chlosis day was celebrated at Manyata, a constituent of Lodwar district hospital next to Kare academy primary school here in Lodwar. Speaking during the function, the district medical officer of health Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel said that the fight of TB that started in early 70s world wide, has now to done right in the county of Turkana.
He high lighted that despite of the fight being collective, the concern department in the region is being faced by a lot of challenges. He said that this is highly contributed by the movement of people from one place to another, making the issuing of drugs to be difficult.
However the officer in charge of TB department DR. Abraham Kimtai thanked the organizations that have been helping them in fight against TB. He high lighted that the diocese of Lodwar and the AIC church have been of great help to the hospital.

LOCAL NEWS - 23.03.2011 - By Zacheaus Otaba - Be cautious on weather forecasting

Residents of Turkana county have been urged to make use of the rain and plan well for food production. Speaking during the meteorological day held today, the officer in charge Lodwar meteorological station Mr. Joshua Manuari, said that during this rain season people should plant food crops and trees to help in modulating the weather changes.
He urged all the departments concern to step in and advocate for the conservation of our environment. Manuari said that since weather is the key to every aspect of planning, the ministry of water and irrigation and agriculture are affected directly.
He called for people to reduce the issue of charcoal burning saying that it does not affect only afforestation, but also affect the rate of heat reaching the ground and germination of new plants.
Manuari explained that schools around the station should be visiting it frequently, so that to be ambassadors and interpreters of the message to their parents.
Several secondary schools among them Lodwar high, St. Kevin's and PAG secondary were invited, but could not turn up since they started their examinations yesterday. However Loyo primary and bishop Mahon primary, were among the schools that turned up for the celebrations, that were held at Lodwar meteorological station.