Local news – 25.3.12 - By Mary Tioko - The Cross is Lose and Gain

The Christians of St. Augustine's Cathedral have been informed to carry their crosses as it makes them Gain a lot in their lives. Speaking today at St. Augustine's Cathedral parish during his homily, Fr. John Kizito Manzi said that Christ suffered to make them free from sins and he encouraged them to learn to lose so as to gain in their day to day lives.
Fr. Manzi said their lives starts with lose as they start struggling as young kids as they get in contact with the outer world. He challenged the faithfuls to give up some things so as grow in their lives. This is experienced when one feels pain when separated with their loved ones and makes one feel that they are left alone. Fr. Manzi said that Christ was tempted so as they are set free and gain eternal life and encouraged them to face temptations in their lives and know that one day they overcome them to have new life.
Fr. Manzi also said their lives as Christians is a commitment in bad and good times just as couples say when taking Matrimonial Vows. He urged them to continue seeking for God's protection and guidance even when the cross seems heavy in their lives for God will help them overcome temptations.
The Chairman of St. Augustine's Church committee Mr. Joseph Nganga introduced the visitors from Slovakia who came to monitor funded project in the Diocese of Lodwar. The team which was led by the Director of Erko, Marian and others with the campaign Of Good news encouraged the faithfuls to pray for children all over Africa since Children in Slovakia wish them well as they fund raise every year during Christmas for these Projects. Mr. Marian said that Erko project started 18 years ago as Christmas campaign for good news. Erko funds 24 projects in Africa.

Local news – 21.03.2012 - KAMAR FRANCIS - Awareness of birth registration certificate

The director of the registration explain the mode of registration saying every person notifying the birth or death of a person shall to the best of his knowledge and ability give the prescribed particulars which shall be entered forthwith by the registrar in the register and the person notifying certify to the correctness of the entry by signing or if his illiterate by fixing his mark to the register. The director of registration explain to the chiefs of lokori the meaning of birth certificate that its continuous and permanent compulsory recording of the occurrence and the characteristics of vital event primarily for their values as legal document as provided by law and secondarily for their usefulness as the source of vital statistics. He set the responsibility of reporting a birth for registration lies with: the officer in charge of the establishment in which the birth took place .He added when a baby is born at home, parents or other relatives should report the birth to the assistant chiefs in which should gave the parent the knowledge of birth notification(ABN)
The director of registration set out the benefit of registration to all people in which enables the child to provide accurate and reliable characteristics of the event(birth). The opposite happen when the event is registered late where is likelihood of inaccuracy on the prescribed particulars. He touches on the side of the death registration, it enables the authority to know the leading cause of death in a given area thereby making it easy for necessary intervention by the appropriate agencies. He urged more people to register death immediately after occurrence make it possible for the relatives to obtain death certificate without much problems as the only necessary document to be produced is a burial permit in respect of the deceased.

LOCAL NEWS – 19.03.2012 - BY ZACHEAUS OTABA - The chair faces hard time to calm the public

The seating on the land issues today was faced by a lot of boozing, when the parliamentary chairman on land issues Hon. Mutava Musyimi tried to explain the constitution to the members of the public. The members of the public who were attending the hearing at Turkana county council hall disagreed with the committee chair, when he tried to convince them to defend their own country kenya.
They raised the issue of land encroachment by the neighboring pokot where by areas like Lochakula, Kotaruk and Lorengipi have invaded by pokot and administered by imaginary chiefs and assistant chiefs, from pokot district. They claimed that since time immemorial the government of kenya has done completely nothing in trying to save the Turkana land that is being chopped off both internally and externally. They called for the committee to save them from the issue of alotment letter error to land title deeds.
However, the chairman challenged the members of the public, saying that his committee will work on the on all the issues they will raise. He said that every step will be taken as per the state of the law and constitution.

Local news – 18.3.12 - By Philip Lobur and Mary Tioko - Catholic Men Association Prepare for their commissioning

The Catholic Men of St. Augustine Cathedral have been preparing for their commissioning since yesterday following its formation paving way towards their commissioning during the feast of St. Joseph tomorrow the 19th March 2012. The workshop which took place yesterday at st.Augustine's Parish hall had the Motto of Good men, Good Church.
The workshop was attended by catholic men from Cathedral parish, St. Mary's Lodaraja and St. Michael's Napetet. Vicar general who is also the parish administrator Rev. Fr. Joseph Ekalimon encouraged the Catholic Men to take up active roles in the church apostolic mission and embrace the attributes and qualities of St. Joseph the patron saint of all the catholic men.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Philip Loburi Louren Assisted by Catechist Gideon Emonyang, John Simiyu and Benson Edapal who is the Diocesan Chairman of Catholic men Association of the parish. There was a call for all men in the church to embrace their roles actively in the church by imitating Christ who is the role model of Good stewardship. The catholic Men will be commisioned tomorrow at 4.15pm at St. Augustine's Cathedral Parish and urged all men to be present to witness this important step taken by men in the Parish.

Local News - 18.3.12 - By Mary Tioko - Make a difference in the crowd: says priest

The Vicar General of the Diocese of Lodwar who is also the Administrator of St. Augustine's Cathedral Parish Fr. Joseph Ekalimon urged the christians to make a difference even when they are in the crowd. Fr. Ekalimon challenged the faithfuls to stand up to be counted just like Nicodemus who challenged the Judges of those times of Jesus to give Jesus chance to defend himself during his trial! The priest said this today during his homily at St. Augustine's Cathedral Church.
Fr. Ekalimon encouraged the christians to guard their faith well by listening to the word of God and faithfully worshipping God who is a living God. The priest informed the christians to trust and be obedient in God for he is able God who can help them come out of their troubles. The faithfuls were also urged to be pure in their minds, souls and bodies to be worthy to be called sons and daughters of God.
Fr. Ekalimon challenged all to be like Nicodemus who always admired the behaviour of Jesus christ and wanted to emulate it. He called upon all to admire to imitate Christ and be consistent in their actions. He also emphasised that there is nothing that can interfere with the thinking of God if they put things right with God by witnessing, advocating and transforming the world with their actions.
Elsewhere, the Parlimentary chairman of lands Commision Hon. Mutava Musyimi today called upon all the residents of Turkana County to attend a forum tommorrow at County council Hall to deliberate land issues at 9.00am. Hon. Musyimi said that for the past 20 years Kenyans have shed blood on land issues and need not do so again! He encouraged all to Come and make their contributions in these important occasion.

Local News – 17.3.12 - By Nancy Ebulon and Mary Tioko -Women urged to go for top posts in the next general Elections in Turkana County

Women from Turkana County assembled for the last 5 days as from 13th March to 17th March 2012 at splash Guest house and hotel to share their experiences on leadership issues surrounding women. The conference which was organised by Greater Turkana Civil Society Network with the help of their Chief Executive officer Mr. Eliud Emeri Idoket brought together 50 participants from the entire County.
Addressing women during the forum, the chairperson of Women political Alliance Miss. Amdany Daisy challenged women to persue in their Education to the highest levels inorder to be smart in their activities. The Women who were drawn from all the six districts in Turkana are also the aspirants in the coming election of 2012 Miss. Amdany also challenged the particiapnts to campaign seriously and peacefully for the top posts and that they should not fear to seek for the votes as they also have the same knowledge like their men counterparts.
She added that women aspirants should be objective and strong in their statements and that they should read and understand the new constitution. She advised them to follow the IEBC regulations disaproving statements made always that women are their own enemies saying that women are great developers and achievers in the economic standards of any country.
The participants were urged to implement the gender clause and also seek for the opportunities explored in the new constitution. They were also urged to promote peacedful co-existence Miss. Amdany encouraged all the voters to try women leaders in the coming general elections for change.