The County Champion Newspaper

27/09/2025

UPDATE
PIC-GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE DEMANDS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS AS IT AUDITS BOOKS
The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education led by Chairman Wanami Wamboka (Bumula) has warned University Vice-Chancellors against repeatedly appearing before the MPs without sufficient documentation to respond to audit queries.

Speaking during a meeting with Murang’a University vice-chancellor Prof. Dickson Nyariki on Friday, the MPs expressed concerns at the reluctance displayed by the VC who despite having had sufficient notice and communication on documentation necessary to make their case, appeared without the necessary requirements proving they had resolved the highlighted Audit Queries.

“When the Auditor General says they need documents to prove work done, and expenses made, it is your duty to ensure that you furnish them with that to absolve yourselves from recurrent Audit issues.” Guided Wamboka. “Coming before this Committee without proof of resolving matters points to negligence on your part.”

The University’s accounts were flagged for a number of procurement irregularities, among them the controversial purchase of a scania bus at a cost of kshs. 15.39 million by direct procurement.

This, is in contravention of Procurement Laws, and the Committee demanded to see documents supporting the decision, but the VC and his team were unable to furnish the MPs sufficiently.

The other issue of concern to the Legislators was the investment of 25.14 Million shillings by the University in Bamburi Cement, but the shares are in the Trustee’s names instead of the University.

Attempts by the Committee to get documents showing ownership transfer had been initiated were futile, prompting the chairperson to surcharge Prof. Nyariki Kes 500,000 in accordance with the Standing Orders pertaining to failure to submit evidence before Parliamentary Committees.

The Committee also met with Kaimosi Friends University, Laikipia University, and Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology over reports of the Auditor General for financial years 2021/2022 to 2023/2024.
-PARLIAMENT

26/09/2025

UPDATE
MACHAKOS MARKS WORLD CONTRACEPTION DAY
The Department of Health joined the world in commemorating World Contraception Day at Athi River Level 4 Hospital under the theme “Chaguo la Wote: Making Contraception Accessible.”

The event featured a variety of health services including cervical cancer screening, family planning services, health education sessions, Random Blood Sugar (RBS) tests, Blood Pressure (BP) checks, and Body Mass Index (BMI) assessments.

This commemoration highlights the County Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting reproductive health rights, preventive health care, and access to quality family planning services.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti reaffirmed her administration’s dedication to ensuring that all residents — especially women and young people — have access to safe, affordable, and reliable reproductive health services as part of building a healthier, stronger Machakos.

26/09/2025

UPDATE
Cooperatives PS Patrick Kilemi today joined CS Wycliffe Oparanya at the 34th Special General Meeting of Unaitas SACCO Society Limited, where he underscored the role of development education in SACCOs as a driver of member empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
He highlighted Unaitas’ impressive growth into a Tier 1 SACCO, with assets of Ksh. 27B, deposits of Ksh. 14.9B, and a loan book of Ksh. 19.8B a clear example of how cooperatives can advance financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
He further noted that true strength lies in people uniting around a common purpose.
Also present were Chairman Michael Murithi, CEO Martin Muhoho, Commissioner for Cooperatives Mr. Obonyo, and Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mutiso.

26/09/2025

In a press statement issued on Friday, CCU Secretary General Sadjah Philippe said the MCA’s actions amount to “reckless betrayal” of the party and a direct attempt to undermine its duly nominated candidate in the by-election, Mr. Richard Nzioki (popularly known as Mbolu).
CCU Party reminded Musyimi Maeke that under Section 14(1)(c) and (e) of the Political Parties Act, 2011, any member who promotes the agenda or candidates of another political party is deemed to have resigned. CCU further stressed that its Constitution and Code of Conduct prohibit members from “serving two masters.”
“The Party has today issued a Notice to Show Cause to Hon Musyimi, giving him seven days to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. Failure to respond will force us to escalate the matter to the Registrar of Political Parties for removal of his name from the Party register,” said Hon. Philippe.

26/09/2025

26/09/2025

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25/09/2025

UPDATE
MAENDELEO CHAP CHAP LAUNCHES ITS CAMPAIGNS FOR THE MUMBUNI NORTH WARD BY-ELECTION
By Daniel Nzia Senior Writer
Maendeleo Chap Chap party has officially unveiled its candidate for the vacant Mumbuni North Ward seat by election scheduled for November 27,2025.
The party leadership led by Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua presented Harrison Wambua Mutuku to the electorate at a colourful ceremony held at Kisooni area in the Ward.
Dr Mutua who was accompanied by party MPs Caleb Mule Mutiso (Machakos Town),Eckomas Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West) and a host of MCAs dismissed talk that the party would withdraw its candidate in the eleventh hour.
"Our candidate will go all the way to the balloot. Some people are saying we shall withdraw his candidate midway. That is porojo na propaganda. This is our seat for the taking,"declared Dr Mutua.
He said he would reach out to the President Dr William Ruto government to sink boreholes and do other development projects for the benefit of Mumbuni North residents.
He declared Machakos County a Maendeleo Chap Chap party zone and urged Mumbuni North Ward residents to vote for the party’s candidate.
"The late mzee Kavuu was a Maendeleo Chap Chap party MCA. I urge you to vote Harrison Wambua to be our MCA, " said the Labour Cabinet Secretary.
Mwengi Mutuse rooted for the election of Harrison Wambua as the party’s candidate as he urged residents to reject candidates being imposed on them by leaders from outside the area for their own selfish interests.
Caleb rallied the Mumbuni North Ward residents to vote for Harrison Wambua, who he said was up to the task.

25/09/2025

MISSING BILLIONS: SENATE LABOUR COMMITTEE DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM TUK OVER PENSION CRISIS
The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, Thursday put the management of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) on the spot over the collapse of its staff retirement benefits scheme, which has left retirees and soon-to-retire employees in financial distress.

Appearing before the committee chaired by Ag. Chair Sen. (Rtd) Justice Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Vice-Chancellor Prof. Benedict Mutua was pressed to explain how deductions were made for years without being remitted to the pension scheme.

The committee heard that between 2009 and 2013, TUK operated an unregistered scheme and deposited contributions into a non-compliant savings account at Kenya Commercial Bank. By April 2013, the account held KES 244.9 million. Barely a month later, on 8th May, the balance had plummeted to KES 9.5 million.

The application to register the Technical University of Kenya Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme (TUKSRBS) was only submitted on 29th May 2013—after the account had been drained—before eventual registration in November the same year.

The Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) chief executive Charles Machira described the scheme’s current position as catastrophic, revealing a funding ratio of just 17 percent. “Anybody who has a million Kenyan shillings in accrued benefits can only be paid 170,000 shillings,” he said. With assets valued at KES 755 million against liabilities of KES 4.2 billion, the High Court has since ordered liquidation of the scheme, with an official receiver appointed to manage the remnants.

Senators reacted with outrage, accusing university officials of presiding over a deliberate scheme to siphon workers’ savings.

“This was actually a scheme organized and coordinated by managers who were pilfering and stealing money from the pension fund,” charged Sen. Richard Onyonka (Kisii), who attended the session as a friend of the committee.

Records tabled showed that signatories to the contested account included senior administrators, among them the then-Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francis Aduol—raising suspicions of collusion at the university’s highest levels. Sen. Alexander Mundigi (Embu) demanded that Prof. Aduol be compelled to appear before the committee.

Prof. Mutua, under intense questioning, conceded culpability. “We accept that the law was broken,” he admitted, though he attributed the failure to remit deductions to financial strain and bureaucratic hurdles.

Sen. Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) turned the spotlight on oversight bodies. “When you discovered deductions were not being remitted did you make any recommendations? Where is the hope for employees who suffered these deductions?” he asked.

RBA responded that the matter had been escalated to the line ministry and the University Council before the scheme was declared insolvent and wound up.

Sen. Onyonka called for a full forensic audit to trace the billions lost and hold culprits to account.

Meanwhile, Prof. Mutua is expected to present a roadmap outlining how the university intends to compensate affected pensioners and safeguard those approaching retirement.

25/09/2025

UPDATE:
President William Ruto met United States Senior Adviser for Africa Massad Boulos on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
They discussed key bilateral and regional issues that Kenya and the United States are jointly working on, particularly in the areas of development and security.
"Our goal is to advance mutually beneficial partnerships" he said

25/09/2025

UPDATE:
Regulated SACCOs disbursed funds over Ksh. 542 billion up from Ksh. 460 billion in 2023 to various economic sectors.
Land and Housing was the highest economic sector at Ksh 137 billion (25.3%) from Ksh 124.19 billion in 2023.
Education Ksh 96.3 (2023) to Ksh. 119.49 (2204)
Agriculture Ksh 78.09 (2023) to Ksh 108.9 (2024)