A gold rush in Kanyarkwat, West Pokot County, has attracted an estimated 10,000 people to Cheporor village within six days following reports of gold deposits. Authorities have raised concerns over safety, child labour, poor sanitation, lack of clean water and the risk of disease. Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Kiarie warned that the situation could develop into a humanitarian crisis, particularly as miners work in deep open pits and along a seasonal river ahead of the rainy season. School-going children are reportedly involved in mining, while toddlers have been brought to the site and left unattended. Residents fear cholera due to inadequate sanitation and water. Despite the risks, the influx has boosted local businesses, with traders, food vendors and boda boda operators benefiting from increased demand.
The Mairura Family Foundation has been commended for providing free specialised orthopaedic care to underserved communities in Kisii County. During a five-day medical camp at Nyanchwa Adventist Mission Hospital, nearly 2,500 patients received consultations, about 400 received outpatient treatment and close to 40 underwent free surgeries, including hip and knee replacements. Patients came from Kisii, Nyamira, Homa Bay, Migori and Narok counties. Among beneficiaries was Thomas Moracha, a boda boda rider who endured a fractured arm for 13 years, and a 16-year-old boy who received reconstructive treatment for fingers fused after severe childhood burns. The programme, supported by SHA and American specialists, provided treatment, implants and follow-up care valued at about KSh150 million. The foundation has conducted medical missions in Kenya since 2024.
Police in Embu have stopped a planned invasion of the disputed 44,000-acre Mwea Settlement Scheme in Mbeere South by members of the Ngome Clan, who claim ancestral ownership of the land. Hundreds of elders had gathered at Gachoka junction for a procession to the scheme, raising fears of clashes with communities currently occupying the area. Police blocked the procession, citing security concerns and an agreement for a three-month dialogue with government officials. Ngome Council of Elders chairman Joseph Murinda said they had mobilised 7,232 members and claimed the government had recognised their ownership through documents issued in 2016. The elders agreed to pursue talks with national and county officials but warned they could resume the procession if no solution is reached. Authorities plan to verify ownership documents and historical allocation records.
Nyali businessman and parliamentary hopeful Said Abdalla has urged residents to embrace political tolerance and reject tribal and religious divisions ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking during a women’s empowerment programme in Mlaleo, Abdalla warned voters against leaders who promote hate speech and divisive politics, saying Nyali’s diverse population requires constructive leadership. He recalled the devastating effects of the 2007 post-election violence and urged Kenyans to prevent a recurrence. Abdalla also encouraged young people to register as voters in large numbers, cautioning that youth are often exploited by politicians to cause chaos during elections while bearing the consequences. He called on Nyumba Kumi leaders and National Government Administration Officers to assist young people in obtaining national identity cards and registering as voters.
Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku has directed chief executives of government agencies and independent commissions to onboard the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) for salary payments. Ruku said the government seeks to establish a single payroll through HRIS to prevent manipulation, ghost workers and irregular allowances across public institutions. Speaking in Wote, Makueni County, he warned agency and commission heads who fail to implement the Cabinet directive that they risk administrative and disciplinary action. Ruku said CEOs must take Cabinet directives seriously and ensure they are implemented promptly and accurately. He linked the HRIS initiative to President William Ruto’s call for prudent management of public resources and protection of taxpayers’ money. The CS said the deadline for institutions to comply was fast approaching.
Construction of hostels at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Othaya Campus has begun. The project alongside modern policing units that are expected to cost about KSh850 million were lobbied for by area MP Wambugu Wainaina alias Kìrìma. The hostel project is expected to improve accommodation for students at the medical training institution, which was established in 2016 and has continued to expand its infrastructure. The hostel block will be a four-storey building with a capacity of 340 students, alongside a tuition block and supporting infrastructure. The MP said the commencement of construction marks another milestone in his efforts to attract development projects to the constituency.
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- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER August 10, 2026
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