Police hold refugees recruited into Al-Shabaab

Kenya: Police are holding 21 refugees after they were found travelling to Somalia to allegedly join Al Shabaab militants.

The men were intercepted at the weekend on board a van at the Abdisugo roadblock while carrying lots of foodstuff and water.
Police said the men had left Hagadera refugee camp and were headed for Kolbio area of Somalia when they were intercepted.
Garissa County head of CID Musa Yego said they had information the youth were going to join Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.
“They are in custody and they have so far appeared in court. We have information the youth were headed to Somalia to join the terror group and we are talking to them for now,” said Yego.
The arrest is an indication the refugee camp remains a major source of recruits for the terrorists, some of whom have come to haunt Kenya.
Part of the plans to attack Westgate Shopping Mall were hatched at the larger Dadaab Refugee Camp, security officials have said.
Security agencies’ reports show continued presence of refugee camps provides safe cover for terrorists to enter, recruit, indoctrinate, train, harbor and move the operatives to and from Somalia without detection by security agencies.
“Most of the ‘Amniyats’ pass through the refugee camps, where they obtain Alien Cards, before fraudulently obtaining Kenyan identification papers.”
The report says there is steady influx of Al Shabaab secret agents into the country with instructions to execute attacks on key installations, assassinate key political and business personalities, attack security personnel and engage in kidnappings.
“An average of 100 Al Shabaab enter the country through our porous North Eastern borders and Kenya has over 300 Kenyans trained by Al Shabaab currently in the country,” reads part of a confidential report.

Cord drops Onge’ra from Pan African Parliament list

Cord MPs yesterday replaced nominated Senator Janet Ong’era with Garissa County Representative Shukran Gare to represent the country in the Pan African Parliament. The amendment was hurriedly brought to the House by Wajir County MP Fatuma Ibrahim and was seconded by Ndhiwa MP Agostino Neto.
The Senate had approved Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) Ong’era (nominated), and members of the National Assembly Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi South), Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi County Women’s Representative) and Millie Mabona (Mbita) to sit in the Pan Africa Parliament. When the list was first brought before the House in September, hostile MPs defied Speaker Justin Muturi and Majority Leader Adan Duale and forced the withdrawal of the names of Senate nominees.
The MPs said Senate had no business sending representatives to the body, even if the protocol that sets up the Pan Africa Parliament demands representation from both Houses in a bicameral setting. But yesterday, the Speaker ruled that the House would have to bring a new list after six months, should the names be rejected again.
Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata and Otieno Wandayi (Ugunja), rejected the list on the basis that it failed to address regional balance. When the names came to the House the first time, the MPs insisted that as per the Constitution, the “senators do not represent people, but regions”.
They were piqued that the opposition had picked a nominated senator to sit in the Pan African House. “When you are a nominated Member of the Assembly, is this a body we send you to? We have enough people elected to the National Assembly and in the Senate to represent the people of Kenya in the Pan African Parliament,” argued Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town).
Duale told MPs they should not delay the matter further because the Pan-Africa Parliament urgently required Kenyan MPs in the House. When the motion was brought to the House, Suba MP John Mbadi proposed that Ong’era be dropped and replaced by Daniel Maanzo (Makueni). He argued women and the Senate had been represented. During debate on the motion, leadership wrangles within the Cord coalition played out when one of its members dismissed it as disgruntled, and out to ruin the minority.

Project to cushion locals from high charcoal prices

Five thousand households in Kitui, Nakuru and Garissa counties are set to benefit from a government-funded project that seeks to reduce daily charcoal and fire wood consumption by 70 per cent. The project, which also seeks to anchor Kenya into the international Carbon Credit trading, will provide residents with clean cooking stoves and solar lighting appliances that will enhance environmental sustainability, climate change resilience and low carbon emission.
The project is funded by the government through the Kenya Wildlife Service and will be implemented by Green Africa Foundation, an environmental organisation that champions sustainable use and management of natural resources. Speaking during a one-day sensitisation forum for the Kitui county  leaders in Kitui town yesterday, Green Africa’s founder, Isaac Kalua, said the project will also improve the socio-economic and health conditions of beneficiaries.
“This project targets specifically households living in areas suffering from massive deforestation or near protected areas such as national parks and reserves,” he said. Kalua said most families are forced to buy firewood because they are prohibited from accessing protected forests.
“For these people to enjoy cooking and at the same actively participate in conserving environment, the project will introduce to each of the 5,000 households clean cooking stoves and solar lighting appliance,” said Kalua said. Among those who attended the forum include Governor Julius Malombe, KWS deputy director William Waweru, Auditor-General Edward Ouko and members of the National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee.

Garissa Governor In Pursuit Of Peace

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 Members of the Garissa county assembly together with a section of elders from various clans in the area have raised the red flag over what they term as poor leadership skills from the county executive. The governor, Nathif Jama, on his part, is engaging in high profile meetings with representatives from various clans to ease tension in the area following the court's ruling affirming his election as county governor.

Police investigating AP attack on bar patrons in Tana River

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Police in Madogo, Tana River County have launched investigations,amid  allegations that   ten armed Administration police officers roughed up patrons at Mombasa Raha Pub a popular joint in Mororo area, seriously injuring four workers and destroying property worth  150,000 shillings. According to Hiram Kimathi a manager at the pub, the police officers forced their way into the premises at about 4 pm, cocked their guns and ordered  everyone to lie down before they started attacking workers. They are now asking the relevant government arm to take stern disciplinary action against the officers noting that the incident had created panic amongst  area residents. The incident is believed to be a revenge mission following an earlier incident where one of their own was allegedly assaulted in the same pub by the club bouncers. 

Garissa to record sites

Garissa county government has began taking stock of the number of its tourists, historical and natural resource’s sites which were previously not documented.

 County executive in charge of Environment, Salah Yakub also said some unique wildlife including the rear Hirola antelope and birds will be filmed and used to market the county.

 Speaking while on a tour of Bananei location on Saturday, Yakub said the county has unique tourist attraction sites and natural habitants.

 He said rare resources in Kenya such as oil, gas, limestones are gysums are in the county. Yakub said unique rocks which are used to construct buildings and indigenous palm trees are found in the Garissa.

 He further said the county government will keep the records and document historical sites. The records will be used to showcase the county as a tourist destination when exhibitions, forums and shows are held in future.

 Garissa County has began taking stock of a number of its tourists, historical and natural resource’s sites which were previously not documented.

County executive in charge of environment, Salah Yakub also said some unique wildlife including the rear hirola antelope and birds will be filmed and use to market the county.

Speaking at the weekend at Bananei location while on tour, Farah said the county has one of the most attracting wildlife’s and unique natural habitants.

 He said valuable resources such as oil, gas, limestones, gysums and unique rocks which can be used for construction can be used for construction and rear tall palm trees are also found in the county.

 He further said the county government will ensure that it properly keeps the record and permanent data on the same to used to showcase when there will be any exhibition, forum and shows in future.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-

Youth from Garissa County gets honored as Tree Ambassador

Abdikadir Aden Planting a tree at World Environmental Day

Meet Abdikadir Aden, also known as Mr.Environment from Garissa. The 25 year old youth is a great inspiration, especially to youth in this country and beyond.
Coming from a minority community in Northern Kenya, Abdikadir is a young leader who exhibits big change for his society. He is committed and dedicated in every step he makes, giving back to his people as a volunteer and an environmental activist. He is an emerging icon of peace through environmental conservation.
Being honored as a Tree Ambassador, marks his fifth achievement, the first one being during Garissa Youth Summit for bringing a solution to community challenge in the year 2010. In the same year, he was recognized in the East Africa Community Service and received Youth Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010 for having sacrificed his time and resources for community service through Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) and Ufadhili Trust, Nairobi.
In 2012, Abdikadir became Children and Youth Tunza Eco-Generation Regional Ambassador to North Eastern Kenya for Samsung Engineering Company and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); A networking platform for Children and Youth. Through this, he exhibited good performance and leadership in supporting environmental activities in his community as a young leader.
This year, he received an African Young Achiever Award by the African Achievers Awards for his contribution as an empowered youth to the development of Africa at a colourful celebration held on 23rd February at Hilton Hotel Nairobi.
On Wednesday 26th June, 2013, Abdikadir was honoured as “Tree Ambassadors” in The Total Eco Challenge “Tree Ambassador” awards by Total Kenya. Total Eco Challenge has recognized him for personally recording exceptional achievement in tree planting, and being an inspirational and driving force to others. Abdikadir expresses his dedication that day by stating, “I am very happy tonight for this achievement. The best achievement that I got is giving back to my society. I will always dedicate myself and serve my community with passion and continue to inspire other young people”.
Abdikadir promotes climate change and environmental conservation and environmental protection. This involves advocating for the environment, supporting community environmental projects, ensuring environmental sustainability, and addressing different local and global environmental issues such as Global warming and Climate Change.
He hopes to deliver and support Garissa County Government in ensuring a clean and healthy environment.