CHARGES ON EXAM CHEATING

Kenya National Examinations Council Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu on Wednesday said 157 people have been prosecuted for engaging in examinations irregularities.

Speaking during the release of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results, Mr Kivilu said those arrested and charged over cheating include head teachers, their deputies, university students, parents, police officers and candidates.

He defended credibility of the results saying all suspected examination malpractices will be investigated and dealt with accordingly.

Mr Kivilu recently said there would be no ranking and that the mode of releasing the results would be similar to last year’s.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi released the Standard Eight examination results done by 937,467 candidates

KCPE OUT!

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday released the 2015 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results.

He said 2,709 cases of cheating were reported across the country and warned that stern action will be taken against those who engage in examination irregularities.

“We will stop at nothing to stop cheating,” he said.

He also announced that the mean score for public schools dropped by seven points while performance by private institutions improved.

The mean score for public schools dropped from 187.8 in 2014 to 180.7 in 2015 while private schools recorded an improvement from 229.4 in 2014 to 230 in 2015.

Dr Matiang'i also announced that a new curriculum that will reshape Kenya’s education system will be launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2016.

He said the overhaul will ensure the education system meets the country’s needs.

ATLEAST 110JOURNALIST DIED IN 2015 SAYS AFP

A total of 110 journalists were killed around the world in 2015, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Tuesday, noting that while many died in war zones the majority were killed in supposedly peaceful countries.
Sixty-seven journalists were killed in the line of duty, the watchdog group said in its annual roundup, listing war-torn Iraq and Syria as most dangerous places for journalists with 11 and 10 fatalities respectively, followed by France, where eight journalists were killed in a jihadist assault on a satirical magazine.
A further 43 journalists around the world died in circumstances that were unclear and 27 non-professional "citizen-journalists" and seven other media workers were also killed, RSF said.
The high toll is "largely attributable to deliberate violence against journalists" and demonstrates the failure of initiatives to protect media personnel, the report said, calling for the United Nations to take action.'Non-state' groups 
The report spoke of the growing role of "non-state groups" -- often jihadists such as the Islamic State group -- in perpetrating atrocities against journalists.
In 2014, it said, two-thirds of the journalists killed were in war zones. But in 2015, it was the exact opposite, with "two-thirds killed in countries 'at peace'."

KCPE 2015 RESULT TO BE RELEASED ON WEDNESDAY 30TH

A total of 937,467 candidates who sat their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations last month will on Wednesday know their results, which secondary schools candidates will join next year.

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) will release the results at a press conference presided over by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at Mitihani House, Nairobi.

There were 48,304 more candidates compared to last year’s 889,163.

Knec Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu said Monday the results would be announced in the format introduced last year.

“Just like last year, we will not be ranking candidates or schools but we will provide more information on the results,” he said, and warned that results of candidates found to have cheated would be withheld.

“Candidates with withheld or pending results will receive a letter through their headteachers explaining why,” he said, adding that anyone could access the results through a mobile phone by sending a candidate’s index number to 22252.

Dr Kivilu asked teachers to report any discrepancies in the results and submit appeals for remarking within a month from Wednesday.

Nairobi County had the highest number of candidates at 50,821 while Lamu had the lowest at 2,579.

The candidates sat the examination after a five-week strike by teachers demanding a pay increase, prompting calls for a postponement, which the Government rejected.

Candidates will be subjected to a new form one admission criteria adopted this year in which the top five top from each sub-county — whether in public or private schools — will get automatic admission to national schools up from three while extra county schools will take 70 per cent of students from public schools and 30 per cent from private.

On Monday, Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba warned the TSC against punishing teachers for any examination leakages.

WARNING!:JOB SEEKERS IN DANGER LOOMING AROUND YOUR DESPERATION

About 100 people were Monday duped into travelling to a non-existent office in Nairobi for “job

interviews”.

The young smartly dressed and eager job seekers had been told they had been shortlisted to be interviewed for administrative and clerical openings at Jade Financier Consultants at “Geomaps Centre, fifth floor, southern wing at 10am”.

An email to the applicants from one Laura S. Mshindi said before coming for the interview, each one should send Sh200 to a number, 5173 3500 0016 8020, to pay for their credit rating because “the financial consulting company never employs people who have been in default in their financial dealings before.”

The number does not exist as the countywatchkenya found out after sending Sh10.

However,we  spoke to an official of Metropol Credit Reference Bureau, a business information and credit management company, who said the whole thing looked like a “scam”.

On Monday, desperate job seekers, some from as far as Lamu and Kisii counties, were turned away by guards at the Upper Hill building.

One of them, a young woman from Nairobi who identified herself as Getrude, said she had seen the job offer on Facebook.

She said it was posted by Ms Laura Mshindi and said, among other things, that applicants should not be older than 35 and would begin their new jobs on January 4 at a salary of Sh24,000.

EAGER SEEKERS
She, however, said she had not sent the Sh200 as she “opted to pay it in person”.

“I sent my CV to mshindi999@gmail.com and mshindi@financier.com and got a reply that I had been shortlisted for an interview on December 28 only to come here and find it was a scam,” she said.

“The email even asked us to bring a Certificate of Good Conduct as the financial institution deals with very sensitive and confidential data on behalf of banks and other financial institutions,” she said.

A guard at the Geomaps Centre told the countywatch “People started streaming here as early as 6am for interviews at an office that does not exist in this building. Some were crying that they had come with the hope of new jobs, having slept on the road. I think they have been duped.”

Efforts to contact Ms Laura Mshindi both on email and on the Facebook page were futile.

This comes barely three months after nearly 20,000 people were promised jobs by East Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Safe Promotion International (SSASP International) that offered two or three appointments with curious titles such as Assistant Single Parent Manager and Assistant Widowed/Widower Manager.

The company’s top officials were arrested in Nairobi on September 2 after they were unable to prove the authenticity of their organisation.

They were handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.so be careful dont fall a victim.

MACHAKOS COUNTY RESIDENTS SPEAKS OUT

Locals said they were generally unhappy with the frequent squabbles between Dr Mutua and Mr Muthama, which they said had slowed down development in the county. Those The Standard interviewed cited "the never-ending turf wars" between the two leaders as the single greatest obstacle to development. "What we expect is service delivery, and each leader will be held squarely responsible for his obligation, for which he was voted into office," said Timothy Muli, a registered voter in Kangundo Constituency. Mr Muli criticised Mutua for giving "false hope" to residents, particularly on the promise that each household would get piped water by 2017. "What we have seen most is a lot of publicity over the project, but nothing much is going on towards that end," he said.Another voter, David Mutie, blamed Muthama for "opposing everything" that Mutua did. "The reason we have lagged behind is because Muthama has been working with some rogue officers in Mutua's administration with the aim of bringing the governor down," he claimed. In Machakos Town, another voter, Victor Mutua, said there was still hope for both Mutua and Muthama to strike a working relationship. "I believe the leaders can still agree if they want to, for the sake of development. But that will take honest goodwill," he noted. In Masinga, which is Mutua's deputy Bernard Kiala's backyard, resident Jacinta Musyoki said the fallout between Mutua and Kiala had split the "unity of purpose" between supporters of the two.

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000186435/we-re-tired-of-fights-voters-tell-governor-alfred-mutua-and-senator-johnstone-muthama

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000186435/we-re-tired-of-fights-voters-tell-governor-alfred-mutua-and-senator-johnstone-muthama

RAILA:2016 WILL BE A YEAR OF ACTIONS

Opposition leader Raila Odinga says, 2016 will be the year of challenges in which history will call on him to prove himself, unless of course he is forced or opts out of the big race. This is because on account of age, it could be his last bid. But he also has to stoke the fires of Opposition against the incumbent and marshal national support behind him if he hopes to deal Jubilee a blow. He will welcome 2016 riding high on the controversial wave of the missing Eurobond billions, whose use on infrastructure projects the Treasury has failed to explain. Having successfully pressured a Cabinet Secretary to resignation, Raila will lead his troops in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) in a legislative and political battle that if mishandled by the ruling Jubilee Coalition, may claim the top officials running the country’s public coffers. The first task for the CORD leader will be to keep an eye on the reconstitution of the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Investment Committee in the National Assembly – two key committees that spearhead the oversight function on policy and expenditure in the Government. See also: What awaits Uhuru and Raila in the New Year Getting the mix of smart politicians and experienced lawmakers in these committees will boost the Opposition’s plan to keep the Government occupied with fire-fighting until the next General Election. It is in the interest of the Opposition leader to manage the reconstitution of key parliamentary watchdog committees to ensure the oversight role in the Jubilee-dominated National Assembly is not compromised. The CORD leader will also pursue the Okoa Kenya Bill to make sure it gets the nod to proceed to the county assemblies for a vote, so as to open the door for a referendum before the next polls. At a time when even Jubilee has some MPs pushing for a referendum using the Opposition’s bill as a blueprint, Raila and his troops will be keen to latch onto that goodwill to push the Okoa Kenya Bill. His own Orange Democratic Movement was a by-product of resentment and final humiliation of President Kibaki in a referendum. The bill seeks to revise the Constitution to strengthen Devolution, push for more inclusion in Government and triple the allocation to the counties. For now, the signatures are being verified by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000186438/raila-s-agenda-eurobond-saving-wetang-ula-and-okoa-kenya-vote-drive

or Opposition leader Raila Odinga, 2016 will be the year of challenges in which history will call on him to prove himself, unless of course he is forced or opts out of the big race. This is because on account of age, it could be his last bid. But he also has to stoke the fires of Opposition against the incumbent and marshal national support behind him if he hopes to deal Jubilee a blow. He will welcome 2016 riding high on the controversial wave of the missing Eurobond billions, whose use on infrastructure projects the Treasury has failed to explain. Having successfully pressured a Cabinet Secretary to resignation, Raila will lead his troops in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) in a legislative and political battle that if mishandled by the ruling Jubilee Coalition, may claim the top officials running the country’s public coffers. The first task for the CORD leader will be to keep an eye on the reconstitution of the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Investment Committee in the National Assembly – two key committees that spearhead the oversight function on policy and expenditure in the Government. See also: What awaits Uhuru and Raila in the New Year Getting the mix of smart politicians and experienced lawmakers in these committees will boost the Opposition’s plan to keep the Government occupied with fire-fighting until the next General Election. It is in the interest of the Opposition leader to manage the reconstitution of key parliamentary watchdog committees to ensure the oversight role in the Jubilee-dominated National Assembly is not compromised. The CORD leader will also pursue the Okoa Kenya Bill to make sure it gets the nod to proceed to the county assemblies for a vote, so as to open the door for a referendum before the next polls. At a time when even Jubilee has some MPs pushing for a referendum using the Opposition’s bill as a blueprint, Raila and his troops will be keen to latch onto that goodwill to push the Okoa Kenya Bill. His own Orange Democratic Movement was a by-product of resentment and final humiliation of President Kibaki in a referendum. The bill seeks to revise the Constitution to strengthen Devolution, push for more inclusion in Government and triple the allocation to the counties. For now, the signatures are being verified by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000186438/raila-s-agenda-eurobond-saving-wetang-ula-and-okoa-kenya-vote-drive

MEET THE VETERANT RADIO PRESENTER KEN INDIMULI FROM NYOTA FM

His voice on air may make you wonder who he really is.Ken Indimuli who hails from westen kenya mumias region is counting more than a decade in this field of  broadcasting commanding  the airwaves in the region.
Indimuli who is known for his boldness has made his name all through kenya  and becoming a pioneer in the field of broadcasting..A  young energetic indimuli has changed the social and political views especial in western kenya  through radio as he understand the game well.
In his morning show NYOTA ASUBUHI  which runs as from  5am to 10am has be come so popular the way he handles matters  socially ,economically and economically.He  is  a man who talk fearlessly regardless of the position.

Speaking to the COUNTYWATCHKENYA Indimuli said he talk only on things that he has enough evidence and clues on the matter.

Recently he was mentioned as  one of the most authoritative presenters in the region topping others.He works along  Fred Wesonga  and Comedian Fulu Indimuli has also worked with Saharafm in kisumu,West fm bungoma ,The government radio KBC.
Watch this space to know mor about ken indimuli 

KENYANS:WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IN THE PAST 12MONTHS

What did Kenyans really want to know in the past 12 months? Who did they want to know about, and what event or which subject bothered them so much and where did they seek answers?
Many might not know the answers to some of those questions, but they can be sure that Kenyans sought answers from friends and relatives or even their teachers. It used to be that simple. Friends and relatives and elders always had answers. That was then.
Nowadays, Kenyans, especially the tech savvy ones, have a friend in Google, the internet search engine which has all answers to all questions under the sun and beyond.
And so, it came to pass that when Kenyans encountered questions their church elders and politicians and journalists could not answer, they stopped scratching their heads, and started thinking with their fingers. 
On their tablets. On their computers. Or on their phones. Their fingers did the walking, to Google. And they got answers.
And there is a price they have to pay because Google does not keep secrets, and neither does it forget.
So, everything Kenyans searched on Google, Google kept records. And Google has given a report which reveals that Kenyans searched what teenage pregnancy is. They also asked what poverty is. Odd.
In a country where over 50 per cent of the 42 million strong population reportedly live below a dollar a day, you would expect people to know what poverty is. But that is neither here nor there.
In its Year In Search report for 2015, Google reveals that Kenyans also searched, and by inference wanted to know to know how to play lotto, how to lose belly fat, how to download a YouTube video (which is illegal anyway), how to okoa stima, how to write a formal letter, how to practice typing on a computer, how to pray with the rosary, how to bet, how to convert a PDF to word document and how to bake a simple cake.
Such a change from 2014 when Kenyans were so preoccupied with Vera Sidika that she was the Most Searched personality.
Could it be that priorities have changed, or Vera is so last year, literally, and the Auma Obama’s of this world have made Kenyans realise there is just so much we can say about a protuberance?
Priorities could have changed. Many Kenyans found themselves suddenly in the dark this year, or had their hot shower suddenly turn cold in the middle of a bath, that they just had to try and find out how to okoa stima, which is all about getting a prepaid power token on loan.

NAIROBI DANGEROUS FOODS

When having a plateful of some stew this Christmas, it might be good to think of how dirty its source might be.
A spot check by The Countywatch at the city’s wholesale market, where 90 per cent of Nairobi’s food is sourced from, reveals that it would be better to fast than have your favourite food spiced with water from the gutter and some unappetising garbage that finds its way into the market place.
At the Wakulima Market, huge piles of polythene bags, decayed food left overs, thick, greyish-looking water and  a foul smell calls for your attention metres away from the place, though it does not deter the traders from selling their harvest for cooking. Business is booming for the traders even though customers have to hop, skip and jump between the muddy pathways and carts, which ferry the food to our estates.
For six months, the market has accumulated huge garbage piles, which remain uncollected, despite the county government expressing intent to clean up the same. Faith Wambui, a trader at Wakulima Market, says that they have had to grapple with the garbage challenge since nothing is done about the same. She says other traders who come to purchase goods might be put off by the foul smell emanating from the sewage water that does not flow due to the blockage.
“The drainage system is clogged and the sewer water ends up overflowing into the market. That is why it is so muddy,” Ms Wambui says.
City residents are now raising queries about the quality of food coming from the market, due to the large heaps of garbage in the area.So take care this chrismas season .

SHOPPERS GOES FOR KHETIAS SUPERMARKET FOR BEING CHEAP THIS FESTIVE.

As the Christmas gets to its climax, supermarkets are trying their best to get the best from shoppers.Here in bungoma Kenya the most popular supermarket khetia's is real making the ends meet for the shoppers with little money for their eve preparation.khetias is known for friendly prices and prizes that makes buyers not think of loosing anything.
Recently it introduced its welknow competion CHOTAKUCHOTA PROMOTION that allows shoppers with goods worth kshs.500 and over to enter into the draw which runs for two months.
Other supermarkets like UKWALA,NAKUMATT and NAIVAS are also trying despite of their unfriendly prices.Bungoma is now bcoming most of highly attracted counties in business administration setups 

POLLS SHOWS KENYANS HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN IEBC

THE majority of Kenyans have no confidence in the electoral commission’s ability to manage the 2017 General Election, according to the latest poll by Ipsos.

The poll, conducted between November 7 and 19, 2015, shows that 41 per cent of Kenyans do not believe the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will do a good job.

They were answering a survey question that has drawn contrary opinions from both Cord and Jubilee support areas.

The entire research was, however, sampled on the basis of Cord versus Jubilee supporters and political parties.

Although confidence in the IEBC has higher ratings from Jubilee strongholds, at 63 per cent, 70 per cent of Cord supporters have no confidence in the commission at all.

Announcing the results yesterday at the Ipsos offices, research analyst Tom Wolf also noted that 58 per cent of the respondents want the IEBC commissioners replaced by individuals who are trustworthy.

This could be related to the events of 2013, after Cord leader Raila Odinga accused the IEBC of bungling the presidential elections in the petition that he filed in the Supreme Court.

The replacement of the IEBC commissioners received huge backing from Cord areas at 71 per cent, with 44 per cent jubilee supporters backing the idea.

Fifteen per cent of Jubilee supporters want the commissioners of the now-defunct Independent Electoral Commission, the IEBC’s predecessor, convicted on corruption offences alongside those of its successor commission. Only 6 per cent of Cord backers support the idea.

Five per cent of the respondents want IEBC commissioners appointed by the political parties along the lines of the Inter-Party Parliamentary Group agreement of 1997.

On the use of technology, 74 per cent of Jubilee supporters, compared to Cord's 65 per cent, prefer the use of digital devices for voter registration, identification and vote transmission in the next elections.

Not dissimilar technology was used during the 2013 General Election but failed at the last minute, prompting the IEC to go manual in a move that was interpreted by Cord as rigging.

A proposal for the presence of more international observers received the backing of 6 per cent from Jubilee and 3 per cent from Cord.

Eight per cent Jubilee supporters and 4 per cent Cord support the verification of a single voters' register before the next polls.

WETANG'ULA GETS COURT 'S FAVOUR

A court has stopped media houses from publishing stories linking Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula to the BAT scandal until the case is heard.
High court judge Nicholas Ombija issued the temporary injunction and asked all parties to report to court on January 7, when the defamation case will be heard.
Wetang'ula had sued British Broadcasting Corporation for causing him "great distress" and "irreparably damaging his hard-earned reputation".
Through lawyer James Orengo, Wetang'ula said BBC "recklessly published" false allegations implying he is corrupt, takes bribes and is unfit for public office without attempting to verify them.
BBC in their Panorama programme mentioned Wetang'ula as one of the MPs who allegedly received "favours" from British American Tobacco during his term as Trade minister in 2012.
BBC reported that in July 2012, BAT lobbyist Adell-Owino requested the purchase of a business class ticket to London for Wetang'ula.
In an email, Adell-Owino said Wetang'ula would be "hosted at Globe House" which is BAT's London headquarters.
She asked that the transaction should be "paperless" and there should be "no receipts if any in his (Wetangula) name.”
Adell-Owino "categorically denied" involvement in any wrongdoing and said BAT "mistakenly believed" the payments were bribes.
But according to BAT, purchase of the plane ticket was one in a series of "unlawful bribes".

IEBC:KERICHO BY-ECTION SET FOR MARCH 7TH 2016

The by-elections for Kericho County Member of Senate and Malindi Constituency Member of the National Assembly will be held on March 7, 2016.
The seats fell vacant after Charles Keter (Kericho County) was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum while Dan Kazungu (Malindi Constituency) was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Mining.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission made the announcement Wednesday.

POLLS:RAILA SHOULD QUIT POLITICS OR NOT CONTEST IN 2017 ELECTIONS.

Half of Kenyans want Cord leader Raila Odinga to retire from politics completely or not run in 2017, an Ipsos poll shows.
The survey found 34 per cent of Kenyans want Raila to quit while 22 per cent said he should not contest for the presidency in 2017 but remain in active politics.
Thirty-five per cent supported Raila's bid.
"Over half Jubilee supporters prefer the retirement option stated at 56 per cent, with an even larger majority on the Cord side stated at 67 per cent wanting him to contest," the poll shows.
Those opposed to his candidacy thought he was likely to lose while others cited "he is too old".
Some Cord supporters believed Raila would not be allowed to assume power even if he won the coming election.
"More revealing here is the fact that more than three times as many Cord as Jubilee supporters (20 per cent and 6 per cent respectively) believe Raila will not be sworn in."
Those who feared his supporters are likely to be rowdy and chaotic if Raila becomes the president in 2017 stood at 13 per cent; with Jubilee supporters at 15 per cent and Cord at 9 per cent.
Early this year, the Cord leader said he will vie for president in 2017 despite being "denied victory" in the last two elections.
Two per cent of supporters from the two parties held the view that Raila is "better placed in the opposition than to be the president".
According to the results of a "make believe" election-based survey, President Uhuru Kenyatta still leads Raila by a considerable margin.
"The gap between them narrowed somewhat between August and November. This gap declined from 27 per cent to 13 per cent, the narrowest it has been in over a year," the report read.
The survey, which was released on Wednesday, took place in 41 counties between November 7 and 19, 2015.
A target population of 2,058 Kenyans above the age of 18 from both rural and urban areas were interviewed.

URP WILL NOT HAVE CANDIDATE IN KERICHO

This emerged as Deputy Pesident William Ruto's United Republican Party announced it will not field a candidate in Kericho but would back a Jubilee Party candidate. Jubilee has only one MP in the National Assembly. The Kericho Senatorial seat fell vacant after its Senator Charles Keter was appointed Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary by President Uhuru Kenyatta last week. The scramble for the impending by-election for the Kericho senator's seat has begun in earnest with political heavyweights throwing their weight to succeed Keter. Those who have set their eyes on the seat include former Health minister and two times Buret MP Paul Sang and former Roads Minister Franklin Bett, who dethroned Sang as the Bureti MP in 2002.
Immediate former ODM executive director Magerer Langat has also shown interest for the seat. Bett, who served in the 10th Parliament as the MP for Bureti, opted not to defend his seat in 2013 and later announced that he had retired from active politics. Keter is battling to control Kipsigis politics with his political friend turned foe Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto leading a battalion opposed to him. A by-election shall then be held within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

KILLING IN EMBAKASI NAIROBI.BODY FOUND DECOMPOSING

Mystery surrounds the death of a 24-year-old woman whose decomposing body was found in her house in Embakasi area, Nairobi.
The body of Charity Mukami Wachira, 24, was found in her house almost a week after she had last communicated with her parents. Her mobile phones had been going unanswered until Tuesday when her parents and neighbours found her body in a residential house in Nyayo Embakasi. Charity ran a small bar in the area. The body lay naked with blood stains on her bed with some of her clothes strewn all over. Her father Peter Wachira said the last time he talked to her was on December 17.
"Since then her phone has been ringing unanswered. The same applied to her boyfriend's cellphone," said an emotional Wachira. He added they decided to come to her house and establish what the problem was only to find the shocking and macabre murder.
She seemed to have been stabbed and strangled. Blood stains were visible there. On the table, lay identification documents of the deceased's boyfriend who the father said was well known to them. The boyfriend is yet to be traced. He is a former employee of a beef manufacturing company. When the family arrived at the three-bedroomed -house they found it locked. A bad smell that emanated from the house drew their attention that there was something bad therein. It was then that they contacted police who broke in and discovered the body. The body was moved to the mortuary. Police say they are yet to know how and who killed the woman. Embakasi OCPD Apollo Wanyonyi said investigations into the incident had been launched.

SHOCKING:COFFIN IN HOMESTEAD WESTERN KENYA!

Residents of Sitabicha village, Bungoma County are in shock and disbelief after they woke up to an empty coffin yesterday. The coffin had been placed at the gate of a home whose owner lives in Nairobi. According to the homestead's caretaker Moses Soita, he woke up in the morning, only to be met by the sight of a freshly made coffin at the doorstep. "As I was opening the door, I saw a coffin at the gate, something that shocked me because I have never witnessed such an incident. I informed my neighbours, who trooped to the compound to witness the bizarre incident," said Mr Soita Soita added that he informed his employer as neighbours called the police and Assistant Chief Pius Wanyonyi. Mr Wanyonyi said such a shocking incident has never happened in the area and called for calm as police carried out investigations. See also: When Pan Paper collapsed, hopes of Webuye town died with it He requested any person with information to liaise with his office and the police in order to arrest the culprits behind the act. "This incident is new to me. I request for calm and co-operation as we get to the bottom of this incident. The matter is complicated as the owner does not live here but I assure you we shall catch up with whoever did this, "said Wanyonyi. However, according to one of the neighbours, this was not the first bizarre occurrence at the homestead as a few weeks ago, blood was found scattered around the compound. The incident was associated with family differences.He requested any person with information to liaise with his office and the police in order to arrest the culprits behind the act. "This incident is new to me. I request for calm and co-operation as we get to the bottom of this incident. The matter is complicated as the owner does not live here but I assure you we shall catch up with whoever did this, "said Wanyonyi. However, according to one of the neighbours, this was not the first bizarre occurrence at the homestead as a few weeks ago, blood was found scattered around the compound. The incident was associated with family differences.  The residents demanded for the coffin to be opened but were repulsed by police officers who took it to Webuye Police Station. Elders said that they would slaughter a sheep to exorcise the bad spirits associated with the incident.

IMPORTANT FOR NON GOOGLES

The latest from Blogger Buzz

An update on Google Friend Connect
1 hour ago by A Googler

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.
We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.
Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

TOP 10 DEADLIEST DISEASES IN THE WORLD YOU WILL BE SHOCKED!

The news is filled with stories about Ebola, and breast cancer gets a lot of press too. Would it surprise you to know that neither makes the list of the 10 deadliest diseases? Even more surprising, perhaps, is that several of the deadliest diseases, including the number one killer in the world, are at least partially preventable. Where a person lives, access to preventive care, and quality of healthcare all factor into their risk.

The top five deadliest diseases haven’t changed much in the past decade, but we’ve managed to lower the number of deaths for some of the top 10 deadliest diseases.

1. Coronary Artery Disease (Ischemic Heart Disease)

The deadliest disease in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD, also called ischemic heart disease, occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 7.4 million people died of ischemic heart disease in 2012. That was about 13.2 percent of all deaths.

In the United States, about 600,000 people die of heart disease every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). That makes it the deadliest disease in the U.S., as well as the world. In the U.S. the most common type of heart disease is CAD, which takes about 380,000 lives each year.

Among the risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and weight control can help lower your risk of developing CAD.

Where you live matters. Although it’s still the leading cause of death, mortality rates have declined in many European countries and in the United States. This may be due to better prevention and access to quality healthcare. However, in many developing nations, mortality rates due to CAD are on the rise.

2. Stroke

A stroke is when an artery in the brain is blocked or leaks. Oxygen-deprived brain cells begin to die within minutes.

Stroke was responsible for 6.7 million deaths around the world in 2012, according to WHO. That figure represents about 11.9 percent of all deaths. CDC figures show that nearly 130,000 people in the United States die of stroke each year — that’s one person every four minutes. About one in four strokes occur in people who have had a prior stroke. Stroke is also a leading cause of disability.

Risk factors for stroke are similar to those for CAD. In general, good health habits can lower your risks.

3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a chronic, progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are types of COPD.

About 3.1 million deaths were attributed to COPD in 2012, according to WHO. That represents about 5.6 percent of deaths, a rate that has held steady since 2000. In 2004, about 64 million people around the world were living with COPD.

The main cause of COPD is tobacco — and that means secondhand smoke, too. Another factor is air pollution, both indoors and out. COPD affects men and women at about the same rate. There’s no cure for COPD, but its progression can be slowed down with medication.

The American Lung Association estimates that in 2011, 12.7 million adults in the United States had COPD, but even more showed some sign of lung problems. There’s a great variation in the number of cases from state to state. In 2011, about 4 percent of people in Minnesota and Washington had COPD. In Alabama and Kentucky, it was more than 9 percent.

4. Lower Respiratory Infections

The news is filled with stories about Ebola, and breast cancer gets a lot of press too. Would it surprise you to know that neither makes the list of the 10 deadliest diseases? Even more surprising, perhaps, is that several of the deadliest diseases, including the number one killer in the world, are at least partially preventable. Where a person lives, access to preventive care, and quality of healthcare all factor into their risk.

The top five deadliest diseases haven’t changed much in the past decade, but we’ve managed to lower the number of deaths for some of the top 10 deadliest diseases.

1. Coronary Artery Disease (Ischemic Heart Disease)

The deadliest disease in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD, also called ischemic heart disease, occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 7.4 million people died of ischemic heart disease in 2012. That was about 13.2 percent of all deaths.

In the United States, about 600,000 people die of heart disease every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). That makes it the deadliest disease in the U.S., as well as the world. In the U.S. the most common type of heart disease is CAD, which takes about 380,000 lives each year.

Among the risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and weight control can help lower your risk of developing CAD.

Where you live matters. Although it’s still the leading cause of death, mortality rates have declined in many European countries and in the United States. This may be due to better prevention and access to quality healthcare. However, in many developing nations, mortality rates due to CAD are on the rise.

2. Stroke

A stroke is when an artery in the brain is blocked or leaks. Oxygen-deprived brain cells begin to die within minutes.

Stroke was responsible for 6.7 million deaths around the world in 2012, according to WHO. That figure represents about 11.9 percent of all deaths. CDC figures show that nearly 130,000 people in the United States die of stroke each year — that’s one person every four minutes. About one in four strokes occur in people who have had a prior stroke. Stroke is also a leading cause of disability.

Risk factors for stroke are similar to those for CAD. In general, good health habits can lower your risks.

3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a chronic, progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are types of COPD.

About 3.1 million deaths were attributed to COPD in 2012, according to WHO. That represents about 5.6 percent of deaths, a rate that has held steady since 2000. In 2004, about 64 million people around the world were living with COPD.

The main cause of COPD is tobacco — and that means secondhand smoke, too. Another factor is air pollution, both indoors and out. COPD affects men and women at about the same rate. There’s no cure for COPD, but its progression can be slowed down with medication.

The American Lung Association estimates that in 2011, 12.7 million adults in the United States had COPD, but even more showed some sign of lung problems. There’s a great variation in the number of cases from state to state. In 2011, about 4 percent of people in Minnesota and Washington had COPD. In Alabama and Kentucky, it was more than 9 percent.

4. Lower Respiratory Infections

WHO estimates that lower respiratory infections caused about 3.1 million, or 5.5 percent of deaths in 2012. This group of diseases includes pneumonia, bronchitis, and influenza.

Flu season lasts from December through February in the Northern Hemisphere and from June through August in the Southern Hemisphere. The risk is year round in tropical regions.

According to the CDC, about 20 percent of travelers returning to the United States seek medical attention for respiratory infection following a trip. Packed cruise ships, hotels, and other close quarters increase risk of transmission and outbreaks of disease.

5TRACHEA ,BRONCHUS AND  LUNGCANCER

Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer are all respiratory cancers. The main causes of this type of cancer are smoking, second-hand smoke, and environmental toxins.

WHO estimates that in 2012, 1.6 million people died from trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers. These cancers represent about 2.9 percent of all deaths globally.

6. HIV/AIDS

HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus. It’s a virus that attacks the immune system. HIV can cause AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition.

According to the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), since the start of the pandemic, almost 39 million people have died due to HIV/AIDS. In 2013, about 1.5 million people lost their lives to AIDS. That’s about 2.7 percent of deaths worldwide.

By the end of 2012, 35.3 million people around the world were infected with HIV. Every day, about 5,700 more become infected.

Rates vary dramatically by geographical location. HIV is rampant in sub-Saharan Africa, where almost one in 20 adults has it. The region is home to 70 percent of all people who have HIV. Sadly, it’s also home to 91 percent of the HIV-positive children in the world.

7. Diarrheal Diseases

Diarrhea is when you pass three or more loose stools a day. When diarrhea lasts more than a few days, your body loses too much water and salt. Death is due to dehydration. Diarrhea is usually caused by an intestinal infection transmitted through viruses, bacteria, or even parasites. This type of infection can easily spread through contaminated water or food. It’s particularly widespread in developing nations that have poor sanitary conditions.

WHO estimates that 1.5 million people died from diarrheal diseases in 2012, which comprises about 2.7 percent of deaths. Fortunately, that’s down from 2.2 million in 2000. Diarrheal disease is the second top killer of children under age five. Tragically, about 760,000 children die from diarrheal diseases each year.

According to a 2009 Unicef report, every year there are about 2.5 billion cases of diarrhea involving children under five years old. More than 50 percent occur in Africa and South Asia. More than 80 percent of child deaths due to diarrhea occur in those regions.

According to Unicef, healthy behaviors such as good handwashing technique can reduce the incidence of diarrheal diseases by 40 percent. Progress is being made in the fight against diarrheal diseases, but much work remains. Improved sanitization and water quality can help prevent diarrheal diseases. Access to early medical intervention can be the difference between life and death.

8. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect insulin production and use. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. The cause is not known. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t be used effectively. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by a number of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and carrying too much weight.

In 2012, about 1.5 million people died from diabetes-related causes, according to WHO. People in low to middle income countries are more likely to die from complications of diabetes.

9. Preterm Birth Complications

According to WHO, in 2012, as many as 1.1 million deaths were due to prematurity and complications due to low birth weight. Three-quarters of these deaths happen within the first week of life. Lack of skilled medical care makes this a huge problem in developing countries. Many newborn deaths could be avoided with good prenatal and postnatal care.

10. Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is a lung condition caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s an airborne disease that is often successfully treated. Some strains of TB are resistant to conventional treatments. Second-line drugs used to treat these patients are in limited supply. Some strains fail to respond to second-line treatment as well.

In 2012, about 900,000 people lost their lives to TB, according to WHOestimates. The majority of TB-related deaths happen in poorer countries. It is one of the top causes of death for people who have HIV.

Worthy of Mention

They didn’t make the top 10 deadliest disease list, but these diseases are definitely worth noting.

Malaria is caused by a parasite that infects mosquitos. People get it from the bite of an infected mosquito. Malaria caused about 627,000 deaths in 2012, according to WHO. Sub-Saharan Africa took the brunt with 90 percent of all malaria deaths. Malaria is not contagious.

Measles is a contagious viral disease that can be prevented through immunization. In 2010, it killed about 139,300 people around the world, according to the CDC.