Battle for Tsavo fires up debate in Makueni, Taita Taveta

Differences among leaders in Makueni and Taita/Taveta counties over administrative boundaries have resurfaced a year after a similar standoff threatened to paralyse the national census exercise in the areas.

At the centre of the dispute is Mtito Andei, a small dusty township on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Cabinet minister Naomi Shaaban, also the Taveta MP, leads the Taita/Taveta group who argue that the border between the two counties is at the Mtito Andei River; hence the township should be in Taita district of Coast Province.

'Thank You' Letter from TTPF

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Taita‐Taveta Professionals Forum Trust (TTPFT), I would
like to thank you for contributing your valuable time to attend last Saturday’s (23rd October, 2010)
meeting that was held at the Nairobi Railway Club – Chrisco Church.

Graft in Mwatate

Police have arrested two civil servants in Mwatate District for allegedly defrauding residents of their money in return for Government service, which are supposed to be free.

Voi - Taveta Road on today's Cutting Edge

OUR SHAME. There was excitement when Prime Minister Raila Odinga officially opened the new Immigration offices on the Kenya-Tanzania border at Taveta/Holili in April, and Martin Mutua had hoped that the next step would be to make this new public investment easily accessible. However, he moans, the road from Voi to the border post is a murram stretch that is in an appalling state. He adds: “What really shames our country is that immediately after crossing the border into Tanzania, there is a fine tarmac road, which Mr Odinga used to reach the place.”

Row Erupts Over County Headquarters

Wrangling over the county headquarters is gradually taking centre stage in Taita Taveta as a clique of politicians are ganging up to drum up support for Voi as the central place for the four constituencies.

Finally, tenders have been invited from possible contractors of the Voi Mwatate Road

Tenders have finally been invited for the construction of the above road. In today's dailies, the Kenya National Highways Authority has invited quotes from interested contractors

Tales abound of wasted rural potential by Jackson Mwalulu

Rural development in Kenya has never been a government priority. Successive post-independence governments have treated rural development as part of political favours to be dished out to “well behaved” locals, or home areas of powerful sons and daughters.

Where will the County HQ be?

Wundanyi as the choice of the former Taita Taveta District Headquarters would not be a surprise to many, thanks to our colonial master’s preference to highland areas with vast arable land and cool climate. Practically though, it seems to have been a poor choice as the topography of the area does not support rapid expansion of infrastructure, this in addition to its distance from other edges of the county like Taveta.

Insecurity on the rise in gemstone mining grounds

A year after the murder of 71-year-old geologist and gemstone miner Campbell Bridges, the vast ranches of Mwatate and Voi have become no-go areas as armed herdsmen have taken over the mining fields.

Tension has been high, with some of Mr Bridges’ mining associates receiving death and evacuation threats from unknown people

TAITA TAVETA CULTURAL NIGHT – 29TH OCTOBER, 2010

Please come, mingle and network with fellow Taitas & Tavetas as we enjoy our traditional cuisine, music and dance in this year’s Taita Taveta Cultural Night.

TAITA TAVETA PROFESSIONALS FORUM (TTPF) CIVIC EDUCATION DAY – 23RD OCTOBER, 2010

To enable the citizens of Taita Taveta County participate and make contributions in the ongoing process of legislation and the overall effort of implementing the Constitution, TTPF members in the Forum together with well‐wishers felt the need that civic education be considered to be part and parcel of that process here in Nairobi and to work with other like minded forums in Mombasa, Taveta and Taita in the near future whom we have established contacts with for the progress of our County.