Thika Town Today

Thika residents were on Saturday treated to a thrilling football friendly match between bodaboda operators and Thika police officers at the MKU Graduation Pavilion Grounds where the riders won the match 3-2.

In the first of its kind in the area, the match that was organised by Thika West Sub-County Commander Beatrice Kiraguri and Kamenu Sub-Location Bodaboda Association (KSBA) was geared towards drawing the two warring groups into a working relationship to enhance security in the area.

Area MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina donated the trophy that was won by the bodaboda riders.

The officers were drawn from Thika and Makongeni Police Stations as well as Administration Police posts across the sub-county.

Speaking after the match, the chief guest Kiambu County Deputy Police Commander Chief Inspector Munga urged the riders to weed out criminal elements in their midst as those who painted the sector with a bad image.

He reminded them that without good security, the area would not attract investors thus reduce their potential to earn more from a robust economy.

“Most of these (criminal) cases we find amongst you are brought about by ‘squad riders’. Kindly, if you have to lend your bike to someone else, ensure that it is a person who is of good morals otherwise you might find yourself in trouble having to answer for crimes you know nothing about,” advised Munga.

He appealed to the riders to come up with programmes to diversify their income through various business activities to ensure they were economically stable and not depend on their bikes alone for an income.

The Thika police boss Beatrice Kiraguri said her office was open to all residents and urged them to make use of it in order to secure the area.

“My doors are wide open for anyone with information that will enhance security in this area. There is no need to fear the police as we are trained to treat each information brought to our desks with a lot of confidentiality,” said Kiraguri.

She added that Saturday’s activity was just the beginning of a series of police-residents interactions aimed at bringing together the two groups into a working relationship.

John Mwangi Njuguna, who is the Personal Assistant to Thika MP, said that their office had set aside sh. 500,000 to ensure all bodaboda operators acquired all the requisites documents required to operate their businesses.

Kamenu Ward MCA Raphael Chege Waithumbi warned the riders against harbouring criminal elements amongst them as this would only aggravate the already bad blood with the law enforcers. He also urged them to ensure they adhered to all traffic rules so as not to get themselves in trouble with the law.

Other leaders who spoke included the Thika District Business Association (TDBA) Chairman Alfred Wanyoike and the chairperson of Thika Community Policing Committee Bishop Ezekiel Karanja.

Detectives in Kilimani Nairobi have arrested six "notorious" criminals following a violent robbery incident in the area.

The police also confiscated two motor vehicles – a Toyota Prado and Nissan Navara, master keys, fake number plates, masking tapes & a safe.

The six suspects are – Stephen Ngiru Kuria, Wilson Mutua Kitheka, Vincent Odhiambo, Elizabeth Akinyi Abuto, Lavender Akinyi Ogilo and Quinter Adhiambo Ong’ino.

According to the DCI detectives, the six suspects have other pending cases in court in connection to several offences of burglary, house breaking and stealing in Kilimani.

Elizabeth and Lavender have warrants of arrest for absconding court and jumping bail respectively.

Led by their chairperson, Nakuru Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria, the committee said that the Nuclear Regulatory Bill, 2018 sought to provide for comprehensive regulatory framework for radiation and nuclear safety, nuclear security and safeguard to control radiation sources, nuclear materials and associated waste.

Gikaria said that one major objective of the forum was to increase public awareness about nuclear energy and ultimately gaining public acceptance for the generation of nuclear electricity in Kenya.

“We want people to understand some key aspects of nuclear power development and clear the myths where people associated nuclear to explosives and something that could bring calamity. The future of energy is in nuclear and time has come for Kenya to go nuclear if we need to generate more employment opportunities,” he said.

The leaders focused on the overview of the Nuclear Power Programme, economic gains that would be realised, socio-economic development and improved infrastructure. Demystification of nuclear power disasters, nuclear energy technologies, challenges and opportunities that come with putting up the plant such as establishment of a regulatory framework, were among the other issues highlighted.

The plenary heard that Kenya intends to build a 1000MW nuclear power plant aimed at increasing power capacity that is currently at 2,300MW to bridge the deficit gap of the projected 16,000MW.

The sh. 500 billion plant, whose construction is set to be completed by 2027, will be put up either along Lake Victoria, Lake Turkana or along the Coast, to take advantage of marine waters.

Radiation Protection Board CEO, Joseph Maina, allayed fears concerning the safety, security and disposal of waste from nuclear energy by pointing out that Kenya had a nuclear safeguard where nuclear material must be accounted for atom by atom to make sure no diversion for unintended purposes.

“Kenya has made great strides in enhancing the legal framework and approach through necessary regulatory structures to ensure nuclear systems, security and safeguards including the management of radioactive wastes and spent fuel is adhered to,” he said.

Among those who participated in the forum included MPs Muturi Kigano (Kangema), Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo (Gem), Faith Wairimu Gitau (Nyandarua Women Representative), Abdikhaim Osman (Fafi) and Joseph Manje (Kajiado North).

Others were James Lomenen (Turkana South), Vincent Musyoka Kawaya (Mwala) and Ken Chonga (Kilifi South).

Thika Town MP who was at the time held up at Parliament with the Trade and Industry Committee, was represented by his Personal Assistant John Mwangi Njuguna.

The forum was attended by various stakeholders who included members of the Thika District Business Association and various community and social organisations.

A Thika-based factory is among the lucky local cloth manufacturers poised to benefit from the Government of Kenya uniform tenders.

Thika Cloth Mills, a renowned textile manufacturer since 1958 will join other beneficiaries such as Eldoret’s Rivatex, Alpha Knit in Ruiru, Bedi Investments of Nakuru and Sunflag in Nairobi to supply clothing materials to the army, police, prisons and the National Youth Service.

Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina and his Gatundu counterpart Moses Kuria revealed this in two separate occasions.

The two legislators welcomed the government’s move saying it will not only create and sustain jobs but also go a long way towards boosting the manufacturing sector, which is part of the Big 4 Agenda.

Wainaina recalled the good old days in the 1980s and early 1990s when TCM had a workforce of about 2,000 employees and envisioned that the government’s move would revive the industry into its previous state.

He mentioned about of his Bill in the National Assembly whose aim was to restrict imports for goods already manufactured locally in order to create a conducive environment to promote local manufacturing.

“The Bill that has already gone through the first reading will be a milestone for the manufacturing sector if it becomes law. I only appeal to my colleagues to support it,” said Wainaina.

While speaking in Gatundu during the presiding over a funds drive for the Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church, Kuria commended Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu for commissioning a cloths factory that was recently awarded a tender to supply chiefs’ uniforms.

He challenged other governors to follow suit as this was the only sure way to creating the much coveted regional wealth.

“There’s no need of importing staff uniforms when we have local industries that produce them. We should be using the money spent on the imports to empower our local industries and to grow our economy,” Kuria said.

Kiambu County Commissioner Wilson Wanyanga has urged National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) liaise with stakeholders to help them identify companies and individuals polluting rivers and the environment around Thika town.

The CC noted that some companies released toxic effluent into River Chania through underground tunnels especially along Oloitiptip road.

“We cannot allow anyone to discharge untreated raw waste water into the river as this has a ripple effect on people living downstream who depend on the same water for domestic purposes,” he said.

Wanyanga said the lives of the people were paramount and called on NEMA to come on board and address the problem.

The pollution is most conspicuous near Matharau slums located on the outskirts of the town, an area surrounded by several major companies.

The company Managing Director Eng. Moses Kinya revealed this on Saturday during the inaugural Annual Tree Planting Event organised by Thika Water & Sewerage Company (THIWASCO) at the Ngoingwa Reservoir Site.

Kinya said that the design work was already complete and the company was now embarking on the tendering process.

(Related story: Thika to get 2 more sewerage treatment plants to cater for increasing population.)

“Once complete, the res reservoir will inject about 15,000m³ of water/day into our system. Currently, the demand for water is over 46,000m³ water daily against a supply of 37,000m³,” he said.

The MD added that they were currently looking for a 2½ acres of land to put up the reservoir around Maryhill area and once they procured one, construction works will start immediately.

Concerning the tree planting exercise, Kinya said that, in partnership with various schools and institutions, they had resolved to plant 5,000 trees annually across various points within Thika.

“The dry Chania River recently should serve as a wakeup call to all us and we need to plant more trees. It is only by conserving our environment that we will guarantee ourselves and the future generation enough water to drink and do other essential activities in life,” he said.

(Read also: WASREB CEO maintains THIWASCO is not merged with Kiambu Water Company.)

The event was graced by various organisations and institutions who included the Thika District Business Association (TDBA), The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Thika Prisons, Maryhill Girls High School, various MCAs, Water Service Providers Association (WASPA), Thika Level 5 Hospital, various primary schools, Water Resource User Associations (WRUAs), Thika West DCC’s Office among other stakeholders.

The Chairman Board of Directors Eng. Joseph Mukora Kimani led THIWASCO team.

He used to drive young Uhuru Kenyatta with his brother Muhoho to St. Mary’s Muthangari School.

Joseph Njuguna was then a police officer attached to State House and his duties was to drive the former President’s sons to school as he narrates.

 The 76-year-old explains how an order to drive the former President cost his transfer from State House, terming it as envy that saw him resign from the police force.

 Njuguna recalls with nostalgia the behavior of young Uhuru and how he encouraged him to study smart and take after his father.

 He also recalls how the former President could react to happenings around him and how he whipped the police officers using his walking stick.

Njuguna narrates how he shouted the President’s name when he saw him during the last general election campaigns at Kangema’s General Kago Stadium, attracting the President’s attention who shook his hand and ordered him be taken to statehouse. 

He was taken to the statehouse on 2017 but then, the president told him that it was a busy moment and he would wish him visit at a time the two can have a sitting and have a chat.

It is the wish of Mr. Njuguna to meet the President and remind him of the good old days, he says he does not need a job for he is too old for that but appeals to the President to support his children who are jobless.

As a way of giving back to his country, Njuguna has composed songs with national messages, Songs that he sung to us. 

His wife Lucy Njeri narrates how her husband has been craving to meet The President and remind him of their chats while he was young.

She was also a dancer and a soloist who used to entertain Mzee Jomo Kenyatta at her young age.