28- year old Aurelie Atiang receives Equity Banks’ wings to fly sponsorship

It’s never late until it’s late; this is evident as a 28years old mother of two receives wings to fly to a bright and great future which comes as greatest luck in her life as she receives sponsorship for her education from the wings to fly project by the Equity Bank Foundation.

28-year-old Aurelia Atyang who scored 348 points and managed to get sponsorship from Equity bank through the Wings to Fly program as she spoke out her experience as a mother and pupil at the same time. Aurelie Atiang mother of two kids aged six and three years has been given an opportunity to realize her dreams which had been dimmed for lack of school fees to access secondary education. Ms Atiang’ who sat for her KCPE for the first time in 1998 and scored 412 marks was unable to join a secondary school because her grandparents could not afford her school fees. It was hard for her to stay home when she knew she had the ability to go further but never gave up the hope that one day she will be able achieve her dreams. She was born out of wedlock and her parents who never married abandoned her to the care of her grandparents who have been her only family. Ms Atiang’ when speaking to West Fm said that after completing primary school she had to work as a house girl so that she could support herself and her grandparents she later got married to Collins Waliaula in 2004 with whom they bore children. After getting married she trained and worked as a dressmaker until last year when she went back to school at Noigam primary school in Trans Nzoia East District with the support of her husband, and scored 338 marks. “It was not easy going back to school. As a mother and being older than the other pupils the community looks at you differently and most parents did not want me to socialize with their children.” She said Ms Atiang’, who has received an admission letter from St. Josephs Girls High School, said that she kept her dreams alive and that her perseverance has finally paid off as she can now realize her longtime dream of being a lawyer. “I never gave up hope for a better future and now I have been given a chance to continue with my education and fulfill my longtime dream of becoming a lawyer. Besides being able to give my family a better future I would also be able to help other needy people in our country especially children who need someone to voice their rights.” Said Ms. Atiang’ She is grateful to Equity Group Foundation, MasterCard foundation, UKAID and USAID for sponsoring her secondary education and upkeep at the same time asked the government, church and political leaders to come up with such projects to enable needy children achieve their dreams. Aurelie encourages other young people not to give up on their hope and aspirations as there is always a light at the end of every tunnel. Her head teacher Mr. Kiprop Kwambai who is also the treasurer of the Kenya Primary Heads Association Trans Nzoia East, said that Aurelie Atiang’ is a role model for others in the same situation. He added that being the Head Girl in her school Aurelia counseled girls in her school which has reduced the number of young girls in the school dropping out because of pregnancy. Mr.Kwambai said that when Ms Atiang’ joined the school last year, some teachers and parents were abit apprehensive at first but after seeing her potential they gave her full support and even chipped in for exam registration and upkeep.   He advised her not to despise her background and keep on working hard to achieve her goals and asked other School Heads and parents not to look down on such kids but give them the opportunity and encouragement to advance their education levels.

Crime among the youth can be stopped through probation, says officer

Crime among the youth can be stopped through probation, says officer


They are expected to be the future leaders of our country yet most of the youth from Bungoma County instead of building their future through education are busy engaging themselves in criminal activities. 

Although there has been a rapid increase of criminal offences involving the youth there is still hope to salvage the situation if addressed by the right channels.

 Some of these issues can be directed to the probation officers who deal with guiding and counseling convicted offenders in the society and by providing a means of rehabilitation. The probation department which is under the ministry of Home Affairs although not acknowledged for the services they provide in the country is the best solution to help in eradicating lawlessness among the youth instead of sending them to prison.    

 The Field Probation Officer who is also the acting deputy Probation Officer in Bungoma south district Mr. Kirwa Tuwei said that the probation officers comes into play after the judge decides that the offenders are best served under probation or community service order after determining the nature of the offence, the age of the offender, health status of the offender and the relationship between the offender and the complainant. 

Mr. Tuwei said that there has been a rapid increase of cases involving minors misbehaving in public in Bungoma County especially in Bumula and Sang’alo areas whereby most of the juvenile offenders arraigned in court are accused of being involved in robbery, rape and disturbing the public peace while drunk. 

He attributed marriage break ups in the community as being one of the leading causes of these criminal activities among the youth. 

“Most residents from this community get married at an early age thus getting divorced later on. This has resulted in kids being left with one or no parent causing them to turn to the streets which is a haven for all sorts of criminal activities,” said Tuwei. 

He said that poverty has also played a major role in the rise of these criminal activities. He said that many Kenyans from the region live below the poverty line as they cannot even afford the basic necessities hence has led them to steal as a means of providing for their daily up keep. 

He acknowledged that lack of knowledge and negative altitudes has hindered development in the region. 

Even though young people are taught to appreciate their cultural backgrounds; some of the traditional believes promote lawlessness among the youth for instance after circumcision the young boys are taught that they are now grown men which has made some of them drop out of school and getting married at a tender age when they are not well equipped to handle family issues. 

The probation department in conjunction with the courts decides whether these offenders are sentenced to home arrest under the supervision of probation officers or given community service to give service to their community as a way of paying for the crimes they committed. 

In the most serious of offences the accused are send to correctional institutions like the Boston institute, Kimumu boys’ hostels in Eldoret, Nakuru girls’ hostels which train them in fields such carpentry, tailoring, farming, brick making and wiring as a way of equipping them with skills to help them find employment and be able to function as normal members of the society. 

The Boston Institute also provides primary education from class six to eight thus enabling these youngsters to complete their primary education and be able to join secondary schools to better their future. 

Mr. Tuwei said that some of the challenges they face as a department while handling these cases are lack of funds, corruption, being understaffed, ignorance and negative altitude of the community which hinders them from carrying out their work and language barrier. 

He urged parents to cater for children by providing them with basic needs such as shelter, food, security and education. He added that parents should have a close relationship with their children and guide them according to the values of the society.

Read more: http://www.westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-4619.htm#ixzz1mYHievsR
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

Two men to face the wrath of the law for being possession of python’s skin. by Valerie Bunyas

Two men to face the wrath of the law for being possession of python’s skin. by Valerie Bunyasi 

Two men who were charged before the Bungoma law courts with the offence of being in possession of government trophy without certificate of ownership contrary to the Wildlife conservation and management laws of Kenya are uncertain about their future as they wait for the report from probation officer to decide whether they face a prison sentence or be give home arrest.

The two; David Kainet Chepkar and Nickson Maywa Talam were accused that on 31at of March 2011 at Kocholia shopping centre in Teso north district were arrested by the KWS officers while trying to sell 3 python skins worthy Ksh. 108,000 street value.

The KWS officers from Kitale were tipped off that 2 men were trying to sell the government trophies within Malaba in Teso North district. The officer who posed as buyers confirmed that the accused were in possession of the python skins that belonged to the African rock type of snakes without legal documents from authorized officers (KWS).  

The African rock python is one of the seven species in the python genus and although largely feared it rarely kills humans but faces threats from habitat reduction and hunting.

According to prosecution 4 witnesses who were KWS officers proved without a doubt that the accused were guilty as they had earlier denied those charges.

However Chepkar pleaded with the court to be lenient on him as he had a family that depends solely on him. At the same time Talam pleaded for forgiveness from the court as he had orphaned kids to take care of. He added that he was jobless and only depended on jua kali to make ends meet.

In relation to their mitigation the Chief Magistrate Walter Nyarima requested for the probation report which will determine their fate.

Bungoma Rocky driving school closes its doors to Bungoma

A local driving school in Bungoma has closed, leaving its officials trying to help the remaining students. Furious students of Rocky Driving School in Bungoma town Tuesday demanded for a refund of their school fees when they found offices of the school being closed down The students had gone to school only to be surprised by the scene of closure and transfer of office.  Concerned students wanted to consult their school manager who was nowhere to seen.   The students who expressed their views claimed that they had already paid fees and were expecting to sit for exams in February. Mildred Wesonga, a student at the school said she joined the school at the beginning of this month. She explained that as she arrived in class, she was informed by their instructors that the school was being closed down. “I went to class this morning where I was told that the school is being closed down without the management giving us any notice and I have already paid my school fees” she said. Miss Wesonga added that they were being asked to vacate the premises and yet the management had not given them any directive adding that they had spent a lot of money and time which will inconvenience them as they will have to join another driving school. I have already paid Sh7, 000.  And I have arrears of Sh, 2000 only. which I intended  to pay before commencing of the exams now we are being told to vacate the premises while the office is being locked  and they have already started remove  the office equipments out the premises. We don’t know what to do” she said. An officer from the Rocky head office, who arrived later, disclosed that the students are going to be refunded their money, adding that those students who wish to complete their training will be given a chance to do their exam.  Information from a reliable source revealed that the management of the school intends to open the Rocky offices in Malaba Town of Busia County.

22 year old man arrested for defiling his 12 year old cousin

22 year old man arrested for defiling his 12 year old cousin

A 22 year old man was Monday arrested by the Bungoma police for molesting his 12 year old cousin. Abraham Wekesa from luuya village in Bukembe location within Bungoma County was caught assaulting his young cousin by the girls elder sister. The victim had been left under the care of her elder sister by her mother who had travelled. Wekesa took advantage of her as she was alone in the house while the sister was reported to have gone to the market. On raising the alarm the victim’s sister was pushed down by the accused as he made his escape before being arrested through the efforts of the police and the area chief after being lured into believing that the family was not filling a case against him. The area assistant chief Mr. Steven Wanyama said that Wekesa had been looking after his cousins after the demise of their father and added that he was shocked that he could do such an inhuman act against his own flesh and blood. He warned parents against leaving their children especially young girls under the care of male family members urging them to be careful on whom to trust. The victim who was bleeding from her private parts was rushed to Bungoma district hospital for emergency surgery. The accused was taken to Nzoia police station and he will be arraigned in court after the police have completed their investigation.