Day: April 29, 2023

About 740 vulnerable families in Laikipia North Sub County have benefitted with relief food to cushion them from the ongoing drought situation in the area. Kenya Red Cross Society Laikipia County Coordinator Bilhah Nguru speaking during a distribution exercise said they had received the donation of 16,928 kilograms of Maize flour, 3400 kilograms beans and 340 kilograms of cooking fat from Nairobi Parklands Rotary club, and the food assortment was expected to last the beneficiaries for a period of 21 days. ‘Kenya Red Cross Society has distributed food to vulnerable residents of Mukogodo and Makurian locations. We have reached out to a total of 740 households and each has benefited with maize flour, beans and cooking fat,’ revealed Ms Nguru. She revealed that those who received the food packages were the targeted vulnerable families, drought stricken and affected by banditry related conflicts. Ms Nguru appealed to well-wishers to join hands and support the affected families in the area, noting lactating mothers, elderly, disabled, windows and widowers were the worst hit by drought. ‘We hope to continue supporting vulnerable households in the county based on the availability of funds and targeting is done through community-based targeting methods and coordinated by local administration to help identify needy cases,’ she said. She further pointed out that the drought situation in the county has continued to worsen over the last several months leaving people and livestock in devastating situations. Meanwhile, according to the assessment conducted by the National Drought Management Authority in the county for the month of February 2023, the number of those in need of food aid had moved from 183,000 to about 250,000 people.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Isuzu East Africa, in collaboration with Makueni County Government yesterday donated four, 10,000 litre water tanks to four different schools to enhance access to water among school-going children in the county. The schools that have benefited from the tanks under this programme include Unoa, Mukuyuni, Kivani and Uvuu primary school. Isuzu East Africa Director Manufacturing Operations and Facilities Division, Eng Daniel Kilenge said the initiative is to provide clean safe drinking water to pupils and students in the county. ‘As a start, today, we are donating four 10,000 litre water tanks to four different schools. We hope that this will go a long way in re-focusing their concentration to academic excellence through provision of water,’ said Kilenge while speaking on Tuesday during the donation event at Unoa primary, Wote town. ‘Isuzu EA strongly believes that education is essential to economic development and that investing in hygiene and sanitation impacts the overall wellbeing of our communities,’ he noted. He said the automobile assembler is keen on improving the livelihoods of communities through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives where many facilities have been launched to benefit hundreds of school children across the county. The area Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr said the water facilities will go a long way to support the efforts laid down by his government in addressing shortage of water. ‘I am glad that Isuzu EA have actualised their promise by managing to bring these water tanks here, Unoa primary being one of the largest primary schools within the county,water has been a challenge,’ lauded Kilonzo. Consequently, Kilonzo directed the county officers to drill a borehole at the school to boost water access. ‘I appeal to the sub county administrator to liaise with the Water Engineer, to come survey and test the availability of water in this school so that we can drill a borehole here,’ said Kilonzo. He added that his administration will renovate Unoa playing grounds besides constructing another classroom to cater for Early Childhood Education (ECDE) children. On her part, Ms Winfred Sila the Head teacher of Unoa Primary School thanked the Government of Makueni County and Isuzu EA for their generous support through the noble project that will indeed improve the institution. ‘We are grateful to the Makueni County Government and Isuzu EA for supporting us. With our students now assured of clean and safe drinking water, we shall now be able to re-focus our concentration on academic excellence,’ said Sila. The respective schools will now be able to harvest rainwater throughout the next two academic terms. The school has a total of 1,394 students.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Thika level Five hospital, which in the recent past was in the spotlight over lack of drugs and other essential medical supplies, has received a boost after well-wishers from the Thika Asian community donated Sh 10 million to improve services. The funds, according to the Hospital superintendent Dr Robert Mochena, came at a good time when the Ears Nose and Throat (ENT) unit required expansion beside other surgical requirements. Speaking when receiving the donations at the facility Tuesday, Mochena said they operate over 100 eye, nose and throat patients and conduct more than 25 surgeries each day despite facing infrastructural challenges. Mochena said the premises that were built decades away have been dilapidated and needed expansion and to be equipped with state of the art facilities for effective delivery of services. ‘Thika being the largest hospital in Kiambu County, and with an influx of patients flocking at the ENT unit from the area and across the neighboring counties of Machakos, Kitui and Murang’a, its expansion and refurbishing should be a priority,’ he said. While noting that the donations are not enough, the Med Sup called on other well-wishers to chip in and bring more donations to give the hospital a new facelift. Milan Malden, the chairman of Jain Youth League and among the donors, said their organisation will continue partnering with the hospital for the well-being of the residents. ‘We know the donations are inadequate and we shall continue partnering with the facility. We hope it will go a long way to improving the access to ENT services in the hospital,’ said Malden. Dr Raju Mahindra, the hospital board chairman thanked the donors saying this was a big boost at a time when the hospital required help. Thika Level Five Hospital has in the recent past been on the spot for deteriorated medical services, with patients opting to seek treatment in other hospitals due to lack of essential services at the facility. Local and area leaders had threatened to storm the facility to demand for its closure due to lack of essential services and medical supplies, with patients being sent to buy medicine at private clinics and pharmacies.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Tunisian Women and Data+AI Summit second Ed will be held on May 4 and 5 in Tunis, on the initiative of the RECONNECTT association and in partnership with the Women in Data Science WiDS-Tunisia initiative. This hybrid conference will bring together academics, experts, business leaders and project managers to discuss the issues, challenges and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an ever-changing world. The choice of Tunis to host this big event aims to raise awareness of the culture of AI among the general public, especially young people, and to build bridges between the academic world and data and AI professionals. During the two-day conference, experts from different backgrounds will present the latest advances in artificial intelligence, its economic impact and the ethical and social challenges it poses. Of particular interest will be the applications of AI and its disruptive impact on sectors ranging from medicine to transport and finance, including scientific research. Tunisian AI and big data pioneers will lead the conference, which will bring together thirteen experts in the field of artificial intelligence and data, including 9 speakers, including 2 foreign guests. The founder and president of RECONNECTT, Sami AYARI, said the role of women in Tunisia is increasingly important in high-tech sectors, as evidenced by the number of female engineers and doctoral students in specialities related to computer science, artificial intelligence and big data. “The future and the technological and scientific progress of Tunisia will be made with Tunisian women, I am absolutely convinced that the new technologies have no secret for them,” he said. Salsabil Gaied, WiDS Tunisia ambassador, said: “WIDS is a global movement that celebrates and supports the achievements of women in the field of data science. It inspires thousands of women pursuing careers in the field and provides them with a platform to connect, share knowledge and expand their network. By hosting the regional event in Tunisia, we aim to promote diversity and inclusion by highlighting the achievements of local women and inspiring young girls to pursue a career in technology through a strong and engaged community.” The Women in Data Science (WiDS) initiative was founded by Stanford University in 2015 and aims to inspire and educate ‘data scientists’ around the world, particularly supporting women in the field. RECONNECTT is a Tunisian association based in Paris that brings together highly skilled Tunisians from around the world. Its objectives are to support Tunisian women in science and technology in Tunisia and abroad, to promote scientists, researchers, experts, leaders and talents, to enhance the cultural and heritage capital in the country and in the world, and to develop North-South and South-South partnerships in the Mediterranean in new technologies.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) on Tuesday issued accreditation cards to over 70 media practitioners and students pursuing journalism and communication studies within Kisii in an effort to improve professionalism in journalism. Speaking to KNA in Kisii town, the accreditation team led by the MCK Research and Documentation Assistant, Clarice Atieno said the exercise helps to distinguish a journalist from imposters who purport to be journalists. Atieno noted that the Council only accredits trained journalists who are currently practicing in the field and students in their third or final year of training who are proceeding for industrial attachment. The Research and Documentation Assistant pointed out that they are in the process of replacing the old press cards with new ones which have additional features such as a QR code and a barcode that can be scanned to provide the details of the journalist as indicated in the MCK portal. Notably, MCK recalled the 2023 press cards that had been issued prior to January 26, 2023 for replacement with new cards at no cost, to curb the rising cases of fraudsters posing as journalists. The Council noted that the new press cards would be linked to a media house or media association group where a journalist works to promote accountability adding that the move will specifically target freelance journalists in order to address ethical contraventions. MCK called for collaboration among stakeholders saying they will provide the verification methods and appealed to event’s organizers to grant access to duly accredited journalists with valid press cards. Julius Ongwae, a journalist from a local station, lauded the Council for reaching out to journalists in the region saying the exercise was smooth and he was able to receive his press card instantly. The accreditation team from MCK is also expected to visit Migori and Nyamira counties for accreditation purposes in the course of this week.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Tunisian Women and Data+AI Summit second Ed will be held on May 4 and 5 in Tunis, on the initiative of the RECONNECTT association and in partnership with the Women in Data Science WiDS-Tunisia initiative. This hybrid conference will bring together academics, experts, business leaders and project managers to discuss the issues, challenges and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an ever-changing world. The choice of Tunis to host this big event aims to raise awareness of the culture of AI among the general public, especially young people, and to build bridges between the academic world and data and AI professionals. During the two-day conference, experts from different backgrounds will present the latest advances in artificial intelligence, its economic impact and the ethical and social challenges it poses. Of particular interest will be the applications of AI and its disruptive impact on sectors ranging from medicine to transport and finance, including scientific research. Tunisian AI and big data pioneers will lead the conference, which will bring together thirteen experts in the field of artificial intelligence and data, including 9 speakers, including 2 foreign guests. The founder and president of RECONNECTT, Sami AYARI, said the role of women in Tunisia is increasingly important in high-tech sectors, as evidenced by the number of female engineers and doctoral students in specialities related to computer science, artificial intelligence and big data. “The future and the technological and scientific progress of Tunisia will be made with Tunisian women, I am absolutely convinced that the new technologies have no secret for them,” he said. Salsabil Gaied, WiDS Tunisia ambassador, said: “WIDS is a global movement that celebrates and supports the achievements of women in the field of data science. It inspires thousands of women pursuing careers in the field and provides them with a platform to connect, share knowledge and expand their network. By hosting the regional event in Tunisia, we aim to promote diversity and inclusion by highlighting the achievements of local women and inspiring young girls to pursue a career in technology through a strong and engaged community.” The Women in Data Science (WiDS) initiative was founded by Stanford University in 2015 and aims to inspire and educate ‘data scientists’ around the world, particularly supporting women in the field. RECONNECTT is a Tunisian association based in Paris that brings together highly skilled Tunisians from around the world. Its objectives are to support Tunisian women in science and technology in Tunisia and abroad, to promote scientists, researchers, experts, leaders and talents, to enhance the cultural and heritage capital in the country and in the world, and to develop North-South and South-South partnerships in the Mediterranean in new technologies.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The National Salvation Front (opposition coalition), on Saturday, held a rally outside the Municipal Theatre in Tunis in solidarity with the people arrested in the so-called “conspiracy against state security” case. The rally was the first of its kind for the National Salvation Front in public space since the decision to seal the headquarters of the Front and the Ennahda movement, and was an opportunity for the demonstrators to chant slogans expressing their commitment to the release of the prisoners. The rally that run for more than an hour saw the participation of dozens of supporters of the Front, family members of the detainees and a number of political leaders, including Ahmed Néjib Chebbi, president of the political committee of the “al-Amal” party leader of the National Salvation Front, Imed Khemiri, spokesman for the Ennahda movement, Ajmi Lourimi and Belgacem Hassen, leaders in the movement, Abdellatif Mekki, leader in party «Hope and Realisation» Party, and Samira Chaouachi, former deputy speaker of parliament. Speaking to reporters, head of the National Salvation Front, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, said the authorities have been sending negative messages to Tunisians, suggesting any opponent or dissident who rebels against the authorities «will face prison» Chebbi took the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the interior minister, who had rushed to seal off the headquarters of the National Salvation Front and the Ennahdha movement, describing his decision as “mistaken” and “a sign of the worst possible status of freedom of expression and demonstration in Tunisia”. Samira Chaouachi, Ajmi Lourimi and Amine Bouazizi (political activist and one of the founders of the “Citizens against Coup” campaign) took the floor in turn to reaffirm their commitment to continue the struggle until democracy is restored and the prisoners are released. The demonstration took place peacefully and without incident, with a discreet presence of security forces.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse