Day: June 9, 2023

The government has saved a total of Sh 779,764 through the Community Service Order (CSO) in a period of six months this financial year, between July and December 2022.

In a report submitted to the service delivery committee by the sub-county probation officer, Nancy Ngeywo, on station highlights between the periods, there were a total of 46 offenders, with 31 males and 15 females sent to different institutions on CSO.

Ms. Ngeywo said the type of offenses committed during the period under review and put under referrals included 15 cases dealing with alcohol drinks, which was leading.

She indicated that six cases of stealing and gaming, respectively, and four cases of assault causing actual bodily harm.

‘Other cases include theft of farm produce and malicious damage to property, which were reported in two cases each,’ she said.

The report further indicated that other cases that were referred to their office include creating disturbance, stock theft, possession of wildlife trophy, attempted murder, cultivation of narcotic drugs, possession of cannabis sativa, and destroying cultivated crops, which reported one case each.

Ngeywo said that the offenders were deployed in primary schools, secondary schools, health facilities, deputy county commissioner offices, chief camps, and police stations.

However, the probation officer noted that most of the agencies lack tangible projects and are encouraged to engage their clients (offenders) to do tangible work.

‘They stated that they require funds and equipment in order to have projects,’ she noted.

The probation officer noted some challenges facing their office, including a lack of courts in Mt. Elgon constituency, hence relies on Kimilili and Sirisia law Courts. ‘This is very inconveniencing and expensive considering that an officer must be on duty at the court daily,’ Ngeywo said.

The probation officer compared their counterparts who walked to court while they had to travel to court, adding that the station lacks a GK vehicle considering the terrain of the sub-county, hence there is a dire need for a GK vehicle to be allocated to the station.

She also said they lack of furniture for clients and raised concerns about inadequate funding, especially with no court in the sub-county.

Present during the tabling of the report were Senior Principal Magistrate Ms. Gladys Adhiambo, who is also the Chairperson of the CSO Case Committee, Regional Probation Director, Western Region, Ms. Judith Mandilla and Bungoma County Probation Director Mr Peter Muchinyi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kitui County Government is undertaking massive road construction projects across the county in efforts to improve the road network in the county.

The numerous road network improvement projects are underway in all 40 wards and aim at expanding the county’s road network along with enhancing the ones that are already in place.

Significantly, this will increase trade, mobility, and flexible access to emergency medical services across the vast county.

Kitui County Chief Officer for Roads and Public Works Benjamin Chamia, while speaking today at Mutomo when he led a team of officers from the Ministry of Roads, Public Works, and Roads on an inspection tour of the said road projects, reiterated that the county government is fully committed to improving the road connectivity network across the county.

‘The objective of this inspection tour is meant to evaluate the quality and progress of the road construction work as well as address any difficulties or problems that might emerge during implementation,’ said the county government road chief officer.

The team inspected several ongoing projects, including the drift construction project at River Thua along Kavuvuu-Mulula Road in Miambani Ward, the drift repair project at Kisiiyo River along Inyuu – Kyamusivi Road in Chuluni Ward, and Kinakoni – Imale – Kiangini – Kiukuni road improvement project, which also has a 150-meter drift at River Thua.

‘In the list also is a drift along Kisayani – Imwange – Katundu Primary school – Kilui road in Mutomo/ Kibwea Ward, among many others,’ noted Chamia.

The Chief Officer underscored the need to promote gender balance and inclusivity of special groups during the engagement of manpower in the implementation of government projects.

He also affirmed the county Governor Dr Julius Malombe’s administration’s commitment to deliver on his development agenda as stipulated in his manifesto.

Chamia lauded the unwavering continued support from the local communities in actualization of the Governor’s 16-sector development blueprint, and reiterated that the county administration is committed to making sure that the road improvements are finished on schedule, within budget, and up to the stipulated standards in order to meet the big expectations of the locals.

Additionally, he asked the locals to collaborate and support the road said projects because doing so will increase their access to economic possibilities, mobility, and accessibility.

He said that in order to mobilize more resources and funding for road development projects in the county, the county government is working closely with the National government and other development partners.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents of Kiruo village in Rangwe Sub County are concerned over vandalism at the Rangwe Integrated Water Project by unknown people.

They lamented the destruction and theft of the project’s parts, including solar panels, that left them without water for a long period of time.

The project, which consisted of a borehole, pipes, and 16 solar panels, was constructed in 2013 by the County Government of Homa Bay.

The residents, led by Walter Opiyo, said the borehole served them for two years before it was vandalized due to poor management.

‘The borehole served us for two years until it broke down due to administration issues because those in charge were not vigilant,’ he said.

With this, residents saw the project as useless, a situation that exposed its parts to theft, where all 16 solar panels were stolen.

Speaking on Thursday, Opiyo said the water project is now operational after it was restored to its former state a few weeks ago.

However, the residents are now worried that the new machines might be vandalized again and have appealed to other residents to refrain from doing so.

‘I appeal to my fellow residents not to vandalize the project’s parts because it was constructed for their own benefit. Water is life, and when it’s available, it reduces the chances of contracting water-borne diseases,’ Opiyo noted.

Before the project was restored, the area residents relied on the River Rangwe, which is seasonal for domestic use.

Opiyo said the water from the river is unclean and not safe for consumption, adding that if the water project is vandalized time and again, there will be a likelihood of a water shortage in the area, especially with climate change.

‘When you vandalize a project that would have served you with water regardless of whether there is rain or not, then you will be exposing yourselves to water shortages and other challenges that come with them,’ he informed.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nyamira County stakeholders have strategised to implement a multi-sectorial action plan to end the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the county by 2030.

‘The shocking rate of teenage pregnancy in Nyamira and a few other counties in our country is a serious setback in enabling our country to achieve its economic growth projections.

The county adolescent gatekeepers must collaborate closely to implement sustainable action plans which will enable us to end this menace by 2030,’ said the Technical Services Director at the National Council for Population Development (NCPD), Peter Nyakwara.

‘This crisis slams education/career ambitions, disorients the social status of these young ones, and the perception of them in the community also changes,’ Mr Nyakwara added.

The director pointed out that teenagers are a key basic resource in the country, and they must therefore be nurtured rightly, protected, and guided if the country can depend on them to build and prosper the country’s future economy.

He further explained that teenhood is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundation of good health because adolescents in this stage experience a lot of rapid physical, cognitive, and psychological growth changes in their mind and body, which need guidance and support to enable them to make informed choices as they transit through this delicate stage.

NCPD assistant director Moses Ouma elaborated to gatekeepers that 25.5 per cent of the population in Kenya are adolescents between the ages of 10-19 and Nyamira County contributes to 1.4 per cent of the national adolescent’s share, which is about 27.1 per cent of the county population according to the 2019 census.

‘Two out of ten pregnancies reported in Nyamira are adolescent pregnancies, which comprise about 16 per cent, a rate above the national average of 15 per cent. This county’s rate of child marriages between 12-18 years is 4.7 per cent and 6.4 per cent among girls and boys, respectively, and is classified to be among the 25 counties with child marriage rates higher than the national average of 3.1 per cent and 6.1 per cent for boys and girls, respectively,’ Mr. Ouma said.

‘Though the number of adolescents presenting with pregnancy during their first antenatal clinic (ANC) at county facilities has gradually been reducing since 2019 to date, the rate is very negligible compared to other counties with a similar challenge, which is why stakeholders must be purposeful and work with speed to end this disquieting crisis by 2030,’ the Assistant Director noted.

Nyamira County Parents’ Association chair, Dr Charles Moochi, squarely blamed poor parenting as a key contributor to losing the fight against adolescent pregnancy because most parents have abdicated their parenting roles and delegated them to nannies and school teachers who have no attachment or are overwhelmed to handle individual student challenges.

‘Parents must be available for their children, adequately provide them with their basic needs, be keen and sensitive to their needs, guide them to choose the correct company of friends and know who their friends are, and teach them the effects of overreliance on electronic media and social media content to influence them to make informed choices during this complex stage of adolescence,’ Moochi stated.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Dr Timothy Ombati, outlined that the ultimate cause of adolescent pregnancy is unprotected sex.

‘It comes with its share of other complications, like the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections and maternal and child deaths because their bodies are not mature enough to hold pregnancy to term successfully,’ Ombati said.

‘This is further compounded with social and economic challenges like dropping out of school, inability to secure employment, stigma, and perpetuating poverty,’ he added.

Nyamira County Commissioner Onesmas Kyatha, who is also the coordinator of the gatekeepers forum tasked with ending Nyamira teenage pregnancy, vowed that he will relentlessly bolster a team spirit in implementing the action plan to end adolescent pregnancy in the region.

‘We shall intensify capacity building, focusing more on awareness creation among adolescents and young adults on the correct choices when it comes to sexuality and reproductive health, leverage gatekeeper conventions and platforms for discussions on ways to end teenage pregnancy, and identify intervention programmes that need to be mainstreamed in all sectors and to all ages so that the agenda of ending teenage pregnancy is embraced by all,’ Kyatha said.

Nyamira gatekeepers’ forum to strategize on ways of ending teenage pregnancy is cascading from the government’s commitment to ending teenage pregnancy by 2030 during the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) held in Nairobi in 2019.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Security agents in Nakuru County have arrested 78 suspected criminals believed to be behind a spate of stabbings and armed robberies in the Kaptembwa and Rhonda areas.

Led by County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara, the team recovered assorted weapons from the bloodthirsty gangs that have caused the residents sleepless nights in the recent past.

Speaking at the Central Police Station, where swords, knives, ported marijuana, and other crude weapons were displayed, Kibaara regretted that the 78 were young men who were supposed to be helpful to the community but had opted to join criminal gangs.

‘These are very dangerous weapons that they have been using to terrorize the residents while extorting money and valuables from them. As we said, we are not going to give them room,’ said Kibaara, noting that the 78 will be arraigned in court.

He assured the residents of continued security, noting that the resurgent criminal gangs had been abated by security officers who had overstayed in the area.

Three people had been killed as a result of the resurgence of the Confirmed, TZ, Mungiki, and Mauki criminal gangs, with the officers decrying the lenient fines and penalties meted out to them once they were arrested.

Cases of stabbings and killings have in the recent past been reported, with members of the Mauki gang group said to be in revenge mode following the killing of their leader last week.

Source: Kenya News Agency