June 16, 2023

Infrastructure Improvement In Nakuru East

The World Bank through the Kenya Urban Support Programme in collaboration with the Nakuru county government has commenced the improvement of infrastructure in the Nakuru East Constituency.

The County Engineer Michael Kamau said the project, which is financed by the World Bank would improve loop roads, upgrade the 1km road and 1.5km walkway to bitumen standard. He was speaking today at the free area estate while inspecting the progress of the project.

He added that once the tarmacking was completed, it would provide access to Lanet Health Centre and business premises at the busy Free Area Centre, which have suffered heavy financial losses due to inaccessibility to the shops.

He further said spot-patching would be done on existing tarmac roads in order to improve the outlook of the new city and attract more investors to improve the economic status of the residents by creating more job opportunities.

The chairman of the Free Area Centre, which includes a market and shopping premises, Peter Theuri said the upgrading of the Nakuru-Nairobi highway reduced the accessibility to the business premises leading to some of the traders shifting to other areas.

He commended the upgrading and renovation of the roads in the Nakuru East constituency and observed that a number of tenants had shifted to the Nakuru West constituency after the infrastructure was improved by the World Bank five years ago leaving many houses vacant.

He praised the county government for employing the jobless youths in the project and assured the officials that they would do everything to ensure that the stormwater drainages are not clogged by garbage.

Source: Kenya News Agency

June 16, 2023

Security Officer Buried

A Security officer who died in an Al Shabab Improvised Explosive Device attack while patrolling along the Ijara-Sangailu road was laid to rest at the Masalani Muslim Cemetery Thursday.

The deceased whose name was withheld was among 10 soldiers in a land cruiser vehicle patrolling the crime prone area on the edge of the dense Bothai Forest when their vehicle ran over an IED killing eight soldiers on the spot.

His body was airlifted to Masalani on a chopper and was buried in adherence to Islamic tradition in the presence of his mourning relatives.

The officer was also mourned by Ijara Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Willy Cheboi and other security officials who assured residents of the area that the government was working hard to track the Al Shabab militants suspected to have planted the IED and who were allegedly holed up in the thick Boni forest along Lamu -Ijara border.

Source: Kenya News Agency

June 16, 2023

World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day Marked In Kiambu County

The government invests over Sh18 billion annually through the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme for Older Persons that is meant to benefit over 700, 000 vulnerable and older persons in the country.

The Government has also developed a strategy to progressively increase the number of older persons who benefit from the programme to cushion them against shocks in order to live a dignified life.

Speaking when marking of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs Joseph Motari said the government has further developed the National Positive Parenting Programme (NPPP) to strengthen the capacity of families to foster healthy family relationships, mental health issues, promote healthy child development and minimize the risk of separation.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Kiambu Deputy County Commissioner Caroline Amaya, the PS said families played a central role in promoting the wellbeing of elderly persons and at the same to could be the greatest source of harm.

‘I want to urge members of the community to acquaint themselves with knowledge about elder abuse and report cases of abuse once they occur in order to eradicate the abuse,’ he said.

The PS acknowledged the family institution and the central role family members played in promoting the wellbeing of older persons saying that abuse could only be eradicated if families, care givers, community members and community gate keepers are aware and know about elder abuse, report these cases, follow the rule of law and understand how to respond appropriately.

Kiambu County Co-ordinator for Social Development Wairimu Kamau said the day was important and it goes a long way in creating awareness about the elderly abuse that has been increasing by the day.

‘The Elderly should be enjoying their ageing gracefully and yet we have seen them being neglected, discriminated against being subjected to Gender Based Violence and the cases going unreported,’ she added.

Kamau explained that in Kiambu, the biggest challenge has been having irresponsible children who become dependent on their aging parents with most wanting to disposes their parents of their property so that they could inherit it and this leads to abuse.

‘Abuse being experienced by the elderly in this county is mainly perpetrated by children who have failed to develop themselves and want to get their inheritance by force. We have quite a number of the elderly going through a lot of abuse and even killings,’ said Kamau.

Loise Wangari, an elderly woman who attended the event, told KNA that she was pleased and was learning a lot saying a lot of people her age were being abused by their own children and not reporting while others do not know where to report.

‘Many women of my age are experiencing abuse but do not have the means and the knowledge to report. I would like the government to hold more forums such as these,’ said Wangari

Kenya National Population Census shows the population of older persons is estimated at 2.7 million. The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed every year on June 15 and was started and later adopted by the United Nations in 2011 as a day to raise awareness on elder abuse, a problem being experienced in developing and developed countries.

The event held at Kibichiku Secondary school in Kabete Sub County brought together elderly people from different sub-Counties in Kiambu under the theme ‘closing the circle: Assessing Gender Based Violence in Older-Age, policy, law, and Evidence based responses’.

Source: Kenya News Agency

June 16, 2023

Kericho Annex GK Prison Ensures 100pc Secondary School Transition From Prison Primary School

Education is an effective form of rehabilitation for prisoners since it creates an avenue for the prisoners to turn their life around to become better citizens in their communities.

This was said by officer in charge of Kericho Annex GK Prison Senior Superintendent of Prisons Labantine Macoyamo who added that class eight dropouts who had fallen on the wrong side of the law and were imprisoned in the penal institution were being offered a chance to pursue both their primary and secondary school education from class 8 to form four.

He said this was in in line with the government’s programme started in 2018 aimed at ensuring that all class 8 candidates transit to secondary schools regardless of their performance at KCPE.

The prison currently has its own examination centre christened Kericho Prison 2 where inmates sitting for their class eight national examinations undertake their KCPE before proceeding for their secondary school education at the prison secondary school.

Macoyamo said the innovation was mooted in 2013 and has so far benefitted about 150 inmates since the inception of the pioneer prison class in 2014 and that last year alone, thirteen inmates sat for their KCPE at the prison examination centre.

The prisoners, all serving different sentences, attained a mean score of 252 with the leading candidate Gilbert Ngetich, 26 scoring a total of 318 marks.

In an interview with KNA, Deputy Officer in Charge who doubles up as the Principal of the Prison High School Superintendent Lennar Chepkirui said the penal institution started the prison secondary school on 27 April 2022.

‘Education is an important tool of rehabilitation and reformation of prisoners that can change their behavior, character irrespective of their offences. It provides an avenue for a prisoner’s transformation to become better persons in their communities,’ said Chepkirui.

She noted that currently, the penal secondary school has 13 inmates in their Form One class while those preparing to sit for their KCPE national examinations are nineteen at the prison primary school.

The prison secondary school has three graduate teachers who are prisoners with five teachers assisting in the learning activities for the inmates pursuing their secondary school education while behind bars.

‘Challenges of insecurity and transporting the inmates from Kericho Medium prison to Kericho GK main prison for them to sit for their KCPE gave us the idea to start this facility and also for the prison candidates to feel they own their own facility as they pursue their education,’ said the principal.

‘Right now, we have three trained graduate teachers one who did Biology and Chemistry, the other graduate teacher did Maths and Physics and the other Maths and Business while the rest of the subjects I am handling with the help of five trained teachers,’ she said.

Chepkirui said in the prison’s education programme, emphasis is given to life skills, and guidance and counseling has been initiated thus helping prisoners to choose their future careers. Prisoners are encouraged to embrace vocational training.

She appealed to well-wishers and people of good will to assist with learning materials required for smooth operations at the prison secondary school as well as funds to construct Form Two class for next year’s intake.

A form one prisoner Silas Kiprotich Kirui, 21, who sat for his class 8 exams in the prison primary school scoring 256 marks, is serving ten years imprisonment for the offence of causing grievous harm having been sentenced in 2021. He is happy that he is now a student at the Kericho Annex prison secondary school.

‘I regretted wasting my life away by not going to school and now that I have an opportunity to pursue my high school education, I know I will pass my KCSE after attaining 256 marks in my KCPE which I sat in Kericho annex prison 2 examination center last year. I want to be a meteorologist,’ said Kirui.

Inmate Paul Cheruiyot Kirui, 39, a grandfather of two children who is serving a three-year sentence for assault, an offence that sent him behind bars in January 2021, revealed that he sat for his KCSE in 1993 scoring D + grade and now wants to revisit his secondary school education and re-sit for KCSE national examination. He advised learners in educational institutions to maintain good behaviour while pursuing their education.

The male prison facility established in 1965 currently holds over 400 Inmates who are serving prison sentences for various offences.

Source: Kenya News Agency

June 16, 2023

Expansion Of Subukia Hospital

Nakuru County Government has embarked on expansion of the Subukia Level Four Hospital at a cost of Sh125 million to cater for the ever-increasing population and enhance services at the grassroots.

The county coordinator for Health Infrastructure projects Gerald Maina while touring the facility today said the construction of the state-of-the-art Outpatient Department (OCPD) at the Subukia Hospital is progressing well and would be completed on time, within budget, and with a focus on quality plus safety.

He noted that once the project is accomplished, it is poised to be a game changer in the Subukia-Sub-County and its environs.

The expansion was among the county’s strategies for improving health services and fulfilling Universal Health Coverage (UHC), he said.

Maina said UHC means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship or having to travel long distances.

Additionally, he said the county was determined to protect residents from the financial consequences of paying for health services out of their own pockets thereby reducing the risk of patients being pushed into poverty due to unexpected sicknesses requiring them to utilize their own savings, sell assets, or borrow.

The MCA for Subukia ward Isabella Makori, who was present applauded the expansion of the hospital saying it would be a game changer for expectant mothers, the elderly, and accident victims along the busy Nakuru-Nyahururu highway.

Source: Kenya News Agency

June 16, 2023

ANGOP, Brazil Communication firm interested in partnership

Angola Press Agency (ANGOP) and Brazilian Communication Company (EBC) have expressed interest in establishing a partnership in the field of exchange of information and training of staff.

The intention was expressed by the head of Assistant to the Presidency Office of EBC, Ricardo Taffner, during his visit to ANGOP on Friday in Luanda.

The visit is meant to learn of the work of this state-run media outlet (ANGOP) and exploring possible areas of contact, as the previous cooperation that existed in the past had been interrupted due to several factors.

He expressed his company’s available to resume the partnership with Angolan media house in order to broaden its coverage base.

In his turn, the executive director for the Multimedia of ANGOP, Emanuel Catumbela, expressed the desire of the ANGOP to establish a partnership in the field of training of staff, to increase its communication strategy via multimedia.

The EBC is a federal public company with a media conglomerate. It was created in

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 16, 2023

Parliament to pass draft law on statute of former Presidents

National Assembly (NA) will discuss and vote for Draft Law on the Statute of the Former Presidents of the Republic on June 22, the Parliament Bureau’s first secretary Manuel Lopes Dembo announced Friday in Luanda.

Manuel Dembo made the announcement at the end of the Conference of the leaders of the Parliamentary Groups, which aimed to set the agenda of the 7th Ordinary Plenary Meeting of the National Assembly.

The legislative initiative of the proposal under consideration aims to adjust the rights, duties and immunities of former Presidents and their singular auxiliary body in the exercise of Executive Power.

The 7th Plenary Meeting of the 1st Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature will also hold the final overall vote for the Draft Law on Labour Procedure Code and for the three diplomas that authorise the President of the Republic, as Head of the Government, to legislate on the amendment of the Fiscal Regime of the Concession of Blocks 30, 44 and 45.

The Parliament will also vote, in generality, for the Proposed Amendments to the Laws on the Statute of Journalists and on the Organic Law of the Media Regulatory Authority as well as for two draft resolutions on the requests for authorisation for the double adoption, international, of minors Kiary André and Eduardo Suculenta

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 16, 2023

Angolan president warns of contempt for democracy

Angolan head of State João Lourenço has voiced concern about disrespect for the basic principles of democracy in Africa, having slammed the seizure of political power through unconstitutional means.

In his speech delivered at the opening of a conference on Friday, ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Constitutional Court (TC), João Lourenço referred to Angola, stating that “some people never recognised the election results, in a clear contempt for the people’s will freely expressed in the polls.

According to the President, “the State-owned institutions and the patriotic civil society committed to democracy, convey a clear message to those who want to reach the power by unsuitable and unconstitutional means.

We are witnesses of the situations like these ones in which the assault on power has taken the form of an effective assault on the centres of executive power, in some cases, and legislative power in others, which fortunately have been counteracted for the survival of democracy, he added.

In his speech, the president João Lourenço also mentioned the global peace and security as facing permanent challenges which, according to him, are threatened due to the emergence of the new armed conflicts.

The Head of State blamed these conflicts for humanitarian, food and energy crises, coupled with climate change and its serious aftermaths.

The Constitutional Court is commemorating 15 years since it was institutionalised on 17 October

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 16, 2023

Ministry of Finance recommends commitment to electronic public procurement

Contracting public entities should adopt the Electronic Public Procurement tender mechanism and the statistical disclosure of its procedures, as part of transparency and governance, recommended this Friday the Secretary of State for Budget and Public Investment, Juciene de Sousa.

Of the 125 tender procedures carried out by the National Service for Public Procurement (SNCP) over the last five years, only 2.5 percent were accordingly with Electronic Public Procurement.

According to the Secretary of State, the 125 procedures generated 197 contracts signed with Micro, Small and Medium-sized Companies, in a business volume of more than 367 billion Kwanzas.

“The challenge goes to contracting public entities to adhere to Electronic Public Procurement, in addition to their duty of cooperation with the National Public Procurement Service in the field of transparency and adequate statistical disclosure of their procedures”, said the official.

In the view of the secretary of the Ministry of Finance, it is necessary to make public procurement a privileged instrument for boosting the interest of the community, making the citizens’ needs, their real aspirations, always underlying any public contract.

During a seminar on the National Week of Public Procurement, which ended Friday, Juciene de Sousa said that contracting entities should make public spending increasingly efficient, with emphasis on mechanisms to combat corruption, which is a permanent threat.

“The entities would be creating conditions for a better business environment and promoting economic diversification, making hiring a true instrument of opportunities for economic operators”, she considered.

As for the main objectives of the Public Contracting Week, the Secretary of State for the Budget and Public Investment said that it aims to stimulate the debate around the continuous improvement of the quality of public contracts.

Juciane de Sousa stressed that the Public Contracts Law intends to prioritize national production, allowing Public Contracting Entities to establish a margin of preference for the proposed prices, for competitors that are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

This margin of preference, according to her, must be explained, when defining the award criteria, in the tender programme or in the letter of invitation to submit a proposal.

“However, notwithstanding the actions taken to publicize the National Service for Public Procurement, the adherence of Public Contracting Entities to Electronic Procurement is still inexpressive – both in terms of the number of procedures and the volume of purchases. We may be talking about only 2.5% of the total number of procedures”, she noted.

A cooperation protocol was signed between the SNCP and the Angolan Association of Designers and Consultants.

Among the themes of the seminar, there was the Quality of the public investment project for an excellent contract, the State of the art and the Impact of works contracts at local level

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 16, 2023

Tanit ferry docks at Port of La Goulette with 1,096 passengers on board

Tanit ferry of the Tunisian Navigation Company (French: CTN) Friday docked at the Port of La Goulette, with 1,096 passengers and 505 vehicles on board; the ship was coming from the Port of Marseille.

The first crossing of the season, from the port of La Goulette to that of Marseille, took place on June 13. It aimed to take stock of passenger reception and accommodation conditions and address shortcomings, Central Director of Passenger Transport at the CTN Samir Thamuni said.

Good conditions for the return of Tunisian expatriates are also sought. “All indicators show signs of a promising season,” the official highlighted.

The CTN scheduled 147 crossings to secure the return of Tunisian expatriates (June 15-September 15). With a 400,000-passenger capacity, the company will secure 77 voyages through the Port of Marseille, 70 through the Port of Genoa and 9 through the Port of Zarzis.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse