Day: December 11, 2023

Nyeri County has come up with Ward Climate Change Committees to help sensitize the public on the effects of climate change.

This move comes after the undertaking of a Participatory Climate Risk Assessment Change (PCRA) in the 30 wards that gave birth to the Nyeri County Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027).

The county climate blueprint was developed under the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) and complies with the National Climate Action Change Act of 2016 that mandates counties to integrate climate change actions into their development programs and governance structures.

During his address before the County Assembly on November 30 this year, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said such a framework would not only benefit both the current generations but also the ones to come.

‘On climate change, the county government has crafted measures to respond to the climate change threats and put in place climate response actions to ensure a low carbon resilient growth and sustainable development of the cou
nty for the current and future generations. We have developed the Nyeri County Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027) under the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA). We have also established Ward Climate Change Committees in all 30 Wards,’ reads part of his statement.

To this end, the county government has issued at least 11,000 seedlings of assorted tree species including 4,000 indigenous seedlings as part of its greening programs.

Part of the seedlings have been issued out to various public institutions such as schools while others have been given to members of the public for planting on individual farms as woodlots.

The county has similarly developed the Nyeri County Environment Management (Noise and Excessive Vibration Pollution Control Regulations, 2023) to curb the playing of loud noise that will be a nuisance to the public.

‘At Environment, we strive to involve our people in all initiatives designed to guarantee a healthy and clean environment. To enhance eco-beautification and greening pr
ograms, we have issued 11,000 assorted trees to various institutions and community groups in the county. To guide our operations, we have developed the Nyeri County Environment Management (Noise and Excessive Vibration Pollution Control Regulations, 2023) and the Nyeri County Forest Management and Conservation (Harvesting and Movement of Forest Produce Regulations, 2023),’ his report further reads.

In October last year Kahiga announced plans to allocate resources (in partnership with the national government) to cushion the county against adverse effects of climate change that had been blamed for the drying up of critical water resources in the area.

He noted that the cyclical and unpredictable climate changes had continued to impact negatively on agriculture and livestock farming, threatening the livelihoods of both man and beast.

‘To mitigate the effects of climate change, our focus will be to partner with Kenya Forest Services to adopt and reforest the large sections of the Aberdare Forest that suffered
great destruction causing our rivers to dry up and affecting our farming activities downstream.

Through afforestation, we will create new jobs in the carbon trade by harnessing forest cover from the current 40 per cent by planting 50 million trees, establishing Community Forest Associations for all the 12 County forests, and establishing green park spaces in major towns,’ said the county boss while making his inaugural speech before county lawmakers following his reelection.

And in May this year County Climate Change Director Yvonne Mathenge said the drying up of rivers and depressed yields of major cash crops such as tea and coffee was a wakeup call for urgent intervention measures in addressing the effects of climate change.

Ms Mathenge told KNA the county was undertaking PCRA in all the wards to identify existing climate change risks and hazards in each locality and come up with workable mitigation and adaptation measures.

‘Climate change is bad and this has been witnessed by the long drought that we h
ad and the failed crops. And also, when we get into the highlands, we’ve had very low yields for crops that were otherwise doing very well, a case in point is coffee and tea. I think these were the biggest indicators and if you have the highlands affected you can only imagine what the semi-arid areas are going through which was also witnessed by the number of water conflicts that the Water Department had to solve amongst the various communities because there was not enough flow of water,’ she pointed out.

A total of 20 members formed the ward Climate Change committees including representatives from the interest groups, community group members, government officers, and private organisations.

Deliberations from the meetings were to be consolidated into a document that was to form the basis of the County’s Climate Action Plan.

Scientists link the severity and frequency of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, locust invasions and the Covid-19 pandemic to climate change.

They estimate the cost of mitiga
tion and adaptation and compensation for loss and damage to be about $580 billion in 2030 a figure expected to hit the $1.8 trillion mark by 2050.

Despite developed nations and their big corporations playing a big role in the current greenhouse gas emissions, African countries, including Kenya, suffer disproportionately from the effects of climate change.

Civil Societies from Africa who are attending the Conference of Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai, UAE, have presented a common agenda in climate adaptation, loss and damage to the meeting.

Among their six-point agenda to the conference include coming up with clear, quantitative, and holistic targets for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to facilitate adaptation action and increase the ability of parties to adapt to adverse climate impacts.

The Civil Societies have also called for the conference to address African adaptation finance gaps, delivering on commitments to double adaptation funding including s
etting up of new targets to address the existing gap, reforming the financial system, and prioritizing quality, accessible finance.

Additionally, the group advices, the conference should incentivize financing options favorable to Africa like debt relief, tax waivers, and grants to bridge the climate finance gap.

Curtains are expected to come down on the two-week conference on December 12(tomorrow).
Source: Kenya News Agency

Western MPs from across the political divide have been urged to set aside their political differences and unite under one umbrella to boost their bargaining power for development of the region.

Speaking at Malaba Catholic church in Busia County during a fund drive, National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula noted that he was committed to uniting the western region leadership for the betterment of the region and to change the political perception of the region.

Wetang’ula added that it was disheartening to see leaders from the region being incited to rise against each other while other regions have strong political formations.

‘If we unite as a region we will gain respect and avert leaders who approach our people with politics of deceit. We have been taken for a ride for many years and that can’t go on,’ said speaker Wetang’ula.

The speakers urged the leaders to approach issues affecting the people from a united front and challenged them to come up with bills that will protect the resources and interest o
f the region for its development.

‘We have been given the mandate by these people to advocate for them, let that be the driving force behind our unity,’ he added.

The speaker applauded the legislatures for the Sugar bill which will go a long way toward reshaping the economic progression of western people who depend on the crop as their main cash crop.

‘Let us not be deceived that it’s only in western where democracy lives. The politics of this country at the moment is ignited by the coalition of the community before the coalition of parties,’ noted the speaker Wetang’ula.

His sentiments were echoed by Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi who warned the leaders against public outbursts that have derailed the unity of the region making the region a playground for leaders from other regions.

‘As leaders we must learn to address our issues in private. Public outburst only demeans our own leaders,’ said Elachi.

The legislature acknowledged challenges in the region as a result of many political parties and lead
ers allowing leaders from other regions to rock their unity from within.

‘We have allowed other communities to penetrate and rock our unit under our watch. We must remain vigilant and denounce such approaches that are castigated towards disunity,’ added Elachi.

Malava MP Malulu Ichedi on the other hand said it was time for the region to unite under the leadership of Wetang’ula urging the speaker to reach out to CS foreign Affair Musalia Mudavadi and Wycliffe Oparanya to ensure the region is solemnly united.

‘Since the death of Kijana Wamalwa, we have been disjointed but now through Wetang’ula we can see that unity being restored,’ said Mr Malulu.

The legislature added that, ‘Kindly reach out to all leaders and ensure nobody is left behind this time round.’

For the first time MPs from five counties; Busia, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia have decided to work together as a family.

The leaders present included the host MP Oku Kaunya, Beatrice Elachi, John Waluke, Innocent Mugabe, Goffrey Mulanya,
Oyula Mairo Joseph, Nabii Nabwera, John Makali, Malulu Injendi and Emmanuel Wangwe.

Western region is the only region where almost all communities have settled and coexisted without intercommunity conflicts. Luhya, Teso, Sabaot are the major communities in the region.
Source: Kenya News Agency

Malek Ezzahi, Minister of Social Affairs, participated on Monday via videoconference in the opening of the international symposium on “Social Achievements and Economic Challenges” organised by the Algerian Ministry of National Solidarity, Family Affairs and the Status of Women, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund.

The conference in Algeria was attended by a large number of Arab and African ministers of social affairs, the Vice-President of the All-China Women’s Federation, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Africa, and a number of representatives of UN and regional bodies, as well as experts and researchers.

In a recorded speech broadcast at the opening session, Ezzahi said the meeting was an ideal opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices in social development policies to achieve social justice, especially for groups with special needs.

The symposium will focus on issues related to the care of different social groups, in particular women, young people, the disab
led and the elderly.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Residents from Nairobi County have been urged to turn up in large numbers during this year’s 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi tomorrow December12, 2023 where President William Ruto will lead the nation in marking the event.

Nairobi Regional Commissioner (RC) Katee Mwanza announced that gates at Uhuru Gardens will be opened to members of the public as early as 6.00 am, noting those attending will be required to be seated by 8.00 am.

The RC who was speaking on Monday during a Jamhuri Day 2023 Media Breakfast briefing at a Nairobi hotel said the national day is important as it is a commemoration of the day Kenya became a Republic and was admitted to the Commonwealth.

Mwanza assured that all security measures have been put in place in residential areas, commercial buildings and roads for those attending the celebrations and those moving around in the city.

‘Everybody is safe, property is safe, there will be free follow of traffic. Be confident that we have deployed enough security offi
cers to secure those attending the celebrations from the estates to the venue,’ he said.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander, Adamson Bungei on Monday, December 11, 2023 during a media briefing breakfast meeting at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi on the preparation for 60th Jamhuri Day Celebrations to be held at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi tomorrow. He said all preparations including measures on security and traffic flow for the celebrations have been put in place.

The RC mentioned that the country has made a lot of strides on development in Nairobi, citing the robust ICT infrastructure and good road networks that is conducive for investors to invest in the region.

‘The President has put a lot of infrastructure in place and a conducive environment in this city for development for both local and international investors,’ he said and added that Nairobi as a regional hub does not only host Kenyans but also people from across the globe who undertake their businesses in the region.

Mwanza said this year’s J
amuhuri celebrations theme focuses on the youth, noting that the government has been supporting them through the small and medium enterprises, Hustler fund, and expanding digital space.

‘The government has expanded the digital space to ensure every Kenyans accesses digital space and its 5,000 services online. We want people to take advantage of the services to register their businesses and to seek services from the government,’ said the RC.
Source: Kenya News Agency

The Central Bank of Tunisia’s Executive Board decided, during its meeting held on 11 December 2023, to keep the BCT’s key rate unchanged at 8%. The Board considers that the key rate’s current level would contribute to a further easing of inflation over the period ahead.

On the international level, the significant monetary conditions tightening, since 2022, has favored a gradual attenuation of global demand and an easing of price tensions. The sharp drop in international prices, mainly the ones of energy, contributed to the gradual easing of inflation, particularly in major economies. The disinflationary process should continue in the coming period, albeit at a lower pace. Risks of a rapid rise in international prices and of a greater resilience in demand could hamper a rapid decline in consumer prices. The maintenance of a restrictive monetary conditions’ stance would continue in order to support the return of inflation to Central Banks’ targets.

On the national level, economic activity was strongly affect
ed, over the third quarter of 2023, by the poor performance of the agricultural sector (-16.4% in annual shift) due to the persistence of the drought and the worsening of water stress, thus yielding a contraction in economic growth (-0.2% vs. +0.6% as at Q2-2023). Excluding agriculture, GDP growth rate continued to rise (+1.5% vs. +1.9% as at Q2-2023), thus favoring a gradual return of GDP, excluding agriculture, to pre-pandemic levels. The economic activity resilience, excluding agriculture, was fostered by the sound performance of the tourist sector and related activities, as well as by the gradual strengthening of industrial production.

Regarding the external sector, the current operations’ account yielded a -4,234 MTD balance (or -2.7% of GDP), at end of November 2023, against -11,982 MTD (or -8.3% of GDP) a year before. The significant reduction in the current deficit resulted from the ongoing contraction of the trade deficit, despite the persistent high level of energy deficit, and the good performance
of the services’ balance. As of 11 December 2023, Foreign exchange reserves stood at around 25 billion dinars (or 96 days of imports), against 22.1 billion over the same period of the previous year.

At the level of consumer prices, inflation carried on with its virtually ongoing downward trend, initiated since March 2023, posting 8.3% (in annual shift). This trend bears the mark of the easing of the core inflation’s progress pace “excluding fresh foodstuff and products at regulated prices” which dropped to 8.6% against 8.9%, a month before and the ongoing deceleration in the progress pace of prices of fresh foodstuff (11.5% vs. 13.0% in the previous month).

The gradual easing of inflation, and its main components, is expected to continue in the coming period. In terms of annual averages, inflation rate would be around 9.3% throughout 2023 compared with 8.3%, a year before. Upward risks surrounding the future inflation trajectory could result from a significant and persistent increase in international prices
and an accentuated water stress.

The Board considers that the current level of the key rate will contribute to an ongoing deceleration of inflation in the coming period. It decided to keep the Central Bank of Tunisia’s key rate unchanged at 8%.

Finally, the Board took note of Fitch Ratings’ maintenance of Tunisia’s sovereign rating at “CCC -” and underlined the importance of pursuing the train of reforms at an even more accelerated pace to further bolster confidence in Tunisia’s capacity to control its macroeconomic balances and return to growth.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The production of eggs for consumption posted a 6.2% rise by late November 2023, compared to the same period last year, reads the monthly report published Monday by the National Observatory of Agriculture (French: ONAGRI).

The observatory reported a 0.2% rise compared to October 2023. The average monthly price of eggs fell 1% compared to October.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The two candidates for the next local elections in the governorate of Tozeur, Ali Bououn representing the constituency of El Waha-Nefta and Ghassen Rhaiem the constituency of Al-Assil, continue their electoral campaign through direct contact with voters.

Candidate Ali Bououn’s programme focused mainly on laying the foundations of integral regional development, which would help upgrade the area’s infrastructure, improve public services and the education system, protect the environment, and build green spaces.

He also promised to find solutions to the sector of dates as well as improve the locals’ living standard.

Candidate Ghassen Rhaiem stressed that his electoral programme focused on living conditions of residents, providing support to unemployed young people and deprived families and boost cultural life in the region.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Mohamed Saidi, the only candidate running in the El Hadika constituency, reporting to the Ettahrir delegation, pledged to complete the suspended projects in the region, including the construction of the basic healthcare center and the rehabilitation of the stadium .

Speaking to TAP, on Monday, the candidate stressed that the development of road and public lighting networks in the region is among the priorities of his electoral programme.

The 73-year old candidate promised to fight against speculation and soaring prices, provide help to the needy and create job opportunities, particularly for young people and unemployed graduates.

The Ettahrir delegation (Tunis 2) has 5 electoral constituencies and 11 candidates.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidate for local elections representing the Taieb Mehiri constituency of the Goulette delegation of Tunis 2, Akel Trabelsi, said that he will help launch a sporting and cultural project in his region in his efforts to promote youth and provide means of entertainment.

He promised to upgrade infrastructure in the Taieb Mehiri district, through the repair of sewerage channels, the revision of the timetables of the waste collection.

Particular attention will be paid to green areas.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Intissar Sliti, a candidate in the local elections for the Ettahrir 3 constituency, has announced that her campaign will focus on raising awareness among residents of the need to vote in order to be represented on the local council and to make their voices and concerns heard.

In a statement to TAP, the candidate promised to involve the residents of the district in decisions concerning their Imada, to establish local power, to speed up the completion of outstanding projects such as the Cité Ettahrir dispensary, to launch cultural and sporting activities and to promote the infrastructure of educational institutions.

Intissar Sliti, a secondary school teacher, said that as part of her campaign she would be distributing leaflets and making direct contact with residents to publicise her manifesto.

Two candidates are standing for election in the Ettahrir 3 constituency, while 11 candidates are vying for a seat on the Ettahrir local council, which is part of the Independent Regional Authority for the Elections (
IRIE) Tunis 2. Of these, nine candidates will be elected and two others with disabilities will be drawn by lot.

The Ettahrir delegation is made up of 5 constituencies: Ettahrir 1, Ettahrir 2, Ettahrir 3, Ettahrir supérieur and al-Hadika.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse