Day: December 19, 2023

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has appealed to citizens, drivers, and matatu Sacco’s to be vigilant on the road and drive safely during this festive season.

Mutula urged road users to obey and observe all traffic rules and road safety rules to avoid loss of lives due to road accidents.

‘We urge all our citizens, drivers, and matatu Sacco’s to be vigilant on the road, ensure your cars are serviced, keep the speed limits, stop and rest when tired, do not text or use your phone while driving, and do not overload,’ said Mutula in a condolence message on Monday evening at Wote.

This follows an accident that occurred along Kikima-Kali-Machakos Road in Makueni County on Saturday, December 16, 2023, which claimed 13 lives.

The 14-seater Matatu had 17 passengers when the incident happened.

The driver of a 14-seater matatu that was headed to Machakos from Kikima is said to have lost control before landing in a ditch after it rolled several times.

‘My heart goes out to all who have lost their loved ones i
n the Mbooni Matatu accident. The entire Nation, Makueni County, and I share in your sadness. May the peace and serenity of the almighty one surround you during this time of sorrow,’ noted Mutula.

‘Our counsellors in all our hospitals are ready to walk with you and your families on this journey. We also send a message of quick recovery to the survivors of the tragic accident,’ added Mutula.
Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenyan scientists and their counterparts from other areas globally are an inch closer to saving the Northern white rhino species from extinction through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), with only two remaining at Ol Pejeta conservancy in Laikipia County.

The BioRescue team, who are racing against time, have harvested about 29 oocytes, which were flown to a lab in Cremona, Italy, for maturing and as they wait for the right time to implant them into the viable Southern White rhino, notes Samuel Mutisya, Olpejeta Conservancy Head of Research and Species Conservation.

‘We have been able to harvest oocytes from one female, the northern white rhino, since the other is no longer viable and has since been retired from the project. What we have harvested from time to time has been flown to Italy for purposes of maturing,’ says Mutisya.

Mutisya points out that the oocytes, after the maturity period, will be fused with sperm, which were harvested from Sudan, the Northern male white rhino that died in 2018 due to poor h
ealth, aimed at ensuring they save the colossal species.

‘After the oocytes mature, they will be fused with the Sudan, the northern white rhino’s sperm, and others that we were able to collect before they died. Until now, we have been able to collect 29 embryos that are preserved in liquefied nitrogen for utilisation,’ reveals the conservationist.

He adds that, since the two remaining white rhinos are incapable of supporting pregnancy due to old age and health-related problems, they were taking their chances through surrogate mothers who had similar features as those of the northern white rhinos.

‘We can’t implant these embryos in the Nothern white rhinos, the fact being that the younger female from whom we collect the oocytes can’t carry pregnancy due to a condition in the uterus, and the other female is old, has skeletal issues, and can’t carry pregnancy full-term,’ points out Mutisya.

Mutisya reveals that they are monitoring the surrogate mother round the clock by using the teaser bull for the pregnanc
y implantation process.

‘We are left with only one option: selecting the next suitable embryo carrier, which is the southern white rhino and a close relative of the northern white. We are first perfecting the producer by determining the most suitable time of implantation,’ reveals Mutisya.

The IVF process, which had never been tested before, Mutisya reveals that they had perfected it since it was their only hope in saving the northern white rhino species.

He cautions that timing was crucial since it would be a huge success to see calves interact with the two remaining northern white rhinos, a move that would ensure they get traits of their parents.

‘This is a procedure we would like to do soon because time is of essence. We want to rescue this species while their parents are still alive. We would like to see a young calf with one of these females. They would share some of the social behaviours and other traits to maintain the population,’ says the conservationist.

The conservationist, however, noted that
despite their touted effort, the project had equal challenges since it had never been done before and therefore needed to perfect every move targeted at saving the rare breed of the northern white rhino.

Meanwhile, poaching of this critically endangered species in the past had led to their reduction in the wild; now all efforts by the government and other partners are geared towards ensuring they are not completely extinct.
Source: Kenya News Agency

Candidate Maher Mesai for the El-Amra constituency in the El Ksar delegation (governorate of Gafsa) promised to solve the problem of communal land and to work to set up a primary health centre and fit out rural tracks.

Candidate Issam Chriti from the same locality underlined that his priorities is notably to improve local services, set up a primary health centre, improve rural tracks and develop transport, agriculture and employment.

Candidate Mohamed Hédi Mohamed pledged to provide the region with quality road infrastructure, a primary health centre and a secondary school and improve school transport.

He also promised to endeavour to create irrigated areas, spaces for young people and a training centre in agriculture and handicrafts dedicated to rural women.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

“Social protection cannot be guaranteed without transparent social dialogue within the tripartite commission on social protection, which brings together representatives of the government, trade unions and employers’ organisations,” Deputy Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), in charge of social protection and the informal sector, Othmane Jallouli said on Tuesday.

At a press conference on “the reality of social protection in a period of stalled social dialogue,” held at the Arab Maghreb Workers’ Union seat, Jallouli pointed out that the social protection issue should be managed through social dialogue, stating that “the UGTT’s social protection department called for an increase in the minimum wage, across all categories, given that 75% of pensions are below this wage.”

“The Finance Law 2024 contradicts everything that was agreed upon within the Social Dialogue Commission,” he indicated, denouncing the inconsistency between the measures taken and the texts published by the various s
tructures involved in social protection.

Jallouli pointed out that the tax system had not encouraged workers in the informal sector and the self-employed to join the social protection system, even though this could generate large amounts of financial revenue that could support the budgets of the social funds.

He also deplored the fact that the Social Affairs Ministry had resorted to making decisions regarding the social funds without consulting the tripartite commission, accusing it of intending to turn the funds into financial institutions.

The UGTT Deputy General Secretary called on the Social Affairs Ministry to focus on its social role.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidates for the December 24 local elections in the Mogren and west Saouaf constituencies Chedhli Hammas and Saber Slama are on with their election campaigns in the governorate of Zaghouan, meeting with citizens.

Chedhli Hammas focused his electoral programme on refurbishing houses and allocating social housing to the poor, calling for the creation of a primary health centre and the asphalting of roads between the region and the main arteries.

During his meeting with citizens, candidate Saber Slama spoke of the shortcomings of the region, pledging to work to upgrade infrastructure, reduce unemployment and improve development indicators in the region.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The sole female candidate for the local elections in the Bardo constituency Fatma Ben Hassine said the citizens’ voices must go beyond the ballot box by becoming a voice in companies and official structures so as to reinforce the State’s social role.

Ben Hassine’s programme further include boosting the pending development programmes and reforming development methods so as to meet the citizens’ aspiration at the local level.

The candidate further undertook to find solutions to the traffic issue by creating parking lots to ensure the citizens’ safety and reduce traffic on Bardo’s main roads.

For his part, candidate for the Bouchoucha constituency Malek Ktaifi said he will launch an e-platform to help the locals give their opinions on projects planned by local and regional authorities.

In a statement to TAP on Tuesday, he further promised to work in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders to launch “El Hnaya” tourist road so as to revive tourism in this region.

Ktaifi also undertook to provide job opp
ortunties in the private and public sectors for unemployed higher education graduates.

38 candidates, including 8 women and 2 with disabilities, are vying for seats on the Bardo local council.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Candidates Ines Bouzaiene and Om El Khir Agoun, running for the upcoming local elections (December 24), in El Matar and Lala constituencies, El Ksar Delegation of Gafsa governorate, are actively carrying out their campaigns while interacting with local citizens.

In her electoral programme, candidate Ines Bouzaiene focused on encouraging participatory approach in drafting development plans and programmes.

Her programme also focused on road asphalting and protecting residents from the risks of floods.

Candidate Om El Khir Agoun pledged to improve the quality of services at the health centre and upgrade the primary school in Lala.

She also promised to consolidate the job market in the region, set up community enterprises, and launch recreational spaces for the benefit of children and young people.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

During her electoral campaign, candidate Haifa Kharez in the locality of Dhiba-West in Tataouine focused on promoting the employment of higher education graduates, strengthening projects destined to for rural women, recruiting specialist doctors at the local hospital as well as boosting investment in agriculture.

The candidate promised to promote education and the handicraft sector, develop infrastructure and crate leisure areas in the region.

Candidate Hédi Melian pledged his voters to sort out the situation of collective lands, provide support to children and the elderly as well a improve health, education, transport and employment.

He also promised to establish a cement plant, set up an investment fund, foster development and held local young people join oil companies.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Migori County fishing community has received a shillings six million grant from the European Union (EU) to fund and expand the fishing activities on Lake Victoria.

Speaking during the official launch of the grant at Sori Beach in Nyatike West Sub County, Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Lucas Mosenda said that the fish farming project will aim to enhance and improve the livelihood of the community by promoting economic growth in the region as well as integrating farmers in the commodity market.

One of the four cages at Sori beach Lake Victoria set up by the Migori County government. The EU grant will also help to establish six additional fish cages on Lake Victoria-Nyatike Sub County. Photo by Belinda Oyanda.

The grant, which will be implemented by the Blue Cross Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), will also aim to promote aquaculture to enhance the development of the fishing community at Sori-Nyatike and boost fish production in the county.

The cash will also help to impr
ove and expand fish caging, training, boat acquisition, and other fishing equipment, as well as enhance capacity building for the Beach Management Units (BMU).

Mosenda said that the grant will revolutionise the local economy by introducing modern aquaculture techniques like cage farming to boost traditional fishing methods.

He added that the project had come at the right time and was in line with the county manifesto blueprint on improving the fishing enterprise in the county.

The official also affirmed that the grant will help the fishing community to focus on sustainable practices through the blue economy, with the purpose of not only providing a consistent source of high-quality fish but also supporting the local Beach Management Units with fish cages, feeds, and fingerlings.

The county has so far assisted six groups in Got Kacholla and Kachieng Wards in the expansive Nyatike Sub County with locally fabricated fishing gear worth Sh1.2 million.

Mosenda explained that already the county, through the Dep
artment of Agriculture, was supporting fish farmers with fish feeds, fingerlings, extension services, and rescue services to make the fishing enterprise lucrative.

He acknowledged that so far, the county management has provided four cages to four BMUs within Lake Victoria, while the EU grant will establish six additional fish cages.

Blue Cross NGO Director Erick Omondi acknowledged that the funded project will be implemented for 24 months to realise the intended purpose.

He affirmed that the NGO will be working closely with the county government, stakeholders, BMU officials, and the local authorities to ensure the project becomes a success as well as sustainable.

‘We want to incorporate this project as a community-centred project in order to build sustainability measures and equip the local farmers to own it after the 24 months of implementation,’ affirmed Omondi.

Eunice Atieno, one of the Tii Gi Wiyi Women Group and a beneficiary of the project, applauded the efforts the EU has made to boost the fishing
capacity of the local fishing community.

She said that the project will empower them with the tools and knowledge to thrive in aquaculture and create a lasting positive change for the Sori fishing community.

Atieno, however, urged the county government to continue assisting fish farmers with affordable fish feeds and fingerlings to help lower the cost of production and boost the economic standards of the community.

She also called upon other external partners to emulate the EU in trying to improve the lives of the residents at the county level.
Source: Kenya News Agency