Day: March 19, 2024

Interior and National Government Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has stressed security apparatus will not relent in the ongoing fight against illicit brews.

Speaking in Trans Nzoia on Monday after meeting the County security team, Prof Kindiki said the government has laid down mechanisms to ensure that illicit brews get off the market warning all those who may be out to sabotage the efforts.

Saying that the fight has so far yielded commendable results, Kindiki praised security teams for taking the bull by the horns.

‘I stand here to testify the good work our security teams are doing all geared towards implementing government directives and policies among them eradication of illicit brews,’ he said.

Reiterating that a move to transfer security officers who have overstayed in one station for more than three years across the count is still on, Kindiki pointed out this will reenergise the fight against illicit brews and enhance overall service delivery.

He pointed out that illicit brews are
a threat to national security, urging politicians to stay off the matter to allow the government execute its mandate.

Meanwhile, the CS urged politicians to stop using divisive utterances and warned that security agents have been put on alert to arrest instigators of violence irrespective of whether they are pro or antigovernment.

‘Let those who are financing goons to cause mayhem and disrupt other people’s functions be informed that they will be dealt with squarely irrespective of the political divide,’ he said.

On government efforts to reclaim Kitale Prison land which has landed in the hands of grabbers, Kindiki said it’s just a matter of time before the said piece of land is repossessed for government use.

‘We are not going to entertain this behavior of individuals playing around with public property by use of monkey tricks.

I have instructed the security personnel to ensure the presidential directive which calls for repossession of grabbed public land is enforced to the end. There’s no compromise ove
r that,’ he warned.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. Kithure Kindiki has announced a nationwide crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles and rogue drivers to tame rising cases of road carnage in the country.

He said the exercise, to be carried out jointly by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Transport, will target all motor vehicles including tuk tuks and boda boda to avert loss of lives on the roads.

Prof. Kidiki said a meeting has been scheduled between the two ministries and the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) to come up with nationwide law enforcement measures to address the menace.

He said the campaign would target drunk driving and unroadworthy vehicles besides ensuring that all road users observe traffic rules.

Over 1, 000 lives have been lost through road accidents since January saying the figure was too high and alarming, he added.

‘Just yesterday, we lost 16 lives, 5 in Bomet and 11 in Voi. The country loses approximately 4, 000 lives annually through road accidents
and therefore we must work together to clean our roads of all careless drivers and pedestrians,’ the CS noted.

Road carnage has affected families across the country with some forced to sell their land to cater for the medical expenses of loved ones, he said.

‘The number of people we are losing in road accidents in a year is higher than the number the country has lost in any other disaster. In 2020 and 2021 when we had the Covid-19 pandemic the country lost about 5, 000 lives but the number of people we are losing in road accidents per year is over 4,000,’ he said.

Speaking at Ojola in Kisumu West Sub-County during the official opening of the Deputy County Commissioner’s offices, Kindiki asked traffic police officers and other government officers who would be engaged in the nationwide crackdown to remain vigilant to ensure that the issue is dealt with to the core.

‘We must fight corruption of the roads which is a big contributor to the accidents we are witnessing. We have some rogue drivers who bribe erran
t officers to get away with unroadworthy vehicles and in the process we get into the situation that we are witnessing today,’ he said.

On the ongoing crackdown on narcotics, illicit brews and psychotic drugs, the CS said the government would not relent until the menace is completely eradicated.

The country, he said, risked losing a whole generation to drugs and illicit brews if urgent measures are not taken to crackdown on those involved in the illicit trade.

‘This is a national security issue. We are losing well abled Kenyans who are supposed to be engaged in building the nation. If this is allowed to continue then in the next ten years when we advertise for positions in the police, army or other sectors we shall not have people to fill them,’ he said.

‘We will look ahead and continue with a ruthless law enforcement program to rid Kenya of drugs. We are not going to listen to noisemakers who have in the past dealt a blow to this drive,’ he said.

The CS said the new office block was set to enhance servic
e delivery through bringing government services closer to the people.

He lauded the community for upholding peace and tranquility in the area adding that his ministry has established a new division in the Sub-County to bring services closer to the people.

‘We have established Holo Division which we shall be back to launch in three weeks’ time. The government is going to post an Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) to the new division to enhance service delivery,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A section of Nyeri residents have expressed varied reactions following the phasing out of the 57-year-old National Housing Insurance Fund (NHIF) to pave the way for the roll out of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Employed Kenyans are expected to start contributing 2.75 percent of their gross salary to the new scheme while non-salaried persons shall pay a similar percentage form their earnings.

Registration into the new medical scheme kicked off on Friday last week while deductions were to begin on March 1 this year.

The Act is pegged on three key pillars which include the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical illness fund.

In a nutshell, every person residing in Kenya will now be in a position to access quality healthcare services under the Public Health Insurance Fund (PHIF) as outlined in the new law.

The new Act also provides for the construction of community health units across the country to facilitate delivery and access to primar
y health care services at the grassroots.

While reacting to the rollout of the new scheme, Lucy Migwi has described the move as ‘heaven-sent’ gift to Kenyans as it would significantly lower the cost of accessing quality health care.

Ms Migwi argues that the old health fund was too restrictive in terms of the amount of capitation that could be channelled to treatment leaving the burden of offsetting any additional costs to individual households.

‘Medical cover under the defunct National Insurance Fund used to be a bit limited since it did not cater for every medical condition as one would have wished. Therefore, if the Social Health Insurance Fund is going to cater for patients with chronic conditions like kidney failures, then the health insurance scheme will be a game changer for us all. Patients have previously been forced to stay at home just because they were not in a position to cater for their medication,’ says Migwi who operates a clothes’ shop in Nyeri town.

She has nevertheless implored the Gover
nment to lessen the taxation burden on Kenyans which she says has impacted negatively on the business sector.

Migwi claims the majority of her customers who largely used to be government employees rarely visit her stall nowadays owing to the harsh economic times and therefore additional levies would only leave them worse off.

‘These taxations have affected our businesses; we no longer have customers. Most of the civil servants are highly taxed to an extent that what is left of their earnings can barely cater for other needs such as school fees and food. It would therefore be prudent for the Government to halt exerting additional levies on Kenyans to avoid worsening the current situation,’ she laments.

Her sentiments were echoed by Martin Luther, a taxi operator who says NHIF tended to be discriminatory and biased towards the employed who enjoyed comprehensive medical cover compared to the unemployed persons.

He says the previous arrangement forced families to seek for alternative funds to foot the hospita
l bills of their kin including arranging impromptu fundraising meetings.

‘One would have thought that just by having paid your monthly contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund was a guarantee to accessing medical care. Unfortunately, that was not the case especially for those not in formal employment. The government could only pay for half of your medical bill while leaving the balance for you to clear. At times families used to literally struggle even to raise the Sh500 monthly contribution. I therefore support the introduction of the Social Insurance Fund as it will cure all these anomalies and ensure all Kenyans regardless of their social or economic status can afford quality health care,’ he stated.

But Titus Mwangi, a businessman, wants the Government to base contributions on the basis of the family unit and not on individuals for those who were not in paid employment.

He argues that this would ease the burden for such persons without necessarily locking out anyone from benefiting from the
scheme.

‘Will the charges be paid as per family or per head? If it is going to be per head then that is a loss. But if its implementation is based on households then it will turn out to be a boon for low-income families who can ill-afford to access quality healthcare due to biting poverty levels,’ he pointed out.

The rollout of the new health insurance scheme had previously been stopped by the High Court last November following a petition by businessman Joseph Enock Aura, challenging sections of the scheme.

But a three-judge bench sitting at the Appellate court overturned the High court ruling early this year arguing that its decision posed ‘real and present danger to the health rights of countless citizens who are not parties to the litigation’.

Contributions under the NHIF were capped at a minimum of Sh500 for the unemployed while those earning up to Sh100,000 paid Sh1,700.

However, under SHIF, those earning Sh20,000 will be deducted Sh550 while those earning Sh50,000 and Sh99,000 would be required to
pay Sh1,375.

Kenyans earning Sh100,000 will be deducted Sh2,750 and those getting Sh200,000 will pay Sh5,500.

At the top of the new pay model are those earning Sh500,000 who will now pay Sh13,750 with those getting Sh1 million and above will part with Sh 27,500.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Medenine: The Ras Jedir border crossing (Medenine governorate) was shut down overnight on the Tunisian side as a precautionary measure to protect Tunisian and Libyan travellers and preserve their safety, following skirmishes and gunfire on the Libyan side, a security source told TAP.

The crossing was restricted to ensuring the return of Tunisians to their country, the same source added.

The Ras Jedir border crossing was also closed from the Libyan side due to these skirmishes.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The European Union in partnership with National Legal Aid Service (NLAS), has donated 12 vehicles to enhance delivery and access to justice across the country.

The EU under the programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Deliver (PLEAD), started in 2020 in response to access to justice.

Speaking during the flag-off, the Attorney General (AG), Justin Muturi, noted that the journey was a critical milestone and acknowledged the EU for their support to Kenya by ensuring members of public’s access to social justice.

He said that the Constitution provides a framework to support the marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Muturi said that the EU has made it possible for various citizens to access public services through donation of vehicle to counties. The counties to benefit are Wajir, Mandera, Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru Counties. He said that NLAS is working towards extending their services, to all 47 counties.

The AG reiterated that NLAS and the EU’s
aim is to ensure the marginalized communities access Justice, which will help in the creation of awareness.

The EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, stated that the EU has invested 70 million euros in the programme, terming it the largest investment by the EU in the justice sector reform in Sub-Saharan Africa.

‘What is Justice if it is not serving all the people of the country in equal measure,’ posed Geiger, as she urged NLAS to make good use of the Vehicles that will see justice served to all.

The Solicitor General, Shadrack Mose, noted that NLAS has made tremendous achievement and was very delighted to witness the milestone in the implementation of the program.

He added that the occasion fulfils the government’s goal to transform lives through empowerment of individuals, families and communities, by providing high quality legal services.

Mose noted that the initiative also serves to support the delivery of NLAS mission to promote, provide and coordinate quality affordable, sustainable and account
able legal services to the marginalized, indigent and vulnerable members of the society.

Solicitor General further requested the EU to continue partnering with NLAS and ensure that the program is extended, insisting that the support from NLAS, will be felt across the country and become one of the key milestones.

He assured that the Office of the Attorney General, will give support in the maintenance of the vehicles to serve and support the lives of Kenyans.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A new study has revealed that Persistent Acute Malnutrition in Turkana County, is directly linked to Economic shocks.

The County Government of Turkana has received a Report of a two-year study conducted by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), with funding from USAID Nawiri.

The study sampled households from fisher-folk, agro-pastoralists, urban and peri-urban areas, and pastoralists. They cited economic shocks such as the loss of livestock, inflation, and unemployment.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, pointed out that the findings have debunked assumptions that the leading cause of malnutrition was climate change, which led to food insecurity.

‘These results have far-reaching implications that should inform nutrition programming, as it is the economic shock that is the leading cause, given that most residents buy food,’ he said.

He stated that the study had revealed to all nutrition stakeholders, county government, and partners the s
tarting point to tackle persistent malnutrition in the County.

Citing the findings, Dr Lokoel highlighted that fisher-folk and agro-pastoralists were particularly affected, thus requiring more investigation to uncover the root cause.

The Lead Researcher, Dr Faith Thuita, stated that malnutrition is not merely a health issue, but a capital development issue.

‘To safeguard the future generation, we have to understand malnutrition. It has to be evidence-based and backed by data, to explain why the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate has never fallen below 15%,’ she noted.

The longitudinal study examined WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), MIYCN (Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition), health-seeking behavior, household food security, women’s decision-making, shocks, and utilization of the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) vis-a-vis height to weight.

USAID Nawiri, Field Director for Turkana, Gabriel Ekuwam, said that the study findings would lead to discussions on programs that could change the li
ves of the people in the County.

Partner representatives present were; Concern Worldwide Kenya, the Kenya Red Cross, the International Rescue Committee, and Save the Children among others.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over 20 premises in Teso North Sub County have been closed in the ongoing crackdown against illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse according to DCC Stephen Wambura.

In-line with implementation of the directive by the CS Interior, the security apparatus in the sub county launched a crackdown aimed at weeding-out unlicensed clubs, agro vets and pharmacies, of which 7 bars, 13 pharmacies and 6 agro-vet were found operating illegally.

‘We have intensified patrols across the sub county in effort to mitigate substance abuse within the sub county for the sake of future generation and in line with directive by CS Kidiki,’ noted Wambura.

Wambura regretted that it’s now the game of hide and seek with businessmen who have decided to operate the bars and pharmacies at night to avert being impounded by the security team who are conducting raids on daily basis.

‘We have instructed Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs that all traders operating drinking joints must have valid licenses and no bar should be operating 300 meters
from the institutions of learning,’ the DCC added.

However, the security team in Busia are faced with the task of manning the porous border where new techniques and innovations on transportation of illicit brew from Uganda have been developed.

According to Wambura, boda boda operators are the leading in aiding the brewers to smuggle in the produce for transportation to various joints or Nairobi.

‘The biggest challenge we have is that porosity of our border where boda boda are being used to smuggle chang’aa and ethanol swimming across river Malakisi or through areas of Moding. However, the police are on high alert and soon we will arraign the culprit in the court,’ he added.

Since the launch of the crackdown in the sub county, over 30 people have been arraigned at Amagoro law court for not conforming with the standard requirements as per the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.

The pharmacies and agro-vet owners have 30 days to submit licenses or close their businesses permanently. This is according to the Kenya
Pharmacy and Poisons Board (KPPB).

Source: Kenya News Agency