Day: March 20, 2024

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 that the initiative also serves to support the delivery of NLAS mission to promote, provide and coordinate quality affordable, sustainable and ac
countable 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

The Coast Regional Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-RICMC) has committed to fast track timely completion of development projects that will open up the region to investments.

The committee, chaired by the Regional Commissioner (RC) Rhoda Onyancha was brought up to speed on various projects that are in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Onyancha said the deliberations of the Committee will be escalated to the National Development Implementation Committee for funds to be allocated to complete the projects that may have derailed as a result of delays in the disbursement of allocated funds or budgetary constraints.

The Regional Commissioner put on notice vandals who are destroying critical capital intensive infrastructures that the law will catch up with them

The multi-billion Dongo Kundu bypass is at 90 per cent completion. The dual carriageway project, costing Sh22 billion, involves the construction of an interchange at the Likoni-Lunga Lunga highway and t
wo bridges at Mwache – covering 660 metres, and another at Mteza straddling 1,440 metres.

The bypass under construction is poised to be a game changer as it will not only connect three main transport corridors; the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, Mombasa-Malindi highway, and the Mombasa- Lunga Lunga highway but also reduce congestion at the Likoni ferry crossing channel.

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) is undertaking a runway and apron extension works at Ukunda airstrip in Diani Airport at a cost of Sh173 million.

The works are at 68 per cent and they involve extension of the existing 1.2km runway to 1.4km, construction of a new apron, construction of a new taxiway, expansion of existing taxiway to code C standards, laying of pavement works among others.

KAA is also reconstructing the taxiway and apron at Manda Airstrip in Lamu County at a cost of Sh121 million, the works are at 80 percent. Once completed the project will bolster tourism in the archipelago.

At the Moi International Airport the state pavilion is
being refurbished to enhance state guests’ airport hospitality experience as they visit the coastal city of Mombasa.

The Sh2.6 billion Shimoni Fishing Project being implemented by the Kenya Ports Authority is on course at 51 per cent completion, it aims to enhance fish production and improve the livelihoods of fisher folk in Kwale and Coast region.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is enhancing inter-county connectivity through construction and rehabilitation of major roads.

The Hola-Garissa road in Tana River is under construction after it was destroyed by floods that wreaked havoc on the roads.

Tana River County Commissioner (CC) David Koskei noted that construction of major roads in the expansive county are ongoing albeit at a snail pace.

‘If we don’t move with speed the problem will recur in the expected rains. Tana is a flat land and rain water from the neighboring Taita Taveta and Eastern region flows to the county,’ said Koskei.

Mr. Koskei added that the government is repositioning the co
unty endowed with fertile soils to be the food basket of the Coast region through the use of irrigation.

The Bura Irrigation and Settlement Scheme Rehabilitation project is near completion. It will boost the country’s food security as 25,000 acres will be under a gravity system of irrigation.

The project will upgrade the irrigation scheme from a pump-fed irrigation system to a gravity-fed system and increase the amount of abstracted water from the current 3 cubic metres per second to 11 cubic metres per second.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru county government, through the Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development, has initiated a week-long intensive land verification exercise aimed at providing titles to plot owners of Bahati and Dundori Trading centres.

The County Executive Committee member for lands and physical planning John Kihagi said the exercise involves substantiating documents by technical officers and verifying survey ground control points by county surveyors.

These actions are integral to preparing documents for submission to the Survey of Kenya, and streamlining the titling process.

While addressing the residents of Dundori today, who turned out in large numbers, the officer emphasized the significance of the tenure regularisation process urging residents to take advantage of the opportunity for their gain.

He further highlighted that beyond preventing potential land disputes, the exercise is pivotal in bolstering the economic prospects of the area and a catalyst in development of the rural area
s.

Despite a number of residents having acquired land in the late sixties through the land buying companies a number of them haven’t obtained tittle deeds to date and the local courts have numerous ongoing cases with counter appeals and injunctions.

The settlers who sold their land to the land buying companies had appealed to the British Empire to form the Settlement Trust Fund (STF) to enable the locals take loans and pay for their land.

However, a number of the land buying companies despite taking the STF loans on behalf of the members for purchasing the land and processing tittle deeds, they reneged on the agreement, hence the long disputes in courts.

The lack of title deeds has not only disadvantaged development in the rural areas but it has led to killings and kidnappings plus endless border disputes.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy through the ICT Authority has extended the call for submissions to the Connected Africa Summit 2024 Innovation Awards from 22nd March 2024 to 28th March 2024.

The extension will allow more innovators across Africa to submit their technology-led solutions ahead of the Inaugural Connected Africa Summit 2024, which will take place from the 21st to the 25th of April 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The ICT Authority is accepting submissions in the following sectors: Health, Trade and E-commerce, Smart Cities and Mobilities, Education, Agriculture, Climate Change, Green Technology and Creative industry. These solutions should, at most, be AI-driven.

Submissions are being done via: https://forms.gle/gBJ1vJCGahW6BCx48

Over the years, the Connected Summit Innovation Awards have recognized various Innovative ICT products and solutions that are solving problems in society.

Themed ‘Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connecti
vity’, this year’s Summit will focus on Africa’s ICT priorities guided by the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063.

The Forum is expected to bring together African Heads of State and Government, First Ladies, African Ministers in charge of ICT, e-commerce and the Digital Economy, policymakers, ICT thought leaders and Captains of Industry, Global ICT firms, Entrepreneurs, Investors and Innovators.

Over 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the summit that is set to reshape Africa’s ICT sector through policy formulation, investment, and innovation.

The high-level conversations are expected to propose solutions to the ICT challenges facing Africa such as the need to bridge the digital divide, identifying new ICT investment opportunities as well as the dream for a paperless Government.

The Summit will act as a platform where African leaders can position the African tech agenda in readiness for the UN Summit of the Future to be held in September 2024 and determine their role in green technology and governance of
generative AI for African realities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

As the fight against illicit brews intensifies in the country, Kiambu Women Rep. Anne Wamuratha, has launched an ambitious programme targeting to save the area boy child, from killer brews, through working closely with women leaders in the area.

The programme seeks to equip the women with counselling skills, to help get the youth out of the killer brews, as well as empower them to be able to report brewers and drug peddlers to authorities, so that action can be taken.

During a three-day training programme on mental health, held in Thika Town, today, Wamuratha said the new strategy came out of an intense research and statistics from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other Non-governmental organisations, which put the County as leading in cases of mental health, murder, suicide, incest and rape, among other vices.

She said women are the best suited in matters of rescuing the boy child, as they are the positive role models, who can guide, inspire and impart life to the boy child, whom she referre
d to as being neglected.

‘Through these skills, they will help the boy-child navigate the challenges and instill a sense of responsibility and foster a commitment to community and nation building,’Wamuratha said.

This comes as women leaders in the County continue to call on the government, not to relent in the fight, saying the ongoing crackdown on illicit brews and drug substances, will address the rising cases of mental health in the County.

They said the brews have wreaked havoc in the communities through deaths, ailments, depression and addiction, a threat to future generations.

The women in attendance led by Anne Nyambura Mwangi, a Maendeleo ya Wanawake official in Thika Sub-county lauded the new strategy, saying it was timely and impactful.

Nyambura, who lost a son to the brews some years back, said time was ripe to wipe out of the region, the killer drinks.

‘Sometimes you find the youth sharing their drinks and this poses a danger of contracting tuberculosis. That’s how I lost my son. This is a f
ight that must be supported as the situation is bad for all,’ Nyambura said.

Jacinta Syombua who represented the people with disability, said the disabled were not spared either as they also bear the brunt, some having been visually impaired due to effects of the brews.

Syombua, a Kiandutu slums resident, said slums are a haven for illicit brews and called on the government, to stamp its authority and save a generation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has held the 5th Edition Conference and Expo 2024 in Nairobi with aimed at advancing sustainable economic growth for SMEs through green financing initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Simon Chelugui said that the government has recognized the role of SMEs and has set aside their standalone Ministry and Department.

He noted that the Conference provides a platform for the participants to build networks, deliberate on issues affecting the sector and identify options and interventions that can enhance the role in the national bottom-up economic transformation agenda

Chelugui highlighted that financial institutions such as Saccos are critical in providing financial services to MSMEs which are key players in the production of goods, industrialization, innovation and creation of employment that impact directly on the lives of people at the bottom of the economic pyramid

‘Available
statistics indicate that MSMEs constitute 98 percent of all businesses in Kenya and create 80 percent of the new jobs annually employing over 15,000,000 Kenyans,’ stated Chelugui.

He revealed that there are two landmark bills on Sacco reform which will bring the Nation Media Group (NMG) and others together and share services, adding that Saccos including Fortune Sacco have been given over Sh 500,000,000 for on-lending to members of MSMEs.

The CS disclosed that several agencies including Nyota have come together to fund MSME`s, explaining that their role is to aggregate and bring together all the MSMEs so that they can look at the European market as one.

While appreciating the Nation media group and all sponsors of the event for bringing MSME`s to the core of development discourses to create a conducive environment, Chelugui maintained that everyone has the potential to compete for the market.

‘We are working with key development and government agencies to provide sector players like NMG to raise the visib
ility and profile of MSMEs as key drivers of economic growth, employment creation and better industrialization innovation in our country,’ he reiterated.

Also speaking at the conference was NMG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stephen Gitagama who stated that on uncertain business landscapes, MSMEs have become even more complex since they face many challenges including regulatory burdens.

‘Events such as these are important since they provide a platform for MSMEs to thrive and for Green Financing Initiative to truly empower MSMEs, several key challenges must be addressed,’ stressed Gitagama.

He commended the government for allocating Sh 114 billion towards environmental conservation which promotes accessibility to affordable credit tops by MSMEs.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The remarkable growth of the avocado sector in Nakuru county has been attributed to empowered cooperative movements, ready market and continuous training of farmers.

Speaking today during a sensitisation meeting with Nakuru North Agri-business Avocado Cooperatives, County Cooperatives Chief Officer Kibet Kurgat said the event has provided a platform for avocado farmers to acquire knowledge on proper farming techniques and value addition in the avocado value chain.

The event attracted 410 members of the Cooperatives who were also taken through a sensitisation programme on how the County Government intends to continue supporting the lucrative sector that has put money in the pockets of farmers.

Kurgat said since the national government signed a deal with the Chinese government in the year 2019 the huge market of over 1.4 billion people has made the avocado value chain the fastest money earner for farmers in the county.

He noted that the sensitisation process of farmers, and allocation of free seedlings has
made a major difference in the growth and management of the most famous fruit in the world currently due to its nutritional values.

Further, he said they are in the process of linking farmers to the Kakuzi company, which is the leading avocado export in the country.

He commended cooperative societies that have managed to make direct export without passing through middlemen.

However, some farmers during the meeting urged the county government to continue supplying the free seedlings because sourcing for quality seedlings was still a challenge to some farmers.

The farmers noted that the other challenges faced was the occurrence of pests and diseases, which can significantly reduce crop yields. In addition, transportation and logistics when not handled properly leads to spoilage, affecting profitability.

Source: Kenya News Agency