Day: April 2, 2024

Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) has secured $3 million in equity funding from CFAO Group, a key player in the mobility industry owned by Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

The funding will be used to expand the assembly and distribution of electric buses in both the local market and Rwanda. Initially, Kenyan startup, partnered with Thika Based KVM, has introduced 19 electric buses in Nairobi, aiming to expand to 1000 in East African regions within three years.

The infusion of funds is divided between CFAO Kenya and Mobility54, which is the corporate venture capital arm of CFAO. Thus, in a press statement, BasiGo founder and CEO Jit Bhattacharya said the company was grateful to have CFAO as a partner in the development of electric bus transportation in Africa.

‘CFAO, a leading African energy and mobility company, recognizes the potential of electric mobility in Africa, ensuring BasiGo offers competitive, scalable e-bus solutions.’ Said Mr Bhattacharya.

BasiGo secured a Ksh804.5 million investment from Silicon Va
lley venture capitalists in 2022 to support local electric bus assembly and charging infrastructure, following a previous $5 million debt funding.

The company has revealed that it has received more than 500 reservations from bus operators in Nairobi and an additional 100 reservations from bus operators in Kigali. The startup, backed by CFAO, plans to expand its Pay-As-You-Drive financing model to include a wider range of commercial electric vehicles.

CFAO has established its first electric vehicle dealership in Rwanda and invested in e-mobility start-up companies through Mobility54, promoting sustainable transportation and a green mobility ecosystem in over 40 African countries.

According to data released by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), by June 2023, the number of electric vehicles and motorcycles in the country rose by 729 units, reaching a total of 2,079 compared to 1,350 in 2021.

The rise in popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country highlights their appeal in providi
ng cost-effective transportation while also reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A Kericho medic warns against alcohol abuse to prevent challenges and early mortality, as the government combats illicit liquor and second-generation alcohol.

In an interview with KNA, a resident surgeon at AIC Litein Kericho Annex clinic Dr. Philip Blasto pointed that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health and intake over time can lead to the development of notable chronic diseases that such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, liver and pancreatic diseases, weakening of the immune system and learning and memory problems and even mental problems.

‘Excessive alcohol consumption poses significant health risks, leading to significant medical and social effects, including impaired health, family and job functioning.’ said Dr. Blasto. Thus, the medic expressed concern that serious medical problems on the liver and pancreas are common among patients who abuse alcohol.

Excessive alcohol consumption damages the liver and pancreas, damaging the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar levels, app
etite, and stimulates stomach acids, causing stomach emptying. Dr. Blasto explains that diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease caused by a damaged pancreas, can lead to severe damage to various organs over time.

Dr. Blasto warns that excessive drinking can lead to liver cirrhosis, a condition where the liver cannot properly break down harmful substances in the blood. The medic highlighted the significant health risks associated with illicit liquors, which may contain harmful concentrations of toxic ingredients.

Drinking fake alcohol, spiked with methanol, poses significant health risks and can lead to blindness or even death, as it increases the potency of ethanol. The doctor noted that consumers of illicit brews often experience blindness due to the higher methanol content and potential use of formalin by unscrupulous manufacturers. Hence, he advised that people should be careful of what they drink so that it does not affect their lives significantly.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko has called upon the medical professionals currently on strike to obey the Court order and return to work as negotiations continue.

The medical professionals have been on strike for more than two weeks now and recently, they were joined on the strike by the clinical officers.

Speaking at his official County residence, Dr Ochilo asked the striking medics to understand that the right to life and good health is primary to everybody and nobody should fail to access treatment because of the ongoing strike.

Ochilo however, applauded the medics of Migori County for being reasonable, caring and loving after agreeing to have a dialogue with the county officials on the nine key issues that resulted in the nationwide strike.

He said that his administration has responded positively to the doctor’s request with seven of the nine issues already having been discussed.

He explained that although the medics’ Collective Barging Agreement (CBA) was signed between the doctors and the national go
vernment, the county also bears some form of responsibility in addressing some of the raised concerns.

Ochilo however, called upon the medics to obey the court order to remove any illegality that may arise as they continue to negotiate their way on the CBA.

He implored medics across the country not to punish the country’s citizens seeking medical attention in the name of seeking what is rightfully theirs through the strike.

‘Don’t abandon your service to the public just because your grievance has not been met; but let’s continue holding negotiations as we preserve human dignity and life’ said Ayacko.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government in an effort to mop up street families and rescue them for rehabilitation has established Laikipia county street families’ chapter.

Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Muli said there was a need to devise creative and unique ways of addressing street families’ challenges to prevent them from returning back to the street after rehabilitation.

”Develop a unique way to handle what is happening in our region, there is a challenge of street families that needs to be addressed. We have to operationalise the chapter and everyone has a responsibility,’ Muli told the street families Laikipia chapter committee in a recent meeting in Nanyuki.

He noted that urban areas of Nanyuki, Rumuruti and Nyahururu were the most prone to street families and at the same time urged for immediate home based solutions.

Laikipia County Director Children Services Tom Ochieng’ said that there were more than 300 street families in the county and revealed that most of them hailed from vulnerable households.

‘Most of the street families come from poor and dysfunctional households where caregivers are alcoholic, vulnerable, chronically ill and single parents with no source of income,’ said Dr Ochieng’

Dr Ochieng’ further pointed out that some children and youth were drug addicts which made it challenging to rehabilitate them amid insufficient and well-equipped facilities in the county.

Additionally, the County Children’s Director pointed out that there was need for financial support, multi-sectoral approach in addressing street families’ menace, apprehension of parents who neglect their children, education support, and narcotics crackdowns.

The chapter which is expected to be supported through Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is poised to address the plight of street families in coordinating tailor-made rehabilitation programmes for those affected.

Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund Programme officer Jackson Mwita urged for partnership from sta
keholders for resource mobilization geared towards supporting the vulnerable street families.

He pointed out that they were at risk and needed to be linked to social protection initiatives aimed at ensuring the beneficiaries becpome self-reliant and independent.

Meanwhile, a census done by Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund recently showed that Nairobi had the highest number of street families of about 15,337, followed by Kisumu with 2,746, Nakuru had 2,015 and 1,293 in Meru.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya is pioneering the use of child-friendly Tuberculosis (TB) medicines, starting October 1, 2024 a move which will ensure appropriate doses and flavors suitable for children.

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muriuki said that as Kenya leads the way towards a TB free generation, significant concern has been TB among children, with nearly 7,000 cases reported in infants and children in 2015.

Ms Muriuki said that the use of child-friendly TB medicines aims to improve treatment adherence, reduce mortality among children, and mitigate the risk of drug-resistant TB.

She said that TB continues to be a significant public health challenge in Kenya, impacting families and communities with its devastating effects. While primarily affecting the lungs, TB can affect various parts of the body and is transmitted through the air when infected individuals cough.

‘In the past decade, Kenya has made remarkable strides in combating TB, with 1.2 million diagnoses and successful treatme
nt of one million patients, preventing over 500,000 deaths,’ said the PS in a statement to newsrooms.

She explained that these achievements position Kenya as the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to meet World Health Organization (WHO) targets for TB case detection and treatment success.

According to the PS, accessible free TB testing and treatment services across over 4,000 public and private health facilities have been instrumental in this success. To enhance TB testing services further, the government has introduced 120 GeneXpert machines for rapid testing of TB and its drug-resistant variants, making Kenya a leader in Africa in leveraging modern technology for TB diagnosis.

‘Quality assurance measures ensure adherence to standards, while the availability of digital X-ray machines in all counties bolsters testing services nationwide. Recognizing the significant overlap between TB and HIV, joint TB/HIV activities have been prioritized,’ said Ms Muriuki.

She added that over 94% of TB patients have been
tested for HIV, with over 93% receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy in the last five years. This integrated approach has not only positioned Kenya as a global leader in TB/HIV control but also reduced the TB/HIV co-infection rate by half over the past decade.

‘Kenya’s proactive measures extend to preventive treatment for people living with HIV, with nearly 400,000 individuals enrolled in preventive treatment using Isoniazid, marking the nation as the second-largest program of its kind globally,’ she said.

The PS explained that despite these advances, TB remains the fourth leading cause of death in Kenya, with drug-resistant TB posing a persistent challenge with many cases going undetected due to delayed health facility visits or lack of awareness.

Ms Muriuki advised that early detection is crucial, with symptoms such as cough, fever, weight loss, and night sweats warranting immediate attention.

‘To accelerate progress, concerted efforts are needed across sectors to advocate for improved access to T
B prevention, testing, and treatment services,’ said the PS.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Hansard Association of Kenya [HAK] has announced plans of tapping and leveraging the use of Artificial Intelligence [AI] to enhance efficiency in producing timely and accurate records of parliamentary proceedings.

The Association which brings members of Hansard reporters from both the National Parliament and County Assemblies termed the adoption of AI as a necessity to complement their work by enhancing the quality of records and their performance.

According to Serah Kioko, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Hansard reports have for year’s strengthened accountability and transparency of legislative arms of government by capturing accurate records of parliamentary proceedings.

Ms Kioko said the integration of AI in the operations of Hansard departments will make work more efficient and allow for timely production of reports for consumption by the legislatures and other consumers such as Judiciary and civil societies.

The clerk emphasised that Artificial Intelligence will enable and ease the recordi
ng, transcription, translations, summarising and writing of Hansard reports of both a sitting of parliament or committee proceedings.

Speaking in Naivasha during the 6th Hansard Association of Kenya Annual Conference, Ms Kioko called for more collaboration with the county Hansard dockets to enhance their capacity to ensure reports produced meet quality demands.

‘Adoption of AI in Hansard operations will greatly complement the human resources and therefore not a threat to replacing the personnel’, said Kioko.

According to Dennis Mutui, the clerk at Machakos County Assembly, the Hansard departments at the counties have been plagued by lack of modern equipment, inadequate funding and low staffing that have hampered their work.

Mutui however lauded the strides made in anchoring Hansard as core part of proceedings of county assemblies which he noted have enhanced accountability and transparency in matters transacted at the houses.

Serah Kioko, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly addressing county heads of H
ansard departments during the 6th Hansard Association of Kenya Annual Conference in Naivasha where she called for adoption and integration of Artificial Intelligence in their operations to enhance timely and accurate reports of parliamentary proceedings. Photo by Erastus Gichohi.

Mutui who was representing the Society of Clerks at the Table in Kenyan Legislatures [SOCATT- Kenya] said County Assemblies will henceforth broadcast live proceedings to ensure electorates follow their oversight and budget making processes.

He at the same time called for regular training of Hansard reports and editors in the age of AI that seeks to produce timely quality reports during the proceedings of legislatures.

On his part, Hansard Association of Kenya President George Wanjoko said they are engaging relevant government agencies to have the association registered which he said will enable lobbying for more funds to enhance hansard reports.

‘Adoption of AI in Hansard reporting will provide timely and accurate records of legi
slatures as well as enhancing accountability and transparency’, said Wanjoko.

According to Res Ndilai, a member of the Association, the conference will enable participants to share ideas and unlock gridlocks on language use, publication of Hansard records as well as the integrations of new technologies in their operations.

Ms Ndilai at the same time called for development of common Hansard policy that will guide the operations of Hansard departments and personnel at both the National Parliament and County Assemblies.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Women have often lacked access to formal financial services mostly due to limited access to and control over financial resources and physical assets especially land.

Cultural perceptions also on women’s role in terms of division of labour in the household doesn’t give them easy access to incomes mostly.

Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs), community membership-based financial institutions that are formed and owned by their members in promotion of their economic interests have come in to help bridge the gap.

They have been able to provide a safe and convenient place for women to save their money and access credit when they need it.

Rural Women Network (RWN) has successfully registered five women-led cooperatives in Kajiado, aimed at championing enterprise diversification and providing women with alternative sources of income.

The network was also formed to strengthen the participation of grassroots women, enhance livelihoods through promotion of climate smart agriculture

Kajiado County, which has h
istorically identified with reliance on livestock as its primary economic driver in its predominantly arid environment, has been experiencing a notable transformation.

The emergence of multipurpose cooperative societies, spearheaded by a rural women’s network, has spurred diversification efforts, signaling a shift towards exploring alternative revenue streams.

Pauline Kariuki, founder of the Rural Women Network (RWN) told KNA that efforts to empower women through the multi-purpose cooperatives was informed in order to reduce reliance on livestock-dominated economies.

‘Recognising the pivotal role of women in value chains and by enabling women to lead and market products such as beadwork and African leafy vegetables, these cooperatives aim to enhance their economic agency and grassroots engagement,’ said Ms Kariuki.

Beadwork industry in Kenya has become a hot spot for revenue for most women especially in the pastoral Counties who not only sell their beads locally but internationally while the African leafy
vegetables have become part of the Kenyan cuisine and culture whose potential has the ability to economically empower local communities especially the women.

She says that when she started out with a few women, she was targeting beadwork value chain in which the women were thriving on and this later evolved into a multipurpose cooperative model accommodating sectors such as vegetables and even fish and this approach has ensured cohesion and maximised the collective bargaining power of cooperatives.

Highlighting the benefits of cooperatives, Kariuki emphasised their collective bargaining power to increase market access and adaptability to changing market and weather patterns, mitigating the impact of factors like climate change.

James Ngoke, County Director of Cooperative in Kajiado County noted the importance of service provision in his departments noting that they prioritise and train individuals and showing them the significance of joining cooperatives.

‘It is important to understand cooperatives as a b
usiness entity and very important from cooperatives such as the women led to be trained on financial literacy and adherence to by-laws,’ he noted.

Agneta Saruni, a Cooperative officer in Kajiado, highlighted the necessity of diversifying economic activities in response to environmental challenges such as climate change and encouraged ventures such as poultry farming, beekeeping, and other alternative sectors in cooperatives so as to build resilience within local communities.

Reflecting on past hardships, Ms Saruni expressed pride in witnessing the transformation of community livelihood saying that despite initial skepticism, communities have embraced diversification, leading to tangible improvements in their economic well-being.

According to experts, in communities where women’s participation in the public sphere is limited, joining a cooperative offers a means of exercising voice and accessing leadership roles that would otherwise not be open to women.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Narok Teachers Training College (TTC) has now embraced digital learning as they switch from P1 certificate to Diploma training.

Joseph Kiminta, the Narok TTC Principal said the college started in 2014 and has been training for a P1 certificate but has now changed to offering Diploma in Primary teacher education and Diploma in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).

Kiminta reiterated that with the government-provided Internet connection, the institution was in the process of ditching paper for online learning and assessments.

The school principal said the school is now WiFi connected and students can access learning materials online.

He said the teaching staff was committed to churning professional teachers compliant with new education curriculum Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

‘CBC is the way to go and we should embrace it at this level, and feel the need for the teacher training students to be equipped with computer skills.’ added Kiminta

Kiminta also said that the needy students were being g
iven financial support to ensure that they complete their studies and graduate.

The school has however lamented over the congestion in lecture halls and hostels as the number of students hit 1,000.

Kiminta has however appealed to the government to expand lecture halls, hostels, and both computer and science laboratories that would enable students to carry on their practical studies.

Source: Kenya News Agency

This day 9 years ago, the country woke up to tragic events of the Garissa University terror attack that took the lives of 147 students while leaving others with trauma and lifelong injuries who live with the tales of the day.

In the memories of all those who were killed, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has today launched an online information portal to create and increase public awareness of the threat of violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

The portal, which has been named Jasiri Observatory, will be used to sensitise, inform and empower individuals and communities to understand and respond to violent ideologies peddled by extremist groups.

It will also strengthen ongoing efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism (PCVE), a process that involves directly addressing the underlying drivers of terrorism using non-coercive strategies including counter-messaging, public outreach and de-radicalisation programmes.

Speaking at the launch at the Garissa University, NCTC Director Rosalind N
yawira urged Kenyans to visit the portal to learn more on violent extremism and ways to avoid falling prey to radical ideologies aimed at propagating hate, fear and violence in society.

‘Violent extremism is a threat to national security. This portal empowers individuals and communities to identify and discredit violent extremist ideologies, facilitating public dialogue on the threat of violent extremism. We want Kenyans to speak out against violent extremism through this portal, hence the appellation ‘Jasiri’ which is Kiswahili for resilience,’ Nyawira said.

She added that Jasiri Observatory will serve as a platform for continuous public dialogue and feedback on PCVE and drive public conversations on fighting extremism. The portal will also enhance efficiency and coordination in implementation of PCVE initiatives by building a strong and integrated network of stakeholders.

‘Jasiri is designed as a public repository that anyone can access to learn more about various manifestations of violent extremism,’ sh
e said.

‘We chose to launch Jasiri during the anniversary of the 2015 Garissa attack, as this is an opportune moment to reflect on the strides made towards making our country safer from terrorism and violent extremism,’ she added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Coffee farmers in Kiambu can now process their produce locally, thanks to the Government’s intervention.

The County Department of Agriculture, livestock and irrigation has issued licenses to Sasini PLC Millers and Kofinaf Company Limited.

Sasini PLC Millers is as subsidiary of Sasini (K) LTD whose buyers’ license was allotted by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) while Kofinaf Company Limited is affiliated to C Dorman Limited who are now managed By Coffee Management Services (CMS) and are listed as buyers.

Other millers issued with licenses include Komothai Coffee Society and the Aberdare Limited, both small scale coffee farmers operating within Kiambu.

The permits were handed over to the millers’ representatives by the Ag County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Peter Ndegwa.

Chief Officer for Crop Production, Irrigation and Marketing Benson Njoroge acknowledged a need for millers to be closer to coffee farmers’ hence cutting production and distribution cost.

‘This will make sure coffee farme
rs across the county will be well served by the licensed millers, as they are evenly distributed in the coffee-growing areas,’ Njoroge said.

He further added that the licenses will ensure compliance by the millers to operate within the rules of the permits by complying with the laid-down regulations.

Kiambu Coffee farmers in January this year were up in arms against the government over the delicensing of most private millers in the county.

The farmers claimed that most millers in the coffee-growing county have shut down milling business after they failed to secure operational licenses from the county government as required by Coffee Regulations 2019.

Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui during a meet the farmers’ tour in Kiambu in January this year said they had given the county governments the mandate to license coffee millers but licensing of marketers and brokers will fall under the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA)

The move comes after coffee farmers expressed their concern of
the industry being taken hostage by one or two cartels that are deeply entrenched not only in coffee but other agricultural sub-sectors.

‘Last year Government fertiliser was available at Sh3500 but because of cartels we have been forced to pay Sh5000,’ George Nduati, a coffee farmer in Kiambu says such price hikes by cartels have led to heavy losses.

The issuance of licenses to the millers comes as ongoing reforms in the coffee sector continue to take shape.

In an Executive Order issued January 9 this year, President Ruto tasked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with overseeing the implementation of coffee reforms, with the key itinerary of weeding out cartels across the crop’s value chain.

The nationwide reforms have seen the Government target increased coffee production from the current 50,000 metric tons annually to 200,000 metric tons within five years.

Source: Kenya News Agency