Day: April 6, 2024

The government has committed to spend over Sh29 billion to support the growth and development of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) in the country.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said that the Ministry has developed the National TVET Blueprint (2020-2030) to give a strategic orientation of the sector and foster youth empowerment and employment in the country.

‘In this financial year, we shall employ 2,000 more tutors which will bring the total number to 4,000 since we assumed office,’ Machogu said.

He was speaking when he presided over the 10th graduation of 4,203 graduands at Kisumu National Polytechnic. They comprised artisans, crafts, diplomas, and higher national diplomas.

Out of the 770 Engineering graduates (18 percent of the total),207 were girls which represented 4.9 percent, and in the last 10 years, 414 females have graduated in the course.

Machogu said plans were underway to equip 70 TVET centres with state of the art equipment and technology in collaboration with
the Government of China.

The move will see several students acquire the much-needed practical skills, and be market-ready and competitive.

He reiterated that the rollout of the Competency Based Education Training (CBET) will mainstream industrial linkages and positive skills to the students through the dual training approach.

The Kenya School of TVET, he said will play a key role in ensuring that tutors are retooled to deliver the CBET, with a strong focus on practical skills for students.

The programs will enable tutors in TVETs to produce graduates with useable and market-ready skills.

‘The Education reform agenda is premised on the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education reforms, which have articulated a clear agenda on the TVET institutions,’ he said.

The government, he said will continue to invest and expand the TVET space which now includes 24 National Polytechnics (13 recently upgraded), and over 200 technical vocational colleges spread across the country.

Sixteen new Tech
nical and Vocational Colleges (TVCs), he said will be constructed in constituencies this financial year, in line with the policy of establishing one TVC per constituency.

The government, he added has established 113 Jitume Centres in various parts of the country to give unemployed youth an opportunity to earn decently through working for various international firms in the digital space.

He said the centers have been equipped with10,780 devices with 370 tutors from various TVETs trained to support the program.

The Jitume Centre at Kisumu National Polytechnic, he disclosed has already trained 600 youths in digital skills programs and released them to the market, with a current cohort of 200 undergoing training. The program has been key in empowering the youth and putting money in their pockets.

‘I am happy that the youth trained at this institution are earning between Sh7000 and Sh25,000 per week from the digital jobs they have secured online,’ Machogu remarked.

CS Machogu challenged the management and lea
dership of Kisumu National Polytechnic to come up with ways of popularising the engineering and STEM courses to students, and girls in particular within the catchment area.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Programme is set to distribute 816,191 long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) as a measure to fight Malaria in Narok County.

Principal Medical Entomologist Edith Ramaita, who is the lead person in the net distribution in Narok County said the programme targets all families where two people will be given one free net to share.

The treated net, she said, can last for three years if well maintained, and is capable of reducing the spread of Malaria in the country.

‘The last time the nets were given is three years ago, by now we anticipate that the insecticide used to treat them is dissolved and that is why the Ministry is keen on giving other new nets this year,’ said the Entomologist.

The nets will be transported by Kenya Medical Supply Association (KeMSA) to 77 drop off points where they will be distributed to 276, 111 households within the county.

All the beneficiaries will be forced to register in a digital platform to aid the distribution of th
e nets. This means that every household will be required to have a phone where they will receive updates of the status of their nets.

However, the households without a phone were advised to use the phone of their closest friends or relatives to register.

‘The digital platform will promote transparency and accountability as there will be feedback from those who receive the nets,’ she said.

Narok County Director of Health Dr Francis Kiio noted that Narok county is one of the 22 counties in the country where the programme is ongoing and aims at achieving over 90 per cent net distribution.

Nevertheless, the director raised concern with the manner in which the residents utilise their nets saying some residents use the nets to make their kitchen gardens, poultry houses, fishing gear among others.

He called on residents to use the net properly so that the target of fighting malaria will be achieved as the county is moving towards preventing other than curing diseases.

‘Malaria is among the diseases that cause
death in our county, especially in pregnant women and children below five years old. This is why the government is spending a lot of money to give free nets to every resident to break the spread of Malaria,’ he said.

Narok Chief Officer in charge of Medical Services Ms Mary Kashu said most diseases treated in hospitals within the county are preventable hence called on residents to utilise the nets well to control Malaria.

The disease is mostly prevalent in Lolgorian, Angata Barikoi and Emurrua Dikirr areas.

They were speaking during a stakeholders meeting held in a Narok hotel.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kisumu County has constructed a modern specialised trauma and general hospital to handle accident victims and other emergencies in Nyakach Sub County at a cost of Sh56 million.

During a tour of the facility, Deputy Governor Mathews Owili stated that the increasing number of road accidents witnessed along the busy Homa bay – Katito town road informed the decision to establish the Pap Onditi Sub-County Hospital.

‘By operationalising this hospital, all emergency cases involving accident victims from the region will be treated here, thereby decongesting Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH), where the majority of such cases are currently being referred to,’ stated Dr Owili.

County Chief Officer of Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Lusi Ojwang, announced that the Level 4 hospital is currently 98 percent complete and is scheduled to open its doors to the public in June 2024.

The hospital is equipped with two ultra-modern theatr
es with the capacity to handle emergency cases such as accident victims and another for maternal care services.

‘The Maternity Wing theatre will significantly contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality, while the newborn unit will enhance neonatal care in a move towards improving healthcare services for mothers and infants in the area,’ Dr Lusi observed.

West Nyakach Ward, Member of County Assembly (MCA) James Omollo lauded the initiative by the County Government stating that the hospital is set to revitalise healthcare services for indigent households.

‘This hospital is a game changer in the healthcare sector and is set to offer a glimmer of hope to the accident victims and vulnerable mothers seeking maternal care from the remote area,’ Omollo stressed.

The county legislator rejoiced that the trend of pregnant women from rural Nyakach traveling long distances for specialised maternity care at JOOTRH will soon become a thing of the past.

According to the Chief Officer, the Health Department has pu
t in place the needed personnel and procured all essential equipment valued at Sh17 million for the facility and is currently awaiting installation before the official launch in two months.

Pap Onditi Level-4 Hospital is also equipped with a state-of-the-art medical waste incinerator, installed at Sh7.6 million, to enhance the efficiency in handling and managing hazardous and general medical waste.

‘This modern incinerator machine is unique and can handle waste from Muhoroni, Nyando, and Nyakach Sub-Counties for the time being. However, we have set aside a budget to install a similar one in Muhoroni in the next Financial Year,’ Dr Lusi assured.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife will work with County governments to unlock domestic tourism sites and potential cultural heritages that are of historical importance to promote tourism.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said that there are so many tourist attraction sites but added that more efforts are required to create awareness about the attractions.

Speaking Saturday when he toured Kiambu County, the CS noted that Kiambu has many attraction sites but many of them are not accessible and the few that are known need to be revamped.

‘We want to make Kiambu circuit easy like having a one-day tour or even two-day tour in the county. We have beautiful places such as the Paradise lost, Gatamaiyo fishing camps, Fourteen falls, Mugumo park, Kireita forests, Bird sanctuaries as well as room for conferencing among others which are all tourist attractions,’ he said.

Dr Mutua however noted that a lot will have to be done in terms of marketing the sites saying his Ministry is ready to collabo
rate with Kiambu County by marketing the sites while the leadership goes ahead to revamp and upgrade the sites.

On the issue of the famous and long standing fourteen falls situated in Thika and which has not been attracting tourists due to its dwindling state such as pollution from the factories, climate change and also human activities, the CS said that they will be working together with his environment counterpart and other government officials to ensure that it gets back on its feet.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua compare notes with Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi. pictures by William Okoyo

‘We must ensure that the water is clean, free from pollution, and that it is not contaminated with the dirt and plastics that flow into the water making it murky. Together with the governor we will continue to ensure that the fourteen falls regains its lost glory, return to the way it was in the past and this will help the local people have money in their pockets,’ he said.

He promised to assis
t in finding investors in the areas where they are needed and gave an example of Kijabe hot springs, Kereita area where there was a zipline adventure centre that is no longer doing well.

Dr Mutua further said that the Mathore View Point that is between Nairobi and Nakuru highway will benefit through installation of railings, ablution blocks to make it easier for tourists who need to see the beautiful site to do so without worry.

‘As of now when you visit the escarpment, you stand there, and your breath is taken away, it is beautiful but people are afraid of getting close because its bare and they are scared of falling over. We will put up railings, shops and even an information centre for people passing through. It’s a good tourist attraction site,’ he said.

The CS however challenged the County government to invest more in putting up tourist class hotels, develop agro-tourism, medical- tourism as well as sports-tourism.

He explained that the County has agricultural land such as the Coffee and Tea farms wi
th beautiful views and scenery and through this the county can even promote exchange programmes

‘Kenya enjoys a strong reputation among the East African regions attracting referrals for patients. There are many hospitals in Nairobi and many specialists in the country. Kiambu can be one of the Counties to attract medical tourism as they have invested in hospitals but they will need infrastructure such as accommodation within the hospitals just like other areas like India which have partnered with the private sector to provide housing for people attending their clinics together with their families,’ he explained.

Kiambu, Dr Mutua said has also been among counties that are affected by the hyena menace recently and explained that the government is working with the Kenya Wildlife Services to address safety measures.

‘In order to address the attacks which, pose a significant threat to the safety and well-being of residents of Kiambu County we have discussed with the Governor and will set up a hotline where resid
ents can call and KWS rangers are able to act immediately,’ he said.

The CS noted that the BETA approach by the Kenya Kwanza government through President William Ruto is to ensure that it makes money for the people noting that tourism is easy money to get and with the investment in the tourist and historical attractions within it means the locals benefit.

Governor Kimani Wamatangi acknowledged that Tourism has not been taken seriously especially at County level and therefore collaboration with the State on promotion of tourism is a welcome move.

He expressed optimism that the various tourist sites as well as historical and heritage sites that the county has can be revamped and also marketed to attract tourists.

He said in terms of medical tourism, Kiambu was ready and rife as it currently has 123 medical facilities, 19 Level 4 and Level 5 facilities and also more than 50 Level 3 facilities.

‘These hospitals can be able to accommodate people from other regions. This is also an area we believe we can coope
rate and collaborate with private sector and attract those seeking health care to come and this will give us revenue to pay our bills,’ he said.

On sports tourism, the governor noted that Kiambu hosts the Kirigiti International Stadium and that if it is utilised properly and involve the private sector, a lot of activities for students both locally from the East African region can be held here.

‘We normally host a lot of people here in Kiambu. We have tea, food, and even a lot of people walking around. It’s like being in a village. People come here and they come with their cars every weekend. They come here to enjoy themselves. Now we want to encourage them to join the Tourist sites. We are very happy that you have given us a good wake-up call,’ Wamatangi told the CS.

Kiambu currently boasts of over 75 tourist sites, around 16 pre historic sites and according to the leaders what is lacking are the proper policies, mechanisms and manuals to develop the areas and also make them income generating projects.

S
ource: Kenya News Agency

Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru has distributed 600 filled-up gas cylinders (Meko) to households in Ngariama Ward, as part of climate change adaptation.

The initiative is aimed at helping families neighbouring Mt Kenya Forest deal with effects of climate change brought about by tree felling for firewood as well as greenhouse gas emissions caused by use of wood fuel.

Speaking at Ngariama Primary School where she presided the event Friday, Ms Waiguru said that her administration is at the forefront in the fight against climate change and one of the concerns has been tree felling especially in Mt Kenya Forest which neighbours the area.

‘We are taking drastic measures to sensitise and support our people on clean energy fuel as opposed to firewood and today we are providing 600 homesteads with filled gas cylinders with plans to later distribute 3,000 more in the same ward,’ said the governor.

She noted that the initiative was also a way of improving and dignifying the lives of women who have to endure the chall
enges brought about by use of firewood in their homes, including wasting time in search of the same and dealing with endless soot.

‘This is not only a climate change adaptation measure but also a way of improving the lives of our women,’ she said.

Besides being one of the most efficient and cost-effective sources of cooking fuel, the governor said use of LPG saves families from the effects of pollutants such as carbon monoxide.

She said several other legislative, institutional and strategic climate change mitigation interventions are being undertaken by the County Government to help the community cope with the phenomena.

The measures include, establishment of a special fund for climate action, enactment of laws for solid waste management, establishment of climate change directorate, training and capacity building for officers on climate change and development of county spatial plan.

Others are the Wezesha Kirinyaga Programme meant to improve farmers’ resilience to climate change and increase their profit
ability and minimise farm losses, promotion of agroforestry through distribution of high value fruit trees like Hass avocado and Macadamia to farmers, undertaking of over 60 community water projects to improve access to water for both domestic and irrigation, tree planting, water harvesting among others.

To further enhance agricultural production in the ward, Waiguru distributed 256 water pipes and 152 pipe fittings of assorted sizes for local irrigation water project.

She said that availability of irrigation water will enable the beneficiaries increase production of crops such as vegetables, maize and other horticultural produce.

‘This initiative is part of our elaborate plan to increase access to water for domestic and irrigation which we have achieved through sinking of boreholes, distribution of water pipes and fittings and construction of water tanks for community water projects,’ Waiguru who is also the Council of Governors (COG) chair added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A former legislator wants the Executive and Parliament to jointly work out comprehensive measures targeted at curbing the consumption of illicit brews in Kenya.

Mr Onesmus Ngunjiri, the immediate former Bahati Member of Parliament has expressed the need to have strict laws and deterrent fines that will ensure the complete eradication of illicit brew consumption in the country.

He said that Kenyans have started celebrating the fruits of the ongoing crackdown on killer brews but hastened to add that the illicit trade was directly linked to a surge in criminal activities in some parts of Nakuru County.

Mr Ngunjiri cited Bahati Sub-County where he claimed five people had been viciously attacked by suspected organised criminal gangs associated with the underworld trade.

Addressing members of Nakuru Bar Owners Association (NBOA), the former law maker urged the law enforcement agencies and licensing teams established by various county Governments to ensure stringent compliance with laws regulating sale and distr
ibution of alcoholic beverages.

He called upon the Judiciary to issue deterrent bail terms and fines to offenders contravening the provisions of these laws to completely eradicate and discourage illicit brew consumption.

Further, Mr Ngunjiri urged members of the public to exercise vigilance and caution while purchasing and consuming alcoholic drinks as well as desisting from excessive consumption of alcohol.

He said the illicit brews had become a major threat to the genuine alcoholic beverages in the market from established breweries due to their cheap prices.

The former MP termed the crackdown as a God-sent saying it had come to save lives and salvage the genuine alcoholic beverages industry in the country.

Mr Ngunjiri called for the weeding out of rogue law enforcement agencies from the police, national government offices, Nacada, and others.

The government has continued to enhance the crackdown with a view to nab the illicit liquor brewers, sellers and government officials abetting the vice.

NBOA Ch
airman Abdul Noor affirmed that bar owners in the devolved unit have thrown their weight behind the government’s efforts to eradicate the sale of illicit liquor, saying besides claiming the lives of Kenyans the vice was subjecting genuine businessmen to losses running into billions of shillings.

While advising bar owners to buy supplies from accredited distributors to avoid briefcase merchants who sell counterfeits, Dr Noor said the manufacture and distribution of killer brews can be traced to a few selfish individuals who want to enrich themselves as they endanger the lives and health of Kenyans.

He regretted that the illegal substances were causing havoc in the community and even leading to the death of mostly young consumers.

‘We are right behind the government in the war against the manufacture and sale of these drinks which have caused a lot of pain among families. Apart from being pub owners, we are also parents and hence concerned by the unhealthy alcoholic substances being sold,’ Dr Noor stated.

H
e accused unscrupulous cartels of working with the full knowledge of some unscrupulous state agents tasked with ensuring drinks are safe for fueling the trade in lethal alcoholic beverages.

‘For lives to be lost and alcohol addiction to grow day by day, it means somebody somewhere is not doing their work since we have policies in place and institutions are well staffed. Somebody must take responsibility,’ the Chairman demanded.

He called on the Kenya Revenue Authority and law enforcement agents to probe the source of toxic ingredients used to manufacture lethal brews and claimed that he had information that some of the substances were being sneaked into the country from a neighbouring state.

‘Looking at the pattern of illicit alcohol trading and looking at how widely it is spread, there is absolutely no doubt there is a heavy cartel in operation. To move such volumes of illicit alcoholic drinks requires a lot of planning, coordination, concealment, and so on. There is a cartel and a huge one. We need to re
form our institutions massively and a coordinated approach by all relevant agencies to defeat these cartels,’ said Dr Noor.

Dr Noor expressed their objection to plans to reduce the number of pubs in towns but instead called for the closure of illegal or unlicensed alcohol-selling outlets.

The chairman indicated that the second-generation alcohol brewers and sellers were running genuine traders out of business and denying the government revenue as they don’t pay taxes.

He said the liquor sector in Nakuru was employing at least 1,000 workers directly and supporting thousands more including those in the food industry and transportation and therefore the need to protect them from unfair competition.

‘As genuine traders in the sector, we feel shortchanged by those trading in illicit and harmful substances who also deny the government revenue. We support efforts to eliminate these brews,’ said the official.

He encouraged people to contact the Anti-Counterfeits Authority (ACA) Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS) for appropriate action if they suspected an alcohol outlet was selling counterfeit products.

He also called on liquor manufacturers to monitor their products in the market in a move aimed at exposing killer brews.

Dr Noor said their association of over 1,500 members will continue complying with the government’s directive to sell approved alcoholic brands.

The chairman said clients should be mindful of what they consume as many products can be concealed as fit but are substandard thus becoming a threat to their health.

Dr Noor said that their association has been conducting aggressive campaigns across the country, sensitising the public on the dangers of consuming illicit brews.

‘Because the illicit stuff is cheap compared to the legal products we sell, they attract many consumers, thus giving us unfair competition,’ Dr Noor said.

He alleged that illegal traders import and successfully clear methanol disguised as ethanol by carefully deleting the letter ‘M’ from the contai
ner so that the products appear to be ethanol.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Siaya County is prepared for any emergency disaster that may emerge during the on-going long rains season, the County Executive Committee member for Governance and Administration, Agunda Ochanda has said.

And Ochanda is calling on Siaya residents to form community disaster response teams that will alert each other in case of any changes to weather that warrants quick response.

He was speaking at Ratado Chief’s camp in West Ugenya location after leading a team from the county disaster preparedness secretariat in assessing the preparedness level in Alego / Usonga and Ugenya sub counties.

The CECM said the county team, under the chairmanship of Governor James Orengo and County Commissioner, Susan Waweru was committed to ensuring that no resident will lose his or her life to the flood or any disaster.

‘We are fully prepared to ensure that we do not lose lives or property as a result of the disasters that may face us,’ he said.

Ochanda said that as part of the preparations, the multi sectoral team that includ
es the Kenya Red Cross Society and several national government departments has already mapped several disaster hotspots across the county.

The director of governance and disaster management, George Aola called for close cooperation amongst people living in disaster-prone areas and stressed the need for sharing information amongst the community members and the relevant agencies.

Aola called for the formation of the community based rapid response teams that will help tackle disasters should need arise.

The chairman of the West Ugenya flood mitigation committee William Omondi said the community living in flood prone areas was ready to join forces with the county committee and the government at large to ensure that no lives are lost.

Dr Omondi said people were tired of the annual movement due to the effect of floods and would welcome any initiative that will help put a permanent solution to the floods.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kajiado County Government has rolled out a two-week animal vaccination exercise after some animals in the area indicated symptoms of Blue tongue, Foot and mouth diseases and Rabbis.

At least 5,000 livestock and 20 dogs in Enkaroni, Purko Ward have received the vaccination courtesy of Kajiado County government in partnership with Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) and VSF Germany.

Purko Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA), Simon Saitoti, revealed that, despite the pastoralists living distant from where the vaccination exercise is being conducted, most of them made an effort to ensure their livestock received the dose and they appreciate the initiative taken by the county government.

‘People in this area live far away but they came in good numbers with their livestock. This vaccination has been brought at the right time. The Foot and mouth disease started at the border with Tanzania and we appreciate the county for coming through with the vaccine especially here at the grassroots to prevent our animals from the infect
ion,’ said Saitoti.

According to Dr Melita Lein, a veterinarian and Kajiado county surveillance coordinator, the vaccination exercise has been received positively and they have managed to vaccinate the animals against three diseases.

‘We have managed to vaccinate animals against three diseases, the first one is Foot and mouth disease that affects cows, Blue tongue for sheep and rabbis brought about by dogs. We have vaccinated a total of 3,700 cows, 1,820 sheep and 20 dogs. We had earlier vaccinated the goats so today we did not have a big number,’ revealed Dr Lein.

The vaccination was launched by Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and will cut across all wards in Kajiado County has made pastoralists delighted and they in turn have called on the county government to train pastoralists on the best ways to do agriculture as Steven Nkanapa narrates.

‘Today we have received an opportunity from the county government to vaccinate our cows. Led by the governor we appreciate the initiative taken by the county, personally I
had a challenge with my livestock, they had started showings signs of uncontrolled mucus, swollen legs and skin problem. But with the vaccination they will be okay. We also would like to ask the county to educate us on how to do agriculture, how we can take care of our cows, hens and goats’.

Daniel Nkaru, a pastoralists and a resident at Enkaroni said that most pastoralists lost their livestock to Foot and mouth disease and Blue tongue as they had no idea of the right vaccine to give them or even afford it.

‘What we normally do when our animals experience these diseases we go to the chemists, and because there are variety of doses, we sometimes are unaware of the right one. Some vaccines heal them but some do not. We lost most of our livestock because of the foot and mouth disease and the blue tongue but we believe with this vaccine now they will be okay,’ said Nkaru.

The animal vaccination exercise is part of the governor’s County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) blueprint on achieving modulated pastora
lism in the county.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Mugoiri Girls High School in Murang’a county has launched a first of its kind, coding program that will teach students computer programming to give them a competitive advantage in the global job market.

Mugumo Munene, the CEO of Kodris Africa, which is one of the key partners in the program, said that coding is the new universal language and that many first world countries are making it compulsory in their schools adding it is time for Kenya to catch up.

Munene said that in Africa this is a pioneering program that has earned the Ministry of Education and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) recognition for groundbreaking approval of content for teaching coding in schools anywhere on the continent.

‘Mugoiri Girls should celebrate for pioneering the model school coding program. It is a great privilege,’ he said.

The Principal Mugoiri Girls, Susan Mundia, said that the coding program will empower the students with problem solving skills, creativity, and critical thinking abilities.

‘We are d
oing this to help them create abilities essential for success in the modern world,’ she said.

The principal said that the skills will open doors for diverse career opportunities and help the students thrive in the digital era.

Pauline Warui of Commonwealth Women in Business-Africa said that this program will help introduce the girls to coding early to bridge the technology gap with their peers in developed countries.

‘Here in Africa many people do not get a chance to be introduced to programming languages until after secondary school,’ she said, adding that without such opportunities some children who are geniuses in computers are missing out on global opportunities.

She divulged that this program intends to teach coding to one million girls across Africa.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, addressing the students during the launch of the program, said it will help the younger generation of Kenyans to come up with practical solutions for the challenges facing different sectors of t
he society.

The CS applauded all the stakeholders in the program and noted that the coding skills will open up many global opportunities for the students.

‘To bridge the gap in equality, this should be part of the national curriculum because as a country we have to improvise and give all students a chance to become global citizens,’ Murkomen said.

He called for collaboration between government and stakeholders in the program such as Kodris Africa and Safaricom towards making the opportunity to learn coding available to more learners across the country.

Dennis Itumbi, a digital strategist at Statehouse, challenged the Ministry of Education and that of ICT to work together to support this program in schools saying that every child deserves a chance to learn coding as it is the language of the future.

‘The Ministry of Education should work together with that of ICT together with partners such as Kodris and Safaricom to support this coding program,’ Itumbi said.

The various stakeholders observed that it is
time for the country to embrace technology by guiding children on safe and productive uses of gadgets such as computers and phones to bring out creativity and innovation instead of trying to suppress the devices.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Zachary Mwangi Njeru has reiterated the Government’s commitment to construct 100 mega-dams to improve the water and sanitation situation in the country and food security as well.

Mr Njeru said out of the 100 proposed mega dams, 34 of them have already been earmarked for development, adding that the funding of the projects will be done through public private partnership (PPP) and added Government will be engaging various private organisations to help fund the projects.

‘These are major projects that require mega funding and the Government is therefore seeking to engage our development partners in the projects,’ Njeru said.

The CS also said they were working closely with other government ministries to implement the Bottom -Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and cited the ongoing affordable housing project in the Ministry of Lands and Settlement which he said requires water and sanitation infrastructure without which the project will come to
naught.

He was speaking in Naivasha on Saturday during a meeting with water sector heads from his ministry.

‘Two weeks ago the President launched Medium Term Plan 4(MTP4) and therefore we are meeting with heads of departments and Chief Executive Officers(CEOs) of water works development authorities to see to it that the projects align to the MTP4,’Njeru remarked.

The CS noted that the Government was committed to see works on the stalled Itare Dam in Nakuru commence again and negotiations on the matter is progressing well.

‘This dam holds the solution to the water challenges facing Nakuru residents and its environs and we are keen to seen it revived,’ he said.

The construction of the mega dam stalled in September 2018 after a firm which won the tender went under.

The Italian firm, CMC Di Ravenna, the main contractor which won the tender in 2014 filed for bankruptcy causing the multibillion shilling dam project to stall indefinitely.

Itare Dam that has already gobbled Sh11 billion since construction bega
n in April 2017 now remains an incomplete project.

Last year, the then Principal Secretary(PS) Water and Sanitation Paul Ronoh was quoted saying the mega project, which is located in Kuresoi South in Nakuru County, had been allocated Sh38 billion in the 2023/2024 budget.

The project, estimated to cost the government over Sh38 billion on completion, and was at 11 per cent complete in terms of civil works and 27 per cent complete overall before it stalled.

Once completed, the Itare Dam will have the capacity to hold 27 million cubic metres of water and produce 100,000 cubic metres of water per day for Nakuru residents and beyond.

It will benefit the residents of Kuresoi, North and South; Molo and Njoro Sub-counties; as well as Nakuru City and its environs.

The multi-billion-shilling dam project was anticipated to provide clean drinking water to about 800,000 residents of Nakuru County and was also slated for expansion of Lake Nakuru sewerage treatment plant.

Source: Kenya News Agency