Day: April 11, 2024

Tunis: Nine people were arrested by judicial police in Menzel Temim, Nabeul, over an attempted illegal sea crossing to Italy.

The crossers are from various Arab nationalities, a security source told TAP correspondent.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The government has initiated a comprehensive rejuvenation of state regulatory agencies to streamline service delivery, enhance standards and curb wastage.

Speaking during the conference to assess the status of the campaign to revitalise and re-energise regulatory authorities and agencies Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said regulatory authorities play a vital role in ensuring the proper functioning of state agencies.

Mudavadi said that overlapping of functions has rendered many agencies redundant adding the situation could be salvaged if proper policy interventions to consolidate their functions were put in place.

‘In the financial sector for example there exists an overlap of functions in regulatory bodies like the Capital Markets Authority and Insurance Regulatory Authority whose consolidation on one framework would enhance the collective impact to streamline regulatory processes,’ said Mudavadi.

Mudavadi said that the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, identified the whol
e regulatory sector in our economy as an area that needs special attention to facilitate efficiency, safe delivery of service, cost-effectiveness, and also protect the lives of Kenyans.

He added that Koskei took the initiative to convene the comprehensive gathering involving all regulatory authorities and agencies in the country, totaling approximately 78 institutions.

Mudavadi said that the strategic move underscores the imperative for regulators to adopt to facilitate transactions by the public rather than their role being one of obstruction.

He emphasised that regulators can play a pivotal role in fostering an environment conducive to growth and innovation, thereby enabling businesses and various activities to thrive within the confines of a regulatory framework.

‘A regulator is very important to make sure we get clean fertiliser, a regulator is also important to make sure we get correct medicine, and so on,’ the PCS noted.

He said that they had focused on shedding light and educating stakeholders on
why businesses must comply with obligations to County governments, NEMA, and other regulatory bodies.

Businesses need to understand the significance of adhering to regulatory requirements set forth by those entities to ensure environmental sustainability, public health, and safety standards are met.

‘Our regulatory authorities and agencies are faced with several challenges that impede the execution of their mandates. These range from bureaucratic inefficiencies to resource constraints; from regulatory capture to technological disruptions. The hurdles are enormous. The rapid pace of change in technology, finance, and healthcare sectors poses unique regulatory dilemmas that demand innovative solutions,’ Mudavadi said.

In addition, he noted that lack of coordination and coherence among regulatory bodies sometimes leads to duplicity of efforts and wastage of resources.

Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei on his part said that the crucial institutions are those that have been mandated to re
gulate sectors in Government and the country.

He noted that it is important to encourage these institutions and support them in running their affairs within the legal frameworks that have been given to them as well as adhere to the policies they have generated and within their delegated powers.

‘I am very happy to note that for the last year, there has been a lot of improvement in various sectors despite the many challenges, especially the build environment, NEMA is now taking full charge and NTSA taking full charge on the roads and many other regulators to mention a few,’ Koskei noted.

He urged regulatory bodies to implement their work under fewer instructions and read the laws and authority that give them the power to oversee the respective sectors so that there is equity, fairness, accountability, and objectivity when it comes to service delivery.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Directors drawn from 10 tea factories in Murang’a have expressed interests for reelection in the polls slated for June this year.

More than 60 directors have underscored their performance saying for the past three years they have served in management boards of their factories, tea farmers have benefited hugely.

The directors who were led by their respective zones KTDA board members welcomed the directive of Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) to have elections in June, 2024.

They promised to abide by the TBK’s directive saying the elections will end the protracted conflict with former directors whom they bundled out of office three years ago during the polls and opted to petition for their loss in courts.

The polls, they argued, will bring to an end wrangles that existed between the current directors and their former who lost their positions in 2020 upon implementation of the tea reforms.

The directors who met in a Murang’a hotel, Wednesday and Led by James Githinji and Chege Kirundi, board members of zone two and
zone three respectively, accused former directors for instituting court cases which have cost farmers a lot of money paid as court fees.

‘Since we took over three years ago, the performance of our factories have improved. Farmers have witnessed high payout of bonus last year and even in this year, bonus will be paid at higher rates.’ Said Kilundi adding that in September they will announce the annual bonus payment which will be higher than last year.

Kirundi said the directive to hold elections by June should be respected, saying former directors are free to campaign.

‘The government decision on election should be respected as the farmers who are the majority will give their verdict,’ He added.

On his part, Githinji expressed optimism that current directors will be reelected based on their remarkable track record.

He said farmers should not shy off from participating in the elections adding measures are in place to ensure the exercise will be free and fair.

‘The voting will be through a secret ballot ba
sed on one farmer one vote principle. The share and proxy systems that were abused in the past have since been outlawed by the regulator,’ said Githinji who is also a director at Ngere tea factory.

During the meeting, chairman of Kanyenyaini Factory, Alex Macharia Karuguru observed that for the last three years the sector has improved owing to better coordination by the TBK.

‘At Kanyenya ini tea factory, the current board inherited a dilapidated processing plant, and millions of shillings have been spent towards rehabilitation and sealing the leaking roof. Karuguru.

‘Currently, farmers have enjoyed an increment in the price of green leaf from Sh16 to between Sh.21 and Sh.25,’ said Githinji.

Tea bonus, He noted, has been on the rise following the impressive market of the commodity in the local and international markets.

Murang’a County tea caucus chairman Prof Joseph Karanja said in three years the directors have done a lot to improve the tea processing plants and ensure farmers deliver quality green leaf
.

‘Based on last year’s performance analysis of tea factories in Murang’a, the bonus rates that will be announced in September will be impressive and good news to farmers,’ stated Karanja, chairman at Ngere Tea Factory.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenyan coffee has continued to attract impressive prices at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) for the last two weeks.

During this week’s sale of coffee at NCE a total of 26, 813 bags of coffee fetched Sh1 billion which was a slight decrease as compared to last week’s Sh1.3 billion.

Karumandi Coffee factory in Kirinyaga County which sold its coffee through Alliance Berries Ltd got best prices with a bag of grade AA going for Sh50, 180. The factory fetched Sh6.6 million after selling 107 bags of grade AA coffee.

Other factories that got better prices for their coffee include Kiunyu factory with 55 bags of AA grade that was bought at Sh46, 410 per bag while Thangani and Nduma factories under New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) each sold 112 bags of AA quality at each Sh48, 230 per bag.

NCE acting CEO Ms Lisper Ndung’u said in the auction the Alliance Berries Ltd led the pack as its 10,292 bags were bought at Sh437.47 million followed by Kirinyaga Slopes with 6,048 bags that fetched Sh234.06 million.

T
he New NKPCU emerged third in the list of best sellers after realizing Sh191.6 million from 4,737 bags.

Ndung’u noted that the three leading marketing agents delivered 5,979 bags of AA at the auction market, out of the 6,901 bags that were collected from the cooperatives and estates by the nine agents.

The CEO added that the auction attracted 16 coffee buyers both local and international as compared to 20 buyers who participated in last week’s auction.

In the dealers’ category, Kenyacoff bought 5,262 bags for Sh207.51 million, Ibero Kenya procured 5,218 bags at Sh201.37 million while Sasini bought 3,907 bags at Sh174.45 million.

Other dealers were C-Dormans who bought 3,639 bags at Sh168.47 million and Louis Dreyfus who purchased 3,716 bags at Sh130.17 million while Taylor Winch bought 2,665 bags at Sh106.9 million.

Some elected Murang’a leaders who spoke to KNA via phone call lauded the impressive coffee prices saying high returns will encourage farmers to increase production.

Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro
and his Kangema counterpart Peter Kihungi noted that prices of coffee for the last three months have been remarkable, attributing it to the government’s commitment in reviving the coffee sector.

Munyoro highlighted that this week 26,850 bags of coffee was sourced from 1,093 farmers’ cooperatives and estates as compared to 33,470 bags that were delivered last week.

‘As members of Coffee Tea Parliamentary Association (Cotepa) we encourage farmers to focus on increasing production by proper tending of their coffee bushes. From what we have witnessed at the auction, buyers are interested in the quality,’ he noted.

On his part, Kihungi said coffee remains a major income earner in Mt Kenya region calling for more support from relevant government agencies to help farmers improve on quality and quantity.

‘Coffee reforms have revamped the sector with farmers getting better returns as more focus should be on timely payment for their produce,’ said Kihungi.

Kenya Coffee Producers Association (KCPA) Chairman Peter G
ikonyo stressed the need for production of quality coffee saying this will ensure Kenyan coffee attracts more international buyers.

‘Analysing the coffee auction, most of the coffee presented for sale is that of grade AA, AB and C and these qualities have earned farmers’ high returns. Our focus should be on quality as we strive to revive the sector,’ added Gikonyo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The security team has seized 72 wine and spirit shops in Narok South Sub County that violated liquor licensing board regulations.

At the same time, the team destroyed 24 lotto machines and closed the lotto businesses in all the trading centers in the sub county. Narok South Deputy County Commissioner Felix Kisalu said they are alert to close any illegal business that operates without a valid license from the county government.

Kisalu said this when he led the security team to destroy the lotto machines at Ololulunga trading center, where the 24 lotto machines were destroyed. The DCC observed that the lotto business was ruining the future of many youths in the area as they were spending most of their time playing the lotto games.

‘We have learnt that our youths are stealing money from their parents to play the lotto games. This has compromised education in this area as the young people do not concentrate in their classwork,’ he said.

Kisalu cited an example of Ololulunga boys, saying many strikes that have
been witnessed at the school are caused by a portion of boys who squander their school fees in the drinking dens and lotto joints, and thereafter cause commotion in school.

He reiterated that insecurity cases have gone down since the crackdown against the illegal drinking dens began, saying they will continue working with village elders, religious leaders and the business community to ensure the illicit brew is finished in the area.

The DCC called on the residents to help in giving information that will help arrest any person who engages in criminals’ activities in the town.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru County business enterprises are set to benefit from enhanced business skills after the completion of a specialised training programme for trainers.

The training has equipped them with the tools and knowledge to provide consultancy services to the companies within Nakuru County.

The programme organised by Nakuru County Government in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Kenya Institute of Business Training (KIBIT) executed onsite businesses consultancy and training on selected companies within the County.

County Chief Officer for Trade Benard Sang noted that the move will tremendously benefit enterprises to realise growth and development especially in good business management, increased quality productivity, increased sales and improved financial management.

The Chief Officer who was speaking during the certification of the trainers urged those trained to continue with the business consultancy in other companies or enterprises in the County to enable them achieve econo
mic stability.

Sang emphasised the importance of customer care for front business employees since they play a critical role in the showcasing of products and their attitude and trait determine whether the client moves to the next stage of purchasing.

He commended the local business communities who have worked extremely hard to make Nakuru city attractive and competitive for various businesses, hence encouraging other international and regional companies to want a share of the city.

The Chief Officer said that the county is now known as an important tourism destination mainly because of the high-quality hotels which have maintained international standards by continuous improvement of their facilities, especially the cuisine and accommodation.

Trainer Candidates include Trade Development officers Monica Sitin and Tabitha Kibithe, Cooperatives officers George Ogalo and Alex Muchemi.

Source: Kenya News Agency