Day: April 11, 2024

Information Technology (IT) professionals have been challenged to be abreast with emerging technologies and the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to build digital trust.

More than 2000 IT practitioners are meeting in Mombasa under The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Kenya Chapter to embrace the extraordinary potential of AI and empower the members to build a more secure, trustworthy, and resilient future amid cyber security threats.

ISACA Kenya Chapter President Mercy Omolo says the Annual conference brings together experts from various IT realms in the public and private sectors to discuss digital trust and how they can build trust and a resilient future for their organizations and the country.

The theme of the meeting is Digital Trust: Charting the Course for a Resilient Future.

‘We train and equip our members with knowledge on ICT matters relating to cyber security, IT audit, IT risk, data privacy, and information security. We also collaborate with government and provi
de our expertise input into various topical matters relating to IT such as regulations, and ICT bills,’ elucidated Omolo.

AI, she says will offer numerous opportunities to Kenya through innovation that will improve processes. ‘You can automate a lot of things that traditionally will have been done by humans,’ stated Omolo.

Organizations deploying AI were advised to ensure they have proper safeguards in place to mitigate risks that come with the use of AI and to prevent data breaches.

ISACA she noted trains their IT auditors to be able to detect where there are anomalies in mobile phone technologies.

President Omolo emphasized that the IT industry should have professionals who have the right credentials and are accredited.

The IT professionals were urged to continue building their expertise, retraining and upscaling to be able to evolve and support their organization in case there is a new cyber threat that has emerged.

On his part, ICT Authority Director of Shared Services Michael Odhiambo stated that c
yber threat is a global phenomenon and ICTA is banking on coordination and linkages with other nations to identify and mitigate cyber threats in advance.

‘The National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI) is one of the cyber security measures put in place to ensure government transactions are done securely and safely,’ said Odhiambo.

He termed the Data Protection Act, 2013 as a game changer in the industry and many countries are benchmarking on the act.

‘It has aligned a lot of grey areas around data protection. If you are a data collector and you haven’t registered as a collector there are ramifications,’ said Omolo, adding, that ICTA ensures that companies working with the government are accredited.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents displaced by floods in Kisumu County want local leaders and the county government to come to their rescue and save them from their misery.

The individuals have urged Senator Tom Ojienda and local MCAs to address their plight after the floods that wreaked havoc following heavy downpour rendered them homeless.

The displaced families told KNA in an interview that they lacked food and the sanitary facilities at their temporary camps and urged relevant authorities to respond to their distress calls.

They raised concerns that outbreaks of diseases were likely unless urgent measures were put in place to improve their living conditions saying cases of malaria were already on the rise.

The residents claimed that the disaster response department was yet to respond to the crisis.

Jael Akinyi, a resident, expressed frustration with the lack of representation and neglect from elected representatives and expressed fears that children could miss school next term because they lost all the books and uniform in
the flush floods.

The residents have now pleaded with both the county and the national government to dig drainage so that they can be rescued from the disaster.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Muslim Community in Migori County have called upon the government to intervene to end the strike by doctor’s and clinical officers in the Country.

Speaking on Wednesday after celebrating Eid Ul-Fitr in Migori town, the Migori Muslim Development Community Forum Chairperson Omar Ibrahim said that the county residents have been subjected to a lot of pain because of lack of medical services across the public country hospitals.

Omar urged the doctors to reconsider their position and agree to return to their workstations as the Kenya medical practitioners pharmacists and dentists union officials continue to hold negotiations with the government.

‘Our country residents are suffering because they cannot afford to take their sick relatives and loved ones to private hospitals’, lamented Omar.

The official also urged the political class in the county to desist from early campaigns and instead focus on the developmental agenda of the region.

He said that when the county is subjected to early campaigns it may del
ay the developmental agenda that needs to grow and compete to attract both local, regional and foreign investors.

Omar, however, called upon the county residents to join hands and make Migori a peaceful county for harmonised integration among the many tribes living within this country’s borders.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kisumu County Doctors participating in the ongoing national wide strike will not receive their salaries, governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o has said.

Nyong’o instructed the County Secretary and the County Public Service Board to stop the salaries saying the county government will not pay for services not rendered.

‘In accordance with the labour relations act, the county will not provide remuneration for work not performed. Therefore, healthcare workers who have not been at their designated workplace and have withdrawn their services will not be remunerated for the corresponding period,’ he said.

To address the strain on health services especially at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), Nyong’o said the county government has set in motion the process to recruit doctors on short term contracts to offer essential services.

This follows the withdrawal of services by doctors on post graduate training crippling services at the referral facility.

Nyong’o said the strike was unfortunate sin
ce the county government has maintained regular engagements with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Nyanza region progressively addressing their concerns.

Among the issues addressed, he said was the enrollment of all the workers, the doctors included in a comprehensive medical scheme and employment of doctors where 32 have been recruited over the last three years.

Doctors, he said have continuously been released for further studies based on training needs.

On promotions, he said, all the doctors apart from senior consultants have been promoted with the most recent letters issues in March 2024.

The county government, he said has always made efforts to release doctors’ salaries on time with contingency plans in place to weather delays from the National Treasury.

Posting of interns, he said was beyond the scope of the county government adding that it was regrettable that a section of health workers opted to walk out of their workstations despite all the efforts made to make their wor
king environment conducive.

His government, he said was committed to addressing all the challenges facing the sector in collaboration with the health workers.

‘I urge all stakeholders in the sector to continue engaging in constructive dialogue to find lasting solutions that prioritise the health and welfare of our communities,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Police at Malaba station in Teso north sub county in Busia have intercepted 18kgs of bhang and 10 litres of illicit brew which was being transported to Kayole in Nairobi from Uganda.

Confirming the incident, OCPD Teso North Joseph Matiku said they were tipped off by the members of the public who had suspicions and upon inspection three suspects were nabbed carrying the items to Nairobi using Eldoret shuttle Nissan.

The three, who were an elderly woman- the master-mind of the deal and 2 middle-aged men were found in possession of the substances and are now helping police with investigation.

The move comes months after the nation intensified the fight against illicit brew and substance abuse.

Going forward all vehicles from Malaba will be inspected regularly to mitigate the smuggling practice that has be rampant.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Following incessant banditry attacks in Ethi location,Mukogodo East in Laikipia, residents are appealing to the government to heighten security by deploying National Police Reservists.

Speaking in Ethi location and Graton in Mukogodo respectively during a public baraza with the local leaders, residents lamented that lack of enough security officers in the region offered the room for the bandits to raid villages with impunity.

‘We barely sleep because after two days, our cattle are stolen and we believe after airing out grievances to our local leaders, the insecurity issue will be addressed and restore calmness in our area,’ said Susan Mumbi, Ethi location resident.

Mumbi expressed fears that the that the bandits had even become bolder to an extent of robbing the local administrators at gunpoint citing the recent theft of livestock belonging as well and with a recent incident they stole the area chief’s cattle, they executed all their crimes at gunpoint, a situation that had left them helpless. Residents th
reatened to flee their homes if the issue of insecurity was not addressed on time.

‘They are fearless since they have guns and with the situation we can’t respond to distress calls from our neighbours. We call on the government to intervene , they are driving away our only livestock that was left after the drought,’ she urged.

Additionally, they noted that once cattle rustling was conducted by the bandits, they drove their livestock through the vast and volatile Mukogodo forest.

At the same time, locals urged Ethi police post to be upgraded into a police station as a move to boost security in Mukogodo.

Laikipia East Assistant County Commissioner Phoebe Mukami said that the government would not rest until the insecurity situation was addressed and at the same time they were finding a lasting solution to the menace.

Local leaders led by Laikipia East Member of Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri and his Laikipia North counterpart Sarah Korere assured residents that the insecurity menace would be addressed.

Korere
said that the government would increase the NPR in all the affected areas of Laikipia North to tame banditry attacks and livestock theft.

‘We want your youth to be given NPR guns to protect you and we will defeat them. Those who are involved in buying stolen cattle will also be nabbed, so I urge you to partner in fighting banditry,’ said Korere.

On his part, Kiunjuri said that they were aware of the challenges and those involved in terrorizing residents and their days were numbered.

”We are investigating, we know where the problem is and those involved. When we start eradicating the banditry, don’t complain since you failed to report culprits,’ said Kiunjuri.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya Power has issued a stern warning to individuals responsible for sparking bushfire incidents perilously close to electricity infrastructure in the coastal county of Kwale.

Kenya Power Kwale County business manager Calvin Jagongo says areas mostly affected are Msambweni and Matuga sub counties where the devastating consequences of these bushfires have been astutely felt.

Jagongo has sounded the alarm on the spiraling issue during the National Government Development-County Implementation, Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-CICMC) meeting chaired by Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde.

He says dozens of electricity poles in the region have been burnt as bushfires ravage parts of Kwale caused by unscrupulous individuals.

The power utility firm officially decried the severe damage caused to both property and the region’s electricity infrastructure.

He says the surge in bush fires near electricity infrastructure is not just a matter of inconvenience but also poses a significant threat to the
safety of residents and the stability of electricity supply in the region.

Jagongo noted that the proximity of these fires to the electricity transmission networks not only endangers lives but also leads to costly damages and interference to power supply.

‘Our operational areas are witnessing fires causing substantial damage to our power installations particularly the poles and equipment,’ he told the county forum.

He says Kenya Power is committed to working closely with the residents to mitigate the risks posed by bush fires and safeguard the region’s electricity supply and environmental conditions.

The Kenya Power Kwale county boss says the frequent fires are disrupting power supply imposing a financial burden on the power company as significant resources are expended to replace the affected infrastructure.

‘Replacing fire-damaged power infrastructure requires substantial effort and time leading to prolonged power supply disruptions and huge financial and reputational losses to the power company,’ said
Jagongo.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Coast Regional official Eng. Lewis Maina says the bushfires are reportedly being caused by contractors doing bush clearing along major roads sparking wildfires.

‘We have realized that rogue contractors carrying out routine road maintenance and bush clearing are the cause of the fires causing significant disruptions to motorists,’ said Maina.

Commissioner Orinde says the intentional setting of fires near electricity poles and major roads has become a growing concern for the authorities and promised action.

He says the bushfires impact on roads leading to reduced visibility for motorists and pedestrians and serious injury or death for those navigating them.

‘Personally I have witnessed a series of fire incidents along the Kombani-Kwale road resulting in poor visibility due to smoke for motorists and we cannot allow this reckless behaviour to continue,’ he warned.

Mr. Orinde directed chiefs and their assistants to raise awareness about the dangers of bush
fires near electricity poles and main roads.

He highlighted the critical role that community involvement plays in safeguarding electricity poles and power installations to deter service interruptions.

The county administrator warned that individuals especially in farming zones found guilty of causing bush fires near electricity infrastructure will face strict penalties.

Orinde specifically asked farmers to construct fire belts before clearing and burning their farmlands to prevent uncontrolled fires that endanger electricity infrastructure in their localities.

He urged residents to report any instances of bush fires near electricity systems, equipment and materials to the authorities for action to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The shocking upsurge in road accidents in the country has been blamed on preventable and predictable factors with stakeholders now calling for sanity to stop road carnages.

The Kenya Driving Schools Association (KDSA) has noted with concern that over 80 percent of accidents are caused by drivers’ behaviours such as drunk driving, recklessness, speeding, overloading and use of unroadworthy vehicles.

According to KDSA National Chairman Mr Kariuki Kamau attitudinal shifts are also required to instill into Kenyans a culture of safe road usage which entails observing speed limits, proper vehicle maintenance and respecting other road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

Mr Kamau indicated that as the number of vehicles increases and the physical road infrastructure gets better, enhancing safety practices will minimize the number of facilities adding that Kenyans can avert accidents along the roads if everyone plays to the stipulated rules and guidelines.

Speaking to journalists in Nakuru the Chairman said
that although like all other countries, Kenya is supposed to halve the deaths caused by road accidents by the year 2030 in line with United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, the reverse was being witnessed.

According to Mr Kamau, some public service vehicle (PSV) drivers are quacks who learnt the driving skill in the streets but have never bothered to go to a driving school.

The KDSA spokesman claimed that some unscrupulous elements at National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have allegedly been colluding with instructors from rogue driving schools to issue untrained Kenyans with driving licenses.

He cited cases of two driving schools and some alleged unscrupulous NTSA officials who were placed under probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for running a racket that issued driving licenses to unqualified Kenyans.

‘We have driving schools that are working in cahoots with NTSA officials to issue driving licenses to people who have not attended any driving lesson in exchange for mone
y. These drivers find themselves on the road and are the ones causing the many accidents we are witnessing,’ said Mr Kamau.

He added; ‘NTSA should stop making kneejerk declarations whenever an accident occurs. They should be the biggest strong link in the campaign to stop road carnage.’

He regretted that drivers who acquire their licenses corruptly and in an unprocedural manner usually do not conform to the laid down road traffic rules to ensure their safety and that of others.

‘We cannot continue watching our people die. We have a duty to ensure that we and those around us are safe. Let us all rise to the occasion and say not to recklessness, impunity on our roads,’ Kamau stated.

He said that a significant proportion of the road accidents are a result of human error, corrupt practices and indiscipline while using roads.

‘We have documented cases of untrained people verified as licensed drivers bribing their way out of custody whenever they are arrested. All these are factors that have created an environ
ment that fosters road accidents,’ the chairperson pointed out.

According to Kamau, some drivers cause accidents due to driving for long hours without taking enough rest, a blame which he heaped on the management of some PSV companies and long-distance cargo trailers.

The chairman claimed that many long-distance drivers partake in alcohol and other ‘stimulants’ so as to cover as much distance on a particular day, as they are paid based on trips they make leading to speeding, fatigue and recklessness.

He expressed concern that boda bodas have become such a menace that in some public hospitals, special wards have been set up to cater for victims of boda boda crashes.

The causes of these accidents according to Mr Kamau are varied, but the most common are alcohol and substance abuse and lack of discipline among riders.

Oftentimes, he added, riders get off the road and ride on pavements or any accessible open space and weave dangerously between moving vehicles.

He stated that contrary to road regulations, bo
da boda riders often carry more than one passenger, adding that some have been observed to carry as many as five with the rider perched dangerously on the fuel tank in a manner that makes it impossible for him to have full control of the motorbike, but more especially in case of an emergency.

‘The tragedy is that in their haste, boda boda passengers seem completely unaware of the risks they expose themselves to. It is rare to find passengers donning safety helmets and reflective jackets that are a mandatory requirement,’ he pointed out.

Mr Kamau said national crackdowns on boda bodas to ensure riders meet the requirements for doing business should be mounted regularly as opposed to the practice only when an accident occurs.

Most of the riders, he noted, have not gone through formal training, hence do not have licences, nor are they conversant with road safety rules. This he observed accounts for their attitude that demonstrates scant respect not just for other road users, but life as well.

He also attribu
ted some of the accidents to dilapidated roads, adding that most of the accidents happen as drivers and riders try to avoid hitting potholes while at high speed.

Others, he said, are due to poor maintenance of vehicles like failure to replace worn-out tires.

He urged Kenyans to support reintroduction of alcoblow, to minimize many accidents that are happening on Kenyan roads.

Road accidents have killed 1,213 people in the past three months, data from the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) shows.

And pedestrians account for the largest number of fatalities at 445, followed by motorcyclists at 285 and passengers at 259.

According to the data captured between January and April 3, pillion (motorcycle) passengers came fourth at 103 followed by drivers (99) and pedal cyclists (24).

The deaths are an increase of 5.8 per cent from 1,146 during the same period last year. The deaths have, however, increased following the latest accidents this week on the Kericho-Nakuru and Nakuru-Eldoret highways, where 15
people died.

Early this month, two people died and at least 10 were injured when a bus they were travelling in rammed a truck on the James Gichuru-Rironi highway.

Four others died on Sunday morning when a Kensliver company bus with 39 passengers overturned at the notorious Nithi bridge on the Meru-Nairobi highway.

”Road accidents are a national catastrophe that we must address under an all-government, indeed all-public, approach,’ said Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen.

‘In the past 20 years, we have been losing an average of 3,800 people annually. Many of these accidents are attributed to reckless driving and lack of respect for pedestrians. Others are caused by overloading and drunken driving.’

To address the problem, CS said the ministry is working to finalize the introduction of instant fines. ‘Even as we intensify joint enforcement of traffic rules, technology will, in the long run, reduce the errant behaviour of road users,’ he said.

Murkomen said telematics, starting w
ith school transport, will ensure all-time monitoring because of dashboard cameras and other features.

‘We are also reintroducing roadside drink-driving tests. The NTSA will also get more resources to carry out its mandate in collaboration with other government agencies and help police in enforcement,’ he added.

‘In this national conversation, faith-based groups are critical and we will be reaching out to them and other stakeholders,’ he said.

In September 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50 per cent of traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

The World Health Organization and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN, have developed the Global Plan for the Decade of Action, which was released in October, 2021.

The NTSA has come up with a National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2027 that targets a 50 per cent reduction in fatalities by 2030.

The Global
Plan aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety, and calling on continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles, enhancement of laws and law enforcement, and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured.

The Plan also reflects the Stockholm Declaration’s promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.

Progress made during the previous Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 has laid the foundation for accelerated action.

Among the achievements are inclusion of road safety on the global health and development agenda, broad dissemination of scientific guidance on what works, strengthening of partnerships and networks, and mobilization of resources.

This new Decade of Action provides an opportunity for harnessing the successes and lessons of previous years and building upon them to save more lives.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nyeri County is proudly hosting the 2024 National Primary Schools Athletics Championships.

This is the 40th Kenya Primary School Athletics Competition. This year’s theme is; Nurturing Talents through Values and Competencies for Self-Fulfilment.

Speaking during the opening ceremony held at Giakanja Boys Secondary School Nyeri County, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga who was the Chief Guest called the Government to complete the Ruring’u stadium so that Schools Athletic Championship can be taking place there.

He added that the County Government of Nyeri through the Department of Gender, Youth and Sports and Department of Education and Training are working closely with other stakeholders such as KPSSA, Ministry of Education, and KEPSHA among others to enhance the success of this national event.

Over 800 students drawn from the whole Country have congregated at the school for the spectacular display of talent and sportsmanship. Under the stewardship of the Kenya Primary School Sports Association (KPSSA), the compe
titions have drawn students from all the 8 regions: Western, Nyanza, Coast, Central, North Eastern, Eastern, Nairobi and Rift Valley.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga addressing athletics championship participants at Giakanja Secondary School

The Athletics Competition, which began on Wednesday and will continue for three days, will feature track and field events alongside cross country. The Kids Athletics category for children aged 8-12 includes the under 12’s team participating in cross country at 1200 meters.

Regional Director of Education Sabina Aroni, County Director of Education Jane Njogu, National Chair of KPSSA Ben Ochieng, and KPSSA Secretary General Maimai Etiang among other were also present.

The Regional Director of Education Sabina Aroni said Nyeri County is privileged and honored to host the championship saying that the role of games and sports in the social economic development of the society cannot be overemphasized and that it has both private and social benefits. Hence, she said games and sp
orts enhances healthy, physical development in children by creating opportunities to exercise.

Aroni added that in the curriculum (CBC) Sports and Art have been given greater prominence with a distinct pathway provided for a senior school. This she said therefore means that those participating in the championship are undergoing practical lessons in physical education/games and sports.

She noted that considering that all games and sporting activities have strict rules and regulations, participation promotes a high degree of discipline.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Education takes seriously the inclusion of the learners with special needs and disabilities. That is why there are special interventions to make sure that these children are able to access quality education like their peers without disabilities.

The Director Special Needs Education Fred Haga made the remarks on the official closing ceremony for the Term (1) One games for learners with special needs (SNE) in Nakuru Thursday.

Mr Haga said the Ministry places alot of emphasis on these learners in all its programmes that’s why next term, the ball games and all other co-curricullar activities including music and Drama among other creative arts will be held.

He nited that co-curricullar activities are critical to the development and education of all learners especially special needs and disabilities due to its therapeutic nature that fosters learning of other skills like teamwork etcetera.

‘CBC sports is a clearly identified pathway and we would like to give learners the opportunity to develop t
heir different skills and talents and represent this country even at the international level.’ Said Haga.

Some of the things that the Ministry does to make sure that these children are in school include enhanced funding seperate from what their peers without disabilities get.

The leadership of the Ministry has expanded the school feeding program to include all the special schools and also special units which have a boarding wing.

‘The Ministry considers the special schools and with effect from this year an allocation has been made for infrastructural development will be provided to the schools.’ Observed Haga

Director Haga said some of the challenges faced during the week-long sports actions were beyond human control including the unfavorable rainy weather conditions experienced.

He affirmed that any other challenges faced are a learning lesson and have been taken up and will be delt with at relevant levels for special needs learners to enjoy and participate in sports.

John Opiyo, the coordinator primar
y school special needs sports noted that the term one activities were wonderful and learners will go home happy because they enjoyed.

‘The successful activities, good participation and interactions in the conclusion of the games will mark the planning for the next phase for ball games which are scheduled for Kericho in August.’ Said Opiyo

Francis Manyala, the National chair Kenya schools sports association for learners with special needs appreciated the Ministry of Education for Facilitating sports for special needs learners.

He reiterated that special needs sports are enshrined in the CBC curriculum as a sustainable career pathway for the sports participants to live dignified lives after completing their education.

Source: Kenya News Agency