Day: April 24, 2024

Kenya Power held its 2nd E-mobility Conference and Expo with stakeholders in efforts to embrace innovation, transform E-mobility, and drive growth in the transport sector.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS), Davis Chirchir, said the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum is actively involved in the governance of the National E-Mobility Policy, which is spearheaded by a multi-agency Task Force whose objective is to provide an enabling environment for the growth and adoption of electric vehicles in the country.

The CS made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the State Department for Energy Principal Secretary, Alex Wachira, on Tuesday during the 2nd Kenya Power E-Mobility and Expo Conference themed ‘Accelerating the Adoption of E-Mobility in Kenya, held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.

Chirchir said the world is facing unprecedented changes caused by climate change and environmental degradation, adding that it is upon citizens to embrace innovative and transformative solut
ions that will not only mitigate the challenges but also create a more resilient and sustainable future for the coming generation.

He noted that the transport sector in the country is the second-highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which account for approximately 30 percent of the total emissions.

Chirchir emphasised that this is one of the priority intervention areas nationally, which determines contribution premises, commitment and national climate change action plan.

‘In the year 2022, the country’s total petroleum import cost was about Sh630 billion (4 billion dollars), which was over 90 percent increase from the year 2021. These impacts negatively on our foreign exchange service,’ CS said.

Chirchir reiterated that the country has abundant domestic electricity retention, especially from the renewable energy space, which powers the transportation sector and is neatly positioned to lead the change towards e-mobility.

The CS acknowledged the country’s investment in green energy infrastructur
e, including geothermal, wind and solar power, which has laid a solid foundation for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

‘By leveraging our renewable energy potential, we can not only recognise our transportation sector but also reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and enhance energy security,’ he stated.

The CS said the national electricity demand curve of a typical day shows a huge disparity between peak and off-peak power requirements, adding that to maintain system sustainability, power generation is normally reduced during off-peak hours.

He revealed that according to the EPRA data, a total of 495,407 mega hours were attained between July 2022 and June 2023, which is a lot of energy that could be put to use by creating demand at night, as well as by charging electric vehicles, especially at night.

The CS announced that in the year 2020, the Ministry launched the Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, which identified transport as a key sector to improve en
ergy efficiency and set out a target of five percent of the annual importation of vehicles to be electric and to increase adoption of e-mobility.

Chirchir noted that the policy will be integrated and comprehensively provide a legal and regulatory framework to promote adoption of e-mobility, while seeking and coordinating the efforts of various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the national county government and other partners in direct mobility in space to ensure cohesion and coherence in the growth of the sectors and avoid the wastage of public resources.

He argued that successful transition to e-mobility requires a holistic and integrated approach which necessitates collaboration between government agencies, private sector players, development partners and civil society organisations.

CS added that the partnership will address the challenges related to infrastructure development, technology deployment, policy formulation and public awareness to create and foster a robust environment for ele
ctric mobility and ensure that charging infrastructure and electric vehicles are accessible to all segments of society.

The Chairman, Kenya Power Board of Directors, Joy Masinde, said that the Institute of Energy Studies and Research (IESR) stands to serve as the premier training and research centre for e-mobility, as she also welcomes investors and stakeholders who are interested in advancing research and development in the field.

‘As we embrace the diversification of our interests, mobility emerges as one of the most promising and exhilarating opportunities to propel our business forward. We remain steadfast in our commitment to adapting to evolving market dynamics and embracing innovation to ensure our transformation into a sustainable company,’ she said.

Masinde announced that Kenya Power is continuing to push transition to over 2,000-strong fleet to electric, as she urges all stakeholders to work hand in hand towards unlocking the full potential of e-mobility.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Two newly appointed Kericho County Executive Committee Members (CECM) and one member of the Kericho Municipal Board have taken the oath of office in the presence of Kericho County Governor Dr. Eric Mutai.

John Kipruto Malel is now the CECM in charge of Public Service Management while Jackson Rop has been sworn in as the CECM for Trade, Industrialization, Tourism, Wildlife, and Cooperative Management.

In the colourful ceremony presided over by Kericho Chief Magistrate Charles Ombulutsa at the County Government premises, Mrs. Mercy Mutai was also sworn in as a Kericho Municipal Board Member.

Kericho Governor congratulated the new appointees and challenged them to use their experience and skills to improve service delivery to the residents of the county.

Dr. Mutai observed that the new team came in when his administration had lined up various projects that needed to be implemented as soon as possible for the benefit of the residents.

‘The Kipkelion East Factory for maize is ongoing; we are also working on a
dairy processor at Belgut in partnership with the national government. We are equally working on the Roret Pineapple project and have a plan to build 15 modern markets. We need to take Kericho County to the next level through trade investments and innovations and that is why we need to make our Jua Kali industry vibrant for them to prosper,’ said Dr. Mutai.

The Kericho Chief Magistrate who presided over the swearing-in ceremony disclosed that land has already been set aside for the construction of new law courts in Kericho after the existing building was condemned due to structural defects.

‘We are also making plans to establish a permanent court in Kipkelion, Soin-Sigowet, and Kapkatet. Also in the pipeline, we will establish a county court just within the town where the small claims court will also be,’ he added.

Also present at the function were the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kericho Dr. Patrick Mutai, and members of the County Assembly of Kericho.

Source: Kenya News Agency

With the onset of the rainy season, Benson Mutuku, a tree grower in Nanyuki expected a boon from seedling sale but as fate would have it, he is now counting huge losses following a heavy downpour that has destroyed his business.

Mutuku, narrating the incident to KNA, said that the raging waters of River Nanyuki swept away about Sh300,000 worth of tree seedlings in Nanyuki town as he watched helplessly on Tuesday afternoon.

‘I have incurred a huge loss, almost Sh300,000; everything is gone and I don’t know what to do now. This rainy season, I was well prepared and if the rains continue, I have nothing to sell,’ pensive Mutuku said.

Additionally, he said that it was his first time for such losses and urged the government to help the tree growers that were affected jumpstart their businesses.

‘If it is possible, since we are keen on environmental conservation, the government needs to come to our aid and support us. My children are depending on me and now I don’t know where to start,’ said Mutuku.

Mutuku is
among the scores of residents that were affected by the on-going rainfall in Laikipia County.

Further, motorists plying the Nanyuki-Timau route were caught up by the heavy rains causing them to seek alternative diversion after the River Nanyuki submerged the Nanyuki Bridge. There was traffic snarling up for nearly an hour before the rising water subsided.

Laikipia County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said about seven families in Likii informal settlement and William Holdings animal sanctuary were affected by the flush floods. He said the government was monitoring the situation and there was no need for an alarm.

At the same time, the CC encouraged residents staying in areas prone to flooding to move to safer grounds.

Meanwhile, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department’s weekly weather forecast, the current rainfall is expected to continue in several parts of the country.

The weatherman warns that flooding is expected in low-lying lands and places with poor drainage and at the same time the public s
hould be cautious.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Acyberschool to train one million Kenyan youths on artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.

The partnership is geared towards positioning Kenyan youth in a vantage position to create and thrive in jobs in the digital economy across Africa and beyond.

The MoU, which was signed on Wednesday at the ongoing Connected Africa Summit 2024 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, will be implemented in five years, with both parties collaborating in mobilization of resources required to make the partnership successful.

Speaking after the signing, KoTDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Paul Okwiri noted that the partnership will boost the Jitume Digital Skills programme and accelerate digital skills development in the country.

‘This partnership with Acyberschool will enable us to train Kenyan youth on AI, emerging technologies, and cybersecurity solutions. This means that in the near future, we will enhance our ability
to have more jobs in the digital space,’ said Okwiri.

He added that the programme which will be done in phases is a key target for the two partners, and believes that through mobilising resources together, they will be able to augment their key efforts in Jitume programmes.

In his remarks, the CEO, Acyberschool and Chairperson, Africa Cybersecurity and AI Foundation (ACAIF) Evalyn Oloo who urged Kenyan youth to take advantage of the training, said the MoU will help young Kenyans acquire skills required in the market as well as prepare them to be ready for future jobs.

‘Cybersecurity and AI are emerging areas which are key to the new digital jobs. We are training Kenyans for the future of work, and I would like to encourage all young people to take this opportunity, train and acquire the relevant skills required to thrive in the digital industry.’ she said.

The African ICT Industry has been calling on all industry players at the ongoing Connected Africa Summit 2024 which started on Monday this week to leve
rage young people and advance the digital space.

Currently, Konza Technopolis, ICT Authority and The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority are spearheading the Jitume Programme training together with the private sector in an endeavour to provide specialised training and resources to support growth.

Source: Kenya News Agency

KCA University is among a number of Kenyan universities that have received grants in millions of shillings from the British Council to come up with programmes to help tackle climate change resilience challenges.

The university received a Sh6 million grant for a programme dubbed Learning and Design Lab that will see its students and those of Nottingham University in the UK collaborate to identify, develop, and implement practical solutions to real-world challenges related to climate change.

Other local universities and those from the UK who have been roped into the programme include Strathmore, Rongo, University of Portsmouth in the UK and Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine (UK).

KCA Vice Chancellor Prof Isaiah Wakindiki said 20 students from his university and those from Nottingham School of Business through an exchange programme will co-develop human-centred solutions to specific climate challenges.

‘We have put our students into different activities for specific challenges of climate
change and they will also do a lot of research and through interactions with their Nottingham counterparts, they will come up with specific human-centred solutions,’ Wakindiki told journalists at the university on Tuesday.

He added, ‘The students too will hone their skills and gain invaluable practical experience as they prepare to get into the environment of work and entrepreneurship.’

In addition, he said, the partnership will help the local universities get international recognition for helping tackle climate change and also help students gain experience collaborating with their counterparts in institutions abroad.

Other industry partners including Chemolex, Greenspoon and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment will also benefit from the programme by using the recommendations from the students to identify opportunities for innovation, develop new products and services and also address their most pressing business challenges.

The British Council has appointed Circle Innovation which will facilit
ate the labs. Circle Innovation’s expertise in innovation practices is well-established across the region, encompassing processes, tools, and methods that enable the creation of impactful innovations scalable to various contexts.

Other universities that benefited from this grant include Rongo University (Kenya) University of Portsmouth (UK), Strathmore University (Kenya), and Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine (UK).

Source: Kenya News Agency

Traders in Iten town will in the next six months start enjoying improved services as the national government embarks on the construction of a sh50 million modern market under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).

Keiyo North DCC Julius Maiyo said once complete, the market will accommodate 600 traders adding that in addition to the market, the government will soon be launching the construction of 200 housing units within Iten town.

The DCC called on the contractor to ensure that the project is delivered within the agreed timelines so that traders can conduct their businesses in not only a secure environment but also one where they are protected from the vagaries of weather.

‘We are also asking the contractor to ensure that government gets value for its money by ensuring that you do quality work. On behalf of government we are assuring Wananchi that we will closely monitor the work to ensure we get what we signed for,’ he said.

Keiyo North MP Adams Kipsanai said currently there are 380 traders operating i
n the two main markets in Iten town and therefore called on residents to increase the numbers so that the market once complete can operate at full capacity.

‘It will not augur well for the government to spend millions of shillings to construct a market which will operate at slightly above half the capacity,’ the MP said.

The county MP Carolyne Ng’elechei called on residents to take advantage of grants being offered by the government under Ngaaf to engage in business.

Area governor Wisley Rotich said the market was part of the bottom-up economic model saying all hustlers will be accommodated at the market adding that more markets will be constructed in Chepkorio, Kapcherop and Kapyego.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Elgeyo Marakwet County government has disbursed bursaries worth Sh 95 million to support the education of needy students in the county.

Governor Wisley Rotich presided over the disbursement benefiting 9705 students across the county at the Governor’s Square in Iten on Tuesday.

Accompanied by MPs Adams Kipsanai for Keiyo North and Caroline Ng’elechei, the County Women MP, Governor Rotich stressed the transparency of the bursary allocation process, ensuring that every deserving student received aid.

‘I can assure you that there is no complaint whatsoever from the grassroots. Disbursing Sh95 million fairly is not a joke because this is not pocket change anyway,’ Governor Rotich assured attendees.

The governor used the occasion to urge communities to engage in economic activities, stressing the importance of self-sustainability in meeting educational needs.

‘There is nothing as pleasant as being capable of paying your children’s school fees comfortably without having to line up for a bursary,’ he remarked.

Addressing the issue of youth unemployment, Rotich expressed satisfaction with the increased enrollment in vocational training centres and village polytechnics.

‘From the time I became governor, the student enrollment in polytechnics was 1,080 and currently we have 3,800 which represents a significant improvement. I believe we have managed to convince young people that going to polytechnic is not a demeanour,’ Rotich highlighted.

MP Kipsanai commended the governor for allocating a substantial amount towards bursaries while raising questions about the efficacy of the funds allocated for both bursaries and infrastructure development in learning institutions.

‘It is about time we ask ourselves about the value of the money that we have disbursed towards both bursaries and infrastructural development in the learning institutions,’ Kipsanai remarked.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Women Representative urged beneficiaries to ensure value for money in their academic performance.

‘I call upon every parent to ens
ure you give your children a good foundation. A good foundation doesn’t mean enrolling them in expensive academies. It means you instill discipline in them,’ Ng’elechei emphasised.

Furthermore, Ng’elechei highlighted the importance of students achieving quality grades commensurate with the funds disbursed to schools.

Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek stressed the importance of agricultural sustainability by urging bursary beneficiaries to participate in agricultural activities.

She announced that every beneficiary, upon receiving their checks, would be provided with free seeds by the County Department of Agriculture for planting.

The event, attended by education stakeholders including vocational training centre managers, secondary school heads, and officials from TSC, KNUT, and KUPPET, marks a significant effort by the Elgeyo Marakwet County government to prioritise education and youth empowerment.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The county government of Nyeri through its bursary programme, Elimu Fund, has started issuing bursary cheques to some 15,000 students from needy backgrounds.

The beneficiaries include secondary school students as well as college, polytechnic and university students from the 30 wards in the county. Students from special-needs schools will also benefit from the funding.

Students from boarding secondary schools each received a Sh6,000 cheque, while those from colleges received Sh4,000 support. Students in special schools were awarded a Sh5,000 sponsorship; polytechnic students were awarded Sh6,000; and university students were each issued a Sh7,000 cheque.

Speaking after issuing the cheques at the Dedan Kimathi Kamkunji stadium in Nyeri town, Nyeri Deputy Governor Warui Kinaniri reiterated the county government’s commitment to supporting education.

The DG said that the executive would be increasing financial allocation by Sh50 million in the next financial year in order to support more students access educat
ion.

‘The county government of Nyeri is committed to promoting the education sector as it is the only tool which can make a difference in Nyeri and the country at large. Bursaries bring major benefits to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and should be maintained alongside outreach programmes,’ he said.

‘To this end, the county government is planning to increase next financial year’s allocation from Sh100 million to Sh150 million in the next financial year so that more students can benefit,’ added Kinaniri.

Accompanying the DG were County Executive Committee (CEC) Member in Charge of Education Margaret Macharia, Transport and Energy CEC Abi Hanif, Public Service CEC Peter Macharia and a host of Nyeri ward representatives.

At the same time, Kinaniri urged the beneficiaries to maintain discipline and work hard towards realising their educational goals.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over one thousand beneficiaries of the Wings to Fly Scholarship from Equity Bank attended a mentorship programme at Kitui High School in Kitui County.

The programme which was the 15th Annual Equity Education and Leadership Congress, brought together a total of 1,102 beneficiaries drawn from various areas of Eastern Region including Matuu, Mwingi, Kitui and Mutomo.

The programme is part of a nationwide 3-day event that will see a total of 23,101 Form 3 and 4 students (beneficiaries) mentored by specialists assembled in 18 regions across the country.

Speaking during the official roll-out of the 3-day mentorship programme dubbed ‘the triad of success’, Equity Group Associate Director of Organisation Effectiveness, Culture and Change Mr Alex Obuhatsa, reiterated Equity Bank’s commitment to provide access to education and also nurture dreams of disadvantaged children.

‘Your journey through this programme is just the beginning of a chapter filled with endless great possibilities and opportunities. We encourage
you to continuously push the boundaries, pursue your passions, and never lose sight of your immense potential,’ he advised.

He urged the scholars to focus on education noting that the future holds promise for those who learn and relearn. Obukhatsa also advised the Equity Bank’s Wings to Fly education sponsorship programme beneficiaries to refrain from engaging in social evils that destroy their bright future.

Mr Obuhatsa also emphasised to the scholars that understanding what they are good at and what they are not is key with regards to their empowerment journey.

‘Associate yourselves with people who can help you do the right things ‘Walk the talk,’ he noted as he urged the scholars to always lead by example.

‘We in Equity Bank community are proud of you and what you have achieved. Focus and keep your eyes on the goal. Everyone has what it takes to become the best,’ added the Equity Group Associate Director of Organisation Effectiveness, Culture and Change.

For years Equity Bank, through its Wings to Fly
scholarship programme, has been assisting bright, needy students with fees and other educational necessities in a quest to help them achieve their education dreams.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Silence reigns inside the cavernous mineral laboratory at Madini House in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. Tiny specks of dust drift placidly through the cool air of this facility whose sprawling expansiveness and brooding silence evoke images of an ancient mechanical shrine.

On the floor, assorted heavy-duty dust-coated equipment-rock cutters, crushers, giant ovens and a host of other mechanical tools-is carefully stacked.

The shelves, heavy with rock specimens, line the high walls. Towering above everything is a massive steel gangplank, complete with a ladder and a walkway.

From somewhere, a sharp click of a mechanical lever being yanked breaks the tranquility. Moments later, the sporadic thump-thump of a rock crusher calibrated on low velocity follows. The machines are awakening.

A geologist carries a rock sample to a jagged steel spherical blade that is whirling at such phenomenal speed that it’s just a blur.

With practiced caution, he gently feeds one edge of the rock to the blade. At the instant of conta
ct, the rock screams. The lethal steel shrieks back. Sparks fly. A furious storm of dust erupts. A few inches above the rotating blade, a tiny tap erupts and sends a thin jet of cold water at the deadly blade to keep it from overheating.

Moments later, the deafening din subsides. The blade purrs softly, slows down and stops. The ensuing silence is equally as loud. Unbothered, the geologist holds up to the overhead light a wafer-thin slice of rock. The fragment is so thin that it has a glass-like translucent quality.

‘The thinness is critical for exact results under the petrographic microscope. You can see the distribution of elements on the sample,’ he says.

The 90-year-old Madini Mineral Testing Laboratory holds a special place in Kenya’s mineral landscape as the only premier mineral processing, identification and classification centre in the country.

First established in 1933 with help from the British Geological Survey, the laboratory has for decades remained a central cog in Kenya’s mining ecosystem.

F
rom being a significant enabler in mineral mapping, the laboratory has over time become a central theatre for major mineral discoveries.

To mining experts, the lab is a venerable sanctuary where human expertise augmented by science and cutting-edge technology dissects rocks to lay bare the secrets within.

The Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Mining Elijah Mwangi terms the Madini Laboratory the bedrock of the country’s mining landscape. He adds that the facility not only offers vital information on mineral types in Kenya but also helps in acquisition of vital data on quality, distribution and location.

A geologist at Madinin lab conducting a petrographic analysis on a rock fragment.

‘This the only such lab in Kenya. It is solidly at the heart of mining and mineral processing. As a key enabler in mineral discoveries in the country, her analytical capacity aids in revealing the mineral resources we have,’ says the PS.

Mining, by nature, is a highly specialised field that pays homage to proof of
minerals before deployment of capital-intensive investments for exploitation. As a result, the lab is critical to providing geological insights on mineral distribution across Kenya.

Additionally, it aids in gathering vital geodata on Kenya’s mineral resources. The minerals analysed include rare earths, construction, strategic minerals, precious and semi-precious stones.

The lab has both lapidary and chemistry sections. The lapidary lab is the arena for the heavy lifting in mineral processing.

This section is responsible for the physical operations including pulverising of rocks into the desired powder quality. Here, rocks are also sliced into ultra-thin fragments for petrographic analysis. This entails deep examination of rock slices under the powerful microscope to study and map distribution of elements.

The chemistry section is markedly different from the lapidary. There are no massive crushers or giant ovens to dry wet rocks.

Equipped with ultra-modern computers and a wide range of sophisticated equip
ment like Specific Gravity Testers for testing actual weight in carats for precious stones like gemstones, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRFs) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for defining chemical composition of any rock sample, this section remains the pinnacle of technological advancement in mineral engineering.

Already, the government has embarked on the process of transforming Madini into a regional mineral testing and processing centre.

The journey towards ISO certification has started to grant the lab international standardisation status and strategically place it as the main regional referral facility for mineral analysis in the region and beyond.

To fast-track the ISO certification process, Kenya has entered into partnership with the Indonesian government on upgrading the lab into a world-class facility.

In March, a delegation of Indonesian government officials and mineral experts met with a Kenyan delegation led by Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya over the creation o
f a joint technical team to draft a bilateral engagement framework for the project.

Currently, though Madini’s testing parameters are superior as per regional standards, lack of internationally recognised standards has hampered the country’s mission to market herself as a mineral hub.

Kenya annually loses millions in revenue as miners eyeing the international market take their samples for testing in ISO-certified laboratories in South Africa and Canada.

PS Mwangi says the collaboration between the two nations towards ISO certification of the lab will include equipment upgrades, capacity building for lab experts and joint partnerships in mineral exploration and analysis.

‘This is the vision we have to make our lab into a world-class mineral analysis centre,’ he says.

At the heart of this upgrade is Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), a formidable online programme to streamline lab operations and help track the mineral analysis process in real-time for miners. This will also eradicate fraudule
nt documentation for minerals.

Mr. Josiah Chumo, Head of the Lab, says Madini is poised to become the main referral facility for mineral analysis in the region.

‘Getting internationally recognised status is a special achievement that will market Kenya’s analytical capacity for minerals,’ he notes.

Currently, the mining department is decentralising laboratory services in strategic regions to promote testing services for artisanal miners in those counties. The regions mapped for mineral laboratories include Mombasa, Kakamega, Embu, Garissa, Lodwar and Kisumu. Others are Eldoret, Nakuru, Nyeri and Kitui.

Source: Kenya News Agency