Day: April 25, 2024

Turkana County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Dr Francis Mariao has said the county government and partners are committed to increasing the uptake of vaccines in the county from the current 69 percent to 85 percent in a bid to bridge the gap with the national average which stands at 80%.

He said partners and the Turkana County Government have developed a strategic plan geared towards increasing the uptake of vaccines to a target of 85% for the current year.

Dr Mariao was speaking during the commemoration of the World Immunisation Week in Kanamkemer Sub-County Hospital which began on April 24 and ends on April 30, 2024.

The CECM said, ‘While commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, the plans to increase the vaccines uptake in Turkana are and not limited to; integrated surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases banking on one health approach (locally known as Kimormor), considering the health of both humans, animals and the environment’.

He added there is a delib
erate effort to improve on the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine coverage across the County.

However, CECM Mariao noted that despite schools being closed, his team would continue focus on those due for HPV2, targeting youth centres.

He said there is a plan targeting immunisation of children who have defaulted on routine childhood vaccines using the January-March 2024 data, riding on the Community Health Services and any other ongoing outreaches.

This targeted immunisation activities, County Executive said will be done through special clinics (MOPC, CCC, renal, cancer) for at-risk populations such as PCV for cancer and dialysis patients, HPV for 10-14-year-old at Comprehensive Care Clinic, and C-19 for diabetic patients.

While recognising the support of the partners in the event, Dr Mariao called on partners and other stakeholders in the health sector working group to jointly address the existing gaps and fully strengthen the immunisation Programme.

During the commemoration, a total number of 35 doses w
ere administered comprising of; BCG (4), OPV (3), DPT (3), PCV (3), Y/F (6), MRI (6), MRII (8), TD (2) and FIC (5).

In the same breath, the UNICEF’s Health Officer, Lodwar Zonal Office, Stella Kogo said UNICEF has worked closely with the government to improve the cold stain capacity in Turkana County, ensuring the vaccines remain safe and effective from manufacture to administration.

According to Kogo, UNICEF has supported government in vaccine management, including procurement, distribution, and stock management.

She also called on other partners and government agencies stating, ‘Let’s reaffirm our commitment to equitable access to vaccines for all children in Turkana County, regardless of their geographical location or socio-economic background’.

In so doing, the Health Officer said, it is possible to create a world, where no child is left behind and where vaccines are not just a privilege, but a fundamental right.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The county government of Nakuru, through its transport and roads committee, has organized a three-day training program at the Agricultural Technology Development Center (ATDC) hall that focuses on equipping traffic Marshalls and first aid responders with essential skills to effectively respond to accidents.

The training programme that will involve traffic Marshalls and community health promoters from Roret, is in response to the alarming increase of accidents along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, especially at the Salgaa and Ngata Bridge black spot.

County Executive Member for Infrastructure, Engineer Michael Kamau, who was present, expressed gratitude to the responders for their attendance and assured them that the Transport and Safety committee will collaborate closely with them and provide necessary support.

Engineer Kamau also noted that the training program is expected to be rolled out in other areas within the County, extending its reach and impact across the region. He observed that there are quite a nu
mber of blackspots right from Kinungi in Kiambu County to the total junction in Nakuru County and called on drivers to exercise caution not only along that section but also on other roads to curb the many accidents that are taking away lives of Kenyans.

Led by County Fire Cadet Officer, John Brodrick, the training covered crucial topics including CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and other first aid techniques.

Engineer Kamau appealed to motorists to be careful since the rainy season might make the roads slippery, adding that the major culprits of accidents on the local roads was drunkard and careless drivers who fail to adhere to instructions.

He singled out motor bike riders who more often than not abruptly enter roads at a high speed without checking left-right to ensure that there are no motorists approaching.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The consistent strengthening of the Kenyan Shilling against the US Dollar has yielded a positive impact on the Country’s external debt.

The steady trend denoted a favourable position for Kenya as it has enhanced the country’s purchasing power and reduced the cost of repaying loans denominated in foreign countries.

Speaking at the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) 28th Annual International Conference, the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Kamau Thugge highlighted that the current debt-to-GDP ratio is about 68 percent. The parliament recently approved a measure to cap the debt-to-GDP ratio at 55 percent by 2027.

The conference was opened by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Josphat Nanok on behalf of the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

According to the Governor, at the end of January 2024, the external debt converted into Kenyan Shilling amounted to 6.19 Trillion, while the domestic debt stood at 5.058 Trillion, totaling 11.248 Trillion.

‘Following the exchange rate appreciation, calculate
d at the rate of 131.5, the external debt has declined from 6.19 to 5 trillion, a decline of almost 1.2 trillion, the domestic debt doesn’t change so the two now total to 10.1 rather than 11.1,’ Thugge said.

Going forward, he said it reduces the debt service in terms of shilling that the treasury has to pay. Despite the significant global and domestic challenges, the Kenyan economic performance has remained resilient and the outlook has remained strong.

Thugge said that the CBK has had the desire to address the pressure of the exchange rate, mitigate the second-round effects and ensure inflation expectations continue to be well anchored.

‘CBK policy measures have been complemented by fiscal measures implemented by the government to moderate the prices of certain commodities to zero rating some food items including wheat, maize rice and sugar and enhancing food production through subsidy on fertilizer prices,’ he highlighted.

The Chief Executive Officer, the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS), Jeremi
ah Karanja reiterated that the shilling gaining against the dollar is a great example of good governance which is one of the main issues they had focused on discussing in the conference.

Karanja said that their mandate is to ensure good governance in public and private institutions and promote the principles of integrity and ethical standards.

He said that various leaders from various sectors were invited to the conference to discuss issues related to good leadership, integrity, and ways to improve public and private management systems. These discussions may include strategies to enhance transparency, accountability, and resource management to ensure that all institutions are run responsibly.

Karanja noted that despite the challenges of integrity and governance in some leadership positions in the country, it remains crucial to continue reminding people to work by ethical standards.

He highlighted that ICS has collaborated with the government to write a book titled ‘Code of Governance for State Corporation
s’ and that since the book was published in 2015, they have witnessed significant improvements in the ethics and leadership of many institutions.

He also noted that the ICS is a true partner in the war against corruption, unethical practices, and the promotion of good governance which they practice through conferences, capacity building, and sensitisation programmes.

Karanja emphasized that there is a need to safeguard all professions from quacks, to avoid disasters in organizations.

‘You require a professional worker who is trained, regulated, and can be held accountable so that if they are involved in any professional misconduct, the professional body has the legal mandate to take disciplinary action against them,’ he cautioned.

Wyne Kenneth, ICS council member clarified that, ‘The significance of the meeting is governance and the role it plays in resilience, there are a lot of shocks that are happening to organizations both internally and externally, and generations are changing leading to different wo
rkforces. Externally, you can see how Ukraine and Gaza can affect even a small business and individuals from the price change and cost of commodities’

Kenneth said that being a governance body, some key areas they look into are the certification and the regulation of the members even after they are certified.

He said that as a Council Member, he is tasked with capacity development training, and building capacity in ethics and integrity as they work in collaboration with different government bodies to promote these virtues.

ICS whose legal name is the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya was created under CAP 534 of the laws of Kenya.

The annual meeting is themed ‘Governance Resilience in the Face of Economic Crisis.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

Most parts of the Country have been experiencing heavy rainfall and severe flooding leading to deaths, displacement and damage to crops, roads, homes, and other key infrastructure.

The weatherman has warned that the rains are set to continue for the rest of this month and has cautioned those in high-risk areas to evacuate for their own safety.

In Kiambu, the devastation caused by the rains have seen its Governor Kimani Wamatangi move swiftly and establish a disaster management team that will be tasked with coordinating rescue operations, sanitation efforts and the provision of essential services to affected residents.

This move comes after at least 2 people died as a direct result of the heavy rainfall.

In Kinoo a young man succumbed to injuries after being electrocuted by a fallen electricity line along Makutano Ginduri road. After a night of heavy rainfall, an electric pole broke leaving live wires exposed that hit the deceased who was walking by on his way home.

In Ruaka, Kiambaa Sub- County, a sectio
n of a perimeter wall of a residential apartment collapsed on an adjacent informal residential structure resulting in the death of one person and injuring another.

A third person was rescued during the operation by the county government’s disaster management team.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Kiambu Governor said his administration is working tirelessly to prevent further loss of lives.

‘My administration will continue inspecting all buildings from the construction stage to completion, as well as monitoring the safety of all structures, to ensure that such tragic occurrences are avoided at all costs.

In Limuru sub-county, hundreds have had to be evacuated after heavy rainfall submerged their houses leaving them with little choice but to abandon their homes. Areas adversely affected are Manguo swamp and villages such as Kwambira, Kamirithu, Farmers and Karanjee.

A Multi-agency team from the national Government and the Kiambu disaster management team moved swiftly to evacuate some 50 families and
temporarily put them up in social halls in other Sub -Counties as they wait for the floods to subside.

As a precaution, Wamatangi has called upon the Department of Lands, Housing, and Physical to supervise the immediate evacuation of residents living in high-risk areas until the integrity of those areas is certified and the rains abate.

Further efforts by the County Government to alleviate danger caused by the floods have seen it strategically deploy equipment to every Sub-County to assist in unclogging drainages and culverts.

Additionally, evacuation centres have been established in various locations such as Churches, Schools, Vocational Training Centres and ECDE centres to provide temporary shelter and aid to displaced families.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Taxi-hailing app company, Uber has rolled out fast food delivery services in Kisumu city.

Christened Uber Eats, the service will enable customers in Kisumu and its environs to enjoy their favourite breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack from the restaurants delivered to their doorstep after placing an order.

Nakampe Molewa, the General Manager of Uber Eats for Sub-Saharan Africa reiterated that the move comes with the realisation of an awesome opportunity for the young vibrant market which is growing in the country.

‘We see the potential to have a stunning business in Kisumu and shall bring our unique offering of on-demand commerce, selection and affordable offering to the residents across the country,” said Molewa during Wednesday’s launching ceremony at a Kisumu Hotel.

He stressed that they are seeking to enhance the overall service delivery experience and contribute to the growth of economic opportunities which will be created for the locals.

The other important parties in this cycle, he revealed, are the
merchants and the Western partners themselves.

‘The company is expressing its joy in expanding into new cities and satellite towns. We shall be keen on the Locals’ Favourite that the residents consume and that’s what we are trying to discover and our merchants’ ability to provide them,” he assured.

Farida Salim, County Executive Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism, Industry and Marketing expressed her delight with the entry of Uber Eats to Kisumu County.

‘We highly anticipate significant value being created for restaurants and small businesses. This is a great example of a collaboration between the private and public sector, which will yield benefits for individuals, businesses, and the local community,” Salim observed.

Kui Mbugua the General Manager of Uber Eats-Kenya, said that the app will connect consumers to merchants and facilitate anything at the touch of a button.

‘This means food, groceries, retail, pharmacy and liquor items all at the touch of a button. We have already rolled out the services in
Nairobi. Over the past six years we have expanded across the country,” Mbugua explained.

She revealed that the services were first rolled out in Mombasa, Nakuru, Naivasha, and Eldoret.

Uber Eats will focus its business selection on where the merchants and stores are located which are largely found in the Central Business Districts (CBD) and hub of Kisumu.

‘Overtime we will move to get to the smaller towns but we have to ensure that the economic conditions work. That’s a combination of the consumer having the digital capacity, and the merchants having the selections with stores being available,” Mbugua clarified.

She added that another key player will be the availability of the boda boda guys (service delivery men) who will be able to transport to and from the stores. They are looking forward to growing the rider base alongside the consumers and the partners.

In addition, they have started with the smaller areas in the CBD and new hubs in the neighbourhood and are looking to expand their area of scope.

‘
It’s our joy to partner with the merchants for the fruitful deliveries across the country,” Mbugua noted.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The long rains tree growing campaign in Embu County was launched this morning with chiefs urged to ensure 3000 trees are planted in each of the 51 locations.

County Commissioner Jack Obuo who launched the campaign at the Camp Ndunda Ecotourism site in Njukiri forest also instructed the county’s chiefs to ensure all schools planted trees in their compounds.

Obuo said besides indigenous and exotic tree seedlings, the government through the Kenya Forest Service would distribute 200000 avocado, 4,000 mango and 2000 macadamia seedlings free of charge as a way of ensuring food security, increasing household incomes while improving the county’s tree cover.

He said all government agencies have joined hands with county residents to participate in the larger campaign to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

Embu County Forest Conservator Miriam Kamau said that although the county’s forest cover at 28 percent was above the national average, Embu residents could not afford to relax as the country still needed many more tre
es to mitigate against climate change.

She urged residents to mark their social occasions such as birthdays and weddings with tree planting activities as a permanent reminder of their special days.

She also said that for those with small compounds, there were dwarf fruit trees that did not take much space but still gave fruits.

She said they were working with communities to give those likely to illegally exploit forests to find alternative livelihoods and how to draw benefits legally.

In the cooperation, they work with communities living within ten kilometers of the forest boundary who take care of the forest while exploiting its resources in a non-harmful way through the community forest Association (CFA).

The chairman of the Njukiri CFA Jeremy Njiru Kinyua said their CFA ensures nobody destroys the forest while they are able to get firewood, livestock fodder and other products from the forest, they also participate in reforestation programmes when needed.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Turkana County Government in partnership with GIZ, has contracted Koxcloud Digital, a consulting firm to develop the Turkana County Energy Database website, which will give the Energy Directorate access to all Data regarding Energy and its available resources in the County.

This website will be a one-stop shop whereby any investor or partner can easily get access to the Turkana County Energy status from any part of the country.

Director for Energy and Petroleum, Jackson Lojore, said that the website will address absence of data hindering decision-making processes in the Energy sector.

‘As a County, we do not have enough and orderly arranged data on what resources are available, their distribution or utilisation patterns. Ideally, we have been working with very limited information. This has accounted for slow growth within the sector,’ the Director said.

Team leader for Koxcloud Digital Consultancy Wilfred Ayieko highlighted the need for a consolidated database for players in the energy sector especially i
n decision making.

According to Mr Ayieko, there was need for the county to adopt a digital and dynamic software with a wide range of data functionality to allow for inclusion of all relevant variables.

Director Lojore emphasised that the intended database had been designed to give real-time reports, and status of interventions by stakeholders in the sector so as to avoid duplication of efforts.

‘In a county where resources such as Solar, Geothermal, Hydropower, Biomass and Wind energy are abundant, there is need to coordinate sector partners’ involvement through data informed evidence. This technology will assist us in achieving that goal,’ added Director Lojore.

The Directorate of Energy and Petroleum Production in partnership with GIZ through a project called Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings (ESDS) have so far supported the Directorate in developing four legal documents awaiting approval by the Cabinet and will later be forwarded to the County Assembly: Turkana County Energy Sector Plan 2022-
2026, Turkana County Energy Policy, Turkana County Energy Bill and Regulations 2024, and Turkana County Energy Database.

GIZ through ESDS Project has offered to capacity build 20 county staff on matters Renewable Energy, Environment and Climate Change mitigation measures and adaptation.

Senior officials from the Directorate of Energy and Petroleum were present including Geoffrey Eregae, Areman Elim, Hosea Emeripus, and Eng Samuel Ebei.

The GIZ focal person for Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings (ESDS), Veronica Teranoi, and Dr Jeremiah Onunga, a Lecturer at Turkana University College were also present in the meeting.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is implementing development initiatives that will contribute to the country’s food and nutrition security geared towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Principal Secretary (PS) for State Department of Agriculture Dr. Kipronoh Rono has said.

Consequently, Dr. Rono said that the State Department is implementing various programs, projects and activities at both national and county levels to end hunger and ensure food security and promote sustainable agriculture.

He particularly singled out the milestone achieved by the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) by introducing new dry land crops and pasture varieties through the use of the Climate-Smart technologies that will enhance sustainable agriculture.

The new crops and pasture that have been introduced are sorghum, cowpeas, grain amaranth and green grams following extensive research and farmer trials that have shown that they
do well in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

‘The climate smart technologies developed by KALRO under the AgriFi project marks a critical milestone in our journey towards a sustainable future. By introducing new dry land crops and pasture varieties, we will improve productivity and resilience of our agricultural sector even in the face of severe moisture deficits,’ said Rono in a speech read on his behalf by Badu Katelo Deputy Secretary Administration, State Department of Agriculture at KALRO in Kiboko, Makindu Subcounty.

Rono also lauded the European Union for the support they have offered to KALRO especially in funding and other development partners who have contributed towards achieving the research.

He challenged farmers to invest in climate-smart crops and grass varieties so that they can improve production besides earning an income.

Dr. Rono said that climate-smart crops and pasture varieties will contribute to the government’s effort in delivering Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda in food se
curity and combat poverty afflicting many in the country.

KALRO Director General Dr. Eliud Kiplimo Kireger said that his organization through climate-smart technologies is targeting 500,000 smallholder farmers and pastoralists in developing resistant crops, to enhance technology adoption and foster linkages.

He revealed that KALRO’s dryland research program has been instrumental in developing numerous crop varieties suited for ASALs to overcome some of the challenges in the respective areas.

‘The AgriFI Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Project, co-funded by the EU and the Kenyan Government, aims to support KALRO’s research on climate-smart agricultural technologies to address climate challenges head-on,’ said Dr. Kireger in a speech read on his behalf by KALRO Deputy Director General Dr. Felister Makini.

Further the Director General said they are endeavouring to advance agriculture research and develop technologies and innovations that will help counter the effects and challenges of climate change which h
as become a global phenomenon.

‘The development of climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies has emerged as a solution, aligning climate resilience with food security,’ he said.

Speaking at the same event, Makueni County Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili urged farmers to take advantage and plant the crops and do commercial agriculture in order to earn a living and alleviate poverty.

Machakos County Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi called for concerted efforts between the national and county governments to educate wananchi on the need to adopt the new technologies that will boost food security in the country.

Present at the function included Makindu Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mr. Moses Gicharu who represented the county commissioner at the event among other national and county government officials, development partners and EU delegation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

At least 52,000 needy students in secondary schools and Vocational Training Centres in Kisii are set to benefit from a Sh245 million County Bursary Fund for the year 2024.

The Bursary kitty has been increased from Sh145 million to Sh245 million and each of the 45 electoral wards has been allocated an average of 5 million shillings.

Speaking during the distribution of the bursary cheques at Gusii Stadium in Kisii town, Kisii Governor Simba Arati said that despite the late distribution of the bursary which was occasioned by delays in the approval of the County Budget, the students will receive their cheques in time for the schools’ second term.

‘Our quest to support needy students is out of the need to finance their education which is a worthy equaliser that enables all to scale the socio-economic, political and leadership ladder,’ noted Arati.

The Governor pointed out that this year’s bursary fund had factored in vulnerable students from Vocational Training Centres who were not previous beneficiaries of th
e fund.

In order to ensure the exercise was transparent, Arati said that he had led the distribution of the bursary forms in all the wards and ensured his team drafted individual cheques to the beneficiaries.

The County Boss urged the benefiting students to work diligently and post impressive academic performance so that the county can realise value for money spent on the bursary programme.

In addition, Arati said the county had absorbed all the ECDE teachers under permanent terms and the ECDE centres will receive a face lift to help boost performance in the education sector.

‘We are gearing to revamp out Vocational Training Centres and our plan to have our training colleges mentored by centres of excellence in technical training is well on course,’ he concluded.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The service and burial of Kenya Defence Forces officer (KDF) Sergeant Rose Nyawira who perished in a chopper crash alongside Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Omondi Ogolla is currently ongoing at her family home in Kagio Kirinyaga County.

The military, family, relatives, political leaders, and friends gather to pay last respect to the officer.

Nyawira who joined KDF in 2018 as a journalist was a talented photographer attached to the Chief of Defence Forces.

Kenya Defence Forces office ferry remains of Late Sergeant Rose Nyawira to burial service venue. Photo by Mutai Kipngetich.

Kirinyaga County lost two officers at the fatal accident that occurred on Thursday April 18, 2024 at Sindar, Elgeyo Marakwet County. Another officer, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua will be laid to rest on Friday 26, April 2023 at Kirimunge, Kirinyaga Central Sub-County.

Source: Kenya News Agency