Day: April 25, 2024

Residents of Igembe South Sub County have been warned against taking the law into their own hands following an incident which saw a 25 year old Dennis Matheta burnt to ashes by an angry mob.

The suspect was believed to have been stealing livestock and poultry around Kimongoro, Ankamia and Akachiu in Igembe South sub-county.

According to the angry residents, the man has been caught severally and escaped with minor beating but on Wednesday morning, the situation escalated when he was caught red handed escaping with around 20 chickens from the neighbourhood, where angry residents beat the man and set his body ablaze.

The area OCS Samada cautioned the residents not to be taking laws into their hands maintaining that, ‘We strongly condemn this act of violence and lawlessness and we urge the residents to allow justice system to perform its mandate’.

The law enforcement officer said they would not tolerate such acts which compromised the law and justice in the community.

He reiterated the importance of law, pea
ce and order and urged the residents to report any suspected criminal incident for the law to take its course.

The OCS maintained that his office is doing all it could to crack down any incidence of crime including smoking out illicit brewers.

He further called the community policing to be extra vigilant and to continue liaising with the security agencies in ensuring law and order is maintained.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru County Chief Officer for Gender and Social Services Gladys Kamuren, has handed over the construction site of the Githioro Social Hall in Dundori ward of Bahati Sub County to the contractor.

The new Social Hall is poised to significantly benefit the community, particularly in providing a proper venue for meetings, replacing the current practice of gathering under trees and sitting on the grass.

During the handover ceremony Thursday, Ms Kamuren emphasised the Governor’s commitment to constructing and equipping Social Halls throughout the County.

‘These halls will not only serve as venues for meetings but also as centres for skills empowerment, talent search and addressing community needs,’ she said.

She noted that Social Halls or Community Centres are important because they serve as neutral ground where people of all ages, ethnicity, and socioeconomic statuses can meet, interact, and engage with each other on various issues from politics, health and education.

Additionally, she said they act as an i
mportant place for group activities, social support, sharing of vital public information, and other purposes including playing in door games.

Community Social halls have played important role in political decisions by previous leaders in the past including the famous Jericho social hall in Nairobi, and the Menengai Social Hall based at Bondeni estate in Nakuru.

Furthermore, Ms. Kamuren urged the contractor to prioritise employing local labour, thereby providing job opportunities within the community and to expedite the construction process. The same policy has been applied in the construction of affordable houses throughout the country.

She was accompanied by Dundori Ward MCA James Mwangi, Project Coordinator Abel Mungai, Ward Administrator Lilian Karanja and Project Management Committee Members (PMCs).

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents of Busia County who attended the public participation forum on proposed affordable housing regulations have lauded the government’s initiative.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Busia County Secretary for Interfaith network Sheikh Mohammed Ayuolo said that a number of Kenyans were doubtful when President William Ruto mooted the idea of affordable housing.

‘A number of Kenyans including residents of Busia expressed their dissatisfaction, thinking that it was one way of fleecing the taxpayers,’ he said.

Ayuolo stated that the public participation forum was an eye opener after the facilitators clarified issues that were raised by the locals.

‘We want to thank President William Ruto for coming up with the initiative,’ he said. Noting that existing houses being occupied by civil servants were constructed by the government 60 years ago.

He further said that the project will elevate the status of the country from where the colonialists left it in terms of housing.

‘Let us support this project b
ecause it will help the future generations,’ he said.

Western Regional Director of Housing Polycarp Onyango said that the government targets to construct 10,000 houses in Busia County.

We are doing 2000 hostels at Alupe University and 5,000 houses at Busia Agricultural training centre,’ he said

He explained that the cost of purchasing the houses will range between Sh 800,000 to Sh 5 million.

‘I want to ask you people of Busia to register with boma yangu. Registration goes for just 200 shillings after which you will create an account where you will be saving your money. This will give you an opportunity to own an affordable house,’ he said.

The official at the same time said that the government also plans to construct modern markets at Bumala, Korinda, Matayos, Musokoto, Mungatsi and Mau Mau areas.

Busia county commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga said the government is aiming at providing many house units and increasing the mortgage with favorable ownership terms.

Under the affordable housing pillar, the go
vernment aims at providing 200,000 units per annum to reduce the deficit. It also targets to grow the number of mortgages from thirty thousand shillings to one million with favorable ownership terms that have monthly payment of as low as 5,000 shillings,’ he said.

The forum brought together civil servants, county government employees, religious leaders among other stakeholders to give views on the draft regulations on the affordable housing project.

Key areas of concerns by the participants were consideration of low income earners, accessibility of the housing units, proof of ownership and priority to be given to the local residents.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government’s move to attract investments and operationalize the Naivasha Special Economic Zone by assuring the lowest power tariffs from geothermal energy is set to create over 100, 000 jobs for Kenyans.

The zone that sits on a 1,000-acre, strategically located piece of land in the Mai Mahiu area of Naivasha has already attracted bids from five investors worth billions of shillings.

Thanks to its proximity to the Inland Container Depot, the Standard Gauge Railway and the steady and sustainable geothermal power from Olkaria wells, the zone’s attractiveness compares to no other.

Through the government’s commitment to revise its investment policies, regulatory laws relaxed taxation processes, and lower power tariffs, the Naivasha SEZ has taken off with the first company opening its doors to Kenyans.

Yesterday, Jumbo AAA Holdings launched its first car auction firm at the zone, where Kenyans will bid for their favorite second-hand cars, spare parts, motorcycles, and machinery using local currency through
a click of a button.

The investment, termed as a game changer in the automotive industry, is expected to reduce the time of procuring a car or machinery from 90 days to seven days while cushioning Kenyans from exchange volatility by trading in shillings.

Speaking during the official launch of the company by President William Ruto, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika said the zone operationalization will turn around the economic fortunes of the county and country.

Kihika who lauded the President’s commitment to support investors setting up enterprises at the zone said the move will create 100,000 jobs for deserving youths, spur economic growth and industrialize the region.

The Governor said the zone’s proximity to the steady availability of high voltage geothermal power promises investors the lowest power tariffs of ksh.5 per kilowatt/hour of all the Special Zones and Export Processing Zones [EPZ].

Through government commitment to geothermal exploration, more than 1,000 MW of power are currently produced at the
Olkaria wells with the Rift Valley region estimated to host over 10,000 MW unexploited geothermal energy.

The government has previously commissioned one billion piped water projects from Naivasha town destined for the Industrial Park, constructed 1.5 KM of internal link roads and equipped power connections at the expansive zone.

Kihika said a close collaboration between the county and the national government will upscale more water piping to the zone to cater for the needs of the envisioned Naivasha industrial city.

In addition, the governor said the county has established a Single Business Permit aimed at streamlining ease of doing business adding that investors at the Naivasha Special zone now get land at discounted rates on an annual basis.

Consequently, Kihika said the proximity to the Inland Container Depot [ICD] will enable seamless movement of cargo and will ease handling and haulage, reducing pressure on roads.

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara lauded the operationalisation of the special zone noting that
the move will spur development, and create jobs for locals while placing Naivasha on the world map as a destination of choice for investors.

According to the Japanese ambassador to Kenya, Okinawa Ken, the establishment of the first auction of Japanese second-hand cars in Kenya is a true testament to high investor confidence in the local business environment’s attractiveness.

The ambassador said the facility will trade in reliable and highly serviced used cars, spare parts, trucks and other machinery adding that the investment will create jobs, and drive economic growth and development in the region.

On his part, Kenya Auto Bazaar Association Chairman Major John Kipchumba said the auction is a game changer in the car industry which will reduce the time needed to import the machinery by 90 percent.

Kipchumba said the use of local currency in trading at the auction will cushion traders and customers from foreign currency fluctuations currently facing financial markets.

Other companies that the government ha
s issued with licenses to invest in the Naivasha zone include Accurate Steel Mill Ltd, JAFRO SEZ, Africa Global Logistics Ltd, Ceylon Energy Ltd and Tad Moto SEZ Ltd.

In addition, the government has also earmarked other Special Economic Zones including Egerton Zone, Eldoret, Sagana, Murang’a, Busia and Ndogo Kundu in Mombasa all geared to drive the country’s industrialization agenda, increase exports and increase dollar inflows.

In a bid to attract investors to these zones, the government has instituted various fiscal and administrative incentives including exemption from stamp duty and local government’s advertisement fees and business service permits.

The firms will also enjoy preferential corporate rates of 10 per cent for the first 10 years, 15 per cent for the next 10 years and 30 per cent for the subsequent years.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Naibu kamishna wa gatuzi dogo la Rongai, William Kipchirchir ametoa onyo kali dhidi ya wale wanaoendeleza biashara ya mvinyo na pombe kali kinyume na sheria akisema kuwa watachukuliwa hatua kali ya kisheria.

Bwana Kipchirchir alisema kuwa wengi wa wale wanaomiliki maduka ya biashara za aina hiyo hufeli kuzingatia sheria kikamilifu baada ya kupokea leseni na hata kufichua kuwa wanaiendeleza biashara za uuzaji wa dawa za kulevya hata kwa vijana wa umri mdogo.

‘Serikali kupitia ushirikiano na afisi ya leseni itaendelea kupiga doria na kuhakikisha kuwa hakuna biashara ya mvinyo na pombe kali inaendelezwa katika makazi na hata shule,’ alinena Kipchirchir.

Aidha, alisema kuwa hataangalia vijana wengi wakipoteza maisha yao katika uraibu wa pombe na dawa za kulevya na hivyo basi kuwaomba washikadau wote hasa wazazi kushirikiana nao katika vita hivi ili kuona kuwa jamii inapata maadili mema yanayowezesha vijana kuendeleza maisha yao vyema.

‘Unywaji wa pombe kupita kiasi huwakosesha vijana wengi maisha marefu na ha
ta kuwanyima fursa ya kujenga taifa na hivyo basi tunapaswa kuwaelekeza mapema kabla ya mambo kwenda mrama ili waweze kujiendeleza vilivyo,” alisema Kipchirchir.

Aliongezea kuwa hata katika baa zile zinazomiliki leseni, hazitosazwa akisema kuwa zitachunguzwa kikamilifu mara kwa mara na iwapo watapatikana wamekiuka sheria basi watapokonywa leseni ya uendeshaji biashara hizo.

Kwa wale wanaouza pombe haramu nao walipewa onyo la kuhakikisha kuwa wanatii sheria na sio kuwafanyia mchezo wa paka na panya pale wanapopiga doria.

Source: Kenya News Agency

KASSERINE: The Kasserine governorate ranked second in the country in terms of number of deaths recorded in road accidents during the first quarter of 2024, according to Colonel Major Haithem Chaabeni, head of the Centre-West regional district for road safety.

65 road accidents were recorded in the region from January 1 to April 23, claiming the lives of 32 people, Chaabani said in a statement to TAP on Thursday on the sidelines of a working meeting of the regional road safety committee, noting that the Tunis governorate topped the list of victims with 37 deaths.

The meeting was devoted to adopting immediate preventive measures, deterring offenders and improving the region’s infrastructure.

According to the presentation of national road accident statistics for 2023 made at the meeting, 223 road accidents and 47 deaths were recorded nationwide, with an increase in accidents involving taxis, light vehicles and motorcycles as a result of speeding.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor of Kasserine, Ridha Rokbeni,
said the number of deaths and injuries caused by road accidents in the region was ‘alarming’.

In the same context, the governor noted that there are numerous risk points in the Kasserine governorate that require a study and immediate action, in particular the installation of speed bumps and road signs.

Rokbeni said the points studied showed that the accidents recorded in the region were due to speeding and over-speeding by taxis and light vehicles, as well as the failure of motorcyclists and their companions to wear helmets.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: “Tunisia has adopted a comprehensive strategic approach to strengthen the role of the family, ensure its cohesion and enhance the status of women in society,” said the Minister of the Family, Women, Children and the Elderly, Amel Belhaj Moussa.

This was stated in a recorded speech delivered on Wednesday during a conference entitled ‘Family Society Conference FSC 2024’ at the University of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates.

The minister stressed the need to consolidate joint Arab action to combat phenomena that could undermine family cohesion, pointing out that her ministry is implementing a number of programmes to protect families, preserve their balance and stability and enable them to meet the needs of all their members.

She explained that Tunisia is relying on a strong and consistent reform process and a legal and institutional framework to protect families and prevent phenomena such as marginalisation, delinquency and extremism.

Moussa stressed that Tunisia has adopted a policy of prevention an
d protection of children against violence and discrimination through appropriate legal frameworks and quality services, in addition to implementing a communication strategy to combat domestic violence and promote a culture of non-violence.

In this context, the Minister mentioned economic and social empowerment programmes for families, information and counselling programmes, as well as the programme for the inclusion of autistic children in schools and reporting mechanisms with psychological support for women victims of violence.

She underlined the Ministry’s commitment to improving local services for women and children victims of violence in order to protect them and avoid the difficulties of displacement by increasing the number of centres for women victims of violence.

“The number of these centres went up from 1 in 2021 to 13 in 2023, with a capacity of up to 206 beds,” she noted.

Ajman University is organising the first edition of the Family Society Conference with the participation of eminent experts
in sociology to discuss issues related to changes in family structure due to technological development and the widespread use of digital platforms.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

BEJA: The large amounts of rainfall recorded in the last 72 hours in the governorate of Beja are likely to improve the situation of almost 30% of the sown cereal areas, regional agricultural sources told TAP.

According to the same sources, the rains will also help to maintain the good condition of 35% of the cereal area.

However, Chokri Djebbi, president of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (URAP) in Beja, stressed that the recent rains would have no effect on the 35% of sown cereal areas already affected by the lack of rain since the beginning of March.

Significant amounts of rain have been recorded in the region over the last 24 hours, including 16 mm in the Nefza delegation, 9 mm in Amdoun, 6 mm at the Kasseb dam and in Beja (weather station), 7 mm in Thibar and 4 mm in Goubellat.

Professional organisations and agricultural management structures estimate that grain production in the governorate of Beja will increase in the 2023-2024 agricultural season compared with the previous season.

It should be noted that the area sown with cereals during the current agricultural season in the governorate of Beja reached 151 thousand hectares, including 7100 hectares under irrigation.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: The Institute of Press and Information Sciences (IPSI) inaugurated on Thursday a research laboratory on “Media, Communication and Transition”, which will give impetus to scientific research in this sector in Tunisia and promote its influence nationally and internationally,” President of the University of Manouba, Jouhaina Gherib said in a statement to TAP.

Gherib added that this research laboratory, which specialises in media, communication and transition, is of great importance in the era of the development of information technologies and artificial intelligence, which require in-depth analysis and a critical approach to phenomena through human sciences and communication.

She pointed out that the University of Manouba currently has 15 academic units and 34 research laboratories that have proven their effectiveness in scientific research and innovation in a number of fields, including languages, history, geography, economics and management, information technology and biotechnology.

For her part, IPS
I Director Hamida El Bour said that the new laboratory is an asset for researchers at the institute, which is the only higher education institution that offers research opportunities in information and communication sciences and welcomes researchers from several Arab countries.

El Bour pointed out that the laboratory covers four themes: “organisational communication”, “political communication”, “media and society”, including women and information literacy, and “digital information and media”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse