Day: April 26, 2024

The Principal Judge of the Environment and Land Court (ELC) Oscar Angote has urged communities to find homegrown solutions to land disputes by leveraging initiatives such as the recently established Nairobi Land Working Group.

Speaking on Thursday during the ELC Open Day and tree planting in Korogocho, Justice Angote said the working group is tasked with delving into comprehensive initiatives for enhancing land justice in Nairobi City County.

‘The working group intends to undertake this through innovative people-centred approaches such as alternative justice systems and court-annexed mediation. The working group will also engage the public and stakeholders in consultative sessions to ensure that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed,’ he told a town hall meeting with the local community at Daniel Comboni Primary School in Korogocho.

Justice Angote observed that the working group has developed guidelines and an action plan with rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place and remain
s confident that this collaborative and comprehensive approach will yield tangible results.

He noted that Nairobi County, as the economic hub of Kenya, and the region hold immense potential for growth and prosperity but also face unique challenges related to land use, planning and environmental degradation.

He announced that a similar initiative with respect to the Environment and Planning Division will be launched by the Chief Justice on June 5, 2024.

He led a team of ELC judges and staff in several tree planting initiatives on the banks of Nairobi River within Korogocho, the third largest informal settlement in Nairobi.

He reiterated the urgent need for effective environmental management and sustainable land use practices, which the court would strive to uphold in the face of recent flooding within the capital city and especially informal settlements where lives have been lost.

‘As we gather amidst these wet conditions and rivers breaching their banks, it reminds us of the interconnectedness between ou
r legal system and the environment,’ Justice Angote stated.

He said that the Environment and Land Court is tasked with resolving disputes surrounding security of land rights, sustainable management of natural resources, sound conservation and protection of ecologically sensitive areas, elimination of gender discrimination in land and encouraging communities to settle land disputes through local community initiatives.

‘Over the past 11 years, we have witnessed remarkable achievements in the administration of environmental and land justice. The court has reduced its case backlog from 30,000 cases in 2014/2015 to 16,000 in 2021/2022,’ he noted.

‘As custodians of environmental and land justice, we are committed to applying the law diligently, guided by the principles of equity and sustainability. We aim to promote fair and timely resolution of disputes while advocating for responsible stewardship of our natural resources,’ Justice Angote assured the locals.

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for
Devolution, Teresia Mbaika who joined the tree planting and addressed the gathering described the collaboration with the Environment and Land Court as vital since it did not just involve planting trees but also sowing well-cultured communities.

PS underscored that the government advocates for an inclusive approach to strategizing on how best to solve issues affecting its people.

The judges, judicial officers and staff as well as stakeholders of Milimani Environment and Land Court held an open day and engaged in a tree planting exercise to enhance dialogue on land and environmental justice.

The Open Day and tree planting event in Nairobi run concurrently in 40 counties where the Environment and Land Court has a nationwide presence.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Police in Murang’a have been educated on their role in the National Care Reform Strategy for Children as stipulated in the Children Act, 2022, as part of a multisectoral approach to the implementation of the Act.

Addressing police officers at a Murang’a hotel, the county children’s officer, Peter Nzeva said that there is need for continuous engagement of stakeholders on the changes made to the children’s act so as to ensure its proper implementation.

The children’s officer divulged that the act was set to be implemented within 10 years, starting in 2022 and ending in 2032, and it is therefore important for the Directorate of Children Services (DCS) to engage the police since they are key stakeholders.

‘We need everyone to be on board as we implement these care reforms stipulated in the act, and therefore all stakeholders need to understand their roles,’ Nzeva reiterated.

The Children Act, 2022, is an act of Parliament that makes provision for child rights, parental responsibility, alternative care of chi
ldren, including guardianship, foster care placement, and adoption.

It also makes provision for the care and protection of children and children in conflict with the law, the regulation of the administration of child services, and the establishment of the National Council for Children’s Services.

Nzeva noted that it is important for police officers to follow the right procedures whenever they deal with matters involving children, whether those children are in conflict with the law or they need care and protection.

‘Among children in need of care and protection, we have orphans, abandoned children, children facing the risk of being radicalised, children from dysfunctional families, and children who are witnesses or victims of a crime,’ he clarified.

Nzeva informed the officers on other sections of the act, including the right of privacy of child offenders, which prohibits the release of information in relation to child offenders, and the increment of the age of criminal liability from 8 to 12 years.

The o
fficer explained that the care reforms were necessitated by, among other reasons, research that showed separating children from their families seriously harms their health and development.

Timothy Oyoo of the Stahili Foundation, one of the partners in child welfare, also informed the police officers on their roles and mandates in the implementation of the National Care Reforms Strategy for children.

He explained that according to the Children Act 2022, a police officer is an authorised officer and is given relative power to intervene in child issues in their best interests, and that the police officer designated to handle children cases needs to collaborate with the DCS to ensure the safety of the children in the Child Protection Unit (CPU) within the stations.

He added that a police representative is mandated to form part of the children’s advisory committee at the devolved levels and participate in gatekeeping on children’s issues, and that each police station will establish a child protection unit and a
ssign an officer to it, and its operation will be guided by the set regulations.

Oyoo said that the officers will be required to physically escort children that are in conflict with the law to court and back to remand homes as needed.

‘Within 24 hours of committal, police officers should escort children who have been committed to rehabilitation schools,’ he said,

‘Also, the officers should notify the children’s officer and guardian within 24 hours after the rescue or arrest of an alleged child offender,’ he added.

Oyoo further divulged that the inspector general is directed to constitute a special police unit with the duties to deal with children’s matters, prevent and control child offenses, apprehend child offenders and investigate child offenses.

He informed the officers that other related general roles of police include supporting caseworkers in ensuring their security during rescue operations.

They should also ensure the apprehension of perpetrators of child abuse and carry out conclusive investiga
tions in such cases, as well as support other gatekeepers in maintaining law and order that leads to upholding the rights of children.

He noted that it is important for police officers to continuously familiarise themselves with the Children’s Act 2022 and actively play their designated role in the implementation of the care reforms.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Principal Secretary for Mining Elijah Mwangi has warned all illegal miners in Migori County to cease operations and seek legal mining licences.

Mwangi who led a multi-agency security team and mining officials in an operation to enforce the closure orders in nine illegal large-scale mining operators in the county said that anyone who will be involved in the illegal mining business would face the full force of the law.

The operation nabbed 32 illegal miners, two Kenyans and 30 foreigners of Chinese origin. If found guilty the culprits may face a jail term not exceeding two years or a fine of not less than two million shillings and no more than Sh10 million or both according to the Kenya Mining Act of 2016.

The Act also gives power to the Inspectors of Police and Inspectors of Mining to arrest those violating the Mining Act within their jurisdictions.

The PS said that all illegal mining operations will remain closed and perpetrators arrested until all those involved in the mining chain of processing and
distribution acquire the mining, processing and dealership licences to operate.

Mwangi said that the country was losing a lot of revenue resources that could have benefited the national and county governments due to illegal miners.

The official also added that the illegal mining activities have continued to violate the environmental laws leading to environmental degradation that has become a big threat to the surrounding communities.

In March this year, one of the illegal mining processing plants in Nyatike Sub County discharged its waste to one of the spring water points resulting in six people being hospitals while three cows and goats perished.

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and National Administration. Prof. Kithure Kindiki while on a security tour in the County in late March, gave out closure orders to all illegal miners but the miners have been defying the closure orders and operating their sites with impunity.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology targets to promote the planting of tamarind trees in all 21 hilltops in Siaya county.

According to lead research fellow Dr Joseph Odhiambo, the university has earmarked the planting of tamarind trees to mitigate climate change and also because of their high medicinal value.

Dr. Odhiambo stated that the university is engaged in initiatives to support the county government of Siaya among them the growing of tamarind trees on the hilltops in a bid to boost the forest cover in the region which is currently below 2%.

‘Once grown, the tamarind trees will last for the next 75 years, which will guarantee forest cover and mitigate climate change,’ said Dr Odhiambo.

He added that five years after the planting of the tamarinds, they will bear fruits that have medicinal value and are used for diabetes and cancer treatments.

The research fellow observed that only three out of the 21 hilltops in the region are gazetted and therefore asked the county and nati
onal governments to work hand in hand to ensure the remaining hilltops are gazetted in time before the commencement project early next year.

‘The gazettment of the hilltops is necessary to ensure protection of the planted tree by providing fencing to avert encroachment into the conservation areas,’ Odhiambo stated.

The project proposed by the university will be funded by USAID and the government of France to a tune of 2 million euros (Sh289 million).

Source: Kenya News Agency

In an effort to reduce effects of climate change, West Pokot County has been making notable advancements in its endeavours to increase tree cover and reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent by the year 2032.

On Thursday, a tree planting campaign at Kapenguria Division Forest Station, within Kapenguria constituency, resulted in the planting of 21,000 trees.

The tree planting initiative aligns with President William Samoei Ruto’s pledge to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent within the same timeframe.

Speaking during the launch of the long rains tree planting exercise at Kapenguria forest station in Kaprech village, West Pokot County, County Forest Conservator Benjamin Kore emphasised the importance of planting trees in the forest to increase tree cover and reduce carbon emissions.

He emphasised that the tree planting initiative was launched due to the absence of trees in the forest and the presence of invasive species that were causing disruption to the ecosystem.

He th
anked organisations such as Perur Ray of Hope Organisation, International Tree Foundation, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) for the donation of tree seedlings.

He said that invasive plants tend to spread and disturb ecosystems in natural areas like forest preserves, ultimately out-competing native plants and disrupting the ecosystem’s balance adding that invasive plants possess the capability to swiftly adjust to new surroundings, reproduce rapidly, and harm the native species, ecosystems, property, or economy of the area.

To address the issue, Mr. Kore stated the need to remove invasive tree species and replace them with native trees such as elgon tick and jamun tree, among others.

He mentioned that the Perur Ray of Hope Organization, along with the International Tree Foundation, provided 20,000 tree seedlings for planting at the Kapenguria Division Forest Station, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) donated 1000 tree seedlings for planting
at Karas government forest.

Mr. Kore explained that the region served as a crucial water catchment area, supplying water to neighbouring communities and contributing to the Nzoia River, Kerio Valley, and Lake Victoria.

”The Kenya Forest Services (KFS) has not encountered significant challenges in their operations because of a positive relationship with the local community in their conservation and protection efforts,” Mr. Kore noted.

He commended the local community for their active role in forest conservation and urged them to continue with their efforts.

Kapenguria Division Assistant County Commissioner Ms. Ruth Wachera urged residents to consider planting fruit-bearing trees in their homesteads in addition to native trees in the forest as part of an agro-forestry programme.

She also emphasised the importance of actively protecting the forest by reporting any tree destruction to Kenya forest officers.

Wachera further advised residents to participate in tree planting initiatives whenever called upon.

Highlighting the significance of Kapkanyar forest as a water source for Kerio and Nzoia rivers, she encouraged planting more native trees in the region to ensure sustainable water supply.

Wachera stressed that tree planting in the forest is just the beginning, and residents should also plant trees at home, especially fruit and wood trees, to promote environmental conservation through a forestry growth initiative.

Caroline Menach, who serves as the St. Elizabeth Girls Morpus Secondary School principal and the director of Perur Ray of Hope Organisation, expressed her gratitude to the residents of Kaprech and the Kenya forest officials for taking the time to initiate tree planting during the rainy season.

She emphasised the importance of protecting forests by planting more trees to maintain a healthy environment.

She noted that by planting trees, the forest cover is enhanced, contributing to food security and improved livelihoods.

She disclosed that Perur Ray of Hope has partnered with the International Tre
e Foundation (ITF) to restore the depleted forest cover by planting native trees.

Menach highlighted the need for rehabilitating the forest with native trees that have been lost.

She noted that at the tree planting exercise in the forest, they used strip planting with the aim of replacing the missing trees in the forest.

She noted that tree planting plays a crucial role in combating climate change, with a target of planting over 1.5 million trees in the county.

The teacher commended the Kenya forest officials for actively involving communities in tree planting and providing education and empowerment to emphasise the importance of forest cover.

She noted that the collaborative effort between Perur Ray of Hope, International Tree Foundation, and the government aims to increase forest cover and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

She mentioned the recent floods in Nairobi and landslides in West Pokot as examples of the effects of climate change, emphasising the need for preventive measures.

Menach was
honoured with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and the Head of State’s Commendation (HSC) a couple of years ago for her contribution to community development initiatives.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Heavy rains have continued to cause widespread havoc in the Nyatike Sub-County, with more than 50 households already affected by the rising waters of Lake Victoria.

Migori County Red Cross Coordinator Kevin Ondiek said that there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance to help the affected 556 residents in Konyango and Kabuto villages.

According to the Migori Red Cross Situational Report, there are eight households in Angugo evacuation centre, but integration is encouraged because the existing evacuation centres do not meet the minimum requirements.

Ondiek said that humanitarian organisations, government agencies, and local volunteers are working tirelessly to assist the affected population.

Already CARE Kenya is providing medical care and psychosocial support for trauma-affected individuals.

Senior Chief Phillip Orwa of the Lower Central Kadem Location acknowledged that multiple beaches in Nyatike, including Lwanda, Kawo, and Kimamra, have already been submerged, while rising water levels in Lake
Victoria are damaging homes and infrastructure.

North Kadem ward, Lower Central Kadem location and West Kanyuor sub-locations, Gingo, Modi, Makongeni, Nyora, Angugo, Aneko and Kabuto villages have been affected by the floods.

Orwa expressed concern that continued rainfall could further impact the community, leading to possible delays in school re-openings. Some of the affected schools include Emori, Angugo, Nyora, Modi and Kabuto primary and secondary schools.

His concerns were echoed by Brian Ochieng, a resident of Lawanda Konyango, who mentioned that the floods have devastated several areas, including schools, casting doubt on whether they can resume operations as planned.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Mombasa County Commissioner (CC) Mohamed Noor has assured residents and visitors of security days after criminals were captured by Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) mugging a shopper along Haile Selassie Road.

CC Noor directed the halting of a feeding programme for street families being conducted by a cement firm as it harbours criminals who are belligerent once they are full of food and are a menace to pedestrians. Most of the street families are from the neighbouring Kilifi and Kwale counties.

The CC noted that although the programme is noble in assisting the less fortunate it has been infiltrated by criminals and directed the County Security and Intelligence Committee (CSIC) to contact the cement firm to suspend the free food distribution.

The CC challenged philanthropists to devise a long-term solution to empower the youths to earn a living but not through free food which is not sustainable in the long run.

‘Criminals when they are full after eating breakfast, lunch and supper start to mug people. As a
government, we will not allow the continuation of that. If we want to help people it must be well structured,’ said CC.

CC Noor further promised to come up with a strategy to assist the less fortunate in partnership with the county government.

‘It is a shame in a big town for people to be mugged in broad daylight in CBD by youths who are fond of terrorising people after eating free food. We have directed the programme to be stopped as we find a way of helping the vulnerable,’ he said.

Security committees have been ordered to close down all dens in their localities where street urchins used to stay.

On Wednesday, the CSIC planned and carried out operations in the Central Business District (CBD) after social media was awash with a video of a shopper being mugged moments after he stepped out of a supermarket.

‘We have been able to nab 150 people among them suspects and those who have been terrorising residents in Mombasa CBD.

The operations will continue. We have extended it to Kisauni where yesterday nigh
t we arrested 27 people. We also nabbed one-kilogramme brooms of bhang,’ said CC Noor promising heightened security across the county to weed out criminals.

He added that they have stepped up efforts to ensure the coastal city is safe and people go on with their day-to-day activities without fear.

‘Traders should open their businesses without fear. Shoppers should buy without looking over their shoulders. Those visiting CBD at night should not be anxious,’ stated the CC, assuring traders of their safety without interference.

Meanwhile, the CC disclosed that the war on drugs and alcohol is paying off as some users have started to exhibit withdrawal symptoms for heroin as a result of the shortage of the drug.

Source: Kenya News Agency

African countries have been urged to invest in industrial skill development through training so as to compete effectively in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In a three-day educational conference, Partnership for Skills in Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (PASET) held in Nairobi and attended by several African countries, it was resolved that there is need to increase fund allocations towards training and skills development in the Technical and Vocational training colleges (TVET) in order to meet the required skilled labour force.

‘African countries need to attract more resources and invest in training, research, and innovation,” said the Rwandan Minister for Education Claudette Irere.

It was noted that in the past, the organisation has been targeting and supporting university students and postgraduates in their scholarship, but now the attention is shifting towards technical and vocational training students.

Thus, this year’s theme emphasised the importance of utilising technical and vocatio
nal training in a knowledge and skills ecosystem for Africa’s industrialization.

Irere, who is also the current PASET chair, said African countries will reap big if they invest in their youth through TVET institutions by providing them with industry-guided skills, where the training institutions are linked with industries for practical learning to avoid skills mismatch.

On his part, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education Ezekiel Machogu stressed the need for African collaboration in all education matters saying it was time the continent came together to address issues of industrial development.

Machogu said Africa never featured prominently in all the first phases of industrial revolutions adding, ‘There were the first, second and third industrial revolutions; Africa never featured; we are now in the fourth revolution and we need to be counted.

In his final proposal to the participating Countries, while closing the Three-day conference at safari park hotel in Nairobi, the CS said there is need fo
r resource mobilization, harmonization of TVET training across Africa, capacity build trainers and infusion of industries in Tvet training .

Source: Kenya News Agency

As floods continue to cause havoc owing to heavy rains across the country, Trans Nzoia residents have been put on high alert.

The alarm bells have been sounded by Red Cross as leaders across the political divide pushed the government to declare the terrifying floods a national disaster.

This comes as River Sabwani in Kwanza Sub County starts to show signs of imminent overflow.

In the past, whenever the river stretches beyond its limit, residents of Namanjalala area were usually left counting losses, and even some were displaced.

Speaking to KNA, Trans Nzoia County Red Cross Coordinator Ruth Miningwo urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground with immediate effect before the situation gets out of hand.

Saying that no deaths had so far been reported in the area, Miningwo advised the public to take precautionary measures before it was too late.

As she advised people to move to higher grounds, the coordinator singled out the slopes of Mt. Elgon and Cherangany Hills as places t
o be avoided, saying that the two are prone to landslides.

Meanwhile, the coordinator called for a multi-sectoral approach to properly deal with the effects of the ongoing heavy rains, which are not showing signs of subsiding.

‘For the country to properly deal with the effects of the heavy rains, a close working relationship between government agencies and the public is essential. As Red Cross, we are in touch with the government and other like-minded bodies to ensure that no more lives are lost,’ she said, while urging the public to closely follow and urgently respond to directives from the government.

As part of the safety tips, Miningwo advised residents who are connected to electricity supply to ensure main switches are off whenever there are overflows.

‘We are telling our people not to risk their lives by adhering to simple precautionary measures like avoiding crossing flooded rivers. There are designated rescue centres at community levels in the flood prone areas. For instance, at Namanjalala we hav
e the market area as the rescue centre, while Marinda, Maridadi and Kapsitwet have the chiefs’ camps as rescue centres,’ she added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru County’s Department of Health under the Nutrition and Dietetics unit aims to revolutionise maternal nutrition, breastfeeding practices and complementary feeding in the community through training.

The team has had a week-long training in Subukia Sub County, where Community Health Promoters (CHPs) from Munanda, Edgewood, and Tetu community units were educated on the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI).

The County Nutrition Coordinator, Wangui Kihara speaking during the closing ceremony said the BFCI programme would be championed and promoted by the CHPs so as to protect and support maternal and child health in the county.

The nutritionists noted that diet determines the health of the infant and can also influence the baby’s health into adulthood, adding that if a growing foetus is inadequately nourished in the womb, it increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood.

Some of the nutritious foods that are beneficial to expectant mothers include vegetables, pum
pkin, sweet potatoes, fruits such as oranges, mangoes or any other seasonal fruits in their community.

Kihara emphasised the importance of a nutritious diet in all family setups to reduce the high rate of 26 percent of stunted children under the age of five years countrywide.

Furthermore, she said the prevalence of stunting among children aged five and below in Africa currently stands at 30 percent, which is significantly higher than the global estimate of 22.3 percent.

The training which was supported by World Vision aims to establish mother-to-mother support groups, which is a key agenda item for the county to improve and reduce childhood diseases by having healthy and thriving babies.

Source: Kenya News Agency