Day: April 29, 2024

Elgeyo Marakwet County Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek has called on Kenyans to embrace technical training for the country to realise industrial growth.

Speaking when she received the torch for Tvet’s 100-year celebrations in Iten, Prof. Cheserek said as the country gears towards industrialization, there is a need to broaden the technical capacity of the youth by ensuring they acquire the necessary skills, as they are the ones who will bring the desired change.

The deputy governor said under the Wezesha and Tujiajiri programmes, the county had enrolled 1,000 youths in its 4 Tvets and 16 vocational training centres and was planning to increase the number by another 1,000 youths next year.

She added that in Tvets, the youths were being trained for job creation, which will go a long way in addressing the youth unemployment problem, adding that they were not only training for the local market but also the international market.

The Deputy Governor said there were many government programmes going on which requir
ed skills from the technical institutions, citing the affordable housing programme among others.

Keiyo North DCC Julius Maiyo noted the importance of technical training in moving the country forward, saying that as a country, we cannot talk of wealth creation without ensuring that we have the requisite skills.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Thousands of residents in Garissa town and the neighbouring Mororo village in Tana River County have been displaced by floods after the River Tana burst its banks.

In Garissa town, residents of Bulla Punda, Kamor, Sheikh, Vumbi, Windsor, and Bulla Nyuki were forced to seek safety on higher grounds after floods from the swollen river submerged their houses.

Among the flood victims is Ibrahim Sankus Aden, 80 years old, from Bulla Punda village. He said he was forced to flee with his family of 14 children and 4 wives to Jaribu primary school after the river floods submerged his residential houses.

‘We are just camping in this open-air compound with no tents. We lost several household items and food stuff in the floods,’ said Ibrahim.

He revealed that four months ago they were forced to camp in the same school after the El Nino rains displaced them.

On the other hand, Aden Hassan Bille, the Garissa County Chairperson of Persons with Disabilities, who also serves as the chairman of Bulla Punda residents, is a
mong the internally displaced persons camping at Jaribu Primary School.

Speaking on behalf of the affected families, the chairman called for urgent donations of tents and food aid.

He said the majority of the affected families were sleeping in the cold after the river floods displaced them on Saturday night. ‘We are tired of the series of displacements; we need a lasting solution to the endless cycles of the River Tana floods,’ said Aden.

He blamed the released water dams at the Seven Forks hydroelectric station for their woes. ‘After El Nino rains, we had a meeting with officials in Kengen, and they promised that they will build more dams to address the endless crisis. The government must come up with an urgent remedy to this endless crisis,’ he stated.

He urged organisations assisting the affected families to do so via cash transfer programmes and not donations of relief food, regretting that during the El Nino floods some people looted food donations meant for the displaced families.

Batula Mohamed Lu
kumso, a representative of Bulla Kamor flood victims, appealed for urgent help, regretting that the sanitation of the schools they were camping in was bad and that some of the families were sleeping in the cold without shelter or food.

His sentiments were also echoed by Said Abdullahi, a youth leader from Bulla punda.

Several government institutions and private institutions have also been affected by the floods, among them Jamhuri Club, Galbet Chief Office, the Director Teacher Service Commission, North Eastern headquarters offices, and North Eastern Technical Training College.

Others are the Garissa livestock slaughter house, Salama Girls Secondary, and the Garissa Farmers Training Center. They have all been submerged by the River floods.

Mosques have not been spared by the deluge, with the worst hit being the Katim and Towfiq mosques in Bulla Kamor.

Sheikh Sahal Mohamed, the Imam of Tawfiq mosque, said the prayer mats and public address systems were submerged by the floods.

Meanwhile, the affected fam
ilies are constructing makeshift houses at Jaribu Primary, Kazuko Girls, Hyuga Girls, the North Eastern Police Training Centre, Iftin Primary School, and Young Muslim Secondary School in Garissa Town.

Residents of Mororo, Bakuyu,Bakuyu and Ziwani areas of Tana River County have also been displaced by floods and have sought refuge in schools in the neighbouring Garissa town.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Connected African Summit 2024 concluded with a strong collaboration on leveraging digital technologies for the African continent’s advancement.

The Connected Africa Summit 2024, which took place from April 21-25 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, featured the presence of ICT and Communication Ministers from 35 African nations, along with ambassadors from various regions.

The summit ended with a joint statement from African ICT Ministers to pursue collaboration with an ambitious goal of increasing internet access rates across Africa by 20 per cent in the next five years.

In his closing speech, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy in Kenya, Mr. Eliud Owalo, said that the delegates at the summit affirmed their dedication to propelling Africa into a digital future, emphasising the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving Africa’s digital transformation.

‘Thus, we shall train one million young Africans in digital skills by 2027 through capacity bu
ilding, which would advance our shared vision of a digitally empowered Africa by 2030,’ said Owalo.

Furthermore, the Cabinet Secretary said the collaboration will be marked by sustainability, accountability, equality, inclusion, transparency, diversity, and respect for human rights, including privacy.

The CS said through the discussions that Africa has managed to scan the operational environment to discern the challenges they have faced in the digital space and what they need to do to overcome those challenges.

The speaker emphasised the importance of recognising and addressing milestones achieved, as well as identifying and addressing gaps to ensure their sustainability in the long run.

Owalo said moving forward, they have articulated what their critical tech success factors should be, and this has informed the thematic areas of the key result areas for Africa as a continent in the technological space.

‘We have come up with programmes and activities that we need to implement,’ Owalo said, adding that th
ey aim to promote greater collaboration and fuel investment towards the achievement of Africa’s Digital Agenda 2063 and Vision 2030.

He lauded the support of the heads of state of the various countries, the government, and the legislature, saying that most of the ICT interventions the countries in Africa want to introduce require the active support of the Parliament and other key stakeholders.

‘Harmonising digital policies across the continent will fast track Africa’s ambition to position itself as the foremost global trade powerhouse under the African Continental Free Trade Area Framework,’ he said.

On the other hand, Zoho Corporation East Africa Regional Manager Veerakumar Natarajan said the Summit aims to underscore the relevance of the digital economy in driving economic growth and development, especially by supporting SME startups and innovations.

‘Zoho provides cloud-based customer relationship management software for managing sales, marketing, and customer support in a single system,’ he said, addi
ng that this helps businesses in East Africa and globally, achieve growth through digital transformation and forging local partnerships.

Natarajan said the summit provided an opportunity for African leaders, investors, and businesses like Zoho Corporation to come together, network, and harness the vast opportunities presented by the digital economy while addressing barriers and pressing issues affecting our economies.

‘The world is constantly evolving, and businesses are trying to keep up. That is where we come in by making technology work for you,’ he said, adding that the corporation offers an all-in-one suite that runs one’s entire business on Zoho unified cloud software.

The summit was officially closed by the Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua, who stated that with the advent of the digital revolution, Africa cannot afford to lag behind in harnessing massive opportunities to boost her social and economic agenda.

This year’s Connected Africa Summit 2024 theme was ‘Shaping the Future of a Conn
ected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

Forty-five people have been confirmed dead after a seasonal dam on the upper part of the Kijabe slopes burst its banks, causing gushing flash floods that decimated hundreds of homes in the Mai Mahiu area of Naivasha.

The fatal incident that occurred at around 3 a.m. on Monday caught families unaware, with fears that the number could rise as search and rescue operations continue.

So far, hundreds of rescued victims continue to receive medical attention at the area health facilities, with government, church, and private counsellors deployed to offer psychosocial support to affected family members.

Confirming the deadly and unfortunate incident, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika said 45 people have so far been confirmed dead, adding that the full impact of the dam’s burst and destruction is yet to be established.

Kihika said a full coordinated search and rescue operation involving the county, National government and Kenya Red Cross has been ongoing even as tens of residents are still reported missing.

The govern
or called on residents to report to authorities missing family members to enable the agencies to establish the exact number of affected victims and casualties.

She added that the county has mobilised all its officials towards the search and rescue operations, adding that they have onboarded private facilities in the area to help with medical evacuations and assistance.

On his part, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Kipchumba Murkomen regretted the tragedy that has caused the deaths of 45 individuals, including children, adding that a multiagency rescue operation has been activated to search for missing persons.

Murkomen said a team from the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) was helping in clearing the debris that had blocked a section of the road, causing a massive traffic gridlock.

In addition, the CS appealed to all Kenyans to adhere to and follow the government advisories issued to move to higher grounds to avert any loss of lives across the country.

According to Head of Kenya Red Cross in the So
uth Rift Region, Felix Maiyo, a team has been activated to facilitate a rescue mission in the affected area, with more fatalities expected to rise.

He appealed to Kenyans to report details of missing family members to the already established help desk after reports indicated that some family members were missing, either having been swept away by the ranging floods or buried under the debris.

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara described the incident as horrorific and terrible, adding that government agencies, humanitarian agencies, and locals are leading the evacuation and rescue of those affected.

On her part, Nakuru County Chief Officer for Public Health Joyce Ncece regretted the fatal incident, calling on the national government to activate the National Youth Service personnel to help in the rescue operations with tens of residents still missing.

Ncece at the same time appealed to the striking doctor and health personnel to resume duty and help with emergency care, adding that area health centres have been overwh
elmed as the number of victims continue to rise.

The fatal incident comes after the ongoing heavy downpours that have hit the area, causing landslides and a trail of destruction, leaving communities devastated and counting losses.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Six people, including two adults, a youth, and three minors, died on Sunday night after their houses were hit by a landslide in Kiganjo village of Gitugi ward, Mathioya Sub County.

During the 11 p.m. incident, the landslide affected three homes, destroying land of about three acres.

The deceased, including a man and his wife, a mother and her three children, who were sleeping in different houses when the incident occurred, with the rescue exercise hindered by the heavy downpour which was experienced in the area.

The landslide that also left scores of livestock dead occurred a few metres from where another incident happened four years ago.

Officials of the Kenya Red Cross, who led the rescue exercise, have called upon residents of the locality to move to safer areas as the region continues to receive heavy rains.

The County Red Cross Coordinator, Immaculate Iteba, said they are accessing the area as they advise locals to move and take refuge at the nearby Mutito Polytechnic until the rain subsides.

‘It’s
unfortunate, as we have removed six bodies from the scene. I urge the local residents to move to the Mutito Polytechnic compound, as they will be provided with safe shelter,’ said Iteba.

Gitugi MCA Edwin Mwangi noted that he is working with the County government to move residents who are living in landslide-prone areas to safe places and prevent more loss of lives through such incidents.

‘We had an ugly incident which we would not like to witness again. I have gotten in touch with the governor, and plans to move every person who is likely to be affected by the landslides are underway,’ he said.

Residents of the area, who started the rescue operation immediately after the landslide occurred, have blamed the county government for the slow response, further pleading with the disaster rescue team to avail themselves swiftly when a calamity occurs.

‘This is my home area, and we have never seen such a thing. We are asking our governor to think about our needs as the emergency response team delayed showing up at
the scene. Losing such a number in one night is so disheartening, and it has left a section of the locals in fear and distress,’ said Stephen Kimani, an area resident involved in the rescue operation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Motorists plying the Kapenguria-Lodwar Highway were forced to cancel their Monday morning journey after the road was cut off by floods between Lous Market and Kambi Karaya in West Pokot County.

West Pokot County Commissioner, Abdullahi Khalif regretted the destruction following heavy downpours that have been experienced in the area, leading to the damage.

He said traffic police from Marich Police Station were dispatched to guide motorists after authorities received reports about the damaged section.

‘Our priority is the safety and well-being of stranded travellers. We are working tirelessly to explore solutions and restore connectivity since we understand the gravity of the situation,’ said the CC.

Khalif called for patience among road users, saying relevant agencies were seeking alternative routes for transport continuity with efforts to rehabilitate the section of the highway already underway.

He cautioned travellers against becoming impatient during the ongoing heavy rains in the region and assured th
e public that prompt updates on the affected highway will be disseminated as the situation unfolds.

Travellers were stranded on both sides of the huge gulley on the road, cutting short their journeys.

There are usually a lot of transport activities on the highway that also serve those going to and coming from South Sudan.

‘The gulley is so massive that no one can risk crossing it. We are lucky we reached this point when the road had been washed away; otherwise, it would have been a disaster if it collapsed while we were crossing it,’ said James Kinuthia, a lorry driver.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is set to establish a new research centre in Uasin Gishu County.

Speaking at the County Headquarters during a courtesy call, KEMRI Board chairperson, Dr. Abdullahi Ali revealed that a budget has already been set aside to ensure that a research centre is immediately established in Eldoret.

‘Being a regional leader in researching human health, we cooperate with other organisations and institutions on research and training. Eldoret is a key component of interest as it stands as a centre for athletics and sports development; hence, issues concerning doping must be considered in research. Eldoret also hosts many institutions of higher learning and has a high cosmopolitan population, factors that set precedence for health research,’ said Dr. Ali.

Uasin Gishu County Secretary Edwin Bett, who received the delegation on behalf of the County Governor, Dr. Jonathan Bii, assured them that the county government, under the leadership of Dr. Chelilim, was prepared to give land
for the establishment of the research centre, as this would benefit the residents immensely.

‘We are the central reference point in the medical sector in the North Rift and Western regions. We host the second largest referral hospital in Kenya, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, MTRH, and also a host to a large population from the Informal sector, including Langas, Huruma, Maili Nne, Kapsoya, and other highly populated areas that require attention to incidences of disease outbreaks such as cholera and Rift Valley fever, among others,’ noted Mr. Bett.

County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development Dr. Janeth Kosgei took the team on a site visit to four parcels of Public Utility plots for the KEMRI team to identify the best-suited parcel for the project.

‘We are keen to see that the research centre is given priority; hence, we are looking at the best location that meets all its requirements, including a densely populated site, an area with readily available el
ectricity, sewerage connections, and adequate road networks,’ she noted.

CECM Health Services Abraham Serem appreciated the initiative, noting that the benefits that will come along with the research centre will be beneficial to the residents and that the project implementation will include the construction of a health facility within the research institution.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has with immediate effect suspended operations of private speed boats in the flooded Kona punda area in Madogo, Tana River County, following the tragic boat accident along the Garissa-Nairobi highway.

Speaking to the press after touring the Kona punda site where a search and rescue team is camping, Tana River Deputy County Commissioner Andrew Mutua said that stern action will be taken against anyone found defying the order.

Three bodies were retrieved on Monday morning by the search team as they continued to search for more bodies. On Sunday, the team rescued 22 people, while 23 are still missing from the ill-fated boat that had close to 45 people on board.

‘I want to make it very categorical that no boat will be allowed to ferry passengers either to or from Garissa until we give another communication when it will be safe,’ Mutua said.

‘The only boats that will be allowed are those that are searching for bodies or survivors, so anyone else, either boat owners or passengers, who try to play
monkey business here will have themselves to blame,’ he added.

The DCC, who was accompanied by Tana River Deputy Governor Mahat Loka and the county security team, stated that the government was pursuing the unlicensed boat owner, who was still at large.

He further disclosed that the security apparatus is still looking for the rider who was riding the boat at the time of the incident, with reports suggesting that he might have fled.

Mutua said the incident occurred as a result of negligence by the members of the public who were risking to cross the flooded area after the government closed the road and declared it unsafe for pedestrians.

He urged members of the public to be patient and suspend their travel plans to either Garissa, Mombasa, or Nairobi until the water levels subside.

Speaking at the Mororo area after assessing the flood situation, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama termed the boat tragedy as unfortunate and urged members of the public to avoid putting their lives at risk.

He called for the arrest
of all those who were operating the boat, which he said was unlicensed by both Garissa and Tana River counties.

‘They are criminals driven by greed; they had no regard for the safety of the public. We call upon the government to immediately apprehend them,’ said Nathif.

He also blamed the Kenya National Highways Authority for neglecting the section of the road that was destroyed by the El Nino rains.

‘How come this road was not repaired for all that duration? Why put only sand in it when they know it can easily be swept away?’ he questioned.

He called for an urgent solution to the endless floods. At Mororo, where the tragedy occurred, hundreds of people were displaced after their houses were submerged by the river floods.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has announced that the government is keenly monitoring the floods experienced across the country with a view to alleviating the suffering of citizens.

Speaking today at the Regional Commissioner’s office in Mombasa, Mwaura regretted that it is disturbing that some Kenyans are losing lives due to their daring nature by staying in flood-prone areas and their failure to be cautious about fast-moving waters.

He said that the government is focused on issuing constant reminders through different agencies to urge everyone to be observant of any danger, particularly flash floods and mudslides.

‘The country continues to experience heavy and persistent rainfall; the unfortunate results of these unfavourable weather patterns have included the destruction of property and infrastructure, the displacement of families, and the loss of lives,’ he said.

Schools have been highly impacted by adverse weather conditions across the country. The data that has been received from various gover
nment agencies indicates that learners from some schools are unable to conduct any activities due to the severe nature of floods.

‘As a government, we had earlier said that we would only deal with individual schools because we didn’t want to have a blanket postponement of the opening of schools. The various reports received have made it necessary to postpone school opening. We are going to review the matter this week on the new weather updates to help us plan forward,’ Mwaura said.

To mitigate the escalating casualty count, the government emphasises the need for immediate action, noting that a significant portion of the casualties are individuals on transit. In light of this, the government advocates for a temporary postponement of school openings to ensure the safety and well-being of students and their families.

He highlighted that they have been receiving questions as to why the report was made late and, in a rejoinder, said that it is because the government did not want to make a unilateral decision wi
thout cause or reason.

‘Therefore, to this end, through the Ministry of Education, the government has had to postpone the opening of primary and secondary schools by one week to May 6th, 2024. The move is intended to safeguard the lives of learners and staff in the affected areas and to enable the government to put in place adequate safety measures in all the identified schools and communities.

The Government Multi-Agency Response Committee on Floods is undertaking a valid emergency response to the affected population in response to the directive by the President, on April 23, 2024, to step up response efforts on the flood situation across the country.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has alerted the public about the persistent heavy rains that are likely to affect various regions, including the Lake Victoria Basin, some highlands, lowlands East and West of Rift Valley, Nairobi, and North East and Western Kenya.

The government advises the residents of these areas to keep an eye out for flash floods and
poor visibility.

Additionally, those affected can reach the National Disaster Operation Centre through the number 0800721571, and a toll-free line 1508 has also been established by the Nairobi County Emergency Operation Centre.

He noted that there have been 103 reported deaths so far due to the floods, with the Rift Valley region reporting the highest loss of 21 lives. 29 people have been injured, and 21 people have been reported as missing. Additionally, the current number of displaced households is 28,484, with approximately 185,297 people affected.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Integration Committee has affirmed the government’s pledge to enhance active participation in the East African Community (EAC) to help curb budgetary challenges crippling the regional bloc.

It has been noted that EAC has been struggling with its budget because they have been working with irregular remittances due to the financial instability of some member states.

Speaking at the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Integration held at Serena Mombasa, East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Cabinet Secretary, Penina Malonza highlighted the primary focus of their discussions, central to their agenda was the examination of integration-related matters, with a particular emphasis on budgetary considerations.

Malonza emphasised the importance of acknowledging and evaluating the contributions made by partner states within the East African Community. She said this strategic approach underscores their commitment to fostering deeper regional cooperation and realising the collective aspirations of all me
mber states.

The committee and government delegation also reviewed the performance of the East African Community over the past year. Key priorities included boosting Kenyan involvement and enhancing bilateral relations with partner states.

Emphasising her pivotal role in emergency response management within the country, she underscored the swift and effective action taken by the government in addressing the needs of the affected counties. Notably, the response efforts extended to areas such as Machakos and Nairobi, where urgent assistance was promptly delivered.

She highlighted that she is in charge of emergency response in the country and that ‘we were able to respond to some of the affected counties, including Machakos and Nairobi.’

‘We had to send boats to Machakos to rescue people, and from the report I got from the County Commissioner, the mission was successful, we also sent foodstuff to Machakos.’

She said that the Nairobi operation was led by CS Moses Kuria, who stepped in and was able to make si
gnificant strides to efficiently deliver essential supplies and food to Mathare, Mukuru kwa Njenga, and Kibera, as she was in Arusha for the consideration of East Africa’s Budget meeting.

‘We have discussed Kibera’s agenda with the Nairobi Governor, and he said that they have already given out notice for the people who have built on riparian land to evacuate,’ she noted.

The CS highlighted that they have taken proactive steps to activate a multi-agency committee jointly overseen by the Deputy President to actively formulate solutions and foster collaboration with humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross and the World Food Program. Through collective efforts, she assured that she would make a meaningful impact.

She said that they also activated the National Disaster Operation Centre and are now releasing updates daily at 3 p.m..

Source: Kenya News Agency