Day: May 7, 2024

Residents of Kiambu County are utilising different methods of water harvesting to make the most out of the recent heavy rainfall from the El Nino phenomenon that has been across the county.

The rains that have been ongoing for the past month have claimed the lives and property of many, but those fortunate enough not to have been severely affected have taken advantage of the persistent rainfall to bolster their water harvesting infrastructure to allow for more water-saving and preparedness measures.

The Kenya Meteorological Department estimated rainfall set to cover Kiambu during the March-April May ‘long rain’ season to receive between 400mm to 600mm of rainfall following the first week of June 2024, and some of the recommendations to the public included enhancing water harvesting from the slightest downpour.

County Meteorological Department head Magdalene Gateri highlighted the impacts that different sectors would feel during the rainy season in a report on the ongoing rains in the county and identified t
he importance of sustaining the water, irrigation, and sanitation sectors.

‘We are advising Kiambu residents to take the opportunity to enhance their water harvesting methods during the long rain period, as well as prepare for possible floods throughout the season,’ she said.

William Kamau, a local farmer, has been worried about the amount of rainfall that has been experienced since the heavy rainfall began, though he has a few water tanks which he has been able to continuously fill during this time, which has been good for his greenhouse farming.

‘I started this greenhouse for many years, and this has always been my method of ensuring I have an adequate supply of water for my plants. With all this rain, I am now able to harvest more water for my tanks,’ he said.

Jane Wanjine has also embraced her water-harvesting infrastructure to prepare for the future. She has a water transportation business and has been very keen to read the seasonal county forecasts. This has helped her prepare for previous rainy sea
sons, but this recent downpour has been unexpected.

‘I’m lucky to have a house that can’t be swept away because the rains have been devastating around the country. I installed underground water storage tanks many years ago, and now they are being put into good use. I can also transport water to places like apartments that might have water shortage issues,’ she said.

Kenya’s recent heavy rainfall could be attributed to a combination of climate change and the Indian Ocean Dipole, a weather event that warms the Western Indian Ocean, bringing with it rain for most of the countries in the region.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Digital trade is now a mainstay feature of our modern world, and today’s digital economy and data cannot be constrained by national boundaries, the Principal Secretary for ICT and The Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, has said.

The Internet, he added, is a powerful engine of economic growth that has fostered competitive trade markets, enabling companies of all sizes and in all sectors to compete in a global marketplace free from geographic limitations.

Making his remarks on Navigating the Global Data Privacy Landscape and Promoting Data Flows during the Network of Africa Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) Conference, today, Eng. Tanui said that it is not only large enterprises that benefit from digital trade.

‘A global study found that small and medium-sized companies that rely heavily on Internet services typically have 22 per cent greater revenue growth than those that use the Internet minimally,’ he said.

‘Small and medium-size businesses are able to connect with billions of potential customers around
the world, competing on the quality of products rather than location,’ the PS said, noting that the free flow of data is also critical to traditional businesses such as manufacturers, health care providers, educators, and financial institutions.

He noted that Kenya hosting the 2024 conference and bringing a membership of 22 countries plus seven other countries to have a conversation about data privacy and data protection is special for not only the country but the continent.

‘We are very keen to ensure that some of the key global issues affecting the digital economy are discussed here. We are looking at how we can ensure that businesses can exchange data easily. How can we facilitate digital trade on the continent? How can we work with other continents like the US and the rest of the world?’ he said.

He noted that the government recognises the need to leverage technology for the social-economic development of the nation despite the increasing volume and complexity of data being exchanged across borders.

‘
Concerns about data privacy and security have rightfully come to the forefront. As stewards of our citizens’ digital rights, it is incumbent upon us to strike a delicate balance between facilitating the flow of data for economic growth and ensuring robust safeguards to protect individuals’ privacy,’ the PS said.

Eng. Tanui added that there is need to forge partnerships with like-minded countries and organisations to promote cross-border data flows while upholding high standards of data protection.

This, he said, will include exploring mechanisms such as adequacy decisions, which facilitate the seamless transfer of data between jurisdictions that have comparable levels of data protection and regulation harmonisation to ensure consistency and clarity for businesses and consumers alike.

He, however, said that in addressing cross-border Data transfer, both data localization requirements and privacy regulations must be considered, and it is therefore imperative that governments work together to understand the u
nderlying interests when developing solutions to ensure that local privacy regimes do not unnecessarily restrict trade.

‘I want to dispel some prevalent myths surrounding cross-border data transfers that this panel should aim to address. In a world increasingly connected by data, it’s crucial to understand the implications of policies that seek to localise data within national borders.

The PS said that it is a myth that localization of data centres will create jobs and enhance security, noting that the reality is that jobs are created by businesses leveraging a global network of data centres, focusing on efficiency rather than geographical location.

Data Commissioner, Immaculate Kasait, said that the Conference aims at facilitating the sharing of knowledge and experiences among African data protection authorities in order to strengthen the implementation of robust data protection frameworks.

‘The Conference will provide a platform for capacity building and showcase best practices in data governance on eme
rging technologies and initiatives.

In terms of cross-border data exchange with the EU and Africa, Kasait said that Kenya is currently in conversation with the EU, noting that the Country’s framework is robust in terms of attracting investment and being one of perhaps the best in terms of data protection.

‘Africa is growing, and when you look at the growth in Africa, when we have free data flows, the market is enormous, and job opportunities for the youth will be meaningful in what we call business process outsourcing, and we are looking at jobs in hundreds.

She, however, noted that what is important and the reason for harmonising frameworks in Africa is to make sure that flow data can move from here, go to Niger, go to Angola, and go to Gambia, without any restrictions.

‘It will just be like working into what we have in East Africa. You only need your ID to move to Uganda, to move to Tanzania, and to move to the Congo. That is what data flow means. A success in free data flows in Africa, means that we ca
n transact online and increase e-commerce,’ Kasait said.

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, is mandated to promote International Cooperation in matters relating to Data Protection and ensure compliance on Data Protection obligations under international conventions and agreements.

Kenya, through this office, applied for and joined the Network of Data Protection Authorities (NADPA/RAPDP) in May 2021, with the aim of promoting cooperation among African countries on matters relating to Personal Data Protection.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government is keen on ensuring the restoration of the ecosystems-degraded forests, riparian areas, wetlands, and water towers-in the country to deal with the effects of climate change.

The Cabinet Secretary in charge of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Ms. Soipan Tuya, who spoke at Nashulai Conservancy Training College in Narok West during a graduation ceremony of 39 Narok County enforcement officers, said the climate crisis has reached catastrophic levels in the country.

‘To ensure we restore our degraded forests, our wetlands, our riparian areas, and our water towers, the plan to plant 15 billion trees is the easiest responsibility we have as a country,’ the CS said.

The CS added that the climate change crisis facing the country is characterised by heavy rainfall and resultant flooding sweeping across the entire country.

‘The emergency response measures are short-term. The long-term goal that will make sure that we never get back to these catastrophic levels is to ensure the restoration of
our degraded ecosystems,’ added CS.

The CS has urged Kenyans to make environmental conservation a personal responsibility, adding that the government plans to unveil a revitalised tree-growing programme in the coming days when the heavy rainfall subsides.

In addition, the CS has said the government’s rollout of a revitalised 15 billion national tree-growing plan would ensure that every Kenyan plays a role in the initiative.

She said the national government, through the Cabinet, is going to be at the frontline with each Cabinet Secretary, by the directive of the Cabinet, having been assigned a site where they’d take responsibility to plant trees, nurture them to maturity, and set aside a day every month to rally Kenyans around the country on tree planting.

CS Tuya, accompanied by Narok County Governor Patrick Ntutu, also delivered government relief supplies to the locals displaced by floods.

The CS thanked benefactors, including county governments, the Red Cross, and other partners, for supporting those a
ffected by the floods.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kisumu City is experiencing water shortage due to supply disruptions from the main Lake Victoria intake.

The affected areas include Dunga, Nyamasaria, Central Business District, Arina, Milimani, Manyatta, Nyalenda, Poly View, Ondiek, Industrial Area, Dr. Robert Ouko, Kisumu National Polytechnic, and Nubian. Whereas, key health facilities, among them Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, and Lumumba Hospital, have also been affected.

Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO) Managing Director Thomas Odongo attributed the shortage to large tidal waves in Lake Victoria due to adverse weather conditions being experienced in the area. Meanwhile, Odongo has advised residents to store enough water and use it sparingly due to the impact on water abstraction from the lake at the main intake.

‘In light of these circumstances, we strongly advise customers residing in the above areas to store enough water and use it sparingly during this period of uncertainty,’ he said. Hence, a
technical team from KIWASCO, he said, was on standby and will work round the clock to ensure steady supply.

Furthermore, the heavy rains being experienced in the areas have seen a rise in water levels in the lake, with some areas experiencing a backflow from the water body. This, coupled with the tidal waves, has seen over 5,000 people displaced in Kadibo Sub-County.

Meanwhile, the government has directed all people doing business along the shores of the lake and those residing within the riparian areas to move to safer grounds to avert loss of lives.

Kisumu County Commissioner (CC) Benson Laparmorijo said so far, 40,000 people have been displaced by floods in Kisumu.

The County Commissioner said the government has mobilised food and non-food items to support the victims, who are currently in evacuation camps.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Murang’a County Government has established a new department for devolution and external linkages.

The new department is meant to oversee the implementation of the World Bank’s support for devolution under a programme dubbed the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP II).

The office of the Principal Secretary State Department for Devolution had advised counties which are listed to benefit from KDSP II, Murang’a included, to establish a department for devolution so as to enable the absorption of the funds set for the programme.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata stated in a press statement on Tuesday that the newly created department has necessitated the merger of two departments of trade and agriculture.

Kang’ata indicated that the merger of the two departments would create one department, namely Agriculture, Trade, Industrialization, and Cooperatives, which would be headed by County Executive Member (CEM) Paul Kimani Mugo.

‘The chief officers to serve in the merged departments will be Dr. Apollo Kamau and Va
inusha Yussuff. The two chief officers will discharge their duties that they were handling in the hitherto separate departments,’ Kang’ata highlighted in the statement.

On the other hand, the newly created Department of Devolution and External Linkages will be headed by Dr. Kamau Kiringai.

The roles of Kiringai will include coordination and facilitation of intergovernmental relations between the national and county governments and facilitating the integration of objects and values of devolution in the county’s development process.

He will also be entrusted to monitor, evaluate, and oversee the management of devolved functions under the county government and mobilise funds, especially with partners outside the traditional sources of revenue.

At the same time, the department will be expected to establish external linkages nationally and internationally to provide the county with both financial and technical support.

Source: Kenya News Agency

There is need for the African continent to develop coordination mechanisms where all stakeholders will sit at the same table and develop action plans that address issues of fertiliser and soil health.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, said issues of fertiliser and soil health cut across different jurisdictions, an issue that requires all stakeholders to deliberate and come up with effective and long-lasting solutions.

Musalia, who was speaking on Tuesday during the Second African Fertiliser and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, also urged participants of the summit to come up with financing proposals that are practical and achievable.

‘This is the only way to reach the targets set within the action plans as the economies recover,’ he stated.

The three-day event that has been hosted by the Kenyan government in collaboration with the African Union (AU) has brought together over 20
00 stakeholders from across the continent to evaluate the state of Africa’s soil health, network on how best issues affecting agriculture can be addressed, and engage in business at the event themed ‘Listen to the Land’ that will culminate into a high-level Presidential Summit.

In the Maputo Declaration in July 2003, Heads of State and Governments endorsed the commitment to the allocation of at least 10 per cent of national budgetary resources to agriculture and rural development policy implementation within five years.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary said he is aware that it has been difficult for the majority of African governments to allocate budgets to agriculture and rural development at the level anticipated in the Maputo declaration due to the effects of COVID-19 that have affected the economic performance of most countries and the world. Countries have also been compounded by competing resource allocation needs.

The AFSH Summit, which will be the continent’s largest soil health forum, will be held unde
r the leadership of President William Ruto and Chaired by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Musalia said the summit has been held at a challenging time when millions of Africans across the continent are facing severe food and nutrition insecurity, an issue that requires the continent to come up with long-term and sustainable strategies on how to feed the growing African population.

He expressed appreciation to the Heads of State and Government from the AU who have provided the policy framework and guidance on the key focus of the summit, singling out the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, which he noted has served as the framework for action for agricultural transformation across Africa since 2003.

‘We laud the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, an AU initiative, which supports member states in increasing investment and productivity in the agricultural sector,’ added Musalia.

In his remarks, Cabinet Secretary for Agricultu
re and Livestock Development Mithika Linturi said soil fertility depletion has been cited as the fundamental root cause of declining per capita production due to continuous mining of soil nutrients and inappropriate farming practices, among them the use of blanket fertiliser recommendations.

He singled out crop productivity, food insecurity, a low return on agricultural investment, and environmental degradation as some of the negative effects of land degradation.

‘There is need for Kenya to utilise its available land for agriculture in a sustainable manner to avoid putting pressure on the soils,’ said the CS.

He announced that only 19 per cent of Kenya’s land area is arable for crop production, while that under cereals production accounts for approximately 2.7 million hectares (47 per cent) of the total arable land, which he noted puts a lot of pressure on the soils.

Some of the key declarations and commitments made by African Continent Heads of State and Government to drive agricultural productivity to i
mprove food, nutrition, and security are the Abuja Declaration in 2006, where the declaration on fertiliser for the African Green Revolution identified the need to increase fertiliser use to stimulate agricultural productivity growth to end hunger and poverty in Africa.

In the Malabo Declaration of June 2014, African leaders declared their commitment to end hunger by 2025, and during the Soil Initiative for Africa held in September 2020, the African Union Commission issued a call to improve the health and productivity of Africa’s soils and scale proven and locally adapted technologies.

Others who spoke at the meeting were the Uganda Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries and Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment, Frank Tumwebaze, and the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission, Amb. Josefa Sacko.

The Summit was attended by Ministers
from the African continent.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has constituted a 10-member committee to address the current flood situation in the vast county.

Speaking at a Kabarnet resort on Monday, Governor Cheboi said that the multi-sectoral team, to be led by County Acting Director for Disaster and Risk Management Michael Baimet, was expected to come up with both short- and long-term measures to mitigate the natural disaster.

The governor revealed that the team would burn the midnight oil and table a comprehensive report of the current situation in the county within 24 hours in order to advise on areas of mobilisation.

He regretted that there was a likelihood of thousands of displaced residents, sleeping out in the cold, who needed to be separated to avoid cases of gender-based violence amongst men, women, and children.

‘The affected households urgently need relief food and non-food items, including mosquito nets and sanitation facilities, as well as health and nutrition interventions during this flooding period,’ he added.

Cheb
oi, who was accompanied by County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa, County Assembly Deputy Speaker Kipruto Kimosop, and County Police Commander Julius Kiragu, urged all stakeholders present in the meeting to forward pictures, numbers of the affected people, and properties as evidence in order to guide the report.

Kutwa, in his remarks, urged residents to exercise caution by moving to higher and safer grounds during this rainy season to avert losses of lives and properties.

He noted that the rains, which have pondered the area for the past two weeks, have rendered some roads in the county impassable and destroyed vegetation cover, especially in the lower parts of Baringo South and North Sub-counties.

Kimosop, who called on the county committee to get accurate data after comparing notes with the various stakeholders, urged both levels of governments to remove unnamed barriers, which he said were limiting funding for such disasters.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) County Coordinator Caleb Kibet said his organisatio
n conducted a two-day rigorous assessment and managed to identify 1,200 households and 29 affected schools in the county.

Kibet stated that they managed to evacuate 1,048 individuals in Baringo South, noting that no casualties have been reported due to flash floods in the county so far.

He added that the evacuated people in the last two days of the intense rescue mission were able to be settled into six camps, with Loitip and Iti Primary Schools hosting the largest number of households at 476 and 192, respectively.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Consumers in Nyeri County could soon be forced to dig deeper into their pockets to afford food commodities as floods continue to wreak havoc on farms and roads, causing delays in the delivery of commodities to the markets.

Traders from Nyeri who spoke to Kenya News Agency say that as much as the County has not been badly hit by the floods, the heavy rains have cut off their access to fresh produce from farmers from the neighbouring counties, leaving them with little choice but to pass down the additional cost to the consumer.

A spot check at the Soko Mjinga and Nyeri open-air market shows that a 70-kilogramme crate of tomatoes is retailing at Sh 6,000, up from Sh 4,000 in April. A kilogramme of red onions is currently retailing at between Sh 180 and Sh 200 per kilogramme. This is a Sh20 increase in price from the already pricey Sh160 that consumers were paying in April for a kilogramme of the commodity.

Lucy Mugure, a market vendor at Nyeri open air market, said that traders are now faced with the huge tas
k of accessing the staples as well as convincing customers to buy the commodities at hiked prices. According to Mugure, traders are also confounded with a new challenge due to the wet weather, as the storage of food items has become an uphill task.

‘When we experience heavy rainfall, fresh vegetables tend to rot or turn black and go bad easily. This has left us counting losses as the products are going bad before you recover your profit,’ she said.

For Mary Warui, another trader, the heavy downpour has created a vicious cycle where farmers are complaining about farm produce rotting on farms while those who had managed to harvest remain stranded with farm produce due to impassable roads. Ms. Warui, who deals in vegetables, says that this has negatively impacted the cost of transporting food staples from the farm to the market, with traders footing the higher transport charges.

‘When we prayed for rain, this is not what we expected. The rains destroyed farm produce, roads have been rendered impassable, and a
ccessing interior farms where we get our produce has become a huge challenge. At the moment, we are grappling with many challenges, and the biggest one is that the cost of doing business is very high, especially for us traders,’ said Ms. Warui.

Her sentiments were echoed by Janet Mwangi, a potato vendor, who warned of a possible potato shortage in the coming days. Ms. Mwangi says that traders have had to increase the price of a 17-kilogramme bucket of potatoes by Sh 200 to ensure that they remain in business.

She said despite potatoes being plentiful in the farms, most farms were either flooded or roads leading to the farms had been cut off by the heavy downpour, and she is asking the government to take quick and adequate steps to improve the state of roads.

‘A bucket that we previously sold for Sh 800 is now selling at Sh 1000. There are farmers who have produce which cannot be harvested because the farms are waterlogged. And even if they harvest, they cannot access the market because of the poor state of
our roads,’ she said.

‘We are selling what was left before the floods started, and that is the main reason there are no potatoes in the market. We are asking the government to improve drainage systems to avoid floods in arable lands and also to ensure that we remain in business,’ she added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Kenyans, particularly during the ongoing floods.

Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki said that as the floods persistently affected various regions, ensuring access to safe and nutritious food remained paramount in their efforts to protect public health.

‘Foodborne illnesses pose a significant threat to our communities, with diarrhoea outbreaks largely attributed to the consumption of contaminated food and water,’ explained Muriuki.

The PS highlighted that typhoid, dysentery, gastroenteritis, aflatoxin poisoning, brucellosis, and cholera were among the prevalent diseases plaguing the nation, adding that these health risks underscored the critical importance of prioritising food safety management, especially in the wake of natural disasters like floods.

According to the PS, key factors contributing to foodborne illnesses include cross-contamination, unsafe food sources,
inadequate cooking, improper storage, and poor personal hygiene practices.

‘Recognising these risks, the Ministry of Health remains vigilant in its efforts to mitigate the spread of diseases and safeguard public health,’ she said.

The PS said that a particular concern amidst the current flood crisis is the contamination of maize flour, cereals, and pulses with aflatoxin, exacerbated by heavy rains.

She explained that factors such as improper harvesting, drying methods, and inadequate storage significantly contributed to aflatoxin contamination, posing serious health risks to consumers.

‘In collaboration with our partners, the Ministry of Health is actively engaged in initiatives aimed at protecting consumers from the adverse effects of unwholesome foods. By fostering cooperation and collective action, we can ensure the safety and integrity of our food supply chain,’ said Muriuki.

The PS underscored the importance of everyone playing their role, including food business operators, as she called for regular
updates on food safety management plans and adherence to good hygiene practices to prevent food safety incidents.

‘For our food consumers, we would like to urge everyone to use clean water for drinking and food preparation, thoroughly clean and sanitise all surfaces and utensils exposed to floodwaters, monitor refrigerated or frozen foods during power outages, practice proper hand washing before handling food, cook food thoroughly and store dry foods away from moisture, refrain from consuming maize that has changed colour, and seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms of foodborne illness,’ she said.

The PS advised that for immediate assistance, people should contact the National Public Health Emergency Operation Centre on 0729 47 14 14, 0732 35 35 35, or 719.

‘Together, let us remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all Kenyans,’ said Muriuki.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome has directed magistrates’ courts countrywide to finalise cases that have been pending for over three years.

Speaking virtually during the delivery of her keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 11th Annual Heads of Station Forum held at a hotel in Kisii County, Koome urged the courts to prioritise active case and docket management strategies to reduce the case backlog.

The CJ noted that digital-ready courts and the uptake of ICT were vital for streamlining processes and providing more access to justice, and it underscored the need to generate reliable justice data, which is a key pillar of informed policymaking.

‘Robust data will guide our strategies and ensure our initiatives have the intended impact. Therefore, we are using technology to enhance the accountability of our processes and get reliable performance data that will ensure informed and evidence-based decision-making,’ she said.

This year’s magistrates’ forum is taking place in Kisii County under the theme of
‘Enhancing Organisational Growth and Sustainability through Shared Leadership.’

The Chief Justice pointed out that the capabilities and functionality of the Case Tracking System (CTS) have been enhanced to improve the tracking and management of cases and strengthen systems and data integrity.

For instance, the Judiciary upgraded the CTS to require mandatory uploading of judgements and rulings before updating case outcomes to ensure litigants, advocates, and other stakeholders get immediate access to court decisions.

‘We are making the cause list portal the single reference point for scheduled case events. All courts are required to generate their cause-lists and notices directly from the CTS,’ the CJ directed.

In order to facilitate easier filing and analysis of case progress data, CJ Koome said the process of submitting monthly court returns by Judges and Judicial Officers had been automated through the Monthly Returns Portal.

In addition, she commended the performance of Magistrates’ Courts in the firs
t nine months of the 2023/24 Financial Year, having resolved 281,211 cases compared to 289,576 cases filed in the same period, attaining a Case Clearance Rate (CCR) of 97 per cent.

The CJ emphasised the need to strengthen specialised courts, including Children’s Courts, the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Courts and the Small Claims Courts, saying their distinctive roles in addressing unique justice questions amplify the impact of justice in society.

She called for the active pursuit of prison decongestion by ensuring that Community Service Orders (CSO) Case Committees are included as a standing item in the Court Users Committee (CUC) meeting agendas.

‘I wish to bring it to your attention that going forward, we will intensify initiatives to reduce prison overcrowding as a measurable target in our Performance Management and Measurement Understanding (PMMU),’ Koome said.

The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfridah Mokaya, noted that there would be greater involvement of Judicial Officers and staff at t
he station level in the budget-making process, the improvement of infrastructure, mentorship, and peer review.

‘Embrace intergenerational leadership to guide each other, particularly the younger team members in your station. I would encourage you to walk the talk yourself and create a framework for mentorship and peer review within your station. Be your brother and sister’s keeper,’ she urged.

The Chief Registrar affirmed that her core priority would be to support the CJ in delivering on the Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) agenda.

The agenda focuses on innovative people-centred justice model, unlocking the potential that the Judiciary Fund presents, improving the management of Judiciary resources, and properly systematising policies for the results cycle.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati, who attended the opening session, said the county had developed a child protection policy, which has since been approved by the Cabinet and is pending approval by the County Assembly.

Arati noted that t
he policy seeks to institutionalise the social protection and welfare of the child and will provide a framework for the implementation of child protection-responsive and preventive services in Kisii County.

‘The policy will also provide a road map for collaboration and partnership with the state and non-state actors for child protection in Kisii and strengthen the existing systems as well as establish new structures for the social and economic empowerment and protection of children,’ Arati added.

He assured the Judiciary that the county has identified and set aside land where the institution can build courts in three additional sub-counties in order to bring justice closer to the people.

‘I am pleased to inform you that the premises and paperwork are now ready. In our view, the premises are sufficient to equally house a Mediation Centre as well as the Small Claims Court,’ the governor affirmed.

Arati pledged to work with the judiciary on the rollout of Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), which he believes
would have a positive impact on access to justice for people at the grassroots level.

Source: Kenya News Agency