Day: June 20, 2024

Kakamega County is partnering with forest associations and environment conservationists to increase forest cover from 9.81 per cent to 10 per cent by 2025.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Environment, Water, Natural resources and Climate Change Peninah Mukabane called upon Community members to participate in protecting forests and trees by using alternative sources of fuel like Biogas, Briquettes pressure cookers which are clean sources of energy.

The CECM said efforts towards increasing the county’s forest cover will also contribute towards President William Ruto’s initiative of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.

She said Kakamega has set a target of planting 5million trees every year with more efforts directed towards raising tree seedlings, implementing participatory forest management plans to create awareness and enable communities to internalize climate conservation ethos.

‘We are also working with learning institutions to socialize children in environmental consciousness,’ s
he noted.

Ms Mukabane said the county government has supported three groups per sub county with tree nursery establishment infrastructure especially polytubes and seeds to raise at least 1.5million trees for conservation of riparian corridor and water catchment areas.

She also said the county government has supported five groups with modern tree nursery infrastructure with a capacity to raise 80 000 tree seedlings per nursery per season.

‘We are keen in planting high value trees to promote non-consumptive use of forest products while collaborating with the national government to develop policies and regulations for natural resource extraction particularly in regards to artisanal mining,’ she pointed out.

The CECM said Kakamega County is also establishing woodlots by planting and maintaining tree seedlings in public institutions per ward every financial year.

Some of the institutions benefiting from woodlots are Mukulusu, Senyende, Madiolo primary school, Shamakhubu health centre, Makuyu dispensary and Lu
anda Secondary School.

‘We are mapping out forest resources elsewhere in the county and this includes Malava forest, Lugari forest and Bunyala forest with the aim of protecting our carbon sink,’ the CECM added.

The county government, she said, is also actively seeking to secure the support of climate Fund,ecosystem rehabilitation fund and landscape restoration fund to implement land restoration programmes without disrupting lives due to the encroachment of fragile ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and hilltops.

‘Through the Financing Locally Led Climate Change Action (FLLOCA) program we hope to increase the level of climate proof infrastructure,’ she added.

She called on communities in the county to develop a caring attitude towards the ecosystem just like the South Coast communities like the Digo and Duruma to whom the Kaya Forest is sacred.

‘We intend to build closer ties with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute to have better ways of dealing with invasive species that destroy more resourceful pla
nt varieties. We will also start a conversation with authorities in the construction industry on how we can curb sand harvesting along graven roads as this is threatening to destroy our road infrastructure,’ the CECM added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Hundreds of youths took to the streets of Nanyuki town on Thursday to protest over the finance bill

The on-going protests across the country are seeking to compel parliamentarians to reject the 2024/2025 finance bill.

The protesters moved to different offices including that of Laikipia East Member of Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri, Laikipia Women representative Jane Kagiri, Laikipia governor Offices and county assembly chanting reject finance bill.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has urged the government to rethink the finance bill to reduce the country’s high cost of living.

Speaking after a two-day induction at Gitoro pastoral centre in Meru town, NCCK Upper Eastern Region Chairperson, Rev. Dr. Nicholas Mutwiri said that the government should remove the oppressive and suppressive taxes that will further increase the cost of living.

Taxation, he said, should be considerate of the citizens’ needs and not burden them as well as their business enterprises.

He said the Church’s stand is to advocate for peace and their position remains that the finance bill 2024 should inspire hope for better living standards and not bring frustrations.

‘People together form the nation. Therefore, it is important to make laws, plans, and policies that focus on uplifting the living standards of the people,’ said Revered Mutwiri.

On the transition of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Reverend Mutwiri sa
id that the change of the name should not necessarily mean a change in the delivery of services adding the initiative should benefit the people and not slice the benefits offered by the previous system.

He also said that the government needs to work with church leaders in the fight against illicit brews.

‘Alcohol and drug abuse have become rampant in many parts of the country thus affecting families, leading to household fights and broken families.’

‘The lost belong to the church for deliverance but before that, the government needs to tighten its belt in the fight against illicit brews,’ said Rev. Mutwiri.

Meanwhile, the Council called on the government and stakeholders to reconstitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and accord justice to the country’s constitution.

‘The delay in the reconstitution of IEBC has led to some electoral areas remaining without elected representatives. Failing to reconstitute the IEBC for electoral dignity is denying the citizens the right to have e
lected representatives and also their right to vote is infringed,’ said Reverend Mutwiri.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The number of deaths among Tunisian pilgrims in Mecca remains stable at 35, said General Health Coordinator Hamadi Soussi.

Thirteen Tunisian pilgrims are currently hospitalised in Saudi facilities and their condition is being monitored daily by the Tunisian health mission as it is case for the rest of the pilgrims – be they holders of pilgrim or tourist visas.

“The 35 pilgrims who died in Mecca include 5 pilgrims under the lottery system and 30 who travelled to Saudi Arabia on tourist visa, ”’ Soussi told TAP. The Tunisian mission is not aware of their number or their whereabouts, he added.

The health mission is monitoring the condition of all hospitalised Tunisian pilgrims on a daily basis and is not excluding any, he said. It is also helping Saudi medical teams diagnose, screen, treat and operate on the 13 pilgrims currently hospitalised in Saudi facilities, namely 3 pilgrims as part of the hajj lottery and a further 10 with tourist visas, he added.

The health mission, which covers various emergency sp
ecialties, is continuing to monitor with Saudi health authorities the situation of hospitalised Tunisians in Mecca, especially following the transfer of patients from hospitals set up in Mina for the Hajj.

The health mission was able to closely monitor the health condition of the pilgrims and the accommodation and food required and prescribe medicines for patients on a daily basis, in coordination with the mission of the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Hajj service provider which visit all pilgrims daily and report any cases requiring healthcare.

It managed to secure the transport of all Tunisian pilgrims to Arafat “under good conditions”; three first-aid centres have been set up, he further said.

“However, fatigue after performing the pilgrimage’s greatest ritual- the ascend of Mount Arafat -overcrowding, high temperatures which hit 52°C and some pilmgrims seeking relentlessly to walk to Muzdalifah, led to deaths, fatigue, fainting and physical exhaustion,” he said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Press
e

Current Tunisian migration is increasingly made up of profiles with higher education, reinforcing fears of a brain drain, according to a new study recently published by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Tunisia, entitled “International Labour Market and Identification of Opportunities for Tunisian Jobseekers”.

Current Tunisian migrants with tertiary education who left the country before 2000 represent 17.3% of the total, while current migrants with tertiary education who left the country between 2010 and 2020 represent 47.4%.

The main reasons for current migrants are work (45%), family reunification (32%) and study (11.5%). Although the reasons for migration vary according to destination, finding work is the main motivation.

However, family reunification remains the main reason for migration to Europe.

The study also found that 67% of respondents plan to leave the country to look for work. Of these, 34% plan to leave through individual channels and 32% through the National Agency for E
mployment and Self-Employment (ANETI).

Of those intending to leave, 38% had already started the migration process and were ready to go, while 30% were still in the research phase but had no concrete plans to leave for the time being. 17% of respondents said they faced various challenges, such as the fees charged by unlicensed private agencies and the lack of experience and skills required abroad.

In terms of the type of support they would like to receive to facilitate the migration process, 53% of respondents said they would like to see training and work placements for new graduates so that they can gain experience to help them find suitable jobs abroad.

As for their job preferences, only 3.8% of respondents said they would be willing to accept any job in Tunisia, regardless of the conditions, while 11.3% said they wanted to work abroad.

The study also revealed the existence of seven high-potential destination countries for Tunisian migrants, namely Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Qatar and the U
nited Arab Emirates.

According to IOM, the study aims to provide an initial analysis of the international labor market, its characteristics, challenges and trends, and to identify opportunities for Tunisian jobseekers with untapped skills in Tunisia.

The study is part of the Towards a Holistic Approach to Labour Migration Governance and Labour Mobility in North Africa (THAMM) program, which aims to facilitate regular migration channels.

The last wave of migration came in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s socio-economic crisis, according to the study.

This trend is continuing, with one in five of Tunisia’s non-migrant population aged 15 and over saying they intend to migrate to live, work or study abroad.

Over the last five years, North America, the Greater Maghreb and the Middle East have also attracted the interest of Tunisian migrants and their numbers have gradually increased, with a steady rise in female migration to 31% of all migrants.

This increase in female migration particular
ly affects women with higher education.

The geographical distribution of current migrants shows that more than 1/3 of current migrants come from three regions: the North-East (26.4%), Greater Tunis (26.2%) and the Centre-East (24.4%).

The majority of current Tunisian migrants reside in Europe, with three countries hosting three quarters of the migrants: France (52.5%), Italy (14.1%) and Germany (8.2%). North America attracts 4% of these migrants (2.5% to Canada and 1.5% to the United States).

11.4% of Tunisian workers abroad are employed in Arab countries.

In order to improve the integration of Tunisians into international labour markets, the study recommends devising a development strategy to promote skills development and improve the international employability of migrant workers.

The study also calls for the establishment of labour market information systems, increased cooperation between industry and universities, the creation of online platforms to connect with potential skilled migrant workers, and
the development of policies and programmes to promote skills development and entrepreneurship.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

President of the Tunisian association “Ibsar”, Mohamed Mansouri, on Thursday called for a national strategy to make beaches accessible to disabled people.

“During the summer season, access to bathing areas has become a need for people with disabilities,’ he told TAP, pointing out that access routes to beaches have not been developed.

“These circuits consist of the development of car parks that must be connected to the beach and then to the sea over a distance of two or three metres to facilitate access to the sea for disabled people in wheelchairs,” he added.

He also praised the pilot project for the development of beaches to guarantee a degree of independence for disabled people, and called for it to be extended to all beaches.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani in the Kasbah on Thursday approved several measures in favour of communitarian companies, according to a statement from the Prime Ministry.

These measures include providing the necessary funding and guarantees for these companies, with the possibility of additional support at a later stage. An allocation of TND 20 million has been made in the 2023 Finance Law and was reinforced by an additional TND 20 million in the 2024 Finance Law.

The meeting also endorsed the potential use of state land, subject to the fulfilment of necessary conditions, through the revision and amendment of current legal texts.

A multi-sectoral committee chaired by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and the State Secretariat for Communitarian Enterprises under the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment, has been established. It will monitor and support communitarian enterprises at the local and regional levels
, both before and after their establishment.

Premier Hachani emphasised the need for concerted efforts by all relevant ministries to address the challenges faced by communitarian enterprises and to remove any obstacles that may hinder their establishment and effective operation.

He stressed that communitarian enterprises are a national project and a mechanism for establishing a new development model, contributing to job creation, wealth creation and local development.

The meeting also heard a presentation by the Secretary of State to the Minister of Vocational Training and Employment in charge of communitarian companies, Riadh Chaouad, including an assessment of the situation of these companies two years after the issuance of Decree No. 15 of 2022, dated March 20, 2022.

The presentation highlighted the challenges to their establishment and operation, and outlined measures to increase funding sources, improve governance, and support mentoring and capacity building of those responsible for their oversight a
t regional and local levels.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse