Day: September 13, 2024

The government has rolled out a public participation drive to sensitize Kenyans on the draft regulations and amendment rules for the registration of persons, births and deaths.

Through the exercise, the government plans to roll out a new generation national identity card and review charges for application and renewal of identity cards, birth certificates and death certificates.

The stakeholder engagement forums spearheaded by Regional and County Commissioners are critical in the rollout of Maisha Card and its related features including the virtual ID that the government has been piloting since November last year.

Tinderet Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Esther Oyugi said views of members of the public on the proposed amendments to Registration of Persons Act Cap 107 and Birth and Death Registration Act Cap 149, were critical to set the process in motion.

Speaking during the launch of the exercise at Africa Inland Church in Lelgotet village, Oyugi asked participants drawn from different parts of the Sub-
County to express their views on the two documents freely.

‘Public participation is anchored in the Constitution as one of the national values and principles. I want to assure you that all your views shall be recorded and forwarded for necessary action,’ she said.

Participants welcomed the changes and urged the government to review some of the proposed charges which they termed as hefty.

Thomas Langat from Kabolebo location said the Sh1,000 proposed fee for the renewal of lost identity cards was hefty and should be reviewed.

He added that the inclusion of a third gender on birth registration documents was contentious since it went against some traditions and customs especially after initiation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Bungoma County has partnered with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce to host the highly anticipated October 2024 Trade Fair, Governor Kenneth Lusaka has confirmed.

Speaking at the Bungoma Chapter, Chamber of Commerce meeting held at Hunters Paradise Hotel on Wednesday, Lusaka, said the event is scheduled to take place from 9th to 11th October 2024.

He emphasised the partnerships in supporting local enterprises aim to position Bungoma as a hub for trade and innovation.

‘It will feature a wide range of local products, create business opportunities, and foster economic growth in the county,’ he noted, adding he is committed to boosting small enterprises but cannot do it alone.

‘Collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce will be key in ensuring the success of this Trade Fair,’ said Lusaka, who at the same time urged residents to invest in agricultural value chains to enhance food security, which remains a top priority for the county.

Kenya Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Erick Rutto emphasised the Cha
mber’s commitment to expanding international markets for the region’s coffee producers.

‘The Kenya Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to showcasing Bungoma coffee to the world, ensuring that its rich flavour and high quality are recognised globally,’ he added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government is working on connecting the entire country through mobile network coverage and provide free internet connectivity in line with the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto.

Speaking to journalists outside the County Commissioner’s office, the Chairman of the Universal Service Advisory Council, James Ongwae said mobile services are a basic need in the modern age, the reason they will be moving around the country to ensure every person has easy access to internet connectivity.

‘Mobile network is a basic need. It is not good that Kenyans in some parts of the country cannot be able to speak to their brothers and sisters living in other parts of the country, while in other parts, they freely speak to their relatives and friends,’ he said.

He cited Narok, West Pokot, Turkana and Kajiado counties as some of the counties that are underserved but was quick to say they are working with Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) to improve connectivity in those areas.

‘We are talking about ICT which is an enabler of all
economic pillars like tourism, agriculture and livestock, mining, education, security, good governance among others,’ he said.

The former Kisii County governor also disclosed that the programme has seen ten schools in Narok county connected to free internet in addition to two libraries and 15 special schools that have been provided with digital learning materials.

At the same time, Ongwae said the national digital super highway that comes all the way from Maai Mahiu to Narok and extends to Bomet counties is in the process of completion.

Once it is fully implemented, public places like bus terminus, markets and Ole Ntimama stadium will have reliable and free internet connection.

Narok Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Kennedy Mwangome said his office is working with the Communication Authority to identify where there are gaps in terms of mobile network connectivity.

Narok County Executive Member in charge of ICT Linus Nairimu said they had identified 33 sites without network where ten have already
been installed assuring that the other 23 will be connected soon.

He reiterated that they will continue working with the relevant department to curb the digital and development divide.

Source: Kenya News Agency

There is a need to focus on preventing the occurrence of gender-based violence (GBV) cases at the community level to contain the vice in the country, State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary (PS) Anne Wang’ombe has said.

Ms. Wang’ombe, who was being taken around the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (GBVRC) at Makueni County Referral Hospital in Wote town, said that communities need to be educated about gender equality and harmful norms and practices by empowering women and girls to claim their rights in society.

She urged leaders, community members, parents, and non-governmental organisations to become champions for change towards attaining gender equality in homes, schools, and workplaces to end the vice

The PS called for concerted efforts from all government agencies and development partners to curb the GBV cases that were taking a worrying trend in the country, thereby impacting negatively on women and girls in the society.

‘Prevention starts with awareness, and I urg
e all leaders, community members, parents, and workers in government to become champions for gender equality in our homes, schools, and workplaces,’ Wang’ombe said.

‘Communities must also be educated about gender equality and the harmful norms practiced in society. This will enhance and empower women and girls to claim their rightful place in the community,’ she posed.

While noting that Makueni is a hotspot of GBV cases in the country, the PS lauded the county government of Makueni for establishing gender policy that will foster inclusivity and equality.

‘I appreciate Makueni County for the proactive approach in establishing gender policy that brings balance in leadership, decision-making, and resource allocation. This ensures both men and women are empowered to contribute to societal development,’ she said.

Wang’ombe said that GBV remains a deep-rooted issue that threatens the social fabric of our nation, saying collective efforts to address the vice through the establishment of a recovery centre was par
amount.

The PS noted that for maximum benefits to be realised at the recovery centre, it was imperative to have the resources, staff, and infrastructure needed to serve survivors effectively and sustainably.

Additionally, Wang’ombe said the recovery centre must be owned by the community so as to thrive and foster a sense of collective responsibility to avoid the facility becoming a government project.

‘The continuous operation of this centre will depend on secure and reliable funding. I urge the national and county governments and development partners to ensure the facility remains financially stable, allowing the provision of free and affordable services to survivors who seek help,’ she noted.

‘The government must ensure that the necessary capacity-building programmes are in place and equip our professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle the complexities of GBV cases,’ Wang’ombe added.

Speaking at the same event, Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili said that the county government was
committed to ending GBV in collaboration with development partners in the county.

Speaking at the function, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Nairobi Women Hospital, Sam Nzioka, said there was a need for a multi-sectoral approach to end the vice that was affecting Makueni County.

It should be observed that Nairobi Women are the sponsors of the construction of the recovery centre in Makueni.

Present at the event included Makueni County Commissioner Henry Wafula and Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Peter Mumo, among other government officials in the county.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A section of farmers drawn from the tea growing zones of Murang’a County have been trained on various ways of crop diversification

The move is intended to help the tea farmers not to depend only on earnings from tea, whose prices keep fluctuating, to support their families.

In a training organized by the Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) association, the farmers were trained on how they can grow early maturing crops as well as they continue keeping their tea.

The farmers had streamed into a demonstration farm in Kangari in Kigumo Sub County in their hundreds, eager to learn how they can boost their tea earnings and other alternative crops that can do well in their areas.

PELUM zonal coordinator in Central and Nairobi regions, Sarah Wambui said her organization which is working with small-scale farmers through Organic Agriculture Centre of Kenya (OACK), trained the farmers on diversifying their agricultural practices to earn more from their farms.

‘Many tea growing farmers have over th
e years failed to maximize the use of their farms to produce sufficient income to support their families,’ said Wambui.

She observed that when tea prices fluctuate, the crop leaves many farmers reeling in losses and unable to sustain their families and also unable to pay for their children’s education.

Wambui said they are currently working with 18 other organizations to reach small scale farmers to promote sustainable resource management through the use of bio-inputs, organic farming as a business and the inclusion of youth and women in organic agribusiness.

‘We have seen major changes in that people are slowly shifting towards agroecology and women are now embracing other forms of farming that allows them to get an income,’ she said, explaining that most women provide labor in their farms but the proceeds go to their husbands.

She said the organization also sensitizes farmers on their rights and lobbies for policies that empower them at the county and national level.

OACK’s executive director David Kar
anja said the training was aimed at empowering the tea farmers to diversify income generation on their farms for better returns.

‘Tea growing areas have the potential to grow sufficient foodstuff for farmers’ consumption and sale,’ said Karanja, adding that they want farmers to be able to maximize local resources.

The training, he noted, also promoted growing of herbs and spices such as paprika, mints, oregano, lemongrass and rosemary among others that farmers can consume as medicine while making an extra income.

‘Farmers have been trained on how to make biogas to cut their cooking fuel costs and mitigate the effects of climate change, and see the great potential that their farms hold to boost their living standards,’ he said

Mwangi Kagore, a farmer who travelled from Ndaka-ini area in Gatanga Sub County said he was amazed to see how much more a small farm can produce through crop diversification.

‘We formed an organic farming group and started producing organic manure which we were using on our tea crop
s but did not know how to maximize its use,’ said Kagore

Kagore said such training is instrumental in expanding farmers’ knowledge in agricultural diversification practices to help them earn more returns from their farms.

He expressed interest in planting herbs and spices that were showcased on the farm and which occupy little space while earning more money.

‘My farm has a little extra space that I can use to plant some of the herbs to complement my income,’ he said.

Wilfred Wanyoike, the zonal representative of HomeBiogas company, said farmers can also get bio-slurry from the used cow-dung that can be used to alkalinize soils and boost soil fertility, and can also be used in planting and top dressing to boost crop production.

He explained to curious farmers how they can use just two buckets of cow dung to produce enough energy to cook for five hours.

‘You mix the cow dung with four buckets of water to produce the energy. This means farmers with one or two cows can benefit from it.’

Source: Kenya News
Agency

The government is inviting the stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to submit proposals for legislative and policy reforms in order to inspire trade, manufacturing and investments in Kenya.

The submission targets traders, manufacturers, investors, experts, civil society, professional bodies, academia, religious groups and stakeholders to submit their proposals, which will help to formulate and develop a policy that will resolve matters fostering economic growth of the country.

Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya stated that these rigorous reforms are aimed at advancing consumer protection, investments, trade and manufacturing in Kenya.

‘We will invite our stakeholders for physical meetings, but also allow them to participate online and through other platforms. This will be done until September 27th to receive critical input,’ he said.

Speaking during a press briefing, the CS noted that while significant efforts have been made to improve both domestic and fo
reign trade, increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and enhance domestic direct investment (DDI), gaps still remain.

Additionally, he said that the contribution of manufacturing to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined from 15 percent to 7.6 percent over the past decade, underscoring the need for targeted reforms since we are promoting the potential but it is not translating into actual market entry.

‘It is important to engage with industry players who work on these businesses on a daily basis to understand how we can create an enabling business environment and ultimately raise the country’s GDP,’ he stated.

Mvurya has emphasized that the submitted proposals will give the ministry a comprehensive view of the underlying challenges, terming that the feedback will inform technical teams across sectors as they robust legislative and policy reforms aligned with the governments Agenda.

He expounded that the reforms objectives are to incentivize and de-risk private investments across all sectors of
the economy, rationalize incentives in order to boost manufacturing, improve consumer protection, ensure fair trade and harmonize taxes within the manufacturing sector to eliminate distortions and create a stable tax structure.

Mvurya expounded that the reforms aimed to incentivize and de-risk private investments across all sectors of the economy, rationalize incentives in order to boost manufacturing, improve consumer protection, ensure fair trade and harmonize taxes within the manufacturing sector to eliminate distortions and create a stable tax structure.

‘The ministry will have a team that will coordinate public engagement lead by the PS trade,’ said CS, adding that the Ministry has commenced submissions of proposals on Thursday September 12, 2024 while setting a deadline of September 27, 2024,in which the ideas can also be made through both physical meetings and online platforms mailto:mitireforms@miti.go.ke

Several private sector players expressed their appreciation for the Ministry’s efforts, commit
ting to provide feedback that will help guide the sustainability of businesses.

Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Public private dialogue Manager, Doris Lutende said that the process is quite timely, since KEPSA has an aliening private sector that is heavily burdened by regulatory framework.

Therefore, an in depth review of the exercise will help to revamped and maximize the trade internally and regionally as they are set to corporate with the ministry in terms of submissions and public participation.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) National Director Vishal Khagram stressed that the submission is all about putting together challenges, what has been working and try to figure out the right way forward, as he encourages everyone to put in their suggestions and comments during the submission on how to solve the challenges to make it more exciting.

The CS was accompanied by Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukwana, Investment promotion Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan, T
rade Principal Secretary Alfred K’Ombudo alongside representatives from the Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and other key players in the sector.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Garissa youth with prior learning skills have been urged to register and get certification for their skills to enable them qualify and be competitive in the job market.

Recognition of Prior Learning is a programme under the Kenya Kwanza government to enable Kenyans who have acquired skills on the job to get certification.

The government is also creating job opportunities for these Kenyans locally through programmes like the Affordable Housing and internationally through the Kazi Majuu initiative.

Speaking during the registration and certification exercise at the North Eastern polytechnic, Garissa Township MP Mohamed Dekow said that the government is keen to create job opportunities for skilled Kenyans and empower them economically.

‘I want to urge our young people in this county to take this opportunity and register themselves so that they may get the certification that will enable them to be competitive in the world market,’ Dekow said.

‘Here in Garissa, we are going to start the construction of the af
fordable housing programme for around 2,000 units in Township alone and the units may be 5,000 across the county. We want our young people who are receiving certification here as carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians and welders to work in these projects,’ he added.

Dekow further urged Kenyans who are yet to acquire skills to register for courses in Technical and Vocational Educational Training colleges (TVET) which have been established in almost every sub county.

‘Internationally, we have opportunities as a country to migrate to Europe and the Middle East countries, which are offering a lot of opportunities, but for you to get those jobs, you must train to have the skills and be ready to work,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Narok town dwellers now want the security team to up their game following several incidents of mysterious murder in the town and its environs.

The residents spoke after the body of a 30-year-old man was found dumped beside the road at Eagles junction, a few meters from the Maasai Mara University.

The town dwellers said this is the seventh time, in a span of three months, to find bodies dumped on the road side, and the killers escape arrest.

Yusuf Hassan, a resident of Eagles junction blamed the police for being reluctant in their job as cases of insecurity were increasing.

‘What shocks us most is that when a murder happens, no action is taken to arrest the culprit. This issue of insecurity is worrying all of us because we do not know who will be killed next,’ he said.

He called on Governor Patrick Ntutu and County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia to collaborate and put strategies that will boost security in the town.

Another resident Hezbon Nyakundi called for installation of street lights in all parts of
the town as many criminals hide in the dark parts of the town.

‘If someone can be killed in our residential area and no action is taken, then there is a big problem,’ he said.

According to the eye witnesses, the deceased had a deep cut on the head and one of his eyes dogged out.

Several cases of murder have been reported in the town in the last few months with most incidents happening around kandas grounds and majengo estate.

Speaking during a heads of department meeting, the Narok County Police Commander Riko Ngare called for a collaboration among all government officials to arrest criminals who hide among the innocent residents.

While giving his mobile phone number, the commander called on every official who will find suspicious people in their localities to place a call, so that action can be taken immediately.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Government disbursed over 883 million shillings in the last financial year to support poor households taking care of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC’s) in the Western Kenya region.

Regional Children Coordinator Duncan Ng’eno said that a total of 36,824 have been enlisted under the Cash Transfer -Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC’s program from region.

He said that the number is likely to grow in the current financial year as more beneficiaries are to be enlisted to the social program.

Speaking to KNA in his office in Kakamega, Ng’eno said the government’s social support program provides regular and predictable cash transfers to caregivers in poor households to ensure retention of OVC’s within families and communities.

‘Government is keen to strengthen the capacity of caregivers’ households to take care of orphans and Vulnerable Children within the community as response in addressing the OVC’s crisis in the country’ he added.

Under the program, enrolled households receive a monthly c
ash payment of 2,000 shillings.

‘We disbursed a total of 883,776,000 shillings to 36,824 households in this region in the 2023/2024 financial year’, Mr. Ng’eno told KNA.

Ng’eno said Kakamega County is leading the pack with the most beneficiaries at 13,242 households, followed by Bungoma which has 9,279 households, while Busia has 8,344 and Vihiga enlisted 5959 households respectively.

The Cash Transfer to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) was launched by the government in 2004 to strengthen the capacity of poor households to protect and care for orphans and vulnerable children to ensure that they receive basic care within families and communities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kilgoris police and county rangers have rescued a middle-aged man from an angry livestock traders who had stolen three cows from Shartuka Village, attempting to sell them at the Kilgoris market.

County rangers locked the culprit in their revenue office, surrounded by angry livestock traders, until police officers arrived and rescued him.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Samson Lemayian, reported that this was the man’s second offense. He had previously been arrested and released for a similar crime. Hence, Lemayian called on the police to take decisive action against this repeat offender.

Another trader, James Nkiok, expressed concern that the incident could tarnish the reputation of livestock traders, as it might lead to the mistaken belief that they are involved in buying stolen animals.

However, Nkiok also urged security officers to deal with the culprit firmly to set an example for others. Lastly, the stolen cows have been taken to the police station, and the suspect is now in custody for further i
nvestigation.

Source: Kenya News Agency