Day: September 17, 2024

Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi has announced that his multi agency security team have impounded 83 number plates, three motorcycles and several motorcycles parts stolen from boda boda operators within Uasin Gishu and its neighbouring counties.

Speaking to the media at the Eldoret Central police station the police county commander noted that his team have been investigating on the raised concerns over rampant motorcycle theft in the past months.

‘Through our investigations we were able to get leads on the locations where motorcycles are taken and we were able to recover them from a garage in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia county,’ he said.

Mwanthi said that four suspects have been arrested three from Trans Nzoia county and one from Uasin Gishu and are set to be arraigned.

He confirmed that the recovered 83 number plates are genuine meaning the motorbikes were stolen and dismantled and sold as spare parts.

‘We appeal to the boda boda operators whose motorbikes have been stolen to come to the
station and identify the 83 number plates as well as the body parts,’ he said.

He urged the members of the public to be on the watch out for any suspicious characters and the National Police Service is appealing to anyone with information regarding any motorcycle theft should report to toll-free number 112 or 999.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A series of community-led peace initiatives in the Kerio Valley, which straddles the borders of Elgeyo Marakwet West Pokot and Baringo counties, is showing promising results.

This success comes after concerted efforts by Midrift Hurinet, with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya and Somalia through Act Change Transform initiative.

The region has faced challenges for years due to inter-communal tensions and banditry, but recent developments indicated a significant shift.

The Pokot and Marakwet communities, once locked in long-standing conflict, are now preparing to hold a peace meeting in the coming week.

The community-led inter-communal dialogue aims to build consensus on reopening vital transport routes, serving as a lifeline for local business activities and economic growth in the Kerio Valley.

Midrift Hurinet officials have praised the progress, noting that the talks were the culmination of several outreach programmes targeting local herders and community leaders.

‘This collaboration between
herders, local leaders, and peace actors is yielding significant milestones,’ said Walter Mwania Programmes Coordinator at Midrift Hurinet.

‘Our direct engagements are paving the way for peaceful coexistence and socio-economic development,’ he said.

One of the key outcomes of these discussions has been the call for the reintroduction of livestock branding, which was initially introduced in 1992 under the 31D livestock branding system.

The herders pointed out that the system had been successful in deterring thefts and facilitating easy identification of livestock.

‘The branding of livestock was a crucial step in curbing theft in the region,’ said Shadrack Cheboi, a Marakwet herder.

‘We believe reintroducing it will help prevent future thefts and ease tensions between communities,’ Cheboi said.

Another notable shift has been the changing mindset among herders regarding education. Traditionally, herders in these communities have been reluctant to prioritize formal education, but the recent peace efforts ha
ve sparked a change in attitudes.

Herders from both the Pokot and Marakwet communities have committed to sending their children to school, recognizing the importance of education in securing a better future for the region.

‘We have come to realise that education is key to improving our lives and the future of our children,’ Longiroi Lokwang’ a Pokot elder shared.

‘Our communities will now support education for all, especially for our girls,’ he added.

While peace talks have led to positive developments, herders are also voicing concerns about security operations in the region.

Many have questioned the lack of full recovery of stolen livestock, despite the presence of multiple security agencies such as the Nyumba Kumi initiative, National Police Reservists, Chiefs, and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit.

‘We find it puzzling that criminals, who are few and well-known to the authorities, have not been apprehended,’ said a local herder.

‘We hope the security agencies will step up efforts to address this issue, as
blanket condemnation of entire communities will only hinder the peace process,’ he added.

As part of their long-term vision for the region, community leaders and professionals from the three counties are urging both national and county governments to invest in infrastructure and follow through with development projects.

These believed that these efforts would not only open up the region but also reduce incidents of banditry by creating alternative livelihoods.

Herders have also committed to forming groups to access government affirmative funds such as the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), Uwezo Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, and Youth Fund. These funds will support livelihood diversification efforts, including farming, beekeeping, and livestock trade.

‘Our communities are ready to take up these opportunities. By diversifying our livelihoods, we can reduce our dependence on livestock, which has been a source of conflict,’ said Micah Lorot a Pokot.

Midrift Hurinet, a non-profit organizatio
n founded in 2008, has played a pivotal role in facilitating these conversations. The organization is committed to empowering citizens, the state, and non-state actors to promote a culture of human rights, peace, security, and good governance.

‘Our collaborative approach is bearing fruit, and we are hopeful that the upcoming peace meeting will lead to long-term stability in Kerio Valley,’ commented Coordinator Mwania.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has held its energy benchmarking engagement meeting to analyze the performance of various fields of production in the economic sector as well as improve energy efficiency standards in Kenya.

Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, the Manager for Energy Efficiency Mr. Ronald Keter revealed that the workshop targeted seven sectors namely sugar, tea, cement, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, dairy, hotel, industries and flowers.

‘Kenya has committed to improving its energy efficiency both in the industry and this is in regard to its global commitment under the Paris Agreement where Kenya committed to reduce the greenhouse gas emission by 30 percent,’ added Keter.

He said that to achieve a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, EPRA utilized the Energy Act of 2019 which gives clear provisions for the implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs.

‘Some of the key provisions in the sections dealing with energy efficiency and conservation programs
are issues to do with energy auditing for industries and development of standards and labeling programs for household appliances and EPRA has already implemented this for appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners,’ he emphasized.

Keter further revealed that EPRA only managed to set three benchmarks in sectors namely sugar, cement and tea since for the other four sectors, the available data was not consistent, nevertheless he assured the stakeholders that further study would be taken to evaluate the findings of the remaining sectors.

Further, the Manager announced that in terms of energy benchmarking for cement, EPRA is among the best-performing organizations across the world.

‘For the tea sector, if EPRA attains the benchmarks agreed, we foresee that we are going to save about 30 megawatts of electricity,’ he disclosed.

At the same time, the Manager for Renewable Energy Caroline Kimathi revealed that they had already agreed on a benchmark with the sugar and tea industry and would soon get one
for the cement industry.

‘For those who are unable to meet the benchmark, EPRA allows you to buy credits just like the way we buy carbon credits thus you can meet the benchmarks that have been set,’ she explained.

Kimathi said that renewable energy normally comes out as one of the key measures in energy audits.

‘Once an auditor visits your facility and looks at your energy consumption, they can recommend that maybe as part of supplementing what you have or making your factory greener, they can recommend that you put up a Renewable Energy Plant,’ she advised.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Hundreds of Pentecostal Bishops have threatened to resist any attempt by the government to regulate religious organizations saying it contravenes the right and freedom of worship.

The Pentecostal bishops representing different churches and umbrella faith-based bodies, said the recommendations by the taskforce that was appointed by President William Ruto to streamline operations of religious groups might spark a religious war that would take years to resolve.

Speaking during a meeting in Ruiru town today, the clergymen under the leadership of Bishop Stephen Ndicho, the former Kiambu Speaker and current chairman of the National Gospel Ministers Alliance (NAGMA) said the proposals are attempts to finish Pentecostal churches and if not reviewed will put the government at crossroads with the Church.

The taskforce recommended the state to come up with a Religious Affairs Commission to oversight religious groups to curtail the spread of cults and financial predatory practices prevalent in some churches in the co
untry.

Ndicho criticized the recommendations terming them unconstitutional, highlighting that no public participation had taken place before drafting of the bill.

He pointed out that the appointment of the Mutava Musyimi taskforce that drafted the legislation was erroneous, as the President had no mandate to establish such a body.

He emphasized that the laws appeared to target Pentecostal churches unfairly, applying strict and punitive regulations.

‘This is a clear attempt to finish Pentecostal churches,’ said Ndicho, further noting that the legislation could be applied selectively, thus infringing on the rights of certain denominations.

He expressed particular concern about the inclusion of non-Christians in the vetting panels, which he argued was unnecessary and potentially harmful to the sanctity of religious affairs.

Apostles Agnes Ndungu and Esther Kamau echoed these sentiments, questioning the fairness of the proposed regulations.

They raised concerns about who would oversee other beliefs systems
, such as magicians and traditionalists, asserting that all should be treated equally.

‘We are not against accountability, but this law is selective,’ said Apostle Ndungu.

Both apostles also objected to the notion that pastors should be required to hold degrees, arguing that such criteria were not necessary for effective spiritual leadership.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A family in Kiandege village in Leshau Pondo Ward of Ndaragwa Constituency is mourning the loss of their kin after a drinking spree.

It was reported that Eliud Maina aged 43 years died shortly after consuming illicit brew at a local pub.

According to his grandmother Serah Wambui, the deceased, a known alcoholic left home and headed to the nearby shopping centre several metres away, but after a short while, he returned home complaining of stomach aches.

Relatives said the deceased started vomiting blood, prompting them to rush him to hospital but he succumbed while on the way.

One suspect, a waitress at the pub, was arrested and is being held at the Mairo Inya Police station pending investigations and subsequent arraignment in court.

Lashau Pondo Ward MCA claimed most pubs in many parts of Nyandarua County were operating without licenses due to the failure of the security agencies to implement the Alcoholic Drinks Law passed at the County Assembly early this year.

He accused security officers of laxity
and colluding with pub operators, hence, such incidents were reported in various parts.

Last week, another man died in the same village over the same cause and the residents now want the government to ensure all bar outlets and pubs operating without licenses are closed.

The body was moved to Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital morgue as investigations continued.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Some 57,975 farmers in Murang’a County are set to benefit with certified maize seed and fertilizer from the local county administration ahead of the short rains expected to start in the third week of October.

Murang’a county government will start distribution of seed to registered farmers in various parts within their respective wards from next week.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata noted that inability to afford certified seed has been a major bottleneck to achieving food security in the county.

Through a press release, he said the county administration has procured certified maize seed from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) and Simlaw Seed Company, firms owned by the government.

Kang’ata said the distribution of certified seed would also help in countering the sale of fake seed in the county, which has in the past affected production.

He noted that the provision of certified seed and fertilizer would boost commercialization of maize production citing the partnership the county gov
ernment had entered with a local miller, which will see farmers sell their maize produce to the miller at not less than Sh3, 500 per sack of 90 kilos.

‘We want farmers to have genuine seed to plant in the expected short rains. With certified seed, the production is expected to be high thus contributing towards food security,’ he stated.

The seed and fertilizer distribution exercise will run from September 23 to October 12. Farmers were notified that the seed and fertilizer will only be available to those who are registered and their names verified between August 26 and 28, 2024.

Each farmer is set to get one packet of 2-kilos of certified maize seed, eight kilos of planting fertilizer and another eight kilos of top dressing fertilizer.

‘Farmers are requested to carry a gunny sack at the time of collecting the seed and fertilizer,’ read part of a public notice from the county government.

The maize seed varieties will be distributed according to various climate zones in the county. Lower parts of Murang’a
will get early maturing seeds from KARLO while the upper parts will get a variety from Simlaw.

A week ago, the Meteorology Department advised farmers in the county to plant early maturing crops saying the region would receive depressed rainfall during the short rain season.

The onset of the short rains is expected to be between October 15 and 22 with the rainfall forecasted to range between 250 mm in lower parts and 700 mm in upper zones of the county.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Minister of Culture, Filipe Zau, said this Tuesday, in Dundo, Lunda-Norte province, that ‘men of the temper of Agostinho Neto, both in Africa and even planetary, there were few’.

Speaking at the central act of the National Hero’s Day, he stressed that the political, cultural and patriotic path of Agostinho Neto should be remembered with the dignity that will always be necessary, so that his memory is perpetuated forever in the hearts of Angolans.

According to the famous words of Agostinho Neto, such as ‘The most important thing is to solve the problems of the people’, ‘Africa seems like an inert body where each vulture comes to dedicate its piece’ and ‘Angola is and will always be, of its own volition, a firm trench of the revolution in Africa’, should inspire Angolans to participate in the socio-economic development of the country.

He pointed out that by leading the process of ‘Popular Resistance’ and the general mobilization of the people, following the clashes in Luanda and the invasion of the coun
try, to the north and south, by regular foreign troops from the Republic of Zaire and the South African Republic, of the apartheid regime, reinforced by mercenaries, Agostinho Neto demonstrated his love for the Angolan homeland.

‘Despite the beginning of the civil war with evident internationalization of armed conflicts, António Agostinho Neto, on behalf of the Central Committee of the MPLA and the Angolan People, proclaims, on November 11, 1975, the independence of Angola, a demonstration of courage, bravery and selfless love for the homeland’, he stressed.

According to Filipe Zau, Agostinho Neto was a leader of his time, of an Angola that, in the context of the cold war, fought tenaciously for the political self-determination of Angolans.

António Agostinho Neto was born on September 17, 1922 – 102 years ago – in the village of Caxicane, municipality of Icolo e Bengo, province of Luanda. He died of illness in Moscow on September 10, 1979.

He took over the leadership of the MPLA, of which he had been hono
rary president since 1960, and proclaimed National Independence on November 11, 1975, thus becoming the highest representative of the nation.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry on Monday marked the World Ozone Day for the year 2024 celebrations, focusing on discussing priorities of climate action initiatives in Kenya.

The annual event themed ‘Montreal Protocol Advancing Climate Action’ captures the broader environmental impact of the historic agreement, signed over 35 years ago and has been instrumental in protecting the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

Speaking at the event, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Aden Duale observed that the global celebration of the World Ozone Day holds a special significance that reflects remarkable achievements of the Montreal Protocol and its continued relevance in advancing climate action.

‘What began as an urgent response to a specific environmental crisis has evolved into one of the most effective multilateral agreements in history, benefiting both the ozone layer and the global climate,’ he recalled.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Principal Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr Festus Ng’eno, Duale insisted that the gathering is not only to celebrate the restoration of the ozone layer but also to recognize how the protocol has become a powerful tool for combating climate change.

‘By targeting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are also potent greenhouse gases, the Montreal Protocol has directly contributed to reducing global warming,’ stressed Duale.

He noted that Kenya has taken great pride in being a committed partner in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and has made significant strides in phasing out ozone-depleting substances and is also working diligently to meet its obligations under the Kigali Amendment, which calls for the phasedown of HFCs.

Further, the CS maintained that while the country celebrates the progress made, it must also acknowledge that much needs to be done, adding that the impacts of climate change
are already being felt, particularly in Africa, where extreme weather events, droughts, and floods are threatening livelihoods and food security.

‘Our work under the Montreal Protocol is far from over. We must continue to strengthen our commitments, invest in innovative technologies, and foster partnerships that accelerate climate action at every level,’ he urged.

Duale highlighted that the World Ozone Day provides an opportunity to further educate the public on the impacts of ozone depletion, identify opportunities to enhance energy efficiency in the cooling sector and mobilize the whole society to address these impacts.

‘While the need for cooling is rapidly growing in the country, from cold chains for fresh produce to cooling in the transport and hospitality sectors, I am happy to note that the government, through policies and legislations, has made considerable efforts to emphasize on low Global Warming Potential (GWP) and energy efficient alternatives,’ expressed the CS.

Additionally, he affirmed tha
t his Ministry has put in place Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations and Licensing Systems, to regulate imports and exports of controlled substances through licensing, import permits and quota allocations to curb smuggling of these substances since Kenya is fully compliant with phase-out obligations of hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and on course to meet the 67.5 percent reduction target by 2025 under the Montreal Protocol.

In addition, Duale insisted that joint cooperation between government, the private sector, and international partners have enabled achievements led by the long-standing partnership with the German government through the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), who have supported the development of Kenya’s National Cooling Action Plan (2023 – 2027).

‘With the technical and financial support of our partners, the Ministry, through a training of trainers’ model has trained over 1000 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) service technicians on safe use of flammable refrigerants (hydrocar
bons) during repair and maintenance of RAC equipment and over 200 customs officers as well as other enforcement officers on control measures for ODS imports and exports,’ revealed Duale.

He at the same time acknowledged the partnership and support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Development Agency of France, and the Ozone Secretariat, among others for supporting Kenya over the years.

Duale emphasized that the Montreal Protocol is a beacon of hope that shows how collaboration, guided by science and driven by shared purpose, can solve even the most daunting environmental challenges.

‘We need to build citizen alliances including through women and the youth, to help drive behavioural change and drive consumer demand for climate action and green transition to ensure sustainable future for our children and generations to come and through continuous dedication and cooperation, a lasting legacy for future generations will exist,’ he implored.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Political entities, social and religious organizations on Tuesday in the Province of Moxico, paid tribute to the founder of the Nation and first President of Angola, António Agostinho Neto, in a public ceremony, held at the Monument to Peace Compound.

The ceremony was marked with a moment of laying a wreath in recognition of the “father of national independence and founder of the nation”

At the time, the provincial Governor of Moxico, Ernesto Muangala, highlighted the figure of Agostinho Neto, emphasizing his intervention in the liberation of Angola and other countries on the African continent.

In this regard, the provincial governor encouraged the population to record Neto’s legacy, reflecting the values of his messages, which continue to be the basis on which “we must face the challenges of the present and project goals towards economic growth and well-being of the population”.

Ernesto Muangala reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue working to improve the living conditions of the population
s through the creation of more social infrastructures, in the fields of health, education, roads, energy and water and support for agriculture.

The director of the Provincial Office of Former Combatants and Veterans of the Country, Alberto Keshipoco, characterized Agostinho Neto as a unique statesman, without borders, whose patriotic teachings must be transmitted to youth, for the country’s development.

“Neto stood out not only for Angola, but for the world, which lessons should be put to good use”, he said.

In turn, Luau’s municipal administrator, Ester Vumbi, understands that sharing for the development of communities is one of the fairest ways to honor the greatness of the founder of the nation.

The Day of the National Hero and Founder of the Nation, which is celebrated on September, 17, is being celebrated under the motto “With Neto’s ideas, we build a strong and dynamic economy”.

Born on September 17, 1922, in Ícolo and Bengo, Neto stood out as a poet, doctor and politician. He graduated in medicine
in Lisbon, Portugal.

Agostinho Neto was involved in anti-colonial movements, being arrested and exiled several times by the Portuguese authorities.

Source: Angola Press News Agency