Author: anadmin

The county government of Nyeri has acquired ownership of 322 motor vehicles and motorbikes valued at Sh 3 billion previously owned by the Karatina, Nyeri, and Othaya Municipal Councils.

The handover marks the beginning of the process of transferring assets, valuation reports, and registers of valuables-previously owned by the defunct municipal councils to county governments.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the governor’s office, Dr. Perminus Nyaga, a member of the Inter-Governmental Relation Technical Committee (IGRTC), said that the process is also in line with the ‘resources follow functions’ mantra and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

According to Dr. Nyaga, the process also actualizes the resolution of the 10th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit held in February 2023, where it was resolved that the State Department for Devolution and IGRTC would coordinate the transfer of assets to county governments.

He noted that the exercise took a phased approach where IGRTC
partnered with other state departments and the county governments for the valuation of the plant, motor vehicles, and equipment.

He at the same time urged the county governments to ensure the valued assets are updated in the county asset registers and the recommendations in the handing over report are implemented to safeguard and protect the public assets.

‘The county government of Nyeri, with its legal ownership, will now be able to do whatever they choose with the assets. And seeing that the assets have already been valued, the finance department of the county will be able to take up the values and include them in their balance sheets, which is a requirement of the Public Finance Management Act,’ said Dr. Nyaga.

Additionally, Dr. Nyaga also challenged the county to establish an asset disposal committee in line with the Public Procurement and Disposal Act to fast-track disposing of some of the obsolete assets held in various yards and parking lots. Additionally, he said that the valuation for fixed assets
, which will cover parcels of land and buildings, is still in progress and plans are underway to complete the pending work.

‘These assets belong to them; therefore, the functions that have been delineated and transferred to local authorities will follow the same route. There will be a transfer of resources, including land, buildings, and many other accessories, from the national government to the county governments,’ he said.

Speaking after receiving the assets, Nyeri Deputy Governor Warui Kinaniri welcomed the move and called for the process of transferring the remaining assets to be expedited to allow counties to chart the way forward on the fate of the assets.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Tunis: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, expressed, on Friday, the commitment of Tunisian diplomacy to defend national interests, protect Tunisians abroad and provide them with necessary services.

In a statement issued by the foreign department on the National Day of Diplomacy which corresponds to the 68th Anniversary of the establishment of the ministry, the ministry added that the Tunisian diplomacy works on promoting Tunisia in various forums, particularly in terms of national sovereignty and independence of national decision-making.

The Tunisian diplomacy has successfully consolidated the foundations of independence as well as national development efforts by boosting cooperation with Arab and western countries, the same source said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A working session was held, on Friday, between representatives of the Independent High Authority for Elections (French: ISIE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, as part of preparations for the forthcoming elections.

This meeting falls is part of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the ISIE and the Ministry in August 2023 on the coordination of material and logistical preparations for the various elections.

Field procedures related to the updating process of the electoral register of Tunisians abroad and the best ways to prepare for the forthcoming elections were also discussed during the working session.

The meeting was attended by ISIE President Farouk Bouasker, ISIE vice-president Naoufel Frikha, ISIE members Najla Abrougui, Aymen Boughattas, Mahmoud El Ouaer and Belkacem Ayachi, Director General of Consular Affairs Imed Torjmen and Head of Elections Abroad Rana Ammar.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) held public participation to sensitise Malaba residents on the consequences of encroachment, building along road reserves, and littering.

Engineer Joyce Kosgei said that they will remain vigilant to ensure all structures constructed on road reserves will be demolished to improve drainage and ease traffic snarl-up along the Eldoret-Malaba highway.

‘Protection of road reserves and building along road reserves is also illegal, and perpetrators could face heavy fines,’ she said.

She added, ‘Before you construct any structure on road reserves, it’s vital to visit KeNHA or County Government offices to avoid wastage of resources. Digging in road reserves will also not be tolerated.’

Ms. Kosgei said vandalism of road signs has also escalated, thus endangering motorists who use the busy Corridor ‘B’ road that links Nairobi-Rironi and the Malaba Border.

Kosgei noted that littering is another impediment to KeNHA’s resolve to meet its agenda, blaming Busia County staff for l
eaving litter near drainage sites.

Eng. Kosgei said the Traffic Act bars people from parking on road shoulders along the main carriageway for more than 1-2 hours, with the culprits to face a fine of Sh30,000 or one-year imprisonment.

Eng. Akuku Tillen said anybody who wishes to lease their land or obtain a title near road reserves should seek a surveyor’s map from the County Government, adding that Kenya Power also needs wayleave approval from the county government.

The engineer noted that it was illegal to engage in activities within road reserves. He lauded the county government for seeking permission from the highway authority to expand the Kocholia culvert.

Akuku said vandalism of signs was a nationwide phenomenon. He sighted a case between 2019/2020 between Malaba/ Webuye Road when all installed signs were vandalised in a spate of one month.

He told the Municipality Board to enforce the law to make it mandatory for hawkers doing business along the busy highway to always wear reflectors to ensure the
ir safety from the long-distance truck drivers.

Chief Officer in the county government of Busia in charge of Urban Development and Physical Planning, Ken Mbaja, regretted that the Bungoma-Malaba road was very narrow, which calls for urgent expansion.

He noted that the reorganisation of Malaba town was painful and told Municipality Manager Francis Asoyong to act fast and remove illegal structures within the border town after holding public participation and constructing modern kiosks.

‘Tough laws are required to reorganise the town, including the road, sewer, and drainage. He urged KeNHA to expedite the culverts’ approval from private developers instead of the current trend where approval takes 3-4 months,’ he said.

Municipality Manager Francis Asoyong said the county government has acquired an investor to construct a trailer park with Sh100 million set aside for the purchase of land.

Asoyong said littering challenges in the Municipality will be a thing of the past as they will budget for the purchase of
two tractors to carry litter to the dumping site on a daily basis, unlike the current trend when litter was ferried on a weekly basis with a tractor from Busia.

The manager said they have entered into an agreement with a contractor to construct the trailer park to expand the box culvert at ACK.

Businessman Dominic Kihara said trailers should be allowed to stop for at least 10 minutes to buy goods that would spur the economy of the border town, adding that darkness is a great concern with no street lights.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Tunis: Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mounir Ben Rjiba, headed the Tunisian delegation participating in the 21st meeting of the Nordic-African Foreign Ministers, held on May 2 and 3 in Copenhagen, Denmark, under the theme “Multilateralism and Increasing Trade and Investment”.

During the meeting, the Secretary of State stressed the urgent need to accelerate the reform of the international governance system in order to respond to the changes taking place in the world and to achieve the necessary efficiency to establish peace, stability and security and to build a multilateral system that contributes to justice and development in all regions, especially on the African continent, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

In this context, the Secretary of State called on the participating countries to step up their efforts to combat illicit financial flows, to help countries recover their looted funds abroad and to alleviate the debts of developing
countries, especially by transforming these debts into investments that benefit their peoples.

He also called for a reassessment of the role of credit rating agencies so that they do not become a barrier to developing countries’ access to international finance.

The Secretary of State called on the participants in this meeting to intensify efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to end the genocide of the Palestinian people, to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, and to lift the unjust siege on the Palestinian people.

On the sidelines of his participation in the meeting, the Foreign Secretary held bilateral meetings with a number of Ministers and senior officials from countries including Libya, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iceland and Norway on ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership in the common interest.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) marked the 31st World Press Day by convening journalists to discuss the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

This year’s theme ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis’ was highlighted throughout the event by various stakeholders.

Media Council of Kenya Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo said this year’s commemoration underscores the critical role of journalism in conservation adding that it points to the need to amplify every voice at the forefront of environmental advocacy and reporting.

‘In Kenya, where environmental issues like floods demand attention, the media’s role in galvanising action is paramount,’ Omwoyo said.

Media Owners Kenya Chairperson Agnes Kalekye stated that a free and independent press played a vital force in the fight against environmental degradation and was a catalyst for change.

‘The role of journalism in shaping public discourse is relev
ant to the crisis we are facing now. Environmental crises pose significant challenges and opportunities for journalism, shaping the way news organisations cover, prioritise and respond to environmental issues,’ Kalekye said.

Speaking at the event, Dagoretti Member of Parliament and chairman of the Committee on Communication Information and Innovation John Kiarie said that the National Assembly was creating a conducive environment for media sustainability and urged the media to come up with strategies that would shape the future of the media in the country.

‘The government reaffirms its commitment to protecting journalists, ensuring accountability for attacks against journalists and creating mechanisms for legal recourse in cases of violations of press freedom,’ Kiarie said.

World Press Freedom Day was declared on May 3 by The United Nations General Assembly. It is observed to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to fr
eedom of expression as enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Swahili Pot Hub and Mombasa County Government have unveiled the fifth edition of the Pwani Innovation Week (PIW) to help create a widespread culture of innovation and stimulate the innovation ecosystem in the Pwani region of East Africa.

This year’s PIW will be held from October 14th to October 18th, 2024, at Swahilipot Hub Foundation under the theme: The Pwani We Desire: Youth, Culture, Peace, and Innovation in the Decade of Action.

More than 2000 participants from the country and the neighbouring Coastal towns of Tanga, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar in the United Republic of Tanzania are expected to attend the innovation week to create a central space for youths to exchange ideas.

Over the years, the annual innovation event has evolved into a much-needed annual intervention that has provided a platform for thinkers, innovators, employers, and enterprise-minded youth to converge and innovate tangible solutions.

The captivating five-day event will include innovation challenges and hackathons, training
boot camps and workshops, keynote speeches and panel discussions, an exhibition, deals den, heritage experience, Pwani Gat Talent Concert, and awards.

Swahilipot Hub Chief Mentor Mahmoud Noor said during a media briefing on PIW at the Swahilipot Hub, Mombasa, that the innovation week aspires to be the catalyst that sparks a thriving innovation ecosystem within the region by showcasing the remarkable achievements of young, local entrepreneurs.

‘These success stories serve as powerful inspiration for future generations, demonstrating the possibilities that lie ahead. By cultivating a supportive environment that empowers young people through workshops, mentorship programmes, and skill-building initiatives, PIW aims to equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to translate their ideas into reality,’ said Noor.

He added that the commitment to cultivating innovation extends beyond youth development, as PIW also recognises the unique potential of Pwani’s coastal economies and rich biodiversity.

‘By effectiv
ely showcasing these assets, it aims to attract both domestic and foreign investors,’ said Noor, adding that increased awareness among policymakers is expected to lead to the creation of more supportive policies and funding opportunities for regional innovation.

PIW also envisions the establishment of a robust network of young innovators, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mentorship. It strives to position Pwani as a leading destination for sustainable and innovative investment.

‘The creation of a regional investment guide, highlighting Pwani’s success stories and outlining its investment potential, will be a key tool in achieving this goal,’ said Noor.

He further challenged governments, the private sector, civil societies, and communities to keep reinventing interventions that will allow youth to access meaningful livelihoods in the wake of global conflicts and disasters.

On his part, Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism, and Investments Mohamed Osman said th
e PIW has become a cornerstone in shaping the future of Port City.

‘PIW serves as a platform to empower youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to become thought leaders and innovators. We aim to equip them to identify emerging challenges and develop tailored solutions that will propel Mombasa’s economic growth,’ said Osman.

The Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) Registrar for Research Partnership and Innovation, Prof. Rahma Udu, urged innovators to patent their innovations through the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).

‘We will only increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by commercialising our innovations. You have to register because whatever you have invented, no one should repeat it,’ she said.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Mombasa Chairman Abud Jamal promised a seed capital of 1,000 United States dollars (USD), equivalent to Sh135,000, to the best innovator.

Source: Kenya News Agency

President Dr. William Ruto Thursday granted charters to two universities Tangaza University and Management University of Africa during a colourful ceremony at Statehouse Nairobi bringing the total number of accredited universities to 64 in the country.

‘Kenya now boasts of 64 chattered universities solidifying our status as a regional hub for higher education,’ said President Ruto during the ceremony calling on education stakeholders to continue striving to meet the ever growing demand for higher education with a focus on elevating those at the bottom of the social and economic pyramids to access quality education.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu expressed his gratitude noting that this comes after the recent award of charter to the first online university in Kenya, the Open University.

Machogu said the award of the two charters underscored the President’s support for the advancement of tertiary and university education in the country.

The CS commended President Ruto’s recent introduction of
a new funding model for higher education noting that it was through commitment and dedication to the education vision that Kenyan students’ dreams were becoming a reality.

‘By fulfilling the stringent requirements, these two institutions have demonstrated their preparedness to nurture scholars Innovate in research and contribute significantly to our nations intellectual and human capital,’ said Mr Machogu.

He added that the institutions demonstrated robust governance structure, financial prudence and comprehensive academic programmes.

The award of charter is not just the recognition of academic excellence but also a testament in the relentless pursuit to create opportunities for providing knowledge, research and innovation impacting the education sector and society at large.

Machogu expressed confidence in the two institutions saying they are poised for a transformative future producing skilled professionals thereby fostering a culture of critical thinking, research and innovation, thus impacting the soci
ety positively.

During the event, Prof Edward Etengu was installed as the Chancellor of Tangaza University, and Dr Reuben Musyoka Mutiso the Chancellor of the Management University of Africa.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Health has launched the staff head count to eliminate ghost workers in the health ministry.

The Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Medical Services, Harry Kimutai, who led the inauguration of the exercise at Afya House grounds on Thursday, said the aim of the head count is to enable the department to know the exact number of staff it has for purposes of cleaning the payroll system and removing ghost workers.

Kimutai said that the matter of undertaking the exercise had been discussed at a senior management meeting and passed by the ministry for effective service delivery.

The PS noted that all members of staff will be required to submit their documents within a period of seven-days, failure to which after 30 days, the employees will receive a suspension letter and thereafter go through the disciplinary process.

‘Tell your colleagues, wherever they are, that if they don’t submit their paperwork to be aligned with their files by the end of this month, we will stop their salary unt
il they come,’ cautioned the PS.

Kimutai added, ‘Those who fail to submit their papers for verification will be deemed to have absconded duty, more so those on strike.’

‘This is an exercise that has been sanctioned by the public service, so as to verify our certificates with either the National Examination Council, universities and colleges that we went through,’ he said.

‘I want you people to take this exercise very seriously, we are already done with the team that is in Mathare,’ he urged.

Kimutai announced at the same time that within the next seven-days, when the headcount exercise takes place, staff will be deployed to various counties where there is inadequate staff.

He observed that some employees are overburdened with a lot of work, whereas there are colleagues who are earning salaries and are using their working hours to run their own errands.

‘We need to allocate duties according to the establishment so that other employees are not overburdened,’ the PS stated.

The PS noted that the ministry
has been shouldering the burden of paying officers who are on the payroll salaries, yet they are working for Non-governmental organisations and earning allowances, adding that a total of 1000 employees who are supposed to be in the State Department for Medical Services are not seen at their places of work.

‘Immediately we are done with this exercise, and before we get approval from Public Service to advertise the vacant positions, we will realign the heads of divisions and the heads of directorate according to staff establishment and suitability that we would have done on assessment,’ said the PS.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The heavy rainfall and resulting flooding in the country has caused significant damage and loss of life, and experts are concerned about a potential increase in waterborne diseases as the floods continue to destroy properties, roads, and infrastructure.

Dr Elias Mwangi, CECM of Health Services Kiambu County pointed out that floods have led to the displacement of people and exacerbated poor sanitation and it was therefore crucial to implement proper planning to address these issues before they escalate.

Dr. Mwangi was speaking during an exercise in Juja where the county distributed chlorine-based aqua tabs for household water treatment, water jerricans, bar soap and buckets to members of the public.

He sounded the alarm about a looming disaster and encouraged families living in high-risk areas to stay vigilant in order to reduce their chances of coming into contact with contaminated water.

The Health Executive specifically highlighted the risk for households with pit latrines, cautioning that flooding cou
ld cause overflow and pollute water sources, increasing the likelihood of waterborne illnesses.

‘During this season of heavy rains and floods, it is essential to prioritize WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) initiatives to mitigate health risks and ensure the well-being of communities. Health risks are elevated during floods due to the flooding of latrines in affected areas leading to the contamination of above ground water with faecal matter.’

‘The problem is significantly worse in urban areas with existing waste disposal issues as this is when waterborne diseases become a ticking time bomb. It is vital for individuals to remain cautious about their health and anyone having symptoms such as abdominal pain, high fever, vomiting and diarrhoea should seek medical help as soon as possible,’ he said.

Dr. Mwangi called for immediate action and assistance from governmental and non-governmental organizations in tackling the looming crises citing that unsafe water and inadequate sanitation would aggravate the t
ransmission of waterborne diseases, posing serious health risks to individuals, adding that without prompt medical intervention, these diseases would lead to severe illness and death.

Waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and hepatitis A, are caused by tiny organisms like viruses and bacteria. These harmful organisms can enter the body through polluted water or through contact with waste material containing the virus.

He explained that in areas affected by the disaster, a major challenge is obtaining clean, uncontaminated water, and urged individuals to avoid drinking water from unknown sources, to boil water before consumption, to steer clear of uncooked foods, and to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Source: Kenya News Agency