Category: General

Tourists travelling to Seychelles will now be able to have updated maps of the islands to use during their travels with a new “Seychelles in your pocket” map.

On the pocket-sized folded map produced by a local company, Antik Colony, travellers will be able to see the map, updated with all the new features of the islands, including new roads, hotels and other places of interest.

“The map itself consists of a lot of work because it is updated yearly. We update accordingly all the developments that the country is undertaking, mostly in the tourism sector, which is more important for the visitors who come to our country and also all the updated roads to guide them to where they want to go,” the company’s director, Franca Rolfini, told SNA.

The map was part of the “Seychelles in your pocket” guidebook, which was first produced in 1987, giving tourists details of areas of interest on the islands.

Rolfini said, “At first the map was different from the ones we are printing now, in 2004, we decided to change the concept of the map to make it smaller and more easily portable – pocket friendly.”

The map has been produced completely by hand, including the drawings and most of the folding, showcasing the great craftsmanship of a young Italian, who Rolfini claims is very difficult to get in touch with.

“We have to search all over for him. He is young, yes, but he still working as if he is in the 18th century with no mobile phones and no computer. He does everything by hand, nothing digital,” added Rolfini.

This is the 17th edition of the map, which features a help card, where they can enter their names, important medical information and emergency numbers.

The maps are available to all customers for free and will also be available at the Seychelles International Airport, hotels, restaurants and other areas popular with tourists.

“It is distributed, free of charge, in order to ensure its maximum distribution, thus optimising the exposure of the products and services promoted on the map,” said Rolfini.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

The Head of State, João Lourenço, congratulated Friday in Luanda the people of Guinea Bissau for the orderly and democratic manner of the legislative elections held on Sunday, 4 November, with the victory of the party coalition Inclusive Alliance Platform (PAI) – Terra Ranka.

In a message addressed to his counterpart from Guinea-Bissau, Umaru Sissokó Embaló, and to the Guinean people, the Angolan statesman highlights the fact that the Guinean people have been able, in conditions of great openness, transparency and stability, to freely choose the PAI-Terra Ranka coalition in the legislative elections.

In his dual capacity as President of the Republic of Angola and as president pro tempore of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), João Lourenço highlights the orderly, exemplary and democratic manner in which the legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau took place.

“I am convinced that Guinea-Bissau will be able to overcome the great challenge it faces, in order to build the bases on which the unity of all the living forces of the nation will be based, and that it will be up to them, in a true climate of national unity, to drive the development of your country”, reads the President’s message.

The Angolan statesman also expressed the hope that the two countries can explore their common potentials in order to conceive a bilateral cooperation based on concrete initiatives that promote the prosperity and well-being of the peoples of the two countries.

The PAI – Terra Ranka party coalition, led by Domingos Simões Pereira, who is president of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC), won the legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau with an absolute majority, winning 54 of the 102 seats.

The results also show that the Movement for Democratic Change (Madem-G15), led by Braima Camará, won 29 MPs, while the Social Renewal Party (PRS), led by Alberto Nambeia, won 12 and the Guinean Workers Party (PTG), led by Botche Candé, won six MPs in its electoral debut

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The media has been challenged to be factual and professional in their line of duty especially when covering legislative work.

Speaking during a sensitization forum between the Senate and Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA) at Serena hotel in Mombasa, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said that media plays a crucial role in disseminating information to the public about the legislative function thus the need to ensure the content shared is truthful and sensible.

Kingi said the house respects the freedom of the media as listed in Article 34 of the Kenyan Constitution noting that they have made the Senate accessible for journalists to cover its daily activities.

He said the symbiotic relationship between the Senate and the media is a true reflection of how the two are ready to work to empower the public with information and updates of the leaders they elected to represent them.

‘Factual and balanced news is informative to the public and it will ensure accountability and transparency in the legislative process,’ he said.

He added that in order to effectively deliver on its mandate, the Senate relies on partnerships and one that has stood out is the media who were represented by KPJA.

Kingi said the media has served as a vital pipeline of feedback from the grassroots on how devolution is boarded in line with Chapter 11 of the Constitution.

He said both senators and the media have been able to keep their fingers on the pulse of existing and emerging political and social dynamics in the county.

‘Article 34, 35 and 108 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of the media, right to information and public participation, respectively,’ said Kingi adding that through their work, media enforces public opinion and firm decision making besides serving as a point of reference and scanning societal institutional environment.

‘The public are always on the lookout and tend to ask questions like what does the media have to say on a certain issue? How come we have not seen this in the media which tells us the credibility of the press still exists/,’ he said.

The Speaker further assured the KPJA team of the Senate’s support to enable them to effectively deliver their duties.

Kilifi County Senator Stewart Madzayo reiterated the Speaker’s comments by asking journalists to report what the elected Members of Parliament were doing in terms of representation and oversight roles.

‘The house is now undermined as there is no freedom for some members to oversee the executive. It is now upon the media to bring this to light and inform the public on the role their leaders are playing in parliament,’ he said.

KPJA Chairman Dancan Khaemba acknowledged Parliament’s effort in facilitating their work.

Khaemba urged journalists to ensure they adhere to the code of conduct while covering news stories and called for continued cooperation between journalists and the Parliament saying teamwork was needed to ensure the public is well served.

‘For us to operate optimally, we have to clear some obstacles. Accessibility is a challenge as there are some instances where protocols do not go hand in hand with deadlines for journalists,’ he said.

The Kenya Parliamentary Journalist Association was established in the 9th Parliament. Its role is to boost media effort in dissemination of factual news through specialized reporting on parliament affairs.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Seychelles’ Supreme Court on Friday set the trial date time for the Valabjhi’s arms and terrorism case for July 4.

The presiding judge, Chief Justice Rony Govinden, set the date to begin hearing the illegal possession of firearms case involving prominent Seychellois businessman Mukesh Valabhji and his wife Laura, a lawyer, and three others.

The others charged in the case are Leslie Benoiton – a senior officer in the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), Leopold Payet – a former chief of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces [the former name of the Seychelles Defence Forces]- and Frank Marie – a retired lieutenant colonel and presidential chief security officer.

Govinden made the announcement at the accused latest appearance amid objections from the defence that their lawyers would not be able to represent them in court.

The case relates to more than 100 firearms and over 35,000 rounds of ammunition recovered from the Valabjhi’s home at Morne Blanc during a search on November 18. This came after the couple was arrested in relation to a case of money laundering of a missing $50 million of funds granted to the government of Seychelles by the United Arab Emirates in 2002.

The trial initially was set for April but was delayed following the application for the recusal of Govinden as the presiding trial judge – which was dismissed on June 1.

Immediately before setting the new date for trial, Govinden had unblocked the couple’s overseas accounts – which were frozen at the request of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS).

The couple had argued that they had been unable to pay for their international counsel due to their bank accounts being frozen.

France Bonte, the defence lawyer of Mukesh Valabhji, told the court “that those lawyers would only begin working upon payment, which means that they are only now beginning to prepare for the case.”

Govinden replied that since it had been a year and four months since charges have been laid in this case there was ample time to prepare.

“Matters of disclosure cannot stop the flow of trial proceedings,” he said.

Meanwhile, Laura Valabhji – a prominent lawyer by profession – told the court that while for certain aspects of the case, she could represent herself, she would need her counsel to represent her for others.

Although the defence pushed for the illegal arms and ammunition case to be heard in October, the court maintained the trial date for July 4. It is expected to proceed from August until September.

Govinden has sent an administrative order to vacate all previous cases for all lawyers for this trial.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

The deputy governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) Tiago Dias is the interim governor of this financial institution, pending the appointment of the new governor.

Tiago Dias takes over the leadership of the Central Bank on interim basis, following the swearing in of the former governor, José de Lima Massano, as Minister of State for Economic Coordination on Friday.

The functions of interim governor of the Central Bank are set in paragraph a) of article 56 of Law no. 24/21, of 18 October, the National Bank of Angola Law, according to a note from the Central Bank reached ANGOP.

Tiago Dias holds the Master’s degree in Economic Sciences from the University of Bordeaux I, France.

He was Director of the Department of Statistics, Deputy Director of the Department of Studies and Statistics and Head of the Division of Studies of the Department of Studies and Statistics of BNA, among other functions.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan government has pledged to provide adequate housing with universal access to basic services, such as energy, water and sanitation, transport, schools, employment, health care, green spaces and infrastructure financing.

The pledge come from the Permanent Representative of Angola to the UN Offices in Nairobi, Sianga Abílio, who said that the commitment also entails Angola’s active participation in the broad, inclusive and effective multilateral system.

In his speech, delivered Thursday at the Plenary Session of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Assembly, the diplomat spoke of the urgent need to deal with the global crisis.

Sustainable Urban Development has the potential to address many of the current challenges and is crucial in global efforts to rebuild better, stronger, greener and safer prosperity.

In his speech, he said he believes that the implementation of the New Urban Agenda can contribute to the location of the 2030 agenda, in sustainable development in an integrated manner, as well as to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“I believe that the implementation of the New Agenda will make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, he advanced.

The UN-HABITAT Assembly, held in Nairobi, is attended by 5,500 delegates, representing 193 countries.

The event addresses various matters under the responsibility of this body, with emphasis on universal access to affordable housing.

Member States are being encouraged to explore mechanisms to achieve the universal right to adequate housing and to move towards the removal of existing barriers to affordable housing

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Security agents in Nakuru County have arrested 78 suspected criminals believed to be behind a spate of stabbings and armed robberies in the Kaptembwa and Rhonda areas.

Led by County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara, the team recovered assorted weapons from the bloodthirsty gangs that have caused the residents sleepless nights in the recent past.

Speaking at the Central Police Station, where swords, knives, ported marijuana, and other crude weapons were displayed, Kibaara regretted that the 78 were young men who were supposed to be helpful to the community but had opted to join criminal gangs.

‘These are very dangerous weapons that they have been using to terrorize the residents while extorting money and valuables from them. As we said, we are not going to give them room,’ said Kibaara, noting that the 78 will be arraigned in court.

He assured the residents of continued security, noting that the resurgent criminal gangs had been abated by security officers who had overstayed in the area.

Three people had been killed as a result of the resurgence of the Confirmed, TZ, Mungiki, and Mauki criminal gangs, with the officers decrying the lenient fines and penalties meted out to them once they were arrested.

Cases of stabbings and killings have in the recent past been reported, with members of the Mauki gang group said to be in revenge mode following the killing of their leader last week.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nyamira County stakeholders have strategised to implement a multi-sectorial action plan to end the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the county by 2030.

‘The shocking rate of teenage pregnancy in Nyamira and a few other counties in our country is a serious setback in enabling our country to achieve its economic growth projections.

The county adolescent gatekeepers must collaborate closely to implement sustainable action plans which will enable us to end this menace by 2030,’ said the Technical Services Director at the National Council for Population Development (NCPD), Peter Nyakwara.

‘This crisis slams education/career ambitions, disorients the social status of these young ones, and the perception of them in the community also changes,’ Mr Nyakwara added.

The director pointed out that teenagers are a key basic resource in the country, and they must therefore be nurtured rightly, protected, and guided if the country can depend on them to build and prosper the country’s future economy.

He further explained that teenhood is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundation of good health because adolescents in this stage experience a lot of rapid physical, cognitive, and psychological growth changes in their mind and body, which need guidance and support to enable them to make informed choices as they transit through this delicate stage.

NCPD assistant director Moses Ouma elaborated to gatekeepers that 25.5 per cent of the population in Kenya are adolescents between the ages of 10-19 and Nyamira County contributes to 1.4 per cent of the national adolescent’s share, which is about 27.1 per cent of the county population according to the 2019 census.

‘Two out of ten pregnancies reported in Nyamira are adolescent pregnancies, which comprise about 16 per cent, a rate above the national average of 15 per cent. This county’s rate of child marriages between 12-18 years is 4.7 per cent and 6.4 per cent among girls and boys, respectively, and is classified to be among the 25 counties with child marriage rates higher than the national average of 3.1 per cent and 6.1 per cent for boys and girls, respectively,’ Mr. Ouma said.

‘Though the number of adolescents presenting with pregnancy during their first antenatal clinic (ANC) at county facilities has gradually been reducing since 2019 to date, the rate is very negligible compared to other counties with a similar challenge, which is why stakeholders must be purposeful and work with speed to end this disquieting crisis by 2030,’ the Assistant Director noted.

Nyamira County Parents’ Association chair, Dr Charles Moochi, squarely blamed poor parenting as a key contributor to losing the fight against adolescent pregnancy because most parents have abdicated their parenting roles and delegated them to nannies and school teachers who have no attachment or are overwhelmed to handle individual student challenges.

‘Parents must be available for their children, adequately provide them with their basic needs, be keen and sensitive to their needs, guide them to choose the correct company of friends and know who their friends are, and teach them the effects of overreliance on electronic media and social media content to influence them to make informed choices during this complex stage of adolescence,’ Moochi stated.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Dr Timothy Ombati, outlined that the ultimate cause of adolescent pregnancy is unprotected sex.

‘It comes with its share of other complications, like the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections and maternal and child deaths because their bodies are not mature enough to hold pregnancy to term successfully,’ Ombati said.

‘This is further compounded with social and economic challenges like dropping out of school, inability to secure employment, stigma, and perpetuating poverty,’ he added.

Nyamira County Commissioner Onesmas Kyatha, who is also the coordinator of the gatekeepers forum tasked with ending Nyamira teenage pregnancy, vowed that he will relentlessly bolster a team spirit in implementing the action plan to end adolescent pregnancy in the region.

‘We shall intensify capacity building, focusing more on awareness creation among adolescents and young adults on the correct choices when it comes to sexuality and reproductive health, leverage gatekeeper conventions and platforms for discussions on ways to end teenage pregnancy, and identify intervention programmes that need to be mainstreamed in all sectors and to all ages so that the agenda of ending teenage pregnancy is embraced by all,’ Kyatha said.

Nyamira gatekeepers’ forum to strategize on ways of ending teenage pregnancy is cascading from the government’s commitment to ending teenage pregnancy by 2030 during the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) held in Nairobi in 2019.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents of Kiruo village in Rangwe Sub County are concerned over vandalism at the Rangwe Integrated Water Project by unknown people.

They lamented the destruction and theft of the project’s parts, including solar panels, that left them without water for a long period of time.

The project, which consisted of a borehole, pipes, and 16 solar panels, was constructed in 2013 by the County Government of Homa Bay.

The residents, led by Walter Opiyo, said the borehole served them for two years before it was vandalized due to poor management.

‘The borehole served us for two years until it broke down due to administration issues because those in charge were not vigilant,’ he said.

With this, residents saw the project as useless, a situation that exposed its parts to theft, where all 16 solar panels were stolen.

Speaking on Thursday, Opiyo said the water project is now operational after it was restored to its former state a few weeks ago.

However, the residents are now worried that the new machines might be vandalized again and have appealed to other residents to refrain from doing so.

‘I appeal to my fellow residents not to vandalize the project’s parts because it was constructed for their own benefit. Water is life, and when it’s available, it reduces the chances of contracting water-borne diseases,’ Opiyo noted.

Before the project was restored, the area residents relied on the River Rangwe, which is seasonal for domestic use.

Opiyo said the water from the river is unclean and not safe for consumption, adding that if the water project is vandalized time and again, there will be a likelihood of a water shortage in the area, especially with climate change.

‘When you vandalize a project that would have served you with water regardless of whether there is rain or not, then you will be exposing yourselves to water shortages and other challenges that come with them,’ he informed.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kitui County Government is undertaking massive road construction projects across the county in efforts to improve the road network in the county.

The numerous road network improvement projects are underway in all 40 wards and aim at expanding the county’s road network along with enhancing the ones that are already in place.

Significantly, this will increase trade, mobility, and flexible access to emergency medical services across the vast county.

Kitui County Chief Officer for Roads and Public Works Benjamin Chamia, while speaking today at Mutomo when he led a team of officers from the Ministry of Roads, Public Works, and Roads on an inspection tour of the said road projects, reiterated that the county government is fully committed to improving the road connectivity network across the county.

‘The objective of this inspection tour is meant to evaluate the quality and progress of the road construction work as well as address any difficulties or problems that might emerge during implementation,’ said the county government road chief officer.

The team inspected several ongoing projects, including the drift construction project at River Thua along Kavuvuu-Mulula Road in Miambani Ward, the drift repair project at Kisiiyo River along Inyuu – Kyamusivi Road in Chuluni Ward, and Kinakoni – Imale – Kiangini – Kiukuni road improvement project, which also has a 150-meter drift at River Thua.

‘In the list also is a drift along Kisayani – Imwange – Katundu Primary school – Kilui road in Mutomo/ Kibwea Ward, among many others,’ noted Chamia.

The Chief Officer underscored the need to promote gender balance and inclusivity of special groups during the engagement of manpower in the implementation of government projects.

He also affirmed the county Governor Dr Julius Malombe’s administration’s commitment to deliver on his development agenda as stipulated in his manifesto.

Chamia lauded the unwavering continued support from the local communities in actualization of the Governor’s 16-sector development blueprint, and reiterated that the county administration is committed to making sure that the road improvements are finished on schedule, within budget, and up to the stipulated standards in order to meet the big expectations of the locals.

Additionally, he asked the locals to collaborate and support the road said projects because doing so will increase their access to economic possibilities, mobility, and accessibility.

He said that in order to mobilize more resources and funding for road development projects in the county, the county government is working closely with the National government and other development partners.

Source: Kenya News Agency