Category: General

Pyrethrum farmers in Nakuru County will benefit from environmentally friendly pesticides and farming technologies from the Swedish Government as the county promotes safe farming practises to protect biodiversity.

The Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Caroline Vicini, noted that the Swedish government was concerned with the need to conserve biodiversity by eliminating the use of harmful chemicals and poisonous products in agriculture.

Speaking during a visit to Nakuru County to assess the second phase of the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme (ASDSP) that was coming to a close, Ms. Vicini noted that pyrethrum had a great future for the farmers and there was a need to incorporate safe insecticides and pesticides to salvage the deterioration of biodiversity.

Vicini noted that ASDSP had capacity-built lower-level farmers to adopt profit-making ventures for better returns while enhancing crop resilience, reducing post-harvest losses, and introducing climate-resistant plant varieties.

‘ASDSP targeted Pyrethrum, fish, and Cow milk production in Nakuru County, with 134 farmer groups having benefited from capacity building in the creation of business plans and market linkages for profit,’ she added.

ASDSP, which has benefited from cooperation between the European Union, Sweden, the national government, and the county government, has seen the three value chains transform farmers across Nakuru County.

Governor Susan Kihika, who played host to the visiting Ambassador, noted the success stories that had seen the price of cow milk improve by 37 percent following the purchase of cooling plants and the adoption of effective production methods by the 7,547 households under the programme.

‘Pyrethrum is a flagship project for our county, and we expect to tap into its potential to create employment and wealth through the expansion of acreage under Pyrethrum to 30, 000 acres.

‘Pyrethrum posted the highest profit margins at 81.93 per cent, with farmers reaping Sh240 against a cost of Sh79 for a kilo of the produce,’ added Kihika, regretting that middlemen were still a menace in the agricultural sector value chain.

While calling on the rollout of phase three to benefit more farmers, Kihika emphasised that the collaboration was a vital step towards connecting innovative techniques and advanced technologies in the agricultural domain for a robust agricultural infrastructure.

‘This partnership with Sweden marks a turning point in our pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Together, we will leverage cutting-edge research, implement smart farming practises, and empower our farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive,’ Kihika said.

Moreover, Kihika outlined ambitious plans to establish agricultural training centres across the county to ensure that even the most remote farming communities have access to modern agricultural know-how. The goal is to empower farmers with the latest practises and equip them with the skills needed to adapt to a changing climate and evolving market demands.

Source: Kenya News Agency

President Dr. William Ruto is expected to commence a five-day working tour of the Coast region, covering the five coastal counties, and inspect development projects.

Mombasa State House Spokesperson Mr. Hussein Mohamed gives a briefing at Statehouse Mombasa on the President’s Coast region tour expected to commence on Thursday, 27, 2023. Photo by Andrew Hinga

During this tour, he is expected to inaugurate, commission, and inspect several government projects that directly impact ordinary Kenyans.

Speaking to the media at Mombasa State House, the State House Spokesperson, Mr. Hussein Mohammed, said that as part of the tour, the President will focus on inspecting projects in the Blue economy and fisheries sector, specifically in Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, and Mombasa counties.

Mohammed said he will also issue grants to common interest groups in the four counties amounting to over Sh. 552 million, beginning with Lamu County on Thursday.

‘You will recall that the President had previously issued grants worth Sh. 320 million earlier this year, and later this year, he will issue another round of grants worth Sh. 621 million to fishing groups in the region,’ said Mohammed.

He added that the President will also commission a fish landing site in Kilifi County, further advancing the development of the Blue Economy and Fisheries Value Chain, a critical component of the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Mohammed said after the projects in Kilifi, the President will head to Ngao in Tana River County to commission the rehabilitated Sailoni headworks and rubber dam and inspect the ongoing rehabilitation of water delivery systems and farm restoration works at the Tana Delta Irrigation Project (TDIP).

‘This project undertaken under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework will open up 12,000ha of land for rice irrigation, with an expected production capacity of 84,000 MT of rice per year. It will significantly reduce rice imports by 35 per cent, bolster the government’s food security agenda, and generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 8,000 locals,’ he said.

To deliver on his promise to the Pemba community in the country, the President pledged to address their status as citizens of Kenya. He is therefore expected to fulfil the pledge of Friday, August 28th, by issuing identification documents to members of the Pemba community, providing a lasting solution to their statelessness.

The President is also expected to issue title deeds in Kilifi County and later preside over the rededication ceremony of KNS Shupavu, a Kenyan navy warship that underwent a comprehensive refit at the Kenya Shipyards Limited in Mombasa.

‘This is the first warship since independence to be refitted locally, leveraging on local expertise, and will go a long way in affirming the vision of Kenya Shipyards Limited to be a leading catalyst in the ship building industry in East and Central Africa,’ added Mohammed.

On Saturday, Mohammed said that the President is expected to preside over the launch of the local vehicle assembly line and chair a meeting bringing together port users and other port stakeholders.

According to Mohammed, there is more to the President’s tour to the region, including interventions on agriculture and infrastructure as well as meetings with local leaders and residents in the respective areas.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government, through the State Department for Industry, has assured of its commitment to collaborate with industry stakeholders to address gaps in the country’s labour laws that are hindering job creation in the growing digital economy.

During a site visit to the Sama operating hub, State Department for Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhawana assured of a closer working relationship with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry stakeholders to address gaps in the labour laws and to prime the rapidly evolving digital economy to create jobs for the youth, in line with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The PS said that the Government acknowledged that current labour laws were formulated in 2007, a time when the digital economy had not been fully envisioned, but now the Government is keen to work with the private sector to modify the laws to align with the realities of the present-day digital economy.

‘To fully harness Kenya’s potential, the Government acknowledges the need to identify and address challenges that currently inhibit the creation of jobs within the digital sector. The plan is to work with the industry to create an enabling environment for businesses operating in the digital economy,’ stated Mukhawana.

Sama firm Director of Global Service Delivery, Ms. Lilian Kiplangat, observed that as Kenya forges ahead into the digital era, the partnership between the Government and industry stakeholders marks a significant milestone in propelling the nation towards becoming a digital powerhouse and a key player in the global digital economy.

‘The digital economy is a catalyst for job creation and economic advancement in Kenya. At Sama, with the right operating environment, we have the potential to create thousands of jobs by 2024. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Government to develop clear and progressive policies that foster a conducive business environment for the digital economy to ensure it remains competitive on a global scale,’ said Kiplang’at.

In recent years, the digital economy has emerged as a transformative force globally due to a pool of talent and good infrastructure.

Kenya has continued to attract global tech companies, including Sama; however, challenges to some labour laws hold the industry back from reaching its optimal potential.

The global BPO market is estimated to be valued at more than US$ 262 billion, with African countries continuing to emerge as the next BPO growth frontiers. Further, the BPO sector is crucial in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that power the automotive, retail, agricultural, and food technology sectors.

Sama, a firm which provides data annotation solutions that power the AI models of the future, has been in Kenya for the last 15 years and continues to provide quality formal jobs for Kenyans, providing value chain AI solutions for self-driving cars, virtual reality gaming consoles, fashion segmentation, and agricultural solutions for crop disease protection.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Angola currently has a production capacity of 6,300 Megawatts (MW) of energy from different sources, such as thermal, hydro and photovoltaic, thus improving its electricity supply as a result of the government’s investments, the CEO of the Electricity Production Company (PRODEL), Pedro Eduardo Afonso, said Wednesday.

Pedro Afonso said the government’s commitment to the construction of hydroelectric dams and the installation of photovoltaic plants aims to increase electricity production capacity in the country.

The PRODEL CEO advised the population to avoid cultivation on the banks of the Kwanza River to avoid flooding and damage to agricultural production.

Cuanza Norte is home to the hydroelectric dam located in Cambambe, with an installed capacity of 960 MW.

A hydroelectric plant is being built in the São Pedro da Quilemba commune, 74 kilometers from Dondo city, which will generate 2,172 MW and produce electricity for more than eight million Angolans.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Tunisia’s soccer team of local players will take part in the qualifiers for the African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024), the Tunisian Football Federation said on Wednesday.
The first round of the CHAN 2024 qualifiers will be held between September and October 2023, according to the new competition schedule shared by the African Football Confederation

Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), in partnership with the Kenya Cyber Security and Forensics Association (KCSFA) and Huawei, has awarded the top finalists of the Nairobi Edition of the Cyber Security Bootcamp and Hackathon that brought together cyber security enthusiasts and ethical hackers to compete in various curated cyber security challenges in a game format. The edition involved participants from different institutions from regional and national hackathon championships, with five regional competitions including Nairobi, Nyeri, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Mombasa, and a subsequent national competition during the October Cyber Security Awareness Month (OCSAM) conference. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said that there is a need to think very hard about cyber security since data needs to remain secure and private, and its use must be proportionate and accountable. ‘Digital government promises to be transformative and has the potential to be disastrous,’ he said, noting that in Nairobi County, all payments are digital and not cash. He added that the digital payment has attracted some malicious players, better known as black hackers, both within organisations, like insider threats, and also in the underground channels, better known as the darknet. Sakaja highlighted that in the past, the main focus of cyberattacks has been on financial institutions like banks. However, there has been a big shift in attacks aimed at small businesses, which are the centre of economic growth and prosperity in Nairobi and Kenya in general. In a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Officer-Smart Nairobi, Tiras Wainaina Njoroge, Sakaja said that cyber security ought to be prioritised so as to protect infrastructure, services, and Kenyans’ data. ‘This is especially important because Kenya, and Nairobi in particular, is a strategic hub and therefore a battleground where competing interests have an interest in gaining an edge. The more investment and interest we attract, the bigger a target we become,’ he said. According to the governor, capacity building in cyber security is a priority, emphasising the need to build a group of Kenyan experts capable of addressing emerging threats. ‘I am so pleased by this initiative from the Communications Authority of Kenya and our generous partners abroad. I am delighted that with the young men and women here today, we have begun the task of building the wide cyber security expertise we need,’ Sakaja said. He said that it is important that the public sector be at the forefront of empowering business resilience by helping to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber-attacks. Sakaja noted the need for collaboration among county governments, African countries, and their international partners, which will share expertise and experience and raise a strong collective defence against cyber threats. ‘Close collaboration between bodies such as the Communication Authority and county governments will go a long way towards safeguarding and growing our digital economy,’ he said. Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General and CEO Ezra Chiloba said that in 2018, cyber-attacks directed at Kenya stood at Sh7.7 million. Chiloba added that in 2023, the attacks will have skyrocketed to a high of Sh444 million, ranking Kenya among the top three most targeted countries in the region, alongside South Africa and Nigeria. In a speech read on his behalf by CA Director of Telecom, Postal and Courier, and Digital Economy Matano Ndaro, Chiloba said that hackathons provided a useful networking opportunity to stimulate ingenuity and creativity amongst people. ‘Our work does not end here. We all need to continue working together as we face these many challenges, such as Cyber extortion, identity theft, impersonation, and other forms of online abuse that are now commonplace. We should continue the dialogue among all of us so that we can learn from each other,’ he said. Chiloba remarked that the Authority believes in nurturing innovations and building capacity through such events, which attract participants from the various universities and colleges. ‘I am informed that the online call for participants for the Hackathon and Bootcamp attracted 6,000 University and College students from Nairobi County. Out of the 6,000, 31 were shortlisted to participate in the Bootcamp, while 80 were shortlisted to participate in the hackathon, and who are in this room this afternoon,’ Chiloba said. At the same time, Kenya Cyber Security and Forensic Association (KCSFA) Vice Chairman Fredrick Wahome said that the reason for the formation of the Association was to identify the number of cybercrimes in the country. The Association has a working membership of 15 people who converge and educate people on cyber security. ‘We need to reach out to young people and equip them with cyber security skills because, without the skills, they tend to be criminals,’ he said. Huawei Southern Africa Senior Director Adam Lane said that 3,000 people in Nairobi registered for the bootcamp. He announced his visit to the University of Nairobi, where he had a discussion with the students on how Technology affects trust, which is very critical. ‘The best way to keep trust is to understand the technology and the cyber security and develop software’s standards, ‘Lane said, and urged students to pay attention to global standards and ensure that they have picked a great field in their career.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government plans to form cooperative societies in every Ward where farmers will be grouped together to benefit from the collective support of mechanisation. State Department for Crop Development Principal Secretary (PS) Kello Harsama said that the mechanisation percentage in Kenya is only at 30 per cent, adding that in the next five to 10 years the government plans to increase the percentage of mechanisation of land in Kenya to over 50 per cent. ‘As a government, we have started the process of acquiring machines to transform the agriculture sector. Through this model, we will be able to provide tractors, harvesters, and planters, among other mechanical equipment, which the cooperatives will manage on behalf of the farmers,’ said Harsama. Speaking on Tuesday during the media launch of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT), the PS explained that the plans are at an advanced stage and they have started designing cooperative programmes for each Ward with a view to ensuring that farmers share the mechanised equipment, access subsidised fertiliser, certified seeds, and pesticides, among others, under farm inputs. ‘Agriculture remains a key sector and is one of the five pillars in the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The strong emphasis by the government on economic transformation provides an enormous opportunity to unleash the potential of agriculture value chains for social and economic development in Kenya,’ said the PS. Harsama said that under the BETA plan, two million poor farmers will be transformed into surplus producers through access to affordable inputs, intensive agricultural extension support, and linkages to markets. ‘The productivity of key value chains will be enhanced to strengthen food and nutrition security, reduce basic food imports, and grow exports,’ he said. ‘We are pleased as a country and the Ministry to co-host the inaugural ACAT that will bring the global, regional, and local community to Nairobi. This is an important forum, and we look forward to discussing actionable solutions to the challenges facing the agricultural sector that will also drive change and foster growth,’ said the PS. He said that the conference comes at an opportune time when the African continent is struggling to feed its people and climate change is posing serious challenges to our collective prosperity. The solution to this challenge lies largely in technology and innovation. ‘The leadership of the African Union (AU) has recognised the pillar of technology in the socio-economic development of the continent. In view of this, Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action on Science and Technology (CPA) was developed in 2005,’ said the PS. He explained that the CPA outlined strategies to improve the policy environment and support the building of innovation mechanisms through Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) initiatives. ‘Kenya, taking cognisance of this, developed a 10-year road map, the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), 2019-2029. The ASTGS provides the Government’s commitment to reforming the sector and presents nine Flagships aimed at driving Kenya’s agricultural transformation and food security aspirations,’ said Harsama. The PS highlighted that to drive Kenya’s transformation over the 10-year period, the ASTGS is anchored in three key outcomes: increasing small-scale farmer incomes, increasing agricultural output and value-added, and boosting household food resilience. Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Executive Director Dr. Canisius Kanangire said that, present in 24 countries in Africa, AATF is working with partners to address agricultural productivity challenges brought about by climate change, pest infestation, and related value chain concerns by applying varied technologies like mechanisation, improved breeding methods, and biotechnology. Kanangire said that the ACAT conference will provide a unique platform to discuss barriers to technology transfer and propose strategies for transforming existing technologies into super-next-generation technologies capable of enhancing productivity and effectively addressing challenges faced by African countries. ‘AATF has dedicated itself to promoting agricultural technology transfer that addresses farmer productivity constraints. We are working with partners across the continent to access 24 innovative and cutting-edge agricultural technologies worth over 650 million US dollars spread across 24 countries, reaching 4.8 million smallholder farmers with new interventions during the last five years,’ he said. The ACAT conference will run from October 30 to November 3, 2023, at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Turkana Governor Mr. Jeremiah Lomorukai today chaired a meeting between Turkana leaders and heads of the county security team led by the County Commissioner Mr. Jacob Ouma to discuss the establishment of the Turkana County Policing Authority. The County Policing Authority is established under Section 41 of the National Police Service Act to coordinate security functions at the county level. In the meeting held at the Ateker Hotel in Lodwar, the Governor announced that the county will begin the process to recruit six ‘non-state’ members of the Authority, as per Section 41 of the National Police Service Act (2011). The Authority is chaired by the Governor and includes members of the county government, security bodies, and citizens. Other members of the Authority include a representative of the National Intelligence Service, county representatives appointed by the Inspector-General, two elected members nominated by the County Assembly, the chairperson of the County Security Committee, and at least six other members appointed by the Governor. The formation of the Authority across the country has been delayed since the passage of the law until early this year, when President Dr. William Ruto directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki to fully operationalize the body. Lomorukai stated that the Authority will not usurp the powers of the police service, but support security organs in their functions. ‘The Authority is not meant to kill the police service but to supplement its efforts and strengthen security functions in the county. This is an important organ, and we will expedite its formulation,’ he said. Senator James Lomenen echoed the importance of the Authority in improving response to security incidents. He promised to offer the Authority the political goodwill necessary for its success. The inaugural meeting resolved to fast-track the implementation of the Authority by requesting the nominating entities to provide the names of their respective appointees. The County Public Service Board will also be required to expedite the recruitment of non-state actors to be appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Assembly. The leaders discussed funding modalities for the Authority, with members present emphasising the need to expand the funding sources to ensure the sustainability of its programmes. MCAs who attended the meeting included Leader of Majority Stephen Edukon, Leader of Minority Samuel Lomodo, Majority Whip Samal Etubon, and Minority Whip Vincent Ekipor. County Attorney Erastus Ethekon took the leaders and officers through sections 41 to 44 of the National Police Service Act, which provide for the establishment of the County Policing Authority in each county. He also highlighted the guidelines for the competitive recruitment, vetting, and appointment of non-state members of the authority. Other senior county staff present included County Secretary Peter Eripete, Chief Officer for the Office of the Governor Paul Lodunga, and TCPSB Administrator Simon Ipoo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Angola will receive the largest international submarine telecommunications cable called 2Africa, whose landing in the country is scheduled for Sunday, 30 July, on the sea coast of Cacuaco, Luanda, says a note from mobile operator Unitel to which ANGOP had access Wednesday in the capital, Luanda Province.

A service that will be operated by Unitel, is a consortium made up of eight international partners, namely China Mobile International Limited (CMI), Meta (Facebook), MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, centre3 (stc), Telecom Egypt, Vodafone/Vodacom and West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), which are the investors ensuring this transatlantic connection.

The submarine cable project aims to significantly increase the capacity, quality and availability of internet connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world.

The note revealed that 2Africa was designed to provide continuous international connectivity to approximately three million people, representing 36% of the global population, connecting the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia.

Unitel is the only Angolan operator that has joined the consortium and is responsible for creating the conditions for the operations of the submarine cable connection to Angola.

Through its national fibre network, the operator will be able to provide access to 2Africa to national telecommunications operators, as well as to the operator from neighbouring countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Namibia

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The Head of State, João Lourenço, on Wednesday in the Province of Luanda congratulated the Cuban government and people on the 70th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Barracks.

In a note addressed to the President of Cuba, Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the Head of State highlighted the effort and resilience of the Cuban people who, despite facing different situations, remain strong and cohesive in the defence of sovereignty, freedom and justice, in the hope of a prosperous future.

In his congratulatory letter, João Lourenço highlighted the journey that Angola and Cuba have made over the past decades, with achievements that honour those who together fought for the preservation of freedom, independence and sovereignty of their respective nations.

Cuban defence forces supported Angolans in the most difficult times, when the country was at war with the South African apartheid regime.

This Caribbean nation has been a strategic partner of Angola since Independence in 1975 and up to now it has trained several Angolans and aims to boost economic cooperation with Angola.

The first cooperation agreement between Angola and Cuba dates back to February 1976 and concerned the health and education sectors.

Liberian people congratulated

Still on the same day, João Lourenço addressed a message congratulating the People and Government of Liberia on the country’s 176th Independence Anniversary, marked on July 26.

The message was sent to President George Weah, to whom the Angolan Head of State expressed certainty that the strengthening of existing relations of friendship and cooperation could constitute a solid platform for common actions in favour of the progress and development of the two nations.

The signing of a General Cooperation Agreement and a Memorandum of Political Consultations in 2011 inaugurated a new stage in bilateral cooperation between Angola and Liberia, signed between the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)