May 6, 2023

Grassroot Football Coaches Get Professional Training

Some 57 grassroot football coaches in Embu have benefited from CAF D Level training by Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

The participants including seven females were certified after successfully completing a ten-day course in an event graced by Governor Cecily Mbarire.

CAF D License is the entry level coaching certificate and the trainees according to FKF Embu Branch Chairman, Charles Njagi, are expected to use the skills to promote and develop grass root football.

Speaking during the issuance of certificates to the coaches at Embu University Grounds, Njagi said the team is expected to play a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing young talents.

He said they expect them to start training programs in both primary and secondary schools for the under 13, 14 and 19 to identify talented footballers to enable them actualize their dreams.

‘One of the biggest challenges we have had in the country in football is lack of trained coaches and I am happy that this team is going to assist in filling that gap,’ he said.

Governor Mbarire promised to sponsor 30 of the coaches at Sh. 20, 000 each for the next grade of CAF C License in the coming financial year.

She said they had also embarked on a plan of developing and improving football infrastructure including stadiums and fields across the county to promote the game.

She said alongside Moi Stadium that is under rehabilitation and the upcoming Njukiri Sports Complex funded by the national government, her administration will also set funds aside to improve other playing fields including Runyenjes, Ishiara, Umau, Kairuri and Nembure in the next budget.

‘We have also agreed with MCAs that we will level primary school grounds to make them suitable to prepare our young people for the upcoming Talanta Hela Program aimed at monetizing sports,’ she said.

The participants were upbeat that the training will open doors of employment opportunities for them especially in schools as they seek to nurture upcoming talents.

‘I know this certificate will secure me a job and I am also looking forward to keep advancing and hoping that one day I will become one of the best coaches in the country,’ Coach Alfred Muchiri said.

Another participant Feliroy Ruguru who has been a player and coach said the training has assisted her improve her skills and professionalize her coaching career.

Source: Kenya News Agency

May 6, 2023

Child Rights Organizations Irked By Shakahola Child Deaths

Child rights organizations have expressed shock and disbelief at the atrocities meted on children by their own parents subscribing to the cultic teachings of embattled preacher Paul Mackenzie.

They lamented that innocent children were denied the right to education and food, leading to their early deaths, even as institutions charged with the protection of Kenyans, especially children, took no action.

The Children Agenda Forum, a coalition of child-focused civil society organizations, said there was need for the full utilization of provisions of the Children’s Act 2022 in order to safeguard the rights and welfare of children and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

In a statement read on its behalf by Mr. Stan Kiraga at the Malindi District Cultural Associations (MADCA) rescue centre in Sabaki, Kilifi County, the forum blamed government institutions and the society for watching as Mackenzie violated children’s rights.

Kiraga said signs that things were not right started manifesting themselves when Mackenzie started teaching against secular education that led to the withdrawal of children from school and that despite school managers and relatives reporting the same to authorities, very little was done to stop the cult leader from violating the law.

‘In this incident, it started by children being withdrawn from schools which was an initial indication that something was not right and schools reported. I know families who reported after their brother withdrew his children from school, but Mackenize was arrested, charged and released,’ Kiraga said.

He said that unless the Children’s Act is fully enforced, it will remain in the law books without any effect on offenders, adding that the Act provides that the child has the right to food, proper upbringing, clothing and education as well as to be treated when sick.

The forum at the same time lauded President William Ruto for forming a commission of inquiry into the Shakahola killings as well as a taskforce to recommend the best way the church can be regulated.

‘The government has a responsibility to know the kinds of people running churches and lay down strategies to regulate them to ensure what is taught in those religious organizations are beneficial to the society,’ said Kiraga.

He prayed for the quick recovery of children rescued from Mackenzie’s death trap and for their seamless reintegration to society.

He also called for proper counselling of parents rescued from the massacre saying they were sick since a normal parent cannot deliberately deny their children food and watch them die.

Similar sentiments were made by the National Council for Children Services (NCCS), which on Thursday called for the regulation of the church since it had failed to self-regulate.

In a statement read by Bishop Bernard Kariuki, the organization said it was deeply saddened by what happened in Shakahola to children who could not decide for themselves that they wanted to fast to death.

‘The council wishes to call upon all actors, both state and non-state, to be vigilant in matters pertaining to their role in safeguarding rights and welfare of citizens and in particular the rights of children and other vulnerable groups,’ Bishop Kariuki said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

May 6, 2023

Authority To Extend Partnership With KFS In Mangrove Restoration

The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) have promised to extend their collaboration in the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded mangrove forests in Tudor Creek.

In 2019, IRA and KFS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to plant and adopt a degraded mangrove site in Ganahola, Mikindani ward. IRA has been conducting tree-planting events as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.

IRA Chairman Hon. Mwambu Mwabonga was impressed by Jomvu Sub-County National Government Administrative Officers for being on the frontline to implement the President’s directive to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

‘It is our collective responsibility to take care of our environment. Our institutions of learning should set aside land for planting trees,’ said the IRA Chairman Mwabonga during the tree planting activity in Ganahola.

Mwabonga noted that climate change is real and more efforts are needed to conserve the environment for the benefit of the next generation.

He revealed the Authority plan to start insurance clubs in schools, he advised KFS to revive forest clubs to spearhead and inculcate the culture of tree planting among learners.

IRA CEO Godfrey Kiptum said the Authority since 2019 has planted more than 35,000 mangroves in Tudor Creek. ‘We will upscale the number for the community to have a good environment,’ he said.

Coast Region Forest Conservator Nafasi Mfahaya challenge Mombasa residents to take advantage of the rains and rehabilitate degraded 14,000 hectares of mangrove forest.

Let’s plant all tree species to conserve our environment. Tree planting is no longer a KFS affair, we need partners,’ she said urging IRA to adopt other mangrove sites in Kwale, Lamu and Tana River counties.

She called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to achieve the desired forest cover. She warned communities living adjacent to forests not to encroach on forest land to avert soil erosions.

The Regional Forest Conservator said the Coast region lacks a Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP), KFS is looking for partners to initiate the PFMPs.

KFS Board Chairman Job Chirchir said the Ganahola forest adjacent community involvement in the conservation of mangrove forest will help in the restoration efforts. The use of mangroves for building, Chirchir said should be on a sustainable way.

Source: Kenya News Agency

May 6, 2023

Kiambu Residents Urged To Cooperate With Law Enforcement

At least 20 percent of crimes committed in Kiambu Sub County goes unreported for fear of reprisal and social taboo attached to protection of individual reputation before the eyes of the general public.

Kiambu Deputy County Commissioner Titus Macharia expressed fears that the community opted to shield offenders of domestic violence, assault and even man slaughter because of the stigma attached to how the public will take you after coming out.

He however encouraged residents to break away from the norm and come out bold through corporation with the police by volunteering any information on crimes to aide in criminal intelligence.

‘Without delay the victim should find his/her way to the police station and report a crime as soon as possible, because it is not always possible to get hold of the offenders if information is withheld from the police,” Macharia explained.

He highlighted that hoax threats are rampant and normally disrupt actual ongoing investigations by diverting officers and also putting first responders in unnecessary danger including severe distress.

‘We are committed to providing quality police service by upholding the rule of law, creating and maintaining strong partnerships for a conducive social, economic and political development of Kiambu and the nation as a whole,’ he said.

The Commissioner refuted claims that there was laxity in the police response when it comes to crime despite some residents saying their reportage of crime or even domestic violence was not acted upon by the police.

Joyce Wamaitha 43, a resident of Kiambu County told KNA that victims of domestic violence especially women saying reporting a case to the police is like a waste of time because they are slow in responding and if they do respond, they take long in putting away offenders and that risking the victims’ lives

‘This kind of situation gives the perpetrators of these crimes time to flee or continue their crimes and actions without being remanded’, she said.

In a recent report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released this week found that Nairobi, Kiambu and Meru counties were among the leading counties with the highest crime rates at 8,512, 7,844 and 5,698 respectively.

Source: Kenya News Agency

May 6, 2023

Commission Sensitizes The Public On Data Protection

Tana River Governor Godhana Dhadho has called for concerted efforts to enhance the digital security system against the growing threat of cybercrime.

Dhadho said public institutions must safeguard personal data collected from the public to provide services.

He said the Constitution of Kenya 2010, under Article 31 recognizes the right to privacy which is also protected in the Data Protection Act, 2019.

The Governor said this at Zuri Hotel in Hola during the sensitization of the public and county staff on Data Protection.

In a speech read on his behalf by the County Chief of Staff Maurice Osano, the Governor said the office of the Data Protection Commission faces myriads of challenges given the many data controllers and processes.

‘It is common knowledge that most of the data with data controllers end up being misused by people with ill motives,’ said Dhadho.

He added that for the digital superhighway and creative economy agenda of the national government to succeed, there must be safeguards that will protect the processing of personal data.

The countrywide public sensitization forums are being organized by the Data Protection Commission under the theme of ‘Digital Rights Are Human Rights’.

The Data Protection Commission was established following the enactment of the Data Protection Act, 2019 to make provision for the regulation of the processing of personal data, to provide for the rights of data subjects and obligations of data controllers and processors, and connected purposes.

The Commission Deputy Director Oscar Otieno said the forums are meant to educate the public on their rights in data collection and protection.

The forum was also addressed by Assistant County Commissioner Peter Sironka Ole Masaa.

Source: Kenya News Agency

May 6, 2023

Hellen Chepkwony – Newly Appointed CEO Of KDIC

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has dismissed a report circulating in the media that Mrs. Hellen Chepchumba Chepkwony has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Institution.

In a press statement sent to newsrooms, KICD alerted members of the public that the information is untrue, and clarified that Mrs. Chepkwony is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) and not KICD.

KICD affirmed that the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development is still Prof. Charles Ochieng’ Ong’ondo.

Source: Kenya News Agency