Lead By Example, Police Officers Working In Murang’a Told

Murang’a county police commander David Mathi has instructed all security officers working in the county to lead by example especially during the ongoing war against illicit brews, contrabands and drugs.

Addressing senior police officers drawn from all the nine sub counties, Mr Mathiu averred that it’s a shame and a challenge for drunk officers to effectively fight alcoholism.

He asked the officers commanding stations to ensure their juniors are not indulging in alcoholism and to avoid being compromised by those perpetrating the illegal business.

‘It’s worrying to find an officer drunk in the morning and the same officer is one expected to spearhead war against this menace. As a leader, lead by example. Remain sober and resist from being compromised,’ said the commander during a meeting held at Murang’a police station.

Mr Mathiu lauded achievements made so far in the fight against illicit and counterfeit alcoholism divulging that for the past two weeks, they have seized over 2 500 fake alcoholic drinks.

He noted that during the crackdowns, they also managed to destroy over 2, 000 litres of chang’aa among other types of illicit brews being manufactured along river banks.

The commander noted that they have also managed to impound over 1, 080 kilos of bhang saying the war on drugs will not stop until they eliminate the menace in Murang’a.

For the last two weeks, he observed, 83 people who were found selling counterfeit alcoholic drinks and brewing illicit liquor have been apprehended and arraigned in court saying some of their cases have been determined and convicted while other cases are still going on.

‘I warn some of the unscrupulous business people who think they will continue with brewing illicit liquor and stocking counterfeits on shelves. We will get you and you will face the law’, said the police boss.

‘Police officers have been briefed on strategies to successfully fight alcoholism and drugs in the county. Officers know those who are manufacturing and selling the fake liquor in their areas of jurisdiction, so they should not hesitate to arrest them,’ remarked Mathiu.

The commander further urged all officers to work as a team cautioning the leaders from working as individuals.

‘Cooperation will enable us to win this war. Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs) and their deputies should avoid ignoring their juniors. Team work will ensure we eliminate the problem in this county,’ he added.

Last week, members of the public in Wangu ward, using secret ballots named people they believe to be behind contrabands, manufacturing of illicit liquor and selling of bhang.

The names which were forwarded to the office of county police commander are expected to be scrutinised and investigated before the culprits are apprehended.

The fight against alcoholism and drugs in the central region have been intensified in the recent past after the Deputy President Rigathi Gahagua directed all security officers to crack down on the menace.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Eleven Suspects Arrested In Laikipia Over Illicit Alcohol

Eleven suspects were arrested in Laikipia County and 20300 litres of Kangara destroyed by authorities during a multi-agency led-operation on Monday.

Confirming the incident, Laikipia County Police Commander John Nyoike said that during the sting operation by the multi-agency team, one of the suspects from Likii informal settlement was arrested and fined Sh300,000 by a Nanyuki court on Monday and after being released, she was again rearrested after being found in possession of more illicit brews during the operation at her homestead in Likii.

Nyoike said that the government will not relent until the war against illicit brews is won in the Mount Kenya region.

‘This is an operation we are proceeding with in Laikipia until the war on illicit alcohol brewing is won. I want to urge members of the public for partnership because they are derailing us in our efforts by abetting the vice,’ said the police boss.

He noted that it was everyone’s responsibility to fight illicit alcohol for a sober society.

‘Let us work together so that we can win this war on illicit brews. It’s not only for the police alone, but also for members of the public because, if it continues being sold, it affects many people,’ urged the police commander.

Nturukuma location Chief Martin Kariuki reiterated the need for partnership to win the war against the illicit brews and at the same time urged courts to impose hefty fines on those found brewing the illicit brews.

‘There are a few crafty people who we have fought for long on illicit alcohol and they keep on changing their tactics and recruit new people. They keep on brewing and it’s a challenge for us administrators,’ said Kariuki.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kiambu Constituency Disburses Bursaries Amounting To Sh31million

Over 7,000 students from Kiambu Constituency have received a total of Sh31 million in bursary, thanks to efforts by Kiambu Member of Parliament Machua Waithaka.

The disbursement, which started on Saturday May 6th and is still ongoing, has brought a much-needed relief to parents and students as schools reopen this week for the second term.

Beneficiaries gathered at the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) offices in Kiambu Town to collect their cheques and the funds were disbursed according to the level of need, ranging from Sh3, 000 to Sh8, 000.

According to the Constituency Manager, Aloysius Njoroge, measures were put in place to ensure ease and transparency during the bursary application process.

‘The ‘Machua One Stop Shop’ was introduced to facilitate the process, bringing all stakeholders together in one area,’ Njoroge said and emphasized the importance of involving community leaders such as Chiefs, Priests, and Pastors in identifying eligible beneficiaries, which made the process faster and easier.

‘We had an elaborate system of identifying needy cases and that’s why we went to the location level so that the Chief, Priest and Pastors are there to help us and the people themselves were protagonists in the whole process in that they would help identify the residents that come from the area which made the whole process easier and quicker,’ said Njoroge.

The bursary beneficiaries included students from primary schools, high schools, tertiary institutions, colleges, and universities. Students were categorized according to different levels of need, including orphans (partial orphans and complete orphans), poor students, persons with disabilities, and persons living with HIVandAIDS.

‘We had four categories, those ones who are poor where they have both parents but cannot afford, we were giving them Sh3,000 and those in boarding Sh5,000 and universities we would give them Sh8,000 but we had now different categories depending on the needs. We had the orphans, there are those we call partial orphans where either one parent is alive and we would increase the amount to Sh4, 000. Then we had the complete orphans who got a higher kitty ranging all the way to the university, some would get Sh 5,000 or even Sh7,000. Then we had persons living with disabilities and those living with HIV$AIDS so we would give them a different application form from the others,’ Njoroge added.

Julius Shirove, a parent to one of the beneficiaries, expressed his satisfaction with the allocation and disbursement process, saying that there was no discrimination and that anybody residing in Kiambu Constituency was eligible for the bursary application as long as they met the criteria.

‘We were applying for the bursary in one area where all the officials were in place which made it easy for us and the application process fast. So, once you have applied, they would review the forms and send us a message. They have issued the bursaries to a lot of schools, even if the school is in Mombasa or Kisumu, they have no discrimination at all,’ said Mr. Julius Shirove.

The bursary disbursement has been a huge success, with many students benefitting from the funds allocated by the Kiambu Member of Parliament. The measures put in place to ensure transparency and fairness during the application process have been lauded, and the funds have brought much-needed relief to parents and students as schools prepare to reopen.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Africans To Discuss on Accelerating Single Continental Air Transport Market in Addis Ababa

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority in coalition with the African Civil Aviation Commission has organized a workshop aimed at accelerating the single African air transport market in Addis Ababa.

The workshop will be held on May 10-11, 2023 under the theme ‘The Acceleration of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) Ethiopian Stakeholders Roadshow.’

Single African Air Transport Market is a flagship project of the AU’s Agenda 2063, which aims at integrating the air transport market of the continent to bring about economic integration and connectivity, thereby enabling the continent’s air transport to be sustainable, efficient and unified.

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority said that 100 participants from all African nations will participate in the workshop.

As stipulated by SAATM, aviation plays a major role in connecting Africa, promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intra-Africa trade and tourism as a result.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopian Delegation Participating at 12th Int’l Investment Meeting in AbuDhabi

Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Trade and Regional Integration is participating at the 12th International Annual Investment (AIM Global 2023) Meeting which is being held in AbuDhabi, United Arab Emirates from 8 to 10 May 2023.

The Annual Investment Meeting is being conducted under the theme “The Investment Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities To Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity and Prosperity.”

The three-day event has attracted an international audience of top executives, decision makers, senior corporate leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives.

The objective is to identify untapped business opportunities and promote cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis.

With a focus on building a roadmap for the global economy, the event will highlight five key pillars – startups, foreign direct investment, small and medium enterprises, future cities, and foreign portfolio investments – aimed at stimulating local and international economic growth, according to Gulf News.

Dawood Al Shezawi, Chairman of Annual Investment Meeting said, “This year’s event will feature several initiatives designed to support the five key pillars, including workshops, exhibitions, and networking opportunities.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Angola proposes changes of articles in Ombudsman institute

The coordinator of the Commission for Revision of the Statutes of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) for the African region, Florbela Rocha Araújo, presented last Monday in Vienna, Austria, proposals to change some articles of the organisation.

These are the articles 10 on the loss of membership and the article 7 on the procedures related to the application for membership in the organisation.

The information is contained in a press release sent to ANGOP, on

the first day of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Ombudsmen.

Florbela Rocha Araújo, who is also the Angolan Ombudswoman, held contacts with her counterparts to approach the parties, exchange experience institutional cooperation.

The day was marked by several meetings, such as the Executive Commission, the United Nations (UN) Working Group, the Commission for the Reform of the Statutes and the Commission of the Statutory Reform.

Also meetings with regional directors, during which, the African region met with four African directors, namely the Ombudswomen from Angola, Florbela Rocha Araújo; Kenya, Florence Kajuju; Zambia Caroline Sokoni and the acting Ombudswoman of South Africa, Kholeka Gcaleka, marked the day.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)