Day: July 14, 2023

On 16th July, 2023 the African Union will hold its 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM), that will focus on enhancing synergy in its efforts towards Africa’s integration.

The meeting brings together Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanism (RMs) and member states to review the progress of the continental integration agenda.

The meeting will be attended by about 51 foreign ministers from the AU member states. On Sunday, 15 heads of state will meet at the United Nations African headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi.

The meeting will address the obstacles of continental integration by exploring avenues to enhance integration including the promotion of free movement and the African passport, connecting infrastructure, connecting African financial markets, and a common African market to accelerate trade, agriculture, the establishment of businesses and transfer of skills in Africa.

The MYCM will be preceded by the meeting of the Executive Council on the 13-14th July 2023.

Addressing the meeting themed ‘Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation’, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua urged Member States to create synergies and build on comparative advantages that allow for free trade to unlock collective socio-economic potential in Africa.

On climate change, the CS called on consolidation of Africa’s voice to amplify the need for a fair share of global trade. On peace and security, he reiterated that Kenya remains committed to the Silencing of Guns initiative and participates in peace and mediation efforts at the regional level.

With the MYCM expected to bring in more than 1500 delegates from across Africa, Mutua observes that the conference will be a critical centre for tourism and trade opportunities. ‘International conferences are key and strategic drivers of our tourism market especially in the MICE Sector,’ he said.

MYCM was conceptualized in 2017 as the principal forum for the AU and RECs in a bid to align their work and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda.

AU chairperson and the Bureau of the Assembly, AU Champion of the AfCFTA, chairpersons of all RECs, AUC chairperson and chief executives of RECs/RMs, deputy chairperson and commissioners of the AUC and the chief executive officer of AUDA-NEPAD are expected to attend.

The RECs include the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA, Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) and East African Community (EAC).

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government is set to collect over 73 billion shillings annually through the housing levy, once the Finance bill court cases are over, to enable the construction of over 200,000 affordable housing units every year across the country.

Through the already enacted Finance Act 2023 that is unfortunately embroiled in court battles, the government has capped a 1.5 percent employee contribution matched with an equal contribution from the employer towards the ambitious housing plan.

The housing plan is a key priority project that will provide decent houses to Kenyans at an affordable payment plan as well as creating millions of job opportunities to the youths, Jua-Kali sector and Small and Medium Enterprises.

According to State Department for Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary [PS] Charles Hinga, the collected levy will guarantee large-scale construction of affordable houses to address the increasing annual demand of 250,000 units against a supply of only 50,000 units.

Hinga said the affordable housing plan will help address the mushrooming of informal settlements that is home to over 6.5 million Kenyans and match the annual rapid urbanisation rate of 4.4 percent.

The PS while addressing the Affordable Housing Symposium delegates in Naivasha said, currently, the government is undertaking over 46,000 housing units across the country with another 31,000 units set to be launched this year.

In addition, the PS said the government has already allocated Sh1 billion to undertake construction of 200 affordable housing units in each constituency with 29 projects set to begin through Public – Private Partnerships [PPPs].

To this end, the government has rolled out several interventions to lower the cost of houses including provision of free land, zero- rated the cost of infrastructure, multiple exemptions of taxes and lower cost of financing.

However, Hinga said they are currently engaging sector players to address the rising cost of construction materials occasioned by high inflation which has affected the cost of steel and cement.

The PS said, the government through National Industrial and Training Authority [NITA] is set to assess and certify qualified Jua-Kali artisans to enable them to benefit from job opportunities as well as partner with technical institutions to offer requisite training.

‘The housing agenda will create over 2 million direct and indirect jobs and contribute Sh48.3B on average spend on labour costs in housing,’ projected data shows.

So far, the government has enacted several policies on housing to streamline the sector including the National Housing Policy [2004], National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Policy [2016] and the National Building and Maintenance Policy of 2013.

The government has capped the prices of the affordable units at one million shillings for one bedroom unit, two million shillings for a two bedroom and Sh3 million for a three-bedroom unit with affordable monthly payments of up to 30 years.

Additionally, the social housing unit’s prices are capped at Sh600,000 for one roomed unit, one million shillings for two -roomed units and Sh1.4 million for a three roomed unit to be paid for 25 years at a fixed rate of three percent.

Hinga said the government has also adopted the use of modern technology on housing and enhanced governance systems towards project implementation and on issuance of units to be undertaken through the Boma Yangu Platform.

The roll out of the affordable housing projects has seen the cost of units go down from the average of Sh11 million in 2017 to the current average of three million shillings more so in urban areas.

The government also seeks to increase the mortgage uptake among Kenyans from the current 30,000 to one million as a result of reduced cost of financing.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A fruit expert at Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organisation (KARLO) Wesley Ochieng’ has said changes in agricultural practices such as the use of pesticides and shifts in land use can affect the growth of certain crops, including gooseberries, which used to grow widely in the countryside.

The expert noted that the heightened usage of pesticides has hampered the spontaneous growth of indigenous fruits such as gooseberries, guava, and loquats, which were abundant in rural areas.

While speaking today at the ongoing Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show in Nakuru city, he said that changes in the local climate have made it challenging for gooseberries to thrive, leading to a decrease in their population in the rural areas.

Ochieng noted that alterations in rainfall patterns, temperatures, or other climatic factors can negatively affect the spur-of-the-moment or natural growth of gooseberries, and urged farmers to avoid pruning, cutting or even burning indigenous fruits before they mature. However, he assured those who want to cultivate them to source for seeds at KARLO Muguga.

Also, he said lack of awareness and support from farmers, who are not adequately cognizant of their benefits and potential profitability, have been treating them as invasive weeds, which they pull out and burn, hence their drastic decrease.

Ochieng observed that the ignored gooseberries are not only a nutritious fruit but contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and KARLO is currently, encouraging farmers to grow them since they are in demand by the health-conscious population.

Additionally, he said they are low in calories and fibre-rich, hence helping people to manage their weight. And, currently, scientists are studying the active compounds in the wonder fruit to reduce premature aging.

Overall, the fruit expert emphasised the importance of daily consumption of fruits and said it was more convenient and cheaper for families to plant the neglected indigenous fruits since they keep on multiplying and don’t require much care like exotic ones.

Apart from that he said, gooseberries make fantastic juice, which can be consumed by babies, patients, and even the elderly, who have lost teeth and cannot chew hard fruits.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Ethiopia has been able to respond to the impact of climate change and bring about tangible change through the policies and strategies it has implemented, Planning and Development State Minister Tirumar Abate.

The ministry held today a panel discussion on the contribution of the Green Legacy Initiative to the economic growth and development of the country in connection with the launching of this year’s planting program.

In her opening remark, Planning and Development State Minister Tirumar Abate said Ethiopia has been able to bring tangible change through the policies and strategies it has implemented to respond to the impact of climate change.

Through the efforts to respond to the ever-increasing effect of climate change by formulating policies, strategies, long-term plans and organizing institutions, the government has brought about tangible change, she added.

So far, over 25 billion saplings have been planted by involving the community in the initiative and efforts are being made to expand the program to neighboring countries.

At the same time, Ethiopia is sharing its experiences in various international forums and is working with international institutions to share its experience.

Tirumar further noted that Ethiopia has launched its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) that is aimed to help the government to pursue a green growth pathway by keeping its carbon emissions target to net-zero by 2050 entailing an increased climate resilience and delivery of multiple economic and social benefits.

According to her, dealing with climate change will be the main focus of the Ten-Year Development Plan, and there is a real change in the Green Legacy Initiative and other policies and strategies that are of great benefit in preventing the impact of climate change.”

Environment Protection Authority Director-General, Getahun Garedew said on his part that the initiative is saving the damage caused to the environment by improper use of natural resources in the past years.

“Ethiopia is implementing policies and strategies that ensure the sustainability of environmental issues. The main environmental problems of the country are land degradation, deforestation and climate change. The government is working to solve these problems.”

He pointed out that the initiative has contributed to increase the country’s forest coverage, storage of underground water resources and reduce greenhouse gases and creating a healthy environment.

Climate Change Researcher at Addis Ababa University, Zewdu Eshetu said 25 billion trees or 10 million hectares have been covered up to now and they have sequestered 78 million cubic meter carbon. If we multiply this even by 5 dollars, it means that we have generated carbon finance that can already cost 380 million USD.

Meanwhile, employees of Ministry of Planning and Development as well as pertinent organizations and partners have planted tree seedlings in the premises of the ministry.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency