Day: July 22, 2023

Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Mr. Kaburu Kaimba has decried the increase of children dropping out of school in four Sub Counties along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Consequently, Kaimba warned parents that they risked prosecution if they neglect taking their children to school saying Kibwezi East, Makindu, Nzaui and Mukaa Sub Counties is where many cases are found.

‘The issue of children dropping out of school, is posing security problem. This has been aggravated by parents especially women who have gone to Nairobi and working as house helps,’ said Kaimba on Friday when he chaired County Steering Group (CSG) meeting at the Devolution Hall at Map in Wote town.

‘Parents who will neglect their children will be prosecuted,’ warned the administrator.

He further disclosed that some children who have dropped out of school are involved in crime.

‘There has emerged petty theft in Nziu and Kalaani villages of even crops in the farms. They are stealing oranges,’ the administrator observed.

During the meeting, members were informed that the depressed March, April and May rains has occasioned poor food production.

Speaking in the meeting, the Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Mr. Lukas Makau said that farmers will harvest 260,263 bags of 90kgs (maize) instead of 656,896 expected during the long rains period.

At the same time, he disclosed that farmers will get 90,889 bags of 90kgs (cow peas instead of 137,122 while farmers will realise only 44,856 bags of 90kgs of (green grams) below the anticipated 78,000.

‘In maize, cow peas and green grams this has resulted to a loss of 39.3%, 66.3% and 57% respectively,’ lamented the Deputy Director.

This was contained in a report on the long rains assessment for the months of March, April and May that comprise of Water, Education, Health and Livestock departments in the county indicating how they performed during the period.

The report says that poor rainfall, performance, poor water recharge, increase in cases of malnutrition, human/wildlife, immediate sale of stocks at low prices from last season were some of the factors contributing to food insecurity.

Also it says that some people have poor dietary diversity and minimal meal frequency and increase of trekking distance for water.

However, some of the recommendations given as per sector includes agriculture where they said there should be irrigation infrastructure development and support rain water harvest for crop production in the area.

Also provision of certified tolerant crop seed to farmers and support community seed system where they get an area where farmers are trained to get quality seed and establishment in low pest prevalence zones.

In livestock it was recommended that there is need to upgrade livestock like cattle, goats and sheep and chickens.

On water, the report says that dams be desilted in a bid to improve storage capacities and also construct earth dams both medium and large that can support irrigation schemes.

On his part, Devolution Executive Committee Member Japheth Mang’oka said that currently they are desilting 10 dams in the county in preparation of the anticipated rains in the months of October to December 2023.

‘Massive desilting has already started at Masaani, Mitooni, Matinga, Ndukuma, Kwamboo, Kyamakuthi Mwambie, Kyamatolo and Kyunguni dams,’ said Mang’oka.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Director of ICT in the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy Andrew Opiyo said that the e-filing system marks an important step in the judicial system’s ability to adopt technological advancement into their systems

‘Speaking at the launch of the e-filing systems in Kiambu town, he said ‘E-filing is moving us to the digital age and is in line with our government’s bottom-up approach in the transformation of the lives of people in this country through the continued implementation of the digital superhighway and creative economy,’

He highlighted the importance of the Digital superhighway and its pillars in the progression of digitization in Kenya elaborating on developments such as the laying down of 100,000 km of cabling to improve connectivity across the country.

Additionally, the government is also aiming to install 25,000 wifi hubs throughout the country that will offer free internet to the people as well as add 1.450 digital hubs within the wards in the country that will enable access

‘By increasing the coverage, we have in the country for Kenyans to access the internet will allow them to easily access the government’s numerous digital services which are necessary for all and the e-filling system is one that they will encounter,’ he added

Opiyo said that in line with the pillars of the Digital superhighway plan the government has plans to continue improving the digital skills of the citizens and of the people who offer these services to the citizens.

‘We will continue to work closely with the Judiciary and all judicial systems within the country to improve and implement their digitalization agenda and transform the space through increasing connectivity of the courts across the country.’ he said.

He said that another point of improvement that the Ministry is looking toward is coming up with online courts to help those who may be unable to access the physical court as a step towards making the justice system more accessible to Kenyans

‘Here we have many people who may not be able to come to this location but through engaging with our youth who have assisted with the transcription processes and capturing the proceedings we can have the courts online and people can have an easy time accessing this important information.’ he said.

The government will continue to automate digital processes as it continues to achieve the goal of having 5000 services online.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kiambu law court is working on various strategies for handling Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases within the County.

According to Chief Magistrate Kiambu, Emily Ominde, Kiambu is one of the Counties where the SGBV cases are high in number and statistics showing that 17.7 percent of women were subjected to violence

Ominde was speaking yesterday during the launch of an e-filing system for 8 Kiambu court stations at the Kiambu Law Courts.

‘Kiambu County has been identified as a hotspot with a lot of sexual gender-based violence cases and we have set up strategies on how we propose to handle these cases with necessary sensitivity it deserves considering that most of the victims of the SGBV are children,’ she said.

Ominde explained that out of six courts at the law court, two courts will be handling SGBV cases from Monday to Friday and that files containing SGBV cases shall be color coded for ease of identification.

She further said that in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) they will be registering and flagging out GBV cases by prioritizing them on the plea dates.

‘The strategy plan is to complete the SGBV cases soonest so that we do not need to have a pre-trial thereafter. We shall allocate these cases to the trial court and immediately give them a priority date that is reasonable and practicable notwithstanding the workload.

She explained that they have agreed with other honorable colleagues to endeavor to finalize the said cases within 6 months.

The Magistrate also said that as a court, they have also laid out child justice strategies within the County.

‘We already have a children’s court in Kiambu with a designated magistrate, senior principal and magistrate. We have already opened protection and care files for children in need of care and protection that is ongoing. It is two years old now and we have in place a pool of pro bono lawyers on children’s matters ‘said Ominde

She said the courts are also working with the office of the DPP to ensure that children’s cases first go through arbitration and mediation. The children’s cases should only come to court as a last resort and only on maintenance and custody should they appear in court.

She explained, ‘Immediately a case involving a child is registered, she is to be informed so that a pro bono lawyer is available to represent the child at the time of plea. SGBVcases documents should be ready, particularly for children in conflict with the law and if there is need for a hearing, they will be allowed necessary witness protection measures so that if at any given time they are not comfortable in testifying in the presence of the perpetrator, they are secured’.

Ominde said that they have already set up an electronic register for SGBV cases and that they are waiting for the first conviction after the rollout.

Justice Abigail Mshila the presiding Judge at Kiambu Law Courts stated that they are in full support of the SGBV Strategies.

‘We welcome the unit in the Chief Magistrate’s court as this will align with the Judiciary’s strategic focus on transforming our justice system into one that prioritizes the needs as wellbeing of the people particularly the marginalized ones.

She expounded that they are looking to engage in conversation and outreach with Kiambu Women Rep Anne Wamuratha into the County Court Users Committees (CUCs) as SGBV is one of the pet issues she is so passionate about.

Mshila noted further that in the adoption of SGBV Strategies, Kiambu Law courts have opened a register for Home Visit Orders in adoption cases.

‘When an order is given for a home visit to be carried out by the Department of Children Services this will be noted in the Register which will reflect the date of collection of the Order and date of filing of the Investigation Report. In case there is a delay, the officer will be summoned to explain. The strategies shall greatly enhance efficient delivery of justice’, Judge Mshila said.

Kiambu County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha said that there is a good relation and understanding between the Kiambu law Courts and the security agencies and that that they have partnered with all the stakeholders in the fight against SGBV cases and issues of child abuse.

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey Kiambu and Nairobi counties have the highest occurrences of physical violence against women with some of the victims being as young as 15 years old.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Porridge was a highly treasured meal in the Ameru community such that no family would spend a day without having a cup of it.

The porridge was usually prepared by women who would grid millet using a special stone and later serve it using calabashes.

Those who could not afford porridge were considered to be weak while a woman who was not able to make porridge for the family was considered lazy and unfit in the society.

Speaking to KNA, Tabitha Acii a Seventy-Nine-year-old woman from Kathelwa village Igembe Central explained that traditionally, families could not do without porridge, a woman in the family had a duty of grinding porridge famously known as ‘Ucuru bwa gukia’ every morning and serve it as breakfast to the entire family.

She noted that the porridge was made by mixing millet ‘Mwere’ with small amount of water then grid using two stones the bigger one termed as ‘iiga ria Gukia’ and the small one ”nthie” that were usually made out of special stones.

Wet millets were placed on the larger stone, the smaller stone moved against the bigger one as you add little water and the time taken would depend on the person’s speed and the quantity of millet.

‘I used to prepare porridge well. Sometimes I would take twenty minutes to prepare two kilograms of millets that would produce ten litres of porridge.’ Tabitha maintained noting that she could prepare up to seven kilograms of millet in a day since her family was large.

‘After grinding, the porridge is cooked using a steady heat while stirring constantly for around seven to ten minutes. When it becomes uniform and about to boil, the porridge is considered ready to be served.

She maintained that porridge ‘Ucuru bwa Gukia’ never missed in important occasions such as circumcision, nursing mothers ‘Ntomononi’ and during courtship since it was considered to give energy and power.

‘Basically, we used to take porridge before beginning our daily activities more specifically tilling the lands,’ she maintained.

Tabitha revealed that during circumcision period not any woman could grid porridge for the initiates unless the adult who had undergone female genital mutilation (FGM).

She expressed that the taste of porridge greatly depended on how it was prepared since some used to prepare soft one while others left rough particles known as ‘makie’, chewy pieces which made porridge tasteless.

Tabitha noted that girls were trained to prepare porridge from childhood so as to become responsible wives when they get married.

Either, modern technology has become a game changer in our society where anyone can afford liquid porridge in a span of five minutes.

The tedious work of grinding porridge for hours has been compressed into a minute-work by an electric milling machine charging as low as Shs. 20 per kilogram.

On the invention of the electric milling machine, Tabitha noted that both the lazy and hardworking, those living in the rural areas where there are grinding stones and those in urban areas can access porridge due to changes brought about by technological advancements.

She added that though technology has made the process of making porridge easy, the traditional Meru stone -grinded porridge remains to be her favorite.

‘The stone-grinded porridge is very sweet and can be taken sugarless unless the modern one.” Tabitha maintained.

Modern method of making porridge has as well created job opportunities for many people where you meet women in the streets of Maua town hawking the commodity at reasonable prices.

Alice Murugi a porridge vendor in Maua town said that she ventured into the business in 2021 to make ends meet after she lost her job due Covid-19 restrictions.

The 40-year-old single mother narrated that the business has helped her cater for her family needs as well as educate her two children.

‘The business has been thriving well, I began with five litres where I made a profit of around Shs. 250 in a day. So far I sell a minimum of thirty litres meaning I pocket Shs. 1500 as a profit on a good day.’ She explained.

Murugi added that a cup of porridge goes for as little as twenty shillings.

‘Thanks to technology which has simplified many aspects of life. It would be very difficult to engage in such a business since the traditional method consumed a lot of time and energy in preparing porridge,’ Murugi said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Labour and Social Protection Florence Bore has urged companies to ensure adequate safety systems are in place to prevent occupational hazards.

CS Bore says it is the responsibility of development companies to mainstream social, environmental, health and safety measures in their operations.

She made the remarks while on a familiarization tour of Base Titanium mining company in Kwale County.

The Labour and Social Protection minister says companies should not be making profits at the expense of the safety of their workers.

She noted that the government does not want to lose lives because of negligence of safety regulations at the workplace and underscored the need to ensure safety of workers is not compromised.

She was accompanied by Kwale County Commissioner Meru Mwangi, Msambweni MP Feisal Bader, Secretary Occupational Safety and Health Services Dr. Musa Nyandusi and Base Titanium General Manager (GM) for External Affairs Simon Wall.

The mining firm located in Msambweni Sub County of Kwale, simply known as Base produces ilmenite, rutile and zircon which are all considered critical minerals and represents a significant impact on the local and national economy.

Ms. Bore said she is in Kwale to witness the mineral site operations and more specifically the occupational safety and health aspects which are key to providing a conducive workplace and safety to communities and the environment.

She says labour intensive organizations should strive to put in place watertight safety systems noting that nothing can be compared to human lives and no amount of compensation can bring back lives.

CS Bore noted that safety was the right thing that businesses must encourage to increase the quality of output at all times.

She commended Base Titanium for its occupational safety programmes to protect workers and urged other mining companies to ensure safety of workers and host communities.

CS Bore has urged all mining firms to ensure that their employees undergo mandatory comprehensive safety induction programmes noting that the government places high premium on the safety of workers in the mining industry.

She has expressed the need for organizations to ensure safe and healthy workplaces so as not just to protect workers from injury and illnesses, but lower injury/illness costs as well.

The CS commended Base Titanium for putting in place a structured training and skills transfer programmes covering on-the-job training for permanent employees, as well as tailored programmes for graduates, interns and apprentices.

She says the mining firm has partnered with her ministry through the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), The Kenya National Qualification Authority (KNQA) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) to pilot and launch the first Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme in the country.

‘The RPL programme identifies, assesses and certifies a candidate’s knowledge, skills competencies and experience gained through work skills and industry exposure putting emphasis on applicants learning and not on the way competencies were acquired,’ she said.

She says the programme provides a pathway to gaining a formal qualification that ultimately improves employability and skills mobility for all beneficiaries.

Mr. Wall says Base regularly carries out competency training for safety officers who get certified to carry out safety management and systems within the mining firm.

‘We deliberately invest in safety and promote safety culture in all our endeavours,’ he said, adding that they ensure only safety professionals are hired in the mining fields.

Wall says Base Titanium puts a premium on health and safety by minimizing hazards at the workplace to forestall the loss of lives.

He says Base Titanium Mine Operations prioritizes the recruitment of local communities via a ‘fencing system’ that is specifically designed to maximize employment opportunities and project benefits for local communities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Farmers in regions that receive less rain have been urged to embrace a new hybrid of maize that is water efficient and matures within a short period.

Speaking in Kutus, Kirinyaga County, during agricultural field day Dr. Murenga Mwimali, the Principal Research Scientist at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) said the new hybrid WEMA4141(WE414) is climate change ready and can tolerate major crops diseases. WEMA derived from Water Efficient Maize for Africa was researched for by KALRO and Africa Agricultural Technology.

‘This new hybrid is early maturing, tolerant to maize diseases and more important high yielding. We have demonstrated to farmers the output and also the response from those who planted last season.,’ Mwimali said

Dr. Mwimali also noted the hybrid is high yielding and the stalk remains green for a longer time making it best for feeding livestock after harvesting.

‘Beyond harvesting the stalk and cobs remains green bringing about another advantage of animal feeds’

He warned the farmers to use hybrids and not to recycle it as it lowers the productivity.

Patrick Muriuki, Director Integrated Community Organization on Sustainable Empowerment and Education for Development (ICOSEED), said they work closely with agricultural research organizations to ensure they get high value hybrids which in turn increase food production.

He noted that to achieve food security in Kenya, maize which is staple food must be produced in large quantities. He said WE4141 can produce between 35-45 bags per acre during dry season making it for areas with little rains like Mwea, Mbeere, Tharaka parts of Muranga and other regions.

‘WEMA4141 matures between 3-4 months and with low rains you can get 35-45 bags per acre. We have listened to farmers who planted the hybrid giving positive feedback. We encourage those in semi-arid areas to embrace the variety. Kenya we need enough maize to be self-sufficient,’ Muriuki said.

Phylis Karinga, farmer, said to bridge the food gap the new hybrid will play a big role because of its high yielding potential. She urged the farmers to plant the crop noting that it dries faster to the standard required moisture content for millers, reducing cases of aflatoxin.

‘I harvested 37 bags in one acre of this hybrid variety. To end hunger in Kenya this variety hybrid should be planted by all farmers and within two seasons everybody will have food. It also dries up faster for milling after harvesting.’

Daniel Magondu, chair ICOSSED and famer, called upon the government to recognize farmers by setting aside a national day where they are given the opportunity to meet all stakeholder share challenges and make proposals.

Source: Kenya News Agency