Day: May 3, 2024

The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo has called upon the media to continually highlight vital issues related to environmental crisis and conservation.

Owalo said the media must be a vital ally in promoting environmental sustainability given the reality of climate change, driven by human activities like excessive greenhouse gas emissions and extensive land use changes, is undeniable.

In a speech read on his behalf by Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunication Edward Kisiang’ani during the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day and Annual Media Summit on Thursday, Owalo said that in facing an unprecedented environmental crisis, the media plays a critical role in raising awareness and highlighting public discourse for meaningful change.

The CS said that to achieve sustainable development, it was necessary for journalists to report accurately and timely on environmental issues and their consequences, as well as on possible solutions.

He s
aid by media prioritizing environmental issues in their reporting, they helped shape a national consciousness that values and actively engages in prevention of our planet.

‘Journalists have a responsibility to hold all stakeholders accountable whether it is government, industries or citizens,’ he said adding that the media’s role in educating the public about the impacts of these changes is now more important than ever.

Owalo noted that challenges like the complexity of scientific terms often lead to public misunderstanding and disinterest in matters of environmental conservation and climate change reporting.

‘It is critical for journalists to simplify this information to keep the public engaged and motivated to push for comprehensive environmental sustainability and policies,’ he said.

Owalo said the Kenyan Constitution underscores the importance of media freedom and that the government recognizes that these are fundamental rights.

‘The government encourages the media to work with us in environmental pr
eservation and efforts,’ he said adding that it is the duty of the media to recognize and call out duty bearers to improve our environment and applaud everyone contributing to a healthy environment.

The CS said the government has embarked on promoting new mitigation measures to tackle the negative effects of climate change.

‘As we leverage the influence of the press in pursuant of environmental stewardship, scribes and policy makers need to work together to illuminate the path towards a sustainable future for the planet,’ he said.

Chief Executive Officer, Media Council of Kenya David Omwoyo said that we need to have a comprehensive policy review framework to have a conducive working environment that would allow a thriving environment and prevent disruptions in the media sector.

‘The future of media is not bleak because there are strategies that can be used to guarantee their sustainability and in shaping the future of media in the country,’ he said.

He said the council in partnership with the United Nati
ons Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held the summit to provide a platform where stakeholders converge to reflect on the role of journalism in protecting the planet.

‘With at least 300 TV stations, 200 radio stations and 9000 accredited journalists in Kenya, there is a lot more that has happened positively in the media landscape,’ he said adding that the day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

The CEO called upon the media to establish feedback mechanisms that provide audience insight and preferences, including utilizing data analytics to understand audience behaviour and tailor content to their interest.

‘Good journalism is expensive and we need to address the challenges that hamper media sustainability in Kenya,’ he said.

The Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation John Kiarie said the National Assembly is looking into creating an environment cond
ucive for media sustainability fostering a diverse and vibrant media ecosystem.

‘The government reaffirms its commitment to protecting journalists, ensuring accountability for attacks against journalists and creating recourse in cases of violations of press freedom,’ he said.

The Chief Justice and President of Supreme Court Lady Justice Martha Koome said that it was essential for journalism to move beyond just reacting to environmental crisis.

‘A proactive, thematic reporting approach that focuses on prevention, mitigation and adoption strategies is crucial in mitigating climate change,’ she said in her speech read on her behalf by Justice Gatembu Kairu.

Koome acknowledged the challenges many journalists faced including censorship, political pressure, and at times threats to personal safety and called for a collective duty to defend the freedom of the press because a free press contributes to a strong and resilient democracy.

‘The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 is fundamentally an ecological document. It ex
plores each one of us, irrespective of our profession, to embody and advance the principles of transformative environmental constitutionalism,’ she said.

The World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebrations are held annually on May 2. The theme for 2024 WPFD is ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of Environmental Crisis’.

The summit and WPFD will culminate into the 12th Annual Journalism Excellence Award (AJEA) which endeavors to recognize, acknowledge, inspire, and promote media excellence in Kenya.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kiambu County Assistant Director of Education Roselyne Wambui has acknowledged that the heavy rains experienced in the County have taken a toll on the education sector.

Speaking to KNA, Wambui said they have been doing a ward-roundup to help drain water in flood-infested institutions even as preparations for opening of schools next week gears up.

‘We are visiting these institutions in each of the wards in Kiambu and removing water from the school grounds, clearing them for the safety of our children in schools,’ she said.

Wambui went on to add that some of the water-tight measures that are being put in place to ensure adequate safety for all the affected school communities include setting up a response team that visits these institutions to gather data regarding flooding.

‘The Department of Education has set up a group called the Set Response team that is sent out to gather data and information in the affected areas and work on the findings,’ she said.

She added that the Department of education in partn
ership with the Ministry of Education has come up with a social directorate that is donating amenities for the children to ensure a stable running of the school system.

‘Our department has joined with the Ministry of Education to ensure our children do not miss anything in terms of social amenities that are required in this weather,’ she said.

Some parents and residents of Kiambu however, are against the idea of children resuming schools for second term as the weather is quite unpredictable and poses a great risk to the lives of children.

Mokaya Bwire, a parent at Ndumberi Primary school and a resident of Kiambu county said he is not ready to let his children resume school because the government has not spoken on how to deal with waterborne and airborne diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Schools were supposed to be opened for second term on the 29th of April but due to the heavy rains being experienced across the country, Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the postponement of school rep
orting dates by one week until the 6th of May 2024.

Source: Kenya News Agency

President Dr. William Ruto Thursday granted charters to two universities Tangaza University and Management University of Africa during a colourful ceremony at Statehouse Nairobi bringing the total number of accredited universities to 64 in the country.

‘Kenya now boasts of 64 chattered universities solidifying our status as a regional hub for higher education,’ said President Ruto during the ceremony calling on education stakeholders to continue striving to meet the ever growing demand for higher education with a focus on elevating those at the bottom of the social and economic pyramids to access quality education.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu expressed his gratitude noting that this comes after the recent award of charter to the first online university in Kenya, the Open University.

Machogu said the award of the two charters underscored the President’s support for the advancement of tertiary and university education in the country.

The CS commended President Ruto’s recent introduction of
a new funding model for higher education noting that it was through commitment and dedication to the education vision that Kenyan students’ dreams were becoming a reality.

‘By fulfilling the stringent requirements, these two institutions have demonstrated their preparedness to nurture scholars Innovate in research and contribute significantly to our nations intellectual and human capital,’ said Mr Machogu.

He added that the institutions demonstrated robust governance structure, financial prudence and comprehensive academic programmes.

The award of charter is not just the recognition of academic excellence but also a testament in the relentless pursuit to create opportunities for providing knowledge, research and innovation impacting the education sector and society at large.

Machogu expressed confidence in the two institutions saying they are poised for a transformative future producing skilled professionals thereby fostering a culture of critical thinking, research and innovation, thus impacting the soci
ety positively.

During the event, Prof Edward Etengu was installed as the Chancellor of Tangaza University, and Dr Reuben Musyoka Mutiso the Chancellor of the Management University of Africa.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Stigma and lack of policy structure have been identified as the greatest impediments to re-entry and retaining of student teenage mothers in schools in Siaya County.

Siaya county Imarisha Msichana project coordinator Everlyne Amunga has observed that despite numerous sensitisation efforts, teenage girls who have opted to go back to school still face a lot of stigma from their fellow students and the community at large.

‘We have done a lot as an organisation in terms of sensitisation in Siaya County but the teenage mothers are still called derogatory names by their classmates or even viewed negativity by the community which has not only discouraged some of them but also contributed to some dropping out of school once again,’ Amunga disclosed.

According to Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022 report on teenage pregnancy, siaya county ranks 4th nationally at 21% contributing to high number of girls dropping out of school.

Imarisha Msichana project implemented by Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE
) in conjuction with Mastercard Foundation aims at reducing cases of teenage pregnancy as well as ending early child marriages with keen focus of re-entry of teenage mother back to school.

Amunga further observed that lack of policy and support structure has also negated their efforts in retaining the teenage mothers in school since there is no clear strategy of retaining the mothers in schools and assisting them to transit to next career level.

‘We have begun working on a policy which is being developed by education stakeholders in the region that will see to it that the teenage mothers are not only retained in school but also their children supported to ensure they fully focus in school. The policy will also spell out how the teenage mothers back in school will be supported to transit to the next level of their careers,’she said

Amunga disclosed that the programme aimed at promoting re-entry of teenage mothers back to school has yielded fruits with many girls who had initially dropped out of school due t
o unwanted pregnancies opting to go back to school to pursue their dreams.

‘We work with various schools in Siaya County like Rambira girls in Rarieda sub county, Nyaguda and Nyamonye girls in Bondo sub counties to ensure that our girls get second chance in life, the impact has been significant and teenage mothers opt to rejoin various schools across the region,’ she said.

The county project coordinator advised the public and students in Siaya County to shun stigmatisation of teenage mothers who have opted to go back to school and instead give them support as a strategy of alleviating poverty in the region.

Speaking during a multi-stakeholder meeting in Siaya, the county director of youth and social services Maida Nyawade said the county government is ready to support initiatives geared towards reducing teenage pregnancies and fostering re-entry of teenage mother to school.

‘We are in support of any engagement that will reduce teenage pregnancy and re-entry of teenage mothers into school because if we do
not do it, we shall be perpetuating poverty circle in the region,’ Nyawade said.

Nyawade reiterated that due to high rate of teenage pregnancy in the region, the government of Siaya is working round the clock to develop Children policy to enable it come up with sustainable interventions.

‘We are currently in the process of developing both the child and youth policies which we believe will help us intervene more decisively,’ Nyawade added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) has affirmed commitment to ensure elevation of hospitality standards in the country.

This was revealed during a two-day seminar for hoteliers drawn from Trans Nzoia County organised and facilitated by the regulatory body.

Acknowledging the input of TRA which she said is geared towards improving standards and uplifting the tourism sector, Trans Nzoia County Secretary Truphosa Amere said the training would help ensure quality service delivery.

She challenged the hoteliers to take advantage of such training opportunities to raise and maintain standards in the hotel industry pointing out that it is only through such, more profits will be harvested.

Meanwhile, Amere affirmed the commitment of the county government to support the hotel industry through mutual collaborations, pointing out the recently launched county government sponsored NAWIRI Fund as a fertile avenue the hoteliers can use to expand their empires.

‘Allow me thank the department for tourism for the innovative
approach which has propelled this training to a success. This is only a sign of good things which are to come in future,’ she added.

During the training, hoteliers were updated on the new guidelines which TRA has formulated to guide the sector.

The Director of Gender, Youth, and Sports Nicholas Nandasaba bemoaned lack of standard hotel facilities in the region which can host high level meetings as he urged investors to seize the opportunity.

‘Hotel industry is an area where we have so many investment opportunities in this region. I call upon those who have an interest in the sector to give it a try,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Elgeyo Marakwet County commissioner John Korir has called on 1,500 people living in Kessup village in Keiyo North Sub County to move to safer ground because of the risk of Yokot dam breaking its banks following heavy rains currently pounding the country.

Korir who led a team of security personnel who were on a tour of dams in the county said another dam which was almost spilling over was Kapkesem dam in Keiyo South Sub County.

The CC said he was happy that four families living next to Kapkesem dam had agreed to move to safer grounds and called on residents to take individual responsibility for their lives even as the government does its best in ensuring their safety.

Korir called on hundreds of residents living along the hanging valley, an area which has been experiencing landslides in each rainy season, to take precautions and move to avert any disaster.

He appealed to residents to avoid crossing submerged roads and collapsed bridges and instead wait until the waters subside saying they would rather get
late to where they were going instead of risking their lives.

He attributed the continued landslides affecting the area to planting of crops along the steep slopes and called on residents to take advantage of the current rains to plant indigenous trees as well as fruit trees and coffee which will help in holding the soils.

He said the county had fully activated the disaster response team which involves both the national and county governments, the Kenya Red Cross and other agencies to deal with any eventuality.

Meanwhile in a statement signed by both the County Commissioner and the governor as co-chairs of the county disaster committee, the duo called on residents who have built near waterways to clear any structure that may obstruct water channels to prevent further damage.

The two advised residents to use the toll free number 1199, 0720903030 (Kenya Red Cross) or 0728602502 to report any cases of emergency.

Source: Kenya News Agency