Day: May 9, 2024

The government has distributed a total of 1,226,400 kilograms of essential food supplies consisting of rice and beans to families affected by the ongoing floods across the country.

Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura said that the food has been distributed to support the affected communities in Busia, Homabay, Kisumu, Machakos, Makueni, Tana River, Kilifi, Nakuru, Garissa, Turkana, Isiolo, Migori, Kajiado, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Kiambu and Muranga Counties.

Speaking in Nairobi while giving an update on the ongoing floods, Mwaura said that 30 public health officials have also been deployed for a risk assessment of all 167 internally displaced camps and evaluation of safe drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) points.

‘The flooding situation persists in most parts of the country, with the latest weather forecast indicating that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms will continue in 31 Counties. The affected regions include the Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Central and the Eastern regions. Occasional
rainfall is also forecasted in Nairobi and along the Coast region, affecting the Tana River, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu Counties,’ explained Mwaura.

He added that Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo are predicted to continue causing backflow and flooding of the Counties in the Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo Basins.

Additionally, Mwaura said that continuous heavy rains in the Central region and the overflow of the Seven Forks Dams, pose the risk of increased flooding in the Tana Delta and the Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu Counties.

‘These unfavorable weather conditions continue to impact varied sectors of our economy including transport, housing, education, health and agriculture. We are equally saddened by the rising death toll and we send our sincere condolences to the affected families and friends. As of today, we are mourning the loss of a total of 257 lives with 14 adults and the 5 children reported dead in the last 24 hours. A total 188 people have been injured, while 293, 661 people have been affected a
nd 54,837 households have been displaced,’ said Mwaura.

He said that 61 health facilities have been affected in 11 Counties and crops on approximately 9,816 acres of land have been destroyed.

‘A total of 44 cholera cases have been reported so far, with the Ministry of Health together with the Kenya Red Cross conducting medical outreach programmes as well as cholera control and other waterborne diseases in Tana River and Marsabit Counties,’ said Mwaura.

The government spokesperson said that several wash away incidents have been recorded, with adverse impacts on railway lines and train operations. This include the section between Thika and Nanyuki as well as within the Chemelil and Kibigori railway section on the Nakuru- Kisumu branch line. The Nairobi- Kisumu and Nairobi-Nanyuki long distance operations have also been affected as operations are yet to resume. Repair works are currently ongoing, with the Kenya Railways Authority targeting to open the affected lines by the end of May 2024.

‘Additionally, 192
dams have been identified as high risk, following a national assessment of all dams. Consequently, varied evacuation exercises are being undertaken across the country, following a 24-hour evacuation notice, which was effective on May 2nd, and which was issued to settlements in 33 counties that are within 178 of high-risk dams and water reservoirs,’ explained Mwaura.

He said that in Nairobi County, the households residing within the 30 meters riparian corridors and other water causes, are currently being evacuated for their safety and evacuation notices have also been given to all the residents in the areas prone to landslides and mudslides.

‘Further notices have been given to those in the sections within the drainage pathways of the Kenya railway tunnels, to give way for the rehabilitation of the railway infrastructure,’ said Mwaura.

He continued… ‘There are a number of search and rescue operations that are ongoing across the country, to relocate the affected individuals to higher ground and to provide the
affected households with medical and related assistance.’

Mwaura added that the County governments, Kenya Defense Forces, Kenya Coast Guard Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Red Cross have responded to emergencies and successfully evacuated residents in Kisumu, Narok, Machakos, Nakuru and Tana River Counties.

‘We nevertheless, advise all Kenyans to stay safe and to adhere to the weather forecast and evacuation notices that are being provided by the government and other agencies. The affected individuals and families can also reach out for assistance through the emergency toll free line 0800721571,’ said Mwaura.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Ambassador Mesganu Arga received today at his office Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the East African Regional Office, Marcel Clement Akpovo.

On the occasion, the commissioner appreciated the support of the Ethiopian government in carrying out his duties.

The State Minister highlighted the government’s various initiatives that helped change the livelihood of many Ethiopians in a number of sectors.

Some of these initiatives are testaments to the government’s commitment to protect the rights of its people, Ambassador Mesganu said.

The two sides noted the need to continue collaborative working relations on human rights issues, according to Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The National Assembly committee on National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has commended the Kirinyaga Central ICT Hub for the service it offers to the youths amid a myriad of challenges.

The over 100 seater hub currently offers Ajira training program and platform to access internet free of charge to many youths from Kirinyaga central, parts of Ndia and Gichugu constituencies due to its proximity to the two neighboring constituencies

The committee were on parliamentary visit to check on how best they can assist the hub through the NG-CDF fund to cater for expenditure and expanding the facilities across all wards.

The Committee was led by Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi who revealed that some of the challenges ranging from poor internet connectivity, outdated desktops and small numbers of facilities in region.

‘We decided now to agree that the Constituency Development Fund can assist the different hubs that we have in terms of paying the current expenditures that they face, which was
a challenge before. So, the challenges of the internet, the challenges of having desktops, the challenges of even having one center in Kirinyaga need to be looked into considering the President insisted that you must take hubs to the ward level,’ Elachi said.

Elachi added that after listening to proposals from various centers, they would make recommendations that will assist all hubs countrywide to do better and improve the capacity to accommodate the growing number of youths that are enrolling in online jobs.

The legislator further challenged the ministry to provide the necessary equipment as the NG-CDF will do its part without failure.

‘But I want to ask the Ministry, in all these places we’ve gone, if there’s anything they are requesting, kindly, if it is something you can do, do it for us’

Another committee member Joshua Mwalyo (MP Masinga) said the ICT hubs are game changers in this era where job opportunities are scarce.

Maria Lekuloto, board member, NG-CDF board noted that some centers in the coun
try are not working because of the challenges that has been raised before especially the recurrent expenditure, but the current proposal by parliamentary committee will give them power to cover some expenditures

Beatrice Elachi, Member of National Assembly select committee on NG-CDF, addressing media outside Kirinyaga Central ICT Hub in Kerugoya.

‘We are aware that many of the innovation hubs around the country are not operational because of some challenges that we became aware of a long time ago, like for example the issue to do with the recurring expenditure of running the innovation hubs. But at that point in time we didn’t have anything to do about it because our hands were tied due to the guidelines or the requirements of the Act. But I want to appreciate our National Assembly Select Committee on NGCDF because they have really worked hard to ensure that that is now changed in the Act so that we are able to cover the operational or the recurrent expenditure of running the ICT hubs,’ Lekuloto said

She w
as impressed by the coming together of all the stakeholders, the National Assembly Select Committee, the Ministry in charge of ICT and the board, saying it will ensure that each and every of the stakeholders do their part to make sure that we operationalize this hub so that our students can benefit.

Kirinyaga Central ICT Hub Center Manager Albert Miano said the major challenges include the internet downtime, fluctuations of the internet. Power blackouts, more blackouts. The other challenge is few desktops and laptops in the center.

Winfred Chege, a beneficiary of a hub and currently a trainer, said freelancing is the best source of income, flexible and easy to get global clients.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: A ten hours period digital telethon will be launched on the coming Sunday to raise 50 million Birr for Clean Ethiopia campaign initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

It is to be recalled that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently unveiled plans to construct modern, clean and dignified public restrooms, with a strong emphasis on community involvement in their construction.

The initiative, named ‘Clean Ethiopia,’ includes a fundraising component under the theme ‘Clean Cities – Healthy Lives.’

Accordingly, a digital telethon for ‘Clean Ethiopia’ has been officially launched on April 28/2024.

The objective is to solicit both cash and in-kind contributions for the construction of these public facilities.

Office of the Prime Minister disclosed that ‘This Sunday, May 12, 2024, we will launch the 50million Birr in a 10hr period digital telethon challenge for CleanEthiopia.’

Together we can make a meaningful positive impact, the office stated, inviting all to join the challenge for Clean Ethiopia on M
ay 12th.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency