Day: May 12, 2024

The government has ordered a closure of all evacuation centers at learning institutions in Kisumu County to pave the way for reopening of schools on Monday.

Over 12,000 people who have been camping at the schools after their homes were swept by floods will now move to alternative spaces provided by the government.

Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC) Flora Mworoa said the decision was arrived at in order to make schools ready for term two which kicks off on Monday.

‘We have asked our officers in the Ministries of Interior and Education to find alternative spaces for them because we are opening schools on Monday. I know many of them are complaining but we are going to find suitable places for them so that we clean up the schools for our children to go back on Monday,’ she said.

The decision will affect some 17 schools which have been home to flood victims across the county as the various school heads come to terms with the devastating effects of floods in the area.

The schools include Miruka Primary, Nyadina
Primary, Kanyalwal Primary and St. Alloys Primary in Nyakach Sub-County, Kogalo Primary, Nyahoto Primary, Kobura Primary, Rabuor Primary, Kalwore Primary and Ongeche Primary in Nyando Sub-County, Nduru Primary, Nyangande Primary, Ombaka Primary and Ayweyo RC Primary in Kadibo Sub-County and Kogalo Primary and Nyangoto Primary in Muhoroni Sub-County.

The Regional Commissioner said there was no cause for alarm, adding that the government has put measures in place to ensure the flood victims are supported in the new camps.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said some of the institutions including Early Childhood Education Centers (ECDE) will not be ready to reopen on Monday due to the devastating effects of the floods.

A total of 22 ECDE centers, he said, have been affected by flooding from River Nyando and the backflow from Lake Victoria and will not be ready for reopening unless the rains subside drastically by Sunday.

The county government, he added, will continue to support floods victims with food and
nonfood items and called on well-wishers to chip in to reach out to more victims.

Nyong’o who presided over the distribution of 800 bales of Unga, 50 boxes of soap, 500 pieces of 1-kg green grams, 20 boxes of milk to 3, 000 families, a donation of Rotary International said the humanitarian need was immense calling for more support from the national government and well-wishers.

‘We continue to appeal to well-wishers willing to donate food and nonfood items to visit our collection center at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex in Kisumu,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged Ethiopian athletes to become role models for Clean Ethiopia besides their effort to become champion in athletics competitions.

The premier made the remark at a digital telethon being held to raise 50 million Birr within 10 hours for the construction modern, clean and dignified public restrooms.

Many Ethiopian athletes, including Ethiopian Olympic Committee President Ashebir Woldegiorgis have joined the Clean Ethiopia cause and are contributing to the telethon.

The Prime Minister, who attended in the same event, said the purpose of the “Clean Street – Living in Health” movement is not only to contribute money, but also to make the country clean.

Therefore, Abiy said, Ethiopian athletes should take the lead in making clean Ethiopia a reality just as they raised the flag of their country by winning.

He mentioned that Ethiopia is a country that is comfortable to live in and rich in natural resources.

Athletes should not only win in the race but also show the beau
ty of Ethiopia by being a role model for cleanliness.

He conveyed his message that Ethiopians should build a beautiful and clean country in a united way.

The telethon’s goal is to create a clean city and environment, which is important for both changing the appearance of the city and protecting the health of its residents.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The government is committed to ensuring 95 percent connectivity to Electricity by Kenyans by the year 2027, State Department for Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira has assure

‘We are working together with the government of Kenya, KPLC and Kengen to increase electricity supply from the current 78 percent to 98 percent of thepopulation before the next General Election,’ PS Wachira said.

The PS made the remarks on Friday at Narasha forest, Eldama Ravine Constituency in Baringo County during this year’s national tree planting exercise.

Wachira also informed the residents that the cost of electricity had gradually decreased compared to previous years.

He called on the residents to support the President’s vision for the country instead of criticizing his agendas.

Mr. Wachira promised the residents of the area that they will benefit from the Last Mile electricity connectivity programme which is rolling out in the coming financial year.

The PS was responding to Eldama Ravine Member of Parliament Musa Sirma
who complained of low connectivity rates in his constituency and called for the Last Mile effort from Tugumoi to Molo River.

Mr. Wachira reiterated the importance of environmental conservation as a mitigation measure for climate change whose effects have caused disasters in the recent past.

‘Planting trees is the only medicine to mitigate the effects brought about by climate change; seven months ago we had a serious drought and now we have floods, these are the effects of climate change,’ said the PS.

The PS also said planting trees will reduce importation of timber while the good climate caused by forest will lead to good food harvests and reduce importation of basic items and in turn strengthen the foreign exchange reserves.

Wachira promised to work with community forest associations since they are an integral part in planting and taking care of the trees.

The PS stated that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has a target of planting 5 million tree seedlings per year in Kericho and Baringo counties a
nd added that this will only be realized with all the partners working together.

He called on the CFAs and other stakeholders to help the Ministry realize the target which translates to about 462,000 tree seedlings per month.

The PS stated that also to meet the target, his department has donated 25,000 tree seedlings to be distributed to the residents of the area so that they can plant in their homes.

Baringo County Deputy Governor Felix Kipng’ok urged the residents to continue planting trees even in their homes, ‘we can also plant fruit trees like macadamia, coffee and avocado which will give economic benefit.

Several state agencies participated in the exercise with State department for Energy donating 50,000 tree seedlings, Kenya Pipline led by their MD Joe Sang donated 20,000, Kenya Power led by its board members and MD donated 10,000 seedlings and adopted a tree conservancy in the forest.

The Baringo Forest Conservator Ann Nyaoke said they have reduced the backlog of bare forest land which stood at 7
00 hectares last year when the program was launched by the Energy CS Davis Chirchir to current 300 hectares.

She said they have received 120,000 tree seedlings from partners for this year’s tree planting exercise.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: Mayors drawn from various African cities and representatives of development partners have visited Early Childhood Development programs being implemented in different places in Addis Ababa.

The visit accompanied by Mayor of Addis Ababa Adanech Abiebie, Health Minister, Mekdes Daba and other high ranking government officials as well as development partners and donors.

The officials have also attended Addis Ababa City Administration Early Childhood Development Program Parental Coaches graduation ceremony held at the Friendship Square, in the capital.

It is indicated during the occasion that over 5,000 Parental Coaches have so far been trained including today’s graduates.

It is to be recalled that the city administration has launched the comprehensive early childhood development (ECD) program with the objective of changing the lives of children in the capital.

The program targets children under the age of six at home, in schools, and in communities to have conducive environment that caters to th
e wide-ranging growth needs of children.

The Addis Ababa Early Childhood Development Initiative is an evidence-based, comprehensive, integrated, multisector early childhood development effort with the goal of making Addis Ababa the best city in Africa for raising children.

By 2026, the program’s main goal is to guarantee that 1.3 million children under the age of six reach developmental milestones related to their health, learning, and psychological well-being.

The program aims to achieve this by offering children in 330,000 vulnerable households with a focus on those who could miss important developmental milestones.

Mayors of various African Cities and representatives of international organizations have arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday to visit mega development projects in the capital and share experiences.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Local divers in Silibwet village in Nessuit, Njoro sub-county managed to retrieve the bodies of two girls who were swept away by flood waters at river Ndarugu four days ago.

Addressing the press, the chair of the local divers, John Kirui said that the bodies of the two sisters identified as Sharon Chepngetitch, 17, and Faith Cheptoo, aged 15, were trapped under the rocks hence took them longer to retrieve their bodies.

Chepngetitch’s body was found a kilometer away from the site of the tragic accident while that of Cheptoo was found 500 meters away.

Kirui however urged the national and county governments to provide training opportunities for local divers so that they gain the necessary expertise that will enable them provide their services professionally when need be.

‘Most of us have locally trained themselves due to interest or even the proximity of the river to our homes. For this, we at times fear to dive in deep waters for lack of proper gear,’ said Kirui.

He said that it was unfortunate that out of
the more than ten local divers who helped retrieve the bodies, none of them was a professional diver to help arrest the situation in time.

‘We also have our own challenges when retrieving bodies and fear that we could slip into the water thus the need for both levels of government to look into our issues and address it well,’ added Kirui.

Additionally, they requested the county government to construct a bridge for the local residents to enable them cross over the other side of the river comfortably as they go about with their day to day activities since the one constructed, is located at a far off distance.

‘Most people find it difficult to use a longer route and use the bridge thus opt to cross the river and this is life threatening especially with the ongoing floods as children resume learning next week,” he said.

Due to this, he cautioned the learners and locals against crossing the river but make use of the neighbouring bridge until the rains subside.

The area chief, Douglas Mutai, said it was a gre
at sigh of relief for the family and the community at large that the search effort for the duo had come to a close and now plans are underway for their burial.

Mutai said that the bodies of the deceased were taken to Egerton University mortuary.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The body of a 42-year-old businessman who drowned in river Sagana 10 days ago was retrieved on Saturday evening.

The body of Samuel Kamau Kagwanja commonly known as Chakaka was found one kilometre downstream from where his car plunged into the deep river at 11pm on May 9.

Kagwanja met the accident at the river which borders Murang’a and Kirinyaga County while he was traveling home from Murang’a side.

On Saturday a multi-agency team comprising officers from the national disaster operation committee, defense forces disaster response battalion, the police and officers from the Ministry of Interior camped along the river to search for the body.

The body was found along a river bank near Mijini slums of Sagana town but the rescue team could not retrieve the ill-fated vehicle.

For the past seven days, the rescue mission faced challenges posed by raging waters with divers estimating the river depth at 60 feet.

Murang’a county disaster management officer Bilha Wanjiku said since Sunday, they have been trying to
search for the body but in vain.

One of the deceased’s friends Njoroge Mwangi observed that he was in communication with Kamau prior to the accident.

‘I was waiting for him at Sagana town and we were talking through the phone but the last word I heard from him was a cry for help. This prompted me to go to the Roibon hotel which is at the side of Murang’a where I was informed, he had already left towards Sagana. This made me suspect he had plunged in the river. I informed his family and the mission to search for him commenced,’ lamented Mwangi.

Wanjiku said when a rescue team from the Kenya Navy arrived last Tuesday, the divers could not do much due to the high speed of the flowing water.

‘The river is deep and there were heavy currents which hindered divers from getting to the bottom of the river,’ added Wanjiku.

Some of the leaders who were at the scene cast doubts of finding the vehicle saying in the past several vehicles which have plunged in the river have never been found.

‘Some years back, three v
ehicles plunged in this river and up to now they have not been traced. We want the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to redesign this bridge and also the road to save travelers’ lives,’ said Murang’a MCA Isaac Chefman Njoroge.

Njoroge also called for a formation of a well trained and equipped disaster management team to serve counties of Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Kiambu saying the counties have deep rivers and the team will be readily available to save lives.

‘We can’t continue waiting for rescue teams all the way from Mombasa or Nairobi. We need a local team to help in case of disaster,’ he added.

Source: Kenya News Agency