Day: May 16, 2024

Nyamira County Commissioner Erastus Mbui has urged education stakeholders to seamlessly collaborate with school administrators to ensure learning for the second term of this academic year resumes well after postponement of opening for two weeks due to torrential rain.

He revealed to KNA that though the County’s terrain is hilly and located in the highlands of the western part of Kenya, infrastructure in some of the learning institutions in Nyamira County were adversely affected by the torrential flooding experienced in the country for the past one month.

‘The enhanced rain which has caused immense flooding and cost people’s lives countrywide has not spared some of our learning institutions either. A whole tuition block at Kuura secondary school was brought down by the rains, while the roof of a tuition block for Nyakemincha secondary schools blown off by a heavy storm, and sanitation facilities for schools located in lowland areas were totally submerged in water posing a serious health hazard to those in af
fected institutions,’ Commissioner Mbui noted.

He further pointed out most of the all-weather murram roads have been rendered impassable since run off water settled on the road or flowed right in the middle of the road downstream creating deep gullies which endangered users. This status has given riders and motorists transporting learners to and from schools a hard time navigating through the muddy and slippery roads.

‘I want to appreciate the speedy emergency interventions taken by our County Members of Parliament (MPs) in reconstructing some of the damaged infrastructure in our schools courtesy of National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) so that learning sessions can be done from safe and conducive spaces,’ CC Mbui said.

He advised school administrators to readily assist and collaborate with other well-wishers willing to undertake Corporate Social Responsibility and assist schools affected by ravaging rains unconditionally because the needs of various schools were diverse and no single i
ndividual or institution could manage to solve all the needs alone.

Mbui said that they have sent comprehensive reports on schools affected by heavy storms and the extent of damage to the Ministry of Education so that they could equally support in the reconstruction of damaged facilities and requested parents to also rally on this mission in their small ways for the best interest of their learners.

‘Teachers need to be on high alert and ensure that learners are safe while in school, shelter appropriately when it is raining and report any incident which requires immediate attention by the county disaster response and management teams to act swiftly in salvaging the situation,’ the CC advised.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents of Kericho County have submitted their views to the parliamentary Budget and Appropriations Committee, which conducted a public participation forum at ACK holy Trinity conference centre on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, for the Financial Year 2024/2025 and the Medium-Term.

The committee members enlightened the over 50 participants that the National Government Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Financial Year 2024/2025 and the Medium-Term, proposed to carry on implementation of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) as a matter of priority.

Narok South Legislator Kitalai Ole Ntutu, a member of the Budget and Appropriations committee who presided over the forum explained that the Committee also sought submissions of memoranda from the public on the Supplementary Estimates II for Financial Year 2023/2024, to be submitted to the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, on or before Monday, the 20th of May, 2024.

Ntutu who was accompanied by his counterpart Michael M
uchira (Ol Jorok MP) emphasised that the Supplementary Estimates II seeks to provide additional funding for emerging priorities, meet unforeseen expenditures and realign budgetary allocations to projected absorption levels.

Kericho County Governor Dr. Eric Mutai who was also present was the first to present his submissions ardently advocated for the expedited establishment of the proposed Referral Hospital saying it will be a vital healthcare institution that will serve the south Rift region comprehensively.

The governor was concerned that many patients encountered financial constraints while traveling long distances seeking advanced health services in other counties.

Dr. Mutai also urged the committee to prioritize budgetary allocations for the swift completion of Kerenga Airstrip a crucial infrastructure project for enhancing connectivity across the South rift region and unlocking myriad opportunities for the local populace.

‘Pursuant to article 221 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, today I had the hon
or of presenting our county’s pressing needs and aspirations. I proposed the strategic relocation of Kericho Prisons to facilitate the town’s expansion, paving the way for Kericho to attain city status in the near future,’ added Dr. Mutai

On his part, Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat raised issues concerning water shortage in his constituency proposing Ksh.100 million be allocated to provision of water which was a grave issue affecting residents in Ainamoi.

A representative from the County Commissioner’s office gave a proposal of Sh30 million to be allocated for construction of a modern County Commissioner’s offices arguing that they had identified a new location within Kericho town.

During the forum, Members of County Assembly represented by Hezron Kipngeno (Chilchila Ward) proposed that there should be renovation of roads and bridges, adding that some roads and bridges were destroyed due to heavy rainfall in Kipkelion West, thus requesting Sh13 million shillings be allocated for reconstruction of the bridges a
nd roads.

Other Participants who included national and county government officials, representatives from the civil society, human rights advocacy groups, Representatives of youth, women and Persons with disabilities among others got the opportunity to point out the social, economic and infrastructural challenges they encountered and proposed intervention that would be of benefit to them.

The Committee members assured that the views submitted would be considered in policy and budget formulation for the coming financial years.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Parents in Bunyala Sub County have been urged to ensure the safety of learners when going to school.

Speaking to KNA in his office on Thursday, Busia County Director of Education James Ekaliyo said that it is the responsibility of parents to take learners to school whenever water levels are on the rise.

‘In case they are not able to cross the waters, just keep them at home,’ he said.

Ekaliyo noted that a section of learners and teachers in the affected schools had re-opened for the second term but food and transport were the major challenges.

‘This is because learners have to go home for lunch and come back,’ he said. He however appreciated UNICEF and other stakeholders who have expressed willingness to support the institutions in terms of emergency response by providing tents and some food items.

The Director disclosed that seven schools in the area including Namabusi Secondary, Musoma Primary, Rugunga Special, Rugunga primary, Maduwa Primary and Maduwa secondary.

Lastly, ‘Around 7000 learners are affe
cted in terms of challenges in reaching schools but they are struggling and learning is going on,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Parents in Bunyala Sub County have been urged to ensure the safety of learners when going to school.

Speaking to KNA in his office on Thursday, Busia County Director of Education James Ekaliyo said that it is the responsibility of parents to take learners to school whenever water levels are on the rise.

‘In case they are not able to cross the waters, just keep them at home,’ he said.

Ekaliyo noted that a section of learners and teachers in the affected schools had re-opened for the second term but food and transport were the major challenges.

‘This is because learners have to go home for lunch and come back,’ he said. He however appreciated UNICEF and other stakeholders who have expressed willingness to support the institutions in terms of emergency response by providing tents and some food items.

The Director disclosed that seven schools in the area including Namabusi Secondary, Musoma Primary, Rugunga Special, Rugunga primary, Maduwa Primary and Maduwa secondary.

Lastly, ‘Around 7000 learners are affe
cted in terms of challenges in reaching schools but they are struggling and learning is going on,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Members of Parliament have set aside some funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to establish ICT Hubs.

Speaking in Kakamega, the Member of Parliament for Teso South Mary Emase said legislators have partnered with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy to construct one ICT hub in every ward across the country.

She said the hubs will also be used to offer other services that are offered in the Huduma Centers like processing of birth certificates, replacement of Identity Cards (IDs) and death certificates among others.

The MP stated that ICT hubs will enable residents from far flung areas to access services closer to them.

Source: Kenya News Agency

As the world celebrates the Donkey Welfare Day on 17 May, donkey owners in Narok are hopeful that the authorities will address rampant theft of the animal across the county.

Mama Nalaidiki Yendo, the chairlady of a donkey farmers’ association dubbed ‘Eshipai Esera’ said donkey theft had escalated in the county that makes them remain vigilant at night to protect their animals.

She reiterated that the beast of burden is a precious animal to the Maa women as they use it to carry out their domestic cores and earn a living from it.

‘The donkey is everything to us. It is our source of income and we commonly refer to it as a co-wife because it is always with us,’ she said, adding that donkeys help them transport luggage to the markets during rainy seasons, when the roads are impassable and trek for long distances to fetch water during prolonged dry spells.

She lauded the Brooke organization that works through Farming System Kenya to improve the welfare of donkeys by educating the farmers on how best to take care
of their animals so that they can be free from diseases and parasites.

Mama Yendo invited all donkey farmers to ‘Uhuru market’ on Friday to celebrate their day, where they will be taught how to care of their donkeys by officers from the veterinary services.

Samuel Chege an officer with the Farming System Kenya said they began working with donkey farmers in the county since 2016 where they have been training the farmers on animal husbandry.

The organization has also trained local service providers who help to treat donkeys in the villages in case they are sick.

Chege said the project has not only benefited the women but also men where they teach team livelihood skills that have helped them better their lives.

‘Among the projects we have implemented in the county are: digging water pans for the community, distributing pasture seedlings to farmers and training women groups on financial matters,’ he said.

The donkey welfare day is an important day to help us celebrate the beast of burden and the good work t
hat it does to improve lives in the society.

Source: Kenya News Agency