Day: May 30, 2024

Over 41,000 school going girls in Murang’a County have received sanitary towels in a move aimed at bringing an end shame and stigma associated with menstruation and also promote menstrual hygiene.

The provision of the vital commodity comes a day after commemoration of the global Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28 where the government through the Ministry of Health reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to enhance menstrual health and hygiene to all girls and women in the country.

While launching the drive to issue sanitary towels to all grade 5, 6 and JSS girls students at Gacharage grounds in Kigumo sub county, Murang’a County Women Representative Betty Maina noted that it is imperative to support the girls by ending period shame and stigma so as to keep them in school.

She noted that making the sanitary towels accessible will not only be hygienic but it will also improve their academic performance in school as many girls shun going to school out of shame when their parents and guardians cannot not afford to b
uy them the towels.

‘We are committed to keep our girls in school throughout their education calendar because majority of them miss school for a few days every month and that impacts negatively on their education,’ she observed.

‘This is a programme we intend to continuously carry out so in the next financial year we will add more sanitary towels to the girls because we must end period poverty,’ she added.

The legislator divulged that a total of 41,357 girls from 511 public schools in the county will each receive 8 packets of the sanitary towels to help them manage their menstrual periods for the remaining period they will be in school this year.

At the same time, Maina made a passionate appeal to various leaders and the public to unite in the fight against sexual and gender based violence that is widespread in the county.

She termed as unfortunate that the county is still registering a high number of reported cases of sexual and gender based violence against women and girls.

‘Sexual and domestic violen
ce is on rise here in Murang’a where our women and girls continue to fall victims. I appeal to all of you to stop these vices that violate the rights of our women and girls that negates their economic and social development,’ she averred.

‘Most recently, through a despicable act we lost a young girl who was sexually assaulted and later dragged on the tarmac from Kenol town to Kabati shopping centre two months ago yet the perpetrators of the heinous act are still at large,’ she said.

Moreover, she called on Boda boda riders to join in the fight against the menace by rescuing and reporting any incidents they may witness of girls or women in distress a move that will go a long way in rescuing a sister, a child, or a mother from physical, sexual or psychological violence.

A demographic and Health survey 2022 report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicated that 54 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in Murang’a have experienced sexual violence.

Additionally, the survey placed women from the Cou
nty who experienced sexual violence at 14 percent as compared to the countrywide statistics of 7 percent.

Also, 22 percent of women in Murang’a experienced physical violence a number that was higher compared to a national wide figure of 16 percent.

The leaders who graced the economic empowerment project forum Maina had sponsored through the NG-AAF kitty included the Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, the area Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro and a host of MCAs from the region and beyond.

Notably 15 primary schools in Kinyona ward received a water tank each while 4 Women self-help groups received NGAAF cheques worth Sh150,000 each.

The farmers present received 5,000 hass avocado seedlings while all the 950 elders present took home blankets and food essentials.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents of Vihiga County have today planted 13,000 trees at Maragoli hills in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Vihiga County has a target of planting 2.3 million trees every year for the next ten years which will help in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Speaking during the tree planting exercise, National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) CEO Samson Taniok commended residents for collaborating with the government in conserving the environment by planting trees.

Taniok cited the benefits of trees including biodiversity conservation, climate regulation and resources for local livelihoods.

He encouraged residents to plant fruit trees at their homes which will act as food, source of income by selling the fruits, for aesthetic value and they can also provide shelter adding that this will help the county achieve ten percent tree cover.

He urged residents to nurture the trees planted so that they can increase the area of the forest and tree cover saying this will restore the former sta
te of Maragoli Hills and improve on its status.

He called on residents to ensure that when marking or celebrating special events in their lives they plant trees.

Rose Akombo from the State Department of Forestry appreciated the efforts of the local community saying plans are underway to set up a honey refinery which will create employment for the community and improve living standards.

Akombo also said Maragoli Hills will develop ecotourism jobs which will provide sustainable income while promoting forest conservation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Parents of children living with developmental disabilities have been urged to register them for the Autism and other related developmental disabilities programme (ARDD) for them to access essential support interventions needed to better their conditions.

Speaking at his office, the Kericho County Coordinator Disability Services Hopkins Olasi said the initiative by National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) follows a nationwide survey of individuals living with ARDD and this outlined the priority areas for intervention and implementation of the programme this financial year.

‘As a council we know that our clients who have these developmental disabilities have many challenges including financial constraints, discrimination and stigma. Some need incontinence supplies like diapers, some require therapy, others need diagnostic tests to support their therapy sessions. The program will be implemented this year but there will be a continuous registration exercise as we endeavor to assist many more,’ sai
d Olasi.

Mr Olasi revealed that the targeted developmental disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, spinal bifida and mental learning or intellectual disabilities who are set to benefit from therapy sessions, essential medication and other crucial support.

‘So far 159 beneficiaries in Kericho have been captured but the targeted population for this region is 200 and we envision to registering more than this number,’ added the County Disability Officer.

‘We have done mapping, assessment and registration of these beneficiaries in several locations of Kapchebor, Tendwet and Tulwet, Roret and Kipkelion special school for mentally handicapped in the last one week and this will be a continuous process. We know there are many we have not registered and we are still waiting for more to register. This financial year the council is targeting 10,000 ARDD beneficiaries in the country but for Kericho County target stands at 200,’ said Olasi.

He disclosed that requirements nee
ded for the registration exercise which is captured on the e-citizen online portal are notably a national identification card for children above 18 years, a birth certificate for minors, medical report from a medical practitioner, and a passport size photo.

Olasi further revealed that those already captured were beneficiaries into the ARDD program between the ages of two years and 36 years with 16 cases of children living with mental learning disabilities from Kipkelion special school for mentally handicapped captured to benefit from the ARDD program.

He encouraged parents living with children having ARDD not to conceal them but seek to secure assistance for them to enjoy their basic human rights and wellbeing adding this will help in breaking the stereotype and stigma associated with such kind of disabilities.

‘Parents ought not to hide their children living with ARDD. The government has set aside services for them. When there is early intervention like therapy for these children at a young age, some of t
he disabilities can be avoided and our aim is to offer early intervention measures,’ said the Kericho County Disability officer.

Speaking to KNA at Africa Inland Church grounds in Kiboybei location within Ainamoi sub-county, Kericho, Jane Chepkoech, a mother of a 26-year- old mentally disabled son Wycliff Kimutai Langat revealed that her son’s problems started when he was seven months old when he developed a growth on his head that later led to the loss of his eye sight when he was in Form 3. This forced her son to drop out of school as he was now both visually and mentally challenged.

‘After my son, who is the second born in a family of six children lost his eyesight, I assumed the role of caregiver since he could not do anything for himself without assistance. He had to undergo two operations and this has not helped much as he collapses several times in a day. I was once assisted by well-wishers and even sold part of my land for his medication and to fund his two surgeries but am now seeing light at the e
nd of the tunnel as he will now be assisted with essential interventions like his drugs and therapy to enable him live a comfortable life,’ said Mama Chepkoech.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya tea farmers have been advised to adopt organic tea farming as the world tea market is shifting to specialty teas.

According to the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK), the existing high demand for organic tea is taking shape in China, Europe, Asia and American markets.

As a result of the challenges facing tea farming in Kenya, TBK has aggressively initiated the capacity building in the tea growing zones across the country to reach out to over 800, 000 smallholder farmers.

Tea market players believe that specialty tea would revolutionise the tea market as it’s anticipated to significantly revitalise the critical subsector.

During the specialty teas conference that was held in Nandi Hills town of Kenya, the stakeholders including the government, tea regulatory bodies and environmental organisations among other players, tea farmers benefited from rigorous training on processes of attaining specialty tea.

The farmers’ representatives drawn from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Mozambique were also in attendance and t
hey benefitted from sensitisation programmes offered by international tea broker firms from the UK and US.

Alex Amenya, the East and Central Africa project manager spearheading organic tea farming said that the conventional tea is no longer marketable and orthodox tea would be a breakthrough to farmers.

‘We are enabling farmers to access extensive services to start up a cottage industry for their tea. It does not use mechanical or chemical inputs rather than utilising the organic fertilisers for effective production of health tea to meet market thresholds,’ he explained.

The production of orthodox tea includes hand plucking, withering, rolling, oxidizing and drying to retain its natural flavor. The quality of the tea depends on the processing and handling techniques to produce white and purple tea which are attributed as nutritious.

‘The paradigm would leverage tea farming for small scale farmers. It’s the cheapest way of producing treasured tea products which is currently sold in Canada and US markets,’
he stated.

The European Specialty Tea Association experts have started training households on the preparation of organic tea to meet the quality standard and requirement for respective market destinations.

Bernadine Tay, founding Director Chair of Education Committee Research and Development Committee for Specialty Tea Association in UK while training farmers in Nandi, noted that Kenya produces high quality tea in the world and farmers need to explore organic tea production.

‘The variation of tea taste determines the quality of specialty teas that are required in the market. The leaves should be handled carefully under certain conditions to retain the desired natural flavour and aroma for the clients,’ she said.

She claimed that the new way of organic farming does not need much capital to start up rather than manual skills of picking desirable tea leaves for white and purple tea.

Nandi Deputy Governor Yulita Mitei said more sensitisation of farmers have commenced to acquire cloned seedlings to produce or
thodox tea in desired quality and quantity.

‘Specialty tea is the new economic frontier for sustainable tea farming in Kenya. And agriculture being a devolved function, we are looking forward to bringing farmers on board to engage in value addition of tea products for exportation,’ she said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga has urged women in the country to grab emerging opportunities in the maritime sector such as seafarers, Kenya coast guard, and naval operations, among others.

Speaking during an event in Mombasa to mark the International day for Women in Maritime, Chidzuga said that the government has set aside funds to capacity build women in various careers in the country including the blue economy.

She said that the state was giving women opportunities to showcase their talents in the maritime sector in adherence to gender parity.

‘The government encourages more girls to join careers in marine science, a realm that has plenty of opportunities,’ she said.

Chidzuga noted that there is a need for concerted efforts towards gender equality representation in the maritime sector which could be achieved through empowerment of women and girls to pursue ocean-related careers in order to achieve sustainable development goals.

She urged women to play a more visible role in the sec
tor and not sit and wait to be given the chance on a silver platter.

Chidzuga said she was positive that if given a chance, women could deliver better in the maritime sector than men, so long as they both have the same skills needed for the job.

In the event, female marine experts discussed strides made by women to ensure marine safety and security and the challenges that stand in their way in the sector.

At the forum, it emerged that some companies only hired men, even when there were women who were better qualified for the job.

Chidzuga said some areas required training, such as the fishing sector, and the government offers training on fishermen to venture into the high seas. She called on women to fight for their space in the sector.

‘I want to tell my fellow women, you can have it, do not shy away or get intimidated into trying an opportunity, get out of your comfort zone and try that chance. If you fail, you will fall somewhere that is closer to your ultimate goal,’ she added.

On her part, Ambassad
or Nancy Karigithu who is also WOMESA patron said that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) realized that there was a need to bring more women into the sector, which led to the formation of the International Day for Women in the Maritime Sector.

Karigithu said they also created a programme, Women in Development which aimed at bringing women together for mentorship opportunities, to be role models and visible in order to encourage each other as well as give women the platform to lobby employers and policy makers to bring in more women into the maritime sector.

‘We are looking at only recruitment but also retention and growth in the jobs,’ she said noting that research and data showed that out of 2 million seafarers, 24,000 are women.

Women in Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA) Kenya chairperson Winnie Maina said that association which has 178 members was formed to integrate women and enhance gender inclusivity in the maritime sector.

She said a lot of mentorship and lobbying i
s done to ensure they entrench the value of inclusivity and gender balance, the focus being to bring the government onboard and spearhead the agenda.

‘We are advocating for ladies to join and urge all employers in the country to push the women employees to reach out for these opportunities,’ she said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Coastal leaders have welcomed talks with their Embu counterparts in regards to the ongoing controversy on the ban of muguka in three coastal counties.

Led by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, the leaders said they were ready to have a sitting with President William Ruto and the Embu County representatives to deliberate on the controversy surrounding the sale and consumption of muguka, an addictive stimulant in Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta counties.

Speaking to the media in Mombasa, Nassir said that he was disappointed with the intimidation and threats the leaders were getting from their counterparts’ following their refusal to have muguka consumed in their areas.

Nassir said that the leaders were acting in capacity of the people who have expressed concerns on the rising criminal cases, especially by young people.

He noted that more than half of the people recovering in rehabilitation centres in the county were muguka consumers.

‘We have uplifted the ban in respect to the court order but I would li
ke to ask the government to also put the same energy that is used to fight us in fighting hard drugs in our region,’ he said.

His sentiments were echoed by Likoni Member of Parliament Mishi Mboko who requested the president to consider the effects caused by the drug especially on school going children.

Mboko said parents are saddened by the increasing number of mental health issues among their children which she attributed to the consumption of muguka.

The ban has gained support from religious organizations, with Muslim leaders in Mombasa calling for muguka to be categorized as a restricted drug.

Sheikhs in the county have reiterated their resolve to support the ban on muguka in the County terming the move by the administration as long overdue.

Led by the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), National Organizing Secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa said there should be considerations and key decisions on the same should be made from a research perspective.

‘We should rely on findings and research
of key agencies like NACADA and make sound decisions that will protect the health and wellbeing of all Kenyans,’ said Khalifa.

President Ruto said the plant is legal under the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.

Nevertheless, the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) has not banned muguka but classified it as a harmful substance based on the stimulant cathinone and cathine found in muguka.

Source: Kenya News Agency