Day: June 13, 2024

Residents of Morijo and Olng’arua locations in Narok South Sub County are a happy lot following the completion of the demarcation exercise of their land after a long wait.

Speaking during the launch of the adjudication register, Narok South Land Adjudication Officer Josphine Njoroge said the residents had a period of 60 days to inspect the land register.

In case of a complaint, the residents were advised to raise the objection with the adjudication office before the period expires at a fee of Sh. 3000 per objection.

‘Following the successful completion of demarcating the land, we hereby call upon the residents to inspect the register at the adjudication office located at Morijo Trading Centre at any working day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,’ she said.

Any person who launches a complaint will be expected to state clear reasons for the objection in a written form and forward it to the sub-county land adjudication office for processing, added Njoroge.

About 11, 000 people from Morijo and 9, 000 from Olng’arua
are benefiting from the parcels of land, where each person is getting 9.6 acres of land in Morijo and 11 acres in Olng’arua.

The adjudication section is the first in Narok County to allocate land for both women and men at an equal share.

Narok South Sub County Deputy Commissioner Felix Kisalu asked the residents not to sell their land to outsiders as they could easily become landless.

‘If you need to sell the land, let it be on a need basis. Please use this piece of land to develop yourself and eradicate poverty,’ he said.

He called on the residents to put aside all their differences and embrace oneness regardless of the clans they originate from, saying clannism was the major threat to the Maa community.

‘Don’t be quick to go to court over issues that can be resolved by the elders on the ground. I ask this community to learn to resolve their differences in an amicable way so that we can benefit from the land,’ he said.

Kisalu asked the land committee to consider the vulnerable, like persons living with
disabilities and widows, and give them parcels of land in favourable places.

‘You are almost getting title deeds for your land. I call upon women to humble themselves before their husbands despite them having a title deed, because if it were not for that man, you could not get the parcel of land,’ reiterated the DCC.

At the same time, he called on the community to respect the forest boundaries by minimising human activities on forest land.

Deputy Director in the Directorate of Land Adjudication and Settlement, Michael Kagwe, commended the residents for cooperating with the surveyors on the ground and called for continued support until they were issued title deeds.

He said the community had agreed to set aside a community forest, which will be managed under the Community Land Act, while individual land will be under the Land Adjudication Act.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The East African Community, the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Penina Malonza has led the dissemination forum for the Kenya Vision 2030 Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) 2023-2027 in Taita Taveta County.

The public engagement, attended by national and county government officials, youth leaders, civil society, religious leaders, and residents of Taita Taveta County, outlined the MTP IV programmes to be implemented in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Speaking in Voi, Malonza noted that it is the first time the government is involving residents in the dissemination of the Medium Term Plan, adding that a lot has been done in the three previous MTPs in various sectors such as roads, hospitals, and education.

The CS noted that MTP IV takes into consideration the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) to ensure synchronisation that will ensure the smooth running of different ministries for the benefit of the citizens.

‘We
are synchronising all these plans so that we can have a very firm and very rich Fourth-Term Medium plan,’ said the CS.

She noted that the MTP IV plan has taken into consideration the well-being of every ministry in terms of the projections the country has for the next four years.

At the same time, the CS noted that an economic turnaround will be achieved through targeted investments across the five BETA pillars of Housing and Settlement, Agriculture, Healthcare, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy.

In her capacity, the CS stated that the country is widening and deepening her relations with the East African Community through integration between the eight member states.

She noted that plans are underway to open up the central corridor to enable the free movement of trucks from Kenya to Tanzania.

‘Taita Taveta borders the United Republic of Tanzania, and of course we have the central corridor that we are really working on, actually between Uriri and Boba to
wn in Tanzania. There is a black spot there that we have not interfaced in terms of the digital tracking system, and that is what we are working on. Soon, we are going to open up this corridor so that we can have trucks from here to Tanzania,’ said Malonza.

Malonza added that the country is also working to open up an even wider market that will enable the trucks to move from Kenya through to the DRC and Central Africa.

‘We are working on our relationship with Tanzania. You know the port of Mombasa is serving the central part of Central Africa, and so we are working on the tracking system so that we can open up that corridor so that we can see trucks all the way to the DRC and Central Africa,’ she said.

She further noted that Kenya has maintained a good relationship with the East African Community countries that has facilitated cross-border activities, which will be further enhanced by the opening up of the central corridor.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Police in Trans Mara South Sub County, Narok County have recovered an illegal firearm, AK 47 rifle that was loaded with a magazine with 18 rounds in the Geturo area.

Narok County Police Commander Riko Ngare said the police were acting on a tip-off from the residents when they raided the home of Isaiya Langat Kipkemoi and recovered the gun.

At the time of recovery, Kipkemoi was at his home with his friend Dennis Kipkoech and the two were arrested and escorted to Lolgorian Police station awaiting to be arraigned in court.

The commander thanked the residents for volunteering such important information and asked them to continue giving information of suspected criminals amongst them so that they can be arrested.

Early this year, the government deployed a contingent of security teams to the volatile border of Trans Mara South and Kuria so as to deal with inter-community clashes after several people were injured and property destroyed in clashes.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Land Commission (NLC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, has made significant strides in digitising land records and creating robust land information systems.

NLC Chairman Gershom Otachi said that one of their flagship initiatives, an integrated Land Management Information System (LMIS), is a one-stop portal for all land-related services, including critical data on land ownership, usage, registration, valuation, and dispute resolution, that not only makes it easier for citizens to access land services but also improves coordination among different government agencies involved in land management.

Otachi, speaking at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) Kabete on Wednesday during the official opening of the 3rd Regional Research Conference themed ‘Data, Innovation, and Technology for Land Governance,’ said that the digitization of land records and services is and will be a key priority for the National Land Commission.

‘Innovation is the driving force behind chan
ge and improvement in land governance. The world is adopting innovative approaches that streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve service delivery,’ highlighted the chairman.

Otachi said that blockchain technology is one of the innovations being used to enhance land registration and title management, explaining that it offers a secure and transparent way to record land transactions, reducing the risk of fraud and disputes.

‘By piloting blockchain projects in land registration, we can build trust in our land administration systems and protect the rights of landowners,’ he said.

The chairman explained that remote sensing and drone technology are being leveraged for land surveying, monitoring, and data collection. These technologies provide high-resolution imagery and real-time data, essential for accurate land assessment and management.

‘Data collection is only the first step. We must also ensure that this data is accessible and usable by all stakeholders, from government agencies and private sector p
artners to local communities and individual citizens. This requires investment in data infrastructure, capacity building, and policies that promote open data and information sharing,’ said Otachi.

NLC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kabale Tache said that Article 67(2)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya and the National Land Commission (NLC) Act 2012, Section 5(1)(d), mandates the NLC to undertake research related to land and the use of natural resources, and make recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

‘It is on this basis that we are holding this conference, this being the third edition in a series of research conferences the Commission has organised since 2021,’ she explained.

Ms. Tache said that in today’s rapidly evolving world, the management and governance of land have become increasingly complex, requiring them to embrace new technologies to ensure sustainable and equitable land use.

‘The use of data, innovation, and technology has the potential to revolutionise how we manage and govern land, m
aking processes more efficient, transparent, and inclusive,’ said Ms. Tache.

She continued: ‘As we embrace these advancements, we must also be mindful of the challenges that come with them. Data privacy, security, and accessibility are crucial considerations that must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of data innovation and technology are equitably distributed among all stakeholders.’

She called for collaboration from all stakeholders, asking them to keep in mind the importance of their work and the impact it can have on the lives of people around the world.

‘Together, we have the opportunity to shape a more sustainable future for land governance, and I am confident that our collective efforts will lead to meaningful and lasting change,’ said Ms. Tache.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government, in partnership with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), is conducting education forums for government officers on electronic waste (e-waste) management.

Under the partnership, which is being spearheaded by the Information and Communication Technology Authority (ICTA), public officers will now be able to surrender their obsolete office equipment for refurbishment to the authority and ensure such items can be put in use again.

The WEEE directive is a legislative act that the European Union adopted to address the growing amounts of e-waste that come from electrical and electronic gadgets.

Dubbed the National Refurbishment, Assembly, and E-waste Management Programme, ICTA intends to employ civil servants as the first line of defence in sensitising the public on the proper management of e-waste as a response to the ever-growing threat emanating from their unregulated disposal.

Mr. Kioko Mutunga, an ICTA project Manager, says the Government has so far collected 15,000 pieces of obs
olete electronic equipment from across the country, which are currently undergoing refurbishment, with the number expected to grow in the coming months.

‘Government officers have obsolete equipment that they do not find the right way to dispose of on our Kenyan market. These devices end up filling stores, and even when disposal comes into play, people are not able to purchase them. We want to sensitise civil servants who will become our ambassadors on how we can save our environment and ensure there is safe handling from the point of buying up to the point we dispose of them safely,’ he told KNA yesterday during a one-day sensitisation workshop for government officers in Nyeri.

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) puts Africa’s annual e-waste generation at a staggering 2.9 MT, which accounts for at least one per cent of all global waste.

In Kenya, at least 17,000 metric tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2017, with this figure totaling to 127,000 metric tonnes by last year.

And with the e
ntry of electrical and electronic gadgets expected to maintain a steady projectile in the country, Kenya’s annual e-waste is expected to hit an average of 51,3000 metric tonnes in the coming years.

On top of the table are household equipment such as refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, televisions, radios, computers, and cell phones.

Given that the information and technology revolution has exponentially increased the use of new electronic equipment, it has also produced growing volumes of obsolete products, making e-waste one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally.

‘We must not necessarily take them (electrical and electronic wastes) to where we collect them, but the government has very many institutions where we are going to distribute this functioning equipment. We have learning institutions, digital institutions that require them, and even government institutions that require them,’ explained the official.

Mutunga says once the first phase of collecting the devices is complete, they will
then embark on the second phase, which will entail the establishment of collection centres for e-waste across the country.

On her part, Nancy Ng’ethe, who is a WEEE officer, underscored the need for Kenyans to understand the vital link between e-waste management and environmental conservation.

She noted that with the growing consumer appetite for high-end gadgets such as smartphones and household electronic items, the majority of which have a short lifespan, there is a need to come up with mechanisms that will address how such products can be disposed of without endangering both humans and the ecosystem.

‘Our key role is to create awareness around e-waste to make sure that everybody, from the corporate to the informal sector, is aware of what e-waste is and the dangers of not disposing of it properly. The government has been very supportive, and we now have rules and regulations around how e-waste management should be governed, which was not the case around 12 years ago,’ she said.

Kenya’s e-waste managem
ent and disposal is anchored under Article 42 of the Constitution, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act Section 165(2), together with the National ICT Policy 2019 and the Environmental Management and Conduct Act (Revised 2015).

But Ng’ethe is advising those intending to dispose of their old electronic equipment to ascertain that the items are totally unserviceable and therefore not worth storage.

She says any electronic gadget must either fall under the repair, reuse, or refurbishment category and can only be recycled if it fails to fit in either of the three.

‘Before you get to the recycle bit, you must ensure that your e-waste cannot be reused anymore. So, if you think you have an item that is no longer needed, you can look for a second person who can use it,’ she told KNA.

‘Recycling is basically saying this device has reached the end of life, and therefore the only remaining thing is to dismantle the item and then get the different partitions, either as glass, plastic, scrap, or the motherboard, wh
ich can thereafter be used in another way,’ she added.

If improperly disposed of, e-waste like old computers, mobile phones, or kitchen appliances poses environmental and health risks from exposure to lead, mercury, and other toxic materials.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy has deployed geologists to conduct a seismic assessment to landslide-prone areas within Murang’a County.

Already, a team of senior geologists has commenced the assessment in parts of Kangema Sub County where earth faults have been witnessed.

Mining Principal Secretary Elijiah Mwangi said on Wednesday that the assessment will help in making well-informed decisions on the utilisation of the land, which has been prone to landslides.

He noted that the geologists were deployed following a request by the Murang’a County Government to develop a long-term technical report after the assessment that will help prevent deaths and destruction of property occasioned by landslides.

In many parts of the upper zones of the county, the PS said they were affected by land and mudslides during the recent rains, leaving a trail of destruction.

‘A team of senior geologists is already doing the seismic assessment at parts of Kangema. More geologists will be deployed to carry out the asses
sment in parts of Kahuro, Mathioya, Kigumo, and Gatanga that have been experiencing landslides during rainy seasons.

‘Their report will guide the government in making decisions on the utilisation of land. We will be in a position to decide whether to relocate people from the areas and utilise the land by either planting trees or for other purposes,’ added Mwangi.

Early on, a landslide hit Kiganjo village in Mathioya, killing six people and displacing more than 30 families.

‘After the assessment, people who will be found living in risky areas, will be relocated. This is to ensure the safety of our people,’ added the PS.

Meanwhile, Mwangi said his ministry is working in partnership with the local county government to invest in the value addition of local soils used to manufacture tiles.

‘Murang’a has a kaolin type of soil. This soil is the raw material for tiles and is currently being mined, transported to other areas of the country, and even exported. We have asked the county government to get us a piece
of land where we can bring investors and set up a tile manufacturing plant,’ Mwangi said.

‘Manufacturing the tiles locally will boost the economy of Murang’a and also provide employment opportunities to local youth. The kaolin soil is available in Gaturi and Mugoiri wards, and it can also be accessed from neighbouring counties.’

The Ministry, he noted, has launched the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), targeting individuals who are mining in the country but do not have a license.

He said they are getting grassroots to have all artisanal miners registered and issued with mining licenses.

‘The RRI is also to ensure anyone mining, buying, processing, or doing other business with minerals is fully registered to do away with illegal mining. This is to streamline the sector and ensure all miners are in cooperatives to benefit from government incentives, among other forms of support.

‘I urge local artisanal miners, especially those who mine construction stones, to join cooperative societies. By doing so, they can
apply for financial support from various government funds,’ PS Mwangi added.

Source: Kenya News Agency