Day: June 15, 2024

Parents have been asked to create safe spaces in their homes to ensure that they can supervise their children as they interact with technology.

According to Nyeri Director of Children Services, Kung’u Mwaniki, stakeholders in the children’s welfare sector have identified cyber security as a leading threat to child protection.

Mwaniki says that even with laws such as the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act and the Children Act 2022, if left unchecked, unsupervised interaction with technology could expose children to online abuse, internet addiction and exposure to harmful content.

‘Online child abuse is now real. We are asking parents to supervise their children as they interact with technology so that they know who their children chat with online. Once the parents know this they can ensure that they create spaces for these children to live safely and advance into adulthood,’ said Mwaniki.

The children’s officer at the same time underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and stakeh
olders in the private sector in addressing emerging threats namely climate change and radicalization which continue to hinder the proper growth and development of a child.

‘We are now faced with a new crop of challenges which include climate change, radicalization and cyber security. There is need to work with partners to come up with income-generating activities and strengthen households so that they are able to take care of their children. There is also need to sensitise the community about violent extremism so that both parents and children do not fall into dangerous spots,’ he said.

Mwaniki was speaking at the D.E.B. Muslim Primary and Junior Secondary School in Nyeri Friday, during this year’s celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child.

The celebrations are held on June 16 of each year. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in advancing children’s rights and also highlight the challenges that hinder African children from enjoying their rights.

This year’s commemoratio
n was themed ‘Education for All Children in Africa: The Time is Now,’ underscoring the importance of equitable, quality and inclusive education for all African children to enable them to contribute to the continent’s sustainable development.

In line with the theme, the Forum for African Women in Education county coordinator, Esther Mutegi said that they are partnering with the Ministry of Education to implement the School Re-entry Policy, which will ensure that learners who drop out of school are given an opportunity to complete their education.

‘We are doing interventions in schools with teenagers to make sure they remain in school. One of them is the School Re-entry Policy which will allow children who drop out of school for whatever reason to be readmitted and continue with their education and pursue their dreams,’ said Mutegi.

On her part, Nyeri Assistant County Commissioner, Daisy Mumbi said the government is committed to availing resources to causes that promote children’s rights.

Mumbi said that th
e government was also doubling its efforts to address challenges such as drug abuse, gender-based violence, early marriages and female genital mutilation that prevent children’s rights from being upheld.

Additionally, she said the government has also stepped up the sensitization of both parents and children about the emerging threats of cyber security and radicalization, with the aim of equipping them with knowledge on how to protect them from being predated on.

‘If we look at the population trends across the world, the African child bears the biggest population, so the future is reliant on a well-equipped, well-educated, and well-prepared African child. As a government, we are looking at harnessing the strengths of the African child by availing resources, be it in health, education or all other aspects they require, for them to grow and develop into formidable human beings in the future,’ said Mumbi.

‘We are also cautioning parents and children against violent extremism and radicalization, which have been
on the rise, while ensuring that our children have a safe space to grow and develop,’ she added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Youths interested in jobs abroad can check the legal status of their recruiting agency with the National Employment Authority and the Ministry of Labour so that they do not lose their money to rogue agents.

Diaspora Affairs PS Roselyne Njogu has said those seeking jobs in marine vessels, such as cruise ships, can also access information on marine work recruiters from the website of the Kenya Maritime Authority.

Njogu was speaking in Embu while attending the 2nd Mt. Kenya East Diaspora Jobs Fair, accompanied by the Embu Governor, Cecily Mbarire, and the Technical and Vocation Education Training PS, Dr. Esther Muoria.

The fair brought together diaspora job recruiters, technical and vocational education training institutes, and government departments, where they advised the youth on what they needed to access jobs abroad.

Njogu said the Ministry of Labour had cracked the whip on the rogue agents, who abandoned their clients in foreign lands after enticing them to sign for fictitious contracts.

On her part,
Mbarire noted that over 300 youths showed up at the fair each day, which demonstrated how serious the problem of unemployment was in the country.

She said her government is considering setting up a fund in the next budget that will assist youth from disadvantaged families in acquiring the necessary papers if they get the chance to work abroad.

The governor challenged the youth to acquire skills that are in demand abroad to improve their chances of securing the opportunities.

Dr. Muoria said TVET institution trainers had been retrained to update their skills and that arrangements had been made for skilled workers who did not have papers to be certified by the institutions.

She added that training in TVETs had been broken into skill sets to make it easier for those needing training to carry out specified tasks, where they could be quickly helped to acquire the much-needed skills.

Source: Kenya News Agency

After over six decades of offering vocational, technical, and industrial training, Michuki Technical Training Institute (MTTI) is set to be elevated into a national polytechnic.

Started in 1956 as a youth training centre, the institution has continuously provided quality technical, industrial, vocational, and entrepreneurship training and now aims to become a global leader in vocational training.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at a Murang’a hotel, Kangema Member of Parliament Peter Kihungi noted that the elevation will expand the current programmes being offered at the institution, enhance research capabilities, create employment, and ultimately benefit other vocational training institutes in the county.

‘I will fully support the institution in putting in place the requisite investments in infrastructure and faculty development to meet the evolving skills demands,’ he said.

‘The elevation will also benefit other institutions around the county, as the upcoming Michuki National Polytechnic will shar
e its essential facilities with other local technical institutes while also offering relevant courses that could be lacking in the latter,’ stated the legislator.

On her part, Mary Njugi, the representative of the Ministry of Education State Department for TVETs, noted that the polytechnic will be the centre of a cluster model and will have a new mandate in the TVET sector.

‘We have the TVET blueprint that gives the national polytechnic the responsibility to mentor all the other TVET institutions in the county,’ she said.

‘It will also be a qualification-awarding institution, as it will be mandated to develop the curriculum, award, and certify,’ Njugi added.

The national framework requires that at least one national polytechnic be established in each county and one TVET institution in every constituency.

Njugi called on the local community to invest heavily in infrastructure as the status of the current MTTI is bound to change when it finally becomes a national polytechnic, admitting up to 10,000 trainee
s.

At the same time, MTTI Chief Principal Ann Mbogo noted that the college, which has more than 5000 trainees, will be a qualification-awarding institution that will address skill gaps in the community and the needs therein and develop curriculum that will address those gaps.

‘We will also work with the community to give lifelong learning to those who have skills through informal learning but do not have the required certificates,’ stated Mbogo.

‘We will assess them, retrain them if need be, and also certify them so that they can go and participate in the building of the economy locally and globally,’ she added.

The Deputy Governor (DG), Stephen Munania, representing Governor Irungu Kanga’ta, observed that the county government will support the institute as it starts the process of accreditation to become a national polytechnic.

‘It is a welcome move for the people of Murang’a and the nation at large, and we will support it as it will help us meet the agenda of elevating education in the county,’ he said
.

The DG added that the envisaged national polytechnic will help other institutions develop their curricula tailor-made for the needs of the people of Murang’a and specific to the local market.

‘We are in the process of acquiring additional land nearby, where the institution can put up more facilities and faculties through a series of public participations,’ he said.

From Michuki Technical High School to the Technical Training Institute in 1990 and later Kangema Technical Training Institute up to 2003, the institute that changed to its original name, Michuki Technical Training Institute in 2003, is now set to become the Michuki National Polytechnic.

The institute that had a paltry 1000 trainees in 2018 has over 5000 trainees currently and aims to have 8000 trainees by 2027.

Meanwhile, MTTI has 88 classrooms, 25 workshops, 186 staff members, 26 interns, and has so far mentored six technical training institutes, namely Tetu, Ndia, Mathioya, Gatanga, Kandara, and Kigumo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs (CS) Salim Mvurya has affirmed the government’s commitment to complete all the priority projects in the fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) 2023-2027 in Kwale County.

The MTP IV has been aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). It will be implemented by ministries, departments, and agencies, constitutional commissions, and independent offices.

Consequently, county governments will prepare five-year county-integrated development plans (CIDPs) aligned to Vision 2030 and the MTP IV.

Some of Kwale’s priority projects are boosting power generation and supply to Wasini Island, the construction of fish landing sites, a ginnery to bolster textile and apparel value, and integrated fish resource development.

Others include the construction of Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) research laboratories, the construction of 200 affordable housing units, the construction of a fish jetty causeway, a fish processing plant, an ice-making plant, and the c
onstruction of a new level III hospital in collaboration with the county government.

Speaking at the Kenya School of Government Matuga campus during a dissemination forum for MTP IV for Kwale County, Mvurya said the Kenya Kwanza administration is keen to position the coastal county as a regional maritime hub through sustainable developments in the blue economy sector.

The CS stated that the construction of a Sh1.5 billion maritime college is ongoing in the Chitsakamatsa area. The college will serve the entire East Africa region once completed and will place the country on the global map in a maritime capacity.

To bolster maritime safety, Mvurya said a survival and training centre will be established at the Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) to build capacity for seafarers.

He revealed that the compensation process for Dongu Kundu Project Affected Persons (PAPs) is at its tail end to pave the way for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on the 3000-acre land.

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs CS Salim Mvurya
addressing the public at the Kenya School of Government Matuga auditorium. Photo by Sadik Hassan.

‘We had cartels who had invaded. The list has been audited, and compensation will commence soon,’ said Mvurya.

The CS reiterated the government’s commitment to having ICT hubs in every ward, as espoused in the Kenya Kwanza plan. The ICT hubs will enable the youth to access services and online jobs.

The government plans to establish a Sh838 million mariculture centre in Shimoni, Lunga Lunga Sub-County.

And under the Sh1.92 billion last-mile connectivity programme, Mvurya said 27524 households in Kwale County will be connected to electricity.

Another key project is the construction of the Sh2.6 billion Shimoni Fish Project, which is currently 61 percent complete. The government has plans to make the port a commercial port soon.

Mvurya exhorted Kwale leaders to mobilise residents to register in numbers in the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to benefit from comprehensive healthcare.

Governor Fatuma Achani
raised a concern about the Diani Resort City project that was missed in the MTP IV priority projects. Mvurya promised to follow up on the matter with the State Department for Planning.

‘Auxiliary projects tied to the project are going on, including the expansion of the Diani Airport runway and apron for Sh173 million,’ he said.

He lauded the County Government of Kwale for aligning the third County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP III) with the MTP IV.

On her part, Achani extolled the Kenya Kwanza regime for involving county governments in the dissemination of MTP IV.

‘We are grateful for the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). We have allocated land for the construction of the KEMRI laboratory,’ said Achani, urging the government to involve her administration in the proposed establishment of a level III hospital as captured in the MTP IV.

Transport PS Mohamed Daghar said the government is committed to transforming the livelihoods of Kwale residents.

Khamis Juma, a resident of Kwale, called on the gover
nment to leverage National Government Administrative Officers and Information Offices to inform the public on government development plans in their localities.

Deputy Governor Josephat Kombo, Women Representative Fatuma Masito, Lunga Lunga MP Mangala Chiforomondo and Members of the County Assembly led by their Speaker Seth Kamanza were in attendance.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Public Works PS Joel Arumonyang has called on counties to enhance their own revenue in a bid to address the funding gap for the various projects under their respective county integrated development plans.

The PS, who was speaking when he launched the fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP) dissemination exercise at the MTC hall in Iten, said the successful implementation of the CIDPs will lead to the overall achievement of Vision 2030.

Arumonyang therefore called for partnerships from the government, private sector, and donors, among others, in addressing the challenge of scarce resources, which he said was an impediment to the realisation of the country’s development goals.

The PS said the government had developed a master plan aimed at ensuring that sports stadiums, among them Kamariny Stadium, were completed, saying this was one of the bottom-up economic agenda pillars aimed at providing employment to youth through sports.

Residents expressed concern that, despite the country producing renowned athletes, Kamarin
y Stadium, which is under the national government, had taken so long to complete, thus denying youths a facility where they can train.

Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor (DG), Prof. Grace Cheserek, said the county CIDP requires Sh 97 billion to implement with a financing gap of Sh50.3 billion.

The DG said that with the Equity Development Act, which dictates that the development budget is distributed equitably to the wards, the county is left with no funds to undertake capital projects.

Leaders called for the employment of agricultural extension officers for the country to achieve food security, saying that with climate change and changing technology, farmers require expert advice.

They further called for an increase in the allocation to the counties by costing all devolved functions and giving the funds to counties, saying that without proper funding, some counties like Elgeyo Marakwet risk becoming just salary-paying counties.

The county speaker, Philemon Sabulei, said it was sad that despite the county be
ing rich in natural resources, it only contributed 1.5% to the country’s GDP, saying this should change.

Area county commissioner John Korir stressed the importance of peace along the Kerio Valley for the region to realise its development goals.

Leaders called for the opening up of markets along the borders, citing Chesegon, Kolowa, and Arror, saying this will help residents of the county, West Pokot, and Baringo to interact and, in the process, promote peace.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kitui County is an economic sleeping giant that can be utilised to eliminate poverty amongst local communities.

East African Community, ASALs, and Regional Development CS Peninah Malonza, while speaking at Kefri Hall in Kitui town during a public sensitization forum on the Fourth Medium Term Plan, underscored that Kitui is endowed with diverse and massive resources that can be harnessed to lift up thousands of the area residents from poverty and deprivation.

According to Malonza, leveraging the programmes and projects outlined in the national government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation blueprint, local people could easily turn around the fortunes of the county and, as such, improve their livelihoods.

‘Despite being semi-arid, Kitui County is blessed with adequate dryland, which can be used for cash crop farming and livestock keeping, mineral deposits, and wildlife parks suitable for tourism. If we exploit all these opportunities, Kitui can be Kenya’s economic powerhouse,’ she said.

In addition, the CS
noted that a combination of the County Integrated Development Plan and the Fourth Medium Term Plan, which were both anchored in Kenya Vision 2030, would spur faster socio-economic growth for the county and Kenya at large.

Malonza reiterated that the Kenya Kwanza government has delivered numerous projects across Kitui County towards the improvement of citizens’ livelihoods and the enhancement of resilience and adaptation to persistent droughts in the county and the larger Lower Eastern Region.

Among the key development projects initiated by the national government in the county are the injection of Sh250 million for the completion of Umaa Dam in Kitui Central Sub County, Sh80 billion for Thwake Dam, and Sh1 billion for the extension of water from Kiambere Dam to Kyuso Sub County.

Other projects include the Sh1.5 billion water supply extension project from Kindaruma Dam to Mwingi West, the construction of the Sh487 billion High Grand Falls Dam, which will cut across three counties: Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, and
Tana-river, and the Sh1 billion electricity extension project to all public schools.

In her speech, the Cs hailed Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s administration for its unwavering commitment to deliver development projects in all sectors of the economy across the county, noting that cooperation between both the county and national government is key to the implementation of the Fourth Medium-Term Plan of 2023-2027.

Kitui County Deputy Governor Augustus Kanani, who spoke on behalf of the county governor, underscored that the Kitui County Government will deepen and build strong collaborations with the national government and all other stakeholders towards the realisation of the MTP IV outcomes.

‘We appreciate this gesture as the constitution envisages collaboration between the two levels of government. A stable macroeconomic environment is a prerequisite for successful implementation of MTP IV priorities,’ the deputy governor said.

He said that Kitui County will partner with the national government to ensure t
he achievement of the above priority areas.

‘Our CIDP is aligned with MTV IV as demonstrated by the Kitui County CIDP Conceptual Framework, where we have prioritised six key pillars: food security, water access, health care, and the and the aggregation of our local industrial parks appropriately nurtured and skilled human capital for planned urban development,’ Kanani added.

He noted that water is scarce across the county, and the county government will continue to explore possible ways of providing clean water to residents as well as water for irrigation.

Kanani urges the national government to expedite the completion of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam, whose realisation is behind schedule.

He disclosed that the Kitui County Government is in the process of securing land for the camp to be used by the National Government contractor to construct the High Grand Falls Dam, located on the River Tana between Kitui and Tharaka Nithi Counties.

‘We appreciate that the national government has allocated funds to reviv
e Umaa Dam in Kitui Central. A contractor has already been procured to complete the dam, which had stalled some years ago,’ the deputy governor added.

Kanani further said the Sh 8.5 billion Yatta dam has been identified by the National Government among the dams to be constructed. The investment will spur agricultural activities along the 58-kilometre Yatta Canal, leading to a substantial increase in the acreage under irrigation. Its completion will transform the region’s food security.

On road infrastructure, he said the county government will continue to lobby the national government to support our priority infrastructure projects.

Kanani observed that the three counties, Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni, through the South Eastern Kenya Economic Block (SEKEB) Bloc, are interconnected with key road networks, which include the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, Kibwezi-Kitui Road, Makindu-Wote-Machakos Road, Machakos-Kitui Road, and Wote-Kanyangi-Wikililye Road in Kitui.

However, he lamented that most regions within the
three counties are not interlinked, thus hampering socio-economic development across the bloc.

‘The movement of goods and services between Makueni and Kitui, for instance, has been greatly affected by underdeveloped road infrastructure, leading to undertapped potential in agriculture, trade, and other important sectors of the economy,’ he decried.

He appreciated the standard gauge rail and metre gauge rail connecting Makueni and Machakos counties. However, Kitui is not connected to rail transport, and there is a need to explore connectivity from Kibwezi-Kitui-Thika.

On health, the deputy governor observed that, as part of the county government’s commitment towards the promotion of healthcare, ‘We can today confirm that specialised health services in our main hospitals are currently operational. Kitui has established a renal centre, while cancer and trauma centres have been built in Machakos and Makueni counties, respectively.’

He further observed that the Trauma Centre will help alleviate the suffering of
the road accident victims along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.

Kanani called upon the national government to take the necessary steps to address the high road traffic in the country.

He welcomed the move by SEKEB to set up specialised units in our county hospitals to enable people to access specialised services within the vicinity of the Bloc.

The deputy governor appealed for the quick resolution of the doctors’ strike so that patients could access essential services.

On security, Kanani noted that Kitui County, in collaboration with the National Police Service, is currently constructing eight police stations along its historically troubled eastern border, adding that issues of border disputes are being amicably addressed through dialogue and peace forums.

Source: Kenya News Agency