Day: June 16, 2024

Resident Magistrate and Deputy Registrar of the High court in Nyamira, Beniah Okong’o, while presiding over celebrations to mark the o Day of the African Child (DAC) in Bondeka secondary and Primary school play grounds in the area said, the privilege of free basic education must not be taken lightly, so that children are able to achieve their dream careers in life.

Okong’o pointed out that the right to education as enshrined in the constitution has been prioritized by government, as it ensures that even the most vulnerable households can afford to take their children to school.

‘The government is facilitating school going children by issuing necessities like exercise books, text books, bursaries to vulnerable children, while also issuing personal effects like sanitary towels, just to ensure that girls do not miss school,’ he said.

The Magistrate confirmed that majority of the people who have made it in life have gone through a rigorous process of education, without losing focus on their vision, hence stude
nts require the same spirit to achieve their targets in life.

He encouraged children and parents present to report any incidents of child abuse including assault, sexual and gender based violence, as well as child labour so that youngsters can be protected against perpetual exploitation.

‘Don’t allow cases of defilement to be handled at the kangaroo courts, it is illegal and denies such children access to justice, leaving them traumatized and psychologically tortured throughout their entire lives.

Also be wary of suspicious caregivers even in schools because the same people we entrust our children with, could be the same abusers and defilers. Always be alert on the whereabouts of your children and be greatly concerned about their safety,’ the Magistrate stated.

The County director of children services Rasto Omollo, confirmed that the programme of supporting orphans to access education through the presidential bursary was still on course.

This is to ensure orphans and children with severe vulnerability ar
e able to get full education scholarship for their secondary education.

Other agencies supporting child education in Nyamira include bursaries from the county government, the local National Government Constituency Fund and also from the office of the women representative, as well as the Ministry of Education (MOE) through Jomo Kenyatta Foundation.

This year’s Day of the African Child (DAC) commemoration was themed ‘Education for all children in Africa; the time is now’.

Its celebrated across African countries every on 16th of June to ensure that all children have access to education as a basic right.

Source: Kenya News Agency

As the unemployment rate among young people continues to soar in Kenya, a graduate youth in Kisumu County is monetizing his skills to make a living.

Brian Okech, aged 24, is determined to make ends meet as a beautician despite failing to secure formal employment after graduating from college in 2022 as were his dreams.

Armed with a Diploma in Sales and Marketing from Kisumu National Polytechnic, soft-spoken Okech had high hopes of getting a well-paying job to foot his bills and support his family. However, the job hunting began with weeks of tarmacking fruitlessly, and the weeks turned into months and years, but still nothing was forthcoming.

He later resolved to open a beauty shop at Kisumu’s Oile Park after learning the beauty skills through an apprenticeship from a friend.

‘I kept applying for my dream job with no success and finally I had to accept the reality that employment has become scarce. So I decided to move out of my parents’ home and open up a small beauty business that could generate some in
come,’ Okech said in an interview with KNA.

‘I opened my shop in June 2023 and so far it is progressing well,’ he said, ‘I have established a good client base here who love my work and on a good day I can make up to Sh3,000. Sometimes when business is down I take home Sh800.’

‘This business has enabled me to comfortably pay my bills and top-up my stock on a weekly basis. It has also helped me eschew engaging in criminal activities and indulging in drugs,’ Okech said.

He pointed out that his main challenge as a beautician is being doubted or misjudged by people who think that he cannot be better at the beauty work since some clients wrongfully regard the profession as exclusively women’s work.

‘I have perfected doing a good job and many customers keep returning for my services while others refer me to their friends hence expanding my clientele,’ Okech posed.

However, his fears are aggravated by the contentious Finance Bill 2024 which he claims would further increase living costs and the cost of doing busi
ness.

‘I’ve always been comfortable with paying the daily levy of Sh40 to the county government but I feel as if things will not be right if by any chance the Finance Bill 2024 is passed because the cou might hike the daily taxation for traders,’ he complained.

Okech added that the increase of tax on what he is already paying will force him to increase the cost of his services to his customers and he fears this can make him lose his customers which in turn will make his business fumble over making him go back to his parents’ house since he will have no source of income.

He argued that youth should never look down on themselves because of not having any white collar jobs; rather, they should start businesses with the skills they have acquired because, at the end of the day it is all about bringing the bacon home.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Chief Kadhi Abdulhalim Hussein has urged Muslims to be kind to the less fortunate in society as they celebrate Eid-ul-Adha.

Eid-Ul-Adha is marked on the tenth day of the month of Dhul Hijja in the Islamic lunar calendar. Millions of Muslims from across the globe congregate in the holy city of Makka, Saudi Arabia, for the annual pilgrimage.

The festival of sacrifice is important in the Islamic faith since Muslims commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim’s consecration and willingness to sacrifice his son. This was a command from God to test Prophet Ibrahim’s commitment. At last, he slaughtered a ram in place of his son.

Muslims slaughter an animal after the Eid prayers as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son. The animal must be in good health and attain a certain age to be slaughtered.

The meat from the slaughtered animal is then divided into three equal portions: one for family use, another for neighbours and friends and the final portion is given to the less privileged in society.

Chief Kadhi Hussein led thousands of Muslims in the Eid-Ul-Adha prayer at Tononoka Ground, Mvita Sub-County.

Eid-Ul-Adha, he said is the major Islamic festival and it is a day to remember the Almighty God, give charity to the less fortunate and visit kith and kin to strengthen the bonds of relations.

‘It is a day of remembrance of the father of all prophets Ibrahim and his son Ismail who were given a daunting task. It teaches us the devotion of Ibrahim who was ready to sacrifice his son in fulfilment of God’s decree,’ explained Chief Kadhi.

‘As Kenyan Muslims, if we are not devoted we won’t be able to accomplish anything,’ he added, urging Muslims to take a cue from Prophet Ibrahim by slaughtering an animal to mark Eid-Ul-Adha.

Muslims were encouraged to shun drug and substance abuse. The Chief Kadhi called for unity among Muslims despite differences in opinions in the celebration of Eid-Ul-Adha.

‘Let’s not insult each other. This is a blessed day; don’t go contrary to God’s commandments in the celebrati
on,’ said Chief Kadhi.

Speaking separately at Masjid Ummu Kulthum, Kizingo Dr Islam Salim’s sermon to the congregants emphasised unity and tolerance among Muslims.

‘We have stressed and expounded in the Eid sermon that the issue of the moon sighting debate is related to wide Islamic knowledge and that differences of opinion are allowed. People can have divergent views but what is important is for Muslims to unite,’ said Dr Islam.

Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said Muslims can disagree in principle on several Islamic jurisprudences but should however remain united.

The Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (KEMNAC) Chairman Juma Ngao urged Muslims to follow Chief Kadhi’s announcement on the celebration of Eid-Ul-Adha.

Ngao said since time immemorial traditionally the Chief Kadhi is the one who announces the beginning and ending of the Holy month of Ramadhan and celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.

The sentiments come after the Kenya Fatwa Council (KENFAT) announced the celebration of Eid-ul
-Adha to be on Monday, June 17, 2024, based on a local moon sighting contrary to Chief Kadhi Abdulhalim Hussein’s announcement that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia adopted the sighting of Eid today, Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: Muslims in Ethiopia are celebrating today the 1445th Eid al-Adha across the country, a four-day religious holiday.

In the capital Addis Ababa and other parts of Ethiopia, hundreds of thousands of Muslims turned out for the Eid prayer earlier this morning.

Eid al-Adha is the second biggest holiday being celebrated in remembrance of the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah’s command.

The act of sacrifice is carried out following the Eid Prayers, which are performed in congregation at the nearest Mosque, it was learnt.

Accordingly, Eid al-Adha is one of the Islamic religious holidays during which animals are generally sacrificed, the meat from which is distributed to the poor.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated with love, unity and brotherhood among Muslims.

Ethiopian Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr by visiting relatives, neighbors and giving alms to people in need.

Extending his best wishes last night to Muslims on Eid al-Adha, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has
urged Ethiopians to pay the necessary sacrifices for the prosperity of the country.

The premier said in his best wish message that there are a lot of lessons that we can draw from the celebration of Eid al-Adha. Among them is the lesson that the rewards for overcoming challenges with endurance exceed the challenges themselves.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency