Day: June 29, 2024

Makueni’s Department of Lands, Urban Planning and Environment County Executive Committee Member (CEM) Nicolas Nzioka has lamented over the rampant vandalism of Financing Locally Led Climate Action Programme (FLLOCA) water projects in Makueni County.

Nzioka said that the vandalism of the water projects was like a punishment to the people and animals while adding that the individuals involved in this theft were enemies of the county.

‘The rampant vandalism of the water projects is causing unnecessary agony to people and animals that are supposed to benefit from the projects. You punish the entire system,’ said Nzioka during a sensitisation of Makueni County Environment Committee at a hotel in Machakos on Friday.

In this regard, he said there was a need to form networks and ensure the incidences of vandalism were reported to the police so that the culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.

The CEM disclosed that Kiusyi water project in Ilima Ward, water pipes were removed and many people who depended on it t
o get water for domestic use and watering animals were suffering.

The two day workshop that started on Thursday was funded by FLLOCA who wanted the CEC members to understand their role in the programme.

On environment, Nzioka said that it was imperative for parents to inculcate issues of environment in their children so that they could develop good attitude as they grew.

He further said that there was need for concerted efforts to ensure the environment was clean while warning those polluting the rivers that their days were numbered.

Speaking at the same workshop, Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Mr. Henry Wafula warned those involved in the vice that they risked prosecution.

Wafula also put on notice chiefs and their assistants warning that they would face dire consequences if projects in their area of jurisdiction were vandalised

‘Chiefs and their assistants should work closely to ensure no vandalism of government projects take place,’ Wafula warned.

‘I urge chiefs and their assistants to ensure no v
andalism occurs in their area of jurisdiction,’ said Wafula.

Meanwhile, he administrator pointed that Kibwezi and Mbooni West were leading in defilement cases though they were reducing.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Christian and Muslim Clerics have urged the youth to halt protests to give dialogue a chance amid infiltration of the protests by criminals who robbed and caused mayhem.

The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) House of Bishops said peaceful protests from the youth resulted in the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024 albeit it came with a huge price as citizens lost their lives, injuries, and alleged abduction.

‘As a church, we condemn the violence meted out against the protestors who comprised mainly of young persons, the Gen Z,’ said Rev. Alphonce Baya at the ACK Diocese of Mombasa.

The bishops commiserated with families that had lost their loved ones during the protests and also condemned cases of lawlessness from marauding youth who robbed and stole from citizens on the streets, matatus, private cars and looting of private properties.

‘These incidences of criminal activities affect the well-being of individuals. We call for justice, peaceful measures by the law enforcement agencies and make every part of Ke
nya safe once more,’ said Rev. Baya.

He urged the youth to call off the strike as continued picketing destroys the conducive environment for businesses and hurts the country’s delicate economy.

‘In addition to tarnishing the collective spirit of our nation, remember when Kenya our common home burns, we run the risks of burning in it. We call for calm and peace even as we engage each other,’ explained Rev. Baya.

Rev. Baya termed the recently witnessed protests as cumulative anger because of leadership failure since the country attained its independence. ‘It has reached the ‘boiling point’. The country needs servant leadership,’ he noted.

He added that the ACK church in Mombasa has regulated its platform so as not to be misused by politicians to drive their agenda.

To stop the return of violence, Bishop of ACK Malindi Diocese Rev. Reuben Katite encouraged the Head of State to initiate the dialogue with Gen Z and for parties in the dialogue to approach all issues with humility, transparency, truthfulness an
d goodwill for peace to prevail.

The bishops called for a realignment of the executive and legislative arms of the government leadership priorities to the aspirations of their constituents.

‘Prioritizing the needs of Kenyans is essential to alleviate the complaints we are currently hearing,’ said Rev. Katite, adding that all voices should be given attention.

The ACK Bishops further urge leaders and citizens to be the mediators and advocates of peace for the nation’s stability.

Speaking separately, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) echoed ACK Bishop’s sentiments calling for the stop of protests.

CIPK Organizing Secretary Mohamed Khalifa urged parents to advise their children to halt the protests for dialogue to commence not to destroy the country.

‘The protests started peacefully but it was later hijacked by criminals led to the looting of properties, injuries and destructions,’ said Khalifa, adding the Head of State should be given time to dialogue with the youth.

CIPK National Treasur
er Sheikh Hassan Omar urged Kenyans to maintain peace not to destroy the country that will take years to build.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Tourism John Ololtuaa has announced the government’s plans to roll out a national hotel classification programme to attract more tourists.

In 2009, the East African Community (EAC) developed common classification criteria to standardise accommodation facilities in the region bloc.

The EAC criteria cover town and vacation hotels, lodges, tented camps, motels, villas, cottages and serviced apartments.

Speaking in Diani, Kwale during the 20th symposium for the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), PS Ololtuaa stated that the programme to classify all hotels would be done in the financial year 2024/2025.

‘Classification is essential because it gives you (hotels) the mark of quality and makes it easy for those visiting the country to be able to know what we have,’ said PS Ololtuaa.

He lauded the tourism players for job creation which he noted has a ripple effect on the economy and has led to growth in the tourism sector as witnessed in the
number of accommodation establishments being opened.

‘In tourism that is a plus because for us to be able to attract international and domestic tourists, there must be proper accommodation and conference facilities that they are going to use,’ said PS Ololtuaa, encouraging investors to invest in the country to contribute to the growth of the economy.

The PS noted that tourism has recorded a significant growth from 2022 when 1.4 million tourists visited the country and earned the country Sh268 billion.

‘Currently, we are at about 2 million but our aim and focus is to grow the number of tourists from the current 2 million to probably 3 million by the end of this year and by 2027 to 5 million tourists,’ said the PS for Tourism.

He added that it’s achievable since tourism is private-sector driven and when the country has investors coming to invest in different sectors of the economy, ‘that alone will become a very big impetus to be able to attract more tourists’.

The PS said the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) wou
ld work with Kenyans in the diaspora to be the champions of inviting the world to visit the country.

The PS further revealed that they have unveiled a programme with County Governments to develop unique tourist attraction sites in the counties.

The PS assured Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani of the government’s commitment to supporting the construction of a convention centre.

The State Department of Tourism is working with other State Departments in the development of infrastructure and legislation in a bid to provide a conducive environment for investments and tourism.

On her part, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani said they have invested heavily in developing Kwale as a prime tourist destination through the opening up of beach access roads, construction of washrooms, and pedestrian walkways and enhancement of beach safety through the employment of Lifeguards and Tourism Enforcement Officers.

‘I wish to acknowledge the National Government in putting efforts to support the growth of the tourism sector in the coun
ty through expansion of Ukunda Airport, tarmacking of Kinango-Kwale road and construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass about 95 per cent done,’ she said.

The establishment of a Conference and Cultural Centre christened Bomas of Kwale is one of Governor Achani’s flagship projects.

‘We also intend to put up a tourist market in Diani. In addition, we are optimistic in developing Kongo Beach into a Halal Beach to boost religious Tourism,’ she added.

KAHC Chairman Chris Musau extolled the government for Sh4.9 billion to the Tourism Fund and 2.2 billion to the Tourism Promotion Fund in the 2024/2025 budget that was returned to parliament by the Head State.

Musau said though the tourism sector showed robust performance, the government should increase the air capacity to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport and construction of convention centres in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Tens of students from Migori Teachers Training College donated blood at the institution as more youths from Migori County were encouraged to actively participate in blood donation exercises to help boost Kenya’s Blood Bank.

The event that collected over 100 pints of blood in a five-hour record was organized by the Rotary Club of Suna Migori in partnership with the Migori County referral hospital.

The President of Rotary Club of Suna Migori Mr. Lawrence Otieno emphasized the need for regular blood donations, saying the Rotary Club family in the country was keen to help in addressing the dwindling blood reserves and sustaining medical services countrywide.

‘We aim to address the acute shortage of blood in various hospitals in the region and elsewhere by facilitating the collection of over 200 pints of blood from donors today before heading out to other western region counties to do the same,’ he revealed.

He added that by conducting the exercise at a learning institution such as Migori Teachers Training Col
lege, more young people get to be informed about the importance of donation blood to save lives of those in urgent need.

Dr. Catherine Adera, who coordinates blood transfusion services in Migori, highlighted the importance of adequate blood supply, noting that a shortfall could be disastrous to critically ill patients.

‘We usually have a goal to collect and store 12, 400 pints of blood yearly but a target that has not been achieved. It is good to donate blood to help anemic patients, those suffering from sickle cell disease and even cases of post-partum hemorrhage,’ said Dr. Adera.

Additionally, she pointed out the practical advantages for donors, which included a donor card that acts as surety of receiving immediate blood whenever they, or their patients needed donation.

‘The donors receive a card that helps them know their blood group. If you have a patient who needs blood, you can also come with your donor card and get the privilege of receiving blood easily,’ she added.

Joshua Ochieng, a student at t
he college who donated blood during the exercise, expressed his motivation for participating and encouraged fellow youths to come out in large numbers to donate blood.

He dismissed miss-information around blood donation and urged the youth to ignore and keep donating blood.

The initiative not only aimed to meet immediate local blood needs but also sought to instill a culture of regular blood donation among the youth, ensuring sustained support for healthcare services in Migori County and beyond.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kilifi County Government through the Department of Lands, Energy, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development has launched a high-up vehicle that will help in lowering electricity and fuel usage in the county.

The high-up vehicle, acquired at a cost of Sh16 million marks a significant stride towards ensuring the efficiency of public street-lighting across Kilifi.

Addressing the media during the flagging off of the vehicle, Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro stated that the initiative aligns with the National Energy Policy 2018 which underscores energy as a cornerstone for realizing Kenya’s Vision 2030.

He said that the installation and maintenance of public street lighting is essential for enhancing business activities, security, and revenue generation in the county.

‘The public street lighting has seen a tremendous improvement in business activities, security, and expansion of the revenue resource base for Kilifi. This has resulted in increased working hours in the business community, hence buil
ding a 24-hour economy,’ Mung’aro said.

He pointed out that proper maintenance of public lighting infrastructure ensures that street lighting systems and high mast floodlights are preserved for as long as possible and the original conditions of the system are sustained while compensating for normal wear and tear.

Governor Mung’aro highlighted the benefits of purchasing a high-up vehicle as cost reduction in maintenance and the elimination of expensive framework agreements with prequalified contractors, among others.

‘The high-up vehicle will also facilitate the county’s ability to respond promptly to emergency situations, such as power outages, thereby ensuring continuous and reliable public lighting,’ the Governor added.

Governor Mung’aro further stated that the improved maintenance capabilities would save the county up to approximately Sh100,000 per day, previously spent on leasing and maintenance of vehicles hired from the private sector.

The Governor concluded his address by reaffirming his commitmen
t to a sustainable energy supply and its role in economic growth and poverty reduction.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has held a ministerial meeting to strengthen and accelerate national and regional efforts to address food insecurity in the region and long term development to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of vulnerable communities.

The meeting attended by ministers and head of delegations from IGAD member states also aims to identify common opportunities, gaps in implementing and accelerating sustainable national pathways for food security system transformation in the IGAD region.

The forum’s objective including facilitation of sharing practices and knowledge exchange between Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan, identifying common priorities to accelerate food security system transformation, secure ministerial approval and consolidate a harmonized and coordinate approach to food systems strengthening regional commitment.

Speaking at the event in Nairobi, IGAD Head of Mission in Kenya Dr. Fatuma Adan said that the agenda of the meeting was to discuss strategies,
policies and systems on how to improve the food security in the region since the region has been having crisis including climate crisis, conflict and floods among others.

She noted that 21 percent of the 300 million people in IGAD were food insecure and the vulnerable people affected were women, children and adolescent girls specifically adding that IGAD convened to have a strategy system so that it could build food secure communities, countries and region.

‘The food situation is not getting better due to climate crisis but countries are also investing heavily to ensure that they are able to cope up and build a resilient system that helps to cope with shocks,’ she stated.

Resilience team leader for Eastern Africa Cyril Ferrand said that food security was an issue across the borders, but the region has made an effort in the past 20 years in bringing capacity to collect information, share and take some information.

He said that the translation of technically sound information into intervention that is basic
and implementable is where IGAD is facing a little challenges but have made progress in the last 20 years.

‘United development system is lacking a little bit scale, often there is investment in life saving that is significant when we face a crisis which unfortunately we do not see the same level of investment at scale for resilient investment,’ he noted.

Ferrand said that if one wants to be transformative, they have no option but going faster in that scale adding that was missing in the region when they look to climate adaptation.

‘This needs to be fixed now and the linkage between the UN activism and peace activism is going to be fundamental in changing the ways of doing business at the moment,’ he said.

Programme Manager Ethiopian Union (EU) Delegation Stephen Wathome noted that food security was a cross border issue, creating a scenario where it was no longer a confining aspect to do with availability and accessibility of food to a specific country.

He said that all countries around were going to supp
ort each other in availability and accessibility, noting the major challenges affecting the countries in terms of food production included aspect to do with climate nexus, biodiversity among others.

‘More less of governance aspect and coordination is increasingly becoming a concern where people are unable to have the resources for purchasing food even if the food are available,’ he noted.

Source: Kenya News Agency