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Justus Ndemo (aged 35), sits outside their house holding his mobile phone as he listens to music from his father’s radio in Suneka township, Kisii South Sub-county, Kisii County.

According to Ndemo, listening to the radio was more convenient compared to other media because one can simultaneously carry out various activities including chatting with friends on social media.

‘Listening to the radio is the most interesting thing for me, because I can perform various tasks including farming or chatting with friends while enjoying music in the background,’ says Ndemo

Ndemo’s sentiments resonate with the recent Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) for 2022 which states that men have a higher percentage of media usage compared to women in Kenya, although radio is the most prevalent form of media exposure for both genders.

The KDHS volume 1 report which was published by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates that 9 percent more men than women listen to the radio at least once a week, and 5% more men watch television in the same period.

The study highlights that men’s exposure to television has increased, while the percentage of women and men exposed to radio has been declining. Women’s exposure to radio declined over time.

A farmer, Grace Abunda aged 52, says experience had revealed that television had caused many people to shift away from radio.

This, she says, is the reason why many people have television in their homes and less radios.

Among the three media platforms, television is more commonly accessed in urban areas, while radio remains the predominant form of media in rural areas according to the survey.

The survey also indicates a rising trend in exposure to television, while the percentage of both women and men exposed to radio has been declining.

Among the three media platforms, television is more commonly accessed in urban areas, with 2 percent more men than women being exposed to it while in rural areas, radio remains the predominant form of media, with 63 percent

of women and 77 percent of men engaging with it.

The survey also indicates a rising trend in women’s exposure to television, increasing from 29 percent in 2003 to 55 percent in 2022 while during the same period, men’s exposure to television increased from 45 percent to

60 percent

On the other hand, the percentage of both women and men exposed to radio has been declining, with women’s exposure decreasing by 5 percent between 2003 and 2014, and further dropping by another 7 percent to 62 percent in

2022.

According to the KNBS survey, internet usage has also increased, being more prevalent in urban areas compared to rural areas, with higher percentages of women and men in urban areas reporting internet usage in the past 12 months compared to their rural counterparts.

Internet usage is more prevalent in urban areas compared to rural areas with approximately 68 percent of women and 80 percent of men in urban areas reporting using the internet in the past 12 months, while the figures were 28 percent of women and 41 percent of men in rural areas.

Abel Omweno, a worker in a cyber café located in Nyanchwa, near Kisii town says that men tend to be more preoccupied with accessing the internet in his premises because they seem to have more free time than women who must attend to household chores.

‘I can’t remember the last time I listened to the radio or watched television although I find time for my friends on social media,’ chips in Sharon Amanda, a student at Kisii University.

However, Amanda says she occasionally watches television on her mobile phone when she feels there is an important happening in the country that might affect her or her kin.

The survey indicates that she is among the significant portion of women and men who reported using the internet almost daily.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Plans are underway to roll out mass administration of drugs to control schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) and soil-transmitted Helminthiasis (Intestinal worms) in Busia County.

Addressing stakeholders during a preparation meeting at Busia County Referral Hospital on Friday, the Medical parasitologist from the Ministry of Health, Florence Wakesho stated that the exercise will be carried out from 17th August.Wakesho disclosed that eight wards will be prioritized for mass administration of drugs while 33 others will have elimination of intestinal drugs.

‘Wards targeted for bilharzia control include Bunyala South, Bunyala North, Bunyala West, Marachi East, Bwiri, Bukhayo East, Angurai, and Amukura West,’ she said.

She further stated that Community Health Promoters will issue Mebendazole and Praziquantel drugs for intestinal worms and bilharzia respectively.

Wakesho assured local residents that the drugs are safe and effective adding that they should cooperate with those who will be conducting the exercise.

Busia Assistant County Commissioner Stephen Kibandi said that the Interior Ministry will coordinate the exercise to ensure that it is successful.

Busia County Health Promotion Officer Nelson Andanje said that the Department is committed to ensuring that the exercise achieves its intended purpose of fighting the two diseases.

The move follows a survey conducted by the Division of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases in collaboration with Busia County Health Department in November 2022 which established the County’s burden of Bilharzia and Intestinal worms’ prevalence stands at 7.1and 6.9 percent respectively.

Other counties targeted for the exercise include Kisumu, Homabay, Siaya, and Migori

Source: Kenya News Agency

National Government Administration in Kisii County has moved to preach peaceful coexistence among various communities in a bid to create cohesion in the wake of chaotic demonstrations which have rocked various parts of the country in the recent past.

The Administration held a public Baraza with the Luo Community members at Daraja Mbili market in the outskirts of Kisii town Saturday where they announced a raft of measures and consecutive meetings with other communities as need arises.

Addressing the press after the meeting, Assistant County Commissioner for Township Division, Ms. Ann Anyango Ojwando said the move was instigated by the need to remind residents of the importance of peaceful coexistence and unity to posture development.

‘We urge residents from various communities to coexist peacefully as they always have for their own benefit,’ said Anyango.

According to Anyango, there will be consecutive meetings with other communities and all-inclusive barazas with their leaders geared towards addressing various agendas as the need arises.

Anyango urged the residents to desist from causing mayhem during any demonstrations, noting that they stood to lose from destruction of lives and property, and economic shutdown during the events.

‘However, we assure the residents of ample security which has been beefed up to combat unlawful behavior during the maandamano which have not been authorized anyway,’ she said.

Anyango also appealed to residents to avoid lighting bonfires to barricade roads saying it was destroying infrastructure that might take a long to repair.

The Chairman of the Kisii Branch Luo Council of Elders, Ramathan Abdulahi appealed to all tribes living in the county to coexist peacefully and not to cause chaos during the demonstrations.

Assuring that the Luo Community had pledged to live harmoniously with their counterparts, Abdulahi appealed to other communities including Kisii, Kamba, and Kikuyu to endeavor for the same.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The North Eastern regional commissioner has assured residents in the region that security will be beefed up in the area to counter rampant criminal activities that have been witnessed in the past weeks.

RC John Otieno asked the locals to volunteer information to security agents to help in the fight against terrorist attacks adding that whereas the security agents were tasked with the protection of life and property they cannot achieve that if the locals did not offer support.

‘Security personnel are monitoring and patrolling the area to keep it safe but we call for collaborative efforts from you all especially the elders and youth in this region to curb insecurity. Security agents cannot work in isolation we need your support through volunteering information that will lead to apprehending the culprit,’ he said

While touring the proposed Kunaso police station site Saturday he said more police stations will be built to tighten security of the residents and their properties.

Last week police in Garissa Iftin police station arrested two gunmen armed with two AK 47 rifles military jacket, porches 150 rounds of ammunition, and Sh 396,000 that were driving in a white Probox vehicle believed to have been planning an attack at kunaso. The suspects were ambushed by law enforcement officers and arrested.

Otieno said Police are carrying out investigations to establish the gangster sponsors and their interests.

A group of elders led by Mzee Burale hire,muktar Mohamed, Abdi Ahmed, and Mama Suthay Ali Yussuf asked security agents to be ruthless with those terrorizing the area and flush out those in hideouts saying some criminal elements want to thwart government efforts to construct a police station at Kunaso so that they can continue with their criminal activities.

The elders promised to work with the government for the sake of peace in the area

There are only three police stations in Garissa township, mainly Garissa police station, iftin police station, chief camp police station, and several police camps barriers.

More security is required as Garissa township is the fastest-growing town after Eldoret.

Garissa has over eight sub-counties.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A number of major towns within Murang’a county are set to get a facelift under a programme dubbed smart cities being implemented by the county administration.

The county government since February this year, commenced tarmacking roads and streets within the towns with the aim of boosting trading activities.

Roads in major towns including Maragua, Kangari, Murang’a, Kangema, Gatura and Kiriaini have already been tarmacked with traders lauding the move since it has relieved them from walking and doing their businesses along muddy and dusty roads.

On Saturday while launching the programme at Maragua town, governor Irungu Kang’ata said the upgraded roads and streets will ensure ease of access in every part of the town thus allowing customers to reach business premises even those away from main roads.

He noted that traders have been forced to sell their merchandise along tarmacked roads since customers avoid getting to interior parts of the towns due to muddy streets.

Kang’ata underscored tarmacking and improving the streets saying it spurs the growth and development of businesses in the majority of local major trading centres.

‘The smart cities programme is aimed at ensuring the traders do their businesses without many challenges. Those who are far from main roads will be able to make sales since customers can now easily access their premises,’ he stated.

In the 2023/2024 financial year budget, the devolved administration allocated Sh. 175 million to actualize the smart cities programme.

Already tarmacking of sections of roads within Murang’a, Maragua, Kiriaini and Kangema towns have been done.

Kang’ata further said the programme will also include installing street lights to enable traders to extend operating hours and boost security.

‘All the trading centres will also get street lights which will boost security and enable business people to operate even at night,’ he added saying tarmacking of the roads will also make it easy for physically challenged people to operate businesses.

He said ‘Drainage systems in the towns will be rehabilitated. Its unfortunate drainage lines within most trading centres are in a pathetic situation.’

A section of traders in Maragua town lauded the programme saying it will awaken the sleepy town which has witnessed increased security cases.

One of the traders Mwangi Wacogi observed Maragua have lagged behind due to poor infrastructure and insecurity incidents.

He lauded tarmacking of roads within the town saying motorists have avoided accessing the town since roads connecting the trading centre were in pathetic situations.

Another trader Nancy Mwangi requested the county government to hasten installing street lights so as to curb insecurity cases.

‘We usually close our businesses before 6 pm due to fear of being attacked and robbed of our merchandise. In the past cases of theft have been rampant in this town and we hope the programme by the county government will improve the environment of conducting business in Maragua town,’ she asserted.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has been asked to ensure the beneficiaries of Inua Jamii cash transfer programme get their stipend on monthly basis.

Ahadi Trust Kenya Executive Director Stanley Kamau on Saturday observed that disbursing the funds in lumpsum has increased attacks on the aged as some of their family members want to confiscate the money.

Kamau, speaking when his organization donated foodstuff among other personal items to aged persons drawn from Kahumbu ward in Murang’a, said disbursing the Sh. 2, 000 stipend to the aged on monthly basis will reduce cases of attacks on elderly persons.

He divulged that there have been many cases where the aged are denied the money by their caregivers and also exposed to theft by goons.

Kamau’s sentiments comes a week after an aged person from Githembe Sub location in Kigumo sub county was attacked and his Sh. 8, 000 stipend recently paid by the government stolen.

Kamau reiterated that if the money is paid on a monthly basis it will be of greater benefit to the aged considering some are on medication.

‘It’s a shame for one to take advantage of the aged people. Security agents should apprehend those mistreating them and also robbing them of their stipend,’ he added.

Towards the end of last month, the government released Sh. 16.7 billion cash transfer funds for the aged, vulnerable children and persons with disabilities.

Each beneficiary was to get a total of Sh. 16, 000 to cover for eight months from November last year to June this year.

‘Chiefs and their assistants can know the aged people who have been mistreated by their people due to the Inua Jamii money, I appeal to the security apparatus to take legal actions of those robbing our aged parents of their money,’ he further said.

The anti-jigger campaigner further asked the aged who are robbed their money to report to chiefs’ offices saying there are cases where the affected are scared to make reports.

Kamau also appealed to the government to register more beneficiaries in the fund observing some aged people are neglected by their families and thus depend on well-wishers to get food among other basic necessities.

‘In this region, we have cases where the aged are left on their own, without food among other basic needs. Let the government enroll these aged people to the cash transfer programme so they can get the monthly stipend.

He further regretted that some young people leave their children under care of their aged grandparents.

‘If you have children make sure you provide for them instead of adding a burden to aged grandparents of taking care of children,’ remarked Kamau.

Area assistant Chief Lewis Kimani on his part confirmed that one of the local residents was attacked by some young people and stole the stipend he had received.

Kimani noted they are pursuing the matter and those behind the attack will face the law calling upon the locals to take care of their aged parents.

‘The aged people need to be taken care of not only by their people but by the entire community. It’s wrong to attack and steal from an aged person. The security team is investigating the incident and soon those behind the attack will be apprehended,’ vowed the chief.

Source: Kenya News Agency