Category: General

Cabinet secretary of Health Susan Nakhumicha, the Cabinet Secretary for health, has stated that the government is actively working to address human resource issues in the health sector and end the ongoing doctor strike.

Speaking during the World TB Day celebrations at Kimorori grounds in Murang’a, the CS said the government is working tirelessly to resolve the issues raised by doctors and bring the strike to an end.

‘The government is working to find solutions to resolve the human resource crises in the health sector to ensure the issue of strikes is resolved once and for all,’ she said.

She reassured the doctors and other medical practitioners that the government and all stakeholders are working to address the issues raised by doctors saying that so far, they have made significant progress. The approach is centered on resolving outstanding issues to restore normalcy in the sector, as reassured by the speaker.

The Ministry of Health has started releasing letters to clinical officers in medicine to address
doctor-related issues, with other practitioners expected to receive similar letters soon. ‘I want to resolve this matter in a way that the next health CS will not have to deal with these issues of strikes as doctors will no longer have reasons to strike,’ she stated. Lastly, she commended doctors who remain employed and urged the public to remain patient while the government resolves this issue.

Furthermore, Kangema Member of Parliament Peter Kihungi and his Nyeri counterpart Duncan Mathenge, pleaded with the doctors to resume work as the government has already started resolving their issues so that Kenyans do not suffer unnecessarily from the strike.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has released Sh. 23 billion capitation to public secondary schools ending the prolonged financial crisis which threatened to disrupt operations at the institutions.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu said the funds will be deposited in the schools’ accounts before the end of the week.

This comes as a relief to secondary school heads across the country who have been up in arms over the delay. Thus Machogu said the release of the funds signified the government’s commitment to the education sector and refuted claims that the allocations had been slashed.

The capitation for Secondary schools, he said remained Sh. 22, 240 per student adding that the government remained committed to releasing the funds to ensure success of education Programmes in the country.

‘We have not reduced the capitation. This is a constitutional matter and it is in the interest of the government that this allocation is not reduced,’ he said.

Speaking at Henry Kosgey Kibukwo Secondary School in Tinderet Sub-
County, Machogu asked secondary school heads to ensure prudent expenditure of the funds.

The government, he added, has made great strides in improving the quality of education in the country. Furthermore, he pointed out the employment of 56,750 teachers last year which he said has greatly addressed under-staffing issues across the country.

This financial year, he said more funds have been set aside to employ an additional 20, 000 teachers to bridge existing gaps.

His Ministry, he said, was on course on the implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) with the bulk of challenges that faced its rollout addressed.

The government, he said, has set aside Sh. 3.39 billion and an additional Sh. 9 billion from the World Bank (WB) to construct classrooms for grade 9.

Through the initiative, he said, the government targets to construct 15, 040 classrooms by the year 2025.

‘This will address all the infrastructural gaps we have now and ensure that as our learners proceed to grade 9 they have enough clas
srooms,’ he said.

The CS who was flanked by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, Emgwen MP Josses Lelmengit, and Tinderet Deputy County Commissioner Esther Oyugi among other leaders said his Ministry will support Henry Kosgey Kibukwo Secondary School with Sh. 10 million to build more classrooms.

The school plans to construct a state of the art tuition block which once completed will have 10 classrooms, a computer laboratory, a library and administration office.

On his part, Tinderet MP Julious Melly lauded the government for releasing the capitation funds saying it will go a long way in facilitating the smooth running of education programmes in secondary schools.

He urged the Ministry on Education to strive to release the funds on time to ensure that learning goes on uninterrupted.

‘I am in government and I understand the challenges we have in generating revenue but let us strive to send this money in good time to facilitate smooth running of schools,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Fund the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) spends more than Sh300 million annually to purchase working and mobility tools for persons with disabilities country-wide, officials said.

The fund’s trustees also said that the state corporation had in the last ten years spent more than Sh1 billion to assist special educational institutions with grants to carry out various activities including the implementation of flagship projects.

The trustees, who were led by Vice Chairman Peter Nyakiamo, said this at the Magarini Disability Centre in Mpirani Village of Magarini Sub County where they donated items worth Sh1.8 million and presented a cheque of KshSh300, 000 to the centre to enable it to complete its poultry project.

A total of 55 persons with disabilities from Magarini Sub County received the donations, which included wheel chairs, orthopedic chairs, tricycles, car washing machines, welding machines, sewing machines as well as salon and barber kits, a water tank and cheques worth Sh160,000 to purchase live
stock for eight PWDs.

Those who accompanied Dr. Nyakiamo were Prof. Julia Ojiambo, Dr. Mike Kisilu, Major (rtd) Masden Madoka, former Kitui Governor David Musila and Ms Charity Kiilu, who represents the Principal Secretary for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection at the NFDK.

Mpirani village is infamous for the high number of persons with various forms of disabilities, with unofficial figures indicating that out of the about 2,000 inhabitants, at least 250 of them have disabilities, a scenario that prompted the Ministry of Health to carry conduct research to determine the cause.

The research was conducted last year after the media highlighted the plight of villagers but the findings are yet to be made public and the trustees and local leaders are calling for the release of the findings in order to see if preventive measures can be instituted.

Speaking after handing over the donations, Dr. Mike Kisilu, one of the trustees, said every year, the fund as
sists more than 3,000 individual persons with disabilities with tools, about 150 special schools with small grants of Sh300, 000 each.

He said the fund had assisted spent about Sh1 billion in the last ten years to provide grants to 195 special educational institutions to implement flagship projects such as the construction of classrooms and dormitories.

‘That is why we are saying that there is no need for any child with one form of disability or another to stay at home. We urge parents with such children to bring them out and take them to school.

One her part, Prof. Ojiambo said the fund trustees had been touched by the plight of the villagers and that was why they had given it a special consideration to enable those with disabilities to live meaningful lives.

‘We have brought those who cannot walk tools to make them mobile so that their caregivers can engage in economic activities. For those who are able to work, we have brought various working tools to make them generate their own income,’ she said.

Ma
jor (Rtd) Madoka and lawyer Caroline Andzazi Chilango urged the Ministry of Health to hasten the research on the cause of disabilities in Mpirani village and release the findings for possible interventions.

The Assistant County Commissioner in charge of Magarini Division, Mr. Joshua Leintoi, urged the beneficiaries to make valuable use of the items and resist the urge to sell them, adding the National Administration would monitor the use of the tools.

He urged parents to ensure that all children with disabilities are brought out and taken to local special educational institutions.

Source: Kenya News Agency

West Pokot County Executive for Health and Sanitation Paul Woyakapel has decried the high tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection rate in the County that currently stands at 11 percent, with five percent of patients succumbing to the disease.

Mr Woyakapel said in 2023, West Pokot reported 1,617 drug- sensitive TB cases, with 220 of them being child patients accounting for 14 percent of overall prevalence in the county.

The Health Executive said that the county’s treatment success rate for TB in 2022 was 80 percent with cure rate of 65 percent, but added that the county still experienced loss of lives from TB cases that were five percent.

Mr Woyakapel also noted that up to 60 percent of TB patients are malnourished which makes it a heavy toll for their recovery.

He said the County has identified hotspot sites for screening of TB including GK Prison, Rimis Goldmines and Kanyerus in Pokot North, Cheptuya in West Pokot Sub County and Kambi Karaya in Pokot Central adding that 80 schools have been reached for publi
c awareness messages.

Health and Sanitation Chief Officer (CO) Nelly Soprin highlighted that West Pokot is one of the counties with a high rate of tuberculosis (TB) infection.

Ms Soprin further emphasised that Kenya is among the 15 countries globally with a high prevalence of TB.

Soprin reiterated that the primary challenge faced by the county in terms of infection rates is the reluctance by citizens to visit hospitals for screening.

She encouraged residents to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as coughing, sweating, or unexplained weight loss, as these could be signs of TB infection.

The Chief Officer specifically mentioned that Kapenguria County Referral Hospital among other health facilities across the county offers free TB screening services.

Soprin said the cost of TB medication for an infected individual is approximately Sh40,000, but added the government has committed to covering this expense and made TB treatment free in all public health facilities.

She stated the importa
nce of raising awareness within the local community to prevent and treat TB effectively.

The CO said that individuals living with HIV infection often have a weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to diseases such as TB noting that it is important for them to undergo screening to determine their health status in relation to TB.

She highlighted that those in need of TB screening and treatment can receive medical assistance at any government health facility in the county for free.

Soprin explained that adults are the most affected by TB cases and are also the main source of transmission, while children are less affected.

She said that Pokot Central Sub County is leading in cases of TB infections, followed by Pokot North, Pokot central, West Pokot and Pokot South sub counties.

The Chief Officer indicated that the county is currently executing essential measures to decrease the occurrences of TB in the community by means of contact tracing and TB preventive therapy which involve tracing and invi
ting all individuals who have been in contact with TB patients to the health facility, where they will undergo TB screening. If TB is ruled out, they will be provided with preventive treatment.

Mr Woyakapel ,Ms Soprin and Kapenguria Division Assistant County commissioner Ruth Wachera commemorated the World TB Day 2024 at Talau county Dispensary. This year’s global theme is: ”Yes, we can end TB!”

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) has awarded 33 million Birr to Ethiopian innovators with a view to promoting agricultural mechanization for smallholder farmers today.

According to Agricultural Mechanization Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Tamiru Habte, the award will improve local innovative capacity and at the same time encourage innovators.

It will also play significant role in reducing imported inputs of agricultural mechanization, he added.

“This support has come at the right time when our country is moving in a different direction in the production of rice and wheat. This will also contribute to the enhancement of production and productivity of the country.’

Agricultural Mechanization for Smallholder Farmers project team leader, Pascal Kaumbutho said on his part that the youth in Africa are not taking on farming.

‘The way to bring them to farming is through mechanization. So, today we are here to see how we could reward those who are helping us by being in
novative, bringing new ideas and ways of doing the same thing that we are trying to do.’

On the occasion, GIZ handed over 33 million Birr to help the innovators projects in agricultural mechanization.

Among the awarded projects include, electric powered tractor, drone chemical spray, and solar power irrigation technology.

The award intends to create an enabling environment for those innovators to materialize their ideas by improving the framework conditions and reinforcing agricultural mechanization in Ethiopia.

The nation’s agricultural mechanization strategy envisages eradicating poverty, creating jobs, ensuring food security, domestically replacing imported items, and promoting SMEs.

Currently, the Ethiopian government has embarked on adopting agricultural mechanization solutions as ways of achieving sustainable increase in agricultural productivity and achieve surplus production across the country

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has expressed confidence that the new Narok security team will contain the insecurity experienced in parts of Nkararo and Angata Barikoi areas in Kilgoris Constituency.

Kindiki who spoke when he paid a courtesy call to the Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia said the wrangles experienced between the two Maasai clans in the Nkararo area must end immediately so that people can continue with their daily activities in a peaceful environment.

He underscored the need of the security team to work with elders and local leaders to finish the skirmishes that have been derailing development in the area.

‘We want to ensure we resolve this problem permanently. It is shameful and illegal for people from the same locality and tribe to continue fighting and injuring each other,’ added the CS.

At the same time, Kindiki said they are working to find a lasting solution in the Angata Barikoi area at the border of Narok and Migori Counties where the residents have been fightin
g over land boundaries.

Early this month, three people were killed and several injured at Nkararo area after the Uasin Gishu and Siria clans differed over land boundaries.

Kindiki expressed confidence that the new security team that took over a month ago will succeed in curbing down criminal activities in the County.

Among the people transferred were County Commissioner Isaac Masinde, who was replaced by Kipkech Lotiatia, County Police Commander Kizito Mutoro, who was replaced by Riko Ngare and County Criminal Investigating Officer Etheiba Mwenda who was replaced by Peter Kieti.

He reiterated that the security officers will continue to shut down alcoholic premises that have been operating illegally, saying they have shut down 12,150 alcoholic premises that have been operating without licenses across the Country.

‘I have heard some people making noise but our focus is not to destroy any business, but we cannot allow businesses that are contributing to the death of the people of Kenya,’ he continued.

Kind
iki’s visit follows a Presidential order, where President William Ruto, while in an interdenominational prayer meeting at Kilgoris area last week ordered the Interior CS to visit the area and resolve insecurity issues that were being experienced in the area.

Source: Kenya News Agency