Category: General

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) is conducting a comprehensive media campaign nationwide, aimed at enhancing public awareness regarding various pertinent issues concerning the company’s operations.

Through these initiatives, KPLC endeavors to ensure that the public is well-informed about its operational procedures, addressing concerns, and fostering transparency for better customer relations and service provision.

The Government-owned parastatal is structured with 50.1 percent ownership by the Government of Kenya and 49.9 percent ownership by local and foreign investors.

Organized into eight administrative regions, it operates 49 business centers, strategically positioned across the country, with one in each of the 47 counties and three in Nairobi with a total workforce of 10,305, 986 being from the Coast and 490 from Mombasa County.

The Company’s diverse sources of power encompass geothermal, hydro, thermal, wind, and solar energy.

This multifaceted approach underscores its commitment to harn
essing renewable and sustainable resources, to meet energy demands efficiently.

Speaking at a Mombasa Hotel, during a media campaign workshop, the Regional Manager, Coast Region, Phineas Marete, highlighted that they recently launched a Token Identifier project that entails the updating of firmware for specific meters, to enable them to continue vending services beyond the impending deadline scheduled for November 24, 2024.

Marete said that besides the media campaigns aimed at fostering awareness, the lighting Company actively engages in roadshows and that they intend to initiate discussions with diverse community groups, including churches and mosques, to ensure nationwide dissemination of information.

He addressed the concerning rise in fraudulent activities, noting an increased number of scammers contacting customers and issuing threats of power disconnection, unless monetary demands are met.

The Regional Manager advised that the Company’s field employees, consistently carry official employee identific
ation cards, as a measure to reassure customers and distinguish legitimate Company representatives from fraudulent individuals.

‘Our security teams have been vigilant and proactive, which has resulted in several arrests related to fraudulent activities and moving forward, we emphasize to our customers the importance of utilizing only the official KPLC pay points for transactions,’ Marete noted.

He said that the Company is collaborating closely with local administration and security agencies, to combat the issue of scammers impersonating KPLC staff.

The Regional Manager acknowledged that the Company previously faced service backlogs, due to insufficient materials, particularly meters.

However, the Company has initiated a rapid response initiative, to expedite the resolution of outstanding orders for customers, who have already made payments. The aim is to ensure all the customers are accommodated within the next three months.

Marete expressed satisfaction with the six coastal counties, highlighting succes
sful engagement efforts resulting in prompt payments without any significant outstanding bills.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nyanza regional drama and film festival qualifiers from primary and secondary schools have exhibited great talent and innovation during their presentations at Kebirigo boys High school in Nyamira County to qualify them to compete in the national festivals.

During the official opening ceremony of the festivals, Nyanza Regional Education Director Lawrence Karuntimi congratulated the participating schools for having made it to the regional level clearly indicating they are the best from their respective counties.

‘I want to recognise the tireless efforts of directors, scrip writers and teachers who have trained the learners to showcase their prowess in talent, innovation and creativity both for entertainment and learning,’ Mr Karuntimi said.

‘Just like all other forms of art, drama and film have the capacity to engage, inspire, and enrich learners endearing them to exercise their imagination and creativity, nurturing their confidence and boosting their self-esteem,’ the RDE commented.

He pointed out that dra
ma is one of the critical competencies that they want to nurture in learners, especially those in the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).

‘Artists of various genres who have taken their work seriously are earning handsomely and are comfortably sustaining their dependents,’ he said.

‘I urge the adjudicators to be objective and professional in grading the contesting teams so that the best out of the best teams qualify to compete at the national festivals which will be held in Embu next month,’ Mr Karuntimi appealed.

West Mugirango Constituency MP Stephen Mogaka who was present during the launch to officially open the halls where the festivals would be conducted welcomed all participating teams, their leaders and adjudicators to Nyamira County and encouraged them to feel free staying around for the whole week for their security was guaranteed.

‘Going forward, we want to improve every infrastructure in every sector, including ball games and indoor facilities, so that one day we shall qualify to host the nation
al tournaments right here in Nyamira County,’ the MP promised.

‘Our children have what it takes to be star actors in Nollywood, Hollywood and other international movies and be celebrated globally. It is therefore an opportunity for this God given talents to be exploited to become the very best they can,’ challenged Mogaka.

Kebirigo Boys Secondary school is hosting the secondary drama festivals while the primary festivals are hosted at Senator Kebaso Secondary School, all in West Mugirango constituency.

This year’s theme is ‘Unlocking Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformation through Drama and Film’.

Curtains for Nyanza regional drama and film festivals will fall on Friday where qualifying teams will proceed to Embu County for national festivals.

Source: Kenya News Agency

National Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Ndindi Nyoro has challenged the youth to seek entrepreneurial skills which would enable them gain self-employment.

Nyoro said that the youth should focus on becoming job creators rather than preoccupying themselves with hunting for white collar jobs.

He said that the affordable housing projects were a boon for thousands of youth in the entire housing value chain.

The legislator assured Kenyans that their taxes for funding affordable housing project would be spent prudently.

Nyoro said that the affordable housing projects would enable Kenyans acquire and live in decent houses.

This comes after enactment into law of the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, which paves the way for the reinstatement of housing levy deductions from this month.

The legislator made the remarks today when he delivered a public lecture at Tom Mboya University themed ‘Retracing the footsteps of Tom Mboya, the place of the in youth leadership and entrepreneurship.’

Nyoro told Kenyans to suppo
rt the housing project since it would have a multiplier effect on the economic growth of the country.

‘I thank all Kenyans who are going to fund the affordable housing project. This project is going to accord Kenyans who live in slums an opportunity to live in dignified houses,’ Nyoro said.

He said that as a member of the oversight body, he would ensure that all the funds raised through the housing levy was utilized for the intended purpose.

‘We wish to see booming businesses in the construction value chain as well as creation of job opportunities for young people,’ Nyoro said.

He urged Kenyans to fight tribalism to enable the country to achieve cohesion and economic growth.

‘A country that aims at being a developed country starts with unity of purpose through demolishing of the barriers of ethnicity,’ Nyoro said.

He said time had come for Kenyans to ensure inclusion and put the interest of the nation in their hearts.

‘For us to develop as a country, we must ensure we eliminate the barriers of exclusio
n so that every Kenyan feels free to live in any part of the country regardless of whether they were born there or not,’ he added.

The MP urged youths to venture into digital technology to enable them to become job creators.

The public lecture was also attended by Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan and Tom Mboya University Vice Chancellor Professor Charles Ochola.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The County government of Kakamega is ready to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with various investors during a four-day forum of the Kakamega County International Investment Conference that commenced yesterday.

Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa says the Kakamega County Investment and Development Agency (KCIDA) is expected to ink a number of MOUs at the end of the conference that is expected to end on Friday March 22, 2024.

Speaking Tuesday during a pre-conference briefing, Barasa said he will use the opportunity to woo investors to invest in various fields ranging from agriculture, agri-business, medical, education and social sectors.

The Governor said his government was looking for investors to operationalize the Malava diary factory, the stalled Kakamega Teaching and Referral hospital which is touted to become the largest referral health facility in the country with a capacity of 700 beds and investment in the hospitality industry.

‘We need investors in the hostel sector to provide accommodation
to over 21,000 students at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology(MMUST) as well as the over 14,000 students at Sigalagala National Polytechnic’ he added.

Other sectors lined up for investment include the hospitality and sports sectors, fisheries, establishment of a cancer center among others.

The conference is taking place at Masinde Muliro University and is themed ‘Opening up Counties as the New Frontiers for Investment and Development.

President William Ruto is expected to officially open the conference today with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga expected to grace the second day (Thursday) and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs expected to close the forum on Friday this week.

The Governor said a number of foreign dignitaries, local and international companies’ government representatives, foreign mission representatives, and development partners among others will attend the conference.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Busia County has embarked on plans to develop a County Statistical Abstract with a view to assist in planning on its development activities.

Speaking to the press after a sensitisation workshop for various heads of departments at a hotel in Busia town on Tuesday, Busia County head of Statistics Andrew Warambo said that the document is expected to be completed by the end of May this year.

‘Counties did not participate fully in the preparation of the first one (produced in 2015) and therefore much information from the County Departments was not included in that document, he said.

Warambo stated that the forum aimed at sensitising the data producers with the data collection tools so that they are familiar with them before the main exercise begins.

‘As data producers, they need to look at the tools that were used by KNBS in 2015 and ratify them so that they can make modifications where needed,’ he said.

He explained that the document will be very important during the County’s development planning adding tha
t it will provide evidence needed.

The official further said that Busia will be the sixth County to develop such a document after Makueni, Kericho, Laikipia, Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua.

Busia County Chief Officer for Water, Kelly Omboko reiterated that the document will provide baseline data for the County’s development priority areas.

Omboko added that it will also help in decision making on where development partners can assist in the County’s development.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The European Union in partnership with National Legal Aid Service (NLAS), has donated 12 vehicles to enhance delivery and access to justice across the country.

The EU under the programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Deliver (PLEAD), started in 2020 in response to access to justice.

Speaking during the flag-off, the Attorney General (AG), Justin Muturi, noted that the journey was a critical milestone and acknowledged the EU for their support to Kenya by ensuring members of public’s access to social justice.

He said that the Constitution provides a framework to support the marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Muturi said that the EU has made it possible for various citizens to access public services through donation of vehicle to counties. The counties to benefit are Wajir, Mandera, Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru Counties. He said that NLAS is working towards extending their services, to all 47 counties.

The AG reiterated that NLAS and the EU’s
aim is to ensure the marginalized communities access Justice, which will help in the creation of awareness.

The EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, stated that the EU has invested 70 million euros in the programme, terming it the largest investment by the EU in the justice sector reform in Sub-Saharan Africa.

‘What is Justice if it is not serving all the people of the country in equal measure,’ posed Geiger, as she urged NLAS to make good use of the Vehicles that will see justice served to all.

The Solicitor General, Shadrack Mose, noted that NLAS has made tremendous achievement and was very delighted to witness the milestone in the implementation of the program.

He added that the occasion fulfils the government’s goal to transform lives through empowerment of individuals, families and communities, by providing high quality legal services.

Mose noted that that the initiative also serves to support the delivery of NLAS mission to promote, provide and coordinate quality affordable, sustainable and ac
countable legal services to the marginalized, indigent and vulnerable members of the society.

Solicitor General further requested the EU to continue partnering with NLAS and ensure that the program is extended, insisting that the support from NLAS, will be felt across the country and become one of the key milestones.

He assured that the Office of the Attorney General, will give support in the maintenance of the vehicles to serve and support the lives of Kenyans.

Source: Kenya News Agency