Category: General

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has named Kenya’s national men’s team Wafalme Stars and the women’s team Malkia Strikers squads for the forthcoming Africa Games in Accra, Ghana, starting March 8th, 2024.

This was unveiled on Sunday by KVF President Charles Nyaberi after the 3rd KVF league and the Arthur Odera Open Volleyball tournament at Malaba Stadium, in Busia County. The event was graced by Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma and the tournament sponsor, and deputy governor, Arthur Odera.

Former League champions and current leaders General Service Unit have the bulk of players in the squad that will be under the tutelage of GSU VC head coach Gideon Tarus, assisted by Elisha Aliwa, and Denis Mokua.

GSU squad includes opposite hitter Joshua Kimaru, libero Hudson Kipchumba, setter Brian Melly, middle blocker Shadrack Misiko, and outside hitter, Nicholas Matui.

Kenya Ports Authority has three players in the squad. They are opposite hitter Peter Kamara, setter Gregory Kiplimo, and middle blocker Brian Kamonde.
Equity Bank has middle blocker Wilson Cheruiyot, Kenya Forest Service has middle blocker Devis Ogutu while TrailBlazers has libero James Mutero.

The squad is boosted by professional players. They include former GSU opposite hitter Abiud Chirchir, who plays his trade in Saudi Arabia. Other professionals include former KPA opposite hitter Enock Mogeni, middle blocker Simon Kipkorir, outside hitter Elvis Kimuttai, and Dennis omollo.

Players who are making their maiden participation with Wafalme Stars include Cheruiyot, Esokon, and Kipchumba. Together with Adhiambo, they missed the All Africa Games Zone 5 Games in Egypt last January due to club commitments.

KVF named a provisional squad for Malikia Strikers to represent Kenya at the continental games Kenya Pipeline has seven players. They include opposite hitter Loise Simiyu,libero Agripina Kundu, and Delphine Misaki, middle blocker Lorine Chebet, and outside hitter, Leonida Kasaya.

KCB has five players. They include libero Lincy Jeruto, setters Esther Mutind
a, and Emmaculate Nekesa, middle blocker Belinda Barasa, and outside hitters Jemimh Siangu, and Juliana Namutira. DCI has opposite hitter Mercy Kiminza and outside hitter Sarah Namisi.

Most valuable player during playoffs last October Pamela Adhiambo plays professional volleyball in Greece with Panionios while Edith Mukuvilzni plays her trade in Oman, Middle East.

Kenya will also feature in Beach volleyball. Women players making the team in Accra include Gaudencia Makokha and Naomi Too, of Kenya Pipeline, Yvonne Wavinya of Kenya Prisons, and Shirteen Sembel. They will be under Salome Wanjala as head coach.

The men’s team comprises Elphas Makuto and Jairus Kipkosgei of Kenya Prisons Donald Mchete, and Edward Kibet. Ibrahim Oduor will lead the team’s technical bench.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa has declared swoops across the County to get rid of second-generation beers, illicit brews, and bhang but assured that doing genuine alcoholic drinks business would be protected

The administrator spoke after leading a meeting between officials from the administration, County government, Office of Public Prosecution, and the police to strategize on the crackdown.

‘Lives have been lost in some counties due to consumption of illicit brews and we in Nyandarua want to revitalize structures mandated to get rid of illegal bars and drinks and save lives,’ said Jaldesa.

An alcoholic drinks control law recently developed by the Nyandarua government has been hailed as the silver bullet the County needed to rescue residents from alcoholism bondage.

The law gives the people the power of regulating the issuance of licenses through sub-country committees which will vet applicants and receive any objections from the public.

‘It is a good law since it establishes committee
s at the county level (Sub-County Alcoholic Drinks Regulation Committee) whose mandate is to review all license applications to ensure only people of good conduct are allowed to operate alcoholic drinks businesses in the County,’ added the County Commissioner.

The Nyandarua County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2024 which was gazetted in January this year and replaces the one that has been in force since 2019, bans transportation of alcoholic drinks at night.

It also restricts drinking hours from 5 pm to 11 pm on weekdays and 2 pm to 11 pm on weekends and public holidays. Supermarkets and franchised chain stores will only sell alcohol between 4 pm and 10 pm, according to the new law.

The Act indicates the four categories of licenses recognized by the law; Manufacturer’s license, Wholesaler’s license, Retailer’s license, and Distributor’s license.

These licenses are allowed to operate in the major towns of Mairo Inya, Ol Kalou, Ol Joroorok, Ndaragwa, Miharati, Engineer, and Njabini.

Governor Kiarie Badilish
a’s administration has been seeking to end the running of bars in rural areas in Nyandarua.

The new law outlaws the issuance of off-license for alcoholic drinks businesses in all other urban centres across the County.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Patients seeking treatment at the Murang’a Level 5 Hospital will be required to make payments at every service point.

The move was taken by the County Administration, to reduce long queues and congestion, which in the recent past have been witnessed at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)/cash service points.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata, announced that at every service point, there will be cashiers to help patients make required payments without going back and forth from the main cashpoint.

‘My Administration has received feedback from residents concerning delays at our hospitals. Services at the major facilities have already been automated and we want to state that, we have devolved cashiers and NHIF services to every service point, to enable patients to make their payments without going back to the main cash office,’ said Kang’ata in a press conference.

‘If you are being served at a laboratory, pharmacy, or dental unit among others, you will get cashiers and NHIF services at those points. This will
reduce the time patients are taking in the hospitals,’ Governor Kang’ata said.

Last year, the County Administration introduced an automated system in all the public hospitals for the supply of goods and services.

Kang’ata noted this was aimed at curbing wastages and inefficiencies in the procurement of different services, taking into account that hospitals will spend money at the source.

The Governor further said they are implementing a Policy on Facilities Improvement Funds, where suppliers who service the hospitals are required to register in the portal, so they can be called on to make supplies when the need arises.

‘This will hasten the provision of services and improve transparency in the payments. All revenue collected in the hospitals will remain at the facilities, to facilitate efficient service provision,’ he added.

Kang’ata urged the residents to give his Administration time to streamline and improve service provision, especially in the health sector.

Meanwhile, the Governor has reorganized hi
s Administration, by reshuffling some Chief Officers, to improve service delivery.

James Kanyi who was serving as Chief Officer for Public Health and Administration, was transferred to the Department of Infrastructure and Community Projects in an acting capacity, as his position was taken over by Eliud Maina.

Kang’ata also split the Department of Lands into two, giving birth to that of Survey and Lands Administration to be headed by Josephine Wanjiru and the Department of Planning to be headed by Brian Ndeleva, as acting Chief Officer.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Several partners in Turkana County have teamed up to provide menstrual hygiene products for vulnerable women and girls.

At least 700 pupils from Kataboi Girls Secondary School in Turkana North Sub-County received sanitary towels and soaps to boost menstrual hygiene in a special event dubbed ‘Pads for Love’.

The donations were also extended to a nearby school Kataboi Junior Secondary School.

One of the NGOs, SAPCONE donated 40 dignity kits to students who performed well in their studies.

The event was organized by the Arsenal Kenya Turkana Branch and supported by other partners that included the Ministry of Health Turkana County, Amref USAID ImarishaJamii, KDII, PanAfricare Kenya, and SAPCONE.

Others included The Cradle Hotels, Kenya Red Cross, Me to You, EQUITY afia, NGAAF, Caritas Lodwar, NAWI RIDES, Sister to Sister TPA, Kakuma Motors GARAGE, Vanilla Supermarket, I Choose Life, Events by PEG, Leyanae Vision Foundation, EkidorLotukoi Foundation, Nakwasinyen amongst many others.

The lack of proper menst
rual hygiene management facilities and the high cost of sanitary towels are among the major challenges facing women and girls.

The County Solicitor General Ruth Emanikor said, ‘Addressing the menstrual hygiene needs of vulnerable women and girls in Turkana County is not only a matter of health but also a fundamental issue of human dignity and gender equality.’

The School Principal Omaido Robella appreciated the Arsenal Turkana Chapter and partners for considering Kataboi Girls Secondary as its choice to donate the sanitary Kits. ‘Not all our students in the school could afford the sanitary kits because of poor background so the donation is much appreciated,’ she said.

EchamiAito ladies also while giving a mentorship talk encouraged the girls to work hard in school as well as excel in their studies and always keep aiming high.

The Basic Education Amendment Act in Kenya places the responsibility of providing free, sufficient, and quality dignity kits to the Government to reduce the number of girls missing s
chool during their menstrual cycle.

The pupils were taken through talks on menstrual hygiene management, life skills, and other relevant topics. Most of the speakers who attended the function said that such initiatives are very key in keeping the pupils, especially teenage girls in school during their menstrual periods. The donations from various partners and sponsors included disposable towels and dignity kits.

Ruth Emanikor, the County Solicitor General took the opportunity to sensitize the pupils on discipline, commitment, obedience, and good behaviour both in school and at home as ingredients of a successful life besides being on top of their class.

She further encouraged them on team work and engage in extracurricular activities amongst themselves.

She further added that the sanitary towels boost the girl’s confidence and when the girl is confident, she can achieve her dreams. One of the partners KDII also demonstrated the correct use of reusable sanitary pads, whilst emphasizing hygiene

Arsenal Ken
ya Turkana Branch Fan base is a Charity Organization formed in May 2019 that has the main objective of supporting the Turkana Community in charity initiatives to fill the gaps and provide resources to support the most vulnerable.

The organization is suitably placed to collaborate with the Government and NGOs in the distribution of sanitary kits to vulnerable girls in the rural parts of Turkana County.

In many parts of Turkana County, girls are forced to resort to makeshift materials, risking their health, dignity, and overall quality of life.

The socio-economic context, compounded by factors such as poverty and limited educational opportunities, exacerbates the vulnerability of these women and girls.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is a good example in Africa where big push forward has been seen on tree planting, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen said.

The UNEP Executive Director, who participated at the 37th Ordinary Summit of AU, told ENA that Ethiopia has been planting billions of trees that will fix the soil and create greater nutrients in it as a crucial and pragmatic response to mitigate the climate catastrophe in the country and beyond.

The Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) being implemented in Ethiopia was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in June 2019, and has so far planted over 32.5 billion tree seedlings.

So, Andersen stated that if ‘we take, for example Ethiopia where a big push forward has been on tree planting. This is very interesting. It’ll fix the soil and create greater nutrients in the soil. It’ll also prevent landslides and get greater water absorption.’

According to Andersen, these kinds of environmental programs and projects are good not only for the local
but also for the global economy. And ‘we’re very pleased to see those kinds of initiatives here in Ethiopia.’

She further stated that major crises have been occurring as a result of climate change, particularly hard hitting on Africa.

‘Due to climate change, we are witnessing major losses on our agricultural lands and we are seeing desertification. Now these crises are particularly hard hitting on Africa. Africa did very little to cause climate change. But Africa is suffering big time,’ the executive director noted.

Andersen further revealed that the United Nations is supporting Ethiopia as well as the entire continent with investments with smart policy shifts.

The UN is firm about the imperative of climate justice and the imperative of climate finance, the executive director underscored.

She also mentioned the recent loss and damage Fund with 800 million USD, which she believes is not enough.

The executive director stressed that ‘we need to see billions.’

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Coast Development Authority (CDA) is scaling up its development programmes for the improved socio-economic well-being of the people in the region.

The Regional Authority is also aligning its socio-economic activities in the Coast region to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) plan, championed by the National government, to be in tandem with the government agenda on food security.

CDA Managing Director (MD), Dr. Mohamed Keinan, says the Authority is investing in economic programmes, as well as boosting transformational agricultural, water and maritime activities in the coastal counties of Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, and Tana River.

Dr. Keinan says development projects in the coastal counties are being aligned to the government’s five-point BETA plan, which is President William Ruto’s focal point in ensuring his Administration delivers the pledge to Kenyans.

The BETA Plan focuses on Agricultural Transformation and Inclusive Growth; Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); Hous
ing and Settlement, Healthcare, Digital Superhighway, and the Creative Industry.

He says CDA is also rehabilitating areas surrounding the Sh20 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam project, which seeks to help tackle persistent water shortages in Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi.

Mwache Dam is an 87.5-meter-tall concrete gravity dyke, impounding 118 million cubic meters of water for supply and irrigation and is expected to boost the water supply for Kwale, and Mombasa counties.

The CDA has constructed gabions and installed markers and stakes around the banks of the dam site, to prevent local farmers from farming on the riparian land.

Dr. Keinan says the Mwache Dam project is part of the Second Phase of the Water Security and Climate Resilience programme, which focuses on the coastal counties of Mombasa and Kwale.

Construction of the Mwache Dam project, is meant to harness the floodwaters from Mwache River Basin in Kinango Sub-County and help tackle persistent water shortages in the coastal region.

The CDA MD says th
e Authority is actively engaging stakeholders in raising awareness on the importance of riparian conservation, to promote social and economic development in the region.

He says Mwache Dam, when fully operational will ensure continued contribution to food security and economic growth, prosperity, and poverty alleviation in the region.

‘CDA is committed to improving the social and economic well-being of residents in the coastal region through strategic initiatives and collaborative partnerships and our focus is on fostering sustainable development, creating opportunities, and enhancing the quality of life for all,’ he said during an interview.

Dr. Keinan says CDA is currently involved in projects such as the Lake Challa Smallholder Irrigation Scheme in Taita Taveta County, Chakama Smallholder Irrigation Project in Kilifi County and several drought mitigation projects.

The Sh3.3 billion Lake Challa project seeks to increase food security through the supply of water for irrigation farming, livestock productio
n and domestic use, thereby, building the community’s resilience to climate change and improving their living standards.

Dr Keinan says the Lake Challa project, is aimed at utilizing the Lake Challa water resource to supply water for domestic and irrigation use for the benefit of the residents and supply water to support livestock, fisheries, and forestry including wildlife.

He noted the Lake Challa Irrigation Scheme will ensure the prosperity of the people of Taita Taveta and fulfill the vision of the government in terms of the BETA development agenda.

The MD says CDA is scaling Climate- and Nutrition-Smart Crops in the coastal region, by enhancing the climate, nutrition, and economic resilience of smallholder farming households.

Dr. Keinan says climate volatility is leading to decreased crop yields, food insecurity, and malnutrition, hence the need for CDA to support climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

‘CDA has prioritized food security programs to help combat poverty among local communities
striving to create a sustainable and inclusive environment, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive,’ says Dr. Keinan.

Director Planning and Research at CDA, Dr. Geoffrey Rono says the Authority is now shifting its focus on livestock feedlots, to boost beef production, the fruit-tree program and the blue economy sector.

Dr. Rono says the blue economy sector encompasses fisheries, maritime biotechnology, aquaculture, tourism and marine transport and logistics and was the ‘next frontier of development for the coastal counties’.

Dr. Rono noted the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles into the Indian Ocean, with immense marine resources had not been fully explored and utilized.

He says CDA will promote sustainable investments in the blue resources and unlock the potential of the ocean frontier to contribute to economic growth.

‘CDA is alive to the fact that the Indian Ocean presents an abundance of untapped opportunities for sustainable socio-economic growth,’ he said, stati
ng that the vision behind CDA projects is centered on the distinct needs of the communities.

He says CDA will seek the sustainable exploitation of resources in the potentially lucrative maritime sector of the country’s maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 200 nautical miles.

On the feedlots, Dr. Rono says CDA is seeking to establish livestock feedlots in the coastal counties, noting that the feedlot project will boost food security, a major pillar in the BETA development agenda, through an increase in supply of livestock for the local and export markets.

He says by introducing livestock feedlot, CDA is adopting Climate Smart Agriculture in Livestock Farming in Arid and Semi-Arid lands.

Dr. Rono says the feedlots will be special holding zones for animals, where they are treated, fed with various protein rations, to boost weight gain, and then released to the market for sale.

‘The adoption of feedlot farming represents an intensive production system to grow and or fatten cattle until they reach
slaughter weight for the export market,’ he said, adding that the feedlots would unlock the economic potential of the arid regions.

Source: Kenya News Agency