Category: General

Two committees at the Makueni County Assembly on Wednesday vetted 13 nominees who have been nominated to serve in different positions in Makueni County government.

The first committee on Lands and Environment chaired by Wote/Nziu Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Felix Mateso vetted four names to serve in the Makueni County Climate Change Steering Committee.

Those vetted included Salome Ndunge, Linet Kyengo, Jefferson Laki, and John Nzioka who will serve in the committee on resource mobilisation and policy issues.

During the vetting, the committee also vetted eight members who were nominated to serve in the Wote Municipal and Emali-Sultan Hamud Municipal Boards respectively.

Those vetted were Benjamin Masungwa, Romeo Ndeveni, Benjamin Wambua Mutua, Daniel Kisyanga, Paul Maundu Mutua, Everlin Mulewa Kimuli Angela Kiamba and Engineer Patrick Mutua Mutuku.

The Health Committee chaired by Kikumbulyo North Ward MCA Jackson Mbalu vetted Dr. Harvey Mulei Mbithi, a nominee to Chief Officer in Health Human Res
ource Management and Administration, a new position created at the Health Department in the county.

On his part, Dr. Mulei advocated for the adoption of modern technologies by automating healthcare services to allow monitoring and stringent oversight to curb corruption and theft of drugs at the health facilities.

‘As witnessed in the private sector, the integration of computerised systems offers unparalleled transparency. We must harness the power of technology to safeguard our health resources and uphold the tenets of integration and accountability,’ said Mbithi.

The nominees will have to wait for approval after the two committees table their names in their report at the Makueni County Assembly.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kenya government has signed the Regional Liquidity Support Facility (RLSF) Memorandum of Understanding with the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATIDI), to facilitate collaboration in identifying, developing and implementing renewable energy projects across the country.

Regional Liquidity Support Facility, a joint initiative of ATIDI, the KfW Development Bank and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), is a credit enhancement instrument provided by ATIDI to renewable energy Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that sell the electricity generated by their projects to State-owned power utilities.

ATIDI will issue liquidity instruments backed by cash collateral from KfW and NORAD, to renewable energy Independent Power Producers or private transmission companies for a maximum tenure of up to 15 years while each RLSF policy will cover up to a maximum of 12 months’ worth of revenue for the project.

The memorandum will also enable ATIDI to engage with IPPs in Kenya with the expectation that adv
anced hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind projects may benefit from this instrument in the near future.

The RLSF cover which is available to renewable energy projects of up to 100 MW, and privately financed transmission projects not only focuses on leveraging the country’s abundant natural resources to generate clean and sustainable energy, but also to reinforce power generation and transmission capacity.

In a press statement sent to newsrooms, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir who was speaking at the signing ceremony said the collaboration between ATIDI and the government through the country’s power utilities that will include Geothermal Development Company, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited and Kenya Power and Lighting Company should make a positive contribution towards the attainment of the country’s long term development agenda the Vision 2030.

Chirchir said, ‘This will ensure Kenya becomes a newly-industrializing, middle-income economy, providing a high
quality of life to all its citizens in a clean and secure environment,’ adding that the collaboration would also increase energy access and greater reliability.

In his remarks, the Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u said the government encourages the private sector participation in the financing of key infrastructure, such as the development of renewable energy power plants and key transmission infrastructure.

‘The provision of RLSF policies will hopefully enable more projects to advance whilst reducing the need for government-backed credit enhancement tools,’ stated Prof. Ndungu.

ATIDI Chief Executive Officer Mr. Manuel Moses said they were looking forward to investing in Kenya’s energy sector, noting that the company’s support for new projects in Kenya via RLSF would build on its historical involvement in the country’s energy sector, having in the past supported projects such as the Lake Turkana and Kipeto wind projects.

‘We are pleased to be crossing this key milestone with the
Kenya government. Not only does this send out a positive message to project developers and lenders, but also to other prospective stakeholders,’ he said.

Kenya becomes the tenth ATIDI member state to sign the RLSF MoU after Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

To date, RLSF policies have been issued in support of six renewable energy projects in Burundi, Malawi and Uganda enabling total financing of USD 207.5m and a total installed electricity generation capacity of 136.3 MW.

ATIDI was founded in 2001 by African States to cover trade and investment risks of companies doing business in Africa. The company also provides political risk, credit insurance and, surety insurance.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kinoru Stadium in Meru County is set to host a maiden professional boxing championship on March 16 this year featuring Kenya’s star boxer and former Africa Champion Daniel Wanyonyi, and Charity ‘Scary’ Mukami.

The show dubbed ‘Shujaa wa Mashujaa’ is promoted by Lion Heart Boxing Promotions, Alpha Charlie Solutions, and Office Inn Bar and Grill and will also include other professional boxers from the United States of America (USA), Scotland, Namibia, Tanzania, England, Uganda and Nigeria.

According to Edward Mendy of the Lion Heart Boxing Promotions, the Afrifite two event and the second of the Eastern African series will also be seeking to create awareness about teenage pregnancy prevalence in Meru County as well as support the Greenland school for girls and teenage mothers in Kajiado.

His sentiments were echoed by Alpha Charlie Solutions’ Caroline Gikunda who also added that hosting the event for the first time in the country and Meru County will also grow boxing as a sport and lead to positive nametags o
f boxers from Meru as opposed to negative stories of teenage pregnancies.

Meru County Youth Affairs, Gender and Social Development Executive Benjamin Mungania said they were privileged to host the international event as a county which is also one of its kind in Kenya.

‘We are grateful to the organisers and the partnerships that we have here that will promote the awareness on teenage pregnancy prevalence in the County, ‘said Mungania.

‘The theme of this event will be, ‘Creating awareness for teenage pregnancy prevalence in Meru County and advocating for second chances for education for teenage mothers,’ added Mr Mungania.

Meru Municipality MCA Caleb Mutethia said they were proud as a ward and as a county that they were hosting one of the biggest events in the region, however, he regretted that they were trending in the wrong direction in matters of teenage pregnancies.

‘This event alone is an awareness platform to our people about what is happening in our community and this is the reason I am taking this
opportunity to thank both the organisers and those who birthed the idea of bringing the event to Meru so that we can voice the challenge we are having with our young generation, especially the young girls,’ said Mr Mutethia.

He added: ‘I encourage our people to show up, the corporates and others because as the people of Meru, we have a responsibility to protect our young generation and we can’t do it any better rather than bringing awareness in such an event.’

Boxers thanked the organisers for including them in the event, adding that it would be great to stage their competition in Meru County for the first time.

‘I started my boxing career in 2007 but all along I have never participated in any tournament in Meru. This therefore will be a great chance for me to show my people that I am up to the task and encourage other young ladies to come out and join the sport,’ said Ms Mukami.

She added that it was also a great privilege to be involved in the teenage pregnancy campaigns adding that there was a need to
save the young girls from early pregnancies to safeguard their future.

‘I want to welcome you all to Kinoru stadium on March 16 so that you can experience the full boxing entertainment of your lifetime,’ said Ms Mukami.

Wanyonyi on the other hand encouraged young people to join sporting activities adding that this will prevent them from engaging in wasteful endeavours.

‘Sports is tiring but it builds up discipline. I was born in Majengo Nairobi where there was so much drug abuse and crime. Most of my mates were killed long ago and others are serving long sentences in jails,’ said Mr Wanyonyi.

He observed that boxing gives one discipline since during training one’s mind focuses on the sport with a dream to grow the talent. Moreover, after training, one will have gotten tired and seek to relax therefore he will have no time to indulge in drugs or criminal activities.

He called upon fans to turn up in large numbers to witness his prowess in boxing.

‘Come all and witness a ghetto boy outsmarting an American
boxer with many awards under his name. I promise you that history will be written right from Kinoru Stadium,’ said Mr Wanyonyi.

The preliminary card indicates that Mukami who has five wins, four losses, and a draw (5-4-1) will take on Leilah Yusuph Macho (2-0) in a middleweight bout that will last eight rounds while Wanyonyi (29-15) will take on American Kamron Humphrey (3-2) in a super middleweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.

But the main event will see Scottish Lee McAllister (48-3), a two-time Commonwealth and five-class world champion face off against Tanzanian Amos Mwamakula (15-9) in a middleweight bout that will take 10 rounds.

Mr Mendy said that for the first time in many years, there will be a national fight in welterweight pitting John Juma Oloo (4-0-0) versus Martin Achebi (4-0-0) in a battle that is scheduled to last ten rounds.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kitui County government has allocated Sh 3.8 Billion of its 2024-2025 budget estimates to health in quest to improve healthcare services across the County.

Out of projected total budget estimate of 12 billion and Sh 643 million, the County health sector will receive a total of Sh3.8Billion.

The County’s estimated budget is set to be financed through Sh11.188 billion from National Treasury equitable share, Sh 855 million from grants and Sh 600 million expected to come from own source revenue.

The County Governor’s office will get a total of Sh2.1 billion and Road and Education being allocated Sh1B and Sh 930M respectively.

The County Assembly is allocated Sh 1.1 billion for the year 2024-25, while agriculture sector is set to receive Sh789 among others.

The Kitui County Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani while speaking today during public participation report forum for the County fiscal strategy paper 2024/2025 held at Kitui Town, noted that the forum is meant to enhance service delivery, prioritize key inv
estments, and promote sustainable development.

He added in so doing efficient service delivery and community needs would be effectively addressed.

Kitui County fiscal strategy paper builds direct linkages between policies, plans, budgets and sets the County government policy programs to be implemented through the medium-term period 2024/2025 -2026/2027.

The County government theme for the development for the FY 2024-2025 is dubbed ‘The bottom -up Economic Transformation Agenda for Inclusive Growth.’

According to the budget estimates report, the Office of the Governor was allocated Sh 2,179,203,223 which the governor of Kitui County Dr Julius Malombe intends to support education through the pro poor support program, infrastructure development and renovation among others.

Similarly, the office of the Deputy Governor was allocated Sh 185,071,878 to create a well- coordinated, efficient and effective system of managing emergencies, facilitate decision making, build effective ICT infrastructures, complete and
operationalize tourist attraction sites such as Mutomo Reptile Park, Nzambani Park, Ikoo Valley, Kalundu Eco Park and game reserves.

Water sector which is among key sectors sought allocation of Sh572,658,659 which will be used to improve water supply for domestic and commercial use across the County.

The water sector intends to improve the water supply by drilling and equipping boreholes, mega earth dams, small earth dams, construction/extension of water pipes and promoting irrigation schemes.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Case against 22 persons who had been arrested at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine on December 31, on suspicion that they were members of the outlawed Mungiki sect has been withdrawn as entreated by the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

In a ruling made by the Senior Principal Magistrate Edwin Nyaga at Murang’a Law Courts on February 28, the case has been withdrawn under section 81(a) of the criminal procedure code.

However, the lawyers of the accused, led by senior counsel Martha Karua, have expressed dissatisfaction at the withdrawal saying they will consider other legal avenues to ensure the accused get justice for the violation of their rights as enshrined in the constitution.

Karua argued that withdrawing the case under section 81(a) sets precedent that other people can be arrested and arraigned in court under similar circumstances.

The 22 were arrested while they were supposedly performing end of year prayers and part of the evidence against them was Muratina, a traditional ritual
stick and a fly whisk.

‘Although the case has been withdrawn the Kikuyu people will be living in fear of being arrested when they practice their freedom of worship,’ Karua said,

‘No community should be profiled for practicing the rights protected by the constitution and we are going to fight the criminalisation of the Kikuyu culture and any other culture,’ she said,

The prosecution, on its part, said the ODPP was withdrawing the case because there was no prospect of conviction as the evidence against the accused is insufficient.

‘These charges were preferred on the basis of the threshold test, whereby the prosecution expected additional evidence to be furnished by the investigating agency. This evidence has not been furnished, and therefore, we do not intend to pursue the prosecution of the accused persons,’ the prosecution said.

They also wanted to withdraw the case on public interest grounds and particularly the ages of the accused as a majority of them are elderly citizens.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Yellow Balloon Tour Agency, one of the top tour Agencies in South Korea is keen to send tourists to Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Ambassador to South Korea, Dessie Dalkie conferred with CEO of Yellow balloon Tour Agency, Kim, Jin kook, according to Embassy of Ethiopia in Seoul, South Korea.

During the discussion, Ambassador Dessie Dalkie briefed that Ethiopia is the perfect place for tourists with breathtaking tourist destinations such as the magnificent 4th-century AD Obelisks of Axumand the 11th Century medieval rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

In addition, the 17th Century castles of Gondar and the world’s fourth-holiest Islamic city-Harar, National Parks and other UNESCO registered heritages makes the country ideal place for tourists.

Ambassador Dessie stated that new tourism attractions like Unity Park, Entoto Park, Adwa Memory Museum, and others are enjoyable to visit in addition to Ethiopia’s historical sites.

Hence, Ethiopia would be a huge market for the Yellow Balloon Tour Agency, the ambassador reaffirme
d.

Additionally, Ambassador Dessie requested them to have familiarization trips to Ethiopia and include Ethiopia in their tour packages.

CEO of Yellow Balloon Tour Agency, Kim Jin kook on his part, said that he is fascinated by Ethiopia tourist destinations and will work with the Ethiopian Embassy to send tourists to Ethiopia.

He emphasized that they will consider visiting Ethiopian tourist destinations and including Ethiopia in their tour packages.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Ministry of Health will roll out vaccination of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) in all 47 counties to curb increasing cases of cervical cancer in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Cancer Institute Dr. Elias Melly said that the government will meet the cost of the vaccine and he called for an end to the myths associated with the vaccine while assuring the country that the vaccine was safe.

He pointed out that statistics in the country indicate that every year 44,000 people are diagnosed with cancer out of which 28,000 were women, most of whom are diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Dr. Melly who was speaking to Community Health Promoters (CHP) in Bungoma said that according to World Health Organization (WHO) requirements, the vaccine is administered to girls at the age of 15 years, while all women in the age bracket between 35and 45 would be screened and those found infected will receive treatment.

He said that cervical cancer can be prevented if detected early through screening and ev
entually treatment and asked women to take the vaccination exercise seriously.

Dr. Melly pointed out that every year 3,600 women in the country are diagnosed with cervical cancer out of which 67 percent die every year, a situation he said can be averted if the women are sensitized on the importance of screening and vaccination.

He said that the Ministry of Health will train Community Health Promoters (CHP) on Cancer to enable them impart the same education to the community at the grass root level.

HPV is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

Source: Kenya News Agency