Malawi Wire

The government’s initiative of Ajira digital platform recruited 48 youths in Murang’a south sub- county by offering them a two days training on online skills so as to help them secure jobs in the digital economy. The program’s trainer Ms Olive Wamaitha noted that the initiative is meant to continuously equip the youth with essential online skills and empower them to earn money independently so that they can access various employment opportunities by ensuring they acquire valuable skills in the digital realm. ‘We are introducing the youths to online work and data entry because what we want to do is to empower them so that they can be in a position to work online and earn a livelihood for themselves,’ she said The program gives them training and the trainees are later helped to open working platforms. ‘Moreover, while the youths are still working, we offer them virtual mentorship classes for five weeks before the next training which is done monthly.’ Said Wamaitha. ‘We have a wide range of modules offered to cater for diverse interests for the youths in their empowerment which include digital marketing, transcription, content writing, virtual assistance among others’, she added. Wamaitha further noted that the program offers all the modules to the youth so that they can gain an all-round knowledge which will help one choose their best areas and concentrate on them.

Source: Kenya News Agency

After the lapse of Kenya devolution support programme 2020, the Ministry of Devolution with support from World Bank are designing a new governance service delivery programme that will support both county executive and county assemblies. Consequently, the team from devolution and house committee chairpersons of Garissa County assembly today held a one-day design workshop for the upcoming 5 year programme aimed at enhancing devolution and ensure public funds are used to spur development. Opening the workshop in Garissa town Garissa County assembly Speaker Abdi Gure hailed the role played by development partners in ensuring improved performance through legislative framework. Gure said the county assembly was facing myriads of challenges ranging from capacity building for both MCAs and the secretariat for effective performance. As a result, Gure said it was prudent for development partners to focus on empowering the county assemblies. The speaker noted that for the assemblies to execute its three core functions of oversight, legislation and representation, there was an urgent need for the development partners to chip in and support this 2nd arm of the government. The speaker told the team from devolution ministry, representative from Public Finance Management (PFM) and intergovernmental relations that Garissa County Assembly was facing serious problems following a 2021 inferno that gutted down the Assembly’s entire infrastructural facilities to ground. He said the inferno completely destroyed property worth Sh119 million including the chambers and entire offices for both house committee leadership and the secretariat. The speaker said that the assembly was committed to discharging its mandate despite the constraints and lauded the new engagement with the development partners to ensure wananchi realized the fruits of devolution. On his part, the deputy speaker Musdaf Abdirashid lamented that county assemblies will not be effective in discharging their constitutional core mandate unless proper legislation delinking the assemblies from the executive arm of the county governments is enacted. He called on the devolution ministry to support the call seeking autonomy of county assemblies. Abdirashid said that the county assemblies were under the mercy of the governor and therefore it was impossible for them to oversight the executive arm of the county governments. The deputy speaker further stated that unless the assemblies were delinked from the executive, billions of monies earmarked to improve lives and livelihoods ‘would go to waste’. The team was led by Dr Lawrence Nyagah of ministry of devolution who was accompanied by Sandra Muyoka in charge of monitoring and evaluation of PFM reform secretariat and Mumbi Kariuki of intergovernmental relations technical committee among others.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Collaboration is key in championing regional and national efforts to mainstream the blue economy sector in order to rank among the most important in the region’s economies. Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said that Kenya has therefore recognized the importance of Blue Economy to the national development and frontier for investment. In a speech read on his behalf by Secretary in the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries Rodrick Kundu during a meeting on leveraging blue economy through efficient small-scale fisheries management and aquatic biodiversity conservation to build the Africa we want, the CS noted that tapping the potential in blue economy provides room for economic growth and development to enhance livelihoods of the people. ‘The fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector contributes significantly to food and nutrition security, and trade and government is currently undertaking policy, legal and institutional reforms to create an enabling environment for sustainable exploitation of blue economy resources in the country,’Mr Mvurya said . The CS explained that apart from creating new institutions to support the fisheries sector, it is also reviewing programmes towards enhancing access to and affordable food, and also addressing the adverse effects of climate change. Some of the new institutions are Kenya Fisheries Service which is mandated to conserve, manage and develop Kenya’s fisheries resources, Kenya Fish Marketing Authority mandated to market fish and fishery products from Kenya, Fish Levy Trust Fund, a sustainable funding system as well as Kenya Coast Guard Services to protect marine resources among others. Mvurya recognized the crucial role of development partners such as IFAD through the Aquaculture Business Development Programme, World Bank -Kenya Marine and Fisheries Socio-economic Development Project, FAO (Coral reef fishery), EU (ECOFISH Programme and Go Blue Project) that has assisted in sustainable conservation, management and development of fisheries and other aquatic resources to enhance livelihood of community’s dependent on fishing as well as blue economy sector to contribute to food and nutritional security, create employment opportunities, wealth creation and revenue generation. The CS however noted that despite the potential of the blue economy sector in Kenya, it remains the least understood area in the economy and thus the least exploited and thus hoped that the regional meeting that has brought over seven countries and 200 participants will share knowledge, experience and scientific advances in order to invest in the vital sector. IGAD Head of Mission to the republic of Kenya Dr. Fatuma Adan said the Blue Economy is part of African policies and initiatives such as the 2063 agenda of the African Union and also the 2050 Africa’s integrated Maritime Strategy. ‘Africa’s blue economy can be and should be a major contributor to the continental transformation, sustainable economic progress and social development of the continent,’ she said. In Kenya specifically, Adan said the blue economy has a massive untapped potential and could be one of the largest contributors to a higher and faster GDP growth. Madev Balloo, Project Manager, Delegation of the European Union said that in partnership with Africa, the EU has committed to encourage better ocean governance, including the development of a sustainable fisheries and blue economy. ‘The EU is ready to scale up the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to address the environmental threat it poses to the sustainability of fish stocks, the profits of fishermen and coastal communities who follow the rules,’ he said. Balloo urged stakeholders not to forget the many women and men in the sector who are living below the poverty line and are relying on natural resources for their food and economic resilience. ‘They deserve your attention and it is in this context that your action must reach out to them. We should leave no one behind in the process. We look forward to your valuable experience and insights,’ he noted. The four day Blue economy knowledge and experience sharing fair has been organized by IGAD, IOC/ ECOFISH and AU-IBAR that has joined together to leverage the potential of Africa’s Blue Economy, Small scale fisheries and aquatic biodiversity. According to Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the EU Green Deal, Healthy oceans are a precondition for a thriving blue economy. Pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction, coupled with the effects of the climate crisis, all threaten the rich marine biodiversity that the blue economy depends on and therefore countries must change tack and develop a sustainable blue economy where environmental protection and economic activities go hand in hand.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Mombasa County plans to introduce single underground ducting on all roads to curb the damage to roads by various companies when laying cables. Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said one of the key deliverables of the Department of Roads and Public Works is to draft a dig-smart act that will streamline the laying of cables on roads. ‘The County Government either on our own volition or through partnership will put internet ducts in all our roads. Anybody who would like to lay cables will not incur the costs of digging roads. You’ll simply use the ducts that have been put into place then when you are paying for way-leave, you’ll also pay rental,” elucidated Governor Nassir. The Governor said the ducts will prevent the destruction of Mombasa roads by contractors who after laying their underground cables do not repair the roads they have damaged. The ducts, he added, will put a stop to the damage to roads, ‘When we are laying water pipes, there will be a line for fiber cables and anyone who would like to use them will simply plug in their cables’, said the governor. On the Mshomoroni-Mwakirunge road, which is impassable when it rains, the Governor reveals that he has written a letter to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) requesting revamping of the road. ‘We have pleaded with them; the road cannot be constructed by county government. It needs at least Sh600 million. This is one of the roads that have not received an allocation. The contractor will maintain the road as part of the contract before the commencement of tarmacking,” said the Governor. However, the Governor noted that the National Government has already indicated that it’s having a financial crunch and it therefore cannot do the roads. On the Central Business District (CBD) roads that require rehabilitation, the Governor said most of them fall under the mandate of the National Government. He said, ‘Most CBD roads are for National Government. Unfortunately, with the kinds of infrequent financial disbursements that are happening, it will be impossible to fix those roads on our own. We need at least Sh700 million to rehabilitate CBD roads.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

While marking International Albinism awareness day, Albinos in Machakos requested to be involved in matters concerning climate change since it affects their skin. Speaking to the media at the Machakos School for the physically disabled, Allan Albert from a youth led organization known as Black Albinism, said that albinos are affected by climate change as they can easily get skin cancer. ‘With albinos the lack of melanin and pigmentation means the Ultra violet (UV) rays can easily penetrate the skin and cause skin cancer,’ said Allan. ‘We want to show the world that we are part of conversations involving climate change, everybody feels the effect of climate change and we want to add our voices as people with albinism,’ reiterated Allan. Allan said their organization Black Albinism is conducting an advocacy on the level of knowledge that persons with albinism and the other people with disability have about climate change and to raise awareness on how they can deal with the changing weather patterns. ‘We decided to come to Machakos special school because People with Disabilities (PWD) and those with albinism have been left out of climate change advocacy and we want them to be included,’ pointed Allen. He appealed for leaders, teachers and parents to be more outspoken concerning albinism and also urged County leaders to allocate them more representation. On her part Jeritah Mutindah who is the head representative for Albinos in Machakos, urged Machakos residents and especially PWDs to continue planting trees so that they can protect their skin from UV light that causes skin cancer. Jeritah urged fellow albinos, parents and other PWDs to come out in droves and get involved in various activities that will secure their future instead of hiding and engaging in self-pity. ‘Having a disability should not stop you from achieving your dreams and parents should stop hiding their special needs children but include them in matters that concern them,’ added Jeritah. The International Albinism awareness day is celebrated every year on June 13th to voice the rights of people born with albinism and to increase awareness and understanding of the genetic condition. This year’s theme ‘Inclusion is strength’ emphasizes the importance of inclusion of a diversity of groups from both within and outside the albinism community.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Young people have been urged to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the National Online Employment Skills Development Programme, an initiative that bridges the gap between employment and education. Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore said the program demonstrates the government’s commitment to empower the youth with skills aimed at enhancing their economic participation in the country’s economy. She said there is need for the young people to join the programme as it will enable them to exploit information technology to pursue economic opportunities. ‘I hope this programme will inspire many to join the online gig economy as gig workers or freelancers,’ said Bore. The CS said the programme which is an innovative initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, State Department for Labour and Skills Development, in collaboration with the Ajira Digital program driven by the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment. It is also aimed at equipping young people, especially person with disability with the requisite skills and competencies which is the backbone in today’s evolving job market. The CS who was speaking virtually during the virtual launch of the National Online Employment Skills Development Programme at NSSF building said the government is providing individuals with tools, training, and opportunities they need to succeed. She added that the programme is a significant milestone of the government’s effort to build a highly skilled and future-ready workforce. ‘We are empowering them to shape their own futures and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of our nation,’ said Bore while affirming that the program has attracted over 2000 young people across the country. She further added that the gig economy has grown, transforming the labour market towards more accessible, competitive, and consistent job opportunities over the last decade, which she noted has the potential to reduce the unemployment that has affected the youth. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2021, the unemployment rate is 6.6 percent indicating that age groups of 20-24 and 25-29 continued to record the highest proportion of unemployment, while in the long-term unemployment rate, which was 3.9 percent, youth aged 20-24 still have the highest rate of long-term unemployment at 13.5 percent. The survey also lauds the Judiciary for offering opportunities to over 110,476 young people who have been linked to work in the private sector thereby addressing the challenges faced by both job seekers and employers thereby creating a win-win scenario that fosters sustainable growth and prosperity for all. Ajira programme also focuses on empowering the youth with Skills Assessment and Gap Analysis, Apprenticeship and internship opportunities and Job Placement and Career Services through their career development journey. In his remarks, the Principal Secretary State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, in a virtual presentation by Ms. Priscilla Maina, Assistant Director State Department of Digital Economy, said the Ajira Digital Program was instituted in 2016 with the aim of ensuring one million young people, 70 percent of whom are young women, access digital and digitally enabled jobs annually. ‘Today there are over 400 Ajira youth empowerment centers across the country where young people can access free computers, internet, and working space to work and earn online,’ said the PS. He added that the government has also established over 114 Ajira clubs institutionalized in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions, to equip young people in higher learning institutions with digital skills. ‘We have trained and mentored over 321,000 young people on the Ajira Digital Curriculum, 33 percent who are already working online,’ said Eng.Tanui. In his remarks, Geoffrey Kaituko, Principal Secretary State Department for Labour and Skills Development, said the program targets youth, among them people with disabilities, especially youth with hearing and visual impairments. ‘This program will be delivered through e-learning. However, youth with disabilities shall be trained through face-to-face methodology,’ said Kaituko, He added that beneficiaries of the program will also be trained in data management, transcription and content writing owing to the high demand for data management in the online gig economy. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in close collaboration with the Ajira Digital Program under the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, the eMobilis Technological Training Institute, the Mastercard Foundation, and Konza Technopolis, will collaborate to ensure the success and widespread reach of the Program across the country.

Source: Kenya News Agency