Malawi Wire

The Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, has emphasized on the need for global collaboration in tackling interconnected challenges, urging nations not to work in silos.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), Kenya School of Government (KSG) 2024 conference in Mombasa, Koskei noted that collaboration is a long-term strategy to overcome common problems.

The Head of Public Service said that global problems could not be solved through fragmented efforts at the national or regional level.

‘The world is rapidly becoming interconnected and different countries, regions, and categories of the population are becoming interdependent,’ he stated.

He further underscored the value of dialogue, cooperation, and partnership for securing a sustainable future.

He also stressed the significance of institutional frameworks, communication channels, and mutual trust among stakeholders.

‘Successful collaborative initiatives require a conducive institutional envi
ronment, clear communication channels, mutual trust, and shared commitment to common goals,’ said Koskei.

He said the enhancement of skills and capabilities of public service professionals should involve various stakeholders to achieve the desired objectives.

Principal Secretary State Department for Public Service, Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management Amos Gathecha commended IIAS for choosing Kenya as the host of the conference, signalling a significant milestone in the international discourse on governance.

He called for the revisiting of existing governance frameworks to rectify economic imbalances and inequalities among nations, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation and policy development worldwide.

The Director General of KSG Prof. Ludeki Chweya accentuated the need for inclusive development, the challenging of global norms to enhance the well-being of every segment of the society, and the creation of an enabling environment where citizens can enjoy improved livelihoods
.

‘It is important that society continuously challenges global models and standards to improve the welfare of all segments to create a barrier-free environment that enables all citizens to enjoy and benefit from improved livelihoods,’ said Prof. Chweya.

Industrialization, he added, is key to advancing the quality of life thus collaboration between countries is crucial.

The three-day conference was attended by over 130 delegates representing more than 40 countries. It facilitated a diverse exchange of insights and experiences related to international collaborative governance.

The sessions were structured to encourage participation and discourse. Various sub-themes, including collaboration, technology, decoloniality, and globalization were discussed.

Key concepts such as co-production in public service delivery, skills development for collaborative governance, adaptive leadership, and meaningful participation of officials from developing countries emerged as focal points of deliberation.

Discussions encom
passed the mobilization of global resources to address pressing issues such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and trade imbalance.

The conference participants commended IIAS and KSG for their pioneering efforts in pushing the boundaries of governance and public administration. They promised to implement lessons learned in their countries.

The conference adopted a comprehensive definition of collaborative governance, providing a common understanding for further deliberations. It emphasized the formal, consensus-oriented, and deliberative nature of governing arrangements involving public agencies and non-state stakeholders.

The outcomes of the conference are set to be published online and are expected to inform policy-making and administrative practices globally, contributing to enhanced cooperation among nations and international organizations.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Chief Justice Martha Koome has congratulated the Law Society of Kenya President-Elect, Ms. Faith Odhiambo along with other LSK Council Members who were elected to steer the lawyers’ organisation for the next two years.

Koome said Ms. Odhiambo’s election marks a significant milestone as the second woman to hold the esteemed office of the President in the Law Society of Kenya’s history.

‘This is a remarkable step towards promoting inclusion and diversity in our professional organizations,’ remarked the CJ, noting that she was looking forward to working closely with Ms. Odhiambo and her Council members.

Koome who is also the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, also congratulated Mr. Omwanza Ombati on his election as the Male Representative of Law Society of Kenya to the Judicial Service Commission.

In a press statement sent to newsrooms, the CJ observed that LSK and the Judiciary have historically embraced a collaborative and consultative approach in working towards their shared objective of enhancing a
ccess to justice, improving efficiency in the system of administration of justice, and advancing the rule of law in the country.

‘Continue championing these transformative objectives,’ she urged.

CJ Koome at the same time commended all candidates who participated in the elections and advocates across the country for conducting themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner during the campaign period and election day.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Climate change experts have called for increased sensitization of communities on climate change and its effects.

The experts, led by Professor Benard Muok, said sensitization was key in addressing climate change effects, adding that the private sector ought to make investments that generate money to address the menace.

Professor Muok, a climate change expert, said that addressing climate change requires all stakeholders’ efforts.

The Don said that funding is also an integral part of curbing the effects of climate change, despite several proposed actions by climate change experts.

‘Often people think that addressing climate change effects is the work of the government, donors, and NGOs, but we forget the most important player; the private sector,’ he said.

Professor Muok’s sentiments were echoed by Ester Mutua, a carbon market specialist, who reiterated that experts must sensitize the public as part of the solution.

They made the remarks at Tom Mboya University during the close of the second Homa Bay Cou
nty International Investment Conference.

Ms Mutua commended Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga for working with the local communities to develop carbon sinks which she said is a step towards climate stability.

Governor Wanga affirmed that her administration has established a public participation model with climate change committees, consisting of people from villages who are trained as one of the measures of curbing climate change.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Boda bodas are a popular means of transport across Kenya and they continue to gain popularity as they can evade traffic and access places where other traditional means of transport, such as taxis and matatus, cannot.

Official data shows that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) registered 285,203 motorcycles in 2021, compared to the 186,434 registered in 2017. During the review period, the highest growth was recorded when 356,603 motorcycles were registered.

Most people cannot imagine that bicycles are still being used as boda bodas in some Kenyan towns. However, in Thika, bicycles are a common means of transport. Walking through the town and its environs, you will see bicycles parked alongside motorcycles at the boda boda stages waiting for customers.

Kevin Maina, a bicycle taxi rider, told KNA that bicycles as a mode of transport are more popular than the regular motorcycle boda bodas as the bicycle transport business is a source of livelihood for a majority of rural people who do not have
the resources required to purchase motorcycles.

‘For men like me who do not have any other sources of income, this business enables us to earn our daily bread. Besides, commuters prefer our services due to our prices that are significantly lower than those of the regular motorcycle boda bodas and we offer more security in terms of safety,’ said Maina.

David Wanjau, a resident of Kisii Estate in Makongeni, Thika concurs that indeed bicycle taxis are safer compared to motorcycles.

‘Going by statistics, there are quite a lot of accidents that occur frequently caused by motorcycles, and for this reason, most people here prefer to be ferried by bicycles. This choice is reinforced by the belief that motorcycle operators are careless and love speeding,’ said Wanjau.

Additionally, Wanjau noted that accidents from bicycles are minimal when they do occur, and do not cause as much damage.

Charles Kimani, another bicycle taxi operator said there were places bicycles could access that motorcycles couldn’t. He also st
ated that the fare was dependent on the distance and luggage.

‘As Thika natives, we understand the terrain and we can very well access narrow routes that may not be possible for motorcycles. The fare is also dependent on the distance and luggage. We charge Sh20 for short distances but the price can go up to Sh200 for longer distances. I make between Sh400-800 on a good day,’ Kimani said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The World Bank has encouraged farmers in Africa to take up insect farming to end the continued food security crisis and malnutrition wreaking havoc on the continent.

Chief Agricultural Economist for Africa, Dr. Dorte Verner said only 850 farmers in 16 countries in the continent rear insects, a huge concern given the severity of the food crisis in the region. Kenya has only 17 such farmers.

According to World Bank estimates, insect farming will be a multi-billion-dollar market estimated at around US $8 billion by 2030. Besides, they provide food, animal feed, create jobs, diversify livelihoods, and improve nutrition.

Addressing stakeholders during an Insect for Green Economy conference at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Dr. Dorte termed the venture lucrative due to the huge demand for insect blended food saying farmers record total returns in initial capital invested in only 127 days.

She cited black soldier fly, mealworm, crickets, and desert locusts as some of the insects
whose farming has gained momentum in the region.

‘With 70 percent of the world’s arable land being used for feed farming, there is an urgency to move to insect farming which offers consistent supply throughout the year. Africa faces a huge food security crisis and thus the need to complement the food crop farming with that of insects,’ she said.

‘This creates a circular economy where the already produced household waste is fed to the insects and because of their ferocious appetite they can repurpose it to fertilizer to be used in farming and proteins, fats, and oils for human consumption,’ she added.

She at the same time added that insect farming has the potential to create 15 million jobs in Africa meeting 75 percent of the required direct and indirect jobs.

Deputy Director State Department of Agriculture Teresia Karanja encouraged local farmers to embrace this type of farming due to the dwindling sizes of arable land.

She said insect farming has the potential to help transform the country’s agriculture
agenda adding that the government will continue supporting the farmers through inputs and market linkages.

The Director called on researchers to help in coming up with new mass breeds and better ways of rearing insects to help farmers who have invested in this sector.

‘There is a need for extensive research on technologically advanced areas such as selective breeding. We also need to continuously raise awareness to investors, farmers, suppliers, and consumers on this new form of farming,’ said Karanja.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A non-governmental organization, Northern Nomadic Disabled Persons Organization (NONDO), has rolled out plans to link people with disabilities (PWDs) to empowerment opportunities in government and donor agencies to improve their livelihoods.

Through sensitization and awareness creation of opportunities from government agencies such as the county revolving fund, the uwezo and youth funds, the women enterprise fund and the Inua Jamii programs, the NGO is seeking to help the PWDs with information and ease the process for them to access the services.

Speaking in Garissa today during a meeting that brought together a section of these agencies and the people living with disabilities in the county, NONDOs team leader in Garissa Fatuma Mohamed said that most PWDs were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and that they saw a need to help them recover by connecting them to information on funding and government tenders.

Fatuma revealed that there has been a gap in disseminating information to people with disabilities th
us locking them out from applying for opportunities that could improve their lives and called for more media sensitization to reach all of them.

‘We realized that when COVID-19 hit, the most affected people were PWDs and their livelihoods were affected. So we thought that there could be government interventions and we sought to find out how the PWDs could find these opportunities,’ Fatuma said.

‘We found out there were barriers which were keeping PWDs from these opportunities and today we have brought together the government officials of the relevant agencies to better explain to the PWDs how better to access these openings and we are glad that the information is now out and the people will be well guided,’ she added.

Fatuma further asked officials to always help the PWDs seeking services with the technicalities of the forms, especially those seeking funding or tenders to boost their income.

Garissa County CECM for Gender, Culture, Youth and Sports Hawa Abdi Sahal said that the county administration in su
pport of PWDs had created a whole directorate headed by a Chief Officer for people with disability affairs which will help in empowering them.

The CECM further revealed that the PWDs in the county have been receiving wheelchairs, and business startup tools such as tailoring machines, salon and haircut kits to help them run business and generate an income.

A section of the PWDs we spoke to during the session was satisfied with the information shared and promised to form groups to access the financing through the government affirmative action programs funding.

Source: Kenya News Agency