Day: March 12, 2023

Underit Youth Group (UYG) which is funded by USAID in collaboration with Uraia trust and Act! held a follow up meeting on pre-election promises made by area Member of County Assembly (MCA) during a social vetting debate held before elections last year.

The participants who were drawn from Kapsimotwa ward engaged their MCA on developmental issues that they want to be considered in the third generation’s County Integrated Developmental Plan (CIDP).

Speaking during the engagement held in a Nandi Hills hotel, UYG coordinator Jacob Sanga said for any project to be effected it has to be included in the CIDP adding that once the community understands this then they will be in a position to hold their leaders accountable on specific projects citing County Government Act of 2012 article 104 that no public funds shall be appropriated outside a planning framework.

Sanga noted that for a community’s issues to be captured in planning frame work it requires residents to take part in full during development stages in public participation forums. It is your responsibility to participate in such forums to save your community,” pointed out Sanga.

On his part UYG project officer Francis Ng’eny sensitized the participants on key documents that residents should understand in order to participate on determining the developmental issues that need prioritization in their locality.

Ng’eny noted that people need to understand at what stage each document applies and when to take action as a way to ensure they make their decisions timely and effectively.

Some of the documents they were sensitized on include; Annual Developmental Plan (ADP) which is usually tabled by September 1, County Budget Review and Outlook Paper (CBROP) usually tabled by October 31, County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) which is approved by March 14, quarterly reports, budget estimates and the appropriation of bills.

“You cannot hold a new MCA in office accountable on projects in the previous CIDP simply because he/she was not part of its formulation. By understanding this you will be able to know when to hold a leader accountable,” noted Ng’eny.

Ng’eny also urged participants to embrace technology and appropriate channels to raise issues of concern in their community.

He also urged participants to take the message received pertaining development to the rest of the community members to enable them take part in all document formulation.

Kapsimotwo ward MCA, Edwin Korir said he was ready to work with residents from his ward to ensure he delivers to the community based on his pre-election promises especially by prioritizing the issues affecting the community.

“We should have value for our money. As a leader I will not tolerate or oversight shoddy work. I will ensure quality work is done on developmental projects,” noted the MCA.

Some of the issues raised by residents that they want to be captured in the 3rd generation CIDP include water, health facilities, open air markets, TVETs, Coffee processing plants, cattle deeps among others.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Turkana County Government, through the County Department of Health and Sanitation, has intensified its fight against kala-azar, a fatal neglected tropical disease, focusing on early diagnosis and treatment.

This approach comes after thirty healthcare workers, from all sub-counties, were trained on visceral leishmaniasis – commonly known as kala-azar – case diagnosis and management.

The five-day training, supported by Foundation for Innovation New Diagnostics (FIND) and moderators from the National Ministry of Health’s Division of Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), primarily focused on early detection and treatment.

Director of Preventive and Promotive Dr Bonventure Ameyo urged the participants to integrate surveillance for post-certification of guinea worm, trachoma and other NTDs.

“Eradication of kala-azar will depend on breaking the transmission cycle by identifying all kala-azar patients and getting them on early treatment,” he said.

The county has 23 diagnostic and 17 treatment kala-azar sites; with additional treatment sites soon to be established in Kokuro Health Centre and Napak Dispensary in Kibish Sub-county, and Kainuk Health Centre in Turkana South.

Deputy Director of Family Health, Gabriel Lopodo, appreciated FIND and the National Ministry of Health for their support in the fight against the tropical disease.

In his presentation, the County Vector-Borne and NTDs Coordinator, Jimmy Loree, stated that early diagnosis and treatment led to quick recovery thus decreasing length of stay in hospital.

He advocated for increased kala-azar and other NTDs surveillance along the borders of Uganda, Ethiopia and South Sudan; as patients often migrate into Kenya seeking medical attention.

Charles Magiri, the FIND Country Focal Point, assured the organisation’s continued support particularly on testing kits, capacity building and drugs.

The moderators, Dr Esther Chebet and Daniel Mwiti, appreciated the participants for their commitment to learn and urged them to disseminate the knowledge to their colleagues and communities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Captains and logistics sector operators have congratulated Captain William Kipkemboi Ruto following his appointment as the Managing Director (MD) of the Kenya Port Authority (KPA) by transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday.

The MD for the KPA position has been vacant for three years following the resignation of Daniel Manduku back in 2020. However, this position was held by Ambassador John Mwangemi in an acting capacity.

Speaking in a press conference in Mombasa the National Chairman of Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA), Roy Mwanthi said that the new MD has been General Manager for the operation of the Kisumu port making him fit for the post.

Mwanthi noted that they look forward to operations being streamlined within the port of Mombasa, International Container Distributor (ICD) Nairobi, and ICD in Naivasha.

KIFWA’s boss said they expect prodigious collaboration with the new MD, KPA, and other stakeholders in ensuring that there are seamless cargo clearing and forwarding services offered to Kenyans and other East African countries.

“We would like to wish Captain Ruto a very successful tenure at KPA as we expect increased productivity, growth, efficiency in the port and even reawakening of ports like Lamu and increased activities in every place cargo is handled from,” said Mwanthi.

Ruto will effectively start reporting to the Board of Directors as an ex officio member of the board and will have the executive responsibility for operating port services and facilities as well as maintaining, improving, and regulating all scheduled seaports on the Indian Ocean Kenyan Coastline.

The Managing Director of Weston Logistics Limited Salim Nassib Mbarak stated that Captain Ruto deserved the position given that he has been in the industry for a long time thus he understands very well the challenges behind his task.

“We are pleased with that appointment for we know very well that the port will be served very well for the interest of stakeholders and the entire public of KPA for the benefit of this country,” said Mbarak.

“We need people who understand the port operation and especially those who have worked from scratch to the highest position just like in the case of Ruto,” Mbarak added.

The Mombasa KIFWA Branch Chairman Leonard M. Njiru, on his part, gave his thumbs-up of approval to the newly appointed MD stating that the needs of the port of Mombasa will be met hence solving many problems in the East and Central Africa region.

He promised to give his full support in ensuring there is a competitive environment within the coastline of East Africa and in making our port world-class.

“We want to call upon business people within the region to consider highly using our port as the entry point for their importation and exportation of goods for we now have confidence in the new MD and his ability to find solutions to operationalization challenges facing the Port of Mombasa,” said Njiru.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Turkana County has enlisted the help of water technology experts to pilot the exploitation of its abundant saline waters for production of human crops and animal feeds in model farms to be established across the County in an effort to combat food insecurity caused by the escalating drought condition.

The County Executive for Agriculture David Erukudi said the World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have also been contacted to support the program, as he divulged that potential site had already been identified for the project.

“We are aware of Sea Water Solutions Company’s expertise and accomplishments in improving agricultural fortunes in areas where water salinity was an issue as is the case with Turkana. In order for Turkana to receive the same benefits, the government is committed to working with them,” said Erukudi.

At a meeting with the tech Company officials in Lodwar, which FAO and WFP representatives also attended, CEC Erukudi said that trials at Kalobeyei had been successful and had produced useful lessons that could be replicated.

According to the CEC, a formal engagement that complies with the legal standards outlined in the Private Public partnership (PPP) framework will be drafted for the County and Sea Water Solutions Company to sign in order to formally bind them.

The move comes at a time when the county is experiencing an extreme drought, declining underground water, and a water quality analysis showing that the groundwater was highly mineralized and unsafe for human consumption.

In order to boost water sufficiency for cross-cutting interventions in agriculture, commerce, and tourism attraction, the County has also scaled up drilling of new boreholes and rehabilitation of existing ones in line with Governor Lomorukais’ nine point agenda that focused on attaining water and food sufficiency for human and animal populations.

During the meeting, CEC asked the Company to organize a symposium on the exploitation of saline water for agricultural development later in the month in Turkana West Sub County.

Janerose Tioko (Chief Officer), Victor Lochee (Deputy Director Agriculture), Ernest Anzenze (Deputy Director Livestock), FAOs’ head of Kakuma sub office Dr. Francis Anno and WFPs’ Sam Lokuno were present.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Police in Busia County arrested two women suspected of smuggling heroin from Kampala to Mombasa at the Busia One Stop Border post Friday night.

According to the county forensic crime scene officer Shem Othoo, the narcotic drug has an estimated street value of around Sh.20 million.

Confirming the incident Busia acting County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto noted that the multi-agency security team managed to nab the two women after the digital scanner detected the substance which was well packed in the suitcase.

“While searching the checked-in bags of the two passengers a total of four sachets containing white powdery substances suspected to be narcotics was discovered,” said Ruto.

Mumbi Mwaura aged 50 and her accomplice Sharon Kweyu aged 30 were found to be in possession of the two suitcases containing the substance and one digital weighing machine.

“The greyish suitcase belonged to a passenger Mwaura Mumbi, 50 who had been concealed the sachets in the false bottom of the suitcase in the vehicle’s boot, also the suitcase was a small digital weighing machine and a Kenyan National Identity Card number 37056363 belonging to Sharon Wanjora, 34, ” added Ruto.

The two are currently at Busia Police custody waiting to be arraigned in court after investigations and the substance being tested at government laboratories.

The arrest comes merely two days after the multi-agency security team blocked porous routes along the Kenya-Uganda border.

Source: Kenya News Agency