Day: March 19, 2023

Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is determined to drive Access to Government Opportunities (AGPO) uptake for women, youth and persons with disabilities. Director General EPRA Daniel Kiptoo said the training was conducted in compliance with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 Article 227 on the fair, equitable, transparent and cost effective public procurement of goods and services, Article 55 on affirmative action and the public procurement and Asset Disposal Act,2015. Kiptoo said the access to AGPO programme provides for women, youth and PWDs to access 30% of government procurement opportunities, therefore EPRA has been keen to ensure enterprises owned by the special groups could easily access opportunities for government tenders and contracts. ‘In this current financial year, the authority has set aside Sh32 million towards tenders preserved for these special groups. Between July and December 2022, we as the authority awarded tenders worth Sh20 million to the AGPO group,’ said Kiptoo. He further pointed out that the categories of tender preserved for the special groups by the authority are air ticketing services, cleaning services, supply and deliveries for laptops and IPADs, uniforms, office stationeries, ICT equipment and licenses, library materials and branded items. ‘We as the authority are committed to give a fair chance for participation to suppliers to offer goods and services and continuously empower and include the youth, women and PWDs as our stakeholders in the discussions on the procurement process and challenges you face as suppliers,’ said Kiptoo. Deputy Director Supply Chain Management Loise Thuge said the purpose of the sensitization was to take them through the required procedures, registration of enterprises and groups, eligibility criteria, legal and regulatory framework in order to improve the responsiveness of their tender documents. She further urged the groups to supply quality goods and services to ensure growth and development of their enterprises.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Murang’a County Assembly has adopted a report recommending upgrading of two local stadia to higher levels that will enable them to host national and regional sporting activities. In a report tabled before the House by Chairperson for the Assembly’s Committee for Youth, Culture and Social Services Sharleen Wambui, the MCAs expressed concern that the county currently has no stadium which could host national sports’ tournaments. Majority of the MCAs passed the motion of adopting the report which recommended upgrade of Gakoigo and Mumbi grounds to sport complex facilities. Gakoigo stadium which is located a few metres from Maragua town is said to be the largest facility in the county with the MCAs saying the ground should be allocated funds for upgrade in the next financial year. The report further recommended construction of one stadium in every sub county within the period of next five years. ‘Upgrading of our stadium will give Murang’a an opportunity to host national and international sports. Currently, it is unfortunate our county cannot be considered to host games for national soccer tournaments,’ stated Wambui. She stated the report recommends that in the next financial year, funds should be factored to upgrade Mumbi grounds in Murang’a town and Gakoigo in Maragua before other stadiums are built in the other remaining seven sub-counties. Kahumbu MCA Isaac Njoroge Chefman who supported the motion asked the county administration to first establish ownership of the playgrounds to be upgraded. He revealed that some of the grounds earmarked for upgrade at the sub county levels were owned by schools and there was need to clarify on ownership details so as to avoid conflicts after the facilities are upgraded. Chefman further underscored the upgrading of Gakoigo saying the stadium is centrally located and could easily be accessed by teams from outside the county. Ithanga MCA Ndunda Alex Ndunda claimed people from his ward were not factored while the report was being drawn. Ndunda noted that the stadiums should not only be upgraded to support soccer saying the facilities should be made to attract various sports including athletics and swimming among others. ‘The upgrade programme should not only capture football but other sports activities. Murang’a youth are talented differently and need to be given conducive environment to nature their talents,’ added Ithanga MCA. Responding to concerns raised by some of MCAs, the chairperson of the committee said that various sport activities would be introduced in the county progressively. Wambui said that the committee would use the county sport policy to introduce the new sports and provide needed infrastructure. She also said that the county will have a Memorandum of Understanding with the heads of primary and secondary so as to share the sports’ grounds owned by the institutions.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Leaders in Nyandarua County have raised concern over the high number of youths indulging in alcoholism and drug abuse in the county. The leaders who spoke at different meetings vowed not to relent on the war against the vice saying the youth have turned to drugs hence the rise in crime. Led by Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha, the leaders said this has resulted in breakdown in social order noting that his administration will relook at the law governing the issuance of licenses to reduce the number of alcohol outlets. ‘I will not relent in fighting against alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse within Nyandarua County and I’m deploying all laws and policies which address the menace. It is no longer tenable to address the liquor licensing as merely a social and revenue issue, but one that’s now touching on the very survival of our youth and potential of our county to develop and sustain a functional population,’ said Badilisha The county boss warned illegal brewers and those selling bhang that his administration will not rest until they wipe out the culprits. Nyandarua County Woman Representative Faith Gitau said the trade in the alcohol has resulted in the creation of major loopholes in production where people have resorted to manufacturing their own counterfeit brands. ‘We should stop focusing on the seller of the illicit brew but also on their source in order to deal with the problem once and for all,’ she said. Statistics from Nyandarua County conducted late last year indicate, there are 2,600 existing bars and alcohol-selling outlets spread across the county with only 600 being licensed to operate. ‘The county administration should also wake up and relook on the issue of licensing to reduce the numbers outlets and control the alcohol being sold,’ she added. Alcoholism and drug abuse have been a menace in the Mt. Kenya region with a government survey showing that 12 out of 40 people consuming alcohol came from the central region while the remaining came from other parts of the country. Recently, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asked county governments in Mt. Kenya region to license only one bar and one restaurant per town in a move aimed at curbing the runaway alcohol consumption in the region. He blamed the provincial administration for the increase in the illicit brew business in the region. ‘Bar and restaurants should be given one per town. The rest should be closed and operate in the evening from 5 pm to 11 pm. We cannot watch our children being killed by illicit brews when there are administrators. We want the chiefs to help us make sure we bring this to an end,’ said the Deputy President.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Education has injected Sh22 million to Ainapng’etuny High School in Nandi Hills Sub County, Nandi County, to complete the construction of the ongoing administration block. In addition, the secondary school received a complete mobile lab, 60 computers and text books from East African Moran Publishers, KLB and Longhorn publishers worth Sh800,000 whereas the primary section received text books worth Sh200,000. Speaking during the thanks giving ceremony held at Ainapng’etuny Secondary School, Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu Machogu said having a conducive environment for learners is key to excellence. Machogu congratulated the school administration, parents and the 2022 candidates for posting good results in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), adding that they should redouble their efforts to ensure they excel further. ‘This school has a good progress in every year’s KCSE results. I expect you to raise your mean score in this year’s exam from the current 6.62 to above 8,’ said CS Machogu noting that once the administration block is completed, the school would be able to ease congestion as well as accommodate more students thus contributing to 100 per cent transition from primary school. The CS further urged parents to enroll their children to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) colleges noting that they should not underrate any grade. He also urged Sub County and County education directors to work around the clock to ensure schools operate with minimum challenges noting that they should help unregistered schools to acquire their registration certificates as soon as possible. Present at the event was Nandi Hills Constituency Member of Parliament Benard Kitur who applauded the school administration and the Board of Management for their tireless efforts to ensure good achievement. He urged them to ensure they double the number of students attaining university entry grade in this year’s national examinations noting that with Constituency Development Fund, he is looking forward to increasing support for needy secondary school students. ‘I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all stakeholders who played a role to ensure good results. Continue with such spirit and ensure your mean score redoubles this year,’ pointed out the legislator. In 2021, Ainapng’etuny high school took 21 students to university whereas in 2022, it managed to take 47 students and they aim to take more than 80 in the 2023 KCSE.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Machakos County will soon market their farm produce for consumption not only in Kenya but also in international markets like the European Union, the Deputy Governor has said. Speaking to the press Saturday, Machakos DG Francis Mwangangi while hosting the Irish Minister for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hacket at the Governor’s office, said that the tropical fruits processing hub in Mwala would present an opportunity for farmers to market their produce internationally. Mwangangi said that the Mwala fruit processing plant would receive support and funding from the Government of Ireland, which would give the county confidence that their efforts to reach out to international investors was bearing fruits. The Deputy Governor pointed out that the support from Ireland would transform the livelihoods of the local residents who have been selling their small scale fruit harvest to the factory for value addition. He added that it’s a great opportunity to foster further partnerships especially in the area of agriculture, food production and technology. ‘Through our partnerships, we intend to transform Machakos from a relief receiving county capable of feeding its people and engineer trade for agricultural products,’ said Mwangangi. Mwangangi decried the challenges of the climate change that has hit Africa causing prolonged drought and depressed rainfall, which has frustrated agricultural activities and triggered a strain on investment directed to agriculture and food production in the county. ‘This global phenomenon has also impacted negatively on the previous gains made on agricultural sustainability and development especially in regions where rain-fed agriculture is heavily relied on,’ added Mwangangi. He stated that the Irish government seeks to offer support to fruit farmers across the county in terms of knowledge and on-farm produce practices to create and implement innovative smart economic production systems. Mwangangi added that Ireland also seeks to help in farming mechanisms to attain the required international standards for Machakos farmers produce to enter the European Union market. He said that Machakos would continue to provide a conducive environment for investments in all sectors. On her part the Ireland Minister for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hacket said that she, as a farmer, understands the challenge Kenya is going through following five seasons of drought. Hacket said her government acknowledges the challenge to produce food, keeping the citizens fed with nutritious food and that is why they are supporting several programmes and projects such as the fruit processing plant in Mwala. She said that Ireland has been supporting Kenya in the past for humanitarian causes, research, businesses and development programmes and they are happy to partner with Machakos County to improve their livelihoods. Also present were the Ireland Ambassador to Kenya Fionnuala Quinlan, Machakos Chief of Staff Lawrence Ngovi and CECMS Land Philip Kilonzo, among other guests.

Source: Kenya News Agency