Day: April 10, 2024

The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo has emphasized the government’s commitment to boosting economic growth through ICT and the digital space to spur job creation in the country.

Owalo highlighted the ongoing efforts, including the construction of the Digital Superhighway, thus driving a sustainable economic Project aimed at bolstering the country’s ICT infrastructure and positioning Kenya in the global digital marketplace.

This, he said when giving his keynote address during the opening session of the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology Stakeholders’ engagement and work planning retreat that was held at Serena Hotel, Shanzu Tuesday.

He noted that the strategic initiative aims to not only enhance connectivity but also to create opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in the digital development and prosperity for all Kenyans

The 3-day retreat themed’ Strengthening ICT sector policies and legal frame
works in Kenya’ is set to deliberate on the State of the ICT sector in the country and the implementation status of the ICT in County functions to improve service delivery.

Present at the retreat were Senate Committee members including Chairperson Sen. Allan Chesang; Vice Chairperson, Sen. Miraj Abdulrahman; Sen. William Kisang; Sen. Issa Boy Juma; Sen. Beatrice Ogola; Sen. Shakila Abdalla and Sen. Karen Nyamu. Also in attendance were the Governor of Elgeyo Marakwet Wisely Rotich, who is the Chair ICT and Knowledge Management at the Council of Governors, and James Ongwae, Chair Universal Service Advisory Council.

CS Owalo was accompanied by PS ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui; ICTA CEO Stanley Kamanguya; Postmaster-General John Tonui; KBC Ag. MD Paul Macharia; Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait; KIMC Principal Peter Wakoli; Secretary ICT E-government and Digital Economy Mary Kerema, among other senior ministry officers.

‘Internet connectivity throughout the country has experienced sign
ificant expansion under the auspices of the Ministry with a deliberate effort to establish digital hubs nationwide,’ Owalo said.

He went on to underscore the progress at the Konza Metropolis, highlighting the signing of agreements for the establishment of data centers. The milestone has garnered international interest, with global partners expressing keenness to participate in the project.

Such initiatives are pivotal in positioning Kenya as a hub for digital innovation and fostering economic growth through ICT infrastructure development.

Owalo also emphasized the importance of developing a robust legal framework to facilitate the establishment of more smart cities across the country.

CS Owalo, flanked by the Senate Standing Committee on ICT, during the opening session of the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology Stakeholders’ engagement and work planning retreat that was held at Serena Hotel, Shanzu.

Photos and Captions by Cyzick Sidayi

‘This initiative aims to leverage
technology to enhance urban planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery,’ he noted.

Both the senate and Council of Governor’s chairpersons in the ICT committees emphasized the necessity of creating an e-commerce platform to foster a conducive environment for business activities in Kenya.

Governor Wisley Rotich urged his counterparts nationwide to be behind the Ministry’s efforts to roll out fiber optic connectivity, recognizing its significance in expanding access to high-speed internet and driving economic growth through digital innovation.

‘This collaborative effort between the government entities and stakeholders are essential in advancing Kenya’s digital transformation agenda and promoting inclusive economic development,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The county government of Murang’a has facilitated training of more than 450 boda boda riders who were issued with smart driving licenses.

The riders were drawn from all the 35 wards with the aim of equipping them with riding and safety skills in effort to minimize road carnage.

Issuing the smart licenses to the riders on Tuesday at the county headquarters, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the licenses will enable them to apply for licenses noting that incase of accident the riders will be compensated by the respective insurance firm.

Kang’ata said the training which brought in officers from NTSA was critical to ensure the riders observe traffic rules and avoid causing road accidents.

He explained those who got the driving licenses were also trained on road safety rules and undertook NTSA driving tests.

‘The county government factored training of boda boda riders considering their contribution in the economy of the county. We also don’t want to be losing those engaged in the boda boda sector through acciden
ts and the training and issuing of the riders with smart driving licenses is one way of curbing road accidents,’ noted the governor.

He continued ‘with the smart driving license which is supposed to be renewed after three years, you can now embark on applying for insurance. Insuring yourself and the pillion passenger is very important since the insurance cover will ensure you are compensated in case of an accident,’

Underscoring the programme, Kang’ata noted the county government will continue with training boda boda riders saying soon they will launch the second cohort.

‘This programme is supported by the County Assembly and the MCAs are fully involved in the exercise by helping recruit those to be trained. We will have a second cohort soon,’ he added.

Boda boda riders have been accused for increased cases of road accidents with the training deemed to help reduce road carnage.

The county executive member for youth and sports Gachucha Manoah urged the riders to always observe road safety saying reckless
driving has seen many lose their lives.

‘Majority of those engaged in the boda boda sector are young people and this training is very crucial to ensure they conduct their businesses well and protect their lives and their customers,’ said Manoah.

He promised to champion the training until all riders in the county have smart driving licenses and insurance cover.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Government plans to spend at least Ksh 148 million from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to improve mobile network connectivity in West Pokot County.

The plans were revealed when officials from the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy toured the county to map out ways of improving communication infrastructure after more than sh148.6 million for the exercise.

The team led by the Principal Administrative Secretary Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy(PAS) Erick kiraithe also included senior officials from the Communication Authority of Kenya who earmarked seven sub locations for the exercise including Chepkoriong, Parua, Kale, Kokwopsis, Nyarkulian, Kamelei and Tapach during the phase three (3) mobile network connectivity project.

He said the new phase comes after two sub-locations in West Pokot County, namely Chepserum and Apuke were connected to the mobile network in phase one, at a cost of Sh9 million.

During the phase two of the exercise the officials
revealed that 14 sub locations including Kiwawa, Kases, Kola, Lotukum, Kaptolomwo, Ompolion, Kachawa, Akiriamet, Amaler, meshau, Emboasis, Kokwoptorit, Marus, and Pkopogh were wired to mobile network.

The Authority regularly undertakes surveys with a view to recommend priority areas in the implementation of Fund and in 2016 a survey was conducted, followed by another in 2021.

During the survey, the government identified specific sub-locations in West Pokot for phase one, phase two and phase three that need to be connected with mobile network.

West Pokot County serves as a crucial gateway to the northern part of the country and also shares a border with Uganda, making it an important international county.

David Boen, the Deputy County Commissioner of Pokot South Sub County, highlighted that a productive meeting took place between officials from CA, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, Area Chiefs, and Ward Administrators with a discussion focused on ensuring the smooth implementatio
n of CA’s programs and uninterrupted installation of communication boosters in targeted areas, while also encouraging community support for the projects.

DCC Boen highlighted that during the meeting, they devised a plan on how CA would visit certain locations within the county to engage in public participation with the local community, who would benefit from CA services.

He emphasized that the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) have the responsibility to provide support to all national government entities, ministries, departments, and agencies in carrying out their respective mandates.

”AO plays a crucial role in engaging the community to garner support for the programs implemented on the ground,” DCC Boen said.

He further mentioned that NGAO is also responsible for ensuring the security of communication masks and boosters, regardless of whether they are located on public or private land.

DCC Boen thanked the CA for implementation of USF for education broadband connectivity project enab
ling schools including St Elizabeth Girls Morpus, St Theresa’s Tartar Gilrs, Kapenguri Boys, St Cecilia Chepareria among other schools within the county to have their performance improved.

He strongly encouraged the authorities in CA to ensure that the remote and insecure areas within the county, which currently lack mobile network coverage, are connected noting that it will greatly enhance security measures and significantly improve the quality of life for the local population.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government is on the verge of sealing a Sh 5.8 billion mining investment deal that will pave way for the establishment of Kenya’s first modern gold refinery at Lidambitsa area in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.

The gold refinery will primarily provide a certain and reliable market for thousands of artisanal and small-scale miners in Kenya’s gold sub-sector from gold-mining counties of Migori, Kakamega, Narok, Kisumu, Nandi, West Pokot and Isiolo. Other counties with substantial gold deposits that will benefit include Turkana, Siaya and Marsabit.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Mining Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya says the Kakamega Gold Refinery is a gamechanger for the gold sub-sector in Kenya. He states that such value- addition facilities hold the key to accelerating growth and introducing innovation in the mining sector as part of promoting social-economic development for artisanal gold miners across Kenya.

The CS further disclosed that the government was aggressively seeking more strat
egic investors to undertake capital-intensive investment ventures in the mining sector that prioritized value-addition and enrichment for minerals including copper, clinker, diatomite and manganese.

‘The establishment of this gold refinery is in tandem with the vision and commitment that we hold dear on creating value addition centers to increase the value and prices for our minerals,’ says the CS.

Already, significant strides have been made towards operationalization of this multi-billion shilling plant. The state has already acquired a 14-acre land parcel and processed land ownership documents for the facility’s site. Additional approvals by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) on environmental compliance and a no-objection letter by the Kakamega County government have equally been granted. The local community has also been brought on board as key stakeholders in the process.

The penultimate step before the investor moves to site will be key negotiations with the government over the state’s
stake in this lucrative investment. According to the Mining Act 2016, the state is mandated to acquire a 10 percent Free Carried Interest stake for large-scale mineral operations.

The Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Mining Elijah Mwangi says the relentless drive for establishment of mineral value addition centers in Kenya is at the heart of the envisaged reforms in the mining sector. He states that the artisanal miners who occupy the lowest echelons in the mining ecosystem must get their rightful dues through enhanced profits from dealing in processed gold. He predicts that the refinery will not only create job opportunities for thousands but will also attract more development in the region.

‘Our firm resolve has been to have artisanal miners get proper value for their products. This will be possible through promoting investments that will process minerals leading to better prices for their minerals and creation of jobs. This is the positive ripple effect of value addition facilities in the mi
neral sector,’ he explains.

The Kakamega Gold Refinery becomes another major mining investment deal by the government after the February signing of the Sh 4.8 billion contract by Soy-Fujax Limited for the revival of Fluorspar Mining at Kimwarer area in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

According to the 2022 Economic Survey, Kenya’s annual average gold production from 2017 to 2021 was 360kg. The bulk of this production was by the artisanal miners whose number is estimated to be in excess of two hundred thousand. However, absence of good market and perpetual exploitation by unscrupulous brokers has confined the artisanal miners to a life of penury. It is this cycle that the government wants to break and introduce profitability in their trade.

The joint investment by the investor, China’s Heng Nuo Rongchang Trading Company and H. Nuo Kenya Company Trading Limited, will see the construction of a smelter and a mineral laboratory at the site. To promote operational sustainability, the investor plans to enter into partners
hips with gold miners’ marketing cooperatives to extend technical support for equipment for increase in daily productivity.

During a meeting with the investors at his office, Kakamega’s County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Planning Livingstone Imbayi said the gold refinery project is a major boost for efforts by the county to spur development and create employment opportunities for youth in the region.

He further noted the county, aware of the transformational impact such a project would have, had committed to working with all stakeholders to have the facility operational.

‘We are looking forward to commencement of this project because of the potential positive impact it will have for this region and beyond. With a ready market and jobs for our youth, we need this project,’ he said.

With the aim of transforming it into an internationally standardized gold refinery, the Lidabitsa facility will have an extra-mineral recovery component to isolate and recover secondary minerals that natura
lly occur alongside gold ore including zinc, copper, silver and some base metals. This will maximize returns for artisanal miners and the investor. To enhance sustainability, the refinery is expected to also process gold from artisanals from the East African Community (EAC) bloc and beyond.

A team from the State Department for Mining during an inspection tour of the land in Kakamega County where the gold facility will be located.

With a proposal to process raw ore with 80 percent gold, geologists and mining engineers opine that a hybrid processing facility will push for plant optimization and offer the investor multiple benefits by processing other minerals like copper that exist in abundance in the region.

Gold artisanal miners are optimistic that this refinery will address the long-standing challenges of poor market, smuggling and exploitation.

Mr. Patrick Ligami, the chair of Kakamega County Artisanal Mining Committee, says the refinery is a welcome investment for gold miners in Kenya. He adds that ens
uring operational continuity and sustainability required empowering the artisanal miners to boost their daily production.

Mr. Ligami adds that additional regulations to empower the artisanal cooperatives to manage and operate gold leaching plants might be required. Such a move would see all gold mined in areas under the cooperatives channeled towards the refinery.

‘This is a positive win for the artisanals who should be at the heart of gold processing and operations. Once empowered to bolster their daily production, they will earn more and help the refinery to operate optimally,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Cane farmers and leaders from Nandi County have opposed zoning of sugar catchment areas as proposed in the Sugar Bill 2022. Zoning rules compel growers to sell cane to a miller operating within their regions rather than seek better prices elsewhere.

Nandi County Women Representative Mrs Cynthia Muge said farmers should be left to sell cane to millers of their choice who offer them better prices and pay promptly.

Speaking in her office at Kapsabet town after meeting with farmers and various stakeholders, Muge said farmers should not be restricted to specific millers.

‘We want our farmers to be at liberty to sell their cane to the best miller with good pay and in good time in order to reap maximum benefits from their investment,’ she said

Part of the report have recommended setting up of five zones across the country where farmers will be compelled to sell their produce to millers within these areas.

The proposed zoning bill aims to merge Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Kericho Counties into a single zone where fa
rmers will be compelled to transport their sugarcane to West Valley Cane Factory in Kericho which is over 130km away while there is a more accessible option, Kibos Sugar Factory which is 30km. Nandi and Uasin Gishu have no sugar milling factory.

Among other proposals, the Sugar Bill 2022 is seeking to establish a sugar body to solely manage sugar affairs in the country as opposed to generalizing the sugar sub sector under Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)

The Bill is also proposing the establishment of a Sugar Arbitration Tribunal for the purpose of arbitrating disputes and will be headed by a person qualified to be a High Court Judge.

It also has the component of the establishment Kenya Sugar Research Training Institute to regulate research work in the sector and also curb sugarcane poaching.

The Women Representative noted that the bill oppresses cane farmers in the region calling on the Senate Committee on Agriculture to either pass the bill with amendment or reject it in totality

‘We want a free ma
rket and competition because it will improve the sector in terms of prices per tonne and farmers will benefit a lot,’ she said calling on the committee to borrow heavily from the report prepared by former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Farmers present said they want to be free to sell their cane to the miller that offer them good prices adding that transporting sugarcane from Nandi to Kericho will be expensive.

Source: Kenya News Agency