Day: April 20, 2024

Various stakeholders met in a Bomet hotel for a one-day workshop that aimed to discuss ways to strengthen Saccos using the digital technology.

The workshop that delved into leveraging digital banking solutions to address challenges faced by SACCOs was organized by the Department of Cooperatives and Marketing in collaboration with Kwara Ltd, a technology-based core banking service provider for cooperatives.

According to Area Assistant Director of Cooperatives Fred Koskei, the event was convened in recognition of the fundamental role of Savings and Credit Co-operative societies (SACCOs) in Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.

‘SACCOs are recognized as key agents in the socio-economic transformation of our country. They play a critical role in mobilizing savings and offering financial products that enable members to generate wealth and meet their social economic needs,’ Koskei remarked.

Koskei stressed SACCOs are integral to the realization of Kenya Vision 2030, contributing to financial inclusion and providing impetus for investments across diverse sectors.

He however noted that despite their significance, SACCOs grapple with various challenges that hinder their ability to thrive and remain sustainable in the long term.

The workshop, attended by cooperative leaders from across the county and senior officials from the cooperative department, provided a platform to address these challenges head-on.

With a focus on digital banking solutions, participants explored how technology can revolutionize the operations of SACCOs, making them more efficient, accessible, and resilient.

Kwara Technologies, represented by Regional Sales Representative Ms Tabitha Wainaina showcased their cutting-edge solutions tailored specifically for SACCOs.

By harnessing technology, SACCOs can automate processes, improve data management, and offer a wider range of financial services to their members.

‘As SACCOs embrace digital banking solutions, they can overcome existing challenges and unlock new growth opportunities,’ emphasized Ms Wainaina adding: ‘We aim to empower SACCOs with the tools and technologies they need to thrive in the digital age.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has embarked on a country wide pu public awareness creation on how Kenyans can protect their personal data , their privacy and also on the complaint channels they can use.

The awareness campaign that started in Nyeri County is geared towards empowering the communities on their rights as data subjects, the obligations of data controllers and processors.

According to the ODPC data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait, Data controllers and processors are people and organizations who handle big data such as Banks, Insurance companies and even government .

‘We want Kenyans to be aware of how this data handlers are holding their data, what are the rights of the people when it comes to that , how to make sure that the data held is actually held in security and is not misused’, she said

Speaking during a roadshow that went round the County, Kassait said that people should be digitally aware of their information and even who they are sharing it with, especially on t
he web.

‘ We are saying data is your responsibility , ‘ Data yako jukumu lako’ it belongs to you to hold it preciously because once it gets out of your hand , then you do not know who will misuse it’, she said.

Kassait explained that in the event that one’s information is misused as in some cases that have been seen when people are contacting you when you never actually gave your consent, ODPC have a complaint mechanism where one can complain , the matter is investigated and one can actually be fined and penalized .

She gave an example of digital leaders who have been provided with a guidance note that is to assist them in understanding and implementing data protection regulations effectively, taken through capacity building but also warned that when it comes to compliance the lenders can be held responsible for information breach and some have been found to do that.

‘The law provides that the maximum administrative fine that can be imposed for sharing an authorized data is Kshs. 5 million or one (1) perc
ent of your previous whichever is lower as stipulated in Section 63 of the Data Protection Act 2019’, Kassait said.

She noted therefore that when ones information data is breached, they should report to the ODPC within 72 hours

‘Our work when you report a data breach is to go beyond and investigate and if one is found liable , we have the necessary regulatory framework in terms of finding you ‘, Kassait said.

Nyeri Governor, Mutahi Kahiga welcomed the move by the ODPC saying his government will be working closely with them, especially more so in adherence to the Data Protection Act.

‘We would want to see vibrancy. We agree that is an area that most Kenyans are still quite ignorant about and therefore we are using our own networks to be able to reach out and spread the gospel’,

He explained that as custodians of a lot of data as the government through collection of data for records, licensing also through various programmes, it is an opportunity to engage and ensure that information is secure and protecte
d.

He called upon the office of the ODPC saying his office was ready to collaborate in terms of training his staff on the matters of data protection and they in turn are able to reach the community on awareness of their rights as far as data is concerned.

‘When we look at the youth who are the greatest consumers of social media, where a lot of data and information is, I think we need to look at it by equipping them so that they can make money and also informing them so that they can be protected’, Governor Kahiga said .

Tetu Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Wandeto lauded the significant strides being made by ODPC in terms of ensuring that data is protected and is not being used.

‘ All these people have been victims of these strange messages on their phones. They have been victims of the abuse on their Facebook pages and instagrams. Our accounts are always hacked and people sending pictures that are not right ‘ he said

The MP noted that it is very important to sensitize the community especially at the
‘Mashinani’ areas where majority are farmers and therefore need to be told how their data is used by factories, agencies and other programmes that require their data not forgetting that they also taxpayers and voters and whose data is spread in different place.

Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia said everyone should come on board to help as a country, to make sure that the data in place, be it private, personal or even corporate, is protected in a certain manner.

‘As a parliament, we are willing and ready and prepared to give the ODPC the legal framework that is necessary to ensure that they are able to do their work and ensure that we also enhance whatever regulations that they may deem fit, especially what they are getting from the field’, he said .

He added, ‘ We need to have Kenyans data secure. Sensitization is necessary because this is one area I dare say many people are extremely ignorant and it is not once or twice that people take up their phone start uploading an app and continue agreeing on all the ter
ms and conditions given and they have not gone through them and this is harmful as it is data mining which can eventually endanger ‘, he said

As legislature, Kagucia said they can assist and support the ODPC on matters intrusion of data particularly passwords and private data and therefore should continue to address and closing all the gaps so that people in Kenya can confidently, hopefully, just log into a public Wi-Fi and do bank transactions without any fear of attacks from other people.

‘We must get to that point of interaction in the areas where we have to synergize from different agencies so that we can have Kenyans having the protection of their data’, Kagucia said.

Data is a cross-cutting issue and especially when it comes to e-commerce and in the digital age, where e-commerce is a driving force behind global trade, the protection of sensitive information has become paramount. Data protection serves as the guardian of trust, ensuring that businesses and consumers can engage in online transactions w
ith confidence.

The protection awareness campaigns to sensitize the masses on their rights will be going round Counties

Source: Kenya News Agency

A medic in Kericho has urged elderly men to seek regular check-ups on their prostate gland to avoid late diagnosis, as this can cause bladder, urinary tract and kidney problems.

The prostate gland is a small, soft organ in the male reproductive anatomy. It is found below the bladder and plays a role in producing semen. It also plays a role in hormone production and helps regulate urine flow.

In an interview with KNA, a resident surgeon at AIC Litein Kericho Annex Clinic, Dr. Philip Blasto advised men of ages 50 and above to recognize the symptoms to guard against developing enlarged prostate problems referred to as Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones and, in extreme cases, kidney failure.

‘The older a man becomes, the higher probability your prostate will become bigger. At age 50, nearly most men have their prostate enlarged, which makes it difficult to urinate and, in rare cases, can prevent urination entirely. BPH is a common prostate issue in people o
ver 50 years old. This condition refers to a prostate that is enlarged but not cancerous.

This is a condition called urinary retention, which requires urgent medical intervention. It is important to be aware of a prostate problem to get timely treatment,’ said Dr. Blasto.

Such symptoms of BPH, Dr. Blasto noted, include waking up in the night to urinate frequently, trouble controlling the bladder such as stopping or delaying urination, inability to empty the bladder completely, a weak urine stream or dribbling at the end of urinating and a complete inability to urinate.

‘The risk factors of developing an enlarged prostate include family history, age, where men in their 50 have a high likelihood of developing the condition, obesity, cardiovascular problems, type 2diabetes and erectile dysfunction,’ said the medic.

He lamented that the hospital was managing around 100 patients per month from Kericho and Bomet counties with enlarged prostates, an indicator that the ailment was rampant in the two counties.

‘I
f a patient has a high risk of BHP, it is best to speak to a doctor. Early diagnosis can be important, as early treatment can minimize the effects of BPH. We are providing treatment to around 30-40 men per week who were found to have an enlarged prostate,’ noted Dr. Blasto.

The medic noted that interventions included medications to relax muscles around the prostate and bladder that stop the growth of the prostate and shrink the prostate and reduce BPH symptoms, surgery, lifestyle changes that include reducing the intake of fluids before sleeping, transurethral methods which involve feeding a thin tube through the urethra.

Dr. Blasto noted that it was important to report a change in urinary habits to a doctor quickly for a diagnosis to avoid developing BPH symptoms if left untreated a patient will develop kidney problems.

‘Patients diagnosed with BPH should receive regular checkups. Having the size of the prostate monitored and reporting any new symptoms can reduce the risk of complications. When BPH sympto
ms develop, kidney failure can occur. The kidney can no longer remove waste from the bloodstream and when the prostate is enlarged, it can compress the urethra and interfere with the flow of urine resulting to urine not leaving the body contributing to renal failure,’ noted Dr. Blasto.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kenya Pediatric Association (KPA), in collaboration with Ethypharm, has launched a vital medical commodity aimed at bolstering infant healthcare.

Speaking during the 23rd Annual KPA Scientific Conference at the Pride Inn Paradise Resort, Shanzu, Rob Brutchet, General Manager of Ethypharm, said that Across Africa, many areas of mortality have improved but infant mortality has not.

He emphasized that the latest guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) advocate for the utilization of caffeine citrate to mitigate infant mortality, adding the partnership will ensure that the country can produce remedies towards improving healthcare outcomes.

He said the new product Known as ‘Caffeine Citrate’ plays a crucial role in the treatment of Apnoea of prematurity, a condition characterized by episodes where premature infants cease breathing for durations exceeding 20 seconds or exhibit bradycardia, accompanied by diminished oxygen saturation level.

Brutchet said likelihood of Apnoea of prematurity increa
ses proportionally with the degree of prematurity in infants as it stems from the immaturity of the brain adding while factors like infections, and temperature problems can result in apnoea, newborns who develop this condition are at risk for complications and death.

This comes after Kenya, last year, launched the national guideline on the management of Apnoea of Prematurity across the country. The guideline is geared at enabling healthcare workers to effectively prevent and treat apnoea of prematurity using caffeine citrate, as well as use Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and monitor oxygen levels using pulse oximetry.

‘Newborns do not have people to fight for them and at times they are forgotten just because we don’t raise concern about what they encounter; hence, as an institution, we are here to give a solution to the needs raised by the practitioners in management of newborn ailments,’ said Kirklin Mwagilu, Key Accounts Manager, Ethypharm.

Ethypharm is a dynamic European pharmaceutica
l company dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes, with a strong focus on two core areas, including the central nervous system and hospital injectables.

Furthermore, Kirklin highlighted the product’s accessibility in the market, noting a significant 70 percent reduction from its original price. Consequently, the commodity now retails at Sh450 each, compared to the previous price of over Sh1500

‘We as an institution provided the product before but it had challenges with availability and affordability hence we decided to pass on a market access price of the commodity to the government since at least 80 percent of the newborns are normally in a government setup,’ said Kirklin.

However, as much as caffeine citrate is expected to be a game changer as it has various beneficial effects including fewer ventilator days, reduced incidence of Broncho pulmonary dysplasia, and improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. The drug also has a side effect upon consumption including increased heart rate if administered at an e
xcessive dose considering the drug itself is a stimulant.

Nevertheless, Kirklin noted that the drug has had success stories at a few referral hospitals in the country, including the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, as they recorded a drastic drop of infant mortality upon usage.

‘We have seen the benefit of caffeine citrate in these hospitals. Previously, they used to lose newborns but as soon as the product got into these institutions, the mortality rate of newborns drastically dropped as they were able to save lives with a simple administration of caffeine citrate,’ he added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over 1,200 beneficiaries of Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship drawn from Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado counties have benefited from a three-day mentorship programme on leadership, education and empowerment.

The programme dubbed ‘The Triad to Success’ is set to benefit 23,101 students across the country, including 2,574 refugees from Dadaab and Kakuma camps.

Machakos University Vice Chancellor Professor Joyce Agalo hailed Equity Bank for giving students from poor and needy households an opportunity to pursue education and achieve their dreams.

‘We applaud Equity Bank and especially the CEO, Dr. James Mwangi for being a visionary and magnanimous man who has enabled less privileged students to get education,’ said Professor Agalo.

Addressing the students at Mumbuni High School, the vice chancellor cautioned them against drug and substance abuse.

‘As students, avoid bad company that can influence you in to taking drugs that can derail your dreams to pursue education, ‘she said.

Equity Bank Limited Director
of Operations Stephen Kalani said the mentorship programme is meant to equip the students with practical skills and knowledge that will help them navigate the current dynamic world.

He disclosed that the programme was running concurrently in 19 centers in all the 47 counties.

Machakos County Executive Committee Member (CECM) lauded the programme for transforming lives of beneficiaries.

Mutisya disclosed that the county government has started a similar programme supporting 40 students and called on other well-wishers to sponsor less privileged children to pursue their dreams.

Source: Kenya News Agency