Kisii Governor Launches Mass Distribution of Treated Mosquito Nets to Fight MalariaMombasa County Advances Clean Energy Adoption for Climate Action

KISII – Kisii County Governor Simba Arati has initiated a large-scale distribution of treated mosquito nets in the Bomachoge Chache constituency, starting at Egetuki, to combat malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

According to Kenya News Agency, which he officially launched, is a key strategy in the county’s fight against malaria. He urged the public to participate actively in government initiatives aimed at controlling the disease. Arati emphasized the importance of using the nets properly and advised residents to maintain cleanliness in their compounds and use the nets for their intended purpose, cautioning against their misuse, such as using them for fencing kitchen gardens.

The county has received a total of 941,368 nets for distribution across its nine constituencies. Michael Oyunge, the Gucha sub-county public health officer, explained that this distribution is part of a national program funded by the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health’s national malaria control program, in partnership with the Kisii County government.

The distribution process in the Gucha sub-county began with the registration of households. Community health frontiers registered a population of 176,984 from 30,142 households. Oyunge noted that the distribution follows the national strategic program’s guidelines, with two members of a household receiving one net. This strategy will result in 81,857 nets being distributed in the Gucha sub-county.

This program differs from previous initiatives as it is now conducted digitally, from registration to distribution. Household heads are required to present their national identification cards and the phone numbers used during registration at the net issuing posts. Oyunge highlighted the importance of phone numbers for receiving notifications about the distribution process.

Addressing challenges in the registration process, Oyunge mentioned that there were cases of missing names or identification details. The health department is working with the Ministry of Health’s information and technology department to ensure all eligible recipients are included in the master roll for net distribution.

Each distribution center is staffed with four health workers responsible for verifying individuals before they receive the mosquito nets. The distribution, which began on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, has successfully provided nets to 54 percent of households in the Gucha sub-county to date.

MOMBASA – Mombasa County is actively developing and implementing policies to promote clean energy adoption, aligning with Kenya’s broader climate action goals. This initiative is part of the county’s commitment to enhancing Kenya’s climate response through the adoption of low-carbon and efficient transportation systems.

According to Kenya News Agency, Mombasa County Transport and Infrastructure County Executive Committee Member, the county has already begun integrating innovative, clean, and sustainable energy technologies. This integration includes the use of electric Tuk-tuks and electric motorcycles, as well as the introduction of cycling lanes to encourage environmentally friendly modes of transportation. “We are making strides towards making Mombasa an environmentally friendly county by embracing clean energy use,” Manyala stated, highlighting the county’s focus on the transport sector.

Purity Gakuo, co-founder of Kuza Freezer and a pioneer in sausage trawler innovations, emphasized the role of youths in adopting these new technology systems. Speaking in Mombasa during the International Clean Energy Day celebrations, Gakuo highlighted Kuza Freezer’s focus on solar-powered innovations, offering cold storage and clean cooking solutions on a pay-as-you-go model. These solar-powered freezers, which can last up to 24 hours, provide an eco-friendly alternative for businesses and individuals.

Kuza Freezer has also launched Eco Heat Solutions, a clean cooking alternative designed to eliminate the need for charcoal, thus addressing both deforestation and health concerns. The company’s mission centers on affordability, with collaboration with microfinance institutions enabling youths to access their products through asset financing.

Gakuo noted the significant uptake of these innovations by youths, stating, “We are embracing clean energy, making lives easier for the youth.” Kuza Freezer has already impacted 200 youths across four coastal counties and plans to expand to Mombasa and Nairobi through partnerships with microfinance.

The clean cooking project, initiated on January 20, 2024, aims to provide sustainable alternatives to vendors currently using charcoal. Eco Heat Solutions, priced at Sh25,000, becomes accessible through microfinance partnerships, allowing buyers to pay in installments. To ensure cost-effectiveness, Kuza Freezer has adopted a unique approach by setting up stations for vendors to pick up charged batteries and return empty ones, instead of selling the entire solar package.

In a parallel effort, the Mombasa County government marked the International Day of Clean Energy. Mariam Mapenzi, Chief Officer of the Department of Water, Natural Resources, Public Works, and Climate Change Resilience, stated, “Today we are celebrating the International Day of Clean Energy and looking at milestones we’ve achieved as a county.” This included a memorandum of understanding with partners from Motor Track for a consortium focusing on electric Tuk-tuks and motorbikes, and establishing e-mobility stations for efficient battery changes.

Mapenzi also emphasized the county’s commitment to reducing pollution and promoting a healthier environment by encouraging residents to embrace clean energy for cooking, moving away from charcoal use.