Day: April 29, 2024

ELGEYO MARAKWET—Grace Cheserek, Deputy Governor of Elgeyo Marakwet County, emphasized the importance of technical training in achieving industrial growth in Kenya. She made these remarks while receiving the torch for the 100-year celebrations of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Iten.

According to Kenya News Agency, as Kenya moves towards industrialization, expanding the technical capabilities of the youth is crucial for fostering necessary skills for industrial growth. She highlighted that the youth are pivotal in driving the desired change towards industrialization.

The Deputy Governor also discussed the Wezesha and Tujiajiri programs, under which the county has already enrolled 1,000 youths in its four TVETs and 16 vocational training centers. Plans are underway to double this enrollment next year. Cheserek underscored that these training programs aim at job creation, which will significantly contribute to solving the youth unemployment issue. The training provided not only targets the local market but also the international market.

Furthermore, Cheserek noted that several government programs require skills taught in technical institutions, including the affordable housing program. Additionally, Keiyo North District County Commissioner Julius Maiyo affirmed the significance of technical training in advancing the country’s objectives, stating that wealth creation cannot be achieved without the requisite skills.

KWALE — Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani recently unveiled a substantial tree planting initiative aimed at bolstering both human and environmental health as part of a broader strategy to counter climate change. The campaign kicked off at the Kwale main GK prison, where Achani announced plans to plant 29 million trees across the region by 2032.

According to Kenya News Agency, over the past eighteen months, her administration has successfully planted more than 600,000 trees. The event saw Achani joined by Lady Justice Addraya Dena of the Kwale Environment and Land Court and Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde. Together, they led county and judicial officials in planting 1,300 trees, marking a significant step towards addressing environmental challenges.

Governor Achani highlighted the initiative’s alignment with President William Ruto’s national directive, which targets the planting of 15 billion trees by 2030 to mitigate climate change impacts. The variety of trees selected for planting includes both indigenous and exotic species, chosen specifically to thrive within Kwale’s unique ecological conditions.

The benefits outlined by Achani for this extensive tree planting effort include reduced carbon emissions, alleviation of flooding and severe droughts, enhanced wildlife habitats, and a robust contribution to climate stability. Achani urged Kwale residents to capitalize on the current rainy season to further the tree planting efforts, pledging her complete dedication to fostering a cleaner, greener environment.

Lady Justice Deya used the occasion to educate the public on court procedures, particularly concerning land and environmental justice, emphasizing the judicial commitment to environmental sustainability. Commissioner Orinde also spoke on the critical role of trees in climate mitigation and stressed the importance of sustainable practices to prevent environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

The day’s activities underscored a community-wide call to action, encouraging residents to actively participate in these greening efforts, thereby securing a more sustainable future for the region and its inhabitants.

ELDORET—The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has unveiled plans to open a new research center in Uasin Gishu County, aimed at enhancing health research in the region. During a meeting at the County Headquarters, KEMRI Board Chairperson Dr. Abdullahi Ali announced that funding has been allocated to expedite the establishment of the facility in Eldoret.

According to Kenya News Agency, Eldoret was chosen due to its significance as a hub for athletics and sports development, which includes challenges like doping that need to be addressed in research. The city’s educational institutions and diverse population also make it an ideal location for advanced health research. “Eldoret is a key component of interest as it stands as a center for athletics and sports development; hence, issues concerning doping must be considered in research. Eldoret also hosts many institutions of higher learning and has a high cosmopolitan population, factors that set precedence for health research,” explained Dr. Ali.

Uasin Gishu County Secretary Edwin Bett, representing County Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii, confirmed the local government’s support for the project, including the provision of land. Bett emphasized the strategic importance of Eldoret in medical services, noting its role as a central reference point in the medical sector for the North Rift and Western regions and home to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). “We host the second largest referral hospital in Kenya, MTRH, and also a host to a large population from the informal sector, including Langas, Huruma, Maili Nne, Kapsoya, and other highly populated areas that require attention to incidences of disease outbreaks such as cholera and Rift Valley fever, among others,” Bett said.

The County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development, Dr. Janeth Kosgei, led a site visit to four public utility plots for the KEMRI team to select the most suitable location for the research center. The chosen site will prioritize accessibility, including proximity to dense population areas, electricity, sewerage systems, and adequate road networks.

CECM Health Services Abraham Serem acknowledged the significant potential benefits of the research center for the community, including the planned construction of a health facility within the institution, which will serve the local population.

KAPENGURIA – Motorists planning to travel on the Kapenguria-Lodwar Highway on Monday morning had to cancel their plans as floods washed away a critical section of the road between Lous Market and Kambi Karaya in West Pokot County. The incident has significantly disrupted transportation in the region.

According to Kenya News Agency, Abdullahi Khalif, heavy rainfall led to the road’s destruction, prompting immediate action from local authorities. Traffic police from Marich Police Station were deployed to assist motorists and manage the flow of vehicles after the damage was reported. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of stranded travelers. We are working tirelessly to explore solutions and restore connectivity since we understand the gravity of the situation,” Khalif stated during a press briefing.

Khalif urged patience from road users as relevant agencies are actively seeking alternative routes to ensure transport continuity. Rehabilitation efforts for the damaged highway section are already underway. He emphasized the importance of caution during the ongoing heavy rains in the region and assured the public that updates on the highway’s status would be provided as they become available.

The washout created a large gulley, effectively halting all travel across this busy thoroughfare, which also serves as a vital link for traffic to and from South Sudan. Travelers were left stranded on both sides of the impassable gap. “The gulley is so massive that no one can risk crossing it. We are lucky we reached this point when the road had been washed away; otherwise, it would have been a disaster if it collapsed while we were crossing it,” said James Kinuthia, a lorry driver affected by the road closure.

MADOGO, TANA RIVER COUNTY – In response to a recent boat tragedy, the government has immediately suspended the operation of private speed boats in the Kona Punda area. This decision follows a catastrophic incident involving a boat along the Garissa-Nairobi highway that resulted in numerous casualties and missing persons.

According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke after visiting the site, strict measures will be enforced against anyone violating this suspension. “I want to make it very categorical that no boat will be allowed to ferry passengers either to or from Garissa until we give another communication when it will be safe,” Mutua stated. The prohibition includes all private boats, with exceptions only for those involved in ongoing search and rescue operations.

The search team has recently recovered three bodies and rescued 22 individuals; however, 23 people remain missing from the boat, which was carrying close to 45 passengers at the time of the accident. Mutua emphasized the government’s efforts to locate the unlicensed boat owner and the boat operator, both of whom are currently fugitives.

The Deputy County Commissioner highlighted that the tragedy was a direct result of public negligence, noting that individuals risked crossing the flooded area despite warnings and road closures by the authorities. He advised the public to postpone any travel plans to Garissa, Mombasa, or Nairobi until conditions are deemed safe.

In a related statement, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama described the boat incident as a reckless endangerment of lives by operators driven by profit. He condemned the operators for using an unlicensed vessel and demanded immediate legal action against them. “They are criminals driven by greed; they had no regard for the safety of the public. We call upon the government to immediately apprehend them,” Governor Jama asserted.

Governor Jama also criticized the Kenya National Highways Authority for their handling of the road maintenance post-El Nino rains, questioning the adequacy of the repairs which failed to withstand the recent flood conditions. He urged for a more sustainable solution to the recurring floods that continue to affect the region severely.