KBC Channel 1

Author: Beth Nyaga

  • BRI’s 10th anniversary of a community with a shared future  

    BRI’s 10th anniversary of a community with a shared future  

    The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, which is a global multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary project, aims to ultimately improve international, regional and national connectivity, and facilitate economic integration along its routes.

    Since its launch in 2013, the BRI has initiated over 3,000 cooperation projects with a total investment of nearly USD 1 trillion. Many countries have embraced the BRI platform to construct desperately needed infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railroads. These projects have contributed to poverty reduction by creating jobs during both implementation and ultimate use. To date, the program has resulted in the creation of 420,000 jobs and the acceleration of economic growth in a number of countries.

    During the China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province from May 18 to 19, the leaders hailed the benefits of the BRI and noted that the project was now inevitable for the success of the region that comprises Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Indeed, the leaders went further and promised to align their national development strategies with the BRI. In effect, this will boost the region’s infrastructure and engineering construction, connectivity of digital and green infrastructure, and in trade, connectivity of railways and roads, and flights.

    China’s BRI has developed and now offers far more than just infrastructure development to help intra-African trade grow. It now includes the five pillars of policy coordination, facility connection, unhindered trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. Driven by the need to foster stronger economic cooperation among nations in the aftermath of slow and inequitable global economic growth, rising trade tensions and unilateralism, and insufficient infrastructure and financing mechanisms, particularly in developing countries, China sees the BRI as a means of addressing these global challenges.

    Now, one of the unsung benefits of the BRI is the so called “small and beautiful” projects. Now, the focus has been on the huge billion-dollar infrastructural projects around the world. These have definitely transformed the countries and regions in which they are located using the principles of “high starting point, quick returns, low risk, and good image”.

    Delivering a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in November 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated the key principles that would guide the next stage of the BRI in order to control the increasing global risks facing BRI projects in various countries and regions. The new strategy is also aimed at poverty alleviation and enhancing growth. Xi encouraged companies and their regulatory bodies to prioritise “small and beautiful” projects in international cooperation, and to avoid “dangerous and turmoiled places”.

    Citing a World Bank report, the Chinese president noted that by 2030, BRI projects could help lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty, and 32 million people from moderate poverty across the world.

    The new small and beautiful projects are also expected to greatly impact the lives of the people. These include schools, hospitals and water projects. While they may not have huge financial outlays or even returns like roads and bridges, these small and beautiful projects will enhance the people’s quality of life. This will lead to an increase in their productivity.

    In Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, the China Railway Construction and Corporation (CRCC) built the Arima General Hospital from June 2015 to March 2020.  Termed as the new medical “Noah’s Ark” from China by writer Hu Yifeng, the hospital was critical in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago and provided a plan for local prevention and control against the pandemic. CRCC provides one-stop services including architectural design, construction, procurement of equipment, installation, commissioning, training and hospital maintenance under a USD 240 million contract.

    In a second example, the China-aided Mauritania Animal Husbandry Technology Demonstration Center was built by Ningxia Jinfulai Sheet Industry Company. The demonstration center has been transformed into an oasis in the Sahara Desert through Chinese technical support.

    In Egypt, the National Aquaculture Industrial Park was planned, designed and built by Guangdong Hengxing Group. Officially opened on November 18, 2017, the project involves seedling breeding, feed production and, pond and industrialized aquaculture.

    DHS was founded in 1998 by entrepreneurs from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China. They benefited from the city of Petrosani’s favorable policies in Hunedoara County, western Romania, which granted investors exemption from import duties on equipment, raw materials, and parts. When the company formally began production in 1999, its annual output was more than 10,000 bikes.

    The BRI is based on comprehensive consultation, collaborative effort, and mutual benefit. It also improves policy consultation, trade promotion, infrastructural connectivity, financial cooperation, and interpersonal exchanges. It focuses on combining the Belt and Road countries’ development strategies and complementing advantages, creating a multiplier effect.

    The joint efforts made by China and countries involved to push forward the Belt and Road Initiative are based on market rules and international norms. Every project is the result of equal consultation. China, along with other 26 countries has jointly formulated the Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the BRI. The Guiding Principles advocate a transparent, friendly, non-discriminatory and predictable financing environment and ensure sustainable economic and social development.

    Debt sustainability is also taken into account when mobilizing finance. Based on these principles, China has helped many developing countries break their capital bottleneck by financing and investment cooperation. Our partner-countries and their people are best qualified to evaluate the cooperative effects.

  • Conservation organizations lead campaigns on sustainable water use

    Conservation organizations lead campaigns on sustainable water use

    Experts in water sustainability are warning against imprudent utilization of water resources in the country. According to the experts, the need for sustainable use of water especially in Kenya which is a water-scarce country, cannot be overstated.

    While making a case for the widening of the ambition of the water agenda, they argued that with a per capita water availability of less than 600 cubic metres, which is below the global threshold of 1,000 cubic metres per capita, Kenya has no option but shift away from the present trajectory and change fortunes in the water sector. And indeed, something is being done.

    Organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya, for instance, have organized an event dubbed “the journey of water” in a bid to sensitize communities upstream and downstream on the need to use the commodity prudently.

    “The Journey of Water is a national campaign that aims to raise public understanding of water as an invaluable natural resource which is severely constrained,” says the organization.

    The campaign focuses on the conservation of rivers from their sources through to the taps and it calls on communities, government agencies, and non-state actors of the four counties within Ewaso Nyiro Basin, which include Meru, Laikipia, Isiolo, and Samburu Counties, to collectively participate in conserving water sources for enhanced access, quality and quantity.

    This year’s campaign was flagged off at the foot of Mt Kenya, one of the tributaries of the main Ewaso Nyiro North River Basin.

    According to Dr William Ojwang’, WWF-Kenya’s Rift Lakes Programme Manager, the three-day walk along Timau River will in particular aim to capacitate Kenyans on the importance of securing catchment points for sustainable development.

    “Today we are focusing on the upper catchment area of River Ewaso Nyiro. Many Kenyans depend on this source of water. We need to show the people who depend on the free-flowing surface water that there is a need for ambient water quality,” he said.

    Dr. Ojwang’, in addition, noted that people living upstream often take the source of water for granted. As such, it stokes conflict between them and those living downstream owing to unsustainable land use practices like planting trees along the river bed that require lots of water to mature, lack of terracing to prevent soil erosion and farming along the river beds.

    The program manager further argues that in order to improve on the water quality and reduce the ever-rising cases of conflict because of water scarcity, those living along the catchment areas should use best practices like planting Napier grass, constructing terraces, as well as gabions to prevent soil erosion and have one source of water intake to control the shared resource.

    Alex Gitonga, a resident who lives along Timau River, acknowledges that the greatest challenge in the area was the unchecked planting of Gum and Eucalyptus trees which traditionally are known to require a lot of water to reach maturity.

    “The Government should decree that all the trees which are not environment friendly along the catchment areas be cut down. These trees have made the water levels decrease over time and that cannot be allowed to continue happening. We must protect our river sources,” he averred.

    Gitonga, popularly known as ‘Kamtoo’ however disclosed that there was increased piping of water to homesteads. This, he says, has significantly reduced the flow of the river downstream which is a potential source of conflict.

    “The water piping has to be regularized by the government if we have to save our river sources,” he said.

    The Sustainable Development Goals Report of 2022 provides a global overview of progress made on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    The three-day walk will end at Archers Post on the Isiolo-Samburu County border.

  • 22 mass graves identified in Shakahola as exhumation resumes

    22 mass graves identified in Shakahola as exhumation resumes

    The third phase of the exhumation exercise in Shakahola forest, Kilifi County will resume on Monday.

    The exercise will kick off after a two-week hiatus, which was meant to allow pathologists to conduct post-mortem examinations on the 129 bodies that were exhumed in the second phase of the exercise.

    Speaking during a church service in Kirinyaga County on Sunday Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said there are about 22 mass graves that may contain multiple bodies.

    “The search and rescue efforts continue uninterrupted with the multi-agency security team on the ground supported by aerial surveillance,” he said.

    The CS said that from Monday, the task force established by the President to talk to the church and all stakeholders to come up with regulations on the registration of churches will begin its sittings.

    “I urge all Kenyans to candidly, honestly, and objectively submit their views to the 17-member team chaired by Rev. Mutava Musyimi,” he added.

    Kindiki issued a stern warning to rogue preachers, saying they will face the law.

    “The operation on criminals hiding behind religion is not a war against any faith or institution. Crime knows no religion.”

    The court on Friday directed that Mackenzie and 16 other suspects remain in police custody until Wednesday next week to allow the hearing of an application seeking a further 60-day detention.

    Kindiki at the same time noted that the security sector respects diversity of opinion on policy and political issues.

    However, the “Government will not allow violent protests that culminate in looting, destruction of property, injuries on civilians and police officers, or loss of lives in the guise of expressing divergent opinion.”

     

  • Finance Bill 2023 is people-centric, President Ruto says

    Finance Bill 2023 is people-centric, President Ruto says

    President William Ruto has urged MPs to support the Finance Bill 2023.

    He said the Bill seeks to address challenges facing ordinary Kenyans.

    The President further noted that the Bill will stimulate the economy, create jobs and boost earnings.

    He asked MPs not to bow to pressure from the Opposition to vote against the interests of the people.

    “They are opposing the employment of the youth and Housing Plan that will give Kenyans decent and affordable homes,” he said.

    He made the remarks on Sunday during a thanksgiving service for Cabinet Secretary for Environment Soipan Tuya in Narok.

    The President said the Government will implement the housing project to expand economic opportunities in the country.

    “The housing project will enhance the growth of manufacturing industries like cement and steel, boost hardware businesses and create jobs,” he said.

    Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the beneficiaries of the Housing Fund will be ordinary people.

    “This project will deliver decent housing units for low-income earners at affordable rates,” he said.

    Present were First Lady Rachel Ruto, Attorney General Justin Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula, Governors, Cabinet Secretaries, and MPs.

     

  • National Assembly to resume sittings on Tuesday

    National Assembly to resume sittings on Tuesday

    The National Assembly will resume its sittings on Tuesday after a month-long recess.

    The House is expected to consider the Finance Bill (2023) which provides for the ways and means of financing the 2023/2024 Budget.

    The House is also expected to consider the committee reports on the suitability of the National Intelligence Service Director General nominee Noordin Haji and Central Bank Governor Nominee Kamau Thugge.

    In addition, the National Assembly will also consider a report by the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on the suitability of Isaac Ruto and Caroline Nzilani who were nominated by the President to the 11-member Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

    The House will also debate the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes (Amendment) Bill (2023) which seeks to repeal certain provisions of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act (2003).

  • Ruto faults opposition for being dishonest about the Housing Fund

    Ruto faults opposition for being dishonest about the Housing Fund

    President William Ruto has faulted the opposition for being dishonest about the finance bill and the housing program.

    The president says the opposition had previously supported the program only to oppose it because they are not the ones to implement it.

    Ruto was in the Leshuta area of Narok West Sub County Narok County to attend the thanksgiving service of Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.

    The housing levy debate took center stage with Kenya Kwanza leaders led by National Assembly Majority whip Sylvanus Ososro and Senate Majority Leader Aron Cheruiyot saying parliament will pass the Finance Bill 2023.

    The Head of State urged Kenyans to support the Finance Bill 2023 and the housing program saying it will create job opportunities for thousands of Kenyan youth.

    In conclusion, he warned members of parliament that shooting down the bill would be tantamount to denying Kenyans jobs and the opportunity to own decent homes.

     

  • Rachel Ruto champions effective management of solid waste in urban areas

    Rachel Ruto champions effective management of solid waste in urban areas

    The First Lady of Kenya, Mama Rachel Ruto championed effective management of solid waste in urban areas by participating in a public sweeping of Kitale streets.

    She further distributed 25 dustbins to the County Government of Trans Nzoia, which will be installed across the town in areas with high traffic.

    Later, Mama Rachel Ruto inaugurated the Mama Forest Park in Kitale township Forest Block 3, where over 4,000 trees were planted in 15 minutes.

    The 15-acre forest park is part of the Kenya Forest Service Master Plan, which aims to convert the Kitale township forest into a recreational park.

    The First Lady cited women’s role in environmental conservation, urging them to plant trees and adopt clean cooking technologies in place of firewood to reduce deforestation and household emissions-related illnesses that kill over 23,000 people annually in Kenya.

    The tree planting activity is part of the First Lady’s commitment to plant 500 million trees in 10 years, in support of the President’s directive of 15 billion trees by 2032 to grow our tree cover to the recommended 30 per cent to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

    The First Lady was accompanied by, among others, Dr. Robert Pukose, Member of Parliament Endebess, Lillian Natembeya, the spouse to Transzoia Governor George Natembeya, County Secretary Truphosa Amere, Kenya Seed Managing Director Sammy Chepsiror, New KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigei, Peter Weru, the Chairman of KEPHIS, and local community forest associations.

  • Education stakeholders want cultural studies included in curriculum

    Education stakeholders want cultural studies included in curriculum

    Stakeholders in the Education sector want cultural studies to be incorporated into the school curriculum to enable children understand their culture as well as appreciate different cultures including the country`s heritage.

    In the face of modernization and increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled devices, there are fears of possible erasure of culture in society of which 70 per cent of the population comprises the youth.

    Nakuru School Director Tabitha Waitindi expressed concern that Kenyan cultural heritage has been one of the most neglected subject over the years. Fewer of the 40-odd ethnic tribes, she added, maintain their traditions as modernization sweeps across the nation.

    Waitindi says the integration of cultural studies in the school curriculum will inculcate in young learners the value of appreciating their different cultural heritages.

    In addition, she pointed  out it was ironic for  African educational institutions to offer programs in Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish and Arabic languages yet local dialects were threatened with extinction.

    “Kenyans need to celebrate their rich cultural diversity in a manner that promotes unity, national cohesion and economic progression. The Government should incorporate cultural studies in the school curriculum from primary level all the way to tertiary institutions,” Waitindi averred.

    She was speaking at the sidelines of the Nakuru Cultural extravaganza organized by the Nakuru School in Lanet.

    Residents, parents and students were treated to displays of traditional villages from East African communities’ with the aim of preserving and promoting the rich and diverse cultural values of the region’s tribes.

    At the event that was characterized by pomp and color local residents and parents got a sense of the traditional way of life of various ethnic communities with ‘villages’ complete with their tools of communication, hunting, storage facilities and traditional utensils.

    Some of the communities on display included the Dinka from South Sudan, the Baganda from Uganda, the Kikuyu, Somali, Maasai, Kalenjin, Kamba, Luhya, Mijikenda, Luo, Teso, Embu, Kisii, among other communities.

    A parent, Grace Namunyak, expressed regret that some symbols of Kenyan culture like the kiondo or Maasai shuka  have since been claimed and even patented by westerners, adding that this indicates that citizens had low regard for the country’s heritage.

    “It is time we secured our cultural heritage from the pervasive nature of Western civilization. Let us protect what is good for posterity,” said Namunyak.

    On her part, the school’s Principal Velma Namachemo stated that Kenyans must think of children as participants in, and carriers of African culture, as they are a critical part of the population -the future of our societies.

    Namachemo noted that no culture is an island. She argued that whilst culture shapes experiences and influences children’s development, cultural background gives them a sense of identity.

    “The unique cultural influences children respond to from birth, including customs and beliefs around food, artistic expression, language, and religion, affect the way they develop emotionally, socially, physically, and linguistically,” noted the Principal.

    She indicated that culture is a powerful indicator of a child’s future well-being, and those who work with children, including social workers, and advocates of child rights, need to understand the influences on child development and how they impact the way people grow and learn.

    Meanwhile a teacher, Felicia Olando said during such events, friendships are built simply because one saw a dance style that was intriguing and asked to be taught or loved the traditional food prepared by people of community X considering they belong in community Y.

    Olando stated that cultural events bring out a side of people that students will never see while sitting in that Swahili, mathematics or physics class.

     

  • IPOA condemns attacks on police in Mandera, calls for perpetrators arrest

    IPOA condemns attacks on police in Mandera, calls for perpetrators arrest

    The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has denounced attacks in the North Eastern region following the killing of one National Police Reserve (NPR) officer and injuring two others on Friday while on duty.

    In a statement to newsrooms, Authority’s chairperson Anne Makori has raised concerns over the state of insecurity in the region calling for the arrest of perpetrators.

    According to the Authority, bandits have been terrorizing the residents in the troubled areas and the police should move in to neutralize them and restore peace.

    IPOA consequently mourned the deceased officer expressing its commitment to ensuring multi-agency teams and civilians are protected from terror groups.

    “At the onset, the Authority sends condolences to the Inspector General of Police, members of the National Police Service, National Police Reservists, the family and friends of the fallen hero,” Makori stated.

    “IPOA remains committed to ensuring Kenya attains and sustains the highest possible standards of policing, including by ensuring all law enforcement personnel, including uniformed officers and civilians acting at the behest of the National Police Service, are adequately cushioned to deliver on this demanding expectation – Protection of life and property for all.”

     

  • Gov’t encourages establishment of vaccine manufacturing plants in Kenya

    Gov’t encourages establishment of vaccine manufacturing plants in Kenya

    The Government, through the Finance Bill 2023, will offer tax exemptions on raw materials used to manufacture pharmaceutical and biopharmaceuticals to encourage establishment of drugs and vaccine manufacturing plants in the country.

    Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Wafula said the move will reduce the cost of vaccines and drugs further reducing the cost of medication.

    Speaking at Shinyalu during a tree planting exercise, Wafula said the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an American Biotechnology firm, Moderna, who are ready to start construction of the first vaccine manufacturing plant.

    “The government will also offer VAT exemption on any rights and any benefits that are derived from manufacturing of vaccines,” she noted.

    “Many people died during the Covid 19 pandemic because we did not have vaccines on time. So the government has also established an institution that will ensure we produce our own vaccines in the future,” she added.

    The CS asked leaders in the country to avoid blanket condemnation of the finance Bill forgetting about the benefits which also include the reduction of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) contribution from Ksh 500 to Ksh 300 to make it affordable to low income earners.

    “Isn’t that not beneficial, so why are people talking about the negative forgetting about the positives in the finance bill. Let us read it, let us internalise it and we ensure we get the good things out of this bill,” she added.

    The CS also asked Kenyans to continue adhering to high standards of personal hygiene and sanitation as they did during the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic. “The rate of respiratory disease infections dropped during the Covid 19 pandemic due to strict adherence to hygiene,” she pointed out.