Author: KBC Digital

The Government is committed to strengthening trade unions in the maritime and blue economy sectors through regular stakeholder engagements to safeguard the interests of workers at all levels, Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has said.

The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the role played by trade unions, saying unions are an important cog in promoting the welfare of workers across sectors.

“We appreciate the role played by trade unions in securing the rights, equality and justice for workers,” Cabinet Secretary Mvurya said.

The CS spoke during a meeting with a delegation from International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) which paid him a courtesy call at his office in Nairobi. The delegation was led by ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton.

The Cabinet Secretary took the opportunity to highlight the strides the government has made in of strengthening trade unions affairs in the maritime and blue economy sector.

The CS disclosed that his ministry is keen on upgrading Maritime Courses to global standards while subsiding the learning fees as it seeks to encourage more youths across the country to pursue the courses with ease at the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa.

He also briefed the delegation on the progress made in the construction of the Maritime Logistics Center in Kwale County, saying once completed the centre will provide the requisite training for all those interested in pursuing courses maritime affairs.

While underscoring the need to upscale the uptake as well as synergy between the government and the unions, CS Mvurya called on the ITF to be proactive in domesticating legislation that will ensure the effective management of maritime affairs across the country. The move, he said, would address the underlying issues while promoting the increase of young people joining the profession.

On his part, the ITF General Secretary lauded the government’s efforts in revitalizing the blue space, pledging to stir up investment conversations in the shipping and logistics sector across the over 16.5 million transport workers they represent in the industry globally.

The General Secretary was accompanied by ITF Regional Secretaries Mohammed Safiyanu (Africa) and Bilal Malkawi (Arab world), National Coordination of Kenya Chairperson Sava Mundu, Dock Workers Union Board Member Edwin Wesonga and Seafarers Union General Secretary Atie Swaleh.

The federation, that connects over 700 affiliated trade unions from 150 countries, has been recognized as the world’s leading transport authority that has significantly secured the rights, equality and justice for over 16.5 million transport workers globally.

Emerging economies have increasingly driven global agricultural market developments over the last 20 years and are projected to continue to do so over the next decade, but with regional shifts linked to changing demographics and new economic affluence.

This is according to a report released earlier this month by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2024-2033 is the key global reference for medium-term prospects for agricultural commodity markets, and this year’s edition marks the 20^th edition of the joint publication.

For two decades, the report has analysed trends in the demographic and economic drivers of agricultural commodity supply and demand, projected the shifts in production and consumption locations, and assessed the resulting changes in international agricultural trade patterns.

A notable shift expected over the coming decade is the increasing role of India, Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and the declining role played by China.

While China accounted for 28 percent of growth in global consumption of agriculture and fisheries in the previous decade, its share of additional demand over the coming decade is projected to fall to 11 percent, attributed not only to a declining population and slower income growth but also to a stabilisation of nutrition patterns.

India and Southeast Asian countries are projected to account for 31 percent of global consumption growth by 2033, driven by their growing urban population and increasing affluence. Among predominantly low-income regions, Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to contribute a sizeable share of additional global consumption (18 percent), primarily due to population growth-driven demand for food.

Total agricultural and fisheries consumption (as food, feed, fuel and other industrial raw materials) is projected to grow by 1.1 percent annually over the next decade, with nearly all of the additional consumption projected to occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Food calorie intake is expected to increase by 7 percent in middle-income countries, largely due to greater consumption of staples, livestock products and fats. Calorie intake in low-income countries will grow at 4 percent, too slowly to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of zero hunger by 2030.

“The Outlook confirms the need to implement strategies that bridge productivity gaps in low- and middle-income countries to increase domestic production and boost farmers’ incomes,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.

Youth drawn from the Green Thinking Action Party (GTAP) have written to President William Ruto asking him to, among other things, conduct a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle and get rid of cabinet secretaries whom the public has lost faith in to regain trust with Gen Zs and Majority of Kenyans.

Besides changes in the cabinet, the group listed revision of controversial policies, implementation of advanced transparency mechanisms, initiation of genuine national dialogues, strengthening of judicial independence and institutional reforms, the launch of targeted economic reforms, the establishment of public accountability initiatives as well as promotion of cultural change within government as some of the issues that need urgent attention given the current state of affairs in the country

“In an era demanding unparalleled transparency and accountability, we, the youth of the Green Thinking Action Party (GTAP), present the Gen Z Accountability Checklist. Developed through extensive consultations among our peers who form the majority of our membership, this checklist embodies our collective vision for a fair and sustainable Kenya. It is a call to action for our government to realize the aspirations of its youth,” GTAP youth noted in their memo

Their checklist outlined issues that constitute direct responses to immediate concerns. They include confirmation of cancellation of proposed tax increases on essential goods and services, reduction of salaries of high-earning government officials by 20%, and elimination of non-essential government positions.

They also want a reduction of wasteful government spending. To do this, they asked the government to publish a comprehensive annual report on government expenditures, enforce a policy to limit official travel and hospitality expenses, and implement budget cuts to reduce non-essential government spending by 30%.

They also called for an increased allocation for public healthcare and education by at least 15%, reinstatement and expansion of the national school feeding program, and the recruitment of an additional 10,000 teachers and healthcare professionals.

And that’s not all, the group is advising the government to embrace transparent and timely communication. It says this can be achieved through the establishment of a government accountability office, and implementation of a public progress tracking system for all government projects.

They also recommend monthly public Q&A sessions with key government officials, a formula to track promises made as well as regular publication of independent audit reports on government spending.