KBC Channel 1

Author: KNA NEWS

  • NSDCC calls on communities to take active role in fight against HIV/AIDS

    NSDCC calls on communities to take active role in fight against HIV/AIDS

    The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has called on all communities in the Country to actively participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS especially in combating new infections as well as stigmatization.

    Addressing journalists in Meru town where the national commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day will take place Friday, NSDCC Chief Executive Officer Ruth Laibon-Masha said communities should by now be aware that stigmatization of the infected persons was bad as well as fighting other cultural practices that might result to new infections.

    “The 2023 World AIDS Day theme, ‘Let Communities Lead’, highlights the importance of community-led responses working alongside other public health systems in addressing HIV-related stigma, discrimination, and providing HIV prevention education and interventions to support treatment adherence,” said Masha.

    She added that there was a great need for all the stakeholders to invest in communities in order to ensure these issues are addressed directly from the grassroots level.

    “In this regard, every sector should communicate to those it serves about their specific roles in addressing this menace. Kenya is seventh globally in terms of people living with HIV and this means that despite the efforts we are putting in, stigma still stands in our way,” said Masha.

    She added that Kenyan men should also be engaged in the conversation considering that some were the sources of infections to the newborns and breastfeeding children.

    “When a man goes out there and engages in unprotected sex with a sick woman, then he transfers the virus to her breastfeeding wife who in turn infects the child. It is high time that society understand that it is not only the mother who can contribute to mother-child transmission but also the father,” said Masha.

    She added that Kenya has made tremendous progress in combating its substantial HIV epidemic, doubling the number of people on lifelong antiretroviral treatment from 656, 369 in 2013 to 1,294,339 in 2023.

    However, she added, despite these achievements, the country grapples with the challenge of new HIV infections among children, adolescents, and young people with reports of an estimated 62 new infections per week among adolescents aged 10-19.

    The country fell short of achieving the target to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission rates to less than 5 percent by 2020, recording a transmission rate of 8.6 percent in 2022.

    In Meru County, with a population of approximately 1,775,511 in 2022, the HIV situation is a significant concern.

    As of 2023, there are 30,912 individuals living with HIV, with 29,433 adults (15 years and above) and 1,479 children (0-14 years).

    The HIV prevalence rate in the county is 2.4 percent, with a higher prevalence rate among females (3.7 percent) compared to males (1.3 percent).

    In 2020, there were 543 new HIV infections, with 443 occurring in adults and 100 in children.

    The ‘Triple Threat’ in Meru County refers to the interconnected challenges of new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence among adolescents and young women aged 10 to 19 years.

    Adolescents aged 10-19 years account for 62 percent of new weekly HIV infections, and they make up 18 percent of all antenatal care attendances.

    In terms of gender-based violence cases, adolescents aged 10-19 contribute 33 percent of reported cases in the county.

    Masha said the NSDCC is fully committed to addressing the Triple Threat in Meru County through collaborations with local authorities, healthcare professionals, and communities to implement evidence-based interventions and policies that prioritize the health, safety, and empowerment of adolescents and young adults.

    “With collective efforts and support from all the stakeholders, we aim to successfully combat the Triple Threat and create a brighter future for Meru County,” said Masha.

  • Communities adjacent to forest commit to protect the forest land

    Communities adjacent to forest commit to protect the forest land

    Communities living adjacent to the Mau Forest Complex in Narok and Bomet Counties have signed a five-year agreement with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) that will enable them to sustainably manage the forest as they benefit from its resources.

    Four Community Forest Associations (CFA) namely; Nyangores, Olenguruone, Olpusimoru, and Nairotia signed a Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP) 2023-2027, which will help them to participate in sustainably conserving the mega water towers.

    The function was led by Deputy Chief Conservator Beatrice Mbula who said the management structures provide a legal platform to allow the community living near the forest land to benefit from the forest as they conserve it.

    She thanked the World Wide Fund for Nature Keya (WWF-Kenya) for working in partnership with KFS and the community to develop the plan that will run from 2023 to 2027.

    “We will give all support needed to the CFA so that they can protect and benefit from the forest. If we walk alone, we will not go far, but if we walk with you, we will go far,” said the Deputy Chief Conservator.

    In the past, she said, the Mau Forest has suffered from degradation as a result of encroachment and illegal extraction of forest resources hence the need for participatory forest management to ensure that forests are rehabilitated and sustainably managed in the long run.

    At the same time, she called on individuals and institutions to take advantage of the ongoing grains to set up tree seedbeds saying about 225, 000 tree seedlings have been planted in Narok County this week.

    “KFS gave only 30, 000 seedlings for planting during the National Trees Planting Holiday, the other number was sourced from private tree nurseries. This means organizations that have ready tree nurseries are earning a huge profit,” she reiterated.

    WWF- Kenya Project Manager Kevin Gichagi said his organization facilitated the development of PFMP for each of the four CFA to enable co-management of forest resources between the forest adjacent community and KFS.

    He said that his organization will continue participating in facilitating the implementation of the signed plans to sustainably manage the forest and provide sustainable livelihoods for the forest adjacent communities.

    Rift Valley Region Deputy Ecosystem Conservator Humphrey Okumu called on the Maa community to plant trees in their big chunk of land during this rainy season.

    He revealed that 275 people had been arrested in the last year for being found illegally in the Maasai Mau Forest adding that the government is very serious in conserving the mega water catchment land.

    Assistant County Commissioner in the Bomet County Commissioner’s office Ms Rehema Kitito said the KFS rangers employed by the government recently have helped in protecting the forest from destruction.

    She reiterated that her office will continue working with the relevant stakeholders to protect the forests by ensuring the enforcement of the law.

    The function was held at Masese Forest Station and attended, by Narok Ecosystem Conservator Daniel Mkung, Singorwet Member of County Assembly Josphat Kipkirui, and members of the public.

    Maasai Mau forest is about 46, 000 hectares and extends to Bomet and Nakuru counties, but is managed by the Narok Forest Office.

     

  • KCSE candidate collapses, dies after completing Kiswahili paper

    KCSE candidate collapses, dies after completing Kiswahili paper

    A Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) student collapsed and died moments after completing her Kiswahili paper examination at Njenga Karume Secondary School in Molo sub-county. 

    The deceased identified as Mary Waithera, registered as a private student is said to have collapsed after completion of the said paper and was later rushed to the Molo sub-county hospital, but was unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival.

    Molo sub-county director of adult education, Joseph Njoroge confirmed the unfortunate news, stating that the student was one of 27 candidates sitting for the ongoing KCSE examination.

    Njoroge eulogized the deceased who also worked at the Molo Sub-County Hospital as a casual labourer as hardworking and one who was determined in her academics irrespective of her age where she was in her mid-30s.

    He said that the education officials responded to the distressing incident, visiting both the school and the hospital to investigate and follow up on the matter ensuring that the issue is handled amicably so as not to cause anxiety among other students who are currently going on with their national examinations.

    The grief-stricken father of the deceased, John Ndung’u, expressed his disbelief about the tragedy saying he was yet to come to terms with this incident that has left a big gap in their home.

    Sharing similar sentiments with Njoroge, he highlighted his daughter’s dedication and determination to pursue her goals, having been eager to complete her KCSE examination and go on with her studies further.

    According to Kamau, there were no signs of illness, as they had joyfully conversed with her late daughter and other family members the night before. He acknowledged the situation as “God’s will”.

    Waithera is survived by three children, including a one-month-old baby.

    The deceased body is lying at the Molo sub-county hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

  • Annual Primary School Head Teachers conference kicks off in Mombasa

    Annual Primary School Head Teachers conference kicks off in Mombasa

    The Kenya Primary Schools Head teachers Association (KEPSHA) 20th annual conference has kicked off Monday at Sheikh  Zayed Children Welfare Centre school in Mombasa.

    The main theme is “rethinking education management within a comprehensive school framework. Inspiring innovation for a sustainable impact in the present and future decades”.

    The five-day conference is expected to provide a platform for the primary school heads to share their experiences, challenges and success stories in redefining education management within this holistic framework, thus the call for stakeholders to unite in identifying and resolving the current challenges within the education sector.

    KEPSHA Chairman Johnson Nzioka says by the end of the conference they expect to come up with solutions to sustainable education, assessment and accountability within the schools, fostering inclusivity in education, adapting to technological advancement, and enhancing teacher professional development.

    “KEPSHA aims to adopt to changing education paradigms, foster inclusivity, and ensure the well-being of our members and learners as we continue to champion the cause of equality primary education” said Nzioka.

    This comes a week after the primary school pupils sat for the last KCPE exam of the 8-4-4 system as the education system switches to Competency-Based curriculum (CBC).

    Nzioka affirms that head teachers across the country have embraced the CBC system and that they are rooting for its development. He assured parents to expect smooth transition as far as primary school education is concerned.

    Nzioka lauded the government for the recent efforts to recruit more teachers and also increasing their salaries. However, he urges the government to also recruit special education teachers.

    Among the guests expected   to give key note addresses are Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ezekiel Machogu, who will officially open the conference on Wednesday.

    Dr. Belio Kipsang, PS State Department for Basic Education, and Teacher Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia TSC are also expected to grace the meeting.

    Even as KEPSHA looks forward to commit itself in shaping the future of education management and embracing innovation through CBC, they will be partnering with Nature Lovers Consultancy to plant 80 trees in response to the president’s call to increase the national tree cover, and also to symbolize the association’s dedication to environmental stewardship and a brighter, sustainable future.

  • 2023 KCSE witnesses double collection of papers

    2023 KCSE witnesses double collection of papers

    Kiambu Education stakeholders braved the morning rains to ensure that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) main examinations that began Monday arrive in time at the examination centres.

    Officials from the Ministry of Education arrived at various exam collection centres early in the morning to oversee the distribution of exam materials.

     Speaking in Kiambu County after witnessing the opening of the exam container at the Deputy County Commissioners offices, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. David Njengere said this year will have the largest number of candidates.

    The Country has over 903,260 students who are sitting for this year’s examination and there are 567 National Exam Containers.

    The CEO added that this year’s examination will for the first time see the double collection meaning that morning papers will be released first in the morning while the second batch for afternoon session will be collected after the first session papers have been returned to collection centres.

    He acknowledged that the biggest challenge especially in last year’s KCSE was early exposure of the second session papers but now the government is implementing a new rule where collection of the exam papers will be two-fold.

    The centre managers, he explained, will have to return the morning scripts to the container after the first session papers and in turn collect the second session paper at 12.30 so that they will administer that paper at 2.00 pm.

    “We want to make sure that at the school level, the center manager and the supervisor, coordinate efficiently so that the paper ends immediately, returned and second session papers are collected and taken to the centres in time. Efficiency will be very important”, he emphasized.

    Dr. Njengere further said that another challenge they will address is that of the phones noting that only centre Managers will be allowed to have mobile phones.

    “All other phones should be kept in the center managers’ offices.  We aim to ensure credibility of our examination and no one should misconstrue and say that the government want to punish secondary school head teachers. The cooks, the security people you have at the gate, no one should have a phone in the school”, he said.

    The CEO has appealed to Centre Managers who are carrying and distributing the examination papers not to take any risk and to be very careful at this time when the country is experiencing heavy rains.

    “We have seen clips that have been running on social media, some people trying to cross rivers. Please if there is a river between point A and point B, please don’t try to be a hero you would rather wait or send a distress call to our call center so that we can help you out,” he warned

    He gave the 24-hour toll-free call center of 0800 724 900 that anyone can call if anyone encounters a problem or even if a member of the public wishes to report on anything that concern examinations.

    “Every centre manager has the rules and regulations. I also sent a letter to every candidate sitting this examination and explained to them very clearly our expectations of what they should do to avoid malpractices and the sanctions there in the event of any malpractices”, he emphasized.

    He wished all candidates well in their examination and thanked Kiambu County Schools noting that they also host the marking of the examinations

    Kiambu County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha said they have deployed enough security in all the examination centres and that there is no cause for worry.

    “In the previous years we have had some arrests in various schools in the area , but this time we have engaged all the stakeholders in the area and there is peace” Nkanatha.

    Kiambu County Director of Education Mr. Simon Wanjohi said the County has 15 containers for the examinations and over 37,000 KCSE students in Kiambu who will be sitting for the exams across 370 examination centres across the County.

    “We have put everything in order to ensure that our exams go on well and that no one is disadvantaged. We have also made adequate arrangements in terms of transport and sensitized all centre managers and security personnel “, he said

    All the KCSE session examination papers will start at 8.00 a.m. and second session examination papers will start at 2.00 pm as indicated on the timetable.

    The exams run until November 24.

     

  • Turkana Governor pledges to work with President Ruto to develop county

    Turkana Governor pledges to work with President Ruto to develop county

    Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has pledged to work with President William Ruto to develop Turkana County.

    Speaking in Nameyana, Turkwel Ward today, the Governor said his decision to collaborate with the president was a no-brainer, as Turkana’s development needs require the collaboration of both levels of government.

    Governor Lomorukai assured residents that Turkana leaders had secured a commitment for major national government projects and were engaging government departments on development with the president’s blessing.

    “Following our engagements with the president, we have received resources for Lake Turkana’s blue economy and water projects. We have held meetings with national ministries following up on projects for our people,” he said.

    He said the leaders were pursuing the interests of Turkana residents and had no time for selfish interests.

    The Governor led a team of leaders and senior county officials for fundraising in support of the Nameyana Neema Women Group.

    He also stated that his administration was keen to entrench accountability in managing public resources as part of the governance reforms he promised Turkana residents.

    He said the County Government was focused on avoiding audits by ensuring funds allocated for development projects were not misappropriated.

    “Accountability is critical. We must account for resources spent to avoid cases which made senators declare Turkana a scene of crime,” he said.

    The Governor commended Turkana leaders for earning recognition nationally in performance, including Woman Representative Cecilia Ng’itit who was recently rated as the best performing representative in Kenya.

    Governor Lomorukai also reiterated his commitment to the peaceful coexistence of communities along the border with West Pokot and Baringo in the spirit of national cohesion. He condemned leaders from neighbouring countries inciting violence for political gain.

    Loima MP Protus Akuja asked residents to take advantage of the national identity card registration exercise set to begin mid-this month to register en masse.

    Leader of Majority Stephen Edukon advised residents to take advantage of government programs focused on community empowerment.

    Senior County Government officials present were County Executives Dr Michael Eregae (Finance) and James Wangiros (Public Service); Chief Officers Janerose Tioko (Agriculture) and Etelej Korea (ECDE), Mark Achila (Roads) as well as Lodwar Municipality Manager Benjamin Tukei.

     

  • Treasury rolls out public participation for 2024/2025 financial year budget

    Treasury rolls out public participation for 2024/2025 financial year budget

    The National Treasury has kicked off a public participation exercise for the 2024/2025 financial year budget to actively engage members of the public in the process.

    Through the exercise which targets all the 47 counties, stakeholders from different sectors of the economy are set to present their views and identify projects they would like to be funded in the budget.

    Interior Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS) Anne Ng’etich said the exercise was in line with the 2010 constitution and the government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) urging members of the public to turn up in large numbers and own the process.

    Ng’etich who officially opened the forum for Kisumu County said stakeholders from nine sectors of the budget have an opportunity to identify priority areas sector by sector which shall be incorporated in the final county report to aid in the budget preparation.

    “For the first time in many years we have the grassroots interests being taken into consideration as envisaged in the constitution,” he said.

    A technical team from the treasury and line ministries and departments, he said, will be present at all the forums across the country to guide members of the public as they identify projects and priority area to be funded by the national government in their respective regions.

    “This is the beginning of the budget making cycle. We have taken a multi-sectoral approach where we have the local stakeholders and national government officials together to incorporate local voices into the process,” she said.

    Every input, she said, shall be factored urging members of the public to feel free and air their views to enrich the document.

    Ng’etich who is spearheading the exercise in Kisumu, Kericho, Siaya and Homa Bay counties further asked members of the public to follow the budget making process adding that another public participation exercise shall be carried out by the national Assembly before the document is passed.

    National Treasury Deputy Director of Budget Micah Origa said the public participation was important so as to incorporate local priorities into the national budget.

    “We are taking this exercise very seriously because it is going to inform the kind of local priorities and projects that shall be incorporated into the national programmes,” he said.

    The exercise, he added, was also critical in helping to avoid duplication of projects and get value for public funds.

    However he said not all the projects identified in the counties shall be funded adding that only the priority areas shall be factored into the national programmes.

    Speaking during the forum, Elly Opondo, Director Champions of Peace said the initiative was wellcome adding that involving the grassroots in the budget making cycle was necessary to ensure that their needs are captured in the document.

    “For the first time we have seen the national government delocalizing citizen participation at the county level. The multisectoral approach will provide the public with confidence that the deliberations being made in Nairobi have their interests at heart,” he said.

    The move, he said, was a demonstration of the national government’s position to have citizens at the center of decision making.

  • Judiciary to set up mediation suites in efforts to reduce backlog

    The Judiciary has embarked on setting up Mediation Suites and registries in Court Buildings which will be multi-use facilities.

    Chief Justice Martha Koome said that this will be achieved through mainstreaming mediation, conciliation, Alternative (Traditional) Justice System (AJS) and arbitration as integral and legitimate part of the dispute resolution system in line with article 159(2)(C) of the Kenyan Constitution.

    “Therefore, when we speak of “Mediation First”, we are not diminishing the importance of courts or litigation instead, we are expanding our horizons. We are acknowledging that for many disputes, there are more amicable, more efficient, more context-sensitive, and indeed, more holistic avenues of resolution than traditional litigation,” Koome noted.

    Koome said this on Wednesday when she presided over the launch of Intercontinental Mediation Summit themed, “Mediation First: Exploring New Horizons Today and Beyond.”

    The CJ said that through Court Annexed Mediation, a program institutionalising mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and promoting a culture of mediation in the country, a total of 15,211 matters valued at approximately Sh 55 billion have been referred to Court Annexed Mediation.

    Out of these cases, 5,048 have been concluded successfully.

    “The value of the matters that have been concluded successfully and funds previously locked up in litigation released back to the economy stands at approximately Sh. 33 billion,” said Koome.

    She explained that with respect to the number of accredited mediators, from an initial 74 accredited mediators in 2016, they now have 1,292 accredited mediators, 661 of whom have active status.

    She said the Summit was timely considering that Kenya Judiciary have embarked on the pursuit of an ambitious strategic vision called ‘Social Transformation through access to Justice (STAJ)’ aimed at putting in place a people centred Justice system that ensures access to Justice for all persons.

    Koome further added that the Judiciary have identified the promotion of a multi-door approach to dispute resolution as a key area of focus in pursuit of this outcome.

    “Given the huge number of cases pending before our courts, it is clear that despite the best efforts to clear the backlog by our hardworking Judges and magistrates, the issue of delayed resolution of such disputes will remain a thorn in our flesh unless we expand our Horizons,” said the CJ.

    She explained that in addition to Court Annexed Mediation, the judiciary have now moved a step further by embracing Private Settlement Agreements.

    “Private Settlement agreements have the potential to prevent further build – up of case backlog in our Judiciary as cases are resolved without first being filed in court unlike in Court Annexed Mediation where existing court cases are referred to court annexed mediation,” said Koome.

  • Wetang’ula: Plans underway for dualling of Malaba-Kanduyi highway

    Wetang’ula: Plans underway for dualling of Malaba-Kanduyi highway

    Its a sigh of relief for Malaba residents as expansion plans of the busy Malaba-Kanduyi highway into a dual carriageway by 2024/25 Financial Year enter into final stage.

    Speaking at Kocholia KMTC after meeting with elders from Iteso community, the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula disclosed that the dualling, if successfully done, will boost transport along that part of the Northern corridor, increase Kenya’s earnings from regional trade, limit cargo trucks’ traffic snarl-ups as well as scale down the number of accidents along the route.

    According to Wetangula, the expansion of the infrastructure remains a top priority in President William Ruto’s administration as the government  moves towards expanding sources of revenue collection which depends majorly on improved infrastructures.

    The speakers challenged residents to reconsider working with the current regime to attract development and spearhead attaining of economic independence by 2025.

    “I want to ensure I complete what I started as a senator for Bungoma county. When I was in the Senate, I was the one who convinced my colleagues to come to Malaba to inspect this road,” Wetang’ula said.

    “In the next two weeks, you will be seeing surveyors coming here. The first phase of the expansion will involve the Malaba-Webuye highway before transformation works extend to Webuye, Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha and finally Nairobi,” he added.

    Wetangula urged residents to cooperate with the government during the process of expansion assuring affected families that they will be compensated. “Those who will be affected by the project will be compensated.”

    During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term in office, then Transport CS James Macharia said the dualling of the Nairobi-Malaba highway was an upper priority in Uhuru’s plans to boost passenger movement as well as the movement of cargo between the Port of Mombasa and Malaba.

    Macharia’s predecessor Kipchumba Murkomen when he visited Malaba in May also hinted at kick-off of expansion works for the Malaba-Webuye-Eldoret highway.

    Murkomen who toured the border town as he hosted his Ugandan counterpart Musa Ecweru said modernizing the highway will play a vital role in boosting Kenya’s trade with her neighbours.

    The Malaba One Stop Border Post that is connected to the Malaba-Webuye highway, according to official data from Kenya Revenue Authority handles 80 percent of cargo from the Port of

    Malaba border is the busiest crossing point for trucks using the Northern Corridor, which connects landlocked countries of Uganda, DR Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi to the Port of Mombasa.

    Approximately 1,500 cargo trucks pass through the Malaba One Stop Border Post each day.

    Uganda is the biggest destination for transit cargo through Mombasa, accounting for about 83.2 per cent of transit volumes, according to Kenya Ports Authority.

    South Sudan takes up 9.9 per cent while DR Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda account for 7.2 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively. Over 80 per cent of these cargo transits through Malaba.

    “We want to boost the economy of Western,” Wetang’ula said. “As these projects come, you should also work hard by utilising these assets to better the economy of border communities.”

    The Speaker revealed plans by the national government to build a dry port on a 150-acre piece of land near Malaba town.

    Teso North MP Oku Kaunya on the other hand challenged the government to address the menace caused by trucks on a daily basis noting that every week 2 lives are lost between Kanduyi junction and Malaba.

  • No bad blood between the President and his Deputy, says Cherargei

    No bad blood between the President and his Deputy, says Cherargei

    Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has affirmed the close working relationship between President Dr. William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

    Speaking at Olmotonyi Primary School in Transmara South during an interdenominational funds drive which was presided over by the DP, Cherargei said the close working relationship between President Ruto and his Deputy is stronger than before.

    Cherargei blamed the media for trying to force a rift between the two leaders, saying the two have respect for each other and are busy driving the development agenda of the country forward as he urged rumor mongers to go on with their stuff.

    “I am urging our DP not to focus on the many things being circulated by the media. I know the close working relationship between you and the President. The two of you are like Siamese twins. Continue working together for the good of all Kenyans. Ignore the rumor mongers,” he said.

    Hailing reforms which have been witnessed in the agricultural sector for the last one year, the Senator said a lot will be witnessed from the government given time.

    He pointed out the government’s fertilizer subsidy program which he termed as a game changer in the agricultural sector as the initiative will enhance food security.

    Present during the fund drive was Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu who urged the national government to beef up security in the region which in the recent past has witnessed cases of unknown criminals burning sugar cane plantations and instances of cattle theft.