Author: Nicholas Kigondu

Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco says her department has developed elaborate plans that will see correctional centres become more self-sufficient as part of ongoing reforms targeting prisons.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Chandaria Shimo la Tewa Women’s Prison Workshop, the PS said the targeted reforms not only seek to fully rehabilitate inmates by equipping them with requisite skills through vocational training, but also working with stakeholders to bridge budget deficits within the prison department.

According to Beacco, the income generating projects that includes revival of the leather tannery in Kitengela, building of a hobbies and handicraft centre at the Nanyuki main prison, upgrading all day care centres in women prisons which host children below 4 years old, are part of the envisaged reforms being implemented across various prison facilities across the country.

The workshop at the Shimo la Tewa women prison will encompass a bakery, tailoring and an ICT hub section. It will also hold the ‘Karakana Project’, an initiative by H. E the First Lady, Rachael Ruto where female inmates will be trained on cross crocheting.

The workshop is a partnership between the State Department, Chandaria Foundation and Safal Building Solutions Ltd.

At the Shimo la Tewa Borstal Institution, the PS handed over 350, 000 shillings worth of paint donated by Kansai Plascon East Africa.

The ministry of health has signed an MOU with the ministry of defence meant to enhance emergency response to national disasters.  

The collaboration, which encompasses research on infectious diseases, resource use agreements, personnel exchange programs, and educational initiatives, signifies a comprehensive strategy covering research partnerships, resource utilization, and preparedness for national emergencies.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the new development holds immense promise for the future of healthcare and the well-being of Kenyan citizens.

Kimtai pledged the Ministry’s dedication to planning and executing agreed work plan even as he expressed optimism about the transformative potential of the collaboration between the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru lauded the strategic convergence of military and medical expertise saying the partnership will create synergy between professionals in the military and research fields, fostering a cadre of experts that will protect and impact the nation’s health.

The government aims to not only establish satellite surveillance centers across health facilities across the country but also address emerging and re-emerging infections, particularly those posing a threat to national security through cross-border transmissions.

Kenya is intensifying its efforts to document and digitize indigenous knowledge, focusing on culture, food sources, and traditional products.

The initiative, named the Natural Products Industry, is supported by the Kenya National Museums in collaboration with key stakeholders in an effort to convert the digitized indigenous knowledge into an economic hub for community benefit.

During a workshop in Machakos, Prof Mary Gikungu, the Director General of National Museums of Kenya, said the project is in its early stages, with intellectual assets in nine counties already digitized.

Prof Gikungu said the goal is to establish cottage industries in various counties emphasizing that the project, aligned with the Vision 2030 flagship project, is consistent with Kenya Kwanza’s Bottom up Economic     Transformative Agenda (BETA).

As part of the initiative, four additional counties, including Kilifi, Makueni, Murang’a, and Wajir, are set to document their indigenous knowledge.

Dr. Taracha Evans, a researcher at the National Museums of Kenya and Head of the Project, stressed the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge and culture to prevent erosion. He cited countries like India and China, which derive economic benefits from manufacturing products rooted in their rich indigenous knowledge.

Several institutions, including KEMFRI, National Commission for Science and Technology (NACOSTI), Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), universities, researchers, and counties, have partnered with the National Museums of Kenya to research and document indigenous knowledge in Kenya.

Sheila Mammet has been sworn in as Member Alternate representative to the Attorney General for the National Heroes Council.

Speaking during the swearing in ceremony, Chief Justice Martha Koome said the council remains integral in efforts aimed inspiring and appreciating unsung heroes in the country for their contribution to the welfare of mankind.

“The National Heroes Council is a critical State Corporation in the sense that it identifies, selects, recognizes and honors our National Heroes, monuments and sites. It is gratifying to our National Heroes when the State takes care of their welfare, “said Koome.

Speaking during the ceremony, Council’s chair Jimmy Angwenyi said they remain committed on delivering on their mandate even as he underscored the critical role played by county governments in ensuring that heroes are recognized within their respective counties.

“We urge the National government through the respective organs to continue supporting the Council and with a view to have the fund fully operationalized so as to achieve our main goal of honoring our Kenyan Heroes,” he said

A section of primary grassroots organizations actively involved in environmental conservation are seeking the support of government in their efforts to bolster climate change initiatives across the country.

The Adopt a Tree Movement, a lobby group in support of the climate change agenda, says there is a need for the government to collaborate at the local level to achieve its plan of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

Addressing a tree-planting event at the Ruai Treatment Plant in Nairobi, environmentalist Samuel Odhiambo stressed the need for the government to not only provide financial support but also logistical assistance. The movement proposes the formulation of well-defined policies ensuring transparent channels for effective distribution of support to grassroots groups.

Odhiambo noted, “While the government has set out an ambitious climate change program, it failed to forge partnerships with stakeholders at the local level crucial for achieving the climate change objectives.”

Highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change as a global challenge, 10 year-old Alice Wanjiru, the Movement’s climate change ambassador, underscored the profound impact of climate change on society.

“The escalating climate changes worldwide pose a threat with no clear remedy, resulting in extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and landslides, leading to health issues like asthma, heart problems, and cancer. Action is imperative,” said Wanjiru.

Wanjiru, ambitiously aspiring to plant 10 million trees by 2027, has initiated a campaign targeting children during birthday celebrations. The movement, leveraging Wanjiru’s commitment, aims to recruit children as advocates for the climate change agenda.

“Often, trees are planted without adequate care. This is an aspect that the government and stakeholders must address to realize the climate change agenda successfully,” she observed.