Day: October 16, 2022

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Cancer Is A Killer Disease, Kindly Visit Health Centers For Screening-Achani

Kwale county residents have been advised that cancer is curable, once detected in its early stages.
Consequently, area Governor Fatuma Achani says residents should go for appropriate screening whenever they see any growth in their bodies.
Speaking in Samburu-Chengoni ward, Samburu sub county, during a walk to mark World Cancer Day, the governor advised residents to check their weight in a bid to lower the chances of cancer.
She urged both men and women to regularly go for cancer screening, noting that cancer drugs are in constant supply in the health facilities across Matuga, Msambweni, Kinango, Samburu and Lungalunga sub counties.
“We want everybody to take advantage of the health facilities available to undergo screening,” said Achani.
Cancer screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. Screening tests can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear.
When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat or cure. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer may have grown and spread.
Types of cancer include bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, lymphoma, ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer.
The governor, her Deputy Chirema Kombo and County Heath Executive Francis Gwama led a cancer awareness walk from Samburu Ward Administrator’s office to the Samburu sub county hospital, sensitizing the locals on the need to have early screening for all kinds of cancer.
October is documented by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a breast cancer awareness month that is observed across the world annually to increase attention and support awareness, early detection and treatment.
Achani noted that screening for cervical, colorectal, breast and lung cancers helps in early detection of the disease, when treatment works best.
Achani said creating cancer awareness has had a positive impact around the world as more and more people are surviving cancer than ever before.
While addressing the locals, Achani said cancer cases in the coastal county are on the rise, so far standing at 14 percent increase.
The most common reported cases are cervical cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
She said the county has so far reported 129 cases of cervical cancer between 2012-2020 and 80 cases reported between January and September 2022.
“Cancer is a killer disease if not detected early enough, kindly visit our health centers for screening,” she said.
She went ahead and said all the sub county hospitals can screen for prostate cancer, while the Kwale and Msambweni county referral hospitals can screen for the most common types of cancer including breast cancer.
A provision of mammogram services is also available at the county referral hospitals.
She said already the county is putting a cancer centre at Kwale hospital that is expected to be complete early next year.
Achani says cancer is a silent killer because of the low level of awareness. When people see a growth in their body they tend to ignore it, until it becomes painful and seek help when it is too late and expensive to treat cancer, she added.
The governor said the annual cancer awareness was necessary in the country saying the disease was taking a heavy toll on families.
Achani said there is need to step up efforts to create massive awareness to enable those who are ailing get early treatment at health facilities with sophisticated equipment.
“This month of cancer awareness our health practitioners will offer free pap smear, PSA for prostate cancer, hepatitis B and C, stool occult blood for colorectal cancer, and free fine needle aspiration for breast lumps,” she said, adding that ‘our efforts are now geared towards screening and early detection in order to save lives.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

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All Set For Kericho Cross Country Races

Kericho town will come alive on October 22, when seasoned and budding senior athletes from the region are set to compete for top honors during the Athletics Kenya (AK) county cross-country races to be held at the Kericho Teachers Training College (KTTC).
The Kericho County cross country games sponsored by Betika will be the first Athletics Kenya (AK), Kericho branch meeting, where 10km and mixed relay competitions will be featured.
The races will see both men and women athletes above 18 years from the six sub-counties in the area coming to prove their worth and hone their skills in the two disciplines.
In an interview with KNA during a training session at Gariette Athletes training camp in Kericho, AK Kericho County First Vice Chairman Gabriel Kiptanui expressed confidence that the athletes will post excellent results as they had demonstrated commitment and discipline in their trainings.
“The senior seasoned and upcoming athletes are preparing well for the county cross country competitions and I am positive they will post excellent results as they have been posting personal best times during the Regional Cross-country race, the national cross country championships and the South Rift Regional Track and Field athletics championships,” said Kiptanui.
2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U18 Champion Caren Chebet, 22, who competes both internationally and locally for Kenya said she was confident in winning in her exemplary performance in the Africa Senior championships held in Reduit Mauritius in June, where she brought home a bronze medal after she emerged third in the 3000m steeplechase race.
“I emerged position three in the Africa Senior championships held in Reduit, Mauritius in June with my personal best time of 8:8.0 and I am optimistic I will win in the 10km race. I really thank Coach Gabriel for my excellent performances both in local and international competitions,” said Chebet.
In an interview with a Kericho budding athlete 1,500m athlete Faith Chepkoech, 18, she said emerged position one in the 10km road race Kisumu heart and cancer marathon held last week, with a personal best time of 34:10 and was aiming to be among the top three in the county cross country games.
“I started training in 2018 and I am being guided by coach Gabriel. During the national cross- country championships held in Eldoret in January I emerged fourth, whereas in the 6km regional cross-country race held in the same month with a personal best time of 19:23. In the 10km Kisumu heart and cancer marathon held last week, I emerged winner with a personal best time of 34:10. I t will be my first time to race in the 10km but I am hopeful of doing well,” said Chepkoech.
Kiptanui who doubles up as an athletics coach and trains more than 50 athletes and some in his stable include; Africa Junior Women 2016 cross-country champion Miriam Cherop, silver medalist 2019 World U20 in Tampere Finland Kipngetich Ngeno, 2013 World under 18 1,500m steeplechase gold medalist Robert Biwott, Mercy Cherono who broke the World Youth record in women’s 3000m in 2007 in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and the reigning world 3,000 steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech.
Betika is Kenya’s leading sport betting company in Kenya, with operations in nine countries in Africa and its headquarters in Nairobi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Plant Fast Maturing Crops, Farmers Urged

Farmers in Murang’a County have been urged to seek advice from agricultural officers on the best crops to plant during the expected short rainy season.
The county meteorological officer, Mr. Paul Murage has cautioned that the expected rains will be below average, urging farmers to plant fast maturing crops and employ smart farming technologies that may assist the crops to withstand the depressed rains.
Speaking when he met agricultural officers in a sensitization forum, Murage observed that the onset of the season will be by end of this month, while the rain cessation will be before December 25.
“We expect the rains to last for less than 60 days and we urge farmers not to heavily invest in their farms, but plant crops which take a short time to mature like legumes,” he said.
The expected depressed rains will worsen the drought situation in the county, which has occasioned scarcity of food and fodder for livestock.
Reduced seasonal rainfall amounts, late onset, early cessation and poor distribution is likely to negatively affect agricultural production, especially in lower and middle zones.
Some crops like beans among other types of legumes mature within a short period and if farmers are well advised, they may plant crops, which take two months to mature,” he added.
Some parts of the county, Murage observed, will receive less than 300 millimeters of rain, which cannot support crops like maize.
“Despite the season lasting for less than two months, the rains will be poorly distributed, thus marred by intervals of consecutive dry days. Upper zones of the county which usually receive more than 650mm of rain, this time round the areas are expected to receive less than 500 mm,” explained the Director.
Murage called upon the agricultural officers to train farmers on how to adopt smart agricultural technologies like mulching saying farmers should plant early before the onset of the rains.
“Dry planting will be important so that when the rains start, the seeds will germinate within a short period of time. Irrigation is also much needed, but unfortunately water levels in our rivers have gone down due to prolonged drought,” he added.
The forecast on poor rains comes at a time when more than 200, 000 households in Murang’a are currently facing hunger.
The county government with some national government departments held a discussion last week, on how to start distribution of relief food to the affected families.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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AU calls for Ethiopia ceasefire, urges rivals to start peace talks

The African Union on Sunday called for an unconditional ceasefire in northern Ethiopia and urged the warring parties to “recommit” to peace talks, as violence intensifies in the Tigray region.
The city of Shire in northwest Tigray has been bombarded for days in a joint offensive by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops, with civilian casualties reported in the push against rebels from the war-torn region.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has joined the United States and other Western powers in voicing alarm over the worsening violence and its toll on civilians, and calling for both sides to settle “this catastrophic conflict”.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, and the Tigrayan authorities, have accepted an AU invitation to talk, but negotiations scheduled to start last weekend in South Africa failed to materialise and no new date has been announced.
AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “grave concern” about the upsurge in violence and called for “an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian services” into areas cut off by the fighting.
“The Chairperson urges the Parties to recommit to dialogue as per their agreement to direct talks to be convened in South Africa by a high-level team led by the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, and supported by the international community,” he said in a statement issued Sunday, but dated Saturday.
A government spokesman did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP.
Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), welcomed the AU statement “in light of the extremely alarming humanitarian crisis unfolding as a result of the campaign by the Eritrean army and its Ethiopian allies”.
Talks were to be mediated by the bloc’s Horn of Africa envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa’s former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Diplomats suggested logistical issues were partly to blame for the much-anticipated meeting not going ahead.
– Aid worker killed –
International alarm over the latest fighting came as US special envoy Mike Hammer arrived in Addis Ababa to push for a peaceful resolution to nearly two years of war.
Fighting resumed in August after a five-month lull, dimming hopes of settling a conflict that has killed untold numbers of civilians, and been marked by atrocities by all sides.
“Intensively working with the African Union and other partners to launch an AU-led peace process in the coming days with the priority of achieving an immediate cessation of hostilities,” the US State Department’s Africa Bureau posted on Twitter on Sunday.
The return to war halted desperately-needed aid into Tigray, where the UN says millions have fled their homes, and hundreds of thousands are close to famine.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), an aid organisation delivering relief to Tigray, announced on Saturday that one of its staff was among three civilians killed in an attack in Shire, a city of 100,000 inhabitants.
The World Food Programme (WFP) on Sunday said it received reports of Friday’s attack near where the IRC was distributing food “to WFP beneficiaries, including vulnerable mothers and children”.
“WFP condemns any deliberate targeting of humanitarian activities and strongly calls on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian relief operations and personnel, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law,” a WFP spokesperson in Ethiopia told AFP in a statement.
Shire had been “subjected to continuous heavy artillery and air strikes all this week” and civilians have been fleeing, a humanitarian worker in the city told AFP on condition of anonymity.
– ‘Indiscriminate attacks’ –
US aid chief Samantha Power on Sunday said “the risk of additional atrocities & loss of life is intensifying, particularly around Shire”.
“Recent indiscriminate attacks by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and Eritrean Defense Forces in Shire, and reports that Eritrean forces may soon take control of civilian population centers, are gravely concerning,” Power wrote on Twitter.
Eritrea sided with Ethiopia when war began in November 2020 after Abiy accused the TPLF of attacks on army camps.
Eritrea is a historic enemy of the TPLF, which dominated Ethiopia’s ruling coalition until Abiy took power in 2018, and its forces have been accused of mass rape and murder in Tigray.
The re-entry of Eritrea into the conflict has “made matters significantly worse” and they must leave Ethiopia, said Hammer.
Eritrea says it is being “scapegoated” and has accused the US and others of turning a blind eye to TPLF atrocities.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Achani Cautions Youths Against Drug, Substance Abuse

Kwale County Governor, Fatuma Achani, has said her Administration will intensify the fight against drug and substance abuse by youths and some adults in the region.
Achani contends that the social vice poses serious danger to the present and future generations, noting that only concerted and synergistic approach by all stakeholders could end the monstrosity of drug and substance abuse.
She said the devolved unit in conjunction with stakeholders will embark on awareness creation activities in the sub counties and electoral wards on the ills of drug abuse to check the menace in the region.
Achani noted that the prevalence of drug abuse and its negative impact on the society requires all ‘hands to be on deck to curtail the menace’.
She said that her administration was committed to the eradication of the scourge owing to its adverse effect on the society and expressed her readiness to make the coastal county free of drug abuse.
The Governor has admonished the local youths to desist from drugs and substance abuse because of the effect they have on users is detrimental to the growth of the society and the economy.
She explained that substance and drug abuse pose dangers of mental health problems and depression among other risks on the abusers.
Achani said this when addressing separately Muslim and Christian religious leaders in Kwale town under the banner ‘Kwale County Religious Advisory Council’ and promised to rope in the clerics in the fight against the social menace.
The discussion with the religious leaders was centered on prevention of drugs and substance abuse among the youths.
She tasked the religious leaders to continue promoting and preaching good moral values among the youth for peaceful co-existence of the society.
“Our religious leaders should continue instilling good moral values among the youth for a better society,” she said.
The Governor noted that it was imperative for the religious leaders to advise and admonish youths to desist from drug and substance abuse considering its increase in the society.
She said her Administration will be stepping-up the campaign against illicit drugs and other banned substances and called for the active participation of all stakeholders to realize ‘drug free Kwale’.
“Let us stand together shoulder to shoulder to fight this drug menace and enlist the support of all and sundry,” she said, noting that the future of the country rested on the youth, hence it was necessary for them to grow up with a sense of discipline.
The Governor also underscored the need for all stakeholders to come together and deal with drug addiction, which she said threatens to turn an entire generation of young people in the county into zombies.
”Many drug addicts are suffering from withdrawal symptoms like body malady, sickness and disorder due to prolonged drug use,” she said, adding that there was a need for concerted efforts to help the addicts who require substance abuse treatment to fully recover.
Achani has blamed the high rate of drugs and substance abuse in the coastal region for the rise in teen pregnancies, new HIV infections and Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases among young people.
She further added that the Kombani Methadone and Drug Rehabilitation Center has ensured those affected by drugs get treatment, which allows them to rejoin the community as rehabilitated people.
Achani disclosed that more than 700 recovering victims have received services from the Kombani Methadone Center, while some of them are receiving counseling and behavior therapy.
She asked the stakeholders to work with the various rehabilitation centres in the region to assist victims fighting to kick-off addiction.
“I’m glad that most of the affected persons have turned to Kombani Methadone Centre to help them take it one step at a time and keep them afloat on their path to sobriety,” she said.
The Governor said the devolved unit has resorted to Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT), where the drug addicts are given methadone (a powerful drug used for pain relief and treatment of drug addiction) as a substitute for heroin to pull them out of the addiction.
Methadone provides a feeling similar to that of heroin but keeps the addicts from having withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Kwale County Religious Advisory Council Chairman, Sheikh Hamisi Mwachirumu, noted that the interfaith forum would evolve proactive measures to address the drug menace.
Sheikh Mwachirumu stressed on the need for collaboration in the fight against the use of illicit drugs and their peddlers.
The cleric noted that while rehabilitation of drug addicts was important, combating its abuse and peddling was equally important to avoid substance abuse in the first place.
Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK) Church, is targeting to train 200 faith leaders from all interfaith, including Kaya elders and schools, to sensitize the community on drug abuse issues.
The FPFK with support from International Aid Services (IAS DK), a partner from Denmark, is set to conduct a twelve-month pilot project targeting intervention measures on drugs and substance abuse, dubbed Faith Community against Drug Abuse (FACADA).
The FPFK delegation team included Pastor Esther Kamau, Bishop David Kiragu and Emmanuel Pendo, the FACADA project leader.
The Muslim and Christian clerics have asked the young people to desist from vices such as radicalization, crime and drug and substance abuse that have the potential to jeopardize their future.
Meanwhile, according to the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), hundreds of youth are addicted to drugs in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties and that substance abuse continues to be a challenge for the authorities.
The anti-drug agency says the alarming rate of hard drug use among the youth in the region has assumed a worrisome dimension, despite persistent campaigns against the vice.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Sh20 Million Dam Commissioned In Trans Nzoia

Trans Nzoia county administration has commissioned construction of a Sh20 million Amani dam in Chepchoina Endebess Sub-County.
Speaking during the groundbreaking event, the County Agriculture Executive (CEC), Mary Nzomo, said upon completion of the dam, farmers will be connected to irrigation system to help boost their production and broaden their income base.
Nzomo said the construction of the Dam is expected to hold more than 67,118 cubic metres of water, aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of more than 300 tomato farmers from Amani,Vamia and Njoro farms of Chepchoina Ward.
This is in an attempt to have crops that can generate money, with a relatively higher frequency as they can be grown for up to two to three times a year, as this kind of crops only take three months to maturity.
“The construction of the Dam will boost the county’s diversification program through irrigation of tomatoes and other horticultural crops including banana value chain that is being promoted by the NARIGP program in 20 wards in the County. Our farmers have been depending entirely on maize farming; the dam will help them diversify. We expect the contractor to handover the site in three months’ time” she added.
The CEC added that through the NARIPG programs, 395 farms equivalent to 264.4acres have been rehabilitated and conserved.
Nzomo revealed that through the initiative, 4,000 Avocado seedlings, 11,850 Goreville seedlings and 4000 Bamboo seedlings were planted along waterways.
60 youths from the local community were identified and engaged in soil Excavation works, where they benefited from the Sh1.8 million program.
The Dam will also serve the community through several water points that will be mounted in the area of coverage.
“It will have a number of draw pipes that will demarcate the water as follows; community water point where residents will be getting their water for domestic use, cattle water point that will have troughs, there will also be pipes for irrigation. This will help us reduce interference of irrigation systems,” she said.
Nzomo disclosed that already the conservation team has rolled out planting of indigenous trees that conserves water.
At the same time, the County Executive rooted for growing of tea, coffee, and tissue culture bananas, saying the County will help farmers access ready markets.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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CURTAINS FALL ON THIS YEAR’S WORLD MILITARY CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP IN PORTUGAL

The 58th Edition of the World Military Cross Country Championship concluded on 13 October 2022 in Beja, Portugal, in a colourful ceremony presided over by the Air Commander of the Portuguese Air Force, Lieutenant General Eurico Craveiro.
The Championship that brought together various militaries from 27 countries across the world, saw Kenya Defence Forces’ Senior Private (Spte) Edmond Kipng’etich win Gold in the 10km Senior Men category while Senior Private Wilson Kiptoo, Spte Peter Mwaniki and Spte Amos Birgen emerge position 12, 13 and 14 respectively placing KDF second overall in this category.
In the 8km Senior Women race, Spte Purity Komen finished 4th, closely followed by Lance Corporal Valentine Chepkoech at position five while Corporal Perine Nenkampi and Senior Private Joyce Njeru finished at position six and eight respectively thereby garnering the overall Second position and Silver medal for the KDF team.
In the 4×2km senior men and women relay, Bahrain won Gold, Kenya bagged Silver, and Italy settled for the Bronze medal.
In his closing remarks, Major Jan-Henrik Back, the Official Representative of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) to the 58th World Military Cross-Country Championships 2022, said that the competitions were aimed at a common mission; to strengthen the links between people and jointly promote world peace and stability.
He added, “sports can break language barriers and address religious, race and gender-based discrimination.”
“Let’s join hands to establish a bridge of communication through sports, boost the people-to-people understanding, and make new and greater contributions to safeguard world peace and build a community with a shared future for mankind,” concluded Major Jan-Henrik.

Source: Ministry of Defence

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MULTI-AGENCY SECURITY TEAM IN OPERATION KOMESHA UHALIFU MEETS NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS (NGAO)

The Multi-agency security team Commanders in Operation Komesha Uhalifu on 14 October 2022 held a meeting at Chemolingot in Baringo County.
The meeting, which brought together officials from Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, Directorrate of Criminal Investigation and Sub-County Commissioners, sought-after lasting peace and security solutions by recommending both short-term and long-term means in the ongoing operation in Tiaty East and Tiaty West sub counties.
They discussed the general security situation in the region, identified bandit hide-outs, population and economic activities, infrastructure development and also recommended on how to curb insecurity in the region.
Representing Kenya Defence Forces at the meeting was Commanding Officer 20 Parachute battalion Lieutenant Colonel Ambrose Mwabili accompanied by Major Jeremiah Namesake.

Source: Ministry of Defence

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KDF TROOPS IN ATMIS OBSERVE KDF DAY

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops deployed in Somalia under African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on 14 October 2022 joined the KDF fraternity in celebrating the KDF day themed, “soldier centric approaches towards upscaling mission readiness,” in Dhobley, Somalia.
During the event, the Deputy Contingent Commander Colonel Joel Maiyo relayed the message from H.E Hon. William Samoei Ruto PhD, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces who urged the soldiers to remain steadfast and professional in execution of their mandate.
Commanding Officer, Dhobley, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Chemitei read the message from Chief of Defence Forces and thanked the soldiers for their selfless service to the Country.

Source: Ministry of Defence

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Leveraging Industry Partnerships for Academic Excellence

The School of Computing and Information Technology under the College of Pure and Applied Sciences has recently conducted a series of career sensitizations in partnership with various companies to tease out job and internship opportunities for their students.
Under the initiative, the Smart Applications International led by their Managing Director, Harrison Muiru arrived in the University on Friday, October 14, 2022 to mentor students on professional work ethics.
The topics of discussion centered around professional relationships, potential job and internship opportunities, financial investments, mental health and professional conduct.
Speaking during the forum, Mr. Muiru who is also a JKUAT Alumni expressed his pride for being a JKUAT product lauding the University for holistic training.
Drawing from his experiences, Mr. Muiru tipped students on how to reconcile the career confusion brought about by the societal perceptions of what you should be and what you want to do.
“When I was growing up, my parents wanted me to be a doctor but my interest was in technology. In the end, I have made a contribution to health sector by establishing and transforming the revolutionary Smart Automated Medical Scheme Management Solution (Medismart) using biometrically controlled technology serving millions of customers in over 10 countries,” said Mr. Muiru.
MillyMary Wanyanga, an Industrial and Mathematics student who attended the career fair said the event couldn’t have come at a better time.
On the verge of her graduation, Ms.Wanyanga said she had learnt the importance of building a strong social capital and the need for career exposure before graduation.
“From today’s event, I have understood what job seekers are looking for and also the need for volunteer internships even at the departments in the University,” said Ms. Wanyanga.
She stressed the need to have similar events saying the industrial perceptions are eye opening.

Source: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology