Day: July 8, 2023

The IGAD Security Sector Program (IGAD SSP) has successfully concluded a Regional Conference on the Existing Cybersecurity Frameworks of all IGAD Member States. Cybersecurity can be described as a collection of tools, policies, guidelines, procedures, risk management approaches, actions, training, best practices, assurance, and technologies that can be used to protect the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of assets in the connected infrastructures belonging to the government, private organizations, and citizens. It focuses on protecting information, data, and information technologies from threats that come from mainly the Internet within cyberspace through unauthorized access, unauthorized changes, and damages.

The overall objective of the conference is to examine the existing cybersecurity frameworks, enhance the capacity and capability of the Member States in their effort to prevent and counter the threats committed in cyberspace and contribute to mitigating the overall transnational security threats at national and regional levels.

On behalf of H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD), Executive Secretary of IGAD; Commander Abebe Muluneh Beyene, the Director of IGAD SSP, Head of IGAD Mission to Ethiopia, has delivered the Key Note speech and expressed his sincerest gratitude to the Government of Kenya for hosting this conference; also, he thanked the European Union and ADA for their generous support towards this event.

Commander Abebe has reaffirmed the lead role of IGAD to bring sustainable peace and security in the region by enhancing and enabling member states’ security sector capacities to address common transitional security threats (TSTs). Furtheremore, the Director has highlighted that the IGAD region is currently facing a variety of serious and complex emerging, evolving, and existing transnational security threats such as terrorism, organized crime, trafficking in person and smuggling of migrants, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, cyber-crime, to name but a few. He has particularly described Cyber security as the complete universe of tools, practices, and rules that protect data assets from malicious actors. and therefore stressed the need to put standard Cyber security frameworks in place, as it enables Member States reduce the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.

A total of 30 senior practitioners (24 Male and 6 Female) from relevant state agencies who deal directly with cybersecurity frameworks have attended the conference. The conference has therefore outlined and thereby thoroughly discussed on such thematic areas like; Cybercrime and threats on the cyberspace, Internet and digital national sovereignty; Institutional set-up of the frameworks; Legal instruments at national, regional, and international levels; Capabilities and adaptability; Cooperation and coordination among relevant actors at national and regional levels,.

At his concluded remark, Commander Abebe Muluneh in his capacity and on behalf of H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD) – the Executive Secretary of IGAD stressed IGAD Member states has to develop the Cyber Security Frameworks from any cber-attacks to prevent and recover by applying the five best practices such as (1) identify: to manage the security risks to its assets, data capabilities, and systems to identify potential weak spots, (2) protect: create and deploy appropriate safeguard to lessen or limit the effects if potential cyber security breaches and events, (3) detect: organization should put in motion the necessary procedures to identify cyber security incidents as soon as possible, (4) respond: companies must be capable of developing appropriate response plans to contain the impacts of any cyber security events, and (5) recover: Companies must create and implement effective procedures that restore any capabilities and services damaged by cyber security events.

This regional training is organized with financial support from the European Union through European Union Trust Fund (EUTF), which is being implemented by IGAD SSP and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

Source: EMM/ IGAD

Police in Kenya have fired tear gas to disperse human rights activists who are calling for the release of dozens of people who were detained during anti-government protests on Friday.

Video footage shows clouds of tear gas at Nairobi’s central police station.

Among today’s protesters was the former Chief Justice, Willy Mutunga.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga called for Friday’s protests to oppose a rise in fuel tax and the high cost of living.

At least one person is reported to have been killed when police responded to the demonstrations in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

Source: BBC

A total of 10,534 vulnerable residents of Kajiado County have received money from the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme.

Kajiado County Social Development Officer Jimmy Njau revealed that the county received Sh84,272, 000, of which Sh55,920,000 was disbursed to older persons, Sh25,352,000 to orphans and vulnerable children, and Sh3,000,000 to persons with severe disabilities.

Njau said each beneficiary received Sh8,000, and they are expecting the number of beneficiaries to increase next year.

‘We are so grateful that most elderly people have no trouble going to the bank to withdraw their money, and most of them are grateful as the funds have assisted them in buying medicine and food. We are waiting for the next disbursement by the government,’ said Njau.

The officer added that the funds were disbursed through the six contracted banks, namely Cooperative, Equity, KCB, Kenya Post Office, National, and Kenya Women Microfinance Banks.

Juliet Juma, a beneficiary of the Inua Jamii cash transfer, said she was able to keep her child, who is abled differently, in school.

‘I am grateful to the government because my child is in school. I was able to use the money to pay her school fee. Even though she is abled differently, at least she is in school,’ revealed Juma.

Alfred Nyamweya, a widower who lost his wife in 2014 and was left with two vulnerable children, also said that the money has helped him a lot.

‘I have two vulnerable children, and I have paid their school fees. One just joined high school, and I have cleared this term’s school fee, and I am waiting for next term,’ said Nyamweya.

Margret Aoko, an elderly woman with two grandchildren, said the funds have come in handy for her small-scale business as she can feed her grandchildren and pay their school fees.

‘I thank God and the government because they know how to identify the needy. I have been able to feed my grandchildren, buy their stationery, pay their school fees, and even stock my stall during these hard economic times,’ she said.

The Inua Jamii cash transfer programme is a Government initiative aimed at supporting the most vulnerable persons in society, such as orphans and vulnerable children, people living with severe disabilities, and persons aged 70 years and above with no source of income.

On Thursday, June 22, this year, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, had released Sh16.7 billion for disbursement to beneficiaries enrolled in the Inua Jamii programme.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Machakos Governor, Ms. Wavinya Ndeti, has said that the county government will put in place proper structures to ensure staff progression for enhanced service delivery.

Ndeti noted that for a long time, workers and especially doctors have complained of lack of promotions and promised that she will look into their welfare to boost their morale.

‘Some workers stay in one job group for ten years; it is unfair for them. They have complained, but nobody listens to them, ‘she said, adding that going forward, workers would be promoted based on merit to ensure fairness.

‘It is quite unfortunate that new staff is recruited at senior job groups while their counterparts who have served for a long time remain at the lower cadres. As the governor, I will not allow that to continue,’ added Ndeti.

The governor, who was speaking outside her office when she received a taskforce report on county personnel, also directed the department of human resources to clean the payroll and expunge workers who were not captured biometrically.

‘Human resources has been a problem; people go behind my back and manipulate the payroll. We shall work within the law, and those culpable will be held responsible,’ said Ndeti.

The governor also sounded a warning to workers with fake documents.

In the task force report presented to the governor by Mr. Gregory Simba, 376 workers do not have academic certificates, while 2,889 workers lack academic transcripts. The report also indicated 1,378 workers do not have confirmation letters, while contracts for 207 workers have expired.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Garissa Governor Mr. Nadhif Jama has donated mattresses, mosquito nets, metal boxes, and other personal effects to students of Yusuf Haji Girls’ Secondary School who were affected by a fire incident caused by an electric fault which burned their dormitory and belongings.

Presenting the items, which included 100 mattresses, bedsheets, soaps, and other items, on behalf of the governor, the County executive committee member for Sports and Gender, Hawo Abdi Sahal, appealed to the parents to be calm as the county has enabled the students to settle down to their studies.

Receiving the items, the principal of the school, Farhiya Mohamed Yussuf, thanked the county governor for the timely support given to the school, saying it has saved the students and parents from worry.

She appealed to the County government to support the school in constructing a perimeter wall and to the national government to safeguard the school and the girls.

Ijara youth leader Salah Yakub echoed the principal’s sentiments and appealed to the governor and the national government to support the school.

The function was attended by Ijara Sub-County Administrator Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Dahir and Ijara acting Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Dubat Mohamed, among others.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kenya government is demarcating 13 fish breeding grounds on Lake Victoria in Kisumu County to curb fish kills after local fishermen lost Sh1 billion worth of fish last year due to a phenomenon termed as upwelling.

The demarcation of the breeding grounds, which are normally located at the mouth of rivers, is aimed at restricting fishing activities at the hatcheries in the lake to 30-40 per cent to ensure sustainable use of the resource in the Lake before it gets depleted.

During a forum organised by the Media for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture that brought together journalists from the Western Kenya Region at Dunga Beach on Thursday,relevant experts aired their views on how best to reduce pressure on the Lake’s resources.

The Director in Charge of Fresh Water Research at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Christopher Aura, who joined the discourse via Zoom, allayed fears that fish from Lake Victoria was not safe for consumption.

Aura said Eutrophication (the gradual increase in concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other plant nutrients in an aging aquatic ecosystem such as a Lake) affects the productivity or fertility of such an ecosystem, which naturally increases as the amount of organic material that can be broken down into nutrients increases.

The KMFRI Director singled out causes of Eutrophication as Fertilisers, untreated sewage, detergents containing phosphorus, and industrial discharge of waste.

Aura said the consequences of cultural eutrophication include blooms of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), stained drinking water supplies, degradation of recreational opportunities, and hypoxia (inadequate oxygen in the tissues to sustain bodily functions).

He said that other areas of concern include fish cages located in places not designated for them, wrong feeds, poor feeding, and not clearing the nets, which are serious challenges on the Lake.

‘Fish die when there is upwelling (the process in which deep, cold water rises towards the surface). Displaced surface waters are replaced by cold, nutrient-rich water that ‘wells up from below,’ he explained.

Aura said the government is undertaking Marine Planning to determine the suitable places where the fisherfolk should locate the fish cages.

This involves mapping the fish breeding grounds and water hyacinth control, which proved a nightmare to the fishermen.

‘This is why we are calling for manual removal of the water hyacinth as the first step towards promoting cleaner habits while at the same time providing a conducive environment for tourism, water sports activities, fisheries, and conference tourism in neighbouring counties like Kakamega, Bomet and Kericho among other counties,’ Aura said.

He said apart from being the second largest freshwater Lake, Victoria achieved another feat as the best freshwater fisheries producer for Nile perch, standing at 115, 000 Metric tons with the potential of producing 300, 000 Metric tons valued at Sh. 12 billion.

According to the Kenya Fisheries Service (KFS), production of fish from Lake Victoria dropped from 200, 000 Metric tons in 2012 to 90, 000 Metric tons in 2021 before rising to 98, 000 Metric tons, fetching the country Sh12 billion.

However, the production level in 2023 stands at 152,728 metric tons, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators.

‘Lake Victoria has over 47, 000 fishermen, including 1,000 women. The groups have more than 15,000 boats all going into the lake, while illegal nets have also increased tremendously,’ Aura noted.

He revealed that by April 2022, there were over 5,000 fish cages in Lake Victoria, and already his team of officers and other partners have worked tirelessly to map out their location, with confirmed reports that 40 per cent of them were built in the wrong places.

Of major concern are the contamination (pollution), which includes discharge points on the River Kisat, among other spots, and industrial and sewage dischargers, which should all be treated before finally being released into the Lake.

Hospitals, fishing Landing sites, erosion and siltation, along with industrial and domestic waste and plastics, should remain in sharp focus.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza has asked Mombasa residents to embrace local tourism by visiting the Fort Jesus recreational centre to learn about Swahili cultural heritage.

Speaking during celebrations to mark World Kiswahili Day, Ms. Malonza said that plans are underway to have Fort Jesus and Mama Ngina waterfront parks handed over to the management of the county government so they can serve the locals better.

Malonza said that following required government protocols, the two governments will sit down and agree further on how these two local resources will be passed over to the county government so that the revenue generated directly benefits the people of Mombasa.

She noted that the celebrations will be happening in the Coast region all through, under her leadership as the CS for Tourism. She added that the language is significant in nurturing both local and international tourism, noting that Kiswahili is spoken worldwide.

The CS said over 200 million people worldwide speak Kiswahili, and it has been significant to the East African Community (EAC) as it has fostered peace and cooperation among the member states that majorly use the language.

‘This day will be celebrated here in the Coast region as it is the center for the Kiswahili language. We will also make sure the upcoming celebrations are bigger in that the whole country participates in showcasing their proficiency in the Kiswahili language,’ she said.

She added that they will also invite international friends to Kenya, like the United States of America (USA) and China, who are now teaching Kiswahili language in some of their universities, to come and celebrate with Kenya as they mark the significant event.

‘The Kiswahili language is not associated with any tribe, thus making it a significant language to be used in fostering peace and cooperation among nations. The language also unifies nations, and it can attract foreign investments that generate revenue,’ she added.

The CS said that tourists visiting the country will be given Kiswahili lessons for easier communication and interaction with the locals in Mombasa.

Malonza said that the introduction of sheng in society will not deter the growth of the Kiswahili language as sheng keeps on changing from time to time and is a language mostly used by the youth.

She said there is a need to set up a library that focuses on the history of the Kiswahili language to complement the existing libraries that contain books and other materials that expound on the expertise of the Kiswahili language.

‘We need a special library that will focus on the Kiswahili language only. It is now a historic matter as Kiswahili is the only language in Africa to be recognised by the African Union, thus we request our schools to organise for competitions in Kiswahili just like there are others in sciences and mathematics,’ she added.

The CS also lauded the National Museum of Kenya, the county government, and other stakeholders for organizing competitions for schoolchildren and exhibitions of skills, talents, and businesses that showcase Swahili culture, among others.

She said that it is important to note that Kiswahili is a national language under the 2010 Constitution, and Kenyans are free to use the language in any formal discussions.

‘My ministry will ensure that there is a National Kiswahili Council where the scholars will be board members to help in the growth of the language in the country,’ she said.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said that the Swahili culture calls for peaceful coexistence and unity without discriminating against others based on race, tribe, or religion, thus making these the main principles of his governance.

Nassir said that he will not discriminate against some parts of the county in his governance so as to ensure the area grows uniformly.

‘We are committed to ensuring that we preserve our national language, which is why we are requesting the government to ensure the Kiswahili Day celebrations are done in Mombasa,’ he said.

Likoni Member of Parliament Mishi Mboko said that the Swahili dialect is one that the people of the coast can brag about as it is soothing to listen to when one is speaking.

She said the marking of Kiswahili Day is an awakening to those using the language not to be ashamed while speaking it, as it is mostly not preferred by people who associate the English language with excellence.

Source: Kenya News Agency