Day: October 16, 2023

Bomet East Sub-county has been connected to the National Grid in line with the government’s agenda of the last-mile electricity connection, to reach citizens living in very remote regions in the country. Bomet East Member of Parliament (MP), Richard Yegon, who was in the area watched as Samituk, Muuliyat, and Inderiat were being connected to the grid as workers of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company installed electricity transformers. Speaking at the site, Yegon said it was his determination to see that every household in Bomet East is connected to electricity in order to spur development. Yegon noted that the new development would spur development as both small and medium business enterprises, including metalwork, barber and hairdressing, will thrive in the area. Joshua Terer a resident noted that electricity was a clean source of energy and free from diseases.

Source: Kenya News Agency

In a major step towards modernising its registration and identity system, the government has prioritized implementation of the Maisha Namba project, which is set to revolutionize citizen’s access to government services. Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum at Wanjohi in Nyandarua County, area Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Rukia Chitechi, County Registrar of Persons Lydiah Njogu and other government officials, underscored the government’s commitment to improving citizen services by embracing technology. Chitechi noted that the country’s National Registration and Identity system had lagged behind globally, putting Kenya at risk of non-compliance with international standards enforcement agencies. The DCC added one of the key advantages of the Maisha Namba is its ability to eliminate the need for multiple enrollments and registrations. She also noted that the 3rd Generation ID Cards to be rolled out as part of this project, will be issued without the need for new mass registrations, but on basis of the existing identification information held by various government agencies. At the same time, it will incorporate advanced cryptographic technology for data security and support web-based and offline identity authentication, digital signatures and access to e-service platforms. ‘After the sensitization program, the system shall be run through schools by ensuring every child born is assigned a maisha namba and shall use that number through school and after they attain 18 years, the number will translate to maisha namba,’ said Chitechi. On her part, the county Registrar of Persons said the number will also act as the registration number for government services, including education enrollment, health insurance and others, while also serving as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for tax and social security purposes. Njogu added that digitization of registration services promises to address various challenges including identifying and authenticating citizens, safeguarding primary registration documents such as birth certificates and national identity cards and improving the management of social programmes and government operations. ‘At the heart of this digital transformation is the Maisha Namba, a unique Personal Identification Number assigned to every Kenyan citizen upon birth registration. Maisha Namba will serve as a lifelong identity from birth to death and will replace traditional birth certificate numbers,’ she said. On his part, National Registration Bureau Registrar, Kipipiri Sub-county Joel Muchunu, said that the new card will incorporate advanced security and technological enhancements in contrast to the existing IDs and will also facilitate digital identification. ‘The Maisha Namba Project marks a significant step in Kenya’s journey towards a digitally enabled, efficient, and secure identification system, ultimately contributing to improved service delivery and national security. The move will streamline and efficiently enhance the delivery of services to citizens, while ensuring a robust and secure identification and authentication system for all Kenyan residents,’ he said. Digital migration is one of President William Ruto’s administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), tied to the digitization of government services.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Assembly (NA) this week is expected to approve several Cabinet resolutions, among them the deployment of troops to Haiti. Speaking at Olmotonyi Primary School in Transmara South during a fund drive in aid of churches in the area, NA Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, said Parliament will this week consider Cabinet proposals, among them the deployment of police to Haiti, which he revealed will take centre stage. While considering the proposals, Ichung’wah said due process has to be followed to avoid conflict with the Constitution. ‘I want to assure the President that Parliament will approve the proposals by the Cabinet to allow our troops to go to Haiti. ‘However, we will do so after analysing each and every detail to ensure that all concerns Kenyans are raising are addressed and that the Constitution is not violated. For example, we need to get assurances that no public funds will be spent in the process,’ he said. Ichung’wah explained that the current economic hardships the country is facing cannot allow her to spend an extra coin on a foreign peacekeeping mission. While appearing to support the deployment, the majority leader said the move will give our police officers a chance to gain more experience and skills. ‘Since we have been told that the mission is multinational, countries that are not providing troops should provide funds. If our police officers will be paid by the United Nations (UN), then it’s an attractive offer since they pay well. We will support,’ he declared. The United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, approved the deployment of a multinational security mission into Haiti, to help curb escalating gang violence in the Caribbean country. Kenya has been picked to lead the yearlong security mission. During the Transmara fund drive, which was presided over by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a total of Sh 10 million was raised. The DP was accompanied by, among others, Narok leaders led by Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, Kilgoris Legislator Julius Sunkuli, and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A total of 500 coffee farmers from Kururumwe Cooperative Society in Manyatta Constituency, Embu, have benefited from training by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to help them enhance production and income. The five-month long training facilitated by Kenya Good Neighbors, an International Humanitarian and Development Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), , saw the farmers taken through all the modules of coffee farming and are in turn expected to train others. The NGO Project Director, Youngmi Kim, said the training covered a wide range of key areas, including soil fertility, coffee plant nutrition, primary processing, quality assessment and coffee tree canopy management. Other area include disease, insects and pest control and management as well as understanding the whole coffee value chain, from production to marketing. She said when coffee quality improves, prices will be higher and farmers will benefit more. The Project Director advised farmers to also be keen on some aspects that affect the quality, including harvesting at the right time, delivering to the factory on the same day and conducting color sorting before submission. She also announced plans in future to carry out a similar project in other coffee growing regions in the country, to equip farmers with the appropriate knowledge. KOICA Kenya Deputy Country Director, Songi Han, said the project also further cements bilateral relationship between Kenya and Korea. She said it was equally meaningful to those who have been trained and expected to pass the knowledge and skills gained to other farmers. The Director challenged the farmers to fully utilise the knowledge and skills gained, to make a difference in the sector of coffee farming. ‘If we are able to have more and more farmers educated and be able to produce 10 kilos per tree, the coffee industry in Embu will change and develop further as well as attract more market,’ she said. Deputy Governor, Kinyua Mugo, said the training was timely, noting that it was organised at a time production was at all-time low with three kilos per tree per annum ‘I am sure, out of this, now we are targeting to grow our coffee production from the normal three kilos per tree to 10,’ he said. Farmers who benefited with the training were upbeat, that the training greatly transform their coffee farms into profitable businesses. Farmer Albert Ireri, said he was sure if they apply the skills learnt in coffee management, they will enhance productions and incomes.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Khwisero Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Aseka has said he will collaborate with relevant authorities to redeploy police officers at the Emasatsi post to boost security in the area. The MP said the move will ensure the safety of the residents and their properties and spur socio-economic growth. He spoke on Sunday in Kisa East Location while handing over a newly constructed assistant’s chief office to the local administrative unit. He said the office will serve as a central hub for local administrative affairs, enabling more efficient and effective coordination of government programmes in the area. Aseka also handed over two classrooms at Emuruba Secondary School in Emuruba sub-location under the courtesy of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). ‘The importance of these facilities cannot be overstated. It will improve the learning environment and lead to closer services for the locals,’ he said. He said the addition of two classrooms at Emuruba Secondary School will not only expand the capacity of the school but also improve the learning setting. The MP further issued the school registration certificate to Emuruba Secondary School for its official recognition. ‘This is a milestone that solidifies the school’s status within the education system, enabling it to access resources and support necessary for its growth and improvement,’ he added. The legislator assured the residents of a series of projects, including the construction of a laboratory at Emuruba Secondary School, the grading and murraming of the Emasatsi-Emuruba-Elwangale-Ekatsombero road, and the construction of the Emuruba dispensary through the Aseka Miradi Foundation. At the same time, he had a fruitful engagement with the Miradi village women’s group, focusing on the planning and strategy for the implementation of the ‘Fukuza Njaa’ programme under the Aseka Miradi Foundation. ‘Our commitment is the empowerment of local women, with the primary goal of elevating them to become middle-income earners and addressing the issue of poverty by eradicating food insecurity within the constituency,’ he said, adding that this will provide the people of Khwisero with the means to achieve self-sustainability.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Nandi County Government has been honoured for embracing digital technology and open governance. The county received the prestigious award in the city of Tallian-Estonia for its dedication to building a transparent and data-driven government in which information regarding departments can be accessed with the press of a button. According to Nandi Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei, who received the award, citizens are able to access any service digitally. ‘Through our open government system, anyone can access various services with a click of a button without any problem,’ she said. The county’s journey to data transparency and accountability commenced in May 2022 when it partnered with the Open Institute to set up a data desk in the county. During the implementation process, data from different sectors was virtualized and made accessible to various stakeholders through the Nandi County website and other platforms. Open Institute supported the county through the training of its staff and ensured that key departments like Finance, Agriculture, Health and Education had up-to-date data. The county now has a fully operational county data desk hosted in Kapsabet town with a technical team fully equipped to oversee its operations. Nandi Governor, Mr. Stephen Sang, noted that he was elated by the award and promised to improve service delivery to the locals in an open and transparent manner. The second-term governor, who is also the Chairman of the North Rift Economic Bloc (NoREB), said the county had been keen to make use of digital technologies to help residents participate in governance and management of their own affairs. ‘I am very happy for the strides my administration has taken to ensure openness through embracing digital technology,’ he said. Open Institute is an African non-profit organisation based in Kenya but working in various parts of Africa. The institute helps to promote government transparency and active citizenship by providing cutting-edge tools, ideas, knowledge, and support to various stakeholders. Local residents have lauded the county administration for its dedication to providing accurate and timely data for decision-making, calling on other counties to emulate the same. The county has also established a call centre through which the public can place their inquiries, including emergency services, at the press of a button.

Source: Kenya News Agency