Day: November 4, 2023

Uasin Gishu County residents on Friday submitted their views on the medium-term budget making process for the financial year 2024/2025 to 2026/2027. They highlighted various proposed deliberations across various sectors like Education, public administration, environment, health among others. Speaking as he led a team from the National Treasury and Economic Planning to collect public views in Eldoret, Defence Principal Secretary, Mr. Patrick Mariru assured the public that their views will be taken into consideration in the budget making process. ‘This is not a pick the box process, all you have said will be taken seriously and we shall implement it. All the views collected all over the country are coordinated by the technical team and sent to the National Treasury, it goes to the Cabinet, then to Parliament where it is passed as a budget,’ said Mr. Mariru. ‘When the next year’s medium-term budget will be read, you will see the key things you have said there,’ added the PS. The PS commended the President for his historical move of conducting the budget making process by including various stakeholders and citizens at the county level unlike before when it was done at the national level only. ‘Previously the budget making process was being done in Nairobi, but the President decided it be done at the county level, this is the first time ever it is conducted at the grassroots,’ he said. Mr. Mariru indicated that, the exercise they are carrying out now is one of the ways of fulfilling the mandate given to them by the constitution as public servants to come to the grassroots to engage with the public and collect feedback which will inform the government’s decision-making process and planning, which helps in addressing citizens’ needs effectively and satisfactorily. Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale commended the members of the public for taking part in the exercise. He noted that promoting the right to public participation by involving the public in decisions that affect them, helps in enhancing democracy and good governance principles of transparency and accountability.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Chiefs in Homa Bay county have been told to be properly acquainted with succession laws and assist courts facilitate smooth transfer of property to heirs. Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan said chiefs are instrumental for the courts in identification of heirs. The administrator said the chiefs must ensure fairness and justice prevails in succession of property of deceased persons. He made the remarks yesterday during a workshop to train chiefs in a Homa Bay hotel sponsored by Habitat for Humanity organisation. The administrators were trained by officials from the judiciary and lands office on land ownership and rights Lilan noted that Chiefs were well acquainted with all aspects of the communities they served in and were well placed to advise courts in land matters. He commended Habitat for Humanity Kenya for working with different government agencies to come out with best approaches in solving land issues. Ms Vivian Lisenja, Community Development Officer in the organisation said their aim is to empower vulnerable communities from being denied access to land. She said every land owner needs to know how he or she can get a land title deed. ‘Vulnerable families need to know where they can be assisted and it is the chiefs who should have this information before they pass it to their people,’ Ms Lisenje said. In the training the administrators were trained on the Land Succession Act and other laws. Homa Bay High Court Judge Waweru Kiarie said cases were rampant of strangers who come out to claim ownership of land and property of deceased persons. In such circumstances, Chiefs are required to help in identifying genuine family members of the deceased person. When there is land succession which are taken through a court process, chiefs are required to write an introductory letter to the court telling the judge about the family members of the deceased. ‘A lot of people have been claiming to be related to a deceased person and claim land and property. This is where chiefs come in,’ Justice Kiarie said. He said it was the mandate of chiefs to help courts identify genuine heirs. Justice Waweru noted that there have been cases of violence in the county where families fight over land. The Judge said all chiefs needs to familiarise themselves with laws of succession and be able to guide parties to the right channel when they are unable to address dispute over land ownership. Homa Bay Law Society of Kenya Chairperson Quinter Adoyo said many of the cases being handled in courts have land issues in the background. She said some families have been fighting over land before the matter escalates to other cases. The High Court Advocate said the training will ensure cases involving land are reduced in courts. ‘Some people have lost their property for not following the law. When purchasing land, ensure you follow all the due process,’ Ms Adoyo said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

For Felix Waweru, palm seeds are not just ordinary seeds but a massage tool that is gaining popularity each passing day among Laikipia County residents as opposed to electrified body relaxing machines. On a normal day, Waweru, aged 20-years-old, hawks his palm seeds in the streets of Nanyuki town and its environs, a venture resident are increasingly embracing as a mode of body relaxation after a long day at work. When KNA caught up with Waweru in Nanyuki, he revealed that he saw a business niche after realising the majority of people shy away from using electrical massagers which could endanger their lives. ‘Most people nowadays don’t like using electrical machines since they are risky and again using hands to massage is tiresome. The palm seeds are equal to the task. They have grooves that can be rolled into one’s body effectively relieving tension,’ reveals the 20-year-old entrepreneur, adding that the seed can be rolled on any part of the body effortlessly and the task doesn’t require professional a masseuse. Waweru has been selling palm seeds for massage therapy for a year, and notes that with his new venture, customers embrace it since there are no underlying dangers and added the tool can perform the muscle relaxation tasks just like any other methods in the spa industry. He says the seeds are fetched from the Coast region where there are plenty of palm trees. ‘I mostly get the seeds from Coastal areas and since I started selling them for massage, people took it positively because I explain to them how they work. It is good, residents have embraced them and they are very supportive,’ says Waweru. Waweru who completed his secondary school education in 2020, says that the only challenge with his business is unavailability of the palm seeds. He retails a unit to his clients at Sh100 per seed. He hopes that his venture will grow and be able to stock the palm seeds in supermarkets and other retail outlets where people can access them with ease. Waweru, further points out that, with his business, he has been able to sustain himself financially and encourages young people to be innovative and not to engage in drugs and substance abuse. ‘I would like to advise the youth to be hardworking. I have noticed that parents love to promote committed children and it doesn’t matter the type of work but not illegal activities. Our parents get happy when we are working. We shouldn’t get involved in drug and substance abuse,’ opines the entrepreneur. Ms Jecinta Mwangi, a resident of Nanyuki and one of Waweru’s customers, notes that she loves using the palm seed for massage adding they are cost effective, they rejuvenate the body and muscles relaxation, however she said at first, she was sceptical of the idea. Meanwhile, according to a US based institute, Academy of Natural Therapy, massage therapy dates back several centuries and people performed the exercises using different orthodox means as natural healing ways including to relieve pain, cure illness and body relaxation. Modern therapeutic practice started in the 19th century; however, people continue to use ancient massage therapeutic practices globally.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nandi county government has received Audiology equipment worth Sh10 million from Children’s Speech and Hearing Loss Organisation (CHISHLO) The three sets of machines which include the ABR machine, Tympanometer, Audiometer, Visual Reinforcement Audiometer among others will help in providing comprehensive hearing-loss screening and testing services through early diagnosis and prevention Speaking at the County headquarters, CHISHLO National Programme’s Coordinator Mr Stephen Kittur revealed that ABR machine provide a service called Bera and Bera is only available at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) ‘I have been informed by the Ministry of Health that the one at KNH has broken down. They were asking if the Nandi programme is already on so that they can refer all the patients here,’ he said The Programme’s coordinator said as an organisation, they do identify children with hearing loss as young as one day old adding that the equipment are supposed to test the out ear, the middle ear and inner ear ‘We want to make Kapsabet County Referral hospital as the first public hospital in the Country after KNH to offer early childhood hearing screening, identification and intervention. A child who is born today in Nandi County can be screened for hearing loss even soon after birth. We want those children to be screened,’ he said. Kittur noted that in the developed world, hearing loss is going down, ‘in fact they are closing deaf schools, and apparently in our Country we are opening more deaf schools.’ He said they did some screening last year in the county and identified several children who need support for hearing loss The coordinator urged community health promoters to go in every home and ask parents if their children have been screened for hearing loss adding that,’ if we identify them today, am sure in the next 10-15 years, we will have fewer hearing loss cases.’ Nandi Governor Stephen Sang thanked CHISHLO for their continued support towards elimination of hearing impairment in Nandi. Sang stated that the machines will help in early detection, accurate diagnosis and treatment for individuals with hearing difficulties. ‘Early detection of hearing loss and appropriate management in children leads to better speech and language,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A Mombasa family on whose land the Mombasa County Government constructed a cabro-paved road in 2015 wants to be compensated to offset a bank loan. The family’s bid to seek court redress to compel the County Government to compensate them with Sh56m or for the road materials to be removed by the devolved government hit a snag in 2018 after Mombasa Environment and Land Court Judge Justice Yano Charles ruled that although the action by the devolved government amountes to trespassing, he dismissed the prayers. ‘The plaintiff has not been deprived of the use and benefit of his properties and in my view, he has not suffered any loss and damage. I say so because clearly, although the plaintiff has held titles to the suit properties, he has for a long time utilised them as an access to his other properties as his own evidence confirms,’ reads part of Justice Yano’s 2018 judgment. Saniya Abdalla daughter of the late Abdalla Mohamed says the county government trespassed on their six plots in King’orani ‘We went to court to show that the land belongs to my late father and he used the title deeds as security to take a bank loan to expand his hardware business,’ she said adding her father carved out part of the land for access to his business. ‘We were told the road is now a public property. We have been diligently paying (land) rates, and my journey to seek justice has been long. I am being taken in cycles,’ decried Saniya Abdalla. She urges Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir to fulfil his campaign pledge of revisiting all the ills of the past administration. Her efforts to reach out to the current administration for negotiations have not borne fruits. The family has since filed a petition at the Mombasa High Court for a review of the ruling by the Environment and Land Court. Michael Momanyi, an activist says they want the family to get justice for their trespassed land according to the law. He appeals for the Governor to intervene for the tussle to be resolved amicably. ‘The family donated land for a mosque to be built. He made an access road for his neighbours and hardware business. All the title deeds are in the name of the late Mohamed. The family should be compensated for the road,’ said Momanyi. ‘The daughter has an outstanding bank loan which she is supposed to pay. She has been taken to court by the bank to pay the loan yet she is taking care of an ailing mother,’ he added.Salim Karama a King’orani resident says they knew since they were growing up in the area that the land is a private property and it’s the owner’s prerogative to subdivide it as he deems fit. He said, ‘We are appalled that our late neighbour has been deprived of his land yet he has title deeds. The lands were surveyed. If there was a need for a cabro road to be built the owner should have been compensated by the County government.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Treasury has conducted public participation in Kisii County to collect the views of the residents regarding the 2024/25 – 2026/27 medium-term budget. Led by State Department for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Blue Economy Secretary Administration, Allan Machari, the team sought to document the key sectors the residents wanted to be prioritised in the budget. Machari said the exercise marks a significant milestone in the history of budget making in the country since the last consultation at the grassroots level was done during the preparation of the 2011/2012 budget. He noted the government has previously been conducting public publication in the budget process mainly at the national level during the launch of the budget process and the public sector hearings. ‘It is my hope that the outcome of this forum will foster a sense of ownership and belonging of our budget process among our systems,’ Machari said. Notably, he pointed out the budget will focus on the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and inclusive growth that aims to increase investment in five sectors. The sectors include agricultural transformation, Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), housing, healthcare and digital superhighway, and creative industry, all with a high potential impact on the economy as well as household welfare. The Team Leader added the shared commitment would drive the country forward by enabling the government to deal with the challenges and seize opportunities with vigour and purpose. He reiterated the government’s role in fostering transparency and accountability as it holds decisions to the highest standards by ensuring the actions align with the needs and desires of the people they serve. Machari pointed out that the involvement of the public in the budgeting process will strengthen the trust between government and citizens hence capturing a more harmonious and effective governance structure. Kisii County Commissioner Tom Anjere said the budget is a key instrument for the execution of government economic policies and reflects the government’s priorities, shared values, and a vision for a better tomorrow. Anjere noted that public participation is an essential component of a healthy and vibrant democracy that ensures the decisions made in the forum are informed, just, and representative of the diverse voices that make up our society. ‘We must acknowledge that inclusivity is the cornerstone of public participation and therefore, we must seek out and engage those whose voices have been marginalized or remain unheard in the past,’ added the CC. In agriculture, some of the proposals by the participants included the continuous supply of subsidised fertiliser, improved cattle and poultry breeds for farmers and employment of Agricultural extension officers. The residents also requested the construction of the soapstone factory for value-addition, a sugar factory, partnerships with agricultural investors, and the operationalisation of the Kiamokama cooler plant among others under the trade and industry sector. Under the education sector, the residents proposed the additional employment of teachers, improvement of school infrastructure and additional special needs schools to cater for special needs students among others. The budget-making process is anchored in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Public Finance Management Act 2012. As such, preparing the budget for the financial year 2024/2025 and the medium-term budget was launched on August 15 2023, in line with Article 220 of the Constitution and sections 35 (e) and 36 of the Public Finance Management Act of 2012. Public participation, good governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, and sustainable development are some of the key national values and principles of government recognized in Article 10 of the Constitution. Further, Article 201 (a) reiterates the need for openness, accountability, and public participation in financial matters.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A family in Machakos is seeking answers on what became of their child who was scheduled for a minor surgery and ended up dead at Machakos Level 5 hospital. Mr Nicholas Kyalo, the father of the 6-year-old boy while speaking to the media outside the hospital, said their son had a small cyst on his hand and the doctors had planned a minor surgery to remove it. He said they arrived at the hospital on October 25 and the child went in for surgery then after 30 minutes the doctor came out and said the child had developed complications and was rushed to the ICU. Kyalo went on to add that they were not given any further details and decided to camp at the hospital for several days as their son’s condition critically deteriorated. The family has demanded answers from the doctors and hospital authorities because they brought in the child in good condition and they do not understand how he ended up in the ICU. ‘We demanded to see the doctor who operated on our child because we suspect he was not qualified to perform the surgery and our son was in good condition when we came,’ added Kyalo. He said they were later informed the child had died after staying in the ICU for 6 days and with no clear report on what transpired when he went in for the surgery. The father claims the hospital authorities had refused to share any details of the doctor who performed the surgery and were not answering any questions regarding what happened to their son. ‘We just want the truth and we ask the government to intervene so that we find out what really happened,’ lamented the father. Machakos Executive in charge of Health Dr Daniel Yumbya while speaking to the press, confirmed that the child came for an operation where there were complications and they admitted him in the ICU. Yumbya said that they are bound by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act to treat patient information as confidential and the doctors and nurses who have treated the patient are bound by law not to discuss the patient’s condition with the media. The health CEC said as a county they reported the case to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists council which is mandated by law to look into cases of medical malpractices and medical negligence. ‘The case was forwarded to the KMPD and the family has been well briefed and we sympathize with them because the child was brought not in critical condition but complications occurred,’ added Dr. Yumbya. He emphasized that the medical personnel who were involved during the operation are qualified, registered and licensed by the KMPD.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has embraced a multi-faceted approach to revamp the country’s digital economy through massive investments in infrastructure and policies. State Department for Information Communication Technology and The Digital Economy Principal Secretary Engineer John Tanui said the government has further launched a number of initiatives to promote digital skills development, such as the Ajira Digital programme while also rolling out digital architecture like the National Broadband Strategy. He announced that going digital will be a game-changer in transforming the economy, creation of the much-needed jobs and in driving financial and economic inclusion. Speaking when he officially unveiled the Nakuru -Regional Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), the Principal Secretary said the government is establishing digital laboratories in the country to enable the students and the youth acquire digital skills for them to secure local and international job opportunities. The Principal Secretary added that the digital skilling programme is part of the Kenya Kwanza government manifesto to transform the economy. Engineer Tanui pointed out that the digital space was becoming increasingly important as a potential pathway to socio-economic development and employment creation in Africa, given the continent’s unique status as a region with the youngest population but the highest youth unemployment rate. Kenya has a young and growing population with more than half of the citizens aged under 35 years, a situation the Principal Secretary noted presents an opportunity to boost the economy and create jobs. Engineer Tanui said the platforms are the best solution in addressing unemployment among the youth. He exuded confidence that the setting up of digital hubs in all the 1,450 wards across the country will bring massive benefits once fully implemented. These hubs, he pointed out, will not only be instrumental in provision of digitized government services, they will enable innovative youths to tap the rapidly growing global e-commerce and digital economy for jobs and to boost their enterprises. ‘Besides provision of high-speed internet connection, the hubs are designed to offer cutting-edge technical facilities and services which include meeting rooms, event and training spaces. Entrepreneurs and small businesses will also be able to interact and network which will help in sharing ideas and insights regarding their respective sectors. With such features, the centres have a huge potential to turn the tide of widespread unemployment in the country,’ Engineer Tanui pointed out. With formal employment becoming a challenge, the Principal Secretary said, digital programmes would widen opportunities of the youth who acquire new skills, in accessing the job market. ‘Due to scarce formal jobs, the digital platforms present a solution to unemployment of youth. They can work from their homes and earn up to Sh200,000 which is good money to sustain themselves and their families. The only existing job in the world is in digital and the government is committed to supporting youths with digital technologies to secure jobs,’ he said. Engineer Tanui was flanked by Data Protection Commissioner Ms Immaculate Kassait and County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara. He indicated that the government has identified technology as the centre-piece of its plans aimed at fostering job creation. This, added the Principal Secretary, explains why Kenya Kwanza administration is focusing on projects such as digital superhighway, Konza Technopolis, digital hubs in wards, and free Wi-Fi in markets and trading centres. Engineer Tanui disclosed that Konza has made admirable progress, inching closer to being a reality. Besides generating thousands of jobs, the smart city, alongside other digital initiatives will cement Kenya’s profile as a Silicon Savannah. ‘The projects that are currently ongoing in Konza are an Intelligent Transport System and Integrated Control Centre, the establishment of a Startup Ecosystem and the development of Smart Logistics. The government has also allocated Sh5.74 billion for construction of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, a digital university domiciled within the Konza Technopolis,’ The university will train and produce graduates of science, technology and innovation as part of the government’s interventions to drive digital transformation through skills enhancement. Under the country’s digital masterplan, Konza is also tasked with driving promotion of cloud services and data management. Ms Kassait observed that there was a need for more public awareness and innovations to ensure personal data and privacy is protected by firms in the fast-evolving digital space. According to the Commissioner there was a need for individuals, organizations, and governments to take measures to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of personal data adding that proper implementation of privacy policies will ensure consumers and citizens have more control over their data collection practices and can feel confident when sharing information with third parties. According to the 2021 Amnesty International and Open Institute opinion poll public understanding of the risks of invasive collection of personal data was dismal. That poll found 67 percent of Kenyans were unaware of the Data Protection Act and only 46 per cent were aware of their right to privacy. From Left-Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara, Principal Secretary State Department for Information technology and Digital Economy Engineer John Tanui and Data Protection Commissioner Ms Immaculate Kassait during the official unveiling of the Nakuru -Regional Office of The Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC). In Kenya, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is mandated to implement and enforce the Data Protection Act, 2019 and its regulations. Ms Kassait indicated that her office had made strides in ensuring that Kenyans are not only aware of the existence of data protection laws and their rights but also putting into place mechanisms aimed at enabling easy and cost-effective legal compliance and exercise of the protected rights. Notably, the ODPC has a working website through which any person can register as a data controller/data processor or file a complaint for a breach of personal data. The website also carries useful resources including the relevant laws and regulations and guidelines on issues such as data protection impact assessments, consents, registration of data controllers and data processors, and complaints management. The Nakuru office will serve as a central hub for data protection services in the region, providing guidance and support to organizations and individuals in understanding and complying with data protection regulations. She announced that the Office has since established its presence in Huduma Centres in Nyeri, Garissa and Eldoret and is working on establishing more offices across ten additional regions across the country, which she said was a testament to their commitment to regulating the processing of personal data and protecting the privacy rights of our citizens. Ms Kassait observed that technological innovations have created a new borderless world which contains a data ecosystem with information on every aspect of individuals’ lives. The growth and collection of personal data she added posed a continual challenge to devise new data management and processing capabilities to keep pace with the ever-increasing data resource and technological advancements. ‘The ability to harness the value of this data is critical for businesses and this challenge requires a collective multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach to find a balance between privacy and innovation. The protection of an individual’s privacy in relation to processing of personal data is a fundamental right,’ added the Commissioner. Ms Kassait observed that whilst data protection is still a new conversation in the African context, the objective of data protection frameworks is to give citizens more control over their personal data and increase accountability of institutions that hold personal data. The Kenyan digital transformation agenda, noted the Commissioner, recognizes data as key enabler of digital trade to spur our economic growth, and an enabling data protection framework inspires confidence and trust for businesses to thrive. ‘By bringing the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner closer to people, we aim to create more solid partnerships and foster a culture of data protection, enhance inclusivity and accessibility of data protection services to the public. I am happy to note that we as a country and especially industry have begun to appreciate and have discussions around personal data privacy and what that would mean for the reputation of an institution.’ She said on the other hand her office has also witnessed an increase in citizenry awareness on data privacy and Kenyans were now taking more control over their personal data. However, she indicated more still needs to be done and that the Office has planned various public awareness initiatives targeting the citizens at the grassroots level on an awareness campaign on matters of data protection compliance requirements, data registration, and the rights of citizens in collecting, accessing and retrieving their personal data. The ODPC is a government institution mandated with the regulation of the processing of personal data to provide for the rights of data subjects and obligations of data controllers and processors for connected purposes. The office was established by the Data Protection Act of 2019. ODPC Act 2019 regulates the collection, processing and storage of personal data by both government and private organizations.The Act also establishes an ecosystem of rights and obligations that operationalizes the right to privacy enshrined in the Kenyan constitution. Ms Kassait emphasized that citizens had the right to be informed, the right to access their personal data, the right to correction and the right to deletion in order to protect their privacy.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government is set to establish a fully-fledged Immigration office in Kericho County to serve South Rift residents who have for years endured lengthy journeys to acquire passports and other essential travel documents from the neighbouring counties. Speaking to the media at the Kericho Huduma Centre where the new Immigration offices will be situated, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Amb. Prof. Julius Kibet Bitok announced that the office will be adequately equipped to ensure smooth running of immigration and citizen services. The Immigration PS stressed that the forthcoming Immigration office will alleviate the strain on Kisumu and Eldoret regional offices and also bring about substantial savings in terms of both time and travel expenses for passports applicants. ‘We have assessed the building, the space available, the logistics required and I am delighted to announce that we are set to unveil our plan for a new Immigration office in Kericho town, which will be operational from 1st January next year,’ said Prof. Bitok. He explained that the department will be able to facilitate efficient travel and immigration regulations for citizens including issuance of passports, work permits and citizenship services. ‘Additionally, during my visit around the services offered at the Kericho Huduma Centre, I had the pleasure of stopping by the Civil Registration Services (CRS) Kenya desk, which I learnt, diligently processed approximately 60 passports each day,’ Prof Bitok added. Meanwhile the PS assured that the government has already dealt with the pertinent issue of delays in issuance of passports countrywide saying that six hundred thousand booklets will be available in the country for possessing of passports promising that applicants will be able to receive passports within 14 days. ‘There has been a challenge in the issuance of passports due to insufficient passport booklets occasioned by closure of companies that manufacture the booklets during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the government has now sorted out the situation.’ The Immigration PS was accompanied by the Kericho Senator, Aaron Cheruiyot, and Ainamoi MP Amb. Benjamin Langat who was equally delighted that South Rift residents would benefit from the new Immigration office. ‘The government is encouraging Kenyans to apply for passports and get the opportunity to travel and work abroad and therefore this office will play a significant role,’ said Senator Cheruiyot.

Source: Kenya News Agency