Day: January 29, 2024

The NGO Council of Kenya has called for harmony and a close working relationship between various arms of government for enhanced growth and development in the country.

The council lauded the recent meeting between President William Ruto and various arms of government, the Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary welcoming the truce between the Executive and the judiciary.

‘We welcome the meeting by President William Ruto and Chief Justice Martha Koome and their willingness to work for the benefit of the beloved nation and its people,’ said National Council of NGOs-Kenya National Chairman Stephen Cheboi.

He continued, ‘We urge the various arms of government to work together in harmony for the good of the nation. It is positive and encouraging to note that the arms of various arms of government have decided to put aside their differences for the sake of the country.’

Cheboi, in a statement to newsrooms, said that as a Council they are both impressed and encouraged by the two sides agreeing to put aside the
ir differences and work as a unit for the future stability and prosperity of the country.

Cheboi said that Kenya is a law-abiding country that is governed by the rule of law and everyone must follow the rule of law devoid of corruption and favoritism.

‘We fully appreciate that the key role played by both arms is crucial. We also laud the government’s willingness to obey court orders and the same should be reciprocated by the judiciary which should appreciate projects being launched that serve the majority public interests. As a Council, we hope that leaders will continue working together for the peace and stability of the nation. We urge all Kenyans to coexist together with one another everywhere in the country,’ said Cheboi.

He said that National Council of NGOs shall remain a natural body working for the greater interest of the Kenyan nation and its people.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia is revamping the patent system, aiming to encourage globally competitive inventions and foster development and prosperity, according to the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority.

Today, the European Patent Office and the authority organized a Symposium on Ethiopia’s Patent Reforms; meeting with government, industry, and academic institutions.

Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority Director-General Woldu Yemessel on the occasion said his authority is revamping the nation’s patent system aiming to encourage globally competitive inventions and facilitate development and prosperity.

Recognizing the crucial role of intellectual property in fostering innovation, the authority is actively collaborating with the European Patent Office to modernize Ethiopia’s patent landscape.

The authority’s multifaceted reforms encompass revising the patent proclamation, establishing a framework for protecting traditional knowledge, developing a geospatial information proclamation, and crafting a Nat
ional Intellectual Property Policy Strategy.

These initiatives aim to create a robust and comprehensive intellectual property ecosystem that fosters creativity, protects inventors’ rights, and attracts foreign investment, it was learned.

European Patent Office has been supporting the authority to revise the patent proclamation and connecting Ethiopian universities with European patent system resources, he pointed out.

So far, two Ethiopian universities are connected to these resources and eight more will be added to the list, he stated.

To improve the patent system, the authority has embarked on a revision of the patent proclamation, a draft of traditional knowledge and geospatial proclamation, it was learned.

European Patent Office Regional Desk Coordinator Nicholas Kornig said his office will continue to strengthen support to the authority to improve the patent system.

The office is successful in the patent issues registration and will share that experience with Ethiopia, he added.

Since its inceptio
n, the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority has registered 658 patents.

Justice State Minister Ermias Yemanebirhan said revising the patent law which was in effect for decades is crucial to encourage competitive innovations that drive the country’s development plans.

The reforms the authority has been undertaking are key instruments to improve the patent system in the country, he added.

Innovation and Technology State Minister, Foziya Aliyi said innovation plays an irreplaceable role in making Digital Ethiopia a reality.

The patent law that is being revised will bring the government’s efforts in the sector to a higher level and will allow the creation of internationally accepted inventions, she noted.

Creative owners and the country should also get the benefits they deserve from the sector in a proper way, Foziya added.

The ongoing patent reforms and collaborative efforts with the European Patent Office hold immense potential to propel Ethiopia up the rankings and unlock its true innovation potenti
al.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), the sole national wire service in the country will inaugurate its state-of-the-art media complex tomorrow in the presence of high level government officials.

The media complex is equipped with modern media technology and has three television and four radio studios.

The media complex also includes a number of offices, meeting rooms, a library, a recreation center and a modern gymnasium.

ENA, which is the oldest media house is serving as a primary source for more than 80 years in the country.

The agency disseminates news and news-related information to the media outlets operating in the country with the objective to achieve its mission of creating national consensus and promoting the country’s image.

To this end, it continues to be a reliable source of news in domestic and foreign languages. It disseminates news and news related information in Amharic, Afan Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali and Afar languages with 38 branches across the country.

It also reachable in for
eign languages such as English, French and Arabic.

The agency is striving to promote Ethiopia’s image to the external world in English, Arabic and French languages.

ENA is moving towards achieving its vision of becoming a model, reliable and influential news source in Africa by 2030.

It is preparing to open branches in Kenya and Djibouti to expand its services in the East African region.

Established in 1942 as a national wire news center, the Ethiopian News Agency has been gathering, compiling and disseminating news stories to the public through the mass media, websites and various social media platforms.

As the oldest and experienced newscaster in the country, ENA has been disseminating news and related stories, documentary and TV programs through its 38 branch offices across the country.

By Proclamation No. 1115/2019, it has been given the mission of creating national consensus and building the image of the country by being the main source of news at home and abroad.

ENA has continued its journey by
communicating the political, social and economic activities in the country and beyond.

The agency is also anticipated to be in a new phase of height, providing news and news-related reports.

It is to be recalled that a photograph exhibition organized in connection with the 80th anniversary of the news agency was opened in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in March 2022.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: A discussion form held in Italy on the sidelines of Italy- Africa Summit to promote the existing investment opportunities of Ethiopia.

New and prominent Italian companies that have great desire to invest in Ethiopia have participated at the discussion forum organized by Ethiopian Embassy in Italy.

Ethiopian ambassador to Italy, Demity Habissa said on the forum that the forum is vital to help the Italian companies to understand about investment opportunities in Ethiopia.

She also expressed the commitment of the Embassy to provide the necessary support to the investors.

According to the ambassador, efforts are underway to further strengthen the investment, trade and tourism cooperation between Ethiopia and Italy

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Eleven people have been confirmed dead following a grisly road accident at the Othoo area in Nyando Sub-County along the busy Kisumu-Nairobi Highway.

In the 2:30 am incident, a bus belonging to Super Metro Company which was heading to Nairobi from Kampala collided with a lorry.

Confirming the incident, Nyanza Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Allan Mwangi said the driver of the bus was overtaking leading to the head-on collision.

Nyando Sub-County Police Commander Grace Thuo said ten people and a child died on the spot, while scores of others were rushed to Ahero County Hospital and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.

The two vehicles, she said, have been extensively damaged adding that some of the passengers were in a critical condition.

‘At the moment we cannot establish how many passengers were in the bus and the lorry, but we are carrying out investigations,’ she said.

The wreckage of the two vehicles were towed to Ahero police station.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kiambu County residents are utilizing local small businesses, to enhance their living standards amid ongoing hard economic times.

Some of the reasons driving the escalation of small businesses, include the high number of job searchers in the County compared to the very few job opportunities available.

Speaking to one of the street vendors who has been in business for two years in Kiambu town, Elizabeth Kanyara, who sells smokies, boiled eggs and chapatis, the vendor narrated that starting her business was the best decision that she ever made, since she is now able to tend to her basic needs and no longer depend on her relatives to help.

Elizabeth chose to focus on selling food due to her passion for the industry and a desire not to expand her business to a hotel.

Despite her business’s growth, she faces challenges that include harassment from County inspectorate and difficulties in obtaining necessary certificates, due to rogue County officers.

‘I graduated with a diploma about three years ago and after
unsuccessful searching for a job opportunity, I decided to venture into this business, as I needed money to take care of my six year-old son and myself,’ she said

She plans to expand her small business to enable her pay school fees for the child, feeding, and rent, and expanding her sales through two more trollies. Elizabeth records a daily profit of Sh 1,000 to Sh 1,500 on a good day.

The vendor advises that one should consider certain factors for the success of their business, including the location, good customer communication, as well as cleanness in the business place.

Source: Kenya News Agency

About 41 women groups involved in farming in Laikipia have benefited from water tanks, geared towards improving their livelihood and economical sustainability, courtesy of UN Women.

Speaking during the handover of the 80 tanks in Nanyuki, Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said that partnering with women-led organizations would ensure residents benefitted at the household level.

‘Our main aim is improving the livelihood of our people starting from the household level and by providing water tanks, it helps them do water harvesting for kitchen garden farming,’ said the Governor.

He noted that the issuance of tanks was in line with his manifesto, which included giving out 50,000 water tanks, aimed at addressing the water crises in the county.

Irungu said that many families were relying on kitchen gardens for their daily vegetable needs, where the surplus was sold to supplement the family’s daily income.

The Korean International and Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Kenya Director Janghee Im said that apart from farmi
ng, women were sensitized to understand their roles in the society and take up leadership positions.

‘This project model is to change the rural communities through women, and we have selected about 41 women groups from Laikipia, who have been trained and supported with assets aimed at ensuring they get empowered and become independent,’ said Im.

Im said that they were also carrying out similar projects in the counties of West Pokot and Kitui.

KOICA through the UN Women and Food Agricultural Organization had invested about $4.4 million to promote women in the three ASALs counties to practice Climate Smart farming for a four-year period.

Meanwhile, apart from water tanks, the women benefited with 71 dam liners, 117 beehives, 145 honey harvesting suits, eight water pumps and eight shade nets targeting to improve their income.

A beneficiary, Priscilah Miring’u, lauded the empowerment project noting that with the water tanks, it would be easy to store water for farming even during dry spell.

Source: Kenya N
ews Agency