Day: March 2, 2024

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County Enacts Bylaw To Safeguard Environment And Regulate Sand Harvesting


Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe assented to the Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilization and Conservation Bill 2023, which will curb the destruction of river basins and the environment due to unregulated sand harvesting.

Speaking during the ceremony in his office in Kitui town, Malombe regretted the adverse consequences of sand harvesting include the wanton destruction of the environment and local seasonal rivers.

Some of the adverse consequences caused by the massive destruction of the environment due to illegal sand harvesting, the governor mentioned include receding water tables, drying up of rivers, unstable river banks, and unchecked floods, leading to destruction of property, farmlands, crops and, in some cases, the loss of human life and breakdown of societal norms.

‘Among the severely affected rivers are Kivou, Tiva, Nzeeu, Mutendea, Mwitasyano, Tyaa, Nguutani, Enziu, and Mwania,’ he noted.

He observed that owing to the proximity of the county to big cities, urban centers, mushrooming settleme
nts, the high quality of the county sand, and good road network connectivity, Kitui County has in the recent past experienced an ever-increasing demand for her naturally occurring sand.

The governor emphasized that the assent of the bill aligns with constitutional requirements, citing Articles 69 and 70, which outline individual and collective contributions and roles in environmental conservation.

‘The absence of a legislative framework had led to resource-based conflicts, environmental destruction, unequal benefit sharing, socio-economic disruptions, and increased poverty,’ the Kitui County government boss added.

The newly enacted law, the governor stated, addresses these challenges and stands as a testament to his commitment outlined in his manifesto to uphold environmental protection and conservation.

Speaking during the occasion, Kitui Central Sub County Commissioner (DCC) Dorcus Rono welcomed the new Bill and promised that national government, through the office of the County Commissioner, will suppo
rt and cooperate with the county government in enforcing the new Act to the letter.

The DCC lamented the wanton destruction due to unregulated sand harvesting at local seasonal rivers, the surrounding environment and also regretted the high cost being incurred by both governments in mitigating the destruction caused by unregulated sand harvesting in the county.

‘County Commissioner’s office will work jointly with the county government to ensure the new regulations as stipulated in the Conservation Bill 2023 and meant to address massive destruction of our environment are adhered to,’ madam Rono said.

Commending the collaborative efforts behind the legislation, County Assembly Speaker Kinengo Katisya termed the law a product of the joint endeavors of the people of Kitui, the County Assembly, and the executive.

He applauded the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) for prioritizing the interests of the people and contributing to the realization of a sustainable and environmentally conscious Kitui County.

Th
e Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilization and Conservation Bill 2023 signals a significant step forward in ensuring the responsible use of natural resources, protecting the delicate balance of ecosystems, and promoting the well-being of Kitui residents.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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KEPSA Partners With GIZ To Implement Dual TVET Training Program


The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has partnered with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International (GIZ) to implement the Dual TVET training program that combines apprenticeship within companies and vocational education.

The program will train students on industry skills while still learning in colleges and matching businesses with the right skills to improve their productivity and enhance employee retention rates.

Principal Secretary for the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr. Esther Muoria, said that the partnership aims to strengthen and collaborate with states, among them Germany and Finland, between the public, private and established development partners as well as the industries through the dual training program.

She added that competency-based education and training curricula is an approach that emphasizes the participation of practical skills from which students will gain work experience from KEPSA members.

‘The government has provided state-of-the-
art equipment in TVET institutions as a main means of using the institutional practice experience for the implementation of the idea,’ she said.

The PS made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by the Policy and Strategy Director of TVET in the State Department of TVET Mr. Joseph Njau, during the official opening of the Dual TVET Training Program Partnership 2024 held at a Nairobi hotel.

Muoria said dual training, also known as the working technique of learning, is a model that combines green jobs learning in practical work experience, which comprises 70 percent of training in the industry and 50 percent in given institutions.

‘The dual program bridges the gap between dual practice for ensuring that trainees are equipped with the skills and competencies in the rapidly developing country moving for the labor market,’ Muoria said.

She noted that the concept of dual training has been implemented in several developed countries for a decade and has been a stronger strategy for imparting practical skills,
as well as being one of the best in training students in the industry.

‘TVET institutions by 2026 will bring about other components that will ensure that after the project there will be still sustainability,’ said the PS.

Muoria announced that her Ministry has set up industries to support skills which will focus on linkages, industrial training, and integrations as a way of supporting graduates with given skills for international and local trade labor market.

She at the same time, added that dual training is an important initiative as it will bridge the gap between the industry’s needs, trainees, and employment.

Speaking at the event, Counselor-Skills and Development and Job Creation, Embassy of Finland, Matts Weurlander, said that the collaboration between partners is crucial because it will equip trainees with skills that will lead to employment for young people according to the industry needs in TVET.

Weurlander said the project aims to solve the skills that students receive, noting that with the dyna
mic world that keeps on changing, students need to have skills that support flexibility to move and remain innovative.

‘Partnership with private sectors is essential as it enables people to go far and also foster the collaboration that is relevant in today’s world,’ he said.

The Director of Youth and Jobs at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Dr. Ehud Gachugu, said that the private sector aims to promote job creation by giving graduates skills besides bringing together businesses.

He added that TVET should not navigate complex training without skills that are relevant to the job market.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Over 15,000 Students To Benefit From Sh59.2 Million-Bursary Kitty


Kirinyaga Central National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has disbursed Sh59.2 million to cater for school fees for all successful applicants this financial year.

This is the highest allocation to education ever in the constituency since the inception of NG-CDF where over 15,000 students in various stages and institutions will receive a share of the funds.

While launching the disbursement, Kirinyaga Central Member of Parliament (MP) Gachoki Gitari said he is committed to supporting education by all means possible.

He said that all students in day school will each get Sh5,000 while those in boarding schools will receive Sh6,000. Those boarding outside the county and in institutions of higher learning will get Sh10,000.

Gitari urged principals of schools to dedicate their time to students and add value to the education system by providing information toward the creation of plans and policies aimed at improving education.

‘My commitment to supporting education will continue, not only in b
ursary allocation but also in ensuring that the infrastructure is of the required standard,’ Gitari said.

‘However, I warn parents trying to compromise the application process by duplicating forms and interchanging names that they will not benefit from the bursary’, the MP cautioned.

Lucy Mbai, Director Education, Kirinyaga Central sub-county, acknowledged the top performance of Kirinyaga Central sub-county in academics compared to the other four sub-counties and lauded the area MP’s passion for education.

She called upon parents to respond when called to attend school functions as it forms part of vital engagements with education stakeholders. She also appreciated principals who have been kind enough to retain students who have fee challenges in school until the bursary is disbursed.

Ms. Mbai appreciated assistant chiefs who were instrumental in achieving 100 percent transition government policy. She requested for construction of more classrooms based on demand as some schools accommodate up to 70 studen
ts against the approved standard of 45 in a classroom.

Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Kirinyaga Central, Joseph Murethi, said identification and nurturing of talents should be considered to take advantage of skills that children have. He attributed the inability to raise fees to the use of alcohol, assuring that the security officers are doing all possible to eradicate alcoholism and drug abuse in the county.

He encouraged students to join technical and vocational colleges to acquire employable skills and urged those wishing to take advantage of labour migration to get skills from such institutions which have now been established in all sub-counties.

‘The government is investing resources in technical institutions; I expect many of your children to join them to acquire technical skills and take advantage of jobs in foreign countries currently being sought by the government,’ DCC Mureithi said.

Kirinyaga Central Technical and Vocational College Principal Charity Mugo who attended the function disclosed t
hat applications are ongoing and interested applicants can access application via Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), noting that successful applicants can get financial aid from HELB among other scholarships.

Joseph Maina and Joseph Wanjiru, parents of beneficiaries of the bursary, thanked the CDF board saying their children can return to school after the ongoing mid-term holiday without school fees worries.

They acknowledged the role of the NG-CDF in the development of schools, especially the construction of laboratories.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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PS Kisiangani Appeals For More Funding To Accelerate Government Communication And Digital Agenda


The Principal Secretary, the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani, has made an impassioned appeal for increased budgetary allocations by Parliament to accelerate and drive government communications and digital transformation agenda.

Kisiang’ani said injection of more funding will enable the government’s crucial agencies to facilitate the achievement of digitization and digitalization as well as aligning communication of government achievements to the masses.

The PS decried the huge budget deficit of Sh8 billion facing the key state department which he said is delaying the much-needed digital footprint to ease delivery and access of government services as well as linking underserved communities to digital products and services.

Speaking in Naivasha during an engagement session with National Assembly Committee on ICT, the PS appealed to the committee members to re-engineer and overhaul budgetary allocation to the Ministry to hasten the deployment, adoption, and m
igration to digital technology.

In addition, Prof. Kisiang’ani noted that the state department is at the nerve centre of the pathway to the achievement of the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda and therefore should be funded adequately to achieve its targets on time.

Kisiang’ani said more resources will enable the crucial modernization program of key government agencies, including Kenya News Agency, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and Kenya Postal Corporation, to turn around their operations and ensure they achieve their mandates including on government communication strategy.

He added that extra funding will enable the completion of stalled projects such as the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Eldoret Campus, as well as accelerate the Studio Mashinani project that aims to harness the creative potential of the youth across the country.

Prof. Kisiang’ani called for the referencing of the communication budget to cushion it from being affected by supplementary budget cuts which hamper the op
erations and the much-needed modernization programs.

‘The Kenya News Agency lost over Sh100 million through supplementary budget cuts affecting the modernization of its offices, procurement of modern equipment and streamlining their operations and therefore I call to protect the fund,’ said the PS.

Kisiang’ani acknowledged the department’s achievements despite the low funding, including preparing more than 153 news briefs, 3600 television items, 24 regional online publications, and 16,869 print news items thus far, this year.

The PS at the same time appealed for Sh1 billion to facilitate the implementation of the newly approved Ministry Scheme of Service Structure that aims to reorganize, re-engineer, and enhance the efficiency of operations and officers.

To reduce the huge pending bills facing the state department to the tune of Sh1.5 billion, Kisiang’ani said he has initiated payment of bills with priority given to bills accrued in the last two years.

Consequently, he said the Ministry is updating its
legal and policy framework to launch the sector to emerging issues and guide the adoption of new technology, including the review of the Kenya Information and Communication Act, Kenya Postal Corporation Act, and National Communication Policy and Strategy, among others.

‘The review of these acts will help reform the sector, address emerging issues, and reignite regulations and the efficiency of agencies to achieve their mandates as expected,’ said Kisiang’ani.

Committee chair John Kiarie acknowledged the huge budget deficit facing the Ministry noting that the committee will consider priority areas of funding within the current budget ceilings.

Source: Kenya News Agency