Day: May 14, 2023

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has confirmed two alleged suicides in the Erongo Region over the weekend.

According to NamPol’s Erongo Community Policing Commander, Inspector Ileni Shapumba, in a crime report issued on Saturday, one of the incidents involved a 52-year-old man, identified as Ben Coetzee, who reportedly shot himself in the head with a hunting rifle on Wednesday morning.

The crime report alleges that on Tuesday, the deceased told his landlord that he was going to Walvis Bay to visit and would return the following day.

On Wednesday at about 03h00, the landlord reportedly heard an unusual sound while she was sleeping and awoke to inspect around the house but found nothing and went back to sleep.

“On Thursday, a person who wanted to view the flat in which the deceased lived came by to view the flat but when they could not gain entry after several efforts to contact the deceased, they broke down one of the doors to the flat.

It was after entering the flat that they came across blood flowing from the sleeping room,” Shapumba explained.

The police were then called and found the deceased in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the head and hunting rifle next to him, as well as suicide note.

In a separate incident, the body of 48-year-old Johannes Matheus was also discovered on Saturday at the Swakopmund airport, where he reportedly hung himself from the poles of the airport yard.

The body was taken to Swakopmund State Hospital’s Mortuary for storage.

The next of kin in both incidences were informed of the deaths and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The County Government of Kisii has launched a job creation centre at Gusii Stadium in Kisii town, to help equip the youth with online skills that will enable them get jobs.

The Ajiry Job Centre was unveiled with the aim of opening avenues of employment for the youth, who constitute a majority of the population and continue to struggle for training and employment opportunities.

Speaking during the launch, Kisii Governor, Simba Arati, said technological advancements had turned the world into a global village and it was important to train the youth to embrace the uptake of new technology, so that they can acquire skills that will enable them to cut a niche in the global job market.

The Governor noted that Ajiry is a Progressive Web Application (PWA) designed to provide a platform for entrepreneurial youth to connect and network effortlessly, conveniently and free from the controls of third-party agents with employers.

‘This programme allows the youth to cast a wider net in their search for job opportunities. Ajiry focuses on connecting employers to their desired workforce and this cuts across both the blue-collar and white-collar job sectors,’ Arati said.

The Governor pointed out that the job centre will offer training and mentorship opportunities for the youth and women, so that they become competitive in the job market and participate fully in the digital economy.

He called for the collaboration of the National Government, private sector, and civil society organizations, to ensure the success of the centre, adding that the County is creating a model that can be replicated in other parts of the country and even globally.

International Labour Organization, National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Isaac Muema, noted that while digitalization has brought tremendous benefits to the economy and society, it poses many challenges such as digital divides and unequal employment effects.

Muema said the adoption of technologies and digital transformation had posed the risk of exuberating pre-existing inequalities or even creating new ones, as some jobs are automated and certain skills become less demanded.

He pointed out that technology is alerting the demand for specific tasks and skills and the newly launched Job Centre will provide an opportunity, whereby the right skills, which are demand-driven by the industry will be provided.

The Programme Coordinator said the establishment of the Centre is also a vital step, towards promoting social justice and decent work for all, adding that young people and women will be able to showcase their skills, talents and expertise through the platform.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Murang’a South Deputy County (DCC), Gitonga Murungi, has sent a strong warning to alcoholic drinks outlets, distributors and bar owners who are selling lethal liquor to residents in Murang’a South Sub-County.

The DCC warned that having a liquor license is not enough justification for any dealer to distribute or even sell liquor that is not fit for human consumption.

‘We are aware that there are some brands being stocked around that are dangerously lethal and this must come to an end, and I assure you that we are getting them-off the market,’ he stated

Murungi spoke in Makuyu, when he led the Sub- County’s Liquor Inspection Committee, in inspecting liquor stores and alcoholic drinks establishments in the area.

The inspection aims at regulating the number of alcoholic outlets in order to curb the now prevalent and thorny issue of alcohol, substance abuse and illicit brews trade in the country.

‘We have a high concentration of pubs and bars in Murang’a South and from the inspection we are seeking to reduce the numbers by recommending the establishments for licensing, conditional approval or for total closure,’ noted the DCC

‘For instance, some outlets have been flouting liquors rules and regulations with impunity, some have even been operating beyond the stipulated hours, it is unacceptable for an outlet to sell alcohol from 5am in the morning, yet the hours stipulated in their licenses indicate that they are allowed to operate from 5pm in the evening,’ he said.

The DCC further noted that some of the establishments posed a security risk to residents, while others’ close proximity to learning institutions and residential areas hosting children, is not in line with the liquor regulations.

Murang’a south/Maragua Sub- County leads in the number of alcoholic drinks outlets, as 608 applications for licensing were received whereby 63 have been marked for rejection out of the 120 registered outlets inspected so far.

Kiharu Sub-County follows closely with 598 applications whereby 445 outlets have been inspected so far, 207 have been initially approved, whereas the rest 238 have been rejected.

In Gatanga, 309 have been inspected, 177 have been approved and 132 rejected from the 433 registered outlets applications received.

Mathioya Sub-County and Kangema received the lowest number of applications at 266 and 274 applications respectively whereby in Mathioya 188 outlets have been inspected with only 87 initial approvals whereas Kangema’s 99 outlets have been rejected out of the 210 registered outlets inspected.

In the entire County, a total of 1,775 registered alcoholic drinks establishments have been inspected with 871 facing initial rejection, 899 facing initial approvals out of the 2,982 applications that had been submitted.

The inspection exercise continues.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Farmers have been challenged to come-up with strategies that will help increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to the effects of Climate Change.

Addressing the press at the metrological offices in Kapenguria town, Friday, West Pokot County Metrological Department Director, Wilson Lonyang’ole, urged farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, to boost production.

Lonyangóle regretted that Climate Change has led to pasture deterioration and water insecurity in the region and therefore there was need for farmers to learn how to cope with the situation.

‘Farmers need to cope with the effects of Climate Change, by embracing climate smart activities which include constructing pits for water harvesting, cultivation of drought-tolerant crops, integrated soil fertility management, agroforestry, and conservation of tillage, among other measures,’ he insisted.

He urged farmers in some dry parts of the County that have been experiencing inadequate rainfall perennially to grow climate-resistant grass seeds.

The Weatherman explained that during dry spell seasons, crops tend to undergo a stress known as ‘water stress,’ making it hard for them to survive the effects of bad weather.

Lonyang’ole further encouraged the farmers to keep animals that are able to withstand extreme weather conditions for their domestic and commercial benefits.

He said the County Government was keen on improving the lives of the residents by providing access to climate-smart agriculture practices and discouraged the cutting of trees and charcoal burning.

‘The County Government is doing a lot as of now to find ways to curb the effects of Climate Change across the County. Let us all fight Climate Change. Moreover, we need to have what we call a mindset change,’ Mr. Lonyang’ole advised.

He lauded President William Ruto, for emphasizing the need to increase the forest cover by the year 2032 by planting 15 billion trees to conserve the environment.

The County weatherman said that the biting effects of Climate Change in the County had affected the rainfall pattern, caused floods, increased temperatures, and adversely affected livelihoods.

He at the same time gave a weather advisory for next week, indicating that the County will be experiencing dry weather.

Lanya’gole, however, explained some lowlands and highlands parts of the County will be experiencing occasional showers until the end of the week.

‘We may experience wet spells again around the 17th to 21st of this month, but in few places,’ he noted.

Source: Kenya News Agency