Day: March 30, 2024

The National Research Fund (NRF) in collaboration with the British Council has launched the Kenya National Research Repository (NRR) that will serve as a central open access digital hub for the country’s rich research outputs.

The central platform themed ‘Digital Research Outputs, Empowering Innovations: Accelerating a Sustainable Research Ecosystem’ will enable people to access research information produced in Kenya in the thematic areas of Land, water and energy.

Speaking during the launch, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research Dr. Beatrice Inyangala said the National Research Repository marks a significant step towards a training of what has been set out in the journey towards a knowledge best society in the realization of the national development goal.

She said that NRR embraces the potential of the transparency power of an open space repository and publishing movement that would make research available while engaging in a robust conversation with the development p
artner in a mechanism that enables awareness creation on the National Research Repository.

Inyangala added that NRR will also distract the capacity of such a repository to facilitate new and vast leadership, visibility and impact for the beneficiaries of NRF partners of such a project as well as research sponsored by the agencies.

‘I wish to reiterate that the government is keen in adopting the policy of an open and access policy fund using public funds,’ she said, and added that the commitment is rooted in the belief that public funded research should be accessible to all in order to maximize its impact by fueling innovation.

The PS reiterated the government’s determination to align with international agreement and policies that promote the digitalization of knowledge.

She further noted that the open and access movement is supported by a free international market which include the Berlin declaration on open access to knowledge in the sciences and humanities and UNESCO recommendation on object Science amo
ng others.

The PS while acknowledging all partners who have walked the journey with NRF by turning a dream of a National Database into a tangible reality said the platform will revolutionize the way people discriminate against research findings.

‘An expanded hope of research as a country will provide an opportunity of advancing research to achieve the National development goal as articulated in the Bottom up Economic Transformation Agenda which include healthcare, agricultural transformation, affordable housing and creative economy,’ said the PS.

She noted that the repository will empower stakeholders across all sectors with the knowledge needed to drive the data leaving a sustainable economic development and social transformation besides enhancing the quality for health, education and research.

Inyangala who urged NRF to remain committed to the long-term success and sustainability of the repository, also called on stakeholders to support the repository to realize its noble, since collaboration will help
in ensuring that the repository becomes a cornerstone in a pursuit of a knowledge driven economy.

‘The government will allocate additional funds for its operation as well as other research activities to enable NRF to recruit requisite human personnel to coordinate the processes,’ she assured.

Inyangala reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment in providing support to NRF in the journey, in order to harness the power and access to unlock the potential of the nation’s research and innovation.

In her remark, the Head of Education, British Council Monica Blagescu said British Council is committed to build and improve international partnerships for research collaboration, knowledge exchange and scientific outreach, increasing trust and building long-term relationship between researcher communities, policymakers and public audience since they focus on excellence, inclusivity and trust in research.

‘In a context where much of the research in Kenya remains in analogue form, a digital open access platform can help brea
k barrier to international collaboration by participating in international research projects and initiatives,’ she stated.

She added that Kenyan institutions and researchers can leverage their expertise and resources to contribute to global knowledge and to address shared challenges.

Blagescu said that digitalizing knowledge and making it readily available will make the repository to improve its accessibility and help accelerate progress to the young entrepreneurs who will be inspired by research in accessing evidence to help them identify market opportunity and generate new ideas for new ventures that solve problems.

‘Policy makers who will easily access and use evidence-based research will make informed decision and develop effective policies to address societal challenges,’ she added.

Chairman National Research Fund Prof. Ratemo Michieka said NRF is looking forward to getting information that can be kept private, of which it will choose what must be protected and what will be going out.

‘The resource
for repository will serve as a dynamic platform for designation of knowledge and preservation of output for Kenya that can be shared,’ he stated.

Prof. Michieka urged stakeholders to take note on Sustainable Development Goals Number 17 to enable them be informed of what must be shared and what must be protected, adding that Universities must make a difference by ensuring what they select is important to the Nation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, John Kiarie has called for affirmative action for an inclusive and equitable data representation in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

Speaking during the just ended 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, the Dagoretti South Member of Parliament noted that AI has a great potential impact on Africa democracy and human rights during the 4th industrial revolution.

‘When we are having a conversation about AI, human rights and democracy, you understand why Africa would be walking into this very cautiously. We do not want to walk into this blindly, we want to walk into it vigilantly.

The lessons from the past have taught us that there are developments that can be exploitative to individuals, to communities and even to countries and now that we know that A.I and indeed the 4th industrial revolution will be fueled by data, the question begs what does the data representation look like as we go int
o this new 4th industrial revolution,’ said Kiarie.

He noted that the stationing of data centers in the southern hemisphere is very disenfranchised adding that a close look at history depicts that Africa has passed its indigenous knowledge, their beliefs and cultures from one generation to the other orally.

‘It has not been recorded, not in numbers and not in words. Indigenous data that is not in our books, is not in libraries and is not even in the internet from which that A.I systems are scraping data out of,’ said Kiarie.

The Chair noted that in the context of AI and democracy and human rights, Parliaments must advocate for affirmative actions that ensure inclusivity and equity in the principle of leaving nobody behind.

‘We’ve got to ask ourselves, if this data that is being scraped off the internet is what shall fuel the Artificial intelligence. What are some of the communities contributing into this data, does it mean that some religions, some cultures, some beliefs, some tribes, some languages are g
oing to go extinct in this new age of the industrial revolution that we are calling the forth industrial revolution?’ he paused

He noted that Kenya is working to institute 1,450 digital innovation hubs across all wards in the country so that the public can contribute into adding into the data that shall be used in the development of AI and Machine Learning.

He further pointed out that the country has already developed a very robust Kenya Privacy and Data Protection Law and is looking towards working on an A.I policy and pursuing the installation of green data centers where he appealed for partnership with countries in the global South in establishing more data centers.

‘We’ve got a lot of wind. We’ve got a lot of solar. We’ve got a lot of geothermal energy that can power data centers that will help in balancing out the data imbalance and inequality we are currently seeing.

Otherwise, we shall see Africa being condemned into digital plantations, a keen to the plantations that were there in the time of coff
ee, in the time of tea, in the time of cotton and we cannot expect that it will happen automatically. We have to work affirmatively to ensure that we leave nobody behind,’ added Kia

The General Assembly that brought together 186 parliaments from all over the world earning the tag the Parliament of Parliaments took place on 23-27 March 2024. The General Debate focused on the overall theme ‘Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding’ and provided a platform for delegates to deliberate, exchange views and galvanize parliamentary action in this area.

It will adopt resolutions on the emergency item and on the subject items taken up by the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security entitled Addressing the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapon systems and artificial intelligence and by the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development entitled Partnerships for climate action: Promoting access to affordable green energy, and ensuring innovation, responsibility an
d equity.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kisii County Woman Representative Dorice Aburi has encouraged parents to engage their children in productive activities during the upcoming April holidays to curb negative vices such as teenage pregnancies and FGM.

Speaking at an event dubbed Donya Charity Mission by the Woman Rep held at Bobaracho primary school’s grounds in Kisii Central Sub-County, Ms. Aburi noted that teenagers were not enlightened on gender-based violence (GBV) issues and could easily be taken advantage of during the school break.

‘Our girls are not getting enough education on GBV and cases of early pregnancies and FGM still remain high in our region. As such, parents must take the responsibility of educating their children on these issues,’ said the Woman Rep.

She challenged the parents to refrain from engaging the girls in outlawed activities such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and instead, support their academic journey to ensure they excel in school.

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, teenage pregnancy
rate stands at 14 percent in Kisii and the county is among the counties with the highest numbers of pregnancies reported among girls aged between 10 and 19 years.

The report cites some of the causes of teenage pregnancies to include poverty, Sexual Gender-Based Violence, low levels of education, harmful cultural practices, and extended school closures.

The area MCA Ibrahim Ongubo (Bobaracho Ward) and his counterparts Ismael Matundura (Bogiakumu Ward) and Bouse Mairura (Masimba Ward) lauded the Woman Rep for her development initiatives.

‘We are very proud that for the first time, the office of the Woman Rep is working closely with the MCAs and we will continue to support such initiatives,’ said Mairura.

During the event, thousands of residents also received food and clothing donations and benefited from a free medical camp courtesy of the office of the Woman Representative and its partners.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o has urged the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to rein in unscrupulous insurance companies, brokers and agents.

He observed that many Kenyans pay premiums every month, daily or annually but have very little knowledge of on operations of the insurance industry and end up losing their money to brokers.

‘Several Kenyans have lost their hard-earned cash to fake insurance brokers, unprofessional lawyers and corrupt ambulance chasers just because they lack the prerequisite knowledge on insurance policies,” Nyong’o decried in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Governor Dr.Mathew Owili during the official launch of the Kisumu County Insurance Open Day held at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Ground.

According to the County boss, the State regulator must be vigilant as con men and con women are prowling the sector and are trying to take advantage of lack of knowledge on issues pertaining to insurance to rob innocent members of the public.

To save the insurance
industry, he suggested that the IRA should now sharpen their knives and cut to smithereens the rogue players in it. He added that the authority should seize this moment and demystify the simple terms, and the intricacies of the insurance sector.

The IRA staff, Nyong’o pointed out, must create awareness for those who have limited knowledge of insurance on the difference between life,non-life and Re-Insurance. The people ought to be educated on terms such as Risk Managers, Insurance Brokers and Motor Assessments.

‘How, for example, how should a common mwananchi differentiate between a genuine and a fake motor vehicle insurance sticker?” he wondered.

He urged the people of Kisumu to take up insurance and to stop viewing it as a -nice-to-have-easy-to-discard product, as he further appealed to IRA to organize more outreaches and awareness campaigns.

Official government records indicate a moderate growth trajectory for the insurance industry with general insurance dominating the market at about 60 percent. Des
pite economic hard times ignited by COVID-19, market dynamics show that there is an increase in uptake of insurance in the country.

Prof Nyong’o lauded IRA for creating a rare chance for government agencies to market their vast services to the people of Kisumu and the region. The Open Day, he continued, is of great economic importance to the residents as the lessons learnt especially in insurance relations will result in life-changing financial decisions.

While recalling that a similar exercise was organized by the State Authority in 2021, Nyong’o stressed that he regards such occasions as very educative, and important social and economic gatherings which should be held for longer periods (3-4 days). The large turn-out by the residents is a clear testimony that through education they will make informed decisions on insurance.

Geoffrey Kiptum, IRA CEO and the Board thanked the county for accepting to partner with it in organizing and gracing the occasion.

‘IRA was established in 2007 and its mandate is to
regulate, supervise and internalize the insurance industry. Currently, we have 56 licensed insurance companies operating as a group or single representation,” said Kiptum in a speech read on his behalf by Abel Matoke, Senior Manager for Consumer Education (IRA).

In Kisumu County, he said, 25 licensed insurance companies have employed the local people to empower the region’s economy and the country at large. In addition, IRA has brokers as part of the team and has so far licensed five Reinsurance companies across the country.

He further divulged that in the insurance industry, the IRA is ranked fifth in Africa and continues to play a critical role in the region.

Some of the challenges facing IRA is the low uptake of insurance and penetration which is attributed to negative perceptions and publicity. To allay these fears, the State agency has been at the forefront of creating awareness among the people.

‘Our agencies are offering various insurance products such as health, education, and motor in the market
. Kisumu County is number five on the roll in terms of insurance business in the country after Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kiambu,” Kiptum explained.

IRA have rolled out similar events to educate the citizenry in Mombasa, and their next pitch will be Nakuru. Prof. Nyong’o encouraged them to open their offices in all of the 47 counties.

Over 33 stakeholders from the insurance and public sector were present to showcase their services. IRA is using the Open Day as a strategic approach to enhance consumer education, awareness and understanding of insurance by the citizens

Source: Kenya News Agency