Day: April 27, 2024

A one-week power outage has affected crucial services in Masalani town, Ijara Sub County.

Ijara sub county hospital Medical Officer Dr. Abdimalik Ibrahim said prolonged power failure in the area and also affected water supply at the facility.

Consequently, the various hospital machines had become dormant, hampering laboratory tests and other diagnostic procedures and the eventual prescription of drugs to the patients.

At the same time, the incoming sub county water coordinator Noor Mohamed said due to frequent power outage their water machine and supply of the precious commodity had automatically failed.

He called on the Kenya Power Company to expedite their efforts to restore electricity, noting that without the same it’s not easy to pump and supply water to government facilities and the people.

On his part, the chairman of Masalani watchdog group Abdullahi Abdi expressed fears over a possible outbreak of diseases if the situation persists.

He said the prevailing biting shortage of water had been aggra
vated by the weeklong power outage in Masalani town and its environs.

However, Kenya Power Company operations manager Hezron James said there was a breakdown in Malindi power station, coastal region, due to flooding making several power poles to go down near the Sabaki River.

Hezron appealed to customers in Masalani, Hola, Garsen, charadende and Bura Tana in Tana river County, as well as Bura Fafi in Garissa County to bear with the situation, as engineers have already been dispatched to repair the power lines along Garsen, Malindi and Hola town in Tana river County.

Meanwhile, area residents led the Watchdog group chairman are now calling for immediate opening of a power substation around Masalani with a view to finding a long lasting solution to recurring power problem in the area.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee members have underscored the urgency for prompt action to probe and solve the confusion caused by the overlapping of duties between the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Chair and the Commission as a whole, particularly concerning the functions performed by inspector General (IG) and the ex-officio members of the NPSC.

They also expressed their deep concerns about the rise in reported fatalities among police officers due to depression, instances of inter-officer violence, incidents of suicide, and the confusion caused by the overlapping of duties.

Speaking at a retreat held at Pride Inn Shanzu, the Chairperson of the committee, Gathoni Wamuchomba said that the retreat was set to deal with matters that have been pending concerning the implementation of the constitution by the National Police Service Commission.

Being an independent commission, she noted that their mandate is to oversee the operations of the National Police Service and ensure the
constitution is aligned with its mandate to serve the public of Kenya.

‘We have received several letters from the NPSC full of lamentations on matters related to the infringement of their rights and of great concern is the conflict of overlap of duties between the NPSC Chair and the Commission in totality in respect to the work that Is being done by the Inspector General (IG) and the ex-official members of the NPSC,’ she said.

‘There is a growing concern about a significant number of police officers resorting to substance use as a coping mechanism to contend with life challenges which is attributed to mounting frustrations and depression stemming from various sources,’ Wamuchomba noted.

She emphasized that it is important to have a dialogue to look into this matter and find solutions because the Police are a vital body in the country.

Wamuchomba mentioned that there had been a previous retreat held in Nairobi, during which, after extensive deliberation and discussion, it was collectively acknowledged that
the issues to be addressed were weighty and warranted a two-day retreat. However, she observed that members of the NPSC failed to attend the retreat.

She remarked that the presence of the Inspector General or his deputies would have been greatly appreciated as a positive gesture and a symbol of optimism for fruitful discussions aimed at addressing the welfare of police officers.

The vice Chair of the Committee, Gitonga Mukunji, who is also a Member of Parliament Manyatta Constituency said that the IG had committed to attend the two-day retreat.

Mukunji expressed disappointment over the inability to engage in a constructive dialogue to seek solutions, particularly regarding security issues and the functioning of security organs.

‘We urge the IG to abide by the law and meet with us so that we can find a way to resolve matters affecting the members and the functioning of the National Police Service Commission,’ Mukunji said.

It was noted that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Prof. Kithure Kindiki appeare
d at the previous Committee meeting, provided clarifications on various matters of concern, and authorized the committee to extend an invitation to the IG for further clarification regarding the existing confusion within their commission.

The Committee extended another invite to the NPSC particularly the IG so that they can have a dialogue and find solutions.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over 100 families were displaced by Mudslides that occurred in the belt of Maasai Mau Forest in Narok south Sub County due to the heavy rains being experienced countrywide.

Confirming the incident, Narok South Deputy County Commissioner, Felix Kisalu said that due to ongoing heavy rains around Maasai Mau Forest Belt there were multiple mudslides occurring.

He added that the mudslide has occurred in Esongoroi Village in Olashapani Location, displacing over 100 households, adding that there are no casualties.

He said that the affected families have been compelled to move to nearby safer grounds including churches, schools and other homesteads.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Assembly Committee on Agriculture has pledged to compensate over 500 farmers in Kericho County, who initially bought the fake fertilizer with top dressing fertilizer to help improve their crop yields.

The members made the promise to farmers congregated the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot outskirts of Kericho town following an inquiry and public hearing from affected farmers during their ongoing probe regarding the distribution of standard fertilizers by unscrupulous suppliers through NCPB.

Addressing the media at NCPB depot grounds, the committee’s Vice Chairman Brighton Yegon said out of the 1,800 bags of fertilizer held at the Kericho depot, 537 farmers who bought the substandard fertilizer will be compensated with top dressing fertilizer that will help address nutrient deficiencies in their farms.

‘As you all know there are two types of fertilizers that have been withdrawn from NCPB stores, there is the KEL Green fertilizer, the GPC Original plus Organic fertilizer which is
manufactured by Silica Booster Limited and in this particular store of Kericho there are 1,800 bags of KEL Green Fertilizer that was distributed to farmers.

However, they have started the process of compensating the 537 farmers who bought this fake fertilizer. Farmers have already planted so they ought to be compensated with top dressing to help improve their yields,’ said. Yegon.

The Konoin area MP noted only a few of the affected farmers had come forward to receive their compensation while calling for efficient communication systems to be put in place so that in the event of future incidents a farmer can easily be traced.

In an interview with KNA, a small scale farmer, Hillary Koech said he unknowingly bought 50 kilograms of the fake fertilizer for his maize crop.

‘The fake fertilizer had a combination of small concrete stones and with animal manure. The manure had a foul smell. I hope we get compensated with genuine top dressing fertilizer so that we get good maize yields,’ said Koech.

In the same bre
ath, farmers appealed to the committee to develop policies that are favorable to the modern farmer so as to encourage the uptake of farming as a serious commercial venture for young people.

Another farmer Julius Kibet told the committee that there was need for development of policies geared towards small scale modern farmers who are trying to eke a living from the trade.

‘Hon. Members we urge your committee to consider creating policies that can address the plight of modern day farmers. Some of us do not own large tracts of land, but we have the knowledge and so we have leased parcels of land to implement the farming knowledge we possess,’ said Kibet.

He added that the modern farmer had abandoned operating within the traditional farming seasons, and urged the government to consider distributing the subsidized fertilizer all year round.

Other farmers who attended the session called on the Committee to facilitate the availability of certified seeds through the NCPB depots so as to complement the government’
s efforts towards food security.

The farmers also urged the distribution of subsidized fertilizer is further devolved to the locations to cushion farmers from transport costs.

In attendance were other committee members including Soin/Sigowet MP Justice Kemei and Kericho County women representative Beatrice Kemei, who called on the county government to collaborate with NCPB in providing the last mile facilitation so as to help the farmers to access the subsidized fertilizer with ease.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Eight people have died, while 14 others have been rescued after a lorry they were travelling in was swept away by raging waters along Sultan Hamud- Kasikeu road in Mukaa Sub county.

The midday incident occurred at Muatine Muswii River Friday, when the victims who were headed to Kasikeu market from Sultan Hamud and had been stranded there since morning decided to board the ill-fated lorry.

‘Last night it rained heavily and the river Muatine got flooded and many we’re stranded at the other side. A lorry came carrying ballast and passed, however when the second vehicle came, they boarded the lorry that was later on swept away by raging waters,’ said Fredrick Mwololo a resident of Sultan Hamud, who spoke to the media at the scene of the accident.

‘Members of the public should remain vigilant to avoid further loss of lives in the wake of the ongoing heavy rains in most parts of the country. People should avoid crossing flooded rivers,’ said Mukaa Sub County Police Commander Barnabas Ngeno while speaking to KNA
on phone.

However, Ngeno could not confirm the exact number of the people were on the lorry, but only noted that the search continues.

On his part, Makueni County Government Executive for Devolution Japheth Mang’oka thanked the members of the public, Kenya Red Cross and the County Disaster Committee for their prompt action following the tragic incident.

Mang’oka disclosed that the lorry still remains in the waters amid frantic efforts to establish if there were more other bodies trapped inside.

The bodies of the deceased were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub County Hospital mortuary for preservation awaiting autopsy.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nyeri residents have called for a reconstitution of the Affordable Housing Board to include more representation from county governments.

During a public participation where members of the public had been invited to give their views on the Affordable Housing Regulation 2024, the residents argued that the county governments are underrepresented in the Affordable Housing Board.

In their submissions, the residents say that having a single representative in the board at the national level may not be enough to represent the individual interests of the 47 counties.

‘We feel that County Executive Committee Members in-charge of Housing are not involved in this process and at the county level, we don’t expect that the board will come and manage the affairs of the county,’ said Ndirangu Gachunia who is also the CEC Lands and Physical planning.

The Affordable Housing Act provides for the establishment of the Affordable Housing Board which will oversee the development of the affordable housing project.

According to t
he Act, the constitution of the board should comprise of a non-executive chairperson who will be appointed by the president, National Treasury Principal Secretary and a nominee from the Organization of Trade Unions and the Federation of Kenya Employers.

The Act also stipulates that the Council of County Governors shall also nominate a representative, something that Gachunia says may push counties away from the decision making table.

‘We need a board where the CECs housing sit as mandatory members and not as an adhoc so that they are part and parcel decision making,’ he said.

Gachunia also called for strict adherence of the law especially during the land administration process to avoid exposing county governments to legal battles in the future.

‘The county government is the custodian of public land on behalf of the citizens of Nyeri. We are asking that the process annexing public land be followed the letter to avoid future litigation. We want to be able to enter an agreement on every parcel of land and pro
ject, we don’t want blanket agreement so that we ensure that the due process is followed,’ he said.

The government intends to solve the housing problem by constructing 200,000 houses annually through the Affordable Housing project. The state hopes to achieve this by constructing at least 200 affordable housing units in every constituency.

According to the regional lead in charge of the Affordable Housing project, Albert Gakuru, a total of 350 housing units are currently under construction at Blue Valley in Nyeri town constituency.

But even as the project continues to take shape at Blue Valley, the residents also sought assurance that their houses will not be demolished by the future administrations. Citing incidents where the government has demolished residential houses, the residents have asked the government to ensure that the security of tenure of the beneficiaries of the project is provided for in the regulations.

‘What assurance do we have that years to come these affordable houses will not be demoli
shed by a different administration like we have previously witnessed demolition of government houses in places like East-lands in Nairobi?’ Posed Kimunyu Ndegwa.

The residents also want the regulations to spell out what should happen in the event that the owner of an affordable housing unit nominates another owner of an affordable housing unit as their successor in the event of death. According to Thomas Mundia, the Act in its present state only allows a Kenyan to own a single unit under the project and does not give special considerations during succession.

‘The Act prohibits an individual from owning more than one unit. I think it should state what should happen if say a parent wants their child who may be the owner of a unit under the Affordable Housing project,’ said Mundia.

Source: Kenya News Agency