Category: General

The Kenya National Union of Teachers has asked the Early Childhood and Development Education teachers to put on hold the planned signing of new salary deal with the County Bomet Government.

Led by Bomet KNUT Executive Secretary Desmond Langat following a meeting with the ECDE teachers in the county, the union has questioned the credibility of the reviewed salaries, citing disparities in the teachers’ paychecks.

Langat said the area county government did not follow the Salaries and Renumeration Commission guidelines resulting in disparities in salaries as compared to other counties.

He accused junior education officials of frustrating efforts by the County Assembly Speaker Cosmas Korir and the Governor Prof Hillary Barchok to look into the plight of the ECDE teachers.

He said a recent round table meeting with the Speaker of Bomet County Assembly indicated support and willingness to put an end to the endless tussle between the county government and the teachers.

The unionist said it was saddening to have l
ost one of the ECDE teachers at Chesoen Ward who had gone without salary for months saying it is alleged she died as a result of depression-related complications.

Langat asked the teachers not to append their signatures to the vague salary review, which was not negotiated, before they were enlightened on the same.

He urged the teachers to stand firm and not be intimidated by county education officers, who have more often than not used threats of dismissal as they fought for their rights.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Investments in the affordable housing programme are creating a multiplier effect where direct and indirect benefits to the country include job creation, improved health and safety and increased household resilience, Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara has said.

Mr Kibaara indicated that the programme is designed to ensure that low-income earners are able to own homes through the National Tenant Purchase Scheme or rent-to-own payment options.

The County Commissioner noted that the right to housing is enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution under Article 43(1)(b), which stipulates that all citizens have the right to accessible and adequate homes and to a reasonable standard of sanitation.

The administrator indicated that to realise the delivery of adequate, decent, affordable, and sustainable houses across the country without burdening the already overstretched national budget and debt levels, the government has extensively leveraged private sector participation to fund the development of projects.

Speakin
g at the Regional Commissioner’s plenary hall when he officially inaugurated a public participation forum on the 2024 Draft Affordable Housing Regulations, Mr Kibaara said Kenya has been experiencing increasing urbanisation rates estimated at 3.4 percent per year, adding that housing is a key social determinant of people’s health and overall quality of productivity.

‘Due to rapid urbanisation the state came up with National Housing Policy 2016 and National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Policy 2016. The 2024 Draft Affordable Housing Regulations will operationalize the Affordable Housing Act 2024,’ stated the administrator.

The rapid urbanisation rate, he pointed out, was resulting in average national annual housing demand estimated at 250,000 units.

He said the average national annual housing supply is approximately 50,000 housing units, leading to a deficit of about 200,000 housing units per year and a cumulative backlog of 2 million housing units.

‘The government initiated the Affordable Housing Programm
e which targets the delivery of decent and affordable housing to low and middle-income households. The programme commits to delivering 200,000 housing units per year by activating projects across the nation, as well as increasing the number of mortgages from the current 30,000 to 1 million with favourable ownership terms that have monthly repayments as low as Sh5,000,’ he said.

He said the affordable housing project was promoting economic recovery by linking micro, small, and medium enterprises and Jua Kali sector as suppliers of various inputs such as hinges, doors, and windows among others, to housing projects.

Mr Kibaara disclosed that the affordable 605 units in Bondeni within Nakuru Town East County were 100 percent complete with engineers on the ground putting final touches on drainage and sewerage systems.

He said the Sh504 million, 220-unit affordable housing project in Bahati sub-county was 38 percent complete.

The project which is expected to be completed in July 2024 is part of plans by the gov
ernment to construct more than 50,000 low-cost housing units in the county within the next 10 years.

President William Ruto launched the construction of more than 220 housing units on August 22, 2023.

Mr Kibaara further indicated that another 120-unit project in Molo was also 40 percent complete.

Mr Richard Tuta, a director at the State Department for Housing said the affordable housing projects in Nakuru have created employment for over 1500 residents.

Tuta said among those employed are mechanical engineers, plumbers, masons, steel fixers, carpenters and welders.

‘Masons, carpenters and other skilled workers also get an opportunity to be registered and accredited under the National Construction Authority (NCA),’ he said.

He announced that the registration under NCA will enable skilled workers to secure jobs in other government or private construction projects in and outside Kenya.

Tuta said the project will be a centre for technology transfer that will empower workers and residents.

The director reve
aled that the national and county governments were awarding tenders for construction materials to small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) instead of importing them.

According to the draft regulations that were published by the Ministry last week, the board shall have to confirm that the applicant for a home building loan has an operational voluntary savings account with the fund before advancing a mortgage facility.

Kenyans applying for a rural affordable housing unit will be required to make an application in writing to the board, providing a copy of their title deed and an official search.

They will also submit to the board building plans approved by their respective county governments and a priced bill of quantities by a registered quantity surveyor.

Under the regulations, applicants will also be required to submit to the board valuation reports issued by the government valuer or a valuer registered under the Valuers Act.

Applicants for affordable housing will also be required to produce copies of their
KRA certificate numbers and compliance certificates.

The regulations provide that one of the requirements for an application for a unit is proof of income and ability to repay.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Elgeyo Marakwet County government has disbursed bursaries worth Sh 95 million to support the education of needy students in the county.

Governor Wisley Rotich presided over the disbursement benefiting 9705 students across the county at the Governor’s Square in Iten on Tuesday.

Accompanied by MPs Adams Kipsanai for Keiyo North and Caroline Ng’elechei, the County Women MP, Governor Rotich stressed the transparency of the bursary allocation process, ensuring that every deserving student received aid.

‘I can assure you that there is no complaint whatsoever from the grassroots. Disbursing Sh95 million fairly is not a joke because this is not pocket change anyway,’ Governor Rotich assured attendees.

The governor used the occasion to urge communities to engage in economic activities, stressing the importance of self-sustainability in meeting educational needs.

‘There is nothing as pleasant as being capable of paying your children’s school fees comfortably without having to line up for a bursary,’ he remarked.

Addressing the issue of youth unemployment, Rotich expressed satisfaction with the increased enrollment in vocational training centres and village polytechnics.

‘From the time I became governor, the student enrollment in polytechnics was 1,080 and currently we have 3,800 which represents a significant improvement. I believe we have managed to convince young people that going to polytechnic is not a demeanour,’ Rotich highlighted.

MP Kipsanai commended the governor for allocating a substantial amount towards bursaries while raising questions about the efficacy of the funds allocated for both bursaries and infrastructure development in learning institutions.

‘It is about time we ask ourselves about the value of the money that we have disbursed towards both bursaries and infrastructural development in the learning institutions,’ Kipsanai remarked.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Women Representative urged beneficiaries to ensure value for money in their academic performance.

‘I call upon every parent to ens
ure you give your children a good foundation. A good foundation doesn’t mean enrolling them in expensive academies. It means you instill discipline in them,’ Ng’elechei emphasised.

Furthermore, Ng’elechei highlighted the importance of students achieving quality grades commensurate with the funds disbursed to schools.

Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek stressed the importance of agricultural sustainability by urging bursary beneficiaries to participate in agricultural activities.

She announced that every beneficiary, upon receiving their checks, would be provided with free seeds by the County Department of Agriculture for planting.

The event, attended by education stakeholders including vocational training centre managers, secondary school heads, and officials from TSC, KNUT, and KUPPET, marks a significant effort by the Elgeyo Marakwet County government to prioritise education and youth empowerment.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Two newly appointed Kericho County Executive Committee Members (CECM) and one member of the Kericho Municipal Board have taken the oath of office in the presence of Kericho County Governor Dr. Eric Mutai.

John Kipruto Malel is now the CECM in charge of Public Service Management while Jackson Rop has been sworn in as the CECM for Trade, Industrialization, Tourism, Wildlife, and Cooperative Management.

In the colourful ceremony presided over by Kericho Chief Magistrate Charles Ombulutsa at the County Government premises, Mrs. Mercy Mutai was also sworn in as a Kericho Municipal Board Member.

Kericho Governor congratulated the new appointees and challenged them to use their experience and skills to improve service delivery to the residents of the county.

Dr. Mutai observed that the new team came in when his administration had lined up various projects that needed to be implemented as soon as possible for the benefit of the residents.

‘The Kipkelion East Factory for maize is ongoing; we are also working on a
dairy processor at Belgut in partnership with the national government. We are equally working on the Roret Pineapple project and have a plan to build 15 modern markets. We need to take Kericho County to the next level through trade investments and innovations and that is why we need to make our Jua Kali industry vibrant for them to prosper,’ said Dr. Mutai.

The Kericho Chief Magistrate who presided over the swearing-in ceremony disclosed that land has already been set aside for the construction of new law courts in Kericho after the existing building was condemned due to structural defects.

‘We are also making plans to establish a permanent court in Kipkelion, Soin-Sigowet, and Kapkatet. Also in the pipeline, we will establish a county court just within the town where the small claims court will also be,’ he added.

Also present at the function were the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kericho Dr. Patrick Mutai, and members of the County Assembly of Kericho.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya Power held its 2nd E-mobility Conference and Expo with stakeholders in efforts to embrace innovation, transform E-mobility, and drive growth in the transport sector.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS), Davis Chirchir, said the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum is actively involved in the governance of the National E-Mobility Policy, which is spearheaded by a multi-agency Task Force whose objective is to provide an enabling environment for the growth and adoption of electric vehicles in the country.

The CS made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the State Department for Energy Principal Secretary, Alex Wachira, on Tuesday during the 2nd Kenya Power E-Mobility and Expo Conference themed ‘Accelerating the Adoption of E-Mobility in Kenya, held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.

Chirchir said the world is facing unprecedented changes caused by climate change and environmental degradation, adding that it is upon citizens to embrace innovative and transformative solut
ions that will not only mitigate the challenges but also create a more resilient and sustainable future for the coming generation.

He noted that the transport sector in the country is the second-highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which account for approximately 30 percent of the total emissions.

Chirchir emphasised that this is one of the priority intervention areas nationally, which determines contribution premises, commitment and national climate change action plan.

‘In the year 2022, the country’s total petroleum import cost was about Sh630 billion (4 billion dollars), which was over 90 percent increase from the year 2021. These impacts negatively on our foreign exchange service,’ CS said.

Chirchir reiterated that the country has abundant domestic electricity retention, especially from the renewable energy space, which powers the transportation sector and is neatly positioned to lead the change towards e-mobility.

The CS acknowledged the country’s investment in green energy infrastructur
e, including geothermal, wind and solar power, which has laid a solid foundation for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

‘By leveraging our renewable energy potential, we can not only recognise our transportation sector but also reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and enhance energy security,’ he stated.

The CS said the national electricity demand curve of a typical day shows a huge disparity between peak and off-peak power requirements, adding that to maintain system sustainability, power generation is normally reduced during off-peak hours.

He revealed that according to the EPRA data, a total of 495,407 mega hours were attained between July 2022 and June 2023, which is a lot of energy that could be put to use by creating demand at night, as well as by charging electric vehicles, especially at night.

The CS announced that in the year 2020, the Ministry launched the Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, which identified transport as a key sector to improve en
ergy efficiency and set out a target of five percent of the annual importation of vehicles to be electric and to increase adoption of e-mobility.

Chirchir noted that the policy will be integrated and comprehensively provide a legal and regulatory framework to promote adoption of e-mobility, while seeking and coordinating the efforts of various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the national county government and other partners in direct mobility in space to ensure cohesion and coherence in the growth of the sectors and avoid the wastage of public resources.

He argued that successful transition to e-mobility requires a holistic and integrated approach which necessitates collaboration between government agencies, private sector players, development partners and civil society organisations.

CS added that the partnership will address the challenges related to infrastructure development, technology deployment, policy formulation and public awareness to create and foster a robust environment for ele
ctric mobility and ensure that charging infrastructure and electric vehicles are accessible to all segments of society.

The Chairman, Kenya Power Board of Directors, Joy Masinde, said that the Institute of Energy Studies and Research (IESR) stands to serve as the premier training and research centre for e-mobility, as she also welcomes investors and stakeholders who are interested in advancing research and development in the field.

‘As we embrace the diversification of our interests, mobility emerges as one of the most promising and exhilarating opportunities to propel our business forward. We remain steadfast in our commitment to adapting to evolving market dynamics and embracing innovation to ensure our transformation into a sustainable company,’ she said.

Masinde announced that Kenya Power is continuing to push transition to over 2,000-strong fleet to electric, as she urges all stakeholders to work hand in hand towards unlocking the full potential of e-mobility.

Source: Kenya News Agency

KCA University is among a number of Kenyan universities that have received grants in millions of shillings from the British Council to come up with programmes to help tackle climate change resilience challenges.

The university received a Sh6 million grant for a programme dubbed Learning and Design Lab that will see its students and those of Nottingham University in the UK collaborate to identify, develop, and implement practical solutions to real-world challenges related to climate change.

Other local universities and those from the UK who have been roped into the programme include Strathmore, Rongo, University of Portsmouth in the UK and Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine (UK).

KCA Vice Chancellor Prof Isaiah Wakindiki said 20 students from his university and those from Nottingham School of Business through an exchange programme will co-develop human-centred solutions to specific climate challenges.

‘We have put our students into different activities for specific challenges of climate
change and they will also do a lot of research and through interactions with their Nottingham counterparts, they will come up with specific human-centred solutions,’ Wakindiki told journalists at the university on Tuesday.

He added, ‘The students too will hone their skills and gain invaluable practical experience as they prepare to get into the environment of work and entrepreneurship.’

In addition, he said, the partnership will help the local universities get international recognition for helping tackle climate change and also help students gain experience collaborating with their counterparts in institutions abroad.

Other industry partners including Chemolex, Greenspoon and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment will also benefit from the programme by using the recommendations from the students to identify opportunities for innovation, develop new products and services and also address their most pressing business challenges.

The British Council has appointed Circle Innovation which will facilit
ate the labs. Circle Innovation’s expertise in innovation practices is well-established across the region, encompassing processes, tools, and methods that enable the creation of impactful innovations scalable to various contexts.

Other universities that benefited from this grant include Rongo University (Kenya) University of Portsmouth (UK), Strathmore University (Kenya), and Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine (UK).

Source: Kenya News Agency