Category: General

Public Service Vehicles (PSV) and e-commerce companies operating courier services without a license from the Communications Authority of Kenya have been warned that action will be taken against them.

This is after CAK Director General David Mugonyi issued a notice stating that operating courier services without the necessary license from the Communication Authority is a violation of the law.

‘The Authority has noticed that several unauthorised public service vehicle (PSV) Saccos and e-commerce platforms are providing courier services without the necessary license from the Authority.’

‘Any person that is found to be in violation of the provisions outlined in Section 49 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, is guilty of an offence and may face penalties or fines amounting to Sh300,000 or imprisonment for a maximum of one year or both upon being convicted,’ stated Mr Mugonyi.

Mugonyi advised the public to only use postal and courier services from licensed operators in order to guarantee the
security of their belongings, adding that the approach would also help the public minimise additional risks associated with using unauthorised service providers.

He further instructed the public to verify the legitimacy of courier service providers by asking to see a valid compliance certificate issued by the authority.

‘Consumers can enjoy a secure and reliable service experience by choosing to support authorised operators, which in turn provides access to prescribed complaint resolution and compensation mechanisms,’ he said.

Mugonyi further stated that the Authority’s website provides a detailed list of licensed courier providers as well as information on the courier market structure and license administration framework.

He further noted that obtaining the necessary license from the authority and consistently following regulatory guidelines were crucial for operators to ensure compliance.

The move comes after CAK published a gazette notice in early April issuing a seven-day operating notice to six post
al courier companies, revealing that they would revoke the license upon lapse of the notice.

The courier operators are at risk of shutting down, despite providing services to major towns like Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, Kakamega, Kisumu and Eldoret.

As of June 2021, there were 289 licensed courier operators, an increase from 263 in June 2019. Additionally, the number of private courier outlets grew from 788 in the financial year 2019-2020 to 901 in 2020-2021.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The national government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry is seeking to revive the cotton industry by giving incentives to farmers to put more land under the fibre crop.

As part of measures to revive the apparel industry that was active up until the mid-eighties, the State Department of Industry has embarked on supplying cotton seeds to farmers in Baringo targeting increasing the land under the crop to 4,000 acres.

Speaking on Kapropita Primary School grounds on Tuesday during handover of a Sh2.4 million consignment of BT cotton seeds to Kapluk and Salawa cotton farmers’ cooperatives, Industrialization Principal Secretary Dr Juma Mukhwana in a speech read by his director, Joseph Mbeva said hybrid seeds will be distributed free of charge to targeted farmers.

Dr Mukhwana reiterated that the move is geared towards reintroducing the cash crop which used to do very well in the vast county up until early 2000 but was abandoned due to myriad challenges including price fluctuations.

Mbeva urged residents
to take advantage of the seeds which, apart from boosting the manufacturing sector, will transform their livelihoods.

‘We have involved many stakeholders including the county government because we believe they are the ones who are closer to the farmers,’ he said.

The director who joined Baringo deputy governor Eng Felix Kimaiyo stated that the region will benefit from distribution of more seeds in the coming weeks from other partners including Rivatex and Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), which have committed to supporting farmers.

He encouraged farmers to grow the seeds this planting season in order to take advantage of the ongoing rains.

Mbeva’s sentiments were echoed by AFA’s Phanuel Obanga who revealed that the government has committed an additional 15 metric tonnes of improved seeds to be propagated at Perkera Irrigation Scheme in Marigat Sub County to ensure sustainability of the national value chain development project.

Obanga said they are forging a way forward by involving farmers who had lo
st hope after encountering challenges in cotton farming.

He urged cooperative societies in the county to be vibrant so they could benefit from support in the farming of the resilient crop.

Eng Kimaiyo while thanking the national government for reviving the cotton value chain in the county said the crop will greatly improve farmers’s economic standards.

The deputy governor noted that in last year alone, farmers from the region earned close to Sh6.5 million from cotton harvested and they are looking to build up the returns by ensuring that they bring on board more farmers.

Baringo Central Deputy County Commissioner Monicah Ithatwa challenged farmers from the county to embrace cash crops which she noted were lucrative compared to subsistence farming.

Ithatwa while calling for reliability and responsibility after receiving support from such life-transforming projects and programmes stated that distribution of agricultural materials and equipment is meant to benefit future generations.

The team had earlier p
aid a courtesy call on Baringo County Commissioner and Governor during their one-day tour of the county.

Source: Kenya News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has assured the public that there is currently no need for fear over the hippo situation in the Zambezi Region, since measures are being implemented.

This comes amid concern sparked by reports on Monday of more than 100 hippos stranded in the muddy waters along the Chobe and Linyanti rivers in the Zambezi Region.

MEFT spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda on Tuesday said the measures they are implementing are to ensure that the hippos have enough water to survive until the next flood season.

In 2019, the ministry built a borehole and purchased a generator pump for pumping water into the pond. Since then, this pump and generator have continuously provided assistance whenever there is a need for water.

Muyunda said the ministry earlier this year engaged the wildlife authority for Botswana to jointly intervene in regard to the same situation of the hippos.

The Botswana authority then committed to supply an extra generator and fuel to pump water. Curre
ntly there are two generators pumping water into the pond, he said.

Muyunda stated that there has been improvement in the water level since the two generators started pumping and added that to further improve on the situation, they installed a solar system to pump water during the day, and only pump with the generators at night.

‘With this arrangement, the idea is to provide the hippos with sufficient water to be able to survive until the next flood season and not necessarily to fill up the pond completely,’ he said.

He added that there has not been inflow of water in the pond this year due to poor rainfall patterns.

‘But we are committed to ensuring the survival of the hippos. We will continue to monitor the situation and devise appropriate measures as the situation dictates,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Makueni County Referral Hospital is expected to save Sh7 million annually after installing 200 kilowatt solar power panels, Executive Committee Member (ECM) for Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works and Energy Sabastian Kyoni has said.

Kyoni disclosed that the installation of the panels follows a partnership with the County Government of Makueni and the UK- Partnership for Accelerating Climate Transitions (UK PACT), supported by the British Government.

‘UK-PACT and county government officials from Energy and Environment have visited Makueni Referral Hospital where the installation of solar panels will enable 100% reliance on solar power. This project supported by the UK in collaboration with the County Government of Makueni will install a capacity of 200 kilowatts that will save power costs by Sh 7 million annually,’ said Kyoni while speaking to the media at the health facility in Wote town.

During the press briefing, the ECM said that the County Referral Hospital pays Sh 2 million monthly and termed the
installation of the solar panels a milestone, saying this move will ensure the health facility has reliable energy to serve wananchi effectively.

On his part, the Economic Consular at the British High Commission in Kenya Daniel Wilcox said they are committed to tackling joint environmental and climate change issues for the sake of future generations.

‘This is why we are working with counties like Makueni towards the realisation of green energy land and ecosystem restoration. We are committed to strengthening the community’s capacity to respond to climate change and support productive use of energy through useful energy plans,’ said Mr Wilcox.

Earlier, the Economic Consular with his delegation paid a courtesy call on Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. in his Wote office.

Their talks centred on modalities of joint mobilisation of resources to promote innovative renewable energy technologies and transition from grid-powered to solar systems within the county.

During the talks they identified Kisingo Techni
cal Training Institute where they will set up a state-of-the-art county energy centre.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The County government of Kisumu has arranged to showcase the remains of the legendary snake popularly known as Omieri during this year’s fiesta celebration.

This was revealed by the Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Tourism and Commerce Mrs. Faridah Salim

‘As we marvel at the exhibition of the legendary snake Omieri let us remember the ancient tale and wisdom it embodies connecting us to our folklore and environmental heritage for Omieri reminds us of the delicate balance between humans and nature urging us to be mindful stewards of our surroundings,’ Salim pointed out.

This happens even as residents of Nyakach sub county which is believed to be the original home of the legendary snake, led by Mzee Yano Ogongo are now demanding that the remains of the legendary snake Omieri be returned to its ancestral home of Nyakach from Nairobi where it currently is, saying it was whisked to Nairobi without the consent of the local community through public participation forums.

‘And after the death of Omieri
it was taken to Nairobi against the wishes of the locals where it still is, but we want it back because it is our daughter who should be in her motherland and not wandering anywhere else like Nairobi,’ lamented Mzee Ogongo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A 29-year-old Angolan man allegedly committed suicide at a house at Onamulunga B village in Oshikoto’s Oniipa constituency, where he was employed as a domestic worker.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol)’s Oshikoto Regional Crime Investigation Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo, said the incident happened on Wednesday between 00h00 and 07h00.

The deceased is originally from Onaulila village in Angola and a suicide note was found at the scene.

‘It is alleged that the deceased’s lifeless body was found hanging on a tree with a green rope around his neck at the house where he was employed as a domestic worker,’ reported Ekandjo.

His body was transported to Onandjokwe State Hospital, where he was declared dead by a medical doctor and moved to the hospital’s mortuary for postmortem to be conducted.

No foul play is suspected.

The next of kin are not yet informed and investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency