Patrick Ali Ngenoh: October 2019

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

US Senate panel reviewing to catostrophic Boeing 737 crashes

The head of a US Senate panel reviewing two catastrophic Boeing 737 MAX crashes told Reuters ahead of hearings this week that the plane would not return to US skies until “99.9 per cent of the American public” and policymakers are convinced it is safe.

Boeing Co Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg will testify for two days before Congress starting on Tuesday, which is the anniversary of the Lion Air 737 MAX crash in Indonesia, the first of two crashes within five months that killed a total of 346 people.

“Clearly the accidents didn’t have to happen and I don’t think there was sufficient attention to how different pilots would react to signals in the cockpit,” Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee that will hold the first hearing, said in an interview on Friday.

Several reports have found Boeing failed to adequately consider how pilots respond to 737 MAX cockpit emergencies in designing the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration has spent months reviewing Boeing’s proposed software upgrades to a key safety system and other training and system changes but is not expected to allow the plane to return to service until December at the earliest.

“That plane won’t fly unless 99.9 per cent of the American public and American policymakers are convinced that it’s absolutely safe,” Wicker said, adding he planned to raise Boeing’s communication with the FAA during the 737 MAX’s development and “the relationship between regulators and manufacturers” during the hearing.

“The main question is how can we have a comfort level that they won’t happen again,” Wicker said.

Wicker said he expected to see the results of all the various investigations before proceeding to legislative moves and whether Congress must reform the FAA’s practice of designating some certification tasks to Boeing and other manufacturers.

“Clearly there was a breakdown in the system somewhere and clearly changes needed to be made,” Wicker said. “We need to make sure (the 737 MAX) is as safe as humanly possible.”

Muilenburg, who earlier this month was stripped of his title as board chairman, said on a conference call last week he was “looking forward to participating in those hearings. I anticipate there will be tough questions, challenging questions, a lot of scrutiny.”
Also last week, Boeing ousted its commercial airplanes chief.

A report issued on Friday by Indonesian investigators found Boeing, acting without adequate oversight from US regulators, failed to grasp risks in the design of cockpit software on its 737 MAX, sowing the seeds for the Lion Air crash that also involved errors by airline workers and crew.

Earlier this month, the chairman of the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which will hold Wednesday’s hearing, told Reuters that Boeing must shake up its management team.

“Boeing’s got to clean up its culture and I don’t think you can clean it up with the people who were in charge when this all unfolded,” US Democratic Representative Peter DeFazio said.

Drunk Teacher arrested in Bomet County

Police have on Tuesday morning arrested a headteacher who had allegedly shown up to collect KCPE examination papers drunk in Bomet County.

The teacher who was identified as David Ngerich from Sonokwek Primary School in Bomet, caused a stir when he staggered to the exams collection center which was located at the Bomet County Commissioner's office.

A visibly drunk Mr Ngerich who had staggered into the exams collection center demanded to be served first much to the surprise of government officials, security personnel and fellow teachers who had gathered to collect the exam papers.

It took the intervention of Bomet County Commander Naomi Ichami who ordered his immediate arrest. She also directed his immediate replacement as his roles were transferred to the center manager.

Benard Ngugi again Kenya Power Lighting Company New CEO

Kenya Power Board of Directors has appointed Bernard Ngugi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Ngugi is the former General Manager in charge of Supply Chain at Kenya Power.

He takes over from Eng. Jared Othieno who had been appointed Acting Managing Director and CEO in July 2018 following the exit of the former management team.

“My immediate focus is to lead the Company towards improved profitability while ensuring the business fulfils its socio-economic purpose.

This will be achieved by implementing our 5 Year Strategic Plan that broadly aims at delivering excellent customer service and ensuring our business sustainability,” Ngugi said.

He also thanked the interim management team led by Eng. Othieno for stabilizing the company after the crisis occasioned by the exit of the previous management team.

“We believe that Mr Ngugi will see the Company through an important stage of its development and growth as we work to diligently implement all our plans to strengthen the Company and the commercial aspects of our business,” said Kenya Power’s Chairman Amb (Eng) Mahboub Maalim.

The Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Bernard Ngugi, formerly the General Manager, Supply Chain, as the Managing Director and CEO of the Company with effect from 28th October 2019 following a competitive recruitment process.

Ngugi has over 30 years’ experience in the Company with expertise in financial and revenue accounting, internal audit and supply chain management. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.

He is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. He is also a Certified Public Secretary of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya.

Hel also holds a Graduate Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies and is a member of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Three Murder suspects: Rai Cement Factory General Manager Chetan vyas heard.

Three murder suspects linked to the death of Rai Cement Factory General Manager Chetan Vyas, kericho court has freed them.

Senior Resident Magistrate Geoffrey Kimang’a today ordered the unconditional release of Yacoob Ismail, Osman Mohammed and Shabdin Yacoob after the 21 days he had allowed the police to detain them pending investigations expired.

On October 8, the court allowed the prosecution to detain six suspects to allow detectives to conclude investigations.
However, it appeared the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to charge the three with murder.

Kericho County Deputy Police Commander Patricia Nasio had told reporters that the suspects who were in balaclavas had been captured by CCTV cameras mounted outside Vyas’ house.

They, however, dismounted CCTV cameras inside the deceased’s house.

The court ruled that the other three, Daniel Ruto, Nicholas Mibei and Hillary Cheruiyot had a case to answer.

The late Vyas was killed on September 22 after his assailants broke into his house and ambushed him in the bedroom.

They tied his hands and legs and strangled him to death using a rope.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Devastated kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu chased out

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was forced to leave the Mashujaa Day Celebrations Function before it even started after being ejected from the VIP dais.

According to a local daily, Waititu who is currently facing corruption charges in court and has been ejected from office arrived at the Mama Ngina Front on Sunday morning hours before other dignitaries. The governor took a seat in the VIP section.

However, his stay in the dais did not last long as one of the organisers approached him and told him the seat he was occupying had been reserved for Mombasa Woman Rep Asha Hussein.

Embarrassed, the governor faked a phone call and stood up from the seat. He then proceeded to have a chat with a few security officials as he strolled through the entries and walked out of the venue.

Waititu had been chased from the function.
It has also emerged that the governor faced the same cold treatment during the opening of Nairobi-Suswa SGR last week. Waititu attended the function hoping to be pictured with President Uhuru Kenyatta but State House had other ideas.

Uhuru and other VIPs among them Kiambu Deputy Governor James Nyoro rode in the VIP class of the train but Waititu was forced to ride in the economy class.

State House is under strict instructions not to allow any politician facing corruption charges near the president.

In August this year, Uhuru warned leaders who have been making frantic phone calls to stop because he had switched off the phones.

“Those days where you could make calls seeking help are over. The phones have now been switched off. You will have to remove yourself from your own mess,” he said.

Frustration, Jane Asimizi protest

Jane Asimizi, a police officer who came out to protest her recent deployment to areas she termed as difficult to make money in has been sent on a compulsory leave by her bosses.

According to Police Service Commission Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia, Asimizi has been sent on compulsory leave to enable her cool off.

The PSC has also ordered that Asimizi be subjected to a psychiatric examination to ascertain if she is of sound mind.

Kinuthia has argued that what Asimizi said on tape last week is not typical of a normal law enforcement officer.

Kinuthia’s latest directive come just days after Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai ordered that Asimizi be hospitalized.

According to Asimizi, She was assigned the lucrative task of manning an exam container in Kakamega, but was withdrawn from that duty four days later because according to her, her bosses thought she was making lots of money from the posting. She also claimed that she was withdrawn from guarding the exam container since she did not have the money to bribe her superiors to let her keep the position.

She has blamed her woes on her minority tribe. She is from Turkana County.

“I have had enough of being frustrated and intimidated,” she said on Wednesday.

“Why can’t my bosses treat me fairly?” she posed.

“I have now resorted to speak out, even if it would cost me my job. All along, they post me to areas where I cannot easily access money. Why?”

“Is it because I am from the Turkana ethnic community, which is a minority group in Kenya? I am in Kakamega because I am married to a man from the Luhya ethnic group,” said Asimizi.

“I am fed up, and I want my gripe to reach my bosses in Nairobi, and [even the Interior minister] Fred Matiang’i. For the lengthy period that I have served in the disciplined forces, I have never breached any regulations. My seniors can bear me witness.

“With such unappealing postings, I am only left with my salary to survive on. Special tasks such as exam container-guarding duties often allows a cop to make extra money,” she said.

Her rants seem to have angered IG Mutyambai who called her out for going public with her frustrations in the plice force.

“The woman’s frustrations ought to have been channeled through private avenues. As a police officer, she shouldn’t have gone public to express her anger. I have given instructions for the officer to be taken to hospital [for mental examination]. We are managing the matter without raising hullabaloo about it,” Said Mutyambai.

Asimizi’s direct boss, Leonard Omollo, who is the Western Kenya deputy regional police commander, said that the AP officer lied about being originally assigned to man the exam container.

“I would like to state categorically that nobody deployed that [police] officer to guard that container,” said Omollo.

“That officer was going on escort work, and she wasn’t assigned the duty of guarding that [exam] container. We have an operation order that shows where an officer has been deployed and what he or she should do [at his or her work station]. Officers deployed to guard containers were made aware of the postings a long time ago.

“In the case of this officer [Asimizi], I would say, again, that nobody deployed her there. I am treating her case as one of indiscipline. As a service, we have procedures of handling such cases. I won’t allow anyone to come up with a fabricated claim that I deployed a cop somewhere because I wanted money. I do not do that, and that won’t happen [under my watch],” said Omollo.

Frustration, Jane Asimizi protest

Jane Asimizi, a police officer who came out to protest her recent deployment to areas she termed as difficult to make money in has been sent on a compulsory leave by her bosses.

According to Police Service Commission Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia, Asimizi has been sent on compulsory leave to enable her cool off.

The PSC has also ordered that Asimizi be subjected to a psychiatric examination to ascertain if she is of sound mind.

Kinuthia has argued that what Asimizi said on tape last week is not typical of a normal law enforcement officer.

Kinuthia’s latest directive come just days after Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai ordered that Asimizi be hospitalized.

She has blamed her woes on her minority tribe. She is from Turkana County.

“I have had enough of being frustrated and intimidated,” she said on Wednesday.

“Why can’t my bosses treat me fairly?” she posed.

“I have now resorted to speak out, even if it would cost me my job. All along, they post me to areas where I cannot easily access money. Why?”

“Is it because I am from the Turkana ethnic community, which is a minority group in Kenya? I am in Kakamega because I am married to a man from the Luhya ethnic group,” said Asimizi.

“With such unappealing postings, I am only left with my salary to survive on. Special tasks such as exam container-guarding duties often allows a cop to make extra money,” she said.

Her rants seem to have angered IG Mutyambai who called her out for going public with her frustrations in the plice force.

Asimizi’s direct boss, Leonard Omollo, who is the Western Kenya deputy regional police commander, said that the AP officer lied about being originally assigned to man the exam container.

“I would like to state categorically that nobody deployed that [police] officer to guard that container,” said Omollo.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

CS Magoha release the 2020 term dates

The Ministry of Education has released the 2020 term dates for schools and colleges.

The memo dated September 6, learning at public institutions for the first term will begin on January 6, 2020 and close on April 14 for primary, pre-primary pupils and secondary school students.

The second term will commence on May 4 to August 7 while the third term will run from August 31 to November 30.

The first and second terms for pre-primary and primary schools will run for 14 weeks each, while third term will run for nine weeks to allow for the sitting pupils to sit for the national examinations.

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams are expected to run from 2nd November to 5th November, while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams will run for three weeks from November 6 to November 30.

The half term breaks for both first and second terms are February 17 to 21 and June 15 to 19 respectively. There will be no half term break for the third term.

The Teachers training college will open on January 7 to April 10 for the first term and May 4 to August 7 for the second term. The third term will run from September 1 to November 13. The first and second terms will run for 14 weeks each, while third term will run for 11 weeks.

The dates apply to Early Learning and Basic institutions implementing the national curriculum.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Home of Compenions, residents demand to see Eliud Kipchoge.

Few hours after Eliud Kipchoge snack back to the country after his remarkable achievement in Vienna, Austria, residents of his hometown, Eldoret, are now demanding to see him.

On Wednesday, a section of Eldoret residents demanded to see Kipchoge saying they should be allowed to celebrate their hero.
The celebrated athlete jetted back into the country in a low-key affair contrary to what people expected.

“We supported him during the INEOS 1:59 challenge and it just right that we see him,” said one Eldoret resident.

“It is our right to celebrate with him,” added another.

Although many felt ‘betrayed’ one man swam against the tide saying Kipchoge should be given time to rest adding that he needs some training on how he will handle the millions he pocketed.

“Let the man rest. What he did was remarkable but that does not give us a right to demand to see him.

“He should be guided on how he will use the money he won because you are the same people who will make fun of him when he is broke.
“Let him enjoy with his wife.”

The 34-year-old, who was flown out of the country on October 7 in a chartered plane to Austria, made a low key return in the county on Wednesday at 6:30am aboard flight KQ 117 from Amsterdam.

He arrived with no fans lining up at the airport to catch a glimpse of him or a group of top government officials to receive him.

KCPE and KCSE Examination Timetable

The long-awaited national exam period is nigh. For candidates, teachers, parents and other stakeholders, this is such an important time as final preparations are made to get the candidates ready for the exams that have for a long time been determining whether or not a candidate makes it to the next level of education under the 8-4-4 system.

For KCPE examinations, this will be the fourth last national examination for learners at primary school level as the President officially put an end to the system that had been a hallmark of tight competition for primary schools in August 2019.

With the adopted 2-6-3-3-3 curriculum, grade six learners will not have to sit national examinations at the end of their primary school education and there will be 100 percent transition to the next level.

For now, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has done its mandate of releasing the national examination time table for both primary and secondary schools.

A total of 1.8 million students are supposed to sit this year’s (2019) national exams. Of these, 1,088,986 will sit for KCPE while 699,745 will sit for the KCSE exam.

The following is KNEC’s program of how when the exams will be conducted;

On Monday, 28^th October, there will be rehearsals for all standard eight students, after which they will sit for their subject papers as from 29^th October and finish on 31^st October.

On the first day (Tuesday), the learners will sit for their Mathematics paper at 8:30 am, the English language will be done starting 11 am the same day while compositions will be written in the afternoon starting 2:30 pm.

The first paper on 30^th October will be Science at 8:30 am, followed by Kiswahili Lugha and Kiswahili Insha at 11:10 am and 2:10 pm respectively.

Social Studies and Religious Education exam will mark the end of 2019’s KCPE exams on 31^st October's

While the seven-month Agriculture, Computer Studies, Art and Design, Woodwork, Metalwork, and Building Construction projects started in January and ended in July, French (501/3), German (502/3) and Arabic (503/3) oral exams, Kenyan Sign Language (504/3) practicals and Music practicals will be done between Monday, 21^st October and Friday, 25^th October.

There will be a Home Science practical planning session on Thursday, 24^th October, in preparation for the practicals which will be done from Tuesday 29^th to Thursday 31^st October.

The rehearsal date is set for Friday, 1^st November, after which candidates will sit for various subject papers from Monday, 4^th November to 27^th November.

Former Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso, widower again State Corporations Advisory Committee

President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed the widower of former Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso, Edwin Abonyo as a member of State Corporations Advisory Committee.

In a Gazette Notice dated October 14, President Uhuru Kenyatta named Abonyo as one of the members of the committee for a period of three years.

Abonyo is among seven individuals who have been appointed to the Jeremiah Matagaro led committee.

Others appointed to the committee are Wanjiku Wakogi (Secretary), Winfred Kaburu, Cecil Kuyo, Cyrus Gituai, Tom Maina Macharia, Roselyn B. Tumpeyo and Gloria Ndekei as members.

Abonyo lands the state job three months after his wife succumbed to cancer.

In the same gazette notice, Labour Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani has appointed former Othaya Member of Parliament Mary Wambui as the Chairperson of the National Employment Authority (NEA) for the next three years. Her appointment takes effects immediately.

Wambui takes over the from Ms Winnie Pertet who served as NEA chair from its inception till the end of her term.

The authority was established in April 2016 by an act of Parliament to replace the National Employment Bureau (NEB).

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Eliud Kipchoge’s INEOS 1:59 Challenge, date as been set

Eliud Kipchoge team and INEOS have set Saturday 12th October as the date for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

The World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who was flown out of the country on Monday, October 7 in a chartered plane to Austria, will attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier to beat his record set at last year’s Berlin Marathon.

“Decision has been made for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge to take place this Saturday 12th October in Vienna, “read part of the statement.

Now that the date is set, it is now down to the INEOS 1:59 meteorology and performance experts to provide weather data to Kipchoge’s coaching team and collectively make the decision as to what time that will be set on Friday for the race, to give Kipchoge the best possible chance of success.

“Conditions on the course are looking optimal for race day Final start time will be confirmed on the afternoon of Friday 11th October,” added the statement.

The start time will be between 5am and 9am local time.

One of the reasons Vienna was picked for the venue was its favourable weather conditions in October.

Kipchoge has what it takes to hit 1:59 but he needs a good health, ideal weather conditions and fast pace setters.

Are your among, 11 Million people across the World

There are around 11 million people across the world with hearing loss – the partial or total inability to hear in one or both ears, of whom 50,000 are children.

The Health Profile for England: 2018 highlighted that hearing loss, together with vision loss, skin diseases and oral problems account for nearly 20% of morbidity (Years Lived with Disability), with age-related hearing loss a growing burden. By 2031, it is estimated that 14.5 million people, approximately 20% of the UK population, will have hearing loss.

Why is this an important public health issue? Firstly, hearing loss affects around 1 in 6 of us, from birth or acquired during the course of our lives and has a huge impact on our health and wellbeing; secondly, it is largely preventable or treatable with cost effective interventions; and thirdly, the costs of unaddressed hearing loss to individuals, their families and wider society are immense.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates annual costs to be in the range of $750-790 billion globally.

This blog describes how people are affected by hearing loss across the life course and sets out actions for prevention and treatment.

Scale and impact of hearing loss across the life course.

Around 1 to 2 babies in every 1,000 are born with permanent hearing loss which may result from genetic causes, complications at birth, or certain infectious diseases.

Early diagnosis of hearing loss and intervention in newborn babies is essential for the development of early speech, language and communication skills.

In order to detect problems at an early stage, parents of all babies born in England are offered hearing screening for their baby within 4 to 5 weeks of birth.

Hearing loss can impact on children’s communication and literacy development and affect education and future work prospects.

Newborn babies who show signs of hearing loss are referred to specialist services for assessment, diagnosis and treatment/management, including fitting of hearing aids where appropriate.

Recent changes to NICE guidance will result in more children and adults being eligible for cochlear implants.

PHE is rolling out a programme on speech, language and communication including training for health visitors, pathway development and an early language assessment tool to be used at the 2 to 2 ½ year health visiting review.

Of the estimated 50,000 children with hearing loss, around half are born with it while the other half lose their hearing during childhood.

The WHO recommends immunising children against childhood diseases, including measles, meningitis, rubella and mumps, to prevent hearing loss which can arise as a complication of these diseases.

In England, the combined MMR vaccine is routinely offered to all children.

As children grow and move into adolescence and young adulthood, exposure to loud music can be a major risk factor for hearing loss.

Prevention measures include reducing exposure to loud sounds by raising awareness about the risks and developing and enforcing relevant legislation.

For instance, the WHO has developed an initiative called ‘make listening safe’ which recommends implementing the WHO-ITU global standard for personal audio systems and devices.

This initiative could help prevent hearing loss through implementing a maximum weekly exposure to noise, including reduced limits for ‘sensitive’ individuals, such as children.

Exposure to noise at work can cause irreversible hearing damage.

Industrial hearing loss remains the occupational disease with the highest number of civil claims, accounting for around 75% of all occupational disease claims.

Most food and drink industries have processes that emit high noise levels, which could adversely affect the hearing of their employees.

Workers in the music industry are also at a higher risk of hearing loss. One study of a large classical orchestra reported that hearing loss was a significant problem for around 44% of the musicians.

Employers are required to take action on noise under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations and manage the risk of hearing loss through a hierarchy of control measures, from controlling noise at source through to wearing ear protection as a last resort.

We know that hearing loss is a barrier to finding and remaining in employment.

Five million people of working age in the UK are living with hearing loss or deafness. A survey of 1,000 people in 2018 found that more than half felt unfairly treated at work due to their hearing loss.

What more can we do to prevent hearing loss?
There are several areas for potential action.

Firstly, at an individual level, there is a need to tackle acceptance among the public that age-related hearing loss is inevitable, and you just have to put up with it.

On the contrary, hearing loss is largely preventable and treatable, hearing aids are a cost effective intervention and recommended for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss to improve quality of life and listening ability.

Secondly, there is a need to address the stigma associated with hearing loss and the wearing of hearing aids especially in the workplace.

There is also a need to educate the workforce on simple adjustments that help communication for people with hearing loss, for example turning on your camera when you use video conferencing.

Thirdly, with only around 40% of people who need hearing aids having them, there is a need to increase awareness that hearing aids are available on the NHS.

It is important to ensure that information and support is available to everyone following the supply of a hearing aid – helping people to continue to use them.

There is also a need to understand more about why some people do not use the hearing aids that are made available.

And finally, we should all be looking after our hearing in much the same way as our vision, protecting ourselves from loud noise and seeking help for hearing loss at an early stage.

Is Obesity dangerous to human health?

Taking a whole systems approach to obesity,
Excess weight is driven by environmental, societal and individual factors.

The scale of the problem and its relationship to a number of diseases is well documented, and it is a leading cause of ill-health.

Local authorities are committed to playing their part in tackling the problem.

A growing body of evidence suggests that a whole systems approach could help tackle complex problems, such as obesity, and an increasing number of local areas across the world are testing and embedding a systems way of working.

A local whole systems approach to obesity is a ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, which draws on local authorities’ strengths, supports their priorities, and recognises that they can create their local approaches more effectively by engaging with their community and local assets.

Most local areas interested in setting up a localised whole systems approach will already have strategies and programmes of work in place to tackle obesity.

A whole systems approach can add value to this by providing the opportunity to engage stakeholders across the wider system, to develop a shared vision and actions that tackle the upstream drivers of obesity outside the realms of public health.

The approach should be agreed collectively by local stakeholders to reflect the local context.

In addition to benefiting people’s health, delivering a more health-promoting and vibrant environment can contribute to issues like reducing air pollution and litter, as well as supporting local businesses and workforces.

Maintaining a healthier workforce could also have positive impacts on other long term local agendas, such as employability and productivity of local populations, as well as the demand for social care.

Understanding these benefits enables engagement with different stakeholders in the whole systems approach.

Sh500milion grant to improve mulnutrition,Turkana residents

It not an easy as you think to live in Turkana as the residents from Katilu and Turkwel ward will benefit from Sh500 million grant meant for improving nutrition.

The five-year project aims at increasing the volume of health facilities, boosting agriculture, access to quality water and educating community leaders and mothers on nutrition.

The county, which is the poorest among Kenya’s 47 devolved units, face record malnutrition rates; erratic climate conditions and disruption of traditional food sources. World Health Organisation has designated the county as acute food and livelihood crisis area.

“Long term studies indicate that nutritional interventions aimed at children in the first few years of life lead to measurable improvements in adolescence and adulthood,” said Al Mitchell, the President, Bayer Fund.

“Through this initiative, we are hoping to improve nutrition outcomes for more than 25,000 children in Turkana under the age of five and their mothers through sustainable educational awareness programmes.”

According to a baseline survey on the two wards, in more than three-quarters of the households interviewed, (80.2 per cent) there was no food from own production in the households or homestead at the time of data collection.

“All the women and caregivers knew the importance of introducing complementary foods at six months since breast milk alone was not adequate. Further, nearly all the women (95.0 per cent and 94.3 per cent) knew breastfed children aged 6-8months and aged 9-23months should be fed on solid and semi-solid foods at least 2 times and 3 times a day.

However, half of the respondents (59.0 per cent in Turkwel and 47.9 per cent in Katilu) reported that it was difficult to feed their children several times a day while 61.85 per cent and 52.9 per cent in Turkwel and Katilu respectively reported that it was difficult to feed their children on different types of food,” survey indicates.

Other key findings from the survey also show that over half of the farmers, food traders and respondent women lacked formal schooling. Farmer knowledge was found to be a critical gap as 35.7 per cent, 58.6 per cent and 20.7 per cent had low, moderate/average and high respectively.

The survey identified an opportunity to address the low farmer agri-nutrition knowledge through community-produced films and videos for continual use, distribution of pre-recorded messages on audio devices and other non-written modes of communication.

The survey results also show that women form the majority of farmers and the responsibility and burden of producing food were on them. The survey identified an opportunity to actively engage men especially the youth spending productive time on gaming in the food value chain.

“We are pleased that the program is well-aligned with our key development priorities and agenda including the county integrated development plan and county nutrition action plan,” said Josephat Nanok, Governor, Turkana County.

“This partnership will allow us to join our resources, expand our reach and life-changing interventions to our community together, and achieve results in a more cost-effective and impactful way,” he added.

The project dubbed IMPACT (Improve Approach to Community-based Nutrition in Turkana) is being funded through a five-year grant from the Bayer Fund and managed by Africare with support from the government.

Sh 4.2 billion medical scheme for Civil servants

The Sh4.2 billion medical scheme for civil servants will now be managed by a private administrator after workers' complaints of poor service delivery from the national health insurer.

One of the recommendations from a technical committee set up by the Ministry of Public Service proposed to have the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) relinquish key roles in the scheme and appoint an administrator to take charge.

These are the areas where NHIF has fallen short in the multi-billion medical scheme that serves more than 130,000 civil servants.

Principal Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Mary Kimonye has already forwarded the set recommendations to be adopted by NHIF.

“The purpose of this letter is to forward the report for implementation of the recommendations with a view of improving service delivery and the level of satisfaction of scheme members,” reads the letter addressed to NHIF acting Chief Executive Officer Nicodemus Odongo.

The recommendations touch on outpatient services, emergency services, referrals and handling of complaints raised by civil servants and their dependents.

In the letter, NHIF is expected to contract only networked public and private healthcare facilities to provide both outpatient services at both county and national level.

The national insurer should also develop and implement a clear referral policy to be used by the Government workers as well as a complaints handling mechanism.

“NHIF to contract a scheme administrator to undertake automated registration of members and dependents, relay real time communication to service providers (hospitals),” reads the letter in part.

In February, civil servants through the Union of Kenya Civil Servants initiated the process of seeking to oust NHIF from managing their Comprehensive Medical Insurance Scheme for Civil Servants.

The union claimed members were still subjected to hospitals with no drugs, equipment, and their dependents turned away especially at night.

A Government report noted that civil servants are now being forced to pay out of pocket for medical procedures and services that are covered under the scheme.

Mission impossible, Horrific death of Mariam kigenda and her daughter.

Kenyans are yet to recover from the horrific death of Mariam Kigenda and her four-year-old daughter Amanda Mutheu from Likoni.

Without any rescue team on site, the two lives were snuffed in the most painful way.

Many aboard the disaster themed ferry watched in disbelief as mother and child took to the floor of the ocean.

What is even more disheartening is that the family was forced to hire private divers to try and bring back their loved ones to the surface.
A tragedy of national magnitude consequently became a family affair.

The line government ministries and departments turned loudly silent or awfully under-prepared to provide logistical and professional support.
Disaster has become synonymous with breaking news in Kenya.

Kenyans seem to be floating from one tragedy to another with little hope for a better tomorrow.
Kigenda’s tragedy is only another chapter in the too familiar underbelly of our national disaster preparedness.

This time, however, the incident also paints our incapacity to fully exploit the potential of the blue economy – an area where the government has stepped up rhetoric as the next frontier of national economic rejuvenation.

Tapping the potential of our waters is heavily dependent on having critical mass of adequately trained personnel of various cadres.

Beyond seafarers and engineers, as a country we must equally invest in people who can provide round-the-clock rescue missions in cases of emergencies.

If the country had only a semblance of ocean rescue team, we would not have lost Kigenda and her little angel.

One can only imagine what would happen if a similar incident involving even more Kenyans were to happen deep into the sea.

As the story unfolded, residents and civilian divers expressed dissatisfaction with the lackadaisical manner and attitude of the state in the wake of such incidents.

A man with long standing diving experience in the area said they had repeatedly been sidelined by local officials only to be called in the dead of the night when disaster strikes.

It revealed the cracks in mainstreaming of civilian voices, energy and talent in disaster management.

The said man even lamented that he could not be allowed to attend a blue economy forum, which was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Water safety is a critical component of blue economy activities and it is important that the responsible state departments both trained and equipped standing teams, which can expeditiously respond when disaster strikes.

Making our waters safe will be a key component of attracting foreign investments, while creating employment; both of which could hoist long-term and sustainable exploitation of the abundant marine resources lying in Kenyan waters.

Let the demise of Kigenda and her daughter jolt the government to undertake comprehensive reforms in our maritime security and safety.

Know Gorilla by conservation, (IUCN) updated mountain Gorillas'

There are more gorillas in the mist – a rare conservation success story, scientists say. After facing near-extinction, mountain gorillas are slowly rebounding.

On Wednesday, the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated mountain gorillas’ status from ‘Critically endangered’ to ‘Endangered’, a more promising, if still precarious, designation. There are now just over 1,000 of the animals in the wild, up from an estimated population of 680 a decade ago.

The Atlanta-based nonprofit is named for the primate researcher whose work helped draw international attention to mountain gorillas and whose memoir became the basis for the 1988 Sigourney Weaver film, Gorillas in the Mist .

“This is a beacon of hope – and it’s happened in recently war-torn and still very poor countries,” said Stoinski, who is also a member of the IUCN’s primate specialist group, which recommended the status change.

Mountain gorillas live in lush and misty forests along a range of dormant volcanoes in east Africa. Their habitat falls inside national parks spanning parts of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Fossey, who died in 1985, had projected that the primates may be extinct by 2000. Instead, their populations have been slowly increasing thanks to sustained and well-funded international conservation efforts.

“We have made progress in terms of their protection, in terms of allowing an environment where mountain gorillas can continue to thrive and grow,” said Anna Behm Masozera, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, based in Kigali, Rwanda.

“But it’s important to note that mountain gorillas’ numbers could still slip back very quickly. We still have just two fragile and small populations,” split between two national park areas.

Several factors have enabled mountain gorillas’ modest rebound, said Masozera. The three governments have stepped up enforcement of national park boundaries — areas where hunting, logging and paved roads are illegal.

Tourism helps too: Visitors pay up to $1,500 an hour to watch gorillas, money that helps pay for park rangers.

“Primate ecotourism, done right, can be a really significant force for funding conservation,” said Russ Mittermeier, chief conservation officer at Global Wildlife Conservation. “It gives local governments and communities a tangible economic incentive to protect these habitats and species.”

There’s also health care. Gorilla Doctors , a nongovernmental group, has trained veterinary staff in each of the countries where the mountain gorillas live. Hunting in the national parks is illegal, but nearby residents still set traps to catch other animals, such as antelopes. Those traps can also grab gorillas’ arms and legs.

When gorillas are found struggling with snares, the vets are called in to clean wounds. Kirsten Gilardi, U.S. director for the organisation, called it “extreme conservation”.

Other experts said the emergency vet interventions play a significant role in maintaining mountain gorilla populations.
“It’s a total conservation win, and there aren’t that many of them,” said Gilardi.

The Paramount of that guilty feeling

The pang of guilt that hits you as you stand next to your sleeping child’s bed feels pretty terrible, doesn’t it?

It’s easy to be overcome with a spiral of destructive thoughts that you’re a terrible parent, that you’re screwing your kids up.

But pangs of guilt can be useful as long as they lead to change.

Luckily, tomorrow is a new day—a new opportunity to be the person that you want to be and build the relationship that you want with your child.

Of course, we can’t always wait for tomorrow—we can’t let each day slip by before we really start paying attention to what we’re doing and the choices we make.

But tonight when you stand next to your child’s bed—or right now as you read this—choose to make this the moment that changes everything.
Turn your thoughts and feelings into action.

If you’re ready to start taking action, but aren’t quite sure how, or maybe you want some guidance and support as you become the parent you want to be, my Mindfulness for Parents.

It’s packed with lessons and exercises that have helped parents around the world learn tools to better take care of themselves and to teach those skills to their children, helping their families for years to come.

This story stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it. But I’m inspired to now step forward with a new mindset—and I hope you are, too.

Doesn't live up to your expectations

When your child misbehaves or doesn’t live up to your expectations and you end up chastising them, think of why you’re doing so.

Is it for their own good or for yours?
Hey, this whole parenting thing isn’t easy. I know that firsthand. Not only do you need to figure out your own life and encounter your own practical and emotional challenges each and every day…you’ve also got to raise a human. No small feat!

Sometimes we just want some goshdarn peace and quiet and for things to go smoothly.

But remember that every interaction with your child is potentially providing a lifelong lesson—and the thing is, you have no idea which interaction is going to have the most impact.

So when you feel strong emotions swelling up inside you, it’s helpful to step back and ask yourself: “Is this for me or for them?” If you realize you’re responding for your own benefit, then try to find another way—a better way—you can help yourself. Walk away.

Meditate. out and practice something that you can do in a stressful moment to help you feel better so that your kids don’t have to feel the brunt of it.

Boost as Oncology unit in Longisa County Referral Hospital launch

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki has today launched an Oncology unit in Longisa County Referral Hospital which will offer Chemotherapy to Cancer patients in Bomet County and the entire South Rift region.

Speaking during the launch, the CS observed that the milestone will ease the burden of Cancer patients having to travel to Nairobi or Eldoret seeking the services.

Addressing the same function, Bomet Governor Dr. Hillary Barchok appreciated the national government for its commitment to alleviating the pain of Cancer patients in this region by providing the service.

“The launch of this unit is a milestone for Bomet County. We are committed to delivering on the big 4 agenda particularly in health sector”, said the governor.

Dr. Barchok also exuded confidence that the County Government of Bomet has competent medics and facilities to handle the scourge, adding that Longisa County Referral Hospital does not only serve Bomet residents but also Kenyans from Narok, Nyamira, Kericho and entire South Rift.

Longisa Hospital now joins the other 9 Chemotherapy and radio therapy centres across the country to assist in the management of Cancer among Kenyans.

The governor requested the national government to set up a 5 bed capacity ICU in Longisa and to offer assistance to his administration in establishing Dr Joyce Laboso Memorial Mother & Child Wellness Center in honour of the late Governor Hon Dr Joyce Laboso.

25 years Old-Man Committed suicide, Bomet County.

A old man of 25 year has died after committing suicide in Bomet County, the a painful exchange with his lover in an apparent romantic relationship gone painful.

It comes as a Mass number of suicide cases have been experienced in the region with some involving primary school pupils are.

Anderson Kipyegon Koskei consumed herbicides before hanging himself at Kiptemenio village in Mogonjet sub location in Konoin constituency on Monday night.

“He hanged himself on a tree using a nylon piece of cloth. The body had no visible external injuries and there was no sign of struggle at the scene,” states a police report.

The area assistant chief Elijah Rotich, said the deceased was a casual labourer at the home of a local farmer, where his body was found dangling on a tree at around 10 pm.

“Text messages (SMS) retrieved from his phone showed a passionate exchange with a person whose name was only saved as sweetheart,” states the report.

“A pair of sandals, a mobile phone, a small black torch, a small measuring cup, a quarter full plastic containing substances believed to be herbicides branded OSHO- D-AMINE recovered at the foot of the tree,” the police stated.

The body was moved to Kapkatet sub county hospital in the neighbouring Kericho county to await postmortem and subsequent release to the next of kin for burial.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Prof John Samuel Mbiti is dead

LThe Kenyan-born Christian religious philosopher and writer died on Sunday in Switzerland.

Prof Makau Mutua confirmed the death through his Twitter account. He said that the death of the scholar is a big blow to the nation.

Mutua who is also a scholar noted that the deceased will be remembered because of his immense contribution towards the education sector.

Prof Mbithi once taught at Makerere University before he left. He was the first African to translate the Bible into Kikamba.

“Prof John Mbiti, Kenya’s — one of the world’s most iconic philosophy and religion scholars — passed away today in Switzerland. Ironically, I wrote about him in my Sunday Nation column today before he passed. May his family and friends know peace @WMutunga @ncckkenya @RailaOdinga,”

Mbiti was an ordained Anglican priest.

He undertook his studies in the United States of America and Uganda. He took his doctorate at the University of Cambridge in 1963.

While at Makerere University, he taught religion and theology.

He is remembered for his immense role in the education sector. He has authored several books including African Religions and Philosophy (1969).

The late professor kept on expressing interest in theology across Asia and Africa among other continents during his active days in the education field

He has been very vocal on matters of education since he entered the sector.

Kenyatta University faced indefinite closure

Kenya University has been closed indefinitely following the students’ rampage that has paralysed activities at the institution.

In a memo released by the University Senate, all students have been ordered to vacate the university premises Immediately.

“Following disturbances by some students from yesterday 7th October 2019 to 8th October 2019 that has led the disruption of lectures and destruction of university property, the University enate has decided to close the University until further notice,” read in part the Memo.

The students on Monday engaged police in running battles causing a heavy traffic snarl-up on Thika Road.

Led by their union boss Joshua Ayika, the students are demanded the resignation of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul K. Wainaina for what they termed as “historical injustices.”

The students have been reportedly lamenting over strict deadlines of clearing their fees and also increase in charges of supplementary exams.

Most of the Children infected when they are between 10 and 19 years old get saved

Most of the babies saved get infected when they are between 10 and 19 years old.

The ability to prevent mother to child HIV infections in Kenya could be futile as most of the babies saved get infected when they are between 10 and 19 years old.

A meeting of health stakeholders in Kenya last week, led by the National Aids and STI Control Programme (Nascop) were concerned with the increasing number of infections among adolescents in the country.

According to Kenya HIV estimates for last year, adolescents accounted for 15.5 per cent of the total new infections recorded in the country.

Most of these cases were of children saved from the virus through mother transmission. Nascop’s head, Dr Catherine Ngugi, said the worrying trend of 22 new HIV infections daily through mother to child transmission and the increasing number of adolescent pregnancies should be stopped, terming them “worrying” in the war against HIV.

But as the country steps up efforts to reduce mother to child transmission, it will be imperative that more is done to reduce infections among adolescents. In March, the Health ministry said mothers in West Pokot County were on the lead in fighting HIV to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

13-year-old suspected of defiling a one-year-old arrested

Nakuru Children's Court has allowed the police to detain a 13-year-old boy suspected of defiling an infant aged 1.5 years.

SeniorResident Magistrate Daisy Mosse ordered the police to detain the suspect for 10 more days as they investigate the matter.

The minor suspected of defiling the infant will be detained at Mau Narok Police Station as directed by Ms Mosse.

The orders were made after Police Constable Mwanamkuu Mbaruk swore a miscellaneous application.

Mbaruk said that the suspect was arrested by irate members of the public and if released to his parents, he may be lynched.

"The suspect was arrested on October 4. We pray for 10 more days since investigations are underway," said Mbaruk.

He said that the victim has been admitted at Rift Valley Provision General Hospital and she is in a critical condition.

The magistrate directed that the suspect to be treated as a child while in the police custody.

"The police are to liaise with the children's department for the care of both subjects," directed Mosse.

The suspect is accused of defiling the infant at Bondeni area of Mau Narok trading centre in Njoro sub-county within Nakuru County on October 4.

Nairobi and Nakuru puncture, Punguza Mizigo Bill

Nairobi and Nakuru County Assemblies, joined several other County Assemblies in rejecting the Punguza Mizigo Bill, fronted by Third way Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot.

Majority leader Abdi Guyo, said the Bill does not have the interests of Nairobi residents at heart and that some of the proposals made by Aukot are not realistic.

“The Bill is against the gains made in the 2010 Constitution especially in relation to gender and marginalized communities,” said Guyo.

While opposing the motion Deputy Minority Whip Moses Ogeto also a member of the County’s Justice and Legal committee said the proposals made in the Bill were rejected by city residents during public the participation stage.

“During public participation Nairobi residents made it clear that they don’t want it and as the people’s representatives we have rejected it,” said Ogeto who represents Kilimani Ward.

In Nakuru, members of the county assembly debated and adopted a Legal and Justice Committee report that was tabled by Viwandani Ward MCA Erick Gichuki Kariuki who is the committee chair.

The Committee while tabling the report that recommended the disapproval of the Punguza Mizigo bill argued that the Bill has double standards in most of the clauses.

“The Bill proposes that if you are mentioned by any inquiry body then you will not be eligible to contest any seat. That is like giving the auditor general the power of the DCI and therefore this is a draft bill that is double standards” said Gichuki.

However, Elburgon Ward MCA Njuguna Mwaura and his Lakeview Ward counterpart Peter Karanja Mburu supported the Bill, arguing that it addresses the overrepresentations in the county assembly and the National assembly.

Back to Nairobi, acting speaker Chege Mwaura had given the legal committee powers to oversee the public participation exercise and table a report for the MCAs to debate.

The members who unanimously rejected it, argued that the Bill lacks inclusivity and that it does not align itself to the two- thirds gender rule which is a key proponent of the constitution.

Some of the proposals in the Bill includes setting wards as the primary unit of development, reduce the number of MPs from 416 to 147 and have a single seven-year presidential term among other radical proposals.

So far, Aukot’s bill has been rejected by at least seven county assemblies including; West Pokot, Nyamira, Siaya, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kisii, with Uasin Gishu being the only county Assembly which passed it.

The timeline for debating the Bill in at least 24 counties is set to expire on October 15.

The County Assemblies Forum last month called for the suspension of debate on the Bill in all county assemblies to allow for public participation.

County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Secretary-General Kipkurui Chepkwony said they are scheduled to meet on October 11 to take a common position on the Bill.

Suspended: 19 Masinde Muliro University students

Masinde Muliro University has suspended nineteen students accused of causing unrest and damaging property at the institution last month.

Those affected include officials of the Masinde Muliro University Students Organisation (Mmuso) led by the Chairman Vincent Lumala, the Secretary General Gerald Maina and Treasurer, Amon Tarus.

An internal memo signed by the acting registrar Academic Affairs Prof Thomas Sakwa, dated October 7 read in part: “Pursuant to Section 2.1 (b) and (c) of the Masinde Muliro University Science and Technology (Mmust) Rules and Regulations governing the conduct and discipline of students, the 81st Regular Senate meeting sitting on, Wednesday 2nd October 2019, resolved to suspend 19 students listed below from the university with immediate effect pending disciplinary process for causing student unrest and destruction of property within the university.”

The affected students have been instructed to stay away from the university premises until they are invited to appear before the Senate students’ welfare disciplinary committee.

The move comes after the university announced the reopening of the institution from Monday and asked students to pay a penalty of Sh950 and clear outstanding fee balances before sitting exams.

The university was rocked by riots on September 18 after students protesting the decision by the management asking them to clear outstanding fee balances before they could be allowed to sit for exams.

The irate students hurled stones at buildings and vehicles at the parking yard, destroying property.

But students expected to graduate in December are planning to move to court to seek orders challenging the decision by the university management requiring them to sit supplementary exams for the previous year before graduation.