Nairobi: Spinal injury patients to receive corrective surgery at reduced rates

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Christmas will come early for 15 patients suffering from various spinal ailments and deformities following a collaborative project between the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and the NuVasive Spine Foundation that will see corrective surgeries carried out on the patients.

Patients will only have to part with between Sh20,000 and Sh30,000 depending on the type of procedure carried out on them, instead of the Sh1 million which would have otherwise been required.

In a statement sent to newsrooms on Saturday, KNH Communications Manager Kibet Mengich said that the surgeries will be conducted between December 9 and 15 at the referral hospital.

“The surgeons will carry out corrective surgeries on 15 patients with spine deformities, degenerative, traumatic and infective spine conditions as well as neo-plastic spine ailments,” read the statement.

He added that the procedures would also relieve the shortlisted patients from back pains in addition to improving spine surgery treatment in the country. Continue reading…

 

South Africa’s Rugby Sevens reflect on Mandela’s vision

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South Africa’s multiracial rugby sevens team huddled in the middle of the stadium named after Nelson Mandela. The players raised their hands together to the sky. Then they went out and won the game.

It was all a reflection of Mandela’s vision for sports in his country. And this day was something he surely would have enjoyed.

Just as he famously delighted in the Springboks’ famous rugby World Cup victory in 1995 or the country’s historic role in hosting soccer’s World Cup in 2010.

In the stands at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, blacks and whites waved their country’s colorful flag and loudly cheered scores by the dreadlocked Cecil Afrika and the team’s blond captain, Kyle Brown.

“It’s a real honor and privilege to be a South African today,” Brown said, apologizing that he wasn’t able to give, as he saw it, a more poetic tribute to the former president, who died Thursday at 95.

Brown, however, may have indeed touched on something: South African sports is now proud, and that wasn’t always the case. Continue reading…

 

Kenya beats Rwanda in CECAFA quarter final, prepares for semis against Tanzania

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Kenya’s Harambee Stars managed a hard fought 1 – 0  win in their Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) quarter final clash against Rwanda played at the Mombasa County Stadium on Saturday 7 December with Jockins Atudo getting the all important goal in the game.

In a game that saw limited action in front of goal Kenya showed early intent with Allan Wanga connecting well with a Peter Opiyo cross in the second minute but his diving header was not well directed, going off target instead.

Rwanda close

It was Rwanda who went closest in the 20th minute with a free kick by Emery Bayisenge and it needed a moment of brilliance from Duncan Ochieng to keep the ball out before Anthony Akumu’s follow up to punt it clear off the goal line.

A minute later Keli twisted and turned to find space in the Rwandan area but his well taken shot lacked precision, going straight to the keeper’s waiting hands. The KCB forward had another go at goal with a snap shot on the 35th minute but this time he couldn’t get the target. Continue reading…

 

Parliament approves deployment of Kenya Defense Forces to several northern counties

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The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) will be deployed to quell incidences of insecurity between warring armed communities in the country especially in Northern Kenya after Parliament approved its deployment.

MPs gave their approval on Thursday night following a request by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The deployments will be done in Samburu, Marsabit, West Pokot and Turkana counties where several people have been killed by rival clans.

According to the President the forces will be sent to restore peace and security and stop those fighting from destroying property.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s request was communicated to the House by Speaker Justin Muturi at 9.40pm and discussed at 11.36 pm

This is the first time the President has sought the help of KDF to help deal with internal security issues.

Although KDF was deployed to Westgate to fight off terrorists, Parliament ratified the deployment after the siege.

Yesterday Deputy President William Ruto said that parliament had given a go ahead to President to deploy the military to bolster security especially in crisis torn areas. Continue reading…

 

Kenya plans to sign concession with Chinese company to develop coal deposit

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Kenya plans to sign a concession accord this week with Fenxi Mining Industry Co. of China to develop a coal deposit of 400 million metric tons, ending a two-year delay and enabling the state to tender 31 more blocks.

Kenya, East Africa’s biggest economy, plans to add 5,500 megawatts of electricity output to its grid in 40 months, almost 2,000 megawatts of that from coal, to help accelerate annual economic growth to more than 10 percent from a projected 5.5 percent to 6 percent this year. Kenya targets starting coal production within 30 months, which would enable the country to rely on domestic supplies instead of imports to fuel a 900-megawatt plant in Lamu county on Kenya’s northern coast, the development of which was tendered in September.

Block C, which may contain 400 million tons of coal, covers 131.5 square kilometers (51 square miles) and Block D 120 square kilometers, according to Omenge. Continue reading…

 

Nairobi: Irish companies seek opportunities in emerging East African markets

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Ireland’s Minister of State for Trade and Development Joe Costello pledged to strengthen business links with emerging African market as he arrived in Nairobi.

The visit is part of the Irish government’s Africa Strategy – an initiative that stresses the need to think beyond aid to develop stronger political and economic ties with African nations.

The strategy identified Kenya as a priority country, citing its potential for growth and its position as a gateway for the East Africa region.

“This visit will help us to identify which sectors have the greatest potential for Irish companies in Kenya and the wider East African region where economic growth is more than 6% per year,” said Mr Costello.

“On the recent trade mission I led to South Africa and Nigeria, Irish companies secured new contracts totalling over 7 million euro (£5.9 million) in the financial services, telecommunications and educations sectors. Continue reading…

 

Kenya Rugby Union mourns, celebrates life of Nelson Mandela

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The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) joined leading world sports associations and sports stars in paying tribute to Nelson Mandela following the death of the former South African leader at the age of 95.

The KRU chairman, Mwangi Muthee, heard of the news in the early morning as he prepared to take a flight from Nairobi to South Africa where the Kenya Sevens team are set to play in the HSBC IRB World Series round in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and Sunday.

“As fate will have it, we are in South Africa at a historic time. We have mixed feelings; saddened to lose our Father but with indescribable thanks to God for the privilege to be right at his, Madiba’s, doorstep during this time. We mourn, we celebrate his fruitful life. Continue reading…

 

Kenya: Complete digital TV migration expected by mid-2014

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Kenya’s cabinet on Thursday approved the planned migration from analogue to digital television broadcasting in Kenya despite new study showing that at least 2 million residents of Nairobi face blackout for no gadgets.

A statement issued after the meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta said the migration will be achieved within a six-month period starting with Nairobi on Dec. 13 and later spread to all regions of the country by June, 2014.

 

“Cabinet noted the bold steps taken to effect the migration which will lead to release of the spectrum currently used by analogue television,” the statement said.

“This will improve communication in the Country by availing faster Internet speeds which is critical for data communication and business transactions,” according to the statement. Continue reading…

 

Nairobi Metro: Kiambu county passes finance bill, reduces burial tax

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The Kiambu County Assembly has passed the controversial Finance Bill after its amendment. The assembly’s Budgetary and Finance Committee told the members that most of the county projects, which were started by the World Bank have stalled because of the bill.

Committee chairman Charles Muthua said if not passed, the county government would lose millions of shillings in January in terms of licences and rates.

“The executive has taken into consideration the views of the public and amended the bill appropriately. The committee took time to scrutinise the bill and all the amendments have been effected,” he said.

Among the amendments are the reduction burial fees from Sh4000 to Sh2000 for adults in public cemeteries in towns. Public cemeteries in rural areas will charge Sh500. For children, Sh1,000 will be charged in towns and Sh200 in rural areas. Continue reading…

 

Northern Kenya: Pastoralists transition from livestock to farming

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Pastoralists in northern Kenya are slowly shedding off livestock rearing into crop farming following recurrent droughts that wiped out their animals.

While some of the pastoralists prefer livestock rearing as their main stay, others have abandoned the practice and diversified into small scale farming.

Adan Fayo, 44 years old from Merti in Isiolo County, is one among other herders who opted out of livestock rearing into farming following 2008 drought that hit northern Kenya where livestock were lost in masses.

“We have learnt a lot from the previous droughts that reoccur after every season where thousands of animals worth millions of shillings were wiped,” Fayo told Xinhua in an interview on Monday. Continue reading…

 

Texting may improve your relationship – if you follow ground rules

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Texting your boyfriend to say you’re running late is one thing. Trying to win an argument via text is quite another, suggests a new study that finds how young couples use text messaging may affect the quality of their relationships.

The research doesn’t actually prove that texting influences how well couples get along, but it does raise questions about the role played by those little messages you send your significant other.

“Texting almost always gets a bad rap when people talk about what it does in relationships,” said study author Lori Cluff Schade, who worked on the research as a graduate student at Brigham Young University. “They always talk about it like it’s a disconnecting force.”

The study, published in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, suggests that texting can actually improve relationships, although it seems to also have the power to hurt them, Schade said. Continue reading…

 

Kenyan beauty queen will compete in “Face of the Universe” pageant in Lagos

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Kenyan beauty queen Faith Waithera will be representing the country at the Exquisite Face Of the Universe in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 19. The pageant is a unique international beauty and modelling contest that aims to showcase the advancements of Africa’s Eco Tourism. Since the first edition in 2008, it has been held in Ghana for four consecutive years and hosted by former Ghanaian President, John Osei Kuffor.

Some of the world’s most beautiful women from more than 60 countries across all the continents are expected to converge in Lagos for a series of activities leading up to the finale event; including talent auditions, swimsuit contest, fashion show and charity ball. Continue reading…

 

Mandela used sports as a means of reconcilation across racial lines

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While the world mourns his death, Nelson Mandela will also be celebrated as the man at the heart of South Africa’s return to world competition after decades of Apartheid-enforced isolation, using sport as a means of reconciliation between the country’s diverse racial groups.

Mandela, who died aged 95 on Thursday, trumpeted an early return to international participation, encouraged South African sporting personalities and significantly saved the Springbok emblem, putting a firm lid on a contentious debate

His presence at key contests at which South African teams triumphed led to the concept of ‘Madiba magic’, a play on his clan name and the awe-inspiring effect he produced.

Sport had been targeted for sanctions during the country’s Apartheid rule, leading to bans from the Olympic Games and various World Cups and an almost complete isolation by the time Mandela was released from his long jail sentence in 1990. Continue reading…

 

If you want to know whether your relationship will stay happy – trust your gut

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According to a new study, your gut is the best indicator of whether your relationship will stay a happy one.

Researchers at Florida State University studied 135 heterosexual couples who were married for less than six months and followed up with them every six months for a four-year period. What they found was interesting: How people reported feeling about their partner didn’t always reflect how happy they stayed over time. But their automatic, or gut-level, responses did. Continue reading…

 

Maziwa Lala Smoothies

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Top mango maziwa lala smoothies with chunks of fresh pineapple, mango or with thin banana slices.

The health benefits of drinking maziwa lala, fermented milk, are tremendous. “Most notably, the milk is easily digested by people who cannot drink fresh milk, a condition known as lactose intolerance. When it comes to food, what goes in must come out and fermented milk keeps the dangerous bacteria that has the potential to cause illness in balance…” — Read one of KND’s most popular wellness articles, health benefits of maziwa lala

You can enhance the taste, enjoyability and health benefits of this probiotic-intensive drink by adding pureed fresh and stewed fruit, which adds vitamins to the already healthful beverage. Drink maziwa lala smoothies as a healthy addition to breakfast, lunch or as a snack.

Mango Maziwa Lala

1 very ripe mango

2 cups of maziwa lala

Add sweetner of choice to taste, preferably raw sugar, honey or maple syrup

Directions: Wash and peel a very ripe mango. Cut it into chunks and puree it in the blender. Blend in two cups of maziwa lala. Add your sweetener of choice, either raw sugar, honey, syrup or a nonsugar substitute to suit your taste. Chill the mango maziwa lala in the refrigerator for about two hours before serving.

Variations

Mulberry maziwa lala: 1 cup of fresh-picked, ripe mulberries (washed, stem removed)

Guava-banana maziwa lala: 1 cup of guava (seeded and stewed) and ½ cup ripe banana

 

Nelson Mandela, Africa’s icon and global statesman, 1918-2013 (biography)

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mandela 1_2013-12-07-12-58-48_edited

Nelson Mandela was the first president of South Africa after the apartheid era. He served from 1994-1991

mandela 2_2013-12-07-12-59-59_edited

Mandela served 27 years in prison but remained steadfast to the “ideal of a democratic and free society”.

mandela 3_2013-12-07-12-56-40_edited

Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the village of Mvezo in Umtatu, South Africa

 

The Nobel Peace laureate, who was elected South Africa’s first black president after spending nearly three decades in jail, died at his Johannesburg home surrounded by his family, after a long battle against lung infection.

The news was announced to the nation and the world by an emotional South African President Jacob Zuma, in a live late-night broadcast.

“Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed,” said Zuma, whose own role in the struggle against white rule saw him imprisoned with Mandela on Robben Island.

“Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.”

Zuma announced Mandela will receive a full state funeral and he ordered flags to remain at half-mast until after the burial. National flags were also lowered in countries including the United States, testament to the anti-apartheid’s titanic status far beyond South Africa. Continue reading…

 

President Uhuru Kenyatta: “President Nelson Mandela lived an extraordinary life in an ordinary way”

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"Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world." -- Nelson Mandela.

“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s official statement on the death of  Nelson Mandela.

It is with profound sorrow that I have learnt of the passing away of ‘Shujaa’ Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa and an outstanding African statesman and icon.

On behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya and on my own behalf, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Mandela and to the people of the Republic of South Africa. Continue reading…

 

Rwandan President Paul Kagame remembers Nelson Mandela

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Few were less comfortable with the prospect of sainthood than Nelson Mandela himself. “One issue that deeply worried me in prison,” he wrote in Conversations with Myself, a collection of his writings published in 2010 “was the false image that I unwittingly projected to the outside world: of being regarded as a saint. I never was one, even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”

A rush to secular canonization would squander Mandela’s memory to unquestioning adulation. If we are to learn from his extraordinary legacy—and, as leaders, to act on what we learn—we are surely obliged to reckon fully with its layers and nuance. Symbolism must not crowd out substance while we reflect on the depth and range of Mandela’s contributions, to South Africa and to the world.

Take as an example his legendary refusal to exact revenge on those who imprisoned and humiliated him during the Apartheid years, culminating in the appointment of former white supremacist F.W. de Klerk as his deputy president. It is true that this was an act of admirable personal magnanimity, and a great testament to Mandela’s character. But, as a straightforward matter of politics, it was also both pragmatic and necessary. No other path could have ensured South Africa’s viability as an incipient democracy under ANC rule, not to mention protect its short- and  long-term economic prospects. Continue reading…

 

Kenya @50 celebrations: Former Presidents will open new commuter rail stations and a highway

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has delegated the opening ceremonies of three completed infrastructure projects in Nairobi to former presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The projects are being launched ahead of the Kenya@50 celebrations that will take place next week. On Monday, Odinga will be the chief guest at the opening of the Makadara Commuter Railway Station.

The following day, Kibaki will officially open the Western Ring Road, connecting Westlands, Kileleshwa and Hurlingham estates in Nairobi. On Wednesday, Moi will open the Imara Daima Commuter Railway Station. Continue reading…

 

Kenya wins coin toss, will face Rwanda in CECAFA quarterfinals

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Kenya are the winners of group A of this year’s GOtv Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Cup after winning draw of lots that took place at Nyayo Stadium on Thursday.

This came as a result of Kenya and Ethiopia both having the same points, goal difference, goals for an against prompting a coin toss.

CECAFA media officer Rodgers Mulindwa also confirmed Kenya as winners.

“We called officials from both teams and they were all present. We tossed the coin and Kenya emerged the winners and that is final. The teams were at Nyayo Stadium and all accepted the decision.”

Kenya will now face Rwanda in the quarterfinals while Ethiopia will play their arch rivals Sudan who they beat to qualify for this year’s African Cup of Nations that took place in South Africa.

South Sudan and Zanzibar from group A have exited the competition that enters the last eight on Saturday. [Source]

 

Kenyan photographers to compete for Sony World 2014 awards

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Kenyan photographers can now participate in the Sony World photography awards and win the Kenya national award following its inclusion.

The competition that is open to photographers from across the country will see Documentary Photographer Amunga Eshuchi, Kennedy Gathuru, Sony Middle East & Africa local office representative and Astrid Merget, World Photography Organisation Representative as the judges.

The 2014 competition gala that will be held in London on 30th April will name the shortlisted finalist on February 4th and the overall winners on 18 March.

In the 2014 awards professional photographers will compete for the coveted title of L’Iris d’Or/Sony World Photography Awards Professional Photographer of the Year, plus a $25,000 (USD) cash prize. Judges will also award the 15 winners for each of the Professional categories for their series of work.  Continue reading…

 

Uganda MPs go digital with iPads

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Uganda’s parliament has given iPads to all  MPs at a total cost of U.S. $370,000. The iPad tablets were purchased to make MPs more efficient in carrying out their responsibilities to constituents.

Parliamentary commissioner Emmanuel Dombo says the iPads will enable MPs to stay connected and access documents while travelling.

He also said the iPad fund was generated by reducing the paper budget which would no longer be needed.

Some Ugandans however have criticised the iPad distribution, saying that it is a waste of money.

“Taxpayers are already paying too much to take care of their  MPs,” opposition MP Semujju Ibrahim Nganda told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme. Continue reading…

 

Kenya Revenue Authority to begin roll out of electronic tax filing system in 2014

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Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will from next January make it mandatory for large and medium taxpayers to file and pay their returns electronically. The two, who account for about 80 per cent of all revenues collected, will now be required to remit their dues through KRA’s 20 appointed bank agents.

The mandatory roll out of the automated tax payment service, iTax, had earlier been planned for last September having been on pilot basis since the beginning of the year. The taxman asked the affected taxpayers to use electronic payment slips or payment registration number generated from iTax to pay their dues. Continue reading…

 

Nelson Mandela has died

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nelson mandela 2013-12-05-22-54-29

 

Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities and led his continent into a new era, has died at age 95.

South African President Jacob Zuma confirmed the news:

“He is now resting. He is now at peace,” Zuma said. “Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.”

Born Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela in Transkei, South Africa, the civil rights activist would become the linchpin in South Africans’ move to end the country’s notorious apartheid regime. The impact of his efforts — to reconcile generosity with pragmatism and to find the common ground between humanity’s higher values and his own aspiration to power, as journalist John Carlin once described them — would ultimately reach well beyond South Africa’s borders, and earn him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Continue reading…

 

Nairobi: 60,000 expected to attend Kenya @50 celebration at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium

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Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario who chairs the National Steering Committee Kenya at 50 yesterday said the government expects more confirmations ahead of the celebrations to be held between December 11 and 13.

“We are ready for the occasions and ready to take care of the heads of State that will attend since we have put everything in place including security, transport and accommodation,” Wario said during a press conference at Karasani Stadium in Nairobi.

Wario did not elaborate on which presidents have so far confirmed attendance. He at the same time announced that December 13 has been declared a public holiday to give Kenyans more time to celebrate Kenya at 50.He said the official celebrations will start t on December 11 and run to December 13. Continue reading…

 

Coin toss will determine CECAFA Group A winner after Kenya, Ethiopia tie

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The Group A winner of the GOtv CECAFA (Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations) Senior Challenge Cup will be known on Thursday, when a coin will be tossed to determine who goes on top of the Group after hosts Kenya and Ethiopia tied on both points, goal difference and head-to-head record.

“We could not be able to toss the coin yesterday (Tuesday) after the match, since Ethiopia had left Nakuru, and we didn’t want to do it behind their back,” CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye, who is yet to decide the venue told Capital Sport on Wednesday.

Harambee Stars beat Zanzibar Heros 2-0 on Tuesday to go top of the Group alongside the Walia Antelopes who humbled Southern Sudan by the same margin to see them book a slot in the last eight.

Both teams have seven points after winning two of their preliminary matches and drawing one, with each of them having three goals and conceded only once. Continue reading…

 

Kenya emerges as new favored golf destination

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Alfred Kariuki, Kenya Golf Union Chairman, gets out of the bunker during the Barclays Golf Circuit, Kiambu Golf Club.

Alfred Kariuki, Kenya Golf Union Chairman, gets out of the bunker during the Barclays Golf Circuit, Kiambu Golf Club.

Kenya’s holiday industry is perhaps more synonymous with elephants swinging their trunks than golfers swinging their clubs.

But new figures suggest that the growing global trend towards golf tourism is booming in the African country.

Around 20-30% of regular players take a golf-related holiday every year, the International Golf Tour Operators Association (IAGTO) said on Monday.

A fifth of these went to Africa, with Kenya and Nigeria named as the quickest-growing golf tourism destinations on the continent.

Travel and tourism contributed 5.2 billion US dollars (£3.17 billion) or around 12.5% of African GDP last year. Continue reading…

 

Central Kenya: Nyandarua county hopes to boost student KCPE, KCSE scores

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Nyandarua’s falling academic performance can be saved. This was county commissioner Wilson Njega’s message when he urged leaders to mobilise old students to mentor pupils and students. He said the county used to lead the country in national exams.

Addressing education stakeholders in Nyandarua West yesterday, Njega said people from the county hold high office in the public service and the private sector. He said such professionals can be give valuable advice on how the county’s academic strength can be revived.

“These are your sons and daughters and we should look for a forum where we can call them and encourage them to participate in developing local education. The strategy should work here because it has worked even in other counties,” he said.

The commissioner said all leaders will be blamed if they fail to work in unity and chart the way forward for development. He also advised that academic performance should be held in the poorly performing schools as a way of lifting them up. Continue reading…

 

Kenya: Government insurance for livestock farmers to be rolled out in 2014

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Deputy President William  Ruto has said that the government will roll out insurance for livestock in the country next year to cushion livestock farmers against any adversity befalling their animals.

He said the government had completed negotiations with insurance companies and the programme will become operational early 2014.

Mr.   Ruto at the same time assured farmers in the country that there is sufficient amount if seed and fertilizer for the next planting season.

Speaking when he opened the national farmers’ congress and annual general meeting of the Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) on Wednesday, the Deputy President assured that there will be no delay in planting adding there were 140 tonnes of fertilizer and 48 million seeds ready for planting next year.

Noting that 26 per cent of the country’s GDP is agro based Mr.  Ruto said the government will address all the concerns in the Agricultural sector as it had a high potential of enabling the country to grow at double digits. Continue reading…