Author: staff reporter

by Maximilla Wafula

Mr. Philip Dalmas of Institute of Human Resource Management led other Fellows of the Institute of Human Resource Management, CEOs and Business men during the congratulatory breakfast meeting in honour of Hon. Eliud Owalo , Cabinet Secretary Information , Communication and Digital Economy at Safari Club Towers Nairabi . This opens the path for more people to access opportunities and in this case it raises the profile of the HR professionals in the Country .

This occasion provided a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on the growth of the profession, 35 years since this wonderful institution was established and 10 years since the enactment of the HRMP Act No. 52 of 2012. We stand on the shoulders of great men and women who have devoted themselves to the growth of the HR profession and I am pleased to see some of them in this room. Said Mr.Philip Dalmas.

Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo is a vastly experienced HR professional, Management Consultant, Economist, and Strategy expert. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Strategic Management, from the University of Nairobi and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Human Resources Management, from the same University

The Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo appreciated the leadership of the Institute of Human Resource Management, led by the National Chairman CHRP Odero Phillip Dalmas. “I do not take for granted the honor you have bestowed upon me by hosting this breakfast in my honor” . I am a proud HR professional who has consulted and advised organizations and governments on matters of people management.
I will be calling upon many different categories of professionals to support the effort to migrate into the digital working space, CS said.

We must reimagine the future and reengineer ourselves for it. We must be predictive and create our own spaces, into and in, that future. We must also develop the right attitudes towards technology and not resist change. with people

From the development of the digital infrastructure to digital skills we need the human resource. It is important for us that this resource will be home-grown. I call upon HR professionals to reimagine the jobs and the competencies that are required for the new digital world.

I encourage us to embrace the opportunities that technology and the digital economy present in supporting the youth through coaching and mentorship using available technology platforms. As a Ministry, we will endeavor to engage HR professionals through the professional body as we design, develop and implement initiatives for the benefit of our beloved country.

I call upon the leadership of the institute to create a pool of HR professionals who can advise the state and non-state actors on matters of people management, productivity and skill development for the digital economy. I will gladly spearhead the initiatives where IHRM can collaborate with other stakeholders in an effort to transform the development and management of our workforce in order to remain competitive in the global scene .
Ends …

By Jeff kizzilah

Highchem pharmaceutical company has been in the healthcare business since 1999.

“As a company our customers are our priority through ups and downs we have always devoted to improve health and productivity in veterinary and home care,”According to Mr. Wachira Maina ,E.A MD for HighChem group.

Speaking when he presided over the grand opening, Mr. Wachira said this is big milestone for us and to the customers,” he added

By Steve El Sabai

Nairobi, Kenya… 29th November, 2022…. Stakeholders have been urged to build from the basic primary healthcare level in the journey to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Speaking during a stakeholder’s breakfast meeting to chart the way forward on Kenya’s road to UHC, Samantha Weya, the Healthcare Consulting Lead at Zamara Actuaries said that there was a need for an increased engagement at the grassroot level to aid in developing healthcare systems that best address population needs. “Our systems as industry players should be built with patients at the center and focus on data driven solutions to improve primary health challenges”.
Speaking during the panel discussion, Dr. Elizabeth Wangia, UHC secretariat, Ministry of Health said, “the journey to achieving universal healthcare is a significant component of our 2030 sustainable goals thus merits our attention and participation as key stakeholders. The journey is not easy, as we have heard, but we are taking steps in the right direction, and the country’s leadership is committed to delivering UHC.”
Dr. Wangia urged the private sector to put an emphasis on primary healthcare and come up with solutions to aid patients to take care of their health concerns.

“There is no way to accelerate healthcare solutions other than digitization which is a government priority. This is achievable through collaborations with private healthcare players, she said, adding that there was a big role for private health insurers to play in the pursuit of UHC in the country.

“With regulatory support from the government, there is space for insurers to provide more affordable products that cater to the mass market by providing benefits beyond the essential benefits under UHC,” she added.

The NHIF (Amendment) Act 2022 was created as a result of the 2021 NHIF Bill, which established the legislative foundation for Kenya to achieve UHC, becoming law in 2022. The Kenyan UHC program began in 2018 as a pilot program in four of Kenya’s 47 sub-national governments (Ministry of Health of Kenya 2018).

Nairobi bar owners on Tuesday asked for forgiveness from  President William Ruto, Governor Johnson Sakaja  as well as residents of Nairobi.

Boniface Gachoka, secretary general of National Bar Owners Association (BAHLITA) said that most of their members have complied with the noise regulations in residential areas.

“Today  we have come to ask forgiveness from the  president,  governor and Nairobi residents,” Gachoka said.

He called on the governor to establish a taskforce to investigate clubs that are   breaking the noise regulations.

He noted that the bar closure has affected 3900 bars and 256,000 people has lost their jobs directly and indirectly so far.

BAHLITA said that their short term measure is to appoint an environmental expert so that bars can follow the law.

“We want to concentrate on friendship with Nairobi residents,” he said.

by Maximilla Wafula

Governance Expert Dr. Fred Ogola , today led other learned professional, prof. Charles Oloo , Dr. Churchil Saoke , Amorell Juliana and Dr. Baba Zuri of Kenya University Students Organization President and other Stakeholders during the Launch of Nationwide Signature Collection for the proposed constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill , 2022 at the Bomas of Kenya .

This Bill is a culmination of nationwide consultations and deliberations through forums as “Bunge LA Mwanachi “and town hall meetings with professional bodies , private sectors players , Civil Society and the Media . The discussions culminated into proposals for constitutional changes structure into the following thematic areas and spread across .

The proposed changes span across the following key thematic areas , namely accountability, youth and persons living with disability , leadership and integrity , representation of the people , Devolution and Public Finance . Food security , healthcare , education and other fundamental rights , and not for individual enrichment . We have entrusted some people , the public servants to look after these billions for the benefit of you and me feeling of pinch which comes when Kenyans sleeps hungry and not managed to pay school fees .

Operation Linda Ugatuzi believes that together we can form the Government of the people for the people, and not for the wolves , it is common knowledge that those who tried entering the government through the BBI and those who managed to enter the government by blocking BBI both used public resources. Fortunately for both parties they got positions with which to comfort themselves , while we , the common people of Kenya , went home with higher taxes , heavy bills and more and more debt to pay .

This proposed amendment bill will ensure that even the common man and woman comes comes out of election with something to divide rather than leaving divided .

Following the nationwide consultations and deliberations through forums of Bunge LA Mwanachi and town hall meetings with professionals , we therefore proposed the following amendments .

Ends .

By Njeri Irungu
Shop owners and micro-retailers have embraced the use of technology in operating their businesses, which is improving performance, as has been observed by the non-profit international development organization TechnoServe.
TechnoServe notes that micro-retailers are using digital solutions provided by Retail Pay, Tanda, and Market Force, in key areas including financial management, inventory management, and financial services, which in turn is improving the performance of these businesses.
“Digitization of processes is making it possible for micro-retailers to improve supply chains, financial linkages, and inventory management all of which are necessary to efficiently serve their customers,” said TechnoServe Regional Program Manager Alice Waweru. She added that capturing of data and processing it also presents an opportunity for micro-retailers to make better data-driven decisions in their day-to-day operations.
These insights arose from the 6th Stakeholder’s forum hosted by TechnoServe and its partners, including Moody’s Foundation, Elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization, MasterCard Centre for Inclusive Growth (MCIG), Citi Foundation, and the University of Nairobi.
TechnoServe has additionally found that improving efficiencies coupled with other initiatives such as proper bookkeeping can increase micro retailers’ longevity and increase revenues by up to 45 percent.
The organization is also working on ways to improve micro retailers’ efficiency; including giving technical advice on how these businesses can aggregate to benefit from economies of scale.
Since 2015, the organization has worked with 55,435 micro-retailers on improving their enterprises.Additionally, 23,369 micro-retailers have managed to secure loans valued at $5,277,848 through the assistance of TechnoSeve’s Smart Duka program.
Micro-retailers can additionally fill the gap left by large multinational retailers exiting Kenya and the wider African “There is a great opportunity for micro-retail shop owners as large multinational retail outlets exit the Africa retail market space but to efficiently fill this gap duka owners must use technology to improve processes,” said Ms. Waweru.

By PATRICK KIMANZI & MAXIMILA WAFULA / THE COUNTY DIARY

For 23 years, SBS Group has sustained it’s premium production of non-corrosive ZINCALUME material, leak proof tanks whose internal PVC liner ensure no contamination of water/stored liquid as content is not in direct contact with tank walls/shells, it’s engineers have said.

Speaking during the Engineers caucus in Mombasa, Robert M. Tunje said;

During the fete, the SBS Group stand stood out in popularity and was graced by non other the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Water Sanitation and Irrigation Hon. Alice Wahome.

MORE INFO;

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SBS Solutions East Africa Limited was registered in Kenya and situated in Nairobi, Kenya. Our company is proudly affiliated to various professional bodies and organizations.

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6. Installation done at safe working heights.
7. Our tank shells are made of non-corrosive ZINCALUME material, leak proof tank with internal PVC liner thus no contamination of water/stored liquid as content is not in direct contact with tank walls/shells.
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www.sbstanks.com

by Maximilla Wafula

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water , Sanitation and Irrigation Hon. Alice Wahome today joined the policy makers , practitioners , academia and stakeholders drawn from the engineering industry in the local and international arena in the opening of the 29th IEK
International Convention Conference in Diani Reef Beach hotel, kwale County . She applauded the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) together with its
collaborating partner, the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) for making it possible to bring together key players and thought leaders in areas of engineering and engineering affiliates to discuss, deliberate, critique and exchange knowledge around the convention theme of “Sustainable
Engineering in the Era of Climate Change”.

The Kenya Kwanza Government Plan is to bring down the cost of living, eradicating hunger, creating jobs, expanding the tax base, improving our foreign exchange balance, and inclusive growth. She outlined out the
government key priority areas which include ; Agriculture, to boost value chain through blending & branding and move from rain fed to irrigated
agriculture; on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) economy, to
establish MSME Business Development Centre in every Ward, and an industrial park and business incubation centre; on Housing and Settlement,
to Increase supply of new housing to 250,000 per annum and percentage of affordable housing supply from 2% to 50% and to ensure progressive
realization of the human right to water, sanitation and Irrigation and food
security.

Healthcare perspective, the government intends to integrate Information Communication and Technology systems to enhance telemedicine and health management information systems; and on Digital
Superhighway and Creative Economy to construct 100,000km of national fibre optic connectivity network which will increase and fast-track
broadband connectivity across the country .

Further, the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome emphasized that beyond the overdue, legitimate and priority concerns of resilience, mitigation, loss and damage, Africa
offers unique potential to play an indispensable positive role in the planet’s
climate future. Africa’s vast tracts of land, deep treasures of diverse natural resources, tremendous untapped renewable energy potential, and a
youthful, dynamic and skilled workforce constitute the continents
irresistible credentials. Opportunities abound in Africa, such as green
energy, smart agriculture, de-carbonized manufacturing, e-mobility and
green building, all aimed at the attainment of zero carbon by 2050.

The theme for this 29th IEK Annual International convention,
“Sustainable Engineering in the Era of Climate Change,” speaks
directly into the bigger picture that His Excellency presented at COP27. Climate action is an ongoing process, not an event, and it requires
extraordinary collaboration from a multi-disciplinary professional
undertaking. Such convention provides a critical opportunity for
policymakers, industry experts, academicians, scientists, engineers,
students, other professionals, business community and government
leaders to double on their climate goals, forge new collaborations, and egenerate enough clean energy for the whole
continent

Engineering is a very important and learned profession . Members of the profession recognize their work that has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all people, profession engineers must perform under a standard of
professional behavior which requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct on behalf of the public, clients, employers and the profession.

She was more concerned about events that led to unnecessary loss of life,
more so, where such situations are under the specific control and order of appropriately trained, skilled and qualified personnel. The public outcry of collapsing infrastructure leading to an unnecessary loss of
human lives need to be taken seriously by all the stakeholders, some of
whom are gathered here today. Besides loss of lives, such unnecessary
collapse of infrastructure impacts the economy and equally results in
loss of investor confidence.

She urged all players in infrastructure development, be the
investors, county governments, private sector, contractors, or the general
public to engage professionalism at all levels of the value chain. As the government commits to work closely with the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK)and the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Ministry will look into the matters raised by the engineering profession .

Enhancement of capacity building of engineering professional by providing a percentage of project costs to be applied for graduate Engineers internship, masters, and PhD of engineering in
specialized and emerging fields like bio-medical engineering.

Sustainability in this era of climate change is our challenge and each one
of us individually and collectively have a role to play in saving this planet and the people. We owe the society a solution to these global problems
for which you are entrusted with the relevant education, training, and
qualification.
looking forward to fruitful engagement in this Convention and it is my
singular honor to declare this Convention officially opened.
Ends ……

By Eric Ziribagwa Ogott

With food insecurity and malnutrition affecting many in the region it is important to seek out long-term solutions to food insecurity, with this in mind the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched a regional technical working group today, in Nairobi.
The Learning Network on Nutrition Surveillance (LeNNS) with the support of the US Agency for International Development, hosted its first technical meeting, with the goal of establishing effective policies, advocacy and action planning around nutrition in the region.Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General – Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya indicated that the LeNNS will promote the generation of timely information and evidence and improve on how the information is used to inform effective policies, strategies and programs across the region. He reiterated the need for the network to address pragmatic and pressing food and nutrition challenges in the region.
The LeNNS is an opportunity to map the countries’ and institutional actions in nutrition surveillance, develop a deeper understanding of the needs for nutrition surveillance in the region and discuss viable ways of strengthening the linkages among different actors in nutrition surveillance.
“Malnutrition and food insecurity pose major threats to global, regional and national social economic and development goals,” said John Kuehnle, USAID Health Population and Nutrition Office Director. “USAID is committed to working with countries to strengthen national nutrition information systems, sub-national nutrition data availability and use, and capacity strengthening around nutrition data.”
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General – Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya indicated that the LeNNS will promote the generation of timely information and evidence and improve on how the information is used to inform effective policies, strategies and programs across the region. He reiterated the need for the network to address pragmatic and pressing food and nutrition challenges in the region.
The Ag. Director General Ministry of Health, Kenya Dr. Patrick Amoth, the USAID Director of Health Population and Nutrition, John Khuenle and the IGAD Head of Mission to the Republic of Kenya, Dr. Fatuma Adan officially inaugurated the Learning Network on Nutrition Surveillance (LeNNS). This event was held at Weston Hotel, Nairobi Kenya. Others in attendance were the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, universities, research institutions and other nutrition stakeholders in the region. Countries represented in the launch were: Djibouti, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.
The USAID supported LeNNS is an opportunity for regional learning about nutritional surveillance that can be applied to solve the pressing problems everyone is dealing with now and into the future.

by Maximilla Wafula

Chairman , Engineers Board of Kenya Eng. Erastus Mwongera, During the 29th IEK International Convention on “Sustainable engineering in the era of Climate Change ”.
on 23rd November 2022 at Diani Reef, Kwale County . Joined other fellow engineers in the opening of the International Convention Conference to engage in discussions on one of the biggest problems that are currently facing the world, i.e., climate change.

Engineering is of critical importance to sustainable development , through engineering, scientific discoveries are converted to useful daily necessities and infrastructures for transport, water, electricity and communication thereby driving the socio-economic development of Nations.

The Collaboration of engineers both locally and globally is essential to finding sustainable solutions to the problems facing humanity. There is an urgent need for our country Kenya, our region and the world at large to accelerate the adoption of sustainable engineering models to address the pressing challenges of climate change such as environmental degradation, freshwater scarcity, loss of biodiversity and natural resource depletion.

The Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) is a statutory body established under Section 3(1) of the Engineers Act 2011, with the overall mandate of developing and regulating engineering practice in Kenya. It’s objective is to ensure that professional engineering services are safe, efficient, and effective for the delivery of all engineering infrastructure systems and processes in Kenya.

Further, the Board is expected to set standards for engineers in management, marketing, professional ethics, environmental issues, safety, legal matters, and any relevant field with the aim of achieving a safe and efficient engineering infrastructure

The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Cabinet Secretary Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. Hon. Alice Wahome , whereby the key strategic programs, recommendations addressing gaps to prevent further collapses and loss of lives was highlighted.

The report was forwarded to the Ministry in August 2022 for implementation in accordance with Section 7(1)(u) of the Engineers Act 2011. Enhancement of the disciplinary committees to review cases where complaints have been raised against professional engineers .He appealed to developers to only engage qualified professional engineers and enter into contractual agreements where their roles and responsibilities are clearly spelt out. He urged all prospective students to ensure they enroll in engineering degree courses that have been recognized by the Board as well as universities to offer engineering degree courses recognized by the Board as this will ensure that graduate engineers are fit for industry and can contribute effectively to the rapid development of our economies.

The Board has therefore set an ambitious strategic intention to have in its register 10,000 engineers by 2027. For this ambitious plan to succeed, the Board has put in place the Graduate Internship Programme (GEIP) which seeks to ensure that graduate engineers across all MCDAs and private sector employers go through structured training that will enable them to gain the professional competencies required for professional registration and within the stipulated period of 3 years as much as is possible. So far, the Board has entered MOUs with Isuzu, KEBS, Davis and Shirtliff and is preparing MOUs for KeTRACO, KPA, KPLC, County Government of Vihiga. In addition, the Board is developing sector-specific Graduate Engineers training curricula and commend KeNHA for developing one for highways engineering; Board intends to roll out the curriculum within the next three months. He urged all employers of engineers in the public and private sectors to institute structured training for graduate engineers to become professional engineers within the shortest time possible .

Director Compliance Standards and Enforcement Eng . Antony Makokha with the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome

The Board is fully committed to increase intra-Africa and global trade, develop various capacity-building programmes to ensure consulting engineering firms are able to take up opportunities across the continent and the globe. The East Africa delegation convened here to take stock of the implementation of the EAC Mutual Recognition Agreement on the sidelines of this convention.To achieve the above milestones, the Board acknowledges the support it has received and continues to receive from all our stakeholders and partners particularly our parent Ministry of Roads and Transport.
Ends