Author: staff reporter

By Maximilla Wafula

Ababu on Monday urged the CAF to return Kenya to 2024 Afcon qualifiers.

Namwamba said the circumstances under which the team was locked out of the competition is a thing of the past, but said since the ban has since been lifted, it would be prudent if Kenya is given a second chance.

Kenya’s suspension which had been enforced in February 2022 was lifted on November 29 the same year. The country had been included in the 2023 Afcon qualifiers draw but later removed due to the ban.

“Now that Fifa and Caf are here we request that we be given a second chance so that our national team can compete in the 2023 qualifiers. Even our women’s football team could have qualified for the World Cup if we were not locked out because of the suspension,” said the CS.

“I do believe Fifa and Caf will consider peculiar circumstances under which the team missed the qualifiers and I request they be considerate and don’t punish our national team. This is one of the request I think FKF should present to Fifa and Caf,” added Namwamba.

He was speaking at his Maktaba Kuu offices in Upper Hill after meeting a contingent of officials from Fifa and Caf who are on a two-day fact finding mission on the state of football and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

The entourage was led by Fifa Director Member Association Africa and former footballer Gelson Fernandes.

Others who attended the meeting included Noda Nodar Akhalkatsi, Director Strategic Projects and MA Governance, Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programs, Alessandro Gramalgia Strategic Development Manager and Sarah Solemale, Senior MA Governance Manager.

In the draw, Harambee Stars had been placed in Group C alongside Cameroon, Namibia and Burundi and were scheduled to play Burundi on May 21 last year, before facing Cameroon and Namibia on June 4 and 8.

Match Day Three of the qualifiers are scheduled to be played between March 20 and 28.

The finals were moved from June 2023 to January 2024 due to weather concerns during summer in Ivory Coast.

CAF legal counsel Nadim Magdy, who was part of the delegation, said the continent’s football governing body would meet “soon” to discuss Kenya’s request.
On his part, Fernandes said they will meet with all stakeholders and give conclusions on the way forward over the fate of the federation.

“We are meeting stakeholders and all the issues you have raised on the fate of the federation and what happened before the suspension was lifted. We shall have a conclusion and a way forward on these issues,” said Fernandes.

Ababu assured Fifa that the government will not interfere in the affairs of the federation, but create an enabling environment for the growth of football.

The former Budalang’i legislature also called on Fifa and CAF’S technical support to improve football infrastructure as Kenya plans to bid to host 2027 Afcon and also achieve its dream of playing in the 2030 Fifa World Cup.

by John Mumo

Majority leader and kericho senator Aron Cheruiyot has reitarated on the need to amend standing orders to allow cabinet secretaries appear in parliament to answer questions regarding their dockets.

speaking during the ongoing cabinet retreat at Fairmont hotel in Nanyuki,the outspoken senator,has said that the house will amend specific rules to allow the cabinet secretaries appear before a joint committee or through plenary in less than an hour weekly and respond to all matters pertaining their dockets,a move that will make them accountable to both houses in their duties.

Currently the constitution does not allow cabinet secretaries to appear in either parliament or senate,.The President had earlier on said that his cabinet will be answerable to the house to ease service delivery to kenyans.

The tough speaking president has also sounded a warning to his cabinet saying they either deliver or resign.He has also called on them to work together with their permanent secretaries and chairpersons of their specific dockets since the house transacts it’s business through committee.

by Maximilla Wafula

Marathon World Record holder Eliud Kipchoge says the environmental qualities of the new Phantom X2 phone was the biggest sway he needed to take up the role of being the brand ambassador for Tecno’s new luxury phone range.

The double Olympic champion is big on conservation and environment, with the tenets of the two clearly entrenched as core values of his foundation.

Kipchoge was unveiled as the PhantomX2 brand ambassador on Thursday evening.

The new range of Phantom phones from Tecno is partly built with recycled material. It’s fibre back cover is made up with recycled plastic bottles. It is the first ever eco-friendly phone in the world.

“It was something which attracted me to do it. It is a phone with high technology. Secondly it is friendly to the environment. It was good to learn that the back cover is made up with recycled material and this is something very close for me,” Kipchoge said after his unveiling.

Kipchoge has been huge on environmental conservation and has already adopted 50acres of the Kaptagat Forest, where he hopes to plant more than 2,000 indigenous trees as a way of restoring the forest to its original cover.

Eliud Kipchoge during his unveiling ceremony.
The Tecno partnership is another huge win for Kipchoge off his athletics career, earning another endorsement. He is currently the Isuzu brand ambassador and has also worked with Safaricom as well as the Kenya Tourism Board.

He is one of the few sportsmen who have grown their brand off their sporting careers to tap into the corporate world.

“The secret is love for sport and the fact that I am inspiring the next generation. I have the belief that the next generation will be bigger than myself,” Kipchoge said.

ENDS……

by Maximilla Wafula

Hon. Onesmus Ngogoyo has today officiate public participation to residents on NGCDF constituency development agenda for the financial year 2023/2024 at Embulbul area Kajiado North.

The meeting is the first one at the constituency following controversial remarks on National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF).

These proposal issued are based on Education , Security and Environment that will form part the Kajiado North Constituency Startegic plan 2022/2026.

” I thank the residents of Kajiado North Constituency for electing me, together with my dedicated team we will transform Kajiado North Sub-county with state of the art projects ,am in talks with the interior ministry through the PS to build a registry department for my people to collect birth certificates and I’D here instead of going to Kajiado town.” Says Ngogoyo.

On the other hand Assistant County Commissioner Daniel Mwangaza Kiliku , thanked the residents for keeping peace and called for support on the new regime .

Residents of Kajiado North led by Assistant County Commissioner Mr. Daniel Mwangaza at the citizen participation have welcomed the move by the area Mp and asked for more of such engagements so that Kajiado North Constituency may transform.

Ends……

by Maximilla Wafula

Cabinet Secretary Mithuka Linturi said Wednesday during the launch of the Training of Trainers (TOTs) of Assistant County Commissioner’s on registration of farmers for the fertilizer subsidy programme, that the data will help the government to make targeted interventions as it races to enhance food productivity. Nairobi, Kenya, Jan 4 – Agriculture to collect on farmers across the country will play a critical role in ensuring there is food security in the future.

The registration exercise targets farmers involved in various crop production and aims to establish a credible national database of all farmers, including farmers’ identity, profiles, crop acreage, and fertilizer requirements.

“I am sure that if we continue with this initiative, we will be able to collect crucial data that will benefit our country, and with the aid of the National Government, we will make ensure that productivity increases in the next year and 18 months looking into the current strategies put in place,” Linturi said.

The Agriculture CS said that a time had come for the country to become self-sufficient and move away from overdependence on aid during drought.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture will collaborate with other departments including county governments to ensure the success of the countrywide exercise.

On his part Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo reiterated that the exercise will be voluntary and urged National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) to uphold inclusivity, integrity and fairness throughout the registration process.

He noted that the registration of farmers will be free of charge warning any administrator who plans to take advantage of the exercise to charge farmers.

“We will be decisive against dereliction of duty and indiscipline by any of our officers,” Omollo warned.

The Interior PS said that the training will equip the administrators who with the requisite, knowledge and skills necessary for the program.

“You will be required to diligently transfer and cascade this knowledge to the other officers and stakeholders across the country. In particular upon conclusion of this training, you will be required to train the Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs in your respective countries in preparation for the registration,” he said

He directed the administrators to play a leading role in mitigating and manage any misinformation that he argues may accrue from this program by providing factual information.

Besides the daily online registration that will be transmitted to the current platform, PS Omollo said NGAOS at all levels will be required to submit daily County reports to his office, on the status of registration as part of tracking, monitoring and reporting the progress of the registration exercise.

Ends…….

by Maximilla Wafula

Hon. Peninah Malonza, OGW, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage has today opened the International Ice Hockey Tournament at Panari Hotel on wedsaday , 4th January , 2023 .

The Cabinet Minister emphasized that Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism, due to the increased number of sporting events being held around the world. Tourists travel to attend popular sporting events and also to compete in the events themselves.
Speaking during the launch CS, Malonza says “The sports tourism market size is a fast-growing sector of the global travel industry which was valued at over 300 million dollars in 2020, and it is projected to reach over 2 billion dollars by 2030, registering a growth 0f more than 16 per cent from 2021 to 2030”

On the other hand Kenyan government has focused on the growth of different sporting activities to attract more tourists. It has tapped into athletics, golf, rugby, swimming, and Safari rally while diversifying to more innovative sports tourism activities such as ice hockey activities to attract local and international visitors. Ice Hockey is among the innovative sports tourism activities which are relatively new in Kenya and whose potential has not been fully exploited. Aggressive tourism marketing is, therefore, mandatory to draw more local and international tourists.

According to the event organizer Mr. Scott from Canada says Kenya plays a great role in the region in promoting Ice Hockey.

“From this global event that has taken place here in Kenya, the tourism economy is set to reap from my participants and also present a good opportunity to sell Kenya as an Ice hockey tourism sports destination across the region.

Kenya is the only ice rink of its kind in East and Central Africa, the Solar Ice Rink, here in Panari.
Ends……

The South Sudanese Diaspora in Kenya have celebrated the  loss of a great man Ajiengdit Deng who was the  spiritual leader of Twic Mayardit of Warrap State.

The revered leader  died in Nairobi hospital in December 2021.

Thousands of South Sudanese  living in Nairobi flocked to the Kenyatta International Conference Center to celebrate the life of the legend.

Among those in attendance was South Sudan Ambassador to Kenya as well as other dignitaries.

Hon. Ayuel Tauping Malek leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Diaspora in Kenya said that Ajiengdit Deng was a great inspirational leader and made a great impact during the Sudan Civil war that led to the independence of South Sudan.

“He shall forever remain in our memories for the good deeds he performed,” he added.

Ajiengdit Deng who hails  from Wunrock  was an exceptional leader who was respected all communities in South Sudan.

Landlords and Tenants Association of Kenya (LATAK)  on Friday opposed the proposed increase of land rates by the Nairobi County government.

Ben Liyai, Secretary General of LATAK told journalists in Nairobi that an increase in land rates will have a negative impact on the cost of living as the country is already suffering from  diffirent economic situation.

“We need adequate public participation as enshrined in our constitution before any land rate increases are effected,” Liyai said.

LATAK is an organization established to defend and protect the rights of 5 million landlord and 18 million

Tenants.

He noted that a lot of disruption took place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic because it caused lost of jobs and massive defaults on the part of landlords and tenants.

“Landlords failed to meet their expectation on loan repayment and many tenants have since been affected,” he observed.

Over 500 christian faithful are expected to converge at Kirima Tent of Prayer which is  located in Kiambu County for a New Year crossover crusade.

The 60 acre Holy land will   host Christians who will praise and worship God in spirit and truth for a 14 day prayer marathon.

Bishop Kirima said that the prayer session  will include  a thanksgiving service for the peaceful 2022 presidential elections as well as blessing for the upcoming 2023.

“We are also seeking divine intervention for God to bring rains for our crops,” she added.

The prayer sessions will run from December 17 to January 3 but the climax will be on New year’s eve.

by Maximilla Wafula

The 8th African Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation- ASENTI was hosted at The Boma Hotel in Nairobi Kenya in November 10-11.
The summit brought together 100 physical and 200 online attendees for the two days. The summit was in partnership with Oracle Academy Innovate UK. Mindlands Enterprises and Midlands UK.
The summit brought together delegates from over 10 countries UK, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Benin, Zambia, USA, Italy, Somaliland and Uganda
Oracle Academy was recognize for the exemplary work they are doing in the education sector in Kenya especially with a focus on working with the Universities in Kenya and beyond.
During the conference Ms. Bekere Amassoma, Oracle Academy Program Manager, Sub Saharan Africa shared on how partnerships with both the Institution of higher learning will be key in advancing digital learning
Blending Education and Technology; enhancing digital learning for higher education in Africa.
Moderator by Sofina Merinyo Education, ITF- Kenya
Panel speakers:
• Bekere Amassoma – Oracle Academy Program Manager, Sub Saharan Africa
• Mr. John Ngila-Social Entrepreneurship Lead, Africa Nazarene University-Kenya
• Helen Donnellan- Prof Vice-Chancellor Regional Business and Innovation
De Montfort University, Director Midlands Enterprise Universities (MEU)
• Dr. Jeremy Hague Nottingham Trent University, Director of Knowledge Exchange

The The Agripreneurship session youth specific efforts to enforce the role of young people in African agricultural transformation for sustainable food systems.
Presentation; Sheila Birgen Country Lead- Innovate UK-Kenya
Moderated by Wafulla T. Nekesah – Business Development Manager, Crop Nutrition Laboratory services (Cropnuts), Kenya
Panel speakers:
● Noah Nasiali- Kadima, CEO A farmer Media
● Stephen Mwongela, the Founder & CEO, Plusfarm Kenya.
● Lynn Odiwo- Co-founder-Nature’s Best Green Culture-Kenya
Sheila Birgen focused on the need for more youth to get involved in agribusiness and the role of Innovate UK KTN in Kenya’s agribusiness space.

Next year’s African Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation-ASENTI 2023 will be hosted in South Africa.