Dr. Davji Bhimji Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Monday urged media houses to be objective when reporting on issues affecting the medical fraternity.
Bhimji said that the story in the Daily nation of Saturday 24th September 2022 carries a lot of fundamental errors of fact which make it read more like a witch-hunt.
“The story is nevertheless a good attempt at attracting the attention of Kenyans to the plight of the Kenya Public Health sector and to this effect, it must be commended,” he added.
Bhimji observed that the media house ought to know that it is not a crime in Kenya for civil servants to run a business.
“Trying to selectively criminalize it for the doctors must be one of the most inhuman and calculated attempts to kill a dog by first giving it a bad name,” he added.
He urged the media house to study the content of the human resource policies and procedures for the public service which makes provisions for those whose work arrangements may not strictly follow the 8am to 5pm schedule.
“Doctors work in odd shifts because a doctor is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Bhimji revealed.
He said that doctors’ salaries are not hefy as state agencies have studiously blocked any attempt for a CBA to be concluded.
The 23RD Nairobi International Bookfair kicks off on Sept 28 running up to Sunday Oct. 2 at the Sarit Center hall.
The event which is organized by the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) comes as a source of great relief for local publishers still recovering from the devasting effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiarie Kamau, the chairman of KPA said the pandemic and the attendant restrictions meant that the bookfair was not held in 2020 and 2021.
“We are excited that we are holding a phyiscal book fair after being unable to do so the last 2 years owing to the COVID-19 disruption,” Kamau said.
Kamau, who is also the managing director of East Africa Educational Publishers, noted that the NIBF has an admirable profile internationally.
“This is the biggest book fair in this part of Africa. Perhaps the only one that comes close is the Cairo International Book Fair,” he noted.
The theme of this year’s book fair is ‘publishing in the New Era’ which is a representation of current realities, both locally and internationally.
Kenya’s public sector trade unions on Sunday slammed the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for slashing their allowances.
Dr. Davji Bhimji Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said that the SRC has become an impediment to the continuous social dialogue between workers and the employers.
“The SRC deliberately frustrates and suffocates collective bargaining process by issuing unrealistic advisories that not only render negotiation a public relation exercise but also veto mutually agreed agreements between social partners,” Bhimji said.
Bhimji joined other General Secretaries of Public Sector trade unions to strongly condemn constant interference in collective bargaining process and mutilation of successfully concluded collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) by the SRC.
Charles Mukhwaya, the Secretary General of the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) said that the Constitution of Kenya, Article 41 (5) provides that every worker has a right to Collective Bargaining without any limits as is the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98 which Kenya Government subscribes to giving every worker the Right to Collective Bargaining.
“However, since its inception, SRC frustrates, stifles or even blocks this right by barring negotiations on fiscal aspects of CBAs. Thus it frustrates workers while also tying the hands of employers who are willing and ready to engage with the unions,” he added.
Kenya Kwanza members of parliament led by MP Mosop Hon. Abraham Kirwa and Chesumei MP Paul Kibichiy and Bernard Kibor MP Nandi Hills have hit back at azimio leaders after threatened Chief Justice Hon.Martha Koome.
Mps were reacting to threats by Azimio leaders to boycot session in any case CJ will be addressing the induction.
The leaders have called it immaturity and backwardness when it comes to leadership and bad message to the nation.
Hon. Kirwa has said leaders should show maturity and dignity to our institutions he was speaking during parliamentarian induction going on in Nairobi.
” We need to preach peace for stability of the nation .”Nandi Hills Mp
Kenya and Uganda have agreed to partner in order to combat trade in counterfeit goods.
Dr Robi Mbugua King’a CEO of Kenya’s Anti Counterfeit Authority said that criminal syndicates have taken advantage of porous borders to smuggle counterfeit products throughout the east African region.
Mbugua said that any counterfeit goods that passes through Kenyan territory to neighboring countries such as Uganda and South Sudan will be intercepted and perpetrators brought to book.
“We are engaging other government agencies to ensure that counterfeit goods crossing the border stopped is confiscated,” he added.
Dr John Akoten, director of research at Anti-Counterfeit Agency said that the level of counterfeit and illicit trade in Kenya is approximately 800 billion shillings.
He noted that the trade is increasing rapidly due to consumer demand for counterfeit products.
Charles Karangwa, Kenya Country Representative at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
by Maximilla Wafula
Global conservationists on Wednesday said that it will partner with African banks in order to combat climate change.
Charles Karangwa, Kenya Country Representative and Regional Head of Land Systems Africa at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) told a banking forum in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya that banks play a critical role in determining how finance is used to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
“IUCN will continue to explore opportunities to work with banks and other financial institutions to deploy various instruments including green and resilience bonds for the benefit of local communities,” Karangwa said during the KBA Banking Research Conference.
Karangwa added that IUCN will contribute to creating awareness and building capacity of the banking sector on sustainable financing principles.
He said that IUCN has already supported the development and implementation of nature-based solutions as well as climate related risk management for banking sector.
He noted that in recent years, extreme weather phenomena such as rising temperatures and the increasing frequency of droughts and floods are affecting lives and livelihoods in Africa.
He observed that banks have incentives to promote use of sustainable finance given that natural disasters affect infrastructure and other investments funded by banks.
“The financial sector in delivering a net zero biodiversity loss can help reduce and manage natural disasters and related impacts to investments,” Karangwa added.
The International , non- Profit economic development organization TechnoServe has today officially launched a program that aims to widen the variety of Fortified foods , ensuring Kenyan consumers continue to have access to nutritious meals . TechnoServe , with the support from a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , has launched the technical Assistance Accelerator program ( TAAP) which aims at increasing the level and variety of Fortified foods by working with stakeholders to Increase compliance TAAP will provide technical assistance and advocate for high – quality inputs to , among others , large and small -scale miller’s , action are aimed at motivating these stakeholders to comply with national fortification regulations. The Covid- pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict have disrupted supply chains upending the global trade of Agricultural goods , while three consecutive years of drought in East Africa has resulted in growing levels of food and scarcity and hunger . Mounting increase in the price of food staples has also forced households to alter their diets , likely impacting their consumption of essentials nutrients . The prospect of lower calorie intakes increases the importance of fortifying staple food such as maize flour , rice and edible oil, said Dominic ( Schofield ).
TAAP will strengthen African Processors on fortified Foods (SAPFF) program launched in 2017 which worked towards to increase food fortification compliance levels in two staples in Kenya -wheat and Maize flour . TAAP will work with various stakeholders including the ministry of Health , the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS ), Cereal Miller’s Association (CMA) , Kenya Association of Manufacture’s (KAM), United Grain Miller’s Association (UGMA), development partners and a academic institutions . Food fortification has been widely identified as a cost effective strategy for addressing micronutrients malnutrition at scale .In Kenya , more than one in four children under the age of five is stunted , with poor nutrition a prime factor in nearly a third of deaths of children under five . Malnutrition also contributes to poor growth and physiological deficiencies in children , birth defects , high rates of disability and illness , and overall lower productivity , which can reduce Counties GDPs
By steve sabai Kenya Chapter, Women Mediation Network Kenya, Democracy Trust Fund and Echo Network have today congratulated President Elect Dr. William Samoei Ruto together with his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua as the newly elected Fifth President of the Republic of Kenya.
This is the voice of the Kenyan people who spoke on Tuesday, 9th August 2022 through their ballots and endorsed by the Supreme Court decision of Monday, 5th September 2022.
“We have no doubt that you will embrace all Kenyans and unite our nation so that together, we can tackle the myriad challenges affecting our nation. As you set the agenda for your first 100 days in office after being sworn in, we urge you to priorities the women’s agenda including actualising the commitments for girls and women contained in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Women’s Charter which articulates the comprehensive agenda for the women of Kenya.” Said African Women leaders Network Kenya.
They further noted that, they appreciate the call for reconciliation that was made to other 2022 Presidential contenders and all Kenyans in General irrespective of their political persuasions. Indeed, this is the only way to get the country back on track.
Congratulations your Excellency! We applaud the message of hope and reconciliation by our 4th President H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta in which he committed to hand over power to President – Elect and ensure a smooth transition.
We appreciate the stately leadership that President Uhuru supported by our First Lady. H.E. Margaret Kenyatta have provided for the last Ten years and especially your contribution to supporting the cause for girls and women (Male Gender Champion) and promoting the peace agenda in Kenya and the East Africa region.
The women of Kenya owe you a great debt of gratitude. We urge the President Elect Dr. William Ruto to be the 2nd President to be a Male Gender Champion. The women of Kenya are particularly proud of our Judiciary and specifically the Supreme Court under the leadership of the Chief Justice Martha Koome. We applaud your ruling on the Presidential Petition that was before your Court in respect to the August 2022 Presidential Election. Your Team demonstrated fidelity to the rule of law and the Team of Judges acting independently and professionally. You have restored our confidence in our Constitution and in our independent institutions. On behalf of the women of Kenya, we want you to know that we are truly thankful. Asanteni Sana.
In addition they thanked the people of Kenya who have remained peaceful and patient throughout this electioneering period. In the end, Kenyans are the real winners! We have proved to the world that ours is a nation that respects the rule of law and democratic practices.
As Charles Pickering, the Veteran United States Court of Appeal Federal Judge once said: ‘A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerable and respectful’.
The women of Kenya under AWLN commit to pray and support our incoming administration under the leadership of President elect, H. E. William Samoei Ruto and work together to make our country a better, safer and more secure place for girls, women and all Kenyans.
The private sector operators in the food processing industries as well as governments regulating agencies have pledged commitment towards increasing optimal levels in food fortification compliance. According to Mr. IKE ILEGBUNE, Lead Consultant MFI Project, the essence of the MFI ranking, is that members of the public would have access to information about the fortification of the four staple foods, and help encourage companies to meet their fortification targets. He also noted that food fortification will help prevent nutritional deficiencies within the population, and to replace nutrients that were lost during food processing. The MFI is an industry-led initiative that seeks to simplify complex quality parameters on the efficacy and consistency of compliance with mandatory food fortification standards by participating processors of wheat flour, salt, sugar and edible oil in Africa. “The Covid_19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine conflict have disrupted supply chains ,unpending the global trade of agricultural goods while three consecutive years of drought in East Africa has resulted in growing levels of food scarcity and hunger”. He added Mr.Ike Ilegbune while speaking in Nairobi during a workshop organized by TechnoServe. Poor nutrition has continued to rob Nigeria of its growth potential, making investments in tackling malnutrition critical to the country’s future. TAPP will provide technical assistance and advocate for high quality inputs to among others, large and small-scale millers actions are aimed at motivating this stakeholders to comply with the national fortification efforts to ensure access of nutrition by the consumers. 1993, Nigeria implemented the salt iodization policy and since then, goitre and iodine deficiency have been drastically reduced from a high prevalence of 67 percent in the 80’s to less than six percent in 2015.
Kenya’s number one retail chain, Naivas Supermarket will be opening doors of its newest outlet in Eldoret town The new store will be the retailers 85th store in the country and the 4th in Eldoret town. The outlet covering 39,999 square feet of trading space is located along Stendi Kisa-Yala Road at Elgon View Mall in Elgon View Estate, a suburb in Eldoret. “We are very delighted to be making a grand return to the city of champions, a town that we as a homegrown brand take great pride in being a part of. Eldoret has seen the success of three of our outlets; Referral, Sokoni and the year old, Zion Mall. A factor that influenced this new development.
Over and above that, this opening was motivated by the need to continually offer shoppers an experience that compliments their lives by being a one stop premium shop. Our greatest pride and joy is that with every support accorded to us as a brand, we get to grow our contribution to the Kenyan economy by supporting industries, farmers and creating jobs both directly and indirectly,” said Willy Kimani, Naivas Chief Commercial Officer. Willy Kimani also added “This new store will deliver nothing short of an authentic Kenyan hospitality something that is part of our Kenyan DNA, and which underscores our standing as “the ndonyo for champions”. Our customers know that each time they walk through our doors they can trust us to deliver on our promise; saves you money. This is cemented by our mantra; we exist to make other people’s lives better, which underpins each of our undertakings.” The new store will carry a wide range of product categories including but not limited to fresh produce, commodities, electronics, and other general products. As is tradition, the retailer will run exclusive store opening offers to celebrate the milestone with the shoppers who are the true driving force behind the success experienced in the region. The retailer has a busy first half of financial year 23 ahead, as it sets its eyes on several store openings which include Ojijo Road in Parklands, Meru and Ruai.
