Category: Uncategorized

by Edward Kusewa

Punchline Africa 10th July,

The ECOSOCC Annual Citizens Forum 2023 held in Nairobi,Kenya highlightedj principles, such as citizen participation, accountability, transparency, and the protection of human rights.
The Role of Digital Governance:The forum highlighted the concept of digital governance and its relationship with democracy. Discussions held around digital technologies and the internet transforming citizen-government interactions and created new opportunities for democratic participation.
Empowering Citizens through Digital Technologies

The meeting highlighted Access to Information,the importance of access to information as a fundamental aspect of democratic governance and how digital technologies enable citizens to access public information, promote government transparency, and make informed decisions.In Participation and Engagement Ecosocc
examined the role of digital technologies in enhancing citizen participation and engagement. Discussions around examples of digital platforms that facilitate public consultations, citizen feedback, and collaborative decision-making processes.

Accountability and Transparency:Serious debate around the impact of digital technologies on promoting government accountability and transparency. Explore mechanisms such as open data initiatives, e-procurement systems, and online reporting platforms that enable citizens to monitor government activities.The

Challenges in Digital Governance included
Inequality in Digital Access:
Address the issue of the digital divide, emphasizing how unequal access to digital technologies can exacerbate existing social and economic disparities. Discuss strategies for bridging the digital divide and ensuring inclusive digital governance.About
Privacy and Data Protection:The forum
examined the challenges related to privacy and data protection in the digital age and the importance of safeguarding citizens’ personal information and explore regulatory frameworks and best practices in this domain.

Around Misinformation and Disinformation:The forum
analyzed the spread of misinformation and disinformation online and its impact on democratic processes and the role of digital platforms, social media, and algorithms in amplifying falsehoods and propose strategies for combating misinformation.

The forum also highlighted the best Practices in Democratic Digital Governance and
Open Government Initiatives,such as successful open government initiatives that promote transparency, citizen engagement, and collaboration between government and civil society including the benefits of open data, open policy-making, and citizen-centric service delivery.The E-Participation Platforms discussed ways to explore digital platforms that facilitate citizen participation and engagement in decision-making processes for successful e-participation platforms that enable citizens to voice their opinions, contribute to policy development, and hold governments accountable.On Digital Citizen Education:ECOSOCC
emphasized the importance of digital citizenship education in promoting informed, responsible, and ethical use of digital technologies and initiatives that empower citizens to navigate the digital landscape and critically evaluate information.

ECOSOCC’s Efforts in Promoting Democracy and Digital Governance include:
Awareness Campaigns and Advocacy:ECOSOCC’s efforts in raising awareness about the importance of democracy and digital governance and campaigns and advocacy initiatives undertaken by ECOSOCC to promote citizen empowerment and digital inclusion.

Che-Dreamakers or fondly referred to as the Bigbash Experts, is all smiles after being feted courtesy of Pacesetters awards.
Charly Aseno, the Captain behind the wheel of Che-Dreamakers, had this to say:
“Glory to God!! 🌟✨ 🙏
Che Dreamakers Events were honoured last night with the prestigious award of being pacesetters in the events industry. 🏆
We’re grateful to God and our esteemed clients for the far we’ve come.
Thank you for being part of our success story and we look forward to serving you even better and turning more dreams to reality.”
Che Dreamakers Events is the leading professional events planner that leaves the client ,satisfied and confident enough to bring more referrals courtesy of their exquisite services.
In case you are planning for an event and you would like the services of Che-Dreamakers the Bigbash Experts, don’t hesitate to reach them out on: 0727281442 or 📧 chedreamakersltd@gmail.com
“We promise to give that magical touch to any space you give us to work with.”

By Meresia Aloo

The leading mobile service provider Safaricom (NSE: SCOM), East African Breweries PLC and Vivo have today announced a partnership to launch The Bar and Shell apps on the M-PESA Super App.

EABL’s The Bar app will enable customers to shop for drinks with free delivery or book for a bar setup for parties and make payments through the M-PESA App.

Vivo will provide customers who fuel at Shell outlets with a loyalty app that will automatically be linked to their M-PESA accounts. This means that when a customer fuels and pays with M-PESA, they will receive points to the app based on the payment made through their M-PESA Account. The points can be redeemed for select items and services at Shell outlets.

“We are excited to welcome East African Breweries and Vivo as partners on the M-PESA Super App. The Bar and Shell apps will provide the more than 3 million customers on the app with the increased convenience of shopping online coupled with free deliveries and more value when fuelling at Shell outlets. These partnerships are part of our goal to enable our customers to do more through the M-PESA Super App by connecting them digitally to the different businesses and services on our platform,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO – Safaricom.

The two services are set to be rolled out in coming weeks and join more than 60 other firms that are providing their services through apps hosted on the M-PESA Super App, including government parastatals and counties. Safaricom provides hosting, distribution, and marketing support to the different businesses on the App.

More than 3 million customers use the M-PESA Super App, up from 1.2 million in April 2023. In Safaricom’s latest financial year to April 2023, the Super App processed 489 million transactions with a value of KSh. 1.3 trillion.

By Meresia Aloo

KNATCOM-UNESCO Sec-General and CEO Mr.James Njogu has pleaded with the region to embrace and promote kiswahili as a language and a culture.

While speaking to Journalists in Nairobi he emphasized that embracing swahili as a language brings people together and creates the sense of monumental which should be promoted by all African countries.

All this took place during Global Africa Diaspora Forum the (Kiswahili Day) held in Nairobi today,Mr Njogu recommended the use of Kiswahili language in all our institutions and engagements across continent,he said throgh the language we find our identity of Africa.

He also urged Africans in the diaspora who organised the Kiswahili day to identify swahili as Africa component and said Unesco uses Kiswahili to promote development.

It should be noted that KNATCOM’s mandate is to promote Kenya’s national interests in UNESCO and UNESCO’s international interests in Kenya, regionally and globally in the areas of Education, Sciences, Culture, and Communication and Information.

Mr.Njogu has also called on youths, as well as media to carry it forward by speaking share news and information in order spread the interests of the culture.

More than 900,000 people employed in private sector which is currently worth more than 100billion are set to benefit from training to enhance their skills and use of advanced equipments following the launch of the first ever private security training institution in Eldoret Uasin Gishu county.

Speaking during the launch of the school interior PS Dr. Raymond Omolo has said the government has started a process to issue security force numbers to private guards who will be undergoing training to enable them detect and effectively respond to current and emerging security threats.

The Permanent secretary has also reiterated government commitment to offer protective gear and tactical vehicles to security officers in this financial year 2023/24.

The security training institute named Miale security training institution is set to transform the security sector through its curriculum and training guidelines.

Present during the launch of the institution were Dr Eddyson Nyale County commissioner Uasin Gishu,CEOs and chairpersons of private security firms and union officials of private security firms.

By Meresia Aloo

The committee on Implementation has today met at a Nairobi hotel to deliberate on a number of issues.
They were meeting with the Ministry of Lands, National Lands Commission (NLC) and National Housing Corporations to consider the implementation status of the following reports:
Public Investment Committee’s 24th report on consideration of the Auditor-General’s Report on financial statements of State Corporations. Specifically, the National Housing Corporation
And the. Report of the Departmental Committee on Lands regarding a petition on irregular renewal of leases of land by Del Monte Kenya Limited.
While speaking to the press this afternoon after the proceedings the Managing Director and CEO of National housing corporation Mr.QS David Mathu noted that he engaged the committee on a number of issues.
The purpose of this engagent he said was to track the level of implementation of various recommendations that have been made by PLC regarding some audit issues that had arisen from NHC.
The audit issues touched on protection and the security of their land and various policies that they own across the country.In addition they also touched on matters to do with the implementation of National housing projects where they were required prior to commencing projects to ensure that they have complied with all statutory requirements.
According to him he reports that National housing corporation have gotten all necessary approval to avoid scenarios where contractors could actually commence projects and they are unable to proceed because other government agencies come in and perhaps say one or two documents are missing such as NEMA certification which is a very important document.
“Our submission to the Committee meeting this morning is that much ground have been covered.The corporation has also assured the committee members that the corporation now has in place ,a very good criteria that they are using for purposes of implementing a number of projects We are ensuring that all statutory approvals have been recieved and ensuring that land ownership documents are presented before commencing other projects.” QS David Mathu , Managing Director and CEO National Housing Corporation.

by Edna Okoth

TIFA released a survey on the new Finance Budget 2023 which focuses on several aspects of the New Finance Budget 2023 which includes awareness of price change in basic commodities since the 2022 election, views on the New Budget (positive and negative elements) and impacts , views and expectations of the housing levy program.

Speaking during the press briefing , TIFA Research Analyst Dr. Tom Wolf explained that with regard to the presentation of data, TIFA has used correlation -variables illustrating the degree to which certain demographic and attitudinal factors influencing respondents views regarding particular issues.

He stated that Kenyan’s view of President Ruto’s First Budget showed that the best provisions in the budget 2023 included Education, Housing Levy and Subsidized Farm inputs while the worst provisions in the 2023 Budget include VAT on fuel from 8-16%, increase on tax on basic foods and the Housing Levy.

“In view of the housing levy, our research shows that 69% of people do not support the housing Levy, 24% support the housing Levy and 7% did not respond and on the expectations that those who pay the housing Levy will ever get a house showed that 54% of people are certain that they will not get the houses, 15% were on the will or will not thought, 11% are certain that they will get the houses and 20% were not sure,” explained Dr. Tom Wolf.

He continued by highlighting that some issues on economic demographics include employment status and monthly income, ability to save and main use of savings to those who can save, main household cooking fuel and proportion of Food obtained from Family shamba.

“Nearly one-third of Kenyans who are jobless have never been employed (31%), with some others now jobless have worked in the past (8%), most of these working are self employed (29%) with only about one-in-ten employed full-time (11%), ” illustrated Dr Tom Wolf.

On economic policy, he focused much on awareness of price changes, in basic commodities since 2022 election, views on the new budget, views and expectations of the housing levy program.

“Among commodities most Kenyans consume or use, they are most aware of price increases for unga, sugar and petroleum products since the Ruto government assumed office (61%, 51% and 34% respectively) but at the same time, only a handful of Kenyans are unaware of any products whose prices have not risen (7%) for by contrast more than three-quarters cannot identify any products whose prices have decreased during this same period,” added Dr. Tom Wolf.

He noted that while there is a clear correlation between monthly income and the expectation of being liable to pay into the new housing fund, it is striking that even among these currently earning nothing, one quarter have such an expectation while only slightly more than twice that proportion(59%) in the highest income group do so and facts state that only those in the formal sector fall within its mandatory deduction category.

“It is thus clear that the results contained in this release, regarding especially the best and worst aspects of the budget for ordinary Kenyans as well as its perceived main purpose and support for the housing levy that there is considerable disquiet even among pro-government supporters and at the same time the opposition supporters are far from completely unified against it, suggesting that given the largely similar needs and desires of most Kenyans in shaping political orientations, the political terrain is common with the economic ones is likely to become increasingly fluid,” concluded Dr Tom Wolf.

Ends..

BY NJOKI KARANJA

The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities The Honourable Dato’Sri Haji Fadhillah bin Haji Yusof above.

Deputy prime minister and minister of plantation and commodities, the Honourable Dato Sri Haji Yusof in his keynote speech during the Malaysia Palm Oil Forum MPOF East Africa 2023 highlighted the importance of the malaysia -kenya trade relationship and emphasized the signifance of kenya as a vital market for Malaysian Palm Oil in the East African Region.

MPOF 2023,an event organized by Malaysian Palm Oil Council was held today in Nairobi,Kenya and was officially inagurated today by Dato Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof. The event gathered industry players and stakeholders from both Malaysia and Kenya to explore opportunities and foster trade relations in the palm oil industry.

The forum featured prominent local industry players and international expert’s from Malaysia,Europe, and Kenya as speakers. In his keynote he emphasized the mutual business relationship between Malaysia and Kenya,highlighting the increasing bilateral trade which reached USD. 1.19billion in 2022.

Under the theme ” pioneering sustainable solutions for a better tomorrow..” the Minister empasized Malaysia’s commitments to providing affordable and sustainable palm oil products to Africa. He acknowledged Kenya’s vital role as the 5th largest destination for Malaysianpal Oil exports and stressed the importance of sustainable practices and partnerships to ensure a better future for both countries.

FADILLAH addressed the challenges faced by the industry,including market across barriers and negative anti- palm oil campaigns and emphasized the need for a level playing field for fair competition.

Highlighting Malaysia own sustainability certification standard, the Malyasia Sustainable Pal Oil, the Minister emphasized its mandatory implementaion since 2020. The MSPO ensures that Malaysian industries produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil in accordance with international consumers requirements.

Dato highlighted the significant role of palm oil in Malyasia’s economy, being the highest -valued agricultural commodity exported in 2022. Generating a revenue of RM 137.8 billion. He encouraged participants to explore new avenues for expanding the edible oil and palm oil business,particularly in downstream higher value added palm derivatives.

In conclusion, the Minister encouraged the private sectors of both Malaysia and Kenya to seize the numerous opportunities in downstream higher value added palm derivatives . He called for partnerships and strategic alliances to explore new avenues for expanding the edible oil and palm oil business,particularly in area such as oleochemicals, pharmaceutical , processed foods, speciality products and consumer brands. By fostering direct interactions between Malaysian palm oil suppliers and buyers, the MPOF aims to establish relationships the lead to enhanced business opportunities for all stakeholders involved.

By Edna Okoth

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) in
collaboration with Kenyatta University opened the third Nairobi Summer School of Climate
Justice (NSSCJ) cohort in Nairobi Kenya.

The official opening symposium was held at
Kenyatta University and attracted over 500 participants featuring over 250 students globally.

Speaking during the event, Executive Director of PACJA Dr.Mithika Mwenda described Nairobi Summer School on Climate
Justice as a unique and innovative initiative that aims at equiping young leaders and activists
with the knowledge, skills, and tools to advance the cause of climate justice in their
communities and beyond.

Defending the historical idea of starting the Nairobi Summer School, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, said that the mobilization,
policy engagement, and other engagements that PACJA has been undertaking is a teameffort
and hence the Nairobi Summer School was a quick idea bearing solutions.

“We have been engaging with policymakers and stakeholders to influence and shape policies
and actions that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people. We have built
alliances and partnerships with other actors and movements that share our vision and
values. But we cannot do this alone. We need you, the young leaders and activists, to join us
in this struggle.” said Dr Mithika.

Regarding the theme of the Symposium, “Connecting Ideas and shaping narratives for
Climate Justice, ” Amb. Ayele Kabede, the Program Manager of the Swedish International
Development Agency (SIDA) pointed out that the program is invaluable in building
intergenerational knowledge in the context of Climate Change.

“I am glad to hear that this edition of Nairobi Summer School brought together over 600
hundred physical and virtual students to be equipped with knowledge on Climate Change fo this
is a big achievement, “said Amb. Kabede before he encouraged youth to think of the
valuable contribution because they are actors of change in climate action.

The Netherlands is one of the developed countries that has been supporting Climate action
and was represented by HE Amb. Maarten Brouwer, the Dutch Ambassador in Kenya who
appreciated the initiative which he qualified as the groundswell of youth climate activists.

“Climate change is indispensable in addressing the existential threat posed by Climate Change.
The voices of people and communities need to be heard to influence decisions and policies that
will impact their lives for the years to come”, said HE Amb. Maarten Brouwer before adding
that the Strengthening justice contribute to the 2030 agenda and leaving
No One Behind and time for incremental change is over.

The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education said that Climate Change has been
destroying infrastructures, schools, and other learning materials, and hence mainstreaming
climate change in all education systems is important to build the capacities of the young
generation.

“The Ministry of Education aims to inspire students to take action in advocacy and action on
climate change through environmental clubs, tree planting initiatives to implement
environmentally friendly initiatives in their communities, intimated Hon, Ezekiel Machogu, the
Cabinet Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Kenya.

End..

by Ronald Njoroge

Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) plans to develop a Digital Media City within its facility.
John Paul Okwiri, Ag. CEO Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) noted that the Konza Digital Media City is envisioned to provide an ecosystem that promotes training, research and innovation in the digital media and entertainment industries in Kenya and the African region. 

Okwiri made this remarks during the Konza Technopolis Creative Economy Conference that took place in Nairobi,
KoTDA noted that they are supporting creative startups at their National Tier Data centre with one year free hosting in view of building a sustainable media city project. 

He observed that the youth are asking for opportunities.
“With our state of the art data centre, we are providing an opportunity for the youth in creative economy with storage,”.

Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani said that the government will spend Kshs 15.1 billion in developing the digital superhighway in a bid to position Kenya as a unique creative economy hub destination.