Kenyaleo.co.ke

Author: David Bogonko Nyokang’i

  • All you need to know about Samsung care+

    All you need to know about Samsung care+

    Samsung Care+ is a service plan that offers accidental screen damage protection for your Galaxy device. This plan aims to provide quick and easy repairs to give consumers peace of mind for a period of 12 months. The Samsung Care+ plan is designed to enhance your connected life wherever you are.

    Below is everything you need to know about Samsung Care+ for Samsung smartphones in Kenya.

    • How do I register for Samsung Care+?

    Samsung Care+ can be accessed via https://www.samsungcareplus.com/afr#/.

    To register you will input the IMEI number of the device, the purchase date and the country you are in. You will receive a message and email confirming that you are registered.

    • When Can I Register for Samsung Care+?

    The Samsung Care+ registration should happen immediately when you purchase your phone. However, you can still register within 30 days of phone activation.

    • What does it cost me to register?

    Registration for Samsung Care+ is free.

    • What is the validity period for Samsung Care+?

    Samsung Care+ is valid for 12 months from the device activation date. This simply means from the day that you switch on the device for the first time.

    • What does Samsung Care+ cover?

    Samsung Care+ covers accidental screen damage to your Galaxy device caused by unexpected and unintentional external events (e.g. device drop) that arise during your normal daily usage of your device.

    How do I redeem Samsung Care+?

    In the case of any accidental damage to your Galaxy device screen visit the nearest Samsung Experience Store or Samsung Authorized Service Center with your damaged device. After handing in your damaged device to the attendant, they will check your IMEI number to confirm that your device is registered under Samsung Care+ and will then request you to fill in a form with your details. They will then be advised on the reasonable repair fee required.

    How much does the repair fee cost?

    The repair fee is payable after your qualifying claim. This simply means we confirm if the device was registered on Samsung Care+ and if it is still within the one-year period covered. The value of the repair fee is indicated on the Samsung website which can be accessed using the following link https://www.samsung.com/africa_en/offer/samsung-care-plus/.

    How long do I have to pay the repair fee?

    You must immediately pay the repair fee when you have checked in your device with the Samsung Service Centre, otherwise the center cannot proceed with the repairs.

    • How long does it take until I receive my device is fixed?

    The repair should take 3 working days depending on part availability and other factors.

    • Is the Samsung Care+ registered in another country valid in Kenya?

    Samsung Care+ is available in four Eastern African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda & Ethiopia) for all Samsung smartphones except the Samsung Galaxy A04 & A03 models.  Samsung care+ can only be redeemed in the country the device was purchased in.

    • How many repairs are covered under Samsung Care+?

    For Samsung Care+ claims, you only have up to a maximum of 1 incident over a period of 12 months.

    • What happens if you damage both the inner foldable screen and front screen on the Samsung Z Foldable Care+ plan?

    You will only be entitled to an inner foldable screen repair or a front screen repair in exchange for the relevant repair fee. You will not be entitled to both an inner foldable screen and a front screen repair.

    • What is the length of coverage for my smartphone?

    Samsung Care+ covers the above damages for a period of 12 months. However, we do have a 24-month warranty that covers manufacturers’ faults.

    • When does coverage begin?

    Your coverage begins immediately after purchase and you registering your new Galaxy device on the Samsung Care+ portal.

    • What Smartphones are covered under Samsung Care+

    In Kenya, Samsung Care+ covers the following Samsung smartphones; Galaxy S21FE, S20 FE, Note20, Note20 Ultra, S21, S21 +, S21 Ultra, A13, A23, A33, A53, A73, A32, A52, A72, A22, A14, A24, A34, A54, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3, Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4

    • Who Can I call if I have a question that concerns Samsung Care+?

    Samsung has a toll-free number you can call regarding any smartphone issues including Samsung Care+. The number is 0800 545 545.

  • Naomi Waqo: Let’s Not Demonize the Finance Bill

    Naomi Waqo: Let’s Not Demonize the Finance Bill

    Marsabit County MP The Honorable Canon Naomi Waqo CBS has urged Kenyans not to “throw the baby with the bath water” in respect to the finance bill.

    In a Morning interview in one of the television stations, The Honorable Naomi Waqo was candid, eloquent, categorical and straightforward in saying:

    Kenya Kwanza Government is very caring. And because it’s a caring government we wouldn’t like to say Mpende Msipende. The process has already begun.

    Firstly the public participation has already been taking place people.have taken and given this a lot of attention

    And in parliament I’m sure members will debate and the necessary amendments done.

    Anything that Kenya Kwanza comes with is to benefit the common mwananchi.

    Change does not come easily..when the change is coming it’s normal people resist at first

    The people who are saying they will oppose, the day before we vote they will carefully scrutinize it and finally give it a clean bill of health.

    On the high cost of living The Honorable Canon Naomi Waqo put it this way:

    “On the cost of living and the cost of unga and sugar going up. It’s not only Kenya experiencing the high cost of living. As we move forward and grow, this will be part of us. We have to prepare ourselves and tighten our belts. Even in UK two weeks ago the citizens were expressing the same concerns. So it’s a global problem.

    Unga is something that Kenya could have produced to sustain itself. We have experienced the worst drought recently adding to the desperation. Unfortunately now we are waiting for food to come from outside. Maybe in an years time we shall try to stabilize.

    We have a new government and we are about to give birth to a healthy and strong baby. Our government is working very hard so let’s give ourselves a bit of time.”

     

     

  • SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS celebrates world environmental day by introducing e-waste program

    SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS celebrates world environmental day by introducing e-waste program

    Samsung Electronics East Africa Ltd (Samsung) has partnered with leading home appliances store Housewife’s Paradise to collect e–waste for recycling as part of a joint effort on environmental conservation. The collection of e-waste will begin in Nairobi and then be scaled up to the rest of the country by the end of the year. This comes as the world marks the United Nations World Environment Day that seeks to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment.

    Under the e-waste management program, Housewife’s Paradise will collect Samsung brand-only e-waste at a customer’s preferred time and date via the mobile number 0110730305. Housewife’s Paradise will pick up the e-waste in different areas in Nairobi which will then be delivered to WEEE Centre the official Samsung recycling partner in Kenya. The e-waste will then be discarded as per set global standards.

    While celebrating World Environmental Day, Samsung is prompting customers to dispose of their e-waste properly through the right channels in order to safeguard our environment for future generations.

     “We have been dedicated to responsible e-waste management for the last few years and we now want to scale it up to ensure that we minimize any negative environmental impact of our products. This includes taking responsibility for the end-of-life phase of our products to prevent environmental harm. Our e-waste program and recycling program are an important part of this commitment,” said the Head of Service Division at Samsung, Mr. Ronald Mitei.

    The Government of Kenya passed the Sustainable Waste Management Act,2022 that establishes the legal framework for sustainable waste management. This would ideally require electronics manufacturing companies operating in Kenya to take responsibility for the pollution their products cause during their entire product life cycle. According to the global e-waste monitor report of 2020, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste were produced each year. If left unchecked, this could double to 120 million tonnes by 2050. Globally, only 17.4 percent of e-waste is managed appropriately. Kenya’s annual electronic waste generation grew from 3,000 metric tonnes in 2012 to 51,000 metric tonnes in 2021.

    “Samsung is strongly committed to proper e-waste disposal and we believe in safeguarding our environment through responsible disposal and recycling of electronic waste, transforming it from being hazardous to beneficial. Working together with our partners, we can ensure that waste is not just discarded, but transformed into reusable materials. This collaboration embodies our shared dedication to sustainable practices, conservation, and the health of our planet,” further added Mr. Ronald Mitei.

    Electronic waste is a growing worldwide issue as more and more devices are produced, used, and discarded. Disposing of e-waste properly is important because it often contains hazardous materials that can be harmful to the environment and to human health if not managed correctly.

    “As a responsible home appliance retailer, we understand the importance of proper e-waste disposal. It’s not just about selling new appliances; it is also about ensuring that the old ones are retired in a way that is safe for our environment. That is why we are devoted to providing our customers with easy access to responsible recycling options, and encouraging the sustainable disposal of electronic products,” said the Managing Director of Housewife’s Paradise, Mr. Zul Jamal.

    In September 2022, Samsung Electronics announced its global environmental strategy, a comprehensive effort to join global endeavors in tackling climate change. This environmental commitment encompasses an enterprise-wide application to enhance resource circularity throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to recycling and disposal. The plan also details investments in new technologies to reduce emissions from processed gases as well as to reduce power consumption in consumer products.

  • LG Commits to Convert All Its Business Sites To 100 Per Cent Renewable Energy By 2050

    LG Commits to Convert All Its Business Sites To 100 Per Cent Renewable Energy By 2050

    ·         Accelerating the Journey toward Carbon Neutrality, Company Continues Efforts to Realize the ESG Vision of a ‘Better Life for All”. Joins RE100 (Renewable Energy 100), a global initiative advocating for businesses to convert to 100 per cent renewable energy for all their electricity requirements.

    ·         Company is set to build a solar power station equivalent to the size of three soccer fields on the roof of the existing integrated production building at LG Smart Park in Changwon, South Korea by 2025.

    LG Electronics has finalized plans to convert all its business sites to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.

    This, even as the company joined RE100 (Renewable Energy 100), a global initiative advocating for businesses to convert to 100 per cent renewable energy for all their electricity requirements.

    Commenting on the move, the chief strategy officer at LG Electronics Lee Sam-soo said the decision to become a RE100 member is yet another example of its strong commitment to sustainability and to fulfilling its responsibilities as a global corporate citizen.

    “LG remains fully committed to realizing its ESG vision of creating a Better Life for All. Through ongoing efforts and innovation, LG is well on its way to achieving its goals of converting to 100 per cent renewable energy and becoming a carbon-neutral business,” said Lee Sam-soo.

    To reach the 100 per cent renewable energy goal by 2050, LG will gradually increase its usage of electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind power to 60 per cent by 2030 and 90 per cent by 2040, arriving at its target of 100 per cent by 2050.

    Along with expanding the generation and usage of renewable energy via the installation of high-efficiency solar panels at LG offices and manufacturing facilities, the company will be implementing a variety of additional measures, such as acquiring renewable energy certificates (RECs), signing renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) and, in South Korea, paying Korea Electric Power Corporation’s (KEPCO) green premium.

    As part of its ongoing efforts in this area, last year, LG signed a direct PPA with GS EPS, a Korean power generation company, to build a solar power station equivalent to the size of three soccer fields on the roof of the existing integrated production building at LG Smart Park in Changwon, South Korea by 2025.

    Some solar panels have already been installed and have generated power for select buildings since last December. Around the world, the company has installed solar panels on rooftops of several of its offices, including the LG Sciencepark R&D complex in Seoul, South Korea; the North American Headquarters campus in New Jersey, USA; LG India’s office building in Greater Noida, India; and the Rayong home appliance factory in Thailand.

    LG had already established plans to speed up its transition to renewable energy and accelerate its journey toward carbon neutrality. By converting to renewable energy, the company is also reducing indirect carbon (scope 2) emissions generated while using power. In 2019, LG announced its Zero Carbon 2030 pledge to reach net-zero (direct and indirect) carbon dioxide emissions (scope 1 and 2) by the year 2030.

  • KBL launches new Smirnoff variant in the 7th edition of Unleash your edge Fiesta

    KBL launches new Smirnoff variant in the 7th edition of Unleash your edge Fiesta

    Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has officially launched a new Smirnoff variant in the 7th edition of Unleash your Edge Fiesta held at Impala grounds. 

    The new variant termed ‘Smirnoff pineapple punch’ under EABL’s vast portfolio combines the smooth taste of Smirnoff vodka with a refreshing blend of pineapple and ginger beer flavors. The result is a deliciously fruity and crisp drink that’s perfect for any occasion with friends and family. 

    This comes in two formats which is a 330ml can and 300ml bottle and has an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 5.5%. This will be sold in bars and restaurants at a recommended retail price (RRP) of KES 200/- for the can while the bottle format will be going for KES 180/-.

    Entertaining revelers at this weekend’s Fiesta were some of Kenyans top acts such as Khalighraph Jones, Fena Gitu, Grauchi, DJ Karowski, MC Gogo and DJ Roq, Fathermoh, Pierra Makena, Ssaru, DJ Linsey, DJ Tophaz, Reedah Yvonne and Sir M

    Speaking at the launch event, KBL Managing Director Mr. Mark Ocitti said the creative idea is to let consumers discover the alternative to the ordinary by creating flavour drinking experiences that are effortless, yet mischievous and distinctive.

    “As a consumer-based business, we take time to study the market and identify our consumer needs and how to satisfy them. Our innovations department took a deep dive into what our consumers needed and noted a pattern in which they wanted a new, refreshing and exciting brand. We are constantly investing and renovating our brands to stay on par with dynamic consumer trends,” said Mr. Ocitti.

    “This will be our seventh edition of the Unleash Your edge fiesta”, a campaign we introduced last year that is all about good vibes and good times with friends. Since our first event, our aim was to bring to life adventures that are beyond the usual, by creating flavourful experiences that are effortless yet mischievous,” he added.

    On the other hand, KBL’s Innovations Commercialization Manager Lillian Ndirangu noted that the new variant is for consumers who are looking for exciting and unique experiences, who want to express themselves in new ways and spaces creatively with flavorful drinks (Sweet and fruity) at affordable prices. Smirnoff Pineapple Punch is best enjoyed when crispy cold to bring out the flavours in the drink.

    “The target consumer for Smirnoff Pineapple punch is your 25 to 34 years old consumer who are trendsetters, and fun lovers. Their key passion points for these consumers are Music, are into the latest trends, Art and Technology on content on social media whenever they have the bundles, key connection point for this consumer is Facebook where they tend to enjoy trendy, entertaining & humorous content,” the Innovations Commercialization Manager added.

    KBL has emphasized innovation as one of the company’s key growth pillars, with the company’s profit growth in the financial year ending June 2022 being partially attributed to investment behind brands and innovation in the route to market in response to consumer behaviour shifts.

  • Youth involvement in agriculture is key to accelerating climate action in Africa

    Youth involvement in agriculture is key to accelerating climate action in Africa

    By Dickson Naftali

     

    Africa is one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate shocks. The continent’s overdependence on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism exposes it to the vagaries of climate change. As a result, hunger affects 282 million Africans, a number that will grow to 350 million by 2050. Many of these victims are young people who are increasingly jobless on account of the failing farms and other enterprises across the agricultural value chain.

    This large youth population is constantly entering the labour market requiring African economies, which are predominantly agricultural, to rapidly create a large number of jobs. This presents structural economic challenges that are exacerbated by pressure from climate change as environmental and agroecological changes result in lower crop productivity, more land scarcity and higher risks of extreme weather events.

    Whichever way you look at it, today’s youth will suffer the brunt of climate change well into their old age, as will the youth of 2050. This is because climate-induced environmental change reduces both the quality and quantity of agricultural land resulting in fewer livelihood sources and an increased propensity for migration. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) affirms this, noting that climate change is a significant threat-multiplier for factors that cause youth migration, especial lly in agriculture-dependent populations and regions, such as those in Africa.

    That is unless urgent action is taken to either reverse or manage the situation, with the youth at the forefront of all action. The advantage of working with young people is that they possess the innovation, motivation, and physical strength needed to drive action. A good number of them are deriving innovations, which are gradually defining the future of the continent’s agricultural practice. Take for instance the early-stage winner of the 2022 Pitch Agri Hack competition, Tunisian Imen Hbiri, who was recognised for his multispectral disease detector, Robocare; or the mature-stage awardee, Hamis El Gabry of Egypt, with his Mozare3, an agri-fintech company that connects small farmers to the agriculture supply chain. And who can forget the 2020 Africa Food Prize winner, Dr.

     

    Catherine Nakalembe, the Programme Director for NASA Harvest Africa, the space agency’s food security and agriculture programme for Africa? Dr. Nakalembe’s team uses satellite remote sensing and machine learning to collect the data needed to guide agricultural decision-making. It is the combination of youthfulness, and exposure to the world’s best training that allows Dr. Nakalembe, El Gabry and Hbiri to derive impactful solutions.

    Seeing such well-thought-out and packaged products emerge out of Africa as local solutions to local problems is exciting. And these outrightly show the youth’s eagerness in redefining the state of the continent’s agriculture.

    Yet these leading youthful innovators are only a handful compared to the millions that desire to lead transformation at the farm level, as producers. Their engagement requires accelerating opportunities for improving farm productivity, strengthening agricultural value chains, and participating in value- added processing. This calls for significant investments in agricultural education at all levels, focused on a transition away from the perception that the sector is for people who have failed to make a living in other ways. A quote by African Development Bank boss, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, along the lines of “the next generation of millionaires and billionaires in Africa, will be farmers” should be recited many more times for it to sink in.

    In driving this messaging, it may be important to ponder AGRA’s youth strategy, which identifies several actions as instrumental in boosting the participation of youth in agriculture, as a defining factor in the fight against climate change. Firstly, governments must support agricultural innovation; improve market and rural infrastructure; and strengthen the business environments in ways that raise incomes and expand agriculture value chains.

    Secondly, there is a need to increase and improve the capacity of youth to profitably engage in activities along the agriculture value chain through agribusiness training. This is in addition to improving youth employment and business opportunities by building strong businesses in inputs (seed, fertilisers, and agro-chemicals); mechanisation (planting, spraying, and harvesting), and outputs (aggregation, value addition and processing, marketing, and finance).

    Further, it is important to increase smallholder farm productivity through irrigation and water management and improve access to markets and financial services through ICT, mechanisation, and other services. Lastly, and high in priority, there is a need to improve the policy environment for youth participation in agriculture and agribusiness as well as establish special funds including credit guarantee schemes that de-risk lending to youth.

    These strategic pointers form the foundation of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) which generates multiple benefits including improved yields, food security and increased income. Components of CSA include stress-adapted crop varieties and livestock breeds; improved seeds; crop diversification; conservation agriculture; water management; agroforestry, and integrated soil management. Yet despite this proven relevance in agricultural transformation, the adoption of effective CSA technologies and practices by young African farmers remains limited, majorly due to financial constraints. Appropriate financial, policy and institutional arrangements are, therefore, needed to scale up agricultural technologies and practices.

    Meanwhile, Africa’s youth in agriculture must be outrightly placed at the front of all climate action advocacy. Their voices should be amplified during the annual climate change convention (CoP), all events surrounding the annual stocktake of the Paris Agreement, and agricultural conventions such as the September Africa Food Systems Forum.

    The writer is Head of Generation Africa

  • Huawei roots for affordable spectrum to deepen home internet acces

    Huawei roots for affordable spectrum to deepen home internet acces

    Huawei Technologies has called for a collective adoption of the 2.6 GHz as the dedicated spectrum with the most cost-effective 4G Fixed Wireless Access for home broadband service to scale up the current low penetration rate.

    Currently, only 9.8 million Kenyans (9 percent), mostly living in urban and semi-urban areas have access to broadband internet. Thirty eight percent have low-speed dial-up internet, while up to 22 million people still have no access to internet connectivity.

    Addressing delegates at the just concluded Annual Africa Spectrum Roundtable in Maputo, Mozambique, Yao Hongjie, Vice President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa ICT Solutions said that a number of initiatives were required to drive up the rate of home internet penetration.

    “These include full allocation of the entire Sub-3Ghz for affordable and universal mobile broadband towards closing the digital gap and fueling the growth of our digital future. It also involves full utilization of 2.3Ghz and 2.6Ghz bands for further mobile broadband improvement,” he noted.

    The meeting agreed that for home internet access to achieve a formidable leap, it will be crucial for the country to adopt defragmentation practices with win-win cooperation between internet service providers, regional and large mobile network operators.

    In addition, the ramp up requires overall development of 4G/5G fixed wireless access in order to uplift overall national broadband penetration rates and tax incentives and rebates, affordability considerations for both devices and services, digital literacy for rural and underserved areas.

    The event brought together regulators, operators and spectrum industry leaders from all over Africa to discuss the key spectrum opportunities and challenges for lobbying investment and improving mobile service levels.

    Mr. Yang outlined the unique potentials of Sub-3GHz to meet the realistic demand in the Africa region, noted with the experience of strong demand growth to improve the last-mile broadband infrastructure, the Sub-3GHz spectrum’s full utilization will be the best way forward.

    Spectrum is a scarce resource and efficient use of spectrum is one of the key objectives of spectrum management, yet there is clear evidence that the volume of data flowing over mobile networks is growing rapidly and is being accelerated by the popularity of smart phones and the growth in music and video downloads, the 2.6 GHz band will allow operators to address rapidly increasing traffic volumes in an efficient and harmonized way.

    The 2.6 GHz spectrum is the ideal complement to the 700 MHz spectrum, also known as ‘digital dividend’, and will enable the most cost-effective nationwide coverage of Mobile Broadband across both rural and urban environments.

  • Riara Schools strategy to reduce plastic pollution as they cash from it

    Riara Schools strategy to reduce plastic pollution as they cash from it

    By Vincent Munga.

    Riara Primary school has joined the world in commemorating the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day with song and dance that carried heavy messages of environment conservation.

    The institution was ahead of this years theme that focused on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. They spared the time to award learners who had emerged top plastic collectors.

    For two years now, the school has been running a pollution control programme for plastics where they encourage learners to collect plastics from home and earn points that culminates to awards.

    Parents teachers association (PTA) Environment Committee Chairman, Anthony Mayio says the School has so far collected at least 552 kilogrames from it’s three campuses that lies along Ngong road.

    “We have partnered with a plastic recycling company- Mr. Green Africa which awards our school points. We are in agreement that 1kg=15 points which is equivalent to Sh15,” he says.

    At the end of the year, the school will cash the points and the money will be used to fund a children’s home or a needy institute.

    Mr. Mayio says the exercise will give them at least Sh50,000 which will come from almost two tonnes of collected plastics.

    “Their efforts of cleaning the environment is tied on a charitable cause as the same pupils are the ones who use the funds to assist a children’s home or fund a needy institute every year,” he said.

    Mr. Green Africa strategic projects development field officer, Martin Murimi says they decided to partner with the school in the project they have christened “consumer ecosystem model” to train the kids on the importance of keeping the environment clean.

    “In this model, we reach consumers directly to get the plastics and I believe in this way, we get high quality plastics and also we save the amount of energy, water and chemicals used when we get the same from dumping sites,” he said.

    Riara Primary school headteacher, Naomi Mbugua said every adult must identify what pollutes the environment and see how good they can help in conserving nature.

  • Governor Kihika and CS treasury Ndungu fined Kes. 500,000 by Senate for failing to appear before the committee

    Governor Kihika and CS treasury Ndungu fined Kes. 500,000 by Senate for failing to appear before the committee

    ?????? ?????? ??????????? ??? ??????? ?????’ (??????) failed to kick when the invited guests were failed to appear.

    The committee was set to engage with the esteemed Council of Governors (CoGs) Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Mary Mwiti, and the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury.

    LAPFUND which is the Defined Contribution Scheme registered and regulated by the Retirement Benefits Act of 1997 and Subsequent Regulations. We are a State Corporation established in 1960 by an Act of Parliament Cap. 272, Laws of Kenya. We operate in accordance with the County Governments Act 2012 (section 132).

    LAPFUND caters to all employees of County Governments and Water Companies, where Members contribute 12% while the Sponsors contribute 15% of the Member’s gross salary (basic salary plus house allowance).

    Having been established in 1960, LAPFUND is one of the oldest retirement benefits schemes in Kenya.

    Currently, LAPFUND enjoys a membership of over 70,000 members spread over all County Governments and Water & Sewerage Companies.

    The committee invited both the governor and the CS Treasury on disbursements of funds to counties and the progress so far amid the budget reading this year where the CS is accused of failing the LAPFUND.

    CS treasury failed to appear before the committee saying he was held in a meeting for the interest of the public through a text message confirmed by ?????? committee Chairperson Sen Godfrey Osotsi, saying he will not appear in Parliament because he is working for the budget delivery.

    Deputy Chair to the committee who is Kisumu Senator Hon Tom Ojienda urged to adopt the reprimand of the CS and he says the CS must adhere to the demands.

    Sen. Kisang William Kipkemoi on his side he said that CS has not communicated about the disbursements of funds to counties, and he should be reprimanded for the action.

    Sen. Olekina Ledama says that the CS requested to be excused from today’s committee to be able to attend to a technical budget formation ongoing but he opted to say that matters county matters a lot.

    “I don’t give a hoot in hell on matters of the national government, I’m concerned on matters counties” Sen. Olekina Ledama.

    Sen Olekina further insisted that funds must be disbursed to counties as fast as possible to facilitate the stalled projects of the people sending a tough warning to Governors who abscond the invitations saying that going forward the committee will impose all the legal actions provided in the constitution including the issuance of arrest for that absconding.

    The Legal advisor to the committee advised the committee to issue a letter to him saying that the content of the letter should involve matters of urgency to the public.

    Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms. Mary Mwiti after failing to respond officially only wrote a text to the clerk of the committee but the committee through the chairperson advised to respond by a letter of disappointment.

    Sen. Olekina said that it’s a questionable matter of sending the message to the clerk instead of the Chairperson to the committee.

    Hon Mutinda on her part who is also a member of the committee said it’s saddening and disappointing for the CEO of COG to write a personal message and assume has communicated to the committee as a matter should be taken seriously and adhered to at all times whenever county bosses are invited to appear before the committee.

    Sen. Olekina urged the Chairperson to impose and use the law set by the committee and the constitution to fine and dispense the heavy fine of Kes. 500,000 which Sen Osotsi did and directed the CS Treasury Prof. Njuguna Ndungu.

    During the ongoing meeting, Sen. Osotsi disclosed to committee members that the CEO of COG, Ms. Mary Mwiti had spoken to Sen. Ojienda informing them about her feeling unwell.

    “Governors should take the work of the senate seriously because we’re not here to victimize them, governors, we’re here to defend and protect devolution. When we invite the it’s not dishonoring them or intimidating them.” Sen. Hon Godfrey Osotsi.

    Hon Osotsi reflected the failure of the Nairobi governor, Hon Johnson Arthur Sakaja who had told the committee earlier when was summoned that he was not within the country only to be seen the following weekend in Kasarani cheering the AFC football match.

    “Sometimes it’s not very fair for this committee, that we invite a governor and he tells us he is out of the country, you rem what happened with the governor of Nairobi?- he told us he is out of the country, the previous weekend was cheering the AFC versus Gor-Mahia match in Kasarani.

    Osotsi further pointed out Nakuru Governor, Hon Susan Kihika who excused herself citing that she was not in the country only to be seen the following day attending a public event with the Deputy President in Nakuru.

    Govnor Susan Kihika was fine Kes. 500,000 too as she was directed by the committee to appear on the 4th of July, 2023  Osotsi confirmed it was a unanimous and collective summon from the committee.

    “In the case of the Nakuru governor a day after her failure to honor the summon she was seen in a public function with the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nakuru, these are things that are really demeaning to the committee of the senate and that’s why the committee has made a decision   that we must finalize the matter of summon and issue fresh summon on her to appear”

  • World Food Safety Summit Kicks off

    World Food Safety Summit Kicks off

    The World Food Safety Summit kicked off Monday Morning in Nairobi.

    Speaking during the opening session, the Chief Executive Officer of Micro Enterprises Support Program Trust Rebecca Amukhoye noted:

    “The objective of this conference is to garner political support around food safety in Kenya and beyond Kenya.

    Micro Enterprise Support Program Trust has been implementing a food safety program financed by the European Union and the Danish Embassy and for the last five years we have worked with 13 counties in Kenya addressing issues of food safety in aquaculture, dairy and horticulture and for the last five years we have supported counties to establish food safety mechanisms and coordination units called the food safety and coordination committees that brings together stakeholders that are interested in food safety to really have a more coordinated approach to matters food safety.

    We have also revised the training curriculum and all the trainings now that will be offered by the agriculture training centers will have food safety incorporated in them.

    And why this is important is that skills and knowledge is a very key part of ensuring food safety and therefore it is important that food safety being a concern for everybody from the producer to the consumer it’s important that the skills and knowledge being disseminated in the training centers adheres to food safety.”