Category: NEW

  • Turkana Central MP demands thorough investigation into shooting and killing of constituent and three fishermen

    Turkana Central MP Hon. Joseph Emathe has demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the shooting and killing of his constituent, Daniel Esinyen, and other fishermen in Kanakwara Fish Village Turkana County.

    The incident involved Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers in a helicopter while the victims were fishing in Lake Turkana on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

    According to Hon. Emathe, the tragic incident has left the Turkana community in shock and mourning.

    “Many boats have been destroyed by KWS officers, and numerous innocent fishermen remain missing, feared dead. The senseless violence and loss of innocent lives must be addressed immediately,” Emathe stated during a press conference at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday.

    “As the representative of the great people of Turkana Central constituency, I demand a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident,” he added.

    The Turkana legislator emphasized that those responsible for this heinous act must be held accountable.

    “We call on the relevant authorities to ensure justice for Daniel Esinyen and his friends, and to take immediate steps to protect our community from such unwarranted aggression in the future,” he declared even as he insisted that the tragic incident has left his community in shock and mourning.
    Despite the motive behind the brutal attack remaining unknown, Hon. Joseph Emathe stated that the recent incident is part of a series of violent confrontations in the region involving Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers and local communities.

    He cited that on June 12, 2024, Merille poachers clashed with KWS, resulting in the deaths of two KWS rangers.

    On June 13, 2024, local villagers were chased by KWS rangers into the hills and bushes.

    On June 15, 2024, KWS attacked Kanakwara Fish Village, targeting Daniel Esinyen and his companions—David Emuny, John Ewoi, and David Ekiru. Daniel Esinyen (ID 24076166) was shot and killed.
    According to the legislator, Daniel Esinyen, a former manager of the Lodwar Youth Polytechnic, was on leave and had traveled from Kalokol to Kanakwara Village, near Sibiloi, for a fishing trip with three friends.

    During their fishing activities, they encountered a KWS helicopter that, without any provocation, began spraying bullets at them.

    “It is important to note that they were far from the park’s protected area, engaging in peaceful fishing activities,” Emathe said.

    He narrated that in an attempt to save their lives, Daniel’s colleagues dived into the lake.

    “Daniel, however, stood with his hands raised in a clear gesture of surrender. Despite this, the KWS officer aboard the helicopter continued to shoot, ignoring the pilot’s desperate commands to cease fire,” he emphasized.

    Daniel was tragically shot and succumbed to his injuries.

    “His friends, who hid behind their boat, later found him dead. Shockingly, the helicopter returned and fired upon them again, forcing them to seek refuge in the lake once more,” Emathe recounted.

    On Monday, June 17, 2024, a postmortem conducted on Daniel’s body revealed that his spinal cord, liver, and lungs were destroyed, leading to his death.
    “One bullet was retrieved from his body and is currently held by the DCI Lodwar,” he told journalists.

  • China Square Newest Lang’ata Branch Comes With Exciting Discounts

    Branch Chinese retail merchant China Square has opened the most recent outlet in Nairobi as it seeks to grow its footprint in the Kenyan capital and beyond.

    The newest Lang’ata Branch, unveiled over the weekend at a colourful ceremony in full glare of the media, is testimony that China Square continues to penetrate the Kenyan retail market.

    Speaking during the grand opening, China Square Managing Director Mr. Lei Cheng hailed Kenya as the preferred investment destination in the East African region, urging other investors to seize the opportunity and invest in the country.

    During the opening session, management of the retail mall ensured that prices of all available merchandise retailed at 20 percent lower as an incentive to draw more buyers and enhance trust.

    Sources indicate that China Square invested Sh600 million to lease the branch owned by Uchumi Supermarkets.

    It goes without saying that the China Square Langata launch was a big success as many Kenyans from all walks of life turned up to get a first-hand experience of the occasion punctuated by pomp and grandeur.

    The management led by Mr. Lei Cheng expressed their gratitude to all who joined in the grand opening.

    On top of enjoying a 20 per cent discount on all items on the launch day, customers will also take advantage of a 12 per cent to 40 per cent price cut on available home appliances until July 15, 2024 at the new branch in Lang’ata.

    Curious Kenyans who thronged the China Square Lang’ata Hyper (formely Uchumi Lang’ata Hyper) got an exciting experience sampling a wide array of merchandise and the pricing before they indulge in a shopping spree, just as a previous day post would suggest.

    “Get ready to laugh and shop till you drop! We’re bringing the fun and excitement to China Square Langata’s Grand Opening!  Crazy Discounts of up to 40 per cent on home appliances and 20 per cent off all items except home appliances!” read a post on one of their social media pages.

  • Air Pollution Linked to 8.1 Million Deaths Worldwide in 2021, Emerging as the Second Leading Cause of Mortality, Including Among Children

    Air pollution is having an increasing impact on human health, becoming the second leading global risk factor for death,
    according to the fifth edition of the State of Global Air (SoGA) report.

    The report, released today by the Health Effects Institute (HEI), an independent U.S.-based nonprofit research organization, found air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally in 2021. Beyond these deaths, many more millions of people are living with debilitating chronic diseases, putting tremendous strains on healthcare systems, economies, and societies.

    Produced for the first time in partnership with UNICEF, the report finds that children under five years old are especially vulnerable, with health effects including premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, and lung diseases.

    In 2021, exposure to air pollution was linked to more than 700,000 deaths of children under five years old, making it the second-leading risk factor for death globally for this age group, after malnutrition.

    A staggering 500,000 of these child deaths were linked to household air pollution due to cooking indoors with polluting fuels, mostly in Africa and Asia.

    A Global Health Concern
    The new SoGA Report offers a detailed analysis of recently released data from the Global Burden of Disease study from 2021 that shows the severe health impacts pollutants like outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5), household air pollution, ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are having on human health around the world.

    The report includes data from more than 200 countries and territories around the world, indicating that nearly every person on earth breathes unhealthy levels of air pollution every day, with far-reaching health implications.

    More than 90 percent of these global air pollution deaths – 7.8 million people – are attributed to PM2.5 air pollution, including from ambient PM2.5 and household air pollution. These tiny particles, measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, are so small they remain in the lungs and can enter the bloodstream, affecting many organ systems and increasing the risks for noncommunicable diseases in adults like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the report, PM2.5 is the most consistent and accurate predictor of poor health outcomes around the world.

    “We hope our State of Global Air report provides both the information and the inspiration for change,” said HEI President Dr. Elena Craft. “Air pollution has enormous health implications. We know that improving air quality and global public health is practical and achievable.” Air Pollution and Climate Change PM2.5 air pollution comes from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass in sectors such as transportation, residential homes, coal-burning power plants, industrial activities, and wildfires. These emissions impact people’s health and contribute to the greenhouse gases that are warming the planet. The most vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by both climate hazards and polluted air.

    In 2021, long-term exposure to ozone contributed to an estimated 489,518 deaths globally, including 14,000 ozone-related COPD deaths in the United States, higher than in other high-income countries.

    As the world continues to warm from the effects of climate change, areas with high levels of NO2 can expect higher ozone levels, bringing even greater health effects.

    For the first time, this year’s report includes exposure levels and related health effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), including the impact of NO2 exposures on the development of childhood asthma.

    Traffic exhaust is a major source of NO2, which means densely populated urban areas, particularly in high-income countries, often see the highest levels of NO2 exposure and health impacts.

    “This new report offers a stark reminder of the significant impacts air pollution has on human health, with far too much of the burden borne by young children, older populations, and low- and middle-income countries,” said Dr. Pallavi Pant, HEI’s Head of Global Health who oversaw the SoGA report release.

    “This points sharply at an opportunity for cities and countries to consider air quality and air pollution as high-risk factors when developing health policies and other noncommunicable disease prevention and control programs.”

    Children’s Health
    Some of the greatest health impacts of air pollution are seen in children. Children are uniquely vulnerable to air pollution and the damage from air pollution can start in the womb with health effects that can last a lifetime.

    For example, children inhale more air per kilogram of body weight and absorb more pollutants relative to adults while their lungs, bodies, and brains are still developing.

    Exposure to air pollution in young children is linked to pneumonia, responsible for 1 in 5 child deaths globally, and asthma, the most common chronic respiratory disease in older children. The inequities linked to the impact of air pollution on child health are striking.

    The air pollution-linked death rate in children under the age of five in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa is 100 times higher than their counterparts in high-income countries.

    “Despite progress in maternal and child health, every day almost 2000 children under five years die because of health impacts linked to air pollution,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden.

    “Our inaction is having profound effects on the next generation, with lifelong health and well-being impacts. The global urgency is undeniable. Governments and businesses must consider these estimates and locally available data and use it to inform meaningful, child-focused action to reduce air pollution and protect children’s health.”

    Progress is Being Made

    The SoGA report provides good news as well. Since 2000, the death rate linked to children under five has dropped by 53 percent, due largely to efforts aimed at expanding access to clean energy for cooking, as well as improvements in access to healthcare, nutrition, and better awareness about the harms associated with exposure to household air pollution.

    Many countries, particularly those experiencing the highest levels of air pollution, are finally tackling the problem head-on. Air quality actions in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, such as installing air pollution monitoring networks, implementing stricter air quality policies, or offsetting traffic-related air pollution by moving to hybrid or electric vehicles, are all having measurable impacts on pollution and improving public health.

    While progress is being measured, more can be done to stop air pollution from continuing to outrank other health risks as one of the biggest threats to millions of lives.

  • Celebrating the Day of the African Child

    Group Photo for ECD stakeholders at Tamarind Tree Hotel Nairobi.

    The ECD Network for Kenya in partnership with the Africa Early Chiodhood Network has intensified Child care advocacy initiatives through creating a nationwide awareness campaign on the importance of quality and affordable Child care.

    The Occassion saw the attendance of various stakeholders like; Representative for CS Labour and Social Protection, World Bank, APHRC, Dr. Teresa Mwoma National Coordinator ECDNek and ECDNek Board.

     

    The Day of African Child is Marked every year on June16th. It is a day that ensures that child rights are always protected and respected.The ECD Network for Kenya, in partnership with the Africa Early Childhood Network, seeks to intensify childcare advocacy initiatives through creating a nationwide awareness campaign on the importance of quality and affordable childcare. The theme of the campaign is “Universal access to quality Child care and protection for children 0-5 years”.
    The dialogue also seeks to Compaign against the cultural and traditional methods that impact child care Negativley.

    In Kenya Child care faces significant challenges despite efforts to its quality and accesibilty. Research has shown that only a small percentage of children under five years have access to quality EarlyvChildhood Development (ECD) services, with rural areas and informal settlements disproportionately affected. Additionally, the World Bank Report 2014 emphasizes the lack of cordination among various stakeholders, leading to fragmented service deliverly and limited impact. The fragmented approach contributes to the existing gap in Child care that require a National Dialogue.

     

    Providing quality Chidcare enables children to develop secure attachments, which are associated with later behaviour, health, and learning capacities. Attachment security in the early years influences developmental functioning across the life course . Working parents require child friendly policies. Establishing these family centred policies benefit business byvincreasing employee retention, productivity, job satisfaction and loyalty hence attracting talent , boosting reputation and expanding access to markets.

    The Campaign that will run for six months
    aims to ;
    To showcade the strides achieved in the Child care sector in relation to the laegal and policy coordination, advocacy, research, academia and advicate for increased investment for child care across country.

    To unpack the role of multi sectoral collaboration, policy formulation and implementation on child care at both National and County Government levels.

  • Sole Kenyan Supermarket to be Awarded Prestigious Superbrands Certification

    Naivas Supermarket proudly announces its recognition as the sole Kenyan supermarket to receive the esteemed Superbrands Certification. This prestigious honor highlights Naivas’ exceptional brand reputation and consumer trust, solidifying its status as a leader in the retail industry.

    The Superbrands Certification is awarded to brands with outstanding quality, reliability, and distinction within their respective industries.

    The certification process involves rigorous evaluation by leading market research firms such as Nielsen, Synovate, BDRC, and TNS. Qualified brands, like Naivas, receive the Superbrands Award Seal, which can be prominently displayed on advertising, marketing materials, websites, packaging, and other brand assets.

    Research indicates that the Superbrands Award Seal significantly influences consumer behavior, with studies showing that consumers are over 70% more likely to purchase products or services displaying the seal. This underscores the value and impact of the Superbrands Certification.

    Peter Mukuha, Chief of Operations at Naivas, expressed gratitude for the recognition and reiterated the supermarket’s commitment to delivering a world-class shopping experience. “We are honored to receive the Superbrands Certification, which reflects our dedication to providing high-quality products and exceptional customer service. This esteemed recognition further motivates us to continue innovating and exceeding the expectations of our valued customers,” Mukuha stated.

    Naivas Supermarket has distinguished itself in the retail industry through its unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Naivas has built a strong reputation among Kenyan consumers by consistently delivering value through innovation and quality.

    The supermarket offers a wide range of products, including fresh offerings, and boasts convenient locations, all of which contribute to its reputation for excellence.

    As a homegrown Kenyan brand, Naivas has successfully brought a global shopping experience to the country while staying true to its values. The supermarket’s dedication to serving every customer with unmistakable Kenyan hospitality has earned it one of the greatest global honors a brand can achieve.

    With the Superbrands Certification, Naivas Supermarket continues to set the standard in the retail industry, reinforcing its position as a trusted and beloved brand among Kenyan consumers.

  • Naivas graduate trainee programme 1st graduation

     

    Recruiting and training the best people is core to Naivas’ mission to provide Kenyans with a world-class shopping experience. For this reason,, the business has been running a graduate trainee program since 2023.

    The programme is aimed at upskilling fresh graduates with competencies in various business functions within retail. The GT
    programme is an intense 9-month period for fresh graduates, where they are taken through various parts of the retail business.

    Retail contributes 9% to Kenya’s GDP, making it an important industry. Developing the next generation of retail leaders is therefore critical to ensuring the sector’s continued growth. As the leading supermarket chain in Kenya, Naivas takes its role in this development seriously. From a career perspective, the retail industry has, in many instances, been looked at as a fallback plan, rather than a first choice.

    As Naivas has developed its business through innovation, such as the Foodmarket concept, the supermarket career option has become more attractive. Naivas is now looked at as an employer of choice, especially given the wide array of expertise required in fields such as finance, marketing, supply chain, IT and others.

    “Naivas wants to attract and retain the best talent in the country. Beyond this, we want to ensure that we develop career paths for our employees, and it is for this reason that we set out to create the Naivas Retail Academy, with the graduate trainee (GT) program being one of its pillars. We are therefore pleased to be celebrating the first graduation in this program, with 35 trainees becoming Naivas employees today. However, this is only the beginning, and we expect to expand this programme, including onboarding more learning institutions,” remarked Andreas von Paleske Naivas, Chief of Strategy.

    “A key measure of success for me is how we continue to transform the industry, and core to this is having the right people. For Naivas, a homegrown Kenyan brand, developing the next generation of leaders is an important step forward. This program is also a testament to our commitment to ensuring that the business will outlive all its founders,” said David Kimani

  • “Nyakera Advocates for Agricultural Reform and Economic Focus in High-Level Meetings”

    “Nyakera Advocates for Agricultural Reform and Economic Focus in High-Level Meetings”

    As the government embarks on a series of initiatives to improve the lives of Kenyans, the Chairman of KEMSA, Irungu Nyakera, met with KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga to discuss the tax implications on health products, technologies, and agriculture.

    Nyakera stated, “We agreed to follow up with specific proposals for consideration and action.” He emphasized the importance of agriculture, describing it as the backbone of Kenya’s economy: “The agricultural sector is the backbone of our economy, contributing approximately 33 percent of Kenya’s GDP and employing more than 40% of the total population and 70% of the rural population. Let’s protect our farmers and help them build sustainable livelihoods.”

    Nyakera also extended his discussions to Eliud N. Kinuthia, Chairperson of the National Police Service Commission, to address regional and national issues concerning farmers.

    Furthermore, Nyakera expressed gratitude towards the President for his recent announcement to write off KES 6 billion in coffee farmer debts and increase the coffee cherry fund by KES 2 billion. “This move will greatly support the ongoing coffee reforms, aimed at expanding cultivation acreage and enhancing farmer revenues. It will also help revitalize the coffee farming sector, which has been in decline for years.”

    Nyakera urged politicians from Mt. Kenya to focus on development agendas rather than political disputes. “I beseech politicians from Mt. Kenya to concentrate on agendas that directly impact the livelihoods of their constituents, rather than engaging in daily bickering and politicking. For now, let’s review the Finance Bill and its implications for the common man and bring relevant debates to the house.”

  • ABSA bank Kenya in partnership to train 30,000 women entrepreneurs in the western region

    ABSA bank Kenya in partnership to train 30,000 women entrepreneurs in the western region

    Kakamega County First Lady Janet Barasa, President's Women Rights Advisor, Harriette Chiggai, Absa Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wasunna and Africa Guarantee Fund Head of Risk Joshua Obengele, during launch of a Women's Economic Empowerment and Investment Curriculum.
    Kakamega County First Lady Janet Barasa, President’s Women Rights Advisor Harriette Chiggai, Absa Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wasunna, and Africa Guarantee Fund Head of Risk Joshua Obengele, during the the launch of a Women’s Economic Empowerment and Investment Curriculum.

    Absa Bank Kenya, in partnership with the Executive Office of the President, through the offices of the Women’s Rights Advisor and Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF), has today launched a Women’s Economic Empowerment and Investment Curriculum dubbed the Empower Her County Program to empower at least 30,000 women-led micro, small, and medium-sized businesses across Kakamega, Bungoma, and Vihiga counties.

    This program seeks to address gender-based disparities and overcome economic challenges women entrepreneurs face to advance entrepreneurship by providing them with the tools and resources needed to upskill their businesses, promote resilience, and thrive in today’s competitive business environment. In addition, the curriculum will offer the ‘Start and Improve Our Business (SIYB) module, one of the largest global business management training programs developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

    Addressing the business community at the launch event held at Masinde Muliro University, the President’s Women Rights Advisor, Hon. Harriette Chiggai, said, “The launch of the Empower Her County Programme is a demonstration of the need to support women-led MSMEs. This is why my office is partnering with private-sector entities to curate programs that can reach women at the grassroots, and the main reason why His Excellency the President created the office of the Women’s Rights Advisor is to show his commitment to every Kenyan woman and girl.

    The program includes training on business registration, taxation, marketing, savings and investment, budgeting and financial planning, bookkeeping, digitization of businesses,  market linkages beyond counties, and cross-border training.

    On her part, Absa Bank Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wasunna-Ochwa said

    “Closing the gender gap through economic empowerment is key to achieving our Sustainable Development Goals as a nation. When more women are empowered to create wealth, economies grow. This program resonates with our corporate purpose to empower Africa’s tomorrow together, one story at a time, and is in line with our commitment to empowering over one million women entrepreneurs by 2025 by providing them with access to market information, markets for their products and services, coaching and mentorship, and business networks, as well as providing the capital required to scale their businesses to the next level.”

    According to a 2018 report by the International Labour Organization, nearly 60 percent of women’s employment globally is in the informal economy. In low-income countries, it is more than 90 percent. Women constitute over 60 percent of the 74 percent of Kenyans living in rural areas, where poverty levels remain high. The Women’s Empowerment Index 2020 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics implies that the empowerment rate of women in urban areas is 40 percent, nearly double the rate of empowered women in rural areas, at 22 percent over the same year, signifying the need for empowerment of women, especially at the county level.

    This financial literacy program, which is set to be rolled out in all 47 counties, aims to increase economic participation and entrepreneurship among 70% of women and improve financial literacy and management skills for 90% of women, including increasing their knowledge and uptake of the available government and private sector funding.

  • Miano Highlights Strategies to Boost Local Production and Economic Growth under Buy Kenya Build Kenya Initiative

    According to Trade, Investment, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, the primary goals of Buy Kenya Build Kenya are to encourage the use of locally produced goods and services, generate jobs, and lessen dependency on imports.

    Miano said her ministry has therefore fast-tracked activities to ensure the initiative’s success, with these activities anchored on the already identified areas of the legal and regulatory framework to guide public procurement.

    The Cabinet Secretary said her ministry has also created an enabling business environment, market access for locally produced goods and services, advocacy, and the creation of an institutional framework that ensures sustainability.

    At least 40% of the Public Procurement Budget should be set aside for locally produced goods and services, according to the BK BK strategy, the Cabinet Secretary stated during her appearance before the Senate Trade Committee in the Parliament building.

    “The disciplined forces have been acquiring various leather and textile products from local manufacturers to achieve this goal. For example, during the January–June 2023 period, the disciplined forces acquired leather and textile products valued at roughly Sh. 1.1 billion,” stated Miano.

    According to the Cabinet Secretary, the Ministry has established a strong quality and regulatory framework through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) that guarantees locally produced goods meet the established standards.

    According to Miano, the Industrial Property Act and the Trade Marks Act are being implemented and enforced by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) to protect and promote indigenous innovations, thereby augmenting the production of goods manufactured in Kenya.

    According to her, MSMIs can add value to locally made products by using common manufacturing facilities (CMF) provided by the Ministry through Kenya Industrial Research Development. With the help of CMFs, MSMIs can produce goods that are competitive in the local market.

    “The Ministry is continuously creating awareness about the BKBK initiative through media campaigns and engagement, e.g., conferences, trade fairs,” Miano stated. “The Ministry is enhancing the skills of local industrial entrepreneurs by implementing a variety of value-added capacity building programs.” The ministry is working with various stakeholders to implement these programs.

    The Cabinet Secretary told the committee that the leather sector is a priority value chain under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) with a potential of Sh 130 billion in revenue and 100,000 jobs.

    The government has adopted the value-chain approach for the revitalization of the leather sector, which aims to unlock opportunities by creating jobs and generating income. Miano stated that some of the major challenges facing the sector include low hide and skin recovery, low-quality hides & skins, and inadequate skills.

    According to the Cabinet Secretary, the current strategies being carried out with assistance from development partners and the private sector highlight the sector’s critical role in economic development, especially in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

    Miano said the Ministry is supporting the revitalization of the sector by promoting value-added initiatives in the leather value chain, With the support of the International Labour Organization, the Ministry has developed the Leather Sector Revitalization Concept Note.

    “The Concept Note outlines a comprehensive work plan and activities whose implementation is under discussion, this includes the establishment of Regional Common Manufacturing Facilities (CMFs) similar to Kariokor CMF to improve the productivity and competitiveness of MSMIs in the leather and leather products value chain. The Ministry is working with ILO to help map out potential leather clusters,” said Miano,

    She said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Kenya Bureau of Standards, has revised some of Kenya’s Leather Testing Standards and adopted the Applicable International Standards These Standards aim at addressing current market, regulatory, and scientific and technological development needs.

    The Cabinet Secretary said the Ministry, through the Numerical Machining Complex (NMC), has developed a prototype knife and de-hider to address the high cost of flying knives and de-hiders, which are currently being imported.

    Miano said that in the financial year 2023/2024, the ministry, through the EPZA, was allocated Sh 350 million for the development of Leather Industrial Park-Kenanie and Sh 50 million for the Leather Value Chain Promotion Programme for the training of leather value chain stakeholders.

    “The proposed establishment of 450 feedlot facilities in ASAL counties will further enhance the recovery and quality of hides and skins. A multi-sectoral technical feedlot committee coordinated by the Head of Public Service (HOPS) has tasked the State Department for Industry with the role of identifying value-added initiatives,” said Miano.

    According to the Cabinet Secretary, the Ministry is working with Counties and Development Partners to construct County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) across the country. The Parks function as centers for the storage and value-adding of agricultural products.

    Agro-processing units, value-adding units, and warehouses are some of these facilities. To improve the processing of food and cash crops such as tea, coffee, sugarcane, nuts, cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, honey, and fish, the Ministry will work with TVETs, KIRDI, county governments, and other important stakeholders.

  • Debate Over Muguuka and Miraa as Mombasa MP Zamzam Mohammed Leads Charge Against Substance Abuse and Calls for Stricter Regulations

    Debate Over Muguuka and Miraa as Mombasa MP Zamzam Mohammed Leads Charge Against Substance Abuse and Calls for Stricter Regulations

    There has been a recent heated debate on the Muguuka and Miraa plant by leaders from the coast and Mt Kenya region after Mombasa County hiked the tax of Muguuka and Miraa.

    Mombasa County MP Zamzam Mohammed has called out on Mombasa leadership and the whole County security team to do a massive crackdown on the region to apprehend users and sellers of drugs.

    Mombasa County Woman Representative, Hon. Zamzam Mohamed Chimba, has firmly reiterated her unwavering stance against the use of Muguuka and the unregulated consumption of Miraa in Mombasa County. She has pledged to tirelessly advocate for the residents of Mombasa, aiming to combat the proliferation of Muguuka and enforce stringent regulations on Miraa.

    While addressing members of the press in Parliament, Zamzam raised concern about the rising numbers of rehabilitation centers in Mombasa County and the large amounts of money being set aside to establish more rehabs.

    “Muguka chewing has become a serious issue in our community, contributing to increased rates of addiction, domestic violence, and poor health,” Hon. Zamzam asserted.

    She added, “We need to take decisive action as leaders and the county security team to protect our people, particularly the youth, from the devastating effects of this substance and let it be on record that Mombasa is not a rehabilitation center where the only booming business or investment one can think of is a rehab center.”

    According to the County MP, Muguuka, a leafy green plant commonly chewed for its stimulant effects, is widely used in Mombasa regions of Kenya. While it is legal and a source of income for many farmers, its consumption has been linked to various health and social problems, with the plant being grown widely in Embu, where the species is known as ‘Catha edulis’

    She has, however, urged the governor to stand firm and end the usage of muguuka completely in Mombasa, but she has also urged for regulations on Miraa usage in the county, as she recommends that regulations be put in place to help those affected by muguuka addiction.

    “We cannot simply ban Muguuka without offering alternatives, and we don’t have rehabilitation programs in Mombasa since the more we have rehab centers in Mombasa, the more we are advocating for the usage and abuse of drugs in educational campaigns and economic support for farmers who depend on Khat cultivation for their livelihoods,” Zamzam notes.

    The proposed ban has sparked a heated debate within the county, with some residents and local leaders supporting the County MP stance. In contrast, others argue that banning Muguuka would harm the local economy and infringe on cultural practices.

    “I understand the concerns of those who rely on Muguuka for their income. I’ll advise them to use that land for the growth of cash crops however, we must prioritize the health and well-being of our community. I am committed to working with all stakeholders to find sustainable solutions.” A section of leaders from the Embu and Meru regions say that the region fully depends on Muguuka and therefore calls for Mombasa County to reduce the amount being paid as tax to the county.

    In the meantime, the County MP has urged residents to engage in an open dialogue and consider the long-term benefits of a Khat-free county. The Mombasa County government is expected to hold public consultations on the proposed ban in the coming weeks.

    She has also called upon the governor to take a strong stand and work towards completely eradicating Muguuka usage in the county.

    “I am urging my governor, and this is not a fight of supremacy but changing the lives of our people for the future generation, and we shall at all times implement regulations and controls on Miraa consumption, right from the county to the national platform. This is my dire commitment to this cause, and I remain steadfast as I continue to champion the health and well-being of the community.”