27th October 2021, Kenya Meaningful Business, a global platform for leaders combining profit and purpose, has announced the 3rd edition of the Meaningful Business 100 (MB100) recognising outstanding contributions of individuals in support of the UN Global Goals, sponsored by EY.
The award received over 500 nominations from 70 countries, following a global nomination process. Curated by an expert panel of 21 judges, including Nikhil Seth, Assistant Secretary-General, UN; Stasia Mitchell, Global Entrepreneurship Leader, EY; Paul Lindley, Founder, Ella’s Kitchen; Moky Makura, Executive Director, Africa No Filter and Sancia Dalley, SVP, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, each nominee was scored across five key areas: Durability, Impact, Innovation, Leadership and Scope.
The 100 business leaders include corporate CEOs, entrepreneurs, micro- entrepreneurs, sustainability leaders, functional heads and impact investors from 33 countries. 26 of these leaders are based in Africa, from Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia. Commenting on the MB100, Tom Lytton-Dickie, Founder & CEO, Meaningful Business said, “Congratulations to the African cohort within this year’s MB100, who represent the best of what business, entrepreneurship and social innovation can be. These individuals are dedicating their work to tackling a range of pressing social and environmental issues across Africa, focusing on topics to include; access to healthcare, clean energy, financial inclusion, quality education and urban mobility, providing hope and inspiration to us all.”
“These business leaders have demonstrated that running a truly sustainable and innovative institution requires one to pursue financial returns and at the same time respond to socioeconomic and environmental concerns. They are seizing the ‘COVID Kairos’ and giving us a blueprint of what successful businesses will look like for the next decade and years to come,” said Nuru Mugambi, sustainable finance policy expert and 2021 MB100 Judge.
Meaningful Business is devoted to creating a unified platform for these leaders to collaborate and share knowledge in order to amplify their positive impact in support of the UN 2030 agenda.
The 2021 MB100 winners from Africa are: ● Abdulrhman Elhalafawy, Chief Business Officer, Cupmena (Egypt) ● Adebowale Onafowora, MD & CEO, Bic Farms Concepts (Nigeria) ● Adeshina Adewumi, CEO, One Kiosk (Nigeria) ● Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder & Managing Partner, Aruwa Capital Management (Nigeria) ● Arnolda Shiundu, Head of Sustainability and Community engagement, Kenya Breweries (Kenya) ● Ashok Shah, Group CEO, APA Apollo Group (Kenya) and many more as attached below link of Meaningful Business
About Meaningful Business:
Meaningful Business is a curated network of progressive leaders across the world, combining purpose and profit to help achieve the UN Global Goals. The platform is focused on content creation, knowledge sharing and meaningful connections, bringing leaders together across geography, industry, role and company-size, to share and collaborate, resulting in increased positive impact. The community consists of Founders, CEOs, Impact Investors, Sustainability Heads, Humanitarian leaders and academics across 90+ countries.
About EY
EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. EY Ripples, the EY global corporate responsibility program, sets forth a vision to positively impact one billion lives by 2030. Through EY Ripples, individuals and organizations in the EY network can create a positive impact by supporting the next generation workforce, working with impact entrepreneurs, and accelerating environmental sustainability. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws.
The vehicles were flagged off by Chris Ndala (right), the Managing Director of DT Dobie and Mr. Patrick Ndunda (second right), Director Planning and Logistics Inspector General’s office at the DT Dobie Body Shop.
To meet the ever growing work load of the National Police Service their vehicle fleet has been bolstered with an additional 40 Volkswagen Tiguan SUVs acquired through a leasing deal with RentCo Africa Limited.
The vehicles were flagged off by Mr. Patrick Ndunda, Director Planning and Logistics Inspector General’s office, Chris Ndala, the Managing Director of DT Dobie and Bosire Bogonko, the County Head, RentCo Africa Limited.
Mr. Patrick Ndunda said, “To be able to uphold the rule of law for a safe and secure society, the police force need vehicles that are fuel efficient, reliable and with adequate safety features. We are proud to add these locally assembled vehicles to our fleet as we are also helping build our economy.”
The vehicles were handed over to Mr. Patrick Ndunda (left), Director Planning and Logistics Inspector General’s office by Mr. Chris Ndala (right), the Managing Director of DT Dobie.
Chris Ndala, the Managing Director of DT Dobie explained, “The Volkswagen Tiguan has many safety features including the Anti-locking Brake System (ABS) and stability control. The hill descent assist which helps drivers to tackle off road terrain and day time running lights (LED) which give a clear indication to the drivers of oncoming vehicles will come handy for police work.” “For over eight years DT Dobie has been assembling vehicles at KVM in Thika. We are working with the Government to expand the local assembly of passenger cars, buses, light commercial vehicles and big trucks to reduce the importation of used vehicles and instead to provide jobs for Kenyans.”
“We place great emphasis on top class servicing, maintenance and repairs. Our factory trained workshop staff have the use of substantial stocks of genuine spares which carry warranties. In addition these are available from our spare parts counters for customers who can also buy service kits at favourable prices.” Chris Ndala concluded.
It was a proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that commits five political parties, all of whom are present today, to the founding of The Eagles National Alliance.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has led to committing five political parties present to the formation of a coalition named The Eagles National Alliance
The nation has made great strides since attaining independence close to 60 years ago. Indeed, we appreciate all who have contributed to building our nation – from those who fought for our liberation from colonial rule to those who have contributed immensely to establishing our growing democracy.
We, however, note that, while we have made significant progress, our country still continues to grapple with some of the issues we faced at independence, including poverty, ignorance and disease. In addition to this, the last three decades have seen the toxic practice of corruption rise to endemic levels, costing our nation over 700 billion Kshs a year and giving rise to crippling foreign and domestic debt, now standing at over 7 trillion Kshs.
Kenyans are now urgently seeking credible leaders to cure these grave national ills and stand for them. Leaders who have a genuine heart for the people, and place a high value on integrity, personal responsibility and professionalism, and who are not afraid to stand for such values. The Eagles Alliance is glad provide the alternative leadership that our country so badly needs.
We have therefore come together as like-minded, values-based political parties to represent the majority of Kenyans, who are determined to see the right leaders elected in 2022 and beyond, who will steer our nation in the right direction.
The Eagles Alliance overarching vision is to see a cohesive, stable and prosperous Kenya, under the God of All Creation, and our ultimate mission is to restore dignity, prosperity and oneness to the nation of Kenya.
Close to TheCrossFireNews, it has come to access to documents At KEBS as per editors pick and editorial check is An advertisement dated Thursday, August 26, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) indicated that the bureau was looking to hire 109 individuals to occupy various posts.
They included an inspection manager and a principal office administrator at the managerial level. Civil engineers, electrical engineers, pharmacists and mechanical engineers.
The process haunts the management with Managing Director (MD) Bernard Njiraini and Principal Secretary Amb. Kirimi Kaberia taking the big chunk of blame for playing dirty in the whole recruitment process.
According to an anonymous letter sent to some media houses and copied to other bodies by aggrieved staff, the recruitment process was largely flawed by the management. The staff are petitioning for an open recruitment process. Below attached is the letter.
With the re-establishment of the East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), KEBS activities now include participation in the development and implementation of SMCA activities at the regional level where it participates in the harmonization of standards, measurement of conformity assessment regimes for regional integration. KEBS operates the National Enquiry Point in support of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
We are here to report recruitment malpractices at the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
KEBS advertised 109 positions in the month of September 2021. The deadline for submitting applications was 10.09.2021.
What happened is that the MD (Lt. Col (Rtd) Njiraini) took upon himself to invite the Ministry of Trade and Enterprise Development to be part of the shortlisting and interviewing process. This has never happened before because KEBS recruitments have always been transparent and very objective.
We are made to understand this was done because of the directives from the Principal Secretary Amb. Kirimi Kaberia who is set to run for a political seat therefore he wants to use the employments to reward his political supporters in his village in Meru). Not only have that, the MD himself Mr. Njiraini wants to employ his county political associates for himself and for his friends.
he MD flouted all the recruitment processes in KEBS overlooking the committee which is charged with the responsibility of all recruitment and instead appointed his spanner boys who do all his dirty jobs.
Below are the names for the so-called shortlisting committee
Murira- this is a Director who was appointed irregularly as a reward to Meru community. This is the man who has set up the whole process. First, he is not a member of the committee and he was appointed to chair the panel. He is been tasked to ensure the interest of the PS. Ambassador Kaberia, Board chair and the larger Meru interests are taken care of at the expense of other applicants.
Kirimi is the mastermind of all the rumours and gossip in KEBS. He is the one in charge of the recruitment system and has ensured he tampered with the system. He gets information from the system and calls people demanding for money in return of recruitment. He is boasting all over that people should know that there are Meru’s at KEBS.
Abdow- this is one of the most corrupt officers in KEBS. The MD uses him to carry out his dirty jobs at KEBS. He got in irregularly and has caused a lot of chaos in HR department since he joined the organization.
Njeru- this is the officer from the Ministry ensure that all Mt. Kenya applicants specifically Gatundu, Meru and Embu are given the jobs.
Miriam- this a very new Director and does not understand the malpractices in KEBS especially recruitments- she is a coverup to cheat the rest of us that the process is fair.
The question is what is going to happen to the rest of Kenyans who have applied if this is what is happening?
We understand there are internal employees who could have benefited from the recruitment but the advert was advertised externally so that it is used for political gains.
According to Public Service Commission and KEBS HR policies, there is a committee charged with advising the MD in all recruitment process and the same has been completely ignored in this particular recruitment.
The MD (Mr. Njiraini has completely run down KEBS since he joined KEBS in 2019. In fact he has been arrested in the past due to corruption. He is still in office courtesy of his godfathers. This MD became MD although he was number six during the interviews)
We have written to your good office so that you can intervene by having the recruitment process stopped or cancelled until the MD appoints credible people to drive the process.
This process is highly compromised, the end result is to benefit Mr. Kaberia (PS), Mr. Njiraini (MD), KEBS Board chair, HOD-HR and his woria friends in KEBS and outside KEBS.
We are, once again, appealing to your good office to intervene by having this process stopped or cancelled altogether. As we are writing the same corrupt team is carrying out short listing.
Njiraini has been exposed on corruption in many news sites and many times.
In October, 2020 last year – KEBS was stopped from expanding a vehicle inspections tender following queries around the process.
Parliament adopted a committee report that seeked to have Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Managing Director Bernard Njiraini held responsible for litigation that could arise from a controversial tender.
The Principal Secretary State Department of for Industrialization Amb. Kirimi Kaberia.
Njiraini was arrested for refusing to give EACC detectives original documents related to multimillion-shilling tenders the commission is investigating.
Njiraini was arrested as a penal consequence for failing to comply with a notice issued to him to surrender the documents.
EACC had been investigating allegations of procurement irregularities and payment of bribes in respect of awards for tenders for provision of pre-export conformity of goods, used motor vehicles, mobile equipment and spare parts by Kebs.
The Public Investments Committee (PIC) recommended punishment for Mr Njiraini and the procurement team at Kebs for alleged impropriety in awarding a pre-export verification tender. The National Assembly adopted the report that recommended that the top officer at the state agency be surcharged in the event bidders challenged the award.
The watchdog committee chaired by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir also recommended that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission probe the circumstances under which Kebs engaged blacklisted firms, EAA Company Ltd and Auto Terminal Japan.
The Auditor-General had in a special audit recommended that the two firms be barred from engaging in such tenders. But the agency went ahead to engage them in its bid to have more firms inspect vehicles being imported into the country.
In reference to the recruitment process, KEBS has issued a rebuttal to the claims raised by the staffers in the anonymous mail. While replying to the consumer body Cofek, Kebs management and by reflex, are denying any wrong doing in the recruitment.
They said in part “the shortlisting committee for this recruitment was duly appointed in line with its internal processes and the KEBS Human Resources Policy. The ministry of industrialization, trade and enterprise development is the parent ministry (the ministry) to KEBS and is therefore engaged and consulted by KEBS as and when necessary, In this case, the ministry is providing technical and professional human resources support during the recruitment process.”
Section 5 of the Standards Council Act which establishes KEBS only requires KEBS Council to consult with the ministry on the appointment of the director (CEO/MD) of KEBS, not the rest of the staff.
KEBS Managing Director Bernard Njiraini.
1) The Minister shall, on the advice of the Council, by notice in the Gazette, appoint a Director of the Bureau who shall be the chief executive officer of the Bureau.
(2) The Council shall, after consultation with the Director, appoint such members and staff of the Bureau as the Council may deem necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau under this Act.
While replying to Keb’s rebuttal, the consumer body has further poked holes in the denying statement.
”It is not clear why the ministry and or principal secretary, who sits on the Standards Council, will still have himself and or a nominee on shortlisting committees for internal and or externally advertised jobs. Cofek equally remains a stranger to the KEBS Human Resources Policy – where no specific section was quoted in the KEBS generic response – that was more of a veiled threat than the salient information sought.“
We’ve also learnt that KEBS threatened Cofek to pull down article they had posted earlier on the recruitment petition claiming it had dealt them an unstated disrepute. Suspiciously, they want article taken down without convincing evidence that it was malicious, this is a common threat from corrupt leaders who want to hide information from the public and continue operating in secrecy.
Cofek has refused to give into their demands, “
KEBS is a key consumer protection agency. Its a primary partner to Cofek. Recruitment of its’ human resources is, therefore, a critical component of consumer protection. It cannot be gainsaid. Again, in light of Article 10 and especially 35 of the Constitution, information held by government and required in the public interest ought to be released to the public. It is the legitimate expectation that KEBS will provide the required full information.” The body stated.
DP William Ruto chats with Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni at Mubende state lodge in Uganda when he paid him a courtesy call in December 2019
Deputy President William Ruto has asked Uganda President Yoweri Museveni to release trucks belonging to Kenyan fish exporters.
The trucks were impounded three weeks ago together with fish valued at Sh50 million (Sh1.5 billion Uganda shillings) in Kasese district.
According to the traders, who transport fresh fish from Lake Turkana to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the consignment was confiscated by the Uganda Fisheries Protection Unit on October 3 at Mpondwe border.
Speaking from Busia, Ruto urged President Museveni to release the trucks unconditionally.
“About the fish impounded in Uganda, I want to tell Museveni to release the lorries in the spirit of the East African Community and allow our traders to take the fish to its destination before they get bad. That is not bhang or illicit alcohol but genuine products that Kenyan traders were transporting,” said Ruto.
He said fresh fish was highly perishable and if the standoff persists, the traders will incur huge losses.
“We cannot claim we are good neighbours when we (Kenya) play our role and allow Uganda traders to do business in the country freely but our traders are arrested and slapped with punitive fines and their products confiscated across the border,” said Ruto.
President Museveni and DP Ruto are friends. The Deputy President said it was wrong for the Ugandan authorities to continue holding onto the consignment and yet an agreement had been reached to have the trucks released after traders blocked Busia border point last week.
Angry traders blocked the Busia One stop border point in protest after the Uganda Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) declined to release the impounded trucks on grounds that the fish that was being transported to DRC had been stolen from Lake Kyoga.
Protesters had threatened to paralyse operation at the border point unless the trucks and consignment are released by Uganda authorities.
“The Uganda military is a thorn in our flesh. They arrest us frequently without any valid reasons and arraign us in their courts where we are slapped with punitive fines. On this one, we are not going to relent until we have our fish released unconditionally,” said Yusuf Sefu, chairman Kenya Fish Traders Association.
“We have closed this border to demand for the unconditional release of our trucks that were intercepted by the Ugandan military at the Mpondwe border post in Kasese,” explained Mr Sefu.
He said the impounded fish had met all requisite certification from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
“The fish was from Lake Turkana and not Lake Kyoga as it is being alleged,” argued the official. Sefu wondered why Uganda authorities were laying claim on the fish yet they could easily establish the origin of the fish.
Calm was restored at the border point after Ugandan officials led by Busia Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mathew Tusubira met with their Kenyan counterparts led by Busia Kenya County Commissioner, John Korir recently.
It was resolved that representatives from the two groups would meet and secure the release of the trucks but that has not happened.
So far, affected traders have moved to court and sued the head of the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU on Lake George and Edward Capt Musa Mugogo and Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko respectively,
They also sued the acting Director of Fisheries Resources Management – Uganda and the country’s Attorney General who they want charged with malicious damage of property and theft.
At a hybrid press conference from Nairobi, International Land Coalition (ILC) Africa displays its plan for protecting community land rights environmental defenders which is among the premier and pioneer.
On October 18, 2021 in Nairobi International Land Coalition (ILC) Africa has recapitulates that Africa Land Forum 2021 taking place October 26-28 under the theme “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa through partnerships for inclusive land governance” will mobilize different stakeholders to protect the land rights of communities and users.
The platform that counts 76 members in 26 countries said it would bring together the region’s actors on land governance, including rural communities and women, to explore opportunities, and design new ways of addressing land-based communal violence, famine and climate change.
Protecting women’s land rights is a top priority for Africa and the world.
“We work for half of the world’s population, which are women; where land rights are respected, women’s income goes up 3.8 times higher, and everybody benefits including households,” Mike Taylor, ILC Director said from Rome during a virtual attendance adding that he has never met any government official that denying women land rights.
The forum will provide an opportunity to assess the strength of partnerships in the face of emerging needs in people-centered land governance. “The 2021 Forum will strengthen existing partnerships on land rights. We will introduce our national platforms, drivers of the SDGs at the country level, through a multi-stakeholder approach,” Audace Kubwimana, ILC Africa Regional Coordinator said.
The African Union declared the Year 2021 as The AU Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage as Land is part of Africa’s cultural heritage where Africa’s art and cultural heritage will help forge regional cooperation and foster innovative and bold solutions to regain the drawbacks from COVID-19.
Dr. Janet Edeme, Head of the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development talked of demographic changes and conflict on the current situations makes us think forward and straight “Demographic changes and conflict on the continent are making us re-think how land can be better used, leveraging our cultural identity, to advance the progress of Member States,” said Dr. Janet Edeme.
He however added that, land is more than an economic resource in some part of history as the African Union Commission hopes that collaboration with International Land Coalition in Africa will help realize the Africa wanted.
Regional Economic Communities assists in advancing the AU’s mandate on land governance. The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) has been walking the road with ILC to guarantee people-centered land governance, but more remains to be done.
Esther Obaikol, Land Governance Expert at IGAD speaking on the position of the IGAD in the region as the most conflict-prone with high levels of land degradation and climate change the region of Africa terming land as the most important resource ”We want to use the two most important resources we have which is land, on the one hand, and people, on the other, to improve the standard of living of the people in the IGAD region,” Esther Obaikol said.
Indigenous Peoples have been experiencing intensive land grabbing over the past few years as activist Amina Amharech indicated that Policies based on colonial laws do not respect the rights of indigenous peoples giving statistics that Today just 1% of land is occupied by Indigenous Peoples in the world and on farming activities for Indigenous Peoples do not go beyond 2 hectares as they cannot realize the SDGs with this with hopes the coming forum on land will also address the issue.
With the murder of Joannah Stutchbury, the plight of environmental and land defenders became a burning issue. Through the Natural Justice, ILC Africa has set up the African Environmental Defenders Fund, a platform that enables defenders to highlight their plight and receive support. The same applies to communities as they strive to defend themselves which is the only such resource on the continent today according to Samuel Nguiffo, representing ILC Africa members.
ILC Africa’s broader work extends to participatory rangelands management, youth access to land, family farming, data development in the land sector, ecosystems, food systems, to name but a few.
ILC Africa also said that this year’s Forum will be a pre-event of the 2021 Conference on Land Policy in Africa.
Ministry of Health Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr.Rashid Aman addressing the media
By Lenah Bosibori
Nairobi, 16 Sep…Kenya has called for a joint effort from all government departments and independent organizations to help tackle Anti microbial resistance (AMR).
Speaking recently during a virtual launch of the Report on Using Citizen-Generated Data by Global Partnership and Africa’s Voices to Address Drug Resistant Infections in Kenya, Rashid Aman Chief Administrative Secretary ministry of health said that the complexity posed by AMR in essence.
“We are fully aware that no single government, department or independent organization can tackle AMR alone and that containing, controlling and preventing emergence of AMR demands well-coordinated actions across multiple levels, sectors, disciplines and with a broad range of stakeholders including the citizens,” adds Aman
From the reports of the situation analysis, Kenya is no exception to this threat with increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance being reported in hospitals and communities.
From operational research conducted on public awareness in 2019, levels of awareness on the dangers of AMR are low with 73cent of members of the public interviewed indicating they have never heard of the AMR awareness week and 71 per cent of those interviewed indicated that they trusted doctors who prescribed antibiotics and would move to an alternative if one does not prescribe an antibiotic.
“This is a clear pointer to the enormous task ahead of us in advancing the AMR agenda. In response to this, the Ministry Of Health in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries & Cooperatives joined the concerted regional and international efforts to reduce antimicrobial resistance and ensure the availability of effective antibiotics now and in the future.
In response to the AMR threat, the two Ministries consolidated national efforts to implement sustainable measures to mitigate any further emergence and spread of AMR according to Dr Aman.
“The Government has taken several measures across various sectors to intensify action against AMR, the implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance and accompanying strategies on Surveillance,” said Aman.
“Our National AMR surveillance system is now established with 16 laboratories (10 human health and 6 animal health laboratories) in the network up from 2 in 2017 when the policy was launched,” said Dr Aman.
In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, several studies globally have indicated a high rate of antimicrobial prescribing and self-medication for those with symptoms of Covid-19, much of which is unnecessarily promoting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as most of the initial illnesses being treated have been from covid-19 viral infection.
“We cannot fight resistance if people are not aware, empowered and if they do not take action in making the right decisions. Everyone can and should be Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness champion and by people we don’t just mean the technical experts, we mean ordinary citizens who make daily decisions that affect their health,” he added.
Interior PS Karanja Kibicho now says billboards welcoming President Uhuru Kenyatta to Kirinyaga County for Mashujaa Day will be put up across the region.
Kibicho said the National Celebrations Committee has resolved a contractual misunderstanding that had resulted in a scuffle between Governor Ann Waiguru and Woman Rep Wangui Ngirici after the latter’s billboards were pulled down.
Kibicho said billboards will be erected on roadsides and other strategic places commencing today, adding that there are two sets of billboards, one for President Kenyatta and a second for the Governor.
Speaking after inspecting the Ksh 300 million Wang’uru Stadium where the celebrations will be held, Dr. Kibicho said the works are at 95 percent complete and the decorations will commence on Friday.
“The County Commissioner’s residence in Kirinyaga County is now complete. It’ll be part of the State Lodge in Kerugoya Town. We’ve also delivered Phase I of the Kirinyaga Central Sub-county Police Station ahead of Mashujaa Day celebrations next week,” He said.
He revealed that guests have already received their invitation letters and they are expected at the Stadium on October 20.
Kibicho however reiterated that only 2,000 people will be allowed access to the Stadium in line with COVID-19 protocols.
H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta in New York Charing United Nations Security Council Session
President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in New York on Sunday for a two-day working visit of the US during which he is scheduled to chair a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) high-level open debate on diversity, state-building and peace.
Having assumed her position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on the 1st of January this year for two years, Kenya currently holds the monthly rotational presidency of the Council for October 2021.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Amb Martin Kimani, Kenya’s overriding agenda at the UN Security Council is to offer ideas and solutions to global peace and security in areas such as the Horn of Africa and the troubled Sahel region.
“The Security Council is a body that has the mandate to solve major challenges, but for many reasons has been unable to do so. We have ideas on how to do that, we have experience in building peace in our region and we bring those ideas and perspectives to the Council.
“Kenya is suggesting innovations on how to approach particular conflict situations,” Amb Kimani said, adding that the country is encouraging the UN Security Council to work closely with Africa.
Alongside his meeting at the UNSC, the Head of State is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and witness the signing of a trade agreement between Kenya’s private sector and a consortium of American companies during his two-day vacation.
In the assemblage with Mr Guteress, the President and the UN boss are expected to discuss several subjects of mutual interest to Kenya and the UN among them the global response to Covid-19.
“Kenya has been very specific on the steps it expects the United Nations to take particularly concerning the Covid-19 pandemic vaccination, peace and security and how the world should get to COP26 in a month. How the world responds to climate change is key to Kenya’s future prosperity,” Amb Kimani said.
On the business agreement, Amb Kimani said President Kenyatta while in New York witnessed the signing of a new initiative between the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Corporate Council on Africa, the largest umbrella body of US companies operating in Africa.
The business agreement seeks to enhance collaboration between Kenyan companies, especially the small and medium enterprises (SME’s) with their American counterparts in a deliberate Government effort to create more jobs and employment opportunities for Kenya’s youth.
Further, President Kenyatta is scheduled to participate in the Global Leaders’ high-level discussion organized by the International Peace Institute (IPI) as a platform for world leaders to discuss contemporary subjects.
The President will be joined in the discussion by former Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein to talk about the UN Secretary General’s Common Agenda report.
Health promotion advocates have formally solicited the government to uphold the current ban on nicotine pouches and ignore the latest by one manufacturer to allow them back accompanied by a sign. The vow by British American Tobacco, sent to Health CS, Mutahi Kagwe, on September 7, 2021, asks that their nicotine pouches, brand names LYFT or Velo, be allowed back into the market and health warning covering 10 per cent of the packet. ‘The manufacture, distribution and sale of our LYFT product have been temporarily ceased in the market since October 2020. Our resumption of factory operations and sale of LYFT in Kenya hinges on the provision of appropriate health warnings for the product,’ says the letter by BAT’s Managing Director, Crispin Achola.
Achola added that the Cabinet Secretary exercise discretion and direct that oral nicotine pouches such as LYFT (also known as Velo) apply text health warnings in the form and format as shred in this letter and as shown in the pictures in the appendix. The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA), the umbrella organization for all organizations involved in tobacco control and health promotion in Kenya, advised the Health CS to stick to the Kenya Tobacco Control Act and The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , for outlaws any involvement of the tobacco industry in the formulation of health news.
‘The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Kenya has signed and ratified in 2004, also clearly states the industry must not sit on the table where tobacco control laws those drafted. In Kenya, the industry is purporting to draft the laws on behalf of the government. Of course, they draft loophole-ridden legislation and then wait to exploit them,’ said KETCA Chairman Mr Joel Gitali. He added that the tobacco industry has been diversifying into alternative tobacco and nicotine products to grow profits in a rapidly shrinking cigarette market.
The letter by Achola says that nicotine pouches are BAT’s ‘lowest risk’ products. ‘This assessment is based on BAT’s analysis of, among others and emissions, heavy metals as well as cellular analysis across its product portfolio.’ Mr Gitali noted such assertions based on fraudulent science because there is no data to show nicotine pouches are safe or are effective to help quit cigarette smoking. ‘Nicotine pouches come with their risks, including skin irritation, addiction, and gum disease. Nicotine use during adolescence has shown to impact learning, attention span and proneness to addiction,’ Mr Gitali said. He added that Side effects of the use can include irritation of the gums, sore mouth, hiccups, nausea and most importantly, Nicotine increases relapse risk with other tobacco products noting that 10 per cent warning disintegrates when subjected to scrutiny.
