Kenya Harlequins RFC are the overall winners of the 2nd edition of the SportPesa National 7s Circuit which concluded with the Prinsloo 7s at the Nakuru Athletic Club.
Quins sailed through after accumulating 110 points to lead the standings followed by Kabras Sugar with 105 points and former title holders KCB who placed third with 94 points.
Quins walked away with a top prize of Kshs 300,000 in a well-fought battle that saw them claim a 35-7 victory in the decider against Nakuru RFC after they were bundled out of the main cup quarter-final by Nondies in their first match of the day.
Showcasing their dominance and skill throughout the tournament, Kenya Harlequin team captain Richel Wangila attributed the win to outstanding resilience and determination, proving themselves a formidable opponent.
“This is a good reward for the boys who as we can tell from the win today gave it their all right from the first leg up to the winning stages at Prinsloo 7s. I am happy and I thank the technical bench for their support and belief in us throughout the competition. We have won the trophy and the boys have received a token from the title sponsor, SportPesa, which is a big motivation.” Said Wangila.
Impala RFC crowned overall champions of the SportPesa National 7s Circuit
On the other hand, Strathmore Leos won the Prinsloo 7s in a formidable show against Nondies bagging a 33-7 victory and ultimately earning a well-deserved Ksh 100,000, as the runners-up walked away Ksh 50,000. Settling for third place, Kabras Sugar took home Ksh 25,000 after a 19-0 win against Menengai Oilers in the 3rd place playoff.
In the women’s event, Impala Queens obliterated Mwamba Ladies 33-0 to win the ladies’ tournament as Nakuru Ladies finished third. In a summary of this year’s circuit, Kenya Rugby Union CEO Thomas Odundo acknowledged the impressive quality of play attributed to the strong team spirit among the participating teams.
“We have seen outstanding performances from young players like Brian Ratila, Elvis Olukusi, Samuel Asati, Lucky Dewald, Erick Cantona, and Kevin Wekesa. The SportPesa National 7s Circuit has once again proven to be a breeding ground for talent and a showcase of the country’s rugby prowess. Once more we are seeing a return of the love and fun atmosphere of Kenyan Rugby”, said Odundo.
Speaking after the award ceremony, Willis Ojwang of SportPesa expressed satisfaction with the conduct, organization, and high quality of the game at this year’s circuit. This is the second consecutive year that SportPesa has supported the KRU National 7s circuit with Kes 16.5 million worth of commitment.
“The talent and dedication displayed by all the teams have been nothing short of inspiring. This year’s competition has showcased the best of Kenyan rugby and highlighted our young athletes’ potential. We are incredibly proud to witness the culmination of the SportPesa National 7s Circuit and look forward to an even bigger and better tournament in 2025”, he said.
The successful conclusion of the SportPesa National 7s Circuit spotlights the importance of talent elevation and discovery in Kenya. As the dust settles on this year’s run-down of 7s rugby talent, eyes now shift to the SportPesa Legends Cup on Saturday, September 28 at the RFUEA Grounds ahead of the much-anticipated Safari 7s to be held on October 11–13.
Earlier this year, SportPesa renewed its partnership with Kenya’s rugby legends in a Ksh 2 million deal worth of sponsorship support towards their doubleheader against their counterparts from Uganda.
Despite President Ruto emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment and creating platforms to nurture talents, sports development in Kenya has faced significant delays. This is evident in the recent frustrations expressed by the National Assembly’s Sports Committee, chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama.
The committee was meant to address the construction of Sports Academies in all constituencies but failed to kick off due to the absence of Sports Principal Secretary (PS) Peter Tum and the CEOs of the Kenya Academy of Sports and the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund who were supposed to brief the members on the progress of the projects.
Expressing her frustration, Teso South MP Mary Emase issued a stern warning to the sports leadership.
“So on this one, on the sports academy, the president pronounced himself on on the issue of this academy and many other programs, we do not have any stadia complete even up today we shall call the PS and the CEO either to resign or perform their work.”
Busia County MP Catherine Omanyo also voiced her concerns about providing opportunities for youth.
“I take sports Academies very seriously, it will keep the youths busy and expose their talents so they will get jobs. Why should anybody start deal-darling douching being crafty with such a serious initiative? The PS Tum is incapable of running his office well and let him step down.”
Kandara MP Chege Njuguna criticized PS Tum for prioritizing personal gain over public service. “We have seen his unseriousness, he is putting his stomach before our youths and he is out there hiring a private consultant to come and do the same job of public works can do, we need to know why he is pocketing the public monies.”
Yatta MP Robert Basil called for action. “The PS should vacate and we say enough is enough, let stadia be advertised and and started as soon as possible if he cannot commit to that let him step aside.”
Bomet East MP Richard Yegon expressed his deep disappointment with PS Tum’s repeated absence from crucial meetings. “This is the fourth time the PS has failed to appear. He is taking us for granted, and we will not accept it. We are prepared to start with this Ministry and ensure that those who are not performing are removed.”
Naomi Waqo emphasized the need for accountability. “We need to summon each one of them the CS, PS, and the CEOs to appear and appraise us, they have been taking us round”
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule highlighted the critical role of the committee in shaping the future of sports. “For the record and history to be written about sports in this country squarely depends on this committee, we cannot leave constituencies during recess to come and handle such a lucrative, blue economy and creative economy for the youth of this country and sports Academies yet the ministry is not serious.”
Chairperson Dan Wanyama stated that PS Tum’s behavior has forced the committee to consider harsher measures. “The PS is leading us in circles. We will be left with no choice but to impose sanctions, including fines of up to Ksh 500,000. We are summoning the CS, PS, and CEOs of the Sports Fund and the Kenya Academy of Sports to appear next week on Tuesday at 8:00 AM. Failure to do so will result in the committee invoking the Powers and Privileges Act to take necessary action.”
Kenya’s leading retailer, Naivas Supermarket, has opened its 105th store at the Nyali Bazaar Mall in Mombasa today.
This is the 12th in the coastal region strategically located along Links Road.
The new store covers 5,000 square feet of trading space. In line with Naivas’ tradition, the new store offers exclusive sales and promotions to the residents of Nyali and surrounding areas, aligning with the brand’s promise of delivering savings and value.
“This expansion is more than just a strategic move; it’s about meeting our customers right where they are.” Chief of Strategy at Naivas Andreas Von Paleske said.
“Our goal is to provide convenient access to essential goods, making shopping quick and easy for the local community. This new store is designed to offer a seamless shopping experience while reflecting our commitment to Kenyan values and customer needs.” He added.
The Nyali outlet will be featuring a food market store format, with a thoughtfully curated range of products, including groceries, fresh produce, dairy, meats, and general merchandise.
Shoppers can expect the same renowned Kenyan hospitality that Naivas is known for looking ahead, Naivas is also planning to open new branches in Mtwapa, Tilisi, and Mavoko.
The new store comes four months after the 104th store was opened in Buruburu Nairobi.
Majorities of Kenyans support greater investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and wind and solar energy in order to respond to changing weather patterns and environmental degradation.
The latest Afrobarometer survey reveals.
More than four in 10 citizens say they have personally adapted to changes in climate by
changing the crops they plant or the food they eat, the hours they work, and their water consumption patterns.
A majority of Kenyans say they are familiar with the concept of climate change. Most
citizens who are aware of the phenomenon blame human activities as its main cause
and say urgent action is needed from the Kenyan government as well as developed
countries.
Key findings
▪ Most Kenyans want their government to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure (82%) and solar and wind energy (62%) in response to changing weather patterns and
environmental degradation.
Three-fourths (74 percent) say the government should put more pressure on rich countries to provide resources to support Kenya’s response to climatic changes.
A slimmer majority (54%) support a ban on cutting down trees for firewood or
charcoal, while fewer than half say the government should require families to
switch to cookstoves that use cleaner fuels such as electricity or gas (42%) and
promote the use of taxis and buses that run on electricity (36%).
▪ In substantial numbers, Kenyans say they have adapted to changing weather
patterns by reducing their livestock or changing their grazing patterns (45% of those who keep livestock), reducing their water consumption or changing their water
source (45%), changing their work hours (43%), or changing the crops they plant or
the food they eat (42%) (Figure 2).
▪ About six in 10 Kenyans (61%) say they have heard of climate change (Figure 3).
▪ Among those who have heard of climate change:
More than four-fifths (82%) believe human activity is the main cause or acontributing factor (Figure 4).
Strong majorities support measures to limit climate change by the Kenyan government (72%) and rich countries (81%), and most say that wealthy countries have an obligation to help Kenya fund its response to climate change (83%).
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 surveys were launched in January 2024. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.
Kenya is emerging as one of the leading Global Business Services (GBS) market destinations and attracting more than $500 million USD in revenues annually, Sama AI CEO Wendy Gonzalez has disclosed. Projections show that $254 million USD, over half of these revenues, will come from business process outsourcing (BPO) in 2024.
Kenya has emerged as an attractive investment destination in the highly competitive GBS market, which includes BPO as a submarket. BPO has grown to include AI supply chain providers such as Sama, Gonzalez explained.
Speaking at the University of Nairobi during a public lecture on Generative AI, Gonzalez noted that the GBS market reached $1 trillion USD in revenues last year, with South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco also playing in the maturing league. With its $500 million GBS revenues, Kenya is leading among emerging GBS destinations including Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Ghana. She projected that at current growth rates, Kenya will emerge as the leading provider of digital work opportunities with a positive local economic ripple effect.
“Studies have shown that digital work increases formal employment opportunities and is the fastest-growing sector. Kenya has made very good headway amidst stiff competition and must avoid complacency by guarding its market positioning and providing an enabling environment to further deepen the GBS market opportunity,” said Gonzalez. She added, “Kenya is a preferred destination due to the quality of human capital that is versatile enough to serve various market segments, including Generative AI, thanks to digital training and academic progress. Several countries are, however, fighting hard to edge Kenya out of its growth track, which necessitates close attention to secure market positioning.”
While commenting on the skills required to secure our national market positioning, Gonzalez noted that by 2030, an estimated 50-55% of jobs in Kenya will require digital skills. “Yet there are significant gaps in basic and advanced digital skills—particularly in rural areas and among women,” she said. To help bridge this skills gap, Sama has collaborated with the University of Nairobi to advance AI skills in one of the first partnerships of this kind in Kenya.
Both the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui and University of Nairobi Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Margaret Hutchinson also spoke at the lecture.
Principal Secretary Tanui stressed that AI is no longer science fiction, saying: “We are living in an era where AI is not just a possibility—it is our present reality, and the sooner we fully embrace it, the better prepared we will be for the future.” He noted that Generative AI alone could add between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion USD annually to the global economy. To bring some of this growth to Kenya, the government is establishing policies and frameworks that foster innovation and invest in research and development while protecting the rights and interests of all citizens, following the principles of ethical AI development and usage.
“With 65% of organizations already integrating Generative AI into operations, its impact is undeniable, from enhancing customer service to revolutionizing industries. As we embrace this digital future, partnerships and education in STEM are key to preparing our workforce for the opportunities ahead,” he added. “It is our collective responsibility to develop ethical guidelines that govern AI use in a manner that upholds human dignity and values. As a government, we will establish policies and a regulatory framework that fosters innovation while protecting the rights and interests of all citizens. We will continue to invest in research and development and champion the ethical use of AI.”
Prof. Margaret Hutchinson, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, underscored the institution’s pivotal role in equipping students with the skills to navigate the digital economy, adding: “The University of Nairobi is committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that our graduates are not only job-ready but also future-ready.”
Sama and the University of Nairobi’s partnership is poised to advance Generative AI capabilities in Kenya and in Africa as a whole. This collaboration will provide part-time employment opportunities for UoN faculty and students, equipping them with practical experience in GenAI. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of bridging the digital divide and positioning Kenya as a global AI value chain leader.
Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya address the press at the Ministry Headquarters Nairobi.
The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Salim Mvurya has today given a current update on the special economic zones in Kenya, which are intended to open up areas for Key investments.
The CS was accompanied by Investments Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan, Board Chairman KPA, ChairLapset , CEO and Chairperson Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
The CS met the various stakeholders today to review the progress of Dongo kundu Project, Special economic zones in the country. He observed that Progress was made in Dongo Kundu and investment was done on several sectors including; energy, pharmaceutical, and Glass and Local Investors are 60 percent while International investors make 40 percent .
Speaking during a visit in Naivasha Last week, Mvurya highlighted that investors who had failed to set up operations within one year of receiving their licenses will face revocation of those licenses. He further directed the Special Economic Zones Authority to enforce this mandate, stressing that investors must report to their designated sites within six months or risk losing their licenses. “We are giving every investor six
months to report to the ground, and if they don’t, we will move on to the
next person,” said CS Mvurya.
19 companies have expressed interest in setting up operations at the Naivasha
SEZ, with 11 of them already cleared and awarded licenses. The CS attributed
this progress to the government’s continuous efforts to ease the process of doing business, urging investors to take full advantage of the incentives available.
“KPA has 1.4 billion for compensation of affected persons. The process will begin this week, 400,000 acres marked to begin compensation. 1648 affected persons will be compensated.” Said Salim Mvurya Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Investment,Trade and Industry.
Cabinet Secretary Mvurya also observed that they will have a meeting with the leaders in the region to discuss the Dongo Kundu project.
He further noted that areas for economic zones will be gazetted and also have investors who are already being screened. Correct documentation will be prepared in order to gazette them.
The CS also noted that, there are 19 investors in Naivasha, and 3 more will come later.
Investors have been issued with licence, and SEZ will make a reviewed list of the investors and also want to work with the county Governments to make sure the infrastructure is interlinked. This will make it easy for the infrastructure to meet the standards required.
Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui General Secretary NCCK address the press during the 65th General Assembly at Limuru.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) held her 65th General Assembly
at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru, from 20th to 23rd August 2024.
The theme of the General Assembly was Dignified Livelihoods, Resilient Communities.
The General Assembly is highest governance organ in the NCCK, and meets once every
three years, bringing together delegates from the member churches and organisations from across the country. Founded in 1913, the NCCK is the oldest Council of Churches in the world, and has over the last 110 years worked to improve and enhance the well-being of the people of Kenya.
The 65th General Assembly has transacted the statutory business and prayerfully reflected on matters of national concern, and now shares the following message:
1. Build a Better Kenya for All
This General Assembly has taken time to pray for the nation, taking note that we have
gone through difficult and challenging times over the last few years. Despite having had
peace before and during the 2022 General Elections, the period thereafter has been
marked by perpetually rising cost of living, emotive political activity, weakened physical
and mental health, and fatal demonstrations that resulted in deaths of dozens of Kenyans.
The state of justice, inclusivity and democracy has deteriorated, leading to strife and conflicts as citizen groups feel excluded from decision making and national life.
In the Bible, we learn that God intended the world to be an excellent place for all people
to live in, as we read in Genesis 1: 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
It is a responsibility for all of us, therefore, to put effort to make Kenya a nation that works for all.
It is in this context that we recognize and commend the young people of Kenya, who are commonly referred to as Generation Z, for picking up the mantle and organizing
transformative demonstrations that pricked the conscience of our nation and spurred
radical governance changes. We further remind all of us that the Gen Z comprise of 17million Kenyans, who cannot be ignored a they will shape the current and future of our nation. As such, any policies and plans made by the nation and the church must focus on creating a nation where the Gen Z and Gen Alpha will live in and thrive.
2.Comprehensively Address Climate Change
This General Assembly recognizes that Kenyans in all the counties have been heavily impacted by climate change, leading to deterioration in health and increasing food insecurity. More people are sleeping hungry, and livelihood options for many have been wiped out. Despite the impact of climate change, this General Assembly is concerned that the government not done enough with regard to mitigation and adaptation interventions.
We therefore call upon all County Governments to speedily develop, enact and implement climate change mitigation laws and policies for safeguarding of life. The policies should include strategies to comprehensively educate the citizens on mitigation and adaptation
so as to promote household food security.
Towards this, we call upon the National Assembly to speedily repeal the draconian Seed and Plan Varieties Act which prohibits the sharing and exchange of indigenous seeds. NCCK also demand an immediate withdrawal of the other agriculture related Bills that threaten to stifle small-holder farmers in a blatant attempt to benefit foreigners and multi-national
corporations. The Bills we are referring to include the Livestock Bill 2024; the Mung BeanBill 2024; the Nuts and Oil Crops Development Bill 2023, the Price Control (Essential Goods) Amendment Bill 2024; and the Food and Feed Safety Control Bill 2023
We remind all Parliamentarians that passing anti-people laws will come to affect them individually, as we learn from the Bible in Isaiah 10: 1 – 3 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What ill you do on. the day or reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
On our part, the member churches of the NCCK have committed to use our structures to deliver climate change related messages from the pulpit and other platforms accessible to us. In addition, we have launched a programme in which we will plant 1.5 billion trees in spaces accessible to us over the next ten years. Further, we will initiate and implement programmes to promote good nutrition for all, and will especially advocate against marketing of unhealthy foods on media.
3.Properly Structure Education
This General Assembly has reviewed the state of education in Kenya. It is unfortunate that the education system is marked by confusion, inequality and injustices. We urge the Ministry of Education to speedily address the concerns that have been raised regarding the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC). The transition to Grade 9 next year is still unclear as regards the availability of facilities and teachers in public primary schools. How
many classrooms have been constructed to accommodate the learners? How many
teachers have been employed to ensure all learners are within the standard teacher-pupil ratio, Further, this General Assembly is appalled at the wastage of public funds being witnessed through multiple scholarship programmes. We are convinced that the only reason these
scholarships have been set up is to enable the officials to steal the money. We strongly
recommend that all the bursaries and scholarships, which total close to KShs 100 billion, be collapsed into a tuition fund that will provide capitation so that we can have truly freeeducation for all.
Further, there is need to urgently review the proposed University Education funding model. It is grossly unjust to have a model that makes education a preserve of the rich. The government should engage in comprehensive public participation so as to have a structure that benefits all qualified Kenyans.
4.Safeguard School Re-opening
This General Assembly is cognizant that parents across the country are waiting and
preparing for the reopening of schools next week. However, there is uncertainty following the reports that teachers and lecturers are planning to go on strike. We call upon the
Ministry of Education and the Teachers’ Service Commission to engage in meaningful dialogue with the teachers so as to safeguard the education of our children.
Further, the General Assembly has noted with concern the circular reportedly sent to
Regional and County Directors of Education directing that all school going children must
be registered on the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). We find this to be a backdoor
method of pushing Kenyans into the scheme which is yet to be understood and regarding
which Kenyans have raised concerns. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the
circular and comprehensive public participation so that parents can present their views on the same. Strategies, however good, must not be forced on Kenyans.
5.Reconstitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
This General Assembly is deeply concerned that the country still does not have a
functional Electoral and Boundaries Commission. This is a major betrayal of Kenyans by the leading political formations, who seem to have conspired to delay the process through technicalities in Parliament and in the courts.
This dereliction of duty has put the country in great danger, while denying Kenyans the
capacity to exercise their constitutional rights as relates to elections and review of electoral boundaries. We demand that Speaker of National Assembly nominates the two representatives from the Parliamentary Service Commission to the IEBC appointments panel, and that the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal speedily addresses the dispute regarding the nominees from the Orange Democratic Movement.
6.Independent Investigations of Extra Judicial Killings
The General Assembly has observed that over the last two months, more than 60
Kenyans were killed in the hands of the police. The whereabouts of an unknown number remain unclear after they were abducted by persons believed to be security agents
We share our heartfelt condolences with all the bereaved families, and are praying for
quick recovery for all those affected. We thank all the people who contributed generously for the medical care of the injured, and all who are supporting those who lost businesses and livelihoods.
To address this issue, we demand that an independent commission is set up to investigate these killings and disappearances in a context where the victims and survivors will be free to give evidence. Kenyans are fully aware that the police cannot fully investigate themselves for the same wrongs they are suspected of committing. We must all remember that a government that treats its citizens unjustly loses moral legitimacy to govern.
7.Listen to the People of Kenya
This General Assembly takes cognizance that the main reason behind the Gen Z led
demonstrations was the failure by government officials to listen to the people. Public participation and petitions have been ignored, and Kenyans are opting for demonstrations to capture the attention of responsibility holders. For how long will this disrespect of
citizens continue, We caution the government to remember that the Kenya that works for all is a nation where every voice is listened to, and especially on the following issues:
One, have a clear and workable economic recovery plan that brings to end the
uncontrolled borrowing, brings down inflation and interest rates, and accords all Kenyans equitable opportunities for livelihood options. The economy of Kenya should be for Kenyans, not foreigners.
Two, decisively deal with corruption. It is a major concern for Kenyans that in the last two years, corruption cases involving government officials were withdrawn, and stealing of public funds is increasing with uncontrolled impunity.
Three, bring down the level of taxation in the country. The recent threats by the new
Cabinet Secretary for Treasury to re-introduce the taxes that were in the rejected Finance Bill 2024 are unsettling, and are likely to push the country back into demonstrations. Four, develop a marshal plan for the youth, recognizing that the country has had a youth bulge and if we don’t plan for this population, the country will disintegrate into chaos Five, we demand that the National Assembly immediately withdraws the Ethics and Anti Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2024. The legislature must not be used to fight the
Commission for standing against and exposing corruption.
8.New Council Officials
The General Assembly, having executed its statutory mandate, is pleased to announce
the election of the following to hold office for the next three years:
Chairperson – Reverend Dr Elias Agola (Presbyterian Church of East Africa)
Vice Chairperson – Bishop Dr John Okinda (Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of
Africa)
In conclusion, NCCK calls upon all Kenyans to endeavour to work to build a better nation. Let each of us play our part, just as we pray in the National Anthem.
Football Kenya Federation Premier League side, Shabana FC, is intent on changing its fortunes in this year’s local football season after receiving a boost of Kshs 75 million from Kenya’s leading gaming firm, SportPesa.
The sponsorship will cover three years with Shabana FC receiving Kes 25 million annually. The club which narrowly survived relegation last season after finishing 14th in the league now faces an uphill task in the new season that begins on August 24, 2024.
“This is a partnership and we are more than dedicated to making it a win-win collaboration. It is more about the commitment and impact and this promises a good fan experience which will attract much more talent,” said SportPesa Partnerships Manager Willis Ojwang.
He was backed up by SportPesa Head of Operations, Benard Chauro, who reiterated SportPesa’s purpose in developing sports in the country.
“Today marks another big milestone for us in the sponsorships and partnerships realm. We have been in this game for a while and going forward, the players should know that they have a reliable partner who can guarantee their success,” he commented.
With the partnership secured, Shabana FC was further challenged to nurture talents that eventually feed into the club’s talent pipeline.
“This partnership presents an opportunity to ensure a collaborative network for all stakeholders involved. Going forward, this should open a fruitful engagement to improve the outcomes. The youth are being given a chance to put themselves forward and make good from the efforts at hand.” said Innocent Muganda on behalf of the BCLB Chair, Jane Makau, as he lauded SportPesa for impacting the community positively.
Kisii Governor and Shabana FC patron, Simba Arati, acknowledged Shabana’s readiness to host its matches this season in the home ground which was closed for the better part of last season for renovations.
“Shabana used to host its matches at the Raila Odinga Stadium in the neighboring Homa Bay County with Gusii Stadium facing challenges but I’m happy to inform you that the pitch is ready for use.”
The partnership unveiling was also graced by the club’s fan association from different regions of the country who were grateful for the support. “Three years ago, we were at the National Super League (NSL) which was challenging competitively but we were able to draw out a clear vision. In those 3 years, we have achieved beyond our set goals. It is my promise to our partners that we will achieve our set goals even as we target the continental championships.” Said the Shabana Fan Association Representative, Onyonka.
Shabana FC is poised to begin their highly anticipated season on a high note, facing off Bidco United in a thrilling opening match this Saturday. The clash, set to take place at Thika Sub-County Stadium, marks the beginning of a new chapter for Shabana FC as they aim to solidify their status as contenders in the league.
The National Assembly Committee on Tourism and Wildlife advocates for Kenya Utalii College to be granted the authority to certify all professionals in the hospitality industry.
Led by Chairperson Hon. Kareke Mbiuki (Maara), committee members voiced concerns over the lack of regulation in the sector’s training standards.
They emphasized the need for standardized training during a meeting with officials from the Tourism Professionals Association (TPA) led by Chairperson Prof Ray Mutinda.
“If we make it mandatory that all practitioners in the tourism and hospitality sector must have a certification from Utalii College before practicing, there will be standardization,” Hon. Mbiuki suggested.
“Our agenda as a Committee is to have the premier college elevated and be the institution that certifies all the professionals in the sector, ” he added during the session chaired by Hon Abdi Ali (Ijara).
“We support having Utalii College as an institution that certifies us. We are proposing that training should continue at the lower levels, and we should be allowed to work with other stakeholders to establish a minimum curriculum for the learners, ” said Prof Mutinda.
In the afternoon, the committee met with Stephen Kinyanjui, CEO of the Tourism Promotion Fund (TPF).
At the session chaired by Hon. Innocent Mugabe (Likuyani), Mr. Kinyanjui updated the MPs on the projects funded by the TPF in the last and current fiscal years.
The Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow with the CEOs of the Kenya Tourism Board, Tourism Regulatory Authority, and Tourism Research Institute to discuss their strategic plans in detail.
During the Exhibition visit by CS Agriculture at Kephis Headquarters.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is holding the first-ever Seed Quality Conference in Nairobi, aimed at increasing the quality of seeds in the Kenyan market.
The conference was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Dr. Andrew Karanja as chief guest.
Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Kiprono was also present during the occasion. Other present stakeholders included; the Board Chairperson, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Board, and Prof Theophilus Mutui Managing Director of KEPHIS.
“Kenya’s economic growth and attainment of the sustainable development goals are heavily reliant on the agriculture sector, having significant bearing on food security, economic growth, and social stability. The agriculture sector provides 60 percent of all employment in Africa, and it is the largest contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) of many African Nations.” Said Dr. Andrew Karanja CS Ministry of Agriculture.
Addressing participants of the conference, Ministry of Agriculture CS Dr Andrew Karanja says access to quality seeds and inputs is a critical determinant of agricultural productivity as it lays the foundation for successful and sustainable agriculture.
On his part, PS Dr Kipronoh Ronoh noted, that Kenya continues to produce high-quality seeds of many crops in response to the needs of farmers, but more needs to be done.
In his opening remarks, KEPHIS MD Prof Theophilus Mutui observed that the conference aims to provide an opportunity for the seed actors to share experiences, achievements, challenges, opportunities, and solutions in the context of nine thematic areas.
