Category: POPULAR

Politics is getting more and more attention as the general election on August 9 draws near. Different political slogans are hosting several rallies across the nation and making sure they get enough support to win seats in the legislature come August. On the other hand, various businesses are busy conducting surveys to ascertain which candidate might win the election.

At 7 p.m. today, Deputy President Hon. William Samoei Ruto will participate in an interactive discussion on KTN News television. The discussion will be monitored by Sophia Wananu and Zubeida Koome who are KTN News Journalists. It is anticipated that Ruto will promote his agenda and reinforce his bottom-up economics stance.

From the social Ktn Tv social media handles, the conversation has been hyped and Kenyans are on the watch With only 33 days to go. Are you confident with @WilliamsRuto as your next president? @KTNNewsKE #UlizaRutoKTN #RutoKTNTownhall

The National Aids Control Council (NACC) has launched a programme to empower Sexual and Gender Based Violence technical team to enable them address the rising cases of HIV prevalence and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Speaking during the official launch of the programme at Maxland hotel in Juja Sub County, Kiambu County regional HIV/Aids Coordinator Kibe Ranji, said if not addressed, the rate of HIV infections and SGBV cases may impact negatively on development of the county.

“As of May 2022, the country had registered 4.2 percent new HIV infections and the curve is expected to go up as we approach the general elections due to the social nature of the campaign period,” said Ranji.

According to NACC, this year only, the county has already recorded 32,027 new HIV infections, with 26,826 being adults and teenagers of 15 years and above and about and 5,201 are children of 0-14 years.

Ranji added that 133 children get infected with HIV from mother to child transmission with teenage mothers contributing up to 60 percent of these infections. One in every five teenage girls between the ages of 15-19 years, have either had a live birth or are pregnant with their first child

The event that was organised by the NACC and the state department of Gender brought together the Kiambu County gender based violence technical working group that comprises of stakeholders from different state departments in the county and from the County Government

Kenya has the third-highest rate of teen pregnancies in East Africa with teenage birth rate at 82 per 1,000 girls in the 15 to 19 age group.

“A high number of SGBV cases were reported in 2020 and 2021 during Covid-19 pandemic where 2196 cases of gender base violence were reported. If we are not careful, we might experience such during the general elections hence the need for sensitization,” said Ranji.

“Sexual and gender-based violence during elections has dire, multiple, and specific consequences on survivors. If left unaddressed, they worsen over time, and will have an impact on the next elections affecting the participation of women in electoral processes,” added Ranji.

On his part, Kiambu County Commissioner, Joshua Nkanatha, said that prevention is always better than cure. By sensitizing the community early, more cases of SGBV and HIV infections will be prevented.

“I urge all of you to be watchdogs against SGBV in our sub counties to ensure that we flatten the curve for new HIV infections and SGBV cases in our County,” said Nkatha.

This year, Kiambu County registered 46 new HIV infections and 148 SGBV cases as of May 2022 according to NACC report.

The County Commissioner further advised the public to be vigilant and report any case of SGBV as women and children are the most vulnerable.

In Kenya, NACC reported that only 15 counties have met the national target for reducing new HIV infections by 75 percent between 2013 and 2021.

The government is committed to ensure that 1.2 million pupils join junior secondary schools under the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) when the normal academic calendar resumes in January 2023.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Professor George Magoha said the curriculum which was learner focused and collaborative model equips pupils with better decision making skills thus giving them the best chance in the dynamic competitive job market.

Speaking in Mombasa during the 25^th Kenya Private Schools Association Conference (KPSA), Magoha said that private schools will be allowed to have stand- alone junior secondary schools on their capacity.

He gave the private school two weeks to finish up with construction before the official inspection visit to the sites starts, noting that those that will meet the minimum requirements will be registered.

The CS urged teachers to check whether their schools are registered earlier enough so as to help for a smooth transition in January. At the same time, he requested teachers in private sectors not to get involved in working to retain as many of the CBC pupils in their previous schools.

“The transition will be seamless if we try to retain as many pupils in our previous schools, for example if you have 100 at least try to retain 60. It doesn’t matter who will be in government come next year but our children must go to school,” said Magoha.

The CS noted that a total of 6500 units have been constructed in public schools across the country to facilitate the transition as the government fast-track the remaining 14,500 units out of the total 20,000 intended.

For phase one, the target was 10,000 units and only 4,500 are remaining with the construction planned to start next week.

“We have ensured that there is no leakage of public money meant for the basic education sector. That is why we have already constructed 6,497 out of 10,000 targeted for phase one. Next week we are starting on the next phase and we shall deliver,” added Magoha.

He said the Ministry of Education is putting in place plans and procedures in placement of grade seven pupils and in the next three weeks they will clear the air on the issue and the affirmative action.

He urged teachers to dismiss the notion that the ministry looks after public schools only and not private schools saying it’s misleading.

According to Principal Secretary for Curriculum Reform Implementation Professor Fatuma Chege, the importance of public-private partnership will develop a framework that will be used as a guideline for transitions. This is in adherence to the government code of ethics that promotes the mutual and symbiotic relationship between private institutions and government.

Chege reiterated that the partnership between government and private institutions has gone a long way in transforming the education sector thus the two players cannot work in distinction.

Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party led by former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has decried the violence that greeted its rally on Monday in Chebunyo market, Chepalungu Sub-county.

In a press statement, the party accused their competitors of masterminding the chaos and called on them to avoid engaging in political violence but rather in ideologies.

“It is sad to note that a senior member of our competitor’s side is sponsoring violence by hiring youths to disrupt political rallies being organized by his opponents,” the party said in a statement

Reports indicate that during the incident, scores sustained injuries after they were allegedly pelted with stones and were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Several vehicles also had their windscreens smashed with stones and other crude weapons hurled by rowdy youths.

“We want to warn our competitors and their team to stop this barbaric act and of looking for sympathy and political mileage through the instigation of violence then blame it on opponents for selfish political gains,” the statement further reads.

The Monday incident was reported to police in Chepalungu police station.