Digital solutions to define the future of quality healthcare
The African Union Agenda 2063 envisions a prosperous continent based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
For this to happen, there is need to safeguard the citizens’ healthcare and food security. Governments have prioritised achieving universal healthcare access in their national development agenda but progress has been hindered by the lack of sufficient investment.
How to make your New Year resolutions stick in 2023
Creating a new year’s resolutions list has been a tradition that has gone on for decades. The basic theme of resolutions is becoming a better version of yourself by vowing to make the necessary changes right from the beginning of a new year.
Of late though, people have been calling out this tradition and we can understand why. Apparently, only 16 per cent of people keep up with what’s on their list while the rest fail.
Despite the criticism, having resolutions can actually help you improve your life significantly. They teach you how to be disciplined because if at the end of the year you haven’t made any effort, you’re the one who will have to deal with reality.
So, the solution might not be to completely ditch resolutions. You can make them stick by trying these suggestions:
Figure out the “why”
As you think of things you would want to change next year, reflect on your reasons for wanting that change. This is important because it’s what will add purpose to your resolutions.
If for example, you want to lose weight so that you can show your ex-boyfriend what he’s missing, your resolution won’t last that long. A better reason would be to lose weight because you truly want to be healthy and feel confidentQ
Activities in the beaches banned past 5pm
Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Salim Mvurya, has banned all activities along the beaches of the Indian Ocean past 5pm.
Addressing the media in Diani, Kwale County, Mvurya said swimming and boat rides in the ocean will not be allowed after 5pm.
The CS also warned boat operators to ensure their vessels are inspected and certified before they can be used for boat rides by holiday makers during the festive season.
“No boat shall be allowed to carry passengers on holiday in the Indian Ocean without life saver jackets and other safety gadgets. All boats must be inspected to ensure compliance before they are authorized for rides,” said Mvurya.
Mvurya said the Ministry and stakeholders in the tourism sector have put measures in place to ensure the safety of holiday goers along the Indian Ocean beaches.
Mvurya’s directive come in the wake of Sunday evening capsizing of a boat at the Jomo Kenyatta Public beach, popularly referred to as “Pirates beach,” where two people died through drowning at 5.40pm.
The deceased, Abdulshakur Haji, 55, and Mohamed Sabir, 35, are Memons and were in Mombasa for Christmas day merrymaking before the tragedy.
Churches preach hope, unity, ask Ruto to tackle high living cost
Messages of hope, peace and unity dominated speeches and sermons in Nyanza as thousands of residents flocked to churches to celebrate Christmas.
In Homa Bay, the clergy urged the government to fulfil its promise to reduce the cost of living
Homa Bay Catholic Diocese Vicar General Francis Lesso and Legio Maria Vicar General John Okumu of Pap Ndege Parish said they are concerned about the suffering many Kenyans are undergoing because of the high cost of living.
Fr Lesso lamented that while President William Ruto had promised to reduce the cost of living in his first 100 days in office, nothing has changed.
“During his campaigns ahead of the last General Election, the president promised Kenyans that his government will reduce the cost of living. It is therefore unfortunate that the situation has instead continued to worsen. Oil prices, which determine the cost of consumable goods, still continue to rise,” he said.
The priest urged the government to focus on how oil prices can be reduced and in the process reduce the cost of living.
Fr Okumu told President Ruto to fulfil the promises he gave Kenyans during his election campaigns
“Many people are afflicted by famine and the situation has been made worse by the high cost of living. It is time for Christmas celebrations but families have nothing to eat because of the difficult economic situation,” he said.
In Bondo, ODM leader Raila Odinga described the Christmas season as a period to reflect on the tough year the country has gone through.
Raila used his Christmas Day speech to sell hope to Kenyans, saying he was hoping for a better year.
He was speaking at Nyamira ACK in Bondo where he rallied Kenyans to join hands and support each other during the festive season.
“As a country, we have had tough times but as we head to the New Year, we are praying for better things,” said Raila.
He urged the church to use its influence to fight for justice.
Raila was accompanied by Siaya Governor James Orengo, Senator Oburu Oginga, former Governor Cornel Rasanga and Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda.
In Migori County, Christians congregated in various churches to give thanks and celebrate Christmas.
At St Joseph Ombo Catholic Church, hundreds of believers sat patiently as Fr Jacob Oyugi preached about perseverance and belief in God.
The priest told the congregants how the world loved darkness and they should accept God’s light.
He asked them to remember all the gifts the Lord has blessed them with and share with others who lack.
“We cannot say we are celebrating Christmas when we cannot make someone smile, even your enemy,” Fr Oyugi said.
He told the congregants that when they love their enemies, the light of the Lord will shine in their lives.
Believers who attended the 11am service said they were happy for the day, despite the challenges they faced.
Beatrice Awuor, a resident of Migori town, said despite how unbearable life had become, she got the strength to attend the church service and celebrate Christmas.
“I am very happy we have been able to meet as Christians. We believe that no matter how difficult it is, it is well with God,” Ms Awuor said.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akello Misori, who attended the service, wished teachers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
He urged them to be patient as they waited for deliberations that would take place between them and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over the anxiety related to the promotion of teachers.
Misori said a decision by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to pull down an advert they had placed on promotion of teachers was discriminatory
Let’s tackle illicit trade head on
The recent crackdown on various forms of illicit goods revealed the extent to which criminal networks have proliferated across the country and posed a threat to the lives and safety of all citizens.
The initiative has unearthed many illicit products, among them pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and alcoholic products, as reported in the media
According to the National Baseline Survey on Counterfeit and Other Forms of Illicit Trade in Kenya released in 2020 by the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), the total value of illicit trade was Sh826 billion in 2018, a 14 per cent increase from Sh726 billion in 2017.
In terms of their GDP share, this represents an increase from 8.9 per cent in 2017 to 9.3 per cent in 2018. Currently, ACA estimates that the numbers have hit more than Sh1 trillion this year.
Illicit trade is a longstanding grave issue, that has grown in scope and magnitude and is derailing economic development.
Citizens and legitimate businesses bear the burden of illicit trade. For instance, entrepreneurs spend more resources to protect their products and services, whereas citizens not only spend money without value from counterfeits but are exposed to potential health risks posed by such products and services.
Illicit trade manifests itself in six major and interrelated ways – smuggling, transit fraud or dumping, trade in prohibited goods or products, illicit cash flows, human and wildlife trafficking, trade in small arms and light weapons and counterfeiting, piracy and substandard goods.
County governments too have a critical role in tackling insecurity
On December 19, 2022, The Standard reported that Governor Anyang Nyong’o had written to the Kisumu County Commissioner over worsening insecurity in the county.
The letter enunciates the dilemma at county level in defining the role of governors vis-a-vis national government officers in security provision
County governments have at times felt they are at the periphery of national security processes. This feeling abounds due the different interpretation of the law and actual practice. The Constitution clearly states that security is a national government prerogative and should be carried out by national government officers.
This has led to the formation of county security committees as part of the national security infrastructure to effect the decisions of the National Security Council.
County governments have a role in security at the county level. Their inclusion in policing is articulated in the National Police Service Act, 2011, section 41 which designates the governor or her/his representative as the chair of the County Policing Authority. This forum has representatives appointed by the county assembly and civil society members appointed by the governor of the concerned county.
The membership also includes the county representatives appointed by the Inspector General of Police, comprising the heads of the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations at the county level.
The secretariat is hosted at the governor’s office. The committee is meant to bring out local prioritised issues that the police should deal with. The authority only makes proposals on areas of priority for inclusion in the county policing strategy.
Parliament was very clear on the significance of county governments in national security leading to the formation of the County Policing Authority. In the expanded definition of national security, most of the functions that are performed by county governments respond directly to attainment of national security.
Come up with concrete strategy to remove child beggers from the streets
In 1969 Elvis Priestley sang ;In the ghetto’, a song written about street children. It was an instant hit. But people didn’t listen to the message. They listened to the music. If we don’t listen too, we will soon face the music.
There are so many children begging on every traffic light. We have become immune to them. We turn away when we have no change to give, check that our car doors and windows are safely closed, and then drive away without a thought.
These kids always put me in a moral dilemma; to help or not to help. I feel guilty when I don’t give them money and guilty when I do because I know that they are being used by their parents to collect money for them.
This is leading to an industry of beggars. Many parents deliberately put their children on street corners and come around regularly to collect whatever money they have collected. I fear that this will become like India where an award-winning film called ‘Slumdog millionaire’ highlighted how such kids are used to beg.
The more pitiful the kid, the more likely you will give them money. That’s why you see very young kids carrying babies – those babies are sympathy props.
‘Slumdog millionaire’ even showed a kid whose hand was cut off because handicapped children attract more sympathy. How low can mankind fall? Could this happen in Kenya? Absolutely yes.
I was driving and passed a young girl in the street flirting with another street boy. I could see a baby coming along soon. I doubt whether she even understands the implications of having sex at that age.
Exam ranking not good for learners, but good for private schools
Failure by the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to name top performers in the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination has been met by mixed reactions.
While announcing the results, the CS started by congratulating all the candidates for securing a place in the secondary school. He then went to statistics, which indicated a slight improvement compared with the performance of the last year. He concluded by announcing, without giving the name, that the highest candidate had attained 431 marks.
Help China to deal with new Covid-19 outbreak
It appears China is back to square one in regard to Covid-19. Millions of people are said to have been infected since the country lifted its zero-Covid policy last month following protests by the public against strict lockdowns.
According to Bloomberg News, almost 250 million people could have been infected in the first 20 days of this month. That, on average, is 12.5 million people every day.
