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Makueni Contemplates International Justice over two KPC Oil Spills

Fear of diseases, loss of water sources, loss of huge tracts of land under irrigation and fish farms, temporary collapse of KALRO-Kiboko research centre are some of the challenges residents of Kiboko area, Makueni County, have to contend with following a massive oil spill from the new oil pipeline by Kenya Pipeline Company.

The spilled oil is feared to have infiltrated into Kiboko river, the major source of water to area residents which besides domestic uses is used for medium scale horticulture and aquafarming.

Although the spillage was discovered on March 30th,2019, it is feared that this might have started immediately after laying of the 450KM Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline late last year.

Acting KPC Managing Director Hudson Andambi says a point of weakness in the pipeline might have been caused by a large boulder hitting it during backfilling of the pipeline trench, which overtime developed into a crack letting out thousands of gallons of oil.

Those not entirely convinced by this theory believe that the leakage could also have resulted from a malicious puncturing of the pipeline by vandals intending to siphon oil from the line.

Without any installed digital or electronic leakage detectors, the leakage is feared to have gone on for days on end until 30th March 2019 when an officer of the Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) Kiboko, on routine patrol discovered it.

In a meeting of top KPC managers led by the MD, Makueni County Government led by Governor Kivutha Kibwana and the affected community on Tuesday at Kiboko, several measures to address the menace were outlined.

Among these include Human and livestock longitudinal study on the possible impact of the hydrocarbons to their health; Joint testing by all stakeholders for possible water pollution by oil, grease, Total Petroleum Hydrocarborns (TPH), and Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl benzene & Xylene (BTEX).

The meeting also saw formation of a taskforce that will spearhead provision of water for domestic use and livestock as well as environmental cleanup by the polluter.

Governor Kibwana who scolded the KPC officials for mishandling the compensation and cleanup exercise of Thange oil spill still within the county two years ago said KPC was taking the oil spill disaster lightly while it posed grave danger to the health and livelihoods of area residents.

 “We are staring at dangers of cancer and grounding of huge economic activities, the only source of livelihoods for thousands of residents.” Said the governor.

 “These two oil spills are a disaster so atrocious that it can even attract legal suit at the International Court of Justice. We may be forced to look that direction because we seem not to get local solutions,” the governor said further.

He said the County Government would write to KPC and the ministry of Petroleum demanding for restoration of the water sources or compensation for loss of livelihoods for the period the affected farms would lay forlorn with a fixed time frame.

Kibwana said the Thange oil leakage experience had shown that KPC has little regard for humanity despite millions of shillings it makes from the same people.

Kibwana in Talks with ICPAK for Financial Management Collaboration

Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Friday held talks with top management officers of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) who paid him a courtesy call at Wote.

The talks centered on possible areas of collaboration between the county government and the accountancy regulator with a view to strengthening financial management systems.

Among the identified areas of collaboration include accounting personnel capacity building, establishment of a CPA centre and KCA University satellite campus in Wote, own source revenue growth, financial risks management and training of SMEs, FSAs on financial growth.

Kibwana has pledged that the county government would make available five acres of land for establishment of the CPA centre and KCA University Campus in the 2019/20 budget cycle.

The ICPAK delegation was led by Chief Executive Officer Edwin Makori and the manager, Devolution and Branches Public Policy and Research Division Hillary Onami.

Over 120 young people graduate from free advanced ICT training initiative

At least 120 youth from across the county have graduated from a 3-week free advanced ICT training program under “Tusomeei Computer Nduani” initiative fully funded by the County Government of Makueni.

The training was geared at equipping the young people with computational thinking and problem solving skills in order for them to succeed in the ever changing digital world.

They were competitively selected, 4 from each of the 30 wards and intensively trained on Web Design, Computer Hardware and Software, Graphics Design and computer Networks, with each trainee choosing an area of interest.

Konza Technopolis Development Authority CEO Eng John Tanui who addressed the graduands at Wote Technical Training Institute grounds on Friday said that the training was so timely with the Konza city taking shaping that it will provide a myriad of opportunities for the skilled young people.

“Konza Technopolis will be a sustainable, world-class technology hub and a major economic driver for Kenya, with a vibrant mix of businesses, workers, residents, and urban amenities. The skills you have acquired through this program are tools that prepare you to be among the key experts working at Konza as part of the journey to transform Kenya and Africa using ICT,” Tanui said.

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau who presided over the ceremony urged the graduands to take advantage of the skills they had acquired and exploit them to become resourceful and create job opportunities for other people in the society.

“What we require from you our graduands is focus and exploitation of the opportunities in ICT that will enable you earn income and create jobs. Not just using it in social media-WhatsApp, twitter and Facebook,” stated Mwau.

The over 120 youth who graduated from free advanced ICT training initiative.

Testimonies by some of the graduands tell of a people who have been empowered with technical skills and ready to face the world despite the increasing cases of unemployment among the young people.

Through the department of Education, Youth, Sports and ICT, the county government has trained other 4000 young people on basic ICT knowledge and has also established 15 Community Information Centres across the county where the citizenry are trained on basic ICT programs as well as access government services online.

Competence Based Curriculum Good for the Country-Kibwana

Governor Kivutha Kibwana has urged for proper mechanisms to implement the Competence Based Curriculum.

Kibwana waded into the subject that has put the education ministry at loggerheads with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) officials over its implementation, saying the new curriculum is good for the countries development.

“The Competence Based Curriculum allows learners to gain practical skills and focus more on their future career building subjects as opposed to reading purely for exams,” said the governor.

“It is understandable that the current teachers were trained purely for the 8-4-4 system and thus proper training on the new curriculum is required. Efforts should be made to train teachers during holiday seasons and the requisite infrastructure put in place if the new curriculum is to takeoff,” he said further.

According to him, Africa lacks a well-structured education system, and this explains the zeal to acquire higher education from outside the continent by a majority of Kenyans.

He however said the Kenyan CBC if well implemented has the potential to cure this deficiency and drive the country’s development to higher heights.

Kibwana spoke Thursday when he presided over a mentorship event for 236 secondary school students from Makueni who are under county scholarships in different schools.

The 236 are among 287 from needy backgrounds who secured opportunities in national secondary schools but could not report for lack of fees. The county has sponsored their full secondary education, while those who score B+ and above also benefit from scholarships to tertiary institutions.

Besides the 287 scholarships, the county has also awarded scholarships to 42,000 learners since 2014 at a cumulative cost of over Sh 300M.

Makueni to Partner with Salvation ARMY in Climate Change Resilience Building

Makueni County has secured the support of the Salvation Army in Climate Change Resilience Building through a five-year project dubbed MSETO WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Resilience by the church.

The USD 2.5 Million project aims at ensuring Water, Sanitation hygiene (WASH) access in five counties; Makueni, Kitui, Machakos, Samburu and Isiolo counties.

The Project manager George Obondo says the project will also ensure Improved food and Economic security in the targeted communities; Improved WASH access in the communities and schools; Improved health and nutrition as well Climate Justice and Environmental Sustainability.

The project, which runs up to 2023, draws funding from among other partners: Sweden/Latvia, Australia, UK/Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary & Austria.

The MSETO Resilience-WASH and Food Security Project, launched today, Friday April 12, in Nairobi and graced by Deputy governor Adelina Mwau and ABC Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, is an improvement of a similar pilot project in Salvation Army schools in the said Counties.

According to Salvation Army Kenya East Territorial Commander, Commissioner Margaret Siamoya, the project has previously supported 20 schools in Makueni with four 16,000-litre water tanks each as well as building toilets of World Health Organization standards.

DG Adelina Mwau termed the partnership a noble cause largely focusing on preparing and building the capacity of communities to enable them absorb, adapt and transform their lives in the face of complexities and uncertainties brought about by the impacts of climate change.

We have invested over Sh 250 million on bursaries and scholarships since 2013: Mwau

Makueni County government has spent over Sh 250 million on bursaries and scholarships to support at least 36,000 bright students from poor families to pursue education.

Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau said the government is in its final stage of establishing an Education Fund to put more resources on education as it acknowledges it is an investment for the future of the county.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. To increase Makueni share in supporting transition and retention in schools, the County is in its final stages of developing the long awaited “County Education Fund,” the Deputy Governor said.

But the DG revealed that lack of innovation and invention is the true challenge of education in this country and urged teachers to make learning effective and interactive in order to achieve 100% transition.

Mwau further noted that county government is in the forefront in the adoption of the new system by partnering with YASA, an organisation that deals with youth to mentor girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

“We have made strides with the adoption of a new curriculum focused rightly so on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Partnering with the ministry and YASA, our county has purposed to mentor at least nine schools for one year and improve Girls in STEM,” she said.

She was speaking when she closed the seventh edition of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association-Makueni Chapter at the Nyali Sun African Hotel in Mombasa.

KESSHA Makueni Chapter Chairman Julius Mutwii who was the host and also leader of a team handling the County Education Fund details termed it as a noble idea that will keep hope alive for the children. He also assured the government of their unwavering support to fully realise the initiative.

He said: “This is a very noble idea whose time has come because more of our students from needy backgrounds will have opportunities to pursue their academic dreams. We therefore as principals in Makueni fully support it.”

She was accompanied by the County Water Executive Bob Kisyula, Education and Trade executive members Joshua Wambua and Eng Sebastian Kyoni respectively.

Makueni to establish an Education Fund to support needy and bright students

Makueni County is in the process of establishing the Makueni Education Fund, a kitty to cater for increasing cases of bright and needy students in the county annually, Education and Youth Executive Committee Member Joshua Wambua has said.

Wambua said that the County Government of Makueni has continued to receive an increasing number of applicants for both bursaries and scholarships each year adding that the County budget cannot sustain the applications.

“We are in the process of establishing a larger kitty, the Makueni Education Fund in order to address the increasing cases of bright and needy children. Our County Budget cannot sustain these cases thus the reason for this noble course,” the ECM said.

He was speaking in Mombasa on Thursday where county officials led by Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau met secondary school head teachers during this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association conference for Makueni chapter at the Nyali Sun African Beach Hotel.

County officials led by Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau meeting secondary school head teachers during this year’s KeSSHA conference for Makueni Chapter at the Nyali Sun African Beach Hotel

According to Wambua, the overall aim of the fund will be to mobilize financial resources and provide financial assistance to Makueni bright and needy students in their pursuit of higher education, allocate funds and grants for seminars and Conferences and research and other related educational purposes.

He further observed that though constitutionally primary, secondary and university education are not devolved, the County Government cannot escape from supporting them due to their proximity and presence where the people are.

Adelina Mwau stated that the fund was a step to increase Makueni share in supporting transition and retention in schools through supporting as many needy and bright students as possible  thus increasing their chances to better their future.

KESSHA Makueni Chapter chairman Julius Mutwii who was the host and also the leader of a team handling the fund details termed it as a noble idea that will keep hope alive for the children. He also assured the county government of their unwavering support to fully realise the initiative.

He said: “This is a very noble idea whose time has come because more of our students from needy backgrounds will have opportunities to pursue their academic dreams. We therefore as principals in Makueni fully support it.”

Counties urged to move into action towards addressing climate change

Counties have been urged to move into action towards addressing the adverse effects of climate change as time is ripe to shift to implementation of the existing climatic policies.

African Centre for Technology Studies Head of Climate Change Programme Dr Joanes Atela said that we have many crucial policies on climate change but of more paramount is to put them into action.

 “There is an abundance of climate policies. This is crucial, but perhaps more important now is to shift focus to the implementation of the policies. We need to explore innovative approaches, and document such, that would contribute to effectively addressing the effects of climate challenge,” Atela stated.

Atela further noted that to effectively address climate change, focus now should be on fostering concerted efforts saying that everyone has a part to play in tackling the climate change menace.

Atela Said: “Effectively addressing climate change requires all hands on deck. Each of you holds the key to a crucial piece of the puzzle.”

Dr. Atela spoke on Wednesday during the mapping and upscaling of climate change action in Kenya conference held at Wote in Makueni County.

The two-day workshop which attracted delegates from the 47 counties seeks to map and catalyze the extent of climate action in Kenya counties, and foster peer learning on how to catalyze and scale climate action in the country.

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau who officially opened the conference stated that the county had made some major milestones towards combating climate change.

She observed that the county has constructed  sand dams in major rivers, banned sand harvesting in rivers and promoted water harvesting through several initiatives, among them the merry go round program for buying group members water tanks among other interventions within Makueni.

At least 120 youth in Makueni to benefit from free Advanced ICT Training

120 youth in Makueni are set to benefit from free three-weeks Advanced ICT Training under the Tusomeei Computer Nduani initiative, courtesy of the County Government of Makueni.

The training which began on Monday, aims at equipping the youth with computational thinking and problem solving skills in order for them to succeed in the ever changing digital world.

The young people who were competitively selected, 4 from each of the 30 wards will be intensively trained on Web Design, Computer Hardware and Software, Graphics Design and computer Networks with each trainee choosing one area of interest.

According to Kivuva Mwangangi of Emali-Mulala ward, a beneficiary of the program and a graduate of Computer Science from Maseno University, the initiative has given him a platform to perfect his networking skills especially after experiencing some challenges in the field immediately after his graduation.

“After graduating from Maseno with a degree in Computer Science, I was shocked I could experience some difficulties in field work. When I saw this opportunity, I was excited because I knew it was a good avenue for me to perfect my networking skills,” Mwangangi said.

The trainees, according to Youth and ICT Executive Dr. Joshua Wambua, will in the long run be employable, have hands on skills to create websites or be ripe for start-up ventures using the digital skills gained.

Kibwana calls on Kenyans to support NIIMS Registration

Governor Kivutha Kibwana has urged all Kenyans to support the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) #HudumaNamba registration exercise.

Speaking during the exercise launch at Masii Boys’ High School, Machakos County, Kibwana said the exercise is important for our country’s planning and development.

“What we are launching today is a very important exercise for planning and development. As Council of Governors, we shall support this initiative wholeheartedly so we can enlist as many Kenyans within the 45-day registration period.”

Kibwana said he would use his position as the Council’s Chief Whip to rally governors to spearhead the registration exercise so it can get the support of all Kenyans.

The #HudumaNamba registration exercise was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and graced by among others Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Alfred Mutua, Charity Ngilu; Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i and Margaret Kobia.

  • April 2, 2019 in News