Construction of the Impala Dunga road is set to continue following the intervention of the County government and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Speaking in Kisumu, where he joined Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili in inspecting the construction of Impala -Dunga road, the Kenya Wildlife Service Director-General, Brigadier (Rtd) John Migui Waweru expressed confidence in the government’s ability to expedite the road’s construction in Kisumu.
Once complete the road is set to open up access and increase tourist traffic within the Impala Sanctuary and Dunga beach and it will also boost the economy of Kisumu.
According to the Deputy Governor, the county government is ready to partner the KWS in stepping up conservancy efforts in the region.
The road works is underway and construction is expected to be completed by mid-November 2019.
The improved road network in the County is aimed at spurring socio-economic development among the residents. This is in line with Kenya’s Vision 2030 blueprint and the Governor’s manifesto that pledges to construct and maintain roads within the County.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Mathew Owili and the Kenya Wildlife Service Director General, Brigadier (Rtd) John Migui Waweru during inspection tour of the Impala Dunga road
To celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, the county government in partnership with Plan International and Nyanza Initiative for Girls’ Education & Empowerment (NIGEE) organized celebrations at Kombewa in an event that brought together girls from Kisumu county.
This year’s Day of the Girl Child themed “GirlForce: Unscripted and unstoppable” marks the annual celebrations as commissioned by the United Nation. October 10th focuses attention on the need to addressed the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
The celebration was presided over by County Minister for Education ICT and Human capacity development Dr. John Obiero Ogone, who in his speech recognised education, training, entry into the work force, access to information, communication technology and resources set for the girl child.
The annual event comes in the wake of conversations around gender equity and policy formulation in Kisumu County.
By Matilda Atieno
Kisumu County Secretary Mr. Geoffrey Kigochi this week presided over the official opening of training for Kisumu County grievances redress and feedback Committee on effective County grievance redress mechanisms (CGRFC) at Boma inn, Eldoret County
In his speech Mr. Kigochi stated that complaints are part of our day to day activities hence we need effective mechanisms to report and handle malpractices.
The County secretary stated that the reporting mechanism requires citizens to make complaints easily and effectively and that the complaints registered should be handled well.
“The complaints mechanism is a potential to strengthen the organization’s credibility and reputation that leads to a win-win situation,” he said.
Grievance Redress Mechanism is part and parcel of the machinery of any administration and as County government of Kisumu Managing grievances is one of the top priorities. This move has brought the entire redressal framework into focus.
the mechanism is the gauge to measure efficiency and effectiveness as it provides important feedback on the working of the administration. The entire process will be governed by the Kisumu County grievances redress and feedback Committee.
By Emily Mikwa
Kisumu County Secretary Mr. Geoffrey Kigochi this week presided over the official opening of training for Kisumu County grievances redress and feedback
The County directorate of gender convened a gender mainstreaming technical working group meeting on draft policy formulation, a strategy to establish and strengthen gender mainstreaming efforts in all sectors in Kisumu.
Gender equality has foundational and often overwhelming consequences for both male and female and special groups in areas such as poverty, health, education, empowerment, localization and implementation of sustainable development goals which requires explicit attention to gender equality and empowerment in related institutional structures and processes as well as in policies, programs and budgeting.
The objectives of the 3 days meeting were three-fold: to set an in-depth understanding of the Gender Mainstreaming policy framework by the steering committee, discuss the Gender Mainstreaming policy framework with the steering committee for drafting and to consolidate the final Mainstreaming draft policy for public and stakeholder’s discussion and input.
The meeting brought together several partners working on a joint monitoring program for Sexual gender-based violence, gender technical working group, the County Government of Kisumu and the state department of gender. It also included Plan International and National gender equality commission (NGEC), Nyanza Initiative for Girls’ Education & Empowerment (NIGEE) among other key partners.
The meeting highlighted the intrinsic focus on gender equality and identified strategic entry points for gender mainstreaming, including how the County government system can better support the gender-responsive implementation and operationalization of policies that enhance synergies with SDG 5 on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls through introduction of a sector-wide framework to strengthen institutional accountability for gender equality results.
To reinforce effective joint action on gender equality, participants identified entry points to strengthen programmatic responses and accountability in program development. The draft policy will be subjected to public participation, legislation, validation and thereafter implementation.
By Matilda Atieno
Members of the technical working group during the 2019 Kisumu County Gender Mainstreaming Policy drafting forum
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr.Mathew Owili this morning joined Barclays Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wassuna in flagging off the Tuwezeshe Biashara na Barclays SME road show, aimed at creating awareness among Small and Medium Enterprises(SME) in the region.
The county government is already creating economic linkages to promote the SME sector. The Business and Marketing Department has already embarked on the modernization of the Kisumu Innovation &Incubation Centre in it’s quest to boost the sector.
In his address Owili lauded the bank for targeting the SME’s, a sector he described major players in the County’s economy.
Also present were CEC Richard Ogendo,(Barclays) Head of SME Susan Situma, Head of Marketing Peter Waweru, Gunila Ouko, Regional Manager BBK among other officials from the bank and the County government.
By Collins Owuor
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr.Mathew Owili together with Director Elizabeth Wassuna flagged off the Tuwezeshe Biashara na Barclays SME road show
Kisumu County has partnered with health stakeholders to form a multiparty organization to upgrade equipment to conduct all types of cancer screening.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral and Teaching Hospital (JOORTH), Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET), Blue Cross Kenya, Mp Shah and Duke Hospital have come together to form Cancer Alliance to help fight the cancer menace.
2nd of October, JOOTRH cancer center hosted the launch of the alliance that was kicked off with a walk dubbed “Hope Beyond Cancer walk,” flagged off by Mama Kisumu County, Mrs. Dorothy Nyong’o from the County Headquarters through to JOOTRH.
Mama Kisumu who was the chief guest said that the stakeholders have decided to come together to slay ‘the giant’ by making cancer screening services available everywhere for free, adding that the decision to focus on prevention as the foundation block of cancer, will enable access to treatment and relatively easier and cheaper to contain.
“With the availability of cancer screening services, people from Kisumu County will not need to travel to Nairobi or abroad to get tested and treated, imagine how many lives we can save if we create awareness to everyone,” she said.
Kisumu being one of the piloted counties for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), is determined make health services available to everyone including free screening for all types of cancer and most importantly, sharing information about cancer to help in developing new diagnostic to better treatments that increase survival and improve quality of life for cancer patients.
Mama Kisumu also mentioned that Kisumu has partnered with Harvard University to set up a comprehensive Cancer Center which will bring the best treatment and services to people all over the region. She encouraged residents to embrace Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which is set for mass vaccination, administered to girls aged 10 years old, stating that this will help eliminate cervical cancer.
Residents were also urged to avoid eating genetically modified food which is one of the primary causes of cancer and that exercise, organic food, a clean environment and enough sleep would help kick out cancer.
The objective of the cancer alliance is to accelerate cancer care locally by addressing the multi-level barriers to improving cancer care and to ease the disease burden in the region.
By Wendy Chloe
Mama Kisumu Dorothy Nyong’o together with Executive Director KMET Kenya Ms. Monica Oguttu joined the procession towards the launch of Kisumu County Cancer Alliance
As the world marked World contraception day, Kisumu county took the celebrations to Katito Sub County hospital in Nyakach to recognize the annual event celebrated on the 26th of September.
The 2019 celebrations themed “It’s your Life, it’s your responsibility, know your options” begun with a procession that was flagged off by The County Sexual Reproductive health (SRP) coordinator Jane Owuor as residents joined the procession from Rang’ul dispensary to the Sub County hospital in Katito.
The world contraception day was marked by pomp and color as residents committed to the idea that family planning is possible and that all young people can have access to the contraceptive care they need, regardless of who they are or where they live.
The choice to host the event at Katito was informed by the fact that Nyakach has the highest number of teenage pregnancies rated at 31% followed by Muhuroni at 30%, Nyando at 26.5%, Seme at 23.5% as the rest of the three sub-counties, Kisumu west, east and central are below 20% (DHIS2 2018-2019).
In her speech, Jane Owuor who represented the County director health as the chief guest stated that teenage pregnancy, abuse of the emergency contraceptives, unplanned pregnancies deaths and access to contraception remains a key concern to residents.
Ms. Owuor was optimistic that the county health department has strived to promote sexual reproductive health in collaboration with development partners in the reproductive health, adding that last year more youth-friendly centers were launched across the county and that the department is looking forward to additional centers this financial year.
The deputy SRP health, Mr. Jackton Okeyo emphasized the need to use family planning methods and that contraceptives are incredibly safe.
World Contraception Day is a day where people and organizations from around the world come together to advocate for affordable and accessible contraception.
By Matilda Atieno
World Contraception day 2019 celebrations held at Katiti Sub County Hospital
Kisumu County is set to introduce the world’s first HPV vaccine to girls of age 10-13 years in October 2019.
The HPV mass vaccination of girls in primary schools is set for the official launch on 2nd October and thereafter the kick-off of to provide girls in schools with free shots of the vaccine against cervical cancer following the disease burden experienced in the county.
Currently, the health department is conducting sensitization and mapping exercise of primary schools who are the targeted group in all the seven Sub Counties.
During the county stakeholder’s engagement forum for malaria vaccine (MVIP) and HPV Vaccine implementation program, it was announced that the mass vaccination will be carried out across the county to target girls in public facilities including hospitals and primary schools.
According to County nursing officer, Jane Raburu confirmed availability of the vaccine and that the side effects are not unique to other vaccines. She also emphasized that health is a right and that the county intends s to carry out HPV vaccination as an intervention to cervical cancer.
Cancer of the cervix is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide and the second most common in lower-income regions. According to WHO HPV is the only cancer that is almost entirely preventable through a safe, effective vaccine and screenings.
The World Health Organization- WHO recommends HPV vaccination for girls. The vaccine is most effective when given early in adolescence between the age of 9 and 14 years – before girls are exposed to the virus.
The standard age target according to WHO is 10-14. However, Kenya has preferred to carry out immunization of girls aged between 10-13 who will be issued with an immunization card to show evidence of vaccination.
“When children aren’t vaccinated at the recommended time, they’re left vulnerable to getting cancer that could be prevented,” says Dr. Florence Akech
Vaccination against cervical cancer is given on time to protect preteens long before exposure to the virus hence the need to offer HPV vaccine by giving two injections at an interval of six to twelve months.
County stakeholder’s engagement on HPV Vaccine Implementation program
Living Water International has reiterated their commitment to boost water provision in the county.
The developments comes barely months after the NGO partnered the county government in launching a multi-million water project in Nyakach.
Speaking in Houston after meeting the organisations’ Senior Vice President on Programs, Jonathan Wiles, Kisumu Deputy Dr. Mathew Owili lauded the project a game changer as he led discussions to extend their programs for five years in the county.
The expected program extension period will see support in WASH sector to include borehole drilling, equipping, pipeline extension, capacity building of established community water service providers and sanitation component both in schools and churches.
This will allow expansion in the scope and will improve water coverage from the current 22% to over 80%.
Joining the discussions were Water CEC, Salmon Orimba, Living Water Legal affairs Director Natalie Mantel and Bishop Paul Ligono a Board member of Living Water in Kenya.
Deputy Governor,Dr. Mathew Owili (right) , Bishop Paul Ligono a Board member of Living Water in Kenya (Centre)County minister for Water, Salmon Orimba (left) during the teams meeting with Living Water International in Huston, USA
