By Matilda Atieno

Ahero Vocational Training Center (VTC) is set to benefit from a 2 Million ePIVOT project, dubbed Enhancing Partnerships for Industry-led Vocational Training and education in the horticulture value chain, a collaboration project with Meru University.

The ePIVOT project aims at strengthening the capacity of the TVTs through enable practical learning and innovation in the horticulture sector.

The University also donated a Television screen, laptop, LMS system to boost digital learning and a greenhouse for the set horticultural project.

This project is made possible through funding from Orange Knowledge Program through a Netherlands Fellowship Program meant to benefit students and the local community who will undergo training on horticultural farming.

The learning equipment was received by the CEC member for Education, ICT and Human Capacity development Mr. John Awiti, and was presented by VC Prof. Romanus Odhiambo at a workshop organized by Ahero VTC to demonstrate the purpose and benefits of the ePIVOT project.

The one-day workshop brought together the board of Governors, area leadership, the community and County VTC officials and was graced by CEC Member for education.

Mr. Owiti lauded the move by the project managers to ensure food security for the locals through the set training. He also pledged to support VTCs to be able to accommodate students who miss out on the university entries as well as young student mothers in ensuring that they also benefit from the project.

Prof. Odhiambo challenged the Ahero VTC board of governors to own the project and make it work for the community and county at large, saying that horticultural farming is a means to food security.

The target of the project is to reach out to at least 500 farmers within Kisumu county who will undergo sensitization boost horticultural farming in the region.

Also present was the County director for TVETs, Mrs. Pascalia Ouma, Centre Manager, Mr. Martin Owino, BOG Chairman, Mr. Victor Aduma, officials from Meru University and members of the board of Governors.

By Matilda Atieno

The county government in partnership with Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) held a 3-day workshop in a deliberate effort to emphasize Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and gender equality as fundamental to an individual, organization as well as to the social and economic of communities.

The training brought together key decision-makers and duty bearers including county directors, state and none state officers. The workshop was also graced by CEC member for Education, IT & Human Capacity Development, John Awiti, who acknowledged the need to create awareness on SRHR, urging the team to cascade the training to the community to create impact across the county. He noted that the training would provide a springboard for increasing knowledge on the SRHR and Gender Equality in the community.

The County Minister also challenged the duty bearers to reflect on how to capitalize on the different perspectives and mandates to catalyze and accelerate the achievement of gender equality in their jurisdiction.

The workshop confirmed important aspects of the relationship between sexual reproductive health rights and gender equality with the most encompassing the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.

Most Importantly, the workshop signaled an integrated approach to gender equality and recognized that human rights have a crucial role to play in relation and access to quality sexual and reproductive health and were of the consensus that the right to sexual and reproductive health encompasses both freedom from discrimination, and entitlements, and in the context of sexual and reproductive health, freedom includes a right to control one’s health and body.

It was also noted that increased attention be devoted to a proper understanding of health rights, as well as gender equality, given the nature of the state policies on the right to health with the focus on understanding SRHR.

Considered together, the training was intended to contribute to the efforts by the decision-makers to exercise and champion the rights to sexual reproductive health and have an indispensable role to play in the struggle against gender inequality.

The workshop was directed by the Project Coordinator FHOK Mr. Edwine Nyanja with facilitators including State Gender Officer Joel Okumu, Patricia Orawo of KMET County officer in charge of Gender, Adah Omedi, and County Reproductive health officer Jackton Okeyo.

Below are updated lists of shortlisted candidates with corrections of interview dates and village units.

Shortlisted Candidates for Various Pisitions within Kisumu County Public Service

Ward and Village Administrators Shortlisted Candidates

ALERT: BEWARE OF CONMEN USING THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS TO TARGET CANDIDATES FOR FRAUD

1. 0740 290 666 (imposter)

2. 0722 127676 (So called Dr. Simon)

3. 020 2000623 (used by so called Dr. Simon)

4. 0720 165 811 (so called Benjamin Zakaria) (more…)

The National Government in partnership with the County Government of Kisumu has rolled out Phase Two of the National Hygiene Program dubbed “Kazi Mtaani” in Kisumu today.

At least 7,500 vulnerable youths from Kisumu alone have been absorbed into the Sh. 10 billion program that will enable them cater for their daily needs amidst the ravaging effects of the Global Corona Virus pandemic.

The Principal Secretary in the State Department of ICT Jerome Ochieng’ this afternoon officially launched phase two of the initiative in Otonglo, Kisumu County alongside Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili. The PS who had earlier on paid a courtesy call on the Governor said the program has been upscaled from the initial 5 settlements in Phase One to 17 under Phase Two. He highlighted that the number of project beneficiaries have also been increased from 2,600 to 7500 across the county. Phase Two is set to cover the three sub counties; Kisumu West, Kisumu East and Kisumu Central.

The program set to be rolled out in all the 47 counties received a tremendous increase in its budgetary allocation from Sh. 760 million to Sh.10 billion. This the PS says will enable them employ at least 283, 000 across the Country.

Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o appreciated efforts by the National Government in addressing the issue of unemployment among the youth by enabling them earn something little to take care of their daily needs during this hard-economic time.

Under the partnership arrangement, Governor Nyong’o said that the County through the Department of Environment will take responsibility and provide the cohorts with County Equipment to carry out their activities and return once the work is done.

Under Phase One, the youths were asked to report with their working tools a situation that is currently being handled by both Governments.

“the National Government is trying as much as possible to facilitate the issue of equipment and is working closely with the counties to ensure youths are provided with the necessary equipment including protective gears”. Said PS. Ochieng.

The PS lauded both the National and the County Governments for their close partnership to ensure that the youths are actively involved and left to loiter around.

He challenged the youths to use wisely monies earned from the initiative by engaging in more income generating activities urging them to take advantage of the opportunity to form special groups that will allow them access more resources from the National Youth Fund.

The youths are set to receive a revised daily wage of Sh.455 shillings released biweekly through mobile money transfers for a period of six and a half months when the program comes to an close. The project will inject Sh. 37.5 million shillings into the Kisumu’s economy, something that cannot go unnoticed bearing in mind the struggling economy at this time.

This phase of the program will focus on both skilled and semi skilled activities embarking on a more sustainable approach. In collaboration with the Counties, the program will undertake legacy projects such as beautification of urban areas (tree planting), construction of access roads using cobble stones and rehabilitation of public spaces, such as schools and hospitals. Already, Kisumu County has 50,000 seedlings to be planted within the program.

All the leaders called on the youths to adhere to the requirements for safe working by following all the laid down protocols to combat the spread of Covid – 19.

Also joining the PS during the launch were members of the County Security Team led by the DCCs, Deputy County Commandant, Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch, Officials from both the National and County Government.

GPU

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is carrying out a one-month exercise to map out riparian lands in Miwani Special Economic Zone.

Kisumu is one of the three counties spearheading the SPEZ initiative as a flagship project to stimulate and revive economic development in the region. The mappingis already complete in Lamu and Mombasa.

Led by NEMA’s Deputy Director, for Environmental Planning &Research Dr. Charles Lange, the delegation is set to visit Miwani and collect initial information for the mapping after which the findings will be presented to the county government and relevant stakeholders.

According to Lange many wetlands lie in the SPEZ and they must be protected to prevent investors from flouting environmental laws through encroachment. He made the remarks this morning during a courtesy call to Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr. Mathew Owili.

The development of the SPEZ will spur industrial development in line with the government’s Big Four agenda.

Dr. Owili assured NEMA of the County Government’s support in making the process successful for Kisumu and the region.

The SPEZ will link farmers, fishermen & the business community with business enterprises which will be located in the area. It will also create jobs and improve the economy.

The County Government through the Department of Lands has already allocated 1000ha for the project in Miwani.

By Collins Owuor