Kerio Valley has seen a significant step towards empowering the youth and reducing crime by providing 179 graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and polytechnics with assorted tools of trade.
The Imara Project, funded by the Swedish government, aims to build resilience through the sustainable management of natural resources in the community.
The initiative, which began in 2018, is set to be completed by 2025. The graduates, trained in various fields, have obtained direct employment opportunities through the tools of trade.
Many of the graduates, who were previously involved in cattle rustling, have since reformed and acquired skills to support themselves.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in the efforts to equip the youth of Kerio Valley with the necessary tools to build a better future and foster a safer and more prosperous community.
The USAID-funded programme is set to benefit 11 counties in Kenya, aiming to empower grassroots organisations to participate in development planning and budget-making processes.
The programme, valued at Sh3.5 billion, will focus on the empowerment of grassroots organisations, strengthening health-related regulatory frameworks, and promoting unity against fraud, waste, and abuse.
The programme will work with local development organisations (LDOs) in Turkana to identify priorities and shape development aspirations.
The programme aligns with the provisions for public participation envisioned in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and aims to strengthen participation and stimulate growth in crucial sectors.
Narok County Commissioner Lotiatia Kipkech has announced that the National government has provided 616,224 sanitary towels to schoolgirls in the county.
The pads will ensure girls are able to compete with boys and attend school without excuses due to monthly periods.
Lotiatia also warned parents to take good care of their girls and protect them from retrogressive practices that compromise their studies. He cited Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriages, and teenage pregnancies as examples of these practices.
The commissioner reminded residents that parents who subject their children to outdated practices or fail to take them to school will face arrest and prosecution.
Agnes Mtambui, a school parent, praised the government for the free sanitary towels and called on girls to reciprocate by working hard in school. The initiative is seen as a great honour for Kenya.
Kakamega County has allocated Sh70 million to build a model ECDE centre in Kholera ward, Matungu Sub County.
Governor Fernandes Barasa announced this as part of the 60 centres the county is building this financial year to accommodate more learners.
The ECDE Centre will be completed at Bulimbo Primary School in partnership with LAPFUND.
The county has allocated Sh18 million for furniture and another Sh60 million for capitation to create a conducive learning environment.
The County Government has also invested significantly in technical and vocational training, with 38 twin workshops and 19 classrooms constructed at a cost of Sh117.5 million so far.
Lodwar Municipality Chief Officer Epae Derrick has announced stringent measures, including arrest and prosecution, for individuals violating waste disposal regulations in the area.
The municipality has designated Nayanae-engkalalio as the official dumpsite for both solid and liquid waste, but improper disposal practices continue.
Derrick emphasised that the municipality would no longer tolerate indiscriminate dumping and urged residents to adopt proper waste disposal habits to ensure a clean, green, and healthy environment.
The rapid urbanization in Lodwar has led to an increase in waste, particularly from bars, entertainment joints, and eateries, contributing to unsightly and unsanitary conditions in backstreets and undesignated areas.
Local residents have voiced concerns about the public health risks posed by the ongoing violations of dumping rules.
John Kamau