Garissa county commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo has rallied the area residents to come out in large numbers and register for the Social Health Insurance Authority (SHA) for smooth access to medical services.
According to data from SHA, counties in Northern Kenya have the lowest registered numbers, with Garissa county trailing in the country, having registered only 50,000 people. Mwabudzo wondered why the people are reluctant to register for the health insurance, yet some of them are holding fundraising for medical expenses, while they only need to register, pay the allocated amount and access the services they require. “Do not let people fool you that the SHA is not good. In case you fall sick, the fund will be a great help for you,” he said. He called on NGAO officials to work closely with the county administration, and nyumba kumi elders and ensure that more people are registered within the next two months.
Garissa County SHA coordinator, Mohamed Ahmed raised concerns over the inability of the majority of the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to use the registration gadgets provided by the government and asked the county government or train them for the tasks.
Tom Mboya University is set to offer ship construction classes after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Kenya Shipyard Limited to establish a centre of excellence for shipbuilding, maintenance and repairs. The institution’s Vice Chancellor Charles Ochola said this initiative is a niche in the blue economy that the university had identified in order to explore opportunities in fisheries, water science and transport among others.
Ochola spoke at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay where he said that they have developed and submitted programs which are intended to support the Lake Victoria’s environment and modernize its economy to the Commission for University Education. The vice chancellor said besides research and academics, university institutions should offer similar programs for individuals who are interested in acquiring artisan skills. KSL Managing Director Major General Said Mohamed Farah said they will incorporate the latest technology in their training that will prepare trainees for certification and job opportunities in Kenya and beyond. Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga said the partnership marked the beginning of a journey that will address accidents in the lake while being optimistic that the initiative will immensely support the blue economy.
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has ordered payment of all County contractors before Christmas. Cheboi ordered the finance department to ensure that all service providers that have proper documentation be paid their dues. The governor was responding to the Baringo County Assembly Speaker Vincent Kemboi during this year’s Jamuhuri day celebrations at the Kabarnet Museum grounds who put the executive to task on payment of pending bills. Kemboi declared the formation of ad hoc committees by the assembly to investigate the matter of pending bills in the county. The event was marked with low turnout with area Member of County Assembly Earnest Kibet calling for proper mobilisation.
At least 156,000 farmers in Makueni County will be trained with skills under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVDCDP) across the value chains in an effort to transform agriculture into a dynamic sector, area Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said. Mutula said the farmers to be trained are those involved in key value chains like mangoes, apiculture, tomatoes, poultry and dairy with a view in increasing their participation, enhance value addition and create sustainable opportunities for entrepreneurship. He disclosed that under the project, 30 ward based SACCOs have been formed to drive agriculture and enable them to access credit and farm inputs easily with a view of boosting farming activities in the county.
