Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), in collaboration with the Organic Fertilizers Input Manufacturers Association Kenya (OFIMAK), the Fertilizer Association of Kenya (FAK), and other development partners, convened a Status Report and Policy Brief Review Workshop at the KALRO Headquarters. The objective of the workshop was to provide a stakeholder forum and receive feedback on the Status Report and Policy Brief on the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers to enhance soil health and fertility in Kenya. The workshop underscored the best ways of engaging with the key stakeholders to forge the best ways of integrating both inorganic and organic fertilizers, recognizing that both play vital roles in improving agricultural productivity. KALRO reaffirmed its commitment to providing credible, science-based research to guide policy and decision-making in fertilizer integration and sustainable soil management.
Kenyatta National Hospital recently held productive discussions with PATH to explore possible partnerships in maternal and newborn health, chaired by Dr. Juliana Muiva (HOD Paediatrics).
Areas of interest include:
Strengthening Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), Developing human milk banking solutions and Integrated malnutrition prevention programs.
The PATH team visited KNH Newborn Unit, Laboratory and Postnatal Wards to understand the current services and needs. While no formal partnership has been established, the institution appreciate Dr. Muiva’s leadership and all teams who contributed insights. Such dialogues help in exploring ways to potentially advance the Mother-Baby Friendly Initiative Plus (MBFI+).
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale yesterday convened a consultative meeting with officials from various Universal Health Coverage (UHC) health workers’ unions to deliberate on the ongoing industrial action and address the growing concerns among union members as efforts continue to find an amicable way forward. The CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of healthcare workers and reiterated his earlier pledge to fully implement agreements reached with unions representing UHC staff. He underscored the Ministry’s recognition of healthcare unions as key partners in advocating for workers’ rights and enhancing service delivery. The CS further emphasized that collaborative dialogue remains central to the success of UHC in Kenya. The meeting brought together union leaders, including Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director of Medical Services; Seth Panyako, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN); George Gibore, Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO); Brown Ashira, Secretary General of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU); Peterson Wachira, Chair of KUCO; and Pius Nyakundi, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO).
The National Development Implementation Sub-Committee of the Social Sector convened for its 11th meeting which was hybrid. The primary objective of the meeting was to take stock of and track the progress of flagship projects outlined in the Medium Term Plan IV (MTPIV). During the session, members addressed key implementation challenges that have arisen and engaged in constructive discussions to identify mitigation measures aimed at overcoming these obstacles. In a notable development, Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, who oversees Labour and Skills Development, was unanimously elected as the new Chairman of the Committee. He takes over from PS Belio Kipsang, who has recently been transferred to the State Department for Immigration Services.
Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Eric Mugaa and the Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho yesterday appeared before the Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation Committee chaired by Kangongo Bowen to present the State Department’s estimates of revenue and expenditures for the next financial year. They outlined the Department’s continued focus on key areas despite the challenges faced during budget rationalization. The State Department emphasized its commitment to implementing Presidential Directives and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Among the key targets are the expansion of major irrigation schemes such as Bura, Mwea, and Lower Kuja, increasing land under irrigation through national programmes, equipping public schools with irrigation infrastructure, enhancing water storage through dam construction, and advancing strategic dam and irrigation projects across the country. Committee members sought clarification on several issues, including the completion and monitoring of previous projects, sustainability of school-based micro-irrigation, and the impact of government support on public-private partnerships.
John Kamau