The Independent Gas Dealers Association of Kenya and the Red Cross have partnered to provide aid and support to the victims of the recent gas explosion at Embakasi in Nairobi.
Speaking at the event, the Association’s Chairperson Yusuf Adan announced that as a part of social response, they will make a contribution of KSh400, 000 to the Red Cross organization in the much needed effort to support victims.
Together with other board members, Adan also pledged direct cash donations to the tune of KSh1.5 million to victims for food, blankets and essential commodities.
He pledged to collaborate with government agencies like EPRA to eliminate illegal gas dealers and ensure strict adherence to regulatory guidelines and safety standards.
In his remarks, Joe Mbalu, Deputy Secretary General Kenya Red Cross assured the affected citizens that the organization is working in real time to unite families and distribute aid.
“Red Cross and other stakeholders are working hand in hand to provide medical and psychological assistance since we recognize the traumatic nature of this event,” said Mbalu.
The duo encouraged Kenyans to donate the much-needed blood provisions at any government hospital to aid the injured undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Nairobi.
Further, they sent condolences to those who lost their loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The government is launching a campaign targeting schools to increase the number of girls aged 9–14 who receive the Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) vaccination.
Public health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has said HPV vaccination for the girls is aimed at preventing cervical cancer at a time when the country is registering an alarming 42, 000 cases of cancer every year.
However, the PS said HPV vaccine gives immunity to the girls and protects them from getting cervical cancer when they grow up.
Speaking during a free cancer screening medical camp at Raimu Primary School in Kianyaga Town, Gichugu Sub County, Muthoni said the country was registering 27, 000 cancer deaths every year, thus the need to intensify the prevention measures.
“I would like to urge people below the age of 40 to get screened, since they are at the production stage, and the earlier they get screened, the better we are able to manage any traces of cancer,” she said.
The PS said that the ministry has taken the global strategy approach of 70:90:70, where 70% of the girls aged 9 to 14 years are vaccinated, 90% of women are screened for cancer for early detection and 70% of the identified cases are treated.
She also expressed support for the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), stating that it will offer cures for most ailments.
“When we start using SHIF, you will get treatment from both private and public hospitals. We also have a primary care fund that will cater to community clinics and primary care providers in the county,” she added.
The Turkana County Department of Health and Sanitation has deliberated on how to boost immunization uptake by reducing gender barriers.
This follows dissemination of findings from a research conducted in Turkana West by PATH Living Labs through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The research aimed to understand gender barriers in the community related to immunization and decision-making.
During the dissemination meeting, County Expanded Program on Immunization Focal Person, Daniel Erus said that the county government has intensified routine immunization targeting the under five-year-old children with zero doses, Measles-Rubella 1 and 2, and Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescent girls aged 10 to 14 years.
“Currently fully immunized coverage stands at 65%, implying we need to put more effort to reach the World Health Organisation recommended 80% target,” he said.
County Gender-based Violence Coordinator, Shadrack Elim, pointed out that conducting gender analysis allows for the development of interventions that address gender inequalities and meet the diverse needs of men and women.
PATH Team Lead, Dr. Chris Okumu said that the organisation was willing to work with the county government on male engagement in health matters 
Hass Land price index for the fourth quarter of 2023 showed that the average price of an acre across the City’s suburbs, has grown at the fastest pace since 2015.
In a press statement, HassConsult noted that the quarterly price increase of 3.3 percent was the highest since the First Quarter of 2015, offering the best sign yet that the property sector in the City is recovering from the dip occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fourteen out of the 18 suburbs recorded positive price movement in the quarter, as Muthaiga, Ridgeways and Loresho stood out in quarterly price growth at 3.7 percent, 3.6 percent and 3.1 percent respectively.
“Instructively also, the average price per acre in the suburbs has now crossed the Sh200 million mark, helped by fast rise of prices in areas such as Langata, Ridgeways, Loresho, Muthangari, which offer a mix of affordability, ease of access and mixed use zoning,” said Ms Sakina Hassanali, Head of Development Consulting and Research at HassConsult.
In Nairobi’s satellite towns, prices went up by 3.7 percent in the quarter, the fastest growth since the Second Quarter of 2022.
Satellite towns that are served by better access infrastructure along the Thika Road, Mombasa Road and Ngong Road arteries continued with their steady price growth on both quarterly and annual basis, led by Syokimau, Ngong and Ruiru.
“Kiambu, which has recently perceived overpricing on high speculation, jumped to the head of the queue in quarterly price growth at 9.4 percent, pointing to renewed demand from investors looking to take advantage of the price stagnation seen in previous months,” noted Hassanali.
On an annual basis, land prices in the suburbs rose by 4.0 percent as satellite towns saw a price gain of 9.3 percent, which was marginally better than the growth of 9.0 percent recorded in 2022.
Growth of land prices in satellite towns continues to outpace that of suburbs on higher demand as the cost per acre is within reach of more commercial and private developers.
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