A team working on the Implementation and Coordination Framework on the Chief Justice (Rtd) David Maraga Taskforce Report on Reforms in the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and the National Youth Service (NYS) has identified four strategic key areas for implementation.
The team aims to provide an integrated approach to reform priorities and strengthen the three security agencies to deliver effective and efficient services to the citizenry.
The four areas identified are leadership, oversight, and accountability, institutional capacity development, human resource management and development, and operational preparedness and logistical capacity.
The strategic framework considers the Kenya Constitution, Kenya Vision 2030, the Fourth Medium-Term Plan 2023–2027, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the East Africa Community Vision 2050.
The team will also implement modernization projects, automate human resource functions, enhance gender mainstreaming, prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence, enforce professional standards, provide training, provide human rights protection, and develop comprehensive welfare policies.
The Vice Chairperson of the parliamentary committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity, Liz Chelule, has assured residents of Homabay County that their views will not be ignored by the National Assembly.
Chelule, who is also the Women Representative for Nakuru County, assured the residents that their views would not be shot down by MPs.
“Your views will not be shot down by MPs. We are a recognised committee; the findings of this committee will be respected, and that is why we are here; that is why we have come to collect your views,” she said.
The bill aims to ensure equity for Kenyans, citizens, people living with disabilities, youth, and tribes, aiming to unite the country.
The committee was present at a public hearing on the national cohesion and integration bill.
Murang’a County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha leads other national government administration officers to plant trees at Gatare Forest in Aberdares.
Murang’a County aims to plant 134 million seedlings by 2032, with over six million seedlings already planted.
The administrator has directed all local chiefs and their assistants to have tree nurseries within their areas of jurisdiction, saying officers from KFS will train them on how to establish the nurseries.
The affordable housing project Thika town is 20 per cent complete, with seven out of the 16 floors already completed
The project is expected to be completed by July next year, with more houses set to be constructed in the Starehe, Deport, and UTI estates.
Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a and site engineer Miles Mwangi said the project is expected to be handed over to the government by July.
The project is expected to improve livelihoods by sourcing doors, windows, and timber from local carpenters and welders.
The legislator called on residents to take advantage of the project and own a house, stating that the demand is high and they need to register early.
Eng. Mwangi, while noting that they are on track to complete the project on time.
Narok County aims to plant over 2.5 million tree seedlings by the end of the year to conserve the environment.
Governor Patrick Ntutu announced that 1.5 million trees have been grown in various parts of the county, thanks to development partners who collaborated with the county and national government.
He encouraged residents to continue planting trees in their homes, schools, churches, and government offices to avoid mudslides and floods during heavy rain seasons.
Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia emphasised the need for tree nurseries in every location to help the government purchase tree seedlings.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has urged residents to refrain from charcoal burning, citing it as the primary cause of environmental degradation.
She urged authorities to take action against residents found cutting trees for charcoal burning.
The governor also called on residents to use alternative energy sources, saying, “I call upon residents to use modern energy-saving jikos to curb deforestation. As a county, we have already distributed close to 2,000 such jikos as a way of curbing charcoal burning,” said Wavinya.
She called on schools and institutions of learning to support efforts in tree-planting: “I call upon schools and other institutions of learning to come on board and back up our efforts through spearheading trees growing across the county.”
Bamburi Cement PLC has partnered with E-Manage Africa and Seed Balls Kenya to plant 13,000 trees in Haller Park, Mombasa, in line with World Environment Day’s theme of land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.
The initiative aims to reduce Bamburi Cement PLC’s ecological footprint and contribute to the restoration of vital ecosystems.
Bamburi Cement PLC Director of Sustainability and Geocyle Jane Wangari highlighted the company’s strides towards digitising its processes and the synergy between technology and environmental stewardship.
The newly established forest cover, ‘Forest Ecosafi’, will leverage cutting-edge seed ball planting innovation, revolutionising the process by reducing planting time and increasing output efficiency.
Wangari emphasised the long-term biodiversity value of these efforts for the city and people of Mombasa.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Director Stephen Kimutu has urged residents to protect wetlands by planting indigenous trees or pasture along riparian land.
He emphasised the importance of preserving wetlands, which provide water during dry seasons, and advised against planting eucalyptus trees along riparian land.
The Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) will provide 20,000 trees for the Singore wetlands, with 10,000 indigenous trees planted within the riparian land and 10,000 seedlings for forest plantations.
The county aims to plant 150 million trees in the next 10 years to meet the 15 billion tree target by the national government.
St. Paul’s University has planted 1,500 trees at its Limuru campus as part of its broader goal to plant 130,000 trees, contributing to Kenya’s tree cover restoration.
The university’s Vice Chancellor, Rev. Canon Prof. James Kombo, emphasised the university’s commitment to environmental preservation and the need for collaboration with local communities, leaders, and schools.
“We aim to plant about 1,500 trees today. While we are still far from restoring the 30 percent tree cover, we at St. Paul’s University are committed to achieving this goal.
The initiative aims to create more carbon sinks and reduce the greenhouse effect, with the aim of a greener future and clean air.
“To commemorate and celebrate World Environment Day, we want to think globally but act locally. We aim to plant more trees to create more carbon sinks and reduce the greenhouse effect,” said Kombo.
Uncontrolled tree harvesting in Kibwezi is causing negative impacts on climate change
The Assistant County Commissioner of Kibwezi East, Agnes Maswai, has urged locals to stop cutting trees for charcoal burning, as it has reduced rainfall and affected food security.
She urged them to consult their government officers, especially Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers, for best practices in conserving the environment.
Maswai also emphasised the need for residents to grow trees and nurture them to maturity.
Kisumu County unveils a restoration programme to address the inadequate 2% forest cover
The county plans to plant three million trees in collaboration with partners. Residents and government staff are required to plant and monitor their growth.
The county executive has developed a policy to make environmental conservation a core duty, and all county government workers will be appraised to ensure they meet their set targets.
The county government will allocate resources through the budget towards environmental management, adaptation, and mitigation programmes.
Other initiatives include establishing tree nurseries across eight sub-counties, strengthening institutional capacity, and protecting water towers.
The county is a beneficiary of the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLoCA) project, which will build resilience and climate adaptation interventions.
John Kamau