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KWS nationwide recruitment scheduled for 15th – 19th April

The Kenya Wildlife Service is scheduled to carry out a five-day nationwide recruitment exercise from Monday 15th to Friday 19th of April 2024.

The nationwide exercise plans to recruit 150 Cadets (Assistant Warden I) and 1,350 Rangers.

“The Service operates in remote environment and seeks to recruit 1,500 young and dynamic individuals as Cadets (Assistant Warden I) – 150 and Rangers – 1,350 who can endure the condition of training and deployment to various conservation areas in response to the wildlife protection challenges currently being experienced in the country,” read the recruitment notice from KWS.

In the Coast region, the recruitment exercise will take place in the following order:
Monday 15th – Lamu at Mokowe Airstrip
Tuesday 16th – Tana River at Hola Stadium
Wednesday 17th – Kilifi at Karisa Maitha Stadium
Thursday 18th – Mombasa at Mombasa ASK Show Ground and Taita Taveta at Voi Stadium
Friday 19th – Kwale at Kwale County Stadium

Below are the requirements for those applying to be Cadets (Assistant Warden I):
Be a citizen of Kenya
Holder of a Bachelor’s degree minimum second class honors lower division in Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, Range Management, Veterinary Medicine, Criminology and Security Management, Sociology, or Community Development from a recognized institution
Be 28 years and below
Be of good health and physique
Have no criminal record
Successful candidates will be required to undergo mandatory paramilitary training for a period of nine (9) months and thereafter be deployed to the field

Requirements for those applying to be rangers:
Be a Citizen of Kenya
Hold a Kenya Identity Card or Passport
Hail from the County of recruitment
Possess a mean grade of D (Plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination or its equivalent from an examination body recognized in Kenya
Be aged between 18 and 26 years
Be physically and Medically fit
Have no criminal record
Successful candidates will be required to undergo mandatory paramilitary training for a period of six (6) months and thereafter be deployed to the field.

Prospective applicants will obtain an application from the nearest KWS National Park Station or download it through the KWS website www.kws.go.ke.

They are expected to fill out the application and attach copies of their relevant academic and professional certificates, and national ID Card/Passport and submit the complete application form together with the attachments either in hard or soft copy (for cadets) or carry it with them to the recruitment centers (for rangers).

Mvita MP building additional classes in preparation for Grade 9

Mvita MP Mohamed Soud Machele. He says Mombasa will support Joho to be the next ODM head./COURTESY

Funds have been allocated to build classes for grade nine, especially in Mvita schools that need classrooms.

This is according to Mvita Member of Parliament Mohamed Soud Machele.

Speaking while issuing bursary cheques to secondary school students, the Mvita legislature said the sub-county was building additional classes in preparation for grade nine learners next year.

“Next year, 2025, there will be no form ones. Learners will be transitioning to grade nine, and our schools are many but do not have grade nine classes. We have started building the classes because if we wait around, our children will study under trees in 2025,” said Machele.

He said they have reports that there are schools with a lot of children, for example, Sparki, Tom Mboya, St. Augustine, Mvita, etc,” said Machele.

“We have allocated funds to ensure we add two classrooms (for two grade nine streams) in Tom Mboya Pri Sch, four classes in Central Girls, a lab and two classrooms for Sparki pri sch, and three classrooms Mvita pri sch,” said Machele.

Also Read: Over 5000 secondary school students get bursaries in Mvita

“We have built additional classrooms for Serani Special School and allocated one million shillings to buy furniture. Ziwani School for the Deaf also needs two classrooms for grade nine,” he added.

Meanwhile, Al Farsy Secondary will get a 51-seater bus as a gift for producing 50 university students following the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results.

“We are also building laboratories in Makupa and Mvita Boys,” said Machele.

Over 5000 secondary school students get bursaries in Mvita

Mvita MP Mohamed Soud Machele with students during the bursarY cheques issuance at Ronald Ngala Primary School Grounds./COURTESY

Over 5,000 students from Mvita Constituency have received bursaries totalling sh.44 million.

Speaking during the issuance of the bursaries at Ronald Ngala Primary School Grounds, Mvita Member of Parliament Mohamed Soud Machele said 250 students who scored over 350 marks in last years Kenya Certificate of Primary Education got sh.15k each in bursaries.

“The provision of quality education to our rapidly growing youthful population is fundamental to the success of our Socio-Economic Development Blueprint. We are fulfilling our promise to the people of Mvita Constituency to provide access to quality and affordable education,” said Machele.

The Mvita legislature also promised parents to work with school heads to find a way to reduce school fees that is burdening parents.

“Parents are paying sh.20k school fees, capitation coming from Nairobi is sh.20k which totals to sh.40k. Out of the sh.20k parents pay, sh.5,000 goes to paying Board of Management (BOM) teachers because the number of teachers we get from the Ministry of Education is not enough. The remaining sh.15k goes to what your child eats 165 school days, which is around sh.95-100 daily,” said Machele.

“There’s an NGO in Nairobi ‘Food for Education’ that the Governor has partnered with in the ECDE feeding program. We want to bring them on board to see how the children can eat at a cheaper price. So if I give you a bursary of sh.6,000, the Governor gives you sh.6,000 then you pay sh.1,000 for the BOM funds,” he added.

However, the Mvita MP called on parents to take responsibility of and be more involved in their children’s education.

He cautioned them against depending on politicians for everything, saying the tough economic times was affecting everyone.

“Some parents want politicians to give them fare for their children to go to school, buy their children uniform and pocket money, they want a politician to do everything when his salary is not even enough for him. This also leads to corruption because a politician will try to do anything to get money. The situation is difficult for everyone, so take responsibility then we will help where we can,” said Machele.

Also Read: Mvita MP building additional classes in preparation for Grade 9

Meanwhile, the former Mama Ngina Girls premises is in the process of being registered as a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) center.

MP Machele said the presence of a TVET institution in the constituency will help deal with unemployent in the sub-county.

“We wanted Mama Ngina to be made a TVET because 70 percent of our learners don’t perform well for university. So a vocational training center is better to train them on different skills that they can use day to day to earn a living,” he said.

Champions League quarter-finals: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich and Manchester City vs Real Madrid

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UEFA Champions League draw. PHOTO: FILE

Arsenal have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, while Manchester City will play 14-time winners Real Madrid.

The Gunners will host German side Bayern, who have England captain Harry Kane in their squad, at Emirates Stadium in the first leg.

Meanwhile, this is the third successive season City, who won last year’s title, have met Real in the knockout stages.

The first legs take place 9-10 April, with the second legs on 16-17 April.

Both City and Arsenal play their first-leg fixtures on 9 April, with the Gunners at home to Bayern and Pep Guardiola’s side at the Bernabeu.

The return legs take place on 17 April, with the two Premier League sides facing each other in the semi-finals if they win their respective ties.

In the other ties, five-time winners Barcelona will play French champions Paris St-Germain, while Atletico Madrid, who are fourth in La Liga, host German opposition Borussia Dortmund.

The semi-finals will be held on 30 April and 1 May, with the second legs a week later on 7-8 May.

Wembley Stadium will host this year’s final on Saturday, 1 June.

Short presentational grey line

Quarter-finals draw

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund

Paris St-Germain v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Manchester City

 

Semi-finals draw

Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund v PSG  or Barcelona

Arsenal or Bayern Munich v Real Madrid or Manchester City

 

Story courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports

PYN carry out training to strengthen safeguarding measures

Community-Based Organization Pwani Youth Network carried out training on safeguarding to strengthen safeguarding measures and policies in the organization.

In a groundbreaking two-day safeguarding capacity-building training, the critical importance of safeguarding took center stage.

“Safeguarding are the measures put in place to protect individuals, assets, and everyone from harm, damage, or even loss. It includes policies and practices that are there to ensure the well-being and safety of people and resources,” said Saumu Hussein, Pwani Youth Network Project Officer.

“For an organization like PYN, since we are working in a community, and work with children and vulnerable groups in the community, it is important that we learn and get to understand what safeguarding is,” she added.

During a capacity-building initiative led by Shared Services Platform (SSP) in 2023, the Lack of integration of safeguarding practices and policies into daily operations was among the gaps prevalent in CBOs and NGOs.

The process reviewed the policies and processes of identified local CBOs and NGOs.

“Safeguarding role should be played by everyone. it is not just about identifying concerns but also creating a culture where safeguarding is prioritized and everyone feels empowered to speak up,” said Saumu after the PYN training.

Others identified in 2023 include gaps in governance which underscored the critical need for bolstering the capacity of board members and key decision-making staff, along with the establishment of comprehensive governance structures.

There was also the absence of thoroughly documented safeguarding measures which underlined the urgent need for more robust and compliant safeguarding frameworks.

“Addressing these pivotal areas not only ensures adherence to legal and ethical standards but also cultivates a secure and nurturing environment for all stakeholders, thereby enhancing organizational integrity and well-being,” read a communique from Global Development Incubator (GDI Africa).

“The training was very important for us as an organization as we now understand what we need to do and also help us plan on how we are going to put our policies and measures in place,” said PYN Project Officer Saumu Hussein.

Speaking after the training, Derrick Omondi from PYN said the training had enlightened him on some of the measures to take when working with children in terms of safeguarding.

Derrick said “I always knew that children need to be safeguarded but had no idea on the extent the safeguarding should be. The training opened my mind to different ways to avoid having a negative impact when working with children, the community, and others.”

The two-day PYN training held in February under GDI Africa was facilitated by Peter Ouma Muga, a governance, human resources, and safeguarding expert.

“In an era where safeguarding, the prevention from abuse, exploitation, and neglect, has become an increasingly prominent global concern, particularly within the development sector, ensuring compliance has never been more crucial,” said Peter Ouma.

On day one, the focus was on laying the foundation with robust institutional governance policies and procedures aimed at preemptively addressing and managing safeguarding issues across diverse organizational functions.

Day two ushered in a deeper exploration into sports safeguarding, delving into the nuances of protecting participants in sports programs.

“This was particularly relevant for initiatives like PYN’s Education through Sports (Edu-Sports) and PLAY program, which aim to empower coaches and youth in recognizing and honing their talents,” said Peter.

“At the heart of sports safeguarding lies the implementation of tailored policies, procedures, and support mechanisms designed to navigate the unique dynamics of the sports environment. It encompasses proactive measures to prevent incidents and prompt responses to any safeguarding concerns, ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of athletes, coaches, staff, and all individuals involved in sporting activities,” he added.

SUPKEM, CIPK leaders fault government for politicizing Ramadan food donations

SUPKEM Mombasa Chair Athman Ali Akbar during a press briefing in Mombasa./COURTESY

Mombasa Muslim clerics have faulted the national government for allegedly using Ramadan food donations to gain political mileage in the county.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, the clerics, drawn from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), said distribution of the food should be done by the two bodies and not politicians.

“Every year during the holy month of Ramadan, the government provides food for needy Muslims who are fasting. This year, they have also done the same but we are told that the food will be distributed by politicians,” said SUPKEM Mombasa Chair, Athman Ali Akbar.

SUPKEM and CIPK say the food is usually distributed by the two bodies as they have all the necessary data on the mosques, orphans, and needy families in all sub-counties.

“We followed all due process and wrote a letter to the County Commissioner in January requesting for the food, and already had an agreement with the then County Commissioner but then the reshuffle happened. So when the new Commissioner came we did the same and sent our request again,” said Athman.

“We were at the County Commissioner’s office today to enquire but what he told us was that following orders from Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza, the food will only be released for distribution to Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali and Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi, both from Kenya Kwanza,” he added.

The Mombasa SUPKEM Chair added that the move was a show of disrespect to religious leaders, especially Muslim leaders.

His sentiments were echoed by CIPK Mombasa Organizing Secretary Sheikh Mahmoud Abdillahi who questioned the criteria in which politicians will distribute the food.

“We want the distribution to go back to SUPKEM and CIPK. What if you are in need but do not support Kenya Kwanza or the said politician, will I be denied food?” questioned Sheikh Mahmoud.

According to the leaders, it is only in Mombasa that the food distribution has been delayed and is being done by politicians.

“Other counties already received and have distributed the food. We want to tell the national government that if they decide to give the food to politicians then they should not expect us to take part in the distribution,” said Sheikh Mahmoud.

“We will only distribute the food when we get it directly from the County Commissioner,” he added.

Their complaints come even as Muslims continue with their fast.

40,000 vulnerable families to get Ramadan food provisions

Packaging of 40,000 bags of provisions to be distributed to vulnerable families countrywide by Bulk Stream and Jaffer Foundatio./COURTESY

At least 40,000 families are set to benefit from food donations during this Ramadan period.

The food distribution program organized by Bulk Stream Limited and the Jaffer Foundation will see 40,000 vulnerable families from across the country receive essential food items during this Ramadan season.

“We are hoping and praying that this humble gesture will go a long way to alleviate and cushion very many needy Kenyans during these tough economic times,” said Bulk Stream Deputy CEO Solomon Ondego.

“We are extending our effort of compassion and solidarity in keeping up with this holy month of Ramadan,” he added.

The month’s worth provisions that include staple food items such as wheat, maize flour, rice, beans, sugar, porridge, salt, tea leaves, dates, and cooking oil will be distributed to vulnerable families in Mombasa, Tana River, Lamu, North Eastern, Taita Taveta, parts of Nairobi and other regions.

“This not only helps to lessen the financial burden on these marginalized families but also serves as a reminder of the importance of spreading kindness and generosity, especially during this particular month,” said Yusuf Jiwa from the Jaffer Foundation.

Ondego and Jiwa urged other companies, institutions, and individuals to also do their part in giving during this period of Ramadan.

UNHCR Ramadan campaign to help refugees at Dadaab Camp

Dadaab refugee camp./COURTESY

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a Ramadan Campaign to help displaced families living in Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp.

The UN Refugee Agency has partnered with the private sector to help raise funds for upgrading shelter and sanitation facilities at the Dadaab Refugee Camp during the Ramadan season.

Speaking during the launch, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner, Kelly Clements, called on Kenyans and businesses to join UNHCR and other partners to help those who are in most need.

“I am delighted to be in Nairobi to help kickstart the 2024 Ramadan Campaign with our key private sector partners and faith leaders. This year, the campaign aims to raise funds to support water and shelter needs for thousands of families currently residing in Dadaab Refugee Camp. Campaigns such as this one provide a much-needed lifeline for individuals who have been forced to flee and communities hosting them,” said Clements.

The drive is looking to raise sh.41,850,000 ($300,000) to enable UNHCR and other partners to continue providing clean water to refugees and host community members in Dadaab Camp, in addition to providing shelter kits to the most vulnerable families.

“We have witnessed tremendous support for last year’s campaign, enabling us to ensure access to water for more than 100,000 people living in Dadaab,” said the UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner.

Funds raised through last year’s campaign in Kenya enabled UNHCR to maintain seven out of the 22 existing boreholes in Dadaab through quick replacement of submersible pumps, overall maintenance, and security costs for those seven boreholes. This ensured the operational continuity of boreholes and sustained water supply.

Safaricom, Dubai Islamic Bank Kenya, Eastleigh Business Community, and Khoja community have already joined the initiative.

“At DIB Bank Kenya, we recognize the importance of providing much-needed assistance to those who have been forced to leave everything behind and rebuild their lives. By supporting UNHCR’s vital work, we are reaffirming our commitment to making a positive impact on global humanitarian issues,” said Mary Kanuku, DIB Bank’s Head of Treasury.

The Dadaab Refugee Camp hosts 335,000 refugees, the vast majority from Somalia.

UNHCR runs the annual Ramadan campaign in Kenya to facilitate Sadaqah and Zakat contributions to support refugees and host communities in the Dadaab refugee camp.

“Half of those refugees, those displaced people around the globe are coming from countries that are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and 44% here from the continent. So this is a very important collaboration for us; it is a necessary collaboration,” said UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner, Kelly Clements.

“It builds on what UNHCR has now done for the last five years. We established in 2019 a refugee Islamic fund (Refugee Zakat Fund), it allowed us in a safe, effective, and compliant way to be able to accept zakat and sadaqah to assist eligible most vulnerable refugees and IDPs,” she added.

Kenya has been hosting refugees for more than three decades. There are currently more than 710,000 refugees living in the country, the majority living in refugee camps in Turkana and Garissa Counties.

Mass distribution of Mosquito nets to kick-off in Mombasa

Two children sleeping under the net photo: courtesy

Mombasa County will start the distribution of mosquito nets on 20th March to fight malaria.

Mombasa County Director of Clinical Health Dr. Mohammed Hanif said they hope for a seamless distribution exercise targeting many households.

“We urge mwananchi to sleep under the net to prevent malaria and other diseases caused by mosquitoes,” he said.

Dr. Hanif added that the nets are already in respective sub-counties waiting for distribution exercise.

He urged community leaders, media, and community health promoters to mobilize Kenyans to pick the nets once the campaign kicks off.

The mosquito net distribution campaign will last four days from the 20th to the 24th of March.

942,284 nets will be distributed in the five sub-counties including; Likoni, Mvita, Jomvu, Changamwe and Kisauni.

The number of registered households surpassed the targeted number according to Dr Hanif who said they have had to ask for more nets from Kwale County.

” In terms of population, we targeted 1.3 million people but 1.7 million registered. This is due to several factors from exaggerations by locals on number of inhabitants in their houses, to our health promoters entering wrong data.However, we will ensure we distribute nets to all who registered”, he added.

Kisauni sub-county has the highest number of people who registered for nets with Mvita recording the least.

According to Mombasa County Malaria Control Coordinator Fatma Dulu, most residents of Mvita declined to register saying they already have nets.

“We will distribute those nets to other areas in need,” she said.

Dulu said only registered beneficiaries will receive their nets from the MOH, County project.

Likoni sub-county is currently leading in malaria cases in the County.

Safaricom launches “Grow with Safaricom Business” to empower MSMEs

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Safaricom PLC has launched the “Grow with Safaricom Business” engagement platform for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that will offer them an opportunity for knowledge-sharing and collaboration in order to scale their businesses.

The engagement forums will be held through a series of workshops and seminars throughout the year where MSMEs will exchange ideas on how they can leverage digital technologies to enhance their market reach, streamline operations, and create a strong brand presence online.

Additionally, experts will provide guidance on navigating regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and sustainable growth.

“As Safaricom we recognize the vital role that MSMEs play in driving economic growth and prosperity in Kenya. Through the Grow with Safaricom Business series, we aim to empower MSMEs with the knowledge and skills that can help them to sustainably accelerate their growth and overcome challenges such as digitization of their operations, limited access to markets, regulatory barriers, brand building, and a lack of digital marketing skills,” said Cynthia Kropac, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Safaricom.

In addition to educational sessions, the forum will provide ample networking opportunities for MSMEs to connect with peers, industry experts, and potential partners.

“We want to grow this series to offer an opportunity for MSMEs to leverage on our extensive network, experience, and commitment to innovation to grow and thrive in this digital era,” said Ms. Kropac.

Safaricom offers business solutions such as Business Voice, Data and SMS, Cloud Solutions, Cybersecurity Solutions, Internet for Business, Internet of Things (IoT), M-Pesa for Business, Cloud Solutions among others.