The County Government of Lamu has embarked on murraming of Lake Side road that will open up the 2.7 kilometers Mpeketoni boys to Lake Kenyatta road.
The road which had some impassable sections during rainy season is currently undergoing routine maintenance that involves heavy bush clearing, grading, murraming and compacting.
Speaking while commissioning the construction, Lamu Deputy Governor H.E Raphael Munyua said Governor Timamy’s administration will remain keen on improving road networks to stimulate increased opening of accessible roads in Lamu county.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
A delegation from Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) has this morning paid a courtesy call to Lamu Governor H.E Issa Timamy H.S.C in his Mokowe office, to discuss on areas of possible collaboration between civilians and military personnel in order to prevent, minimize, and remedy civilian harm in operation zones.
The Governor recognized the role played by CIVIC in bringing together civilians and armed actors with an aim of improving the protection of civilians.
“ Lamu County remains committed to support CIVIC and any other player towards ensuring locals in highly operational areas like Boni are protected whenever armed actors are carrying out their operations” the A.N.C party leader stated.
The Governor further emphasized the need for CIVIC to train the military in civilian protection adding that most civilians are in fear to interact with the armed actors because of victimization and harassment.
Military Advisor, Julius Minyori, said CIVIC is ready to work with Governor Timamy’s administration on issues of peace building and promoting civilian/ military relations. According to the retired military advisor there is need for civilians and the military to have a good relationship since this makes military operations successful, fosters collaboration and makes information sharing easier.
John Okanga, CIVIC Community Engagement Manager, Phoebe Cherono, CIVIC Community Engagement Officer, were also present. The Lamu County team was led by Director Disaster Management, Shee Kupi and Fatma Bwanaheri Public participation and Civic Education Officer.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
Lamu County Government has announced plans to construct a KSh100 million cotton ginnery in Mpeketoni as part of the governments plan to revive cotton farming.
Lamu County Governor H.E Issa Timamy H.S.C, said the ginnery will be set up in partnership with Thika Cloth Mills at Mpeketoni and is expected to have an output capacity to process 20,000 metric tonnes of cotton fibre annually.
The A.N.C Party leader who was accompanied by his Deputy H.E Raphael Munyua further noted towards supporting the agricultural recovery path, his administration will be introducing annual Mpeketoni Agricultural Show to guarantee an expansive networking and interactions with foremost stakeholders in the industry. He further promised to invite the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture to Lamu for a public participation on policies to do with cotton in Lamu.
Thika Cloth Mills Managing Director Ms. Tejal Dodhia, lauded the Governor’s initiative and committed to have the ginnery completed by December 2023. She further assured the farmers that they will partner with the county to ensure they get certified high yield seeds at the right planting season.
This year the Lamu County Government with development partners will give 8 tonnes of cotton seed to over 6,000 farmers which is an increase from 4 tonnes that were given last year.
Towards reviving the agricultural sector in Lamu the governor committed to ensure his administration sets up a fish processing and cashew nut processing plants that will in turn encourage farmers to increase their production and significantly increase their household income.
In attendance was County Director for Agriculture Mr. James Njoroge, Agriculture And Food Authority representative Mr. Fanuel Lubanga, and representatives from Lake Kenyatta Famers Cooperative, Witu Muungano cooperative, Hindi Magogoni Farmers Cooperative and Lamu County Cotton Growers.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
Council of Governors led by the Chair Blue economy Committee H.E Issa Timamy, on Saturday held a meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to discuss legislative challenges in the agriculture sector & how both institutions can lobby for better funding for devolved functions.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy H.S.C has today visited and consoled families that were affected by last night’s inferno that razed down 10 houses and left dozens of families displaced at Manyatta, Lake Side in Bahari Ward.
The A.N.C party leader, who was accompanied by his Deputy H.E Raphael Munyua together with nominated M.C.A Aisha Abdulrahman said the County Government of Lamu will aide the victims with food supplies as well as assist them to rebuild their lives. He further noted that the County government is set to employ disaster management officers across the county who will be addressing such calamities to prevent such losses.
The inferno was caused by a burning doum palm that spread fire to the thatched houses.
The governor’s visit comes a day after the area M.C.A visited the victims and assured them that as a legislator he is committed to work with Governor Timamy’s administration to ensure that the county establishes a functional disaster management system.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
The County Government of Lamu in partnership with World Bank-funded Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program (KCSAP), have today handed out 21 freezers and over 500 bucks and heifers to 38 interest groups in Bahari and Witu wards in a move meant to boost dairy and fish farming across the county.
Speaking during the event, Lamu County C.E.C.M Agriculture Hon. James Gichu said the smallholder livestock beneficiary groups, received the heifers, bucks and freezers following a training to equip them with skills on successful dairy and fish farming organized by the county government in partnership with KCSAP.
The C.E.C.M further assured farmers that Lamu County Government under Governor Issa Timamy H.S.C, will continue to encourage collaboration with like minded development partners that will help to push Lamu’s dairy farming development agenda.
“The County government of Lamu under the stewardship of H.E Issa Timamy will remain steadfast towards enhancing food security and rural poverty eradication through improved disposable income to smallholder agro-pastoral households” said Hon. Gichu.
Addressing the farmer group members during the distribution exercise KCSAP County Program coordinator, Steven Mbuvi, urged the groups to preserve the livestock for posterity and not seek short-term benefits.
Lamu County is among the 24 Counties earmarked to benefit from the KCSAP project that had stalled over a year ago, which is a Government of Kenya project jointly supported by the World Bank which aims to increase agricultural productivity and enhance resilience to climate change risks in select targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya
Today’s event was held at Bahari, and Witu wards respectively. Next week the countywide exercise will be rolled out in Faza where over 3,000 small holder dairy and poultry farmers will be targeted to benefit from the program.
In attendance were officials from Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program (KCSAP), State Department of Agriculture and Lamu County Government officials .
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) through Bandari College, will soon start offering maritime related courses in partnership with Lamu County Government at Lamu County Command Center Mokowe.
Speaking while hosting the K.M.A delegation, Governor Timamy, who is also the Council of Governors’ Blue Economy Chair, lauded the country’s maritime regulator in its commitment into offering specialised training in Maritime Transport and Logistics (MTL)
“The establishment of a satellite college in Mokowe will ensure our youths from as far as Kiunga don’t travel outside the county to pursue maritime courses. My administration will also facilitate K.M.A towards establishment of an administration block next to our Mokowe command center” Governor Timamy said.
The A.N.C party leader further noted that the initiative to offer maritime courses is in tandem with the National Government and the Council of Governors’ vision to tap into the Blue Economy activities. The county will further support and facilitate fishermen towards training and achieving the pre requisite maritime certification.
Head of K.M.A delegation Chairman Mr. Khamis Mwaguya thanked Governor Timamy for his unrelenting effort towards ensuring youths have access to maritime training that will build a better maritime conscious nation and also foster in broadening their career opportunities.
Fisheries C.E.C.M Hon. Faiz Fankupi underscored that the courses will empower the youths who have been living below expectations due proper exposure to the maritime environment, lack of understanding of the maritime sector as well as limited funding of appropriate initiatives.
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For more information contact: Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W has this afternoon visited Lamu County 2022 top K.C.P.E candidate at their home in Bahari Ward.
The Governor personally went to congratulate Ngaruiya Peter Mburu for his exemplary performance after he emerged as the top county student with 413 marks.
Ngaruiya who sat for his K.C.P.E at Lake Kenyatta Primary School thanked the Governor for having visited them and promised to do his best once he joins secondary school. He further noted that despite coming from a less privileged family he was not deterred from achieving his goals.
The Governor promised Ngaruiya that he will be enrolled under the county full scholarship program that will see the government cater for his tuition fees for the next four years. The governor also noted that he would ensure bursary funds are available for needy students.
The governor was accompanied by Education C.E.C.M Hon. Sebastian Owanga and Bahari Ward M.C.A Hon. Francis Gakonga.
Lamu Governor H.E Issa Timamy E.G.H in company of Coast Province Regional Commissioner John Elungata and other heads of security are currently in Taa Village, near Pandanguo in Witu to access the security status and condone with the residents following a suspected Alshabab attack that left two people dead and a house torched.
The Governor has assured the residents of Witu division and Lamu West that the security agencies are already working on unraveling those behind this heinous crime. He has further appealed for calm and understanding of the people and asked the security agencies to ensure those behind the attack are made to face the full weight of the law.
R.C Mr. John Elungata, assured residents of their security saying both the military and police have put in place mechanisms to ensure the safety of those in isolated areas.
The attack is said to have been orchestrated on Sunday evening.
Also in attendance is County Commissioner Mr. Irungu Macharia, Police Commander Mr. Moses Muriithi among others.
Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Salim Mvurya has called on Kenyans to plant more trees as a way of mitigating the effects of climate change.
Speaking in Witu where 56,000 trees will be planted in line with the Presidential directive to plant 1.5 million trees a year and 15 million trees in 10 years, C.S Mvurya emphasized the trees being planted today will benefit future generations as they will stabilize the soil and protect the county’s biodiversity.
The C.S emphasized on environmental conservation as a key pointer in providing a healthy environment, and called on the involvement of members of the community in environmental conservation. “With Lamu enjoying a colossal forest cover and being ranked the third county with the biggest forest cover in Kenya, today’s reforestation exercise will go a long way in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change like drought and floods in Lamu county” Stated C.S Mvurya and further urged residents to conserve the trees.
Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy thanked the C.S for marking the noble day in Lamu and also urged members of the public to engage more in tree planting exercises, adding that such activities also serve to raise awareness and integrate conservation and environmental protection. “Todays exercise on environmental conservation and the transformation focuses on the need to mitigate against climate change, with emphasis on trees and forests, which play an essential role in mitigating the impact of climate change” Governor Timamy said. The A.N.C party leader also committed to Lamu residents that his administration would be giving farmers improved coconut and cashew-nut seedlings as part of his key pillar on empowerment of farmers and making Lamu food secure.
Towards opening up opportunities and making Lamu an economic hub, the Cabinet Secretary committed to work together with the Council of Governors Blue Economy Committee Chair, to ensure they set up a modern fish processing plant in Mokowe, operationalize all aspects LAPPSET adding that these are some of the critical economic stimulus programs for Lamu.
On his part Lamu Deputy Governor H.E. Raphael Munyua thanked the Cabinet Secretary and the Governor for launching the tree planting exercise Lamu chapter and noted that the tree planting initiative was to contribute to the conservation of the water towers and an effort to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Also in attendance during the launch of the countywide tree planting program at Maisha Masha in Witu Ward were County Commissioner Mr. Irungu Macharia, Assistant County Commisoner, C.E.C.M’s Witu O.C.S, officials from K.W.S, N.Y.S, KEFRI, World Bank, Dedan Kimathi Foundation among others.