At the Mpeketoni TVET in Bahari Ward, H.E. Governor Fahim Twaha with other top County authorities and community leaders in the first ever combined graduation ceremony for Mpeketoni and Witu TVET.
Over 290 students are graduating from a variety of technical and life skill courses, including ICT, dressmaking, beauty treatment and hairdressing, hospitality, plumbing, hina painting, electrical, building and construction, carpentry, welding, and motor vehicle mechanic.
The Lamu County Government has initiated extensive TVET reforms in order to produce the technologists and craftspeople required to help Kenya and Lamu accomplish their economic goals.
To increase accessibility, Governor Fahim’s government has opened 14 satellite polytechnics throughout the county, waived fees in all of them, and expanded curricula.
H.E. Governor Fahim Twaha, along with other top County officials and community leaders, officiating the combined graduation ceremony for Lamu and Mokowe TVETs at the Lamu TVET in Lamu Island.
The majority of Lamu TVET graduates in electrical and automotive engineering, ICT, welding, plumbing, masonry, and capentry possess the core expertise necessary in LAPSSET and other infrastructure building components.
Lamu County’s effort to boost the number of graduates with technical skills reflects the national government’s desire to close the skills gap in line with Vision 2030 development goals.
At the Lamu TVET in Lamu Island, H.E Governor Fahim Twaha, along by other top County authorities and community leaders, officiating the joint graduation ceremony for Lamu and Mokowe TVET.
The Lamu County Government has implemented far-reaching reforms in the TVET sector in order to produce the technologists and craftsmen needed to help Kenya and Lamu achieve their economic aspirations.
Governor Fahim’s administration has so far opened 14 satellite polytechnics throughout the county to boost accessibility, waived fees in all of them, and extended curricula.
Four common interest groups in Faza Ward have received cashew nut inputs for improving cashew nut production as part of the initiative by the Lamu County Government in collaboration with World Bank-funded Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project .
Motorized spray pumps, knapsack pumps, pruning saws, fungicides for powdery disease mildew control, insecticides for pest control in cashew, PPEs such as gumboots, overalls, gloves, and googles for personal protection when handling pesticides, and other items were distributed to the four groups.
The beneficiary common interest groups(CiGs) are in the cashew value chain and include Mbwajumwali Youth Group, Wanati wa Tchundwa S.H Group, Tchundwa Focal Area Development Committee and Siyu’s Tawfiq Development Women Group.
Lamu County is renown for its high-quality cashews, which are farmed using organic and fair-trade methods. Mpeketoni, Witu, and Faza are three of Lamu’s main cashew nut growing areas.
Speaking at the County headquarters in Mokowe, Deputy Governor Abdulhakim Aboud, said that cashew nut processing is the next phase in the recovery of Lamu’s defunct cashew nut sector.
“Lamu will benefit from this endeavor by reviving one of its most important cash crops. The cashew sector in Lamu employs alot of people both directly and indirectly . We cannot ignore the fact that it was delt a big blow following the 12-year export embargo that forbade cashew nut farmers from exporting and selling their produce to external markets in what was seen as a measure to boost indigenous industries. Our cashew farmer population fell from 10,000 to around 3,000 as a result of this,” Hon. Aboud stated.
According to CECM Industrialization and Trade, Hon. Josephat Musembi, cashew is a good crop for investment and development support despite socio-economic challenges ranging from biophysical to technical directly or indirectly tied to production all of which the county is addressing.
“We are working on a robust trade and investment policy with the goal of attracting local agro-processing companies to take use of the Lamu Port’s potential and the presence of an Export Processing Zone (EPZ). These firms will purchase the nuts directly from our farmers, eliminating the need for middlemen who have exploited farmers in the past. Simsim and coconut are two more oil crops that the County Trade Department is targeting,”Musembi said.
On behalf of the Deputy Governor, who is also the County executive member for Fisheries, Livestock, Agriculture, and Co-operative Development, the event was overseen by KCSAP County Program Coordinator, Mr. Steven Mbuvi, officials from the department of Agriculture, and community leaders.
-Ends-
Story by: Adam Musa
For more information contact
Lamu County Communications Office at: info@lamu.go.ke
The vaccine is being administered free of charge to everyone who is 18 years and above . Please note that, full protection is only attained after one receives the recommended number of doses, that is two doses of the vaccine.
The vaccination centres in Lamu County include;
-Lamu County Hospital(King Fahd)
– Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital
-Faza Sub-County Hospital
-Witu Health Centre
-Mokowe Health Centre
– Hindi Magogoni Dispensary.
To make the process faster, those who can, are advised to pre-register on the vaccination portal; http//portal.health.go.ke
The Deputy Auditor General, Mr. David Njoka, has today started his two days official visit in Lamu County to inspect sampled development projects for the financial year ending 2020/2021 being part of the audit process.
Speaking during a courtesy call to the office of the Governor where he was received by CECM Finance, Hon. Fahima Araphat and the County Secretary Mr. John Mburu, the DAG said the visit also seeks to demystify the audit process as well as strengthen the county’s auditing internal systems and processes.
The DAG further commended Lamu County for putting up systems that have progressively improved performance as reflected by the auditor’s report.
Lamu County has progressed from a disclaimer opinion in the year 2018 to Qualified report in the year 2020.
Ends-
For more information contact;
Lamu County Communications Office at; info@lamu.go.ke
Josephat Musembi, CECM Trade and Industrialization, has urged the State Department of Livestock to prioritize Lamu County in the ongoing livestock offtake program as drought persists.
Hon. Musembi expressed concern during a consultative meeting between the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council and the Lamu County Government, that the October-December weather forecast for short rains projects below average rainfall for the eastern and northern counties, a situation that could result in massive livestock losses.
“Lamu has always been the drought fall back area, we have an influx of thousands of livestock from neighbouring counties putting more pressure to already diminishing water and pasture resources and increasing risk of livestock losses. All indications are that the drought is imminent in the coming weeks. There is need to buy the livestock from pastoralists as soon as possible before they are lost to the looming drought” Said Hon Musembi
Hon Musembi proposed the manufacturing of animal feeds in Lamu for posterity, citing the availability of raw materials as well as skilled and unskilled labor.
“Lamu county should be regarded a center for animal feeds because of its extensive infrastructural development, such as the Lamu port, which connects to the global market, this will in future ensure availability of feeds despite climate change and uncertain weather patterns” Musembi noted.
The National Livestock Off-take Program was officially launched in Marsabit County on October 12, 2021, by the State Department of Livestock Principal Secretary (PS), Harry Kimutai, and will be replicated in nine (9) other counties, including Mandera, Wajir, Kilifi, and Samburu, Turkana, Isiolo, Garissa, Lamu, and Kitui.
CECM PSMA, Hon Abdu Godana, lauded the National Drought Management Authority and the Food and Agriculture Organization for collaborating with the Lamu county government to provide water and relief animal feeds as a mitigation effort to cushion residents aganist drought effects.
Mr Abdikadir Mohammed, CEO of the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council, has pledged his full support to Lamu County in matters relating to livestock marketing to national markets, infrastructure improvements to support livestock markets, and policy support to enable Lamu County to access a good market for its livestock.
The County Government, on its part, will continue to fully support livestock sector, particularly through continuous drought relief measures such as providing relief animal feeds, water, and livestock vaccination campaigns. Food distribution, water tracking, and operationalization of the Nagele market is also well underway.
Mr. Juma Bernad, Lamu County KLMC Cordinator, and Zeinab Gobu, KLMC Board of Directors, accompanied CEO KLMC.
Dr. Gichohi, the County Chief Officer for Food Security, Mr. Abdalla Ahmed, the Asst. Director for Trade, and Mr. Abarufa, the County Administrator, were also present.
-Ends-
Story by : Gabriel Mwaura
For more information contact;
Lamu County Communications Office at: info@lamu.go.ke
H.E. Governor Fahim Twaha has emphasized the necessity of planning in building Lamu to be comparable to other world-class cities.
Speaking earlier today during a meeting with a delegation from the Sustainable Urban Economic Development Programme (SUED), during a technical briefing, Governor Fahim Twaha has appealed to the British government to assist the County in designing the city in a way that is consistent with the growth of Lamu Port.
Governor Fahim proposed an exchange program that will equip Lamu’s municipality officials with all of the necessary dynamics to grow a city.
“We have planners and engineers,” the governor stated, “but we lack technical knowledge in developing a new metropolis that will encircle the Port area. Together, we can realize our shared vision, long-term confidence, and intention to transform Lamu into a major maritime, industrial, and logistics hub”
Regional Advisor British High Commission Francis Thoya, assured the governor that, the British government is fully committed to assisting Lamu County in whatever form the process would take. He asked the governor to speed up the process of building capacity among municipal employees so that the program can be implemented smoothly.
The UEP process is divided into four phases:
1. The conception phase (which involves gathering initial feedback from stakeholders), the diagnostic phase, and the implementation phase ( analysis of SWOT of key economic sectors), the UEP paper phase focuses on developing UEP principles, analyzing and prioritizing value chain opportunities, and the UEP phase, anchor value chain prospects.
Agriculture and livestock, tourism and heritage, fisheries and marine, trade/logistics, and manufacturing were also highlighted as rising sectors due to LAPSSET.
Sustainable Urban Economic Development programme (SUED) is a £70 million, five year programme that’s supported by the UK government through the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
Lamu Municipality is among 12 out of 53 municipalities that were successfully selected by SUED to be assisted in developing a sustainable urban economic plan and attract investment for critical infrastructure projects. Others include Bungoma, Eldoret,Isiolo, Iten, Kathwana, Kerugoya/Kutus, Kisii, Kitui, Malindi, Mandera and Wote .
The programme will work with the municipal and county leadership to develop investment promotion strategies. In addition, SUED will promote public-private dialogue focused on developing opportunities that improve livelihoods in the municipality. Lamu will additionally benefit from diversification in its economic activities helping to interconnect the municipality with other economic corridors.
CEC Land and Infrastructure Ahmed Hemed was in attendance, as was his counterpart, CEC Finance Fahima Araft, –Municipal Manager, Lamu Municipality, Omar M. Famau, Chief Officer Municipality Alex Jimbi, Chair Public Service Board Mr Abdalla Fadhil among others .
The SUED team was led by Regional Advisor British High Commission Francis Thoya who was accompanied by delegates from Tetra Tech International Development, and Atkins sponsored by UK Government
-Ends-
Story by : Abdalla Simba and Athman Omar
For more information contact
Lamu County Communications Office at: info@lamu.go.ke
The Lamu County Government increased food distribution efforts in Bahari Ward today, aiming to reach around 3,000 households from Central town, Jua Kali, Nairobi area, Ziwani A, Ziwani B, Lakeside A, Lakeside B, Umoja, Kilimani, FTC, Polytechnic, Naivasha, and Istanbul areas . The food distribution exercise is currently underway at FTC in Mpeketoni .
Because of the present drought and the prognosis of generally dry conditions, Governor Fahim Twaha’s government initiated a food drive in Witu on September 20, 2021, to help Lamu residents cope with the effects of the raging drought.
At least 32,000 disadvantaged households in the County’s 10 wards will benefit from the project, which will distribute an estimated 400 tonnes of food.
Drought conditions have been compounded by a lack of rain, resulting in poor to non-existent crops for Lamu’s small-holder farmers and a shortage of water and vegetation for the pastoralists.
Food insecurity is anticipated to persist from July to December 2021, according to NDMA predictions, with about 1,913,265 people in marginal agricultural and pastoral communities in need of assistance across the whole country.
-Ends-
Story by: Patrick Ochieng
For more information, Contact
Lamu County Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
Over 840 households in Uziwa area Mkunumbi Ward today received food for drought relief under the County initiative to cushion small holder farmers and pastoralists against the effects of the prevailing drought .
The food drive was launched in Witu ward in September and is being replicated in all the 10 wards within the county targeting over 32,000 vulnerable households in urgent need of food assistance as drought continues to take its toll.
The worsening drought conditions have manifested in poor to no harvest for Lamu’s small holder farmers, poor vegetation conditions, storage and water sources are depleting by the day, worsening livestock body conditions and reduced milk production .
Addressing Uziwa residents this afternoon, Governor Fahim Twaha assured them that his administration is committed to achieve food security for all Lamu residents .
“The county government has procured 10 new fully loaded tractors to add to the already existing nine, the intention is to open up more land for farming through our ongoing subsidized mechanization of farms program. County tractor services will still be offered at Ksh. 1000 per acre. We are also in the process of procuring high-yield certified seeds which will be distributed free of charge to our farmers to spur food production and reduce cost of production even further,” said Governor Fahim.
The food distribution exercise comes hot in the heels of relief animal feeds drive as well as ongoing water tracking services using water bowsers in villages facing acute water shortages.
According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) drought bulletin for July 2021, Lamu is among 12 other counties on a high alert drought phase include Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Kilifi, Tana River, Samburu, Kitui, Isiolo and Laikipia .
-Ends-
Story by: Athman Omar
For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
