Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W has today issued micro investment materials to 115 households at Faza ward, in partnership with Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Programme (KSCAP) amounting to five million shillings.

The grants which were issued to five groups will go a long way towards enhancing food production and combat climate related risks in the County.

Speaking during the presentation of the micro investment materials, Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy asked the beneficiary community groups to utilize the micro investment materials towards enhancing their social economic activities.

“In line with the fisheries and agricultural agenda, Lamu County Government is committed to fulfilling it’s KCSAP partnership mission for the benefit of its fishermen, smallholder farmers, and pastoral communities” Governor Timamy stated.

The grants were awarded to common interest groups, vulnerable and marginalized groups that were drawn from Shanga, Kizingitini, Mbwajumwali and Rasini.

1. Madyana Self Help Group- One outboard engine, and a fibre boat.

2. Makadara Women Group- One outboard engine and a fibre boat.

3. Mbwajumwali Dhow Makers- 1 motorcycle, deep freezers, fishing nets and rollers.

4. Rasini Environmental Organization- One outboard engine and a fibre boat.

5. Tuungane Youth Group- One outboard engine and a fibre boat.

Present were Lamu Deputy Governor H.E. Raphael Munyua, Agriculture CEC Member Hon. Jimmy Gichu, County Secretary Amb. Ali Abbas, Chief of Staff Mr. Abdulnasir Issa, KCSAP Project Coordinator Mr. Stephen Mbuvi among others.

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communications@lamu.go.ke

Earlier in the day, Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W accompanied by his Deputy H.E. Raphael Munyua inspected the ongoing installation of solar panels to power up the Faza ice plant.

The installation of the solar power is part of Governor Timamy’s plan of Lamu towards ensuring no greenhouse gas emissions are released into the atmosphere while generating electricity.

The Governor further noted his administration is considering installing all desalination plants with solar power since it’s considered as the most cost effective and efficient way to generate clean energy.

As part of boosting fish output, the county administration has been distributing fishing equipment and gear throughout the county.

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communications@lamu.go.ke

In a bid to enhance leadership skills and promote local businesses, the County Government of led by H.E Governor Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W, has organized a three day workshop in Faza village. The workshop which started yesterday was attended by top officials of the county government, including the Deputy Governor H.E. Raphael Munyua, Chief Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, and Directors of relevant departments.

The main agenda of the workshop was to refresh the leadership skills of the county officials and to outline the goals of the governor for his tenure. The workshop will also offer a platform for the county officials to share ideas and experiences on how to improve service delivery to the people of the county.

In his opening remarks, Governor Timamy emphasized the importance of good leadership in achieving the goals of his administration. He urged the officials to be proactive and innovative in their approach to service delivery, saying that the success of his administration would be measured by the impact it has on the lives of the people.

The workshop was not only a learning opportunity for the county officials but also a chance to promote local businesses in Faza village. The local community provided accommodation and food during the training, which was a boost to their businesses.

Speaking during the workshop, the Chief Executive Committee Member for Trade, Tourism, Culture and Industrializations Hon. Aisha Abdalla Miraj, reiterated the governor’s commitment in promoting local businesses in the county. She urged the county officials to support the local economy by sourcing goods and services from the local community.

“The governor’s vision for the county is clear, and his commitment to improving the lives of the people is unwavering. The workshop was just one of the many initiatives that the county government has undertaken to achieve its goals” said Hon. Aisha.

The workshop was a sponsored by Al kheyr Foundation a non Governmental Organization based in Kenya and a Good friend to Lamu County Government.

Also in attendance was the County Secretary Amb.Ali Abbass and Chief of Staff Dr. Abdulnasir Issa.

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Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W has this afternoon conducted an impromptu project inspection tour of the proposed subcounty head-quaters in Faza Ward.

Governor Timamy who was accompanied by his Deputy Governor H.E. Raphael Munyua was impressed with the construction progress and noted that once the offices are complete they will improve service delivery and also eliminate the need of Lamu East residents to traveling for many hours to Lamu West to seek essential services.

The governor later conducted an impromptu tour of Faza sub-county hospital to grasp familiarity of the facility and committed to continue improving service delivery which is in line with the promise made on improved overall health agenda in all county health facilities.

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Seafood lovers from Lamu had an opportunity to be treated to a seafood exhibition with a plate going for as low as Ksh. 50 at a seafood festival that was aimed towards promoting sustainability of the tourism sector by introducing local seafoods and creating an impression which makes tourists want to return to Lamu.

The festival which had an array of other sporting activities, attracted 50 women groups from Lamu who had to plate up their best seafoods throughout the 2 days long festival that ended on Sunday. The weekend presented an opportunity for everyones’ taste buds to sample different types of seafoods such as octopus, lobsters, crabs among other high end valued sea foods.

Speaking during the event that was organized by the Department of Tourism, Trade, Culture and Investment, H.E. Deputy Governor Raphael Munyua underscored the importance of the event noting that apart from other culinary tourism activities, the festival provided an opportunity to unite and strengthen community bonds and help maintain a common identity among communities.

Trade C.E.C Member Hon. Aisha Miraj noted that the main reason of sponsoring the event was to promote tourism by attracting more tourists as well as promote the Lamu culture of swahili seafood. All these was to make certain that the youth were also presented with an opportunity to showcase their talents with the CECM hinting that the Tourism Department was working on a plan to hold such an epic event monthly.

County Government of Lamu under the stewardship of H.E. Issa Timamy has embarked on a series of activities that are aimed at reviving the dwindling tourism sector by introducing Lamu festivals calendar that aims at imprinting Lamu as an Island of festivals.

In attendance was CECM Finance, Hon. Mohamed Mbwana, Chief Officer for Tourism Ms. Joyce Murimi, Chief Officer for PSMA Ms.Khadija Fumo, Chief Officer for Education Ms. Hafswa Difini, Lamu Public Service Board Chairman Mr. Abdalla Fadhili, Lamu Municipality Manager Mr. Abduswamad among others.

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For more information contact: Lamu County Government Communications Office at communication@lamu.go.ke.

Chief Justice Hon. Martha Koome has said the Judiciary will immediately commence the construction of a High Court and a Magistrates’ court in Hindi ward, which will be a relief to the locals who have continued to rely on the High Court sittings in Tana River and Kilifi counties.

Speaking while receiving two title deeds from the County Government of Lamu, the C.J said the Judiciary will set up a High court in Mokowe and a Magistrate’s court in Hindi. She further thanked Governor Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W for his kind gesture towards allocating them land hinting that it would have been difficult for the Judiciary to buy land in good time with the little resource allocation they have.

“I would want to thank Governor Timamy for his commitment to ensure Judiciary services are brought closer to the people. His actions will greatly help us fulfill our obligation to give access to justice by ensuring that no Kenyan travels for more than 100km to a court station” said C.J Koome.

The new court building will include an Environment and Land Court to address the increasing number of land disputes in Lamu County. Upon completion of the court building, the Judiciary will post resident Judges for both the High Court and Environment and Land Court, further enhancing access to justice for the people of Lamu County.

The court building will also feature specialized Children’s courts and Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) courts, ensuring that these cases are handled with the care and sensitivity they deserve.

Lamu Governor and ANC Party leader, thanked the Judiciary for their willingness to set up two courts in Hindi ward citing that the courts would greatly help towards ensuring locals don’t travel to other counties to seek judicial services. The Governor who is also a High Court Advocate, recognized the crucial role played by the judiciary in upholding justice, safeguarding the rights of our people and ensuring the law is administered impartially.

“This gesture reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the independence of the Judiciary and promoting the rule of law in Lamu” said Governor Timamy adding that it’s through collective efforts that we can strengthen the Judiciary and promote values of democracy, transparency and accountability in our society.

The CJ who was accompanied by the Judges and Judicial officers, was later taken to the proposed sites in Mokowe and Hindi before being taken to the Lamu Port for a familiarization tour and was received by Eng. Dan Amadi, Project Manager and Mr. Salim Bunu, Regional Manager.

In attendance was H.E. Deputy Governor, Raphael Munyua, Lamu County Commissioner, CEC Members, County Secretary Amb. Ali Abbas, Chief of Staff Mr. Abdulnasir Issa, Chief Officers, Members of County Assembly among others.

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communication@lamu.go.ke

23 Community Self Help groups from Bahari and Mkunumbi ward have earlier today, received fiber boats, 15 HP outboard engine, fishing nets and farm input under the County Government of Lamu in partnership with World Bank-funded Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program (KCSAP).

The project is aiming at increasing agricultural productivity and building resilience to climate change risks in the targeted smallholder farmers and pastoralists community.

Addressing the beneficiaries at different centers, CECM Agriculture Hon. James Gichu, urged the group members to join cooperative Saccos in order to have bargaining power for their produce and be eligible to receive large donor funds.

He further cautioned farmers not to sell the seedlings for short term gains.

The beneficiary groups are;-

Bahari Ward

1. Hatchery Self Help Group

2.Mpeketoni Mums Women group

3. Kilimani Vision Women Self Help Group

4. Buyanzi Self Help Group

5. Bahati Women Self Help Group.

6. Baraka Self Help Group

7. Good Start Self Help Group

8. Upendo Majirani Women Group

9. Lakeside Women Group

10.Kiongwe Jirani Mwema Self Help Group

11. Kiongwe Kangei Women Group

12. Lakeside Elders Self Help Group

13. Wajane Ziwani Self Help Group.

14. Anyuola Welfare Self Help Group

15. Onido Neema Self Help Group

16. Tunza Mazingira Self Help Group

17. Bakanja Vision Youth Group.

Mkunumbi Ward

1. Ngarite Disabled Self Help Group

2. Uziwa indigenous Poultry Self Help Group

3. Maarifa Self Help Group

4. Wajane Ngarite Women Group

5. Ndambwe BMU Self Help Group

6. Mkunumbi Youth Fishermen

In attendance were Lamu KCSAP members , CDDC Members among other county staff.

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communication@lamu.go.ke

Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W has today awarded 30 students with scholarships worth Ksh. 2.256 Million, under the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-economic Development (KEMFSED) program.

The scholarships were awarded following a rigorous countywide exercise to identify deserving students and will go along way towards benefiting 10 secondary school students, 18 college students and two students from Technical Training Institutes.

Speaking while awarding the scholarships at Mokowe headquarters, Lamu Governor

lauded the KEMFSED project for their input towards investing in education for a better future, and further urged the beneficiaries to maintain discipline and hard work while in school.

“You are our ambassadors, hence we expect you to maintain discipline and hard work and we also expect stellar performance from you. I call upon parents and guardians to support their children to perform in their academics since that’s the only guarantee to maintain the scholarships” stated Governor Timamy.

The Governor further noted the KEMFSED scholarships would compliment the Department of Education scholarships that also benefits bright, needy and marginalized students from Lamu County.

The learners awarded with scholarships were selected from vulnerable and marginalised grounds with those in colleges getting sponsorships to pursue marine related courses among other courses that are not offered in Lamu.

In attendance was Chief Officer for

Fisheries and Blue Economy Mr. Kamalu Shariff, KEMFSED Coordinator Mr. Mohamed Athman, Lamu County Project Implementation Unit among others.

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communication@lamu.go.ke

County Government of Lamu will continue working with stake holders towards improved mangrove forest conservation and restoration as a natural climate solution.

Speaking during a consultative meeting that was held at the County Headquaters, Lamu Governor H.E. Issa Timamy E.G.H, O.G.W emphasized on the need to foster innovative partnerships that would lead to sustainable solutions towards protecting the degraded carbon-rich ecosystems.

The Council of Governors’ Blue Economy Committee Chair, further noted that mainstreaming the blue carbon conservation and associated habitats into coastal development programs, would greatly assist towards achieving climate benefits and improve livelihoods across the coastal counties.

“Mangroves are powerful carbon sinks with an ability to suck up carbon dioxide from the air to their roots and branches five to ten times more carbon than forests. As stakeholders, there is urgent need to protect these precious vegetation from human-induced threats that are a threat to the marine ecosystem” Governor Timamy said.

With Lamu accounting for more than half of Kenya’s mangrove forests, the stake holders agreed to embark on restoration at the degraded areas as well as implement a sustainable plan on mangrove harvesting without affecting the critical role they play in biodiversity and shoreline protection.

The meeting was attended by representatives from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and National Environment Management Authority of Kenya (NEMA)

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For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at communication@lamu.go.ke

Mstahiki gavana Issa Timamy mapema leo amefungua rasmi siku tatu za Maonyesho na mafunzo ya Kilimo cha kisasa katika eneo la ATC Mpeketoni.

Akiandamana na Naibu wake Raphael Munywa Gavana Timamy, alitembelea vibanda vya mashirika na kampuni zinazouza mbegu na mbolea.

Kauli mbiyu ya Maonyesho haya ni:-

“kutumia teknolojia ya kilimo endelevu kwa usalama wa chakula na kuongeza kipato”

Kwenye Maonyesho hayo wakulima watapata fursa ya kujifunza mbinu mbali mbali za Kilimo pamoja na njia bora za kutumia dawa za kuzuwia wadudu kwa mimea.

Akihutubia wakulima na wananchi waliohudhuria Maonyesho hayo gavana Timamy, amewaomba wakulima kutosheka na mbegu walizopata huku akiahidi kuongeza fedha katika mgao wa bajeti ya mwaka ujao wa kifedha ili kuagiza mbegu za kutosha.

“Serikali yangu imekuta bajeti finyu nami nimeongeza ndio hii mbegu imepatikana kwa hivyo nawasihi tusiingize siasa swala hili” Timamy alisema.

Aidha, amesema watawalekeza wakulima kununua mbegu na dawa ambazo zitajaribiwa na kufaulu hapo ATC.

Kufunguliwa tena kwa ATC kwa wakulima kumerejesha matumaini kwa wakaazi wa kaunti ya Lamu dhidi ya Kilimo.

Wakati huo huo Gavana ametangaza kuwa mwezi wa nane serekali yake itaandaa Maonyesho ya Kilimo Mpeketoni ambayo huenda yakafunguliwa rasmi na Waziri wa Kilimo nchini.

Waliohudhuria hafla hiyo ni pamoja na:- Mkuu wa wafanyikazi Abdulnasir M Issa,Waziri wa Kilimo James Gichu, Waziri wa Elimu Sabastian Owanga, Waziri wa Fedha Mohamed Bwana , Mwakilishi wa wadi ya Bahari Francis Gakonga miongoni mwa wengine.