H.E Fahim Twaha, Governor of Lamu and Chairman of the Council of Governors’ Blue Economy Committee, hosted a Consultative meeting with development partners earlier today to identify areas of partnership in the Blue Economy Sector.
Among the key issues deliberated on include:
-Budgetary allocation in the Blue Economy Sector
-Entrenchment of Blue Economy in the development of CIDPs
-Domestication of policies to govern the Blue Economy sector
– Counties involvement in the development of the Kenya Blue Economy Strategy
In attendance was Chief Executive Officer, Ms Mary Mwiti, Chairperson Jumuiya ya County za Pwani CECs Caucus, Ms Luciana Sanzua, Chairperson Agriculture CEC Caucus, Mr Albert Mwaniki, Chairperson Water and Natural Resources Management CEC Caucus, Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Chairperson Directors Fisheries Caucus, Mr Stanley Nuguti .
Also present were the representatives of IFAD, FCDO, USAID,UNEP, FAO, UNDP, Danish Embassy, UN Women and CLcan.
The Government of Kenya (GoK), through the State Department for Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Blue Economy (SDFA&BE) and with support from the World Bank, KEMFSED project, aims at supporting the country in its efforts to leverage emerging opportunities in the Blue Economy. The project is being undertaken in five (5) counties along the Kenyan coast that are riparian to the Indian Ocean, with the purpose of improving management of priority fisheries and mariculture, as well as increasing access to complementary livelihood activities. A demand-driven grant program is being offered as part of the project’s development goal of strengthening communities’ long-term capabilities including;
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Lamu Governor HE Fahim Twaha is currently presiding over the award of grants to community and special groups and distribution of sports equipment to Witu ward beneficiaries at Witu town.
28 special groups will receive Sh. 26.5M in grants while 24 male and 6 female teams will receive sports equipment…
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Trade Tourism and Industrialization nominee Hon. Dismas Polle Mwasambu has taken oath of office this afternoon at a ceremony presided over by Governor Fahim Twaha, at the County Headquarters in Mokowe.
Hon. Dismus who served as CECM in 2017-2018 will take office immediately and has pledged to carry out his duties in accordance with the constitution while maintaining integrity and fairness in service delivery.
Governor Twaha spoke at the event, congratulating the newly appointed CECM and encouraging him to lead his department with excellence.
Governor Twaha reassured Hon. Dismus of his support and challenged him to demonstrate excellence in management by completing the department’s flagship projects.
Hon. Dismus replaces Hon. Josphat Musembi, who resigned to pursue active elective politics.
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For more information contact
Lamu County Communications Office at: info@lamu.go.ke
The Lamu County Government, through the Department of Agriculture, has purchased 10(ten) new fully loaded tractors to aid enhance food production efficiency and ensure Lamu’s food security. The first three of the 10 tractors arrived in Lamu today, with three more arriving on Wednesday, and the final four arriving on Friday, April 8th, 2022.
The 10 new tractors will join the existing 14 serviceable tractors in Lamu’s tractor fleet, bringing the total number of tractors available to 24. As a result, tractor services will be more efficient and accessible to all farmers.
Governor Fahim Twaha revealed at the County Headquarters in Mokowe that tractor ploughing rates will continue to be subsidized at only Ksh. 1000 per acre, compared to the market rate of between 2,000 and 2,500 per acre.
“Food production in Lamu County has been a task anchored by physical labour. While wealthy farmers can get tractor services from private owners, there is need to help the poor achieve food security. Availability of affordable tractor services will attract even more youths to farming. The new fleet will strengthen our tractor services helping our famers to save over Sh.20M cumulatively through our subsidized prices. This will accrue from ploughing over 20,000 acres of land at just half the market rate, of only Ksh 1,000 per acre” Said Governor Fahim Twaha
He went on to say that the move to cushion vulnerable farmers, which was passed by the Lamu County Assembly under the Financial Bill 2019, will boost Lamu’s economy by giving farmers more funds to plough back into other productive activities.
Hon Fahima Araphat, OGW, CECM Agriculture, indicated that the department aims to open up over 20,000 acres of land for cultivation this season as part of the subsidized mechanization project, putting money in farmers’ pockets and ensuring a food secure Lamu.
“The 14 old tractors have undergone a variety of maintenance procedures in preparation for providing tractor plowing services to farms throughout the county. This season, we will be able to open up to 20,000 acres for farming in all wards thanks to this new fleet. The rains have delayed, but with the onset of the rains, the work should start soon.” Hon. Fahima said
According to Hon. Fahima, the County Government has already acquired certified hybrid seeds to be supplied free of charge to vulnerable farmers across the county for planting during the longs rains.
The County administration has also provided 5 government-owned trailers and a 10-tonne boat to reduce post-harvest losses. Farmers in Vumbe, Sadan, Kiangwe, Mwathe, and other farming blocks in Lamu East who travel great distances to access food markets will benefit from this service, which will provide free farm-to-market transportation.
The ongoing mechanization of farming activities is a core agenda of Governor Fahim Twaha’s manifesto. Further, the government continues to execute crop husbandry, pest and disease control, and also agro-based industries projects.
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For more information contact
Lamu County Communications Office at: info@lamu.go.ke
The Lamu County Government has started issuing Special Interest Group Grants, with 96 women’s and youth’s groups, as well as over 100 people with disabilities (PWDs) from Shella and Mkomani wards, collecting cheques this Friday 1st April 2022, at Mkunguni Square in Lamu Island.
Governor Fahim Twaha officially launched the Ksh18 million enterprise grant, which is expected to benefit at least 450 micro and small businesses in the county operated by youth, women, and people with disabilities (PWDs).
The project, according to Governor Fahim Twaha, is a critical social transformation pillar that would boost economic opportunities and engagement for Lamu women, youths, and people with disabilities. He explained that the program aims to provide employment opportunities for these special interest groups by encouraging them to start their own businesses and become job creators.
“This is simply the begining; Our sustainable development agenda aims to leave no one behind, including women, youth, and those with disabilities. The goal is to attain a sustainable, inclusive, sustained, and equitable economic growth, supported by employment and decent work for everyone, social integration, increased productivity, and a pleasant environment for all Lamu residents.” Governor Twaha stated
He added that ” The County Government will be monitoring the beneficiary groups that have received the funding to see how they are doing, prioritizing groups with a good business track record to identify which ones require further support to grow.”
The Enterprise Fund, according to Hon. Paul Thairu, HSC, CECM for Education, Vocational Training, Youth, Gender, Sports, Culture & Social Services, is a revolving fund with no interest, which means small firms will not be bound to repayment tenures. It was established through the County Assembly act of 2018.
“Governor Fahim’s administration intends not only to foster a thriving entrepreneurial culture by funding needy enterprises within the county, but also to close the county’s negative socio-economic gap based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development” Said Hon.Thairu
Prof. Joseph Nganga, the chief officer for Youth, Sports, Gender, and Social Services, underscored the county government’s commitment to advocacy in the areas of gender, youth affairs, and social services in order to socio-economically empower the county’s youth, women and People With Disabilities (PWDs).
Mkomani Ward MCA, Yahya Ahmed Shee lauded the move appealing to the beneficiary groups to make good use of the funds for posterity .
The first phase of this initiative targets over 450 special interest groups across the county, directly impacting on the lives of more than 4,500 families .
The issuance of grant cheques will be extended to the remaining seven wards.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
The Lamu County Directorate of Livestock-Veterinary Services started a seven-day rabies vaccination campaign in Witu, Hongwe, Baharini, Mkunumbi, Hindi, Faza, Mkomani, Shella, and Kiunga wards this week. As part of the initiative, dogs and cats will be vaccinated against rabies.
The exercise was necessary, according to Livestock Chief Officer Dr. Charles Gichohi, because the viral disease was suspected to have spread to domestic animals during the prolonged drought that led to infiltration of wild animals to human population areas in quest of water.
“At least 6,000 dogs and cats will be vaccinated against the fatal rabies virus as part of the campaign’s goal.I also ask the public to collaborate during this week-long campaign, which began on Monday, in order to achieve a successful and seamless campaign and vaccination exercise,” Dr. Gichohi stated.
H.E Fahim Twaha, has also lauded members of the public who have already presented their cats and dogs for vaccination, noting that rabies is more prevalent in rural areas since dogs and cats are allowed to roam freely in search of food. These dogs and cats are unlikely to be vaccinated on time since they rarely receive veterinary treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to people in up to 99 percent of cases. However, rabies can infect both domestic and wild animals, and it is transmitted to humans and animals by bites or scratches, with saliva being the most common mode of transmission.
The Rabies virus attacks the brain and is 100% lethal once symptoms show. Fever, headache, excessive salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis, and mental confusion are among the virus’s symptoms, which are followed by coma and death within 14 days.
Children under the age of 15 account for 40% of those bitten by suspected rabid animals.
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Story by: Abdalla Simba
For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
The Lamu County executive has presented five bills and policies for approval to the Lamu County Assembly members. The policy documents include;
-Lamu county Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) bill
-Lamu county peace building and conflict management bill
-Lamu county peace building and conflict management policy
-Lamu county Monitoring and evaluation policy
-Lamu county public participation and civic education policy.
The handing over of the policy documents is a culmination of a rigorous process that started in 2020 between Lamu County Executive in collaboration with USAID Kuza to support policies that will improve governance, economic environment, and investment activities in Lamu .
The partnership revolved around policy development, research, negotiation, and public participation by government and non-government officials representing women, youth, and the private sector, as well as policy finalization and eventual ratification by the County Executive Committee.
The Lamu County Assembly, led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Paul Kimani, has vowed to pass the documents before the Assembly’s dissolution ahead of the elections.
The policy documents were handed over in the presence of and the help of Lamu County’s partners under the USAID Kuza program led by Capacity Development Officer, Mr. John Githiaka and Lamu County Assembly Majority Leader, Abdalla Aboud.
The handing over event was organized by the County Executive through Director Shee Kupi, who also serves as the USAID focal point for Lamu County.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
For the first time in history, young learners in Lamu East’s Shanga Rubu Village will soon be able to enjoy learning closer home, thanks to the County Government’s move to build new classrooms in the heart of their village.
Mr. Abdalla Ahmed Ali, Chief Officer Education and Vocational Training, earlier today led a team of officers from the Department of Education on an inspection visit of the Shanga Rubu ECDE, which is almost 90% complete.
CO Abdalla Ahmed, speaking during the inspection tour, emphasized the project’s relevance to the area’s youngest learners, who have in the past been forced to trek long distances through the bushy terrains to get to school.
“Our strategic goal has been to ensure that these young ones learn in a safe atmosphere and acquire quality education,” said Mr. Ahmed, “As part of quality control, we have also been hiring trained ECDE teachers, capacity building our teachers on Competency-Based-Curriculum, providing teaching aids, chairs, and tables among others.
“He termed Early Childhood Education as a key cog in Governor Fahim Twaha’s social transformation strategy for the County’s future generation of 4-5-year-olds. A total of 28 ECDEs have so far been built in the last four financial years, with seven more ongoing this year.
Beyond infrastructural development, the County has employed over 112 ECDE teachers, with 80% of them already promoted to the next job group. There are over 4,000 chairs and 1300 tables, as well as KSh 5 Million worth of learning resources sent to each of the 145 ECDEs across the county in the last financial year.
Athman Kheri, Education Coordinator, Athman Bwanaheri, Shanga Rubu Headman, and Engineers from the County Department of Public Works were in attendance.
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For more information contact:
Lamu County Government Communications Office at info@lamu.go.ke
