Governor Fahim Twaha joined other Muslim faithfuls in the first day of prayer and official opening of Masjid Nawal Mosque in Manda Airport Village, Shella Ward.

The Governor was accompanied by Ustadh Muhsin Said Ali, Mr. Aweso Hussein Shekue- Senior Chief Shella Manda, Lamu Municipal Manager Mr. Omar Famau, and others.

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For more information contact;

Communications office @info@lamu.go.ke

Lamu County Government, in partnership with USAID KUZA, has formally unveiled its first Disaster Risk Management Policy (DRM), Act, and Implementation Framework, as well as two investment prospectuses, one for Fisheries and the other for Cotton value chains.

In accordance with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the DRM Policy describes Lamu County’s strategy for positioning itself as a strategic county for disaster risk reduction activities. A measure that will reinforce and legally enshrine response mechanisms in the County’s long-term development strategy.

Speaking when he officially launched the four policy documents, Governor Fahim Twaha emphasized the relevance of the DRM policy in disaster preparedness, coordination, and response .

“Every sectors’ function and obligations will be clarified thanks to the Disaster Act. Furthermore, by establishing a legal framework for all aspects of disaster risk management, it will aid in the coordination mechanisms including lowering the risk of readiness, response, and recovery, as well as facilitating downstream actions.” Governor Twaha said.

He went on to say that the new Cotton and Fisheries Investment Prospectus, on the other hand, will enable Lamu to strategically position itself in competitive markets, exposing its ability to expand and optimize its economic opportunities, spur investment, and create jobs for the Lamu people, citing Lamu’s proximity to the LAPSSET, availability of reliable power, and decent roads.

Ms Wyanie Bright, the Chief of Party for USAID KUZA, highlighted major areas of collaboration with the Lamu County Government, which is one of the ten Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), including:

-Support for an enabling policy environment

-Strengthening Lamu’s governance capacity

-Promote private sector investment

-Integrating the County’s monitoring and assessment systems.

“Lamu County Government has been a prize county among the 10 FCDC Counties; we have been able to work collaboratively and Co-created with Lamu County Policy Support, which would boost the economic environment and investment activities in Lamu,” Ms Bright said.

Mr. John Githiaka, a USAID KUZA capacity development advisor, described Lamu as a model county among the other 10 FCDC counties.

“Lamu is the first FCDC county in Kenya to introduce a DRM policy, Act, and Implementation Framework, as well as investment prospectus. This is a testament of the work the county team has been doing,” Mr Githiaka stated

Lamu County and USAID KUZA are also working together on three other policies that will be implemented soon, including:

– Monitoring and Evaluation Policy,

– The Peace Building and Conflict Management Policy

– The Public Participation and Civic Education Policy

The Governor thanked the several stakeholders that contributed to the formulation of the DRM policy and bill, including Red Cross, Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Coast Guard, and IPSTC (International Peace Support Training Centre) Muhuri, among others.

Mr. Vicky Liyai, US Embassy USAID Representative, Ms Mary Onsongo, USAID KENYA(-East Africa) Program Specialist, Deputy Governor, Abdulhakim Bwana, CECM Finance, Abdu Godana, CECM Fisheries and Agriculture, Fahima Araphat, OGW, County Directors drawn from various departments, and other senior County Officials were in attendance.

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For more information contact:

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

Lamu County CECM Hon. Paul Thairu HSC, has been bestowed as a Member of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (MStj) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in a colorful event that was graced by St. Johns Priory of Kenya Patron, H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi.

The event which took place on 24th March 2022 at All Saints Cathedral, recognizes and awards deserving members of St. John who have demonstrated loyalty and service to the organisation. Entry to the order is by invitation only and is subject to the Queen’s approval which was granted and published In London Gazette on 20th of January 2022.

Lamu Governor H.E Fahim Twaha congratulated Hon. Thairu HSC, MStj for the outstanding recognition following his selfless volunteerism and service to humanity with St John Ambulance and for being among the 30 Kenyans who were recognised by the Queen of England for their service to humanity.

Hon. Thairu’s name who serves as Central Kenya Regional Commissioner has been published alongside his colleagues from Britain, Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Barbados and Eswatini whose humanitarian activities also earned the Queen’s recognition, received his insignia from President Kenyatta which arrived from England.

The recognition has also earned him a space alongside other global icons known for their charitable activities through St John Ambulance including; former South African president Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Queen Noor of Jordan, Margaret Thatcher and some members of the British royal family.

Congratulations Hon. Paul Thairu HSC, MStj

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For more information contact;

Communications office at; info@lamu.go.ke

Residents of Dide Waride and Chalaluma will soon be able to access medical services closer to home, following Lamu County’s project transfer to awarded contractors.

The residents will benefit from the two new dispensaries, which will relieve them of long treks in search of health care. The two projects are part of Governor Fahim Twaha’s bigger agenda to improve access to primary health care for all Lamu County residents.

Dr. Ann Gathoni, the county government’s Health CECM, said during the handover ceremony at Dide Waride that the county government is committed to ensuring that all Lamu citizens have access to high-quality health care services right where they live .

“Once the health infrastructure in Chalaluma and Dide Waride is completed, the County Government will move forward with equipping them as well as assign health personnel to serve the residents,” she said.

Hon. Abdu Godana, CECM Finance, assured residents of Dide Waride and Chalaluma that once the dispensaries are finished, the county will ensure adequate staffing.

” The county government understands that health is a basic human right. That is why Governor Fahim Twaha’s administration is committed to ensuring the right to health for all Lamu residents, which means that everyone should have access to the health services they require, when and where they require them, without financial hardship, because we have already registered over 20,000 households under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF),” said Hon. Godana.

The construction works is expected to be completed before the end of the this financial year.

In attendance was Chief Officer Health Dr. Victor Tole among other senior County officials.

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For more information contact;

Communications office @ info@lamu.go.ke

Lamu County Governor HE Fahim Twaha, in collaboration with the Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development Project (KEMFSED), today launched a community project sensitization campaign in Mpeketoni, Lamu County.

The ten billion shillings project, launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta last year, aims to increase the income of fishing communities in Lamu and the other four coastal counties. The project’s development goal is to improve management and value addition of key fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal people’ access to livelihoods in Kenya.

Speaking during the event, Governor Fahim Twaha underscored the project’s enormous potential, emphasizing that it must be fully utilized to generate investments, create jobs, enhance tax revenues, and improve local livelihoods in the long run.

“Today’s sensitization aims to prepare community members to engage with the project, and through consultations with community based groups, we will design, plan, and implement the various components of KEMFSED community-driven projects,” said Governor Twaha, who is also the Chair of the Council of Governors Blue Economy Committee.

He went on to say that beneficiary community groups will be given opportunity to participate in deliberations on how the various project activities will be managed and implemented.

Mr. Mohamed Athman, the KEMSFED County Project Coordinator, emphasized community consultations as the most direct means for community members to participate and provide input into the implementation of various project activities.

Officials from KEMSFED also urged residents to enroll in community-based groups saying project financing will only target those in registered groups.

CECM Cooperatives Hon. Fahima Araphat,OGW, Chief of Staff Mohamed Bute, Chief Officer Abdul Fatah, Dr. Duncan Mwakiwalo, Focal Person Livestock, Amos Okelo, Focal Person Agriculture, among others were also in attendance.

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For more information contact:

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

Rasini Fishermen Cooperative society from Faza Ward has reached a consensus on how to utilize Ksh 9.8 million grant that was awarded to them towards operationalization of the defunct Faza Ice plant.

The grant which was awarded by the County Government of Lamu in collaboration with the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program will among other components ensure an intergrated cold room is set up to hold fish at -20°C as well as produce flake ice for its members.

According to the Cooperative members reviving the defunct ice plant, will in a great way reduce the losses they would incur due to lack of storage cold room as well as flake ices for fishing.

Lamu County Chief Officer Abdul Fatah, accompanied by KCSAP County Coordinator Mr. Steven Mbuvi lauded the Rasini Fishermen Members for embracing the project, adding that that project was solely meant to support producer Organizations like fishermen and cooperatives.

Meanwhile, the neighboring Kizingitini ice plant is also receiving a comprehensive makeover to increase capacity as part of the County’s post-COVID recovery fisheries plan.

The expansion of the Kizingitini structure/building housing the ice plant is over 95% complete, and includes:

-Construction of an extra storey to help elevate the flake machines for standard operation

-Construction of additional Offices

-Construction of Toilets -Two doorways

-And an additional cold room

The two cold chain projects are part of the larger plan by H.E Governor Fahim Twaha to spur the fisheries sector in Lamu East benefitting over 20 fisher villages, including Ishakani, Kiunga, Mwambore, Rubu, Mkokoni, Chandani, Kiwayu, Ndau, Faza, Kizingitini, Mbwajumwali, Chundwa, Siyu, Pate, Mtangawanda, Myabogi, Faza, Shanga Rubu, Shanga Ishakani, Mvundeni among others .

To boost fish output, the county administration is also set to soon resume distribution of fishing equipment and gear throughout the county. Fishing lines, Gill nets, Flippers, Eco-Sounders/Fish finders, GPS, Deep freezers, and cooler boxes, among other items, are expected to be distributed to anglers. Last fiscal year, more than ten BMUs acquired fishing equipment, with the remainder receiving it this fiscal year.

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For more information contact:

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

Today, 23 ECDE teachers from around Faza ward gathered at Rasini Girls Primary Schools for a special competency-based curriculum training.

Mr. Abdalla Ahmed, Chief Officer Education, officially launched the session, which was moderated by Athman Kheir, ECDE Coordinator, and Lamu East ECDE supervisor Simon Titus.

The program aims to provide ECDE instructors with knowledge of the pre-primary CBC framework, curriculum design interpretation, and professional documentation such as schemes of work, lesson plans, and assessment rubrics.

The training program, which began in Hindi, Mkomani, Shela, and now Faza wards, will be extended to the remaining wards including Mpeketoni, Kiunga, Witu, Mkunumbi, Basuba, and Hongwe

Mr. Abdalla Ahmed noted that the effort began when the Department of Education conducted a study on the quality of Lamu’s early childhood education, which identified a deficit and the need to increase teacher capacity in order to fully support Governor Fahim Twaha’s ECDE growth strategy.

“We plan to enhance our teachers’ capacity by focusing on the CBC framework and curriculum, as well as the interpretation and design of the CBC framework and curriculum. Questioners, observation schedules, written examinations, journals, rating scales, learner profiles, projects, and rubrics among others “Mr. Ahmed said.

The Lamu county government has remained committed to raising the standards of early childhood education in the county under the leadership of His Excellency Governor Fahim Twaha, among other things, by providing infrastructural support, learning and teaching materials, and the employment of more teachers and ECDE supervisors for coordination and quality assurance.

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The Lamu County Government has finished day two of the continuing countywide Public Participation on budget estimates for the financial year 2022/2023 in the Witu and Bahari wards, respectively.

The public participation initiative, which began yesterday in the Mkomani and Shella wards, aims to gather citizens’ thoughts in compliance with Article 201 of Kenya’s constitution, which calls for openness, transparency, accountability, and public engagement in financial concerns.

Officials from the Department of Budget, Strategy, and Economic Planning walked participants through all of the county’s projects from the previous fiscal year, as well as gathering feedback on projects that they would want to see included in this year’s budget (2022/2023).

The exercise continues tomorrow, March 16th, in the Mkunumbi and Hongwe wards before moving on to Hindi, Faza, Kiunga, and Basuba, as per the attached schedule.

Governor Fahim Twaha has worked tirelessly to establish an atmosphere that allows all county citizens to be involved in and participate in the development agenda through direct engagement of the public in decision-making and gives full consideration to public input in making decisions.

CECM Finance and Budgeting Hon. Abdu Godana, Chief Officer Budgeting, Salma Omar, Director Budgeting, Mr. Wawere, County Economists, and other top officials in Planning and Budgeting are spearheading the program.

Please take a look at the accompanying program for the remaining six wards . For those who are unable to attend the physical sittings, you can also provide your comments via the County Website.

https://lamu.go.ke/…/notice-on-public-participation-on…/

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Three Kiunga ward Cooperatives have received cheques worth Ksh 500,000 each in inclusion grants.

As part of his commitment to eradicate poverty and provide an enabling environment for saving culture and investment, H.E. Governor Fahim Twaha, in partnership with the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Program, launched the inclusion grants for the three cooperatives at the County headquarters in Mokowe.

Beneficiary cooperatives in Kiunga ward include;

1. Vipingoni Farmers Cooperative

2. Kiunga Farmers Cooperative

3. Kiunga Fishermen Cooperative

Another Ksh 5 million in inclusion funds will be distributed to eight more cooperatives soon. The funds will be used to train the Cooperative leaders in leadership and management skills, as well as to coach cooperatives in business management, governance, and other skills, as well as to connect cooperatives with other organizations and businesses to strengthen their economic growth and to recruit new members.

Speaking when he handed over the cheques at the County Headquarters in Mokowe, H.E. Governor Fahim Twaha stated that his administration is committed to strengthening Lamu’s cooperative sector to address challenges faced by small agricultural and blue economy producers, due to remoteness and lack of access to information about food prices on national and international markets.

“Strong cooperatives will help our farmers and fishermen overcome historical obstacles by providing many benefits and services to their members, such as group purchasing and marketing, access to high-quality inputs, access to loans to purchase these inputs, as well as build their skills; provide them with knowledge and information, and help them innovate and adapt to changing markets,” Governor Fahim said.

Hon. Fahima Araphat, OGW, CECM Agriculture and Blue Economy, described the initiative as critical in empowering farmers’ and fisher folks to participate in decision-making processes by assisting small producers express their concerns and interests, as well as increasing their negotiating power to influence policy-making processes.

More grants will be distributed to the Lamu people in six KCSAP wards by H.E the Governor, through the steering committee led the CECM Agriculture, Blue Economy and Food Security. Hon. Fahima Araphat, OGW.

182 Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups (VMGs) will receive Ksh 174.5 million in community investment grants, including 36 from Bahari ward, 32 from Mkunumbi, 35 from Hindi, 28 from Witu, 35 from Faza, and 16 from Kiunga wards.

Abdul Fatah, the Chief Officer Fisheries and Agriculture, was in attendance, as was Steven Mbuvi, the KCSAP County Coordinator.

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For more information contact:

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

This Friday, Governor Fahim Twaha led other senior County officials in laying the foundation stone for the expansion of Faza Village’s only footbridge.

The bridge, which was constructed more than two decades ago, is the sole entry route to Faza village. It has continued to pose a significant risk to the over 3,000 Faza residents who use it on a regular basis due to its narrowness and absence of guard rails.

Governor Fahim Twaha spoke at the event expressing his concerns about the number of accidents and even deaths that have occurred on the bridge.

“This pedestrian footbridge is far too narrow, and there was no regard for vehicles or motorcycles when it was built. Times have changed; Vehicles, motorcycles, donkeys, ambulances, and pedestrians all rely on this narrow bridge these days “Governor Fahim said

Governor Twaha went on to outline the risk that Faza Ward residents face every day when negotiating the bridge.

“People have to take turns walking across the bridge, as chances of falling over are high, which wastes a lot of time. Vehicles and motorcycles are unable to overtake each other. Before an ambulance can proceed to rush a patient to the hospital, it must stop and wait for a donkey to walk the 500 meters narrow stretch ” he added.

The foot bridge, which measures about 500 metres in length and just about 2.5 metres in width, is the only entry point into and out of Faza town in Lamu East.That makes it crucial in the island’s transport system and it’s expansion is expected to benefit many other sorrounding villages including Mtangawanda, Bori, Bahamisi, Pate, Siyu, Shanga, Tchundwa, myabogi, Mbwajumali and kizingitini.

In 2015, a motorcyclist died on the spot after he fell into the ocean while attempting to avoid hitting a donkey on the bridge.

In November 2016, seven AP officers and two civilians narrowly escaped death after their land cruiser slid off the bridge and plunged into the ocean.

At least six people have fallen off the bridge and died in the past two years, while scores more nurse serious injuries following falls at the narrow bridge.

Construction works begin immediately.

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Photography by Adam Musa

For more information contact:

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