Over 3,000 residents of Lake Amu, Ocean View (Witemere ya Juu), Baharini town and Tewe Chiefs office area in Bahari ward are currently receiving relief food to cushion them against the prevailing drought .

The countywide exercise that was launched last month by HE Governor Fahim Twaha aims to distribute over 400 tonnes of foodstuff to over 32,000 vulnerable households across all the ten wards within Lamu.

Speaking at Lake Amu, Governor Fahim expressed his commitment to ensure food security for all Lamu residents through his administration’s program to support small holder farmers who were dealt a big blow by the ravaging drought registering little to no harvest last season . The county has procured 10 new fully loaded tractors in addition to the existing nine to help open up more land for Agriculture through the subsidized mechanization of farms program .

Lamu, just like other 12 Arid and Semi Arid Counties did not receive adequate rainfall during the last October – November-December 2020 short rains and the March-April-May 2021 long rains. Both seasons were characterized by late onsets, below average quantities, and poor distribution both in time and space.

In the recent past the County has stepped up distribution of relief animal feeds as well as water tracking services using water bowsers in villages facing acute water shortage to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to affected residents, livestock and even wildlife watering areas .

According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) drought bulletin for July 2021, the other twelve (12) counties on a high alert drought phase include Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Samburu, Kitui, Isiolo and Laikipia .

The Governor was accompanied by CECM Trade Hon. Josphat Musembi, CECM Education Hon. Paul Thairu HSC, CECM Public Service Management and Administration Hon. Godana Abdu, Chief of Staff Mohamed Bute among other staffs.

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Story by: Samuel Mkare

For more information contact;

Lamu Communications office at info@lamu.go.ke

A delegation of students from Kiunga ward undertaking different courses at the Lamu Technical and Vocational Education and training center paid a courtesy call to the office of the Governor at the County headquarters in Mokowe .

The youths, led by Hussein Shali (Marine Security Course ), Rashid Aboud Bwana(Vessel Repairs Course) and Ali Sadik(Maritime Transport and Logistics course); lauded Governor Fahim Twaha and the County Department of Education for the great strides in ensuring that youths in Lamu are empowered and well prepared to take up opportunities that accrue from the LAPSSET . They challenged other County youths to take advantage of the expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) opportunities offered by the County government of Lamu .

Governor Fahim Twaha’s administration has made far-reaching reforms in the TVET sector to churn technologists and artisans required to contribute to Kenya’s and Lamu’s industrial goals . Already , the county has opened 14 satellite polytechnics across the County, scrapped off fees in all of them and expanded the curricula. This has increased the number of trainees in local TVET’s to over 3,500 from just 447 by end of 2017.

Governor Fahim Twaha congratulated the youths for taking initiative to better their lives through education saying the TVETs opportunities will equip them with employable technological skills not only in LAPSSET but also in other associated projects .

“The LAPSSET Corridor Program has components such as the Port, Roads, Railways, Pipelines, Refineries and fishing port which requires technical expertise that is mostly imported from other Countries and Counties. The more we improve our youths technical skills, the more we will change that equation,” said Governor Fahim.

The youths assured Governor Fahim Twaha that they will take full advantage of the opportunities provided by TVETs, saying they are ready to proceed for higher education upon completion of their courses under the County’s higher education Bursary funds for college and University students .

Lamu County’s commitment to increase the number of graduates with technical expertise, mirrors the national government’s ambition to reduce a skills gap that exists in building infrastructure in line with Vision 2030 development goals.

In attendance was the LAWASCO Managing Dirrctor Mr. Paul Wainaina.

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Story by: Athman Omar

For more information contact:

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