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The Lamu County Government, under the stewardship of Governor Fahim Twaha, has procured and begun delivering medical supplies worth KSh 10 million to 42 health facilities across the county. The Medical supplies include pharmaceuticals, non-pharmaceuticals, laboratory, and renal consumables.

The medical supply distribution began on Monday, May 9th, 2022, and has already covered;

-King Fahd Hospital

-Witu Hospital

-Katsakakairu Dispensary

-Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital

-Hindi Hospital

-Mokowe Hospital

-Shela Hospital

The distribution is still underway, and will cover the remaining 35 County health institutions, as well as a few Faith-based facilities and non-Profit Community based facilities that collaborate with the county government to provide accessible and affordable health services to the mwananchi i.e Pablo Horstman Health Centre(ANIDAN), Maria Teressa Nuzzo Health Centre, Hongwe Catholic Dispensary.

Speaking at the King Fahd Hospital earlier today, Governor Fahim Twaha explained that over KSH 25 million worth of medical supplies had been ordered by the Lamu County Government, however Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) was only able to deliver fewer than half of the drugs.

Lamu County, like other counties around the country, has repeatedly accused KEMSA for a severe lack of pharmaceuticals and kits, therefore being unable to meet its obligation of supplying public health facilities with health products.

Late last year, the courts faulted the law mandating counties to strictly procure medical supplies from state-owned KEMSA .

This followed by the Endorsedment of the Kemsa (Amendment) Act, 2021 by the Senate earlier this year, will enable counties free hand to purchase medical supplies from other players. A move that will end chronic scarcity of medical supplies not only in Lamu County but across the whole country .

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For more information contact:

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

Faza ward will today recieve Ksh 38 Million in grants to empower community groups, special groups and youth groups from the ward.

The Governor will also give sports equipment to 30 teams from the ward.

The event is being presided over by Lamu Governor HE Fahim Twaha at Faza Social Hall.

More to follow…..

#FahimAnafahamuMaendeleo

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;

• CERTIFICATE / DIPLOMA SCHOLARSHIPS 2022

-TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING (TVET) SCHOLARSHIPS 2022

-INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 2022

• APPLICATIONS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS 2022 Kindly send in your application for consideration for the great opportunities.

Deadline for application is 18th May 2022 .

KEMFSED GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & INTERSHIPS 2022

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KEMFSED APPLICATION FORM 2022

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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…

Community targeted projets in the ongoing award of grants to community and special groups at Muungano grounds, Bahari ward.

1. Dairy

2. Cotton

3. Cashewnut

4. Indegenious chicken

5. Fish.

The event is being sperheaded by HE Governor Fahim Twaha and 200 groups are set to benefit.

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