Embu County set to host Communications Authority for 'Kikao Kikuu' Forum

A Kikao Kikuu setting when the Communications Authority held the forum in Nyandarua County earlier in the year. PHOTO: File 

EMBU: Communications Authority of Kenya's Kikao Kikuu to be held in Embu. 

Areas in Embu that have been facing mobile network challenges are set to get a communication uplift as way of connecting them to the world. 

This comes after Embu County government partnered with the Communication Authority of Kenya to provide mobile network to areas that have been experiencing network issues in the past. 

The authority, together with the Embu County Government, will from 25th to 28th November hold a County ICT Consumer Forum at the University of Embu. 

Through the forum, dubbed 'Kikao Kikuu', the Authority is set to provide platforms of interaction with ICT consumers and service providers among other stakeholders to explore solutions to challenges in communications with the devolved units.

Embu will be the 19th county to host the forum as C.A targets to traverse the 47 counties in Kenya.

The forum’s theme is ‘Using ICT as an enabler of opportunities’.

The regulator whose mandate is to facilitate development of the information and communications sectors including; broadcasting, cybersecurity, multimedia, telecommunications, electronic commerce, postal and courier services, uses Kikao Kikuu forums to create a sustainable link that promotes value in the way consumers interact with systems and processes.

In addition, it helps to bridge the gaps between the policy and legal framework by deepening the awareness and building individual capacity.

CA is charged with safeguarding the interests of consumers of ICT services. This is achieved through the enforcement of consumer regulations as well as educating users of these services on their rights and responsibilities.

In the past, it has carried out consumer education outreach program targeting users of mobile and internet services (“Chukua Hatua: Pata Huduma ya Mawasiliano Unayostahili”), Postal Courier Consumers (Kaa Macho), SIM Card Registration (Pata Ukweli wa Mtambo), Number Portability (Namba Yangu Milele) and Child Online Protection.

According to Kenya’s Digital Economy Blueprint, digital skills are a prerequisite for benefiting from any technology, across all sectors of the economy, and at all levels of the skills spectrum. 

“Digital skills will enable every Kenyan to have access to digital technology, having the literacy and know-how to use this technology, and being able to participate in and create with this technology,” reads part of the digital skills pillar that is focused on developing digital skills for its citizens [Mostly ICT professionals] to meet the competencies and expertise required for the digital economy.

The Blueprint identifies the five pillars of the digital economy, that are described under the headings, Digital Government, Digital Business, Infrastructure, Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship, and Digital Skills and Values

Public-Private Partnership and the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Public-Private Partnership and the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI)

THE Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and industry, Embu County Chapter, in conjunction with the County government of Embu through its Department of Trade, Tourism, Investment and Industrialization is expected to host the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Mr. Richard Ngatia, for a second time in so few months. The event, dubbed as Embu Business Partnership and Networking Dinner will focus on several issues discussed on 31 May 2019 when the president had visited the county. For the purpose of this dinner,Mr Ngatia will be the Chief Guest.

Embu County Deputy Governor David Kariuki (left)
with KNCCI President Mr Richard Ngatia
in Embu on 31/5/2019. PHOTO: James Metumi

As such, 23 August 2019 is supposed to be a day that would mark the recognition of the great strides made by the business community in Embu County and the region at large in the last several months. The occasion, aimed to serve as a follow-up on a number of development-centered ideas shared during the president’s last visit to Embu would bear sweeter fruits if it was all inclusive. These sentments were expressed by members of Lower Embu Business Community, comprising of the younger generation in business. They feel that Chambers is for the older established business tycoons.

However, speaking about the PPP dinner, Embu Chapter Chambers Chairman, Mr John Mugo Mate said, “Strengthening the Public-Private business Partnership and networking, is the theme of this very special occasion” 

The kind of Industial Park that Mr. Ngatia
plans to establish in Embu. FILE

Embu County Governor H.E Martin Wambora is expected to be the Guest of Honour for the occasion. During the last visit to Embu by the Chamber president, the business community leader pledged more engagement with all county governments in support of the cottage industry, commonly known as the Juakali sector. His main concern on that particular event was to establish what really affects business in Embu County and come up with solutions.

Following his departure, public communication officers in Embu County embarked on finding out the problems affecting the business community in the region, with the aim of coming up with solutions that should be presented during the Business Connect Dinner at Izaak Walton hotel on 23 August 2019, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The officers, having carried out the research with all due diligence are set to present their findings to the Governor, the Chambers president, the Chairman and all stakeholders invited to the occasion, for the benefit of all and sundry. In the report, the officers can be expected to explain the incongruity inherent in the president’s proposal to have a motorcycle assembly plant and an industrial park in the county, among his other noble ideas.

Here below is an excerpt from president Ngatia’s speech during his previous visit:

Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry Set to Support the Cottage Industry

The cottage industry - commonly known as Juakali - is bound to receive some much needed support from the Kenya national Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI). Speaking in Embu when he and his team paid a courtesy call to the governor on 31 May 2019, KNCCI president Mr. Richard Ngatia pledged more involvement by the organization in the affairs of the business community both at county and national level.

“The chamber is looking forward to engagement with county governments and more involvement of the Chamber in the success of national holidays such as Madaraka Day.”

Announcing that he has recently been named as the deputy Patron of the Juakali sector countrywide, Mr. Ngatia said his team is out to understand what affects Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in counties. As such he plans to go round all the counties to determine solutions to challenges that the business community faces and see how to advise the government on the same.

JAPAN Set to Support the Formation of Wambora Legacy

Africa Children Education Fund (ACEF) Managing Director, Mr. Yasuo Shiojiri (right), Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Krym Shikao and Mr. Kiptoo Bitok when they met Embu County Secretary in his office on 3 June, 2019 

When Push Comes to Shove!

L

egacy is everything, or so they say among those who are visionary enough to comprehend the true value of man; that the closest measure of a human being’s worth is the extent to which he or she would go BEYOND DUTY, to make the life of another person better. In this light, the ‘Land of Opportunities’ can look forward to having not only a new rescue ambulance in addition to the fire engine already received from Japan, but also a garbage collection and recycle engine in the next few months. These valuable assets have and will be availed through the efforts of Governor Wambora via the Tenri fraternity as lobbied with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Africa Children Education Fund (ACEF), all for the benefit of Embu residents.

ACEF is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) affiliated to Kenya Tenri Society, with Mr. Yasuo Shiojiri as the Managing Director. Mr. Shiojiri had accompanied the Japanese donor city’s Foreign Affairs Minister; Mr. Krym Shikao to meet Embu County Secretary, Mr Johnson N. Nyaga, who is expected to see to the success of the delegates’ trip to Japan. Other counties whose officials are to join the delegation include Kiambu and Murang’a. The above mentioned development was discussed at length in a high level meeting held between top government officials and the Japanese delegates when the latter team paid a courtesy call to the County Secretary in his office on 3 June 2019.

Embu County secretary, Mr Johnson N. Nyaga keenly listens
as he chairs the meeting

Government officials present in the meeting included the Chief Officer, Public Service Ms. Jayne Mugambi and the Head of Transport, Mr. Robert Kariuki. Also present were the Chief Officer, Administration & Devolution and the Municipal Manager, Embu County. Present too was the link person between the Kenya Tenri Society and the county government, Mr. Kiptoo Bitok, who is also in charge of Fire Marshals, with both ACEF and Kenya Tenri Society.

“It is only us that the Governor has nominated to go for the 10 day trip to Japan, for the purpose of training and negotiations for both the garbage collection vehicle and the rescue ambulance”, said Ms Mugambi. 

She added that Mr Bitok had brought with him a program indicating a change in departure for the trip from 18 June to 6 July, 2019, as well as the schedule of activities to be undertaken by the team while over there.

 

Embu County senior officers scheduled to go on the trip to Japan in a meeting with the Japanese officials and the County Secretary in the latter's office on 3 June, 2019. PHOTO/ James Metumi.

Embu County Sets Up a Ultra-Modern Milk Processing Plant

The state-of-the-art milk processing plant set up in Embu County

Embu County is a big producer of dairy products in the Mt Kenya region

The construction and equipping of a state of the art milk processing plant in Embu County has started.

Making the announcement, Embu Governor Martin Wambora said the project will cost Kshs 300 Million, thus stepping up efforts at value addition in the dairy sector in the county. The plant will be located at Ugweri, in Runyenjes sub county. Speaking in Embu, Governor Wambora said the county government chose Ugweri due to its close proximity to major milk producing areas of the county. The plant will process long life milk, fresh milk, yoghurt, mala, ghee and butter. Embu’s dairy industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, in tandem with the rising demand for processed milk driven by a growing middle class.

Set on a 3.5-acre piece of land, the plant will have a capacity of processing 48,000 liters of milk daily. The county government will deploy equipment for Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT) and Extended Shelf Life (ESL). Governor Wambora expressed confidence that the plant will be capable to produce enough milk to supply pupils under the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in the entire county.

“The state-of-the-art facility will utilize the most current technology available to the market becoming one of the newest processing facility in the county” Governor Wambora added.

CECM Agriculture, Ms. Annie Nyaga said that Embu County Government has already installed 13 coolers in collaboration with the national government and is in the process of installing 10 more with a total capacity of 65,000 liters of milk per day.

“The county government has also mobilized over 16 milk co-operatives who are already selling milk as a result of installing the coolers,” she said, adding that plans are underway to install another 13 milk coolers in the next financial year. All the coolers are located in major dairy keeping areas of the county and will supply milk to the processing plant at competitive prices.

The plant will also supply its branded poly pack milk variants for consumers across the Mt Kenya region.