Author: Hezron Rooy

Gov’t Asks Kenyans to Update Dependant Details on SHA Portal. Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai has emphasized the importance of public members updating their dependants’ information on the Social Health Authority (SHA) portal. He highlighted that doing so would facilitate seamless service delivery at health facilities across the country. Kimtai explained that most registered individuals have not yet added their dependants to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) scheme, which could hinder effective service delivery. To address this, he called for enhanced collaboration between the ministry and county governments to ensure that all enrolled members list their dependants appropriately.…

TVET Enrollment Nearly Doubles in Two Years, Government Report Reveals. A recent report from the Ministry of Education’s State Department of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has highlighted a significant increase in enrollment in TVET institutions over the past two years, driven by enhanced funding and the establishment of new institutions. The TVET Sub-Sector Report, released in October, detailed that enrollment in public TVET institutions grew from 297,505 in the 2021/2022 financial year to 345,387 in 2022/23, and further surged to 406,649 in 2023/24. This marks a 36.7% rise in enrollment, with the figures excluding private technical institutions managed…

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Applauds 6% Minimum Wage Increase. The recent signing of a gazette notice that will increase the minimum wage by 6% has been positively received by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU). Labor Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua signed the notice at State House, Nairobi, and it is set to take effect on November 1, 2024. This increase will benefit thousands of workers currently earning the minimum wage. The decision to raise wages follows several months of negotiations among the government, trade unions, and employers. Initially, employers had insisted that the National Wages Council…

Court Orders Closure of Hillside Endarasha Academy Boarding Facilities. The High Court in Nyeri has directed Hillside Endarasha Academy to close its boarding facilities due to safety concerns. The order came just two days after the school reopened, having been closed for more than a month following a fire that resulted in the deaths of 21 boys. The institution had been working towards restoring normalcy and was preparing to resume learning for its boarding students when the court’s decision was issued. With a student population of approximately 800, Hillside Endarasha Academy reopened on Wednesday, admitting both day and boarding pupils.…

Student Brutally Beaten by Prefects at Kaaga Boys High School, Principal Tries Cover-Up. A parent has expressed deep concern over the mistreatment and assault of her child at Kaaga Boys High School in Meru County. Her son, a candidate for this year’s KCSE exams, was severely beaten by school prefects, leading to both physical injuries and emotional distress. Due to fear, the boy has refused to return to school. Graphic images shows the aftermath of the brutal assault on the 17-year-old student. The boy was accused of stealing Ksh.600 from a Form 1 student, although the prefects failed to provide…

Fierce Fire Raze Dormitory at Muvuti Secondary School in Machakos County. On Saturday morning, a fire destroyed property of unknown value at Mavuti Secondary School in Machakos County. Witnesses reported that the fire broke out around 6 am, completely engulfing a dormitory housing approximately 165 Form Two students. Fortunately, the students were in their classrooms attending dawn lessons at the time, and no casualties or injuries were recorded. Firefighters from the Machakos County Government were quickly dispatched to the scene, joining forces with students to extinguish the flames before the fire could spread further. Footage that has since gone viral…

Desperate Plea as 4-Year-Old Learner Disappears From School in Kisii. Authorities in Kisii have begun probing the mysterious disappearance of a four-year-old boy from Reinha Rosary School in Ogembo, Bomachoge Chache. The boy, Nimrod Baraka, has been missing since Tuesday, leaving the community in distress. The boy’s parents are urging the police to investigate reports that a masked man was seen leading the boy into a white car before fleeing to an unknown destination. The boy’s father, Joram Osiemo, expressed concern over the delay in finding his son, as efforts to trace him have been unsuccessful so far. Family members, friends,…

CBET Anniversary: Ogamba Celebrates TVET Reforms as Path to Industrial Growth. Julius Migos Ogamba, EBS, spoke at the 1st anniversary celebration of the roll-out of the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. The event, held at Meru National Polytechnic in Meru County, also marked a decade of reforms that have revitalized and redefined the TVET sub-sector. These reforms have been crucial in positioning vocational education as a key driver of industrial growth and youth empowerment in Kenya. The reforms introduced over the past ten years have significantly reshaped the TVET system…

Teachers Crisis in North Eastern as Parliamentary Group Convenes Stakeholder Engagement. The North Eastern Parliamentary Group, led by Patron Hon. Farah Maalim and Chairperson Hon. Adan Keynan, organized a three-day stakeholder engagement at Serena Beach Hotel, Mombasa County. The meeting aimed to address critical challenges affecting the North Eastern Region, which include historical marginalization, poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, and insecurity—all of which have impeded the region’s development. The meeting, primarily attended by Members of Parliament from the North Eastern Region, concentrated on developing strategies to overcome the region’s long-standing marginalization. The agenda focused on exploring pathways to promote inclusive development…

Teacher Training on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Begins in Meru County. Today marks the commencement of the Teachers’ Training Workshop on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Meru County. This workshop is crucial for educators, as they play a pivotal role in promoting conservation education in schools. The training will provide teachers with essential knowledge and skills in ESD, as well as help them understand their role in establishing successful Wildlife Clubs in schools. Key Objectives of the Training: Join Teachers Updates on Facebook Wildlife Clubs Collaboration and Support for Kenya’s Conservation Efforts The Wildlife Clubs of Kenya expressed…