Whilst the rest of Somalis bicker, Garissa slowly develops

[Haatu]

BY STEPHEN ASTARIKO, 24 OCTOBER 2013

 

THE Garissa government will build modern polytechnics in urban areas to ensure the youths acquire relevant skills. Education executive Hussein Hajir said no meaningful development will be achieved in the county without education and technical expertise.

 

"Skilled youth will be able to participate fully in enhancing productivity," Hajir said. "We have started the journey to impart knowledge into our youth," he added. Hajir said the county administration has waived all fees to entice the youths to the institutes and many have enrolled.

 

He said Masalani, Bura, Dadaab and Madogashe urban towns will get new polytechnics. "We realise that development of technical, industrial, vocational and entrepreneurship training (TIVET) is fundamental to the county's efforts to reduce poverty and to create opportunities for out-of-school-youth," Hajir said.

 

He said his department has completed assessing Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) and a report will be launched at the end of the month. Hajir said the constitution guarantees children right to education including those living with disabilities.

 

Hajir noted that the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 has provisions for children's right to free and compulsory basic (ECDE, primary and secondary) education, including quality services, and to access educational institutions and facilities for all persons including those with disabilities. According to the Constitution, county governments will largely be responsible for the education of the county's children at the early level.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201310240491.html

 

This is excellent news. Vocational education is important if the county is to develop.

[Haatu]

Tallaabo;981409 wrote:

Garissa had a beautiful soil. If underground water is found like in that other part of Kenya then a lot of things could grow there.

Garissa has a river which flows through it so underground water is not needed for irrigation. The problem isn't actually water, it's finding nomads willing to forego their camels for farming, infrastructure to link farms to markets, training for the farmers on good farming practice and key machinery like pumps, tractors etc. To overcome these challenges the County government needs to invite experts from countries such as Israel which have pioneered "arid" farming.

[Tallaabo]

^ I did not know that!! I always though the Kenyan rivers were a long way from NFD. The long foot nomads were indeed smart to follow their camels until they reached the river although I don't think they would now give up their time honoured nomadic lifestyle that easily or anytime soon. The best thing to do is to introduce farming to the nomads step by step by teaching them how to combine their nomadic tradition with "part-time" farming:D

[Haatu]

Tallaabo;982850 wrote:

^ I did not know that!! I always though the Kenyan rivers were a long way from NFD. The long foot nomads were indeed smart to follow their camels until they reached the river although I don't think they would now give up their time honoured nomadic lifestyle that easily or anytime soon. The best thing to do is to introduce farming to the nomads step by step by teaching them how to combine their nomadic tradition with "part-time" farming:D

The Long-Foot march was only stopped just after the river by those pesky, meddling Brits. If wasn't for them who knows we might have taken as far as Mount Kenya.

 

Most nomads are loathe to farming and will never do it but some are giving it a chance (there's a large, irrigated communal farm in Balambala where nomads farm). But with the recurrent droughts and dwindling livestock they will soon have no choice.

[Haatu]

Jaribu Primary School has benefited from a USAID funded program which saw the realization of laptop per child project.

 

According to the headmaster Mohamed Gedi, the project is currently benefiting 300 students and has triggered a spike in performance since it started.

 

Gedi said it eliminated the monotony of blackboards and changes the perception of pupils towards mathematics and science, subjects that performed poorly.

 

The laptop is the latest version of Lenovo’s ThinkPad which is developed to meet students’ educational need and features the latest generation Intel Celeron 857 processor with a 4GB memory.

 

Lenovo's ThinkPad

 

The laptop is loaded with the latest Microsoft office suite, Adobe products and digital learning content in a software called Tafakari.

 

The machines are however left in the school’s custody in the computer lab when the pupils are done with their learning.

 

Gedi pointed out that the project is all about sustainability and urged the government to be keen when starting it out.

 

The Jubilee government cancelled their tender on 17 October following a budget deficit when the lowest bidder quoted Ksh. 32B against an anticipated budget of Ksh. 2B.

 

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said the government will work hard to ensure the gadgets are delivered to schools during the first quarter of 2014.

 

By May Jesaro

http://www.citizennews.co.ke/news/2012/local/item/14580

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Somalis in kenya are progressing thats good , Somalis should root themselves in Kenyan politics and and Kenyan social economic institutions. Thats how Somalis in Kenya should operate focus on Nairobi and beyond, stop looking back. Well done we applaud the progress.

[MoonLight1]

Haatu;981241 wrote:

Five stadiums while this region has no University of its own.

 

pathetic.

[Haatu]

MoonLight1;983893 wrote:

Five stadiums while this region has no University of its own.

 

pathetic.

Hater much? The region was kept in calculated underdevelopment for decades and the locals only started in ay is maamulaan this year so give them a break. IA there's plans for a university in the future though.

[Haatu]

This is in Dhadhaab distric btw, far from the river.

 

 

[Haatu]

The Garissa county government will soon unveil a multi-million shilling milk processing plant that will process, package and brand the product for market.

 

County Executive member in charge of Industries, Commerce and co-operatives Hajir Mohamed Dahiye said the

Sh40 million plant is at its final stage. The county will soon have its own brand of milk.

 

Garissa livestock officer Benson Munyao said the plant will produce 1,500 litres of camel milk a day and will buy raw milk from farmers.

 

Camel Milk Mini Dairy group member Haret Mashkok said the announcement will raise their hope and motivate them to produce more. He asked the county authorities to hasten the process.

 

Dahiye said the county will create job opportunities for the youth when the factory become fully operational.

 

The factory will produce yoghurt, fermented milk, fresh milk and others dairy products such as ghee.

http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Garissa-Camel-Milk-Processing-Plant/-/1107872/2067572/-/xladxs/-/index.html

[Haatu]

The Garissa county government will enact laws prohibiting the open sale and consumption of miraa. The law, which is expected to come into force early next year is due to be tabled in the County Assembly.

 

It is being fronted by the Trade and Commerce executive Hajir Hassan. Speaking when opening a training workshop for 40 women miraa traders ,Hajir said the county is losing a lot of resources and manpower through the miraa trade hence the need to regulate the business.

 

The workshop was organised by Hashas Weavers, an NGO for empowering women in Northern Kenya According to statistics from Nacada, residents of Garissa spend about Sh2 million on mirror daily.

 

"We are not able to ban the sale and consumption of miraa but we can make it prohibitive in order to reduce its consumption in the county just like the Mututho laws did with alchohol," Hajir said.

 

In the new laws, the open selling and consumption of miraa will be banned and vendors will be required to seek a license from the county government which will be pegged at a high fee and those found chewing miraa in public will face hefty fines.

 

Also, transporters who ferry miraa into the County or pass through the County ferrying the leaf to neighbouring counties will be forced to pay special taxes.

 

"In the meantime, we hope to do capacity building for the miraa vendors who are mostly women to enable them acquire alternative skills in micro business and industry so that they can continue to fend for their families through other means.

 

Speaking at the same function, county executive member in charge of women, gender and children affairs Halima Mohamed said training of women engaged in the miraa business was crucial if the county was to be successful in implementing the proposed laws.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201311080382.html

[Haatu]

 

 

Garissa County has launched a health sector strategic, investment plan which seeks to transform the health sector in the region.

 

The plan, which will be implemented from 2013 to 2018, will see major changes in the sector.

 

The plan seeks to reduce maternal mortality rate, increase the number of nurses and doctors in the area, open up health centers in remote areas as well as increase facilities in the hospitals.

 

The county government has set aside 926 million shillings for planning. the project will cost an estimated 8 billion KShs.

Health Care Plan Launched

GARISSA county government has launched a five-year strategic and investment plan to transform its health sector. Governor Nadhif Jama said the plan will address challenges facing the health sector.

 

He said said the county government is committed to overseeing an overhaul of the poor state of its health sector. Nadhif was speaking in Garissa town during the launch of the plan on Monday.

 

"I want to assure all that this plan will be fully implemented. As a county, we fully understand that we cannot progress unless we sort out our health system," he said.

 

Nadhif said the plan provides a road map and a strategic direction on key priorities in line with the national health sector strategic plan. "It articulates the agreed vision, mission and core values of the Garissa county health sector," he said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201312030982.html

[Haatu]

GARISSA town will be connected to the national electric power grid by June next year. This was revealed during MP Aden Duale's a tour to the Garissa power station.

 

The managing director and CEO of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited Engineer Joel Kiilu said works to connect Garissa town to the national grid, which currently has its electricity supplied by generators, are at an advanced stage.

 

“We hope to connect the residents of this rapidly advancing town to this grid, which will result in reliable and cheaper electricity for all,” he said.

 

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company technical services manager Engineer Solomon Kariuki said power rationing in Garissa is "unfortunate but necessary".

 

He said the two generators currently supplying power to the town are undergoing routine maintenance after being in service for more than 20,000 hours.

 

“Either we carry out these maintenance works or risk losing the generators completely,” Kariuki said. “However, we hope to have completed these works by Friday next week."

 

Duale visited the power station following numerous complaints over month long power blackouts in the town.

 

“I am calling upon the residents of Garissa to remain patient as the maintenance works are being concluded and when this national grid is finally realised, then these power outages will be a thing of the past,” he said.

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-144882/garissa-be-part-electricity-grid

[Haatu]

Faafan;981381 wrote:

Governor Nadiif has prior links to many Muslim countries and a pioneer of shariah banking in Kenya, he is fit to lead Garissa out of the suffocating corruption and bring many development projects to the region, already some development is trickling and hes cleaning up the bureaucracy. Not bad so far.

Not bad indeed. Slowly but surely he's beginning to deliver on some of his promises. IA we'll see though.

[Deeq A.]

Moved.