The post Kenya, Japan Discuss Ways to Improve Bilateral Relations, Trade Balance appeared first on Nakuru News.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently hosted Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Okaniwa Ken to discuss various modalities to improve the relationship.

The Deputy President praised Japan for its support in various sectors and expressed Kenya’s intention to strengthen the cordial relations between the two countries that have existed since independence.

The trade balance is one of the areas Kenya is working on as it seeks to expand markets for its agricultural products in Japan.

Presently, Kenya exports Sh7.8 billion worth of products to Japan annually against Sh127 billion of imports to the country.

During the meeting, the DP also challenged the ambassador to promote Kenya as a good tourist destination site among their people, saying the number of tourists from Japan was still low.

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The post Safaricom partners with Zeraki Learning for Digital Learning platform appeared first on Nakuru News.

This digital platform seeks to provide topic-by-topic assessments and powerful metrics to help students diagnose their weaknesses and track their progress.

“Our investments in education, both from a solutions and philanthropic perspective, are geared towards addressing current gaps and boost youth employability. Through the partnership with Zeraki Learning we want to ensure that the platform makes digital education accessible and affordable. For parents, Zeraki gives them access to their child’s academic record which they can use to support their decisions”, said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.

Safaricom has added a touchpoint within MySafaricom App which will enable parents and guardians to subscribe for the service for as low as KES 20 a day. The amount can be deducted from customers’ airtime/postpaid bill or via M-PESA

“We are glad to be able to extend our services to Safaricom customers in a bid to make learning accessible to students from all backgrounds. By leveraging on Safaricom’s technology and platform and pairing it with our services, we will provide a solution that we hope will have a positive impact in Kenya,” said Isaac Nyangolo, CEO, Zeraki Learning.

Zeraki analytics offers the latest system of compiling and analyzing students’ data by providing an interface for results analysis, marks entry, and bulk messaging to parents. For the teachers, Zeraki analytics results gives them a new and easy way to analyze and visualize exam results.

The platform is available in the education section of MySafaricom App under the discover tab and on www.safaricom.com/elimu

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The post Multi-million building set to house all County departments appeared first on Nakuru News.

The post Multi-million building set to house all County departments appeared first on Nakuru News.

The post Weakening Kenya Shilling and what it means to mwananchi appeared first on Nakuru News.

This is largely attributed to the weakening of the Kenya Shilling, especially to the dollar.

The shilling started declining in value in March as the first case of COVID-19 was announced in the country.

By April the Shilling had hit the 107 mark, the descent has since widened to an all-time low of 108 on Friday.

This is the highest the shilling has ever been devalued against the dollar.

Financial experts have warned of a further decline, with some projecting a drop of up to 110 against the dollar soon.

This decline has been attributed to many factors among them an increase in demand for dollars by importers seeking to buy US currency.

Other factors include the decline in diaspora remittances due to COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive travel affecting tourism, the decline in exports, closure of financial international markets among others.

This means that since Kenya imports more than it exports, then the prices of imported commodities have been going high. Importers then push the burden to the consumers.

However, the weakening of Shilling is not all bad for Kenya’s economy. It can help to re-balance the economy in the medium term.

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The post King of Buganda causes a stir in Nakuru town. appeared first on Nakuru News.

People milled around to catch a glimpse of the reigning King of the Buganda kingdom as his heavily guided convoy snaked through town to an unknown destination.

The 36th kabaka of Buganda is in the country on a prolonged holiday after he marked 27 years since he assumed the Buganda kingdom’s throne after the death of his father sir Edward Mutesa.

According to State House twitter account several days ago, Kabaka Mutebi paid a courtesy call to President Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House, Nairobi.

The two discussed the role of culture in regional integration and peaceful communal co-existence among other matters of mutual interest.

It’s also understood that the King his family will witness the annual migration of wildebeest in Masai Mara game reserve, one of the world’s most thrilling, intriguing and spectacular display of wildlife behaviour.

Kabaka is the title of the King in the kingdom of Buganda, the Kingdom existed long before Uganda was colonized by the British.

He is given state protection by Uganda People Defences Forces and from Kabaka Protection Unit trained by the army.

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The post Mututho to President Kenyatta: Seek aid from Somalia on handling COVID-19 funds thieves appeared first on Nakuru News.

A regional court in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu Monday sentenced four senior Ministry of Health officials and acquitted five others accused of stealing money meant to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The four are facing jail times of up to 18 years and have also been slapped with fines in one the harshest conviction of State officials in recent years.

Mututho says if the Kenyan government should seek help from Somalia in investigating and prosecuting COVID-19 funds theft suspects.

“A lawless Somalia has shown us the way on how to deal with corrupt government officers. It would be good for President Uhuru to reach out to his Somali counterpart for help,” he stated.

Human rights defenders and members of the civil society continue to hold nationwide demos to pressure the government to act on the corruption allegations.

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The post City lawyer petitions Government over Yassin’s detention in Ethiopia appeared first on Nakuru News.

City Lawyer and human rights Activist Dan Okemwa now wants the National Assembly to investigate circumstances surrounding Yassin’s arrest and detention.

In a petition, the Lawyer wants the Assembly to establish whether protection has been offered to Yassin and recommend any action to be taken to safeguard his rights and fair hearing.

As per the petition, the Attorney General and Ministry of the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary are set to appear before the Parliamentary Committee of Defence and Foreign Relations.

Kenya on August 12, through the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, wrote to Ethiopia demanding an “urgent release” of Yassin terming the detention as a violation of his rights to justice.

Kenya protested that the continued detention was highly regrettable and had caused immense anguish and anxiety to Yassin, his family, the people and the government of the Republic of Kenya.

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The post Kenyans embrace home-based remedies to boost immunity amid COVID-19 risks appeared first on Nakuru News.

Irene Kasyoka sipped a mixture of ginger and lemon as she watched out for customers in her vegetable stall located on the eastern edges of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Her son was drinking the same mixture with sniffling interjections during an unusually chilly day.

To Kasyoka and her child, the renowned home remedy is their holy grail when it comes to warding off cold and COVID-19 disease.

“I have been preparing this remedy since the start of the pandemic, my husband and our two sons take it regularly. Making the mixture fulfils me as a mother and wife because I am assured of my family’s well-being,” Kasyoka said.

The desire by Kenyans to keep COVID-19 at bay has compelled them to explore home-based remedies.

Currently, the use of ginger, a natural antioxidant, lemon and honey are commonly known as ‘dawa’ (medicine) is rapidly gaining momentum for its alleged COVID-19 healing properties.

Expressing deep faith in the natural concoction, Kasyoka said that if anyone in her family shows early signs of a flu or cold, the mixture is promptly administered and within hours the flu dies down.

With COVID-19 symptoms mimicking a common cold, the homemade remedy was the most obvious medicine she reached out for.

Josephine Mbondo, a pharmacist said that the use of ginger is essential in boosting people’s health as it protects against colorectal cancer.

Lemon, on the other hand, is rich in Vitamin C and great for detoxing, according to Mbondo.

Kenya’s ministry of health has emphasized on proper nutrition and adherence to prevention measures like wearing masks and maintaining social distance in order to reduce COVID-19 transmissions.

“I urge Kenyans to seek nutritional counselling before embarking on using home remedies. This can be accessed in the nearest health facility. A healthy balanced diet is highly recommended,” said Patrick Amoth, acting director-general in the Ministry of Health.

Like China, Kenya has also a long-standing history of using traditional medicine that has been confirmed effective in the treatment of many diseases.

Clinical evidence has affirmed that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a significant effect on the treatment of COVID-19.

Helen Atiwa, a mother of two boys, said that she was certain that a mixture of ginger and lemon a day would be an effective weapon against COVID-19.

In addition to that, Atiwa has taken more interest in the vegetable intake and whole foods to boost her health.

She said that it may take scientists a while to come up with a drug or vaccine that is safe and efficient but vowed to keep taking her fruits and natural remedies.

Currently, a definite treatment remains elusive as countries utilize what responds well with a patient. Whether honey and ginger is just a placebo, the jury is out.

Story by Xinhua

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The post KMPDU boss Dr Mwachonda tests positive for Covid-19 appeared first on Nakuru News.

Dr Mwachonda said he contracted the virus while dispensing his official duties and is currently in a stable condition and under self-isolation.

“My family is safe, contact tracing and testing of all close contacts is ongoing,” he stated in an official statement sent to newsrooms.

Dr Mwachoda has been on the forefront fighting for the support of frontline healthcare workers through the provision of adequate and quality personal protective equipment as well as welfare packages.

He said the coronavirus is in the widespread community transmission phase and all Kenyans are at risk but that should not be a cause for fear or stigma to affected individuals or their families.

He cited that the high number of recoveries offers hope that Kenya will win the war against an invisible enemy. However, he cautioned Kenyans to adhere to the Ministry of Health prevention measures.

“To my colleagues on the frontline, we soldier on in the service to humanity cognizant of the great risk of infection to all of us,” he implored.

Over 650 healthcare workers have contracted Covid-19 across the country, about three per cent of the total cases reported in the country.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has hit out at healthcare workers flouting professional conduct rules during the pandemic.

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The post Amref International University launches course for health reporters appeared first on Nakuru News.

The first-intake class of the Health Communication & Journalism course kicked off on Monday 27 July with 20 students.

The 20 are recipients of the 2019 Africa Media Network on Health (AMNH), Excellence in Health Journalism Awards scholarships.

In line with COVID-19 guidelines, the course is offered virtually to the journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi.

The training is aimed at equipping learners with skills to influence positive health change within communities.

AMIU Vice-chancellor Professor Marion Mutugi said the media wields enormous power to influence societal change.

For the COVID-19 pandemic, health reporters can influence the public to adhere to preventive measures and fight stigma.

Ms Marie Yambo, AMNH President encouraged learners to take advantage of the training hone their health reporting skills.

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