2022 Yearbook

First Lady calls for renewed vigour to shield infants from HIV and syphilis

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First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Tuesday, March 23 called for a renewed commitment to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) of HIV and Syphilis in the country.

She called for concerted efforts to accelerate the progress made towards achieving eMTCT through the promotion of stronger partnerships.

“I am convinced, that our successes rely on harmonised efforts from both the public and private sectors.

“I believe that our targets are achievable because of the solid partnerships we have built with you,” she said.

The First Lady spoke when she virtually addressed a partnership meeting on accelerating the progress towards achieving validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis by 2021.

Records show that Kenya has made great progress towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and curbing maternal mortality with new HIV infections reducing by 47 per cent from 12,826 in 2013 to 6,806 in 2020.

This success is partly due to the Kenya Framework for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis 2016-2021 launched by the First Lady in 2017 during a Beyond Zero Summit.

She commended the innovative implementation of the Kenya eMTCT Framework adopted by counties through the county business plan model.

“So far, we have successfully launched 11 county business plans. It is my hope that we, as partners, will commit to resourcing and supporting the remaining county governments on their respective journeys,” she said.

The county business plans provide for the sustainable and timely implementation of activities for counties to meet their unique eMTCT circumstances.

Full speech by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Covid-19 Pandemic

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President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, March 26 issued fresh directives including a partial lockdown of five counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru to address a surge in cases of Covid-19.

Delivering the 15th Presidential Address on the Coronavirus Pandemic from State House Nairobi, President Uhuru decried a positivity rate he said is at its highest since the pandemic struck, a devastating death rate and unparalleled stress the pandemic is placing on the health system.

“What is even more worrying is the rising death rate from COVID.  Between January and February 2021, three (3) people died every day from COVID; in March 2021, the number has gone up to seven (7) every day, the highest since this pandemic hit us,” the President said.

“Equally worrisome is how this COVID crisis has TESTED our health system. Over the last one month, we have experienced a steep and sustained rise in the number of admissions for COVID-19 across the country,” he added.

Read the Full Statement here

Govt reviews minimum price for cane deliveries upwards

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The government has directed millers to adhere to the minimum price of cane adjusted from the current Sh3,700 per tonne to Sh4,040 per tonne effective April 1, 2021.

The upward review of the minimum recommended cane price to be paid to the farmer was arrived at by the Sugarcane Pricing Committee owing to the prevailing high sugar ex-factory prices over the past three months in Kenya.

In a statement delivered from Kilimo House, Nairobi on Tuesday, the Agriculture Cabinet secretary asked any farmer being paid less to report to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).

“Any cases of non-compliance will attract a fine of not less than Sh500,000 or one-year imprisonment as per Section 37 of the Crops Act, 2013,” he said.

At the same time, a new model of paying cane deliveries based on quality is set to replace the century-old system that paid in terms of tonnage.

In the statement that dwelt on a wide range of issues in the sugar industry, Munya also said that a roadmap for implementation of the Quality-Based Cane Payment system is at an advanced stage.

“We hope to roll it out in July 2021,” he said, adding that the system will, among other things, serve as an incentive for high quality management in production process.

Read the Statement in Full