Kenia

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Kenya: Phase two of Digital Literacy Programe to be rolled out soon

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Africa/Kenya/26-03-2021/Author: Haniel Mengistu/Source: www.kbc.co.ke

ICT, Innovation and youth affairs Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has hinted that phase two of the government’s Digital Literacy Programe (DLP) will be rolled out soon after solving budgetary delays with the Treasury.

The programme which was started by the government in 2013 aims at ensuring pupils in grade one  to three are able to use digital technology and communication tools in learning with an overarching objective of transforming learning in Kenya into a 21st Century education system.

“We are in the final stages to roll out phase two, there is an intersectional consultation and once the pending issues that mostly are budget issues we it will be unveiled,” Mucheru said.

“We have finished the first phase. In the second phase we have the Competence Based Curriculum  so we are now restructuring the programe to fit in in the new versus the previous one,” said Mucheru.

Mucheru however has said an inter-ministerial team is in the process of making final touches ahead of the official roll out that seeks to ensure learners ensure digital learning services.

The CS clarified that the DLP programme is implemented in phases and that construction of computer laboratories are one of the deliverables in phase two of the programme.

“There is budget involvements, so I believe once we are finished with treasury and education then I believe we will be able to roll out, as you know Moi university and Jomo Kenyatta University have already put up infrastructure and assembly of the programe but it was delayed by the covid-19 challenges,”Mucheru added.

The computer labs are meant to enable learners from the upper grades of class four to eight access computers for learning to ensure that there is inclusivity for all the learners.

About 21,630 primary schools countrywide have been equipped with the requisite infrastructure in phase one of the programe.

At the same time the senate standing committee on information and technology chairman Gideon Moi called for the fast tracking of implementation of pending technology programs to accelerate digital transformation.

Gideon Moi

“There’s need to scrutinize stalled projects especially in the Counties such as the County connectivity and the fibre optic backbone infrastructure, among others. This will facilitate a smoother transition to the new normal,” said Moi

This happens as a big portion of the Kenyan population now working from home and with students out of school at one point in 2020, the Internet has become a classroom, and a workplace where meeting space and business platforms are undertaken.

“The post-COVID-19 era has brought forward a new normal – one that will accelerate digital transformation in many areas. These include digital economy, digital finance, digital government, digital health, and digital education. Indeed, many Government organizations and businesses have already turned to digital platforms and digital solutions,” Said Moi.

He added “COVID-19 pandemic has exposed harsh fragilities and digital divides that have been allowed to develop for far too long. We are therefore, here too to find answers by taking into account the lessons learned and good practices gained during the COVID period,”.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/phase-two-of-digital-literacy-programe-to-be-rolled-out-soon/

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Kenya: Moi University students demonstrate over delayed disbursement of HELB Loans

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Africa/Kenya/12-03-2021/Autor(a) y Fuente: www.kbc.co.ke

According to the University student leadership, the loan has been delayed for three months now, a situation that has left most of the students helpless.

The angry students protested along Uganda Road in Eldoret town calling upon the HELB management to respond to the issue urgently warning that they will be forced to paralyze all activities in Eldoret town by Monday if they will not have received the loans.

“HELB is the only salary for the comrades, the delays cause a burden to us,” said the Chairman, Moi University School of Law Annex Chair, Budi Gini.

The students who were waving placards said the loan was supposed to have been disbursed the first or second week after the university opened.

«We have teamed up with the main campus, town campus, and the school of law, Annex to air our grievances,” said Kasina Manasseh, the Moi University Economic Students’ Association Assistant Secretary-General.

“The Dean of Students told us that he had contacted the HELB management and forwarded the names of the students on session, but when we contacted HELB, they claim the HELB loans have been disbursed partially, but nothing is reflecting in our bank accounts, who is tricking who?” posed Kasina.

Kasina claimed other universities such as the University of Nairobi, Kenya Methodist University, Maseno University among others have already received their money.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/moi-university-students-demonstrate-over-delayed-disbursement-of-helb-loans/

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Kenya: NCIC, KFCB sensitize university students on political intolerance

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Africa/Kenya/26-02-2021/Authors: Hunja Macharia / Haniel Mengistu/Source: www.kbc.co.ke

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has embarked on a sensitization programe for university students to curb rising political temperatures.

NCIC in partnership with Kenya film classification board KFCB sensitized university students on National values and peace to enhance good values and governance among the youth at the grassroots.

Speaking in Mombasa during a training on countering electoral Violence and political intolerance, NCIC Deputy Director of communication Olive Metet urged university leaders to promote peace in the country.

“We are sensitizing them on their role as university student’s leaders to go and preach the gospel of political tolerance to their comrades now that the youth are being used by politicians to cause chaos.” She said.

About 70 students from 24 universities were taken through the sensitization workshop held at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa.

Jennifer Mukami Mbogo, Multimedia University students union president lauded the move terming it as an eye opener for university students.

“We are calling on positive use of social media during this political season instead of using it as a tool to propagate hatred. As youths we should be mature enough to ensure peace prevails and that the youth are not victims of political chaos,” Mukami said.

KFCB Executive Director Ezekiel Mutua said it is important to involve the youth in peace building for sustainable moral values in the society.

Mutua now wants University student leaders to be involved in national policy formulations saying they should be part of nation development.

“University student leaders play a critical role in shaping the society, student leaders should be involved in key policy formulations so that they can shape the future of youth leadership,” Mutua said.

University students leaders present were from Kenyatta University, Multimedia University, Moi University, Technical university of Mombasa, Nairobi University among other public and private universities in the country.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/ncic-kfcb-sensitize-university-students-on-political-intolerance/

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Kenya: Form three student arrested in Nyandarua for assaulting teacher sentenced

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Africa/Kenya/19-02-2021/Author and Source: www.kbc.co.ke

A form three student who pleaded guilty to assaulting his teacher has been handed 18 months non-custodial sentence, as the court ordered his transfer to another school.

Samuel Muigai Migwi was sentenced to 18 months’ probation by Nyahururu Senior Resident Magistrate, James Wanyanga who said the court took the decision after considering the circumstance of the case.

The particulars of the case were that on January 18, 2021 at Murichu Secondary School, Muigai rained kicks and blows to the teacher on duty James Gikonyo, who he accused of embarrassing him for jumping a meal queue, causing injuries.

He was also charged for causing disturbance at the school and damaging public property namely, projector’s stand belonging to the school.

In his mitigation, Muigai pleaded with the court to pardon him and promised to be a law-abiding citizen. He also promised to apologise to his teacher and work on his anger issues.

“I promise to work hard in school and avoid involving myself in mischievous ways. For the three weeks I have been in prison, I have learnt my lesson the hard way,” he said.

While considering a Presentence Report, SRM Wanyanga, handed him 18 months probation for the first two accounts and dismissed the third account.

“I cannot order you to go back to the same school as you could be mistreated by teachers and students, for creating a bad name for the school. I am therefore of the opinion that the parents get him another school.

“If you misbehave in the other school, we will not only revive this matter but also prosecute you for the other offense,” Wanyanga warned him.

Muigai is expected in court on December 16, 2021, when a progress report on his behaviour will be presented.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/form-three-student-arrested-in-nyandarua-for-assaulting-teacher-sentenced/

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Kenya launches child online protection portal

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Africa/Kenya/12-02-2021/Author: Regina Manyara/Source: www.kbc.co.ke

Kenya has stepped up child online protection system efforts in a bid to curb the rising cases of internet child abuse.

The communications authority of Kenya has launched an online child protection portal that allows users to report cases of child abuse to the authority as well as access help.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has said the new system will also help detect and monitor cases of cyber-bullying and nab cyber-criminals as political temperatures rise due to the planned building bridges initiative referendum drive.

According to Communications Authority of Kenya statistics for the quarter ending December 2020, the National Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre detected more than 56 million cyber threats in the country.

A majority of the threats were malware attacks at 46 million, followed by web application attacks at 7.8 million while 2.2 million Distributed Denial of Service threats were detected during the same period.

Information and Communication Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has urged Communications Authority of Kenya to boost its capacity in detection and monitoring of Cybercrimes in the lead up to the upcoming BBI referendum and the 2022 general elections.

This comes barely a week after the National Cohesion and Integration Commission published a list of a shame of persons propagating hate speech.

Speaking during the launch of an interactive portal aimed at creating a safer online environment for children, Acting Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya Mercy Wanjau, noted an increase cyber-threats buoyed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The public is to use the platform to report any cases of child online abuse, which will be directly channeled to CA for necessary action.

At the same time, the public can also access information about other organizations that offer support for children, including Childline Kenya, Kenya Association of Professional Counselors, The Cradle and the Children’s department.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/kenya-launches-child-online-protection-portal/

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Mount Kenya University unveils new Vice-Chancellor

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Africa/Kenya/07-02-2021/Author: James Wakahiu/Source: www.kbc.co.ke

Mount Kenya University (MKU) installed Prof Deogratious Jaganyi as its new Vice-Chancellor, at a ceremony held at the institution’s main campus in Thika town.

While acknowledging the achievements realized over the years under the stewardship of outgoing VC, Prof Stanley Waudo, Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia urged the new Vice-Chancellor to continue with the good work being done by the institution of establishing numerous affiliated technical institutions.

“As the second Vice-Chancellor, you have Prof. Waudo’s standards that he has set for you to not only attain and maintain but also to surpass,” Kinuthia told Prof Jaganyi.

MKU top Brass flanked by CAS Zack Kinuthia display the signed performance contract of the Campus Staff during the Installation Ceremony.

Kinuthia noted that MKU has grown into a premier institution within a period of 10 years since it was granted the university charter.

“I have noted the strategic support to Technical and Vocational Training Institutions that are affiliated to MKU located in Kitale, Kisii, and Thika,” he said.

Prof Jaganyi promised to drive MKU forward in the new era of digital technology amidst a global pandemic, Covid-19, which has devastated global economies, killed millions of people and disrupted academic learning worldwide.

He said the types of jobs being created are in the emerging fields, Information Communication and Technology (ICT) driven while the old require digital problem-solving skills.

“These are emerging skills that companies need to remain globally competitive and they look to universities to provide the required human resource,” he noted.

His predecessor, Prof Waudo, narrated MKU’s humble beginnings, looking back to when it started off as a Computer Training Center (CTC) in 1996 before it was elevated and called Thika Institute of Technology (TIT). Later on, Prof Waudo says TIT later transformed to become MKU.

“In recognizing that “experience is the best teacher”, the MKU Management uses lessons learned and experience gained in the past to make decisions that support MKU growth and business continuity,” he added.

Prof Waudo noted that the country’s education was moving in the right direction citing the establishment of numerous institutions of higher learning.

“The increase in the number of universities has increased competition for programmes, staff, students, funding and partnerships among others.” He said

On his part, MKU founder and Chairman Dr. Simon Gicharu, pointed out that former Barrack Obama’s campaign motto “Yes We Can” has been the guiding principle of the institution noting that this spirit has driven MKU to where it is today.

“Prof. Stanley Waudo had been part of that process since 2007.  It was under his academic leadership that the university was awarded a Charter, won several global meritorious awards, and sprinted to position one in a number of international research grants awarded to private universities in Kenya.” He said

Pic 3 Prof. David Serem (left), Dr. Jane Nyutu (2nd left), Prof Simon Gicharu (3rd left) , Prof. D. Jaganyi (right) and Zack Kinuthia (2nd right) launching MKU 2021 – 2019 strategic plan during the Installation.

While appreciating the role played by the outgoing VC, Gicharu noted that “under Prof. Waudo’s stewardship, the university has graduated over 100,000 students, achieved internationalization and established several allied institutions notably Equip Africa Institute.”

The varsity chairman announced that Prof Waudo has been appointed a council member at MKU and will be the chairman of the proposed Mount Kigali University of Technology based in Rwanda.

Gicharu disclosed that it took a year to recruit Prof Jaganyi, a person he says has more than 20 years of experience in the management of academic institutions of international repute. He further dispelled concerns that the new varsity boss was South African, asserting that Prof Jaganyi was a Kenyan who had worked for decades in South Africa.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/mount-kenya-university-unveils-new-vice-chancellor/

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Kenya: Portal to curb online child sexual exploitation launched

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Africa/Kenya/31-01-2021/Author: Christine Muchira/Source: www.kbc.co.ke

Directorate of Criminal Investigations – DCI in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched an Online Portal tailored for law enforcers to handle matters of online child sexual exploitation and Abuse, augmenting the existing children protection measures.

Kenya becomes the 44th country globally and 22nd in Africa to partner with the UK-based foundation, a non-governmental organization that works closely with, but independently from law enforcement agencies in pulling down online materials and content that expose children to sexual exploitation.

Whereas in all other countries IWF has been working with non-governmental institutions, the DCI Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit’s (AHTCPU) relentlessness in pursuing children rights violators and battling human traffickers won the admiration of the foundation.

“Once cases of online sexual abuse on children are reported at our offices or anonymously through the DCI hotline, and a link to any website authoring such content is shared, this portal will enable us to expedite the process of pulling down the unsuitable materials before  they cause more damage to our children.” Ms Mueni Mutisya-the In Charge AHTCPU.

While commending the DCI & IWF for the bold move, Lady Justice Martha Koome highlighted the need for immediate action by pulling down of any online child exploitative content, citing the need for review of the way to go about receiving evidence and prosecuting children related cases.

“You do not require any court order to pull down any material that exposes a child to sexual exploitation and abuse, whether copyrighted or not. The judicial system prioritizes what is done in the best interest of the child,” she said.

Adding that: “What is done in the best interest of the child.”

While presenting his compliments to IWF and other stakeholders who pledged their continued cooperation in protecting children, the Director DCI represented by the Deputy Director-Investigation Bureau Mr. Carey Nyawinda reiterated that the DCI is committed to ensuring that children are safe in both the physical and virtual environments.

The virtually held launch was attended by, among other institutions, the National Crime Agency (NCA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Technology Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), Interpol and the Internet Service Providers.

Separately, detectives based in Makueni have launched a manhunt for a 31-year-old man suspected to have defiled and impregnated a school going child.

While at school, the 13-year-old pupil at Kathonzweni Holy Ghost Mission Primary had complained of abdominal pain, forcing the school’s administration to call upon the mother to take her to hospital.

The examination on her condition revealed that she was expectant, she thereafter disclosed to have been defiled by the suspect; Reuben Mutie of Kwa Kavisi location, who has since run into hiding.

Source and Image: https://www.kbc.co.ke/portal-online-child-sexual-exploitation/

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