President Uhuru Kenyatta has underscored the importance of well-trained health workers in the delivery of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) pillar of the Big 4 Agenda.

The President emphasized that skilled human resource is a key building block in the health system that should not be overlooked in catering for the country’s health needs.

“The latest technology and modern medicines are futile if the human element is sub-standard.  In the delivery of the services to individuals and communities, whether preventive or curative, it is critical to have skilled, equipped, adequately supported and well-trained health workers.

“Indeed, the success of our efforts to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is largely dependent on the availability of a health workforce endowed with the right skill-sets and supported by delivery of accessible and affordable healthcare for all,” President Kenyatta said.

The Head of State spoke on Saturday when he presided over the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the AMREF International University (AMIU) campus at the Ruiru Northlands in Kiambu County.

President Kenyatta said while the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down the progress of UHC in the country by straining the health system, it did not stop the efforts geared towards its attainment.

At the same time, the President pointed out that Africa’s socio-economic success in the post Covid-19 times must be anchored on the recovery of its health system which relies heavily on the health workforce.

“…for that reason, there is need for increased investment in training and policy reforms within the sector to make up for the lost ground,” the President said. 

He noted that Africa faces an acute shortage of health workers compared to other regions despite the continent having 25% of the world’s illness burden, according to the Word Health Organization (WHO) estimates.

“This large deficit has created a pressing need for at least one million community health workers and 350,000 midwives in sub-Saharan Africa, just to achieve the critical minimum levels.

“It is also worth noting that millions more existing health workers lack the necessary support, equipment and the training required to make them fit for purpose to deliver on their mandate,” the Head of State said. 

President Kenyatta pointed out that Africa's shortage of health workers has constrained nations from adequately responding to pandemics such as the Covid-19, achieving health equity and meeting population health needs. 

In this regard, the President said the Government has put in place a raft of measures including fully supporting the operationalization of community health services as a platform for delivery of primary health care and UHC.

Other measures include the establishment of progressive frameworks for improved industrial relations between national and county governments and health workers unions as well as the absorption of community health workers (CHWs) into the mainstream health system.

Similarly, the President stated the Government’s commitment to increasing domestic financing for community health as part of the efforts to boost primary healthcare.

President Kenyatta commended the AMREF International University fraternity for its ambitious expansion plan to scale up training for health workers in Kenya and across the continent. 

He said AMREF’s 65 years of quality and innovative public and community health intervention and training has significantly contributed to the improvement of the health sector in Kenya and Africa as a whole.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said AMREF has been a key partner to the continent’s quest to formulate a new curriculum for training health workers, noting that the new institution will be crucial in enhancing the organization’s capacity to offer quality training to health practitioners.

“And am glad your Excellency that through the cooperation of AMREF and universities that are here, we have gone along way in the preparation of a new curriculum of how we are going to train all our health workers both at KMTC, universities and in all institutions,” said the Health CS.

World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros  Adhanom Ghebreyesus said his organization  fully supports AMREF in its endeavours  to construct another training institution for medical practitioners, saying the 65 years of AMREF service to African countries  have tremendously impacted the continent’s  healthcare sector.

AMREF Health Africa CEO Dr. Gitahi Githinji said the AMREF International University looks forward to being awarded a charter to enable it to train more health workers.

"We will be starting an AMREF University scholarship fund to support young women from marginalized communities and fragile countries to come and study at this university," Dr. Githinji said.

The event was also attended by Head of Public Service Dr. Joseph Kinyua, WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti and AMREF Health Africa's International Board of Directors Chairman Charles Okeahalam among others.

Kenyan singer Tanasha Donna has come through with another song titled 'Maradonna'

In the song, Tanasha Donna talks of people out to see her downfall.

"Mara Donna this, Mara Donna that , I thank God for my friends, they got my back, I f you think I'm done sit back and relax, I'm too blessed to be stressed baby, Say all you want I'm not fazed. You ain't feeding me or my baby." says Tanasha in the song.

Adding "Praying on my downfall. You can never see me fall, If God says yes, who are you to say no?"

watch the video below..

While billionaires  owe their success due to entrenched family connectedness and inheritance  from their forefathers , this is not the case with  Bonisile Roberts.

Mrs Roberts rose through the ranks of being a consultant for Agilitee in 2018. After delivering astonishing results to the founder of Agilitee Dr. Mandla Lamba .Dr Lamba decided to bring her on board on full time basis in late 2019

Mrs Roberts is now Africa’s first Electric Vehicles Manufacturer, AI and Green Tech Company, Agilitee’s first female  Billionaire.

While other female billionaire like  Alexandra Andresen, who  first appeared on Forbes’ billionaires list in 2016, when she was just 19 inheriting fortunes from his  father,  Norwegian Billionaire,Johan H. Andresen Jr, owner of Ferd AS, Roberts earned the fortune through hard work.

Mrs Roberts  is the CEO of Agilitee Africa, Africa’s first Electric Vehicles Manufacturer, AI and Green Tech Company Agilitee.

Agilitee is currently cooking up a Johannesburg Stock Exchange IPO which is marked as the first EV, AI and Green Tech IPO in Africa, the IPO values Agilitee $20 billion and this has bumped up Bonisile Roberts net worth to $1,2 billion which makes her one of the  richest women in Africa, in the same mold with  Angola’s  Isabel Dos Santos. 

 Boni joined Agilitee in 2018 as a consultant, after delivering astonishing results the founder of Agilitee Dr. Mandla Lamba decided to bring her on board on full time basis in late 2019. She has been with Agilitee from word go. Boni is the second largest individual shareholder of Agilitee and she joins other female billionaires that include ,Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, Julia Koch, Alice Walton, Jacqueline Mars,Gina Rinehart , Miriam Adelson, Abigail Johnson among others.

Last year the green tech firm, Agilitee, was qualified as one of South Africa’s Top Gender Empowered Companies, making it to the scoreboard with other top empowerment brands in the country comprising top listed counters and other major  businesses in both the private and public sectors.

With few years  since its founding, the company qualified for the listing endorsed by Standard Bank Group with support from South Africa’s Commission for Gender Equality.

The Top Women Leaders 17th edition is South Africa’s leading gender empowerment brand celebrating public and private sector organizations for prioritizing empowerment as an integral part of their business strategies.

The listing came after months of rigorous research and benchmarking.

 The criterion used for qualification includes a number of variables which are:- 20% of female ownership, shareholding or partnership, 20% female executive directors, 30% female employees, 10% female senior management, female-empowerment company policies and women focused skills development.

 Agilitee  as a result got a Top Women Leaders Certificate & Badge that can be used on its online platforms including its website, social media, and email signature.

The company is pioneering research, importing, manufacturing, and franchising, licensing electric vehicle and ecosystems technology.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was today inaugurated as the Global Champion for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) which aims to raise 25 billion US dollars for investment in Africa's climate adaptation initiatives.

The President was, at the event held at the University of Nairobi's Taifa Hall in Nairobi City County, also feted by GCA for his leading role in advocacy and resource mobilization for climate change adaptation in Africa and globally.

The recognition was given to the Head of State by GCA CEO Patrick van Verkooijen who commended President Kenyatta for his sterling efforts in tackling the climate change challenge.

In his acceptance speech, President Kenyatta noted that most of the socio-economic challenges facing Africa are attributable to climate change and pledged his full commitment to advancing the continent's adaptation agenda.

“As an adaptation champion, I will be the voice of all voiceless Africans who are crying out for a climate-resilient and prosperous future," President Kenyatta said adding that climate change had become an existential threat to every country in Africa.

The President noted that the Horn of Africa was facing its worst drought in over 40 years as a direct consequence of climate change.

“What does this mean in human terms for my fellow Kenyans, and our neighbours in Ethiopia and Somalia? Harvests have failed and 3 million cows are dead. People in drought-stricken areas are facing severe water shortages and cases of inter- community fighting, over pasture are, on the increase.

“As we speak, over four million Kenyans are in need of food assistance and close to one million children under 2 years, are malnourished. Across the Horn of Africa, twenty million people – and six million of them are children - are severely food insecure,” the President said.

He said climate induced extreme weather conditions including devastating floods in Southern Africa and Southern Sudan, will retard Africa’s progress.

“Such crises precipitate huge economic loses, estimated at 3% of GDP for the continent in the medium term. They also threaten peaceful coexistence, leading to inter-community conflict as well as displacement, as people relocate in search of food and pasture,” the President said.

The Head of State said the situation is likely to have negative impacts on generations to come as children face malnutrition due to food insecurity, which in turn undermines their health and productivity.

“This deadly toxic cocktail of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russian war and the climate change related emergency, grows more deadly by the day," he said.

Once again, the President urged developed nations to fulfil their financial pledges towards Africa's adaptation agenda.

“We have no choice. We must act and do so fast, because the window of opportunity is closing on us. This means we must waste no time; and we must prioritise and invest massively in adaptation and resilience,” the President urged.

He said AAAP is a bold and creative platform that lays a broad and firm foundation for economic growth while at the same time containing the impact of climate shocks.

“And it is timely. Because while Africa’s vulnerability to climate change is rising, so too is the gap between the available finance for adaptation and the needs in terms of hard cash. In stark terms indications are that US $33 billion is the quantum of financing currently required for adaptation annually; but only a fraction of that – just US $6 billion – is available.

“Therefore, today, as I assume my role as an adaptation champion, I repeat my call to our development partners to urgently support Africa by making good on their pledges. The US $100bn annual amount pledged to help developing countries tackle climate change by 2020, is yet to be honoured.

“And now, in the absence of that promised one hundred billion US Dollars a year, we have another promise pending – the promise made at COP26 in Glasgow to double adaptation finance,” the President said.

He added: “We must shift gear and move from commitments to action.  To achieve the Paris Agreement, there must be a paradigm-shift.  When African leaders arrive in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November for COP27, we expect to see the many climate change commitments translate into funded programmes".

Environment CS Keriako Tobiko said through President Kenyatta’s efforts the country had grown its forest cover to 12.3 percent forest cover.

“Your Excellency, you mobilised the entire country into tree planting campaign. Our constitution requires a tree cover of a minimum of 10 percent, but Your Excellency with your leadership our tree cover now is now 12.13percent,” he said.

Other speakers at the auspicious event through pre-recorded messages were former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, WTO Director General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and  African Development Bank AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina.

After months of speculations, Tanzanian celebrated singer Nandy has finally announced she is expecting her child with her man, rapper Billnas.

The singer took to her instagram page to announce the good news to her fans, with the caption "ASANTE MUNGU KWA ZAWADI HII"

The happy couple got engaged early this year (February) during an official introduction ceremony held in Daresalaam.

Nandy denied news of her pregnancy in past media interviews.

https://ommydalla.co.ke/buzz/item/2866-nandy-talks-pregnancy-parting-ways-with-manager

In an earlier interview with Ommy Dallah, Nandy revealed that their wedding with Billnass will be held this July.

https://youtu.be/bFyTAIQ7PpE

Renowned Mombasa music producer Shirko real name Awadh Salim and his fiance Zulfah Abdallah have tied the knot in Tanzania.

The two tied the knot in a low key ceremony in Daresalaam today (Thursday) afternoon, attended by close family members and relatives .

This is Shirko's second wedding.

Shirko wedded his first wife in 2008 and divorced in 2012.

We wish Shirko all the best in his new marriage.

The first and only platinum selling artist in East Africa, LOUI is out with a new single dubbed “Hennessy Remix”.

This comes after LOUI bagged the number 4 spot in Tanzania with the most monthly listeners on Spotify. Right after Bigwigs Diamond Platinumz, Harmonize and Rayvanny.

On the banging song of the summer LOUI recruits Ghana artist of the year 2021 KiDi and French songstress Maud Elka on the remix.

LOUI’s delivery, KiDi’s touch and Elka’s Melodies on the song create a perfect banger for the fans to dance to. Produced by S2kizzy, mixed and mastered by prolific Nigerian producer “The Mix Monster” Selebobo.

The song is accompanied by official visuals shot in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and directed by Director Kenny.

 LOUI commented on the release: “I have been looking forward to this release with great excitement, we’ve all put so much work, time, and effort into this project and I hope it gives you every reason to enjoy and replay this song throughout the summer season. I appreciate KIDI and Maud Elka for their support on this, this project wouldn’t have been possible without their creative input and dedication”.

LOUI is signed under United Stated based Independent record label Legacy Record Inc.

Stream/download- https://music.empi.re/hennessyremix

Low budget carrier, Skyward express has been nominated for the domestic airline of the year award at the Afrika Mashariki Transport awards.

The airline which recently increased it's flight frequencies to the country’s coastal tourist destinations will battle out with other local airlines including KQ for the award.

To vote for Skyward express sms the code E44to 23776 or visit the website https://afrikamasharikitransportawards.com/vote-now/

To book your flight with Skyward express, visit the website https://www.skywardexpress.co.ke/

Kenyan boy band Jadi  have released the video for their much-anticipated single Maji.

The duo have been consistently releasing music proving that they are out to dominate 2022; the RnB crooners are already the next best thing.

The band composed of Brandon and Vince pride themselves in writing their own music while reflecting the lives of the typical Kenyan youth and the battles they fight daily. 

Maji is produced by Sifa courtesy of Kaka Empire Studios and displays the lyrical and vocal prowess of the talented duo. 

The heart-warming and well scripted visuals which tell the story of a girl in a toxic and abusive relationship yearning for the real love of a gentle man, is directed by KThomas. 

“Sometimes you can be in a toxic/abusive relationship and not realise how beautiful and valuable you are. Well, the song" Maji" is a song that speaks about a beautiful lady caught up with the wrong man but finds herself falling for two men in her life (Jadi) in a love connection that goes beyond the physical. If either of us would get a chance to love on her, we would do it right and in the way she truly deserves.” – Jadi

“Working with Jadi has been great, they are talented, hardworking and determined. Building their brand continues to be an exciting venture for me, I am absolutely proud of them!”- Dennis Njenga, MD and Managing Partner-Kaka Empire.

Watch “Maji” video on YouTube: JADI - MAJI (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - YouTube

Meet Dr. Mandla Lamba, Africa's $15.5 billion man and the founder of Africa's first Electric Vehicle Manufacturer, AI and Green Tech Company Agilitee. Agilitee is currently preparing for a Johannesburg Stock Exchange IPO, which will be the first EV, AI, and Green Tech IPO in Africa.

The IPO will value Agilitee at $20 billion, making the founder extremely wealthy.

Lamba owns 77.5 percent of Agilitee, which is currently valued at $15.5 billion, making him Africa's second richest man after Aliko Dangote.

Agilitee, Africa's pioneer in electric vehicles and green technology, has set out on a mission to create millionaires on the continent through public listing.

The green technology and electric vehicle manufacturer recently opened operations in Zimbabwe and plans to expand into Malawi, Kenya, and Ghana before beginning its long-delayed dealership in Zambia.

Agilitee, one of Africa's fast growing green technology and electric vehicle manufacturing companies, is poised to lead the revolution on the continent after announcing a female Chief Executive Officer in Bonisile Roberts to lead the entity earlier this year.

With an initial public offering (IPO) value of $20 billion, it hopes to raise $2 billion by selling 10% of its equity through the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The tech industry has been responsible for the majority of the outstanding IPOs in recent years, raising billions of dollars through IPOs in China and the United States.

Agilitee is not only a technology company but also a green technology company that operates in the electric vehicle space, which puts the company in a very strategic and good position to attract major investors.

Could the success of Agilitee's IPO create some millionaires in Africa, as China and the US have done?

Already, the firm is offering another 10% worth $2 billion to Africa's less fortunate, with the long-term goal of creating millionaires to alleviate poverty in Africa.

After launching its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in June 2022, Agilitee Pvt Ltd is eyeing secondary listings in Europe and the United States of America.

The IPO, which aims to raise US$2 billion for a 10% stake in the company, makes Dr. Lamba the first African green tech revolution billionaire in US dollar terms.

When asked about the company's post-IPO strategy, Dr Lamba, who recently appeared on the cover of one of Africa's leading magazines, the Leadership, said, "We will look for secondary listing maybe in the UK, America, and Europe in a year after the completion of the IPO." It will depend on where the majority of the $2 billion comes from."

Dr. Lamba's firm announced the appointment of AcaciaCap Advisors, a JSE approved sponsor for Main Board companies that also serves as a Designated Advisor for AltX listed companies, in June 2022.

Agilitee intends to raise a total of $2 billion in equity capital through the IPO of its entire business, which will be conducted through a global capital raising roadshow.

The company has recently completed its transformation from a regional to a global player. Agilitee has now formed regional structures under it, the first of which is Agilitee Africa, which covers the entire continent of Africa.

The company has also formed Agilitee Americas, which covers the entire continent of North America, and Agilitee Asia, which covers the entire continent of Asia.

In the next 12 months, the company plans to establish Agilitee Europe, Agilitee UK, Agilitee UAE, and Agilitee South America.