President Uhuru Kenyatta has today unveiled a new state department to oversee the ongoing implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).

The new State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms within the Ministry of Education has been tasked with the roll of the new education system including recommendations of a taskforce whose report the President launched today.

"The Taskforce has made several recommendations and consulted widely including through 11 sector-based pre-conferences. This is important because it underscores my Administration’s commitment to adhere to the tenets of public participation, as envisioned in our constitution. 

"In this regard, to ensure effective implementation of these recommendations, and other curriculum reforms, I have on this 9th Day of February, 2021 set my hand and presidential seal and established a new State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms vested in the Ministry of Education," President Kenyatta declared.

The Head of State announced the changes Tuesday at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi County when he presided over the unveiling of a taskforce report dubbed 'Enhancing Access, Relevance and Quality for Effective Curriculum Reforms Implementation'.

The Head of State, who recalled Kenya's curriculum reforms over the decades, said CBC will make Kenya's education system responsive to the demands of the modern world and rallied Kenyans to back the process.

"We are at a tipping-point in our education system. The old must give way to the new. The summons of our times requires us to re-imagine how we have educated our children.

"It requires us to be bold, and not rigid. It calls us to imagine a system that creates responsible citizens as opposed to subjects; a system that celebrates the creative potential of all our children as opposed to one that leaves them with labels of failure, if they do not pass exams;

"And a system that brings about freedom as opposed to conformity. This is the promise of the Competency Based Curriculum," the President said.

Besides equipping Kenyan children with the competencies needed to excel in the 21st century, the Head of State said CBC will empower Kenyans to be better citizens.

"On citizenship, we have a crisis of competence and our education system must give us a response. Youth violence and pessimism are partly a result of low civic competence amongst citizens.

"And this is because we have not taught our children the values of citizen participation from an early age. This is why youth pessimism and blind activism are on the rise," President Kenyatta said.

The President applauded the Taskforce led by Professor Fatuma Chege for its report saying its recommendations will help lessen the rigidity in the current education system by introducing the 'leading to learn' principle.

"The purpose of the new system of 'Learning to Learn' is to allow our children to explore, innovate and unshackle their minds from the old and rigid molds of learning.

"This way they will be able to exploit their imagination, creativity, solve problems, use critical thinking, apply digital literacy, and feel a sense of civic duty as citizens," he said.

On the re-opening of schools, the Head of State said the Government continues to be vigilant as schools resume after a long period of closure due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease.

"But I must say I am grateful for the patience you all have shown, and for the speed and care with which we have resumed learning after re-opening of our learning institutions.

"Yes, through the tireless work of our doctors, our nurses, our medical staff, and the diligence of Kenyans themselves, we have gradually brought the pandemic under control; but we, nonetheless, remain vigilant as our children and teachers ease back into regular order, the President said.

Education CS Prof George Magoha, his Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia and Murang'a Governor Mwangi WaIria who is also the Chairperson of the Education Committee at the Council Governors also spoke at the event attended  by a cross-section of education sector stakeholders.

Mombasa county assembly has today tabled the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Constitutional Amendment Bill and committed it to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

The bill was tabled by the assembly majority whip Juniour Wambua and seconded by Old Town MCA Murfad Amur during a session chaired by the assembly speaker Aharub Khatri.

Aharub said the committee will ensure the document is subjected to public participation to collect views from members of the public as required by law.

He said the legal committee will take the public participation to all 30 wards to collect views within the county.

“To collect views from members of public during the session will be a collective responsibility of elected ward representatives during the crucial session,” he pointed out.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/1993-joho-calls-for-a-special-meeting-with-mombasa-mcas

Aharub urged residents to attend public participation forums scheduled for next week and air their views before the draft bill is returned to the assembly.

This was the first house business as it resumed its sitting after two months-long recess.

Siaya was the first county to pass the BBI bill on Wednesday, last week.

At least 24 assemblies of the 47 are required to pass the bill before it goes to the National Assembly

The bill was submitted to the 47 county assemblies by the IEBC.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the contribution of digital technologies to Kenya's transformation saying ICTs are helping the country to create employment opportunities for its youth and enhance delivery of public services.

On the African continent, the President observed that digital technologies have enabled both Governments and the private sector to continue operating optimally despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In the face of containment measures necessitated by the pandemic (Covid-19), technology has kept governments and businesses running; and enabled international cooperation and engagements, such as we are involved in today to be sustained," the President said.

In order to accelerate the creation of a common market, the President said African economies need to harmonize their ICT standards so as to achieve inter-operability of their digital infrastructure.

The Head of State spoke today at State House, Nairobi during the 2021 Africa Business Forum held virtually on the sidelines of the 34th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

President Kenyatta said Kenya had made progress in the delivery public services digitally adding that the country is hinging on technology to transform its economy.

"Currently, the Kenya Government has over 200 digitized services offered through Huduma Centres countrywide as well as an online self-service E-Citizen platform.

"Both platforms, which are widely utilized, offer one-stop access to essential services such as applying for Passports or National Identification Cards; and registering businesses, births, or deaths.

“Kenya is also progressively digitizing core government services such as filing of tax returns, land registries, court procedures and rulings, and public service records,” the President said.

He said the cost effective nature of digital technologies is helping African nations to solve the challenge of scarce finances needed to provide infrastructure, institutions and human resources to power economic growth.

While highlighting the transformative nature of digital technologies, President Kenyatta pointed out that 40 percent of private enterprises in Kenya are engaged in e-commerce and 70 percent of all e-commerce payments in the country are settled through various mobile money payment platforms.

The President said his Government is working on ensuring that digital technologies are not abused by investing in training and capacity building of service providers and technology users.

“To ensure technology is embraced, holistically by all business sectors we must contain misuse/abuse of technology.  We, therefore, in our training pay particular attention on ethics and values as it is key to sustainable adoption of technology,” the President said.

To support digital entrepreneurship in the country, the President said the Kenyan Government is working with partners to lower entry barriers for ICT entrepreneurs.

“To strengthen our digital technology footprint, we have established several strategic partnerships. The Smart Africa Initiative is a network of some 30 African countries seeking to leverage technology to create a single digital market on the continent. 

“Similarly, the UNDP-led SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Accelerator Lab provides a vehicle for partnerships, investments, and business linkages to accelerate local innovations and ideas; including twinning Silicon Valley with the Kenyan tech community," the President said.

Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa Vera Songwe who also spoke at the virtual meeting commended President Kenyatta for championing usage of ICT in service delivery and called on other African nations to emulate Kenya.

Apple Music has launched Isgubhu, the ultimate destination for African Dance and Electronic music.

Africa’s bustling and bubbling Dance & Electronic music scene has become a global player over the last few decades and Apple Music is on a mission to spotlight and elevate the work of the DJs, producers and artists in this space.

“Apple Music has been a long term supporter of the incredible DJs, artists and producers within the Dance and Electronic music community in Africa and we’re very excited about the launch of Isgubhu. Our regional teams are true advocates for the culture and we’re committed to continuing to connect artists to a global audience,” says Stephen Campbell, Apple Music’s Global Head of Dance and Electronic music.

Isgubhu, a Zulu word meaning beat and used to refer to a banging song, pays homage to an evergreen set of genres and the African artists who have played a pivotal role in shaping the Dance and Electronic scene across the world from South African maestros like Black Coffee, Prince Kaybee, Black Motion and DJ Lag, Kenyan producers Euggy and Slikback to Uganda’s prolific group Nihiloxica.

Several sub-genres will live under the banner of Isgubhu including Gqom, Amapiano, Kwaito, Mzansi House, Deep House and Shangaan Electro, as well as a dedicated section for Essential Albums that will highlight seminal African Dance and Electronic albums for easy discovery.

 Isgubhu will also house a collection of playlists including Spotlight On, a focus on boutique African dance & electronic labels like Soul Candi, House Afrika, Stay True Sounds and Uganda’s Hakuna Kulala & Nyege Nyege Tapes), Isgubhu Voices - a focus on the best Dance and Electronic tracks that feature vocals, and an overarching genre playlist that is currently curated by Black Coffee, the first Isgubhu cover star.

"It's a true honour to be titled as the very first Isgubhu hero artist by my friends at Apple Music. To me, home is everything... the absolute core of my being. Bringing the sounds of South Africa to the world is a life-long mission I'll never stop chasing after.” - Black Coffee.

There will also be a spotlight on Isugbhu BY, where one handpicked artist will curate their favourite African Dance and Electronic albums to feature for the month.

The first artist will be DJ Lag who had this to say “These are albums that shaped me. Releases like Big Nuz's 'Undisputed' made me dream big about being a producer one day, I was only 14 at the time. I love South African dance music I think we have a vibrant scene that keeps regenerating and reinventing itself every few years. Kwaito, Afro House, Gqom, Amapiano are movements here, not only music genres.”

Isgubhu will also include a selection of exclusive DJ mixes from the continent’s hottest DJs including: DJ Zinhle, Caiiro, Kabza De Small, Kyle Watson, Stiff Pap, DBN Gogo, Da Capo, Gina Jeanz, and more.

"Apple Music has always shown great interest in my labels and the independent music they showcase from incredibly talented artists around South Africa. The support received from Apple Music really goes a long way in this day and age when non-commercial music has to compete with Top 40 worldwide hits on global playlists.” - Kid Fonque (Stay True Sounds founder)

“As an independent artist it’s so rarely possible to get your music on most playlists and in my case it was different as Apple Music showed me love and support on my album Agora which got playlisted on a couple of platforms, in addition I got a rare opportunity to do the One Mix which has been so far one of my highlights of 2020.” - Caiiro.

 "For those who know me well, know that its been my vision & dream to take my music further across borders. Apple Music amplified the reach by supporting my music on editorial playlists, making sure I'm heard by the audience that relates to the picture I'm painting.” - Cornelius SA.

On his part Sio notes “Through their support I’ve gained so many great opportunities, opening for Lionbabe’s Worldwide Virtual tour and landing on a stage with Tom Misch. I’m super excited about Apple Music’s new Isgubhu campaign taking African Dance and Electronic music to the next level and showing the world what we do best.”

Find Isgubhu on Apple Music  http://apple.co/Isgubhu

Tanzanian singer Harmonize has been forced to cut short his music tour in his home country after falling ill.

The 'Haunishtui' hitmaker took to his social media pages to apologise to his fans for the move  revealing that new dates for the tour will be set.

He had already visited several towns especially in the Lake side of Tanzania including Geita, Shinyanga, Mwanza.

"Natamani sana kuendelea na hili vibe #INTHECLUBTOUR but i have to go back for check up IM F*** SICK. RATIBA MPYA INSHALLAH" he posted.

The tour titled ' IN DA CLUB TOUR' started on January 29 in Mwanza and was scheduled to end on March 20 in Zanzibar.

Meanwhile, singer Ibra who is signed under Harmonize's record label Konde gang is currently in Kenya, Nairobi for a media tour and popularising his songs.

Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta today received her 2019 Macky Sall Prize for Dialogue in Africa from Defence Cabinet Secretary Dr Amb Monica Juma.

The prize was awarded on 11^th December last year at the Museum of Black Civilization in Dakar, Senegal by President Macky Sall and received by Dr Juma on behalf of the Former First Lady who couldn't travel because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The annual prize is awarded to African personalities who use dialogue to avert conflict on the continent and is named after the Senegalese President Macky Sall who is a celebrated African mediator.

The Former First Lady was awarded for continuously and quietly using dialogue to diffuse tension in the country and the region over the years especially for her leading role in ending the political tension that followed Kenya's 2017 General Election.

Speaking when she received the award from Dr Juma at her Nairobi home, the Former First Lady thanked CIRID for the recognition saying it was an honour for Kenya's frontline role in the search for lasting peace and stability in Eastern Africa.

"I didn't know that there are people who know where we've come from as a country and how they settled on me as the recipient of the award. I am grateful," the Former First Lady said, and thanked Dr Juma for collecting the award on her behalf.

At the prize handover ceremony attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Dr Juma was accompanied by Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua and Foreign Affairs PS Amb Macharia Kamau.

The Mombasa county government has come up with stringent measures and strategies to rid the county of careless garbage dumping and littering which has been the main challenge facing the county.

First to happen is going to be fresh registration of serious waste collectors by the department of Environment in a one month exercise that is going to begin on Monday February 8, 2021, at the Environment offices based at the Yard - next to the Fire Station in Majengo/ Mwembe Tayari Ward.

Waste collectors, their carts and vehicles that are registered/ licensed after this activity will then be dressed uniquely in uniforms as per the wards they operate in as well as have county badges and stickers clearly displayed on their carts or vehicles identifying them to residents, wananchi, landlords businessmen and other waste generators.

Those found to be still using unregistered waste collectors for their garbage collection after this activity are going to face full consequences as they will be tracked and together with their collector, arrested and held responsible for the garbage found dumped carelessly in their neighborhood.

This will also result to a fine of Ksh500,000 to 1,000,000 depending on the quantity of the garbage dumped.

These measures were addressed on Saturday by County officers during a forum with community leaders and environment stakeholders drawn from across the six sub counties at the newly refurbished Railways Roundabout Park whose agenda was ridding the county off nuisance garbage dumping by uncouth individuals and groups.

Led by Chief Officer for Environment Ilhan Abass who also doubles up as the Devolution & Public Service Administration chief officer, it was also agreed that all residents will sort their garbage at the household level in decomposing and non decomposing matter and bag them for easier and speedy collection by waste collectors.

It was also agreed that their will be a continuous monthly clean up exercise - held every last Saturday of the month involving all area residents and businesses men. The first clean up activity will be held on February 27, 2021 in every Ward in Mombasa .

Also noted during the meeting that was attended by the head of Illegal dumping Richard Monanka as well as Sub County & Ward Administrators, is that every Ward and Sub County, is to identify its own waste collection and transfer point where their garbage will be regularly collected by environment vehicles.

In the new rules ,no waste collector will be allowed to dispose or transfer waste to other Wards or neighboring Sub Counties.

Kenya and the United Kingdom will co-host a two-day conference on global partnership for education financing on July 25 and 26, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced.

The President said the aim of the education financing conference is to raise 5 billion US dollars to ensure that all children, particularly those in developing countries, have equitable access to quality education.

He invited African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government to join the effort and commit to protect education budgets in their respective countries.

“You will all agree with me that our children received the harshest brunt of the (COVID-19) pandemic; the lockdowns resulted in significant loss of income of the caregivers.

“We need to show up and hold our governments accountable in setting aside the adequate resources to ensure that all children, both girls and boys and those in vulnerable situations, can go back to school and complete their studies,” President Kenyatta said. 

The President spoke Saturday at State House, Nairobi, at the start of the two-day virtual 34^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU whose theme is “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”.

The Kenyan Head of State expressed the need for African Governments to invest more aggressively in improving education access and quality, including the area of teaching and learning technologies, to bridge the education divide.

“Our children, are the future of this continent and we, as leaders, must guarantee a better tomorrow for them. We, as leaders today, must preserve and protect their wellbeing,” the President told the summit during which President Cyril Ramaphosa of South handed over the AU chairmanship to President Félix Tshisekedi of DRC.

President Kenyatta also emphasized the need to not slacken in the fight against malaria even as the continent tackles the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Even as we continue the fight against COVID-19, restore our economies and secure the future of our children through education, let us know that malaria remains amongst one of the greatest threats to the health of our children and all our citizens across the continent,” he said.

As Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), President Kenyatta appreciated the unwavering commitment by AU member states towards elimination of malaria by 2030.

He noted that 19 African countries are implementing the flagship campaign of “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” and urged those who have not yet launched the campaign to do so.

The President also took the opportunity to thank President Ramaphosa, the outgoing AU Chairman, for steering the continental organization during the unprecedented period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You have ably shepherd our continent to respond to the pandemic in a timely and effective manner,” President Kenyatta commended his South African counterpart.

The Kenyan leader also congratulated President Tshisekedi for taking over the chairmanship of AU, assuring him of Kenya’s full support.

“My delegation expresses full confidence in your solid leadership and ability to take our Union to greater heights,” President Kenyatta assured the Congolese leader.

President Kenyatta also thanked AU member states for their support that enabled Kenya to secure the Non-Permanent Member position of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term from 2021 to 2022.

Speaking as he handed over the AU chairmanship, President Ramaphosa said he was glad that the continent’s response to COVID-19 has been driven, coordinated and capacitated by its own scientists and medical experts, domiciled within the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“In establishing this platform, we have given practical meaning to the mantra we often repeat, that we are committed to developing African solutions to African problems,” President Ramaphosa said.

On his part, President Tshisekedi assured of his commitment to working closely with all AU member states to achieve the objectives of the continental organization.

Gearing up for the release of his debut EP, award-winning producer, Pheelz has delivered a sensual new single, “Wayward Girl”.

The single is a follow up of previously released, “One Life” which he shared in 2020.

On “Wayward Girl”, he describes falling in love with an independent woman who lives a life of adventure while taking advantage of men for money and sex.

“Wayward Girl” has been released alongside a music video directed by Ibidunni Oladayo. In the video, Pheelz goes on a late-night drive with a girl while performing the song.

The new single will appear on his upcoming EP, Hear Me Out, which will be released on February 19. The 5-track project is a collection of feel-good tunes about success, love, and relationships.

Listen to “Wayward Girl”

About Pheelz

Phillip Kayode Moses (known by his stage name, Pheelz) is an award-winning producer based in Lagos, Nigeria. Since 2012, Pheelz has consistently created chart-topping singles for various artists in Nigeria. He is a hit maker who is known for his rhythmic Afropop beats and producer tag, “Ridimaculayo”. He has produced songs and albums for artists like Fireboy DML, Olamide, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Teni, and Adekunle Gold amongst other talents.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has called for a special meeting with members of the Mombasa county assembly (MCAs).

According to a message sent to the MCAs and seen by this blog, the meeting is expected to take place tomorrow (Sunday) at the Bahari beach resort.

"Dear Hon Member, H.E Governor invites you for a meeting at Bahari Beach Resort Tomorrow 07/02/2021 at 9.00am" reads the message from the assembly majority chief whip Junior Wambua.

According to a source, top on the agenda in the meeting will be the building bridges initiative (BBI). Joho is expected to convince the MCAs to pass the bill.

The assembly which is currently on recess will resume on Monday.

It is still not yet clear if the rebel MCAs who include Charles Kitula (Frere Town), Fahad Kassim (Mjambere) and Abrari Omar (Kongowea) Faith Mwende (Kipevu) and  Abdalla Shebe (Jomvu Kuu) will attend the meeting.

Speaking to this blog, Frere Town MCA Charles Kitula who has been accompanying Deputy President William Ruto during his Mombasa tour which started yesterday said he has not been invited for the meeting.

"I don't know about the meeting, I have not been invited, Infact you are the one telling me about it" Kitula told Ommydalla.co.ke.

The source also revealed to this blog  that Joho held a similar meeting last week with Mombasa county Mps at Mombasa golf club, Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali a close ally of deputy president William Ruto did not attend the meeting

On Wednesday last week, the Siaya county assembly passed the BBI bill becoming the first county assembly to pass the bill.