Father Ernest De Gaspari, 88, was born in Milan, Italy on 24th March 1996.

Ernest joined the Salesian missionary aspirantate (minor seminary) at Ivrea, Italy at the age of 21.

At the completition of his years of aspirantate, he was sent to Australia as a missionary, arriving in Oakleigh in 1962 to begin his year of novitiate.

On 31st January 1963, he made his first profession in the society of Francis De Sales, and he made his final profession on 31st January 1969 at Lysterfield, Australia.

After his ordination he worked as the Bursar for some four years after a short stint as a teacher, both at the Salesian school at Sunbury.

During his years in Australia, Fr Ernie, as he was affectionately called, managed to become a citizen of Australia, thus holding dual citizenship for the rest of his life.

When Project Africa” was launched in 1978 by the 21st General Chapter of the Salesians, Fr, Ernest discerned a call within a call, to offer himself to be a missionary in a more challenging context.

By mid-1979, the then five provinces of India had identified 15 Salesians who would begin the Salesian mission in Kenya, Tanzania and Sudan.

In December 1980, when the three Salesians from India travelled to Juba, Fr Ernie flew in from Cairo to join them in Juba and eventually to travel together to Maridi

In 1982, exactly after 450 days of the Salesian presence in Maridi, when the Salesians had to leave, they were involved in an accident on the way to Juba, in which Fr. Ernie suffered some serious head injuries. He had to be airlifted to Nairobi, courtesy of Bishop Augusto Barone of Juba.

After almost a year of break, when the Salesians returned to the Sudan in March 1983, Fr. Ernie joined Fr. James Pulickal in beginning the Salesian mission in Tonj.

Their stay was soon disrupted by the civil war that began to gather momentum by October 1984, Fr. Ernie helped to evacuate the Salesian sisters out of Tonj and took them to Wau and returned to Tonj to be with Fr. James.

From 1997 until 2015, for a period of almost two decades, he worked among the three communities of St. Joseph’s VTC in Khartoum, St. Joseph’s parish also in Khartoum.

By 2015, Fr. Ernie, aged 79 joined the community of Don Bosco Utume as a confessor.

During these years, his health began to deteriorate as his insomnia became more and more acute.

On 12th May 2024, when the community members went to Nyahururu, Kenya for their annual retreat, he insisted to join them.
Seeing his frail condition, Fr Mark, who was very close to him, took him to a doctor to have a medical review before proceeding for the retreat.

The doctor gave a clean verdict, and Fr Ernie travelled with the rest. However at the retreat centre he began to develop complications.

He was, therefore, rushed to a nearby hospital where he was treated for three days before being referred to Nairobi.

Once at the Nairobi hospital, he was admitted at the HDU section and was diagnosed with having pneumonia, a weak heart and acute fatigue due to poor food intake. Even with the concerted treatment to deal with the medical complications, Fr. Ernie’s condition began to fluctuate.

Eventually on 26th May 2024, Sunday at around 1 pm, Fr Ernest De Gaspari breathed his last, in the presence of two Salesians.

The African Economic Research Consortium’s (AERC) plenary session of the 60th Biannual Research Workshop was held yesterday at Radisson Blu Upper Hill, Nairobi, attended by national (Kenyan) and international participants from Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.

The opening session, chaired by Dr. Patrick Njoroge, immediate former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, called for tapping into the youth and harnessing technology to generate jobs and sustainable economic developments in Africa.

The plenary session, themed on “Youth, Demographic Dividend, Migration, and Economic Opportunities in African Economies”, was based on AERC research projects and provided timely opportunity for researchers to interact with policy makers and private sector decision makers from across many African countries.

Representing Hon. Professor Njuguna Ndung’u, Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning in Kenya, Dr. Rose Ngugi, the Executive Director of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), referenced the efforts being put in place by the government of Kenya to close the youth unemployment gap, while also noting the advantages and disadvantages of the demographic dividend.

“We need timely and actionable policies to reduce the huge unemployment gap across the continent. There is no better development plan than investing in our youth who are our future. Their continuous increase in numbers is a double edged sword. It can be beneficial for inclusive growth and sustainability or a ticking time bomb on a quest for highly productive livelihoods if not appropriately harnessed by African governments. African governments can proactively harness demographic dividend benefits when young people have adequate employable skills and access to decent employment,” Dr Ngugi remarked.

During his opening remarks, Professor Victor Murinde, the Executive Director of the AERC,  emphasized AERC’s continued commitment to providing evidence-based research for uptake into policy to help improve economic opportunities for the youth, while fostering benefits of demographic dividend and migration in Africa.

“Africa is grappling with the complex issues of creating jobs, migration, and demographic dynamics. The labour market aspect of this year’s plenary underscores the importance of job creation and poverty reduction in Africa,” he said, adding that AERC has a long tradition of researching these interrelated issues in order to generate new ideas and transformational policies.

“In Africa, despite the investment in education, access and quality of provision remain enormous challenges limiting the possibilities of youth, women and the vulnerable to have decent work. With the growing population, rapid urbanization, increased trade and technology, entrepreneurial and employment possibilities can be uncovered,” he added.

Professor Aly Ahmadou Mbaye, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, and the Vice Chancellor, University of Cheikh Anta Diop, in Senegal, pointed out how the promotion of youth productivity in the informal sector should be a key strategy to capture the demographic dividend.

“Productivity affects international competitiveness and we need to close the mismatch in the informal sectors to balance unemployment and also be able to compete in global levels. The demand for employment is still very high in Africa, and this general trend is compounded by the fact that the proportion of the young population is high, leading to people turning to the informal sector for jobs,” he said.

“The African informal work sector’s importance to the continent’s development in providing jobs for the youths cannot be overemphasized. However, the sector’s full potential to accommodate the ever-growing youthful population across the African continent is yet to be realized and as policy makers, we need evidence-based sessions like this one to convince governments on the need to pay more attention to this area.”

Economic opportunities for African youth, women and the whole population can expand by leveraging technology implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and improvements in educational quality with the aim of inclusive growth. One of the arguments for youth engagement in the productive sectors of the economy is the development of employable skills. Well-educated and healthy individuals with diverse skills are likely to participate in highly valued economic activities, thus boosting economic development prospects.

The plenary session featured three additional presentations by eminent economists: Prof. Imran Rasul, Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, University College London (UCL) on “Tackling youth unemployment in Africa”; Prof. Lant Pritchett, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, spoke on “Investing in human capital/education for a demographic dividend” and finally, “Migration Policies in Africa’s RECs” by Blaise Gnimassoun,Université de Lorraine, and Université Paris Nanterre.

A high-level policy panel discussion on the theme, moderated by Ms. Maggie Mutesi, Africatalyst, set the stage for frontier research by leading academics generating evidence on opportunities, risks, and challenges that affect the youth and how African economics can harness the trade-offs of demographic dividend and migration for sustainable development.

Concurrent sessions of the biannual research workshop start today on Monday, 3 June 2024. They feature 63 presentations of research proposals, work in progress, final reports, and interim PhD thesis reports. The sessions cover a wide range of topics that fit into one or the other of the focal areas of AERC’s thematic research programme: poverty, income distribution and labour market; macroeconomic policies and growth; finance and resource mobilization; production, trade, and economic integration; as well as agriculture, climate change and natural resource management issues.

Just to highlight some of the notable emerging suggestions from the ongoing AERC Biannual meeting: fronting human capital development to enhance youth skills to nurture employability and entrepreneurship via widespread TVET provision; and aligning the education curriculum to embody science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related courses in order to spur innovativeness and ingenuity in young people, thus creating jobs in the digital space, the manufacturing sector and the ever-growing AI-driven future. 

The 2024 Rhino Charge ended with great success, earning over 300 million Kenya Shillings in an incredible show of support for the preservation of forests and wildlife.

Sponsors and attendees alike came together to support the important cause of preserving endangered species and crucial ecosystems at the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust-organized event.

Since its founding in 1988 with the express purpose of protecting the critically endangered black rhino, the Rhino Charge has broadened its focus to include the building and upkeep of electric fences surrounding vital forest ecosystems in Kenya.

The event this year not only raised more money than anticipated but also showed a growing dedication to tackling more significant environmental issues.

With more than 10 million Kenya Shillings set aside for the construction of necessary facilities, this year’s Rhino Charge made a noteworthy contribution to the host community.

The government’s commitment to grassroots development efforts was demonstrated by H.E. President William Ruto, who set an example by giving 2 million Shillings to the community.

Chief Guest Soipan Tuya of CS Environment, praised the attendees for their steadfast commitment to conservation activities at the occasion.

She emphasised the vital role that the money raised will play in bolstering the government’s ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees, stressing the significance of teamwork in attaining environmental sustainability.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), NGAOs, local communities, Safaricom, and other state and non-state entities were among the partners who supported the Rhino Charge.

Their combined participation is another evidence of the general understanding of how critical it is to protect Kenya’s unique natural heritage and biodiversity.

This incredible accomplishment has given the path towards a more sustainable and peaceful interaction with nature more impetus.

In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Climate Initiative (IKI), and GiZ in Nairobi, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has initiated the Tusonge na EVs Campaign.

This programme intends to increase Kenyans’ knowledge of and inclination towards electric vehicles (EVs) while also raising awareness of the topic.

The market assessment report on electric two- and three-wheelers in Kenya was the inspiration for the campaign, which also marks the beginning of the first phase of the Tusonge na EVs nationwide campaign.

HOD Davis Chirchir, CS Energy and Petroleum, commended the inauguration as a step towards bringing electric mobility to Kenya in a speech read by Secretary Administration for the State Department of Energy, Mohamed Jabali.

In order to achieve a 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the CS advocated for a proactive public-private partnership in the adoption of cleaner transportation options.

“The government, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport, launched Kenya’s first Electric Mobility Draft Policy which develops a framework to encourage widespread use of EVs. The policy proposes fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to attract stakeholders to invest in the sector,” CS Chirchir.

The establishment of e-mobility laws, he continued, aims to strengthen and broaden the current regulatory framework and guarantee that the expansion of electric mobility is underpinned by strong and efficient governance.

Transport locomotives powered by electricity, a practice known as “e-mobility”, severally cut greenhouse gas emissions, addressing the ensuing health and environmental effects. The Kenyan grid has the capacity to accommodate e-mobility.

Additionally, emissions from electric vehicles are zero. Pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are released by petrol and diesel vehicles, are responsible for both pollution and climate change.

Since electric automobiles emit no emissions, they are far more environmentally friendly. #TusongeNaEVs #QualityEnergyQaulityLife.

East African Breweries Limited (EABL) threw a grand party on May 31^st, 2024 at Muthiga Inn, Kikuyu, to celebrate over sixty lucky Kenyans who emerged the winners of its Tujengane National Consumer Promotion.

Speaking during the event, Lilian Nyambura, Brand Manager – Chrome said, “We are thrilled to celebrate our Tujengane winners today.” She further noted that, “This promotion, anchored in the spirit of togetherness (Tujengane), was designed to reward our loyal customers and express our gratitude for their continued support. Seeing the joy on the winners’ faces, some of whom shared stories of how these prizes will transform their lives, makes this initiative all the more rewarding.”

The Tujengane National Consumer Promotion was officially launched in April 2024 with the aim to reward EABL customers for their loyalty and foster a sense of community.  

The lucky winners participated by purchasing any participating EABL brand – Chrome Gin, Chrome Vodka, Triple Ace, Kane Extra, Kenya Cane, Orijin, and Captain Morgan – and submitting unique codes found on the labels.

With daily, weekly, and monthly draws, the promotion offered a variety of exciting prizes, ensuring there were winners at every level. The winners, were then chosen from a nationwide pool of participants who entered the competition.

The winners including, Adriel Juma, a mechanic from Juja, a Motorbike winner; Isaack Nyota Kamau from Industrial Area, and Peter Gikonyo from Dandora, rent waiver winners – enjoyed a memorable evening filled with laughter, delicious food and drinks and fun music by renowned Kenyan DJs including DJ Easy, DJ Roq, DJ Munge and MC MJay.

The celebratory event was a momentous occasion for the winners, who had the opportunity to connect with EABL representatives and share their Tujengane experiences.

The Tujengane National Consumer Promotion proved life-changing for many winners. Isaack Nyota Kamau and Peter Gikonyo, both winners of rent waivers, spoke to the immediate impact on their lives.

Isaack stated, “Courtesy of Tujengane, and the 50,000 rent reward I won: I can set up an emergency fund with the rent I was to pay” while Gikonyo emphasized the “immense” significance of the win. For mechanic Adriel Juma, the motorbike prize directly addressed a business need, allowing him to “collect spare parts” more efficiently. These diverse stories exemplify how the Tujengane promotion went beyond rewarding customers, but truly impacted their lives in meaningful ways.

“The Tujengane National Consumer Promotion was a huge success, and we are thrilled to celebrate with the lucky winners today,” said Lilian Nyambura of EABL. “We are committed to rewarding our loyal customers and fostering a sense of community, and this event is a testament to that commitment. The promotion not only offered life-changing prizes, but also went a step further by including rent waivers among the rewards, directly addressing a real need for many Kenyans.”

EABL looks forward to creating more rewarding experiences for its customers in the future, experiences that go beyond prizes and build a stronger sense of community.

The Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (ICT) is spearheading a plan to enable Kenyans to make direct phone calls with President William Ruto.

Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani, the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, disclosed that the government is developing strategies to facilitate communication between Kenyans and President Ruto, allowing citizens to discuss matters of concern with him directly.

PS Kisiang’ani made these remarks during a visit to Bungoma County, following an incident where the President hinted at giving out his phone number during a speech in the County.

Ruto addressed residents of Machakha in Webuye West Constituency, Bungoma on May 30, 2024, teasing them to contact him if the area’s Member of Parliament failed to fulfill his commitment of establishing an ICT Hub in the area.

Speaking at the official opening of Webuye West Technical and Vocational College, Machakha, Bungoma County, the Head of State directed his remarks towards Dan (Daniel Wanyama MP Webuye West), tasking him with the responsibility of constructing the ICT Hub.

Ruto informed the crowd that he had already informed their MP about the project, emphasizing that if the MP failed to deliver, they should contact him directly.

“So, Dan, you have the task of building the ICT Hub, and I have reported you to your constituents. They shall be asking you, ‘Where is the ICT Hub which the hustler promised us, where is it?’ Make sure you follow up with the MP, and if he fails to accomplish it, call me,” said Ruto.

Following Ruto’s remarks, residents began chanting, demanding the President’s phone number, which he initially teased before humorously retracting.

“You want my number? Now, if you all call me on reverse call and the way you are many, you’ll deplete my salary,” he joked.

However, PS Kisiang’ani noted that the Head of State had not fully considered the logistical challenges of implementing such a plan, particularly the potential influx of calls, including those at odd hours.

According to Kisiang’ani, the President wants direct communication with the people on the ground without intermediaries such as other elected leaders. He explained that facilitating Kenyans to call President Ruto directly necessitates logistical planning, including organizing the allocation of who calls and when they do so.

“Yesterday he (President Ruto) was trying to give people his number, and I think he didn’t have the correct logistics on how he can give the number. People would call at midnight. I mean he would receive probably one thousand calls,” the PS remarked.

“We are working on logistics; we can allocate certain people some days and hours so that the president can talk to you directly because that is what he wants. Don’t pass through people, you need to talk to the President directly,” he added.