Portugal Coach Regrets Missing ‘Huge’ Chance To Beat US At World Cup

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August 1, 2023

Coach Francisco Neto lamented a “huge opportunity” missed after his Portugal side came within a post of beating the United States on Tuesday and knocking the holders out of the Women’s World Cup.

Vlatko Andonovski’s USA, the pre-tournament favourites, held on for a goalless draw in Auckland that took them through to the last 16 – and ended Portugal’s hopes on their World Cup debut.

Portugal, who are ranked 21st in the world, almost snatched a sensational victory in stoppage time when Ana Capeta hit the post.

A Portugal win would have taken them through from Group E at the expense of the holders and top-ranked United States.

“I think it was our best game in the World Cup,” said Neto, who has been in charge since 2014.

“I will be honest with you, when Ana hit the ball I was thinking it would be a goal and about what Vlatko would do and what I would have to do to stop him.

“I swear, I truly believed it was going to be a goal.”

He added: “I told the girls I was very proud. Of course, they are very sad because we have huge expectation on ourselves.

“They felt that we were probably going to be the first team in the world that would eliminate the US in this stage.

“It was a huge opportunity for us but unfortunately we go home tomorrow.”

Portugal reached their first Women’s World Cup only after they came through a play-off against Cameroon.

They lost 1-0 to the Netherlands in their opening match at the tournament and followed that by beating Vietnam 2-0.

They go out with four points on the board and just one goal conceded in three games.

It has been a marked improvement on their performance at the European Championship in England a year ago, when they finished bottom of their group with one point and conceded 10 goals.

They had already given an indication of their potential in the run-up to the World Cup when they held England to a goalless draw away in a friendly.

“I don’t think that the US played poorly,” Neto added.

“The US is an amazing team with an amazing coach. The pressure is big, I understand that, but today we had a big Portugal.

“What this World Cup shows now is that the women’s game is growing a lot and because of that you have these kind of results that nobody believed would happen before the tournament.”

Worldcoin Registration At KICC Halted Over Security Concerns

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John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

Police have turned away thousands of Kenyans lining up for their eyeballs to be scanned in the World Coin registration at the Kenyatta International Convention Center(KICC).

According to the Worldcoin team, police asked them to stop the exercise due to the security risks.

However, they were advised to look for a bigger venue, such as the Nyayo or Kasarani Stadiums, where they can conduct the exercise with minimal security concerns.

Kenyans who had lined up for the exercise were also turned away by the Worldcoin team, who said they would inform them of a different location before the exercise resumed on Wednesday.

Several Kenyans who refuse to leave the area are currently being driven away by police.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is a proponent of the worldwide blockchain initiative known as Worldcoin.

After having their eyes scanned as part of the registration process, participants are issued 25 WLD tokens or Kes 7786.

After three years of development, Worldcoin, the digital identification platform co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has finally gained traction in Kenya.

The platform aims to provide everyone with a verified digital identity supported by a unique cryptocurrency token, Worldcoin (WLD) and crypto wallet software.

However, the crypto community has praised and criticized Worldcoin’s novel solution, which depends on iris scanning for identity verification.

Bungoma Church Leader Arrested For Allegedly Killing His Wife

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John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

Residents in Wamunyiri village, Kanduyi constituency, Bungoma county, were shocked after a church leader allegedly murdered his wife and disposed of her body in a ditch.

According to Bungoma County Police Commander Francis Kooli, the suspect wrote a text to his younger brother, which he shared with his fellow church members, detailing his transgressions and intent to commit suicide.

“At around 22.35 hours, we got a report from the suspect’s brother that he had received a suicidal text message from his elder brother. The message also had details of his wife’s murder,” he said.

It is believed that the suspect fled the scene of the crime and fled to Kipipiri constituency in Nyandarua county, where he was later apprehended by police.

The suspect attempted suicide before being apprehended by police. He is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

“The suspect is being monitored before being taken in to answer for murder charges,” Commander Kooli said.

The body of the deceased was taken to the mortuary pending autopsy.

President Ruto: We Must Protect Public Resources

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John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

President William Ruto has said he will protect public resources with zeal.

He noted that it will not be business as usual for public servants with an affinity to abuse public resources.

The Head of State regretted that it has become fashionable for some people to work in public offices to steal.

The President insisted that corruption must be tamed, especially in the procurement space.

“We will not wait until when money is lost. We will deal with it from the level when we notice its signs.”

He maintained that there will be no money to steal but to deliver Government programmes.

The Head of State asked public servants to be servants rather than masters of the people.

He added that incompetence will not be tolerated.

“We must work harder and better to deliver on our promises. We have an opportunity to change our country.”

The President was speaking during the signing of the 2023/2024 Ministerial Performance Contracts at State House, Nairobi.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Governors, UN Resident Co-ordinator Stephen Jackson, among others, were present.

President Ruto explained that the Government had resolved to enhance its performance by incorporating the actualisation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda into the performance contracting.

“Our objective is to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services.”

He said this will be done through accountable, responsible and transparent use of public resources.

Mr Gachagua asked public servants to be service-driven.

He said there is no time to waste.

“Our friendship will only be based on performance. Let us work and do what we have to do for Kenyans,” he argued.

On his part, Mr Mudavadi said there is need to streamline performance management in the public sector.

This, he noted, will help in planning, budgeting and performance.

“Public sector reforms must be pursued to transform the public sector and create an environment that will boost performance,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Jackson lauded the Government for giving prominence to performance contracts.

He said it was essential for guaranteed provision of basic services to the people.

“Kenyans deserve a 21st-century service. Public service reforms remain our central focus in supporting Kenya,” he noted.

Efficient service delivery, he added, should go beyond the national level to the grassroots.

Governor Mung’aro Reshuffles His Cabinet After Death Of Chief Officer

By

John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has made changes to his cabinet following the death of one of his Chief Officers.

In the new changes, the governor has reshuffled his County Executive Committee Members (CECM) and appointed an acting Chief Officer for Fisheries and Blue Economy to replace Rehab Karisa who was killed by her housemaid a week ago.

“We have put somebody there to hold brief but we shall fill the position later since at the moment we are still mourning the loss of our Chief Officer,” he said in Kilifi.

Habat George Mwachiro who was CEC for Environment and Solid Waste Management was moved to Tourism and Trade and also act as Chief Officer for Fisheries and Blue Economy to replace the deceased.

Raymond Ngala who was the CECM in charge of Tourism, Trade and Corporative Development was moved to Finance and Planning while Yaya Shosi will be the CECM for Public Service.

Clara Chonga was moved from Early Childhood Education, Vocational Training and ICT to the Trade Department where he was replaced by Franklin Kaingu the CEC for Public Service Management Devolution, Special Programs and Disaster Management.

The governor also warned contractors and county staff against engaging in corrupt activities that affect service delivery.

“My administration has declared an all-out war on contractors who put up shoddy structures resulting in massive losses of public resources. Some of the contractors work in collusion with county staff to frustrate implementation of projects and I hereby direct an audit of all the projects,” he said.

One Killed, Others Injured In Suspected Al-Shabaab Attack

By

John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

Suspected al-Shabaab militants on Tuesday morning attacked a vehicle near Nyongoro on the Lamu-Garsen road in Lamu County killing one and injuring several others.

Police said Hindi MCA James Kariuki Njagaa was among the victims of the attack.

However, he survived alongside his wife.

The incident was responded to by security forces from the Special Operations Group and forest rangers, who rescued the injured victims and transported them to Witu Level 4 Hospital for treatment.

The security team is currently pursuing the attackers, who fled the scene.

As a result of the attack, several vehicles and buses heading to Mombasa were stopped at Witu area.

KEFRI, FFPRI Sign MOU to Foster Scientific Research of Drought Tolerant Trees

By

Vanessa Kariuki

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August 1, 2023

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at promoting scientific research activities and the breeding of drought-tolerant trees has been signed by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), led by Director KEFRI, Dr. Joshua Cheboiwo.

Key areas of cooperation are outlined in the MOU, such as the sharing of scientific data, expert visits that are reciprocal, and the deployment of Climate Resilience Adaptations (CRAs) to create new technologies.

Additionally, the two institutions will collaborate to strengthen institutional and personnel capacity by using shared physical facilities for research and development.

The sharing of research findings through joint publications will go hand in hand with collaborative efforts in research, innovation, and technology development.

This collaboration represents a forward-thinking strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change, and it is anticipated to produce ground-breaking solutions for sustainable and climate-resilient forestry in Kenya’s arid regions.

MOH, County Gov’ts Partner To Embark On Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign

By

Vanessa Kariuki

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August 1, 2023

An oral cholera vaccine campaign will be held from Thursday, August 3, to Saturday, August 12, 2023, by the Ministry of Health in coordination with county governments and with the assistance of WHO, UNICEF, and other partners.

“The campaign aims to reach approximately 1.5 million people above one-year-old in six targeted counties: Nairobi County (Kamukunji and Embakasi Central sub-counties), Wajir County (Wajir North sub-county), Mandera County (Mandera East sub-county), Marsabit County (Moyale sub-county), Homa Bay County (Suba South sub-county), Machakos County (GK Prison and Special school), and Garissa County (Dadaab refugee camps),” said MOH.

To guarantee the successful execution of the immunisation campaign, the Ministry held training sessions for county and sub-county teams in the targeted areas.

Parents, guardians, and other carers are advised to take advantage of this potentially life-saving opportunity by getting vaccinated and making sure their kids do as well.

In addition to immunisation, the Ministry urges people to continue implementing important public health precautions like consistent hand washing, good water treatment, thorough cooking, and the use of latrines for proper faecal disposal.

These actions are crucial to safeguarding the community’s health and well-being as well as halting the spread of cholera.

President Ruto Demands Written Explanation From Kuria, Kindiki Over Lateness

By

John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

President William Ruto has asked two cabinet secretaries who failed to sign performance contracts due to tardiness to explain their reasons in writing.

The President, who was enraged after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his Trade counterpart Moses Kuria were locked out of State House, demanded an explanation.

“I don’t understand why one can miss such an important event which is surrounding their work. If you cannot keep time with your employer you have basically dismissed yourself,” Ruto said.

The Head of state further said that the locked-out CSs should personally write to him explaining why they were late.

“For those who came late and they are members of the Executive, I will be expecting a written explanation and it should not include matters of traffic on why they did not take these performance contracts seriously because if you don’t take them seriously it means that we don’t take the contract with the people of Kenya on performance seriously and that can be a very serious indictment on anybody.”

He lectured the executive members that he cannot tolerate flimsy errors from leaders who have been entrusted with a huge responsibility to serve Kenyans, and that they must act with integrity.

“I don’t know whether it is this performance contracts that have been going on for 20 years that many people maybe mistakenly think that it is a ritual and that is why people resort to the old incompetent excuses that there was traffic for them not to be in the most important public function,” he said.

“We have a job because we have a contract, if you cannot keep time with your employer you have basically dismissed yourself, it is just as simple as that,” he added.

According to an official programme released by State House Press Secretary Emmanuel Talam, the event was to begin at exactly 8 am.

This meant that all the CSs and their Principal Secretaries were to be seated early enough before the official time when the event would start.

Speaking during the event, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned CSs and PSs over lateness saying that there cannot be any justification for that.

“I saw some were late, and I looked at the President in the eye and realised that there would be trouble for them,” Gachagua said.

“You can’t arrive at an event when the President is already seated. Why would you come late? How do you explain that? Who did you go to see and yet today was the most important day for you to sign contracts?”

New Konza University Set To Open In September

By

John Mutiso

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August 1, 2023

The government is set to open the Kenya National Open University by September this year at Konza Technopolis as one of its’ flagship projects.

Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo said the virtual university aims to enhance access to affordable university education.

“Once the institution becomes functional, it will make university education more affordable, accessible, and attainable to all students, no matter their location or income levels,” said Owalo.

The CS, who was speaking at a Nairobi hotel Monday when presenting a report on the One-Year Status Report of the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, said plans were also at an advanced stage to operationalize the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST) at Konza Technopolis.

He said the institution that is still under construction and scheduled to open this year will be entrusted with a national strategic ICT-inclined mission to offer postgraduate programmes in advanced science and technology.

Owalo announced that the Ministry, in collaboration with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, plans to equip the training institutes with a total of 23,000 digital devices, adding that a total of 8,159 digital devices have already been supplied to 112 institutions.

The CS said as of July 31^st this year, a total of 77 Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions were supplied with 6,700 virtual desktops; four universities received 400 units; one community centre and twenty-one schools received 100 each; and eight ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and one county government got 100 and five virtual desktops, respectively.

He said the Ministry had linked 109,000 youth from the Ajira programme directly to digital jobs, which included business process outsourcing companies based in Ndhiwa, Mbeere, Kirinyaga, Central, Mombasa, and Nairobi.

“We have equally trained a total of 336,000 youth on digital jobs, under the Ajira Digital Programme and formed and institutionalised 74 Ajira digital clubs, which are sustainable platforms,” he added.

The CS added that the Ministry is driving digital skills and job creation through the Ajira and Jitume programmes with the aim of equipping citizens with technical and vocational digital education and digital skills for digitally enabled jobs.

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