News Categories: Administration, Public Service and ICT

The County Government of Nandi is looking forward to increasing student enrollment into the Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) which are spread throughout the county. The Department of Education and Vocational Training is putting more efforts towards achieving this through expansion of the centres, establishment of new ones and even equipping the existing ones.

The department in partnership with Computer For schools Kenya (CFSK) recently equipped computer laboratories in the VTCs across the County so as give the youth an opportunity to acquire the computer literacy skills. AJIRA Digital skills as well as Google’s soft skills training programs will be rolled out in these centres as an initiative towards empowering the youth. The Computer Laboratories will also act as an enabler in teaching all the other courses offered in these institutions.

Section of a computer Lab in Kaptel VTC.

Speaking during the assessment of the ongoing construction of Septonok VTC, the Director for Vocational Training Centers (VTCs), Daniel Rutto, said that the county government has improved the state of most VTCs and is continuously working to expand the facilities and establish new ones. This is geared towards creating more opportunities for the enrollment of more students.

The team from the department of Education and Vocational Training led by the director having visited Cheptarit, Kaptel and Chemundu VTCs,  will also be visiting all the other VTCs throughout the county.

County director in charge of VTC together with Welding and Fabrication students at Kaptel VTC.

The youths are therefore called upon to enroll into these institutions and grab the opportunities available, get skilled and increase their chances for self employment as well as having their own startups.

Since the inception of Kapsabet municipality late last year, there have been progressive plans towards the development of the area covered under the municipality.

The municipality having met the minimum conditions for World Bank funding, got awarded with development funds through the Kenya Urban Support Program for urban development of Kapsabet municipality.

The department of Administration together with the municipality board and in consolidation with the citizens’ views, came up with a list of development projects to be implemented. These projects which include construction of non motorized transport, waste management, street lighting and market stalls among other, are currently undergoing tendering and will soon commence.

The municipality board has therefore created committees to monitor and oversees the implementation of development programs as well as resource mobilization. Today the Planning and Infrastructure committee of the municipality board met to discuss on the development of the integrated development plan and improvement of infrastructure within the municipality.

The leadership of the municipality is currently working on policies, plans and strategies which will guide and fast track the programs and projects implementation. These policies and plans will also aid in setting and achievement of the targets for better delivery of services.

The County government of Nandi endeavours to provide better working conditions to its employees for efficient, result oriented and satisfactory delivery of services to the citizens.

Today, the County Doctors’ CBA implementation and Monitoring committee held their quarterly meeting to check on the progress of the CBA implementation. The committee discussed various areas of concern ranging from staff promotions, medical cover, car loans and mortgage among other issues.

While chairing the meeting, the Chief Officer for Public Service Grace Sugut said that all the pending staff promotions (including doctors), were under discussion and awaiting recommendations from the County Human Resource Management Advisory Committee.

She further added that the Public Service sub sector’s plan to ensure that the staff are placed under a medical cover is underway.

The Medical Services Chief Officer, Dr. Paul Lagat, pointed out the efforts by the Health Department in providing better working conditions and improving doctors and nurses welfare. He said that the county government has so far addressed major issues such as shortage of doctors, opportunities for further training, leave, disciplinary procedures, doctors lounge and provision of better working environment.

The representatives from KMPDU led by the Secretary General Northrift Region, Dr. Ismael Aiyabei congratulated the county government for addressing most of the issues raised earlier on concerning the implementation of Doctors’ CBA. He also applauded the government’s cooperation in working together with the KMPDU Officials for effective health service provision in the County.

The County Government is committed to ensuring that traders and business people within Kapsabet Town do their businesses in a clean and an organized environment.

The leadership of Kapsabet Municipality together with the Market Master, William Yator organized an election of Kapsabet Town Market committee where Mr. Simion Korir was elected as the chairperson, together with 12 other committee members.

The deputy Municipal Manager, Shadrack Kirong who was overseeing the election of Town Market Committee, said that the Department of Administration through Kapsabet Municipality is working towards improving the business environment and giving a better look to Kapsabet town which was recently upgraded to a Municipality.

He added that among the projects to be implemented through the Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP) is the extension of street lights, high mast flood light installation, digital signage, market stalls, Jua Kali shades, storm water drainage, extension of sewer lines and solid waste management through the acquisition of a self loading truck and receptacles in the town and especially in the market place.

This committee, will be reporting to County Market inspector, and will be traders’ representatives in stakeholders forums, advocating for their welfare, help in the management of the market, settling disputes and giving direction to the people using the market.

The traders present applauded the county government’s efforts in improving the urban areas and the business environment.

The County Government of Nandi, through the department of Administration, Public Service and e-Government, has always prioritized on the the safety of its citizens.

Through the Fire and Disaster unit, it is looking forward to making Nandi county a safer place. It is doing this through the continuous safety awareness to the general public and providing support especially in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and post disaster recovery.

Among other initiatives put in place to steer the County Disaster unit achieve its set objectives includes equipping the unit, training of the staff and even the general public on safe practices, precautionary measures and disaster management

The department is also working in collaboration with the ICT and e-government sub sector in the ongoing establishment of toll free call centre that will enable the public to raise concerns and make requests especially in times of emergency.

Speaking during a capacity building and enhancement training session for the staff in the disaster management unit facilitated by specialists from fire and electrical safety, the CO for Administration and Decentralized units, Scolastica Tuwei, said that the team will be moving out to the public and more so to the institutions of learning and risk prone areas to inspect and assess on disaster preparedness as well as train them on matters of disaster management.

Terik Ward MCA, Hon. Osborn Komen, also present in the session, congratulated the department’s efforts in ensuring safety of the people especially during emergencies through quick response, rescue and recovery.

Also present were Lorreine Jerono-head of disaster management, Boaz Too-Assistant director public works unit, Lordvico Too- public works officer, David Cheserek- public works fire safety officer, Joshua Tiparo-Clinical psychologist and sheila chepngeno- public works officer.

Health Management Information System (HMIS) implementation kicked off with the training of the users and data validation. The Department of Health and Sanitation together with ICT sub sector are a carrying out training of all systems users who are mainly the health practitioners.

This comprehensive health system with modules which cater for the diverse functional areas of the healthcare sector will be piloted in Kapsabet County referral Hospital (KCRH). Thereafter, it will implemented in the Sub county hospitals and then to other health facilities countywide.

HMIS which is patient oriented, is greatly focusing on making patient care safe, efficient and effective by managing patient movement across the health sections. It will also enable efficient use of healthcare resources through the paperless and cashless processes.

Today the consultants from WilCom Systems LTD (System Vendors) headed by Tito Koiyet begun the Heads of sections Training in a session attended by Medical Superintendent KCRH, Health Administrators, heads of sections and the ICT team. All other system users will progressively be carried through the same training.

The Chief Officer for ICT and e-Government Jonathan Misoi, who opened the training session said that the system will provide better information management through the electronic access to appropriate health care services down to remote facilities.
“The system is very much flexible and can therefore be integrated with existing and upcoming health, Human Resource and revenue systems”, said Misoi.

Misoi further called upon all the health practitioners and the support team to fully adopt and utilize the system for the effectiveness of all the processes run and managed through the system.

Nandi county is looking forward to providing an e-solution to farmers to improve their productivity through value chain development, stock management, provision of extension services as well as making the farmer always informed. This is realized with the implementation of Agricultural information Management system( also known as Nandi County E-Farmers).

This system will be implemented as a result of Nandi County partnering with Safaricom for the integration of their Digifarm Enterprise Initiative into Nandi County e-Farmers. This platform is one of the best initiatives that focus on improving service delivery to farmers through: cashless distribution of farm inputs; creation and verification of value chain; farmer registration via Web, SMS, Native mobile application; Bulk communication to farmers; learn content for farmers; voucher issuing, redemption & reconciliation and automation of AI services.

Governor Sang with Digifarm CEO Mr. Kimani during the courtesy call.

Today the team from Safaricom headed by Patrick Kimani who is the Digifarm CEO paid a courtesy call to the Governor to discuss on the various areas engagements that would result on betterment of the livelihoods of the farmers of Nandi County.

The Governor, H.E Stephen Sang pointed out his focus in partnering with Safaricom in other avenues to provide solutions especially in the marketing of agricultural products from Nandi County.

“This e-farmers platform will also help us in the timely distribution of subsidized products to farmers as well as the automation of AI services for convenience and accountability”, he said.

The system is now at user training level and will soon be operational where registration of farmers and cooperatives will kick off followed by the provision of extension services through the system.

Also present were the CECM for Agriculture and Cooperative Development, Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat; CECM for Administration, Public Service and e-Government, Teresa Morogo; CO for ICT and e-Government, Jonathan Misoi and the CO for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Wilson Lelei.

The County Government of Nandi is partnering with Safaricom to transform the lives of farmers in the county through roll out of Agricultural Management Information System (AMIS).

AMIS is an e-fermers’ solution which is a customization of Safaricom’s DIGIFARM meant to improve Agricultural service delivery to the people.

The AMIS system allow farmers to interact with agricultural service providers in the county as well as request for services through the system. It will also allow for farmer registration so as to help in proper management and reaching out to them for effective service delivery.

During a stakeholders meeting between Safaricom and the County departments of Agriculture & Cooperative Development and ICT and e-Government, the team was able to finalize on the system customization to fit the needs of farmers in Nandi county.

While speaking during the stakeholders meeting, the CECM for Agriculture and Cooperative development Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat, pointed out the department’s efforts in digitizing operations in agricultural sector. Among other service by the department of Agriculture and cooperative development are: A.I services, ongoing contruction of Nandi Cooperative Cremeries in Kabiyet, renovation of Cattle Dips and construction of cooling sites countywide.

The CO for Agriculture Wilson Lelei, called upon the citizens more so the farmers to support such County Government initiatives especially during the upcoming farmers registration in the roll out of AMIS.

Jonathan Misoi, the CO ICT and e-Government, while chairing the stakeholders meeting said that technology is a key enabler in enhancing efficient and effective delivery of services across all departments. He added that apart from AMIS, department is rolling out other systems for all the departments for efficiency of service delivery.

Among them being the Health management, Fleet management, revenue system, licencing system, human resource system and Call Centre project which is Toll Free for the County residents to request for services, make inquiries and get informed about all the projects, programs, policies and services.

Also present were County Attorney- George Tarus, County directors from the above mentioned departments, AMIS technical and implementation team, Agricultural consultants and consultants from Safaricom.

As a county Administration, we are keen on ensuring the welfare and capacity of the employees is taken care of considering the need for quality service provision in all the areas of service delivery.

Today the County Secretary, Dr. Francis Sang the CO Public Service, Grace Sugut together with the CO for Education and Vocational training, Daniel Sang held a consultative meeting with Officials from Trained Eye Teachers Association ( TETA) to discuss on the welfare of ECDE teachers in the county.

Having discussed the various aspects of improving the teachers welfare, the team also deliberated on the appointment of heads of ECDE stations. These heads, who are going to be in charge of both pre-primary 1 and pre-primary 2, are going to be a link between their centres and the county through Ward Education Officers.

Such initiatives will boost service delivery as governance and management is devolved down to the ECDE centres. It also allows for ease of monitoring performance to ensure the staff perform their duties as expected.

The team from TETA, led by the Chairman Kennedy Koech, Keino christopher and Esther Jepng’etich congratulated the efforts by the County Government in supporting learning in the ECDE centres. The initiative include employment of ECDE teachers and the ongoing construction of the classrooms in all the wards.

County government of Nandi through the department of Administration is looking forward to the upgrade of the major urban areas to Municipalities, towns and market centres. Kapsabet town was recently upgraded to a municipality and therefore the first municipality in the county since the inception of the new constitution

GEODEV Kenya in conjunction with Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP) recently conducted an assessment on the current state of the county, classification and establishment of urban areas in the county. GEODEV is a consulting firm that offers mapping, surveying, GIS, urban planning and environmental consultancy.

The report shows that Nandi county has 194 urban areas that are to be classified and demarcated as per the Urban Areas and Cities Act. This demarcation and classification is done based on the population with an estimated least population of 50,000 for municipalities, 10,000 for towns and 2000 for market centres as well as the availability of services in these urban areas.

In a forum attended by the CECM for Administration, Public service and e-Government, Teresa Morogo, CO for Administration, Scolastica Tuwei, Kapsabet Municipal manager, David Sum, Director in charge of Administration, County Urban Planner and County Surveyor, the Consultants from GEODEV Kenya gave an assessment report of all the Urban areas in the county and the proposed classification.

The team met to analyze the report, review the current status of urban areas in the county and do a comparative assessment of the initial classification as a basis for proper delineation, demarcation and classification of the urban areas by the Kenya Urban Support Program. From the report, some of the anticipated changes include upgrade of Nandi Hills town to a municipality, all sub county headquarters to towns and the remaining urban areas to market centres.

During the meeting, Ms Morogo said that the County government is working towards developing and providing services in all the urban areas so as to bring services closer to the people and bridge the existing service gap. She also pointed out that this classification will enhance efficient and effective governance and management.

This report together with the proposed classification and demarcation will be submitted to KUSP for consideration as per the Urban Areas and Cities Act. It is thereafter taken to the citizens through public participation before the classification and demarcation is adopted.