General News
Covid-19: Kenya’s Positivity Rate Now At 11.5 Percent
The Kenya Health Ministry has stated that the country’s Covid-19 positivity rate is now at 11.5 per cent.
The Health ministry has confirmed that as of yesterday, over 8.2 million vaccines had so far been administered across the country.
Of these, more than 4.9 million were partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated were more than 3.2 million.
The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose was at 57.2 per cent.
The proportion of adults fully vaccinated was 12 per cent. The government is working towards vaccinating a targeted population of more than 27 million.
This comes as 331 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours from a sample size of 2,872 tested.
The total confirmed positive cases are now 256,815 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,894,765.
On county distribution, Nairobi led with 284, followed by Kiambu 10, Kakamega 7, Nakuru 7, Kajiado 6, Machakos 3, Migori 3, Baringo 2, Busia 2, Embu 2, Laikipia 2, Kirinyaga 1, Taita Taveta 1 and Uasin Gishu 1.
Some 253 patients have recovered, 237 are from the Home-Based Isolation and Care programme, while 16 are from various health facilities.
Kenya’s total recoveries now stand at 248,804, with 200,783 being from the Home-Based Care and Isolation programme, while 48,021 are from various health facilities.
There is no death reported today, therefore, the cumulative fatalities remain at 5,349.
A total of 161 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 710 are under the Home-Based Isolation and Care programme.
Two patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and all of them are on ventilatory support.
Fourty-three patients are on supplemental oxygen with 42 of them being in the general wards. One patient is in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has criticized Kenya for re-implementing the fuel subsidy scheme, expressing concerns that the lack of funds to pay oil marketers could distort the budget.
Despite a previous commitment by President William Ruto in 2022 not to subsidize pump prices, the government reintroduced the subsidy, preventing petrol and diesel prices from reaching higher levels in October 2023.
The IMF argues that the subsidy was applied without available funds, as the Treasury has yet to pay oil marketers at least Ksh9 billion ($55.6 million) accumulated from the previous year. President Ruto’s decision to reinstate subsidies goes against conditions set by the IMF for accessing loans.
Petrol and diesel prices, which were Ksh217.36 ($1.34) and Ksh205.47 ($1.27) respectively in Nairobi in October 2023, remained lower than the potential Ksh220.43 ($1.36) and Ksh217.11 ($1.34) due to the subsidy. However, the IMF disapproves of the decision, emphasizing that the removal of the subsidy was a key condition for a 38-month budget support scheme.
The IMF criticizes the prolonged process of forming a taskforce and delays in implementing decisions regarding fuel pricing.
The removal of the subsidy in May of the previous year led to record-high pump prices, crossing the Ksh200-mark later in the year due to a combination of subsidy removal and a VAT increase to 16 percent.
Kenya’s administration, faced with rising fuel costs, chose to reinstate the subsidy, prompting the IMF to raise alarms over the lack of budgeted funds and potential distortions in the country’s financial plans.
The ongoing disagreement highlights the challenges and consequences associated with balancing domestic economic policies and meeting international financial commitments
As the back-to-school rush season unfolds in Meru County, a growing number of parents are making a strategic choice to purchase second-hand books for their children.
This decision stems from the challenging economic conditions that have prompted families to seek ways to cut costs.
Among these parents is Ms. Prisca Gakii, who revealed that opting for second-hand books allows her to save money, which can then be allocated towards essential expenses like school fees.
She highlighted a practical advantage for Form-One students, emphasizing that using older books can protect them from potential theft, as new books often become targets for less scrupulous classmates.
Ms. Gakii pointed out a notable price difference, citing an example of a new Oxford dictionary priced at almost Sh1,900, compared to a used one available for Sh1400.
She justified her preference for the older but more affordable option, emphasizing that they contain the same content.
Janet Wamuyu, a second-hand books trader, shed light on the lucrative nature of their business during the opening of the first term, which coincides with the peak season.
As learners transition to new grades or classes, there is a heightened demand for various books, including dictionaries, Kamusi, and Golden Bells.
Wamuyu explained that this period, especially when Form-One students are joining school, facilitates easy acquisition of books for new stock.
The trading process involves exchanging books for the next grade or class at a lower rate, providing an economical alternative for parents instead of purchasing an entirely new set of books.
She further noted that their source of new stock comes from parents whose children have completed their studies and no longer require the books.
Despite the success during the peak season, Wamuyu acknowledged the challenges faced during other times of the year when only a few revision books are in demand, highlighting the cyclical nature of the business in Meru County.
Corporate Training Telemarketer at People FOCO
Care Team Senior Supervisor at Cigna
