General News
Youths Urged To Shun Crime
Since the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic, the youth’s lifestyle has been affected greatly not only socially but also economically leaving them with no option but to strive to make ends meet.
Youths of Uasin Gishu County have taken the initiative of looking at the effects of the pandemic in a more positive manner.
Instead of turning into drug addicts and robbery due to lack of jobs, they have made themselves more useful through self-employment.
For instance, the Director of Art Films Entertainment Brian Mwanzo while speaking to KNA, noted that the film industry has seen to it that every young individual gets involved in the pursuit of their dreams through showcasing their talents.
“The entertainment industry has made it possible for the youths to be among the artists and content creators and has enabled them air out their views in a more peaceful manner. We support the youths because they are the ones with new ideas in our society,” Mwanzo added.
The artists and content creators of the Art Films Entertainment performed a play on the set book Betrayal in The City not just to educate the students on the set book but to educate the people on how betrayal is all over the entire country.
Quincy Rapando, who acts in the drama Zora as Kwame, was the chief guest in the play. He pointed out that the theme of betrayal is not just in the play but also in the current society we live in.
He mentioned that most of the young people were highly educated yet they ended up jobless thus forcing them to engage in malpractices such as corruption to access an employment opportunity.
“It is very clear that most of the learning institutions engage in demonstration due to betrayal in one way or another, causing some to even lose their lives. I understand that all this is done for an improvement to be done but we as the young people can air out our grievances in a better manner through the arts,” Quincy said.
Quincy encouraged the youths to be more determined in whatever they were doing and urged the government to enhance support to youth programme saying they were the only ones who would bring about change in the nation as economic drivers and leaders of tomorrow.
Another actor Franklin Ngétich said that the pandemic has affected the youth a lot but it reached a point he had to look at a positive angle.
“We as the young people are the ones who will suffer if we continue complaining and not implementing change. We are trying to air out all our suffering in a better way without causing chaos and bloodshed through the arts,” Ng’etich said.
He added that instead of the young people turning to drugs and other illegal activities, they should strive for better living.
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
