Orange Democratic Movement letter to UNICEF – “Re: Taking Children’s rights in Kenya for Granted” (24.01.2018)

CS Fred Matiangi letter the Standard Media – ‘Demand for Correction and Apology’ (24.01.2018)

Urgent livestock vaccination campaign in South Sudan in jeopardy without more support (24.01.2018)

Keeping animals alive and healthy is vital to combat hunger – Donor appeal.

JUBA, South Sudan, January 24, 2018 – The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is seeking $7.5 million to roll out a critically needed emergency livestock vaccination campaign in South Sudan.

FAO aims to protect nearly 9 million animals (30 percent of the country’s livestock) – scaling up from 6 million in 2017 – to combat increasingly frequent outbreaks of animal diseases. To date, FAO has only a quarter of the funds it needs ($2.5 million out of $10 million).

Keeping animals alive and healthy is vital in a country where most of the population relies on livestock for their very survival, and half of the population is grappling with acute hunger.

“In most parts of the country, FAO and its partners are the main provider of vaccinations. We are trying to reach as many animals as possible now. If we wait for two more months, the rains will start taking over; half of the country will soon be completely cut off or extremely difficult to access, and a huge number of animals risk being trapped in an impossible situation,” said Serge Tissot, FAO Representative in South Sudan.

“We vaccinated 300,000 animals so far against prevalent diseases such as black quarter, haemorrhagic septicaemia and anthrax, in Aweil state, in the north-west of the country. Famers there told us that their cattle have been sick for months, and we reached them just in time to check the situation, provide necessary heath care and start vaccinations to protect their livestock against major diseases. Yet, unless more funds come in, we are unable to reach other farmers facing the same fears – losing their livelihoods,” added Tissot.

“When my animal got sick, I used some herbs from the bush because there are no drugs in this area. But this didn’t help. The animal lost weight and its coat doesn’t look ok. Now it has stopped eating. I’m afraid it will soon die,” said Kiir Mawein, a cattle keeper from Aweil.

People in rural areas are forced to feed herbs to their sick animals or to go into the nearest town – often a trip of several days on foot – only to find out that there are no veterinary drugs, or that they are too expensive.

The $7.5 million that FAO still requires would not only cover vaccination costs but would also build three new cold chain hubs in remote areas. This would help to address some major setbacks when it comes to delivering animal health care services and medicines in South Sudan: distance, hot climate (average temperature is 30°C, up to 45°C during the hottest months), lack of infrastructure and health services.

“For people in South Sudan, cattle means life. They “chase away hunger”, as farmers put it. They don’t only provide an important source of nutritious food, but also act as a safety net; when faced with an emergency, farmers can turn to selling one of their animals to cover other urgent needs,” added Tissot.

To build resilience and ensure a better delivery of animal health care services, FAO has set up a network of community-based animal health workers.

To date, 1,000 community-based animal health workers have been trained and are carrying-out routine check-ups and vaccinating livestock as part of FAO’s Emergency Livestock Response Programme.

Supporting a sustainable community-based animal health workers’ system has significantly contributed to delivering adequate animal health care as well as preventive and emergency vaccination campaigns.

In 2018, FAO aims to train an additional 1,000 community-based animal health workers to spread the reach of veterinary services. FAO also continues to work with women groups to reinforce small-scale businesses – supplying and selling animal products like milk and other milk products.

FAO’s work in South Sudan is possible thanks to support from: USA, European Union, Denmark, Canada, Japan, Norway, World Bank, UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and Kuwait.

South Sudan: IGAD Partners Forum re-affirms continued support to the peace process in South Sudan (22.01.2018)

As part of the continuous engagement with stakeholders of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) on South Sudan, State Minister Hirut Zemene and IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, Ambassador Ismail Wais briefed members of the IGAD Partners Forum (IPF) on Monday (January 22).

During the briefing session, Co-Chairs of the meeting State Minister Hirut and Ambassador Wais have given particular emphasis on two major issues. They have, primarily, pointed out that despite violations, the signing of Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access in Addis Ababa on December 21st was pivotal to ensure stability in the country. Co-Chairs noted violators would be singled out and be accountable.

The Co-Chairs have praised the AU Commission, the IGAD Special Envoy for the Republic of South Sudan, the IGAD Partners Forum, the High-Level Co-Facilitators of the HLRF, the AU High-Level ad-hoc Committee, JMEC, the UN, the Troika and the International Community, who have tirelessly worked to ensure the signing of the Agreement ahead of the expected time.

The second point the Co-Chairs raised was that those few violations will not undermine the next phase of the HLRF scheduled to be held on the 5th of February, 2018.

Praising the efforts being exerted by the IGAD towards ensuring a long-lasting peace in South Sudan, Members of the IPF have with one voice pledged their continued support to the Revitalization Process.

South Sudan: JMEC Demands Full Support for CTSAMM (22.01.2018)

Hon. Mohamed Junet Memo to Members of Committee’s – “Subject: Scheduled Committee Meeting for Removal of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Committees” (22.01.2018)

NASA: The People’s Assembly – “Resolutions of the Second Coast Region People’s Assembly held at Uhuru Gardens, Mombasa County” (21.01.2018)

Opinion: UNICEF is a lost cause, giving Kenyatta an honorary title suggesting him to promote “Youth Empowerment!”

On UNICEF Main-Page this is cataloged under What We Do and then Work: “UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential. And we never give up. UNICEF for every child” (UNICEF.Org). Therefore, reading this is scratching my eyes and wonder what in the world is happening? How come UNICEF and Uhuru Kenyatta wants to connect?

Is UNICEF out of their mind. Here is the official press release from the Presidents own web page:

NAIROBI, 19 January 2018 (PSCU) – President Uhuru Kenyatta has accepted a UN agency’s request to be the global champion for youth empowerment. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore said the President’s role will include advocating promotion of universal healthcare, education and nutrition. Making the request when she paid a courtesy call on President Kenyatta today at State House, Nairobi, Ms Fore assured the country of support in achieving universal healthcare” (PSCU, 2018).

I have to ask, what is up with UNICEF? Are you really working for kids and their best potential? Do you know anything about Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee Alliance Party? Have you followed his track-record and his history before giving him the title and honorary position yesterday? Part of me don’t think so.

Like in August 2017 after the first Presidential Election, the Police hammered at the Mathare slums in Nairobi, where they killed a young girl. In October 2017, the Police clobbered a mother and its 6 months year old Samantha Pendo to death in Kisumu. Clearly, this man is leaving behind many kids. Something the UNICEF should be concerned about. That he has killed kids and their parents in his efforts to stay in power. That is the sort of man, the UNICEF organization has honored yesterday. Is that the current values of the UN Organization called UNICEF is all about?

We know that Kenyatta cheats, uses the military and police to stay in power. He uses all tricks, hires foreign companies to make his propaganda, he hires companies to forge the validity of the elections, both in tenders of printing ballots, BVR Machines and whatnot that the government needs. Therefore, that UNICEF will be used by a man like Kenyatta is worrying.

That Executive Director Fore is blind or naive, that is all up to her. She has already shown that the kids killed for power doesn’t matter for her. Because they don’t matter to Kenyatta. He has celebrated and honored the men and woman who took weapons against their own. To make sure he could rule a second term at any cost. Kenyatta doesn’t care, he hasn’t and he has threaten people easily, but never negotiated or open his door to them.

Neither has he cared about the youth unemployment, Kenyatta has been careful to hustle and bustle with the cartels. Jubilee is cronyism and corruption on steroids. Still, that doesn’t matter to UNICEF. They want his stamp on their organization and his promises. Well, Kenyatta has promised a lot, but he hasn’t delivered.

Why did you do this UNICEF? Why? What went through your mind? Are you trying to do what World Health Organization did to Mugabe in 2017? Is that your goal and ambition? You better make some random celebrity or pop singer ambassadors, not politicians and presidents like this. That will not be scrutinized like this. It will be, okay, they need some goodwill. So they picked the most popular singer and actor of year. Pick Jason Statham or Camila Cabello. Someone that doesn’t create a fuzz and has actually done damage in the field your trying to get goodwill out of. You don’t give credit to weapon producers for generating peace are you? That is how it looks? The ones that actually producing arms and ammunition is the ones getting the highest reward. So the Nobel Peace Prize is in 2018 going to Lockheed Martin. I am kidding about that, but that is how it looks! Peace.

Final Edition: A Disclaimer.

There isn’t often I have to do this, but I do this here. I have to say sorry to UNICEF for this post. As this was false-news created by the PSCU of the President Uhuru Kenyatta. Who dropped this story, which was false. I am still keeping the article up. To prove how people get eaten by the hype. I also get caught in cycle and get caught into it. I apologize. Sincerely the writer of Minbane on the 19th May 2018.

Reference:

PSCU – ‘President Kenyatta accepts role of global champion for youth empowerment’ (19.01.2018) link: http://www.president.go.ke/2018/01/19/president-kenyatta-accepts-role-of-global-champion-for-youth/

SPLM-IO: Response to IGAD Special Envoy – Ismail Wais (19.01.2018)

Kenya: NASA – The People’s Assembly – “Resolutions of the first Ukambani People’s Assembly held in Machakos Town, Machakos County” (19.01.2018)