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The Video Cartel has been shooting, producing and editing video, TV commercials, documentaries, music videos, brand stories, experiential installations and digital experiences for a decade. In that time (along with winning multiple awards) they’ve seen video go from nice-to-have to imperative. “When we started, the film industry had been turned on its head,” says Founder …
National Treasury will in the coming weeks introduce Bounce Back measures to assist with the rollout of rooftop solar for households to encourage electricity generation and expand the renewable energy tax incentive for business.
For many families, boarding school is a family tradition which goes back generations. For other families, modern life requires work and travel commitments that make boarding for high school students a necessity. But the questions that are central to every parent’s concern are: will my child be happy as a boarder? And how do I …
In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of individuals embracing vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Simultaneously, there is a growing demand for food products that meet specific dietary requirements while also adhering to religious guidelines. For those who follow kosher dietary laws, finding vegan or vegetarian products that are also kosher …
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Denmark have entered into another agreement of cooperation in innovation and management of water services between the two countries.
A groundbreaking initiative is set to grow the agricultural sector in the iLembe District Municipality, according to KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni.
They say that there are stock-outs on certain medications, long queues and missing folders
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, says she is encouraged by the agricultural sector's overall contribution to the country’s job creation drive.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says efforts to get the country off the grey list are well underway, with the Financial Intelligence Centre allocated more than R265 million over the medium-term.
ChatGPT has had more airtime than the world's most renowned celebrity. Its arrival has sparked questions and concerns that some did not even think to ask, including if it is a threat to our critical thinking skills.
Write this essay. Complete this analysis. Unpack the meaning behind this excerpt. These are all sentences that bring horror to those who do homework – lengthy essays about things that students are not sure they care about, and that many do not see the point in doing in the first place. This homework is not designed to be terrifying; it is designed to ignite the mind and critical thinking; to challenge students to form their own opinions and then using research and cognitive thinking to back them up. Currently, this is being threatened by tools like ChatGPT.
Yet, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are here to stay so instead of seeing it as a threat, it should be seen as an asset, but one that supports cognitive growth and memory function rather than replacing it, says Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA.
“Research by George Millar in 1956 found that the average person can only keep around seven items in their working memory,” she explains. “Miller's Law of seven plus-minus two means up to nine or as little as five items are the limit of a human's processing abilities. Today, that number has gone down to four (https://apo-opa.info/3MIOCHD). This research, along with other academic papers and analyses (https://apo-opa.info/3BvXPMQ), points to reduced memory due to an over reliance on technology also called the Google effect,” explains Collard.
This is a concern, one that has grown increasingly vocal over the past year as educators and researchers have pondered the impact of technology, and now AI, on cognitive behaviour and memory retention. However, it is also balanced by research that has pointed out that actually, human beings have been outsourcing their memory to various materials and solutions for centuries. Paper, parchment, papyrus and wood are some prime examples. Modern technology is no different. It can be a tool to bolster memory and make it far easier for humans to manage lives that are deluged by information, noise and digital clutter.
“The research goes in both directions, suggesting that technology is both an enabler and an inhibitor of human memory,” says Collard. “This points to the fact that actually, the impact does not lie in using it, but in how it is used or, in the case of ChatGPT, abused. The latter can be an immensely useful tool that supports students in their research and studies, but if it becomes the sole source of information and does all the writing for them, that is where the problems start.”
Nowadays, remembering where you found a fact has become more important than remembering the fact itself. This translates directly into the biggest challenge with ChatGPT – it is vague on its sources and often out of date, which means that it rarely is as accurate as it needs to be.
“ChatGPT uses machine learning to infer information and this introduces inaccuracies,” says Collard. “If you ask ChatGPT what happens if you break a mirror, it replies with ‘You will have seven years of bad luck'. This is not a fact; it is based on superstition. If users do not constantly check the factual accuracy of ChatGPT, they run the risk of sharing fake news, inaccurate information and even conspiracy theories.”
The TruthfulQA benchmark test has found that most generative models are only truthful 25% of the time, according to the 2022 Stanford University (https://apo-opa.info/3o0ZCGJ) Artificial Intelligence Index Report. This means over reliance on technology such as ChatGPT is simply going to make the student's work look stupid. However, that is not enough to stop people from turning to tech when they are tired, overwhelmed or lazy, which means that the best approach is to embrace it.
“Do not ban it, rather teach students how to use it within practical guidelines and policies that help them to enhance their understanding of AI and this type of tool,” concludes Collard. “This will enhance their own critical thinking skills by asking them to question the sources, content, truthfulness and accuracy of the content that the platform serves up to them, and it will turn the threat into an opportunity.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KnowBe4.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has warned South African consumers to exercise caution when dealing with Milo Designs, the supplier seems to be a scam purporting to be an online store that designs and sells furniture, using different social media platforms.
International study confirms that eight out of ten grade 4 learners still can’t read for meaning
Take First Group’s quick quiz to discover if you should be booking one big trip this year, or if you should be taking regular mini breaks instead The decision to take one big holiday versus multiple mini ones ultimately depends on your personal preferences and circumstances. According to Shaun Lamont, Managing Director of First Group …
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reassured development partners and creditors that his government is committed to the implementation of key reforms critical to resolving the country's nearly $8.3 billion of debts and arrears.
He was speaking during the high-level debt resolution forum held Monday in the capital Harare, that was also addressed by the President of the African Development Bank Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the facilitator of the high-level dialogues, former president of Mozambique Joachim Chissano and attended by government officials, development partners, private sector, former farm owners and civil society organizations.
According to President Mnangagwa, “in spite of the challenges associated with the debt overhang and further exacerbated by the albatross of the illegal economic sanctions, Zimbabwe is realizing key milestones towards moving our country forward for the good of our people.” The three key reform pillars for Zimbabwe's implementation program include governance reforms, land tenure reforms, compensation of former farm owners and the resolution of bilateral investment protection agreements.
Unsustainable debt
Dr. Adesina, who is the official champion for Zimbabwe's arrears clearance and debt resolution expressed deep concern about the country's debt, and a “debt accumulation from arrears that don't have an end in sight.”
According to Adesina, “Zimbabwe cannot run up the hill of economic recovery carrying a backpack of debt on its back. It is time for a comprehensive debt arrears clearance and debt resolution for Zimbabwe. But getting there is not a walk in the park. We must address history, to make history.”
He added, “economic sanctions are driving Zimbabwe further into unsustainable debt. The debt itself is not as debilitating as the arrears on the debt since the country cannot access international concessional financing or other revenue or less expensive financing to pay down its debt obligations.”
Majority of Zimbabwe's combined $8.3 billion bilateral and multilateral debt is accounted for by arrears. The country currently publishes public debt statistics and debt payment information to ensure transparency and accountability. “There is need to nurture the trust and good will which continues to grow among all parties,” President Mnangagwa said.
He added that the country's sustainable economic recovery requires augmentation by a comprehensive arrears clearance and debt resolution process which is backed by international financial institutions and the international community at large.
In his remarks, Mr. Chissano said Zimbabwe's situation is hurting the region: “The crisis in the country is having terrible consequences for the region, as Zimbabwe lies at the heart of Southern Africa. Many regional infrastructure development plans, including roads, railways and power transmission lines have been brought to a standstill, as they have to run through the country. The continental free trade is also undermined by the situation prevailing in Zimbabwe.”
Mobilizing $3.5 billion for compensation
On land reforms and compensation, Dr. Adesina said the Bank is working with the Government of Zimbabwe to develop innovative financial instruments and structures that can be used to front-load the mobilization of $3.5 billion for compensations.
He cautioned against further delays, which could erode trust and confidence. “So, timing counts; responsiveness counts; and financial sustainability counts,” he said.
Adesina appealed to development partners “to work together on this proposed structure which can help leverage capital markets to fund compensations without additional debt for Zimbabwe.”
The African Development Bank head commended the government for its decision to make land titles available to enhance the security of commercial farmland. “These would be for 99-year leases which are also commercially viable, bankable, and transferable,” he recommended.
Commitment to free and fair elections
On electoral reforms, President Mnangagwa assured stakeholders that the county has put in place the requisite mechanisms to guarantee peaceful, free, fair and credible elections scheduled for August this year.
“My government stands committed to consolidating constitutionalism, rule of law, good governance and protecting constitutionally enshrined rights and freedoms,” Mnangagwa said.
Adesina commended the Government of Zimbabwe and noted that “The people of Zimbabwe and the international community will be watching very closely. The full weight of re-engagement with the international community will depend on this. It will also depend not just on the election, but the entire electoral process that guarantees a credible election,” Adesina urged.
He further emphasized the need for stakeholders to ensure that there is concrete and measurable progress on the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA), which is critical for re-engagement with the United States and could be used to support advocacy for the lifting of select sanctions imposed by the US Congress.
The African Development Bank chief and Mr. Chissano visited the US early May to meet with leaders in the US Congress, Treasury Department, State Department, and other US agencies.
Adesina said, “it was very clear that there is support for this high-level dialogue, and a hope that it will translate into concrete and measurable progress on the ground to inform a consideration of the lifting of the sanctions under ZIDERA.”
In December 2022, the Zimbabwean government established a Structured Dialogue Platform with all creditors and development partners, to institutionalize structured dialogue on economic and governance reforms to underpin the arrears clearance and debt resolution process.
Dr. Adesina's speech (https://apo-opa.info/3o6b0kr)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
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About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org
Learnerships are an essential resource to future-proof your business Black Broad-Based Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) is only effective in meeting its goals if the transformative ethos of the legislation is embraced, according to Rajan Naidoo, the Director of EduPower Skills Academy. “If B-BBEE is approached with a begrudging compliance mindset, merely ticking boxes, it will fail. …
By Gawie Kanjemba, International Energy Fellow, African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org)
Historically, oil and gas projects are known to experience delays ranging from 5% to 20% of the project duration owing to project complexity, significant capital requirements and the multi-faceted nature of developments. In 2023, oil and gas projects across Africa are experiencing even further delays, a trend which is detailed in the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) recent market-focused report, The State of African Energy Q1, 2023 Outlook. The report paints a telling picture of the challenges facing the industry and the impacts these delays could have.
Procrastination: The Foe of Progress
According to the report, delays from discovery to final investment decision (FID) to development kick-off have increased, leading to revenue losses due to deferred production, increased costs for contractors, and essentially lack of progress. This trend mimics Parkinson's Law of Delay, an observation that work will expand to fill the time allocated to it. In this scenario, procrastination is the ultimate foe of progress and productivity, and unless delays are addressed, Africa will not be able to unlock the full potential of its oil and gas.
Despite their significance, a number of large-scale projects are experiencing a lull. These include the Mozambique liquefied natural gas project which has experienced multiple delays due to security concerns. Developed by TotalEnergies, the project was originally scheduled to start production in 2024 (FID was secured in 2019) but the start-up is now delayed to the late-2020s due to the declaration of force majeure by TotalEnergies. Additionally, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline - which will transport crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania for export - has been delayed due to financing challenges and environmental opposition. The project, which is being developed by TotalEnergies and other partners, was initially expected to start operating in 2020 but is now expected to come online in 2025. In Nigeria, several offshore oil projects have experienced delays due to security concerns, regulatory issues, and technical challenges. For example, the TotalEnergies-developed Egina oil field, saw a 12-month halt due to issues related to local content requirements and delays in the delivery of key components. Meanwhile, sizeable natural gas volumes discovered in Ethiopia in the 1970–1980s are yet to see FID, with project delays extending decades.
However, there are several successful stories such as the Jubilee field off the coast of Ghana, which has been in production since 2010 and has had a significant positive impact on the country's economy. Another example is Egypt's Zohr gas field, which has been in production since 2017, and Angola's Kaombo, which has been producing since 2018. These countries have experienced relatively few delays in their projects and are now enjoying the benefits of their successful development. Unless other O&G projects are developed with the same urgency, Africa's production forecast will see a downturn.
Start-ups Critical for Long-Term Output
According to the AEC's report, the currently producing fields, both liquids and gas, are in terminal decline due to depleting reservoirs. Infill drilling or redevelopment programs on these fields, which involve brownfield spending, may only temporarily stabilize the decline in production. Liquids output from these fields is expected to decline from 7.66 MMbbls/d in 2023 to 6.85 MMbbls/d in 2025 and 4.7 MMbbls/d in 2030. The average annual production decline rate is 8% through 2025-2030 and a higher 10% through 2031-2040. Any further delays or shelving of future start-ups can be catastrophic to Africa's hydrocarbon output. Although short-term (2023-2025) start-ups are expected to have little impact on the forecast, the medium-term (2026-2030) and long-term (2030+) start-ups are expected to drive a revival in Africa's liquids output. The good news is that the overall impact of delayed start-ups is short-lived, and the total liquids output from Africa is expected to ramp up to about 8.4 MMbbls/d in 2036.
Similarly, regarding gas production, the decline in producing fields, though terminal, is not as steep as liquids-producing fields. The short-term start-ups are estimated to account for 10% of the total output by 2025, but the share from the currently producing fields is expected to drop to 50% by 2031 and further to about a quarter of the total output by 2040. The long-term start-ups are estimated to add up to a third of the total output by 2035 and half of the total output by 2037-2038, and this share is only expected to increase going forward.
Capital Flows to Africa's Deepwaters
Governments are already considering project delays and the issues caused, both economically for the countries dependent on hydrocarbon exports and domestically for countries looking to diversify the energy sector. Efforts have been made to address these issues, such as Nigeria passing the Petroleum Industry Act resulting in new production-sharing contracts signed with supermajors. As such, investment is seeing a gradual surge, and Africa's deepwater prospects are gaining attention.
Due to the fact that most of the untapped O&G are currently located in deep waters off the coast of Africa, the majority of future investment is expected to be directed towards the deep offshore. By 2025, it is projected that 45% of the estimated $24 billion greenfield spending will be in deepwater projects, and by 2030, it is estimated to increase to over 50%. This trend is expected to continue, with over 55% of the estimated $64.5 billion total spending in 2035 projected to be spent on deepwater projects. Of the estimated $775 billion total greenfield spending between 2023 and 2040, approximately 48% is expected to be spent on deepwater projects.
Some notable deepwater projects in Africa include the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA), Yakaar–Teranga, Bir Allah, and Orca projects offshore Senegal-Mauritania as well as the Pecan project offshore Ghana; the Brulpadda and Luiperd gas fields offshore South Africa; and the recently discovered Graff, Venus and Jonker finds offshore Namibia. These deepwater projects are significant in terms of reserves and cost, making them major drivers of O&G spending. Given the importance of these projects for Africa's production forecast, both governments and operators must prioritize securing funding for their development.
The AEC's State of African Energy Q1, 2023 Outlook provides a comprehensive overview of the state of play of Africa's O&G projects, highlighting the urgent need to advance collaboration, investment and development. Time is of the essence, and missing this opportunity could result in a significant development gap between Africa and the rest of the world. However, with accelerated projects, it is still possible for Africa to utilize its resources while adhering to global climate targets. In this context, AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk's slogan, "Drill baby Drill!" holds a palatable meaning. Let us work together to prevent project delays and drive environmentally-sound developments so that Africa benefits from its O&G resources.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
“We simply do not know if the ANC or the DA obtains the majority of its funds from small donors or the big corporates” says My Vote Counts
The attorney acting on behalf of PRASA says he could not determine whether concessions were made by PRASA employees as claimed.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, has called for an emergency bridge on River Katonga along the Kampala-Masaka Highway until the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) constructs a new one.
According to Mpuuga, the provisional arrangement will in meantime support the transport of persons and light merchandise.
He made the statement during his on-spot assessment of roads on Monday, 15 May 2023 that were affected by the flooding of River Katonga.
Hon. Mpuuga started his visit at the main bridge along the highway, in Mpigi district which caved in on Thursday, 11 May 2023. Thereafter, he inspected the damaged bridge that connects Gomba to Kalungu district along the Villa-Maria, Kyamulibwa- Kabulasoke Road.
Here, the bridge was washed away a week prior and travelers now use canoes to connect from one side to another. The LOP, accompanied by several members of his cabinet, ended his visit in Ssembabule district.
Following the flooding of River Katonga and the eventual damage visited on the bridge by ravaging storm waters, travelers from Kampala, the capital city, were advised to use the Mpigi-Butambala-Ssembabule Road as an alternative, while those from Masaka were asked to use the Masaka-Ssembabule Road.
"It is very unfortunate, the damage has greatly affected the local and national economy because this being a highway, it is a gateway to almost five neighbouring nations. Trade has been interfered with and movement of people...school children, persons going to hospital across Kayabwe... generally the general way of life of the community has been interfered with," said Hon. Mpuuga.
He said that alternative routes were not prepared for this kind of traffic and noted that the old bridge could have been built with substandard technology.
“If you look at the bars of the broken bridge...clearly there was a lot of compromising done. But I hope it is a huge lesson to engineers in UNRA as well as the environmentalists. This particular problem was just about to happen...it is only that it took a bit longer," Mpuuga said.
He recounted a decision made in the 10th Parliament advising government to halt rice growing and limit excavation of sand in Lwera.
"The interference with the eco-system could have been stopped long time ago. We all know that people mining sand in Lwera have no restoration or decommissioning programme to restore the environment. The rice growers are expanding...interfering with the eco-system and nature is fighting back," he added.
Hajjat Aisha Nakirijja, the Vice Chairperson, Mpigi District Local Government, expressed concern about the damaged bridge saying that markets for traders within the community are no longer accessible and that health facilities, like Nkozi hospital and Masaka referral hospital cannot be accessed by several people.
Fenekansi Sserwadda, the Kilyamenvu Village Local Council 1 chairperson also said that the 48 kilometre Villa-Maria, Kyamulibwa- Kabulasoke Road is key in transportation of the sick and goods from Masaka and that the current route through Ssembabule is longer, hence making it expensive for the locals to move goods to markets.
UNRA has assured the public that emergency repair works on the damaged bridge along the highway will take about three weeks.
The shadow ministers that accompanied the LOP included Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi (Works and Transport), Hon. Hilary Kiyaga (Culture and Performing Arts), Hon. Betty Naluyima (Local Government), Hon. Joyce Bagala (Information and Anti-Corruption), Hon. Gorreth Namugga (Science, Innovation and Communication Technology), Hon. Fortunate Nantongo (Gender, Labour and Social Development), Hon. Helen Nakimuli (Animal Industry and Fisheries), Hon. Francis Katabaazi (East African Community Affairs) and Kyamuswa County MP, Hon. Moses Kabuusu.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has warned municipalities who do not collect water revenue effectively, and citizens and businesses who do not pay for water services, that they are likely to end up with no water at all.
The UAE has dispatched two aircraft with 34 tonnes of food supplies to assist the Sudanese people.
The first plane landed at Port Sudan Airport with 18 tonnes of food supplies, while the second plane arrived in Chad carrying 16 tonnes to provide urgent assistance to Sudanese refugees affected by the current situation in the Republic of Sudan.
This assistance comes as part of the UAE's continued efforts to support the Sudanese people and reflects its keenness to meet their needs based on its deep-rooted relations with Sudan, and commitment to supporting countries during crises and emergencies.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.
The security situation in the Sahel remains very worrying and the spiralling crisis in Sudan is an additional source of concern, a senior UN official warned the Security Council on Tuesday.
"Non-State armed groups continue to carry out large-scale attacks against civilian and military targets and engage in clashes over access to resources, territorial control and influence," said Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, part of the political and peacebuilding affairs department, and UN Peace Operations.
The Council was meeting to assess the state of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, which brings together Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Founded in 2017, it's main role as an international military operation is countering the rising threat of terrorism, improving criminal justice, border security management and the spread of militant religious extremism.
Extremists clash
"Terrorism and violent extremist groups frequently target border areas, particularly the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Liptako-Gourma. In this regard, earlier this year there was an upsurge in clashes between the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and Jama'at Nu rat al-Islam wal-Muslirnin (JNIM)," she added.
In this context, "the recent instability in the eastern Sahel, Sudan, is an additional source of concern," Ms. Pobee said, adding that "the devastating effects of the continued destabilization of the Sahel will be felt far beyond the region and the African continent."
Dire humanitarian situation
She recalled that the security crisis is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. In Burkina Faso, an estimated 4.7 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, up from 3.5 million in 2022. And in Mali, 8.8 million people will need help, up from 7.5 million.
Regarding the G5 Force, the senior UN official noted that personnel had made steady progress in its operationalization, in a context of reconfiguration of European and French forces, and Mali's withdrawal from the Force, and intensifying threats in the tri-border area.
She stressed that the G5 Sahel nations were determined to strengthen intra-regional cooperation, including by establishing bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms with the Malian Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism.
Insecurity continues
However, she noted that, despite these efforts, insecurity in the tri-border area continues to grow.
Ms. Pobee stressed that the tripartite agreement between the European Union, the G5 Sahel and the UN is expected to end in June. With the expiry of this agreement, logistical and operational support from the UN Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, to the G5 Sahel Joint Force, will end.
She said that "provides an opportunity to reflect on how the international community should renew its approaches to supporting regional security mechanisms".
Ms. Pobee added that via the UN human rights office, OHCHR, the UN has continued to support the Joint Force in implementing its international human rights and humanitarian law compliance framework, noting that "significant institutional, legal and behavioural progress and changes have been made."
The Joint Force now has an internal mechanism to assign responsibility for incidents, analyse patterns, take necessary corrective action and adapt its operational conduct.
"Going forward, continued human rights work with regional and national security actors in the Sahel will remain essential in the context of the deteriorating security situation," she insisted.
In this context, Ms. Pobee stressed that political and operational support of partners remains essential for the stabilization of Mali and the whole Sahel region.
Renewed international support will prevent the Sahelian crisis from upsetting the fragile political balance of the region and will help prevent "a new spillover of insecurity in coastal countries".
"For its part, the United Nations stands ready to further support the efforts of the G5 Sahel, including through support for capacity building in areas such as the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization, the rule of law and border security management," she said.
She recalled that the UN is committed to working with all partners to ensure that governance structures are more democratic and open, and that the people of the Sahel have greater confidence in their institutions.
"Decisive progress in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime in the Sahel must be made desperately. Without significant gains, it will become increasingly difficult to reverse the security trajectory in the Sahel and the continued expansion of insecurity to coastal countries in West Africa," she concluded.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) is seeking comments from interested parties on the proposal to prohibit the export of certain ferrous and non-ferrous waste and scrap metal.
President William Ruto has emphasized integrity and vigilance within Government ministries and departments.
He cautioned against corruption and wastage in the provision of services to the people.
The President asked the Cabinet to honour their responsibility to the Constitution and the people.
The President spoke at the 5th Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting agreed to ensure the prudent utilization of public resources.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved the restructuring of Kenya Power's balance sheet in an attempt to restore profitability. The new plan will focus on enhancing the company's financial sustainability by addressing loan balances and the liquidity gap.
In line with the Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the composition of Kenya Power's Board will be adjusted to reflect its shareholding.
The Cabinet has also endorsed proposed amendments to the Water Act of 2016, which introduces Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the water sector.
This will facilitate the construction of 100 mega dams through PPP and another 1,000 medium and 3,000 small dams to alleviate water challenges.
The changes to the Water Act clarify the roles of Water Works Development Agencies as bulk water service providers. They also establish a licensing framework for the agencies and align the Water Act 2016 with the Public Private Partnership Act 2021.
While the ongoing rains have provided relief to drought-affected areas of Kenya, the Cabinet recognized the need for locally-driven strategies and sustained resource mobilization to support long-term resilience building. The meeting also agreed to continue supporting the restocking of livestock to aid recovery among impoverished households in arid regions.
Additionally, the Cabinet acknowledged the importance of strengthening the implementation of drought risk reduction strategies to ensure sustainable natural resource management.
The Cabinet further approved the Kenya policy on Public Participation, which establishes the overarching standard for effective citizen engagement in development and governance, in compliance with the Constitution.
To expand Kenya's international presence, the Cabinet reviewed and approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Government of Kenya and the World Health Organization regarding the establishment of a regional emergency hub in Nairobi. The hub will create employment opportunities and markets for medical supplies.
To fulfill its international obligations, the nation's apex body has approved the Meteorological Bill and Meteorological Policy. These approvals will transform the Kenya Meteorological Department into Kenya Meteorological Services, in compliance with international instruments such as the Chicago Convention of 1944 and the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET) of 2015.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.
