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Gaming Your Stress Away

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman

Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

We face challenges in our day-to-day life, how we work around those challenges or overcome them is entirely a personal approach.

Learning to control or avoid stressful situations will definitely make you a happier, proactive, and social being. Walking away, taking a nap and remaining silent are the better and safer options we take. However, you can spice up your stress control methods by playing online games.

Technology has placed in our hands an efficient and entertaining way to drive that worry away. Your phone, laptop, or desktop is a getaway to driving stress away. There are plenty of safe online games you can play to relax and distract yourself.

These online games act as a form of online entertainment and you are spoilt for choice by the numerous gaming platforms out there. There are those that are paid for and others free. Others allow you to download and play offline while for others you just click and play online for free.

I definitely grab the free ones to explore more and to narrow down on what I like and what my kids can enjoy too. Am sure you have your choices too.

I cannot fail to mention my favorite being https://www.culinaryschools.org/kids-games

These platforms offer a wide variety of games to suit all ages, your child, teenager, mum, grandpa, or even your no-nonsense boss. I specifically like this Culinary games site since it offers free browser-based online games that you can play directly with no app downloads.

Moreover, there are no distractive ads or redirects ensuring you enjoy your game totally. The wide genre to choose from makes you come back for more. There is definitely something for everyone. Comic, simulations, sports, solitaire, cartoon, and education categories are my favorite.

My favorite game is plumber-soda

https://www.culinaryschools.org/kids-games/plumber-soda

This is a simple and fun game to play. This game has sharpened my 4-year-old daughter’s typing skills. I have also encouraged my students to play it and their digital skills have improved.

You have no reason to stay gloomy, stressed, and worked up. Grab your phone or laptop and game your stress away! Kindly feel free to mention your favorite game and how it helps bring your stress level down. If you haven’t tried gaming as a method to relieve stress, now you know where to go.

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Lifestyle

Mental Health Awareness: Parents Urged To Embrace Positive Relationship With Their Children

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

Parents have been asked to create a good relationship between them and their children in order to create a free platform where they can share their issues without any fear of being scolded during this festive season.

Speaking during a pad drive event at red cross offices in Bungoma, Tracy Mutala who is a youth advocate and a mentor to young people noted that the act of keeping the children close and mentoring them accordingly will see many of them feel wanted, listened to and also adapting good characters and avoiding the bad behaviors that have seen many of them participate in unrests in schools.

Miss Tracy asked the parents to use this holiday to bond with their children to allow an emotional presence between them and the children Moreso the teenagers saying that mental health issues is one of the reasons that contributes to school unrest.

She went ahead to ask the parents and guardians to caution their children on excessive exposure to social media during this holiday noting that they tend to be wasting their time, instead they should direct their energy to profitable events like games, tournaments and church competitions to consume their free time.

She called out the advocates of change and mentors to not only focus on empowering the girl child in the society but to empower both genders.

“It is very important to empower both genders because the more we empower one gender leaving out the other, the impact become null and void because one gender ends up to be more empowered and it will not be easy to push the other gender to be at the same level with the other,” she said.

She further called upon the society at large to take a responsibility in guiding the young people to adopt good behaviors so that the rising school unrests come to an end.

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Lifestyle

The Impact of COVID-19 on Sport, Physical Activity And Well-being And Its Effects on Social Development

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman
  • Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, several sectors across the world have suffered adverse effects.
  • The pandemic forced several governments across the globe to introduce some measures to curb its spread.
  • To safeguard the health of athletes and others involved, most major sporting events at international, regional and national levels were cancelled or postponed in 2020.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, several sectors across the world have suffered adverse effects.

Having spread to many parts of the world within a short period of time, the pandemic forced several governments across the globe to introduce some measures to curb its spread.

The measures include social and physical distancing, lockdowns of businesses, schools and introduction of dusk to dawn curfew.

The measures, which have now become commonplace to curtail the spread of the disease, have also disrupted many regular aspects of life, including sport and physical activity.

The impact of COVID-19 on sporting events and the implications for social development

Although governments have been exercising a safe reopening of sporting events, things are yet to return to normal.

To safeguard the health of athletes and others involved, most major sporting events at international, regional and national levels were cancelled or postponed in 2020– from marathons to football tournaments, athletics championships to basketball games, handball to ice hockey, rugby, cricket, sailing, skiing, weightlifting to wrestling and more.

The Olympics and Paralympics, for the first time in the history of the modern games were postponed in 2020 and held in 2021.

The global value of the sports industry is estima­ted at US$756 billion annually.

According to a report released in 2020 by United Nations, many millions of jobs are at risk globally, not only for sports professionals but also for those in related retail and sporting services industries connected with leagues and events, which include travel, tourism, infrastructure, transportation, catering and media broadcasting, among others in the face of Covid-19.

Professional athletes in the year 2020 were under pressure to reschedule their training, while trying to stay fit at home, and they risked losing professional sponsors who may not support them as initially agreed.

Sports education sector, which is comprised of a broad range of stakeholders, including national ministries and local authorities, public and private education institutions, sports organizations and athletes, NGOs and the business community was also affected by the closure of education institutions around the world due to COVID-19

While this community has been severely impacted by the current crisis, it can also be a key contributor to solutions to contain and overcome it, as well as in promoting rights and values in times of social distancing.

As the world begins to recover from COVID-19, there will be significant issues to be addressed to ensure the safety of sporting events at all levels and the well-being of sporting organizations.

Physical activity and well-being

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, people were unable to practice normally. This came as a result of closure of gyms, stadiums, pools, dance and fitness studios, physiotherapy centres, parks and playgrounds.

In Kenya, people have been going for morning runs either individually or as a group, but this became almost impossible when the dusk to dawn curfew was introduced, making it hard for people to go outside their homes in the name of doing physical exercise.

As a result, many people tend to be less physically active, have longer screen time, irregular sleep patterns as well as worse diets, resulting in weight gain and loss of physical fitness.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is important for someone to have 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. This is helpful, especially in times of anxiety, crisis and fear.

Therefore, lack of access to regular sporting may result in challenges to the immune system and physical health.

Mental health impacts which can compound stress or anxiety that many will experience in the face of isolation from normal social life can also be attributed to the lack of proper physical exercise.

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Lifestyle Changes Among Kenyans Post-Pandemic
Lifestyle

Lifestyle Changes Among Kenyans Post-Pandemic

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman
  • Because COVID-19 returns in waves, the psychological impacts of physical distancing will persist over time and may indeed become accentuated with repeated iterations of physical distancing.
  • Increasing handwashing, minimizing face touching, wearing masks in public, and physical distancing are the measures that have been adopted globally.
  • Similarly, as aerosols are known to be the primary method of spreading the virus, people will avoid hugging others.

When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit Kenya in March 2020, the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led government implemented its so-called ‘partial lockdown’ in which people were urged to leave their homes as little as possible and work from home.

A phased lockdown was also implemented in the country, affecting several towns and major cities.

In fact, the whole of Western Kenya Counties were in 2021 put under lockdown after Covid-19 cases in the area surged.

This life changing event may have caused changes in lifestyle behaviour, an important factor in the onset and course of diseases.

Covid-19 pandemic

Well, Covid-19 belongs to the same family of viruses (coronaviruses) as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Many respiratory viruses are believed to transmit over multiple routes, including droplets, aerosols, and fomites.

Respiratory droplets moving from one person to another and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects are the primary sources of transmission.

 Presymptomatic transmission is the second type of transmission, in which the virus is transmitted from an infected person who has yet to develop symptoms to another person.

Covid-19 preventive measures

To curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the government through the ministry of health introduced some measures , among them physical distancing, stay at home orders and the dusk to dawn curfew.

However, the effectiveness of physical distancing is determined by individual behavior.

Change of behaviors

The interventions most essential for control of pandemics necessarily disrupt social processes. Public measures were implemented in response to COVID-19; people were encouraged by authorities, media, and peers to voluntarily adopt “personal distancing” behaviors to reduce virus transmission (e.g., avoiding physical contact or close proximity with non-household members and reducing use of shared public spaces).

Various guidelines have been issued to reduce the spread of the pandemic, including avoiding handshaking or any type of physical contact, avoiding social gatherings or visiting family or friends, wearing masks and gloves, closure of public venues, and tourism and travel restrictions.

Increasing handwashing, minimizing face touching, wearing masks in public, and physical distancing are the measures that have been adopted globally.

Because COVID-19 returns in waves, the psychological impacts of physical distancing will persist over time and may indeed become accentuated with repeated iterations of physical distancing.

Given that physical distancing affects the types of activities in which one can engage and impacts how activities are carried out, it is likely that this accounts for some of the psychological impact.

Studies evaluating the changes in lifestyle due to restrictions imposed as precautionary measures have been conducted across the globe.

Post-pandemic era

In Kenya, public transport was affected, with Public Service Vehicles only allowed to carry half the capacity. Although the public transport has now gone back to normal, the industry must develop strategies to reduce this impact and plan well for the post-pandemic era.

Attending gatherings of family and friends or hugging them, religious gatherings and political gatherings were all restricted, and Kenyans had to learn how to live with this reality.

The dusk to dawn curfew which was also implemented forced Kenyans to also adjust their time schedules, from working till late in the night, to being in their houses by as early as 6pm.

Although the curfew has hence been lifted, a section of Kenyans are still getting into their houses by 10pm.

Well, will lifestyle changes brought about by this measures affect Kenyans in the post-pandemic era? Well, although little studies have been done on these, there are probabilities that many Kenyans will not go back to normal.

With new waves of Covid-19 continuing to emerge, Kenyans are likely to continue exercising caution as far as the pandemic is concerned.

In contrast, the minimum distances that have been maintained between an infected person and a potential host are disputable and are far from being established based on scientific evidence.

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Lifestyle

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lifestyle, Mental Health And Well-being of Adults And Children in Kenya

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman
  • A mental health crisis has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Changed lifestyle pattern had a negative effect on mental health and quality of life of Kenyans, both adults and children.
  • Previous studies have highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyles as they are crucial in maintaining and improving physical and mental health and improving the quality of life.

The break out of the Covid-19 pandemic brought about changes on the way people live, their mental health, well-being among other effects. Or is it?

Well, the first Covid-19 case to be reported in Kenya since the beginning of the outbreak in China in December 2019 was confirmed on March 12, 2020. Since then, things never remained the same.

As of Monday November 22, 2021, 258 million cases of Covid-19 had been recorded globally, with 5.15 million deaths. Kenya has reported about 255,000 coronavirus infections and 5,300 coronavirus-related deaths.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Kenyan government to close schools between March 2020 and September 2020 for Grades Four, Eight and Form 4, and up to December 2020 for all other classes.

mutahi kagwe – Kenya News Agency
Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe. PHOTO/COURTESY.

However, the pandemic did not only affect the schools, which have hence resumed but with an amended academic calendar, but also affected the lifestyle of Kenyans, their mental health, and the well-being of both adults and children.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to isolation because people have to remain at home to prevent infection, but this is likely to have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of individuals.

Lifestyle

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyles as they are crucial in maintaining and improving physical and mental health and improving the quality of life.

You can all agree that the Covid-19 pandemic has totally affected the way Kenyans used to live. Isn’t it? The government announced several measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Shortly after the schools were closed, a nationwide dusk to dawn curfew was imposed in Kenya. This was followed by a lockdown in major cities of Nairobi and Mombasa, whereby Kenyans were not allowed to enter or leave the said cities.

As a result, Kenyans found it hard to adapt to the new way of living, since they were now required to be in their houses by 7pm, and only get out after 4am. Bars and restaurants were as well closed, and every Kenyan, apart from children, have been putting on face masks to protect themselves from contracting the coronavirus.

Washing of hands each and every time, or using an alcohol-based sanitizer has been a norm. Or is it?

All these measures have hence changed the way people used to live. Initially, people could freely visit each other and share whatever they have, but the covid-19 measures required that one stays at home, and always maintains a 1 metre social distance whenever he/she is in public.

People have also struggled to adjust their normal daily schedules from working until late and some even overnight, to being at home by the time that had been set under the curfew.

Currently, some of these measures have been relaxed, but it has proved to be hard for Kenyans to go back to normal.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still here with us, and this fact has made Kenyans to continue observing the measures that have been put by the government to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The pandemic has also brought about significant changes in daily living patterns among adults in Kenya. With changed daily schedules caused by social distancing, the closure of colleges, universities and shops, there were changes in how Kenyans preoccupied themselves, in which they tended to spend less time on social activities, leisure, and education. 

Eating habits

Eating habits also changed during the pandemic as a result of the measures announced by the government to curb spread of the pandemic. Do you remember how Kenyans were thrown into panic shopping with rumors that the country was going to witness a total lockdown?

Well, most Kenyans rushed to buy foods that cannot go bad easily. As a result, most of them consumed significantly more carbohydrates and minerals and significantly less alcohol, since bars and restaurants had been closed. Initially, alcohol was allowed to be sold as takeaways only, then the sell was banned before it was allowed again . 

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Changed lifestyle pattern had a negative effect on mental health and quality of life of Kenyans, both adults and children.

In particular, government actions related to social distancing have been proved to be effective public health measures; however, they could also cause health problems other than COVID-19 infection such as psychological distress and fear.

Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the preventive approach as practiced in Kenya to stay protected and maintain health and wellbeing.

A mental health crisis has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2020, Kenya  was ranked 6th among African countries with the highest cases of depression, which triggered anxiety by the World Health Organization (WHO), with 1.9 million people suffering from a form of mental conditions such as depression and substance abuse.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four people is affected by mental or neurological disorders globally at some point in their lives. This places mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

According to a study by Dr. Habil Otanga, a Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Department of Psychology, measures such as those introduced by Kenyan government to curb the spread of the pandemic can in turn lead to surge in mental related illnesses.

The illness include depression, feelings of confusion, anger and fear, and even substance abuse.

Children and young people

UNICEF in its flagship project on October 5, 2021 warned that children and young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come.

The report details that children and young people carried the burden of mental health conditions without significant investment in addressing them even before Covid-19 pandemic.

Mental health
PHOTO/COURTESY/UNICEF.

“It has been a long, long 18 months for all of us – especially children. With nationwide lockdowns and pandemic-related movement restrictions, children have spent indelible years of their lives away from family, friends, classrooms, play – key elements of childhood itself,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

In Kenya, UNICEF supports Childline Kenya, which takes calls from children and young people in need of help, including for mental health issues. 

The number of calls to the service more than doubled following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

UNICEF funded an increase in the number of counsellors and promoted the service through a nationwide campaign, ‘Spot it, Stop it’. 

As schools re-opened, UNICEF worked with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to send messages to over 300,000 teachers on how to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and prolonged school closures on children’s psychosocial wellbeing. 

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Lifestyle

Overcoming Drug Addiction

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

OVERCOMING DRUG ADDICTION

Drug addiction can also be referred to as substance use disorder. It is best referred to a disease that affects a person’s brain or behavior and leads to the inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.

Photo: Courtesy

There are various types of drugs like alcohol, marijuana and nicotine. Excess use of these drugs can cause drug addiction and diseases. It can cause effects like delayed puberty and lower bone mineral density and leads to continued use despite the harm it causes to the body.

Internet has played an important role in overcoming drug addiction for many youths who are battling with the said disease.
This is through the use of phones, laptops and other gadgets, there are also online games that are a great distraction to the youth to those who are battling with drug addiction those who are trying to overcome it and it also benefits those who are not using drugs too..

These online games act as a form of entertainment. Some are paid for and others are free.You can download and watch when offline and you can click and watch some of it when online.

The platforms; https://www.solitaire.org/ offer a wide variety of games to suit all ages. The solitaire is highly preferred because it offers free browser based online games that you can play directly with no app downloads. Moreover there are no distractive ads, there is absolutely something for everyone. The wide genre to choose from makes you come back for more.

My favorite game is Mahjong. This is a simple and fun game anybody can play, and my younger likes Freecell Solitaire. I also like playing Golf Solitaire.

These solitaire games platform has made my alcoholic brother so busy nowadays, in fact he no longer gets time to drink alcohol.

Look no further. Internet has provided a wide range of solutions to drug addiction. Grab your phone or laptop and you’ll find distractions to help overcome drug addiction.

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Lifestyle

Family Confused As Woman Who Went Missing 45 Years Ago Resurfaces

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Confusion engulfed a family in Kavaluka area in Kithimu, Embu North when a woman who got lost 45 years ago resurfaced.

The family that lost their mother was today caught in dilemma on whether to celebrate or not because they were not sure whether that was their mother despite having identified her name in resemblance of that of their mother.

According to the woman’s daughter, Emmaculate Mugo who is now 56-years-old, their mother got lost in 1975 when she was 9 years old.

She recalled how their mother left them at their grandmother’s home to go to the farm then pass by and pick them in the evening but never came back again.

She says that a woman came last week and sought refuge at a family within Kavaluka area in Manyatta in Embu north and introduced herself as Teresia Kina.

The host identified as Dominic Kathuri would do an announcement at a local radio station and that is how the family started following up.

Emmaculate due to the confusion surrounding her and the woman having mental disorder, they are not sure whether it is their mother because it’s been long since she lost.

The host recounted how the visitor mad her way to his home compound.

He gave her food and water, the woman then requested for a place to sleep since she was tired. Faith Wambeti who is a leader of Nyumba Kumi Initiative in Kavaluka area said when the woman saw children suspected to be hers, she ran where they were and hang on one of them.

The family has said hey will go for DNA test on her and other family members to ascertain whether it’s their mother.

The woman however could not speak well due t her mental state and gave a light of where she has been and how she got lost.

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Lifestyle

Weird Church That Prevents Members From Going To The Hospital, Residents Want It Closed

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Residents of Ngurunga village in Ithanga Gathanga in Murang’a wants the closure of church that does not allow them to go to hospital when they fall sick.

The residents claimed a lot of people have died and called upon the government to take action. This was sparked by the death of a 30 year-old woman while giving birth at her home.

According to reports, Stella Njeri developed birth complications which prompted one of the neighbors to call health officers to rush her to Maragua Hospital

On reaching there, her husband declined to have her undergo cesarean section delivery as advised by the doctor. A health officer identified as Ceciliah Mahinde said that Njeri’s husband appended a signature on the hospital records that he won’t allow his wife to be admitted in the hospital.

The officer said that she took her time to convince them to go to the hospital for safe delivery but on reaching there, they refused to be attended by the doctor. Reportedly, Njeri died a few hours after arriving home from the hospital.

The residents irked by this threatened to set ablaze their home claiming that it is not the first incident. Mary Wambui one of the residents said six people have died under the same circumstance for refusing to go to the hospital.

She added that the church called ‘Kigoocho’ has strict doctrines that prevents its members from seeking medical help. She said when the members are sick, they are advised to stay indoors as church leaders pray for them.

She further revealed that the founding bishop of the church alongside his wife and four children died for failing to seek medical attention.

Another neighbor John Waithaka called upon the government to take action against the church leaders saying that they take advantage of the vulnerability of the people to brainwash them.

County Executive officer for health Joseph Mbai said it is unacceptable for people to die in their homes instead of seeking treatment. He said he shall present a petition to Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and the Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to take action against such churches.

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Lifestyle

Nationwide Curfew Extended

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced an extension of nationwide curfew for another 30 days.

In a statement issued on Monday 4th October 2021, the CS said the 4 am to 10 pm curfew will continue for another month in a bid to curb new infections of coronavirus.

Kagwe also announced that all public gatherings and political meetings have been banned nationwide.

This announcement comes as politicians continue traversing the country in campaign efforts ahead of the 2022 general elections.

In September, the CS said that the government would not easy COVID-19 protocols unless the infection rate go down.

“Our real problem has been funerals, funerals where people gather in large numbers and it’s crucial for us to avoid that. If the infection goes down, we will release the economy and allow people to attend funerals since we shall have curbed the virus. This is when people will have the freedom to run their normal activities but until then we need to be vigilant,” he said.

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Lifestyle

List of The Most Guarded VIPs In Kenya And Their Security Details

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman

The following are some of the most guarded people in Kenya and their security details.

President Uhuru Kenyatta

He is the most-guarded VIP currently in the country.

Together with his family, the President has about 200 security guards drawn from the GSU.

State House and state lodges are guarded by the officers drawn from GSU’s G-Company.

The officers attached to the President are headed by PEU commandant Josephat Kirimi, who is a former head of Recce Company that is assigned to protect the President, Deputy President and some select VIPs.

PEU is a fully-fledged team, which can handle the movement of the President and his family anytime.

They, however, usually get the help of the local police whenever the President visits.

As part of security measures, they don’t allow armed police officers, especially those with rifles, at the events, apart from their members.

Whenever the President moves, the local police commander has to ensure the movement is guarded.

And if and when he addresses a gathering, tens of local officers are deployed.

The President enjoys some of the best police officers’ services as they are drawn from various units and trained on a common agenda.

Other than police officers, officials from National Intelligence Service also provide crucial services to the President.

Deputy President William Ruto

As the second in command, Ruto has more than 50 armed security officers, who also guard his family.

The officers also guard his property, personal assistants and some relatives as well.

Ruto enjoys the services of a lead car and a backup whenever he is on the move, and traffic personnel are always alerted on time to make way for him.

Changes in his security team on August 26 elicited concerns amid his fallout with the President.

His security is drawn from various units, including PEU, APS and Prisons.

Whenever the DP moves, the local police commander has to ensure the movement is guarded and if and when he addresses a gathering, tens of local officers are deployed.

Just like the President, the DP enjoys some of the best police officers’ services as they are drawn from various units and trained on a common agenda.

Before the trend was stopped, the members used to interchange between the President and DP for, among other reasons, exposure.

House Speakers Justin Muturi and Ken Lusaka

The speakers for both National Assembly (Muturi) and Senate (Lusaka) have security with them on the move, at home and in the office.

They usually have lead cars with up to eight police officers whenever they travel.

Their families are enjoying the security of armed police.

The officers are drawn from GSU, general duty, APS and Prisons.

Former President Mwai Kibaki

As former President of the republic, Kibaki still enjoys heavy security all the time.

Apart from himself, his businesses, family and some friends still enjoy security courtesy of him.

He still has a lead car and a backup together with another that usually carries his personal assistants.

His homes are also guarded by officers from G-Company of GSU.

Chief Justice Martha Koome

As the head of the Judiciary, which is also the third arm of the government, Justice Koome enjoys heavy security all the time.

Her home is heavily guarded and she enjoys the services of a lead car whenever she is on the move.

The officers are drawn from various units in the National Police Service.

Like many other VIPs, she is allowed to choose the security she needs.

Cabinet Secretaries

All Cabinet Secretaries enjoy armed security services.

Their personnel are drawn from various units in the service and are allowed to choose the people they want to protect them.

Some of the members of the Cabinet have lead cars that serve as a backup.

They include Fred Matiang’i (interior), Ukur Yatani (Treasury), Joe Mucheru (ICT), George Magoha (education) and James Macharia (infrastructure).

Apart from the CSs, a number of Chief Administrative Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and some senior government officials also enjoy security around the clock whenever they are on the move as well as at their offices and homes.

The CSs are entitled to at least two armed guards at their homes at any time, and another two while travelling.

But depending on the risk assessment levels determined by security chiefs, some could have more security detail.

Other beneficiaries

Some embassies and ambassadors in the country are heavily guarded by Kenyan security.

They include those of the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Britain and Australia, China and Russia.

They have police including those from GSU deployed to them for their use.

Some heads of parastatals are also accorded police bodyguards.

The Central Bank Governor, Inspector General of Police and Deputy IGs, DCI, Director of Public Prosecutions and Attorney General and Chief of Defence Forces are also in the league of the heavily protected public officers.

They each have a chase car, at least five guards and another division protecting their spouses and children.

All judges, Controller of Budget and Auditor General, a number of commissioners, governors and their deputies and a number of staff at the counties also enjoy the security services.

An unspecified number of influential personalities, former Cabinet ministers and retired public servants also have police guards. This is because of risks posed by decisions they made and information they have by virtue of office.

Police sources reveal up to 13,000 police officers — out of the national tally of 60,000, some of whom, are in the traffic department — guard ministers, MPs, politicians, and top Government officials.

According to official policy, each of the more than 400 MPs and senators is entitled to an armed guard.

Senior police officers, however, claim some politicians and well-connected businessmen at times exploit their connections in government to be assigned police protection.

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Lifestyle

“Beware Of Fake COVID-19 Vaccines From Uganda,” Kenya Warned

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman

The World Health Organization has warned Kenya to be aware of fake Covid-19 vaccines that are still circulating in Uganda.

WHO has urged Uganda’s neighbouring countries to be on the alert.

According to WHO, the products are falsified AstraZeneca vaccines which Serum Institute of India, manufacturer of the genuine ones, has confirmed to be fake.

“The falsified products were reported to WHO in July and August 2021,” WHO said in a statement.

“WHO requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of countries and regions likely to be affected by these falsified products.” 

No falsified vaccines have been reported in Kenya so far, but some health facilities have been charging illegally for the free vaccine, the Ministry of Health says.

“The DCI has moved in some facilities that have been illegally vaccinating people for Covid-19 and charging them for that vaccination and I would like to tell Kenyans that such exercises that are going on are illegal,” Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said last month when the fake products were first reported in Uganda.

He warned Kenyans against getting the Covid-19 vaccine from unauthorised facilities, especially those that claim to offer Covid-19 certificates.

“Chances are that you are not even being vaccinated with proper vaccines. There is every possibility that you are even being vaccinated with water and paying for it and therefore I want to warn the country and Kenyans at large first, vaccination in Kenya is free, nobody should be charging you for it,” he added.

The WHO requested authorities in Uganda and neighbouring regions to increase alertness.

In Kenya, all vaccines have so far been imported through the Covax facility and are administered in centres listed by the ministry.

In Uganda, the falsified vaccines were brought in when infections were high at 1,700 cases daily and there was a shortage of vaccines.

Last week, the Uganda State House Health Monitoring Unit, and the police revealed that over 800 people got injected with water, according to tests done by the country’s Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory.

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Lifestyle

Father Reveals Unknown Details Of Woman Who Threatened To Name Those She Infected With HIV

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman

Ruth James, the woman who has hence gone viral after threatening to name over 100 names of men she has allegedly infected with HIV/AIDS has a mental problem.

This was revealed by her father who has taken to social media to speak about his daughter who is currently the talk of the internet.

According to Mr. James Ochieng, Ruth’s sad mental condition begun when she lost her sibling.

He revealed that Ruth James’ mental problems, frustrations, depressions and stress started immediately after the death of her younger sister Christine Auma Ochieng who was tragically killed by a lorry on a campaign trail at Maseno in August 2017.

“By then Christine was in form three at Kuoyo Secondary School. After that i started noticing the change of behaviour in my daughter Ruth.

“She could dream of Christine on several occassions and this resulted in her choice of heavy drinking and later addictive to alcohol, which made her lose her job. Since then my daughter’s life has been a hell of chaotic, she needs therapy, counselling or rehabilitation and prayers,” his post reads in part.

“What she is writting in facebook page of her accounts is as a result of depressions. Some of the allegations she is making are not true and factual and she is not sick at all. I would urge anyone reading her updates not take it as a true picture of reality, what am currently looking at, is how i can really save the life of my daughter,” he posted.

Ruth James had taken to her Facebook account and threaten to expose the men she has allegedly infected.

Her post followed a previous one in which she lamented over unending suffering that had pushed her to contemplate suicide.

After hours of waiting and anxiety, concerned Kenyans kept visiting her Facebook page in turns each and every minute to confirm the much-awaited identity of persons alleged to be infected.

The mother of one who has since been established to be living in Nairobi’s Nyayo Estate, has made real her threat and has released a few photos of her alleged victims.

The released photos have since gone viral and sent shockwaves across the social community platforms.

She noted that her victims will have to die of stress because she cannot bear the pain alone since she has been infecting them deliberately.

Some of the men featured in the list have since protested her claims urguing that the photos were taken during healthy engagements and not anything to do with intimate affairs.

One man in the photos defended himself saying that he took the featured photo with Ruth James on an interview at super squad productions TV.

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Lifestyle

Making The Right Career Choice: All You Need To Know

by Maureen Mwangi
written by Maureen Mwangi

Making a right career choice has remained a challenge among many people. Or is it?

Over a long period of time, people have found themselves in a predicament of having to choose what they are passionate about.

Well, many if not all have heard of such cases or experienced at one point but the big question still remains, what is the cause of all these?

Choosing a career can be hard especially when you have a wide range of choices that you are interested in.

Wrong career choices

In most cases, people have found themselves in wrong careers, but how does this just happen? Well, most people choose careers basing on different aspects. Some pursue careers as a result of influence from their parents, guardians or friends and there is also another category that choose courses because of the name and a group that choose courses basing on their gender.

During our early years in school, we dreamt of becoming big tittles in the society but we happen to change our mindsets as we step to the next ladder.

Uncertainty in careers choices

Uncertainty in careers choices does not only affect high school graduates but also college students who ran for courses they did not have passion in, that is why we hear most university graduates saying at the end of their course that “I have finished my parents course”.

Farida Abdallah a youth coordinator at SOS Children’s Village ,states that she has taken the initiative of supporting young people attend national career programs to ensure that youths understand what the career selection process is all about.

She also gives one on one mentorship on career guidance and have access to labor information of current employer needs to be able to meet marketable courses with accordance to an individuals interests.

“I help high school youths in subject selection with the choice of specialization based on individual abilities, talents and skills,” she said.

Career path should be a personal choice basing on one’s goals and passion. According to Anam Javed a student of Fashion Design at Asian Institute of fashion design, her career choice was greatly influenced by self-awareness and diverse experiences. She states that passion has always driven her to achieve all her
goals.

“Career is the most important path and you should be the decision- maker, because when you stop making decisions for yourself people try to take control,” said Javed.

Anam acknowledges the fact that gender has been a hindrance for many young girls to pursue their dream courses in East Asian countries where women are merely given a chance to go to school. She expresses her happiness as her parents helped her make a bold move.

“Fashion designing is a male dominated field but women in Pakistan have earned their names. I am willing to be a top-notch designer renowned across the globe,” she said.

Parents have a great influence on child’s behavior or attitude towards a certain course. In most cases ,parents wants their kids to pursue courses that they feel that their child deserves instead of exploring where their potential and passion lies .

This will give parents swift time in mentoring their child into the right courses.

Ann Njeru a mother of two, says that she never had anyone to guide her on what course to pursue which gave her a hard time before joining college and that challenged her to take her children through mentorship programs whether online or physical to ensure her children are satisfied with the courses they select as they transit to college.

In Africa, many communities have been so stereotypical about girls and young women acquiring education or becoming leaders.

African traditions that hinder women from achieving their goals should be sensitized on the importance of
education for girls.

The unquenchable desire for women to acquire education has been spearheaded by great women lead organizations such as the UN women to at least ensure that gender equality is achieved in all fields.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields (STEM) are courses that have always been pursued by the male gender but with the empowerment women have also been able to pursue these fields.

It’s now clear that women have similar ambitions as men do but many women lack motivation to pursue
their dream careers.

I have seen many graduates working in fields they never trained for, this should act as a challenge for parents, teachers or lay leaders to empower children to follow their passion at an early age.

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Oparanya
Lifestyle

Oparanya Cries Foul Over Kakamega’s 1,000L/Min Capacity Oxygen Plant Held By KRA

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman

Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has urged the National government to intervene and help his government get the new 1,000 liter per minute capacity oxygen plant which is being held by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) at Mombasa Port over taxes.

According to Oparanya, KRA is demanding a total of Sh 8 million in taxes from the contractor who is currently unable to pay the said amount.

Through a statement posted on his official social media accounts on Wednesday July 07, 2021, Oparanya appealed to the Ministry of Health and the National Treasury to assist and enable the plant to be cleared and installed.

He said the equipment should be released to help save lives of his people during this Covid-19 pandemic, urging the National government not to impose heavy taxes on equipment that are critical to save lives.

“I appeal to the @MOH_Kenya to assist and enable the plant be cleared at the Port and installed to save lives during this Covid-19 pandemic. I urge the Government not to impose heavy taxes on equipment that are critical to save lives,” Oparanya tweeted.

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Lifestyle

Healthy Living: Pay The Farmer Now Or Pay The Pharmer Later

by Brian Kiprono
written by Brian Kiprono

Food is the most primal form of comfort to everybody. And a healthy outside starts from inside. We all
eat so as we can live healthy and long. However, most people tend to spend a lot of money on junk foods i.e pizza, hamburgers, sweet desserts, soft drinks etc..which are considered hazardous to our
bodies.

Occasionally some do it unaware, often some do it trivially. Consuming these foods regularly is unhealthy to our bodies and can lead to risk of numerous disorders.

They are often high in calories, fat, cholesterol, sugar and salt components, they normally offer no
nutritional value. Since they tend to reduce the level of body concentration they call for Chronic
diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, among other dangerous
conditions.

These junk food are associated with the rise of numerous cancer diseases. According to research,
separately men show high risk of lung cancer and women showed a high risk of liver and
postmenopausal breast cancer.

In our daily lives, most people complain about severe stomach pains. This is obviously caused by what
kind of foods we eat.

Not knowing what might happen next if it continues, they assume is just for a short
time.

It also facilitates the fact that individuals who consumes junk food are predisposed towards H.
pylori.

After many years, they can cause sores, called ulcers, in the lining of your stomach which for
some people, the infection can lead to stomach cancer.

How easy is it to acquire a bag of chips compared to fresh vegetables at your local convenience store?

That’s the question we need to take into consideration. Dwelling more on organic food helps in many
ways, reduce the risk of developing cancer which are skin cancers, prostate cancer and colorectal
cancer.

This is important for people to focus on the risk factors they can control. You do not have to wait until you’re dying to take precautions and think about living.

Living for tomorrow is living today. Reality is all these diseases can be prevented by choosing to eat quality food such as vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, whole grains and healthy sources of proteins. Medicine is not
health care rather a sick care. Quality food is health care. It is time we see it for what it is.

Additional reporting by Zamzam Ahmed, student at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (Kimc).

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Lifestyle

Akili Tupu! Meet Nigerian Professor Marrying DP Ruto’s Daughter June Ruto

by Musa Abdirahman
written by Musa Abdirahman

Deputy President William Ruto’s daughter June Ruto is off the market.

The Kenya’s second in command on Saturday, May 8, 2021 played a host to his Nigerian in-laws at his Karen home.

June got engaged to Dr. Alexander Ezenagu in a low key ceremony that saw the merging of two cultures, the Kalenjin community and their counterparts from Nigeria – the Igbos. 

Details have emerged that the marriage negotiations were successful, giving way for June to marry her future husband Dr. Ezenagu.

DP William Ruto’s Nigerian in-laws at his Karen home during June Ruto’s marriage negotiations on May 8, 2021. PHOTO/COURTESY.

Dailytrends.co.ke has hence established that Dr. Ezenagu is an assistant Law Professor at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

While looking at his portfolio on the University’s official website, he had been described as an international tax expert, who specializes in international tax law, transfer pricing, tax planning, investment advisory and commercial law advisory and practice. 

His well-decorated CV further revealed that he obtained his Ph.D. in international tax law from McGill University, Canada.

Dr. Alexander Ezenagu, June Ruto’s future husband. PHOTO/COURTESY.

Ezenagu is also a graduate of the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he obtained an LL.M. in commercial law.

He holds an LL.B. degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. 

He has also had multiple publications in academic journals and other globally recognized platforms and has been quoted in the Financial Times, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ Paradise Papers, Tax Notes International, International Tax Review, Quartz and other media outlets.

He has also consulted for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CODA)- an African Union Commission body, TaxCoop Canada, the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI).

One of the guests was businessman and Nigerian politician Osita Chidok, who posted on Facebook saying, the Kalenjin people of Kenya are pastoral people and have so much in common with the Igbos of Nigeria.

DP William Ruto and his daughter June Ruto. PHOTO//COURTESY.

“I was the negotiator at the bride price settlement ceremony. We haggled, we negotiated and at the end, we agreed on how many cows would be a fair price for the hands of June.”

He further heaped praises on DP Ruto, saying that he kept the event simple and family-focused, despite his Deputy President status.

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