By Ahmed Salat Ali AARAN TV KE The Departmental Committee on Education, chaired by Julius Melly, has convened to deliberate on and adopt a report concerning the Early Childhood Education (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 54 of 2023), sponsored by Eddy Gicheru Oketch. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Early Childhood Education Act, No. 3 of 2021, with the aim of compelling county governments to take greater responsibility for the welfare of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers in public institutions. During its review, the Committee observed that the proposed amendments to Section 38 of the principal Act would require county governments to consider key economic indicators—such as inflation, the minimum wage, and the cost of living—when determining the remuneration of ECDE teachers. “The intention is to ensure that ECDE teachers receive fair and responsive compensation aligned with prevailing economic conditions,” the Committee noted. The Bill further prop...
By Ahmed Salat Ali A steady onset of the March–April–May long rains has brought notable relief to drought-stricken regions across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), according to the latest advisory from the National Drought Management Authority. The agency reports that most ASAL counties received near to above-average rainfall in March, leading to visible improvements in water availability, pasture regeneration, and livestock health. Milk production has also risen, while farmers in marginal agricultural areas have begun land preparation and planting. “Overall, drought conditions are improving across the 23 ASAL counties,” the authority said in its advisory. “However, recovery remains fragile, and continued vigilance and early action are critical.” Northern Counties Still Under Watch Despite the encouraging progress, parts of northern Kenya remain under close monitoring. Mandera and Wajir are still classified under the “Alarm” phase, though trends indicate gradual impr...