24 | County Tuesday, September 24, 2019 | DAILY NATION

Mombasa > Ten private and 10 public schools in the county are using the software Lamu > Islanders want Digital learning tool that’s teaching more schools, better roads children reading and writing skills BY KALUME KAZUNGU Residents of Manda Island in Abracadabra is a joint Lamu West are pleading with the More information national government to build more initiative of AKDN schools and improve infrastructure, DIGITAL LITERACY including roads in the area. Only and Canada-based three schools — Manda Airport and Concordia University SOFTWARE Manda Maweni primary schools and Abracadabra is a web-based Manda Airport BY WINNIE ATIENO early literacy software — serve the over 2,000 residents designed for lower primary [email protected] on the island. learners. The computer Addressing journalists over hen President Uhuru application is in use in 10 the weekend, the residents urged Kenyatta visited the public and 10 private primary the government to speed up the WMombasa County gov- schools in County, establishment of new learning in- ernment stand during this year’s and the Aga Khan primary stitutions in order to cater for the Agricultural Society of schools. high population. trade fair, he marvelled at Sofia The use of the software is Locals say the schools are barely Mpenga’s literacy skills displayed a joint initiative of the Aga enough to accommodate the hun- using a digital learning tool. Khan Development Network dreds of learners. The five-year-old Mombasa and Concordia University in There has been a steady influx Pre-Primary 1 Montreal, Canada. of people onto the island in recent pupil was teaching hundreds of years, leading to a steady rise in learners, who had thronged the ing, stories, writing and singing. public schools, including Ganjoni, Sofia Mpenga, a population, said a resident, Mr fair on September 5, how to use that she was speaking to President Her teacher, Ms Mishi Mwidau, Mikindani, Mwijabu, Bamburi, St pupil at Mombasa Benard Onyango, who has lived on a laptop to read, write and spell Kenyatta. Sofia, who wants to be says learners log in using unique Augustine and Kisauni. Primary School, the island for more than 15 years. words in English. a teacher, is among more than usernames and passwords. Education officer Mary Nyale, shows President Mr Onyango said most children “He asked me several questions, 500 pupils learning Abracadabra The tool helps learners develop who has been implementing the Uhuru Kenyatta trek tens of kilometres daily to and my name, school and the class I in Mombasa’s Early Childhood skills in phonological awareness, project since 2010, said all the how to use from school. attend. I later showed him how Development Education centres. reading fluency, numeracy, com- teaching aids are installed in the Abracadabra, a “We’re really desperate here in Abracadabra is helping me learn “Learning is fun, the lessons are prehension and writing. Some 20 digital literacy programme. this isolated village,” he said. “We to spell words in English. At first, exciting. I have become the Abra- ECDE teachers and five Mombasa Unlike regular classrooms, digital literacy need more schools established so I did not know who he was but I cadabra champion in my school, County education officers were where students follow lessons on tool. that our children can learn. Manda told him he looked familiar, I knew I teach my colleagues how to use trained on the programme at the the blackboard under the guidance PHOTO | PSCU is no longer a small place. There I had seen his face on TV and a it especially newcomers in PP2,” Aga Khan Academy. of the teacher, with Abracadabra, are so many people here and more poster at the trade fair,” she said in she added. The county’s chief officer in the teacher spends only a few come in daily. Three schools are an interview after the five-minute Once logged in, learners click charge of education, Mr Innocent minutes to introduce the topic, not even close to enough. We need session with the President. on a tab labelled “Kenyan feed”. Mugabe, said the programme then leaves the rest of the learning at least seven more and hope the The little girl was later informed It has vocabulary, reading, spell- was rolled out earlier this year in time to the software. government comes to our aid.”

Nyeri > Turkana > Court delays Governor, State agency ink textile firm’s Sh72m deal to supply water

BY SAMMY LUTTA Lodwar town and its reopening The county govern- environs,” the county ment has signed a Sh72 boss said. “We also want BY JOSEPH WANGUI million deal with the aquifer water utilised for The national government’s plan National Water Storage commercial agriculture.” to revive the Mount Kenya Textile and Harvesting Author- NWSHA chairman Mills (Mountex) may take longer ity (NWSHA) to deliver David ole Nkedianye said than expected after a Nyeri court piped water to residents. the aquifer has the poten- extended injunctive orders stopping This comes exactly six tial to supply the entire the Industry, Trade and Coopera- years after the discovery Lodwar municipality if tives ministry from recovering or of vast reservoirs of water proper infrastructure is interfering with the site land. in the Napuu and Lotikipi put in place. He added Nyeri High Court Deputy Reg- aquifers. that more investments istrar Ruth Kefa pushed the order The project will see a will be made to step up dated August 8 to October 9, when 4.6-kilometre pipeline water supply to other a case filed by Braeburn Schools connected to a 300,000- parts of Lodwar. Ltd, which is claiming ownership litre elevated steel tank. parts of Kanam Kemer Governor Nanok of the land, will be mentioned. This The water from the tank ward, including Turkana revealed that his govern- means the much-awaited reopening will be reticulated to more University College, Nar- ment will have to come of the Nanyuki-based factory might than 25,000 households, ewa, Lokitela, Ekaales, up with proper legislation be delayed. relieving residents from Mesewan, Kasarani, Juluk to protect the aquifer so their usually long trek in and Polytechnic, that it can serve locals for Occupants evicted search of the precious will get fresh and afforda- many years. The dispute over ownership of the commodity. ble water by December “We will have to engage 50-acre parcel started in July when This will be the first 25. residents around the the ministry expressed wishes to time that water from the aquifer and discuss the reopen Mountex. JOHN NJOROGE | NATION aquifer is being supplied Protecting aquifers ways in which we can help Government officials, led by beyond the source. Many of the targeted each other in protecting Laikipia County Commissioner Governor Josphat learning institutions, the critical resource,” Daniel Nyameti, entered the land Tempting fate Nanok (above) said the private investors and he said. and evicted the occupants. The longest pipeline from the residents have for long However, some res- land, currently worth more than Nakuru > Oblivious to the danger, a boda boda operator elevated tank will be 27 been subjected to water idents living near the Sh100 million, is registered as LR carries his passenger on top of his luggage at the Migaa kilometres to Lotererei rationing and buying aquifer have urged the No 12503. village on Lodwar- Lo- water from vendors. governor to pipe the This came a day after Industry blackspot on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway yesterday. kichar highway that has “Sufficient water sup- water to remote villages Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya Accidents have reduced since the erection of road barriers. for many years relied on ply will have a great before the plans to sup- visited the property with other saline water. impact on the develop- ply to the entire Lodwar dignitaries. Mr Nanok said other ment and expansion of municipality are fulfilled.