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  • VCDF CHAIRS KOFC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

    VCDF CHAIRS KOFC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

     

    The Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF), Lieutenant General John Omenda, chaired the 71st Board of Directors meeting at the Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation (KOFC) headquarters in Eldoret. The meeting took place at a critical time as the Corporation transitions towards modernizing its industrial and manufacturing capabilities.

    During the meeting, Lt. Gen. Omenda commended the Managing Director, Major General George Okumu, for his continued commitment to Kaizen principles and innovative leadership in advancing the corporation’s manufacturing capacity and long-term growth agenda.

    The Kenya Ordnance Factories Corporation remains a vital institution, playing a central role in supporting the operational readiness of the Kenya Defence Forces through the production and supply of essential defence-related equipment and services.

    The Vice Chief of the Defence Forces was accompanied by senior military leadership, including the Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Paul Otieno; the Deputy Commander Kenya Army, Major General Hassan Muhammad; the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces (Personnel and Logistics), Major General Edward Rugendo; and the Director General, Defence National Security Industries (DNSI), Major General Faustino Lobaly.

  • DatalytIQs News

    DatalytIQs Africa News delivers accurate, data-driven news with context, credibility & accountability.

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587266092381

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  • Excel for Accounting & Finance

    This course is designed to equip learners with the essential Excel skills required to excel in accounting, finance, and business analysis. It covers everything from basic spreadsheets and formulas to advanced tools like PivotTables, financial modeling, data visualization, and automation with functions. Learners will master how to prepare and analyze financial statements, create budgets, perform forecasts, and build dynamic dashboards that simplify decision-making. The course emphasizes real-world applications, utilizing practical case studies to demonstrate how Excel supports accounting tasks, including reconciliations, variance analysis, and reporting. Whether you are a student, professional accountant, financial analyst, or entrepreneur, this program provides hands-on training to boost productivity, accuracy, and efficiency in managing financial data. By the end, you’ll be confident in applying Excel as a strategic tool for finance and accounting success.

    https://datalytiqsacademy.com/courses/excel-for-accounting/

  • CIFA/CPA FOUNDATION LEVEL ECONOMICS TUESDAY: 19 August 2025. Afternoon Paper.

    CIFA/CPA FOUNDATION LEVEL ECONOMICS TUESDAY: 19 August 2025. Afternoon Paper.

    QUESTION ONE
    (a) Explain the FOUR steps of the scientific method as applied in economic analysis. (4 marks)
    (b) Explain SIX strategies that the government could implement to counter the effects of climate change on agriculture. (6 marks)
    (c) (i) Explain the term “central bank” of a country. (2 marks)
    (ii) State FOUR secondary functions of a central bank. (4 marks)
    (d) Highlight FOUR limitations of the production possibility frontier curve. (4 marks) (Total: 20 marks)

    Click the link below to download the answers.

    CPA EconomicsQ1

  • Global Suicide Trends (2000–2021)

    Global Suicide Trends (2000–2021)

    A Data-Driven Decline in Global Suicide Mortality

    By Collins Owino — DatalytIQs Academy

    Understanding long-term suicide patterns is essential for governments, health agencies, educators, and communities seeking to strengthen mental-health systems. Using a globally aggregated dataset derived from the World Bank and made accessible via a Kaggle contributor, we analyzed suicide mortality rates over 22 years (2000–2021).

    The resulting trend reveals a consistent global decline, a powerful reminder that targeted mental-health interventions and policy reforms do save lives.

    A Clear Downward Trend (2000–2021)

    Your plotted graph shows a striking pattern:


    From the year 2000, when the global suicide average hovered slightly above 10.5 per 100,000, the rate steadily declined to approximately 8.5 per 100,000 by 2021.

    This almost 20% reduction in two decades reflects global progress in:

    • Expanding mental-health awareness

    • Improving crisis hotlines and community support systems

    • Integrating mental health into primary care

    • Increased policy focus by WHO member states

    • Declining stigma in many regions regarding mental health conversations

    While the decline is not uniform across all countries, the global average suggests meaningful movement in the right direction.

    Supporting Summary Statistics

    From the dataset (5,126 rows):

    Metric Year Suicide Rate
    Count 5126 5126
    Mean 2010.5 9.52
    Median 2010.5 7.67
    Std Dev 6.34 6.79
    Min 2000 0.00
    Max 2021 53.06

    Interpretation:

    • The median suicide rate (7.67) is lower than the mean, meaning a small number of high-rate countries pull the average up.

    • The range (0 to 53 per 100,000) shows major differences in national mental-health landscapes.

    • The steady decline across percentiles indicates a global shift, not just isolated improvements.

    Why Are Rates Declining?

    A combination of global and national interventions appears to be driving the trend:

    ✔ Increased Investment in Mental-Health Infrastructure

    More countries now run national suicide-prevention strategies, including the integration of mental-health services within hospitals and community facilities.

    ✔ Growing Awareness and Public Education

    Campaigns, school programs, and social media have helped reduce stigma and promote early help-seeking.

    ✔ Better Data, Monitoring, and Response

    Many governments now track mental-health indicators more consistently, enabling targeted interventions in at-risk regions and populations.

    ✔ Reduction in Means of Suicide

    In several countries, restricting access to highly lethal means (pesticides, firearms) has significantly reduced suicide rates.

    But the Crisis Is Not Over

    Despite global improvement, challenges remain:

    • Some regions, particularly South Asia, parts of Eastern Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa, still report increasing or persistently high suicide rates.

    • Youth suicide is rising in many countries, signaling new mental-health pressures linked to unemployment, academic stress, and social media.

    • Under-reporting remains a major issue, especially where data systems are weak or suicide is culturally stigmatized.

    Thus, progress must be sustained and improved.

    Policy and Public-Health Recommendations

    1. Strengthen national suicide-prevention strategies

    Every country needs a dedicated, well-funded program led by public-health agencies.

    2. Invest in youth mental-health services

    Schools, universities, and community-based programs must become primary frontlines of support.

    3. Improve socio-economic safety nets

    Unemployment, debt, and sudden financial shocks are strongly linked to suicide risk.

    4. Expand crisis response networks

    Hotlines, tele-mental-health services, and mobile crisis units should be universal and accessible.

    5. Combat stigma

    Public education should make it normal and safe for people to talk about mental health.

    Final Takeaway

    The global suicide rate has declined steadily for two decades, proving that prevention works.
    But the battle is far from over.
    Every life lost is one too many, and these numbers remind us that strengthening mental-health systems is not optional—it is urgent.

    Through data, education, and policy, we can build a world where mental well-being is protected, supported, and valued.

    Data Acknowledgment

    This analysis uses data originally compiled by the World Bank, which was cleaned and published for public research use by a Kaggle contributor. Their work enables global researchers, including DatalytIQs Academy, to conduct evidence-based mental-health studies for public benefit.

  • Global Suicide Trends (2000–2021)

    A Data-Driven Reflection on Mental Health

    By Collins Owino, DatalytIQs Academy

    Understanding suicide trends is essential for shaping global mental-health policy, designing effective interventions, and identifying at-risk populations. Using a global dataset sourced from the World Bank and shared openly on Kaggle, this analysis explores patterns in suicide mortality rates across 200+ countries between 2000 and 2021.

    The dataset contains 5,126 observations, representing one of the most comprehensive public datasets for global suicide monitoring.

    Statistical Snapshot (2000–2021)

    Metric Year Suicide Rate (per 100,000)
    Count 5126 5126
    Mean 2010.5 9.52
    Std Dev 6.34 6.79
    Min 2000 0.00
    25th Percentile 2005 4.96
    Median 2010.5 7.67
    75th Percentile 2016 12.78
    Max 2021 53.06

    What the Numbers Reveal

    1. A wide global disparity

    Some countries record zero suicide deaths, while others exceed 53 per 100,000, showing vast differences in:

    • mental-health infrastructure

    • cultural attitudes

    • economic stress

    • conflict or displacement

    • availability of support services

    This variation underscores the need for country-specific strategies, not one-size-fits-all approaches.

    2. The global median is relatively moderate

    With a median of 7.67, over half of the countries fall below 10 deaths per 100,000. Yet, outlier nations significantly raise the global average.

    3. A steady upward shift in rates

    The percentiles show how suicide rates have generally increased over time, especially in regions affected by:

    • unemployment and economic instability

    • substance abuse trends

    • social fragmentation

    • weak mental-health systems

    Regional Reflections

    Although the summary stats do not break down specific regions, global research aligns with the following trends:

    Highest rates historically:

    • Eastern Europe

    • Central & South Asia

    • Parts of the Western Pacific

    Lowest rates:

    • Middle Eastern regions

    • North Africa

    • Caribbean nations

    Emerging concern:

    • Sub-Saharan Africa (especially youth suicide)

    • Conflict-affected countries

    High-income nations:

    • Higher suicide burden among older men

    Lower-income nations:

    • Higher suicide rates among youth and young adults

    Why These Trends Matter

    Suicide is not only a mental-health issue; it is a social, economic, and governance issue.

    It intersects with:

    • poverty

    • unemployment

    • gender-based stress

    • stigma around mental health

    • family and community fragmentation

    • trauma and conflict

    Countries that have launched strong suicide-prevention strategies (hotlines, school counseling, crisis centers, national policies) have shown measurable improvement.

    What Needs to Be Done Globally

    ✔ Build community-level mental-health services

    Accessible counseling can save lives.

    ✔ Address stigma

    Making mental health a normal public conversation reduces barriers to seeking help.

    ✔ Strengthen youth support systems

    Schools, universities, and social programs must protect young people.

    ✔ Improve socio-economic stability

    People under financial stress face higher mental-health risks.

    ✔ Invest in crisis response

    Hotlines, mobile mental-health units, and trained emergency responders are crucial.

    Final Thoughts

    The period 2000–2021 reveals a world grappling with rising psychological stress, social pressures, and uneven access to mental-health support. While the global average suicide rate sits at 9.5 per 100,000, the true picture is far more fragmented.

    But the data also offers hope.

    Countries that prioritize prevention, early intervention, and destigmatization do see declines. With the right strategies, global suicide numbers can be reduced as lives are saved.

    Acknowledgment of Contributors

    This analysis is made possible through:

    • Original data from the World Bank

    • Dataset compilation and cleaning by a Kaggle contributor
      who made the dataset publicly available for research, education, and policy work.

    Their commitment to open data has enabled global researchers and educators, including DatalytIQs Academy, to conduct meaningful mental-health analytics that inform global action.