Coronavirus: Kenyan boy who made hand-washing machine awarded
The report was originally posted on bbc.com and has been posted here without making any changes or alterations. Click here to read the original story.
A nine-year-old Kenyan boy who made a wooden hand-washing machine to help curb the spread of coronavirus has told the BBC he is "very happy" after receiving a presidential award.
"I now have two machines and I want to make more," Stephen Wamukota said.
They allow users to tip a bucket of water using a foot pedal to avoid touching surfaces to reduce infections.
Stephen came up with the idea after learning on TV about ways to prevent catching the virus.
Kenya has reported more than 2,000 cases of Covid-19 and 69 deaths.
Stephen and his family live in Mukwa village, in Bungoma country, western Kenyan, which has not reported a single case of the virus.
His father, James Wamukota, however, worries that it could still come to his area.
How was the machine-made?
"I had bought some pieces of wood to make a window frame, but when I came back home after work one day I found that Stephen had made the machine," Mr. Wamukota told the BBC.
"The concept was his and I helped tighten the machine. I'm very proud," he said.
Mr Wamukota, who repairs electronic goods for a living, said that his son has always been keen to learn his trade.
He posted his son's invention on Facebook and was surprised how quickly it was shared, he said.
Stephen was among 68 Kenyans given the Presidential Order of Service, Uzalendo (Patriotic) Award on Monday.
Stephen said that he wants to be an engineer when he grows up and the county government has promised to give him a scholarship, Mr Wamukota said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
