Day: March 13, 2024

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police in the Khomas Region are investigating a case of robbery with aggravating circumstances, after suspected robbers stole N.dollars 789 707 from the Monte Christo service station in Windhoek on Tuesday.

According to police spokesperson Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga, three suspects entered the service station and pointed a firearm at the cashiers before proceeding to enter the manager’s office and grabbing three cash boxes. The boxes, he said, were prepared for pick up by the G4S security company, for banking purposes.

‘The suspects got into a blue Mazda Demio vehicle and sped off with the cash in the amount of N.dollars 789 707. The fourth suspect is the driver who remained in the car,’ Kuwinga said.

No arrests have been made yet as the suspects are unknown. Investigations into the matter are ongoing and no recoveries are made.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Principal Secretary irrigation Ephantus Kimotho has hailed Siaya county for ongoing Lower Nzoia Irrigation project phase 1 saying it will help reduce the rice deficit by approximately 30% nationally.

The project is able to produce five million metric tonnes of rice thus the need to find sustainable linkages and partnerships calling on the county government to endeavor in formation of County Irrigation Development Unit which will go along with offering services to farmers.

The PS stated that the ten thousand hectares within project will help the country reduce the rice deficit, ‘Currently the country has a deficit of seven hundred thousand tonnes so this particular project will help to generate twenty-six thousand tonnes in the region,’ he said.

Siaya Governor James Orengo while meeting Principal Secretaries for Trade and Irrigation respectively, said that they were in discussions over the ongoing Lower Nzoia Irrigation project phase one.

The first phase was set to be completed in the month of March. The p
roject involves two counties which is Siaya county and Busia County.

The project is going to be transformative to Siaya because the county has never had project of such magnitude particularly in agricultural sector and the government of Siaya county made a bold statement that agriculture is going to be the cornerstone of the county’s development that must be transformative and impactful for the people of Siaya.

He further stated that the meeting and visits were going to bring a new phase of activities in Siaya. ‘We want the area under rice cultivation and production to be expanded, we have already constructed a mill that is being installed,’ said Orengo.

He anticipated that phase two is also on the way since phase one is going to be concluded in manner that partners won’t have any hesitation in bringing in more in resources to the county.

Principal secretary for trade Alfred K’ Ombudo stated that the project is important and the completion of infrastructural stage of the project, there is a need to ensure
market works correctly and that incomes are realised from the project.

‘We are keen therefore to use the instrument within the state department of trade so that we are able to work with better aggregation produce, better storage of produce to reduce post production losses, better connection to market through our commodities exchange and warehouse systems and from that we are able to realize income,’ he added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Macadamia farmers have been cautioned over falling to traps of unscrupulous brokers who are defying the government’s directive on the set prices for the nuts.

Officials of the Nuts Traders Association of Kenya have claimed that some buyers were buying a kilo of macadamia nuts below Sh100 which was against the directive by the Ministry of Agriculture.

In November last year, the Ministry of Agriculture suspended Section 43 of Crops Act of 2013 thus allowing selling of raw macadamia nuts.

The suspension of the Act was aimed at increasing prices of the nuts which had gone down to about Sh20 per kilo.

One of the set conditions for the suspension of the law was to ensure a farm gate price for a kilo of macadamia was not below Sh100.

On Tuesday, while meeting macadamia farmers in parts of Kandara, the association’s chairman Johnson Kihara claimed that there were some brokers who were going against the directive of the government and offering prices below the set amount.

He said the price of macadamia has gone
up after lifting exportation of raw macadamia hence no farmer should be paid less than Sh100 per kilo.

‘I am warning all the brokers, especially those who supply macadamia factories, to stop taking advantage of the farmers. They should not buy macadamia at prices which disadvantage the farmers. I have talked to macadamia farmers in several counties and they have all agreed that they shall not be selling their produce to brokers at lower prices,’ said Kihara.

The chairman further said suspension of Section 43 of the Crops Act 2013 for one year may not have a lasting solution in the sector saying the law should be repealed.

He noted that countries especially from the Far East considered buying raw macadamia since they got more value than buying already processed macadamia.

‘Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi should know that Section 43 of Crops Act 2013 oppresses the farmer, and we urge this law to be done away with and allow the exportation of raw macadamia. The suspension of the law is just a short-term relie
f,’ he remarked.

Echoing his words, Murang’a CEC for Trade, Industrialization, and Tourism Paul Kimani Mugo noted repealing of the law would enable the farmers to sell their produce at a competitive price in the international markets thus reducing the oppression by unscrupulous brokers.

‘Murang’a county administration is in agreement with farmers requesting the national government to intervene on Section 43 of the Crops Act 2013 so that we can liberalize the macadamia industry, such that the farmer can sell their produce at a competitive price,’ he said.

To protect farmers from unscrupulous brokers, the leaders called on the County government to support the farmers by building for them macadamia dryers.

According to the chairman of the Kariua Cooperative Society Julius Mwangi, the dryers would add value to their produce and double the price for a kilo of the nuts, while also creating employment for the youths in Murang’a.

‘To double the price of a kilo of macadamia to Sh200, the County government should
establish dryers so that value addition can be done there. This will not only benefit the farmers but also reduce the unemployment in the county,’ said Mwangi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

By Eratus Ndueh

The Archbishop of the Bamenda Archdiocese, His grace Andrew Nkea has extended his support, offered solace and prayers to affected businessmen and women of the devastating fire incident that engulfed the Bamenda main market last February, during a visit he paid this March 12, 2024.

Archbishop Nkea reportedly met with market leaders and representatives of the traders’ union, where he offered words of comfort and spiritual guidance to those whose livelihoods were impacted by the blaze.

‘This is a time of great hardship, my prayers are with the families and individuals who have lost so much. May God grant them strength and hope during this difficult time,’ said the Archbishop after his visit at the Bamenda main market.

The incident is considered to be one of the worst in the history of Cameroon’s Northwest region, which threatened to reduce hundreds of shops to ashes, with over 20 already completely destroyed.

Investigations are still ongoing to determine the cause of the inferno. However, lo
cal authorities are working to assess the damage and determine the best course of action to support the affected market community.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A Murang’a philanthropist, Nduta Mwaniki has said that equipping recovering alcoholics with vocational skills is a fundamental step in their fight against addiction.

Mwaniki who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dream Hub Foundation, speaking at Kangema vocational training centre said her organization has collaborated with the local vocational training centres where they continue to enroll several recovering alcoholics for artisan courses as a lifeline aiding in their recovery from addiction.

She noted that desperation resulting from unemployment and the high cost of living were some of the factors driving young Kenyans into alcohol and drug abuse and rehabilitating them without offering them a way of earning a livelihood often proved futile which led her to start collaborating with the local vocational training centres.

‘We noticed that there is a need to teach employability skills to the young men and women after rehabilitating them,’ Mwaniki said,

‘Dream Hub has collaborated with Gakoe, Mutitu, a
nd now Kangema vocational training centres where we employ more trainers for the students and provide food for them when they are in school.’ She added,

Ms. Mwaniki who explained that she has been at the forefront of the fight against alcoholism for over 25 years inspired by her own family’s struggle with the vice emphasized that equipping the youth with an income-generating skill is an important part of rehabilitation.

According to Mwaniki, 5000 recovering alcoholics in Murang’a have benefitted from free vocational training since she began this program.

‘I grew up in a family where my father and brothers were drunkards and this made me realize that something needs to be done about alcoholism.’ She said,

‘The many years of experience have taught me that having a skill or an income-generating venture plays a big part in enabling those recovering to stay sober.’ She added,

The CEO explained that they work closely with the local administration where they educate people against alcohol and drug abuse in thei
r public barazas.

‘Once we identify addicts, we offer counseling and rehabilitation before enrolling those successfully rehabilitated to the vocational training centres for skills that will help them earn a living.’ She said,

Mwaniki further explained that after completion of the training, the youths are empowered with equipment such as brick or cabro making machines for their startup businesses.

She urged the government and other well-wishers to revive more vocational training centres across the country and enroll many young people so that they can learn artisan skills saying this will go a long way in sustaining the strides made by the government in the fight against alcoholism.

Muguru Member of County Assembly, Moses Muchiri applauded the initiative to revive the vocational centres saying the artisan courses help youths earn a living and act as motivation for them to stay sober.

He applauded this rehabilitation program saying it teaches useful skills to many young people who need them but cannot affor
d them by themselves.

‘Currently this polytechnic has only 150 students but under the partnership with Dream Hub we target 500 more by the end of the month,’ he said,

The MCA said he will lobby for employing more trainers and also for funds to improve infrastructure in the institution hence improving the quality of education.

Faith Njoroge who is in charge of vocational training in Murang’a County, on her part explained that the county is keen on ensuring young people have income generating skills.

‘We have the first cohort of Murang’a Youth Service (MYS) who were employed to clean up local market centres and are currently undergoing vocational training in various vocational centres fully sponsored by the county government.’ Njoroge said,

Njoroge requested the youth to be flexible in career choices and embrace vocational training in order to learn skills after basic education instead of staying idle.

She said that there are currently 4031 students enrolled for regular courses in the various vocational t
raining centres across the county and 1040 students sponsored by MYS for short courses.

Samuel Mwangi, who is a community leader, applauded the government for banning third generation alcohol manufacturers and asked politicians to either keep off or support such initiatives by well-wishers instead of viewing them as competition.

He further called upon parents to encourage and support their children to join TVETs so as to encourage the youths to stay sober as productive members of the society.

Peter Kamathiro, one of the beneficiaries of the program and a recovering alcoholic, formed a group with other addicts and they formed a youth group that is now making a living through baking.

‘After rehabilitation, learning how to bake has given us a purpose, a reason to stay sober and we can also provide for our families.’ He said,

Kamathiro urged youths to stay away from alcohol and drugs and called upon the community and other well-wishers to help those already addicted through counselling and rehabilitation.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A 41-year-old man was on Tuesday arraigned in a Kenol court charged of theft of 745 pieces of pineapples.

Appearing before Resident Magistrate Jackinda Rennah, Peter Wakahia Kimani was charged that on March 11 at his home in Gikono village, Murang’a South, he was found with 745 stolen pineapples.

According to the facts tabled before the court by the Prosecutor, Ms. Odour, officers from Gikono police post while on foot patrol accompanied by the area Assistant Chief were informed that at the home of the accused, there was ongoing selling and buying of pineapples suspected to have been stolen from Delmonte Kenya Limited.

The officers proceeded to the home and found the pineapples concealed with a black polythene bag stored in a house used as a store.

Consequently, with the help of officers from Kenol police station, the accused was arrested.

Kimani pleaded guilty to the offence of theft of farm produce and in mitigation said he has children and pleaded with the court for clemency.

The court was further tol
d that the accused was a first offender.

The accused was sentenced on his own plea of guilty with the pre-sentencing date set for March 20,2024.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Narok Forest Conservator, Daniel Mukung’, has urged the residents, to ensure trees they planted grow and survive.

Mukung said that the County is making a major progress in tree planting, having already planted over Six Million trees, which translates to 14 percent, since the launch of 15 billion trees, planting initiative by the President.

The Forest Conservator explained tree planting as putting seedlings into the soil, while tree growing is a process that alludes to many events, until trees can sustain themselves.

Mukung’ challenged the residents across the County, to put more effort into maintaining the planted seedling, as failure to do so will be equivalent to not planting at all.

Mukung’ said that the County is targeting to plant 45 million trees every year, which translate to 450million bushes, for the 10 years programme.

Mukung’ added that the tree planting exercise in Narok County, is majorly done in the Mau Forest, where the eviction has been done with at least over 20,000 ha of the land, w
here various organizations have adopted 39 blocs, each Block measuring 100 ha of land.

He urged those that plant trees to ensure that seedlings that are grown in the County are those that can survive in the climatic condition in the County, to avoid death at an early stage.

Mukung’ said that planting of locally produced seedlings, plays a key role in uplifting the lives of locals who survive by producing the seedlings.

‘We urged all that are partnering with us in the tree planting campaign across the County to focus on using the locally produced seedlings, so as to increase the chances of survival of the seedlings and uplift the livelihoods of those that survive by selling the seedlings,’ said Mukung’.

Mukung’ added that the County is already experiencing the benefits of the ongoing mass tree planting, as the water levels in local rivers, have risen in recent years, as evident in the local Maasai Mara River and Ewaso Nyiro river.

He lauded the County government through the leadership of the Governor Patr
ick Ntutu, for spearheading the tree planting campaign across the county.

The Conservator also recognized the effort by the Non-Governmental Organizations especially Eden restoration project which he said has done a bulk of tree planting especially in the Maasai Mau Forest and other forested areas like Olpisimoru.

Source: Kenya News Agency