Day: March 16, 2024

Siaya governor James Orengo has lauded local farmers’ efforts in ensuring attains its goal of becoming food-secure

He said this during a flagging-off ceremony at the County headquarters where farmers were to receive subsidies.

The subsidies project led by the County is also complemented by the National Fertilizer Subsidy where the County Government of Siaya has contributed Sh.166,000,000 towards the program which is expected to provide 110,000 bags of fertilizers to farmers through the e-voucher system.

The County subsidies are estimated at Shs.54 million bringing the value of support to farmers to Kshs.69M consisting of Tractor Hire Services valued at Sh.15,000,000, Fertilizers worth Sh.19,000,000 and Sh.35,000,000 in Certified Seeds.

Together with the e-Voucher National Scheme, farmers are set to benefit from at least Shs.230, 000,000 worth of subsidies, Sh.166, 000,000 being from the county.

Over 10,000 farmers are expected to access the provisions and subsidies leading to a general improvement in fa
rming output

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has called on area residents to prioritize the upbringing of their children to curb social ills such as drug and substance abuse.

Governor Achani says the rate at which local youths and some adults were engaging in drug and substance abuse, criminal activities, and other social vices was deplorable.

She has blamed poor parenting for the moral decadence threatening to destroy youths noting that many parents have relegated parenting responsibilities to house help and teachers.

The coastal county boss says parents need to take care of their children properly and be conscious of what is going on around them.

She urged parents to address their children’s challenges and pay attention to their needs to enhance their holistic development.

Achani said the high rate of drugs and substance abuse in the coastal region was to blame for the rising cases of domestic violence.

She has urged area residents to properly bring up their children as a measure to curb prevailing and pervasive soc
ial vices.

Governor Achani decried cases of defilement, child marriage, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence in the coastal county impacting negatively on society.

She said that it was imperative to guide the girl child from the early stages in life especially now that the moral fabrics of the society had been torn apart.

The Governor made the call when she graced the closing ceremonies of various madrassahs (Islamic religious schools for children) in Msambweni sub-county.

‘Parents and guardians need to nurture their children into responsible people as they grow before they regret the consequences of their bad behavior,’ she said.

She warned that quality religious and secular education will not be realized without inculcating moral and ethical values in students for them to grow into responsible citizens.

Achani emphasized the importance of Islamic religious education for children, highlighting that it serves as the foundation for moral and spiritual teachings.

She noted that parents failed t
o provide their children with the support and guidance needed for their proper upbringing and development and advised them to do better in raising morally-sound children.

‘I want to encourage all the parents to fully support our teachers in these Islamic centres. The teachers play a vital role in imparting Islamic education, which serves as the foundation for moral and spiritual teachings for our children,’ she said.

She also added that she will work closely with Islamic stakeholders across the county to boost Islamic religious education in Kwale.

Achani commended the effort of the women for sparing time to acquire knowledge in Islam and urged more women to join Madrasas.

Governor Achani accompanied by the County Executive Committee Member for Social Services and Talent Management Francisca Kilonzo said lack of good parenting was to blame for the myriad problems facing the society today.

She also called on families to inculcate proper upbringing in their children to stem the tide of violence in parts of
the county.

Achani regretted the emergence of juvenile criminal gangs in parts of Matuga and Msambweni sub-counties and called on the parents and guardians to inculcate a culture of good morals, honesty, and hard work in young people.

She urged residents to use the ongoing Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan to embrace the virtues of love, peace, and unity.

‘As we mark this spiritually rewarding fasting season we should embrace love, togetherness, and spiritual devotion,’ she said and urged parents to give their children spiritual education.

She also urged the parents to spend quality time with their children and create room for open communication to enhance child development.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Narok County is set to roll out the Alternative Justice System (AJS) after the Court Users Committee (CUC) and AJS stakeholders completed the development of an action plan to guide its implementation.

The stakeholders led by Narok High Court Presiding Judge Justice Francis Gikonyo toured Nakuru courts for a benchmarking exercise where they were equipped on how to champion the implementation of the AJS policy.

The two-day forum was sponsored by the Narok County Government and attended by various stakeholders among them representatives from various groups that included: interfaith, Maasai Council of Elders, and the County Commissioner’s office.

The judiciary, Office of the Public Prosecution (ODPP), police, Law Society of Kenya (LSK), children’s office, probation office, National Lands Commission (NLC), media, women and youth groups were also represented.

A representative from the National Steering Committee on Implementation of AJS Ms. Jemimah Aluda reminded the stakeholders that AJS is anchored in the co
nstitution hence allowing for the diversion of cases from the court to AJS.

‘The panelists are selected depending on the case, and the information given during the process is kept confidential. The system is good as it provides a win-win situation,’ she said.

Ms. Aluda reiterated that each county has its model of implementing AJS as every region has unique beliefs, culture, and traditions that could influence decision-making.

However, she asked the stakeholders to take note of the cosmopolitan nature of Narok County and ensure they engage representatives from every ethnic group in a bid to have a fair representation of all justice seekers.

Justice Gikonyo asked the stakeholders to ensure AJS is successful in the county saying it is a perfect way of reducing backlogs of cases in the formal courts.

‘I want you, the stakeholders, to go back home and do a good job of sensitizing the public on AJS. If you do good work, you will be helping your community and will receive a reward from God,’ he said.

In case t
he parties under dispute do not agree, she said, the matter is referred to the formal court system.

Narok County Attorney Allan Meng’ati, who represented the county governor Patrick Ntutu said AJS is not in competition with the formal courts but both complement their duties to get justice for the seekers.

‘The cases registered in court are soaring every day. The cases registered in 2010 have increased ten times today. The only way we can live in cohesion and integration as a community is by resolving our issues through AJS because we have a win-win situation’ noted the county attorney.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Chief Justice Martha Koome was on Friday night feted with the African Female Leader of the Year Award 2023 at the African Persons of the Year Awards ceremony held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Koome was voted for her trailblazing leadership as the first female Chief Justice of Kenya, and for her accomplishments in the Judiciary, especially in improving access to justice, promoting gender equality within the legal system, and advancing judicial reforms to strengthen the rule of law in Kenya.

The African Persons of the Year Awards celebrate individuals who contribute significantly to the continent’s advancement, inspire the future, and positively transform the continent’s image on the global stage

Speaking at the ceremony, CJ Koome said the honor was not solely for her achievement but also symbolized the collective dedication and resilience of individuals striving for excellence throughout the continent.

‘This award is not mine alone to claim. It is an accolade that I dedicate wholeheartedly to the institution
I am privileged to lead, the Judiciary of Kenya,’ she said.

Koome said the recognition shines a light on the Judiciary’s collective endeavor to establish a truly people-centered justice system and a system that is responsive and attuned to the needs, experiences, and expectations of the Kenyan people, especially those who are marginalized and vulnerable.

In a press statement sent to newsrooms, the Chief Justice also stressed the importance of rededicating efforts to Africa’s development, fostering a culture of excellence, and establishing systems and institutions that serve the interests of all.

‘This recognition spurs us to persist in our pursuit of leadership excellence and to relentlessly enhance the quality of service delivery by our institutions,’ she stated and called on all the Judiciaries across the continent to continue working for the advancement of the continent and its people.

She recommitment to the cause of Africa’s development, which calls for nurturing a culture of excellence, and building
of systems and institutions that truly work for the benefit of the people, noting that while working together the continent can forge a brighter and prosperous future for Africa.

Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete was also feted with the African Peace and Security Leader of the Year and Congressional award while Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the Group Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Nigeria Limited was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Banking.

The African Persons of the Year Ceremony is a flagship annual event of the African Leadership Magazine, which has been held consecutively over the past 12 years, where policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society leaders, thought leaders, and all stakeholders from across Africa and the rest of the world converge to discuss challenges facing Africa’s socio-economic growth and development.

Past winners of the African Persons of the Year Awards include former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Paul
Kagame of Rwanda, Sudanese Businessman Mo Ibrahim, Atiku Abubakar and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Namibian Police Force in the Oshikoto Region have arrested a 43-year-old man after he allegedly raped his 10-year-old daughter.

According to the region’s crime investigations coordinator Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Saturday, the incident happened on Thursday at Uuholamo village in the Okankolo Constituency.

The suspect is the biological father of the victim and they reside in the same house at Uuholamo.

‘It is alleged that the suspect found the daughter in the sleeping room during the afternoon after school and the suspect grabbed her, put her down on the bed, undressed her, and had sexual intercourse with her under coercive circumstances,’ Ekandjo said.

He added that the man afterwards went to a cuca shop.

‘The victim reported the matter to teachers at her school on Friday when she went to school. She also said that it was not the first time that her father raped her, he allegedly started doing that to her since 2020,’ Ekandjo said.

He said the school principal reported the matter to the
police.

The suspect will appear before the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday while the police investigation continues.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

A day-long sensitization forum was held for over 140 youth from Soin Sigowet Sub-County in Kericho County, focusing on financial literacy, access to financial products, and business formalization.

During the forum that was conducted courtesy of the Youth Enterprise and Development Fund in partnership with Equity Bank, the youth were encouraged to form business groups and get registered to access the financial products that would enable them to start profitable businesses.

The Youth Enterprise Development Manager Morris Ondiek who was present said, that for the youth to access funds for business, they need to belong to registered groups and have an active bank account adding that the membership of the group should be at least five with 70 percent of the members comprising of youth aged between 18-35.

Mr. Ondiek informed youth about the Youth Enterprise Development Fund’s mandate, which offers loans, market support, linkages, trading facilities, and job opportunities for youth-owned enterprises.

‘We are en
couraging the youth to actively apply for Youth Enterprise Development fund which offers youth Group loans and individuals, companies, and partnership loans as its products.’ Said Mr. Ondiek

The Youth Enterprise Development Manager encourages youth to identify income-generating projects like agriculture, livestock rearing, fish farming, and poultry to ensure well-invested funding with a 5% interest rate.

Mr. Ondiek highlighted the affordability and convenience of a Ksh.100, 000 loan for youth groups, offering repayment options within 12 months at a 5% interest rate. Speaking to KNA, the Kericho County Credit Officer Mr. Victor Langat revealed that so far this year more than 20 youth groups engaging in agribusiness had benefitted from the funds calling on more youth groups to apply for the loans.

Mr. Langat attributed an improvement in loan repayment in the County to frequent sensitization forums that have increased awareness of financial literacy among the youth. ‘Youth groups now understand debt, credit s
core, record-keeping, savings, and investments through forums, monthly training, and awareness of good debt and credit score.’ Added Mr. Langat

Youth Enterprise Development Fund is one of Vision 2030’s flagship projects under the social pillar, established mainly to address challenges faced by youth unemployment with its main aim of turning youth into job creators.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that that farmers in Kenya in 2020 reared a total population of nearly 58 million birds, an increase from 44 million in 2016 most of them being indigenous chickens.

Over 80 percent of these are Indigenous breeds which include; Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex, New Hampshire Red, Black Australorps, and White leghorns, Plymouth Rock among others.

The poultry sub-sector contributes about 6.1 percent to the livestock sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2.3 percent of the Agriculture GDP and 0.7 percent of the National GDP.

Poultry farming in Kenya is a profitable business if well-planned and executed. Approximately 67 percent of Kenya’s population live in rural areas, with the majority of households practicing either small-scale chicken farming for subsistence.

However, some of these farmers are not exploiting the full potential of their ventures, as a result of a lack of proper training and capacity building to ensure they reap maximum profits from this business.

I
t is for this reason that the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) delved into studies and research to develop appropriate breeds of chicken that can thrive in different climatic conditions as well as improve production.

According to Martin Macharia, a research technologist at KALRO station in Naivasha, to alleviate the challenges faced by farmers, the institution developed ‘KALRO improved Kienyeji chicken that is more productive and takes less time to mature.

Macharia explains that the dual-purpose breed that can be reared for both egg and meat production matures in four and half months compared to the typical indigenous breed that takes up to six months.

Macharia reveals that the typical kienyeji chicken lays an average of 80 eggs per year but the new breed can lay up to 280 eggs per annum which is three times the indigenous breed, making it more productive.

Aside from laying more eggs, the KALRO improved species produce eggs that weigh an average of 60 grams per egg, two times
heavier than the normal kienyeji egg that weighs 30 grams, with a tray retailing at Sh. 1,000.

Macharia says that a mature cock can weigh up to 3.5kg while a cockerel weighs 2.8 kg in live weight making it a profitable venture when rearing this type of chicken for meat.

Poultry diseases pose a great challenge to any farmer hence making it vital to ensure safety measures are in place at any given time to protect the birds from contracting infections. Some of the common poultry diseases include fowl pox, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis, among others.

One notable advantage of the KALRO-improved kienyeji as Macharia points out is the disease-resistant nature of this breed, which saves the farmer the hustle of having to spend a lot of money on treatment and eliminating the worry of losing the whole flock of chicken in the event of a disease outbreak.

According to the research technologist, 80 percent of the cost of production in poultry farming goes to feeding which poses a great challenge to farm
ers due to the high cost of feeds.

To curb this challenge, KALRO developed Utafiti feeds which are highly nutritious and cheaper compared to the available options in the market.

Feeding technology is also a major factor in determining the amount of feed a farmer uses, with Macharia noting that the KALRO invention of the ‘Naivasha long feeder’ trough has greatly minimized feed wastage.

The feeder that is one meter long has a folded 28-gauge iron sheet on top together with a cover that prevents the feed from spilling over during the feeding process, hence reducing feed wastage.

As part of capacity building, KALRO also developed a four-day course that aims at equipping farmers with the knowledge of how to develop their feed from selecting of ingredients, feed formulation, and storage.

The know-how acquired from this training has greatly helped poultry many farmers reduce the cost of production from 80 to 50 percent.

The KALRO improved kienyeji chicken consumes an average of 140 grams of feed per day with M
acharia advising farmers to ensure 60 percent is made up of commercial feed to ensure a balanced diet for proper nutrition in your birds.

Macharia notes that those interested in venturing into poultry farming can acquire this breed from KALRO and then get day-old chicks costing Sh. 110 each while a one-month-old chick goes for Sh. 280 from the institution.

For farmers who want to crossbreed and improve their chicken breed, a mature cock is available at KALRO at Sh. 1, 400. Indeed, poultry framing is the way to go as its cost-effective as well as less labor-intensive as compared to the larger livestock. This kind of farming can also be done in a very small space and, hence can also be done in urban areas to help stem food insecurity.

Source: Kenya News Agency