MT. KENYA STAR Issue 14 by MT. KENYA STAR PUBLISHERS

KUKENA Sacco to upgrade fleet

Lainisha Sacco in successful asset financing

PAGE 6

MT. KENYA STAR

KUTUS | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2015

PAGE 8 for the good of kirinyaga people

ISSUE 014

PRICE: Ksh40

SPECIAL REPORT: MWEA ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

How rice mills’ kingpins lifted Mwea economy Charles Njiru ‘Mkombozi’ Nice Rice Millers and Nice Digital City

Mary Mumbi The New Good Hope Rice Mill

David Chege Ng’ang’a Chege Rice Mills

Samuel Irungu The Road into Africa Rice Mill

Edwin Githumbi Kagombe Global Rice Mill

ON OTHER PAGES

Hay business risks affecting fertility of soils PAGE 4

Mwea has become the undisputed economic engine of Kirinyaga, thanks to reforms in rice farming, milling and marketing that resulted into streamlining of the sector and more cash flow for rice farmers.

STORY ON PAGE 2 >> CONTINUED ON PG 2

More farmers embrace small scale commercial farming

Jimmie; The ‘father’ of Kutus street children

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KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

SPECIAL REPORT: MWEA ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

How rice mills’ kingpins lifted Mwea economy BY RICHARD MUGO

wea has become the undisputed economic engine of Kirinyaga, thanks to reforms in rice farming, milling and marketing that resulted into streamlining of the sector and more cash flow for rice farmers. The new cash has not only enabled the farmers to increase the land under rice and diversify to horticulture, but is also fuelling economic boom in Mwea, transforming the once poverty-stricken area. A few years ago, Mwea was largely seen as the backward region of Kirinyaga County. It was like a

wound that had refused to heal. What with frustrated rice farmers, the malaria disease menace, and the prevalence of tse-tse flies that affected livestock farming. Travelling through Ngurubani town, it was hard to notice anything of interest. Those who went to settle in Mwea from the upper parts of Kirinyaga were often laughed at, seen as joining the poverty belt of the county. Today, however, settling in Mwea is not easy. The cost of land has gone up more than five times in the last ten years. The cost of newly build residential rooms is also high. It would even be harder to find a plot or land to buy especially near Ngurubani town, the fastest grow-

ing in the County. Ngurubani town today offers the only opportune stop-point along the Nairobi-Isiolo road. Travelers stop not only to buy the best quality and well packaged rice, but also to relax and eat thanks to the growth of middle class restaurants at Nice Digital City, Merica Annex Restaurant, and Green Fickers Hotel, among others. Eastmatt Supermarket and Nice Digital City offer avenues for shoppers with the latter offering world class accommodation and recreation facilities including a swimming pool and outdoor gardens. Facilities like Mwea Karira Mission Hospital offer residents and visitors an easy access to special-

ized medical care while scenic rice fields and flock of birds with majestic flight patterns help to calm the nerves.

The Kingpin of Rice Milling All the good that is in Mwea now may not have been possible if it were not for rice farming, milling and marketing reforms that happened in the late 1990s and have given rise to the kingpins of rice milling, now providing farmers with warehousing, milling and marketing opportunities, enabling them to get the fairest share of their rice produce.

CONT. ON PG 4 >>

NGURUBANI: A town that sleeps with one eye open BY RICHARD MUGO

ice economy has turned the once sleepy Ngurubani town into a vibrant business hub making it the fastest developing town in Kirinyaga. Situated along the increasingly busy Nairobi-Meru road and about 100km from the Kenyan capital, it is described to as a town which ‘sleeps with one eye open’ as business continues till the late hours of the night and opens in the wee hours of the morning. The town, whose name is derived from the Swahili word for ghorofani dates back to the colonial era where detainees were concentrated into the area and forced to work in the rice plantations for the white settlers. They would then receive their salary at the only story building in the region at the time but it has passed the test of time as it now houses the Mwea Rice Growers Management facilities. The locals pronounced the word as gorofani and later to gorobane which then evolved to Ngurubani. It is the most populous in the county with a total of 18,437 people according to the 2009 census. “There are no official statistics indicating the population it has almost doubled since then,” said Mwea MP Peter Gitau. Population increase has been fueled by the dominant rice business which has continued to lure investors from across Kenya to the region. “If you want to buy things like tooth pastes, soap, and utensils you go to the supermarket, we sell rice here,” says Lydia Wanjira, a rice retailer. She adds that rice is highly consumed nowadays as she sells approximately 50kgs during a busy day. “Those plying this route always stop by to buy the pishori rice at these shops,” she says stretching out her hand to show a line of shops with ‘Rice Store’ written on them and sacks of rice erected white like snow next to the sidewalk.

Eastmmart Supermarket Assistant Manager Washington Okutoi notes that Mwea Pishori is more popular compared to Pakistanis rice. “We receive the commodity from local millers like Nice Rice, Global Millers among others as there are over 30 small rice millers within the town. The consumers also favor their produce compared to the imports,” said Okutoi. The lucrative business has however brought about consequences which affect investors even though they are still flooding in the area. This is evident as the price for plots have skyrocketed in the past years as the demand to put up premises jacks up. A 50 by 100 plot has costs about Ksh1.5m in the interior parts of the town and about sh3m to a plot of the same size located along the highway. “The plots went for about Ksh400,000 six years ago but with the soaring demand, the price has hit the sailings and there is no turning back,” said Isaac Mwaniki, a local businessman in the town. He added: “The prices have been escalating due to the booming rice business and we are happy about it.” Despite the developments business wise, there are no matatus plying into the interior of the town due to poor road network. The means of transport within the area is mainly bodabodas, bicycles and donkey pulled carts. Donkeys can be seen struggling to observe traffic rules at the busy highway as the vehicles plying the Meru-Nairobi route notice their effort and slow down to let the seemingly tired but hard working beasts cross the road. The beasts are used to transport rice from fields to the millers as well as to the selling points and water for various domestic uses. There are also about 6,000 motorists who operate within the town making transport to the interior parts easier and efficient.

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KIRINYAGA STAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST NOTICE Ref: EOI/ICTA/DLP/01/2015-16

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROVISION OF GOODS AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMME IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KENYA 1. Introduction

e) Projector

The Government of Kenya intends to implement the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) through a multi stakeholder engagement. This is a national programme which will be implemented countrywide. The focus of the programme is to enhance learning in all public primary schools in Kenya through the use of digital technologies.

Brief Description: The projector should be able to project a clear, crisp and visible image in good detail.

In addition, through this programme, the government intends to fulfill the promise of:-

The ICT Authority now invites institutions in Kenya, either individually or in a duly signed consortium or joint venture where they are the lead partner for an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the provision of goods and related services described above.

i. Development of innovation skills for a knowledge economy.

4. Request for Expression of Interest

Interested institutions/Consortium/joint ventures must provide information indicating that they are qualified to provide goods and related services for the implementation of the Digital

ii. Promoting Research and development. iii. Promoting locally assembled / manufactured goods and services.

Literacy Programme:

iv. Enhancing Job creation.

i. Institution/consortium/joint venture details

2. The scope of the assignment. i. Supply, distribution and installation of the teacher digital devices. Capability of local assembly/ manufacturing is required. ii. Supply, distribution and installation of the learner digital device. Capability of local assembly/ manufacturing is required. iii. Supply, distribution and installation of the Special Needs Education devices for learners with hearing and visual impairments. iv. Supply, distribution and installation of content server and router devices.

a) Detailed profile which includes but not limited to physical address, telephone numbers and email addresses b) Copies of certificate of registration or incorporation c) Current tax compliance certificate d) Duly signed agreements as appropriate ii. Demonstrate competence in all three areas of the programme, namely: a) Research and development

v. Supply and installation of projectors. vi. Institutions/consortia or joint ventures must be able to perform all assignments listed in i-v above. The devices, accessories and services are categorized as follows:

b) Technology production/development c) Assembly /manufacturing of devices

a) Teacher Digital Device (TDD)

iii. Evidence of three (3) completed related assignments undertaken in the past 5 years including clients lists and contacts

b) Learner Digital Device (LDD)

iv. Availability of appropriate expertise

c) Special Needs Education Learner Digital Device. (SNELDD)

v. Demonstrate financial ability to deliver the programme.

d) Server and Router

Following the Expression of Interest, ICT Authority will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to short listed institutions/consortium/joint ventures only. Selection will be in accordance with the procedures set out in the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005. The procuring entity may award the eventual contract(s) to one or a maximum of three institutions/consortium/joint ventures.

e) Projector f) First line Support services for a, b, c,d and e above.

Further information about the EOI may be obtained via the email address, digischool.procurement@ ict.go.ke or at the address provided below between 8.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm East African Time on working days.

3. Brief Descriptions a) Teacher Digital Device (TDD) Definition: Teacher Digital Device is a term used to mean a digital computing device used by the teacher to prepare and deliver educational digital content. Brief description: The device should have a display, physical keyboard, be easily portable, withstand rugged operating conditions, have a long life battery with low power consumption and able to connect to both wired and wireless networks. b) Learner Digital Device Definition: Learner Digital Device is a term used to mean a digital computing device used by the pupil to access educational digital content. Brief Description: The device should have a display, keyboard, be user friendly and easily portable, withstand rugged operating conditions, have a long life battery with low power consumption and able to connect to wireless networks.

5. Submission of Expression of Interest Expression of Interest must be delivered to the address below clearly marked “Provision of goods and related services for the implementation of the digital literacy programme in public primary schools in Kenya.” Ref: EOI/ICTA/DLP/01/2015-16 The Chief Executive Officer ICT Authority 12th Floor, Telposta Towers, Kenyatta Avenue P.O. BOX 27150 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254- 202 - 211960/61

c) Special Needs Education Learner Digital Device

or be deposited in the ‘TENDER BOX’ located on 12th Floor, Telposta Towers, Kenyatta Avenue Entrance.

Brief Description: Special Needs Education Learner Digital Device is a term used to mean a digital computing device used by the pupil with hearing or visual impairments to access educational digital content.

Applications by email should be sent to: digischool.procurement@ict.go.ke clearly marked “Provision of goods and related services for the implementation of the digital literacy programme in public primary schools in Kenya”

d) Server and router

This information can be found at; www.icta.go.ke; supplier.treasury.go.ke; digischool.icta.go.ke

Server: a combination of hardware and software that stores data, runs applications and connects to wired and wireless networks.

This should be received on or before 22nd September 2015 at 10.00 am East African Time. All submissions will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of all interested parties.

Router: a device that connects to a wired/wireless public network and acts as a gateway between networks.

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

/ICTAuthorityKE

@ICTAuthorityKE

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINISTRY OF INDUSTRIALISATION

digischool.procurement@ict.go.ke

KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

How rice mills’ kingpins lifted Mwea economy Farmers preparing hay for sale in Thiba ward.

Hay business risks affecting fertility of soils BY RICHARD MUGO

Eastmart Supermarket Assistant Manager Washington Okutoi at the supermarket in Ngurubani.

Nice Millers Limited.

<< CONT. FROM PG 2 The challenge of rice farming since 1950s under colonial masters and later under independent Kenya has been repeated many times. The long and short of it is that National Irrigation Board (NIB) controlled the rice value chain, but corruption and mismanagement led to uprising of farmers in the 1990s, leading to reforms. It took about the next ten years for the rice farmers to get it right in terms of cropping, milling and marketing. Rice is at the heart of Mwea. And Mwea is at the heart of Kenya when it comes to rice farming. This is because Mwea produces about 90 percent of all the rice that is produced in Kenya. But that as it may be, the real breakthrough for Mwea came with the arrival of the private rice millers. One person who is credited with indentifying the opportunity early and implementing it is Charles Njiru ‘Mkombozi’, the owner of Nice Digital City Complex, which includes the Nice Rice Millers. Nice Rice Millers was started in 2012. Today, it controls rice milling in Mwea, for 60% of all privately milled rice, according to Mr. Njiru. It is worth about Ksh380 million. It employs 600 people , directly and indirectly. “If you look back and see the hurdles we have overcome, you will know that we are heading towards the right direction,” he said. Mr. Njiru came up with a simple arrangement but which has revolutionised the rice milling and marketing sector and liberated the farmers from cycle of poverty. He introduced a godown where rice farmers can preserve and dry their paddy before taking it for milling. Farmers, who hitherto would sell their paddy from the field at very cheap cost, are now able to mill and preserve their harvest and sell it when the prices go up. This concept of warehousing grains has successfully been tested across the world, where farmers are offered warehousing facilities to keep their rice in a safe facility until the prices are favourable when they

can sell at better price. This concept protects the farmers from selling their rice when the supply is high, hence lower prices, instead releasing their rice when supply is low, demand is high and are therefore able to fetch better prices. This concept is being implemented in maize growing zones of Rift Valley and Western Kenya and also in maize and rice growing regions of Uganda and Tanzania and wheat growing regions of Ethiopia. Under a concept known as Warehouse Receipt System, farmers are able to borrow money from banks and use their stored maize, rice or what as collateral or the guarantee for the loan. This is a concept that can also be replicated in Mwea where private sector warehousing facilities are operational. Such simple innovations may explain why Mr. Njiru was awarded the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Certificate of Recognition for his efforts that contribute to food security in Kenya. Retired President Mwai Kibaki also awarded him a State Commendation in 2011. The certificate reads: “I desire to record my high appreciation of the distinguished service to the Republic of Kenya. Therefore, I award you the State Commendation.” “I have set aside seven acres for drying the rice by the farmers to ensure that as many as possible benefit,” says one of Kirinyaga’s top investors who rose from a humble tailor to a multi-million businessman with diversified interests. His model rice milling and marketing concept has become a reference point not only in Kenya but across the East Africa region. Most recently, he hosted rice farmers from Uganda who came to learn how they can replicate the concept back there. “I hosted about 20 Ugandans in my factory for four days who had come to learn more about rice production and milling,” he says.

Other Kingpins With Nice Rice Mills controlling

60% of the privately milled rice, other players have also joined the business sharing the rest 40%. The coming of other players has increased competition in rice milling, a good development for farmers as the charges of rice milling have not only come down but the quality of customer care has also gone up. On average, all other major rice millers control on average 5% of the business, with the lowest tier largely in the villages taking a section of the market. Among them is the Global Rice Mill owned by Edwin Githumbe Kagombe. It mills about seven million tonnes of rice every season. “Most of the mills around have a capacity of about 5% of the total rice produced every year,” said Mr. Kagombe. Road into Africa Rice Mill owned by Samuel Irungu. It provides drying storage facilities for farmers for free as long as farmers mills their rice at the factory for Ksh2.50 per kilogramme. “These are the average charges around here; otherwise you might charge too high and loose customers. Storage and security is free,” said Mr. Irungu. Another is the New Good Hope Rice Mill owned by David Chege Ng’ang’a. “At the end of the season I mill about 30 bags of paddy every day,” said Mr. Ng’ang’a. Another major miller is Joseph Kariuki Kamau who owns****. A lot of the mills however do not package the rice since the farmers take it to the market on their own.

Packaging is mostly done by Nice Rice, the NIB affiliated Mwea Rice Mill, and Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Co-operative which also market the product. “After the 1998/99 liberation, farmers are independent to conduct whatever business they would deem profitable with their product. This has also lured brokers who buy the paddy from farmers when it’s still in the farm,” said Road to Africa Rice Mill proprietor Samuel Irungu. Farmers who deliver their product to mills which market their commodity get bonuses especially when the prices in the market go up. “Last year, we paid our farmers a bonus of Ksh60 Basmati produce and sh35 VW rice. The market was good that afterwards we added Ksh5 on what we had previously paid our farmers,” said Stephen Magondu an official at the MRGM, a farmer’s co-operative society. There are also other small millers within the area, in the villages and various shopping centers in Mwea. “There are at least four small rice millers in every village,” said James Muthee, a rice farmer. Many farmers within the area are contented with the services offered by the private millers not forgetting the freedom. “You can take your rice for milling anytime you want. If the prices are low due to a market glut you store to sell it later when the demand is high,” said Ann Njeri a business woman from the region.

Open market rice sale in Ngurubani.

ay business has become the new addition to Mwea’s thriving rice business. Trucks from as far as Rift Valley and also those for exporters to Middle East can be seen alongside the roads being loaded with bales of hay. The business is thriving with farmers and traders making good money because of the high demand, driven by the rising dairy and meat livestock farming in several parts of Kenya. Jane Maina, a small scale rice farmer and a hay trader says that she has used earnings from her hay business to pay for the tuition fees of her son’s university fees. Hay in Mwea is being made from rice stalks. Before, these stalks were left to rot in the rice fields providing the much needed mulching to make the soils fertile. This was particularly important because the rice fields are mono-cropped with rice season in season out. The rice stalks used to make hay contain organic nutrients which would supplement the diminishing soil fertility in the paddy fields due to mono cropping culture practiced in the region. Instead, the farmers are selling of the stalks to earn extra cash to buy inorganic fertilizers which are raising acidity in the soil. The rice husks are also burnt at the threshing floor as a way of disposing them but the ash which contain organic nutrients is not spread in the fields. The nutrients sold off in hay and those burnt are mined from the rice fields and not replaced again endangering future farming. It has been observed that the area has been invaded by traders who are concerned with money making compared to the indigenous conservatives who cultivated the land keen on quality and not quantity. “When I was growing up, the stalks were buried in the farm to provide compost manure compared to the present times when everything we touch turns to cash,” said David Chege, the owner of the New Good Hope Rice Mill in Mwea. Mr. Chege notes that quality of any agricultural product should be observed to withstand stiff competition with imported goods. “If the quality of our rice goes down, obviously we will lose the market to Pakistanis rice whose current price per kilo is Ksh70 while Mwea Pishori goes for Ksh140,” he said. The most affected areas are the juakali rice farms which are as a result of sub division of the original 4 acres given to the farmers. “The owners have sub divided their land to either their sons or leased to investors flooding into the region,” he said. Also there is inadequate water in the scheme caused by the extension of the region brought about by out growers. These are mainly rice farmers who are not in the gazetted irrigation scheme but they reside in areas with black cotton soil favorable for growing rice.

Jane Maina at her hay selling point in Thiba ward along the Embu Nairobi highway. She has paid her son’s university fees using proceeds from the booming business

KIRINYAGA STAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

KIRINYAGA STAR

news

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

KUKENA Sacco to upgrade f leet

KUKENA Sacco Secretary Alex Munyi (right) and Chairman Jackson Mbuthia during a Special Annual General Meeting held in Kerugoya.

MT. KENYA STAR REPORT

UKENA Sacco, Kirinyaga County’s biggest and highest capitalized transport Sacco has started upgrading its fleet to ensure members have the latest vehicles

in order to maintain high comfort for the passengers and reduce cost of repairs. KUKENA Sacco Chairman Jackson Mbuthia said the upgrade has started, with members being empowered financially to acquire new fleet of vehicles. He was speaking during the Sacco’s an-

KUKENA Sacco drivers showcase the new fleet that the Sacco is assisting members upgrade to.

nual general meeting held at Roswam Hotel in Kerugoya town. “The passengers enjoy travelling in attractive vans and buses and therefore we are empowering our members financially to be able to buy the modern vans and buses,” he said.

GARBAGE MENACE

SOURCE OF REVENUE IN KIRINYAGA FOR

Mama mboga sells in the midst of garbage, a challange Ngurubani town is facing.

Managing Editor: Steve Mbogo Business Dev. Manager: Mary Mugo Correspondents: Alice Wambui, Elias Njeru, Lucy Muthoni, Alex Mwangi, Julius Wahome, Richard Mugo, Kamundia Muriithi

constructed. Currently, the Sacco operates a filing station at Kutus. The new petrol station will mean that the Sacco will now have two petrol stations, the other being in Kerugoya. Sacco vehicles take their fuel from the petrol stations, ensuring that they reinvest in their subsidiaries and benefit from higher dividends in future. This is the same concept used by the Sacco to invest in other subsidiaries including an insurance agency, a tyre shop and parcel services that have become popular in with the Sacco’s customers. Members were also informed that there has been a very high rate of inquiry from prospective members who want to join the Sacco. Members agreed to admit the new members as long as they respect the requirements of the Sacco, including buying the right model of vans and buses and also doing a due diligence on the drivers they employ among other requirements.

The passengers enjoy travelling in attractive vans and buses and therefore we are empowering our members financially to be able to buy the modern vans and buses.

NGURUBANI: A town that sleeps with one eye open

ABOUT US MT KENYA STAR is a monthly newspaper published by Content News Limited and printed by Nation Media Group printing plant on Mombasa Road, Nairobi.

The upgrade of the fleet also means that members will spend less money on the maintenance of their vehicles, thereby making better profits. The Sacco has also introduced a concept for schools’ transport whereby it is offering to transport girls in separate vans and buses with the boys. Although the Sacco has had such arrangements with schools like St. Agnes Boarding School, Kutus Municipality and St. Mary’s Secondary School Muthithi, the issue has been given weight by the recent incident where a bus carrying boys and girls students to Nairobi was intercepted at Sagana where it was found that the students were engaging in shocking behavior. The students allegedly smoked cigarettes, marijuana, drunk beer, and engaged in sex inside the bus that had been hired from Nairobi. “We invite Principals and other heads of schools to partner with us so that such incidents are avoided in future. We have enough vans and buses to allocate to all schools that need the service and we have the experience too,” said Mr Mbuthia. He said the arrangement will also ensure that the students are not overcharged, as KUKENA Sacco will charge the normal transport fare charged to the destination of the students. “In case of any incident that happens when students are being transported, the Sacco has a mechanism to follow it through,” said the Chairman. The Chairman also informed members that the Sacco has acquired a new plot at Kutus where a new petrol station will be

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Ngurubani town.

<< CONT. FROM PG 2

Boda Bodas, straddled by men in their orange trademark jacket reflectors are ever stand by in front of

whole sale shops and supermarket patiently waiting for the locals to finish up their shopping so that they may ride them to their destination. “This is a busy town and therefore we get good income at the end of the day. Some of us take over sh300 home which is good for ones upkeep,” said Mwea Boda Boda Association Chairman Stephen Mururia. But the motorists however cry foul of insecurity cases becoming rampant in the busy town especially at night. Recently, there has been

theft of motorcycles by assailants who masquerade as customers then ambush and kill the motorist disappearing with the Boda Bodas. This has compelled the motorists to device mechanisms to bring down cases of theft within the region. “We double the charges as we must ensure that there is an extra Boda Bodas escorting the one carrying the passage for security purposes,” Mr. Mururia said. The residents therefore have urged the government to install streetlights to improve security as well as turn the town into a 24 hour

business centre. Power shortage experiences also demean the residents hope as business come to a halt and at times leads to loss of products which must be stored in a cool place. “The major problem we are currently facing is black outs and if not taken care of soonest possible, we are going to incur losses on a daily basis which is discouraging to the investors,” said Eastmart Supermarket Assistant Manager.

KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Nellion Sacco starts giving loans KIRINYAGA STAR REPORT

subsidiaries. The minimum share for Kirima Dairy is Ksh10,000 with each share costing Ksh500 meaning that one can only buy a minimum of 20 shares. To further increase farmers’ income, the society has announced plans to open a new store at Mugwandi in Gitumbi area. This store will also serve the society’s growing membership in that area and enable those members receive high quality feeds and A.I Services. The society already has a store in Kimunye and Karia. The chairman also announced that the society’s milk bar at Mwea is also growing, selling 500 litres of milk every day. It sells fresh milk, yoghurt and mala. Increasing sales were attributed to the decision by the society to sell high quality milk at the outlet which has increased customers’ confidence in the milk bar. The sales from the milk bar are also shared among the farmers.

ellion Sacco, a subsidiary savings and credit company for Kirima Slopes Dairy Cooperative Society has starting giving loans to dairy farmers. “We want to tell the dairy farmers that they can now come for Maziwa Loan,” society’s Chairman Samuel Kabiru. Maziwa Loan is the first product of the Nellion Sacco, which will be lending exclusively to the dairy farmers before it diversifies to accommodate other farmers. Loans are given based on the number of shares the farmer has, multiplied by three. The Sacco currently has 300 members but expects this number to increase soon when it launches Sacco marketing campaign in September. “The marketing policies are ready. We shall be targeting dairy farmers only. The plan is to later open a FOSA (Front Office Services Activities meaning the facility will offer services similar to those offered by Commercial Banks),” said Mr Kabiru. The minimum share value for Nellion Sacco is Ksh5,000 with each share costing Ksh500 meaning that one can only buy a minimum of 10 shares.

SOFTWARE The society has announced that its supply and payment management software known as E-DAIRY is nearly complete. Mr Kabiru said that farmers will be paid in the month of Octo-

ber using that software. The chairman thanks Kenya Dairy Board Managing Director Machira Gichohi for advising the society to get a computerized management system. E-DAIRY is a Dairy Information Management System (e-dairy), a computer-generated management software designed to monitor the movement of raw milk from suppliers to processing plants in real time. Farmers will have an account of the quantity and quality of the milk they

have supplied reflected in the e-dairy portal; hence, traceability is assured for quality assessment. The same software will generate payment data. It will help reduce opportunities for wrong calculations.

KIRIMA DAIRY SHARES Members have also been urged to increase shares in Kirima Slopes Dairy Society to benefit from the current growth of the society and its

10,000 The minimum share for Kirima Dairy with each share costing Kshs500.

Street lights for Kerugoya as market is renovated BY RICHARD MUGO

treet lights are set to be installed along Kerugoya Town to help in the fight against the alarming number of crimes committed within the area as the situation if unrestrained will scare away the already flooding investors, said area MCA Jackson Muthii Kibanya. This is in line with a series of insecurity cases reported recently where prominent traders have been gunned down by armed robbers as they leave their business premises at night. The behavior which the leaders described as uncalled for has instilled fear among residents of the Kirinyaga County’s commercial capital. “This is the commercial capital and therefore the lights, once installed will assist rein in the rising cases of insecurity,” said the MCA. The MCA added: “We cannot watch as our town plunges into a business standstill due to gang related activities executed by some

xxxxxxx

misguided individuals.” Security personnel led by Administration Police Commandant Zakayo Mbugua urged the locals to give account of suspected subjects as this is the only way to fight the alarming number of crimes committed within the area. “The public can play a significant role in the war against crime within this area, this is by giving credible information concerning suspected persons on time to the administrative officers for the right steps to be undertaken,” he said. They were speaking during the official opening of the Kerugoya market after the completion of a Ksh20m renovation program meant to improve the business environment in the town. The renovation took place in two phases with the market divided into two sections to ease the refurbishment process as the traders were congested in the completed area and then relocated to their respective trading areas. The traders expressed their gratitude to the government during

the official opening of the market presided over by Governor Joseph Ndathi who said there is an extra Ksh4m for the installation of shades. The traders have in the past been selling their produce under open air conditions exposing them to dust and rainy weather. “The dust poses a risk to the health of our customers as well as the business people operating in this place. This is good news for every one of us,” said Caroline Wanjiku who has been selling cereals within the market for over five years now. During the rainy season, the condition of the market gets worse as mud posed mayhem as it gets difficult to walk around the market depressingly affecting business in the largest market within Kirinyaga Central sub-county. “We are so grateful that this place has been renovated and have nothing to worry about even on the onset of the heavy rains predicted by the weather department,” said Antony Kariuki, a fruit vendor.

The ever-juicy Kutus sugarcane market

Octavias Gichobi a sugar cane vendor peels a piece for in readiness for customers at Kutus town.

BY RICHARD MUGO

he sugarcane stalls at Kutus town opposite the National Oil petrol station have always been stocked up, came rain or sunshine. Indeed the small but consistent and busy sugarcane market has been a marvel to many because it has been therefore for decades and never runs out of sugarcanes. Every day, sugarcane vendors are seen peeling long pieces of the product or rushing toward a slowing vehicle by the roadside to sell their sweet juicy produce. Then when driving towards Gichugu, you rarely miss to spot a busy bicycle rider with a stacks of sugarcane secured behind the bicycle’s carrier. Behind the erected stacks of tall sugarcanes at the market are benches where customers relax as they chew and suck the natural sugar accompanied by random chats on various political or social issues. Octavias Gichobi is among the group of vendors who rarely find time to sit in a fast paced business area. The father of two from Kagio has been in the sugarcane trade for over 15 years and is happy with the business environment. “I moved here because of the proximity from the market to the upper parts of the county where there is plenty of sugarcane,” he says while peeling a piece of sugarcane for a waiting customer. The prices of selling single sugarcane vary with customers request but the smallest piece which is about half a meter goes for Ksh10. In a day he manages to pocket a profit of about Ksh300 which he says it good enough for his family’s upkeep. “It is a good business especially during the peak months which begin from September to sometimes around March,” he says. The vendors buy sugarcanes from the upper parts of Gichugu where there is favorable weather for the long jointed grass which resembles bamboo sticks. The canes are bought from farmers based on their sizes, the tallest trading at about Ksh25 or Ksh20 depending on how one agrees with a farmer. “We do not intend to get into the interior of the region because of the distance but on average we pay Ksh2 per sugarcane for transport from the farms to Kutus,” says Moses Irungu a vendor from Murang’a residing at Kutus town to carry on with his business. Irungu, a father of four boys says that he has raised his sons on the profits he earns in addition to other responsibilities on his shoulders. “If there was no money in this business, I’d probably be at home in Murang’a either at the comfort of a couch or languishing in poverty,” he says. Another vendor, Samuel Mbugua in his 60s who has been in the sugarcane business for over 20 years urges the youths to venture in any business as long as it’s legal to lead a decent life. “You cannot be so choosy at this time and age, you have to make something for yourself and your family,” he says.

KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Lainisha Sacco in successful asset financing

SCHOLARSHIPS

Ndia MP’s scholarship fund goes live

Ndia Mp Eng. Stephen Ngare (right) hands over a sh1.6m meant for the completion of a dormitory to the board Kiburu secondary school.

BY RICHARD MUGO Senior leadership of Lainisha Sacco during the Special Annual General Meeting

MT. KENYA STAR REPORT

ainisha Sacco has announced success of its Asset Financing product particularly with enabling the Boda Boda taxi operators to buy new motor bikes and borrowing by groups to buy various assets. The Mwea-headquarted Sacco also announced that members have increased borrowing, with members expressing satisfaction that the loan they applied and qualified for have been granted. Lainisha Sacco Chairman

Symon Kamau also informed members that loan recovery efforts have been very successful. “84% of the loans given to members have been recovered,” said Mr. Kamau during the Sacco’s Special Annual General Meeting held in Mwea. The Sacco announced that it is in the process of introducing several new products among them one that will cater for small scale grocery traders known as ‘Mama Mboga’. The Sacco has also an-

nounced that it will open more MPESA shops to enable its members easily transact. The Sacco has so far expanded its MPESA agency network to the towns of Karaba, Kandongu, Ciagini, Muthithi, Kagio, and Kimbimbi. More will be opened soon, the Chairman announced. The Chairman informed members that the Sacco had won a trophy during the International Cooperatives Day ‘Ushirika Day’ celebrations held at Kutus in July in the category of ‘Highest Average Savings Member.”

Mr. Kamau encouraged members to further increase their savings and congratulated them for emerging the first in the whole county. The Sacco has also been involved in members’ education campaign in the recent past, of which the Chairman said have been very successful. He said the Sacco will also introduce ATM services, SMS Banking and M-Banking services. The Sacco has also acquired a new IT system as it seeks to deliver efficient services to members.

Administration Police blamed for failure to prevent theft of computers

BY KIRINYAGA STAR REPORTER

dministration Police (AP) guarding county offices at Kerugoya, widely known as former DC’s office, have been blamed for the

recent theft of six computers from public e-learning center within the County Treasury Department offices. Kirinyag County Finance Minister and Head of Treasury Murimi Murage said the AP officers at the premises

should have prevented the theft. “The Administration Police have failed us,” said the Minister. The office complex houses County Commissioner’s office, County AP offices among other departments including the County National Intelligence Service, various County ministries including the Treasury. It is guarded around the clock by the APs. The Minister however said no data was lost as a result of the theft as all data is kept in a server on a cloud computing platform, meaning that it cannot be stolen physically. “We confirm that six (6) Desktop computers were stolen. The computers were stored in the public e-learning center that is open for members of Public to use. No County data has been lost and we confirm that all County data is secure and backed up using cloud computing solutions. We urge the police to expedite investigations given that the office is located at the County Commissioners office, a guarded secure compound,” he said the Minister in a statement.

op students from Ndia Constituency are set to benefit from a four year high school scholarship following fundraising of Ksh8m collected during a funds raising drive attended by Deputy President William Ruto and organized by area MP Stephen Ngari earlier this year. The scholarship program which is overseen by a board of trustees is expected to extend to the following years guaranteeing bright but needy children enrollment into secondary schools. Addressing residents while inspecting projects across the constituency, MP Ngari said that the program is meant to ensure that the number of students who drop out of school due to lack of funds get a chance to proceed. “There is no student who will be locked out of school due to lack of school fees. We all want our bright students to learn without any problem, therefore the 35 students will not be required to pay a cent in the four years” the MP said. The Mp also announced that he has set Sh22m for bursaries during this financial year to assist students who come from an impoverished background. “We have to work together so as to wipe out illiteracy from our constituency and that is why I

have put the funds aside,” the Mp said. He also gave a Ksh1.6m grant for the completion of a Ksh3.2m dormitory at Kiburu Secondary School which has been built in a period of three months and slated to be handed over to the institution later in the year. The dormitory which has a capacity of 200 students will save the school from a critical condition experienced in the recent past where students were sleeping in the laboratory. “When I visited the school four months ago, the students were sleeping in the science laboratory which is a worrying situation because we all know that the chemicals are not life friendly,” said the MP. The school has a population of over 250 students and the single dormitory could not have contained the high numbers of students. “The school can accommodate over four hundred students once the dormitory has been completed,” said the MP. During the event, the MP called on all leaders and the public at large to come together in order to develop Kirinyaga County. “Everyone should contribute in the building of our county regardless of who is responsible to carry out a particular activity because at the end of the day we are building our county,” he said.

KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

More farmers embrace small scale commercial farming BY KIRINYAGA STAR CORRESPONDENT

otted across villages in the Kirinyaga area of are model farms comprising of healthy stands of maize, banana, pumpkin and other crops, carrying the promise of bountiful harvests. These farms are run by smallholder farmers who have benefitted from access to improved seed and other planting materials, as well as fertilizer and agronomic advice. They are a stark contrast to some neighboring farms, where the stands of the maize crop are dry and withered, with small or no ears (cobs). As such, they stand out as ‘living’ advertisements of the benefits of adopting this approach. Many of these farmers confirm that their peers have enquired about the source of the planting materials, and they have been directed to suppliers who are based right in their localities. These suppliers, known as Village-based Advisors or VBAs in these communities, are providing a much-needed link in the farm inputs value chain, vastly reducing distances farmers have to travel to buy these inputs. In the past, long distances to markets (and associated transport costs) have been identified as a major obstacle to access and adoption of improved farm inputs by Africa’s smallholders farmers. The VBA approach has been piloted by Farm Inputs Promotions (FIPS)-Africa, a non-profit set up to demonstrate and deploy new farming technologies. Through a combination of village-level, on-farm demonstrations and promotion of

Paul Seward, FIPS-Africa Director and Founder guides visitors on some of the produce by Kirinyaga farmers. small seed and fertilizer test packs, FIPS-Africa encourages farmers to try out new crop productivity approaches. After a successful first season, farmers are convinced of the benefits and purchase commercial size packs of these inputs themselves. FIPS-Africa has set up a number of partnerships with domestic commercial seed and fertilizer companies, who provide these small packs at their own cost. Susan Muthoni, a maize farmer, is very happy with the performance of her crop this year. She planted a new variety – WH 403 – produced and marketed by Western Seed Company. This is the second time she is planting this variety and she likes it for its early maturity, high yields and the fact that she can feed the maize leaves to her livestock, even as she waits for the ears to mature fully.

This is because the variety’s leaves remain green even as it matures, whereas those of other varieties dry up. Last season she obtained eight 90kg bags from her small parcel of land, and expects to get the same this year, despite the patchy rainfall that the area receives. This harvest is four times greater than what she previously got after planting farm-saved seed or that of other unimproved crop varieties. This represents an increase from 0.75 tons per ha to 3 tons per ha. Average maize yields in sub-Saharan Africa are less than one ton per ha, making millions of smallholders net food buyers in the period between each harvest, the ‘hungry season’. Muthoni first planted, on a trial basis, three small packs of 25 kernels each of the WH 403 on a small

BOOK DONATION Lawyer Gichimu Githinji donates books to the students of Kinyambo Primary School in Ngiriambu during the Kirinyaga Farmers Exhibition Show held at the school. Mr. Gichimu encouraged students to work harder in order to ensure Kirinyaga County maintains its leadership position in primary school performance.

KIRINYAGA FARMERS EXHIBITION Fredrick Fundi (RIGHT) Chairman of Ngiriamabu Farmers Cooperative Society and the Vice Chairman of Kirinyaga Chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce with Dirk Sickmuller (LEFT), the Managing Director of Taylor Winch Coffee Ltd during the Kirinyaga Farmers Exhibition Show held at Kinyambo Primary School in Ngiriambu. During the event, farmers were encouraged to continue growing high quality coffee to ensure it fetches premium prices at the international market.

portion of her farm after being convinced to try them out by Hellen Nyaga, her area VBA. With nothing to lose, she planted the maize right before the main rainy season, and also followed Nyaga’s advice on how to plant the seed in rows, measuring the spaces between each seed with a short string provided by FIPS as part of the starter pack. She also bought a small pack of fertilizer, which she applied as she was advised by the VBA. This harvest means that Muthoni will have more than enough food for her family for the rest of the year. She plans to sell the extra maize and use the money to buy goats which she will rear and later sell at a profit. Her excitement is palpable, and this optimism is replicated across the locality as thousands of farmers like Muthoni experience for themselves the benefits of adopting improved crop varieties, using small amounts of fertilizer and planting their crops in rows. Through this approach farmers are lifting themselves out of poverty, and proving that smallholder agriculture does not have to be a risky and worthless venture. For some, this is the first time that they have seen such healthy and prolific maize crops; having planted only farm-saved seed all their lives. Farmers like Millicent Wanja. “Every day I get out of my house to look at this maize, and I feel happy and fortunate because I will have enough to eat,” she confirms. “I advise my neighbors to go to Gichobi to buy the seed too. Next season I want to plant more… I will buy two (2-kilo) bags of seed.” She refers to Charles Gichobi, her local VBA. Wanja has planted KH 500-43A, a new drought-tolerant maize variety developed through joint efforts by AGRA, the national research agency – Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) – and global maize research organization, the International Maize and

Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). KH 500-43A is marketed by Dryland Seed Company and other national seed producers. Varieties like WH 403 and KH 500-43A are giving smallholder farmers a lifeline in the fight against climate change-induced erratic rainfall and high temperatures which often result in total crop losses for farmers who do not use seed of ‘climate-ready’ varieties such as these. “FIPS is encouraged by these initial results, and direct improvements to smallholder farmers’ lives and circumstances,” says Paul Seward, FIPS-Africa Director and Founder. “Once they see how the trial maize crop works, farmers are going out and buying commercial-size seed packs, usually two or four kilos. This is good for our VBAs, and our seed company partners who now have new customers.” Initially, commercial seed and fertilizer companies were skeptical that this approach would work but over time they have been convinced by the new demand created from the small (50 gm) seed and 1-kilo fertilizer packs. FIPS-Africa is working to stimulate demand for quality seed and fertilizer, and providing crucial “last mile” access to farmers in remote areas, whom commercial seed and fertilizer companies would otherwise find hard to reach. On its part, AGRA is improving the capacity of hundreds of local seed companies like Western Seed and Dryland Seed, to build up their capacity to scale up production of quality seed that is well-adapted to localized smallholder farmers’ agro-ecologies and meets local taste preferences. Initiatives such as these hold great promise for transforming entire rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa into thriving breadbaskets, but need crucial investments and interest from both public and private partners. (COURTESY, AGRA)

Governor clarifies Ksh2m Facebook issue

BY KIRINYAGA STAR REPORT

overnor Joseph Ndathi has clarified that the Ksh2 million was not paid to open a Facebook account, rather was cumulative payment for the contract to set up and manage the County government website and social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Scribd. “I want to state that I know that opening a Facebook page or account is free and with my experience I am not that naive to allow for such an action. The contract that was queried by the Auditor General was for management of Social Media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Scribd and County Website among others,” he said.

“These services were procured during the transition period (2013/2014 financial year) when the county had no ICT officers. These services have since expired following the hiring of two directors - ICT and Communications in April 2014.The terms of reference for the contract included covering all official functions of the County Government and the Governor to gather the necessary footage and content for the social media channels. This included videos coverage, photography and uploaded in real time,” he said. “This is the digital era where social media is an important communication channel that cannot be ignored by individuals, governments and corporates. The County Government of Kirinyaga cannot be left behind and must out of necessity make use of these channels to communicate, open a feedback platform, update on development projects, share job and investment opportunities, tenders, public notices and announcements. This has significantly lowered the cost of mobilization, promoted openness and increased participation by those living in Diaspora,” he added.

KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Jimmie; The ‘father’ of Kutus street children

A section of members of the public during the public participation meeting at Kerugoya Catholic Social Hall.

Chamber-Government dialogue on budget BY KIRINYAGA STAR REPORTER

irinyaga County Chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed regular talks with the County Government in order to address the welfare of the business community. The Chairman of Kirinyaga Chamber of Commerce Job Kariuki said regular dialogue will enable the County to improve its business environment and therefore make it cheaper for businesses to run and attract more investors. He was speaking during the Public Participation Meeting between the chamber members and the County Government when the business community gave its views on the Kirinyaga County Finance Bill 2015 for the financial year 2015-2016. During the public participation event, the business community aired many views among them that parking areas towns should be well marked, the government should widen its taxation bracket as

some activities are not taxed, that levies charged on banks and Saccos should be reviewed as the latter is smaller and yet it pays the same county levies as banks, the need to define county border points, laws on commodity packaging should be developed and enforced, and that business levies should not be increased, among other views. County Finance Minister Murimi Murage welcomed the engagement with the chamber members and said the County Government has identified the Chamber of Commerce as key stakeholder in the County. “The County Government must partner with the Chamber of Commerce in order to grow the County economy and improve the business environment they operate in. It is only through direct engagement that we will understand the issues traders face and find solutions to their problems,” said Minister Murimi. Other public participation events were conducted across the County between the dates of August 24th to 26th.

James Njogu popularly known as Jimmie The Caretaker of Street Children at his car wash in Kutus.

MT. KENYA STAR REPORTER

hen one thinks of street children, it is most often in negativity. But not for Jimmie, the Kutus businessman known James Njogu, who has been taking care of the street children, mentoring them, helping them find work, all in an effort to integrate them back to the society. Jimmie was touched by the plight of the street children several years ago, seeing them sleeping outside on cold floors sometimes being rained on as they slept and scavenging for food everywhere. One day, he made a move to try and tame the children, succeeding to convince 16 of them to listen to the plan he had for them. Back then, Jimmie was a matatu driver along the Kutus-Kimunye route, a job so demanding that he did not get time to spend with the street kids. He therefore sold the 14-seater vehicle, bought a probox which plies the same route and employed a driver. “I now had time to talk to them,

to rehabilitate them in some way,” he says. His idea was first to engage them so they make some money to buy good food and clothes. He therefore decided to start a carwash, a good idea because the business did not require skilled professionals. He did not only start a carwash for them but also built them two timber houses and bought them mattresses and blankets. “I felt a strong urge to recruit them for the job although I knew it was not going to be that easy because of their street culture,” he said. After a long tussle with the boys, 14 of them gave in to his request to work at the car wash earning 75% of the daily income. “Washing a car is Ksh150 and they keep Ksh100. I did this to boost their morale for working,” he explains. The only challenge they have been facing is harassment from the police on patrol. At times they wash cars up until midnight and get arrested on suspicion of trading illegal substance. Eventually though, the police and the administration have been made aware of the project and now do not

harass the children. “Their mind is clean now that they do not touch drugs leave alone using them,” he says. The two remaining agreed to get back to school. One is at a form two student in a Meru school while the other in form one at Rukenya Secondary School. “At first, the idea to take them to school received a wild response as no one wanted it but with time the two got convinced and I booked them into a class,” he says. Jimmie pays school fees for the one at Rukenya and resides at his home while the Meru student’s fees paid by a well wisher. The others however proceed with their car washing situated at the Kianyaga and Kimunye stage. “I do not want anything from any of them because my greatest desire is to see them prosper in life without getting back from where they were,” he says. He says he helps them out of his passion to assist the society and make it better than he found it. “Sometimes the business is very low that there is hardly enough for the kids so I use what I have to provide for them.” In order to lay a good foundation for the children, he is set to open a food parlor where they will be working since he would not wish for them to live by washing cars. Once the hotel is open, he will open a fixed account for all of them and ensure that they save at least Ksh30 per day “It is like table banking but we’ll save the money in everyone’s account instead. Ksh30 might not appear much but the basic idea is to install a saving culture in them,” he said. After that each can do whatever they wish to do with the money maybe start a business or study a course of their interest. Jimmie’s family of three children and wife remain actively supportive of the project he embarked on four years ago and they consider the group part of the family.

Rice farmers urged to plant in lines, use less water to get more yields BY RICHARD MUGO

s money just a concept, dream or an illusion for the very few yet majority want to be part of it? Is it an item held by the government awaiting release? Is it only attainable by those with academic qualifications? It is remarkable and at the same time very sad how, many people ignore the obvious especially those who are deprived. Why am I saying this? We moan a lot about not having enough money, not getting a job and make excuses why we are not doing well or achieving our set targets. However, do we ever question if at all we worked hard enough, worked smart or even used the opportunities we had to get ahead? Most of the time we sit and moan hoping our problems will simply go away. Well, I will tell for sure that they will not. Self-pity and whining will not change your situation but doing something about it will. If you are struggling to make ends meet and wondering how to make some extra money or move to the next step, then you need to take positive action. Do something positive that will guarantee a change in your current situation. If it means volun-

Rice farmers in a rice farm at the Mwea Irrigation scheme. The farmers have been advised to adopt line planting to increase profits from their farms.

teering so that you get the right work experience or for others to recognize your skills and strengths, then do it. I chose to make poverty my motivating factor and the art of making money my goal. I looked for every opportunity I could get to make myself credible and known for any future work responsibilities. I was a young salesman when I rented an office at International House (then International Life House). All the money I was making went to paying my rent and other utilities. However, time came for the landlords who were British to return to their country. They needed a Manager, someone to manage the property, collect the rent and send it to them. Without thinking

twice I seized the opportunity. Regardless of whether I was qualified to take up the job or not, I knew I had an upper hand because of my cordial relations with the owners. I made them an offer and during that period they were able to evaluate me and eventually appoint me as a Manager on a full time basis. I knew this was going to be my breakthrough, my money maker, my game changer, so I worked as though my life depended on it and a few years down the line, I purchased the building. One ‘small’ opportunity turned my life around. These opportunities can also turn your life around but that will depend on

your way of thinking and attitude. Unfortunately, we get so comfortable when we get an opportunity that we end up wasting time rather than using it to change our lives. We feel, ‘this is it’, ‘I have made it’, ‘I can relax’ and you forget that it’s only the beginning. You digress from your original vision, want to upgrade your standard of living, let everyone know that you have a new job/promotion, share that you won a particular tender etc.

manage it and look at what you can do to get much more for the future. Work not only for today, but also for tomorrow. It’s time to change your way of thinking. Money is available and attainable. But then again, it’s for the ‘few’ who perceive it that way and do something about their perception. (Adapted from www.capitalfm.co.ke)

Do not be carried away. You need to inject more effort into your work output rather than in your celebration if you want to keep scaling higher. Great opportunities don’t come every day; recognize and seize them with every chance you get so that you can keep attracting more and more. You have a greater goal to achieve and being swayed by the ‘little’ you get right now is not it. Money makes money; the little you have can help you get more. Don’t sit and wait thinking help is coming….it is not! The Government will not make a public announcement appointing you while you are seated waiting for another day to pass. You are the key to getting that money and acquiring wealth. Once you get it,

Daniel Kibuchi a rice farmer from Mwea explains the benefits of applying line planting in rice farming.

Alexander Kariuki a rice farmer attests the advantages of line planting in the Mwea irrigation scheme.

KIRINYAGA STAR

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Kirinyaga, Murang’a counties fail to sponsor athletes to London

KRIRINYAGA STAR REPORT

irinyaga and Murang’a County Governments have been put on the spot for failing to sponsor London tour for four athletes to watersports games known as Canoe Slalom whose national qualification are only held at Sagana River. The national team of four athletes including Coach for Canoe Slalom discipline, which was to travel to London, is entirely from Sagana Whitewaters Sports Club The team comprised of Titus Mukundi-Coach, Daniel Chomba-Captain, Geoffrey Ngatu and Grace Wamuranga. The Team was supposed to travel to Lee valley, London, UK to participate in the World Canoe Slalom Championships on 15-20th SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 but was denied visas for lacking sponsors to meet the teams travel and accommodation expenses. The County governments of Murang’a and Kirinyaga, which share the Sagana River resource had undertaken to fund the trip but failed without giving explanations, said The Sagana Whitewater Sports Club Patron Sammy Kanyuira. “The Kenya Rowing & Canoe Association ,he national umbrella body for water sports, wrote to both counties to fund the team since both counties will be co-hosting the forthcoming Africa Canoe Slalom Championships to be held in Sagana,Kenya on 210th November 2015,” said Mr. Kanyuira.. “Muranga County undertook to pay the mandatory affiliation fee of Ksh.400,000 to the International Canoe federation

to facilitate our teams mandatory participation at the world Championships. No payment was made,” he said. “The budget support request was for Ksh2.6 million to send the team to UK for the World Championships. We have lost an opportunity because the World Championships participation in UK is a mandatory event in order for our team to qualify to participate and compete for the Africa’s Olympic qualifiers/Africa Championships which Kenya will be hosting at Sagana in 2-10th Nov 2015. As it is, the Kenyan team has lost the opportunity to compete for the four Africa slots reserved for the Olympic qualifiers and will, only compete for Africa championships,” he added. The team that was to travel to London was selected following the holding of the Kenya Open Canoe Slalom Championships at Sagana Grand River Camp in Sagana, Kirinyaga County on Saturday 29th August 2015. The guest of honor was the Deputy Governor H.E. Julius Njiri. The Deputy Governor said the County Government was committed to promoting sports among the youth and commended Sagana whitewater Sports Club for promoting the unique water sports in the county. According to Kanyuira, the club had presented a budget support request to the Kirinyaga Governor of Ksh4.6 million to purchase sports equipment,travel and accommodation expenses to London UK for the event but no support has been forthcoming despite follow up with the relevant county ministries. They also failed to secure funding from the national government, he said.

KIRINYAGA STAR

NEWS

for the good of kirinyaga people

APRIL - MAY 2015

0 792382 349210 >

Train, earn money by being a Event and Wedding planner BY KIRINYAGA STAR REPORTER

ue Muriuki needed to plan her wedding in Kenya at a time when she resided in America. She consulted her friends and contacts to know if they knew a local professional wedding planner. None was available though. So it was either she travelled back to Kenya to arrange her own wedding or the wedding would not happen. Finally though, the wedding did happen, and it gave birth to a business idea of training professional wedding planners in Kenya. “I realised that there was a huge gap in Kenya for professional wedding planning skills. And this is how Divine Weddings Limited was born,” she said. “This was an opportunity for me to build a pool of wedding planners, a profession that is very lucrative in America and since then, we have been able to develop some of the best wedding planners not only in Kenya but across several African countries,” said Mrs Muriuki. Mrs. Muriuki is the Founder & C.E.O of Divine Schools Africa and Divine Weddings Limited. She is from Kirinyaga. The school is based in Nairobi and has opened a branch in Kerugoya at the Professional Plaza, opposite the High Court on the road to former DC’s office. Divine Schools - Africa is the first school in East and Central Africa to offer formal training in the event management, wedding

industry, flower arrangement and decor and fundraising courses among other courses. Divine Schools – Africa has trained students from the following countries. Kenya, Tanzania,Uganda, Gambia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Seychelles and South Africa. Individuals trained include Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Journalists, Accountants, Bankers, MBA graduates and Designers So passionate was her resolve to transform wedding planning industry in Kenya that she went slow on her banking and marketing career where she had already cut a niche for herself while working in America. She became the first certified event and wedding planner East and Central Africa in 1994. She organized the first and biggest Bridal Exhibition in East Africa. She orrganized the first Cocktail Party for Singles in East Africa, thereby attracting interviews from BBC, Radio Germany, KBC, and was widely covered by local media in 1996. Her company has so far trained 900 plus students and among them are the leading wedding and event planners in the country since 2007. She was also awarded the regional service excellence award and outstanding employee of the month at Norwest Bank, USA, the biggest bank in the Midwest, America. Mrs Muriuki started her wedding planning career when she enrolled for a wedding planning course at Wedding Beautiful Worldwide, an international organisation

in America that trains wedding consultants and planners. After graduating as a Certified Wedding Specialist, she returned to Kenya. She said it is important for couples to engage professional wedding planners to ensure that a memorable event like a wedding remains memorable because of the good organisation. Indeed many wedding fail on the most important aspect on the occasion; planning. Mrs Muriuki says most couples are now turning to wedding planners after seeing that wedding committees, which many relied on while planning their weddings, are failing. Wedding, planners first assess a couple’s dreams, personalities and budgets, then make a working schedule. Thereafter, using a bank of information they have on wedding service providers, they advise couples accordingly. From her experience, Muriuki says it takes about a year or more to plan a successful wedding. This begins with the couple saving for the occasion. “It is not a wise decision to take a loan for your dream wedding,” she advises. “The loan will strain your finances once you get married. Savings guarantee you a debt-free marriage,” she advises. Counselling is another vital aspect of wedding preparation that a couple must go through. A trained counsellor herself, Muriuki says marriage is a transformation from one life to another, therefore couples must be counselled on what to expect.

During counselling sessions, couples are encouraged to be open with each other. They are supposed to reveal any ‘skeletons’ in their closets to avoid embarrassing moments like when an estranged spouse emerges to stop a wedding. Besides that, couples undergo personality tests, are taught their roles as husbands and wives and laws of marriage and divorce. The counsellor also tackles issues like education, salaries, dowry, properties, secret accounts and children. Without bias Muriuki says the beauty of a couple working with wedding planners is that they are neutral people who will guide them in their decisions without any bias.

Mrs Sue Muriuki, Founder and Director of Divine Schools Africa, which has opened a branch in Kerugoya.

Kienyeji chicken farmer sees demand rising

Pauline Wanjiru a chicken farmer from Kagio.

BY RICHARD MUGO

here is high demand for kienyeji chicken within the county due to the rising number of hotels and the

need to diversify diet, according to a Pauline Wanjiru, a poultry farmer based at Kagio. According to Wanjiru, she is able to sell as much as 1,000 kienyeji chicken in a week, indicating the

high demand for the birds that provide the healthy white mean which is recommended to prevent cancer disease. “People are consuming chicken at a surprising rate whereas the supply is very low since there are no chicken farmers to fill the gap,” said Poline Wanjiru Ngari. An average chicken weighing about 2kgs ranges from Ksh800 to Ksh1,000. She started rearing kienyeji chicken ten years ago and has reaped the fruits of her labor which have lured her to expand her farm so as to accommodate a total of 2000 birds. Currently, she is disposing the kienyeji breed which she has for the chicken coops to rest and be sprayed, a disease protective measure to ensure the health of the next generation of chicks she is about to introduce. “You cannot take chances when rearing chicken for commercial purposes and that is why I have to protect my birds under whatever means possible,” she said.

Her chicks are imported from Uganda when they are one day old through a friend who works with a leading chicken meat distributor in Kenya. “There is a time I bought chicks in the local market but the problem is inbreeding which weakens the birds’ immunity or leads to slow growth,” she said. Mrs. Wanjiru, a primary school teacher also noted that most chicken farmers do not even vaccinate their chickens hence putting their investment at a great risk. “I liaise with area veterinary officer for vaccination in case of an outbreak but I always make sure that the chicks are vaccinated after three weeks,” she said. The greatest challenge so far is availability of expensive feeds which at times are substandard thus lowering the quality of the birds’ product be it eggs or meat. To overcome the hurdle, she has an eighth of an acre where she grow vegetables to supplement the feeds purchased from the local stores.

“These vegetables are for purposely supplementing the feeds because this is an investment not a hobby anymore,” said Wanjiru a mother of two ventured in poultry farming out of the passion she has for birds. Despite the many obstacles facing poultry farming, she is optimistic that someday, there will be a feeds manufacturing factory within the county to produce high quality feeds. She also encourages the youths to venture into the farming because it does not require enormous amount of capital, yet the returns are good. “You can even start with one chicken and make it; you just have to be patient because. As the saying goes, the city of Rome was not built in a day,” she said.

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Majani Insurance Brokers uses ISO to double microinsurance business

New agency rating cooperatives to access financing PAGE 6

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NYERI | SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER, 2015

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THE CHIEFTAINS OF NYERI POLITICS.

How Waruru, Mathenge bubbled Nyeri politics SPECIAL REPORTS

ormer Nyeri Town members of parliament Hon. Waruru Kanja and Hon. Isaiah Mathenge, who was also a long serving and powerful Provincial Commissioner, are remembered as some of the most lively politicians, and administrator for Mathenge, to have graced the politics of Nyeri. While Waruru crossed-swords with President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and later President Daniel Arab Moi, Mathenge was very close to Kenyatta and fell out with Moi later in his political career. The two were also fearless, taking their respective more powerful national political rivals head-on. Attempts however by Waruru to undermine former President Mwai Kibaki in the late 1980s and early 90s did not succeed as Kibaki enjoyed unrivalled grassroots support in Nyeri and across the then Central Province. Waruru and Mathenge were also victims of Moi’s purge against Kikuyus but were also used at different times by Moi to undermine other senior Kikuyu politicians and civil servants. The two however remain part of the strong history of Nyeri politics and are considered as elders who laid an important foundation in post-independence politics of Central Kenya region and in particular, for Nyeri. In the reports that follow, we look at some of the highlights of their political and administrative careers.

STORY ON PAGE 2 & 3 >>

Waruru Kanja.

Isiah Mathege.

Wananchi Sacco assists farmers acquire machinery BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

armers have been advised to diversify and engage in other income generating activities so that they can supplement earnings from farming activities. Wananchi Sacco Marketing Officer, Peter Mwariri, said the Sacco has entered into part-

ON OTHER PAGES

Take advantage of cheap fertilizer - Ruto PAGE 6

nership with companies such as Lifan Company which have enabled farmers acquire machinery that can help them add value to their farm produce as well as generating income boosting their earnings. Mr. Mwariri said: “The partnership has seen several youths venture in boda boda business which has greatly helped them improve their living standards.”

Lifan has been providing farmers with the machinery while Wananchi Sacco offers loans for the acquisition of the property and facilitate training of members. He said the Sacco was committed to improving horticulture farming in Arid and Semi Arid areas within and outside Nyeri County by helping farmers procure water pumps.

CONTINUED ON PG 2

Government, schools urged to help improve Karate

PAGE 7

Nyeri dairy farming reforms paying off BACK PAGE

CONT. ON PG 4 >>

WARURU KANJA:

The fearless Mau Mau fighter

NYERI STAR

SPECIAL REPORT

irst elected to Parliament in 1969 as the Nyeri MP, the late Hon. Waruru Kanja distinguished himself as a fervent debater and a crusader for the compensation and resettlement of Mau Mau war victims who had lost land while in prison. Himself a Mau Mau fighter, Mr Kanja had been sentenced to death after he was convicted of arms smuggling at the height of the Mau Mau War. It was Kenya’s first African lawyer CMG Argwings-Kodhek who came to his aid by appealing the death sentence. Mr Kanja’s term was reduced to life sentence before he was released after independence. Once in Parliament he joined hands with Mau Mau radicals — including Nyandarua North’s JM Kariuki, Nakuru Town’s Mark Mwithaga, and Nakuru East’s Fred Kubai — to demand justice for the landless. When the security intelligence body, the Special Branch started trailing JM, as he was popularly known, he turned to Mr Kanja who gave him a vehicle. In March 1975, Kariuki was assassinated and it was the Kanja group that would enlist the services of Bungoma East MP Elijah Mwangale to demand, much to the chagrin of the government, a parliamentary select committee probe into JM’s murder and on which Mr Mwangale was named the chairman. It was at JM’s funeral that Mr Kanja described Kenyatta’s government as that of “killers and thugs.” Back in his Nyeri backyard, Mr Kanja had formed Burguret Arimi Limited, a land buying company with 1,370 shareholders and which operated in Laikipia district after failing to get the government to settle the landless. Mr Kanja had risen to become the only radical political voice in central Kenya, his echoes eclipsing the moderate Mwai Kibaki who had become the Vice-President after Kenyatta’s death. It was therefore not surprising when on Wednesday, November 13, 1980 he took to the floor of the House and posed a most unexpected question. “Why are we living in fear and for how long?” It was the height of Moi’s dictatorship and “anti-Nyayo elements” were being warned to either toe the line or leave politics. Mr Kanja,

then Local Government assistant minister, immediately became a marked man. That year, after a trip to a UN conference in New York with his minister Katana Ngala, Mr Kanja received some money from Foreign Affairs ministry as part of his per diem. He came back with US$2,000 and did not convert the currency into Kenya shillings within 24 hours as demanded by the law. Police in six vehicles – there were four Land Rovers and two Peugeot 504 saloon cars – arrived at his Nyeri home and sought the dollars he was holding. He was jailed for three years culminating to the loss of his parliamentary seat. When he was set free Mr Kanja contested the Nyeri Town seat in 1983 but lost to Mr Nderitu Githua, an ally of Mr Kibaki. The fall of Charles Njonjo left Vice-President Kibaki as the only standing block in Moi’s desire to reduce the Kikuyu influence on his presidency. Ironically, he turned to Mr Kanja who immediately started a popularity contest with Mr Kibaki in Nyeri. Before the Kanu party elections in mid-1985 Mr Kanja joined hands with Mr Mwangale, then Foreign Affairs minister, to frustrate Mr Kibaki. It was during this period that Mr Kibaki said politicians should stop “political tourism” in reference to Mr Mwangale’s political volleys in Nyeri with the support of Mr Kanja and Kirinyaga politician James Njiru. He was unable to wrestle the leadership of Nyeri from Mr Kibaki, who had grassroots support. While that failed, Mr Kibaki suffered humiliation after the 1988 General Election that saw most of his allies rigged out. He was also demoted to the Ministry of Health while Mr Kanja became his Cabinet equal as Minister for Information and Broadcasting. That cohabitation between Mr Kanaja and President Daniel arap Moi was, however, only brief. The murder of the then Foreign Affairs minister Robert Ouko made Mr Kanja cross paths with Mr Moi once again. “We didn’t fight for independence to kill each other,” he said in Parliament, earning himself a sacking the following day. Mr Kanja was thrown out of Kanu and an incensed electorate in Nyeri chose a Kimathi Institute student, 22-year-old named Waihenya Ndirangu as the MP. Mr. Waihenya is now Roysambu North MP. While the multiparty politics saw Mr Kanja join the popular Forum for Restoration of Democracy (Ford), he was eclipsed by Mr Kibaki’s Democratic Party. He polled a paltry 258 votes against Munene Kairu’s 31,447. The journey to political oblivion had started. Mr Kanja retreated to his Nyeri home, a red-tiled whitewashed bungalow. He turned to farming as ill health slowed him down until he died in 2013. (Most of the content in this report have been adapted with permission from Kenya History Today, a political blog.)

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

ISIAH MATHENGE: ‘The last Governor of Rift Valley’

on. Isiah Mathenge was a very close ally of the late President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and was a powerful Provincial Commissioner for Rift Valley, leading to his being referred to as ‘The last Governor of Rift Valley’. He made Nakuru the headquarters of Kenya politics from 1971 when he was transferred to Rift Valley from Coast Province. Although he was elected Nyeri Town MP following the 1998 general elections, in 1983, he had tried to go for the Mathira seat, a year after he left the provincial administration, and came a poor third behind Davidson Kuguru, and Matu Wamae, the former ICDC boss. While working as the Rift Valley PC, Mathenge was a close friend to James Erastus Mungai, the former Rift Valley Provincial police boss. The two had worked together, drank together and taken it as their duty to frustrate Daniel arap Moi, as vice president, making sure that he felt their presence whether Kenyatta was in Nakuru or not. In November 1978, after Moi was confirmed the president, Mathenge’s friend Mungai started running scared after he was told to proceed on leave. Mathenge, as Mungai was to say later in a letter to Geoffrey Kareithi, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the president, started calling him on “odd hours of day and night” asking whether he was still alive. Scared of the calls from Mathenge, who was retained by Moi as Rift Valley PC until 1980 Mungai sold his Range Rover and took off to Juba, Sudan in the company of “two Turkana tribesmen” as then Criminal Investigation Department boss, Ignatious Nderi described the men who escorted Mungai to the border. In his letter to Kareithi, Mungai named Mathenge as one of the people who knew the activities and training of the anti-stock theft unit which was alleged to have been a privately controlled police unit meant to assassinate top Kenyan leaders according to allegations made by former Attorney General Charles Njonjo. But Mungai denied the allegations that the unit was meant to assassinate certain leaders. In his letter to Kareithi, he said the police

unit had been trained to deal with the Ngoroko cattle rustling in the Rift valley. The letter to Kareithi disturbed Mathenge since it wanted to incriminate him with the Ngoroko saga – as it came to be known- at a time when he wanted to extricate himself. Mathenge retired as PC in 1982 while on duty in Embu (Eastern Province) and returned to Nyeri where he had purchased a coffee farm and named it Seremwai Estate. It was here that he spent his time and tried to build a political career that failed. To succeed in politics Mathenge

had two battle his own brotherin-law Waruru Kanja or coattail to Mwai Kibaki and his friend David Munene Kairu. At first Mathenge decided to go for Mathira seat but after he failed during the Njonjo-scare polls of 1983 he retreated to Nyeri town to face the brother-in-law. By this time, 1988, Kibaki was cornered and was on his way out. With Kanja identified as anti-Kibaki his chances in the mlolongo were high as he got favours from Nyeri DC Keholo Muhalule. Mathenge was no push over and he emerged as a fighter. He not only refused to conduct joint campaigns with Kanja as ordered by the DC but did not campaign at all. In the end he polled 10.314 against Waruru Kanja’s 10,741. Mathenge never forgave the regime and from then on it was a bitter battle between him and Moi supporters. Mathenge and Munene Kairu were still the Kanu leaders in Nyeri. When Bishop David Gitari delivered a sermon in Nyeri attacking the establishment over the queue voting it was Mathenge who raised a storm by describing it as “theologically and intellectually stimulating” while the DC, Keholo Muhalule described it as “seditious and subversive’ challenging Mathenge to resign from Kanu is he supported the sermon. From June 1988, when Mathenge dismissed councillors who had petitioned his removal as ‘takataka’, the former PC was a marked man. President Moi drove to Nyeri where he chided Mathenge as a “colonial overseer’ and rubbished another former Rift Valley engineer, Kim Gatende as people who had returned to Nyeri to divide the people. As President Moi spoke Mathenge refused to stand –after his name was mentioned. It was the worst insult and both him and Gatende were kicked out of Kanu. Come multi-party politics Mathenge was one of the first to join Democratic Party and seek leadership positions in Nyeri. Smoothly he became the MP for Nyeri Town riding on the DP wave. But for only one term. He died in 2006. (Most of the content in this report have been adapted with permission from Kenya History Today, a political blog.)

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SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

SPECIAL REPORT

The other past players of Nyeri politics MUKUWE-INI CONSTITUENCY NGUMBU NJURURI

He succeeded Wariithi Mutahi who had served the Mukurwe-ini residents as their MP from 1964 to 1983. Wariithi however had been beaten by Mwai Koigi who served for one term (between 1969 to 1974) before Wariithi recaptured the seat in 1974. Njururi was Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament from 1983 to 1992 when Muhika Mutahi won the seat on a DP ticket. Njururi is remembered for having brought to an end the communal labour in the cooperative movement in the larger Nyeri County which farmers termed as exploitative. During the communal labour, all coffee farmers were required to attend work at the coffee factories during coffee harvesting season where they worked. This was seen to exploit small scale farmers who having harvested only a small amount of coffee spent most of their time and efforts working in the factories which benefited large scale farmers. Njururi played a key role in enlightening people on the pros and cons of the system against the wish of many influential politicians then who opposed the move so as to safeguard the interest of their allies who owned large farms under coffee. But Njururi carried on with his campaigns explaining that it is was unfair for a farmer with only 100 kilos to spend the same time working with a large scale farmer who had delivered over 1000 kilos. He proposed the idea of wage deduction from coffee proceeds based on individual farmers’ harvest. The money would be used in employment and payment of wages of factory employees a move that won him the support of many small scale coffee farmers not only in his Mukurwe-ini backyard but also the entire Nyeri district. He won in his bid to end the system in around 1983 after an Annual general Meeting (AGM) was convened by farmers who resolved that factories employ workers and the deductions be effected. The resolution was passed in a meeting held at the Othaya District Officer’s office. The meeting was fully charged according to sources and saw a district officer shouted down by farmers after he appeared to support the communal labour system.

MUHIKA MUTAHI

Muhika Mutahi.

He is today the Chairman of Mukurwe-ini Wakulima Dairy Society. He served as Mukurwe-ini MP from 1992 to 2002. He was a non-controversial Member of Parliament. He has been credited for the exemplary way he has run the Wakulima Dairy, one of the most successful not only in Nyeri but entire country. The dairy is currently the major source of income for many farmers. It has modern milk processing and packaging plant and is diversifying into other activities of value addition. “He has made a mark by being the face of Wakulima dairy which is the source of income for dairy farmers,” says John Wanjohi from Mukurwe-ini. Reports had it that when he vied for the seat in 2013 general elections, farmers were concerned that if he was elected, the dairy would collapse in the hands of new leadership and were not comfortable with losing him as their chairman. The dairy. through Muhika has managed to open stores all over Mukurwe-ini and other parts neighbouring the constituency such as Othaya, where farmers purchase farm chemicals and household food at the diary-run shops therefore re-investing in their cooperative. “This has led to locals patronizing the dairy shops more than those owned by local business-

men,” said a trader Patrick Muriuki. When he took over the leadership of the dairy, he sacrificed his own vehicle to be used for collecting of milk and ferrying it to various destinations as he tried to revitalize it. Today, he has helped transform the facility into a modern dairy with all facilities concentrated in one area, an achievement that no other MP has ever managed. “We are happy that he did not abandon us even after we failed to elect him as MP,” said Lucy Wambu, a resident of Mukurwe-ini and a dairy farmer. Muhika was unseated by current Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe who enjoyed support from President Mwai Kibaki and his father in-law the later John Michuki.

MATHIRA CONSTITUENCY DAVIDSON NGIMBUINI KUGURU and ELIUD MATU WAMAE

Matu Wamae.

Kuguru davidson 5th June 1980.

They dominated Mathira politics since 1969 to 2002 when the current Nyeri County Governor Nderitu Gachagua and Ephraim Maina came into the picture. Kuguru and Wamae were known to be archrivals and during the time they called the shots, Mathira was viewed as one of the major political hot spots in Nyeri. Mathira’s politics were known to be characterized by chaos that led to lose of lifes, bloodshed and massive bribery of voters. It is believed that over Ksh100 million was spent in campaign seasons in the area. The trend continued even during the time of Gachagua and Maina. During Gachagua’s tenure as Mathira MP, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was rated second in performance contracting countrywide. But Maina seemed to have difficulties fitting in Gachagua’s shoes when he took over. Several projects started by Gachagua also stalled due to the bitter rivalry between the two.

it is said that his opponents in parliament zeroed on this weakness to keep him out of parliament debates whenever there was a heated debate in the offing. They ensured he remained in a bar throughout the debating session after buying him several bottles of beer. This trick worked perfectly as he could not participate in the debates. He opted out of politics in 1969 due to his failing health.

KEGA MUTHUA

He vied for Othaya parliamentary seat in 1969 and succeeded Mathenge. During the campaigns, a big split emerged with Mahiga and Chinga supporting Muthua as Karima and Iria-ini failed to support one strong candidates leading to Muthua’s election. This is after the two locations fielded two different candidates splitting their votes into two. Muthua who was not that educated like his other Othaya colleagues, Mathenge and Kibaki. Though Chinga also fielded a candidate by the name Mugwimi Wachira who was a good orator and moved from house to house during the campaigns according to Githinji, he was unable to win the hearts of majority of voters from his Chinga backyard as he was not popular in the area. Muthua is however remembered for proposing the construction of the Nyeri-Othaya road which was then not in existence. This road was constructed in 1976 and 1977 during Kibaki’s tenure. He was unseated by President Mwai Kibaki who moved from Bahati Constituency to Othaya in 1974. Muthua later vied for a civic seat and was elected as Mahiga Ward Councilor.

MWAI KIBAKI

He is a man who many cannot remember what he said but can vividly remember what he did. Though he did not do much when he was MP for Othaya and as the Vice President, development projects that he started and completed in the area during his tenure as the president and area MP will have him remembered for long. Kibaki zeroed on education and ensured that at least every sub location in Othaya had a day secondary school and more than one primary schools. He also ensured that most of the roads in the area were improved through tarmaking. He also saw to it that Othaya District Hospital was upgraded and helped to build several other health centres in the area among other development projects. Kibaki holds the record of being the longest serving MP in Kenya after serving for 45 years and the second highest membership of Cabinet where he served for 37 years after Daniel Moi. He was first elected as MP for Othaya in 1974 until he retired from active politics in 2013.

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KIENI CONSTITUENCY MUNENE KAIRU

His roots can be traced in Chinga, Othaya Constituency. The former GSU officer however owned property in Kieni Constituency where he also contested for the parliamentary seat in 1992. He was also the owner of the famous white Rhino Hotel. He is remembered for starting a water project in the dry area of Kieni which was to be used for both irrigation and domestic use. He however left the project unfinished following his death in 1998. He left a mark both in Chinga in Othaya and Kieni Constituency and it is said that no Kieni MP, has ever fitted in his big shoes.

OTHAYA CONSTITUENCY

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JOSEPH MATHENGE

He was the first MP for Othaya Constituency and an uncle to former President Mwai Kibaki and served from 1966 to 1969. He was very popular among Othaya electorates and once won an election while admitted in hospital. According to Mr. John Githinji who has been following area politics keenly, Mathenge popularity could have been due to his debating expertise in parliament and was ranked as one of the best debaters at the time. According to sources, he was an alcoholic and

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NYERI STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Mount Kenya University opens Nyeri Campus BY NYERI STAR REPORTER

ount Kenya University (MKU) has opened a campus in Nyeri Town to serve the greater Mount Kenya region. The campus is located in Nyeri at Tabby Plaza next to Kamukunji Stadium. Director of the MKU Nyeri Campus Virginia Mutheu said the campus is offering courses in social sciences. These include courses offered under the School of Business, School of Education and Social Sciences. “The campus will also support Virtual Varsity students,” she told NYERI STAR in an interview. Virtual Varsity is an open-learning platform enables students to undertake their courses and continuous assessment tests online through the Internet. A library that is well stocked with the most relevant books has also been opened to support students in their studies and research across all courses.

The books were donated by the MKU Chairman and Founder Dr. Simon Gicharu. The donated books are worth Ksh3 million. Mutheu said stocking the library will be a continuous process to ensure the students are able to access the best books. She said the MKU is working with several service providers to provide accommodation facilities for the students, saying enough facilities are available for the current and prospective students. MKU also participated in the just ended Nyeri ASK Show. MKU’s Marketing Director Boniface Murigi said the event ushers in the newly-opened MKU Campus. “The Campus is bringing high level academic programmes closer to the people of Nyeri County and its environs,” says Mr. Murigi. Mutheu said the uptake of online learning is improving gradually. “MKU is the undisputed leader in provision of high quality academic programmes. We will surpass the benchmark set by other Campuses.”

Wananchi Sacco assists farmers acquire machinery

Wananchi Sacco Marketing Officer, Peter Mwariri outside the Sacco’s stand at ASK Show at Kabiru-ini Showground in Nyeri

<< CONT. FROM PG 1 “The water pumps will greatly help farmers practice irrigation instead of relying on the unpredictable rains. We have been receiving positive response from our members who hail from dry areas of Kieni among other areas who have procured the pumps,” he noted. Among other machines are posho mills, power saws and generators. The Sacco pays for the machine in form of loans while lending members are required to service the loan within a certain period. “We have been giving loans to youths intending to venture in boda boda or agribusiness among others by paying for the motorbikes or water pumps. The member just needs to open an account with the Sacco and deposit Shs. 20,000 which serves as security and after repaying the loan, the Shs. 20,000 can be refunded back to them,” he explained. He said the youths can acquire the equipment either as a group or individually. “Since we started the partnership one year ago, we have seen youths purchase motorbikes and after they are through with

servicing the loans, they return to acquire water pumps or posho mills a move that has empowered them economically,” he continued. The Sacco whose headquarters are based in Othaya is planning to start agency banking services later this year making it the first Sacco to start such services. Mr. Mwariri said other than creating employment, the agency banking which is expected to kick off in December will also take services closer to the people both in rural and urban areas. “Members who live in rural areas will not need to travel to towns where our branches are as they can access our services right in the neighbourhood. Priority will be given to members who already have running businesses where members can easily access to ensure the project kicks off without delay,” he stated adding that the Sacco has already been given a green light to start agency banking services by Sasra.

Mt. Kenya Univeristy Nyeri.

NYERI STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Majani Insurance Brokers uses ISO to double microinsurance business

BY CORRESPONDENT

ajani Insurance Brokers has started implementing improved/revised ISO Standards to enable it double its micro-insurance business in the coming years. The company attributes its

ISO Standards certification, first awarded in December 2007 to being the main driver of the double growth in Premium income from Ksh. 800 million then, to the current Ksh. 1.5 billion, said MIB Ltd General Manager Ms. Mumbi Gitonga. “ISO Standards certification has been an important driver to our growth. We have set our-

selves very high deliverable time frames and endeavour to stretch ourselves to keep above the rest,” said Ms Gitonga. The Broker is in trend with several Kenyan companies that have opted for ISO Standards certification to improve their business performance and remain competitive. “ISO Standards help compa-

nies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. They ensure that business operations are efficient, increase productivity and help companies’ access new markets,” said Hellen Bosibori, the CEO of Apex Management SystemsConsultants Ltd. Upon diversifying into microinsurance; MIB Ltd embraced ISO standards to aid them in clarifying their total service roadmap leading to efficiency, time conservancies and relevance in tailor-making several products for the SME market with affordable insurance solutions. “In our quest to meet customer expectations, MIB Ltd embarked on a journey to change the narrative of insurance buying and experience through affordable and easy-to-pay medical solutions that resonate with ‘bottom of the pyramid’ customers. We identified gaps in fostering family dignity following demise of the bread winners, expensive medical costs during hospitalisation to sustain lives and loss of their hard earned investments like livestock and other properties. Our initial focus was the tea farmers affiliated Kenya Tea De-

velopment Agency (KTDA) but our products have spread beyond this frontier, and assisting many more households in Kenya.” said Ms Gitonga. “The current customer base is 150,000 insured members with a total population/lives covered of 500,000. The number is expected to double in the next two years through adoption of improved standards and use of ICT for effective and efficient services that resonate with customer expectations and make insurance buying and consumption experiential” she added. MIB lends itself to innovation and delivery of family stabilisation support through retail priced medical products ranging from Kshs. 55/= to Kshs. 360/= per monthly premium; for a range of daily hospitalisation benefits to choose from. “We offer insurance solutions to low income earners hitherto ignored by the mainstream commercial and social insurance schemes or isolated by complexity of available policies and high premium rate charges,” said Ms. Gitonga. “We have a soft-spot for the bottom of the pyramid and SME markets and have heavily invested in consumer education and insurance access that improve livelihoods in rural Kenya.” she added. She said the company will continue to advance its IT systems for enrolment, claims handling and customer interaction through use of short message service (SMS) platform for enhanced customer service delivery and overall ISO Standards.

The ISO Standards are globally recommended business practice designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders while meeting statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product. Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Technical manager Mrs. Agnes Ndirangu says the nascent micro-insurance segment has the potential to boost the country’s sluggish insurance penetration which is still below 4 percent. Kenya’s insurance penetration is still below, according to analysts, in comparison to other African economies such as Mauritius, which has a penetration rate of 7 percent while South Africa is at15 percent compared to Kenya’s 3.5 percent.

ISO Standards certification has been an important driver to our growth. We have set ourselves very high deliverable time frames and endeavour to stretch ourselves to keep above the rest - Ms Gitonga

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NYERI STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

New agency rating cooperatives to access financing

BY CORRESPONDENT

rating agency has come up with a formula that rates agriculture focused cooperative societies and small scale businesses in a move that will make it easier to access loans and social investors’ funds.

SCOPEisight, the company supported by the Embassy of Netherlands and partnering with International Finance Corporation (IFC), has developed a rating system that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of a cooperative with an intention to linking them with capacity builders like non-governmental

organizations and consultants to facilitate and prepare them to get financial support. Farmers’ organizations in Kenya face financing challenge because there has been no common and standardized way to rate their businesses and develop their risk profile. It is estimated only five percent of all credit ad-

vanced by banks goes to finance agriculture in Kenya. The innovative rating system is expected to increase the share of loans that goes to agriculture, said the head of company’s Kenya operations Geoffrey Nyamota. “By providing insight into key strengths and weaknesses of producer organizations, we stimulate business transactions with lower information costs and reduced financing risks,” said Mr. Nyamota. Among the cooperatives the company has worked with is the Muki Famers Cooperative Society in Nyandarua. “After participating in our assessment, they worked on their systems through a new strategic plan. They have since increased milk delivered by farmers from 2,000 litres per day to more than 11,000 litres a day. Financial institutions are now interested to work with them. The cooperative has also formed a Sacco wing to finance members,” he said. SCOPEinsight administers agribusiness assessments to farmers’ organizations or producer organizations and SMEs. The assessments are used to determine the level of professionalism of the organizations. SCOPEinsight generates a Report that are used by capacity building organizations to develop a curriculum that addresses the missing gaps and a Profile which can be used to make market link-

ages, including for financing. Cooperative societies for instance use the reports to identify their gaps and through this look for partners to fill the gaps. Once the gaps have been filled, they use the profiles to access finance for their agricultural activities. Financial institutions are looking for a pipeline of professional farmer organisations to finance. They use the profiles generated to determine which ones are the more professional cooperative societies and SMEs. Through this they engage the more professional ones and provide the required financing. Likewise, input providers use the profiles to determine which organisations are credit worthy and provide the required lending after carrying out due diligence. Investors likewise use SCOPEinsight profiles to determine the level of investment In a case where the farmer organization has to be rated, the cost is currently met by a non-governmental organization working with farmers or a private company, but some cooperative societies pay for the service themselves. This number is expected to increase over time as cooperatives see the added value for them by hearing success stories. “While rating the organizations we look at nine critical areas. These include input logistics, internal management and operations, financial man-

Take advantage of cheap fertilizer- Ruto BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

he Government has set aside a total of Ksh61 billion this year meant for the expansion of various agricultural activities in the country. Deputy President William Ruto said the money will be used in enhancing agricultural production and value addition of farm produce. He spoke when he represented President Uhuru Kenyatta during the official opening of this year’s Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show held at Kabiru-ini showground in Nyeri County recently. He said subsidized fertilizer will be provided to all farmers beginning this year so they can use it and increase production. Ruto said the programme began with maize farmers but will be extended to other farmers including coffee, sugarcane and tea farmers among others. “All farmers should take advantage of government’s subsidized fertilizer to enhance food production and cash crop production so that we can manage food security in our country and use it to drive the growth of the economy as well as sell produce from our farms,” he said. He said the government of Kenya in partnership with that of Japan and Toyota Company are setting up a fertilizer manufacturing plant which will be operational by June next year. “By June next year, it will be possible to produce fertilizer in Kenya because of the partnership between the Kenyan Government, the Government of Japan and Toyota Company, a private company, that will help us develop

a fertilizer blending facility that will graduate to a fertilizer manufacturing facility,” said the deputy president. The move, he said, will enable farmers acquire fertilizers with ease and at a lower cost. He added that the country cannot be competitive in the agricultural sector unless food production and agricultural production are modernized and mechanized claiming this cannot be achieved if farmers will continue to using old methods of farming. He announced that the government is working with the government of Korea and negotiations are ongoing to enable Kenya to import additional 3000 to 4000 tractors so that farmers can have access to cheaper tractors and start mechanization enhancing food production. “I wish to announce that we already have 100 million dollars (Ksh10 billion) from the Korea Government which have been approved and we are concluding the processes in a matter of weeks and hopefully by next year, again, we shall have another company in Kenya producing tractors locally so that we can use them to drive our agricultural mechanization and our agricultural production,” he noted. Noting that Nyeri County is right ahead in matters dairy after earning Ksh5.3 billion from the sale of milk last year, the deputy president said there is need to invest in the sector so as to modernize it if the county is targeting to sell its milk in the international market. He said according to research, milk lowers its quality if not delivered to milk coolers on time and therefore the right quality of milk is paramount.

Deputy President William Ruto has a chat with Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua. Looking on is Othaya MP Mary Wambui. Ruto said the national government will import 1000 new milk coolers worth Ksh10 billion which will be shared among the counties. He stated that the government is committed to building a bull station and a nitrogen plant in Nyeri to reduce the cost of transport and subsequently lower the cost of Artificial Insemination services. Nyeri governor Nderitu Gachagua said though Nyeri County is one of the leading counties in agriculture in Kenya, it faces various challenges that include low productivity and production, shrinking land sizes due to population growth, adverse impact of climate change, low absorption of modern technology, poor infrastructure, rising cost of inputs, poor market linkages and the volatility of the international markets.

“To address the above challenges, the county government has embarked on a programme for the transformation of agriculture. The primary focus of this programme is to transform agriculture into an innovative commercially viable and competitive modern sector with an aim of enhancing food security, improving income of our farmers and creating more opportunities for employment,” he said. He said modernization of agriculture is the greatest avenue of eradicating poverty and creation of wealth in the county. He announced that agriculture will be modernized across all areas of agricultural production, this geared towards encouraging farmers to engage in food and direct marketing of coffee and other farm produce in order to enhance their earnings.

agement, sustainability, external risks, other organizations providing the required support and financial performance. All these enable the rated organisation to identify their weaknesses and strengths and therefore put in place systems to address the gaps,” said Mr.Nyamota. SCOPEinsight has so far rated over 300 farmers’ organizations and SMEs in Kenya and more in East Africa and other regions in the world. The company in Africa works with organizations such as Farm Africa, Solidaridad, Hivos, SNV, ICCO Cooperation, International Finance Corporation, Cargill, IFAD, IFDC, Agriterra, TechnoServe and Lutheran World Relief among others.

By providing insight into key strengths and weaknesses of producer organizations, we stimulate business transactions with lower information costs and reduced financing risks. - Nyamota

“We have been meeting with coffee farmers and we are encouraged that they have already embarked on measures to construct a coffee mill in the county in order to harness their collective capacity for the direct marketing of their coffee,” noted Gachagua. Similarly, he said, his government has also been meeting with tea farmers to ensure that all the five tea factories in the county are in the process of venturing in orthodox tea manufacturing in order to diversify tea export products and enhance earnings. On horticulture, Gachagua said plans are at an advanced stage, with the help and cooperation between the county government and that of the ministry of land and housing, for the construction of a modern and state of the art market at Chaka and the completion of the Karatina market. He said funding for the construction work has already been included in this year’s housing budget. On dairy, the governor said his government will support milk societies by providing them with coolers which will greatly reduce milk losses adding that the county has a robust animal vaccination programme with a ready budget for procurement of vaccines. “To supplement these efforts, we shall shortly be launching a programme for the revitalization of Artificial Insemination programme services in collaboration with Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre at Kabete,” he said. On fishing, he said the fish processing plant at Wamagana will be operationalized adding that the government has procured a three-ton refrigerated truck for delivering fish from farmers to the plant and also procured ten deep freezers, ten digital weighing machines and other accessories for fish processing.

NYERI STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Government, schools urged to help improve Karate BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

he County Government of Nyeri and head of schools has been urged to support the development of Karate Sport to enable talented residents benefit from the growing popularity of the sport in the international scene. Mount Kenya Region Assistant General for Kenya Karate Federation John Ndung’u Mburu said school heads should give Karate attention similar to that given to other sporting activities such as football and athletics among others. Karate is a system of unarmed combat that uses hands and feet to deliver and block blows and is widely practiced as a sport. It exists in different styles which include Shotokan, Goju¬-ryu and Shorinryu among others. Mr. Mburu said administrators in learning institutions fail to support the commencement of the sport in schools due to the notion that embracing mar-

tial arts may lead to indiscipline which is not the case. Many people, he observed, view Karate and other martial art sports as violent and filled with conflict and aggression which he claimed is counterproductive. “Children who enroll in Karate classes have shown improvement in discipline and academic performance as the sport makes them stress free making their minds receptive and therefore, there is need for a change of perception,” said Mr. Mburu who has been engaged in the sport for over 25 years now. The martial artist appealed to the County Government to chip in and facilitate growth of the sport in Nyeri adding that this will go along way in improving the image of the area. Nyeri County has been receiving negative publicity of husbands battering and mutilation of their private parts. “The County Government should promote the sport especially in rural areas and change the region’s bad image. Cases of husband battering are

minimal in Nyeri but the issue has been blown out of proportion tainting the good image of the county,” he noted adding that such cases occur in every other part of the world. He said the sport can be practiced by people of all ages and gender and most of those who do martial arts are highly

discipline. Other benefits of Karate according to Mr. Mburu include development of confidence, physical and mental fitness, self-defense, coordination and focus among others. The second black belt holder in Shotokan Karate said Nyeri has witnessed tremendous growth in the sport since 1990s but can do much better if accorded the necessary support. “Currently, Nyeri has over 18 Karate clubs and the sport has been introduced in schools such as St. Mary’s High School and Ngandu Girls among others which (clubs) have been participating in sporting activities both within Mt. Kenya region and national level,” noted the Nyeri YMCA Karate Club coach. Nyeri Karate clubs are under an umbrella body known as Kenya Karate Federation. He stated that the county has recorded various successes in Karate despite various challenges adding that the area has a potential to do better in the sport than other major towns and cities in the country. In August this year, Nyeri County participated in a national competitions held in Nakuru County where it emerged second in application of kata techniques. 13 teams from various parts of the country participated in the event. Karate competition has two disciplines which are sparring (kumite) and forms (kata). However, he said, the team could not

participate in Kumite competitions due to financial constraints. He cited some of the challenges facing the sport in Nyeri as lack of funds, shortage of training equipment and lack of regular training for coaches and appealed to the area government, companies and well wishers to chip in and assist. He noted that lack of finances has made it difficult for coaches to attend training sessions usually organized in Nairobi among other areas due to the high training charges and lack of facilitation to cater for accommodation and meals during training. “Nyeri faces shortage of coaches and the few who are in the area ought to be assisted so that they can attend trainings which are important in improving the standard of Karate in Nyeri County,” says the Karateka. He said the same applies to Karate students who are compelled by the circumstances to cater for all their expenses which included accommodation, transport and meals among others when attending tournament and Karate clinics. His sentiments are echoed by Father Peter Kiongo who at one time had to provide for accommodation and a practicing space for Karatekas before they travelled to participate in a tournament. The catholic priest is also a Karate coach. He advised members of public to appreciate the sport noting that it plays a key role in fighting alcohol and drug abuse among youths.

Farmers urged to use better organic fertilizer BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

he negative effects caused by the use of conventional fertilizers and chemicals to both human health and soils have prompted some farmers to go organic. Some have commercialized the preparation of organic manure and sprays though many farmers are still ignorant on the importance of organic products. One such farmer is Mr. Kenneth Waweru Gikunju, 68, who have been preparing organic manure for sale for over 14 years now. Waweru who is the director of Six Sigma Organic Fertilizer says he started practicing organic farming in 2002 when soil sampling was conducted in farms that delivered coffee to Giakanja factory in a campaign to improve soil fertility and enhance production. His farm’s soil was found to be acidic. Fearing

Six Sigma Organic Fertilizer sales manager, Stellah Waweru, shows organic manure and foliar spray outside their stores in Nyeri Town.

the cost implications of buying farm inputs to correct the state of the soil, Waweru resolved to prepare his own organic manure locally, a project that was successfully. “After I applied the manure in my farm, people saw the improvement in my coffee and other crops and approached me for some. This is when I started preparing the manure in large quantities due to the high demand and sold it to neighbours and villagers,” he says. But he could not continue making the manure in his rural farm after locals complained of foul smell that was emanating from the area. This compelled him to relocate the project from his Gitero village home to an area recommended by National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Nyeri Town. His business is located near the town’s slaughterhouse.

DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY’S NEW CONSTITUTION

He took the products to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology for sampling where he also underwent a two-month training which helped him improve the products. “I prepare the organic manure using earthworms which I imported from South Africa for breeding and multiplication. Other raw materials include croton seeds, waste from animals that included blood, egg shells and plants remains among others,” he says. He adds that his experience in working in the forestry department helped him a lot in identifying trees that contain a lot of nutrients. He at time goes for such plant remains as far as Mbeere in Embu and Murang’a counties among other areas. He claims overuse of conventional fertilizers in Nyeri County is one of the causes contributing to food shortage in the area due damage of soils which can only be reversed through use of organic fertilizers.

CONT. ON PAGE 8 >>

NYERI ASK SHOW

Promulgation of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Students’ Organization (DeKUTSO) Constitution

Dedan Kimathi University Student displays his innovation at Nyerii Show.

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NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Farmers urged to store water, biogas with collapsible water tanks

Camel Tanks East Africa Managing Director Joseph Muhoro (on top of a tank) explains how collapsible water tank works.

BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

t is time farmers embrace the culture of harvesting water and biogas and store the two for use during the dry and cold seasons respectively. Harvesting and storage of the two have been made easy following the in-

troduction of collapsible tanks in the country. Camel Tanks East Africa Managing Director Joseph Muhoro who was speaking to MT. KENYA STAR at Wambugu Agricultural Training Centre in Nyeri recently said. The tanks have been in use in Asian and European countries for a long time and have since proved to be of great help.

He cited a country like China where biogas generated during hot weather is stored in the tanks and used during the cold season. He as a result advised farmers to diversify and acquire the multipurpose tanks which he said come in handy in storage of both water and gas due to their many advantages. The tanks are also used in storage of other liquids

such as petroleum products and oil. They are also ideal for use in any industrial facility, construction site or storage location. “Manufacture and use of the tanks is a very old technology that has been in use in both European and Asian countries. These tanks are manufactured and imported from a Province in China and can be good in storage of water for both domestic and irrigation use,” said Mr. Muhoro. “Unlike other tanks, they are highly repairable incase of damage and do not incur high transportation cost. They can be ferried anywhere with ease and are ideal for use in dry areas,” he added. They are easily installed, can be folded up for storage or transportation, are ideal for temporary storage requirements and are strong and as a result highly rated for low and high temperatures use. They are also light in weight, easy to clean and easy to setup. In Kenya, rain water is left to flow to waste as farmers face severe water shortage during dry seasons leading to lose of lives of people, livestock and plants in some areas. The mobile tank made of threaded Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be placed near the homestead and in the farm. The tanks come in different sizes and are currently available and in use in Kenya. He said they are sold at Ksh8 per litre irrespective of size.

Gachagua urges farmers to use modern farming methods He said though agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy and accounts for almost 40 per cent of GDP, Kenya’s full agricultural potential has not yet been realized. He cited the main challenges facing the sector as low production and productivity, high costs of production and inputs, low technology levels, low energy application, poor markets linkages and inadequate investments in the whole agricultural value chain. “However, the County Governments, working closely with the National Government, are phenomenally transforming the whole development landscape, including agriculture, in this country. County governments have embarked on a wide range of initiatives to spur agricultural growth and development. This includes advising our farmers to work in cohesive and well manH.E the Governor Hon. Nderitu Gachagua at the County Assembly ASK stand aged groups so as to improve their at Kabiruini grounds on the first day of opening. yields, access inputs at reduced costs and improve market outreach in order to increase their returns,” said Council of Governors. BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI The Nyeri County governor said the governor. “As part of these initiatives, we armers have been urged to it is time Kenya shifts its focus from have improved our rural electrifirustic agrarian systems, whose outattend farming field days and put only ends in subsistence, to cation capacity with most parts of agricultural shows in order to the counmechanized learn modern farming methtry now commercial foods that will help them improve con ne c te d cus to increase yields and earn more money by sellto the nap r o d u c t i v it y Kenya stands to benefit ing the produce. tional grid. and earnings Governor Nderitu Gachagua said immensely from the great S i m i l a r l y, to farmers. agribusiness is a key driver of agrimassive “In develcultural growth and can transform agricultural advances in infrastr ucoped econthe agriculture sector into an intural devellike Israel. novative, competitive and modern omies, opment has Israel, agrisector. opened up cultural value Gachagua was addressing particicounties to addition acpants during the Israeli-Kenya Agriimproved investments. Most areas counts for the enhanced competibusiness forum held this September now have motorable roads and suftiveness and profitability of the agat Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi ricultural industry. This has to be ficient water and power supply. All in his capacity as the chairman of this has placed agriculture on a new replicated in this country,” stated the Agriculture Committee in the trajectory for unprecedented growth Gachagua in his speech.

and development,” he said. He hailed the devolved system of government saying it has provided new opportunity for development partners to partner with counties directly and advance their bilateral interests. He said county governments are willing and ready to co-operation with all those willing to partner with the administrations in bringing development closer to the people. “Kenya stands to benefit immensely from the great agricultural advances in Israel. Going forward, we would wish to forge partnerships around particular agricultural products’ clusters so that through our two embassies the core Counties in the production of given agricultural products could be interlinked to relevant agricultural enterprises in Israel,” he observed. The governor noted that Kenyan producers would stand to benefit greatly from well programmed and structured visits to Israel to learn from their counterparts in Israel over the next two years. The Israeli delegation to the forum was led by the minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in Israel and Head of MASHAV (Israel’s Development & International Cooperation Agency) and attended by the Ambassador of Israel to Kenya Yahel Vilan, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Water and Irrigation in Eugene Wamalwa and governors among other guests. Kenya has enjoyed collaboration with Israel in various programs that include launching of project to support Kenya in irrigating arid areas starting with 10,000 hectares in Turkana and support for agricultural research and other technical programmmes by Israel among others.

Farmers urged to use better organic fertilizer << CONT. FROM PAGE 7 Waweru sells his products to local farmers and large scale farmers in Meru and Kieni Constituency in Nyeri County who grow organic crops for export. A litre of foliar goes for Ksh350, can be diluted using 100 litres of water and is sprayed once a week. “Our organic manure is packed in a 10, 30 and 50 killo bags which are sold at Ksh500, 1500 and 2500 respectively. A 50 kilo bags can be applied on 100 coffee bushes while an acre under maize, potatoes and onions among other crops require four bags per acre,” he explains. “This manure has been proved to increase production in coffee and tea. Soils regain virginity after using it consistently. It can also increase maize yield per acre by five to seven bags. The advantage of using our foliar spray is that it repels insects instead of killing them and so doesn’t harm friendly insects such as bees that help in pollination. Food crops can be consumed immediately after spraying unlike in the case of conventional chemicals where one has to wait for some time,” continues Mr. Waweru. The other major benefit of organic inputs is that they help greatly in preventing lifestyle diseases a fact supported by Dr. Mwangi Njururi Mutahi. According to Njururi, if conventional fertilizers, which are prepared using chemicals, are applied on a plant, a residual chemical remain in the harvests like grains, fruits and leaves. The residues in the produce can occur as a result of using chemicals through spraying, application and as preservative both in cooked and raw foods. Dr. Njururi holds PhD and Masters degrees from the State University of New York and Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Nairobi, all in Chemistry. He has extensive research experience in diverse therapeutic areas: HIV/Aids, allergy and immunology. He has previously worked as a researcher in the United States pharmaceutical industry. “These residual chemicals may be either in their original forms or may be transformed but are chemicals that are foreign to the human body which poison the body affecting normal functioning. After toxicating the body, they lower the immune system and interfere with the biological and physiological functioning of the body,” explains the researcher. Their use also causes acid – alkaline (PH) imbalance with the resultant effects being the body becoming acidic and a better habitat for pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungus. The three pathogens produce toxins that colonize the area they affect causing low immunity. Also harmful are chemicals taken through water or inhaled through air. Central province has been reported as one of the areas with the highest cases of lifestyle diseases. Dr. Njururi says this is because the area has more victims of modern activities such as the use of fertilizers and chemicals to maximize production in their small parcels of land and small numbers of livestock to feed the high population. The chemicals also remain in animal products such as meat, milk and eggs in poultry. “Central uses a lot of food grown using chemicals as opposed to other regions such as Western, Rift Valley and North Eastern regions where people are pastoralists and thus the use of chemicals is minimal,” he explains. He says chemicals used in salons and barber shops are also harmful when inhaled adding that there is need to create awareness so that people can appreciate the environmental damage and danger accrued through use of these chemicals. He says different lifestyle diseases attack different people in their areas of weakness. Njururi who is the director and founder of Health Living Centre located in Nyeri says there is need for people to cleanse their bodies and remove the pathogens and toxic substances. This can be through use of foods that will help their bodies balance acid and alkaline levels, services that he is already offering at the centre.

NYERI STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Kings Medical College to become an organs transplant teaching hospital

Kings Medical College graduates during the event. BELOW: Kings Medical College Executive Director Dr. Moses Njue.

BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRII

ings Medical College will set up a transplant hospital soon according to the institution’s executive director Dr. Moses Njue. Plans are also underway to turn the institution into a medical school within the next few years to be training doctors. Dr. Njue said the college opted to start a transplant hospital instead of duplicating what other hospitals in the county are already doing so as to make it a referral hospital for people seeking organs transplant services. “I plan to start by having a top notch diagnostic facility from which typing can be done for all transplant organs, then we can be able to do transplant for kidney, born marrow and liver among others. We already have linkages in India which as you know is very good in offering these services,” he said. The institution plans to invite the president through the area MP to lay down the foundation stone so that the construction work can kick off. Already, land has been set aside for the construction of the molecular laboratory. Dr. Njue told students, parents and guests during the 12th graduation ceremony and the second institution’s assembly at the institution recently that a medical school would have been up and running but a change in government policy that barred collaboration with universities led to the deferment of the project. “We hoped to start medical degrees but due to change in government policy, we held it for the next two or three years. We are also beginning a class of four degree faculties in theology sometimes

next year,” stated Njue. Other new developments in the pipeline include the commencement of nursing courses in the next one or two months and turning the college into a university in the next two or three years. King’s Medical College started with only 24 students back in the year 2003 on a rented land, only one teacher and a budget of Ksh0.5 million per year. However, the population of students has grown to over 200. It has also acquired a land with the total worth of the institution growing to over Ksh100 million. It has 30 staff some with master’s degrees and two PhD students. He said despite experiencing numerous challenges during the initial years of the college, all 1000 students who have since attended the institution performed well.

“We have had 1,000 graduates from this college so far and of all the 1,000, only two have never found a job. Our graduates get jobs long before they finish their college,” joked the former government chief pathologist adding that the college grounds students in integrity and that the world needs medical practitioners of integrity. “We started with certificates in medical laboratory but are now offering diplomas in medical laboratory and clinical medicine and soon we will be offering diplomas in nursing,” stated Njue.

Karatina, Mukureini hospitals to have generators

County health officials and Gaston Kenya managers exchange contracts relating to the hospital generators.

BY NYERI STAR REPORTER

ue to life threatening risks that may occur in case of a power blackout in hospitals, Nyeri county Government is on a process of installing generators in Mukurwe-ini and Karatina District hospitals a project that will cost Ksh 11.9million. The county government has signed contract agreements with Gaston Kenya Limited, which will carry out installation process in Mukurwe-ini and Power Com Limited which will do the installation in Karatina Hospital. Speaking during the signing of contract at the county health department offices, Dr Peter Munyua, Chief Officer Department of Health, said that the two hospitals currently operate under old

and worn out generators which keep on breaking down every now and then. He said that the department has procured two 200 KVA generator sets for the two hospitals which will be operating automatically incase of power breakout and will take a period of one month for each to be installed. He noted that this is an important contract signed because when installed the services will not be interrupted in the name of power breakdown including those offered in theatre and X-ray department. “With these new generators, in case of a power breakouts they will automatically takeover to supply power to all the departments that operate under power which ensure that the services provided are not interrupted.”

DIGITAL REVENUE COLLECTION Nyeri County Government has introduced electronic parking payment machines. Vehicle owners can use their special Equity Bank cards that are issued for free and loaded with credit but those without can use their ATMs. The move is meant to increase parking revenue.

CANOLA OIL

NYERI STAR

PICTORIAL

Deputy President William Ruto admires Canola Oil that is manufctured in Kieni, Nyeri. The DP was the official guest during the ASK Nyeri Show.

DEDAN The university showcased some of its innovations KIMATHI and engineering courses it offers. UNIVERSITY

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

BORAN BULLS

Boran bulls, famed for their beef on show at the ASK Nyeri Show.

KARATINA A visitor to Karatina University stand gets more UNIVERSITY information about the higher learning institution.

MUKURWEINI Mukurweini Wakulima Dairy staff showcase their WAKULIMA Royal Fresh packaged milk product. DAIRY

MURANG’A An official of Murang’a Univeristy shows UNIVERSITY the courses offered at the institution.

TAIFA SACCO Visitors get more educated on various products offered by Taifa Sacco

THIKA Visitors get more information on courses TECHNICAL offered at Thika Technical Institute. INSTITUTE

BIASHARA Members of the public seek more information on SACCO the financial products offered by Biashara Sacco.

KTDA

Officials of KTDA visit the agency’s stand at the ASK Nyeri Show.

NYERI Agriculture Principal Secretary Cecily Kariuki views TEACHERS items on display inside Nyeri Teachers Sacco stand. SACCO The PS leaves the Nyeri Teachers Sacco stand.

WANANCHI Wanchi Sacco showcaed some of its SACCO financial innovations at the show.

NYERI STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

How we make money by selling art crafts

James Muthingati (in white) and his colleague Martin Mwangi at work outside their workshop in Nyeri Town recently

BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

espite claims that art has never been appreciated fully in Kenya, James Muthingati and Martin Mwangi of Jarmarts Group believe the sky is the limit. The two have been engaged in work of art for over a year now. The two came together accidentally after meeting at an event. Muthingati was shooting a video in an event when he learnt that Mwangi was good in video editing. On visiting their workshop in Ruring’u, Nyeri Town, you will not fail to notice attractive artworks hanged on the walls prepared through painting, mixture of collage and sculpture,

abstract painting and sketches. They discuss a theme before they embark on working on it. Among the sketches are those of prominent people in Nyeri County like Deputy Governor Samuel Wamathai and area women representative Priscilla Nyokabi. Other than arts, the group also engages in designing of logos, photography, video shooting and editing. They also play a big role in rehabilitation of street children who they train on art. The two group youngsters say they started engaging in art while in primary school. They believe in helping people by giving them fishing hooks instead of fish

25,000 Amount they make from sales on a good day.

like they do to the street children. “When they come borrowing money from us, we take the advantage to show them the essence of working for a living instead of depending on few coins from well wishers. We believe by training them on arts, they can be in a position to earn their daily bread and be self reli-

ant in future,” says Muthingati. By so doing, they have found themselves rehabilitating street kids. Before joining them in their workshop, they start by counseling the minors so they can stop using drugs. This they say is to help them change and concentrate. The first lesson is usually showing them how to mix colours before embarking on real painting. The four are doing well and especially one of them who have been attending classes regularly. They target those between the ages of 10 and 17. “We started working on a roadside along Nyeri-Karatina highway in October 2014 from where we operated for sometime before we saved enough to rent a workshop,” Muthingati says adding that they moved to their new workshop in January 2015. Their target customers include hotels, individuals, tourists and curio shops in Sagana and Karatina. They sell their artworks between Ksh500 to 10,000 depending on various factors and can make about Ksh25,000 on a good day. They cite the beatification event of Sister Irene Stefani mid this year as one of the days they had a good sale after selling three portraits of the Sister to pilgrims who had attended the event at total of Kshs25,000. They have no regrets for having started the venture. This is because other than doing art as a means of generating income, it also helps them spend their time well instead of engaging in antisocial activities. They do art as part-time work mostly in the evenings and weekends. They are also happy that they are changing lives through rehabilitation in their own small way. “We market our work through exhibitions that brings together various artists. We also display our work at Rhino Hotel in Nyeri Town in the first Saturday of every month,” says the artist. They use social media platforms too to market their work and are happy that the same is bearing fruit as people who see their work on facebook among other platforms have been placing orders. “We receive most of our orders through social media which most of our customers use to give us instructions on the kind of work they would like. After we are through, we send a photo of the

Fertilizer from charcoal good for crops BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

yeri farmers have been advised to embrace the use of fertilizer made from charcoal (biochar) in their farms so as to increase production and boost food security and especially in areas with severely depleted soils and limited organic resources. A farmer, Job Kanyi, says he has been using the charcoal fertilizer to improve the soils in his farm. He prepares the fertiliser at his home and he has seen good results. “Use of biochar can increase harvest threefold. I have used it in my farm and harvested three sacks of beans in a piece of land where we only used to harvest one. I also have a piece of land under maize and by the look of things, the harvest will be equally good,” says Mr. Kanyi. The application of biochar in farms is a 2000-year-old practice that has been practiced in other countries. However, its use is yet to be embraced in Kenya due to ignorance. In fact, Kanyi who is the director of Joka Farm Resources and Services claims the entity is the first in the country to produce and commercialize biochar. However, he says some countries in the world are already reviving the use of the

product after realizing its importance. “Americans have done a very advanced research on biochar. I decided to embrace its preparation, use and commercialization and have been receiving positive response from my clients who have been using it,” he says. Mr. Kanyi prepares biochar using sugarcane waste (bagasse) carbonized at high temperatures of between 850 to 1000 degrees centigrade to become active carbon. The waste or biomass is burned under low oxygen environment and fine-grained, highly porous charcoal is created in the process. The farmer, who is trained in Agriculture and Chemistry with a bias in Agronomy and who has a wealth of experience of over 35 years in teaching and extension services, says the activated carbon is the main active ingredient in biochar and enables soil to have micro and macro spores which creates a very large surface area. One gramme, he says, has a surface area of about 500 square metres. “The key functionality of biochar is in the area which enables it absorb lot of ions and non polar molecules. The plants get the ions they require while the soil retains the other not needed by plants especially the

Healthy maize grown using charcoal fertilize.

Kanyi during the interview in Nyeri Town.

toxic ones,” he says. The effects of its application in a field is seen in a plant after about two weeks and can be felt in the soil for four or five years. It can last for 20 years or even longer depending on the quantity applied and if the soil is not eroded. Currently, Joka Farm has capacity to produce 500 kilos of biochar in a day which he sells to the local people. Other than the use of bagasse, one can also convert other agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security, increase soil biodiversity and discourage deforestation. He has been preparing, using and selling the soil enhancer since last year, which he has been applying in his trial farms all over the county. One such pilot project is at his farm in Othaya within Nyeri County. He is currently using waste derived from his sugarcane juice business located in Nyeri Town. He says the use of sugarcane bagasse in preparation of biochar helps greatly in conserving the environment as the waste does not decompose easily. Kanyi owns a shop in the town where he extracts and sell sugar cane juice, an idea he bought while on a tour to Mombasa County. He extracts the juice using a machine he

artwork to the customer on whatsapp for approval and subsequent payment before we post the work to them as parcels using courier services such as G4S and 2NK Sacco ,” notes Muthingati adding that they have received such orders from various areas such as Machakos, Embu, Nairobi, Kiambu and Meru. The major challenge faced by the group and many other artist include failure by people to appreciate work of art. “Many people do not appreciate the time spent by an artist to come up with an artwork and some propose to buy our products at very low prices which are not commensurate to effort put in them. A work of art can take two or more weeks to complete,” says Muthingati adding that some clients are usually so impatient. Others do not collect their finished work altogether leading to loss of money, resources and time. They appeal to the County Government of Nyeri to support artists by starting art galleries where artists can market their work. They however hail the county government for organizing exhibitions in the county where they display their work. They also call on the government to start a rehabilitation centre and facilitate them so they can be in a position to rehabilitate more streets children. They say as things are now, they have been experiencing problems in rehabilitating them effectively as some live in abject poverty and are in dire need of food which the group cannot provide. “Some of the street kids rely on what they borrow from well wishers in the streets and so they have to spend most of their time in the streets as opposed to that spent in our workshop. And whenever they spend a good part of the day in our workshop, they expect that we provide them food which we cannot afford due to financial constraints,” he notes. Their future plans are to open an art gallery where they can be displaying their work as well as assist other artists within the county to market theirs as well as use it as a training centre for other upcoming artists. They also appeal to well wishers to assist them with finances or materials, accommodation and food so that they can enroll more street urchins.

bought at Ksh150, 000. He sells the juice from as low as Ksh20 a glass to Ksh140 a litre. He buys sugarcane from local farmers. Before, he used to feed the shredded bagasse (the by-product left after pressing the juice) to animals before realizing he could use the waste to enhance soil in his farm. He however has plans to expand the biochar business and start acquiring raw materials from other local farmers. He packages the biochar in two quantities of 2.5 kilos known as nursery mixture which he sells at Kshs. 150 and another of 40 kilos which goes for Ksh1,500. An acre of land under maize, cabbages and capsicum needs a minimum application of four bags while an acre under onions requires a minimum of about 6 bags. He however points out that the product has no negative effects on soil if applied in excess as it is organic. Biochar can be applied in land under all other plants but in those under tea proves to be difficult as it has to be buried in the soil which is impossible in tea bushes. “Other benefits of the soil enhancing fertilizer include to prevent leaching of nutrients, buffer soil PH and eliminate acidity, prevent extreme temperatures variation in soils, reduce fertilizer application, absorbing toxins from soils especially agro-chemicals residues and sequester carbon thereby mitigating global warming and climate change,” he notes.

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Nyeri dairy farming reforms paying off BY EUTYCAS MUCHIRI

ollowing the collapse of the milk sector in the 1990s that left farmers at the mercies of milk brokers, many dairy farmers in Nyeri County embarked on forming of milk marketing groups. The groups were to enable them market their milk as well as add value to the produce for better returns. This was after the realization that value addition and selling their milk in groups would earn them good profits than what they got from brokers. Brokers had been accused of exploiting farmers by buying the produce at low prices then selling it to consumers at high cost. Today, dairy cooperatives and self-help groups dominate marketing of milk from small scale farmers. According to Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua’s administration, there are 20 dairy cooperatives and over 51 self-help groups. Some self-help groups have come together forming two major federations namely Mathira Iria Kuingiha (MIK) and Tetu Federation. The federations and some local cooperatives have diversified their activities into milk processing in form of yoghurt and Mala. According to Martin Maina who is the MIK extension officer, the federation has brought together 42 marketing groups from Mathira Constituency alone and has been selling milk on their behalf. However, some of these groups and federations have registered some achievements. Some years back, MIK used to collect only 3000 litres in a day. But the quantity has since risen to over 11000

MILK extension officer Martin Maina. litres on a normal day and 17000 daily during peak season according to Maina. The extension officer says the federation has an intention of forming a Sacco in about 2 year’s time. “We have set a target of collecting 30,000 litres in a day which we plan to achieve by educating farmers on proper dairy farming practices,” he explains. He says extension services offered to farmers have proved to bear fruit as cases of animal diseases within the area

have reduced with production increasing greatly. Other developments in the pipeline include procuring of a milk processing plant and improving breeds kept by farmers through offering Artificial Insemination (AI) services. “We will soon start offering AI services. We are looking for inseminators who will start working soon after they are recruited. The move to offer the services was due to complains by farmers that

they were getting wrong breeds or their animals failed to conceive after being served by some inseminators,” he states adding that the AI officers will always be close to the people. “As a dairy, we want to improve the breeds so as to ensure we get the right quality of dairy breeds and improve milk production,” he continues. MIK is one of the cooperatives that had almost collapsed but was revived using Mathira Constituency Development Fund (CDF). The dairy sells fresh milk and recently turned to value addition where it has been preparing yoghurt. It also supplies dairy feeds on credit to farmers who deliver milk to the dairy. Mukaro Milk Producers is another example of marketing groups that have turned to value addition to improve farmers’ earnings. The group has a membership of about 30 farmers drawn from Ngangarithi area in the outskirts of Nyeri Town. According to one of the members, its formation enabled them gain skills and information on value addition and better dairy cattle management. The training was offered to them by experts in the dairy industry and today, they boast of having acquired sufficient knowledge on value addition to their dairy products earning them more returns. Mukaro Milk Producers which has operated for over three years was an initiative of one of its members Diana Wanjohi. Prior to forming the group, Mrs. Wanjohi had visited various farmers’ field trainings on value addition and proper dairy cattle husbandry. She later sold the idea to fellow farmers with five of them buying it and today, the membership has grown to over 30.

“We started by selling fresh milk to locals before venturing in value addition. We prepare and pack yoghurt in plastic bottles of half and quatre litres which we sell locally,” says the farmer adding that value added milk fetches between Sh120 to 140 a kilo. Before coming together, the farmers used to sell their fresh milk to brokers at a price of between Shs. 23 to 25. The brokers would then sell the milk to consumers at about Shs33 to 35. Payments to Mukaro members are made every month while dividends are paid yearly. Ksh4 are deducted from every kilo of milk delivered with Ksh2 used to run the society while the other Ksh2 are kept and divided amongst members at the end of the year together with the profits accrued as dividend. “Value addition has helped us increase our milk’s shelf life which enables us look for better market for our processed products. Milk is highly perishable and value adding increases its shelf life by one to two months,” says the farmer. Nevertheless, governor Gachagua has been quoted saying the societies can have a better bargaining power than they have now if they form one giant cooperative society. The sentiments were echoed by the new county executive committee member for Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives, Robert Thuo, who told the vetting committee that high number of management committee members in cooperative societies and low education level of some of the officials, were to blame for the low income for farmers.

Nyeri gets new County Minister for Agriculture

Robert Thuo who is new County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives.

BY MT. KENYA STAR REPORTER

yeri County Assembly has approved the appointment of Mr. Robert Thuo as the new County Executive Committee Member (County Minister) for Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives. Thuo will now replace Wang’ombe Mubea who was sacked by Governor Nderitu Gachagua in April over claims of incompetence. The MCAs hailed Governor Gachagua for appointing Thuo claiming

he was the right man for the job and expressed optimism that the new executive member will help move the agriculture sector to the next level. Earlier, Members of County Assembly rejected the nomination of Kibuka Githaiga claiming he was not knowledgeable to run the docket. However, they gave the 55¬-yearold former Agricultural Officer a clean bill stating that he had experience and knowhow to run the sector. “If this was the man who had been appointed in 2013, I am sure we would have achieved much in the sector,” said Gatitu-Muruguru ward MCA Mwangi Kibuu. The new county minister pledged to revive the ailing coffee sector when he appeared before the County Assembly Appointments Committee for vetting. The sector has been experiencing dwindling coffee produce leading to low income for farmers. “Two decades ago, Nyeri used to produce 95 million kilos of coffee cherries and had four cooperative societies. But today, production has dropped to less

than 27 million kilos per annum while cooperatives have increased to 25,” Mwangi told the vetting committee. He said the high number of management committee members in cooperative societies and low education level of some of the officials was to blame for the low income from the crop. He said his first task within his 100 days in office will be to hold consultative meetings with farmers so as to give them hope and restore their confidence in coffee farming. “I will organize forums with coffee buyers, millers and marketing agents to agree on a level operational ground,” he said. He said horticultural potential has remained unexploited in parts of the county due to harsh weather conditions and said there was need to formulate policies that will see farmers have access to irrigation water which will ensure they practice farming throughout the year instead of relying on the unreliable rains. He stressed the need to invest in cold storage facilities to ensure that farmers

do not incur losses following rotting of perishable farm produce. Gachagua effected some changes in his government that saw the number of ministries reduced from ten to nine soon after his arrival to the country from overseas where he was undergoing medical attention early this year. Sacking of two executive members led to court battles between the sacked CECs and the County Government of Nyeri. The first to be sacked was the former Gender and Social services Executive Committee Member Cecilia Wangechi Ndung’u who moved to court to challenge her sacking. She moved to court through lawyer Ng’ang’a Munene claiming she was not sacked procedurally and that her rights were infringed. She named the governor and his government as the respondents. The governor suffered initial defeat after the court reinstated her. Justice Byram Ongaya while seating in Nyeri High Court said Governor Gachagua erred by sacking Wangechi. But Wangechi’s celebration was

short lived. Governor Gachagua later in April had it his way after he scrapped the Gender and Social services docket leaving Wangechi with no option. At the same time, Gachagua also announced the sacking of Agriculture CEC Shadrack Wang’ombe Mubea who also moved to court to challenge the sacking but lost the case. Judge Justice Byrum Ongaya said the petition was filed without the supporting affidavits. According to a job termination letter signed by the governor, Mubea neglected his duties and was unable to provide a strategic leadership and management skills needed in the agriculture docket. “So far, key deliverables that should have been in place for this sector that is key driver to the economy of Nyeri, including an overreaching policy on agriculture, bills specifying how the county government should drive the key functions in the sector and implementation of the recommendations of the task report on horticulture are either non-existent, incomplete or in an utilizable state,” stated the letter.

New farmers’ training centre

Organic farmers to get paid

PAGE 6

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MT. KENYA STAR

for the good of MURANG’A people

MURANG’A | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2015 ISSUE 014 PRICE: Ksh40

WEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

How six Murang’a tycoons control Kenya’s shares market STORY ON PAGE 2 >> TITLES OF KIHIU MWIRI

Kihiu Mwiri gets title deeds Equity Group C.E.O Dr. James Mwangi

Dr. Chris Kirubi

Ksh.

9.2b Plus

Ksh.

5.9b Plus

Peter Munga

Ksh.

3.1b Plus President Uhuru Kenyatta.

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

I Jimnah Mbaru

Ksh.

Dr. John Kibunga Kimani

3.1b Plus Dr. Benson Wairegi

PAGE 4

Ksh.

2.8b Plus

Ksh.

1.9b Plus

ON OTHER PAGES

Fresh hurdle in the Sh6.8bn Murang’a water project

n a historic gesture, President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued title deeds to the genuine shareholders of Kihiu Mwiri Land Buying Company who have not had title deeds since 1978, helping to end one of the most bloody leadership fights in a land buying company in Kenya. At least 11 people, most of them directors of the company have been killed or disappeared without trace over the dispute relating to the demarcation, sharing and sale of some parcels of land.

CONT. ON PAGE 3 >>

CONTINUED ON PG 2

Kidney patients to pay cheap fees at Murang’a Hospital facility

Money; a concept, dream, illusion or reality?

PAGE 6

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

How six Murang’a tycoons control Kenya’s shares market BY MT. KENYA STAR TEAM

ix prominent investors from Murang’a County hold a combined fortune of Ksh31.7 billion at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), ranking among the top shareholders in several blue-chip companies. They are Equity Group CEO Dr James Mwangi, Centum Investments Chairman Chris Kirubi, Equity Group Chairman Peter Munga, Dyer & Blair Chairman Jimnah Mbaru and the Director of Rural Development Services Dr John Kibunga Kimani. Of the six, Dr Mwangi is rated the richest in terms of his ownership in the public listed companies, with his holdings valued at Ksh9.2 bil-

Equity Group C.E.O Dr. James Mwangi.

lion. He is the single largest individual investor in Equity Bank with a 4.88 per cent stake and is also ranked among the top shareholders of insurance group Britam where his ownership stands at 5.37 per cent. Dr Mwangi has been a long-term investor in Equity and Britam which listed on the NSE in 2006 and 2011 respectively. He has announced that he will continue to serve as Equity’s CEO for another ten years before stepping down. Over that period, he plans to help grow the bank into nine more countries. Equity currently operates in the East African region in countries including Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. The lender’s focus on the retail banking sector –which has highly underserved— has seen it grow to emerge as the second largest bank in the country by assets and profit. This has benefitted long-term Shareholders such as Dr Mwangi. Dr Mwangi is followed by Dr Chris Kirubi who has concentrated his investments in Centum where his 26 per cent interest is currently valued at Ksh8.8 billion. He is the single largest owner in the company that has embarked aggressive expansion in the past three years, starting mega projects and acquiring several companies in diverse sectors. Centum’s new and ongoing projects include the Lamu coal power plant and the Two Rivers Mall next to Runda whose first phase of construction is nearing completion. Dr Kirubi has previously been a major shareholder in other NSE firms including KCB and Safaricom but he sold their shares, leaving his stock market portfolio concentrated in Centum. Dr Kirubi has been buying more shares in the company, raising his equity from 24.99 per cent in September 2013. The flamboyant businessman has announced that his ultimate goal is to further raise his ownership in the company to 29.9 per cent in the

Of the six, Dr. Mwangi is rated the richest in terms of his ownership in the public listed companies, with his holdings valued at Ksh9.2 billion. short term. Centum has been the most active compared to other companies in the investment sector such as Transcentury, Olympia Capital and the new entrant Kurwitu Ventures which is yet to start its planned sharia-compliant ventures. Centum’s recent acquisitions include that of K-Rep Bank, adding to its portfolio of companies such as General Motors East Africa, Almasi Beverages (a Coca-Cola bottling company) and Longhorn Publishers. Mr Peter Munga is third with his 17 per cent stake in Britam and 0.4 per cent stake in Equity currently standing at a market value of Ksh5.9 billion. The investor was among the founders of Equity Group and has been among the top beneficiaries of its growth that has seen him sell shares worth billions of Shillings since the bank’s listing, cutting his ownership to the current level. Investment banker Jimnah Mbaru is fourth deriving his Ksh3.1 billion from the 10.2 per cent stake he holds in Britam. Mr Mbaru has also concentrated his NSE interests in the insurer, having sold his shares in Transcentury where he was a founder and a significant shareholder. Besides Britam, he also holds a minority 0.09 per cent equity in Uchumi Supermarkets. John Kibunga Kimani is fifth with an assortment of stocks holdings currently worth an estimated Ksh2.8 billion. He is a significant shareholder in Total Kenya, East African Breweries, Nation Media Group and agricultural firm Kakuzi with which he a special connection.

Dr Kimani was born in the Kakuzi Estates as a squatter in the 1940s. He however managed to get a good education that allowed him to work as a professional for many years, mostly as an agriculturalist. Over the decades, he built his wealth including through the purchase of shares that saw him become a billionaire. Dr Kimani is no longer a squatter, having acquired substantial land parcels of land in the Kakuzi/Kirimiri area. These include a 126-acre block in the area that he was to sell to another party in 2013 for some Ksh205.3 million, according to court documents. Dr Kimani has been steadily buying more shares in Kakuzi, with his ownership in the company now at 26 per cent. The investor has notified the Capital Markets Authority –the regulator of listed companies— that he intends to raise his ownership in the agricultural firm to 29 per cent. Dr Benson Wairegi of Britam is sixth with Ksh1.9 billion spread across his 5.1 per cent stake in the insurer and 0.25 per cent stake in Equity Group. His stocks portfolio mirrors that of Dr Mwangi and Mr Munga, underlining the long investment association the three have had across the banking and insurance sectors. The share ownership of the six Murang’a investors is based on their direct interests. Some of them could be holding more shares at the NSE through special investment vehicles. The county has one of the highest stock market billionaires who are also among Kenya’s richest citizens. Their combined stock market wealth topped Ksh40 billion at the end of last year before declining to the current Ksh31.7 billion as share prices of most listed companies witnessed a correction that could turn into a bear run. Both the NSE 20 Index and the NSE All share Index have lost more than 10 per cent since the start of the year, with further stock market plunge feared as more companies report losses and reduced profitability. While these investors made a large part of their wealth from investing in the listed companies, they are actively diversifying into other sectors including real estate, education, manufacturing and agriculture. Mr Munga, for instance, has invested heavily in manufacturing and education where he runs institutions including the Pioneer International University (PIU). Some of the investors have also stepped up their philanthropic activities, setting aside millions of shilling to champion causes like education and economic empowerment.

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

President Kenyatta to issues Kihiu Mwiri title deeds << CONT. FROM PG 1

Issuance of title deeds will now to open the area to investors, and land prices are expected to increase tremendously as some of the shareholders of the company sell their parcels to break-off from the sad history of the land buying companies. The process to regularise the land ownership was completed two weeks ago. The team, led by Joseph Kanyiri, was constituted by acting Land Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. It was mandated to regularise divisions and subdivisions of the land in preparation for titling of all lands belonging to

Kihiu Mwiri. At least 100 surveyors were involved in demarcation and subdivision of the farm since August, working closely with the team that verified genuine shareholders. Currently, sixteen former and current directors land buying company have been remanded in jail facing possible murder charges. Their request for bail was rejected by the court because the prosecution alleged that they could interfere with the investigations. The suspects are held at Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi.

Kenneth Matiba to be honoured

President Kenyatta chats with Murang’a residents.

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria (right), Mzee Matiba (centre) and Members of Mzee Matiba’s family when Governor Mwangi visited them at their home.

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

UNDP Country Director for Kenya Maria-Threase Keating signing transfer documents of the farmers training center with Murang’a C ounty Executive Member forTrade and Agro-marketing David Waweru

New farmers’ training centre BY MT. KENYA STAR TEAM

he United Nations Development Programme has handed over to Murang’a County Government a farmers’ training center established in collaboration with the government of Thailand. According to the UNDP Director in the country Maria-Threase Keating, the center that was constructed at a cost of Ksh10 million at Kambirwa Village in Murang’a East Sub County will be used as a venue to train farmers on better farming practices. Keating said the county government is expected to fully equip the centre with equipment necessary to facilitate the training of farmers While handing over the center dubbed “Thai Village Model”, Keating also noted that the center will be of great value to farmers in the county if properly utilized. “Farmers will be able to get skills on improved agricultural techniques that will go a long way in increasing their harvests and enabling them to become economically self-sustaining,” Keating said.

The director said the centre is expected to employ the ‘farmer field schools’ approach in training farmers and use farmers groups to replicate innovations. She said UNDP will work together with Murang’a county government to formulate a curriculum that will be used to train the farmers that will help the facility to attract partnerships with other training institutes and players in the private sector. “Such a curriculum could embed practical field demonstrations and transfer of technological innovations to farmers,” she further noted. Keating also pointed out that the county government will be charged with the responsibility of providing human and capital resources if the facility will succeed in its objective of improving agriculture practices. She added that government is also expected to complete the 60room hostel in the facility that will be used to accommodate farmers who will travel from far. Keating said if properly utilized, the training center transform the lives of Murang’a residents and improve the economy of the County.

The county executive in charge of trade and agro-marketing David Waweru who received the facility on behalf of the county government said the facility will become operation in a three months time. Waweru said Murang’a County depends heavily on the agriculture sector and that the center will complement the many agricultural projects being implemented by the county government in a bid to empower farmers.

“As a county government, we have embarked on numerous irrigation programmes in semi-arid parts of the county like Makuyu, Kambiti and Gikindu and the center which is located in a dry area will make it easy for farmers to practice agri-business,” Waweru said. He added that the county government will provide the necessary expertise to ensure the training center impacts knowledge to farmers.

he County Government of Murang’a will name the newly built Eye, Dental and Cancer Diagnostic Centre as KEN MATIBA EYE, DENTAL AND CANCER DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE. The announcement was made when Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and County Assembly Speaker Hon. Leonard Nduati Kariuki paid a courtesy call to the former presidential candidate and opposition leader at his home in Diani, Mombasa. The courtesy call on Matiba was meant to seek his consent over this naming proposal which he asserted that he will issue feedback upon consultation with the family. The model ultramodern health Centre is set to offer highly specialized optical, dental and cancer diagnostic services. “The facility is one of the major projects that my government has instituted in harnessing high and improved health services to the people of Murang’a. The official opening of this health facility is slated for this month. I also take this opportunity on behalf of the people of Murang’a to thank Mama Susan Matiba and her family in a special way for the overwhelming care they have accorded Mzee since he fell ill 25 years ago,” said Gov. Wa Iria on his Facebook update. He praised Matiba for the pivotal role he played in ushering in an new era of an expansive democratic sphere and paved way for a new constitution that anchors the concept of devolution which has brought forth giant development reaps. “Matiba’s health has drastically improved and during our three hours deliberation he repeatedly stressed on servant leadership and quality service to the constituents. I assured him that I will tirelessly work with other leaders and the people of Murang’a towards scaling Murang’a County to the heights he harbored in his dream,” said the Governor.

Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria Mzee chats with Mzee Matiba.

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Fresh hurdle in the Paper houses open Sh6.8bn Murang’a ‘architectural’ doors for Gathitu water project BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

A school child enjoys fresh water from a barehole.

BY CORRESPONDENT

is generally defined as flows more than Q80 while NCT-1 will abstract over Q954, which he fate of the Sh6.8 billion World in the proponents own admission will result Bank funded water project to supply to conditions similar to flow during prothe precious commodity to Nairobi longed drought. Athi Water Services Board from Murang’a County suffered an- disregarded recommendations of their own other blow after a technical committee ap- feasibility studies. Indeed the public and pointed early this year to advise the way for- stakeholders were not made aware of the precautions. Therefore, consultation process was ward called for a review of the project. The Report of the Technical Committee on technically flawed, hence misleading,” notes Northern Collector Tunnel Project which is the report. It notes that the Athi Water Services Board signed by Eng. Wangai Ndirangu (Chairman), Ms Beatrice N. Kiarie (Joint Secretary), Eng. awarded contract for construction work Gabriel Kamau (Joint Secretary/CO, Energy in September 2014, yet NEMA license was Transport & Infrastructure) and Eng. Amos granted in February 2015. “However conditions set out in the license Njoroge (CEC Member, Energy Transport and Infrastructure), calls for the stoppage of have not been achieved to the best of informathe construction of the tunnel until “detailed tion available to Committee. Application for investigations are undertaken to establish water abstraction permit is still under process wider changes and impacts on groundwater as at April 2015. This action goes against the provision under Section 42(1) of Environmendrainage.” The report comes amidst a suit filed at the tal Management and Coordination Act and National Environment Tribunal by a Murang’a Water Act 27(1). Consequently, and to this resident, Eng. Joseph Kuria for the stoppage of extent the committee finds that; Project activthe construction of the 11.8 kilometres tunnel ities are in violation of established law. The due to the negative environmental impacts project risks loss of public funds by contractual claims occasioned by delayed site possesthe region will experience. The National Environment Tribunal on 9th sion or in event statutory authorization is not April, this year, issued a stop order barring successful,” the report states. The committee points out that the project the Athi Water Services from constructing the tunnel until the case filed by Eng. Kuria was will have long-term impacts on 336,877 people heard and determined. The order was signed in Murang’a who use the three rivers. “The upper by J.K Awuor (Chaircatchment of man). Irati, Maragua But a few days later and Gikigie conEng. Kuria went back The upper catchment of tributes 64 per to the tribunal to have Athi Water Services boss Irati, Maragua and Gikigie cent of the low during dry seacharged with contempt contributes 64 per cent of son, meaning the for continuing with the reconstruction of the tunthe low during dry season. downstream gion is highly denel despite being served pendent on flows with the stop order. The to be diverted for matter was heard on Wednesday this week with the ruling awaited NCT. The abstraction as currently designed will result to 60 per cent or approximately 216 in the next few days. Back to the Technical Committee report, days every year with zero or extremely low it notes that the Murang’a Leaders Forum flow downstream. If Reserve Flows are limconvening in Golden Palm Hotel, Makuyu on ited to the release of Q95 or even 2xQ95, no January 21st 2015 noted that NCT project ex- investment in flood storage (dam) along the erts considerable pressures on water resources Irati, Gikigie and Maragua Rivers will be possible and any existing systems will no longer and disadvantages Murang’a County. It was resolved that an Independent Tech- be viable,” says the report. The committee further points out that the nical Committee being appointed to examine pertinent issues which include; effects on river water supply master plan has completely overflows and levels of the underground water looked water needs for Muranga County and level; adverse ecological or micro-climatic ef- other permitted users. “The continuing northwards encroachfect on the environment; effects on water and irrigation demands; the benefits to Murang’a ment of rivers in Murang’a for water supply County especially the water needs and clari- to Nairobi is not sustainable. Both present and fies who should control benefits and how it is future abstractions will critically alter environment and river flows to the detriment of shared and priced. The report notes that during the EIA con- welfare of Murang’a County.” It notes. The team called on the Murang’a County sultation in public and other organised forums, the project proponents described an Government to petition NEMA for review of inaccurate situation, and suggested that only IA license owing to many pertinent issues still unresolved and flaws in the consultation proflood water will be tapped. “The committee observed that flood water cess.

0 year old Joseph Gathitu has always desired to be an architect and a construction engineer but due to financial constraints he has not been able to pursue education to the next level. From his childhood, Gathitu used to make drawings of buildings on papers hoping that one day he would be able to construct them. He graduated from high school two years ago from Kaganda Secondary School in Kahuro and despite his low performance he is clinching on to his dream. The young man who works as a bar attendant to make his ends meet says he is hopeful of joining a higher learning institution to advance his skills. “I scored a D+ in my KCSE but this did not mark the end of pursuing my dream” he said. “I am saving my money little by little to get some cash to enroll in college but I am hoping to get a sponsor,” he added. According to him architecture is an inborn talent which grows within him day by day strongly, driven by the passion to make his dream come true. During his free time, Gathitu spends three to four hours making model paper houses which he says if he can construct if he gets advanced technical skills. “I usually take three to four hours to come up with a complete structure with all the details clearly set” said Gathitu. Surprisingly, he says he does not have to see another building for him to come up with the model and instead uses his imagination. “Most of the times I sit down and start drawing, I come up with magnificent structures some of which I would not have predicted” he said. Despite his numerous efforts in this work, Gathitu says his greatest challenge is to find market for his products. This he says has been a major setback for him in his quest to become a renowned architect as he has always dreamt of.

Joseph Gathitu displays some of the paper house models he has made. He is aspiring to become an architect and a construction engineer. “Most of the model paper houses I have made are pilling dust in my room because I have no outlet for them” he remarked. He added that; “If I can get somewhere to display my work, I am sure it would boost me and empower me financially.” The young man says he has been hoping to make some sales on his paper house models but lack of market has frustrated him. “The price ranges from Sh1500 to Sh3500 depending on the design of the house” he said. He says he is targeting construction firms in real estate development who he can partner with in designing of buildings. Gathitu says he can design a single building, a storey building and an estate, a task that only takes him a few days.

“Coming up with a complete model takes roughly a day or two but this also depends on its size and design” said Gathitu. The passionate architect says in future he hopes to establish his own construction firm and bring on board other young people who are struggling to nature their talents. “I have always looked forward to establishing my own construction firm and I hope I will be able to achieve it one day,” he added. He says the construction industry is vast and more vibrant and this gives room for young and fresh brains to venture to explore their talent. “The good aspect of architecture is that one is free to come up with any design and this encourages healthy competition among the players in the industry” he remarked.

AUTOMATED MILK DISPENSERS IN MURANG’A TOWN

SOURCE OF REVENUE IN KIRINYAGA FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2014/2015

The Murang’a County Creameries (MCC) has established an automated milk dispensing point in Murang’a Town. Residents now have access to quality and fresh milk at affordable prices. The initiative will be rolled out in other towns. Upon a load up with coins the machine dispenses milk that resonates with the amount topped in. This is one of the approaches that MCC is employing to boost its customer base and fetch more proceeds for the farmers.

MURANGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;A STAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

CHAMPIONS OF MICROINSURANCE AN INITIATIVE TO DEEPEN ACCESS AND UPTAKE OF MICROINSURANCE IN RURAL KENYA SUPPORTED BY:

Secure your income generating assets with low cost insurance known as micro-insurance. Pay only 4% of the asset value and have peace of mind for the whole year! For example, if your dairy cow is worth Ksh50,000, insure it for only Ksh2,000 per year. Get paid another cow if it dies from illness, poisoning, natural disaster, or if it is stolen. JIPANGE!!

n his farm.

Buying insurance means you secure your life and assets against losses arising from risks that we face every day. These risks include ill health, death, accidents, natural disasters, theft, fire among others. Insurance prevents you from getting into the cycle of poverty. You avoid starting all over again in case you lose your assets like motorbike, cows, goats, and stock for your shop. Insurance pays for expenses resulting from your illness and hospitalization. Most people turn to selling their assets to pay for hospital bills. Yet for very little money, they can buy insurance to take care of such costs. When your dairy cow dies because of poisoning for instance, you do not have to get a loan to buy another dairy cow, or sell an asset to buy another dairy cow, or stay without a dairy cow. This is because for as little and Ksh2,000 per year, you can insure your dairy cow and the insurance will pay for it in case it dies or is stolen. There are various affordable, low cost micro-insurance products available in the market. Some cost as little as Ksh1 (one shilling} per day. Get the correct information from the insurance company nearest to you. Insurance companies are regulated by law under the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA). They are required by law to give you the correct information of the product you are buying. You in turn must respect the requirements to get compensated when a claim arises.

CHAMPIONS OF MICROINSURANCE Is an initiative of:

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Kidney patients to pay cheap fees at Murang’a Hospital facility

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

idney patients in Murang’a will now not need to travel to Nairobi for treatment and will pay less fees after the

County Government installed new dialysis machines. The machines are available at the Murang’a Level Four Hospital. Patients will pay half the cost of dialysis session estimated at Ksh2,500. “These machines are meant to save

lives and not make money,” said Governor Mwangi Wa Iria. He said that Kenyatta charged Ksh5,000 per dialysis session and that some patients seek dialysis twice per week which was totaling to Ksh10,000. “We need to bring the cost down be-

cause not so many can afford ten thousand per week. I know there are things like medicine that make the price a bit high but let us work to ensure that we bring it down the cost by half,” he said. This will come as a sigh of relief to many patients with kidney problems who spend thousand if not millions on dialysis before they get kidney donors, if lucky to do so. The Governor said there was an increase in cases of diabetes and hypertension which were a gateway to kidney disease thus urged residents to be going for free screening for kidney disease to help in detecting and creating early interventions. Dialysis is a life-saving treatment for those suffering from kidney failure. The dialysis machine removes and filters waste products from a patient’s blood before the ‘clean blood’ is passed back into the body. “Our main aim is to help ease the burden by bringing the service closer to people. The new Dialysis Unit will ensure treatment is convenient for eligible patients in Murang’a and neighboring counties who had to travel to Nairobi for the vital session,” the Governor said. The county boss said the unit will be able to cater for eight patients daily. He said plans are already under way to acquire five additional dialysis machines to cater for the anticipated increase in the number of patients visiting the facility on a daily basis. “The long queues and delays in treatment you experience in other health centers will not be tolerated at Mu-

Money; a concept, dream, illusion or reality? BY CHRIS KIRUBI

then you need to take positive action. Do something positive that will guarantee a change in your current situation. If it means volunteering so that you get the right work experience or for others to recognize your skills and strengths, then do it. I chose to make poverty my motivating factor and the art of making money my goal. I looked for every opportunity I could get to make myself credible and known for any future work responsibilities. I was a young salesman when I rented an office at International House (then International Life House). All the money I was making went to paying my rent and other utilities. However, time came for the landlords who were British to return to their country. They needed a Manager, someone to manage the property, collect the rent and send it to them. Without thinking twice I seized the opportunity. Regardless of whether I was qualified to take up the job or not, I knew I had an upper hand because of my cordial relations with the owners. I made them an offer and during

that period they were able to evaluate me and eventually appoint me as a Manager on a full time basis. I knew this was going to be my breakthrough, my money maker, my game changer, so I worked as though my life depended on it and a few years down the line, I purchased the building. One ‘small’ opportunity turned my life around. These opportunities can also turn your life around but that will depend on your way of thinking and attitude. Unfortunately, we get so comfortable when we get an opportunity that we end up wasting time rather than using it to change our lives. We feel, ‘this is it’, ‘I have made it’, ‘I can relax’ and you forget that it’s only the beginning. You digress from your original vision, want to upgrade your standard of living, let everyone know that you have a new job/promotion, share that you won a particular tender etc. Do not be carried away. You need to inject more effort into your work output rather than in your cele-

bration if you want to keep scaling higher. Great opportunities don’t come every day; recognize and seize them with every chance you get so that you can keep attracting more and more. You have a greater goal to achieve and being swayed by the ‘little’ you get right now is not it. Money makes money; the little you have can help you get more. Don’t sit and wait thinking help is coming….it is not! The Government will not make a public announcement appointing you while you are seated waiting for another day to pass. You are the key to getting that money and acquiring wealth. Once you get it, manage it and look at what you can do to get much more for the future. Work not only for today, but also for tomorrow. It’s time to change your way of thinking. Money is available and attainable. But then again, it’s for the ‘few’ who perceive it that way and do something about their perception. (Adapted from www.capitalfm.co.ke)

rang’a Hospital. When the number of patients increases, so will the number of dialysis machines.” The Ksh30 million renal unit was opened after one week test run with Murang’a county government acquiring two dialysis machines and the other two donated by KCB Foundation. Speaking in the same function, KCB Foundation Manager Rachel Gathoni said that donation of the dialysis machine was part of a larger efforts to curb the effects of the disease. Henry Muchoki, Nahashon Kuria, Jackson Wamai and Evans Kamwagiri narrated the ordeal they used to go through so as to get once per week dialysis session at Kenyatta hospital that only takes four hours. They said it was quite a drag travelling to and from Nairobi as it was quite tiring adding that now they can plan to do something with the rest of the day. “It is not only a relief to us patients alone but to our families too who can drop them and go to do other businesses unlike the other times that they had to take us to Kenyatta and spend the whole day or two with us so as to ensure we are safe,” said Evans.

2,500 The cost of dialysis patients will pay which is half the cost of dialysis session .

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

MURATA SACCO PARTICIPATES IN NDAKAINI HALF MARATHON Members of staff of Murata Sacco had a successful participation in the Ndakaini Half Marathon that was held mid-September in Murang’a County. The marathon is meant to raise awareness on the need to conserve Ndakaini Dam, which provides the bulk of water consumed in Nairobi. The marathon is also meant to grow sporting talent in Kenya and create socially viable enterprises for the people of Ndakaini.

Former MP engages in mango value-addition

The number of employement opportunities Muturi’s farm has offered to the locals directly.

Muturi Mwangi checking the temperature of the drier where he dries the mango chips.

MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

urplus supply of mangoes in the market during the mangoes season has denied many farmers an opportunity to enjoy huge profits due to low prices. As a result some of the farmers in Murang’a have come up with new ways to value add to their mangoes to fetch better prices in the market and ensure continued supply of the fruit even after the season. Mwangi Muturi, former Kiharu MP, has his eyes set on mango farming and he is using a new technology to make mango crisp. He says after experiencing massive wastages and losses in previous seasons due to lack of market, he

decided to purchase a drier which he uses to dry mango slices which are then exported to the outside world. “During the peak season it becomes extremely hard for any farmer to make good returns but I think this new technology is going to help me boost my income” he said. He uses a simple yet effective technology using a special type of polythene paper which traps heat warming the inside to the required temperature. If temperature exceeds the required degrees it is regulated by opening small windows to ensure the mango crisps don’t burn. The process requires a well ripened mango chopped in thin slices

after which it is dried at 55 degree temperature for two days. The mangoes are sliced into thin pieces and dried at 55 degrees for two days before being packed for transportation. The former MP said farmers have for a long time been at the mercy of brokers who buy at a throw away price of Sh4 per mango which is not able to return farmers’ expenditures on crop husbandry. He said a kilo of dried mango flakes, which is made up of around 12 mangoes is able to fetch almost 10 times more. While encouraging fruits farmers to embark on value-addition, Muturi said he has now been able to create employment to 8 people who work on his farm. He said he started farming mangoes in 2001 for exportation but the process of exporting became difficult for small scale farmers when the European Market’s demands became too high. The former MP has been able to get a buyer who is willing to buy value-added mangoes from his 580 mango trees.

He is also drying other fruits when it is not the mangoes season and foodstuffs like cassava, pineapples, bananas and paw paws most of which he also grows in his farm. Muturi also said he plans to expand his value-addition to be able to outsource for foodstuffs from his neighbors in the semi-arid Kambirwa area where his farm is located to empower them. This he said is going to enhance food security as dried foods always have a longer shelf life than raw food. “I am expanding my project to incorporate food stuffs from the neighbouring villages for value addition as well as boosting food security in the neighborhood” he remarked. With this, he has also been able to create employment opportunities for the locals who earn their bread form his farm. “I have hired several people to aid me in preparing the crisps, drying and packing them into plastic bags” said Muturi. According to Lucy Wamaitha who oversees the value addition at the farm, dried mangoes are sweeter than fresh mangoes and can stay on shelves for up to six months without being spoilt. She says no preservatives are added to the crips and they retain their natural taste as they don’t undergo and chemical treatment. “We only dry the fruits for two days at a certain temperature to drain the juice and this ensures a longer life span” she remarked. “The only condition one has to observe it to keep the mango chips dry for them to stay in good condition for a longer period of time” she added.

Banana farming transforms jigger victims

Kigumo-Ahadi Self Help Group harvesting ready bananas.

MT. KENYA STAR REPORTER

igger victims from Murang’a County are set to reap more benefits from their bananas entering into a partnership with a food processing company to add value to their produces. Kigumo-Ahadi Self Help Group that includes more than 100 households that have recuperated from jigger infestation have started selling their produce to Pamat Foods Company which makes crisps and flour from the fruit. The self-help group formed two years ago embarked on banana farming after they got support from Ahadi Trust and Kenya Commercial Bank Foundation as a way of empowering them and ensuring they do not get re-infected with jiggers due to poverty. According to Ahadi Trust CEO Stanley Kamau, the recuperated jigger victims have been depending on the banana farm to support their families and that value addition will improve their returns. “The project has boosted their lives as most of them were living in abject poverty without any source of livelihood,” Kamau said. Speaking at the group’s farm in Maragua on Saturday Kamau said the banana growing project has enabled members to educate their children and even improve their homes, most of whom were previously in bad shape. He reiterated the need for people living in rural areas to be engaged in viable income generating activities to stop social challenges and diseases that are attributed by poverty. “The company will not only buy bananas from the group and am encouraging locals to take advantage of the opportunity to sell their fruits at good prices,” Kamau added. Pamat’s sales director Pauline Mwangi said the company will buy bananas at Sh. 12 per kilo saying this will fetch more money for farmers as opposed to buying them as stalks. Mwangi said the company will then sell the value added fruits to the farmers as flour and crisps which are highly nutritious. “We have the capability to buy and value-add large quantities of bananas and we are urging local farmers to produce as much as they can,” said Mwangi. The farmers were also supplied with banana flour that was said to be nutritious and essential to patients suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. Meanwhile, in Mathioya sub county, another banana farming project has changed the lives of 50 households which had been affected by jiggers in Karung’e village. The project which was started in 2011 has more than 1,500 banana stems and was also initiated with the help of KCB Foundation which contributed Sh.1 million. Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO Stanley Kamau said the bananas fetch approximately Sh1.2 million. Kamau said the farmers have been selling their bananas at a price of Sh. 300 per bunch but will now get more returns from the partnership with Pamat food processing company. Kamau said he started the two projects dubbed The Banana Livelihood project as a way of trying to eradicate poverty among victims of jigger infestation. Kamau said the projects have improved the livelihoods of jigger victims who have now successfully undergone treatment and that none of them have been infested by the pest again. He urged the government to zero rate taxes on agricultural materials so the poor can be able to fully engage in gainful agriculture. He also challenged the Ministry of Agriculture to sensitise farmers on good farming practices and how to market their farm produces.

MURANG’A STAR

news

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Murang’a University College to become a full university

Murang’a University College Principal Julius Nyabundi with some of the newly inducted students

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

urang’a University College will soon be upgraded to a fully-fledged university, the Principal, Prof. Julius Nyabundi

has said.

He said the Commission for University Education (CUE) has confirmed that the college has met the needed requirements to be granted a charter for a full university. “We have received a letter from the Commission informing that the college has been recommended to be awarded the charter”,

said Prof. Nyabundi. He spoke when he welcomes more than 700 new students admitted in Murang’a University College. The principal said he expects the number of new students to rise to 1,000 before registration closes. “We have 1,500 students and are expecting up to 2,500 by the time we are done registering,” he said. Nyabundi said the institution is ready to be upgraded into a university. He said he expects the charter award before the end of the year. He said said the high turnout of new students is encouraging for such a young university. “Once we become a fully fledged university, we expect to get more governmentsponsored and self-sponsored students,” he said. Nyabundi thanked the community for helping to house the students. He said the institution has built a 300-bed hostel and will finish another with 1,000 beds by next month. The college offers 15 degree programmes, as a constituent college of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He stressed the commitment of the university college to provide quality education in competitive courses, saying the population of learners has increased tremendously. “Since the time the institute was put as a constituent college of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, the number of students have gone up and we are also offering new courses considering

interests of learners”, Explained the Principal. He divulged that the college is experiencing accommodation challenge for learners as current hostels cannot host all students. “The college has embarked in construction of new hostels to ease accommodation problem and we are also partnering with private investors to put up halls of residences near the institution to help in providing accommodation of our students,” he said. He added that the university has drawn a policy with the County Government and some financial institutions to help individuals build hostels for students and at the same time the administration concentrate in establishing other needed infrastructure. The principal noted that most of the students live outside the institution as the college only houses 600 students.

We have received a letter from the Commission informing that the college has been recommended to be awarded the charter. - Prof. Nyabundi.

Coca Cola to buy yellow passion fruits from Mt. Kenya farmers Waihenya says the yellow passion is tolerant to fusaruim wilt and other diseases, lowering the cost of production by up to 40 percent lower than the common variety. He says the production is also high and that one vine can produce up to10 kilos with a hectare producing about 25 metric tons which can increase to 40 metric tons according to the husbandry. The vine takes roughly 14 to 18 months to mature and bear fruits after which the farmer can harvest the fruits in two seasons. The officer however says passion farming in this area is faced with several challenges among them infestation by viral diseases leading to low yields despite fruit fetching good prices. Lack of cohesion between farmers’ groups result to low production which in turn limits farmers ability to command better prices. He said stakeholders in the project have come up with a polymer which absorbs water when mixed with soil and later releases it slowly to the plant. This, he said, will work in dry areas to ensure harvests are not affected by droughts.

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

housands of sweet yellow passion fruit farmers from central and eastern region are set to benefit from a huge market opportunity following plans by an international soft drink company to purchase fruits from their farms. Approximately 6,000 farmers will benefit from the initiative which is the brain child of Coca Cola Company, opening another avenue for their farmers to earn extra income from their farms. According to Henry Kinyua, deputy regional manager TechnoServe East Africa Fruit Project Nurture, the project targets farmers from Meru, Embu Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties, each with an average of 70 vines. Kinyua says the project aims at doubling farmers’ income by creating a larger market for the produce adding that the current prices are ranging from Sh30 to Sh80 per kilo, depending on the market channel being used by the farmer. The sweet yellow passion is a hybrid fruit developed by Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) with three varieties namely KPF4, KPF11 and KPF12. He says KPF4 is the most preferred variety by marketers for both processing and selling as a fresh fruit. He said Project Nurture is commercializing fruits farming through technology and developing market at the local and international levels. Besides providing market linkages, Kinyua says the project will also work on improving farmers’ yields by offering training on good agricultural practices to ensure high quality fruits are produced. He adds that the organization will help farmers form self-sustaining sales groups to reduce intermediate linkages which have become exploitative to the farmers.

Yellow passion fruits.

“Fruit farming serves a big opportunity to the farmers but most of them don’t realize good returns due to poor quality yield and long market channels” he said. About 600 farmers from Murang’a who are part of the yellow passion fruit farming pilot project have been undergoing training on agronomy, business support and market linkages from the TechnoServe. Fatuma Mtoto a passion fruit farmer from Makuyu started out with four vines which she planted along the fence and fetched Sh8, 000 on the first harvest which convinced her that this was a worthy investment and a good source of income. She established an orchard of 300 vines which she will be harvesting in a month

and established a nursery with the capacity to supply over 10,000 seedlings per season. According to her, passion fruit farming has given her the best returns and she intends to expand it further to increase the production. “Passion fruit farming looks very promising to us as it is fetching good prices in the market” she said. Moses Mwaniki another farmer from Kambiti says he started with 16 vines which are currently producing an average 200 kilograms of fruit. He later increased the number to 300. Mwaniki however says his region is very dry and he has practice irrigation farming which he says is tasking.

The farmer says he sells one fruit at Sh10 to the locals since he has not been able to get a larger market outside his area. He is however optimistic that with the intervention of Project Nurture to provide better market, the fruit will fetch a higher price and in return increase his income. “Passion farming is a good investment but we need better market and prices for us to realize higher profits” he said. Murang’a south district agricultural officer John Waihenya said though the fruit is relatively new to the farmers, the response has been good and encouraging. He however says many of the farmers still hold on to the purple and bitter passion varieties.

30-80 The current price ranges from per kilo, depending on the market channel being used by the farmer.

MURANG’A STAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

INNOVATION

Maize cobs now turned into flour

BY JAMES MURIUKI

Hyaquip kenya CEO Simon Mwaura displays the maizecob flour along side other products. he says the technology aims at boosting food security in the country.

businessman from Murang’a County has invented a way of grinding maize cobs into

flour. In what could mark the end of the culture of grinding maize

grains and throwing away the cobs, the businessman is now processing maize cob flour which he said is more nutritious as compared to maize flour. Simon Mwaura, the Chief Executive Officer Hyaquip Kenya has innovated a new way of milling the maize together with the cob to produce whole meal flour. According to him, many communities erroneously use maize cobs as fuel or animal feed but the new technology is set to change the situation. Mwaura says the cob contains vital minerals that are useful to the human body such as potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and vitamins and should not be discarded. He said the maize cob flour best suits diabetic people as it increases metabolism and keeps the tissues supple and in the process reducing inflammation. “The mineral content in the flour is very high which makes it suitable for diabetic people because it improves their health” he said. Mwaura adds that the flour is also alkaline with a PH scale of 8.0 which is good for building a healthy body.

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He says if adopted, the technology will ensure many people from drought stricken semi-arid areas do not starve due to lack of food. “This flour swells to a bigger volume when cooked and makes one feel full for longer and a small amount can last a family longer as it is cooked in small amounts,” Mwaura said. He added that flour would largely benefit people from dry areas who suffer from low food production and consecutive droughts. Mwaura said technology could help reduce food wastage especially now that the country has been experiencing acute crop failure. He expressed confidence that the maize cob flour technology can be able to boost food security in the country while availing a nutritious meal at an affordable price. “A pack of 2 kilograms will be retailing at Sh.80 and this is relatively fair as compared to the price of maize flour in the market” added Mwaura. In his project, he says, he uses the maize cobs as bulking material due to its huge volume in

addition to its nutritional value. “If you compare the volume of ground maize to the volume of ground cobs, the later has a larger volume and thus serves as a bulking material” he said. Mwaura who is a biochemist says this is one of the many inventions he has made in the agricultural sector and he is seeking to explore other plants among them wheat, rice and beef to come up with a similar product. “Most of the products we take have vital minerals but our bodies are not able to absorb them because we do not consume the food in the right form” added Mwaura.

Cob contains vital minerals that are useful to the human body such as potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and vitamins and should not be discarded.

ECCAIS

2015

MURANG’A STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Organic farmers to get paid

Organic foods harvest.

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

armers practicing organic farming in central region and other parts of the country stand to make money for their efforts to fight climate change. The National Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) has rolled out a program that aims at compensating farmers for playing a role in mitigating the effects of climate change. According to Job Kareithi CEO Capacity Building Consultants Limited which is one of the organizations spearheading the program, this is in line

with Vision 2030 as the world seeks to reduce emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that include; methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). He said the program is part of the Kyoto Protocol which various countries have signed to commit them to mitigate the effects of climate change adding that the program will run for the next 30 years. He said farmers who qualify to get carbon credit will be getting their pay on a monthly basis. This program is being facilitated by the United Nations Environmental Pro-

gram (UNEP), Bio Deposit Group and Eco-cert voluntary validators. Kareithi said massive release of green house gasses in the air has contributed to the destruction of the atmosphere which has resulted to global warming. He said the program dubbed ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ will woo majority of farmers to shift from inorganic to organic farming in a bid to earn carbon credits. He noted that excessive use of farm chemicals has also largely contributed to environmental degradation. Kareithi explained that they have introduced bio-deposit inputs which the

farmers should use as an alternative to other chemicals as they have minimal carbon emissions. “Agriculture is the major contributor of carbon emissions which can be significantly reduced by practicing organic farming,” he added. “We want to eliminate the use of chemicals in farms as one of the steps to revert climate change,” he remarked. Kareithi said farmers will get carbon credit depending on the size of their land based on the damage control measures they will have put in place. Besides getting carbon credit, farmers will also get added benefit of getting more harvests from their farms. “Excessive use of chemicals has rendered our farms unproductive leading to poor food production,” he said. He pointed out that the good quality yields from their farms will also enable farmers to secure better markets for their produce due to less chemical deposits as dictated by the international markets. “This is a great opportunity for farmers to make good returns from their farms at a lower cost” he added. He encouraged farmers to also engage in agro-forestry saying it holds the biggest potential of agricultural carbon sequestration. This, he explained, will increase soil organic matter which leads to fertile soils, better water retention capacity and reduced nutrients leakage. Kareithi says organic farming will bring new revolution in to the agricultural sector though it may take some time for farmers to fully embrace it. He says with scarcity of land, Kenyans should practice sustainable land management to get more food and push hunger away. “The capacity of organic farming to contribute to the mitigation of global warming effects can be considered as an ancillary benefit to its primary goal

of sustainable land use,” he noted. “Our farms are no longer productive and we have to get a way of boosting food production” he remarked. Ten counties among them Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Embu and Nakuru have adopted the program and the farmers are set to receive their first pay on carbon credit early next year. He added that there are plans to make this a national program to encompass people from all sectors to enhance their efforts in reversing the effects of global warming. He said policy makers should recognize the potential of organic farming in reduction of green-house gases and develop appropriate programs to exploit it. James Maina, a coffee farmer in Murang’a and one of the locals who have shifted to organic farming says he has seen great improvement in his farm where the production has doubled after using the bio-deposit inputs. He said that he used to get less than 10 kilograms per coffee tree every year but now harvests close to 50 kilograms from the same tree. “I have used the bio-deposits for the last eight months and I have seen great improvement on my piece of land,” he said. He says he intends to expand and diversify his farming to get more income from his piece of land.

50Kgs He said that he used to get less than 10 kilograms per coffee tree every year but now harvests close to 50 kilograms from the same tree.

Avocado farmers gain from contract farming

BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

vocado farmers from Murang’a are headed for better days and increased income following a plan by the county government to engage them in contract farming. The farmers who have for decades relied on brokers to sell their product now have the opportunity to deal directly with

the marketers. The county government has invited several marketers to contract the avocado farmers to be getting fruits from them at an agreed price which has been negotiated by the two parties. Margaret Wamathwe Kamau an avocado farmer from Kandara says she has been in the business for the last 20 years. She has approximately 80 trees

with each producing at least 1000 fruits per season but she ends up making numerous losses due to massive waste. She says the brokers who she largely sold to before only picked the big ones and at a throw away price of Sh1.50 per piece. This, she says only earned her as little as Sh3, 000 and maximum of Sh6, 000 every time the brokers came for harvesting. “I never realized any profit from avocado farming and I was forced to engage in other activates to be able to sustain my family” she said. According to her, the county government’s plan efforts to connect farmers directly with marketers saves them from unscrupulous brokers and in return increases the cash flow in their pockets. “We are happy to have a plan where we can deal directly with the marketers because we are able to negotiate the price” she added. Today, the companies are buying one avocado at Sh8-Sh10, with the Hass variety being the most preferred.

Salome Wambui another farmer from Gatanga, has been growing the fruit for the last 15 years and the exploitation by the brokers made her to look for direct market for the fruits. She got a contract from Kakuzi and their deal is three years old. Wambui says this changed her life as she always better pay for her fruits as compared to the previous years. “The brokers used to buy each piece at Sh2 and they only selected the big ones which would eventually lead to fruit wastage especially during the peak season” she said. With higher and prompt payment, Wambui says she has been able to direct the money in to some other development projects in her home to sustain her family. She also revealed she is planning to clear part of her coffee plantation to add more avocado trees as they appear to be fetching better prices. According to the county director of Agro Marketing Elijah Mbugua, the county produces avocado

fruits worth Sh3 Billion, but the farmers don’t enjoy the returns due to massive exploitation by the middle men. He says lack of proper marketing strategy has forced many farmers to dance to the tune of the brokers who claim to be the only channel to the market. He however said many farmers don’t seem to understand the essence of agri-business and most of them are still in subsistence farming. “There is low commercialization in this sector and we want farmers to come out of that shell and practice real business” he said. Mbugua also said a lot of training has to be done to the farmers to help them meet the required standards in the international market. He said Kandara and Gatanga lead in avocado production in the county but more farmers have expressed their interest to engage in the fruit farming.

CONT. ON BACK PAGE >>

for the good of MURANG’A people

0 792382 349210 >

Murang’a tops in reforming illicit brew victims ductive become full members of the community and contribute to the growth of the local economy. “I thank the president for initiating the war on alcoholism to cleanse the market of second generation liquor and governor Mwangi wa Iria for starting the treatment program,” Volunteers at the alcoholic and drugs rehabilitation Camp at General Ihura Munga said. Stadium. According to him, According to the governor, the MURANG’A STAR REPORTER the business comcounty government will on its munity is ready to employ a part sponsor rehabilitated juvever 800 alcohol adsizeable number of youth who niles back to school to complete dicts have been adwill successfully go through the their education. mitted at the free rehabilitation process as a way of Wa Iria has said the county has rehabilitation camp empowering them economically lost billions of shillings as thousponsored by Murang’a county and socially. sands of the alcoholic youths regovernment in Murang’a town. Speaking while visiting the main idle instead of engaging in The addicts who started camp on Friday, Munga said streaming into the camp as soon income generating activities. most families of the alcoholics “Murang’a county has been as it was established mid may are have remained traumatized after receiving free treatment and are losing close to Sh3 billion annubeing terrorized by them as they ally from the youths who fail to being housed at Ihura Stadium sought money for alcohol. engage in meaningful employfor a three months course. He also noted that the subment,” said Wa Iria. The camp was established afstandard liquor that was readily He said the youths will be ter local hospitals became overavailable to the youths was rewhelmed by the large numbers closely monitored after completsponsible for a steady decline of ing their three months rehabiliof addicts who were seeking population in the central region tation programme to ensure they treatment after developing withnoting that local women have do not relapse into alcoholism. drawal syndrome after the counbeen forced to intermarry with The county government has try wide crack down on illicit other communities since local also established a foundation to liquor. youths have been rendered unThe camp has seen men who source for funds to support its bid productive. to save youths from alcoholism. had separated with their wives On its part, the Teachers SerMurang’a Sober Foundation re-united and families brought vice Commission has said it will together and has a total of 7 that will be headed by Equity re-employ teachers who will sucBank Chairman Peter Munga women and has been operacessfully undergo rehabilitation will source for funds to ensure tional for two months now. from alcoholism. The camp has received 300 thousands of youths expected to County TSC director Ibrahim be admitted in the free rehabilidouble-decker beds and 600 matAdan has said the commission tation camp at Ihura stadium are tresses from the NYS to cater for has a provision in its guidelines fully rehabilitated. the rising number of addicts who to re-employ reformed alcoholic The business tycoon said the are streaming into the camp evteachers. business community supports ery day following orders by PresiThe teachers will however the rehabilitation program that dent Uhuru Kenyatta. have to apply for fresh employArea governor Mwangi wa Iria seeks to treat alcoholics and drug ment and go through a competiabusers for free and is ready to has also signed an agreement tive vetting process. provide financial aid. with the National Youth Service Adan has said the healed He said the program will en(NYS) that will see direct absorpteachers have an advantage of sure the youths who have been tion of those aged between 18 many years of experience in rendered economically unproand 22 years into the service. teaching as most of them have

been in the profession for decades. “The reformed teachers have a high chance of getting employed and we encourage them to confidently re-apply for another chance at their profession,” Adana added. According to him, the applicants will be however be required to show cause for their dismissal saying that those interdicted on the grounds of immoral behavior will not be given a chance. The director said the issue of alcoholism among teachers has been a major concern in the county and that several of them have been interdicted due to chronic absenteeism and desertion of duty. He said previously, the commission did not recognize alcoholism as a disease but that teachers who suffer from the disorder are now getting support to access rehabilitation services through its ‘Wellness’ department. Adan also noted that the commission is holding talks with the county government to set up a free rehabilitation center exclusively for teachers as part of the ongoing fight against alcoholism. He said indulgence of teachers in alcoholism has resulted to loss of man hours and consequently affected academic performance in schools. The director appealed to affected teachers to take advantage of the free rehabilitation services once the camp is established. He pointed out that rehabilitation of alcoholic teachers is one of the intervention measures the commission has put in place to reduce the number of interdictions. “We realized that too many teachers are being interdicted due to desertion of duty that was mostly caused by alcoholism,” Adan said.

Avocado farmers gain from contract farming << CONT. FROM 11 Edward Muiruri Maina, the county executive secretary for Agro-marketing said the plan to link farmers directly to the markets aims at protecting farmers from exploitation by the brokers. He noted with concern that the brokers make millions of money when they get the fruit from the farmer because the sell to the marketer at a higher price. “Avocado farmers have not been getting good returns from their farms because the brokers have taken advantage over them due to lack of proper marketing strategy” he remarked.

Muiruri said so far at least three major companies among them; Kakuzi, Olivado and Vegblow have signed contract with various farmers’ groups in a program set to run for five years. The executive secretary also revealed that the county government will facilitate all the necessary technical assistance to enable farmers attain an export variety. He noted that poor farming practice might cost the farmers not to be able to compete at the international market and thus a lot of capacity building has to be done. Fuerte and Hass are the predominant varieties in the county and plans are underway to distribute more seedlings

to the farmers. Muiruri also said the county government will establish 17 grading centres where the farmers with the assistance of Agricultural extension officers will be able to sort their fruits before selling them to the marketers. He said this will keep buyers from going to farms as they take advantage of the farmers and they end up getting more fruits than they actually bought. He said the whole essence of the program is to revive the agricultural sector and improve the livelihood of the locals. “If the farmers are going to pocket more money, then it means they will be able to sustain themselves,” he said.

KTDA trains farmers on financial education BY MURANG’A STAR REPORTER

enya Tea Development Agency in partnership with The Ford Foundation and Rainforest Alliance among other partners hosted a graduation ceremony for 1837 farmers at the Mataara Tea Factory in Kiambu. The graduation ceremony saw farmers receive certification for the successful completion of a Financial Literacy training programme which they had been receiving in the last one year. Speaking at the event, KTDA Foundation Manager, Jaki Mathaga said that the Foundation and its partners felt that it was crucial to empower farmers to manage their income in light varying incomes as a result of fluctuating tea prices. “It is important for us to ensure that they are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to make wise financial decisions as a means to not only sustain themselves, but also contribute to the growth of the economy.” In thanking the partners, Mathaga said that the training would not have been possible without funding from Rainforest Alliance and support from Ford Foundation and KTDA Holdings. Gradual scale up of similar training to all 66 KTDA-managed tea factories is expected to commence in 2016. One of the KTDA Foundation’s pillars is “Capacity Enhancement for Economic Empowerment”. Through this pillar the Foundation, partnering with key organizations, aims to empower farmers to manage their incomes in a better way. Some of the topics taught to the farmers included record keeping, budgeting, saving and debt management. Giving his remarks on the importance of financial training, KTDA Senior Manager, Sustainable Agriculture, Peter Mbadi, noted that financial literacy is a vital skill for farmers to enable them learns how to manage their income well. “We also recognize that access to financial literacy is one of the key challenges facing farmers in rural Kenya, hence the reason why KTDA Foundation is providing this training to the farmers to enable them to make proactive decisions and learn ways to plan and control household and business finances,” he added. The Financial training program commenced in November 2014 and ran through to May 2015, reaching 1,837 farmers in 210 sessions of 70 groups in total. The objectives of the training was to provide financial, business as well as management skills trainings with the farmers in order to improve their financial record keeping abilities, and have a full understanding of their business so as to make sound business decisions. Commenting on the participant’s feedback, Rainforest Alliance Manager, East and Southern Africa, Hosea Machuki, noted that the record keeping concept was highly appreciated and accepted by the farmers. “I am happy to say that majority took positively the training and acknowledged the importance of keeping records.” The training has equipped farmers with skills to calculate the actual profits accrued from their farming business and therefore gauge how much they can borrow. “The methodology for the training is unique to the farmers since they are involved throughout the learning process by activities, exercises and participating in contributing to the discussions and actual practice of the records keeping as well as evaluating their own work in keeping records,” he added. The Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited (KTDA) was incorporated on 15th June 2000 as a private company under (CAP 486) of the laws of Kenya, becoming one of the largest private tea management agencies. The Agency currently manages 66 factories in the small-scale tea sub-sector in Kenya. The agency is mandated with promoting and fostering the growth and development of tea growing among the indigenous tea farmers. Its mandate is to oversee and enhance the end-to-end processes from the cultivation of tea, to the marketing of the same to local and international markets. KTDA Foundation is a non- profit charity of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (Holdings) Limited. The Foundation was incorporated on 17th April 2010 under the Companies Act (Cap. 486) as a company limited by guarantee. The Foundation’s key objective is to raise funds in Kenya and abroad to initiate and support programmes that improve the welfare of KTDA’s 560,000 small-holder tea farmers in Kenya and participate in other needy causes. KTDA Foundation addresses social issues and strengthens livelihoods for smallholder tea farmers. The four pillars of the foundation are: Environmental Sustainability, Education, Health, and Capacity enhancement for Economic Empowerment.

EMBU STAR

Clean water for Wango, Karaba, Thingini residents

APRIL - MAY 2015

New markets to improve fresh produce market

PAGE 4

PAGE 7

MT. KENYA STAR

EMBU | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2015

ISSUE 014

PRICE: Ksh40

UNDER-PERFORMANCE .

Embu MCAs on the spot over poor performance STORY ON PAGE 2 >>

Hon. Kariuki Mate Speaker

Hon. Paul Muchangi - Gaturi North

Hon. Ibrahim Swaleh Kirimari

Hon. Andrew Muiya Mbithi Mwea

More youths to benefit from loans BY ROBERT NYAGAH

Youth groups seeking funding under the National Youth Fund in Embu County must satisfy borrowing legal requirements before accessing grants and loans, the county’s secretary Mr. Raymond Kinyua has said.

The secretary clarified that the funds under the kitty would not be issued in “an over the counter style” and asked the youth to ensure their entities were fully registered and satisfied all the requirements. Mr. Kinyua made the clarification while responding to claims by some young people that the conditions for borrowing of the loans and securing government tenders were too strict.

Addressing 1500 young people drawn from various wards in the county at the Embu Social Hall during the International Youth Day festivities, Mr. Kinyua noted that wrangles among youth groups were largely to blame for stagnation in their projects and their slow pace in securing of loans and grants.

The new County Secretary Raymond Njagi Kinyua.

CONTINUED ON PG 2

Youth demonstrate over security gate, fence PAGE 04

Bursary fund Virtues to be expanded that attract wealth PAGE 05

PAGE 09

CONT. ON PG 10>>

EMBU STAR

news

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Embu MCAs on the spot over poor performance

BY EMBU STAR REPORTER

embers of the County Assembly (MCAs) in Embu have come under sharp scrutiny by the public and their colleagues following what is being termed as laxity in their duty to make laws and preference to spend money on trips on matters that can be discussed within the assembly. Members of the public and indeed the Clerk and the Speaker of the Embu County Assembly say the members are more concerned with allowances paid for trips and attendance without much to show for developing laws, which is one of their core roles. A decision by the MCAs to travel to Mombasa recently to discuss several bills, a trip which cost Ksh4 million of taxpayers’ money, has not gone well with the public. “What they went to discuss in Mombasa could have been discussed right within the assembly premises and I do not see why they had to travel to Mombasa and spend all that money,” said Elias Njuki, a secondary school teacher. “I still cannot understand why Embu MCAs should fly to Mombasa to discuss amendments to a Bill. This comes at a time when residents of this county do not have basic services such as a dependable water supply. This money would have been sufficient to sink a borehole for the residents of Mutus to supply them with water,” noted another Embu resident in a complaint in a national daily newspaper. But even more worrying is that the MCAs are planning another retreat

integrity issues. Some MCAs have outside Embu, ironically to continue each MCA is paid Ksh10,500 per and copied tricks of coming to the chamdebating amendments to the same Ksh8,400 per day if it is held in other ber while improperly dressed so that Bills they discussed in Mombasa. smaller towns. they can be thrown out,” he said. This emerged when Majority NO BUSINESS “I can’t remember the last time we Leader Andrew Mbithi was responddebated a Private Member’s Motion ing to a question by Deputy Speaker Retreats apart, accusations that of Bill in the assembly. The assembly Ibrahim Swaleh on why the assembly MCAs are sleeping on their job of needs to do more so that it lives up to had convened for two consecutive making laws have been made by the the expectations of Embu residents. plenary sittings on Wednesday withCounty Assembly Speaker Justus KarMCAs and assembly committee must out business to discuss. iuki Mate. to generate legislative business to jusThe Majority Leader said the house Speaker Mate alleged that the tify the sitting allowances they earn,” business committee has planned for MCAs are being lazy with some only he said. a retreat outside Embu County to encoming to assembly to make techniable MCAs deliberate on existing Bills cal appearances so that they qualify ROLE OF MCAS and come up with new Bills to engage to be paid sitting allowances. the assembly. Speaker Mate also accused some There are three main functions Members of public who called the MCAs of not honouring the conof the County Assembly according EMBU STAR over the issue comstitutional requirement of not missto the constitution. The first is repplained that MCAs are wasting public ing 18 consecutive assembly sittings resentation. MCAs represent those funds by arranging retreats to discuss who elected them to the law making issues that can be discussed within without prior notice, threatening to declare their seats vacant and giving body at the county. The second is legthe county and more so within the way for a possible by-election. islation. This essentially means the assembly. MCAs are supposed “We are worried because to make laws to facilino one appears to question tate good governance the spendthrift behavior of What they went to discuss in Mombasa of the County. The the MCAs. We call on the MCAs who have public in- could have been discussed right within the third is oversight. terests at heart to raise this assembly premises and I do not see why MCAs are supposed to be looking after matter and let the message be clear that the people are they had to travel to Mombasa and spend the interest of the people with regards not happy with the conduct all that money to management of of business at the assembly,” public affairs at the said Lucy Njeru, in a telecounty level includphone conversation with ing implementation the Editor of EMBU STAR. In a statement, Speaker Mate said of policies, use of resources and delivRetreats are always lucrative activery of services. ities for MCAs not only in Embu but that in the 58 sittings held between February 10 and August 6, this year, Other specific functions include; across the country because of the alseveral sittings were adjourned due election of Speaker of County Assemlowances paid. Each MCA earns a per to lack of quorum while others lasted bly, removal of the Governor from ofdiem (allowance) of Ksh14,000 per not more than four minutes. fice if the Governor fails to perform, day if the retreat is held in Nairobi, “Considering that members are vetting and approval of those apMombasa or Kisumu. If the retreat is paid sitting allowances regardless of pointed by the Governor, vetting and held in major towns like Meru, Nythe length of sittings, this may raise approval of government budgets, exeri, Eldoret or Thika among others,

penditure, and County Government borrowing. It is the legislative role that the public feels the MCAs are failing. “Making of laws and ensuring their implementation presents the best avenue for the MCAs to serve their people better. We need so many laws in this County to ensure smooth operation of businesses for instance. As an example, we need a law to regulate packaging of agriculture produce to ensure our farmers are not exploited,” said Fredrick Njiru, a businessman in Embu town.

SLANDERED Some MCAs have criticized the Speaker for allegation that they are lazy in their legislative role, threatening to impeach the Speaker. During proceedings in the assembly last week, Runyenjes Central MCA, Steve Simba sought direction from Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh on how to discuss the conduct of the Speaker over public ridicule of MCAs over claims that they are earning allowances in fraudulent manner. Kyeni North MCA Kanjogu Mugo supported the intention and accused the Speaker and Assembly Clerk Jim Kauma of not providing direction on legislative business and therefore leaving MCAs with fewer options on what to do next. But the Speaker said he was not afraid of the impeachment, adding that his sentiments are meant to protect the integrity of the assembly by ensuring that the public gets value of their taxes through proper legislative activities in the assembly.

EMBU STAR

news

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

What you need to know about new Companies Act 2015 BY VICTOR NZOMO

resident Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law the Companies Bill 2015 that does away with the Companies Act Chapter 486 of the Laws of Kenya. The new Companies Act is aimed at revolutionising business in Kenya. Generally speaking, start-ups falling under the ‘small company’ regime appear to be the biggest gainers under this new Act as they will be able to easily set-up shop, identify, protect and commercialise their IP assets within fairly wide monetary thresholds paving the way for growth. For all companies, the regulatory requirements under the new Act appear to be aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and good corporate governance. For instance, collecting societies which are registered under the Act as companies limited by guarantee will now be required to file financial statements with the Registrar of Companies whereas its directors are now subject to closer scrutiny in line with their fiduciary duties at the risk of disqualification. The highlights of some of the major changes in the new Companies Act include: • A person can now form a private company as the sole member. One (1) or more persons may form a company for any lawful purpose. Previously, at least two persons were required to form a company. • A private company will not require a Company Secretary; unless its paid up capital is/exceeds KES 5,000,000. • The restricted objects approach visa-vis a company’s objects has been scrapped therefore a company will have the capacity to undertake all legal transactions, subject only to its own limitations. • A company may make its public announcements and send notices to shareholders through its website. • Private company members may pass resolutions either at meetings OR as written resolutions to be sent in hard copy or electronic form. • Shareholders’ approval will be required for directors’ fixed term service contracts in excess of two (2) years. • Private companies are now required to file financial statements with the Registrar of Companies within 9 months of the accounting period. • The minimum age of a director is reduced from 21 years to 18 years. • The maximum age of a director, previously set at 70 years, is not prescribed. • A document is validly executed if signed on behalf of the company by 1 director in the presence of a witness who attests the signature. • A private company and a public company must have at least 1 and 2 directors, respectively. At least 1 director must be a natural person. A sole member company qualifies as a natural person for purposes of directorship. • A resolution is required where the company intends to acquire from or transfer to a director a substantial non-cash asset. • A substantial non-cash asset in one whose value exceeds 10% of the company’s assets and is more that KES 5M or one that exceeds KES 10M. • A Register of disqualification orders and undertakings shall be maintained. It shall be open for inspection by public.

• Private companies are now required to file financial statements within 9 months after their accounting period. • Every company is required to make returns annually not later than the

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EMBU STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Clean water for Wango, Karaba, Thingini residents BY EMBU STAR REPORTER

esidents of Wango, Karaba and Thingini in Mbeere South will now benefit from borehole water drilled by under the County Government initiative to achieve access to clean water for all residents of Embu. The borehole will supply 108 cubic metres of water per day and shall have three major storage centres each at a capacity of 100 cubic meters. The borehole will be equipped with a solar pumping system. This project whose total cost upon completion will be Ksh15.7 million is mapped as a flagship project by Embu County Government and aims at providing residents of Mwea and some parts of Mbere South sub-counties with safe and adequate water for domestic consumption. This project will also involve construction of troughs for the livestock, supply and installation of plastic tanks, construction of an elevated steel tank, construction of a masonry tank and laying

Youth demonstrate over security gate, fence

of plastic pipes from Kiluluini borehole to Wango, Karaba and Gategi markets. A statement from Embu Governor Press Office said the project was borne out of the need to curb the acute water scarcity in most parts of Mbeere South, which for decades has suffered from consumption of unsafe water. This project is meant to reverse this negative trend and deliver high quality water to the people. “The County Government is determined to improve water services provision in order to improve on food security in the county. The County Government continues to prioritize irrigation development and construction of large dams with the aim of reducing dependency on rain fed farming, which has continuously become unreliable,” said Governor Martin Wambora during the commissioning of the borehole. This is part of the initiative to provide all our public institutions particularly schools and hospitals with plastic water tanks of 12,000 litres. So far the County Government has supplied water storage

undreds of youth have opposed the construction of the Ksh9 million gate and security wall around the Embu County Headquarters saying the cost is too high. The youths also opposed the beautification efforts being undertaken in Embu Town claiming that the expense was unnecessary and that they money should have been used for more productive activities.

The youth under the ‘United for Youth Talent Caucus’ heldup outside the County Headquarters, complaining that efforts to empower them through the Youth Fund are not transparent. But Governor Martin Wambora defended the cost of the gate saying it was arrived at through competitive bidding process. In one of his social media accounts, the Governor said; “Ksh9 million was arrived at through an open competitive tender award for construction

of gate and a security perimeter fence surrounding the entire County Headquarter Offices where critical multimillion equipment like fire fighting vehicles are parked.” The demonstrating youth were led by officials, Roy Mutembei, Charles Kimenju, Charles Mwaura, Alex Gitonga and Joan Wachira. They called for more engagement between the County Government and the youth to ensure that the youth are well engaged in public participation processes.

This project whose total cost upon completion will be Ksh15.7 million is mapped as a flagship project by Embu County Government and aims at providing residents of Mwea and some parts of Mbere South sub-counties with safe and adequate water for domestic consumption.

Waste recycling plant to be put up in Embu

BY ROBERT NYAGAH

BY EMBU STAR REPORTER

plastic tanks 30 primary schools, 14 secondary schools, 14 dispensaries and 2 polytechnics at a cost of Ksh5.2 million.

inally, a big respite has come for residents of Embu County, as Embu County Government has partnered with an investor Hydroplan International on solid waste recycling. This will see Embu county being the first county to set up a waste recycling plant. The plan was arrived at after a comprehensive discussion and planning between the Embu County Government led by His Excellency, Hon. Martin Nyaga Wambora and the representatives of the invetors (Hydroplan International) led by Alejandro Gonzalez. Waste management is one of the answers to the challenges we face. All over the world, people are devising more ways of

making new products from waste materials. Re-using waste will help us to tackle climate change, environmental degradation and threats to biodiversity. Once a substance or object has become waste, it will remain waste until it has been fully recovered and no longer poses a potential threat to the environment or to human health. Mismanagement of wastes typically results in pollution of the natural environment and may pose substantial danger to public health and welfare. As elsewhere in the world, the problem of overuse, misuse and indiscriminate and inadvertent littering of plastic bags is serious in Embu. Because the plastic products are either free or inexpensive there is widespread use and because they are highly fragile and their reuse is minimal.

EMBU STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Bursary fund to be expanded

Embu Governor Martin Wambora.

BY ROBERT NYAGA

he Embu County government has spend more than Sh112 million to provide bursaries to less fortunate students in various institutions within the last two years, the Governor Martin Wambora has said. The expenditure, he said was a clear indication of the government’s commitment and determination to improve access to quality education among the youth in the County. Within this year, Sh70.85 million has been channeled into the funding of bursary intervention 10,346 needy students mainly from low income families who excelled in their studies. This indicates a huge increment in the bursary kitty which was allocated Sh41.5 million targeting 5,642 needy students last year. According to a statement by the governor which was released to the EMBU STAR as the County celebrated the second Embu County Academic Excellence Day at Kangaru High School, he praised the Embu County Education Board and other stakeholders for providing professional guidance to the government in shaping education in the area. This year, Mr. Wambora said awards would target students from 609 institutions with some 7,776 students from 363 secondary schools receiving Sh45.4 mil-

lion. Some Sh8.4 million went to 953 students from 45 different Universities while 813 students studying in various colleges received Sh6.6 million. Needy students from special schools also received Sh805,000 in bursaries while some 686 trainees in polytechnics benefited with some Sh529, 192. The governor hoped that the funds dedicated to bursaries would continue to help the beneficiaries to continue performing well in their studies, increase access to education through their retention at various institutions apart from completion of studies and transition to higher levels of education. “My government is pledging to give out more bursary awards annually to deserving students with the aim of building a learned society ready to contribute towards the building of the County and the Nation at large”, said the Governor. He said that to ensure learning was not disrupted in institutions over water and other health problems, his government had allocated Sh103 million to acquire water tanks for all schools and ensure that all accesses clean water. He said that on the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) which was a devolved area of management, the government had hired 483 teachers who reported to work in January 2014. The governor indicated that, Embu

County was the first devolved government to hire ECDE teachers countrywide and that impacted positively in the enrolment of children whose numbers grew from 14,391 to 16,612. He disclosed that Embu County government was in the final stages of completing 10 new ECDE classes across the County at a cost of Sh 7 million. Work on another 20 new classrooms the governor announced has started at a cost of Sh30 million. Teaching materials covering play equipment for children at Sh7 million. The governor said that to achieve better performance at all levels on learning, his government had launched major campaigns to elevate standards at the various polytechnics which had now been renamed Vocational Training Centre. He said that following the changes in the technical institutions, Sh7 million had been invested in modern training equipment while all managers had been sponsored for management training courses to facilitate their successful management of the institutions. Board of governors has also been put in place in all the vocational centres where an initial bursary of at least Sh5,000 had been allocated to each trainee. The Embu County government has signed a package with the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) where a special locally managed fund would go towards

Within this year, Sh70.85 million has been channeled into the funding of bursary intervention 10,346 needy students mainly from low income families who excelled in their studies. This indicates a huge increment in the bursary kitty which was allocated Sh41.5 million targeting 5,642 needy students last year.

easing access of loans to university students from the area. He said the local Education Board has the full support of the government to establish links and packages and also work with the managements of both state and private universities in ensuring that such institutions had a presence in Embu. While thanking various universities which attended the education forum to market their courses to prospective students this year numbering more than 10,000, the governor assured them of his governments support for them to acquire land to develop their institutions. “I welcome all universities to set up campuses in Embu. We are more than ready to assist you acquire land and set up your institutions in areas such as Siakago, Kanyuambora, Kirititi and Runyenjes” said the governor. The governor said that while the youth must be educated on technology, science, commerce and innovation, the need to have an education which helped in reduction of inequalities by spreading of opportunities and strengthening community cohesion. Said Mr. Wambora; “The future of democracy will depend on Embu government and people’s ability to educate complete citizens who think of themselves, criticize tradition and understand the significance of other peoples’ suffering and achievements.”

EMBU STAR

news

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

More funding needed for Dallas Jua Kali sheds

TEA PRODUCTION

Embu signs tea processing deal with Chinese

BY ROBERT NYAGAH

ore than Sh19 million has been spend to improve facilities at the main Embu Jua Kali Sheds in Embu County, the Chairman of the Embu Municipality Jua Kali Association Daniel Munyi Njagi has said. The facility which stands on a five acre plot in Dallas area of Embu town however is still in need of more improvements to ensure that the more than 300 members operated in comfortable environment. He said that at least Sh10 million is required to modernize the sheds to presentable standards to thrive as an industrial base and tap its potential to host the projected 10,000 small and middle level entrepreneurs. Landscaping and the fencing of the facility Mr. Njagi said was sponsored by the Manyatta Constituency Development Fund (CDF) at a cost of more than Sh12 million while the construction of a perimeter fence cost Sh7 million money drawn from the national government. In an interview with the EMBU STAR at the sheds, Mr. Njagi said his organization is keen to mobilize resources from the government and the private sector to develop the centre as a base for industrial development and innovation. While appreciating the support the management team of the organization received from the national and county governments, the chairman announced that the five acre plot hosting the sheds and another half an acre plots at Shauri Yako area also under Jua Kali management had been secured from would be grabbers. He recalled the grueling fight the association put up in the past as it fought for protect the five acre land from being grabbed after some three acres of what used to be a prime eight acre land was alienated irregularly. The chairman announced the construction and privatization of new Sh400,000 sanitation block at the centre to ensure its better management and improve hygiene after an earlier public unit failed due to poor flow of resources to maintain it

Governor Martin Wambora (centre) and Chinese Investors in negotiation terms on how to boost Tea production in Embu County in his office.

BY EMBU STAR REPORTER Jua Kali shed under construction. and ensure its cleanliness. “We decided that the sanitation block with water supply, bathrooms and toilets could not continued to be managed as a public unit without raising its own resources , hence our decision to privatize it by initiating a small fee for the users” said Mr. Njagi.. Major improvements, Mr. Njagi said would be undertaken at the Jua Kali Sheds where one of the five zones would soon benefit with Sh1 million funding from the Embu County government to improved as a modern car wash unit. “The car wash unit has already been designed and will cover modern sheds and drainage facilities with a parking bay for 100 at a cost of about Sh1 million whose Bills of Quantities (BQ) are in the process of being finalized. The chairman said that with the government recognition of the Jua Kali sector and streamlining its management under the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority, artisans were confident that the future was bright for the sector. Another project set to benefit

from the Embu County Government, Mr. Njagi said was the installation of gates and completion of the perimeter wall at a cost of about Sh5 million. Once the sheds are well secured through a perimeter fence, the chairman said lighting would be improved to allow early evening operations with security guards being hired to man the various gates. The chairman called for more support towards the Jua Kali sector so that innovation could also been courage and improved at County level. “We need more support from the national and county government especially in the area of innovations; there is a lot of potential especially in the agro-processing sector where locally improved innovation can be utilized to improve agricultural development”. With the main Embu Jua Kali sheds generating and controlling a daily turnover of about Sh. 1.5 million, Mr. Njagi defended the sector as a vibrant economy which should never be ignored but fully supported.

mbu County Government has partnered with Chinese investors to improve tea growing through provision of machinery to be used to process better quality teas for the world market. The Chinese investors will provide machineries to farmers who thereof will use them to process their tea and sell to the international market at Ksh2,900 per kilogramme according to a statement from Governor’s Press Office.

The idea is that Chinese investors will jointly own a new company with the farmers. They will act as the suppliers of the green leave tea while the Chinese will process and arrange the marketing. This project has potential to opening the Chinese market to Kenyan tea. Demand for tea in China is high but most Chinese consume green and orthodox tea while Kenya largely produces black tea largely consumed in Europe and Arab countries. “We are putting more efforts in the tea sector because we believe it has the potential to transform people’s lives by generating more revenue and creating more jobs,” Governor Wambora said. Tea farmers in the County have welcomed the development describing it as an opportunity to improve on their production and income. “I consider tea as an important source of revenue and a key component in socio-economic development,” said Josphat Muriithi, a tea farmer Embu is one of the leading tea producers in the Kenya. Over the last few years, the crop has become one of the county’s major foreign exchange earners, alongside, coffee and macadamia.

MACADAMIA FARMING

Wambora roots for macadamia farming BY ROBERT NYAGAH

he Embu County government will work with farmers and private investors to streamline and regulate macadamia nuts industry which earns local farmers more than Sh260 million every year, Governor Martin Nyagah Wambora has said. Mr. Wambora said his government had come up with strong policies to sustain and accelerate growth and development of the Macadamia sub-sector to reach the targeted potential of Sh700 million earnings per year. Potential for production is high, standing at target of 10,000 tons per year, a feat which could be achieved

through expansion of farms under the tree as well as improved varieties. “With streamlined marketing channels, increased use of inputs and good agricultural practices, production can be increased from the current 4995 tones earning farmers more than Sh260 million to over 10,000 tons with an estimated value over Sh700 million” said Mr. Wambora. Some of the policies, the governor said, cover the promotion of value addition and consumption of macadamia, launch strong marketing units as well as creating of legal and regulatory frameworks for the sector. He lauded the recent launch of macadamia processing and packaging factory in Embu known as Privamnuts Kenya Limited.

Privamnuts Kenya Limited is spending more than Sh200 million to construct the factory under an Export processing Zone (EPZ) model meaning that about 90% of what it processes and packages will be exported. Mr. Wambora urged for cooperation among stakeholders in dealing with the various challenges which had affected production and quality of nuts as well as in the value addition chain. Macadamia nuts, Mr. Wambora said, continue to gain importance locally and abroad as awareness and demand for nutritious food has increased hence the need to promote the sectors and introduce safeguards. The governor assured that his government was keen to work with the private sector to ensure the success of the

Macadamia sub sector and one of the key areas it had introduced intervention was in the trade and value addition. “The trade and value addition being a very important issue is handled exhaustively with the view of maintaining and improving the quality of nuts and healthy competition among processors,” he said. In future Macadamia farmers in the County will be registered and required to maintain cards as a mean of identifying legitimate farmers, announced the governor. All brokers, agents and intermediaries, the Embu County government insists, will be required to buy macadamia nuts as agents of known processors while price ceilings will be set for various grades of nuts to encourage

compliance with quality standards. Crop maturity zones will be introduced to be in harmony with a crop calendar while marketing period seasons will be maintained to ensure macadamia trees recover after every harvest. Apart from encouraging formation of cooperatives to manage the crop, the Embu County government will oversee the establishment of collection centers and specific buying days and further promote periodical payments modes acceptable within the financial systems available. Digital weighing scales will be mandatory in the buying of macadamia nuts with a county macadamia priced dialogue mechanisms and platforms being maintained during every crop season.

EMBU STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

New markets to improve fresh produce market

Kangaru Market.

BY ROBERT NYAGAH

orticulture farmers and dealers in Embu County will soon start utilizing four ultramodern markets built by the National Government at a cost more than Sh144 million. The Siakago and Kangaru mar-

kets cost Sh37 million each while the Kibugu and Kithimu markets had a budget of Sh35 million each. Three of the well designed wholesale markets complete with lighting, parking bays and large cold facilities set to ease storage of fresh horticultural products were handed over to the County Government by the Agriculture Prin-

cipal Secretary Cecily Kariuki in the presence of Deputy President William Ruto. However, the contractor of one of the markets situated at Kithimu town was directed to make improvement to sections of the construction before the handing over after some mistakes were noticed during the inspection ex-

ercise. Farmers and horticultural dealers are expected to utilize the establishments to sort and package their produce the delivery of the same to the local and export markets. In the past farmers would record serious losses due to uncoordinated handling, transport and sale of their produce with middle men taking advantage of the confusion to exploit farmers. The PS asked the Embu County government to ensure that the markets were well managed and maintained while cautioning farmers and dealers against mismanagement of the facilities or h diverting them to other uses. “These markets are expected to benefit farmers and dealers in horticultural products to reap profits from their produce and hence they should be well managed and should never be diverted to other uses” said Ms Kariuki. She said that the central government would continue to partner with the Embu County government to improve agricultural production in the region to ensure that the local farmers produced enough for their domestic use and for sale. Most of the projects being funded by the central government in the County under the agricultural sector, the PS said were wholesome in nature and included construction of irrigation projects, roads and bridges to ease transport among others as well as the supply of discounted fertilizer to farmers. One the key areas the government felt the need for intervention, the PS said was in the Coffee sector where some Sh75 million grant had been released to the Murue Coffee Savings and Credits

Society to facilitate the soon to be completed Murue Coffee Mill. The mill set to cost the farmers, the central and county government more than 200 million will place Embu County in the same status with leading coffee regions in Kenya where value addition to coffee will be done locally. Once complete and operational, the mill will coffee from local farmers and undertake value addition allowing the produce to be branded and sold locally and in the export market where potential markets have already been identified. The PS also disclosed that the County has benefited with fertilizer worth Sh80 million under subsidized governments’ agricultural produce program but lamented that reports indicate that the same had been diverted to private shops and was being sold at prices higher than those stipulated by the government. “I am worried over the report that the government supplied fertilizer whose prices are supposed to be high subsidized is finding itself in private shops and being sold at prices higher than the stipulated government prices, that is illegal and should stop,” said Ms Kariuki.

Horticulture farmers and dealers in Embu County will soon start utilizing four ultramodern markets built by the National Government at a cost more than Sh144 million.

Chamber calls for better town planning BY ROBERT NYAGAH

he Embu Branch of the Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has asked the County government to undertake research on the demands for commercial buildings in various urban areas before planning the physical development of such areas. Future development and planning, the chamber suggested should be shaped by demand for space to avoid haphazard projects which could in future require changes or demolition all together. In an interview with the EMBU STAR, the Vice Chairman Mr. Elias Njeru Nyagah Kirachi said that due to the apparently present huge demand on premises by investors, some entire buildings were being brought down in Embu town and other urban centers to pave way for modern structures. While predicting that urban centres such Embu town would continue to expands with demand for commercial premises growing, Mr. Kirachi stressed the need for partnership between the government and the private sector in coming up with a manageable physical plan for the entire County. He said the planning needed to also cover zoning between commercial and residential areas to avoid confusion especially when it came to issues of drainage and refuse management.

“There is need for the county government to launch major programs to streamline physical management of land for industrial and residential development to avoid a clash between the two sectors now and in future” said Mr. Kirachi. The chamber official also suggested the involvement of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in the planning of the town to ensure that environmental and safety issues were not compromised. Mr. Kirachi noted that the present construction of the more than Sh200 million World Bank sponsored drainage in the lower parts of Embu affected some buildings and inconvenienced motorists mainly because some developers had encroached into road reserves. The chamber, Mr. Kirachi said, appreciates the fact that Embu town had become quite vibrant commercially in the recent past courtesy of the expanding population partly encouraged by the initiation of the Embu University, Embu College and an increasing number of middle level colleges now hosting thousands of students. He noted that Embu University alone was expected to start hosting more than 2,700 after the next intake and the population of learners would need accommodation. Demand for land and commercial space in building next to the Embu

Sample town plan on paper. University and Embu College in Kangaru and Embu town respectively has increased spurring huge construction of buildings to cater for the growing student population. The elevation of the Embu airstrip into an airport and the fact that sections of Embu especially parts near Embu town would be directly connected to the main Isiolo Nairobi railway, Mr. Kirachi said meant that the town would gain even more importance commercially. He said that while the Embu County government batted to attract more in-

vestors into the region that campaign must go hand in hand with better planning and mutual consultation to ensure better management of land. The chamber official noted that while demand for space expanded at a huge rate the chamber was concerned that there were commercial building which were going empty in some zones of the town perhaps due to poor planning and marketing. “In areas such as Kangaru all huge amounts of land and commercial space is being taken over to accommodate

Embu University students and staff, in some parts of Embu town, some space in commercial premises has continued to be empty and that is not good,” said Mr. Kirachi. He noted that after years of building of basic one or two floors for accommodation in most parts of the Embu town presently investors were diversifying to storey buildings- some going up to five floors – which hence provide more space to tenants.

EMBU STAR

COMMERCE

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Embu needs more agriculture innovation centres – Chamber of Commerce

BY ROBERT NYAGAH

Test tube plants at KARI, (right) Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry National Chairman Kiprono Kittony.

arge and small farmers in Embu County should be connected to agro industrialists to adopt value addition and innovations as a means to spur profitability in their investments. Commerce and industry stakeholders in the County say that failure by investors in region to pursue better profits from agricultural through value addition and innovation was due to uncoordinated partnership between the government and local and international agro-industrialists.

The national and county governments, the stakeholders suggest should to partner and launch programs to ease farmers” access to industrial innovations and skills for value addition and hence increase profits from their work. In a forum at the Embu Branch of the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce, officials led by the Vice Chairman Elias Njeru called for the initiation of specific programs and sites where value addition would be promoted on a throughout the year basis, “The present pace of embracing of modern technology especially in value addition remains low in Embu County and unless ruthless campaigns are started, farmers will continue to record loses and even abandon farming” said Mr. Kirachi. Mr. Kirachi said that a close observation of reports on innovations in food and livestock production as well as value addition innovations from the across the country indicated poor spread and accessibility within Embu County. “We are being left behind in borrowing, adopting and marketing innovations in agriculture and value addition” said Mr. Kirachi noting that even low cost innovations which were being easily adopted by farmers in the across the Mt Kenya region took too long to be borrowed and utilized in Embu. He insisted that the Embu County government needed to up its game in zoning the county in accordance to value addition opportunities based of key cash crops even if that meant sponsoring agro-based indus-

trial programs at ward level. While appreciating the role played by agricultural field days such the Embu regional Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) shows, Mr. Kirachi said needs to be done to increase such field days and perhaps even transform the Embu ASK Njuukiri grounds into a permanent centre for agro industrial exhibitions. The Embu County government, he said needed to support experts and private investors and borrow the Nyeri County based Wambugu Farm style of exhibitions where events continued throughout the year. He said the Wambugu Farm in Nyeri remained a base for major agro-industrial success in the Mt Kenya region promoting some of the best innovations in agriculture presently being adopted across the region by small, middle and large scale investors in agriculture. “The now popular innovations promoted by the experts at the Wambugu Farm are being adopted widely by a huge population of Nyeri and Kirinyaga farmers and especially small scale ones who are reaping huge profits from livestock and crop farming” said Mr. Kirachi. Most of the innovations, he said had made small scale farmers to not only improve their family nutritional needs but to also earn comfortable profits by embracing innovations. “Agricultural exhibitions should not be occasional but year round with space in various show grounds and sites manned by skilled experts”, Mr. Kirachi said. He said that innovations unique to each

Universities, colleges bring business to Embu town BY ROBERT NYAGAH

mbu town is raking in millions of shilling in new cash injection to its economy thanks to the growing number of universities and college students attending the numerous institutions in the county. Leading the pack in admission of students is the Embu University College, Kenyatta University and Embu College among others. The benefits are trickling in to supermarkets, landlords, restaurants, studios, entertainment centres, and financial institutions among many other businesses in the growing town. It is estimated that every year, about 3,000 new students arrive to join universities and colleges in the town, which while straining the resources of the town also provide much needed consumers. This may explain why investors have started collapsing old commercial and residential buildings and replacing them with modern ones that can accommodate more businesses and also more tenants. The Embu County government is already implementing building by-laws which came into force under the defunct Embu Municipal Council some years ago demanding that all investors in the construction industry must adopt storey buildings in the Central Business District and its outskirts. “The implementation of the new building by-laws has meant that investors build storey buildings and where possible reinforce the old building to accommodate more floors” said Embu Branch Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) spokesman Nyagah Kirachi Shopping in various supermarkets, shops, the fresh produce markets, and cloth-

Embu town.

ing shops has increased as the thousands of “education tourists” flock the town and its outskirts. The education tourists are in Embu courtesy of increased intakes at the Embu University College and Embu College which are constituents of Nairobi and Laikipia Universities respectively. The two institutions have limited students’ hostel accommodation and normally depend on private landlords closer to the universities or some kilometers away where students are shuttled to and from the uni-

versities in buses. Embu town photography studio owners and private photographers generally referred to as Paparazzi made more than Sh600,000 between them during the recent intakes shooting passport size pictures needed by the university authorities during admission. The only modern and high tech photo processing printer in the town and operated by the Silverline Studio was overwhelmed and at one time broke down perhaps after it become overworked.

Leading Embu based photographer Mr. Ben Ndwiga, of the Benee Studio confessed that some printing orders had to be sent to Nairobi and other ultra modern printers in Mt. Kenya region. Supermarkets led by the newly opened and ambient Mathais Supermarket have been recording roaring business with students preparing to launch their domestic lifestyle and home based self catering acquiring basics such as cooking burners and basic utensils. Other supermarkets including Magunandu, Jatomy, Nivas, Kasturi and Uchumi confessed recording attractive sales from customers they described as smartly dressed looking free spending young people. “They have been buying a cross-section of items including electric burners and gas cookers and an assortment of households such as utensils and kitchenware” said an attendant at the Maathai supermarkets. Restaurants in supermarkets and outside have also been recording good business as the young men and women storm out of the institutions every evening to sample menus in eating and drinking places and familiarize themselves with their new city. “We are able to walk to and outside the campus anytime of the night and we are happy with the security and lighting systems installed along the Embu-Meru Highway section from Embu town to the Kangaru area where the Embu University College is situated” said a first year students Dennis Kariuki. Single rooms at Kangaru, Kamiu, Mutunduri, Gakwegori, Kiambuthi and Blue Valley among other residential area have been taken by students. Demand for single rooms had outstripped supply forcing some students to seek accommodation further way from the

region needed to be marketed as such due to the various agricultural products favoring such regions. Vocational training institutions now being supported by the Embu County government, the chamber vice chairman suggested should have branch specifically promoting innovation. The county government, he noted needed to create means of funding such innovation and offering rewards to innovative students and residents to spur value addition and packaging of local produce to access local and the export market. “The Embu County government should be always at hand to provide information, education and skills on how to make agroproducts more beneficial to the local farmers” said Mr. Kirachi.

The present pace of embracing of modern technology especially in value addition remains low in Embu County and unless ruthless campaigns are started, farmers will continue to record loses and even abandon farming. campus with rooms going at a rent of between Sh. 2,000 to Sh. 2,500 per month. Salesio Njiru, a middle level real estate developer who runs rental single room units at Kangaru village said that all his 20 rooms in his two lane structures were taken last week. “I am happy that I invested in the two lane simple rooms with external sanitation facilities and common kitchens, they were up for grabs as soon as I undertook final touches which including painting and landscaping and fencing,” said Mr. Njiru. During this years’ Embu University College induction day at the Kangaru Campus, the Principal Prof. Daniel Mugendi Njiru said that out of a population of 2,000 students, only 700 could be accommodated at the institutions’ hostels. The Principal while challenging the fresher’s and the other students to work hard to achieve their academic aspirations assured that security had been improved in the outskirts of the institution where security lights had been installed and police patrols organized to ensure students and staff safety. For some time now, Prof. Mugendi has been challenging the people of Embu to partner in developing hostels to accommodate growing number of university students noting that as demand for higher education grows, demand for accommodation for staff and students was bound to continue increasing.

700

The number of students that the University is able to accomodate in the University’s hostels.

NEWS

EMBU STAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

Solar panels at Moi Stadium to power Embu facilities BY EMBU STAR REPORTER

Governor Martin Wambora meets officials of the German company that will install the solar panels.

Germany company is to erect solar panels on the top of terrace canopies at Moi Stadium in Embu that is undergoing renovation. The company known as Joh.Achelis & Söhne GmbH. Its officials met with the County Government where the agreement to develop the mini-solar plant were agreed. The energy produced by those panels will be enough to power all the street lights in Embu Town, Embu Level 5 Hospital and also all the facilities at the stadium. Governor Martin Wambora said this will help the county make great savings from what it pays to the Kenya Power for providing electricity to the said facilities. The project is the first of its kind in Kenya and borrows from what the new Garden City Mall located along Thika Road has done by generating its energy from solar panels mounted on the top of parking canopies.

Stadium terrace canopies.

Virtues that attract wealth BY CHRIS KIRUBI

cannot emphasize how strongly I feel about working hard and working smart. It is part of achieving success and any successful person will tell you. There is a saying that ‘you have to work hard to get rich enough not to have to work hard.’ Well I agree but I also insist that you have to work hard and work smart to get rich enough not to have to work hard. While many of us understand that the road to success is not easy, very few are willing to endure the hard work and pressure it takes to get there. Naturally, we are built to always take the easy way out (who wouldn’t want to) but more often than not we must condition our minds to go the extra mile in order to get to where we want to be. Richard Branson, Daymond John, Aliko Dangote, Manu Chandaria, Tabitha Karanja, James Mwangi have had to work hard and some of them twice as hard in order to get to where they are. They began early, sacrificed a lot, never had long lunch breaks like some of you, rarely took time to go on

holiday, never wasted time… they worked their socks off because they knew money and success don’t come easy. If you look at them now, they can all afford to go on holiday and have the choice not to work but some of them still do. So what seems to be failing us? From my experience and interacting with various young people, I believe the lack of seriousness and commitment is what fails us. We want to give up or change course the minute we face a challenge we didn’t expect. Dedication and commitment know no limit. You need to prepare yourself to put in ‘long hours’ in the things that matter in order to succeed. I have always said that if you have tried a couple of times and seen that something does not work, move on. You have no business wasting time trying to move backwards. One thing you must remember, success may not come immediately. It didn’t happen to me and it may or may not happen to you. Your first 10 ideas may fail, John’s first idea may be his breakthrough but you must keep trying and be committed

to making it work. I kept my focus and was committed to making sure that poverty would not bind me or define my life. It was frustrating but I kept pushing. You must be willing to be patient and work like you have never worked before. While in Kenya very recently, Daymond John of the popular entrepreneurial TV series Shark Tank, spoke on how he had no financial intelligence when he started out. He identified his weakness, found a solution and continued to work hard. You need to do the same. I said it last week in my blog that your weakness is someone else’s point of strength. Make it work for you and get others to do what they love doing (working for you) as they help you achieve your dream and be successful. It’s called working smart. Those who are successful will tell you that in acquiring wealth and success you must work hard, work smart and love what it is that you do. You will never work hard at something if you view it as a chore or are obligated to do so. Make sure you enjoy doing it. Finally, not everyone who works hard (at anything) becomes

wealthy. You may be the most hard-working employee in the organization but you are not progressing. You need to come out and do more. It may mean leaving employment or shifting strategies, you need to create your own wealth. Use the experience you have gained from working in an organization as the foundation of your career life and go out and build the rest of it. Take it from me; you will not become rich by being the last one to leave the office or working odd hours. Be wise! Work hard on your idea, work smart at work, be committed to accomplishing what you begin and make your situation work in your favor. Then and only then, will you attract wealth; and once you get the wealth, manage it properly and let it acquire more wealth for you. In the end, nothing can stop the man or woman, who works hard and pursues what he is good at. (Chris is a Kenyan industrialist and entrepreneur whose interests lie in insurance, media, manufacturing and more. His passion includes empowering the youth in Africa)

EMBU STAR

NEWS

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

More youths to benefit from loans

Couny Secretary Raymond Kinyua advices the youth at the forum.

A Young person Contributes during the Embu County International Youth Day at Embu Social Hall.

<< CONT. FROM PAGE 1 Already Sh7 million has been issues out under the National Youth Fund whose total kitty is set to be increased to Sh10 million with the latest key beneficiaries being boda boda taxi operators. The secretary assured that programs to market and explain the formalities through which the government would partner with young people in ensuring that they accessed funds would be launched. However, he asked the members of the youth groups to avoid infighting and wrangles which he blamed for derailing their prospective and planned income generating programs. Young people he said needed to avoid differences and groupings in accordance to political alliances and pursue initiating of serious incomes generating projects. “Our greatest problem is that young people in Embu County continue to be divided by infighting that is derailing their involvement in serious income generating projects and stagnating development of enterprises” said the County secretary. Most youth groups who applied for funds under various programs, Mr. Kinyua said lacked professional proposals and accountability and that had in the past forced the government to at times resort to acquiring assets for the borrowers to avoid diversion of money to different and unviable projects. The secretary advised the youth to launch viable projects after seeking professional guidance from experts. He said the County government was in the initial stages of organizing forums through which it would link youth entrepreneurs with professional business experts to offer them training on management of businesses. Social halls and sports facilities now being taken over and rehabilitated by the Embu County government, Mr. Kinyua said would be utilized as centers for training the youth in a bid to sensitize them on all the government activities where their services were required.

The secretary assured that the development of the Embu Talent Academy was at an advanced stage and key areas would include a modern theatre and recording studies where young people organized in groups would access recording, acting and practice facilities for free. “Through the Youth Talent Academy, young people from the County will be assisted to develop their talents in performing arts and music and market the same locally and internationally” said the County chief. The other facilities set to benefit the youth Mr. Kinyua said will include modern sports centers covering gymnastics, swimming pools, and conference areas. The county chief lamented that there has been some instances where the youth had surrendered their rights to tenders during procurement to well established firms. Young people he insisted needed to employ proper legal means to register firms and secure legal certificates to ensure they qualified for tenders. The County government, he assured had established elaborate partnerships with well managed youth groups and individuals and disclosed that in a recent package, an individual young people had secured tender worth Sh850,000 after satisfying the requirements of the government. Meanwhile, the Embu County government may as well consider sponsoring qualified young people to access employment in foreign countries using funds from the National Youth Fund. The secretary said modalities were being set to sponsor at least 10 young people with some Sh. 85,000 required for the air ticket and visa for each beneficiary. Mr. Kinyua said an ambitious program to link more than 200 young people with employment firms in various foreign countries had stalled after wrangles arose between members of various young people seeking foreign jobs.

Licences Governor Martin Wambora issues a motor bike rider’s license to one of the 107 Boda Boda Taxi Operators from Nthawa Ward who were trained at Muconoke Youth Polytechnic. They all benefited from the bursaries given by the County Government for this financial year. The key objective of the initiative is to reduce the crash risk for motorcylists. It is expected that, with the training inculcated, the riders will enhance safety culture and the integrity of the driver licensing system.

Saccos Governor Martin Wambora in meeting with the leaders of the Saccos in Embu. The leaders deliberated on how they work closely with the government to increase the number of people accessing financial services through the Saccos.

NEWS

EMBU STAR

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015

KTDA commissions four hydro power plants

Peter Kanyago, Chairman of Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Ltd.

EMBU STAR REPORTER

enya’s largest tea management agency Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) - has undertaken a series of groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of four hydro power projects; Lower Nyamindi (Kirinyaga), South Mara, Iraru (Meru) and North Mathioya (Nyeri) power projects. The projects are all set to provide an alternative cheaper source of energy for KTDA-managed tea factories in the country. The commissioning of the projects is in line with KTDA’s long term strategy to ensure that tea growing regions have access to alternative renewable forms of energy that will reduce operational costs in factories and create a new income stream for tea farmers. Speaking during the ground breaking event at the North Mathioya site, KTDA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Lerionka Tiampati said that KTDA has invested Ksh4.8 billion to ensure that tea growing regions have access to alternative energy sources leading to reduced operation costs. “Energy costs account for about 30% of the operation costs in tea factories with electricity alone accounting for 17%. With the new hydro-plants, the factory is set to cut operation costs and additionally earn money from selling excess power,” he added. Also looking at the importance of environmental sustainability, KTDA Chairman Peter Kanyago pointed out that, “The Kenya government is encouraging manufacturers to turn to green energy in order to achieve Vision 2030 goals, as well as to achieve MDG 7 of the Millennium Development Goals, which is to ensure environmental sustainability.” He further noted that Kenya has huge potential and sufficient renewable energy that will ensure higher energy security, lower costs of energy and increased energy reliability. Construction of the hydro power project will take two to three years to complete and fully be operational. On average, individual tea factories spend approximately Ksh30 million to Ksh65 million annually on electricity, depending on factory size, crop level and the variable costs such as fuel cost adjustment and forex that are used by Kenya Power in the calculation of electricity bills. According to KTDA Power Chairman Eng. Joseph Wakimani, investments in internal power generation through small hydros is critical to the factories because the power plants have the potential to reduce electricity bills in factories by about 50%, which equivalent to a saving of Kshs 1 to 2 per kg of green leaf delivered to factories. “The hydropower project, once constructed will generate more energy than a factory’s requirements

Lerionka Tiampati, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings Ltd.

and the excess will then be sold to the national grid, thus providing an additional income stream for farmers while at the same time stabilizing the grid power,” said Eng. Wakimani. Other hydropower stations that are in the pipeline include Chemosit Itare and Kipsonoi (Kericho and Bomet Counties), Nyambunde and Nyamassege (Kisii), and Tindinyo in Nandi. Kenya Tea Power Company (KTPC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of KTDA which aims to enhance shareholders’ earnings through reduction of electricity cost. The core business of the company is provision of management and consultancy services in the energy sector, and investment in other energy generation schemes such as wind, solar, geothermal among other ventures. The Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited (KTDA) was incorporated on 15th June 2000 as a private company under (CAP 486) of the laws of Kenya, becoming one of the largest private tea management agencies. The Agency currently manages 66 factories in the small-scale tea sub-sector in Kenya. The agency is mandated with promoting and fostering the growth and development of tea growing among the indigenous tea farmers. Its mandate is to oversee and enhance the end-to-end processes from the cultivation of tea, to the marketing of the same to local and international markets.

Mr. Peter Kanyago, the Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings (KTDA – H) Chairman operates a Caterpillar to move earth during the ground breaking ceremony at the Metumi Hydro Power project.

KTDA Power company Chairman Eng. Joseph Wakimani waters a tree at Lower Nyamindi Mini-Hydro site.

SUMMARY •Groundbreaking ceremonies of the Lower Nyamindi, South Mara, Iraru, North Mathioya hydro power projects •KTDA has invested Kshs4.8 billion towards the projects in an effort to reduce operating costs for tea factories •The operations and maintenance of the power stations is expected to generate employment opportunities and a new revenue stream for tea farmers Jeffithah Karua, KTDA Director Zone 5 waters a tree at Lower Nyamindi MiniHydro site.

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Land prices rise four times in Mbeere BY ROBERT NYAGAH

uguka farming in Mbeere has increased the cost of land by four times as more farmers seek to expand their land under cultivation for the lucrative milk drug crop. While the crop has had some negative socioeconomic effects like increasing number of drug addicts, causing early drop from schools for boys and reckless driving as by vehicles transporting muguka leaves to Nairobi, some residents say it is a blessing in disguise as it has helped improve the economy of Mbeere. The Chairman of Mbeere Muguka Savings and Credits Society Evans Njagi Kemori the rise of the cost of land is a blessing for the region which has traditionally been associated with poverty and whose land fetched very low income. In an interview with EMBU STAR, Mr. Kemori said that between 2005 and 2015, the value of one acre land had appreciated from Sh100,000 to Sh400,000 especially within areas where Muguka farming was dominant. “Land under a muguka crop has appreciated tremendously and that means that even adjacent undeveloped land had also risen” said Mr. Kemori. Huge population of people he said had started utilizing what used to be idle land at times even planting muguka seedlings whose single stem goes for Sh50 while a mature one is sold for Sh1,000. Some farmers, he said had also started investing in developing muguka crop and selling both the land and the crop with an acre of land containing at least 800 mature muguka stems selling at about Sh1.3 million. Appreciation of land and the growing interest by new buyers and investors in muguka farming has however led to an increased conflict between members of different families over ownership and growing incomes from land and Muguka.

Governor Martin Wambora (left), CEC Lands Jamleck Muturi (second left), Chief Officer Eng. Steve Njiru meeting with members of Hydroplan International, the company that is interested in setting up a solid waste recycling plant in Embu.

To curb the various negatives associated with muguka farming and the commerce partly blamed for high sale of land by some families, Mr. Kemori said stakeholders were proposing formation of a task force to streamline the management of the sector. “We are proposing the formation of a task force which will prepare a report on the establishment of a strategic plans and policies on the management of the muguka farming and commerce to remove the negatives associated with the sector,” said Mr. Kemori.

The transport of muguka which attracts at least 75 vans moving the commodity each day, needs to be reformed through introduction of light planes to move community to the market instead of the vans many which are driven careless and end up causing accidents. “Light aircrafts should be introduced and adopted to transport muguka from Embu town to the markets in Nairobi and elsewhere to reduce the growing number of accidents which involves speeding muguka transport vehicles,” said the Sacco chairman.

OATH OF OFFICE

The new County Secretary Raymond Njagi Kinyua taking the oath office in the Governors Boardroom.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the sector are worried that a Thika based foreign firm might grab profits earned from the sale of raw produce after it started campaigns to do value addition to muguka. The firm has started drying and packaging of muguka to be used as beverages such as coffee or tea, but officials of muguka farmers say laws are needed to ensure that before the large scale value addition of the crop is started, farmers are protected from exploitation.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EMBU EVENT

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce Chairman Kiproni Kittony charts with Embu business man Kithinji Kiragu (KK) during the chamber’s event in Embu last month.