Day: June 5, 2023

Sugarcane farmers in Soin/Sigowet sub-county within Kericho County are a happy lot following the establishment of a Sh3.5 billion sugar factory by local investors in a bid to tap huge potential from the cash crop in the rich agricultural area.

Situated in Kapkornom area in Soin/Sigowet constituency, West Valley Sugar Factory, the milling plant,the first of its kind in Kericho is equipped with the latest technology, which includes automated machinery and a quality control system to ensure sugar products are of the highest quality.

According to the factory’s Managing Director (MD) Benard Soi, West Valley Sugar Factory is 85 per cent complete and will commence operations within three months with the target to produce 2,500 bags of sugar cane daily by milling 1,250 tonnes of sugarcane sourced from farmers in Soin/Sigowet sub-county, Ainamoi sub-county and Tinderet constituency in Nandi County.

He revealed that the milling plant will create 1,500 jobs for Kericho residents in addition to contributing towards the development of the local community through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

MD Soi revealed that they had registered 3,800 cane farmers to supply the cash crop for production.

‘This is the first mill to be in Kericho County so we expect the farmers of Kericho to fully support it, it is their own factory, it is farmer-based and the investors are local so we expect 100 per cent support from the farmers. Right now we have registered 3,800 sugar cane farmers. There is also a lot of uncultivated land in Kericho where we are going to do cane development with the farmers, we are going to give seedlings to farmers and provide them with fertilizer so that we develop the cane so that within the next two years we will have enough cane in the region,’ added MD Soi.

The milling factory will generate 3 Megawatts of power which will be used to run the factory with the excess power being channeled to provide street lighting to the communities residing around the area, added MD Soi.

Speaking shortly after touring the sugar factory, Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai hailed the factory’s management for the establishment of the new sugar milling plant saying it will make a significant impact in the economy of the area and the county at large.

He revealed that Kericho county government had employed 30 agricultural extension officers to assist sugar cane farmers in the sub-county in improving production and productivity of their cash crop.

Dr. Mutai promised sugar cane farmers that the county government will give incentives in terms of farm inputs subsidies to increase their production so that the sugar factory will have a constant supply of the raw material.

The county boss added that road infrastructure will be improved to ease transport of the cane to the sugar factory and optimize operations.

Present also was Member of Parliament (MP) for Soin-Sigowet Justice Kemei, Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat, Kericho County senator Aaron Cheruiyot amongst other invited guests.

Sugar cane is the third most important cash crop grown in the county after tea and coffee. It is grown in four sub-counties of Soin/Sigowet, Kipkelion, Belgut and Ainamoi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has set aside Sh20 billion to enhance security in Northern Kenya, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Government Professor Kithure Kindiki has disclosed.

Addressing a public baraza at Garissa primary school playground, Professor Kindiki said the terrorism menace in Northern Kenya will come to an end once and for all.

The CS revealed that there was a Kenyan soldier killed in the outskirts of Wajir by terrorists who are suspected to have fled from operations by Afrian Union meeting in Somalia (Amisom) in the neighbouring country.

Kindiki added that the police in Garissa will have decent housing under the Kenya Kwanza administration and noted that security will be enhanced with provision of bullet proof jackets, vehicles and modern equipment to flush out terrorists roaming around the border.

Arising from Professor Kindiki’s visit, Garissa will have a Passport Control office reopened in the area in July. The office was closed due to security concerns some 8 years ago with passport applicants forced to travel to Nairobi to get the vital travel document.

The minister was accompanied by Garissa township MP Major Dekow Barrow, nominated MP Ummelkheir Harun and Garissa Governor Nadhif Jama and Regional Commissioner North Eastern Mr Joseph Otieno among others senior security officials from Garissa County.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Residents of Murua area in Narok Central have pleaded with the government to build a police post in the area following increased incidents of insecurity.

Led by Ngoyata Ole Partoip, the residents said incidents of theft, rape and illicit brewing were common in the area and asked the government to enhance security in the area by building a police post.

The residents spoke in the presence of Deputy County Commissioner Abdi Shakur Ali and Melili Member of County Assembly (MCA) Isaac Ololdapash where they promised to donate land to build the essential facility.

Ole Partoip who doubles up as the chairperson of Uhuru market noted that though the area is rich in agricultural produce, many men neglected their families as they were lost in brewing dens.

‘This land is very vast and the only police station near us is in Narok town. We need a police post near us where we can report incidents of insecurity,’ said Ole Partoip.

His sentiments were echoed by Lady Meig’ati, who reiterated the need for a police post saying it would provide security to the residents.

Meig’ati a reformed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) cutter said fighting the vice in the area without a police post near is difficult as the whistle blowers are not assured of their security.

‘Sometime we fear to report criminals within us because there is no police near us. Our girls undergo FGM while others are married off early but there is no police near where we can report the matter,’ she said.

MCA Ololdapash assured the residents that he would work with National Government Officials and elected leaders to easily address issues affecting the people.

Acting Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Abdi Shakur Ali asked chiefs and village elders to tighten the fight against illicit brewing saying he would join them in conducting regular impromptu crack down in the area.

‘I encourage the residents to work with the chiefs and elders to deal with this menace by giving information of the brewing dens,’ said the DCC.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mt Elgon Sub County Bungoma County Benjamin Nzioka has given a directive to residents possessing illegal fire arms to surrender them to security officers.

Speaking to the press after a security brief, the DCC said that despite effort by his team to maintain peace and unity in the sub county, a few people were still in possession of illegal fire arms.

Nzioka said that the few with the fire arms in the area were well known by the community and directed that in case they failed to heed to his call, then the security agents would have no option but to go for them.

The Deputy County Commissioner gave the directive after a business man David Ngeywo was shot dead at Kaptama market a month ago.

‘Despite the fact that arrests have been made following the killing of a business man David Ngeywo, reports indicate that there are still people in possession of illegal fire arms hiding them in the forest,’ said the DCC.

The tough talking commissioner directed his security team that he chairs, led by the office of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to ensure that the gun used to shoot the business man is repossessed with immediate effect.

He noted that the fire arm used was in possession of a civilian who is hiding in the forest trying to play a cat and mouse game with the security officers.

Nzioka has called upon the person to surrender and take responsibility for the shooting before the government goes for him.

However, on behalf of the security team, the DCC applauded the residents for maintaining law, order and peace despite a few cases, which he said the team would not tire until they were brought to book.

He called upon the security team and other officers from the Ministry of Interior and National Co-ordination to be on high alert and report any person of suspicious character so that action could be taken.

During a tour of Chepkitale Kaptama division over the weekend, Bungoma County Police Commander Francis Kooni echoed similar sentiments on illegal fire arms.

Kooni cautioned any one in possession of an illegal firearm to drop it at the nearest police post failure to which they would face the law.

He pointed out that failure to obey the said directive would force him to call for reinforcement by General Service Unit police officers to conduct an operation until the illegal fire arms are repossessed.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Ethiopia and Brazil have reaffirmed the respective commitments of their governments to further enhance the longstanding diplomatic relations, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, earlier today received Brazilian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira at his office.

During the occasion, Demeke stressed that it is high time to elevate Ethio-Brazilian relations as the opening of Ethiopian Embassy in Brasilia is aimed at bolstering relations between the two countries.

The deputy prime minister and foreign minister also thanked the Government of Brazil for supporting sustainable forest management, cotton productivity, and soil protection projects in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia and Brazil could further cooperate in the areas of investment, aviation, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, environmental protection, mining and renewable energy, Demeke noted.

Brazilian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira for his part expressed his government’s readiness to support sports and other sectors parallel to advanced mutual interests in bilateral and multilateral venues.

Accordingly, the dignitaries have also agreed to conduct political consultations subsequently.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency