Category: General

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has mulled the government’s plans to write off debts owed by coffee cooperative societies.

On Wednesday Gachagua addressing coffee farmers while commissioning Murang’a Farmers coffee mill at Maragua stated that he will spearhead discussion with the ministry of cooperatives among other relevant stakeholders and scrutinize debts owed by farmers aligned to various cooperative societies.

He noted within a period of three weeks, the exercise of verifying the debts will be over and farmers should expect goods news as the government have various strategies to revive the coffee sector

‘Our farmers should expect good news from the talks we are going to have. The president has good will towards reviving the coffee sector and one way of doing so is to writing off all the loans owed by farmers.’ He added.

The deputy president expressed his commitment to streamline the coffee sector saying already reforms being implemented have started to bear fruits.

‘For the last one year, a large
amount of coffee has been exported and as a government we are working to eliminate all cartels who for a long time have been exploiting our farmers.’ He asserted.

Gachagua continued ‘availability of cherry advance fund which now stands at Sh. 4 billion is aimed to support farmers to increase production and caution them from financial constraints. The money is available to all coffee farmers but not to only those who supply their coffee through New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU).

He added coffee farmers will be able to access subsidized fertilizer at their cooperative society within a period of less than one month.

Gachagua lauded Murang’a farmers’ cooperative union for establishing the coffee mill saying the facility will assist in processing and selling final product without engaging many players.

‘The coffee will be processed and packaged here and the union has a license to directly export their product without bringing in many players. This will increase earnings to farmers,’ he noted.

The co
ffee commenced its operations after the government assisted the facility to get a transformer last month.

The plant has the capacity to process 1. 2 million tons of coffee per hour with management of the union working to increase the processing capacity to more than 5 million tons per hour.

Cabinet secretary for cooperatives Simon Chelugui praised the installation of the million plant saying farmers from the county will benefit more from their produce.

Chelugui lauded Murang’a farmers for taking advantage of the cherry advance fund saying more than 15, 000 coffee farmers have benefited from the kitty.

‘More than 15, 000 farmers from this county have sourced a total of Sh. 354 million from the cherry fund kitty. The money is available and we want more farmers to access the money for improvement of their production,’ he noted.

On his part, Governor Irungu Kang’ata noted the facility will ensure farmers produce is processed and graded appropriately.

He observed for many years’ unscrupulous ways were employ
ed in private processors where farmers were denied the right to know the correct grade of their coffee.

‘Now farmers from this county will monitor their coffee from farms and through the process of grading. This will ensure they get the right returns from their produce. As the county government we are also investing in the coffee sector by bringing in youths to venture in coffee farming,’ he added.

Kang’ata praised the quality of coffee produced in the county saying his administration will spearhead marketing of the processed coffee from the mill.

Construction of the coffee mill started during the last regime but failed to commence operations due to lack of some equipment including supply of electricity.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) have been sensitized on the implementation and status report of the government development projects like Affordable Housing, national tree growing campaign and others.

Additionally, they were taken through the implementation of the presidential directive to combat illicit alcohol and drug abuse to ensure the nation is free from the menace which poses serious threats to health and security.

The Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs) presented status reports on the government projects and implementation of the presidential directive across the 6 sub counties where they reported remarkable achievements and progress in the implementation of the government projects.

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale lauded the exercise courtesy of Reinvent Kenya as said the government is keen to know the status of the ongoing projects.

He noted that the government is currently embracing a societal approach, to how the projects are impacting the lives of the lo
cal communities, in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) pillars.

He further indicated that NGAOs should have elaborate information and understanding of the government projects, to be able to communicate the agenda of the government to the members of the public, to help counter misinformation and propaganda that misleads the people, regarding the projects.

Dr. Nyale said the county has done well in projects and more particularly in fighting illicit brew as per the president’s directive.

‘Following the Presidential directive on the fight against illicit brew and other narcotics, a number of initiatives were put in place including a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), and with collaborated efforts from the County Multi-agency Committee that has led to the netting of 26,437 litres of Changaa, 185,148 litres of Kangara, 39,232 litres of Busaa, and 7, 245 Rolls and 2,200 Stems of Bhang,’ he noted.

The administrative officers were also educated on administrative justice and alternative disp
ute resolution (ADR) through court-annexed mediation to enable residents to get access to justice on time.

In his remarks the presiding judge Eldoret High Court Justice Reuben Nyakundi who graced the event, reiterated the crucial role played by the administrative officers of government in terms of mediation noting that that will help in supporting Alternative Justice System (AJS) through ADR in order to reduce backlog of cases in courts particularly on succession matters.

He hinted on training of the NGAOs on mediation matters to enable them settle disputes on succession, land and others since they are ones with closeness to the members of the community.

The Exercise which is sponsored by REINVENT Kenya in partnership with the national government intends to ensure and promote high level of diligence and accountable service delivery closer to the community.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the third phase of repatriation of 70 thousand Ethiopians who are in a difficult situation in Saudi Arabia will begin in two weeks.

State Minister, Ambassador Birtukan stated this whilst the National Committee chaired by herself advised on the plan to return citizens in difficult situations in Saudi Arabia, today.

She also said that the work of repatriating citizens to their country requires the joint coordination of federal institutions and regional states included in the national committee.

Ambassador Birtukan reminded the stakeholders that the necessary budget, logistics and shelters should be prepared for the returnees when they arrive in Addis Ababa for the repatriation of citizens to be successful.

The Director General of Refugees and Returnees, Tayba Hassan, on her part, stated that the relevant institutions and regional states should pay special attention to the work of returning our citizens who are in difficult situations.

The members
of the National Committee confirmed that they will make the necessary arrangements to complete the plan on time, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Delish and Nutri, a US-based company, has partnered with Kakamega County for peanut production and value-addition.

US Ambassador to Kenya, Margaret Meg Whitman, while announcing the partnership at the inaugural Kakamega International Investment Conference (KAIICO2024), said the venture is expected to generate over 1000 jobs.

She said the East African region imports peanuts worth US $ 100 Million dollars, with Kenya getting 80% of the imports yet the country has the potential to grow the crop. ‘Why should Kenya import peanuts yet it should be an exporter given the huge potential available locally’ she posed.

The ambassador confirmed that the Matawa organic fertilizer manufacturing plant, currently under construction with US Government support, will soon commence operations. The factory plans to utilize organic waste, including food, fodder, sludge, and agricultural waste, to produce animal feed and fertilizer.

President William Ruto, who was the chief guest at the conference, announced that the government
has concluded a 5.8 billion investment for the construction of a gold refinery at Ikolomani in Kakamega County as well as a 2.5 billion granite factory in Vihiga County.

‘We want to do gold mining and processing locally and also manufacture our products here instead of importing them from elsewhere’ the President said. The Head of State also revealed that there will be a budget allocation of 2.5 billion in rural electrocution in Kakamega county and revival of the cotton industry in the country.

In addition, the host Governor, Fernandez Barasa said the county has gold reserves worth 500 billion, saying this was a key investment opportunity.

In attendance were Prime Cabinet Secretary,Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs , Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),Cabinet Secretaries Salim Mvurya and Rebecca Miano, Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Dr. Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), Abdi Ibrahim Hassan (Isiolo) and Paul Otuoma (Busia).

S
ource: Kenya News Agency

The Principal Secretary for University Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala on Wednesday visited students from Kenyatta University at Avenue Hospital, Parklands in Nairobi who sustained various injuries in an accident that occurred at Maungu in Voi Sub-county.

In a press statement sent to newsrooms, Dr. Inyangala who comforted each students in their respective wards, wished them a quick recovery and urged them to take courage.

The students who were headed for a trip to Mombasa were involved in a grisly road accident involving a Kenyatta University bus and a trailer on Monday night.

Eleven students lost their lives to the tragedy while 21 others sustained serious injuries.

The Hospital Manager, Dr. Said Mohammed said the hospital received 18 accident victims, whom health personnel at the facility worked without sleep to stabilize them.

‘We are happy that 17 of the patients admitted here are in stable condition,’ Dr. Mohammed said, moments after taking the Principal Secretary around all the wards
where the students are been admitted.

He said only one accident victim is still in critical condition, adding, that the staff was doing all it can to stabilize the situation.

Of the 18 accident victims at the hospital, 12 are female and six are male students.

The Principal Secretary was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer and Board Secretary at Higher Education Loans Board, Mr. Charles Ringera, the Chief Executive Officer, Commission for University Education, Prof Mike Kuria, Chief Executive, Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service, Ms Agnes Wahome, Chief Executive, University Funding Board, Geoffrey Monari, and the Chief Executive Officer, National Research Fund, Prof Dickson Andala.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: A baby with two heads was born at Wachamo University Queen Eleni Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Southern Ethiopia yesterday.

Pediatrics department head Dr. Basazen Tasew said that the mother delivered the baby at midnight.

The woman, a mother of five, gave birth to the baby with two heads attached below his neck, he added.

She gave birth through minor surgery.

The two-headed baby had normal regular gestation period and weighed 4.2 kilograms, it was learned.

Even though the baby is now healthy, there are indications that his development might be impaired in the future, Dr. Basazen stated.

A team of doctors in the hospital are closely monitoring the baby.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency