Category: General

A realtor, Njuki King’ori, has urged the government to fully adopt the rent-to-own model, through the Tenant Purchase Scheme (TPS) in allocating Affordable Houses.

King’ori, who is the General Manager of the Kenya Professional Realtors Association (KPRA) says, through the model, the government will accommodate the majority of Kenyans in the program that seeks to transform home ownership in the country.

In the model, the government or the developer enters into an agreement with the tenant to pay a deposit that will be agreed upon. The tenant then moves in to occupy the house and pays rent for a certain period to own the house.

King’ori notes that the model is the only way more Kenyans would benefit from the program as they may not be able to pay cash or seek credit from financial institutions.

‘It is a challenge for a common Mwananchi to access a mortgage from the banking sector because there is the need of saving history, credit rating and so on. There is so much that comes to you before you get a mortga
ge,’ he disclosed.

He commended the government for the Affordable Housing Program to construct low cost houses that can benefit locals saying that, before the idea, the option that was available of mortgages was for the affluent.

King’ori urged other willing financial institutions, organizations and corporations to join hands with the government and provide finances to further lower the cost of the houses to be affordable for every Kenyan.

He noted that the cost of the houses, though still on the high end, cannot go below the capped price due to the high cost of materials and other costs that make it hard for the government to lower it further.

‘The factors affecting the cost of housing are land, materials, taxes and all those, even the raw materials like cement, stone. Some developers have even shifted to prefabs which have also become costly,’ he noted.

The Realtor also called for institutions in real estate to establish more affordable houses and sell through the rent-to-own model to provide more opti
ons for Kenyans apart from the Government’s program.

In the Affordable Housing Program, the government has provided options of cash payment for the units, mortgages and home financing of rent-to-own through the Tenant Purchase Scheme for a period of 30 years.

To be considered in the AHP, a Kenyan is required to dial *832# or visit the Boma Yangu Portal through the E-Citizen to register.

They are then required to make savings to count towards a deposit of 10 percent of the total cost of the house they prefer in order to be considered for allocation once the unit they selected is complete.

The Government targets to construct at least 200 Affordable Housing Units in every constituency in Kenya in the first phase with many of the units expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The State Department for Agriculture and other allied departments have rolled out a blueprint to help boost food security in the country.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Rono said the move will integrate all the plans and activities of eight State Departments who play a key role in food security and bring coordination, harmony and efficiency into the entire process.

Dr. Rono pointed out that this will help avoid duplication of functions by the Departments as far as food security is concerned, bring focus and make the responsibilities of each player clear.

During a two-day meeting held in Naivasha to discuss food security in the country and attended by five principal secretaries (PSs), six value chains were identified as key drivers of food security. They include; tea, coffee, sugarcane, cotton, and rice.

The production, marketing, and augmentation of rice production in order to reduce imports, was seen as a key area since Kenya currently imports about 80 percent of the rice consumed in the count
ry.

Further, the new initiative included the production of edible oil. Dr. Rono noted that the country was importing nearly 95 percent of her edible oils.

Livestock was also added to the value chains as it was noted that there is a huge demand in the Middle East for Kenyan livestock and its products.

Principal Secretary for Irrigation Mr. Ephantus Kimotho noted that Kenya produces only 234 metric tonnes of rice and imports over 700 metric tonnes to meet the deficit.

Mr. Kimotho said the State Department plans to increase irrigation land to double rice production by 2027 and achieve self-sufficiency by 2032, despite a rice deficit.

Kimotho said plans are underway to increase irrigation acreage from 600,000 to one million in the country, adding they will collaborate with other departments to ensure certified rice production and high-yielding varieties.

Principle Secretary (PS) for Trade, Mr. Alfred K`Ombudo said his Department will be seeking to improve marketing of the produce for farmers so that they ca
n get value for money and add a product will be sourced from an area of the country that it is in surplus and marketed in areas that have a demand for the product.

‘We will also improve warehousing and storage facilities for farmers in order to stem the 40 percent post-harvest losses we incur each year,’ Mr. K’Ombudo said.

K`Ombudo further noted that they were working on accessing export markets that bring in higher profit margins for the farmers and announced that the Government has just struck a deal with 27 European Union (EU) countries with an 18-trillion-dollar Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for the sale of Kenyan fresh produce.

Briefing the press during the meeting, Industry PS Mr. Juma Mukhwana, on his part said the construction of aggregation and industrial parks in 18 counties had already gone through the tendering stage and added each County will identify the kind of raw materials that can be produced in those counties and processed into finished products in their industrial parks.

Mr. Mukhwana s
aid this will go a long way in increasing value addition and help reduce post-harvest losses, as a way of ensuring food security in the country.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Turkana County government through the Department of Health, has intensified outreaches to assess the impact of measles outreach that were started late last year.

According to WHO, Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease, caused by a virus that can lead to severe health complications and death.

Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body.

County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Dr. Francis Iris Mariao, led a team including Sub-County Health Management officers and UNICEF Kenya Representatives to assess status of the measles outreach emergency response in Letea Ward, Turkana West Sub-county.

The response, which began in mid-November 2023, was initiated at the village of Lokipoto and reported a surge in measles cases.

It was a similar response that was seen in Nalapatui, Kalobeyei Ward, earlier in the year.

While the Nalapatui response focused on home-based care and follow-up
s, in Lokipoto, the Department opted to establish a Case Management Center at the local dispensary.

Supported by USAID NAWIRI, USAID Imarisha Jamii, Welthungerhilfe, and International Rescue Committee Core Group Partners’ Project, the Center had managed to slow down the spread of the disease as community health promoters had intensified case finding, at the household level.

During a briefing with the dispensary staff and community representatives, Dr Mariao lauded the efforts of the staff, case management team, local community, and various partners involved in the emergency response.

‘The way forward on how to end the outbreak will be discussed in an upcoming meeting with the senior health management team and partners,’ he said.

The County Executive was accompanied by Dr. Nelson Lolos and Rose Kendagun from UNICEF Kenya, Lodwar Zonal Office, Joel Lochor (Sub-county Medical Officer of Health) and John Ateyo (Sub-county Public Health Nurse).

Another team led by Dr David Moru – Acting Director for Health Pr
oducts and Technologies, conducted a similar assessment at the Kakuma Sub-County Hospital and neighboring dispensaries.

At the Hospital, the team interrogated caregivers of admitted measles patients, to ascertain their villages and migratory routes. It is known that the highly mobile pastoralists in the sub-county, are vulnerable to have missed opportunities for immunization.

The team also urged the women to disseminate knowledge to their fellow villagers about the importance of immunization and take any child, who presented a rash to the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: President Sahlework Zewde, Prosperity Party Vice President Temesgen Tiruneh and other high ranking government officials visited the East Africa Pastoralist Expo in Addis Ababa.

The expo is organized by the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) under the theme of “Pastoralist: The East African Mosaic.”

The expo provides a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy advocacy to enhance the well-being of pastoralists in the region.

The main objective of the expo, which drew more than 1,200 pastoralists from the IGAD region, is to promote trade and regional developmental integration.

The expo also aims at ensuring shared and mutual development among countries in the region by mitigating the challenges of the pastoral communities.

Furthermore, the expo celebrates the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and sustainable development of pastoral communities in addition to showcasing new heights of collaboration representing a crucial step towar
ds greater regional integration.

The expo is meant to recognize the effect of pastoralists in the horn of Africa in terms of production and sustainable management of ecosystems and vast dry land, it was learned.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice (OAGandDOJ) has conducted a stakeholder’s forum at KICC to validate its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.

The input of the stakeholders will be considered and incorporated into the Plan to meet and exceed the expectations of its internal and external stakeholders, as well as the general public.

As an enabler to all government entities in realizing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Solicitor General (SG), Shadrack J. Mose, who officially opened the forum, committed that in line with its mandate, OAGandDOJ, will review and draft laws touching on BETA priorities.

He informed stakeholders that the OAGandDOJ had identified four (4) key result areas for the performance metrics that have critical impact on the achievement of the overall strategic mission for the OAGandDOJ.

The Solicitor General said identified key result areas include Legal Services; Governance, Legal Training and Constitutional Affairs; Leadership and Integrity; and Ge
neral Administration, Planning and Operations.

He added that the Office had also identified ten (10) other strategic objectives and specific strategies, as well as, specific activities to be implemented in the plan period.

The validation forum was attended by representatives from MDAs, Civil Society Organizations and Heads of Departments from the OAGandDOJ.

The stakeholders have up to 28th of February, 2024, to provide their input to be considered and incorporated into the Strategic Plan, before it is launched.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: The 3rd agricultural inputs expo and symposium which will be held for three successive days kicked off in Addis Ababa today.

Opening the expo and symposium, State Minister of Agriculture Sophia Kassa said agricultural inputs and finance are pivotal to transform the sector.

The main objective of the expo is improving the production, distribution and utilization of agricultural inputs and enhancing the role of the private sector, it was indicted.

The agriculture sector contributes 77 percent of Ethiopia’s export revenue

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Small scale farmers from Kaani in Machakos County, have now put all their focus on farming using indigenous seeds because they are adaptive to climate change especially in Machakos, where the rains are scarce.

The farmers who have formed a close knit group in Kaani where they meet every Friday to update each other on their developments and challenges in farming say indigenous seeds have saved them money and time, since they don’t have to rely on the agro vets to get their seeds nor fertilizer.

Peter Nzioka, who is 68 years old and chairman of the small scale group, while speaking to KNA says he has been an ardent farmer for 24 years and his journey took a different course 9 years ago, when he began focusing on only indigenous farming which includes non-use of fertilizer or any chemicals on his farm.

Nzioka while showing us his 31/2 half acres explained that he chose the indigenous route because of the nutritional value and when the rains are approaching, he will be able to decide what seeds he wants to pla
nt compared to going to the agro vet and maybe the seeds one needs are not available or are highly priced yet the rains are there for a short while and he needs to plant immediately.

This, he said has made him develop an indigenous seed bank where he reproduces his seeds for planting which saves him time and money.

‘As Kaani small scale farmers we have our seed banks because if you depend on someone else to give you seeds you will delay in planting, delay in harvest, which results in famine and hunger,’ said Nzioka.

He added that he uses local available materials to improve his farming such as farmyard manure, composite manure and regeneration of his seeds which is what his forefathers before him had been doing.

‘I have transitioned myself from normal agriculture to Agroecology because I have seen the benefits of indigenous seeds which are disease and drought resistant, adaptable to climate change and the yields are good,’ said Nzioka.

A group photo of Kaani small scale farmers while on indigenous seeds
training and promoting Agroecology by the Haki Nawiri founder Leonida Odongo in Kaani of Machakos County.

Nzioka believes that most farmers are leaning towards producing what has a ready market as opposed to what is nutritious and indigenous noting that cash crops have replaced heritage foods that fed people for generations.

He adds that his health and his family’s health has improved over the years as a result of eating crops that are chemical free.

On asking him how he keeps off pests and insects from his crops, he said that he uses Sodom apple which he cuts them up in pieces and mixes them in hot water, leaves it for two days and it’s ready for use and can be sprayed to keep off bugs.

Nzioka while showing us the Sodom apple plants which grow freely in most farms, forests and can be easily found, encouraged most farmers who cannot afford insecticide at the agro vet to try the Sodom apple which has no chemicals and is cheap to prepare.

He said he has given his son an Acre from his land so that he starts
his own indigenous farming which is already bearing fruits and he looks forward to educating the community on the importance of indigenous seeds.

A 50-year-old Charles Muinde a farmer from lower kaewa in Machakos and a member of the Kaani small scale farmers, says financial challenges made him change from the modern farming to organic farming which he has been practicing for the last 10 years.

Muinde who believes a farmer is both a researcher and a scientist, previously worked as a salesman in various beverage companies, decided to resign from his 9-5pm job, venture into farming full time and focus on chemical free farming and using compost manure instead of fertilizer.

Muinde said before he decided to go organic he suffered losses because his crops were attacked by worms and he spent a lot on insecticide which made him lose money and after doing some research that’s when he chose the indigenous farming.

‘My farm and crops quality have improved since I stopped using modern modified seeds and chemicals in
my farm, the produce may not be much but it is healthy, nutritious, chemical free and enough to feed my family,’ said Muinde.

Muinde adds that the challenge that he faced were the attacks from army worms and other insects and so since he decided to plant repellants instead of using the pesticides from the agro vets.

‘We decided to plant repellants or natural insecticides such as lemon grass, rosemary, onions, mint and basil which are useful for keeping off insects and bugs that usually destroy the crops,’ added Muinde.

He says he also uses Sodom apple mixed with hot water to make the repellant which is readily available and while others believe Sodom apple is poisonous, he says they have tried it on their farms and it is safe for use compared to the chemicals being sold.

A photo of Sodom apple which is used by farmers to make locally available insecticide to keep off insects and worms from the crops.

‘As farmers, we take ourselves to be scientists and researchers and we take our farms as research centers
and laboratories where we come up with insecticides which are locally available such as Sodom apple which after spraying the crops one can harvest the crop after a day or two,’ added Muinde.

He adds that he convinced his wife of 20 years to leave her teaching job and join him in the quest for indigenous farming and clean eating, which has increased their food production.

He adds that together with his wife they have now opened a local hotel in the village and they use the produce from their farm to cook for their clients.

Muinde says he has planted sweet potatoes, arrowroots, maize, beans, cowpeas and vegetables which are used at his Jehovah Glory hotel, which is at the Kaani shopping Centre.

He acknowledges that the Haki Nawiri foundation whose mission is advancing social justice in marginalized communities, paid the small scale farmers a visit and encouraged them in the use of indigenous seeds and how to maintain the seeds for future use.

As a dedicated farmer he believes in learning new techniques eve
ry day which will improve farming and save on cost, he has also managed to convince some of his friends to join the indigenous seeds wagon.

Magdalene Kimeu who is also a member of the small scale farmers has been using indigenous seeds for over 10 years. She uses local fertilizer which include chicken waste and cow dung.

She says that as a group, they visit each other to help those who are facing difficulties in farming and they are well guided on how to proceed.

Veronica adds that when her father gave her a piece of land to farm, she started using the organic seeds and from the teaching from the Haki Nawiri foundation, her crops thrived.

She noted that her siblings showed interest in her crops which also survived during the drought season and now almost everyone is curious and interested in indigenous farming.

The founder of Haki Nawiri foundation Leonida Odongo who were conducting a three-day training for farmers in indigenous farming in kaani, said that they are in a quest to salvage indigenous seeds
which are adaptable to climate change and grow to be productive.

‘With indigenous seeds they are tried and tested by our ancestors and forefathers and no farmer who has used them has experienced stunted growth,’ said Leonida.

Leonida pointed out that for proper farming that will yield nutritious food each soil from the farmer’s land has to have water retention capacity and had asked them each to carry some soil so that they can do a soil test to determine whose soil is the best for producing quality food.

She also encouraged the farmers to have an indigenous seed bank for use and not to rely on their friends or neighbor’s so that they can have the freedom to decide what to plant and when to harvest.

Leonida taught them how to store seeds for future use without them getting bad and one way is smoking them or hanging them on a fireplace like in the old days.

Earthen pots of burnt clay are also used to store indigenous seeds as well as mixing them with ash or cow dung.

The founder of Haki Nawiri said that
in Machakos they have trained over 300 farmers and they are looking forward to reaching other parts of the country to encourage Agroecology for a healthy and sustainable diet.

Source: Kenya News Agency