Day: April 7, 2024

The State Department for Housing and Urban Development under the Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) is set to construct a modern market at Mukarara trading centre after Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru handed over land for the project.

Once completed, the market will benefit about 1,000 people from within and outside the county who have been trading in open air and makeshift sheds.

During the handing over event at Mukarara center in Kirinyaga East subcounty, Governor Waiguru noted that the project aligns with the county administration’s manifesto of providing a conducive environment for traders and farmers to sell their wares and produce.

She said that the two-storey market, with a capacity to host 200 traders on the ground floor, will also host an ICT hub connected with internet and a social hall for the community.

It will also host a crèche where babies who accompany their mothers to the market are cared for. The market will also accommodate a restaurant.

‘In no time, this site will not only be a place for
people to come and buy and sell goods but a catalyst for economic vitality and a platform for local entrepreneurs to thrive. The market will transform Mukarara town into a vibrant epicenter of commerce,’ Waiguru said.

She acknowledged the national government efforts for the project which will ensure people conduct businesses in a conducive environment.

‘We are grateful for the National Government’s complementary efforts in ensuring that we have modern markets in as many of our trading centers as possible,’ said the governor.

She revealed that the County government has constructed a total of 17 modern markets, and identified suitable sites for construction of additional modern markets in Kagio, Kutus, Wang’uru and Kimbimbi for which her administration is seeking similar collaboration with the National Government.

Waiguru noted that the modern markets are responsive to the contemporary needs of growing towns and trading centers since they incorporate the requisite amenities such as solid waste disposal bins
, parking lots, reliable water and electricity supply and efficient drainage systems.

Source: Kenya News Agency

There is need for the youth to be disciplined and play by the rules in order to excel in sports, Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has said.

Mutula said that besides having an opportunity to show their talents, the games will give them a platform to be scouted for national or international teams in the future.

The governor said this on Friday outside his office when he received teams that are scheduled to play in MKJ Super Cup scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

‘Scouts are coming to Makueni having seen what we produced in the past, they are coming to check whether they can find talented youths to sign up for either national or international level teams,’ said Mutula while addressing the media.

‘It is not about us, but it is about them showing their talent besides being disciplined and ready to observe rules in the field which will enhance their chances of being taken up,’ added the governor.

After this super cup that finals will be held on Sunday, the winning teams in soccer, basketball and voll
eyball will be selected to represent the county in the Kenya Youth Inter-county Sports Association (KYISA) games that will be held in Kilifi County from 14th-21st April 2024.

Makueni is the defending champions when the games were held in Meru last year. Usually youths aged between 18-23 years take part in the games.

On KYISA, the governor called upon the organizers to adhere to the rules of the game in order to ensure fairness in the sporting event that brings together sports men and women from the 47 counties.

He revealed that his government intends to construct stadiums in the county so that the youth can play from fields that are of international standards.

Department of Gender and Sports Executive Committee Member (ECM) Eng. Peter Mumo said they were prepared to host the two-day event saying security and resources required are available.

Present at the event included Sports Director Ambrose Kisoi among other officials from the county Government.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Embu branch of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) is dismayed that the Government and striking medical workers have failed to reach an agreement to end the ongoing strike leading to the endless suffering of the poor.

They said the more than three weeks the strike had taken was too long and that it was high time the parties ended the standoff.

The clerics in a Statement read by Branch Chairman Bishop Stephen Njogu also said there was anxiety about the proposed transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) with some private health providers refusing to treat people with the NHIF card.

Several church leaders under the umbrella of NCCK had met at the Mwamba Imara NICA church at Gakwegori in Embu where they also elected new office bearers.

They noted that there was need for extensive civic education on the transition to enable people know what they were getting into in the new scheme before it is implemented.

Clergy also expressed co
ncern that the government was not taking any steps to reduce the cost of living that had left most households unable to afford essential commodities.

They said they were dismayed that of the nine bills before Parliament as a result of the NADCO talks, none addressed the issue of cost of living, yet it was the one that made Kenyans demonstrate on the streets.

Expressing grave concern about reports of adulterated or fake fertilizers, the clergy said the occurrence had tarnished the good work the government had done in addressing food insecurity and said all those involved in the scandal should be made to face the full force of the law.

They urged members of the public to support the scaled up NCCK Scholarship program by contributing Sh1.50 of their airtime daily.

During the elections, Bishop Stephen Njogu was elected chairman, Salvation Army Major Paul Kyalo vice chairman and Rev Captain Tabitha Kariuki secretary.

Others office bearers are Bishop Patrick Mureithi elected honorary Treasurer, Phyllis Wandiri
, the women representative while Claire Njageh and Nancy Gatumu will represent youth and persons with disabilities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kisii County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Elijah Obwori has commended the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme Phase Two (ASDSP II) for enhancing the capacity of farmers in different value chains within the county.

Speaking during a visit by the programme’s National Secretariat Monitoring and Evaluation team, Mr. Obwori said that ASDSP II had supported farmers in banana, dairy and local chicken value chains with the aim of increasing their productivity, enhancing entrepreneurship skills and enabling them access markets.

Obwori noted that through the collaboration with the development partners, most farmers had realized increased profits from their produce.

The National Secretariat team led by Marren Amoko, also visited some of the beneficiaries and lauded the farmers for the efforts they put in to ensure the success of the programme.

The team also assessed resource utilization, procurement and assets in place and visited farmers undertaking banana aggregation and marketing at Ko
niga farm in Kitutu Chache North Constituency.

Richard Otara, a banana farmer and beneficiary of the programme, thanked ASDSP II for facilitating the training they received and providing access to the market.

‘I have been able to sell my bananas at Sh18 per kilogram and make better profits unlike when I used to sell them in bunches. Last month, I sold 360 kilograms and earned more than Sh6000,’ Otara said.

The banana farmer who operates under the Kisii County Banana Production and Marketing Society noted that the group sells their bananas to Boka Eats factory in Kisii town and other traders outside the county.

Currently, the Kisii County Banana Production and Marketing Society has a total of 70 groups engaging in banana farming and the groups are growing different varieties across the county.

The Agriculture Sector Development Support Programme Phase Two (ASDSP II) is a key programme designed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives and 47 county governments to address food a
nd nutrition security and promote manufacturing through value addition.

It was financed by the Government of Kenya, Sida and the European Union for a period of five years (2017-2022) and primarily designed to enhance the capacity of different priority value chain actors at different levels to tackle the problems that hinder commercialization of agriculture.

Source: Kenya News Agency