Day: June 3, 2024

Most farmers in Kitui County have recorded bumper harvests in the recent past two rainy seasons, which has resulted in a price decrease of farm food produce.

The recent rainy seasons in October to December last year and this year’s March to May led to high crop yields, leading to an increase in the supply of farm food commodities to local food markets and other outlets.

A survey done this week by Kenya News Agency on a few selected farm food markets and other outlets in the county revealed that traders of farm food commodities have been recording low sales and a massive reduction in the prices of locally produced food commodities since January this year.

‘With a successful rain season and high crop yields, local residents who double as farmers and our customers have turned into our cereal suppliers, thus resulting in increased supply while also reducing demand,’ said the local cereals and other farm food traders.

Consequently, the bumper harvest received consecutively for the last two seasons have reduced
the cost of living for the local residents who faced starvation before the start of last year’s October to December rain season and the current March to May rain season.

KNA further revealed a continuous, noticeable decline in farm food sales and increased pressure on the traders to keep reducing food prices in efforts to attract customers, despite the traders own financial strains for the same.

Faith Katuku, a vegetable trader at Kalundu food market in Kitui township, while speaking to KNA, lamented on low sales due to lack of customers.

Faith, who is a mother of three children and has been a trader at the market for more than eight years, sells various farm food products, including potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, bananas, and apples.

She highlighted the drastic and continuous reduction of the prices of farm food commodities and the low demand for the products.

‘Before the onset of last year’s rain season, a bag of 90 kg of potatoes was selling for between Sh4,500 to Sh5,000, and tomatoes for Sh150
per kilogram. However, upon the arrival of the rains, their prices have significantly continued to go down and are currently at less than Sh3,000 and Sh50, respectively,’ said the trader.

‘I am forced to keep on reversing downwards the prices of the food commodities to attract customers who are also complaining of harsh economic conditions that have affected their purchasing power, thus negatively affecting their standard of living,’ she added.

Faith further attributed the continuous low demand and poor returns of her sales since the beginning of this year to the availability of homegrown farm produce, which has led to adequate farm food products received by local farmers who double as their customers.

Jennifer Mwende, 46 years old, who is also a trader at the market and deals in cereals both at retail and wholesale levels, echoed similar concerns made by Faith.

‘Before the onset of last year’s rain season, demand for cereals was high, and prices were higher for most cereals. I used to sell more than thre
e bags of a 90-kg bag of maize within a week. During market days that are on every Monday and Thursday, I used to make substantial profits, but nowadays it is a different story as I hardly manage to sell a single bag of 90 kg of maize,’ Jennifer lamented.

She explained that she gets her supply of the maize from Busia at Sh2,800 per 90-kg bag and sells it for Sh3,200, translating to a profit of Sh400.

Like Faith and Jennifer, other traders have also attributed the low demand for the cereals to their customers’ reduced purchasing power and farm food owing to the bumper harvest received during the recent past two rain seasons in the county.

‘Our customers are also struggling with the high cost of living of other non-farm food commodities and are forced to adjust in order to live within their means. Therefore, I am also made to sell my products at a reduced price to attract customers and to avoid losses due to spoilage,’ the traders regretted.

The cereal traders further added that the same problem affecting t
he maize also extends to other cereal products, including beans and rice, with a 25-kg bag of rice costing Sh3,150.

Other farm food commodities whose prices have declined include Prices of onions have gone down from January’s sale price of Sh160 per one kilogramme to the current price of Sh130.

The price of garlic has also come down from Sh600 per kilo to Sh500.

Food commodities such as green grams have fallen in price, from Ksh 200 per kilogramme in September last year, before the start of the October-December rain season, to Sh 100 today.

One kilogramme of millet and sorghum have also been reduced from January’s sale prices of Sh80 and Sh90 to current prices of Sh60 and Sh75, respectively.

Most of the traders at the Kalundu and other local markets explained that their customers have opted to enjoy the fruits of their farms’ labour, hence consuming their homegrown food, while also selling some to buy other basic needs.

A local farmer, Joseph Musyoka, who is a retired public officer whom the Kenya News
Agency caught up with while supplying his freshly harvested green maize to a trader at Kalundu market, said he primarily relies on farming.

‘I rely on farming for my income, and thanks for receiving enough rains, for I am now reaping the rewards of my hard work at my farm following the end of the successful previous two rain seasons,’ he said.

‘I have a farm where I plant various types of vegetables and various types of cereals, such as maize, beans, cowpeas, and pigeon peas, among others. I therefore don’t have to go to the market to buy vegetables since I have fresh produce in my garden,’ said Mary Ndunge, another resident and farmer, while speaking to KNA.

Mary proudly expressed her satisfaction, saying plucking a ripe tomato or fresh kale leaves from her shamba is remarkable.

The ongoing economic hardship has left many vendors and traders of farm food commodities in the local county in a precarious position. They face the dual challenge of maintaining their livelihoods while accommodating the financia
l limitations of their customers. As the rainy season comes to an end, these vendors hope for an improvement in sales to mitigate potential losses.

This situation highlights the broader economic struggles faced by both sellers and buyers in Kitui Town. The cost-of-living crisis is not just a personal issue for individual households but a community-wide challenge that impacts the local economy’s stability.

Both traders and customers in Kitui County are eagerly awaiting the end of the rainy season. Traders hope that the market dynamics will improve, allowing them to sell their products at better prices and avoid losses. Customers, on the other hand, are looking forward to more affordable prices and better purchasing power in anticipation of an improved economy.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has set aside 3, 000 acres to compensate people evicted from parts of Maasai Mau forest in Narok North Sub County.

Speaking at Ole Ntimama Stadium during the Madaraka Day celebrations, Narok North Member of Parliament (MP) Agnes Pareyio told the residents that the state had agreed to compensate the over 2000 people who were left homeless after they were evicted from the forest.

‘Our president, Dr. William Ruto, and Governor Patrick Ntutu agreed to give 3000 acres of land that will be subdivided to the evictees,’ she said.

Pareyio said the beneficiaries, who have been living in camps, will get their land before the end of this month so that they can build their permanent homes.

The first time MP said the county governor had committed to setting aside Sh17 million to help sub-divide the land and support the squatters to resettle after staying in camps for over six months.

‘I was elected on a Jubilee ticket, but I decided to work with the ruling party, ‘UDA’. I have not regretted it because e
very day I see fruits from the government. Those who thought I was lost should be informed that we are benefiting more from UDA than from the opposition,’ she said.

However, the county security team led by Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia and Governor Ntutu chose to keep away from the issue.

Since the evictions in November 2023, the evictees have been living in camps as squatters with no permanent place to call home.

Some of the evictees who spoke to the press said the announcement by the area MP came as a big relief, thanking the government for donating land to resettle them.

‘We received the news with gladness in our hearts. We are eagerly waiting to be shown our new parcels of land where we can settle our families,’ said Ole Rotiken.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has expressed her commitment to support agricultural initiatives to foster the region’s economic growth.

During the Meru 56th Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show at Gitoro Showground, Mwangaza said agriculture was the backbone of the county’s economy, with over 70 per cent of its population relying on it directly or indirectly.

She said the County contributes seven per cent to the country’s GDP, with its agricultural production ranked first, surpassing the next contributing county at five per cent.

‘It is worth noting that producers in Meru are our diligent small-scale farmers who, despite their small farms, generate food for local consumption and national and international markets.

‘The region’s role in ensuring food security, improving nutrition, creating wealth, and generating employment cannot be overstated,’ said Mwangaza.

Meru County, she added, is endowed with diverse climatic conditions and rich volcanic soils, making it ideal for agricultural activities includi
ng the vibrant dairy, tea, and other agricultural sub-sectors.

To further support the daily subsector, the governor said her administration had provided needy households with dairy cows, sheds, and capacity-building initiatives.

‘We also run various programmes to support farmers through training and technological promotion, as well as the provision of farm inputs, modernisation of factories, formation of ward Saccos, and assistance with seed capital to carry out initial activities. We also assist farmers affected by locusts’ invasion with dairy goats, farm inputs, and avocado seedlings,’ she added.

‘We have supported poultry farmers with feeds and sorghum farmers with conservation agricultural equipment, drought-tolerant sorghum, and aflatoxin control measures,’ said Mwangaza.

She also said that one of the significant challenges Meru’s agricultural sector faces is the impact of climate change, which has led to an erratic weather pattern like prolonged droughts, inadequate rainfall, flash floods as recentl
y witnessed, and a general loss of biodiversity essential for agriculture.

She said the County has implemented various adaptation and mitigation measures, including the promotion of climate-smart agriculture technologies and conservation agriculture through capacity building and rehabilitation of degraded land and water catchment areas.

‘This show consistently offers valuable opportunities for producers, manufacturers, traders, and consumers to forge effective economic partnerships.

‘The decision to exhibit or attend this year’s show is commendable and beneficial. You have a prime opportunity for learning and networking, which will help establish efficient production and trading systems, fueling the economic growth of the county,’ said Mwangaza.

With the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for traders and service providers, she added, investors will find Meru County as an ideal business destination.

On her part, ASK national Chairperson Annabel Kiriinya said that the platform prov
ided by national shows and exhibitions plays a key role in promoting regional trade and economic integration, fostering healthy competition, expanding market access, diversifying investment prospects, and significantly contributing to social economic stability and political harmony within the region.

‘This year’s theme: Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth, embodies the essence of our agricultural shows and trade fairs, as well as our unwavering commitment as stakeholders in the agricultural sector and aligning with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,’ said Kiriinya.

She said the society has completed the development of the Meru Showground integrated land use masterplan concept, which envisages several developments such as a state lodge, a VIP pavilion, a regional exhibition and conference centre, a business incubation centre, an agricultural training centre, and a commercial and cultural centre, among many other investments.

These, she added,
will ensure all-year-round utilisation of the Meru showground for purposes of networking, planning, and showcasing.

She requested the County leadership’s assistance in fast-tracking the masterplan, which they believe will benefit the people of Meru and Kenya at large.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The headquarters of the County Government of Homa Bay is set to be relocated to the Kanyabala location on the outskirts of Homa Bay town.

Governor Gladys Wanga said her administration has decided to relocate the county headquarters to a site where an animal feed project has been partially constructed.

The animal feed factory was started by former Governor Cyprian Awiti in August 2015 but stalled midway.

Governor Wanga said the construction of the headquarters will be funded by the County Pension Funds (CPF) through a loan.

Wanga launched the project in the company of her Deputy Oyugi Magwanga, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, and Woman Rep Joyce Osogo.

The Governor said the decision to remove the animal feed factory was due to its proximity to Kabunde Air Strip.

The Governor said it is not suitable to construct an animal feed factory near an air strip because it attracts birds, which can cause air accidents.

‘I want to state categorically that we are constructing the county headquarters on the land that
had been earmarked for an animal feed factory.

But you are all aware of the proximity of the factory to the airstrip. The factory is unfit for this site because it can cause accidents because it attracts birds.’ Wanga said.

The governor said her administration had earmarked the construction of factories at Riwa Industrial Special Economic Zone in Karachuonyo Constituency.

She said her administration had put measures in place to ensure industries were established by private sector actors.

‘This animal feed factory will be moved to where an investor can take it, but our plan is to ensure almost all industries are constructed at Riwa,’ Wanga said.

Wanga said the construction of the headquarters was expected to be complete by December this year.

Kaluma said the project will expand Homa Bay town to rural areas.

‘This project will help in expanding our town towards rural areas,’ Kaluma said.

Osogo argued the project will increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Homa Bay town.

‘The locals are going to b
uild rental houses near the county headquarters and thus improve economic growth,’ Osogo said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A woman in contradiction to the generally known norm has defied tradition and embraced her work as a mortuary attendant, much to the amazement of many.

Whereas it is a common adage among the Luo community that ‘tich en tich’ loosely translated means ‘Work is Work’ but there are certain jobs that have traditionally been viewed as belonging to men while certain others belong to women, which has in many ways relegated women to the periphery in matters of development.

But the modern woman is that one with no limits, taking up jobs even those traditionally viewed as for men.

Christine Otieno is one such exemplary woman who works as a mortuary attendant at Star Mortuary in Kisumu, a job she has passionately discharged for 38 years, and she divulges on why she chose this job and whether her family approves of it.

‘My name is Christine Otieno, and I am a resident of a car wash in Kisumu and, by profession, a mortuary attendant, and it’s a job I have held for the last 38 years, ‘says Christine.

Christine reveals
that her journey as a mortuary attendant began when a lady friend of hers passed away, but she wasn’t properly taken care of at the morgue, which made her decide to learn the art of taking care of the deceased bodies so she could give such a befitting last respect.

She reveals that the incident saw her make up her mind while still a young girl right in form three to be a mortuary attendant so she could properly give the dead a befitting treatment before they are buried.

She, however, points out that her decision wasn’t welcomed by many, including her friends, some of whom took her for a checkup in mental facilities, believing she was running mad.

But Christine is grateful to her aunt, who supported her career choice, even as she confesses that her work as a mortuary attendant has made her meet many important people, but more importantly, it doesn’t make her come into loggerheads with anybody, hence her love for her job.

She also points out that the job has also given her an opportunity to train many other
new mortuary attendants who are now experts at the job.

She, however, notes that no job can be without a challenge and points to the major challenge of her job as not being provided with the requisite materials to enable her to professionally discharge her duties.

She encourages girls and women to embrace any job that comes their way, especially in the current dispensation where one has no choice of work.

Source: Kenya News Agency