Day: September 21, 2024

The Principal Secretary, State Department of Agriculture, Dr. Paul Rono, has directed the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) to carry out auditing of all Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) financial commitments and operations and all its assets.

Dr. Rono, who was speaking at Toror Factory in Kericho, said that auditing of the Kenya Tea Development Agency factories was necessary following calls by tea farmers for separation and independence in the running of tea factories.

The irate tea farmers at the meeting with the PS carried twigs of tea plantations as they pleaded for the separation of satellite tea factories from their parent factories, arguing that the satellite factories had grown sufficiently and it was time to be allowed to operate independently for increased efficiency.

Ainamoi MP Ambassador Benjamin Langat addressing the irate farmers at Toror Factory. The farmers called on the government to effect the separation of Toror Factory from Tegat Factory to ensure maximum benefits to the farmers.

Bernard Kemb
oi, a tea farmer affiliated to Toror Tea Factory who spoke to KNA, said separation was crucial from the parent factories to allow autonomy in decision-making, financial management, bonuses, and the use of new technology in tea processing.

‘As farmers, we have resolved that the annual tea bonus payments for both Toror and Tegat factories be suspended until the separation is completed; it is inevitable-no separation, no plucking,’ stressed Kemboi.

Meanwhile, operations at Toror Tea Factory have been grounded as farmers boycotted plucking and transportation of tea until the separation from Tegat Tea Factory is officially effected.

The situation is the same at Chelal Factory, where farmers are agitating for separation from Litein Tea Factory.

The PS assured tea farmers that the government will soon address their grievances.

Dr. Rono, who was accompanied by the Tea Board of Kenya Managing Director Willy Mutai and Ainamoi Legislator Amb. Benjamin Langat, Tegat, and Toror factory directors, said that the Nation
al Government had injected Sh1.4 billion towards the provision of fertiliser subsidies for tea and maize farmers in the country.

He said that to cushion farmers, the fertiliser subsidy was being sold to farmers at Sh 2500.

The PS said that to improve tea processing and make them competitive in quality tea processing, the National Government will help in the introduction of new digital processing machinery in older factories like Tegat, Kapkoros, Litein, Mogogosiek, and Kapkatet factories.

The PS added that to improve farmers’ earnings in tea bonuses, KTDA factory management and directors should reduce operational costs and other entities that eat into farmers’ earnings.

‘Some factory unit management and directors had their operational costs beyond the ceilings, which negatively affected the second tea payment. These operational costs should be minimal,’ the PS said.

The Agriculture PS further said the use of scientific tea testing was to bring equity and fairness in the marketing of tea. ‘Tampering of te
a weighing scales by unscrupulous clerical officers at tea buying centres in order to steal farmers produce has been reported, and action will be taken on those found,’ the PS said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Mandera County marked this year’s International Day of Peace with a strong emphasis on restoring harmony across the region.

The celebrations, led by Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Patrick Messo, focused on the vital role of youth in fostering peace within their communities.

Addressing mostly the youth, DCC Messo urged them to avoid harmful activities, including drug abuse and violent extremism, and instead become advocates for peace.

He emphasized the importance of cultivating a culture of peace wherever they are, stressing that the youth are the beacons of progress and development in Mandera.

‘You have the power to influence change in your communities,’ DCC Messo stated and called on the youth to engage in meaningful activities that contribute to peace and unity.

He reiterated that the future of Mandera lies in the hands of the younger generation and their ability to champion peace.

A youth leader, Abdi Adan, urged young people to prioritise their future by engaging in meaningful initiatives that pro
mote peace.

The International Day of Peace, observed globally, serves as a reminder of the need to promote peace and stability in conflict-prone regions like Mandera.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Learning institutions at the primary level within the coastal region have been urged to embrace the Kenya Play Project (KPLAY) learning system as stakeholders in the education sector highlight that the system has seen a great shift in academic performance.

Led by IREX, the project is a holistic, systemic, gender-responsive approach geared towards introducing and scaling Learning Through Play with Technology (LTPT) in Kwale and Kilifi counties through integrating learning activities, including local games and songs, in the classrooms.

According to various stakeholders in the education sector, KPLAY aligns with the current national Competency Based Curriculum(CBC), and it seeks to provide methodologies to help teachers build the STEM and soft skills required by the CBC and for Kenya’s vision 2030.

Speaking during the Kenya Play Project (K-PLAY) 2nd Conference themed ‘creative learning through technology’ in Kwale County, East Africa representative, IREX, George Kogolla noted that the system improves understa
nding among students, hence easing the learning process as compared to the previous learning system.

‘Creative learning through technology has played a significant role in terms of how teachers approach learning as it provides ease and comfort during the learning process; hence, we have seen a big number of parents accepting the play system of learning as it is a mechanism to kill the monotony of learning among young people,’ noted Kogallo.

Additionally, he highlighted that over 300 schools in Kwale and Kilifi County have embraced the learning module since it was first introduced in 2020.

‘We took a place-based approach, thus concentrating on our efforts in Kilifi and Kwale County to equip maximum understanding to teachers on the whole idea of KPLAY; hence, we have seen a huge transformation in concepts around learning institutions within the two counties,’ noted Kogallo.

According to Kogallo, the module is relatively affordable as learning materials are locally sourced, thus reducing the cost of importat
ion from foreign countries.

‘We pick materials from within the community and use them to achieve the same purpose of learning, instead of demanding learning materials from parents. We put into use materials from within the community that are sometimes discarded; hence, the materials are not necessarily expensive but creative in terms of replacement.’

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Charles Ong’ondo, commended the government’s efforts in collaboration with IREX in associating play with learning, describing it as a game changer in the education sector.

‘Research has proven that for most primary level learning takes place through play, from joining kindergarten as they enhance to upper level; hence, at KICD we are championing the curriculum reforms, and we have reviewed our strategic plan to be consistent with the BETA agenda,’ said Ong’ondo.

Furthermore, Program Director, IREX, Lucy Maina, said that KPLAY has continued to succeed in the
Coast region, adding that a total of 2,990 teachers across the 300 schools in Kwale and Kilifi County have received vocational training on the K-PLAY system.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Police in Kisumu County have arrested two suspects in connection with the series of arson attacks that have destroyed vast sugarcane farms in the region.

The suspects are helping security agencies with further investigations to identify other perpetrators involved in the criminal act before they are charged in court.

Cane farmers in Muhoroni, Chemelil, and Kibos areas have incurred losses amounting to hundreds of millions after their farms were set ablaze by unknown individuals. Since July this year, over 1,000 acres of cane farms in the sugar belt have been burnt in the mysterious fires.

Confirming the arrests, Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo attributed the attacks to sabotage aimed at crippling the local sugar industry and damaging the region’s economy.

‘The security agencies have held meetings with the sector’s stakeholders to try and establish the motive behind the burning of the crops. I urge our people and all local leaders to refrain from such destructive practices,’ Leparmorijo said.

Subsequently, the County Commissioner reported that incidents of livestock theft along Kisumu’s borders have been subdued due to a multi-sectoral approach to enhance lasting peace in the area.

Leparmorijo added that peace campaigns have been intensified in the affected areas to address the triggers of conflict and ensure that residents coexist peacefully.

He noted that locals mostly apportion blame to the neighbouring communities from the bordering counties in cases of transborder crimes. He refuted the claim, saying that the stock thieves from other regions normally operate under their accomplices from within the community.

He also commended the efforts of youth from Chiga, Kadibo Sub County, who, together with police officers, recovered 13 stolen animals and returned them to their owners.

‘Areas such as Sondu, Nyakach, Muhoroni, Kadibo, and Kisumu East have been affected by livestock theft. However, most stolen animals from Muhoroni are always recovered. I applaud the youth from Chiga for collaborating
with the police to track down and recover the 13 animals stolen from an innocent resident,’ Leparmorijo applauded.

Speaking during the International Day of Peace celebrations held in Kisumu County on Saturday, the Commissioner urged the public to adopt peaceful conflict resolution methods and shun acts that promote conflicts and violence.

‘We are encouraging dialogue whenever there is an impasse. Let us not take the law into our own hands. Instead, let us sit down and amicably find solutions to whatever is disturbing the peace we enjoy,’ he said.

Leparmorijo emphasized that peace is essential for any development and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that peace is maintained and preserved across the nation.

Source: Kenya News Agency