Day: June 11, 2021

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UN elects five new members to serve on the Security Council

According to the final tally, Ghana received 185 votes, Gabon 183, UAE 179, Albania 175 and Brazil 181 votes.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) garnered three votes while Peru and Iran each collected one.
Joining the others
The Security Council is a body of 15 members, five of which are permanent and have veto power: the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.
The newly elected five will join India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway, the other non-permanent members.
Prior to its successful bid, the UAE issued a statement promising to be “a constructive partner” in addressing some of the “critical challenges of our time”, including promoting gender equality, countering terrorism and extremism and “harnessing the potential of innovation for peace”.
The UAE Ambassador walks to ballot box during the election of five non-permanent members to the Security Council on 11 June 2021.
Breaking it down
Vacating their seats were Viet Nam, for the Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States known as the Asia-Pacific Group; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, for the Latin American and Caribbean Group, called GRULAC; Estonia, for the Eastern European Group; and Niger and Tunisia as part of the African Group.
The candidates ran mostly unopposed within their regions, except for Gabon and Ghana, which were challenged by the DRC for the two available seats in the African Group.
The five new members elected this year will begin their terms on 1 January 2022 and serve until 31 December 2023.
While Albania is the only State that has never served previously, Brazil has sat on the Council ten times, Gabon and Ghana three times each and UAE once.
Path to service
Before applying, each country must obtain the votes of two-thirds of the Member States present and voting at the General Assembly, to secure a seat on the Council.
Broken down, this translates to a minimum of 129 votes, to win a seat if all 193 UN Member States are present and voting.
Even if candidates have been endorsed by their regional group and are running unopposed, formal balloting is required.
Though unlikely, in the first round a Member State running unchallenged might not garner the requisite votes in the Assembly and face a new challenger in subsequent rounds.
There have, historically, been several instances in which extended rounds of voting were required to fill a contested seat.
Such situations have usually been resolved when one of the contenders withdraws, or a compromise candidate is elected.
Exceptionally, countries competing for a seat have decided to split the term between them. But since 1966, this only happened once, in 2016, when Italy and the Netherlands agreed to split the 2017-2018 term.
Since 2010, 78 per cent of races for Security Council seats have been uncontested.

Source: UN News

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Murang’a Elders Defend Installation Of Speaker Muturi

A section of members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders have downplayed the cleansing of a Murang’a shrine after the controversial installation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as spokesperson of Gema Communities.
The elders said they did nothing wrong when they used Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine to crown Muturi as spokesperson of communities living in the East and West of Mount Kenya.
Led by officials of the Kikuyu Council of Elders Murang’a branch, the elders who met in a Murang’a hotel, downplayed the cleansing ceremony which was conducted by another faction of elders to crown the national assembly speaker.
The council’s branch chairman Kiarie wa Chombou said they are behind Muturi and those opposing their choice should bring in another person who will be unanimously supported by all elders.
“We know there are differing views but we settled on Muturi after in depth deliberations. The negotiations involved elders from Meru, Embu, Tharaka and Gikuyu elders. The fact is as elders we are united and behind Muturi,” Chombou added.
After installation of Muturi, a section of leaders led by Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria dismissed the occasion and accused Muturi of trying to take the mantle of leadership of Mount Kenya region from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Last week, another group of elders conducted what they termed as cleansing of Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga saying it was abused during crowning of Muturi.
The installation of Muturi is seen to have taken a political angle as some leaders’ fear Muturi is being groomed to take over after President Kenyatta completes his second term.
“As elders we are not political but as spokesperson Muturi is supposed to link people of the mountain with the government,” observed the secretary of the council Samuel Ng’ethe.
The patron of the council Professor Peter Kagwanja stated that Uhuru is the head of the nation and he unites all communities but for the sake of Mount Kenya people, they settled on Muturi.
He welcomed those with different views but said elders from the Kikuyu community visited those in Meru and Embu and agreed on Muturi as their spokesperson.
“There was no need to have a cleansing ceremony since no one abused the shrine by crowning Muturi. Agikuyu, Embu and Meru people are of the same community. No big difference,” Kagwanja said.
Installation of Muturi, he said, was meant to bring inclusivity among communities living in Mount Kenya region.
“Those who said the shrine was abused have no right to do so. Those who opted to cleanse the shrine, we respect their move but to us it means nothing,” he added.
He said as elders they aim to create a moral nation which is guided by principles but not money and politics.
“It should be known that we did not coronate Muturi, coronation is done for kings, we just blessed him to be our spokesperson,” Kagwanja further averred.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Agriculture Sector Set For Digital Transformation

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya says although many Kenyans can now have access to Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), there was need to exploit the digital platform to promote and improve food security.
He said there were indications that both the urban and rural population were accessing ICT facilities but said progress was uneven in geographical and socio-economic spheres of life.
In many areas, the CS noted that women and youth have less access to smartphones and digital services and in many cases, access to ICT does not translate to improved outcomes in food and nutrition security, and livelihood for agricultural communities.
Speaking when hosting a national dialogue online as part of an ongoing global process in preparation for the 2021 United Nations Food systems summit, Munya noted that like the rest of the world, Kenya’s food systems are in the middle of a digital revolution as the COVID-19 pandemic brought in the weaknesses of present food systems.
COVID 19 highlighted the need for access to technology and digital connectivity for all and this dialogue has thus brought together partners running different data and digital innovation initiatives across the country to share experiences and make recommendations for consideration at the UN Food Systems Summit.”, he explained.
During the meeting the CS expounded on the need for Agriculture Sector Coordination and Digitization Strategy, and the implementation of a roadmap developed in partnership with Microsoft.
The strategy he noted seeks to address three key challenges namely catalyzing the research and innovation space in agriculture, including around use of big data and advanced analytics (AA).
The other two, he added are enabling more reliable access to usable and shareable data and demanding for quality analyses to support evidence-based decisions on performance management, M&E, research, and policy respectively.
Munya further said that The Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) 2019-2029 that is in place commits to ensuring that agriculture data is available, usable, timely, and interoperable. “The growth strategy seeks the importance of having both traditional data such as censuses and surveys in addition to other innovative data sources”, he said.
Microsoft Country Manager Kendi Ntwiga said that digitization can help transform Kenya’s agricultural sector, improve productivity, and help the country make significant progress towards achieving food security.
“The transformation of smallholder farming to improve efficiency, productivity and assure quality controls enabled through digitization can certainly support Kenya’s agricultural transformation strategy”, she noted.
The Transformation further, Ntwiga said can transform the use of more than four million hectares of farmed land as well as the livelihoods of more than five million rural households.
However, she noted that in order to enable agricultural transformation through digitization, a large amount of data must be collected and properly utilized.
She added that the collection and use of data to inform decision-making can improve crop cycle timings, decrease uncertainties for investors, and lower the cost of identifying opportunities for improved efficiency.
Speaking on the need for enhanced partnerships, Samuel Munguti, CEO of Farmer Pride, noted that harnessed collaborations between the private sector and government have the potential to achieve scale and sustainability for accessibility to digital solutions for the smallholder farmer.
“Our market platform provides smallholder farmers access to agribusiness information on delivery or right inputs and sustainable agribusiness opportunities to power agriculture transformation,” he said
Agriculture Principal Secretary in charge of Crop Development and Research on Digital Transformation Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga underscored the need to incorporate ICT and digital capabilities in the agriculture sector to help farmers optimize their returns.
He said the Ministry had unveiled digital transformation platforms like the Kenya Agriculture Markets Information System which provides farmers with information on the prices of various commodities and the E-voucher systems that enables farmers buy pre-prepared input packages of seeds, equipment and consumables from selected suppliers.
Others platforms developed included E voucher system, E-extension that uses GIS to map agricultural land and inform farmers to safeguard productive agricultural land and offer data linkages with other institutions to facilitate digitalization of land records and soil maps.
“There is robust data held in silos by various government and research institutions More than ever, it is essential to consolidate, digitalize and centralize this data for the benefit of farmers and other key players. Having a centralized data centre will foster data sharing and provide a reliable single source of truth “Prof Boga said.
Sriram Bharatam of Kuza Biashara said the role of the youth was crucial and emphasized on the need for private sector social enterprises to build the capacity of young people and help them learn, connect and grow at scale as it is only through micro entrepreneurship that a difference can be made.
Jo Ryan, CEO of Tru Trade in his remarks noted that the Digital technologies have played an enormous role in connecting farmers to markets.
“We are all about the market. We connect buyers with produce and farmers with the market through our sustainable supply chains,” she said
The national dialogue meeting today was themed: Agriculture Data and Digitization Transformation: Considerations in Policy and Implementation Frameworks”.
In 2021, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, will convene a Food Systems pre-summit in July followed by the main Summit that will bring together public, private and social sector innovation partners as part of the decade of action to deliver the SDGs by 2030.
It will further commit to make innovation a significant enabling factor for food systems transformation and the achievement of all 17 SDGs, both before and during the Summit.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Mlolongo Chiefs To Intensify Crackdown On Illicit Brew

Mlolongo Assistant County Commissioner, Dennis Ongaga, has ordered local administrators to conduct at least two weekly raids at illicit liquor dens and joints to deter brewers from engaging in the trade.
He told Chiefs to be keen on those brewing and selling chang’aa which was largely consumed in Mlolongo, saying the trend was worrying, adding that offenders must face the full force of law.
Speaking to KNA at his office in Mlolongo, yesterday, he expressed fears over an upsurge of cases of drug and substance abuse in Mlolongo, especially among the youth.
“There is increased use of illicit brew in the area, especially chang’aa, a clear indication that they were finding it easy to transport the brew in the region and that’s why we have cut their supply chain by waylaying the transporters and traders,” said Ongega.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit brew sold in local dens was brewed, processed and transported from Mukuru kwa Njenga and Kwa Reuben slums in Nairobi before they find their way into the area.
The Administrator said the use of bhang among the youth was on the rise but said security agencies had already mapped the notorious hotspots with a view to apprehend the suspects.
Ongaga decried that the trend was affecting the education of children in the area as some students were lured into partaking of drugs and alcohol at the expense of their studies.
“There are cases of students who don’t go to school, they leave their home in the morning in uniforms, head to the drinking dens and video shops, so they end up not going to their respective learning institutions,” he regretted.
He said most students after drinking chang’aa and smoking bhang, they disappear to the video shop outlets and end up wasting the whole day taking all types of drugs. As young as 10 years old were also found in those dens at Mlolongo.
Ongaga has warned all video outlets not to entertain under age or risk being locked down if they are found admitting students.
“There is no negotiation with those who compromise with the life and education of a child,” he warned.
Ongaga said Chiefs and their Assistants should enforce the Covid-19 containment regulations such as the rule of “No mask, no service” Policy to avoid infections in Mlolongo and across the Country.
“Everybody including hawkers, matatu operators, provincial administrators, Boda boda operators among others should not offer services to clients who fail to wear masks at all times and also ensure there is water and soap or sanitizer to clean their hands as directed by Covid containment guidelines,” Ongaga said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Yatani Allocates Sh 60billion To Agriculture Sector In 2021/ 2022 Budget

The Government has unveiled a Sh 3.6 trillion budget for 2021/ 2022 financial year with The National Treasury projected a 6.3 percent growth even as the debt burden weighed on the better part of expected revenue base.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Ukur Yatani, while tabling the budget estimates in parliament acknowledged negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the economy, saying the impact of the outbreak was felt since 2020 when the first case was reported.
He informed the House that the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down economic growth by at least 0.6 percent in 2020, pushing the 5.4 percent the Country realized in 2019.
He said the Sh 60 billion allocated to agriculture sector would go a long way in cushioning Kenyans from pangs of hunger.
On matters Food Security, the CS said that Government’s efforts to make food cheap and affordable to all Kenyans are bearing fruits with various initiatives aimed at supporting farming in areas of crop production, livestock rearing and fish farming.
“More farmers are now accessing subsidized inputs at a lower cost of production and boost earnings”, he said.
In the Financial Year 2021/22 budget, Yatani said the government had increased allocation in the sector towards the realization of 100 percent food and nutrition security.
Out of this, the CS noted, Sh 7 billion will go towards the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusivity Project; Sh 2.7 billion for the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme and Sh 1.8 billion has been proposed for the Emergency Locusts Response;
Another Sh 1.5 billion will go towards the National Value Chain Support Programme; Ksh 1.5 billion for the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme II (ASDSP), Sh 1.5 billion for the Small Scale Irrigation and Value Addition Project and Sh 620 million for Food Security and Crop Diversification Project.
On Livestock production improvement, CS Yatani has proposed Sh 3.0 billion for Free Disease Holding Ground in Lamu and also proposed Sh 488.1 million for the Regional Pastoral Livelihood Resilience Project;
Kenya Livestock Commercialization Program will receive Sh 455.0 million, the Livestock Value Chain Support Project Sh 163 million while the Livestock Production under “Big Four” initiative, Sh 156.2 million.
Yatani noted that in order to enhance animal diseases control, the government has set aside Sh 180. million for Sustainable Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Free Areas in Kenya, Sh 131.4 million for the Disease-Free Zones Program and Sh 60 million for modernization of the Foot and Mouth Disease Laboratory and related activities.
“The realization of the food and nutrition security also relies heavily on the sustainable utilization of the blue economy resources and in order to promote this, I have proposed an allocation of Sh 3.2 billion for the Aquaculture Business Development Project and Sh 3.4 billion for Kenya Marine Fisheries & Socio-Economic Development Project,” Yatani noted.
For Exploitation of Living Resources under the Blue Economy, the CS said that Sh 2.1 billion has been set aside while the construction of Fish processing plant in lamu will get Sh 1 billion
The Coastal Fisheries Infrastructure Development will receive Sh 290 million while rehabilitation of Fish Landing Sites in Lake Victoria will get Sh 326.6 million
Aquaculture Technology Development and Innovation Transfers will get Sh 150. Million and Development of Blue Economy Initiatives Sh 195.3 million
“In order to increase agricultural productivity and enhance resilience to climate change risks in targeted smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya, I have set aside Sh 8.9 billion for the Climate Smart Agricultural Productivity Project and Sh 1.1 billion to enhance drought resilience and sustainable livelihood.
Ending Drought Emergencies in Kenya will use Sh 178.0 million, CS Yatani said and also proposed an allocation of Sh 529.5 million for the Livestock and Crop Insurance Scheme to reduce the vulnerabilities of Kenyan farmers to diseases and natural disasters.
Other proposed allocations in related subsectors of agriculture include Sh 100 million for revitalization of cotton industry, cooperative cotton ginneries will be modernized to the tune of Sh59.2 million while Sh50 million will be expended for the Cotton Development as subsidy and extension support.
The embryo Transfer Project and for construction and refurbishment of the Leather Science Institute will receive Sh 200 million and Sh65 million respectively while Sh 150 million will be set aside for establishment of Liquid Nitrogen Plant.
Yatani promised that the government will make more investments towards the revival and enhancement of output of major cash crop such as coffee industry which will receive Sh 210.4 million.
This year’s Budget zeroed in on priority programmes under the “Big Four” Agenda which is a critical path to supporting sustainable economic recovery.
Apart from Agriculture which is under Food and Nutrition Security Pillar, Sh 47.7 billion was allocated for Universal Health Coverage, Sh 20.5 billion for Manufacturing and Sh 13.9 billion for Affordable Housing.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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MOH Orders Closure Of Churches As Covid-19 Spike

The Ministry of Health in Kisii County has ordered the closure of churches in Birongo Ward in Nyaribari Chache Sub- County following an upsurge in Covid-19 cases among church members and the surrounding community.
In a letter addressed to church leaders within the Ward, Nyaribari Chache Sub- County Public Health Officer, Ms Florence Tirimba, said that all places of worship will remain closed for a period of fourteen days beginning, Friday, 11th June 2021.
“It’s reported that some known individuals have died due to complications arising from this pandemic,” read part of the letter.
Ms Florence also said that all members were expected to comply with the directive and follow strictly all Covid-19 preventive measures in the community.
The Directive to close the churches comes days after the staff at the County Government of Kisii were directed to work from home following a report of over ten positive cases of Covid-19 at the County Treasury.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Nandi Residents Urged To Protect Wetlands

Wildlife Principal Secretary (PS), Prof. Fred Segor, has urged communities living along wetlands to be at the forefront in the protection of the water catchment areas.
Segor said that a stable environment is key in supporting wildlife and human beings through continuity in water provision.
The PS spoke, Thursday, during a tree planting exercise at Kibirong Wetland in Nandi South Sub- County that saw over 5, 000 indigenous trees planted.
Segor pointed out that the weeklong tree planting exercise in the County is part of the efforts to ensure Kenya attains 10 per cent forest cover by 2022 which at the moment stands at 7.2 per cent.
“We need to up our efforts as a country to boost our forest cover. Countries like China with a huge population are at 40 per cent, we can also get there if we double our efforts,” he stated.
Nyeri County leads in forest cover in the country at 38.2 per cent, followed by Elgeyo Marakwet 37 per cent, Baringo 31 per cent. Nandi is at 26.2 per cent.
The PS said natural habitats that are flourishing attract tourists who contribute about 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Segor urged residents to desist from poaching wildlife asking them to use alternatives such as chicken, rabbit and goat meat instead of killing wildlife for food.
“The government is keen in protecting wildlife thus has employed 3,500 rangers countrywide with 30 of them stationed in Nandi County to take care of the ecosystem, ” said Prof. Segor.
Speaking at the same forum, Dr. John Chumo, Secretary, National Environmental Complaints Committee (NECC), decried that the Kibirong, Kingwal and Mutwot wetlands are in the verge of extinction if residents do not rise up to the occasion and protect them.
“Our main aim of planting trees on the wetlands is to restore them for they are a source of livelihoods for communities living across the water catchment areas”, he explained.
The Kibirong wetland which lies on over 1,000 acres forms part of the source of Yala and Nyando rivers.
Dr. Chumo said the Committee is aware of individuals carrying out sand harvesting at the Kibirong wetland and asked the security team to be vigilant in arresting the culprits.
“As NECC, we are asking the communities living along the catchment areas to partner with us and be the lead in protecting the wetlands for it is for their own benefit,” said Dr. Chumo.
NECC in collaboration with Kenya Forest Service has had a weeklong tree planting exercise in the County, including Kapsamoite in Chesumei Sub- County and Nandi Hills.
It targets to plant over 200, 000 trees in institutions, gazetted forest lands and wetlands.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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IEBC Slated To Conduct Voter Education

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to conduct voter education for a whole week from June 14.
The week-long activity that aims at engaging members of the public on the Commission’s mandate and activities will run up to June 20th in all counties.
The Constituency Election Coordinator, Maragua Sub- County, Mr Muhia Njiraini, told KNA that the Annual Voter Education Week, brings in relevant stakeholders and offers opportunity to members of the public to interact with the electoral body.
He sought to clarify the notion that the Commission’s work is only manifested during elections and or plebiscites times.
“Members of the public should know that IEBC is always there and they ought to take initiative to verify their voter details or raise any concerns they may be having and not just wait for election period,” observed Njiraini.
During the Annual Voter Education Week, voters will be given a chance to confirm their personal details, including those captured in national identity cards.
“Members of the public will be sensitized on the forthcoming activities like the August 2022 General Elections as outlined in the Constitution and the referendum which may be imminent even though the matter is before court.” divulged the Election Coordinator
Those who have never registered as voters will also have the chance to register even though voter registration is usually a continuous process.
He noted that due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Voter Week will be different from the other years as the Commission will limit the numbers of members of the public so as to observe the Ministry of Health regulations stipulated to contain spread of Covid-19.
The IEBC has a responsibility of conducting or supervising referendums or elections of any elective body or office established by the Constitution.
Njiraini further advised the members of the public who wish to change their polling stations to avail themselves during the Annual Voter Education Week.
Additionally, He noted that new voters need to know that it is their constitutional right to participate in elections or referendums and the Voter’s Week will seek to promote the principle of Public Participation in all electoral activities.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Cost Of Milk Production Improves Over The Last Five Years

The gross revenue from milk production in Kenya has improved by three (3) per cent over the last five years an indication that the price of milk has improved.
Speaking in Nairobi during the launch of the Report on the cost of milk production in the country in the year 2021, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Peter Munya, said the improvement is currently much higher than the reported three (3) per cent indicated in survey whose data was collected in 2019.
“This was prior to the interventions undertaken by the Ministry in January 2020 to improve and stabilize milk production prices in the Country. The Report also reveals an increase in the volume of raw milk marketed through organized farmer groups such as cooperatives,” added Munya
The CS said dairy farming in Kenya is profitable with average profitability per litre produced rising to an average of Sh16.20 in 2019, at a time when other farm revenues such as sale of livestock and manure were considered.
“This profitability should excite and motivate farmers and potential investors to increase investment in milk production,” stated Munya.
He at the same time noted that the rise in production and revenue shows that the Country is making a headway in managing the cost of milk production, adding that a lot more needs to be done to make the industry more competitive regionally and globally.
According to the Report which was commissioned by the Kenya Dairy Board and undertaken by Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, shows that on average, a dairy farmer in 2019 earned milk profits of Sh12.20 per litre compared to Sh4.20 in 2014.
This is an indication that profitability varied with production system, highest for semi-zero grazers at Sh14.27 per litre, and lowest for zero grazers at Sh8.57 per litre.
In his remarks regarding the findings of the Report, the CS said, while the cost of milk production remains high at an average total cost of Sh23.30 per litre for zero grazers, at Sh23.00 for semi-zero grazers, and at Sh17.24 for open grazers, the average cost of producing milk declined by 20 per cent over the last five years.
Munya, however, attributed poor feeding of dairy herds as the main challenge facing livestock farmers, which he said contributed to the decline on herd sizes per farm over the last five years, an issue he said, undermines the capacity of the country to be self- sufficient in milk and dairy products.
The CS who thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for supporting dairy industry, urged farmers, the youth and potential investors to invest in dairy farming as it is a profitable enterprise.
“If we, do it right, taking into account the lessons of this study, we will succeed and transform rural livelihoods and the entire country through dairy farming,” added Munya.
Speaking during the launch the Kenya Dairy Board Managing Director, Margaret Kibogy, thanked the government for supporting the dairy farmers and encouraged them to address the challenges as per the Report findings, especially on livestock feeding, advising them to use the right fodder.
Kibogy said despite the Covid-19 pandemic the dairy industry has shown a lot of resilience and thus the improvement of the dairy board performance.
“We only noted a lot of household consumption, especially when the schools were closed due to the pandemic,” said Kibogy.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, Beatrice Kimeng’ch from Uasin Gishu County encouraged farmers to keep records and urged the government to come up with a sensitization program to educate farmers on record keeping to enable them improve their production and be able to provide accurate information to the researchers and Livestock officers.
She also discouraged farmers from keeping large number of herds and instead concentrate with a few that they can afford to feed well.
Mrs Kimeng’ch also encouraged farmers to harvest water during the rainy season for use during the drought season.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Farmers In Nakuru Urged To Practice Climate-Smart Agriculture

Farmers in Nakuru County have been urged to practice climate-smart agriculture to mitigate the effects of delayed rains and the unpredictable weather changes that threaten food security.
The County Executive (CEC) for Agriculture, Dr. Immaculate Maina, said the County produces 40 per cent of the country’s food basket. However, the sparse and belated rains for the last one month have made the leaders consider planning for relief food for the smallholder farmers, who are likely to lose their entire crop.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) seminar in Nakuru, she said the effects of unpredictable rain patterns would only be combated by a new way of farming because the former methods cannot withstand the changing environments.
Dr. Maina said there was a notable increase in pests that were never in the County and attributed the phenomenon to the changing climate that is becoming warmer and hence suitable for the multiplication of various vexations.
Also, she said the County has five ecological zones, tropical alpine, upper highland, upper midland and lower midland that in the past has enabled the County to grow all sorts of crops, fruits and spurred horticultural practices. But the various climate dimensions were no longer adding value.
She added that maize which is one of the main crops in the County has been declining for the last five years due to increased prevalence of pests and climate risks.
However, she said despite the climate change effects, last year the County generated over Sh23 billion from the horticulture sector and it has the potential of producing 500,000 tons of maize if modern farming methods are applied.
Due to the effects of climate change, the government has embarked on the formation of county climate-smart agriculture multi-stakeholder platforms, to alleviate the effects of the changes in the country and the rest of the world.

Source: Kenya News Agency