Day: September 21, 2023

A family in Gakarara, Kandara Constituency, Murang’a County, is engulfed in anguish following the disappearance of their 13-year-old daughter on Monday, September 18. The family fears that Linet Wanjiru, who is a grade six pupil at Gakarara primary school, was abducted by unknown persons while at her father’s farm, where she had gone that evening to fetch bamboo trees for a school project. Wanjiru’s father, John Kinyanjui, narrated that she had arrived from school and headed straight to the farm to source the bamboo trees. ‘It was getting dark, heading to 7 p.m., when the family noted that she had stayed too long at the farm. We started calling out her name and looking for her,’ he recalled. He stated that they went to the farm and did not find Wanjiru, and that is when they alerted the police at Kandara Police Station, who have been assisting them to look for the girl. ‘We found a piece of bamboo tree cut and the panga that was used to cut the bamboo, but Wanjiru was nowhere to be seen,’ Kinyanjui said. The following day, Tuesday, the family and concerned villagers embarked on a desperate search with no success. The father stated that at 10 p.m. that Tuesday night, he was shocked when he found the innerwear she had worn when she went missing, placed in some strategic place for the family to find. ‘I called my brother and my wife to inquire if the clothes were indeed the ones Wanjiru was wearing when she went missing,’ he sobbed, saying he feared that the clothes indicated that his daughter had been sexually assaulted or even killed. The girl’s mother, Lucy Njeri, pleaded with whoever could have kidnapped her daughter to kindly release her so that she could be reunited with her family. On Wednesday, area residents who are helping the family search for the missing girl revealed they suspected the girl had been abducted and taken to a nearby forest that they say is the hub of all sorts of evil. Jane Wangui, an elderly resident of the village, joined hands with Wanjiru’s mother and pleaded with whoever might have abducted the little girl to release her to the family unharmed, noting that the kidnappers seemed to know the girl’s family as they brought back some of her clothes.

Source: Kenya News Agency

ASAL and Regional Development Principal Secretary Idris Dokota has said that the government is committed to ensuring that the livelihood of the people in communities hosting refugees is not negatively affected by the influx of refugees, which causes competition for resources. Over the years, conflicts, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities such as recurring droughts and floods have caused thousands of Somalians to move to Kenya to seek asylum. At the same time, as a result of the conflicts and civil war in Sudan, thousands of people have also moved to the Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana County. Vulnerable groups, including people who flee from homes and countries faced with conflicts and violence to other safer countries and communities, put pressure on the social and economic infrastructure among the host communities. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the refugee problem. It is estimated that more than 26 per cent of the world’s refugee population is found in this part of the world. This is attributable to the incessant socio-political conflicts in countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia. Settlement of refugees in the country causes the host communities to share their resources, from water, pasture, and land to simple things like a firewood. According to the UNHCR report (December 2022), Kenya hosts about 574,000 registered refugees. The majority of the refugees are accommodated at Kakuma (248,929) and Dadaab (233,661) refugee camps. To control the situation, the government, with funding from the World Bank in 2017, came up with the Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (KDRDIP), aimed at helping the host communities compensate for what they had to share with the refugees. Speaking after touring several projects under the KDRDIP in Dadaab constituency, the PS said that the objective of the project is to improve access to basic social services, expand economic opportunities, and enhance environmental management in the refugee hosting communities. Dokota said that KDRDIP contributes to the country’s key development priorities of reducing poverty and inequality. He also noted that it is part of the government’s initiative to deliver social services to vulnerable groups and marginalised communities as envisaged in the Constitution. ‘Resources are always scarce here, so the project came to neutralise that because we have an influx of refugees here, so we have an issue to do with suppressed resources. This will help in bringing equality when they have income-generating activities to grow the economy,’ Dokota said. ‘Because of the continuous effects of droughts, we have engaged the communities in nontraditional livelihoods such as income-generating activities so that they can improve their economic condition and act as a stimulus in this particular area,’ he added. Members of the county assembly present, Aden Hassan (Dertu), Hajir Mohamed Dahiye (Abakaile), and Mohamed Sheikh Abdi (Labasigale), called on the government and the World Bank to find a way of extending the project for five more years, saying that it had brought tremendous benefits to the common citizens. A total of 4,577 community groups across the five sub-counties have received grants under the project’s Livelihood Programme. Each of these groups received Sh. 500,000 as a grant. Out of this number, 988 were women groups, comprising 21 per cent, youth groups comprising 19 per cent of the beneficiaries, and two per cent belonged to People Living with Disabilities. KDRDIP is a five-year project funded through a loan of Sh. 10 billion from WB and a grant of USD 11.58 million from the Danish government. The project provides support to communities hosting the refugees in Garissa, Wajir, and Turkana counties. The funds were shared based on the percentage of the host population and geographical area for each of the sub-counties.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has lifted a 20-year caveat, thereby allowing owners of large swathes of land hived off from the expansive Mau Forest to develop them. According to the governor, locals and registered companies owning land would be issued title deeds, thereby unlocking various economic activities, including the development of the parcels through bank loans. ‘Now that the caveat has been lifted, you will have access to financial institutions such as banks and microfinance entities to get loans that will enable you to comfortably engage in various development activities,’ said Kihika. The affected areas are the tea plantation-rich Olenguruone region in Kuresoi South sub-county, which includes Ambusket, Chepakundi, Kiptagich, Cheptuech, and KTDA, while the fate of other areas still under caveat that are undergoing verification in Kuresoi North, Njoro, Molo, and parts of Kuresoi South will be known soon. Two months ago, leaders from this region weighed in heavily on this matter and pleaded with the government to lift the caveat imposed as it had condemned the locals to abject poverty despite having titles for the parcels of land as they were uncertain over the ownership of the land they resided in. Governor Kihika observed the sluggish nature of development in the affected areas and called upon the government to act fast and give the locals the capability to compete effectively in development issues. ‘It is unfortunate that people living in parcels of land under caveat cannot engage in any economic activity; thus, the need for the government to intervene and lift the ban on this will create a vibrant economy in such areas,’ said Kihika. She was addressing the locals of Amalo Ward in Kuresoi South sub-county. The legislators pushing for this include Kuria Kimani of Molo sub-county, Joseph Tonui of Kuresoi South, Charity Kathambi of Njoro, and Alfred Mutai of Kuresoi North, who, on their part, saw that the caveat has made the locals suffer in many ways, to the extent of creating animosity among the locals. ‘By lifting the ban, it will not only enhance proper planning by the locals but also the county and national government and have an equitable distribution of resources,’ noted Tonui. Kathambi went ahead to raise the issue at the National Assembly to get to know when the lifting would be done on the issuance of titles in the affected areas. Lands Cabinet Secretary Zack Njeru is expected to formalise the government’s decision regarding the lifting of the caveat next week, and wananchi are full of praise for the president.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Labot Breeding Farm in Lelan Ward has taken a significant step forward towards improving sheep breeds with the introduction of pure Corriedale sheep. The farm, situated in Marakwet East Sub County, recently received 20 ewes and four pure Corriedale rams. Elgeyo County Governor Wisley Rotich expressed his enthusiasm for this development during a special event at the farm, where he highlighted the critical need for enhancing the quality of sheep breeds in the region. Governor Rotich emphasised that local farmers had been relying on recycled breeding rams, which had led to the production of undersized sheep. ‘If you look around, you will see that our sheep will be sold for as little as Sh3000. This should change. You should sell your sheep for as much as Sh30,000. It is possible,’ he said, motivating local farmers to aspire for higher returns. The Labot breeding farm plays a pivotal role in livestock improvement, focusing on producing sheep for wool and mutton. This endeavour is aimed at benefiting farmers across the larger Elgeyo Marakwet region. Livestock Chief Officer Robert Lagat spoke about the department’s strategic decision to promote Corriedale sheep. He cited their quick maturity and propensity to twin under proper management as key attributes. ‘Corriedale ewes have good maternal qualities. They are easy-care animals and excellent mothers with high fertility that exceeds 100 per cent. Their wool is bright, bulky, and soft-handling, which can fetch good earnings, while a mature ram can weigh up to 105 kilogrammes,’ he explained. The fast maturity of these breeds is expected to yield quick returns for local farmers. The Corriedale sheep, which were procured at a cost of Sh652,000, are set to improve the sheep breeds in several wards, including Kapyego, Sengwer, Moiben-Kuserwo, Embobut-Embolot, Kabiemit, Metkei, Chepkorio, Kaptarakwa, Cherangany-Chebororwa, and Lelan, which have been identified as having a conducive environment for Corriedale production, according to Chief Officer Lagat. ‘We will sell breeding rams and ewes from our farm at affordable rates. We want to improve sheep production and weed out the current breeds that have been affected by inbreeding,’ he noted. Each of the four rams can serve up to 30 ewes, enhancing the breeding capacity of the farm significantly. Governor Rotich envisions Labot becoming a model breeding farm, not only producing high-value breeds but also offering training to farmers. ‘We have today changed the face of Labot Farm. The new high-value breeds will be a game changer in sheep production in this region. We are going to make Labot a model farm where farmers from all over our county will come to train. We also target those from other counties,’ added the governor. Governor Rotich also underscored the importance of diversification in sheep production, encouraging farmers to derive double benefits from their sheep. ‘They benefit from the wool and later sell the sheep,’ he said, highlighting the potential for additional income streams. Lelan Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Priscilla Kurgat echoed the governor’s sentiments, urging farmers to consider keeping high-quality sheep breeds that can fetch higher prices in the market. The introduction of pure Corriedale sheep breeds at Labot Breeding Farm marks a significant milestone in the quest to enhance sheep production in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Cabinet Secretary Interior Prof. Kithure Kindiki has officially launched Galdyetu Sub County in Tana River County, aimed at bringing government services closer to the people and promoting peace in the area. Addressing a public baraza at Wayu trading centre yesterday while installing the new Deputy County Commissioner for the area, Mr. Simon Mwangi, Prof. Kindiki said the operations of the new Sub County will start on October 1, 2023, whereby all government departments will be represented in the area. The Interior Cabinet Secretary called on the local leaders in Tana River County and Kitui County to find a permanent solution to the problem of on-and-off communities’ clashes between the two communities bordering the two counties at Kalalani village, whereby one week ago the two communities clashed, leading to the deaths of 12 people. Prof. Kindiki said the conflicts between the farmers from Kitui County and pastoralists from Tana River County will be solved by the local leaders; hence, he urged the leaders to meet immediately and solve the conflicts in order for peace to be maintained in the area. On insecurity in the neighbouring counties of Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, the Interior Cabinet Secretary said a special police force will be deployed in those counties in order to reduce incidents of al-Shabaab attacks that are being experienced in the counties. He also urged the residents of Tana River County to report to the police any suspicious characters seen loitering in the county for necessary action.

Source: Kenya News Agency