JAN/FEB 2010 Providing Missing Link In Fight Against Rural PovertyKshs 30Issue No. 048

3NEW KCC IPO;

The Initial Public Offer (IPO) to benefit farmers onceplans are complete

HEALTH;Essential drugs released to all public health facilities in Rift Valley

MORE FORAGE, MORE MILK. 116

Proper Egg

storage. 14Changing lives ofSiaya Women

UCRC8

TALENT COMMUNICATIONS Ltd, Publishers of Community Eye. The farmers one- stop- shop for agricultural information!We also offer consultancy services in agricultural information services, community media, rural grassroots mobilization, sensitization, networking and collaboration, biogas, dairy management, capacity building, agri-tourism, farmer exposure tours, farmers exchange programmes, monitoring & evaluation and video services. Contact Thomas Ngare on 0728-789069. Email; community_eye@yahoo.com.

STAKEHOLDERS PRAISE HERITAGE INSURANCE PACKAGE FOR FARMERS

Swiss Re Africa Vice president for Insurance and Speciality Mr. Lovemore Forichi (second right),Fredrick Nagila, Gilbert Nyagwaya and another HI staff join Fleckvieh Genetics EA Ltd MD Gerard Besseling (centre) in Kitale.

BY JANE KITHUKA

Limited is rejoicing the official launch of their milk chilling plant. The plant which has a capacity of 6,000 litres was opened by Director of Livestock, on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Mohammed Kuti recently.

Residents from Longisa Division and Bomet Central gathered in thousands to celebrate this great achievement. Dignitaries including Director of Livestock, District Commissioner, Area Member of Parliament, representatives of EADD Steering Committee, EADD Partners

SOT Dairy Company

From Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, Provincial Director of Livestock, Provincial Director of Veterinary Services amongst others were present.One unique group in the Dairy Farmers Business Association is a group of 65 visually and physically impaired women who have decided to beat all odds from t he i r s ta te o f dependency to independence and even helping others by being successful smallholder dairy farmers. Longisa Set Kobor Women Group was formed with a clear mission of restoring their dignity and hope, attaining food security and stable income among their families and the community. They are now in the forefront of spearheading

VULNERABLE WOMEN GROUP BENEFITS FROM MILK CHILLING PLANT

Stakeholders have hailed the Heritage Insurance Company for starting innovative products for farmers. The stakeholders, including financial institutions and farmers praised Heritage insurance saying that with the introduction of the Agriculture Insurance, farmers would now have better access to credit.

These sentiments were expressed during various symposiums organized by Heritage Insurance Company for stakeholders in Eldoret, Kitale and Mombasa.

In Kitale the workshop was held at the Kitale Club and was attended by among others Mr. Nelson Kirior, a Cherengany farmer with over 200 dairy cows , George Cheruiyot (Cherengany large scale dairy farmer), Jeremiah Bett, Kibomet farmer, Rosemary Odima branch manager EcoBank Kitale, Mrs. Betty Kipsaita (dairy farmer with 300 cows),Eunice Ombachi of Kenya Seed Kitale, Agriculture Finance Coroportaion Kitale Branch Manager Mr. Mr. Augustine Pisnen, Rael Tuiyot( Equity Bank), Gentrix Juma of KEPHIS, Emilly Musungu of Diamond Trust bank, Mike Ojinda of Cooperative Bank, James Kamau of Barclays, and Nathan Ndiwa of Kenya Seed.

Bank managers praised the agricultural insurance scheme saying that in the past farmers were not protected from adverse weather conditions making it difficult for financial institutions to give credit due to high level of risk. They said that banks should now be able to work with more farmers as the perceived risks were covered. Equity branch manager Rael Tuiyot challenged all financial institutions in the area to organize a joint workshop for sensitizing farmers on how to demands for services. ECO bank branch manager Rosemary Odima praised

development in the division. All group members are interspersed in various locations in Longisa Division, Bomet District in the Rift Valley. Set Kobor is one of the groups funded by Heifer International for their Dairy Project.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 8

Some of the blind members of Set Kobor

FULL STORY ON PAGE 5

2 Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

Continued from the previous issue

Mushroom cultivation

From the previous issue

Preparing planting materials

How to chose poultry;

INDIGENOUS CHICKENImproving Local Chicken

AGRICULTURAL WASTES AS SUBSTRATESMushrooms are grown on some organic substrate, mostly waste materials from farms, plantations or factories.These otherwise useless by-products can therefore be recycled to produce value added mushrooms. Currently, millions of tons of agricultural wastes are discarded, burned and neglected. In the process of mushroom growing, however, environmental pollution from such practices may be reduced. Example of such agro-wastes in abundance in the tropics are straw, corn cobs, grass, sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, cotton waste, oil palm waste, coffee pulp, water hyacinth plants, coconut husks, tree leaves, branches and logs. These all can be used alone or in combination to create mushroom growing substrate. With moderate effort and careful management, the very people hungry for food can have within their grasp a new food source in form of cultivated mushrooms.

INCOME AND JOB GENERATIONMushroom growing is labor-intensive and for countries where jobs are scarce, mushroom growing can create jobs both in semi-urban and rural areas. Infact some technologies can use labor thus providing all members of the family with employment.The labor of out of-school youth and

even school children can also be utilized especially as the bagging of substrate and related operations can easily done by children. A big factory in Indonesia hires some 50 teenage girls, who trim the mushrooms ready for canning and for export.Mushroom growing is also recommended as a project in a cooperative where division of labor is practiced. One group may be engaged in spawn production, another group will do the substrate preparation, and still another group can take charge of growing condition management.

CULTIVATION IN SHELFStraw MushroomStraw mushroom (voluariella volvacea) is a high temperature mushroom and the most popularly grown in Thailand. Thai farmers have grown the mushroom since the 1940s. Thailand has a temperature range that is very favorable for the mushroom's growth (30-37 decrees centigrade).Straw mushroom spawn is easily available for local farmers and that mushroom is cultivated on shelves,

unlike other mushroom, which are grown in bags except button, whose spawn is not that easy to obtain.Practically, a bale of straw inoculate

d with straw mushroom spawn is left in the bag and days later, mushrooms come out. Traditionally, rice growers also grew

straw mushroom in their rice fields after harvest. They made rows of mushroom mounds with rice straw and other agro wastes in the harvested fields, using a wooden frame. Today, rice growers still produce straw mushrooms in their December to April, using the growing method as described above. But the yield is as low as 20% and so is the price.Indoor cultivation of straw mushroom is performed all through the year. Being a secondary saprophyte like button (agaricus bisporus), straw mushrooms grow well in organic compost, where the ingredients are partially decomposed or highly degraded. When the compost is completed, it is placed on the shelf and steam is blown into the house with the temperature maintained at 60 decrees centigrade for 4-6 hours. When the room temperature cools gradually down to 35 decrees centigrade with the door closed, spawn is laid about 2 cm deep into or on top of the compost.Indoor cultivation using compost achieves much the higher yield of 50-60%. Produced mushrooms are sold fresh in retail markets or to canneries.Straw mushroom growing is a handsome income source for rice growers as well as commercial straw mushroom growers. A grower makes a net profit of about Kshs 9,000 per month, greater than from other produce. Even better, the mushroom has a short production cycle, which means a fast return on investment. Further, the mushroom is rich in protein and can be grown with agro wastes, even on the spent mushroom substrate of inky cap, but the protein content of straw mushroom is much higher than that of inky cap.

To be continued....

IMPROVED BREEDSAt the animal husbandry centre you can get improved breeds of poultry.Examples, some of the more successful crosses, in naming crossed breeds, the breed of the male are always given first.

Rhode Island-sussex CrossThe hen is a light mahogany colour; the cock is white speckled with black with hen is a good layer. In 10 months, that is about 300 days of laying, it will lay 165 to 180 eggs.

Sussex-rhode Island CrossThis cross gives birds that are white speckled with silvery black, the hen is quite a good layer.A three-month-old pullet will weigh from 1.5 to 1.7 kilogram's.

Rhode Island-wyandatte CrossAlso called P-60, is a bird of dark mahogany colour, often the hen have a flat curly comb. The hen is a good layer, but it dislikes damp. The adult hen weighs between 1.7 and 2kg.

New Hampshire-leghorn And Rhode Island-leghorn CrossesThese crosses often produce white birds and sometimes birds with mahogany feathers. They produce white eggs; there are the gold-hen and Harco crosses. Other new breeds are being introduced which carry trade names.The animal husbandry centre can tell you which of them are suitable for your particular conditions.

How To Feed PoultryTo feed poultry well is important and difficult. In modern poultry raising you

must take a lot of care in breeding the birds. You want to have birds that grow quickly and yield a lot of meat and eggs. For that you have to work more and provide most of the feed yourself. Often you have to buy part of this feed.

Poultry are difficult to feed, they need a lot of different types of feed, a hen is not like a goat and cannot feed only on grass, and poultry need rich feed. For instance, to produce eggs a hen needs to get in its feed plenty of proteins and calcium.You must give poultry the exact quantity of each feed that is needed.

Building up their bodies;The muscle; It is the muscles of poultry that yields meat. Poultry are good if they yield lot of meat in a short time, if the meat is not hard and is whit, the local breeds of hens that are not well fed are thin and their meat is hard.The hens of improved breeds have well- developed breast and thigh muscles.

If poultry eat plenty of protein feeds, they develop good muscles and the protein feeds are also part of body building feeds.

The Bones; If poultry have well formed bones, they can walk well. Poultry bones are long and thin, they

are light, but hard.In order to have strong hard bones, poultry must eat minerals salts are part of the body building foods.

To Make Big EggsA hen has one ovary, the ovary produces ovules. The ovule

consists of a germ and reserves. It is these reserves which make the egg York. The ovule passes into the oviduct where the white and the shell of the egg are formed. The egg passes into the cloaca and out of the hen.A hen begins to lay from the age of five months, and can produce an egg nearly every day from the age of seven months.

To be continued....

Courtesy of the Agricultural Stakeholders Forum, Uasin Gishu, in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock- Kenya.

LEADERS in Voi have been urged to exploit a possibility of harvesting the rain water for irrigation and domestic purposes following the erratic pattern that has characterized the area in the recent past.Apart from the agricultural and domestic benefits the community will reap from the water, it will also check the massive soil erosion which was led to big gullies and loss of property.Quoting the monthly weather forecast for the Voi and Taveta regions, the Officer In charge of the Meteorological Department Mr Robison Asira during a baraza said the pattern in Voi was not dependable for agricultural activities unless other avenues of harvesting and storing the water are exploited.He said the district received a total of 180 millimeters of rainfall in April alone compared to October when it received 80 millimeters this year. He added that the effects of such storms are devastating hence the need to seek alternative ways of benefiting from the same.Mr Asira said a grand plan to harvest the water for agricultural purpose should include water from Voi River, which will go a long way in improving the district's food security.

VOI; Water harvesting can improve food security

KENYA and Uganda police have recovered a firearm that was snatched from an administration police officer attached to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Busia. The firearm was recovered after a foiled robbery at Namangu in Bugiri District in Uganda in which a suspect was gunned down by the Uganda Police and three other suspects arrested. Busia Police boss Erastus Muthamia said the firearm was recovered from Wabwire Sanya when he was gunned down. He added that the suspect was allegedly shot on the leg weeks before being gunned down while wrestling with the police to retain the gun at Mundika Trading Centre in Busia District.

WITH more than 1,600 families expected to vacate the Mau Forest, many who have done that so far are now appealing to the government to help them protect their immature crops on the farms within the forest and assist them find new habitations. Many of who have erected temporal structures to protect their children from the chilling conditions at the roadsides expressed fear of invasions by wild animals into their farms if they remained unguarded, appealing to the government to allow them watch over their crops till they are ready for harvesting. Among those moved out of the gazetted South Western Mau Forest including Chematich, Kipkoros, Kiptendet and Tiriyita is A 52 year old Ezekiel Kirui pitching tent at Kipkembu. He says he has no place to take his large family and fears that his crops will be invaded by buffaloes and monkeys leading to famine in 2010.

LAIKIPIA East DC Mr Julius Mathenge has castigated the local people for being ignorant of their health conditions. Speaking at the launch of this year's World Diabetes Day at Nanyuki Central Park, Mr Mathenge said the low turn out for sensitization and testing of the diseases said to be on the rise in the country was a clear indication that majority of people do not care about their health status. The District Medical Health Officer Dr Samuel Kuria said over 120 diabetes patients are treated in Nanyuki District every month. He said the disease was on the rise in the area and urged people to be mindful of their health by undertaking regular tests on some complicated diseases.

KIMILILI-Bungoma DC Mr Joseph Mtile Lewa has ordered for a crackdown on all hotels and bars that do not meet the public health requirements so that they are prepared to be closed own.Speaking at Maeni Dispensary, Mr Lewa (right) warned that dirty hotels and bars that allow children less than 18 years will be closed down, adding that those who will block officers from carrying out their duties will be apprehended. He also announced that food hawking in town was now illegal especially from 6pm.The DC further made an appeal to residents to cease from contaminating water points, formalize their marriages to minimize cases related with succession and solve disputes on marriage, inheritance and land before they die.Mr Lewa said cases on dowry have no reason of reaching his office when communal leaders have been reinstated to tackle them. He also pointed out the need for parents to engage their children in creative activities in the long holidays as a way of helping them stay away from getting into bad company and drug abuse.

Personal health conditions vital

Snatched firearmrecovered in Busia

Mau squatters may lose harvest

KIMILILI; dirty hotels, bars risk being closed down

PASSENGERS along the Nakuru-Nyeri, Nakuru-Naivasha and Nyahururu-Maralal roads have been warned against traveling in overloaded matatus or else they risk being arrested.Rift Valley Province Traffic Base Commander Mr Charles Wasike said “the police will arrest all passengers who will not use safety belts as well as those who will be excessThe base commander at the same time warned matatu owners who their vehicles had defective safety gadgets such as speed governors, safety belts and those with minor defects to take care as police will not accept such vehicles to ferry passengers.Speaking to the Community Eye, Wasike said “we will continue with our operations to make sure that passengers are ferried accordingly and with roadworthy vehicles”.Wasike said that as the death toll due to road carnage continues to rise, all eyes are focused on the traffic department to see what new measures are in place to avert more deaths on the roads.

NAKURU; excess passengers on majorroads warnedBY THUO JOHN

Free seeds meant for dry areas-PDA

THE government is distributing free seeds to selected areas and not to all farmers as it was initially assumed.The Rift Valley Provincial Director of Agriculture Mr Leonard Nyambuya clarified that the free inputs will benefit 20 districts drawn from dry and semi arid areas.He said that the National Steering Committee will not distribute the seeds through the provincial administration as earlier said and called upon farmers to purchase their own seeds and fertilizer.Pannar, Kenya Seed and Farmchem companies won the distribution tender of the seeds.

Hens of improved breeds have a welldeveloped breast and thigh muscles.

Source ; Mushroom Growers Handbook

3Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

Continued from the previous issue

VOI: POACHERS GET 15 MONTHS SENTENCE

Calculating the cost of storage

Butula Boys Highlaunches SP

INTRODUCTION

Farming the Africa Nightshade as business

- Ken Amenya

Drugs released toall R Valley hospitals

- Correspondent

T H E n a r r ow - l e av e d A f r i c a n nightshades, also called mnavu in Swahil i, is widely distr ibuted throughout the tropics and can be found throughout East Africa. The plant is an erect, many-branched herb growing 0.5 to 1.0 m high.The plant bears thin, oval, slightly purplish leaves up to 15cm in length, has numerous white flowers and usually purple to black, round berries about 0.75 cm in diameter containing many small, flattened, yellow seeds.There are several species with black berries, but the most popular are those with orange berries belonging to Solanum villosum. This group of species is often erroneously referred to as Solanum nigrum, a poisonous plant from Europe that is not usually grown in Africa.The leaves are eaten as a cooked vegetable, often mixed with other vegetables and the fresh fruit is also consumed. Some Solanum varieties are prefered for their bitter taste while others are considered 'sweet', particularly after being boiled and the water discarded. The raw leaves contain 4% protein, 6% carbohydrates and are moderately high in vitamin C. Solanum species that are found in Kenyan vegetable gardens include S. macrocarpon, S. scabrun, S. villosum.Solanum plays an important role in traditional medicine in Africa and elsewhere, but the leaves are considered poisonous in some areas of the world so one should be careful about obtaining seeds for planting.

Climatic conditions, soil and water managementAfrican nightshades can grow on a wide range of soil types but do not tolerate drought (AVRDC 2003). Afr ican nightshades do well in organic plots.

Propagation and plantingPlants are propagated from seeds. Seeds are marketed by Simlaw Seeds in Nairobi under the name Black Nightshade in 25 gram packets and another source with particularly large, tasty leaves is available from SACRED Africa, Bungoma, Western Kenya.The soil in the nursery should be loosened and enriched with decomposed manure. Seeds should be mixed with sand and/or ash for uniform sowing. Sow the mixture thinly, either by broadcasting or in rows, 15 - 20 cm apart and cover with a fine layer of soil. After sowing, the bed should be mulched with tall grass or a similar material to retain moisture. This mulch can be removed once the plants are 3 cm. Transplant when seedlings have six true leaves and are 10 - 15 cm tall. The spacing should be 20 cm in the row by 40 cm between the rows.

HusbandryNightshades require large amounts of nutrients, and therefore do well in soils that are rich in organic matter and on land covered with ash from recently burned vegetation. Frequent application of organic manure and irrigation can boost yields.

HarvestingThe crop is ready for harvest four weeks from transplanting. The stems are cut approximately 15 cm above the ground. This allows new side shoots to develop. Pickings are done at weekly intervals.If complete harvesting is practiced, spacing can be as close as 10 x 10 cm and plants are uprooted. This method is mainly used when

there is less than two months before the main staplefood crop will be planted. Roots of these crops can be kept in water to keep the plants fresh.Picking should be done very early in the morning and the produce sold the same day. Alternatively, the crop can be harvested late in the afternoon and placed on plastic sheets or banana leaves. These should be tied in small bundles. The flowers should be removed before the crop is taken to market. Water these bundles sparingly to retain freshness.

Post-harvestPreservation is done by sun-drying. The leaves may be dried and stored for up to one year though this practice greatly reduces the nutritive value and changes the texture

BY CORRESPONDENT

CA CUL T N the b nefits o i provedL A I G e f m storage or the armer is ot asy. Ben f tsf f n e e i c uld e meas red in e ms of educedo b u t r r losses. Howeve , if the far er u es unimproved r m s ,tra itio al m iz stora e st uc u es for he d n a e g r t r tlo g te m (that is, up to o e year) storage n - r n

f hy rid m ize m an f r the ma k t his o b a e t o r e ,o ses t oug i sect i festation, rodents l s hr h n nnd other da age a e like y to b far a m r l erea er than his ene i s t oug get ing a g t b f t hr h t

h gher price.i If he is able to, he would be b tter off es lling the maize i me iately. This il e m d w lcertai ly be the c se in a e s affecte b n a r a d ythe Larg r Gr in Bor r. T qu stions the e a e he ef rmer has to sk himself re …a a a

If t fa m r is co sidering eep ng ba he r e n k i ck some ai e or later sale at hi her pri em z f a g c or if s ot sure that he w ll i d a buyehe i n i f n r early in the sea on he he w ll have to s , t n im ke som nvestme t i mproved a e i n n it rage s o .t y b th t impro ements to a I ma e a vra itional cr b wi l e adequ te. In t r t d i l b a o he

1 o I wan to se l all m mai e a soon as it s . D t l y z s idr enou h to sel o do ant calculate the y g l r I w tobe efits of waiting until the pri e o up t s ll n c g es o esome of the mai e?z 2. I want to se l i as ear y as po si l , can I b f I l t l s b e es re tha I w l f n a b y r at r asonablu t i l i d u e a e e pric ? e

circumstances, however, the farmer may have to invest in a solid-wall bin. The extension worker needs to be in a position to advise the farmer whether it is worthwhile to make that investment or not. The price of a new store may seem very high to farmers and they may be reluctant to make the investment, even though it will benefit them in the long run. To advise farmers on the viability of storage, extension workers need to know the costs of constructing a suitable store, estimate how much more money the farmer is likely to earn in an average year if he stores, rather than sells immediately and asses the the costs of storing.

Costs of storing; assuming that the farmer does not have any labour costs to prepare maize for storage and to load the maize into the bin and take it out again, then his storage costs are: insecticides (if used), bags (where the maize is stored in bags), maintenance of the store.Extension workers need to know the recommended rate of application for insecticides and ensure that farmers follow the recommended procedures. They also need to know the price of insecticide in the quantity required by the farmer.

Profitability of storing; It is important to realize that a farmer is not building a store for just one season. He would be unlikely to get

his investment back in one year. A well-constructed bin, regularly maintained, can last for many years. Thus considers the

In countries where markets have been liberalized for some time and where there are functioning market information services, information should be available concerning seasonal price movements. The Market Information Service should analyze annual price trends and make this information available to extension workers. They will, of course, have to translate prices in urban areas into farm-gate prices. On the basis of such information an informed guess needs to be made as to how much the price is likely to rise in an average year. That does not mean storage will always be viable because in some years the drop may be so large that storage in hope of a higher price later in the season will not be justified.A farmer who sells his crop immediately after drying could put the money in the bank and earn interest. If he is to store then he clearly needs to earn more from storing than he would by banking his money. This has to be taken into account in calculating storage profitability, as does the impact of inflation.If the information mentioned above is available it is possible, ignoring for the time being the cost of constructing the store, to assess the profitability of storage.The calculation assumes that correct storage techniques are used and that no maize is lost through insect damage. In relation to the Larger Grain Borer (LGB), it is worth that farmers who want to store maize for any length of time will have to invest in new stores. The potential losses from the LGB are so high that farmers cannot consider long-term storage using traditional methods unless those methods are greatly improved. Storage is profitable when the farmer keeps his maize until at least January of the following year. However, that calculation does not include the cost of the store. Farmers who do not have to store, that is they are able to sell their maize fairly soon after harvest, therefore need to do one further calculation. It should also be noted that as more and more farmers build stores in order to sell their maize later in the season, the amount by which prices rise over the year is likely to become smaller, so reducing the potential profitability of storage.

benefits from storing maize next season and benefits in the next five seasons.

NAIROBI: UNIVERSITIESPREVALENT IN HIV BY CORRESPONDENT

Man survives 30ftfall from coconut

To be continued....

To be continued...

TWO poachers found in possession of two elephant tusks weighing 78.5kg and hunting apparatus were recently sentenced to 15 months jail by a Voi Court.Hussein Galale and Mahmud Mayee before the Senior Resident Magistrate Peter Maina Ndwiga were accused of trespassing into Tsavo East National Park, possessing two elephant tusks, one bow, two arrows and an exe without permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service.

rdThe 3 accused Duba Galalo who denied all the charges was released on a bond of Kshs 100,000 with a similar a surety of cash bail of Kshs 50,000. The case is fixed

thfor hearing on 20 of January 2010.

THE Secretary, Commissioner for Higher Education Prof Evaret Standa has reiterated the need to intensify efforts aimed at alleviating HIV and AIDS infections in the universities.Speaking at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies during the universities HIV/AIDS workshop, Prof Standa noted that university communities represent high risk groups in as far as HIV infection is concerned where 90 percent of them are positive.“Universities are in enormous need of increased awareness and knowledge about HIV and AIDS”, said Prof Standa.He announced that the high learning institutions have introduced HIV/AIDS studies in their programmes as a measure to control the spread of the scourge.

BUTULA Boys' High School recently launched its five year Strategic Plan.The Strategic Plan (2009 2014) will guide the school to meet the challenges of growth and operations.The SP as a product of systematic planning articulates the Philosophy, Vision, and Mission, Values and objectives and Challenges to be overcome in order to realize the goals of the school. It however sets out the strategies to be applied in order to enhance role of the school in development and its achievements. In an interview with Community Eye, Mr. Lutomia said in the next five years, Butula Boys is set to achieve improved governance and administration, curriculum expansion, improved teaching and learning through ICT, improved and expanded facilities and infrastructure.It will also oversee increase funding sources, boost both student and staff welfare and enhance corporate social responsibility.Those present were BOG Chairman Prof. John Shiundu, the Principal Mr. Nobert Wangalwa, Paul Wangatho from the DC's Office, PTA Chairman MR. Pancras Abonyo, Eng. Peter Mulaku and the Area MP Alfred Odhiambo among others.

THE Public Health Department in Rift Valley has dispatched essential drugs to all public health facilities in the province as a measure of curbing communicable diseases amidst the heavy rains currently pounding the area.They include drugs of malaria, cholera and other waterborne diseases; according to a senior pubic health official who spoke to the press in Kapsabet Town recently.He also asked members of the public to observe high standards of hygiene to prevent contracting diseases, adding that all public health officials were on high alert working closely with the provincial administration in mobilizing the locals on the need to tackle any adverse effects.With regard to the effects of the heavy rains in the Nandi districts infrastructure, the provincial administration has asked residents to move to the safer areas to avoid risks associated with landslides.

A 25 year old man narrowly escaped death when he fell from a 30 feet coconut tree near Tezo Trading centre in Kilifi recently.Karisa Katana who was rushed to Kilifi District hospital suffered a broken leg after undergoing an x-ray. He blamed the blowing wind for causing the accident.Katana had climbed the tree to tap palm wine in the morning as usual but strong winds overpowered him, throwing him away from it. He was forced to leave his tapping tools including a knife and a calabash on top of one of the tallest trees he has been tapping for three years.Cases of palm wine tappers falling off the trees are common in the area which observes claim has been occasioned by a prolonged drought causing some coconut trees to become weak and dangerous to climb.They argue that some branches which tappers sit on while on their usual trade have lost some strength due to lack of adequate water in their stems.

- Correspondent

NYAHURURU DC Mrs. Lucy Mulili has called on the Samburu, Kalenjin, Kikuyu and Pokot communities to unite, learn to fight tribalism and co-operate with the government to initiate grassroots peace committees for national betterment. “We have in the past seen some of the pastoralist communities fighting over pasture and livestock and we believe there is need to educate these people to embrace peace...”, She noted.Mulili was opening a peace meeting forum at a Nyahururu Hotel organized by the Centre for Conflict Resolution-Kenya (CCR-K). “Kenya does not need lectures on governance from development partners but would welcome positive criticism that would help in the realization of true reforms beneficial to the country...”, Said Dr. Michael Mugo from CCR-K.

NYAHURURU; CO-EXIST,RESIDENTS TOLD

BY THUO JOHN

AND STILL MORE...KIMILILI Butchery Association is planning for a demo against a veterinaryofficer said to be meddling in their business. Chairman Robert Simiyu said the officer who has restrained them from accessing their animals while on slaughter has caused heavy losses where slaughters carry home 4-10kgs daily from one animal. They have threatened to take their animals to Kamukuywa for slaughter lest the embattled municipal council takes action.

Also known as Mnavu (Swahili), managu (Kikuyu), namasaka (Luhya), osuga (Luo), isoiyot (Kipsigis), kitulu (Kamba), ormomoi (Maa), ndunda (Taita) and nsugga (Luganda).

Scientific name: Solanum villosum

SPRAYING Coffee estate farms in Khamulati in Kimilili is expected to start soon.Twiga chemicals rolled out the new brand of chemicals that would improve the quality of production. The sales representatives Ramadhan Toili and Dalmas Waswa assured farmers that quality pesticides will be rolled out to the market. The society chairman Alex Wafubwa (above) appealed to farmers to cooperate as it will better their coffee production. Kaptola farmers society began the programme earlier own and its success was seen through increased production, said the society's vice chairman Mr. John Nalwa, adding that exposure tours to central province under CEEDCO funded programme also beared much.

KIMILILI; FACTORY’S SPRAYING PLAN SOONERASTUS WALUMOLI

MAIZE: MAIZE:

4

Dairy Goat Keeping Continued from the previous issue

DEALING WITH HIV INFECTIONS

Source; APHIA II. To be continued....

Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

MOMBASA; Ministerstold to work

MERU; revelations of brutal neighbour

If a kid is born dead, there is little one can do other than try and persuade the female to accept another kid perhaps one of a set of twins or an orphan. In the early hours after birth, the female recognizes her kid mainly by smell. In order to encourage the female to adopt, the kid should be rubbed in the uterus fluids or the urine of the adoptive mother.Old methods such as chewing tobacco and then spitting on the mother's nose to destroy her sense of smell can also work, but if the transfer is done immediately after the female has kidded, there is little problem. If fostering is tried, say1 or 2 days after the female has kidded, or if the kid to be fostered is also a few days old, it is advisable to keep the female closed in with the kid for a few days until both are satisfied that they belong to each other.

Bottle FeedingThe presence of a number of kids being fed on bottles, like lame animals, is a measure of bad stockman ship, but a bottle-fed kid is better than a dead one. Any type of bottle will do, and a special teat can be bought. The essential ingredient here for success is cleanliness. When milk is sucked direct from a healthy udder, it is completely clean and cannot cause any stomach problem for the kid. Milk fed from a dirty or unwashed bottle will contain germs which will inevitably end up with the kid suffering from diarrhea and dehydration. Bottles and teats must be kept scrupulously clean.

Stomach TubeThere is a slim rubber tube which is attached to a syringe full of milk. The tube is inserted carefully down the throat into the stomach, and when the plunger of the syringe is slowly depressed, the milk is injected directly into to the stomach. This feeding method is only necessary when a kid is born too weak to suck. It is also an operation which should not be carried out by and an amateur, as he would be very likely to insert the tube into the entrance of the lungs, which would result in the kid being drowned.

FOSTERING NEW BORN GOATS

Inadequate Milk SupplyThis can be a problem with young mothers, but if the flock has been well cared for prior to kidding, this should not be a frequent occurrence. Old females who have been left in the flock when they should have been culled, can also have little milk, and there is little that can be done except to ensure that they are culled before the next breeding season. However, within any kidding flock, there are always females who have more milk than their own kids can suckle during the first week of life. Suckle a kid whose mother has too little milk on one of these females, until its own mothers milk supply comes.

This will happen within 2/3 days. A female will regulate her milk output to the needs of her kids very quickly. Kids can be easily taught to steal milk from other females if their natural mother does not have sufficient. A female with a single kid who has plenty of milk, should be restrained and hungry kids allowed to suckle her. This practice requires the close supervision of the stockman, but insures that no kid ever dies from starvation.

Blocked AnusAs the colostrums passes through the kid during the first few days of life, the faeces is often very sticky, and can clog up around the base of the tail to such an extent that the anus becomes completely blocked, and the kid is unable to defecate. The faeces must be removed and the area washed clean.

General CareWhile the kid is within the uterus, a black substance called meconium is formed within the intestines. This is the first faecal discharge from the kid. If this does not occur, and the meconium is retained, the kid will die within a few days. A successful kidding season is a real measure of stochmanship. Great attention to detail and knowledge of individual animals is essential. This can be difficult if there is a large number of female kidding

during a short period. One way of overcoming this is to mark each female ands her kid/s with a paint mark. Then it is a very simple matter to match up mother and kid. It is also useful to mark females with twins, so that the stockman knows that these females should be suckling two kids.The stockman should pay great attention to noises and sounds within his flock. A skilled stockman is able to tell exactly what is going on within his flock with his eyes closed.

The First Six WeeksThe most important period in a kid's life is

the first six weeks of life. During this time, the kid is almost completely dependent on its mother milk. Under range conditions, especially with the Galla, the mothers tend to move over the ground rapidly as they browse from bush to bush. When a young kid has suckled, it will lie down and sleep, while the rest of the flock moves on young kids not strong enough to

follow their mother all day while browsing, so should be kept at home in a boma until they are at lest two weeks old. During this time, the female should return home during the middle of the day to suckle her offspring. To leave a young kid all day without food will depress its growth rate. Kids will begin to nibble at green leaves when they are about 5/6 days old, and should be encouraged to do so. Knowledge of the type of bush which attracts young kids should be utilized, and these branches should be cut and hung up where the kids can nibble them. This encourages the digestive system to develop. In hot conditions, they will also drink water from 2/3 days of age. A shallow clean basin of water should always be available to them. By the time a kid has reached 4 weeks of age, it should be strong enough to follow its mother and start browsing. Certainly, by the time it is six weeks old, it should be out grazing in the bush.

STAYING HEALTHY

IT is important for people with HIV and AIDS to eat a nutritious diet to fight infectious diseases and to stay energetic, strong and productive. Nutrient and HIV are strongly related to each other. People who are malnourished are more likely to progress faster to AIDS, because their bodies are weak and cannot fight infection. People with HIV and AIDS are at risk of malnutrition because they eat less, having infections that require more energy, and their bodies do not use food properly. People with HIV and AIDS need to eat more than people who are not infected. Eating small meals often and a variety of food can help people with HIV and AIDS to get all the energy and nutrients they need.They should; ? Eat at least three meals a

day and have snacks between meals.

? Eat even when they are sick or have no appetite. Eating

? Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables of different colours.

? Eat fats, oils and sugars in small amounts and limit processed food, salt, coffee, tea and sodas.

? Avoid alcohol, smoking, raw eggs, raw fish and partially cooked meat.

Practicing good hygiene is important for everyone to avoid infections. It is especially important for people with HIV and AIDS because they have weak immune systems and are more vulnerable to infection. ? Touch and store food and

water properly to avoid contamination and further infection.

? Only use water from a clean source, and store it in a container with a lid.

? Boil water for at least 5-10 minutes to kill germs before drinking it .

? Always wash hands with soap before and after

? Cook all animal products (meat, chicken, fish, and eggs) completely, using high temperatures.

? Thoroughly wash utensils and surfaces used for preparing and cooking foods.

? Use clean water to wash all fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw or peel them.

? Store cooked food utmost for one day and reheat before eating.

? Use bowls, plates, glasses and utensils that have been cleaned and well dried.

Infections can be avoided by practicing good personal hygiene; ? Take baths every day to keep

the body clean? Wear shoes to avoid small injuries

that could result in infections.? Brush teeth after meals.? Wash hands with soap after going

to the toilet and after handling pets and animals.

Continued fromthe previous issue.

To be continued....

A WITNESS recently shocked a Meru Court when he narrated how he witnessed a knife welding man fatally wound his neighbour who later succumbed to his injuries.Mr Peter Mutuma witnessing in the hearing of a murder case against Mr Jeremiah Kathurima charged with murdering Mr

rdMartin Mabaya on September 3 2005 at Kithurine, told Meru Resident magistrate Judge Mary Kasango that the accused fatally injured his 20 year old neighbour on the neck using a knife following a quarrel.He stated that he passed the two embroiled in a bitter quarrel but was attracted by screams coming from his back only to meet the suspect with a knife drenched in blood in his hand standing besides the complainant.Mutuma said that a medic Dr Isaac Macharia revealed that postmortem results revealed that the victim died of injuries inflicted on him.

PUBILC Service Minister Dalmas Otieno has appealed to colleagues to provide leadership and close ranks on pertinent issues that could accelerate development prospects in the country.He decried that dissenting voices in the cabinet were frustrating efforts to focus on the development agenda which Kenyans desperately yearned for towards the realization of the Vision 2030.“We must regularly meet to share ideas on how to successfully steer a coalition government bereft of internal divisions which seems to plague our coalition”, he told the cabinet retreat in a Mombasa hotel.Agriculture minister however pointed out the need for the cabinet to respect divviews of colleagues instead of finger pointing those opposed to collective government position.

DEKKO ACADEMY HOLDS COLORFUL GRADUATION CEREMONY

DEKKO Academy of Kiminini held its 7th graduation ceremony that involved the pre-primary wing where 57 graduated.Opening the colorful session was a word of encouragement from Reverend Evalyne Tirop Okring (2 Timothy 4:7-8). The head teacher Mr Joseph Simiyu congratulated stakeholder s including the ministry of education, parents and leaders for suppor ting the institution. He also praised grandaunts who were the pre-primary ones being promoted to class one and class three to four for the achievement.The school manager Ms Pamela Oundo who issued the certificates lauded parents for their wise investment in education saying their future was now guaranteed.

While thanking the fete’s success, a TAC tutor Mr Wilfred G. Momanyi on his part urged parents to constantly counsel their children.The Area Education Officer Mrs G l a d y s N y a m b u r a K a r a n j a challenged parents to better the learning environments of their children, citing motivational spirit among pupils and teachers as the basis for excellence. The chief guest Mrs Maiywa, a staffing officer advised parents to love their children by providing them with basics including birth certificates. He cheered the convenient environment created by the school leadership in the school saying Dekko had set a good precedent in the district. In attendance was former councilor Philip Makete, N.K Kimingichi, Mr Okutoyi (sponsor) and Mrs Bosman (business community) and the deputy Mr David Wamukota..

BY HENRY KILAUSI

PARENTS and guardians in Samia district have been asked to ensure that all children of school going age are in school by January 2010. Addressing stakeholders at the close of a 5 day training workshop on paralegal and child rights and protection at Odiado rehabilitation centre recently, Samia District Children’s Officer (DCO) Mr Dishon Otuko asked chiefs to apprehend any child found loitering in their respective areas of jurisdiction adding that even the street children will not be spared since it is their right to access education. "There will be no single street child in Samia district," he said, adding that it is the responsibility of parents and the community at large to care for children especially those in difficult situations. Mr Otuko decried the culture of under-age girl marriages adding that stern action would be taken against those found still practising the outdated tradition.

BUSIA; enrol school going children -DCO

BY KEN AMENYA

ANOTHER batch of trained Community Health Workers from Ugunja Sub location are set for an exposure attachment at St. Paul’s Health Centre in Siaya. The CHWs are scheduled to work at St. Paul’s Health Centre in different departments for one week where they will get placement in different departments such as outpatient clinic, maternal section, patient support centre and voluntary counseling outreaches.This is an initiative by St. Paul Methodist Health Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Ugunja Community Resource Centre in order to strengthen community health care program in the area. The program was initiated in May 2009 when 50 volunteers from each village in the sub-location underwent the same training.The earlier graduates now understand the challenges which different groups of people face and the need for community health linkages in preventing communicable ailments.The placement also provides them with the opportunity to learn and gain confidence to face their communities during the actual health monitoring.

SIAYA; more CHWsfor attachmentBY CORRESPONDENT

5Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

LETTERS OF THE MONTH

Personal FinanceWHY YOU NEED INSURANCE WHY YOU NEED INSURANCE

ECOBank branch manager Rosemary Odima praised Heritage Insurance for the workshop which gave the banks insight on farmer needs.Heritage Insurance Marketing Manger Mr. Eliud Adiedo disclosed that his company was committed to providing farmers with services tailored to their needs. He said the company offers several products covering the cross section of farming activities including crops, livestock, horticulture and forestry.Mr. Adiedo explained that under the crop insurance product cover was provided against fire, windstorms, excessive rainfall, uncontrollable pests and diseases, drought and hail. For the livestock insurance, cover is available against accidental death, f ire, lightening, flood and windstorm, diseases, emergency slaughter on medical grounds and theft. The livestock covered are cattle, sheep, goats, poultry (layers and broilers) and pigs.The manager also explained that for horticulture cover is provided for fire, theft and /or loss during fire, fire fighting or salvaging, lightning, impact damage, plane crash, theft after burglary, damage during burglary or attempt thereto, water from reservoirs and / or water tanks, excessive rain, storm and salvage costs.Other facilitators at the symposiums included Swiss Re Africa Limited Vice President Mr. Lovemore Forichi, Heritage insurance staff Mr. Gilbert Nyagwaya, Mr. Fredrick Nagila (Branch Manager Eldoret). Mr. Nderito Zachary of Eden Rock Insurance was also present.Conditions that farmers have to fulfil before getting the cover include completion of proposal form, valuation chart, survey of premises, veterinary report of good health for livestock, survey of premises where livestock are kept, mid season inspection for crops, good management practices, insurance of all crop fields and livestock and c o m p l i a n c e w i t h l o c a l l e g a l requirements.

InsuranceSO you have created a budget, cut expenses, eliminated your credit card debt and have begun to save for retirement, so you are all set, right? You have definitely come a long way but there is one more important aspect of your finances that you need to consider.Insurance is important because you have worked hard to build a solid financial footing for you and your family so it needs to be protected. Accidents and disasters can and do happen and if you aren't adequately insured it could leave you in financial ruin.Some insurance policies are required and everyone should have these types of coverage but there are many other types of insurance policies that are probably not needed and you could be wasting precious dollars that could be put to work elsewhere. There is a fine line between having enough insurance and being over-insured.

Types of Insurance Policies You can find an insurance policy to cover almost anything imaginable but only a handful of policies are actually ones that you need to have. You work hard throughout your life to build wealth and live a happy and comfortable life, so some types of insurance can protect your possessions, income and even provide for a loved one when you are gone.

Health InsuranceOne of the most important types of insurance to have is health insurance. Your good health is what allows you to work and earn money and otherwise enjoy life. If you were to come down with a sickness or have an accident without health insurance you may find yourself unable to receive treatment or even in debt to the hospital.Thankfully, many employers provide

health insurance benefits to full-time and even some part-time employees. If you do not currently have health insurance coverage this is the first place to check as it will generally be the most affordable. If you are married, you may both be able to receive coverage under just one of the employer plans. If your employer does not offer health insurance or you are self-employed you still need it. While it may not be cheap the fact remains; what do you have if you don't have your health? Even a basic hospital bill without insurance can run into the thousands of dollars. It isn't worth risking financial ruin to save a few bucks on a health insurance premium.

Life InsuranceThis type of policy is more important if you are married and/or have children. Your life is valuable because it is what allows you to work and earn an income to provide for your family. When you are gone you create an income gap which could put your spouse or children in financial trouble.Death is hard enough; don't make it even harder by putting your loved ones in a financial jam if the unfortunate does happen. Funerals alone can be expensive and it creates even more stress on the family. At the very least you should have enough to cover basic funeral expenses and provide a cushion for your family, and at most it should provide a stream of income for your family that can replace what is now gone.If you do not currently have life insurance your best bet is to check with your employer first. Many employers offer a basic life insurance as a benefit and some even allow you to purchase additional coverage at a very affordable rate. Outside of employer plans there are hundreds of insurance companies that can provide the right coverage for you.

Property InsuranceOne type of policy that for most people that is actually mandatory to have is homeowners insurance when you have a mortgage. If you borrow money from the bank to purchase a home they will require the asset to be insured. For many people this insurance premium is built into the mortgage payment. For many people their home is their greatest asset so vital to adequately protect it.If you rent instead of own, a renters insurance policy is just as important. Your belongings inside the dwelling can add up to a significant amount of money. In the event of a burglary, fire or disaster you should be able to at least have a policy that can cover most of the replacement costs.

Auto InsuranceAnother type of policy that is often required is auto insurance. Most states require by law that you have basic auto insurance. While it may be a law, too many people still drive around without it.The most common reason to have auto insurance is to cover the replacement of an expensive asset. Like a home, automobiles can be quite expensive and if it gets damaged you want to be able to repair or replace it. But there is more to auto insurance than just covering the car itself.Most automotive insurance policies cover bodily injury or death of another person in an incident that you are legally responsible. While it generally pays for medical expenses related to the incident it can also cover legal defense costs. You will also generally find medical payment coverage that pays for medical treatment for you and your passengers during an accident regardless of who was at fault.

Continued from the previous issue

IT is said that people hate each other because they do not know each other. They do not know each other because they cannot communicate, and they cannot communicate because they are separate. But, its not all people who cannot communicate. In society and across the culture divide, women have been playing a key role in social developments. It is through realization of this noble aspect that they have volunteered to lead the way in search of peace for Kenya and the world, starting from Rumuruti division of Laikipia West district. Farijika Family Association which draws membership across East Africa, have come in handy, to ensure that the women s' mission succeeds. Farijika was started in November 2008 in Tanzania, and in Laikipia is headed by Maximilla Winfred Okello a renown peace builder. The association assist the women groups to organize social events, they sing, form merry go rounds and engage in sports. One such event was held recently at Ol'jabet in Marmanet and Rumuruti Township where in that course we had an opportunity to chat with the bold Farijika leader. She talks candidly on her mission and vision. One notable aspect of peace in that it is contagious and this is evident on the face of the present women. In spite of their ethnic background, they work and talk frankly on their mission. They do not see sense in violence. Some as they say, are nursing wounds in their heart through sports. Two catholic priests are also in the forefront in building harmony in the area. These are father Batiste Regina Mapunda of White Fathers missionaries who has done much work is teaching prayers for peace even to local residents who never had an opportunity to go to school. They are proud of him. The priest is working hand in hand with his colleague, Fr.Bwanakweli Bonaventure from Rwanda , a country that was raged by war for several years. He has a first hand experience in the effect of war and has an advice for the local people. If the mission succeeds, cattle rustling and ethnic clashes among the local communities shall be a thing of the past. As we watch women engage in football, it is the high time we should reflect on our deeds and ask ourselves the role we are playing in peace building Lets build a fountain of peace that will shower to other Kenyans and turn the world a better place to live in. …..heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race there are people………..

LYDIA MWANGI

Women front Kenya’s peace building mission

Mt Elgon women in a past peace demo.

WE would like to thank you very much for the article we discovered in your newspaper of October 2009 about Star Rays Education Centre (SREC).

Thank you for paying attention to Star Rays and its project.

Do not hesitate to call us for more details about the project.

Many thanks for your precious help ! Our rural community development project promotes education and development in our rural village. SREC is an upcoming rural information center that runs a number of programs. Please read more from our updated website. Click www.starrayseducation.org

MAKECHI WILLIAM JAMES, PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR,

‘We appreciate your special focus on us’

1. Before consuming processed foods, you should ensure the seals are intact and not expired.

2. Cooked food should be cooked thoroughly to kill germs.

3. Food should be eaten immediately for cold food allow the growth of germs.

4. Cooked food should be stored carefully.

5. Cooked food should be reheated thoroughly.

6. Cooked food should not be mixed with raw food to prevent contamination.

7. Wash HANDS repeatedly before preparing food and after every interruption ie cleaning child, after toilet etc.

8. Keep kitchen walls clean.9. Protect foods from insects,

rodents, animals.10. Always use SAFE water. If you

doubt any water supply, then BOIL.

Dr Oliver Walutila.Public Health Officer,

Kimilili-Bungoma District.

Essential public health rules on food

The Heritage Insurance Co. Ltd is a composite insurance company that has both a General and a Life division. The Company goes back to 1908 when the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society star ted its operations in Kenya. Another company, The Legal & General Insurance Company, commenced t h e i r Ke nya n o p e r a t i o n s i n 1924.These two Companies merged their interests in 1976 to form The Heritage Insurance Company Limited with a share holding comprising as follows: CFC Bank Limited & ALCS (African Liaison Consultancy Service) 51%, Norwich Union 24.5%, Legal & General 24.5%.In the 1980s, shareholding of Norwich Union and Legal & General was purchased by local shareholders hence The Heritage became a fully locally owned Company. In 1996, The Heritage merged with African International Insurance Company (A.I.I.) and in 1997, the Company changed its name to The Heritage A.I.I. Insurance Company. The Company went regional in 1998 by establishing a subsidiary company in Tanzania -The Heritage Insurance Company (T) Limited.In 2002 Heritage partnered with Strategis Group of Zimbabwe to form the first private health insurer in Tanzania called Strategis Insurance but the phenomenal growth and expansion program did not stop there. In 2004, The Heritage Insurance Company (Tanzania) Ltd. acquired 45% shareholding of Alliance

Insurance Corporation of Tanzania to form the largest insurance company in that country. In the same year (2004) CFC Group acquired ALICO Kenya life fund, which became the CFC Life Assurance.In October 2007, the Company was re-launched and re-branded. It revamped its corporate image, reverting to its original name, 'The Heritage Insurance Company Limited'. 'Delivery Beyond the Promise' is the new tag line in keeping with the excellent service delivery.In June 2008, Heritage became part of CFC Stanbic Holdings when Stanbic Bank Kenya Ltd, a subsidiary of Standard Bank South Africa merged with the CFC Group to form CFC Stanbic Holdings. Heritage is now part of The CFC Stanbic Holdings.

FINANCIAL STRENGTH

Heritage is a financially strong and stable company with a share capital of

Kshs.500 Million (Minimum legal requirement: General 300M, Life 150Million) and a general assets base of over KShs 4.5 Billion as at 31st December 2008. Its Life Fund Assets exceed KShs. 1.5 Billion. Heritage Insurance is rated AA- by Global Rating Company (GRC), for amongst other reasons, being able to pay well which is one of the highest international ratings awarded to a Kenyan insurer. In 2007 the company was the overall winner in the Financial Reporting (FiRE) Award.

PRODUCTS OFFERED

Products offered by Heritage Insurance Company Ltd include Fire, Group Life Cover, Domestic Package, Group Pension Schemes, Motor Vehicles, Individual Pension Scheme, Personal Accident, Group Creditor, Work Injury Benefits (WIBA), Mortgage Protection, Engineering, Construction Covers, Special Covers (Directors & Officers), Group Medica l Insurance, and agriculture among others.Heritage uses the best Reinsurance firms in the world including Swiss Re, Hannover Re, Arig Re and Munich Re. Additionally the reinsurance programme is supported by East Africa Re, Africa Re, Kenya Re and PTA Re.

DIRECTORS

The board of directors in Kenya comprises of J.G. Kiereini (Chairman), J.H.D. Milne (Managing Director), J.M. Kyungu (Executive Director), A.D. Gregory, B. Katompa, G.R May, K. Mbathi, P.N Gethi, and S. Wenman.

THE HERITAGE INSURANCE COMPANY Ltd

Company Profile

Stakeholders praise Heritage Insurancepackage for farmers

FROM PAGE 1

For more information contact Mr. Gilbert Nyagwaya Cell: 0720 298 189 Office: 020 278 3320 email:gilbert.nyagwaya@heritage.co.keCFC House, Mamlaka Road P. O. Box 30390, 00100 Nairobi Kenya

Marketing Manager Mr. Eliud Adiedo

5Community Eye, Jan/Feb 20106

BY OUR REPORTER

Voi public offices to be safer, says DC

VOI DC Mr Raphael Lemaletian has assured civil servants that both regular and administration police officers will intensify night patrols within offices to ensure safety of equipments.While reacting to complaints by the heads of departments that their offices are scattered and poses a serious security risk, he disclosed that security personnel have been instructed to patrol around the offices, revealing that some suspects held in connection with the same have also been prosecuted in court.Thieves have severally broken into various government offices stealing computers and cash. In the latest incident, they gained access into the Probation Office by removing the grill from the office window and stole a computer.

THREE zones from Eldoret met at Chepkigen Primary School to launch the Public Primay School Report Card System, working in conjunction with the National Taxpayers Association (NTA)The parents’ representatives hailed from Koisagat, Ziwa and Sirikwa zones with their respective officers from the ministry of education. The NTA representative Eleanor Mulee said that the programme was meant to ensure that quality education in public primary schools is attained.She revealed that this is a new national programme being implemented by the ministry of education in partnership with the National Taxpayers Association (NTA).Ms Mulee added that the school report card system is a tool for parents to use to demand accountability from the education office, school heads, teachers and school management committees to improve the quality of education for their children.Reports are expected to be handed in by February 2010.

A MAN charged with stealing a child was recently released on bond by a Nyahururu court. Shem Mburu Wanyoike who had been remanded for one month pleaded with Nyahururu resident magistrate Caroline Obara, saying that he was not the biological father of the child, and that his wife Mary Wanjiru Kiarie had her blood sample taken for DNA test. He said that he was suffering in remand yet his wife was the one waiting the DNA results. He asked to be released. Wanyoike was given a Kshs. 10,000 bond which his father in-law stood surety for him.

Child trafficker released on Kshs 10,000 bondBY THUO JOHN

Eldoret launches primary school report card

BY ROSE LANGAT

ONE of the oldest known water tanks in Kenya was built by the railway at Makindu River in 1907. It appears the tank was connected to a hydram pump that used the power of the flowing water in the river to push water into the tank from where it was used by steam locomotives.In Ovamboland in Nor ther n Namibia, many water jars made of asbestos were installed at schools for harvesting rainwater from asbestos roofs in the 1980s.

Local health authorities claimed that there was no risk in drinking water collected and stored in asbestos. In the Kalahari Desert, the government ofBotswana has installed excellent water tanks for roof catchment and solar water heaters in their staff houses.Students of the University of Gaborone in Botswana are studying rainwater harvesting from roofs using this testing unit.In Thailand, the International Ferro-cement Information Centre has an impressive library and exhibition dealing especially with water storage in containers made of ferro-cement.In the Delta Zone of Myanmar (Burma), every house has several ceramic jars for harvesting rainwater from roofs.Water is channeled from the gutters to the jars by funnels attached to hose pipes that can be easily moved from a full jar to the next jar.

Simple roof catchmentsThe simplest means of storing rainwater is to place a jerrycan under a short length of gutter onto which arope is tied. The gutter guides rainwater into the jerrycan without wastage.

One farmer, who lives at Simbanext to the Nairobi-Mombasahighway, has made good use ofan abandoned petrol tanker thathad an accident nearby.He simply hired a tractor to pullthe tank to his house and repaireda few leakages in the tank withbitumen paste.All the water tanks made ofcorrugated galvanized iron sheets,which were installed at privatehouses and schools for roofcatchment, have been abandoned dueto leakages caused by corrosion.From the late 1970s to the mid 1980s, the Diocese of Machakos in Kenya, trained farmers to build their own water tank of concrete poured in a mould, while being reinforced with barbed wire.The technique was so popular that about 7,000 tanks were constructed and f inanced by the far mer s themselves.Several millions of this type of jar have been built of ferrocement by communities and individuals in Thailand.A larger version of a water jar with astorage volume of 2,500 litres of water has been introduced during training courses in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It can be constructed of only 5 bags of cement and some chicken mesh andgalvanized wires.

Tanks built of bricksWater Tanks can be built fairly easy of burnt bricks that are reinforced with barbed wire wrapped tightly around the tank before plastering.A cheaper type of tank can be built of soil-compressed blocks having a content of 1 part of cement to about 20 parts of soil.

Tanks built of blocksWater tanks can also be constructed of blocks cut out of coral or lava formations.The cost of the concrete blocks can be reduced by half by inserting 50% rubble stones in the concrete when making the concrete blocks.An experimental tank was built of rubble stones but it turned out to be too expensive in terms of skilled labour and high usage of cement.

Ferro-cement tanksFerro-cement tanks, like one able to hold 11,000 litres were popular in the 1980s and 1990s.Unfortunately, many tanks were constructed by careless builders using poor sand and inadequate curing, which resulted in porous walls that gave way to seepage.A total of several thousands of these ferro-cement tanks having a storage capacity of 48,000 litres were built in half a dozen countries.

Ground tanksThe above 90,000 litres hemispherical ground tank was built of ferrocement. A

ground tank was built of ferrocement. A considerable number of similar tanks were constructed in Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Mozambique.Biult in a formwork for concretingof the dome with a staircase that leadsdown to the water tap. Hemispherical ground tanks can also be constructed of burnt bricks that are reinforced with chicken mesh nailed onto the interior of thetank.Alternatively and at lower cost, hemispherical tanks can be built of a mixture of one part cement, 2 parts lime, 4 parts anthill soil and 6 parts river sand.

Plastic tanksSpherical ground tanks are manufactured of seamless polyethylene by several firms

in Nairobi. Spherical tanks are placed on a 2000mm concrete slab in the bottom of a cylindrical excavation.The space around the tank is back-filledwith pea gravel or sand, while the tank is filled with water to the same level toavoid localized stress concentrations.Cylindrical tanks are also made of twoseamless layers of polyethene; the inner layer being white and the outer being black.The tanks are UV stabilized and willnot break down under harsh outdoorweather conditions.

Types of rainwater storage tanksINTRODUCTION

RAINWATER HARVESTING

The Olkalou Vatican upgraded group was started in May 2008 and currently has 20 members who specialize in breeding of commercial rabbits. According to the chairperson Patricia Muraya, the group has been selling at least 500 rabbits every year to other farmers in Olkalou, Nyeri, Nakuru, Murang'a Kiambu, Nairobi and Nyandarua. Mrs Muraya said the demand for rabbits was increasing due to more awareness among Kenyans of the nutritional benefits. She said that currently a pregnant Flemish rabbit was selling at Kshs 3500 while the New Zealand white and the California breeds go at Kshs 2500 while two and three month old rabbits sell

GROUP PROFILE Olkalou Vatican Upgraded Rabbit Group

between Kshs 800 and Kshs 1500During the Olkalou Trade Fare held in November, the group attracted many curious farmers many of whom bought several rabbits. One of the buyers was Nakuru businessman Mr. Joseph Njenga who said he wanted to invest in rabbits as a source of food for his family. Other members of the group include Lucy Mwihaki (vice chair), Philliis Wanjiku (secretary ), Jane Ngugi(treasurer), Josephine Mbatia (vice secretary ), Elizabeth Kurgat, Elizabeth Gatho, Rachel Wameiyo, Monica Nganga, Edith Wanjiko, Jacob Kariuki, Mr. Maina and Peter Kaigui. The members said there are other benefits of keeping rabbits

which include eating meat and self employment. They said money realized from sale of rabbits had made them independent from requesting for households expenditures from their husbands.

Additionally, “we have bought water tanks and built toilets in our homes from the money. “Imeinua hali ya maisha ya watu wetu”. The chairlady can be reached on telephone number 071183181.

Several companies participated at a farmer's field day held at MUKI Cooperative Society in Kinangop District. The event attracted over 400 farmers drawn from various areas including Kitiri, Lee, Getite, Kawamaitha, Moseti, Big Nano, Engineer, Memo and Kahuru.Speaking during the occasion, the East Africa Dairy Development Programme (EADD) Livestock Specialist in charge of Cluster D, Mr. Cheruiyot Langat said the purpose of the field day was to train farmers on the management of dairy cows at all stages. He also said that the field day would be used to sensitize farmers on EADD activities and how to work with them to make dairy farming a profitable enterprise. Mr. Cheruiyot said that in Cluster D, some success had been achieved including organizing farmers into training groups, collecting of data base, appointment of seven trainers and capacity building on milk quality production. He also said that there would be a field day for every site per month. Companies present included Farm Feeds, ABS, and Fleckvieh, Bayer, Antipest, Sygenta, Hollachem, NSSF, ICRAF, Maandalizi Minerals and Superior Feeds. The field day was presided over by Muki Cooperative Human Resources Manager Mr.Gakinya and Field Extension Services Manager Mr. Mwangi.

MUKI holds field day

STEP 3. The roof frames Cut all roof frame pieces as per dimensions shown above. Use 75x50 treated sawn timber.

In total, cut 5 rafters @ 1900mm, 5 rafters @ 1310mm and 5 uprights @ 327mm, all with end angle cuts as shown in drawing.

Also cut five triangular gussets 500mmx500mmx500mm from a sheet of 7mm treated plywood.

Make up the five roof frames to the pattern and dimensions (as shown in the above drawing) on a flat piece of ground. Ensure the two furthest

points are 2400mm apart and then nail the triangular gussets in place with galvanized flathead nails spaced about 50mm apart, one gusset to each roof frame.

Lift the 5 roof frames in place on top of the side walls: one roof frame to each end of the side walls and the other three spaced evenly in between. Fix the roof frames to the side wall top plate with galvanized nails.

Temporarily prop the two end roof frames plumb (vertical).

Building A Green House-

Nail the fascia board (150x50 treated board) to the top of the roof frames as shown below, making sure all the roof frames are vertical and parallel with each other.

Fix the window support plate (75x50) in place under the roof frame apex and behind the fascia board, as shown in the drawing below.

Brace the roof on the side that has no windows. Nail metal strapping from the apex of both end roof frames down to the middle of the side wall top plate

STEP 4. The end wallsEnsure side walls are plumb (vertical).

For all wall framing use 75x50 treated sawn timber.

Cut studs (a) to size and fix in place. They should be 700mm apart to allow for the door.

Cut top plates (b) and (c) to size and fix in place.

Cut bottom plates (d) to size and fix in place.

Measure, cut and fix the bracing timbers (e) in place.

STEP 5. The windows

For the windows use 50x50 treated sawn timber for the top and bottom frames and 75x50 treated timber for the side and middle mullions.

Angle cut the bottom of the window frame 30 degrees (the same pitch as the roof).

Make two windows as per dimensions above. Fix in place with two butt hinges on each window screwed to the top frames of the windows and the window support plate.

Fit a window latch to each window.

Measure, cut and fix a row of nogs* (*blocking, short pieces of timber set between the rafters) below the window and in between the roof frames as per the above drawing.

7 Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

Step By Step

Continued from the previous issue

To be continued...

WINDOWS

MARABA Secondary School Handball Coach Mr David Owinyo has promised to put in place spirited training to ensure that the school moves from a silver to a gold medal come the East and Central African Secondary School Games (ECASSG) to be held in Nakuru.He said given the support, Kenyan students can do well in sporting activities and called on well wishers to sponsor such activities in order to realize their potential in local schools.Mr Owinyo also called on students to take co-curricular activities seriously, saying those who excelled will be counted as professionals and can be employed locally or internationally.The coach who helped the school win a silver medal in the just concluded ECASSG held in Port Portal Uganda also asked school committees to purchase equipments for their students in their respective schools in order to motivate them to participate in sport activities.

THE heavy rains experienced in Nandi Central and North Districts has been a boost to the dairy, tea and horticulture even though associated with natural calamities like land slides.Many farmers are now smiling all the way to the bank due to increased yields in milk, bumper tea harvests and fruit/vegetable double output resulting from the increased downpour.However, some maize farmers who did not anticipate the change in the weather patterns have lamented that the rains may end up ruining their crops.A maize farmer Mr Joseph Bundotich said some maize farmers in the area who were about to harvest their mature crops may incur losses if the rains persist.

PASSENGERS traveling from Nairobi to Busia were treated to a rude shock when robbers hijacked the bus they were in and snatched their belongings worth thousands of shillings.Confirming the incident to the Community Eye by phone, Butula District Commissioner Mr. Bosek Langat said that the bus a property of Eldoret Express Bus was netted at between Ugunja and Bumala town at a round 3.30 am in the morning.The robbers on reaching Bumala Town then directed the driver to steer the vehicle to take the Butula-Mayoni road, then to Murumba market, Bumutiru-Nambale road where the bus got stuck in the mud that was caused by a heavy downpour.Travelers were robbed mobile phones, watches, cash and some lost their national Identity cards among other valuable belongings.

THE Kiminini based Community Eye Senior Writer Pastor Henry Wanyonyi Kilausi recently buried his beloved father Mzee Jafred Wafula Gilausi in Amani Sikhendu.

Born in 1933, the old man passed on as a result of multiple heart attack, diabetic and cancer illnesses.

Henry is the firstborn of the late Baba Jafred and Mama Rhoda Nasipwondi Wafula. He was also father to Shadrack, Elijah, Jones, Florence, Everline and Rose in that lineage.

Community Eye staff spanning all the way from Coast, Eastern, Central, Nairobi, Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces take this opportunity to wish Henry God’s own consolation, humble time and soothing peace.

Others who have sent their massages of condolence to the family are Mr Situma Mwichabe and the Principal of Moi’s Chepkoilel Campus Prof. Battan Khaemba.

COOPERATIVE development minister Joseph Nyagah has called on cooperative societies in Kenya to merge so as to boost their turnover.The minister noted that Co-operatives offered the best avenue of fighting pover ty in Afr ica and hence encouraged stakeholders to come up with innovative policies that would increase food production, provide credit to farmers, create more job opportunities and involve more c i t i zens in d i rec t economic d e v e l o p m e n t .Speaking in Ndaragwa town recently when he officially opened the Nyandarua Teachers Sacco Ndaragwa branch, the minister challenged the cooperative stakeholders and policy makers to devise ways of increasing enrollment to reap the benefits of pooling savings and other resources.“We would like to see cooperative societies like the teachers Sacco in central province coming up with one big Sacco called Mt. Kenyan Teachers Sacco so that they can be able to tap more members within that region...” The minister revealed that his ministry was working on a programme to recruit matatu drivers and touts to sensitize them to form their own cooperative society, later adopt a saving culture and enable them get a positive image.

A MIDDLE aged man was recently fined Kshs 30,000 by a Nyahururu court for possessing two roles of bhang.The court prosecutor Paul Omweri told the court that Mike Rurii Tioko tried to swallow the narcotic drugs that were produced in court as evidences when police officers arrested him. He pleaded guilty to the charge before Nyahururu resident magistrate Caroline Obara.According to the charge sheet, Rurii was found in possession of the drug which was not for medicinal use at Subukia trading centre in Nakuru North district on November 21. The prosecution told the court that the offence was rampant in Nakuru North and prayed for punitive sentence to be given to the accused in order to act as a deterrent to others in future.

Given support, Kenyanscan go far in sports

Heavy rains a blessingto Nandi districts

Judge fines narcotic30,000 in Nyahururu

Turnover to go up if co-ops merge -Nyagah

BY THUO JOHN

Butula passengers losethousands to robbersBY KEN AMENYACommunity Eye Writer bereaved

Grandsons carrying the casket bearingthe remains of Mzee Jafred Gilausi.

WOMEN of greater Siaya now have a reason not to hide their smiles after Siaya Seed Sacco, an affiliate microfinance institution of Unguja Community Resource Centre (UCRC) reinvented a unique way of

serving the rural women through seminars on entrepreneurship. Siaya Seed Sacco which has remained at the fore front in delivering quality and professional services to its members and clients with the major purpose of improving their living standards plays a key role in filling the gap left by big financial institutions that normally concentrate in urban centres leaving out areas like Gem, Alego, Usonga and Ugenya districts.Siaya Seed Sacco reaches out to groups by form of teaching through organized groups and thereafter loan them in terms of bicycles especially to women, a facility that has become of great help as it cuts down time wasted while moving form one place to the other. Above left, Mrs Irene Okwiri, a professional teacher who has been saving with the Sacco receives her bicycle loan from the Credit Officer Miss Lilian Adhiambo to save her from walking 2km to school daily.

BY VICTORINE OLWANDA

UCRC changing livesof women in Siaya

BISHOP Richard Oloo of the Western Presbytery of the Chrisco Church says the church can play a key role in shaping the future of youths.Speaking in an annual youth conference at Moi Girls High School Kamusinga that brought participants from Vihiga, Busia, Funyula, Kakamega, Mt Elgon, Nakuru, Bungoma and Uganda said it is prudent for the church to fully equip the young generation for challenges ahead through regular workshops, noting that their today’s right direction is their tomorrow’s better future.

The seminar chairman Pastor Mark Otiende pointed out that they expect more than 500 youths to be responsible citizens once they are out of the camp. Citing smoking, drinking, immorality and music as worst eroders of values among youths, Pastor Otiende said seminars do help stem the spread of such vices in the society stating why it is of much concern for parents to allow their children attend to them in long festive season.The host Pastor Francis Ademba was quite optimistic that most youths were positive on the need to have a sober society.

Church can shape youths’ future -Bishop Oloo

BY TOILI MUSANGA

A MALARIA prevention campaign conducted by the community health workers team in Naitiri has made positive changes in the health sector in Bungoma North District.The community led by Mr. Andrew Wanyonyi hailed the local health team for their successful strategy that has seen lifestyles change for good and more so the services being tendered by the Naitiri District Hospital have also improved.In the campaigns, over 500 insecticide treated nets as

Community Health Campaign impacts Bungoma North

BY KUNDU KHAEMBA

preventive measures against malaria were treated and most bushes within the area’s vicinity were also cleared with support from the health volunteer workers.Mr. Wanyonyi however appealed for more campaigns against the jigger invasion in the area where close to 60 families are said to have been affected.Meanwhile, a motorcycle and a bicycle were donated to Karima dispensary to easy transport service for community health workers in Mbakalu division.

Aaah, water at last

This mama a resident of

Githunguchucould not belief her eyes when

finally water cameand now was

within her reach.She is among the

many 17,000families from the

area expectedto benefit from the European Union Funded water project.Area MP Lewis

Nguyaicommissioned

the project.Story page 12

8 Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2009

BY Jane Kithuka

SOT Dairy Company Limited is rejoicing the official launch of their milk chilling plant. The plant which has a capacity of 6,000 litres was opened by Director of Livestock, on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Mohammed Kuti on December 5, 2009.

Residents from Longisa Division and Bomet Central gathered in thousands to celebrate this great achievement. Dignitaries including Director of Livestock, District Commissioner, Area Member of Parliament, representatives of EADD Steering Committee, EADD Partners from Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, Provincial Director of Livestock, Provincial Director of Veterinary Services amongst others were present.

One unique group in the Dairy Farmers Business Association is a group of 65 visually and physically impaired women who have decided to beat all odds from their state of dependency to independence and even helping others by being successful smallholder dairy farmers. Longisa Set Kobor Women Group was formed with a clear mission of restoring their dignity and hope, attaining food security and

Longisa Set Kobor Women group members during theirtraining in Kabianga, Kericho District

Community Eye, Vol. 1 November 2009

Visually and Physically Handicapped Women to Benefit from

Milk Chilling Plant

Longisa Set Kobor Women group Agrovet shop in Longisa

Longisa Set Kobor Women Group consists of 65 visually and physically impaired members all interspersed in variouslocations in Longisa Division, Bomet District in the Rift Valley.

The group was formed with a clear mission of restoring their dignity and hope, attaining food security and stable incomeamong the ir fami l ies and the community. They are now in the forefront of spearheading development in the division.

1995The group was formed with an original membership of 35 visually impaired women that received rehabilitation servicesfrom Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB). The group was formed with an objective of starting income generating activities that will enable them earn a living on equal footing with sighted members of the community. The activities were dairy farming and horticulture. But they finally zeroed in on dairy farming.

Journey To Prosperity With The Community

stable income among their families and the community. They are now in the forefront of spearheading development in the division. All group members are interspersed in various locations in Longisa Division, Bomet District in the Rift Valley. Set Kobor is one of the groups funded by Heifer International for their Dairy Project.In a bid to ensuring a steady and reliable market outlet for their milk Longisa Set Kobor Women Group joined hands with Longisa Dairy Farmer Groups and Bomet Central Dairies by investing Kshs 1.5M into Sot Dairy Company Limited, the Dairy Farmer Business Association towards meeting a need in milk marketing by setting up a milk chilling plant.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Livestock Development, the Director of Livestock expressed the

Governments gratitude towards the continued support the donor (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) has given livestock farmers of this country. The Director expressed the Ministry of Livestock's continued support towards such initiatives so as to realize a vibrant livestock industry for enhanced food security and economic growth.

“The success of this plant after commissioning will influence policy towards rural infrastructure with the government coming in to improve roads, water supply, electricity and telephone services.” Was the Ministers speech and famers were challenged to redouble their efforts inorder to increase milk production from their herd so that the milk chilling plant will

operate to its full installed capacity.

In his concluding remarks, the farmers' were urged to be fully committed and participate in all activities initiated by Government and the development partners to ensure sustainability of this initiative even after the project has come to an end.

The area Member of Parliament, Hon. Mrs. Kones acknowledged that the opening of SOT Dairy was just the beginning of good things to come, a dream that has been fulfilled. Hon. Mrs. Kones

articulated the farmers past frustrations when marketing their milk despite the high volumes but with the launch of the cooler their

with the launch of the cooler their frustrations will be a thing of the past.

Speaking about the project, Kristin Grote, representative of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation motivated farmers to increase their milk volumes from 1,200 Kilos by either tripling or quadrupling resulting to much more milk flowing and that the processor (New KCC) would be picking the milk a couple of times in a day.

On fostering partnerships, Dr. Sahr Lebbie, Heifer International Vice President for Africa Program, expressed his gratitude for the participation of EADD collaborators; Government, New KCC and Kenya Dairy Board. “...this is a very important partnership. We add value to each partners work...the success of this dairy (plant) will depend on the support that you give. We are all and

partners in development and we assure you that you have our support. We will always work with you” Said Dr. Lebbie.

The Treasurer of SOT Dairy Company Limited upon being interviewed was confident that with the set up of the cooler through EADD facilitation milk prices are competitive and this will transform the standards of living of the farmers in the area.

SOT Dairy Company Limited was also given an Artificial Insemination semen storage tank complete with liquid nitrogen and 1,200 semen straws. The Director of Livestock encouraged the farmers to stop using bulls and embrace artificial insemination. He further instructed the local administration to assist in castrating the bulls which should be using only for ploughing

Some directors from EADD supported chilling plants during the launch. In the middle is the Chairman of Lelan in Pokot

LONGISA SET KOBOR WOMEN GROUP1996

The group was registered as a legal entity by the Ministry Culture and Social Services, Government of Kenya (GOK). They underwent a series of rehabilitation exercises s p o n s o r e d b y K S B , Kericho.Lions Club International and HPI-K agreed in principle to fund the group for their dairy project following request from the group.

1997T h e g r o u p s t a r t e d preparat ions towards implementing the dairy Project with technical assistance from HPI, KSB, and Government of Kenya extension Staff.The group was trained on modern animal husbandry techniques vital for the success and sustainability of the dairy project in Kabianga Farmers Training Centre.

1998The group received the first batch of 13 in-calf Aryshire heifers

2000

The group received the second batch of 10 in-calf Aryshire heifersThe group also received 3 Aryshire breeding bulls to assist them Solve

breeding bulls to assist them Solve breeding problems in the group, as well

as in Longisa Division.

2003The group identified farm inputs access a serious challenge to their dairy project and used the group savings to start an Agrovet shop to serve them and the community. With the success of the group, other blind members of the community showed up and joined the group to attain a membership of 63 (6 males and 57 females). Due to the rapid e x p a n s i o n o f t h e g r o u p membership, it necessitated a new proposal to fund the new members as the process of pass ons would have taken long to benefit them all. The group in addition to requesting for

more heifers, incorporated the Agrovet shop strengthening and highlighted milk marketing as challenge to the group as well as the community at large.

2004HPI-K approves the second proposal to purchase more in-calf heifers, strengthen Agrovet shop as well as part-financing ofproposed milk cooler.

2005The group members were retrained on modern animal husbandry practices by HPI-K, KSB and GOK Livestockdevelopment extension staff.The group received in-calf Jersey heifers in two batches: June 10 in-calf heifers and August 5 in-calf Jersey heifers placed with Phase II group.The group financed a feasibility to assess the viability of the proposed milk cooler and to identify challenges facing dairy farmers within the division. They intended to join up with other farmers

Continued next page

Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2009 9

Community Eye, Vol. 1 November 2009

Life Changing Stories

CATHERINE KENDUIYWA, 64,

Catherine Kenduiywa is the current Vice-Chairperson of Set-Kobor Women Group and a key personality in her village and her church. She is also a treasurer of her local church and sitting in the locational development sub-committee.Catherine was born in 1945 at Kaporuso village, Longisa Division, Bomet District. She lost her sight in the early 1980s. Her loss of sight was due to retinal detachment which happened after jumping down from a grain store. 'It was in the afternoon when I went up to the store to get maize for making flour.After putting the maize in a sack and dropping them down, I climb down the first, second ladder then jumped the last to the ground only to 'see' total darkness' Catherine, as she narrates her sight ordeal. 'I thought, “I would have regained my sight immediately but seconds, minutes and days passed and my sight was still gone”, She adds.She was taken to various hospitals for treatment but there was no change. She became desperate and hopeless. This became worse especially when she knew that she would never continue with her business of buying and selling farm produce. She also thought of her children who by then were young and in school. She was visited byKenya Society for the Blind (KSB) staff who encouraged and gave her hope that she would still be able to do her work normally.Catherine was given training on basic rehabilitation skills. After receiving adjustment rehabilitation skills, she and other blind women were facilitated and encouraged to form self-help group.Heifer Project International (HPI) and Lions Club International sponsored the group to start a dairy project. Catherine was among theinitial beneficiaries of the first patch of 13 dairy cows purchased for the group. With intensive training on dairy management skills from HPIand Government of Kenya, Ministry of Livestock Development, she was able to maintain good management practice. The dairy project has too become economic booster to her family.

FLORENCE CHEPKIRUI, 30,

Florence Chepkirui is a successful business lady in Saoset Village in Longisa Division,Bomet District. Chepkirui currently is doing knitting business where she sells her products to local schools around her home as well as the community members in the neighborhood. She is a committee member of Longisa Set Kobor.'I really owe a lot to the success of this business to the support the dairy project has helped me (training). I used the sale of milk proceeds to purchase this machine', she says pointing at her knitting machine.

From the sale of her cow's Milk, she has managed to pay school fees for her children. She even took one for a training course in ayouth polytechnic.The success of her dairy also has given her a lot ofdignity in her village and any community developmentdecision always find her at the epicenter of the decisionprocess.Now that the milk marketing challenge is being sorted through Sot dairy Company Ltd (of which she is a shareholder), Catherine is planning to use income from sale of milk to start a small business shop.“Thank you HPI, Lions Club International, KSB and GOK officials for your

Above , HPI field staff with Catherine and her grandchild during a farm ,visit in 2000. Top,Catherine is congratulated by KSB Project Manager, Wesley Ruto, for passing on of a heifer she gave to another family member

Florence was born normal child to Mr and Mrs Kisioli Arap Maemba in 1979 as the 4th child. She started schooling atthe age of six and went up to primary four. She dropped out of school due to sight problem which became so severe toan extent that she could not see the blackboard.Florence was taken to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital in 1991 where her sight problem was diagnosed as severecorneal ulcer due to vitamin A deficiency. She was operated on but her vision could not improve. She stayed at home idle and frustrated until 1996 when the parents took her to Tenwek mission hospital. A second operation was done but

no improvement was evident. The same year, 1996, Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB) field personnel were informed of her predicament and they visited her at home. They took her to Kericho District hospital to be seen by a Zonal Eye Surgeon and confirmed her loss of vision. She was confirmed as having irreversible blindness and required rehabilitation program service.KSB staff started her rehabilitation and she was taken to Nyeri for intensive rehabilitation adjustment skills which include orientation and mobility, activity of daily living, social skills amongst other skills.Florence joined Set-Kobor Women Group in 1997. She was in the first group of blindwomen who received dairy cows in 1998 sponsored by Heifer Project International(HPI) and Lions Club International. With the income earned from the milk sales,Florence was able to join Kiptere Youth Polytechnic where she trained in a knittingcourse. After training, she purchased knitting machine from the milk sale income. The Income accrued from the milk sales and her knitting business changed her lifestyle and this earned her a husband! 'I thank God, KSB, HPI and Lions Club International for enabling me get a husband and these three children, at themoment I am a proud mother and able to look after my children and husband'. She

laughs as she points at her 3children.Florence, before being identified by KSB was desperate, lonely and totally shy to talk to anybody. Her legs were becoming swollen due to lack of mobility and exercises.However, she started her rehabilitation Program, her status started a turn for the better.Due to the dairy project, her economic status improved and this earned her a husband who is sighted! Community members around her home have started zero grazing projects due to her success. Her children are healthy because of good nutrition from the milk.Other family members including her parents rely on her dairy project and status in the village has gone up and she is well respected.Florence is planning to improve her dairy management so as to improve milk production and earn better income as the milk marketing challenge will now be a thing of the past as Sot Dairy Company Ltd becomes operational. The income she earns can assist her purchase another knitting machine and employ a helper so that she as much expand her knitting business. She also plans to buy her own land.

Chepkurui; With her cows and family (below)

in the community towards financing a milk cooler that will ensure a steady and reliable market outlet for their milk.

2006:The group received two Jersey bulls to assist the members and the neighboring farmers solve a breeding challenge.

2009:- T h e g r o u p receives 2 more original Jersey Heifers.-HPI-K officially hands over the project site to EADDP to initiate t h e m i l k m a r k e t i n g enterprise.- T h e g r o u p invests Ksh. 1.5 million in Sot Dairy Company Ltd with 2000 dairy farmers in Longisa Division.-Sot Dairy Company Ltd premises near completion in November 2009 and is due for launch on 5th December 2009.Impact of the Dairy project amongst the group members and the community:The dairy project has transformed the visually impaired members from their state of dependency to Independence and even helping others. The group has been in the fore front of addressing breeding, farm inputs access and milk marketing challenges in the community. The community looks uponthem now for leadership and support! The dairy project has greatly improved their status in the community!The dairy project through its dairy management system has inspired many other farmers in the division and many farmers have adopted the zero-grazing type of dairy management because they have seen the benefits. 'I adopted this zero-grazing dairy management system after I saw its benefits from Set Kobor Women

members!', Mr. David Kenduiywa young farmer, Kaparuso village, Longisa Division. Through placement of better producing dairy herds, the dairy project has injected significant amounts of milk available to their group members as well as to the wider community.

The highest ever recorded production is 25 liters per cow per day. The milk has greatly contributed to improved family nutrition. Surplus milk sales have also addressed many family requirements including school fees for children and household items including assets.The breeding bulls placed with the group have also assisted other dairy farmers in the community by improving theirdairy herds. The community now boasts of better dairy herds that can still be improved through Artificial Insemination.The agrovet shops have also greatly contributed to addressing farm input access challenge in the community.“Thank You KSB, HPI-K, Lions Club International and GOK Ministry of Livestock Development for the partnership. GodBless you all”, Anna Chemutai, Chairlady, Longisa Set Kobor Women Group.

LONGISA SET KOBOR WOMEN GROUPFrom Previous Page

Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010 10

NYANDARUA District Lands registrar Charles Birundu has decried over the increasing cases of land disputes in the district and appealed to land owners to be cautious when selling land by involving relevant bodies.The registrar says about 3,000 land cases have not been resolved for a longer period of time due to unresolved disputes while some key witness die before the completion of their cases.Speaking with the Community Eye at his Nyahururu office, Birundu said about 60 % of cases forwarded to his office daily involve land disputes as a result of disagreement by key parties and called on the chiefs and Divisional officers to help in resolving the conflicts.The lands officer also added that most murder cases that are reported occur as a result of disputed land boundaries. He said the disputes would affect agricultural production due to delayed delivery of courts ruling in cases involving land disputes where land owners cannot develop them until their matter is finalised.The Western Central Regional Commissioner Mr Wycliffe Ogallo told the Community Eye that the government is working on recommendations aimed at addressing land issues as contained in the Land policy so that the country can embark on a meaningful food production to avert incidences of hunger and land disputes

Kimilili Constituency Youth Sacco takes off

THE long awaited Kimilili Constituency Youth Sacco whose patron is the area Member of Parliament kicked off recently with a funds drive that netted over one million shillings for the Bungoma North Sacco alone.The patron Dr David Eseli Simiyu contributed Kshs 150,000. Other contributions came from the Sirisia MP also the Foreign affairs minister Moses Masika Wetangula donating Kshs 50,000, Deputy Premier and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta Kshs 100,000, Mithika Linturi and Bifwoli Wakoli Kshs 20,000 eachAlso Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi and a nominated councilor Sitati Nangalama gave out Kshs 10,000 each.The Kimilili Youth Sacco on the other hand is in pipeline as registration was said to be still taking place where members are required to raise atleast a minimum of Kshs 500 shares. The sacco strengths were again bolstered recently when more than 200 youths drawn from allover the constituency underwent an entrepreneurship course at Friends School Kamusinga.The Manager of the Kenya Investment Authority Eldoret Branch Mr Robert Materei said Kimilili has enormous business potential while Mr. Elijah Achoch, a director for transformative leadership and change management from the office of the prime mister told youths to show exemplary leadership abilities through hard work. Dr Eseli said the success of the sacco will determine the same prgramme for women slated for next year. He said he can not dish out money to the all 311,000 people in the constituency (as per the preliminary census results) but said he is after creation of sustainable self employment within the constituency. . Youths would be entitled to borrowing to start and step up their entrepreneurial activities in the constituency and minimize the culture of bodaboda cycling and seeking of white collar jobs.Area DC Joseph Lewa, Kimilili Mayor John Masinde and youth's officer Mary Papa among others attended the two-day workshop.

BY ERASTUS WALUMOLI

Question 1:O What available structures has the

sugar industry put in place for negotiating cane price?

O Whether the structures are compatible with international best practices?

O Is the minister aware that sugarcane producers are completely marginalized and their views and participation ignored during cane prices reviews?

O Under the Sugar Act 2001, sugarcane pricing system is based on sucrose content. Is the Minister for Agriculture aware that this provision under the Sugar Act has never been implemented?

O Can the minister advise this house why this provision has not been implemented and what are the ministry and Kenya Sugar Board doing about it?

Question 2:Despite the fact that the government

has offloaded most of the debt burden in the state-owned sugar companies, delayed payments is still rampant!

Can the minister quantify the amounts owed and period lag for each factory and what strategies are in place to ensure that the payments are cleared with compensation for lost capital earning opportunities?

Question 3: Minister of roads and Minister of Local Government and Minister of Agriculture

O Substantial funds are designated yearly for infrastructure improvement in the sugar industry. Dilapidated roads networks is a common feature in sugarcane growing zones

O Can the minister give a breakdown of the Roads levy and Sugar Development Levy allocations and utilization by

Sugar Campaign for Change Questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Finance, Roads, Energy ,Local Government

(SUCAM)

factory for the period 2007/08 and 2008/09?

O Can the minister tell the house why the sugarcane farmers are levied cess yet through the ''Licensing Law (Amendment & Repeal) Act 2006'' which became operational on May 2007, prohibits farmers from paying cess.

Question 4:O The price of fertilizer and fuel

has increased exponentially impacting negatively on agricultural production. The small holder sugarcane producers are unable to cope with this phenomenon. The government has obtained fertilizer subsidy and is in the process of distributing to farmers.

O Can the Minister for Agriculture

indicate how much of the subsidy fertilizer has been allocated to smallholder sugarcane producers?

Question 5: Minister of Agriculture

O One of key constraints to increased sugarcane production lack guaranteed and affordable credit facilities!

O Recently the Kenya Sugar board contracted the Agricultural Finance Corporation to mange the loaning services to sugarcane farmers. Can the minister tell the house how many farmers and the amount the programme targeted?

O How much has been disbursed and how many small scale sugarcane farmers have benefited so far?

To be continued...

MELANGINE DC Mr Mwai Gicheru has called on the wananchi in the district to join hands with the police force in order to fight the rising cases of crime in the area especially during this Christmas period. Gicheru put on notice all criminals in the District to shun all illegal activities or else face the full force of the law. He assured the local community that security agents will do everything possible to guarantee them their safety together with their property and hence no criminals would be spared if they fail to abandon their illegal activities.The DC who was talking with the press noted that it is the cardinal duty of the government to protect the lives of wananchi and their property.Gicheru observed that no meaningful developments can be realized if wananchi continue living in fear of being attacked by criminals and also stressed that the officers would use all resources available to reverse the trend.Also noting that other security measures have been put in place especially along the roads and asked the members of public to cooperate with security personnel in ensuring that they report any suspected criminals in their midst.

Melangine criminalsput on notice

Nyandarua’s 3,000land cases unsolved

THE Kimilili Pastors Fellowship recently organized a revival meeting and invited renowned church leaders including a local district commissioner.Bishop James Murunga of the Grace Community Ministry shared on overcoming the devil through unity while Bishop Emmanuel Mayeku of the King Jesus Faith Ministry Bungoma challenged the church to overlook meaningless past lives and concentrate on prayer in their daily lives.But to pull the masses in the open air meetings was the Kimilili-Bungoma DC Mr Joseph Mtile Lewa who urged Christians to keep at bay their complicated backgrounds like Jabez and look upon God for their blessings.The KPF Chair Reverend Matete, the secretary Pastor John Murunga and his assistant Pastor Erick Sifuna (Daylight), Coordinator Pastor Erinyo, Pastor Azumwa Meshack among other church leaders attended the powerful meetings.

BY JACKSON CHESOLI

The DC Mr Lewa on pulpit in an open air meeting whilejust below a faithful engages a pastor in prayer.

DC’S town sermon attracts many

THE century old St Lukes Church of the Anglican Diocese of Butere plans to pup a modern cathedral to ease congestion at the current hall.In an interview with the Community Eye, the diocesan Bishop Rt Rev Michael Sande said that the church is set to meet the mission and vision of the founder Chardwick family from Ireland which was to make the place an all round complex service provider to the community. He hinted that the church has overseen the construction of the Eshimwenyi Library facilitated by the African Institute Contemporary Mission and Research (ACMAR). Bishop Sande said that the diocese has also put up a 25 ensuite bed roomed guest house for newly married couples and other religious faithfuls, and added that a major harambee has been planned in early January 2010 to kick off the project.

- Richard Shichangi.

CHURCH NEWS

REFORMED Roman Catholic Church priests are here to stay and will not baptize themselves another acronym, says Bishop Dr. George Otieno.Speaking recently at the St Stephens Charismatic Catholic Church in Kitui District, Bishop Otieno said that “the difference is that we are a Charismatic Catholic Church.” He defended their move as prime adding that their break up from the Catholic Doctrine was for the good of all single prelates who suffered quietly with their heads down. While at Kakumuti, Kitui, the prelate flanked by Bishop Dr. George Jamba from Kisumu ordained Francis Odende from Ugenya, Christopher G. Mutisya from Machakos and Leonard Oduor from Ugenya as deacons. Councilor Stephen Wambua who is the patron of the church highly lauded the clerics for having trained the community on agriculture, fertilizer provision and dyke construction

- Boniface Mulu.

THE Pope's Representative to Kenyan Bishop Paul Alain Lebeaupin has reiterated that the Catholic Church would not support gay marriage despite allegations that it was working closely with church leaders from the Anglican Church in America.The Apostolic Nunncio said the Catholic Church would continue to condemn such kind of union terming them as ungodly and against nature laws.Lebeaupin made the remarks while gracing the 50'th anniversary of Bishop Luigi Paiaro's priesthood at the Nyahururu Catholic Church Cathedral recently. He noted that the church would continue encouraging cordial relationship with other religious organizations and that the church will not relent to the fight against same sex marriages and legalization of abortion.His sentiments came amid tensions over the Vatican's offer to welcome disenchanted Anglicans into the Catholic fold with Pope Benedict's proposal that would allow Anglicans to convert while preserving many of their traditions and practices.

We Are Still Catholics - Bishop Otieno New cathedral for Butere Anglicans

Catholic churchwont support gay marriages

BY THUO JOHN

FORMER Butula lawmaker Christine Mango has called upon the constituency development fund committee to allocate more funds for the construction of classrooms and science laboratories in the secondary schools in the district. Speaking in a fundsdrive at Kingandole secondary school recently, the former MP said primary schools have received a lot of financial support from the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP) and it was now time for secondary schools. "One of the best investments ... is in educating our children...," she said, advising parents to enroll their children in schools within the district since the syllabus was the same.The former MP further appealed to the public to read the draft constitution carefully so that they can be able to make informed decisions. The school principal Mr Leonard Muganda called upon parents to clear the outstanding fees balance of Kshs 1.3million for the institution to offer effective services to students.A total of Kshs 0.4 million was raised for the construction of two more classrooms.

BUTULA; Mango insists CDFs time for high schools

BY KEN AMENYA

BY THUO JOHN

BY CORRESPONDENT

11 Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

KDSCP attains unitygoal in Kipsombe

CDF boosts Soy dairy plant project

DAIRY Farmers in Soy Division received Kshs 400,000 from the E ldoret East Const i tuenc y Development Fund (CDF) .Farmers resolved to buy a piece of land where a cooling plant will be constructed.The Chairman of the project Mr Philip Kibusie said the project has been registered as Sirikwa Dairies and General Limited adding that the main aim is to collect milk from within the division and the neighboring places.Up to date, two acres of land have been bought using the CDF cash and construction is expected to begin soon.

T H E K e ny a D a i r i e s S e c t o r Competitiveness Program (KDSCP) attained its major goal of uniting dairy farmers from Kipsomba under one single umbrella name as Kipsombe Dairies Farmers Union.All farmers unanimously agreed to be under the name as a way of easing their milk delivery to the New KCC factory. The name will also cover other dairies in their endeavor of taking up dairy farming as a business and the subsequent upscaling of their incomes. Among the guests were Dr Josh Odhiambo, Jimmy Kikonyo, Isaac Kamau, Seleina from World Wide Sires and KCC Manager Jane Maiyo.The New KCC Manager Ms Jane Maiyo said that the government is now set to pay the debt it owe farmers that came up as a result of milk deliveries made to the factory some many years way back. She also unveiled that New KCC will start prompt payments of milk delivered, stating that farmers will receive their pay every after two weeks from the day of delivery. The company will also assist farmers by use of check off and offer quantity bonus systems. Farmers agreed to supply their milk to the New KCC under the proposed name as from immediately.

HUNDREDS of Segero farmers attended the official commissioning of the Bironcho Dairies Milk Cooler in Eldoret North Constituency.At the well attended function, a former Managing Director of the New KCC Mr Francis Mwangi advised farmers to take up zero grazing by keeping few manageable dairy cows.He also advocated for usage of artificial insemination services in breeding as a way of improving breeds rather than the traditional bull methods stating that it affects milk production and acts as avenue for disease transmission. Mr. Mwangi pleaded with the farmers to expand the sector by introducing their children to dairy farming and encourage others to form groups in order to ease milk collection for the new cooler. He also asked farmers to work hard so as to increase their daily milk production saying the current production was too low compared to the capacity of the cooler.Residents especially youths were upbeat that the new cooler will act as a hub to job creation within Segero besides increasing personal incomes to farmers. Bironcho is the brainchild of the former KCC Manager the late Reuben Chesire and is located in Wiliam Ruto’s Eldoret North Constituency.

Bironcho Cooleris commissioned

Milk production has soared high in Tanykina dairy plant in Nandi North district. The Kipkaren Plant which acquired its plant in 2005 currently leads the production line with an average of 14,600kg per day as others collectively join in with 10,000kg. This is according to Mr. Robert Rotich who briefed the Community Eye.However, he expressed worry at the impeding persistent drought expected in by January and February that will occasion drastic drop in milk production in the various plants. But the EADD Technical Advisor Mr. Gideon Birgen and an Artificial Insemination service provider Salestine Wanjala appealed to farmers in the region to improve on proper breeding and also utilize farm feeds available from the company to increase production.

Tankyina milk output steps up

- Erastus Walumoli.

-Rose Lagat.

- Jonah Kemboi.

- Rose Lagat.

WORLDWIDE Sires EA Ltd General Manager Dr Josh Odhiambo has urged farmers attached to Surungai Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society to get into groups so that they improve access to services.Addressing farmers during an Ayrshire Dairy Cattle field day at Suruingai, Dr Odhiambo said that farmers should group themselves so that they can market their milk together in order to benefit through volume bonus offers available.He stressed that their unity will also access extension services affordable, adding that they should use the sector to increase their household incomes through production of large volumes of milk of high quality.Dr Odhiambo further told farmers to manage their livestock using modern ideas and technologies to maximize productivity.Ayrshire Association Chairman Dr. Muchemi Kariuki disclosed that with over 3,500 million breeds produced world wide, farmers in Kenya had no other option but adopt the newly introduced semen from Finland able to sire highly productive dairy cows.He also revealed that the breeding company has started offering training on breeding, needs

KDSCP and Ayrshire hold successful day at Suruingai

BY HENRY KILAUSI

requirement, keeping farm records among other to bolster milk production in the country. On his part, a Veterinary Officer from Kitale Mr Painito Muhindi Chogo said the department has plans of increasing external markets and boost their economic status. He stressed that plans are also underway to increase the population of livestock through disease control.Suruingai Dairy CooperativeChief Patrick K. Bosire of Motosiet location flanked by his assistant chief Isaac Kichwen observed that most farmers lack relevant knowledge in animal production, milk production among others a reason why milk production was still low. He also encouraged more farmers to join the cooperative society and improve production that will

also facilitate the acquisition of their own cooler.Others officials include Painito Mundro as vice chairman, Mrs Mary Waweru as Treasurer and Mabel Chogo as her vice. The coordinator is Mr Harrison Ndungu.Also present were the agricultural officer Kaplamai Division Mr Omurwa Dishon, Mr Cleophas Okore from the Ayrshire (ACBS-Kenya), Isaac Kamau from WWS, Mr Stephen Kimitei and Emily Chebusiloli both from Ultravetes and Mr Moses Kikwai from the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), Mr Joshua Jumba from Seum Cooperative and Mr Caleb Kisienya from PALP among others.

Mt. Elgon District marked the World Aids Day in style with lots of activities ranging from drama, teachings and songs. Hekima Academy from Kaptama Division presented plays, songs, poems and verses and various performances by St John's Academy in Kapsokwony also coloured the day.The CBO chairman Mr. David Atodo among other leaders Mark Otwane and Renson Watima talking separately to Community Eye said they look forward to continue educating the public on the dangers associated with the deadly disease besides supporting the vulnerable children.Also to pomp the day was the voluntary counseling and testing which attracted many.Hekima Group also does farming of the tissue culture banana, potato production and also operates an orphanage that was occasioned by the Chepyuk clashes. SCC-VI agroforestry facilitators in the district Mr. James Walela and Jane Joseph have also introduced the project aiming at supporting the dairy sector.

Drama, song marks Mt Elgon's Word Day celebrations

THE Chwele Rehabilitated Dam in Bungoma Central District is looking forward to the support of the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) to stock 300 chickens at the site. The programme will be undertaken in the second phase of the Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative, said the LBDA Regional manager Mr. Geofrey Wekesa and other officials Messrs Micheal Ong`iro and Rodgers Chemiati (Right) while briefing Community Eye.The Chwele dam which seats on 5 acres of land has also received a boost of six high yielding dairy cows and other three heifers from LBDA.

BY EYE TEAM

BY ERASTUS WALUMOLI

THE Veterinary Department in Keiyo district has mounted a vaccination campaign against mosquito related diseases. The exercise targets Lumpy Skin, Foot and Mouth, Rift Valley fever among other diseases to ensure that animals in the region remained healthy during this rainy season. Speaking to the Community Eye in his office, the District Veterinary Officer Dr Munderu Chege said the strategy as a precaution against the ongoing El-Nino rains involves appointment of village representatives to help in the disease surveillance. The DVO asked livestock farmers to report any abnormal cases they detect in the areas to his officers in the field for quick action to be taken.

Keiyo to vaccinate livestock against El Nino related diseases

BUTERE Girls High School is set to launch its five year strategic plan as a way towards achieving its set objectives. The school Principal Mrs Dorah Okaalo said that the calendar of activities are well spelled out in the plan to enable the school managers and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate their performance to make sure that the desired results are attained. She also observed that the strategic plan would also help them to remain committed to the stipulated steps and make Butere Girls as a cradle of academic excellence.Mrs Okaalo further disclosed that the strategic plan would be launched early 2010 so that it creates room for stakeholders to implement it throughout the year.

YOUTHS have been challenged to push for the entrenchment of their agenda in the new constitution.The Managing Director of Eshinamwinyuli youth group Dr Jared Orembo from Butere told Kenyan youths to be bold and provocative over issues affecting them rather than wait to be done by the older generation and greedy leaders.He said this was the time for the youths to demand positions in the national decision making organs especially in the constitutional review and make their dreams come true. The group is involved in advocacy and other various activities centered on youth's growth among them agribusiness, security table banking and many others that aims at enhancing a self reliant generation. According to the group programmes officer Mr Simon indakwa, they also pay school fees for orphans and other vulnerable children. He added that more than 3,200 pupils drawn from 40 schools were recently educated on HIV and Aids. They were speaking to the youth in a seminar at their Butere office. Also present was the group chairman Mr Shardrack, finance Mrs Jane Khangani among others.

BY RICHARD SHICHANGI

BY RICHARD SHICHANGI

Chwele Dam Rehabiltated

Youths advised to be active

Butere Girls to launch plan

ABOVE: Dr Josh Odhiambo, Rindell from the US and Elizabeth Munene during a training at Mr. Limo’s farm in KaptagatRight: Mr. Isaac Kamau of WWS (middle) with service providers during a training in Nakuru

KIMININI; South AfricanInstitute boosts Kiminini’sTheological College

A SOUTH African Bible Institute has linked up with the Kiminini based Kenya Ministers Theological College (KMTC) Mt Elgon Campus by introducing 1,500 new courses for corespondents.The courses majorly in theology are set to be rolled out in January 2010 will also open up learners to admission in South Africa for more advanced programmes once thy are through with certificate, degree and doctorate courses at KMTC.The Bible Institute will also donate teaching literature through electronic systems and books, seen as an avenue to assist locals attain international education.The KMTC Board under the Principal Director Mr Henry Wanyonyi Wafula while briefing the Community Eye urged those interested to enrol and start learning by 19th January 2010. Present were deputy chairman Mr Nelson Wanyonyi, secretary Mr Henry P. Mabonga, his assistant Mr Benard W. Soita and the organizing secretary Mr Ayub Maina Thuo.

BY HENRY KILAUSI

CONSTITUENCY Development Fund management team recently carried out workshops aimed at teaching the public on their right to the fund.While at Sinendet in Uasin Gishu, the public and the local committees were tasked to make regular enquiries on the way the funds were being utilized so that they have a stake on the management of the kit. The CDF Secretary Mr Nathan Bittok encouraged the public to support the team in order to meet the main aim of the CDF project.

SINENDET; CDF creates awareness on rights to fund

BY ROSE LAGAT

THE District Agricultural Officer Kimilili Mrs Mary Nzomo has appealed to groups to actively participate in micro-agricultural entrepreneurship activities so that they boost chances of getting government grants.Addressing participants in a farmers' field day at Chebukwabi dam, Mrs Nzomo hinted out that out of the 10 groups that made applications, atleast 1200 farmers from the district have already received the grants from the National Agricultural Accelerated Input Programme. The dam would act as a demonstration site and was earmarked to receive free farm inputs, fertilizer and orphaned crops seed from the government.Present was the area chief Cleophas Chapesa and departmental heads.

KIMILILI; farmers advised to seek grants

Mrs Nzomo, right, and local agricultural, officer Peter Omoto with other leaders from Chebukwabi at the dam.

BY ERASTUS WALUMOLI

A 3 . 5 m i l l i o n n e w ly constructed house of the Mumias MP Ben Washiali went up in flames recently when unknown arsonists set it on fire at Shitoti Village.Mumias Police boss Marius Tum and the DC Charles Laboso said that a house helper was being held to assist in investigations. Former Mumias mayors Patr ick Sakwa, Madam Carolyne Walachio visited the legislator's home.

He disclosed that it was necessary to enlighten beneficiaries of the fund on ways of managing the cash before making disbursement. This was in view to encourage transparency among the community as stated by officials who attended the seminars. Also taught was proposal writing, management of the project, procurement, payment tendering, monitoring and evaluation. In attendance was councillor Joseph Chemwaina, nominated councilor James Sang, area chief Daniel Busienei and his acting counterpart Peter Kemei.

MUMIAS;Mp’s house burns

12 Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

BY TOILI MUSANGA

Pasture still acontentious issuein NyahururuBY LYDIA MWANGI

EU funded water project to end poverty

BY LYDIA MWANGI

Inion Letiriiwa with his father Kiparaku Letiriiwa in hospital.

OVER 15,000 fami l ies f rom Githunguchu location in Ndaragwa constituency are set to benefit from a Kshs. 17 million water project that has been funded by the European Union in conjunction with the county council of Nyandarua and the area Constituency Development Fund. The project that was started some seven years ago will help in alleviating poverty through provision of water for both domestic use and irrigation.Speaking while commissioning the multimillion project, an assistant

minister for Local Government Lewis Nguyai (above) called on water users and stakeholders to join hands with the water management boards and water service providers in order to keep water project running. He urged residents to also look for alternative ways of collecting and conserving rain water for use during the dry periods.The assistant minister at the same time urged the residents to plant more indigenous trees as an environmental conservation measure.He regretted that most water catchment areas in the country had dried up as a result of human encroachment saying there was a dire need for residents to conserve such areas so as to sustain water security all over the country.

Pioneers of Kuresok Primary School during prayer day while preparing to seat for their KCPE exams. From left is the school headteacher Mr Juma Mtimba while onthe right is a member of the school committee Mr Daniel Yego. By Lagat Rose

PIONEERS

TWO young men are fighting for their life at Nyahururu district hospital with serious gun wounds sustained in a fierce gun battle that erupted between two ethnic communities in Laikipia West district. Laikipia West Police boss Paul Kariuki said that headers from Pokot East district raided Lorora village near Dam Nyekundu and started spraying bullets to the Samburu headers grazing their livestock over pasture. Sources at the hospital confirmed that the two men, Lekamparish Sanayo, 23 shot in the thigh and Inion Letiriiwa, 22 shot in the stomach were in stable condition.

ABOUT 17,000 squatters are expected to benefit from the third phase of the Chepyuk Land Scheme in Mt Elgon.The chairman of the taskforce that was appointed to oversee the implementation of the process Mr Solomon Ouko while briefing the media in Kimilili also revealed that the 2,500 acres of land will be distributed fairly.He said that the controversy that pit the Chepyuk land scheme which has nearly 7,000 squatters was poised to end once and for all, attributing to the community’s positive response to calls for meetings.Mr Ouko further urged leaders from Mt Elgon to support the process by encouraging all who were flushed out to attend meetings convened by the tasforce.A member of the taskforce retired Bishop Eliud Okring of the Katakwa Anglican Diocese said that even those who were scattered in far places will be considered in the process.The two appealed to non governmental organizations to assist beneficiaries to start life a fresh through construction of houses and food.

17,000 to benefit from Mt Elgon’s Chepyuk Scheme

FISHERIES Minister Paul Otwona is being criticized by his constituents over his controversial picking of the proposed establishment of academic centres of excellence. Led by Dr. Stephen Odebero of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, the people are pointing fingers at the minister, also Funyula MP of downplaying the role of professionals in project proposals. Dr. Odebero said that Kshs 30 million meant for upgrading well established schools to become centres of excellence was not enough as many schools are ill equipped. In Mumias, members of the community are accusing the area legislator Ben Washiali of picking s c h o o l s w i t h o u t m a k i n g consultations. The MP selected Mwitati Mixed while many were advocating for St Peters High and St Mary's High Schools respectively. Confusion has gripped many schools in Western Province over the criteria used to pick academic centres of e x c e l l e n c e w i t h e d u c a t i o n professionals pulling to one end as politicians pull the other way.

Legislators accused ofhandpicking projects

BY FREDRICK WEYIMI

THE ministry of technical education has directed all technical institutions to start a tri-semester programme by 2010.The circular issued by Mr. S.W Wanyonyi for the director of technical education states that under its provision, polytechnic university colleges, technical training institutes and institutes of technology would embark on a three semester term programme for 2010, unlike days before when many had the regular two semesters. From 5th January to march 25th would be the first term and from 4th May to July will now be the second semester. The circular also says that the third semester kicks off on 7th September and winds up by 25th of November.Already injected in the new programme is Eldoret polytechnic which also has new courses lined up in its town campus.

Technical institutions to adapt tri-semester programmeBY ERASTUS WALUMOLI

The group started in 2008 and has 50 members of which 18 are women. The following are the members Isaac too(chairman) Barnabus Kirua (vice chair) Melchzedek Singoi (secretary) Sylus Biwot Juma (vice secretary) Sylus Biwot senior (treasure) David Chumba (coordinator) William Rotich discipline master and committee members Grace Choge, Mildred Kitanui , Emily Boen, Mary Kisoiya, Dinah Cheruiyot. The main vision is to give services to the community and the main activities are health and agriculture such as dairy, fisheries and mushroom cultivation. The project has received funds from IOM for poverty eradication at the grass root level. Other donors include the National AIDS Control Committee and Constituency AIDS Committee of Eldoret North which gave Kshs. 350,000 and the first tranche of 152,500 has already reached the community. The CACC money will be used for behavior change campaigns among the youth. The first event was held at Sambut Primary school which reached 1000 people through football matches for both men and women.The officials said that the second phase will go into 7 primary schools namely; Sabut, Green Garden Academy, Sunrise Academy, Ainabungetik Primary, Kamagut Primary,

SCHEMERS CBO: Group Profile

Soi Academy and Cheramai.The office bearers also disclosed that they had applied for funding from A.F.C to grow maize and buy dairy cattle. The group is also targeting DACC funding for orphaned and vulnerable children. They said some of the challenges affecting their work include high school drop our rates due to poor perception regarding education, drunkenness due to abundance of local brew coupled with high unemployment was affecting many young people. In order to address these challenges Schemer's CBO plans to raise funds to establish football and netball teams so as to occupy the youth.The sporting venet at Sambut Primary

attracted may youth and community leaders including Mr. Henry K. Bargoret- CACC Co-ordinator Eldoret North, Joseph K. Cheruyot- AG chief- Kamagut Location, Samoei Paul Kipkosgei- Member CACC Eldoret North constituency, Winfred M. Katelo- Youth officer- Turbo division, Zalfa Cheptngetich -Youth educator- Eldoret East, Brian Keter Mininstry of Youth affairs- Eldoret West, Purity Tangut- Peer Educator Ministry of Youth affairs- E ldoret , Jepc humba Rose l ine- Counselor- APHIA II Eldoret, Abigael Birech- Community Health Worker- APHIA II Eldoret, John Nyongio Korir- Village Elder, Edwin M. Muhindi and Kemboi K. Linus (teachers).

Some of the officials of Schemers CBO

BY BARNABAS KIRUI

Hangzhou Agrochemicals (HAI Agrochem) recently organized a farmer field day which was hosted by Sasuri Youth Group at the home of Rev. Festus Fwamba in Sasuri Village, Marakaru Sub location Kanduyi Division in Bungoma South District.

The event was attended by over 200 farmers who were trained by General Manager Edwin Irungu on the use and benefits of using Hanqzou products so as to succeed in farming as a business. He said HAI-450,is good for preserving fruits and to prolong shelf life. He added that hanqzou will provide self employment opportunities for local people and that the company is working towards increasing farmer's income and prosperity.

The company offers a wide range of products including soil conditioners, fertilizers, folia feeds, Pyramite, Widal and spray pumps.

The event was attended by participants from Bungoma South, Bungoma Central, Webuye and Mt. Elgon Districts.

Mr. Fred Mugotisa a farmer

HAI: Successful field day at Marakaru

from Vuhambani Christian Self Help Group based in Township Location, Kanduyi said they were involved in value addition to passion fruit and he can be contacted on 0722865025. Jackson Ndungu, the Agribusiness Officer in Kanduyi division urged farmers to keep records so as to succeed in farming as business. He said that the Small Holder Marketing Programmes (SHOMAP) requires proposals for funding in order to resolve marketing problems in the area.

Mr. Ndungu called upon farmers from the area who had received farm inputs from the government under NAAEP to ensure that they have deposited two bags at the stores. Mr. Ndungu further said many farmers in the area were not using sufficient farm inputs leading to poor production.

Also present at the field day were Hangzhou Technical Sales Representantive Mr. Juma Masika and Kibabii

Agricultural Extension Officer Mary Toya. Others were Sasuri Youth Group officials Edwin Juma- Chairman, Henry Wafula-Vice Chairman, Bramwel Simiyu- Secretary, Sussy Wanjala- Vice Secretary, Mildred Wanyam -treasurer, Gilbert Wafula, Dennis Kabanga, Daniel Onyabit and Metrine Wafula

BY BARNABAS KIRUI Following a report appearing in Community Eye Newspaper about a cattle disease outbreak in Sambuti area in Eldoret North District, the Government has sent veterinary doctors to investigate the outbreak. Staff from veterinary services Nairobi arrived in Sambuti and carried away ticks and other samples for further investigation at the national laboratories. Local residents have applauded the quick response and asked the government to be more vigilant to ensure the farmers do not lose their main source of livelihood.

Govt sends vets to Sambut

13Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

INNOVATION

KEEPING DUCKS ; Breeding

Breeds and breeding

THERE many disadvantages in breeding. First, you have to incubate eggs, which cannot be sold. You have to spend time and money on incubating eggs. The effort of incubating eggs may be wasted if they do not hatch. Although you want only eggs, you will have to keep and feed unproductive drakes (males) as well, in order to obtain fertile eggs. For small-scale farmers it is more profitable to breed ducks themselves especially if the numbers of ducklings they need are small.

Two ways of breeding: Free breeding; if you keep the female ducks and drakes together then getting fertile eggs or ducklings will usually be no problem. The drakes are free to mate with any duck they want. However, in this way, you will have no idea of which drake has fertilized which ducks. Direct breeding; you can also direct the process yourself so that you combine the ducks with the most desirable characteristics. In this way you keep ducks especially for producing ducklings, these are known as breeding stock. The extent to which you can determine which drake pairs with which duck depends on how you keep your ducks. If the ducks are only kept inside at night but are allowed to wander around freely at daytime in search of food then it is very difficult to even know which duck has paired with which drake. If you keep ducks in this way it is not worth spending much time trying to determine partner choice.The best thing to do is to put a number of good drakes into the flock and let them go their own way. This is the most simple and natural way of ensuring that you will have ducklings. If you have possibilities and time then you could consider making separate sections in shelters, so that you can put one drake together with a number of ducks (4 - 8) so that they can

mate.

Breeding stock As stated before, breeding stock are ducks with desirable characteristics which you like

to see in the ducklings. For example you may choose to combine a drake that grows well and has a good amount of meat, with a duck that is a good layer. Bear in mind, however, that not all characteristics are passed on from the parent duck to its offspring, but generally speaking the chance of breeding good ducklings is greater if good parents are used. Characteristics that you are looking at can be production characteristics or external characteristics.

Production characteristicsMost of the characteristics which are related to production are about quantity:

the number of eggs, the weight of meat, etc. An important f eature o f the se characteristics is that the env i ronment in f luences them. These you can influence yourself as duck keeper. A duck which is bred for high meat production will only be able to achieve high production levels if it gets enough food. If you want to increase your production levels you should first look carefully at your food supply, sickness levels and housing. Once you have made sure that you have the best food available, and that your ducks are healthy and have good housing, only then you can start breeding for a better production.

External characteristics Above we have discussed selection for

Continued from the prevoius issue.

BY GILBERT OCHIENG

BY HENRY KILAUSI

Govt to disarm Isiolo,Laikipia, Turkana

BY CORRESPONDENTSlicing the cost of living

Mr. Githiga from Leshau Location, Ndaragwa division, Nyandarua North District has thought of making his cost of living low. He comes from an area where de-aforestation has taken place. His wife was walking for kilometers searching for firewood. Githiga got some ideas from different articles he read from Community Eye hence constructed a bio-gas. He has three dairy cows which he thought the cow dung was enough to cater for his needs. “The cost of constructing is very cheap. It is less than 10,000 shillings.” He saidThe materials are easily available to every dedicated farmer. The gas produced is enough to cook hence reducing the cost of buying firewood and refilling gas cylinders. His wife is a happy woman having relaxed from carrying bundles of firewood on her back. Mr.Githiga travels to different areas to construct the bio gas at a cheaper price. I plead with all Kenyans to better our environment by planting more trees. If you are interested please contact him on phone through 0728820076 or visit him.

BY ANN GAITHO

Ann is Technoserve’s Community Mobilizer in Nyala.

THE government will embark on an exercise to disarm residents who have illegal and un-licenced fire arms after a one month’s amnesty.While addressing participants in a peace workshop, Dr. Michael Mugo of the Centre for Conflict Resolution-Kenya (CCR-K) said that residents of Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo and Turkana districts will be forced to surrender their arms if they fail to fall within the stipulated period.He added that it is the responsibility of Kenyans to seek solutions to challenges facing them through home grown strategies that is acceptable to all citizens. Dr Mugo said that Kenyans must appreciate their ability to address issues affecting them to the best interest of the nation, stressing that it was wrong for the country to think that the solution to tribulations affecting the country would come from outside. He said it was time Kenyans reconcile and forgive one another and forge ahead in pursuit of peace, unity and national prosperity.

THE Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Busia branch executive secretary Mr Paul Namukuru has expressed concern over the criteria the government used to de-gazette some hardship areas and reduce hardship allowance. In a press statement to the Community Eye recently, the executive secretary said that the government should reinstate hardship allowance for its members in Bunyala South and added that Bunyala district should be declared a hardship area. "As a union, we are happy that the 2009 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) ended well without any problems but we request the Kenya National Examination Council to be signing contracts with supervisors and invigilators," he said, adding that they should not refer cases to the Teachers Service Commission whenever any problem arises. The KUPPET executive secretary further said that the KNEC should as well consider paying the secondary school principals, Home Science, Agriculture and Science teachers who arrange for practicals adding that they are playing a very big role in ensuring that the examination runs smoothly yet the examination council does not pay them.

SABOTI CDF recently presented a cheque worth Kshs 250,000 to Wekhonye S.A. Primary School in Trans Nzoia West District.The cheque presented to the school by councilor Reuben Mudagala and his nominated counterpart Mr Martin Matara Situma was received

Kuppet refutes ban of hardship money

Saboti CDF boosts Wekhonye S.A. Primary

production characteristics. External characteristics may also be important, such as foot quality. If a number of ducks in a flock have bad feet it is better not to use them for breeding as they can pass this characteristic on to their young. External character istics are not influenced by the amount of feed or housing. A duck will either have straight feet or not, or brown colour or not, so it is easy to use this kind of criterion for selection.

The management of female ducks and drakesTo ensure that you have enough fertile eggs, a good ratio is one drake to six female ducks in meat-type ducks. In egg-type ducks you can put eight female ducks to one drake. If you have less female ducks per drake the chance of fertile eggs increases, but less than four female ducks per drake is not recommended.

A relatively large number of drakes in a flock makes the whole flock restless. It also means that you have more drakes to feed. Sell them as soon as they are grown up. In Muscovy ducks introduce drakes into the f lock about a month before you require

fertile eggs. This ensures that enough pairing has taken place for the ducks to lay fertile eggs. In common ducks like Peking ducks you have to make sure that males and female keep their sexual behaviour. Therefore, they have to be kept together from 3 weeks of age. Give ducks access to water. Ducks are water birds and they can keep themselves clean (and therefore more healthy) if there is water in which they can bathe. Brooding ducks that can keep themselves clean are better able to maintain the right level of humidity for the eggs.

by the school management committee chairman Mr John K. Watwati in the presence of the school head teacher Mr Jeremiah Mukusi who was praised by leaders for fashioning the school’s physical and academic shape, the Area Education Officer Ms Gladys Nyambura Karanja among others.Ms Nyambura urged the school management to be accountable to the funds while councilor Mudagala who donated 500 bricks towards a classroom construction pledged some more Kshs 10,000 to the school for development.Mr Mukusi revealed that the slow has had a low development pace since its inception in 1974. He m

a s k e d t h e p r o v i n c i a l administration and parents help eradicate teenage pregnancies and marriages mostly accruing from the bodaboda cyclists. He was however optimistic that this year’s results were poised to improve with regard to the stable performance shown through various exams done at the school.Councilor Situma urged the community to work hard and educate their children in order to fill the professional vacuum in the area. Also present was the school treasurer Mr David Nyongesa, David Daraja, Captain James Asena and an opinion leader Mr Onyango.

Kilifi Police guardspoly against arsonists

POLICE were recently dispatched to Vitengeni Youth Polytechnic in Kilifi District following a foiled community attempt to set in on fire.The acting Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Mr Lucas Ogara said some the action was prompted by some leaders who had protested over the hiring of casuals to construct workshops at the facility. Among the protesters was the area councilor Mr Tedy Mwambire.According to the Kilifi District Youth Officer Mr Joel Mulatya, a tender to put up three modern workshops and other facilities at a cost of Kshs 18 million sponsored through the Kenya-Italy Debt Relief Programme was awarded to an outsider on conditions that he employs local people.But trouble started when the contractor KASKA Construction came with its own, causing tension with the community halting the project to allow the contractor meet their demand.The OCPD said police will help maintain security until their differences were resolved amicably.

BY CORRESPONDENT

THE Kenya Release Political Prisoners is asking Kenyans to support the harmonised draft constitution saying it had now been.An official Mr. Michael M. Mbuthi was lecturing members of the public on the draft at the Mutonguni AIC Regional Centre in Tulia town, Kitui recently.The one-day event was organized by the RPP Trust in conjunction with the Kenya National Civic Education Programme (KNCEP). Other RPP officials present were Cromwel Mutuku, Agnes Njoki Kamau and Victor Kyalo Mutua.Njoki said that 80% of the draft is right, adding that “there is no anytime we will get 100% good constitution in the country”.

RPP advocates fordraft as fit BY BONIFACE MULU

To be continued

Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

Under normal cicumstances the calf is born an hour or so after the appearance of the front hooves.If the birth takes too long you can help the cow by pulling the calf but do not start before the eyes of the calf have appeared. Never pull with more than two people and then do so only when the cow is pressing herself.Always pull in the direction of the udder of the cow. In cases of difficulty ask for veterinary assistance.Immediately after the birth the navel of the calf should be disinfected with iodine or any other suitable disinfectant. The after- birth(placenta) should come off within 12 hours after calving. If this doesn't happen contact the veterinary staff immediately.4. FEEDING OF THE CALFThe feeding of the calf will determine how fast and healthy the growth of the calf will be. It is therefore important that the calf is properly fed to ensure it grows to the desired weaning weight within an acceptable time span.Colostrum feeding.During three first days after calving the cow produces a special kind of milk. This milk is called colostrum.

CALF REARING The feeding of colostrum is very important to give the calf a good start because:-Colostrum contains anti-bodies. These protect the calf against diseases.-Colostrum contains vitamins and minerals.Colostrum contains many valuable nutrients like proteins and sugars.-Colostrum assists the calf in producing the first dung.The calf should receive as much colostrum as possible during the first 3 days of life. The first colostrum should be given immediately after birth. The colostrum can be bucket fed or the calf can suck directly from the dam. If bucket fed, it should be given several times a day. Give one litre at a time and repeat 4-5 times a day.The calf can be taught to drink from a bucket by putting your finger in the mouth of the calf and at the same time bending the head of the calf into the bucket containing the colostrum.Milk feedingFrom the fourth day onwards the milk of the cow will become normal, the calf can now be fed twice per day. The amount of milk to be fed depends on the size of the calf, its breed and general body condition.There exist many feeding schedules that

can be used to the point of weaning. There is the early weaning and the late weaning regime. In the early weaning regime the calf is weaned after 2 months and the milk intake is supplemented with a high protein content supplement.In the late wenning regime the calf is weaned after four months. The calf may not need concentrate supplementation whern usingthis schedule.Each regime has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is possible to have an intermediate regime.Following is an example of the intermediate regime.

Milk Feeding ScheduleFeeding of some chopped young fodder should start in the second week. Also early weaner pellets should be given.Incase no early weaner pellets are available other concentrates like dairy meal should be fed instead. Fresh water should always be available.If the previous feeding schedule is followed the calf receives in total 415 litres of milk and 70kgs of esarly weaner pellets. The cost of this

Age in weeks

Milk per day Litres

Early weaner pelletsKgs.per day

Week 1 colostrum

-

Day 1-3 4 Handful

Day4-7 4 Handful

Week 2 5 0.53 5 0.54 5 0.755 5 0.756 5 0.757 5 0.758 5 0.759 5 0.7510 4 1.011 4 1.012 3 1.013 3 1.014 2 1.015 2 1.0

Milk Feeding Schedule

To be continued next edition

KLBO staff from left : Steve Juma Data entry Clerk, Bundi Manager and Leonard Mukhebi, Head of ICT

Salesmen Mambo and Olekishoyan (Antipest), Danile Gichuki (Coopers), Richard Muchine (Bayers), Mariah Karanja (Syngenta) and Ambrose Munene (ABS) read

copies of Community Eye during the Field day at MUKI

A holla chem marketing staff explains to farmers the range of company products

Sauti ya wafugaji chair Sera Kuyo with a member in Kajiado

Mr. Omoga of Fleckvieh Genetics E.A Ltd talks to KENAFAP officials at Itende Seconadry School in Bomet District during afield ady A member of tee marketing team from FARM Feeds

educate farmers during a field day in MUKI

FARM ALBUM

Mr. Nderito Zachary, Operations Director, Eden Rock Insurance Brokers, talks to Rosemary Odima Branch Manager Eco Bank Kitale (right) during a workshop at the Kitale Club

Above; An Olkalou Farmer buys cattle lick from Mr. Gabriel Kiambathi of Coopers and right Julius Kipchirchir of Kamagut (centre) sells Community Eye to clients

TALENT COMMUNICATIONS Ltd, Publishers of Community Eye. The farmers one- stop- shop for agricultural information!

14

19Community Eye, Jan/Feb 2010

Name

Business

Name Location

Contact

Details

Michael Michael

Mweiga,

Endarash

a no contacts

Wangai

Gatarakwa

AgroVet

Mweiga,

Kiawara :0737454408

Mugo Mugo

Mweiga,

Bellevue No contacts

Endarasha

Dairy

Endarasha

Dairy

Mweiga,

Endarash

a

Tel:2023681

14

Maina Maina

Mweiga,

Watuka No contacts

D.Kega R R Ol-Kalou No contacts

Ngunju

Walter

Merit Farm

Inputs Ol-Kalou :0720942565

Chege

Tumaini

Agrovet Ol-Kalou No contacts

Maryann

Max

Agrovet Ol-Kalou :0726204471

Njoroge G8 Agrvet Ol-Kalou :0721179666

Jane Mwangaza Ol-Kalou No contacts

Chege Equator Ol-Kalou :0724871462

Njoki Quality Ol-Kalou No contacts

Richard

Langat

Siongiroi

Agrovet Siongiroi :0710905994

Cheruiyot

Chirchir

Chirchir

Agrovet Siongiroi :0720423311

Hilary

Kibet

Lisma

Agrovet

Siongiroi,

Chebunyo :0734732789

Kemboi

Kosgei

William

agrovet Eldoret :0728669369

Anne

Kemboi

Anac

investment Chepkorio :0721118110

Rose

Chemtai

Kaiko

Agrovet Chepkorio :0724569406

Dr. Kandie

Ogilgei

Agrovet Chepkorio :0734712576

Joseph

koech

Tachasis

Plaza Chepkorio 0726325188

Joseph

Chelimo

Murmet

Agrovet Chepkorio :0722454297

Joseph

Kiptanui

Kapyemit

Agrovet

Mosoriot,

Uasin

Gishu :0726936005

John Tanui

Kipkaren

Holdings Kipkaren :0726936005

David

Kosgei

Ndarat

Agrovet Kipkaren :0720567245

Henry

Ng’etich

Chemototi

n Kipkaren :0720872008

Kitur Emkon Kabiyet :0720028042

Business Name Services Offered Tel. No. Contact Person Areas Served

Fair deal Agrovet Agrovet;AI 722150712 Terasia Kagendo Endarasha

Aberdare Agrovet AI, Agrovet Stores 722641013;

722606375

Githua Muchemi Endarasha,

Watuka

Charity Agrovet Agro -Vet Shop 722925089 Joseph Muchemi Endarasha

Classic Agrovet & AI Agrovet; AI 724806732 Kenneth Wahome Watuka

Country Agrovet Agrovet 720642439 Charles maina Mweiga

Ebenezer Agrovet Agro -Vet 722308038 Festus Maina Endarasha

Endarasha Farmers Co-op

Society

AI, AHS 722359262 Charles Gichuki Endarasha

Farm Friend Agro-Vet Agro -Vet Shop 723714574 Peter Kagera Watuka

Farmserve Investment Agrovet; AHA 726521302 John Muhoro Kieni

Floespa Agro-vet Agro -Vet Shop 727452711 Florence Wanjiku Mweiga

Gataragwa Co-op

Society AI, Agrovet Stores

726878361 David Gathuma Gataragwa/

Mugunda

Gatarakwa Vet Center Agrovet; AI; AHA 735005179 Peter Wangai Lamuria

Githura Kamaliki SHG AI, Feed Conservation 727825546 Evans Mutai,

Benard Ouko

Gataragwa

Joel Ndung'u AI, 723731956 Joel Ndungu ENDARASHA

Kagendo AI Services AI, AHS; Agrovet Stores 722150712 Tarasia Kagendo Endarasha

Kieni West Agrovet

(Maina)

Agro -Vet 723317498 Stephen Wairagu Endarasha

Mweiga Farmers Co-op

Society

AI, Agrovet Stores,

Transport, Petrol Station

20219321;

722574851

Charles Wanjau Mweiga and

Amboni

Peter Wangai 737454408 Mweiga

Stage Agrovet Agro -Vet; AI 723731956 Joel Ndungu Endarasha

Watuka Farmers Co-op

Society

AI, Agro Stores,

Transport

721480473 Joseph Nduhiu Watuka

Name Business Type Areas Contacts

Kenneth Metto TOT Kipkaren

Nicholas Tenai Transporter Kipkaren

Joseph Leting Transporter Kipkaren

Linus kiprop Transporter Kipkaren

Thomas koech Transporter Kipkaren

Wilmothy Choge Transporter Kipkaren

Michael Maritim Transporter Kipkaren

Christopher Transporter Kipkaren

Stanley Bwambok Transporter Kipkaren

Daniel Chepkwony Transporter Kipkaren

Daniel Kirwa Transporter Kipkaren

Philiph Chemey Transporter Kipkaren

Simeon K.C Transporter Kipkaren

Simeon Kimutai Transporter Kipkaren

Simeon Songok Transporter Kipkaren

Pius Tenai Transporter Kipkaren

kosgey Kimeli Transporter Kipkaren

Daniel Sugut Transporter Kipkaren

john Rop Transporter Kipkaren

Mmicah Kurgat Transporter Kipkaren

Christopher Kogo AHA Kipkaren

Benjamin Chirchir Transporter Kipkaren

Sosten Koech Transporter Kipkaren

Kennedy Kibet Transporter Kipkaren

john Rugut Transporter Kipkaren

Clady Ronoh Transporter Kipkaren

Philiph Keter Transporter Kipkaren

Wilson sugut Transporter Kipkaren

David Chepkwony AHA Kipkaren 0728 669351

Celestine Wanjala AI Kipkaren 0726 602942

Sammy Kering AHA Kipkaren 0723 500621

Christopher Kogo AHA Kipkaren 0710 521929

Julius Kibet AI Kipkaren 0727 151942

William Keter AI Kurgung 0726 407910

Obadiah Bor AI Kipkaren 0727 135226

Stanley Bwambok AI Kipkaren 0729 808180

Philiph keter AI Kipkaren 0723 570829

Paul K Rono 0726 962915

Donkey

Transporter Kipkelion

Stephen Murei 0720 504769

Donkey

Transporter Kipkelion

Paulo Kirui 0720 504769

Donkey

Transporter Kipkelion

Philip Rotich 0727 597994

Donkey

Transporter Kipkelion

Kenneth Rono 0723 464875 AHA Kipkelion

David Bet 0723 157478 AI Kipkelion

Joseph Sang 0728 725643 AHA Kipkelion

Joseph keter 0710 798240 Transporter Kipkelion

Samuel keter 0710 587598 Transporter Kipkelion

Keneth Koskey 0710 587598

Donkey

Transporter Kipkelion

Richard Ngeno 0726 557219 AHA Kipkelion

Samuel Morita 0727 870300 Transporter Kipkelion

Joseph Koech 0720 005829 Transporter Kipkelion

Richard Sang 0720 005829 Transporter Kipkelion

G.K.Bitok 0717 508782 Transporter Kipkelion

Mathew Kirui Transporter Kipkelion

Peter Korir 0720 049715 Transporter Kipkelion

Anthony Koech 0720 600732 Transporter Kipkelion

Raymond rono 0721 292084 Transporter Kipkelion

Jonathan Langat 0721 361359 AI Kipkelion

Philemon

Kipkirui 0721 869348 AHA Kipkelion

Kenneth Ngeno 0712 566914 Transporter Kipkelion

Sammy Soy 0720 552879 Transporter Kipkelion

Samuel Rutho 0717 913468 Transporter Kipkelion

Emmy Mibei 0717 607513 Kipkelion

Hillary Korir 0721 55894 Transporter Kipkelion

Japhet Ronoh 0717 298096 Transporter Kipkelion

Emmanuel

Langat 0726 020056 Transporter Kipkelion

Ruth Koech 0720 465364 Transporter Kipkelion

Jackline Langat 0720 226350 Transporter Kipkelion

Joseph Tirop 0729 149594 Transporter Kipkelion

Reuben Rop 0726 880674 AI Kipkelion

Petero langat 0721 869279 Kipkelion

Sammy Mibei 0721 796507 AI Kipkelion

Name Type of Service Tel Areas

Wakulima Breeders AI 0720 342339 Siongiroi

Joseph cheruiyot AHA 0735 299013 Siongiroi

David Bii Agrovet /AHA 0714 879119 Siongiroi

Benjamin Sowek AI 0727 520073 Siongiroi

Joseph Bet AI 0735 710915 Siongiroi

Priscah Chepkorir AHA 0729 830255 Siongiroi

Kipkirui Bor AHA 0721 399500 Siongiroi

Kipkemoi tonui AHA/Agrovet 0729 566864 Siongiroi

Gelegele F.C.S.ltd Transport 0724 555885 Siongiroi

Siongiroi west Agrovet Agrovet 0713 147590 Siongiroi

Terer agrovet Agrovet/AHA 0728 512763 Siongiroi

Stage View Agrovet Agrovet 0727 122418 Siongiroi

ChirChir Agrovet Agrovet 0720 423311 Siongiroi

Chebunyo Agrovet Agrovet 0733 391663 Siongiroi

Abraham Agrovet Agrovet 0729 566864 Siongiroi

Makimeny Agrovet

Agrovet/Chemis

t 0723 770152 Siongiroi

Ndanai Agrovet Agrovet/AHA 0727 122415 Siongiroi

(AGROVET DIVISION)Deals in Animal feeds, mineral supplements,

Dewormers, Agro-chemicals, seeds and fertilizers,

Veterinary services and consultancy.

CHEMIST DIVISION; Deals in all human drugs &

consultancy. situated in Bomet Town,

main street. Box 309-20400 Bomet. Contacts; 0720283240

SOT PHARMACY

Services offered, Veterinary A.I on both local and

imported semens, clinicals, extension services, consultancy.

Experts in silage making, Bio-gas,dairy units. Day old chicks from Muguku

farm, ideal and golden. Distributors of Semens from

ABS and C.R.I. The Agrovet is situated in Nyeri Town,Kigo Building

behind Co-operative Bank, Co-operative road one..

Box 2475 NYERI, or 0726521302 Mr. Muhoro 020-35256228,

061-2030663

FARMSERVE AGROVET

PETER

KANYI

MWANGI

0721284169.

Services:- A.I

providers,

Dairy records

& evaluation,

farmer trainer.

Services-- fodder establishment, fodder, management, feed budgets, on- farm feed ration information, & milk quality. Olkalou Central District. Distributor, Community Eye.

Francis Waruhiu Ndinguri- 0720278237, email;francisndirangu@yahoo.com.

Areas served:- Passenga Rurii, Sillanga, Matindirri, Melangine, Githuguri, Thaba, Tumaini. Distributor of Community Eye Newspaper.

Services:- Farmer mobilization - 0724210410, Email- mukandajoseph @yahoo.com. Distributor of Community Eye Newspaper

PASTOR JOSEPH M. KIHUNGU- Director, Olkalou Dairy Ltd representing Oljoroorok Division.

Services: - Livestock management and fodder management (silage). Distributor of Community Eye Newspaper

EZEKIEL KANGETHE MAINA- 07102225294. Areas of work include:-Rurii, Muki, Reluquel, Weru. Services:- Livestock

management, agro forestry(fodder management). Distributor of Community Eye Newspaper

FRANCIS KARANJA KAMAU-0725257107.

Areasof work are Rurii,Passenga,Karuku & Kirimangai.

Kwa wateja wangu wote nimehama mahali pa kale sasa

niko nyuma ya Tokyo S/market chini ya Khamulati shop.

Karibuni nyote , niko na Beetrootsapples, Pawpaw, Passion orange,

Mangoes, Lemons, avocadas, sweet Bananas, Viazi, Tomatoes, Onions,

Malenge, Hoho, Dhanias Saumu, Butternuts, Tangawizi, Kiukamba,

Eggplants, Carrots, Melon Coconuts, pia pudding.

Kuja kwako ni baraka kwangu.

DAMA FRUITS & GROCERY KIMILILI

SERVICE PROVIDERS DIRECTORYSERVICE PROVIDERS DIRECTORYElizabeth Wanjiku- TOT of Kitiri, Lee, Getite,

Kwawamaitha, Moseti and Big Nano. 0729284067, . Expert in all milk quality control issues.

Lilian Wanjiru Gathara area 0716 408973. Teaching farmers on milk hygiene has

certificate in milk quality control. Distributor of Community Eye Newspapers

Josephat Waithuki Kariuki. supervisor of AI MUKI Farmers serving

Mukungi, Nandarass, Engineer, Muimui, Memo, Raitha, and Kahuru. Distributor of Community Eye Tel 0723453001

Rose Lagat. Information Services provider , Eldoret East District. Tel 0728728661.

Distributor of Community Eye Newspaper

Ann Gaitho. Technoserve Representative in Nyala. Information services provider and distributors of Community

Eye.Tel 0723046600

Jared Otota.Animal Health services.Siataunga area

Tel 0723263203

Elkana Ngige.Farmers Care Agrovet Kitale.AI services and clinical.Distributor of Community

Eye newspapers Tel.0720838063

Fredrick Muchuma0724603578Farmer’s MobilizerKibabii Location,

Bungoma South District. Distributor of Community Eye

Christopher ChesoliInformation Services Provider. Reporter and Distributor

of Community EyeBungoma South DistrictTel 0734728768

Barnabas Kirui.Vice Chair Schemers CBO, Sambut. Reporter and distributor of Community Eye,

Eldoret North District0712349919

Information Services Providers.John ThouLydia Mwangi and a Standard newspaper Reporter- Nyahururu

Idd LuketiVeterinary and AI services Mayanja, Bungoma South District

0734450223

Communication Consultants & Publishers of

Community Eye Newspaper

Community Eye is published by Talent Communications P. O Box 21538- 00505 Nairobi, Box 644 50204 Kimilili, Cell 0728789069, Email community_eye@yahoo.com

Jan/Feb 2010

Thousands attend Olkalou trade fair

Thousands of farmers attended the two day trade fair at Oriics grounds in Olkalou town. The trade fair was organized by the partnership of Fleckvieh Genetics East Africa limited, Community eye newspapers and Delight Promotions limited.

Delight Promotions Managing Director Mr. George Wambugu said that there is need for farmers to learn new farming methods to avert hunger that has hit most parts of the country for the last two years.The annual event held in Ol 'Kalou town in Nyandarua Central district focused on empowering farmers on better farming methods and practices, as a way of achieving the country's food sufficiency. He said the Trade fair under the theme 'Promoting Food Sufficiency and Vision 2030'will help create linkages for farmers, and strengthen networks within and without the region. The performance of the agricultural sector has over the years suffered substantial decline despite increase in enterprise numbers and sizes. Farming is primary source of livelihood for over 80 percent of the Kenyan population.His sentiments were supported by Ol-Kalou town council chairman Mwangi Nyagah who observed that farmers' failure to diversify on crop production led to severe hunger.At the same time, Central Western regional Commissioner Wycliffe Ogallo revealed that the government was encouraging farmers to embrace the new modern farming technologies and avoid over-reliance on only one type of crops."You farmers are the one with the solution on how to fight hunger in this country. If you improve your farming by using modern types of farming, irrigating and diversifying your modes of crops, then the country cannot be faced by hunger anymore" Ogallo told farmers.He challenges farmers to learn new skills especially on the green house farming saying this would not only be economical in water usage and proper utilizations of the available land but also economical.

BY GACHINO THUO

OTI SENATOR ODM Wa

Obama Vi l lage Malanga

Nambale- 0737646873.

Anawasalimia Jackson Chesoli

wa Lutonyi, Damaris Mumbi wa

Kimilili, James Marauni wa

Maingi Butchery Kimilili, Mama

Nyauholo Salon Kimilili na Dan Wabwile wa

BBC Estate Kimilili.

Wengine ni Governor Ibrahim Odhiambo

Maolo, Chief Justus Aristo Bukadanyi

Supermarket, Muyodi wa Jackton Embakasi,

Okumu wa Nakhabi Mfalme Bukadanyi na

Ogolla Okania Bapunyi Obama Village.

UJUMBE; Esienyu ne esienyu, Community Eye

ndio jicho pevu letu.

THE Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has been urged to move heroin birds said to be a nuisance at the Kimilili District Hospital Compound.The Kimilili District Public Health Officer Dr Oliver Walutila told Community Eye that the noise from the birds that have perched their nests on trees within the compound have continued to pollute the hospital compound throughout the day and the night.He said that their sticky fieces are dropped to clients who seat under the trees and as such causing unease among those seeking services at the facility.Dr Walutila urged the KWS to move the birds to where they deserve to be.

KWS urged to move noisy birds from Kimilili Hospital

BY TOILI MUSANGA

JACKSON WAFULA CHESOLI wa Lutonyi Kimilili anatuma salamu kwa wateja wake wote wa jarida la Community Eye - Khamulati Junior, Manager Mt Crest Hotel, Damaris Mumbi, Pastor Maurice Sifuna wa PEFA Church Kimilili, DC Kimilili Joseph Lewa, Chief Kimilili Township David Barasa, Andrew Sichangi wa Lutonyi, Pastor Eric Sifuna wa Kanisa la Daylight, Salama Hardware Shop Kimilili, Oti Senator wa Maingi Butchery Kimilili, Marauni James Mkulima Butchery Kimilili, Protus Samedi Shop Kimilili, naibu wa chifu mpya Kimilili Town Abdulhamid Muganda, John Pwoka, Diwani Mwanamisi Kombo wa Amutala Area, Mark Nabibia wa Matili, S.W. Nabibia wa Amutala Area, Bitanyi Simiyu wa Lutonyi bila kuwasahau Kiminini Jasho Shop, Limack Shop Kimilili, wafanyikazi wote wa wizara ya Kilimo, Edward Natwati wa Mteremko Maeni na Grace Kamau wa Sindani Area, assistant chief’s office Kimilili.

UJUMBE; Community Eye ndio taa ya wakulima Kenya.

Community Saalams Corner JAMES MARAUNI wa Mkulima Butchery Maingi near Riziki supermarket opposite Nopat Agencies ana wasalimia wafuatao, Oti Senator wa Wananchi butchery, mama Angela wa Salama shop, mama Masai wa Masai shop, pamoja na Kamulati photo hive studio, bila kuwasahau Clement Wanyonyi, George, Mamangu Agnes Barasa Josphat na mke wangu Brenda na kijana Emmanuel.

Nawaambia wateja wangu kwamba kaa chonjo hili gazeti letu la Community Eye kwani lina mambo mazuri pekee. Thank you for staying with Community Eye salaams.

ANNE NALIAKA Ningependa Kutuma salamu zangu kwa mfanyibiashara Jackline Maruti, Mzee wake pamoja na watoto Edwin, Geoffrey, walimu na wanafunzi pamoja na wazazi wa Precoius Saints Kimilili. Zingine ziwaendee wafanyi kazi wote wa Mt Crest Hotel Kimilili.UJUMBE; Mungu awabariki.

FARMERS from Longisa and Bomet central divisions in Bomet District now have soft words for the Kenya Wildlife Service after successfully containing elephants from straying into their farms.KWS posted personnel officers to Narotia Kimuchul ward in Longisa and still others in Kipyosit so as to control those animals from coming out of the Mau forest to destroy maize and banana crops.The last three years have been hectic to farmers in their endeavor to attain food shortage because of elephants that constantly invaded their crops. But today, farmers have been able to harvest their crops without any problem. It was also risky to walk at night.While addressing a soil conservation demonstration at Mr. Paul Rono's farm in Wasega, Tirgaga Factory director Mr. Joseph Koech from Chemaner Zone urged farmers to plant various substance as well as cash crops and end the culture of maize and tea dependence. He said that substance food crops such as bananas, sweet potatoes, beans and fruits like avocado will help a lot in times of drought seasons when food will be scarce.Mr. Koech also congratulated the KWS for constructing eight classrooms in a local school as a general compensation to the community instead of individuals in Kipyosit sub location.

KWS ends elephant invasion in Bomet BY REUBEN KOECH

EFFORTS of leaders from Lugari district to establish a technical training college in the area failed to prevail when it was revealed that an identified site had been irregularly acquired.Addressing the district development committee area Forest Officer Mr. Stanley Mwangi said the identified area at Kogo secondary was still forest land and his office will not allow the construction to commence before the requisite conditions were adhered to.He said the chief conservator gave a temporary use permit in 1983 for only 10 acres of land to Makutano primary school pending de gazzettment adding that the community went further and annexed another 100 acres from the forest irregularly, the ground where the intended college is to be established.Mr. Mwangi told the meeting attended by area MP Cyrus Jirongo it was mandatory for them to apply to the Kenya Forest (KFS) Director for temporary occupation license to enable them establish the college. He said the issuance of occupation license was the discretion of the director.Leaders in the area had prioritized the construction of the technical college through the constituency development fund to train unemployed youth. The leaders had also suggested for an affiliate college of Masinde Muliro University college at St. Paul's Lugari secondary school.

Lugari proposed college has no land

BY DUN WANGA

The Smallholder Dairy Commercialization Programme sponsored by IFAD in Trans Nzoia District made several strides in 2009, resulting in praise from stakeholders.During a meeting for the launch of the Trans Nzoia Smallholder Dairy Consultative Group at Ambwere Towers in Kitale Town, stakeholders said the work of the programme was greatly contributing towards improved livelihoods of people in the area.And during the final District Programme Coordinating Team (DPCT) meeting at KARI Research Station Kitale, chairmen of the Dairy Commercialization Areas (DCA) applauded the programme for helping farmers to realize the importance of coming together to sell milk through organized groups with the aim of taking advantage of economies of scale and better market access.Speaking at the DPCT meeting the Programme Coordinator Faith Githae said “ we thank God for the input of everyone which has enabled us to come thus far and we trust that we will do better in 2010”Githae who is also the Trans Nzoia West District Livestock Production Officer (DLPO) Development underscored the role teamwork had played in realizing the objectives of the programme, saying that good working relations between government staff, farmer representatives and other stakeholders had greatly contributed to steady progress.Kwanza DLPO Mr. Harrison Were who is also assisting in the implementation of the programme said that the SDCP was still recruiting more farmer groups in the area to join the project. He said one of the major successes had been to introduce new technologies to grassroots farmers a step that was helping farmers to bridge the existing gap in animal feeds deficiencies.Mr. Were called upon the farmers to grow such newly introduced fodder crops such as lucerne, rhodes grass and desmodium during the rainy seasons in order to provide more crude proteins for animals so as to save on the cost of buying commercial dairy meal.

Smallholder dairy programme makes big steps in 2009

Members of the Trans Nzoia DPCT after a meeting at KARI Research Station Kitale.

Chairmen from the three Dairy Commercialization Areas, said the groups in their had achieved unity and farmers were meeting set targets including setting up offices and acquiring accountable documents such as official rubber stamps and seals. The Chairmen added that farmers were opening bank accounts while many more new ones were joining the groups. The officials also said that many farmers were adopting ides they had learnt from exposure tours to success model farmers and groups including NYALA in Central province. They said that farmers had now developed a vision for big dairy enterprises and were thinking of how to increase milk production and request for facilitation to acquire milk chilling plants.The Kenya Livestock Breeders Organization (KLBO) Chairman, Mr. Christopher Chirchir commended the programme for creating awareness on the value of cow registration and urged that more farmers be encouraged to become members of breeder societies.The Kenya Dairy Sector Competiveness Programme Project Coordinator Mr. Isaac Kamau praised the effort of helping to br ing together al l stakeholders in the area as it will have the benefit of harmonizing efforts as well as harnessing synergies from various players.

Also present at the meetings were Mr. Samson Araka the SDCP Desk Officer, Mr. Meshack Maleche of Naitiri Dairy, Andrew O. Rotich chairman DSHF, Peter Kimaiyo, Alfred Osikuku, Jackson Mangoli, Peter Wanyonyi, Fred Wasabulo, Reuben Kirwa, Benard Bett, Isaac Kamau, Dr. Catherine Namiti, Nicholas Kakuko, Anne Kilimo, Paskal Shitekha and PeterY ebei.Under the component of Organization and Enterprise several activities have

been achieved including hold ing of sens i t i a s t ion workshops, establishing dairy group committees and regular leaders meeting aimed at improving governance.Other achievements are ; Training of bulking site committees; establishment of bulking sites; registration of dairy cows registered; field days and demonstrations on forage establishment and conservation; training of dairy groups on milk handling and hygiene; selection of poor and v u l n e r a b l e d a i r y g o a t benef ic iar ies as well as placement of 5 dairy goats and 1 buck.The overall goal of the programme is to increase incomes of the poor rural households that depend substantially on production and trade of dairy products for their livelihoods. It aims to improve the financial returns to market oriented production and trade activities by small operators and enabling more rural h o u s e h o l d s t o c r e a t e employment and benefit from expanded opportunities for m a r k e t o r i e n t e d d a i r y activities.The target areas are Endebess DCA, in Endebess Division, Kiminini DCA in Kiminini Division, and Waitaluk DCA in Central Division.The programme has also stimulated interest among far mer s to demand for extension services and helped farmers start their own feed formulation and establish milk bars.