reject online issue 8

1U n f i l t e r e d , u n i n h i b i t e d … . j u s t t h e g r u e s o m e t r u t hISSUE 008, December 16-31, 2009

A bimonthly on-line newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of African Woman and Child Feature Service

December 16-31, 2009ISSUE 008

Journalists cautioned as paper is launched amid pomp and colour

By NICHOLAS ODHIAMBO

African journalists have been urged to write positive stories that could help al-leviate the suffering women and children undergo in the continent.

A former dean at the Strathmore Univer-sity, Dr George Njenga who delivered a key-note address with a paper on Media Ethics, Responsibilities and Innovative Technology said media houses in Africa have been con-centrating on doing political stories and for-

getting to highlight the suffering of women and children on the continent.

He said African journalists should em-brace responsible journalism where they point at the failures while encouraging positive happenings to develop the Afri-can people.

“All media houses do is just talk poli-tics. They should find positive stories that can help alleviate the suffering women and children undergo in the society,” re-iterated Njenga.

The don was speaking during the launch of Reject, a bi-monthly online newspaper by the Media Diversity Centre, a project of African and Woman Features Service.

Njenga challenged journalists that they had taken the responsibility of pro-viding the communication oil that keeps countries in unity and the development machine working . In their search for a better future, therefore, they must ensure their stories include positive happenings on the continent.

He cautioned: “Remember that on the altar of your ethical or unethical journal-ism, the African countries will develop or remain deeply absorbed in their own un-derdevelopment as we are experiencing at the moment.”

Giving the example of a Spanish media that has pages for positive things happen-ing in that country, Njenga said: “In Spain you will find pages reserved for positive things in that country while in Africa it is all bad things.”

Reject online newspaper was started after it was realised that many positive stories that are the voice of the people are often left out of mainstream media as they are unable to compete with politics that carries the day.

The Executive Director of African Wom-an and Child Ms Rosemary Okello-Orlale said: “Reject is a platform that connects com-munity issues into the information highway where people can access what ‘we call real-time features’ as it happens at the community level and captures their feelings.”

She explained: “It is what we can call modern day drum and since every com-munity needs to speak to itself and in its own language, tell its own stories and cel-ebrate its own culture and identity; Reject is providing that medium using local and ordinary people to do so.”

She said what Reject is trying to achieve is called the ‘Fifth dimension of the Fourth Estate’. “And unless us journalists we start thinking outside the box of the Fourth Estate and start interrogating the factor of the Fifth Estate where ordinary voices are found, what makes the community tick and their views of how things are, and start going beyond the real story and asking relevant questions, then the media will have failed in achieving the funda-mental rights of everyone — freedom of expression.”

continued on page 2

Africa Woman and Child Feature Service and Media Diversity Centre join the Reject Team in sending Seasons

Greetings to all their readers.

Mr Ezekiel Mutua, Director of Information and Dr Joyce Nyairo (centre), Programme Officer at Ford Foundation are joined by Ms Rosemary Okello-Orlale, Executive Director African Woman and Child after the Reject publication was unveiled, last week.

2 U n f i l t e r e d , u n i n h i b i t e d … . j u s t t h e g r u e s o m e t r u t h ISSUE 008, December 16-31, 2009

Media Diversity Centre Programme Man-ager, Mr Wilson Ugangu, said: “Media Diversity Centre provides a platform for addressing issues that relate to media and society. In this changing world, given the effects of globalisation, the roles of media in society are changing considerably, hence the need to begin to converse and debate how well media can approximate society’s information and communication needs.”

Ugangu said one of the ways in which the organisation was responding to this is through the publication of Reject and in doing so, “we are not in competition with mainstream media, we are only compli-menting what they do”.

Reject is produced with support from Ford Foundation. The FORD Foundation representative at the ceremony, Dr Joyce Nyairo said the organisation is ready to partner with media houses to ensure there is professionalism practised in the field.

She said so far they have founded a Pub-lic Service Media, a sector that would help media houses in content production, infra-structure, training and in public engage-ment. “The Ford Foundation will motivate the type of content that is of high quality. We shall build partnership on research to enhance freedom of press,” she said.

The Director of Information, Mr Ezekiel Mutua, unveiled the publication on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Dr Bitange Ndemo.

Mutua urged media houses to stop publishing sensational stories but carry those that could bring development to the society.

He said the Kenya News Agency, which holds the largest number of journalists in the country is now in the process of restructur-ing itself to improve on its coverage towards bringing a positive change in the society.

“The KNA which has a total of 590 staff in the country is now undergoing restructuring to ensure it gives quality coverage that would help build the soci-ety,” Mutua said.

Reject stories are written by corre-spondents from all over the country. The Kenya Correspondent Association chair-person, Mr Oloo Janak, also urged Media houses not to neglect the correspondents but to break the barriers between them as they are the people who provide almost 70 percent of content in newsrooms.

“Correspondents are very important to our media houses and should not be neglected. The barrier that brings this should be narrowed,” he said.

Journalists cautionedas paper is launched

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1. Dr George Njenga, the chief guest, is welcomed by Ms Annie Waite, administrative assistant at the AWC.

2. Mr Joseph Odindo (right), Editorial Director Nation Group and Mr Paul Udoto, Corporate Communications Manager at Kenya Wildlife Services.

3. Guests and journalists listening to proceedings at the Reject launch.

4. Mrs Deborah Okumu, Executive Director Caucus for Women Leadership also graced the occasion.

5. Mr John Mwendwa (left), K24 News Manager and journalists from other media houses were also in attendance.

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1. Dr Joyce Nyairo of Ford Foundation and a guest at the launch.

2. Mr Ezekiel Mutua, Director of Information is joined by Ms Rosemary Okello-Orlale, Executive Director African Woman and Child Feature Service as he unveils the publication.

3. Ms Susan Mwangi, Programme Officer at Media Diversity Centre is joined by journalists Johanna Wandetto (left) and John Oroni.

4. Guests at the launch enjoy the sumptuous meal that was laid out for them.

5. The print out of the Reject on display.

6. Guests and journalists get down to dancing to the Kayamba Africa tunes to celebrate the launch.


Health facilities run down, says Health PS

A boost to dairy farmingand banana production

Rogue road contractors put on notice over stalled projects

By RyAN MAtHeNge

Parliament is concerned over the habitual stalling of some of the road construction projects.

The Parliamentary Committee on Im-plementation Chairman, Mr Jamleck Kamau says many of the projects have stalled and have been abandoned after costing the government billions of shil-lings annually.

Kamau, who is also the Kigumo Mem-ber of Parliament, was speaking at Maire after 14 road construction companies rep-

resentatives toured the Kaharati-Kangari-Njiiri road that’s being constructed at a cost of KSh1.7 billion.

The MP expressed concern in relation to the stalled Murang’a-Kenol road after the construction company abandoned the project last June. The 28-kilometre road was abandoned two days after President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga traversed the stretch to attend ordination of Murang’a Catholic Bishop James Wain-aina.

The project has stalled between Murang’a and Maragua, exposing motorists to danger-

College students lynched for failing

to pay for meal By RyAN MAtHeNge

Two college students from Murang’a were recently set ablaze after they were suspected of being part of a gang causing terror to residents.

The two from Murang’a Kenya Medical Training School and Murang’a Institute, were lynched after they allegedly refused to pay for meat they ate at a local bar. Waiters raised alarm during the 3 am in-cident and were joined by members of the public who pursued the two, beating them senseless before setting them on fire.

Student leaders at the two institutions on the other hand, attributed the incident to the public’s misconception that the two were robbers. Following the bizarre incident, students from both colleges boycotted classes and marched to the bar —the scene of the killings — to protest. They were, however, blocked from invad-ing the premises by a contingent of ad-ministration police.

The students called for closure of the facility to allow proper investigations into the incident. The Murang’a East District Commissioner, Mr George Natembeya assured the students the Government would track down the killers.

The officer, however, advised the stu-dents to concentrate on their studies instead of loitering in town during the night. He disclosed that already five sus-pects were being interrogated in connec-tion with the killings.

Sources told the Reject that several students from the two institutions have previously landed in police cells after be-ing arrested in swoops conducted in the town.

ous potholes that are a leading cause of ac-cidents. Accompanied by Kigumo District Commissioner, Mr Omar Salat, the MP said Parliament will in future strictly vet compa-nies before awarding them projects.

“It is already in public domain that some of the companies have been abandoning projects half way, leaving the government the burden to deliver,” said the MP.

For his part, Mr Salat said the government will ensure projects are completed within the stipulated time. “We will not allow contrac-tors to do shoddy projects as they will be closely supervised,” he emphasised.

By BeN OROkO

A Kisii-based savings and credit co-operative society and a French-based non-governmen-tal organisation have embarked on a KSh10 million agri-business dairy and banana val-ue-chain project to economically empower local communities in the region. Wakenya Pamoja Sacco and the Centre for Interna-tional Development and Research (CIDR) have already identified farmers’ groups from Keumbu Division, Kisii Central District and eight dairy co-operative societies in Borabu District as part of the beneficiaries.

Briefing the press on the new project, Deputy General Manager, Mr Gideon Ay-uma disclosed that CIDR had already con-ducted a survey and identified the society as the project financier. Ayuma said the survey identified three players that included the financier, farmers and processor as key pil-lars to the success and sustainability of the project. He disclosed that the society had

approached the management of the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) to buy milk from farmers’ groups and dairy co-operative societies linked to the project, to enhance successful implementation and sustainability of the venture.

The society will finance the targeted farmers’ groups by buying feeds and medi-cine for the dairy cows to enhance milk production for both domestic consumption and supply to the processor for marketing.

The society will also give loans to farm-ers’ groups in the banana value-chain to buy tissue culture varieties from the Kenya Agri-cultural Research Institute (KARI). The loans will only be extended to farmers’ groups will-ing to purchase a minimum of 100 seedlings. “As the Sacco management, we strongly be-lieve that the tissue culture bananas will assist the target farmers increase their banana pro-duction, to earn more returns at household levels and supply enough of the produce to the processor for marketing,” said Ayuma.

By eLIuD WAItHAkA

A top government official has decried the pathetic and dilapidated equipment at a number of public health institutions.

“Our health institutions are living in 1930s. We need to urgently rehabilitate and renovate them to make our services better,” said Prof James ole Kiyiapi, the Medical Services Permanent Secretary. Worst hit are the district and sub-district hospitals where some of the vital equipment has never been replaced for more than 70 years. Speaking at the Laikipia East District Commissioner’s office in Nanyuki, the PS said a lot of money needs to be injected into the health sector to upgrade both equipment and infrastructure.

The government has since embarked on major restructuring to improve service delivery in terms of hospital reforms, com-modity management, strengthening health

systems and health financing. Already the Medical Services Ministry has upgraded 136 hospitals to district and sub-district status throughout the country, with 63 in the pipeline, including 23 under a Dutch-supported programme.

In ensuring that more Kenyans access specialised health services such as surgery, paediatric and gynaecology among others, the PS said the government has reviewed and strengthened Kenya Medical Supply Agency (KEMSA) legal framework, in-cluding the appointment of a management board.

He disclosed the government will re-cruit 3,000 additional medical staff with a view to improving service delivery. He promised Nanyuki District Hospital KSh-31million for construction of a casualty wing, provision of diagnostic services, re-habilitation of a borehole and completion of stalled kitchen and laundry.

Road construction going on in Murang’a. The government has warned rogue contractors that they will not be tolerated when they abandon work after getting money from state coffers. Picture: Ryan Mathenge


By DAvID kIARIe

The Forestry Society of Kenya is calling on the government to consider rehabilitating the degraded Mau Forest Complex with bamboo trees.

The society chairman, Mr Phillip Wama-hiu, said bamboo trees are the best species for water catchment areas.

Speaking in Embu during the society’s annual forestry conference, Wamahiu said bamboo trees are rare in local forests and tree nurseries despite their suitability in wa-ter catchment areas.

Wamahiu also supported the cultivation of eucalyptus trees in the country, saying the practice was prevalent in other countries.

“There is nothing wrong with the euca-lyptus. We have been growing the tree for the last 100 years and it’s not as destruc-tive,” he said, but added that the tree should not be planted in wetlands or close to river banks due to its high water intake.

Wamahiu said Brazil has three million hectares under eucalyptus while Ethiopia and South Africa have 100,000 and 250,000 hectares respectively.

“The government cannot just tell Ken-yans to cut down the eucalyptus tree without giving them an alternative,” he cautioned.

A personal assistant to the Eastern Pro-vincial Commissioner, Mr Joseph Bullut challenged foresters to use the Forest Act to prosecute those who encroach or undertake illegal dealings in forests before their illegal practices get out of hand.

“You do not need the government to chase charcoal burners from the forest. You have to do your work,” the administra-tor said, adding that issues of forest degra-dation are abated by foresters who fail to take action against offenders. He also chal-lenged foresters to take charge of forestry

Ruma National Parkgets a faceliftBy NICHOLAS ODHIAMBO

Ruma National Park, a picturesque home for unique species of wildlife and fauna remains relatively unappreciated by the country at large.

The park in south-west Kenya covers Suba, Mbita and Ndhiwa districts of Nyan-za Province. It was initially established as the Lambwe Valley Game Reserve in 1966. It was elevated to park status in 1983 largely to protect the rare indigenous Roan Antelope, to which it has provided home.

The new facility is dedicated to the mighty Luo wizard Gor Maiya who is said to have lived next to the park. Many of his descendants still live in the region. He is immortalised in Gor Mahia Football Club, a prominent national clubside.

Gor’s magic is said to have been so pow-erful that it enabled him read people’s minds, bring rain, kill with just a look and change man to dog, ant hill or any other item.

The Kenya Wildlife Service is currently in the process of promoting the park. Al-ready, the construction of a KSh50 million tarmacked airstrip has started, along with the fencing of the facility.

The KWS also plans to introduce the rhino and other animals into the park to boost its tourist attractiveness.

A game warden at the park, a Mr Wambua says the rhino along with the elephant and lion roamed the park in the past but were decimated or driven out to the Mara region by local people who did not appreciate their value.

Of the KSh875,000 revenue the park collects annually, KSh600,000 is granted to both Homa Bay and Mbita county councils for community development.

The facility also plays a role in the construction of roads, classrooms, water projects and dispensaries.

The park is also home to the rare Roan Antelope. The animal is however, not hav-ing it easy as life in the park is not a bed of roses. The locals highly value the rare ante-lope for its meat.

“We cannot do without its meat. It is the sweetest meat ever,” confesses a villager on the outskirts of the park.

As a result of this the numbers of the antelope have dangerously reduced from the hundreds of a few years ago to a mere 52 today.

The park is, however, notorious for also hosting tsetse flies that cause sleeping sick-ness and mosquitoes that cause malaria, tormenting wildlife, livestock and humans in the surrounding villages. The problem is said to be at its worst around Korlang’o (home of the Lang’o or Maasai), a famous hill in the park.

Locals claim the colonial administration lured the Maasai from the neighbouring Trans Mara region to the park to expose them to both the tsetse fly and mosquito for unknown reasons. Many would die as a consequence.

Wambua, admits the parasite carrying insects are a big problem to both wildlife and livestock, a problem the Government plans to tackle.

“Already we have equipment and some chemicals that we use to kill the tsetse fly in the park and around the Korlang’o Hill and we hope things will be put right,” vows Wambua.

Ruma, the only national park in the re-gion, is 120 square kilometres with more than 400 recorded bird, animal and plant species, says Wambua who, however, con-fesses the facility is not well known despite being in existence since 1985.

The park’s bird attractions include the African Fish Eagle, Marabou Stork, the Hamerkop, the beautiful Liliac-breasted roller and the secretary bird.

The animals include the Oribis, Moun-tain reedbuck, leopard, African buffalo, Jackson’s hartebeest, Topu, Rothschild’s giraffe and hyena.

Among the reptiles are the African python, spitting cobra, forest cobra, puff adder, tortoises and lizards.

Campsites in Ruma include Nyani and Kamato and Korlang’o Hill.

Forestry society roots for bamboo and the eucalyptus

issues, noting they had kept off the Mau issue and left it to the politicians.

“You are the professionals in this field and you should not let politicians show the way in this matter,” Bullut said.

The conference theme was Forests for Agriculture, Energy and Water. The for-esters addressed themselves to challenges of climate change, which have resulted in flooding, increased gas emissions and drought.

They noted the need to conserve and rehabilitate forest to attract rains that have been erratic in the last several years.

A Kengen officer who is a mem-ber of the Forestry Society, Ms Florence Mwawughanga, said hydro-energy which accounts for 78 per cent of power on the national grid, is presently below 50 percent due to receding water levels at the country’s hydroelectric dams.

She attributed this to forest degradation which has seen little water flow into the dams. Presently, Kenya’s forest cover stands at 1.7 per cent against the recommended standard of 10 per cent.

Wamahiu disclosed the society had ben-efited from a KSh4.06 million grant from the Finnish Embassy, part of which will be used to develop a strategic plan for its pro-grammes.

The society also intends to improve ad-vocacy and lobbying on forest issues, politi-cal support and goodwill, increased public awareness on basic forest issues and legisla-tive framework for forestry professionals.

Other plans include establishing educa-tional programmes for its members, lob-bying for representation in scientific, edu-cational and policy forums as well as pro-viding advisory, technical and consultancy services.

No more arbitrary rent incrementsBy DAvID kIARIe

Cases of abrupt increase of house rent by landlords may soon be a thing of the past if the government makes true its promise to introduce laws to govern the sector.

The Tenants Bill which the Minister for Housing said will be tabled in Parliament soon is intended to protect tenants from rogue landlords who abruptly increase house rent without notice or fail to improve the rented house.

Speaking in Embu when he opened an Appropriate Building Technology Centre, Housing Minister Mr Soita Shitanda said the new law will bar landlords from evicting tenants from premises haphazardly.

The Centre trains construction workers on the use of hydro-form bricks, a technol-ogy imported from South Africa.

“Landlords will no longer have the lee way to evict tenants since the new law will spell out the required process to solve all tenant-landlord disputes,” said the minister.

The law will also require tenants to take responsibility of the houses they rent by en-suring the rented houses are left intact when vacating.

He attributed the rogue behaviour by landlords to increased demand for houses especially in urban areas, and said his min-istry would put up more units to alleviate the rising demand for residential houses.

The ministry will use the new construc-tion technology in which bricks are made using soil and cement to build low cost houses that are within the reach of most Kenyans.

The technology would be used to up-grade slums in urban centres, and hence improve the quality of life for the poor who currently reside in deplorable conditions.

“We intend to establish Appropriate Building Technology Centres in all con-stituencies in order to train as many people as possible on brick making,” said the min-ister.

He disclosed his ministry would build houses for the very poor in selected parts of the country as demonstration units for learning purposes.

Shitanda decried the great loss of gov-ernment houses to land grabbers and pri-vate developers and announced that his ministry will repossess all the illegally sold or grabbed public property.


Dairy goat rearing bringshope to many poor families

By MuSeMBI NzeNgu

Koki Safari’s journey has been long and tedious. All along poverty has been a big part of her life until the day she decided to embrace dairy goat farming.

The peasant farmer and a mother of three has since risen from grass to grace to become a leading dairy goat farmer in Mwingi East District.

While the goat milk has been used for domestic and commercial purposes, it’s the selling of a crossbreed goat that made a big difference to her life. Locally, a nor-mal goat would sell for KSh1,500. How-ever, with the crossbreed, Safari made more money — an equivalent of 10 times the price of local goat at Nuu market.

Safari recalls how she first got involved in the goat farming. “I joined Ngaani Dairy Goat Self-help Group in 2004. The chief had called a meeting where poor people in our location were identified and requested to form a self-help group,” she says, adding, “We were told that an organisation called FARM Africa wished to assist the poor within the location.”

She recalls: “Most of the people could not believe what we were being told. I also doubted but decided to come together with a team that formed Ngaani Self-help Group that was officially registered with Ministry of Culture and Social Services.” She says before being identified as a beneficiary, she did not own any goat and never even thought that she would ever possess one.

However, through the project she was given two local goats for crossbreeding with an exotic Toggenburg species. It was the same for other group members. Safari says since she received the goats in September 2004 she has seen other benefits. She has been able to effectively manage the two lo-cal goats she received and through them she now owns eight crossbreed goats.

Since she sold her goat for KSh15,000, everyone in her village now wants to own that particular breed. “The community has realised that the goats are beneficial because they grow very fast and are producing more milk than the local goats,” explains Safari.

She adds: “My husband and children are very happy with the project. I have been hosting many people who come to see the goats and want to know how to go about goat breeding.”

Safari says she has also benefited from using the goat stool for manure. She is proud of the fact that her family’s social standing in the village has risen as they are held in high esteem and considered a good example of those who have suc-ceeded in rearing of exotic goats.

“My children are now very happy! They know that they cannot drop out of school due to lack of school fees,” says Safari as she narrates how she has man-aged to clear school fees arrears for her child who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations this year.

Farm Africa, a non-government organi-sation with offices in Mwingi town is encour-aging local and neighbouring communities to take up goat rearing since it has economic, medicinal and nutritional values.

According to the Mwingi Farm Africa Manager, Mr Jacob Mutemi, many people keep goats for meat and skin but ignore the milk which has a high nutritional and me-dicinal value.

Mutemi says as opposed to cow milk, the goat option has high butter fat content and smaller fat globules that are beneficial to sick people such as those living with HIV and Aids.

The Farm Africa manager says goat milk was a good source of calcium and the ami-no acid tryptophan, protein, phosphorus,

riboflavin (vitamin B2) and potassium.He notes that research findings indi-

cate that goat milk has the capacity to slow down the adverse effects of the life threat-ening HIV virus, thus prolonging the life of infected persons.

Mutemi’s sentiments are supported by Mwingi District Range Management of-ficer, Mr John Njagi, who says: “Goat milk is exceptionally good for people with fully blown Aids as it has been scientifically prov-en to boost immunity.”

Njagi says a glass or two daily re-ener-gises the person infected and makes him/her healthier as it helps boost antibodies that fight infections.

He says the department encourages con-sumption goat milk by those infected with

HIV because it enriches the T-cells that have been attacked by the virus that weakens the body’s defence mechanism.

However, he encourages even those who have not been infected to take goat milk as it helps boost immunity.

Farm Africa has already set up pilot goat milk projects in Mwingi, Kitui and Meru dis-tricts. Mutemi says goat milk is nutritious and particularly good for young children and the sick, while goat meat is tender and enjoyed by many people.

He encourages poor com-munities to embrace goat rear-ing adding the milk was in

many ways superior to cow milk and in some instances beats breast milk. He says research has shown that goat milk nutrient constitution makes it a better alternative to breast milk for children whose mothers were too sick to breastfeed or have died.

Other than providing milk, the goat has been used symbolically in many traditional ceremonies. Explains Mutemi: “In the tra-ditional set up, goats play ceremonial and cultural roles as they contribute to social and cultural functions such as in marriage and dowry negotiation.” Although goat rearing has evolved over 10,000 years, there was need to have a paradigm shift towards embracing dairy goat rearing as opposed to rearing the animal for meat, skin, fibre and sale.

Mutemi says owing to the advantage of being most adaptable and geographically spread-out livestock species, with their habitat being prevalent from the moun-tains of Siberia to the deserts and tropics of Africa, it is advisable for local farmers to embrace milk goat rearing.

Goats have over the years played a big role in dictating the food culture of human beings with ancient cave paintings depict-ing people hunting them.

The world goat population stands at 700 million and the animal remains a key provider of reliable access to meat, milk, skin and fibre in developing countries. Aside from milk, meat and skin, goats also provide high quality manure for agricul-ture. They also serve as investment and are sold to generate capital for other busi-nesses.

Mrs Koki Safari expresses her joy at dairy farming as she hugs one of her prized goats. Picture: Musembi Nzengu

Table of Goat Milk Nutrient Content Content Goat Cow HumanProtein 3.0 3.0 1.1

Fat 3.8 3.6 4.0

Calories per 100ml 70 69 68

Vitamin A (i.u/100ml) 39 21 32

Vitamin B (ug.100ml) 68 45 17

Riboflavin (ug/100ml) 210 159 26

Vitamin C (mg ascorbic acid/100ml) 2 2 3

Calcium 0.19 0.18 0.04

Iron 0.07 0.06 0.2

Phosphorus 0.27 0.23 0.06

Cholesterol (mg/100ml) Low 15 20Source: Kaberia, B.K, P. Mutia, and C. Ahuya —Farmer dairy

goat production Handbook.


By RyAN MAtHeNge

The Kikuyu Council of Elders is facing a major challenge in initiating dialogue with the youth to assist them abandon criminal gangs.

Two MPs, Mr Elias Mbau (Maragua) and Mr Muturi Mwangi (Kiharu) say the youth feel neglected after their parents abandon them in their search for wealth.

The leaders were speaking at the his-toric Gakoigo Showground in Maragua during the first public gathering that brought together the interim organis-ing committee of the recently unveiled council.

The meeting was moved to Maragua on assurance to delegates that there would be no repeat of an incident that occurred in Thika town last month. The council’s first meeting in Thika was banned at the elev-enth hour by the police.

The council’s intended rapport with the youth aims at encouraging them to engage in viable income generating projects rather than living a life off crime and extortion.

“The government has many planned projects for the youth if they outline what they would wish to be helped with,” said Mbau.

Mwangi termed unveiling of the Council of Elders as a God-sent idea as it would help shape the destiny of the community after years of life in isolation.

“The Kikuyu have lived in the wilderness without the other person thinking of the plight of his tribesman as do other commu-nities in times of crisis,” he said.

However, the youth had a different opin-ion from the leaders. A youth leader in Murang’a, Mr Alex Irungu said the youth feel betrayed by the leaders who only come to them just before the general elections.

Irungu pointed out that the council of elders will not be effective unless all the community leaders speak in one voice.

He said: “Gikuyu youth have suffered a lot because leaders often abandon them in their hour of need. Let us wait and see what will happen this time.”

However, he warned that the council of elders should not to pursue its agenda like Gema (Gikuyu, Meru Embu Association) did and it all ended in dispute.

He said politicians should be monitored so they do not hijack the council as they have done with other organisations when pursuing their political interests.

Irungu cited a recent marathon race in Mathira that was called off by police after a

Elders seek to deter youth from crime

Government urged to rethink ammendments to Coffee Act

By DAvID kIARIe

The recent amendments to the Coffee Act 2001 have drawn mixed reactions among the stakeholders in the sector.

The amendments include barring farm-ers from electing directors of the Coffee Board of Kenya, leaving the Minister for Cooperative Development and Marketing to make the appointments.

Thika Coffee Mills Operations Direc-tor, Mr Joshua Nzioka, said the changes are counterproductive since farmers are not represented. Speaking during a sensi-tisation seminar for coffee societies’ man-agers in Embu, Nzioka said the new law now permits the Cooperatives minister to appoint non-stakeholders to lead the cof-fee regulatory body. He called for further amendments that would also cater for the farmers’ interests.

However, the regional Coffee Board of Kenya manager in charge of Embu and Mbeere districts, Mr Erasmus Kabugi, hailed the changes saying cases of vested interests or conflict of interests among directors of the coffee board will be mini-

politician allegedly interfered after learning his rival had organised it in an effort to pro-mote sporting activities.

“Mathira half marathon should have been allowed to proceed if leaders had a good will to the youth,” said Irungu who is also a rep-resentative of the youth in Mt Kenya region.

The council’s chairman, Mr Wachira Ki-ago said the institution was equal to the task in reshaping the community’s values and bringing them back on track.

However, Kiago warned that the council of elders was not for meeting political am-bitions. He said: “Politicians from the com-munity should not expect any backing as the outfit will be involved in socio-economic aspects.”

mised in the new arrangement. In the past, CBK directors were elected by farm-ers from various cooperative societies. Nzioka further urged the CBK to stop licensing many millers and marketers as this impacted negatively on the industry. He said: “Kenya only produces 50,000 metric tonnes of coffee and the Coffee Board of Kenya should consider this be-fore licensing more millers to operate in this industry.”

However, he urged farmers to produce more quality coffee saying Kenya has the potential to produce over 120,000 metric tonnes.

Meanwhile, the miller has rooted for organic farming of coffee, saying it is less harmful to the environment and enhanc-es the quality of the beans. “As a meas-ure to conserve the environment, farmers should adopt organic farming since ferti-lizers and other chemicals presently being used in coffee farming are harmful to the soil and environment and also reduces the quality of coffee,” Nzioka said.

He cautioned farmers against coffee marketers who have invaded the industry

pointing out that some had been accused of conning farmers money by failing to pay them their dues. “We are calling for fair play. Millers and marketing agents should not take shortcuts to get profits at the expense of farmers,” Nzioka appealed. Kabugi accused the provincial adminis-tration and the police of frustrating the war against coffee hawking. He appealed to the two institutions to arrest the of-fenders instead of protecting them if the war must be won. “Every time we get a tip off and rush to arrest illegal coffee dealers, we never find the hawkers nor the coffee they are alleged to trade in. Our investiga-tions show that the provincial administra-tion and the police are conspiring in the deals,” Kabugi revealed.

He said most of the hawkers include growers’ marketing agents who are not contented with what they earn from their own coffee and opt to hawking instead, warning this was illegal.

“Those caught will have their licenses withdrawn and risk paying a KSh50,000 fine or serving a jail term of between two and 10 years,” he said.

The peace torch is shared by the elders and leaders after they agreed to work towards uplifting the youth in central Kenya. Picture: Ryan Mathenge

Sky museum set to take tourism to

another levelBy DAvID kIARIe

A planetarium planned for construction in Mbeere South District in Eastern Province, is set to change the form and nature of tour-ism in the region.

The unique project that’s the brainchild of the Community Museums of Kenya and other stakeholders, will cost KSh52 million.

The planetarium, a sky museum, will be built at Kianjiru Hills where tourists includ-ing astrologists will have an opportunity to watch the galaxy.

According to the curator Community Museums of Kenya (CMK), Mr John Mar-inga, the programme which was initiated five years ago will be funded by the Tour-ism Trust Fund, and is expected to boost tourism within the Mt Kenya East tourism circuit.

Speaking at the hill during a tour of the proposed site for the observatory, Maringa told Tourism Trust Fund officials the project will be the first of its kind along the Equator and is, therefore, expected to attract many tourists.

“The other two observatories on the continent are based in South Africa and Morocco and we are sure tourists, both lo-cal and international will come here once it’s complete.”

Under the programme that involves the CMK, Mbeere County Council, the Tour-ism Trust fund and the Euranoscope Soci-ety of Astronomers, a cultural museum will also be constructed to give local residents a chance to showcase their rich tradition in song, dance, folklore, housing and dress.

At the base of the hill, Maringa says, will be located a botanical garden with different species of indigenous and exotic plants. The station will also have a 32-bed lounge where tourists will stay. Local businessmen will be afforded an opportunity put up curio shops and other tourist attractions.

“The choice of the site is perfect since the area is strategically positioned on top of a hill and the sky is almost clear throughout the year except for the rainy season,” Mar-inga said.

The observatory is expected to diversify tourism in the country, which has mainly relied on wildlife and the beaches. The site will also open up the Mwea Game Reserve which has been rather dormant. Tourists en route to the Meru National Park will enjoy the extra attraction by stopping by the plan-etarium.

Already, a group of 4,000 tourists from Euranoscope Society of Astronomers who are partnering with the Community Mu-seums of Kenya, have agreed to be the first tourists once the observatory is in place. Tourists will also get a chance to visit the hydro-electric dams which are located near the Kianjiru Hill.

Mbeere County Council chairman, Mr Issah Ngunia, expressed confidence at the revival of the project saying it will benefit the local people greatly.


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Waithaka, David Kiarie, Musembi Nzengu and Odhiambo Odhiambo

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Government must restore peace in bandit-prone regions

Traffic police change tact in

receiving bribesBy ODHIAMBO ODHIAMBO

Kenyan traffic police officers are now changing tact as the government steps up efforts to fight corruption in the depart-ment.

The officers are now transferring the bribes received from motorists on the highway to their telephony M-Pesa accounts in a bid to avoid keep-ing bundles of notes on their persons. Whenever caught red-handed with bun-dles of marked notes, the corrupt offic-ers have become tongue tied to explain the source of the money to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission officers. A survey by The Reject showed that the M-Pesa service has now come in handy for the bribe taking officers that have, for years now, helped prop the Kenya Police Force as the most corrupt institution in the country.

A police officer admitted that his col-leagues have in the past been found in very embarrassing situations, either keeping the cash under stones near the check points, or stuffing the bundles in their pockets. The officer based in South Nyanza requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

The officer, said one of them is as-signed the duty of loading the collect-ed cash in his mobile phone account every time the collection surpasses the KSh1,000. The cash is then withdrawn in the evening after work and divided equal-ly among the officers.

And corruption in the force has al-lowed unroadworthy vehicles to continue plying the Kenyan roads, leading to an in-crease in road accidents.

Traffic regulations are rarely adhered to with acquisition of driving licenses becom-ing as easy as buying a soda from a shop.

Over-loaded and speeding public ve-hicles are no longer an issue before traffic policemen with outstretched hands. Their concern is more on drivers and conduc-tors who must spare some money for the men and women in uniform. Fifty shil-lings is said to be the minimum.

Recent arrests of officers in possession of marked bribe money by the KACC of-ficers has not slowed down the vice that mostly targets public service and com-mercial vehicles.

Police officers working in other depart-ments will do anything to be transferred to the lucrative Traffic Department, for it’s here that their dreams to get rich quick are assured of turning true.

By eLIuD WAItHAkA

The rate at which armed bandits are killing people has reached alarming proportions and the government needs to act fast. At least 140 people have been murdered in Isiolo and Laikipia districts by cattle rus-tlers in less than three months.

Women and children have not been spared by the armed marauders, whose target is normally the men and livestock. The relatively fewer women and children who have died have been killed on their beds as their morans (warriors) engage the raiders to either protect or recover their cherished livestock.

It’s usually a one-sided battle. The few vintage guns in the hands of the home-guards, clubs, iron bars, bows and arrows are never a match for the sophisticated weapons the rustlers carry.

The barbaric culture that has afflicted the pastoralist communities since time immemorial has metamorphosed into a deadly multi-million shilling racket that has enveloped the north, north-eastern and eastern regions of Kenya.

Banditry has, in recent times, assumed frightening proportions, thanks to acqui-sition of modern weaponry. These have been brought in by unscrupulous traders

in search of cheap beef for sale in urban centres.

It’s now being alleged that some of the recent raids in Isiolo and Laikipia districts have been sponsored by local politicians desirous of expanding their influence.

It is alleged that the attacks aim at evict-ing certain “enemy” ethnic groups from the area in readiness for the 2012 General Election.

Cross-border raids by pastoralist com-munities from neighbouring Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia compound the problem that has proven to be beyond the control of four governments the region. Whereas Uganda has largely made progress in disarming the Karamojong, authorities in Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia have failed dismally.

Rather than embark on firm measures that aim at eradicating the vice, government officials that include Cabinet ministers, pro-vincial administrators and local politicians seem to be reading from different scripts and have instead engaged in a blame game. However, since cattle raiding has a tradi-tional leaning, there are die-hard tradition-alists among the pastoralist communities who must practice the age-old ritual or they be ostracised by their relatives.

Cattle-rustling especially in its current form, has completely obliterated the af-

flicted regions from national development by destroying ongoing projects and scaring off potential investors.

Livestock — the regions’ lifeline — ag-riculture, education, and hospitals among other development projects have literally been destroyed or rendered inoperative for fear of attacks.

Not even police stations have survived the incessant onslaught as the men and women in uniform have, been known to take cover or flee altogether.

And who can blame them? The awesome firepower in the hands of the invaders is far superior to the puny standard issue the policemen carry. They, understandably do the right thing and flee, for to confront the well-armed and highly motivated cattle-rustlers, is to commit suicide.

As matters stand, the Government stands accused of failing to live to its oath of office to protect the lives and the proper-ty of its people in the bandit prone regions of the country.

It must move with speed to restore peace and tranquility in the region, even if it means using the military in place of the heavily compromised police force. It worked in Mt Elgon District and should work in Isiolo and Laikipia among other bandit prone districts.

COMMENTARY & OpiNiON

The provincial administration addresses residents of Isiolo at a security meeting as they try to find the best way to handle the question of bandits and cattle rustlers.

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