CS Rotich launches new AFC branch in Nanyuki

By Justine Mokua / GPS

CS Treasury Henry Rotich and Governor Joshua Irungu during the launch of the new AFC branch

in Nanyuki.

It was a big relief for the Laikipians when the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury Henry

Rotich launched a new Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) branch in Nanyuki on

Friday.

The branch is a milestone to farmers in Laikipia County, as they will benefit largely from

agricultural loans at low interest.

CS Treasury Henry Rotich speaking during the launch of the new AFC branch in Nanyuki

He congratulated His Excellency Governor Joshua Irungu for welcoming him to the

county.

On the other hand, Governor Irungu urged the farmers to take advantage of the AFC

branch to apply for loans to invest in agriculture for improvement of their livelihoods.

AFC Chairman, Franklin Bett, encouraged farmers to take advantage of the branch to

borrow for farm inputs and development. He added that the corporation will increase

fertilizer supply to help them to increase their agricultural output.

AFC chairperson Mr Franklin Bett speaking during launch of the new AFC branch in Nanyuki

END

Government donates 27 coolers to farmers in Laikipia

Ps for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Dr Richard Lesiyampe and governor for Laikipia H.E Joshua

Irungu during the ground breaking ceremony in Rumuruti.

Peninnah Maina/GPS

The National Government to donate 27 milk coolers to farmers in Laikipia to spur

development as a measure to eradicate poverty in the county.

The principal secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Richard Lesiyampe,

announced this during the groundbreaking of the proposed Laikipia County

headquarters in Rumuruti.

H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu unveiling the model for the new county headquarters in Rumuruti.

“Laikipia is widely known for livestock production, and the coolers will serve a great deal

both in milk storage and transportation,” Mr Lesiyampe said.

The donation will be through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Mr Lesiyampe said Laikipia is the only county with nearly everything, ranging from

agriculture to tourism. He added that moving the headquarters from Nanyuki to

Rumuruti will open up opportunities and attract investments.

Lesiyampe urged the youths to engage in agriculture, as part of the government policy

to create jobs. He said that the national government will help the county to tarmac 60km

of the road from Mararal to Naibor and provide subsidised fertilizers to farmers.

However, he cautioned Laikipians for the need to maintain peace and avoid cattle

rustling, but instead live in harmony.

H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu ground breaks the location for the new Laikipia County headquarter

offices.

H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu on his part assured Laikipians that his government is

honest and will always honour the wishes of its people.

“This groundbreaking is just the start of bringing services closer to the people for easy

access and service delivery,” Governor Irungu said.

The CEC for Public Administration, Agnes Musyani, said the new county headquarters

will also foster integration and cohesion among the people of Laikipia.

Others present were KUPPET chairman Mr Ndung’u Wangenye, CECs, chief officers,

MCAs, directors, sub-county administrators and other officials.

END

Interest-free loans to Laikipia farmers

By Peninnah Maina/GPS

H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu and KCBF Director Mrs Jane Mwangi signing the MOU

Farmers in Laikipia to benefit from Ksh 30 million interest-free loans from the Kenya

commercial bank foundation (KCBF) according to a Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU) signed between the foundation and the county government.

This event marked the start of a strong partnership between the foundation and the

county government, with an aim of providing a profitable, sustainable livestock economy

across all chains under the “Mifugo Ni Mali” program.

H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu and the KCBF director Jane Mwangi signed the MOU on

behalf of their respective institutions.

“There is power in partnership. It helps people access services for development, and

we believe that when the bank grows, the farmers will also grow,” Mwangi said.

She added that the aim of the partnership is not to induce farmers to open accounts

with the KCB, but to help them grow and make it possible for easy financial access.

She urged farmers to look into livestock farming as a business and assets of great

value.

The governor termed the partnership as a way of bringing services closer to the people,

urging the people of Laikipia to take the chance seriously, as an opening for prosperity.

“I don’t think there is any bank to the best of my knowledge that has offered interest-free

loans to the people of laikipia. This shows that the foundation is concerned about the

welfare of our people,” Governor Irungu said.


According to the foundation, poultry and bee farmers, and Saccos will also benefit.

Marura sweet potatoes day

HE governor Joshua Irungu looking at one of the sweet potatoes as other officials look.

By peninnah Maina/GPS

Marura residents received a variety of sweet- potatoes vines from the county

government through the Household Economic Empowerment Program (HEEP) at Irura

primary school in Thingithu Ward.

One of the farmers showing the governor a cake made from sweet potatoes.

HEEP, whose main aim is to eradicate poverty at the household level, also educates

farmers on numerous benefits of sweet-potatoes and their different uses.

The county government has brought on board agricultural experts to educate farmers

on growing of these varieties of sweet-potatoes. The varieties include Covington,

O’Henry, Bungoma and White Delight sweet-potatoes.

“We thank the county government for understanding our needs and bringing them to

our doorsteps,” farmers said.

They pledged to use the varieties and the knowledge acquired to eradicate poverty in

their villages.”

Some of the potatoes showcased during the Marura sweet potatoes day

The CEO of the Laikipia County Enterprise Fund, Cecelia Maina, urged the residents to

register groups and apply for development loans from the fund.

Farmers displayed chapatti, porridge and cakes made from sweet potatoes flour. Also

displayed were dairy goats and chicken incubators.

County relocate Mutara primary school

By John Mutua /GPS

H.E the governor unveiling the engineers of the Mutara primary relocation project to the public

The county government is to relocate Mutara primary school to a safer ground at a cost

of Ksh 11 million.

The school is in Mutara Forest, where students face danger of being attacked by wild

animals as they go to school.

“We are aware that the work of building schools lies under the Constituency

Development Fund, but my government will finance the relocation of the school for

safety of our children,” H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu said, during the groundbreaking of

the proposed school-relocation site.

The governor was shocked to learn that the pupils travel unprotected deep into the

forest to access the school. The construction is expected to be completed in January

2017. He instructed the contractor to recruit most of the workers from the area.

The governor was on wards visit and he expected several ongoing projects, including

Kiamariga road, market and Mutara dispensary, which is 80% complete.

The Salama MCA Hon Wakahiu thanked the governor for visiting projects in his ward, in

addition to offering the relocate the school. The area MCA expressed his gratitude to

the county government for changing the face of Salama ward and initiating projects in

the area.

Lamurians quench their thirst

Women in Lamuria Tigithi ward were all smiles on Wednesday 15^th this month when they received over 250 water tanks from the county government of Laikipia led by His Excellency Governor Joshua Irungu and area member of county assembly Honorable Beth Waithera. With him were county executive committee members (CECS), their chief officers and other county officials.

The governor gave out the tanks, as he was aware of the need to harvest water because the area is dry and water is scarce. The governor had noted that when it rained most of the water was going to waste due to inadequate and poor storage facilities the residents in the area had. Giving out the tanks to women who had formed development groups in the area was fulfilling the promise he had pledged.

He stated that his vision was to see each household in the area having a tank. This was because he was aware that rivers in the area were very far from the residents and this affected even the learning program as children came from school only to go and fetch water taking a lot of time that could have been used to study

The governor also urged the women to make use of the money made available by the county government for the women to invest rather than acquiring loans from financial institutions which have high interest rates for their loans.

The women grateful, had a gift for the governor and his officials –a cake baked specifically for him to show their gratitude. In return, the governor gave them 30,000 shillings to cater for their drinks.        

        

                                                                                                                                

Story by Kelvin Nderitu

  

                                             The end

Bursary for needy students out

There has been a relief for needy students and their parents as the county government releases bursaries in all the wards in the county.

The county government set aside 45-million bursary fund for 2015/2016 financial year. The county is awarding the fund for the second year.

According to the programme from the CEC education John Bosco Akaale, the award programme will run from Monday June 6 to Tuesday June 14.

Meanwhile, H.E. Governor Joshua Irungu will commission several projects from the third week of June to the end of July. Those tentatively listed include Muhotetu milk cooler, Lamuria, Sipili and Sosian.