Author: J Kamau

Vegetable farmers, and especially tomato farmers, in Kiambu County are set to generate fortunes from their farming after receiving training on modern tomato grafting technologies. Tomato grafting is the horticultural technique of joining the upper fruiting part of a tomato plant (the scion) onto a disease-resistant or vigorous lower root system (the rootstock) so they grow as a single plant. The programme, a joint venture between Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Kiambu County government, is aimed at impacting farmers with best modern farming practices to increase tomato yields and impact on their income. Experts from KOPIA…

Smallholder farmers vegetable farmers in Nakuru County have received a major boost after a programme was initiated to train them on modern technologies in their farming. Modern vegetable farming practices—such as drip irrigation, greenhouses, hybrid seeds, and precision technology—boost crop yields, save water, allow year-round production, and increase income for farmers while enhancing the country’s food security. The programme is a joint venture between Korean Programme for International Cooperation in Agriculture Technology (KOPIA) and Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF). KOPIA, which has initiated diverse programmes aimed at helping smallholder farmers across the country, has been in the forefront in training…

The government is accelerating completion of development projects across the country as it initiates more in a bid to improve the lives of all Kenyans through the equitable transformation agenda, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said. The DP said every part of Kenya has reached in the rolling out of the transformational development agenda adding that the administration’s target is to uplift the lives of all citizens. “This Government has put an end to the discrimination against different parts of Kenya. We have said that equality must be upheld and every part must be developed,” DP stated. Speaking on Wednesday…

A section of Kiambu leaders and residents have accused the county government of neglecting the health sector plunging health facilities across the region into crisis. Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a and her Juja counterpart George Koimburi pointed an accusing finger to Governor Kimani Wamatangi claiming that his administration has turned a blind eye to the county’s deteriorating health sector. Their sentiments came following a series of incidences involving major health facilities in the county including detention of nursing mothers over unpaid bills and now rundown morgue services at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital mortuary. A family in Gatundu South on Tuesday claimed…

Environmentalists have dispelled fears that the ongoing harvesting of mature trees in forests across the country is detrimental to the environment. They said that the trees being harvested form about 4.5 percent of the total country’s forest cover adding that they must be harvested to pave way for planting of more trees. Led by Hearts of Green CEO Moses Muya and Wangari Mathai Institute head Prof Thuita Thenya, the environmentalists noted that the trees were planted with an aim of harvesting them for other uses upon maturity besides conserving the environment. They however called for proper regulation of the logging…

Mt Kenya region residents have been urged to support President William Ruto’s government for the sake of development projects. Ndia MP George Kariuki alias GK and his Juja counterpart George Koimburi maintained that backing the government as well as Ruth’s re-election bid will facilitate implementation of key projects including roads, electricity among others. They spoke as a public sensitisation and empowerment meeting at Muthaara village in Juja constituency, Kiambu County on Friday. The lawmakers noted that some areas in the region, and especially Juja Sub-county, lagged behind development-wise, particularly road infrastructure, noting that this will be addressed through continued engagement…

The government is fast-tracking completion of hundreds of kilometres of roads in Kiambu County costing 152 billion shillings in order to improve the region’s economy, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said. The DP stated that the money has been allocated for 1656 kilometres of road projects which are at various stages of completion in the county, revealing advanced plans to construct the Thika-Nairobi Expressway as promised by President Ruto. Prof. Kindiki on Tuesday inspected development projects, including some of the roads under this programme, in Kiambaa and Gatundu South constituencies in the county promising to closely monitor their progress for…

The Government is planning to put up modern hostels at Thika Technical Training Institute and Kenya Medical Training College Thika campus to address housing shortage for students. Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki revealed that the government has set aside sh 672 million to construct a 2000-bed capacity hostel facility at TTTI. He divulged that another sh 580 million has been allocated for a similar project at KMTC to house 1,160 students. The projects come amid a shortage of housing facilities for learners in Thika town which has forced most students to reside in the outskirts of Thika town and Witeithie…

For many elderly individuals in Nyeri county and especially in rural areas and informal settlements, retirement boredom m, isolation and the daily monotony that often accompanies aging has become their part of life. As the world marks the World Elderly Day, most senior citizens across the country are still grappling with a myriad of challenges, some of which can be tackled through deliberate interventions by the elders themselves, support groups, non-governmental organizations and the government. At Chinga village in Othaya constituency, Nyeri County, elders have identified weaving chondos as the antidote to most of the challenges they face in their…

Short cousrses are the best shot to addressing joblessness among youths and steering the country’s economic development, Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a has said. The lawmaker said that parents and youth must explore Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a viable alternative to university education noting that technical skills are playing a pivotal role in transforming Kenya into an industrialized, middle-income country. She called on youth across the country to go for the highly marketable world skills including fashion and design, electrical installation, welding, plumbing, hospitality, hairdressing and beauty and entrepreneurship among others to enable them meet the high…