Kitui County raises voice for resilience to climate change

By John Njue
Kitui county government and its stakeholders have embraced effects of climate change and have action plan to adapt or mitigate to it.

The government of Kitui supported sustainable land management project funded by UNDP to organize a world environment day in Kyuso sub-county and have its governor Dr. Julius Malombe officiate it.

While addressing the gathering Malombe said that the most affected by effect of climate change is livestock due to lack of pasture caused by unreliable rainfall. He urged the residents to harvest water for domestic consumption using roof catchment and also conserve water in their farms by planting trees and digging terraces amongst  other structures.

He also urged stakeholders to promote use of traditional value crops such as sorghum, millet, cassava amongst others and urged the community too to embrace the use of these foods.

“The county government has a plan of constructing 60 subsurface dams in each ward” said Malombe. A subsurface dam is an impervious barrier constructed beneath the surface or a river or stream to retain water upstream by raising the water. The water will be used for irrigating small farms and hence increased income because these dams will be near to everyone.

World environment day (‘WED’) is celebrated every year on June 5 to raise global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and planet earth. It was established by United Nation General Assembly in 1972 on the day that United Conference on the Human Environment began.

WED is celebrated every with different themes. Over the years WED has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach on environmental issues that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. WED is one of the United Nation primary vehicle through which it stimulates environmental awareness, enhances political attention and action worldwide.

Today environmental concerns are major issues all over the world. These issues relates to the natural element that makes up the earth and surrounds living organism, enabling life. The environment is not a single factor but a lot of things which interact and interfere with human activities. Human environment concerns are related to proper hygienic conditions. Importance of clean and healthy environment should be emphasized to each and every individual on the planet. When it comes to maintaining a clean and healthy environment it's everybody’s responsibility.

 Climate change has been recognized as the most serious and threatening global environmental problem. While natural variations in climate over time is normal, human are contributing to climate change through emission of substantial amount of greenhouse gases. Some green gases exist naturally in the atmosphere and are necessary to keep earth at global temperature suitable for ecosystem and life as they have evolved. However greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from human activities are building up and trapping extra heat in the atmosphere.

This year’s county theme was “RAISING OUR VOICE FOR RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.” Mwingi North sub-county` had an opportunity to show case the initiatives and best practices that the community and other stakeholders are undertaking and to act as an example for sub-counties to embrace

How will you make your voice heard this year for environment?

The call this year is to recognize that we all face the same challenges and are connected and united by our common goal of a sustainable and prosperous life. The call is to raise our voices in solidarity with one another, particularly with citizens of Kenya in general and Kitui County in particular. Whether it is to organize clean ups campaign, Food water reduction initiatives , plastic ban, art exhibit, tree planting drives, concerts, dances recitals, recycling drives and social media campaign because every action counts.

Kshs 26 million for ECDE teachers employment- Kitui county

By John Njue

Early childhood development teachers in Kitui County are expected to benefit from upcoming ECDE teachers employments, says his excellence the governor Dr. Julius Malombe.

The fate of thousands ECDE teachers employment in Kenya are uncertain after a month of conflicts on who is supposed to employ the said teachers. Some are claiming that the governors have no role to play in employment of ECDE teachers but the mandate lies fully to teachers service commission (TSC).

Some counties including Kitui County is alleged to have taken advantage of employing Nursery school teachers before the parliamentary committee on education could push the amendment of basic education act barring them from employing them.

It’s alleged that the county does not have scheme of work as it’s expected for teachers, secondly it’s claimed that governors want political mileage from employment of teachers. 

Despite the claims Malombe said that his government has allocated 26million shilling for employment ECDE teachers. He added that Kitui County has already employed 2800 teachers for the last one year and that the directives barring county government from employing early child hood education teachers will affects only those counties that had not started the employment. He said this while presiding over world environment day at Kyuso stadium.

On responding to claims that Mwingi north constituency was affected during the county government allocation of job appointments. He said that the county government has only employed 260 employees and the rest were absorbed from the previous local government which includes Town, Municipal and City councils. He added that out of 260 appointments people from Mwingi north shouldn’t be complaining.

Drop of life.

By Carlos Mutua.

They say the water is life thus the high demand for this rare commodity in this dry region of Kitui county, this has led to many residents Of kyuso community queue for long hours waiting for that drop of life.

 The residents have to wake as early as 5 am to compete with Lorries in getting it. Though it’s cheap as 20l Jerri can cost only 2 ksh but many days the taps runs dry. People still push to get it as it’s preferably safer than the one fetched from rock catchment areas.

The situation is more devastating at this time of year as numerous dam have either dried up or the Water is too dirt for human consumption, hence relying on the few water point which is not adequate for the increasing population. Those living away from water point are forced to drill bore hole with help from either NGO or government on the river valley of which the water from it has limited use, for instant some place the water salinity is high thus cannot support growing of vegetation or a lot of detergent is required for washing.

The water distribution is managed by the community in partnership with TARDA (Tana and Athi River Development Authority).The residents of Kyuso benefit once or twice a week. Its alleged that the water seller have taken the advantage of the situation and raised the price per Jerri can from 10ksh to 20ksh hence forcing some resident to opt using salt water from borehole which isn’t good for washing and cooking. 

Another requisition of the community would wish the TARDA is to connect them with door to door  piping  at cheap price and monthly payment should be affordable;  this will enable them to grow vegetable and save them time in trekking to water point of which they would have to compete with others. The resident hope that one day a Good Samaritan will come and help them.

THEFT AGAIN AT ITIVANZOU

By Vaati Mwandikwa and John Njue

In recent past people of kyuso sub-county have been complaining of deteriorating security. This is after a series of theft cases especially at night. Shop, Mpesa and Bars’ owners have been the victim 

Photo by shutterstock.com

Resident of Itiva nzou yesterday woke up in disappointment when they found 3 shops broken into by bugler. Confirming the incident the area chief said that the bunglers Broke into one shop, Mpesa and a butchery. According to the resident the thief only managed to take kshs150 from Mpesa shop and 2 bottles of soda and left the place in tarter meaning that there was serious search of cash or other valuables.

It is just in the same place in January this year where suspected bunglers were nabbed by a witch doctors who was claimed to be from Congo. The incident saw four go out of sound mind after the witchdoctor performed rituals in bid to nab the thieves. It is alleged that the owner had given the suspects three days aptimutum to own up and then they could have been forgiven.

The residents are appealing to the government to beef up security so that the resident can stay in peace.