Sh 27 Million Uwezo funds for Mwingi North

By John Njue
Mwingi North constituency has received sh.27 million Uwezo fund, MP John Munuve has said. Speaking at the Kyuso Gospel Outreach church ground during the ordination of church reverend Isaac Kithome into Bishop.

He said despite the fact that his constituency has been affected in allocation of development projects and employment by the county government, he and his constituent have something to smile about.
 Munuve said that he had constituted a committee to allocate that money to successful groups. He therefore asked traders, youth and women to apply for the funds.

The government of Kenya released a total of Sh5.35 billion out of the total Sh6 billions that was approved by the Kenya parliament. The rest will be used for capacity building and administration cost.
Some of the factors that were considered in allocation of funds to different constituencies are constituency population, constituency poverty headcount, and contribution to national poverty.

Requirements for applying to the Uwezo Fund
1. The youth or women group should be registered with the Department of Social Services or the Registrar of Societies with a membership of 9 – 15 members. A Certified copy of Registration Certificate will be required.
2. The youth group membership must be between 18 and 35 years of age.
3. Preference will be granted to groups that have been in existence for at least six (6) months. Minutes of group meetings will be required.
4. The groups should be based and operating within the Constituency it seeks to make an application for consideration for a loan from the Uwezo Fund.
5. The group should operate a table banking (Chama) structure where members make monthly contributions according to the groups’ internal guidelines. Evidence of monthly contributions will be required.
6. The group should hold a bank account in the name of the group. Bank statements will be required.
7. They should be recommended by the Chief of the location.
8. Photocopies of IDs and PINs of all the members will be required.
9. List of members that include their ID card numbers and telephone numbers.

COMMUNICATION A KEY TOOL TO ACHIEVING VISION 2030

By Duncan Mutisya

Information and communication Technology has been recognized as a key tool to development. It is therefore the duty and responsibility of everyone to ensure that the community gets access to the ICT facilities and ensure that they are utilized fully.

One of the ICT facilities is the mobile phone. Mobile phones have made communication easier, enhanced convenience and improved the living standards of people.

Communication has become a key factor that influences the economic development in a great way. For the communication to be effective there must be a medium of communication. In Kenya, there are several service providers that provide their services across the country. These services providers are Safaricom, Airtel, Yu and Orange. Their services have impacted positively in people’s way of life and changing the country into a ‘small village’. This has seen the country move from the ‘analogue era’ to a ‘digital one’.

Despite the fast developments the communication has brought about and the initiatives that these service providers have put in place to ensure quality service delivery, some areas have never enjoyed these services fully. The services providers have put have network boosters at various areas across the country to boost communication. But, there is one area that has been suffering in silence- Mivukoni.

Mivukoni is in Kyuso district, about 30km from Kyuso market and 20km from Tseikuru market, Kitui County. It is ironical that very prominent and influential people in the country come from this neglected area. The neighboring village, Tseikuru is the home place of the Kenya former vice president and former area Member of Parliament Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka. This locality is just a stone throw from his rural home. The current Member of Parliament Hon. John Mati Munuve comes from this place! Why has this place been neglected? Is it that Safaricom and the other service providers are not aware of its existence? Is it that they are not aware of the poor network around this place?

The residents of Mivukoni have been suffering in silence for long. The Safaricom boosters situated at Kyuso and Tseikuru market have not been of much help since network here can only be accessed at some points where you will notice a queue, all waiting to get access to the service. Bearing in mind that the nation is aiming at achieving Vision 2030, communication being a key factor, needs to be given a priority. The concerned people should intervene and give a lasting solution to the people of Mivukoni.

Deputy County Commissioner gives warning to bandits

By John Njue

Kyuso deputy county commissioner Mr. Peter Maina has given a stiff warning to bandits who have been interfering with peace of people from Ngomeni division of kyuso sub-county.

He said that the bandits have been threatening the residents by shooting on the air. He added that those bandits have become a bother to the resident and to the security officers in the area since they have been spending sleepless nights pursuing these bandits.

“Nobody has been arrested of the same but soon or later we will” said Mr. Maina. He assured the resident of the government efforts to restore peace in Ngomeni especially Kavaani which is the most affected with insecurity.  He said that the government has procured and delivered 2 DT GK motorbikes for use by officers with the help of locals in pursuing these bandits.

The resident cannot go to their farms because of fear of being attacked. It’s expected that people from this area might become food insecure if this problem persist since they didn’t get time to cater for their crops.

Mr. Maina was speaking at Kyuso stadium when he preceded over independence day- Jamhuri as Kenya commemorated 50years of self independence. 50 years of independence in kyuso was celebrated well with heavy down pour.

He said that the cause of all this conflict is all about boundary between kamba farmers and Somali herders. “I think the best thing is for these two communities to know their boundary and stay in their land. Said Maina “It’s extremely funny that there is no a single day that kambas have evaded the herders but opposite happens why! Why! "

The residents were also advised not to go near the “Mboga wells” where these armed bandits are saturated. 

Donkey to help in ensuring food security in Kyuso

By John Njue
Women in Kyuso sub-county have something to smile about after they were introduced to use of donkey for land preparation. 

Even though donkeys have been extensively used by people in many areas in the world their use has been synonymous with backwardness, underdevelopment and low status.

Donkey ownership has been associated to women in this area but is only used for ferrying water and farm produce to the market. The symbolic animals for wealth have been considered to be cattle, goats and sheep whereas donkeys reflect poverty and marginalization. 

The Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project under the Ministry of livestock production in Kyuso led by Mr. John Chege Ndung’u has done a difficult work to convince the residents to use donkey for other activities such as land preparation through plowing.

The farmer have been sensitized to use donkey for plowing as well as how to make proper harness for donkey using locally available materials. Speaking with Mr. Chege at  a women plowing competition using donkeys at Kyandoo he said use of donkey for other chore except ferrying water in the area is alleged to lower the social status of the user.  

He informed the congregation that each family in U  kambani has a donkey but few have oxen for plowing. Family without oxen and especially woman led family are queued last when it comes to plowing services by those who have the oxen.

Due to the unreliable rain fall experience in the area, farmer can use donkey for plowing instead of waiting for those who have the oxen to come and offer the service at later date. It’s expected that if farmers adopt using of donkey for plowing they will do early planting and hence producing more leading to ensuring food security in the area.

Kyuso Maarifa centre Field officer Mr. John Njue also promised them of marketing linkages after harvesting through Sokopepe platform which he said can also be accessed on mobile phone. E.g. check agricultural commodity prices by sending a SMS Price#commodity name#Town to 20245. E.g. Price#maize#Nairobi.  For more info http://sokopepe.co.ke/