#county agriculture support Kenya

[farmerstrend]

How the USAID Shutdown Threatens Kenya’s Agriculture Ahead of the Planting Season

The imminent shutdown of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this Friday threatens to derail Kenya’s agricultural sector just weeks before the crucial planting season, potentially affecting millions of farmers across the country who depend on various American-funded programmes. The shutdown, which will place all USAID direct hire personnel on administrative leave…

[homosexuhauls]

Neha Wadekar in Baringo county, Kenya

Susan Chomba glares out the window of the Prado Land Cruiser at dozens of motorcycles speeding in the opposite direction. Each motorcycle carries at least five bags of charcoal and for every bag, at least three medium-sized acacia trees must be chopped down and burned. Charcoal production is banned in Kenya, but is still widely used for domestic heat and cooking.

Chomba loves trees. She can rattle off the scientific and local names of countless species and detail their ideal growing conditions. She holds a PhD in forest governance and master’s degrees in agriculture development and agroforestry. She is director of food, land and water programs, continent-wide, at the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global environmental research non-profit. She manages a portfolio of $20m and a staff of 100.

She is a rarity.

Roughly 12% of the world’s top climate scientists are women and fewer than one percent are from Africa – a continent hard hit by climate change. “If you look at the way the world operates, it’s almost blind to the fact that women bear the biggest burden and brunt of climate change,” Chomba says. That Chomba is an African woman in such a key role is potentially revolutionary, especially because she goes out of her way to solicit the views of those most affected and often most unheard – local farmers, community elders and, notably, women.

“The way climate is seen in the world, it’s seen very much from a masculine perspective,” Chomba says. For example, while male climate scientists focus heavily on developing renewable sources of energy to replace fossil fuels like oil and gas, Chomba believes they pay far less attention to the hundreds of millions of women worldwide who are burning wood for tasks like cooking. Incorporating the perspectives of women – particularly poor, rural women – would better ensure comprehensive solutions, she says.

Chomba is 40 years old but still remembers the hunger pangs she suffered as a child when the land failed to yield enough food for her family. More people, most likely women and children, will suffer the same fate, or worse, if wise and profound changes aren’t made soon.

Today, she is traveling with a team of WRI experts from Nairobi to Baringo county in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, home to mountainous forests that supply 75% of Kenya’s water. But the expansion of agriculture into previously natural environments, deforestation for charcoal and logging, urbanization and climate change have ravaged the land, leaving it thirsty and bare. Locals say they haven’t had a yield of maize or beans, their staple crops, in three years.

Chomba and her team visit a giant gully that has split the ground into two in the middle of the farmland. The area has been overharvested and overgrazed, with few natural grasses or indigenous trees left to hold the soil together. That, combined with climate change and an intense dry season, has left the earth looking like parched, cracked skin.

An elderly farmer points to a tree and says cooking oil can be extracted from the native species.

“How can we do this through the Terrafund?” Chomba asks her team, referring to the WRI’s lending program to support businesses addressing land degradation and restoration. “We have a muze [an elder] with knowledge, a fund that wants to invest and a place that needs seedlings.”

There’s an urgent need for community-driven ideas, but hasty, half-baked “solutions” can exacerbate harm, Chomba argues on the drive to Baringo county. At the end of last year, for example, Kenya’s newly-elected president, William Ruto, announced his intention to plant 15bn trees in Kenya by 2032. But Chomba says the plan fails to specify which species will be planted (native or foreign), where they will be planted (forest reserves or communal farms), why they will be planted (for timber, carbon, fruit, or soil fertility), and who will actually grow them.

“The devil is in the details, and that’s lacking,” Chomba says. “If you don’t address deforestation causes, forget about your tree planting. It’s useless.”

Chomba grew up in Kirinyaga county in central Kenya, where her mother cultivated a small plot of land owned by a step-uncle. Chomba’s mother grew capsicum and french beans and formed cooperatives with other farmers so they could pool their products for export. Because her mother was a single parent and was always working, Chomba was largely raised by her grandmother.

“She used to tell me that if she could have gone to school, she would have studied so much that knowledge would be smoking out of her nostrils,” Chomba says. “She made sure that I knew that education was my only path out of poverty, out of the life we had back then.”

When Chomba was nine, her mother wanted to send her to a local boarding school, but the admissions staff in Kirinyaga took one look at her shabby clothes and turned her down.

“I’m not ashamed of my childhood poverty,” Chomba says today. “It’s what propelled me back then and what makes me sensitive to-date.”

Instead, Chomba traveled alone on a bus to a different boarding school in Western Kenya. A few years later, when Chomba’s mother ran out of money, Chomba returned to the provincial high school in Kirinyaga. Each student was given their own small patch of land to farm, and Chomba grew cabbage because they thrived in Kirinyaga’s cold climate. She experimented with organic farming, opting to use garlic and blackjack instead of chemical pesticides.

Chomba flashes a broad smile: “My cabbages were absolutely massive.”

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Kenyans were pushing back against the dictator Daniel Arap Moi, Wangari Maathai was pressing for forest conservation and fighting for multiparty democracy. Maathai, the first African woman to win a Nobel peace prize, inspired a generation of young, female Kenyan environmentalists.

“We just admired Professor Wangari,” Chomba says. “She taught us that nature belongs to all of us.”

Chomba wanted to study law, but she missed the university cut off by a single point. Her second choice was agricultural economics, but by a strange twist of fate, she was placed in a forestry course. It wasn’t until her third year, when Chomba took an agroforestry class, that she realized she had found her calling.

“The gods chose my life for me,” she says.

While Maathai was protesting in the streets, Chomba chose another path more aligned to her strengths – research.

“I have a lot of respect for activism, I think we need activism,” Chomba says. But she opted instead for a job that relies on evidence-based data as the basis to change systemic structures.

Chomba joined the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and led an eight-country land restoration program, called “Regreening Africa,” which restored one million hectares of Africa’s degraded lands. By now a single parent, Chomba had to leave her son at home with her mother to pursue dual master’s degrees in Europe.

“[S]he had to really fight,” says Tom Vandenbosch, one of Chomba’s first mentors at ICRAF. “Her having a young son when she had to move to Europe to finish her studies – that’s not something which is so easy to do.”

Chomba returned to ICRAF as a climate change researcher advising some of the brightest diplomatic minds in Africa convened to tackle climate change at the Conference of Peoples (COP). Chomba called it “the most humbling space I ever occupied as a young researcher,” and says the job “touched the social justice part of my soul.”

This experience convinced Chomba to get her PhD at the University of Copenhagen.

Chomba married her husband in 2009 and gave birth to their son in 2010. Both her sons seem interested in the environment, but “kids never do what their parents want them to do”, Chomba admits.

Chomba's team pulls up to the Baringo county government offices after a five-hour drive, enters a tiny office and crams around a table occupied by local officials. She will need their staff, resources and approval to operate in the county.

She strategically mentions budget numbers for Terrafund and as she utters the amount set aside for the Greater Rift Valley region – $6m – the officials straighten up, their interest piqued.

But challenges remain. Chomba broaches the issue of illegal charcoal production. One government official waives aside her concerns, citing Kenya’s struggling economy. “They are selling charcoal because they have no other option,” he says.

Chomba rolls her eyes.

The following morning, Chomba spends hours in the stifling heat speaking with women who are part of a grassroots gender-empowerment cooperative. Florence Lomariwo fled her home as a child to escape female genital cutting and child marriage and became a college-educated teacher. She describes how the drought is causing armed clashes between male herders, who are ranging farther from home to graze and water their livestock. Left alone, women are bearing the brunt of this.

“Most of the women are suffering deaths because of lack of water,” Lomariwo says. “For our family to survive, a woman [must] travel, even if it is 100km.”

Monicah Aluku, a 37-year-old widow, speaks up.

“Feel our pain,” she says. “There is no water. Women are walking so far to get water that they are miscarrying. There is no healthcare system. Kids are drinking dirty water and getting typhoid. We are really suffering.”

Chomba leans forward. She nods intently with a serious, steady gaze. Chomba and her team were scheduled to head back to Nairobi around 1pm, but they don’t leave until hours later. And only after Chomba has heard from every woman in the room.

This story was produced by the Fuller Project, a global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting that catalyzes positive change for women

[thecountydiary]

Household Listing Underway in Support of Kenya Livestock Masterplan

Kitui County’s Agriculture and Livestock Executive, Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, welcomed a delegation from the State Department of Livestock Policy today. The delegation, led by Magdalene Kithii, visited Kitui to oversee the progress of the Kenya Livestock Masterplan (KLMP) and assess the ongoing listing of livestock-keeping households—a crucial step in gathering data for improved livestock…

[wetlandsday]

KENYA - Enhancing Freshwater Biodiversity in Urban Areas.

Wetlands Conservation Organisation is convening World Wetlands Day 2024 to inspire and promote the local community wise use and protection of wetlands in Marurui, Roysambu sub-County. World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. For several years, the local communities in Marurui have been depending on the local Mararui dam in providing a range of benefits that contribute to the community's well-being, economic development, and overall resilience. The dam provides a reliable water source for irrigation, supporting local agriculture. This is essential for increasing crop yields, promoting food security, and sustaining the livelihoods of farm within the local communities. The dam also plays a critical role in flood control by regulating water flow. It can store excess water during heavy rainfall and release it gradually, reducing the risk of downstream flooding and protecting communities and farmland. Reservoir formed by the dam is a habitat for various species of flora and fauna. Wetlands Conservation Organisation aims to involve the local communities at Marurui, Roysambu Sub-County Nairobi Kenya in creation of mini wetlands in Nairobi to give nature a boost of wetlands to support more life of freshwater biodiversity.

Country : Kenya Organizer : Wetlands Conservation Organisation Partners : GreenPeace Africa, Roysambu Green Foundation

[katiajewelbox]

Greetings from Marsabit Botanical Garden, a pioneering initiative that stands as a beacon of hope for environmental conservation, sustainable practices, and community empowerment among Northern Kenya's Pastoralist Communities.

Nestled on 5 hectares of pristine land in Marsabit County, our garden is a testament to our unwavering commitment to creating positive change. We are the first and only botanical garden of its kind in the region, and we are proud to serve as custodians of the land and its precious resources.

Our mission spans across various critical areas:

Environmental Conservation: We strive to protect and preserve the unique biodiversity and natural heritage that thrives in Northern Kenya. Through our conservation efforts, we aim to combat deforestation and contribute to the health of our planet.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Marsabit County faces the effects of climate change, and we are determined to make a difference. Our garden serves as a model for adaptation and mitigation strategies, fostering resilience and sustainable practices.

Agroecology: Empowering communities with sustainable agricultural techniques is at the heart of our work. We seek to create harmony between human activities and nature, ensuring food security and ecological balance.

Protection of Endangered Plant Species: With great responsibility, we safeguard endangered plant species, preserving their genetic diversity for generations to come.

Documentation of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Genetic Resources: Our garden serves as a repository of traditional knowledge, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the region while contributing to scientific research.

Now, we are embarking on a crucial fundraising campaign to establish a large Tree Nursery. This nursery will play a pivotal role in our restoration program, where we produce indigenous tree seedlings. These seedlings will be donated to schools and local communities, creating a ripple effect of positive change in the region.

With your generous support, we can make this vision a reality. The funds raised will enable us to purchase essential resources like shade nets, plastic water tanks, and watering cans, ensuring the success of our tree nursery. Additionally, we aim to donate multi-storey gardens to schools and women's groups, empowering them to set up kitchen gardens and foster sustainable food production.

By contributing to Marsabit Botanical Garden, you will be part of an extraordinary journey towards a greener, more sustainable future for Marsabit County and its communities. Your donation, no matter the amount, will create a lasting impact and be a testament to your commitment to the environment and the people.

To donate and learn more about our initiatives, please visit our website [Website Link] or contact us directly at [Contact Information].

Thank you for considering our appeal, and we hope to welcome you into the Marsabit Botanical Garden family.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Galgallo Roba Guyo

Director Marsabit Botanical Garden

Regenerate

[emunenen]

Makao Bora

New Post has been published on https://wp.me/paK8na-3Ww

When Nairobi was born and named ‘Enkare Nyrobi’, Maasai for “cool water”

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also form the Nairobi County. The name “Nairobi” comes from the Maasai phrase ‘Enkare Nyrobi’, which translates to “cool water”.

The area Nairobi currently occupies was essentially uninhabited swamp until a supply depot of the Uganda Railway was built by the British in 1899 linking Mombasa to Uganda. The location of the camp was chosen due to its central position between Mombasa and Kampala. It was also chosen because its network of rivers could supply the camp with water and its elevation would make it cool enough for residential purposes for not only the thousands of Indian laborers who came to Kenya seeking to be employed to work on the railway line, but also for the British settlers. With such an apt location, it had soon grown big enough to become the railway headquarters.

  The Ngong hills from Nairobi in the early 1900′s

The city was first incorporated in 1900 as the Township of Nairobi. The regulations governing it were published on the 16th April, 1900 under the powers vested in Sir Arthur Hardinge, H M Commissioner at Zanzibar by Article 45 of the East Africa Order-in-Council. The regulations defined the township of Nairobi as “the area comprised within a radius of one-mile-and-a-half from the present office of H.M. Sub-Commissioner in Ukamba” and authorized the Sub-Commissioner to nominate annually a number of the leading residents or merchants to act with him as a Committee.

(Biashara street) in 1906

    On 24th of July a Five Man Committee met in the Sub Commissioner’s office to tackle the problem of the town ranging from:- a myriad of bazaars, no street lighting, unplanned shops going up daily, no proper streets, no conservancy, no refuse collection, no police and no money.

The committee obtained its plans, marked out plots and roadways in the commercial area and sought Government’s permission to cut wood for scantlings to build the new shops and other necessary establishments.

The Nairobi Club was formed in January in 1901 and a racecourse came up at about the same time. There was only one school at the time but the Roman Catholics were busy with the construction of a church and a school beside the railway line. In December of 1901 the committee was given the rights to make new by-laws “for the preservation of the public health and good order within the township” and prescribing penalties for breach of their observance.

By 1903 the use of the railway as a medium of exporting produce as well as importing equipment had become noticeable, and there was some talk of finding permanent markets in South Africa. Nairobi was growing at a fast pace and new people arrived with every ship that docked at Mombasa. There was a little post-office halfway down Government Road, near the new municipal offices, which had been opened the previous year, these offices were grandly known as “Town Hall.”

    The Indian bazaar in Nairobi pictured around the late 1890s.

  They proposed to have the Bazaar properly laid out and have the buildings assessed to enable a rate of taxation to be fixed, funds procured would go towards forming a police force, a system of street lighting and conservancy purposes. Nairobi continued to flourish as there was an impressive array of commerce and growth at the Bazaar as hotels, banks and Trading Centers were established. National Bank of India was the first to be established, next was Heubner & Company.

Two Kikuyu women deep in conversation (Bazaar Street)

    In 1905, Nairobi replaced Mombasa as capital of the British protectorate, and the city grew around administration and tourism, initially in the form of big game hunting. As the British occupiers started to explore the region, they started using Nairobi as their first port of call. They were encouraged to settle in the country, and Nairobi was their natural choice due to its cool climate and fertile soils. British authorities hoped the Settlers would develop a modern economic sector.

In 1919, the Nairobi Township community formally became the Nairobi Municipal Council. Its boundary was extended to include surrounding part-urban settlements. The boundary was again extended in 1927 to cover 30 square miles.

In July 1920 it was proposed that a more distinctive title be adopted for the chief of the municipality of Nairobi the capital of the protectorate. The title Mayor was suggested. It was not until 1923 that the title was officially applied.

  A mounted police constable

    In the early years the growth of the Town had been controlled only by economic forces with no coordination of development. In an attempt to order the situation, a Town Planning Consultant was appointed in 1926.

Jacaranda Jim Jameson from Kimberly also submitted his town planning report in 1926; he had a great quickness for planting Jacaranda trees for the beautification of the town.

With the expansion and rapid growth of African wage earners there arose the problem of housing them. This was tackled as energetically as strained wartime resources would allow. Ziwani was a Municipal Housing experiment; Starehe, a Government Staff Housing venture and finally Kaloleni.

The development of Local Government in the Town was determined by racial considerations. Thus membership in the Town Council was dominated by Europeans, followed by Asians. It was not until July 1946, that the first African Councilors, Muchohi Gikonyo and Khamisi took their seats. It was as the Mayor remarked an historic occasion in East African Local Government.

In April of the same year, the Council’s attention had been directed to the fact that in 1950 Local government in Nairobi would be fifty years old. The council gave some thought to the form that suitable celebrations might take and it was suggested by Alderman Vasey that the town should seek the status of a City.

    In due course a petition was addressed to His Majesty the King. The Council was anxious that a Royal Charter of incorporation should be granted. Shortly afterwards His Excellency Sir Philip Mitchel the Governor announced that the King had been graciously pleased to consent to the Council’s request and that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, would be charged by His Majesty to present the letters patent in person. He indicated that the Kenya Government would present a mace to Nairobi and basic design was prepared by a member of the Council staff.

Now the task of arranging the charter ceremonies began in earnest.It was decided that a memo be addressed to the Earl Marshall seeking the grant of the new Arms to the City to either use a badge or roundel

The golden-crested cranes of the old roundel were retained as supporters in the new Armorial bearings. The motto remained the same, while the Maasai shield was incorporated in the crest. On it also, was a golden lion symbolizing the peace bringing character of British rule. The central shield was a new addition. It lay on a field quartered green and gold to represent the mineral and agricultural wealth of the Kenyan colony. The central motif in the form of a heraldic fountain, was in commemoration of the swamp that once inundated the Nairobi area and from which it received its Maasai name ‘the place of the cool waters’.

In March 1950, Nairobi Municipality became a City by the Royal Charter of Incorporation.

    Most railway workers lived in tents as seen from the picture below.

    Nairobi Railway Station in the early  1900’s

                                     Government Buildings in 1906

One of Nairobi’s first general stores located on Victoria Street.

One of Nairobi’s first general stores located on Victoria Street.

One of the first motorized taxis to operate in the streets of Nairobi

Government Road (Now Moi Avenue) in the direction of the Railway station (1900’s)

Government Road in 1927

The first Stanley hotel opened on Victoria Street.

Building of the new Stanley hotel in 1912

    After independence the City of Nairobi elected its first indigenous Mayor in 1964 and the first female Mayor in 1975. In 1984 the Nairobi City Council was dissolved to pave way for the Nairobi City Commission which governed the city up to 1992 when the Nairobi City Council was reconstituted and the first multi-party Mayor elected. With the promulgation of the constitution of Kenya 2010, Nairobi elected the first Governor under this constitution.

[govsea]

University of Nairobi/GOVSEA workshop on Kenyan devolution and livestock trade

The African Drylands Institute for Sustainability in partnership with Roskilde University (Denmark) and with financial support from DANIDA facilitated a one-day stakeholders policy workshop on devolution and its impacts on livestock trade in northern Kenya and other ASALs. The event, held on 29th October 2019 at the Pride Inn Hotel in Nairobi was officially opened by Prof. Rose Nyikal, the Principal College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi. Prof. Peter D. Little provided the opening key note speech.

The meeting took stock of the impacts of recent devolution in Kenya on livestock trade in the above region and across the border with Somalia and Ethiopia. It provided an opportunity for stakeholders to dialogue and better understand the challenges and opportunities of livestock trading in Kenya and the region. The major aspects addressed included: policies and institutions; investments and financing for livestock trade; and research and knowledge gaps for livestock trade. The findings of the workshop will be used to develop policy and research recommendations to improve the performance of the livestock sector.

Panelists debating the impacts of devolution on livestock trade in Kenya

© Tobias Hagmann (2019)

The workshop was attended by county and national level policymakers, livestock traders, researchers, practitioners and development partners. Participants came from Isiolo, Marsabit and Wajir County Governments, State Department of Livestock (national government), Pastoralist Parliamentary Group- Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative (DLCI), Pastoral Development Network of Kenya, University of Nairobi, Roskilde University, Addis Ababa University, University of Hargeisa (Somaliland), Emory University (USA), Technical University of Mombasa, the Danish Institute for International Studies, International Livestock Research Institute, and Bridge Africa.

[gracehubbardproject4]

Research Into Photographers

Matt Black 

Matt Black is from California’s Central Valley, an agricultural region in the heart of the state. His work has explored the connections between migration, poverty, agriculture, and the environment in his native rural California and in southern Mexico. He has traveled over 100,000 miles across 46 U.S. states for his project The Geography of Poverty. So he is documenting poverty across the world. It was taken in Alpaugh, Calif. Alpaugh is a town in Tulare County, California. The population is 1,026 and 55.4 percent live below the poverty level. Out of all the places he photographed, this place has the largest percentage of people who live below the poverty level. I really like this image as it is a shot of a girl in a building/house, the fact you can only really see her outline and her body and face has a shadow covering it. Which I think makes it look more effective as it could show that she is in darkness or is alone because of the awful situation she is in. I think the way he took this shot is really impressive as it really helps the observer attach emotions to the girl as we would feel sorry for her or sympathy towards her. 

                                             Sonja Hamad

                    These are her words to describe this project, “Jin - Jiyan - Azadi: Women, Life, Freedom” provides us with a powerful, unique look into the all-female fighting units in Kurdistan. Being born in Syria and having Kurdish parents, you must have felt a strong connection to the women you documented. What was it like for you, on a personal level, to spend time with these fighters? What did you learn from them?” I really like this shot as it shows female empowerment, how if women unite, we can work together to achieve something that is so powerful and important. I love the fact that it’s as if they are looking over something (the hill) which could symbolize inequality and how we should all treat each other with respect in order to make this world a better place. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mustafah Abdulaziz

lassic Club Golf Course. Palm Desert, California, USA, 2015. 1986, New York City, USA. Lives in Berlin, Germany.  His on-going project Water has received support from the United Nations, WaterAid, WWF, VSCO, and Google, has been reviewed by Phaidon, Monopol and published in Der Spiegel, The New Yorker, TIME and The Guardian. Worked as the first contract photographer for The Wall Street Journal. In 2012, was named one of PDN’s 30 Emerging Photographers to Watch. His work has been exhibited at Strandvägen in Stockholm, The Scoop in London, Brooklyn Waterfront in New York City, König Galerie in Berlin and the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C. He is documenting water shortage. I like this photo as it is composed really well, with the contrast between the bare, dry land and the deep green and blue of the water and greenary. The way it has been taken I think looks really effective as it is almost a birds eye view shot and really shows the difference between the dry land and the section that could be compared to the life of the photo. 

Corey Arnold

Corey Arnold is a photographer and commercial fisherman by trade. He has worked seasonally as a commercial fisherman in Alaska since 1995, including seven years of crabbing in the Bering Sea aboard the f/v Rollo. Corey now captains a commercial gillnetter, harvesting wild and sustainable Sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska while living seasonally in an abandoned salmon cannery complex called Graveyard Point. His life’s work: Fish-Work is an ongoing photography series documenting the viceral experience of life at sea for commercial fishermen worldwide. Here is documenting ‘life at sea’, he has photographed an ‘action shot’ of a boat, with fishing gear and and people working on the boat. I really like this image, as the background is quite dull colours, blue, grey and white. Then there are splashes of neon colour, coming from the boyes and the workers, and looks really effective as they contrast well. I also like that it is an action shot, so you can see the crashing of the waves and the seagulls flying around it.                                                                                                                              

James Mollison

                                                                                                                      James Mollison was born in Kenya in 1973 and grew up in England. After studying Art and Design at Oxford Brookes University, and later film and photography at Newport School of Art and Design, he moved to Italy to work at Benetton’s creative lab, Fabrica. His fourth book Where Children Sleep was published in November 2010- stories of diverse children around the world, told through portraits and pictures of their bedroom. I like his style of photograph for this project, as he is showing where each child lives, by photographing a portrait of the child then a photo of their bedroom. I like the fact that he has shown both so we can sort of understand who lives their and feel an emotional connection towards them. For this specific one, it makes me feel sad and sympathy towards her as her sleeping situation is not that nice or clean. 

Toy Stories 

  Gabriele Galimberti, born in 1977, is an Italian photographer who frequently lives on airplanes, and occasionally in Val di Chiana (Tuscany), where he was born and raised. He has spent the last few years working on long-term documentary photography projects around the world, some of which have become books, such as Toy Stories, In Her Kitchen, My Couch Is Your Couch and The Heavens. Gabriele’s job consists mainly of telling the stories, through portraits and short stories, of people around the world, recounting their peculiarities and differences, the things they are proud of and the belongings with which they surround themselves; social media, in all its forms, is a fundamental part of the research needed to get in touch, discover and produce those stories. 

I think that this photo is trying to show the boys’ interest in dinosaurs, and could represent that his life is based around this hobby. I think it looks effective that he is stood on his bed but the toys are surrounding him, I also like the bright colours that are incorporated in the shot. 

Fan Ho 

Born in Shanghai in 1931, an award-winning photographer, won over 300 awards. This image is taken from the ‘a hong kong memoir’ collection, it was taken during 1950′s-60′s and printed during 1950′s-70′s. During this time Fan Ho was a one man working studio. He would photograph late afternoon, process and print his film at night, and do it all over the next day. Giving a sense of history, some of the images awards stamped on the back from competitions he entered. 

I like this image because the black and white looks really effective as the levels of depth of colour look really good and I also like that the light shining through the windows, and how bright it is , and that it contrasts with the deep black. 

Richard Billingham 

Richard Billingham’s “Ray’s a Laugh”, published in 2000 by Scalo, is a bone jarring chronicle of the parts of life that shouldn’t… the life that tried, but wouldn’t, and dreams that simply couldn’t.

I like his work, as he is just photographing his life, and what is surrounding him, I like the way he photographs as it is quite unusual the angles and what he chooses to photograph. I also like the fact he shoots in colour, as some of the most basic colours are really popping as the backgrounds are quite dull. But it tends to be their skin that is mainly catching your eye in the photos as the light is bouncing off it and making it stand out. I also like how it is such a basic idea yet looks so effective. 

Jim Goldberg

The photographs in this book constitute a shocking and gripping portrait of contemporary America. Jim Goldberg's photographs of rich and poor people, with the subjects' own handwritten comments about themselves on the prints, give us an inside look at the American dream at both ends of the social scale.His pictures reveal his subjects' innermost fears and aspirations, their perceptions and illusions about themselves, with a frankness that makes the portraits as engrossing as they are disturbing.

I chose this image, as I think it gives off a powerful message, he is trying to portray the way that people feel and what they go through day to day. I think his book of photographs is very effective the way he shoots his photographs. I also really like the fact he has included quotes from what people have said, as this really adds an emotional touch to the photos, it makes us as viewers really understand what the message is and the context of the photographs. 

Rich and Poor - Jim Goldberg

This is another example of Jim Goldbergs’ work, which shows the elements of rich and poor. The photographs in this book constitute a shocking and gripping portrait of contemporary America. Jim Goldberg's photographs of rich and poor people, with the subjects' own handwritten comments about themselves on the prints, give us an inside look at the American dream at both ends of the social scale.His pictures reveal his subjects' innermost fears and aspirations, their perceptions and illusions about themselves, with a frankness that makes the portraits as engrossing as they are disturbing.

This photograph was taken by Jim Goldberg, it is of a family that is probably quite poor as they are struggling for basic necessities such as clothes. This photograph was taken in 1979, in San Francisco. I think this photo is very effective as it shows a deep meaning behind quite a simple shot. I really like this shot as it is black and white so looks good with the shadows. 

[careerkenyan]

Concern Worldwide Officer, Livelihoods Job

Officer, Livelihoods Job, Latest NGO Jobs In Kenya 2022, Job Title: Officer, Livelihoods Reports to: Technically: Consortium Programme Manager Administratively: County Programme Manager Direct Reports: Field Assistant Closely Work with: Other Concern program team and relevant county departments Job Location: Lodwar, Turkana (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application – National Position) Contract Details: Fixed Term, 10 (Ten) Months Job Summary: He/she will be responsible for quality programme delivery at the Sub County level through technical leadership in food security, livelihoods and community engagement in various sub Counties of Marsabit County in close consultation with manager livelihoods. He/she will be responsible for timely implementation of program activities guided by the annual work plan and informed by program technical approaches in close collaboration with ward field assistants, sub county government officials and community leaders/members in implementation of joint plans. Main Duties and Responsibilities - Provide technical support to the ward development assistants, local partners and Sub-county government line officers in charge of key sectors including department of agriculture livestock and fisheries, Water environment and Natural resources, trade, industry and enterprise development amongst others to establish a collaborative working environment; implement high impact and evidence informed interventions. - Lead in the day to day livelihoods program implementation and prudent utilization of resources towards meeting the program mandate in line with the approved work plan, organization policies, and standard operating procedures. - Foster linkages with partners and other stakeholders in public and private sector in the Sub-county to enhance synergy, collaboration and learning. - Represent Concern Worldwide at sub-county level livelihoods related technical and coordination forums in: Natural Resources Management, livestock sector forums, agriculture sector forums, WESCOORD, contingency planning and early warning systems, social protection systems and cash transfer programming, and others as will be specified by the line manager. - Play an active role in generation of new knowledge through documentation of informal interactions and feedback sessions with communities and through participating/supporting surveys and other assessments; and documenting lessons learnt and success stories. - Contribute to the development of the annual work plan and quarterly costed work plan and support in tracking implementation and reporting. - Support in the implementation of Concern integrated approaches in education, livelihoods, health and nutrition at community level liaising closely with Technical Managers Health & Nutrition, Livelihoods, and Education and government service providers to ensure organized community groups have adequate technical support to develop and implement their action plans that address barriers to basic service delivery. - Conduct regular field visits to monitor to monitor progress, receive community feedback, check on the quality and impact of activities approved in the annual program proposal, and quarterly costed work plans. Others - Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment. - Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary. - Take all possible measures to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). - Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager. Person Specification Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required: - A Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development, Livestock Production, Crop Production, Social Sciences or any other relevant field - At least three (3) years’ experience in a similar role - Must have a working knowledge of Project Cycle Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction, Animal health, Water supply systems, Natural Resource Management, Pastoral Field Schools, Making Markets work for the Poor and Value Chains Development. - Demonstrated experience in implementing livelihoods programs in ASAL areas. - Fluency in spoken and written language in English and Swahili - Strong written and oral communication skills - Computer literate with good MS Office skills Preference will be given to candidates who have: - Good computing and report writing skills - Be able to work independently, as well as in a team - Strong leadership and management skills - High integrity and demonstrated ability to follow standards and policies - Ability to work in a systematic and organized manner and to tight deadlines - Positive attitude and willingness to learn Competencies required: - Trustworthy, honest and reliable - Willing to challenge or question others constructively when appropriate - Ready to accept changes as new situations arise Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net How to apply Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should send a detailed CV with three referees and Cover Letter Only to nairobi.hr@concern.net with the subject of the email as “Officer, Livelihoods – Turkana ’’ on or before Wednesday 10th August 2022 “. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (for application, written test, interview, training, medical examination etc.) nor act through recruitment agents. This is applicable for all opportunities including staff and interns. Read the full article

[farmerstrend]

Baby Corn Farming: A Unique Rising Star in Kirinyaga County

A unique crop from the maize family is gaining popularity among small-scale farmers in Kirinyaga County. Known as baby corn, this crop is proving to be a viable alternative for farmers who have long struggled with challenges such as water scarcity and inadequate farming inputs. With government support, insights from agricultural experts, and increasing market demand, baby corn farming promises…

[godslittleones]

God’s Little Ones Newsletter

Review of 2021 and Looking Forward into 2022

There were some challenges last year along with great triumphs. Covid caused the school to have to make changes dictated by the government inspectors. Extra expenses were incurred for masks and disinfecting supplies. Pastor Benard caught covid and was very sick in the hospital. His three daughters were here in the United states at school so this was a tough hardship on the family. Covid affected Pastor Benards kidneys and he had to be monitored for quite a while, even after leaving the hospital. Praise God he has fully recovered. In addition, one of the guardians died from covid and food became very expensive.

On a positive note . . . The school at Wachara tested as #1 in the zone and county. Ahero was #2 in the zone and county. Amazing!! Praise for the teachers and the children for working so hard and for what God has done in this ministry. Ahero has 401 students and Wachara has 332 children.

There has been a need for a high school for many years. It will enable the children to continue their education beyond 8th grade which is critical for them to be able to earn a living or go to higher level learning. The building of the high school had been going slow and only the first floor walls were built. The inspectors said that if it was not completed soon the walls would be unstable. Just in time we received a large donation that allowed all 3 floors of the high school to be completed.

The school is scheduled to open in April 2022. The plan is to have some students from the area who can afford to pay and the other students who are graduating from Benard’s Vision 8th grade will continue to attend high school for free.

Having paying students (school is not free in Kenya) makes it possible for the high school to be self-supporting.. Initially there will be 30 paying and 30 orphan students. The world in Kenya is evolving from manual to everything being digital and therefore the high school needs computers to be up to speed with the digital world. The government requires a certain number of computers based on the number of students. Currently they have 4 computers and need 10 more at a cost of $600 ea. Along with the computers, a curriculum is required for teaching them.

The long term goal is for the school to become self-sufficient and here are some of the plans to reach that goal:

1. The Competence Based Curriculum CBC requires learning agricultural practices. The plan is to build a very large chicken coop at a cost of $13,000. ( Wachara has a chicken coop but Ahero does not)

2. Purchase 3,000 chickens at $3 each.

3. Raising chickens will help in supporting the needy orphans in the school through selling the eggs. It will raise funds to support their basic needs like soap, sanitary towels and boost income to the school for books and teacher salary.

4. The school already has 8 cows. Selling milk from the cows will pay at least 1-2 teacher salaries.

5. The school has 22 sheep which are being raised for meat. They grow fast and do not produce wool.

6. Crops planted are corn, beans, greens and millet

7. Pastor Benard would like to rent 20 hectares of land at $300 per hectare. One hectare contains about 2.47 acres. The $300 per hectare is for two planting sessions. The land can be used to harvest maize, beans, cassava and millet. This will reduce the money needed to buy food. To rent all 20 hectares would be $6,000. We have received a donation to rent the land so pray for a good planting season.

Last year Pastor Benard’s car completely died. Seized engine, bad tires and a great many miles. God’s Little Ones provided that car for him years ago through donations. We have been taking donations since October last year for another used car and have recently received all the money needed for a used car. That car was important for getting food and various things the school needed and also going places for his pastoral responsibilities as he has been named a Bishop in his area.

For all those who have already donated, thank you so much. We are expectantly and patiently waiting on God to touch more hearts in all these items. If you are led to give for any of the items mentioned above please mail your check or go online and note which item you would like to donate to.

God's Little Ones

[globalnewsafrica]

Its time for Raila to lead this country~Kiraitu Murungi and Cs Munya show their support for Baba

Its time for Raila to lead this country~Kiraitu Murungi and Cs Munya show their support for Baba

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and his political rival Agriculture CS Peter Munya have come together to support ODM leader Raila Odinga. The politician, on Monday, accompanied Raila in his tour in Meru county as he continued to spread his Azimio la Umoja initiative in the Mt Kenya region. Speaking to the electorates during the rally, Kiraitu reminded voters from Meru County to vote for Raila in…

[mutaike]

Faulu Bank in Sh1bn boost to small enterprises in Rift counties

Faulu Bank in Sh1bn boost to small enterprises in Rift counties

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 19-Faulu Microfinance Bank is boosting its presence in the counties by increasing support to small enterprises to play a bigger role in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, trade, tourism, and real estate. This will see the bank lend more than Sh1 billion to farmers, traders, contractors, manufacturers, and property developers in Nakuru, Nyandarua, and Laikipia…

[newscheckz]

Agriculture Ministry and Microsoft Demonstrate Roadmap for sector Digital Transformation

New Post has been published on https://newscheckz.com/agriculture-ministry-and-microsoft-demonstrate-roadmap-for-sector-digital-transformation-2/

Agriculture Ministry and Microsoft Demonstrate Roadmap for sector Digital Transformation

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries last week hosted a national dialogue themed: Agriculture Data and Digitization Transformation: Considerations in Policy and Implementation Frameworks.

The online event is part of an ongoing global process in preparation for the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit, whose national Convener is Cabinet Secretary Hon. Peter G. Munya.

The Ministry used the opportunity to convene stakeholders to expound on its Agriculture Sector Coordination and Digitization Strategy, and the implementation roadmap developed in partnership with Microsoft.

Access to information and communications technologies (ICTs) in both urban and rural areas is growing rapidly.

But progress is uneven in geographic and socio-economic terms and in many areas, women and youth have less access to smartphones and digital services and in many cases, access to ICT does not translate to improved outcomes in food and nutrition security, and livelihood for agricultural communities.

Like the rest of the world, Kenya’s food systems are in the middle of a digital revolution as the COVID-19 pandemic brought in the weaknesses of present food systems and highlighted the need for access to technology and digital connectivity for all.

This dialogue brought together partners running different data and digital innovation initiatives across the country to share experiences and make recommendations for consideration at the UN Food Systems Summit.

Other discussions covered included: AI in Agriculture, led by Strathmore University; Use of GIS for County Food Systems Planning by H.E. Governor Wilberforce Ottichilo, Vihiga County; Digital innovations to increase production, marketing and access to affordable, nutritious and safe food by Mr. Sri Bharatam of Kuza Biashara; and Adoption of digital innovations to increase access to finance and insurance by Mr. Alex Mwaniki, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives.

The Ministry of ICT, represented by PS Jerome Ochieng made the opening remarks. Mr. Ochieng, the PS Crop Development and Agriculture Research noted that:

“The future of agriculture depends on digital systems. These will improve farm produce, environment and also the health of people.”

Microsoft Country Manager Kendi Ntwiga said that digitisation can help transform Kenya’s agricultural sector, improve productivity, and help the country make significant progress towards achieving food security.

“The transformation of smallholder farming to improve efficiency, productivity and assure quality controls enabled through digitisation can certainly support Kenya’s agricultural transformation strategy.

It can transform the use of more than four million hectares of farmed land as well as the livelihoods of more than five million rural households. Nevertheless, to enable agricultural transformation through digitisation, a large amount of data must be collected and properly utilised.”

She added that the collection and use of data to inform decision-making can improve crop cycle timings, decrease uncertainties for investors, and lower the cost of identifying opportunities for improved efficiency.

Interesting and elaborate discussion took place in the breakout sessions highlighting some of the key issues that will support the transformation of agriculture through digitization, including the need for partnerships, capacity building, financing and streamlined governance of digital agriculture.

On the need for enhanced partnerships, Mr. Samuel Munguti, CEO of Farmer Pride, noted that harnessed collaborations between the private sector and government have the potential to achieve scale and sustainability I access to digital solutions for the smallholder farmer.

The role of the youth was also highlighted with Mr. Sriram Bharatam of Kuza Biashara emphasizing the need for private sector social enterprises to build the capacity of young people and help them learn, connect and grow at scale as it is only through micro entrepreneurship that we can make a difference.

Digital technologies have played an enormous role in connecting farmers to markets. Ms. Jo Ryan, CEO of Tru Trade noted that “we are all about the market. We connect buyers with produce and farmers with the market through our sustainable suppy chains.” Mr. Munguti, Farmer Pride further added, “Our market platform provides smallholder farmers access to agribusiness information on delivery or right inputs and sustainable agribusiness opportunities to power agriculture transformation.”

[expatimes]

Kenya’s Lornah Kiplagat outruns COVID to keep training champions

Iten, Kenya – Runner Lornah Kiplagat was not going to let a lack of money or contacts, and especially distance, stand between her and the biggest race of her life – the 1994 Kenya Cross Country Championship.

Kiplagat, 20 years old at the time, travelled to the competition with a fellow athlete, and the two slept in a public bathroom while making the 350km journey from their home in Kabiemit in Nandi county to Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.

“My friend and I looked for some boxes , locked the toilet from inside and covered the mouth of the toilet and slept on either side till morning,” she told Al Jazeera. “It was the safest place we could think of to sleep since we didn’t have money”.

By the eve of the race, held over brutal, open-air natural terrain, Kiplagat had not eaten in 24 hours.

Kiplagat’s branded line of athletic apparel, Lornah Sport, is the official kit of several sports teams in Kenya

She had easier options to make a living. Born in a remote Kenyan farming village, she had just earned a scholarship to study nursing in India. But she turned it down to chase her dream of being an athlete; a road less travelled, and especially for women from her Kalenjin community in the 90s.

“We were so scared, but to do that and succeed gave a statement of what we could be in the future,” said Kiplagat.

Her self-belief paid off – and keeps on paying.

Kiplagat, now 46 years old, is an athletics legend – a four-time world champion and former holder of multiple world records – and a business mogul.

Like many athletes, she has her own branded line of athletic apparel: Lornah Sport, the official kit of several sports teams in Kenya.

But she is also deeply enmeshed in the business of minting future champions, as the owner and co-founder of the world-famous High Altitude Training Centre (HATC).

Built 20 years ago, HATC has risen from a camp in a nondescript Kenyan village to a global force in athletics, with a stellar client list that includes top stars such as marathon legend Paula Radcliffe and four-time Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah.

Like all businesses though, HATC has been hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions.

HATC is based in Iten, Kenya, a small highland town in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley region, aptly named the ‘Home of Champions’ due to its abundance of stars who train and live there

‘Home of Champions’

HATC is based in Iten, a small highland town in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley region, aptly named the “Home of Champions” due to its abundance of stars who train and live there, such as 800m world record holder David Rudisha and four-time New York City Marathon winner Mary Keitany, amongst many others.

“I chose Iten because of the altitude,” said Kiplagat.

Located 2,400m above sea level and close to the equator, the town creates an almost “too good to be true” running atmosphere that naturally builds up the body’s ability to carry oxygen, said Kiplagat. It’s credited as one of the drivers of Kenya’s successful athletics history.

Primoz Kobe, a Slovenian long-distance athlete, has been coming to HATC for the last nine years. The 39-year-old, who has run in three of the five world marathon majors, first visited the camp to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics marathon.

“It’s a great environment since the weather in Europe is too cold and not appropriate for training plus the altitude here changes your body for the better,” Kobe told Al Jazeera. “The air is actually a quarter less than my city in Slovenia .”

Chasing his maiden success on the global stage, Kobe, who is in Iten preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, has spent an average of six weeks at HATC over the past nine years. He even managed to train there in 2020, before COVID-19 restrictions took effect.

But he doesn’t have as much company now as in years past.

Prior to the pandemic, there would be anywhere between 500 to 1,000 local and international athletes in Iten training in packs. Add to that an Olympic year, and the sleepy town would be buzzing this time of year.

“In normal times, this place would be full pre-Olympics … things are very different, people are in lockdown and can’t travel here,” said Kiplagat.

And that’s following an already difficult year. The Kenyan government suspended all sports in the country and ordered all training camps to close for the majority of 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Those who depend on the country’s athletics economy had to dig deep to hang on.

“Lots of athletes turned to menial activities such as casual construction work or subsistence farming to make ends meet,” HATC manager Richard Mukche told Al Jazeera.

HATC has had to tighten its belt.

“We cut back on a few luxuries in the camp to be able to support everyone,” says Kiplagat. “We did not lay off staff or slash salaries but we had to go into pocket to support them because they had nowhere to go.”

Iten, which is based in Elgeyo Marakwet county where the predominant economic activity is agriculture, has also suffered as sports tourism has fallen off.

While data on the sector is not specifically tracked, Elgeyo Marakwet hosted over 23,000 tourists annually prior to the pandemic. A significant percentage of them were attracted by the advantageous climatic conditions to train at camps such as HATC.

Boniface Tiren, Elgeyo Marakwet Athletics Kenya Secretary General, estimates that slightly over 1000 athletes visited the county annually pre-COVID-19, with HATC drawing roughly a third of them.

Located 2,400m above sea level and close to the equator, Iten, Kenya creates an almost ‘too good to be true’ running atmosphere that naturally builds up the body’s ability to carry oxygen, says Lorna Kiplagat

Nurturing women athletes, changing lives

HATC is the only sports training facility in the area with a 25m swimming pool, fully equipped gym, two saunas and the first and currently only professional tartan track in North Rift Kenya – part of the Lornah Kiplagat Sports Academy, which is named after its famous founder.

HATC also strives to be self-sufficient with its own farm and livestock supplying food, and solar panels generating a portion of the centre’s electricity.

But Kiplagat, who is also a Dutch citizen, didn’t just set out to build a world-class training facility 20 years ago. She was and continues to be driven by her mission to nurture women athletes in Kenya.

“People back home didn’t believe it when I first went abroad to compete and encouraged me to pave way for other girls,” the four-time world champion adds. “HATC came about as a result of helping young women in the community develop into athletes.”

HATC is the only sports training facility in the area with a 25m swimming pool, fully equipped gym, two saunas and the first and currently only professional tartan track in North Rift Kenya – part of the Lornah Kiplagat Sports Academy, which is named after its famous founder

Kiplagat has also inspired women athletes to follow her example and become entrepreneurs in their own right, including 5,000m Olympic bronze medalist Sylvia Kibet.

“Sports has really helped us come up, women are the breadwinners in their homes now, we see female world-record holders owning big buildings, houses and cars – but before we didn’t have that here,” the 36-year-old told Al Jazeera.

Kibet used prize money from her athletics career to build two fuel stations in Iten, and a 17-bed guest house.

Her businesses are part of a wider ecosystem that has developed around the HATC, including shops selling groceries and wares to tourists – important drivers of jobs in a county where the unemployment rate tops 50 percent and fewer than 20 percent of adult workers have a high school education or better.

“HATC has changed so many people’s lives, this has been a kickback to the community” Mukche reflects.

He speaks from experience. When he was 22 years old, Mukche met Kiplagat while the HATC was under construction, and became her pacemaker. He now works as the manager of both the centre and the Lornah Kiplagat Sports Academy.

Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=18826&feed_id=36525