Day: March 11, 2023

Livestock farmers in North Eastern region have been urged to embrace farming as an alternative source of livelihood as the region continues to grapple with prolonged drought which continues to ravage the livelihoods of the people.

Over the past few years, the drought situation in the region has continued to worsen leaving millions of livestock dead and the people facing hunger and no source of income.

Speaking after visiting several irrigation farms and commissioning boreholes in Habaswein, Wajir County, Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono said that the region is well placed to produce large quantities of organic foods since the land is fertile, having not been farmed before.

Rono said that the government is working around the clock to find a permanent source of water in the region through construction of mega dams and drilling of high yielding boreholes to facilitate irrigation farming.

“This is a place where we just need water because the soil is fertile and the farmers do not even need fertilizers. With assistance, the farmers can get enough food for consumption and export,” Rono said.

“As a national government through the ministry of water and irrigation, we will do everything to support this region and other regions in the country which have enough land and only need water to be able to produce food crops,” he added.

The PS further noted that with the current change of climate leading to low and unpredictable rain patterns, it was time to shift from rain fed agriculture to irrigation farming.

“The government’s plan to introduce irrigation and build more dams is in the right direction. If we can make sure that the mega dams are constructed and we also drill more boreholes in high yield places, we will be able to support communities to grow their crops and tackle food insecurity in the country,” he said.

Wajir West constituency MP Yusuf Farah said that it was impressive for farmers to have come up with the little resources they had, and start irrigation farming in the area.

“Agriculture is the way to go here. We have a fertile land, and we will have water so we need to start changing our mentality and work together for a food secure future,” Farah said.

“I want to ask everyone in Wajir County and the ASAL regions to change our perceptions and embrace agriculture so that we can feed ourselves,” he added.

The PS was also joined by the chairperson of the Northern Water Works Development Agency (NWWDA) Nasri Ibrahim, NWWDA CEO Andrew Rage, Water Resources Authority chairperson Mohamed Shuriye and officials from the World Bank.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Eldoret city marathon 4th edition champions, who finished in the top 20 in both the women’s and men’s 42.195KM races were feted in a colourful ceremony graced by Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and Athletics Kenya officials.

Victor Kipchirchir and Emily Chebet clinched the men’s and women’s titles in times of 2:13:10 and 2:29:58 respectively and both were awarded cash prizes of Sh 3.5million each.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, speaking at the ceremony said the Eldoret City Marathon has emerged as a take off point for local talents to flourish, where upcoming athletes are developed and sent to conquer the world.

He said as a way to identify and grow talents, the county government was undertaking grassroot sporting activities to give opportunities for the youths to show and exhibit their talents.

“We are currently advocating for commercialization of sports so that our youth can profit from their talents under the slogan Talanta na Hela,” the county boss noted.

Bii advised the athletes to embrace saving culture. “Sportsmen and women need to consider investing as a priority in their careers since, like any other employment, sports has a retirement period,” Bii said.

“Our administration is working to find ways to partner with stakeholders to sensitize sports men and women on the need to secure their social security for retirement,” he said.

He added that the Eldoret City marathon was fundamentally formed to promote sports and push the campaign on climate action by planting as many trees as possible as this provides a good condition and cleanses the air that “our bodies need for quality health.”

“Since the race started in 2018, under the program over 4 million trees have been planted across the country,” he said.

The chief officer for youth and sports, Nahum Jelagat added that her department will work to implement the governor’s youth and talent empowerment agenda to develop youth economic advancement.

Race organisers confirmed that the fifth edition of the Eldoret City Marathon will be staged on April 10 next year.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Washington, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation, Farhat Bin Qadara, stressed the need for American companies to return to work again in the oil and gas sector in Libya.

This came during Bin Qadara’s meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk on the sidelines of the International Energy Conference “CERAWEEk” held in Houston, USA, according to the National Oil Corporation through its Facebook account.

For his part, the US Deputy Secretary of Energy praised the rise in oil production and its stability under the new administration of the National Oil Corporation.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Tripoli, The United States envoy to Libya, “Richard Norland,” praised the efforts of a member of the High National Elections Commission in Libya, “Rabab Muhammad Halab.”

Norland said in a tweet published by the embassy on its Twitter account, “The dedication of the member of the High National Elections Commission, Rabab Muhammad Halab, to promoting fair representation of Libyan women and minorities in the country’s political field is inspiring.”

The US envoy added that all Libyans deserve the opportunity to have their voices heard and represented.

The US envoy had reviewed with Al-Sayeh the latest developments in the course of the electoral process, and they also discussed ways to support national proposals and endeavors that seek peace and stability, and aimed at achieving consensus among political parties in order to achieve the expected benefits.

Source: Libyan News Agency