Murang’a Tree Nursery Attendants Appeal for Government Support in National Tree Planting EffortNakuru Initiative Seeks to Empower Artisanal Miners Through Testing Laboratories and Cooperatives

MURANG’A, Kenya — Tree nursery attendants in Murang’a are urging the government to involve them more significantly in the country’s tree planting initiative, aiming to bolster efforts against climate change by planting over 10 million seedlings within five years.

According to Kenya News Agency, the attendants propose that government incentives could enable them to generate a larger quantity of seedlings needed for the expansive programme.

Currently, local consumers are hesitant to purchase seedlings due to price hikes, with costs rising above Sh50 each, attributed mainly to increased expenses for essential materials like polythene papers used in seedling propagation. Peter Maina, a nursery attendant, highlighted the price inflation for polythene papers, which has doubled, impacting the affordability of seedlings. He and his peers advocate for the Ministry of Environment to procure seedlings directly from local nurseries for distribution, thus ensuring a consistent and affordable supply for the public.

Jane Mwangi, another attendant, emphasized the urgency of preparing for the upcoming long rains, suggesting the government’s current reliance on Kenya Forest Service nurseries is insufficient for national needs. Local attendants and groups have the capacity to contribute significantly, she noted, urging for government engagement and support in lowering seedling prices through subsidies for essentials like manure and water.

The attendants also called on the Murang’a county government to provide access to piped water for nurseries, to alleviate reliance on increasingly scarce local stream water, especially during dry periods. This support could enhance seedling growth and availability, making tree planting more feasible for residents and aiding the county’s environmental sustainability goals.

NAKURU, Kenya — In an effort to boost the artisanal mining sector and prevent exploitation, the Kenyan government announced plans to distribute mineral testing laboratory services across the nation.

According to Kenya News Agency, Elijah Mwangi, this initiative aims to assist small-scale miners in determining the value of their products before sale and encourage them to form cooperatives.

Mwangi revealed that eight laboratories have been procured for nationwide deployment, providing artisanal miners with the necessary tools to verify the quality of their minerals. This move is expected to protect them from undervaluation by buyers and encourage legal compliance within the sector. He emphasized the importance of mineral rights, permits, and licenses in combating illegal mining activities, which undermine the industry’s profitability and legality.

The strategy not only targets the reduction of illicit mining but also aims to uplift the artisanal mining sector’s contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from one percent to ten percent. Mwangi urged miners to unite, negotiate better prices, and formalize their operations to gain access to loans and asset financing. He highlighted the government’s focus on local value addition, specifically mentioning the potential for Fluorspar, granite, and gold exploitation in various regions.

The announcement was made during the launch of a sensitization exercise for artisanal cooperative leaders in the Rift Valley region. The program aims to educate miners on legal and policy matters and establish an Artisanal Mining Committee to facilitate communication between miners and the government. Currently, Kenya hosts approximately one million artisanal miners, with 206 cooperatives already formed and plans to establish 200 more.

The government’s intervention is expected to attract significant investment in the mining sector, potentially generating employment for up to 26,000 people. Mwangi projected an increase in miners’ daily revenue from Sh600 to Sh1,600 with the right support and resources.

Alice Apua, a gold miner from the Napuslup Mining and Marketing Cooperative Society in Turkana County, praised the government’s efforts to organize miners into cooperatives. She noted the positive impact on market reach and income but called for improved mining equipment to enhance productivity and safety. The move towards cooperative formation and the provision of laboratory services marks a significant step towards empowering artisanal miners and fostering sustainable development in the sector.