#Birding #Kenya 1,160 sp., 11 #endemics, over a 100 sp. in a day possible @ several spots, over 450sp/2weeks: #MountKenya (📷 #AberdareCountryClub), #Samburu, 🦩🦩🦩🦩🦩🦩-filled #LakeNakuru (500 sp., 📷 #LakeNakuruSopaLodge), #LakeBaringo, #Kakamega Forest, #MaasaiMara wildebeests (500 sp.); Apr–May, Nov

CS Oparanya: Government empowerment funds to merge into Biashara Fund The government will merge the Uwezo Fund, Youth Fund, and Women Enterprise Fund into a single entity, the Biashara Fund, to streamline access to financing for small businesses and eliminate loopholes that have led to misuse, Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSMEs Wycliffe Oparanya has said. Speaking in Khwisero Sub-County during the disbursement of Uwezo Funds, CS Oparanya said the consolidation aimed to enhance efficiency, improve resource allocation, and curb cases of individuals unfairly benefiting multiple times from different funds. Oparanya expressed concern over youth and women taking advantage of the current fragmented system to access multiple loans unfairly denying others a chance to benefit. “We have cases where a woman applies for the Women Enterprise Fund, then again takes the Youth Fund, and later joins a self-help group to secure Uwezo Fund. This is exploiting the system, while many others who need support remain locked out,” said Oparanya. He added that the Biashara Fund will seal these loopholes by introducing a single, centralized database to track and regulate beneficiaries and ensure fair distribution of resources. The Biashara Fund will provide affordable credit, capacity-building programs, and mentorship to youth, women, and small business owners across the country. He said by merging the funds, the government aims to simplify access, reduce bureaucratic hurdles and prevent duplication. “The government is consolidating these funds under the Biashara Fund to ensure a more efficient, transparent, and impactful financial support system for small businesses,” Oparanya said. Several Western Kenya leaders in attendance including MPs Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Fred Ikana (Shinyalu), Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega County) and Titus Khamala (Lurambi) backed the proposal saying it would empower local businesses and drive economic transformation. Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka said the move aligns with the government’s efforts to boost entrepreneurship and create sustainable job opportunities. “By consolidating these funds, we eliminate inefficiencies and ensure that every business owner, especially our youth and women, can access capital more easily,” Aseka noted. Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe added that proper management and transparency would be crucial for the fund’s success. The government is expected to officially roll out the Biashara Fund in the coming months with clear guidelines on application procedures, interest rates, and repayment terms. The move is seen as a major step in Kenya’s economic transformation agenda as it seeks to empower MSMEs, create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth while eliminating misuse and unfair distribution of resources. **By John Ochanda** __ Share on Facebook Share __ Share on TwitterTweet __ Send email Mail

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Banana factory revived in Khwisero Khwisero Banana Factory has been revived to enhance value addition and reduce post-harvest losses incurred by farmers in the area. Wycliffe Oparanya, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Co-operatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), presided over the project’s launch Friday. Oparanya said the factory will mark a significant milestone in the region’s economic development and transform the local agricultural landscape. “We have committed Sh20 million towards the project that will transform local livelihoods and accelerate socio-economic development in the region,” he said. Speaking in Khwisero, the CS said the government is keen on revitalizing cooperative movements and supporting MSMEs to drive economic growth in rural areas. The CS was accompanied by area Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka and his counterparts Elsie Muhanda (Woman Representative), Bernard Shinali(Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Fred Ikana(Shinyalu), Titus Khamala(Lurambi) and Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Jackson Oloo. Aseka emphasized the significance of the factory’s revival, highlighting its potential to create job opportunities, promote sustainable farming practices and boost the local economy. “The revival of the Khwisero Banana Factory is a game-changer for our people. This project will provide employment for many and enhance agribusiness opportunities for our local farmers,” he said. He said the project aligns with his vision of empowering the community through economic sustainability. The MP said the banana processing plant is expected to provide a reliable market for farmers and promised a transparent implementation of the project. Local farmers and residents have expressed optimism about the revival, noting that the factory will not only offer stable income opportunities but also encourage more investment in banana farming within Khwisero Sub-County. Stakeholders remain hopeful that the initiative will set the pace for more industrial and agricultural advancements in the county. **By John Ochanda** __ Share on Facebook Share __ Share on TwitterTweet __ Send email Mail

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Residents benefit from a Sh10 million water project in Lugari schools Three learning institutions and residents of Manyonyi and Marakusi sub locations in Lugari Constituency are set to benefit from a rehabilitated and expanded Manyonyi Community Water Project. The Sh.10 million rehabilitation and expansion works to be undertaken by Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency will benefit Manyonyi Primary School, Manyonyi Girls Secondary School, Mahemas Primary School and hundreds of households in the two sub locations. Speaking during the site handover to the contractor, Lugari legislator Nabii Nabwera said the _multi-million water project_ will end the water challenges that have bedevilled the learning institutions and the local community for decades. He thanked Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency for accepting to undertake the rehabilitation works urging the local community to fully support the project. The agency’s engineers suggest that a well-managed water source, subject to funding availability, can produce a substantial amount of water for a large catchment area. He requested that residents who have encroached on the land hosting the water source to immediately prepare the way for the contractor to commence rehabilitation works. “The piece of government land hosting the water source is two acres. If you are occupying any section of it just vacate because part of the project’s plan is to protect the water source, he said “For those who have planted eucalyptus trees around, kindly cut them down. Let us replace them with indigenous and bamboo trees for the sake of conserving the water source,” he further advised. In regards to sanitation around the water source, Nabwera urged residents without pit latrines to urgently construct them so that the water source is not contaminated. He disclosed that he has made a Sh50 million request in the forthcoming budget for expansion of the water project to cover more residents. Engineer Pierra Karimi from Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency said the agency will ensure the project is fast tracked for the sake of the suffering schools and residents. She said the project will kick-start with a 30,000-litre tank in the first phase and urged the Member of Parliament to lobby for more funding from the national government to enable them to expand the project to reach more people. “The first step we are going to undertake is to construct an underground tank to conserve all the water from the spring. After that we shall install a solar-hybrid pump system. This will minimize the pumping cost and guard the beneficiaries from high electricity bills that have led to failure of many water projects in the country,” she stated. On her part, Ms Mary Manyasa, a sociologist with Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency called for support from the community and local administrators towards the contractor to ensure the project is implemented smoothly. She said once complete the local community will have to form a committee that will manage the project and ensure its sustainability. Manyonyi Girls Secondary School Principal Janet Tsigera whose school is set to be the main beneficiary of the water project thanked Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency for the timely initiative. “We are really happy as a school because water is life and the water project is set to save us from many challenges. Without water our kitchen staff struggle a lot, the buildings remain dirty and our girls suffer because they have to go out after classes and look for water,” she said. Residents led by Isaac Kawayi and Ruth Lumumba welcomed the water project saying they have suffered many years without a reliable water source. **By Melechezedeck Ejakait** __ Share on Facebook Share __ Share on TwitterTweet __ Send email Mail

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Government to establish Kenya Correctional Service College The government is set to establish a premier college to be known as the Kenya Correctional Service College to offer training on correctional service matters. The College, to be under the State Department for Correctional Services, shall be a premier institution in teaching, training, innovation, research and development in education and training on correctional matters. According to the technical committee vice chairperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner General of Prisons and Commandant at the Prisons Staff Training College, Angus Masoro, the college is part of recommendation in the Correctional Service Bill of 2025 currently undergoing public validation. “This does mean we will do away with prison staff training colleges, but we want to professionalize the correctional service since, over the years, we have been taking our staff to other universities and institutions, including Kenya School of government for training”, he said. “We shall also be able to attract other personnel to train in our college and stamp our authority as correctional services.” Speaking in Kakamega town during the public validation forum, Masoro said the proposed Bill on policy and regulatory framework also seeks to merge the Prison service, Probation and After-care Service to become the Department of Correctional Service. Masoro said the controversial issue of conjugal visits for inmates in prison has once again come on the spotlight. “The hot debate on this subject has not been addressed fully, neither in the regulations, in the previous law nor in the proposed policy’, “he added. “There is also the general feeling that intersex, who are being confined within one institution but separately from male and female, should be accommodated in their own institution”, he added. Probation Officer and a member of the Technical Committee on the Development of the Legal and Policy Framework for the Correctional Service, Mr. Michael Matekwa, said the legal and Policy mandate in the field had not been reviewed for about 100 years. “This is a window of opportunity to align the laws we are making to both the constitution of 2010, the international instruments and the good practice in the offender management,” he said. **By Albert Muteshi** __ Share on Facebook Share __ Share on TwitterTweet __ Send email Mail

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