mawasiliano

Mawasiliano
Pg. 4Pg. 4 Pg. 9Pg. 9
Issue 36 August, 2013 Bulletin
Belgium Supports Kenya’s Multi-Million
County Government Connectivity
Government Collaborates With World Bank
In Poverty Mitigation Project

Mawasiliano Bulletin , Issue 23
6
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
COMMUNICATIONS
Vision
To be the region’s most preferred public
communications hub.
Mission
To restore confidence in Government by
formulating, interpreting and implementing
National Public Communications policies,
programs and stratergies.

Mawasiliano Bulletin is a bi-weekly
publication by the Departments of Infor-
mation
and Public Communications to
highlight their programmes and activities.
Editorial Board
Joseph Kipkoech
Josephine Kinuthia
Judy Kagina
Bernard Ifeza
Contributors
Roy Moturi
Abdi Dika
Catherine Kang’ethe
Bernadette Khadula
Wangari Ndirangu
Shiroya Lydia
Robert Etakwa
Irungu Mwangi
Joshua Kibet
Edina Barongo
Mutiso Mbithi
Graphic Designers
Christine Munyasia
Photographers
Benedict Wasiche
Jonson Gachara
Eric Bosire
John Mogaka
The two departments are located at Jogoo House ‘A’2nd Floor and Post Bank house 8th floor respectively.
DEPARTMENT OF
INFORMATION
Vision
To be a leading news and information
service provider globally.
Mission
To gather, process, package and dissemi-
nate news and information for National
Development in line with the Constitution
and Kenya Vision 2030.
A Word From The Editor
Facts About the Departments
The Departments of Information and Public
Communications were established in 1939
and 2011 respectively.
The departments run the following
sections:
• Kenya News Agency/Field Services
• Photographic Services
• Electronic Media
• Accreditation
• Mobile Cinema Service
• Administration and finance
• Media Research
• Media Monitoring
• Public Relations
• Digital/Information Centre
• Information Technical Services
Mawasiliano, Issue 36
2
We value Your feed back, reach us on
www.information.go.ke or
dpc.go.ke@gmail
T
he government is of-
fering tax incentives
for investors putting
up capital at Konza
Technopolis as it seeks to
leverage the take – off of Ke-
nya’s planned premier city.
Tax exemption from income
for the first 10 years, dividends
and any other payments made
to non-residents during the pe-
riod are some of the goodies.
The city is meant to be part of
the special Economic Zones that
will replace the Export Process-
ing Zones (EPZ) and hopefully
create more than 200, 000 jobs.
It will be developed under a
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
model where the government
will provide land and build other
infrastructure such as road, rail-
way, water, telecoms and sewer-
age systems and provide secu-
rity.
The first phase of the project is
planned to be implemented be-
tween this year and 2017.
The draft policy recommends
that the Konza Technopolis De-
velopment Authority be exempt
Konza City To Attract Investors
from all existing and future taxes
and duties payable under the
laws of Kenya.
In the draft, the government in
proposing 30years as the mini-
mum contractual period for leas-
ing land at the city as opposed to
99 elsewhere.
Industry experts say this is
part of the government’s efforts
to ensure that land is used for
the intended purpose and for a
reasonable period. This allows
investors to judge whether their
business is profitable or not.
As at April this year, Kenyan
investors constituted 81 Percent
of the enquiries already regis-
tered with the authority.
Foreigners who have shown
interest include Chinese Hua-
wei Technologies, Korean elec-
tronics giant Samsung, Telemac
of the US, Research in Motion
(RIM), Blackberry Ltd of Can-
ada (the makers of Blackberry
phone).
Others are Google, Craft Sili-
con, Telemax Technology Cor-
poration of Taiwan and Shapoor-
ji Pallonji Group from India.

7
Contents
3
4
10
6
KCA Urges County
Government To
Work With
Journalists
UN Agencies Join
With National,
County Govern-
ments To Enhance
Human Security
8
County Govern-
ments Receive Fibre
Optic Connections
In Counties

6
4
3
4 counties out of the country’s
47 devolved units have so far
been successfully connected to
the terrestrial fibre optic infra-
structure and have their headquarters
linked to the National Government.
The Principal Secretary for Information,
Communication and Technology Joseph Ti-
ampati, says plans are underway to spread
fibre optic cable to the remaining devolved
government to spur local economies.
Speaking to KNA while attending the on-
going Mombasa International trade fair Mr.
Tiampat says the country wants to harness
the potential of ICT in the coming years to
County Governments Receive Fibre Optic Connections
T
he government through the Min-
istry of Information, Communi-
cations and Technology (ICT)
has received funding towards
the phase II County Government Of-
fices Connectivity project.
The Sh.1.2 billion will go towards meet-
ing the cost of implementing the second
phase of e-Government Private Network/
County Project phase II, a partnership be-
tween governments of Kenya and Belgium.
The project, expected to be completed
in 2015, will involve installation of commu-
nication equipment and applications in 17
counties and in the 18 national government
ministry headquarters in Nairobi.
The Principal Secretary in the Ministry,
Mr. Joseph Tiampati said the project will
connect 28 counties through a high capac-
ity network providing voice, data and video
conferencing in all government offices.
“This initiative is a major milestone to-
wards achieving Vision 2030. The govern-
Belgium Supports Kenya’s Multi-Million
County Government Connectivity
ment will achieve its objective of integrated
service delivery, as envisioned in the Con-
stitution of Kenya 2010 and Vision 2030
and complete integration of ICT institutions
into a coherent framework,” he said.
The PS said that the 19 counties that
have not yet been connected with the fibre
optic network will soon be connected.
He said the county connectivity project
utilizing the National Optic Fibre Backbone
Infrastructure which connects 28 counties
and currently in phase 1 will enable the
broadband connectivity to be distributed
through the National Optical Fibre Back-
bone Infrastructure (NOFBI) network to
public institutions countrywide.
Mr. Tiampati who was briefing the press
on the connectivity project at his Teleposta
office, said the project will enable the coun-
try achieve its goal in developing an appro-
priate design and architecture of national
broadband connectivity infrastructure.
The PS said the ministry plans to con-
ICT Principal Secretary, Mr. Joseph Tiampati confers with Soulco Projects Sales
Director Jan Keuster during the announcement plans for the implementation of the
County Connectivity Project at the Ministry headquarters.
nect counties with broadband network and
increase the number of institutions connect-
ed to the network to enable integrated ser-
vice delivery, adding that this will enhance
the technological and human capacity to
develop and manage multiple ICT systems
and services over the same network.
He said the Ministry has also created the
Information and Communication Authority
(ICTA) an amalgamation of three former
government entities namely; Kenya ICT
board, e-Government and the Government
Information Technology Services (GITS) to
offer a one-stop shop for ICT matters in the
public service.
Mr. Tiampati said the Government Com-
mon Core Network (GCCN), which is the
metropolitan Optic fibre in Nairobi, inter-
connects 31 government buildings and 16
private buildings which house government
departments.
“The Government Common Core Net-
work project which cost the government
300 million shillings has a robust and se-
cure high capacity link, and interlinks all
the Local Area Networks in government
buildings,” said Mr. Tiampati.
Addressing the same meeting, Mr. Jan
De Keuster the Sales Director of SOULCO
Projects, an ICT Integrator Company whose
headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium, said
the county connectivity project is ready to
be exploited by governmental applications.
He said with the connectivity, treasury
can use the network to deploy the Integrat-
ed Financial Management System (IFMIS)
to the connected counties, while the civil
registration department can also use the
network for birth certificate applications for
deployment to the counties online.
Present at the function included the
Managing Director SOULCO, Mr. Kris Ver-
specht and Acting Director of Public Com-
munications Ms. Mary Ombara.
spur economic development.
The PS has urged farmers to embrace
and effectively use and deploy ICT to boost
their production.
“ICT is a critical pillar in the achievement
of the Vision 2030 and our farmers should
have access to the existing technological
solutions, devices and services,” said the
Principal Secretary.
“We want ICT to play a vital role in the
development of all the spheres of the econ-
omy particularly in agriculture and trade so
that farmers and business people get the
most updated information on the cheapest
input,” he added.
Tiampati said the spread of fibre optic
network across the country and the rise of
internet will enable entrepreneurs to formal-
ize their businesses and embrace electron-
ic commerce and reach more clients.
At the same time he said the country is
ready for digital migration and the switch
from analogue to digital by December this
year.
“This time round we are ready for the
television broadcasting digital migrations
as we have overcome hitches that previ-
ously hindered the rolling out of the pro-
gramme,” he concluded.

7
Mawasiliano Bulletin , Issue 23 5
1.
6.
2.
4.
7.
5.
3.
O
n August 27 2013, Kenya cel-
ebrated the third anniversary
of the promulgation of the
constitution and the country
has recorded tremendous gains, includ-
ing more openness, transparency in
governance, and management of public
institutions.
All laws that were prioritized in the 5th
schedule to the constitution to be enacted
by the August 27, 2013 have been re-
viewed by CIC and submitted to the office
of the Attorney General for publication and
tabling in parliament.
The following legislation were developed
and reviewed by the commission and also
the commission commenced an audit of all
the legislation enacted between Septem-
ber 2011 and January 2013, for compliance
with the constitution.
Laws developed in the period July
2012 – June 2013:-
CIC On Track With Constitutional Implementation
Process
BILLS SUBMITTED TO THE AG FOR PUBLICATION
AMENDMENTS ACTS
LAWS
1.
10.
5.
14.
13.
12.
6.
2.
8.
11.
7.
4.
3.
9.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

6
6
K
enya Ports Authority (KPA)
has refuted a newspaper ar-
ticle alleging that it may have
overstated the value of its as-
sets by Sh. 60 Billion, according to an
audit report by the Auditor General.
KPA Managing Director, Gichiri Ndua
has clarified that there was no overstate-
ment of the Authority’s assets and that the
said audit report, which is in their posses-
sion, does not have such a statement.
He rubbished the article saying it con-
tains a misrepresentation of facts.
KPA Refutes Sh. 60 Billion Over
Statement Claims On Assets
profit before tax of Sh8.5 billion.” KPA last
financial year (January to December 2012)
recorded prestax profit of Sh 8.5 billion and
paid Sh777 M dividend to the government.
On Sh571 million debts which the news-
paper alleged was not reflected in the finan-
cial statements, Ndua said the Auditor Gen-
eral’s report acknowledges the existence of
the debts which are subject of court cases.
“The Authority in compliance with Inter-
national Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS) has impaired the debts,” Ndua said.
He said contrary to the press report con-
tracts for legal and medical services were
procured in accordance with the Public Pro-
curement and Disposal Act 2005.
KPA Managing Director, Gichiri
Ndua
In a press statement, he said the Sh. 60
billion cited by the article is the total value
of the Authority’s one class of assets which
are plant, property and equipment.
The Director said it is under this class of
assets that the Auditor General questioned
ownership of plots which are still registered
in the defunct East African Railways and
Harbours Corporation whose assets and li-
abilities were taken over by KPA following
the demise of East African Community in
1977.
The newspaper recently claimed that
the audit report dated April 23, this year,
had revealed deep-rooted rot at the state-
owned firms.
The newspaper also alleged that the
Auditor General Edward Ouko in the audit
report raised doubts about the true value
of KPA as stated in its books. The Auditor
General’s report cited KPA net assets to be
Sh63.3 billion.
Ndua said “If the Authority overstated its
assets by Sh60 billion then it is only fair to
question the efficacy of Sh3.3 billion worth
of assets generating a dividend of Sh777
million to the government leave alone the
“
If the Au-
thority over-
stated its
assets by
Sh60 billion then it
is only fair to ques-
tion the efficacy of
Sh3.3 billion worth
of assets generat-
ing a dividend of
Sh777 million to the
government leave
alone the profit be-
fore tax of Sh 8.5
Billion.
The article claimed the Auditor General
had raised a red flag over payments total-
ing Sh455 million for legal fees and medical
insurance issued without contracts.
The Managing Director said the contract
on project consultancy services for the sec-
ond container Terminal that was earlier re-
ported to have been temporarily suspended
by the government, was reinstated and the
construction is on site and there will be no
extra charge.
He assured the public that the Authority
will continue to discharge its mandate in
accordance with the law and in full compli-
ance with the International Financial Re-
porting Standards.
KCA Urges County
Government To
Work With
Journalists
K
enya Correspondents Associ-
ation (KCA) has called on the
county governments to work
closely with journalists based
in their areas to enhance accurate and
balanced reporting.
The letter released to the media read
that county governments must uphold me-
dia freedom to facilitate free flow of infor-
mation to the public in line with the provi-
sions of the constitution.
“KCA has launched a project to train
journalists on effective reporting on the im-
plementation of devolution and the opera-
tions of the County Governments,” part of
the document read.
The document further revealed that
KCA has noted with concern that some of
the county governments are denying jour-
nalists access to information and in some
cases shown hostility.
When conducted through the phone,
KCA Chairman William Oloo Janak said
they have launched a project on media and
devolution which aims at training journal-
ists on devolution reporting and the need of
county government to uphold media free-
dom.
He said that there is need for the county
government to create an enabling environ-
ment for journalists to do their work, includ-
ing putting up press galleries in the County
Assemblies.
Mr. Janak urged journalists across the
country to generate accurate and well re-
searched stories on the devolution imple-
mentation process saying such move will
enable citizens participate effectively and
make well informed choices.
The association formally launched the
Media and Devolution Project for Nairobi
County at forum in Nairobi attended by of-
ficials of the Nairobi County Government,
journalists and stakeholders including key
institutions involved in the implementation
of devolution.
Key institutions including the Commis-
sion on Revenue Allocation (CRA), Transi-
tion Authority and Nairobi County Govern-
ment pledged to work closely with KCA
and other media organizations to enhance
access to information and effective public
participation.
The project, which has kicked off in both
the Coast Region and Nairobi County aims
at building the capacity of 60 journalists on
County Budget Literacy, Governance and
Planning and reporting County Assemblies.
The training will be rolled out to other
counties and is expected to benefit more
than 500 journalists, mostly correspon-
dents spread in the 47 Counties.

7
Mawasiliano Bulletin , Issue 23 7
WHO Challenges Countries to Upscale Local
Research Investment
T
he World Health Organization
(WHO) has recently called on
countries to continue invest-
ing in local research in order to
develop a system of universal health
coverage tailored to each individual
country’s situation.
According to the World Health Report
2013, such a move will ensure that citizens
have access to health services without
making them suffer financial hardship when
paying for them.
According to Dr. Margaret Chan, Direc-
tor-General of WHO, universal coverage is
the “the single most powerful concept that
public health has to offer.”
In launching the Report, Research for
universal health coverage, Dr. Chan added
that universal coverage is the best way to
cement the health gains made during the
previous decade.” It is a powerful social
equalizer and the ultimate expression of
fairness.”
The report shows how countries, when
developing a system for universal health
coverage, can use research to determine
what health issues should be addressed,
how a system should be structured and
how to measure progress to suit their spe-
cific health situation.
The report reveals that, on average, do-
mestic investment in research in low- and
middle-income countries has been growing
at the rate of 5% each year. This trend is
most visible in emerging economies such
as Brazil, China and India, all of which have
embraced the concept of universal health
coverage.
Case studies from many countries dem-
onstrate the importance of local and global
research for improving health, ranging from
the prevention and control of specific dis-
eases to the better functioning of health
systems.
However, the results of these studies
emphasize the critical need for local re-
search where researchers can consider
specific factors critical to individual coun-
tries, according to the report.
“Research for universal health coverage
is not a luxury; rather, it is fundamental to
the discovery, development and delivery of
interventions that people need to maintain
good health,” the report noted.
The report also shows that more health
research is being published as a result of
international collaboration. Scientists from
low- and middle-income countries are in-
creasingly engaged in these collaborations,
although high-income countries continue to
play a prominent role in most studies.
But although research is increasing
overall, growth is uneven. “All nations
should be producers as well as consum-
ers of research. The creativity and skill of
researchers are the backbone of academic
and public health programs,” said Dr. Chris-
topher Dye, Director Office of Health Infor-
mation, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria &
Neglected Tropical Diseases and lead au-
thor of the report.
Dr. Dye said that a wide range of basic
and applied research studies is essential to
reach universal health coverage, but gaps
between knowledge and action are being
closed very slowly. “We need to acceler-
ate the process of bringing scientists and
decision makers together to improve health
service coverage.”
Universal health coverage requires a
strong, efficient, well-run health system; a
system for financing health services; ac-
cess to essential medicines and technolo-
gies, and sufficient well-trained, motivated
health workers.
To meet the challenges, WHO encour-
ages international donors and national gov-
ernments not only to invest in research, but
also to support mechanisms for sharing in-
formation and data, to strengthen research
training and institutions, and to measure
progress against their own commitment to
achieving universal health coverage.
Safaricom Donates Telecom Equipment To JKUAT
T
he Jomo Kenyatta University
of Agriculture and Technology
(JKUAT) in Kiambu County
recently got a boost from Sa-
faricom CEO Bob Collymore when he
donated a Mini GSM network laboratory
equipment to the institution.
The equipment will go a long way to up-
lift the students from the Engineering and
Telecommunications Laboratory with the
latest technology aimed at ensuring the
students are well prepared with practical
skills for application in the industry.
The two institutions have been in part-
nership for five years after they signed an
MOU in December 2008 with an aim of
enhancing development through research,
training, innovation and technological de-
velopment in the areas of Communication,
Technology and Information.
JKUAT’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel
Imbuga thanked Safaricom for the donation
and said that the partnership between the
varsity and Safaricom would improve the
lives of students greatly.
‘’This laboratory will provide the much
needed practical and research orientation
to students and faculty and thus increase
their competitiveness. This will make
JKUAT the choice for aspiring telecom
professionals in East and Central Africa,’’
added the Vice Chancellor.
The mini GSM network will enable stu-
dents to initiate and terminate a phone call;
it will enable data transfer and basically
conduct any services that Safaricom can
offer in the market.
This is the first of its kind in East and
Central Africa effectively making JKUAT
the destination University for aspiring Telco
professionals.
“
This will make
JKUAT the
choice for as-
piring telecom
professionals in East
and Central Africa.
JKUAT’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel
Imbuga

6
8
T
here is need for greater com-
mitment in the efforts by the
Government of Kenya, County
Governments and United Nation
agencies, to enhance human security
in Turkana Central and Loima Sub-
counties.
This was the resounding message from
a joint delegation from the United Nations
inter-agency coordination group and gov-
ernment representatives, following a three
day field visit by the Chief of Unit, United
Nations Trust Fund for Human Security
(UNTFHS) Ms. Mehrnaz Mostafavi.
Mostafavi was in Turkana County to as-
sess the progress undertaken to improve
human security among pastoralist commu-
nities through sustainable interventions in
UN Agencies Join With National, County
Governments To Enhance Human Security
livelihoods, food security, education, child
labour and health.
She said that the visit gave her an op-
portunity to better understand the progress
made and determine the effectiveness of
translating the human security concept into
practical actions and sustainable results as
recommended by the United Nations Gen-
eral Assembly.
Turkana region suffers from a ‘climate
change-migration-conflict-nexus’ where
recurring, severe drought cycles lead to
increasingly frequent outward migrations
of pastoralists within Kenya or across the
border, in search of water and pasture for
livestock.
Considering the mobile nature of pas-
toral border communities, the Chief of Unit
said that the project targets the most vul-
nerable of the Turkana Central population
as well as selected neighbouring cross-bor-
der communities by providing opportunities
to interact in a peaceful manner through
joint training and the establishment of joint
markets and trade opportunities.
“This project builds on recommendations
by communities themselves to strengthen
local capacities to prevent disaster and
mitigate shocks of a climatic, economic and
conflict nature”.
The pastoralist populations of Turkana
S
afaricom’s General Manager
of Financial Services Betty
Mwangi Thuo (PICTURED) has
been named as one of Africa’s
twenty most influential women in tech-
nology this year.
IT News Africa, a Johannesburg based
technology news website, named Ms.
Mwangi alongside two other Kenyan wom-
en, the former InMobi’s Vice President
and Managing Director for Africa Ms Isis
Nyong’o and Ms Ory Okolloh, the co-found-
er & Executive Director of Ushahidi.
“I would like to thank IT News for be-
stowing upon me this great honour of be-
ing named one of Africa’s top 20 most in-
fluential women in technology. It is a great
endorsement and of the great impact that
M-PESA continues to have in the lives of
millions of people in Kenya and beyond,”
said Mwangi
The Manager who has over 16 years’
experience in telecommunication sector,
has been credited with spearheading Sa-
faricom’s globally recognized and award
Thuo Named One Of Africas Most Influencial Women In
Technology
Central are faced with acute economic,
food and health, insecurity as well as en-
vironmental, personal-and community inse-
curity.
These threats are interlinked and feed
on each other, with most characterized by
their chronic and pervasive nature. Increas-
ing weather extremities and unpredictability
is evident in Turkana, with escalating se-
verity and frequency of droughts.
The project “Strengthening Human Se-
curity in the Border Communities of Tur-
kana, Kenya” officially launched in 1999 is
a 6.1 Million USD 3-year project funded by
the United Nations Trust Fund for Human
Security.
The proposed activities aim to improve
human security in a context of UN inter-
agency coordination including United Na-
tions Development Programme (UNDP),
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
World Health Organization (WHO), Inter-
national Organization for Migration (IOM),
United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
International Labour Organization (ILO)
and UNTFHS and building on the capaci-
ties of local CBOs, local peace committees,
local governments and the governmental
Arid Lands Resource Management Project
(ALRMP).
winning mobile money transfer service M-
PESA.
She joined Safaricom in December 2007
as Head of Division charged with managing
the New Products Division comprising M-
PESA business and GSMA projects.
Mwangi was promoted to Chief Officer
New Products Division in October 2008
with the additional responsibility for Safari-
com’s Value Added Service which champi-
oned product innovation and new product
road map.
In December 2011, she was awarded
the prestigious State honor “Moran Order
of the Burning Spear” by the then President
of Kenya Mwai Kibaki in recognition of her
contribution to Kenya’s Information Com-
munications Technology (ICT) sector. Ad-
ditionally, In June 2010, she was featured
by Mobile Communications International
(MCI) as one of the top 10 women in mobile
telecommunication, globally.
The General Manager has an Engi-
neering degree in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering from the Victoria University of
Manchester and an MBA from the Univer-
sity of Leicester. She is also a Chartered
Marketer and a member of the Chartered
Institute of Marketing.
Each year South Africa celebrates Na-
tional women’s day, a day set aside to pay
tribute to women in South Africa and their
role in development in the country.
This year, IT News Africa celebrated the
day by listing and paying tribute to twenty
women in the continent who have signifi-
cantly contributed to the development in
Information Technology.

7
9
T
he government in collabora-
tion with the World Bank has
launched a sh. 5 billion-project
in six counties in the coast
region.
This is in a bid to help local people miti-
gate against poverty through commercial-
ization of the fisheries sector, management
of biodiversity and the setting up of small
business ventures for women and other
vulnerable groups.
Dubbed the Kenya Coastal Develop-
ment Project (KCDP), the project will be
driven by the Kenya Marine Fisheries Re-
search Institute (KMFRI) and be imple-
mented in collaboration with other govern-
ment departments, the Coast Development
Authority, the Department of Fisheries and
the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
According to KCDP Coordinator Dr.
Jacqueline Uku, the project will also main-
stream the National Environment Manage-
ment Authority (NEMA), the Department of
Physical Planning in the Ministry of Lands
and Kenya Forestry Research Institute
(KEFRI).
Dr. Uku who was speaking during the
launch of the project whose main objective
she said is to improve management, effec-
tiveness and enhance revenue generation
of Kenya’s coastal marine resources, said
this unique venture will be implemented in
Mombasa, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Kilifi, Tana
River and Lamu counties.
The Project Coordinator further said
through the KCDP, the fisheries sustainable
development programme will strengthen
Beach Management Units (BMUs) in col-
laboration with KMFRI with the aim of im-
Government Collaborates With
World Bank In Poverty Mitigation
Project
proving aquaculture (fresh water fish farm-
ing) among coastal communities
“We will also fund research in the fisher-
ies sector with the aim of understanding our
coastal fish stocks, undertake a fish stock
assessment and design modalities of fish
harvesting in order to help commercialize
this sector for the benefit of our people,”
said Dr. Uku.
She said the KCDP will develop fish
hatcheries in coastal areas, develop re-
search in new fish breeds with the aim of
enhancing the quality of aquaculture which
is a new concept in the region.
She said the project will also undertake
natural resource management in the coast
access the biodiversity of the coastal region
with the aim of diversifying tourism from
beach and safari concepts to eco-tourism
and develop new tourism circuits like vis-
its to forests like the Arabuko Sokoke, Witu
and Lake Kenyatta.
These projects she said will be imple-
mented through the Kenya Wildlife Service,
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and KMFRI.
“We also have in this project a micro-
finance alternative livelihoods concept
where we train small and micro entrepre-
neurs (SMEs) to access credit from the
Coast Development Authority with the aim
of enhancing business development in the
region to mitigate against biting poverty
among vulnerable groups like women”, said
the project co-ordinator.
The project, Dr. Uku said will also fund
the planning of urban centres through the
department of physical planning in an effort
to bring order in the construction of struc-
tures in coastal urban centres.
T
here was ‘fire scare’ at
Postbank House which is
situated adjacent to I&M
Building.
The incident, which is attributed to
the blowing up of a transformer belong-
ing to Kenya Power, left the occupants
of the 15-storey building in panic, Post-
bank Fire Marshals said.
No casualties and injuries were re-
ported as the Fire Marshals tried to
evacuate the building.
“We would like to report that all of
us are safe and we commend you for
the quick response,” said the Postbank
House Fire Marshal.
However, Postbank House occu-
pants reported a slow response to the
fire alarm.
The Postbank House Fire Marshals,
who were among the first people at the
scene, helped calm the tension since
they were in constant communication
with the occupants. who had assem-
bled at the fire assembly point.
It is therefore important for organiza-
tions to have a viable fire safety plan
to help mitigate against impending di-
sasters.
Viable Workplace
Fire Safety Key To
Mitigate Impending
Disasters
Aerial View of Postbank House,
Market Lane Off Banda Street

6
In Counties...
10
Counties Urged to Review Budget
C
ontroller of Budget Mrs.
Agnes Odhiambo has said
that Counties need to review
their budgets in a bid to align
them to financial reporting and project
management in the Country.
According to Odhiambo, lack of capacity
in a number of counties has led to difficulty
in their budgeting process.
Odhiambo said that the need to establish
the level of development in the counties in
issues of GDP in various sectors will boost
Gikonyo said the National government
should allocate enough money to perform
their functions effectively. “Counties should
use their funds in a transparency manner in
their management of the county functions.”
She said that failing to provide a proper
development plan will be undermining the
credibility of devolution process and citizen
participation.
In addition, she said the grants from the
National government and donors require
proper coordination between the National
and County governments.
the devolution process.
Speaking recently at an International
Budget Partnership meeting in Nairobi, she
said accurate data on performance of the
country is important because it is difficult to
get credible information that the Controller
of Budget can rely on.
“We will give resources to the counties
that are properly accounted for in the devo-
lution process, “said Odhiambo.
She urged stakeholders to develop clear
criteria of allocating conditional grants from
the National Government and donors to the
47 Counties.
Odhiambo added that the Controller of
Budget requires adequate time to interro-
gate the budget of the National and County
Government to give their inputs before they
are cleared by the National Assembly.
Speaking at the same event, Commis-
sion for the Implementation of the Con-
stitution (CIC) Commissioner Kamotho
Waiganjo said that Counties need adequate
funding to carryout the devolution process.
Waiganjo added that National govern-
ment should deal with equity in the 47 coun-
ties to cater for the Marginalized counties.
He further said the Senate should draft
an Act on grants to fund the deficit incurred
in the Counties budget rather than the Na-
tional government.
National Coordinator from The Institute
for Social Accountability (NCISA) Wanjiru
Gikonyo said 30 counties have deficit after
factoring in all their budget planning.
Controller of Budget, Mrs. Agnes
Odhiambo
“
We will
give re-
sources
to the
counties that
are properly ac-
counted for in
the devolution
process.
I
siolo County Government plans to
tarmac roads linking Isiolo town
with the modern Airport and abattoir
this financial year.
According to the Deputy Governor
Mohamed Guleid, the project will cost
sh.400million to tarmac eight kilometres.
Speaking during a meeting for investors
in livestock sector, Guleid said modernizing
roads to the projects with view to uplift trade
in export of meat from the modern slaugh-
ter house to the Airport alongside other
business activities products in the County.
The DG revealed that investors in live-
stock sector drawn from Saudi Arabia and
America were ready to venture in area and
exploit potential in the sector.
He said that the county government
was already in agreement with Saudi Ara-
Isiolo County to Tarmac Roads for Investment
bia which needed about 6,000 goats and
sheep during the Idd-ul- Hajj, three months
away and 3,500 camels for breeding in the
Middle East.
The government, Guleid said, would re-
vive livestock market holding ground and
drill boreholes in the vicinity of the slaugh-
ter house so that animals would not trek for
more than 8km to watering points.
He said the county government would
also improve security by deploying police
reservists, administration police and regu-
lar to areas previously prone to banditry.
Guleid appealed to local people to fairly
share available resources and stop con-
flicts at watering and grazing areas and
instead endeavor to reap benefits from the
investors who would boost the county eco-
nomically.
The Deputy Governor said that Slaugh-
ter house was over 95% complete and
the livestock owners from Marsabit, Wajir,
Samburu and Isiolo would benefit most
since most animals from the region would
be slaughtered and meat exported from
Isiolo.
“The move will minimize transporting
animals to the Kenya Meat Commission
(KMC) by road,” said Guleid.
The Airport is in the second phase of
constructing terminal after completion of
the runway. The loading and parking bay
is expected to be completed in the next one
year where exporters of various commodi-
ties like Miraa, flowers and fruits from the
Airport’s catchment would benefit a lot.
Isiolo is envisaged to become a resort
city in the Vision 2030.

7
In Counties...
11
I
n the Central region of Kenya, Ku-
tus Town of Kirinyaga County, Mr.
Comba Nyaga has a warehouse with
a storage capacity of over 5,400
tons.
Nyaga uses the warehouse to store
maize from smallholder farmers who have
received training through the Kenya Maize
Development Programme (KMDP), a US-
AID-funded project.
The warehouse is in a prime location
along the Kutus Sagana road and has a
weighbridge that serves many grain traders
in the region.
Business is good for Nyaga as both small
and large-scale farmers deliver to him fer-
rying their grain in trucks, donkey cart and
even on bicycles. The maize is then as-
sessed for its quality and moisture content
and later cleaned and dried.
He also advises farmers on how to im-
prove the quality of their maize. He is now
diversifying into milling animal feed, and
during peak season he hires up to 60 la-
borers to help with the selling of 18,000 to
27,000 tons of maize to millers.
Nyaga‘s business is an important link in
the maize value chain as he operates en-
tirely within the private sector, purchasing
from individuals, farmer groups, big com-
mercial farmers and selling to millers.
His success has allowed him to build a
maize milling factory turning him to a maize
flour supplier in the region.
The warehouse owner has not always
been this successful. He was educated to
basic level and used to sell skin and hides
in the region which he marketed on a bi-
Private Warehouse Benefits
Kirinyaga County Community
cycle. However, the entrepreneurial spirit in
him propelled him to start own warehouse
grain store.
He and his wife operated one small
warehouse and purchased maize from
smallholder farmers in Kirinyaga region
through word of mouth and his turnover
increased to its current level of 200,000 to
300,000 90-kg bags annually.
He now buys from both small holder
farmers as well as larger commercial farm-
ers. The maize he purchases is sold to
commercial millers besides milling for his
factory.
Nyaga’s warehouse is close to that of
the National Cereals and Produce Board
(NCPB), which has a capacity about 15
times greater than his.
But while NPCB’s storage has the ca-
pacity to satisfy all the smallholder and
commercial farmers’ grain storage needs,
it is rarely full. In contrast, Nyaga’s ware-
house thrives because he pays the farm-
ers in cash on the day of delivery, whereas
NCPB takes time to pay them.
Much of Nyaga’s success is due to per-
sonal drive as well as the training in busi-
ness and post-harvest handling he received
from KMDP.
Through KMDP he also received training
in arbi¬tration skills for medium-scale trad-
ers and Quick Books accounting software.
He said KMDP team visits him regularly
to guide him on new developments in the
grain industry.
This training and assistance has helped
Nyaga realize his dreams and benefited the
region’s maize value chain industry.
Farmers in a training session at The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
C
otton farmers along the arid
and semi arid Kerio Valley
region of Baringo County have
been urged to expand acreage
under cotton as a ready market is found
in the Eldoret based textile industry-
RIVATEX run by Moi university.
Baringo Central MP, Sammy Mwaita
said that Moi University has accepted to
partner with cotton farmers in the region by
providing market for the produce and tech-
nical expertise.
Mwaita said that the revival of the stra-
tegic cash crop would enhance the liveli-
hoods of the local communities in addition
to increasing employment opportunities
and economic income base.
Speaking when he Commissioned Phi-
lemon Chelagat Bridge constructed at a
cost of Sh 15 million through funds from
Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) in
Salawa area of his constituency, the MP la-
mented that local farmers had abandoned
the growing of the cash crop because of
poor prices and lack of guaranteed market
for the crop.
The legislator who was accompanied by
the county executive committee in charge
of Roads and Infrastructure Dr. Andrew
Kwonyike called on agricultural extension
officers in the area to mount vigorous cot-
ton growing campaigns in order to step up
production of the cash crop.
Mr. Mwaita said that cotton production
potential was great in Kerio Valley region
but its development has faced a lot of chal-
lenges among them, unreliable markets
and fluctuating prices in the domestic fronts
occasioned by collapse of textile industries
and competition from synthetic fibres pro-
duced by world countries.
On education, the legislator urged par-
ents to ensure bright children unable to
raise fees were enrolled in day secondary
schools to enable them further their stud-
ies uninterrupted considering the rampant
poverty levels in the arid region.
He argued that day schools were af-
fordable to many parents and their perfor-
mance were equally good citing Kisok day
mixed secondary that registered exemplary
results in last year’s KCSE outshining giant
established learning institutions.
Increased Cotton
growing in Baringo
county

12
CLOUD COMPUTING: EMPOWERING COLLABORATION
What Is Cloud Computing?
This refers to delivery of scalable IT resources locally, such as on a college or university
network. These resources include applications and services, as the infrastructure on which
they operate. By developing IT infrastructure and services over the network, an organiza-
tion can purchase these resources on an as – needed basis and avoid the capital cost of
software and hardware.
With cloud computing, IT capacity can be adjusted quickly and easily to accommodate
changes in demand. While remotely hosted, managed services have long been a part of
the IT landscape, a heightened interest in cloud computing is being fueled by ubiquitous
network, maturing standards, the rise of hardware and software virtualization, and the push
to make IT costs available and transparent.
Features of Cloud Computing:
Cloud computing has several key features including: infrastructure sharing; self – service;
and pay – per – use:
Infrastructure – today’s enterprise data centers are characterized by fluctuating re-
source demands from a variety of users. Cloud computing enables dynamic sharing of
these resources so that demands can be met cost effectively.
Scalability – to handle ever increasing workload demands and support the entire enter-
prise, cloud computing must have the flexibility to significantly scale IT resources. Scal-
ability and flexibility allow the cloud provider to fulfill, or at least come close, to the prom-
ise of unlimited IT services on demand.
Self service – cloud computing provides customers with access to IT resources through
services – based offerings. The details of IT resources and their setup are transparent to
the users.
Pay – per – use – because cloud resources can be added and removed according to
workload demands, users pay for only what they use and are not charged when service
demands decrease.
Adopted from Educause and CIO East Africa

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