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Frida Mokaya Named As Chief Registrar of Judiciary

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Frida Mokaya Boyani has been named Chief Registrar of the Judiciary by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

After analyzing the seven shortlisted applicants for the post that became available upon Anne Amadi’s retirement on January 12, 2024, JSC decided on Mokaya.

The job was advertised, and 43 people applied. On Monday, the JSC interview panel met with the seven shortlisted candidates.

After serving as a Senior Principle Magistrate, Mokaya assumed the role of JSC Registrar in 2012. She has worked as a lawyer for more than 27 years.

Macharia Rose Wachuka, Ouma Jack Busalile Mwimali, Wambeti Anne Ireri, Ndemo Paul Maina, Kendagor Caroline Jepyegen, and Kandet Kennedy Lenkamai are among the other candidates that were shortlisted for the role.

In addition to other administrative and procurement duties, Mokaya’s duties as Chief Registrar include preparing estimates of expenditure and managing the Judiciary Fund.

KUCCPS Launches First Course Revision Portal

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The application portal for the first review of applicants’ choices for placement to universities, TVET institutions, Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has opened on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) website.

The gateway went up on Monday and will be available through April 4.

This revision phase targets Form Four leavers from 2000 to 2023, students who have not yet secured opportunities and candidates who achieved C+ or higher on the 2023 KCSE examination. It also gives applicants a chance to change their preferences for tertiary institutions.

Those who filed their applications in February or March of 2024 have been instructed by KUCCPS to check the progress of their submissions by visiting the placement board’s website.

On February 8, the portal initially went live, enabling candidates to choose the universities and schools of their choosing.

It was suggested that students who finished their form four examinations between 2000 and 2022 and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams in 2023 apply.

Later on, though, students would complain about challenges applying. The application deadline was twice extended as a result of this.

The KUCCPS declared on March 1st that the website and the eCitizen payment option were back up due to technical difficulties.

Kirinyaga: Police And KEBS Officers On The Spot Over Bribes Collection

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Some Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) personnel are allegedly harassing traders in Kirinyaga and taking bribes from their establishments.

The Ministry of Interior should look into allegations that certain KEBS officers are working with police officers to intimidate and extort traders from Kagio, Kutus, and Kandongu.

“On Thursday they collected over Ksh.1 million in cash at Kiamaciri Police Station from us after arresting us in our premises yet nobody was taken to court,” a trader said angrily.

Residents in Kutus town, Gichugu, who were upset, claimed that after being arrested, they were transferred to the Kutus Police Station and that the KEBS personnel had just entered their business to demand money.

“I was forced to part away with Ksh.100,000 when they insisted that when I’m taken to court I will be fined over Ksh.1 million,” a trader from Kutus stated.

In a Monday speech in the Kagio area, Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Alasow Hussein advised the locals not to give cash to any government official.

The county commissioner stated that in response to citizen concerns about some well-known beers being fake, he is working with his security staff to make sure beer distributors distribute the correct brand.

Kitengela: Two Remandes Injured As Tear Gas Cannister Explodes Inside Police Station

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A tear gas canister exploded at the Kitengela Police Station in Kajiado County on Monday, injuring two remandees.

When the explosion happened, day shift officers were handing over to their night shift counterparts.

One of the allegedly defective tins fell and exploded as the cops were physically counting the canisters as part of their normal procedure.

According to Patrick Manyasi, the commander of Isinya Sub-county police, the two remandes were taken to the hospital and given treatment, which left them in a stable condition.

Kenyatta University Bus Collides With Truck Killing 11 Students And 21 Seriously Injured At Voi

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A wreckage of the Kenyatta University bus which collided with a truck in Maungu on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway on March 18, 2024 is seen at the accident scene. [Photo | courtesy]

A truck and a college bus crashed on Monday night in the Maungu area near Voi on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, resulting in the deaths of eleven Kenyatta University students and the critical injuries of twenty-one others.

Dasala Ibrahim, the Voi sub-county police commandant, reported that the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

Students were being taken by bus to Mombasa on an educational trip.

42 students, according to Dasala, were in different hospitals at the time of publication, and four more were missing.

Trans Nzoia: Fertilizer Shortage Leaves Farmers Stranded

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Farmers in Trans Nzoia find themselves at the Kitale NCPB depot searching for government-subsidized fertilizer at a time when they should be tending to their farms in preparation for planting season.

Even though they have been waiting in line for hours on end, some people are not very hopeful because they have come here day after day just to return home broke and having to make up for the money they lost on their travel expenses.

Allan Mwangi, a farmer in Cherangany stated; “Tungependa serikali ifanye kazi nzuri, mbolea ipelekwa huko kwa wards badala ya kukuja hapa na ata baada ya kukuja hakuna kitu unapata.”

another farmer in Trans-Nzoia, Ronald Meja added; “tunaomba serikali ilete mbolea ya kutosha, wakati imefika na watu wengine mashamba ni ya maji na huenda tukakosa kitu.”

The delays are not amusing to the farmers, who worry that since they are already behind schedule with planting, the consequences could be disastrous.

“Mimi ni number 5000 na shangaa nitafikiwa saa ngapi juu ya wananiambia sijui wako number mia 300 ingine sijui 900 sasa tunashangaa ama tutapata mbolea mwaka huu ama tutalima kweli,” noted farmer Elizabeth Wanjiru.

Although more over 16,000 people registered to get fertilizer from the Kitale deport, less than 20% of farmers actually received this crucial agricultural resource.

The Ministry of Agriculture reports that more than 5.5 million farmers have enrolled to get the subsidized fertilizer.

Bomet: 5 Killed And Scores Injured After Matatu Hits Tractor

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In the Kimugul area of Bomet County, a 14-seater passenger van collided with a tractor on the Olenguruone-Silibwet road, resulting in five fatalities and eighteen injuries.

Witnesses claim that at approximately 4 p.m. on Monday, the driver of the van operated by Bomet Travellers lost control of the vehicle on a steep hill and collided with a tractor that was moving in the direction of Olenguruone town.

The accident is being looked into by the police.

Those injured were treated in the Tenwek hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the morgue.

Big Win For Kenyan Facebook Content Creators As META Announces To Start Videos Monetization By June

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Following Facebook’s parent company Meta’s announcement that instream adverts would be rolled out, Kenyan content creators may expect to start making money from their creations in the next three months.

The company said that it will be releasing other income channels across Facebook and Instagram in addition to the roll-out of the Instream adverts at State House in the presence of President William Ruto. Facebook Stories, Instagram subscriptions, and Instagram gifts will all be included.

“We are very happy to announce that we’re gonna have instream ads available on Facebook starting early summer maximum. What instream ads mean is they are image and video ads that will be served, before, during or after any of your videos and it is a way for you guys to monetise and generate revenue through Facebook,” said Moon Baz who heads global partnerships for Africa, Middle East and Turkey.

Nick Clegg, a former deputy prime minister of Britain and current president of global affairs at Meta, announced that Kenyan content creators will receive payment for uploading their videos to the platform and that the company will monetize both English and Kiswahili content.

“I want to pay tribute to your remorseless representation on behalf of the creators of Kenya. You and I have met on a number of occasions and every single time you have said on behalf of the ingenious, humorous creative online creators here, you have been pressing me and Meta that all that creativity that they should also use online tools to turn that into material benefit,” he said as he thanked President Ruto for pushing the social media giant to act.

Speaking highly of the local creative community, Sir Clegg declared that it was time for them to make a solid living from their lively content, which appeals to people due to its humor, use of the English language, diversity, inventiveness, and inspiration. Meta, he added, wants “to make sure that you can make a good living out of it both pre and post tax.”

In order to qualify for revenue, creators need to meet certain requirements: they must have a minimum of 5,000 followers, be above the age of 18, have five or more active videos on their Facebook accounts, and have received 60,000 minutes of video views, including live views, during the last sixty days.

As a step toward advancing his bottom-up economic reform program, President Ruto commended Meta for leading his call declaring that “monetisation is now a reality” for Kenyan content creators.

In addition, President Ruto urged Meta to think about starting the monetisation program sooner than the previously scheduled June deadline, stating that it would be a pleasant surprise.

In order to provide accessibility for a larger spectrum of creators, the president moreover affirmed that Meta will incorporate M-Pesa as a payment option.

Rita Tinina Biography: Facts about late great NTV journalist

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The heartbreaking news of popular NTV journalist Rita Tinina’s untimely death spread over the internet yesterday, shocking and saddening many Kenyans.

We are working to compile as much information as we can on this extraordinary journalist, Rita Tinina, while authorities begin their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death. Let’s examine what we already know.

Childhood

Rita Tinina’s childhood and early years are still a mystery; particulars of her early years have not yet been revealed.

It was said in police reports about her death that she was purportedly 46 years old when she died.

Education

Her LinkedIn profile provides the meagre details we do have about her schooling. The late, great anchor studied mass communication and media studies at the University of Nairobi, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Career

Rita Tinina gained popularity among audiences as a cherished media figure with more than ten years of priceless expertise in radio and television.

Her career started at Nation Media Group (NMG), where she developed her abilities and made a big impact on the corporation. She then started a new chapter in her career in 2012 when she joined KTN News as a senior reporter, where she excelled.

But when she joined NTV again in October 2023, she saw old friends and resumed her quest for broadcasting greatness, bringing her career full circle.

Personal Life

The late journalist was renowned for her secrecy, withholding information about her private life from the general public. Although her daughter, age eight, is known, details regarding her personal relationships are still unknown.

Legacy

Rita Tinina’s love for journalism was evident throughout her illustrious career, winning her respect and appreciation from both audiences and colleagues.

Her enduring reputation in the media landscape was secured by her varied talents and persistent dedication to her profession, which left a permanent impression on everyone who had the honor of seeing her work.

Macadamia Farming: A Highly Profitable Venture

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If you have been keen to follow the agribusiness news and trends in Kenya, you must have noted that macadamia nut farming is one investment channel that informed farmers are putting their money into.

The local prices of these nuts have been consistently going up and the international market is also expected to grow by at least 12% by 2025.

By the way, macadamia nut prices in Kenya hit a high of Ksh.220 per kilo.

That’s a pretty impressive future market outlook for current farmers and anyone who wants to invest in the nuts production in our country.

Remember the highest percentage of the nuts we produce here is slightly processed and sold in this international market. That means we are going to benefit directly as the global market expands.

It is so pleasing to see farmers who have abandoned coffee, maize and other crops and gone into macadamia farming smiling; of course because they are now making more money than they were with those earlier crops.

Is this the right time to invest in Macadamia farming?

Yes, this is actually the best time to invest in commercial production of this brown gold. So far, the country has over 30 industries buying the nuts from farmers. Most of them simply process the produce for export. That means there is now ready market for your produce.

A few years back, no one could imagine that macadamia farming in Kenya would one day be as rewarding as it is now. A few macadamia trees would stand in homesteads essentially to provide shade only. Every season, children would crack a few of the nuts that fell off the trees and then leave the rest to rot away.

Fast forward to the period between 2015 and 2020 and the economics and trade around this crop have dramatically changed. The brown nuts that were being left rot are now gold, fetching as high as Ksh 220 per kg.

And it is a fact that the farmers currently producing macadamia in Kenya do not have the capacity to satisfy the demand from these processing companies. That is why the price is currently on an upward trend.

How long does grafted macadamia take to mature?

Grafted macadamia trees start fruiting after 2 years and reach an economic production in the third year. At this time, a tree would give you 20 to 30 kilos of nuts per harvest. The production increases steadily over time and by the 7th year, each tree should give an average of 100 kilos per harvest.

You can buy grafted macadamia seedlings from Richfarm Kenya (0724698357).

The rate at which your tree grows and reaches maturity (full production) is also dependent on how well you water it and feed it with the right minerals.

Macadamia trees require a lot of water especially in the hot areas since they have a high transpiration rate – losing water through the leaves.

Where are macadamia best grown in Kenya?

Macadamia nuts are mainly grown in the central part of Kenya such as Muranga, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu and Meru. These are the places that the tree was first introduced when it came into Kenya.

With time, the tree has spread to other areas of the country such as Bungoma, Kakamega, Kitale, Machakos and Taita Taveta.

Macadamia trees, especially the Muranga 20 variety, are highly adaptive to different climatic conditions. As such, they can be grown in most parts of the country. However, the cooler and rainy areas seem to be more favorable.

The key ingredient in successful macadamia farming in the lower parts of Kenya is irrigation. The trees will need a significant amount of water especially when they are young in order to grow well.

How much do macadamia nuts fetch in the Kenyan market?

While macadamia are the most expensive nuts in the world, it is unfortunate that Kenyan farmers are not yet being paid fairly for their raw nuts. A kilo of the nuts was bought at the highest price of Ksh.230 at the close of the harvesting season in 2019.

This is much lower compared to what farmers in other places in the world get. For example, farmers in Australia earn as much as Ksh.600 per kilo of raw nuts.

So is macadamia farming in Kenya profitable?

Well, the macadamia farmers in Kenya still make some good amount of money as profits. We could do a quick calculation here: Mature macadamia trees produce an average of 100 kilos per year.

An acre holds about 80 trees hence a total production of 8000 kilos per acre in a harvest. If this farmer sells their produce at an average of Ksh.150 per kilo, he will have a turnover of Ksh.1.2 million.

The cost of maintaining a mature macadamia orchard will hardly get beyond Ksh.100,000 so the farmer has a cool million to walk home with.

How much water do macadamia trees need?

In Kenya, farmers essentially produce macadamia without ever having to irrigate them. But of course you know what that means: their yields are always below the optimum.

For optimum production, a macadamia tree will need at least 40 liters of water every day throughout the flowering and fruiting period. Irrigation should be stopped when the nuts mature to allow them to harden off.

This is a critical fact that anyone seeking to commercially produce macadamia in hot areas that have rains below 800 mm annually.

Which is the best macadamia variety in Kenya?

We consider Muranga 20 the best variety of macadamia in Kenya. This is because it adapts well to both cool and hot climates and yield just as high in whichever climate you plant it.

The nut quality and weight is also higher compared to other varieties. Its vigorous growth also means that the farmer does not have to wait for so long before getting their first fruits.

Final Word

As we always tell you, there’s no marathon race that has ever been won by those who did not start the race. If you like the idea discussed above and you have what it takes to actualize it…then don’t wait to start…just do it.

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