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November 06, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke NEWSFOCUS | 13 Sh200 million injected to boost county farming Funding will help farmers to venture into best agricultural practices thus increasing profit from their produce BY BERNARD MUNYAO KNA- MURANG’A W orld Bank will inject Sh200 million to help farmers in Murang’a County improve on their produce and venture into value addition practices. The money, to be channeled through National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) will help farmers to venture into best agricultural practices thus increasing profit from their produce. The county chief officer for agriculture Peter Njangi says the money will be given to established farmer groups which have attempted various agricultural projects. Njangi said in the first phase Sh50 million will be given to farmers from five sub counties, while the remaining three will be factored in the second phase. The first five sub counties earmarked to benefit from the funds include Mathioya, Kiharu, Kigumo, Maragua and Kandara. Funding to farmers from Kangema, Kahuro and Gatanga will be done during second phase expected to start after two years’ time. The groups will get grants ranging from Sh50,000 to Sh500,000 with best performing groups standing a chance to get additional funding from the kitty. Njangi who was speaking recently when he met interior administrators drawn from the areas earmarked to benefit from the initiative, observed that poor farming methods had occasioned low food production saying some parts of the county in the recent past have been relying on relief foods. This funding, he added, will help the groups explore on ways of adding value to their produce, leading to more income. Among agricultural sectors being targeted to get funding include poultry, dairy, tissue culture banana and fish farming among others. “The programme aims at helping farmers improve on their production and venture in value addition and this will consequently increase their income,” stated Njangi. He further said the 5-year programme will also help farmers identify markets for their produce, noting that currently farmers are at the mercy of exploitative middle men. “The grant will go a long way to save rural farmers from losing their money through transactions with middlemen,” noted the chief officer. Njangi said agricultural extension officers will help farmers in employing best practices and in prudent utilisation of the funds. “The money has been given to the Kenyan government as a loan but to farmers the money is given as grants. There is a need to ensure the funds are utilised for the intended purpose,” he added. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CONSTITUENCIES DEVELOPMENT FUND MASINGA CONSTITUENCY NG-CDF OFFICE TENDER INVITATION NOTICE Masinga Constituency is in Masinga district in Machakos County and was created in 2009 from the larger yatta District. The NG-CDF office is situated within Masinga Central ward in Masinga town. Masinga NG-CDF invites bids from interested and Eligible bidders/firms for construction and equiping of office. Tenderers may inspect and obtain a complete set of tender documents upon payment of non-refundale fee of kenya shillings One thousand(1,000) only,either in bankers’cheque or cash payable to NG-CDF during normal working hours.the details of the tender are as follows: S/ NO TENDER NO. 1. MSG NG CDF/PR/05/2018/2019 DESCRIPTION Proposed construction and supply of furniture to office block TARGET GROUP Open Interested tenderes who meet the following mandatory requirements supported by certified copies of requisite documents at submission will be considered for further evaluation. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. b. c. d. g. Provide certificate of incorporation Provide valid National Construction Authority (NCA) Certificate under categories NCA 7 and above. Provide valid PIN/VAT Registration Certificate Provide valid tax compliance certificate. Must provide a bid bond of Kshs.80,000 of the bid price which must remain valid for 120 days(After the expiry of tender validity period) in form of a bank guarantee from a reputable bank or approved insu - arance by public Procurement Regulatory Authority. Duly filled form of tender. Duly filled confidential business questionnaire. Valid CR 12 from the Registrar of Companies. In addition ,interested bidders must show proof of the following; a. Audited accounts for the last three years. e. Works of similar magnitude and comlexity undertaken by the firm in the last 3 years f. Bank account in the name of the company (Attach six month’s bamk statement) Evidence of sound financial standing and access to bank credit line. Copy of receipt of tender document Completed set tender documents,plain sealed envelops ,clearly marked with the respective Tender Number,description and bearing the name and addressed to: Masinga NG-CDF Office FUND ACCOUNT MANAGER P.O BOX 121-90141 Masinga Should be deposited in the Tender Box at the NG-CDF Office Masinga Town on or before 26/11/2018 at 11.00am. Tenders will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of tenderes and or their representatives who choose to attend. Adequate equipment holding for the specified type of work. Key technical staff to be engaged PRESS STATEMENT CBS ON BENEFITS OF KENYA AIRWAYS DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM KENYA TO USA KQ commenced daily flights between Nairobi and New York on 28th at JFK Airport was on 29th October 2018. On my own behalf and on behalf of the State Department for Trade, I wish to join the business fraternity in the country in celebrating maiden direct flights from Kenya to the USA. With the advent of direct flights between Kenya and the USA: Kenya looks forward to: • • • • • Cost & time savings between the two destinations for up to 7 Hours; It will connect Africa and the Americas; Direct & indirect jobs will be created; It will boost trade between Kenya and the U.S. in terms of services & goods especially cut-flowers, vegetables, nuts, coffee, tea and apparel among others. Increased human traffic and interactions between the two countries i.e. tourists, business people, professionals, students, among others Getting Category One status is a big milestone for Kenya. In Africa, this status is only enjoyed by South Africa, Senegal, Cape Verde and Ethiopia. Our inclusion means more business for airlines using the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a hub. I wish to take this opportunity to urge the business fraternity in Kenya to take advantage of the Direct flights to increase exports to the expansive US market at this time when AGOA protocol still favours developing countries. Dr. Chris Kiptoo PS for Trade. October 2018. First landing County hosts free cancer screening Low turnout has been attributed to lack of education and awareness in the remote parts of the County where cases of the disease are rampant BY HARRISON YERI KNA-KILIFI F ew people showed up for a free cancer screening exercise at Karisa Maitha grounds in Kilifi town. The exercise was organised by Mulika Saratani Organisation which was founded in August 2006. The low turnout has been attributed to lack of education and awareness in the remote parts of the County where cases of the disease are rampant. The organisation partnered with African Cancer Foundation and Kilifi County government to assist locals in the area where between two or three cancer related cases are reported every week. Speaking during the exercise, County executive member for health Dr. Anisa Omar urged people to be visiting health facilities for regular check-ups noting that the disease had become alarming especially to women. She said through diagnosis, it had been established that cervical canA section of the people who turned up for cancer screening organised by the Mulika Saratani orgnisation. cer remains a big threat and revealed that a cancer unit will be established at the County hospital next year. “We get at least two to three cases related to cancer every week at the County hospital. These cases are referred from our rural health facilities where we suspect there are many more unreported cases, hence action is desirable,” she said. She said the County’s health department had organised to purchase 12 therapy machines for emergency responses at the new complex which will be open by September 2019. Founder of African Cancer Foundation who is wife to Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Dorothy Nyong’o said she had screened 20,000 people for breast, cervical and prostate cancer through her organisation since it started. She donated Sh300,000 to support Mulika Saratani organisation and pledged to partner with them and the county government. MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND COOPERATIVES STATE DEPARTMENT FOR TRADE

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