*COFFEE FARMERS WIPE THEIR FRAGRANT SWEAT*

A total of 9,582 small holder coffee farmers under Kipkelion District Co-operative Union Ltd(KDCU), today received a payment cheque worth Ksh.105.1 million for the sale of 134.4 metric tonnes of coffee exported to South Korea a month ago.

Out of this direct sale, the farmers drawn from Kericho, Nandi and Bomet counties, earned an average of Ksh.116 per kg of cherry, compared to the average of Ksh.76 fetched at the local auction.

Speaking while presenting the cheque to the farmers at Kipkelion Coffee Mill, H.E.Prof.Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, EGH, termed the move by the small scale farmers to manouver through the suppressive brokers and other intermediaries, to access direct market for their produce, as historic and commendable.

The farmers now want the Nairobi Coffee Exchange to open the door for them so that they can participate at the local auction.

At the same time, H.E the Governor presided over the groundbreaking for the construction of a warehouse to assist the farmers store their produce as they await exportation.

BRIEF STATUS OF KERICHO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

Residents of Kericho town and its environs will soon heave a sigh of relief as

the expansion of the water supply system in Duka moja area enters

homestretch.

The Ksh.1.2 billion project is 15 % shy of completion, and is projected to

produce 13 million litres of water per day, benefitting 200,000 households.

Out of the targeted 50km distribution pipeline, 48km line has already been

done, covering areas of Kapsoit-Borborwet, Kapcheptoror-Kaptebeswet,

Kakiptui, Kisumu road-Kapsoit and Kipchimchim-Ainamoi.

The Raw Water Gravity main pipeline covering 7.7 km from the main intake

to the treatment plant in Duka moja, is only 300metres short to the end

point.

The 2.8 km treated water gravity main pipeline connecting the main tank

near Tea hotel is barely 800 metres to the finishing mark.

This water project will be substantially completed not later than April this

year, and is projected to meet the water demand of the targeted population

till 2040.

According to the Managing Director for Kericho Water and Sanitation

Company (KEWASCO), Mr. Eric Siele, the current water shortage situation is

dire, with daily production shrinking to 2.6 million litres against the

augmented demand of 16 million litres per day. This is attributed partly to

the encroachment of sections of South West Mau forest resulting in drying

up of tributaries feeding Timbilil (main water source for KEWASCO).

As we grapple with this phenomenon, we must also remember that,

Kericho, just like other parts of the country, is fighting with the impacts of

climate change; and this requires collective and explicit action to reverse the situation.

*GOVERNOR CHEPKWONY CLINCHES TOP GALA AWARD*

Kericho County dominated this year's National County Gala Awards which took place today in Mombasa County.

Kericho Governor, H.E.Prof.Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, EGH, scooped the best Governor in Kenya award, subsequently earning Kericho two more awards; the best County in Governance and that of the overall best County.

Philip Kiprono Chirchir, was recognized and awarded for being the best Chief Officer in Kericho County.

The awards were based on a survey conducted in all the 47 counties between September and December, 2021

*ROAD TO OXYGEN PLANT STARTS*

The County Government of Kericho today laid a foundation stone for the construction of Ksh.46.8 million Oxygen plant at Kericho County Referral Hospital.

Deputy Governor, H.E.Lily Ng'ok, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony paving way for the start of the construction and installation works expected to be complete within the next six months.

The World Bank funded project, upon its completion and operation, will produce 350 litres of Oxygen per minute.

According to the Chief Officer in charge of Health Services, Dr.David Ekuwam, the plant will significantly reduce the turnaround time for procuring and delivery of oxygen from 24 hours to less than one hour.

The generated oxygen will also be distributed to all the County health facilities, private hospitals within Kericho County, and also to the neighbouring counties.

*BOOSTING POULTRY FARMING*

Poultry farmers' groups from different parts of the County today received chicks, courtesy of the County Government of Kericho.

Deputy Governor, H.E.Lily Ng'ok flanked by CECM in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Hon. Eng. Philip Mason presented the KALRO day old chicks to the groups which also comprised of Widows, Orphans and the Youth.

*CANCER DAY*

As the world marks Cancer Day, it is still sad that about 80% of cancer patients in Kenya are diagnosed at a later disease stage hence becoming costly to treat resulting in higher deaths.

This was revealed today during the launch of a 5-day free cancer screening and treatment medical camp in Kericho town to mark the World Cancer Day.

In her remarks, Deputy Governor, H.E.Lily Ng'ok rooted for Prevention, Early detection,Screening, Treatment and Follow-up, as the best ways of managing cancer.

Kericho County estimates about 7391 persons of all ages to have various types of cancer.

Between 2017 and 2021,the figures rose from 132 to 205 new cases.

The free medical services will be offered in all the County Health facilities, and made possible through the partnership of Department Health Services, Nishkam projects Kericho, Beyond Zero, Chamgei Fm, Brighter Communities Worldwide, Finlays and Fred Memorial Kericho.

*BOOST TO DAIRY FARMING*

Kabianga Farmers Cooperative Society from Belgut sub county today received dairy equipment worth Ksh. 3.9m, courtesy of County Government of Kericho.

The equipment comprises of a stand-by generator and a pasteuriser, which will greatly assist the farmers to add value to their produce.

H.E.Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, EGH, flagged off the consignment and called for more partnerships both from the public and private sectors aimed at strengthening the cooperative movement in the county.

The Governor was accompanied by the Chief Officer in charge of Trade, Industrialisation,Cooperative Management, Tourism and Wildlife, Mr. Victor Lang'at and other county government officials.

*BANANA PROJECT VALIDATION*

The Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project(KCSAP) team comprising of collaborators from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation(KALRO), Soil Cares, ICRAF, Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAF) and Women Farmers Association of Kenya (WoFaAK) , is in Kericho County to validate banana project in Ainamoi.

*WHITE SMOKE FINALLY BILLOWS OVER WATER*

The long-standing constestation between Kericho and Bomet counties over the management of water from Itare water project has finally been resolved.

Residents of Litein and parts of Bureti sub county now have a reason to smile after a task force drawn from the two counties resolved key among other issues the immediate resumption of water supply to Kericho County.

In what appeared as a well played-out, and successful water diplomacy, H.E.Prof.Paul Chepkwony, EGH, and his Bomet counterpart, H.E.Prof.Hillary Barchok, signed a 5-year agreement on how to jointly manage the water scheme.

In the agreement, Kericho made a commitment to settle the outstanding debt of Ksh. 29.5m owed to BOMWASCO within a period of three months.

The negotiations were midwifed by Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency and brought together the Water Service Providers from the two counties, KEWASCO and BOMWASCO.

Since the disconnection of water by Bomet County in June last year, well over 35,000 residents of Bureti sub county had suffered the brunt.

*SPURRING INDUSTRIAL GROWTH*

Industrialization Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development, Hezekiah Okeyo led a delegation from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO) for a courtesy call and consultative meeting with H.E.Prof.Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, EGH and county departmental heads.

The team was on a feasibility study and validation of Agro-Industrial Park, Rural Transformation Centre and Aggregation Centres in the region.

This is in a bid to enhance quality and safety standards in a variety of crop value chains.

*NO REPLACEMENT FOR PEACE*

Leaders from all walks of life today attended a prayer breakfast meeting convened by Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kericho.

The meeting held in Kericho town carried the theme, "Peace, Integrity and Coexistence".

Speaking while distributing Lenten campaign 2022 Booklets, developed by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Justice and Peace Department, Rev.Rotich appealed to politicians to be tolerant to each other and always preach peace and cohesion in their election campaigns.

H.E. Prof.Paul Chepkwony, EGH, who led other leaders in the function urged politicians to be responsible for their utterances and shun from divisive politics.

Other leaders in attendance included,Deputy Governors, H.E.Lily Ng'ok (Kericho) , H.E.Shadrack Rotich(Bomet), Kericho County Assembly Speaker, Hon.Dominic Rono among others.

UHURU GARDENS IN KERICHO TO OPEN ITS GATES ON 14TH FEBRUARY 2022

The Newly Refurbished Uhuru Gardens in Kericho was officially opened tomorrow on 14th February 2022. H.E. Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony will be presiding over the function as from 11.00am. Members of the public are hereby invited.

*KERICHO COFFEE FINDS ITS WAY TO KOREA*

A new milestone as Kericho County flags off its first consignment of coffee to a direct market in South Korea.

Kericho Governor, H.E.Prof.Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, EGH, presided over the flagging off ceremony of 134.4 metric tonnes of coffee valued at Ksh. 110m at Bollore Transport and Logistics offices in Nairobi.

The proceeds from the sale of this coffee exportation will benefit a total of 9,582 small scale farmers spread across Kericho, Bomet and Nandi Counties.

Kipkelion District Coffee Union together with the County Government of Kericho played a key role in looking for this and other potential markets in the UK, Germany, Middle East and some Scandinavian countries.

According to Governor Chepkwony, the recommendations of the National Task Force on Coffee Subsector

Reforms, 2016, had started bearing fruits.

The Governor was accompanied by CECMs, Hon.Charles Birech(Trade), Hon.Philip Mason(Agriculture) and Trade Chief Officer, Victor Lang'at.

*GO FOR THE JAB*

Accelerated COVID-19 vaccination campaign was on February 3rd, 2022 officially launched in Kericho County with calls for leaders to assist in sensitizing citizens on the need to take up the COVID-19 jab.

The 10-day nationwide exercise which started last Tuesday and runs upto Feb 6th will see health officials administering the vaccine in various strategic places such as schools, religious institutions ,markets and even homes.

During this period, a total of 57991 persons are targeted for vaccination in Kericho County.

Deputy Governor, H.E.Lily Ng'ok and Kericho County Commissioner, Kamau Karugo accompanied by Director Health Services, Dr. Betty Lang'at presided over the event.

To date a total of 151,165 persons in the county have received the first dose with barely 54,379 getting the second dose.

*BODA BODA GROUP RIDES ITS WAY TO BAKERY BUSINESS*

Twenty-member Lemosach Boda Boda Sacco based at Nyairobi area in Londiani ward now proudly owns a bakery.

Kericho Deputy Governor, H.E.Lily Ng'ok who has closely worked with the Sacco since its inception a year ago, commissioned the facility this evening and encouraged the group to manage the business prudently and use the proceeds to expand their operations.

# Kazi ni Kazi#