rift valley

By Dennis Bett Boresha Sacco has launched a mentorship programme that seeks to empower the youth to be self-reliant and be job creators. Through Boresha Community Foundation (BCF), the Sacco has kicked off ‘Boresha Vijana’ programme. The programme aims at assisting the youth to create jobs and expand their income sources. It will also enable them participate in various youth ...

By Wasike Elvis Deputy President William Ruto has called on maize farmers across the country to diversify and plant alternative crops. Ruto said crop diversification will help farmers increase their income base.  “Let us think outside the box and plant crops such as coffee, avocado, and macadamia as they have a ready market locally and abroad,” he said. He was speaking ...

By Benedict Ng’etich    Co-operative societies have been urged to embrace diversification in order to reduce the negative effects of drought. Tea-based societies in Kericho and Bomet counties were greatly affected by pro-longed drought that affected the country leading to the sharp drop in green leave production. Lawrence Kikwai, a delegate at Patnas Sacco who represents Kapkoros Zone, said that tea ...

By Benedicto Ng’etich     Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Kericho County have been challenged to form a local bank. Kericho Deputy Governor Susan Kikwai noted that Saccos in the county and the neighbouring Bomet County are well-established and stable to form a strong financial institution. She was speaking during the 97th International Cooperative Day celebrations held at the Kericho Primary ...

By Dennis Bett Farmers from the North Rift region have welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s order to revamp the Kenya Farmers Association (KFA). The KFA Director, Kipkorir Menjo, accompanied by other farmers’ representatives, Jackson Chemweno and Joseph Tanui, said the President’s order was long overdue. Menjo said farmers representatives from Uasin Gishu County will be travelling to Nairobi to meet the ...

By Benedicto Ng’etich Kericho County Director of Cooperatives Leonard Otii has advised Saccos affiliated to giant multinationals to device other means of survival in the face of dwindling membership. Otii expressed fear over the survival of the societies after the parent companies started early retirements of employees due to what has been seen as the nega­tive effects of massive mechani­zation ...

By Talarus Chesang Baringo coffee farmers have opposed ongoing plans to relocate a multi-million coffee factory from Katimok Forest in Baringo North to Koibatek Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Eldama-Ravine. Residents put on the spot the County Governor Stanley Kiptis over earmarked relocation of the Sh100 million-worth coffee factory. “Construction of the modern Coffee Milling Plant is now set to ...

By Martin Ruto Pokot Youth Bunge Organisation has made great strides in supporting education in West Pokot County. The organisation started its programme through piloting two zones in the county which include Kishaunet zone and Chemwochoi zone. The major aim of the Pokot Youth Bunge Organisation is to supply primary schools with learning and teaching materials which will aid pupils ...

By Benedict Ng’etich Strong and established savings and Credit Societies in Kericho County have been urged to assist small marketing societies by giving them soft loans. The Kericho County Director of Co operatives Leonard Otii pleaded with the strong saccos to extend the support in order to grow their businesses reach and also lift the struggling Saccos. “I thank some ...

By Dickson Kipsang A section of Nandi youths have created an awe inspiring tale by converting a WhatsApp group into a Savings and Credit Co-operative Society Limited aimed at empowering members economically. The group known as Maskani WhatsApp Group was officially converted into Maskani 029 Sacco as a result of a resolution passed during the second annivesary of the WhatsApp ...