Bypasses, Expressways and interchanges: The changing face of Nairobi

Nairobi's modern transport system came with an investment of over Sh200 billion.

Divorce: How Luo, Kikuyu, Kamba communities ended marriages

Various communities had their own ways of dissolving unions.

Starehe Boys students cycle 1,000km to raise Sh10m

Proceeds from the cycling marathon will go towards the education of 10 needy students at the...

Sharon Otieno's family open to reconciliation with Obado, seeks assistance

The family hopes that Obado would honour a promise he made to Sharon to buy her a plot and...

Impeached, but can they still run? Cloud hangs over Gachagua, Mwangaza's 2027 bids

The Attorney-General left the key question unanswered.

Ministry of Health - Kenya Health Summit

Ruto denies Sh104bn SHA technology contract

We didnt purchase the technology outright but engaged investors who own the equipment, Ruto stated

Alivyopandisha hadhi ya shamba lake kwa kulima pitaya

UNAPOZURU shamba lake, utakaribishwa na mseto wa mimea na mazao japo kinachojitokeza zaidi ni kilimo cha matunda yanayostahili kiangazi na ukame. Pitaya, maarufu kwa Kiingereza kama dragon fruits, ni matunda yaliyopandisha hadhi ya shamba lake. Si mwingine ila ni Kennedy Macharia, maarufu kama Macha wa Dragon. "Haijakuwa safari ya leo, jana ama juzi kupandisha hadhi ya shamba langu," anasema. Kwanza, alitangulia kulitafuta – aitwe mmiki wa ardhi. Anasimulia kwamba mwaka 2003, yeye na rafiki yake walianza kutafuta kipande cha ardhi huko Joska, Kaunti ya Machakos, ambako wangeweza kuishi na familia zao. Uamuzi huo, hatimaye uliishia kuwa fursa yenye thamani kubwa. Macharia, ambaye wakati huo alikuwa akifanya kazi za vibarua katika sekta ya ujenzi, alinunua ekari moja kwa Sh600,000. Leo hii, kipande hicho kinakadiriwa kuwa na thamani ya Sh10 milioni na kina shamba la matunda ya dragon. "Wakati huo ardhi Joska ilikuwa ya bei nafuu kwa sababu ilikuwa bado halijaendelezwa na kukua," anakumbuka. Anasema hii leo ni vigumu kupata ekari moja, kwani wawekezaji wa ardhi hununua mashamba makubwa, kuyagawanya kuwa ploti za futi 50 kwa 100 na kuziuza hadi Sh1.3 milioni kila kimoja. [caption id="attachment_191315" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mipitaya kwenye shamba la Kennedy Macharia, Joska, Machakos. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Akiwa mwasisi wa Kran Farm, ambaye anatoka Kangema, Murang'a, anaeleza kuwa Joska ni eneo kame na nusu-kame (ASAL), ambapo kilimo cha mfumo wa umwagiliaji mimea na mashamba maji kwa kutumia mifereji (irrigation) au uwekezaji wa ujenzi wa nyumba za kukodisha ndio unaoweza kuleta faida kutokana na uhaba wa maji eneo hilo. Baada ya kukamilisha kulipa shamba lake na kuhamia huko mwaka 2014, Macharia alianza kilimo cha mahindi, maharagwe, soya, mboga na ufugaji wa kuku, mbuzi na vilevile sungura. "Nilitegemea mvua pekee, jambo lililoniletea hasara wakati wa misimu ya kiangazi na ukame," anaelezea. Ukame mbaya wa 2022 hadi 2023 ulimfanya aanze kutafuta zao linaloweza kustahimili athari za mabadiliko ya tabianchi, ukame na kiangazi vikiwemo. Utafiti wake ulimpeleka kwenye matunda ya pitaya, ndiyo dragon, zao linalofanana na kaktasi na ambalo linazidi kupata umaarufu miongoni mwa wakulima na walaji. Alipotembelea shamba la matunda hayo huko Juja, alivutiwa na uwezo wake wa kustawi katika eneo kame. Pia aligundua kuwa tunda moja linaweza kuuzwa kwa karibu Sh1,000 kulingana na ukubwa na ubora. Mwaka 2023 alinunua miche 40 kwa Sh850 kila moja. Miche yote ilistawi na kuanza kuzaa baada ya takriban mwaka mmoja. Leo hii, Macharia ana mipitaya kati ya 700 na 800 kwenye robo ekari, inayozalisha kilo 250 hadi 300 za matunda kwa mwezi, huku nyakati zingine mavuno yakifika kilo 400. Macharia analenga kuzalisha matunda makubwa yenye uzani wa karibu gramu 500 kila moja. Anatumia samadi kutoka kwa mbuzi na kuku wake kuongeza rutuba ya udongo. Biashara hiyo sasa imebuni ajira kwa vibarua wawili, hususan wakati wa mavuno. [caption id="attachment_191316" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Kennedy Macharia akikagua pitaya kwenye shamba lake Joska, Machakos. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Soko lake limepanuka kupitia mitandao ya kijamii kama vile Facebook, Instagram, TikTok na YouTube, huku binti yake akihusika pakubwa katika uuzaji wa kidijitali na kusaka taarifa kuhusu mbinu mpya za uzalishaji na mwenendo wa soko. Macharia huuza matunda ya pitaya Nairobi na pia majirani eneo la Joska. Anasisitiza umuhimu wa kutunza rekodi za biashara na kufuatilia gharama. "Lazima uelewe mahesabu ya kilimo-biashara. Usipohifadhi rekodi na kufuatilia gharama, hutajua biashara inavyoendelea na utakuwa mwenyeji wa hasara," anasema. Ili kupunguza gharama, sasa huzalisha miche yake mwenyewe kutoka kwa mimea iliyokomaa. Hali kadhalika, hutumia teknolojia ya matuta yaliyoinuliwa na kufunika udongo kwa mabaki mimea iliyokauka, ikiwemo nyasi, ili kuhifadhi unyevuunyevu na kudhibiti kwekwe dhidi ya kumea. Isitoshe, amewekeza katika uvunaji wa maji, ikiwa ni pamoja na matangi na bwawa lenye uwezo wa kuhifadhi karibu lita 50,000. "Uhaba wa maji bado ni changamoto kubwa, lakini matunda ya dragon yana matatizo machache ya magonjwa," anaelezea. Pia, hupanda Mexican marigold kati ya mistari ya mipitaya ili kufukuza wadudu kwa njia ya kiasili. Macharia anaamini zao hilo linaweza kusaidia wakulima wa maeneo kame kupata mapato kutoka kwa mashamba madogo.  

US states call for big changes to Instagram and Facebook as Meta child privacy trial begins

Meta has been hit with successive losses in court over how its platforms have targeted and harmed young users, but a jury trial set to begin on Tuesday may pose the biggest threat yet to its operations. The trial stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 30 US states, including California and New York, [...] The post US states call for big changes to Instagram and Facebook as Meta child privacy trial begins appeared first on Kahawatungu.

New Ultimate Sevens threatens KCB's hunt for sixth national title

Five key KCB players among 14 selected for Ultimate Sevens Championship.

Man police linked to Homa Bay chaos surrenders, but is turned away

After he was turned away, he headed to Muthaiga Police Station to attempt another surrender.

What every parent should know about their child's 'disrespect'

Disrespectful behaviour is often a symptom rather than the root cause.

Kiwango cha njaa duniani chapungua huku ukame ukitishia mavuno nchini Kenya

KIWANGO cha njaa duniani kimepungua kwa mwaka wa tatu mfululizo, lakini dunia bado i mbali kuwahi lengo la kutokomeza njaa ifikapo 2030, ripoti mpya ya Umoja wa Mataifa (UN) imefichua. Makala ya 2026 ya ripoti ya Hali ya Usalama wa Chakula na Lishe Duniani, kwa Kiingereza 'the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)' inaonyesha kuwa idadi ya watu wanaokabiliwa na njaa ilipungua kutoka asilimia 8.6 mwaka 2022 hadi asilimia 7.8 mwaka jana, 2025, punguo hilo likiwa sawa na karibu watu milioni 645 duniani. Hata hivyo, mafanikio hayo bado yako hatarini kutokana na mabadiliko ya tabianchi, kupanda kwa bei ya chakula, migogoro katika nchi zinazounda malighafi ya mbolea na ukosefu wa usawa kiuchumi. Akizindua ripoti hiyo mwezi uliopita, Julai, Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Chakula na Kilimo (FAO), Dkt Qu Dongyu, alionya kuwa athari za tabianchi zinaweza kurejesha nyuma mafanikio yaliyopatikana na kusababisha mamilioni ya watu kukabiliwa na ukosefu wa chakula. "Athari za mabadiliko ya tabianchi zisipodhibitiwa, zaidi ya watu milioni 500 duniani wanaweza kuwa katika hatari ya kukumbwa na njaa," alisema Dkt Qu. Aidha, alizitaka nchi kuongeza uwekezaji katika mifumo ya chakula inayostahimili tabianchi, kuimarisha uzalishaji, kuboresha mitandao ya usambazaji na kufanya chakula kupatikana kwa bei nafuu. Ripoti hiyo ilitolewa kwa pamoja na FAO na mashirika mengine ya Umoja wa Mataifa, yakiwemo IFAD, WFP, WHO na UNICEF. [caption id="attachment_191310" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ukame unaendelea kushuhudiwa katika baadhi ya kaunti nchini. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Dkt Qu alisema ingawa kiwango cha njaa duniani kimepungua, Afrika bado inakabiliwa na baa la njaa. Ripoti inaonyesha kuwa watu milioni 309 barani Afrika wanakabiliwa na njaa, sawa na mtu mmoja kati ya kila Waafrika watano. Aidha, asilimia 66.6 ya Waafrika hawawezi kumudu lishe bora. Huku dunia ikiandikisha kupungua kwa njaa, Kenya inakabiliwa na tishio la uhaba wa chakula kutokana na taarifa za kukauka kwa mazao katika maeneo muhimu ya uzalishaji, hasa Bonde la Ufa. Wakulima wameelezea wasiwasi kuhusu mahindi kukaukia mashambani kutokana na kuchelewa kwa mvua na vipindi virefu vya ukame. Hali hiyo inatarajiwa kuwa mbaya zaidi kufuatia El Niño inayopaniwa kushuhudiwa Oktoba 2026, wakulima wakihofia mimea na mazao kidogo yaliyosalia shambani kusombwa na mafuriko. Athari za mabadiliko ya tabianchi haswa kiangazi na ukame zinatishia mavuno, usalama wa chakula na mapato ya wakulima wadogo wanaotegemea kilimo cha kutegemea mvua. Data kutoka AGRA pia inaonyesha kuwa shinikizo la tabianchi ni tishio kubwa kwa uzalishaji wa chakula barani Afrika. Mvua ya El Niño inayotarajiwa kuendelea hadi mwishoni mwa 2026 na mwanzoni mwa 2027, kilele chake wataalamu wa hali ya hewa wanaonya kitakuwa joto kali na ukame Afrika Mashariki na Kusini. FAO imezitaka nchi kuharakisha ukumbatiaji wa matumizi ya teknolojia zinazostahimili mabadiliko ya tabianchi, kuboresha mifumo ya upatikanaji wa fedha, mbegu bora na mifumo ya umwagiliaji mimea na mashamba maji kwa kutumia mifereji (irrigation). "Ni muhimu serikali za nchi za Afrika zijiandae vilivyo ili kukabiliana na tabianchi," akahimiza Dkt Qu. [caption id="attachment_191311" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wataalamu wanahimiza wakulima kukumbatia teknolojia za kisasa kuzalisha chakula. Pichani, kabichi zilizokuzwa Isiolo ambayo ni kaunti kame. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Ripoti ya UN pia inaonyesha kuwa watu bilioni 2.7 hawakuweza kumudu lishe bora mwaka 2025, ingawa idadi hiyo ilipungua kutoka bilioni 3 mwaka 2021. Gharama ya lishe bora duniani imefikia dola za PPP 4.28 kwa mtu kwa siku, huku Afrika ikiwa dola 4.33. Bei ya juu ya matunda, mboga na vyakula vingine vyenye virutubisho inaendelea kuzuia familia nyingi kumudu mlo bora na kamilifu. Abdurakhmonov Ibrokhim Yulchievich, Waziri wa Kilimo wa Uzbekistan, akizungumza wakati wa uzinduzi wa ripoti hiyo alisema mageuzi katika kilimo yanahitaji matumizi ya teknolojia za kisasa na mifumo mipya ya ufadhili. "Teknolojia za akili bandia, ndiyo Artificial Intelligence (AI) zinaweza kusaidia kuunda hifadhi ya data za wakulima, kurahisisha upatikanaji wa mikopo na kupunguza hatari kwa taasisi za kifedha," akasema Waziri Ibrokhim. FAO imesisitiza kuwa kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya tabianchi, ushirikiano kati ya serikali na sekta binafsi unahitajika, huku uwekezaji zaidi ukipaswa kuelekezwa katika teknolojia zinazolinda uzalishaji wa chakula na kusaidia wakulima kustahimili athari za tabianchi.  

Ministry Reveals New Measures as Ebola Outbreak Hits DRC

The move comes amid a worsening Ebola outbreak in the DRC, with reports indicating that the virus is claiming one life approximately every 30 minutes.

EACC Flags Loopholes Putting Kenyans' SACCO Savings at Risk

The report comes amid growing concerns among Kenyans in various SACCOs about the introduction of a new delegate-based governance system in large co-operative societies.

Siaya politician calls for issue-based politics ahead of 2027 polls

Siaya politician Dan Omoro has urged Kenyans to reject politicians who promote violence and intimidation during campaigns, saying political competition should be based on ideas and policies. Omoro, who has expressed interest in contesting the Alego/Usonga parliamentary seat in next year's General Election, said the country had no place for political intolerance and urged Kenyans...

Gachagua's Lawyer Writes to DCI Over Ksh25.4 Million Bribery Claim

His demands come amid viral posts that he was arrested for trying to bribe the Supreme Court over a case involving the former DP.

Ebunangwe TVET set to admit students in September

Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo has reaffirmed his commitment to operationalising Ebunangwe Technical and Vocational College (TVET), saying the institution will be ready to admit students for the September 2026 intake. Ottichilo chaired a stakeholder engagement meeting at the college on Monday, August 17, 2026, to assess its preparedness and agree on measures required to make...

Maraga Gives Ruto 7-Day Ultimatum, Threatens to Expose Report

His demands come amid scrutiny of police officers' conduct, especially in managing recent political rallies, especially for the opposition.

Yangu na yako yameishia hapa, Gavana Mutai amtema naibu wake

MWAKA mmoja kabla ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa Agosti 10, 2027, Gavana wa Kericho Erick Mutai, ametangaza wazi mwisho wa ushirikiano wake wa kisiasa na Naibu Gavana Fred Kirui, akihitimisha uhusiano ambao umekuwa na misukosuko ya kisiasa na kiutawala kwa miaka minne iliyopita. Akizungumza katika wadi ya Chilchila, eneo bunge la Kipkelion West, Dkt Mutai alisema hadharani kuwa amempa Bw Kirui uhuru wa kutafuta mshirika mwingine wa kisiasa kuelekea uchaguzi ujao, iwe kama mgombea wa ugavana au mgombea mwenza. Gavana huyo alidai kuwa Naibu wake alihusika na majaribio yaliyotibuka ya kumng'atua madarakani. Alisema sasa ataungana kisiasa na aliyekuwa Mbunge wa Kipkelion, Bw Jackson Rop, ambaye kwa sasa ni Waziri wa Kaunti anayesimamia Fedha na Mipango ya Kiuchumi. "Uhusiano wetu wa kisiasa umefikia mwisho. Kuanzia sasa nitafanya kazi na Jackson Rop na nitatafuta muhula wa pili nikiwa na mgombea mwenza mpya," alisema Dkt Mutai. Kwa upande wake, Mhandisi Kirui alimshutumu gavana kwa kumdhalilisha na kutomheshimu tangu walipochaguliwa mwaka 2022. Alisema hali hiyo imefanya ushirikiano wao usiwezekane. "Wananchi wa Kipkelion West wataamua mwelekeo wao wa kisiasa mwaka 2027 kutokana na namna ulivyonitendea licha ya kutupatia kura kwa wingi," alisema Kirui. Mzozo kati ya viongozi hao unadaiwa kuchochewa na makubaliano ya kugawana madaraka kwa uwiano wa asilimia 60 kwa gavana na asilimia 40 kwa naibu wake, madai ambayo Dkt Mutai amekuwa akikanusha. Tofauti zilianza mara tu baada ya kuapishwa kwao wakati wa uteuzi wa Mawaziri wa Kaunti na maafisa wakuu, ambapo Kirui alidai hakushirikishwa. Huku uchaguzi wa 2027 ukikaribia, kinyang'anyiro cha ugavana Kericho kinaonekana kuwa na ushindani mkali, huku Charles Keter, Florence Bore na Spika wa Bunge la Kaunti Dkt Patrick Mutai wakitajwa miongoni mwa wanaotaka kuwania.