Baringo bee farmers to produce the best honey brand in Kenya

Baringo Advocacy and Development Organization (BADO) chairperson John Sergon has today during the closure of Baringo Honey Conference pledged to collaborate with bee farmers to maintain Baringo honey in the market.
Sergon said that Baringo honey association which was formed during last year’s honey conference is set to produce to the best pure honey in the market that is going to last for decades.
“BADO is in total collaboration with farmers and seeks to ensure that the honey produced meets the market standards and being certified as organic honey unlike the famous Kitui honey which is now losing market due to production of bogus brand,” Sergon stated.
Sergon said in the past Kitui’s honey was a hot cake in the Kenyan market but has lost its fame recently due to decreased effectiveness in curing common diseases such as cold and stomach aches something he discourages in Baringo’s brand.
The chairman said Baringo County is widely known at the moment for the production of sweet medicinal honey but it is ironical that the honey cannot meet the current market demand.
“We already have the brand but the product itself is not enough to supply the market which is increasing at a high rate as the population rise,” Sergon noted.
Baringo honey association is working towards achieving quality products that meet international standards although a local policy to deal with security, environmental and quality concerns has not yet been passed by the members, Sergon added.

Family cries over flash floods due to surface run off

A family in Kabarnet, Bondeni area now lives in fear after their houses were almost swept away by the raging water as a result of heavy downpour in the area that lasted for three hours due to the ongoing El Niño rains.
Lesile Lengeiya who has lived in the place since 1996 said he has never experienced massive flowing water sweep his farm to a point of sinking his pit latrine.
"When I saw the amount and speed at which the water was flowing towards my estate, I realized our lives were in danger," Lengeiya said.
Residents in the area claim that the water sweeping their homes since the commencement of the rains flowing from all town sewages were directed to the area making a stream of dirty water hence bursting the dug pathways to people's households.
Confirming the incident yesterday, Baringo County Executive Committee Edwin Riamangura said the effects of elnino are now real and are being experienced in the whole county and that the county government will take the necessary measures to minimize the damages.
"We have witnessed the way people have lost their property and the erosion caused by the rushing water which have swept people's homes making them flee houses at night," Riamangura added
Meanwhile, as we seek solution to this menace, people should relocate to safer places lest we lose lives in the process as some of the measures such as construction of permanent bridges and drainage systems are improper at the moment, Riamangura noted.
Lengeiya said since they live adjacent to Bondeni Stadium, the water which used to flow through the stadium to its lower side have now been diverted towards his farm after sweeping its walls an act that has cost his property.
“Rental charges have been my major source of income and now have been cut off as tenants are leaving the rented rooms for their safety,” said Lengeiya.
Lengeiya told KNA that the sank toilet which was the second to be constructed eight years ago since his settlement in the area was filled by water till it overflowed despite having a depth of 20 feet.
"The toilet was not yet filled up but we were forced to seek help from a neighbour before we constructed a make shift," Lengeiya reiterated.
Lengeiya now calls for any assistance from the government saying the torrent is not only a threat to his family but to the entire surrounding environs as the water end up flowing into a stream nearby increasing the risk of water borne diseases.
Elizabeth Lengeiya, Lesiles' wife said she was alerted by the smell of sewage water and children calling for help saying the floods had flashed into the house nearly sweeping it, she immediately informed the husband of the impending disaster who in turn acted quickly to stop the water.
"I told the children to stay calm inside the house as everything was in control, suddenly a terrifying sound was heard like that of a train, I thought my husband was hit by a car only to realize that our toilet had submerged something that worried me before confirming that nobody was trapped inside,” she explained.
Nevertheless, the residents took the blame to the county government for negligence to the area as preparation on water drainage in the area were not carried out on time despite the early warnings of the impending elnino rains.
However, chairman Kenya Red Cross Baringo branch said the latrine had no proper strength to sustain it from the floods and urged the family to move to raised places if possible and promised to donate a mobile toilet and plastic shoes to them.
"People should get prepared for elnino and take it seriously as it will take long and is unpredictable but need alertness and early precautions," Kemboi added.

14 new operational irrigation schemes set in Baringo County

Baringo County executive committee (CEC) for livestock and fisheries Caroline Tenges said that 14 new operational irrigation schemes have been set across the county to increase food productivity.
Tenges attested during the Baringo Entrepreneurship Expo Summit that the county government worked with the ministry of water and irrigation to set up the schemes so as to secure sufficient food supply in the county.
“Among the 14 irrigation schemes are already contracted by companies such as Olerai, Elgon seed and Kenya Seed Company who collude with farmers to produce quality maize seeds,” Tenges added.
Tenges said that the county is investing a lot in agribusiness as it is the backbone of the county and a way to reduce food insecurity that has been frequently threatening the county with a population of over 2 million.
The CEC admitting that the county has 5 afro climate regions said it has a potential to produce mass food and cash crop varieties in highlands and animal production majorly in the semi arid areas in the county.
Tenges noted that women have been involved in agribusiness through irrigation by use of new technologies such as use of green houses to plant giant tomatoes.
"We have mobilised women into groups and supplied them with 10 green houses to enable them practice food farming and empower women in agriculture," Caroline explained.
She said the beekeepers have joined associations and cooperatives and have come with 300 honey processing plans which enable them package honey.
"The honey is a mixture of medicinal plants such as acacia and thus able to cure several deseas despite its sweetness," Tenges advised.
Honey from Baringo has gained both local and international market and we are already negotiating witg an investor fro South Korea who has seen the need to source honey from here, Tenges added.
Kerio Valley Developmet Authority managing director David Kimosop said the company produces 3,000 beehives annualy and targets to produce 1,000 tonnes of honey per year.
Kimosop acknowledged that the county can do well in terms of mango fruit production but more nees to be done in growing the trees to ensure that it produces fruits that attract international markets.
"KVDA is planning to install a mango processing plan able to enable the county package various types of turned mango fruit products, " Kimosop concluded.

The stolen Orrorin Tugenesis to be brought back to Baringo

Baringo County Chief Executive Officer in charge of trade and investment Hon. Kipchumba Keitany has said that plans are underway to bring back Arrorin Tugenesis fossil from Nairobi to Baringo County.

Hon. Keitany in his remarks as a panelist during the ongoing Baringo Entrepreneurial Expo Summit (BEES) yesterday at Kabarnet show grounds said Orrorin Tugenesis shall be returned to Kipsaraman where huge deposits of the fossil are found.

"We shall bring back the fossils to Kipsaraman so that tourists are able to follow the fossil all the way from Nairobi and it will be a big investment for Baringo,” Keitany reiterated.

Keitany added that the fossils are believed to be the remains of the first man and play a big role in attracting tourists to come to the county hence encouraging investors to devote in the county.

Keitany further invited investors to focus in developing cultural villages and centers due to cultural diversity in the county which attracts more tourists.

Keitany added that sports tourism along Tugen hills is an exciting opportunity as caves and waterfalls are found along the hills together with gorges and over 450 bird species which converge at Tugumoi.

"We normally have a bird skipping festival at Tugumoi during the September-November period when varieties of bird species converge," Keitany stated.

Keitany said that the county has an added advantage as it sits along the equator something that attracts tourists and two national reserves with over 500 elephants without forgetting beaches at lake Bogoria and Baringo where geysers are found.

Baringo county governor Hon. Benjamin Cheboi urged the local investors to invest their funds in the county instead of investing them elsewhere for fear of being questioned where they got the funding as borrowing is one of the ways to raise funds.

"Local investors should avoid investing in places outside the county such as Nairobi for fear of being asked where they got the money even when you can borrow," Cheboi added.

14 new operational irrigation schemes set in Baringo County

Baringo County executive committee (CEC) for livestock and fisheries Caroline Tenges said that 14 new operational irrigation schemes have been set across the county to increase food productivity.
Tenges attested during the Baringo Entrepreneurship Expo Summit that the county government worked with the ministry of water and irrigation to set up the schemes so as to secure sufficient food supply in the county.
“Among the 14 irrigation schemes are already contracted by companies such as Olerai, Elgon seed and Kenya Seed Company who collude with farmers to produce quality maize seeds,” Tenges added.
Tenges said that the county is investing a lot in agribusiness as it is the backbone of the county and a way to reduce food insecurity that has been frequently threatening the county with a population of over 2 million.
The CEC admitting that the county has 5 afro climate regions said it has a potential to produce mass food and cash crop varieties in highlands and animal production majorly in the semi arid areas in the county.
Tenges noted that women have been involved in agribusiness through irrigation by use of new technologies such as use of green houses to plant giant tomatoes.
"We have mobilised women into groups and supplied them with 10 green houses to enable them practice food farming and empower women in agriculture," Caroline explained.
She said the beekeepers have joined associations and cooperatives and have come with 300 honey processing plans which enable them package honey.
"The honey is a mixture of medicinal plants such as acacia and thus able to cure several deseas despite its sweetness," Tenges advised.
Honey from Baringo has gained both local and international market and we are already negotiating witg an investor fro South Korea who has seen the need to source honey from here, Tenges added.
Kerio Valley Developmet Authority managing director David Kimosop said the company produces 3,000 beehives annualy and targets to produce 1,000 tonnes of honey per year.
Kimosop acknowledged that the county can do well in terms of mango fruit production but more nees to be done in growing the trees to ensure that it produces fruits that attract international markets.
"KVDA is planning to install a mango processing plan able to enable the county package various types of turned mango fruit products, " Kimosop concluded.

Plans have been laid to compensate those who lost life through cattle rustling.

The CEO anti cattle rustling programme in Baringo county yesterday told the members of the county assembly that he is working with the national government to compensate IDPs in cattle rustling.

Dr James Kandagor who initiated the programme in 2008 said that the internally displaced persons who were displaced due to cattle rustling shall be resettled in there counties.

Kandagor added that the initiative has a mandate to ensure that the IDPs get homesteads where they are going to construct 40,000 house units for the three affected communities.

The three bedroom houses shall be equipped with three beds with 6 inch mattresses, 5 blankets, 3 mosquito nets, a television and a computer, Kandagor added.

In addition, they shall receive two cows, two goats and Ksh 200,000 for maintenance and food provision for the first two years while being taught to practice modern farming, Kandagor attested.

“The Illchamus, Tugen and Pokot got affected by cattle rustling and are ready to support the initiative in order to maintain peace in the county”, Kandagor remarked.

Resettlement shall be done in the five counties that are Baringo, Turkana, Pokot, Samburu and West Pokot counties with the aid of land commission who will conduct land survey, Kandagor added.

Kandagor urged the members of county assembly to support adoption of group ranches in order to eliminate nomads by planting grass inside the ranch and irrigate them at the same time chose right community for settlement.

Maritim CEO for national land commission said that Kokwon highland is the only active in the county among others such as Barkipi, Kimalel, Sabor, Marigat, Ngambo, Salabani, Eldume, Bakidi A and B and Bartam ranches.

She added that, group ranches fall under the community land bill and community have a say over a community land hosting the mineral under the bill.

Establishment of Group Ranches in Baringo to Stamp Out Cattle Rustling

Managing pasture through group ranches is a key solution to addressing cattle rustling and banditry menace which has breached peace in parts of Baringo County, County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo has said.

Mr Okwanyo said establishment of the group ranches will go a long way in minimizing the persistent conflicts among warring communities in the county occasioned by shrinking water and pasture resources.

“Adopting modern ways of developing pasture and managing it will tackle the recurrent disputes among the three warring Pokot, Tugen and Ilchamus communities in Baringo and its neighbouring counties, “he reiterated.

Okwanyo noted that it was easier to control people within the ranches once pasture is managed as security personnel will be assigned duties to man each of the ranches.

Addressing MCAs during a peace meeting at Kenya School of Government organized by Baringo Anti- Cattle Rustling Programme the commissioner observed that clashes arise when herds’ men trespass to other areas due to inadequate pasture in their regions thus encouraging theft of cattle.

The Anti-Cattle Rustling Programme Dr James Kandagor said that his organization plans to resettle people displaced by banditry activities in counties of Baringo, Turkana, Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu and West Pokot with help from National Land Commission which will establish boundaries and conduct land survey.

Dr Kandagor urged the 30 members of county assembly drawn from the six local sub counties to support the ambitious initiative of coming up with group ranches in order to reduce disagreements and fights as sections of the ranches will be planted with adequate grass.


"It is no longer cattle issue alone but more of space", Rebecca Maritim Secretary County Land Management Board reiterated.

Ms Maritim called on livestock herders in the county to reduce the number of animals they keep minimizing conflicts over scarce resources like pasture and watering points adding that the large cattle in most cases do not meet market health standards due to poor management.

“I have been in Baringo for a year but I have never been to Loruk simply because whenever I plan to go to the region we receive messages from county and national level that the place is unsafe”, Maritim said.

Maritim also challenged the MCAs to support peace building initiatives mooted by office of the county commissioner and Anti Cattle Rustling Programme for lasting peace and stability to be realized in the county.