Emet Vacancies

Book keeper Duty Station: Kericho

Contract Type& Duration: Service Contract- 6 months Date: 16th January 2014

KERICHO COUNTY YOUTH BUNGE SACCO LTD:

This is a youth Sacco based in Kericho County and run its operations in six constituencies. It’s an investment that target the youths within the County.

The Yes Youth Can (YYC) initiative is a complimentary program funded by the USAID and was designed to empower Kenya’s youth population in areas recovering from the post-election violence in 2007/8, through building capacity of youth groups and organizations to engage with markets, governments and communities, and to pursue their legitimate needs and interests more effectively in a way that builds positive inter-ethnic networks. Mercy Corps manages the Rift-Valley Program which is based in Eldoret.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Book keeper is a central position with Kericho County Youth Bunge Sacco Ltd. This position is primarily responsible for coordinating SACCO activities under the youth Investment fund component of the Yes Youth Can (YYC) program. The program will support youth in achieving positive change in three major areas: (1) increased work skills/employment; (2) increased citizenship/civic engagement, and (3) increased inter-ethnic engagement.

The Book keeper will work closely with the SACCO officials, Mercy Corps, County Government and the Ministry of Cooperatives to implement the current YYC Rift Valley regional program Youth Investment fund component (Bunge SACCOs). It is expected that activities will include member’s recruitment, SACCO record keeping, financial accounting and reporting among other duties ensuring compliance with the SACCO and loaning policy.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Member of the County SACCO management team

• Provide technical insight and advice for SACCO management, including loan products, membership recruitment, committee meetings, compliance, activities, combining experience with practical on-the-ground identification of opportunities and constraints

• Provide technical advice in SACCO performance analysis to identify opportunities for improved Loan products for the SACCOs and business opportunities for young people and other beneficiaries

• Coordinate SACCO activities and daily running of the SACCO office

• Participate in the YYC SACCO programs meetings

• Engage with Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Cooperatives

• Maintain and keep books of accounts (trial balance etc) on behalf of the SACCOAccountability to County SACCO MembersCounty SACCO officials are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our members and to the standards guiding SACCO operations in Kenya

.ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: County SACCO Board

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: County SACCO Board, Ministry of Cooperative society and Mercy-Corps.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of a national diploma in Cooperative Management, CPA II, Accounting, Finance, Enterprise development, business administration, economics, sociology or any other related field.

• Technical expertise in youth economic empowerment, Microfinance including Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies general livelihoods and economic development

• Experience managing youth, micro-enterprise, and community microfinance and job skills/employment. History of working effectively and respectfully with host government, NGOs, contractors and other partners;

• Ability to effectively and accurately keep and maintain SACCO books of accounts.

• Conversant with accounting software like Sage and quick books preferred

• Well conversant with MS. Office; Strong in excel

• Must be conversant with Quick books.

• Must be below 35years

• Must be a resident of Kericho County. SUCCESS FACTORS:• Creative and insightful as regards development programming including the relationships between youth development and economic empowerment

• Excellent communication and team-building techniques

• Proven experience managing and building capacity of diverse teams

• Cultural knowledge, sensitivity and respect

• Commitment to work for at least 6 months

• Ability to engage with donors like USAID, Mercy Corps, Kericho County Government and the government of Kenya Officials

How to apply:

Applications should be addressed to the Sacco Chair Kericho County Youth Bunge Sacco Ltd and delivered to our Office at Kericho Tea Land Plaza3rd Floor Next to Chamngei Office.

To reach on or before Friday 24th January, 2014, 5:00 PM

Start date: Immediately.

Note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for Interviews

How to apply:

Applications should be addressed to the Sacco Chair Kericho County Youth Bunge Sacco Ltd and delivered to our Office at Kericho Tea Land Plaza3rd Floor Next to Chamngei Office.

How to Earn Money in Matatu Industry

"with the introduction of zamabaza, a Matatu could carry up to twenty five passengers. In turn, the tout could collect double the amount of money in one trip"

Piece of wood between Matatu seats.

Small capacity matatus – a fourteen seater taxi van, four seater taxi van (probox), on most roads have improvised an extension seat, zambaza to increase their capacity. The board was introduced between seats in the past fives.

A fourteen-seater matatu plying kericho-sondu road, with introduction of zamabaza, could carry up to twenty five passengers. In turn, the tout could collect double the amount of money in one trip. The normal capacity has three seats in a row. An extension adds one passenger, making a total of four passengers in a row.

The zambaza was introduced into the matatus when the Michuki law quieted. “It is used to bring more money. It is very expensive to operate a matatu business. Incase of a problem, you must have money –there are problems on the road anytime,” a tout said.

Passengers, in a rush hour, may ask to cling to the parts of the van, just to reach home. A driver said, “Passengers want it. There is pressure from the passengers to transport them. No one complains.”

Overloaded van at high is worrisome. Passengers expect to reach their destination crammed in a van. It has become the traffic norm to travel in the boot, and to travel in an off-balance, lying-on-the-right-side van.

Traffic police have roadblocks and road checks. But the exercise escapes them. When overloaded vans approach the roadblock, the tout ask the extra passengers to walk on foot –they do not complain, the van would wait for them after the traffic roadblock. No wonder: more people are on foot around the roadblocks.

Despite the super normal profits, the practice is dangerous. Mosoibei, matatu operating kericho-sondu route, had an accident last year. Temuge, a tout at time, said that: “it was Saturday. And there were few matatus on the road to transport the many passengers. We had crammed the van and over sped in order to come in time for the second trip. But, fifty metres from Kapsoit-Sondu junction, we bumped into a Land cruiser. We lost some passengers.”

Although there are traffic police on the roads carrying out constant checks, still there are a lot of accidents. Ruto, a passenger said, “an extension is meant to bring in more money.” Unlike other routs, Kericho-Sondu road are plied by few matatus. But again the passengers’ will to be crammed into the vans, and want for more money have motivated the practice.

Of Education and Industrialisation

The University hostels are relatively affordable, but the circumstances may dictate students’ choices otherwise

Students’ hostel at kabianga University, Main campus.

Once agricultural training centre, a field of banana, kabianga University has attracted industrialisation. Houses are constructed to accommodate the rising number of students and businesses. To meets the needs of a crowing centre, every kind of investment is being established.

Though, the newly admitted students may not meet with the on-going students to increase the traffic for businesses, for the University fears to strain resources, the locals are experiencing economic growth.

At the glance is the students’ residence. Its capacity is limited. The University can house up to 75% of a group of students on session, an “excellent housing” according to Mr. Bett, hostel warden. The students on session, whose majority are first years, are about nine hundred. The rest of the students, however, are housed by the private hostels.

The rule that Students who are housed must have paid the semester fees has made students to look for accommodation outside, which exodus appeal to investors to build more residence. Mr. Makau, the head of hostel department said, “the University set policies that govern the housing of students.” Therefore many students are housed in the private hostels. Private hostel praise the monthly payment.

The University hostels are relatively affordable, but the circumstances may dictate students’ choices otherwise. “A student would pay Ksh 2750 in a semester to be housed by the University, and Ksh 1500 per month to rent the private rooms,” Makau added.

At the same time, students’ convenience play a role in their choices, some have kids to raise while studying, some cannot live by the hostel rules –allocating up to four students to a room, men keeping off ladies’ rooms after ten in the evening and vice versa; some students delight in the tranquility of the private houses and their privacy.

Ken, a first year student would stay, for now, in the University hostels. He is new, and he is “acquainting with Kabianga.”

The University housing policy favours the government-sponsored students. They are considered partners with the University. They are paid for, so the University policy of “pay and the get housed” does not affect them. Thus, they pay less for accommodation.

Students’ varying interests contribute a lot. Sometimes, interests take them to the private hostels. “When the students of opposite sex want to live together, they rent private room outside campus for their privacy,” Mr. Makau said. The students named it “infringement on their maturity”. And Paul, a student said, “we are mature, warden popping in at night to check on us is laughable.”

To meet the increasing number of students, the private investors are constructing more rooms. If all student were to progress into each semester at the same time, there would be pressure on hostels. The extension would house up to 2300 students from the current capacity of 1725.

A businessman investing in housing outside Kabianga University. Photo by author.

Kabianga University held a forum to encourage the private sector to build more houses. The meeting, dated, may 2012, was to encourage investors to kabinga. There are new hostel rising around the University as a result.

Living outside the University may be costly and insecure, a sign for the need of competition and good houses. In December, 2012, a private room was broken into, property was stolen, and it was unrecovered. Fearing insecurity, the students are limited to the option of living in the University hostels, queuing for meals for along time, and living by the rigid menu of beans and Ugali (offending students on diet), and sharing one bathroom among fifty six students. One student said the University is experiencing “rooms’ pressure.”

There is an imminent need for goods and services for the growing university. Neither the accommodation in the campus nor private hostel is satisfactory. Students must go farther to satisfy their interest. At the campus hostels, student may not content with the facilities, so they must go outside for satisfaction, or even for curiosity –a good customer to harness.

Youth SACCO Takes a Leap

"no security is required to borrow loans, members guarantee themselves, members are the owners of the organisation, and therefore enjoy the dividends"

Youths have woken up from being young and dependent, from high expectation, from building on political promises, from poor saving culture, and formed Kericho Youth Sacco. Before now youths –people of high potential, driven by curiosity and confronted by the future –used the conventional banks to save, borrow loans and finance theirs tenders.

A Jua kali enterprise funded by Kericho Youth Sacco

This is the story of youth groups who did not have objectives before 2008, when leaders had made them believe they are the leaders of tomorrow, which is a possibility. After coming together they got a sponsor who helped them only when they had started saving: a shilling for a shilling.

After 2008 violence, Youths wanted to put their energy into something worthy, income generating activity that would make them self-reliant. During skirmishes, most of the horrible things were committed by youths. The youth forums brought them to realize their potential.

Kericho youth Sacco, which got its capital from USAID, is a microfinance organization whose membership, is open to anyone –the modifier “youth” does not limit the adults from joining. It, first, begun with kericho county with the plan to extend it operation. “Small and medium enterprises are our customers,” said Kibet, Sacco treasurer. “It can be owned by youths, or partnership of youths and adults. All are encouraged to register their members.

In phase one, capacity building, it registered 1500 groups. And so far, a bout 400 members –groups and individuals –have joined. The sponsor, who was interested in the ambitious –whose energy could be turned into anything –, begun giving grants which build the base for saving in the Sacco.

Their fund is revolving. Therefore its rates are as low as 12% interest per annum, perhaps on a reducing balance. On average, the interest is below 12%. To join, one pays ksh 300 for registration and ksh 1000 for shares. One is eligible to borrow loans after saving for six months.

The youth Sacco has merits: no security is required to borrow loans, members guarantee themselves, members are the owners of the organisation, and therefore enjoy the dividends. Kericho youth sacco offer products such as Je Utahama lini?, kilimo, savings and credit, and finance of tenders.

Sacco's Kilimo services have helped starters earn money

After the government procurement preference, many youths are worried how to finance tenders that would be worth millions. In any case, a member of the youth Sacco would get the first priority. The burden has lessened.

It is run by members –every member’s voice is heard. The governing board is elected. In every three years, the county youths elect a delegate from the wards that would elect the county board. Its operation is under the ministry of devolution, formerly ministry of cooperatives, and it is audited by the government.

A Need to Register Business Enterprise

"With unemployment rate so high, knowing a good business is equally important"

A picture of a limited company

Job creation is anyone’s responsibility. A county government can only employ up to 3000. An average population for a county is 700, 000. So, a creative administration, in order to reduce the rate of unemployment, takes advantage of 30% government procurement preference to employ –by funding start-ups. To venture into self–employment, would-be entrepreneurs must have business enterprises and companies.

Companies and business enterprises are registered by registrar of companies. To start with, a promising entrepreneur writes a letter to the registrar to reserve a favorite name. The name, from a list of three names, is picked after two days.

Afterwards, three documents, which prepared by a lawyer –to describe the objective rules, subscribers and authorized share capital –, are needed: memorandum and article of association and the statements of nominal capital.

The entrepreneur then fills a situation of office form, list of director’s form –always two or more for a limited company, declaration of compliance form, which is signed by the commission of oaths. It details the office address and number of directors.

After 21 days, a period that follows the filing of the documents at the registration office: memorandum and articles of association, the registrar of companies issues a certificate of incorporation. Here, a company seal is essential. A seal has a company’s name and acts as a signature.

A registered seal of a limited company

The statutory condition is that one must have a personal identity number, value added tax (VAT.), pay as-you-earn with the KRA, registration for NSFF and NHIF, and premise license. In the registration process, a business agent can support, or an individual can do it alone.

Knowing the process of company registration is not enough, a business idea must be at hand. This determines the location, the capital and the name of the company. Is it about construction or food? With unemployment rate so high, knowing a good business is equally important. Few have money to invest. And wise investment leads to employment. For instance, two trucks which cost forty million can employ four people, and investing the same amount of capital in a barbed wire rolling plant will employ more than twenty people with a higher profit margins.

Of Industrilisation and Transport

The town council, which collected little revenue, is proud of its industrial stage"

Matatu picking passengers from the new Bus Park. Photo by author.

Imagine a town as small as kericho with proper transport infrastructures, or with much better, with a ready design to build airport. Add the plan to build bus stop at all the strategic points.

Imagine no more. Kericho has enforced that all matatus pick passenger from a selected carpark –a newly constructed taxi park, west of kericho. It serves up to three hundred vehicles per day, serving all routes –Bomet, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kisii, Eldoret and within Kericho County.

A central passenger collection point has made it easier for the county government to collect revenue. A van pays the taxi park fee, payable to the town council, which funds the taxi park, in order for a matatu to collect passengers from Kericho.

Although, it does not fit Buses, which pick passengers from their outside-car park offices, it is the most organized car park in the south rift –making kericho the hub of the south rift. Buses, however, carry more passengers and yet they are not strategically stationed to pay their dues.

Before now, vans could collect passengers from any point in town. It caused traffic congestion, slowing transport, attracting hatred from the tea industries who value time –tea leaves must be processed while fresh. The town council, which once collected little revenue, is proud of its industrial stage.

The town council does not have post-alighting services. In case a van carried a sick passenger, it must first go to the stage, leaving the hospital two kilomitres back. And all the passengers, despite reasons to stop at a point, cannot stop before the only car park. But it pays special attention to the disable. Hellen, a crippled lady, is carried to the point where she sells vegetable –Tuskies. The able passenger cannot be exempted by the regulation.

Taxis are fined heavily –Ksh 5000 for a matatu offender –if they violate transport regulation. So the driver must not heed the passenger, who should be treated with etiquette he deserves, to stop because the regulation affects only the van. The logic is: it is the driver who is responsible for breaking the law. Even when the matatu company offers door to door services, it must follow the new regulation.

Since August, the business owners have felt the new legislation. Ng’ororga enterprise, which is located at the taxi park, is booming as a result of the transport rules. “The passengers were made to take vans from here, grouping them to buy at one point,” said a sells lady.

A once filling and matatu park station –jumbo filling station, is now receiving few customers following new town legislation. It served sondu, Litei, Eldoret and Roret routes. It worked simple: you pick passengers as you filled fuel from it. It charged no parking fee. It was, however, a loss to town council and benefit to the filling station.

With small parking lot, Tuskies supermarket lost its customer who were dropped and picked from its doorstep by the matautus. It now befits persons with cars only. Customers on foot prefer to shop at Stagematt supermarket because it is near the taxi park.

Kericho town has more than four strategic points where bus stops could be located: Ndege chai to serve the tea estates, the hospitals and town services, main bus stop to serve long distance routes, Uchumi poin to serves north, and jumbo to serve southern routes.

Brick Cottage Industry Boom

Bricklaying brings in up to Ksh 5 million in a year. Since its inception in 2004, the ward has got a different image

Bricks Baking in a kiln

Young men and women in Sigowet brick cottage industry faces unnecessary challenges where they should be safest –in Kona plains.

Brick-laying, which employs quite a number of youths, is the hardest of menial jobs that involves cutting and carrying sharp papyrus reeds, loading –throwing bricks through a line of up to five people –to a lorry, and watching the ovens overnight in the cold. In the last ten years, when the industry boomed, it has expanded from Kona to other clay rich deposits.

Youths, school dropouts and married, with no other source of income, indulge their passion for bricklaying. With 5sqm of clay field, one requires a molding block and a hoe to start production.

Bricklaying bring in up to Ksh. 5 million in a year. Since its inception in 2004, the ward has got a different image: a rise in iron-roofed and brick houses and double increase in number of dairy cows. Every year, however, up to 100 youths, some of whom finance their education, are employed.

The seasons dictate the industry so that the production is high during the dry season and low during the rainy season. The production is inclined to seasons change because of its infrastructure: traditional kilns fueled by wood and poor storage –stacks of bricks covered with papyrus reeds.

Kona plains, wetlands covering a third of Sigowet ward, do not support farming. Rice growing would be the alternative if the soil retains water. Brick-laying, the easiest option –it requires little capital than other enterprise activities, is a must economic activity for the populace.

The living standard is improving: children can go to school and there is enough profit to plough back to the business. The enterprises, however, faces a difficulty –transport. There are no dry roads to the wetlands. Donkeys are the only means of transport supporting the industry.

The products of Sigowet brick industry is of low quality –just mixture of water, which is ferried by donkeys, and clay. It also fetches low market prices –five shillings per block. The cost of producing twenty thousand bricks, which are deemed enough to harden in a traditional kiln, is very high.

In every election, Sigowet brick cottage industry is a theme for politicians. It attracts attention because it can employ many youths more than any other cottage industry. The promises –installation of the solar or electric kiln, and construction of a murram road, which if put to practice would help the people, are said for the sake of securing a public seat.

The youths have resorted to form groups in order to secure funds. The microfinance –Kericho County Youth SACCO, has helped them to their feet. But the loans hardly cover the medical insurance for accidents –cut off toes, swollen feet and chest problems as a result of dust.