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.

Kericho Car Washing Enterprise: A Need for Value Addition

"There are interests. Some want to encroach while some want to conserve. I bet: may the most interested be conservationists"

Youth Washing motorbike in Kericho Wetlands

Kericho county waste management is dire –car washing in the water, sewage leaking, soil erosion, and bathing in the water . The entire town’s waste: oil, plastic, market waste, is channeled to Kericho swamp which functions as business enterprise –car wash, laundry point –bathing site, water supply, farming –cattle grazing, fishing, cultural site –baptism and circumcision.

The swamp is turning against people: it is polluted. Its water is dirty of the direct discharge of sewage, and oil from the car wash. The swamp is bare, or at times with eucalyptus, an unfriendly species in the water fountain. The inhabitants do not care about the wetland.

Apart from the women who draw water from the swamp, there are other stakeholders –Finlays, Sanik, KEWASCO, Ministry of Agriculture etcetera. The stakeholders benefit from the wetland but do not care to improve.

In early 2012, NEMA, smiling of draft legislation for wetland, started wetland management plan –Tienosoyiet project. It is meant to start practical intervention to water pollution and solid waste management, and promote catchment management.

Kericho Wetlands

To benefit from the wetland, some things must be added value –Kericho Car washing enterprise facility that separates oil from water before releasing to the rivers be the alternative before displacing car washers. At times, leadership hint about chasing youths from washing in the river bank.

Forums are held to address the impending calamity. Everyone involved use the prelude: “we need to…” phrase, denoting lack of plans for the wetlands. There are interests. Some want to encroach while some want to conserve. I bet: may the most interested be conservationists.

Youth enterprises want to correct the mess. But they lack resources. There are some leaders who would want to lend a hand, but bureaucracy. The earth is not yet angry with man; it means there is a chance to change when youths are still youths and when interest is still interest.

Car washing is a good business when carried out in a car wash facility. People, birds, animals, who balance the nature, will get clean water when everyone takes the responsibility to care for the wetland.

Emet proposal

Emet proposes marketing of the gift of the Kipsigis –food, scene, clothes, artifacts, relics, events etcetera. In so doing, Kipsigis build its identity in the world. The way we live, though we cannot tell, when looked at from outside, Kipsigis is an interesting life.

Let’s build online exhibition. On it, we post pictures of artifacts –Sotet , Kisyet, Head Gears, Toropchot, Maragut, Kiragut, Saina; scene –Tulwap Kipsigis, Chebulu, Kapchain, Asururyet; events –Tumndo, Toror, Kechare Teta; food –Kimnyetab Kipsigis; people –Athletes, Mugenik, Kichamba, Koitalel, Towet, clothes –mungenik; healing waters, and other things that defines our identity.

This exhibition will create curiosity among the outside world. And they will want to come. When we offer it for free, we demonstrate our hospitality, itself an element of people’s identity. Borrowing from the facebook that offer free accounts and pages but its annual income is more than that of the GDP of countries in the sub-Sahara combined, we give this for free.

Pyramid is Egypt, and – (dash) is Kipsigis. Which architecture is Kipsigis’? A grass thatched houses is synonymous with poverty. And that is the iconic structure –simple and recognizable. What Kipsigis should do is ADD QUALITY to clothes, such as animal skin to a great fashion, food, scenes etc for others to love.

When all is done, what is the benefit? Not only build identity, but also attract tourist. The website will that lead curious to Kapkatet museum and others museums that will be created by then. When we take our mobile phone and take picture of the gift of the kipsigis, we are building a forum –a communal page. Our visit to the page affirms who we are –the kipsigis.

Toward the vision, Emet Post give insight into the news of the land. The mainstream journalism looks at the Kisyet as the unworthy story. Look at the story of pumpkin: when all is over it is the only trace of settlement –that a people dwelled in the Emet. When all the food is finished, pumpkin, which does follow season and need not constant caring, is the last to finish.

Uwezo Funds, Youth Enterprise Development Funds And 30% Government Procurement Preference for Youth: A Possibility for Self-Employment.

Uwezo funds widen the access to finance for any start-up. It gives out grants, but also to encourage saving, it also gives out credit.

Ambitious Jua kali artist, bricklayer or mama mboga can employ themselves fully in their profession. Thanks for Uwezo funds, youth funds and 30% government procurement preference for youth and women.
But there are areas that an ambitious person, before smiling for government help, ought not to disregard: cultivating a deep understanding of oneself -youth and women. Knowing strength and weakness, public relation and what values make great contribution is a requirement test before funding any start-up.
Taking a move from scratch, that is, secure for funds to add value to product of choice, a person should learn to manage himself. This is knowing how and when to change work –from brick moulding to e-marketing of bricks. At least, before applying for funds, a youth should understand where he belongs. How? Feedback analysis: after making a key decision, a youth should write down what he expects.
That said, in the world of finance, Uwezo funds widen the access to finance for any start-up. It gives out grants, but also to encourage saving, it also gives out credit. What makes Uwezo funds surpass youth enterprise development fund, which is about twelve times more, is not only its colourful launches and great speeches before and after march 4th , but also its political element –it’s is marketed well.
Uwezo, in spite of a long chain of command involved, has attracted youths to frequent CDF offices. Their interest is Uwezo fund. Youths do not inquire about youth enterprise fund or 30% government procurement preference for youth and women. They are willing to go through whatever procedure involved getting it. Why? Does Uwezo fund have low interest rates? Does it have long repayment periods? Or is it reward for Jubilee supporters? No.
Although Uwezo fund, meant to cover six years, is an alternative framework in funding, other sources, which may have more funds allocated in one year, be told to youths and women. Say, while awaiting Uwezo rules to be enacted, youths be asked to propose for the 76 billion Youth enterprise fund which is already on.
Uwezo fund, which is less than 6 billion after deducting something for every pen involved in the disbursement chain, less than 18 million after deducting something to reward political supporters in the constituency, and near zero repayment rate because it is issued in the same office as CDF, should be used only for capacity building to enable youths take advantage of government contracts worth more than 200billion every year.
Which is the proper way to make Uwezo fund glory for jubilee? Youth SACCOs. More than twenty five counties have set youth SACCOs. There are good systems, faster implementation, involved here than in a political office. Even the ambitious, star governor, who is it? Machakos governor can be send home by Uwezo fund. Is Uwezo funds a possibility or reality?

Chebulu, a Rainforest in Semi Arid Climate

"Chebulu became animal home by default; the surrounding niche is harsh –bare ground, hard wood, unpalatable vegetation for the wild game."

Standing proud at the edge of Sigowet is Chebulu picturesque, a scenery spared by the harsh sun. Chebulu, a mid a semi arid climate, covers the fountain of Kaplelartet stream.
Going down Kaplelartet, Sondu-Kisumu highway, you are attracted by a spectacle of alone green forest, the size of Sosiot trading centre, at the foot a stretching cliff.
A one hour ride from Sigowet takes visitors to the eye-catchy greenness that sprouts in rich soil, water trickle at the rock nourishing and changing the vegetation to that of a tropical forest.
The brilliant weather inspires local tourist and the scholars alike to take boda boda ride to the site. The serene geography is rich for curious young scholars for its topography, elements of rift valley, thriving tropical vegetation, and weathering rocks.
Although rugged, it is easy to get around. As you walk deeper, you discover it is also a wild home. Chebulu harbours antelopes, gazelles, monkeys and their kind. It became animal home by default; the surrounding niche is harsh –bare ground, hard wood, unpalatable vegetation for the wild game. The zone is sheltered from the human by the stretching cliff, standing sixty metres high.
The wider vegetation dubbed ‘vain greenness’, is a raised ground overlooking Nyabondo plateau that holds no water source. Down the valley, at the floor, Chebulu gets water to support the sky rocketing indigenous trees, and monkeys and their kind, giving it a different image consequently.
To leisure in Chebulu, you have to visit in dry season, preferably december, or early months of the year when animals barely walk the burning gravel outside the site. Thus animals leisure in the thick forest, around the water fall –they too find it ecstatic. The best is the southern side where the colony of monkeys basks on the rock combing hair. It is, however, unfavourable to rain when you are in the forest –sloppy ground, slippery stones, inclined to disagree with the rain.
Chebulu offers camp site.  You meet pathfinders and adventurous on December holiday. Its tranquility favours these lots who have activities best carried out away from the populace. Rock climbing is the unforgettable experience.
Touring Chebulu comes with a price. The gateway, a wall of a rock running down, is unimaginable to climb, and you get incredibly thirsty for meandering, often stopping to take photographs of the breathe taking scenes. You must climb down the wall, which is the recommended trail, to fetch the mineral water. From the look of things, Chebulu is cared by few hands. Though it is under the Kenya Wildlife, Tabaita Youth Group takes care of it. It put up a stairway, a bout sixty mitres down the cliff, and tapped its water springs.
Competing for the scenery are the encroachers who does it with vengeance. The once extensive landscape is reducing in size. Farming, hunting, and charcoal burning comprises the major threat to the Chebulu.
Owing to its wealth of wood, which the surrounding does not supply, charcoal burners salivate for it. The hoard of the indigenous wood appeals to other people differently: it becomes a source of money as opposed to source of ecstasy (especially by walking in the wood).
Despite the vain efforts of the encroachers, the hunters and the charcoal burners who have endangered the meagre population and driven the wild game into the sugar plantation; the names inscribed on the rock records the number of visitors who have visited Chebulu in the last century. Chebulu has held its position as the attraction site, the serene vegetation that calls for attention, and the glory of Sigowet.

Bricklaying: An enterprise without age bracket

"Children, below the age of twelve, who have no choice, repeat this for one hundred times to make enough money for lunch"

Bricks dried in the sun. Photo by author.

Poverty has made children in Sigowet to push themselves to bricklaying. In the last five years when the industry started, moulding of bricks, the hardest of the menial jobs is a must thing for living.

The economy hardly support begging, a likely option. Families, most of whom are young single parents, earning less than a hundred shillings a day, have their children working in bricklaying, tea picking and transporting water.

There is a vicious circle of problems. Children who work in bricklaying are the result of early pregnancy. Their parents are unable to feed and educate.

Koiwa, a boy of twelve years, started laying bricks at the age of nine. He is from alcoholic family. When his parents overstay at the local brewery, he fends for himself.

Because of poverty, children cannot go to school. Koiwa knows too well, “I cannot go to school. I don’t have school uniform. When I go, I don’t get food.” Koiwa opted to work in order to get the basic needs.

Tindo and Cheche come from poor families. Working hard to find food, their mothers who are still under their parents neglect the older children. Thus children make their tough choices.

It is hard to eat from bricklaying: dig out clay, mix with water and mould 3 by 5 inch of clay block. Children, below the age of twelve, who have no choice, repeat this for one hundred times to make enough money for lunch.

The industry exploits. Despite the age, a boy waits for two days for the clay block to dry in order to earn. In the process a third of the bricks are damaged by the weather or animals.

The income from the industry is not enough to save. A day’s income is all expended. Even if one works hard to save for their education, the budget does not go beyond food and clothing.

Bricklaying is a life of servitude; koiwa looks older than his actual age. Sometimes he works the whole day, “in the day I mould the bricks, and at night I watch over the oven.”

Because of the need of money, children have developed multiple personalities. They have easily turned to crime. Sometimes, Koiwa is used to steal. “I go at dawn to steal polythene from other people’s stacks of bricks for a fee,” says Koiwa.

The chief is burdened. School drop out is normal. The chief trys to force them to school, “but it is hard when I do not get support from parents.”

In spite of the free primary education, a percentage of parents have not been able to send their children to school. Because of poverty, however, school drop out is high.