THE STANDARD By
Dominic Omondi |
February 2nd 2021 at 07:39:40 GMT +0300
A weak shilling and a host of disruptive factors in some of the country’s key source markets have led to a spike in retail prices. [Standard, file]
What started as a rumour of a sharp increase in the prices of cooking oil quickly turned into a protest, as the kitchen crisis worsened.
As expected, most shoppers were incensed by the “greedy” retailers. No one blamed the market. Perhaps because the market is abstract and distant.
Few Kenyans care about what is “cooking” in the swathes of palm oil plantations in the two islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Asia. They only care for what is cooking in their kitchen.
2021-01-27 16:35:48 GMT2021-01-28 00:35:48(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
NAIROBI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) Economic experts on Wednesday urged Kenya to increase public investments in agriculture in order to boost the country s food security.
Kwame Owino CEO, Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA Kenya), a think tank, told a virtual forum that lack of appropriate policies makes it difficult for local farmers to compete with food imports. Increased budgetary allocation towards agriculture is likely to attract more private sector investments into the sector, Owino said during the IEA open annual pre-budget hearing for the 2021-22 financial year.
He said that the government must also strike the right balance between the interests of consumers and agricultural producers in its policies in order to alleviate household poverty levels.
Verifying Kenyan governors’ claims of progress
Published on 01 December 2020
Claim
Verdict
Source
Wycliffe Oparanya, chair of Kenya’s council of governors (July 2020)
Of the seven claims we checked, Oparanya was only correct that women are represented as required by law on county elected bodies.
He was nearly on the money about the percentages allocated to health. His figures about allocations to agriculture didn’t add up, however.
His claims about water and sanitation cannot be proven, while an expert told us that the 10% of budgets to be allocated to agriculture recommended by the African Union should be at both local and national levels of government, and not the sole responsibility of counties.
THE STANDARD By
Dominic Omondi |
January 23rd 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
A fruit vendor at Sokomjinga market in Migori town. [Caleb Kingwara, Standard]
The end of the Covid-19 goodies has opened a new floodgate of economic difficulties, with consumers grappling with increased prices of basic commodities.
Interplay of low incomes and high cost of production has consigned millions of Kenyans into a life of destitution as they struggle with increased cost of electricity, transport and foodstuff such as bread, milk and cooking oil.
Besides the end of the Covid-19 goodies, the weakening of the shilling against major global currencies (another negative impact of the Covid-19) has also resulted in a spike in the cost of living for a majority of Kenyans.
THE STANDARD By
Awal Mohammed |
December 29th 2020 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
CS Peter Munya. Just months in office, he has already introduced changes aimed at improving farmers’ fortunes and management of sector, and in the process stepped on numerous toes. [File, Standard]
With his signature trimmed mustache, the son of Muthaara village, Meru County, has been known to rock the status quo wherever he goes.
People close to the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary describe him as a go-getter who takes on issues head on, leaving behind him haters and admirers alike.
Insiders at the Ministry of Agriculture describe the University of Nairobi alumnus as a lone ranger, who is rarely followed by his principal secretaries to official events.