The impact of Ngarua media encounter is impressive; the reports on the Radio and television reached and sensitized many people about the services offered at the Maarifa center. On Wednesday 30th/09/ 2010, just a day after the television news went on air, we started receiving phone calls and special visitors who are keenly interested to know what goes on at the Maarifa center.
When Joseph Chege an officer working with the ministry of Co-operative development, saw the story on television, he could not hold back the urge to come and trace the Maarifa center in Sipili, the story brought a sigh of relief to him because he frequently travels to Nyahururu to access the internet and other basic information which are available at the Maarifa Center. Secondly he was already seeing an open door for him to learn many things about information sharing through the ICT.
He came to the center to inquire for the services offered and to possibly find answers to r the questions, which have been disturbing him for a long time. Of greet interest is the Sokopepe, which he said was the most interesting news to be heard in the areas.
As a resident of Kinamba, about ten kilometers from Sipili, the master’s student found and alternative at the maarifa center, instead of going to nyahururu where he pays up to 150/= by public means, just to access the Internet, he will just spend 50/= from Kinamba to Sipili where the Maarifa center is located. He is interested in information documentation, dissemination and formation of a group to spearhead community activities.
I explained to Joseph about our activities and services in detail, and when I saw his enthusiasm and innovative ideas, I pulled a baobab magazine featuring the media focus on Africa mobile reporting photo and I showed him, he was very happy to see that his idea of mobile reporting can really work.
Joseph is the divisional co-operative officer, and some of his roles are to: supervise the formation and management of co-operative societies by providing technical information i.e. on elections, regulations, evaluations of activities and registrations among other activities.
While talking with Joseph, I learned that the most disturbing challenge facing the farmers in the division is lack of proper market linkages. To register a co-operative society, a group needs: an application form, Economic appraisal, by laws, Ksh 3,500 for registration, and a banks account number and they will be given a number from the ministry of co-operatives.
For sometime Joseph and a friend of his who is a teacher at GG Secondary School have been exploring on how to document, package and disseminate information within their neighboring communities.
I was impressed by his story and I promised to visit on Saturday, last weekend. I found the screening films for the student, on a large screen and a projector. I met with a friend of his whom I latter knew him as Mr. Kamau, Kamau says that teaching in a dramatic and captivating environment enhances the student grasping power, and minimizes imagination.
They had already started recording videos and photos using a mobile phone, they have a computer and they needed skills on how to make films.
Mr. Kamau acquired the projector, and they were considering getting someone who will exposes them to filming so that they can fully implement their new innovative ideas of sharing information.
I am fascinated by what you are doing to the community.I am doing a Master Degree in Biotechnology and looking forward to use the facility when writing my Thesis.
ReplyDeleteKudos Mr.Mureithi.
Njoroge Mwai
I would wish to bring attention to you in regards to what Biotechnology is all about.
ReplyDeleteBiotechnology is the practice of using plants, animals and micro-organisms such as bacteria, as well as biological processes - such as the ripening of fruit or the bacteria that break down compost - to some benefit.
For example, biotechnology is used in in industry, medicine and agriculture to produce foods, medicines, test for diseases and remove waste.
It can also be used to solve problems and conduct research. Over time, biotechnology has formed the basis of learning about people and diseases. Biotechnology has also underpinned the development of treatments.
Status of Biotechnology in Kenya
In Kenya, the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is the government agency currently responsible for overseeing the implementation of the biosafety regulatory system.
That office issued Regulations and Guidelines for Biosafety in Biotechnology in 1998. Those regulations were issued under the existing Science and Technology Act of 1980, although that Act has no regulatory authorities and no means to enforce compliance with the regulations. The NCST also established the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) to develop the country’s biosafety policy and review GMO applications. The membership of the NBC includes representatives from relevant government Ministries as well as representatives from civil society and the national universities.
Under the interim Kenyan biosafety regulatory system, applications to import or release GMOs (including applications for confined field trials) are submitted to the relevant Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) where they are reviewed and assessed for compliance with the guidelines before submission to the NBC. Then, those applications are forwarded to the NBC, where those applications are reviewed by the NBC and/or a technical subcommittee of the NBC. A recommendation is made by the NBC and the NCST Secretary decides whether to approve the application. To date, Kenya has approved five confined trials.
Kenya has developed a number of legal documents to turn its interim biosafety regulatory system into a permanent and comprehensive system. Those documents included regulations, a Biosafety Law, and a National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy. The National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy was approved in 2006 and the Biosafety Law was passed by Government in December 2008. The Biosafety Law was later signed into an Act in February 2009 by the President of Kenya.
BY NJOROGE MWAI
Biotech Applications in Kenya
ReplyDeleteConventional procedures of biotechnology are widely used in Kenya. For examples tissue culture (TC) is being used in laboratories to facilitate germplasm collection, conservation and exchange and for mass propagation of elite quality planting materials in the country. At a commercial level TC is used in Kenya for production of planting material of pyrethrum, banana, sugarcane, potato, strawberry and flowers; for small scale production of planting material for sweet potato, cassava, vanilla and for protocol development (Macadamia, vanilla, oil palm, flowers).
Most of this research is at laboratory level while contained field testing with maize, cotton and sweet potato have been conducted. In case of livestock DNA technology is directed to vaccine development and disease diagnostics and this is applied in all the country. Related work in the region includes development of recombinant DNA vaccines e.g. against Newcastle disease, Rift Valley Fever and Rinder-pest. Development of molecular diagnostic techniques for livestock diseases such as East Cost Fever, Lumpy skin disease, contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia), Foot and mouth disease (FMD) as well as for detecting resistance to drugs, microbial quality analysis of foods (fish, diary and meat) and DNA mapping in animal breeding are all in practice.
Key Government Institutions Dealing with Biotech
Relevant government institutions that will play an important role in the new biotechnology environment in the country will include:
* National Council for Science and Technology
* National Biosafety Authority
* Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
* Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
* National Environment Management Authority
* Kenya Bureau of Standards
* Kenya Industrial Property Organization
* Department of Veterinary Services
Key National Universities in Biotech Training & Research
Kenyan institutions of higher learning are leading the region in biotechnology research and introduction of biotechnology related courses at both undergraduate, post graduate and post doctoral level. The key universities pursuing biotechnology research in the country include:
* University of Nairobi’s Institute of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science.
* Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Institute of Biotechnology Research.
* Moi University School of Biotechnology and Agriculture
* Kenyatta University
* Egerton University
* Maseno University
* Masinde Muliro University of Advanced Technology
Leading NGOs in Biotechnology in Kenya
* African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF) and the Agricultural Biotechnology Network in Africa (ABNETA
* Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International
* ISAAA AfriCenter
* Biotechnology Trust Africa (BTA)
International Centres of Excellence in Biotechnology in Kenya
Kenya has some of the most advanced international centres that undertake research in biotechnology on a global status and this includes:
* Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR) i.e. ILRI, CYMMT, ICRAF, IFPRI
* Bio-Sciences East and Central Africa (BeCA)
* African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)
* International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
By NJOROGE MWAI