Tuesday 18 June 2019

John De’Matthew: It’s Time for Peace and Work, not Politics

Celebrity John De'Matthew (left) during the courtesy call to Dr. Jamleck Muturi (right) on 18 June, 2019

Fare Thee Well, John De’Matthew: It’s Time for Peace and Work, not Politics
A
s almost everyone may have noticed, some leaders in Kenya are currently too much into 2022 succession politics, in place of doing what they were elected to do – delivery of services to their people.

In a bid to counter this dangerous trend, renowned musician John De’Matthew is working hand in hand with Kameme TV in a campaign to preach peace and work instead of continual politicking. The 'Peris Nduku' hit maker outlined this plan when he paid a courtesy call to the Minister for Trade, Tourism, Investment and Industrialization in Embu County Dr. Jamleck Muturi at his office on 18 June 2019.

Present in the meeting was the Chief Officer, Youth Empowerment and Sports, Mr. Sam Wachira, Director of Trade Mr Anthony Zawaya and Director, Tourism Ms Virginia Warue. Minority Leader in Embu County Assembly Hon. Lenny Mwaniki (Masters) also graced the occasion. In the celebrity’s entourage was his manager Mr. John Ndung’u and Ms Esther Nyaga of Kameme TV
From left: Artiste Manager John Ndung'u, Minority Leader Embu County assembly Hon. Lenny Mwaniki, Director Tourism, Ms. Virginia Warue, Chief Officer Youth Empowerment and Sports Mr. Sam Wachira, Musician John De'Matthew, CECM Trade Dr. Jamleck Muturi, Ms. Esther Nyaga of Kameme TV, Director Trade Mr. Anthony Zawaya and Governor's Press and Communication officer Mr. Jeremiah Mutuanga. PHOTO: Daniel Karani
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While outlining the noble plan, De’Mathew said that he, together with ten other renowned musicians are set to hold a mega live concert at Embu Stadium on 28 July 2019. This will be part of a peace program dubbed 'De'Matthew Mashinani', traversing the whole country. The artistes are expected to not only perform their best hits but also sensitize the people on the need to focus on what their leaders are doing in delivering their mandate and promoting peace. The business community will also be invited to showcase their trade through the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

In the week before the show to be aired live on Kameme TV, the media fraternity plans to highlight tourism and investment opportunities in the county. At the same time, talented youth can expect to receive support from the celebrity, who has offered to record at least one song at the state-of-the-art studio established at the Embu Talent Academy. He said that when he toured the facility accompanied by the government officials. This effort is expected to steer the people’s attention from politics into work and peace.
John De'Matthew (right) at the Embu Talent Academy with government officials


Wednesday 5 June 2019

JAPAN Set to Support the Formation of Wambora Legacy

Africa Children Education Fund (ACEF) Managing Director, Mr. Yasuo Shiojiri (right), Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Krym Shikao and Mr. Kiptoo Bitok when they met Embu County Secretary in his office on 3 June, 2019 
When Push Comes to Shove!
L
egacy is everything, or so they say among those who are visionary enough to comprehend the true value of man; that the closest measure of a human being’s worth is the extent to which he or she would go BEYOND DUTY, to make the life of another person better. In this light, the ‘Land of Opportunities’ can look forward to having not only a new rescue ambulance in addition to the fire engine already received from Japan, but also a garbage collection and recycle engine in the next few months. These valuable assets have and will be availed through the efforts of Governor Wambora via the Tenri fraternity as lobbied with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Africa Children Education Fund (ACEF), all for the benefit of Embu residents.

ACEF is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) affiliated to Kenya Tenri Society, with Mr. Yasuo Shiojiri as the Managing Director. Mr. Shiojiri had accompanied the Japanese donor city’s Foreign Affairs Minister; Mr. Krym Shikao to meet Embu County Secretary, Mr Johnson N. Nyaga, who is expected to see to the success of the delegates’ trip to Japan. Other counties whose officials are to join the delegation include Kiambu and Murang’a. The above mentioned development was discussed at length in a high level meeting held between top government officials and the Japanese delegates when the latter team paid a courtesy call to the County Secretary in his office on 3 June 2019.

Embu County secretary, Mr Johnson N. Nyaga keenly listens
as he chairs the meeting
Government officials present in the meeting included the Chief Officer, Public Service Ms. Jayne Mugambi and the Head of Transport, Mr. Robert Kariuki. Also present were the Chief Officer, Administration & Devolution and the Municipal Manager, Embu County. Present too was the link person between the Kenya Tenri Society and the county government, Mr. Kiptoo Bitok, who is also in charge of Fire Marshals, with both ACEF and Kenya Tenri Society.

“It is only us that the Governor has nominated to go for the 10 day trip to Japan, for the purpose of training and negotiations for both the garbage collection vehicle and the rescue ambulance”, said Ms Mugambi. 

She added that Mr Bitok had brought with him a program indicating a change in departure for the trip from 18 June to 6 July, 2019, as well as the schedule of activities to be undertaken by the team while over there.

 
Embu County senior officers scheduled to go on the trip to Japan in a meeting with the Japanese officials and the County Secretary in the latter's office on 3 June, 2019. PHOTO/ James Metumi.

Monday 3 June 2019

NATURAL DELICACY in the Land of Opportunities

A plateful of the delicious insects
Natural Delicacy in the Land of Opportunities

By Martin Fundi and 
Jeremiah Mutuanga

During one of our story-hunting trips, we met this elderly couple setting up small structure on the roadside; children jumping up and down with excitement as the couple covered the bowed stick structure with old blankets and banana leaves.

It was one afternoon, along Runyenjes-Ugweri road, and there were all signs of rain - the sky was heavy. Some kilometers further, we came across a middle aged man guarded by an army of toddlers surrounding a structure similar to the one we had seen earlier.

Curious to get informed, we stopped and engaged the man. This is what we learned:

Black bellied, winged edible termites have been a permanent cuisine in Embu county, where it is the first ready delicacy available immediately the rains fall. it is this 'Manna' that the people were collecting.

"Rains come with instant food. And we don't have to farm or feed it. We trap it and it's easy," said Dickson Gichovi.

Rainfall pushes the termites out of the ground to the surface where locals wait and trap the fluttering dish.

"When the soldier termites come out, we use banana leaves to make small tents around the holes they come out through," he said.

They make small holes on the corners to trap the termites, which are directed by small sticks placed inside the tent.

Alex Mugendi, a 43 year old farmer said that he has always seen residents trap the termites when it rains.

"The rains fall when our food stocks are almost depleted and almost all we have left is seed. The termites are like instant tea," he said.

Termites come from the ground when it rains but one has to make a dark trapping structure for them to come out in large numbers.

A man prepares the hunting ground for termites
"We use sticks that are bent into an oval structure and cover them with banana leaves and blankets to make a trapping structure," said Susan Wanja.

However,  there has to be thunderstorms for the termites to come out in plenty and if there are no thunderstorms, harvesters beat the ground with sticks to.

At Runyenjes town, i sampled a plate of the mouth watering delicacy served with ugali in a popular hotel where a glass was sold at Sh70. (The delicacy is normally meted out in glasses as the standard measure)

The hotel owner who sought anonymity said she had seen youth hawking fried termites in the streets of Runyenjes and thought of adding them to her menu.

"I observed how the youth made sales, people in the market used to buy and devour the termites with so much excitement. I saw a business opportunity," she said.

To make the dish more real, she serves dish on a piece of a banana leave which she says attracts more customers, as it reminds them of their culture (in olden days, banana leaves served as plates)

"It's natural and customers are enjoying the termites on banana leaves, even ladies and teachers say they like them on the leaves," she added.

Sospeter Njeru claimed that one would make a smart business if they knew how to farm and produce the termites en-mass. Njeru said that innovative members of the community are making hundreds of shillings daily, selling termites to area residents.

He said that termites are usually fried and served as accompaniment to other food.

Joseph Nthiga, a youth from Gikuuri village said he is making more than Sh 500 a day hawking the termites from Gikuuri shopping centre to Runyenjes town.

"Elderly women are my customers, they even call me for orders and it is proving to be a booming business," said Nthiga.

Nthiga said that he moves around different villages within Runyenjes constituency that are said to be rich in termites.

"I walk from place to place in search of the insects, once I identify where they are, I set up a trapping structure after asking for permission from the land owners if they are found to be in ones land," he said.

At the entrance and exit of Runyenjes bus park, you will find a group of men selling the termites to those traveling to different places. They said that they have not done this for long since they had not known that area residents can buy the flying insects.


"I never thought any one would buy termites until when I read somewhere that termites are a delicacy, we tried it and we are making money out of it," said John Ndereva.

Cathlyn Wanja and Bessy Wawira, both teachers said that they have been eating termites since they were young. They said they frequent a hotel in Runyenjes that serves termites. They even offered to buy us some two glasses.

Teacher Wanja said that they are natural and have no side effects since they are not prone to any chemicals.

"They are good and easy to make, you just fry them and you are good to go. My children like them with rice and ugali," she said.