ICT training Eases E-government services in Kyuso, Kitui County

Over 800 civil servants in Kyuso have been able to access e-government services for the period between September 2012 to April 2013 through kyuso Maarifa centre courtesy of Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN).
The Government Human Resource Information System (GHRIS) is a web-based system used by the government of Kenya (www.ghris.go.ke) which was launched in 2011. GHRIS Portal’s aim is to address all the Government’s Human Resource needs. Users of the system access it remotely via the web, mobile phones and other technologies. Civil servants are required to update their information periodically and to access Human Resource updates including their pay slips.

This process involves civil servant registration in the system, updating of profiles, acquiring of P9 form as well as downloading of pay slips. Field Officer and ICT trainer have been instructing and training the civil servants on the use of computers and internet, how to process monthly pay slips as well as enabling them to get frequent online updates through their online profiles. With this knowledge, they have been able to create and update online government human resource profiles as well as to download their monthly pay slips.

However this process has not been an easy thing bearing in mind that few have computer knowledge. Mr. Stephen Owaret has been helping his colleague to process the payslip online after taking ICT training from the Maarifa centre. Owaret is an administration officer from the office of the president kyuso. He started helping the civil servants access their payslip when he realized that most civil servants were in a position he was in before he joined Kyuso Maarifa for ICT training.

Most of the beneficiaries are chief, assistant chiefs, administration police, Kenya police , ministries staffs etc. “I cannot fail to help my colleagues process the payslip because I also couldn’t before I was trained” said Owaret “Helping them has also been a learning platform for me because I learn new this anytime am called upon to help” added Owaret

CUSTARD APPLE/MATOMOKO FOR PEST CONTROL

Extracts from a fruit tree found in many parts of the world has been identified a non chemical pest control. It’s commonly known as Atis, Cherimoya, Soursop, Sweetsop and Matomoko in Lower eastern of Kenya. The custard apple tree is not especially attractive. It is erect, with a rounded or spreading crown and trunk 10 to 14 in (25-35 cm) thick.

Due to climate change effects most farmers from lower eastern of Kenya validated the use of this tree species for non chemical pest control. The plant part used are: Root, leaf, fruit, seeds. Most of the farmers use the leaves extract because the tree species population is minimal in some areas.  

Formulation of Custard apple leaf extract

Materials

-500 grams of fresh Custard apple leaves
-12-17 liters of water
-Pail
-Bolo/knife
-Cooking pot
-Strainer

Method of preparation

-Boil leaves in 2 liters of water until the remaining liquid is about ½ liter.
-Strain.

How to use

-Dilute filtrate with 10-15 liters of water.
-Fill the sprayer.
-Spray on infested plants thoroughly.

Target pests

-Aphids
-Brown plant hopper
-Caterpillars
-Coffee green scale
-Cotton stainer
-Diamondback moth
-Grasshopper
-Green bugs
-Green leaf hopper
-House fly

For more information: www.oisat.org 

More uses

ICT training boosts Judiciary

Kyuso Senior magistrate court was started in 2010 at Kyuso market in the far north of  Kitui County and the staffs deployed immediately to bring services closer to the people.

During orientation Mr. Francis Mulinge visited DC’S Compound to familiarize with other government offices he saw community knowledge (Maarifa) Centre within, he was curious to find out what happens in the Maarifa Centre.

On visiting the Centre, Mr. Mulinge was happy to hear about the free services offered. However of interest to him was news about a free computer training opportunity which he enrolled immediately.

Francis Mulinge works at Kyuso Law Courts as an accounts clerk. His office was supplied with a computer but could not use it. “I had a computer in my office but couldn’t use it. I was wondering who could take me through basic computer operation.” he confessed. 

After going through the ICT training for 1 and half months, Mr. Mulinge begun to use the computer in his office. “Nowadays my work is online I sent daily reports online. There is very little paper work in this office.

Mr. Mulinge attributes the efficient in his work to ALIN through one of its centre – Kyuso Maarifa Centre

Donkey business

 In most of the ASAL area receives low and erratic rainfall as low as (300-500mm) and hence acute water shortage.

People and livestock rely on water on wells and rock catchment usually constructed 2-10 kilometers  and people are forced to use donkey to ferry water.
.
In a place like Kyuso (kitui county-Kenya), if one asks you to choose between rearing beef animals and keeping donkeys, please take the donkeys. For the few days I have been in Kyuso, I have seen the importance of donkeys. My analysis is as follows:

Rearing beef cattle

Expenses:_ hay @ at kshs 150 per week,

                  :_ water @ kshs 20 per 20 litres per day,

                  :_ veterinary services kshs 800 per year,

                  :_ labour kshs 30 per day.

Revenue:_ sell it at kshs 50,000 at the end of the year.

Profits= 50,000 less ( expenses )

             = 50,000 _ (7800+7300+10950+800)

            = kshs 23150

Keeping donkey

Expenses are far minimal because it will only require veterinary services which amounts to kshs 1000 per annum. 

Income/revenue

A donkey carries 100 liters of water which costs kshs 100 and can take a minimum of 5 trips a day.

Assume it only works for five days a week.

Profits = revenue less expenses

             =(500*5*12) _ 1000

             =130,000 – 1000

             =kshs 129,000

The assumption is for one bull and a donkey. 

Recommendations

Love your job even if it looks disgusting,

Be proud of what you do,

Let your goals lead you and,

Be happy and enjoy what you do.

Deductions

In whatever you undertake look at the benefits.

Money is the determining factor in any small, medium, huge, clean or dirty job but don,t steal.

Maarifa Centres Offer Access to e-Government Services

Jacob Muinde Musyoka is a divisional agricultural extension officer- Tseikuru district. He learnt about kyuso Maarifa when he was working with the ministry of agriculture – Kyuso. Mr. Muinde is one of the beneficiaries of the Maarifa centre. First he started by taking the free ICT training offered by the Maarifa centre. Secondly, when he was transferred to Tseikuru District he realized that there was less Cyber cafe due to weak Internet connectivity in the area.

In late 2011, the government of Kenya introduced Government human resource information system (GHRIS) Portal whose aim is to address all its Human Resource (HR) needs , where the civil servants could updates their profile, download payslips, check leave day balance among other government services. Users of GHRIS are Government MDAs, Employees, and the Public who will benefit from a centralized readily accessible, efficient and transparent system. According to Mr. Muinde they are charged a processing fee of Kshs 800 per payslip in Tseikuru and due to demand of the document civil servants have no option.

Mr. Muinde has been visiting the Maarifa centre every month to access his and his wife payslip. He says that he has been able to secure banks loans easily because the banks will require the last three (3) payslip. “The Maarifa centre has enabled me save a large sum of money” said Mr. Muinde. I don’t incur a lot of cost coming to the Maarifa since I just need to fuel the government motorbike with less than Ksh 300. Secondly my wife stays in Kyuso so I don’t incur accommodation cost.

Due large number of civil servants willing to be helped the Field officer is encouraging them to join ICT training at the centre. Secondly, since this will be a continuous process the Field officer is in a process of coming up with HOW TO manual on the same.

Website: https://www.ghris.go.ke/

HOW TO MAKE A FIRELESS COOKER

HOW TO MAKE A FIRELESS COOKER:.

Photo courtesy of Household Energy Network

Requirements:

News papers,

A basket with its cover,

A black cloth ( cotton ),

A black thread,

A sewing needle and

A polythene paper.

Procedures:

.

Lay the polythene paper in the basket ,

Use the needle to ensure that it remains on the walls of the basket,

Lay the newspapers to  one inch thick,

Ensure they remain on the walls by sewing,

Cover the newspaper with the polythene paper,

Lay the cloth and sew it to ensure it takes the shape of the basket.

Repeat the process to ensure the cover is well made.

Keep it in a cool and dry place ready to use.

How it works:

Lets take an example preparing rice.

Prepare your food until it boils,

Transfer it into your fireless cooker and cover it tight.

Wait for the prescribed time.

Then open the cooker and your food is ready for consumption.

Reasons / advantages:

High costs of charcoal,

High costs of gas,

High costs of kerosene,

To reduce exploitation of forests,

To control climate change and,

To reduce domestic violence.

ANOTHER CASH CROP NOWADAYS

ANOTHER CASH CROP NOWADAYS: did you know that you can make good money only in your small piece of land with little water possible? check how you can grow arrow roots in areas with little water
....

THE OUTLOOK FOR THE MARCH - APRIL - MAY (MAM) FORECAST

Weather forecasts and historical climatic data form part of the core information required by most farmers when making strategic and operational decisions. Historical data can be used to determine climatic trends which could assist in determining which crops and/or varieties to plant in an area.

Kenya meteorological department has released the below seasonal forecast. 

 

HERE IS THE OUTLOOK FOR THE MARCH - APRIL - MAY (MAM) 2013 “LONG-RAINS”

KYUSO MAARIFA CENTRE OUTREACH

The video is a combination of images of Kyuso Maarifa centre staff on the field with farmers during the outreach services. Outreach is an activity of providing services who would have not accessed it. Kyuso Maarifa which one of the ALIN centre whose  mandate is to enable access, create knowledge and empower community hence improving the livelihood of the arid lands communities in East Africa. http://kyusomaarifa.blogspot.com/ , ALIN Website