The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is harmonising seed laws across the region to boost agricultural production, food security, and cross-border trade in quality planting materials.Speaking during a public hearing on the East African Community Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025, EALA Member of Parliament and Chairperson, Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources Committee, David Ole Sankok, said the Bill seeks to promote quality seed production, while protecting food sovereignty and indigenous seeds.The Legislator warned that overreliance on seeds that cannot be replanted could threaten food sovereignty and leave Partner States vulnerable to food insecurity.“Every season you have to go to the market. Supposing that market closes, what will happen to our food sovereignty and our food security?” he asked.“That’s why we are actually making these laws, so that we can have food sovereignty on top of food security,” he added.He said harmonising seed regulations would enable farmers and seed breeders to access wider markets, therefore, allowing Member States to benefit and expand agriculture output.The Bill provides for coordination of the evaluation, release, and registration of plant varieties among EAC Partner States, as well as common processes for seed certification and protection of plant varieties.It is anchored on Article 106 of the EAC Treaty, which provides for cooperation in quality seed development and production through research and plant breeding, enhanced capacity in seed technology, and an enabling environment for private-sector seed multiplication and distribution.Under the proposed Bill, seed certified in one EAC Partner State could be recognised in other Partner States under agreed conditions, reducing duplication in testing, registration, and certification.“The seed that is certified in Kenya doesn’t need to undergo all the processes in other Member States,” he said.The Lawmaker said rapid urbanisation was increasing pressure on rural farmers to produce enough food to feed the growing population.“As you know, 70 per cent of our population currently lives in urban centers. Now the remaining 30 percent who are in the rural areas are the ones that are supposed to feed them,” he said.The Legislator said the proposed framework would not prevent farmers from retaining and planting their traditional seeds, arguing that food security must be accompanied by food sovereignty.“As a farmer, you have the choice to make, whether to buy or to plant your own seeds without any interference,” he said.The Bill is expected to address concerns around farmers’ rights to save, use, exchange, and replant seed, as well as the protection of community seed banks, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and local genetic resources.Stakeholders said there is a need to ensure that plant breeders’ rights don’t undermine farmers’ traditional practices.They said the Bill would facilitate regional trade in breeders’ seeds, but would not give seed companies the authority to prevent farmers from planting their own traditional varieties.Sankok called for stronger measures against counterfeit and substandard seeds, saying farmers needed better protection from unscrupulous traders.He said the proposed system would improve seed identification and traceability, including the use of scanning technology to distinguish genuine seeds from counterfeit products.Sankok warned that organisations involved in producing fake seeds would face penalties.The Bill’s policy framework recognises the growing impact of droughts, floods, pests, and diseases on agricultural production and proposes greater emphasis on drought-tolerant and climate-smart varieties.He said countries could also benefit from increased regional trade by producing crops suited to their respective environments and selling surplus produce to neighbouring markets.On genetically modified organisms, Sankok said the proposed legislation does not seek to regulate GMOs.He said GMO regulation remains governed by national biosafety frameworks and that EAC legislation would only address the matter if Partner States reached a common position on the technology.Sankok said differences in regulatory and institutional capacity among EAC Partner States would be addressed through a gradual harmonisation process.He stressed that countries with more advanced seed regulations will only align with the standards of the Bill.Sankok said EALA was taking time to consult stakeholders because the Bill must eventually be implemented across all Partner States, noting that public submissions would be considered alongside views from other Partner States before the final legislation is adopted.The consultations are expected to gather views from farmers, seed companies, researchers, regulators, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, and other stakeholders.If adopted and effectively implemented, the Bill is expected to reduce regulatory costs, improve access to quality seed, promote agricultural innovation, and strengthen the movement of agricultural inputs across EAC borders.
Read briefing Kenya must move away from traditional livestock production methods and embrace high-value, technology-driven commercial meat processing to unlock the potential in the sector worth billions of shillings, Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has said.Kagwe asserted that the livestock sector in Kenya has the potential to attract and create huge investments, thus generating numerous jobs and decent profits through exports and local sales.Speaking Wednesday, during the opening of the Fifth Kenya Meat Expo 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Kagwe said the country’s livestock industry had reached a critical turning point and possessed the potential to become a major regional and international supplier of meat and livestock products.The three-day expo has brought together stakeholders from across Eastern and Central Africa under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Growth: Empowering the Next Generation in the Meat Value Chain.”Official ministry data shows Kenya produced about 613,627 tonnes of meat in 2024, valued at Sh397 billion, representing a 10.2 per cent increase in production volume and a 30.5 percent rise in value compared with 2023.Beef remains the biggest contributor, accounting for approximately 260,000 tonnes valued at Sh160 billion.“The challenge before us is not whether Kenya has the potential, because that we know. The challenge is how quickly and effectively we can convert that potential into productivity, into investment, jobs, exports, and higher incomes for our farmers and pastoralists,” Kagwe said.The CS said reforms would target quality, safety, and traceability challenges affecting the country’s nearly 2,000 slaughter facilities, which include 49 large slaughterhouses, 322 medium-sized facilities, and more than 1,500 slaughter slabs.At the Centre of the proposed reforms is the Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) Bill 2026, which seeks to introduce a digital livestock identification system using microchip technology.The system, developed locally by Kenyan universities, will allow animals to be tracked from birth to slaughter and provide records on their origin, vaccination history and veterinary care.Kagwe said the technology would not only improve food safety and help Kenya meet international export standards but would also strengthen the fight against livestock theft.“Once this system is in place, it will be a foolproof system against animal banditry,” he said. “With a simple chip, you will be able to identify your animals and know where they are.”He warned livestock thieves that technological reforms would make their trade increasingly difficult.The CS challenged young Kenyans to invest in the wider meat value chain, saying opportunities existed in commercial feedlots, artificial insemination, animal genetics, feed formulation, transport, and processing.“If you are interested in money, you should be interested in the meat sector,” Kagwe said.Trade Principal Secretary (PS), Regina Ombam, said the future of the industry would depend on the integration of trade policy, climate-smart agriculture, and youth participation.She said young entrepreneurs were increasingly adopting innovations such as rotational grazing, biogas production from livestock waste, and methane-reducing animal feeds.“Doing this better calls for cutting-edge digital technology and a clear understanding of nature’s principles,” Ms. Ombam said.The PS pledged government support in opening new export markets and improving access to green financing for businesses in the livestock sector.Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, who chairs the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Disaster Management Committee at the Council of Governors, said Kenya was failing to fully exploit the enormous livestock resources found in ASAL counties.He noted that the regions produce about 70 per cent of Kenya’s livestock, but the country still struggles to meet major export orders from international markets.“ASAL counties produce 70 per cent of the livestock in this country, but unfortunately, that huge capacity is not being translated into properly exportable meat,” Governor Jama said.The governor called for faster implementation of county aggregation and industrial parks, structured feedlots, and sanitary and phytosanitary management programs through public-private partnerships.Nation Media Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Geoffrey Odundo said the media company would continue providing platforms that link livestock producers with processors, financiers, and international buyers.The Kenya Meat Expo, established five years ago to bring together players in the fragmented livestock sector, has so far facilitated more than Sh200 million in sector investments and generated Sh3 million in direct deals on the exhibition floor.This year’s event features panel discussions, business-to-business networking sessions, and deal-making forums aimed at unlocking investment and expanding trade across East and Central Africa.
Read briefing Their finishes may have fallen just short of victory, but Victor Kimutai and Mercy Chebet Byegon emerged among the standout performers at the just-concluded 2026 Belgut Marathon, underlining the growing pool of young athletic talent in Kericho County.Kimutai clocked a personal best of 14:05 to finish third in the men’s 5 km race, while Chebet Byegon posted 16:35 to finish fourth in the women’s 5 km category, with both athletes training under Kericho-based coach Gabriel Kiptanui.In an interview with KNA, Kimutai, who lined up alongside 169 runners in the men’s 5km race, said the competition provided an important platform for athletes to gauge their performance and prepare for bigger races ahead.The budding athlete clocked a personal best of 14:05 in the race. He said the achievement was encouraging, particularly because he had trained for less than a month while on his summer holidays.Kimutai said the performance was a good sign as he prepares for his debut race in Japan next month, an 8.1 km speed race that will test his readiness for the upcoming Ekiden Trials.The athlete, who earned an athletic scholarship to study at Josai University in Japan in 2021, expressed optimism about improving his results in future competitions.“I am grateful to God; it was not a bad race, and so far I am pleased with my results. I have not even had a month in my training, but I have seen great improvements with my personal best of 14:05. This is a good sign as I prepare for an upcoming race next month in Japan, which is an 8.1 km race different from my normal races. It will be a speed race, and it requires adequate preparation. This will be my debut race, and it will determine my qualifying for Ekiden Trials,” said Kimutai.In the women’s 5 km category, Byegon, who competed alongside 104 runners, attributed her performance to consistent training and determination.The upcoming athlete said she remains focused on her dream of competing at higher levels and expressed confidence in improving her personal best times in future events.“The race was not bad, and I am thankful to God that I emerged in fourth place. My personal best time was 16:35, and I am currently training to compete for a scholarship race on 11 September this year in Nakuru County.Coach Gabriel Kiptanui, who is also the Athletics Kenya (AK) Kericho County branch vice chairman, said local competitions such as the Belgut Marathon play a key role in identifying and nurturing emerging talent, adding that with proper support and exposure, athletes like Kimutai and Chebet have the potential to compete at national and international levels.He said the pace displayed across the three races was impressive, pointing to the men’s 21 km race where the top three athletes finished in about one hour. He said such times are unusually fast, noting that athletes typically complete the distance in between 1:20 and 1:40.In the men’s 21km race, Kiprono Kimutai won in 1:00:46, followed by Wisley Kipkemoi Yego in 1:01:20 and Alex Nzioki Matata in 1:01:29. The women’s race was won by Jackline Chepgeno in 01:08:00, ahead of Janet Nyiva in 01:08:17 and Zenah Jemutai Yego in third position with a personal best time of 01:09:07.Kimutai said the performances offered a glimpse of the potential within Kericho’s athletic ranks but urged stakeholders to provide emerging runners with more competitions, training opportunities, and support to help them progress to the national and international stage.The athletics coach trains more than 20 athletes and has built a stable that includes several accomplished international athletes, among them 2015 steeplechase world champion Sheila Chelangat, 2023 and 2024 World Cross Country mixed relay champions Miriam Cherop and Daniel Munguti, 2013 World U18 1500m champion Robert Biwott, and two-time Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet.
Read briefing The Government has commenced the land acquisition process for the 49.28 kilometers along the Kericho County section of the Naivasha-Kisumu Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).The process involves public engagements and pre-acquisition surveys getting underway to pave the way for the construction of railway stations and related infrastructure.Speaking during the National Government Development County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-CICMC) meeting in Kericho, Kenya Railways Engineer, Shimron Munga said the route alignment within the county had been completed, while pegging of the railway corridor and station areas was ongoing.Kericho County Commissioner Omari Ali, who chaired the meeting, said the SGR project had been well received by residents and leaders in the county, describing it as a major development expected to transform transport and economic activities once completed.Ali said completion of the railway would improve connectivity between Kericho and other parts of the country, ease transportation of people and goods, and create new opportunities for businesses and communities along the corridor.He urged residents, local leaders, and other stakeholders to continue working with Kenya Railways and the National government during the land acquisition and construction phases, saying cooperation would help ensure timely completion of the project and enable Kericho residents to fully benefit from the railway investment.Kenya Railways Engineer, Shimron Munga, in his presentation to the committee, said supplementary Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies were also at the sensitisation and socio-economic survey stage as Kenya Railways moved to the next phase of land acquisition.The Phase 2B SGR line enters Kericho County from Bomet at DK 264+900 and runs northwestwards for 23.25 kilometres to the border with Nyamira County at DK 288+150, before re-entering Kericho from Homa Bay County and continuing for another 26.03 kilometres to the Kisumu County border.Munga said the first major railway facility planned in the county was the Sotik North Intermediate Station, proposed at DK 266+900, about four kilometres north of Sotik Town, with the proposed Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) logistics hub in Cheplanget Ward designated at Tiritab Moita, in Bureti, Kericho County.Eng. Munga said the Tiiritab Moita Logistics hub and intermediate station are proposed to cover approximately 125 acres of land, with the logistics hub occupying a total of 65 acres, while the intermediate station will cover 60 acres.The station is expected to provide both passenger and freight services, serving communities around the region and supporting the movement of agricultural produce and other goods along the Naivasha-Kisumu railway corridor.A passing station is also proposed at Ikonge at DK 276+400, while on the second section of the railway within the county, a reserved passenger station is planned at Awasi at DK 316+350 and another passing station at Kapsorok in Soin, Kericho, at DK 328+700.Munga said Kenya Railways was working with affected communities and government agencies to identify suitable land for the railway facilities while seeking to minimize disruption to existing institutions and public facilities.“We are really trying to avoid interfering entirely with learning institutions around that station area, but we may touch on other government land,” said Munga, adding that alternative public land could be considered where necessary.He said some of the land around the proposed railway stations could be government or county land, making it easier for the government to secure alternative sites and undertake development without unnecessarily interfering with schools and other community facilities.Munga said public participation remained central to the project, with residents being engaged on land acquisition, the railway corridor, and other issues affecting communities along the route.“Public participation is very important, and residents have been engaged on various issues, including the naming of one of the proposed stations,” he said.The engineer said the government was also working with security teams and local leadership to address emerging challenges and ensure that the implementation of the SGR project proceeds without disruption.He said community representatives had held consultations with Kenya Railways management and the Kericho governor, who later visited the affected areas to engage residents and assess concerns raised over the project.Munga said compensation would be provided to landowners whose privately owned property is required for the railway, noting that the government had given assurances on the matter.The NGD-CICMC meeting brought together national government officials and representatives of Kenya Railways, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya National Highways Authority, National Government Administration Officers, the Social Health Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, NACADA, housing, and other agencies.
Read briefing The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has set a target of reducing road fatalities by 50 per cent by 2028, as motorists and boda boda riders in Kwale County call for urgent measures to make roads safer.NTSA Board Chairman Khatib Mwashetani said the authority would address concerns raised by riders, including difficulties accessing driving licenses and NTSA services.He urged boda boda riders to register through Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) under the Boda Boda Management System (BMS), saying the system would enable authorities to obtain accurate data on riders and motorcycles and improve safety interventions.“Boda boda is a business and it is work,” Mwashetani said, noting that the sector provides employment and income for many young people.Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) Kwale Chairman Mahmud Rajab Mwanyumba said lack of appropriate driving licenses remained a major challenge, with some riders operating without licenses or holding licenses for the wrong category.He also raised concerns over motorcycle insurance costs and called for affordable and transparent insurance premiums.Mwanyumba further called for improved relations between riders and police, saying some unlicensed riders avoid reporting accidents for fear of arrest.“If I do not have a license, does that give you permission to hit me?” he asked, urging authorities to ensure riders can seek justice when involved in crashes.He called for the installation of speed bumps along dangerous sections of the Ukunda-Diani and Beach roads.Ukunda Boda Boda Chairman Rashid Salim Bora identified the stretch from Ibiza through Blue Jay to Markaz as particularly dangerous due to inadequate speed bumps, road signs and pedestrian crossings.“People have died at Ibiza, Msikiti Nuru, Kona ya Musa, Diani Market and Romika,” Bora said.Hamisi Mwero, popularly known as Nayonayo, supported calls for improved road infrastructure but urged authorities to install warning signs ahead of speed bumps to prevent accidents.Meanwhile, Base Commander Mwanahamisi Sheria urged riders to avoid speeding, reckless overtaking and overlapping while ensuring they possess valid licenses, insurance, helmets and reflective gear.She also cautioned tuk-tuk operators against carrying excess passengers, noting that the vehicles are licensed to carry a maximum of three passengers.NTSA Coast Region Head Douglas Nyagwoka said achieving the 2028 target would require a change in behaviour among all road users.“Safety starts with me,” Nyagwoka said, urging riders, drivers, passengers and pedestrians to play their part in reducing road deaths.He warned riders against operating motorcycles under the influence of alcohol or drugs and discouraged motorcycle modifications such as loud exhausts, excessive lights and altered indicators.
Read briefing Kenya increased its education budget to Sh784.5 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, up from Sh702 billion in 2025/26, as the Government steps up investment in teachers, equity, education data and skills development.Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Inyangala said the increased allocation demonstrated the Government’s commitment to strengthening the education sector and improving learning outcomes.Speaking during the Second East African Community (EAC) Regional Conference on Education in Nairobi on Wednesday, Inyangala said the Sh784.5 billion allocation accounted for about 27 per cent of the national budget and 4.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).She said Kenya had made progress in implementing education reforms through targeted programmes aimed at improving learning outcomes, promoting equity, strengthening teachers and expanding access to education.Inyangala cited the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Programme (KPEEL) and the National Assessment System for Monitoring Learner Achievement (NASMLA) among initiatives supporting efforts to identify disparities and improve learning outcomes.She said Kenya had also continued implementing competency-based education across the country, supported by teacher recruitment, continuous professional development and information and communication technology (ICT) training.Inyangala said the Government had recruited thousands of teachers in recent years to strengthen the teaching workforce, while efforts were being made to retool teachers to effectively deliver competency-based education.“We are prioritising retooling of these teachers so that they can deliver competency-based education using innovative pedagogy,” she said.The PS said the Government was also strengthening accountability in the education sector through improved data management and the operationalisation of the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS).She said KEMIS was designed to provide an integrated platform for managing education data, including learner information, and would support evidence-based planning, resource allocation and monitoring of education outcomes.“This provides a necessary foundation for evidence-based planning and accountability and strengthens the reliability of tracking equity and learning outcomes,” she said.Inyangala said Kenya was also strengthening skills development through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which enables individuals to have skills acquired through informal, non-formal and experiential learning assessed and formally recognised.She said RPL could help workers in the informal sector obtain recognised qualifications and improve their access to employment, further training and other economic opportunities.The PS said Kenya’s experience had demonstrated that targeted financing, particularly funding linked to verified school improvement plans, could contribute to improved learning outcomes in underserved areas.She, however, called for predictable and sustainable education financing, warning that funding constraints could undermine progress made through school improvement and other education programmes.Inyangala also highlighted gender-responsive interventions, including affirmative measures and the 100 per cent transition policy, saying such interventions had contributed to progress towards gender parity at secondary and tertiary levels.Despite increased teacher recruitment, she said, staffing gaps and regional disparities in teacher distribution remained a challenge at primary and junior secondary levels.“This points to the need for recruitment and deployment planning that keeps pace with enrolment growth over the medium term,” she said.Inyangala further said efforts to return children who had dropped out of school were more effective when combined with complementary social support, including cash transfers, community engagement and re-entry programmes.She said the integration of refugee and host-community learners into national education programmes had also supported more comprehensive inclusion.The PS cautioned that increases in nominal education allocations did not necessarily translate into proportional increases in real investment, stressing the need to monitor expenditure against both the national budget and GDP.She said evidence-based financing and stronger expenditure monitoring would be critical to ensuring that increased investment translated into improved outcomes for learners.The National Treasury’s 2026/27 Budget Statement allocated Sh784.5 billion to the Education Sector, including Sh424.3 billion for the Teachers Service Commission, Sh136.6 billion for Basic Education, Sh163.9 billion for Higher Education, Sh1.3 billion for Science, Innovation and Research and Sh58.5 billion for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.The Second EAC Regional Conference on Education brings together policymakers, educators, researchers, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss ways of transforming education systems across the region.
Read briefing Kenya is stepping up research into improved cattle breeds, quality feeds, and climate-resilient pastures as it seeks to increase beef production, improve farmers’ incomes, and bridge the country’s persistent meat deficit.At the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Beef Research Institute in Lanet, Nakuru County, scientists are combining advances in animal breeding, nutrition, and pasture development to help farmers produce heavier animals and better-quality beef at a lower cost.Catherine Ndungu, a research scientist in animal breeding and genetics at the institute, says the improved Boran is one of the breeds with strong potential to drive beef production, particularly in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid areas.“The improved Boran is well adapted to our local environment and can convert available resources into meat,” she says.The breed is heat tolerant, can travel long distances in search of pasture and water, and can withstand harsh conditions that can limit the performance of some exotic breeds.Bulls can reach up to 900 kilogrammes, while females can attain between 450 and 500 kilogrammes. The breed also records a dressing percentage of about 55 to 60 per cent, meaning a significant proportion of its live weight can be converted into carcass meat.Ndungu says such characteristics are increasingly important as climate change continues to place pressure on livestock production.KALRO is conducting research to improve traits including body weight, feed conversion efficiency, adaptability, and disease tolerance before making improved animals available to farmers.The research, Ndungu explains, is also exploring crossbreeding to combine desirable traits from different cattle breeds, saying one programme involves crossing the Improved Boran with the Orma Boran, which is known for greater tolerance to diseases such as trypanosomiasis.“The objective is to develop animals that combine the Improved Boran’s superior body weight with the Orma Boran’s disease tolerance even as KALRO works with Sahiwal, a dual-purpose breed valued for both meat and milk production.For farmers seeking breeding bulls, Ndungu advises them to look beyond size and consider the animal’s overall structure and reproductive potential.Farmers should assess height, body capacity, leg structure, back, and the development of the scrotum. A good beef animal should have a strong body, broad hindquarters, and sound legs capable of carrying its weight as it matures.“Farmers need the right breed for their environment and production goals. If you choose the right animal and manage it properly, beef farming can be profitable,” Ndungu says, adding that their cattle range between Sh150,000 for a dairy cow and Sh250,000 for a bull.But good genetics alone cannot deliver quality beef without proper nutrition, and Lorna Chesire, an animal technologist at the KALRO Beef Research Institute, says researchers are developing locally formulated feed rations to improve weight gain, muscle development, and meat quality in cattle raised under feedlot systems.The institute focuses on finishing steers aged between 24 and 30 months before they are taken to market. “We analyse the feeds before formulation and again after formulation to ensure the animals receive the right levels of energy and protein,” Chesire says.KALRO has developed grass- and silage-based rations incorporating ingredients such as maize germ, Rhodes grass, wheat bran, canola and sunflower concentrates, together with mineral supplements.Researchers are also examining locally available protein sources, including acacia and prosopis pods and leaves, as cheaper alternatives that could help farmers reduce feeding costs.The feeding programme is designed to help farmers achieve faster and more efficient weight gain while producing animals that meet market requirements.Behind every well-fed animal, however, is the pasture that provides the foundation of livestock nutrition, and KALRO research scientist and plant breeder Mercy Jerop says the organisation is developing and evaluating pasture varieties suited to different agro-ecological zones to help farmers cope with climate change and ensure a reliable supply of quality livestock feed.Among the Napier varieties promoted by KALRO are Bana grass and Omega-1, while Super Napier is currently under research following farmers’ reports of its high protein content.The institute has also developed two locally adapted Brachiaria varieties, BS1 and KS1, which mature within three to four months and perform well in medium and dry areas.“Brachiaria can be established using seed or splits and can be used for grazing, silage, and feed blocks,” Jerop says, adding that the grass contains about 12 to 13 percent crude protein, making it an important component of livestock diets.Boma Rhodes, Jerop says, is another pasture suited to medium- and high-altitude areas and is mainly used for hay and seed production.For farmers seeking higher-protein fodder, KALRO is promoting forage sweet potato varieties containing about 18 to 20 percent protein. The crop can be used in cut-and-carry feeding systems or mixed with other grasses.
Read briefing Teachers in Mt. Elgon have been urged to take up housing units allocated to them under the Government’s Affordable Housing Programme.Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Mt. Elgon Branch Executive Secretary Patrick Cheptum said 20 per cent of the housing units had been reserved for teachers, urging them to register on the Boma Yangu platform to begin the acquisition process.Cheptum said teachers whose salaries were already subject to the Housing Levy should seize the opportunity instead of remaining on the sidelines.“Teachers have a right to benefit from the Affordable Housing Programme. The programme has now stabilised after the initial challenges, so I urge all teachers to download the Boma Yangu app, register and explore the available options,” he said.He was speaking at Kapsokwony Comprehensive School in Mt. Elgon Sub-County during a homecoming ceremony for Grade Six pupil Abel Kibet, who helped Kenya win a silver medal in volleyball at the just-concluded East Africa School Games in Morogoro, Tanzania.Cheptum also challenged teachers to embrace digital platforms rolled out to improve their welfare, including Afya Yangu and the KNUT app, saying the platforms had eased access to services and information.He further urged teachers to play a more active role in identifying and nurturing talent in schools, noting that early support for co-curricular activities could open national and international opportunities for learners while raising the profile of schools and communities.The ceremony brought together teachers, learners, parents and community members to celebrate Kibet, who rose from zonal contests to represent Kenya at the regional games.His coach and sports teacher, Tony Chepkirui, said Kibet progressed through sub-county and national competitions before earning a call-up to the national team.“We are very proud of Abel for representing Mt. Elgon Constituency and Kenya at the East Africa level. His achievement shows the potential our learners have when talent is identified and properly supported,” Chepkiirui said.He described Kapsokwony Comprehensive School as an emerging sporting hub, noting that learners had previously represented the institution in athletics at national level and rugby at regional level.Chepkirui revealed that financial constraints had at one point threatened to end Kibet’s sporting journey, but Headteacher Bosis Boit mobilised teachers to raise funds that enabled him to continue competing.Kibet, who was feted during the ceremony, urged fellow pupils to remain disciplined and committed to their talents.He said discipline and determination had been key to his progress and encouraged other learners not to give up despite challenges.KNUT Mt. Elgon Branch Treasurer Evans Cheseto said teachers had joined the community in celebrating Kibet because his achievement was a source of pride for the teaching fraternity and the wider Mt. Elgon region.He said the silver medal demonstrated what could be achieved when teachers, parents and the community worked together to support learners beyond the classroom.
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