taifaleo.nation.co.ke
@taifaleo Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:50:58
Ushuru mpya wa chai wazua hofu kwa wakulima
KANUNI mpya za ushuru wa chai za mwaka 2026 zimezua mjadala katika sekta hiyo huku wakulima wadogo wakihoji iwapo gharama hizo zitapunguza mapato yao na kusababisha kutozwa ushuru mara mbili. Kanuni hizo zimewasilishwa upya Bungeni baada ya Mbunge wa Gatundu Kusini George Kagombe, aliyekuwa mdhamini wa mapendekezo ya awali, kulaumiwa kwa kulenga maslahi yake binafsi katika sekta ya chai. Kagombe pia alitajwa kuwa mkurugenzi wa eneo wa Shirika la Maendeleo ya Chai (KTDA). Spika wa Bunge la Kitaifa Moses Wetang'ula alirejesha suala hilo kwa wabunge baada ya malalamishi yaliyowasilishwa na Dkt John Kennedy Omanga kuruhusiwa, na kubainika kuwa Kagombe hakutangaza maslahi yake kama inavyotakiwa na kanuni za Bunge. Mkurugenzi mkuu wa Bodi ya Chai nchini (TBK), Willy Mutai, hata hivyo, amehakikishia wakulima kuwa ushuru huo hautakatwa kutoka kwa malipo yao ya kila mwezi wala bonasi ya kila mwaka. Katika mahojiano na Taifa Leo, Mutai alisema ushuru huo utatozwa waagizaji na wanaosafirishaji chai nje ya nchi, wala si wakulima au viwanda vya chai. "Mapato ya wakulima kutokana na malipo ya kila mwezi na bonasi ya kila mwaka yataendelea kuwa kama yalivyoamuliwa na viwanda vyao," alisema. Chini ya kanuni hizo, wasafirishaji wa chai watalipa ushuru wa asilimia 0.8 ya thamani ya chai inayouzwa moja kwa moja au kupitia minada, huku waagizaji wakitozwa asilimia 100 ya thamani ya kila shehena ya chai inayoingizwa nchini. Mutai alisema ushuru huo unalenga kufadhili utafiti, kutangaza chai ya Kenya katika masoko ya kimataifa, kuboresha miundombinu na kuimarisha mapato ya wakulima. Asilimia 50 ya fedha hizo zitaelekezwa kwa hazina ya kuleta uthabiti wa bei ya chai, asilimia 20 kwa Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Chai iliyoko Kericho, asilimia 15 kwa serikali za kaunti zinazolima chai kwa ajili ya miundombinu na asilimia 15 kwa TBK. Alisema fedha hizo zitakaguliwa kwa mujibu wa sheria za usimamizi wa fedha za umma, huku matokeo ya ukaguzi yakitarajiwa kuwekwa wazi. Mutai alitaja ushindani katika soko la kimataifa kama sababu nyingine ya kuanzishwa kwa ushuru huo. Kenya huuza chai katika masoko 100, lakini asilimia 85 ya mauzo yake yanategemea masoko 10, yakiwemo Pakistan, Iran, Uingereza, Urusi na Misri. Bodi hiyo inalenga kupanua soko hadi Amerika Kaskazini, Afrika Magharibi, China na maeneo mengine ya Asia. Wakati huo huo, wakulima wanaanza kupokea bonasi ya mwaka ya msimu wa 2025/2026, huku viwanda vya KTDA vikitarajiwa kulipa kati ya Sh12.50 na Sh50 kwa kila kilo ya majani, kutegemea masoko ya ndani na nje. Mutai alisema ushuru huo utasaidia kuboresha utafiti, huduma za ugani, uzalishaji na ubora wa chai, hatua zinazotarajiwa kuongeza ushindani na mapato ya wakulima. Hata hivyo, maswali kuhusu athari za ushuru huo kwa gharama za biashara na uwezekano wa gharama hizo kuhamishiwa kwa wadau wengine yanaendelea kusubiri majibu huku kanuni hizo zikisubiri hatua za Bunge.
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@taifaleo Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:02:56
Kukosa kutoka jasho ni ulemavu? Jamii yataka kutambuliwa rasmi
JAMII ya Ilimanyang katika Kaunti ya Turkana inataka itambuliwe rasmi kama watu wenye ulemavu kutokana na hali adimu ya kiafya inayowafanya washindwe kutoa jasho, jambo linalohatarisha maisha yao katika joto kali la eneo hilo. Jamii hiyo inayokadiriwa kuwa na watu 600, wengi wao wakiishi katika kijiji cha Kapua, Turkana ya Kati, hulazimika kunyunyiziwa maji mara kwa mara ili kupunguza joto na kuzuia miili yao kupata joto kupita kiasi. Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Kitaifa ya Jinsia na Usawa (NGEC), Rehema Jaldesa, amesema tume hiyo itashirikiana na wataalamu wa afya kufanya uchunguzi kubaini hali hiyo na hatua zinazofaa kuchukuliwa. Afisa mkuu wa huduma za afya Turkana, Gilchrist Lokoel, alisema dalili zilizoripotiwa zinafanana na ugonjwa adimu wa kurithi unaojulikana kama hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), unaoweza kuathiri tezi za jasho, nywele na meno. Hata hivyo, alisema uchunguzi wa kina unahitajika kuthibitisha iwapo jamii hiyo ina ugonjwa huo. Nancy Ebolon, ambaye amekuwa akipigania haki za watu wa Ilimanyang, alisema waathiriwa hulazimika kula mara kwa mara na kunyunyiziwa maji ili kuendelea kuishi katika mazingira yenye joto kali. "Mtu hapa Ilimanyang huzimia asipokula ndani ya saa moja au asipopata maji ya kunyunyiziwa mwilini baada ya nusu saa. Hali ikizidi kuwa mbaya, hufariki," alisema. Alisema watoto wanaozaliwa na hali hiyo wako katika hatari kubwa zaidi, kwani huhitaji uangalizi wa karibu na kupozwa mara kwa mara ili kuzuia miili yao kupata joto kupita kiasi. Mbali na changamoto za kiafya, jamii hiyo inakabiliwa na unyanyapaa na imani potofu. Baadhi ya watoto wanaozaliwa na hali hiyo hukataliwa na baba zao, hali inayozidisha mateso ya familia zinazowalea. Elimu pia imeathirika kutokana na mazingira magumu wanayoishi. Jaldesa alisema baadhi ya wanafunzi hulazimika kusafiri kilomita 120 kwenda na kurudi ili kufanya mitihani ya kitaifa. "Mtoto anawezaje kusafiri kilomita 120 katika joto kali kwa siku moja ili kufanya mtihani?" aliuliza, akitaka mipango maalumu ya kuwasaidia wanafunzi hao. Jaldesa alisema NGEC itaratibu kambi ya matibabu na kushirikisha Baraza la Kitaifa la Watu Wenye Ulemavu ili kubaini uwezekano wa jamii hiyo kusajiliwa na kupata msaada wa serikali. Kutambuliwa kama walemavu kunaweza kuwawezesha watu wa jamii hiyo kupata huduma maalumu za afya, elimu na ulinzi wa kijamii. Hata hivyo, jamii hiyo pia inakabiliwa na uhaba wa maji, umaskini na changamoto za kupata vitambulisho vya taifa na vyeti vya kuzaliwa, hali inayoweza kuwazuia kupata huduma muhimu. Wanatumai kuwa kutambuliwa rasmi kutasaidia kupunguza ubaguzi na kufungua njia ya kupata huduma zinazozingatia mahitaji yao ya kipekee.
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:03:38
Elderly Kericho couple seeks livelihood from scrap business
Jua Kali Enterprises continues to provide livelihoods for families across the country, with artisans transforming locally available materials into household items. However, for 77-year-old Peter Muiruri Mbugua and his 68-year-old wife, Nelly Nduta, the trade has become a lifelong commitment that has sustained their family for decades. Through their business, Jehovah Jireh Tinsmith, the couple...
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:05:35
Nyandarua students want mentorship programmes enhanced
College students from Nyandarua County have expressed frustration over insufficient financial aid, noting that limited bursaries often fail to cover rising tuition and living costs. To counter this, the students are calling for enhanced mentorship programmes to provide guidance, career pathways and networking opportunities that can offset financial hardships. Speaking on the sidelines of an...
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:12:51
Garissa residents exploit flood havoc for farming
Floods, especially in the Northeastern region and parts of Tana River counties, are known to cause havoc: loss of lives, destruction of properties, sweeping of farms along River Tana, and sometimes livestock is not spared. For every rain season, the government, non-governmental organisations and development partners are caught up in a continuous cycle to put...
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:16:56
Bicycle boda boda remains a lifeline for Busia residents
As the morning sun shines over Busia town, the streets slowly come alive. Matatus hoot scrambling for passengers, and motorbike engines reverberate loudly as pedestrians are in a rush hour to their destinations. Among this busy movement is a group of men on bicycles, some slipping through narrow paths left by transit trucks and other...
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@kahawatungu Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:03:26
John Diefenbaker Siblings: Getting to Know Elmer Clive Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 13th prime minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963. Born on September 18, 1895, in Neustadt, Ontario, to William Thomas Diefenbaker, a schoolteacher of German descent, and Mary Florence Bannerman, of Scottish heritage, he grew up in a Baptist household. The family [...] The post John Diefenbaker Siblings: Getting to Know Elmer Clive Diefenbaker appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@kahawatungu Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:10:09
William Lyon Mackenzie King Siblings: All About Isabel, Janet and Dougall Macdougall King
William Lyon Mackenzie King was a Canadian statesman who served as the tenth prime minister of Canada and remains the longest-serving holder of that office. Born on December 17, 1874, in Berlin, Ontario, he was the son of John King, a lawyer, and Isabel Grace Mackenzie, the daughter of William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor [...] The post William Lyon Mackenzie King Siblings: All About Isabel, Janet and Dougall Macdougall King appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@kahawatungu Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:17:35
Lester B. Pearson Siblings: Getting to Know Marmaduke and Vaughan Whitier Pearson
Lester Bowles Pearson, commonly known as Mike Pearson, was a Canadian statesman, diplomat, scholar, and politician who served as the 14th prime minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. Born on April 23, 1897, in Newtonbrook, Ontario (now part of Toronto), he was the son of Edwin Arthur Pearson, a Methodist minister, and Annie Sarah [...] The post Lester B. Pearson Siblings: Getting to Know Marmaduke and Vaughan Whitier Pearson appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@taifaleo Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:58:44
Teknolojia za kilimo Kenya inaweza kuiga kutoka Amerika
KENYA inaweza kutumia teknolojia za kilimo kutoka Amerika kuongeza uzalishaji wa chakula, kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya tabianchi na kupunguza utegemeaji wa uagizaji wa mazao kutoka nchi. Wito huo umetolewa na maafisa wakuu wa kilimo kutoka Amerika, na umejiri wakati data mpya ya Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) ya Idara ya Kilimo ya Amerika inaonyesha kuwa uzalishaji wa mahindi Kenya msimu wa 2026/27 umepungua kwa asilimia 51, kutoka makadirio ya awali ya tani milioni 4.5 hadi tani milioni 2.2. Ted McKinney, Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), kwenye mahojiano ya kipekee na 'Akilimali' alisema Kenya inapaswa kukumbatia teknolojia mpya za kilimo ambazo zimeandikisha rekodi bora ya ufanisi katika kuongeza kiwango cha uzalishaji. Ted anasema Amerika iko tayari kushirikiana na Kenya kuboresha mbegu za mimea, kufanikisha mfumo wa bayoteknolojia, umwagiliaji mimea na mashamba maji kwa kutumia mifereji hasa ule wa kudondoa maji (drip irrigation), vinasaba vya mifugo na chakula chake. "Mabadiliko lazima yatoke humuhumu Kenya. Sisi tutasaidia kwa maarifa. Ni lazima Wakenya wafanye maamuzi yao wenyewe," Ted alisema. Alitoa kauli hiyo baada ya ujumbe wa maafisa wa kilimo wa Amerika kutembelea Kenya, Jijini Nairobi kujadili biashara ya kilimo, teknolojia na utekelezaji wa mradi wa National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) nchini Kenya. [caption id="attachment_193051" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ted McKinney wa Chama cha Kitaifa cha Idara za Kilimo za Majimbo (NASDA), Amerika, jijini Nairobi, Agosti 27, 2026. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Ted alisema mbegu zinazostahimili ukame zilizotengenezwa Amerika baada ya ukame mkali wa mwaka 2012 katika eneo la Midwest, zimeboreshwa na zina uwezo mkubwa kuhimili upungufu wa maji. "Mfumo wa bayoteknolojia pia unaweza kupunguza matumizi ya dawa zenye kemikali kuua wadudu na kwekwe," alielezea, japo akasisitiza kuwa Amerika haitalazimisha Kenya kutumia teknolojia hiyo. Wes Ward, Waziri wa Kilimo wa Arkansas, alisema wakulima wa Amerika wanakabiliana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kupitia kilimo cha usahihi (precision agriculture), mfumo wa umwagiliaji mimea na mashamba maji kwa kutumia mifereji ya kuyadondoa na mbegu zinazostahimili joto na ukame. "Mfumo huo unasaidia kwa kiwango kikubwa kudhibiti matumizi ya maji na yana usahihi," akasema Waziri Ward. Kuziba pengo la mahindi lililopo, Kenya inapaswa kuagiza kutoka nje tani milioni 2.3 za mahindi baada ya uzalishaji kushuka kufuatia ukame ulioshuhudiwa mwaka huu, 2026. "Kenya inahitaji kati ya tani milioni 3.5 na nne za mahindi kwa matumizi ya binadamu pekee," alisema Regina Ombam, Katibu katika Idara ya Biashara. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) ya Idara ya Kilimo ya Amerika, ilisema ukame mkali wa kati ya Juni na Julai uliathiri maeneo makuu yanayozalisha nafaka. Katika baadhi ya maeneo ya North Rift na magharibi mwa Kenya, karibu nusu yake yalilemewa na ukame, huku mazao yaliyosalia mavuno yakikadiriwa kupungua kwa hadi asilimia 35. [caption id="attachment_193052" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ted McKinney wa Chama cha Kitaifa cha Idara za Kilimo za Majimbo (NASDA), Amerika, jijini Nairobi, Agosti 27, 2026. Picha|Sammy Waweru[/caption] Ted alisema suluhisho si kuagiza mahindi pekee, bali pia kuwa na nafaka mbadala kupunguza ushindani kati ya chakula cha binadamu na mifugo. Alitaja mahindi ya manjano, mtama, distillers' grain na soybean meal kama baadhi ya chaguo bora. Utafiti wa FAS pia unakadiria uzalishaji wa ngano utashuka kutoka tani 280,000 hadi tani 130,000. Uzalishaji wa mpunga nao unatarajiwa kuwa tani 225,000, huku mfumo wa umwagiliaji mimea na mashamba maji kwa kutumia mifereji ukisisitizwa kuwa nguzo maalum kuangazia athari za mabadiliko ya tabianchi hasa wakati wa ukame na kiangazi.
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@taifaleo Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:03:00
Ongezeko la bei ya mafuta: Wamiliki wa matatu wasema nauli itapanda
WAMILIKI wa matatu wameonya kuwa huenda nauli ikapanda kufuatia ongezeko la bei ya mafuta, wakisema hawawezi kuendelea kubeba gharama huku wakipata hasara. Chama cha Wamiliki wa Matatu nchini (MOA) pia kimemkosoa Rais William Ruto, kikimtaka kutekeleza ahadi aliyotoa Mei kwamba bei ya dizeli, ambayo ndiyo tegemeo kuu la usafiri wa umma, italindwa dhidi ya ongezeko kubwa. Mnamo Jumatano, Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Nishati na Petroli (EPRA) iliongeza bei ya petroli kwa Sh12.93 kwa lita, dizeli Sh9.90 na mafuta ya taa Sh28.49. Bei hizo mpya zilianza kutumika jana Oktoba 15 hadi Novemba 14. Katika jiji la Nairobi, lita moja ya petroli itauzwa kwa Sh226.96, dizeli Sh227.76 na mafuta ya taa Sh219.87 ilhali katika kaunti ya Mombasa, petroli itauzwa kwa Sh223.81, dizeli Sh224.61 na mafuta ya taa Sh216.71. EPRA imesema ongezeko hilo limetokana na kupanda kwa bei kimataifa ya bidhaa za mafuta yanayoagizwa kutoka nje, huku mzozo wa Mashariki ya Kati ukichangia kuvuruga usambazaji. Mwenyekiti wa MOA Albert Karakacha alisema hatua hiyo imekiuka makubaliano aliyodai wafikia na Rais Ruto katika mkutano wa wadau wa sekta ya uchukuzi uliofanyika Ikulu ya Mombasa mwezi Mei. "Rais alituahidi tukiwa Mombasa kwamba hataongeza bei ya dizeli. Tulikutana naye kama wadau wa sekta ya uchukuzi na akatuhakikishia kuwa bei ya dizeli italindwa. Leo imeongezeka kwa Sh9.90 kwa lita. Ahadi hiyo imevunjwa," alisema Karakacha. Alimtaka Rais kuondoa ongezeko hilo, akionya kuwa wamiliki wa matatu hawawezi kuendelea kubeba gharama huku mapato yao yakipungua. Alisema gharama za tairi zimepanda kutoka Sh25,000 hadi kati ya Sh38,000 na Sh45,000, huku bima kamili ya magari ikipanda kutoka takriban Sh180,000 hadi Sh250,000. Karakacha pia alilalamikia ushuru wa magari ya umeme, betri na vifaa vya kuchaji, akisema ahadi ya kupunguza ushuru huo ili kurahisisha mabadiliko kuelekea magari yasiyotumia mafuta ya petroli haijatekelezwa. "Biashara yetu haiwezi kuendelea kupata hasara. Tutalazimika kupitisha gharama hizo kwa abiria. Tumesukumwa hadi ukutani," alisema. Aliongeza kuwa chama hicho kitafanya mkutano wa dharura kujadili hatua za kuchukua na kukubaliana kuhusu msimamo wa pamoja wa wanachama wake. Onyo hilo limeibua hofu ya kupanda kwa gharama ya usafiri kwa wafanyakazi, wanafunzi na familia ambazo tayari zinakabiliwa na gharama kubwa ya maisha. Mzozo huo unakumbusha mgomo wa Mei 18 na 19 uliosababisha usumbufu mkubwa wa usafiri Nairobi na miji mingine baada ya bei ya dizeli kupanda hadi Sh242.92 kwa lita. Mgomo huo ulisitishwa baada ya mazungumzo na serikali, ambapo Rais Ruto alitangaza punguzo la ziada la Sh10 kwa lita ya dizeli katika kipindi cha bei cha Juni hadi Julai. MOA sasa inataka serikali kurejesha ruzuku ya mafuta au kuanzisha hazina ya kudhibiti mabadiliko ya bei, pamoja na kupitia upya ushuru wa bidhaa za petroli. Hata hivyo, Karakacha hakutaja kiasi ambacho nauli zitaongezeka, akisema uamuzi huo utafanywa baada ya wanachama kushauriana.
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:35:53
Solar-powered borehole project to address water crisis in Rachuonyo
Residents of Adega in Rachuonyo East Sub-County are poised for a major improvement in access to clean and safe water after the launch of a solar-powered borehole project, spearheaded by the national government. The multimillion-shilling initiative installed at Adega Mixed Senior School is expected to ease the burden on schoolchildren and households that have depended...
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:42:25
Artificial Intelligence: A Threat to Jobs or Tool for Progress?
With the rapid developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), discussions about the high-end tech's potential and its impacts on our daily lives have permeated every sector of our lives and turned a new page on the way we conduct our daily activities. On Monday, Singapores President Tharman, while speaking during the IMF/World Bank 2026...
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@kna Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:48:45
Kangangi Market project nears completion
The government is stepping up investment in modern markets in Kiambu County, with the construction of the Sh267 million Kangangi Fresh Produce Market in Kiambu Town currently 30 per cent complete. The facility is among nearly 600 markets being developed across the country, under the governments development programme, aimed at improving trading infrastructure, supporting small-scale...
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