CANDLE NEWS KENYA

The Environment Club of the University of Embu mobilised students and the community to plant more than 9,000 trees at the weekend. The students to planted 4,000 trees at university land on Friday. On Saturday, some 500 students joined hands with forestry officials, staff and community members and planted another 5,000 trees at the nearby Njukiri forest. This was the largest number of trees the institution has planted in a single rainy season after having been planting about 3,000 trees in previous seasons, according to the Dean School of Agriculture Fredrick Njoka. Dr Njoka who represented the Vice Chancellor Daniel Mugendi during the exercise on Saturday said by planting trees they hoped to mitigate against climate change as well as provide timber and conserve soil. “The effects of climate change are here with us. Rains have become erratic coming at unexpected times or insufficient quantities. Forest animals have consequently shifted from their habitats. Monkeys have rel...

A cooperative that was started by Jua Kali artisans and small scale traders in Runyenjes town of Embu County now plans to start offering Front Office Sacco Activities (FOSA) to meet needs of members. Started 10 years ago with an initial share capital of Sh237,000, Focus Sacco Society has grown considerably and now boosts savings of Sh17 million. Sacco chairman Rev Linus Muriithi said they resolved to start FOSA services, having set aside Sh10 million deposit as a requirement by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (Sasra). Speaking during the Sacco’s annual general meeting, Rev Muriithi said they are in the process of registering for FOSA aiming to operationalise it by next year, an achievement that will diversify the transactions to members in savings and lending.  He revealed the plan to start FOSA is contained in the Sacco’s 2017-2019 strategic plan. Sacco official Ceasar Munyi said the dedication by the members to save and invest enabled the Sacco to post a ...

A management consultant has urged fresh graduates to pursue various self-employment avenues instead of idling time away waiting to get employed. Kithinji Kiragu who is the chairman Embu College advised graduates to be emboldened by the fact that they are trained and educated to take care of their lives and contribute to their families and societies in many ways, including creating wealth and jobs. Speaking during Embu College’s fourth graduation ceremony, Kiragu told the graduands to adopt the philosophy and spirit that education is for self empowerment and not necessarily for employment. “Graduates should not go and sit down at home and just wait for the usual jobs in offices, industries and classrooms. Therefore, wherever you are, do something positive in your life; produce or sell something, even from the shamba. That is what is self-employment; that is what the beginning of entrepreneurship is,” he implored. College Principal Margaret Wachira told the graduands tha...

Inmates at the Embu Men’s Prison received a rare treat after students from a local college offered them beauty therapy services. Hundreds of prisoners waited for their turns patiently at the prison’s main hall where they were offered manicure, pedicure, facials and massage services by students from Wanjau Technical and Vocational Training Institute. The students planned the treat as an Easter gift for the inmates and to show them that they are loved as worthy human beings by the wider community. The prison has about of 1,500 inmates. Those on death and those serving life sentences were given priority on consideration that those serving shorter sentences will have an opportunity to access beauty therapy on leaving prison. The Institute’s director Agnes Ireri said the students had previously offered similar treats at children’s homes, homes for elderly and matatu crews. “We found it necessary to show the prisoners that they are appreciated as fellow human beings. We have ta...