Ngiturkana

05/10/2025

18/09/2023

Soaring Fuel Prices.

In recent years, the people of Kenya have faced an uphill battle against the relentless rise in fuel prices. This is a global phenomenon that has brought about unprecedented pain in all sectors of the economy. This is also a challenge that has persisted through different governments and administrati...

16/09/2023

Numbers don't lie. eyes on the ball.

14/07/2021

06/07/2020

Why Value Addition is Business.
My Business Advice, Author: Ekaale Ekuam
6 July 2020
Ever heard of this catchy word value added service or value addition, now Value added service in its basic sense means additional or extra features a firm adds to its existing products and services before offering them to customers, meaning customers are willing to pay based on the perceived value. The addition of value can either increase the product’s price or value in return increase sales revenues. The firm can add value in many ways offering better quality, increase convenience or offer faster and better product or service. Adding a brand name to a generic product or assembling a new product in an innovative way.
While value addition is a process of creating value for customers, the same can be harnessed to create a business venture.
Valued added products that became business ventures?
In agriculture for example value-added farming entails changing a raw agricultural product into something new through either packaging, processing, cooling, drying, extracting or any other type of process that differentiates the product from the original raw commodity. There are several examples of value-added agricultural products which include yogurt, jam, juice, pumpkin flour, banana flour, crisps and cassava flour just to mention a few.
Adding value to any agricultural product is a worthwhile entrepreneurship endeavor if one is to take up Value Addition seriously. There exist higher returns that come with the investment, the opportunity to open new markets and extend the producer’s marketing reach as well as the ability to create new recognition for the farm produce.
Value added Farming is not without its challenges to farmers. The biggest hurdle to overcome in value addition venture is food safety and regulations, for example if you are interested in taking your tomatoes and turning them into a high quality jam you are required to meet all food and safety regulations. Putting together a very good recipe and formulation of your product may pose significant challenges as well, you may require some expert advice here.
Take another example of soap making using aloe vera or any other products that are not from plants, making soap requires time and effort in finding the right recipe for high-quality soap. You will also want to research the market potential for your product to define your customer profile, so that you are not wasting your time in formulating a product that will not sell.
Starting a value-added agricultural business is an exciting opportunity for the small farmers or anyone interested in diversifying and exploring new markets. The best approach is starting small and finding your niche is key to your long-term success. Evaluate the risks associated with the business and have a solid plan in place to keep you on the right track. Scan your immediate environment and look out for value addition opportunities that you can undertake and scale it further and make it a business venture.
If you want to invest in agribusiness value addition entrepreneurship, give it some serious thought, people think agribusiness is for those who have retired and gone to rural areas to do farming, no, a younger generation is taking agribusiness seriously as a way of doing business besides the eight to five jobs.
Local, regional and international markets are opening up for our agricultural produce and you need to stay abreast and understand the market trends so as to perform market led production along the value chain, understand how to finance a value addition business as well conceptualize raw material sourcing for your value addition enterprise.
All sectors in the economy offer huge potential in value addition business. The process of value addition is simple in nature and one must find the right balance.
My insight today focuses on Kenya as an agricultural economy and opportunities it presents in agribusiness value addition and ideas.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Small scale producers offer over 70% of the worlds food needs while Agri-businesses are the major providers of employment worldwide. Improving the sustainability of food value chains can massively benefit the rural poor. Globalization has changed the way we put food on our tables. Agribusiness can provide a decisive ‘pull factor’ effect in value chains by linking small holder farmers with agri-businesses and agro-industries since they can create employment and developing newer standards that make food safer and offer better quality. Value chains, contract farming and public-private partnerships can deliver multiple benefits, win-win situation for all players.
In conclusion, every corner of this country presents opportunities for value addition ventures, from the fisherman from lake Turkana, fish skin value addition, the camel herder from Mandera, camel hides and skins as well as camel milk products value addition, the bee farmers in Ukambani, honey and wax value addition, the Banana farmer from Kisii, banana crisps, banana flour value addition etc.
Evaluate your surroundings, find this very important value you can add in raw products and in the process create a venture that will be sustainable. Go create your own product along the value chain. Create Value.

The Author is an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Consultant.

04/01/2018

TPA CHAIRMAN NEW YEAR SPEECH

TURKANA PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION

My fellow Turkana Professional Association Members as always we take this time to look back at the year 2017 almost coming to a close and the year ahead, with great anticipation. This year has been full of challenges both within and outside our organization we carry the lessons of the past with us and look confidently forward, as we always do, secure the hope that we are TPA members and we can do anything to which we set our minds guided by our principles and objects of our constitution.

Together, we have demonstrated our confidence in the way we have handled every single thing that binds us together despite the divergent political views. Our solidarity as an association with our partners and stakeholders at home and abroad provide us with key learning lessons to face the future before us as we strive to fulfill our objectives. Our actions though small, TPA is mighty and we have and shall accomplish all great things that we have put forth in the near future.

And so as we prepare to begin a new year, we do so with confidence. This year like every one, will bring obstacles and opportunities. Each challenge brings us together and each accomplishment makes us stronger.

It was this year that we set to review our TPA constitution in line with Constitution of Kenya 2010 this task has been concluded and awaiting your ratification as set by the just concluded AGM it is my sincere hope that you take time and familiarize yourselves with the draft and offer your inputs before the agreed timeline.

As i have stated before the growth of TPA squarely rests in our individual passion to drive our organization to the next level we must create the confidence required and be accountable of our actions as members. Our key objective is to create visibility for TPA on the ground level through the structures that have been proposed we hope to strengthen these structures through facilitation in order to achieve the objective of the community presence.

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One fundamental aspect of our growth is the need to recruit more members in our respective Chapters in order to enhance TPA presence on the ground level. Our membership still falls below the expectation it is our hope that the 14 Chapters will meet the requisite 20 members threshold per chapter to move our membership base from 170 to 280 or more by mid this year.

Elections are due in a couple of weeks let us reflect and choose individuals who are ready to take TPA to the next level despite the numerous challenges.

EXCOM will continue to provide the leadership role and encourage cohesion among all our members despite the dynamics that come with different interests.

It is my firm belief that 2018 can be a year of renewed hope and optimism for the members of TPA, let us continue to acknowledge our diversity and strive to build our association to greater heights.

As we congregate with our families as we prepare to usher in the New Year, I wish you God’s blessings and protection. May God grant you all your wishes and good health.

God bless TPA.

Mark Ekaale Ekuam

Chairman, Turkana Professionals Association.

13/12/2017

Why NOREB is a grand idea.
North Rift Economic Block (NOREB) is a regional economic block in the northern part of the Rift Valley comprised of eight counties namely; Turkana, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Samburu and Trans-Nzoia.
They have come together to create a partnership and benefit from an enhanced economic relationship focused on contributing to deeper trade and investment integration
The North Rift region boasts of tourism destinations like Kerio Valley in Elgeyo Marakwet County, highest point Kapsiliot and Sergoit Wildlife Reserve in Uasin Gishu, elephant caves in Mount Elgon, Bungoma County and Lake Bogoria hot springs in Baringo County, sandy beaches of Lake Turkana as well as the Lotikipi planes in Turkana County.
This consortium of counties under the (NOREB) caucus have taken the lead to occupy the economic opportunities that come with the East African Community (EAC) as a whole..
The NOREB policy framework establishes strong functional units to drive this economic block agenda. The governing organs created include governor’s summit, inter county economic council, technical committee, secretariat and sector technical sub committees. This is a robust approach to enhancing economic relation and it is my hope that regional politics should not be the stumbling block to NOREB’s overall objectives. Perhaps it is time each County share ideas to enhance relations in addressing a myriad of challenges facing the region which are common in nature for example insecurity, poor road infrastructure as well low mobile network pe*******on among many other challenges.
NOREB should plan to develop a comprehensive regional master plan geared towards making this region the most preferred destination as well the best for any investor willing to do business.
The regions happens to boarder a number of East African countries like Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda as well as take advantage to trade with other East African countries not bordering the region.
This NOREB grand idea will present enormous benefits to these Counties if managed well from the onset. NOREB should take advantage of economies of scale in the exploitation of development opportunities, protect and expand our own markets through harmonization of tariffs and adoption of a common inter county tariff.
Promote common projects in trans County boundary issues such as Security, infrastructure, tourism, energy, water resources and environment just to mention a few. Forge ahead and work together in international trade negotiations in order to take common positions on local and international issues. This will accelerate socio-economic transformation in the NOREB region.

Great prospects await NOREB as its members relish the centre of the Uganda-Rwanda, Congo Highway, Kitale-South Sudan highway in addition to the Eldoret International Airport whose cargo capacity is yet to be fully reached.
How will the inter county trade flourish in this region?
For instance, a maize farmer in Uasin Gishu will have an opportunity to sell their produce not just in Eldoret and its environs but they can explore other markets in Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Samburu, counties that do not relay on farming.
In simple terms, farmers from Trans Nzoia and Uasin who produce annually over 4.5M and 5M bags of maize respectively can feed the counties that are maize deficient and make relief food distribution by the Government a thing of the past.
Value addition will be critical in driving social-economic growth; there is an urgent need to evaluate key strengths in each county in order to enhance real economic integration.
Turkana County, has huge investment opportunities in irrigation following the discovery of the water aquifer, livestock, hides and skins tannery and cottage industry. Establishment of abattoirs facilities enable livestock farmers market processed beef products to farming counties like Nandi,Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia.
Baringo County, has potential investment opportunities in cotton, sisal, pyrethrum farming and processing, honey processing and marketing, horticulture value addition not forgetting the Tourist sites like Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria National Reserve.
Samburu, has potential in meat processing, honey processing and sale of hides and skins. One notable event in Samburu is the Camel Derby which has become one of the biggest tourist attraction that requires scaling up through marketing and branding of this unique event to make it a global event.
Nandi County produces an average of over 270 million kilos of green leaf tea for processing every year. Milk production capacity averages between 80 million to 120 million litres annually. This is a clear indicator that establishing a milk processing plant in Nandi County will go along to boost milk production through value addition and this will minimize losses to milk farmers as they will enjoy reasonable prices and markets for their milk.
Elgeyo Marakwet County produces a variety of fruits like pawpaws, mangos and bananas this can be enhanced further by establishing a juice processing plan to serve the region.
Prudent utilization of mobile technology and innovation will boost trade among the over 6M NOREB population a local herder from Lokichar Turkana County can trade with a farmer from Cherengani Trans Nzoia County for maize through use e-commerce without seeing each other, and still receive his order of goods. Mobile is evolving into a platform for creating, distributing and consuming innovative digital solutions and services from all sectors of the economy.
According to Prof. Bitange Ndemo ‘’digitization of virtually every sector is under way in many countries and in many sectors and we cannot afford to be left behind.’’
Success in agricultural sector has greater implications and to meet inter county customer demands, focus must shift towards innovative production methods around smallholder farmers, use of data at all levels of the supply chain and building sustainable collaborations between farmers and other stakeholders along the supply chain.
‘Growing Together’ clarion call is a welcome idea and stakeholders from all sectors need to champion the success of this economic block. It is my prayer and hope that ‘growing together’ will be our economic mantra despite the political and social differences and will be based on mutual trust, peaceful co-existence and good neighborliness, peaceful settlement of disputes and economic cooperation for mutual benefits for all NOREB populace.
We envision a connected region with good roads and use of information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure as a true enabler of business growth
Let us all Grow Together for prosperity.
The Author
Ekaale Ekuam
Chair, Turkana Professionals Association (TPA).

15/02/2016

TURKANA PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION

TPA CHAIRMAN OPENING SPEECH
AT THE TPA AND LEADERS CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION AT MAAANZONI LODGE ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2016 .
THEME: EMBRACING PEACE AND UNITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
H.E. the Governor, Turkana County,
The Right Honourable Speaker of the Senate,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
The Right Honourable Speaker of the County Assembly,
Honourable Members of the County Assembly,
The Chair, Commission for Revenue Allocation,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I’m humbled to stand before you as the Chair of TPA in this rare occasion that the Turkana Professionals have retreated together with the leadership to brainstorm on ways in which we can forge peace and unity for sustainable development in Turkana.
Following the announcement of the discovery of oil in Turkana County, there has been heightened expectation with prospects of prosperity for both county and national levels of government. At the county level, the clamour and positioning for proceeds of the oil find is causing divisions amongst our people, with apparent alienation of those living away from the resource discovery. Secondly, wedges have emerged between the political class and the professionals from the county, as if they are in competition. Thirdly, the advent of the devolved structures of governance have further increased the rift among the political class, the county officials and the professionals. This kind of scenario has generated finger pointing at each other.
TPA, is a non-political, non-partisan association of professionals working in various sectors in this country and in the diaspora. Our overreaching goal is to advance and promote interests and welfare of Turkana professionals and the entire Turkana community. Contrary to a common narrative that Ng’iturkana only occupy the Greater Turkana County, our people are found in Laikipia (where they are second to the most populous Kikuyu community), Samburu County (where they are also the second populous to the Samburu community), they also live in Marsabit county, Isiolo county (where they are once again second to the most populous Borana), Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia, Baringo, amongst others.
Therefore, it is worth noting that our presence in Kenya is significant and our unity of purpose is a resource we have continued to underestimate; while we can positively employ to ensure socio-economic and political benefits for the Turkana Community and Kenya as a whole.
Moreover, our professional is a key resource that is yet to be fully capitalized. From humble beginnings, through difficulties and hardships, this professional has been tested elsewhere and excelled. There is no doubt that some of our professionals have done not just us, but Kenya proud. These include Hon. Lorot, who served as Secretary-General of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, 1988 Seoul Olympic Champion Paul Ereng who even before Paul Rudisha made Kenya proud in the 800m; Commonwealth Marathon Champion John Kelai, Aprot All Africa Games Champion, Ajuma Nasenyana, Kenya’s top Super Model, Dr. Ekuru Aukot, one of the Constitutional law writers for Kenya’s Constitution and who is also currently advising the President of the Republic of Liberia on the review of their Constitution, Prof. Michael Lokuruka whose experience spans many years of University teaching and research, Prof. Dr. Malachy Ekal, and many others whose contributions in the public and private sector continue to shape policy. {These includes but not limited to the Doctors, Professors, Media Practitioners, Military, Social Scientists, Educationists, legal experts among others.}
Every day, we all lament the unacceptable situation of our county and we constantly apportion blame to others, excluding “ourselves”. In my view, we’ve all had a share of the failings. Therefore, I do not think it is necessary to dissipate energy on what we already know, rather, let me focus on what roles I believe we all have to play if the situation will be reversed for the better.
I believe professionals have a greater role to play than the current passive engagement of the polity. The political landscape is yet to record a critical mass of professionals with active partisan participation. People who will dream new dreams, articulate ideas and bring in the discipline required for ex*****on. When professionals decline to actively engage the system, avoiding getting directly involved or actively participating in the political process, they unwittingly create an environment for the emergence of leaders that are not the best among us. After all, nature abhors vacuum. The professionals will then not have the moral right to query the way and how they are governed.
How can the County and her “Ata Akiru” benefit from the collective expertise, knowledge and skill of her sons and daughters that continue to benefit others? I would like to quote a Phrase “Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow”- Great things may come from small beginnings! A lot is said of who does what, who should do what and how. TPA recognizes the Greater potential of its membership, particularly in furthering the concept of devolution and realizing its myriad benefits. We can capitalize on each other’s’ strengths rather than the bickering that is synonymous with us as professionals. Emiekesi Arorokanut, atoduko Turkan kirai ng’itunga ngipei!
TPA is alive to the fact that the Turkana professional network is warped in unnecessary wrangling, grandstanding and interference by politicians and political differences, misdirected pride and vengeance, silo mentality and approaches. “Ayong ayong, ng’ae iyong? Nyo iyeni yong” etc. These have stifled any meaningful contribution to the County and raised politics a pedestal above basic concerns. TPA is keen to have the professionals speak to each other, enjoy mutual respect, rekindle patriotism and translate the collective potential in pursuit of meaningful progress for the County and her people, wherever they are located. Going forward, we must also be brutally honest with each other about how we can leverage on our competitive advantages.
This workshop will discuss the necessary means for advancing development in the County, identify threats to the realization of development and provide a platform for constructive engagement and participation of professionals in the affairs of the County.
We have lined up discussions on matters of great concern to our people. We shall expect to engage with experts and practitioners on the effects and impact of oil in our County; how that portends for the ordinary “Ata Akiru” on the ground; the interphase with the national government and avenues for bargaining for a sumptuous share to the County. It is the heritage we, those advantaged with education and know-how, must guarantee the future generations.
We have also lined up discussions on land and other natural resources and constant insecurity. We shall also have dedicated discussions on the question of Conservation and benefitting from our expansive flora and fauna, virgin from non-exploitation. I call upon each one of us to engage with sobriety and respect, and to put our words into action by exemplifying the oft-cited concerns that the matters of our Motherland come before any individual interests. At the end of this consultative forum, we hope to develop a road map that will bind all stakeholders in joining hands together in our quest to embrace peace and unity for sustainable development of Turkana County.
We thank the Turkana County Government, under the leadership of His Excellency the Governor for heeding the call for unity of purpose and facilitating this one-of-a-kind meeting. We believe that it shall not be the last. We also thank our political leaders for their presence here today. That is the commitment that leadership demands. Let us forge ahead together.
Alakara noi Ng’iturkana, and I wish you all happy deliberations on behalf of our great people, Ng’iturkana and our land, the only Cradle of Humankind!
Kitopia Akuj!


Mark Ekuam
Chair, Turkana Professionals Association.

09/09/2013

http://vimeo.com/39942968 #
Peace has the face of a woman..

Vimeo is the home for high-quality videos and the people who love them.

18/07/2013

Cover photo nayo

08/07/2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIfhI3QIe2Y

This film is part of "No Ordinary Elections" a multimedia package on the Kenyan polls produced by IRIN Films. To see the whole package go to: http://www.irin...