Monday 18 December 2017

MORINGA, THE MIRACLES TREE THAT CURES 300 DISEASES



Photo credit: Courtesy

Moringa is a plant whose origin is believed to be India. It is used in the treatment of arthritis, cancer, asthma, stomach pains, heart problems and parasitic infections, among other diseases.

*Allow me to the forester i am just a bit...*

The Moringa Oleifera tree is a fast growing, drought resistant tree producing a tuberous taproot, whose origin is believed to be India.

In the wild it ranges in height from 5 to 12 metres with a straight trunk (10 - 30 cm thick) with corky whitish bark and an open, umbrella shaped crown .

When grown in orchards, the tree is normally cut back every year or two (ratooning) and allowed to regrow to encourage vigorous leaf and pod production and so that the pods and leaves remain within arms reach.

The Moringa Tree grows best in well drained sandy or loamy soil with a slightly acid pH of 6.2 to neutral 7.0 . It can tolerate poor soil including coastal areas.


Photo credit: Courtesy

The plant is small and reaches up to 15 metres in height. It is exceptionally nutritious and can tolerate hostile conditions and poor soils" said one agronomist

Kisumu residents call it mti mboga because of its diverse benefits.

 Botanical name: moringa oleifera
Trade name: moringa, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, ben oil tree, or benzoil tree
The Moringa seeds:


Photo credit: Courtesy


  • Moringa seeds have more vitamin C than oranges
  • Four times more Vitamin 4 than carrots
  • Four times more Calcium than a glass of milk
  • Three times more Potassium than a banana
  • And two times more Protein than yoghurt.
  • The Moringa Powder have:
  • 17 times Calcium of Milk
  • 15 times Potassium of Banana
  • 10 times Vitamin A of Carrot
  • 9 times Protein of Yogurt
  • 4 times chlorophyll of wheatgrass
  • 25 times Iron of Spinach
  • Vitamin A to Z, Omega 3, 6, 9 Oil and Zeatin.

#Moringa - Most Nutritious Plant On Land

The Moringa is the world’s most powerful natural multi vitamins and antioxidant. It does not contain just one or two vitamins or antioxidants: Moringa Oleifera contains more than 92 nutrients, 46 types of antioxidants and vitamins A-Z. The next closest plant on earth has only 28 nutrients. 

Moringa has almost all the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables and most in larger proportions. 36 Anti-Inflammatories, 18 Amino Acids, 9 Essential Amino Acids.
#Prevents and Cures Over 300 Illness
Moringa nourish your whole body, kidney, liver, heart, eye, blood vessels. It cures and prevent over 300 illness including diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, stroke and cancers. It is also commonly use for energy, slimming, beautiful skin, sleep and strengthening teeth. When taken, it makes you feel good, fresh and energized. Many people who take Moringa live healthily past the age of 90.

HOW TO GROW MORINGA


There are two ways to grow moringa.
“If the ground is wet, you can soak the seeds overnight, then plant the following day. If dry soak for 24 hours to break dormancy.

From Seeds

Farmers are encouraged to soak the seeds to hasten germination.

Soaked seeds take about four to five days to germinate.

1. Make a cutting at least 1" (2.5cm) in diameter and at least six feet (1.8m) long.

2. Dig a hole 3 ft. (1m) x 3 ft. (1m) and 3 ft. (1m) deep.

3. Place cutting in this hole and fill with a mixture of soil, sand and composted manure and pack firmly around base of the cutting.

4. Water generously, but do not drown the cutting in water.

NB: Form a slight dome or cone shape, sloping down away from the cutting. It is desirable that water not touch the stem of the new tree.

From Cuttings

A farmer can also plant 20 to 30cm moringa stems, just as it happens with cassava.

The best method is direct planting from cuttings

They grow quickly even in poor soil and bloom 8 months after planting.

Make a cutting at least 1" (2.5cm) in diameter and at least six feet (1.8m) long. Dig a hole 3 ft. (1m) x 3 ft. (1m) and 3 ft. (1m) deep.

NB: The young seedlings are fragile and often cannot survive transplanting.

1. Choose an area with light and sandy soil, not heavy with clay or water-logged.

2. Dig holes 1 ft (30 cm) square and 1 ft deep. Back-fill the holes with loose soil. Compost or manure will help the tree grow better, even though Moringa trees can grow in poor soils.

3. Plant 3 to 5 seeds in each hole, 2 in. (5 cm) apart. Plant the seeds no deeper than three times the width of the seed (approximately ½ in. or 1.5 cm -- the size of one's thumbnail).

4. Keep the soil moist enough so that the top soil will not dry and choke the emerging saplings, but it should not be too wet or else the seeds can drown and rot.

5. When the saplings are four to six inches tall, keep the healthiest sapling in the ground and remove the rest.

NB: Termites and nematodes can kill a young sapling. Take measures to protect saplings from these two dangers.
If the soil is heavy, dig a larger hole of up to 3 ft (90 cm) in diameter and 3 ft deep, and backfill with 1 part sand and 2 parts original soil. Added compost or manure will help. This will take about one week to start germinating.

In Plastic Bags:

When it is not possible to plant directly in the ground, use the following method:

1. Fill seedling bags with light soil mixture, i.e. 3 parts soil to 1 part sand.

2. Plant two or three seeds in each bag, ¼ in. (0.5 cm) deep.

3. Keep moist but not too wet. Germination will occur within two weeks.

4. Remove extra seedlings, leaving one in each bag.

Seedlings can be transplanted after four to six months when they are 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) high.

Transplanting

When transplanting your saplings (if grown in bags) we suggest transplanting when the sapling is around 60 cm tall and is bushy and strong. Only transplant your sapling when the average temperature warms up especially the evening temperatures.

Transplanting steps:

The ground where the trees are to be planted should be light and sandy, not heavy with clay or water-logged.

Dig a hole 1 ft (30 cm) square and 1 ft deep. Backfill with loose soil. Adding compost or manure will help the trees grow better.

1. Water the planting holes one day before transplanting the seedlings.

2. Plant seedlings in the late afternoon to avoid the hot sun the first day.

3. Make a hole in the pit to accept all soil in the bag. Carefully cut open the sack and place the seedling in the planting hole. Be careful to keep the soil around the seedling's roots intact.

4. Pack soil around the seedling base.

5. Water only lightly for the first few days.
If the seedlings fall over, tie them to a stick for support. Protect young saplings from termites

How to Use Moringa Seeds



Photo credit: Courtesy

The seeds are rather unique in appearance; with grey-ish white ‘wings’ surrounding them. However, just like other seeds, Moringa seeds can be eaten like nuts and added to cereals and trail mixes.

Alternatively, if you are able to find fresh Moringa seeds in your local health shop, serve them boiled like peas with main meals. They can also be steamed or roasted for stews and sauces.

Others suggest the seeds can be popped like popcorn but you should still be weary of how much you intake.

How much should i take?

Moringa seed

Through lab research, the current ‘ideal’ dosage seems to be 150-200mg/kg.

This equivalent to one nut per day

Moringa powder

It’s perfect recommended to sprinkle on salads, soups or blend into your favourite smoothie.

You starting with half a teaspoon per day before building up to 2-4 teaspoons (maximum).

Warnings for Using Moringa Seeds

Like any supplement or medication, there are a few warnings to be aware of before using Moringa seeds for personal benefit.
Despite this supplement being entirely natural, there can be complications and side effects, so it’s best to know a few warnings before beginning any treatment.

Do not take on an empty stomach

It is not advised to eat Moringa seeds on an empty stomach. This may cause vomiting.

Peel the seeds before eating

Some people suggest keeping the peel on and washing the seeds thorough with salt water can be beneficial when trying to lose weight and detox.
However, we would not suggest eating the seeds with the peel on.

Do not eat the seeds if you are pregnant or lactating.

Whilst eating the leaves and powders of the Moringa plant are deemed safe whilst pregnant, the seeds are very high in fibre and concentrates of vitamins so it is not advised to intake these during the pregnancy.

NB: If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, please consult a doctor before use.

Do not take more than two seeds.
In contrast however, Moringa seeds are great for improve libido and maintaining the reproductive cells. This may be helpful if you are trying to conceive.

Read more about moringa or here for more

Market of moringa seeds in kenya

A kilo of moringa powder costs Sh600 while the same quantity of seeds goes for Sh400

Edom Nutritional Solutions (ENS), a company in Kisumu, Kenya offers ready market for the product.

Monday 11 December 2017

THE BIG DEBATE AMONG CONSERVATIONISTS

PLASTIC X-MAS TREE OR NATURAL X-MAS TREE???
 


As we usher in the x-mas celebrative mood, environmentally conscious people realize that it comes with both chimings of carols as much as destruction of the lovely trees.

Christmas trees.

Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine, or fir or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas.

In the face of constrained supply of real Christmas trees, it is important to note that increased use of fake, plastic Christmas trees may only exacerbate the environmental damage. Even if used for six years, a plastic, chemically-laden Christmas tree still has a 60 percent larger environmental footprint than a real tree.

On the hand, it is worth remembering that despite their short lives after having taken 8-12 years to grow to the requisite size, Christmas trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which plastic trees obviously do not do...

The Big Question

And here comes the question: should fake plastic xmas trees be chosen over natural tree?

Leave your comment below

THE LURKING HORROR THAT IS THE SMARTPHONE CHARGER

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine posted this:

" Left my charger plugged to the wall after removing my phone... the tip was touching the sofa.. I do not know how to explain.. I came back and found it burnt.. a small part of the sofa burnt too..."


These were some of the sampled comments:

 " Similar happened to us. Gary was charging something (that was resting on an armchair) and the whole lot went up in flames. The armchair cushions weren't flame retardant." Joanna Tomlins

 " power surge my dear. It happened to us a week ago. Ours was in the morning and I saw the charger burst into flames (small though)" Ambila Lilian

From the above comments,  you REALIZE this PHONE CHARGER threat is real !

"BELOW ARE THE FACTS:

👉 Leaving phone chargers plugged to the sockets can cause fire.
 ðŸ‘‰ Plugged chargers not in use draw power, albeit minimally i. e. 0.3 kWts/hr

HOW DANGEROUS  IS IT TO LEAVE A CHARGER PLUGGED INTO WALL SOCKET?!

The risk results from the way chargers extract their power. Chargers use the principle of transformers ( some physics here). They convert alternating current, or AC, to direct current, or DC, from the outlet using transformer circuits. Simply, they contain coils which change DC to AC or vice versa.

During this process, heat is generated. When you unplug your electronic device from the charger, this breaks the circuit on the smaller coil, but the bigger coil continues to move electrons. This causes a little bit of power to leak into the charger even if it is not connected to any device. This builds up heat after sometime. If the cable is in contact with fabric, your guess is as right as mine. Fire.

This is made worse by moist surfaces. If the cable's metallic tip ( the part you plug into your phone's charger) of your charger comes into contact with moist surface, a short- circuit is created. Just like connecting +ve and -ve terminal of charged electric wire and BOOM.!!!

The situation worsens when the charger you are using is not of the standard quality.  Standard chargers have an in-built mechanism to break the circuit when the phone is fully charged. Lack of this mechanism makes the chargers to easily cause electrocution as in the picture below.

TAKE CARE, SAVE A LIFE!!!

Saturday 2 December 2017

CYBER BULLYING IS REAL, DO NOT GIVE EXCESS DATA


Cyber bullying is a crime! 

A cybercrime.


To start with let's define the word Cyber Crime.

What does Cyber crime mean?


Cyber crime is defined as a crime in which a computer is the object of the crime (hacking, phishing, spamming) or is used as a tool to commit an offense (child pornography, hate crimes). Cyber criminals may use computer technology to access personal information, business trade secrets or use the internet for exploitive or malicious purposes.
Criminals can also use computers for communication and document or data storage. Criminals who perform these illegal activities are often referred to as hackers. Cyber crime may also be referred to as computer crime.

What Is Cyber bullying?

Cyber bullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyber bullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

The most common places where cyber bullying occurs are:

Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter SMS (Short Message Service) also known as Text Message sent through devices
Instant Message (via devices, email provider services, apps, and social media messaging features) Email



Warning. Stay Safe !!!


This is the real story of cyber crime victim that was suicidal...

The first time the police arrived on her doorstep, in March of 2015, Courtney Allen was elated.
She rushed to the door alongside her dogs, a pair of eager Norwegian elkhounds, to greet them. “Is this about our case?” she asked. The police looked at her in confusion. They didn’t know what case she was talking about. Courtney felt her hope give way to a familiar dread.

Three days earlier, Courtney and her husband, Steven, had gone to the police headquarters in Kent, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, and reported that, for the past few months, they had been the victims of a campaign of online harassment. They had found a fake Facebook page under Steven’s name with a profile picture of Courtney, naked. Emails rained down in their inboxes; some called Courtney a cunt, whore, and bitch, and one they felt was a death threat. Her coworkers received emails with videos and screenshots of Courtney, naked and masturbating. The messages came from a wide range of addresses, and some appeared to be from Steven.

There were phone calls too. One to Steven’s grandmother warned that her house might burn down, with her in it, if she didn’t stay out of the Allens’ lives. There were so many calls to the dental office where Courtney worked that the receptionists started to keep a log: “Called and said, ‘Put that dumb cunt Courtney on the phone,’ ” one of them wrote in neat, bubbly handwriting. “I said, ‘She is not here at the moment, may I take a message?’ ” At one point Courtney created a Google Voice number to ask, “If I talk to you, will you leave me alone?” Instead, dozens of voicemails poured in: “Do you think I’m ever going away?” one said. “Now that my private investigator went and got all the tax information? There’s no job either one of you guys can have that I won’t know about and be there.”

The Kent police officer who took the Allens’ statement seemed unsure of what to make of their story. Courtney and Steven told him who they believed was behind the harassment: a man in Arizona named Todd Zonis with whom Courtney had an online relationship that she had recently broken off. She says she told the officers that she had sent Zonis the videos of herself while they were still involved and that he had sent ones of himself to her, but that she had deleted their exchange. In a report, the officer noted that, while Courtney and Steven insisted that his role was obvious, Zonis’ name barely appeared in the folder full of printouts and CDs that they had with them. The officer assigned them a case number and advised them not to have any more contact with Zonis.

Now, three days later, the two officers on Courtney’s doorstep explained why they had come: An anonymous tipster, who claimed to work with Steven, had left a report on the Crime Stoppers website. It said that Steven “had been telling everyone for months that his wife was leaving him but he had a plan to beat her into staying.” The tipster added that he had noticed “a lot of bruises.” When prompted for more information on the suspect, the informant wrote that the Allens had a “large gun collection” and two big dogs. (One detective later noted that some of the reports seemed designed to trigger “a large/violent police response.”)

Three days later, two detectives knocked on the Allens’ door in the early afternoon...Read on here

Monday 13 November 2017

WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT NETWORK/INTERNET MARKETING


Photo: Courtesy

If you like what you hear from the initial Internet Marketing presentation, take some time to actually meet the people who do the educating and training. Do not move too fast.

What is Internet/Network marketing?

In network marketing, investors use their friends, family acquaintances and colleagues to sell their products and in turn they recruit new members to the company, after which each is paid a commission or compensation.

There are also other goodies aside from this. New cars, all-expenses-paid trips to fantasy destinations, international training and leadership courses are granted to sterling recruiters. There is even a retirement plan component for some.

Simple, huh?... Yeah, very simple and not!

First thing first: Forget about the Get-Rich-Quick approach being peddled on every social media page or blog.

No genuine business is a walk in the park!

I have done internet marketing starting as a  newbie 4 years ago. I have been elated at one point. I have been disappointed on several occasions. More importantly, I have learnt a lot over the years. I have read widely about this lucrative* business opportunity. I have watched several Video and listened to podcasts about internet marketing. I have been inspired. I am knowledgeable now. Allow me to share with you what i have gathered over the years.

What do you do in internet marketing?

You build your network from the people you know – your family, your social circles, your professional acquaintances. You invite them to listen to the presentations and to connect them to the products. Then you follow them up for a response. If they say yes, you train them on the products and how to build their own network. If they say no, you swallow the rejection and try again with someone else.

What do you need to do before joining one?

Look carefully, because many network marketing companies say they have great educational plans, but not all do. In some companies I looked into, the only training they had was a recommended book list, and then they focused on training you to recruit your friends and family into the business.
So take your time and look carefully, because there are quite a few network marketing companies that do have excellent educational and training plans—in fact, some of the best real-life business training I’ve seen anywhere.

Here are the 5 main questions to ask yourself about a network marketing company before joining:

1. Who’s running the ship? Who is at the helm of the company and for how long?

2. Does the company offer a proven plan of action?

3. What is the compensation/commission plan?

4. Does the company embrace both business skills and personal development as a regular part of its educational and training programs?

5. Does the company have a strong, high-quality, and highly marketable product
line that you can be passionate about? 
Products can be tangible or digital.

The main truth about internet marketing

It takes time to enjoy the fruits of your effort.

If you have the idea that you can start a network marketing business and expect to start making money right away, then you are still thinking like someone who lives
in the Employed or Self-employed mindset. In fact, it is people who look out for quick cash that are obviously the ones who are most often get sucked into the get-rich-quick schemes and scams of life.

There is no such thing as a get-rich-quick method in network marketing.

While the activities of the business are simple, they require time and effort, the foundation of passive income. Having a smart phone and/or a laptop isn't all. You need more that that. Don't be cheated. As a matter of fact, it is lies like these that make most people join internet marketing only to only to quit within a month or less.

When you join any company remember this: 

The DSA( Direct Sales Association) says that, on average, one in ten contacts will say “yes” to the opportunity. However, that figure improves with the business owner’s level of experience. Remember, this number will hold true in volume. Though you may not find it average for just 10 contacts, you’ll discover it is true for 100 contacts. Over the years, there have been some people who have promoted the network marketing business as a sort of “fast track” to wealth. Of course, this is total nonsense. The people in network marketing who have developed their leadership skills, built their businesses, and developed genuine wealth have spent long, hard years doing it.

So don’t be fooled if you hear anyone try to tell you that you should see quick results. This isn’t some close-up magic or six-month, hit-it-lucky joyride: This is serious business. This is business in real sense. This is your life we’re talking about here.

In the real world of business, if you cannot start producing business within three to
six months, you are fired. But in internet marketing your  situation is different: Your network marketing company is not going to fire you—you can only fire yourself. So  don’t fire yourself. Don’t give it a few months or a year of effort and then say, “Oh well, I guess that didn’t work out.”

Give it the time it needs.
 
One would ask, " How much time?"

Experts like Robert Kiyosaki, writer of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, puts it at 5yrs.

The Five-Year Plan

If you are serious about starting your journey, it is recommended committing to a minimum of five years of learning, growing, changing your core values, and meeting new friends. Why? Because that’s realistic.
It took years for Howard Schultz to build Starbucks, for Ray Kroc to build
McDonald’s, and for Michael Dell to build Dell Computers. It takes time to build great companies and great business leaders.

You, recent graduate, stay-at-home mother or employed or self employed, get it right here: get rich quick is an oxymoron. A rich relationship doesn’t happen quickly; a richly rewarding novel is never written overnight. Creating richness, by definition,
takes time, and this is just as true of financial richness as it is of any other kind. This is why there are so few people in the business quadrant. Most people want money but are unwilling to invest their time.

In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell explains that to become outstandingly accomplished at anything, it takes about 10,000 hours of hard work. As a high-school kid, Bill Gates put in 10,000 hours of programming. When they were still just another unknown British band of wannabes, the Beatles played a nightclub in Hamburg, seven hours a day, seven days a week—and put in about 10,000 hours.

Conclusion

If you can make it through the to the end then the now cliché or riches will come to a reality; but not so fast... you will be guaranteed financial freedom, dreaming big, a viable Plan B, running your own business, taking control of your future, earnings that  which triples basic.

Example of Internet/Network Marketing Companies in Kenya

Alliance in Motion, Social biz connect Forever Living, Organo Gold, GNLD, Tianshi, Tiens etc. For more information, you have it at your finger tips just by keying in the words on the browser search section. 


SO TAKE YOUR TIME TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE HOPPING ONTO BANDWAGON THAT IS NETWORK MARKETING

Best of luck.

Wednesday 25 October 2017

ALL ABOUT CARBON CREDIT: THE ELUSIVE GOLDMINE IN KENYA



Disappearing forests, pollution of Marine life and degradation of land deprive the East African economy of as much as billions of dollars, of which  Forest Loss constitute $75 million of income a year, about five times the amount the country earns from forestry and logging, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)and state-run Kenya Forest Service (KFS)said in 2014. Deforestation has also disrupted natural water-movement cycles into lakes and rivers, the agencies said. It should be remembered that 80% of the Earth’s above-ground terrestrial carbon and 40% of ibelow-ground terrestrial carbon is in forests. Forests aid in Carbon Sequestration: a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form in long-term to either mitigate or defer global warming and avoid dangerous climate change.This is where carbon Credit find its place. 

WHAT IS CARBON CREDIT/TRADE ?

 

 Photo credit ;  KFS Portal

According to the Collins English Dictionary, carbon credit refers to a certificate showing that a government or company has paid to have a certain amount of Carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the environment. This means that an organization or individual has an allowance of credits which gives them the right to emit one metric tonne of CO2 or any other greenhouse gas.

A carbon credit is a permit that allows a country or organisation produce a certain amount of carbon emissions and that can be traded if the full allowance is not used.
The emissions trading system allows countries or companies with higher carbon emissions to purchase the right to release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from those with lower emissions. The developed ( industrialized) countries engaging developing countries to help reduce carbon emission.

The concept of being paid for protecting the environment from greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) and nitrous oxide, dates back to Japan’s 1997 Kyoto Protocol. This international agreement is observed by at least 170 countries of the 193 states recognized by the United Nations. Kenya being one of them.

Under the protocol, caps were placed on the greenhouse gas emissions industrialized countries were permitted to emit. Those that exceeded their limit (one metric tonne) however, could buy "credits" from other member nations whose emissions fell below their target levels. It sought to commit countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5%. The key aim of carbon emissions trading, involving carbon "credits" was to provide economic incentive to those taking care of the already ailing* environment.

Having been laid out in the UN's Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that came into force in 2005 to help mitigate climate change, carbon trade strategies' implementation became very imperative.
Since the December 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, interest in forest carbon trading has been on the rise largely due to its huge benefits, financially. 

The concept was then extended to private companies (and even individuals), which could earn credits for reducing their carbon emissions by engaging in sustainable practices such as using solar power instead of coal or gas or protecting trees. Carbon emitters could buy those credits on a voluntary basis to offset their own pollution.

REDD+ , THE FOREST CARBON PARTNERSHIP FACILITY.

REDD+ stands for Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation efforts and to foster conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. It was first negotiated under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2005, with the objective of mitigating climate change through reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases through enhanced forest management in developing countries. Most of the key REDD+ decisions were completed by 2013, with the final pieces of the rulebook finished in 2015. Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading cause of global warming, responsible for about 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which makes the loss and depletion of forests a major issue for climate change. 


THE CARBON MARKET

 

The carbon market, estimated to be worth $176 billion, has attracted various stakeholders including farmers. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has registered over 3,927 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the world with only 84 of such projects in Africa, a clear indication that Africa needs to tap into the industry for development.

CARBON CREDIT PRICES 

Prices for carbon credits reached an all-time high in July 2008 at 36.43 euros ($50.17) per tonne under the European Union’s carbon market, the world’s biggest.
The cost of carbon sequestration varies from region to region, and also from country to country, based on different economic analyses. Phat et al. (2004) estimated the cost of carbon at around US$ 19.7 per Mg C in Southeast Asian countries. Kirschbaum (2001) assumed a cost of US$ 10 per Mg C for indefinite carbon savings in different arbitrary accounting periods. Missfeldt and Haites (2002) used a 1995 cost of US$ 15 per Mg C for a sink enhancement scenario, and Tschakert (2002) used a cost of US$ 15 per Mg C for her study in Senegal. In other studies, it ranged from US$ 1 to 100 (Healey et al., 2000; CIDA, 2001; Niles et al., 2002).There is no study on prices of carbon credits from forests in Kenya but it can be assumed from the above findings that the price would range from US$ 15 per Mg C based on the scenarios in Southeast Asian countries and Senegal, assuming the same socio-economic conditions.

RULES FOR SALE

The CDM allows the possibility of trading carbon offsets from forestry or land-use projects (at least from reforestation and afforestation activities) through the Article 12 (the CDM or CERs‘ from developing countries). The sale of carbon credits are done under the Kyoto Protocol of 2005, more information can be obtained from the links embedded below.

CARBON CREDIT/TRADE STATUS IN KENYA

Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that only seven projects are currently registered for carbon credit trading in Kenya.

WHICH COMPANIES IN KENYA

Mumias Sugar Company, East Africa Portland Cement Company and Kenya Power as well other smaller companies are among institutions participating in the carbon credit trading market. KenGen is counting on its continued geothermal, energy-capacity expansion programme and the existing potential for emission reduction to expand its carbon credit assets.

WHICH PROJECTS IN KENYA



They include a 35-megawatt electricity co-generation project by Mumias Sugar Company, the Olkaria II and III Phase 2 geothermal development projects, the yet-to-be-constructed Lake Turkana Wind Power project, and the Mount Kenya Small Scale Reforestation initiative. Others are the redevelopment of the Lake Turkana hydropower station project and the Kirimara Kithithina rehabilitation project in the Aberdares.  

The majority of the voluntary carbon projects in Kenya are in the forestry sector.  Currently, there are nine forestry sector voluntary projects that include the Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phases I (Rukinga Sanctuary) and II (the Community Ranches); the International Small Group & Tree Planting Programme (TIST); Aberdare Range/Mt. Kenya Small Scale Reforestation Initiative; the Forest Again Kakamega Forest; Mikoko Pamoja Mangrove Restoration; the Enoosupukia Forest Trust Project; Treeflights Kenya Planting Project; the Chyulu Hills REDD+ Carbon Credit Program; and the Mbirikani Carbon, Community and Biodiversity Project. These projects are at various stages of development. 

Benefit Reaped Already

So far, KenGen, Mumias Sugar, East Africa Portland Cement and Kenya Power have reaped from the credits by negotiating one-on-one with international buyers. Mumias Sugar was the first Kenyan firm to sell carbon credits, making Sh22 million in 2010. This was followed by Kenya Power which sold 700,000 credits to Standard Bank. Also Sustainable Agriculture Land Management project in Kenya, working with western Kenyan farmers.

The biggest beneficiary has been KenGen, which in two years to 2015 earned about Sh270 million by selling its credits through the World Bank’s Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements. According to the firm’s Chairman Joshua Choge, the revenue from the credits is shared with local communities where KenGen operates. They include a 35-megawatt electricity co-generation project by Mumias Sugar Company, the Olkaria II and III Phase 2 geothermal development projects, the yet-to-be-constructed Lake Turkana Wind Power project, and the Mount Kenya Small Scale Reforestation initiative. Others are the redevelopment of the Lake Turkana hydropower station project and the Kirimara Kithithina rehabilitation project in the Aberdares

In 2012, Carbon Manna Unlimited was pushing forward an ingenious pilot project that rewards small scale farmers in Mbeere and Bungoma districts for planting trees and using more energy efficient stoves, known locally as jikos, for cooking. To start of with, it was giving each family involved Sh 2,200 per month. A personal carbon emission trading offered a financial carrot to individuals or families to get them to clean up their act. The farmers involved in the project would be allowed to emit only a specified amount of carbon dioxide measured according to pre-agreed scale. If they cut their emissions below this limit, the balance was calculated in monetary terms and they are paid for it. The carbon credits payment was then in its trial stage. Carbon Manna would subsidise the purchase of the jikos in Kenya. This project falls under CDM executed in developing countries that cannot afford the technology required to lower carbon emissions.
The company, which is awarded credits for emitting less carbon in the market, recently received over 18,000 carbon credits from the redevelopment of Tana Hydro Power Station. Carbon is now being tracked and traded like any other commodity and any company can buy the credits from someone else to reduce their carbon emission footprint.

Benefit Sharing in Carbon Credit Schemes  

Benefit sharing refers to the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits arising out of the utilization of a resource. Because indigenous cultures and livelihood systems are totally dependent on the environments in which they are found, carbon credit schemes should strive not to negatively impact the rights of indigenous communities. Unfortunately, not only have communities been evicted to pave the way for renewable energy carbon credit schemes like geothermal power generation, but they also rarely benefit beyond mere compensation, at government determined rates, for the land compulsorily acquired for such projects.  For those who are given alternative land for settlement, Resettlement Action Plans rarely consider the sustainability of the community’s cultures and livelihood system.  Carbon project developers consider benefit sharing only within the context of corporate social responsibility and not as a community entitlement. 

How to share benefit accrued from Carbon Credit:

Forest carbon projects in Kenya have yet to raise serious concerns, as they approach benefit sharing differently.  In the national REDD+ context, benefit sharing has been brought to the forefront, focusing on both carbon and non-carbon benefits.  The design of the REDD+ strategies has so far included strong community participation in REDD+ benefit sharing discussion. Benefit sharing accruing from forest carbon projects will be both financial and environmental.  According to the UNREDD program, financial benefits from forest carbon projects will be based on project performance with projects that secure more carbon while respecting rights that are more attractive to buyers. 


Laws Regulating Carbon Trade in Kenya
  
For benefit sharing, Section 26 of the Natural Resource (Benefit Sharing) Bill, 2014 proposes the establishment of a Benefit Sharing Authority,  whose functions will include “coordinating the preparation of benefit  sharing agreements between local communities and affected organizations. The Authority shall also “review, and where appropriate, determine the royalties payable by an affected organization engaged in natural resource exploitation.” The bill states that: 

(1)  The revenue collected shall be shared as follows — 
(a)   twenty per cent of the revenue collected shall be set aside and shall, subject to subsection (2), be paid into a sovereign wealth fund established by the national government; and 
(b)   eighty per cent of the revenue collected shall, subject to subsection (3), be shared between the national government and the county governments in the ratio of sixty per cent to the national government and forty per cent to the county governments.
 
(2)  The monies paid into the sovereign wealth fund under subsection (l)(c) shall be paid into the following funds constituting the sovereign wealth fund as follows - 
(a)   sixty per cent of the monies shall be paid futures fund; and 
(b)  forty per cent of the monies shall be paid natural resources fund. 

(3)  At least forty per cent revenue assigned to the county governments under subsection (l)(b) shall be assigned to local community projects and sixty per cent of that revenue shall be utilized in the entire county. 

(4)  Where natural resources bestride two or more counties, the Authority shall determine the ratio of sharing the retained revenue amongst the affected counties. 

(5)  In determining the revenue sharing ratio of retained revenue amongst counties sharing a resource as prescribed under subsection (4), the Authority shall take into account - 
(a)   the contribution of each affected county in relation to the resource, 
(b)  the inconvenience caused to the county in the exploitation of the natural resource; and 
(c)   any existing benefit sharing agreement with an affected organization. 

EXPORT MARKET OPPORTUNITY FOR KENYAN COMPANIES

Given the Kenyan forest cover of 6.9, Large water bodies and vast expanses of land, there a big opening of lucrative investments in green economy. Take for example Kakamega Forest with the following statistics. The total amount of carbon that can be sequestered by the undisturbed indigenous forest is 334Mg C/ha while of the surrounding farms is 203Mg C/ha. This gives a total of 537Mg C/Ha. It is notable that indeed the forest has a higher amount of carbon as compared to the farms.   
There are several companies in Kenya, mainly in the export market such as those in the flower sector that could benefit from such a venture when their products are seen on the international market as ‘green.’ 

Challenge: Lately, the price of carbon credits has been on a downward trend internationally. This has hurt earnings of companies such as power producer KenGen, which have invested heavily in environment-friendly projects that have lower carbon emissions in the race to end global warming. KenGen targeted to earn Sh1.2 billion annually from trading in carbon credits.

Cause:  When Europe’s industrial production stalled after the 2009 financial crisis, supply quickly dwarfed demand, driving the credits to their lowest level. Now, KenGen is looking for new markets outside Europe. 

OTHER SECTORS WHERE CARBON CREDIT HAS BEEN APPLIED IN KENYA

Agriculture: Farms in Western Kenya

Sustainable Agriculture Land Management project in Kenya , which, since 2009, has been working with thousands of smallholder farmers to increase their use of sustainable agriculture land management practices. The project, is supported by the World Bank Group’s BioCarbon Fund in partnership with the Swedish NGO Vi Agroforestry.It aims to support a total of 60,000 farmers managing 45,000 hectares of farmland in western Kenya.
It has trained farmers on how to sustainably rehabilitate degraded lands to increase crop yields and farm productivity. On average, farmers saw maize yields more than double during the project, leading directly to higher incomes.

Wildlife: Kasigau Community 

Kenya is one of 53 nations partnering with the UN-REDD program (short for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), and Wildlife Works's Kasigau project is the country's pilot carbon offset initiative adapted for wildlife management in partnership with the community. The Wildlife Work's rangers monitor more than 500,000 acres of wooded land in the Kasigau Corridor—a stretch between Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks containing more than 110,000 inhabitants—to prevent illegal tree-cutting and keep elephant poachers at bay.

CONCLUSION:

Clean mechanism development (green projects) costs are high and given the lack of access to capital by individuals as well as general lack of information, carbon credit trading has mainly been dominated by companies rather than individual investors. Despite this, It is important to note that carbon credit schemes will play an important role in both climate change adaptation and mitigation not only in Kenya but also in other parts of the world. There is still wide untapped opportunities that if seized by "green" investors,  as company or individual, would go along way in mitigating climate change, deforestation,pollution of marine life, degradation of soil ,hence collectively curbing the harsh effects of global warming which is a big menace to both fauna and flora of this beautiful earth. Together we can bring the most desired change. Do that little thing in you own way.  

REFERENTIAL LINKS

Forest Forest service/carbon credit credit http://www.kenyaforestservice.org/index.php/2016-04-25-20-08-29/news/302-forest-carbon-credits.

Worldbank press release http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/01/21/kenyans-earn-first-ever-carbon-credits-from-sustainable-farming

Worldbank News 
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/07/18/kenya-project-boosts-maize-production-and-climate-change-benefits

Standard media /kengen to trade on carbon credit https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000172369/kengen-to-trade-its-carbon-credits-on-local-bourse

Business daily http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Nairobi-bourse-plans-platform-for-trading-in-carbon-credits/539552-3059574-n70ji6z/index.html

Standard Media https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000208079/government-to-support-nse-introduce-carbon-credits-trading

Kenya Draft Policy On Carbon Trade http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/smartcompany/Kenya-drafts-policy-on-carbon-trading/1226-1493718-dpjcj4z/index.html

Kenya carbon credit tree protection program http://www.v-c-s.org/kenya-carbon-credit-tree-protection-program-grow-fivefold/

UN-REDD PROGRAMME, CARBON RIGHTS AND BENEFIT-SHARING FOR REDD+ IN KENYA 8 (2013) [hereinafter BENEFIT-SHARING FOR REDD+ IN KENYA], available at http://www.kenyaforestservice.org/documents/Carbon%20Rights%20and%20Benefit%20S harring%20For%20REDD%20in%20Kenya.pdf. 

Natural Resources (Benefit Sharing) Bill, 2014, KENYA GAZETTE SUPPLEMENT No. 137, available at http://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/bills/ 2014/NaturalResources_Benefit_Sharing_Bill__2014.pdf. 

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