Ancient DNA Study Reveals Origin Of Swahili People

The largest and first ever ancient DNA study from the East African Coast that meaningfully restores the heritage of the Swahili people was published Thursday in London in the British Scientific journal, Nature. The study, pushes back to more than 500 years of colonization of the region whose effects still persists. The decade long study was conducted by a team of American researchers led by lead researcher Prof. David Reich of Havard Medical School. The team includes Kenyan born Anthropology Prof. Chapurukha Kusimba from the University of South Florida, Jeffrey Fleisher of Rice University, and Stephanie Wynne- Jones at University of York along with Esther Brielle, a post-doctoral scientist at Havard Medical School genetics laboratory who came up with multiple findings. The researchers who co-authored an Op-Ed titled ‘Entwined African and Asian Genetics Roots of the medieval peoples of the Swahili Coast’ that has been carried by the New York Times newspaper in the US point out a surprise finding that Indians contributed in a central way to the Swahili peoples ancestry. They show that around 1000AD, the initial stream of Asian migrants mixed with Africans at multiple locations along the East African coast, contributed to about half the people’s ancestry- a mixture of 90 per cent from Persian and 10 per cent Indians. These findings coincide with the oldest Swahili oral story The Kilwa Chronicles, which tell of Persian (Shirazi) merchants or princes who contributed to the founding of Swahili communities. It, too, disproves the opposite viewpoint prevailing in colonial times that Africans provided little contribution to Swahili towns. Prof Reich wrote; ‘these findings contradict and complicate narratives previously advanced in archaeological, historical and political circles- contributing in a meaningful way to reclaiming heritage for the Swahili themselves. The researchers reckon that mixing was highly sex specific, with predominant ancestry sources being male Persian individuals and predominantly African female individuals. Their study was carried in Lamu, Mtwapa, Songo Mnara and Kilwa Kisiwani where present day communities have strong traditions of connection to the people of the medieval coastal towns. They aver that Persian males allied and married into local trading families and adopted local customs to enable them become more successful traders. The legacy of the medieval Swahili civilization is a source of extraordinary pride in East Africa as reflected in Kiswahili being the region’s lingua franca. ‘The fact that their children passed down the language of their mothers, and that encounter with traditionally patriarchal Persian/Arabians and conversion to Islam did not change the Coast’s African matriarchal tradition and confirms that African women retained their culture and passed it down many generations. ‘Findings of the study bring out the African contributions, and indeed the Africanness of the Swahili without marginalizing the Persian/Indian connection. These findings speak to the relatedness that we as human kind share with each other,’ Prof Kusimba who has carried out archaeological research at the Kenyan Coast since 1986 reckons. He added, results of this study are ground breaking and serve as a template for doing anthropologically led science. It contextualizes the politics of research perfectly illustrating why we cannot oversimplify. The interpretation of the genetic data in the paper serves as lesson that archaeologists and geneticists must find ways of working and listening to each without the former being subordinate to genetic analysis. Prof Kusimba said the work shows how a DNA and anthropological research could work hand in hand and produce truly meaningful cutting edge results.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Homa Bay Start Constructing Multi-Million Accident, Emergency Unit

The Homa Bay County Government is moving with speed to construct a multi-million accident and emergency unit in a project that will ensure quality healthcare services for the residents. The five-storey building which will include an outpatient block, theatres and offices, will be established at the County Teaching and Referral Hospital to cater for emergencies and accident patients. Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony, Governor Gladys Wanga said the unit will cost approximately Sh. 200 million and is expected to be completed in the next 18 months. ‘We have a budget of about Sh. 200 million that will be injected into the construction of the accident and emergency centre which will be the face of Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital,’ said the governor. Wanga said their priority as a county executive is to improve health care, adding that they have a plan of constructing a funeral parlor and a mother-and-child hospital to decongest the pediatric ward and the maternity section. ‘We want to put our focus on level two, three and four facilities so that we can address health care at the very basic level to help us free up this facility from serious cases of referrals,’ said Wanga. The Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health Dr. Andrew Mulwa said the Ministry will support the County Government in equipping the facilities required and will offer the technical capacity to operationalize the accident and emergency centre. ‘The public health facilities will be competitive to ensure they match the private facilities for Homa Bay citizens to enjoy Universal Health Care Coverage under Wanga’s leadership,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

State To Increase Land Under Irrigation To 3million Acres

The national government is working to put three million acres of land under irrigation farming by 2030. Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome has said that already, they are implementing several projects in different parts of the country to boost irrigation farming with the aim of achieving food security. She said in the next five years, 1. 8 million acres will be put under irrigation adding that the projects are targeting small scale farmers. The CS spoke when she launched three community irrigation projects in Murang’a County. The projects launched included Nyanjigi in Kangema sub-county, Maragua ridge in Murang’a south and Boboti Kiamande in Kandara, which have cost the government a tune of almost Sh500, 000 million. The projects are targeting to provide water for irrigation to more than 2,000 small-scale farmers. She underscored the need to support irrigation farming saying the country currently has a shortage of more than 10 million bags of maize. ‘For government to attain food security, there is a need to support irrigation farming. This will require partnership between the government, members of the community and private investors,’ she added. Wahome said the Ministry of Water would also drill boreholes to complement water sourced from rivers and dams. She explained that the Nyanjigi water project in Kangema would support 500 farmers and her Ministry is working to provide funding to distribute the water to other 500 farmers. ‘Nyanjigi project was supported by the community and the government. We have come in to provide infrastructure that leads to distribution of water to farmers’ farms,’ she said. ‘The project will support horticulture farming and it is estimated annually the beneficiaries will be able to make more than Sh100 million,’ she added. The CS further said they have started negotiations with private and international organizations to fund various irrigation projects. ‘Galana-Kulalu will be changed for commercial irrigation and since the government has no required funding, we will invite international organizations to partner in supporting the projects,’ she added. Meanwhile, the CS called upon farmers to form groups and start irrigation projects saying it would be easy for the government to support the community-based projects with needed infrastructure like pipes. Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his administration would support the projects initiated by the national government by ensuring they are well maintained. ‘Water is very vital in attaining food security and as Murang’a county government, we will maintain projects,’ he added. Kangema MP Peter Kihungi lauded Nyanjigi project saying it has ensured locals have continuous food supply. ‘Farmers can’t rely only on rain-fed farming. This region has experienced drought for a long time and with such irrigation schemes, food security will get a big boost,’ added Kihungi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Maritime Security To Enhance Surveillance In Blue Spaces

The government has brought back the National Maritime Security Committee to enhance security surveillance in Kenya’s blue spaces. Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya says the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) will be empowered to handle more responsibilities in safety and security, as a result, the maritime committee was revived. The committee will be chaired by PS Maritime and Shipping, PS Defence, and PS Interior, while other maritime stakeholders will be members of the committee. ‘We will be able to monitor our exclusive economic zone and we will be able to provide on-time security response on a number of issues that happened in the blue space,’ said CS Mvurya when he inspected the construction of the 18-floor KMA Towers in Mombasa which is near completion. The CS was impressed with the progress of construction of the Sh2B world-class maritime headquarters which he said should be ready by June 30 this year. ‘The project is very key to the maritime sector because the maritime and shipping sector has also to grow in our country and for it to grow, we have to enhance the capacity of our key institutions in maritime so that they can handle new challenges and opportunities in the globe,’ said the CS. The building will have a rescue and emergency Centre to coordinate all rescue activities in the Indian Ocean and it will be equipped with modern equipment. ‘There will be cameras that are linked with vessels in the Indian Ocean so that at least then we can have proper surveillance. I think right now that capacity is still very low so through this particular project, we should be able to enhance the capacity of rescue and surveillance,’ said the CS adding that the project will transform the maritime and shipping sectors. The CS has directed KMA to inspire its capacity for safety both in the Indian Ocean and in lakes because they are many vessels and boats that operate without compliance. ‘Safety in the blue space is not something that is an afterthought. We want to have good plans to make sure shipping activities comply with global requirements,’ he said. The CS disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) to enhance the country’s capacity in dry docking and vessel maintenance. The CS promised to transform KMA to handle more responsibilities and opportunities that will come along since 90 per cent of all the international trade happens in the blue space.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Bamburi Cement Set To Launch Shale Mine Project In Kwale

Bamburi Cement Ltd is set to launch a multimillion shillings shale mining factory in Matuga sub county of Kwale. The cement manufacturer has been undertaking exploration and prospecting of shale (clayey materials compacted into rocks over time) in Kwale since 2018. Bamburi Cement Ltd outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Seddiq Hassani and the incoming CEO Mohit Kapoor revealed the company’s plans when the duo led a team on a courtesy call on area Governor Fatuma Achani. Bamburi Cement appointed Kapoor as new CEO effective April 1 following resignation of Seddiq Hassani after five years at the helm. The team visited the county headquarters to brief the local leadership on the steps made on land acquisition processes to set up the shale mining factory. Mr. Hassani said the Bamburi Cement industrial strategy is to scale up business in the South coast and establish a 5,000 ton capacity per day clinker plant. He said the cement company has already developed a livelihood restoration programme for all those who will be affected by the shale mining project, and has set guidelines for their compensation and relocation. The company says the Kundutsi sub location, Matuga sub county area has been identified as a key source of raw material. Shale material, which is to be mined at Kundutsi Sub Location, will then be transported 10-17Km via Matuga to Magandia existing road through Waa to Ngombeni Sub Location for clinker production. The proposed shale mining location is approximately 700 acres of land currently owned by local communities who are practicing maize, cassava, mango and coconut farming in the area. Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that forms from the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles that we commonly call ‘mud.’ It is used as an additive to lime during production of a categorized quality of cement product (value addition). The company says no crushing will take place on site, but will be transported to the proposed clinker plant at Ngombeni. Earth Resource Exploration Ltd that carried out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report recommended to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) the go ahead to issue the project license. The purpose of the assessment is to identify potential positive and negative environmental impacts associated with the proposed project and provide recommendations on how to take advantage of the positive impacts on one hand and mitigate the negative environmental impacts on the other. The proposed shale quarry is expected to provide about 20 per cent of the total resource material for the clinker production process. Governor Achani said they are positive about the company’s investment in Kwale and invite other investors to come and explore the many untapped opportunities in the county. ‘Strengthening the business environment and making it conducive for investments is our top priority,’ she said. Achani assured local and international investors of a conducive business environment and restated the commitment of her administration to ensure support for companies willing to invest in the county. Governor Achani says that her administration was committed to ensuring the success of all kinds of investors in the coastal county. ‘As a devolved unit we are taking calculated steps to make Kwale investors’ choice in the country,’ she said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Deputy PM & FM Demeke Hosts Iftar Program for Diplomatic Community in Addis

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen hosted an Iftar program last night for the diplomatic community based in Addis Ababa.

The Iftar dinner program was organized at Skylight Hotel and brought together diplomats representing various countries and heads of the international organizations, it was learned.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

CS Owalo Urges Nyanza Residents To Shun Antigovernment Protests

The Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and The Digital Economy Mr Eliud Owalo has pleaded with Nyanza residents to create an enabling environment for the National Government to deliver on its economic development agenda for the region. Mr Owalo said no development can be achieved in an environment where people are involved in violent demonstrations frequently. ‘The end result of violent demonstration is investor and capital flight which will lead to deterioration of the economy of the region,’ the CS warned while launching relief food distribution at Kosele stadium in Rachuonyo south sub county. ‘Nyanza residents should recognize the fact that we have a duly elected government led by President William Ruto,’ he stressed noting it is not possible to have another government until 2027. The CS said the only discussion the President William Ruto administration was interested in the region was development oriented including the revival of local sugar industries to spur the region’s economic growth. ‘We want to ensure that we work on infrastructure of this region starting with roads, electricity and water is on course,’ he added stressing mining, tourism and agriculture matters in the area will also be addressed by the National Government. ‘If we will have to do any politics, it will be the politics of the economy and not the politics that do not benefit common Mwananchi,’ he added. During the occasion, Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan noted the county had been hard hit by drought resulting in acute food shortage. Lilan said approximately 40,000 families were in dire need of food assistance and they include 17,373 families in Rachuonyo south sub county. ‘Places like Mbita, Mfangano, Suba South and Rachuonyo North had already received their relief food rations. Only Rachuonyo South and Rachuonyo East which are receiving their relief food today had not gotten their allocations,’ he said. He said the government has supplied 300 bags of 50 kg of rice each and 260 bags of 50 kg of beans that will benefit 2,606 most vulnerable families in Rachuonyo south sub county. Apart from relief food the county commissioner said the State had also supplied 1,680 bags of subsidized fertilizer to Kendu Bay National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot saying they are also expecting another batch of fertilizer at the Homabay NCPB depot. The county commissioner asked the residents to use the fertilizer for planting in order to boost production which will in turn lead to food security.

Source: Kenya News Agency