Kisii Polytechnic to partner with Greece universities to boost technology
Kisii National Polytechnic ( KNP) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with Greece universities in exchange programs in boosting technology to benefit Kenyan and Greece citizens.
Greece Business Consulate to Kenya, Vicky Pantazapoulou said a Kenyan coffee House will be established in Athens city, Greece to promote and sell Kenyan products in Southern Europe.
She said the products will be exhibited in the city and Kenyans will showcase their cultural activities at Trade Fairs, noting it will also boost tourism and multilateral trade.
“Kenya is the hub for the East African Community. Greece is the hub of Southern Europe. We want to create one transit area for Kenyan products to be distributed in Europe,” Pantazapoulou said.
The consular, accompanied by Commodities Fund chairman, Mwacnha Okioma, Fund’s Managing Trustee, Nancy Cheruiyot, Kenya Animal Genetic Resources centre ( KAGRIC) marketing officer, Peris Bosibori, Nandi Deputy Governor, Yurita Cheruiyot, Kisii Central Deputy Commissioner, Wilberforce Kilonzo, Green Spec International Director, Vicky Onderi, Francis Opondo, officer in-charge of Kisii prison, KNP Principal, David Mwangi, Kisii County Executive Committee Members- Ednah Kangwana, Administration, Dr Walter Okibo was speaking at the Polytechnic on Friday after planting trees to enhance the four big agenda- Manufacturing, housing, Health and Agriculture.
Okioma urged youth and graduates to embrace farming and value addition, saying the fund will assist them with money on concessionary terms to boost their ventures and lives.
He lauded the management of the polytechnic for adding value to bananas- crisps and wine and urged it to export it to boost the institution’s income and farmers’ earnings.
“Banana products are antioxidants. I wish they could be exported to the global market to transform the lives of farmers,” Okioma said, stressing that the Fund supports value chains in coffee, sugarcane and coconut.
Cheruiyot, who represented Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Harry Kimtai said Kenya produces 5 billion litres per day and will increase to 12 b by 2030.
The officer said the Ministry donated three Artificial Insemination (AI) kits, abattoir equipment and one milk cooler to the polytechnic to improve food security as part of the four big Agenda.
“We have one million dairy farmers. They need support to increase milk production. That is why the government has donated the AI kits to upgrade their dairy animals,” Cheruiyot said.
Kangwana, who read Governor James Ongwae’s speech, urged members of the public to support partners' programs to foster sustainable development goals to improve peoples’ lives and livelihoods.
The governor appealed to residents to cut eucalyptus trees along riparian and wetlands to protect water sources and conserve the environment.
“ I laud the consular and other partners for planting trees at the polytechnic to conserve the environment. I urge residents to shun planting eucalyptus trees near rivers, wetlands and water sources,” Ongwae said.
Okibo implored partners to support Technical and Vocational Education Training ( TVET) to enable students acquire adequate technical skills to contribute to the country’s development.
He urged the government to support people with innovative ideas to enable them to produce and patent their products to uplift their lives.
