Reaching Greater Heights Together November 2015

also supporting the Mombasa Gateway City Master Plan, Mombasa Special Economic Zone Master Plan and implementing the Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project (MPARD). Our support for Mombasa is not new, as Japan funded the expansion of the Mombasa airstrip in 1973, upgrading it to International Airport status in 1978. Dr. Kitaoka also visited the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), which has had a long history of collaboration with JICA since its construction with support from Japanese grants in 1981 as an agricultural diploma college and even after attaining fully-fledged university JICA President, Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, meets Kenya’s Deputy President, H.E. William Ruto. status in 1994. Dr. Kitaoka toured the AFRICA-ai-JAPAN project, BRIGHT Project, the Engineering workshop and JICA President Visits Kenya planted a commemorative tree. On meeting Dr. Kitaoka, H.E. Ruto alternating between Japan and Africa. n a move that highlighted the appreciated the role played by Japan I country as a key partner of Japan On his recent visit, Dr. Kitaoka in Kenya’s development in sectors in the region and in Africa, Kenya had an opportunity to meet and hold such as road construction, electricity became the first calling station for the talks with Kenya’s Deputy President, production and modernization of the newly appointed JICA President, Dr. H.E. William Ruto. He also visited Mombasa port. He lauded the robust Shinichi Kitaoka. In 2016, Kenya is also some JICA-supported projects, the economic partnership between the set to host the first TICAD Conference first being the Mombasa Port. Noting two countries and looked forward to to be held outside Japan. The Tokyo that Mombasa is important not only hosting a successful TICAD Conference. International Conference on African to Kenya but also as a gateway to the Dr. Kitaoka observed that JICA has Development (TICAD) has been held region, Dr. Kitaoka announced the had a long and successful relationship in Japan every 5 years since TICAD injection of an additional Ksh. 28 billion with Kenya since 1963, and noted I in 1993. After TICAD V in 2013, towards the expansion of the Port. This that the country remains core to the the forum will be held every 3 years, project is currently underway. JICA is development of the African continent.

Dr. Kitaoka is shown around the Engineering workshop at JKUAT. Dr. Kitaoka tours facilities of the Mombasa Port. JICA Wins Capacity Building Award n October 2015, JICA was honoured during the KRA luncheon in honour of receive the award on behalf of JICA was Ito receive a Capacity Building award distinguished taxpayers. Ms. Anne Olubendi, Senior Programme for its role in training of Customs Officers The award was in respect of JICA’s Officer in charge of Economy and from the Kenya Revenue Authority Project on Capacity Development for Private Sector Development. (KRA) and the East African Community International Trade Facilitation in the We are indeed humbled by this region at large. The award was in the Eastern African Region that began in recognition and will continue to walk Partnership Category, and was handed 2007. The Project is in its third phase, with the Kenyan people towards over by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta running from 2013 to 2017. On hand to inclusive and dynamic development.

H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta presents the Capacity Building Group photo with the Project Coordinator, Ms. Yoko Konishi (2nd from left) Award to Ms. Anne Olubendi, who receives it on behalf of JICA. with KRA Senior Staff and Partners from Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA).

borne out of a regional conference held Cabinet Secretary Opens SMASE in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by SMASSE– Kenya in February 2001. Since then, Third Country Training Program over 1600 educators from 27 member countries have been trained. rof. Jacob Kaimenyi, the then and Technology Education in Africa On the same day, Prof. Kaimenyi (CEMASTEA) in Karen, Nairobi. PCabinet Secretary, Ministry of launched the Coordinating Committee The JICA-supported SMASE Education, Science & Technology for the Association for the Development Project was started in 1998, on the officially opened the 29th Third of Education in Africa (ADEA)’s Inter- backdrop of studies and reports that Country Training Programme Country Quality Node for Mathematics indicated poor performance in science (TCTP) course on Strengthening of and Science Education (ICQN-MSE). and mathematics subjects at national Mathematics and Science Education The ICQN-MSE, as successor of ADEA examinations in Kenya. With support (SMASE) on 7th September 2015. The Working Group on Mathematics and of JICA, the program spread to other course participants were secondary Science (WGMSE) established in 2004, countries, after formation of the mathematics and science educators will bring together African countries to SMASE-WECSA Association in 2001. from 9 countries, namely: Lesotho, address challenges in mathematics and Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, The SMASE–WECSA Association stands science education on the continent. Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar and for Strengthening of Mathematics and The TCTP course aims at increasing Zimbabwe. The ceremony was held at Science Education in Western, Eastern, the number of core national staff the Centre for Mathematics, Science Central and Southern Africa. It was and enhancing participants’ capacity as key trainers in their countries on strengthening mathematics and science. As explained by Mr. Kazuhiro Tambara, JICA Kenya’s Senior Representative: “Through JICA and using lessons learnt from SMASE Project in Kenya, Japan has been supporting the TCTP courses since 2004 in the hope that participants of the programme will play a key role in improving quality of teaching and learning of mathematics and science Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi officially opens the course. Mr. Kazuhiro Tambara delivers in their countries for technological and his speech. industrial development in Africa.” Enhancing the Science Learning Experience “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” In the same vein of this quote by Confucius, Narika Corporation from Japan creates science teaching materials that help students to understand scientific concepts not just by hearing or seeing but by actually conducting the experiments themselves. With the support of JICA, Narika, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) and the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) recently launched a verification survey with the private sector to disseminate science teaching materials. They aim to enhance student-centred teaching and learning of science education in Kenya Mr. Naganuma and Mr. Michal Marcik demonstrate the workings of the Genecon. through provision of teaching apparatus developed by the Corporation. The launching ceremony was held at CEMASTEA in Karen, Nairobi and was presided over by Ms. Grace Ngaca, on behalf of the Principal Secretary, MOEST. Noting that the Narika materials have been used throughout the world and helped to improve science learning, she embraced them and urged Kenyan teachers to use them. “The Ministry Ms. Ngaca officially launches the Narika Mr. Tanaka delivers his speech. will walk with Narika and apply the Verification Survey. innovations to unlock the potential in students,” she added. The ceremony was attended by, among others, the Japanese Minister, Mr. Mikio Mori, JICA’s Chief Representative, Ms. Keiko Sano and CEMASTEA’s Deputy Director, Mr. Moses Kawa. Narika Corporation was represented by Mr. Masao Tanaka, Director of International Business, Mr. Keiichi Naganuma, Chief Advisor for Guests enjoy an exhibition of models created Participants conduct experiments using the by pupils from Uhuru Gardens Primary Genecon. the Narika Project, heads of primary School to explain different concepts. (Photo schools in Nairobi and students from by Ilink/Takeshi Kuno) Uhuru Gardens Primary School. The JICA-MOEST SMASE Project programmes will ensure continuous electric circuit, which are difficult to (Strengthening of Mathematics and improvement of human resources conceptualise without experiments. Science Education) run from 1998- needed for Kenyan and African Some of the apparatus has been vetted 2013, and aimed at in-service training development,” observed JICA’s Chief and received approval for use in of teachers on student-centred Representative, Ms. Keiko Sano. teaching science in Kenyan schools. It pedagogy in the teaching and learning Attendees of the launching is hoped that the equipment will serve of mathematics and science. “The ceremony had an opportunity to to “help pupils have a more meaningful involvement of the Japanese private experience the ‘Genecon’ – a hand-held science experience,” as stated by Mr. sector, like Narika Corporation, in DC generator – which helps students to Kawa, CEMASTEA’s Deputy Director. commercially providing relevant easily understand some physics topics For more information on Narika materials to JICA’s previously supported such as energy conversion/loss and Corporation: http://global.narika.jp/ Plant Operators’ Training Course Launched t a colourful ceremony held at the Ahero, West/Kano, Bunyala, Perkera important cereal in Kenya after maize AAhero National Irrigation Board in and Tana Delta rice growing regions. and wheat. “With two thirds of rice Kisumu County, the Principal Secretary This is the second batch of consumed in Kenya being imported, in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock agricultural machinery provided under we need to increase our production and Fisheries, Ms. Sicily Kariuki, 2KR, with the first phase supplied to and move to an era of mechanization, presided over the launch of Agricultural the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in 2014. which will bring our production costs Plant Operators’ Training. This followed It included 45 4WD tractors, 90 rice down,” she added, appreciating the the provision of rice machinery and threshers and 90 rice reapers with newly acquired equipment. equipment under Japan’s 2KR Scheme. their accompanying spare parts. Also On his part, Ambassador Terada The beneficiaries of the machinery are included are 42 disc ploughs, 42 rotary noted that Japan was lending its underprivileged small-scale farmers in tillers, 42 ridgers and 3 power harrows. support to Africa’s policy of doubling Other guests at the ceremony rice production by 2018, and saw great included H.E. Tatsushi potential for rice production around Terada, the Ambassador of Lake Victoria. He also noted that there Japan to Kenya, Mr. Hiroshi are many Japanese companies that Itoyama, JICA Kenya’s could help with mechanization. Hon. Representative in charge Ranguma expressed his appreciation of Agriculture and Rural for the long history of cooperation with Development, Hon. Jack Japan, including financing of the Sondu Ranguma, the Governor of Miriu Hydro Power Plant. Kisumu County and other It is hoped that the equipment government and political and machinery provided will go a long leaders. way towards increasing rice yields and Ms. Kariuki noted contribute to economic empowerment Ambassador Terada hands over machinery manuals that rice is the third most in the region. to Principal Secretary, Ms. Sicily Kariuki. ‘I Will Do My Best to Contribute to Kenya’s Development’ s Ms. Keiko Sano began her social sectors, which will contribute to Aassignment as the new Chief Kenya’s and Africa’s development. She Representative of JICA Kenya in also foresees a memorable time since September 2015, she was indeed TICAD VI will be held in Kenya in 2016, in familiar territory. She is not new the first time for the conference to be to JICA Kenya, having served as the held outside Japan. Representative in-charge of Education Comparing the Nairobi of 2004 and from 2001-2004. Her relationship with 2015, she observes great development Africa, however, began years earlier in upcoming buildings in the city, which when she was dispatched to Zimbabwe signifies economic growth. She also from 1993-1995 as a Japan Overseas notes that despite the increasing traffic Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV). She jam, many Nairobi residents seem to enjoyed this posting and it enhanced enjoy working. “I will do my best to contribute her passion to contribute to Africa’s Ms. Keiko Sano, the new Chief development. Representative of JICA Kenya. to Kenyan development, from my Ms. Sano is the first female Chief experience in the African department, Representative in JICA Kenya’s history. Department at JICA Headquarters in Human Development Department She now comes to Kenya from the charge of many African countries and at and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Human Development Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan. Japan,” she says, noting that there are JICA Headquarters in Tokyo, where With the JICA office in Kenya being great expectations of her. She hopes to she has been serving as the Group the biggest in Africa and having the largest enjoy working with all stakeholders, and Leader for Higher Education and Social coverage area, Ms. Sano plans to steer is also looking forward to enjoying her Security, which includes disability issues. the office to further support infrastructure favourite Kenyan dish - a plate of ugali She previously served at the African projects and big impact projects in the and sukuma wiki.