magana flowers newsletter

�� SkillsGrowth

Exchange Visits

Magana Flowers has been al-

ways an early adopter in em-

bracing novel innovations

in the fl oricultural industry.

To this effect Magana Flow-

ers through Magana Flowers

Fairtrade, Joint Board (JB)

members and other employees’

representatives are taken to

different farms every year for

exchange visits.

In these visits, employees are

exposed to fi rsthand advances

in the ever competitive fl ower

industry. This helps them to

improve on their productivity,

consequently, being exposed to

new ideas that they can imple-

ment using Fairtrade premi-

ums.

In 2012, Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Joint Board and

other employees’ representa-

tives visited Ravine Roses, 2011

Tambuzi Flower Farm, 2010

Panda Flowers, 2008 Finlays

Flowers, 2007 Zena Roses, and

2006 Penta Flowers.

These visits have been facilitat-

ed at a cost of Ksh 275, 705.

Community Livelihood,Poverty Alleviation

Clean, safe, drinking wa-

ter fl owing: celebrations to

mark the opening of Shauri

Yako piped water

supply funded by MFFWG.

Besides, taking respectable

care of employees’ welfare,

Magana Flowers Fairtrade

Welfare Group also ensures

that the community’s pros-

perity is well taken care of

as well.

This has been realized by

the initiation of the following

schemes that enhance living

forms of the less fortunate in

the community.

(a) Supply of Safe, Clean Drinking Water to Shauri Yako Village Residents of Shauri Yako

enjoy clean water supply

from the County Council of

Nairobi as a result of Maga-

na Flowers Fairtrade work

well-done.

In 2010, the group pur-

chased two 10, 000 litres

storage water tanks and

supported the building of

piped water system to supply

usable, safe and clean drink-

ing water to the residents at

a cost of Ksh 665, 844.

(b) Donations to Ki-kuyu Home for the Aged. In 2004, Magana

Flowers Fairtrade donated

48 pieces of blankets to

Kikuyu home for the aged

worth Ksh 37, 553.This home

was started by Thomas Watson

and his wife Minnie Cumming

in 1900 in Thogoto. The object

was to offer relief to children

and the aged, who were rav-

aged by the great natural

disasters that wreaked havoc in

Kikuyu land from 1894-1899.

(c) Rafi ki Mission for the Orphans Beddings Donations Within 2007, the welfare organ

visited Rafi ki Mission for the

Orphans and donated 33 pieces

of blankets and 33 pairs of bed

sheets. This undertaking was

fi nanced to the tune of Ksh 81,

420.

(d) Dagoretti Chil-dren’s Home Food Aid. In the same year the

welfare group committed Ksh.

29, 400 for purchasing food

stuffs such as maize, beans,

green grams, rice and other

items such as oil and salt which

were given to Dagoretti Chil-

dren’s Home.

(e) Cura Rotary Home. This Home in 2008

benefi ted from donations of

50 pieces of mattresses and

blankets worth Ksh 115, 000

donated by Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Welfare Group.

(f) Light Touch Care Centre. Further the group

channeled Ksh 50, 000 in 2009

for provision of food to Light

Touch Care centre.


Welfare Group members

donating beddings to Rafi -

ki Mission for the Orphans.

� � � ��

Corporate Social Responsibility

www.maganafl owers.com

Certifi cations:

P.O. Box 14618-00800, Nairobi-Kenya: Magana Town, Off Nairobi-Nakuru Highway at Kikuyu

Tel: +254 (0) 20 201 7 651/2/3 or +254 (0) 722 897 903 or +254 (0) 733 615 035

Magana Flowers

Kenya Limited-

Magana Family

believes in the

following core

values, every

employee must try to

implement them.

1. Respect: All employ-

ees of Magana and Com-

munities around must be

treated with respect. You

also deserve respect.

2. Responsibility: Everyone in Magana is ex-

pected to work with minimal

supervision as all employees

are trusted to do so.

3. Discipline: In Maga-

na we advocate for mainte-

nance of discipline of mind,

body and action.

4. Dignity: MFKL em-

ployees should hold their

heads high, knowing they

are regarded as mature men

and women of honour. No

one should be robbed off his

or her dignity.

5. Environment: Here

at Magana we continuously

maintain, protect and im-

prove our environment. Also,

we try to create and uphold

a clean and healthy work-

ing environment by always

observing cleanliness and

hygiene.

Also, weMagana Employees should live these other values:

1. Initiative: All Maga-

na employees are trusted in

their work, thus are expected

to be innovative. Please use

initiative and innovation.

2. Integrity: There is no

gap in what we say and do.

There is continuity between

our thoughts and actions. We

must all be honest at work.

3. Accountability: We are accountable to each

other, our customers, suppli-

ers and to ourselves too.

4. Freedom from Fear at Work: Here in

Magana Farm no one should

have any fear of intimidation

or losing job unfairly. Em-

ployees are also free to join

any legal organization, and

have the liberty to associate

with whoever they choose to.

5. Energized Team: Our employees are mature,

independent and responsible,

they work as a team.

6. Customer Centricity: We offer

our customers the highest

quality fl owers taking care

of their changing tastes and

times.

7. Competitiveness: We try to create the most

cost-effi cient and customer

focused structure.

8. Corporate Governance: We ad-

here to ethics of governance

to win the trust of our cli-

ents.

In our relationship

to the company, to

other

employees and to

the

community please,

we should try to

show these values.

They affect our

professional and

social standing in

the eyes of other

people.

These values also

determine if other

people will respect

us, as much as we

respect them.

� � !" # $ % &' ( ) *

Magana Flow-

ers employees

on a driving

training.

Magana Flowers supervisors and in charges being trained on leadership and

management.

Besides, formal trainings,

Magana Flowers employees

are given a chance for skilled

trainings:

(a) Computer, Driving and Diploma in Hair Dressing and Beauty.

From 2005-2013:

(i) 110 employees, their

immediate family members

have been helped with

Ksh 398, 000 to get

computer use trainings.

(ii) 272 sponsored for driving

course at a cost of

Ksh 2.22 m and given

driving licenses.

(iii) 78 trained on Diploma in

Hair Dressing and Beauty at

a cost of Ksh 2.17 m.

(b) Capacity Building.(i) Magana Flowers Joint

Board Capacity Building-

From 2004-2013; about 290

Joint Board Members have

been trained on Financial

Management, Project Plan-

ning, Implementation and

monitoring at a cost of

Ksh 2. 47 m.

These trainings are targeted

at tooling and retooling the

joint board members

With skills to enhance Maga-

na Flowers Fairtrade Wel-

fare Group project

management.

(ii)All Employees Capac-

ity Building- Also all Maga-

na employees from 2010-

2012 have been sponsored for

capacity building training at

a cost of Ksh 660, 000.

This training is designed to

sensitize and enhance under-

standing of Fairtrade con-

cepts, and Industrial

Relations among employees.

(c) Knitting Course26 employees in 2005 were

funded for a knitting course

at price tag of Ksh. 67, 000.

Magana Flowers employ-

ees sponsored for Diplo-

ma in Hair Dressing on

thier gradution (2010).

(d) Tailoring CourseAgain, 68 employees in 2005,

2013, supported with

Ksh 390, 000 for a course in

tailoring and dress making.

(e) Fairtrade Aware-ness Campaign:440 employees in 2011 were

given branded T-Shirts and

Umbrellas worth

Ksh 704, 000 as part of

the promotional strategy to

create an understanding of

fairtrade concepts amongst

the employees of

Magana Flowers.

+, - . /0 12 3 4 56

� � !" # $ % &' ( ) * 7Skilled Trainings

EducationalDevelopment

(b) Ngure Classroom ConstructionMagana Flowers Fairtrade

Welfare Group in 2010 funded

construction of a modern class-

room at Ngure Primary School

worth Ksh 999, 185.

(c) Rungiri Classrooms Renovations

In addition, the welfare organ

in 2008, sponsored renovation

of 16 classrooms and donated

50 desks to Rungiri Primary

School. All this was done at a

cost of Ksh. 197, 820.

(d) Kanjeru Desk Donations

150 desks worth

Ksh. 343, 582 were donated

to Kanjeru Primary School in

2010 and 2011.

(e) Sanitary Towel Donations

Girls in Mama Ngina, HGM

Kinoo, Thogoto and Nderi Pri-

mary Schools in 2010 and 2012

were given sanitary towels

worth Ksh. 165, 120.

Green CareIn 2012 Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Welfare Group-

sponsored planting of 1000

Eucalyptus and Gravaria

grandis trees worth

Ksh. 30, 000 in Ngure, HGM

Kinoo and Mama Ngina Pri-

mary schools.

Trees planted

in Magana

Flowers as

part of the

farm’s far-

sighted care

for the envi-

ronment.

89 : ; < : = > ? @A 9 B CD E > FG

A Classroom in Run-

giri Primary School,

before renovation of

16 classes supported

by MFFWG.

One of the classrooms after

repair.

Ngure Primary School pupils ready to plant trees donated by MFFWG.

MFFWG

donating

sanitary sowels

to HGM Kinoo

Primary School

girls.

Rungiri Pri-

mary School

pupils enjoy-

ing learning in

desks donated

by MFFWG.

MFF Project Admin,

Ms. Catherine Wan-

jiku with Kanjeru

Primary School

pupils, when

MFFWG donated 100

desks to the school.

H I J KL M N O PQ R S T U

Magana Farm Establishment

Dr. Magana Njoroge

Mungai; Chairman,

CEO MFKL

under greenhouses. In all

roses planted.

Magana Flowers

Farm Locale

Magana Flowers is situated

at Kikuyu, along Nairobi-Na-

kuru Highway, 40Km from

Jomo Kenyatta

International Airport, and

the main airfi eld in East Af-

rica. 18Km from the centre of

the city of Nairobi-precisely

from the General Post Offi ce:

GPO, and 4km from the west

boundary of Nairobi City.

The temperatures here at

Magana Farm range from

8-280 C. It is cool. It is suit-

able and indeed very pleas-

ant. It is never too hot or

extremely cold.

The land on which Magana

Flowers stands was bought

from some British-South

Africans in 1967. It was con-

verted to a fl ower farm from

a dairy farm in 1994.

In 1994, Magana started

growing rose fl owers for ex-

port. We started with 2

hectares and increased it to

about 4.5 hectares and to 7

hectares.

At the beginning we were

growing fl owers on the soil;

after a while we converted

the growing medium to hy-

droponics.

We used Cocoa peat and

pumice as the medium on

which we grew roses in

troughs and tunnels.

After the introduction of this

we did not grow our fl owers

on soil again. The seven hect-

ares that were under green-

house rose growing were all

converted into hydroponics.

Whatever we grew later, we

all grew on hydroponics.

We now have 18 hectares-

about 42 acres-which are

Magana’sOutstandingFarming Practices

Sustainable Use of Water

Here at Magana

Farm we ensure

that every drop

of water used is

accounted for by

using the follow-

ing methods:

1. Drip Irrigation: We use drip irrigation in our

greenhouses. This method

is very economical in water

use, thus water resources at

our disposal are used sus-

tainably not a faster rate

than they can be replen-

ished.

Drip irrigation pipes on troughs with

pumice, roses growing

2. Fertigation Fluid Recycling: Besides we

re-circulate fertigation fl uid.

We collect fertigation fl uid

from every trough in each

greenhouse. This liquid is

collected in the fertigation

fl uid collection tanks at the

end of each greenhouse.

From here the fl uid is

pumped into fertigation re-

cycle tanks. In these recycle

tanks the fl uid is cleaned,

mixed with fresh water; fer-

tilizer added, and then fed

to roses in the greenhouses

through drip pipes.VW X Y Z[ \] _ `

H I J KL M N O PQ R S a

One of the several fertigation fl uid collection and

recycle tank that we have at the end of each green-

house block. In these tanks we collect fertigation

fl uid for recycling and reusing.

Magana Farm Ecological Agroindustry Applicationsbc d e f d g h i jk c l mn o h p

Therefore, we do not pollute

the soil. We do not pollute

rivers or streams within our

ecosystem.

These fertigation fl uid col-

lection and recycle tanks do

not allow chemicals used for

fertigation to seep into the

soil and eventually into the

underground water or trickle

into the streams.

3. Rainwater Harvesting: We get wa-

ter from all-over the roofs of

the greenhouses or any other

building in the farm.

We have fi ve reservoirs that

we use to collect rain water.

Then this water is used for

irrigation and fertigation.

Some of our water comes

from Nairobi River. One of

the springs that feeds Nai-

robi River is Kikuyu Springs,

and it is next door to Magana

Flowers Farm.

We rarely use water from Ki-

kuyu Springs; it is only used

as a last resort. Certainly

our water usage method

saves water resources at our

sphere.

Tree planting has now been

extended to the commu-

nity. Every year, Magana

Fairtrade has committed at

least to plant 1000 trees

in three Public Primary

Schools in our community.

Further, here at Magana

Flowers Farm, we take good

care of our land. We observe

strict care in our water, fer-

tilizer and chemical usage.

In fact in our largest water

reservoir we keep fi sh, an

enough indicator that our

water is clean.

4. Environmental Care: In Magana we con-

sider our environment very

important and take very

good care about it.

We have planted many trees

in the farm, where spaces

have been left by green-

houses, and where it is not

possible to build more green-

houses we have planted trees

all-over.

These trees provide a natu-

ral habitat to rare species of

birds, probably which could

be endangered in this era

of global warming. Besides,

they protect our water catch-

ment areas.

Magana Flowers IPM

Unit. In this biofactory,

we manufacture

Phytoseiulus and

Amblyseius to combat

Mites in the greenhouses

instead of using

chemicals.

q r s tu v w x yz { | }

(d) Malaria Awareness CampaignMagana Flowers Fairtrade

Welfare Group is also in-

volved in educating employ-

ees on the importance of

malarial prevention. This

activity in away reinforces

the government of Kenya

plan in fi ghting Malarial,

other diseases..

In 2005 and 2009; 1350 nets

worth Ksh 319, 120 were

given to Magana Flowers

employees. Pregnant and lac-

tating mothers getting two

nets each in 2009.

Wangig’e Hospital nurses

attending Magana Flowers

employees and community

on one of the Prostate,

Breast, Cervical Cancer

Screening and Family Plan-

ning Support Programme

at Magana Flowers Clinic.


Welfare Group (MFFWG)

is committed in ensuring

employees of Magana Flow-

ers and their spouses and

children get an education

or skills for their personal

growth; company’s and soci-

etal development.

The welfare organ’s work

also go a long way in

supporting government’s

efforts of providing free

primary education for all

as enshrined in MDG No.2

(achieving universal primary

education for all).

To realize this, Magana

Flowers Fairtrade does the

following:

bc d e f d g h i jk c l mn o h ~ �Education

(a) Education Bursaries

(i) Secondary

Education

From 2010, and every other

year Magana Flowers em-

ployees’ children are fund-

ed for secondary education,

from form 1 up to form 4.

2010-2013: 194 children

have been given

Ksh 2.78 m as school fees.

(ii) Post-Secondary

Education

Also from 2010 and every

other year, MFFWG has

committed to fi nancing

Magana Flowers employees,

their spouses and children

for post-secondary courses. 2010-2013: 115 people have

offered Ksh. 3.14 m to study

courses such as Mechani-

cal Engineering, Elec-

trical Engineering, IT,

Accounts, Business Man-

agement, Human Re-

sources Management and

Hotel and Catering.

� g k d ec mn o h ~ �

A Modern

Classroom

in Ngure

Primary

School built

by Magana

FlowersFairtrade Wel-

fare Group.

q r s tu v w x yz { | � �

Medicare(e) Eye and Dental Clinic Through the welfare organ,

Magana employees enjoy free

eye and dental clinics.

In 2010 and 2011; 848


and their families were seen

for eye and dental checkups,

with a number benefi ting

with further treatment, as

well as eye glasses at a cost

of Ksh 1.21m.

Medical

Dentists from PCEA Kikuyu Hospital

giving Magana Flowers employees a

dental checkup in one of the regular

dental clinic in the farm.

Here at Magana Farm, our

employees are our most valu-

able assets. We also very

strongly advocate for ev-

eryone working for us to be

treated with dignity and re-

garded as a mature man and

woman of honour.Besides,

each person in our team, as

well as each member of the

community around us at all

times must be treated

respectfully.

To achieve this, as it is in-

separably tied to our produc-

tivity, we must also ensure

health of our employees and

the community.

It is in this regard that


Welfare Group aids our

workers and the community

access quality and affordable

Medicare by doing this:

(a) Cancer Screening, Family Planning SupportMFFWG has teamed up

with Magana Flowers Clinic,

Wangig’e Health Centre and

Output

Based Aid

(OBA) to

offer Breast,

Cervical

and Pros-

tate Cancer

screening;

as well as

Family

Planning

support

to our em-

ployees and

community

every year. From 2011-2012,

392 men and women-em-

ployees and community-have

been screened for Prostate,

Breast and Cervical cancer

at a cost of Ksh 108, 400.

Magana Flowers Clinic Nurse: Mrs

Margaret Kahihu, also a Kenya Reg-

istred Community Health Nurse

(KRCHN) giving Magana Flowers em-

ployees and the community a health

talk at Magana Flowers Clinic.

5 cases each for Cervical,

Breast cancer have been

found and refereed to Tigoni

District Hospital and Ke-

nyatta National Hospital.

45 women given free long-

term Family Planning Ser-

vices (IUCDs and Norplant).

(b) Meningitis, Typhoid & Hep B VaccinationsSince 2006 to date (2013),

MFFWG has facilitated vac-

cination of 2163 Magana

Flowers employees, their

spouses and children against

Meningitis, Hepatitis B and

Typhoid.

At the moment this sponsor-

ship is worth Ksh. 2.06 m.

(c) VCT Community OutreachMagana Flowers HIV/AIDS,

Wellness Support Group has

worked with PCEA Kikuyu

Hospital, Population Service

International (PSI) and In-

ternational Finance Corpora-

tion (IFC) to of-

fer VCT services to

Magana Flowers

employees and com-

munity around the

farm’s vicinity.

From 2011-2013, the

welfare organ has

aided the wellness

group with

Ksh 300, 000 to take

VCT support services

to employees and the

community.

Areas already covered in-

clude: Magana Flowers, Magana Town, Shauri Yako, Gitaru Market, Kan-jeru, Kinoo, Uthiru, Bara-niki and Rungiri.��

� � � ��

Magana Flowers Certifi cations

Magana Flowers Kenya Ltd

has offi cial recognitions from

KFC, FPEAK, FLO, MPS,

Sedex, and ETI.

Every now and then these

bodies audit the farm to

ensure quality of our roses,

and that we take care of our

employees, the community

and environment.

Besides we have also been

audited by LEAF and Wait

Rose and are affi liated with

the Commonwealth

Network Kenya.

Throughout these audits

Magana Flowers has been

found as a mainstay of out-

standing farming practices

such as:

1. Use of Integrated Pest Management System: We have a bio

factory where we produce

Phytoseiulus and Ambly-

seius which we use to fi ght

mites in the greenhouses.

This reduces the amount of

pesticides used. Thus our use

of pesticides is good and safe

for the environment.

2. Recycling Drains Water from Hydro-ponics; therefore, in

Magana we conserve water

resources around us.

3. Harvesting Rain Water from all the greenhouses and

every building in the farm. This

reduces our over reliance on

other natural sources of water

e.g. Underground water and

Kikuyu Springs.

4. Organic Waste Composting, hence in

Magana Flower Farm we

manage waste in an environ-

mental friendly way. This

way we reduce environmen-

tal pollution.

5. Vermitea-Composition Project: This helps us

in Magana Flower Farm to

utilizing fl ower refuse. This

waste is used to produce

worm juice (vermitea). This

juice is used as fertilizer, it

is organic, thus helps us to

minimize on the amount of

inorganic fertilizers used in

the farm.

The remains that are left af-

ter vermitea is extracted are

used as manure, and now we

are putting mechanisms in

place to make bio-fertilizer

from them.

6. Corporate Social Responsibility: Through our welfare organ,


Welfare Group, Magana

Farm has a strong sense of

corporate social responsi-

bility-CSR. Via this welfare

organ, Magana Flowers

takes respectable care of its

employees, the community,

customers and the environment.

Our adhering to the use of excellent farming

practices made us in 2011 to be awarded by

Omnifl ora in Germany through their

chemical watchdog agency, Coopenic, the best

fl ower farm in Kenya that has the lowest

levels of chemical residue traces in its roses.

MaganaFlowers FairtradeWe are associated with

Fairtrade. We like it. Our

workers like it too. This affi l-

iation has proven to be use-

ful to our employees and the

community. This is because

fl owers sold under Fairtrade

auspices fetch an extra earn-

ing what in Fairtrade mar-

kets is called premiums.


Welfare Group earns premi-

ums through Magana

Flowers. The premiums are

managed by Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Joint Board Com-

mittee, which does projects

that improve livelihoods of

our employees, the commu-

nity as well as taking care of

the environment.

A study entitled “Multi-

Dimensional Impacts of a

Rural Industrial Park: The

Case of Magana Town, Ki-

ambu County”, conceived by

Dr. Magana Njoroge Mungai,

and done by Kenyatta Uni-

versity says that Fairtrade

compliance by Magana

Flowers has led to workers

empowerment.

� � � ��

� ¡ ¢£ ¤ ¥ ¦ § © ª «

Working Environment Within Magana Flowers Farm

In Magana Flowers Clinic,

we offer Protective,

Promotional and

Curative services.

Medicare: We do Commu-

nity Outreach VCTs; Malaria

Awareness and other

diseases campaigns; Vacci-

nations; Immunizations for

Children below 5 years-every

Tuesday; Breast, Cervical

and Prostate Cancer Screen-

ing; Family Planning Sup-

port and Eye and Dental

Clinics among others.

All our workers get their

medical treatment for free. If

they have to be hospitalized,

we send them to a govern-

ment hospital.

We pay some money for the

hospitalization. Generally,

all other Medicare is given

free.

Social Hall: We have a

social hall where people can

relax and watch games. Foot-

ball watching is particularly

very very popular. Further,

this hall has a playground,

where our volleyball and

football teams practice.

Provision of clean water:

Our employees who live in

the farm and within, get

clean, safe and usable water

from boreholes collection

points within our farm.

All our employees are

members of NHIF and

NSSF.

We have employed about 350

people in the farm. Before

anybody is employed here

at Magana we give them

medical examination.

After the fi rst medical test at

employment, later on every

quarter of each year; we do

cholinesterase for those

employees who handle

chemicals.

Protective gear: We give

protective clothing to the

workers who work in our

farm, particularly those who

handle chemicals.

These protective clothing

includes overalls, dust

coats, gloves and masks;

and boots for all employees.

More to the point, we have

showers so that after work

our employees can wash. At

the same time, we also have

Vaseline lotion for them to

use.

This is mostly meant for

people who work in green-

houses, and also those that

use chemicals in the farm.

Magana Clinic: We have a

clinic for our employees. This

clinic serves the community,

as well as employees of

various industries in the

Magana Industrial Park.

Magana Flowers Mission Statement

We are committed to effi ciently and consistently providing

our customers with the highest quality fl owers. We are alert

and sensitive to their changing needs, changing times and

tastes.

To accomplish this we are committeed to caring for our most

important assets: our employees, their families, health and

welfare in general.

Our values of Quality, Commitment and Communication

will without doubt allow us to accomplish our mission.

Magana Flowers sprayers’ team in full protective

gear that they use when spraying.

(c) Loans to EmployeesMagana Flowers Fairtrade

Welfare Group (MFFWG)

lends money to employees

to improve their homes, pay

school fees for their children

or pursue post-secondary

education, and start or im-

prove their small-and-medi-

um-size enterprises.

From 2010-2013, 277 Maga-

na Flowers employees have

been given loans worth

Ksh 7.34 m to pursue the

above objectives.

(d) Loans to Magana Sacco Society

Additionally to giving loans

directly to employees, MFF-

WG is working with Magana

Sacco Society to offer stress

free interest rates fi nancial

credit services to employees

to alleviate their livelihoods.

In 2010, Magana Sacco Soci-

ety received Ksh 600, 000 to

increase its lending capacity

to employees who are mem-

bers of the society.

Cooking gas cylinder

for distribution to

employees.

Magana Football team in sports gear donated by

MFFWG (2010).

Employees’ Livelihood

S u p p o r t

(e) Hire Purchase

This project allows employ-

ees to pay for certain house-

hold items in parts at a time.

Through this hire purchase

scheme Magana Flowers

employees are able to ac-

quire household commodities

without fi nancial stress.

142 employees since 2010-

2012 have obtained iron

sheets, water tanks, top-

burners and cooking gas

cylinders, and modern

charcoal jikos worth

Ksh 1.626 m.

(f) 357 Sewing Ma-chines, 110 Bicycles, 467 Mattresses worth Ksh 5.031m in 2006 donated to em-ployees.

This donation trailed after

87 employees were spon-

sored for tailoring and knit-

ting courses in 2005.

(g) Sports Sponsorship

Magana football and Vol-

leyball teams are assisted by


Welfare Group with sports

equipment. From 2010-2012,

these two teams have been

given sports gear worth

Ksh 464, 380.

This helps the teams to

nurture talents, and also en-

able the youth to spend their

leisure time and energy in a

more productive manner.

In addition, this fosters good

relationship between the

company and the commu-

nity, since these teams com-

pete with other local teams.

Magana Flowers HIV/AIDS

Wellness Support Group

uses tournaments Magana

Flowers Volleyball and Foot-

ball teams are involved in to

educate people on the impor-

tance of getting tested for

HIV/AIDS, living positively

and on other diseases.

The 357 sewing

machines that were given to

employees in 2006.

¬ ® ¯ ° ® ± ² ³ ´µ ¶ · ¹ ² º »� ¡ ¢£ ¤ ¥ ¦ § © ª ¼ ½

Magana FlowersF a i r t r a d e

Employees’ Livelihood

Alleviation and Welfare

Magana Flowers Trade Welfare Group Unga Mill.

It’s important to note heretofore, the welfare organ

was known as Magana Flowers Max Havelaar

Welfare Group (MFMWG), the organ now has

changed its name to Magana Flowers Fairtrade.

Objects:


Welfare Group functions

as a welfare organ between

Magana employees, the com-

pany itself, community and

foreign investors.

This ensures that premiums

earned from Fairtrade pric-

ing are utilized in projects

that not only improve em-

ployees’ livelihood, but also

the living of the community

and taking care of the envi-

ronment.

In pursuance to the above

objects Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Joint Board has

implemented the following

social and economic

programmes.

All these projects are done

for free. No charges to

workers or the

community.

Implemented Projects

(a) Employee Land Acquisition

The welfare group obtains

land on behalf of employees

and they meet the cost at

very friendly end-month-

payroll deductions.

In fulfi llment of this,


in 2010 bought a 10 acre

piece of land in Mai Mahiu

at a cost of Ksh 3.38m.

To date, this piece of land

has been fully subdivided to

41 employees into ¼ and 1/8

pieces.

(b) Magana Flowers Fairtrade Unga Mill and Cereals Store

In Muthiga village, near

Magana Flowers, Magana

Flowers Fairtrade bought a

¼ acre piece of land. Begin-

ning 2011 construction of an

Unga Mill started.

In November 2012, after the

welfare group fi nalized ev-

erything in this mill at a cost

of about Ksh 10m, the mill

was opened.


Unga mill serves the com-

munity and Magana Flowers

employees by selling maize

fl our and cereals to them at

subsidized prices.


also get fl our on credit, and

then the money is deducted

from thier payslips at the

end of the month.

This facility allows each

employee to take a minimum

of 5 Kgs and a maximum of

10 Kgs of maize fl our every

month, thus assuring

employees food security.¾¿ À Á ÂÃ ÄÅ Æ Ç È É

Ê Ë Ì ÍÎ Ï Ð Ñ ÒÓ Ô Õ Ö Ö Ê Ë Ì ÍÎ Ï Ð Ñ ÒÓ Ô Õ ×MFFWG, Supportable Growth

of Employees, Community

Magana Flowers Fairtrade Welfare Group (MFFWG) has

done a lot in implementing Fairtrade International mandate

in Magana Flowers. This implementation has affected the

employees, the company itself and the community.

This work involves Economic, Social Development which

subsists with environmental maintenance, protection and

improvement. It is geared towards fostering and supporting

sustainable development: in Magana Farm, of its Employees’

and the Community.

In this interview, Mrs. Catherine Wanjiku; the Project

Administrator Magana Flowers Fairtrade talks to David

Kimani about MFFWG work.

1. What is Magana

Flowers Fairtrade Wel-

fare Group (MFFWG)?

A society that has an objec-

tive of improving socio-eco

nomic wellness of Magana

Flowers employees and com-

munity, at the same time

ensuring environmental care.

2. How is the society

organized?

We have Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Welfare Group

(MFFWG) because Magana

Flowers is Fairtrade Interna-

tional (FLO) certifi ed. This

society is also registered by

the Ministry of Sports, Cul-

ture and Arts.

FLO mission in Magana

Flowers is effected by the

Management and MFFWG.

The mandate of catering for

employees, community wel-

fare, as well as green care is bestowed on Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Welfare Group Joint

Board Committee.

ØÙ Ú Û ÜÝ Þß à á â

Refectory: Magana Flowers

is in the process of entering

into a contract with an entre-

preneur to establish a cafete-

ria in our social hall.

The company is providing

the canteen premises (with a

semi-permanent kitchen),

Magana Flowers

Fairtrade Welfare

Group Shop: Also in

the social hall, Magana

Fairtrade is setting-up a

shop.

This shop will be selling

household items to the

employees and community.

Employees will have a

credit facility where they

will be allowed to take

items up to a set restricted

amount in a month.

Then the credit will be

deducted from their pay

slips.

tables, chairs, clean water

and electricity (for lighting

only) to the businessperson

free of charge.

In turn the entrepreneur will

sell quality food to our em-

ployees and the community

at subsidized prices.

Working Environment Within Magana Flowers Farm

The semi-permanent kitchens

being provided free of charge to

a businessperson who will set-up

a cafeteria at Magana Flowers

Social Hall.

The premise in Magana

Flowers Social Hall, where

MFFWG wants to start a shop.

Mrs. Catherine Wanjiku

Magana Flowers Employees’ Empowerment, Sustainable Development

“Employees are empow-

ered to make decisions

that directly impact on the

sustainability of their ac-

tivities; according to their

needs”.

ãä å æ ç å è é ê ëì ä í îï ð é ñ

This board is made up of

elected members among

the employees and by the

employees themselves; addi-

tionally, some management

representatives. It is through

this body that various devel-

opment projects are done.

Employees have a veto power

in decision making concern-

ing these projects. Therefore,

employees are empowered

to make decisions that have

a direct impact on the sus-

tainability of their activi-

ties; decide where to allocate

resources according to their

needs; and address sustain-

ability issues that are press-

ing to them from education

to health care. This way this

society is able to ensure that

our employees’ are being re-

spected and benefi ting from

their work.

3. Previously, MFFWG

was known as Magana

Flowers Max Havelaar

Welfare Group (MFMWG),

why change of the name?

To capture more customers.

The word Max Havelaar in

the previous name was kind

of limiting as most fl ower

customers in Europe and

other markets are on

Fairtrade.

4. How do you implement

Fairtrade International

(FLO) mandate in MFKL?

By ensuring that the FLO

Production Standard is fol-

lowed and implemented to

the latter. Areas captured in

the standard are welfare of

employees, and community

and green care.

5. Please tell what the

meaning of premiums is?

Flowers labeled Fairtrade

fetch an extra income, above

the normal market prices.

This added earning is what

is called premiums. We use

the funds to invest in long-

term social development

projects that benefi t our

employees, their families and

the community.

6. So far, which proj-

ects has MFFW

undertaken?Dental and

Eye Clinics, Vaccinations

against Typhoid, Meningitis,

and Hep B; Malaria Aware-

ness Campaigns for our

employees.

The community, our em-

ployees enjoy screenings of

Breast, Cervical, Prostate

Cancer, Family Planning

Support and VCT’s.We also support education by

sponsoring our employees, their

spouses and children for Post

and Secondary Education.

Besides, we support public pri-

mary schools in our community

with building of classrooms,

repairing of classrooms, desk

and sanitary towel donations.

More, we equip our employ-

ees with skilled trainings,

such as Computer, Driving,

Hair Dressing and Beauty,

Tailoring and Dress Making,

and Capacity Building.

Further, we support Liveli-

hood, Welfare and Poverty

Alleviation Schemes of our

employees and the commu-

nity.

7. Kindly tell how MFF-

WG gets its money, and

annually how much does

the welfare organ get?

Through premiums, at the

moment we get about

Ksh. 3.5m per year.

8. Since its inception in

2004, how much has MFF-

WG spent on projects to

date?

By last year the fi gure was

more than Ksh. 46 m.

9. In what ways has the

MFFWG fostered develop-

ment in the community?

Every of our project one way

or the other fosters commu-

nity development.

Education is vital for a com-

munity’s progress. An edu-

cated society is a developed

society. We support educa-

tion of our employees, their

families and public primary

schools with this insight.

òó ô õ ö÷ øù ú û ü

ý þ ÿ ��

Magana Vermitea-Composting Plant

ý þ ÿ �� 3. Compost-Tea

collection.

8. Transportation of vermitea to

fertigation points. In the near

future we are going to pump

vermitea to the fertigation

system directly.

1. Shredding of fl ow-

er refuse from grad-

ing hall and green-

houses.

2. Composting.

In this plant we produce

our own organic

fertilizer (Vermitea)

using fl ower refuse from

the grading hall and

greenhouses. We make

1500 litres per day. Daily

we use 900 litres of this

biological fertilizer.

This is 40% of the whole

amount of the fertilizer

that we use. This has

aided us here at Magana

to use our waste in a way

that saves the

environment from

pollution, besides

lowering the cost of

fertilizers.

6. Trapping of

Vermitea in pipes.

7. Collection of

vermitea in 2

underground tanks.

5. Feeding the Compost-tea

to troughs fi lled with the

composted fl ower refuse and

worms for production of

vermitea.

4. Overhead tank-

collection of Com-

post-Tea.

A tap like this

is fi tted to

every trough

from the over-

head tank for

Compost-tea

feeding.

Worms inside a trough.

� � ��

Selling Magana High-Quality,Exquisite RosesMagana Flowers grows 46

varieties of high quality

roses. These exquisite fl ow-

ers are grown taking respect-

able care of our employees,

the community and envi-

ronment. These three must

coexist with each other for

sustainable development.

In trying always to satisfy

our customers by constantly

taking care of their changing

times and tastes, we have

trial greenhouses.

In these hothouses we try

new varieties. These are

then sent to our existing as

well as potential customers

for pilot marketing. We es-

tablish and start growing va-

rieties recommended by the

customers as most attractive

to the market. This method-

ology, among other market-

ing practices has made our

varieties increase from 26 to

46 in a span of less than 2

years.

Magana Flowers, Icebreaker variety dis-

played during the June 5-7th, 2013: Inter-

national Flower Trade Expo (I.F.T.EX) at

Oshwal Centre, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya.

Magana Flowers:

A One. In the last Years

Expo, this variety together

with Icebreaker won

Silver Medal, placing

Magana Flowers as the 3rd

best rose fl owers grower.

We give our customers what

they want. In serving our

customers we ensure that

they receive quality prod-

ucts and services. Ours is

customer centricity, where

customers’ dynamic tastes,

preferences and changing

times are met with the high-

est quality fl owers.

Quality, we cannot achieve

without looking at the well-

ness of our employees.

We take care of our em-

ployees’ welfare; cultivate a

culture of quality manage-

ment principles where our

employees feel valued and

important part of a team.

This way, our employees are

motivated and dedicated,

such that when we communi-

cate our mission to them we

get quality results.

We are honest at our work, our

thoughts and plans are trans-

formed into tangible things

and achievements that we are

proud of. Thus, there is conti-

nuity between our thoughts and

action.

Our commitment to quality has

given us FLO, MPS, ETI, KFC,

FPEAK, Sedex and Global

GAPP certifi cations.

We market our fl owers through

exhibitions (in various locales,

and have won awards for best

grower in these international

fl ower exhibitions), website,

email marketing (to targeted

customers) and testimonies of

our customers.

Selling is done 100% through

direct marketing and fi xed

contract pricing.Our markets

are in UK, France, Germany,

Netherlands, Italy, Bulgaria,

Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Ja-

pan, Korea, Middle East, USA,

Egypt and South Africa.

Germany, Russia and Australia

are our largest markets, taking

about 70% share of our

production.

Our marketing

strategy is pegged

on the principles of

Quality, Commit-

ment and Commu-

nication.

We deliver to our

customers

their orders

as specifi ed

by them.

Magana Flowers Employees’ Empowerment, Sustainable Development

Also, we give our employees

protective clothing based on

the nature of their work.

Besides, we support FLO

among other certifi cations

bodies stipulated safety mea-

sures and see to it that they

are strictly implemented.

Our employees are informed

about their rights, we instill

in them values to respect

other people, as much as

they themselves would want

to be respected.

We take our employees for

various courses and training

to keep them abreast with

the industry. We have even

given them Kaizen training

to keep on improving their

ways of doing things in more

effective, organized ways.

Further, our values as con-

ceived and consistently com-

municated by our Chairman,

CEO: Dr. Magana Njoroge

Mungai try to improve char-

acters of our employees, thus

creating a good working envi-

ronment.

11. How do you socially

and economically empow-

er employees of Magana

Flowers?Socially, we endavour to ensure

our workers are healthy and

empowered with education and

other social skills to integrate

well with the community, and

promote progress.

Our trainings such as capacity building, we trust have been dif-fused to the community by our employees joining chamas. This welfare groups are concerned with safeguarding the welfare of the people through business trainings, savings and borrowing to fi nance

businesses.

Apart from the above, we

facilitate skilled trainings,

health and poverty alleviat-

ing projects for our commu-

nity and employees.

60% of our community gets

water for domestic, agricul-

tural and commercial use

from piped sources (Mu-

genda, et el, 2008). Without

access to water vital activi-

ties are hampered. Also tied

to water access is the ability

to get clean, safe drinkable

water. According to WHO: 1

person in 6 has no access to

safe water. Thus people are

prone to many water borne

diseases. Treatment of these

diseases consumes resources

that could be channeled to

development programmes.

Besides, exhausting and

weakening manpower.

To surmount such challenge

in our community, MFFWG

has fi nanced supply of clean,

safe drinking and usable

piped water to residents of

Shauri Yako.

10. How has MFFWG

improved working condi-

tions of Magana Flowers

employees? Safety of our

employees at their work sta-

tions is key priority in our

operations here at Magana

Flowers.

Our company has an Occupa-

tion and Safety Policy which

it adheres to. Our employees

are also educated and trained

on safety issues. We use IPM

and Vermitea (an organic fertil-

izer), thus reducing the amount

of chemical exposure in our

farm.

Economically, we have given

and continue to give our

employees asset boosts, offer

them interest rate friendly

loans to pursue further

education, pay fees for their

children, start or improve

their small scale businesses

among other uses.

Since our employees live in

the community within our

vicinity, they spend their

money within our commu-

nity, thus contributing to

growth of businesses, cur-

rency velocity in Magana

Town. And, this has led to

increased welfare for the

people.

12. What do the workers

and the communities say

about this?

They appreciate our work

so much, and most of them

want to be associated with

us, and have forwarded

many proposals to us. We

hope and aspire to do more

for our people.

13. In your view are these developments sustainable?

Our employees and the

community through our various

projects have been given the

knowledge to pursue economic and social goals, at the same

time protecting the environ-

ment, I also trust that they

excercise maintainable

consumption.

�� ! "# � $ %& ' (� � �� )

“Since its inception in

2004, MFFWG has spent

over 46m alleviating

livelihoods of employ-

ees and community, as

well as taking care of

the environment”.

* + , -. / 0 1 23 4 5 6 7

Magana also makes its own

organic fertilizer (Vermitea)

from fl ower refuse to supple-

ment inorganic fertilizers.

On a daily basis the farm

uses 40% of Vermitea.

However, in some instances

poor waste management was

observed.

There lacked adequate sepa-

ration of wastes generated

by some industries. Proper

waste separation, discrimi-

nate dumping and burn-

ing, the study recommends

should be encouraged.

89 :; < : = > ? @ AB C : D B <D < : E ; FG H IFrom the study, the notion of

Corporate Social Responsi-

bility (CSR) is either misun-

derstood or treated at arm’s

length all together.

Only Magana Flowers had

an elaborate CSR policy.

All other companies had an

ambiguous cognizance of

CSR, with scanty evidence of

charitable activities.

The study roots for compa-

nies to adopt CSR, as there

is evidence that it empowers

employees and business are

able to make profi ts at the

same time contributing to

the well-being of the com-

munities, thus fostering and

promoting sustainable

development.

State-of-the-art, massive greenhouses in Magana

Flowers, fi tted with pipes to collect rainwater.

Magana Flowers

Clinic’s incinerator.

* + , -. / 0 1 23 4 5 6 JMagana

Flowers, A-

One premium

roses.

KL M NO P L Q RL ST U V Q W T X SY

The study established mini-

mal environmental effects

of the industrial practices in

the area under study.

66% of the respondents af-

fi rmed that despite of the

parks operations aspects

such as air, water and soil

quality; trees and vegetation

cover; environmental cleanli-

ness; solid waste; water use,

sharing and drainage; public

health and sanitation; oc-

cupation health and safety;

livestock and crops; and

visual landscape have not

changed.

Only 12% thought that the

above environmental aspects

have been negatively af-

fected.

Good environmental prac-

tices were registered in the

Magana Industrial Park-

MIP. It was noted that com-

panies in the park adhered

to statutory environmental

audit of NEMA.

To some degree, compliance

with environmental acts

such as EMCA- Environ-

mental Management and

Co-ordination Act (1999),

OSHA-Occupational Safe-

ty and Health Act (2007)

and Health Act was noted.

Magana Flowers was found

to have an established en-

vironmental policy which it

adheres to.

Magana Industrial

Park has minimal

negative effects in

the area targeted by

the study.

Magana Flowers and Solo

Plants Kenya Ltd use hydro-

phonics as the medium for

growing their plants. Thus,

they are able to recycle

irrigation water and any

other substance fed to the

plants saving water and en-

vironment from pollution.

Magana Flowers also uses

Integrated Pest Manage-

ment (IPM) System. The

farm has established a bio

factory where it produces

Phytoseiulus and Ambly-

seius which are used to fi ght

mites in greenhouses instead

of using chemical sprays.

1. An aerial over

view of some

greenhouses in

Magana Flowers

Farm.

2. Left: Pumice-a

hydroponic medium

on which we grow

our roses.

3. Right: A biofac-

tory under French

Beans for making

Phytoseiulus and

Amblyseius.

4. A donkey taking

rose fl owers to the

grading hall.

Z

[ \ ] _ a b cd e f g h

Rural Industrial Parks:A Must Adopt Innovation for the 47 Counties

Rural industrial parks have a great

capacity to improve livelihoods of the

rural-folks, at the same time

urbanize rural areas.

Dr. Magana Njoroge Mungai receiving the research

report on benefi ts of Rural Industrial Parks from

Prof Olive M. Mugenda.

Embu and Nakuru counties

have shown their willingness

to establish industrial parks

to foster development at their

grassroots. Embu County has

found a land next to Embu ASK

grounds, but Nakuru people

want to have their park in

Naivasha because it is nearer

to Nairobi.

The insight of having industrial

parks is very vital for county

development, but Nakuru try-

ing to retain close ties with Nai-

robi will not serve the people

better as opposed to a scenario

where the park could have been

established deep into the heart

of Nakuru County.

A study “Multi-Dimensional

Impacts of a Rural Industrial

Park: The Case of Magana

Town Kiambu County”, affi rms

that rural industrial parks have

a great capacity to improve

livelihoods of the rural-folks, at

the same time urbanize rural

areas. This is because just like

the county governments, rural

industrial parks are too close to

the people at the grassroots.

[ \ ] _ a b cd e f g g

Industrial Parks: The Main Drivers of Rural Economies

Establishment of industrial

parks empower people by

increasing their incomes

through creating jobs and

fostering business growth;

they also lead to urbaniza-

tion, thus provision of social

amenities to communities,

among other increased wel-

fare that communities can

draw from the parks. All

these have a common conver-

gence on improving quality

of life.

The need to s do this study

was initiated by the CEOs of

Magana Holdings Ltd (MHL)

and Kenyatta University

(KU): Dr. Magana Njoroge

Mungai, and Prof. Olive M.

Mugenda in that order. KU

provided the capacity and

funds to do this research

through the grant of the Of-

fi ce of the Vice-Chancellor,

while MHL took care of all

the logistics.

92% of the respondents

noted that Magana

Town had grown as a

result of Magana

Industrial Park (MIP).

Yatin Nagda,

Director Crystal

Industries Ltd

during the release of the

research report at Kenyatta

University.

ij kl m no l p nq mrst ut vq w xt m p

The study encourages

counties to adopt and

replicate industrial park

model of the Magana

Industrial Park (MIP) for

socio-economic growth in

the countryside areas that

subsists with environmental

care.

Dr. Lucy Maina, Research Coordinator of the study

presenting the research fi ndings.

This report coincides with

the UN-HABITAT call for

creation of more towns to

foster development. One way

to urbanize as demonstrated

by this report is by creating

industrial parks in the rural

areas.

92% of the respondents noted

Magana Town had grown as

a result of Magana Indus-

trial Park (MIP).

They observed that public

transport between the MIP

and Nairobi CBD has been

hastened and enabled more

by the establishment of

matatu terminus route 30 in

Magana Town. Previously,

people had to use the termi-

nuses at Kinoo or Gitaru.

Availability of social ameni-

ties: a Medical Clinic, Equity

Bank, Provincial Adminis-

tration Offi ces, among others

was cited as evidence that

Magana Town had grown

and was growing from the

activities of the MIP.

This trend has changed the

economic activities of the

populace in the locale under

study. Land is no longer used

intensively for agriculture,

but for housing development

to provide shelter to the in-

creasing number of employ-

ees who have migrated from

y z { |} ~ � � ��

95% of the respondents

reported at least to

have a primary or

higher

education.

to the residents and com-

munity; thus, the conclusion

that industrial parks have

a great potential to improve

quality of lives.

51% of the survey respon-

dents agree that Magana

Industrial Park-MIP-has

improved lives of the commu-

nity within the park.

There is tangible proof of im-

proved access to health care

and safe, clean drinkable

and usable water.

Security within MIP has

been enhanced by establish-

ment of an AP station.

Respondents also said that

the MIP has impacted on

education access, electricity

supply, food security, health

and roads in the locale.

Rating on the effects on road

network was low. On a scale

of 1-10, out of 902 subjects,

impact of Magana Industrial

Some of the research team members who worked on the

study on the impacts of rural industrial parks in Kenya

through Magana Industrial Park and their roles. From

left: Dr. Samuel M. Mwangi (Researcher); Prof. Olive M.

Mugenda (Research Advisor); Dr. Magana Njoroge Mungai

(Conceiver); Dr. Lucy W. Maina (Research Coordinator); and

Alan I.C. Kirui (Researcher).

Park on roads scored a mean

of 2.59, the lowest score. It

was followed by health with

a score of 3.14. �q � nl v � x w l � p�95% of the respondents

reported at least to have a

primary or higher education.

Only 3.5% had no education.

The number of educated men

was slightly higher than that

of women; also more men

had attained higher educa-

tion than women.

It is evident that education

levels of people in the Maga-

na Industrial Park (MIP)

are higher than the national

literacy levels, which are at

87%.

63% of the population is in

employment. 25% employed,

38% self-employed. However,

a sizable number, 36.81% of

the subjects are unemployed.

40% of employees in MIP

have migrated from other

counties to work in the

park. This was shown

to foster national unity

through multiculturalism,

tolerance and social cohe-

sion.

The respondents also re-

ported to have become more

appreciative and tolerant

with people from differ-

ent ethnics. 71% of the

respondents reported that

cultural diversity has re-

duced confl ict among com-

munity members. Even at

the height of PEV of 2007

that killed and displaced

Kenyans, Magana Town

with its rainbow of cultures

remained peaceful.

Ways in which people in-

teract have changed, 63 %

affi rmed. Though people had

little time for interactions,

they still cared for one an-

other, they said.

However, some antisocial

behaviours like excessive

drinking and drug abuse were

reported in the neighbourhoods

of the Magana Industrial Park,

as well as rising rate of crimes.

In general, the well-being of

Magana Town residents, and

that of adjacent communities

has improved.

Nonetheless, a complete under-

standing of the social impact of

the rural industry model was

not achieved based on the peri-

urban nature of the Magana

Industrial Park.

y z { |} ~ � � ��

For instance, at the college

level there is near gender

parity (79% male, and 77%

females having attained

college education). But the

disparity in access to tertiary

education is huge.

72.7% of males having ob-

tained this level, compared

to 27.3% females. However,

statistically, this study did

not show signifi cant relation-

ship between gender and

education.

As indicated earlier, incomes

of people have increased.

However, some earn fairly

low indicating slightly high

levels of poverty, but a fairly

good number of respondents

agreed that their welfare and

that of the other community

members had increased as a

result of the park.

75% were aware of the more

options they had of making

a living in the Magana In-

dustrial Park (MIP). Micro,

small and medium enter-

prises were reported to be

steadily growing. 89% of the

respondents corroborated

this view.

This is an indicator that

there is a direct causal re-

lationship between the in-

dustrial park and business

growth in Magana Town.

Nonetheless, 61% of the

respondents said their busi-

nesses did not come into ex-

istence because of the park.

Of the 39% of the business-

persons who agreed that their

enterprises were conceived as a

result of the MIP; 12% of them

affi rmed that their commer-

cial activities were conceived

because of the presence of the

industrial park.

The remaining 88% on other

reasons, but pegged on the

park’s presence.

Growth of businesses had

made people access goods

and services not available

to them before at subsidized

prices, this insight was

shared by 70% of the

subjects.

Housing sec-

tor in Magana

Town is boom-

ing. Many hous-

es of different

kinds have been constructed

to cater for employees. This

can be said to have cut the

possible agricultural-man-

ufacturing sector linkage in

the park. Nonetheless, this

could change in the near fu-

ture. This claim is based on

the assumption that a food

processing industry that was

established a few months af-

ter this study was concluded

is bound to provide the link.

Chamas (community groups)

mostly concerned with safe-

guarding the welfare of the

people have grown. 25% of

the research subjects re-

ported to be members of such

business grouping.

Fairtrade compliance by

Magana Flowers has empow-

ered employees, the commu-

nity socio-economically.

It is interesting to note that

56% of these chamas are for

women, and are engaged in

business trainings, savings

and borrowing to fi nance

business ventures. The study

notes most of these commu-

nity groupings need formal

registration and improve on

their leadership to be able

to get

assis-

tance

from fi -

nancial

institu-

tions.

Also, Fairtrade compliance

by Magana Flowers was

noted to have led to socio-

economic growth of employ-

ees and the community. �� In the context of this study,

quality of life is the aggre-

gate contributors of socio-

economic wellness, as well as

environmental maintenance,

improvement and protection.

Respondents strongly believe

that Magana Industrial Park

has real economic, social;

and environmental impacts

Dr. Mungai’s team following the presentation of the

research report.

� � � ¡ ¢ £ ¤ ¥¦ § © ª

Industrial Parks: The Main Drivers of Rural Economies

The entire team that participated in the releasing of the research fi ndings on the

importances of Rural Industrial Parks at Kenyatta University on 12th April, 2013.

At the Centre is Prof. Olive M. Mugenda; KU’s Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Magana

Njoroge Mungai; Chairman and CEO, MHL.

other areas in large numbers

to work in Magana Indus-

trial Park. Thus, the locality

is changing from a largely

rural setting, quickly adopt-

ing an urban outlook.« ¬ � � � � � � � � � � �® � � � � ® °±� � � ² � � � ³ � ��An industrial park is defi ned

by the study as a zoned area

designed for the purpose

of industrial development.

This area has a dedicated

infrastructure to support

industrial growth. Thus,

the community in which the

park is established in and

interacts with enjoys growth

of fundamental facilities and

services. Besides, other so-

cial services that comes with

industrialization and urban-

ization.

The study also found that

industrial parks foster

development from within a

community, though induced

indigenously or exogenously.

82% said that their incomes

have increased as a result

of their relationship with

the MIP. This increase in

incomes is due to creation

of business opportunities,

employment and increased

option of earning a living.

Incomes of 82% people

living within the im-

pact zone of the MIP

have increased.

Increased economic activities

in Magana Town have re-

sulted into currency velocity

in the area, thus more wel-

fare for Magana Town and

adjacent villages’ residents.

Thus, Nakuru should re-

think of its industrial park

locale.

The more it will be closer

to the people the better.

Socio-economic benefi ts will

be taken to the people, and

they won’t have to travel far

looking for jobs and other

opportunities to earn a liv-

ing, which if they miss they

miserably end up in slums.

Dr. Mungai

introducing his team

during the launch of the

study’s fi ndings.

� � � ¡ ¢ £ ¤ ¥¦ § ©

µ¶ ·¶ ¹º » ¼ ½¾ » ¹ ½¿À¶ ¼ » ¹ ½¿ Á Â ½Ã Ä ½ ¹ ÂÅ ¸ ÆÇ Á ¹º ½ » ¼ È » º É Á

Devolution and industrial

parks are tied inexorably.

Article 174 of the 2010 Ke-

nya constitution in outlining

the objects of the devolved

system of government under-

scores this relationship.

Devolved government is

supposed to: foster national

unity by recognizing di-

versity; give powers of self-

governance to the people and

enhance the participation of

the people in the exercise of

the powers of the State and

in making decisions affecting

them; recognize the right of

communities to manage their

own affairs and to further

their development; protect

and promote the interests

and rights of minorities and

marginalized communities;

promote social and economic

development and the provi-

sion of proximate, easily

accessible services through-

out Kenya; and facilitate

the decentralization of State

organs, their functions and

services, from the capital of

Kenya.

This is hoped to remedy pre-

vious imbalances of develop-

ment caused by centralized

system of government. By

decentralizing resources to

ensure fair-balanced devel-

opment and fostering public

participation in the initiation

and implementation of de-

velopmental agendas, people

will be empowered to decide

where to allocate resources

according to their needs,

addressing issues that are

more pressing to them.

However, looking at the

budgets passed by many

county governments for the

year-2013/14, there is a lot of

clutter and wastages in the

budgets that must be purged

to make county governments

operations sustainable.ÊÇ ½ Æ¶ Æ Ê º ¿ Ä ¹ Â ¿ Ë Ì¿ Ä Á

Some areas are developed,

while others are called re-

mote, as they have remained

undeveloped for a longtime.

Due to these disparities in

development people in these

underdeveloped areas are

resented and feel as if they

are not part of Kenya.

Even though developed,

many urban areas like Nai-

robi and other major cities

and towns bear the brunt of

the askew development such

as mega slums.

Slums result from poor

planning of urban areas

and overpopulation, mostly

by people with no effective

means of production to earn

a living and afford the least

quality basic needs.

The overcrowding comes up

as people leave rural areas

in droves in such of jobs in

towns. Jobs are hard to fi nd

these days and people fi erce-

ly compete for the little there

is, those who cannot fi nd jobs

end up in slums.

Slums, according to Home-

less International, a UK

charity devoted to support-

ing slum dwellers to improve

their lives and fi nd lasting

solutions to urban poverty,

creates problems such as:

gender inequality; children

denial of quality education;

crimes and juvenile delin-

quencies; hazardous condi

tions in slums lead to spread

of lethal diseases such as

Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid,

diarrhoea, also HIV/AIDS

prevalence in slums like

Kibera is very high; people

lead poor livelihoods as a

result of socio-economic

exclusion; sometimes social

segregation and lack of inte-

gration and cohesion upshots

ethnic violence and when

disasters strike slums are

worst hit.

Think of the Sinai fi re trag-

edy of September, 2011 that

was caused by an explosion

of fl owing spilt petroleum

products from KPC into the

storm water drain leading

to the Mukuru Slums-Sinai

area.

So as much as industrial

parks will be creating towns,

early planning and super-

vised development by the

government, and govern-

ment provision of incentives

and supportive infrastruc-

ture to encourage rural

industrialization, as land

and other factors of produc-

tion are cheaper and read-

ily available in the rural is

called for by the report to

achieve sustainable urban

growth and avoid problems

such as above.È Ç Í ¼ ½ ·Î È º ½Ï » ¹¶È » º ¹ ¶ º Á Â ½ Ã ÁThe government alone can-

not be able to fund all the

counties activities. There-

fore, it is upon the county

governments to initiate ways

to get more funds. One way

to do this; the study’s fi nd-

ings observe is by encourag-

ing Public-Private Partner-

ships (PPPs).

Ð Ñ Ò ÓÔ Õ Ö × ØÙ Ú Û Ü Ý

With a good PPP frame-

work, counties will be

able to meet the de-

mands for quality so-

cial services from their

residents.

Counties must create con-

ducive environments for

investors-local or foreign-to

thrive. Provision of support-

ive policy and legal environ-

ment; placing clearly PPP

initiative within the reform

agenda; establishing a PPP

Secretariat at the treasury

as well as PPP Nodes in

contracting authorities;

adaption and localization of

international successful PPP

models; and preparation of

bankable PPP transaction

are the core of Kenya’s PPP

Frame work, which the 47

counties must adopt.

With this in place counties

will be able to meet demands

for quality and affordable

services such as water and

sewerage, transport (roads,

railroads, airstrips or air-

ports) telecommunications,

electricity and other social

services from their people.

Most signifi cantly, counties

will be able to benefi t from

using effi ciencies of private

sector in running their public

services.

Magana Town has grown out

of a private initiative. The

locale hosts 13 private owned

companies. Magana Flow-

ers Farm, according to the

growth pole theory, one of

the concepts that guided this

study can be said to be the

point at which the growth

of Magana Industrial Park

started. The town has also

key social services.

In it interaction with the lo-

cal people, Magana Industri-

al Park has in one way or the

other, affected lives within

the park and the surround-

ing community.Þ Í ß ¶ · ¹ Á ¿ Ë ¹ Â¶ à ¹Ç ÆáThe overall goal of this study

was to unravel the dynamics

of a changing community due

to the presence of Magana

Industrial Park. This was to

be achieved by establishing

the extent social, economic

and environment changes

have occurred, and which

could be directly or indirectly

linked to the presence of the

park.

Specifi c objectives of the

study were (a) to assess im-

pacts of the industrial park

on socio-economic aspects, (b)

explore growth of businesses

and employment opportuni-

ties in the community, (c)

examine the parks impact

on the biophysical environ-

ment, (d) fi nd out impacts of

the park on the quality of life

and (e) evaluate the extent

CSR practices are adopted by

enterprises in the park.

1002 residents of 10 vil-

lages close to the park

were studied. 100 of

them being the control

group.â¶ ¹ Â¿ Æ¿ ¼¿ ãá

The study employed a quasi-

experiment, explorative and

descriptive research design,

targeting 9 villages (Kinoo,

Muthiga, Kihumo,

Gichecheni, Shauri Yako,

Gaitumbi, Magana Town,

Rungiri, Gitaru) close to the

park.

902 subjects were studied,

and another 100 at Uthiru

used as a control group. Key

Informant Interviews and

Focus Group Discussions

were held with the company

workers, government offi -

cials and other community

stakeholders. Observation

Checklists, NEMA Audits,

as well as studying of 5

companies profi le out of the

11 were also used to obtain

data.

The following fi ndings were

established:ä ·¿ ¿ å ½ · Å åÃ » · ¹ ÁThe study established that

Magana Industrial Park

(MIP) has emerged as the

main source of employment

in the area. The park has

been creating opportunities

for the local people since

inception.

Currently, the MIP employs

about 4000-5000 people. This

workforce the study indicates

is drawn from 37 counties,

Kiambu and other regions of

Central Kenya, contributing

60% of the labour-force.

Women are the main source

of labour in the park. 60% of

the employees are women,

28.2% youths and 11.4%

men. Distribution of house-

hold incomes show that at

the lower levels, females con-

stituted a greater proportion

than males (below Ksh. 10, 000).

As income levels increase,

the trend is reversed. This

perhaps can be attributed to

the differences of the levels

of education between men

and women.

60% of the labour force

in the MIP is women.

Ð Ñ Ò ÓÔ Õ Ö × ØÙ Ú Û Ü æ

magana flowers newsletter

Documents