Arid Lands Information Network has done it again!

EU Head of Delegation to Kenya, Eric van der Linden

A new Maarifa (Knowledge) Centre was launched on May 22 2010 in Merti, Isiolo District, Eastern Province of Kenya. The new centre is fully equipped with five laptops, Internet connectivity via a VSAT, video cameras, editing software’s, IPods, a DVD player and TV set. It also has a resource centre that receives the Baobab and Joto Afrika, two of ALIN’s quarterly publications among others on development

The Head of European Union Delegation to Kenya, Eric van der Linden, officially launched the centre. Mr. Linden pointed out the importance of the community having access to information, skills development and a platform for sharing experiences.

“The community should have access to relevant and current information which they can use to beat drought for a better life.” He noted



Eric van der Linden address the crowd

The Drought Management Initiative (DMI) partnered with Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) based on expertise instarting up and running of other Maarifa Centres in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to establish the information hub.

Located about 240 kilometres from Isiolo town, the nearest area with Internet connectivity, Merti now becomes the ninth Maarifa Centre in Kenya to be implemented by ALIN. The other centres are Isinya, Kyuso, Marigat, Mutomo, Ndhiwa, Ngarua and Nguruman. In Tanzania the Maarifa centres are in Kayanga and Shinyanga while Uganda the centre is in Lukwanga, Wakiso District with additional centres planned in the Gulu region.

Isiolo North, MP and Livestock Minister, Hon. Mohammed Kuti welcomed the new innovation. “Digital villages will revolutionize Merti. The youth should take advantage of this as we join the information super highway.” He noted.

His counterpart, Minister for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands, Hon. Mohammed Elmi was also grateful for the facilities the Maarifa Centre was giving to the community, a service majority of the people living in Northern Kenya lacked. He committed his ministry to expand the same services for banking, medical services and teaching emphasizing that the possibilities are endless with Internet connectivity.

The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Dr. Bitange Ndemo noted ALIN's commitment in establishing such digital villages to remote communities.

“Now the Merti Maarifa Centre can be used as a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) location giving job opportunities to residents of Merti,” Said Ndemo

A community member uses a computer at the centre

He added that the establishment of the centre is also timely as Isiolo is in the process of becoming a resort town. Dr. Ndemo launched the Isinya Maarifa Centre in April 2009. Others present included government representatives form Eastern province, NGOs, research institutions and over 800 community members.

The Merti centre was developed in line with DMIs mandate to support drought management activities of the Arid Lands Resource Management Project II (ALRMP II) and with ALINs policy of connecting communities with knowledge in arid areas.

The Maarifa Centre will empower the pastoral communities with capacity to share knowledge and experiences on disaster preparedness and natural resources management using appropriate Information and Communication Technologies. They will provide e-commerce, e-learning and e-government services in addition to library services.

The idea of the centre originated from the Rangeland Users Association (RUA) in Merti that sort to bridge the information gap in the area. The Merti Integrated Development Programme (MIDP) hosts the Merti Maarifa Centre.