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Author: Claire Wanja

  • Kenya’s Globetrack International shortlisted for AMEC 2023 Awards

    Kenya’s Globetrack International shortlisted for AMEC 2023 Awards

    Kenya’s Media monitoring and analysis solutions provider, Globetrack International has scored two nominations in this year’s International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) awards shortlist roll.

    Globetrack is the only Sub-Saharan Africa media measurement solutions provider shortlisted for the coveted 2023 AMEC Global Communication Effectiveness Awards.

    The firm has been shortlisted in the Best Use of Measurement for a single event or campaign for its Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Kenya’s 2022 General Elections entry.

    GlobeTrack has also been nominated in the Most Impactful Client recommendations category, arising from a measurement study for its Simplifying Insurance entry in conjunction with the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI).

    Speaking when she confirmed the shortlist, Globetrack International Managing Director Esther Kagiri described the double shortlist as a befitting tribute to local media measurement professionals and integrated marketing communications professionals who maintain world-class standards.

    “At Globetrack, we are thrilled that we have been shortlisted among the world’s best media measurement and evaluation firms, which is a testament to the world-class standards we maintain in delivering media and communication intelligence for discerning clients,” Ms Kagiri said.

    She added, “The shortlists are a true honour and tribute to our clients, especially AKI and Kenya Human Rights Commission, alongside our dedicated team of youthful media measurement professionals who utilise our proprietary media monitoring tools to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our clients.”

    The AMEC Awards is a global awards programme for communication measurement excellence. Now in its 21st year, the Awards aims to recognise and celebrate exceptional work and showcase the importance of research, measurement, insights and analytics.

    This year, the winners of the 2023 AMEC Global Communication Effectiveness Awards will be revealed in mid-November during the Ceremony and Dinner at Church House, Westminster, London.

    The International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) organises the AMEC Global Communication Effectiveness Awards.

    AMEC is the world’s largest media intelligence and insights professional body, representing organisations and practitioners who provide media evaluation and communication research, analysis, evaluation and insights.

  • Ship with first consignment of fertiliser docks at Mombasa port

    Ship with first consignment of fertiliser docks at Mombasa port

    The Kenya Tea Development Agency Management Services Limited (KTDA MS) has imported 92,737 metric tonnes of fertiliser for the year 2023/2024 for distribution to smallholder tea farmers.

    The NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertilizer was procured directly from Russia.

    The first ship carrying the fertilizer arrived at the Port of Mombasa on Monday, carrying 47,800 tonnes (956,000 50kgs bags), while the second delivering the balance is expected to dock in November.

    The fertilizer will be bagged at port for onward distribution to farmers via SGR to Nairobi and further to factories. This arrangement allows smooth and efficient delivery to farmers up to the closest tea buying centres. Farmers do not incur extra cost transporting the fertilizer from the factory stores.

    The cost of fertiliser has been negatively impacted by rising cost of natural gas (a key component in the manufacture of NPK chemically compounded fertiliser), unfavourable exchange rates, global supply constraints, high crude oil costs and the cost of shipment among other factors.

    The final cost of a 50kg bag of fertilizer will be determined once clearing and transport cost to respective tea factories across the country as well as marine and overland insurance costs have been factored in.

    Application of fertiliser on tea bushes at the onset of short rains is necessary to ensure consistent high quality and quantity of green leaf essential for premium tea production.

    KTDA procures fertilizer in bulk for more than 650,000 small scale tea farmers, who are the shareholders of its managed factories, through competitive international bidding.

    The fertiliser is then distributed to the farmers through their respective factory companies. This arrangement enables small scale tea farmers to access high quality fertiliser at the most competitive price and in a reliable manner.

    The effectiveness of the procurement and distribution process has attracted other organisations and individuals who are not necessarily within the KTDA network who now prefer to make their orders through KTDA.

    The KTDA fertilizer credit scheme enables farmers to pay in instalments for the fertiliser they have ordered for use on their farm. These payments are made over several months to ease the farmer’s burden on the purchase of fertilizer which is a major input cost in tea farming.

  • ILAM Fahari I-REIT redemption offer closing Friday

    ILAM Fahari I-REIT redemption offer closing Friday

    Listed real estate investment trust, ILAM Fahari Real Estate Investment Trust, redemption offer ends today (Friday) with a preliminary positive subscription outlook.

    Speaking when he confirmed the redemption offer period close, which paves the way for the conversion process, ICEA LION Asset Management (ILAM) Chief Executive Officer Einstein Kihanda confirmed that the trading of the ILAM Fahari I-REIT will be temporarily suspended from trading at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) from close of trading on Friday 6thOctober up to Wednesday 25th October in line with the timetable in the Conversion Offering Memorandum and the Public Notice dated 29thAugust 2023.

    The offer, which opened 30 days ago, had targeted the redemption of up to 36.5 million REIT units currently trading at the NSE from Non-Professional Investors at a redemption offer price of KSH 11per unit. The redemption offer price represents a premium of more than 82% above the trading price as of the announcement date.

    “We are pleased with the market’s positive response to the conversion and redemption offer so far, and we encourage all Non-Professional Investors who are considering redeeming their units to do so or top up to reach the Professional Investor threshold before the offer closes on Friday 6th October at 5:00 pm,” Mr Kihanda said.

    ICEA LION Asset Management (ILAM) is undertaking a strategic move to reposition ILAM Fahari I-REIT for growth as envisioned when it went public in 2015. The move has been informed by a strategic review that ILAM undertook in 2021, which sought to understand the challenges the I-REIT faced and develop strategies to improve the returns and market performance.

    “The redemption offer is pivotal to our ongoing operational restructuring plan to ensure the REIT’s sustainability and improve its ability to generate returns for unit holders. It is also an opportunity for unit holders whose unit value is less than KSH 5 million to exit the REIT at a premium to the current market price,” ILAM FahariI-REIT CEO Raphael Mwito said.

    ILAM received regulatory approval from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to convert its unrestricted ILAM Fahari Income Real Estate Investment Trust into a restricted I-REIT.

    As part of the offer, Non-Professional Investors also have the option to top up to the Kshs 5 million professional investors threshold as prescribed by regulatory provisions or opt to be bundled under a nominee account holding all non-professional investors.

    The REIT Manager has set up the bundled nominee account specifically to cater for Non-Professional Investors who are not able to exit during the transaction period or do not wish to take up the redemption offer, granting them continued participation in the REIT’s growth.

    “The REIT Trustee will review all redemption applications, and the unit holders who have successfully redeemed their units will be paid on 24th October 2023, after reconciliation of the transaction,” Mwito added.

    ILAM Fahari I-REIT’s portfolio includes four real estate properties: Greenspan Mall, Highway House, a three-storey industrial building off Mombasa Road and 67 Gitanga Place.

     

     

     

  • Kenyan startup chosen for Google’s AI accelerator program

    Kenyan startup chosen for Google’s AI accelerator program

    Google has unveiled the first cohort for its ‘Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First’ program.

    The 11 startups, picked from a vast pool of innovative talent, are using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence to address both Africa’s challenges and broader global issues.

    The transformative power of AI in Africa is highlighted by a McKinsey report which suggests that AI could add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.

    The selected startups will undergo a 10-week accelerator journey. Beyond benefiting from Google’s AI expertise and a $350k allocation in Google Cloud Credits, they’ll benefit from mentorship sessions, technical guidance, and networking opportunities to enhance their reach and impact.

    The selected startups are;

    • Avalon Health (South Africa): Empowers patients with streamlined online healthcare access and offers doctors digital tools to enhance care;
    • Chatbots Africa (Ghana): Spearheading SMEs’ transition into the Social Commerce era with AI-driven online storefronts;
    • Dial Afrika Inc (Kenya): Tailoring customer support tools for global businesses, with a focus on African SMBs.
    • Famasi Africa (Nigeria): Building the OS for pharmacies in emerging markets.
    • Fastagger Inc (Kenya): Using AI to amplify sales and loyalty, supporting MSMEs’ growth.
    • Garri Logistics (Ethiopia): Digitalizing freight brokerage and transport services.
    • Izifin (Nigeria): Providing an end-to-end credit infrastructure via API for small businesses.
    • Lengo AI (Senegal): Launching the first Data-Driven OS for the Informal Sector.
    • Logistify AI (Uganda): Minimising inventory losses in industrial facilities.
    • Telliscope (Ethiopia): Offering an AI-enabled business intelligence platform.
    • Vzy (Nigeria): Revolutionising website building with AI-driven tools that craft sites in mere minutes.

    Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa, remarks, “At Google we’ve been working on AI for over a decade, and we’ve shown how useful AI is in our products and for developers externally. AI is not only a powerful enabler, it’s also a major platform shift. That’s why we’re focused on making it easy and scalable for others to innovate with AI. Our chosen startups for the ‘AI First’ program embody this vision, leveraging AI in pioneering ways to address both local and global challenges.  We’re here excited to support and amplify their impact.”

    Since 2017, Google has consistently supported African startups across diverse programs. Collectively, the startups have raised $263 million and created over 2,800 job opportunities.

  • Punitive action will enhance compliance with competition rules

    Punitive action will enhance compliance with competition rules

    Sometime in August, the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) came down heavy on steel manufacturers engaging in anti-competitive behaviour and restrictive trade practices, in what is the toughest action yet against such offences.

    CAK, previously seen more as a barking dog, appears to be sparing nothing to bite businesses that run a foul of competition regulations and guidelines.

    The punishment was as shocking as it was deserved. Nine steel manufacturers being fined Ksh338million cumulatively could not have gone unnoticed in an economy where a good number of businesses thrive on breaching the law, frustrating competition, and dodging authorities.

    That the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) found some nine companies – mainly leading steel manufacturers – guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, including price fixing and output restriction, is testament to the fact that vices are wide spread in various sectors of the economy. That is why this deterrent action on offenders through steep penalties should be sustained across the sectors to ensure maximum compliance.

    Besides, CAK should empower its investigative officers to bring more culprits to book. It is interesting that CAK started investigations into the steel companies’ operations way back in August 2020.

    The findings revealed how their practices led to overly inflated steel product costs. There was collusion between players to manipulate market dynamics, which is against free market principles.

    Steel companies, for instance, collectively limited the import of certain steel components, leading to artificial scarcity and increased prices. Steel is a key construction material globally, used in reinforcing bars, beams and columns, windows, and doors, among others. The anti-competitive behaviours raised the cost of construction, a critical development pillar in our economy.

    These actions fall within the definition of output restriction as outlined in the guidelines.  Genuine players found themselves in an uneven market while consumers paid a high price for commodities, which goes against CAK guidelines.

    These penalties may look steep, but they are imposed by the CAK in line with Section 21of the Competition Act, which addresses restrictive trade practices. Such practices include price fixing, market division, collusive tendering, and output restriction, all of which are prohibited unless exempted by the CAK. Price fixing and output restriction are considered “hardcore restrictions” under the CAK’s Guidelines.

    If the 2021 penalty of Sh66 million on four paint manufacturers for cartel-like practices including price fixing those exposed consumers to high charges was not enough wake up call, the action against steel companies should get businesses thinking twice before tinkering with market dynamics.

    Companies should be keen to observe the law as penalties can be destabilizing. CAK can impose financial penalties of up to 10% of the previous year’s gross annual turnover on implicated undertakings. Additionally, companies penalized by the CAK are required to cease engaging in anti-competitive activities and establish robust competition compliance programs.

    For a company that previously found an easy way through such practices, swinging back to normal operations can be an uphill task that could lead to loss of jobs or even closures.

    While the Act allows the CAK to enter into settlement agreements with violators, businesses are better off complying with laid-down competition and trade rules. To comply with the Act, businesses should regularly conduct legal audits to identify restrictive practices and seek exemptions when entering into new agreements.

    Proactive compliance strategies are the way to go to prevent inadvertently engaging in anti-competitive practices – and paying the high price when caught. Legal advisors are available to provide guidance on compliance strategies and ensure businesses align with the Act.

    For its part, CAK should ensure thorough investigations to avoid its findings being challenged as it cleans the market of rogue operators. This way, consumers will be guaranteed goods and services that are competitively priced and not faced with artificially determined prices.

    Views expressed in this article do not reflect the position of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)

    Njeri Wagacha is a partner in the Competition Law practice at CDH Kenya.

  • Better conversations about ethical storytelling

    Better conversations about ethical storytelling

    We have this African proverb that says, “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will always glorify the hunter.” 

    For decades, some commentary has suggested that narratives have inadvertently perpetuated stereotypes, painting communities as problems to be saved rather than as part of the solution.

    Consisting of six chapters and a series of videos, the Ethical Story Telling Guide brings together different perspectives from the development, humanitarian and philanthropic sectors.

    The guide was co-created with input from over 140 participants – including civil society and those with lived experience.

    Chapters cover making the business case for ethical storytelling, measuring impact, building trust and putting this into practice.

    The toolkit was shaped by organizations such as Africa No Filter, BRAC, CARE and Grantmakers for Girls of Color.

    For more details and to download the guide and videos, please see

  • Nairobi Railway Matatu terminus to be closed on Sunday

    Nairobi Railway Matatu terminus to be closed on Sunday

    Kenya Railway has announced a temporary closure of the Nairobi Railway matatu terminus on Sunday, September 24, in order to carry out a Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) utility survey.

    In a notice Friday, Kenya Railways Managing Director announced that the closure is an integral part of the design and planning process for the New Nairobi Central Railway Station, which is a key component of the Nairobi Railway City Project.

    The terminus will be temporarily closed from 0600hrs to 1800hrs.

    Motorists have been advised to utilize alternative pick-up and drop-off points during this period.

    Matatus serving Ngong Road and Valley Road routes have been directed to pick up and drop off passengers at Green Park.

    Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) operating along Lang’ata Road and Mombasa Road will conduct passenger pickups and drop-offs at Agip Bus Bay, located opposite Posta City Square, as well as on the street between Neno Evangelism Church and Shell Petrol Station, situated off Haile Selassie Avenue.

    The proposed Nairobi Railway City  which was initiated during Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, will be situated within 425 acres between Haile Sellasie Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Landhies Road and Bunyala Road and seeks to expand and decongest the Central Business District.

  • Proposed e-cigarette ban threatens to reignite smoking crisis-CASA

    Proposed e-cigarette ban threatens to reignite smoking crisis-CASA

    The motion put forward by Senators to ban or highly regulate e-cigarettes could undo years of progress in smoking cessation says Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA),  warning that such legislation would not only send former smokers back to their old habits but also deny current smokers a proven way to quit.

    According to CASA, leading international scientists have repeatedly found e-cigarettes to be the most effective tool for helping smokers quit. Last week, a major new analysis by Cochrane of over 150,000 smokers found that people who used e-cigarettes were up to three times as likely to quit than those who didn’t use a smoking cessation tool.

    “E-cigarette bans are not just misguided; they are deadly. E-cigarettes provide smokers with a way out of tobacco smoking – cutting off this lifeline will have dangerous repercussions for public health” said Joseph Magero, Chairman of the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA).

    “The death toll in Kenya from smoking stands at 8,000 lives per year. We need to be doing everything in our power to support smokers to quit, not blocking their path with misguided bans. That includes ensuring access to proven quit-aids like e-cigarettes,” he added.

    CASA also expressed concern about the conflation of e-cigarettes with tobacco products, highlighting that e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and therefore don’t expose people to at least 15 types of cancer caused by smoking.

    “This proposal doesn’t just lack nuance; it is downright dangerous in its misunderstanding of vaping. E-cigarettes contain zero tobacco and help smokers to quit cigarettes. Treating them the same as tobacco products makes no sense and will put smokers’ lives at risk.

    They noted that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nicotine itself does not cause cancer, nor is it responsible for cardiovascular disease and many of the respiratory conditions caused by burning tobacco.

    Magero also highlights another alarming potential outcome—a surge in the black market; “Banning e-cigarettes outright will simply drive people to unregulated and potentially dangerous alternatives. History shows that prohibition does not work. ”

    “An outright ban of e-cigarettes would make Kenya an outlier in global best practices when it comes to reducing smoking rates through embracing new technologies. Sweden for example is set to become the first developed country to achieve smoke-free status later this year thanks to its use of smoke-free nicotine products, while in the UK, the National Health Service is actively advising smokers to use e-cigarettes as a quit tool.” He noted.

  • Short film ‘Finding Diana’ clinches bronze at Summit Creative Awards 2023

    Short film ‘Finding Diana’ clinches bronze at Summit Creative Awards 2023

    Finding Diana, the Short Film produced by pan-African organisation, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), has won yet another award.

    The film clinched Bronze in the Public Service Category at the 2023 Summit Creative Awards.

    Summit International Awards is a US-based organisation that focuses on rewarding the most creative and innovative work globally with a high standard for evaluation.

    This brings to four, the total number of awards secured by the short film.

    In May 2023, the movie won the Gold prize in the Non-Profit category and Silver in the Entertainment category at Pitcher Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. In March 2023, Finding Diana was named the Best Human Rights Film at the Berlin Shorts Award in Germany.

    The film is executive produced by Paradigm Initiative in partnership with Up In the Sky Films. The film was directed by Tolulope Ajayi and produced by Benjamin Adeniran. PIN partners who supported the movie production are; Ford Foundation, Internews, Internet Society (ISOC) Foundation, Luminate and the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour (DRL).

    The Summit Creative Awards recognise and celebrate exceptional creativity and innovation across various media platforms worldwide, while championing and elevating creative brilliance in all its forms. It identifies and recognises individuals and organisations who push boundaries, inspire audiences, and contribute to the evolution of the creative landscape.

    The Pitcher Awards, which is now in its 6th Edition, is one of Africa’s most valuable and internationally respected accolades.

    Entries are open to all work created, released or implemented anywhere on the African continent. Projects created outside of Africa but designed specifically for implementation or release in Africa are also eligible for entry into the awards.

    The short film project is inspired by Paradigm Initiative’s annual digital rights and inclusion report, Londa, which gives insight into the state of digital rights and inclusion in countries across Africa. The latest report features 24 African countries.

    ‘Finding Diana’ is one of other tools the organisation uses to highlight the report and its impact on society and policy making across the continent.

     

  • KUTRRH board welcomes Attorney General’s advisory, defends CEO appointment

    KUTRRH board welcomes Attorney General’s advisory, defends CEO appointment

    The Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Board has welcomed Attorney General Justin Muturi’s parliamentary confirmation that the level six medical facility is legally established as a state corporation.

    In a recent appearance before the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, the AG confirmed that he had early this year issued a legal opinion to the Ministry of Education, demonstrating that from a legal standpoint, the Legal Notice No. 4 of 2019, in placing KUTRRH under the Ministry of Health, is properly based on the provisions of the Health Act, 2017.

    Speaking in Mombasa, KUTRRH Chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda described the Attorney General’s legal opinion as a step in the right direction and welcomed ongoing efforts to enhance the working relationship between the national hospital and Kenyatta University.

    “The pronouncement by Attorney General Justin Muturi is a welcome development and a step in the right direction. This legal opinion will allow us to focus on our mandate to provide quality medical services in the public interest and avoid unnecessary leadership distractions as both KUTRRH and KU are ultimately owned by the government and held in trust for the people of Kenya,” Prof Mugenda said in a message to the hospital’s leadership.

    At the same time, Prof Mugenda also confirmed that the appointment of Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Dagane had been procedurally undertaken due to his professional qualifications and dismissed claims that individuals with a Nursing background or Health related degrees cannot run such an institution.

    “It is important to remember that KUTRRH is an equal opportunity employer and operates strictly within the confines of the Constitution and related legal provisions. Several rulings have been rendered by various Courts confirming that qualified candidates cannot be blocked from serving in such leadership positions based on subsidiary legal schedules,” Prof Mugenda said.

    She added, “Mr Dagane is a qualified and experienced Clinical Professional with a background in Nursing and holds post-graduate Master in Business Administration Qualifications. He was competitively recruited and continues to serve well within his appointment and performance terms.”

    KUTRRH, a National Referral Hospital with a 650-bed capacity, is equipped to offer specialised Oncology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Renal, Accident and Emergency services, recently received regulatory approval from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), allowing the facility to act as an accredited teaching hospital for Kenyatta University School of Medicine.

    The regulatory accreditation will be valid for a renewable three-year period, allowing the School of Medicine students from Kenyatta University access the level 6 KUTRRH facility.

    KUTRRH management also confirmed that it is looking forward to receiving the first cohort of 100 KU School of Medicine students once the university is ready as per its academic calendar requirements.

    With the accreditation, the students from KU are set to join others from other institutions like JKUAT, University of Nairobi, USIU-A, AMREF University, Egerton University, Moi University, Mount Kenya University, National Defense University, Nairobi Women’s College, and Mama Ngina University to further their skills at KUTRRH.