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  • Another international conference opens at MKU

    Another international conference opens at MKU

    A major international conference on economic transmission for Africa opened at Mount Kenya University (MKU) main campus in Thika.

    The 8th annual International Conference of the Centre for African Research on Enterprise and Economic Development (CAREED) is being held under the theme, ‘Fostering Economic Transformation in African Ecosystems: The Impact of Trade, Infrastructure and innovation.’

    More than 70 papers from renowned global scholars will be presented across several parallel sessions during the two-day conference which is being held on 27th and 28th of June 2024.

    Welcoming delegates to the forum, the MKU Chancellor who is also Director at CAREED for University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Professor John Struthers, said this year’s meeting is significant as it is being held in Africa for the first time.

    “This year’s conference is also noteworthy because of the number and range of papers being presented and the many African countries represented,” he said.

    The keynote speakers at the forum are Dr Santino Severoni, Director of the Department of Health and Migration, WHO Headquarters based in Geneva s an experienced international senior technical adviser and Executive and Prof. Dr. Charles Mulli, Founder of Mully Children’s Family Trust (MCF) based in Machakos County, Kenya.

    Dr. Vincent Gaitho, Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor Mount Kenya University said the seven pervious conferences of the CAREED took place in Scotland, Europe, at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).

    “The 8th International Conference marks the arrival of the ‘New Being’ or the ‘New Entity”, ‘New Baby”, within our larger community.

    This is a milestone achievement for both CAREED and for UWS for having successfully nurtured the conference series at UWS through the past seven years or over, which included the dreadful time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Dr Gaitho said CAREED’s five key areas of interest”, namely, commodities and exporting; logistics and supply chain management; enterprise and entrepreneurship (including gender enterprise); enterprise and entrepreneurship, governance and ethics” as shall be reflected in the conference proceedings, should also be well ear-marked as areas of future research and development in Africa by Africans.

    “We must remind ourselves of the need to have the youth in African in all what comes with this new entity. Available literature supports this need of deliberate involvement (and not by chance!) of the youth on every socio-economic transformation engagements in African including the series of CAREED conferences,” he said.

    The Pro-chancellor appreciated the WHO’s migration health discourse guided more specifically, by the International Organization for Migration and the Center for Health and Migration as significant entities in international movements of goods and people and related logistics.

    “We look forward to receive recommendations from this conference that will be used in reaching out to more stakeholders to take advantage of the conference proceedings and publications as tangible, action areas in driving the future of the African Continent for the overall good of the African people,” he said.

    MKU Vice Councillor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said the University of the West of Scotland and MKU have continued to enjoy a synergetic partnership, exemplified by the recently concluded Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project. The project is funded by Innovate UK and partnered with Farmtrack Consulting, a private company in Kenya.

    The VC said trade contributes to 15pc of Africa’s GDP, infrastructure development can boost economic growth by 2-3pc annually, and innovation has the potential to increase productivity by up to 30pc.

    “As we forge a united front towards fostering economic transformation in African ecosystems, the impact of trade, infrastructure, and innovation cannot be overemphasized,” he added.

    Appreciating the delegates and speakers participating in the conference, Prof Jaganyi said these key themes are instrumental in supporting livelihoods and promoting economic prosperity across sub-Saharan Africa.

    According to Prof Struthers, the year since the 7th Annual Conference was held at the Paisley Campus of UWS in 2023 has been a busy and eventful period for CAREED, with many new members joining the centre.

    Highlights include: the first Distinguished Lecture presentation by Professor David Luke of the London School of Economics (LSE) based on his recently co-edited book How Africa Trades; more short papers written by CAREED colleagues for the centre’s Policy and Practice Insights Series.

    Other key milestones during the past year have been the completion of the African Agriculture Knowledge Training Partnership (AAKTP) project in which MKU and Farmtrack Ltd in Kenya are partners.

    In the last year one year, a significant number of doctorate degrees were awarded to CAREED research students, several of whom have joined the academic staff at UWS in the School of Business and Creative Industries.

    The joint planning committee for this year’s forum includes Dr Henry Yatich of MKU and Dr Ephias Ruhode and Dr Mbusiro Chacha of UWS and Deputy Director of CAREED, Dr Adebisi Adewole.

    The sponsors for this year’s conference were Superior Homes (Kenya) Ltd; Henderson Properties (Scotland); Overseas Students House (Ghana); Grace Education (Kenya) and IEIS Ltd.

  • Heifer International Kenya launches 2024 AYuTe Africa challenge

    Heifer International Kenya launches 2024 AYuTe Africa challenge

    Heifer International Kenya has officially launched the 2024 AYuTe Africa Challenge.

    AYuTe which stands for Agriculture, Youth, Technology aims to create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to propel agriculture transformation, catalyze ground-up innovation from the youth, and make agriculture a desired career for the future.

    Through AYuTe, youth-led agritech innovations in Kenya will get the opportunity to pitch for investment in their businesses to boost the income and productivity of smallholder farmers.

    The 2024 edition marks the third iteration of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya under the theme; “Reimagining the Future of African Agriculture” with the deadline set for July 7, 2024 at 11.59 PM EAT.

    The applications will be received through an online platform in two categories. The first category, Track 1, is for enterprises at the idea, proof of concept, and prototyping stages.

    The second category, Track 2, is for enterprises at the product stage, and aiming to scale up their businesses.

    Since its inception in 2022, AYuTe Africa Challenge in Kenya has registered over 400 applications, over 230 youth-led agritech innovations have received coaching and mentorship while over 10 startups have been awarded cash-prize worth over $40,000 to translate aggressive business expansion strategies that impact smallholder farmers.

    “This competition provides an opportunity for young innovators in Kenya to secure the funding and visibility they need to scale up their agritech solutions to reach millions of farmers across Kenya,” says William Matovu, Country Director of Heifer International Kenya.

    “AYUTE is a very innovative vehicle that can identify innovative agritech with transformative solutions that can change the face of the agricultural sector, we look forward to receiving applications, and even more so, to seeing many more young women participating in the competition,” he adds.

    The 2024 edition will focus on enterprises with innovative agri-tech solutions responding to the needs of the agri-value chain at various levels, such as production, aggregation, post-harvest loss management, value addition, access to markets, and financing.

    In addition, four regions will be targeted to ensure comprehensive national representation. These regions include Nairobi, the Central Regional Economic Bloc, the Lake Region Economic Bloc, the North Rift Economic Bloc, and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties.

    The awards for the competition include a cash prize of up to Ksh3.5 million for the top winners.

    In addition, the top 20 innovators will undergo a one-month incubation program among other benefits such as linkage to investment, networking, training, coaching, and mentorship opportunities through the E4Impact Accelerator.

    The winners will also be integrated into the E4Impact Alumni community which will provide them with valuable networking opportunities and ongoing support even after completion of the program.

  • High Court upholds imprisonment of two convicts in Westgate terror attack

    High Court upholds imprisonment of two convicts in Westgate terror attack

    The High Court in Milimani on Friday upheld the convictions and sentences imposed on two convicts involved in the tragic Westgate Mall terrorist attack that occurred on September 21, 2013.

    In a statement issued Saturday, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) indicated that the court found that the prosecution had adduced sufficient evidence to support charges against the convicts.

    Mohamed Ahmed Abdi and Hussein Hassan Mustafah were charged of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

    Additionally, Mohamed Ahmed Abdi was convicted of being in possession of an article connected to a terrorism offence.

    However, the High Court acquitted them of the charge of giving support to a terrorist group.

    Following the testimony of 46 prosecution witnesses, the Trial Court sentenced both convicts to 18 years each for the offence of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, with Mohamed Ahmed Abdi receiving an additional 15 years for possession of a terrorism-related article.

    Lady Justice Grace Nzioka upheld the sentences as well as the orders of the Trial Court that the sentences would run consecutively.

    The Westgate attack resulted in the deaths of 67 people and injuries to over 200 civilians.

  • Call for more funding to African countries hosting migrants

    Call for more funding to African countries hosting migrants

    More funding is required to control communicable diseases particularly in Africa and other developing countries which host refugees.

    Dr Santino Severoni, Director of World Health Organization’s (WHO) Department of Health and Migration, is calling on the international community to channel more resources to such countries that are facing financial challenges.

    He spoke during the opening of an international conference on economic transformation for Africa at Mount Kenya University’s (MKU) main campus in Thika, Kiambu County.

    While observing that there have been major improvements in the control of communicable diseases like malaria, chronic ailments remain a major health challenge globally.

    MKU Chancellor Prof. John Struthers and MKU Pro. Chancellor Dr. Vincent Gaitho confer during the conference

    Dr Severoni expressed concern that there is rising mortality from lifestyle ailments like cardial-vascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension, among others.

    Dr. Vincent Gaitho, Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor Mount Kenya University said the seven previous conferences of the Careed took place in Scotland, Europe, at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and it was the first time it has been held in an African country.

    He noted that Careed’s five key areas of interest, namely, commodities and exporting; logistics and supply chain management; enterprise and entrepreneurship (including gender enterprise); enterprise and entrepreneurship, governance and ethics be reflected in the conference proceedings.

    The Pro-chancellor appreciated the WHO’s migration health discourse guided more specifically, by the International Organization for Migration and the Center for Health and Migration as significant entities in international movements of goods and people and related logistics.

    He also called on African governments to promote policies that discourage migration of their populations.

    The MKU Chancellor Prof John Struthers, who is also Director at Careed for University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Professor John Struthers, said this year’s conference is also noteworthy because of the number and range of papers being presented and the many African countries represented.

    He added that proper communication has been lacking on issues of migrants who are not just in Africa but all over the world including Europe.

    Delegates group photo

    MKU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said the University of the West of Scotland and MKU have continued to enjoy a synergetic partnership, exemplified by the recently concluded Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project.

    The project is funded by Innovate UK and partnered with Farmtrack Consulting, a private company in Kenya.

    Appreciating the delegates and speakers participating in the conference, Prof Jaganyi said these key themes are instrumental in supporting livelihoods and promoting economic prosperity across sub-Saharan Africa and further establishing partnerships across the globe.

    The 8th annual international conference of the Centre for African Research on Enterprise and Economic Development (Careed) is being held under the theme, “Fostering Economic Transformation in African Ecosystems: The Impact of Trade, Infrastructure and innovation.

    More than 70 papers from renowned global scholars will be presented during the two-day conference.

  • Over 500 DCI Officers promoted to Corporal, Sergeant ranks

    Over 500 DCI Officers promoted to Corporal, Sergeant ranks

    Over 500 DCI officers have been promoted to the ranks of Corporals and Sergeants following the successful completion of a four-month intensive training at the Magadi Field Campus.

    In the graduation ceremony presided over by the Director DCI  Mohamed Amin, 360 officers were promoted from police constables to corporals, while 152 corporals attained the rank of police sergeants.

    The training that kicked off 17 weeks ago focused on improving the quality and standards of the officers’ investigations, while equipping them with the requisite skills to take up their new leadership roles.

    While congratulating the officers, Amin urged them to offer quality services to Kenyans, with utmost decorum and strict adherence to the rule of law.

    The DCI Chief commended the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome for believing in DCI’s capacity to train and promote its own officers, pointing out that the move had enabled the Directorate to focus on the critical aspects of training in relation to the daily duties of the detectives.

    Meanwhile, the Commandant National Criminal Investigation Academy Gateria Mboroki affirmed the readiness of the officers to serve in their new capacities, owing to the objectivity of the course.

    On his part, the Director Operations at DCI Richard Mwaura called upon the officers to uphold professionalism and integrity, reminding them that members of the public were expecting nothing short of diligent services.

    Other senior officers present included the Commanding Officer Magadi Field Campus Charles Naibei, Director Training Edwin Kamau, Deputy Director Investigation Bureau Paul Wachira, and PA to the DCI Lawrence Some among others.

  • Woodcreek School emerges top in inaugural Pencak Silat martial arts competition

    Woodcreek School emerges top in inaugural Pencak Silat martial arts competition

    The Woodcreek School triumphed over 14 other schools to clinch the Pencak Silat Ambassador’s Cup in a dramatic contest held at the school’s auditorium in Kamiti, Kiambu county on Saturday 22nd June 2024.

    Kajiado’s Calvary Baptist Academy came second while Ruiru’s Jacridge School placed third in the tournament which was organised by the National Federation of Pencak Silat Kenya (NFPSK) in conjunction with the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi.

    A total of 248 participants from various Kenyan schools participated in the event across the children, adults, men and women’s categories.

    “This is the first event to be held, and the Kenyan people responded very positively,” said Dr. Mohamad Hery Saripudin, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Kenya. “This activity not only fosters cultural exchange between Indonesia and Kenya, but also acts as a cultural bridge in increasing mutual understanding and people to people relationships between the two countries.”

    The event is part of a series of activities lined up by the Embassy to commemorate 45 years of diplomatic ties between Kenya and Indonesia.

    “These events provide a platform for cultural connection which is critical in strengthening diplomatic relations between Kenya and Indonesia”, said Dr. Maurice Okoth, Director of Asia and the Pacific region at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. “The Kenyan government is considering introducing martial arts in the education curriculum because the sports help to nurture discipline and character in young people as well as promoting healthy lifestyles.”

    According to the organisers, pupils from the top schools which took part in the competition will receive academic scholarships to pursue studies in Indonesia in addition to facilitation to take part in international Pencak Silat competitions that will be held in Abu Dhabi and Jakarta later this year.

    “We hope that more partners will come on board to support the growth of Pencak Silat as we work to establish more Pencak Silat chapters across Kenya and other African countries,” noted NFPSK President Cleophas Chalicha.

  • Kenya is a beacon of peace and stability, Mudavadi affirms

    Kenya is a beacon of peace and stability, Mudavadi affirms

    Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has reaffirmed Kenya’s steadfast commitment to peace and stability.

    Mudavadi says Kenya stands as a beacon of hope and resilience within the region and the continent, urging Kenyans to continue collaborating towards a prosperous and harmonious future for all.

    He also noted that Kenya’s democratic space and the respect for the rule of law have enhanced peaceful coexistence amongst her people thus inspiring confidence among the global partners.

    “We must confront internal challenges head-on through persuasion, logic, and reasoned conversations,” he said.

    He underscored the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and engagement on matters that touch on the daily lives of the people.

    “Our constitution guarantees freedom of expression and it emphasizes non-violence and constructive dialogue to conflict resolution,” he noted.

    “We open our doors to say that the conversation must continue so that the issues that will arise from time to time can be resolved peacefully through dialogue and then we can move forward,” added Mudavadi

    Mudavadi was speaking when he opened the Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation Conference in Nairobi.

    Amidst global challenges such as climate change and societal unrest, Mudavadi lauded the decision to host the conference in Nairobi despite the recent situation in the country.

  • BrighterMonday delivers e-commerce training for 2,000 SMEs

    BrighterMonday delivers e-commerce training for 2,000 SMEs

    Over 2,000 Kenyan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have received training in digital skills and e-commerce in the last one year under the BrighterMonday’s ‘e-Biz Kwa Vijana’ initiative.

    The program, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sought to bridge the digital talent gap while unlocking opportunities for economic empowerment of young entrepreneurs and MSMEs across Kenya.

    “The success of this program indicates the strong entrepreneurial spirit in young people in Kenya today. We recognize and acknowledge the potential of e-commerce to help revolutionise the local entrepreneurial landscape by equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and tools to expand their market opportunities”, said Chris Otundo, the Chief Executive Officer at BrighterMonday Kenya,

    632 SMEs were subsequently on-boarded onto online trading platforms under the one year programme which was implemented between May 2023 and June 2024.

    According to BrighterMonday, 61 persons with disabilities received business coaching under the initiative with 15 getting on-boarded onto different e-commerce platforms.

    The human resource company also noted that 95 pc of the MSMEs which participated in the training gained new ideas for their online businesses, with 86pc achieving their first ever online sale as a result.

    “I happened to enrol in the e-Biz Kwa Vijana program right in the knick of time. Previously, I would just sit in my shop waiting for walk-in customers and relying on corporate or government tenders for opportunities which I admit are very hard to come by because of their many requirements such as huge working capital reserves which in some cases were out of our reach being an MSME”, said Lilian Wairimu, Co-Director of Jegos Enterprises which was among the beneficiaries of the project.

    The Kenya MSME sector remains a vibrant landscape that boasts over 7.4 million MSMEs, comprising mainly of young entrepreneurs. Spanning various sectors, from farming and agribusiness to logistics, general trade, merchandising and services, they reportedly contribute about 40pc of the country’s gross domestic product.

    According to Michael Mandu, the Acting Secretary for Trade in the State Department for Trade, Kenya has witnessed steady e-commerce growth in recent years. The country is currently established as a leader in digital trade within the African continent and globally with combined revenues in the sector amounting to Ksh. 385 billion as at 2023.

    “A large share of this revenue is attributable to MSMEs, and youth run enterprises that provide jobs and sustainable livelihoods while also nurturing digital talents in the country. The Kenya National E-commerce Strategy is therefore not just a policy document but a testament to our commitment to creating an environment where businesses can thrive, where entrepreneurs can innovate, and where every citizen can participate in the digital economy”, said Mandu.

  • President Xi addresses five principles of peaceful coexistence

    President Xi addresses five principles of peaceful coexistence

    Chinese President Xi Jinping attended and delivered an important speech at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence on Friday in Beijing.

    Xi said 70 years ago, national independence and liberation movements swept across the globe, and the colonial system around the world crumbled and collapsed. At the same time, the world was overshadowed by the dark clouds of the Cold War and menaced by the rampant clamors that “might is right.” Newly independent countries aspired to safeguard their sovereignty and grow their national economy.

    The Chinese leadership specified the Five Principles in their entirety for the first time, namely, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. They included the Five Principles in the China-India and China-Myanmar joint statements, which jointly called for making them basic norms for state-to-state relations, Xi said.

    “Over the past 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome estrangement, showing robust resilience and everlasting relevance. They have become open, inclusive, and universally applicable basic norms for international relations and fundamental principles of international law,” Xi said.

    He added that they have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law, served as the prime guidance for the establishment and development of relations between countries with different social systems, been a powerful rallying force behind the efforts of developing countries to pursue cooperation and self-strength through unity, contributed historic wisdom to the reform and improvement of the international order, and made indelible historic contributions to the cause of human progress.

    Xi stressed that today, challenged by the historic question of “what kind of world to build and how to build it,” China has answered the call of the times by proposing a community with a shared future for mankind.

    Noting that the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind carries forward the same spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Xi said the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is the most effective move to sustain, promote and upgrade the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the new circumstances.

    The vision sets a new model of equality and coexistence for international relations, responds to the world’s prevailing trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, and inspires new ways to achieve development and security, he added.

    “At this historic moment when mankind have to choose between peace and war, prosperity and recession, unity and confrontation, we must champion more than ever the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and we must always strive tirelessly for the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.

    Xi called on the world to uphold the principle of sovereign equality, cement the foundation of mutual respect, turn the vision for peace and security into reality, unite all forces to achieve prosperity, commit to fairness and justice, and embrace an open and inclusive mindset.

    Of all the forces in the world, the Global South stands out with a strong momentum, playing a vital role in promoting human progress, Xi said, adding that standing at a new historical starting point, the Global South should be more open and more inclusive, and join hands together to take the lead in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

    He called on the Global South to be the staunch force for peace, the core driving force for open development, the construction team of global governance, and the advocates for exchange among civilizations.

    To better support Global South cooperation, Xi announced that China will establish a Global South research center, provide 1,000 scholarships under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Scholarship of Excellence and 100,000 training opportunities to Global South countries in the coming five years, and also launch a Global South youth leaders program.

    Noting that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have been written into China’s Constitution long before, and are the bedrock of China’s independent foreign policy of peace, Xi said that China will continue to champion the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, work with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new and greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

    Around 600 people including former leaders of Vietnam, Myanmar and other countries, representatives of international and regional organizations, diplomatic envoys from more than 100 countries, Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, and media and business representatives attended the conference.

  • Kenyan youth raise millions to aid families affected by protests

    Kenyan youth raise millions to aid families affected by protests

    In a remarkable display of solidarity and compassion, Kenyan youth have successfully raised millions of shillings to support families, cover hospital bills, and arrange burials for those who lost their lives during the recent two-week protests.

    The nationwide unrest has resulted in tragic losses and widespread hospitalisations.

    165 injured protestors were admitted at the Kenya National Hospital on Wednesday as Human rights groups warned Kenya police against using excessive force during the demonstrations which have left at least 23 people dead.

    The protests began on June 18 against the proposed finance bill 2024.

    In response to the turmoil, young Kenyans have come together through various platforms to organise fundraising campaigns, utilising social media, crowdfunding websites, and community networks.

    The link hosted on the MChanga platform has managed to amass over KSh. 24.5M.

    The funds have been used to pay for hospital bills, fund funerals and assist the families of the victims of the two-week protests.

    Among the families who have received assistance include Rex Masai and Evans Kiratu’s families who each received KSh. 1M according to one of the Mchanga signatories.

    “We have sent one million each to their (Rex and Evans) families,” said Hanifa Farsafi. “The remaining will be sent to the family of Ian, who was shot three times in the back and won’t be able to walk again.”

    Ian Keya was shot during the June 25 protests. One of the three bullets ripped through his spine.

    On Thursday, most of the funds were used to pay for medical bills across hospitals in Nairobi which were taking in people injured from the protests.

    “Mchanga has found a way to pay for medical bills directly. I’ll be posting the details here (X.com) after going to each hospital,” said Hanifa.

    This comes as a blood drive kicks off across the country to support hospital blood banks.