Author: Lorine Otamo

Eldoret’s Kitenge Fashion Festival embraced sustainability with a creative twist.  This year’s event, themed “Unleashing Local SME Potential: Building Kenya Through Fashion,” featured a unique competition sponsored by Jambojet.  The challenge? Repurpose old airline materials like headrests, uniforms, and seat covers into showstopping fashion pieces. Sustainability Meets Style The competition showcased the innovative spirit of Kenyan fashion. Caroline Wairimu of Empress Crafts took first place with her stunning creations. She transformed aeroplane parts into stylish uniforms, bags, and upcycled suitcases, demonstrating exceptional detail and craftsmanship.  The first-place Award, a purchase order of Kes 250,000, went to Empress Crafts, who used…

CIC Insurance Group reported a net profit of KES 1.44 billion, up by 818% fueled by a 23% increase in insurance revenue (KES25.4 billion) and a 14% rise in investment income (KES 2.9 billion) for the year ended December 2023. “The business maintained a growth trajectory driven by the execution of our transformational initiatives focusing on customer experience, performance management, operational efficiency, digital transformation, research and innovation, cost competitiveness and debt management,” the Group said in a statement. The Kenyan subsidiary saw a 55% growth in profit before tax (KES1.4 billion) and a 24% return on equity. Life assurance also reported significant progress,…

Award-winning Gospel singer Kambua Mathu has partnered with fashion brand Vivo Woman to launch a new clothing line called Kelemi Collection. The Kelemi line will debut on Wednesday, May 12th (Mother’s Day). It promises a fusion of elegance and luxury, unique designs, and high-quality materials. A Celebration of Mothers Kambua announced the collaboration on social media, expressing her excitement about the “exquisite” and “luxurious” collection designed to celebrate mothers and women. The launch coincides with Mother’s Day, which is significant for Kambua. “I went ahead and did a big thing… a beautiful thing. I collaborated with Vivo Woman to bring…

Accor, a French hospitality group, is bringing a touch of luxury to Kenya with the upcoming opening of their first Pullman-branded hotel in Nairobi.  The Pullman Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill, slated for a June 2024 debut, boast 162 rooms designed to pamper business travellers and vacationers. The hotel caters to the modern professional by offering luxurious accommodations and state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces.  This focus on functionality extends beyond traditional hospitality by including co-working spaces under the WOJO brand. In addition, it’s arrival signifies more than just a new hotel; it reflects the booming hospitality industry in Kenya.  “We are excited…

Kenya Airways (KQ) has resumed flights to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the release of two employees detained for a week by Congolese military authorities. KQ suspended flights to Kinshasa on April 29th due to the detention of its staff. The employees were accused of mishandling valuable cargo but were released on May 7th. The Kenyan carrier maintains the employees’ innocence and emphasizes they followed proper procedures. “We stand by their innocence and will continue to support them,” KQ’s Group Managing Director, Allan Kilavuka, stated. Flights will resume on May 8th, 2024.  “With the necessary ground support in…

Kenya’s super-rich are changing their investment habits, with a growing preference for art, jewellery, and expensive alcohol compared to luxury cars, according to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2024. The Wealth Report 2024 shows that 70% of Kenyan high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) now favour art, up from 50% in 2023. This aligns with the global trend of art as a top-performing asset class, boasting an 11% price increase in 2023. “The resilience of the art market in the face of broader economic fluctuations further underscores its appeal as a tangible and culturally rich asset class,” says Knight Frank CEO Mark Dunford. Diversification…