Author: David Indeje

Planhotel Malindi resort of hotel trio in Coastal Kenya has reopened its Diamonds Dream of Africa, Sandies Malindi Dream Garden, and Sandies Tropical Village – to both domestic and international guests. Occupancy started at 60 percent on Saturday according to Alexander Zissimatos, the general manager who said the re-opening has been positive.   “We hope it continues for the rest of the year,” he said. PlanHotel is renowned worldwide for its unique combination of local tradition and Italian style in both its design and guest services. They have properties in Malindi, Kenya; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Mozambique; Maldives, Lugano, Switzerland; and Cortona, Italy.…

Kenya has said it will not prevent entry to travelers from Tanzania terming it “a  minor issue” which has been sorted. “Travelers from Tanzania can come in as early as today. We never stopped those flights. This very minor issue has been sorted out and we believe that if not today, by tomorrow we shall find Kenya Airways flying again to Tanzania,” Transport CS James Macharia said on Saturday. CS Macharia clarified that the ‘safe flights’ list issued on Friday did not mean the exclusion of operating flights to Kenya. “It would be inappropriate to start discussing individual countries because…

Botswanan retailer Choppies Enterprises has said it will exit the Kenyan market through its subsidiary in its 2020 financial year citing negative cash flow that has been impacted by adverse trading conducts. “Choppies Distribution Kenya Limited is a non‐operating entity and since the cash flow of Choppies Enterprises Kenya Limited (Kenya) was negatively impacted by adverse trading conducts. Management has decided to fully impair Choppies Distribution Kenya Limited and exit from the country during the financial year 2020,” the Group revealed in its 2019 Annual Report. “All the stores except one is disposed of during the financial year 2020 and…

Tanzania has nullified the approval of Kenya Airways flights in the country in what it described as ‘a reciprocal basis’. In a letter to the Manager Flight Operations Engineering, Kenya Airways, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority said it “regrets’ the decision. “The Authority regrets to inform you that on a reciprocal basis, the Tanzanian Government has decided to nullify its approval for the Kenya Airways flights between Nairobi and Dar/ Kilimanjaro/ Zanzibar effective August 2020 until further notice.” Hamza Johari, TCAA Director-General added that the Government also rescinded all its previous arrangements that permit KQ flights into Tanzania. https://twitter.com/ahmednasirlaw/status/1289270571935596545?s=20 Kenya…

In a historic achievement, Rafiki, Kenya’s first feature film, was invited to the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, won the Outstanding Film – Limited Release category at the 31st GLAAD Media Awards in 2020. Directed by Wanuri Kahiu and starring Sheila Munyiva and Samantha Mugatsia, the film triumphed over strong contenders like Portrait of a Lady on Fire (NEON), Pain & Glory (Sony Pictures Classics), and Brittany Runs a Marathon (Amazon Studios). The GLAAD Media Awards celebrate media for their fair, accurate, and inclusive portrayals of LGBTQ individuals and issues. Since 1990, the awards have become the world’s most prominent…

Central Bank of Kenya’s decision to extended waiver of merchant fees on mobile money transfer service for transactions below Ksh 1,000 until December 31, 2020 will cause a huge financial loss to Safaricom, The telecommunications firm Thursday reported that M-pesa revenues could lose up to Ksh.19 billion as a result of the Regulator’s decision. “The total value of our contribution to the fight against this pandemic (coronavirus) currently stands at Ksh.6.5 billion and continues to grow every day. We estimate the impact on M-Pesa payment support will increase to about Ksh.19 billion by the end of the year,” outgoing Chairman…