Author: David Indeje

Kenyans should expect depressed rainfall in most parts of the country impacting the agricultural sector according to the Meteorological Department. In its Climate Outlook for the March-April-May (MAM) 2019 ‘Long Rains’ Stella Aura, Acting Director of Meteorological Services said: The spatial and temporal distribution of the March 2019 seasonal rainfall was expected to be good over most of the Western sector and generally poor over the eastern sector of the country, especially in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). However, the existence of the tropical cyclones and the unfavorable SSTs patterns both in the Indian and the Atlantic oceans are…

Kenya’s National Treasury raised KSh197 million from its mobile-based infrastructure bond, M-Akiba which had a 79% subscription rate. The overall target was set at KSh250 million. This tranche which was on offer from February 25 to March 10, 2019, attracted over 82,000 new registrations, pushing the total number of registered M-Akiba accounts to 459,586 CDS accounts. The Capital Markets Authority has consequently approved its listing of the M-Akiba Retail Infrastructure Bond on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The bond will enjoy a coupon rate of 10% payable every six months will be redeemed on September 7, 2020, and will have…

A three-judge Kenyan High Court bench ruled on Thursday that capping of commercial banks’ lending rates at 4 percentage points above the Central Bank of Kenya benchmark rate is unconstitutional. Justices Francis Tuiyot, Racheal Ngeetich, and Jacqueline Kamau ruled that Section 33 (B)(1) and (2) of the Banking Act is vague, ambiguous and indefinite rendering it unconstitutional. “The provisions of section 33B (1) and (2) of the Banking Act is vague, imprecise, ambiguous and indefinite. And insofar as the contravention of the provisions attracts penal consequences, the same violates Articles 29 and 50 of the Constitution. Article 29 (a) of…

‘Choose Africa’ a $2.8 billion initiative by the French Government will be launched at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said the funds will be used in financing and supporting startups and small- to medium-sized enterprises by 2022 in Africa. “This is aimed at creating jobs and building a positive win-win approach with African governments,” said President Macron in Nairobi. He said this will foster growth and returns, that reduce public expenditure risks. “The best way to have growth is respecting a country’s sovereignty through sustainable financing,” he added. In Kenya, he pledged Ksh…

The first blockchain educational institution in Eastern Africa  Funtrech, and US-based blockchain certification company, Blockchain Training Alliance (BTA) have entered into a strategic partnership in building an ecosystem of emerging technologies in Africa. The development was announced during the official Funtrench launch in Nairobi. This partnership puts Kenya as one of the African countries besides South Africa and Nigeria where BTA accredited blockchain courses are offered. The collaboration with BTA will enable Funtrench to offer a wider range of certified blockchain-related courses in Kenya and to create a talent pool of individuals that are savvy in industry 4.0 technologies. Kingsley…

Toyin Umesiri is an entrepreneur and the convener and founder of the Trade with Africa Business Summit. In 2017, she made the big leap from corporate America into full-time entrepreneurship to focus on increasing trade between the United States (US) and Africa. After over a decade of working in corporate America at Walmart & Whirlpool Corporation. She helps to increase trade with Africa through Nazaru, LLC, a US based company that helps African Exporters and Importers to become more visible on the global market. Who is Toyin Umesiri and can you tell us more about your passion and purpose? I grew…