Author: Khusoko

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has extended KSh500 million ($50 million) to Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited (DTB) for working capital and trade-related lending to its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients. The funds are being provided under IFC’s global $8 billion fast-track COVID-19 facility, launched in March to protect jobs and support businesses with working and trade-related capital as economies grapple with the challenges of the pandemic. “As an SME bank, we are aware that these businesses are among the hardest hit by the fall-out of the pandemic. This facility will enable us to support SMEs to address their…

A lot of people would love to venture into agriculture profitably but do not know-how. Many shy away from the idea of giving excuses that range from lack of enough farming land to having inadequate knowledge of pursuing the lucrative venture.  “Agri-business is the future of this country’s economy,” …This is a belief held by Diamond Velji and Rita Velji, the Quality Meat Packers, a Kenyan firm, The couple is on a mission to pass on the knowledge that they have acquired over the years to any Kenyan who share the same ideals about Agri-business.  Quality Meat Packers has grown…

Beatrice Elachi, Nairobi County Assembly Speaker announced her resignation on Tuesday citing that her tenure was untenable due to ‘life-threatening incidents’. “It has been tough and I can’t hold any longer. I, therefore, tender my resignation and thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for giving me this opportunity to serve under his Jubilee administration,” she said a televised address. “For the last few days there have been life-threatening incidences. I did not have to wait to see somebody die in this office. I’m a mother,” she added. She handed over to her deputy John Kamangu, the Ruai Member of the County Assembly…

This was associated with a time when thousands of miners sought to seek gains fast upon discovery of new mines.  The interest would then spread across continents through trade merchants as people sought early buy-ins.  This was rife in the 18 th Century, led by California in the United States in 1848. Two centuries later, with little to no new gold mines, the current generation has the capital markets to distribute that wealth. It is no longer a preserve of the rich, with the introduction of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).  ETFs are funds whose performance replicates the spot market, but…

Young advocates, mainstream media, and social media platforms are some of the mediums that can be used to amplify messages and call to action in tackling barriers related to sexual and reproductive health in children, young women and girls. In a brainstorming virtual session dubbed, ‘Targeted solutions and a call to action in the advancement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) agenda’, various movement-led organizations discussed long-term solutions in ensuring girls and women access SRHR products and services. Top on the agenda was the emerging threats on COVID- 19 on the sexual and reproductive health of teenage girls…

Unit Trust Funds, “UTFs”, are collective investment schemes that pool money together from many investors and are managed by professional Fund Managers, who invest the pooled funds in a portfolio of securities to achieve objectives of the trust. Types of Unit Trust Funds include Money Market Fund: This fund invests in short-term debt securities with high credit quality such as treasury bills and commercial paper. The fund offers high-income yield, liquidity as well as capital stability. Risk adverse investors are prone to invest in Money Market Funds in times of high stock market volatility; Equity Fund: This fund aims to…