Author: Francis Muli

Tuskys Supermarket is poised to invest Ksh200 million to set up new electronic stores within its outlets, following a store-in-store model with its clothing shop dubbed Mavazi. The chain retailer has revealed that the new store-in-store will stock a variety of premium consumer electronic products. “As part of the Tuskys Business Development strategy, we are responding to a consumer demand for immersive electronics stores that allow them to experience the products at their optimum performance,” says the group CEO of Tusker Mattresses, Dan Githua. The first model of the electronic store was launched at the Tuskys Multi-Brand Electronics Departmental store…

Popular Kenyan events promoter and marketer who is also the Commercial Director for Sistema Biobolsa (Sistema.bio) Cedrick Todwell has been nominated for 100 Tropics Changemakers 2018 Award. Mr Todwell was nominated for championing the use of renewable bio energy in Africa. The award brings together more than 150 global business leaders, young innovators, political figures and economic decision-makers to encourage quality leadership in various economic sectors in the continent. It will be will be presented at the Tropics Gala Dinner in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 20. He hopes to be among the top 12 finalists as he strives to enable…

Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has launched a segregated waste bin at Westlands stage terminal to help facilitate recycling of PET plastic bottles. The bin was launched after a joint clean-up exercise between KAM and Dandora Hip Hop City to mark the National Clean-up month that is celebrated annually in September. Speaking during the ceremony, Job Wanjohi, KAM Head of Policy, Research and Advocacy said PET waste management initiative is part of the manufacturing industry’s commitment to solid waste management. “The bins will help us to proactively respond to the environmental challenges of littering and reducing waste going to our…

Kenya’s inflation has reached an all time high, in 12 months, of  5.7 per cent in the month of September, attributed to increased fuel taxation. Inflation rate stood at 4.04 per cent in the month of August. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals that transport index increased by 7.99 per cent compared to the previous month and 17.29 per cent compared to a similar month last year. “This was mainly on account of increase in the pump prices of petrol and diesel which triggered increase in prices of other transport components,” said KNBS in a statement. The statistics released…

The government has bought 100 lorries and Landrovers for the prison service, meant for transporting remandees to and from court. Issuing the vehicles, CS for Internal Security Fred Matiang’i said that the vehicles will ensure that justice is not delayed for lack of vehicles to transport prisoners and remandees. “I presented 100 vehicles to the Kenya Prisons Service in a bid to enhance access to justice by ensuring no delays in transportation of prisoners to and from court,” said Matiang’i through his Twitter account. https://twitter.com/FredMatiangi/status/1045627177839054848 However, Kenyans were quick to fault the CS for buying open top lorries and landrovers,…

Athi River Mining Cement will not trade its shares at the Nairobi Stock exchange NSE for a further twenty-one working days after the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) extended the suspension. ARM was placed under administration last month due to a Sh14.4 billion debt triggering the suspension at NSE. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Muniu Thoiti and George Weru took over the management of the cement maker following the exit of the chief executive Pradeep Paunrana. Read: Sylvia Mulinge To Stay At Safaricom With New “Director Of Special Projects” Title “The extension of suspension was issued by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) pursuant to Regulation…

24 fuel-filling stations were demolished, six closed and four re-opened after paying hefty fines  in an adulterated fuel crack-down conducted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) since July. Also, five trucks were impounded in the operation according to a statement released by ERC today. During the period, 4,456 tests were conducted at 675 petroleum sites (including illegal petroleum sites). From the tests, 637 sites were compliant which represents a 94.4% compliance level. However, tests from 38 sites turned out to be non-compliant. Among the counties in which faulty stations were closed include Nairobi, Embu, Meru, Busia Kiambu, Siaya, Mombasa, Kwale,…

A Nairobi tycoon facing charges of attempting to bribe Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko with Ksh5 million has made an application to travel out of the country to attend to his daughter’s medical needs. Praful Kumar Premchand Saula, who is out on bond, made the application through his counsel Kennedy Marete under certificate of urgency while attending his pretrial conference at the Mombasa law courts before Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba. The counsel told the court the application is urgent as the accused person had to seek the court’s permission to travel outside the country. Read: Former Kiambu Governor Kabogo Eyeing The Presidency In 2022 Marete informed the court that Praful intended…

Embattled former Safaricom Director of Consumer Business Unit will not take up her new role in Tanzania as the Managing Director Vodacom after Tanzanian government denied her a work permit on grounds that there are Tanzanians who can do the job. Ms Mulinge was to take over from the outgoing MD Ian Ferrao, a UK nationality. She will now remain at Safaricom with a new title, Director of Special Projects, which was announced to staffers through a memo, in which she will commence duties on October 1. “In this role, she will report directly to me and will be responsible for spearheading our commercial…

The creep of fake goods from China is being noticed almost all over the world, the recent cases being reported at the United Arab Emirates where fraudsters target users of high-end cars with fake spare parts. In a shocking revelation, mechanics have reported rampant cases of fake alloy wheels that buckle over speed bumps, counterfeit spark plugs, air filters and break pads made from compressed grass all targeting Mercedes-Benz and BMW users. The counterfeits are cleverly camouflaged in almost perfect copies of packaging for the goods, with untrained or careless mechanics unable to differentiate between an original and fake spare part.…

About 12 years ago, Policemen of the Banking Fraud Investigating Unit (BFIU) and Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) officials led by late Moses Gituma and Mr Ezekiel Chebii raided and closed down the Kenya Akiba Microfinance Limited’s main offices at Lonrho House for allegedly engaging in illegal banking practices.  This led the company to a loss of over Ksh90 million in terms of fixed assets and Ksh764 million to external loans to clients. During the raid, CBK and BFIU took away with them loan files, security documents, computers and computer software. At the time, pyramid schemes were a national crisis and Kenyans had lost billions. …

Africa Logistics Properties (ALP) has launched its first 49,000 square metres of warehousing at ALP North Industrial Park at Tatu City. The management said that 75 per cent of the facility has been pre-leased. “The near complete uptake of ALP North prior to launch speaks to the scale of the warehousing shortage in Kenya. But it also demonstrates that real estate requires developers to concentrate on the genuine areas of market need,” said Toby Selman, CEO of ALP. The demand for warehousing currently exceeds supply in the country, with warehouse users reporting that finding suitable facilities is frequently impossible, according…

Banks have already started implementing the 20 percent levy increment on cashless transactions that was passed in the Finance Act 2018. Among the banks that have pioneered the implementation is Kenya Commercial Bank that sent a message to its customers last night informing them of the changes, that took effect yesterday. “Dear Customer, effective today 25/9/18 and in line with the Finance Act 2018, Excise Duty charged on all bank transaction fees has increased from 10% to 20%,” read the message from KCB. Read: SafariLink Launches Flights to Kisumu With KQ’s Mbuvi Ngunze as Boss On the other hand, the Cooperative…

The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) through the National Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC) has issued an advisory on online shopping fraud in Kenya. This comes after a series of complains from Kenyans who have been conned by fraudulent online sellers who use baits to attract potential buyers, and later steal from them. “The online shopping criminals entice unsuspecting buyers through deals via email, SMS, social media pages or telephone. They also request registration fee for the goods or service,” stated Francis Wangusi, the CA Director General. Such sellers have unavailable registered physical addresses/contacts, lack of customer…

Your data may not be safe, even with two data protection bills still floating in parliament, one sponsored by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and the other by the Ministry of ICT. Instead of proposing amendment to the bill sponsored by Senator Moi, the ministry went ahead to sponsor a new bill that is flawed in the eyes of experts. According to lawyer Mugambi Laibuta, the ICT Ministry Bill is most worrying in terms of form and content with glaring loopholes and clauses that can hardly be operationalised. “Any data protection regulation should cater for three aspects – individuals right to…