Author: Francis Muli

Bwala Africa Group, a logistics marketplace launched early this year, has acquired Ksh24 million debt financing from South African-based bank CFC Stanbic to meet the rising demand for last mile fleet connectivity. In a statement to newsrooms, the firm has said that so far it has recorded over 6000 deliveries in Nairobi. The management says that they will use the Ksh24 million to roll out eight new trucks from Isuzu East Africa, four directly funded by CFC and the other four funded internally by Bwala, bringing the cost of total invest to Ksh23 million. The terms of the debt financing were not disclosed.…

Mbuvi Ngunze, one of the individuals credited with bringing down Kenya Airways has been announced as the Chairman of newly launched Safarilink. During the inaugural flights to Kisumu which were launched by Raila Odinga, Mbuvi Ngunze prominently sat there as the new boss after having left a mess of the former national carrier, Kenya Airways. Attendees at the function suspect that Mbuvi is a representative of well connected individuals who helped Mbuvi Ngunze and Titus Naikuni bring down Kenya Airways with the hope of launching their own private airlines to take over the from the gap left. With Kenya Airways…

The Kenya Independent Petroleum Distributors Association (KIPEDA) members have this morning refused to collect stock from depots, in protest of the 16% VAT on fuel implemented by the government. The distributors have vowed to go on with the strike until the V.A.T on fuel is scrapped off. https://twitter.com/motoristsoffice/status/1036512925144494086 Earlier on, the Kenya Motorist Association had called on its members to down tools until the government reconsiders its move to implement the the finance bill. “We, therefore, wish to call upon motorists to again express their anger tomorrow Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th and if possible Wednesday by boycotting fuel and participating in…

The government has banned the importation and sale of mobile phones with lower than 24 hours of battery life when on standby mode, less than eight hours of talk time and lack a physical manual. The ban initiated by the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) took effect on May 15. According to the Gazette Notice that announced the new rules, they are aimed at reducing the influx of fake gadgets into the country. Upon importation, samples of mobile phones must first be sent to CA for testing and approval before they are distributed. “Test reports submitted in the Type Approval process…

A letter written by Kenyans to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kenya Trade Network Agency (Kentrade) Chairman Suleiman Shahbal has revealed that the CEO of the institution Amos Wangora could be in the process of stealing more than Ksh1.2 billion from the institution in dubious expenditures. Wangora who is on a three-year contract followed the footsteps of his predecessor Mr Alex Kabuga who was forced to step aside for single sourcing Single Window System (SWS) project from a Singapore company, which had been blacklisted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). “World Bank which had initially committed funds for the Single Window System pulled out when…

Haco Industries, Kenyan manufacturing company owned by businessman Chris Kirubi has decided to relinquish its manufacturing and distribution of BiC stationery and personal care products to French multinational Société BIC which owns the brand. 40 years of Haco’s BiC franchise will come to a close by January 1, 2019, in which Haco will receive an undisclosed amount. Read: Hashmart Inks Deal To Retail Star X Smart TVs In Kenya “My success is Kenya’s success and after nearly forty years of fruitful collaboration with BIC, and having built the business to become Kenya’s number one stationery manufacturer and distributor, this transaction is tangible…

Online Shopping Mall in Kenya Hashmart has signed a deal to exclusively sell a new television brand in the market, Star X digital smart TV. In the highly competitive television sets market, Star X digital smart TV brand may not ring a bell for many Kenyans but will join the competitive market of other established brands such as LG, Samsung, Sony and Hisense. Hashmart managing director Mansoor Hussein says the Star X smart digital TVs come in different sizes and prices on the online retailer– from 24-inch to 65-inch sizes. Star-X 65 inch 4K Smart Android LED TV going for Ksh86,000, with a display…

The insurance industry in Kenya experienced a slow growth of 6.5 per cent in the year ended 31 December 2017 compared to a growth of 13.4 per cent recorded in 2016. This is according to a report released today by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI). The report notes that insurance premium grew slightly to Ksh209 billion in 2017 from Ksh197 billion in 2016. The net claims paid out to policy holders was Ksh99.13 billion compared to Ksh85.41 billion in 2016. AKI Chairman Hassan Bashir attributes the slowed growth to prolonged election period, slowdown in private sector credit growth and…

Azuri Technologies, a leading provider of pay-as-you-go solar home systems and Unilever Kenya, a consumer goods manufacturer, today announced a partnership to bring solar home solutions to millions more off-grid homes across Kenya. The announcement comes as Prime Minister Theresa May and UK business leaders, including Azuri CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth, arrive in Kenya for a state visit to boost trade ties. Under the terms of the deal, Azuri’s Quad solar home lighting system will be co-branded with the Unilever Sunlight brand and offered through Unilever’s distribution network, which in Kenya is some 67,000 smallholder traders. The Unilever distribution network will…

MPs have voted to scrap proposed 12 per cent excise duty on mobile money transfer by banks, agencies and other financial service providers. The increment was proposed by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich mid this year to 12 per cent, up from 10 per cent. He said the money that will be collected from the increment will be used to finance the Universal Health Care program. Read: Warehousing Shortage Hurting Kenyan Economy, Shows Report Mobile money services had already effected the increment for both withdrawals and money transfers. For Safaricom, withdrawal of amount between Ksh501 and Ksh2,500 from M-Pesa Agent now costs…

Almost a fifth of manufacturers in Kenya have lost sales in the past five years on a warehousing shortage that is getting sharply worse, according to research released by mega-city developer, Tilisi Developments Limited. A detailed survey of 56 companies in Kenya, spanning manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, horticulture, logistics and retailers, found that 16% had sought new warehousing in 2017/2018, with a rising proportion failing to find any solution. The search levels represented a sharp jump from the previous year, when 9% of respondents searched for new warehousing, while 5% did in 2015. Moreover, “the majority of companies seeking warehousing in the…

Nopia Ride, Kenya’s first ever full electric mobility service is now in the taxi hailing market. Launched by Finnish firm EkoRent Africa, the company hopes to grow the number of vehicles to several hundred by the end of the year. The electric vehicles are environment friendly and the move in line with the United Nation Goals for Sustainable Development. Head of Public Health Dr Ombacho lauded the move saying: “I am happy to see Kenya continue to play her part particularly in the pursuance of sustainable and clean energy.” Nopia’s electric cars are not only eco-friendly but also low in life cycle carbon footprint.…

National Information Technology Authority of Uganda (NITA-U)has confirmed that  Alphabet’s (Google’s parent company) Loon will launch in Uganda, a month after launching in Kenya to provide 4G internet services. Google partnered with Telkom Kenya to provide balloon-powered internet to regions of central Kenya, starting in 2019. Loon is an Alphabet Inc. subsidiary working on providing Internet access to rural and remote areas. The company uses high-altitude balloons placed in the stratosphere at an altitude of about 18 km (11 miles) to create an aerial wireless network with up to 4G-LTE speeds. The announcement was made at an event that took place in Kampala, Uganda. Delegates from NITA-U, US Embassy, Loon and other Ugandan government agencies…

There is no single remaining Armoured Personel Carrier (APC) out of the 30 that were bought by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016. According to a brave General Service Unit (GSU) officer, all APCs have been written off due to Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks and lack of spare parts in the country. This happens as five soldiers died today in Lamu while ten others were left seriously injured. So far this year, 32 police and military officers have died in Liboi and Lamu roads, all casualties of IEDs planted by terror group Al-Shabaab. The officers, passionate in their duty are forced…

The government has demolished the cafeteria extension at National Oil opposite Airgate Mall formerly Taj Mall, in the ongoing exercise of reclaiming road reserves and riparian land. A church,House of Grace, was also flattened in the exercise that was done away from the glaring eye of the media. This could be a signal that Taj Mall and other buildings built on road reserves could be brought down soon. A fortnight ago, National Building Inspectorate Moses Nyakiongora gave Air Gate Mall owner Ramesh Gorasia and the tenants until August 30 to vacate the structure. The multi-agency team carrying out demolitions of…