Author: David Bogonko Nyokang’i

·         This innovative device seamlessly integrates with LG’s webOS-powered smart TVs*, providing a host of premium apps and services that cater to the diverse needs of customers.

·         Ensuring user security and privacy, the Smart Cam comes with an integrated cover that effectively blocks the camera lens when not in use, safeguarding users from potential security breaches.

LG Electronics has unveiled its revolutionary Smart Cam (model VC23GA), offering users unrivaled convenience and an enhanced user interaction experience.

This innovative device seamlessly integrates with LG’s webOS-powered smart TVs*, providing a host of premium apps and services that cater to the diverse needs of customers.

With its Full HD (FHD) video camera, built-in dual microphones, and multi-view function, the Smart Cam connects effortlessly with LG Smart TV hence improving user experience.

Speaking on the new innovation, LG Managing Director, East Africa Dongwon Lee said users can enjoy convenient video calling and conferencing, elevating their home fitness experience, and much more. “It’s a true game-changer for LG Smart TV users seeking convenience and seamless integration. As LG Electronics, we remain committed to enhancing users’ everyday lives by delivering exceptional value and differentiated user experiences. The flawless integration of the Smart Cam and LG TV enhances convenience, interactivity, and entertainment opportunities for LG TV owners, revolutionizing the way they interact with their devices,” said Lee

The Smart Cam is compatible with a wide range of services available on LG TV’s webOS platform, offering a diverse and compelling interactive experience. For instance, the Remote Meeting feature allows users to effortlessly connect with co-workers, clients, family, or friends using the innovative web-based video conferencing service. Remote Meeting works seamlessly across PCs, laptops, smartphones, and LG TVs, eliminating the need for a laptop or PC connection. Setting up the app on an LG TV is fast, simple, and hassle-free, providing users with ultimate convenience. Furthermore, the Smart Cam’s built-in microphones eliminate the need for extra peripherals, streamlining the experience even further.

Fitness enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the benefits of pairing an LG Smart Cam with an LG TV. The Exercise app, utilizing advanced AI motion and exercise recognition algorithms, tracks the user’s body movements in real-time to provide accurate feedback on exercise techniques, optimizing performance.

Additionally, the integration with FlexIt, a platform offering camera-assisted live one-on-one sessions with top fitness and wellness professionals, enhances the customized user experience. FlexIt provides tailored programs, motivational tips, and tricks to support users in achieving their fitness and well-being goals, enabling a healthier lifestyle.

The Smart Cam and LG TV duo also open up new entertainment options. The Fun Mirror selfie app offers a wide array of filters, fun photo effects, and editing options, bringing joy and creativity to users’ lives. Additionally, the popular dance tutorial app, 1M Home Dance, in collaboration with LG and South Korea’s iconic 1 MILLION Dance Studio, delivers various tutorials and dance clips. With the Smart Cam connected, users can participate in the choreography by performing alongside the instructor in Camera Mode, enhancing their dancing skills more efficiently.

Ensuring user security and privacy, the Smart Cam comes with an integrated cover that effectively blocks the camera lens when not in use, safeguarding users from potential security breaches.

With its slim design and magnetic connectors, the LG Smart Cam seamlessly blends in with compatible LG Smart TVs launched in 2022, including the lifestyle TV lineup, adding a touch of style to the modern aesthetic. The built-in dual microphone guarantees crystal-clear voice quality, enhancing the overall user experience.

Xiaomi Kenya, today, announced the winners of the #LiveVividKe dance challenge. The campaign that was launch a month ago saw a record number of entries with hundreds of creative routines submitted on Tiktok. The challenge dared Xiaomi fans to post videos on them dancing to the #LiveVivid Anthem by Fathermoh ft Ssaru & Vijana Baru Baru.

The winners Don Puffy, Amanda Joy and Leila came out on top having submitted the most creative and most liked routines to the song. The campaign gave them an opportunity to challenge themselves and to compete with other incredible dancers. The challenge is part of the Redmi Note 12 Series campaign that is driving Kenyans to #LiveVivid.

The spirit of the Redmi Note 12 Series is to inspire people to Live Vivid; with its incredible camera, users can vividly immortalize every moment, its smooth and vivid display creates an amazing user experience and its large battery and fast charging ensures Xiaomi fans never miss a moment.

Xiaomi has found that most of its fans and young people in general have their own unique way of life and self-expression, but they all live vividly and live wonderfully. In Kenya, the Gen Z deeply value their individual identity and are not afraid of embracing what is uniquely their own. They use a wide range of outlets to express their uniqueness, but for most, music inspires them and allows them to connect with one another and with different cultures.

·         Kenya Pension Funds Investment Consortium considering 57 infrastructure and alternative investments with an aggregate value of $5.5 bn.

·         Energy, transport, affordable housing, healthcare, agriculture, MSME’s and ICT among sectors eyeing funding from pension schemes.

The Kenya Pension Funds Investment Consortium (KEPFIC) has received infrastructure and alternative investment proposals collectively worth over Ksh.700 billion ($5.5 billion) from project sponsors and fund managers looking to raise capital from the local retirement benefits schemes. The proposals come as local pension schemes expand their search for suitable investments to provide diversification and higher returns for pensioners.

The announcement was made during the opening of the two-day KEPFIC Annual Investment Conference in Nairobi today, where the shortlisted investment opportunities were presented to the local pension fund investors and discussed with project sponsors, fund managers, and industry experts. The projects under evaluation by the pensions investors span different sectors such as energy, property, affordable housing, healthcare, water and sanitation, transport and logistics, agriculture, telecoms, and ICT among others.

The mobilization of funds for different sectors by KEPFIC aligns with the Kenyan government’s plan to mobilize over Ksh.100 billion in private sector capital through priority projects that deliver nationally significant infrastructure, drive growth and have the highest benefit to Kenyans as outlined in the 2023/24 National Budget Proposal.

“Kenyan pension schemes are in search of profitable, secure, and impactful investments for better returns for their members. Infrastructure and alternative assets are an attractive but untapped new asset class for pension schemes and offer attractive returns and much-needed portfolio diversification benefits, delivering better overall investment performance,” said Ngatia Kirungie, the Head of the KEPFIC Secretariat and CEO of Spearhead Africa, during the conference opening.

According to the Retirement Benefits Authority, the pension industry assets under management stand at approximately Sh1.5 trillion. Pension funds are allowed to put up 10% of their assets into infrastructure as per the RBA investment guidelines passed in 2020. Traditionally, pension funds have invested in government securities, listed equities, and direct property investments but infrastructure investments remain hugely untapped yet profitable and sustainable in the long term.

KEPFIC, founded as an industry-wide initiative supported by the Joint Capital Markets Program (J-CAP), a World Bank Group program, and USAID, works together with pension fund trustees, fund managers and regulators to address the challenges that pension schemes face while investing in alternative assets. These challenges include limited visibility on investment opportunities, large capital requirements, and a lack of specialized investment expertise.

“As a consortium, we look for bankable projects with suitable returns that support sustainable economic development. They also have to be backed by strong environmental, social, and governance principles. By the end of 2022, we had mobilized over Ksh15 billion from local pension scheme investors into a number of alternative asset opportunities,” Mr. Kirungie added.

Some of the investments by KEPFIC members include a bond issued by the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) for affordable housing mortgage refinancing, and the development of student housing through a real estate investment trust (REIT) established by developer Acorn Holdings.  Another upcoming investment is in the Lot 3 road project in North Eastern Kenya under the Kenya Roads Annuity public-private partnership (PPP) program developed with technical assistance from the World Bank.

Through support from USAID, KEPFIC has established partnerships with US-based pension funds to explore infrastructure co-investment opportunities in the region. With the support and co-investment partnerships is has cultivated, KEPFIC aims to mobilize and invest at least USD250 million (Approx Ksh.35 billion) in infrastructure assets in the near term and provide competitive returns and diversification opportunities to the member funds and co-investors.

·         Kenya will be one of the first countries in Africa to experience the new cabin

·         The airline projects that it will register at least 14 per cent more seats in terms of capacity in 2023 than in 2019 largely driven by increased Leisure and business travel.

Dutch National Carrier KLM has introduced a new cabin class dubbed Premium Comfort In between the economy class and business class.

Targeted at customers who want to enjoy the luxury of flying comfortably, the new cabin is installed on all Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft flying to international destinations.

Giving his remarks on the new cabin, Marius van der Ham, Air France-KLM General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana Marius said the new Premium Comfort Class allows KLM to more closely meet the needs and wishes of leisure and business travellers. 

“We are thrilled to introduce our new premium comfort cabin class, designed to offer a luxurious flying experience. With this new offering, we can cater to the needs of our customers who value more comfort. Customers in this cabin get to also enjoy sky priority, extra legroom and an extensive menu. We are confident that this new cabin class will elevate our customers’ travel experience, and we look forward to welcoming them on board.” Said Marius van der Ham

Containing 28 seats on 787-10 and 21 seats on 787-9, the premium comfort cabin comes featuring more legroom than a standard Economy Class seat, more recline, more space between armrests, movable leg- and footrests, In-seat power, and personal entertainment system. Passengers travelling in Premium Comfort will also have access to priority boarding, allowing them to settle in and relax before takeoff.

With the introduction of Premium Comfort, KLM aims to meet the growing demand for an affordable luxury travel experience. As of 2022, at least 85 per cent of the airline’s capacity in the market was restored against the backdrop of the gradual lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions on passengers.

Looking into 2023, the airline projects that it will register at least 14 per cent more seats in terms of capacity than in 2019 during the Covid-19 period. This is largely driven by increased demand for Leisure travel and business passenger travel which is expected to grow by upto 10 per cent by the end of this year.

The Premium comfort is offered daily from Nairobi, five times a week in Tanzania, and two times a week in Zanzibar and will be rolled out in South Africa and West Africa before the year ends.

Over 15,000 residents to benefit from improved health services at Tawa sub-County Hospital following collaboration between the Foundation and the County Government

More than 15,000 residents of Mbooni East in Makueni County are set to benefit from improved maternal and child health services after the M-PESA Foundation and the county government opened newly constructed Maternal and Child Health Unit at Tawa sub-County Hospital.

The Foundation invested KES 27 million in the project while Makueni County government equipped the facility at a cost of KES 4.8 million. The health facility will be crucial in reducing referrals and bringing services closer to residents of Mbooni sub-County. It will also contribute to reducing maternal and child health mortality.

“In our efforts to curb maternal and infant mortality, the M-PESA Foundation has partnered with several counties to enhance service delivery. That is why we have intervened here in Makueni County to bring services closer to the people and transform as many lives as possible,” said Nicholas Nganga, Chairman, M-PESA Foundation.

The Foundation has ongoing maternal health projects at Ndhiwa sub-County Hospital in Homa Bay, Makwa Dispensary in Kiambu, Talek Community Hospital in Narok and Brase Clinic in Migori County.

Meanwhile in Machakos County, M-PESA Foundation carried out a medical camp in collaboration with Zuri Health and Lion First Sight Eye Hospital, which saw over 2,000 people access health services. As part of the exercise, patients from the medical camp will access free follow-up consultations for up to six months via SMS and WhatsApp by sending the word “ZURI” to 40815. The service allows users to add three dependents who will also receive medical advice from doctors.

·    The company anticipates that this new investment will contribute more than 20 per cent of its overall business by the year 2032.

·   The Homecare and Personal care manufacturing plant boasts an impressive production capacity, enabling the manufacturing of 40 tonnes of Homecare products and 12 tonnes of personal care products daily

Leading edible oils and detergent manufacturer Pwani Oil Limited has announced a significant investment in an ultra-modern Home Care and Personal Care manufacturing plant, the first of its kind in the East Africa Region.

Located inside the Kikambala factory, the plant is an addition to the edible oils and soap plant and is part of Pwani Oil’s commitment to proactively meet the ever-evolving needs and preferences of Kenyan consumers.

As a liquid detergent plant, the additional establishment will focus on manufacturing an extensive range of home and personal care products, a diversification moves away from Pwani Oils’ renowned oil-based products.  This will include an array of innovative solutions such as dishwashers, floor pastes, fabric softeners, milking jelly, shower gels, hand and body wash, shampoo, conditioners, and body lotions, among others.

Speaking at the new plant, Pwani Oil Commercial Director Rajul Malde said, “With this expansion, we are not only diversifying our product offerings but also demonstrating our commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation. We are excited to bring these high-quality, environmentally friendly products to Kenyan households and contribute to a greener future.“

The liquid detergent plant boasts an impressive production capacity, enabling the manufacture of 40 tonnes of dishwashing pastes, dishwashing liquid, and floor cleaners daily. Additionally, it will produce 12 tonnes of personal care products per day, encompassing milking jelly, petroleum jelly, lotions, creams, and an assortment of soaps. These high-quality products are expected to have a shelf life exceeding 2.5 years, ensuring long-lasting freshness and effectiveness.

With a vision for growth and a commitment to innovation, Pwani Oil anticipates that this new investment will contribute more than 20 per cent of its overall business by the year 2032.

Pwani Oil’s decision to expand into the liquid detergent market was driven by extensive consumer research, which identified a gap in the industry for products that offer enhanced freshness and additional features. The company responded to this demand by developing floor cleaners that repel insects, providing consumers with an added benefit to their cleaning routines.

On Safety and environmental responsibility, the plant is designed to be environmentally sustainable and adheres to stringent manufacturing standards as this was a central consideration in its establishment. It complies with Home Care and Food Care regulations, ensuring the highest level of safety for consumers.

“We have implemented rigorous quality control measures throughout the manufacturing process, ensuring that the products remain uncontaminated by bacteria. The entire production process is automated, eliminating the risk of human contact”. Said Malde.

In addition, Sustainability is at the forefront of the plants and the entire Pwani oil operations. The company has made substantial investments to minimize its environmental impact. The liquid detergent plant incorporates a water treatment facility, enabling water recycling and conservation. Rainwater harvesting, in conjunction with water purifiers, helps to replenish the plant’s water supply.

Moreover, Pwani Oil has demonstrated its commitment to renewable energy by installing solar power plants across the facility, generating 1.2 megawatts of solar power and 1.4 megawatts of steam turbine-generated power. These initiatives highlight Pwani Oil’s dedication to sustainable practices and its contribution to a greener future.

The inauguration of Pwani Oil’s liquid detergent plant and the introduction of its diverse range of home and personal care products represent a significant milestone for the company and the Kenyan market.