Author: David Bogonko Nyokang’i

  • Zizi Afrique foundation on set to create a conducive state for learning

    Zizi Afrique foundation on set to create a conducive state for learning

    Zizi Afrique foundation has officially kicked off it’s  two day meeting holding six countries Sierra Leone, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya is now the host.

    The executive director has said that foundation learning is ground  set to incorporate skills that every child needs.

    “Foundational learning, we know is a key thing. The literacy and numeracy skills that every child needs is a strong foundation to support the learning that comes after. This, we know is an important thing, not just for Kenya but globally for all children.” John Mugo CEO affirms.

    The CEO has said that this is a forum free to address many aspects ranging from having extensive and intensive training to improve intelligent quotient of children at tender age.

    “This forum is going to address many aspects among them the reason why we are making such slow progress in getting all the children everywhere to learn the foundation. By foundation we mean by the time the child is finishing grade three in our Kenyan context, to be able to read with fluency and comprehension so understand what they are reading and also be able to reason with numbers.” CEO John Says.

    Zizi Afrique launched there Agenda Report of 2021 which indicated that only 40% of children in grade four were able to read at grade three level.

    This report now indicates that the majority of children were able to read at grade three level.

    “It means that a majority of our children, even with all the effort and improvement and investment, proceeding to upper primary without the foundation of skills.” Mr Mugo says.

    The forum is set to achieve the connectivity progress to accelerate progress by ensuring high rise of majority of children in the future.

    “This forum is going to connect us to discuss how we can accelerate progress, how we can ensure that in the coming years, at least 90% of our children are able to read and plan at the right level.” John Mugo affirms.

    Furthermore,  the foundation has called the nation to invite corporation and unity to achieve the best for the young ones through both the government and the community.

    “We are making a call to every Kenyan because achieving this for all children will not just be government, the government has its role, and they must play that ensuring that we have teachers who are well prepared and motivated. They are the books and materials to learn.” Mugo adds.

    The CEO has however finally urged all the parents  to ensure children at home are satisfied with all the necessary materials for growth.

    “Children need books at home so that they are supported to be able to read the love for reading is important. So having as many things as possible at home for children to read, we know helps them to learn faster, but also other people members of the community that can support schools to be better, and accountability for schools and every learner to be able to read.”

  • Make your Story Eggciting at Achievers Paradise

    Make your Story Eggciting at Achievers Paradise

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Optiven Group George Wachiuri says

    “Experience the ultimate opportunity to achieve your dreams this Easter with Achievers Paradise by Optiven. Beautifully set in the heart of Kimuka, this exceptional project offers the perfect blend of convenience and serenity. Wake up to breathtaking sunrise views and enjoy the tranquil ambiance of Ngong hills.

    Choose from a range of residential and commercial plots that come complete with tarmac touch and an additional service lane at the back.

    And that’s not all! This Easter, Optiven is giving you an irresistible offer. For every deposit or installment payment of Kshs 500k, you get a fantastic shopping voucher worth 7k to make your Easter worthwhile.

    Call us today on 0790300300 or 0723 400500 to find out more.

  • European Union allocates additional Euro 13 Million for Drought Risk  Management

    European Union allocates additional Euro 13 Million for Drought Risk Management

    The government will ensure prudent use of grants directed to drought-risk management: Mudavadi assures European Union Member States during the launch of the “DRYLAND CLIMATE ACTION FOR COMMUNITY DROUGHT RESILIENCE (DCADR) PROJECT”.

    The Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has assured the European Union Member States that every shilling from the European Union grant kitty will be prudently managed as support in the fight against drought in the country.

    Mudavadi says the government through relevant players including the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) will ensure the financial support is channeled to the sole purpose to ensure the vulnerable communities cope with the impacts of drought and climate change.

    “As a government, we will ensure the Ksh 1.7 billion (13 Million Euros) grant by the European Union through the Dryland Climate Action for Community Drought Resilience (DCADR) project is well utilized. This will significantly enhance the resilience of our communities to drought and other effects of climate change,” said Mudavadi.

    “As a government, we will honor our commitment under the grant contract to contribute a further about Ksh 650 million (5 Million Euros) as counterpart funding to the project,” added Mudavadi.

    The Prime Cabinet Secretary who officially launched the project under the Ministry for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development emphasized the need for development partners to continue supporting Kenya’s drought-risk management efforts since much has been undertaken by the Kenyan government but there still lies the need for external support.

    “Drought can be very dehumanizing and it breeds poverty and there is no dignity in dignity in poverty. We need to pull all resources available at our disposal in the fight against drought for us to bring dignity to the lives of our Kenyans hard hit by drought and famine in Arid and Semi-Arid regions (ASAL) and other parts of the country,” said Mudavadi as he lauded the European Union’s support base towards our drought-risk management efforts in Kenya between 2007 and 2022 to a tune of approximately 65 million Euros translating to about Ksh 7.8 Billion Kenya shillings.

    “The continued and consistent support through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) by the EU for the last 15 years is a clear testimony of the confidence you have in the work that the Authority does and the overall trust you have in the Kenyan government’s efforts in the fight against drought and its net effects,” said Mudavadi.

    The Prime Cabinet Secretary further outlined the measures being put in place by the government as drought preparedness and response interventions that will positively impact
    on the food security of the most vulnerable populations in ASAL areas.

    Stating that the impacts and effects of the current prolonged drought would have been much worse were it not for the actions being taken through the support of the European Union and other international and local partners.

    “As the European Union, what we are looking at are future innovative programs that will ensure we develop permanent, sustainable approaches to save the livelihoods in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands which are the most vulnerable when it comes to the severe effects of drought.” The European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henritte Geiger said in her remarks.

    “The challenges caused by drought have awakened us into the bitter reality. We have to develop mechanisms that will be sustainable and enable us to mitigate the challenges brought about by the effects of drought so that we do not find ourselves in such situations unawares,” said Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Ministry for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development during the launch.

    “Humanitarian assistance is only a stop-gap measure. Our manifesto recognizes that an estimated 2 million households, that is one in six, are food-poor. The vast majority of these are farmers, and some of these farmers are in our arid and semi-arid regions. We believe that support to farmers to raise productivity would not only enable them to feed themselves but also generate a surplus that contributes to national food security and the economy.” Said Mudavadi.

    The Prime Cabinet Secretary pointed out that Kenya is taking proactive action to put in place long-term measures that will address the challenges posed by cyclic droughts. For instance, the government is committed to building 1,000 dams across the country through public-private partnerships to increase food production.

    In addition, Kenya is joining other global players in the global fight against the planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and loss of nature and biodiversity, which are threatening the well-being and survival of mankind. As a contribution towards reducing greenhouse emissions, stopping and reversing deforestation, and, restoring 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes, Kenya’s government has an ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees in the next 10 years.

  • Ichoho Crowned With Mandate To Steer Tea Reforms

    Ichoho Crowned With Mandate To Steer Tea Reforms

    Sasanews.co.ke is boldly confirmed and in reporting that the Chairman of Kenya Tea Development Authority David Muni Ichoho has been crowned with the mandate and responsibility to continue the exemplary work of steering the tea sector.

    In a colourful event on Saturday, the described by the community as a humble, down-to-earth and God fearing Ichoho received the elders blessings bestowing upon him the prestigious accolade.

    The ceremony was presided over by the Senior Most Kikuyu Elder respectfully referred to as Matûranguru accompanied by other elders including Mûthamaki Thiong’o wa Gîtaû.

    In his humble acceptance speech, Mr Ichoho vowed to continue with his reforms in the tea sector with the aim of improving the welfare of the farmer.

    Mr. Ichoho has been very keen to look for new markets as well as revamping the existing ones.

    He has also been in the forefront urging farmers to embrace diversification.

    Mr Ichoho has ensured among his work to have a timely distribution of the subsidized fertilizer so that the farmer can improve on his productivity.

    Matûranguru Njathi wa Mbatia in white alongside Mûthamaki Thiong'o Gîtaû (third left) witnessed the installation
    Matûranguru Njathi wa Mbatia in white alongside Mûthamaki Thiong’o Gîtaû (third left) witnessed the installation
  • Info Out Of The Powerful US Leader Who Allegedly Brokered A Truce Between Ruto And Raila Odinga

    Info Out Of The Powerful US Leader Who Allegedly Brokered A Truce Between Ruto And Raila Odinga

     On Sunday evening President William Ruto addressed the nation where he requested Raila Odinga to consider calling off his Monday mass action demonstration something that Raila Odinga heeded as he called off the weekly protests.

    It has however emerged that several emissaries have been leading dialogues that have finally yielded good fruits. A report by Citizen Tv has revealed that Religious leaders have been at the forefront of brokering the dialogue deal.

    Additionally, information revealed that US Senator Chris Coons met President Ruto and Raila Odinga separately to discuss the ongoing demonstrations, it is believed that Coons made a significant effect on the dialogue which resulted in a successful truce between the two.

    President Ruto has now promised to consider the grievances of Raila Odinga and make an effort in achieving these demands. Raila Odinga on his side also called off his demonstrations as he respects the call of President Ruto in reaching out to solve the grievances.

  • Ruto And Raila Have Dialogue Without Gachagua, Governor Barasa says

    Kenyan Governor Fernandes Barasa has urged President Ruto and opposition leader Raila to engage in unconditional dialogue without the involvement of DP Rigathi Gachagua. Raila’s decision to call off mass protests was seen as a reciprocal gesture towards Ruto’s willingness to engage in dialogue. Barasa said that the involvement of Gachagua may lead to other issues.

    However, Raila emphasized the need for quick and meaningful progress in discussions on the issues raised. Alinur Mohamed claims that both Raila Odinga and William Ruto are secretly planning for a handshake and have given Kenyans signs. According to Barasa, Rigathi Gachagua has been acting weird in the past few days and therefore he should not be involved.

    In light of these developments, it remains to be seen whether the proposed dialogue will materialize and lead to meaningful progress toward addressing the challenges facing Kenya. Ruto and Raila are set to have a secret dialogue that is oriented towards the betterment of the Kenyan economy.

  • “We Are Human, We Have Families, Nobody Cares If Mob Attacks Us” Police Officer Tells His Story

    “We Are Human, We Have Families, Nobody Cares If Mob Attacks Us” Police Officer Tells His Story

    One of the police officers deployed in Embakasi to control Azimio La Umoja One Coalition protests has spoken out on what he went through on Thursday.

    It reached a point when the policeman and his colleagues ran out of tear gas. At this point, the policeman and his colleagues were surrounded by the youths.

    Stones were landing on them indiscriminately, injuring them badly. They tried to shoot in the air but the youths could not stop attacking them. They continued coming closer and throwing stones.

    The policeman said that at this point he was torn between shooting and saving his life. He imagined how using his gun would lead to the killing of someone’s son as he was a father of one.

    On the other hand, being killed was the worst for him. Who would take care of his children and wife? Was the media going to report his case as it does for those protestors who get killed?

    Luckily, he got an escape route and landed in a house of a certain woman who gave him first aid. The policeman had broken his hip and he was bleeding from the injuries caused by stoning.

    He was later taken to the hospital where he now lies on the bed not able to do anything. As the media reports how protestors who were hurt during protests are recuperating in the hospital, nobody wants to know whether there was a policeman who was hurt in the same scene and how he is doing.

    It pains him more seeing that he can’t do anything now and the children still look upon him for provision. Again, he had a gun that he could have used to rescue himself and prevent being stoned.

    The policeman said that the police are also human beings. They have families to provide for and are afraid of losing their lives too. We hope that the policeman will soon get well and get back to work. What do you think about this policeman? Please share your views with us in the comments section below.

  • Uhuru come out and denounce Azimio Coalition, Wetangula says

    Uhuru come out and denounce Azimio Coalition, Wetangula says

    National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has urged retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to speak out against the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya anti-government protests.

    Wetangula noted that “the conspiracy of silence” by the former President was detrimental and that he should do the honorable thing and publicly advocate for peace. “You should be the number one elder statesman in Kenya who can call the country to order when things are going wrong,” he said.

    The former Head of State who is the Chairperson of the Azimio Council has in recent months been under fire from a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders who accuse him of sponsoring the Azimio protests.

    Speaker Wetangula challenged Kenya’s fifth President to make his position known and cement his legacy as a peace ambassador. “History will judge you harshly if you fail to act and that is not good for you my brother,” he said.

    The former President’s alleged involvement with the Azimio rallies prompted some goons to invade his family’s land situated along the Eastern bypass on March 27, 2023.

    President Kenyatta continues to keep a low profile despite acknowledging that Odinga is still his party leader.

    Capital FM

  • Online Safety: Fund seeks applicants for grant awards

    Online Safety: Fund seeks applicants for grant awards

    Impact Amplifier (IA) has sent out a call for applications ( https://www.impactamplifier.co.za/africa-online-safety-fund) for the award of grants under its $1,000,000 Africa Online Safety Fund (AOSF). This project is made possible with the support of Google.org.

    Africa’s internet access has increased dramatically over the last 10 years with over 520 million people, or 40% of the population, now with access to the web. This has opened up many new opportunities for socioeconomic development, including the potential for the internet economy to contribute nearly $180 billion to Africa’s economy by 2025.

    However, this rapid growth has also brought new challenges, including privacy and security concerns, bullying and harassment, hate crimes, fake news, political targeting and manipulation, terrorist recruitment and promotion, and financial scams. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made these issues worse, with a 30% increase in cyberattacks.

    To address these issues, the Africa Online Safety Fund, with financial support from Google.org, has been established to finance innovative existing and new solutions to these challenges.

    The Fund will be awarding grants to organizations throughout Africa, but will be focused on four primary countries, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, that address one or more of the safety issues the internet facilitates.

    There are three categories of funding: Transformative, Maturing, and Catalytic. The Transformative projects are intended to be larger in scale, reach multiple geographies and/ or potentially large numbers of beneficiaries, and be scalable as a solution. The Maturing projects are intended to test ideas at a larger scale, try new ideas within existing projects, and reach new audiences. The Catalytic projects are intended to be smaller, targeted, and potentially only locally or culturally specific.

    Transformative projects will attract a maximum grant of $50,000, Maturing projects up to $25,000, and Catalytic projects $10,000.

    Applications opened on 1 March and will be received until 30 April 2023. The shortlisted applicants will be announced by 31 May and taken through the second stage of the application process. The finalists will be known by 15 July 2023.

    This is the second call for applications for AOSF, the first one having been last year. In the first set of awards, a total of 26 organizations received grants through the program. The successful applicants in that first cohort came from a wide range of countries – including the Ivory Coast, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania.

  • The family bank reports kes.3.7 billion profit before tax for the full year ended 2022

    The family bank reports kes.3.7 billion profit before tax for the full year ended 2022

    Family Bank Group has recorded a KES 3.7 billion Profit Before Tax for the full year ended 31 December 2022, a 12.2 % growth compared to KES 3.3 billion posted in 2021.

    The revenue growth was catapulted by double-digit growth in revenues, customer loans, and prudent investment decisions by the Bank.

    Total revenues increased by 10.6% to KES 11.9 billion driven by 10.7% growth in net interest income that stood at KES 8.6 billion in the period under review largely as a result of exponential growth in interest income from loans and that of government securities which grew by 19.2% and 29.9% respectively in the period under review.

    Customer loans grew by 21.6 % to close at KES 81.4 billion while net interest income increased by 10.7% to KES 8.6 billion. On the balance sheet side, total assets expanded by 15% from KES 111.7 billion to close at KES 128.5 billion in 2022. Non-funded income grew by 10.6% to KES 3.4 billion, an affirmation that our diversification strategy continues to pay off.

    “In 2022, we focused on diversification of product offerings through the financing of second-hand importation and innovative finance for MSMEs in the water and sanitation sector. Through our fundraising partners, having raised over USD 56 million, we have been able to increase our lending to various MSMEs as well as climate-friendly investments and women-led businesses in the education, health, agriculture, energy, and manufacturing sectors. This is evidenced by the growth of our revenues, amidst the complex operating environment with the General Elections, drought, impact of the Ukraine-Russia War, and post-pandemic recovery,” said Family Bank CEO Rebecca Mbithi.

    “We are confident of our performance in 2023 having put in place an aggressive strategy that prioritizes heavy investment in digital banking and rolls out of agri-finance products as we seek to strengthen our balance sheet through the adoption of additional core capital and long-term debt while driving operational efficiencies across our businesses,” added Ms. Mbithi.

    In 2022, customer deposits grew by 8.5% to close at KES. 88.9 billion compared to KES 81.9 billion recorded in a similar period in 2021. Staff costs grew by 33% due to the Group’s investment in training staff and attracting top-notch talent to support its aggressive strategy and to deliver exceptional service to the customers.

    There was a significant reduction in the Group’s loan loss provisions by 35.6% to settle at KES. 495.1 million against KES. 768.1 billion recorded in 2021. Net non-performing loans increased by 18.4% to close at KES 5.6 billion in 2022 compared to KES 4.8 billion in 2021.

    The Bank has declared a total dividend of KES 0.62 per share. Shareholders’ funds grew by 3.3% to close at KES 16.1 billion. The Group’s Profit After Tax for 2022 stood at KES 2.2 billion. The Bank’s capital and liquidity ratios remain strong, adequately above the regulatory requirement.

    Recently, the Bank acquired a KES 3.9 billion (USD 30 million) lending facility for trade & Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) from the African Development Bank Group (AFDB) to promote onward lending to SMEs in health, renewable energy, and agriculture and reduce the SME finance gap, especially for women-led businesses.

    About Family Bank

    Family Bank is a financial institution that prides itself in growing a strong retail customer base with a key focus on SME banking anchored on the positive transformation of people’s lives in Africa. Family Bank is the fifth-largest bank in Kenya, as of Dec 2020, in terms of branch network with 93 branches across 32 counties. The Bank has over 600,000 customers, 4,800 bank agents, and over 8,000 merchants countrywide with total assets exceeding KES 128 billion and a deposit base in excess of KES 88 billion.

    Family Bank prides itself in being a digitally innovative bank having been the first bank to introduce paperless banking through smart card technology and mobile banking, PesaPap, in Kenya and the first to launch mVisa service in Africa.

    In 2021 Family Bank received two awards; Financial Communication Campaign of the Year and Overall Public Relations Campaign of the Year at the 2021 Public Relations Society of Kenya Annual Awards for Excellence for the Corporate Bond Campaign where the Bank raised KES 4.42 billion via public placement marking a subscription of 147.3%. In 2022, Family Bank was voted as the overall second-best bank and best tier-two bank in customer responsiveness and digital banking experience in a survey conducted by the Kenya Bankers Association.

    Other awards include Bank of the year 2022, for high-impact agricultural SME lending by ACELI Africa; Best SME Bank in Kenya at the annual Banker Africa Awards 2017 East Africa –an award initiative for financial institutions in Africa; Think Business Fastest Growing Bank Award three years in a row between 2013 and 2015; and the Think Business Best Bank in Micro-Finance Award, 1st Runner-up in 2013 and 2014. For more information about Family Bank, please visit: www.familybank.co.ke