Ziiki media just concluded their music recording camp ‘ZiiBeats’ as one of their artist support initiatives that provided a constructive platform for artists from different parts of Africa to collaborate and interface their sounds and abilities.
The camp was designed to promote cutting-edge partnerships by defying genre norms and enabling experimentation, fusion, and synergy among African producers and artists.
The talented pool of artists represented an international blend of music makers such as Ghana’s Sarkodie, Nigeria’s Iyanya, Tanzania’s Rayvanny, Nandy, and Yammi, Kenya’s new kid on the block Lexsil.
On the other hand, the lineup boasted an impressive roster of seasoned songwriters including Baby Son and Raspy from South Africa who provided an invaluable addition to the camp.
Producer extraordinaire CeeBeaats, one of the leading female music producers in the UK hip-hop scene, was also part of the recording camp, with her ability to dip into multiple genres, specializing in the 90s and noughties hip-hop and R&B, Afrobeats, Amapiano, house, dance, UK Garage and pop accompanied by Tyler ICU, a South African singer, DJ, and music producer is known for his unique sound, which blends elements of Amapiano, Afrobeats, and house music.
Other producers included the Multi-Platinum Selling producer Yumbs from South Africa and the incredible Blaisebeatz who has been a huge part of many artists’ success stories such as Fireboy DML, Chris Brown and Davido.
These top-rated producers were not only tasked with collaborating with the artists by introducing them to new musical styles and performance techniques to enable them to compete in the global market but also provided guidance and mentorship.
With the aim to create future hits, ZiiBeats has created a unique environment where artists exchange ideas, gain new perspectives, and potentially find future project collaborators.
From learning the art of beat-making to understanding the intricacies of producing hit songs, the expertise and guidance of these featured producers will without a doubt have a ripple effect very soon on the musical scene.
Huawei Kenya has announced that it will step up residential internet fiber and connect more homes to the Internet.
Speaking during the Conext Conference hosted by TESPOK in Nairobi, Tony Li, Chief Technology Officer of Huawei Southern Africa Region said that scaling up internet access for Kenyans using Fixed Wireless Access, mobile technologies and Fixed Networks, using fiber, are critical to deepening digital inclusion and expanding the country’s participation in the global digital economy. The firm’s Fiber To The Room (FTTR) program is expected to double the number of Kenyan homes with internet connectivity from the current level where it is just under 250,000 in total.
The aspiration is to get to the innovation of 1 Gbps in every room, targeting homes with large families and houses with multiple rooms and levels, with support for up to 16 rooms and responding to the diverse functional needs of each household such as watching movies in the living room, while people are working, video conferencing, gaming, posting to social media or even livestreaming in their private rooms.
“Leveraging on the new building code that requires all developments to be fiber ready, our set up will involve placing Wi-Fi enabled optical network terminals (ONT) in every room of an apartment unit. This way, Fiber To The Room (FTTR) allows for consistent internet coverage throughout the home, ensuring uninterrupted high-speed connectivity regardless of which room one is in,” he said.
The Fiber to the Room (FTTR) all-optical Wi-Fi solution directly extends optical fibers to each room, achieving gigabit coverage everywhere at home. It covers Huawei’s innovative photoelectric composite micro-optical cable and FTTR construction solution which represents a quantum leap in cutting-edge home networking, leveraging the power of fibers characterized by their compact size, feather-light build, virtually eternal service life, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and the limitless potential for bandwidth expansion.
In a world where seamless connectivity is paramount, FTTR emerges as the ultimate solution to the challenge of delivering flawless home network coverage down to every corner. Residents can now enjoy a fresh and compelling alternative for their networking needs including demands for home services such as online education, video streaming, and online gaming, which has recently increased sharply.
Tony pointed out that partnership with the government was crucial to delivering these modern experiences to Kenyans.
“We believe the government has an important role to play in 3 particular areas, namely requiring all new buildings to be fiber-ready, with the manholes and ducts to make it easier and quicker to install fiber, and also enhancing competition in the market. The proposed Building Code is a great step in this direction. Secondly, it is important to reduce fiber cuts through coordination with roads and utility agencies as well as using enforcement of relevant laws. Finally, we need to reduce the costs for wayleaves, speed up approvals, and provide access to other shared infrastructure such as power poles or road ducts,” he added.
The FTTR market consists of two major segments: The first is indoor optical cable installation provided by construction companies and interior design companies. The second is indoor optical cable installation provided by carriers.
With the advent of cloud computing, virtual reality, gaming, telehealth, remote services, and high capacity services not yet imagined, Kenyans must grapple with updating its Internet’s infrastructure for the 21st century.
This is a historic moment in Kenyan as this is a feat that no other supermarket in Kenya, local or international, has managed to achieve.
The outlet which carries this great honour is Naivas Foodmarket King’ara Road in Lavington.
Opening the store in this neighbourhood is a testament to the truly national brand that Naivas has become. From a general store founded in the rural town of Rongai in Nakuru county, to the leading retailer in the country, is nothing short of a success story punctuated by commitment and resilience.
Despite the challenges in the retail sector, Naivas has continued to scale new heights and set new records with each passing year.
“As we set up the general store, it was not for any other reason but to take care of our basic needs and never did I ever imagine that I would be here today talking about store number 100. It is truly an emotional moment for me, from just seeking to take care of my family to now having over 10,000 directly employed by the company is something I would never have dreamed of. As a Kenyan homegrown family business, we thank you for the trust you have placed on the brand and we shall ensure that we continue to diligently serve Kenyans as you are the reason for our being. My promise is, store number 100 is just the beginning as we now are focused on the next big step, hitting 200 stores,’’ said David Kimani, Naivas Managing Director.
“It may have taken 33 years 2 months and 12 days to hit this great milestone, but it means that the founding family, the Mukuhas, had set the right foundation to ensure that the business grows. It is because of this right foundation that the business was able to attract foreign investment. Thanks to our investors, a consortium led by IBL which includes Proparco and DEG, have been instrumental in strengthening our corporate governance ensuring that the business has the right foundation for the next level of success’’ remarked Andreas Von Paleske, Naivas Chief of Strategy.
“As IBL we are glad to have found a partner in Naivas, a homegrown Kenyan family business that has enabled us to expand into the Kenyan market. We assure Naivas of our unwavering support to see to it that it continues to expand and reach even greater heights. I want to wish Naivas a happy 100 branches celebration,” said Arnaud Lagesse.
IBL Executive Director and Group CEO.
The journey beyond one hundred has just begun and the business is committed to reaching every community in the country one store at a time.
Sahimiye Foundation has called on De La Rue, the world’s biggest printer of banknotes, to cancel a contentious $9.6 million contract to print 380 billion SL shillings for the Somaliland government. In an open letter to De La Rue, Sahamiye notes the decision to increase money supply in Somaliland will worsen the economic pain that low income and disadvantaged groups of society are currently experiencing.
The Foundation warned that the new bank notes would double the money in circulation and cause the local currency to lose value against the dollar. “The highly unusual decision to print money, especially at a time when the country is preparing for presidential elections, is predicted to cause the value of the SL shilling to drop from 8,750 to over 20,000 per dollar,” wrote Ismail Ahmed, Sahamiye’s Founder and Director.
Ismail further warned that De La Rue’s Somaliland contract posed serious legal andethical questions. He noted that there was no competitive bidding nor approval by parliament before De La Rue was awarded the contract. “I urge you to cancel the contract and return the $9.6 million that the Central Bank of Somaliland sent you to fund the transaction,” he wrote in the letter addressed to De La Rue CEO’s Clive Vacher.
Ismail challenged Clive to take a principled stand given that De La Rue had a historyof involvement in corruption scandals and was the subject of several investigationsby the UK’s Serious Fraud Office.
Born and raised in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, Ismail is a UK-based tech entrepreneur and founder of international money transfer service WorldRemit. He currently serves as the Chairman of WorldRemit. He founded Sahamiye Foundation
in 2021 to promote education and literacy in Somaliland and the Horn of Africa and advocate for policies that foster development. He in 2021 announced that he would commit more than $500 million of his own wealth to the Foundation over a period of 10 years.
The Women Enterprise Fund orchestrated a highly successful stakeholders’ validation workshop, illuminating the contours of its imminent fifth strategic plan spanning the years 2023 to 2027. The pivotal event not only underscored the Fund’s commitment to its mission but also served as a platform for unveiling transformative initiatives that are poised to redefine the landscape for women entrepreneurs.
In March 2023, Dr. Josephine Obonyo, the articulate representative of the PS, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, delivered a compelling address that resonated with the audience. She illuminated the Fund’s progressive pivot towards digital processes, an innovative approach that manifested in the expeditious disbursement of Kshs. 941 million to an impressive 18,955 groups within a mere three months. This commendable achievement underscored the Fund’s commitment to efficiency and its responsiveness to the evolving needs of its beneficiaries.
Dr. Obonyo, echoing the sentiments of the Fund’s leadership, emphasized resilience and sustainability as linchpins within the strategic plan. Given the intricacies of the current dynamic economic environment, these components were deemed indispensable for ensuring the enduring impact of the Fund’s interventions.
Jane C. Lang, the distinguished Chairperson of the Advisory Board, assumed the podium during the workshop, articulating key strategic objectives with precision and foresight. Central to these objectives was the imperative to enhance market access, cultivate financial acumen and entrepreneurial skills, streamline loan accessibility for women entrepreneurs, and fortify institutional capabilities. Lang’s elucidation of these strategic pillars underscored a comprehensive approach aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs holistically.
The proposed strategic plan is characterized by its audacious goals, indicative of the Fund’s unwavering commitment to catalyzing significant change. The plan envisions disbursing Kshs. 30 billion to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs, a financial injection poised to catalyze transformative growth across diverse sectors. Simultaneously, the plan ambitiously aims to provide essential skills training to 1,000,000 women, equipping them with the tools necessary for navigating the competitive business landscape.
Market access, a pivotal determinant of success for any entrepreneur, assumes a prominent role in the strategic vision. The Fund aspires to facilitate market entry for over 200,000 women entrepreneurs over the next five years, fostering an environment where their enterprises can thrive and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
The stakeholders’ validation workshop not only validated the strategic vision but also served as a testament to the Women Enterprise Fund’s unwavering dedication to empowering women entrepreneurs.
As the Fund strides into the future, armed with a dynamic and ambitious strategic plan, it remains poised to be a beacon of empowerment, fostering a landscape where women entrepreneurs can flourish and redefine the contours of economic success.
The first week of October has traditionally over the years been known as the week where most if not all companies give extra appreciation to customers.
Let us dissect the origin and purpose of Customer Service Week.
Customer Service Week is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis.
Customer Service Week started in 1987.
A high point in the week’s long history came in 1992 when the U.S. Congress proclaimed Customer Service Week a nationally recognized event, which is celebrated annually during the first full week in October. For 36 years, CSWeek.com has been the official sponsor of Customer Service Week and has provided how-to information, celebration materials imprinted with the Customer Service Week logo, and inspiration from thousands of service and support professionals who share their celebration stories, plans, and ideas.
Over the years, thousands of companies across the United States and around the globe have celebrated Customer Service Week. They represent leading financial, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, retailing, hospitality, communications, nonprofits, and educational organizations, as well as government agencies, and others.
When it comes to Insurance companies Xplico Insurance Company Limited this week has special offers for the customers and agents who are crucial for their business.
On Monday and Tuesday, there are bonuses for agents who reach targets, there will be fuel vouchers issued to lucky winners at their branches country-wide, and lots of other amazing merchandise. Be on the lookout for any Xplico Insurance Company Limited branch near you.
Geoffrey Kaituko, now Principal Secretary in the State Department of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, and immediate former principal Secretary for Labor Skills Development is the top among all PSs in President Dr William Ruto government.
PS Kaituko in the latest independent survey by our pollster, garnered 87.8% popularity ranking from amongst his counterparts.
Following closely is Principal Secretary for mining Elijah Mwangi who garnered 82%. PS Elijah has initiated several reforms in the mining Sector key among them being; Decriminalizing the artisanal miners and lifting the moratorium for the Prospecting and Mining licenses. He has aslo initiated several regulations to stream line the mining sector.
Eng. Mbugua (Infrastructure) is number three.
Coming at a close number four is Principal Secretary interior Dr. Raymond Omollo, followed by Principal Secretary lands. Nixon Korir.
His irrigation counterpart ephantus Kimatho follows, and others trailing behind him are PS Paul Ronoh, Idris Dakota, Kello Harsama and Veronica Nduva.
PS Kaituko on Thursday thanked his excellency the President Dr William Ruto for having confidence in his leadership.
Rebecca Miano, MBS Cabinet Secretary The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry
Speaking after the reshuffle was announced, she expressed her gratitude for serving at the helm of the EAC ministry and extended her thanks to President Ruto.
After numerous reports by research firms ranking her among the worst-performing Cabinet Secretaries, Rebecca Miano was moved from the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs, and Regional Development to the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry.
Miano replaces Moses Kuria in the Trade docket in a Cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto, with Kuria’s reshuffle making most of the headlines given his brash demeanor, especially on social media.
Speaking after the reshuffle was announced, she expressed her gratitude for serving at the helm of the EAC ministry and extended her thanks to President Ruto.
“I am grateful for the incredible journey at the helm of the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs & Regional Development. Thank you H.E President William Ruto for the trust and invaluable opportunity.
“It is with honour and humility that I assume my new assignment at the Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry. I remain dedicated to advancing our nation’s growth, as envisioned in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, and delivering progress to the people of Kenya. So help me God,” she wrote on X.
Is Rebecca Miano fit to take over as the Trade boss?
Her Profile
Miano has amassed over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, earning recognition in the continent as a business leader.
The award-winning corporate guru is an expert in different areas including the renewable energy sector, structuring global business projects, and making regulatory frameworks for sustainable development.
Miano is credited with including business law, corporate governance, and policy development.
Before being appointed a CS, Miano served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), a position she has held since October 2017.
“She is focused on growing KenGen’s footprint in geothermal development across Africa, and under her leadership, the company has successfully implemented several large geothermal projects in the continent,” KenGen describes her achievement.
Miano also founded the Pink Energy forum in KenGen to address female and gender parity to close the gap within the company.
Previously, from 2008 to 2017, she was the Company Secretary and Legal Affairs Director.
She is a respectable lawyer with a career in law and corporate governance and has been responsible for driving the corporate governance agenda in the company, providing guidance and support to the Board, and has been the Secretary to the Board and all its Committees.
Rebecca Miano, MBS Cabinet Secretary The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry
Awards and Achievements.
Miano has been recognized by different global institutions, celebrating her contribution to the energy sector. In November 2019, she was appointed to the Board of Global Compact Network.
Seven months later, in July 2020, she joined the World Bank Group’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development.
She has also served on the Finance Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and is a member of several boards alongside chairing the giant Stima Sacco Board.
In 2010, the KenGen CEO won the Company Secretary of the Year award in the Champions of Governance Awards series.
Her exemplary leadership saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta confer her the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) in recognition of her outstanding service to the nation in 2019.
Miano will also ensure that Kenya derives maximum benefit from international trade relations and that domestic trade is conducted in a smooth and orderly manner. Furthermore, it is her responsibility and that of her Ministry to strengthen trade relations with all friendly countries on a most favored nation basis.
Miano Cleaning Up Kuria’s Mess
However, arguably Miano’s toughest task will be to bring sanity to the Trade docket given that Kuria has rattled everyone in the country ranging from politicians to common folk.
On Thursday, October 5, Kuria hinted at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua playing a key role in his kicking out from the Trade Ministry by posting on X an uncaptioned photo of the DP, having collided for weeks.
The post was made a few minutes after Kuria posted a gospel song remarking God will see him through his tribulations, coming moments after he was moved to the Public Service from Trade, something experts could argue was a demotion.
On Friday, September 22, Gachagua dismissed calls for Kuria to be fired from Ruto’s Cabinet, believing that there was no way Kuria could have bitterness towards him as not only is he his worker but also a father figure to him who only corrects him when he has made a mistake.
“I saw reports claiming that the Mt Kenya region has a problem, Deputy President is fighting with CS Kuria…now, is he my CS? I’m the DP, this is our worker. Can you argue with your employer?
“I want to say that Moses Kuria is our son. I heard people calling for him to be sacked, where will he go? For what reason? I’m his father, I told him not to annoy people too much and to go slow, isn’t that my work?” he posed.
Marianne Steele, The Donkey Sanctuary CEO in Kenya.
By Steve Sabai.
The relationship between donkeys and humans stretches back over millennia. Together we have built civilizations and together we have seen them fall. Side-by-side, donkeys, and humans have fetched water, tilled fields, and endured war, famine, and drought. When natural disasters occur, donkeys guide us through treacherous conditions, providing relief in hostile environments. We are co-workers, partners, companions.
World Animal Day is an opportunity to recognize the incredible ways animals, great and small, enhance and enrich our lives.
The emotional connection between humans and dogs is widely recognized and researched. Their ability to relate means that even in service, they are appreciated beyond their value as a working animal. Around the world, donkeys fulfill a similar role, somewhere between service and companionship. It is a relationship born of utility, but it is their character and essence that makes it much more than that.
As an international donkey welfare charity, we are interested in this relationship from the donkey’s perspective, and how the bond we share can influence their welfare and status in the world. Understanding this is at the heart of some of our recent research.
Donkeys are curious, intelligent, and sensitive creatures. Their limbic system is similar to our own, giving them the capacity to feel a wide range of emotions, just as we do. It is this sense of empathy and loyalty that makes them such valued and trusted companions.
This summer, research we helped to fund into the bond between humans and donkeys was published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. The findings showed that across countries and cultures, equids whose owners believed in their capacity to feel emotion were in significantly better health than those whose owners did not. Similarly, in previous research, we found that the donkeys working in India’s brick kilns whose owners used compassionate language toward them had slightly better welfare. In other words, the stronger the emotional bond between a donkey and a human, the better the welfare of that animal.
This research adds scientific weight to what we have been saying for over 50 years – donkeys are sensitive and intelligent individuals who deserve our kindness and respect.
However, the authors caution against making assumptions about owners who did not report an emotional connection and whose animals were in poorer health. The research did not explore if they held back from acknowledging their donkeys’ feelings – not because they are unkind – but because they simply do not have the resources to provide better welfare.
Our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys and mules, every day. The work we do with Action Aid in Ghana and Women and Land Zimbabwe is driven by the symbiotic principle that if we give people the tools and resources to improve the welfare of their donkeys – our priority – their donkeys will be healthier, live longer, and be better able to support their community. This highlights the interconnection between animal welfare and human well-being–what is good for donkeys, is good for humans too.
A second peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Society & Animals explores this connection within communities in central Ethiopia. Here both women and donkeys are marginalised, their work undervalued, and ownership of a donkey can be the difference between modest survival and destitution. However, the bond between these women and their donkeys is much more than utility – one woman described her donkey as a member of my family, and another as ‘my friend’. Supporting these women through education and welfare interventions will not only improve the lives of both women and donkeys, it can elevate their status too, by highlighting the value they bring to their communities and wider society.
Research and experience give us confidence that our focus on a single species, the donkey, can effect wider, positive change for their communities and the places.
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is positioning Kenya as a year-round festival destination as countries line up cultural events to attract visitation to their regions.
KTB Acting CEO John Chirchir says festivals have helped open up tourism circuits and spurred growth in the hospitality sector, while at the same time positioning culture and heritage as drivers of tourism growth in the country.
‘’The benefits of having cultural festivals in our counties are immense to the tourism sector value chain, for we expect hotels and facilities to record full bookings during these festivals. Additionally, businesses that are supported by tourism will benefit from the many visitors we expect at the events” said Chirchir.
Chirchir spoke as Samburu Governor Johnathan Lelelit announced the 30th edition of the International Maralal Camel Derby set for the 5th to 8th of October which is set to attract both local and international participation.
The governor announced that improved infrastructure and security in the region was a major catalyst to such events and other development opportunities in the region.
“It is worth noting that this is the first camel derby we are hosting with a fully tarmacked road from Mararal to Nairobi in many years. This infrastructure improvement has significantly reduced travel time, making the journey from Nairobi to Mararal now taking only four to five hours, compared to the previous longer travel times. Additionally, the security measures put in place are exceptional, allowing attendees to feel safe whether they choose to explore the area during the day or enjoy the festivities at night” said the Governor.
He disclosed that over the four days of the camel derby, all eateries, hotels, and lodges within the conservancies are fully booked, reflecting the popularity and success of the event.
“In terms of nationalities, he added, we have representation from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, and various Eastern European countries. Interestingly, the numbers from Asia have been steadily increasing in terms of attendance, adding to the international flavor of the event” said Governor Lelelit.
Counties have lined up cultural festivals as one of the ways of encouraging visitation to their region, a phenomenon billed as one way of impacting economic livelihoods at the grassroots level.
Recently Kajiado County hosted the inaugural Maa cultural festivals that brought together Maa-speaking counties besides other over 10,000 participants across the country. Other festivals held recently included Tharaka Nithi Cultural festivals.
Now in its 31st edition, the camel derby will showcase camel racing and other activities that are central to the Samburu culture. The Turkana Cultural Festival will be held in Lodwar, Turkana County as from 12th to 14th October. The festival, popularly known as “Tobong’u Lore” (welcome back home), was first held in 2014 and is hosted by a number of indigenous communities adjacent to the lake, with the aim of promoting peace, cultural exchange, and tourism.
“In Kenya, festivals and cultural events are a critical component of the tourist experience, particularly for the emerging segment of young tourists, who are looking for authentic experiences. They have become an integral part of the Kenyan tourism calendar and key drivers for economic growth in the hosting destination,” said Chirchir.
Chirchir also cited the upcoming festivals as examples of tourism offerings that will be able to open new destinations and circuits that are not well served by conventional tourist products.
“The Turkana Cultural Festival, for instance, is one of the biggest festivals in the region drawing thousands of visitors to Northern Kenya. This annual event offers an opportunity for tourists to explore the host town, which is widely considered the cradle of humankind and has contributed immensely to the knowledge of human evolution through its numerous archaeological and paleontological discoveries. We shall continue to work with counties to develop festivals strategically as unique experiences that will open up new circuits.,” he added.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has recognized the role of culture as a driver of tourism growth, especially for destination development, positioning, diversification, competitiveness, sustainability, and recognition at the international level.
