Category: BUSINESS

Elephant conservation has received a major boost with the appointment of American actor, filmmaker, and producer Edward Norton as the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival ambassador.

Edward Norton who is a star in prominent movies will help raise the profile of the festival an annual activity to support the conservation of elephants in the country.

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala while announcing the appointment said that Edward Norton’s global appeal and passion towards the protection of nature and species will take the conservation efforts to the next level.

 “We have chosen to work with Edward because he has a passion for conservation and biodiversity and his social status will help us to realize our goals in raising awareness and solving the problems that face our wildlife. His interests extend to areas that include habitat loss, deforestation, species extinction, and the need for sustainable consumption patterns among people in industrialized countries. These are critical elements in conservation which are important to us,” said the CS.

He added that the tourism sector will leverage Edward Norton’s global appeal to raise awareness about the festival to the international audience.

Edwards in 2010, was appointed first Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity by the United Nations Secretary-General, a role which is meant to help improve people’s understanding of biodiversity and its importance to human wellbeing.

The CS said his appointment will elevate the level of support for the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival which was launched in 2021, a fundraising initiative that allows individuals and organizations to adopt and name an elephant after contributing to conservation efforts.

The Inaugural Festival which was held in October of 21 saw a total of Sh16.5 million raised from individuals and corporates in the country. The Ministry of Tourism and wildlife targets to raise Sh100 million within the financial year 2021-2022.

 

Edward Norton said “It is an honor to be named the Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival Ambassador which is an initiative geared towards the protection of the elephants.

“I am passionate about conservation and the preservation of our environment which includes nature and wildlife as we know it. It is therefore encouraging to see such initiatives aimed at boosting the protection and conservation of species like the else” he said.

Norton added “Kenya is a shining example of integration in the way life should be, we must be able to address sustainability within the context of human activity in the world, Kenya has led the way in showing this. A huge need for tourism in Kenya is the need for people to come and see which they don’t have in their countries”

In 2021, the Ministry of Tourism and wildlife through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) conducted the first ever first-ever wildlife census geared towards understanding the number of wildlife resources in the country. Through the census, it was established that Kenya is home to a total of 36,280 elephants, representing a 21 percent growth from 2014 when poaching was at its peak. This increase has been thanks to the sustained government crackdown on poaching and the illegal ivory trade.

The Kenya Tourism Board CEO Dr betty Radier said; “Today, conservation is an important element, it is encouraging to see that more tourist destinations have embraced the concept of sustainable tourism and are now implementing various initiatives in this regard. The aim is to promote sustainable tourism and find a balance between communities, travelers, and conservation to ensure that we sustain the wild for as long as possible. “Said Dr. Radier

She added that the appointment of Edward Norton would be important in setting in motion the conversation around the conservation of wildlife and natural resources in Kenya and across Africa.

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 26, 2022 – Supermarket chain Naivas unveiled its 81st outlet in the country at the Imaara Shopping Mall coinciding with the mall’s official opening stepping up its expansion in the country.

The retailer is targeting thousands of shoppers around the region with a high population density.

“They will be situated at Greenspan Mall in Donholm and at Imaara Shopping Mall in Embakasi,” Naivas chief commercial officer Willy Kimani said in an interview. He lauds that this is one of the biggest malls so far urging people to continue shopping there promising various varieties and all-inclusive.

Naivas races to defend its market leadership against its closest rivals in the retail space that have also been expanding in the past few months.

The new stores are expected to raise the retailer’s branch network to 81. Naivas opened its 77th branch at Aga Khan Walk, Nairobi in the space vacated by troubled Uchumi Supermarkets last year.

QuickMart, which has 48 stores to date, plans to open a few more in the coming months.

The Imaara Mall is tactfully located at the intersection of Mombasa Road and the entrance into the vast and populous Imara Daima Estate.  The outlet covers more than 34,000 square feet of trading space and will be the 3rd largest Naivas store by store size and the 8th outlet in the greater Mombasa Road region.

This new outlet will bear the FoodMarket concept which has been taken a notch higher and with this beautifully compliments the Mall’s eclectic style.

The new store is stocked with a variety of quality products to choose from ranging from fresh produce, commodities, electronics, and other general products.

The opening of this new store comes during a very tough economic time but despite the challenging economic times, Naivas is living up to its brand promise; saves you money, by ensuring shoppers enjoy exclusive sales offer thus providing them with a reprieve and above that, they will enjoy free parking at the mall for the whole weekend

Nairobi 24.2.2021  Kenya leading retailer Naivas supermarket opens its 81st outlet in the country at The Imaara Shopping Mall coinciding with the mall’s official launch which is tactfully located at the intersection of Mombasa Road and the entrance into the vast and populous Imara Daima Estate.

The outlet covering more than 34,000 square feet of trading space will be the 3rd largest Naivas store by store size and the 8th outlet in the greater Mombasa Road region. The new outlet will bear the FoodMarket concept which has been taken a notch higher and with this beautifully compliments the Mall’s eclectic style. “We are delighted to have been the Supermarket of choice for this new addition to the Mombasa Road topography. It is a mall that is already creating so much buzz because of its very bold presentation and we are glad that we get to add to it by bringing a world-class shopping experience, something that has become synonymous with the Naivas brand,” said Willy Kimani Naivas Chief Commercial Officer.

Kimani added that “We have over the years perfected and achieved this because we embrace and celebrate our Kenyan heritage which can be seen in our product offering and service delivery but most importantly, continuously studying and understanding our shoppers since retail is detail.”

“From the very beginning, Tuffsteel limited wanted to change the face of Kenyan infrastructure, design and,
concept, to build a mall with a personality both structurally and aesthetically. This we have accomplished with the new development which has not only changed the look of Mombasa Road but the Mall is now an iconic landmark in Nairobi.” Said Paayal Patel, The Imaara Mall, Chief Executive officer, and Executive Director Tuffsteel limited.

The C.E.O added that “The story behind the faces is a collective of what is truly a representation of the cultural melting pot that is our beautiful country, Kenya. Everyone is welcome! The Mall’s personality is of course reverberated inside the mall with the choice of interiors used and of course brands that have set up shop here but most specifically the choice of the anchor tenant, Naivas, a homegrown Kenyan brand that is truly the pride of the Kenyan people. We simply say, your fuel, you eat, you play, you shop – all at “THE MALL THAT HAS IT ALL!”

The new store is stocked with a variety of quality products to choose from ranging from fresh produce,
commodities, electronics, and other general products. The opening of this new store comes during a very tough economic time but despite the challenging economic times, Naivas is living up to its brand promise; saves you money, by ensuring shoppers enjoy exclusive sales offers offer thus providing them with a reprieve and above that, they will enjoy free parking at the mall for the whole weekend.

Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) have been directed to conduct their Annual General Meetings (AGM) before the end of April in compliance with the regulations.

The Commissioner of Cooperatives David Obonyo directed Saccos’ leaders to ensure the annual meetings are held without undue delay for the current office bearers to seek fresh mandates.

Speaking Tuesday in Mombasa during the 7^th Annual Sacco Leaders Convention at Sarova White Sands Beach Resort, Obonyo observed that several Sacco officials have overstayed in their respective offices due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For the last two years, a number of our saccos did not conduct their AGMs. Consequently, it implies some officials have stayed over five years without getting fresh mandates from the members. I want to ask those who have not conducted their AGMs, this time, we are not going to allow any excuses,” he said. “We must arrange for annual meetings where all the key agendas are deliberated including the election of officials, presentation of audited accounts, budgets, and other items. You have up to the end of April to conduct the meeting as provided in your legal instruments,”

The Commissioner of Cooperatives told over 900 Kenya Union of Saving and Credit Cooperative Ltd (KUSCCO) leaders attending the convention that the State Department of Cooperatives has created an enabling environment for cooperative business to thrive in the country.

KUSCCO Chairman George Magutu and Managing Director George Ototo were senior cooperative movement leaders attending the three-day convention.

Obonyo singled out the Sacco leadership for demonstrating commendable leadership during the review of the Cooperative Bill, which is awaiting Cabinet approval before it is forwarded to Parliament for enactment.

He revealed that the cooperative sector contributes over 31 percent of the national savings and contributes to the development of the country’s economy, wealth, and job creation.

“I wish to reiterate the commitment of the government in creating a conducive environment for the growth and development of cooperatives in the country by having a legal framework, policies, and guidelines for cooperatives to thrive on. The presence of government officials is a testimony of partnership and commitment to developing the cooperative sector,” Obonyo reiterated.

He further observed that both the national and county governments have vital roles to play in creating legal frameworks and policies that would accelerate the growth of cooperatives around the country.

“I am also encouraged by the good turnout on the ongoing public participation for the levy of non-withdrawable Deposit Taking Saccos (NWDTS). It’s worthwhile mentioning that the State Department is closely working with DTS to promote the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) and Shared Services Platform to enable inter borrowing and shared ICT platform among SACCOs,” added Obonyo.

He challenged the Saccos to develop innovative business models that would accelerate the growth of their businesses, adding that the sector is facing stiff competition from other financial sector players. “I urge all participants to grab this opportunity to share experiences amongst your peers and learn new ideas to steer growth and development in your respective SACCOs,” added Obonyo.

The Cooperatives Commissioner observed that despite Covid-19 challenges, the majority of the cooperative societies have recorded business stability to an extent of paying members over 10 percent dividends.

He revealed that there are 14 million Kenyans who are members of cooperative movements adding that the sector has huge potential of enlisting the remaining bulk of the country’s population through responsive and attractive products and services. “As we attract more of our population to join the cooperative movement, let us ensure the kind of product and services we are developing, they have to be responsive and attractive depending on the social-economic environment of where we are operating. Let us not encourage the issue of copy and paste,” he added.

A man from the Kibera area, Nairobi County was found guilty of robbery and handed a life sentence for stealing from a Chinese investor.

During the sentencing, on Tuesday, February 22, the suspect was accused of stealing Ksh30,000 and a mobile phone. Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Boke ruled that the prosecution’s arguments had convinced the court that the accused merited the sentence.

The prosecution presented five witnesses before the court to testify against the suspect.  According to the Chinese national, the accused accosted him inside an elevator where he removed a machete and threatened to harm him.

However, the Chinese investor told the court that he did not understand the language that the accused was speaking and it took the help of a household to interpret for him what his assailant wanted.

The household informed the foreigner that the accused was demanding Ksh30,000. The complaint added that he complied with the orders and handed the accused the money. “I opened the main door of the unit and all of a sudden I saw him removing a panga and he started threatening me by waving and shouting a language that I could comprehend.

“He waved the panga and threatened to cut me. He demanded that I give him Ksh30,000 and after that, he ran away,” the investor narrated.

The punishment for robbery with violence as provided for in section 296(2) of the Penal Code provides that in case of a conviction the offender shall be sentenced to death.

Notably, last week the court made a landmark ruling and took away the president’s powers to determine the fate of minors who have been found guilty of violating the law. Justice Abida Ali Aroni declared that Section 25(2) and (3) of the Penal Code is inconsistent with the Constitution. He noted that holding minors under the president’s pleasure is severe and unfair as the Penal Code gives an indefinite sentence.

Real estate firm Optiven yesterday launched an artificial intelligence application that will provide customers with updated information regarding the company’s portfolio.

Speaking during the launch of the chatbot dubbed AMANI, CEO Optiven George Wachiuri, noted that the move to have the application was paramount as the company moves to embrace creativity, innovation, and automation.

“The place of chatbots in the corporate space is a must adopt the concept that is set to revolutionize how companies communicate. Here at Optiven, we are glad to be at the lead of this revolution. For us it is a step towards meeting customer expectations and doing so in advance as the majority of the customers are demanding quick forms of communication and at their convenience, which is what AMANI provides,” he said.

Optiven which is currently on a vast expansion journey is among the businesses that continue to be customer-centric while working around obstacles to ensure their customers receive bespoke experiences in their interactions.

The company has been awarded for its role in embracing both technology and innovation in its operations as it goes green.

Chatbots have taken on several roles in the modern workplace including acting as a guide to company protocols to recording answers for screen questions, to assisting the process of onboarding new strategies, indeed chatbots are now taking charge of corporate communications and helping telemarketers save time and fix more complicated issues.

Optiven then joins blue-chip companies in the region as they move to boost incomes by making the lives of their customers easier, safer, and more enjoyable through the use of AMANI BOT. The key to note is that the consumer market has in recent years learned to communicate around the clock, especially for those in different time zones.

Top brands across sectors continue to bank up efforts to create chatbot platforms in a bid to keep up with the rapidly changing technological world.

For Kenya in particular, the technology space has experienced a huge surge in the development of artificial intelligence and continues to create conversational Artificially Intelligent powered tools that will help customers navigate through digital content with ease.

Like AMANI chatbots have been proven to be very helpful in the creation of a powerful brand image and will continue to evolve and play a vital role in customer service for all different types of businesses.

Global Trends on Bots To stand out and get into the spotlight, businesses have already started their research on Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand and send accurate responses to customers’ inquiries and used to communicate and finish tasks or transactional functions.

Today, customers want to consume information rapidly and are increasingly shifting to voice search given the technological advancements, and hence, now, messaging platforms that have both voice and text-based programs are becoming a preferred method to engage and connect.

Now more than ever, chatbots are ready to communicate with target markets by speaking with them in complete sentences which have a natural and easy-going conversational flow terming it as a time to engage and interact with BOTS and Chatbots are making their way into several different sectors real estate notwithstanding.

Nairobi, Kenya: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged to support Kenya in raising finances to fight climate change that has led to drought, affecting 2.5 million people in 23 of its 47 counties.

The country is already spending eight percent of its GDP every five years on the impacts of drought alone.

Speaking during the 7th Annual Devolution Conference that opened on 24 November 2021, the AfDB’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth, Dr. Kevin Kariuki, said the bank will support Kenya in creating a favorable environment to mobilize climate finance for adaptation.

“To support Kenya’s climate change adaptation, the bank will draw on its experience in implementing community resilience through projects such as the Small Town and Rural Water Supply Programme, implemented in Kitui, Siaya, Bondo, Othaya, Mukurueini, and Maua, between 2011 and 2017, which have achieved great impact,” said Dr.Kevin Kanina Kariuki

These towns are located in different distant parts of the country.

The projects, Dr. Kariuki said, had increased the total surface area of irrigated farmland from 700 hectares to 40,000 hectares; provided more than 567,689 people (52 percent women) with access to water and sanitation, and reduced incidences of waterborne illnesses by 50 percent.

He lauded Kenya for taking leadership on climate action, being one of the first countries in Africa to enact a comprehensive Climate Change Act, in addition to adopting policies and plans to guide national and sub-national (county) governments on climate actions. Kenya has also updated its Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce current greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent by 2030, up from the previous commitment of 30 percent.

Dr. Kariuki called on county governments to allocate budgets for climate action in their County Integrated Development Plans so that they can collectively contribute towards the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution.

Similarly, Ambassador Ole Thonke, Chairperson of the Devolution Donor Working Group in Kenya, appealed to county governments to take lead in formulating adaptive measures, even as the national government joins global efforts to mitigate climate change.

At the recent COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced Kenya’s pledge to avoid and reverse deforestation by 2030; to stop using coal, and to reduce methane gas emission.

In his virtual address to the Devolution Conference, President Kenyatta pointed out that the Ministry of Environment would provide at least 42.5 million tree seedlings per county, bringing the total to two billion, which is the target required to take forest cover from 7.2 percent currently to 10 percent forest by 2030.

The AfDB is funding this project, known as the Green Zones Development Support Project II, which is being implemented by the Kenya Forest Service.

On clean energy, the president noted that the government was employing innovative approaches to expand access to energy through off-grid solar power and other clean cooking energy sources. This is aimed at delivering 100 percent clean cooking energy sources by 2028.

On its part, the AfDB has supported Kenya to increase its share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. An example project is the Lake Turkana Wind Project, which since 2018, contributes to the reduction of about 740,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year, according to Dr.Kevin Kanina Kariuki.

A second noteworthy project is the Menengai Geothermal Development Project, in which the Bank-financed steam development and steam gathering system for 465MW generation capacity. The 105MW first phase is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 600,000 tonnes per year.

“There are huge opportunities for building a climate-resilient and prosperous Africa. Our continent is blessed with abundant solar, the hydro, wind, and geothermal energy resources, as well as 60 percent of the world’s remaining arable land.  These offer Africa comparative advantage, and the ability to create wealth while preserving the integrity of our planet,” observed Dr. Kariuki.

The important role of the Private Sector in closing the climate financing investment gap was also a subject of discussion at the conference.

Incentives at national and sub-national levels to attract private investment in critical sectors such as energy, transport, industrialization, forestry, water, land use, and tourism, are therefore imperative.

The AfDB reiterated its commitment to supporting the continent to adapt and mitigate climate change effects. “As a Bank, we put our money where our mouth is!  Given the urgent need for climate action in Africa, we will continue to enhance our share of climate finance to the continent by doubling our contributions to $25 billion by 2025,” Dr. Kariuki concluded.

The Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium (KEPFIC) has identified infrastructure and alternative investments worth approximately KES 16 billion to venture in this year as the drive for diversification of local pension portfolios and the need for greater private infrastructure funding gains momentum.

The Consortium has 24 pension schemes with a portfolio of approx. KES 500 billion in aggregate seeking to invest in infrastructure, energy, and other alternative assets. Among the projects shortlisted by the consortium is a 143 kilometers road project in Northern Kenya under the Kenya Road Annuity Program and KEPFIC members are seeking to invest KES 2 billion into the project via allowing upcoming bond issuance.

Recent provisions in the Retirement Benefits Authority investment guidelines allow pension funds to invest up to 10% of their assets into infrastructure, effectively unlocking over KES 140 billion into the asset class, and KEPFIC announced it is also looking at evaluating public-private partnerships opportunities in the transport, energy and affordable housing sectors. Since its inception in October 2020, the consortium has reviewed over 30 investment opportunities, with the most suitable ones presented to KEPFIC members and their fund managers.

KEPFIC has been working to increase awareness of infrastructure and alternative investments opportunities and the Head of the KEPFIC Secretariat, Ngatia Kirungie, noted during an industry conference themed “Opportunities & Experiences in Infrastructure & Alternative Investments for the Pensions Industry’ held in Nairobi: “Our member funds are seeking profitable and diversified investment opportunities for optimal returns for their members and retirees, and while pension funds have traditionally invested in government securities and listed equities, infrastructure investments remain an untapped, yet lucrative and impactful opportunity. We are working to make this a reality and are encouraged by the pension fund response towards infrastructure and alternative investments.”

KEPFIC is supported by the U.S. Government through USAID’s Kenya Investment Mechanism, Power Africa, the World Bank Group, and MiDA Advisors (in partnership with USAID INVEST) and the consortium provides an opportunity for beneficial collaboration between Kenyan and American pension funds and other institutional investors.

Historically during election years, the market value of most traditional investment assets has been negatively affected with investors adopting a wait and see approach. Of keen interest to the industry will be to assess the performance of schemes that have diversified their portfolios into more politically resilient alternative investments.

Kenya’s annual infrastructure funding gap currently stands at more than KES 200 billion presenting private investors with numerous opportunities in sectors such as power, transportation, and urban development. Pension funds are the ideal investment partners for infrastructure projects due to their longer investment horizons but the large investment sizes needed to underline the need for individual schemes to work together as part of a consortium.

About KEPFIC

Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium (KEPFIC) is a pension trustee owned which facilitates capacity building to the pension schemes for infrastructure and alternative investments and undertakes the initial due diligence on behalf of its members. The consortium enables co-investments and participation of global pension funds and other international investors to explore infrastructure investments while representing its members’ interests in regular engagements with regulators and external stakeholders and contributing to supportive policy measures. KEPFIC members benefit from technical the support of the implementation partners such as USAID, the World Bank, MIDA, and the AFC in the investment selection and execution process.

 

Kenya’s leading retailer Naivas supermarket is set to open the doors of its 80th outlet at the iconic Greenspan Mall, located in Donholm an estate at the heart of the sprawling Eastlands region of Nairobi. The mall is not only strategically located but the only destination mall in the expansive residential area.

This store opening marks the kickoff of the retailer’s expansion plans for the year. The new outlet covering 57,000 square feet becomes the retailer’s biggest outlet by store size with the shopping space resting at the mall’s ground floor. This development makes this outlet the second food market in the larger Eastlands region after the recent upgrade of the Buruburu store into this store format.

Speaking on the new development, Naivas Chief commercial officer Willy Kimani said, “As a business, this store is a moment of sheer pride and testament to what time can do. In 2004, the business made a strategic move into neighborhood stores with the Komarock outlet being the very first in the Eastlands region. The store extended warm hospitality synonymous with the Kenyan culture to the brand and in turn, we became part of the community. It, therefore, seems apt that our flagship store is also now  set in this region, an area that has supported so many of our residential stores and this is our way as a homegrown brand of ‘kurudisha mkono’ the Kenyan way to the great people of Eastlands.”

“This is not a race to fill every available retail space, but a very strategic and calculated business move supported by market research and data to ensure that wherever the business sets up shop, there is a ready market and it will be meeting a need. The innovation in the food market store format that you’ll witness in Greenspan is a testament to our commitment to innovate to meet shopper needs whether explicitly or implicitly expressed,” said Willy Kimani.

“We are excited to welcome Naivas Supermarket on board as a partner who we believe fits perfectly within our growth and expansion strategy. As always, we strive to continually offer shoppers and patrons a wide variety of brands and a memorable experience in one location.” said,
The REIT Chief Executive Officer, Einstein Kihanda.

Canon EMEA President & CEO, Yuichi Ishizuka, visited EXPO 2020 Dubai and reiterated Canon’s commitment to the UAE and wider GCC.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16th Feb 2022: Canon EMEA reaffirmed its commitment to the UAE and wider GCC region, with a visit from Canon EMEA President and CEO, Yuichi Ishizuka, who toured EXPO 2020 Dubai to witness “The Greatest Show on Earth”. With the UAE being the first Arab nation to host this prestigious event, Canon is proud to support the vision of the UAE and be the Official Printing and Imaging Partner for this global event and continue its legacy of investing in important events across the Middle East.

The UAE is a leader in economic development and digital infrastructure, ranking first in the GCC for its digital competitiveness. With the recent success of EXPO 2020 Dubai, it has further solidified its position as a progressive, transformative, and forward-looking nation. Since signing the partnership in January 2020, this is Mr. Yuichi Ishizuka’s first visit to experience the impact of investing in such a large-scale event, that is not only dedicated to human brilliance and achievement but is also a celebration of UAE Vision 2021 and underscores the UAE’s international reputation as a business hub.

As governments across the Middle East continue to diversify their economies and highlight digital transformation, the Middle East continues to be an important market for Canon.

In addition to investing in making EXPO 2020 Dubai a success, Canon’s resolve to continue uninterrupted services across the Middle East and ensure high customer satisfaction levels, even during a global pandemic, can be seen in the EMEA results which accounted for 30% of global sales, wherein Canon Middle East and Turkey contributed 27% of regional sales, making it the largest sales market in the region.

This result is also a testament to the resolve, hard work, and adaptability of all Canon staff who persevered to implement the philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good, especially during a challenging 2021.

Mr. Yuichi Ishizuka commented: “Our sponsorship of Expo 2020 Dubai is rooted in our shared principles and values. It starts with adopting advanced technology to enhance the visitor experience and extends to exploring opportunities to drive innovation within key areas, such as sustainability. EXPO 2020 Dubai underscores Canon’s plans to continue investing and strengthening its operations within both the UAE and the Middle East and we are privileged to have played a part in the making of this iconic event.”

As the exclusive Official Printing and Imaging Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai, Canon has deployed its pioneering, innovative, and game-changing imaging products and high-speed printing expertise to provide a unique visitor experience, as well as ensure data protection and safety of over 300,000 participants via state-of-the-art accreditation “passports” issued at EXPO 2020 Dubai.

For additional information, please visit www.canon-cna.com.