Category: NEW

Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), a leading manufacturer of Building Solutions and member of the Safal Group®, announced winners of the 2023 Safal Eye in the Wild competition at an award ceremony held at the Norfolk Hotel. Denish Ochieng, Enos Teche, and Abu Mburu won positions 1,2,3 respectively and Vincent Chepkwony won the People’s Choice Award voted by the public.

The esteemed panel of judges, comprised of experts in photography and environmental conservation, faced the challenging task of selecting winners from the numerous impressive entries. The Gold, Silver, Bronze and People’s Choice award winners were revealed during the ceremony, each receiving generous cash prizes of USD 3,000, USD 2,000, USD 1,000 and USD 500 respectively.

The Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition, which ran from July 28 to October 15, 2023, received an overwhelming response from photographers, both professional and amateur, across Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Tanzania. This year’s theme of, “Drought in Focus,” inspired participants to capture powerful images that depict the harsh realities and the resilience of communities facing the devastating impact of drought in Africa.

The award ceremony honored the exceptional talent and creativity showcased by the participants. Distinguished guests, industry leaders, environmentalists, and photography enthusiasts gathered to recognize and applaud the winning photographers who skillfully conveyed the urgent need for environmental conservation and sustainable solutions.

Anders Lindgren, Safal Group CEO, expressed his pleasant view of this year’s competition, stating, “The Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition has not only grown in scope but has also become a powerful platform for driving conversations around environmental conservation. Today, we are celebrating those who have used their art to inspire change and raise awareness about the impact of drought on communities.”

Sarit Shah, Chairman of the Safal MRM Foundation, remarked, “We are proud to witness the impact that this competition has had in fostering a sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation. The award ceremony is not only a celebration of talent but also a call to action, urging all of us to continue working towards a sustainable future.”

In the powerful transformational story behind the winning photograph, the winner, Denish committed to empowering a retired forester, Dabaso Kantoma Sora  in Northern Kenya who plants indigenous, drought resisting trees in the North Horr town at the edge of Chalbi desert.  The Safal Group in addition generously committed to supporting Dabaso’s transformative journey by contributing Kshs 200,000.

The Chief Guest, Dickson Ritan, the Deputy Director, Parks and Reserves, Kenya Wildlife Services lauded the initiative as one that continues to support environmental conservation at a critical time when national disasters such as drought have affected Kenya.

The ceremony showcased highlights from the submitted photographs, providing a visual narrative of the competition’s journey and the stories captured through the lenses of talented photographers.

For more information about the Safal Eye in the Wild Photography Competition and to view the winning entries, please visit https://safaleyeinthewild.safalgroup.com/.

Xiaomi, a global technology leader, is set to wrap up the year on a high note with the unveiling of the Redmi 13C, a smartphone designed to be the ideal Christmas gift. Combining affordability with top-notch features, the Redmi 13C promises to be the perfect present for tech enthusiasts and those looking for a budget-friendly yet powerful device.

As the festive season approaches, Xiaomi’s Redmi 13C stands out as the ultimate gift, whether for yourself or a loved one. This affordable smartphone, scheduled for launch in December, ensures that everyone can welcome the new year with a brand-new device boasting the best specs.

The Redmi 13C boasts a remarkable 6.74-inch immersive display that will transport you to a world of vivid colours, sharp details, and unmatched clarity. Whether you’re gaming, streaming your favourite content, or simply browsing the web, this display is designed to provide an extraordinary visual experience.

In the era of smartphone photography, the Redmi 13C emerges as a true contender. With a 50MP triple camera system, it opens up a world of creative possibilities. Whether you’re capturing a stunning landscape, a close-up portrait, or low-light scenes, the Redmi 13C’s camera system is your perfect companion. Expect breath taking detail, vibrant colours, and impressive clarity in every shot.

The Redmi 13C is equipped with a robust 5000mAh battery, ensuring that your smartphone keeps up with your fast-paced lifestyle. And when it’s time to recharge, the 18W fast charging support means you won’t be tethered to an outlet for long. It’s a true testament to Xiaomi’s commitment to user convenience.

Under the hood, the Redmi 13C is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G85, ensuring swift performance and the ability to handle any task with ease. Its range of configurations, including up to 16GB RAM, caters to a wide spectrum of user needs. From the standard 4+128GB variant to the robust 8+256GB option, there’s a choice for everyone.

As the holiday season approaches, Xiaomi’s Redmi 13C emerges as the perfect gift, featuring an unparalleled camera, sleek design, and robust performance—a true game-changer in the smartphone market. Celebrate the season of giving with the Redmi 13C, a phone that not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

Choose from three variants, starting at an enticing KES 16,199, offering exceptional value that outshines competing brands. The Redmi 13C: the ultimate gift that keeps on giving. Select from the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage option, the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant priced at KES 17,699, or the top-tier 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model, available for KES 20,099.

Xiaomi understands the importance of personalization, and the Redmi 13C is available in a range of captivating colours. From the midnight colour that exudes sophistication to the navy blue, clover green, and glacier white, there’s a shade to match your unique style.

Caetano Kenya, the new distributor for Ford Motor Company in Kenya, officially opened a Ford Showroom on Mombasa Road, where they will be selling and servicing Ford vehicles. The new partnership between Ford and Caetano offers the brand a vital opportunity to gain market share in Kenya by leveraging on Caetano’s extensive network and experience in marketing & selling major brands in this market. Caetano kicked off sales with the new generation models of the Ranger, Raptor, Everest, as well as the Ford Transit Bus.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Pedro Campos, Managing Director of Caetano Kenya said, “We are proud to add Ford to our stable of brands. Ford is one of the best performing vehicles in the SUV and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segments in this market, and we predict our partnership will continue to grow it in these segments. As Caetano, we are focused on providing high-end services to customers that aim to exceed expectations and ensure the ultimate experience on the road. We welcome existing and new Ford customers to our family.” Ford and Caetano are committed to the Kenyan market, and both teams will work diligently to fully serve customers to the best possible standards.

The New Generation Ford Ranger reflects a magnificent blend of design, advance technology and performance. Its distinctive features include new front and rear bumper fascia and grille, new IP, console, cluster, electronic and control panel. It comes with new features such as wireless charging, zone lighting, auto power fold mirrors, rear load box step among others. The New Generation Ford Everest has better off-road capability & clearance with increased traction capability, hill descent control & stance. The new Ford Everest comes with a stronger & lighter transmission for optimal progression and efficiency. The interior is refined and improved giving the customers more space and infotainment. The New Generation Ford Raptor comes with more engine power & an additional 83Nm of torque, improved visibility with the inclusion of BLIS, new box side-steps added to the load-box for improved access and some new improved features such as a 360 camera, wireless charging, auto power fold mirror, tailgate platform and rear load box step.

Caetano will also sell the New Generation Ford Transit Bus, which offers unrestricted access to the passage compartment with an extra-wide power-operated sliding side door. It comes with an electronic stability programme; an advanced system that constantly monitors the path the vehicle is following and compares it to the driver’s intended route. Additionally, it has trailer sway control, which is designed to reduce engine torque and apply the brakes to the appropriate wheel (s) to help main control. All the vehicles will come with a five-year warranty or 100,000km, whichever one comes first.

Ford is celebrating 120 years; where their purpose has been to make the world a better place through innovation, re-imagination and reinvention which has driven them to create the most desirable products and services that give people the freedom to move and to pursue their dreams. With the new partnership with Caetano, Ford is committed to continue bringing world class Ford products and services to their customers in Kenya and ensure the best customer experience for their clients.

Caetano Kenya has a strong aftersales reputation in the market, with its ever growing network of workshops – Caetano Express – which already have over 30 outlets countrywide. Caetano will provide after-sales services across Kenya for the Ford brand through the Caetano Express network. The centres will be equipped and 100% backed by the Ford Motor Company, ensuring Ford authorized parts are stocked, Ford extended service plans (Ford Protect) are offered, a team of fully trained and certified technicians are at hand to offer full service to new and existing Ford customers. Ford has ensured a seamless transition from the former distributor, which now allows Salvador Caetano to honour all valid warranties at their workshops.

Caetano Kenya is the sole local distributor of Hyundai, Renault, Kia, Renault Trucks and Ford vehicles in the Kenyan market. Salvador Caetano Group (SCG) has over 75 years of history dedicated to industry and the automotive sector, headquartered in Portugal, and has a presence in more than 100 countries spread across Europe and Africa. The global presence is in 37 countries on 3 continents, selling over a 100 thousand vehicles annually, with over 7,000 employees. The company’s deep understanding of the automotive market gives it the edge and confidence to perform a significant role in the story of the Kenyan automotive market.

Additional investment of more than Ksh 10 trillion, (USD 100 billion) in internet infrastructure, policies and ecosystems are necessary in order to raise the degree of digital access in Kenya and across Africa in general. This is the key consensus reached during the Africa Fibre Forum 2023 hosted by Huawei Technologies in partnership with the Digital Council Africa (DCA) and the World Broadband Association (WBBA).

Set against the backdrop of Africa Com, the continent’s largest technology conference in Cape Town today, Samuel Chen, President of Southern Africa Carrier Network Business Group of Huawei emphasized the immense potential of fiber technology for better digital inclusion.

Addressing about 100 industry leaders and experts from over 50 organizations, Chen explained that public and private sector digitalization and globalization have made the fiber infrastructure industry more important and relevant than ever. He pointed out that Kenya has shown the way for other countries with commitments to invest more than Ksh 45 billion (USD 300 million) in progressive rollout of fiber optic cable across the country. This, he added, is commendable as available data shows local Internet speeds remain dismal at 195% slower than Europe’s average for mobile and 418% slower for fixed internet.

“Higher investment in fiber is our best bet at turning the situation around since inclusive, high quality, affordable connectivity is dependent on extensive deployment and use of fiber networks. Furthermore, the right policies and ecosystems are key to facilitating a fiber broadband explosion,” he noted.

Chen added that digital infrastructure, in particular the fiber networks, are essential to support the digital economy and to harness opportunities offered by the emerging technologies and innovations,” he added.

His remarks were anchored by John Omo, the General Secretary of the Africa Telecommunications Union who noted, “In order to accelerate fiber industry development, we must actively advocate for legislative changes that acknowledge the unique nature of fiber deployment.”

This, he noted, calls for collaborative dialogue to formulate policies that streamline regulatory processes, incentivize private investments, and encourage public-private partnerships that catalyze innovation and operational efficiency.

According to Martin Creaner, Director General of the World Broadband Association (WBBA), the world will add another 243 million fixed connections by 2027, most of them fiber. “The African continent is in the fast lane of broadband connectivity with a faster rate of growth and greater potential for growth than any other region of the world,” noted Creaner. He added that to realize this potential, the industry will need more investors to fund connectivity initiatives, while encouraging regulators and governments to step up policies prioritizing fiber infrastructure rollout and sharing.

In line with its commitment to empowering over 2000 partner shops and restaurants, Glovo, the leading multi-category app, this week hosted the second cohort of its Learning & Development Training exercise for its partners in Kenya. The exercise which was designed to fortify the business acumen and overall performance of partners was delivered in collaboration with Ongoza Institute, an accelerator for early-stage high-growth young entrepreneurs in Kenya.

The initiative stems from Glovo’s steadfast dedication to promoting entrepreneurship within its ecosystem. Building on the success of the inaugural training, which was held in Kenya, the company plans to expand these developmental sessions, conducting them quarterly and improving the sessions based on participant feedback and insights. This iterative approach ensures continuous support and empowerment for Glovo’s valued partners.

“At Glovo, our commitment to impact and sustainability goes beyond business. By nurturing the skills of our partners, we are fostering a community of entrepreneurs who understand the importance of creating positive, lasting change. This initiative is a testament to Glovo’s dedication to not only thriving in the market but also leaving a meaningful and sustainable impact on the communities we serve,” commented Sébastien Pellion, Head of Impact and Sustainability at Glovo.

Also speaking on the training, Loreen Wanjiru, Program Lead at Ongoza said, “We are honored to have partnered with Glovo to deliver this training program for its partners to elevate their businesses. Glovo has shown great support to its partners to ensure their businesses succeed.”

Glovo envisions these training sessions not only as a means to enhance business proficiency but also as a catalyst for fostering a collaborative community of thriving entrepreneurs within its network. The company remains dedicated to providing its partners with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in the evolving landscape of on-demand services.

Samsung Electronics has announced its new Galaxy Tab A9 series, delivering Samsung Galaxy’s awesome tablet experiences at great value. Available in two sizes, the series combines immersive video and audio with hyper-fast connectivity supporting everyday entertainment and productivity needs in a portable package. The Galaxy Tab A9 and Galaxy Tab A9+ exemplify the Galaxy connected ecosystem, offering a continuous experience across multiple devices, as well as innovative ways for users and their loved ones to safely navigate the digital realm.

“We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the latest innovations in tablet technology,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience Business. “With the latest Galaxy Tab A series release, we’re making it easier than ever for all to enjoy great entertainment and productive multitasking across the entire Galaxy ecosystem.”

Engineered for Pure Viewing Pleasure

The Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+ offer the largest screens of any Galaxy A series tablet yet, with 8.7 and 11-inch displays, respectively, that immerse users in their favorite movies, shows or games.

Galaxy Tab A9+ users can get lost in cinematic experiences, thanks to a 90Hz refresh rate for lag free gaming or scrolling and enjoy immersive sound with Quad speakers, powered by Dolby Atmos. With hyper-fast 5G connectivity, there’s no need to worry about interrupted streaming when you’re on the go. Galaxy Tab A9 features Dual speakers and LTE connectivity. Both tablets feature sleek, unibody designs with a soft-texture back cover, making them easy to handle.

Awesome Performance

Galaxy Tab A9 and A9+ provide exceptional performance and speed that empower users to accomplish more. With the largest memory and storage available on a Galaxy Tab A series, there is plenty of room to store and save documents, sources of inspiration and more.

Engineered to enhance productivity and the ability to learn, the Galaxy Tab A9+ brings PC-level multitasking to the tablet with Samsung DeX and the multi-active window allows up to three split-screens3 to maximize the ability to do more at once. Galaxy Tab A series users can now record their screen with Screen Recorder, so it’s easy to refer back to information or inspiration later.

Your Galaxy, Your Way

The Galaxy Tab A series enables seamless connectivity across Samsung Galaxy devices, so users can easily move content between mobile, tablet and TV monitors. Quick Share5 simplifies file sharing without requiring device pairing, so users can send their favorite content between devices.

The new Galaxy Tab A series also ensures that data is safe and secured by Samsung Knox, Samsung’s award-winning, multi-layered security platform. The Security & Privacy Dashboard empowers users to easily see and control what happens to their data. With Private Share, content is encrypted before it’s shared. The sender can set access permissions, expiration dates and more to have extra peace of mind when sending sensitive information. And with Secure Wi-Fi, users can take their Galaxy Tab A9 or A9+ on the go without worrying about risky shared internet networks. Internet traffic is encrypted and tracking apps are blocked so browsing is private and secure.

Tablets have become an essential source of entertainment and learning for children, and Samsung Kids helps children safely navigate the digital realm. With a simple set up process, parents and caregivers can monitor and control children’s digital activities, access settings, create child profiles, set playtime and monitor the content that children are consuming. Plus, Samsung Galaxy’s ‘Edutainment’ provides fun and engaging content on-device.

Availability

The Galaxy Tab A9 series will be available from October 23, starting with select markets. The series comes in three refined colors6: Graphite, Silver and Navy.

Nairobi Gate Industrial Park has launched the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a gazetted customs control area in East Africa. This consolidation will allow businesses operating from Nairobi Gate additional efficiencies including a one-stop shop for regulatory agencies including the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, customs, and the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA).

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary State Department for Investment Promotion, underscored the importance of industrial parks in driving investment within the country in addition to accelerating manufacturing in and promoting skills exchange, noting that the industrial park has already created 434 direct and indirect jobs, and is expected to generate at least 10,000 job opportunities as it progresses.

“This inauguration is in alignment with the Kenyan government’s vision and commitment to developing and implementing investment policies, and to coordinate the promotion of private investment into the Kenyan economy, including both foreign and domestic investment. It signals to us, and to the world at large, that Kenya remains an attractive investment destination,” said Hon. Abubakar.

Developed by Improvon Group, Nairobi Gate SEZ was meticulously designed to align with the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) requirements. This involved housing all relevant government agencies within the zone, including revenue, port, and customs control agencies, as well as entities like the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and others.

So far, the developers of the Nairobi Gate Industrial Park have invested US $40 million with a commitment to invest up to US $160 million by the year 2035.

Dean Shillaw, Managing Director of Impact North SEZ, owner of Nairobi Gate Industrial Park, explained that the SEZ will provide additional value for businesses, stating: “Because the Special Economic Zone is effectively an extension of Kenya’s border for imports and exports, a one-stop solution had to be provided to house all relevant government agencies. This allows us to provide unprecedented levels of ease for our tenants while allowing them to thrive within a well-planned industrial park. In addition to the warehousing and infrastructure, we have also installed multiple state-of-the-art weigh bridges, customs-controlled gatehouses and other security measures that will allow the zone to operate as a fully functional and comprisable area.”

Dr. Kenneth Chelule CEO of the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA), emphasized the significance of Nairobi Gate, as it marks the first SEZ to fully integrate customs control provisions within the zone, following recent legislative developments.

“As SEZA, we believe that the Nairobi Gate Industrial Park represents the flagship SEZ that will unlock significant economic growth opportunities and create multiple jobs, positioning Kenya to compete not only regionally but on the international stage as a manufacturing destination of choice,” said Dr. Chelule.

Nairobi Gate offers a ‘built to suit’ concept, in response to the demand for flexible, grade A light-industrial properties. It stands out with its excellent access, efficient truck circulation, ample loading facilities, multiple roller shutter doors, and generous height for pallet storage capacity. The development is ideal for accommodating international warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing businesses, as well as local entities specializing in high-value items like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, electronics, and engineering components, FMCG and cold-chain storage.

Strategically aligned with Nairobi’s 2030 spatial development plan, Nairobi Gate offers turnkey projects, ranging from mini units of 5,000 square feet to warehouses of 400,000 square feet, along with land sale options.