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Stanbic Bank Kenya Empowering Education Through Innovation
Education is the cornerstone of progress and development in any society. In Kenya, access to quality education is a fundamental right and a key driver of socio-economic growth in accordance with UN Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Stanbic Bank Kenya recognises this importance and has taken substantial steps to empower educational institutions in the region. With a focus on innovation and technology, the bank is transforming the education sector, ensuring that it can keep up with the growing demands of the future.

In a groundbreaking move, Stanbic Bank Kenya has committed to empowering educational institutions with the financial support needed for automated school fees collections, reconciliations and payments, infrastructure, networks, innovation, and technology. This commitment extends to primary, secondary, university, and tertiary education institutions and covers various aspects, including infrastructure upgrades, laptop programs, and asset financing. The bank is dedicated to helping educational institutions realize their full potential, enabling them to provide a higher quality of education in Kenya and across East Africa.

“The bank leverages community value chains to unlock growth, capital, and investment. Whether financing teachers’ assets or supporting supply chain financing for schools, Stanbic Bank’s model fosters partnerships that yield substantial opportunities,” said Florence Wanja, Executive & Head of Business & Commercial Clients at Stanbic Bank Kenya during a breakfast meeting on Empowering Education through EduTech and Innovation held in Nairobi on 13^th October 2023.

The need for financial support in the education sector in Kenya and East Africa is more urgent than ever. With the continent’s population projected to exceed 1.7 billion by 2050, there is a pressing need to expand the reach and capacity of the education sector. While governments have traditionally invested in education, the gaps in funding persist. Household expenditures on education are rising, and by 2026, the education industry is expected to reach staggering figures, with Kenya leading the way.

Stanbic Bank’s approach to supporting education is holistic. The bank leverages dedicated relationship managers to simplify complex banking procedures for educational institutions, allowing them to concentrate on their core mission of teaching and nurturing skills. Moreover, the bank’s extensive network facilitates partnerships with reliable suppliers, connecting educational projects with cost-effective infrastructure, hardware, and technology providers.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Stanbic Bank’s approach is its commitment to technology and innovation in education. The bank recognizes that technology has the potential to revolutionize the way education is delivered. Through its Financial Fitness Academy, Stanbic Bank has developed financial literacy programs for students and young adults, preparing them for life beyond school.

Furthermore, Stanbic Bank has partnered with BCK Kenya Limited, providing discounted rates on devices and free after-sales support to Stanbic Education Institutions clients who procure equipment through this partnership.

The bank also partners with educational institutions to support innovation in teaching and learning. It sponsors hackathons and other initiatives to create platforms where learners can showcase their tech-related skills. Additionally, the bank provides job opportunities and internships through its Graduate Trainee program, attracting and retaining incredible talents.

Customised Solutions for Educational Institutions

Stanbic Bank offers tailor-made solutions to meet the specific needs of educational institutions. These solutions include:
1. Automated Fees Collections, Reconciliation and Payments: Streamlined digital onboarding processes empower institutions to manage their finances in real-time, offering access to a broader range of services and new opportunities.
2. Asset Financing: This covers a wide range of assets, including laptops, school buses, laboratory equipment, power solutions and land.
3. Personal Banking: Stanbic Bank provides financial services for staff, parents, and teachers within educational institutions.
4. Supplier Financing: The bank facilitates partnerships with reliable suppliers, ensuring cost-effective infrastructure, hardware, and technology.
Stanbic Bank Kenya’s vision extends beyond mere financial transactions. It is a commitment to nurturing future generations, enhancing the quality of education, and unlocking Africa’s boundless potential. As their tagline proudly states, “Kenya is our home, and we drive her growth,” they are indeed driving growth not only in Kenya but also within educational institutions, benefiting students, parents, teachers, and suppliers. Stanbic Bank’s dedication to innovation and technology in education is a shining example of how financial institutions can be powerful catalysts for positive change.
October 19, 2023
New global benchmark encourages tourists to become responsible wildlife watchers
World Animal Protection and World Cetacean Alliance have today launched a new global programme, working with a coalition of responsible travel businesses and wildlife charities, which they hope will change the way people travel to see wildlife forever.

Called ‘Wildlife Heritage Areas’ the programme will provide outstanding and responsible wildlife tourism experiences. Wildlife Heritage Areas has been developed to meet an expanding need from tourists to see wildlife in the wild, as the ethics of wild animals in zoos and aquariums increasingly comes under scrutiny. Now, travellers will be able to discover destinations where local communities care for and protect the wildlife in their environment and support them through incredible tourism experiences that are sustainable in the long-term.

Angela Maldonado, founder of Entropika, a conservation NGO and part of the Wildlife Heritage Network, comments: “The Amazon Night Monkey Heritage Area covers 640 km² in Vista Alegre on the Colombian-Peruvian border. It offers low-impact nature activities, such as jungle hikes, wildlife watching tourism and experiential tourism, which are all guided by knowledgeable locals. These local stewards of the forest are critically important in helping to alleviate outside pressure that the monkeys face from a range of issues including trafficking for biomedical research and deforestation.”

Another example is The Apennines Marsican Bear Heritage Area in Italy, which covers 1100 km²and focuses on the critically endangered Marsican brown bear, which is a central part of local history and culture, inspiring wildlife watchers to focus on the vibrant and dynamic landscape elements.

Dylan Walker, Wildlife Heritage Areas, said: “We believe Wildlife Heritage Areas will benefit both the local community and wildlife in responsible wildlife watching destinations. By working in partnership with locals, charitable and responsible tourism experts, we can showcase how culture, responsible tourism, and ideas for coexistence can create a better future for places, nature, and people.”

The travel industry currently has no means of identifying destinations meeting high standards of responsible wildlife watching. The Wildlife Heritage Area programme changes this.

Nick Stewart, Wildlife Campaign Director – World Animal Protection, said: “We’re delighted to have co-founded Wildlife Heritage Areas as a solution to exploitative wildlife tourism. We invite travel companies around the world to drop the elephant rides, ditch the dolphin shows and any of the other demeaning wildlife entertainment experiences out there and instead, get behind truly responsible wildlife tourism that meets the needs of local communities, visitors and of course wild animal welfare.”

In addition, Wildlife Heritage Areas will create new opportunities for visitors to engage with the unique culture, heritage and biodiversity that underpins each local community’s wildlife offering. This will help to generate pride and income for the responsible protection of wildlife and habitats.

Harry Eckman, CEO, World Cetacean Alliance, said: “Wildlife Heritage Areas are an exciting and perfect evolution of the WCA’s successful Whale Heritage Area program. Wildlife Heritage Areas will provide the communities with a unique opportunity to showcase and celebrate their heritage and connection to amazing species and environments and will provide tourists with an incredible opportunity to experience wildlife in the most inspiring ways.”

Current Wildlife Heritage Areas
- Plettenberg Bay Whale Heritage Area (designated), South Africa
- Algoa Bay Whale Heritage Area (designated), South Africa
- Amazon Night Monkey Heritage Area (candidate), Peru/Colombia
- Amazon Uakari Heritage Area (candidate), Brazil
- Apennines Marsican Bear Heritage Area (candidate), Italy
- Whitsundays Whale Heritage Area (Candidate) Australia
- Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area (new designation), USA
- Madeira Whale Heritage Area (new designation), Portugal
Candidate means the applicant has reached level 2 of 3 of the designation process.

Designated means the applicant has reached level 3 of 3 of the designation process.

New designation means that the application has newly reached level 3 of the application process.
October 19, 2023
Kenya Urban Roads Authority Faces Scrutiny: Vandalism Concerns Revealed by Director general

Eng. Silas Kinoti, DG of Kenya Urban Roads Authority before the Special Funds Accounts Committee today, 19th Oct,2023 in Parliament.

The Special Funds Accounts Committee, led by Hon. Fatuma Mohamed, interrogated the Director General of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority regarding the Auditor General’s financial statements of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund for the years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022.

According to the Auditor General’s report presented before the committee, over 2.7 billion Kenyan Shillings in cash and cash equivalents were found, all deposited in the authority’s main account at KCB bank, with no other separate accounts discovered. In response, the Director General, Eng. Silas Kinoti, confirmed the funds’ placement at KCB bank, supported by official statements.

Eng. Kinoti informed the committee about recent changes, stating, “Historically, both the administration and works funds were kept in a single account. However, the authority has now established a separate account specifically for the Road Maintenance Levy Fund.”

The Auditor General’s report also highlighted concerns about the maintenance of Nairobi Outering Road. Physical inspections in February 2022 revealed deficiencies, including missing barriers and lighting at the main junction of Outering Road and Thika Road, as well as open drainage and poorly maintained passage on the Tassia Road section.

James Njeru, Deputy Auditor General, emphasized these issues, stating, “The main junction lacked necessary safety features, and the Tassia Road section was marred by open drainage, garbage accumulation, and overgrown vegetation.”

Eng. Kinoti expressed his worry over the vandalism of road assets, especially metallic barriers. He informed the committee about ongoing efforts to combat this problem in collaboration with relevant authorities and stakeholders. “Vandalism of road assets, especially metallic ones, is a national challenge faced by all road agencies. KURA, in partnership with the National Police Service, has enhanced surveillance to prevent and apprehend vandals,” he reported.

Addressing drainage maintenance challenges in urban areas, Eng. Kinoti emphasized that solid waste dumping in drains falls beyond KURA’s jurisdiction. He revealed ongoing consultations with the Nairobi County government to implement policies ensuring clean roads. “We are working closely with the County Government of Nairobi to improve solid waste management along roads within the city. This includes monitoring and enforcing relevant laws and by-laws,” he stated.

Additionally, the committee discussed the vandalism of metal barriers along the Eastern Bypass Road and City Cabanas. The Deputy Auditor General, James Njeru, expressed concern over this issue, emphasizing the dangers posed to pedestrians. Eng. Kinoti assured the committee that KURA, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, is researching alternative materials to prevent such vandalism.

Regarding auditing procedures, Eng. Kinoti informed the committee that KURA utilizes Microsoft 365 systems, complying with the requirements set by the Auditor General. He affirmed that their systems are automated and up-to-date.

October 19, 2023
Harm Reduction Should Guide Regulations in Public Healthcare

Stakeholders in the health sector have been challenged to consider harm reduction as a key guide in driving public health strategies in Africa.

Harm reduction refers to interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of health behaviours without necessarily extinguishing the problematic health behaviours entirely or permanently.

Speaking during the third annual Harm Reduction Exchange themed: ‘Amplifying the voice of Harm Reduction advocacy across Africa’, the president of the African Medical Association and the Association of Medical Councils of Africa Dr. Kgosi Letlape challenged African governments to adopt harm reduction approaches when regulating public health challenges.

Harm reduction, he said, is a more transformative strategy than prohibition-based policies and is better than simply advocating for complete abstinence. Harm reduction is a better approach to reducing tobacco-related death and disease.

“Harm reduction is a practical and transformative approach that incorporates community-driven public health strategies including prevention, risk reduction, and health promotion to empower people who use drugs and their families with the choice to live healthy and self-directed,” Dr. Kgosi said.

“We hope that our lobbying efforts will spark renewed conversations on tobacco harm reduction among all stakeholders, including regulators and policymakers, which could lead to effective regulation and access to noncombustible product alternatives for adult smokers who are unable or uninterested in quitting.”

Across the world, harm reduction strategies have been deployed in public health as a pragmatic and compassionate approach to address various issues, particularly in the context of substance use and other risky behaviors. Some of these strategies include Needle Exchange Programs, supervised injection sites, condom distribution, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), Vaping and E-Cigarettes, and supervised consumption of medications.

“Organizations that practice harm reduction incorporate a spectrum of strategies that meet people where they are on their own terms and may serve as a pathway to additional health and social services, including additional prevention, treatment, and recovery services,” Dr. Vivianne Manyeki said.

On her part, Integra Africa Principal Dr. Tendai Mhizha emphasized the role that journalists and media houses should play in handling misinformation and disinformation in tobacco harm reduction discussions.

“The media play a critical role in accelerating the progress towards full uptake of harm reduction strategies in all spheres of health across the continent. With the advent of technology, we find that misinformation and disinformation are becoming increasingly prevalent with the democratization of the information space. Moving forward, there is a need to ensure that stakeholders are well informed with current and relevant information about the science, the changes that occur and how we can advance towards a smoke-free world,” Dr. Tendai said.

Raising awareness for tobacco harm reduction (THR) as a public health strategy encourages adult smokers who are unable or uninterested in quitting tobacco altogether to migrate to noncombustible product alternatives. THR has the potential to bring about one of the greatest public health achievements of our time,” said Dr. Tendai.

“Harm reduction is the better path forward. With harm reduction, regulators provide adult smokers with information, choice and support to expand the off-ramp from smoking – while also continuing to drive down underage use. Providing adult smokers with less harmful alternatives to cigarettes is a powerful step in achieving this goal,” Public Health Specialist and Secretary General of Harm Reduction Society in Kenya, Dr. Michael Kariuki said.

Several African countries have already implemented THR policies and programs. For example, South Africa has legalized the sale of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Kenya has also taken steps to regulate THR products and is considering legalizing e-cigarettes.

The harmonization of public healthcare regulation of THR products in Africa would be a positive step towards reducing the harms associated with tobacco use. It would also signal that African governments are committed to public health and protecting their citizens from the dangers of tobacco smoke.

By Ogott Eric

October 19, 2023
KLM Replaces Older Generation Aircraft with New Airbus A350 Designed to Burn Less Fuel and Make Less Noise

· The airline has signed an agreement with Airbus for a total of 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft to be deployed on intercontinental flights from 2026.

· The new Airbus A350 constitutes a major step in building a cleaner and quieter fleet, producing 40 per cent less noise and burning 25 per cent less fuel than similar aircraft of the older generation.

KLM plans to renew its older generation long-haul fleet with Airbus A350 family aircraft in the coming years. The Airbus A350 is acknowledged as the most fuel-efficient and silent aircraft of its generation.

Wide-bodied in design, the new aircraft has substantial benefits in terms of reducing CO2 emissions and noise impact. Procurement is subject to the recommendations of the KLM Works Council.

Making the announcement, Air-France KLM Air France KLM General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana Marius van der Ham said, “Today marks a very special day for KLM. We have taken a big step towards our future with the proposed decision of purchasing a new aircraft. We can make our fleet significantly cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient with the A350s. This is important because we are all faced with the major task of becoming more sustainable. Furthermore, it gives us an opportunity to offer our passengers much more service and comfort on intercontinental destinations”.

The Air France KLM Group has signed an agreement with Airbus for a total of 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, with an option for 40 further aircraft.

The 50 aircraft have been ordered and will be allocated between KLM and Air France according to local market dynamics and regulatory conditions.

KLM expects to begin deploying the Airbus A350 on intercontinental flights from 2026, replacing its Boeing 777-200ERs, Airbus A330-200s and Airbus A330-300s.

The new Airbus A350 constitutes a major step in building a cleaner and quieter fleet, producing 40 per cent less noise and burning 25 per cent less fuel than similar aircraft of the older generation.

The hull of the aircraft largely consists of reinforced, lightweight materials (composites and titanium), ensuring that longer distances can be covered with less fuel. In combination with the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other operational innovations and efficiency gains, these new aircraft will significantly contribute to making operations cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient.

Besides, it is expected to enhance customer experience, boost comfort and improve efficiency.

October 19, 2023
Data Infinity unveils modern practical assessment center for Kenyan ICT hires

A leading regional ICT solutions firm has set in motion the process of improving the quality of ICT workers hired across public and private sector organizations following the establishment of the first modern practical assessment center in Nairobi.

The new facility, based at the firm’s head office and training center in Kenya’s capital, has been designed to give human resource managers and chief technology officers an objective methodology for testing job seekers’ practical knowledge of various ICT tasks and assignments by measuring a candidate’s ability to meet specific job requirements and assess their skills in areas such as coding, programming, system design, database management among others.

Speaking when he officially unveiled the center at the firm’s inaugural IT Day, Data Infinity CEO Tim Kitonyi explained that there was a major gap estimated at 60 per cent of new hires in the practical skills and theoretical knowledge many ICT workers displayed at the point of being recruited.

“This has led to much investment in additional training costs and in some cases loss of crucial time to institute critical IT solutions for these organizations,” said Kitonyi.

He noted that Kenya was particularly affected due to its positioning as a source of ICT workers for other African countries. Kenya, he added, has acquired the status of a regional leader within East Africa with its position as the ‘Silicon Savannah’.

This elevated status, noted Kitonyi, is as a result of a number of advantages including a thriving tech ecosystem, digitally skilled talent, geographical positioning endowment, and ICT centric public policies. According to Kitonyi, many organizations contend with, is the struggle to hire good IT people. In software for instance, there is a saying that the market glutted. But for other industry players, it is a classic problem of signal to noise ratio. The real problem is not that there isn’t a large pool of talented software engineers; it’s that they’re hard to identify amongst the even larger pool of mediocre engineers.

With industry estimates projecting that there are less than 5,000 IT professionals in Africa, Data Infinity has invested heavily in attaining the necessary training and certification requirements so that the firm can contribute effectively to the overall growth of home-grown IT talent. Meeting the demand for 120,000 specialized IT professionals requires an investment of Kshs 48 billion by the year 2030.

This challenge stems from the fact that in apart from the paper certificates, there are no practical platforms to establish the capabilities of new hires

“Kenya boasts of dedicated government ministries, authorities and programs along with the existence of widespread digital infrastructure. These fundamentals have elevated the country in the region, and as such attracts regional and international attention, capital, networks and resources and leads to several organizations looking for talent here,” explained Kitonyi.

The firm is cognizant that Africa has always had the advantage of the ability to leapfrog technology progress to utilize the latest available systems. Fortunately, in addition to education interest in IT education, across the industry Data Infinity has developed local capacity through partnership with global technology leaders such as Oracle, Red Hat and Acronis to deliver cutting edge enterprise ICT systems, focused training and cyber security solutions respectively.

Available research data shows that Africa’s demand for software solutions that address enterprise-wide issues is estimated at 10 percent annually between 2022 and 2032. Kitonyi pointed out that the need for data insights, customer analyses, and all kinds of business processes have strongly increased due to digitization and data that is collected across organizations.

October 19, 2023
Ezekiel Macharia, CEO of Kenbright Insurance speaks

Kenbright in the Frontline to Demystify Insurance.

Kenbright Insurance provides the best and most competitive rates in the region.

In a candid interview with The Managing Director of Kenbright Ezekiel Macharia he highlighted some of the plans they are having in a bid to make insurance more palatable.

Insurance penetration in the country is just at a partly 3%.

“As Kenbright we buy insurance in bulk from the major insurance companies and then we package the same to pocket friendly packages for everyone to consume. I’m calling upon everyone to embrace insurance so that in the time of shock you can have a reliable partner.

I recommend that a part of your earning, which should not exceed five percent of your earnings. These will one day come in handy at the time of need.

Partnering with Safaricom, Kenbright has been able to develop an App embedded in the Mpesa app where everyone who has a smartphone is able to access a wide range of tailor made, affordable insurance products.

October 17, 2023
CS Zacharia Njeru meets PSs and HODs at Maji House

Cabinet Secretary Mr. Zacharia Njeru today had a meeting with PSs from the two State Departments of the Ministry, Water and Sanitation and Irrigation, Water Secretary and HoDs for briefs in their dockets.

The HODs led by PSs Messrs. Julius Korir (Water and Sanitation) and Ephantus briefed the CS on the status of projects and programmes that they are implementing as outlined in the Executive Order No. 1 of 2022.

CS Njeru pledged open-door policy and assured them of their support and cooperation in delivering their mandate of the Ministry. He added that most of the Ministry’s work will henceforth will be seen in the field where most of the services are required.

To provide live, dignity and food security to the people of Kenya, CS Njeru urged the staff to embrace teamwork within the State Departments and assist to achieve the mandate of the Ministry. He emphasized the need for harmonious working relations and cohesiveness to deliver the Government Agenda.

Other notable presentations were made by Water Secretary Eng SAO Alima and Secretary of Administration, State Department of Water and Sanitation Stephen Kihara among others.

October 17, 2023
Dettol launches handwashing campaign targeting over 10,000 school-going children in Nairobi slums

By Steve Sabai.

Dettol, a leading disinfection and hygiene solutions provider, has launched a handwashing campaign targeting over 10,000 school-going children in Nairobi’s slums. This timely endeavor coincides with the global observance of Global Handwashing Day, with the theme: “Clean hands are within reach”.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), two out of every five schools worldwide lack essential handwashing facilities, thus exposing students to a multitude of diseases. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that unclean hands are the main mode of illness transmission in approximately 80 percent of cases, and bringing it home, the 2023 Kenya Economic Survey shows that in 2022, healthcare facilities reported four million cases of diarrheal diseases, with the majority of these cases affecting children.

Under the banner of “Dettol Global Handwashing Campaign,” this month-long campaign will extend crucial support to five schools located in Nairobi’s Kibra and Mathare slums. The initiative entails the provision of essential water tanks and state-of-the-art handwashing stations along with essential hygiene education within these schools ensuring that clean hands are truly within reach for these deserving children”.

“This campaign underscores Dettol’s unwavering commitment to promoting hand hygiene education throughout the country. Our dedication extends to driving access to quality hygiene products designed to protect against illnesses causing germs, all with the ultimate goal of helping Kenyans maintain personal hygiene and create a safe and healthy environment for all,” said Asif Hashimi, Country Manager, Reckitt Kenya.

To maximize the impact and ensure the success of this campaign, Dettol has partnered with Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco), a local advocacy organization that serves the needs of over 350,000 urban slum residents across ten different slum communities in three major cities in Kenya namely Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

October 17, 2023
Building tourism capacity among the youth

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) says it will give capacity building to the youth venturing into the tourism business in the counties to enhance their skills in the hospitality sector.

KTB chairperson Francis Gichaba disclosed that a number of youth in the regions endowed with tourism activities lacked adequate skills and knowledge to better interpret and deliver visitor experience to the tourists.

“As the tourism marketing agency, this is one of the areas we will focus on especially as we enhance our relationship with the county governments in identifying opportunities that would spur tourism activities in the regions”, said the chairperson.

Speaking at the sidelines of the just-concluded 7th edition of Turkana Tourism and Cultural festivals held in Lodwar, Gichaba said the tourism business is one of the economic pillars that had a direct impact right from the grassroots levels.

He said, that one way of creating jobs for the youth was to identify other opportunities for tourism and pointed out culture and heritage as one of the tourism pillars away from the beaten path of wildlife and beaches that Kenya is famed for.

“Besides what Kenya is traditionally known for, culture and heritage is our next frontier in addition to adventure, eco-tourism among others. This is in line with our strategy to diversify our tourism offering to cater to the diverse needs of the clientele,” said the chairperson.

According to the chairperson, KTB will collaborate with the county governments and other partners in the sector to help identify, develop, and package the hidden tourism gem in the region.

At the same time while meeting the local tourism partners in Lodwar, Gishaba lauded the government for improved infrastructure and security in Northern Kenya, a move he observed was a major boost to the tourism business.

“Even as we ask of government to do more, improved infrastructure and security in this region is not only enhancing access to tourism facilities but spurring other economic activities for the livelihood of the people,” added the chairperson.

While addressing the 7^th edition of Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festivals, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Dr. Alfred Mutua disclosed that he will work with the country towards the improvement of tourism facilities including airstrips for ease of access to the interior parts of the tourism-rich country.

The northern Kenya of Turkana is known as home to the cradle of humans with the discovery of the almost complete skeleton of a human-related fossil ever found in the world –the Turkana Boy known to have existed some 1.6 million years ago. Other attractions include culture, adventure, research, and film making.

October 16, 2023