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  • Linda Ugatuzi Faults Court of Appeal Decision on Finance Act

    Linda Ugatuzi Faults Court of Appeal Decision on Finance Act

    The Operation Linda Ugatuzi leader Prof. Fred Ogola
    The Operation Linda Ugatuzi leader Prof. Fred Ogola

    The Operation Linda Ugatuzi led by Prof. Fred Ogola has poked holes in the Court of Appeal Decision to quash a high court decision that temporarily suspended implementation of the finance act.
    Prof. Fred Ogola notes,
    “Today we are here to address the media regarding the issue of lifting on conservatory order of the 2023 finance act.

    We were in deep shock when the court of appeal actually lifted the conservatory order against the unpopular finance act which was passed by the very unpopular Kenya Kwanza Government that is acting against the rights of Kenyans by collecting too much money from Kenyans yet only corruption is what we are hearing.

    Ogola said that the Chief Justice Martha Kooome is leading the most corrupt institution that is denying Kenyans justice.

    “Kenyans are not getting anything from the taxes they pay they are only hearing stories of tumetenga, tunapanga, tunakata kupanga, those things don’t actually add value to Kenyans. What we have discovered is that I was in court the day the High Court suspended the unpopular finance act. It was very clear when I heard lawyer mahat saying that they are very sure and they know that the court of appeal will overrule the high court on the issue of the finance act. Now because they knew, we have a system in Kenya, whereby the lower courts give Kenyans justice and the higher court take away that justice of Kenyans.

    And it’s now clear that the higher you go in the court system, the less justice you are likely to see because the level of courts rises with corruption, which means the higher the court the higher the corruption. Kenyans you must remember we are here because the Judiciary led by Justice Koome was there in supreme court when they made unpopular decision to uphold the election of this government yet there were so many controversial issues.

    Again they have now suspended the ruling by High Court again very unpopular decision made by Court of Appeal.

    So what I want to tell Chief Justice Martha Koome, you are Chief Justice yes, by title, but are you overseeing justice in Kenya?

    You are a Chief Justice over a very big system where there’s no justice. You should actually be called Chief Injustice because that is what we are seeing in the country. Kenyans lost faith in the Court of Appeal, Kenyans have now lost faith in the supreme court, the only court where Kenyans still have faith is High Court. We want to applaud Justice Thande for having made a decision that is now being overturned by a court system which the higher you go, the higher the corruption and the lower the justice.

    As operation Linda Ugatuzi we have a petition in high court trying to ask the high court to completely withdraw the finance act. We hope the decision which has been made by the Court of Appeal will not compromise justice in withdrawing of the unpopular, Draconian, finance act.”

  • EABL Group’s earnings undermined by regional macro-economic slowdown

    EABL Group’s earnings undermined by regional macro-economic slowdown

    o   Net sales growth remained flat to prior year at Kshs 109 billion, impacted by depressed consumer wallets

    o   Uganda and Tanzania top line performance up 17% and 1% respectively, while Kenya declined by 4%

    o   Recommended final dividend at Kshs 1.75 per share, and a total dividend of Kshs 5.50 per share

    East African Breweries PLC (EABL) has reported Kshs 109 billion in net sales for the full year ended June 30, 2023, a similar revenue performance compared to prior year.

    EABL’s Group volumes were down 7 percent year-on-year, as sales were impacted by sluggish consumer spending as effects of the tough macro-economic environment and regulatory disruptions took a toll on depletions.

    Net sales in Kenya declined 4 per cent with excise tax escalation impacting the price-sensitive mainstream segment. The trade environment in Kenya also impacted performance, particularly trade distractions leading to county-led bar closures. However, the premium spirits segment proved resilient, registering double-digit growth.

    Uganda continued its encouraging half-year growth trajectory, closing at 17 percent growth aided by pricing benefits and modest volume growth. Tanzania registered modest growth of 1 percent as the market continues to adjust to price increases taken earlier in the year.

    EABL delivered net profit of Kshs 12 billion, a 21 percent decline, on the back of rising input costs, multiple excise tax increases and currency depreciation which could not be fully offset by increased prices and cost management initiatives.

    The EABL Board has recommended a final dividend of Kshs 1.75 per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to Kshs 5.50 per share.

    EABL Group Managing Director & CEO, Ms. Jane Karuku said: “EABL remained resilient despite the macro- economic headwinds – including global inflation and geopolitical disruptions – which disproportionately raised our costs and depressed consumer spending across the year. Amidst these challenges, we maintained our strategic focus on delivering value to our consumers and all our stakeholders through executional excellence, and operational efficiency.”

    Ms. Karuku added: “As we navigate the current volatility, we remain optimistic about the growth prospects for our business. We continue to invest in our advantaged portfolio of brands and insight-led innovations to meet the ever-evolving needs of our consumers. Together with the relentless dedication of our teams, I expect that we will continue to deliver topline growth, sustained profitability and consistent cash flow generation.”

    EABL continued to reap from smart investment behind brands, digital and consumer experiences, investing Kshs 12.9 billion in capital expenditure during the year. The company’s Environmental, Social and

     

    Governance (ESG) plan to promote positive drinking, champion inclusion and diversity and pioneer grain-to- glass sustainability continued apace with significant investments behind strategic sustainability initiatives across East Africa.

  • Teleposta pensioners appeal for president to help them from auctioneers

    Members of Teleposta pension scheme are living in fear of being evicted from their houses that they have lived in for over 25 years.

    The members say that some of them were given offer letters to buy the houses at reasonable prices then but the pension scheme has increased the prices to a point that they cannot afford.

    Through an auctioneer the members say that they were given a notice of 3 months since March to vacate the houses now the auctioneer is threatening to evict them from the houses.

    Barnabas Munga a member of the pension scheme says that those who had received the offer letters were instructed to pay a 10% of the buying price and a grace period of 3 months to complete the paying.

    The members say that it is improper to for such payment plan they decried the conditions asking for a mortgage but they could not be given that offer. They now want the Teleposta pension scheme to offer all the more that 120 members offer letters to purchase the houses with the initial price not the inflated prices that they are giving now.they want the president to now to come to their rescue in the hands of cartels who want to take advantage who want them to vacate for their personal benefits

    According to the CS of Education Ezekiel transferring a child to another school in public school due to the education system of Kenya now is a nother big problem to the residents ,being their children are all in public schools, so telling them to vacate will not only affects them but also affects the Education of the children’s.

  • Mamo Appears Before Senate Lands Committee

    The Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Mamo Boru Mamo on Thursday appeared before the senate committee on lands.

    Mr. Mamo Boru in his response on actions taken my NEMA to ensure sustained enforcement of law and regulations pertaining to sand harvesting in Machakos and Kitui a statement sought by Nominated Senator Hon. Tabitha Mutinda on the utilisationand use of sand in Kitui, affirmed to the Committee that, NEMA and County Government conduct regular inspections to minimize illegal sand harvesting.

    Mamo reported that the Authority has undertaken approximately 47 inspections in Machakos County and 35 inspections in Kitui County some of which have been on sand harvesting within the Counties.

    ‘’The Authority have been imposing punitive fines and penalties on offenders in law, restriction of sand harvesting and transportation working hours to daytime only (6am to 6pm) and promotion of construction of gabions and sand dams along the threatened river beds where sand harvesting is practiced sponsored by African Sand Foundation (NGO).’’ DG NEMA added.

    During the committee the Legislators recommend that the two Governors work hand in hand with National Environmental Management Authority, to ensure this menace of Sand harvesting is reduced in both Counties for the benefits of the residents and safe Environment.

    Director Mamo said that the reason as to why their is heavy harvest of sand is due to the government is on with the construction of affordable houses.

    Other Senators in attendance were, Vice Chair Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi, Sen. Johnes Mwaruma, Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, Sen. Agnes Kavindu, Sen. William Cheptumo and Sen. Mariam Omar. Senator Tabitha Mutinda who sought the Statement and Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua attended.

  • Chelimo Urges Leaders To Reason Together

    Chelimo Urges Leaders To Reason Together

    The leader of National Vision Party Engineer Chelimo has implored upon leaders to embrace the voice of reason rather than jeopardize our country.

    Reacting to the recently witnessed chaos during the Maandamano, Hon Chelimo cautioned those who call for destruction of property to cease.

    “What we witnessed in Mlolongo where the vandalized a section of the expressway was retrogressive. No Kenyan should damage our infrastructure which is a great enabler of economic transformation,” he advised.

    He told those leaders who feel aggrieved by anything to make use of the professional and legal means of addressing their grievances.

    “We have avenues such as courts or even the National Assembly where anybody is free to forward their issue and it will be looked into. Going to the roads and causing mayhem cannot address even the high cost of living,” he advised.

    He also advised the youths to shun being misused by some politicians to wreck havoc and destruction but rather they should involve themselves in constructive matters

  • Navigating New Horizons with 5G Network

    Navigating New Horizons with 5G Network

    Over the past two decades, Kenya has witnessed a remarkable evolution in its digital landscape, ushering in a transformative era of technological advancement. The journey began with simple flip feature phones, with barely 10 percent penetration in the early 2000s. A 2022 report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals that almost half the population currently owns mobile devices.

    Widespread mobile connectivity has laid the ground for expanding digital services and innovation in various sectors. That is, with the growth of the internet and the emergence of 3G and 4G networks, there has been increased access to information, sparking the development of e-commerce platforms and digital marketplaces, providing opportunities for businesses to reach broader audiences and consumers to access a wide range of products and services conveniently across the globe.

    The Government, also recognizing the significance of a thriving digital economy, has taken bold steps to support its growth in the country. That has happened through the deployments of various initiatives such as the Digital Master plan (2022-2032), Constituency Innovation Hubs, and National Broadband Strategy, just to name a few. The government has made progress in enhancing ICT infrastructure development, fostering innovation, and deepening the sector’s contribution to overall socio-economic growth.

    As the 5G network gains traction in Kenya, it opens up limitless possibilities for the telco industry and the digital sphere, revolutionizing how we live, work, and do business as a society.

    How 5G will change the way we live

    5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks, which boasts the ability to deliver faster data transfer speeds, lower latency, and higher bandwidth bringing with it the promise of better reliability than its predecessors.

    With ultrafast speeds, 5G offers significantly faster download and upload speeds, up to multi-GigaBits per second (Gbps). This means users can now enjoy seamless streaming of high-definition video content, quick file downloads, smoother online gaming experiences, and real-time high-quality video calls without buffering delays.

    Undoubtedly, the fast and reliable speeds that 5G brings will also tremendously impact the remote work model that the Covid-19 pandemic forced upon us in 2020. Professionals will be able to collaborate and participate in virtual meetings in an improved and transformed way, utilizing the game-changing Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies. Boosted productivity, increased work flexibility, and improved work-life balance are inherent in 5G, eventually leading to cost savings for businesses.

    Another impressive feature of 5G is its ultralow latency. By reducing the time it takes for data to travel between devices and the network, 5G will enable near-instantaneous communication, enhancing real-time communication. This will revolutionize key sectors such as healthcare and education, enabling equal access to all.

    In healthcare, for instance, 5G technology can enable remote consultations, remote monitoring, and real-time collaboration between medical professionals, leading to improved healthcare outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. For example, take a case where a surgeon cannot be physically present in a surgery room, yet their input is vital. The surgeon can still offer remote surgery assistance, guiding and controlling surgical instruments in real-time, thus, saving a life.

    In the education sector, 5G technology is set to enable immersive learning experiences through Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), providing students with access to educational resources and experiences that were not possible before. In other words, this means that a student in Marsabit County, Kenya, with access to the right devices, can now attend a lecture at Melbourne University, Australia, in real time.

    Further, because 5G networks can support a significantly larger number of connected devices simultaneously compared to previous generations, the expansion and evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) technology is imminent. This, in time, will increase the feasibility of initiatives geared towards improving urban planning and developments by the government. Smart Cities, for example, will become a realistic possibility by utilizing a network of connected devices, such as traffic sensors, surveillance cameras, and environmental monitors, to improve the quality and way of life of citizens.

    Moreover, since the 5G network can support massive machine-to-machine communication ensuring real-time data exchange and coordination, smart factories might be here with us soon. Consequently, this will mean improved efficiency, optimized production processes, and lessened human interventions in industries like manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics leading to cost savings and higher production in the sectors.

    Airtel Kenya’s commitment to innovation

    Driven by continuous evolution, at Airtel Kenya, we strive to remain at the forefront of innovation by investing in research to create unique and affordable products that cater to all our customers’ diverse needs and demands. Our primary goal is to transform the digital ecosystem in Kenya and contribute to bridging the digital divide in Africa. As evidence of our dedication to this mission, we recently launched the Airtel 5G network. With over 370 active sites in the country in 16 counties and 180 wards, we want to expand digital connectivity and inclusivity.

    In conclusion, while 5G deployment stands as one of the most revolutionary technological advancements of our time, it is imperative to acknowledge the various associated risks and security concerns, such as cyber security threats, data privacy concerns, and infrastructural vulnerabilities among others, as highlighted in the 2022 report by World Economic Forum.

    Therefore, sustained collaboration between network operators, the government, research institutes, academia, and other stakeholders is crucial to mitigate these challenges. Together, they can ensure adequate infrastructure development in Kenya and across Africa while providing users with peace of mind regarding its safe and secure usage, ultimately contributing to a steady uptake.

     

    By:

    Ashish Malhotra, Airtel Kenya MD.

  • How technology is aiding some of Africa’s largest agricultural producers

    How technology is aiding some of Africa’s largest agricultural producers

    In the latest episode of Inside Africa, CNN International explores the future of agriculture and how agricultural technology – agritech – is supporting the industry.

     

    Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa establishes the importance of the agritech sector and the continent’s role in it, “We have the potential. Now we need to get to the stage where to say, ‘Let’s realise the potential.’ And I mean, if you think about it in a global space, there is generally an increasing interest in agricultural technology and also in the food sector at large, which means that capital could be available to unlock that potential.”

     

    With limited income and access to credit, machinery tends to be too expensive for small-scale farmers to buy. Folu Okunade is the co-founder and COO of Hello Tractor, a way for farmers in Kenya to rent existing equipment and use it more efficiently. He explains, “We have IOT [Internet of Things] enabled web and mobile platforms that connect farmers with mechanisation service providers or tractor owners. The tractor comes to them, does the work. They now don’t have to own a tractor outright because it doesn’t make sense for them to, if they just own a small piece of land, they’re never going to be able to pay back that tractor.”

     

    Farmer and tractor owner Nashon Ngetich speaks about why the service is useful for owners as well as renters, “I’m able to rent it out to my neighbouring farmers, move around with it around the country and I can make some small amount of money from it as well as pay for it, pay the operator. The opportunity with it is we can plan ourselves easily. When the season kicks in I can plan for it.”

     

    Looking to the future, Okunade hopes to expand beyond just tractors. He tells CNN, “Mechanisation is beyond just ploughing or land preparation, it goes to things like planting, or spreading fertiliser, or spraying, or planting, or harvesting. So, we really see this progression now that we have the customer, how do we move them to a highly engaged customer who’s doing three and more services with us per season.”

     

    Africa is the fastest growing continent and the UN estimates that the population of Sub-Saharan Africa will nearly double by 2050. Improving crop yields is key for feeding this future. Okunade says, “There’s a ton of potential. I don’t think anybody knows the ceiling when it comes to working with smallholder farmers and really solving this food security challenge. So, it’s the challenge that drives me, but it’s also knowing that there’s a huge potential out there.”

     

    Also in Kenya, Inside Africa sees how a mobile app for cow management is transforming milk production. Around 3.8 billion litres of milk are produced in Kenya every year, mostly by small farms. Peninah Wanja, Founder of DigiCow Africa describes where dairy farmers lose money, “One of the key challenges that faces the small holder dairy farmers is low milk production, where farmers get an average of 10 litres per cow per day. Against the potential of 30 litres per cow per day, the same cow. And this challenge is brought in by farmers not keeping records.”

     

    As well as keeping records on milk production, DigiCow can store information on vaccinations, deworming, and artificial insemination. The app sends automatic alerts when a cow is due treatment and can dispatch a vet as necessary. Dairy farmer Murimi Wamabi talks about how the app has helped, “My core business being breeding, they’ve really assisted me in breeding in the sense of keeping my records. And since I’m a busy guy, honestly, when you have somebody who can update, he tells you today, check on heat on this particular animal, this one is due on this date so you should dry it. So, all that information is actually at the tip of my finger.”

     

    DigiCow has already expanded to cover more than just cattle. Wanja says, “We started with a dairy farmer in mind. But out of demand from the farmers we have been able to expand to other value chains. And we are now working with sheep, goat, beef in crops, in potatoes, and also rice. In total, we are working with over 300,000 farmers.”

     

    In Côte d’Ivoire, drones are being used to aid agriculture and increase productivity. They allow farmers to remotely monitor crops and use sophisticated sensors to assess soil quality and detect crop disease. Co-founder of drone maker JooL International Joseph-Olivier Biley describes the company, “JooL was born out of a personal problem my family was having. We have this plantation three to four hours away and my father who is very busy didn’t have time to go there regularly. JooL was born to allow people like my father, agricultural investors, to be able to protect and grow their investments remotely while carrying out their day jobs.”

     

    Drone usage is increasing in Africa, particularly in the medical space, but many are imported from China for affordability and ease. Biley says JooL intends to keep making its own hardware locally, “We are only able to produce small quantities. We need to be able to find the means to expand our production line, by setting up a factory to be able to produce in larger quantities locally, to save costs, to create jobs and to be able to satisfy the whole continent.”

     

    Biley and his team have also set up an academy to train drone pilots. Lanciné Doumouya, Co-founder & VP at JooL Academy speaks about the project, “The academy allows us to train professionals in the agricultural field. To give them an added value in their field of agronomy, in their daily agronomic activity. And also people who have nothing to do with agriculture, who want to improve or learn the drone business and be able to create a source of income. So it’s really aimed at everybody.”

     

    Finally, the show visits Uganda where technology is aiding an urban development project.

     

    ‘Inside Africa’ airs on Sunday 30th July 2023 at 12:30 SAST on CNN International

     

  • The Hub Karen Marks Its 7th Anniversary with Exciting Weekend Offers and exciting birthday giveaways

    The Hub Karen Marks Its 7th Anniversary with Exciting Weekend Offers and exciting birthday giveaways

    • Shoppers are set to receive birthday gifts from leading stores and outlets within the mall including discounts of up to 50% discounts on shoes, gym membership and recreational activity.  
    • Since its grand opening in 2016, The Hub Karen has evolved into the go-to destination for shopping and entertainment for Nairobi residents. 

    The Hub Karen is gearing up to celebrate its 7th anniversary this weekend – 29-30 July 2023.

    Known as the ‘Jewel of Nairobi’, this premier shopping location is inviting families, friends, and shopping enthusiasts to explore an array of special birthday deals from its wide selection of shops, restaurants and experiences, promising a fun-filled weekend. The mall will be giving out birthday gifts throughout the weekend as it marks this milestone to appreciate its customers and reward them for their loyalty and patronage.

    Sameh Ibrahim, Chief Operating Officer of Real Estate at JCG, commented:

    “As we commemorate seven years of successful operations, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers and partners who have been an integral part of The Hub Karen’s journey.

    “Their unwavering support has been instrumental in our growth and success. We invite them to take advantage of the unparalleled shopping experiences we have to offer this weekend, and we look forward to serving them for many more years to come.”

    Numerous global brands have prepared exclusive weekend offers, among them Adidas, which, opened its doors to shoppers last weekend and has trendy and fashion forward clothing and shoes available in its store.

    MAC, the makeup store, is infusing the weekend with a touch of glamour, offering a limited number of free makeup services to their customers each worth KES 6,000, Meanwhile, Town Team is enhancing the excitement with gift vouchers valued at KES 1,500 each for shoppers who visit the mall.

    Families looking for a weekend of outdoor fun and adventure can spend the day at Jump by Flying Fox ziplining over the lake, rappelling, wall climbing or enjoying the giant swings. Families can get up to 25% discount on 25 activities while patrons who buy 2 activities will get 15% off while 3 activities will attract a 20% discount on the ticket price.

    Brands like Heel-to-Toe, Smart Gym, Jump, Silken Human Hair, Premier by Dead Sea, and Michael’s Perfumes are also participating in the weekend offers, providing discounts of between 10% to 50% on various products and services.

    And if shoppers are feeling worn out from a shopping extravaganza, they can take a break at the restaurants and eateries within the mall or enjoy a complimentary cooking class at Alatasuesue, where they can learn how to prepare exotic meals such as Sushi and Nigerian food.

    On Sunday, shoppers who will also be treated to an exciting Family Sunday with live music playing, birthday gifts to be given away and cake cutting as the highlight of the day to celebrate with shoppers and tenants.

    With so much on offer, there is truly something for all the family this weekend at The Hub Karen.

    Beyond the enticing deals and offers, The Hub Karen’s anniversary celebration underscores its steadfast commitment to the local community.

    From the time of its inception, the mall has consistently engaged in empowering the neighbouring area, conducting book and shoe donation drives, supporting a local football team, contributing to conservation charities, and participating in tree-planting initiatives. This anniversary event serves as an opportunity to reassert that devotion.

    For more information about The Hub Karen’s 7th anniversary celebrations, follow @hubkaren on Instagram, @TheHubKaren on Facebook and @TheHubKaren on Twitter.

    The Hub Karen is Kenya’s premier family destination located in Nairobi offering a variety of international fashion and food outlets and brands. The mall is environmentally friendly with energy and resource saving initiatives that include solar power generation and a sewage water treatment plant and is the first-open air mall in the region integrating green energy.

  • Kenyan households spend more than 10 times monthly income on school supplies – WorldRemit study

    Kenyan households spend more than 10 times monthly income on school supplies – WorldRemit study

     

    • WorldRemit releases its third year of data, observing the rising costs of educational supplies across 20 countries globally
    • 40% of countries to pay more than their monthly income on school supplies this year
    • Study shows total cost per child in Kenya at Ksh68,701.0

    Today, WorldRemit, a digital remittances brand within Zepz, releases its third year of global data and findings, to understand how the cost of school supplies impact families around the world. As inflation persists and supply chain issues continue to arise across multiple sectors, it comes as no surprise that on average, countries observed can expect costs to rise.

    Findings for Kenya show the total cost per child is Ksh68,701. Given the average household size in Kenya of 3.23, the total cost per household is estimated at Ksh 221,904.23.This is higher than average incomes for most households in the country, with the survey showing the cost of education for most households is 1054.31% or approximately 10 times their average monthly household income.

    Across countries where people have higher monthly incomes, Canada, the UK and Australia saw nominal decreases in the percentage of income they can expect to allocate, while France and Spain saw notable increases. In France, families can expect to allocate 5% of their monthly budget this year, while in Spain, they can expect to allocate 7% more than last year on basic school supplies.

    In other parts of the world, cost changes were far more drastic, where yearly changes averaged an increase of 78%. 1 in 9 people1 worldwide rely on money sent from friends and relatives who have migrated abroad for work. For families whose incomes simply cannot accommodate the cost of these fundamental supplies, remittances make a world of difference in their ability to afford these supplies, as well as steep costs like tuition, transportation and childcare.

    2023 Cost of School Overview

     

      Country Cost Changes YoY % of Monthly Household Income Highest Item increase
    Industrialised Nations Canada -0.4% 9% Gym shoes
    United States +28% 9% Colouring pencils
    United Kingdom +2% 9% Pencils
    France +41% 19% Colouring pencils
    Spain +53% 20% Pencils
    Australia +19% 9% Pencils
    Americas Mexico +56% 84% Polo shirts
    Guatemala +75% 334% Polo shirts
    Colombia +81% 153% Notebooks
    Dominican Republic +56% 72% Polo shirts
    EMEA Cameroon +97% 789% Ruler
    Morocco +118% 262% Polo shirts
    Nigeria +162% 632% Sharpener
    Tanzania +62% 861% Socks
    Zimbabwe +6% 427% Pencil case
    APAC Philippines +16% 51% Pencils
    India +129% 197% Notebooks

    While practically every country in the study had increased costs, certain items have drastically increased. For example, in Australia a case of 12 pencils has increased more than 4x the cost of the previous year and the cost of notebooks in India is almost 6x as expensive as in 2022.

    3.6% or 281 million2 of the global population identify as migrants, a number that has steadily increased over the last 30 years. Similarly, remittances have increased from US $126B in 2000 to more than $700B in 2020, with the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Germany operating as the top 5 sending countries as of 2020.

    While rising costs of living have forced migrants to be more conscious about how they allocate funds for remittances, as of July 2022, WorldRemit data indicates education is one of the top 3 reasons people send money.

    To learn more about the study and see full results, visit https://www.worldremit.com/en/back-to-school

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors:

    If you are to use this data in an article, would you please credit the research via this link: https://www.worldremit.com/en/back-to-school

     

    References

    12019: UnitedNations.org, Remittances matter: 8 facts you don’t know about the money migrants send back home

    2 2022: IOM UN Migration, World Migration Report 2022

     

    Methodology

    In the study, WorldRemit looked at the following countries and researched basic school supplies:

    • United States of America
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Australia
    • Philippines
    • Mexico
    • Uganda
    • Tanzania
    • India
    • Nigeria
    • Guatemala
    • Colombia
    • Dominican Republic
    • Morocco
    • Zimbabwe
    • Lebanon
    • Cameroon
    • Ghana
    • Kenya
    • France
    • Spain

    For 2023:

    Using the 2022 items list dataset provided, we identified the 2023 prices for 21 counties for the back to school items. Using the data provided from last year we searched for more up to date and cheaper options if available. Using the quantity of items needed shown in column B, we multiplied the cost of the items (when required) to match the quantity e.g. 6 polo shirts, the price identified for one shirt was multiplied by six.The data was gathered between the 21st and 27th of June 2023. All prices were converted into GBP and US dollars using Google on 29th June 2023.

    Once all item prices had been gathered, using the CIA world factbook we updated the fertility rate for 2023 estimates and multiplied the cost of the total school items by fertility rate to showcase an overall cost of going back to school for a family.

    We also used the World Bank data (as used in the 2022 dataset) to pull the average Net National Income per capita in US dollars and divided this by 12 to showcase a potential monthly salary. The UK had 2018 data from the World Bank, so instead we used OECD data to get the Net National Income for the UK.

    For 2022:

    The primary school items were selected based on the most common back to school items. The price of each item was searched for online and the lowest price item was selected from one of the most popular online retailers in that country. The prices were researched in July 2022. The exchange rate from the local currency was calculated on 06/08/2022 at 9:00 BST. The fertility rate and income was gathered from the CIA world factbook.

  • 205 students empowered to join tertiary education institutions through Prudential’s donation to Kenya Education Fund.

    205 students empowered to join tertiary education institutions through Prudential’s donation to Kenya Education Fund.

    • Prudential has donated Kshs. 12 million to Kenya Education Fund. 
    • The donation will be used to support 205 learners enrolling in their first year of education in higher learning institutions for the next 3 years.
    • The contribution is among Prudential’s efforts in supporting the education of students from disadvantaged families in Kenya, and those whose guardians lost income sources following the Covid pandemic.

    Two hundred and five students are assured of reporting to their first year of tertiary education supported by a Kshs. 12million donation from Prudential through its community investment arm, Prudence Foundation.

    The donation, which was presented to the Kenya Education Fund today at the Oloolaiser National School, in Ngong, Kajiado County, was drawn from Prudential’s Covid Recovery Fund. It will finance the first year of tertiary learning every year, starting this year, for the next three years, with beneficiaries drawn from all around the country. The beneficiaries will include students from financially disadvantaged households and those whose parents and guardians suffered a loss of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The Covid-19 Recovery Fund was initiated by Prudential in 2020 to support approved charitable and community projects that address the immediate social and economic impacts of the pandemic. Education was among the worst affected sectors in Kenya, as students stayed out of school for nearly seven months, and upon reopening had to contend with adjusted calendars. Meanwhile, many families struggled to keep their children in school following layoffs, furloughs, and company closures. The situation is further worsened by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the impact of climate change. Already, over 2 million students aged 4 – 17 have been out of school since 2021, with the number projected to increase in coming days.

    It is against this background that Prudential sought to alleviate the pain for students joining tertiary institutions, whose admission is relatively costlier when compared to the formative levels of school.

    “Every year, over 200,000 students qualify for placement in universities and other tertiary education institutions, but thousands of these brilliant students miss out on the opportunity due to poverty. It really is unfortunate for students to struggle through primary and secondary school education, and just when they are about to join college – where many lives are transformed – they meet financial roadblocks that prevent them from proceeding. The situation worsened after the Covid pandemic with many breadwinners losing their livelihoods. At Prudential, we found this to be a disheartening situation and that is why we have been teaming up with Kenya Education Fund to support some of these needy cases,” said Prudential Kenya CEO, Gwen Kinisu.

    Prudential has an ongoing partnership with the KEF that started back in 2014. This partnership has seen over 180 students receive full scholarships for their secondary school and university education, supported by previous donation from the Covid Recovery Fund.  In 2021, the partnership printed and distributed over 16,000 revision books to learners countrywide which are still being used by students to date.

    Francis Ng’ang’a, the KEF’s Country Director said his organization receives an overwhelming number of applications for financial support every year, and lauded Prudential for its continued support.

    “We receive thousands of applications from across the country and were it not for the support of well-meaning institutions like Prudential, we may not have the capacity to honor many of them,” he said.