Newsroom, Author at Newsroom by Maudhui

October 12, 2023 Newsroom

Kitui to digitize services using myCounty App

Kitui has become the second county in the Eastern region after Makueni to launch the digitisation of its services through Safaricom-backed myCounty App platform. The platform will provide a range of services, including payment options for county services, revenue management systems, a citizen reporting and engagement tool, as well as solutions pertaining to agriculture, health, utility bills, and SME programs. Presently, myCounty app has seen over 400,000 users actively accessing county services across 11 onboarded counties. These counties include Nairobi, Makueni, Kitui, Busia, Samburu, Bomet, Narok, Kilifi, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, and Elgeyo Marakwet. “Our vision is to enable counties to offer one-stop shop for their services and more

Economy

October 6, 2023 Newsroom

From crop to cup: Logistics is key to revitalising Kenya’s coffee industry

Climate change and deforestation mean your morning cup of coffee may face extinction by 2050 according to reports from the Fairtrade Foundation, this comes at a time when the world’s demand for coffee is already outstripping supply. Logistics support for a booming Kenyan coffee industry has never been more critical to ensure the world’s demands for its morning cuppa are met, but also to grow the Kenyan economy. “Moving a coffee bean efficiently from a farm in rural Kenya to a coffee shop in central London is critical for the revival of the Kenyan coffee industry,” says Zaid Khammash, Managing Director, Operations, Kenya, at FedEx.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki.

In Brief

October 6, 2023 Newsroom

Six Immigration employees arrested over passport fraud

Six Department of Immigration Services employees, including an intern, as well as nine suspected brokers around the city centre have been arrested for their involvement in the corruption scandal surrounding passport issuance at Nyayo House, Nairobi. According to the DCI, the public and foreigners seeking passports and work permits were coerced into paying hefty bribes to access essential services. The rogue employees were exploiting a temporary system glitch at Nyayo House to line their pockets. They even deployed brokers around Nyayo House to lure desperate applicants and those with influence into securing special treatment. After investigation and profiling of suspects, detectives raided the Department of

Markets

October 5, 2023 Newsroom

The final call: ILAM Fahari I-REIT redemption offer nears end

The ongoing redemption offer for the listed real estate investment trust, ILAM Fahari Real Estate Investment Trust (I-REIT), is set to conclude tomorrow, October 6th. Addressing the redemption offer period, which paves the way for the conversion process, Einstein Kihanda, CEO of ICEA LION Asset Management (ILAM), noted that following the closure, trading of the ILAM Fahari I-REIT will be temporarily suspended at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). This suspension will run from close of trading on Friday, October 6th, until Wednesday, October 25th, in line with the timetable outlined in the Conversion Offering Memorandum and the Public Notice dated August 29th, 2023. Premium offer

Sports

October 5, 2023 Newsroom

KCB Golf Series heads to Machakos

The 14th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will be held at the 9-hole Machakos Golf Club this coming weekend. The morning action is expected to tee off at 7:00 am as 140 golfers brave the fairways to fight for the top two positions in a bid to qualify for the grand finale of the tour scheduled for next month at the Karen Country Club. The series has so far seen 12 teams book a spot in the Pro-Am event with the latest entries comprising Phylis Kisuna, J. Jesang, J. Cheruiyot, J. Kisuna, Phylis Kisuna, J. Jesang, J. Cheruiyot, and J. Kisuna joining the

In Brief

October 3, 2023 Newsroom

Tuesday’s NSE Equity market up 263 percent to Sh228 million

Equity market activity at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) saw a 263.16 percent surge in Tuesday trading closing at Kes227.59 million from Kes62.67 million on Monday, indicative of renewed investor interest in the NSE. However, despite the boost in trading activity, the benchmark indices experienced a downward trajectory. The NASI dipped by 0.16 percent, the NSE 10 declined by 0.70 percent, and the NSE 20 slipped by 0.41 percent, concluding at Kes95.39, Kes946.95, and Kes1505.47, respectively. These figures contributed to a year-to-date performance of (25.17) percent for NASI and (10.18) percent for NSE 20. Additionally, foreign investors registered net outflows of Kes76.62 million, an increase

In Brief

October 2, 2023 Newsroom

Foreign investors net sellers at NSE

Foreign investors were net sellers at the start of this week’s trading, recording net outflows of Kes3.71 million on Monday. This marked a significant contrast compared to close of trading last week when they recorded net outflows of Kes32.99 million. The change in foreign investment patterns could be indicative of their response to evolving market conditions and economic factors both locally and globally. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) saw the equities market turnover suffer significant decline of 26.13 percent. The turnover fell from Kes84.85 million to Kes62.67 million, signifying a substantial reduction in trading activity. This downturn in turnover could be attributed to various factors,

In Brief Markets

October 2, 2023 Newsroom

When Uchumi makes cents

Uchumi Supermarkets, a retailer that has barely any operational outlet was the biggest gainer at the Nairobi Securities Exchange underlying the dearth that has hit the market, which is now being moved by speculation. The former retailer gained 9.52 percent in Monday’s trading closing the market as the top gainer with stocks valued at 23 cents. Crown Paints was the second gainer at the bourse raising 9.4 percent to trade at Kes39 while TransCentury which is currently embroiled in a winding up suit with listed lender Equity Bank closed top three with an 8 percent gain to trade at 54 cents. Market activity on Monday

Brands

October 2, 2023 Newsroom

Returning papa to the commercial break

I may not be a soda enthusiast, but I can vividly recall Papa Shirandula’s Brrrrrrrrr sound out savouring a bottle of that dark, fizzy elixir in a Coca-Cola commercial that graced our screens more than a decade ago. The ascent of Charles Bukeko, affectionately known as Papa, seemed to reach its peak when he broke through the screen with his unforgettable ads, including a captivating GOTV campaign. He even left his mark on global audiences with commercials filmed in far-flung locales such as Indonesia for Coca-Cola and South Africa for telco Vodacom. Papa’s humour was his stock in trade, etching his comedic brilliance into our

Health News

September 29, 2023 Newsroom

Kenya’s CyberKnife set to check outbound medical tourism

Kenya could experience a surge in inbound medical tourism in the coming years following the historic launch of CyberKnife radiotherapy services for the treatment of cancer at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH). A team of Doctors at the KUTRRH have entered into the books of history after pioneering CyberKnife radiotherapy services, marking a huge milestone in cancer treatment across Sub-Saharan Africa. CyberKnife treatment is essentially an advancement in radiation therapy, offering precise and effective treatment options for a wide range of medical conditions, especially cancer. The technology helps minimize the side effects while improving a patient’s overall experience. Previously, accessing CyberKnife…