Author: Dredan Njau

Why We Need Trees
ClimateNews
Dredan Njau

Why we need trees

Trees, those towering giants and humble saplings alike, are Earth’s natural guardians against the relentless surge of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. In the intricate dance of our country and planet’s delicate ecosystems, trees stand as silent giants, wielding an extraordinary power that often goes unnoticed: they are nature’s carbon sinks. As Kenya recovers from the effects of the worst drought in a-half-a-century, the perils of climate change are forcing the government to embark on an ambitious target, planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The exercise, which has seen the country declare a public holiday today, 13th November 2023, comes just months after world leaders…

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No Shave November for Men's health
LifestyleNews
Dredan Njau

Beard it up for men’s health

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year again when we put our razors down and embrace the wild and free spirit of “No Shave November.” This uniquely cherished month has been a part of our lives for the past two decades, and it’s a journey worth experiencing. The story of “Movember,” short for “Moustache November,” all began in 2003 with the humble desire of two Australian men who simply wanted to grow moustaches. Their idea gradually evolved, and a year later, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery decided to take it a step further by starting a fundraiser that would involve not only those…

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Unga GRoup
NewsTechnology
Dredan Njau

Costs uploading bakeries online

Bakery business is shifting into informal spaces, neighborhood kitchens and sold online as it increasingly becomes difficult to produce cake as a small business. Bakers say that as costs of production increase, businesses are adapting by going informal. This way, they avoid layers of taxation and enjoy lower costs on the digital space to be able to sell cake. Ever increasing number of licenses, heavy taxes, monthly and yearly payments to counties and other authorities are becoming huge burdens to shoulder for small entrepreneurs. Instead when operating online, bakers can maximize reach to get clients. What’s more, they only do it on order leaving them at…

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EADAK
EAC & The Horn
Dredan Njau

New smartphone plant boosts ‘Made in Kenya’ movement

Kenyans can now purchase locally assembled smartphones following the launch of the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited (EADAK), situated in Athi River. This development advances the country’s efforts to enhance manufacturing as part of the “Made in Kenya” initiative, and it is expected to result in cost savings, with locally-made smartphones projected to be 30 percent more affordable than imported ones. President William Ruto presided over the EADAK plant’s inauguration, emphasizing its significant role in advancing his government’s digital highway and transformation agenda. The device assembly plant is a collaborative endeavor involving local Mobile Network Operators Safaricom and Jamii Telecommunications, along with international device

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University funding Kenya
Travel
Dredan Njau

How Kenya’s cost of education compares globally

As Kenya’s tertiary education sector undergoes a seismic shift, questions surrounding the value and accessibility of higher education are swirling in the minds of both students and the general public. The introduction of a new funding model, set to be implemented this year, is eliciting contrasting reactions – university administrations are breathing a sigh of relief, while wananchi question the worth of an education that comes with an increasingly hefty price tag. A new funding model, touted as a lifeline for the cash-strapped varsities, promises to extricate them from the clutches of financial crises induced by bad debt and the government’s past failures to honour

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Harm Reduction
Health
Dredan Njau

Harm reduction model can help tackle smoking

In an effort to enhance Africa’s public health, stakeholders in the health sector have been challenged to consider harm reduction as a guiding principle in their public health strategies to help tackle tobacco smoking. This call came out when Kenya hosted the third Harm Reduction Exchange, with the primary focus on enhancing tobacco harm reduction initiatives. Harm reduction is a strategy aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of health-related behaviours without necessarily eradicating them or promoting complete abstinence from harmful substances. This approach is gradually gaining prominence as a more compassionate and effective approach in public health. A call to embrace these harm reduction products

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Taka Taka Solutions
Climate
Dredan Njau

The company taking out 3 percent of Nairobi’s trash

Within the shadows of our present day society, a hidden menace looms large: WASTE. The aftermath of unchecked consumption coupled with inadequate waste management keeps growing towering mountains of garbage in informal areas such as Dandora’s dumpsite and Mathare seeping back into our ecosystems via our city’s rivers. Even though Kenya banned single-use plastics in 2017, plenty of merchandise packaging, used clothing, straws, and food-grade plastics are moving between our houses and landfills. Sometimes, they find their way back onto our table tops as recycled materials.  Earlier on this year, an orange coloured lorry with modified containers labeled “Taka Taka Solutions” would have passed me

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KCPE
EconomyNews
Dredan Njau

The last of the 8-4-4 system

Kwisha! The system most of us went through is almost breathing its last. The 8-4-4 system is quickly approaching its conclusion, with the last cohort of primary learners expected to take their final Kenya Certificate for Primary School examinations (KCPE) next Monday. Approximately 1.4 million learners will sit for their Mathematics test on October 30 as Kenya marks its second major curriculum change since transitioning from the 7-4-2-3 system in 1985. This same cohort will sit for their KCSE in 2027 to fully replace the 8-4-4 system and embrace the new CBC system.The system was introduced in 1985 by President Daniel arap Moi, consisting of…

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Bamburi
In BriefWomen in Business
Dredan Njau

Bamburi Cement feted for women empowerment

Bamburi Cement has been recognized as the leading firm in advancing the Women’s Economic Empowerment agenda in East Africa. This accolade was bestowed upon the company during the 11th Africa Gender Mainstreaming Awards 2023, an annual event held in Nairobi. Bamburi’s ascent to this esteemed position can be attributed to its support for ten women-owned organizations involved in recycling scrap tires and rice husks in Kenya. Together, these organizations collected and provided over 25,000 tonnes of waste, which was co-processed in Bamburi’s kilns to generate renewable energy. This effort not only produced sustainable energy but also diverted waste that would have otherwise ended up in

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BrandsNews
Dredan Njau

Netflix switches off free mobile cinema

The lobby of Anga Cinema at Diamond Plaza is crowded with fans taking pictures with newly minted star on the Red Carpet of Instant Dad which premiered over the Weekend in Nairobi. They mix freely with another set movie premier ‘Prayer for the Departed’ in the next hall of the movie theater indicating how Kenyan movie industry is rising as fans return to physical movie experience on the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. This shift in viewership away from binge watching Netflix while working from home is changing how movies are channeled to audiences as streaming companies review their ‘pandemic’ offers with Netflix withdrawing free…

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