Home Featured
Category:

Featured

Featured posts

RELI
EducationFeaturedTechnology

RELI and ARIGATOU Join Forces to Champion Children’s Advocacy, Protection, and Empowerment

by Kwabe Ben
written by Kwabe Ben


The Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI) recently embarked on a learning trip with the Life Skills Cluster to Arigatou International SDG Academy. The objective was to establish a collaboration between RELI and ARIGATOU, given RELI’s focus on children’s protection and the need to instill 21st-century life skills among the youth in East Africa.

On April 21st, while the world celebrated Creativity and Innovation Day, RELI and ARIGATOU took the opportunity to encourage young learners and creative thinkers to aim for greater horizons, particularly in the field of innovation. This platform allows children to engage in innovative problem-solving to create solutions to various challenges.

The SDGs Academy is an initiative by ARIGATOU aimed at ending child poverty. Established during the Covid-19 pandemic, it identifies the gaps in children’s protection, learning, and feeding, providing a safe space for sustainable development learning. ARIGATOU, whose name means “thank you” in Japanese, focuses on children’s protection and education, with offices in Kenya, Geneva, and New York.

ARIGATOU’s Director General, Dr. Fred Nyabera, urges the establishment of more SDGs Academies across the country to level the field for all learners. He emphasizes the need for sustainability through members’ involvement and adopting value-based learning that teaches morals within the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

ARIGATOU’s Director General, Dr. Fred Nyabera

Dr. Nyabera notes that children are naturally creative and curious, and when given space and freedom to innovate, they learn from failures and turn them into lessons. Collaboration is also essential in making impactful differences.

Samuel Otieno, RELI’s representative and ADAPT Project Lead for the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GESCI), praises the SDGs Academy’s initiative to develop safe spaces for children in an increasingly inconsiderate world despite efforts to advocate for them. RELI, having impacted over 20,000 learners in East Africa with 21st-century life skills, champions sustainable development education to empower learners and children for societal development.

Samuel Otieno, RELI’s representative and ADAPT Project Lead for the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GESCI)

 

ARIGATOU’s SDGs Academy is a transformative education model that creates a safe environment for children to be themselves, speak out, learn the importance of sustainable goals, and understand the essence of conserving the environment and living together in harmony. The model, with five hubs, offers learners diverse materials for cognitive maturity and understanding, aids in their religious growth, and equips them with practical skills.

Michael Adikwu, Project Lead of SDGs Academy, urges more adoption of transformative education to empower children, and plans to build more such model schools in Kenya, including in Kakuma refugee camp, are underway. Over 100 children have already benefited from the system, with high self-esteem and confidence, solution-driven learners being the outcome.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Editors choiceFeatured

USAID Kenya Investment Mechanism Learning Event 2022

by Jacky Muraba
written by Jacky Muraba

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn; The beautiful thing about learning is that it can never exhaust the mind, and nobody can take it away from you.

Did you know 8 out of 10 businesses in Kenya are informal? By informal businesses I mean spaza shops, hawkers, pavement vendors and street vendors, and Laundromats and other small businesses even from a person’s home.

I believe, like me, you know of your trusted Mama Mboga down the street, but you didn’t really know such a biashara is regarded to as an informal business, or that it makes up about 85% of Kenya’s business sector.

Even more interesting, these informal businesses make up MSMEs… Yet again we’ve heard the term on so many occurrences. How many genuinely know what MSMEs stands for?

MSMEs are Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

I wouldn’t have learnt more about the terms if I hadn’t attended USAID Kenya Investment Mechanism’s Learning Event held on 19th and 20th July at Movenpick, Westlands.

Again, learning can never exhaust the mind.

The Kenya Investment Mechanism (KIM) is a five-year USAID project that is facilitating $520 million in investment for key sectors of Kenya’s economy, including agriculture (which is supported by Feed the Future), health; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); clean energy (supported by PowerAfrica) and infrastructure; women-owned businesses; and regional trade and investment opportunities under the Prosper Africa initiative.

The project supports mobilization of private investment and accelerates enterprise-driven development.

Kenya Investment Mechanism addresses two principal market failures that discourage investors from financing Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs); insufficient quality consulting services and limited availability of financial products tailored to these sectors.

It builds the capacity of Financial Institutions (FIs) and Business Advisory Service Providers (BASPs) through training and technical assistance. Much of Kenya Investment Mechanism’s focus is on the agricultural sector, which contributes one-third of Kenya’s GDP and accounts for nearly 70% of Kenya’s employment.

Anyway, let’s delve further into the event.

Shall we?

Anthony Mbithi Head of agribusiness Family Bank, Peter Ndirangu- Head of finance FACTS, Anne Mwenje Financial Institutions’ Director KIM, David Njiru CBO Juhudi Kilimo, Antone Wambura Product Development Expert, Nina Shaban Discussion Moderator

 

All About the Kenya Investment Mechanism Learning Event

The event themed ‘Access & Impact: Transforming Financial Markets for shared prosperity’, brought together Business Advisory Service Providers, Financial Institutions, business executives, international investors, senior government officials and multilateral stakeholders to share, connect and learn from each other.

The two-day event convened financial stakeholders who discussed nuances in promoting access to finance and investments for SMEs and agribusinesses in Kenya and across the region. It also promoted cross-learning on solutions and best practices in mobilizing capital and investment for Kenyan SMEs and the agriculture sector.

Day One: Speaking at the Learning Event’s official opening, was a man whose eloquence, energy and ability to lighten up the audience had me captivated. Hon. David Osiany, Chief Administrative Secretary, CAS, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade & Enterprise Development lauded Kenya Investment Mechanism program’s journey of unlocking capital for local entrepreneurs.

“The Kenya Investment Mechanism program excites me. To focus on agriculture is inspiring, and I’m elated at this program’s journey of unlocking capital for our local entrepreneurs and providing quality consulting services that have previously been a gap for our business people. I look forward to us exploring opportunities that will benefit our business people while also meeting the interests of the American people. Only then can we speak about shared prosperity.”

Hon. David Osiany CAS Ministry of Industrialization, Trade & Enterprise Development

 

During the panel discussion on ‘Financial Innovation Development & Uptake’, I learnt that MSMEs tend to collapse because;

  • One, on most occasions MSMEs don’t have the proper documents and records relating to their business, as compared to formal companies.
  • Two, MSME owners have the tendency to open up new businesses every time another fails. If you take a moment to particularly reflect on this, you realize how true this fact is.
  • Three, Lack of professionalism. Think about the local kiosk at your place. Who’s been ‘employed’ to work there? A family member to the owner in most cases, yes? MSMEs tend to employ on basis of family more than how skilled or experienced the person actually is in that particular field.
  • Business Strategies and Seasonalities. Seasonality affects a number of MSMEs. For a farmer some products can only thrive on specific months in a year. For someone selling umbrellas or success cards, these businesses have specific seasons when business is booming. MSMEs need to come up with business strategies that deal with the on-season and off-season for the business.

These issues in turn, put off even Financial Advisors and Institutions from investing in the MSME.

According to Anthony Mbithi, Head Agribusiness Segment, Family Bank, Kenya Investment Mechanism looks at both sides; the financial institutions and SMEs. He also advised MSME owners to involve financial institutions at every step of the way.

“SMEs require much more than financing, which isn’t necessarily needed immediately. There are so many important issues SMEs need to deal with immediately. Coming to your financial institution at the last minute won’t help you, the bank will still need to follow its protocol. You need to prepare your bank about what to expect, especially in the case of seasonality. Financing and receiving financial support depends so much on how you work and relate with your bank.”

The number one challenge faced by women-owned SMEs (W-SMEs) in Kenya is access to credit.

In a discussion dubbed ‘Unlocking Capital for Women Entrepreneurs’, USAID’s Kenya Investment Mechanism convened a panel made up of financial institutions, business advisory service providers, and women entrepreneurs to have a conversation exploring the challenges and opportunities in unlocking capital for W-SMEs.

Through its partnership model, Kenya Investment Mechanism has partnered with BASPs to help W-SMEs become investment ready and package deals that will attract investment. Kenya Investment Mechanism also partners with financial institutions to develop tailor-made financial solutions for W-SMEs. As a result, Kenya Investment Mechanism has mobilized more than $57.3 million for W-SMEs to develop.

Charity Ndegwa, Co-founder & Director Operations
Exotic EPZ during panel discussion on unlocking capital for women entrepreneurs

 

Day Two: Out of the 47 counties in Kenya, 29 have an enabling enterprise. This means you can thrive in these counties. The 29 make up the blue savannah and boast of some of the most valuable features and aspects of our country.

Is what I learnt from Tendai Mtana’s, CEC Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Co-operatives – County Government of Mombasa, Keynote speech on Leveraging incentive fees model for governments to do business with the private sector.

Discussions revolved around the Private sector’s perspective on investment landscape in Kenya, leveraging incentive fees for governments to do business with the private sector and investing in Kenya’s aquaculture sector.

“The state is an important enabler, and has the responsibility to create an enabling environment that allows businesses – both large and MSMEs – to thrive and maximize the comparative advantages our local industries have.”

Wangari Muikia of the EGCL Institute, giving a keynote address on the private sector’s perspective of Kenya’s investment landscape.

The Kenya Investment Mechanism Learning Event

Many Kenyan SMEs don’t know that the capital markets are an available source of funding. A panel of capital markets experts demystified the capital markets and explained how local SMEs can tap into them to raise significant capital for growth and expansion.

USAID’s Kenya Investment Mechanism has however supported the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to revise regulations that will simplify the listing process and offer Kenyan SMEs an important alternative source of financing.

Phoebe Owuor CEO Lamiro Consult, Dave Oketch Aquarech, Samuel Ondiek DAS Group, Edna Odallo MD Afriscope Ltd, Noah Kipkemboi Discussion Moderator

 

Aquaculture contributes to 17% of fish creation in Africa, and Kenya ranks as the fourth biggest producer of cultivated fish in Africa, producing 100,000 metric Tonnes of fish annually.

Kenya’s fish consumption is at 400,000 metric Tonnes annually, leaving a deficit of 300,000 metric tonnes.

The final panel discussion at the USAID Kenya Investment Mechanism Learning Event focused on the aquaculture sector, investment opportunities along the value chain, and how the use of technology can make the sector more productive and profitable.

Even with recent advancements, the Kenyan aquaculture industry requires substantial additional investment to catch up to global and regional leaders, China and Egypt. Fish farmers, marketers and other ecosystem actors face myriad challenges to growing and developing the sector to realize its potential.

These issues include; low awareness and poor understanding of the sector, the unstructured nature of the relatively new sector, and high taxes on aquaculture inputs.

Working with BASPs such as Afriscope, Kenya Investment Mechanism has mobilized capital from FIs for SME players in the industry responding to different needs in the aquaculture sector.

 

My Take

Adulting is mostly about trial and error. Every day, the youth are setting up businesses as side hustles, especially on online platforms. Today one is selling, say clothes online, a different person is a phone technician somewhere.

They, well we since I’m part of the age-gap, need to learn early on matters money and financing, how to run and manage these side hustles so that they serve us in the long run, how to join Capital markets. Rather than go through life in a trial-and-error manner.

I would really love to see a higher young persons and youth involvement in future Kenya Investment Mechanism’s Learning Events.

Other than that, boy do I feel wiser on matters capital markets, MSMEs, Agribusiness Financing and more. Learning, yeah?

Thank you for your time.

 

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
FeaturedSpecial reports

Joining Forces Marks Day Of The African Child With A Call To Protect Children

by Jacky Muraba
written by Jacky Muraba

Joining Forces For Africa (JOFA) convened for a media breakfast and round table to discuss ‘the impact of food security crisis on children and eliminating harmful practices affecting children’, in respect to the recently commemorated Day Of The African Child celebrated on 16th June.

The event presents an opportunity to assess progress on the adoption of policies that support the African child; and a platform for recommending action against harmful practices that affect children.

Among the most prominent harmful practices affecting children in Africa are child marriage, female genital mutilation, child labor, and various emerging forms such as online child sexual exploitation and abuse of children (OCSEA).
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA 2022) estimates that the number of girls undergoing female genital mutilation each year is projected to rise from 4.1 million in 2019 to 4.6 million girls in the year 2030 with a vast majority coming from Sub-Saharan Africa.

There is an increase in cases of online child sexual abuse and exploitation that have come with increased access to digital platforms and devices by the children.

A situation that has been exacerbated by the ever-increasing humanitarian emergencies caused by conflict and natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, exclusion of women, girls and young people from policy and decision-making processes and poor implementation of the developed policy frameworks.

To mitigate all this, JOFA calls upon National and sub-national governments, and policymakers, in partnership with academia, and civil society, including those working with children and young people, media, community leaders, and faith-based organizations, to:

  • Develop and implement policies and laws that protect children from harmful practices
    and allocate cost budgets for child protection,
  • Tackle the challenges that perpetuate the violation of children’s rights, such as gender
    inequality, discrimination, poor access to education and poverty,
  • Strengthen legal and justice systems to protect the rights of children especially girls and
    take decisive action against those who perpetrate violence against children, and most
    importantly,
  • Involve young people and girls in policy and decision-making process by ensuring that
    their voices are heard and considered in all aspects touching on their lives.

Mary Thiong’o, Assistant Director, Children Services, National Council for Children’s Services, Kenya echoed the same by calling upon everyone to work together to ensure all children are protected.
“I am calling upon everyone to work together to ensure that all our children are protected and their rights are safeguarded,” she said.

Joining Forces For Africa is an alliance of the six-largest child-focused international NGOs;
World Vision, ChildFund Kenya, SOS Children’s Village International, PLAN International Kenya and Terre Des Hommes.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Featured

Silafrica Joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation In Creating a Circular Economy for Plastic

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

Silafrica one of the leading company in plastic and packaging solutions for corporations, consumer packaged goods and consumers, has announced its partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in its global commitment to Circular Economy.

The company is the first of its kind packaging manufacturing company in Africa to join the Global Commitment and its efforts to establish a global circular economy.

“Everyone in our organization is proud to be working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and share in their commitment to eliminate plastic waste and create a sustainable future for our planet,” stated Akshay Shah, Group Executive Director at Silafrica.

As part of its commitment to being a member of the Foundation, Silafrica plans to screen its portfolio for areas of concern and unnecessary categories of plastic packaging for elimination and publishing the outcome.

The Company currently recycles more than 1,600 tons/yr. of secondary industrial packaging (i.e., crates) and plans to increase the amount to 5,000 tons/yr. by adding more crates, pallets and other non-packaging products that have a social impact on improving low-income communities’ quality of life and the natural environment.

The Foundation seeks to drive momentum to reach its goal, with its three key objectives being to:

  • Eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and move from single-use to reuse packaging models
  • Innovate to ensure 100% of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025
  • Circulate the plastic produced, by significantly increasing the amounts of plastics reused or recycled and made into new packaging or products

In support of the Foundation’s objectives, Silafrica is working to also achieve a goal of 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable plastic packaging by 2025, with at least 40% of their product made from recycled plastic.

The Company has been a sustainable plastics packaging producer of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for the food, beverage, personal & home care, and chemicals brands in East Africa.

It is well known for its Crates, PET Preform & Closures for Beverages, Thinwall IML for Spreads & Yogurt, Containers for Paint & Oils, and Stretch Wrap for B2B logistics. Currently, 10% of its product is post-consumer recycled content. Akshay Shah concludes.

“If stakeholders and supply partners throughout the industry continue to make commitments like these, we will collectively realize a circular economy envisioned by all the signatories to the Global Commitment of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.”

The MacArthur Foundation works across five areas: insight and analysis, business and government, education and training, systemic initiatives, and communication; it has created global teaching, learning, and training platforms on the circular economy, encompassing work with leading universities, schools and colleges, and online events such as the Disruptive Innovation Festival.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
FeaturedNews

Gun Violence on a Rise, Cop Shoots Himself in Nandi Dispersing Rioters

by Kwabe Ben
written by Kwabe Ben

Earlier today in Nandi county, a demonstration ensued between the residents and police when the police guarding the Pharmacy and Poison Board Officers in their inspection was agitated.

In return, a cop from the Kapsabet Police Station in Nandi county is left nursing injuries at Nandi Hills Sub-County Hospital after he accidentally shot himself injuring his right leg.

The inspection aimed at various clinics and chemists brews this eruption of protests after the officers had arrested Celestine Jepchirchir a herbalist in Nandi Hills town even after she sowed all the legal documents.

Jepchirchir stated that they had just arrived in a black car and without stating who they were pushed her towards their vehicle as they carried away boxes full of drugs which sparked the residents into screaming for her safety.

Thereby a pressure built as commotions erupted in the process which saw an officer cock his gun towards the ground in an attempt of dispersing the crowd though in the action shot and injured his leg.

A resident recounts the incident to have sparked lots of screams and confusion as the residents were trying to find out what had happened.

The officer was rushed to Nandi Hill Hospital for first aid and treatment following his bleeding leg and the Nandi East Police Commander Walter Abondo confirms he is in a stable condition a reaffirmation of the incident.

This occurrence comes barely a fortnight since the demise of Hon Sankok’s son after allegedly shooting himself with his father’s gun.

It’s due to these numerous gun violence incidents that as a people there is a need to reconstruct the armament laws governing Kenya.

If only there would be a strict governing system enforced against carrying of weapons by the police anyhow unless it’s in a danger zone as well as the elected leaders, just then perhaps lives can be saved.

Several decades from attaining independence are evidenced by the normalization of army weapons circling the Kenyan streets in hands of law order implementers.

Which questions the essence of the machinery and high armament within the nation while the country faces no attack from exterior forces or foes.

Perhaps its high time diplomacy is upheld in solving issues within as effort is made towards curbing stray bullet murders, extrajudicial killings, and ego-driven attacks from those in ownership of weapons.

The nations of Africa had peace way before the precolonial period a paradigm that shifts incessantly as there’s witnessed several deaths due to gun violence with most going unsolved and unaddressed.

As for a people to live in peace, there has to be acceptance of equality so as not to subject others to inferiority.

The gun issue is an alarming case as evidenced by the occurrences that if not solemnly dealt with might lead to uncontrollable gun violence in the nearby future.

The wise once stated prevention to be better than cure, to attain a fair and just society, there has to be an evaluation of most actions assimilated from the white rulers and embark on a mission to state new guidelines.

This comes in handy since generations and times have evolved necessitating a need for transition from the old ways of doing things to adopting a new accommodating, challenged, and well-discussed ideology.

Together Kenya can be saved for Kenyans by Kenyans.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Featured

Jiji Kenya announces tremendous company growth

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

Jiji one of the online marketplace in Kenya has today announced tremendous company growth led by doubling its year-over-year performance. 

Jiji Kenya penetrated the market in 2020 when there were over ten online platforms in the market. It has since become the fastest growing e-commerce with over 6 million users and 2 million ads in Kenya.

In March 2022, Alexa, a website traffic analytics platform, ranked as the leading platform among all, having 2.5million unique visitors monthly, compared to 1.5 million in 2021. 

When Jiji Kenya set up shop in 2020, there was an outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, hence it witnessed increased activities on the platform as many small and medium-sized enterprises turned online to reach more consumers due to movement restrictions imposed to contain COVID-19.

As a result, they registered a sharp growth in the number of sellers to 100,000 while active monthly users surged to 800,000.

“Our rapid growth is the result of building a new trusted e-commerce environment for all buyers and sellers in the market and introducing features that would highly benefit them. Through our relentless efforts on customer success and innovations, we have become the most downloaded platform,” said Maksym Golubev, Jiji Kenya’s Country Manager.

“Over the past year, we have invested heavily in reducing scam levels by up to 10 times and educating our users on safety measures. As a result, we have been awarded twice as the best E-commerce site and twice as the best classifieds website in Kenya,” he added

Online marketplaces have become the preferred shopping platform in Africa. According to a Jiji Kenya survey of its customer base, more than 45% preferred the marketplace due to the variety of goods and services. 

Survey results published in a UNCTAD report in March this year also found that more than 40% of customers in four large African countries were planning to reduce their supermarket shopping in the future by purchasing food, clothing, and electronics online.

Supply chain constraints, delivery, and transport expenses plus difficulties in meeting customer shipping requirements are a challenge for many online platforms forcing customers to opt to shop on marketplaces, rather than e-commerce stores.

As part of this tremendous growth, Jiji Kenya has achieved several major milestones, including:

Exceptional Business Performance: Jiji Kenya reports a doubling of top-line growth year-over-year in 2022, accelerating its growth from 2020. Further, the company doubled its traffic and the number of ads in 2022. 

Acquisitions and Developments: Jiji was able to acquire Cars45 and has also taken the initiative to inspect vehicles by more than 200 parameters. Unlike a classifieds marketplace where checks are inadequately carried out, they ensure quality checks and detailed reports on a car’s condition with various databases and determine the right prices before they are sold and/or auctioned.

Recognition: Jiji Kenya has continued to define the market with the most friendly and usable site and the most affordable prices of ads in the market.  This has led to four major recognitions, two awards as the Best E-commerce Website and two others as the Best Classifieds Website. 

Trust: Since acquiring OLX from the South African internet investment giant Naspers two years ago, Jiji Kenya has focused on eliminating fraud on the site through the deployment of Artificial Intelligence. They have decreased the number of scammers by up to 10 times. It is now much more difficult to scam people unlike before.

“Jiji Kenya has quickly become the most trusted platform because of its dedication to customer success and breakneck developments,” said  Anton Volianskyi, CEO and Founder of Jiji Africa.

“Jiji Kenya’s aggressive growth strategy parallels what I envisioned when I started Jiji Africa. It is such a pivotal time for the company and we aim to reduce the churning rate to retain the coveted no. 1 position in Kenya,” he concluded

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
XIAOMI AND ITS JOURNEY TO ENSURING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS A THING IN AFRICA
FeaturedNewsTechnology

Xiaomi And Its Journey To Ensuring Artificial Intelligence Is A Thing In Africa

by Brian Yatich
written by Brian Yatich

Smartphone brand Xiaomi isn’t a stranger to Artificial intelligence, in fact, it will focus more on producing smartphones that are in cue with every latest innovation in tech.

Xiaomi has been devoted to developing high-quality goods with cutting-edge technology since its start, from low-end to high-end smartphones. The firm thinks that in today’s technology-driven society, high-quality items should be accessible to everyone.

Its one-of-a-kind product offerings reflect the company’s never-ending efforts to develop hardware, software, and services, all of which stem from a passion for technology.

The increased demand for technology in Africa has piqued the interest of every mobile phone developer on the continent. In the Canalys top smartphone vendor analysis in Africa, the smartphone giant ranked number 3, which shows annual growth of 66% in 2021.

Xiaomi has made a concerted effort to develop goods that cater to the demands of African consumers. The smartphone maker has noticed how much the African community has developed its economy via its consistent use of Xiaomi’s mobile technology since its entry into the African market in 2018, and it is working to raise awareness.

Xiaomi saw annual shipment growth in all major markets in Africa. They also saw annual growth of 31% in Egypt and an annual increase of 558% in the Morocco market.

Their market shares in Morocco grew to 26%, which means in every 4 smartphones sold in Morocco, there was about one from Xiaomi. In Q4 of 2021, Xiaomi also accomplished great sales performance in African markets.

Their shipments in the whole African market grew by 33% YOY. In South Africa, they saw a huge surge of 537% YOY. With this increase in sales, it is obvious they are doing something right with the African market.

Another notable conquest is Xiaomi’s CSR projects in Africa. Towards the end of the year  “#Beyondtheboundaries with Xiaomi” campaign was one of the most important factors in raising awareness for successful people.

African influencers, celebrities, and other successful business people are being pushed to tell their story as part of this initiative. How these AI-enabled devices shaped their careers and inspired every African to take the next step.

The campaign mainly ran on their FACEBOOK PAGES in different African countries GHANA, KENYA, TUNISIA, MOROCCO, IVORY COAST AND NIGERIA.

It was a 10-day campaign where Xiaomi connected with its Xiaomi’s fans via Social Media platforms, especially FACEBOOK and let them inspire each other to make a difference by sharing their own 2021 stories and achievements.

This campaign was so successful that it saw over 20M impressions and reach and over 200k Engagements. This is the first Pan-African engaging campaign organized by Xiaomi on the continent.

This campaign was very successful across Africa and saw young people participate. And they have promised that the next time they organize a campaign like this, they will improve the impact, and build a large and strong Xiaomi Fans community in Africa.

Automated decision-making and near-perfect data-based forecasts are two factors that make human life simpler. So far, technology has provided these and many more advantages.

From voice assistants to search engines, speech recognition, and, more lately, automated stock trading, we have gradually absorbed AI into our daily lives. By incorporating feedback into its product range, Xiaomi has been pushing boundaries and exceeding expectations in its product offerings.

Xiaomi’s smartphones have shown continuous growth, as have its TVs and boxes, routers, and the other ecosystem items such as smart wearable home devices and other peripherals. Xiao AI has effectively integrated a variety of smart goods to give people high-quality technology and more convenient lifestyles.

The company has enhanced its voice assistant capabilities and has stated that it would not rest on its laurels in terms of making innovation accessible to everybody.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Featured

Kenchic’s Feeds 1300 Less Fortunate Children in Korogocho Slums

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

Kenchic Limited fed over 1300 children in Korogocho slums yesterday as an act of love during this year’s Valentine season.

The company spread the love to the less fortunate by preparing and distributing home cooked meals to children residing in the slum. In line with the business Corporate Social Responsibility,

The activity was done in conjunction with the Children Sports and Learning Centre (CSLC) in Korogocho. CSLC is an initiative that offers mentorship and support to children within the community.

“This Valentine’s Day we wanted we show love to those who are often forgotten and neglected by society, especially around this holiday. They watch from the sidelines, and do not participate in the festivities of Valentine’s Day. We flipped the script with this event, and today we are taking time to make them feel like they are the center of attention, through our ‘Act of Love’,” says Romeo Jamoza, head of CSR, Kenchic.

The Kenchic Corporate Social Responsibility team were accompanied by digital influencers Dennis Ombachi and Gatuiri Irauka. The digital influencers helped in distributing breakfast and lunch to the less fortunate in Korogocho slum.

The company set up two different serving station locations in the slum, and the children were welcome to come and get breakfast and lunch through the day.

The menu saw people enjoying a nice hot bowl of uji in the morning from 7am, and for lunch, pilau rice and chicken stew were served from 11am.

“It was really important to me, and the influencers involved, to join Kenchic in taking a day to remind less fortunate people of their worth in society by making them feel loved and cared for this Valentines, and of course leaving their bellies full,” remarked digital food influencer Dennis Ombachi.

As a major contributor to the regional economy, Kenchic strives to operate in an open and transparent way. Kenchic’s business practices are based on ethical values and an ingrained respect for people and for the communities they serve.

The Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives Kenchic supports and engages in are selected to deliver value to society, however big or small.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
FeaturedInternet

Hammer thunderous wins with Asgard!

by Wanjiku Mbugua
written by Wanjiku Mbugua

RealTime Gaming’s Asgard, transports you to the world of Norse mythology, where the Norse gods of Odin, Thor, Freya and the ever-scheming Loki all await you. Asgard has all the familiar symbols you’d expect with Norse mythology – hammers, lightning, runes and stone carvings.

The Norse gods all represent the high-value symbols within the game, with Asgard itself paying the top jackpot of 6,000 coins! The stone carvings and scatters are the low-value symbols in the game. The thunderbolt feature is randomly activated when five reels turn wild.

Special features of the Asgard slot game 

Doubling Golden Wild
Asgard has many unique features including the Doubling Golden Wild that doubles all wins. The Doubling Golden Wild replaces symbols next to it, thus completing a winning combination (excluding the scatter). If players land five scatters, they’ll pocket an impressive 1,250 times their own stake whilst the multipliers during the free spins can shoot up to 5 times!

Free Spins
There are four free spins features that can be triggered containing their own sets of multipliers, morphing symbols and wilds.

Thunder God Free Spins
Thor, the god of thunder, awards players 25 free spins that are packed with x2 or x3 multipliers. Should the Wild Multiplier appear with the Golden Wild, players multiplier wins are doubled to x4 or x6! 

Loki’s Magic Free Spins
Since Loki is the rotten apple among the gods; to atone for his actions as the god of mischief, he offers players twenty free spins where a wild, if it lands on the third reel, will boost your pay line wins.

Goddess Free Spins (Freya)
When Freya appears after three or more scatters land on the reels, she’ll award players fifteen free spins coinciding with triple multipliers. 

Valhalla Free Spins
From the 15th trigger and following, the Valhalla free spins feature is triggered. Valhalla awards thirty free spins packed with morphing symbols – which when they do morph, players pocket eye-watering pay outs. 

Players will need to note that once they receive their pay outs, the winning symbols disappear from the reels. Once the pay outs have been given, winning symbols disappear from the reels leaving spots for new symbols to form other winning combinations. All re-spins awarded have x5 multipliers meaning if players re-trigger the feature, they’ll pocket another five free spins. 

Summary
Asgard has a lot going for it; multiplier wins of up to x6, doubling wilds, loads of free spins, entirely wild reels, and an impressive jackpot. Due to the game’s average volatility, Asgard is more for experienced casino slot players. Yet with all these thunderous rewards, Asgard should not be dismissed. Can you impress the Norse gods?

Words: David Bailey-Lauring
Images: Bitcasino

Source link

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Digital billboards bring real-time air pollution data to Nairobi
Climate ChangeFeaturedNews

Digital billboards bring real-time air pollution data to Nairobi

by Wanjiku Mbugua
written by Wanjiku Mbugua

Digital billboards around the Kenyan capital today started to live stream Nairobi’s real-time air pollution in an effort to increase air quality awareness among the city’s 4.7 million inhabitants.

The initiative – by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, Safaricom, a telecommunications provider in Kenya, Alpha and Jam Ltd and Metropolitan Star Lite Ltd,  Out Of Home (OOH) media – provides real-time air quality information for some of the most harmful type of air pollution, fine airborne particles, known as PM2.5.

The pilot aims to engage the public by streaming real-time air pollution information to digital billboards at 4 critical locations in the city: Moi Avenue, University Way, Mbagathi Way and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

PM2.5 causes serious health issues, including asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease. Exposure to PM2.5has also been associated with low birth weight, increased acute respiratory infections, and stroke.

“Real time air quality monitoring will help us with the issuance of health advisories as well as for the formulation of smart traffic controls that minimize congestion,” said Lawrence Mwangi, Assistant Director of Environment in charge of pollution control at the Nairobi County Government. “Dynamic advisories demonstrated through this collaboration will help people limit their exposure to harmful pollutants.”

Around 3 billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires and simple stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. More than 50% of premature deaths due to pneumonia among children under 5 are caused by the particulate matter (soot) inhaled from household air pollution. 

Outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012 with 88% of those premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

Policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management would reduce key sources of urban outdoor air pollution.  Most residents of the city do not have access to real-time air quality data and consequently, are often unaware of the harmful levels of air they breathe.

“Action on air pollution, which is responsible for millions of premature deaths a year, is critical – efforts should focus on high-risk communities, such as people living in informal urban settlements,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “Innovations to reach and engage the local community and decision-makers alike, can only elevate the understanding of the impacts of air quality and help create an enabling environment improve human and ecosystem health.”

“We recognize that some of the world’s most vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by poor air quality,” said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes.  “Through our partnership with UNEP, we are able to leverage real-time air quality monitoring data, machine learning and data visualization to help identify those that are most affected by global air pollution. The real-time visibility of the impact of air pollution on mankind, combined with the outreach and support that the UNEP offers, can help governments and communities around the world take actions that lead to cleaner, healthier air.”

The Nairobi air quality awareness demonstration project is the result of a unique collaboration between the UN, the private sector, academia, non-governmental and local governmental organizations and is expected to accelerate efforts to change how transport, waste management and other services are managed in cities so that air pollution from these activities is significantly reduced, if not eliminated.

“This partnership lies very much at the heart of our sustainability agenda that seeks to address environmental issues such as air pollution which remains a major challenge especially in urban centres. We intend to use our digital platforms and expansive network infrastructure to support the air quality monitoring project to expand across more urban areas in Kenya. We will also foster partnerships with other stakeholders including regulators, relevant ministries and private organizations to help build a compressive and sustainable air quality monitoring system in the long run”, said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom

The demonstration project comes as the world celebrates the 2nd International Day for Clean Air and blue skies on 7 September, this year held under the theme, Healthy Air, Healthy Planet. The Day calls for increased international cooperation at the global, regional and sub-regional levels. It provides a platform for strengthening global solidarity as well as political momentum for action against air pollution and climate change, including the increased collection of air quality data, carrying out joint research, developing new technologies and sharing best practices.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts
OKB price
5909.46 KES+1.8%