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Flight 748
BusinessTourism

Fly 748 Upbeat On Airline Sector Recovery In New Government

by Kwabe Ben September 12, 2022
written by Kwabe Ben

Kenyan charter flight, Fly 748 has lauded Kenya’s peaceful elections and the smooth transition of power in government indicating that it is a sign of confidence in the airline sector’s post-pandemic recovery.

The airline said that two factors will help travellers resume business and leisure activities faster to sustain an already strong momentum towards the sector’s return to full recovery recorded in 2019.

“Without disruptions in government transition, we expect this positive momentum to continue and hopefully airlines return to profitability as we head to high tourism season and as businesses begin rolling out long-term activities,” said Fly 748 Chairman, Ahmed Jibril.

Based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, African airlines are recording strong demand for passenger traffic since lockdowns and border restrictions began easing late last year.

By June 2022, both domestic and international traffic remained strong with figures showing significant growth compared to those of 2021.

Africa’s International traffic rose with an increase of 103.6 per cent over the year to June 2022, the recovery was around 35 per cent below their 2019 levels. Similarly, total June 2022 domestic traffic across the globe was at 81.4 per cent of the June 2019 level.

“A relative calmness during the political campaign periods, peaceful voting process, and a generally positive sentiment from travellers and foreign investors in this year’s elections give us confidence that economic activities will resume faster, giving a further boost to airline recovery prospects,” said Fly 748 Managing Director, Moses Mwangi.

Fly 748 prides itself in the ability to offer VIP and first-class flights in third-world conditions as it offers daily flights to Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, and Kisumu from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Terminal 2. Fly 748 also flies daily to the Maasai Mara from Wilson Airport.

September 12, 2022 0 comment
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Ndovu co-founder among 3 Kenyan female founders selected to join The Future is Female Mentorship Program
BusinessWomen in Business

Ndovu Co-Founder Among 3 Kenyan Female Founders Selected To Join The Future is Female Mentorship Program

by Ndungu Brian September 12, 2022
written by Ndungu Brian

Three Kenyan female founders have been selected among Twenty-five African female-founded tech startups for the third edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Program. 

The three are Wambui Karingithi (Chiza Health), Radhika Bhachu (Ndovu) and Linet Kinyua (Pensoft System Limited).

The Future is Female Mentorship Program is a PR and communications mentorship program dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders.

It was launched by  C. Moore Media, International Public Relations (CMM), a New York-headquartered in 2020.

When businesses worldwide were reeling from the effects of the global pandemic, CMM wanted to help the least supported group, early-stage startups led by African female tech founders.

In this third edition, the program received 343 applications from 36 different African countries translating to a 91% increase, compared to the applications received in the 2021 edition.

During the selection process, CMM gave special consideration to startups focusing on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability. Startups that provide solutions and/or address African women’s and girls’ needs also received special consideration.

Once the 25 finalists have completed the Future is Female Mentorship program; they will have insights into the fundamentals of PR and communications for early-stage tech startups; they will also learn how to create a communications plan, storytelling best practices, strategic business communications with multiple stakeholders, how to position their startups for investment opportunities and more. The program will also provide mentees with insights customized for the unique needs of their business and sector.

For the third edition, CMM  partnered with TechCabal, a leading Pan-Africa tech publication chronicling innovation and technology developments across Africa, and Africa Communications Week, a global platform that builds bridges between communications professionals focused on Africa’s transformation.

The program has also partnered with  Allison+Partners, one of the international PR industry’s fastest-growing and innovative global agencies.

The partnerships enable the Program to provide additional perspectives, tools, and insights for the selected female founders and also bring world-class and Pan-African PR insights from additional leading experts, complementing CMM’s global and African regional PR expertise.

As part of the partnership, selected TechCabal team members will lead two masterclasses providing the 25 finalists with insights on working with tech media, understanding how to position their startups to gain the attention of the tech press, and the importance of partnerships and growth strategies.

The partnership with AfricaCommsWeek will give the founders expanded Pan-African and multi-market PR expertise, a key component for many female founders whose startups cover multiple African countries.

Mentorship Session Details CMM’s MD & Founder, Claudine Moore and CMM team members David Idagu and Tope Adubi, alongside selected TechCabal team members and AfricaCommsWeek’s founders, will lead group virtual masterclass sessions for the selected mentees and participate in Q and A sessions.

These masterclasses will then be followed by three months of mentorship sessions customized to the specific business needs of the mentees.

The customized sessions will provide insights into PR and communications fundamentals for early-stage tech startups, including creating a communications plan, corporate storytelling, media relations, digital marketing, and more.

September 12, 2022 0 comment
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Kenya Records 91% Growth in Tourism Arrivals
BusinessTourism

Kenya Records 91% Growth In Tourism Arrivals

by Ndungu Brian September 9, 2022
written by Ndungu Brian

Kenya recorded a 91pc growth in the number of international visitors arriving in the country between January – August 2022.

This is according to data released by the Tourism Research Institute which stood at 924,812 as compared to 483,246 recorded in the same period in 2021 

The upsurge in the arrival numbers is attributed to the vaccination drive undertaken by the government of Kenya which resulted in the reduction in Covid-19 cases during the period which registered steady growth.

This improvement is an indication of the continued growth in trust for the Magical Kenya destination, which can be credited to renewed marketing efforts by the Ministry of tourism as well as confidence in the country’s efforts to contain Covid-19.

During an event held to release the performance of the sector’s results for the period between January – August 2021, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala said that the 91% increase translated to Kshs. 167 Billion revenue compared to Kshs. 83 Billion in the previous financial year which indicates that we are on an upward trajectory.

Tourism & Wildlife CS Najib Balala (c) with Tourism Research Institute Ag. CEO David Gitonga and KTB CEO Dr Betty Radier during the release of the Tourism Performance Report (Jan – August 2022)

“The numbers are still not where we want them to be, but we are optimistic that we shall soon go back to our all-time high international visitor arrivals recorded in 2019, and even surpass it. This is because Covid-19 is contained and international travelers are now fully confident to travel.”

During this period, innovative products and marketing efforts were increased to ensure that the destination’s offerings remained competitive among both domestic and international visitors.

The destination continued to host international events that include the Magical Kenya Open and The Magical Kenya Ladies open which came back after a 2-year break.

The WRC – Safari Rally which commenced in 2021after a 19-year hiatus also returned in 2022. These events have played a major role in rebuilding the confidence of visitors to the destination of Kenya.

Out of the 924,812 international arrivals, 313,466 were on holiday, 274,722 visiting family or friends, 258,889 were for business and Meetings, Incentives, Exhibitions, and Conferences (MICE)- 43883 were on transit, 16,196 for education, with the rest coming in for other purposes including religion, and sports.

The top 5 international arrivals by country are the USA at 15%, Uganda at 9%, the United Kingdom9%, Tanzania at 8%, and India at 6%.

The report further shows that Jomo Kenyatta International Airport remains the major point of entry with 681,811, Moi International Airport recorded 40,355 arrivals with other airports showing a significant increase in arrivals.

During the event, CS Balala launched multi-lingual destination videos targeting both key and emerging markets.

The videos target the global traveler and put the destination top of mind among potential travelers and investors from various source markets across the world.

“As part of our strategy to continue engaging travelers from across the world, we are ensuring that we reach every market and the best way is to make sure we can communicate to them in their own languages. The videos we are launching today have been translated into various languages for better and wider reach amongst audiences in our key source markets. So far, we have translated to native languages targeting the following countries: China, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Arabic- speaking countries” Said CS Balala

The video which highlights Kenya’s diversity in tourism offerings and experiences will be amplified on Magical Kenya’s social media assets for wider reach and awareness of the destination.

They highlight cultures, cuisine, vibrant cities, adventure, and other experiences that punctuate the destination’s diversity

September 9, 2022 0 comment
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World Food Program Initiatives to secure Food
AgribusinessBusiness

World Food Bank Leads Path to Zero Hunger Challenge Globally

by Kwabe Ben September 9, 2022
written by Kwabe Ben

World Food Bank (WFB) has made it a necessity to resolve one of the major problems faced globally which is the scarcity of food and hunger.  With more than 800 million people worldwide being food insecure, attaining a zero hunger Challenge is one of its formation’s convictions.

Biden-Harris Administration recently announced commitments to Advance Food Security in the Western Hemisphere just around the same time the World Food Bank embarked on the road to changing that globally with a goal of helping 51,000,000 people get out of poverty.

One of its core objectives is to resolve the great inefficiency in commodity price volatility that exists in many developing countries and their local markets.

As it embarks on generating returns from the timely sales of food commodities into regions of the world where there is the most need for food to curb the food scarcity factor.

Richard Lackey Founder of the World Food Bank is on a mission to cure Worldwide Food Insecurity with a Sustainable System that Elevates the Small Farmer as he believes that when the farmer is empowered both technically, innovatively, and commercially then it can be attained.

Alleviating hunger means alleviating poverty, and the World Food Bank is creating an impact model that joins small-hold farmers with the education, tools, financing, and marketplace they need for success to make a real and permanent change.

“By teaching farmer’s best practices to share with others, and providing access to the tools, marketplace, and the financing – it all creates a sustainable business model for small-hold farmers to find success, relieving poverty, and leading to sustained food availability,” said Richard Lackey Founder of WFB.

Richard Lackery founder of World Food Bank

Richard Lackey founder of World Food Bank

WFB seeks to destruct worldwide poverty and hunger with a systemic approach that seeks to fill the gap in the global food system when resources are scarce.

A challenge the founder Richard believes can be alleviated through better integration of industry and political systems, especially systems that are market-driven, regenerative, and sustainable systems.

The World Food Bank seeks to integrate major sectors within global agriculture systems and create a balanced and mutually-beneficial ecosystem that lifts smallholder farmers out of poverty and allows for the efficient distribution of food to those who need it.

“The World Food Bank is a unique model to cure food insecurity. We are a for-profit company for one, and we’ve designed a system across multiple connected geographies, typically a country or countries, in order to create a suitably diversified system. We connect farmers with everything needed to build an integrated agricultural system,” added Richard Lackey, CEO, and Chairman of the World Food Bank.

September 9, 2022 0 comment
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Jeremy Awori Steps Down As Absa Bank CEO
BusinessNews

Jeremy Awori Steps Down As Absa Bank CEO

by Ndungu Brian September 9, 2022
written by Ndungu Brian

Absa Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Awori has stepped down to pursue another career opportunity outside Absa Group effective on 31st October 2022.

Jeremy has been at the helm of the bank from 2013 after he took over from Adan Mohamed who was appointed to the Cabinet.

Before this he was the CEO of Standard Chartered Tanzania where during his tenure, the bank rebranded from Barclays to Absa Bank Kenya.

“Jeremy has been instrumental in driving growth and transformation  of our business over the past decade and under his outstanding leadership. Absa Bank Kenya has evolved into a modern day business that all our stakeholders can be proud of.” said Mr. Charles Muchene, Chairman of the Absa Bank Kenya Board.

“I am honored to have led Absa Kenya in making a difference in our society while achieving significant milestones over the past decade. I am confident that Absa Kenya will scale greeter heights going into the future. I thank the Board of the Absa Bank Kenya and Absa Group for the opportunity and pay special tribute to Absa Kenya staff and customers for the honor to serve.” said Jeremy Awori, CEO and Managing Director, Absa Bank Kenya.

September 9, 2022 0 comment
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Bolt improves its features
Business

Bolt Beefs up Safety Features Enhancing Trips Experiences

by Kwabe Ben September 8, 2022
written by Kwabe Ben

Bolt a Riding platform has introduced additional features on its driver’s app to enhance the safety and well-being of drivers, Boda riders, and passengers during a  trip.

The new safety features include the driver trip sharing feature and the rider score feature which now allow drivers and riders on its platform to share their live trips as well as be able to rate their passengers.

The driver trip-sharing feature provides enhanced safety for drivers by allowing them to share the status of their live trips with a third party, who then has the opportunity to follow the trip status and location in real-time.

The trips are also tracked and monitored in real-time by Bolt throughout the journey.

“We are constantly looking to promote features and functionalities that improve the safety ecosystem of our app. Our core business is to provide sustainable, safe, and affordable mobility services to everyone,” said Kenneth Micah, Bolt’s Regional Manager, Eastern Africa.

Drivers share their trip details via a link that is automatically generated once they are on a  trip.

The link is valid for the current trip, and drivers have to issue a new link for every trip if they feel necessary to do so.  The links will also remain active for up to 48 hours for incomplete trips.

The trip-sharing feature functions in a similar way as the ‘Share your ETA feature’ on the passenger’s app which enables passengers to share their live trip details with emergency contact numbers, thereby bolstering safety throughout their journey.

Bolt has also introduced the rider score feature which enables drivers to rate their passengers after every trip. Bolt also has a women-only category aiming to address safety needs and improve women’s mobility by connecting female drivers with female passengers.

Other security features available on the Bolt app include the SOS emergency button that can be used to alert and seek security or medical assistance at any time during a Bolt trip, where a driver, a passenger, or another road user is in immediate danger.

September 8, 2022 0 comment
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Uber expands service operations in Kenyan market
BusinessNewsTravel

Uber Expands Service Operations In Kenyan Market

by Ndungu Brian September 8, 2022
written by Ndungu Brian

Uber launches Audio Recording feature the latest addition to its suite of safety features among its multiple new products and features.

The launch took place simultaneously across various locations in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and will be going live this month in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, General Manager for Uber SSA, Kagiso Khaole said the brand is pleased to be expanding into eight more cities during September across Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

“As we gear ourselves to mark our 10th year anniversary next year, we are excited about moving into more cities enabling people to go anywhere and can get anything. Our commitment to raising the bar on safety remains relentless and we continue to work hard to grow the over 3 million earnings opportunities we have created thus far.”

Eight new cities and counting

Uber launches a suite of new product and safety features across Sub-Saharan Africa

Uber will now be operational in Owerri and Akure in Nigeria; Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru and Naivasha in Kenya; and Tamale and Sunyani in Ghana.

These expansions are testament to Uber’s commitment to the region and signal more opportunities for more drivers to earn, while riders have convenient and reliable travel options at the tap of a button. In these expansions Uber brings a diverse product mix that is able to best serve the needs of the city residents.

More economical options for riders

Uber launches a suite of new product and safety features across Sub-Saharan Africa

To help reduce costs for riders and increase demand for drivers, Uber is launching UberX Share in Ghana and Nigeria, and Uber ChapChap Share in Kenya. Uber’s shared rides offering allows riders to save up to 30% of the trip fare when matched with a co-rider heading in the same direction, and where a match is not possible, they will still be able to save 5% from their ride.

“The introduction of UberX Share allows us to proudly demonstrate the power of our platform, understanding the ability to match rider destinations while delivering convenience and affordability. We are a global company that builds locally; and in Ghana, we tapped into the local culture of car-pooling when moving around, which makes this product a great fit for the market,” says Khaole.

Travelling across the city with an entire crew has never been easier, with the launch of UberXL in Nairobi, Kenya. This option provides seating for up to six people which is great for airport and business trips where extra luggage space may be required. In South Africa, riders can now reserve their group travel 30 days in advance with UberXL Reserve and Uber Van Reserve.

Taking a stand for safety

Uber launches a suite of new product and safety features across Sub-Saharan Africa

“Safety is at the core of how we do business and we are proud to announce three new safety features to help improve the experience of users”, says Khaole.

  • Audio Recording pilot in South Africa: Uber will now allow riders and drivers to use the app to record and share audio of their trip as evidence in the case of a safety incident – something that drivers have been asking for based on their feedback from roundtable sessions. This new opt-in audio recording feature, which is being piloted in Pretoria and Johannesburg, has been successful in the US and Latin American regions where Uber has a presence.
  • In-app emergency service in Nigeria: Uber is working with Sety in Nigeria, to provide on-demand security and medical response for riders and drivers while on a trip. This collaboration will also provide access to a private security response unit closest to their location, using a connected device.
  • Safety Check Up across SSA: This feature encourages riders to complete their safety profile by turning on and utilising the available features such as Trusted Contacts, PIN verification and RideCheck. This is available in all the countries within SSA where Uber operates.

Delivery innovations

Uber launches a suite of new product and safety features across Sub-Saharan Africa

At the launch, Uber Eats reinforced its aspiration of building an app of the future by creating a virtual mall experience that goes beyond just food. “Other categories we have ventured into include convenience stores, pharmacy outlets, alcohol and retail and this shows us that the possibilities are endless,” says Cikida Gcali-Mabusela, Head of New Verticals for Uber Eats Sub-Saharan Africa.

Uber Eats continues to push beyond boundaries with the adoption of the growing trend of dark stores, which gives non-traditional merchants opportunities to tap into unchartered markets that they wouldn’t have easily accessed.

Uber Eats currently operates in South Africa and Kenya. Kui Mbugua, General Manager for Uber Eats Kenya says, ‘With a 67% year on year growth of subscriptions on Eats, we are humbled and encouraged by expansion that we have seen in the South Africa and Kenya markets.

“The future of logistics and technology in emerging markets looks promising. Our overall vision continues to be to build locally using global experience and become a one-stop-shop for delivery needs. Not only is Uber Eats creating unique earning earning opportunities, but our operations also have a positive knock-on effect for restaurants, merchants, and delivery people. Looking ahead, we are committed to leading the category by investing in product and access, while leveraging the power of the platform,” concludes Kui.

September 8, 2022 0 comment
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Kenya Real Estate to remain positive post-election
BusinessProperty & Real Estate

Kenyan Real Estate Sector Experiences Growth Post-Election

by Oloo Winnie September 8, 2022
written by Oloo Winnie

Real estate experts are forecasting an increase of investments in Kenya’s housing sector after a peaceful election process. Experts say that the environment among infrastructure development have solidified the confidence with more investors cashing in the opportunities.

The Sh87. 9 billion Nairobi Expressway, for example, has spiked construction investments in upmarket regions like Westlands, Kilimani, Kileleshwa and its environs. The Expressway has also opened areas like Mlolongo, Syokimau, Athi River and other satellite towns to contribute to the sector.

“Certainly, some of the things we are optimistic about are the laid down infrastructures across the country and our economic resilience after the pandemic. Covid affected many businesses and we are really pleased with the calmness that has preceded the general elections,” says Kennedy Lumumba, the marketing head of Sigimo Enterprises.

Kenya’s housing industry grew by 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2022 in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic and an uptick of the general elections.  This represented a slightly slowdown in the growth rate compared to the corresponding quarter in 2021.

That quarter, the value added by real estate activities to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 6.7 percent.The pandemic presented a lock down measures which dipped the performance of real estate. This has however changed with the global administration of vaccines and continued adaptation of economic activity to subdued mobility.

Visitors attending the Kenya Homes Expo event

Various real estate reports indicate that by 2030, the size of the real estate market is expected to reach 14.6 billion U.S. dollars due to a growing demand for industrial and commercial infrastructure and the recovery of the global economy post Covid.

Kenya infrastructure expenditure increased by 8.6% which is Sh 416.4 billion from Sh 383.3 billion in financial year 2021/2022 with increased development in the road, rail, energy, and water sectors. These according to analysts have put Kenya a top choice country for housing investment.

“Other factors likely to impact growth are the saturation of the residential real estate market in affordable housing in counties and cities making housing a possibility for mid-level income earners,” says Lumumba.

The Affordable Housing Programme, channeled by the past regime with the aim to facilitate the development of 500,000 low cost homes while using innovative funding mechanisms and technologies. In partnership,the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) was to provide long term funds to primary mortgage lenders in order to increase the availability and affordability of home loans to Kenyans.

Real estate event organizers like the Kenya Homes Expo are targeting the real estate stakeholders in an experiential platform that creates a level ground for real estate players to converge with a ready market for land, homes, financial advice and general real estate information. The event will be happening in October 20th-23rd 2022.

Event organisers are banking on the peaceful coexistence experienced within the country to bring together major industry players in East and Central Africa.

September 8, 2022 0 comment
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Kenya Roads Board announces vacancies
Business

Kenya Roads Board Announces Vacancies

by Kwabe Ben September 7, 2022
written by Kwabe Ben

The Kenya Roads Board (KRB), a government agency has announced vacancies ushering in a need for mass recruitment.

Through the board, it was revealed that up to 74 positions needed personnel in various ranges within the Engineering Department.

That is ranging from the Principal Financial Auditors, Principal Engineers, Senior Engineers, Senior Financial Auditors, and Supply Chain Officers.

Among them were the Financial auditors’ slots which recorded the highest vacancies at 18 followed by engineers at 17 positions.

“Successful applicants will be responsible for the day-to-day management and control in their areas of operations, implementing the KRB Performance Contract and Business Plan. They are also expected to control all functions and assets in their directorate, department, sections, and units,” read the KRB statement in part.

How to Apply

The application letters sent should be accompanied by detailed Curriculum vitae, and copies of academic and professional certificates.

Not forgetting to attach copies of the national identity card/passport, testimonials, and other relevant documents as well as a specified position being applied for.

Every application done should be clearly marked “Application for the position of Director/Principal Officer/Officer”.

Submissions can be hand-delivered in sealed envelopes at the reception of Kenya Roads Offices, 3rd Floor, Kenya Re Towers, off Ragati Road in Upper Hill, Nairobi or applied online.

The deadline for application submission is on September 22nd by 5 pm.

 

September 7, 2022 0 comment
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Closing the eye care gaps in Africa
Editors choiceSpecial reports

Closing The Eye Care Gaps In Africa

by Ndungu Brian September 7, 2022
written by Ndungu Brian
Jerome Lapaire exemplifies Harriet Tubman’s famous phrase, “Every great dream begins with a  dreamer” Lapaire, the founder and CEO of Lapaire Group, understood the anguish millions of individuals in Africa had as a result of eye care issues. 
He chose to forego a life-changing job path in order to dive into the murky waters of entrepreneurship in the hopes of putting smiles on the faces of individuals who could not afford proper eye care services.
Closing the eye care gaps in Africa

Jerome Lapaire Chief Executive Officer Lapaire Glasses East Africa

After successfully graduating in Law from the University of Geneva, Lapaire switched and started working on a few entrepreneurial projects in Hong Kong and London. He would in March 2015 move to Nairobi, Kenya, where he joined an impact investment fund and worked in a Pan-African market research agency to better understand the local market.
In 2017, while working in Nairobi, he noticed that several of his colleagues couldn’t see well from far. They had uncorrected refractive errors and accessibility to eye care services was the main reason.
“Indeed, taking a consultation with an eye specialist and buying eyeglasses in Kenya requires a lot of time and money, which most people cannot afford. So, I decided to read about this topic and learnt a lot about it,” he says.
Mr. Lapaire had numerous reasons to be concerned. The number of persons suffering from vision difficulties was quite high! To make matters worse, they were becoming worse by the day. According to a 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, At least 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision impairment or blindness, with over 1 billion cases possibly preventable or neglected.
The first World report on Vision, issued by WHO ahead of the World Sight Day on 10 October 2019, revealed that more than 1 billion people worldwide are living with vision impairment because they do not get the care they need for conditions like short and far sightedness, glaucoma and cataract.
Further, estimates from the world health body reveals that 550 million people need glasses in Africa. Unfortunately, only about 1 percent own a pair. In Kenya alone, more than 7.5 million people are in need of interventions to prevent loss of vision, restore vision or need rehabilitation to improve performance.
With this background knowledge, Lapaire was not going to sit back and watch the local
community suffer.

Founding Lapaire Group

Lapaire glasses

In February 2018, he assembled a very small team with two interns (one of them Roseline Kilonzo, who is the Company’s East Africa Regional Manager today), gathered personal funds
and launched Lapaire Glasses in Nairobi.
“We started small, by partnering with medium-sized businesses to conduct vision tests at the workplace and propose affordable but quality eyeglasses to the employees. Shortly after, we caught the eye of a venture capital fund- Saviu Ventures, that decided to support our expansion across Africa,” the CEO says.
Just as the company was growing its tentacles across the region, a pandemic hit in 2019. The first wave of Covid boxed the company. Most countries imposed lockdowns and customers could not travel to do the vision tests at Lapaire shops.
They were obliged to reschedule clients appointments multiple times, leaving consumers without a backup alternative for a considerable time. Despite the difficulties, the firm persevered, engaging with clients even while the branches were closed.
“We quickly put in place all of the essential safeguards to prevent anyone from becoming infected in our optical stores and to reassure our consumers that they are in a safe location”
We operated with a smaller staff for a while, and since then, our workers wear face masks, and customers must clean their hands with sanitizer before entering our stores. “Eyeglasses and optical equipment are cleaned after each customer uses them.”

Lapaire services and strategy

The firm offers free vision tests with certified optometrists as well as low-cost glasses starting at Ksh3400 (which includes frame and single vision client lenses). The huge range of frames comes in a variety of forms and colors.
“Depending on your corrective needs, our optometrists can recommend single vision, bifocal, or progressive lenses.”  We also recommend different coatings and treatments for your lenses based on your lifestyle and needs,” adds the CEO, adding that anti-scratch hard coating and anti-glare coating are standard on all lenses. Photochromic lenses to guard against UV light, a popular alternative because of their capacity to tint in the sun and provide additional protection on the outside, are also available, among other unique services.
It’s also worth noting that all of Lapaire’s glasses and sunglasses are named after Africa cities and islands.
Lapaire Group has recorded major breakthroughs overtime, especially on its production levels and delivery time. It has increased the number of frames from 10 at the beginning to over 100 frames currently. Delivery time of products to clients has also reduced from the initial four weeks to 48 hours.
The company’s business strategy is lean, with a great focus on accessibility and customer care.
The offers are simple, and prices totally transparent.
“Our vision test is completely free. Our eyeglasses start from KES3,400, frame and lenses included, and we provide payment by installments as well, popularly known as lipa mdogo mdogo,” says Oliver Mwanko Wambile, Lapaire Group’s Public Relations & Communications Officer in East Africa.

Building trust and confidence

Oliver Wambile, Head of public Relations, Lapaire Glasses East Africa

Lapaire has continued to place a strong emphasis on quality and openness in order to be competitive in a very cutthroat sector. In an effort to prevent fakes, the firm purchases all of its goods directly from the manufacturer and only sells Lapaire-branded frames.
Technology and innovation continue to be a key pillar driving the business’ expansion. Given that the business is pan-African, it employs digital technologies internally to facilitate communication and productivity.
“Our optical shops are all connected to a centralized system and linked to optical labs to process the orders in the shortest time possible. Externally, we communicate frequently through our social media and propose online bookings and orders to our customers through our website,” Jerome says.
We also provide a cutting-edge service, with ambitions to expand it further, that includes free vision exams, reasonably priced glasses, and an installment payment plan.

Crossing borders

Louis Gascoin Chief Operations Officer

Following its successful introduction in Kenya, Lapaire Group has now expanded its coverage from East Africa to West Africa, with over 35 optical branches in operation across Africa. The firm serves patients in Kenya, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, and Togo.
“By the end of 2022, we intend to reach 50 branches throughout our seven regions, which means we’ll focus on new communities and cities. We plan to grow even more in 2023 and probably open new countries in sub saharan africa,” said Louis Gascoin Lapaire’s Chief Operations Officer.
“Regarding our portfolio, we have also been growing our selection of frames since the beginning of the year, adding more materials, shapes and colors for men and women, but also kids.”

Closing the eye care gaps in Africa

Over the next few months, the company’s top priority will be to expand, with plans to open more locations around the region in order to “make everyone – young and old – aware of sight difficulties and help those in need of glasses.”
Corrected eyeglasses, according to Mr. Lapaire, are too expensive today and remain out of reach for those without optical health insurance. That is why, as per Lapaire, their major objective is to make eyeglasses available to anyone who seeks quality and is cost conscious.
The door to potential remains open for the forward-thinking firm, which aspires to “be the
pan-African leader in the optical market and reach more than 7 nations over the next five
years.”

September 7, 2022 0 comment
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    Gladys Wanga, the Governor for Homabay receiving a copy of Kisumu Investment Handbook
  • LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire receiving a copy of Kisumu Handbook
  • Mr. Zacharia Mwangi the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Receiving a copy of Kisumu Handbook
  • Governor Homabay Gladys Wanga Receiving Kisumu Investment Handbook
    Gladys Wanga, the Governor for Homabay receiving a copy of Kisumu Investment Handbook

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