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The public outcry to extend scholarships and student loans to the most indigent might come to an end with Members of Parliament calling for a review of the scheme.
Legislators expressed concern that the majority of scholarships, bursaries, and loans go to students from well-to-do families, yet the essence of the support was geared toward poor students.
“We can make a policy reversal so that the support goes to people from Amuru, Bulambuli, and Kagadi not people from around,” said Hon. Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, the Chairperson of the Budget Committee.
The committee has made a strong case for all sponsorships and bursaries to be consolidated and be placed under the loan scheme arrangement
Wamakuyu said this while receiving the report of the Committee on Education and Sports on the Budget Framework Paper for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
The report was presented by the Committee Vice Chairperson, Hon. Cuthbert Abigaba on Friday, 20 January 2023.
Abigaba said the committee has made a strong case for all sponsorships and bursaries to be consolidated and be placed under the loan scheme arrangement, cognizant that the Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB) is underfunded.
“We observed that HESFB lacks enough funds to offer loans to the majority of needy students that apply to the board for higher education funding,” said Abigaba.
He noted that even the budget allocated to the board in the 2022/2023 financial year was not all released, leaving the board in arrears and debt.
Similarly, Abigaba informed the two committees that funds have been released to assist the government takeover of 620 community schools and those under non-governmental organizations.
Africa Data Centres, a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, is pleased to announce it has officially broken ground on an additional data centre facility in Nairobi. The new build will see the existing facility on the adjacent piece of land expanded up to an extra 15MW of IT load.
ADC’s expansion at the new site will be completed in the first half of 2024 and will bring five times more capacity than is currently installed.
“We believe that data centres will play a significant role in digital transformation and economic growth on our continent. Without them, the push towards a digital economy in Africa will be missing a key pillar. Our decision to increase our investment in our data centres in Kenya is in recognition of the position the country now occupies as a leader in the adoption of digital technologies in Africa” says Hardy Pemhiwa, Group President & CEO of Cassava Technologies.
During the ground-breaking ceremony today, Tesh Durvasula, CEO of Africa Data Centres, said, “The expansion will enable Africa Data Centre clients to grow and scale depending on their requirements. They can start small, increase to a medium capacity, and even benefit from a hyperscale type of deployment in a few years if they choose to. This will enable customers to operate multiple deployments across our sites with a single operations team, campus, and infrastructure they are familiar with”.
We believe that data centres will play a significant role in digital transformation and economic growth on our continent
Kenya is the country that pioneered mobile money, and today boasts of a wide range of incubators and tech startups, a clear sign of an innovative tech culture. The focus on Kenya as a key region aims to take the region further into the digital era and uplift the country’s profile globally as an attractive investment destination for international cloud providers, hyperscalers, and other ICT companies.
The new data facility will begin with 5MW of IT load and will be built in Africa Data Centres’ leading-edge modular design – an innovative approach that sees the entire facility, including all critical plant rooms, prefabricated off-site. This ensures the highest possible quality, whilst local contractors will still benefit from contracts to lay foundations, assemble, and complete the build.
He stresses that sustainability is at the heart of everything Africa Data Centres does. In terms of cooling, even as the largest network of interconnected, carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre facilities on the continent, ADC has a strict policy of not using adiabatic systems. “We do not use water in any of our cooling systems and are one of the few colocation providers who have taken this step,” said Durvasula.
While the common belief might be that water and adiabatic systems are more efficient than air cooling systems, this simply is not the case. “With the newest technology, if free-cooling capacity is maximised, it becomes far more efficient and saves water which is becoming a critical commodity, particularly in Africa.”
He added that Africa Data Centre is fortunate in Kenya as almost 70% of grid power is from green energy sources. “This helps us to meet our sustainability objectives because we understand no organisation can achieve zero carbon emissions by itself. We understand that sustainability is about ensuring that we conduct ourselves in a manner that minimises our impact on the environment. We extend this ethos to all of our partners, and constantly look for ways to ensure that all elements of the business contribute positively to the sustainability of the planet”.
Today’s event is a step forward in the company’s expansion plans announced in 2021, which will see Africa Data Centres investing $500m into building hyperscale data centres across Africa with the support of the US Development Finance Corporation.
Africa Data Centres (www.AfricaDataCentres.com) has broken ground on its new facility in Nairobi; The new build will expand its existing data center by up to 15MW of IT load; The facility will be built in the company’s leading-edge modular design.
AviaDev announced the creation of AviaDev Real Estate, a new forum connecting African airports with real estate investors, developers, and professional advisors.
A forum that will be supported by NACO, (Netherlands Airport Consultants), a world-leading airport consultancy and engineering firm with a rich history of supporting African airport development.
“Focusing on non-passenger revenues such as commercial real estate, can make a substantial difference to the profitability and investment appeal of an airport; so, I expect this unique event, coinciding with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, will take off successfully in 2023 and fly in the years ahead!” said Marcel Langeslag, Director Aviation Africa at NACO.
Most African airports are heavily dependent on aeronautical and passenger-related revenues. However, many could enhance their resilience and long-term prosperity with new revenue streams.
For example, it is estimated that only 4% of African airport revenue is derived from real estate*, whereas, in other parts of the world, the proportion is typically much greater. Classic airport real estate operations include leasing or selling their surrounding land for use as hotels, offices, car parks, and warehouses, in addition to renting space inside terminal buildings for retail, restaurants, etc.
AviaDev Real Estate will connect the owners and operators of African airports to those with the finance, skills, and contacts to develop the land and maximize its revenue potential.
In turn, the airport industry, benefiting from more diverse real estate revenue streams, will become more resilient to (potential) travel disruption, increase the appeal to new carriers, and ultimately improve air connectivity across the continent.
“The synergies that flow from creating an airport real estate forum at the intersection of AHIF and AviaDev are incredibly compelling. Our mandate at AviaDev Africa is to improve air connectivity to, from, and within the African continent and I am confident that this forum will lead to developing a more resilient and thriving African aviation ecosystem that will benefit the entire value chain,” said Jon Howell, CEO & Founder, AviaDev.
The forum will comprise pre-arranged, one-on-one meetings, in which participants can discuss specific business opportunities, and an interactive conference program in which delegates can learn from one another, share ideas, and network. Agenda topics will include:
– How to identify opportunities, zone airport property, and plan an airport city.
– How to prepare a project to be investment ready.
– How to finance airport real estate projects – what are the business models and what are investors looking for?
– Case studies from airports that have successfully benefitted from real estate revenue.
– Project presentations from airports looking for finance for their real estate projects.
The new event will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill, on Wednesday 14th June, coinciding with the last day of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and the start of AviaDev.
The bench is well known for organizing AviaDev (www.AviationDevelop.com), the premier platform dedicated to growing connectivity to, from, and within the African continent alongside a portfolio of world-class hotel investment conferences.
Mizizi Africa Homes diversifies into land selling with ‘Buy, We Build’ Concept
Mizizi Africa Homes has introduced a new business concept that allows its current and prospective clients to buy land from the real estate firm and then develop customized units for them.
The ‘Buy, We Build,’ model now expands the real estate developer’s portfolio to include the sale of fully serviced prime plots as it formally enters the gated and controlled community space.
Mizizi Africa Homes Chief Executive Officer, George Mburu said the new venture is in line with its goal of making it easier for most Kenyans to own modern and affordable homes.
“Now you can buy a plot of land from us and let us build your customized house. We help you throughout the whole process- after buying a parcel of land from us, we assist you in site planning to when the house or investment is ready for occupation,” said Mburu.
The size of the land ranges from 50ft by 100ft to a whole block, giving buyers limitless control over the type of house, designs, amenities, and features they need.
For instance, one can buy five plots or blocks of acres or add a private swimming pool, garden spaces, and outdoor gazebos.
Previously, the real estate developer was just developing housing units with controlled designs, allowing users some room to customize interior designs.
With the new concept, the developer will arrange financing through partner banks and SACCOs using the land as collateral.
The firm’s first project under this plan is Bill Bright Garden estate in Diani which goes at an introductory offer of Ksh. 1.25 Million for an eighth of an acre.
Beko recently announced its entry into the mobile commerce space with the rollout of a WhatsApp-powered service.
The European-based home appliance brand – with a strong footprint in Africa, had rolled out mobile commerce platform for Kenyan consumers ahead of the last festive season.
Using WhatsApp, consumers across Kenya will be able to shop for a wide range of electronic products via their mobiles and communicate directly with local dealers as well as current and potential Beko customers.
The East African Business Times had a chat with Mustafa Soylu, the Chief Executive of Beko Appliances in Sub Sahara as he shared insights into Beko’s WhatsApp service and commerce in Kenya.
Below extract of the conversation.
What is the outlook of conversational commerce in Kenya in the coming year?
With the increasing countrywide internet coverage and growth of mobile penetration as well as higher speeds like 5G going live in Kenya, we foresee a great opportunity for consumers who are now able to shop conveniently.
These present incredible opportunities for mobile commerce in the country.
Other than the launch of WhatsApp services by Beko, what should we expect from the company in the coming year?
We continuously research to come up with innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of our customers and we will continue doing so. Our mission is to provide a safe, seamless and convenient shopping experience to our customers. We also plan to incorporate credit card facilities through the app in the future.
We have been present in the Kenyan market since 2012 offering a full range of MDAs. Beko is found across major retailers and many independent retailers, having also established itself as a credible partner in providing quality cooking products.
Alongside our efforts to develop innovative solutions for our consumers, we collaborate with Water.org and use our combined expertise and resources to help transform lives in Kenya in order to enable access to safe water in urban slums and rural areas without reliable water sources.
For issues that concern communities, it is important that all relevant stakeholders of a community pitch in and help the ongoing progress toward a greener and healthier future. We believe our partnership with Water.org to empower 10,000 Kenyans is an important first step and a bright move to achieve this goal more quickly.
How do you plan to onboard local agents and customers to ramp up use of your WhatsApp channel.
We will continuously inform and remind our customers and agents of this new development at every opportunity we get while engaging them through multimedia channels. We also have this information on our social media platforms.
How are your services different from the competition?
Through the innovative use of instant messaging, our aim is to diversify our communication strategy to better serve the needs of an increasingly mobile customer base in Kenya.
Using WhatsApp, consumers across Kenya are able to shop a wide range of our products via their mobiles and communicate directly with local dealers as well as current and potential Beko customers.
Consumers also have access to a quick view of the full range of Beko products through an automated catalog on WhatsApp as well as additional information on the products. They can make purchases through the available agents and pay for them using the mobile money platform: M-Pesa. The service also allows users to register warranties, request user manuals, and log service calls.
Our customers have the opportunity to engage us 24/7 and receive their products right at their doorsteps without visiting Beko stores.
Which Key appliances do you see moving transaction volumes and values on WhatsApp and why?
Using WhatsApp, consumers have access to a quick view of the full range of Beko products through an automated catalog on the platform that includes kitchen, laundry, air & homecare appliances, and more. The Key appliances we see moving are all based on seasonality, however, Beko’s Freestanding Cookers and Small Appliances are gaining traction through the platform.
The purchasing process has been simplified enabling increased customer interactions and direct communication with local dealers.
What are the characteristics of your target demographics?
This facility targets all consumers in Kenya that are on WhatsApp – the most widely adopted form of communication in Kenya. We also target emerging or young users who are continuously searching for brands that match their tastes and preferences.
Smart Agriculture, A Solution for Scarcity of food & Low Farmer’s wages
World Food Bank is mainly aimed at improving the agricultural products for consumption as well as ensuring that the food can be stored through longer durations and in conducive storages that are fungus/bacteria free.
After setting up projects of smart agriculture in Uganda and Zambia, by introducing Farm Business Advisors who can liaise with the farmers and sort markets once a financing channel is formed; Kenya is next for WFB, poised at a better position to achieve an ecosystem solution bearing a better infrastructural model, a greater tech-savvy environment that proves ease in implementation of smart agriculture.
Through the growth of better products, farmers will base their processes on high-quality products that are fruits, and vegetables, which will influence higher pay for farmers based on the quality
Better agriculture;
“We can dry foods: grains, pulses, fruits, onions, and tomatoes and then ship them for sale to the outside markets. Why drying? Well, it can be used for grade two products that might not otherwise be sold. It also makes shipping cheaper and the storage is easier to work with as it is dry storage. When the products are dried, the nutrition level maintained is at 95% while the duration foods last is prolonged,” said Lackey.
There is the essence for Kenya through the new president Dr. Ruto to be championing for World Food Bank Africa Fund that will be focused on Kenya, mainly seeking to channel support to the farmers toward smart farming to deal with the aflatoxin issue in the food and scarcity of food.
The target $500 million fund will enable farmers in the African region to go for smart farming and make better returns, through selling and storing food in airtight bags hence securing the future need, as well.
“With technology, dry storage can be used to save food for future durations which can be great for business. Properly stored food is like a banking system that allows food to retain value and to be used for future purposes,” added Mr. Lackey.
Why the Food?
Based on WFB research, there are high levels of cancer that are gleaned mostly from the foods consumed by the people, one of the pointers is the inception of the Texas Cancer Hospital in Nairobi.
The move is after recording levels of cancer as high in East Africa with rates of up to 300% of global norms among adults and children.
Some of the main cancers spread is childhood cancer which leads to deaths highly among children while tested highly among adults is liver cancer.
According to WFB Founder, Richard Lackey, the rates of cancer are astonishing and it’s mainly due to the presence of aflatoxins in some corn, groundnuts, and some animal feeds that are mainly consumed and planted within East Africa.
“Speaking to some organizations in Kenya about the aflatoxin issue, there was a realization and agreement that the maize which would be imported was to be aflatoxin free which became a major problem. In the sense that there was the inability to import maize, cereals, as well as chicken and animal feeds since most grains were tested and found to have aflatoxins within them,” says Richard Lackey.
The main way of dealing with the issue of the consumption of aflatoxins will mean bringing about a shift in the way crops are planted and how those crops are managed by the farmer. This would mean a shift in the formation of planting, what is planted, manure used, etc., which would mean embracing smart agriculture.
Mr. Lackey suggests that there is a need to also create awareness and sensitize the farmers to embark on smart agriculture from the farming process to the storage, as this last procedure plays a key role in determining the long-lasting duration of food.
To attain this there has to be a more stable marketplace to do away with the middlemen which will not only empower the farmer but also the market rates will be way affordable.
The Zero Hunger Formula championed by WFB is aimed at getting farmers to grow better, that is better agriculture i.e., regenerative farming practices and proper management of pasture in dry seasons.
“Regenerative agriculture is a solution to hunger and poverty, even better is, it also solves many of the challenges related to climate. Hence by starting with fixing the soil by embarking on agroforestry, we will save humanity from hunger problem,” affirms the Founder of WFB.
“First, we get the soil regenerated, to reduce the chemicals within the soil, then use good practices and plant better quality products of high value; avocados, oils, and fruits. High-quality avocado can be sold to Norway and Belgium among other countries and a smart agriculture farmer can make $600 in a tree while the normal farmers make about $100 in a tree,” suggested Mr. Lackey.
The main challenge faced in improving the farmer’s situation would be the bureaucracy that bars several stages of improvement for the farmer at the lower level.
He suggests the building of technological food storage run by a private sector company. Food storage will ensure a solution for scarcity in dire times.
“Africa has high potential when planting foods like sorghum, millet, vegetables, fruits since there’s enough land which if well used can cater for the huge available market on the global stage,” recommended Mr. Lackey.
Revealing that through administration structures with integral middle management, there will be a possibility of achieving these results which will raise the GDP.
The founder hoped that there can be a formation of consortiums like was done in Ethiopia years ago to oversee the rollout of incentives to the farmers, pieces of training, and forums in vernacular to reach more farmers.
Revealing that the steps in Uganda are underway, and Kenya being a prospect, will also see the commencement of the process.
“We can get it done if we can do it together. When we move the fastest will only be when the leaders decide that we want to do this. We don’t want to make money majorly but instead arrive at solutions that better humanity. If we do this the profits will come.” concluded Mr. Lackey.
The Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP), the body representing the rights and interests of producers of sound recordings whose membership comprises record labels, has elected Angela Ndambuki as its first female chairperson in its history.
It is also unprecedented in the collective management history of the country that a collective management organization (CMO) board has the highest representation of women that commands the majority number of four (4) out of seven (7) board members.
Ms. Ndambuki, who doubles as the Regional Director Sub Saharan Africa at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) – an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide, was elected on the mantra of a transformational leadership based on transparent revenue models, greater accountability on collections and progressive changes to improve collection management systems and revenue.
The new chairperson also promised that the board has agreed to engage stakeholders and policymakers to lobby against the unfortunate attempts by the regulator to capture CMO through illegitimate and retrogressive legislation.
“I will engage and work with my colleagues to defend our members’ rights and reject any attempts to undermine the exercise of such rights. Particularly, the currently proposed miscellaneous amendments to the current Copyright Act stand inimical to the growth of the producer collective management activities in the country,” Angela Ndambuki, KAMP Chairperson said in her maiden speech.
The new KAMP board has also pledged to prioritize effective leadership to inspire member confidence in the CMO and reclaim the organization’s lost glory. The incoming administration has also committed to establishing global networking and engagements for the organization to ensure it is aligned with best practices and benefits from some of the most progressive collective management regimes.
KAMP also elected Anthony Musembi as its vice chairperson, Suzanne Gachukia as its Chair Licensing and Operations Committee, and Faith Kithele was elected as the Chair of the Finance and Human Resource Committee.
Monica Kibayu will take over as the Chair Audit and Legal Committee while Geoffrey Kwatemba and Patrick Ndilangu take up committee member roles. It is commendable that over and above the board chair position, all the female board members have taken up committee chair positions; this is progressive and inspiring toward achieving gender parity.
ENDS
Lawmakers on the Committee of Defence and Internal Affairs have tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prioritize the budgetary needs of the Uganda Police Force.
The Members of Parliament were receiving the ministry’s 2023/2024 Financial Year Budget Frame Work paper. The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi appeared before the committee on Monday, 16 January 2023.
The police force requires Shs2 trillion for the next financial year but only Shs823 billion has been allocated.
Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM, Lwemiyaga County) questioned the government’s commitment to ensuring that the police force effectively carries out its mandate given the massive budget shortfall.
“We are not being honest; I think the minister is telling us that we do not need police. The population is increasing and yet the budget of the police force is reducing. This is a silent way of killing the force,” SSekikubo said adding, ’we need to find a way forward. Passing the budget with insufficient funds for police is unacceptable.
Mubende Municipality MP, Hon. Bashir Lubega called on his counterparts to support the Police force in their quest for sufficient budgetary allocations.
“We must correct this situation by being alive to the budget shortfalls in the police. We need to stand our ground,” he said.
The population is increasing and yet the budget of the police force is reducing
Hon. Brandon Kintu (NRM, Kagoma North County) urged all entities with a component of security to fund the police force since the budget is now program based.
“We should compel other entities to fund the police programs under security,” said Kintu.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Godfrey Katsigazi appealed for prioritization of recruitment of officers, saying that the citizens-to-police ratio are at 1-800 compared to the ideal 1-500.
“The equipment is limited especially patrol vehicles. These were last purchased seven years ago. We need the budget enhanced to ensure that crime is contained,” said Katsigazi.
He pointed out that budgetary constraints impact service delivery, adding that it is critical that MPs realize that the police force operates under a thin budget.
The police undersecretary, Aggrey Wunyi stressed the need to allocate funds for the expansion of CCTV cameras.
“We require Shs187 billion for CCTV expansion but nothing has been provided. There is now a shift in crimes from urban areas to semi-urban due to the lack of CCTV cameras,” said Wunyi.
Minister Muhoozi however, said that despite the budgetary constraints, the general crime rate has reduced from 502 per 100,000 persons in 2020 to 255 per 100,000 persons in January 2022.
“Security agencies have been able to bust and destroy the Allied Democratic Forces cells and gang elements that have been attacking and killing security personnel,” said Muhoozi.
President William Ruto has asked leaders to be vigilant and serve the people of Kenya since they had already played their part in the voting process hence it’s upon them to deliver what is needed for citizens.
He said Kenyans had delivered on their part of the bargain and it is now the leaders’ opportunity to discharge their part of the election contract that involves improving the life situations of the citizens who elected them.
“We must transform the lives of the people; it is our primary responsibility,” said President William Ruto.
The President explained that it is possible to move Kenya forward if leaders are united and committed to their work.
“We want to eliminate the shame of hunger in our country”
Added President William Ruto
He was speaking on Sunday at the Bomet Green Stadium in Bomet County during an interdenominational prayer service.
“We will ensure this country steps into the strides that move us forward.”
He said the ongoing collection of data from farmers will inform the Government on the right moves to make to produce more food.
“We want to eliminate the shame of hunger in our country,” said the President.
The President was accompanied by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Governors Hillary Barchok (Bomet), Eric Mutai (Kericho), several MPs, and MCAs.
Mr. Gachagua said the Government will eliminate cartels that were fleecing farmers, which he believes contributed largely to the less food availability and thus hunger amongst the numerous citizens in Kenya.