Author: Kimani Chege

UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) run and managed CDC, the mission is to support the building of businesses throughout Africa and South Asia, to create jobs, and to make a lasting difference to people’s lives in some of the world’s poorest places. The public limited company has been working with various entities in the continent to develop structures for harnessing renewable energy in East Africa. This has been necessitated by the rising energy needs in the region as well as need for cleaner green energy worldwide. In 2017, CDC invested in a joint venture alongside the Aga Khan Fund…

PIDG company, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) has announced that it has arranged the long-term debt finance for a €305 million new port development by Gabon Special Economic Zone Ports (GSEZ Ports) at Owendo, Gabon. In addition to its sole mandated lead arranger role, EAIF is lending the company €40 million over 15 years, on a first ranked basis. GSEZ Ports is EAIF’s first project in Gabon. It is the largest industrial-scale infrastructure public-private partnership yet seen in the country. Financial close was achieved on 26 July. The African Development Bank (AfDB), which led the structuring of the finance,…

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, (AGRA), an agricultural think tank and partnership-driven institution in Africa has announced a change of guard with leading entrepreneur and owner of Econet Group Strive Masiyiwa stepping aside and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn taking the helm. The seat has had a high-level representation since the founding chairman Kofi Annan stepped aside. It has been instrumental in developing formidable partnerships in the continent is promoting agricultural growth and investments. ‘I am thankful that I succeed Mr. Masiyiwa, a remarkable continental leader, who leaves behind a solid organization and an impressive track…

Kenya’s tax collector Kenya Revenue Authority has been looking for avenues for raising the tax as the countries look for a more sustainable way of meeting its development budget, and with a debt that seems to be spiraling out of control. Media reports emerging from Kenya have indicated that the taxman in conjunction with The Communication Commission of Kenya (CA) are looking at media streaming sites like Netflix and YouTube as well as other apps operating in Kenya. Further, the taxman is looking at ways of collecting revenue from every app downloaded, similar to a legislative clause currently available in…

Transsion holdings, the makers of Techno, Infinix and Itel mobile phones has partnered with Wapi Capital, an African  fintech company that is investing and creating solutions in financial services, to find and fund fintech startups under the program Transsion Future Hub. The Chinese company which is also the largest mobile phone manufacturers and distributors in Africa will use the program to seek and pinpoint innovative African fintech startups from all around the continent to provide funding as well as access to new markets. On the other hand, Wapi Capital an alumni of Nairobi Garage will take the lead in the identification of…

In late October, the Russian city by the Black Sea, Sochi will host the Russia-Africa Summit, co-chaired by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who also heads the African Union. This is the first time such an event is being organized with growing interest from Moscow of trade, politics, and development of Africa, amid murmurs from US and allies on the role both Russia and China are playing in Africa. The announcement which was made by Russia said special attention will be paid to the current state and prospects of Russia’s relations…

Allied Wallet Africa, a global FinTech company offering various payment solutions in 196 countries, recently announced a new office in Angola, to support the growing opportunities for African entrepreneurs and business owners. Millions of people are eager to engage in online commerce but lack proper support and functionality. South Africa has the largest e-commerce market in the continent with Nigeria and Kenya following closely, and people of the region are eager to trade and transact in the new digital space. “Africa deserves the opportunity to participate in e-commerce, they deserve advancement,” said Allied Wallet Africa CEO Andy Khawaja, “We are happy…

Amref Health Africa Global CEO and Co-Chair of UHC 2030 steering committee, Dr. Githinji Gitahi has been appointed as a member of the Governing Board of the Africa Centre’s for Disease Control and prevention (Africa CDC). The Africa CDC supports all African countries to improve surveillance, emergency response, and prevention of infectious diseases. This includes addressing outbreaks, man-made and natural disasters and public health events of regional and international concern. It further seeks to build the capacity to reduce disease burden on the continent. “I would like to extend my gratitude to the African Union and specifically to H.E Mrs…

Ilara Health, a Kenyan based health tech company bringing affordable diagnostics to doctors in Africa, has raised $700,000 in seed funding. Villgro Kenya,  local incubation hub has joined a suite of seasoned investors including ShakaVC, a Nairobi-based firm backed by Chinese investors, Chandaria Capital and the venture capital arm Chandaria Industries. Angel investors in this round include Esther Dyson (23andMe, Yandex, Meetup), Nijhad Jamal (Moja Capital, ex BlackRock, Acumen), Aadil Mamujee (Musha Ventures), Selma Ribica (AfricInvest, Lebara Money, M-Pesa), and Shakir Merali (LGT Impact, ex Abraaj). Several of the new investors will become strategic advisors to the business. The investment…

Mettā, the entreprenurship meeting place in Nairobi has announced its third fashion product lab cohort powered by HIVOS East Africa. The designers accepted into the program were selected after a rigorous multi-phase selection process which focused on the viability of their fashion businesses, creative designs and portfolio, and their potential to scale across the continent and globally. Mettā Nairobi, in partnership with HIVOS East Africa, is set to bring five fashion startups to Nairobi for its third bootcamp programme – Fashion Product Lab 3.0. Selected from 300 applications all over the country, the 5 startups will kick off the programme in…