Author: Njenga Hakeenah

Njenga Hakeenah

I have 10 years of experience in multimedia journalism and I use the skills I have gained over this time to meet and ensure goal-surpassing editorial performance. Africa is my business and development on the continent is my heartbeat. Do you have a development story that has to be told? Reach me at njenga.h@theexchange.africa and we can showcase Africa together.

A Cellulant Tingg neighbourhood banking kiosk in Nigeria. Cellulant has integrated into the World Economic Forum. www.theexchange.africa

Company co-founded by Kenyan, Nigerian joins the World Economic Forum

Fintech September 24, 2019

Only 43 per cent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population was financially included by the end of 2018…

The insurance industry in Kenya is struggling with low penetration. The sector is seeking innovation and adoption of technology to grow. www.theexchange.africa

Kenya’s struggling insurance industry turns to technology for survival

Countries September 23, 2019

Insurance industry to aggressively embrace technology and help expand access to insurance services…

Data Science graduate, Kevin Thairu, (L), explaining to Safaricom executives how their software works during the Safaricom Digital Academy graduation at Bomas of Kenya. Safaricom’s digital training has saved 60 staff from the sack even as Andela fired 400. www.theexchange.africa

Safaricom’s digital training saves staff as Andela goes on firing spree

Countries September 21, 2019

Safaricom has already fully trained 60 of its staff and placed them in new roles.…

Network coverage is important as internet spending grows in Kenya. Kenyans are choosing mobile phone operators based on value for money rather than brands. www.theexchange.africa

Internet spend growth challenges Kenyan telcos’ budgets

Countries September 20, 2019

Consumers in Kenya are going for price-driven shopping over network reliability and the need for speed.…

An elderly patient. Boehringer Ingelheim is targeting Nairobi with its Making More Health’ (MMH) Accelerator to enhance start-up business models for universal health coverage. www.theexchange.africa

Is Kenya the new entry point for the big pharma agenda?

Countries September 17, 2019

The German company brought together leaders from around the globe for “an exchange to promote co-creation”.…

Just like any addiction, gambling in Kenya has ensnared the youth. The government suspended 27 betting companies in July this year among them SportPesa, much to the chagrin of gamblers. www.theexchange.africa

Kenya’s gambling firms on tenterhooks as licencing demands become clear

Africa September 13, 2019

SportPesa was mulling floating an IPO at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2018 but it has not happened…

One of Yamaha’s drones which Astral Aviation will sell following a deal signed at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Remotely piloted helicopters will be used for cargo delivery and crop spraying in Kenya. www.theexchange.africa

Yamaha drones coming to Kenya despite prohibitive laws, fees

Countries August 31, 2019

In March last year, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) published regulations for the commercial use of drones.

KCAA Director General Gilbert Kibe said that any operator of the unmanned aerial vehicles were expected to register them before use.

Drone importation and licensing in Kenya

In a move seen as a limitation to the country’s nascent film industry, Kibe said that even those who owned drones before the laws were passed were supposed to register them within six months.

“A person commits an offense if they own, operate, import, manufacture, assemble or test an RPAS without authorisation from KCAA,” he said.

The contention came due to the fees imposed by KCAA.

While drones are permitted for recreational use in Kenya, anyone wishing to operate one has to part with anything between Kshs 60,000 (USD 600) and Kshs 232,000 (USD 2,300) depending on the purpose of use.

Kibe said, “Any Person …

Octagon Pension Services MD Godwin Simba, Octagon Africa Group CEO Fred Waswa (right) demonstrate to Retirement Benefits Authority CEO Nzomo Mutuko how to use MOBIKEZA. The digital pension plan that gives workers in the informal sector. www.https://theexchange.africa

Mobile-based pension scheme launched for Kenya’s informal sector

Countries August 30, 2019

Octagon claims that was developed with the youth, Jua Kali artisans and workers in Micro-Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in mind…

A fish farmer. Questions linger on whether digital agriculture can solve Africa’s economic development issues and address food insecurity challenges. www.https://theexchange.africa

Will digital agriculture bring economic development to Africa?

Agribusiness August 29, 2019

There are fears that Kenya will soon be facing challenges of food insecurity yet again despite the lack of a coherent plan on addressing this annual occurrence.

Coming at a time when food imports from neighbouring countries are continually increasing, the shilling is weakening making it even worse for millions facing starvation.

This food deficit is not unique to Kenya but it also characterises many African countries stuck in a cycle of inadequate food.

Maputo Declaration on financing agriculture

Ironically, many countries in Africa have vast arable land and a favourable weather. This means that it is easy to sustain agricultural activities. But, there is no political will to make this a reality.

Africa has the potential to feed not only itself but also the world but investments towards agriculture have been limited. Governments have failed to meet the Maputo Declaration on financing agriculture.

In the 2003 declaration, African governments …