Author: James Wambua

African children in poor remote zones continue to die from measles, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and whooping cough vaccination due to poor infrastructure. Additionally, poor funding structures, wars and insecurity, and low literacy levels on the benefits of vaccines continue to hurt efforts to eliminate these diseases. Latest data shows only 16 countries in Africa reported over 90% coverage of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, and measles. Over 500,000 African children continue to lose their lives diseases that have virtually been eradicated in other parts of the world through vaccination programmes. Recent data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention…

In DRC, millions of people remain at risk of anthrax outbreak, a disease that demands the hospitalization of infected patients for better outcomes. One case of fatality, 16 suspected cases reported as healthcare infrastructure and transportation remains in dire need. WHO notes that anthrax has three forms in humans, all needing prompt medical attention. The delicate security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could get worse following reports of anthrax outbreak, which threaten to further burden humanitarian response efforts in the war zone. With insecurity fears escalating, millions of people remain at risk of anthrax outbreak, a…

IMF urges countries to broaden the tax base, increase tax rates where applicable, reduce arbitrary exemptions. Lender seeks a predictable and progressive tax code, coupled with corporate income and property tax collection. IMF says strengthened tax collection capacity, integrity and accountability, including through digitalization, can yield significant revenues for countries. A weakening demand across the world markets, lower prices of key commodities and tight financial markets are set to deal a body blow to economic growth in Africa in 2025. Faced with this uncertainty, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is proposing a number of measures for policymakers including increasing taxes,…

Angola’s $5M boost is a turning point in Africa CDC’s continued push to rally political leadership, domestic financing, and unified continental action around the New Public Health Order and the Lusaka Agenda. Angola’s initiative comes in the wake of 70% decrease in foreign financing of health programmes in Africa amid declining flow of development assistance from the US. For decades, USAID has been a primary source of financing for various health programmes in African economies, but the funding freeze and potential cuts announced this early this year continue to threaten key systems Angolan President João Lourenço made the $5 million…

In Congo Basin, a new paradigm of sustainable forest management is taking shape—one that reconciles conservation imperatives with economic development through certification, community engagement, and ecotourism. While sustainable forestry lays the foundation, it is ecotourism that breathes economic life into the conservation agenda. By blending certified forestry, conservation, education, Indigenous empowerment, and ecotourism, a new model is offering a holistic strategy for managing forest landscapes sustainably. Deep in the heart of Central Africa lies the Congo Basin—a sprawling, lush expanse of rainforest often referred to as the planet’s second lung after the Amazon. In the Republic of Congo, this natural…

The trio’s capital boost represent 44% of the minimum funds required from oil producing countries in Africa. Africa Energy Bank seeks to fund oil and gas projects across economies in Africa, plugging gaps that exists through the continent’s overreliance on financiers from the West. Quite often, financiers from the west are reluctance to pump billions in fossil fuel projects in Africa citing environmental concerns. The push to better finance capital intensive projects in Africa has received a boost after Nigeria, Angola and Ghana contributed their capital shares to the Africa Energy Bank. In an update on Wednesday, the African Petroleum…

Russia’s leading energy giants including Gazprom and Rosatom are rapidly expanding their influence across the continent. The African Energy industry is experiencing industry engagements—spanning oil, gas, and nuclear sectors powered by Russian firms. But beneath the surface of these high-profile deals lies a complex web of opportunities and challenges that will define Africa’s energy future. The business case presented by African energy is increasingly attracting moneyed suitors. This billion-dollar opportunity has placed the continent at a pivotal moment in its energy evolution. As global powers jostle for influence, Russia is increasingly emerging as a key player, pivoting on its energy…

Kenya and the UK are equipping officials with policy tools aimed at improving regulatory environment to attract investment and growth. UK businesses have cited challenging operating environment as the main barrier to business operations in Kenya, along with power outages and high electricity costs. Increased efficiencies in this space would also be boost intra-African trade though increased compliance with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). A new push, Kenya-UK partnership, is paving the way for a stronger export trade framework through a specialized workshop aimed at equipping Kenyan officials with the skills to refine business regulations. As East Africa’s…

An alliance of two UK institutions—the Ghana International Bank and the British International Investment (BII)—is tailored to address trade finance needs in key African markets. The two institutions have committed $50 million in trade finance facilitation targeting industry stakeholders in Rwanda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Benin, the DRC. The financing plan seeks to plug banking industry gaps that continue to perpetuate general lack of credit appetite for frontier markets in Africa. A UK-based African financial institution, the Ghana International Bank has entered into a $50 million trade finance agreement with British International Investment (BII) to fund organisations in…

Part of Afreximbank’s funding will go to Dongo Kundu Industrial Park within the Mombasa Special Economic Zone. Another chunk will finance the construction of Naivasha II SEZ that includes a free trade zone, an industrial park, a logistics zone and a public utility area. The Naivasha II project will also derive value from its strategic position as it sits on the gateway to East and Central Africa through the Northern Corridor Transport System that serves Uganda, South Sudan, DRC among other countries. The Afreximbank has entered into a financing agreement with Kenya to finance the development of industrial parks, special…