Author: James Wambua

• MSMEs and the e-commerce sector in Kenya are emerging as a formidable force driving economic growth.
• With over 7.4 million MSMEs contributing about 40 percent of the country’s GDP, their potential to boost the economy is huge.
• With internet penetration in Kenya currently above 74 percent, the country is well-positioned for e-commerce growth banking on an expanding middle class.

In a world where technology continuously reshapes the business scene, the relationship between Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the e-commerce sector in Kenya is emerging as a formidable force driving economic growth.

This dynamic was highlighted during a recent stakeholder forum reviewing the Kenya e-commerce strategy, launched in December 2023.

The strategy aims to foster innovation, inclusive participation, and economic growth through digital commerce for Kenyans, regardless of location, age, gender, or abilities.

With over 7.4 million MSMEs contributing about 40 percent of the country’s GDP, their potential to …

• The deployment is part of a larger mission led by Kenya to restore order in Haiti, where gangs have taken control of most of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
• Gangs in Haiti have been responsible for widespread killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence.
• Police officers from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Chad, and Bangladesh set to form part of the 2,500-international force.

Kenyan police depart for Haiti

The first group of Kenyan police officers has departed for Haiti to address the rampant gang violence plaguing the Caribbean nation. The deployment is part of a larger mission led by Kenya to restore order in Haiti, where gangs have taken control of most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have been responsible for widespread killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence.

Kenya’s commitment to leading this international force dates back to July 2023, when it volunteered to spearhead efforts to tackle the violence in Haiti. The mission, which includes …

• Tanzania has embarked on a plan to set up a 22-storey building in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, to house its embassy staff.
• Tanzania Towers in Nairobi is part of a grand plan to set up embassy buildings in Kigali, Kinshasa, London, New York, and Lusaka cities.
• Once complete, Tanzania projects to earn about $13.75 million (TZS36 billion) per year from real estate investments in foreign capitals.

Stung by rising costs of paying rent in foreign capitals for hundreds of chancery staff and the pressing need to shore up foreign currency receipts, authorities in Tanzania have embarked on a plan to set up a 22-storey building in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

The new building, which is set to add more floor space in Nairobi’s business zone, Upperhill area, is an investment by NSSF as well as Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Tanzania Towers, containing residences and offices, and adding beauty to the …

• Young people, particularly Generation Z, have taken to the streets of the capital Nairobi, and other cities demanding rejection of new tax proposals.
• Critics argue that these measures will disproportionately affect the lower and middle classes of the economy, further straining an already burdened population.
• President Ruto justifies these measures as necessary steps to alleviate the country’s mounting debt.

For Kenya’s President Ruto and his administration, a confluence of failed promises, high cost of living, and hopelessness among the youth is threatening to tear his government as millions of youth mount widespread civil unrest, protesting an increase in taxes in Finance Bill 2024.

Young people, particularly Generation Z, have taken to the streets of the capital Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nyeri vehemently demanding the rejection of the Bill, which is under debate in Parliament.

The movement, which appears to be spearheaded by vocal activists and amplified by social …

• In 2024, startup funding in Africa has evolved with Climate tech, which covers various use cases, surging to account for 45% of funding, an all-time high.
• In the period under review, climate tech received $325 million.
• Despite the overall dip in total investments, climate tech’s share of funding has been steadily rising, reflecting its expanding importance in Africa’s startup scene.

In the face of increasing economic woes and adverse weather conditions, climate tech startups in Africa are defying the odds, instead, experiencing unprecedented levels of investment. This year, climate tech is emerging as a primary focus for investors, reflecting the urgent need for innovative solutions to address the continent’s climate-related issues.

The latest numbers show that climate tech startups garnered substantial attention in 2024, with funding reaching an all-time high of $325 million, which is 45 percent of the total startup financing announced in Africa this year.

“But what’s particularly …

• Price for engineering innovations was awarded to Esther Kimani from Kenya.
• A solar-powered tool using AI and machine learning-enabled cameras to swiftly detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases has won Africa’s largest prize for engineering innovation.
• Her tool reduces crop losses for smallholder farmers by up to 30 per cent while increasing yields by as much as 40 per cent.
• The Africa Price has supported almost 150 entrepreneurs across 23 African countries, generating over 28,000 jobs and benefitting more than 10 million people through the innovative products and services developed.

Price for Engineering Innovations was awarded to Esther Kimani from Kenya. This price, recognised as Africa’s most esteemed engineering accolade, was presented in Nairobi on June 13, 2024.

Kimani’s pioneering AI-driven pest and disease detection tool for crops secured this price for its groundbreaking impact on the agricultural sector, particularly for smallholder farmers in Kenya.

Read Also: Inside Africa’s …

• President William Ruto of Kenya urges for reforms to the global financial system to provide Africa with access to long-term concessional finance and greater decision-making power.
• He highlights the critical need for investments in Africa’s infrastructure and clean energy projects to drive sustainable development and economic growth.
• The G7 Summit sought partnerships with African nations, aiming to bridge the continent’s infrastructure gap and support its development goals.

At the 50th G7 Summit held in Borgo Egnazia, Italy, President William Ruto of Kenya made a compelling case for the transformation of the global financial system to better serve Africa. Addressing an audience of world leaders, Ruto called for reforms that would grant the Global South, particularly Africa, access to long-term concessional finance and a greater voice in international decision-making processes.

“Reforming the multilateral global financial system is crucial for enabling Africa to access concessional, long-term, and agile finance,” Ruto emphasized. He …

• Kenya’s FY2024/25 budget is the largest in the nation’s history at $31.1 billion.
• It, however, seeks to reduce the budget deficit through contentious tax reforms despite public outcry.
• The budget also seeks to roll out key banking and state corporation reforms.

Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, presented the largest budget in the country’s history for the fiscal year 2024/25, amidst a backdrop of economic challenges and simmering public discontent on punitive tax measures.

The proposed budget of Kes4 trillion ($31.1 billion), up from Kes3.75 trillion in the previous year, aims to spur socio-economic transformation while addressing the budget deficit.

Kenya’s 2024/25 budget is anchored on five pillars and twelve enablers. These pillars include Agricultural Transformation and Inclusive growth, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Housing and Settlement, Healthcare, and Digital and Creative Industry – $2.2 billion (Kes283.5 billion) has been allocated under the five pillars.

Allocation to other thematic …

• Highly potent opioids, nitazenes, a drug up to 100 times more potent than heroin, were found in 83% of drug samples in Sierra Leone and 55% in Guinea-Bissau.
• This discovery marks a dangerous escalation in the African drug crisis.
• Nitazenes has been linked to overdose deaths in Western countries and parts of Asia.

The persistent menace of drug and substance abuse is set to worsen with new revelations that for the first time, traces of highly potent opioids, known as nitazenes, have been found among hard drug users in Africa. This discovery was made by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a non-profit organization, through an extensive report released this week.

Nitazenes, synthetic opioids notorious for their potency, have previously been linked to overdose deaths in Western countries and parts of Asia. Their newfound presence in Africa marks a dangerous escalation in the continent’s drug crisis.

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