Author: Wanjiku Njugunah

• Kenya has expressed interest in pursuing a better bilateral relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• President Uhuru Kenyatta said the two countries should also explore new areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the countries
• Kenya is also among some eight countries that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) wants to deepen trade ties with, even as it pushes to grow its status as the Middle East commercial hub

Kenya wants to better its bilateral relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On May 10, 2022, President Uhuru Kenyatta said there was a need to advance the relationship for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.

According to the head of state, the two countries should also explore new areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the countries.

He spoke when he received a delegation sent by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, …

The improved trade relations come a year after Kenya and Tanzania agreed to eliminate barriers.

In March 2021, the two countries said several barriers were hindering the smooth flow of trade and people and agreed to form better relations.

As reported by The Exchange Africa, at the time, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Tanzania Head of State Samia Suluhu Hassan announced new measures to facilitate trade.

Among them was establishing a joint team of experts to address the disjointed enforcement of cross-border Covid-19 containment protocols, one of the most pronounced non-tariff trade barriers between the two nations.…

• Liquid Intelligent Technologies has acquired Telrad, an Israeli-based technology firm, subject to customary closing conditions, including Telrad shareholder approval
• The pan-African technology firm said it has agreed to acquire the company and said the move would complement its operations
• It described Telrad as an innovative technology business with an extensive B2B offering and said it would add to its infrastructure and digital solutions offerings

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has acquired Telrad, an Israeli-based technology firm, at an undisclosed amount.

In a statement seen by The Exchange Africa, Liquid Intelligent said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the company and said the move would complement its operations.

Liquid Intelligent described Telrad as an innovative technology business with an extensive B2B offering and said it would add to its infrastructure and digital solutions offerings.

“Telrad provides and maintains high-quality technology products and services for global business and governments. The …

• Kenyan companies saw renewed deterioration in business conditions in April 2022, on the back of a decrease in customer demand in response to rising consumer prices and living costs
• The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) survey by Stanbic Bank indicates that the decline in operating conditions was underlined by a renewed fall in new order volumes
• The Stanbic PMI reading fell below the 50-point neutral mark in April to 49.5 from 50.5 in March

A new report shows that Kenyan companies saw renewed deterioration in business conditions in April 2022, on the back of a decrease in customer demand in response to rising consumer prices and living costs.

The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) survey by Stanbic Bank indicates that the decline in business conditions, which was the quickest seen since April 2021, was underlined by a renewed fall in new order volumes.

According to survey panellists, lower sales was the principal …

• Nigeria is currently the United States’ 54th largest goods trading partner, with US$7.8 billion in total goods trade as of 2019
• The top export categories in 2019 were: vehicles at US$938 million, cereals, especially wheat, at US$494million), machinery at US$479million, mineral fuels at US$287 million, and plastics at US$189 million
• The top import categories were mineral fuels at US$4.4 billion, special other (returns) at US$80 million, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits at US$15 million, fertilisers at US$11 million, and cocoa at US$10 million

The value of trade between Nigeria and the United States has continued to grow, data by the Office of the United States Trade Representative shows. According to the resource centre, Nigeria is currently the United States’ 54th largest goods trading partner, with US$7.8 billion in total (two way) goods trade as of 2019.

The centre also reveals that goods exports totalled US$3.2 billion while goods imports totalled …

President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a minimum wage increase of 12 per cent from 1st May 2022 to cushion workers against further erosion of their purchasing power.

Noting that there has been no review of the minimum wages for over three years while the cost of living has increased with inflation ranging between 5 to 6 per cent annually, the President said the Government has found it necessary to increase the minimum wages.

“In that regard, and in full appreciation of the critical contribution of workers to the economy; following the recommendation of various stakeholders; as a caring Government, we find that there is a compelling case to review the minimum wages to cushion our workers against further erosion of their purchasing power while also guaranteeing the competitiveness of our economy,” the President said.

President Kenyatta spoke on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi when he led Kenyan workers …

President Kenyatta’s message was conveyed in a recorded video statement delivered on Wednesday evening during a virtual Inter-Congolese Peace Dialogue convened by Kenya.

The Head of State pointed out that the value of peace is unique and uncontested, adding that nothing enduring can be built on the shifty soils of insecurity.

“The historical call to be our brothers’ keepers is a bell that has been tolling and to which Kenya always keeps responding. We will not relent in your pursuit of peace for prosperity. This is why we reached out to you, our brothers, our sisters of the DRC,” President Kenyatta said.…

• Rwanda will receive two loans amounting to $180 million from the African Development Bank 
• The funds will support a major energy project that will extend electricity access to rural areas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• It entails the construction of over 1,000 km of medium voltage and 3,300 km of low voltage lines to boost last-mile access
• The project is expected to connect 77,470 households to the electricity network for the first time and connect 75 schools, eight health centres and 65 administration centres

Rwanda will receive two loans amounting to $180 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to co-finance a major energy project that will extend electricity access to rural areas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In a statement seen by The Exchange Africa, the AfDB said the new funding follows the approval for $84.2 million made in May 2021 for the same project.

According to the lender, …

• Livestock farmers in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) will receive training and financing from KCB Foundation
• The partnership will train and equip farmers from ASALs with climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the dire impacts of climate change
• The two-year partnership will mobilise KSh 100 million in financing for the farmers through strategic partners to grow the funding to KSh 500 million
• Kenya is currently facing a drought that has left more than 2.5 million people on the brink of starvation and poverty. Pastoralists and farmers now have less and less time to recover

Livestock farmers in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) will receive training and financing from KCB Foundation following a partnership with the United States Agency for International Development’s Kenya Investment Mechanism.

The partnership will train and equip farmers from ASALs with climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the dire impacts of climate change. The two-year partnership will …

• Oppo has announced plans of unveiling the newest addition to its Reno series, the OPPO Reno7 in Nairobi
• The global smart device brand said Reno7 comes packed with impressive imaging features including Bokeh Flare Portrait, Selfie HDR, AI Portrait Enhancement
• The OPPO Reno7 series will serve as a Portrait Expert with both enhanced camera capabilities and a myriad of features to turn everyone into a professional, allowing them to truly express themselves to the world

Chinese phone maker OPPO is preparing to disrupt the Kenyan smartphone scene.

In a statement seen by the Exchange Africa, oppo said it is preparing to unveil the newest addition to its Reno series, the OPPO Reno7 in Nairobi.

The global smart device brand said Reno7 comes packed with impressive imaging features including Bokeh Flare Portrait, Selfie HDR, AI Portrait Enhancement, and many others users can capture the world in stunning, professional-quality portraits.

The OPPO …