Author: Wanjiku Njugunah

• Stakeholders in the health and technology sectors in East Africa have called on governments to strengthen national supply chains following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Kenya’s Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman noted that strong supply chains would be gotten through focusing on the role of data and technology in policy and regulatory frameworks
• Data indicates that healthcare is one of the sectors that was hardest hit by supply chain challenges at the height of the pandemic

Leaders in the health and technology sectors in East Africa have called on governments to strengthen national supply chains following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drawn from ministries of health across five East African nations, the experts said the move would enhance the continent’s post-COVID-19 health security systems.

Data indicates that healthcare is one of the sectors that was hardest hit by supply chain challenges at the height of the pandemic.…

• Britam Holdings says it is changing tact to focus on low-income earners, even as it marks paying KSh 3 billion ($26.3 million) in health and life insurance claims to under-insured customers since 2015
• Emerging Consumer Business Director Saurabh Sharma said many Kenyans could not afford insurance covers currently offered in the Kenyan market
• Sharma noted that low-income earners continued to be the ones affected mainly by risk events, including hospital admissions, loss of a loved one, or business interruptions such as fires and theft

Kenyan insurer Britam Holdings says it is changing tact to focus on low-income earners, even as it marks paying KSh 3 billion ($26.3 million) in health and life insurance claims to under-insured customers since 2015.

The company’s Emerging Consumer Business Director Saurabh Sharma said many Kenyans, especially smallholder farmers and small businesses, could not afford insurance covers currently offered in the Kenyan market.

Sharma noted that …

• Kenyan-headquartered company MarketForce has closed $40 million Series A round, the largest Series A round of its kind in East and Central Africa
• Through the funding, the company will expand its business and avail more digital financial and banking services through its extensive merchant network
• MarketForce is a leading B2B Commerce and Fintech marketplace that empowers informal merchants in Africa to order, pay and receive inventory digitally and conveniently

MarketForce, a company headquartered in Kenya, is the latest startup to receive millions in funding.

On Tuesday, February 22, MarketForce revealed it closed a $40 million Series A round, the largest Series A round of its kind in East and Central Africa.

The company said it will use the funding plans to scale merchant inventory financing and expand in existing markets.

The company said it will avail more digital financial and banking services through its extensive merchant network. MarketForce has a …

• At least 2.3 million Kenyans in 23 arid and semi-arid counties affected by drought will benefit from government relief
• He added that the government had undertaken several measures since the 8th of September 2021, when he declared the ongoing drought a national disaster 
• He said the government had released KSh 2 billion to assist the affected households through relief food distribution, water trucking and a livestock offtake programme

At least 2.3 million Kenyans in 23 arid and semi-arid counties affected by drought will benefit from government relief. On Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta flagged a consignment of emergency relief supplies to reach all affected people.

Kenyatta said the government is focused on implementing interventions to build resilience in all vulnerable households.

He added that the government was diversifying livelihoods from drought-sensitive activities to drought-resilient ones and improving early warning and impact forecasting systems.

He added that the government had undertaken several …

• Stanbic Bank majority shareholder Standard Africa Holdings Limited (SAHL) has received regulatory approval from the Capital Markets Authority to further extend the exemption from making a complete takeover
• Under the exemption, SAHL aims to acquire a maximum of 10.6 million ordinary shares in Stanbic to bring its total shareholding to up to 75.0 per cent of Stanbic Holdings’ ordinary shares
• SAHL first announced the intention to purchase shares from willing shareholders in March 2018 to acquire 59.0 million ordinary shares at a price of KSh 95.0 per share

Standard Africa Holdings Limited (SAHL) has received regulatory approval from Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to acquire a bigger stake in Stanbic holdings.

Standard Africa Holdings Limited (SAHL), which is the majority shareholder in Stanbic Holdings, said it received regulatory approval from the CMA to further extend the exemption from making a complete takeover.

Under the exemption, Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed …

• Bloomberg Philanthropies has partnered with CARE to assist women who own small agriculture-based businesses to build capital and access credit to invest in and grow their businesses
• Through the initiative, the partners will expand existing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) for agricultural funds in Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• VSLAs are member-driven community funds that encourage financial inclusion and independence by pooling resources and providing low-interest rate loans

Bloomberg Philanthropies has partnered with CARE to expand existing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) for agricultural funds in Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

The deal will enable women who own small agriculture-based businesses to build capital and access credit to invest in and grow their businesses, ensuring long-term economic sustainability for themselves and their families.

VSLAs are member-driven community funds that encourage financial inclusion and independence by pooling resources and providing low-interest …

• The British government has donated forensic medical equipment to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, valued at KSh 4.5 million ($39,578)
• Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Rashid Aman said the equipment will go a long way in supporting forensic investigations in instances of mass casualties, including those due to terror-related activities and disasters
• The CAS said the role played by forensic medical services to the public health and safety in the country cannot be underestimated

Britain has donated forensic medical equipment to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, valued at KSh 4.5 million ($39,578).

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Rashid Aman said the donation resulted from the partnership and cordial relations between Kenya and the United Kingdom.

“I acknowledge the support the Government of the United Kingdom is providing to the health sector and the new initiatives in the areas of Kenya-United Kingdom Health Alliance, health labour migration, global health security and response to …

Boost Africa is a joint initiative with the African Development Bank (AfDB), with financial support from the European Commission and the Organisation of African, the Caribbean and the Pacific States Secretariat (OACPS) under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).

The EUR 12.5 million – $14.2 million – financing for Atlantica will support EUR 50 million of new investment in innovative technology startup companies across the continent and expand specialist venture capital financing for promising entrepreneurs.

The new EUR 10 million – $11.3 million – EIB commitment to Janngo, will increase investment in early-stage tech and tech-driven startups to improve access to healthcare, education and financial services across Africa and allow African tech companies to create jobs for young people and women.…

Jenga Leo is a coworking space based in Nairobi and offers workers several benefits, including high-speed Wi-Fi and air condition. The company offers several facilities, including a Skype and podcasting room and a childcare centre. Others are a yoga studio and gym room.

The administrator said the company’s innovative concept capitalises on that trend by bringing health and work together in one accessible place.

“The name itself plays by creating ‘building blocks’ as part of an organisation’s desire, with Jenga meaning ‘build’, ‘leo’ meaning today.

Hence, the concept takes building today to create the foundation of a workplace dynamic that allows for one’s mind, body, and soul to flourish.…

• Heri Homes and Finsco Africa have broken ground to begin the construction of $176 million homes in Kiambu County
• Dubbed Legacy ridges, the project would see an extra 4,000 homes added into the real estate sector that continues to struggle to meet demand
• The project is on a 200-acre land in Ruiru, opposite Tatu City off the Thika Superhighway

Kenyan real estate companies Heri Homes and Finsco Africa have broken ground to begin the construction of US$176 million homes in Kiambu County. 

Finsco Africa CEO John Mwaura said the project, dubbed Legacy ridges, would see an extra 4,000 homes added into the real estate sector that continues to struggle to meet demand. The project is on a 200-acre land in Ruiru, opposite Tatu City off the Thika Superhighway. 

Of the houses, 2,800 would be two and three-bedroom apartments, while the rest will be maisonettes, including servant quarters.

According to the …