• 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 …

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 …

• 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 …

Currently, Kenya has one of the world’s highest rates of road-related deaths, with 26.6 deaths per 100,000 people, which is likely only to increase as it is believed that by 2030, road traffic accidents will account for more deaths than AIDS in low- and middle-income countries.

Motorcycles have also been linked to crimes. Lax regulations have seen contract killers, drug peddlers, robbers, rapists, con artists, and petty thieves establish a home in the sector.

The Government of Kenya has suspended the violent police operation against all boda boda riders after the horrible Forest Road attack on the lady driver who was involved in an accident with a boda boda.

President Uhuru Kenyatta directed a security crackdown across the country to wipe out rogue motorcycle operators from the boda boda sector following the recent assault of a motorist along Wangari Maathai Road, Nairobi.…

• Equity has recorded a 99 per cent rise of its net profit to reach KSh 40.1 billion from KSh 20.1 billion
• Net interest income grew by 25 per cent to KSh 68.8 billion, up from KSh 55.1 billion, driven by a 23 per cent growth in loan book to KSh 587.8 billion
• Equity Group CEO James Mwangi said the bank has now strategically positioned itself as a systemic regional diversified business in six countries

Equity Group has recorded superior performance for the year ended 31^st December 2021 despite the challenging operating environment of a global COVID-19 pandemic.

Profit After Tax increased by 99 per cent to KSh 40.1 billion from KSh 20.1 billion, with Profit Before Tax recording a growth of 134% to KSh 51.9 billion, up from KSh 22.2 billion the previous year.

The Group has recommended a record dividend pay-out of KSh 3 per share totalling KSh …