Browsing: East Africa

The Kenyan government is considering a Ksh1.6 billion ($15.4million) financing option for smallholder tea farmers across the country to help them diversify their products.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has said that the proposal, which is now before the Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, and the Cabinet for consideration, involves a financing model for smallholder tea factories to set up black orthodox tea production units.

READ ALSO:Kenyan tea farmers capture World Bank’s climate change deal

Black orthodox Tea is loose tea which is produced using the traditional method of tea production:plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation and drying.

It has an aroma that is easily identifiable and fetches more prices at the tea auction than the normal tea – thus the need for enhanced production of this type of tea to help cushion farmers from the volatile prices associated with traditional teas.

“In a bid to help our tea farmers …

UK headquartered manufacturer–Unilever Overseas Holdings B.V has gotten a major boost in its quest to expand its portfolio in Kenya and the East Africa region.

This follows the approval by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to acquire a majority stake (90%) in Chemi & Cotex Kenya Limited, a subsidiary of Tanzania’s Chemi and Cotex Industries Limited.

The firm is involved in the distribution of cosmetics, beauty, hair, oral care products and food products, one of East Africa’s leading fast moving consumer goods companies

Unilever Overseas Holdings B.V (Unilever B.V) on the other hand, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever Plc which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

With the approval, Unilever will now move to assume direct control of the investment company and indirect control over Chemi & Cotex Kenya Limited.

The parties’ combined and relevant turnover for the preceding year …

Kenya’s leading telecommunication company-Safaricom on Wednesday marked 19 years since the company launched.

During the celebrations, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed telco unveiled a new strategy and renewed its commitment to its customers.

Under the new structure, Safaricom is committing to be ‘simple, transparent and honest’ across all its products and operations.

READ ALSO:Majority of Kenya’s job-seekers dream of working at Safaricom

As part of its efforts to simplify its products, the company has unveiled a new data plan, and a new calling and SMS plan that will respectively offer data bundles and calling minutes with no expiry.

Both data bundles, calls and SMS with no expiry are immediately available on *544#

“Over the last 19 years, we have come a long way together with our customers. As we celebrate our anniversary, it is a unique opportunity to reevaluate our operations to ensure that we remain relevant to …

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is set to launch the latest version of the Boeing 787-10 aircraft on the Amsterdam- Nairobi route next month, months after flying the aircraft to Tanzania.

The fuel-efficient aircraft will offer passengers on the route a more comfortable flying experience with its top of the range features offering more comfort and less fatigue.

The Dutch national carrier is introducing the latest version of the Boeing 787-10 aircraft into its fleet in a move that will see Kenya become the second destination in KLM’s global network to receive the new aircraft, after Tanzania in July this year.

READ ALSO:KLM CEO resigns from KQ Board

This underscores KLM’s efforts in investing in Africa and local markets.

KLM is the first European carrier to fly this new type of aircraft, cementing its position as a pioneer in aviation. It is one of the airlines that continues to make …

Kenya is keen to boost its trade with Ethiopia through the One Stop Border Post initiative, even as Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor starts to take shape.

Acting Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Planning Ambassador Ukur Yatani has called on residents of the upper eastern region at the Kenya-Ethiopia border to take advantage of recently established One Stop Border Point (OSBP) in Moyale to boost trade between Kenya and Ethiopia.

READ ALSO:Ethiopia beats Kenya in Foreign investments

The CS said that the modern facility which is among other six in the country was underutilized.

“We should see more trade volumes passing through the OSBP at Moyale- an indication of a robust business activity between Kenya and Ethiopia. Unfortunately, we are not witnessing this. I wish to urge residents in this region to make use of this exemplary facility for their good and the good of both …

Renault Trucks has opened a local assembly plant in Thika, an industrial town in the outskirts of Kenya’s capital of Nairobi, as it seeks to cement its business in Kenya and expansion in the East Africa region.

The move follows the establishment of a long-term partnership with the local exclusive importer CMC Motors and unveiling of their new C and K ranges in Mombasa and Nairobi.

READ:Renault taps CMC Motors to distribute its heavy commercial trucks

The plant, which was commissioned by Industrialization Principal Secretary Dr. Francis Owino in the presence of Renault Trucks President Bruno Blin and Al-Futtain Group Senior Managing Director Colin Cordry, will see the company and CMC Motors create over 200 new jobs with additional opportunities set to be generated across the value chain.

In alignment with the 2030 Kenya industrialization vision, Renault Trucks vehicles count with a guaranteed French origin, but are assembled locally. …

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a deal with Uganda to open its East African branch in Kampala.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Benedict Oramah, Afrexim bank president signed the deal which will see Uganda as its fifth branch.

Afrexim bank which is a pan-continent investment lender has other branches in Abuja, Cairo, Abidjan and Harare.

Prof Oramah said that the opening of an East Africa branch would deepen the bank’s involvement with the region’s institutions.

The Kampala branch will start operating end of October 2019 and will serve 11 countries: Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and Comoros.

Kudakwashe Matereke Afrexim East Africa chief operating officer said it is in talks with Uganda’s  National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to have it join others in the region like Rwanda’s social board to become one of the lender’s institutional investors.

Also Read: New bank

While most African countries are bearing the brunt of the US-China trade war as well as a slump in commodity prices which is greatly affecting exporters, East Africa economies have remained resilient.

This is on the region’s economic diversity which is playing a key role in cushioning the region from shocks, the latest report from ICAEW – the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales – Economic Update: Africa Q3 2019 indicates.

The report provides GDP growth forecasts for various regions including East Africa which is set to grow by 6.3 per cent, West and Central Africa at 3.4 per cent, Franc Zone at 4.7 per cent and Southern Africa at 1.3 per cent.

The report, commissioned by ICAEW and produced by partner and forecaster Oxford Economics, outlines how East Africa’s growth is mainly driven by strong performances in the two major economies, Kenya and Ethiopia.

READ ALSO:How

Jumia Food Kenya has announced the launch of Jumia Prime – a subscription package that allows customers pay a standard one, three or six months fee.

This also guarantees unlimited free deliveries on all orders placed on the Jumia Food app or website.

The service, is a first of its kind in Africa, and was introduced to Kenyans aimed at enhancing customer experience and loyalty without having to worry about paying any delivery fees. 

Managing Director East Africa On-Demand Services, Shreenal Ruparelia says the service is not only limited to food but also on alcohol, groceries, shopping or pharmacy needs.

READ ALSO:Jumia’s listing at New York Stock Exchange was long coming

Ruparelia noted the introduction of Jumia Prime is part of the company’s objective to develop innovative ways to help customers order online without having to pay additional delivery services.

“This is also our way to expand …

Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) have agreed to promote sustainable peace and development along the two countries’ borders, in a latest pact signed by the two East Africa states.

The programme dubbed Cross-Border Sustainable Peace and Development seeks to end hostilities among the three neighbouring communities and enhance development in the region by promoting non-violent interactions and collaborations.

The three communities are Turkana, Pokot and Karamojong which live along the Kenya-Uganda border.

The UN-supported intervention that will be led by a ministerial committee co-chaired by Kenya and Uganda will be implemented in the region to reduce tensions resulting from access to shared resources such as water and pasture.

Speaking during the launch ceremony in Moroto town, President Kenyatta welcomed the agreement saying it will help spur development in the region which has for many years suffered unnecessary communal conflicts.

“This programme, in cooperation with the UN, is a …