Wednesday, November 27African Digital Business Magazine

Kenya News

Kenya News

Energy, Kenya News

d.light Co-Founder and CEO Nedjip Tozun Recognized on 2024 TIME100 Climate List for Pioneering Clean Energy Access Impact

Nedjip Tozun, Co-Founder and CEO of d.light, has been honored with a spot on the prestigious *TIME100 Climate* list for 2024. This annual list highlights the world's most influential leaders driving meaningful climate action and pioneering sustainable solutions across industries. Tozun’s inclusion recognizes his transformative work in expanding access to clean energy for underserved communities in Africa and Asia. Since co-founding d.light in 2007 at Stanford University, Tozun has dedicated himself to providing affordable, off-grid clean energy solutions that empower lives and protect the planet. Under his leadership, d.light has positively impacted over 180 million people by delivering solar-powered products—ranging from home systems and lanterns to appliances—that have improved energy...
Kenya News

COP29 Climate Christmas in Azerbaijan

By Ashay Abbhi, Principal, Energy and Climate Change, Intellecap The festival season is upon us again. Shimmering lights, exotic foods, heartfelt greetings, people flying over from all around the world to be with family and friends, gifts and rewards, gala times, great conversations, and promises to do better this year. Like all its previous editions, COP29 guarantees all of this and much more under the presidency of H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate. The annual climate Christmas taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, also aspires to be what every COP before it did – different. But will Climate Christmas really be different this year? In this article, let’s explore the possibility and what it means for Kenya and Africa. Kenya’s contribution in Baku will be more pronounced this y...
Africa Travel, Kenya News

Fairmont The Norfolk Awarded Africa’s Leading City Hotel 2024 at World Travel Awards

Fairmont The Norfolk, an iconic luxury establishment owned by CG Hospitality under the CG Corp Global umbrella, has been honored as Africa’s Leading City Hotel 2024 at the prestigious World Travel Awards. This accolade reinforces the property’s legacy of excellence and its status as a paragon of African hospitality. Fairmont The Norfolk, Kenya - Elma Labuschagne, Cluster Director of Operations   A Legacy of Distinction This esteemed recognition arrives as Fairmont The Norfolk nears its 120th anniversary, celebrating more than a century of exemplary service and luxurious hospitality in Nairobi. Since its inception in 1904, the hotel has maintained its revered position as a distinguished landmark, seamlessly blending timeless colonial elegance with contemporary sophistication. ...
Energy, Interview, Kenya News, Main

Kenya’s Renewable Energy Development Prospects

Exclusive Interview with Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which is one of its one-of-a-kind multilateral organizations established to catalyze global solar growth. Dr. Ajay Mathur reveals the specifics of renewable energy development in Kenya, explains possible prospects, and talks about investment decisions in this area. What investment strategies can Kenya adopt to achieve its ambitious energy goals? Achieving Kenya’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 relative to business-as-usual levels will require a concerted effort to put its energy sector on a low-carbon trajectory, particularly in light of the country’s economic development goal of attaining middle-income status i...
Business, Egypt News, Kenya News, Nigeria News, Startups

Why investment in African healthtech is set for a major decline in 2024

Yomi Kazeem, Engagement Manager at Salient Advisory, and his colleagues explore the alarming trend of declining investments in African healthtech. In 2023, amid a nearly 40% slump in investment across African technology ecosystems, funding for healthtech startups across the continent proved resilient, dropping by only 2% – but that is set to change.   Analysis of funding trends in the first of half of 2024 suggests that a major decline in healthtech investment is on the cards, with African healthtech innovations raising only $24 million – a 69% drop compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from Salient Advisory.  The drop in funding is driven by a decline in both deal count and value: the number of deals is down by 47% in the first half of 2024, and the average ticket size...
Africa Travel, Interview, Kenya News, Main, Startups, Zimbabwe News

The Challenges and Prospects of Passport-Free Travel in Africa Using Biometrics

Willys Mac'Olale , Director of Fragomen Kenya An interview with Willys Mac’Olale, Director of Fragomen Kenya, on the innovative opportunities and barriers in using biometrics, particularly facial recognition, for passport-free travel. African countries must make an innovative leap to reach a new level of development that will improve the lives of people in Africa. What are the main drivers behind the shift to passport less travel and facial recognition in countries like the US, UAE and Europe?   There are a number of reasons for this adoption including; Enhnaced security – The fact that passport less travel typically relies on biometric data which is more secure and harder to forge than traditional passports reduces the risk of identity theft and fraud. Streamlining Tr...
Kenya News, Tech

IDEX Biometrics and Vasmobile launch biometric school ID program in Africa

 Vasmobile Fintelco is launching SkoolID, the African School ID and Smart Payment Card, based on the biometric card platform from IDEX Biometrics. The agreement and first production order represent a value of $1.4 million, with delivery starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. The multi-year agreement sets Vasmobile up to scale across Kenya in 2025 and further expansion into other parts of Africa as of 2026. Today Vasmobile is offering payment card solutions to schools with the support of the M-Pesa payment network. This new school ID will be upgraded to a biometric smart card, incorporating the IDEX biometric technology, including biometric solution, card operating system, and applets developed by Vasmobile. This is a world first use case for biometric smart cards. These cards will secure...
Business, Interview, Kenya News, Main

Problems And Prospects Of Family Businesses: Trusts, ESG, NextGen, And What Is Needed For Success

Interview with Faizal Bhana - Director – Middle East, Africa and India Jersey Finance.  Interview with Faizal Bhana, Director, Middle East, Africa and India, Jersey Finance, delves into the evolving landscape of family businesses and how they navigate the diminishing trust advantage amid rising ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) demands and NextGen aspirations. How has the use of trusts evolved for family businesses over the past decade? Over the past decade, the use of trusts has evolved significantly for family businesses. Increased regulatory scrutiny and transparency demands have led to more structured governance frameworks and a more planned approach. Families are increasingly using trusts to manage succession, mitigate long-term risks and ensure long-term sustaina...
Kenya News, Real Estate

ShafDB signs MOU with CPF Group to scale up development of affordable housing

The agreement seeks to provide a platform for intervention across the affordable housing value chain. Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB), a leading Pan-African institution committed to financing and advancing housing, urban, and related infrastructure development, has signed a Memorandum of Understating (MOU) with CPF Group, aimed at scaling up the development of large-scale affordable housing projects in Kenya. The agreement which is expected to boost Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s mandate of providing decent and affordable housing in Africa, was signed in Nairobi by CPF Group Managing Director, Dr. Hosea Kili, and Shelter Afrique Development Bank Head of Credit and Operations, Mr. Christopher Chege, on behalf of the Managing Director Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann. “As a company,...
Business, Fintech, Kenya News

From vision to reality: How Absa CIB’s new TVC champions human centred relationships

Authors: Clement Motale, CM(SA) Managing Executive:  Marketing and Communications, Absa CIB and James Agin, Managing Executive: Corporate and Investment Banking, Absa Kenya  In the fast-evolving landscape of financial services, distinguishing oneself requires more than just competitive solutions and services. To achieve success, it requires a deep understanding of your clients’ needs, an empathetic approach, and a commitment to their success. This approach underscores Absa Corporate and Investment Banking's (CIB) latest campaign, which showcases not only that “Your story matters” but that Absa CIB is truly "Invested in your story." At Absa CIB, being “Invested in your story” encapsulates more than a slogan; it embodies the philosophy of deep, human-centred partnerships – how we...