Kenya News Archives - Page 5 of 17

MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme set to boost prosperity of African small and medium-sized businesses (SMME)

28Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme set to boost prosperity of African small and medium-sized businesses (SMME)

MultiChoice shortlists 11 start-ups to pitch for international funding and take their small businesses to the next level At a time when unemployment challenges and economic instability are high, small and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) are proving to be the engines of economic growth and job creation throughout the African continent. In recognition of the critical role SMMEs play, MultiChoice launched the MultiChoice Africa Accelerator programme which trained 29 businesses across 9 African countries in key entrepreneurial skills. As the second leg of the programme, a panel of experts has selected 11 of the most promising small businesses and invited them to pitch to prospective international investors in Dubai. “There’s no denying the impact African SMMEs have on job creation and econ...

Fast-Tracking Universal Health Coverage in 2023: It’s time to focus on innovation and knowledge partnerships

18Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Kenya News, Medicine

Fast-Tracking Universal Health Coverage in 2023: It’s time to focus on innovation and knowledge partnerships

by Basil Malaki, Knowledge Transfer Manager for Kenya at Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance Africa As the leading economy in East Africa, it is no surprise that Kenya often ranks top across several developmental indicators. In terms of economic growth, the country has maintained an annual GDP growth rate of 5% with GDP per capita almost doubling in the decade between 2010 (Ksh135,641) to 2021 (Ksh258,252)[1]. At the same time, life expectancy has increased from roughly 51 years in 2000 to about 66 years in 2018[2] with inequality slowly but surely decreasing on the Gini index[3]. Together, these indicators paint a promising picture of a state on the rise, especially when considering the vastly different growth trajectories of its neighbours such as Somalia and South Sudan. But while good pr...

11Feb

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Eritrea News, Kenya News

Highlighting Recent Eritrea-Kenya Engagement

By Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion Earlier this week, President Isaias Afwerki traveled to Kenya to meet with President William Ruto, following up on the latter’s visit to Eritrea late last year. During the two-day working trip to Nairobi, President Isaias, accompanied by a high-level delegation, held extensive talks with his counterpart and other Kenyan government officials. To conclude the trip, the two leaders held a short press conference, and a joint communiqué was signed by FM Osman and Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. While the press briefing and joint communiqué offered numerous significant points, a few interesting ones are highlighted below. Mutual respect The two leaders demonstrated their mutual respect on several occasions. In comme...

It’s time to demystify Intellectual Property in Kenyan innovation

31Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Kenya News, Startups

It’s time to demystify Intellectual Property in Kenyan innovation

by Sheilah Birgen, Country Lead for Kenya at Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance Africa. With a relatively stable macroeconomic environment, sustained investor confidence, and a fast-expanding services sector, Kenya has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and the largest in the East African region by way of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)[1]. To maintain its lead, the Kenyan government is looking to technology and innovation as a strategic driver of new business development, job creation, and socio-economic growth. Considered one of Africa’s ‘Big Four’ innovation ecosystems, Kenya has made good progress in this regard, registering 250% growth year-on-year between 2020 - 2021 in terms of startup funding raised[2]. However, to maximise the impact potential of startups and in...

Blockchain Africa Conference 2023: Gearing African businesses to compete in the global marketplace

31Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, Ghana News, Kenya News, Nigeria News, South Africa News

Blockchain Africa Conference 2023: Gearing African businesses to compete in the global marketplace

The adoption of blockchain technology has gained traction in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana – resulting in more efficient and lower-cost cross-border payments to facilitate African businesses conducting trade abroad1. This shift can be attributed to an increase in global ratification of the technology where approximately 44% of the top 100 public companies2, including tech giant Amazon, Tencent, Nike and MacDonalds. More and more businesses are venturing towards the new technology prompted by the need for increased trust, security, transparency, and traceability of data shared across business networks. Moreover, the most significant appeal of blockchain technology in an African context is that it is both cost-effective and efficient, for which there is a real need and can potential...

Africa Tech Summit 2023 Returns To Nairobi For Fifth Edition In February

6Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, Fintech, Kenya News, Tech

Africa Tech Summit 2023 Returns To Nairobi For Fifth Edition In February

Africa Tech Summit, the leading tech conference focused on connecting businesses and driving investments within Africa’s tech ecosystem, will host its fifth edition on the 15th to 16th of February 2023 at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. “After a sold-out out Summit in 2022, we are excited to welcome back 1000+ tech leaders, investors, and international players in Nairobi for two days. This year’s Africa Tech Summit will feature 150 speakers across two stages, masterclass sessions, an exhibition and multiple networking events to drive business and investment forward,” said Andrew Fassnidge, Director, Africa Tech Summit. With Africa’s tech ecosystem projected to grow from an estimated $115bn to $712bn by 2050 according to Endeavor Nigeria’s recent report, the Summit again connects te...

Accelerating Digital Inclusion and Sustainable Transformation

15Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Events, Fintech, Forex, Kenya News

Accelerating Digital Inclusion and Sustainable Transformation

The 7th Edition Connected Banking Summit - East Africa will be held on the 7th of March in Nairobi, Kenya The Connected Banking Series focuses on building future-oriented banking models by accelerating the pace of digital transformation and delivering a delightful customer experience in line with policy and regulations while ensuring the highest standards of privacy and security. The Summit will host leaders and experts from across the region representing Banks, Insurance Companies, FinTechs and TechFins, Digital and NeoBanks, Non-Banking Financial Organizations, Cooperatives, Investments Funds, and Asset Management Companies to discuss and deliberate on how integrated solutions are shaping the future of banking. The International Center for Strategic alliances (ICSA) is the Organisers ...

Climate change and drought in Northern Kenya

27Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Kenya News

Climate change and drought in Northern Kenya

Onyango Rachael Kenya is among the least contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide but still bears the brunt of climate change. A third consecutive below-average rainfall is negatively affecting food availability and access for women, men, and children in 20 of the 23 arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) counties. According to the National Drought Management Authority’s (NDMA) October 2022 report, 4.35 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance. 942,000 children aged 6-59 months are acutely malnourished and 134,000 cases of pregnant or lactating women are acutely malnourished and need treatment. How did we get here? As far back as November 2021, the Famine Early Warning System Network issued an alert on the imminent drought in the Horn of Africa, should the poor rainfal...

Government Endorses Elimination of Problematic Plastics by the Kenya Plastics Pact

15Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Kenya News

Government Endorses Elimination of Problematic Plastics by the Kenya Plastics Pact

The Kenya Plastics Pact has published a list of problematic and unnecessary plastic items to be eliminated in Kenya. This adds to the already existing Government’s plastic bag ban that came into force in 2017, and the ban on selected single-use plastic items in protected areas since June 2020. The priority list supports a collective plan to meet the target of phasing out problematic and unnecessary plastic items by 2030 and has been endorsed by the Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and thirty-nine Kenya Plastics Pact business members and supporters. The priority list is disaggregated into plastic packaging items, non-packaging plastic items, and additives. The plastic packaging items listed include all polystyrene (PS) packaging, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rigid p...

‘Green affordable power in Africa is a must’ says new Power Up coalition at COP27

8Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Kenya News, Nigeria News, Togo News, Zimbabwe News

‘Green affordable power in Africa is a must’ says new Power Up coalition at COP27

More than 600 million African people go without access to electricity, and more than 900 million are without safe cooking facilities. At the COP27 climate summit now happening in Egypt, Power Up - a new campaign with over 45 member organisations, is amplifying marginalised African voices in pursuit of funding for green affordable energy, particularly for frontline organisations powering up communities most affected by energy poverty to build resilience and upscale adaptation efforts. According to the IEA, bringing access to modern energy for all Africans calls for investment of US$ 25 billion per year, which is around 1% of global energy investment today. Using the hashtag #GreenPowerisaMust, the Power Up campaign is coordinated by Ashden, a charity working with organisations in the gl...