Category: Business

Khwisero Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka has pledged to establish a Special Administrative Cooperative (SACCO) to provide financial assistance to all Boda Boda operators in the region.

The Legislator said the move is part of his economic empowerment programs for the youth who can approach the institution for loans at lower interests.

‘Once you become a member and save some money for a given period, you can qualify for a soft loan and uplift your financial status by investing,’ he said.

He hosted operators from various markets, including Mulwanda, Ebukwala, Khumailo, Khumutibo, Mundeku, Namasoli, and Khusukuti, to successfully operationalize their dream.

‘Our engagement with boda boda operators is centered on empowering and improving their livelihoods,’ he said.

Speaking in his constituency, Aseka encouraged the operators to be top ambassadors of moral values by monitoring and identifying social ills and timely notifying the relevant authorities.

The MP said the Boda boda operators have played a
major role in the community especially in the transport sector, logistics and local cash flow.

At the same time, Aseka encouraged the operators to focus on educating their children as the only path to combat poverty and reduce unemployment levels.

‘I have outlined my driving objective towards poverty eradication. You must educate your children for the betterment of our future generations,’ he added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

As the world commemorates World literacy day, Narok residents have been challenged to take advantage of the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) to boost their knowledge in their preferred fields.

Librarian in charge of the Narok County library Ms. Anne Katei said the library is well equipped with a variety of materials from all fields of study, but lamented that only a small portion of the residents volunteered to study in the library.

She reiterated that the services at the library are free of charge for children but a monthly subscription of Sh20 is paid by adult learners, who are allowed to carry a maximum of two books to read at the comfort of their homes.

Ms. Katei underscored literacy is not just about reading and writing but a fundamental skill that empowers individuals to participate fully in society, make informed decisions and contribute to personal and societal development.

‘The international literacy day reminds us that literacy is not only a basic human right but also a key driver of pers
onal growth, economic prosperity and social harmony,’ she said,

While noting that this year’s theme is ‘promoting multilingual education; literacy for mutual understanding and peace’, Ms Katei underscored this will help a great deal in building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.

She said promoting literacy does not only build a bright future for individuals but also contributes to the foundation of sustainable and peaceful societies.

On her part, the Narok County Government chief officer in charge of sports, youth affairs and Gender Ms. Pesi Ntari challenged adults who did not have a privilege of joining school to join adult learning centers to get basic education.

‘The adults too need basic education to help them interpret simple instructions like doctor’s prescription and M-pesa messages among others,’ she said.

She continued that having a literacy society empowers the community to explore every opportunity that comes on their way hence spurs growth in the society.

The event was he
ld at the KNLS premises in Narok town where schools that participated in the event received reading materials from Book aid international.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government targets to create five million jobs through the Macro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) in the next three years Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya has revealed.

Mr Oparanya disclosed that currently 15 million Kenyans are employed in the MSME sectors and the government has plans to move the number to 20million in the next three years.

‘The government employs about 1 million civil servants and the big companies in the country has the capacity to employ only 2million people. Our best bet of employment creation is in the MSMEs where currently 15million Kenyans are employed. The president instructed me to ensure that 5million more Kenyans get employed through the sector in the next three years’ Oparanya stated.

The CS who was speaking in Bondo, where he handed over Sh32million Uwezo fund cheque for groups in Siaya county said the government funds like Uwezo, Woman Enterprise,Youth and hustler funds are aimed at creating jobs opportu
nities in the MSME sector contributing to the overall targeted 20 million people employed in the sector.

Oparanya encouraged business groups which have benefited from the government funding to form cooperatives so that they can benefit from bigger loans for expansion from the Kenya Industrial Estates. (KIE)

‘A lot of questions have been asked about groups which have reached the Uwezo funds ceiling of Sh 500,000. I want to encourage them to form companies which can the borrow between one and twenty million shillings from KIE,’ Oparanya explained

The CS added that business entities which successfully pay KIE loans and need more funds for expansion qualify for higher loans of up to Sh500million from the Kenya Development Cooperation (KDC) under the ministry of trade.

‘I don’t want to see people idling saying they have no jobs yet there is a lot of government funds that can be used to spur economic development and create opportunities to earn a living. A beneficiary of the government funds creates employment
opportunities when he hires people to help in the business and also domestic workers to take care of their homes when they are at work.’ The CS said.

Oparanya on that note encourage Mps who are yet to form Uwezo fund committees to do so immediately for the benefit of their constituents saying about 15 constituencies have not yet formed Uwezo committees to do so for more development in their areas.

Cooperatives PS in the state department of MSMEs Hon Susan Meng’eni . who accompanied Mr Oparanya on her part encouraged the timely repayment of the government funds by the business groups to improve individual members credit score.

Mang’eni said the government is currently digitizing registration of all business groups where it will be possible to monitor the performance and credit rating of each individual member.

‘I know that as some group members repay back loans there are others who pull them back.With the ongoing digitization of groups registration we will be able to weed out such members from group’ she s
aid

The Ps on the other hand said the government will soon launch the Hustler Fund National Credit score where individual borrowers will be rated based on their borrowing and repayment habits.

She said that individuals with excellent credit score will not only use the scores to access hustler fund business loans but will also not be required to provide collaterals and security to access loans from financial institutions in the country.

‘Individuals in Siaya county currently owes the hustler funds about Sh700 million. This is a personal loan to benefit people who do not have property or titles they can use to get loans from banks. The good credit ratings for the people who repay back the money is the security they will use to access loans from the banks so repay back the money to improve your credit rating in the soon to be launched hustler fund national credit score’ Mang’eni added.

Area MP Dr Gedion Ochanda who hosted the event asked the cooperatives CS to provide NG-CDF kitty with money for administrati
on of Uwezo Fund saying the current allocation does not have provision for the administration of the funds which is a burden to MPs.

‘There is a law that simply says NG-CDF shall support the administration of Uwezo fund yet there is no allocation for the same.We have to find funds from elsewhere to pay committee members during meetings and Uwezo fund staff making administration of the fund hectic for Mps’ Ochanda said.

Ochanda attributed the exemplary performance in loan repayment to the groups in Bondo constituency joining a SACCO which doubled the money received from Uwezo funds making it possible for them to venture in businesses with hire returns.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The public and all the stakeholders in the education sector have been urged to support, encourage and enroll more adult learners so as to bridge the huge illiteracy gap in the education sector.

Murang’a South Adult and Continuing Education Officer Isaac Macharia has observed that literacy is a matter of dignity, and this agenda has to be advanced for a more literate, peaceful and sustainable society.

He noted that to propagate this agenda the government through the Ministry of Education has set up adult learning education centers all over the c country and societies ought to take advantage of that provision so as to be able to read, write and communicate effectively.

‘Every Kenyan must have the ability to read, write, speak and listen so as to communicate effectively and make sense of the world’ he said noting that,

‘A literate person is able to participate more in development matters of a society and therefore out of school youths should not shy away from enrolling for lessons so that our literacy level
s can go up’

The programs that the adult learners are taken through include Basic literacy, where learners are taught how to read and write in a language of the catchment area, post literacy program, and the adult and continuing education for people who dropped out of school at whatever level whereby they will be enrolled for national exams be it KCPE or KCSE.

Murang’a County currently has 1882 adult learners with 87 registered for the Kenya certificate of secondary education (KCSE) this year.

Further, the county has 23 full time instructors and 73-part time instructors.

‘In Murang’a south sub county, we currently have 315 adult learners in our 19 learning centers and 26 of these have registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary education as private candidates’ noted Macharia

The sub County has also established a learning center in Maranjau prison so as to help prisoners gain literacy skills.

In adult and continuing education, the learners also carry out income generating activities like making det
ergents, making baskets, ropes and other life skills.

Other than literacy, those enrolled in the various adult education classes get to learn income generating skills.

International Literacy Day (ILD) is marked annually on September 8 and this year’s theme is promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.

The theme focuses on the need to harness the transformative potential of literacy for promoting mutual understanding, social cohesion and peace.

Policy makers, practitioners and the public are reminded of the critical importance of literacy for creating more literate just, peaceful and sustainable society.

While the national celebrations shall be marked in Turkana County, the sub county celebrations for the day will be held at Kangari youth Polytechnic in Kigumo Constituency on September 9.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Malaba traders have decried the unhygienic environment on the market place, a condition which has forced them to operate along risky roadside reserves.

Speaking during the launch of Okima CBO group, the traders want the County Government to clean Okima market among other markets in the municipality to enable them operate in a conducive environment.

The traders led by Okima Market CBO chairperson Alice Ekirapa slammed the Malaba municipality for its failure to even create a single washroom to aid traders and long distance traders beside them contributing massively to the economy of the municipality and county at large.

‘Despite majority of traders here at Malaba dealing with fish traders and foodstuff items, the general sanitation of the market, and entire streets of Malaba municipality is wanting,’ said Ekirapa.

The sentiment that was echoed by Susan Karakacha said the market has become filthy due to poor sanitation and lack of ablution blocks, a condition that has led to traders easing themselves on bui
lding walls.

The traders now want the County Government of Busia to ensure a conducive working environment and also to enact a law which protects Kenyan businessmen at the border from the Ugandan counterparts who are now hawking door to door.

‘Let the County Government and Malaba municipality up their game by cleaning this market and supplying us with clean tap water with mobile toilets to save us from shame and impending disease outbreak. We can’t be operating in a non-conducive environment yet we pay taxes like other Kenyans,’ said Karakacha.

Busia County Assembly Environment committee member Hon. Mary Odongo agreed with traders, noting that the committee had visited the market and recommended for immediate upgrade.

According to Odongo, the cleanliness of the market should be addressed immediately by the municipality by collecting the accumulating garbage and providing water to traders amid the fear of an MPox outbreak.

Okima market which houses over 200 food vendors is plagued by unpleasant odor and p
ersistent flies emanating from uncollected garbage yet the municipality of Malaba receives a budget of Sh80 million and a similar amount from World Bank.

Either the traders and bodaboda operators jointly decried over unhealthy competition from Uganda with an influx of food items rendering Kenyan traders’ redundancy or leaving them counting loses from their unsold food.

Bungoma Deputy Governor who graced the occasion Jenipher Batiani urged members to remain focused on the primary mandate of the CBO for its success.

DG Batiani urged the County Government of Busia to move with speed and address the plight of traders who play a vital role in the economic growth of the border town.

‘Malaba cross border traders play a vital role in linking up traders and farmers. They have placed Kenyan names on the global market and hence should be treated with a lot of care,’ the DG said.

‘We must protect Kenyan businessmen from unlicensed hawkers who have occupied the entire place including estates. They are selling meat wi
thout the requisite licenses and they pay little attention to hygiene, yet our traders are busy at designated market places.’ She added.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The second regional Africa summit on human resource has kicked off at the Diamonds Leisure Beach and Golf Resort in Kwale bringing together over 200 stakeholders.

The summit organized by financial services provider Zamara group reinforced the continent’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

The AfCFTA agreement represents a major opportunity for countries to boost growth, reduce poverty and broaden economic inclusion.

Human Resource Summit attracted senior HR decision makers and budget holders looking to discover the latest HR solutions in order to aid business opportunities.

Themed, Afrocentricity, curating solutions for Talent and workspaces in Africa, the conference highlighted several challenges, including skills mismatches, a lack of inclusive workplaces, and technological disruptions that can hinder effective talent management whilst also emphasizing on addressing these challenges to aid in unlocking the immense opportunities for innovation and growth across the
continent.

Keynote speakers at the conference called on public and private organizations to prioritize value creation for a boundless workforce in Africa.

Zamara group Chief Executive Officer Sundeep Raichura has challenged organizations to rethink their approaches towards talent management amidst the changing dynamics of the workforce.

Raichura reiterated the significance of the summit’s theme, describing it as both timely and crucial.

He says the summit provides a unique opportunity to gain insights from top HR leaders and network with professionals across the continent.

‘As we navigate the complexities of an ever-changing global landscape, the role of HR in shaping the future of work has never been more critical. We are at a pivotal moment where the decisions we make today will determine the success of our organizations and continent in the years to come,’ he stated.

He further stated: ‘Our continent’s abundant resources and human capital uniquely position us on the global stage. It’s time to harness
these strengths and turn them into tangible economic and social progress.

The Zamara Group CEO said the regional HR summit brings together HR leaders, industry experts, and policymakers from across the region to discuss strategies and solutions that will shape the future of work in Africa.

He says this year’s theme aims to inspire HR professionals to take proactive steps in building resilient, innovative, and efficient organizations.

Raymond Muthama, Chief People and Culture Officer at Zamara challenged employers to focus more on providing value to their talent and skills pool as a means of retaining talent.

‘If you provide a platform for meaningful work in your organizations, your talent pool will remain but if you do not give them the opportunity to grow within the organization and to express themselves and be themselves, they will leave you,’ said Muthama.

Muthama urged employers to invest in their employees to adapt to skills set to match the changing job landscape in this digital era.

He emphasized
on the significance of understanding the needs of each generation in a bid to provide talent into the workspace.

He further noted that Africa must be at the forefront of curating solutions for talent and workspaces in Africa, as 60% of the available global labor force is in the African Continent.

Muthama says this perspective comes at a critical time when businesses across Africa are grappling with high turnover rates and a workforce increasingly seeking purpose and growth in their careers unlike in previous generations, where individuals stayed with one organization throughout their career life.

He says this shift in mindset is particularly crucial in the modern workforce where the average age of employees is between 30-35 for most organizations, depending on the industry with an employee tenure that averages only three years.

Muthama says in a rapidly changing digital workplace where IT resources are limited it is critical for employees to be empowered to embrace Artificial Intelligence.

Emily Mburu Nd
oria, Director for Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights at AfCFTA, stated that human resource plays a critical role in driving organizational innovation and efficiency, highlighting the importance of AfCFTA in providing the regulatory framework necessary to facilitate talent and labour migration across the region.

She further emphasized HR’s role in driving innovation and efficiency within organizations and noting that HR professionals play a crucial role in driving organizational change and innovations in the face of technological advancements.

‘AfCFTA is spearheading the development of mutual recognition across the continent and helping in developing regulatory frameworks and agreements to enable the boundless movement of talent from one country to another,’ she noted.

Emily stated that tariff barriers at border points have continued to deal a big blow to the realization of free trade within the African continent and wants countries that have ratified AfCTA agreements to deal with
it.

She also called for the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to facilitate trade, noting that countries are witnessing the resurgence of non-tariff barriers in virtually all partner states.

She says non-tariff barriers are trade barriers that restrict imports or exports of goods or services through mechanisms other than the simple imposition of tariffs.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kisumu port has come out of the doldrums to register a 51.5% growth defying a regional economic crunch which has taken a hit on businesses.

According to the 2024 half year performance report released by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the port recorded 125, 503 metric tons as compared to 60, 910 tons during the same period last year representing a growth of 64,592 tons.

The commodity realized during the period comprised automotive gas oil destined for Uganda (26,186.9 tons), ceramic tiles (3, 603.8 tons), steel billets (3, 217.5 tons) and bagged fertilizer (1,367.0 tons).

Gate activity according to the report has also increased with the port realizing a total of 1,126 trucks during the period under review.

Vessel calls to the port have also increased with the facility projected to break performance record by surpassing 200,000 metric tons in total cargo throughput.

The port posted 116 calls in July this year representing an increase of 63 calls as compared to the same period last year.

The vessels registe
red during the period under review include MV Uhuru, MT Kabaka Mutebi II, MV Munanka, MV Orion II, MV Mango Tree. and Orion III which have made 3, 9, 1, 6, 1 and 2 calls respectively.

MV Uhuru which was revived in 2019 after being grounded for over a decade has capacity of loading 22 wagons and currently ferries steel billets weighing 804.5 tonnes destined for Jinja, Uganda.

The first ship assembled in Kenya, MV Uhuru II is expected to make her maiden voyage soon further strengthening the port’s capacity to handle more cargo.

With a capacity of 1, 800 tonnes (both petroleum and bulk dry cargo), the vessel which has modern engines and cruising speed of 14 knots will be instrumental in evacuating fuel from the Kisumu oil jetty to Port Bell and Jinja ports in Uganda.

In the month of July 2024, the port received three trains pulling 46 wagons loaded with 27340 bags of fertilizer.

The port which is supported heavily by rail siding operations is projected to witness a beehive of activities given the increased
number of trains delivering cargo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Government of Kenya has held a sensitization workshop on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) which aimed to provide an operational framework for implementing the landmark agreement between Kenya and the EU.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Investments, Trade and Industry Salim Mvurya inaugurated the Sensitization Workshop at Strathmore University alongside the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, the CS said that after several years of working towards delivering a permanent agreement between Kenya and the EU, the government has managed to sign and ratify the agreement which was done on December 18, 2023 and is finally ready to proceed with the implementation phase.

‘This economic partnership agreement is now effective, in its implementation starting July 1st 2024,’ he affirmed, adding that the formidable partnership will provide sustainable trade opportunities, offering immense potential to Kenyan exporte
rs in a market worth 13 trillion Euros.

The CS highlighted that the agreement will expand supply relations, facilitate duty free and quota -free access to EU markets and enhance investment opportunities not only for Kenya but also for the rest of Africa.

‘As part of the implementation, a sensitization meeting for the private sector, civil society for the exporters and other stakeholders is key so that we can lay-down the institutional framework to ensure successful implementation of the Agreement to all stakeholders,’ explained Mvurya.

He maintained that the Government of Kenya is committed to working closely with the private sectors to identify market opportunities, finance trade, and add value to Kenyan products to ensure their sustainability and standards as they enter the 27 European countries.

‘Basically this union will provide the necessary support needed and to market the implementation of the agreement which opens new access to markets in 27 countries in Europe and therefore we want to sensitize t
he private sector and all stakeholders that know our products to find new markets in Europe,’ reported the CS.

Further, he called upon the EU to collaborate with Kenya in negotiating a trade in service protocol, which would give Kenyan professionals access to a broader market niche and once reviewed, engineers, doctor’s nurses’ technicians among others and many other services will equally enjoy a bigger and free market for services between Europe and Kenya.

The CS also encouraged Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in both the public and private sector to seize the opportunities presented by the agreement by supplying high-value, premium manufactured products to global markets.

Making her remarks, the European Union (EU) Ambassador Henriette Geiger lauded the significant strides made towards operationalization of the agreement, calling for enhanced inclusive familiarization countrywide, terming that the agreement will provide larger secure markets, support regional integration, foster industrializa
tion, promote shared values and provide easier trade facilitation.

‘You have free access to the biggest and most prosperous common market in the world, but it is just a tool being placed in a position between the European Union and the Kenyan Government, ‘she proclaimed, adding that it is upon the economic operators to fill the position and create the job opportunities.

She echoed Mvurya’s sentiments that both partners have the ambition of creating green economies both in Kenya and the EU and get into the green space that is sustainable.

Further, Geiger encouraged young people to bring creative talents with ideas that create jobs, businesses, and new opportunities.

Meanwhile, the predictability of market access would enhance sustainable investment relations as the government leverages to open more economic sectors within the EU.

Consequently, the blend of expertise between Kenya and Europe will promote the manufacturing sector, capitalizing on opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (
AfCFTA).

Source: Kenya News Agency

Hundreds of traders who operate at Gikoe town in Mathioya sub county, Murang’a are in high hopes as the national government embarks on the construction of a modern market.

The Sh54 million market is earmarked to accommodate 204 traders, a social hall and ICT hub among other amenities.

The clerk of works Johnna Mwita said the construction of the one storey modern market will be complete by mid-November this year.

‘Construction of this market commenced in May this year and is expected to be complete by November. Currently the building is at 43 percent complete.’ Said Mwita.

He continued ‘the ground floor will host 124 traders and will consist of dry rooms for those who deal with cereals and cold rooms for vegetables. Also, on the same floor there will be a playground for children and mothers’ room for lactation.’

Mwita added that the first floor will host 80 traders saying there will also be an ICT hub with a capacity of 20 people and a social hall that can accommodate 60 people. ‘There will also be an ea
tery on the same floor.’ He stated.

He said on a daily basis, the project has employed about 25 workers both skilled and unskilled saying the workers have been sourced locally.

Chairman of Gikoe market Naftali Kimani Toro lauded the government for sponsoring construction of the modern market.

For many years, Kimani revealed local traders have been subjected to myriads of challenges ranging from bad weather conditions to dirty working environments.

‘Traders have been working along roads exposing them to risk of being hit by motor vehicles. During rains, they are forced to use makeshift structures which could not adequately protect them from downpour.’ Explained Kimani.

He noted that once completed, the facility will boost economic activities of the trading centre located along busy Murang’a – Kiriaini road.

‘With the new market, we expect the economy of this town to grow. Scores of people will get jobs directly and indirectly. Apart from those selling their merchandise, people in the transport sector wil
l also benefit.’ Reminisces the chairman.

The ICT hub, Kimani added, will provide opportunities for youth from the area to train on digital skills and provide a platform for those engaged in online jobs.

One of the traders, Mercy Wanjiru said lack of modern markets have led them to incur losses especially during rain seasons.

‘Rains usually destroy our merchandise. Working on muddy grounds has also affected our businesses as customers’ shy away from buying vegetables among other produce which are dirty.’ Observed Wanjiru.

She lauded the government for the project asking those in charge of the facility to make sure traders who have been working in the town are given priority when allocating stalls of the new building.

‘Traders who operate in the current open-air market are well known. We don’t want to see people being brought from other areas to take up stalls leaving the right beneficiaries out.’ She remarked.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that a nation’s progress is driven by young entrepreneurs who grow their businesses from small ventures into large enterprises.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency