BY BENARD AYIEKO Kenya has a robust financial sector in Africa. In fact, last year the World Bank Country Director for Kenya Mr. Diariétou Gaye said that Kenya has the third largest financial sector in sub-Saharan Africa that makes a significant contribution to economic growth and job creation. To acknowledge efforts being put in place to make the financial sector flourish, the World Bank Group approved a $37million in form of International Development Association credit to strengthen the legal, regulatory and institutional environment of Kenya’s financial sector. Main players in Kenya’s financial sector are the commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions,…
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BY BENARD AYIEKO Much has been said about Kenya’s relationship with the West and the East. More often than not the discussions around the two cardinal points of the compass have generated antagonistic discourse that have pointed to the relationship between Kenya and Asia – predominantly with China vis-à-vis that of Kenya and her traditional partners in Europe and Upper America. As a country, we enjoy good relationship with both the West and East. This is the kind of a relationship that a country needs for sustainable growth and development especially in this era of economic diplomacy, which deals with…
BY BENARD AYIEKO During the visit to Kenya by the first sitting U.S President in July last year, Barack Obama did not mince his words on the ‘role of women in economic development’ while addressing Kenyans at the Kasarani indoor arena. President Obama said that “the role of women in entrepreneurship cannot be downplayed…leaving women out of the entrepreneurial journey is like having a team but half of the team members are not allowed to play…” His conclusion is crystal clear – any nation that fails to educate girls is doomed to lag behind in the global economy. Education is…
Kimisitu Sacco, which was formed in March 1985 by a group of Staff from International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, has rewarded its members with a dividend of 40% on share capital for the financial year ended 2015, which is among the highest dividend payout in the Sacco sub-sector in Kenya this year. In addition to the stellar financial performance last year, the Sacco celebrated 30 years of service delivery to its members too. Over the years, the Sacco has grown tremendously in membership, loans and deposits. Kimisitu Sacco understands the pivotal role that Saccos play in creating employment opportunities,…
BY PETER WANYONYI March to April is a nervous time in Kenya, and this has nothing to do with our geographical vulnerability to weather events – floods and droughts at opposite ends of the country – at about this time. This period is when high school students who sat their examinations the previous year receive their results. It is a bitter-sweet time: Kenya is, like many developing countries, a brutally competitive crucible, one in which it is all too easy for people to fall through the cracks of the fabric of society – particularly if those people are not well-connected.…
By David Matende When schools break this month for the first time holidays, about quarter of the learners will remain in school for a little longer for drilling sessions called “tuition”. These are mostly those who will sit the KCPE and KSCE exams late in the year. Never mind that officially, holiday tuition is banned. In an education setting obsessed with “As”, teachers leave nothing to chance in the quest for coveted grade. While drilling is the most preferred method, a few of them don’t mind cheating. And if parents are willing to pay for it, so be it. In…
BY DAVID WANJALA There has been calmness in the education sector ever since the level headed, but passionate Dr Fred Matiang’i was transferred to the docket from ICT in November last year to replace the combative and, sometimes cocky, Prof Jacob Kaimenyi who had fallen out of favour with all sector stakeholders. Even the abrasive Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), which had not agreed with any policy or directive for the entire period of Prof Kaimenyi’s three-year term, have exuded confidence and hope that it may be turn around period for the crucial sector in any society’s economy. True,…
BY KENYATTA OTIENO Have you ever handed in your resignation and the management called you and tabled a counter offer, an enticing better package? This happens a lot in organizations where a very important member of the team operates under the corporate politics for a long time that the system forgets he even exists. The management wakes up when he hands in a resignation letter. The crucial role he handles in the team now comes into the spotlight, but it is always too late. Welcome to the world of defensive or holding midfielders in the world of football. When analysts…
BY NABEEL HASSANALI The Myth Numerous times we hear life, business and / or executive coaches speak about maintaining Work-Life Balance. I often ask myself, “What is this balance? Can a balance be struck between two critical spheres of our lives?” For many years, I used to lament, “There is no work life balance because work is life and life is work for entrepreneurs.” Work–life balance is a concept that advocates to prioritize between “work” (career and ambition) and “lifestyle” (health, leisure, family / friends and spirituality). Term it work-life balance, coexistence, or healthy living, but balancing responsibilities can be…
By Terry Mwangi If you are blessed enough to still have your grandparents around or you have beautiful memories of them, you know that these are the most wonderful people in our lives. The comfort of their home, their advice, their sense of humour and food is just amazing even as is priceless. What about their sense of style? Ok, I am pretty sure that their current style cannot tickle your fancy but have you ever tried going through their old clothes? This is like going through a never-ending treasure of vintage prints, feminine lace and pussycat bows. If styled right,…