Technology organizations call it “leapfrogging” – when a country or region skips an entire generation of technology to become a world-leader. And so it has been with Africa and telecommunications. Landlines are rare as just 2% of African homes have one, yet mobile penetration is among the highest in the world in many markets. In Egypt and South Africa, mobile phone penetration tops 100%; Nigeria and Algeria are above 90%. Interestingly, the rapid adoption of mobile has allowed the continent to achieve another “leapfrog” manoeuvre, this time in banking. The launch of Safaricom’s Mpesa mobile money transfer service in 2007…
Author: Editor
The Global Management Challenge (GMC) Kenya has announced the Kenyan teams that have made it to the second stage of the Challenge. These teams will have the chance to compete for a place to represent Kenya at the GMC international finals. The GMC is a global business management competition, which gives teams the task of creating high performing companies to generate maximum return for their investments using an online simulator. Each team receives their company history and management reports detailing company performance for the last five quarters, which they use to outline a corporate strategy. The challenge consists of four…
British Airways and Safaricom have partnered to launch an initiative that will provide international exposure for five business owners in Kenya’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. The Emerging Enterprises Initiative aims at giving SME’s a boost by offering them access to international markets or a chance to source their supplies from source markets, at the most affordable and competitive rates. The initiative will see British Airways invite SME owners to submit a business proposal detailing how their businesses would benefit from a trip to any of the 114 destinations where the airline flies to around the world. The applications…
Africa Brand Index, a listing of the most successful brands in Africa on social media has once again recognized Airtel Kenya for these efforts as a top brand on social media customer care service. It has been listed as the second-best telecommunication brand on social media in Africa based on its growth and response rate on the overall rankings and is positioned seventh globally. Vodacom South Africa is the top telecommunications brand in the continent while SuperSport is the leading brand on social media globally. The Africa Brand Index is a listing of the top brands on social media, measured…
A section of Parker Randall Eastern Africa staff with Parker Randall International President Mr. Jason Parker (seated) during his visit to Nairobi in September. Parker Randall Eastern Africa, a provider of assurance / audit (statutory, forensic and project audits), taxation and advisory services was delighted to win the “Parker Randall International Rising Firm of the Year Award” at the just concluded Parker Randall International’s AGM held in October in London, United Kingdom. The coveted crown is awarded to an ambitious firm with outstanding level of growth, innovative approach to solutions for clients and quality service delivery. Of all the firms…
“Sport has become a world language, a common denominator that breaks down all the walls, all the barriers. It is a worldwide industry whose practices can have widespread impact. Most of all, it is a powerful tool for progress and for development.” – Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General during his address on the occasion of the ‘Second International Forum on Sport, Peace and Development’ in Geneva in May 2011. The UN Secretary General emphasis on the role of sports in fostering economic growth and development cannot be gainsaid. I am writing this piece at a time when the country…
By David Onjili National team, Harambee Stars coach has finally settled in his role, it is easy to allow poor management shroud our judgment of his performance. Yet, as a nation we must take stock and know whether the national team is moving forward or backward. This article is written bearing at times he has had to assemble players for 2-3 days before a major match, I will try as much as possible to focus on what he does and how he manages games as that will give us bearing to his pedigree. Harambee Stars have played several competitive games…
By Lanji Ouko Six years ago the Kenyan market was swamped with a range of ointment & cream companies with products ranging from “super hips & curves creams” to “busty breasts creams” and others promising women an unrealistic extent of beauty and body changes. Considering the cost of cosmetic surgery, the creams were obviously an alluring body modifying choice for many women. Allegedly, the ingredients in these creams arouse estrogen hormones by using “naturally developing” herbs, and other chemicals. The creams served their time, but after a series of side effects, they later paved way to what was believed to…
By Tom Odhiambo Newspaper’s business pages editors, economist professors, financial investors and advisors, even politicians tend to use the phrase ‘the market’ as if their audiences know what it means. Is it a physical place? Definitely not. Is it a virtual space? Probably. In economics 101 they teach rookie economists a hypothesis that claims that there is some reality out there called ‘efficient market.’ This theory suggests that there are conditions in the market – whatever the market is – when the supply and the demand for those goods will be sorted out by the market. It is a mystery,…
By Kosta Kioleoglou When it comes to the talk about property market in Kenya, the most popular fact used is the housing deficit that currently stands at 200,000 housing units annually. This is the magic number used from real estate professionals in expressing the need for more new developments in the country. Investors trying to support the market’s sustainability using the rule of demand and supply use the same figure. It is the figure misleading the average investor into false decisions. There is definitely a housing deficit in the country. I believe it is much bigger than the above-mentioned number.…