Mr Willy Kimani — the man who built the Naivas brand when he was its Chief Operating Officer for 13 years — left the supermarket chain in December to make his foray into the digital retail market through a new brand, Jaza Home, in which he is one of the founding directors. Having worked for dominant supermarket chains, among them Uchumi and Naivas, Mr Kimani took the risk of branching out into a new retail format based on low cost rather than variety of goods, taking competition to traditional supermarkets for which he was a business leader since he left…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Views on the current Chinese economy vary, and here are three perspectives. China’s economy maintains stable, positive growth momentum. Recently, the positive signs of China’s economy were particularly evident as many indicators showed marginal improvement. Many economists believe that the Chinese economy has posted stable performance based on a firm footing. On the demand side: The year-on-year growth rate of the total retail sales of consumer goods in September was 1.1 percentage points higher than the previous month. Fixed-asset investment rose 3.4 percent in the first three quarters of this year, spurred by vibrant capital influx into high-tech industries. Exports…
Can you identify someone in your circle who disrupts conformity and completely disregards it? These are the kind to keep close to you, lest you die before living. By Brenda Viola Many people keep preaching about how good it is to be predictable. In most cases, society’s perception of what is deemed acceptable, beautiful, creative, and godly among many societal standards, squeezed the life out of my soul. One day, I wondered why mother and her friends would relentlessly remind me of my inevitable path towards marriage. My friends on the other hand, had no objections to this fate. In…
Contrary to widespread concerns that it may replace human jobs, artificial intelligence will create opportunities for new businesses, fostering innovation and skill development of workers both in China and other parts of the world, according to a renowned economist. This process is not intentionally designed to impact the labor market. It is a natural progression, said Thomas Sargent, the 2011 Nobel laureate for economics and professor of economics at New York University. Arguing that software and AI are just tools, Sargent said technological changes will continuously bring forth many new ideas. “For example, before AI emerged, no one knew it…
By Perminus Wainaina Businesses continue to recover from financial challenges they took especially due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, with most private sector players being forced to make tough decisions to continue thriving. The most common issue has been how to effectively manage staff costs during tough times. To avoid making mistakes, here are some of the things a company can do to manage staff costs. Review your staffing levels and pay Look at your current workforce and assess whether you have the correct number of employees to meet your business needs. If you have more than you…
Startups offering battery swapping services in Africa are increasing in number, with pioneers leveraging funding for climate-related ventures — and the impact is being felt most in the two-wheeler sector, according to an industry expert. Ghanaian startup Kofa which specialises in battery network solutions including a robust battery swapping business is one of the latest startups making big moves. According to Disrupt Africa, Kofa which is about to reach 100,000 battery swaps annually, plans to take its battery-swapping solution to Kenya and Togo. “Kofa’s core innovation lies in providing high-performance power through its batteries, which are not only cost-effective –…
Many people do not find much value in coins. This is probably why you will find 5, 10 and 20bob coins full in the beggars’ cups along the streets, with no one attempting to steal from them. It would shock you, for instance, to find out what the county government officer collects at a public toilet in a day. Foreigners in Kenya, however, know the power of the coin and have invented creative ways of tapping it. It is no wonder, therefore, that some Tanzanians have ‘invested’ in their disabled by shipping them into Kenya where they line them on…
A book that details the life of Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhwana is set to be launched on Wednesday in Nairobi, in an event that will be presided over by Prime Cabinet Secretary Mr. Musalia Mudavadi. In the autobiography ‘My Passion for Change’ , Dr.Mukhwana shares a truly honest account of his extra ordinary life that contains unusual mixture of passion, persistence , tolerance and hard work that has impacted many lives across the globe. As the winner of 2009 Norman Borlaug Award in leadership in agriculture, Dr Mukhwana is passionate about creating change for a better as a…
The Nairobi Business Monthly was the first media outlet to call out commercial banks for failing to lower lending rates as directed by the Central Bank. In the last two Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings, the regulator eased the Central Bank Rate, which signals how banks should price loans. However, banks treated these policy directives as mere suggestions and failed to implement the reductions. This week, the regulator has summoned the CEOs of the banks to question them on why they have failed to pass on the benefits to both domestic and business borrowers, who are struggling with a sluggish…
In discussions surrounding energy access in Africa, there is a strong consensus that the current pipeline of gas projects on the continent has reached unprecedented levels of development. To compete in the dynamic global gas market, Africa must leverage its resources to deliver both financial and environmental sustainability to stakeholders. A key solution lies in the deployment of Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) technology, which has the potential to unlock stranded offshore gas resources, accelerate project timelines, and enhance domestic energy security alongside export revenues. This technology simplifies the development of offshore resources, positioning it as a crucial element in…