Manchester Airport has secured a landmark route into the heart of Africa, underlining its pivotal role in connecting the North to the world’s most important markets. Ethiopian Airlines last month confirmed it will operate a four-times-a-week service to Addis Ababa, the East African nation’s capital. The route will unlock connections to more than 58 countries across the African continent. Ethiopian, which flies to more destinations in Africa than any other carrier, will operate the ultramodern B-787 on the route with business and economy classes. It will serve as a key trade route for Northern businesses, opening up fresh export opportunities…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
BY JOSEPHINE WAWIRA More than often we shelve our travel plans due to the idea of how many expenses we must put up with. From booking ‘expensive’ flights to staying at ‘unaffordable’ hotels and having to deal with unanticipated outlays is absolutely something we need to cushion by making smart money moves. How long have you been stalling that hike to the enthralling Mt Longonot? Or a chilled beach holiday in Diani? Or perhaps a road trip across Africa? But every time you look at your bank account balance the comeback is RIP TRAVELING! The question you must be asking…
Christ is the Answer Ministry (CITAM) – formerly Nairobi Pentecostal Church – has launched services on YouTube and its website to draw Generation Z into its congregation, as an age group that now makes up 46 % of the country’s population, but which is not attending church. The new CITAM church online service is already reaching over 1,200 YouTube subscribers, with 157 motivational and biblical videos posted by CITAM’s bishop, pastors, reverends, and guest speakers that have achieved over 70,205 views in under 3 months – thanks to the church’s new MPLS-based Wide Area Network, installed by Liquid Telecom Kenya…
Royal Media services managing director, Wachira Waruru has been elected the new chairman of the Media Owners Association (MOA), taking over from Dr Hanningtone Gaya of Media 7 Magazine. Dr Gaya had served from 2015. Mr Waruru who has been at the Royal Media services since 2005 has the expertise, knowledge and experience in the media sector to lead the association on the right path. Prior to joining the Royal Media services, he held the position of managing editor at the Kenya Film Commission and before that he also held a similar position at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation for 3years.…
Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV), which is an independent subsidiary of Kenya Climate Innovation Center, has invested $350,000 (Sh35 million) in Sistema.bio, to deliver sustainable renewable energy and agricultural solutions to farmers in Kenya. The investment by KCV, which is also a World Bank fund, is to be pumped into a hybrid reactor biodigester that transforms the manure of animals into biogas and a potent, natural fertilizer. According to Raymond Chepkwony, Sistema.bio country manager, the convertible debt instrument is expected to help accelerate Sistema.bio’s expansion and growth of the existing market in the country thus ensuring residents in rural areas gain…
BY VICTOR ADAR While many enterprising individuals would find it peculiar starting businesses in areas where a big number lack the purchasing power, three young people are seeing a lucrative venture. Just ordinary young graduates, Boaz Onyango 28, Vivianne Atieno 24 and Samuel Muthui 29, have their sights set on big things currently trying to woo people living in Soweto Slum in Kahawa West into a more sustainable lifestyle. What gets them ahead is love for what they do that has now birthed Umbrella of Homes for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (UHOVC), a charitable outfit that started in early 2017…
Takaful Insurance of Africa (TIA) recently celebrated its customers at its branches across the country through an initiative dubbed “Customer Appreciation Awards week” that saw the insurer’s most loyal customers and best supporters since 2011 including Transnep insurance brokers, First Community Bank and Towfiq Kenya feted. Speaking during the function that took place at Sarova Panafric in May, Hassan Bashir, the insurer’s chief executive officer expressed confidence that their model is all about customers, and that the company provides a wide range of risk management and financial security services thanks to its Sharia compliant products which are tailor-made to serve…
The total number of mobile SIMs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is forecasted, according to Dataxis latest research, to exceed 1 billion by 2023, from around 800 million in 2017. This growth follows the steady increase observed in the SSA mobile market for many years and will mainly be driven by the internet enabled SIMs. Among them, 3G and 4G subscribers are anticipated to jump from 35% of the total mobile subscribers in 2017 to 57% in 2023. Even though 3G is projected to remain the principal technology enabling mobile internet access, 4G’s share will increase to reach almost 40% of…
The Capital Market Authority has given the Nairobi Securities Exchange an approval that allows it to undertake a pilot phase test for the derivatives market within the next six months. This came after the CMA was satisfied that the NSE had fulfilled all the requirements in respect to the derivative markets regulations. According to the NSE, a derivative is a financial instrument between two parties based upon the assets. Its price is determined by fluctuations in the underlying asset (which includes stocks and market indexes). However, derivatives are usually used for commodities such as oil, gasoline, or gold. The pilot…
BY COLIN BEANEY In many parts of the world, smart meter installations have been around for some time, and in some countries, second or third generation devices are now being fitted. According to Metering and Smart Energy International, over the next five years, emerging markets alone will deploy nearly 250 million meters, representing an investment of almost $35 billion. When you factor in countries like Germany, which has only really just started a program, and the UK where the expectation is a minimum of one million meters needing to be installed per month to meet the 2020 target, you do wonder…