BY ANTONY MUTUNGA During this digital era one gadget has become very important to the point that some consider it a necessity. This gadget is none other than the smartphone. Ever since it was introduced to the world, it has brought about a plethora of changes in and around the lives of people. The arrival of social networks, the development of apps, the introduction of better cameras and even the evolution of mobile internet are all factors that have changed our habits. It is difficult for people to remember the days before the smartphone, as nowadays almost everyone can’t go…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
BY VICTOR ADAR The dark memories of coffee farming are still fresh on Zipporah Gatiti’s mind. Growing up, she witnessed her grand mum work hard harvesting coffee berries. But few years down the line it turned out that there was little to smile about as her granny abandoned the cash crop to venture into banana. There was no money in coffee and the payments were always delayed. In her view, coffee is a highly profitable product, however the farmers in Kenya don’t realise this because they only sell green coffee as an export commodity. She argues that newer market options should…
Located in East Africa, Tanzania is one of the largest countries in Africa with an area of 947,303 SQKM and the second highest population in Eastern Africa, with a current population of 56.9m, after Ethiopia, which has a population of 102.4m. In comparison, Kenya has a population of 48.5m. The population has been growing at a five-year CAGR of 3.1%, compared to the global average of 1.2% p.a. It also has a relatively high urban population of 32.3% compared to Kenya’s 26.5%, Rwanda’s 29.8% and Uganda’s 18.0%, with an urbanization rate of 5.3% p.a compared to the global average of…
BY KOSTA KIOLEOGLOU Globally, one of the most lucrative and preferred modes of investment is real estate. People buy properties for different reasons, but what they all have in common is that they want to make a good purchase that will give positive returns on short, medium or long-term. When you are looking to purchase or sell real estate, you will hear the terms sellers’ market and buyers’ market. It is vital to understand what these terms mean and how each market impacts you as a buyer or seller. In this article, I will try to provide a simple and…
By Antony Mutunga We currently living in a digital era that has completely changed the way we perceive things. Unlike in the past where for example, owning a car was perceived as moving up in the world, things have now changed. Emerging technologies and social media have completely taken the world by storm not only changing our perception but also reshaping our industries and economy, as we know them. Some companies have taken the opportunity to integrate these innovative technologies in their operations, which in turn has led to a change in industries in a disruptive way. Airbnb, for instance…
BY DAVID WANJALA A combination of factors including strong domestic private consumption, public investment in infrastructure, growth in light manufacturing, and agriculture are tipped to propel East Africa’s GDP growth, as per the Eastern Africa Economic Outlook 2018 by the African Development Bank (AFDB). According to the report launched last month in Nairobi, average real GDP for the region in 2017 grew at an estimated 5.9%, but with considered country variations with Ethiopia leading the pack growing at above 8%. However, countries embroiled in civil conflict and insecurity, especially Burundi and South Sudan grew much more slowly. Speaking during the launch…
BY CAVIN ODHIAMBO Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria is rooting for a new Bill, which, if enacted, will legalise hawking and street vending. The 2018 Hawkers and Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihoods) Bill is aimed at providing a legal framework for recognition, protection and regulation of hawkers and street vendors in all counties as primary pillars of economic and social development by putting in place an identification mechanism and minimum standards of operation. The Hawker menace is not a new thing. It traces its roots back to World War II and Kenya’s State of Emergency. In her 2007 essay published in…
BY KENYATTA OTIENO On February 26 2018, soft drink giant Coca Cola in conjunction with FIFA brought the 6Kg pure gold trophy to Kenya as part of its 53-nation world tour. It is the third time the trophy came to Kenya having been here in 2010 and 2013. It is encouraging that FIFA has been choosing Kenya to host the trophy. The big question however is the capacity of Kenya to exploit the opportunity that comes with the hosting the trophy. President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted the trophy at state house after a group of media personalities had accompanied it from…
BY VICTOR ADAR It is a tough job to start an investment club, and turning one into a fully-fledged company that now employs 70 people is even tougher as Dan Awendo, managing director of Home Afrika is proving it. It requires a bigger scope of thinking since resources are usually not enough at the initial stages but one must start from somewhere. With rising need for start up capital some ten years ago, the real estate player won the initial battle but ended up with a much larger group of contributing founders. Before steadily growing over the last five years…
BY DAVID ONJILI Joseph Pep Guadiola’s playing and coaching careers are a catalogue of success and I accept as true that he offers priceless lessons in both leadership and management that business leaders can copy. With business leaders and employers seeking ways to make the most on the productivity of their employees, a lot has been said and written on the matter of how employers can handle millennials. How to get the best out of your staff… Yet, football and one man, the current Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola seem to be or have been rewriting the script on how…