Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT

By Kosta Kioleoglou The signs of the property market slow down have been increasing month after month for the last two years. A year ago I wrote in the August Issue and the KBA house price indexes as well as market reports from international recognized organizations presented a different reality. That the market’s performance did not look so lucrative or promising. Analyzing the actual figures, I wrote, one could get really worried. I also said that from 2015, the market signs were not looking good as a slow uptake and a rising supply of residential buildings pushed prime rents down…

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BY SHADRACK MUYESU When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in a society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it – Frederic Bastiat The philosophy Thanks to its ability to satisfy man’s primary want, which William Hegel first taught to be the need for recognition, liberal democracy has been widely accepted as the pinnacle of human socio- economic intelligence. In his acclaimed treatise, The End of History and the Last Man, Francis Fukuyama has even labeled it the…

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It is well enough that people do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning. – Henry Ford BY ANTONY MUTUNGA Long before the existence of governmental monetary authorities and financial institutions, the people used to save up their valuables by depositing them with the goldsmiths who would then issue them notes. In time, these notes turned into a medium of exchange and people would exchange them for the commodities they needed. As time went by, the goldsmiths who stored the valuables for a storage fee became…

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BY KENYATTA OTIENO Trade, or economics predates organized politics. Kenyans are feeding a monster, a white elephant in the name of politics and resultant leaders. Our political economy does not make any sense. Even before the 12th parliament is sworn in, the elected members are already agitating for a pay rise. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had played a poker by setting new salary guidelines for members of Parliament at the tail end of last Parliament. I like some people in my circles that tell me stuff as they are. I bumped into Paul in town and found myself…

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BY ISAAC SWILA Questions abound as to the likely path Kenya’s foreign policy will take in the next five years after bitterly contested elections that saw President Uhuru Kenyatta get a fresh five-year mandate – subject to the outcome of the petition in the Supreme Court by the main Opposition. Traditionally, Kenya’s foreign policy has slanted towards the West with the USA, UK, Germany, amongst other European powers, being Kenya’s biggest partners. This was the scenario at the dawn of independence, and it continued throughout the 24 years of misrule under retired President Daniel arap Moi. However, under Mwai Kibaki,…

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BY KEVIN MOTAROKI A generally confident mien, image and personality coaches agree, is one of the major ingredients of enigmatic leadership. Because there is never a shortage of critics and naysayers, an optimistic disposition can inspire calmness and confidence during crises, and help generate much-desired solutions, or inspire a dejected public. It is part of the deal of what makes a leader. John A Barnes, in his book, John F. Kennedy on Leadership: The Lessons and Legacy of a President, recalls the desolate state of New York City two decades ago in 1993, when it teetered on the brink of…

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BY VICTOR ADAR As demand for flashy devices continue to rise, Smartphone manufacturers are turning innovative with more and more brands launching mobile phones with impressive features like powerful cameras, stylish finishes, mobile data, large touch screens, and mainly targeting the middle and high-end customers. OPPO is one mobile manufacturer among an array of brands that have become a familiar name in Kenya and beyond, managing to cut through tough competition. In China 2016 was the brand’s milestone year. In terms of shipment, the Chinese firm was the number one Smartphone brand in China with 16.8% market share, and number…

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BY DR KELLEN KIAMBATI Process consultation (PC) is a general framework for carrying out helping relationships. Schein defines process consultation as “the creation of a relationship that permits the client to perceive, understand, and act on the process events that occur in his or her internal and external environment in order to improve the situation as defined by the client.” The process consultant does not offer expert help in the form of solutions to problems, as in the doctor–patient model. Rather, he works to help managers, employees, and groups assess and improve human processes, such as communication, interpersonal relations, decision-making,…

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By Darrel Orsmond The insurance industry is facing its very own Kodak moment. Forty years after the once heart-warming 1970s ad slogan became part of popular culture, it now reminds one more of Kodak’s spectacular failure to act in the face of massive industry-wide disruption than it does to capturing special moments. One of the world’s most dominant market leaders was virtually wiped out because it simply could not adapt to a changing consumer and business environment. Insurance providers across the world are facing increasing pressure of costs, the ability to grow revenues and their contact with customers. Generally, they…

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An analysis of seat capacity for travel to the top ten international airports in Africa reveals that Lagos is seeing substantial declines in both domestic and international capacity mainly because Arik Air is cutting 53% of its seats for the rest of 2017. During the coming five months, August – December 2017, there will be 16% fewer airline seats on domestic routes and 9% fewer on international routes to and from Lagos. Most of the other airports in Africa’s top ten are seeing a healthy growth in capacity, which is more international than it is domestic. However, the most notable…

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