The Anti-Counterfeit Agency is planning to go big on consumer education and installation of punitive penalties on infringement of intellectual property laws as it destroys fake goods worth Ksh. 24 million. The state agency tasked to fight trade in counterfeits has today announced it will soon begin interrogations on how best to address the changing face of counterfeiting in the market. ACA Executive Director, Elema Halake said the agency’s biggest concern when it comes to fighting this form of illicit trade should go beyond the protection of industries and manufacturers – to the protection of human life and safety. “We…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
The award- winning Africa Plantation Capital – one of the APC Group’s associated companies – has now expanded its operations in Kenya with the acquisition of one more large piece of land for the creation of Phase 2 of its high value bamboo plantation operations. From inception, it has been the Group’s policy to invest in research and development, and examine the latest technologies in order to create new products and markets. In line with this policy, Africa Plantation Capital, together with KEFRI, is now ready to start a pilot programme to study the possibility of growing agarwood in the…
Every five years, we go to the polls to decide whom we think should lead our country. In the past, elections have been bad for the country, as they have led to economic slowdowns that have stayed for months afterwards. For example, in 2007-2008, the post-election violence saw the Kenya’s economic growth come to a crawl. Often times, elections create uncertainty in the market, which is never a good condition for the economy. Markets hate nothing more than uncertainty as it causes investors to adopt a stance of “wait and see”. Not knowing what the elections will bring, investors tend…
BY TERRY MWANGI If the thought of vintage clothes gives you visions of a seated grandma knitting, you need to loosen up a little. Vintage is beautiful and timeless. It comes with a hint of permanence, class, and another wearer. Here are the reasons why you should invest your hard earned cash on vintage. Unmatched Quality There is no comparison between today’s fashion and vintage. Vintage clothes were created with heightened attention, which included more handwork, better fabrics and maximum focus on detail, including generous hems and exquisitely crafted buttons. Uniqueness They don’t make things like they used to! Vintage…
BY TOM ODHIAMBO Every now and then I meet someone trying to sell me retirement insurance. I often feign ignorance about the supposed need to ‘secure’ my future. The young man or woman – the salesmen are generally young – would advise me about the vagaries of life, warning me, “You don’t know what could happen to you when you retire; you may fall sick; you may have no one to rely on for upkeep; you may end up poor, etc.” Of course I know something about saving today for tomorrow. I studied economics at high school and university. And…
BY NBM WRITER A globally acclaimed investment economist is optimistic that Kenya’s economy will rebound soon after the elections. Sanlam Group Investment economist, Mr Arthur Kamp, in an analytical presentation noted that the Kenyan and regional economies are exhibiting resilience ahead of the general elections with clear signs of a swift take-off post August. “Assuming certain conditions, this should hopefully be a good time to make your capital markets and related structured investments as the market is seemingly on an artificial lull, ahead of the General Election,” Kamp said. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Economic Survey 2017, Kenya’s Gross…
BY LUKE MULUNDA Take a moment, if you like, and observe the next presidential political rally. Chances are you will see lots of hopeful people and hear loud propaganda and enticing campaign pledges. Take a keener look and you will identify the presence of money almost everywhere – from body wear, campaign paraphernalia, entertainment to the unseen logistical works. Elections are about financial might as much as political power. Every serious political party often has a financial war chest to fund its operations and campaign. In Kenya, 2017 is no exception. With a General Election billed to be decisive for…
BY DAVID ONJILI “Ithought I would like Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but now I am fully against it. Love a cheeky offside goal now and then because it can add some controversy to a dull game,” said Jacob Oliver, a football fan commenting just after video technology was used at the Confederations Cup in Russia last month. These sentiments have been shared by football lovers world over who feel the introduction of video analysis to aid determine officials’ decisions will kill the spontaneity of the game. There has been heavy investment in football lately. The English Premier League boasts a…
BY TOM ODHIAMBO Climate change is a phrase that many educated people have heard, know something about but often just ignore. It isn’t the bother of the car-driving working class that also seeks to live in bigger houses, eat meat every day, warm their houses when it is as cold as it is this month, buy more clothes (that they won’t wear twice), go on holiday by plane, drink bottled water, among the many things that the ‘market’ advises those who wish to live a lifestyle (not just live) to do, in order to distinguish themselves from the ‘rest’ of…
BY MICHAEL MARRIOTT High profile data breaches are regularly in the news and, seemingly, businesses are losing the battle to protect their intellectual property (IP), corporate, and customer data from the threats posed by professional cybercriminals. It is no surprise that financial gain is the single biggest motivator for cyberattacks. The 2016 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report highlighted that financial gain and espionage accounted for more than 89% of all data breaches they studies. Financial gain was by far the biggest single reason for attacks, beating espionage and all other objectives into a distant second place. This is big business…