Government of Rwanda, Africa50 and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), have broken ground on the construction of Kigali Innovation City (KIC) project, to foster the growth of digital entrepreneurs, businesses, students, and professionals who are relocating to the country, thereby enhancing productivity in industries that are not reliant on natural resources Dignitaries, policymakers, institutional investors, private investors, multinational corporations, and project developers convened at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 10, to mark the start of construction of the 61-hectare smart city development. The facility will accommodate top-tier universities, world-class universities, startup incubators, and accelerators across disruptive…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Namibia is planning to kill more than 700 wild animals, including elephants, zebras and hippos, and distribute the meat to the people struggling with food insecurity as the country grapples with its worst drought in 100 years. The animals set to be culled include 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeest and 300 zebras, the country’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced Monday. They will come from national parks and communal areas with “sustainable game numbers” and will be killed by professional hunters, the ministry said in a press copy. The aim of the program…
The leasing market shows substantial expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4) thanks to increased demand from businesses and customers seeking cost-effective fleet management solutions, Kenyan vehicle leasing and fleet management company, Loxea, said Wednesday, September 11. Positioning itself for further growth in the final quarter of 2024, the company, since its inception in 2009, remains bullish about the long-term outlook for vehicle leasing in Kenya. “We have grown exponentially since 2009 by delivering tailor-made leasing solutions that meet the demands of businesses in Kenya’s vibrant economic landscape, and we are determined to capitalize on the momentum,” Loxea managing…
A strike that began from midnight by workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has caused flight delays and cancellations for both departing and arriving passengers, Kenya Airways (KQ) said on Wednesday, September 11. This comes as Moss Ndiema, the Secretary General of Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) which represents aviation workers from Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, KQ, Swissport Kenya, Tradewinds Aviation Services and Eurocraft Agencies, urges the national government to set aside plans to lease airport operations to Adani Airports Holding of India. Mr Ndiema is appealing to travelers who had intentions of using JKIA to…
The national government will consider reducing valued-added tax (VAT) from the current 16 per cent to 14 per cent, cutting corporation tax from 30 per cent to 25 per cent and lowering pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) rates, Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) has said. The proposal, coming at a time when the Kenya Revenue Authority collected Sh313.37 billion in domestic VAT and Sh488 billion in corporation taxes as at June 20, 2024, is part of the Treasury’s medium-term revenue strategy aimed at improving tax administration, enhancing compliance and expanding the tax base. “I will surprise you; in the medium term, we want to…
The just-concluded Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit raised Sino-African friendship a notch higher, with Chinese and African leaders agreeing to a new blueprint for high-level cooperation in the new era and vowing to make serious efforts to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. Sino-African friendship is steeped in a rich history of mutual exchanges and has been flourishing, thanks to the intensive strategic cooperation between the two sides. As the largest developing country and the continent with the largest number of developing countries, China and Africa have the same historical mission: to achieve robust…
When Grace Mwende settled for an MA in project planning and management after a BSc in Geology, it did not seem like the right course to run with. Geology is the study of chemicals and physical properties of earth materials such as minerals, natural gases and water. It also touches on earth hazards, which include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and even floods. It is a field largely dominated by men thus only focused lady graduates end up benefiting. Interestingly, Ms Mwende did not step back. It is common for people to overlook such courses but to her, what was important is…
Starting and running your own business takes hard work and a can-do attitude. Typically, entrepreneurs are the kinds of people who can identify and solve problems innovatively, are willing to take risks and learn from mistakes. But many entrepreneurs also have a set of skills that anyone can learn, and use in work and life. Examples include adaptability, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, creative thinking, innovation and resilience. South Africa’s Department of Basic Education sees these skills as an important part of the school curriculum, especially since about 60% of South Africans aged 16-24 don’t have work. The department’s 2016 Entrepreneurship in…
AstraZeneca, a biopharmaceutical company, has partnered with Tricog Health, AI-driven healthcare solutions provider, and the Kenya Cardiac Society (KCS) to conduct a study evaluating the effectiveness of an AI-based Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) model in screening for heart failure. Launched in May 2024, the study will enroll 10,000 patients and leverage Tricog’s AI electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithm to analyze ECG data—a low-cost and widely available tool—to identify individuals at risk of heart failure (HF). The algorithm can quickly and accurately identify individuals at risk of heart failure, even in the absence of overt symptoms This comes at a time when…
Dr. Davy Kiprotich Koech, a genius in the field of immunology and molecular medicine, who made significant contributions to the understanding of HIV/AIDS and other emerging tropical diseases in the 1980s and 1990s, has died after a long illness, his family said on Friday, September 6. He was 73 years old. His work earned him international recognition, including a nomination for the Genius Laureate of the American Biographical Institute in 2006, and a place among the 500 Greatest Geniuses of the 21st Century. At 28, Dr. Koech became the youngest medic to lead the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), an…