It is time to address challenges hindering effective public policy engagement, decision-making, and interventions to tackle health development issues in African countries Africa has been challenged to invest more in scientific research in advancing knowledge towards achievement of the continent’s economic and social development.According to the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Sub-Saharan Africa contributes a measly 1% of global scientific products, such as patents, research papers, and peer-reviewed articles, with very little change over the last decade. The research-to-policy institution that generates evidence for policy action to enhance the health and well-being of African people, quoting a recent World…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
Most companies are mining information of their customers and clients, as data is the new oil, with Forbes’ fear of internet surveillance in 2023 survey, showing that over 90% of people actively take measures to secure their personal data online. This means that the bulk of Kenyans are still not tech savvy, most haven’t ensured that their information is secure as they interact with different technologies. In an era where technology has become crucial, it is important to improve your privacy. To ensure the privacy, Siri Yangu, a tech firm based in Nairobi, has developed “PrivPay” app in an effort…
While Carlo Brayda was trained as a software engineer with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) orientation, he quickly realized that he enjoyed people more than programming. “I had this idea that it would be nice to have a marketing company, even though I didn’t really know what that was,” Brayda says. A postgraduate course at the Chartered Institute of Marketing in London gave him a good idea of what he’d be getting into, and that led him to start his first company, Advanced Alchemy, in 1992. He served clients such as IBM, Microsoft, Sony, and Samsung and decided to sell the…
BY SILAS APOLLO Small and medium-enterprise businesses should take advantage of concessional loans instead of the much more expensive regular ones to grow their businesses. This is according to some experts and business leaders who argue that a loan whose terms are more favourable than a borrower could obtain in the market place and more flexible (concessionaire loans), is better than the regular loans. Ms Jana Lessenich, chief executive officer of Yunus Social Business, says that concessionaire loan pricing and flexible repayment structures are key pillars in recovering a country’s socioeconomic achievements and building flourishing low-income households. This, she argues,…
By Dr Gasheri Mugao Most businesses start out as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the cosmetics industry is no exception. What stands out is that majority of cosmetic manufacturers are ladies who started their careers in the beauty industry. This is because capital requirement is low, raw materials are locally available and relative ease of manufacturing. As a result, the sector is shaped and dominated by women-led SMEs, but this does not mean that they are limited from expanding their operations into large scale enterprises. Suzie Beauty is one good example of SME that grew to a thriving…
BY SILAS APOLLO Satellite towns around Nairobi and in other parts of the country are becoming the preferred destinations for most Kenyans, with rental and property prices increasing in the last four months of 2023.This is according to a report by real estate firm HassConsult which shows that in the first quarter of 2023, rental income for most property owners in estates outside of Nairobi and other urban areas experienced a sharp rise. The report shows that apartments located in the satellite towns recorded rental return gains of up to 5.9 % over the first quarter of 2023, a pointer…
BY NBM WRITER Construction of phase one of Safaricom Investment Co-operative’s off-plan residential project, The Miran Residence, is expected to be complete by mid-2024, with phase two set to start by the end of 2023.Phase one of the project, which sits on 1.2 acres of the 3.5 acres of the land, will comprise 200 units of studio, studio lofts, one-bedroom, two-bedroom apartments ranging from Sh3.2 million to Sh6.5 million.“The project is on course, and this has been enabled by our dedicated contractors, and the technology we are using to construct the houses,” Safaricom Investment Co-operative unit manager housing, Daniella Nyakuraya,…
By Perminus Wainaina 2023 is proving to be a challenging year for businesses and households. The government has unveiled plans to raise more taxes, and for a recovering economy still rebounding from COVID, the initiative will do more harm than good to businesses and individuals. The proposed taxation measures will affect the employer-employee relationship and companies. At a macro/broad economic level, there is a high possibility that we are looking at another period of businesses struggling, and closing up. Increased taxation will erode consumer purchasing power, resulting in low demand for goods and services. With the high cost of doing…
NCBA registered a profit after tax of Sh5.1 billion, representing 49% growth up from Sh3.4 billion in Q1 2022. NCBA Group has posted a profit before tax of Sh6.4 billion in its quarter one 2023 results ending March 31, 2023, which is a 32% increase compared to Sh4.8 billion reported during a similar period last year, thanks to an increase in operating income and a decline in loan impairment charges by 23%. Despite the tough macroeconomic conditions, the lender’s ‘prudent management of credit risk’ has resulted in an improved non-performing loan ratio and a reduced cost of risk. “These strong operating results are attributable to continued focus…
When you tax inputs, you kill production; eventually, there will be no taxable output By Ephraim NjegaNational Social Security Fund (NSSF) and National Health Insurance Fund contributions have been increased significantly and the government is proposing to impose a 3% National Housing Development Fund Levy (NHDF). Public service workers have also been contributing to a pension scheme, unlike in the past when the government fully funded their pension. In Kenya, there is more reliance on a socialist system where able relatives help the struggling ones. This is often referred to as black tax. The community also steps in with fundraisers…