A move by the government to raise National Social and Security Fund (NSSF) monthly contributions should worry Kenyans. Let’s draw attention to how the fund is run. First, the audited accounts for the year ended June 30 speak volumes – the organisation had Sh223 million deposited in the already grounded Chase and Imperial Banks, and only Sh103 million has been recovered so far. NSSF had also invested Sh667 million in a bond offered by the two lenders. In both cases, the amounts were not recovered. The company let out Hazina Towers in 2010 for 10 years. The tenant defaulted and…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
By Grace Wandera The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) marked the taxpayers’ month celebrations last month (October) – and it was about how to improve their customers’ experience and what makes the KRA brand excellent. This year’s theme, “leaving no one behind,” provokes exciting thoughts. Given that the payment of taxes is a civic responsibility of every citizen, the question of who can be left behind lingers. The framers of the Constitution of Kenya, promulgated in 2010, anticipated this factor when they rightfully placed the citizen at the centre of governance. The constitution acknowledges patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of…
A ride-hailing firm, Uber, has received a transport network licence to operate in Kenya from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), and with immediate effect has adjusted its service fee from 25% to 18%. Besides the service fee, which is the amount that drivers pay the company per trip, drivers on the platform continue to enjoy the benefit of safety features such as In-App Emergency button, 24/7 in-app support and Ride Check. “We are committed to Kenya and will continue to find workable solutions that benefit both riders and drivers using the platform as well as the business,” says…
By Jenny Coetzee and Angelica Ouya When considering the quality of a child’s education, one of the chief motivating factors is the likelihood that a specific school will allow a child to perform at the highest possible level. However, parents should not only evaluate the school’s academic track record, but also its commitment to instilling and developing crucial transferrable skills which will help students to become empowered and self-actualised in future. Do you really need education skills to become successful? Success in education and life requires more than just academic performance. That is why schools must also strategically be focused…
BY NBM Writer Jeremy Awori, the outgoing CEO of Absa Bank Kenya, now has his sights set on the pan-African market as he heads to Eco Bank Group as chief executive, after his formal departure from Absa at the end of October. Mr Awori will replace Eco bank’s current CEO Ade Ayemi who will exit the lender after attaining the retirement age of 60 years. “I am delighted to have led Absa Kenya to great commercial milestones while making a contribution to our society over the last decade. I am optimistic that Absa will reach greater heights in the future,”…
A real estate developer Superior Homes Kenya (SHK) has joined the fight against period poverty among school-going girls within Athi River through an initiative that will see the girls have free access to Feminine Hygiene Items (FHI) Dubbed “the future is female”, the initiative will see girls across different schools in Athi River receive menstrual hygiene products every month to ensure that they do not miss school during their menstrual period. The first beneficiaries were 160 girls at Kinanie Secondary School in Athi River who received 480 packets of sanitary towels. The donation will be done to the school on…
Nairobi Garage opens a CBD office in response to new business demand Nairobi Garage, a provider of workspace and meeting rooms to multinationals, tier 1 businesses and individual consultants, has unveiled a two floor business hub at 20th Century Plaza on Mama Ngina street in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) in response to rising requests for modern workspace within the city’s business heart. “Our clients have unlimited access across all our locations so this is an exciting opportunity for us to take on so that we stay current and provide comprehensive business solutions,” said the director of Nairobi Garage, Hannah…
BY CATHY SMITH Notwithstanding the immense impact of the pandemic on the way we work, live and plan our lives, the business ground has shifted because of the transformative impact of new technologies and increased digitisation. Today, business is IT and IT is business. Even in the public sector, a state’s ability to harness powerful technologies and digitise its interactions with citizens plays a huge role in how effectively that state can deliver its services. Collectively we will invest $1.8-trillion in digital transformation initiatives this year alone, a 17.6% increase over 2021 and a huge jump from the collective $1.18…
BY TERESIA KING’ARA You have probably read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and marvelled at how some women are high on heels as far as work, and the will to lead are concerned. The book is a manifesto of what it takes to get ahead, the challenges and the opportunities that one needs to be aware about. It is based on the author’s experience during her career, spanning from government to the private sector. She has served as the chief operating officer of Facebook, now Meta, since 2008. As a lady in corporate space, Ms Sandberg acknowledges in the book that…
Not everyone has the same economic resources to allow them to pursue their passion with ease By Prof Erin A. Sech After earning bachelor’s degrees in engineering and sociology, I was determined to do what I love. I headed straight to graduate school to investigate the social problems that frightened and fascinated me. For almost a decade, I told everyone I encountered – from students to cousins, and baristas at the coffee shop I frequented –, that they should follow their passion. I felt that one can always “figure out the employment stuff later.” It wasn’t until I began to…
