The Nairobi urban fabric will soon feature a new landmark with the development of a medium density-housing complex for the United States Department of State. The complex marks the first development in Kenya in a joint venture by Gateway Real Estate Africa (Gateway Africa) and Verdant Ventures, following a successful collaboration on a similar project in Ethiopia. Gateway Africa is a Mauritius-based private real estate development company specializing in the turnkey construction where by the developer undertakes all the activities required to complete a project such as purchase of land, permits, plans, and construction and sells the project to the…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
African trade experts have called for the swift implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to lift Africa out of an economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Speaking at a trade forum in Dakar, Senegal, AfCFTA secretary-general Wamkele Mene said that the pandemic had, for the first time in 25 years, caused a contraction of GDP of between 2 to 5% in sub-Saharan Africa. “This decline will manifest itself in reduced exports and loss of employment, among other challenges,” said Mene. “However, it is projected that the implementation of the AfCFTA will boost intra-Africa trade by $35b, increase value-chain…
Investors should be expecting and preparing for significant market volatility in the event of a disputed outcome of the U.S. presidential election, warns the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and fintech organisations. The warning from Nigel Green, the chief executive and founder of deVere Group, came as President Donald Trump and his Democratic White House rival Joe Biden both wound up campaign rallies in the critical election state of Florida. Biden maintained a substantial lead over Trump nationwide, according to most polls. “Biden is leading in the polls and the markets have already priced-in victory…
U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Mr Kyle McCarter, together with representatives from the World Bank and American advisory firm MiDA Advisors have launched the Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium (KEPFIC), which will enable pension schemes to jointly make sustainable long-term infrastructure and alternative asset investments in the region. The consortium, supported by the U.S. Government through USAID’s Kenya Investment Mechanism, Power Africa, the World Bank Group, and MiDA Advisors (in partnership with USAID INVEST), provides an opportunity for beneficial collaboration between Kenyan and American pension funds and other institutional investors. “The United States Government is pleased to support a Kenyan institution…
The Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs and the World Bank have launched a Sh120 million initiative dubbed the ‘Future Bora’, to support organizations that create income generation opportunities for orphans, persons with disability, youth affected by conflict, youth from vulnerable and marginalized communities, street youth and young single mothers to boost their income and reduce youth unemployment. It is an initiative of the Government of Kenya under the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP). By supporting interventions that are tailored to the local and highly specific needs of the most vulnerable youth, the initiative aims to expand…
CABI scientists have conducted new research highlighting the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on food security in Kenya and Uganda with more than two-thirds of those surveyed having experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic. Dr Monica Kansiime led a team of researchers who discovered, from a random sample of 442 respondents, that the proportion of food insecure people increased by 38% and 44% in Kenya and Uganda respectively. The scientists, who conducted online questionnaires using WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, Twitter and email, also found that, in both countries, the regular consumption of fruits decreased by around 30% during the pandemic compared to…
By David Onjili Article 2.1, through 2.8 of the World Anti-Doping Code has eight rule violations including possession of prohibited substances, trafficking of the substance, tampering or attempted tampering with any part of doping control, effusing or failing to submit without compelling justification sample collection after notification as authorized in the applicable doping controls, presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete’s sample. It is hence evident that it is highly likely for an athlete and or country to fall victim of any of the eight categories into which doping is categorized. One way in…
BY JACOB OKETCH The memoir of the late Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, My Life, My purpose, is a gripping read and unputdownable. I have read many memoirs but this one stands above the others. It is not hard to see why this book is a good read. The narration skills of the fallen leader are top notch. It is instructive to note that Mkapa was an English major at Makerere University and so his command of the language is beyond reproach. Mkapa came from a humble background having grown up in a village close to the border of Tanzania…
The role of the school and parents in suicide prevention BY LUCY SIMIYU The Suicide Prevention Week (first week of September) was a global event whose sole purpose is to create awareness about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide. As a school, the mental health of our students is of utmost importance, hence the involvement of Crawford International School in the campaign. Our theme this year is ‘Let’s Talk’, a rallying call to teachers, parents and friends to start conversations around a topic that most people find both difficult and uncomfortable. One may wonder why we should be having…
It would be helpful to liberate spirituality by letting it apply to all and sundry without arrogating ourselves the role of the gatekeeper when it comes to who should be the beneficiaries of divine intervention BY JACOB OKETCH It is not easy to accept that there is a higher power responsible for everything that happens anywhere on earth and this is understandable. We operate with several spiritual sects and denominations to the point that a section of the population has chosen to believe in nothing altogether. The subject of the higher power in relation to alcoholism is a topic that…