Author: Victor Adar

A head of the World Kiswahili Language Day to be celebrated on Friday, July 7, to recognize the global importance of Kiswahili in uniting communities across Africa, Chinese run social media platform, TikTok, said in a statement that #Kiswahili and #SwahiliTikTok hashtags will play a critical role in advancing positive impact of Kiswahili, a language that most communities speak – and enthusiasts use to share content. TikTok, a platform that has become a hub for inspirational content and practical creativity noted that the Swahili-speaking creators embrace food recipes and fashion tips to entertainment and language education to bring people together.…

The report said there is increased digital platform usage, with 42 per cent of Kenyans conducting at least half of their transactions online, emphasising the necessity for robust security measures and consumer education BY VICTOR ADAR Information and insights company, TransUnion, in its latest “Consumer Pulse Study” which said that amid widespread challenges, including protests, Kenyan households experienced a modest financial rebound in the second quarter of 2024 thanks to new business ventures, enhanced debt management, and less impact from job losses. The study, released amid widespread challenges, including weeks of protests that left over 40 people dead and scores…

Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) has partnered with a communications and advisory company, Newmark Group, to unveil Global Expert Panel (GEP) on tourism and travel for Africa to arm tourism and destination management organisations with deep local insights and data from source countries. The new initiative brings together communications and marketing experts and leaders from across the world and comes at a time when tourism and travel in Africa has experienced impressive growth since the start of the millennium, as highlighted by a World Travel and Tourism Council report. “To elevate Africa’s tourism sector, destination marketers must harness global capabilities…

The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has said it had no plans to control internet access during the national protests against the Finance Bill, 2024, which MPs passed on June 25 before a group of youth breached the National Assembly and destroyed parts of the Senate. In a statement released earlier in the morning, the regulator said shutting down Internet traffic or interfering with the quality of connectivity would go against core principles enshrined in the Constitution. “For the avoidance of doubt, the authority has no intention whatsoever o shut down Internet traffic or interfere with the quality of connectivity.…

Kenya’s hospitality industry is bouncing back from challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change related issues such as flooding and heavy rains. The industry continues to face innovative and vibrant activities across the market, with various players working tirelessly to improve tourist experience, a development that has seen the entry of big hotel chains into the market. Among the new entrants include Pullman Hotels and Resorts, a brand by Accor set to be unveiled formally on June 20, 2024. The hotel, based in Upper Hill, Nairobi, is literally taking art out of the museum, from local art in…

The government will protect economic recovery while tackling the country’s debt in the 2024/25 financial year whose total expenditure target is set at Sh3.9 trillion, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof Njuguna Ndung’u said on Thursday, June 13. Presenting the final version of the budget in Parliament, the CS said total revenue target is set at Sh3.33 trillion, with fiscal deficit expected to be 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), compared to a revised deficit of 5.7 per cent of the 2023/24 fiscal year. He also added that economic growth will be in line with the ministry’s expectation…

Kenya will spend Sh4.002 trillion in the financial year 2024/25 starting this July after the National Assembly approved the budget estimates, which was revised as an effort to get an inclusive budget. The development came on June 6, after the adoption of the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, following a general debate in the House which eventually saw it considered and approved by Committee of Supply, which operates similarly to a Committee of the Whole House on a bill, approving state expenditure on a programme-by-programme basis. Apart from education sector, which accounts for the largest share of the…

Many years ago when Agness Njau worked for a hotel chain, Heritage Hotels, as a receptionist, little did she know that one day she would be an entrepreneur. She is the founder and director of Zuri Travels, a company that was registered in 2014 May to offer services such as airport transfers and hotel bookings, ticketing and visa assistant, corporate and leisure travel, and conferencing. The move to start a travel company was not out of the blue. Ms Njau was a receptionist but would interact with people in reservations department. She would admire the way clients would visit their…

World Bank has approved funding valued at $1.2 billion to help Kenya address challenges that had overshadowed its economy, including tight liquidity pressures, depressed investor confidence and limited capital inflows that had resulted in a rapidly depreciating shilling. The support, which is under “Kenya Fiscal Sustainability and Resilient Growth Development Policy Operation (DPO)”, will not only support policy and institutional reforms, but also address structural constraints of the country’s public finances, alleviate fiscal pressures and promote a more efficient and sustainable budget. It will also foster more competitive and inclusive product and labor markets and strengthen climate action, thus building…

Family bank has appointed architect Francis Mutai Mungai as the new chairman of its board of directors, subject to regulatory approvals, taking over from long-serving Chairman Dr. Wilfred Kiboro who will be retiring. Mr Mungai, a holder of a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Bachelor of Architecture degree with First-Class Honours from the University of Nairobi, joined the board of Family Bank Limited in 2016 and has been serving as the Vice Chairman for the last two years. He is also a Fellow of the Architectural Association of Kenya (FAAK) and registered by…