Author: David Indeje

The new coronavirus variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) has an “unprecedented number” with  “severe consequences”, the World Health Organization said Monday. In a technical brief, ‘Enhancing Readiness for Omicron (B.1.1.529): Technical Brief and Priority Actions for the Member States’  on the newest “variant of concern”, the UN health body cautioned that assessments done were based on limited information, but said the overall global risk related to the highly mutated variant was “very high”. “Given mutations that may confer immune escape potential and possibly transmissibility advantage, the likelihood of potential further spread of Omicron at the global level is high,” the WHO wrote…

The Kenya National Treasury said it has disbursed over Ksh 1.44 billion loans to  Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the Credit Guarantee Scheme since its launch in Dec 2020. The Credit Guarantee Scheme is one of the government’s incentives to mobilise private sector capital towards development goals. Mr Ronald Inyang’ala, National Treasusry Ag. Credit Guarantee Scheme Manager and who serves also as the Deputy Director of Financial and Sectoral Affairs, disclosed that the amounts were disbursed during the period Dec 2020 to October 31, 2021. During the period, 21 per cent of recipients of the credit was MSMEs…

Air Tanzania said on Friday it has resumed its Dar-Nairobi flights, which had stopped in over two decades.   The arrival of the new ultra-modern Airbus A220-300 Friday at 6:45 a.m. in Nairobi marked the start of the carrier’s double-daily flights on the route as part of its expansion plans in Africa. The restart of this route is largely attributed to improved bilateral relations, increased trade between the two countries the need to connect the region with other markets. “We at Air Tanzania are looking forward to bolstering the relations between Tanzania and Kenya, who have been trusted friends and sincere…

Switzerland’s pharmaceutical company, Novartis AG has opened its innovation hub, Novartis Biome Sub-Saharan Africa in Nairobi. This is with an ambitious goal of doubling its patient reach in the region by 2022 and increasing it five-fold by 2025. “Our goal is to provide every patient in SSA with affordable access to high-quality medicines and to ultimately transform healthcare in the region. For this, innovation and digital technologies have an immense potential to contribute, and with cross-sectoral partnerships, we can truly maximize the impact on the health of our people,” said Racey Muchilwa, President and Head, Novartis Sub-Saharan Africa. The hub…

Papa John’s International Inc, the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company plans to open 60 fast food outlets in Kenya and Uganda in 2022. In a statement issued Wednesday, its expansion will be through its franchise partner Kitchen Express Ltd, a subsidiary of AAH Limited, the majority shareholder of Hass Petroleum Group. Hass Petroleum Group operates 140 petrol stations in 10 African countries.  Under the deal, Papa John’s, which runs 5,500 restaurants in 50 countries, will open outlets at Hass’s properties in Kenya and Uganda starting with Nairobi. “Establishing ourselves in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time presents a great opportunity…

Even as the Kenyan economy recovers from the shocks of the coronavirus pandemic, 41 per cent of businesses in the Manufacturing and Distribution financial leaders have yet to record their digital Return on Investments (ROI). Findings from the Manufacturing CFO 4.0 2021 Survey conducted by global software provider SYSPRO Africa and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) states that 31 per cent of leaders were yet to measure and investigate their business returns while 7 per cent were not sure if any returns were received. Additionally, 51 per cent of businesses considered management of cash flow to…