Author: Khusoko

Khusoko provides market insights into Africa's business investment as well as global trends that impact East African businesses.

Equity Bank Kenya received 22 accolades in the 2021 Banking Awards by Think Business awards as the leading bank in Kenya. Equity Bank was ranked Best Overall Bank in Kenya and Best Bank in Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility for the 5th year in a row. The lender also emerged the first position in 10 other categories including Best Tier 1, Bank, Best Bank in Trade Finance, Best Bank in Agriculture and Livestock Financing among other categories. It also took 1st runner up position in four categories including Best Bank in SME Banking, Best Bank to borrow from, Best Bank in…

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Kellen Kariuki has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Board of directors of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya. She replaces Engineer Patrick Obath who has retired. The appointment took effect on 31st May 2021. Prior to her promotion to chair the board, she served as an independent non-executive director of the board since her appointment on 10th February 2021. Kellen has a rich experience in the banking and finance industry. Currently, Kellen is the Managing Director of Feruzi Holdings Limited, a consulting firm engaged in financial advisory, real estate, and agribusiness. She is also a non-executive director at AMREF Health…

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MSMEs are facing an existential crisis. The economic impact of the COVID-19 has been as bad as we had feared … possibly worse.  About 17% of businesses surveyed by MSC in India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the Philippines have closed due to local restrictions and low demand for goods and services, while micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the informal sector fared worse. A recent World Bank report suggests that in Kenya, one-third of household-run MSEs have not been operating for months. Declining income and rising expenses is a double whammy for enterprises in such trying times. On the demand side,…

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Multichoice Kenya walked away with five coveted awards at the fourth edition of the Kuza Awards held recently by the Communication Authority (CA). The 2021 edition brought together dozens of broadcasters from the country’s news and entertainment industry in a gala afternoon that celebrated the best in technological innovation during a difficult operating period. Multichoice Kenya’s mass-market video entertainment brand, GOtv clinched two critical compliance awards, the Compliance Award for Subscription Broadcasting Service Provider and also emerged overall winner in the compliance award for Broadcast Signal Distributor. The Compliance Award recognised service providers that operated within licensing requirements, complied with routine regulatory…

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World number two Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open “I never wanted to be a distraction…” “This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago. I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my wellbeing is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. “I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialise mental health or use…

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Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) calls for the ban lifting of taxes on electronic cigarettes, oral tobacco and nicotine products. The pan-African non-governmental membership organization dedicated to achieving 100 per cent smoke-free environments in Africa says government taxes on safer alternative nicotine products are condemning 2.8 million Kenyans to smoke toxic tobacco. “Prohibitive taxes on nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes are putting these safer options out of reach for millions of smokers who are desperate to quit,” CASA Chairman Joseph Magero said in an emailed statement as the world marked  World No Tobacco Day on Monday. “It’s an illogical pro-cigarette policy…

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