Author: Khusoko

Fruit juice maker Del Monte Kenya has invested KSh580 million in a new fresh fruit packing facility with a processing capacity of 60 tonnes annually. The facility is expected to create 200 new jobs and boost the economies of Murang’a and Kiambu counties as it plans to expand production of pineapples avocados, mangos, and passion fruit juices. The plant is being constructed within Del Monte Kenya’s plantation in Murang’a and is scheduled to be completed in August 2019. “Del Monte Kenya plans to source fruit from local and regional growers in Murang’a and Kiambu Counties, we will prepare and package…

Lesley Nneka Aarimah, Nigerian author is the 2019 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story “Skinned”, beating four other finalists. Skinned is about a society where women cannot wear clothes until they are married published inMcSweeney’s Quarterly Concern (Issue 53) 2018. https://twitter.com/CainePrize/status/1148331747454672896 Dr. Peter Kimani, Chair of Judges announced Lesley as the winner of the £10,000 (KSh1.3 million) prize on Monday 8 July. “The winner of this year’s Caine Prize for African Writing is a unique retake of women’s struggle for inclusion in a society regulated by rituals.  Lesley Nneka Arimah’s Skinned defamiliarizes the familiar to topple social…

Kenya and Tanzania have decided to collaborate in trading in natural gas, a development that comes in the backdrop of long-standing trade disputes, which have slowed down the flow of goods ac and services across common borders. Collaboration on this area gathered pace when President Uhuru Kenyatta made a two-day private visit to Tanzania’s president John Magufuli in Chato, a township in the Geita region. “We have natural gas, a lot of gas. We know Kenya needs gas. Instead of Kenya importing gas from outside East Africa, they should buy from here,” President Magufuli said in a statement from Kenya’s…

The African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, an agreement that removes trade tariffs in the African continent became operational on Sunday. 54 member states have agreed on the process to implement the accord. https://twitter.com/_AfricanUnion/status/1147815925787373568 The AfCFTA will be governed by five operational instruments: the Rules of Origin; the online negotiating forum; the monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers; a digital payments system and the African Trade Observatory. “The eyes of the world are turned to Africa,” Egyptian President and AU chairman Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. “AfCFTA will reinforce…

Kenya wants to become East Africa’s manufacturing hub for the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by fostering their growth through access to finance, markets and capacity development. This will be achieved from the Manufacturing SME Hub launched by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). The Hub seeks to address the challenges affecting SMEs in the country including unfriendly policies and regulatory regime, tedious and lengthy process in quality standards and certifications, access to markets, access to affordable finance and poor governance structures. “The Government is keen on growing SMEs as demonstrated by the Government’s directive for relevant ministries to devise…

South African-owned eatery, Big Square has opened its 13th branch at Shell Service Station in Mountain View along Waiyaki Way. “The new restaurant outlet will provide both motorists and shoppers the opportunity to experience their array of delicious and authentic home-made meals in a relaxed environment in the Mountain View area,” said Big Square in a statement. “An increasingly globalised environment and Kenya’s growing population and economy is fuelling demand for new retail formats that meet consumers preferences and aspirations,”Sebastian McKinlay, the firm’s Managing Director said during the launch of the KSh 45 million outlet. The fast-food eatery prides itself…