Category Archives: Business

KENYA: INSIDE STORY OF ANGLO LEASING

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014

Brian from Vihiga, Kenya writes: Dear Fr Omolo, thank you for your inspiring and informative articles, especially your homilies which I like reading very much. It is good you send them on Saturdays so I go to Church well informed.

My problem Father is with Anglo Leasing scandals. Honestly I don’t understand it. Can you give me its background and if possible people who were implicated. I heard Waweru Mburu of Citizen Radio with his yalio tendeka program saying even President Uhuru knows about it very well, Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Francis Muthaura and many others currently in this government.

Surely Father, if they know it is a scandal why do they push for illegal payment? Don’t you think as Waweru Mburu fearlessly says that this is just another way of stealing money from taxpayers? Mburu says these cartels are in Uk to be paid money, only to share it back to individual and powerful Kenyans in this government. Surely let us pray for Kenya.”

I can understand your sentiments Brian. This is the concern of Kenyans that this money must not be paid because it will add burden on them. The scandal is alleged to have started when the Kenyan government wanted to replace its passport printing system, in the year 1997, but came to light after revelation by Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics John Githongo on January 22, 2006 when he named Vice-President Moody Awori as one of four top politicians in Kibaki government involved in the scandals.

Others he named were Kiraitu Murungi, Energy Minister; Finance Minister David Mwiraria and Chris Murungaru as being involved in scams worth $600m – known as the Anglo Leasing scandal. He also claimed that President Kibaki was complicit in the affair.

Githongo claimed that the money raised would have funded the government’s forthcoming election campaign which was due in December 2007. Although these allegations were denied by Awori and Murungaru, the promise by Kibaki government that they would investigate the matter was never done.

This was an indication that actually Githongo was right to say that the money was meant to rig 2007 general elections in Kibaki’s favor. It was alleged that part of this money was used to mobilize, coordinate, finance and provide logistical support for the Mungiki during the Post Election Violence (PEV).

The key preparatory meetings include those held in Nairobi on or about 30 December 2007 (at the State House), on or about 3 January 2008 (at the Nairobi Club) and in early, mid and late January 2008. It was also alleged that there preparatory meetings in Central Province on or about 31 December 2007, in Nakuru in early to mid January 2008 and in Naivasha in late January 2008. Francis Muthaura’s name features because it was alleged that he was the chief organizer.

It was alleged that the attacks entailed a high level of coordination between different Mungiki groups as well as between local and non-resident Mungiki members and pro-PNU youth. The attacks involved the distribution of weapons to direct perpetrators; transportation of foreign Mungiki and pro-PNU youth from Central Province and Nairobi to the Rift Valley; identification of perceived ODM supporters by local pro-PNU youth; and perpetration of acts of violence by groups of attackers moving together.

Since the electoral system in Kenya is based on constituencies whose boundaries are congruent with the boundaries of tribal areas, is one of the reasons why a lot of money is needed towards general elections. Former President Moi used to do exactly that.

Moi exploited the Kenyan diversity and politicised ethnicity to levels where he could instigate clashes in districts and provinces with mixed groups, a practice he perfected in the 90’s in order to discredit the onset of multiparty democracy in Kenya.

Politically motivated ethnic clashes were used to disrupt and displace populations and groups that supported the opposition (mainly the Kikuyu in Rift Valley, Luo in the slums of Nairobi and Mombasa). He also used divide and rule tactics, pitting on group against another and at times bought politician through patronage in order to have more support in parliament. These tactics ensured that that the opposition lost the elections of 1992 and 1997.

Such tacticts was also seen in 2005 when people’s disgust with Kibaki’s regime was expressed at the 2005 referendum in which the Wako Draft (a diluted version of the Boma’s draft, which was a constitutional product of a people led process) was defeated. Seven provinces made up of diverse ethnic groups voted for “NO” while the Yes vote was only represented by central province. It could explain why, even though John Githongo told President Mwai Kibaki about the corruption that involved Anglo Leasing, but the president failed to act.

Githongo said he made the tape secretly during a meeting with Kiraitu Murungi, who was Kenya’s justice minister at the time of the meeting. Kiraitu was later removed from Justice Ministry to Energy Minister.

On the tape heard by the BBC, the minister was heard telling Githongo that the loan was owed to a businessman with links to powerful politicians and that if he went slowly on his investigation the businessman would also go slow. These powerful politicians form part of cartels of corruption in Kenya.

Mr Githongo says government money was being paid to companies that did not exist or to others which were massively overpricing their contracts. He believed the finance was being given to business figures close to the government, who were then re-directing some of it back to the ruling elite for political campaigning.

These individual but powerful Kenyans used Deepak Kamani to achieve this goal-Deepak Kamani is the son of Chamanlal Kamani and brother to Rashmi Chamanlal Kamani and Sudha Ruperell. Deepak Kamani is involved in the Kamani family businesses of Kenya, including the flagship company Kamsons.

In 2006, he and his brother Rashmi had a bounty of Sh100, 000 placed on their heads by the anti-corruption detectives. They were wanted for questioning about the Anglo Leasing. After being captured, he was released, without further problems. He later filed a lawsuit against Star newspaper for character assassination for running a story that he owned Sh 3.8 billion to the Kenyan taxpayers. This tells a lot of type of the government Kenya has.

Since David Mwiraria was accused of warning off investigations into Anglo Leasing, it can explain clearly why Deepak Kamani and his brother Rashmi were captured but later released without further problems.

Again, since the multimillion dollar “Anglo Leasing” corruption scam involved contracts for a company that existed in name only, is a reason to conclude that Mr Mwiraria, who was one of President Mwai Kibaki’s key allies, warned the Anglo Leasing deals could not be investigated.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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FIRING CHIEFS WON’T END ILLICIT BREWS IN KENYA

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2014

Maurine from Sagana, Kenya writes: “Fr Beste thank you for your moving article on illicit brews that continue to kill many Kenyans. Now I am just wondering, do you think the move by Embu County Commissioner Amos Gathecha to fire Embu Municipality Chief Titus Mugambi and his assistant Catherine Wanja during a visit to Shauri Yako slums where the illicit brew was being sold is going to solve the problem of illicit brews in Kenya?”

Thank you for this important question Maurine. The problem with illicit brews is not with the chiefs, so firing them won’t help anything. Early this Kirinyaga county government set aside Sh1.5 million to combat the consumption of illicit brews in the area, since then nothing has improved.

County Commissioner Joseph Keter said the security team would spend the money to map out illicit brew dens and crackdown on brewers and consumers. He declared a major operation to weed out illicit brewing and consumption dens which he said had retarded development in the county.

He said the operation would be intensive and thorough. The operation was to target more than 300 brewers who he described as “notorious” in brewing and selling illicit alcohol in the area. He said illicit brews are selling like hot cake in the area because sellers collude with chiefs and their assistants.

There are several reasons why Kenyans drink illicit and deadly brews. The major one is to do with grave dangers of unemployment in the country, leading to higher poverty levels. Some Kenyans desperately look for cheap source of livelihood including brewing and consumption of the deadly liquor.

Economic conditions and the increasing sense of hopelessness is making people take recourse to cheap brews. Sellers of brews take opportunity of this condition to make money and they can do whatever they can to make their business go on. That is why they are able to bribe government agency that looks after the food and drink beverages.

The story by Meja Mwangi, Kill Me Quick gives an overview how unemployment in Kenya is a crisis. The story depicts two young boys who move to the city after obtaining their secondary school diplomas. They hope to find jobs in order to support their families back home.

Initially unsuccessful, the pair live in dumpsters, eating rotten fruit and stale cakes, unable to return home as failures. Eventually, they obtain jobs at a farm working for a very rich family. Mania causes problems in the house while blaming Meja, who suffers the consequences.

Meja is put on half rations, moved from job to job, and then has his rations almost completely revoked. After Mania’s biggest episode, the pair loses their jobs. Mania and Meja split after Mania steals from a store and gets Meja in trouble.

Meja flees home only to return to the city and work in a coal mine. Mania joins a gang in “shanty land,” lead by a boy named Razor who claims they went to school together. Here, Mania attempts to run a scheme selling milk to clients in the area, which he has stolen from the rich neighborhood. Eventually, he is caught. The pair meets up again in prison, but soon go their separate ways. Meja continues to go in and out of prison, and Mania ends up on trial for murder.

Women are depicted as objects for sexual pleasure, or as Nici Nelson puts it, only there as “screws for the main characters. This is because of unemployment and poverty. Sara, Razor’s girlfriend, is there for the sole purpose of allowing him to obtain pleasure in front of his gang. Mania’s girlfriend Dehliah is mentioned briefly, and she works as a “barmaid,” also known as a prostitute.

Against the background that Kitengela town is reeling from the shock of a man alleged to have been teaching children to perform various sexual acts for pornography industries. He teaches children sexual acts, including oral and anal sex for little pay, which I believe they take home to their parents for their survivals.

That is also why, even after the Teachers’ Service Commission dismissed 600 teachers over allegations of sexual abuse in our primary and secondary schools, pupils still engage in sex, getting pregnant every term.

In Nyanza where poverty is said to be a major problem, cases of sexual abuse have been on the rise, with 15 cases been reported in Migori, Rongo, Rachuonyo, Kuria and Nyatike districts. These areas due to poverty men target pupils for sex, luring them with as little as Ksh 20 to buy mandazi (pan cake). These children are hungry.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Africa and Middle East – Trade and investment: Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation and delegation paid a courtesy call on The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in UAE

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation and delegation paid a courtesy call on The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in UAE

A wide range of issues were discussed relating to trade and investment and above all the establishment of a full diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi, UAE

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, May 6, 2014/ — On Monday 5th May, 2014 at 1pm, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of The Republic of Sierra Leone (http://foreignaffairs.gov.sl) paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in UAE H.E. Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash to discuss bilateral issues relating to the excellent relations existing between the UAE and Sierra Leone in the presence of Mr. Abdulah Bin Abood Alnaqbi, Deputy of the Department of Africa Affairs.
http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1039

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Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/1405061.jpeg

The high level delegation from Sierra Leone comprised:

– Hon. Dr. Samura MW Kamara – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation

– Mr. Siray Alpha Timbo – Ambassador Designate of Sierra Leone to UAE

– Mr. Bahige Annan – Consul General of Sierra Leone in Dubai, UAE

– Mr. Eric Gamanga – Director Asia & ME Affairs in The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation

In furtherance of concretizing the longstanding bilateral relations, a wide range of issues were discussed relating to trade and investment in both the private and public sectors, economic and technical cooperation in the fields of infrastructure developments, like roads, the recently awarded IRENA/ADFD “Solar Park Freetown Project”, water resource management, human resource development and above all the establishment of a full diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The Honorable Minister Dr. Samura MW Kamara expressed thanks and appreciation for the excellent work in the past 6 years that was successfully carried out by Mr. Bahige Annan – Consul General of Sierra Leone in Dubai, UAE in collaboration with Mr. Siray Alpha Timbo who served as the Special Envoy of H.E. The President to UAE and GCC which has successfully led to the present status wherein we are now finalizing the establishment of The Sierra Leone Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The head of the Sierra Leone delegation Dr. Samura MW Kamara thanked the Government of UAE for successfully hosting the Abu Dhabi ASCENT meeting in preparation for the climate summit to be held in September 23, 2014 in New York.

The special two-day climate meeting hosted by the UN and the UAE held on 4 and 5 May and called the “Abu Dhabi Ascent” brought ministers as well as business, finance, and civil society leaders together to exchange views on the effects of climate change. They developed a range of proposals for action and determined how their countries, businesses and organizations may become more involved in various initiatives so that partnerships can be broadened and deepened to deliver concrete action at the UN Climate Summit in September, in New York.

The Minister remarked that it was a very inspiring, informative and educative gathering wherein all shades of opinions expressed for feasible solutions for mitigating the effects of the climate change.

H.E. Minister Dr. Anwar Gargash expressed thanks and appreciation for the courtesy call paid by Dr. Samura Kamara and his delegation and assured him of continued support and cooperation between both countries. He urged Sierra Leone and the UAE to develop their bilateral mega relations. In this respect, he hoped the bauxite mining project that is currently under consideration by the two countries will be concluded soon. He also expressed the need for broader cooperation in the other sectors including agri-business and fisheries.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone.

Media contact:

APO (African Press Organization)
+41 22 534 96 97
sec.sg@apo-opa.org

SOURCE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone

U.S.& Angola: Africa: Remarks While Touring a GE Facility in Luanda

From: U.S. Department of State
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Luanda, Angola
May 4, 2014

Well, Jay Ireland, thank you very much for a generous welcome here to General Electric in Luanda in the center of this extraordinary economic activity. I’m very excited to be here. I’m sorry that my wife is not here, because she was born in Mozambique and speaks – her first language is Portuguese. (Applause.) So I hear it around the house all the time – muito obrigadoand all that stuff. (Laughter.)

But it’s a privilege for me to be able to be here, and I want to thank Foreign Minister Chikoti for his welcome and for the opportunity to be able to meet the president tomorrow and have a good conversation about the bilateral relationship between the United States and Angola. I am particularly pleased to be here with other representatives of the oil and gas industry, a representative from Chevron, from ConocoPhilips, as well as from ExxonMobil – Esso, as you call it here. And I’m very grateful that the representative from the U.S.-Angola Chamber of Commerce is here, too.

As you’ve heard in the earlier introductions, I’m here with former United States Senator Russ Feingold, who is our – President Obama’s and my special envoy to the Great Lakes region and who is working to produce greater stability and peace in the region. President dos Santos and Angola have provided important leadership, and I want to thank you, Angola, for the leadership an the participation and the help to solve conflicts that have gone on for too long.

But as I mentioned a moment ago, we’re standing in a place of enormous economic activity with great promise for future economic growth and development. I am accompanied on this trip by the president and CEO of the EximBank[1], Elizabeth Littlefield, because the EximBank[2] is very much a partner with General Electric and very involved in helping to support economic development here in Angola and in other parts of Africa.

In fact, though EximBank[2] we have just provided a $600 million, just about a $600 million loan guarantee that will assist in the purchase of a Boeing 777 for Angola. This will grow the opportunity of, obviously, more ability to have business and more ability to have trade, and also for people to simply come to be able to engage in some of the exciting things that are happening in Angola. In addition, Exim[2] is providing another $300 million or so of additional economic investment here in Angola.

So let me just say quickly why being here is important today. Africa is changing. Eight of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world are here in Africa. There is enormous opportunity for the people of Africa, the people of Angola, to be able to gain in healthcare, in education, in jobs, in the quality of life. And I know the government is very focused on how to provide for increased standard of living for the people of the country. That comes from fair and reasonable trade agreements where everybody benefits, where there’s an ability to create jobs. When a Boeing airliner is bought from Boeing, it creates jobs in America, but it will also create jobs and opportunity here in Angola.

General Electric has recently sold four power turbines to Angola. This is for a project in Soyo. And this will help provide the power that then generates the ability for hospitals, for schools, for homes, for cities, for stores to be able to grow and prosper. So we believe there are great opportunities on which we can build where, most importantly, Angolans will benefit.

I just spoke with the representative for ConocoPhillips, who tells me and the representative for Chevron – who tell me about the several thousands of employees. ConocoPhilipps is newer here, but Chevron has about 3,500 workers employed. So more and more Angolans are being trained to take on more and more different kinds of important jobs.

The first lady of Angola was in Los Angeles a number of years ago, and she was talking with the executives there about a disease here in Angola. A lot of people thought you couldn’t do anything about it. But Chevron, which had been working here for many years, stepped up and they talked with the Texas Children’s Hospital and they got care to be able to come her to help cure this disease for children. More than 3,000 children’s lives have been saved

So this is not just about business. This is about building a relationship between two people, two countries, and building a future. And when I look out at the economic energy out here in the port in all these containers and these ships and the work that you’re doing, I am confident that Angola, working together as you are now, will be able to help contribute to an extraordinary journey in Africa as a whole, and we will provide greater opportunity to everybody.

Thank you for the privilege. Muito obrigado. (Applause.)

[1] Elizabeth Littlefield is the president and CEO of OPIC.

[2] OPIC

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UNDERSTANDING CODE OF CONDUCT AND PRACTICE OF JOURNALISM

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014

While World Press Freedom Day is celebrated tomorrow, May 3, 2014, Catholics will celebrate theirs on May 25, 2014. The Pope’s general Prayer intention for the month of May is “that the media may be instruments in the service of truth and peace”.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.

It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

In his message for the 48th annual World Communications Day, Pope Francis challenges us to consider how the media can either create understanding and unity or divide people. He asks, “How can we be ‘neighbourly’ in our use of the communications media?”

His answer is: “We need to recover a certain sense of deliberateness and calm. And this calls for time and the ability to be silent and to listen.” Communication is not simply about talking but also listening and recognizing that, even if we disagree with the person speaking, he or she is our neighbour.

Pope Francis writes: “There is a danger that certain media condition our responses so much that we fail to see our real neighbour.” As an example of good communication, Pope Francis proposes the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

The disciples are closed in on themselves and their own ideas but Jesus listens and gently shares with them the truth about the messiah. Their hearts are set on fire by the truth and burn with love. Their dialogue with Jesus leads to a deeper encounter with him, when they recognize him in the breaking of the bread.

During the month of May, let us pray that the media may serve the truth and not manipulate people and promote half-truths or lies. May it help people to enter into dialogue with one another, so that the foundations for peace may be laid.

What Pope is expressing, that is, respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth should be the first duty of a journalist. As journalists we need to protect the privacy of individuals in a manner that secures the public interest.

This is all about what the code of conduct and practice of journalism should be. We need to write a fair, accurate and an unbiased story on matters of public interest. The code of conduct is helping us journalists to avoid misleading or distorted story.

When stories fall short on accuracy and fairness, they should not be published. Sometimes this happens because of bribe which has become a big problem of journalists not only in developing countries but also in developed nations.

This should not happen given that journalism is the fourth estate which protects and safeguards the democratic values in the society.

You find in many countries, Kenya included that after every press conference, the media will give the organizers of the meetings rough time until they part with the money. In other words, your story will not be reported unless you pay journalists money.

Journalists, while free to be partisan, should distinguish clearly in their reports between comment, conjecture and fact. In general, provocative and alarming headlines should be avoided, especially those containing allegations.

Even though letters to editor are expressing the opinions of the writers, an editor is not obliged to publish all the letters received in regard to that subject. Only some of them either in their entirety or the gist thereof should be published.

The editor has the discretion to decide at which point to end the debate in the event of a rejoinder upon rejoinder being sent by two or more parties on a controversial subject. Unnamed sources should not be used unless the pursuit of the truth will best be served by not naming the source who must known by the editor and reporter.

This is very important because in general, journalists have a professional obligation to protect confidential sources of information. That is why journalists should generally identify themselves and not obtain or seek to obtain information or pictures through misrepresentation or subterfuge.

In general, the media should avoid publishing obscene, vulgar, or offensive material unless such material contains a news value which is necessary in the public interest. In the same vein, publication of photographs showing mutilated bodies, bloody incidents, and abhorrent scenes should be avoided unless the publication of such photographs will serve the public interest.

This is specifically toTelevision stations which must exercise great care and responsibility when presenting programmes where children are likely to be part of the audience. Bringing pictures where men and women deeply kiss each other on the lips can be an embarrassment to parents who watch TV with their children.

Although most of these programmes are aired because they have been paid for, some of them are not morally upright. Think of an advertisement where, for example where condoms have been demonstrated how to use them, or sex positions, like what had been going on in one of Kenyan television stations.

This is a programme where a sex educator and therapists demonstrates several styles of having good sex. While such programmes can be extremely very important for couples, especially those who have difficulties in making love, they can be embarrassment to parents with their children.

Meanwhile, using someone else’s work without attribution – whether deliberately or thoughtlessly – is a serious ethical breach. However, borrowing ideas from elsewhere is considered fair journalistic practice.

Media should also avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to a person’s race, tribe, clan, religion, sex or sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or handicap. These details should be avoided unless they are crucial to the story.

Things concerning a person’s home, family, religion, tribe, health, sexuality, personal life and private affairs are covered by the concept of privacy except where these impinge upon the public.

The media should generally avoid identifying relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime unless the reference to them is necessary for the full, fair and accurate reporting of the crime or legal proceedings.

Finally, media should also avoid presenting acts of violence, armed robberies, banditry and terrorist activity in a manner that glorifies such anti-social conduct. Also, newspapers should not allow their columns to be used for writings which tend to encourage or glorify social evils, warlike activities, ethnic, racial and religious hostilities.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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CHINESE MASSIVE BUSINESS INFLUENCE IN KENYA MAY SOON COME TO AN ABRUPT END

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

SO they came with thud winning mega construction tenders worth billions of dollars on road networks, government buildings and institutions construction while carrying brief-cases swollen with bribe cash money. However, the days of massive influence by big business people from Bringing who have dominated the construction industry in Kenya for decades is soon coming to an abrupt end.

Under the reign of the retired President Mwai Kibaki, the Chinese big business people invaded the Kenyan market

The Chinese contractors fizzled out the traditional Kenya in business partners from Western Europe, especially those from the EU nations which had dominated the construction industry ib Kenya in the pre-independence and post-independence period between 1963 and 2002,

Major construction firms like Mowlem Construction of the UK, Sterling Astaldi of Italy, Israelis solebhonen and other were swept away, as the generous Chinese big business people visited government offices in Nairobi with their hands well oiled with bribe money.

President Mwai Kibaki made several official tours and state visit of China in the company of top government officials and cabinet ministers where he signed numerous bilateral agreement on trade. These missions opened floodgate, and no sooner, the streets of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital and other urban centers were swarmed by Chinese hawkers, hawking with petty wares such as ball pens, mobile phones, radios, watches and other cheap items.

At first, the indigenous Kenyan hawkers in Nairobi streets staged a near violent protest against the Chinese hawkers,

Kenyan businessmen of African origins are up in arms against any more Chinese. The National Construction Authority, the state body that is tasked with the responsibility of regulating guidelines to check on the construction sector and to check the growing Chinese influence on the oriental’s on local construction scene last month came out with the gun blasting.

The authority’s action came as the result of numerous complaints lodged by the local African contractors that the Chinese contractors were taking the lion’s share in nearly all the big construction projects.

The authority recently issued a statement saying that the local construction companies are now edged of public infrastructure work to private virtues. The Authority said it would lobby parliament and the House Committee on delegated legislation to have rules aping the Chinese contractors participation in Kenya building industry.

It reported that both house and the team have agreed that the regulation be published after Easter Monday before being tabled by Parliament.

Among the key concerns raised in the regulation is that at least 30 per cent of the monetary value of a project should go to the locals. This will made possible through joint venture or sub contracting.

Some of the Chinese construction firms undertaking major infrastructure projects in Kenya include China Road and Bridge Corporation and China Wu Yi was to constructed to build the Kshs 4.47 billion standard gauge railway line between Kenya’s port city of Mombasa and Nairobi. But already the parliament is demanding detailed account of how this particular tender contract was dished out and has called for a probe team to be setup

China WU WAS last year named the contractors University of Nairobi’s 22 story Building Complex valued at Kshs 2.3 billion ad another Chinese company China Jiangxi International is the main contractor for the proposed tallest building in Nairobi Hazina Trade Center..

The authority regulation dictate that recruitment or employment of foreign technical or skilled workers on such contracts shall be done on occasions when skills by the foreigners are not avoidably locally..The dishing out the tenders for such project must be approved by the regulating authority. Compulsory training of lower carder construction by the NCA upgrade their standards.

All these strings now being attached to construction industry retargeting to put in check the Chinese excesses.

ENDS

KENYA: HOW LAVEMP 2 HAVE CHANGED LIVES OF SIAYA FISHERMEN

To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Agwanda Saye

Residents and fishermen along Kamin Oningo Beach situated off Ndori-Luanda Kotieno Roard within Rarieda Sub County in Siaya County have something to rejoice about courtesy of Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project’s efforts to uplift living standards along the Lake Victoria shores.

To the fishermen long gone are the days when they were used to be marooned in the lake, incur post fishing harvest losses, use of ordinary boats for fishing and as well they don’t use natural fishing gears.

The beach which is run by a management unit headed by Tobias Ochieng’ Katete are thankful to LVEMP 2 for having granted them finance to have a safety motorized boat, fence their beach and improve the livelihoods of the residents within the beaches.

According to Katie , they presently collect harvested fish on time courtesy of the motorized safety boat as well as help in rescue missions in times of distress among the member fishermen within the Lake.

“The motorized safety boat does not only collects the fish from the boats in deep seas but also helps in transportation of the sick along the beaches and the islands as well as rescuing marooned fishermen in the Lake” Katete added.

He adds that previously there were incidences of boat capsizing and killing both passengers and fisher folk as a result of delayed rescue something which is a past now.

He further says that the motorized motor boat is usually on stand by for twenty fours and is ready to help in case of any lake accidents regardless of whether the victims are members or not but of course at subsidized fee which is going for the boats’ operational costs.

The said boat is also used in monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities within the lake incase of any eventuality within the lake.

Katete adds that their objectives seems to have yielded fruits as fish yields have gone up by 50% as their statistics in November 2013 shows that they goat 2800 kg of Nile perch while in October the same year they could only harvest 2130kgs.

The fishermen further have something to cheer about as the Beach Management Unit has made it sure that they remit a certain percentage of their earnings to their savings as well as their safety is guaranteed within the lake as there is a mobile phone hotline’s number which they can use in any form of emergency.

“Our women and youths have not been left behind as we have youths sports and some small errands run by the youths and our women are contracted to ferrying the fish from the boats to our banda.

ja1k0425.txt

Women Advancement Forum 2014 & AWARDS: 25-29 May: Expect great things at WAF 2014 in Banjul!

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Women Advancement Forum 2014 & AWARDS: 25-29 May: Expect great things at WAF 2014 in Banjul!

Women Advancement Forum (WAF) is Africa’s most attended gender conference

BANJUL, Gambia, April 25, 2014/ — Her Excellency (Mrs) Zineb Jammeh, First Lady, The Gambia,

Her Excellency, Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy, Vice President,The Gambia,

Her Excellency, Mrs Sia Koroma, First Lady, Republic of Sierra Leone,

Her Excellency, Madame Marieme Faye Sall, First Lady, Republic of Senegal,

Her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, First Lady Ogun State, Nigeria,

Ms. Almas Jiwani, President, UN Women (National Committee) Canada,

Mr. Peter Metcalfe, President, Foundation for the Development of Africa (FDA) amongst other First Ladies from Africa join WAF 2014

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/waf.png

Watch the video: http://youtu.be/zYUkaL5QCPs

Women Advancement Forum – WAF (http://www.womenadvancementforum.com), Africa’s most attended gender conference has consistently for 3 years made its foot print indelible as the formidable platform for deliberations and formulation of affirmative issues affecting the advancement, empowerment, and sustainable approach to motivating and inspiring women of Africa. Since 2010 WAF has become the annual rallying point for women of different race, age, on issues regarding women economic empowerment in business and global partnerships.

Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim, Global Convener of Women in Logistics & Transport (WiLAT) speaking on the lunching of the Gambia chapter of Women in Logistics & Transport (WiLAT) at WAF 2014 said that it is a welcome trend adopted by WAF and WiLAT Africa because it will go a long way to address the issue of global partnerships among women. Women in Logistics & Transport (WiLAT) South Africa was formed and lunched at the WAF 2013.

At the 2014 WAF over 30 men and women in leadership roles are expected to deliver inspirational and lead delegates through gender advancement and empowerment; amongst them are First Ladies, Ambassadors, Women Business and Entrepreneurs, Professionals etc. Over 500 attendees are expected- with singular purpose of taking affirmative stand on issues on MDGs – empowering the woman, and giving the world a future beyond MDGs.

WAF-mdg and WAF Tribute Awards are coveted awards. These awards have unique value; offering the opportunity to honor distinguished women and men from Africa and around the world at a special Award/Charity gala night.

Women, develop your high level strategic network and business contacts – get introduced to the premium circles of business, politics and professionals of African women. Promote your product at the exhibition where buyers and sellers meet. Confirmed exhibitors are successful made in Africa products and services; developed for African women : dresses made from African fabrics, comestics and beauty products, business brands for franchise etc.

Learn from the best, at the High Performance Negotiation & Communicating Skills pre-conference workshop: find out the specific and essential contents for ambitious women in business, politics and society. Delegates will learn the secrets and insights which will get you to your goals faster!

Book your seat now : Visit www.womenadvancementforum.com

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Women Advancement Forum (WAF).

WAF is one unique African women’s rallying point – expect great thing at WAF 2014 in Banjul!

FOR REGISTRATION/EXHIBITION/SPONSORSHIP & PARTNERSHIP:

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mr. Charles Chikezie
Contact media: +27 837850397
e-mail : charles@womenadvancementforum.com
Website: http://www.womenadvancementforum.com

SOURCE
Women Advancement Forum (WAF)

AU: The Big African Currency Question A Must Read

From: Juma Mzuri

By: Horace Campbell

When the Constitutive Act of the African Union was written to implement the Sirte Declaration, there were three financial institutions that were established to facilitate inter-African trade.
http://www.au2002.gov.za/docs/key_oau/sirte.htm

These were: the African Investment Bank (AIB), the African Monetary Fund (AMF) and the African Central Bank (ACB). It was agreed that it would be necessary to establish a single common currency in Africa in order to speed economic integration.

The planning for the African Monetary Fund and for the African Central Bank was supposed to be a phased process alongside the process of the full unification of Africa, leading towards the Union Government of Africa.

When the Constitutive Act was written, there was no sense among the leaders of Africa that the capitalist crisis would bring down governments in Europe, spawn a Eurozone crisis along with the current currency war that is being waged against the poorer nations.

Since the start of 2014 the world has witnessed a new battle ground as currency speculators put the reserves of poorer countries under pressure. The attacks on the currencies of societies such as Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, India, and others have reached the front pages of international news beyond the financial pages.

What is clear is the predators on Wall Street are now attacking the currencies of the exploited world and nations with the smallest reserves have to dig into their reserves to fend off currency speculators as we are continuing to see the exchange rates of Africa under pressure.

What is less clear in many countries in Africa and other parts of the Developing World, though, is the ways in which this currency war is inextricably linked to the volatility of Wall Street. Neo-liberal interpretations of the world allow policymakers to promote prescriptions that exacerbate capital flight from Africa. The belief in markets is one myth that has suborned technicians in Africa to continue to support the political and military power of the USA. The assertion that the United States has a comparative advantage as an originator of high value quality financial assets can now be dismissed as the justification for supporting the military power of the USA.

It is within this context that it is urgent that Africa begins to work toward a single currency.

One of the prior steps would be to establish the African Currency unit with strict benchmarks for the integration of Africa towards the adoption of a single currency.

Without the establishment of the African Central Bank that functions under democratic control, and a credible African currency the drain of resources will continue. The amount of documented evidence is well known. Research from the African Development Bank (AfDB) revealed in May 2013 that in the three decades from 1980 to 2009, African countries lost up to $1.4trillion in illicit financial flows, known as capital flight. These figures from the African Development Bank are repeating the scholarly findings of James K. Boyce and Léonce Ndikumana that has been around for about twenty years.
http://www.africanglobe.net/business/illicit-financial-flows-pick-africas-pockets/

One of the most urgent political matters for the progressive forces is to end the capital flight from Africa and the seizure of African resources for external forces in alliance with African militarists. Capital flight from Africa ensures that there are no resources for infrastructure, for social development and programs and to provide for the needs of the majority of the African peoples.

Progressives and those working for the full unification of Africa should be promoting the process of establishing a common currency in Africa so that Africans no longer keep their foreign currency reserves in the US dollar, Euro or the pound sterling.

Africans can learn a lot from what is being done in the ASEAN societies where the first step of monetary integration has been placed on the table in the form of the Chiang Mai Initiative. This Initiative has laid the basis for a number of ventures such as bilateral swaps to protect the societies of East Asia from the Wall Street foreign exchange traders and to enhance regional trade. The planning for the Asian Currency Unit is following the lines of creating a firewall in Asia to protect the societies from the currency wars being waged by currency traders.

Within Asean states bilateral pacts to swap and repurchase central-bank reserves have prevented the kind of raiding that went on at the time of the Asian financial crisis 1997-1998. These societies in Asia do not agree politically and have many differences but they are all agreed to establish various initiatives to ensure that their societies are not bullied by the IMF or the World Bank. Moreover, they have learnt the harsh lessons from 1997 when George Soros and other derivative traders undermined their currencies.

The establishment of the Asian Monetary Fund and the Asian Bond Fund have been supported to escape the surveillance and strictures of the International Monetary Fund. Thus, the Asian Bond Market, the Asian Monetary Fund and the Chiang Mai Initiative are all steps on the road towards the single currency in Asia. In order to seal this pathway, they have now launched the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is to be concluded by 2015.

In short, the citizens of Asia are now waiting for the collapse of the dollar to disengage from the International Monetary Fund and the raiding of currencies by Wall Street Traders.

Despite the clear planning for Free Trade Areas in Asia, the levels of integration in Africa at the level of the people are in many ways more advanced than Asia.

Traders in differing parts of Africa, especially women traders from West Africa, have demonstrated a certain ease in traversing the continent and doing business. The customs and immigration laws across Africa continue to hinder the free flow of goods, services and people. International capital and international capitalist can move freely across the lines drawn in Africa as borders, but the so called leaders continue to try to enforce laws that prevent the freedom of movement while they and their family illicitly export needed reserves from Africa.

The majority of African governments keep their reserves in dollars. Their membership of the IMF dictates the terms of their financial engagement with the international capitalist system. The US devalues the dollar by printing US$65 billion every month. Africans are losing in a number of ways but two are most blatant.

First, many African states keep their reserves in dollars and these are devalued under the Quantitative Easing of the USA dollar which permits the Federal Reserve of the USA to simply offload dollars on the world. In the past three years the US government has been printing over a trillion dollars every year.

Second, foreign exchange reserves have to be used as a shock absorber during times of volatility when Central Banks have to use their reserves to buffer their currencies against sharp decline by buying even more US dollars to support their currency. Another hidden side of the super exploitation of Africa emerges in the form of those central banks that are hedging against the dollar. Many of the oil producing states of the Middle East are hoarding gold because of the currency wars and the devaluation of the dollar.

These societies support front persons in Africa that abet the flow of gold and diamonds out of Africa.

Four reasons Chinese companies thrive abroad

From: Yona Maro

Despite the global economic and financial crises of recent years, corporate China continues its push for globalization. China now ranks third in the world for outward FDI (2012 data), with its fastest revenue growth over the period 2008?2012 coming from operations in North America and Europe. The top Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasing their overseas assets and overseas employment at rapid rates, and seeing greater revenue increases from overseas operations than from their Chinese ones.

Moreover, today’s Chinese globalizers have even more aggressive plans for geographic and functional expansion in the near future. A survey by the World Economic Forum and Booz & Company of 125 leading Chinese globalizers shows these companies planning to expand in the next five years in virtually every region of the world and to expand their functional footprints outside of China as well.

Our research on the success of leading Chinese globalizers has also found, however, that increased effort at globalization does not necessarily lead to increased output. Furthermore, companies with similar, perfectly sound globalization strategies do not necessarily achieve similar results. What distinguishes a group of companies the report identifies as Chinese Globalization Champions from the rest of the pack is their ability to systematically tackle various operational challenges in the globalization process.

In analyzing these challenges and how Chinese Globalization Champions overcome them, we developed a reference framework for a global operating model, a framework with four building blocks: Culture, Governance, Processes, and People. Successful execution in these four areas, in turn, allows Chinese Globalization Champions to address three sets of polarities or tensions that challenge all globalizing companies: Home country & Host Country, Consistency & Innovation, and Control & Empowerment.

Our research on how Chinese Globalization Champions successfully manage these three polarities in their operating models reveals several best practices in the areas of Culture, Governance, Processes, and People from which other Chinese globalizers can draw lessons.

Link:
http://forumblog.org/2014/04/china-companies-abroad-globalization/


Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Tanzania: Revealed: Robbery at Barclays branch was faked

From: Fakhi Karume

Last week’s “robbery” at Barclays Bank’s Kinondoni branch, where armed gangsters reportedly grabbed Sh300 million, was faked, The Citizen can authoritatively report.

Impeccable sources close to the ongoing investigation into the incident confided in The Citizen that the “raid” by three men was planned and executed to cover up the theft of tens of millions of shillings that had previously taken place at the branch.

Some employees at the branch are said to have colluded with rogue police officers to fake a robbery in an attempt to hide the truth about the theft. The workers, including a senior official at the branch, are among those being held for questioning.

According to our inquiries, detectives are also looking for a police officer from Oyster Bay Police Station, who disappeared as investigators zeroed in on him.

The officer vanished after learning that one of the suspects had told detectives about the stage-managed “raid” and the role of the fugitive.

Yesterday, Dar es Salaam police boss Suleiman Kova declined to give details about the progress of the investigation, saying he would do so today at a news conference.

Asked about the whereabouts of the fugitive police officer, Mr Kova said: “We are still gathering and receiving more information and will give a comprehensive statement at a media briefing later.”

Earlier, Kinondoni Regional Police Commander Camillius Wambura told The Citizen that briefings on the incident would henceforth be provided by Mr Kova.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Barclays head of Marketing and Communications Neema-Rose Singo told The Citizen that she had nothing to say as it was a public holiday.

According to eyewitnesses, the “robbery” took place at around 9.30am last Tuesday and involved three men, who had arrived at the bank on a motorcycle. One remained outside while his accomplices entered the branch and walked out a few minutes later with a big bag that was purportedly stuffed with hundreds of millions of shillings.

The three men jumped on their motorcycle and sped away. Police arrived at the scene about 20 minutes later.

No shot was fired and the casual manner of the “robbers” raised eyebrows.

A day after the incident, some employees at the bank and several other people were arrested and their mobile phones confiscated by police as part of the investigation.

The source said the suspects were questioned separately in the presence of Mr Wambura and other senior police officers.

According to the source, drama unfolded when one of the bank’s employees volunteered to spill the beans as soon as he entered the interrogation room.

“He pleaded with investigators not to be too hard on him as he was ready to reveal the truth.

“At that juncture, one of the police officers (name withheld) asked to be allowed to leave the room, saying he was not feeling well.

“As soon as the officer had left, the Barclays employee said the officer who had just gone out knew everything about the plot,” the source said.

The employee told investigators that a huge amount of money had already been stolen at the branch and the “robbery” was a way of covering up the theft. He said the police officer in question knew everything beforehand.

Noticing that the officer was taking too long to return to the interrogation room, his boss telephoned him, only to be told by the officer that he had gone home because he was not feeling well.

When his bosses decided to trace him to his home, the officer was nowhere to be seen, and the gun he was carrying was found abandoned at a corner of the police building.

Last week, Ms Singo said the bank and its employees would cooperate with police in their endeavour to get to the bottom of the incident. The branch re-opened a day after the “raid”.

Police are under the spotlight again after a gang raided the Kariakoo branch of Habib Bank and reportedly made off with Sh1 billion last August.

Police have yet to arrest a suspect after what Mr Kova said was an incident that had all the hallmarks of an inside job.

The casual manner of the “robbers”, who nonchalantly strolled in and out of the bank in broad daylight without bothering to hide their identities, has fuelled complicity theories.

Some 48 hours later, police still seemed to have no idea who they were.

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Revealed–Robbery-at-Barclays-branch-was-faked/-/1840392/2288192/-/tdpfxkz/-/index.html

Africa: EnergyNet recognised by British Prime Minister and H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in Birthday Honours

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

EnergyNet recognised by British Prime Minister and H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in Birthday Honours

EnergyNet organises a global portfolio of investment meetings, conferences and infrastructure events focused specifically on the power and industrial sectors across Africa

LONDON, United-Kingdom, April 22, 2014/ — EnergyNet (http://www.energynet.co.uk) is delighted to announce that on the advice of the British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will present EnergyNet Ltd. the Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, the UK’s highest accolade for business success.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/energynet.png

This award has been made in recognition of EnergyNet’s international success over the last three years uniting public and private sector leaders under one common goal; to increase investment success in Africa’s power sector, promoting economic development and job creation.

Simon Gosling, MD, EnergyNet says – “Over the past few years we have been witness to a political landscape that has shifted dramatically, where Ministers from Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa and beyond have had to adapt to meet the needs of both ‘the people’ demanding increased access to energy and also the international investors that will help to deliver that energy.

As a reflection of this, EnergyNet’s portfolio has grown whilst remaining committed to our highly focused industry demographic, building strategic alliances with key businesses that are shaping the investment landscape across Africa, including; Norton Rose Fulbright, Aggreko, KenGen, APR Energy, GE, Schneider Electric, IIPELP, Copperbelt Energy Corp, TANESCO, National Treasury South Africa, CADFund, Globeleq, Symbion Power, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, OPIC, USAID, MCC, IFC, AFC, World Bank and AfDB.

It is these leaders who are laying the foundations for future generations and that are the champions for tomorrow’s success. However, it is the entrepreneurs of tomorrow that will create the biggest transformation. They will have the opportunity to squander what today’s industrialists build or to take continent forward to a 23rd century where Africa is King.

To support those entrepreneurs and industrialists of tomorrow we have established the ‘EnergyNet Student Engagement Initiative’ bringing legal, finance and engineering students to our international forums to promote capacity building and their own awareness of ‘Africa’s industrial potential’. It will also enable them to gain a deeper insight into the nuances of doing international business across all foreign continents which for us as a content provider is hugely important for the development of international trade for Africa.

It is an exceptional honour to have one’s achievements recognised. It is a reflection of our partners that have consistently supported EnergyNet and our values over the years and that have invested heavily (beyond just financial investment) ‘turning the lights on in this incredible continent’.

Inspiration comes in many forms, today we have been inspired to do more and to be better, but equally important, we have been inspired to remain resolute in our business strategy, linking the impact of power generation to job creation.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd.

For more information please contact:

Amy Offord, Senior Marketing Executive
EnergyNet Ltd.
T: +44 20 7384 8068
E: amy.offord@energynet.co.uk
V. http://www.energynet.co.uk

About EnergyNet:

Who we are:

EnergyNet Ltd. (http://www.energynet.co.uk) organises a global portfolio of investment meetings, conferences and infrastructure events focused specifically on the power and industrial sectors across Africa.

Proven to engage the decision makers and technical directors behind Africa’s most exciting economies, EnergyNet places economic development at the heart of industrial solutions, helping to generate a more stable and viable investment option for your organisation in Africa. We challenge the way your business does business in Africa; the information we provide isn’t available on the internet and isn’t out of a dusty old textbook.

Whilst EnergyNet is an Africa focused team of researchers and experienced power conference professionals, we are owned and supported globally by the UK’s largest conference and exhibitions organisation, Clarion Events. With vast resources and over 500 people covering defence, energy and utilities in Brazil, Germany, London, New York, San Francisco, South Africa, Turkey, Abu Dhabi and Singapore, EnergyNet Ltd and Clarion Events are committed to providing global insights and local partnerships.

What we do:

Knowledge, passion, detailed research and commercial thinking drive our daily activities so that our content is always ahead of the curve and our speakers are relevant and at the cutting edge of sector developments. We need to be proud of what we deliver.

Trust and confidence shape our relationships and we appreciate that we often represent major corporations and their brands. globally. The responsibility of caring for each of our clients’ brands is something that we take very seriously.

Most importantly, we listen to stakeholders from both the public and private sectors so that we can react better to the changing investment climates around the world.

EnergyNet delivers local strategies, local content and local insights for global businesses.

How can Energynet support your P&L and help limit your risk:

EnergyNet works with governments, energy and infrastructure ministries and national utilities across Africa. We work with our partners to understand their strategic needs and bring together solution providers to support those goals.

We focus on core industry providers including private power developers, investment banks and DFIs, Lawyers, credible consultants, EPCs and immediate power providers to support contract delivery and project success.

It’s not so much about the ‘global’ economies as the ‘local’ economies:

We understand what it takes to work in challenging environment to generate, transmit and distribute power, and how easily millions of dollars are wasted because of changing politics, out of date industry data or simply cultural nuances. We will support your business development by connecting you with stakeholders that provide you direction and technical insight and will work directly with you to answer the most pressing questions challenging your business.

By attending one of the EnergyNet Forum’s or Powering Africa: Series’, you’ll only meet people relevant to major power and industrial projects, including; national and local government, industrial cluster and free trade zones, major power users such mining, ports and international shipping companies as well as the legal, finance and technical solution providers behind many of Africa’s power projects.

EnergyNet has proved over the last 15yrs that by remaining focused, you can build a network that can find solutions in the most challenging of environments – “It’s all about what you know and who you know!”

SOURCE
EnergyNet Ltd.

EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS ELECTED NEW EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging from Arusha says the East African Business Council has elected Felix Mosha, a Tanzanian, as its new Executive Chairman for 2014/2015.

Mosha now succeeds Virnal Shah a Kenyan who had served the umbrella of private sector organization since May 2013.

Mosha, who is an Economist, will be tasked with ensuring that non-tariff barriers are eliminated as they are main uniting factor to the growth of the private sector and are slowing down the integration process.

The region also needs to speed up the integration process for the benefit of its citizens.

Mosha has outlined key privileges that he will focus on during his tenure.

They include free movement of persons across the region, movement of services, ensuring food security across the region, elimination of NTBs, free and speedy acquisition of work permits, domestic taxes, harmonisation, improving EABC viability and mobility enhancement.

Other Board members elected were Vice Chairperson Nyumbere of Burundi, Olive Kigunga of Uganda and Denis Kabera of Rwanda.

A report released by the EAC Secretariat that cover he past 55 NTRS were resolved from 36 that were resolved in 2012.

The World Bank doing business 2013 report highlighted NTBS as one of the key challenges the region faced with. Inadequate infrastructure, particularly roads, railways and energy, have also hindered the process.

Established in 1992, the EABC is the apex body of business associations of the private sector and corporates from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. It also aims to protect the environment conducive to business and growth.

Meanwhile other new items came out of Arusha based secretariat of the EAC syas that a push to remove unnecessary trade barriers and develop key infrastructure progrests has driven trade between East African countries to new heights.

New data by the United nations (EAC) ensurer that between 2000 and 2012.

Ends

EAST AFRICAN HEADS AGREED TO CONSTRUCT NEW OIL REFINERY IN UGANDA

Business feature By Leo Odera Omolo

East Africa regional leaders have agreed to set up a regional oil refinery in Hoima town in western Uganda and a pipeline in Lamu on the Kenyan coast.

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda struck the deal at a recent meeting held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatt, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda were in attendance during the mini-summit which was held on April 6 , 2014.

Discussion centered on the oil refinery at Hoima stated presidential joint strategic communications unit issued after the meeting.

The regional leaders also agreed on joint construction of a crude oil pipeline from Hoima to Lamu in Kenya.

The regional refinery and a crude oil pipeline to Kenya’s seaport of Lamu are among a raft of agreements that are covered in a trilateral pact signed last year.

The pact, however, left room for the three states to decide whether to pull resources for the refinery and how to do so.

Uganda and Kenya have both confirmed commercial quantities of recently discovered oil and both are currently sprucing up their midstream capacities

Kenya closed down its aging Changamwe based oil refinery last year citing inefficiencies that made locally refined fuels more costly than imported finished products

The assets of Kenya petroleum Refinery Ltd were also found to be unstable in refining the waxy oil discovered in both countries. The Changamwe based facility was built to handle urban demand and oil from the middle east. As a result, regional leaders have been favorable to pipeline and refinery options when the oil find came online.

Experts, according to media reports, have however warned that a pipeline for waxy oil is likely to be a very expensive undertaking. Concerned states therefore, will not only have to invest in an …heating system to keep the crude flowing, but also ensure its security from sabotage.

South Sudan and Ethiopia are also expected to join the initiative at a later stage as it professes flow at the Lamu port.

Meanwhile EAC countries traded more with each other than with any other trading blocs on the continent, boosting an average intra regional export as a percentage by destination of 19.5 per cent.

Comparatively, southern African Development Community (SADC), is second with an intra regional trade export average of 10.9 per cent, followed by intergovernmental authority on Development, at 0.92 per cent, and West African Economic community (ECOWAS), coming fourth at 8.6 per cent.

However intra EAC trade still suffered hiccups arising from several barriers evicted by member state. For example the latest scorecards on EAC trade launched in February show that Tanzania and Burundi have retained the highest number of restriction to cross boarder trade and flow of foreign direction investment in the East African Region.

Since the common market protocol was implemented in July 2010, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania have introduced at least 10 restrictions on the movement of capital in service. Several new restrictions have been introduced – – at least 10 restrictions to cross border on the movement of capital In service. Several new restrictions have been introduced or carried over into laws.

And for the case of goods, since…the enactment of the custom reunion on January 1, 2005, 51 non tariff barriers arising from regulatory measures by governments were identified between 2008 and June 2003.

The UNECA argues that the average intra regional export members are low and more needs to be done to help push them up.

While in the recent past there has been a focus on approving infrastructure by EAC heads of states, it remains a major aim to increasing intra- organization trade. Both roads and railway network are still not well established to allow the easy movement of goods and services.

UNEAC further says that intra- regional trade promotes cohesion and strengthens the barganing power of African countries as a critical of factor when negating trade agreements with rich nations.

The deal which increased intra-regional trade would also help Africa gain more from its measures. Usually the developed world buys raw materials from African Nations to manufacture goods and later sell to the continent at exravegant prices.

“Dependence on commodity prices and in some cases mineral extraction makes growth vulnerable to external shocks,“ says Andrew Mold, a senior economic affairs officer at the sub-regional office for Eastern Africa.

Economics and observers believe a diversified economy will help East African countries more from a traditional agriculture based economy to one industrial one

Ends

World Investment and Political Risk 2013

From: Yona Maro

For a second straight year, FDI to developing economies remains soft, still below previous peaks (figure 1). After declining from the 2011 peak of $628 billion to $604 billion last year, 2013 is expected to see a 2 percent increase to an estimated $617 billion—a further increase is expected only in 2015. While there has been explosive FDI growth since the turn of the century—FDI was 337 percent higher in 2011 than in 2000—the rebound of 2009-10 looks more distant. FDI now appears stable and at high levels, but with persistent economic concerns and stuttering growth, it does not look likely to return to the growth rates of the mid 2000s anytime soon.

At a sub-regional level, trends are more diverse. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have shown healthy growth this year, achieving 19 percent and 21 percent increases in FDI inflows, respectively. Other developing regions are experiencing declines, particularly Europe and Central Asia, where FDI flows are expected to fall by 16 percent for the year. The other key success stories of recent years – increases in FDI from developing economies and South-South investment—continued. FDI outflows from developing economies reached a record level of $164 billion in 2012, representing a record share of 12 percent of global FDI outflows.
Link
http://viewer.zmags.com/static/production.zmags/3Wv_pdf_dd6bd5a095a2683462d61a8f6606eefa


Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

KENYA: CIRCUSES REPORTED AT MIWAMI SUGAR MILL AS HIRED GOONS CHASE AWAY INVESTORS AND NEMA OFFICIALS

reports Leo Odera Omolo

THERE were circuses and near physical combat on Tuesday this week when a group of local land foreign investors toured the facility for the purpose of making assessment about its viability ahead of its privatization ,which is scheduled in two months time.

The investors were accompanied by the officials from NEMA, but they were confronted at the gate cf the facility by rowdy goons masquerading as local farmers and stakeholders who threatened to beat them up forcing the group to cut short and call off their mission.

It has since been established that a cartel of wealthy Kisumu based Indians with the vested interest in Miwani Sugar Mills had held a secret night meeting the with the goons previous night at undisclosed venue within Miwani and instructed the youth not to allow any other groups of potential investors to access the facility.

Mi9wani sugar Mills the oldest sugar factory in Kenya which was the first to be established in the country in 1927 by an Australian white settler farmer is currently closed. It went burst in 2001 and was placed under the joint official protective official receivership together with the Muhoroni Sugar MILLS by the government which is the sole shareholder.

The goons acting at the behest of their invisible hirer masters insisting that there should be no visit to the facility before it was advertised for privatization and were adamant not to allow any such visit. They also threatened to burn down the vehicles that conveyed the investors to the facility unless the owners made a quick about-turn.

Businessmen intending to make their bid for Miwani Sugar Mills are said to be very much scared after getting the information about the expected cut-throat competition involving the hiring of criminal thugs. \they have expressed the fear that unless the government moves much faster with speed and advertise when it plan to off-load its shares as all the five public owned sugar factories in Western Kenya the possibility of the exercise being sabotaged by the interested parties cannot be ruled out.

All the previous attempt to have Miwani sold to private entrepreneurs have always hit the snag. The attempts were followed with series of court cases filed on flimsy grounds deliberately to have the exercise time barred. When the cases were finally over and determined, some unnamed officials at the lands Ministry corruptly and deliberately withheld the facility’s land title deeds pre-empting the transactions.

The major source of all the commotions is the 10,000 hectares Miwani nucleus estate farm, which some wealthy cartel of RICH Indians tycoon based in Miwani and Kisumu have focused their attention and hell-bent grab through the hook or crook. These cartels of crooks have been putting all sorts of barriers on the path of Miwani Sugar Mll’s privatization, while its owner which is the government seemed to be toothless bull=dog on the issue.

The carcasses which erupted at the facility is the clear indication that something fishy is going on, which calls for the government action.

Ends

Innovation Prize for Africa 2014 Finalists Announced

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

From the World’s First Injectable Skeleton Regeneration Protein to a Domestic Waste Biogas System, Ten Africans Are Innovating the Future of the Continent

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, April 10, 2014/ — The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) (http://www.africaninnovation.org) announced the finalists of the prestigious Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2014 (http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org). Ten African innovators have created practical solutions to some of the continent’s most intractable problems, from a domestic waste biogas system to a wafer matrix for paediatric antiretroviral (ARV) drug treatment. Chosen from almost 700 applications from 42 countries, the finalists for the IPA 2014 represent Africans’ potential to address the challenges that are unique to the continent.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ipa-1.png

The winners of the IPA 2014 will be announced at an awards ceremony on 5 May in Abuja, Nigeria, where keynote speaker, the Honourable Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of finance, will highlight the importance of innovation to unlock Africa’s potential for sustainable development and economic growth. The winner will receive USD 100 000 for the best innovation based on marketability, originality, scalability, social impact and clear business potential. A runner up will receive USD 25 000 for the best commercial potential and another winner will receive USD 25 000 as a special prize for innovation with the highest social impact. Prior to the awards ceremony, a roundtable featuring innovation experts will take place, to address the theme “A Path to Building Industrial Nation Skillsets in Africa”.

“As global leaders gather for the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa to discuss approaches to inclusive growth and job creation, the IPA 2014 innovators demonstrate that the best way to achieve equitable economic growth for all Africans is to invest in local innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, founder of the African Innovation Foundation and the IPA.

From South Africa to Niger, the IPA 2014 finalists are:

• Ashley Uys (South Africa)

OculusID Impairment Screening

The OculusID Impairment Screening device is designed to measure pupil response to light emissions. The pupil response can then be measured against pre-determined benchmarks. These benchmarks are applied to measure substance abuse, physiological defects and even fatigue. The device is a far less invasive procedure than existing methods.

• Daniel Gitau Thairu (Kenya)

Domestic Waste Biogas System

The Domestic Waste Biogas System is a new type of biogas digester which utilizes any material capable of decomposing instead of relying on animal dung to generate gas. Materials that can be used include dirty water, leftover food, spoiled grain, and vegetable and fruit peelings. This makes biogas usable even by households that cannot afford animals.

• Elise Rasel Cloete (South Africa)

GMP Traceability Management Software CC

This software is programmed to capture, store and trace data about livestock and enables data to be captured in real-time. The data is then stored in an ear tag placed on livestock and backed up on a remote server.

• Joshua Okello (Kenya)

WinSenga

This innovation is a low-cost mobile phone based antenatal diagnosis kit that captures foetal heart beat sounds and provides diagnosis which is sent to the mother through SMS. The data can also be uploaded to cloud storage.

• Logou Minsob (Togo)

Foufoumix

This is a device designed to replace the mortar and pestles used in preparing the popular West African dish, foufou. The “FOUFOUMIX ” is a small electrical food processor that allows generates discreet, quick and hygienic foufou in 8 minutes, substantially reducing the amount of time needed to prepare the dish, while also enhancing the hygienic conditions during production.

• Dr. Nicolaas Duneas (South Africa)

Altis Osteogenic Bone Matrix (Altis OBM™)

Altis OBM is the world’s first injectable bone-graft product containing a complex mix of various bone growth compounds derived from porcine (pig). It is used to stimulate the host’s own tissue regeneration system in a way that leads to the healing of a fracture or bone void, much in the same way as occurs in a normal unassisted fracture healing processes.

• Maman Abdou Kane (Niger)

Horticultural tele irrigation

The “Horticultural Tele-Irrigation system is a technological process that allows growers to remotely control their market garden irrigation system through a mobile or landline regardless of geographic location.

• Melesse Temesgen (Ethiopia)

Aybar BBM

The Aybar BBM is a low-cost farming device that can be used by farmers to plough fields that are usually waterlogged and helps them easily drain the water. This turns soils or fields that were otherwise unavailable for farming into high yielding fields.

• Sulaiman Bolarinde Famro (Nigeria)

Farmking Mobile Multi-crop Processor

The innovation uses centrifugal forces to process cassava, sweet potatoes, soy, she-nuts, grains and cereals. It helps to separate the tubers from liquid, particles and impurities/toxic elements. The extractor is designed to replace the present crude fermentation and pressing technology which is extremely slow and wasteful and offers limited output and profitability. The extractor reduces a process that normally takes 3 – 4 days into a 5 minute process offering higher quality product outputs.

• Viness Pillay (South Africa)

WaferMatTM

WaferMatTM is a tasty paediatric formulation of ARV therapy in the form of a wafer that dissolves within 3 seconds of being placed in the mouth. The wafer makes the process of administering the drug to children easier and also makes absorption more efficient.

The AIF believes that the best solutions to the challenges Africans face on a daily basis can and will come from Africans themselves and innovation is the key. The IPA selection committee represents private equity investors, seed funders, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, innovation catalysts and development leaders who are looking for ideas that move Africa forward. The call for applications for IPA 2015 will be announced in July. For detailed information of competition categories, conditions of entry, and submission details, please visit: http://www.innovationprizeforafrica.org. For highlights and more information, follow the IPA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/IPAprize) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/InnovationPrizeforAfrica).

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA).

Contacts

Mimi Kalinda, Weber Shandwick

Phone + 27 72 688 1250

Email mkalinda@webershandwick.com

Pauline Mujawamariya, AIF

Phone + 41 44 515 5466

Email p.mujawamariya@africaninnovation.org

About IPA

The Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) is an award founded by the African Innovation Foundation (http://www.africaninnovation.org). It mobilizes African innovators and entrepreneurs by providing a total of USD 150 000 to winners who deliver market-oriented solutions for African-led development. The IPA honours and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or cost savings in Africa. The prize also encourages private equity investors, government and development leaders to invest across sectors and build a climate that fuels Africa’s economic growth. For more information visit http://www.InnovationPrizeforAfrica.org. For additional media background visit http://www.AfricanInnovationNews.org.

SOURCE

Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA)

Tanzania: Sixth Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival

From: Yona Maro
– – – –

SIXTH JULIUS NYERERE
INTELLECTUAL FESTIVAL
9TH – 11TH APRIL 2014

NKRUMAH HALL
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
YOU ARE WELCOME

Professor Patrick Lumumba’s
Lecture will be on :
REFLECTIONS ON LIBERATING THE
MIND FOR AFRICA’S TRANSFORMATION
09 April 2014 at 11:10 AM

Prof. Herbert Chimhundu’s Lecture will be on:
“GLOBALIZATION AND THE
STRUGGLE FOR CULTURAL
SPACE: Proposing an Agency Role
for the African Academy”
11 April 2014 at 9:00 AM

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v3wLnWL72F0/Uz13xOSAucI/AAAAAAAAFi0/iIYlT27jmC0/s1600/poster_02.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y18v1v6BQuI/Uz14ItpnViI/AAAAAAAAFi8/6FuBegZ2Sww/s1600/UDSM_Festival_Poster_02+(1).jpg

An Exploration of Best Practice in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Development

From: Yona Maro

This discussion paper captures best practice in the use of mobile phones and other low-cost communications technologies through a series of interviews with experts and practitioners. Interviewees include:

• The head of the mobile solutions team at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) who describes the agency’s efforts to use mobile phones to pay teachers in Afghanistan, reducing money lost to graft;

• The founder of FrontlineSMS, one of the most widely scaled mobile text messaging-based information sharing program, who provides his top 10 tips for effective use of technology for social good;

• The chair of the Health Board of The United Methodist Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who describes how using FrontlineSMS is changing the way information is shared in the context of acute health emergencies, such as cholera outbreaks; and

• The program manager of the Thomas Food Project in Thomas, Haiti, who describes how low cost solar power is being used to power a new computer center and generate income that supports a school feeding program.

Link:
http://www.umcom.org/site/c.mrLZJ9PFKmG/b.9031619/k.4677/Using_Technology_for_Social_Good.htm

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Cybercrime: Majority of njRAT C&C servers are found in the Middle East and North Africa – Symantec

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
Date: Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 5:29 AM
Subject: Cybercrime: Majority of njRAT C&C servers are found in the Middle East and North Africa – Symantec
To: “News Release – African Press Organization (APO)”

APO content is copyright free and can be republished at will

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Symantec: “Simple njRAT Fuels Nascent Middle East Cybercrime Scene”

Majority of njRAT C&C servers are found in the Middle East and North Africa

DUBAI, UAE, April 2, 2014/ — Symantec (http://www.symantec.com) has observed the growth of indigenous groups of attackers in the Middle East, centered around a simple piece of malware known as njRAT (http://bit.ly/1i1Ps9m). While njRAT is similar in capability to many other remote access tools (RATs), what is interesting about this malware is that it is developed and supported by Arabic speakers, resulting in its popularity among attackers in the region.

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Figure: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=940 (Majority of njRAT C&C servers are found in the Middle East and North Africa)

The malware can be used to control networks of computers, known as botnets. While most attackers using njRAT appear to be engaged in ordinary cybercriminal activity, there is also evidence that several groups have used the malware to target governments in the region.

Symantec analyzed 721 samples of njRAT and uncovered a fairly large number of infections, with 542 control-and-command (C&C) server domain names found and 24,000 infected computers worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of the C&C servers were located in regions in the Middle East and North Africa, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories and Libya.

njRAT is not new on the cybercrime scene. It has been publicly available since June 2013 and three versions have already been released, all of which can be propagated through infected USB keys or networked drives.

The main reason for njRAT’s popularity in the Middle East and North Africa is a large online community providing support in the form of instructions and tutorials for the malware’s development. The malware’s author also appears to hail from the region.

Most njRAT users seem to be home users who are interested in online pranks such as spying on webcams or taking screenshots of victims’ computers. However, infections have also been recorded on the networks of a number of governments and political activists.

Symantec has identified 487 groups of attackers mounting attacks using njRAT. These attacks appear to have different motivations, which can be broadly classed as hacktivism, information theft, and botnet building.

As large numbers of Middle Eastern attackers continue to use njRAT due to its accessibility, Symantec expects that they will try to find new ways of obfuscating the malware to evade detection by antivirus software. They are likely to continue to use njRAT since an Arabic speaking community and its Arabic author continue to provide support for the malware.

Symantec anticipates that such groups will eventually depart from using publicly available tools like njRAT and begin to develop their own tools and more advanced RATs for cyberattacks.

Symantec detects this threat as Backdoor.Ratenjay (http://bit.ly/1i1Ps9m)..

For more information, please click here: http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/simple-njrat-fuels-nascent-middle-east-cybercrime-scene

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Symantec Corporation.

Media contact:
Katie Beck
Katie_Beck@symantec.com
+971 55 300 61 22

About Symantec
Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC) (http://www.symantec.com) is an information protection expert that helps people, businesses and governments seeking the freedom to unlock the opportunities technology brings – anytime, anywhere. Founded in April 1982, Symantec, a Fortune 500 company, operating one of the largest global data-intelligence networks, has provided leading security, backup and availability solutions for where vital information is stored, accessed and shared. The company’s more than 21,500 employees reside in more than 50 countries. Ninety-nine percent of Fortune 500 companies are Symantec customers. In fiscal 2013, it recorded revenues of $6.9 billion. To learn more go to http://www.symantec.com or connect with Symantec at: go.symantec.com/socialmedia.

Note to Editors: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec, the Symantec Logo and the Checkmark logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE
Symantec Corporation