Category Archives: Economic Development

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

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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

Africa: Meeting With South Sudanese Minister Awan Riak

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From: U.S. Department of State

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 10, 2014

Secretary of State John Kerry met today with the South Sudanese Minister in the Office of the President Honorable Awan Riak.

The Secretary noted his grave concern with respect to the situation there, and reaffirmed our support for the people of South Sudan and our readiness to stand with those who take bold steps to lead the country out of the crisis. He raised the need for the Government of South Sudan immediately to stop the fighting, provide full humanitarian access, and cease harassment and threats against the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The Secretary emphasized the importance of full cooperation with the African Union Commission of Inquiry and the U.S. Government’s support for justice, reconciliation, and accountability for human rights violations and abuses.

They had a frank discussion of the way forward to heal the wounds of the violent conflict that broke out on December 15, and how to create a durable and inclusive path to peace. The Secretary noted that he continues to monitor events in South Sudan closely and called for progress toward inclusive, broad-based negotiations led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The Secretary emphasized the U.S. Government’s continued call for South Sudan’s leaders to prioritize the interests of the South Sudanese people over their own personal or ethnic interests.

The United States will continue to stand with the people of South Sudan and with those who take the courageous – and necessary – steps to bring peace, stability and good governance to South Sudan, so that its people can return to their livelihoods and its economy can flourish. But we will not stand by while the hopes of a nation are held hostage to short-sighted and destructive actors.

On April 3, the President authorized targeted sanctions that can and will be used against those who contribute to conflict by undermining democratic processes or institutions or by obstructing the peace process and against those who commit human rights abuses in South Sudan.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
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Innovation Prize for Africa 2014 Finalists Announced

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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)

USA, D.o.S.: Press Releases: Joint Statement of the Second Session of the United States – Kingdom of Morocco Strategic Dialogue

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From: U.S. Department of State
04/04/2014 10:51 AM EDT
Joint Statement of the Second Session of the United States – Kingdom of Morocco Strategic Dialogue
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 4, 2014

At the second session of the United States-Morocco Strategic Dialogue today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Foreign Minister Dr. Salaheddine Mezouar and Secretary of State John Kerry built on the substantial and ambitious roadmap agreed to by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI and President Obama in Washington in November 2013, pledging to use our strong strategic partnership to advance shared priorities of a stable, democratic, and prosperous Maghreb, Africa, and Middle East.

Support for Democratic Reforms

The Secretary reiterated the United States’ appreciation for the action and the leadership of His Majesty the King in deepening democracy and promoting economic progress and human development during the last decade. In this context, the Minister and the Secretary discussed the ongoing implementation of Morocco’s 2011 constitution and how the United States can support the strengthening of Morocco’s democratic institutions, civil society, and a culture of human rights. The Secretary welcomed the Government’s endorsement of a law eliminating military tribunals for civilians, another important step in implementing His Majesty the King’s vision of Morocco that conforms to international norms and best practices with regards to human rights. The Secretary also noted the United States’ Government’s continuing interest in the outcome of Morocco’s National Dialogue on Civil Society and the development of an enabling environment for dialogue between government and citizen. The Secretary commended the Minister for Morocco’s continuing efforts to implement sweeping changes to its asylum and immigration system, with positive implications for legal and illegal migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The two parties reaffirmed their intent to work together to promote human rights globally at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Economic Cooperation

The Minister and the Secretary discussed the benefits of maintaining an attractive business climate for investment in Morocco. They acknowledged the concrete measures undertaken by Morocco to become eligible to join the Open Government Partnership, the importance of Morocco as a trade and investment platform for North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and United States’ support to improve the quality and relevance of Morocco’s basic education. They lauded the signing of a $38 million agreement to provide Moroccan youth with the workforce development tools for a better transition from education to employment. They discussed the recently concluded Second United States-Morocco Business Development Conference, which strengthened business-to-business ties in the service of expanding trade and capitalizing on the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, promoting investment, collaborating on energy issues, and encouraging regional economic integration through the establishment of effective partnerships. Both parties look forward to Morocco’s hosting the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Summit before the end of this year and the important opportunity that represents to build a culture of entrepreneurship to create employment opportunities for youth across the region. They welcomed the positive preparatory work for a 2nd Millennium Challenge Corporation compact.

Engagement within Africa

The Secretary underlined the leadership of His Majesty the King to promote social development and economic prosperity within Africa, reaffirmed our desire to work jointly to ensure stability and human development in Africa through a comprehensive and coordinated approach including food security, access to energy, and trade promotion. In this context, the United States Administration looks forward to Morocco’s active participation in the United States-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC in August.

Educational and Cultural Cooperation

The Minister and the Secretary discussed further cooperation to promote mutual understanding and dialogue in Morocco and throughout the region. They commended the work of the Moroccan American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE), and expressed enthusiasm for the contribution that the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative will make. The Secretary noted that he will be swearing in over 100 new Peace Corps volunteers today, in the latest renewal of a historic and fruitful partnership bringing American youth together with Moroccan citizens in the service of socioeconomic development and mutual understanding. The Minister and the Secretary of State confirmed that strong interfaith cooperation, the promotion of values of moderation and tolerance are key for stability and development in the region. They welcomed the dynamism of the inter-university cooperation and research programs in that field. Both parties encouraged the MACECE to widen its activities and expressed enthusiasm for the contribution that the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative will make.

Security Cooperation

The Minister and the Secretary noted our shared goal of stability and security throughout Africa. They remarked on today’s conclusion of the joint exercise African Lion with the participation of 18 countries, reflecting a vision of strengthened cooperation and capacity to provide security to the people of the region. They discussed efforts to find new avenues for civilian security cooperation, including in criminal justice cooperation and efforts to promote the rule of law. The two parties also discussed a joint proposal that would couple United States’ and Moroccan counterterrorism expertise in such a way that would facilitate Morocco supporting regional security efforts. They noted Rabat’s hosting of the Fifth Global Counterterrorism Forum Coordinating Committee this week as a symbol of that ongoing cooperation.

The Issue of the Western Sahara

The Secretary reaffirmed our commitment to a peaceful, sustainable, mutually agreed-upon solution to the Western Sahara question. The United States’ policy toward the Western Sahara has remained consistent for many years. The United States has made clear that Morocco’s autonomy plan is serious, realistic, and credible, and that it represents a potential approach that could satisfy the aspirations of the people in the Western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity. The United States supports the negotiations carried out by the United Nations, including the work of the UN Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Ambassador Christopher Ross, and urges the parties to work toward a just, lasting and mutually agreed political solution. The two parties affirmed their shared commitment to the improvement of the lives of the people of the Western Sahara. In this regard, Morocco presented the report on the new economic model prepared by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council. The Secretary welcomed the recent actions and initiatives taken by Morocco to continue to protect and promote human rights in the territory, including the growing and important role of the National Council for Human Rights.

Middle East Peace

Secretary Kerry commended the commitment of Morocco to the shared goal of a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He welcomed the contribution of His Majesty the King, including through his chairmanship of the Al-Quds Committee, and the recommendations made by the Committee’s 20th Session held this past January.

Conclusion

The Minister and the Secretary closed by emphasizing the broad set of values shared by the United States and Morocco, providing the foundation for even wider cooperation in our strategic partnership. They expressed their intent to continuing following up on the joint agenda which grew out of last November’s successful visit of His Majesty the King to Washington. The Secretary thanked the Minister for his invitation to visit Morocco and looks forward to the next session of the Strategic Dialogue in Washington.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Stay connected with the State Department:
http://www.state.gov/

Tanzania: Sixth Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival

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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

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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

KENYA’S LAVEMP 2 WORLD BANK FUNDED PROJECT TO DELAY FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Agwanda Saye.

The second phase of Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme has been extended by two years by the respective donors according to the project’s National Coordinator Francisca Awuor.

According to Awuor despite many hurdles which they have experienced they have implemented various activities and realized various achievements as the project was suppose to end in June 2003 but has been extended to June 2015.

Speaking after an extension tour with journalists on LVEMP 2 projects within Busia,Siaya,Homa Bay and Migori Counties Awuor added that the donor funded project had a budget of $ 30 million which was to be spent within four years but now six year.

“The good about the project’s four main four components phase: Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Managing Shared Water and Fisheries Resources, Point Source Pollution Control and Prevention, Watershed Management and Project Coordination and Management is that so far we are almost achieving all of them as at now we have absorbed 50.6% but we out to have reached 80% to be allowed to move to the next phase”Awuor added.

Already two hundred and twenty five Community Driven Development groups have benefitted from the fund as kshs.300, 950,021 has been disbursed to them while kshs 359,950 021 is yet to be distributed.

She however added that for efficiency measures LVEMP 2 project doesn’t give each individual group money in full but its broken in phases which commensurate the group’s activities progress.

However she cautions the groups against diversifying the fund’ from their initial intended purpose warning that the groups made an agreement with the Kenya government and any found to squander the fund will face the full force of the law.

So far LVEMP 2 in collaboration with the Kenya Maritime Authority is involved in the removal of Water Hyacinth within both the two counties of Migori and Kisumu.

Awuor further said that kshs 0.5 billion has been set aside for the expansion two sewer treatment plants in both Homa Bay and Kisumu Counties while a new plant is to be constructed within Bomet County.

“The Kisat Sewer treatment plant in Kisumu will cost kshs 110 million while the Homa Bay will be done a cost of kshs 210 million with the construction of a new Sewer plant in Bomet will costing kshs 135 million” Awuor added.

Currently, six water laboratories have been completed within Kisumu and are housed in Kisumu and are housed in one building.

The six water labs will help in monitoring quality and quantity of water whether borehole, spring, ground and spring water as well as industrial and disposal waste.

The Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project phase two (LVEMP-II) is a regional initiative implemented by the five East African Community (EAC) Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. LVEMP II complements and upscales the LVEMP I activities which ended in December 2005.

LVEMP II is regionally coordinated by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) through its Regional Project Coordination Team (RPCT) based in Kisumu, Kenya. In Tanzania, the project became effective on 20th August 2009, and its implementation covers Lake Victoria Basin Tanzania part in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera Regions, with a total number of 23 districts. The Project is funded by the World Bank, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Government of Tanzania and Communities. The project, which is multi-sectoral and coordinated by the Ministry of Water, is expected to be implemented for a period of 8 years in two phases, from 2009-2013 and 2013-2017.

The Overall Objective of LVEMP II is to contribute to the achievement of EAC’s vision for the Lake Victoria Basin, which is: “creating a prosperous population living in a healthy and sustainable managed environment and providing equitable opportunities and benefits”

The Project development/global environmental objectives (PDO/GEO) of APL1 are to:

i. improve collaborative management of the trans-boundary natural resources of LVB for the shared benefits of the EAC Partner States; and

ii. reduce environmental stress in targeted pollution hotspots and selected degraded sub-catchments to improve the livelihoods of communities, who depend on the natural resources of LVB

The project has four main components: (i) Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Managing Shared Water and Fisheries Resources; (ii) Point Source Pollution Control and Prevention; (iii) Watershed Management; and (iv) Project Coordination and Management.

ENDS

young East Africa entrepreneurs & scientist business fund support for startup

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From: sebastian marondo

Dear all,

Kindly be informed that, BAIP group seeks to support young businesses and science projects in rapidly growing countries of East Africa and Southeast Asia by combining them with European information technology businesses, scientists and professionals, funding them and investing in their development.

Therefore, BAIP group is inviting East Africa young entrepreneurs and scientists to pitch us their ideas to be selected to participate in the Investment Summit which will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in September 2014.

During the Summit, Entrepreneurs with the best, the most promising ideas with the highest growth potential will be selected and connected with European IT businesses and professionals, business mentors and investors, their know-how, experience and funds in order to turn their ideas and businesses into profitable enterprises.

For more information about BAIP group and the application process, please see the presentation:

http://prezi.com/k3fs9olisecv/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Kindly share this invitation with young entrepreneurs and scientists that could benefit from this program to check the presentation and pitch us their ideas.

Best regards
Sebastian

KENYA: BRITISH MULTI-NATIONAL TEA COMPANIES HAVE DONE WELL BY PHASING OUT EXPATRIATE MANAGERS AND REPLACING THEM WITH LOCAL AFRICANS.

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Industrial feature By Leo Odera Omolo

It is indeed encouraging that the government of Kenya welcomes and encourage both foreign and local investors wiling to invest their money in the agro – based and manufacturing sectors, therefore the time is ripe for the government to set up certain conditions which must be met by the investors willing to invest their money in this country. The time is ripe for the government to set up certain conditions and terms conducive to employment regulations and rules before their investments kick off.

As for now, the multinational Tea companies operating in Kericho and Nandi Hills regions are the ones which have set up good examples by way of making sure that senior management positions are in the hands highly skilled and semi skilled in indigenous Kenya Africans.

The British multinational tea manufacturing companies, like the uniliver (formerly Brooke Band Tea) in Kericho, and the Finlays tea and Flowers in Kericho, and the Finlays tea and Flowers, also operating in Kericho and bomet counties have engaged the highly trained local personnel . The two terms even have promoted to high and middle management positions, some of them trained on-the-jobs.

The same could be said of Eastern Province tea company which own chains of tea plantations and processing factories in Nandi Hills, Kericho and Sotik Highland and Kibabet tea companies in Sotik region of Kericho county.

In most of the above multinational tea companies nearly all the top managers, engineers, doctors, Chief Accountants, Financial Directors positions, are held by indigenous Africans with the exception of the positions involving foreigners who are specilaized on highly technical work.

These British multinational tea Multinational companies had introduced a crush training program immediately after Kenya attained political independence in 1963. They embarked in phasing out foreign expatriate managers, technician artisans. The two expatriate who stayed on their jobs were compelled to train Africans to understudy the expatriate previously employed on lucrative and plum jobs and replaced Them with the local personnel.

What is happening in the tea industry is reflecting the true picture of job creation in a country like kenya where unemployment situation has reached as alarming proportion. It has at large become the source of rising crime waves. The government policy on job creation and employment regulation in Kenya not exceptional. This is something which is happening every where on the globe.

Certain conditions must be set up for the purpose of scrutinizing rogue investors who discriminate and enslave the locals in their establishment.

In this context, I am referring to the pathetic employment conditions in the sugar mills especially where he investors use local African workers like slaves, petty casuals without approximant letters and term and conditions of services etc.

I have in mind the five sugar companies owned by Indian investors.

To be specific and more clear ,the sugar companies owned by Indians include West Kenya and Butali sugar companies which are based in kakamega county ,while Sukari industries is located in Homa – Bay County , Kibos sugar and Allied industries based in Kisumu county and the latest is the Trans – mara sugar company based in Narok County Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries is situated in Kisumu County with the latest and the newest sugar mill being the Trans-Mara sugar Company in NAROK county

In all the five sugar mills the investors have embarked in engaging foreign expatriate workers with impunity. The Investors in the sugar mills have engaged the largest number of expatriates workers to the chagrins of locals. These expatriate workers, most of them imported from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, are semi-illiterate. Expatriate workers from India. Pakistan and Bangladesh are the ones who are running petty jobs such as time-keeper, junior clerks, cane yard clerks and top jobs from the top and down to messenger and … even cooks for making Indian dishes for the top Indian top managers

The whole set up looked like the modern day apartheid racial segregation in an independent Kenya .some of the positions held by the expartriates involved simple clerical jobs which the forum four school learners cam even perform better than semi-literate expatriates.

African workers are kept in the periphery. While working only as subordinate and manual workers, but with no letter of appointment. In the case of those local comparison to what their expatriate counterparts earns, some of the mills produced negligible tons of sugar per day but have employed close to 200 expatriates compare with the Mumias ugar company which turns the highest amounts of sugar per day, is the highest in the country, at 96000 tons per day . But the mill is managed exclusively and efficiently by the local African Manager from the top to the down trodden office messengers and sweepers

Since the terms of its former contracted management of Booker Agricultural international expired two decades ago and the expatriate left the have turned the company around from the the profit losses to a vibrant facility that is a profit making it rather shameful for Kenya, a country which has been independent for 50 years and has trained and truned out thousands of highly skilled personnel, to make the dumping for illiterate and oldest Indian workers who cannot be employed even in their own country .These undesirable Indian expatriate workers have flooded our sugar sub sector of the economy.

The majority of Indian expatriate workers were told they cannot be subjected to the mandatory safety deduction such as NSSF al NHIF as are allowed to export their package back home to their families .Why should the key a government allow the kind of modern day slavery where in citizens are being subjected to discrimination on few opportunities that are available.

END.

Eastern Africa: The fast emerging oil and gas frontier region

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

5th Eastern Africa Oil, Gas-LNG & Energy Conference – 28 – 30 April 2014, Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Eastern Africa: The fast emerging oil and gas frontier region

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 27, 2014/ — With a 35+year track record in and on Africa, Global Pacific & Partners (http://www.glopac-partners.com) hosts this landmark meeting on Eastern Africa. Now in its 5th year, Global Pacific & Partners invites you to this annual event held in Nairobi, Kenya, providing unrivalled new insights into the upstream opportunities, open acreage, bid rounds, new ventures, oil/gas investments, key upstream players, and corporate/government strategies in this vast region of fifteen countries covering onshore and offshore potential, from Eritrea to South Africa, including across the Mascerene islands.

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

Download the program: http://www.apo-mail.org/140327prog.pdf

Registration: http://www.apo-mail.org/140327reg.pdf

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/eastern-africa-2013-conference-02.jpg

About “Global Pacific & Partners: Clubs and Networks”: http://www.apo-mail.org/140324net.pdf

Over 350 senior executives attended the Conference in 2013, with 36 exhibitors.

Key Focus:

– Upstream opportunities

– Open acreage

– Bid rounds

– New ventures

– Oil/gas investments

– Key upstream players

– Corporate/government strategies

Senior-Level Presentations from:

– Africa Oil Corp

– Anadarko Petroleum

– BGP

– CGG

– Discover Exploration Limited

– Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, EP

– Geological Survey Department, Malawi

– Ministry of Energy, Kenya

– Ministere des Hydrocarbures, Kinshasa

– Ministere des Mines et des Hydrocarbures, Madagascar

– Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources, Rwanda

– Ophir Energy

– PetroSeychelles

– Petroleum Exploration & Production Department, Uganda

– Salama Fikira

– Shell Exploration

– SPETC Advisory

– Soma Oil & Gas

– Somali Petroleum Corporation

– South Atlantic Petroleum

– Taipan Resources

– T5 Oil & Gas Ltd

– Tullow Oil

– Vanoil Energy

The 5th Eastern Africa – Strategy Briefing presented by their Chairman, Dr Duncan Clarke, is held prior to the conference, on Monday 28th April, and will provide key insights on the corporate upstream oil and gas game, governments, state oil firms, and licensing strategies.

Key Focus:

– Eastern Africa’s corporate E&P players

– Acreage, assets, strategies and investments

– Minnows, Independents, Super Majors

– Onshore/Offshore: Sudan to South Africa

– Foreign State Oil Companies

Following the 5th Eastern Africa Oil, Gas/LNG & Energy we will celebrate the 62nd PetroAfricanus Dinner to be held on 29th April.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Global Pacific & Partners.

Note for the Press:

For further information, please contact Global Pacific & Partners:

Babette van Gessel
Tel: +31 70 324 61 54
@: babette@glopac.com

Sonika Greyvenstein
Tel: +27 11 880 70 52
@: sonika@glopac-partners.com

SOURCE
Global Pacific & Partners

Infrastructure in Africa: More than 500 Decision Makers Discuss Bridging Africa Infrastructure Investment Divide at AFC Live

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

– Jim O’Neill, economist who coined the ‘BRIC’ and ‘MINT’ acronyms, declares the African infrastructure divide, ‘both a defining challenge and a standout Investment opportunity of our generation’ –

– Cape Verde sign instrument of accession for membership of the Africa Finance Corporation –

LAGOS, Nigeria, March 25, 2014/ — At the Africa Finance Corporation’s inaugural Summit (http://www.africafc.org) held today in Lagos, Jim O’Neill, creator of the BRICs and MINT acronyms, economist and former Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said:“Africa’s future depends on the continent’s policy makers doing the right thing. That is working to create better governance, reducing crime, fighting corruption and delivering improved infrastructure. Infrastructure development is both a defining challenge and a standout investment opportunity for Africa and investors around the world. For example, Nigeria is growing at 7% despite poor access to power; decent power could boost economic growth to 10%-12%. There is no reason why Nigeria should not become one of the G20.”

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/afc.jpg

The Summit, which attracted more than 500 leading thinkers from government, academia, business and finance, fuelled energetic debate on both the opportunities and the challenges of the African infrastructure landscape.

Infrastructure in general has been estimated to have the potential to add an average of 2% to Africa’s economic growth rate over the next decade as investment is brought to bear to bridge the current circa US$40 billion per annum investment deficit.

Andrew Alli, President and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, told the Summit: “The sheer number of people here today, passionately engaged in the debate on infrastructure and what it means for the future of this great continent, is inspiring. Our vision at the AFC is to bridge the infrastructure divide and seek a strong return for our shareholders at the same time. We believe our core role comes at the earliest stage of project conception and development. While international capital will be fundamental in bridging the investment divide, that capital will have nowhere to go if Africa does not focus on the development of bankable, sustainable projects. By focusing on supporting project development and using our local knowledge and sector expertise to identify and mitigate risk we come in to transactions at an earlier stage than many investors. Our role is to accelerate the number of viable, bankable projects across the continent, creating the market for other forms of capital that will follow, and ultimately bridging the investment divide that exists. We believe landmark transformational projects can yield financial dividends every bit as powerful as their social ones and our success to date demonstrates this.”

At a ceremony on stage, Cape Verde Minister of Finance Cristiana Duarte signed the instrument of accession for membership of the AFC. Cape Verde becomes the 9th country to join other member nations, including: Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. AFC is a pan-African investor and its investments are not limited to member states.

Her Excellency Cristiana Duarte, Minister of Finance of Cape Verde said; “I am very pleased today to be able to formalise Cape Verde’s membership of the Africa Finance Corporation. Cape Verde and the AFC have enjoyed a very productive and collaborative relationship over the last few years. As the lead investor in Cabeolica, our award winning US$90 million 26MW commercial wind farm we have firsthand experience of the expertise the corporation can bring to innovative projects and we look forward to working to deliver more projects over the coming years.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

For further information visit: http://www.africafc.org

Contact:

Africa Finance Corporation
Lucy Savage
+234 703 403 3645
lucy.savage@africafc.org

Bell Pottinger
Victoria Geoghegan / Nick Lambert / David Bass / Philip Peck
+44 20 7861 3271
+44 20 7861 3271

Africa Practice
Tim Newbold
+234 805 494 9866

About the AFC (http://www.africafc.org):

• AFC is an African-led multilateral development financial institution, established in 2007, with amission to improve African economies by proactively developing and financing infrastructure, industrial and financial assets.

• AFC is involved as an investor, developer and financier of various infrastructure projects, and is gaining recognition as the benchmark institution for financing the development of infrastructure projects in Africa.

• AFC’s current authorized share capital is USD2.0 billion with shareholders’ funds of USD1.24 billion and a 2013 funding programme of USD700 million.

• AFC is the second highest investment grade-rated multilateral financial institution on the African continent, with an A3 (long term) /P2 (short term) foreign currency debt rating by Moody’s Investors Service.

AFC’s projects:

• AFC is the lead investor in the award winning Cabeolica project, a USD90 million, 26MW landmark renewable energy wind power project in Cape Verde.

• AFC is the Technical Adviser to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the CBN’s USD2.0 billion Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF).

• AFC is a partner with Vigeo Holdings Limited and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited for the acquisition of power distribution assets, and a lead financier in the acquisitions of the Kainji and Ughelli power generation plants in the current Nigerian Government power sector privatisation round.

• AFC is also the lead investor in Cenpower Generation Company Limited (Cenpower), which is implementing the Kpone IPP project – a 340 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Tema, Ghana.

• AFC is the lead investor in the Main One fibre optic cable project, enhancing West Africa’s connection to Europe and the rest of the world through faster and more technologically advanced broadband capacity.

• AFC provided a USD50 million convertible debt investment in ARM Cement Limited (ARM), the second largest cement operator in Kenya to support expansion initiatives across Eastern and Southern Africa including; development and construction of a lime plant in Tanzania and expansion of ARM’s cement capacity in Kenya. The transaction marked AFC’s first bilateral investment in Kenya.

• AFC provided financing for Ethiopian airlines fleet expansion in the acquisition of Africa’s first Boeing 777 airline.

• AFC also invested in the Bakwena toll road project in South Africa, and in the EURO 270 million Konan Bedie Toll Bridge in Côte d’Ivoire; the signature Transport PPP project in Francophone Africa, underscoring its interest in investing in PPPs/PFIs in its focal sectors across the African continent.

• AFC launched a landmark USD15 million project development facility with the Dutch Development Bank FMO in January 2013, to fund early-stage equity investments in projects under development pre-financial close, in the infrastructure sector across sub-Saharan Africa.

• The AFC has established partnerships with national, regional and international organizations and with sponsors that are active in the infrastructure space in Africa.

SOURCE
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Why foreign aid fails – and how to really help Africa

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From: Yona Maro

The idea that large donations can remedy poverty has dominated the theory of economic development — and the thinking in many international aid agencies and governments — since the 1950s. And how have the results been? Not so good, actually. Millions have moved out of abject poverty around the world over the past six decades, but that has had little to do with foreign aid. Rather, it is due to economic growth in countries in Asia which received little aid. The World Bank has calculated that between 1981 and 2010, the number of poor people in the world fell by about 700 million — and that in China over the same period, the number of poor people fell by 627 million.

In the meantime, more than a quarter of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are poorer now than in 1960 — with no sign that foreign aid, however substantive, will end poverty there. Last year, perhaps the most striking illustration came from Liberia, which has received massive amounts of aid for a decade. In 2011, according to the OECD, official development aid to Liberia totalled $765 million, and made up 73 per cent of its gross national income. The sum was even larger in 2010. But last year every one of the 25,000 students who took the exam to enter the University of Liberia failed. All of the aid is still failing to provide a decent education to Liberians.

Link:
http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9121361/why-aid-fails/

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

USA: Creating a Clear Path to the Middle Class by Strengthening Ohio Manufacturing

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from: Senator Sherrod Brown

In Ohio, we know manufacturing can create a path to the middle class. But during the Great Recession, that path became turbulent as plants across the country shuttered their doors and devastated local communities that depended on their jobs.

But today, due to smart investments and a renewed effort in manufacturing, we are adding jobs in that sector for the first time since the 1990s. Since December 2009, the manufacturing sector has added more than 300,000 jobs to the economy. This is particularly important for Ohio, which is the third largest manufacturing state in the country.

However, there is still work to be done as too many manufacturing communities are struggling with the effects of those shuttered plants and devastating job loss. We need to do everything we can to help get these communities working again; to get businesses moving back in and creating jobs.

The good news is that we know what works. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just target our efforts and make smart investments. One example of this is the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. The program was created in 2000 to provide a tax incentive to investors for projects in low-income communities. And the program is incredibly successful. Between 2003 and 2012, the NMTC was used to generate $60 billion in private investment, and created more than 550,000 jobs across the country and 30,000 jobs in Ohio. For every tax credit dollar, these projects leveraged more than $2.50 in private sector investment.

A few years ago, I attended a ribbon cutting at Alcoa in Barberton for a new piece of energy savings technology. The new equipment allowed the company to install new technology to produce billet from remelted scrap aluminum.

This billet is then used to make new wheels, increasing the efficiency and sustainability of Alcoa’s manufacturing process. The NMTC was one tool that the community used to help Alcoa make the investment in Barberton, instead of at one of its facilities outside of the United States. We can build on this success with the Manufacturing Communities Investment Act.

My legislation would reauthorize the New Markets Tax Credit and create a new Manufacturing Communities Tax Credit. Communities that have experienced significant job loss would now be eligible for the credit to create new manufacturing jobs. The new credit would attract new private investment to places like Wilmington, where they lost 7,000 DHL jobs; or Warren, where RG Steel cut 1,000 jobs.

This legislation is a first of its kind effort that specifically targets manufacturing communities hit hard by the changing economy. It provides private investors with a significant incentive to invest in manufacturing communities and companies that will create high skill, high pay, and secure jobs in the manufacturing sector. And it is a great example of how government can work with the private sector to revitalize hard-hit communities.

Sincerely,

Signature

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator

Senator Brown’s Offices

Washington, D.C.
713 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321

Columbus
200 N High St.
Room 614
Columbus, OH 43215
p (614) 469-2083
f (614) 469-2171
Toll Free
1-888-896-OHIO (6446)

KENYA: NYANDO MP SELLS HIS LAND FOR KSHS 800m to Madam R Enterprises FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Our Investigative Reporter

Nyando MP Fred Outa who is at the centre of the storm loudly supporting the controversial Solid Waste Management is to sell to Madam R the company which was awarded the multi-billion Solid Waste Management his land at Namba Okan at a cost of kshs 800 million hence his strong agitation for Madam R.

The area MPs ;John Olago Aluoch, Aduma Owuor and himself have so far been enjoined in the case as interested parties together with six Ward Reps;the ever hungry Prisca Auma Misachi, Yona Maina Koko ,Jane Omollo and the fatherless “Banian” Aslam Khan.

Outr has of late locked horns with Kisumu Governor Jack ranguma who has so far disowned the tender award vowing that he will fight the Governor to the full until he achieves his desire of selling the land to Madam enterprises.

All those who are enjoined in the petition have been promised good cash rewards if the tender will finally be awarded to the said company.

The MPs have been promised kshs 10million each while the Ward Reps are to take home kshs 5million each.

“I am surprised that our leaders can stoop this low and be bribed and okay such a project just because one of their own is to sell his land to the Company and they share the loot from the tax payers money from Kisumu” lamented aConty Rep who was approached to be a friend of the Court but declined.

So far no Environmental Impact Assessment report has been conducted and submitted to the National Environment Management Authority, lead agencies like Kisumu Civil Aviation Authority, Water Resource Management Authority and Kisumu County on the said land the MP is selling.

Ranguma has vowed that the project will only take place over his dead vowing that the award of the tender was un procedural.

This comes at a time Kisumu High Court ordered the Kisumu County Government to respond to a petition filed by businessman Erick Okeyo regarding the controversial solid waste management project.

High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule has given the lawyers representing the County government (Wasuna Advocates) three days to file a response against the allegations made by the petitioner.

Okeyo through his lawyer Charles Njuguna wants the county government compelled to produce certified copies of the advertisements for invitation to tender, the valuation report of the tenders, and proof of public participation in the process.

Muchelule ordered lawyers representing both parties to move with speed because the matter is of public interest since it involves huge amount of money and must be expedited as soon as possible.

However Advocate Yogo representing Madam R enterprises which was allegedly offered the Sh. 18 billion tender maintained that no tender was signed and that the county government has not spent any money on the project.

Young people will invent their future

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From: Yona Maro

Kelvin Doe found that batteries were too expensive for a project he was working on in 2009. He used acid, soda, and metal parts that he found in trash bins in his neighborhood to build his own battery. Doe, then a 13-year-old from Sierra Leone, constructed a generator to light his home and operate an FM radio station that he built. He now employs his friends at the radio station.

Doe’s inventions caught the attention of David Sengeh, a doctoral candidate at MIT Media Lab. Doe participated in a solutions challenge Sengeh launched in 2012 asking “students to invent solutions to problems that they saw in their daily lives.”

Sengeh, also a Sierra Leonean, wanted to enable youth in developing countries to find solutions to local problems. Sengeh arranged for Doe, one of three winners, to become a resident practitioner at the MIT Media Lab.

It is the very shift in values and access to technology that is empowering millions of youth like Doe and Sengeh to overcome present challenges. The idea of success is changing as youths work tirelessly for their collective future. Young people are bound to invent a brighter future!
Link:
http://blogs.worldbank.org/youthink/young-people-will-invent-their-future

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

NEAR INSOLVENT RAILA’S MOLASSES COMPANY REPORTED IN A SECRET DEAL WITH KIBIOS SUGAR FACTORY AND PLANNING TO ACQUIRE MIWANI SUGAR MILL.

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By a Special Correspondent In Kisumu City

INFORMATION emerging from corporate sources within Kisumu cIty say Raila Odinga’s company, the Spectre international has entered into a secret deal with the Kibios Sugar and Allied Industries and swabbed shares.

The Spectre International is the Odinga’s business flagship, which is currently managing the Kisumu Molasses plant, which is located at Otonglo Market in the outskirt of Kisumu City.

The information about the possible move by the two companies to collaborate and forming a consortium company has been in the public domain ever since last December when Raila made a surprise visit to the Kibos sugar factory, which is located at kibos town . Raila’s visit to the plant was immediately followed by the official tour of the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix koskei

Management of the kibos Sugar Companies are reported to have cooffed out substantial amount of money to the tune of Kshs 80 million, which they gave to the financially strapped Kisumu Molasses plant to enable it to clear the backlog of its workers salaries running to four months in arrears which prompted the stoppage of production at the plant when the workers went on strike and demanded that they be paid their salary in arrears amounting to Kshs 40 million. The Molasses plant had an accumulated unpaid power bill of the same amount.

Before the alleged deal the KPLC, the electricity providing firm had disconnected its power to the plant.

Other sources have confided to us, the the Spectre international and the kibios Sugar company are in the process of forming a consortium company, and once the arrangement is compete, the consortium would make a bid for the ACQUISITION OF THE RUB-DOWN Miwani Sugar mill, which is currently under the official receivership. Miwani together with the Muhoroni Sugar Mill were placed under what the then Minister for Agriclture Chria n Obure described as the “Protective receivership”. The two companies were placed under the joint official receivership management in 2001. But their status has remained unchanged and the same ever since 2001 with no signs in sight as to when the receivership would be lifted. Several firms and groups of official receivership management have been in place ever since, but no solution.

Miwani Mills {1985} together with Nzoia, Chemelil, sonySugar and Muhoroni Sugar Company are the five public owned sugar factories due for privatization.

The Kisumu Molasses of late to have been starved for molasses, a by product of sugar which it needed for making ethanol spirit. This is caused by the fact that most of the sugar factories in Western Kenya have established their own distilleries and as such can no longer adequately supply the Kisumu based plant with sufficient raw materials. The Molasses firm recently said it was exploring the possibility of turning into Sorghum millets for raw material and was heard urging local farmers to grow more millets.

The Raila company suffered a big blow and major set back following the the departure of Dr Evans Odhiambo Kidero from the helm of Mumias Sugar Mill where he was the managing director. It was Kidero who had kept the Kisumu Molasses plant running to its full capacity with the steady supplies of molasses, an arrangement which has since ceased to be in place as the company has already established its own ethanol distilling wing.Kidero is the governor of Nairobi County, the position which he won on an ODM ticket.

On Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries, the sugar processing factory was established without its own nucleus estate farm, and depended entirely the large and small scale sugar cane farmers from the nearby Kano plains, South Nandi and Kericho districts for supplies.

Miwani Sugar Mill, however, has its own nucleus estate farm measuring about 10,000 nacres, which has been laying fallow ever since the company went bust in 2001.

This farm has been the subject of high profile legal tussles in court, which has seen two senior judiciary officials comprising of a resident magistrate and a judge being removed from the bench and loosing their job as a cartel of Indian business men and farmers in Kisumu and Kibos made futile attempt to have the Miwani sugar cane farm grabbed from the backdoor. The exercise has degenerate a lot of controversies even involving some un named LUO MPS and cabinet ministers in the 10th parliament and became the “Milking Cow” in which some of them made of with palatial houses in their rural home corruptively constructed with the materials allegedly donated by unscrupulous Indian business tycoons who made all the tricks in the books in the vain attempt to secure the ownership of the Miwani farm.

The reported deal is said to have received the blessing of the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Koskei, an a top government officials whose interests in the deal is said to be through proxies.

However, the alleged plan to acquire the Miwani sugar Mills by Raila and business associates is likely to degenerate a lot of controversies because it may earn vehement opposition from the resident of the nearby Kano plains who for a long time have laid the claims that the farm happened to be their ancestral land, and as such they stand to be consulted as stakeholders in any deal and transaction.

Contacted by an SMS message through his mobile phone one of the top managers at Kibos Sugar Compay A senior manager at the Spectre Internationl is Odinga’s younger sister Ruth Adhiambo Oginga who could not be reached for her immediate comment. However a senior manager at the kibis sugar plant a Mr Raju promised that he would get in touch with this writer later as he was busy, but never came back on line.

Meanwhile ,apparently being aware of the secret deal by Raila and his Indians business associates, a section of leaders from the Nyanza sugar belt have raised objection against it and accused the jubilee government of plotting to ground the country’s economy through selling the public owned sugar companies to foreign and local investors without adequately consulting the local stakeholders.

Speaking during a fundraising meeting at the Koru Girls secondary School, which was conducted by the Nairobi governor Dr. Evans Kidero, the leaders accused the Jubilee government of failing to sustain the locaL sugar companies in the country to make them unviable and then privatize by selling them to their foreign and locally based business partners.

Apparently aware of the planned Raila deal with is Indian partners the leaders included the area MP James Onyango koyoo, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo,Julius Melly {Tinderet} and Senator James IOrengo [Siaya} vowed they would push for the sale of sustainable sugar companies to County governments within which they are situated. Miwani, Muhoroni and Chemelil are all located in the Nyanza sugar belt region of Kisumu County, while SonySugar is situated in Migori County and Nzoia sugar Company is in Bungma County. All are currently experiencing financial constraints due to illegal importation of sugar into the country from foreign sources, which has created a huge stockpiles of unsold made sugar by the facturies worth millions of shillings.

Meanwhile contacted for his comment about the alleged deal with Raila firm, a senior manager at the KibosSugar Company Mr. Raju promise to get in touch with this writer, but never came back, though he had indicated that he would do so. On the side of the Spectre Internatinal, the top manager there is Ms REuth Adhiambo Odinga, the younger sister to Raila who is also the deputy governor of the Kisumu County who could not be traced for her immediate comment

ENDS

Is corporate social responsibility profitable for companies?

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From: Yona Maro

The question of whether corporate social responsibility is profitable and adds value to a company is important to the development community because the private sector has far greater resources than government aid programs. If the game-changing resources of the world’s largest corporations are put toward the tasks of poverty, climate change and other global challenges, the results could be dramatic.

Corporate social responsibility over the years has developed from a simple form of check-writing by companies to a complex set of principles that encompass nearly every interaction a company has with society.

“Corporate social responsibility encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make them,” according to a definition from the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. “It goes beyond philanthropy and compliance and addresses how companies manage their economic, social, and environmental impacts, as well as their relationships in all key spheres of influence: the workplace, the marketplace, the supply chain, the community, and the public policy realm.”

Porter’s theory of “shared value” takes the concept of corporate social responsibility further. He argues that companies should use their interactions with society – and more importantly address society’s problems – to drive new business opportunities and create a source of significant untapped profits.

“The ability to address societal issues is integral to profit maximization instead of treated as outside the profit model,” Porter wrote in the Harvard Business Review article, which he co-authored with Mark Kramer, founder of the nonprofit consultancy FSG.

Link:
https://www.devex.com/en/news/is-corporate-social-responsibility-profitable-for/80354

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

An Open Letter to Africa’s Leaders – Joaquim Chissano

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From: Charles Banda

This is a transformative moment for Africa – and indeed, for the world.

Decision-makers from across the continent, under the able leadership of Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, are finalising a crucial document outlining a common position for Africa on the development agenda that will replace the Millennium Development Goals after 2015.

Since the 1990s, Africa has gained considerable strength in international negotiations by sticking together and forging consensus on important issues.

It is a strategy that has empowered us in many ways. And it means that our voices will be heard when the framework that will guide governments, donors and development partners for years to come is negotiated. So we need to be careful what we ask for.

I urge our leaders to draw from the lessons of the past, but also to heed current realities. And to look ahead to what the future is calling forth – because this new development agenda will affect the lives of millions of our people at a very critical time for Africa.

I encourage leaders to take a strong stand for fundamental human rights, and advance the trajectory for basic freedoms.

This means pushing for three priorities that lie at the heart of sustainable development: the empowerment of women and gender equality; the rights and empowerment of adolescents and youth; and the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all people.

These interlinked priorities and their policy implications have been carefully analysed by the High-Level Task Force for the ICPD that I co-chair.

We have found that they represent not only human rights imperatives, but smart, cost-effective investments to foster more equitable, healthy, productive, prosperous and inclusive societies, and a more sustainable world.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights, in particular, are a prerequisite for empowering women and the generations of young people on whom our future depends.

This simply means granting every one the freedom – and the means — to make informed decisions about very basic aspects of one’s life – one’s sexuality, health, and if, when and with whom to have relationships, marry or have children – without any form of discrimination, coercion or violence.

This also implies convenient, affordable access to quality information and services and to comprehensive sexuality education.

We can no longer afford to discriminate against people on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity, migrant status, sexual orientation and gender identity, or any other basis – we need to unleash the full potential of everyone.

As an African who has been around a long time, I understand the resistance to these ideas.

But I can also step back and see that the larger course of human history, especially of the past century or so, is one of expanding human rights and freedoms.

African leaders should be at the helm of this, and not hold back. Not at this critical moment.

The international agenda that we will help forge is not just for us here and now, but for the next generations and for the world.

As I think about these issues, I am reminded of the words of our recently departed leader, who gained so much wisdom over the course of his long walk to freedom.

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains,” Nelson Mandela reminded us, “but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Let us live up to his immortal words.

• H. E. Joaquim Chissano is the former President of Mozambique and current co-chair of the High-Level Task Force for the ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development)

Read the original article on Theafricareport.com :
An Open Letter to Africa’s Leaders – Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique
http://www.theafricareport.com/Soapbox/an-open-letter-to-africas-leaders-joaquim-chissano-former-president-of-mozambique.html#ixzz2uLVSfTA7
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Tigo pioneers world’s first mobile money transfer with currency conversion with service between Rwanda and Tanzania

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

Tigo pioneers world’s first mobile money transfer with currency conversion with service between Rwanda and Tanzania

The new service allows Tigo subscribers in Tanzania to send money from their Tigo Pesa accounts to Tigo Cash subscribers in Rwanda and vice versa

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, February 24, 2014/ — Tigo (http://www.tigo.co.tz), a subsidiary of the international telecommunications and media company Millicom (Stockholmsbörsen: MIC), a leader in thirteen markets across Africa and Latin America, today announced the launch of a pioneering cross-border Mobile Money remittance service between Tanzania and Rwanda.

Logo Tigo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/tigo-1.jpg

The service was launched simultaneously in Kigali and Dar-es-Salaam in the presence of Rwandan High Commissioner in Tanzania Dr Ben Rugangazi, High Commissioner of Tanzania in Rwanda HE Francis Mwaipaja and Rwanda Finance Minister Honourable Claver who undertook the first mobile money transactions between the two countries.

The new service allows Tigo subscribers in Tanzania to send money from their Tigo Pesa accounts to Tigo Cash subscribers in Rwanda and vice versa. The system integrates currency conversion, whereby money is sent in either Tanzania Shillings or Rwandan Francs and delivered already converted into in the currency of the recipient’s country.

This, according to Tigo Tanzania General Manager Diego Gutierrez, is the first product of its kind in the world that allows dual currency international mobile wallet to mobile wallet transfers with currency conversion included.

Once the remittance is received, customers can use the funds to access all the services and benefits that Tigo Mobile Financial Services offer. These include airtime top ups, payments for water, electricity, TV and transportation, transfers to bank accounts, cash withdrawals at any Tigo agent across the country, and convenient transfers to other mobile money users.

To send money from Tigo Pesa (Tanzania) to Tigo Cash (Rwanda) users, customers should dial *150*90# while those in Rwanda remitting to Tanzania should dial *200*7#. This service can be used from any Tigo mobile phone. Customers in their respective countries will receive their money immediately in their routine currency.

To register for Tigo Pesa or Tigo Cash, customers can visit any agent in Tanzania or Rwanda respectively. Registration is free of charge; customers only need to present their ID.

According to Gutierrez, “This new product will save customers’ time and money. International senders currently have to go to a money changer to exchange Rwanda Francs to dollars and then bring those dollars to remittance companies to send. They can now send money directly from their phone.”

Mr Gutierrez continued: “We are delighted to give our customers the possibilities to make payments to fellow East Africans. Thanks to a stable and state-of-the-art technology, users in Rwanda are able to send money to their families, friends and to their business partners across the border alike.”

Tongai Maramba, the General Manager of Tigo Rwanda said: “We are pleased to offer Tigo Cash customers the ability to send and receive international transfers directly via their phones. It is an added convenience that they can receive directly as Rwandan Francs because the traditional money transfer companies mostly deliver only dollars. This product enables consumers not to worry about exchanging money.”

Murenzi Abdallah, a transporter working with a Kigali based transport and logistics company on the route Dar-es-Salaam-Kigali-Goma expressed: “I am excited about the opportunity to receive money directly on my mobile while in Tanzania. My life will be a lot easier in terms of making different tax payments at border posts and other needs on my long and difficult journeys.”

Millicom offers Mobile Financial Services in Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda, DRC, Chad, Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Senegal and Paraguay and will extend its offering to more services and into more markets over time.

The new service will particularly benefit the businesses with cross-border trade, diaspora families, truck drivers, importers and exporters from both countries. Tanzania is Rwanda’s second most important trading partner. In 2013, Rwanda imports from Tanzania amounted to 80,883,702 US dollars while Tanzania received imports valued at 231,695,265 US dollars from Rwanda the same year.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Tigo Tanzania.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND IMAGES OF THE EVENTS AND MR ABDALLAH :

Tigo Tanzania
John Wanyancha
Corporate Communications Manager
+255 65 812 3089
John.Wanyancha@tigo.co.tz

Tigo Rwanda
Pierre Kayitana
Public Relations Manager
+250 72 212 3113
Pierre.kayitana@tigo.co.rw

SOURCE
Tigo Tanzania

World Energy Council: African energy leaders see global climate framework uncertainty, high energy prices, and commodity prices as top critical issues

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

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, February 18, 2014/ — African energy leaders see global climate framework uncertainty, high energy prices, and commodity prices as the critical issues driving Africa’s energy agenda this year, according to the 2014 World Energy Issues Monitor, released by World Energy Council (WEC) (http://www.worldenergy.org).

Download the report: http://www.worldenergy.org/publications

Download the graphic: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/africa.jpg

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/wec_logo_2011_highres_jpg_300dpi.jpg

The African views are in contrast with the global view, where high energy price volatility has for the first time replaced climate framework as the top critical uncertainty.

Bonang Mohale, WEC Vice-Chair Africa, commented at the report launch at the Africa Energy Indaba:

“Our African survey finds that, in contrast with the global findings, climate framework has become an even more critical issue. Africa is dramatically vulnerable to climate change, and Africans are becoming more aware that climate change is an urgent and real issue rather than something that only countries with large emissions should worry about.”

In Africa, electricity supply remains a critical concern, with growing demand, lack of required investment, and increasing power shortages across the continent. Renewable energy remains a high-priority issue.

As a change from last year’s findings, African national governments and regional institutions are taking actions in energy efficiency and regional interconnection, while investment cooperation with China and India is viewed with increasing importance.

The report captures the views of over 800 energy leaders including ministers, chief executives and the heads of the WEC’s national members committees covering 84 countries.

In its global findings, climate framework uncertainty is now perceived by energy leaders to have less impact than in the previous three years of the study. Meanwhile, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) continues to be viewed as a technology having limited impact.

Energy leaders are also increasingly concerned about the sector’s ability to access the capital markets for funds towards energy infrastructure, when set against a continued recessionary backdrop.

Christoph Frei, WEC Secretary General, said:

“The fact that both climate framework and CCUS are perceived to be issues of less impact is bad news not only in terms of emissions mitigation, but also for the development of robust and resilient energy infrastructure. Our energy systems are in a state of massive expansion and transition, and the signals we see today provide clear evidence of the urgent need for more robust, coherent, long-term frameworks for planning our future investment.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the World Energy Council (WEC).

Media contact:

Monique Tsang

Head of News

World Energy Council – For sustainable energy

tsang@worldenergy.org

About the World Energy Council

The World Energy Council (WEC) (http://www.worldenergy.org) is the principal impartial network of leaders and practitioners promoting an affordable, stable and environmentally sensitive energy system for the greatest benefit of all.

Formed in 1923, WEC is the UN-accredited global energy body, representing the entire energy spectrum, with more than 3000 member organisations located in over 90 countries and drawn from governments, private and state corporations, academia, NGOs and energy-related stakeholders.

WEC informs global, regional and national energy strategies by hosting high-level events, publishing authoritative studies, and working through its extensive member network to facilitate the world’s energy policy dialogue.

Further details at http://www.worldenergy.org and @WECouncil

SOURCE

World Energy Council (WEC)