Vincent Kidaha emphasized the need for social movements to spearhead reforming the arrangements for global economic governance. “We are calling for a new global currency that can challenge the dominant role of the US dollar in the international monetary system,” Kidaha said.
Mulialia Okumu the Secretary General
also pushed for a greater voice and more votes for developing countries in key international economic organisations like the IMF, World Bank and the UN Security Council.
The Estate Agents Registration Board has today voiced its concerns over the increased number of new associations claiming to regulate the real estate companies. Most of the associations have in the past been known to swindle Kenyans.
While addressing the media at their offices along 3rd Ngong Avenue in Nairobi, the chairperson of the Board Ms Eunice Macharia remarked, “The Estate Agents Registration Board EARB is the sole regulatory body with the mandate to register estate agents under Estate Agents Act Cap 533 to ensure practice of estate agency is of high standards in order to protect the public. These association’s she continued to add seem to be mutations of land buying companies which have previously swindled Kenyan citizens through false pretenses that they are in a position to sell them land. We want to warn Kenyans that these groupings have no mandate to register estate agents neither are they regulated by the government and any person associating with them may be exposed to fraud. The board has over the years tried reaching the groups but their efforts have bore little to no fruit. The Board which lack physical presence in County government attributed the scenario to the Amorphous nature of the groupings and their unwillingness to comply by the law.
Ms Eunice concluded by Saying ” Anyone committing to buy land should carry out due diligence on the titles, ensure the subdivisions schemes are approved by the relevant county and National Governments and that the sub-divided parcels have of the requisite titles to save them from financial loses or heartaches as they may be enticed with false schemes.
AviaDev Africa, the leading platform dedicated to enhancing connectivity to, from, and within the African continent, is delighted to announce that the event will be held in the beautiful city of Windhoek, Namibia in June 2024, hosted by the Namibia Airports Company.
This annual forum will bring together influential stakeholders, including airlines, airports, tourism boards, government officials and industry experts to foster collaboration, forge strategic partnerships, and explore opportunities that will deliver new air routes across Africa.
AviaDev Africa is renowned for its unique ability to create a conducive environment for aviation professionals to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on innovative strategies that drive sustainable air connectivity. By choosing Windhoek as the host city for the event in 2024, AviaDev aims to highlight Namibia’s growing significance as a destination for the aviation industry and its commitment to bolstering regional connectivity.
AviaDev Africa is a platform for aviation professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to come together to discuss and develop solutions to the challenges facing the African aviation industry. The conference will feature a range of speakers, panel discussions, and workshops, as well as an exhibition of aviation products and services.
We are thrilled to host AviaDev Africa in 2024 and welcome industry leaders to experience the wonders of our country for both business and tourism, says Bisey /Uirab, CEO of the Namibia Airports Company. From the enchanting coastal city of Swakopmund to the ethereal Namib Desert and the breath-taking wildlife encounters in Etosha National Park, Namibia offers an unparalleled tourism experience. We are eager to share the magic of our destinations and forge partnerships that will further enhance connectivity and drive sustainable tourism growth and new business opportunities.
Namibia is a rapidly growing tourism destination, with a diverse range of attractions to offer visitors. The country is home to stunning scenery, including the Namib Desert, the Skeleton Coast, and the Etosha National Park. Namibia also has a rich cultural heritage, with a variety of ethnic groups and languages.
AviaDev Africa not only aims to foster aviation growth but also serves as a platform to highlight the immense potential of the host country, says Jon Howell, CEO of AviaDev. We are impressed by the drive of the Namibia Airports Company and the unified approach of all stakeholders to support air connectivity to, from and within the country. By convening aviation professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders in Windhoek, we will deliver a memorable event experience and explore untapped opportunities that will drive the growth of air connectivity across the continent.
AviaDev will continue fostering collaboration, inspiring innovation, and driving economic growth within the aviation industry.
Rampa Rammopo CEO of Lanseris International Airport is keen to attract Kenyan airlines to use their world class facilities.
Attending AVADEV conference in Nairobi, Rammopo said that they are targeting more airlines to use their facility.
Lanseria International Airport Passengers can make use of our world class facilities day and night. With flights from commercial airlines and charter companies operating every day, 24/7.
The newly expanded terminal building offers domestic, regional and international flight departures and arrivals. Destinations from the commercial airlines currently include both Durban and Cape Town , with more to come soon. The new runway has paved the way for larger aircraft to comfortably land here.
Each airline has their own travel information and special instructions for flying with them, so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with their information when flying with them. Contact them directly for flight bookings, changes to your itinerary and luggage restrictions etc.
All airlines have daily flights to and from this airport and up-to-date flight information can be obtained directly from their websites, or mobile applications.
Kenya’s National carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ) has unveiled Africa’s most awaited loyalty program dubbed Asante Rewards. The program is an appreciation of customer loyalty by the airline and will allow customers to get greater value from their flying experience in form of redeemable points which can be earned from flights operated by Kenya Airways or any of its partners. Through the Asante Rewards Loyalty Program, customers will be able to redeem their points for benefits such as reward ticket flights, seat upgrades, extra baggage allowance, priority services, seat selections and many more rewards. The introduction of Asante Rewards is in response to the need for a loyalty program curated with the African market & dynamics in mind. This is also in line with the airline’s commitment to innovate and develop products and services that ensure an enhanced and delightful customer end-to-end experience. Speaking at the launch, Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways Group Chief Executive Officer said: “Asante Rewards is a unique African product created from years of research, customer feedback and best practices from across the globe. Kenya Airways is proud to introduce Africa’s most awaited loyalty program. For 46 years, millions of customers have chosen us. For 46 years, our customers have trusted us as their airline of choice. For 46 years, our customers have enabled us win multiple awards and recognition as the Pride of Africa. It is now time for us as Kenya Airways to say Asante our customers in a very special way.” The Asante Rewards Loyalty Program will offer customers four (4) tiers which they can grow into as they accrue their points. These are: Silver, Ruby, Gold, and Platinum each offering unique benefits and privileges to ensure customers have a more rewarding experience when travelling with Kenya Airways. The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, lauded Kenya Airways for its contribution to Africa’s aviation industry. “This Loyalty Program is a perfect step towards turning around the fortunes of Kenya Airways in the promising journey of making it competitive in the global aviation sector. The value of loyalty programs became evident during the COVID pandemic when some airlines used the loyalty programs valuations for multi-billion-dollar loans”. Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at Kenya Airways said, “We are constantly aspiring to provide our valued flyers with unforgettable experiences and are always willing to walk that extra mile to ensure that travelling on Kenya Airways is more rewarding for our customers. Kenya Airways has pioneered the art of innovation in Africa’s aviation space and the Asante Rewards Loyalty Program is yet another product which aims to delight of our customers.” All customers will be awarded with 1000 points automatically on enrolment. More benefits will rolled out in the coming months as the airline onboard more partners. More information on the Asante Rewards Loyalty Program is available
The Attorney General Alliance Africa (AGA- Africa) has noted with greatest concern the increase in infringement of intellectual property around the world.
AGA-Africa International adivisor Mr.John Edozie (pictured below) says intellectual property was a key pillar and crucial to driving a country’s economy to greater heights and it was time for nations to form policies that would protect individuals as regards to intellectual property.
“Intellectual property fosters creativity and propels economic growth” Edozie acknowledged that ideas of the mind shaped the world & businesses nowadays not only focuses on investments on goods and physical assets alone.
Edozie made the remarks at the launch of the Anti counterfeit Authority symposium launch in Nairobi.
AGA-Africa mandate includes training of investigators,prosecutors and judicial officers in the investigation and prosecution of transnational crimes.
It also participates in seminars and other events to educate and draw attention to the danger of transnational crimes.
Delegates around the country are gathering at The Nakuru County Government which is currently hosting the first-ever Kenya Urban Forum Conference as it seeks to market the region to potential investors.
The county administration has disclosed that it will use the conference, running under the theme “Strategic Pathways to Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization in Kenya,” to position Nakuru County as an investor’s paradise. Cabinet Secretary for Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Zachariah Mwangi Njeru said key thematic subjects that participants will deliberate on include urban infrastructure and services, urban planning and management, urban resilience, climate change and the environment, urban governance and management, and the land question.
Speaking to journalists Mombasa’s County Chief Officer in charge of lands,urban planning and housing Mr.Ali Sheriff noted that the conference is of significance to the county as the county has so many plans in regards to urban planning. Among them include the Strategic development Plan which is also referred to Mombasa’s vision 2030. Others include the great City master plan which was done by the Japanese government.This master plan according to him markets Mombasa as a tourist hub and logistics hub for the. County. He adds that the county’s vision 2035 master plan has earmarked several projects which have importance to this event. On affordable housing he emphasized that the county has already advertised for expression of interest of five affordable housing projects within the city . “We. Have advertised for esprssion of interest of five affordable housing projects within the city and we expect that developers will partner with us to develope the city” .He said. The conference is expected to conclude tommorow.
Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) kicked off in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Monday as participants seek to tap investment in the tourism sector.
The three-day event brought together over 500 delegates from more than 40 countries, including senior government officials, hospitality investors, and industry experts to showcase opportunities in Africa’s hospitality industry.
In his opening remarks, Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the conference comes at an ideal time when Africa’s tourism sector is rebounding from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Africa is open to all those who are eager to invest and capitalize on the abundant opportunities available in the thriving sectors of the tourism industry,” Mudavadi said.
He noted that most African countries have put in place supportive business environments that make the region an ideal hospitality investment destination.
John Ololtuaa Principal secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, said that his country is keen to attract more foreign investors into the hospitality sector.
“Kenya has a large pool of hospitality talent who possess the knowledge and expertise to ensure the success of new hospitality ventures,” she added.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said his country’s tourism sector is in the midst of recovery, buoyed by increased interest from international visitors.
He noted that Zimbabwe has also prioritized investments into the hospitality sector, one of the largest sources of foreign
Haitham Mattar, special advisor of the United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO) and managing director of Middle East, Africa, and SouthWest Asia at the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) Hotels and Resorts, said that North Africa is leading the way in the continent’s hospitality rebound while sub-Saharan Africa is gaining momentum.
He urged African governments to partner with the private sector to expand the hospitality sector.
Mattar noted that foreign investors are turning to Africa because of the growing optimism over the prospects of the continent’s tourism sector. ■
A petition has been filed challenging the introduction of Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) which will aims at giving newborns in Kenya a distinct lifetime registration number. In court papers, Operation Linda Jamii argues that the government is contravening the constitution, adding that there was no public participation on introducing the UPI.
“Unique Personal Identifier known as Digital ID is yet to be rolled out and the taxpayers’ money is to be used in driving the implementation of this project which has not undergone public participation,” reads court papers.
The petitioners now want the court to bar the government from proceeding further with any act and/or process of rolling out the UPI, also known as Digital ID.
They argue that the government had already spent Ksh.11 billion on the Huduma Namba project which was safer.
Operation Linda Jamii calls on the government to leverage and build on the existing infrastructure provided for through Huduma Namba.
“We are grappling with a high cost of living and tough economic times and it makes no sense for the President to waste taxpayers’ money on a new digital ID project when the Huduma Namba exists,” they said.
The group further wants court to issue a permanent injunction barring the respondents from having servers of the Huduma Namba project or any other project in a foreign land.
A report released by the PKF organization has shown that Kenya’s total nominal public guaranteed debt as of December 31, 2022, was Sh9.1 trillion, representing 63 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to Sh8.2 trillion by the end of 2021.
PKF Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alpesh Vadher said the debt accounts for both domestic and external debt stock at 48.9 per cent and 51.1 per cent respectively, which he attributed to exchange rate fluctuations.
The CEO, who was speaking Tuesday during a pre-budget media briefing at a Nairobi hotel, said according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report, Consumer Price indexes and inflation rates for March 2023 were estimated at 9.2 per cent from 5.6 per cent in March 2022.
“The report has shown that a breach ceiling by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) with a target range of 2.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent escalated the inflation rate thereby increasing prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages, furnishings, housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel, amongst others,” he stated.
Mr. Vadher said the organization’s aim in reviewing the current budget is to shed light on critical topics such as expert analysis of the proposed tax measures outlined in the finance bill, in-depth economic assessment, and outlook analysis.
Vadher noted that many importers have continued to face serious challenges with the availability of foreign currency despite the economy experiencing liquidity challenges, noting that CBK has maintained that foreign exchange reserves continue to provide adequate cover.
“The Central Bank of Kenya interest rate rose from a steady rate of 7.0 per cent in March 2022 to 9.5 per cent in March 2023. This is a five-year high, as it was previously experienced in 2018,” said Vadher.
He reiterated that the monetary policy committee increased the benchmark interest rate reflecting on the rise of inflation, global risks, and their impact on the domestic economy, which called for strict measures of monetary policy.
Echoing his remarks, PKF Tax Consultant James Mulili said that the government and relevant parties involved have an obligation to cushion citizens from the overall inflation rate by exempting the Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Import Declaration Fee in order to lower the cost of living.
Mulili highlighted that the proposed increase in the value added tax on petroleum products from eight to 16 per cent will negatively impact the country as there’s a huge reliance on these products as the main source of energy.
“Kenya has remained narrow, exerting the tax burden on a few taxpayers in the economy. There, however, remains a large informal sector that has remained ‘hard to tax’ and therefore is not contributing to the national tax basket,” said Mulili.
He stated that expansion of the tax base would promote equity and fairness in the tax system and recommended that the government should keep abreast of taxation measures for its subjects.
