Author: NLM Correspondent

Africa’s emerging economies present exciting opportunities to global businesses for expansion in retail and distribution. Changing demographics and improving business environments across the continent will be just two of the factors contributing to rising household consumption, which is predicted to reach $2.5 trillion by 2030. Seven countries—Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa—will soon hold half of the continent’s population, and 43 percent of Africans across the continent will belong to the middle or upper classes. The rising income levels among all socioeconomic groups and increasing demand for goods and services should encourage businesses…

By David Onjili Behind the 18th green, in his trademark Nike top, Tiger Woods hugged his son Charlie Axel Woods, his mother, Kutilda, and other family members. His late father, Earl Woods, would not be by his side this time as he claimed his 5th green jacket. Fourteen years since his last, the world was elated for him; on his part, a small smile, a bump with his caddie and an acknowledgement of the crowd that cheered him on were all he did to celebrate. This particular win was significant, and not just because almost everyone had written him off:…

By Emeka-Mayaka Gekara Reverend Timothy Njoya was the lone religious voice during the vigil for slain human rights activist Caroline Mwatha at Nairobi’s Freedom Corner on Feb 21. The other prominent figures were former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua. The three demanded justice for the activist, who had dedicated her energy campaigning against extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances. Mwatha died in unclear circumstances. Times have changed, and with that the role of the church as the moral voice that speaks truth to power. Many more religious leaders would have attended such an event in the…

By Emeka-Mayaka Gekara Everlyn Namukhula should be alive today, looking after her children. But the woman who gave birth to quintuples in March died a month later. After she gave birth to quintuplets at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital on March 12, she was transferred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret three days later after two of her children developed breathing complications – needing to undergo what is known as zipap in medical terms, which is the improvement of oxygen circulation in their bodies. They later died. Their mother who made warm national headlines, died a few weeks…

By Alexander Opicho Women and parentless children are discriminated against and violated in all manner – from economic exclusion to compulsory dressing codes, sexual harassment, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, rape and silence, yet women and orphans are the pillars behind formation historical successes in Islam, Christianity and Hinduism as well as all the Western industrial revolutions. Why the world has socialised oppression of women and orphans is a conundrum. Just as Christa Stolle (2018) observed in the report on rights of women by Terre des Femmes, (a French organisation concerned with rights of women) there is a lot of…

Dr Tom Odhiambo Some years ago a politician claimed that rain comes from the heavens and thus there was no correlation between forests and rain. Well, today the drought and starvation in the Rift Valley, where the politician comes from, eastern, north-eastern and Coast regions of Kenya would tell that politician that indeed there is a significant relationship between trees, rain and food. Today Kenyans are paying for uncontrolled cutting of trees and for ignoring warnings about desertification and global warning. It won’t be long before the hunger and starvation that is reported in ‘other’ parts of Kenya morphs into…

By Odongo Peter Debate has been raging in the recent past on whether employers, both public and private, are justified in demanding that potential employees accompany their applications with a host of statutory clearances or compliance certificates as a precondition for being shortlisted for any job opportunity. This debate has been with us for some time now. It’s more recent resuscitation was occasioned by the decision by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to do away with the requirement that its members seeking to represent lawyers in various constitutional and statutory bodies must get clearance from such bodies as the…

By EUNICE NG’ANG’A A judge sits dauntingly at his raised bench, in this sobering, almost foreboding high walled Court room, looking down on the mere mortals beneath. A crest fallen prisoner, hands cuffed and feet shackled walks in, a biblical grasshopper in the sight of the establishment that imprisoned him under unjust laws. It is a David versus Goliath situation: He has pebbles-provisions of law that declare he should never have been imprisoned in the first place, requiring his immediate release. His adversaries have the proverbial horses and chariots-the entire armoury of the establishment, keen to sustain the pressure on…

Millions of students around the world are leaving school without learning the most basic skills—often referred to as a “global learning crisis.” But, just as importantly, education systems are not preparing these students for the jobs of the future. In today’s globally interconnected world—a world that is constantly and rapidly changing—21st Century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration are more important for students now than ever before. Content knowledge is no longer sufficient; students need to be able to think creatively and critically, work collaboratively, analyse information, and solve complex problems. It is clear that students need a…

A newly published report shows that fintech disruption continues to broaden financial services in Kenya, a credit positive for the country’s banks. Through collaborating with mobile payments services, particularly Safaricom’s M-Pesa, banks continue to offer higher value-added services. Fintech innovation is expected to continue to expand the market for banking services. Kenyan banks are currently working with M-PESA to offer saving and loan products, which is a credit positive move for the sector and country, Moody’s Investors Service says in its latest report. “Banks have piggybacked on a successful model, partnering with M-PESA to offer services, like loans and deposits, and…