Author: NLM Correspondent

By Antony Mutunga After a testy pandemic period, the economy has reopened as the world gradually returns normalcy. Months after reopening, the Kenyan economy has continued to record positive growth in different sectors, with retail seeing an increase in demand for prime retail shops. According to Knight Frank’s Kenya market update H2 2021 report, there was a slight increase in prime rents from Sh454.60 ($4) per square foot (sq. ft) per month in to Sh465.96 ($4.10) per sq. ft per month and an increase in retailer activity in acquiring new units. There has also been an increase in foot and…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will now prioritise technical engagements on OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (IF) on base erosion and profit shifting agreement formed after the end of a recently held three-day workshop in Naivasha in a joint effort to address tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. Senior technical officials led by KRA Commissioner General Githii Mburu and the Director of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration at the OECD, Mr Pascal Saint-Amans, confirmed that the two organisations will step up their collaboration efforts to reform international tax…

AfCFTA supporters are betting that full tariff liberalization of vehicle manufacturing and food processing will unlock billions in regional trade. By Guest Writer Vehicle manufacturing and food processing have been touted as the next big drivers of Intra-African trade as the single largest world market-AfCFTA readies to enter its second implementation phase in less than a month. A new report, “Economic Development in Africa 2021: Reaping the potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area for inclusive growth” by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), shows vehicles have the largest untapped export potential of $1.4 billion,…

By Gabrielle Lynch, Justin Willis, Nic Cheeseman As Kenyans approach a general election in August 2022, many lack confidence in the electoral process. According to a national opinion poll conducted by Afrobarometer in 2019, only 29.2 percent of Kenyans thought that the country’s 2017 election was free and fair. Another 33.5 percent thought that there were minor problems, 12 percent that there were major problems, and 21.7 percent that the elections were not free and fair at all. Moreover, according to a 2021 poll commissioned by South Consulting, although around half of Kenyans have confidence in the electoral commission to support a free…

Unlike Ruto, it seems like every jigsaw of the campaign puzzle is falling in place just at the right time for Odinga By Peter Opondo Months to the August general election, a clear shape of how the presidential election is likely to go is beginning to emerge, and this may not be good news for deputy president William Ruto. The Azimio la Umoja coalition led by Raila Odinga and significantly supported by President Uhuru Kenyatta is slowly but surely turning the country blue. Last month’s endorsement and unveiling of Raila as the Azimio presidential candidate by a constellation of more…

By Edward Waswa Kisiang’ani With barely four months until the August 2022 General Election, political excitement in Kenya is at a fever pitch. In the public sphere, everybody is engaged in some form of dialogue about the forthcoming polls. At the heart of every political discourse you come across is this recurring matter of the Presidential race. So far, the Presidential battle has been trimmed down to a riveting contest between Deputy President Dr. William Ruto and former prime minister – and now government candidate – Raila Odinga. Many people are asking the question, who between Ruto and Raila will…

By Zion Adeoye I t is projected that under the AfCFTA, extreme poverty will significantly decline across the continent Established in 2018, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), represents perhaps Africa’s biggest opportunity for the next few decades in its battle against poverty of all forms, energy and infrastructure included. Against the backdrop of the tens of millions of Africans that have been plunged into extreme poverty by the onslaught of the covid-19 Pandemic, a strong case must be made for a speedy implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. It is projected that under the AfCFTA, extreme…

By Nicolas Bonnefoy The status of oil and gas production in Africa, best practices for African countries to attract investment and the role the continent’s oil and gas sector can play in meeting growing energy demand globally. What does this production underperformance mean for Africa? Production has declined globally, not only in Africa. That said, production underperformance is clearly bad news for over-reliant hydrocarbons economies in Africa indeed. The industry has, however, been through a deep structural crisis long before the pandemic, with COVID-19 triggering additional business disruption and accelerating the energy transition. Since the 2014 crisis and throughout the…

By Nathaniel Allen and Ify Okpali Even as the world’s leading militaries race to adopt artificial intelligence in anticipation of future great power war, security forces in one of the world’s most conflict-prone regions are opting for a more measured approach. In Africa, AI is gradually making its way into technologies such as advanced surveillance systems and combat drones, which are being deployed to fight organized crime, extremist groups, and violent insurgencies. Although the long-term potential for AI to impact military operations in Africa is undeniable, AI’s impact on organized violence has so far been limited. These limits reflect both the novelty…

Production underperformance does not only impact domestic energy supply but reduced export revenues for producing nations, creating a multiplier effect on the economy. In 2021/2022, many African countries have seen production gradually decline, leading stakeholders to pursue innovative ways to enhance exploration and establish energy security. In an exclusive interview with the African Energy Chamber (AEC), David Hartell, Managing Director, Stellae Energy Ltd. provides more clarity on the current situation. What will this production underperformance in Nigeria, Libya, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and African countries mean for the continent as a whole? Production underperformance hurts the countries involved with less…