Author: NLM Correspondent

The pandemic has taught us new lessons about why PPPs are even more critical to the continent’s post-pandemic resilience bY Edem Adzogenu Beyond the staggering tragedy that is the death and illness of thousands of people the world over, the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought unprecedented economic disorder, decimating economies and the livelihoods of citizens in rich and poor nations alike. The International Trade Centre projected that, globally, 1 in every 5 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will go bankrupt in 2020 – an alarming number considering that, in Africa, this category of business provides nearly 80 percent of…

In recent months, Ukheshe has ramped up efforts to establish and enhance key partnerships in Africa as the continent shifts towards digital channels. In an initiative that will see the growth and development of payment services within the East Africa region, leading digital fintech platform provider, Ukheshe, has announced the conclusion of a new agreement with the Kenya-based lender KCB Bank Kenya. Through the agreement, KCB will sponsor Ukheshe’s Bank Identification Number (BIN) number, which will allow Ukheshe to immediately issue both physical and virtual cards across East Africa where KCB has an extensive footprint. According to Victor Ndlovu, Vice…

Higher debt levels, weaker debt affordability, and low buffers pose significant challenges given limited institutional capacity The negative 2021 outlook for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) sovereigns reflects the severe economic challenges the region will grapple within the fallout from the coronavirus shock, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report last month. SSA sovereigns’ growth recovery will be slow, with far-reaching implications for already weak revenue generation. Lower overall economic growth and revenue, coupled with higher government expenditure, will also lead to wider fiscal deficits and higher debt for the region. “Most Sub-Saharan African governments’ debt burdens will stabilise at materially higher…

The pandemic is adding to the growing list of non-physical damage BI scenarios such as cyber or power blackouts. By Antony Mutunga 2020 was not a good year for many as COVID-19 ravaged the world, disrupting lives and entire economies. No one had anticipated the risk the pandemic brought to the corporate world. Business interruption (#1 with 41 percent responses) and Pandemic outbreak (#2 with 40 percent) are this year’s top business risks with Cyber incidents (#3 with 40 percent) ranking a close third, the annual survey on global business risks from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) shows. “The…

By Kibe Mungai When judges are not free, no man can be said to have rights, for the form of justice can be twisted to serve the tyranny of the numerous, the wealthy, or the powerful. One cannot be sure of always running with the pack; he may find himself the pursued rabbit. A man cannot tell when in a civil or criminal case he may be unjustly accused, the object of widespread calumny and popular hatred, with the result that his property, his liberty or even his life, is in danger. In that day his only refuge is a…

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo As we well and truly get into 2021, we need to remind ourselves that the destiny of any society is pegged on actions, thoughts, habits, and the characters of every citizen. The raging debate to hold a referendum based on the recommendations of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has attracted different opinions from Kenyans. Many have questioned why it’s a priority to change a constitution that is only 10 years old. A section of Kenyans do agree that to conform to modern trends of governance and public service, an amendment is necessary. But others contend that,…

By NLM Writer There is an unending debate on the merits and demerits of rotating the presidency amongst different tribes, as one way of addressing feelings of political discontent in Kenya. On the other hand, the advocates of “meritocracy” argue that to do so is to defeat the very meaning of a constitutional democracy. The neutrals maintain that we must do a bit of both – make sure no single community hogs the presidency and the power that comes with it, and restructure our politics to reflect Kenya’s diversity. The question is, how do we do it best? Kenya’s political…

A good political system is one that allows people to compete equally, not give them handouts BY SHADRACK MUYESU It is true that we are a multilayered, highly differentiated society. And it is certainly true, that our differences compel us to pursue solutions that are different from those applied in the more streamlined West. Personally, I am pro at a rotational system which, in my view, will accommodate our differences. But I also understand that the differences are so deep and the interests so diverse that it will always be impossible to make everyone happy. What president Uhuru proposes in…

Matthew Bryden is also responsible for Eritrea’s 13-year embargo and wreaking havoc in the internal affairs of Somalia. By Fuad Abdirahman Diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia date back many years. Kenya is home to hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees, and Somalia has been a market destination for Kenyan goods. Recently, these relations have been ailing and now seem headed for obliteration. Between December and January, there occurred a dangerous military build-up along the two countries’ common border thanks to a coordinated campaign that misled Kenyan policymakers and infuriated the administration in Mogadishu. This sophisticated misinformation crusade is driven…

By Edwin Musonye A neglected truism in some countries is that business is all about standards, and that good business is all about good standards. Whereas there are many unstandardized matters, let’s focus on the need to put value on skills.  This has nothing to do with what the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) does. National Pay Standardization here means creating pay brackets for all workforce regardless of whether they work in the public or the private sector. Divergent voices claim that we are in a free market and the forces of demand and supply must remain the only determinants…