Tech startups in Africa led by women are attracting an increasing share of funding. Experts believe that with increased mentoring, this gender gap can be narrowed further. By Bonface Orucho Funding to female-led tech startups in Africa is surging, defying previous regressive trends. According to Africa: The Big Deal’s latest Q3 2023 report, woman-led startups now command 19% of total equity funding—the highest since Q1 2021. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter of growth, according to the Africa startup database and insights provider, and is a substantial increase from a year ago, when the amount was only 4% in Q4…
Author: Bird Agency
As a young boy, Musa Otieno discovered the power of soccer to transform lives. Now, the retired footballer is using his early life lessons to help others. By Velma Pamela He could be living the life that many fans believe retired international footballers have earned – a life of luxury, touring the world and spending holidays at high-end destinations. Instead, Musa Otieno, the most-capped Kenyan international soccer player ever and former player for South African football club Santos, is way too busy. While his role as a coach hardly looks like slowing down, he is also giving hope to vulnerable…
Kenya’s shipbuilding abilities are giving the country a competitive edge as East Africa rushes to take advantage of booming trade around its inland waterways. By Bonface Orucho Kenya is emerging as a significant shipbuilder in the East African region as the country taps into rising demand for inland water logistics on Lake Victoria and across the region. The country this month commissioned its first domestically-built modern inland cargo ship, the MV Uhuru II, built by the military-controlled Kenya Shipyards Limited, with help from Dutch partner Damen Shipyards. President William Ruto emphasized that the ship serves as a “catalyst for economic…
Ken Mbuki and Michel Iland are elevating farming to new heights – using drones. By Lucy Githugo When drone pilot Ken Mbuki met Michel Iland at a Kenya Drone Business Competition, they realised they had something in common – both needed and used, drones to improve their farming operations. Mbuki, a business intelligence specialist at Moringa School in Nairobi, was introduced to farming by his mother early in life. Despite his high-end career and city life, farming remained a passion. Today, Mbuki, like so many middle-class “Nairobians”, actively farms a piece of land that he owns, up-country. He precision farms…
From Cape Town to Nairobi, new elite property zones are emerging in Africa’s major cities as local centi-millionaires spread their economic footprint across the continent. By Seth Onyango Affluent households are starting to make up a noticeable share of renters and buyers in major African cities, in a marked shift in the continent’s luxury property domain. Cape Town, with its panoramic vistas, wineries and deep-rooted history, takes the lead as the most expensive African city – at US$5,200 per square metre according to the new Henley & Partners report. Not far behind are other South African coastal jewels, Hermanus and…
In a cosy workshop in Eldoret in western Kenya, Jackton Onyango Otieno, a down-to-earth, 62-year-old mushroom expert is completely engrossed in the delicate art of preparing a proper mushroom substrate. Around him is huddled a group of eager youths, taking in his every word. Judging by the regular smiles, Otieno’s energy and passion for sharing his expertise is infectious and he clearly finds joy in sharing his expertise and nurturing the next generation of mushroom enthusiasts. Despite the sense of jollity in the workshop, however, there’s a deadly serious reason why Otieno is keen to disseminate his knowledge as widely…
Recent strides by African athletes in marathon running have been nothing short of extraordinary. While the advent of advanced “super shoes” has played a role, experts emphasize meticulous planning and strategy behind these remarkable athletic achievements. By Bonface Orucho Africa’s running reputation received another boost recently when 23-year-old Kevin Kiptum won the 45th edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, setting a new world record for the regular marathon, of 02:00:35. Kiptium’s time shaved 34 seconds off Eliud Kipchoge’s record of 2:01:09 set in Berlin in 2022. This is despite Kiptum making his international marathon debut just last December,…
A growing wave of climate lawsuits in Africa is echoing global trends as an impassioned and youthful climate activist community pushes for justice on the continent. More lawsuits are expected, signalling Africans’ urgency in pursuit of climate justice. By Bonface Orucho More Africans are turning to the courts, demanding climate justice, and holding governments and corporations accountable. The latest UNEP report reveals a considerable rise in global climate litigation, from 884 cases in 24 jurisdictions in 2017 to over 2000 cases in 65 jurisdictions in 2022. According to Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, the rate of growth is rapid,…
Africa is to gain additional seats on the influential boards of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, elevating the region’s clout in global finance governance. This comes as African nations look to carve out space to act with greater agency and self-determination, both in continental and world affairs. By Seth Onyango Africa is securing a third seat on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board, giving new impetus to a growing push to recalibrate the dynamics of global financial governance. The World Bank will also add a third board spot for African states, following years of advocacy for…
Bans on unprocessed mineral exports are driving investments in local processing plants across Africa. Could this revolutionise the continent’s mining sector? By Bonface Orucho The recent announcement of a US$500 million lithium refining facility in Ghana is the latest sign that moves by African nations to restrict the flow of unprocessed minerals from the continent may be bearing fruit. Ghana has known lithium reserves of some 35 million tons. Earlier this year, the country passed its Green Minerals Policy, which, amongst other things, restricts raw mineral exports. A consortium led by CAA Mining Ltd, Luxembourg-based Livista Energy and Livista’s local…