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…
Author: Bird Agency
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…
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…
Expansion by global tech giants into Africa is driving increased investment in “green” data centres in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. By Conrad Onyango In early September, Google and Amazon Web Services executives witnessed the groundbreaking of Kenya’s first renewables-powered, or “green” data centre. Eco-cloud is the country’s first geothermal-powered data centre. Two weeks later, Kenya’s President, William Ruto pitched the country as an investment destination for tech companies seeking to improve their green credentials, during the US-Kenya business roadshow in San Francisco, California. “In San Francisco, United States, met the Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook. Kenya’s green data centre potential…
Kenya lays out fast-charging corridors for electric vehicles to ease range anxiety and fuel green mobility. By Seth Onyango Kenya is planning fast-charging stations at 25-kilometre intervals along its arterial highways to ease range anxieties among prospective electric vehicle buyers. This marks the nation’s most ambitious move yet to incentivise consumers to switch to EVs and develop a national charging network. Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) unveiled the scheme as part of new guidelines for EV battery charging. “At least one charging station should be available in a grid of three kilometres by three kilometres. Additionally, one charging…
Oil cartel’s developmental fund shells out millions of dollars in intensified focus on Africa. By Seth Onyango The OPEC Fund is ramping up a series of strategic investments in Africa, pushing to position itself not just as a benefactor but as an ally to the continent’s burgeoning growth story. In the past two years, the fund, with its deep pockets and understanding of energy dynamics, has flexed its financial muscle on the continent in various sectors. The oil cartel’s development fund is not just opening its coffers to energy projects to bolster access in Africa but is embedding itself in…
Oil cartel’s developmental fund shells out millions of dollars in intensified focus on Africa. By Seth Onyango The OPEC Fund is ramping up a series of strategic investments in Africa, pushing to position itself not just as a benefactor but as an ally to the continent’s burgeoning growth story. In the past two years, the fund, with its deep pockets and understanding of energy dynamics, has flexed its financial muscle on the continent in various sectors. The oil cartel’s development fund is not just opening its coffers to energy projects to bolster access in Africa but is embedding itself in…
