Author: Nairobi Business Monthly Reporter

Kakuzi’s inaugural avocado export cargo to China sold out as the company plans for a second load to be delivered in October Listed agribusiness company Kakuzi has confirmed that its inaugural “hass” avocado export cargo to China has been sold-out in the quality-conscious market. According to the firm’s managing director Christopher Flowers, the success of the inaugural export cargo to China has paved the way for the pre-export planning for a second load to be delivered in October. The firm has also commenced plans to explore the Malaysian market as part of its market diversification strategy. “The first Kakuzi Hass…

Read More

BY Antony mutunga NCBA Group is set to pay an interim dividend of Sh2 per share, translating to a total payout of Sh3.29 billion thanks to a profit after tax of Sh7.8 billion compared to Sh4.7 billion same period last year, representing 67% growth. While the lender experienced revenue growth in most areas, non-interest income was particularly strong because of “an outperformance in foreign exchange” revenues. Moreover, a strong customer base and the bank’s ability to source, risk manage and supply foreign currency, made it possible for the bank to become a top earner of foreign exchange revenues during the…

Read More

By Ephraim Njega Kenyans, irrespective of the political parties they support, waited for the Supreme Court ruling on the Presidential Petition delivered on September 5. As William Samoei Ruto takes the reigns after the judges upheld his win, it is in everyone’s interest that political environment is stable and that peace prevails.  Almost everyone who has ever done a business plan knows that significant effort is dedicated to analysis of the business environment. The success or failure of a business is deeply connected to the environment in which it operates. One of the dimensions to be analysed in any plan…

Read More

There is no magic wand as President William Ruto takes over a stuggling country, with the headache of sky-high fuel prices, a public debt of Sh8.7 trillion and high cost of doing business welcoming him into office. What is the way forward for the new government? BY PETER WANYONYI “Après moi,” the French King Louis XV is said to have quipped to his favourite mistress, Madame de Pompadour, “le déluge.” After me, the flood. His terse aphorism has been given many interpretations, but the most sensational is that of an uncaring, indifferent monarch who gleefully predicted disaster after his own…

Read More

High growth companies, especially financial services providers should consider the issue of costs and speed when picking between arbitration and litigation, according to policy makers, arbitration practitioners, enthusiasts, and private sector players who form the consumer market for arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Kenya. During the Kenya chapter of second International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conference on arbitration and ADR that was recently held in Nairobi, it was evident that the nascent “dispute resolution” industry is shaping for take-off, driven by the surge in international trade and investments in the region. This is on the back of increased…

Read More

It is only in restoring the old roads and getting people to embrace the use of the expressway that the purpose for which the elevated road was built will be achieved BY DAVID WANJALA The Nairobi Expressway strides magnificently across the City in the Sun’s landscape from east to west, expressing the republic’s desire to leap into the middle-class economy.  It is no wonder that ecstatic Nairobians have taken to taunting neighbours online in the other East African capital cities by sharing scenic photographs of the 27km road while reminding them that it was not in London or Washington DC…

Read More

BY VICTOR ADAR T he government backed Ajira Digital Program in partnership with the Amahoro Coalition, an initiative that advances refugee inclusion through education and income opportunities, is exploring ways to enable the refugee population in Kenya to work online and deliver business solutions for the private sector in Kenya. The initiative now offers hope to young people bogged down by mobility and access limitations, to explore opportunities beyond the camps, promising them of local digital and digitally-enabled work regardless of gender, background, geographical, and physical conditions. During a round table event, private sector players among other actors discussed opportunities…

Read More

BY VICTOR ADAR When Lucas Njoroge Ndolo joined the Kenya Military Defence College in 1985 at the age of 21, his vision was to find something constructive to do with his life and perhaps be a professional trainer. He served in the Kenya Army for 10 years and retired at the age of 31 after going up to the ranks of a captain. Soon Mr Ndolo, a 58-year-old grand father of two – his grandson is currently 9 years old, and grand-daughter is 2 –, joined one private security firm which had 200 guards. The company grew in leaps and…

Read More

By Kevin Ayugi The journey to contactless payment options is helping economies across the world increase transparency in the financial markets while also addressing threats like money laundering on a grand scale. To a consumer, it is more convenient, reliable and reduces the exposure to theft.  Sweden, which aims for a cashless economy by 2023, has a mature payment market. As per the latest available records, over 80% of Swedes use cards with 58% of payments being made by card and only 6% made in cash. The journey has largely been powered by factors such as a robust card payment…

Read More

Today, purpose-driven brands outperform those that are not. People want to feel that a brand has invested in them, its employees, the community in which it operates, or the environment. According to the findings of the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer, 68% of consumers believe they have the power to force corporations to change, and 86% of individuals expect chief executives to speak. Here’s how industry experts value purpose as a business strategy. According to Aisha Pandor, SweepSouth CEO, it is important for business to align with purpose and values. “I come from a background with parents who were teachers and…

Read More