THE STATE OF DROUGHT IN KENYA | Turning Adversity into Opportunity

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A recent report by the government indicated that, livestock worth 64.2 billion in the ASAL areas, has been wiped out as the region experiences the worst drought in 60 years. “A quarter of the country’s zebu herd in ASAL areas of 14 million animals is lost and the worst is possibly yet to come” Daily Nation reported.

A brief on investment opportunities available in Kenya, accredited by the Ministry of State for Planning National Development and Vision 2030 stated that, “livestock production in the ASAL accounts for nearly 90% of the employment opportunities and nearly 95% of the family incomes. It also accounts for about 45% of the Agricultural GDP.”  Though natural calamities such as drought cannot be controlled, its effects can be anticipated, thus loss of people’s lives and property as a result of the same can adequately be subdued. Isn’t it wrong in the face of the fact that, 75% of Kenya’s livestock are in the ASAL areas, whereas they are served with less than 10% of livestock service staff? What sense is in losing 64bn on one hand, and soliciting for aid funds to a tune of 1bn on the other? If that is anything to go by, then we have surely settled for less than survival. It is envisioned in the Kenya’s Vision 2030, to increase farmers income, create employment, and reduce malnutrition and food insecurity. Investing in the livestock sector, especially in the North Eastern Province (NEP), may be a good place to begin. “The development of a fully fledged export industry for processed livestock products, would doubtless have the greatest impact on the economy, and welfare of the NEP and its people” ReSAKSS, 2008. The article titled, Investment Opportunities for Livestock in the North Eastern Province of Kenya: A Synthesis of Existing Knowledge, further points out that strengthening of the institutions that, “ensure political stability, public security and protection of investment and ownership would induce investors to contribute to the development of the NEP through investment in the livestock sector.”

Mandera Livestock Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not too late to begin, for all is not lost. It is true that one doesn’t appreciate the value of what they have, till it is lost. But the fool is the one who sits back and stands to lose, even more. Challenges are there, for the ones who are ready to take them. Turning the current drought adversity into an opportunity for growth, can begin with just a simple step as laying down commercially oriented road networks, into the NEP.

 

What’s Your Say?

References:

Drought wipes out herd worth Sh64bn Daily Nation August 7, 2011

Investment Opportunities Google Docs (as of) August 10, 2011

Investment Opportunities for Livestock in the North Eastern Province of Kenya: A Synthesis of Existing Knowledge ReSAKSS, 2008

 

 

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE | Man United beat Man City 3 – 2 [Video]

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Nani’s 94th minute goal settled a mouthwatering Community Shield as Manchester United came back from two goals down to win the encounter by 3 goals to 2. The win sends United to their 19th Community Shield win; matching their Barclays Premier League record tally.

City had gone ahead at the end of the first half, with goals form Lescott, and a 25 yard shot from Dzeko easily beating United’s keeper, De Gea. It appeared quite unfortunate for United to go down by two goals having completely outplayed their City rivals. Ferguson’s response was to make three changes, bringing on new signing, Phil Jones, and Jonny Evans to replace Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the back, and introducing Tom Cleverley into his midfield. Smalling reduced the deficit from close range when Young’s free-kick narrowly evaded Lescott. Six minutes later, came the equalizer, with Rooney, Nani and Cleverley opening City up with numbing series of short passes before Nani beat Joe Hart with a clever chip.  The match looked certain for penalties, when Nani kept his cool in a one-on-one situation to beat Hart for the second time right in the last minute. United were by far the better side, taking the game to their opponents and in the end they were the worthy winners.

With young player already impressing, the manager is set to have a headache in choosing his starting eleven. With Scholes’ role still up for grabs; Cleverly proved he is ready to take up the position by being a key figure in United’s come back.

References:
Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3: Nani stars as champions’ comeback stuns rivals in Wembley showdown Man City 2 – 3
Man City 2 – 3 Man Utd

COCA-COLA | Going juicy!

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With the intent of expanding production capacity and diversify into other product ranges, coca-cola will invest 5 billion shillings in Kenya over the next three years. The firm’s East  Africa general Manager Mr. Peter Njonjo said that the juice market has a huge market potential and hence contracted about 37,000 farmers to grow mangoes and passion fruits for the company. The firm seeks to start manufacturing juice products in addition to the soft drinks. He stated that some of the investments would go to improving the beverage services plants in Nairobi and Kisumu. To their benefit, this investment will provide a ready and steady market as well as a source of raw materials.

This is good news for the farmers, consumers, as well as the company. This is because farmers will share profits and incur less loss because of the subsidized cost in terms of farming expenditures. The farmers will also have an increase of income. If the materials are available locally, the company will experienced decreased cost of production which is good news for the consumers as the products will be purchased at cheaper prices.

This gesture will contribute greatly to economic growth of Kenya. The choice of investing in farmers will increase the national income and therefore generate more revenue for the country. Farmers will also have a feeling of security. Thumbs up to Coca-cola company as this is directly giving back to society. Farmers are also encouraged to take this opportunity to improve their income.

References:

Coca Cola to invest Sh5 billion in Kenya to grow its product range

EDUCATION | First term to begin in September

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After noting that the schools’ academic year is clashing with the government’s financial year, it has been proposed that the schools’ first term to start in September . This is because schools have experienced difficulty in running smoothly due to lack of funds. Mostly, the funds are released to the schools towards the end of the term, which is an inconvenience. In the proposed system, schools’ first term will commence in September and end in November, Second term will start in January end in March, Then third term from May to July.

Therefore, according to the proposal, it is convenient for first term to start in September, after the parliament has passed the budget and funds released by the Treasury for the public schools. If the recommendation is passed, both the primary and secondary schools are expected to adopt this system like the public universities. Although it is unclear whether private primary and secondary institutions are expected to adopt this system as well.

The proposed system is acceptable because in the current one; students who are not sitting for the national examinations are mostly expected to leave school until the examination period is over. In the suggested system, however, students will go for their holiday except for the candidates who will sit for their examinations during this period. The system will therefore, provide smooth running of schools and lack of funds for a new academic year will be long gone affair. What is your opinion on this?

Reference:

Kenyan schools may open for first term in September

2014 WORLD CUP DRAW | Harambee Stars vs. Seychelles

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When the draw for the 2014 world cup qualifiers was conducted on the 30th of July 2011, the Kenya national soccer team was among a group of 24 lowly ranked teams in the continent set to face it out before joining a group stages for a chance to taste glory in Brazil. The stars ranked 130th in the latest FIFA rankings are set to square it out with the tiny Indian ocean island of Seychelles’ known better for its tourism than for its football prowess. The stars should have an easy task advancing into the group stages if Seychelles’’ current placing in the rankings 197 is anything to go by. However in football anything is bound to happen and for this reason the stakeholders should ensure the team prepares enough in time for the 11th of November clash away before a return fixture in Nairobi four days later.

If the stars cross the Seychelles hurdle they will join Nigeria, Malawi and the winner of the tie between Namibia and Djibouti in group F to fight it out for first place. The winner of the group will join nine other group winners in five two legged ties with the winners representing Africa in the 2014 FIFA world cup. Nigeria and Malawi who are ranked higher than Kenya pose the biggest threat at that stage. In the recent past Nigeria has proven to be our perennial rival when it comes to world cup qualification each time the super eagles flying above our stars. The latest being the 3-2 defeat at the hands of the West Africans in Nairobi during the qualifications for the 2010 world cup. There are lots of positives that the current national team can build on from that encounter and possibly take us all the way to Rio bearing in mind the fact that we were leading only for our defensive frailties to let us down.

The stars have a good chance of making it through to face off with the big boys of African football for a chance to play in Brazil .However that will only happen if preparations start early.

References:
Super eagles in Harambee Stars’ way, Daily Nation, 2nd August2011
Kenya 2 Nigeria 3: match report, The Telegraph, 14th Nov 2009
Road to Brazil, standardmedia, 2nd August 2011

THE ALCOHOL BILL | The pros’ and cons’

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The alcohol bill better known as the Mututho law, is the bill that was passed by parliament a few months ago. The private member’s bill was nicknamed ‘Mututho law’ after the Member of parliament who came up with the bill. The law states that drinking hours on weekdays are between 5-11pm and no selling of alcohol before 2pm on weekends. The law also prohibits establishments selling alcohol from being located 300 meters within the schools. The law is aimed at controlling the consumption of alcohol.

Bases on the fact that a flamboyant portion of the country’s revenue comes from alcoholic drinks; it is questionable if the law is doing more good than harm. First, in terms of the economy, there is less productivity among employees. They are either distracted because of going through the day without their favorite drink, or they have to leave the work premises early in order to hit the bar at the drinking hours. There is also loss of jobs and revenue especially due to the regulation on the location of drinking joints near academic institutions. Many bars have had to close down temporarily or permanently because of this.

Let us not forget that most of the drinkers are moderate drinkers. Although, looking at the bright side, the good news is that there will be reduced alcohol-related problems and alcohol related problems among the youth; this is according to the anti-alcohol campaigners. All in all it is up to an individual. The law cannot conquer irresponsible drinking. Even with the law in place people still over-engage in alcohol. It should be uplifted for the sake of the economy.

References:
A counter to Mututho Law
Misery in Kenya as Mututho law bites
‘Mututho’ Law cannot deal with alcohol abuse

SOCIAL MEDIA | Why Kenyan firms should embrace social media

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If you are wondering what social media is, it basically refers to the use of web based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Many firms in the market today need to embrace this trend in technology, mainly because it is cheaper and feedback is not delayed. Social media can take on many different forums, such as web blogs, internet forums, and micro blogs. Examples of social media are the likes of you tube, twitter, Facebook, and many others.

How will they benefit from this? Apart from relatively cheaper advertising, social media could use this to place promotions over social networking sites. For instance, a firm could have a fun page on Facebook and place available promotions. Also, because of the interactive nature of social networks, a firm can use this to their advantage to manage their reputation. By this they keep an eye on conversations going on and respond to them. Social media can also be used to collect feedback or suggestion to a firm on their products or services, or how the firm should operate in favor of its consumers. Social media is also decentralized, therefore, it lays a foundation for globalization and publicity of a firm.

These are just a few ways a firm can use social media. It is appropriate for marketing and publicity. Many companies have gone online in Kenya, therefore, the use of social media is just an icing on the cake. Also, consumers are now purchasing commodities online. Therefore, the companies are able to attract vast markets. Because of its utility, social media is accessible to anyone, and easy to use. It is also available to the public with little or no cost. To sum up, the greatest and most productive way a firm can use social media is by managing their reputation. Consumers can air complaints, offer suggestions and feedback freely without feeling intimidated.

References:
Social Media

7 Rules of Social Media and Creating Trust Around Your Brand

Social media and online PR.

SOCCER | Who will sit out for Sanchez?

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After weeks of speculation and numerous rumors linking Sanchez to at least four top European clubs, Alexis Sanchez finally put pen to paper on Monday and signed for Barcelona . The sensational Chilean forward has been taunted as one of the best prospects for the beautiful game, with some going as far as saying he is better than Lionel Messi, the current FIFA player of the year. Well, without demeaning  the speedy, skilful 22 year old forward, his national team coach Claudio Borghi, is obviously taking sides when he says Sanchez is better than Messi. With the deal sealed and Sanchez -who scored 12 goals and made 6 assists in 31 matches- now a Barcelona player, the next question is; who will Sanchez  replace from the star studded Barcelona team?

Alexis Sanchez

Last season, Barcelona virtually won anything and everything that was there to compete for, and they did so in such prolific form earning much bragging rights for their millions of supporters worldwide and putting on a show for their rivals’ supporters alike .Their starting eleven was consistent for most of the campaign with a few changes mainly due to injuries. Alexis Sanchez has proven himself as a forward  despite turning out as a winger in his first season at Udinese. However it is problematic determining  whom he will replace in the Barcelona front row which was dominated by Pedro, Villa and Messi last season. Sitting out the current best football player would be next to impossible unless something tragic happens to him, thus we are left with Villa and Pedro. David Villa is more of a central attacker whereas  Sanchez is arguably less fit to play in that position. My guess is that it would prove quite a task to get Villa’s position. So we are now left with Pedro, I think Sanchez can fit in Pedro’s shoes and impart  a bit more of  speed and flare.

We shall have to wait and see what Pep Guardiola does with this array of talent. However, if his thinking is close to mine, then Barcelona’s  4-3-3 formation, with Sanchez, Villa and Messi forming the final third, will be a force to reckon with.

 

References:
Udinese forward Alexis Sanchez on the road to greatness telegraph.co.uk, 18 June 2011

Barcelona signs Chile forward Alexis Sanchez sportsillustrated.cnn.com , 20 June 2011

TECHNOLOGY | Tablets to Scrolls

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History is our guide to the future. In the old testament there are tablets in the new testament scrolls. As with ancient evolution of tablets into scrolls, it is certain that our next computing evolutionary leap will be a scroll.

As the web based OS market matures, our need for resource hungry “thick smart clients” such as smart phones and tablets will soon diminish. This coupled with advances in battery technology will allow us to drive larger displays with unpararelled computing power. However, our need for ultra mobile and compact devices will require that we invest more resources in FOLED (Flexible Organic Light Emmiting Diode) technology, which offers the largest displays in small form factors. All these together will result in a Scroll type device that utilizes the cloud for its computing power while consuming the least amount of power for network and display needs. A typical scroll will have the following features:

  • Weight 100g
  • Storage 16GB
  • Connectivity Wireless and Cellular
  • Display 17inch diagonal 2560 x 1600 WQXGA
  • Chip 1Ghz dual core
  • Camera with 1080p video shoot capability
  • Power battery 1 week of surfing the web and running multimedia 1 month of passive time
  • Audio playback tv video

The true power of cloud computing will only be realized when we are able to offload processing from smart devices to managed cloud infrastructures. An obstacle to the current technologies; Tablet and Mobile is their limited display abilities. FOLED are the solution to large displays in a small form factor. As FOLED technologies make their way into the mainstream, we will be making major strides into true cloud computing. There are many roles yet to be filled in these emerging market environments. What role will Kenya play, will we have abundant power to juice up cloud data centers? Will we educate our young to have them develop these new technologies? Will we participate in the sustainable production of cloud computing devices? Any others?

References:

ID CRISIS | Government lags in issuance of IDs

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On October, 2009, the Public Procurement Administration Board ruled that the tendering process for the new generation IDs was unfair, and ordered the ministry of Immigration to begin it anew.

Otieno Kajwang-Minister of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons

Last weekend on Saturday, Daily Nation reported that “more than 4 million Kenyans-the majority of them youths-could be prevented from voting next year if the political infighting over a Sh. 12 billion tender for the production of national identity cards is not resolved soon.” The tender for design, supply, installation and commissioning of the 3rd generation IDs, advertised on April 2007, “has attracted a lot of attention from powerful people in government. It has been derailed because some forces think that ODM wants to turn it into an Anglo Leasing and mint money for campaigns,” Otieno Kajwang-Minister of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons, said for the record. On 3rd March, 2011, allAfrica.com reported that, “although funds were allocated for the project, powerful people with vested interests have been fighting to influence who gets the contract.” On the flip side, “without an ID one cannot transact official business, get a job, travel outside the country, join college, access government offices, and entertainment spots or acquire other crucial documents like passports.” Daily Nation reported. Findings from a research carried out by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) addressing the crisis on issuance of national identity cards in Kenya stated that, “the Government only recognizes the importance of an ID card in so far as elections are concerned, but not for other crucial purposes… This means that political interests of those in Government tend to supercede the day-to-day interests of Kenyans.” Surprisingly, the government seems to have disregarded results of the 2009 census, exhibiting that “young people constitute a core voting bloc that will determine who becomes the country’s next president.” The KNCHR research drew a conclusion that “registration of persons and issuance of ID cards is core in determining the extent of enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by Kenyans.”

For how long the Kenyan government will view the citizenry as mere statistical elements, is an issue begging for urgent corrective reasoning, lest much more young people will stand disenfranchised and dispossessed.

References:

ID crisis: 4 million face lockout in poll Daily Nation July 23rd 2011

Sort Out ID Cards Crisis allAfrica.com March 3rd 2011

Youth Seeking IDs to Wait Longer After Tender Quashed allAfrica.com October 15th 2009

An Identity Crisis? A Study on the Issuance of National Identity Cards in Kenya KNCHR 2007