KRA launches Taxpayer Month

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will on Monday 1^st October, 2018 launch the annual Taxpayer’s Month at the Times Tower.

The 2018 Taxpayers Month is scheduled to run from 1^st – 31^st October 2018. The event will be officiated by Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Mr Henry Rotich, KRA Board Chairman Amb. (Dr) Francis Muthaura, KRA Commissioner General among other guests from both the private and public sector.

During the month, KRA will engage in various activities which include; taxpayer appreciation visits, taxpayer education, a tax summit and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. The event will also be marked by Taxpayers Award Ceremony and Luncheon hosted in honour of distinguished taxpayers scheduled for Wednesday 31^st October 2018 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

These distinguished taxpayers are winners recognized for exemplary tax compliance in the year 2017 as well as 2018. The activities to be held during the month also act as a platform to encourage citizens to pay taxes for the country’s economic development.

KRA has over the years dedicated one month to its taxpayers by carrying out activities geared towards honouring and appreciating all taxpayers for their invaluable contribution to the government’s revenue collection efforts.

The Taxpayer’s Month has, over time, become a permanent feature on KRA’s calendar and is geared towards achieving the following objectives:

1. Appreciate and award compliant taxpayers for their contribution to the national revenue.
2. Provide a platform for taxpayers and other stakeholders to give feedback on tax policies and processes
3. Create a competitive environment within which non-compliant taxpayers shall be encouraged to comply.

 

The Taxpayers’ Month initially started as a one-week event but due to the need to continuously engage and appreciate the taxpayer, the KRA Board and Management extended the period to a full month of October.

 

KRA is focused on ensuring a participatory tax regime through the three-day Tax Summit that kicks off on 15^th October 2018. Industry experts representing EABL, Oracle, National Bank of Kenya (NBK), among others are panellists at the session.

 

KRA strongly emphasizes the need for public participation in the taxpayers’ month celebrations, since this is an occasion to celebrate the taxpayers for their contribution to Kenya’s economic growth. Through participation, feedback is provided on various tax issues to enable KRA enhance service delivery.

MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES DRIVE TO KEEP CITY CLEAN

28^th September 2018…Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has today launched a segregated waste bin at Westlands stage terminal to help facilitate recycling of PET plastic bottles and to promote effective waste management.

To mark the National Clean- up month that is celebrated annually in September, KAM in partnership with Dandora Hip Hop City today participated in Westland’s area community clean-up drive, where a PET plastic bottles collection waste bin was launched.

Speaking during the ceremony, Job Wanjohi, KAM Head of Policy, Research and Advocacy said PET waste management initiative is part of the manufacturing industry’s commitment to solid waste management. The aim is to develop a sustainable post-consumer environmental solution through a series of activities that can be replicated around the city and across the country.

“The bins will help us to proactively respond to the environmental challenges of littering and reducing waste going to our landfill. As KAM, we support responsible disposal of plastic bottles and stand with the industries promoting this,” Mr. Wanjohi said.

On his part, Nairobi City County CEC Environment, Water, Energy and Natural Resources, Larry Wambua stressed that recycling does more than help the environment-it can help local businesses and expand jobs along the recycling value chain for our youth.

“This clean-up in Westlands, though small, is a giant step in effective waste management with opportunities along the recycling value chain,” Mr. Wambua said. Adding that: “There is need for members of the communities to come together to clean their environments to ensure they live in clean and safe environment.”

Westlands clean-up is one of the clean-ups organized by KAM. Previously, manufacturers have participated in clean-ups in Narok County, Eldoret town, Kayole and is set to extend the drive to other parts of the country. The clean-up activities will supplement Nairobi City County Safisha Jiji monthly clean-up activities and serve as a call to action to other stakeholders to spear head similar initiatives within their neighborhoods.

As part of the campaign KAM is also recruiting sustainability champions and has subsequently partnered with Dandora HipHop City, a Community based organization to use music to create awareness on effective waste management.

KAM also leverage on the event to create awareness on responsible waste management by using music and the arts as it seeks to build sustainability champions.

Nairobi County CEC Environment – Larry Wambua gives his opening remarks ahead of the cleanup drive. Images Courtesy of Oxygene.co.ke

Segregated Waste Bin That KAM hopes to help Kenyans Better Recycle. Images Courtesy of oxygene.co.ke

AFRICA LOGISTICS OPENS MEGA WAREHOUSE

Toby Selman, CEO of ALP making a presentation at launch of the warehouse. Images Courtesy of africanlaughterpr.

Africa Logistics Properties has launched its first 49,000 sqm of modern grade –A warehousing at ALP North Industrial Park with 75 per cent of the facility pre-leased at a time when other segments of thecommercial, retail and residential real estate market are struggling to achieve total occupancy of 75 per cent.

“The near complete uptake of ALP North prior to launch speaks to the scale of the warehousing shortage in Kenya. But it also demonstrates that real estate requires developers to concentrate on the genuine areas of market need,” said Toby Selman, CEO of ALP.

The demand for grade-A warehousing, which delivers significant cost savings and efficiency for users, currently far exceeds supply in the country, with warehouse users reporting that finding suitable facilities is frequently impossible, according to recent research by Tilisi Developments.

This shortage contrasts sharply with overbuild in some other real estate segments. The oversupply of commercial space in Nairobi reached 4.7m sqft in 2017, while retail space oversupply reached 3.7 m sq ft. Meanwhile, the supply of mall space rose by 41.6 per cent last year, even as demand stagnated.

As a result, according to Knight Frank’s 2018 Kenya Market Update report, the occupancy rate for new retail centres is now running at between 60 and 75 per cent.

This shifting balance of supply and demand has also changed relative investment yields, with commercial and retail yields falling from 11 per cent three years ago to eight per cent by 2017, while residential property yields are now running at 5.6 per cent. This has moved warehousing yields to pole position within real estate, at 8.5 per cent.

“The proportion of pre-leasing has also been driven by the quality of the warehousing, which just does not exist elsewhere in Kenya and East Africa at the moment,” said Selman.

That scarcity has driven far higher pre-leasing by ALP in Nairobi than is normal elsewhere. In the US, the pre-lease rate recently rose to 43 per cent from a 17-year running average of 38 per cent, according to a recent report by CBRE, a global leader in real estate services.

However, ALP’s distribution hubs have brought international design practices that now sharply boost efficiency and productivity. For instance,the new warehousing offers pallet stacking12 metres high, instead of the four metres offered by others in the market, as well as large column grids of 12m by 24m, which results in denser storage capacity and reduces the cost per pallet by up to 30 per cent.

The site also incorporates laser-levelled floors with anti-scratch coating that bear up to 10 tonnes. These allow the incorporation of automation systems, such as dock levellers, mechanized loading conveyors, and fork-lift-mechanized loading, cranes and loading platforms, which together improve turn-around time and cut labour by up to 76per cent.

Traffic management flowsalso facilitate quicker turnaround times for trucks and deliveries, and the warehousing offers improved healthy and safety measures, firefighting systems with sprinklers, fibre optic telecommunications, and solar panels on rooftops for greater energy efficiency.

 

Located on the key peripheral routes connecting Kenya’s largest airport, JKIA, to the main transport corridors from Kenya to Uganda and Rwanda, “ALP’s strategic positioning further increases distribution and supply chain efficiencies,” said Selman.

HOMELESS PEOPLE SHOULD STOP PHILANTHROPY GOR CHAIRMAN RETORTS

Gor Mahia FC Chairman Ambrose Rachier Hands press release statement to journalists. Images Courtesy of Vincent Munga

“… During the past week, the Gor Mahia stage has witnessed a theatre of tragi-comedy as well as the absurd. A theatre where miserably impecunious self seekers some of no fixed abode are playing the role of philanthropic benefactors purportedly paying unsolicited rent for our players, a theatre in which failed pseudo politicians are trying their hands at maiden trade unionism purporting to advocate our players industrial rights, drama where hired lay-abouts have taken to social media to echo their desperate masters’ voices in the most virulent terms and to vomit varying doses of imbibed albeit undigested vitriol at the cowardly demagogues. ALL IN THE NAME OF DELAYED SALARIES!

The above excerpt is part of a hard hitting speech by Gor Mahia FC chairman Ambrose Rachier who earlier today called for a press conference at a Nairobi Hotel to respond to emerging issues at the Club; some of which include: The delayed August Salaries, and the unexpected move by Meddie Kagere – whose contract with Gor Mahia FC came to an end on June 2018  to Simba SC of Tanzania – and Godfrey Walusimbi who moved to Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa while still on contract with the Club. The club is yet to receive Ksh13.5 million from Kaizer Chiefs on the player GOdfrey Walusimbi while for Meddie Kagere his move was after the end of his contract. On Salaries the chairman confirmed that the players would received their August salaries by close of business today.

LONGHORN GORES INTO NAIROBI PRISON

Nairobi, Kenya 20th

 Kenya Prisons Commissioner General Isaya Osugo (red tie) and Longhorn Managing Director Mr. Maxwell Wahome. Images Courtesy of LiveNationsMedia.

September 2018

Longhorn Publishers has today donated books to inmates and their children at the Nairobi Women’s Prison, Lang’ata. This is an extension of the company’s commitment towards improving literacy levels in Kenya.

The move follows an arrangement cemented on the International Literacy Day, 8^th September, geared towards highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Previously, the group has held a similar program with Naivasha G.K Prison.

Longhorn Publishers Ltd is an incorporated Kenyan Owned company specialized in publishing school based learning materials for the Kenyan market. Together with its affiliate, the Soma Caravan Initiative, the company aims to distribute more than one million books to hundreds of community schools all around the country. There is also a process underway to identify partners who would be interested in working with the initiative either across geographical areas, by targeting specific types of institutions, sponsoring specific schools or coming on board as global partners.

Today’s engagement with the Nairobi Women’s Prison, Lang’ata, opens a new phase that is set to herald the program

KENYA UNVEILS NEW PLASTIC BOAT

Image courtesy Ministry of Tourism Kenya

Plastic Boat gores the Indian Ocean. Malindi, Kenya. Image courtesy Ministry of Tourism Kenya

With Cap is Kenya Tourism Cabinet Secretary. Hon Najib Balala.  Images courtesy of Ministry of Tourism Kenya.

HUAWEI UNVEILS NEW EAST AFRICAN STRATEGIC PARTNER

19^thSeptember 2018…..  Huawei Technologies has signed a Framework Distribution Agreement in Kenya with Redington Gulf-a distributor of IT Telecom and Lifestyle products in this market. The two companies announced joint partnership for the ICT Ecosystem building.

Under this partnership, Huawei will work with Redington to provide cutting-edge equipment such as data centre facilities,and both IT and communications hardware and software for the Kenyan market.The products are backed by an experienced technical team to provide training and support to handle turnkey client solutions deployment.

On its part, Redington, a leading solutions and services reseller will handle the local channel development for Huawei Technological solutions through its extensive market network. Redington provides end-to-end Supply Chain Services and Solutions for leading Information Technology manufacturers and has hundreds of local ICT companies in its network.

Announcing the partnership at the Huawei-Redington Partner Summit that was attended by more than three hundred local ICT companies, Huawei and Redington committed to providing training and support alongside world-leading products and solutions, and enabling these companies to grow their business in order to provide ICT solutions to drive Kenya’s digital transformation.

Speaking at the Summit Huawei Technologies Kenya CEO

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Joe Mucheru (centre) Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Jerome Ochieng and Huawei technologies Kenya, C.E.O Stone He (right) follow proceedings during the Huawei Redington Partner summit which was held at Windsor. Images Courtesy of Oxygene PR.

Regional Sales head – East and South Africa, Redington, ZahidSumar, gives a speech during the Huawei Redington Partner summit which was held at Windsor.Images Coutesy Oxygene PR.

Mr Stone He, stressed the need for companies to integrate digital technology into all areas of business in partnership with stakeholders in order to remain relevant in a rapidly changing business environment.

“In order to maximize Huawei’s robust ICT capabilities, Huawei has teamed up with partners and developers to explore the road to digital transformation. Huawei credits strategic partnerships to its growing success around the globe. As a result, this in turn creates business success for customers using Huawei’s competitive products.” Said Mr. Stone He

Cabinet Secretary –Ministry of Information, Communication & Technology, Mr Joe Mucheru, emphasized on the government’s commitment to fostering partnerships in the IT sector to drive the Big 4 Agenda.

“Our government is working to develop ways for ICT companies to promote and provide their innovative solutions to the government through a whitebox initiative which will be launched soon. Our government is willing to partner with Kenyan companies to drive Kenya’s digital transformation. There are many opportunities for all of you as part of this especially in the Big Four.”

Huawei has become the leading telecommunication solutions provider in Kenya, working in cooperation with local partners including Government, Telecom Operators and Industry Partners for almost twenty years. The Presidential Digital Training Program conducted in conjunction with the ICT Authority, is an example of other programs Huawei is sponsoring to drive the local ICT ecosystem and build long-term capacity. In addition, since 2017, Huawei has partnered with local universities to provide cutting edge skills for professors under the Huawei Authorized Information and Network Academy (HAINA). At the Summit, 12 Universities attended and were officially certified as HAINA, also known as ICT Academies.

Redington Kenya Managing Director,Raj Shankarreiterated on the importance of partnerships in driving innovation among players in the telecom industry.

Hesaid, “We are pleased with this new milestone in partnering with Huawei and believe that working togetherwill enable new technology solutions to be brought to the market and reach across Kenya through our strong network and capabilities.. This, we are confident will play a supporting role in driving the realization of the government’s Big 4 Agenda.”

Redington, under the partnership, will offer end-to –end supply chain including wide spread distribution of IT products,including networking, storage, security and infrastructure and personal computing products. It will also ensure the swift and effective distribution of smartphones and wearables, ensures the successful preconnection logistics and facilitates the delivery of services to consumers, retailers, SMEs and enterprises.

To date, Huawei has had more than 13,000 channel partners, 860 solution partners, and 2,900 service partners working around the world to deliver solutions to enterprises. Huawei also established cooperation partnership with many companies, such as SAP, Accenture, GE, and continues to grow its partnership base Redington

CYTONN MOVES OUT OF NAIROBI WITH NEW OFFICES IN RIFT VALLEY REGION

Nairobi, Kenya 14^th September 2018 Cytonn Investments Management Plc today opened an office to serve the Central Rift region and tap into the vast real estate investment opportunities the region offers. The office located in Nakuru town on the 3^rd floor of Westside Mall, will seek to serve the growing demand in the Central Rift region by bringing the high grade real estate investment options closer to their clients as part of the company’s regional expansion plan. This brings to eight (8) , the total number of offices Cytonn Investments Management Plc currently operates in Nairobi, Nyeri, Nakuru and Kisumu and DC Metro-US.
Speaking during the launch, Cytonn’s Chief Executive Officer Edwin H. Dande said “This office seeks to tap into the vast investment opportunities that Central Rift region offers by bringing development expertise and real estate backed investments closer to the target market and also developing relationships in the market. The branch will also distribute Seriani Money Market Fund, which is managed by our wholly owned subsidiary, Seriani Asset Managers.” He noted that the entry into Central Rift was part of Cytonn’s commitment to entrench further the company’s offering of alternative investments solutions into the region. “We spent the first phase of our growth focusing on Nairobi Metropolitan Area, where we now have over Kshs. 82 billion of real estate projects. Our clients, especially the institutional clients are now demanding diversification both locally and into other African markets. In the local scene, we are focused on tapping into the promising markets in the Central Rift region which we are opening today, followed by Western, Coast and North Rift Regions, all before the end of this year. In Sub Saharan Africa we are looking into Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda in the East Africa, Ghana and Nigeria in West Africa. We already have strong partners in all the markets and an active deal pipeline,” he added.
Nakuru County Deputy Governor Hon. Dr. Erick Korir , who was the chief guest, officiated the event accompanied by other senior county officials. Speaking at the Launch he said “We are always open to partner with Investors looking for opportunities in Nakuru County. Nakuru is a growing town that needs improved real estate infrastructure across the various real estate themes. The Nakuru County Government is willing to work with the team from Cytonn to transform our real estate landscape”
Cytonn Investments Management Plc is keen on expanding its services across the African Continent and it continues to put in place all the necessary steps geared towards fulfilling the Alternative Investments Inclusion Agenda as well as redefining real estate investments in the region.
Currently, Cytonn Investments Management has eight offices including Liaison House on State House Road, The Chancery on Valley Road, Fedha in Westlands, Adlife in Kilimani, Sohan Plaza in Nyeri, Westside Mall in Nakuru, Centre Court in Kisumu and the Diaspora Office in DC Metro in the United States of America.

FAMILY BANKS LENDS HELPING HAND TO AUTISTIC TROUBLED CHILDREN

Nairobi, Kenya, September 14th 2018 

Family Group Foundation Manager Jacqueline Mathaga, Family Bank COO Godfrey Kamau presents 10 million cheque to Athletics Kenya President Gen(Rtd) Jackson Tuwei and Acting CEO Susan Kamau for Family Group Eldoret Half Marathon

– Family Bank Eldoret Half-Marathon marks the 12^thyear rebrands to Family Group Eldoret Half-Marathon, adopts a new and more competitive route and is geared to raise more money towards promoting inclusive education.

The 12^thedition of the Half-Marathon, themed ‘Champions Run for Autism’, will be held on Sunday, October 7^th2018 in Eldoret town. The new route unveiled will see the 21km men and women race commence at Tendwo High School, Talget and end at Zion Mall while the 5km corporate race will commence at Kao la Amani Church and also culminate at Zion Mall. The winners of the men’s and women’s 21km race will take home KES 250,000 each while the 1^stand 2^ndrunners-up will take home KES 150,000 and KES 90,000 respectively.

Last year, Joram Lumbasi successfully dug deep in the last 100 metres to edge out Isaac Kipkoech and successfully defend his 21km Men’s title while Pauline Korikwang led all the way to win the Women’s title. The competition is expected to be tighter this year given the level of interest from established athletes.

“As Family Bank, we are proud to provide a platform where talent has been discovered, nurtured and gone on to conquer the world. Walking with our sister companies into another decade of Marathon greatness, we look forward to doing more to impact the sports industry as well as touch communities around us,” said Family Bank’s Chief Operations Officer Mr. Godfrey Kamau during the launch event. “Through the individual and corporate participation, we hope to raise funds and build more specialized classrooms to promote inclusive education,” he added.

Just like in 2017, the proceeds from this year’s race will go towards supporting projects that give an opportunity to autistic children access quality education. According to statistics by the Ministry of Education, 16 per cent of children with disabilities drop out of school due to social discrimination. Additionally, there are only just 97schools nationally with dedicated units for autistic children.

“We saw the need to focus on inclusive education in Uasin Gishu County. Our first project at Sosiani Primary School benefitted from a specialized classroom from the proceeds of last year’s marathon. This unit is one of its kind in the Rift Valley Region. This year we hope to do even more and give autistic children a chance to access quality education,” said The Family Group Foundation Manager, Ms. Jacqueline Mathaga.

The Family Group Eldoret Half Marathon is sponsored by Family Bank Limited and its sister companies – Kenya Orient Insurance, Kenya Orient Life Assurance, Daykio Plantations and Alpha Africa Asset Managers to a tune of KES 10 million. Other sponsors of this year’s Marathon include AAR Insurance, Radar Security, BrainWave Communications Limited and Maisha Water.

“We are in full support of the Family Group Eldoret Half Marathon and the great cause behind it. As Athletics Kenya, we assure participants of a  great, attractive and competitive race,” said President of Athletics Kenya Gen(Rtd) Jackson TuweRegistration is currently open online at www.familygroupmarathon.comand through all Family Bank branches countrywide. Registration fee is KES1,000 for corporate teams and KES 500 for individual runners.

Isuzu EA Begins Delivery of 400 Vehicles to National Police Service

Nairobi, Kenya

13^th September 2018, Nairobi: Truck and bus manufacturer Isuzu East Africa (Isuzu EA) has today began delivery of 400 Isuzu FTS Trucks, Buses and Double Cabs to the Government which have been leased by the National Treasury. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Isuzu EA Managing Director Rita Kavashe said that this leasing arrangement will boost local manufacturing. “We are delighted to see the Government taking the lead in the growth of local manufacturing. Through the acquisition of 400 locally assembled trucks and buses, the growth of the local vehicle assembly sector is inevitable,” said Rita.

, however, said this expansion could be accelerated if more locally assembled vehicles were acquired so that there is less reliance on imported Fully Built Units (FBU).“As much as we are delighted with this deal, we also urge the Government to do more in supporting local vehicle assembly. The benefits are numerous and the positive impact to the economy is unquestionable; from employment opportunities, increased local content requirements and opportunities for technology/skills transfer to building capacity of local service technicians and general growth of the manufacturing sector,” added Rita.

She noted that through favourable policies, local vehicle assemblers’ contribution to economic growth would rise considerably.

Presiding over the flag-off of the Isuzu vehicles, Assistant Secretary National Treasury, Mr. David Malonza, described the leasing process from Isuzu EA as smooth and timely. He similarly noted that the vehicle leased will aid the Police and Prisons Service in executing their roles.

 The units being leased will be used by National Police Service and Kenya Prisons to meet their transport requirements.  The leasing deal is supported by NIC Leasing and Rentco East Africa.

National Treasury Assistant Secretary, Mr. David Malonza (L), is joined by National Police and Isuzu EA Director Sales and Marketing (third left) to flag off 100 Isuzu vehicles from Isuzu EA vehicle assembly plant. The flag off marked the delivery of 400 locally assembled Isuzu vehicles leased to the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons through the National Treasury. Images Courtesy of Isuzu East Africa.