NEW KENYA COOPERATIVE CREAMERY LAUNCHES LACTOSE FREE MILK

Hon. Peter Munya recieving lactose free Milk

Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya (Middle) flanked by New KCC MD Mr. Nixon Sigei and Principal Secretary Mr. Noor

Nairobi Kenya 27th November 2019

The New Kenya Cooperative Creamery has launched of a new lactose free milk for individuals who are lactose intolerant.

Speaking at the launch ceremony Mr. Nixon Sigei said that for a long time a number of Kenyans have been unable to digest the lactose found in Milk and hence unable to consume milk and derive the benefits derived from the nutrients obtained in Milk but this new launch marks a new frontier in the milk industry.

Principal Secretary State Department of Livestock in Ministry of Agriculture Mr Harry Kimutai makes remarks during the event

Oppo Reno 2F Affordable Phone to Buy in Era of Expensive Foldable Smart Screens

Nairobi, Kenya 26th November 2019

Nairobi Kenya yesternight played host to the launch of a new affordable phone the Oppo Reno 2F. Retailing at a 39,999 the phone boasts of 12

Images Courtesy of Google

8Gb of internal storage an 8Gb Random Access Memory powered by a Octa-core Media Tek P70 helios smaking it very fast and also quite convenient when playing video games.

It is also among the very first phones with a hidden front facing camera with back light which pops at the top of the phone in under 0.7 seconds when one wants to take a selfie.

The phone has a battery capacity of 4000 mAh and supports VOOC fast charging which makes it very convenient for persons on the run.

The handset comes in two colour varieties sky white and Lake green.

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold last week a smartphone which remains unreachable to many owing to it’s expensive nature this latest addition will be welcome for those who wish to look relevant in the ever changing landscape of smartphone designs.

Get yourself a Nokia 1 Plus at a deal this Black Friday on Jumia

Nairobi 26^th November 2019: Kenyans now look forward to November because of Black Friday offers and this is a signal of the start of the festive season. HMD Global has put an offer on the Nokia 1 Plus on Jumia online shopping platform for KES 6999.

Jumia is running the Black Friday campaign every Friday of November. This gives you the opportunity to purchase a Nokia 1 Plus throughout this month. The Nokia 1 Plus has a 5.45-inch display fitting perfectly in the hand as you view your favorite videos or browse the internet.

The phone has a polycarbonate shell that is inherently coloured rather than painted (colour runs through so does not show white when nicked or scratched), providing a unique texture for a sophisticated look and feel. The Nokia smartphone comes with no bloatware, skins or UI changes and no unnecessary pre-installed apps or hidden processes using up battery life.

The device runs on Android 9 Pie (Go edition), optimized to deliver a smooth and responsive experience that gets better over time. You also get more space for your photos and videos with free unlimited high-quality photo storage with Google Drive. Android 9 Pie (Go edition) apps are designed to run faster and consume less data.

The beautifully crafted Nokia 1 plus was launched in the Kenyan market early 2019 and has brought value and quality in the entry-level smartphones space in the market, making it a phone to consider when seeking an option in that level.

The Nokia 1 Plus offer put forward by HMD Global for Black Friday offer on Jumia is in line with the brand’s promise to offer a smartphone experience that keeps getting better. In addition to this, Nokia Smartphones seek to offer the user a flagship experience even on the entry-level phone. You now get the Nokia 1 Plus on the offer of KES 6,999 as you shop on Jumia for the Black Friday campaign every Friday of November 2019.

You can now either upgrade your entry-level smartphone for Nokia fans who got the Nokia 1 or get a gift for that young one who wants to get their first smartphone. This is a smart device purchase to consider as you plan your festive season shopping and the price is good on the pocket. Go on, click on the Jumia site and get you Nokia1 Plus today.

Kenya And UAE Chambers of Commerce Sign Strategic Agreement to Boast Trade

Nairobi, Kenya- 25 November 2019 –

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry today signed
an MoU with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to open a satellite trade office in the
United Arab Emirates. The agreement will enable and provide strategic bilateral cooperation between
the business communities in Kenya and UAE with an objective to foster cooperation in trade,
investment, joint activities, information and services and trade policy support programmes.
The agreement was announced at the UAE-Kenya Trade and Investment Forum where Kenya hosted a
delegation of over 20 top companies from the United Arab Emirates. The Forum organized by Sharjah
Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry included
various companies operating in manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Kenyan businesses had the opportunity to interact with the UAE delegation as they sought to form
synergies with the Kenyan counterparts on the backdrop of the growing business between the two
countries. The official visit to Kenya was organized as part of the chamber’s strategy to find and develop
marketing opportunities for local industries in promising foreign and African markets, and especially in
the markets of Kenya and Uganda.
The event was graced by H.E Ambassador Johnson Weru, H.E Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman,
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Richard Ngatia, National President, Kenya National Chamber
of Commerce (KNCCI) and Florence Otory, Deputy Commissioner, Kenya Revenue Authority among
other leading trade and investment bodies in Kenya.
Richard Ngatia, National President, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (KNCCI), said, “Kenya
attaches great importance to this event, given Kenya’s status as a leading services destination and
regional manufacturing hub. Economic relations between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates have
grown exponentially since the two countries restored diplomatic ties further deepening economic
cooperation which presents important opportunities for both countries.”
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
organized the forum to help businesses in the two countries find their product fit and encourage more
investment and trade. “The main goal of our delegation’s visit is to express Sharjah’s interest in boosting
its investments in Kenya to leverage the high groFth rate of Kenyan economy and to bolster the priority

sectors within the economic agenda of Kenyan Government, most notably, health, population, industry,
food security, and agriculture sectors, as well as information technology projects, thanks to the
distinctive experience of the leading Emirati firms investing in these vital sectors.” H.E Abdullah Sultan Al
Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry said.
H.E Ambassador Johnson Weru noted that cooperation between Kenyan and the UAE presents excellent
investment opportunities around the Big 4 agenda that seeks to grow manufacturing, housing, health
and food security. The Kenyan government has already proposed plans to relax laws relating to legal
documents including visas to support ease of doing business between the two markets.
H.E Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, the Chairman Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry said there are
plenty of mutual benefits for both the UAE and Kenya, “It would be no exaggeration to say the UAE and
Kenya have great potential and enormous opportunities for cooperation between businessmen and
investors in both countries. This would help serve the interest of business communities if these
opportunities are properly harnessed and work is continued to establish strategic partnerships.”
Sharjah accounts for nearly one-third of the UAE’s entire manufacturing sector, which alone accounts
for almost 16 per cent of the Gulf states GDP. The non-oil trade volume between the UAE and Kenya has
witnessed a qualitative leap over the past years to reach the US$2 billion in 2017-2018, a growth rate of
about 37 per cent over previous years. This growth was accompanied by an increase in the trade
exchange of plastic products and re-export operations from the UAE to Kenya.
“Kenya’s private sector will continue to engage with the UAE business community and moving forward,
we will continue to advance each other’s economies,” said Richard Ngatia, President of the Kenya
National Chamber of Commerce (KNCCI).
The UAE Kenya Trade and Investment Forum is part if the UAE’s trade mission in Kenya where bilateral
meetings will be held between businesspeople from both sides.

FAMILY BANK REGISTERS A 274% EARNINGS GROWTH TO SH 1.01 BILLION

Nairobi, November 25, 2019 – Family Bank has recorded a Sh1.01 billion profit before tax in the nine months of 2019, registering a remarkable 274% growth in earnings compared to the same period in 2018.

Higher loan uptake, steady growth in customer deposits and growth in operating income are the key drivers of the bank’s profitability and the same continue on an upward trajectory.

The performance, covering the period up to end of September 2019, is an improvement from the Sh269.9 million posted in a similar period last year. By asset base, Family Bank’s balance sheet expanded by 14.8 per cent to Sh 78.9 billion with deposits growing by 26 per cent to Sh 60.2 billion supported by aggressive deposit mobilization for institutional, personal and transaction accounts.

“Since Q3 of 2018, our earnings have been on steady growth and we thank our customers for the continued support cemented by the growth in their uptake of our products and services. We continue to maintain a strong capital position despite the adoption of IFRS 9 Accounting Standard. We have continued to enhance the quality of our loan book capping our non-performing loans at 15.5 per cent as at September 2019,” said Family Bank Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Mbithi. “Going forward, we are focused on accelerating digital innovation in our service delivery, consistent customer engagement, superior customer experience and equipping staff to better support our strategy,” she added.

The net interest margin grew by 16.7 per cent from Sh 3.1 billion to Sh 3.6 billion, attributable to a tremendous expansion of the loan book and a 12.2 per cent decrease in interest expense. The loan book grew by Sh4.7 billion to hit Sh 49.3 billion as at September 2019 attributed to aggressive lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Non-interest income also grew by 10.6 per cent to Sh 2.1 billion, driven by foreign exchange trading income and other fees and commissions.

The Bank’s liquidity has remained strong at 36.6 per cent, which above the minimum statutory ratio of 20 per cent.

Revenue Authority and Police Intercept 7000 Litres of Smuggled Diesel Fuel

Nairobi Kenya 24th November 2019

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in collaboration with the Multi-Agency team in Moyale have intercepted a consignment of seven thousand litres of diesel fuel smuggled from Ethiopia. The consignment was intercepted at a residential house at Gurumesa area.

The team was acting on a tip-offand raided the house where theyfound 350 (20 litres each) Jericans ten of which were filled with diesel valued at Kshs.800, 000. The team also impounded a lorry, which was filled with 6,800 litres of diesel. The vehicle was found parked at the residential house.

During the operation, two suspects, a petroleum dealer in Moyale and an Ethiopian national were arrested and are currently being held at Moyale Police Station as investigations continue. Samples of the petroleum product have been forwarded for further analysis.

KRA has enhanced vigilance at the country’s border points as part of key measures geared towards stepping up the fight against illicit trade and counterfeits. Apart from revenue collection, KRA’s mandated extends to protecting the society from proliferation of harmful products.

What You Need to Know Before You Spend 230K for Samsung Galaxy Fold

Nairobi, 23rd November 2019

Images Courtesy of the business Insider

The launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold by Samsung Electronics. The latest flagship mobile phone/tablet by the smart- phone maker in the Capital Nairobi was met with a lot of mixed reactions.

First the smartphone does not come cheap and retails for only Ksh 240,000 (USD 2300) and secondly because the phone is the very first bendable smart device released into the market alongside the Huawei Mate X, the Motorola Razr 2019, with a Oppo Foldable Concept smartphone in the pipeline

The Samsung Galaxy phone Magnets however those that enable the elegant click of the phone as one shuts it close is so strong it can lift a small spanner off a table top or ground.

Huawei Mate X

a

Samsung Galaxy Fold Images Courtesy

Images Courtesy edgegadget.com

Images Courtesy of Forbes.com

Images Courtesy Daily express.co.uk

nd the radical new design will indeed be seen as a status symbol.

Directors of Two Companies charged with Kshs 162 Million tax fraud

Nairobi, 20th November 2019

Directors of two different companies were todaycharged before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Ms Edna Nyaloti for fraudulently inflating the cost of purchasing supplies by Kshs.162 Million to reduce their tax liability.

The suspects, Mr Hussein Sheikh Omar of Lensk Trading Company Ltd and Mr Suleyman Mwalimu Chengo of Qwali Group Ltd, separately faced four and two counts respectively, for reducing their tax liability by a total of Kshs. 7,968,917.

Mr. Hussein Sheikh Omar and his firm Lensk Trading Company was charged with another not before court for unlawfully claiming VATrefunds/reliefs through their VAT returns for the months of June, July, August and September 2019. This led to reduction of their tax liability by a total of Kshs.5,743,873.

On the other hand, Mr Suleyman MwalimuChengo and his company Qwali Group Limited were charged for reducing their tax liability by a total of Kshs 2,225, 044 by unlawfully claiming VAT refunds/reliefs through their VAT returns for the months of September and October 2019.

The accused persons allegedly fraudulently edited the amounts in the original cash sales receipts from the alleged suppliers to reflect high purchase amounts totalling Kshs.162M forpurposes of reducing tax liability. The allegedsuppliers denied ever transacting with the suspects indicating that the transactions were fictitious and designed to evade payment of taxes.

They both pleaded not guilty and the courtreleased Mr. Hussein on a surety bond of Kshs.5 Million with an alternative cash bail of Kshs2 Million, while Mr. Suleyman were released on a surety bond of Kshs2 Million and an alternative Kshs1 million cash bail. The case will be mentioned on 10th December.

The professional enablers providing tax adviceand financial services for the companies are also being pursued as part of the widerinvestigations.

Standard Chartered Posts Ksh9 billion profit for nine months to 30th September 2019

Nairobi, Kenya 19 November 2019… Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited today announced a pre-tax profit of KShs 9 billion for the nine months ended 30 September 2019.

“Our digital investments to transform the Bank, develop and scale new business models continue apace. This has been positively received by our clients and key client digital adoption measures continue to improve. We have over 70 digital services and products on our mobile app enabling over 80% of transactions to be conducted digitally. Close to 90% of our corporate clients are utilising our Straight2Bank platform and over 20% of Kenya Revenue Authority tax receipts are processed through our real-time Integrated Tax Payment solution. The Bank was recently awarded ‘Best Consumer Digital Bank’ and ‘Best Bank for Cash Management’ in Kenya, 2019 by Global Finance”, said Kariuki Ngari, Chief Executive Officer.

Performance summary

Net interest income remained flat due to compressed margins.

· Interest income declined by 6 per cent to KShs 19.1 billion weighed down by declining yields and lower average investment in government securities. Interest income from customer loans and advances increased by 2 per cent on the back of higher average volumes.

· Total interest expense decreased by 24 per cent to KShs 4.4 billion from proactive management of the balance sheet.

Non-interest income was flat year on year at KShs 7 billion impacted by a slowdown in corporate finance.

Operating expenses are up 12 per cent driven by investments in technology, cyber security and staff.

Loan impairment was 61 per cent lower than in the same period last year reflecting on going management action to improve overall asset quality.

Loans and advances to customers remained flat at KShs 119 billion compared to December 2018 as we continued to focus on higher quality asset origination to ensure we grow our balance sheet in a sustainable manner.

Customer deposits grew modestly to KShs 225 billion compared to KShs 224 billion in December 2018.

Gross non-performing loans at KShs 19.9 billion are down 8 per cent from the end of 2018. Overall credit quality has remained stable. We continue to focus on the quality of the balance sheet. The cover ratio of 67 per cent remains above the industry average of 35 per cent.

The Bank remains well capitalised to support sustainable growth opportunities.

· The total capital ratio is at 18.86 per cent with a prudent surplus to regulatory requirements; and

· We are a deposit funded bank with a liquidity ratio at 68 per cent.

Summary

We continue to focus on executing our refreshed strategic priorities and are determined to continuously enhance our service to our clients, our performance-oriented culture and our profitability. We have built a resilient business over the last few years and we look forward to the next year with confidence.

Nokia 6.2 now available in Kenya

Images Courtesy Hill and Knowlton

Images Courtesy Hill and Knowlton strategies

reath-taking PureDisplay meets advanced triple camera setup powered by AI experiences

Nairobi Kenya, 19^th November, 2019 – HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announces the availability of Nokia 6.2 in the Kenyan market. Nokia 6.2 is the first 6 series smartphone to premiere a triple camera and PureDisplay technology. It comes in Ceramic Black and will be available from Ksh26,500.

Nokia 6.2 brings always-on HDR to a new smartphone segment, featuring PureDisplay technology powered by a dedicated visual processor that delivers up to one billion shades of color. With a combination of AI-features and a powerful triple sensor camera, Nokia 6.2 lets fans capture detailed images, bokeh portraits and stunning wide-angle shots that capture more. Nokia 6.2 stays true to its Nordic heritage, joining timeless craftsmanship and cutting-edge materials to deliver a unique and seamless finish.

Commenting during the announcement, Gopher Ogembo, Senior Business Manager for HMD Global said, “With the Nokia 6.2 we wanted to reimagine the features we can offer on our popular 6 series smartphones. As such, Nokia 6.2 comes with two exciting firsts: a breath-taking and immersive PureDisplay screen and a powerful AI-powered triple camera. With Nokia 6.2 we’re making sure you get a premium device, that doesn’t compromise on looks or performance. With its impressive one billion color shades, the PureDisplay screen on the Nokia 6.2 lets fans enjoy their favorite movies or shows on the go like never before. Coming with a feature-packed triple camera, fans can set their creative side loose when they feel like it.”

PureDisplay screen technology with always-on HDR

The first series 6 Nokia smartphone to feature the innovative PureDisplay technology, Nokia 6.2 delivers an immersive entertainment experience for unmatched mobile viewing on the go. With a dedicated Pixelworks visual processor, Nokia 6.2 upscales video content to HDR quality in real time, with up to a billion shades of color, higher contrast and expanded dynamic range. This means you can enjoy more contrast and deeper colors watching popular shows on your favorite streaming platforms.

Nokia 6.2’s display technology brings your content to life with wide color reproduction, high dynamic contrast ratio for video and high brightness. Combined with local contrast enhancement the screen is easy to view even in bright sunlight.

Premiering a triple camera setup, combined with AI features and two-day[i] battery[ii]

In another first, Nokia 6.2 lets fans experience powerful photography with an advanced triple camera setup that delivers detailed images, beautifully blurred bokeh portraits and wide enough shots that capture everything you want to. No matter where or when inspiration strikes, AI-powered night mode puts round-the-clock creativity in your hands for images you will want to share straight away.

Nokia 6.2 lets you make every shot your best yet with portrait mode by combining multiple standalone AI experiences including bokeh effects and beautification. The adjustable bokeh helps in creating beautifully blurred backgrounds, with various shape bokeh styles like Classic, Heart and Star, so your portraits stand out on your favourite social media. You can be sure you’ll capture content sure to captivate followers with Ultra HD video with spatial audio recording and Dual-Sight.

All of this comes powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 636 Mobile Platform, to ensure your phone is ready to perform when you need it to. You can enjoy doing more of what you love, like streaming music and videos, playing games or talking, without battery anxiety – Nokia 6.2 offers signature Nokia phone experience of two-day battery life.

Premium Nordic design and craftsmanship meets high-tech materials

Inspired by its Nordic design heritage, Nokia 6.2 fuses craftsmanship and high-technology in a timelessly beautiful device. Nokia 6.2 is uniquely light yet strong and rigid, being crafted with a cutting-edge polymer composite that’s twice as strong as polycarbonate and half the weight of aluminium.

Gently curved, tough Gorilla® Glass protects both sides of the phone while its precision-manufactured frame delivers a pure, solid and seamless finish true to its Nordic design heritage. Nokia 6.2’s finish is created using a multi-layer coating system with vacuum metallisation, resulting in a stunningly smooth and premium finish that is also durable against scratches.

An experience that just keeps getting better, Android™ Q ready with Android One

As part of the Android One partnership, Nokia 6.2 is Android Q ready and will receive guaranteed monthly security updates for three years and OS updates for two years, so your smartphone will get better over time. Enjoy the latest features such as AI assisted adaptive battery, App actions and many more with Android 9 Pie.

To be more helpful throughout your day, the Nokia 6.2 comes with a dedicated Google Assistant[iii] Button that you can press to quickly access your favourite assistant. You can also enjoy the Google Assistant’s new Ambient Mode[iv], which provides an always-on-display when your device is charging. This allows you to view upcoming calendar entries, commute times and other contextual information without needing to pick up your device. Google Assistant Ambient Mode can even transform your phone into a digital photo frame while charging.

In addition, Nokia 6.2 users will receive a 3-month membership trial to Google One at no extra cost. With Google One[v] membership, you get the peace of mind that your photos, videos, messages and more are safely and automatically backed up in the cloud. With Nokia 6.2, Google One members will get 100GB of cloud storage across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos and access to premium support from Google experience – all in one shareable family plan