Media Council Move An Assault to Kenya’s Knowledge Based Economy

30th January 2023

Opinion Editorial by Clive Ayuko – the Founder Editor of the Whistling African

On the 28th January 2023 the media council made the announcement that it would recalling all press cards issued to media practitioners across the country and issue new ones with new security features in effort to limit the influx of men and women masquerading as Journalists. The move while commendable put the work of bloggers, Vloggers, and citizen journalists in limbo. Additionally it is a move that will likely have far reaching consequences on the growth rate of the Kenyan economy in decades to come. The constitution of Kenya 2010 stipulates,

“…Everyone has the right of access to any information held by the state; and any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights…”

Further articulating the importance of timely and accurate information streams to enable the public to make informed choices. Most of this information is found in social media platforms the internet blogosphere space and is regularly made available through the work of these individuals.


One of the core functions of the media apart from the entertainment and reporting on new information is education, and the media is indeed listed as a core socialization agency by various sociologists. Improvements inventions and innovations in the Information and Communications Sectors and the resultant proliferation of citizen journalist, bloggers and Vloggers across the country is an important milestone for our country which should not be rolled back with unsound government policy.



The flow of knowledge it has, has been argued Presents opportunities for Africa’s economic development. As acclaimed in the book The Great Convergence by Richard Baldwin who argued that “knowledge flows consisting of data, information searches, communications, transactions and video that dominate the new globalization.” Global flow of knowledge he continues to argue; ” give lagging countries a chance to catch up through investments in information and communications technologies creating forward and backward benefits in manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy.”
This ICT led globalization and associated knowledge flows are undermining the competitive advantage that industrialised countries once had and changing the outlook of the global value chains. Providing developing countries with a window of opportunity for countries in Africa and Asia to leapfrog in the achievement of it’s development objectives.

The cross border flow of data and knowledge had broken the monopoly that workers in wealthy nations once had on the use of advanced industrial manufacturing intellectual property.

The Media council and the Communications Authority of Kenya should therefore create policies which enable ease of operations for media practitioners and journalists to operate and not be seen as an impediment to such growth. The Media council can inturn wait to reap benefits through and a media fund charged as a percentage of the annual revenues of the online media platforms when they become profitable. This will ensure a win for all media stakeholders to include the public, the practitioners and the regulator. Individuals found masquerading as Journalists should be charge in our courts of law.

GOR MAHIA FC PLAYERS SET TO ENJOY HEALTH BENEFITS COURTESY OF AAR INSURANCE

Nairobi, Friday, 27th January 2023. AAR Insurance today announced its customized medical cover for Gor Mahia FC. The cover will see 40 players enjoy an inpatient cover of Kshs.750,000 and outpatient cover of Kshs.60,000 on and off the pitch and includes rescue and evacuation benefits.

This cover, whose premiums were partly pre-funded by AAR Insurance, is part of the insurer’s efforts to affordably create customized covers for their clients to meet their points of need. Speaking during the kick-off ceremony, AAR Insurance Group Head Of Brand, Marketing & Communication, Ms.Sheila Owiti said,”Gor Mahia has been a source of pride for our country over the years. They are undoubtedly among the leading and most successful clubs in East Africa. As a company, we deliberately chose to be a part of their success story; we understand the critical role played by our sportspeople in entertainment, inspiring young people and building our nation’s economy. Furthermore, with our focus on emerging opportunities in under-served segments like Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and micro insurance, we are committed to ensuring that our current and future clients can enjoy innovative underwriting solutions at their convenience.”

With over 30 years of market experience in the Kenyan market since its licensing as a medical insurer, AAR Insurance has been on a transformational journey re-aligning its products and services to meet emerging consumer trends and expectations in a rapidly digitised business environment. As the company’s offering has grown over time, they have been keen to ensure broader coverage of different market segments, especially the underserved. This has been achieved by developing customized insurance solutions for its clients to provide more Kenyans with insurance security. According to KPMG’s 2021 “Overview of the Kenyan insurance industry Report”, Kenya has the third lowest insurance penetration rate in Sub-Saharan Africa at 3%, speaking to the need to make insurance products more accessible.

With this understanding, AAR insurance is proud to work with Gor Mahia Football Club, the current record holder for the most title cups won in the Kenya Premier League, even as the club prepares to celebrate its 55th anniversary.

“We are excited that AAR Insurance has actualized this cover for our team. As sportspeople, it is important to have a partner like our insurance provider who is making this health insurance more accessible. This will ensure all our players are covered on and off the pitch. Lack of proper medical insurance for our club has led to the loss of dependable players in the K’Ogalo squad, as epitomized by the case of Batambuze, a player whose bad injury prematurely ended what was destined be a glorious career at Gor Mahia FC and beyond. Therefore, this will be a great motivation for us, and I know our team will continue making Kenyans proud through its performance,” said club chairman Mr. Ambrose Rachier. He added, “As a football club, we appreciate working with partners like AAR Insurance, who are determined to deliver value by empowering people through knowledge and creating accessibility for the underserved to great insurance solutions.”

The underwriter has been on an aggressive approach towards its technology-first operation model to ensure products and services are seamlessly accessible to its customers. By focusing on the value underlying insurance products from the perspective of the client’s life, health, and business, AAR Insurance has delivered better products and services for its clients, evidenced by the many available customized insurance solutions.

mTek partners with Kyosk.app and Fin Africa to provide insurance to over 100,000 dukas

The insurance products will be starting from as low as 74 KES monthly.

The insurance product is available end-to-end paperless through the web and app.


Nairobi, 25 January 2023 – Digital insurance platform mTek has partnered with digital informal retail aggregator Kyosk.app and Fin, a focused fintech platform to provide insurance covers to over 100,000 Kenyan dukas.

Despite employing over 80 percent of the Kenyan workforce, the informal retail sector is underinsured and faces a myriad of insurable risks including business interruption, theft, damage to property, cyber-attacks, and loss of stock.

mTek Chief Executive Officer Ms. Bente Krogmann said that mTek will provide a paperless ecosystems to facilitate the purchase of the BRITAM product, Kyosk.app will facilitate a direct and seamless link to its network of 100,000 informal retailers and Fin will provide affordable financing for the insurance services.

“We have come together to become enablers and protectors of the informal retail sector through insurance products, contributing to the growth of Kenya’s economy. With the adoption of digital services by informal retailers, mTek’s paperless services offer business owners accessibility, convenience, and affordability,” said Ms. Krogmann.

Informal retailers affiliated with the Kyosk.app platform will access digital and customized insurance products starting from as low as Kenya Shilling 74 per month.

Kyosk.app Head of Innovations Mr. Elijah Maina said that the partnership will empower Kenya’s informal retailers and smallholder farmers to protect their profits as they grow their livelihoods.

“Every day, informal retailers are exposed to risks that could negatively impact their businesses from loss of inventory due to fire or theft, or loss of profit due to hospitalization. Through this partnership, we have a bespoke insurance product that caters for all these risks under one cover, facilitating business continuity for the informal retailers, moreso dukas,” said Mr. Maina.

In 2021, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) reported the insurance penetration at 2.23% of Kenya’s total GDP – with digitization and innovative insurance products being a key contributors to the adoption of insurance products.

“Kenya’s economy is underpinned by the informal retail sector. The sector drives both employment and GDP. Fin is proud to do its part by providing traders within the Kyosk.app network with a funding solution that will help them access insurance,” said Mr. Tonderai Mutesva Chief Executive Officer of Fin.

KENYA GOLF UNION NAMES PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN THE 2023 MAGICAL KENYA OPEN

Nairobi, Kenya 23rd January 2023

“The Kenya Golf Union (KGU) is excited to announce the six amateur golfers who will be participating in the upcoming Magical Kenya Open to be held from 9th – 12th March 2023 at Muthaiga Golf Club.


The six amateurs selected to participate in the tournament include Dennis Maara of Limuru Country Club who won the 2022 Kenya Match Play Championship, John Lejirma of Kenya Railway Golf Club, who won the 2022 Kenya Amateur Strokeplay Championship, Jay Sandhu of Royal Nairobi Golf Club, who was the runner-up in the Kenya Amateur Golf Championship(KAGC), Njoroge Kibugu of Muthaiga Golf Club, who made the cut in last year’s Kenya Open, Daniel Kiragu of Muthaiga Golf Club, who is currently the best junior player in the country and Adel Balala of Nyali Golf & Country Club, who was the lowest gross winner in 2022.



‘These golfers have worked hard to earn their spots in the tournament and we are confident that they will represent Kenya with distinction. The Magical Kenya Open is a great opportunity for these amateurs to showcase their skills on the international stage and we wish them all the best. This premier event brings together some of the best golfers from around the world, and we are proud to have these talented amateurs representing Kenya.’ Said Njani Ndiritu , Chairman Kenya Golf Union.


We encourage golf fans across the country to come out and support these talented athletes during the tournament.

REPLACE HELB CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE WITH LOAN LIABILITY CERTIFICATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEADERSHIP SAYS

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 18th January 2022

A caucus of student leaders under the banner Kenya Universities Student Organization KUSO today afternoon called on the government of Kenya to increase the amount of loans given to University students from the current maximum of Ksh60,000 to Ksh 200,000 for a single academic years.

Speaking while addressing journalists at the Ufungamano house in Nairobi the students led by President of the outfit Mr. Jesse Sarun urged the government to include more youth in positions of leadership, stem cases of insecurity in Universities and restructure the Higher Education’s Loans Board to take into account the rising cost of health and that of basic commodities which have also increased over the years. Additionally Mr Sarun urged the government to disband Higher Education Loans Board Clearance Certificate and Replace it with a loans liability certificate. The HELB certificate has been an impediment to students in acquiring jobs and students should only pay once they secure jobs earning Ksh 39,100.

Mr Sarun concluded by urging the government to expedite the disbursement of Helb loans as most students were already back in institutions of higher learning for the start of the semester.

Will Kenya get drawn into Europe’s woes on bees?

Opinion Editorial

By Ojepat Okisegere, farmer & CEO, Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya

It is possible textbooks of the future will relay our current era’s stories of a global decline in bees as an extraordinary example of the world’s post-internet fake news. Yet, as our parliament is asked by campaigners, once again, to ban the world’s most-used insecticides to save bees, it is misinformation that could still create agricultural havoc for Kenya.

For, while the myth of declining bee populations has fuelled and mobilised an entire sector ‘protecting’ them, the world’s bee population is not declining: it is growing. And that matters, for the world’s two main classes of bees, honey bees, which are cultivated commercially in hives, and wild bees, known in many regions as Bumble Bees, are critical to agriculture. They pollinate multiple crops, meaning farmers need to control crop and livestock-destroying pests, while preserving bees and other pollinators.

Which, as a matter of fact, they seem to be doing a pretty good job at, with the honeybee populations, which account for the majority of the world’s bees, growing strongly. As Forbes expressed it, in a headline in April last year, ‘Honeybees are not in decline’, while the more scientific Nature magazine reported in drier tones in December 2022 that claims of a decline in bees were ‘somewhat inaccurate’.
In fact, there was a 50-year decline in honeybee populations from the 1940s that only slowed from the 1970s, before turning back to growth some 25 years ago. Data from the US shows that it had 6 million beehives in 1947, but only 4 million by 1970, and 3m by 1990.
It was a fall that coincided with the spread of a mite that lives on bees, the Varroa destructor mite, which carries a long-standing bee virus, deformed wing virus. The virus can be deadly for bees. But not all bees are prone. Wild bees with the mite and virus do not appear to die, while southern hemisphere bees were seemingly less effected than northern hemisphere bees.

However, the growth in honeybee populations nearly everywhere since the mid-1990s points to the possibility of an emerging resilience to the virus.
Indeed, the recovery has been so strong that Nature’s December 2022 review of six decades of bee population data from the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation found that the global population of honeybees had doubled by 2017 from 1961 levels, with the mid-20th century fall now recouped. Bee populations are now more productive, too, with honey output almost tripling, and beeswax production more than doubling.

Yet, with figures from the US and the UK showing steady growth trends, the EU has chosen not to focus on bee population data. Individual EU countries, such as Poland, have reported sharp growth in honeybee populations. But for the EU, the rise, everywhere, of the honeybee, is extremely embarrassing. For, in 2013, it banned one of the world’s newest and safest group of pesticides, neonicotinoids, to save bees from the ‘decline in population’ that it is still reporting as ongoing across all its platforms.
As a matter of fact, neonicotinoids didn’t exist in the 1940s: the very first neonicotinoid was put on sale in 1999. Moreover, despite huge pressure from environmental groups, the US has consistently refused to ban the agrochemicals, because the agricultural costs would be enormous and there is little evidence that neonicotinoids kill bees.

Thus, with US honeybee colonies growing by 16 per cent in the last 7 years, even as neonicotinoids remain its most widely used insecticide, the EU has now pivoted its attention to wild, unmanaged bees, and here things have become very fractious. The EU does not parade any wild bee population data, but in the UK, surveys of wild bee density have found constant levels. Yet, the EU is now declaredly determined to save wild bees, forcing the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to produce new guidance on how to assess the risks to bees from pesticides, after refusing for a decade to accept the agency’s last guidance.

In bridging both politics and science, the EFSA still states, mid-guidance, in seemingly forlorn tone, that “the studies available in the literature reporting effects of pesticides on bumble bees and solitary bees are scarce”. Indeed, in a full review from 1980 to 2019, there is little to support any claim that neonicotinoids kill Bumble Bees, with scientists even finding that wild bees have enzymes which mean that at least two neonicotinoids are simply not toxic for them.
The one factor that has been found to impact wild bee populations is the nearby presence of a honeybee hive. Yet, undeterred by this irritating finding, the European authorities are now adamant that Kenya, Africa and the rest of the world should also now ban neonicotinoids – to save bees.

The cost to Kenya of such bans would be dramatic yield losses and mounting food insecurity. But the decider for the Kenyan authorities will be whether they give more credence to all the scientific studies in the world, or to the bloggers who start articles by referring to the ‘well-established global decline in bees’, no citations needed or given, under headlines like: “No bees, no food”.
For the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN), the answer is simple: its classification of levels of endangerment puts bees into its safest category of all, of ‘least concern’.