NAIROBI GOVERNOR FORCING THINGS TO WORK RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS SAY

Nairobi, Kenya 27th March 2024

Clive Ayuko

Various associations representing residents in different neighbourhood in the uptown areas of Nairobi have come out to condemn Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s plan to increase the number of floor plan for buildings in surbaban areas of Nairobi.
In a move supposedly line with the national  government bottom up economic transformation model and one likely to shake the status quo governing housing status in Nairobi to perhaps create a tale of one Nairobi city (from Charles Dickens tale of  two cities – breaking the superficial barriers separating rich the poor neighbourhoods), the move which has not been well recieved by resident associations lobbying for the rights of Nairobi residents to include: Lavington 5 Residents Association, The Kilimani Project Foundation, the Kileleshwa Ward Neighbourhood Association, Rhapta Road Residents Association, the Runda Residents Association, South C Residents Association, Karen Langata District Association, Kunde Road Residents Association, Dennis Pritt Residents Association, Mara Residents Association, Northern Block Residence Alliance, Upper Leleshwa Residence Association, Chalbi Drive Residents Association, and the professional bodies to include the Architectural Society of Kenya, Kenya Green Building Society, Public Health Society of Kenya, Kenya Institute of Planners, Kenya Property Developers Association, Architects Alliance, Town and County planners Association, Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, Institution of Construction Project Managers.
Speaking during the press conference Chairperson of the Lavington 5 roads Residence Association Mr. Ndirangu Maina argued that the governor came to power under the Swahili slogan Lazima Iwork, loosely translated that it must work!
A situation he continued to argue could be the force compelling the governor to come up with proposals without call consulting residents of Nairobi.  Mr Ndirangu Maina however cautioned that public participation which is a provision provided for in the constitution should be followed and should not be a one man affair or a decision to be made by a planner based at the city hall.
Tauted as a preserve function of those elected as Presidents remains to be seen what the “closed politics” decision to sideline professional bodies and neighbourhood associations will have on the young governor political future who is many believe has his future sights on much higher political office.
Nairobi city occupies an area of 696 sq Kilometres with the population projected to reach 10.5 million by 2050  a situation which the governor has in the past argued can only be fulfilled with buildings going up.
Speaking during the launch of the international Hotel Franchise JW Marriot housed at the Sky Scraper Global Trade Centre GTC yesterday evening the Governor commented that proposals to have the city construct 75 floor buildings has been proposed but that will only apply to specific zones.

USE DATA TO PROTECT, CONSERVE AND GROW BIODIVERSITY NUMBERS AFRICA URGED

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 22nd March 2024

As the world continues to grapple with the negative effects of climate change occassioned to rises in global temperatures, the need to conserve biodiversity habits to ensure rise in biodiversity numbers has taken centre stage in the quest geared at keeping rising global temperatures rises at bay.

According to a 2022 report by the World Wildlife Fund christened the living  Planet Report, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% since the years 1970. An alarming statistic considering the importance derived from having such varied specie numbers. Consider for instance the importance of bees in ensuring cross pollination among plants and ensuring survival various plants species, or the importance of the now extinct dodo in ensuring the germination of certain tree species or the importance of marine environments fish and marine life in ensuring survival of the coral reefs which absorb carbon dioxide from the environment, the need to protect biodiversity is of utmost importance for the survival of humanity.
One way of ensuring  such conservation has been through initiatives involving management of conserved and protected areas through use of geospatial data.

Protected areas are managed for biodiversity conservation by providing a habitat and protection from hunting for threatened and endangered species. And may take various forms to include through social norms as sacred sites, military protected area or legally sanctioned protected area under international conventions or local laws.

It is in line with this goal that the Regional Centre for Mapping Resources for Development in Conjunction with the Biopama Regional Resource Hub For Eastern and South Africa in Conjunction with the implementing partners to include the European Union, European Commission and the IUCN organized a 5 day training workshop from 18th March to 22 March 2024  dubbed the Biopama Regional Resource Hub on Protected and Conserved Areas Data workshop at the Regional Centre for Mapping Resources for Development RCMRD in Kasarani Nairobi to train various stakeholders on the use of data in the management of protected and conserved areas
Speaking during the closing ceremony Cabinet Secretary heading the Ministry of Environment Ms Soipan Tuya
adding her voice in raising concern said;”Our protected areas, including forests and biodiversity, are currently under threat due to a lack of quality data to inform decisions. She continued to add;  “The center will provide valuable insights by providing vital mapped data on natural resources to informed policy decisions and climate-responsive actions.”

Now Is the Time to Increase Financial Inclusion

Opinion Editorial

The Author Ms Janet Mawiyoo is a Trustee of the I&M Foundation and the CEO of Galvanizing Africa Consult with over 30-yrs experience in the global non-profit sector.

Since the historic World Conference for Women in 1995, known as the Beijing Conference, women worldwide, including those from Kenya, have determinedly advocated for economic empowerment. The conference marked a pivotal moment in advancing the global agenda for gender equality by adopting strategic initiatives aimed at promoting women’s economic rights and independence. These initiatives agitated for access to employment, appropriate working conditions, and empowering women with control over economic resources. Nearly three decades have passed since these measures took center stage in the public discourse and their impact has been varied.

In 2013, The Africa Development Bank defined financial inclusion as encompassing all initiatives that render formal financial services available, accessible, and affordable to every segment of the population. Achieving this goal involves addressing the needs of populations historically excluded from the formal financial sector due to factors such as income levels, volatility, gender, geographic location, type of activity, or level of financial literacy.

In the intervening years, Kenya has witnessed significant progress, marked by the implementation of diverse measures aimed at alleviating and ultimately eradicating poverty among women and girls.

In July 2019, marking 25 years post-Beijing, the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender published a report on the Progress on Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

Encompassing a spectrum of initiatives, the report outlines endeavors geared towards promoting gender equality in pivotal domains. Noteworthy among these is the establishment of financial mechanisms designed to facilitate access to funding. Examples include the Women’s Enterprise Fund and the Uwezo Fund, which received allocations amounting to Kes. 182.9 million and Kes. 10 billion, respectively, as disclosed in the 2023/2024 budget announcement by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u.

The primary objective of these funds is to enhance women’s access to affordable credit, aligning with the broader goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 5, addressing poverty eradication, gender equality, and women’s empowerment. Despite these efforts, a critical question arises: why does a gap in inclusion persist and what factors contribute to its resilience?

According to the 2021 FinAccess Household Survey, a report released in 2022 by Financial Sector Deepening (FSD), 83.7% of Kenyans have access to formal financial services. Notably, the gender gap in financial access has shown improvement, decreasing from 8.5% in 2016 to 5.2% in 2019, further narrowing to 4.2% in 2021. Despite advancements in formal financial inclusion driven by increased access to mobile money, women still resort to informal channels for financing, irrespective of their income or educational levels.

This highlights the prospect of engaging women-led communities and networks. Of prominence is the trend of women involved in ‘chama’ groups; informal, communal, and social networks rooted in familial and social connections, extending financial support and across various aspects of life.

These networks are characterized by robust cohesion, with members carefully vetting each other for membership, built on a foundation of implicit trust. Typically, these ‘chamas’ also integrate some form of financial investment, through projects, table banking and revolving funds, or the exchange and trade of goods and services among members.

As the curtains come down on this year’s International Women’s Day whose theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’ underscored the significance of diversity and empowerment across all facets of society, it compels us to acknowledge and appreciate the distinctive perspectives and contributions of women hailing from diverse backgrounds, including those within marginalized communities.

By establishing pathways for women through the prioritisation of education, skills development and technological access, we unlock avenues for women to progress and contribute to a more inclusive financial sector.

As we forge forward, it is clear that is isn’t about merely about uplifting individual lives but a collective investment in a future where no woman is left behind and the potential of the next generation is unbounded. The journey towards true financial inclusion is ongoing, requiring sustained commitment, innovation and a collective societal drive to dismantle the remaining barriers.

TWCC and TradeMark Africa Unite to Empower Women in Trade at Zanzibar Conference

ZANZIBAR, March 12, 2024: The Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have united more than 350 women in Zanzibar, for the Economic Empowerment of Women Conference. This significant convention coincided with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, a testament to the commitment to advancing women’s economic participation.



Under the theme “Invest in Women for Sustainable Development,” the conference spearheaded by TWCC and TMA aims to catalyse economic empowerment by providing women with invaluable insights into trade opportunities, fostering knowledge exchange, celebrating women leaders in business, and nurturing emerging talents through mentoring programmes.



The guest of honour, Hon. Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, Second Vice President of Zanzibar underscored the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment. “Zanzibar is dedicated to ensuring women’s full participation in economic activities,” he affirmed, citing initiatives such as the establishment of the Institute for Economic Empowerment and the formulation of the Blue Economy Policy.

Ms. Mwajuma Hamza, CEO of TWCC, emphasised the collaborative effort, stating, “In partnership with TradeMark Africa and other stakeholders, this conference serves as a critical platform to equip women with the tools and networks necessary to thrive in trade and commerce.”



TradeMark Africa, a champion of Aid-for-Trade initiatives since 2010, reaffirmed its commitment to women’s economic empowerment with a substantial investment of over $3 million in Tanzania over the past seven years. Mr. Elibariki Shammy, Country Director of TMA, announced an additional investment of $1.5 million to support 12,000 women entrepreneurs across Zanzibar and the mainland.

“TradeMark Africa’s engagement extends beyond financial support,” Mr. Shammy highlighted. “We are actively collaborating with government bodies and institutions to enhance trade infrastructure, streamline regulatory processes, and foster a conducive business environment for women.”



TWCC National Chairperson, Ms. Mercy Sila, commended the government’s support and reiterated TWCC’s mission to empower women across Tanzania. “Through collaborative efforts with the government and other stakeholders, TWCC has transformed the lives of thousands of women, enabling them to succeed in business and contribute to national development,” she remarked.



In closing, Ms. Tatu Seleiman, TWCC Zanzibar Chairperson, emphasised the transformative potential of the Blue Economy in empowering women and driving inclusive growth.

The Economic Empowerment of Women Conference underscores a collective commitment to advancing gender equality and economic prosperity in Tanzania, setting the stage for women to thrive in trade and commerce.

Regional science, tech conference opens in Nairobi

EAC Regional STI Policy and Intellectual Property Policy launched.

Nairobi, 6 March 2024…. The 3rd EAC Regional Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Conference opened in Nairobi today.

The conference, which runs until Friday 8 March 2024, is hosted jointly by the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).

Under the auspices of the East African Community (EAC), the conference is being held in collaboration with various STI stakeholders in the region and globally in order to provide an avenue for sharing experiences, best practice and applications of STI outputs. It will also serve to strengthen collaborations, facilitate regional integration and enhance sustainable development.

The conference was opened by the Director General of the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), Dr Walter Oyawa, on behalf of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu. Other notable dignitaries present included the Executive Secretaries of IUCEA and EASTECO, Prof Gaspard Banyankimbona  and Dr Sylvance Okoth, respectively, as well as and donor representatives.

The overarching theme of the conference is, “Accelerating development and diffusion of Science, Technology and Innovation solutions for a green, inclusive and resilient East Africa.” This biennial conference builds on the deliberations and success of the 1st and 2nd conferences, which were held, respectively, in Kampala, Uganda in 2019 and Bujumbura, Burundi in 2021. 

Mr Machogu said Kenya plans to have at least one national polytechnic in each of the 47 counties. “The Draft Sessional Paper on Education 2024 proposes an allocation of 2% towards research with at least a third of that amount going towards TVETS and another third towards universities.”

The Executive Secretary of EASTECO, Dr Sylvance Okoth, said the conference will provide an important forum for exchanging scientific information, and in the process, create new linkages and strengthen bonds of collaboration. “we will be listening to outputs of scientific production in both oral and poster presentations; interact with exhibitions of scientific innovations; and witness intellectual discourse.”

On his part, IUCEA Executive Secretary Prof Gaspard Banyankimbona underscored the importance of utilizing research to improve livelihoods. “We firmly believe that research, development, and innovation (RDI) are not mere academic pursuits but the very engines driving knowledge, fostering collaborative problem-solving, and propelling the creation of impactful solutions to the challenges we face collectively.”

During the event, the EASTECO Regional STI Policy and Intellectual Property Policy were also launched.

The meeting brings together diverse actors in the STI system, including policy makers, industry players, academicians, researchers, innovators, students and development partners.  

Other stakeholders attending the conference include representatives of EAC Partner States, the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, civil society, business and industry organizations, academic and research institutions, and development partners.

The conference is being held in a hybrid mode through face-to-face and virtual platforms.

Activities include a high-level policy dialogue, plenary sessions, an exhibition, and a ministerial session. Special sessions will be held on request from partners and will incorporate a youth engagement session on technologies and innovation of the future as well as a session on entrepreneurship promotion through education, research and development.