Britain’s Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, has hailed the “incredible power of technology to deliver aid in new ways” on her first official visit to Kenya. While in the country, Ms. Mordaunt saw how UK aid is supporting vulnerable communities in Marsabit County devastated by East Africa’s drought. In Nairobi, Ms Mordaunt also heard how UK support for innovative programmes is helping to create jobs for a rising population. Ms Mordaunt was also in the country to hear from British business about how new technology has helped them tap into the Kenyan market. The UK is the fifth largest exporter of goods to Kenya and trade between the two countries is worth over £1 billion annually. Ms Mordaunt also held a successful roundtable meeting with Kenya Cabinet Secretaries. The meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, Mr. Henry Rotich focused on ways of enhancing Kenya-UK bilateral relations and developing a partnership that will benefit both Kenya and the UK. The meeting also discussed President Kenyatta’s big four priorities: manufacturing, affordable housing, universal health care and food security for all Kenyans and agreed to work together to promote this agenda. During the meeting, the two governments agreed to co-host with the International Disability Alliance, the Global Disability Summit in London in July 2018 as a signal of commitment to work for all people. During her visit the International Development Secretary, launched the second phase of Trade Mark East Africa. The UK is significantly...

The East African Community will have a new logo later this week after judges scrutinize over 400 entries of a recently announced competition. The EAC spokesperson Richard Othieno says by the end of Wednesday, all the entries will have been presented to the branding experts for scrutiny. Also to be designed are logos for the three organs of the Community and eight institutions, totalling eleven. Under the EAC Brand Architecture competition, bidders are also required to recommend the corporate colour of the organization and a logo/emblem which should be a unique unifier of the EAC. The exercise will see a new flag designed for the Community, replacing the current one which has been criticised for having “too many colours. The winner of a design competition, which was launched in Juba, South Sudan on June 1st, 2017 and open to youths, will be awarded $ 25,000 (approximately Sh. 55 million). Source: 93.3 KFM

The East African Community is gearing up for the leaders’ retreat next month expected to seek sustainable ways to finance major infrastructure and health projects. For the infrastrcutre sector, the regional leaders will also consider new strategies to engage with the private sector and multi-lateral agencies such as the African Development Bank in financing. “The Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure will also seek ways to mobilize the required financing to construct connecting roads that will decongest the cities and enhance ports logistics”, the Arusha-based EAC secretariat said at the weekend. Themed ‘Deepening and widening regional integration through Infrastructure and Health Sector Development in EAC Partner States’, the event will take place at Speke Resort, Munyonyo on February 21st to 22nd. “The Heads of State will address infrastructure and health development and financing in EA”, the statement said, adding that the meetings will also discuss ways to attain the objectives of the EAC Development Strategy. The retreat is expected to give impetus to infrastructure and health development by way of harnesing political support for regional flagship projects, funding committments and public-private arrangements. Railways, ports and inland waterways will be key priority projects to be discussed during the coming event as will be ways to seek finance to decongest the cities and improve ports logistics. Todate, three high level retreats on infrastructure development for the EAC bloc have been held so far; in 2008, 2012 and 2014. Through the retreats, several projects in transport, energy, civil aviation have been identified for...

Prices of goods in East Africa are expected to remain stable this year, a reprieve for consumers, following near double-digit inflation last year. A report by African Development Bank (AfDB) released last week indicates that inflation in the region is expected to fall sharply due to improved crop harvests, having spiked to nearly 10 per cent last year. East Africa is also expected to post the fastest growth on the continent, which will likely attract more investors into the region. “Growth is expected to remain buoyant, reaching 5.9 per cent in 2018 and 6.1 per cent in 2019. Strong growth is widespread in the sub-region, with many countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) growing five per cent or more,” said AfDB in its 2018 Africa Economic Outlook report on the continent’s macroeconomic performance and prospects. Factors to spur growth Some of the factors expected to contribute to faster economic growth are increased private consumption and manufacturing, especially in Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda, and investment in public infrastructure in Djibouti and Ethiopia. “African economies have been resilient and are gaining momentum,” said Akinwumi Adesina, president of AfDB. “Challenges remain, especially for the structural transformations that would create more jobs and reduce poverty by deepening investment in agriculture and developing agricultural value chains to spur modern manufacturing and services.” At the launch of the report at the headquarters in Abidjan on Wednesday, Mr Adesina said that Africa’s infrastructure requirements are about $130 billion to 170 billion a year. “That’s far higher than...

Penny Mordaunt has hailed the “incredible power of technology to deliver aid in new ways” on her first official visit to Kenya as International Development Secretary. During her visit, Ms Mordaunt saw how UK aid is supporting vulnerable communities in the north of the country devastated by East Africa’s drought. In Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Ms Mordaunt also heard how UK support for innovative programmes is helping to create jobs for a rising population. Ms Mordaunt was also in the country to hear from British businesses about how new technology has helped them tap into the Kenyan market. The UK is the fifth largest exporter of goods to Kenya and trade between the two countries is worth over £1 billion annually. Innovative technology, supported by DFID, is helping Kenya build resilience to climate challenges, including drought, and to build a modern economy for the future. During her visit the International Development Secretary: Saw how UK aid-supported research is helping to power low-cost insurance for livestock herders in drought-prone parts of Kenya. The research makes use of already existing satellite technology by NASA to provide images of vegetation cover. This ensures timely insurance pay-outs are made correctly and quickly if cover levels drop. DFID both backs the research and supports private sector insurers to provide it to local herders. Set out further UK aid support to the Hunger Safety Net Programme – an innovative cash-transfer scheme bringing together biometric technology and mobile money. This is helping more vulnerable households and supporting the...

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will tomorrow officially open the first session of the fourth East Africa Legislative Assembly. A programme seen by the Star yesterday indicates 54 EALA lawmakers from six East African Community member states were scheduled to arrive in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday. They will conduct House business until February 9. Museveni, who is the chairman of the Summit of East Africa Community Heads of State, will deliver the State of EAC Address in the House presided over by Speaker Martin Ngoga. On Monday next week, the MPs will debate motions before establishing and electing chairpersons of committees. They include Committee on Legal Rules and Privileges, Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment, Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources and Committee on Accounts. Others are Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution and the Committee on General Purpose. After the election, the committees will start sittings. Chairman of the Kenya chapter at EALA Simon Mbugua yesterday told the Star they are looking forward to effectively representing the country in the second meeting of the Parliament’s first session. On February 7, the East African Monetary Institute Bill, 2017 and East African Community Statistic Bureau Bill, 2017 will be introduced in the House for first reading. The plenary will also debate Museveni’s address and on February 8, the East African Community Oaths Bill, 2017 will be introduced for its first reading. Source: The Star

EAC partner states have been accused of being slow in disbursing their financial commitments, which calls for tough measures regarding financing activities of the Community. “The reality of the matter is that partner states are slow in disbursing their commitments, as at the end of December (2017) only 40% had been disbursed, this calls for serious prioritising of the available resources and ensure critical activities are implemented,” the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said. He emphasised the need for staff of the Community to avoid wastage at all costs saying “tough times call for tough measures.” One of the cost cutting measures he cited is that meetings should start on Tuesdays and should not last for more than four days. “This summit will be addressing the issue of alternative financing mechanisms and I can assure you that a lasting solution will be found,” the Secretary General said in his first address to staff, according to the statement posted  yesterday (Wednesday). In his address highlighting achievements for 2017 and what still needs to be done Mfumukeko said, “I must admit that 2017 was a challenging year for all of us at EAC, and especially the first and second quarters of financial year 2017/18 where we experienced serious financial challenges.” He thanked the staff for bearing and coping with these challenges. He said he was touched that staff could use their own resources to travel and support EAC activities for reimbursement when funds become available. “This...

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is scheduled to resume business next week by holding its Plenary Session in Kampala, Uganda. The Plenary from January 22nd 2018, through to February 9, 2018, is the second meeting of the First Session of the 4th Assembly. President Yoweri Museveni who is the chair of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, is expected to deliver the State of EAC Address to the Assembly. The State of EAC Address is an annual address delivered by the sitting EAC Summit Chair and it sets the momentum and impetus for the integration process by reflecting on general policies that relate to the Community's progress while outlining the strategic challenges which require attention. The assembly which is to be presided by the new Speaker Martin Ngoga shall during the three-week period further discuss several legislative business including: Debate three key Bills; the EAC Oaths Bill, 2017, the EAC Statistics Bureau Bill, 2017 and the EAC Monetary Institute Bill, 2017.  Source: All Africa

Economic growth in Africa picked up steam last year and is set to accelerate strongly in 2018, but “massive investments” are needed in infrastructure, the African Development Bank (ADB) said Wednesday. Growth in Africa rose from 2.2 percent in 2016 to 3.6 percent in 2017 and is likely to rise to 4.1 percent in 2018 and 2019, the ADB said in its annual report, African Economic Outlook. “Overall, the recovery in growth has been faster than envisaged, especially among non-resource–intensive economies, underscoring Africa’s resilience,” it said. “The recovery in growth could mark a turning point in net commodity-exporting countries,” it added. Last year’s spurt has a range of explanations, including a recovery in prices for oil, which helped petroleum exporter Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. East Africa is the most dynamic region in terms of growth: 4.9 percent in 2016, which rose to 5.6 percent in 2017, and to a projected 5.9 percent in 2018 and 6.1 percent in 2019. However, across the continent job creation did not rise in lockstep with growth, lagging by 1.4 percent. Woman and young people, aged 15-25, are those who have been most affected by the slow growth in employment. To generate jobs for the 12 million young people entering its workforce each year, Africa must take a fast-track to industrialisation, the ADB said. But key obstacles in infrastructure remain, including energy, water and transport, as well as health, education, security and administrative capacity. “The continent’s infrastructure needs amount to $130–170 billion (106-139 billion...

Investment in Africa is big business and the list of major corporations funding projects across the continent is rapidly growing. From the Chinese construction and engineering firms pushing infrastructural development to the biggest names in technology driving innovation, there’s serious money to be made for everyone involved. Aside from the African partners getting their cut from these lucrative deals, this investment boom is powering rapid development across Africa. the continent is rising fast and the short-term gains can be seen on a daily basis. As the World Economic Forum puts it: “2018 is going to be a good year for sub Saharan Africa’s economies” with a growth forecast of 3.2%, up from 2.4% in 2017. However, rapid development comes with compromises – ones that many are too busy counting the quick cash to see, or perhaps care about. At the 2018 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Chief Executive Officer for Brand South Africa, Kingsley Makhubela, highlighted the long-term issue of Africa becoming overreliant on external trade, rather than focusing on developing intra-African trade: “This is especially dangerous for Africa given its growing integration with the global economy in recent years. In order to mitigate this, Africa must take steps to secure its own share of global economic growth.” The threat is very real, too. Developed nations are enjoying the African boom, making the most of the continent’s investment opportunities, trade dependencies, innovations and loan interest payments – not to mention the natural resources and professional talent that escapes along the way. The problem is there are gaping holes in this...