1. Civil Servants’ Union Gets Seat in Salaries Team

The umbrella Civil Servants’ union has scored a major victory after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission invited it to be part of the agency’s committees.

The Federation of Public Service Trade Unions of Kenya (Pusetu) and the high-profile Central Union of Trade Unions of Kenya (COTU) are locked in a battle for slots in key State organs, including the salaries commission.

2. Jaguar Hits Back at CMC in Land Rover Row

Jaguar Land Rover has hit back at CMC Holdings and its chief executive Bill Lay over the termination of their distributorship agreement and accused the listed auto firm of poor performance and telling lies.

South Africa-based JLR threw CMC Motors into a crisis on November 26 last year with the announcement that it would transfer the rights to exclusively trade in Land Rover Defender, Jaguar and Range Rover brands to rival RMA Group from February 3 this year.

3. KRA Should Look No Further than within its Ranks for Huge Tax Loss

As many tax experts expected, KRA missed revenue targets by a wide margin in the first half year.

The authority, through its Commissioner-General (CG), gave some excuses, but the real problems are more fundamental.

4. Kenyan oil, Hot and Getting Hotter: Interview with Taipan’s Maxwell Birley

Kenya has become the hottest oil and gas venue in East Africa since big discoveries were made in the country's virgin oilfields last April. All eyes are on Kenya in 2013 to see how quickly--and economically they can develop those discoveries into production.

5. Equity Bank on Free Cards to Cut Cost of Deposits

Equity Bank has stepped up the battle for customers who use plastic cards to buy goods and services after introducing a technology which enables cashless buying by placing mobile phones or cards in close proximity to a point-of-sale terminal without actual contact.

The first five million account holders to apply for the cards will get them free of charge.

6. TV Switch-off Meeting to Start by Month End

Discussions between the communications industry regulator and a consumer lobby to come up with a new timeline for digital migration are set to begin before the end of this month.

Communications Commission of Kenya director general Francis Wangusi on Tuesday told the Nation that the commission was setting up a team that would hold meetings with the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) to come up with an amicable deadline for the switch off of the analogue signal in Nairobi and other parts of the country.

7. Insurer Unveils Global Medical Cover

Jubilee Insurance has introduced international medical cover that will see its clients access healthcare services abroad, as it moves to widen its underwriting portfolio in the sector.

The insurer has partnered with Bupa International, an UK-based health underwriter, to offer the local market the expansive range of international medical covers.

8. State Censured Over Failure to Support Tourism Industry

The Ministry of Tourism should be more proactive in addressing challenges facing the industry that could derail the sector if left unchecked.

Players in the industry say the biggest concerns Includes the ministry’s failure to implement the Tourism Act, increased insecurity and rise in instances of wildlife poaching in Kenya.  Poor marketing of Kenya as a tourism destination has also been cited as a challenge that impedes the industry’s growth.