1. Health officers ban food hawking after donkeys found slaughtered

The Public Health Department in Naivasha has outlawed hawking of food after four donkeys were found slaughtered.

The District Public Health Officer, Samuel King’ori, banned the sale of samosa and mutura  until further notice.

This came as it emerged that illegal sale of un-inspected donkey meat was on the rise with ten donkeys slaughtered in the last two weeks.- The Standard

 2. New CCK policy to halve price of digital TV device

The price of set-top boxes is set to fall by at least 45 per cent after the industry regulator revised minimum specifications, which allows for importation of equipment that exclusively support free-to-air (FTA) channels. The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) order means cheaper gadgets for converting analogue television signals to digital format will now be available in the market.

Previously, the government only allowed the importation of set-top boxes on the Digital Video Broadcast Technology 2 (DVB-T2) that could access both pay and free-to-air channels whether or not the consumer subscribes to pay- TV.- Business Daily

3. Website to offer cheaper data faster

Investors are set to access information on the Kenyan market faster following the launch of a new online research platform.

The website will provide subscribers with data on key indicators of the economy.

Through the erafinancials.com website, prospective investors will access current and historical information on financial performance of all companies listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange from a decade ago.

The product, developed by Escrow Research and Analytics Limited, will also enable subscribers to analyse and forecast market trends using its web-based systems.- Daily Nation

 4. Kiereini sues regulator over board seat ban

Influential businessman and former head of the Civil Service Jeremiah Kiereini has moved to court seeking orders to overturn a ban imposed on him by the capital markets regulator barring him from holding directorships in companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

Lady Justice Cecilia Githua on Monday certified as urgent an application lodged by his lawyer, Njoroge Regeru, after it emerged that the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) had purported to revoke his directorship in CFC Stanbic and CFC Insurance Holdings. - Business Daily

5. Cigarette firm losing revenue over held cargo

A Kenyan cigarette company claims to be losing millions of shillings in revenue after Uganda officials held its trucks ferrying cigarettes to South Sudan.

Mastermind Tobacco Kenya, in a statement, says it has lost over Sh84 million ($1 million) in revenue after Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) officials held five of its trucks transporting cigarettes to South Sudan.- Business Daily

 6. State fails to meet revenue collection target by Sh56bn

The government failed to meet its revenue collection target by Sh56.3 billion, netting Sh748.2 billion against a target of Sh804 billion at the close of the last quarter of the 2011/12 financial year.

The amount collected, including appropriation in aid, constituted 22.6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which, however, represents the highest rate of collection in East Africa.

Ordinary revenue amounted to Sh690.7 billion against a target of Sh724.9 resulting in underperformance of Sh34.2 billion. Data from the Treasury indicates that the total public debt hit Sh1,633.6 billion as at June 2012 compared to Sh1,387.1 billion the previous year, with external debt constituting 47.4 per cent and domestic 52.6 per cent.- Business Daily

 7. Bidco boss wins entrepreneur of the year award

Manufacturing group Bidco Oil Refineries’ chief executive Vimal Shah has won the East African entrepreneur of the year award.

The award recognises individuals who have displayed exceptional vision and leadership in building a company.

Thika-based Bidco Group manufactures in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

It markets edible oil brands like Elianto, and Golden Fry, cooking fats including Kimbo, laundry soaps, margarine, baking powder, and hygiene products.- Business Daily

8. Kenyans have no choice but to pay Ken-Ren debt, says PS

The taxpayer will continue to bear the cost of servicing the debt of a fertiliser factory that was never realised to keep its credit rating high and attract financing, Finance ministry PS Joseph Kinyua said on Tuesday.

Mr Kinyua said that a decision to stop paying the debt would see Kenya lose support from global financiers, stalling key development projects.

The government entered into an agreement with a collapsed American firm, N-Ren, to guarantee the construction of a fertiliser plant back in 1970 at a cost of Sh350 million at an interest of 8.5 per cent. The debt has since risen to Sh5.1 billion.