1. IEBC Disappointed Over Low Registration Rates
An official of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says the ongoing voter registration process has been disappointing.
“The attitude Kenyans have is usually to turn up at the last minute. We are telling them please turn up in large numbers [because] the rains are about to start so, don’t wait till it’s difficult for us to reach you. We’ve got sufficient equipment to be able to register all Kenyans,” said IEBC Commissioner Ambassador Yusuf Nzibo.
2. EAC Protocols Should be Implemented Now
The East African Community Heads of State are set to inaugurate the East Assembly Legislative Assembly and the new Athi River-Arusha road on Wednesday in what marks a milestone in strengthening institutions and expanding the region’s infrastructure.
This will be a precursor to a Heads of State Summit that opens in Nairobi on Thursday. The summit will tackle a number of issues, including reviewing the applications of Somalia and South Sudan, which are keen to join the community.
3. China Firm Wins Tender for Surveilance Systems in Kenya
The Chinese firm, Nanjing Les Information Technology, has won a 5 million U.S. dollars integrated urban surveillance system (IUSS) project, which is to be completed by February 2013, a senior Kenyan official disclosed on Tuesday.
Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Jamleck Kamau said the security surveillance equipment will help monitor traffic and thwart terror attacks in the city.
4. Uganda’s Search for Mombasa Alternatives Nears End
Plans by Ugandan traders to have an alternative route from the Mombasa Port will be concluded before year end, according to Kampala City Traders Association. Last week traders under their umbrella organisation – Kacita, held a meeting with Dar es Salaam Port officials to discuss modalities and the possibility of persuading members to use the Southern route.
Mr Issa Sekito, the Kacita spokesman, told Daily Monitor that a procedure had been discussed to put plans in place including the vigorous marketing to promote the Port among Ugandan traders.
5. Barclays Appoints Kenya CEO As Sub Sahara Head
Barclays Bank Kenya Managing Director Adan Mohamed has been appointed in the newly created position of the Bank’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the created Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) structure to help drive the bank’s One Africa Strategy. Adan Mohamed, until now Managing Director for East and West Africa, has since been appointed as CAO for Barclays Africa.
6. M-Shwari, A Mobile Bank Account From Safaricom
Safaricom Ltd is launching a mobile money based credit scheme, M-Shwari, a product that will allow M-Pesa subscribers to save and borrow money using their phones. This new product will mainly target micro-savers and borrowers. It will enable users to open a mobile bank accounts, into which they can deposit as low as KES 1 (Bob Moja tu) in savings and borrow up to KES 100,000 payable with a one-off interest rate of 7.5%,which will be payable within one month of disbursement.
7. Crop Insurance Helps Local Farmers
Her shop, Sunrise Agrovet, is often the first port of call for farmers having difficulty starting up or maintaining a farm. As the pioneer Kilimo Salama shop, it is working closely with SFSA to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region. Kilimo Salama is an SFSA-led scheme whereby farmers can insure their maize, beans, sorghum and wheat crops against unpredictable rainfall. Initially, as one would expect, farmers were reluctant to trust an insurance scheme that promised so much, yet it has become a huge success.
8. High Court to Open Crimes Division
A new division of Kenya’s High Court designed to address international crimes could be up and running as early as next month, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga announced. The International Crimes Division (ICD) will target mid- and lower-level perpetrators of grave crimes, Kenya’s Capital FM reported Monday (November 26th).
“The security, stability and economy of this nation is mortally threatened by … crimes against humanity, drug trafficking, trafficking in humans and body parts, money laundering, counterfeit goods, corruption, piracy, and terrorism,” Mutunga said at a training seminar for journalists on International Criminal Court (ICC) processes.