1. Voter Registration To Begin Today

Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki is scheduled to officially launch a nationwide voter registration process Monday ahead of the general election scheduled for March 4. “We are having a national launch at the Kenyatta Center where we are launching the registration of a target of 18 million,” said Ambassador Yusuf Nzibo, a commissioner at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

2. Twinkie Manufacturer Faces Bankruptcy

Boxes of Twinkies are being auctioned for up to $1,000 after the firm behind the iconic American snack said it is going out of business. Hostess Brands is to lay off all of its 18,500 workers after a national strike crippled its operations. Chief executive Gregory Rayburn said the company had "no alternative" but to wind down its operations. He added that all employees will eventually lose their jobs, "some sooner than others."

3. CFC Says South Sudan Branch to Break even Early

CfC Stanbic Bank expects its newly opened branch in southern Sudan to start making profit earlier than anticipated owing to numerous opportunities in the region. Although it normally takes between 12-18 months for a new branch to break-even, the bank is betting on its trade finance business to shore up its earnings much faster. The bank’s optimism is in stark contrast to the flare up in conflict and dwindling foreign exchange receipts in the region.

For example, Jetlink airline suspended its operations due to its inability to access $2 million (Sh170 Million) owing to scarcity of foreign currency in Southern Sudan.

4. World Bank Gives KeS 3.4 Million to Boost Private Public Deals

THE World Bank has approved a Sh3.4 billion ($40 million) loan to Kenya to support public-private sector partnerships. The amount was announced yesterday for the Infrastructure Finance Public-Private Partnership Project aimed to support Kenya to improve its enabling environment and generate bankable public-private partnership projects in transport and energy sectors. It will also deal with other areas that are critical to the transformation of the country from low to middle income status, the World Bank said in a statement.

The project will focus on financing the transaction preparation, institutional support and regulatory reforms necessary to develop a bankable project pipeline that the government can take to market for private sector financing.

5. Ndegwa Gets Three More Years At KTB

The term of Robert Muriithi Ndegwa was yesterday renewed for a further three years after a judge of the Industrial Court agreed with him that Tourism Minister Dan Mwazo acted unfairly. Justice Byrum Ongaya agreed with Ndegwa that failure by the minister to renew his term for a further three years as recommended by the board of directors amounts to breach of his fundamental rights, fair labour practices and fair administrative action.

6. How Prepared Is NEMA for Oil Waste?

UNTIL recently, Buliisa sat in her quiet location, with her sparse population, engaged in pastoralism and fishing, totally unattractive to anyone looking to make money. But now treasure hunters are scrambling to get a piece of the district because it is sitting on most of the estimated 3.5 billion barrels of oil deposits discovered in Uganda.

The district is equally excited, but has some concerns. Oil is coming, but at what cost to the environment? Will the huge cost to the environment and health of the people, plus wildlife be worth it all? Are investors going to harvest their money and leave Buliisa a barren, deranged and toxic land waste, unusable and dangerous?

7. Mbaru Plans to Make Nairobi a 24 Hour Economy

Jimnah Mbaru who is aspiring to be Nairobi Governor is promising to ensure the city becomes a 24-hour economy if elected. Mbaru said his main agenda is to actualise the Vision 2030 to help Kenyans acquire wealth. “If Nairobi functions properly, the economy of Kenya will also function because Nairobi is the hub of this country where she holds 60 percent of the economy,” said Mbaru.

8. Five Footballers Killed In Coast Road Accident

 At least five football players from Kola Beach Football Club died on the spot and dozens were injured after their vehicle was involved in a grisly accident near the Kenyan coastal resort town of Malindi Sunday, officials said. The players, officials and fans of the club that features in the zonal football league in the region were returning from a match at Marereni area when the accident occurred, Xinhua reported.