Safaricom retains dominance as Airtel subscriber base gets boost
Safaricom Ltd retained its pole position in Kenya’s mobile telephony industry with a subscription market share of 67.4 per cent. This is a slight increase of 0.7 per cent from 66.7 per cent recorded in the last quarter. A quarterly sector statistics report for the financial year 2014/15 released by the Communications Authority (CA) states that the acquisition of Essar subscribers by Airtel Networks Ltd helped the latter increase its market share to stand at 22.6 per cent, up from 16.5 per cent posted during the previous quarter [...]

Safaricom cuts off rugby Sevens sponsorship
Safaricom made good its threat to cut off federations that have been at the centre of corruption claims. The Kenya Rugby Union has been facing boardroom wrangles after accusations of financial impropriety and infighting led to the resignation of former chairman Mwangi Muthee and two other board members. The mobile company however said it will sponsor the third edition of the Safaricom Athletics series [...]

Kenya's Brookside records 20pc growth in number of raw milk suppliers as more farmers join dairy
Milk processor Brookside has registered a growth of 20 per cent in raw milk supplier numbers over the past three months, as more farmers turn to dairy as a generator of family income. The firm’s General Manager in charge of milk procurement and extension services said new incentives targeting dairy producers, including provision of dairy equipment to farmers and assured payments for milk delivered, had seen the processor's farmer numbers grow to nearly 160,000 countrywide [...]

Nairobi bourse launches 2015 investment challenge initiative
Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has launched its 2015 NSE Investment Challenge, a flagship financial literacy initiative seeking to inculcate an investment culture among the youth in universities and other tertiary institutions of higher learning. The investment challenge gives the youth a safe, entertaining and affordable means of learning how to invest in our capital markets [...]

Top economists locked out of central bank jobs
Prominent economists at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were locked out of the race for three top positions at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) despite their long experience in policy making. John Randa, a senior economist at World Bank, and Rose Ngugi, an adviser in the office of executive director for the Africa Group at the IMF in Washington, were among those who failed to make the short-list for interviews [...]

State earmarks Sh3.1m for 12 livestock markets
The Government plans to spend Sh3.1 million to construct 12 livestock markets in three counties in Arid and Semi-Arid areas (ASALs) this year. The African Development Bank (AfDB) will fund the initiative designed to enable farmers to actively participate in the livestock business. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries has already published an advertisement in the local dailies calling for bids for construction of the facilities [...]

Total and Kingsway unveil Easter 'free fuel' promo
Kingsway Tyres and Total Kenya have partnered to offer motorists a free fuel card worth Sh2,000 for every purchase of two Michelin, or BFGoodrich tyres for passenger, or 4x4 vehicles. The offer also gives motorists a 35 per cent discount for these purchases [...]

Vehicle dealer Stantech appoints new chief executive
Former CMC Motors executive Ken Ouko has been appointed the CEO of Stantech Motors, replacing Mr Titus Ntuchiu who will remain as a director. At Stantech Motors, Mr Ken Ouko will be running an auto dealer with exclusive distributorship of Chinese brands. The company sells saloon cars, pick-ups, buses, trucks, tippers and prime movers under franchises like Cherry, JMC, Sinotruck, and Grand Tiger brand [...]