Kansai Plascon acquires Sadolin Paints Kenya in a deal worth over $100m

 Kansai Paint is a global company with major operations in Japan, China, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Its product offering covers the decorative, industrial, protective coatings and automotive segment. It has research and development facilities in Japan, India and South Africa.   Speaking during a press briefing, Kansai Plascon Kenya Managing Director Jamil Virjee  said: “We are thrilled at this acquisition. Through it, we will be able to tap into.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

VW SA mobilises team to drive sales elsewhere in Africa

 Thomas Schaefer, the chairman and managing director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, said a team was established last month that would go from country to country to assess opportunities.   The establishment of the team follows Volkswagen South Africa earlier this year assuming responsibility for developing and networking 49 states to form the new sub-Saharan Africa region in the Volkswagen Group as part of a rationalisation strategy.   The new sub-Saharan Africa.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

Simba Corp to acquire full control of vehicle assembler

 Simba Corporation is set to take full ownership of Mombasa-based Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA) after it received regulatory approval to acquire the stake held by Marshalls East Africa.   The AVA is currently owned on a 50/50 basis by Simba and Marshalls.   In a press statement, Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) said it had granted Simba conditional approval to “acquire control” of the vehicle assembly firm.   “We are buying the 50.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

Market competition for commercial vehicles intensifies

 Rising urbanisation is encouraging unprecedented infrastructural developments in Africa, especially across the construction and oil and gas sectors. Frost and Sullivan report that this is strengthening the regional market for commercial vehicles (CVs) like rigid trucks and flatbed trailers. Asian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Dongfeng, Sinotruk, Tata and Ashok Leyland have started making rapid inroads into the African market and currently.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

New Jaguar models to be electric in 2020

 The carmaker said that the first of the new models would be a fully electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-Pace, to go on sale in 2018.   JLR chief executive Ralf Speth said the move was aimed at “giving customers even more choice”.   The firm, Britain’s biggest carmaker, is owned by India’s Tata.   In July, Chinese-owned firm Volvo said all its new models would have an electric motor from 2019, one year earlier than Jaguar’s.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

KenGen appoints Rebecca Miano acting CEO after Mugo retires

 KenGen has named Rebecca Miano the first female acting MD and CEO in its history, following Albert Mugo's retirement on August 25.   Miano takes office immediately, chairman Joshua Choge said in a notice on Friday.   Miano is the first woman to hold the position since the company was established. She had been serving as the company's secretary and legal affairs director since 2008.   Mugo held the top job since January 15, 2014.   His successor has a.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

Loans for solar systems make power affordable in rural Kenya

 It is early evening in Ndabibi village in Naivasha, and there are threatening clouds overhead. Kenneth Njoroge quickly parks his motorcycle by the mud structure that serves as his kitchen and rushes into the main house before the rain starts pounding.   Until recently, Njoroge’s home northwest of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, was poorly lit at night. Most people in Ndabibi are not connected to mains electricity, and rely on kerosene or small solar lamps to light.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

Passaris: From adopting lights to City National Assembly seat

 Finally, Esther Passaris, better known as Mama Taa, made it to political office after three failed attempts.   She won in the Nairobi woman representative race in the just-concluded election.   Passaris won with 828,848 votes, flooring incumbent Rachel Shebesh of Jubilee, who garnered 671,898 votes.   Passaris, 52, made her first stab at political office in 2007, when she ran for city mayor. She lost to Baba Dogo councillor Godfrey Majiwa.   The.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

To reduce your electricity bills, get solar lights

 With the erratic power supply and high electricity bills in many parts of the country, solar lighting is a viable option for Kenyans, given that solar energy is available in plenty.   Indeed, Mr Joseph Kingi of Savvy Company Ltd, which deals mainly in solar and renewable energy, says using solar energy for lighting is prudent despite some people’s misgivings about it.   “Solar energy does not have a good reputation in Kenya, especially for outdoor.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

Jaguar Land Rover Lights Up One Million Lives In Kenya

 Jaguar Land Rover and ClimateCare today announce a partnership to bring clean solar technology to off-grid communities in Kenya. This innovative social impact programme, called ’Lighting up Lives’ supports children like 14-year old Franklin Kishsta, a pupil at Kasooni School, Kalawa, Kenya. Franklin is just one of more than one million people living in isolated or off-grid communities who will benefit from the programme. “I finish all of my homework now”.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

The impact of solar lighting in rural Kenya

 While climate change has led many high-income countries to increase their efforts to improve energy efficiency and to invest in renewable energies, households in low-income countries still face another energy challenge: more than 1 billion people lack access to electricity.  Could solar lights offer a solution?   There is an ongoing debate among policy makers, international donors and researchers about how to provide energy access to poor rural areas. For many.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017

Rapper Akon lights up Africa with solar

 During the past week, Akon — born Aliaune Badara Thiam in St. Louis, and raised in Senegal until he was seven — has suggested to local media that he may try to launch an IPO for his New York-based Solektra International solar company.   The company is said to have structured some $400 million worth of solar deals to date. His office did not respond to a request for additional information.   Akon launched the Akon Lighting Africa initiative in February.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 12th September 2017