Agency to spend Sh2.8b on system to name roads and label buildings

The Government will spend an estimated Sh2.8 billion on a system that will give names to all roads, and assign numbers to all buildings and parcels of land. The National Addressing System (NAS), which is being developed by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), will enable authorities to pinpoint where every Kenyan lives and works. It is also expected to enable the Government to offer essential services to all Kenyans, including those in informal settlements and rural areas,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 25th October 2016

Tanzania: Ashok Leyland to Supply Vehicles Worth U.S.$170 Million to Dar

Ashok Leyland, an Indian based company has won an order valued 170m/US dollars from the government of Tanzania for purchase of Leyland's vehicles.   According to the statement released by Ashok Leyland's Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Mr Rajesh Mani the company will also supply generator- sets, spares and equipment for development of workshops, training modules and allied equipment to be fitted on ambulances.   According to the statement, the Ashok.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 25th October 2016

Ecobank in Sh10m deal with UN agency

 Pan-African lender Ecobank has partnered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and donated Sh10 million for the agency's programmes in Africa.   The two organisations operate in 28 African countries, and through the partnership they aim to reach 430,000 beneficiaries over the next few years.   “Corporates like Ecobank Group help us to find homegrown solutions to the problem of refugees in Africa. While global humanitarian resources are.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 25th October 2016

Ethiopia commits to increase rice production

 The Ethiopian government had forwarded an official application to Africa Rice that was reviewed by the Council under the chairmanship of Vincent Ssempijja, the Ugandan Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries during the Council’s 30th Ordinary Session.   Accepting the approval on behalf of Ethiopia as the 26th member state was Adungna Wakjira, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) who was representing the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Geothermal Energy At The Center Of Djibouti’s Renewable Transformation

 Authorities in Djibouti are working to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix, with a particular focus on harnessing the country’s plentiful geothermal resources.   In early August Djibouti’s Office of Development of Geothermal Energy inked a memorandum of understanding with Japanese conglomerate Toshiba to develop some 50 MW of geothermal energy projects across the country.   Under the terms of the agreement, Toshiba will provide guidance.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Why versatile bamboo deserves more attention

 Over the last couple of years, bamboo has been at the centre of discussions as the future of Kenya. It has been referred to as the miracle crop that can change the way agriculture operates in the country, bringing vast returns as well as benefits to the environment.   The truth is that bamboo’s image is undergoing a transformation. Some now call it “the timber of the 21st century”.   The crop is the new super material, with uses in textiles and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Tanzania: SIDO Launches Ultra Modern Packaging Centre

 Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) has launched a multi-million shilling packaging centre in Dar es Salaam to ease shortage package materials to local enterprises. The centre which cost 250,000 US dollars to build, is a one-stop centre of excellence in the continent which supports SMEs services.   The Finland Deputy Head of Mission in Tanzania, Mr Simo Pekkaparviainen, said they will borrow a leaf from the centre and implement the same in other African.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Devolution dream come true for Kenya's shujaas, says Kabogo

 Devolution is a dream come true for many Kenyan 'shujaas' as it has improved services at the grassroots, Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has said.   He spoke in Githunguri on Thursday as Kenya marked Mashujaa Day in honour of those who contributed to the struggle for independence.   Kabogo said decentralisation of resources has enabled his county to invest in infrastructure and health, exploit business opportunities and improve living standards.   “The.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Rwanda-Morocco housing project construction kicks off early 2017

 Construction of affordable housing units by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) and Palmeraie Development Group is set to kick off early next year, following the signing of a partnership agreement during the visit of King Mohammed VI of Morocco last week.   The agreement sealed a partnership between the two bodies to develop 5000 affordable housing units last week.   According to Alex Kanyankole, the chief executive of BRD, the two institutions are currently.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Tanzania: Govt Prepares to Establish Tyre Manufacturing Plant

 Dodoma — The government has appointed a team of consultants to study and propose approaches for establishment of a tyre manufacturing plant in the country.   The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing, Dr Adelhem Meru, revealed this yesterday before the Parliamentary Committee on Industry Trade and Environment when presenting a report on efforts to revive the defunct General Tyre East Africa Limited (GTEA).   He said that the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Partnering for Development in Africa

 In October, the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, or COMESA, launched a five-year Regional Development Objectives Grant Agreement at the 19th COMESA Summit, held this year in Madagascar. The agreement, announced in Nairobi, Kenya, provides for USAID to contribute approximately $77 million dollars to strengthen the collaborative partnership between the two organizations and implement regional.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

Eskom: South Africa well-equipped for nuclear energy

 Eskom says South Africa is well-equipped to have nuclear power stations and has a nuclear safety culture, with Koeberg having operated safely for over 32 years.   The power utility said on their website about two-thirds of the world’s population live in countries where nuclear power plants are an integral part of electricity production and industrial infrastructures.   "The performance of the Koeberg power station has also consistently been one of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016