East Africa: Special Machinery to Make Arusha Safest Region's City

 Arusha — In an effort to ensure total security within Arusha Urban District, the Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Mrisho Gambo, has led a dialogue towards forming special machinery to make the city safest haven in East and Central Africa.   The task force formed to address the issue has come up with various strategies that got tabled during the meeting headed by the Commissioner here.   Attended by various stakeholders from state and non-government.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Asian healthcare giant opens facility in Kenya

 Columbia Asia, one of the largest and fastest-growing healthcare companies in Asia, is expanding its operations to Africa to serve the rising demand from the continent’s middle class for affordable, modern and efficient healthcare facilities.   The company’s first facility in Africa – a 5,300-square-foot multispecialty clinic and diagnostic center – opened this week in Nairobi, Kenya, a capital city with more than three million people and in the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Bamboo as material of the future

 Homes and buildings around the world have been built out of bamboo for millennia, but researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering are working to make it the building material of the future in developing countries.   Bamboo is stronger than timber, is more accessible in remote parts of the world and can perform better in earthquakes and other natural disasters, said Kent Harries, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Kenya: Wild App Launched to Bolster Conservation Efforts

 Narok — The use of Information and Communication Technology in conservation efforts is quickly gaining ground in the fight against poaching in East Africa.   This was evident at the launch of the Wildlife Information and Landscape Database (WILD) app - a mobile phone data collection application and cloud based database designed to improve collection, sharing, management and analysis of biodiversity information and data in East Africa.   In an Interview with.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Kenya Seeks Chinese Investment to Develop Agro-Chemicals Industry

 Nairobi — Kenya has created a friendly policy and environment to attract Chinese investment in the agro-chemicals market, a senior official said on Tuesday.   Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Willy Bett, said the next phase of Sino-Kenya agricultural cooperation will focus on development of a robust fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing sector.   "Kenya has been collaborating with China in the field of agriculture to enhance.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

State invites bids for expansion of Nairobi-Mombasa highway

 Planned expansion of the Nairobi-Mombasa road into a six-lane super-highway is expected to begin in the next couple of months with the invitation of bids for the project.   Transport and Infrastructure secretary James Macharia said the government planned to build the road through a Public Private Partnership (PPP), but fell short of indicating whether it will be Kenya’s first pay -for- use highway as has been suggested.   Expansion of the two-lane road into a.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Africa: Why Legal Timber Matters

 Good forest management weeds out corruption and the violence that can accompany crime, ending a vicious cycle   Have you ever run your hand across a gleaming table top and wondered where its wood came from? Or asked whose job it was to cut the logs that became your new bookcase? Whose trees were used to produce that pencil you're chewing on?   Consider for a moment all the people whose livelihoods, history and future centre on the great forests that generate the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Tanzania: Aircrafts Triple At Newly Renovated Dodoma Airport

 Dodoma — Aircrafts landing daily at Dodoma Airport have tripled to nine from the normal three following completion of expansion works on the runway, Airport Manager Mr Julius Mlungwa has said.   He said the completion of the works early this month has allowed more flights to land at the semi-arid region and the country's designated capital, lowering airfare to passengers. "The airport expansion works are complete by 100 percent.   We are now finalising.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

OPIC and Bechtel Move Forward in Developing Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway Project

 The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, today signed a letter of interest with the Government of Kenya to begin financing discussions on Breach of Contract political risk insurance of up to $500 million in support of the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway Project. OPIC President and CEO Elizabeth L. Littlefield and Kenyan Minister of Finance Henry K. Rotich signed the letter on the sidelines of the U.S.-Africa.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Suzuki Vitara gets second AT option in South Africa

 Suzuki Auto South Africa has introduced an automatic option for the Suzuki Vitara SUV. It is based on the 2WD GL+ variant and priced at ZAR 313,900. This is the second variant in the Vitara range to offer an AT option, which was previously exclusive to the top-end GLX.   The Vitara is powered by a 1.6L four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 120 hp and 156 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox (torque converter) that sends power to the front.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Ethiopia: Over 1.3 Billion Birr Raised for GERD Construction

 The Office plans to raise 1.8 billion Birr this fiscal year.   The Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation for the Construction of GERD said 1.3 billion Birr has been secured from various income generating schemes for the construction of the Grand Dam last fiscal year.   Office Deputy Director-General Fikirte Tamir said the stated sum was obtained from bond sales and donation, lottery, 8100 text message and sports activities from.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Rwanda: Experts Call for Sustainable Agriculture Interventions

 Agriculture can greatly contribute toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to end poverty, hunger, inequality and injustice as well as tackle climate change, experts said, calling for more governments' intervention.   The experts were speaking on Monday during a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) regional workshop under the theme: "Towards productive, sustainable and inclusive agriculture, forestry and fisheries in support to.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016