By Macharia Kamau - The Standard

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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Digital News

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By Macharia Kamau

Tough times ahead as power cost is set to rise

The cost of living is set to go up substantially as electricity tariffs rises following rain failure over the March-May long rains season.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

Tough times ahead as power cost is set to rise

Simon Gicharu moved to Rural Electrification

Simon Gicharu moved to Rural Electrification

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

It’s mixed bag as Tullow finds fresh oil deposits, dry well in Turkana

It’s mixed bag as Tullow finds fresh oil deposits, dry well in Turkana

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

On its knees? Manufacturing sector in limbo

On its knees? Manufacturing sector in limbo

By By MACHARIA KAMAU and JEVANS NYABIAGE 10 years ago

Half century later, Jua Kali still using Stone-Age technology

At a welding shop in Kariobangi’s Light Industries, John Onyango prepares to cut a metal to make a chisel, commonly used by masonries for stone dressing.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU and WINSLEY MASESE 10 years ago

Half century later, Jua Kali still using Stone-Age technology

High production costs, cheap imports to blame for Kenya’s waning competitiveness

The contribution of manufacturing to the economy has stagnated at 10 per cent over three decades. This is according to the Kenya Economic Report 2013 by the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (Kippra).

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

High production costs, cheap imports to blame for Kenya’s waning competitiveness

Taxman strikes football clubs to boost revenue

Local football clubs have over the years dodged paying taxes and now the taxman is after them, demanding not only compliance but also the payment of tax arrears.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

Taxman strikes football clubs to boost revenue

KQ pegs expansion dreams on new Boeing 787

Kenya Airways expects to open new routes and strengthen current ones with the expected delivery of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

KQ pegs expansion dreams on new Boeing 787

KCB to buy Sh3b City Hall loan

The Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) stands to benefit following a fall-out between the Nairobi County Government and Equity Bank.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

KCB to buy Sh3b City Hall loan

County salaries to cost State Sh68b

Kenya will spend a whopping Sh68.8 billion in paying salaries to staff working in the 47 counties this year. This accounts for 15 per cent of the total public sector wage bill, which stands at Sh458 billion for the 2013/14 financial year.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

County salaries to cost State Sh68b

Devolution crisis to slow economy, says report

The teething problems Kenya has been facing in implementing the devolved system of government may slow the country’s economic growth.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

Devolution crisis to slow economy, says report

Australian firm inks Sh2.5b deal to prospect for gas

An Australian firm, Pancontinental Oil and Gas has signed a Sh2.5 billion ($30 million) farm-in agreement with a Dubai based firm.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

Australian firm inks Sh2.5b deal to prospect for gas

Laptop project to increase demand for data

The Government’s plan to issue primary school children with laptops will be a big game changer for the local ICT industry in coming years.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

Laptop project to increase demand for data

'Kenyan did not invent famed M-Pesa’

Kenyans had close to nothing to do with the creation of M-Pesa that had put the country on the global radar as an innovation hub.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

'Kenyan did not invent famed M-Pesa’

Agency cautions on row between senators, MPs

The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) wants the National Assembly and Senate to employ already existing dispute resolution mechanisms to avoid numerous instances of conflict on financial issues experienced last year.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

Agency cautions on row between senators, MPs

Camac to start oil drilling after initial tests

Camac Energy, US oil and gas exploration and production firm says it has successfully carried out initial test surveys in its two onshore blocks.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

Camac to start oil drilling after initial tests

How planned law might turn NSSF into a looters’ paradise

When Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi cancelled the controversial Sh5 billion National Social Security Fund (NSSF) project in Tassia last week, it was seen as a rare intervention to stop the plunder of the fund’s resources.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU and KENNETH KWAMA 10 years ago

How planned law might turn NSSF into a looters’ paradise

Kenya could take up to five years to pump oil

Kenya should be optimistic but also cautious about its oil finds as well as prospect of being an oil producer.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

Kenya could take up to five years to pump oil

Employers not ready for NSSF law

The implementation of the new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act could be off to a rocky start after employers cited logistical hitches in meeting the January contribution deadline.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

Employers not ready for NSSF law

Unregistered SIM card to cost you Sh300,000

Use of an unregistered SIM card could soon cost you Sh300,000 or six months in jail.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

Unregistered SIM card to cost you Sh300,000

Kenya Power halts pre-paid meters in towns

Kenya Power is relooking its prepaid metering, with plans to relax the implmenetaion of the programme in urban areas

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 10 years ago

Kenya Power halts pre-paid meters in towns

Showdown looms as counties defy regulations

County governors could be treading on the wrong side of the law, having disregarded the legal framework supposed to guide them in the running of the counties.

By By Macharia Kamau 10 years ago

Showdown looms as counties defy regulations

Rich suitors woo prospectors for piece of Kenya’s multimillion-dollar oil industry

Little known oil exploration and production companies that acquired land in Kenya’s oil blocks are finding themselves increasingly spoilt for choice on who to partner with.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Rich suitors woo prospectors for piece of Kenya’s multimillion-dollar oil industry

New road toll to fund vandalism fight

The Transport ministry is pushing for a speedy passing of proposed reviews to the scrap metal law.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

New road toll to fund vandalism fight

The big projects that will define nation’s future

The public-private partnership technology city has been projected to cost Sh800 billion and is expected to create 200,000 jobs, mostly in Business Process Outsourcing and IT Enabled Services (BPO-ITES) and other sectors in 20 years.

By BY MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

The big projects that will define nation’s future

Treasury chief turns heat on banks over interest rates

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has directed the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to look into cartel-like behaviour of commercial banks that is fuelling high interest rates.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Treasury chief turns heat on banks over interest rates

New mineral Bill promises resource windfall for locals

A new Bill that promises mineral windfall for local communities with vast natural resources is in the offing.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

New mineral Bill promises resource windfall for locals

Demolitions loom as State unveils Sh56b JKIA terminal

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed that all illegal structures around the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport be demolished

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Demolitions loom as State unveils Sh56b JKIA terminal

New rail threatens survival of businesses

The future does not look particularly bright for the long-distance transport industry as the standard gauge railway line chugs closer to reality.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

New rail threatens survival of businesses

African Union grants Sh714m to private geothermal project in Kenya

An independent power producer Africa Geothermal International Limited (AGIL) is embarking on a Sh52 billion ($600 m) power project at the Longonot steam fields that is expected to generate 140 megawatts (MW) of electricity upon completion in 2017.

By By Macharia Kamau 11 years ago

African Union grants Sh714m to private geothermal project in Kenya

Work on new railway line begins

Kenya this Thursday embarks on a process that will make stale the joke that it has not added an inch to its colonial-era railway line.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU and TIMOTHY MACHI 11 years ago

Work on new railway line begins

State revises energy generation plan giving rise to shortage fears

Kenya’s plan to increase by four-fold its electricity generation capacity might take more than the initially planned three years

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

State revises energy generation plan giving rise to shortage fears

StanChart posts 7 per cent rise in pre-tax profit

Standard Chartered Kenya yesterday announced a 7 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to Sh9.9 billion for the nine months ended 30 September.

By By Macharia Kamau 11 years ago

StanChart posts 7 per cent rise in pre-tax profit

Rogue sugar importers saturate the market with cheap produce

Sugar barons are proving a tough nut to crack for the industry regulator and sector players, with the cartels threatening to deepen the chaos in an industry whose future already looks bleak.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Rogue sugar importers saturate the market with cheap produce

Balala’s powerplay threat to investors

Since taking up the post of Cabinet Secretary at the Ministry of Mining, Najib Balala has been on a roll. In the five months he has been in office, Mr Balala has been able to rub players in the mining industry the wrong ways.

By By Macharia Kamau 11 years ago

Balala’s powerplay threat to investors

CCK firm on switch-off from analogue to digital TV date

Over half a million households in Nairobi risk losing access to a crucial information source with the looming switch off of the analogue television broadcasting signal set for December 13 this year.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

CCK firm on switch-off from analogue to digital TV date

CCK targets agents, customers in new unregistered SIM card laws

Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has conceded that current regulations on mobile phone subscriber registration are inadequate in clamping down unregistered SIM cards.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

CCK targets agents, customers in new unregistered SIM card laws

Issuing of mining licences to re-start in November

The Ministry of Mining will resume issuing licences to firms seeking to prospect or do actual mineral mining works in the country towards end of this year.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Issuing of mining licences to re-start in November

Kenya warns telcom operators over unregistered SIM cards

The Government has threatened chief executives of mobile phone operators with arrest and prosecution over unregistered SIM cards.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Kenya warns telcom operators over unregistered SIM cards

KAA seeks new duty free shop operator at JKIA

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has started recruiting a firm to run new duty free shops at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

KAA seeks new duty free shop operator at JKIA

State targets 10pc growth in four years

Agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors are expected to propel Kenya’s economy to a growth rate of 10 per cent by 2017.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

State targets 10pc growth in four years

Small ICT firms fear they may lose out in county contracts

Local technology firms have expressed fears that they might be locked out of lucrative revenue collection contracts by the county governments.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Small ICT firms fear they may lose out in county contracts

Kenya’s economy slows down to 4.3 per cent in second quarter

The level of economic activities in the country shrank during the second quarter of this year owing partly to a sharp decline in the number of tourist arrivals.

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

Kenya’s economy slows down to 4.3 per cent in second quarter

KAA moves to install temporary arrivals terminal

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has finally embarked on the process of setting up a temporary arrivals terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

By By MACHARIA KAMAU 11 years ago

KAA moves to install temporary arrivals terminal

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