V o l u m e 1

KENYA

Best of Kenya 1

Publisher: Intermac Communications Limited

Sales Director: Simon Mugo

Sales Team: Chris Nyaoro, Leonard Sichemo,

Shane Mwigereri, Derrick Wanjawa

Editorial Director: W Kwendo Opanga

Editorial Team: Matthew Gathigira, Mike Ngwalla,

Matiko Bohoko

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Creative Direction: Allan Anjeo, Extreme Designs

Photography: Walter Boermeester, Yahya Mohamed,

Sam Ouma, Noor Khamis, Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya

Film Commission, Department of Film Services.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the

accuracy of the information in Best of Kenya Vol.1.

Neither Best of Kenya nor Intermac Communications

Limited can take responsibility for any errors or

omissions.

All rights reserved: No part of this publication shall be

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Welcome to Volume One of ‘Best of Kenya’

‘Best of Kenya’ is a celebration of the success of varied and valued enterprises in both private and public sectors and sets a trend we will continue in the coming months with Volume II.

We are all proud to join the distinguished GVP family and, through showcasing success in enterprise and entrepreneurship, play a role in marketing Kenya to the rest of the world as a place where business survives and thrives.

We hope that by celebrating these success stories and taking their uniqueness to the world, we will encourage many more entrepreneurs and enterprises to devise ways and means of joining the very best locally and globally.

Please sit back and enjoy the features on and images of articles on Kenya, its sporting prowess, uniqueness, banks, hotels, education, birthplace of Barrack Obama Snr, the father of the 44th President of the United States of America, among other delightful articles.

We single out one enterprise for special mention. This is the story of Ranalo Foods, a well liked eatery in Nairobi that is run by an amiable and humble couple that started their business from the humblest of beginnings and locations.

In Volume II we will dwell at length on Kenya as a tourist destination and also look at the government’s blueprint – Vision 2030 - for transforming the country into a developed nation by 2030.

Karibu

KenyaB E S T O F

Regional Head OfficesBangalore • Brussels • Cairo • Casablanca • Copenhagen • Dubai • Johannesburg • London • Santiago • Singapore • Sydney • Washington DC

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National Anthem

O God of all creation,

Bless this our land and nation.

Justice be our shield and defender,

May we dwell in unity,

Peace and liberty,

Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise

With hearts both strong and true.

Service be our earnest endeavour,

And our Homeland of Kenya,

Heritage of splendour,

Firm may we stand to defend.

Let all with one accord

In common bond united,

Build this our nation together,

And the glory of Kenya,

The fruit of our labour,

Fill every heart with thanksgiving.

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Foreword from the PresidentI am pleased to write a foreword for this attractive and insightful publication about Kenya.

In this book, you will find many things said about Kenya, some of which may be new, and others that you already know. It is my hope that the book will enable readers to broaden their knowledge of our country and experience a new understanding and perception of Kenya and its people.

Kenya remains a relatively stable and peaceful nation, despite the challenges we have faced over the years. The stability and success of our nation demonstrates that we are a resilient people, and we are always ready to find solutions to our problems. And more importantly, we have been swift to seize the challenges that confront us and transform them into opportunities for enhancing the political, social, and economic development of our society.

In this respect, the Grand Coalition Government, working together with Parliament, passed various legislation this year to enable the government to implement various reforms to ensure transparency in the management of the affairs of our nation. I am confident that, as a people, we are capable of overcoming the problems we face, and building a united, stable and prosperous nation.

I therefore want to assure our friends and well-wishers that Kenyans are determined to uphold our nationhood. We are committed to living in unity, while recognizing the diversity of our people. Indeed, all of us, regardless of ethnicity, race or religion, are inextricably tied together, with a common destiny. That destiny, as spelt out in Vision 2030, aims at building a prosperous and equitable nation that is an example to the region and the world of what Africa is capable of achieving.

Accordingly, the theme of this publication is not only appropriate but also timely. Over the last six years, the government has implemented a variety of reforms to make our country investor-friendly. We welcome investors to take advantage of the unique and abundant opportunities we offer to put their money in various sectors of our economy.

Indeed, Kenya is today one of Africa’s most well endowed countries in terms of human capital, entrepreneurship and work ethic. The country has a large portfolio of investment opportunities, ranging from the diverse natural resources and a vibrant agricultural sector to sophisticated infrastructure as well as the financial and information services sectors.

In this regard, Nairobi has grown to become the region’s financial, transport and tourism hub, while Mombasa is the gateway to the Eastern Africa region. Investors will find well developed infrastructure, including roads, railways, air transport, and telecommunications linking Kenya to the rest of Africa and the world. Investors will also be happy to know that Kenya has a large pool of highly talented and skilled labour.

This publication is, therefore, also an invitation to investors, friends and well-wishers to visit Kenya. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Kenya is a land of contrasts – of enchanting landscapes, a snow-capped mountain on the Equator, expansive savannas that are home of the Big Five and countless, varied wildlife in their natural habitats that make Kenya a true safari country.

Moreover, Kenya’s coastal region tells the story of hospitality and of timeless contacts with the rest of the world, a story that is still eloquently told by the numerous historical monuments and sites, while the beautiful, white sandy beaches and an all-year-round warm climate assure our visitors a fun-filled holiday experience.

Welcome to Kenya.

H.E. Mwai KibakiPresident of the Republic of Kenya

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Foreword from the Prime MinisterIt is my pleasure to write the foreword to this useful fact-book on Kenya, especially at this particular time when our country has regained its balance following the political crisis that engulfed it in early 2008.

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Kenya is back in business as a gateway to the vast and fast growing African market on the eastern seaboard. We have reclaimed our reputation and position as the destination of choice for investment, trade and tourism in Eastern and Central Africa.

We in Kenya firmly believe that the private sector provides the main engine for sustainable economic growth. The Government of Kenya is firmly committed to working closely with both the domestic and foreign private sector to generate wealth in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment. Kenya offers guaranteed lower production and operational costs and faster business set-up than most other countries, through the following measures:

• a one-stop-shop system for required licenses upon entry.

• a ten-year Corporate Tax holiday and a 25 per cent tax rate reduction for 10 years thereafter.

• a ten-year withholding Tax holiday on non-resident remittances.

• duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on imported or locally sourced raw materials, construction equipment and other business inputs except motor vehicles and some fuels.

• a 100 per cent investment deduction on capital expenditure within 20 years.

• exemption from Stamp Duty.

The Government places great emphasis on providing a conducive and enabling environment for business. Maintaining Kenya’s highly skilled labour force is a top priority alongside issues of security, affordable energy supply, responsiveness of the public sector to business needs, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring a pleasant multicultural environment to live in.

Kenya’s unique geographical position offers time flexibility in cross-interaction with businesses in other time zones from Auckland in New Zealand to Los Angeles in the U.S., without loss of sleep! Nairobi is the regional hub for air and sea transport for East, Central and Southern Africa, offering daily air connections to West Africa and other parts of the world.

As a founder-member of the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Kenya offers access to a vast market of more than 400 million people.

Kenya hosts a large number of regional bodies, multinationals and international organizations. This, together with the multi-racial fabric of Kenyan society, makes most cities and urban centres in this country global in matters of faith, education, culture, cuisine and character.

Welcome to Kenya! You will enjoy visiting or doing business in Kenya.

Raila Amolo OdingaPrime Minister of the Republic of Kenya

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BEST OF THE WORLD Welcome to the world’s premier platform for showcasing and networking governments, leading companies and entrepreneurs in business, tourism and lifestyle. Through our Best of publishing series and gvpedia.com we showcase an ever expanding Atlas of Success and Sustainability across multiple continents and industries.

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GVP brands and builds the image of the world’s most exciting economic regions to affect a change in the perception of a nation, a city and its people by the rest of the world. This then promotes the region in terms of its investment opportunities, key industries, innovations, people, culture, tourism potential and international objectives.

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The ‘Best of…’ publishing series produces annual maxi format bookpublications in over 30 territories, from Bangalore to Belgium. Thesedetail success stories of people and companies making positiveinroads into the commercial fibre of both mature andemerging markets.

The books showcase entrepreneurial spirit; establishing powerfulglobal networks and the creation of individual brand awareness bybridging cultures. The result is the ultimate interactive corporate gift and P.R. marketing tool for governments, companies, hotels and business people providing leading products and services for their region.

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With regional head offices in 5 continents, the organisation is currently involved in more than 30 territories where the ‘Best of’ series is published. GVP has a 5-year growth plan to develop a further 150 economic territories organically, through each continent’s regional head office, and through partnerships with companies and individuals that have the expertise to showcase their city, state or country.

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Please apply by adding your company profile online to the Global Village Business Network:

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The portal provides GVP customers an interactive Public Relations Box managed by a user friendly ‘Enterprise Content Management System’ that allows clients to upload their value proposition, photos, fast facts and management profiles. The latest networking add-ons and social media applications are integrated within the site providing maximum reach and feedback. The value proposition for subscribers to gvpedia.com essentially covers four elements: exposure, expertise, exclusivity and networking.

Success is a Choice!

GVPedia.comSuccess, Sustainability and Culture

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ChapterSBest of Kenya

Kenya at a Glance

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KenyaB E S T O F

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CHAPTER 1Kenya at a Glance

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POPULATIONEstimated in 2007 at 37,183,924

LAND AREA 591,383 square kilometres

CAPITAL CITY Nairobi

PRINCIPAL TOWNS Mombasa Nakuru Kisumu

ECONOMY Free market enterprise

GOVERNMENT Coalition of parties

PARLIAMENT A single Chamber of 210 elected and 12 nominated Members whose term lasts five years

MAIN GATEWAYS Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi Moi International Airport, Mombasa Wilson Airport, Nairobi

CURRENCY Kenya shilling (at current rates KSh75 exchanges for One US dollar)

LANGUAGES English and Swahili are the main and official languages and there are over 40 other local vernaculars

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A version of this chapter was published for the Brand Kenya Board under the title Kenya: The World's Favourite Destination.

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Best safari time

A visit to Kenya is a truly unique and unforgettable experience. The best times to fulfill one’s lifetime dream for a great safari to Kenya (ideally for two to three weeks) is July to February, although the country is hospitable and attractive to visitors throughout the year.

The time for an idyllic game viewing safari is July to September, when one of the greatest spectacles on earth takes place as more than a million wild animals, mainly wildebeest and zebra, cross the Mara River into Kenya’s world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Great Migration has been classified the Eighth Wonder of the World and is the only living event among the Wonders, and also one of the very oldest, far older even than Egypt’s pyramids.

National carrier

Kenya Airways, affectionately tagged “The Pride of Africa”, flies to more than 48 destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle and Far East and is soon to fly to the US.

Inviting Savannah: Open and expansive

grasslands home to varied and valued game

Up, up and away: Balloon safaris are popular events in the

world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve

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Kenya: Land of infinite variety

Renowned globally as the Cradle of Mankind, Kenya is a land of great variety and spectacular physical and climatic contrasts and beauty that are so diverse they are usually found in an entire continent.

These range from high snow-capped mountains with alpine forests to hot dry deserts and lovely sandy beaches. There is so much to be seen and enjoyed in Kenya, ranging from the pre-

historic splendour of the Rift Valley, a geographic feature that is visible from space, to the beautiful shores of the Indian Ocean, lined with unique mangrove forests, and to Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake.

From the modern social and cultural hub of Nairobi (the only city in the world with a national park within its boundaries), to the vast breathtaking expanses of wildlife parks such as the Tsavo, Mt Kenya, the Masai Mara and Amboseli, a visit to Kenya presents the ultimate dream for any traveller. K

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Elephants in Amboseli: The game and view, with Mt

Kilimanjaro in the background, are stunning

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In the words of the 1954 Nobel laureate for literature Ernest Hemingway, “Kenya is unknowable, unimaginable, and unbelievable”.

In terms of size, this great East African country is some 583,000 kilometres square, lying at the centre of the eastern part of the continent of Africa, and right on the Equator.

Like its spectacular variety of wildlife, physical and climatic conditions, Kenya is a linguistic and cultural melting pot, with at least 42 different communities and people of different races who live harmoniously together.

The rich vegetation that acts as cover for some of Kenya’s spectacular landscapes also provides shelter for a great variety of wildlife.

The varied altitudes of Kenya give the country unique climatic features. The lower areas of the country have high temperatures, with humidity dependent on their proximity to

water bodies. The highlands are mild and cool, with relatively high rainfall patterns.

The popular Kenyan Coast, along the Indian Ocean, and the regions around Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater body in the world and the source of the River Nile, are usually hot, or warm and humid. A visitor to Kenya can experience and enjoy these varied climatic conditions within a short time.

Melting Pot of Cultures

Kenya is a melting pot of varied, valued and vibrant cultures.

Each of Kenya’s 42 main ethnic communities has a strong and dynamic culture that it is proud of.

This is not to suggest that the people of Kenya are stuck in the past. These cultures are dynamic, which is why they have survived despite the strong influences they have been subjected to or come into contact with.

The world’s only wildlife capital: No other city on earth has a national park full of wild animals and birds in

their natural habitat. Ostriches strut and groom themselves against the background of Nairobi’s skyscrapers.

Tusks of Mombasa: They are like an emblem for the

historic coastal city that is the gateway to East Africa

Fresh water lake: Fishing boat on Lake Victoria,

the world’s second largest fresh water lake

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Ministry

The centrality of culture in Kenyan society is perhaps best explained by the creation of the Ministry of Culture, which is specifically tasked with recognition and promotion of the country’s myriad cultures.

The 42 main ethnicities, while distinctly different, are brought together by Kiswahili, which is Kenya’s official language and English, the medium of instruction in schools through colleges and universities and the language of international commerce and diplomacy.

Greeting

For example, in most parts of Kenya or among Kenya’s varied communities, a greeting is a demonstration of goodwill. Indeed, among some cultures, especially at the Coast, people will be offended if one

joins their group or passes by them without uttering a word of greeting.

Perhaps the best demonstration of greeting-as-a-demonstration-of-goodwill is attested to by the popularity of the Kiswahili word Jambo. Indeed, a local band has made the greeting popular abroad with its track of the same name and chorus and it is a common feature at tourist resorts across the country.

Cultural Festivals

In Kenya’s primary and secondary, private or public schools, the annual countrywide music and drama competitions, which are meant to mainly showcase the talents of young people, often turn into celebrations of both the dominant and the little-known cultures of the country.

However, given that media, communication and technology keep bringing the various

Song, dance and drum extravaganza: An expression

of sound, acrobatic action and vibrant colours is

the unmistakable trade mark of the Kamba dance

troupes from Kenya’s Eastern province.

Melting pot of culture: Various Kenyan peoples in

their traditional regalia representing Kenya’s rich

and varied culture and heritage

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continents of the world ever closer together, the music and plays in the schools through universities and outside the school system depict the dynamism of Kenya’s cultures.

Indeed, song and dance, drama and film are the vehicles of choice for those who seek to showcase both the dynamism and resilience of Kenya’s cultures. Each of Kenya’s eight provinces also hosts annual cultural events that are also festivals of culture.

Cultural Centre

The Bomas of Kenya is a cultural awareness-creation centre started by the Government in 1971 with the express purpose of preserving, maintaining and promoting the rich diverse cultural values of the country’s multiplicity of ethnic communities. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC) Bomas’s mandate is to preserve the authenticity of the nation’s cultural values and portray them in pure form for educational and entertainment purposes.

Religion

Just as Kenya’s peoples have different cultures so also do they have varied religions, and while Christianity and Islam predominate, there are still many Kenyan peoples who believe in the power of their ancestors, spirits and medicine men and women to influence their lives in very fundamental ways.

Kenya’s Coast Province, perhaps because of the Indian Ocean and proximity to the Arab world, is home to the majority of the country’s Muslim population, followed by the North Eastern and Eastern provinces. Islam is, however, spread throughout the country.

Kenya’s interior is home to the Christians. Catholics are in the majority, followed by several Protestant faiths, chief among them being the Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Seventh Day Adventists, Lutherans, and the Evangelicals.

Brilliant vision for a beautiful country

Kenya’s vision is to become a middle-income industrialised economy by the year 2030 and towards this end the Government has developed a comprehensive blueprint

Going for the Jugular: The Maasai community are famed for their drinking of mixtures of cow’s milk and

blood during ceremonial rites of passage such as circumcision. Here a group of morans are drawing blood

from the jugular vein of a cow. The animal survives the ritual because it is not let to bleed and is cared for

until it recovers and heals.

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called Vision 2030. This blueprint is housed by the Ministry for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030.

The Government is committed to achieving Vision 2030 through a series of planned and well-coordinated initiatives aimed at increasing productivity and ensuring that the living standard of the majority of the population is positively transformed. In this respect Vision 2030 clearly spells out the social, economic and political priorities that the country needs to focus on in order to achieve rapid industrialisation and economic self-reliance within the next 25 to 30 years.

The Government is already putting in place measures to drive this transformation; notable among these being the creation of a favourable investment climate for both local and external entrepreneurs.

Twin Peaks: The two tallest buildings in Kenya and the Eastern African region, Nairobi‘s

International Conference Centre (KICC) in the foregound with its amphitheatre built in the

shape of a traditional African hut. In the background is the hulking Times Tower.

City of the future: An artist’s impression of Nairobi in the next 25 years as

depicted in Kenya’s blueprint for economic transformation called Vision 2030

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In order to realise the goals of Vision 2030, Kenya requires massive investments from both domestic and external sources. The priority areas in the Vision present enormous investment opportunities for both public and private investors. Apart from a visionary political leadership, Kenya has a number of advantages that make it one of the few countries on the African continent most likely to achieve a socio-economic transformation in the near future.

A well-educated, youthful and vibrant population, vast, largely untapped natural resources, enormous investment in infrastructure and a well developed private sector are among the country’s assets.

Small country, big reputation

Although a relatively small country in the world in its geographical extent and

population size, Kenya has often been at the centre of global attention and affairs. Kenya’s prowess in sports, peace-keeping missions and capacity as a safe haven for refugees have positioned the country as a high profile and impactful regional and global player.

In addition, Kenya holds some of the most valuable treasures on the origins and global distribution of various life forms, giving it unique potential to positively contribute to the future of the world and humankind. As a young and vibrant developing nation, Kenya is determined to forge ahead and join the developed post-industrial countries.

Nairobi: Green City in the Sun

Nicknamed the Green City in the Sun, the modern city of Nairobi, with a population of around 4.5 million inhabitants, occupies a unique place in the world, being the only global metropolis with a large wildlife park close to its central business district!

It is also the only city of a developing country that hosts the global headquarters of several United Nations’ specialised agencies.

Its moderate climate, rich history, modern facilities and central location make Nairobi the most ideal starting point for a Kenyan safari adventure.

Situated just 140km south of the Equator, 494km west of the port of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean and 338km east of Lake Victoria, at an altitude of 1,670 metres, Nairobi is not only Kenya’s principal city but also East Africa’s economic and business focal point.

In 1907, the British transferred their colonial administration from Mombasa at the Coast to

Nairobi in the highlands, and since then what was once a small group of huts has been spectacularly transformed into East Africa’s most modern metropolis. Nairobi attained city status in 1950.

Mombasa: Romantic, historic island port

The island town of Mombasa is the main Seagate on the eastern African coastline and is Kenya’s oldest and second largest metropolis. The port city has a rich romantic history, going back over a millennium.

The unrivalled beauty of the Kenyan coastline is a distinctive feature of the country’s tourism industry.

Mombasa, a splendid city, is home to a rich historic civilisation that gave East Africa the Swahili language. Kiswahili is Kenya’s lingua franca and is now spoken across half of Africa. One of the most famous Swahili words that has not only found its way into the English dictionary but also is a brand name for a wide range of products, from perfumes to sport, is safari.

Close to the palm-fringed beaches lies the natural marvel of the coral reef, which runs uninterrupted for close to 500km. The Kenyan Coast teems with various wonders of marine life, mysterious lagoons and creeks that attract exploration.

There are also the mangrove forests and awesome cliffs overhanging some of the beaches. Another great coastal spectacle is the variety of wildlife, especially birds.

Fort Jesus, built by Portuguese adventurers during the 16th Century, is one of the most important historical monuments in the city of Mombasa.

Green City in the Sun: A view of Nairobi’s Central Business District as seen from

nearby Uhuru Park, centre for recreation and national and cultural events

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With such exciting features, together with a wide variety of entertainment, a visit to the Kenyan Coast is a must for the discerning visitor. The experience is truly memorable.

Kisumu: Lively lakeside fishing town

The lively lakeside city of Kisumu, formerly known as Port Florence, is situated along Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater body and only about 80km southeast of Nyang’oma Kogelo, the ancestral home of the father of the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. Kisumu is Kenya’s third largest city.

Located 355km to the west of Nairobi, Kisumu is a thriving, tourist, fishing and commercial city which is steadily positioning itself as the socio-economic hub of Western Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the Great Lakes region.

The surrounding region is rich in culture and history, with many intriguing and historic sites, among them Rusinga Island, the weeping stones and forests of Kakamega, and a variety of wild flora and fauna to be found all the way to Mt Elgon.

For a visitor looking for a warm and tranquil resting place, Kisumu is the ideal place. Kenya Airways, the national airline, and other local carriers, operate daily flights between Nairobi and Kisumu.

The Great Rift Valley

The Great Rift Valley is one of the most awesome and breathtaking natural physical phenomena on earth. Estimated to have formed some 20 million years ago, it is visible from space.

The name Great Rift Valley was coined by the Scottish explorer and geologist

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Takes your breath away: The vegetation on the ground and

clouds above combine to form breathtaking views

Loving and caring: A baby elephant and its

mother take a leisurely walk

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John Walter Gregory in his book The Great Rift Valley (1896).

With its steep and jagged escarpment walls, mountains and flat floor, the Great Rift Valley is one of the most attractive and popular parts of Kenya. It is also among the most agriculturally productive, providing most of Kenya’s wheat, maize and dairy products.

The floor of the valley is at its lowest near Lake Turkana, where there is virtually no distinction between the Great Rift Valley and the surrounding desert. Lake Turkana, which is 400km north of Nairobi, is the largest desert lake in the world.

As it heads south, the Great Rift Valley walls form sheer cliffs rising to 1,900km (6,232ft) at Lake Naivasha, thereafter the valley descends again to 580 metres (1,902 feet) as it approaches the border with Tanzania.

Subterranean movement is still common as the Rift Valley is home to 30 active and semi-active volcanoes and countless hot springs. This string of alkaline lakes and boiling springs includes lakes Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Elementaita, Naivasha, and Magadi in the south.

These lakes are rich in sodium carbonate, which creates an ideal breeding ground for algae. Several species of fish, tilapia in particular, thrive in this environment. As a result, millions of birds flock to these soda lakes to feast on the abundant algae and fish, making these lakes a unique spot for bird watching, the most spectacular being the flamingoes of Lake Nakuru.

Then there is the dramatic Hell’s Gate near Lake Naivasha, a truly awesome natural wonder, with steep and deep walls and a cavernous emptiness dug by nature. The name is deceptive for this is no hell on earth!

Among the Great Rift Valley’s unique features is Lake Turkana. Also known as the Jade Sea for the unique turquoise colour of its waters, it has shores longer than the entire Kenyan Coast.

This lake not only has an abundance of the delicious tropical fresh-water fish, the Tilapia, but also contains the world’s largest crocodile population. Fishing and livestock rearing and agriculture are among the activities within and around the lake.

There are numerous spectacular natural wonders that surround the lake, with fantastic opportunities for the intrepid adventurer.

The Masai Mara: Eighth Wonder of the World

Lying 224km to the south-west of Nairobi, the Masai Mara Game Reserve provides one of nature’s most dramatic and awesome spectacles ever; the annual Great Migration of over a million wildebeest and zebra, teeming from the south to cross the Mara River into the Game Reserve.

The migration, which has come to be known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, takes place between July and September, making this the most ideal time for a classic safari.

The stunning Savannah grasslands with scattered shrubs stretch for as far as the eye can see. They are an endless spectacle of nature’s most creative designs. In the vast landscape can be seen the cheetah, the fastest animal on earth, chasing antelope and gazelle, in the Mara River hippos bathe, and, on the banks, crocodiles sun themselves.

It is in the predator-infested waters of the Mara that thousands of wildebeest, hundreds of zebra, eland and gazelle must fight for their lives in a vast theatre of the jungle’s law of survival of the fittest.

For the nature loving and adventurous visitor, the wildebeest migration is a must-see event. A balloon safari provides an exciting birds’- eye view of this mighty African wilderness.

Pretty in pink: Tens of thousands of flamingo lie in the shores of Lake Nakuru, feeding on algae and creating one of the most spectacular sites in all of nature

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Just a glimpse of Kenya: (From top to bottom)

Wildebeest, the people, Rhino and Zebra

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Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha:

Home of flamingoesAbout 160km west of Nairobi, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, and the thousands of flamingoes that reside in them, together form a bewitching spectacle, beloved of many a local and foreign visitor.

Naivasha is best seen by boat. Within close proximity of Nakuru town and covering an area of 200 square kilometers, Nakuru National Park is undoubtedly a great ornithological wonder of the world.

It is the congregation point of an estimated 100,000 to two million flamingoes and over 400 other species of birds. With the wildlife sanctuary greatly expanded since its creation in 1961, and extensive ecological clean-up of the area, wildlife of a wide variety can now be seen in the park.

Lake Bogoria, to the north of Nakuru, features enticing hot springs, made even more inviting by the sight of fishermen in papyrus boats and the rare greater kudu. Nakuru boasts the rare Rothschild Giraffe and an extraordinary rhino sanctuary.

Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo:

A tale of three parks The arid and semi-arid regions of northern Kenya, framed by volcanic mountain ranges and dotted with lakes, provide a uniquely picturesque holiday for the visitor.

Throughout the region, rare animals such as the reticulated giraffe, oryx, Grevy’s zebra, and long-necked gerenuk abound.

Between the drier northern region and the imposing, densely forested Mt Kenya lies the serrated and beautiful Meru National Park,

home of Elsa the Lioness befriended by Joy and George Adamson and featured in Joy’s book Born Free and film of the same name.

Almost similar in the variety of flora and fauna are the three wildlife reserves of Samburu, Shaba and Buffalo Springs located about 342km to the north of Nairobi along the Uaso Nyiro River.

The Meru National Park is home to the rare species of grazing white rhino. It lies in a semi-arid, open savannah plain broken occasionally by small rugged hills.

Mount Kenya:

Snow and wildlife on the Equator Snow-capped Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest peak, a stunning and challenging destination for adventurous tourists, climbers and trekkers.

Below the mountain’s alpine meadows roam elephant, black rhino, Cape buffalo and antelope. On its lower slopes is Ol Pejeta, a private ranch and rhino sanctuary, and nearby is the famous Mount Kenya Safari Club.

The Aberdare Ranges sport high alpine moorland and primeval aloe forest. Here one can visit the famous Treetops Hotel, where leopards are regular visitors and can be viewed in the act of refreshing themselves. Treetops is renowned because the then Princess Elizabeth visited in 1952, went up Treetops, received word of King Edward VI’s death and came down as Queen.

The Aberdare Ranges were named by Joseph Thomson in 1883 after Lord Aberdare, who was the then president of the Royal Geographical Society. Lying in these mountains, this park covers an area of 770 square kilometres.

A tantalising mixture of mountain rain forest, moorland, thick bamboo forests and sub-alpine plants make up the vegetation in this park. Giant heath and tussock grass cover the moorlands, which are crossed by wandering trout-inhabited streams that, in some places, cascade into scenic waterfalls and rapids.

Amboseli:

Expansive pride of the Maasai The imposing, ever-present view of Kilimanjaro provides the main background feature for this unique wildlife habitat situated some 260km south of Nairobi. The Amboseli has some of Kenya’s largest herds of elephants. Hemingway once wrote of the Amboseli as “the essence of Africa”, where elephants rummage in the lower forests, leopards prowl the salt flats while antelope graze the expansive grasslands; all these against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro’s majestic peak. Few natural scenes in the world are more inspiring.

Apart from the patches of acacia forest, the Amboseli grasslands are dotted with shrubs and fragile saline grass. The dry volcanic ash can support little more.

The melting snows of Kilimanjaro feed rivers and springs that supply water to the swamps and the Amboseli, which

Rising to the heavens: The hot springs of Lake

Bogoria in the Rift Valley

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is usually completely dry. Occasional flooding of the rivers occurs during rainy seasons.

A wide variety of wildlife that include antelope, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, elephant, rhino and buffalo, the predatory lion, the cheetah and occasionally the elusive and secretive leopard are attracted to these rivers and swamps.

As much a part of the Amboseli landscape are the Maasai people who graze their cattle here. Amboseli is home of the colourful and iconic Maasai, with their rich and proud cultural heritage.

Amboseli National Park was in 1991 declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. It has some 380 bird species, over 56 animal species and an elephant population that has been studied for more than two decades.

Tsavo East and West:World’s largest game sanctuary

The entire Tsavo ecosystem, about 333km to the east of Nairobi, is possibly the world’s biggest game sanctuary. It is an expansive model wildlife sanctuary in terms of geographical and ecological features, with a great variety of plant and animal life. The Tsavo is situated halfway between Nairobi and Mombasa.

The two adjacent sprawling animal parks are ideal for visitors who wish to include both wildlife safari and coastal luxury on their itinerary. Sunsets in the Tsavo offer a peculiar display, filling the sky with an incredibly beautiful spectrum of colour and splendour. In Tsavo East roam red elephants, so-called because of the colour of the rich volcanic soil that they throw over their bodies with their trunks to diminish the effects of the tropical sun.

The Tsavos have the world’s largest and most important concentration of elephants, with a population estimated at more than 20,000.

Peacemaker: Kenya’s esteemed place on world map

Kenya continues to play important roles on the international scene. Over the years, this country has been a regional peacemaker. Peace talks to end internal and external conflicts in various African countries have been held in Nairobi, with Kenya playing a vital mediation role. Peace talks on the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi have been hosted by Kenya.

As a result of its engagement in numerous efforts to end conflicts around the world, Kenya has gained a reputation as a peace-loving nation. Whenever the international community seeks a suitable place in which

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and insecure because of its horn, and the Buffalo,

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to hold talks on matters ranging from war to climate change, Kenya is often among the countries considered.

Visits by world leaders Prominent world leaders have been to Kenya on various occasions to attend both regional and global events or simply on holiday. In November 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was in Kenya to help broker peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kenyan soldiers and police officers have served in numerous peace-keeping missions on the African continent and around the world.

Under the aegis of the United Nations, Kenya has sent peacekeeping forces to Bosnia, Namibia and Sierra Leone. During the past four decades, Kenya has initiated, guided and hosted peace talks for troubled African countries, starting with Angola, during the

rule of this country’s internationally respected first President, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. More recently, Kenya has also spearheaded successful peace processes for the Sudan and Somalia under the leadership of former President Daniel Moi and current President Mwai Kibaki.

The United Nations in Nairobi

Nairobi is the only city in the developing world that hosts global headquarters for a number of United Nations specialised agencies.

It is the world headquarters of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN Habitat). It is also the regional headquarters for Africa of several other UN bodies. Kenya has been a full and committed member of the United Nations Organisation since Independence in 1963.

Son of Kenya: Barack Obama, then the Senator from Illinois, now the 44th President of the United States,

chats with elders in Nyang’oma Kogelo Village during his visit to Kenya in August 2006. Kogelo is the

ancestral village of the President’s father, the late Barack Obama Snr. Below: Obama is escorted into the

Standard Media Group’s offices in Nairobi in 2006.

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Rich and diverse heritage

From the pre-historic times of the evolution of humankind through the eras of slavery, voyages of discovery and colonisation to the modern post-Independence period, Kenya has always occupied a unique place in human development.

In fact, Kenya and the East African region are often referred to as the Cradle of Mankind due to the discovery by world-renowned palaeontologists of pre-historic remains of the ancestors of modern homo sapiens.

The Museums of Kenya, rich with all forms of heritage, are among the most interesting places to visit for a view of the development of humankind and African culture.

Melting pot of cultures

Inhabited by different races and a total of 42 ethnic communities with varying historical and cultural backgrounds, Kenya is a prime example of harmony in diversity, a true melting-pot of religions, races and cultures.

The majority of its people are black Africans from different linguistic and cultural stocks, with migrant minorities of Middle Eastern, European (Caucasian) and Asian extraction. More than 40 different languages are spoken in Kenya. Swahili (a mixture of Arabic and local vernacular languages) and English are the national and official languages

respectively as well as the most widely spoken.

Dominating distance athletics

Kenya is a global giant in long-distance athletics, having produced a long line of world class runners since 1968. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Kenya led Africa with a record harvest of 8 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze medals. Kenyan athletes have won almost every known city marathon or road race in the world.

Track sensation Pamela Jelimo won not only an Olympic gold medal in her 800m specialty in Beijing, but also scooped the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) US$1 million Golden League Jackpot.

Kenya is now also one of the top swimming nations in Africa, with several continental titles. Other major sports in the country include football (most popular), sport-shooting, sailing, motor rallying (the world famous Safari Rally), horse racing, golf, boxing and angling.

Conferencing in Kenya

Many important regional and global meetings and forums are often held in Nairobi. They include the UN Conference on Climate Change in 2006, the UN Women’s Decade Meeting in 1985 and the joint World Bank/IMF Meeting in Nairobi in 1975. There was also the UNCTAD conference in 1979.

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Tower, ceremonial dress and warrior dance: (From top to bottom) The Kenyatta

International Conference Centre, a warrior and the postcard Maasai jump

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The power and

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Conference facilities in Kenya include the famous Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. Various regional and global meetings take place in Kenya on a regular basis since it is the main organisational and communications hub in the entire eastern Africa region.

There are sufficient world-class conference facilities, excellent accommodation, entertainment and diverse cuisine in all the major cities and within the wildlife parks.

Centre for international media

Many major international media organisations and news agencies have their Africa regional offices based in Nairobi.

From the Kenyan capital, which enjoys excellent communication with the rest of the world, media representatives from around the world can cover events and transmit news across continents.

The local media are among the most vibrant and diversified in the developing world. Media freedom is guaranteed in the Constitution. The Nation Media Group is the largest in eastern and Central Africa, with the Daily Nation and its sister publication the Sunday Nation being by far the most widely read daily and Sunday newspapers in the region.

Parks of the Big Five

The famous Big Five wild animals, the elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo, are all found in Kenya’s national parks and game reserves.

The lion is known for its strength and power, speed and stealth, attributes that make it a menacing predator and which have given it the deserved nickname of King of the Jungle.

The rhino is a one-tonne creature, with a pair of horns for which it is hunted by poachers. It is often found alone or in small groups.

The leopard is also a solitary animal but its strength is such that it can haul its prey vertically up a tree. It is also known for speed, stealth and surprise.

The buffalo has a fierce temper and will fearlessly stand up to the lion. Lions prey on buffalo, the reason why the two are mortal enemies.

Elephants move in a herd and, like buffalo, keep the calves in the middle of the group, a strategy designed to fend off predators. It is this unique behaviour of these animals that make them a joy to watch.

Best tea, coffee and flowers

Kenya produces the best tea, coffee and cut flowers in the world.

As a leading producer and global exporter of very high quality aromatic Arabica coffee and excellent brown teas, Kenya is well-placed to supply large quantities of the popular beverages to any market around the world.

Home of the Big Five: Some of the world’s most amazing wildlife has its

natural home in Kenya, including, from top, the King of the jungle, the lion,

the seemingly armour-plated rhino, the treeclimbing leopard, the often

angry buffalo and the gentle-giant elephant, the largest land-based animal

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Kenya is the leading exporter of cut flowers in the world. Its flowers are renowned, particularly in the large European Union market, for their freshness and beauty. A wide variety of juicy tropical and temperate fruits and vegetables are also produced in Kenya for both domestic consumption and export.

Art and film out of Kenya

As a filming destination, Kenya has few equals, with spectacular landscapes and a wide variety of flora and fauna, natural light (more than 200 days of sunlight annually), a pool of talent and some of the world’s most warm-hearted and hospitable peoples.

The spectacular landscape of Kenya has featured in many internationally acclaimed films, notable among them being King Solomon’s Mines, made in the 1950s,

Sydney Pollack’s multiple Oscar-winning Out of Africa, The Constant Gardener, White Mischief, Born Free, The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, Tomb Raider, Cradle of Life, Walk With the Lions were all shot in Kenya.

Kenyan filmmakers, with the Kenya Film Commission, are making their presence felt on the international stage.

The city of Nairobi teems with art galleries, among them Gallery Watatu, Ramoma, African Heritage and Elimo Njau’s Paa Ya Paa, all with global name recognition.

Theatre is popular in Kenya, which has witnessed a major recent revival of the Kenya National Theatre to the accompaniment of a resurgence of local plays and programming on all leading television channels in the country.

Visitors to Kenya are able to enjoy numerous plays and cultural events, especially the popular Kenya School and College Drama Festivals that takes place every year.

Curios and curiosity

The best and most popular wood carvings depicting the country’s rich wildlife and cultural heritage are on sale in almost all major towns countrywide.

Some of the most exquisite carvings are made from Kisii soapstone, a unique natural stone that lends itself well to the mallet and chisel.

Kenya is also renowned worldwide for its handmade traditional baskets known as kiondo or chiondos from various materials, including sisal fibre, reeds and grass.

World class beers

Kenyan beers, especially the Tusker, Tusker Malt, White Cap and Pilsner brands, have won awards at the International Monde Selection for their excellent taste, high quality and purity.

Coming to a cottage near you: An elephant march

past parade in a resort in the Taita Hills

Curios and curiosity: Exquisite handmade baskets

and wood carvings depict Kenya’s rich heritage

Tip-top tipples: Kenya’s beers have won many

internationally recognised awards

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Tusker Lager, which embodies Kenya’s great heritage, has found its place along other world popular beers, especially in America and Europe.

Nobel for noble cause

Kenya’s first Nobel laureate (Peace, 2004), Professor Wangari Maathai, was so honoured because of her relentless crusading for the environment.

The country hosts the global headquarters of UNEP, and in Prof Maathai has the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a Member of Parliament and assistant minister for the environment and natural resources in 2003-2007.

United we share power

Kenya was the first country in Africa to succeed in reaching a power-sharing agreement between the government and the opposition after a disputed General Election, in December 2007.

The power-sharing agreement and the resultant Coalition Government have become models for Africa and enhanced Kenya’s reputation as a politically stable country in a turbulent continent.

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Swords into ploughshares: President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga (seated) sign the National Peace Accord on

February 28, 2008, ending the post-election violence. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (white-haired) and other dignitaries look on`.

Prof Wangari Maathai

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The Grand Coalition Government also underscored the undying desire of Kenyans for peace and security and an environment that enables them to thrive in business.

Investing in education

In preparation for Kenya’s transformation in line with its economic blueprint, the Government introduced free primary and secondary school education in 2003 and 2008 respectively.

Kenya has 26 universities, some of which are branches or affiliates of well-known European, American, Australian and other centres of learning around the world.

In almost every field of endeavour, Kenya has a well-focused, highly skilled and hard-working pool of talent.

Kenya also has the world’s oldest primary school pupil, Kimani Maruge, whose unique feat won him an invitation to UN Headquarters in New York and made him a permanent feature at National Day events besides being entered in the Guinness Book of World Records. He died in August 2009, aged 90.

Investment opportunities in Kenya

Kenya is East Africa’s leading economy, stable and vibrant, with considerable growth spurred by several key factors.

It is more than double the size of Uganda’s economy, US$60 billion.

Kenya prides itself on having a well-educated and skilled human resource, an effective and well-managed port which serves as gateway to the East and Central African hinterland.

Kenya has a robust tourism sector stimulated by a range of wildlife and a vast coastline of white sand beaches. There are beckoning world class tourist hotels managed by a proficient and hospitable staff.

The hospitality of the Kenyan people is legendary

Kenya has a stable government committed to implementing business reforms and providing an enabling environment and attractive investment incentives for foreign investors.

The elimination of bureaucratic red tape in business licensing and registration procedures, enacted a few years ago, has given the country the impetus to improve her positioning in Doing Business (DOB), ranking globally from 83 in 2006 to 72 in 2007.

A superb infrastructural paradigm with a well- maintained road and rail network and modern

airports provides investment opportunities and facilitates enterprise.

Kenya’s strategic location in the heart of eastern Africa offers a pivotal transport link, a regional conveyance hub where several international airlines make frequent stopovers to drop and pick up transit cargo and passengers.

Kenya has two major international airports – the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and the Moi International Airport in Mombasa – which together handle over 15 million passengers yearly.

The Kisumu and Eldoret airports are currently being upgraded to international status.

Both JKIA and Moi serve as a fundamental link and transport artery for landlocked countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The opening up of the Southern Sudan trade market after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) with the Arab-dominated north in 2004, ending

20 years of civil war, broadened Kenya’s bazaar spectrum for goods ranging from manufacturing commodities to foodstuffs.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) passed by the US Government granting duty-free entry to its markets for exports from Kenya in 2000 and its subsequent extension to 2015 offered Kenya a chance to increase her exports, mainly textiles and apparels. The Eighth AGOA Forum was held in Kenya in August 2009

There has also been increased investment in ICT and mobile telephony services, hence strategising the country as an important Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) hub.

The Kenya Government lays emphasis on the development of ICT, and therefore enacted a telecommunication policy in 1997 that underscored the desire to have a well- developed communications network by 2015.

The policy aims to bring down communication costs, improve accessibility and create jobs by positioning the country as a regional ICT outsourcing focal point.

Drumbeat: A Chuka troupe from Eastern

Province drums to thrill

Beachside barbeque: Dining by the

Indian Ocean, Kenyan style

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Port

The port of Mombasa is Kenya’s only deep-sea port and freight gateway for half-a- dozen nations in East and Central Africa, a market for over 130 million people.

To serve this expansive and increasingly demanding hinterland, the port is involved in a major modernisation programme that will see it become one of the world’s top 20 gateways in terms of reputation and performance by 2010.

The port’s advantageous location in the centre of the East African coastline makes it an excellent export base and many goods are exempt from import duties, Kenya being a signatory to several international Customs agreements.

To be compliant with global privatisation initiatives, the Mombasa port is being prepared for transformation into a landlord port authority, with most of the cargo handling and complementary services being opened up to the private sector.

Airports

The unprecedented growth in aviation fuelled by tourism and horticultural exports has enabled the Kenya Airports Authority’s (KAA) flagship brand, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to develop into a regional hub served by more than 33 airlines.

JKIA continues to record an impressive growth in passenger and freight numbers due to its efficiency and modern facilities.

To address challenges of the ever increasing and changing priorities in the global air

transport sector, JKIA is undergoing a major and deserving rehabilitation programme to expand and equip it with state-of-the-art modern passenger and cargo handling facilities.

The construction of aprons linking taxiways with associated airside roads, the expansion of terminals to a total floor area of 15,700sq kms and the renovation of passenger terminal buildings which, once completed, will be able to comfortably accommodate 9 million passengers, is ongoing.

KQ

Kenya Airways, otherwise referred to as The Pride of Africa, is the country’s national flag carrier and continues to buoy up spirits in the transport sector.

It is a shining example of how privatisation can work miracles in a former State-dominated air transport economy.

KQ operates to over 48 destinations in 39 countries throughout the world and has an expansive fleet of 26 aircraft – 23 Boeing planes and 3 Embraer 170 jets.

Since its transformation into semi-autonomous status, KQ has continued to document record results, with soaring profits complemented by great industry awards.

KQ won the COYA (Company of the Year) top awards for strategic planning and emergency preparedness in 2008, as well as the African Airline of Choice, Best Regional Airline, Best Frequent Flier Programme and its magazine – Msafiri – Best In-flight Magazine.

In 2007 the national flag carrier won the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) award for Excellence for In-house Publication Msafiri, the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) and Ektron All-Star Win – Best Travel Site.

Other awards won by KQ in 2006 were East Africa’s Most Respected Company and the prestigious African Aviation Award.

The airline was also voted East Africa’s Most Respected Company in 2005.

In 2004, KQ scooped a triple win as Best Domestic Airline 2003, Best Regional Airline 2002 and 2003 and Best In-flight Magazine 2002 and 2003 awarded by Travel News & Lifestyle magazine.

In 2001 KQ was voted Best User of Information Technology in Kenya by the Computer Society of Kenya as well as named African Airline of the Year for the third year running by African Aviation magazine, among others.

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Exports

Kenya’s export commodities are top-notch goods on the world market. They are exported to the European Union (EU), the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), US and Asian markets.

Kenya’s exports are essentially agricultural. Agriculture is a sector that generates 28 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with its lead export commodities being tea, coffee, horticultural products, textiles and fish.

Tea

Kenya is the world’s third largest producer and leading exporter of black tea.

The world over, Kenya tea has won international acclaim for its consistent high quality and delightful aroma.

Kenya tea, mostly referred to as Kenya’s green gold, has long been considered and marketed as a health enhancing beverage. Kenya teas are famous for their distinct taste and flavour.

Tea was the Kenya’s third leading foreign exchange earner in 2007.

As a natural drink without additives and preservatives, it has over the years dominated the world market because of its natural ingredients and taste.

In some countries, Kenyan tea is boiled and drunk to cure fevers due to its herbal constituent.

The main tea growing districts are situated in or around the highland areas on either side of the Great Rift Valley at altitudes

ranging from 1,500 to 2,700m above sea level.

The tea leaves come from the upper two leaves and a bud plucked from the tea bushes. Tea bushes are plucked in a regular cycle ranging from 7 to 14 days to maintain the quality of the product.

Horticulture products

Kenya’s horticultural products have accounted for two-thirds of all growth in agricultural exports and have surpassed coffee to become the second largest export commodity, after tea.

Kenya is the second largest horticultural exporter in sub-Saharan Africa and the second largest developing-country exporter of flowers in the world.

It is also the second largest developing-country supplier of vegetables to the European Union.

The horticulture sub-sector has grown tremendously in the last decade to become a major foreign exchange earner, employer and contributor to food needs in the country.

The industry is currently the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector in the country, ranked third in terms of foreign exchange earnings from exports after tourism and tea.

Fruits, vegetables and cut-flower production are the main pillars of horticultural production in Kenya.

The sub-sector generates over US$300 million in foreign exchange earnings.

Europe is the main market for Kenyan fresh horticultural produce, with the main importing

Pick of choice: Kenya produces the best tea in the world and

Kenyans proudly declare that any time is tea time

Saying it with flowers: Kenya has a flourishing

flower industry and the best flowers in the world

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countries being the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland and Italy.

Other importing countries include Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

A well developed and dynamic private sector has profitably marketed a wide range of horticultural products to diverse international markets.

Government intervention in this area has mainly been facilitating the sector’s growth through infrastructure development, incentives and support services.

Structural and macroeconomic reforms, plus the introduction of a more liberal trading environment, has also provided a major boost to the country’s horticultural prospects.

Coffee

Kenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Coffee was Kenya’s third leading export commodity in 2007.

Kenya’s coffee is popular for its intense flavour, full body, pleasant aroma and fragrance.

It has a distinctly bright acidity and potent sweetness with a dry winy aftertaste. There is also the intoxicating black-currant flavour and aroma of Kenya’s famed “black gold” coffee.

Kenya’s coffee industry is estimated to employ over six million Kenyans directly or indirectly.

The major coffee-growing regions in Kenya are the high plateaus around Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares range, Kisii, Nyanza, Bungoma, Nakuru and Kericho.

The high plateaus of Mt Kenya, plus the acidic soil, provide excellent conditions for growing coffee plants. Coffee from Kenya is well known for its intense flavour, robustness, and pleasant aroma.

AA coffee, a type that is much-fancied in the world market as the best, is actually Kenyan coffee. All Kenyan coffee is graded after it is milled.

Beans with a screen size of 17 or 18 are assigned the grade AA, generally the largest bean and the best. The large bean size is considered as quality and is the pride of Kenyan farmers.

Fish Exports

Kenya’s fish exports are among the best quality on the world market.

Fish exports to the European Union (EU) market started in the early 1980s, when fish processing factories commenced work around the Lake Victoria region.

The total annual production of fish in Kenya is approximately 180,000 metric tons, with about 92% coming from Lake Victoria.

Other sources of fish exports are from the Indian Ocean, inland lakes, rivers and aquaculture.

Nile Perch, which constitutes about 50% of the fish caught in Kenya, is the main export type, earning more than US$50 million annually.

There are also other commercially important species in the domestic market such as the small sardine fish dagaa and tilapia.

Smell the coffee: A powerhouse of the coffee world,

Kenya produces the best coffee in the world

Check my catch: Kenya’s fish exports to Europe

compare favourably with other products

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Ten of the 18 fish-processing and exporting firms in Kenya specialise in Nile Perch products while seven handle marine products such as shrimp, crustaceans and tuna.

Nile Perch exports from Kenya to the European Union market have increased tremendously since 2000.

Kenya in COMESA

Kenya has been a vibrant member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), established in 1994 effectively replacing the Preferential Trade Act (PTA).

COMESA seeks to attain economic prosperity through regional integration, where Kenya has been instrumental in influencing the joining of the Common External Tariff (CET) rates with those of the East African Community.

Kenya successfully influenced the reduction of the differences from over 2,500 to 1,078 tariff lines by August 2008 – which translates into a success rate of 43.12%.

As a principal member of COMESA, Kenya is poised to convince the other member-states on the rationale for going along with the EAC tariff structure on a line-by–line basis.

These are likely to reduce the less than 1,000 tariff lines once the exercise of the tariff splits and further negotiations are finalised.

COMESA’s Common Tariff Nomenclature (CTN) has approximately 5,000 tariff lines.

Kenya in IGAD

Kenya has played a leading role in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in eastern Africa since its inception in 1996 to supersede the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD).

IGADD was founded in 1986 to come up with measures to combat the recurring severe droughts and other natural disasters in the Horn of Africa region.

In 1983 and 1984, Kenya spearheaded six countries in the Horn of Africa – Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda – to take action through the United Nations to establish an intergovernmental body for development and drought control in their region.

IGAD has however diversified its activities to include conflict resolution in the region, with Kenya brokering most of the peace talks and signing of peace accords between warring nations and factions.

Such was the role played by Kenya in talks which led to the signing of the Sudan peace accord between the Arab-dominated government of the North and the Southern Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in 2004.

Kenya also brokered the Somali peace process involving the warring factions, resulting in the formation of the Somali

Transitional National Government (TNG), which has since been replaced.

Kenya, under the auspices of IGAD, has subsequently chaired numerous intergovernmental ministerial committee meetings whose outcome has been lasting solutions to territorial disputes and conflicts within the Horn of Africa region.

Kenya hosts the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Secretariat as well as the Regional Centre for Small Arms, which seeks to control and eradicate the proliferation of illicit arms within the East and Central African region.

Private sector

The liberalisation of Kenya’s economy and efforts by the Government to improve the business environment have indeed been the proverbial stitch in time that saves nine to bolster investment and create opportunities in the country.

Investment incentives to potential investors under the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) package have offered the requisite thrust to private investment.

The rationalization of business licenses and reduction of business registration procedures have been a stimulus to a vibrant private sector involvement in business ventures.

Kenya is endowed with a heavy presence of financial, manufacturing and agricultural multinational companies doing lucrative business.

Remove the entire caption and replace it with the following, Presidents (from Left) H.E Yoweri Museveni, H.E Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), H.E Paul Kagame (Rwanda)

and H.E Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) during the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite High-level Conference on the North and South Corridor at Mulungushi International

Conferenced Centre, Lusaka.

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Over 100 multinational firms from the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Africa and other parts of the world operate business here.

Barclays Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and mobile service provider Vodafone – all from the United Kingdom – are among top-notch multinationals doing business in Kenya.

Also doing business in Kenya is global shoe company Bata, headquartered in Canada. Beirsdorf, the German chemical manufacturer and producer of Nivea skin products, is well established and operational here.

The British American Tobacco (BAT) Company and Cadbury’s, the food manufacturer, are among many others operating in Kenya.

Kenya’s service sector is currently the highest contributor to GDP, at 55% against agriculture’s 28%. The industrial sector contributes around 17% to GDP.

Fibre-optic

Kenya’s focus in transforming its economy from agriculture-anchored to technology-propelled is in top gear as the high-speed Internet bandwidth expected to reduce telecommunications costs by at least 60% becomes operational by 2010.

There are great expectations and the Government is optimistic that the landing of the fibre-optic cable will thrust Kenya into a regional IT powerhouse by creating jobs within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry once the cable is linked.

Service-sector jobs as diverse as call centre agencies, data processing, software programming and other IT-related businesses are what Kenya hopes to achieve by the end of 2009.

The establishment of contact centres services both in the rural and urban areas for general inquiries and digitisation of millions of documents and records in Government and ministries agencies is the relief Kenya will afford once connected.

Kenya will soon be a call centre destination, create abundant jobs and accelerate economic growth. The process will also promote competition in the ICT sector and encourage Research and Development.

In this paradigm shift, the Government has taken the lead role in leveraging, investing and supporting both local and foreign ICT investors.

In 2006, a national ICT policy was launched and in 2007 the ICT Strategy for Economic Growth was operationalised.

To ensure the success of this venture, the Government has adopted a three-pronged approach in undersea cable prospects.

Priority has been given to the East African Marine System (TEAMS), a cable which will connect Africa to Fujairah in the UAE.

Under the TEAMS agreement, the Kenya Government has a 40% holding in the project, Etisalat of UAE 20% and the remaining 40% is with other investors in the East African region.

The East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) is an initiative aimed at constructing and operating a submarine fibre-optic cable along the East African Coast.

EASSy hopes to connect nine coastal countries and island nations to the rest of the world.

A technology savvy Kenya is optimistic about going places and turning itself into a regional ICT hub and premier BPO location in Africa.

Already, the SEACOM fibre-optic cable has been laid up to Mombasa, signalling the onset of a whole new era in the telecommunications industry.

The project cost is estimated at US$700m upon completion and could soon end the over-reliance on satellite-based data solutions blamed for the high cost of communications in the region.

Local companies that will buy bandwidth from SEACOM have already laid the groundwork to ensure they start business as soon as the cable becomes operational in 2009.

These companies intend to resell the extended bandwidth to users both corporate and individual.

Telecommunications costs are expected to go down by 60% and high-speed data solutions, especially Internet, are expected with the increased bandwidth.

Top: President Mwai Kibaki outgoing COMESA chairman receives President Ismail Guella of Djibouti for the

regional COMESA Head of states meeting in Zimbabwe. Below: Kibaki admires the Victoria falls

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SEACOM is a fully-funded private sector project with most of the ownership in the hands of African entrepreneurs. Construction of the cable station in Kenya is already complete.

Move towards investments

The Government has progressively moved to introduce a number of investment incentives in both the industrial and agricultural sectors.

These incentives are designed to promote investment, employment, product mix, add value and boost national economic growth.

By launching these measures, the Government hopes to enhance business partnership and investments through offering excellent and attractive concessions to investors.

In this regard, the Government offers 100 per cent investment allowance and a Duty and

VAT exemption on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be used in both agricultural and industrial development.

Export Processing Zones (EPZ) have been created. This is a scheme that is managed by the EPZ Authority and promotes export- oriented industrial investment within designated areas.

Through EPZ investors enjoy attractive fiscal incentives with simplified operational procedures and a superior infrastructure.

The managing authority also gives excellent facilitation and after-care service to new and existing investors to assure them of lower operational costs, faster set up and smoother operations.

Fiscal incentives calculated to stabilise investor ego and comfort are also on the cards, e.g. a 10-year tax-free holiday, Duty and VAT exemption, single business licence,

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Roads for prosperity: Government lays great emphasis on

development of infrastructure to spur growth

Telecommunications: Information Technology is at

the core of government’s development plans

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exemption from Stamp Duty, exemption from Withholding Tax and 25% Corporate Tax for 10 years after the first 10 years expire.

Investors also get Duty remission by being exempted from duties and VAT on raw materials utilized to process confirmed exports orders.

They can also enjoy a loss-carry-forward package by being given a grace period for their businesses to recover previous losses before paying Corporate Tax.

On capital expenditure, an investor is allowed to recover from Corporate Tax duties paid for capital expenditure in excess of US$70,000. Capital goods and other basic raw materials have been zero-rated.

The Government also gives lavish incentives for those interested in investing in tourism-related activities.

Investors interested in building tourist hotels can apply for a waiver on duties and VAT while foreigners in the tourism business are allowed to bring in cars for personal use Duty Free.

100% investment allowance for new investments in manufacturing and tourist hotels is offered while there is 25% Corporate Tax for companies issuing Initial Public Offers on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.

Investors wanting to trade in computers and other IT-related materials are allowed to import their merchandise Duty Free.

For investors in the export business, there is unrestricted entry for Kenyan goods into the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and access to the COMESA market serving 400 million people.

The East African Community (EAC) market of 80 million is also accessible for Kenyan products while the Lome-Cotonou Agreement offers access to the European Union market.

There is also access to other markets in Europe, the US and Japan, under the GSP, for many other Kenyan products.

On taxation and investment protection agreements, Kenya has concluded agreements with the EU, Germany, India, Belgium and Switzerland, while other earlier agreements are being revised and renegotiated.

Kenya has an excellent network of banks, insurance, transport, professional services legal, engineering, human resources with advanced skills, international languages, and research institutions to provide support for business infrastructure.

The country prides itself on having a well- developed professional services sector with some multinational professional companies

Opportunities for investment: Kenya’s Export

Processing Zone is home to thriving textile industry

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such as KPMG and E&Y having regional offices in Nairobi.

There are plentiful reliable insurance companies and banks ready to cater for investors needs.

Airport Expansion

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is one of the busiest in Africa, serving as a major hub in East and Central Africa for cargo and tourist passengers.

Cargo handled at the airport increased from 192,300t in 2004 to 220,900t in 2005.

To tackle the rapid upsurge and effectively

handle global air transport challenges, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has embarked on an expansion programme to improve facilities in JKIA and other vital airport links across Kenya.

When JKIA was first opened in 1978 it had been designed for a maximum capacity of 2.5 million passengers a year. In 2006 the airport handled in excess of 4.4 million passengers.

KAA declared their intention to expand and improve JKIA to make it a premier regional focal point in East and Central Africa in December 2005.

A Canadian-Kenyan consortium led by Queen’s Quay Architects International Inc

(Q2) and including Mueller International Inc (Sypher) won the consulting contract for the renovation and forecast expansion requirements for JKIA.

The expansion project was valued at $115m and part of the cost is intended to be provided out of revenues and World Bank funding (10%).

The expansion project targets to double the current size of JKIA from 25,662m² to 55,222m² with the new Terminal 4 building.

Aircraft parking will be improved by an increase in apron space from 200,000m² to over 300,000m², as well as additional taxiways.

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International Airport will look like when ongoing expansion

is completed. Inset is the Eldoret International Airport

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The arrivals and departures sections will be separated for increased security.

The expansion project has been divided into three phases to avoid disruption of the airport’s operations.

In subsequent phases the airport is set to have a new parking lot to accommodate 1,500 cars, airfield lighting, apron floodlights and the parking stands will be increased to accommodate 43 aircraft from the current 23.

Projections indicate that by 2024 JKIA will be handling over nine million passengers yearly.

Currently the JKIA terminal has three sections catering for both arrivals and departures.

Sections One and Two are used for international flights and Section Three is used for domestic flights.

Check-in occurs through sections One and Two, depending on destination and all the check-in counters operate on a CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equipment) system.

There are eight gates in the departures area and the aircraft are boarded via boarding bridges.

International arrivals disembark via the same gates into the A concourse, which leads to the Immigration counters on the first floor before they are directed to the baggage hall on the ground floor.

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Top of the world: Golden Girl Pamela Jelimo wins

the Women’s 800m race at the Beijing Olympiad

closely followed by Janeth Jepkosgei in an

electrifying 1-2 finish that enthralled the world.

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Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) and signage are in place to assist the passengers finding their way around the airport.

The Moi International Airport Mombasa and the Kisumu Airport are also undergoing expansion.

Home of world achievers

Kenyans are a resilient, proud, innovative and hardworking people. Global surveys conducted by the BBC in 2002 and 2006 ranked Kenyans among the most optimistic people in the world. A strong sense of national belonging and excellent international linkages give Kenyans great advantage in seeking excellence.

Kenya proudly boasts some of the best and brightest in diverse fields, including writers, technologists, technicians, scientists, researchers, poets, palaeontologists, musicians, lawyers, athletes, artists, and academics, among other disciplines, around the world.

They are a source of inspiration to many locally and globally. Sample a few:

Prof Wangari Maathai

Undoubtedly one of the most recognisable Kenyan faces around the world. She is a top celebrity as Kenya’s first Nobel Peace Prize laureate, (and so far the only African woman to win the coveted award), for her work for the environment.

A long-time academic who taught veterinary anatomy at the University of Nairobi, she was the first Kenyan woman to obtain a PhD, become a lecturer and then a professor in any field of academic study. Maathai was a Member of Parliament and an assistant minister for the environment and natural resources between 2003 and 2007. She has won 20 international awards since 1983.

Prof Miriam Were

Another internationally celebrated Kenyan and a former chairperson of the National AIDS Control Council (NACC) that coordinates Kenya’s HIV/AIDS response, Were has served in several UN bodies, including the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

A highly regarded chemist, biologist and medical doctor, with a string of qualifications in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in the USA, she taught medicine at the University of Nairobi before taking up international assignments. Were won the UNICEF Maurice Pate Award for her work in community health in 1978 and in 2008 won the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for her work in medical services.

Kipchoge Keino

He won Kenya’s first gold medal at the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968. Keino won the 1500 metres race and put Kenya firmly on the global sporting map as home of the long distance runners. He repeated this feat in Munich, Germany, by winning another gold medal for Kenya in the 3000 metres steeple chase race in 1972 and, once again, set Kenya on the road to claiming this race as its specialty.

In 1965, Keino became the first Kenyan to win the 1500 metres and 5000 meters respectively at the All-Africa Games held in Brazzaville, Congo. He was crowned Sportsman of the Year in 1987 and characterised among Athletes Who Care (for his work with orphans) by the well-known Sports Illustrated magazine.

In 1996 Keino was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

Michael Werikhe

When he visited Kenya in 2006 as Illinois Senator, President Barack Obama was gifted a rhino carving by the Standard Group media house. Smiling, Obama said the rhino is a stubborn animal. Perhaps that is one reason the rhino still graces Kenya’s wild, but could there be another reason?

Yes. Before Wangari Maathai became Kenya’s best known campaigning ‘green’, there was the world famous walker for the preservation of the rhino – Michael Sampson Werikhe.

‘The Rhino Man’, to media and conservationists around the world, Werikhe became famous through his long fund-raising walks. He began his first walk in December 1982 from Mombasa to Nairobi, a distance of about 500 kilometres. In 1985, he walked from Kampala to Dar-es-Salaam and to Mombasa.

Werikhe took his campaign to Europe in 1988 and to the United States in 1991. In 1993 he was in Taiwan, a consumer nation of rhino horns. Werikhe won 10 international awards for his efforts. August 9 marks the anniversary of Werikhe’s passing – the death of a brilliant conservationist.

Pamela Jelimo

Is the first African woman to win the US$1 million jackpot of the International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF), in 2008. Jelimo is also the first Kenyan woman to win the 800-metre Olympic gold (at the Beijing Olympiad in 2008).

Before exploding into fame, Jelimo had won the junior national 400 metres title in 2007 at the age of 17 and also set a junior

Michael Werikhe

Richard Matelong

Kipchoge Keino

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Inspirational Pamela embodies the determination of the Kenyan youth poised to take their place in national and international affairs.

A Thrilling Combination of Pleasure and Business

The Tusker Safari Sevens

The Tusker Safari Sevens is all about fast-paced rugby made in Kenya, a real sporting thriller that provides entertainment for the whole family and burgeoning business opportunities in advertising.

Since its inception in 1996, the tournament has grown expotentially and is no longer just an occasion for diehard rugby lovers, but a weekend where most of Nairobi and its environs buzz with activity in what has turned out to be a landmark event in the Kenyan sporting calendar.

The first tournament was played by 20 teams from 12 countries that had not qualified for the 1995 Rugby World Cup and, in just three years, had secured the viewership rights of African media giants Supersport — a

great achievement for Kenya, as for the first time, our teams and country were being showcased to the whole world.

With the tournament now getting the much-needed publicity, it was time to expand and introduce the Safari Village, where all the merchandising and entertainment were to take place, making the tournament an occasion for the whole family. Rugby now had another avenue to introduce young lads and lasses to what had been deemed a macho, if elite rowdies’, game.

The tournament organisers were not going to settle for the young just watching the sport from the stands, as in 2001, it was expanded to include the schools’ and veterans’ categories, which have remained very popular to date.

By 2003, news of the tournament’s success story had reached far and wide and very strong teams started to trickle in, with South Africa bringing their development side, which later went on to represent them in the IRB Sevens circuit.

With South Africa giving the tournament the nod, teams like Japan, France and Samoa have had no problem gracing the occasion.

The Safari Sevens, which usually runs in June, weeks after the conclusion of the IRB Sevens circuit, continues to attract top-notch

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countries every year, with teams like Fiji, England and New Zealand likely to attend the tournament in the near future.

The Sevens is all about top class rugby, with the trophy having been juggled mostly by the Kenyan national team and British sides like Wanderers, Bristol University and British Army. It was only recently that the Emerging Springboks and Samoa have broken that pattern.

It is no surprise that the tournament has continued to attract high-profile personalities in both the sporting and interactive worlds. Rugby icons like Confederation of Africa Rugby chairman Abdelaziz Bougja, World Sevens legend Waisale Serevi and South Africa’s Chester Williams have all made an appearance in what they termed one of the best organised tournaments on the continent.

Kenyan music celebrities like Jua Kali, Amani and Nameless are regular features of Sevens events and fans always get a chance to interact with their local stars in-between being treated to some seriously entertaining rugby. Sevens’ events attract only the most up-to-date and best performers in comedy, music and fashion.

Even politicians are attracted to these interactive events – last year, Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Prime Minister Raila Odinga made an appearance.

The Safari Sevens have been instrumental in the development of rugby and sports in general in Kenya and Africa as a whole.

Kenya has had the privilege of being the first country in Africa to hold a major

IRB tournament of the magnitude of the Junior World Rugby Trophy. When IRB was considering which host country would follow the inaugural tournament in Chile, Kenya stood out of the pack like a giraffe in a herd of gazelles as they had already had the experience of hosting other internationals in a successful, critically acclaimed rugby tournament.

With the IRB Sevens circuit venues up for consideration next season, Kenya will have a strong case to present in front of the IRB owing to the recent successes of the Safari Sevens, and, with the recent superb performances of the men’s National Sevens team, a home leg in the international circuit will definitely increase the team’s chances of winning a major trophy.

The Safari Sevens has been of great convenience to the Sevens national technical bench, with the tournament being used to test new players. The Shujaa team, which comprises mostly players who have not yet made the cut for the national team, has been participating in the games since its inception and is responsible for exposing some of our biggest stars, such as current IRB top scorer Collins Injera.

Kenya have not been the only ones who have used the tournament to try out new players. Other squads include Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Tanzania, the most notable being South Africa, who have for four years kept bringing on players like Mzwandile Stick and Ryno Benjamin, as young emerging Boks, but

Fast-paced Rugby from Kenya: The thrill-a-minute national Sevens side

and annual Safari Sevens tournament side have won world acclaim

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have left the carriers of their national flag in international tournaments.

Apart from being a social, sporty event, the Safari Sevens has also proved to be a booming business, with sponsors pouring in every year hoping to grab the attention of the crowds that attend the tournament.

Companies get a chance to fulfil their corporate social responsibility as well as market their goods.

The Kenyan roots of the 44th US President

Nyang’oma-Kogelo is perhaps Kenya’s most celebrated rural village – known by Kenyans

themselves and the world at large. But it was not always like that.

This is the village where Barack Hussein Obama Snr, father of Barack Hussein Obama Jnr, the 44th President of the United States of America (and the first black one), was born, bred and buried.

Some now think Kogelo is Kenya’s village of the future.

In 2006 when Obama, then an Illinois Senator, and his wife, Michelle, visited Kogelo, it was a sleepy little-known village in Kenya’s Nyanza Province. Not anymore, the senator’s visit awakened the village.

Local and international journalists are regular visitors to Nyang’oma-Kogelo and their stories of the joy of the people of Kogelo continue to grace the screens and pages of both local and international media.

Already, there are a number of local tour companies offering services to bring the international visitor not only to Kenya, but also, and more importantly, to Nyang’oma-Kogelo.

In Kogelo, Obama has become a role model and an inspiration for the next generation. His principles and values are likely to remain the key driving force for

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Back to my roots: Barack Obama and daughters Malia and

Sasha (foreground) visit with Kenyan relatives in 2006 in the

village where his father was born. The lady in the headdress in

all three photos is Mama Sarah Obama, the President’s step-

grandmother, who lives in Nyang’oma Kogelo Village.

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the youth of this village and it is perhaps this that will propel Kogelo into a popular tourist destination, surely a secular pilgrimage destination.

President Obama’s philanthropic trait appears to have been inherited from his late father, who donated the land on which the two village schools now named after the President stand.

As the ancestral home of the father of 44th President of the United States, Kogelo will undoubtedly remain the focus of a lot of international attention and an interesting destination to visit long after Obama has left office.

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CHAPTER 2Hotels and Resorts

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Lap of Luxury

The Serena Hotel NairobiFamed for its superlative standards of efficiency, service and hospitality, the elegantly sophisticated Nairobi Serena Hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and the proud flagship of the Serena Hotels fleet of world class establishments.

Considered by many to be one of Nairobi’s finest hotels, the Serena stands amidst lush tropical gardens with panoramic views over Nairobi’s Central Park and the glittering downtown skyline.

Despite its pivotal central location, the Serena also remains true to its title and offers an oasis of serenity amidst the bustle of one of Africa’s most vibrant capital cities.

Established in the mid-1970s, the Serena Group was launched with a challenging goal – to become the leading hotel group in East Africa. The goal has today been achieved.

The Serena enjoys one of the finest locations in the city of Nairobi.

Sensitively constructed from ecologically sympathetic materials, the interior of the hotel reflects a kaleidoscope of cultural influences, blending Moroccan mystique with a breath of African heritage into an elegant harmonious whole.

As is the trend today in the hotel industry, the Millennium guest isn’t interested in how many rooms a hotel boasts, but how big they are, and what options are offered for private entertaining, exclusive meetings and efficient working space.

The discerning guest, it seems, demands a suite rather than a room, preferably with its own reception area, workspace, cocktail terrace, private sundeck and opulent bathroom, which explains why the Nairobi Serena Hotel has restructured its room selection to offer a stunning new choice of executive suites. It is a spectacular line-up.

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On the ground floor are three opulently efficient Garden Suites, each with their own luxurious workspace, reception area and picture window leading to a private garden with dining pergola, cocktail terrace and gilded gate leading through onto the hotel gardens.

On the first floor, five gorgeous new Superior Rooms have been luxuriantly appointed, each with its own technology-efficient workspace, lounge and lavish balcony. And above them the cleverly expanded new accommodation wing boasts 6 generously extended Executive Suites with panoramic balconies, 5 opulently enlarged Business Suites and 4 elegant

Standard Rooms with spacious balconies and stunning views.

As befits one of Africa’s finest hotels, the Nairobi Serena’s newly refurbished Stateroom Suite is fit for a king. Gloriously presented in regal crimson and gleaming gold colours, and opulently appointed in the Zanzibari style, the breathtaking new suite boasts a private dining room (with integrated kitchen), sitting room (with plasma-screen TV and globally connected workstation), bar, magnificent state bedroom and bathroom, guest washroom and guest reception area.

Conference Centre

Introducing a bouquet of beautiful conference options solely responsible for the setting of a whole new range of standards on the Nairobi conference venue scene, the recently completed Nairobi Serena Hotel Conference Centre has enjoyed a season of unrivalled bookings and guest profiles.

Everyone, it seems, wants to hold their conference at the new facility. Designed to blend discreetly into the assured elegance that already distinguishes the Nairobi Serena Hotel from other capital city business venues, the revolutionary new facility enjoys its own private marbled entrance lobby, which leads to the imposingly elegant Orchid Room, which accommodates 130 delegates and opens onto a natural stone garden terrace where sparkling fountains play.

The Orchid Room also boasts studio-quality sound, lighting, audio-visual effects, individual notebook workstations and “Hot Spot” Internet connectivity. Three additional seminar rooms, Hibiscus, Canna and Lantana, accommodate 30 delegates each; both Canna and Hibiscus feature their own exclusive garden terraces and Hibiscus has an elegant wrought iron gate leading into the main hotel grounds, where themed al fresco receptions can be accommodated.

Tel: +254-20-2842000www.serena.co.ke

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From the moment you pass through the century-old revolving doors, you leave the heat and bustle of modern Nairobi for a world of cool Victorian elegance. The spacious foyer, with its marble floors, leather furniture, antique brass and wrought-iron fittings, recalls a graceful era of fine furnishings and grand living. From the grandeur of the presidential suite,

the charm of the Lamu and Karen Blixen suites, to the chic and sophistication of the club rooms or the contemporary functionality of the deluxe rooms, The Sarova Stanley has a fine range of accommodation to choose from. An eclectic mix of dining and entertainment options is on offer. One can enjoy the legendary Thorn Tree Café – reputed to be Nairobi’s first

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The Sarova Group

As Kenya’s first luxury hotel, The Sarova Stanley has always occupied a special place in Nairobi’s heart. From the day it opened its doors in 1902, it has been making history by hosting royal safaris, groundbreaking business events and a long line of legendary personalities such as Edward, Prince of Wales, Nobel Literature laureate Ernest Hemingway and actress Ava Gardner, to name a few.

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post office, or the casual atmosphere at the Pool Deck restaurant. Thai Chi restaurant is reputed to be the finest in Thai cuisine within the region. The Exchange Bar is an elegantly decadent, plush lounge bar, home to the Nairobi Stock Exchange since incorporation, a period of over 50 years.

The Sarova Stanley also offers superlative conferencing and banqueting facilities with its 9 meeting and conference rooms. A heated swimming pool and state-of-the-art health club and gymnasium take pride of place in the hotel’s inventory.

When the quest for Africa’s Independence raged in the 1960s, the Sarova Panafric was the centre of liberalism and hushed political meetings, hosting many of Africa’s nationalists and future African statesmen. Named in honour of the Pan African movement, the Sarova Panafric was inaugurated by the first President of Kenya, H.E. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, on January 5, 1965, and truly represents neo-Africa. Idyllically located amidst beautifully landscaped gardens in a quiet suburb of Nairobi, the Sarova Panafric makes a great retreat from the bustling life of the city, yet is only five minutes away from the CBD.

The hotel offers 153 rooms in a range of standard, superior and suites all recently refurbished and decorated in neo-African style with panoramic views of the city. Equipped with modern amenities and conveniences, the rooms provide excellent value for the

discerning business and leisure travelers. The hotel also boasts 43 fully-furnished apartments.

Enjoy leisurely meals at the award-winning Flame Tree restaurant, once the watering hole for freedom fighters, spies and foreign correspondents and named after the Flame Tree that holds pride of place in the middle of the restaurant. Most weekends, the Flame Tree comes alive with people flocking to its African theme nights that showcase Kenya’s cuisine, cultural heritage and music. The Sarova Panafric offers state-of-the art banqueting and conferencing facilities with a range of meeting and function rooms equipped with the latest audio visual and WIFI equipment. To wind down the day, take a dip in the pool or go for a leisurely massage – or simply enjoy a cool drink to the soothing sounds of African tunes from one of Kenya’s finest local bands.

Among the many Kenyan beach hotels, the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa stands out as being amongst the favorite Mombasa beach hotels, perfect for either a beach holiday or for state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Situated on 22 acres of the longest of pristine, pure white sandy beachfronts, the hotel encompasses 338 rooms, ranging from the refreshing standard, sea-front, deluxe, and executive suites to the grand presidential suites and our signature wellness spa, proudly known as Tulia.

The facilities offered at the Resort are as follows:

• Pavilions–These2restaurantshaveatotal seating capacity for 680 people and offer dinner based on 14-day theme nights.

• MinaziCafé–hasa92-personcapacity offering tastefully prepared snacks and light meals, plus 24-hour room service.

• LidoSeafoodGrill–aseafoodheavenof “Fish on the beach”, it is a Chaîne des Rotisseurs-certified fine dining restaurant.

• CocosBeachBar–open-airdiscowith a capacity for 150 people.

• Anexquisiterangeofstate-of-the-art,air-conditioned Motivator Conferencing facilities are available.

• TuliaSpa&HealthBar–offersWestern, Oriental and Ayurvedic Massage therapies in addition to full salon treatments.

• AwideselectionofPADI-certifiedwater-sports, ranging from jet skiing to deep sea diving and Buccaneer diving.

• Atop-of-the-rangegymplusakeenly experienced and enthusiastic Animation Team ensures that you can stay as actively engaged as you wish.

• TheOzoneKidsClubcaterstoeverywhim for the young ones, ensuring a truly memorable stay for the children.

Tel: +254-20-2716688www.sarovahotels.com

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Located on the northern outskirts of the city, the Windsor is the apex of Kenya’s tourist facilities, complete with a golf course and other sporting facilities, apart from the top quality accommodation and first class international cuisine.

Located just a 15-minute drive from the city centre of Nairobi, and a 45-minute drive from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club is a cluster of impressive Victorian style buildings with 130 deluxe rooms comprising twins, doubles, studio suites and cottages all overlooking a spectacular 18-hole championship golf course and tastefully decorated with five-star amenities in each room.

The hotel has a modern 16-hour business centre, complete with an array of computers and communications facilities that ensure that the visitor is in touch with the rest of the

world at any given time. There is also a wellness centre, with a well-equipped gym.

Describing itself as “Africa’s Best Kept Secret”, the hotel and club facility in Nairobi appropriately derives its famous name from one of the most renowned residences of the British monarchy, Windsor Castle. When the hotel first opened its doors in the early 1990s, it was a hugely important and welcome addition to Nairobi’s top class tourist facilities. The Windsor Golf & Country Club has since become the preferred meeting place for top political leaders and captains of business and industry in Kenya and the East African region.

Whether visiting or staying in Nairobi for business, pleasure or both, the Windsor offers a breathtakingly beautiful oasis of comfort and tranquillity – the perfect place for a getaway!

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Oasis of Tranquillity Near City Centre

The Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club

Looking for an idyllic country setting and a life of supreme luxury a stone’s throw away from an African metropolis? Then look no further than the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club.

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The water cascades and the greenery are unique features of this hotel-cum-resort. Opened in 1992, the Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club Resort has an inimitable style and culture.

All rooms are supplied with a colour TV set, in-room safes, direct-dial telephones and mini bars. The attached bathrooms are well-designed for comfort. Set amidst lush tropical manicured gardens, the hardwood floored rooms, suites and cottages are spacious and elegant. Most of them overlook the spectacular championship 18-hole golf course. All rooms are tastefully decorated in pastel colors and include numerous other amenities for the convenience of the visitor.

The 18-hole championship golf course, designed by the renowned Tom Macauley, threads its way through coffee farms and indigenous forest, with lush, springy fairways, fast, true greens and a sprinkling of challenging water hazards. There are also 73 well located sand bunkers to provide for a challenging, international class golf course.

The resort offers other sporting, health and fitness facilities as well as a well-stocked shopping arcade with a wide range of products, including golfing equipment and other sporting gear. Several local and international competitions take place at the Windsor Golf and Country Club every year.

For the nature lovers, there is a wide variety of flora and fauna, especially birds, in the vicinity, with a resident ornithologist available to organize walks around the luxury resort.

Bars and Restaurants at the Windsor Country Club:

The Country Room – The Country Room is a spacious but lovely restaurant adjacent to the famous Windsor Terraces, which provides a largely international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Windsor Room – The main restaurant is an unforgettable dining experience with a large variety of dishes from an a-la-carte menu, which features, among other foods, game meat, poultry dishes and fine fish delicacies.

The Conservatory Restaurant – Situated next to the swimming pool and offering an a-la-carte menu with offerings such as pastries, coffee and tea and other savories throughout the day.

The Library Lounge – Located at the level of the lobby and serves drinks in a luxury setting from around 4.00pm to the last guest.

The Kingfisher Bar – Overlooks the hotel’s crystal blue heated swimming pool and offers a wide variety of cocktails from 10.00am to 11.00pm.

The Club Bar – with its hardwood interior and tall vaulted ceilings offers a cool and relaxing venue for drinks and cocktails after a challenging round of golf.

Conference and Banquet Facilities:

The Windsor Golf & Country Club has six large and elegant and quiet conference rooms that can accommodate anything ranging from a small family gathering or board meeting of 5 people to a conference of 240 people theatre style. All conference facilities have brilliant natural light and hardwood interiors, with all the other facilities and equipment for such meetings.

Tel: +254-20-8562300Email: info@windsor.co.kewww.windsorgolfresort.com

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The Kisumu Hotel

The pride of Kisumu City, it is The Star of Lakeside Hospitality.

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The Star of Lakeside Hospitality

A discerning visitor to Kisumu City, Kenya’s third largest metropolis of around 600,000 inhabitants on the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water body on earth, will probably be directed to the Kisumu Hotel, which is under the ownership and management of Maseno University, for the best food, accommodation, as well as the most appropriate social gathering and conference facility.

Kisumu, once known as Port Florence when the Kenya-Uganda railway, “the Lunatic Express”, reached the lakeshore in 1901, is a city now renowned for its vigour and hospitality to all comers. The people are friendly and easy-going. There are various interesting sites for the visitor to enjoy both within and outside the city. The Kisumu Hotel forms an ideal starting point for any touristic expeditions in the lake region and the hinterland.

One of the oldest and finest structures, the Kisumu Hotel was once the leading accommodation facility in the lakeside city during the 1960s and 1970s until it fell on bad times during the 1980s. Under the new ownership and management of Maseno University, which prides itself as the “Fountain of Excellence”, the hotel facility is even better and more accommodating than during its previous glory days.

Located along the main thoroughfare of Kisumu City, the Jomo Kenyatta Highway within the Central Business District and within a short walking distance of all the most important administrative offices, the Kisumu Hotel was an old and dilapidated structure until it was bought by Maseno

University. Following extensive renovation that took two and a half years, the hotel is now the pride of Kisumu City, indeed it is The Star of Lakeside Hospitality.

The snow-white exterior of the hotel is unmistakable while the interior ambiance has been vastly improved along with the service, cuisine and accommodation. It is now the most popular establishment in Kisumu City, able to accommodate 120 to 150 guests in exceptional comfort.

There are 80 large, well ventilated and tastefully furnished single and double rooms at the hotel, three of which are executive suites, including one that is fit for presidential accommodation. Several lounges, an expansive dining area and corridors/walkways that exude class have become the hallmarks of the Kisumu Hotel.

The youthful management of the hotel, all graduates of Maseno University led by the General Manager, Mr Paul Ouma, offers the best possible service available in a high class tourist hotel. The waiters and other service personnel are welldressed, prompt and polite.

Transport to and from the hotel is readily available with several taxi ranks and other means of transport stationed conveniently in the vicinity.

A large new multi-storey conference complex has been constructed behind the completely

renovated structure of the hotel. Modern conference facilities and equipment have been installed to enable meetings of up to 600 delegates to run in one place. This is apart from several other smaller conference rooms. There is also an adjacent hall that can accommodate 500 conference participants at once.

Hotel and Teaching Lab

The Hotel also serves as a training facility. Maseno University has the Department of Ecotourism, Hotel and Institution Management, which o ers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of hospitality and ecotourism. In all the courses requiring practicals the Hotel is used as a Teaching Lab. The hotel and conference facilities provide a major boost for practical work during the academic hospitality and related programmes o ered by Maseno University.

Contacts:Kenyatta HighwayP. O. Box 3335-40100, KisumuTel: 254-057-2022833/2021504Fax: 254-057-2020508Email: hotel@maseno.ac.kewww.maseno.ac.ke

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CHAPTER 3Dining and Eating Out

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Indeed, the restaurant’s motto is Nyama Tu, which is Kiswahili for Solely Meat!

Situated just 4 kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district, the Carnivore opened its doors in September 1980 to instant success. The food, service and atmosphere are strikingly different from anything ever seen in Kenya.

That the Carnivore is about meat is typically Kenyan for, in many middle class Kenyan eateries and homes, a meal is incomplete without meat or meat sauce.

The Carnivore is a meat specialty restaurant and it is justifiably referred to as ‘Africa’s Greatest Eating Experience’.

Every type of meat imaginable, such as a selection of exotic meats including crocodile and ostrich, is roasted over charcoal and carved at the table. Delicious side dishes and an exceptional array of sauces complement this fixed-price feast that also includes soup, a selection of desserts and Kenyan coffee.

The Carnivore’s main restaurant has a seating capacity of 420

Kenya’s Ultimate Meating PlaceThe popular Carnivore Restaurant is known for meat, all sorts of meats.

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and caters to a cosmopolitan blend of local residents. It is also one of the most popular tourist restaurants and regularly caters for large parties of tourists and conference delegates.

Set in attractive tropical gardens, the service and the décor are outstanding.

The Carnivore is also home of the Simba Saloon, a delicious a la carte restaurant by day and Nairobi’s most popular nightclub.

The informal indoor/outdoor atmosphere, exceptional snacks and the pulsating rhythms of Africa combine to ensure an exciting ambiance.

Twice voted amongst the world’s 50 best restaurants by Restaurant Magazine the Carnivore is described as ‘amazing’.

Since its inception, the Carnivore has played host to over 2 million customers from across the globe, including numerous celebrities. In fact, the Carnivore visitor’s book reads like a global Who is Who.

Whole joints of meat – legs of lamb and pork, haunches of exotic meat, rumps of beef, sirloins, racks of lamb, spare ribs, sausages, chicken wings, skewered kidneys, even crocodile, and other tasty morsels – are roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a huge, spectacular charcoal pit that dominates the entrance to the restaurant.

Constantly basted and turned until cooked to perfection, the meat is succulent and well flavoured. The Carnivore does not conform to the familiar restaurant traditions of passing out menus and waiting for people to order.

Diners simply take their seats on the zebra-striped chairs and the movable feast begins.

First comes the soup of the day and a sizzling cast-iron plate is placed in front

of each guest along with a plate of home-baked brown bread and butter.

An army of carvers wearing zebra-striped aprons and straw hats move from table to table carrying Maasai swords laden with different prime meats deliberately carving unlimited amounts onto the sizzling, cast iron plates in front of each guest.

Accompanying the meat feast is a wide selection of salads and vegetable side dishes, and also a variety of exotic sauces made from the Carnivore’s own recipes and stacked on to a double-storey revolving tray in the centre of the table.

The feeding frenzy doesn’t stop until the guests signal that enough is enough by the lowering of a white paper flag perched atop the central tray. This is followed by dessert and coffee. The full meal, including a soup course, is at a set price.

A vegetarian menu is also offered. First-time visitors to the Carnivore are enthralled by the spectacle of the roasting pit, the service and the distinctive flavours of food.

The atmosphere of the Carnivore combines the rustic feel of a rural environment with the air of a medieval banqueting hall. This is accomplished by the use of streams and tropical gardens throughout the restaurant, and by using rough-hewn beams and local woods.

Another famous feature to set the tone of the Carnivore experience is the house cocktail, the Dawa (which means medicine or magic potion in Kiswahili).

This is based on a famous Brazilian drink, and was introduced to Kenyans at the Carnivore. It has now become one of the most widely consumed cocktails in Kenya and it is brought to the guest on a portable tray by the medicine man, fittingly named Dr. Dawa.

Adjoining the main restaurant is the Simba Saloon – a vibrant informal restaurant that incorporates a children’s playground (very popular on weekends) and a lively nightclub.

The Simba Saloon provides an alternative to those who do not want to indulge in a large meal, serving pizzas (from a traditional, domed, brick oven), an extremely popular salad bar at lunchtime, steaks, hamburgers, scampi, trout, chicken, and other light snacks.

The nightclub operates from Wednesday to Sunday and has themed nights to cater for fans of contemporary African music, rock, soul, jazz and the latest hits.

The Simba Saloon has hosted some of Africa’s best musicians and international stars such as Maxi Priest, Yellowman, Sadao Watanabe, Manu Dibango, Salif Keta, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Ismael Lo, Habib Koite, Hugh Masakela and Morgan Heritage, just to mention a few.

The Carnivore has struck the rare balance of catering to a cosmopolitan blend of local residents whilst becoming a must-see stopover for tourists.

Tel: +254-20-605933www.tamarind.co.ke

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Kosewe, Ranalo

Do not be surprised, walking through the streets of Kenya’s capital, to hear people talking about, or asking each other whether they have been to, one restaurant and club at the centre of the great metropolis that offers excellent traditional Kenyan cuisine as well as music and a wonderful atmosphere for socialising.

House of flavour: The restaurant at Kosewe, Ranalo,

and, inset, a mouth-watering fish dish. Mrs Osewe,

co-proprietor of Kosewe, samples a lunchtime buffet.

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Such conversation is usually centered on Ranalo Restaurant and Club, which belongs to Ronald Osewe, the man whose from-rags-to-riches story is an inspiration to many Kenyans. He represents one of the country’s most exemplary business success stories that epitomise the entrepreneurial spirit of the Kenyan people.

Having started a small meat-roasting outfit in one of the poorer residential areas of Nairobi, Osewe is now the owner of a big and rapidly growing business empire. Serving up delicious hot meals of popular traditional and modern dishes is the main activity that has made Osewe a renowned and popular figure in Kenya and elsewhere. The core of his fast expanding business empire is the restaurant whose name, Ranalo, is the embodiment of Osewe’s humble beginnings. Ranalo is the name of the poor rural village from where he hails in Nyanza Province.

Nairobi’s Ranalo is one of the most popular eateries, serving a wide variety of traditional foods from the Luo ethnic community to which Osewe belongs, as well as modern dishes. Regular customers at Ranalo swear that the place serves some of the most delicious traditional foods in the country, if not in the entire eastern African region. The place has a welcoming ambience and a mix of customers that reflects both Kenya’s multi-ethnic composition and its position as a globally popular tourist destination.

Ranalo is now a well established restaurant in Nairobi, and Osewe has replicated his successful enterprise elsewhere within the capital city and in Kisumu. He has plans to establish similar restaurants in other major urban centres in Kenya, such as Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Embu and Machakos. Although “cooking and serving the best and most delicious traditional foods” remains at the core of Osewe’s business enterprise, he has branched into other fields such as real estate and food processing for export.

A humble, self-effacing man, Osewe started his business on a very small scale, buying several kilogrammes of meat, usually pork ribs, and roasting it for sale at Kaloleni, using a charcoal grill, known as jiko in Swahili. It was hard work and the returns at the initial stages were not so good. It was in 1979 that Osewe took the initial steps towards establishing his now flourishing business. It all started at Kaloleni with the purchase of a charcoal grill and grilling wire mesh. Charcoal and meat were the main raw materials. After operating for some years in the open at Kaloleni, the enterprising Osewe rented a place in one of the former Kenya Railways godowns near the Nairobi Railway Station. Being close to Nairobi’s central business district, it was an ideal place for business expansion.

The affordable and delicious traditional and modern foods offered at the new Kosewe eating place near the Nairobi Railway Station was to be the recipe for the success of the enterprise. All classes of Kenyans working within and around the CBD found an easy place to go for a satisfying lunch that did not inconvenience them pocket-wise. The tasty dishes on offer included several types of meats, fishes, vegetables, potatoes, rice, fruits and the popular ugali made from maize, millet and sorghum. The cooking was and still is first class, attracting both Kenyans and foreigners to the eatery.

As the business at the Nairobi Railway Station expanded rapidly during the early 1990s, the imaginative Osewe was already thinking big. Noticing that the place was becoming too small for the large and growing numbers of customers who came for lunch, he made plans to expand and sought a bigger and more comfortable place within Nairobi’s CBD for an even more impressive restaurant.

In 1996 he rented the expansive lounge on the first floor of the Cameo Cinema building on Kenyatta Avenue – plumb in the centre of Nairobi. It was an ideal place to put up

a cleaner, better and more comfortable restaurant to offer traditional dishes to both the working Kenyan middle class and tourists.

Although the new Ranalo Restaurant at the Cameo Cinema building was more expensive than the former Kosewe near the Nairobi Railway Station, it became, nevertheless, a very popular eating place for office workers in the CBD. The new restaurant could remain open both during the day and in the evenings when most people in Nairobi like to enjoy a drink and relax before heading to their residences.

The popularity of Ranalo at the Cameo Cinema led to Osewe looking for an even more accommodative place. He soon moved to the building along Kimathi Street, close to the imposing Nation Centre, headquarters of Eastern Africa’s largest and most prestigious media house, and set up the current Ranalo Restaurant and Club. It is a place that embodies the joyful and lively spirit of Nairobi’s day and night life.

THIS WAY TO A GREAT MEAL: The entrance to Ranalo Foods of Kimathi Street, Nairobi. A waitress serves lunch. Mr and Mrs Osewe in their office at the restaurant.

An Osewe classic, fish and osuga.

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The Mombasa Tamarind is built in Arab style with high arches and a crenellated roof.

It is in an elegant, gleaming white building with a perfect setting and a starlit terrace perched on a cliff overlooking the picturesque Old Harbour of Mombasa.

Its history spans back to the early seventies when there were no quality restaurants in Mombasa, and Kenyan-born Chris Seex, who was managing a coastal resort hotel at the time, sought to correct the imbalance.

He embarked on an ambitions mission to create the finest seafood restaurant in Africa. With little financial and moral support he designed and built the Mombasa Tamarind, a dream which he fulfilled with a passion.

The hotel menu is a blend of the best of French, Asian and African cuisines.

The Tamarind’s specialty is seafood and only the freshest ingredients are applied in food preparations. The Prawns Peri Peri, Chili Crab and Lobster have earned the Tamarind

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Tamarind Mombasa

The Tamarind restaurant is a five-star tourist hotel in the north of Mombasa, Kenya’s port city and the gateway to eastern and Central Africa.

Lunch on the ocean wave: It’s lunchtime

on the famous Tamarind dhow.

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worldwide fame and rave reviews from publications such as Gourmet, the London Times and the International Herald Tribune.

Tamarind Village

The Tamarind Village, a luxurious collection of fully serviced apartments, is situated directly adjacent to Mombasa’s famous Tamarind Restaurant and overlooks the picturesque Old Town of Mombasa.

At Tamarind Village, ancient artistry meets contemporary comfort. Just 10 minutes from the city centre, this collection of elegant apartments blends age-old ambience with state-of-the-art business facilities, modern land and sea sports, and two world-famous restaurants – one overlooks the ocean, the other, seaborne, cruising its coastline aboard a majestic Arab dhow.

In a world of modern architectural clones, Tamarind Village stands apart from the crowd. With its towering white walls, curling archways and classical turrets, the village rises from its coral ramparts like a formidable 14th Century fortress.

Within these great walls are to be found some of the finest apartments in 21st Century Africa.

Offering a wonderful alternative to any luxury hotel accommodation on the Coast, ‘the Village’, which consists of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, is set in a beautiful lush garden with a surrounding air of comfortable privacy.

Built in coastal style architecture with authentically styled Swahili furnishings, each apartment has air-conditioned bedrooms with bathrooms en-suite, a well appointed and equipped kitchen for self-catering, satellite TV and a spacious verandah with a stunning view of the Old Town of Mombasa.

The Village is an ideal place for business visitors looking for a quiet environment and

is able to cater for residential conferences of up to 40 in the conference room, as well as providing business facilities such as fax, e-mail, telephone and secretarial services.

For holidaymakers, the Village makes a secure and perfect setting for leisure and relaxation, offering two swimming pools with jacuzzi, the Creek Club fitness centre and therapy room, a glass-backed squash court, deep sea fishing, water skiing and excellent food and service.

The Tamarind Dhow

The Tamarind Dhows Nawalilkher and Babulkher are authentic ocean going jahazi (traditional Arab sailing boats), formerly used for cargo trading along the Kenyan Coast and to the Arab states. The dhows have been completely refurbished as floating restaurants, without losing any of the traditional aspects of the original vessels.

They are now moored at the Mombasa Tamarind Jetty.

As a restaurant, the Nawalilkher is available for individual bookings, and has a sitting capacity of 70 for dinner, which leaves plenty of room for dancing on night cruises. By removing some of the tables, the dhow has ample room to hold a cocktail party for up to 100 people.

The Nawalilkher sails every day except Sundays for both day and evening cruises. Private charters can be organised for Sundays.

The lunchtime cruise departs from the Tamarind Jetty at 1pm, cruises gently up Tudor Creek, to a quiet spot where the dhow moors.

The dinner cruise, commencing at 6.30pm, begins with a welcome Dawa cocktail as the dhow sails smoothly towards Fort Jesus. The twinkling lights

of Mombasa and the starlit skies provide idyllic surroundings for a delicious seafood dinner meticulously prepared in the Swahili style on the deck in front of the guests.

Tamarind Nairobi

The Nairobi Tamarind is situated in the centre of the city, adjacent to the National Bank Building, Haile Selassie Avenue, close to the Central Bank of Kenya.

It has an ambience of elegance and calm in addition to delicious food and superb service. The Nairobi Tamarind is an invitation to dine or do business over lunch.

As Nairobi’s leading seafood restaurant, it flies in fresh giant prawns, sweet young crab, juicy lobster, squid, octopus and oysters from the Coast daily.

It also offers the finest venison, steak and poultry in the country for those whom seafood is not their first choice.

The Nairobi Tamarind has built up and maintained a reputation for superb cuisine, and has been voted Restaurant of the Year on many occasions.

Tel: +254-041-474600www.tamarind.co.ke

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The culinary artistry of Blanco’s

One of the places that brings out the very best of Nairobi and provides an unforgettable culinary experience, blending perfectly with renowned Kenyan hospitality.

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Nairobi, with its population of more than 4.2 million, is the region’s largest metropolis as well as the capital city of Kenya. It has a wide variety of attractions to the visitor, including an expansive wildlife sanctuary, the Nairobi National Park, within its boundaries. The Kenyan city is a veritable melting pot of lifestyles and cultures, both local and international.

As one of the top ranked tourist destinations on the African continent, Kenya is a multicultural society that has a great variety to o er to the visitor. Among the most important attractions, apart from the tropical climate, the sandy beaches and the abundant wildlife in their natural habitat, is the culture of the people and the variety of food.

One of the places that brings out the very best of Nairobi is Blanco’s Lounge and Grill, situated in the visually attractive Timau Plaza at the junction of Argwings Kodhek Road and Timau Road in the Hurlingham/Kilimani area of the city close to the Yaya Centre shopping complex.

Blanco’s, as the restaurant is popularly known, provides an unforgettable culinary experience, blending perfectly with renowned Kenyan hospitality at its best. The food is simply delicious while the assorted wines from various parts of the world are rst class. The culinary specialty of Blanco’s is a unique “fusion” of Kenyan specialty dishes with European, Asian and other international cooking styles and ingredients.

According to the restaurant’s Executive Director, Mr. Leonard Mudachi, “cooking good food is both a delicate art and a precious science” and Blanco’s is endeavouring to explore the upper limits of both by constantly experimenting with various ingredients, combinations and blends. The result of this experimentation and fusion is a wide variety of innovative dishes and sauces. It is Kenyan and African cuisine at its very best.

The unique and delicious dishes that come out of the kitchens at Blanco’s are combined

with a carefully designed internal decor and ambiance which give the eatery a very comfortable look. The modern and traditional African art that decorate the walls combine well with the well-designed but practical furniture. On entering the place, one is immediately struck by the vibrant decor with warm tropical colours.

Upcoming and renowned Kenyan artists display their works at Blanco’s. They include Carol Kipsanai of La Tua Casa, Lawi Muriuki of Housemark Limited and Kioko Mitiki. A special highlight of the interior decor displays works of art by Mwitiki, a well known Kenyan master.

Other local painters are encouraged to come to Blanco’s and display their works to potential clients and art connoisseurs, both local and international.

On designated days every week, different Kenyan music artists are invited to perform at Blanco’s in order to add cultural value to the great atmosphere. Some of the musicians who have played at Blanco’s have become local and international stars. Like its cuisine, the restaurant encourages innovativeness in music, especially the fusion or blending of traditional and modern strains.

It is the aim of Blanco’s to transport and transform Kenyan and African cuisine to heights never experienced before and to enhance international appreciation of Kenya’s exciting cultural diversity. This is a restaurant

that has been conceptualized, designed, developed and is managed by young, enterprising Kenyans who have excellent culinary expertise.

Blanco’s lounge o ers a wide variety of new wines from di fferent countries, with different drink cocktail combinations and assorted fresh juices made from delicious and vitamin-rich tropical fruits. Great emphasis is placed on quality and timely service. Great attention is paid to detail in every service provided while speed of delivery is also given high priority.

Despite the initial challenges presented by being a relatively new business in a highly competitive culinary market, Blanco’s is already planning expansion to other parts of Kenya, especially the tourism-rich Coast Province, before venturing outside the country into other parts of the world. Useful partnerships with international players in the hospitality and culinary industries are also being explored by this forward-looking management team.

On average, prices at Blanco’s Lounge and Grill range between KSh 1,000 (US$15) to KSh 1,600 (US$25).

Operating Hours:Monday - Saturday inclusive of Public Holidays12.00pm to 3.00pm and 5.00pm to 11.30pmSundays - ClosedTel: +254-20-386470/1

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CHAPTER 4Shopping and Retail

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It is a challenging architectural concept, designed as a shopper’s paradise. It does not disappoint. At the end of any given day some 24,000 shoppers will have entered this welcoming edifice. That translates into a total of 8.8 million people going through its entrance and exit doors in a year. Welcome to The Sarit Centre.

If one considers that some 6,000 cars use its three parking lots every day you have a lot of vehicular and human traffic to make for a very busy and popular shopping spot indeed. That is the way the founders of the Centre intended it to be – a city within a city integrating the Westlands suburb into the Nairobi business district.

From the very beginning in the 1970s, the founders of The Sarit Centre aimed to create Kenya’s premier shopping mall. Away from the hustle and bustle of the central business district, but within striking distance of it; offering variety and choice, but in a relaxed and secure atmosphere devoid of the strain and stress of the city centre.

That is why The Sarit Centre is situated in Nairobi’s Westlands suburb. This is an enclosed centre that the founders conceived as a complete shopping hub; having everything that a shopper wants under one roof, easily accessible with secure large protected parking lots.

The Sarit Centre not only pioneered and introduced the enclosed shopping mall culture in Kenya, but also provided the impetus for the rapid transformation of Westlands into a thriving and vibrant business zone within Nairobi. That the Centre has been emulated by many implies its transformation of Westlands has been truly appreciated.

The opening of The Sarit Centre on April 27, 1983 changed emphatically and forever retail trading patterns in Kenya. The concept of a one-stop shop took hold and remains many a developer’s favourite. It is why the Centre’s management says that Sarit boasts multiple firsts:• thefirstenclosedmallinKenya;• thefirsttooperateashopperloyaltyprogramme;

Pioneer in mall culture

Sarit Centre

The Sarit Centre not only pioneered and introduced the enclosed shopping mall culture in Kenya, but also provided the impetus for the rapid transformation of Westlands into a thriving and vibrant business zone within Nairobi.

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• thefirsttodecorateandlightupitspremises both internally and externally;

• thefirsttoofferprizeshoppingpromotions at Christmas;

• thefirsttointroducepaidparking;• thefirstwithtradeandconsumer

exhibitions

However, success did not come straight away. For example, the management says, it was not easy initially getting tenants and the Centre only filled up after 18 months of operations.

But since the Centre took off in between 1985 and 1986, says Centre Manager Nitin Shah, there has been no looking back. Mr Shah says some of the original tenants, such as Hotpoint Appliances which now has a presence throughout the East Africa region, were indeed small businesses and start-ups.

In the planning days of the 1970s it targeted some 25,000 households. Its current catchments encompass nearly 100,000 households. It has 260,000 square feet of fully-serviced leased space out of a total built up area of 500,000 square feet on six levels. Its third – and not necessarily final - phase of development is about to begin.

The Sarit Centre was founded by two families who originally carried out business in Karatina and Murang’a towns of Central Province beginning the pre-Independence days. The families of Vidhu Ramji Shah of Murang’a and Jadavji Ratanji Rughani of Karatina moved to Nairobi in 1964.

It is they who came up with the concept and, more importantly, saw it through the planning and execution.

Their first business in Nairobi was the well known Text Book Centre. The families had run bookshops or sold books in their shops in Karatina and Nyeri. Text Book Centre soon established itself and remains to this day the most successful supplier of educational books in Kenya. Little wonder that to this day TBC remains a major retail outlet at The Sarit Centre.

TBC, the most comprehensive and best stocked book outlet in Africa, and Uchumi Supermarket, the anchor store of the Centre, however, compete with such famed names as Woolworths, Truworths, Bata, Hotpoint Appliances, Anicare, Audio Point, some five banks and 12 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). The medical services have not been left out. Fifteen of them, led by AAR (African Air Rescue) occupy two floors.

The Centre’s Atrium Food Court is a special attraction, with nine different units offering

a variety of African, Oriental, Indian, and Italian and fast food options. Then there is the Amusement Arcade and the two-screen 500-seat Fox Cineplex on the second floor. On the same floor is one of Nairobi’s best-equipped fitness centres, the Arena Health Club.

The Sarit Centre’s tenant mix, the management advises, has been strictly controlled to ensure that units complement, and do not directly compete, with each other within the Centre.

Community and cultural events, for which Sarit is famous, have been instrumental in marketing the Centre.

That explains why the Centre has a purpose – built 10,000 square foot air-conditioned and carpeted exhibition hall, with the necessary international shell stand scheme and a comprehensive range of accessories and its own PA system.

That also explains why since this facility was expanded and reopened in 1998, the Sarit Expo Centre has become the acknowledged exhibition fulcrum of Nairobi, playing host to numerous in-house and independent trade and consumer fairs and attracting thousands of visitors to Westlands and the city.

Indeed several single-country trade fairs have been staged at the Sarit Centre, among them the Turkish, French and Korean trade exhibitions.

The Sarit Centre hosts weddings, receptions, seminars, flower and fashion shows, beauty pageants, art and photographic exhibitions and school career evenings. Indeed, the Centre is regarded as a major contributor to domestic tourism.

There is always something happening at The Sarit Centre. There is a full calendar of exhibitions. Indeed, the exhibition hall has

helped differentiate The Sarit Centre from many traditional and street malls.

The management of The Sarit Centre recognises the need to assist the less fortunate and has a policy of offering free or subsidised space to young, upcoming entrepreneurs and craftsmen to display and sell their products.

These crafts range from pottery, hand-woven wool carpets and wall hangings to bead-work and cotton fabrics from across Kenya.

The Centre also invests significantly in improving the infrastructure of its neighbourhood, usually in conjunction with the local residents’ association and the City Council of Nairobi and recently financed major up-grades of the Karuna and Parklands roads.

The long and short of this is that The Sarit Centre is an interactive shopping mall offering one-stop access to a complete range of supermarkets, stores, service outlets, entertainment and professional and medical facilities unrivalled elsewhere in Kenya.

Tel: +254-20-3747408www.saritcentre.com

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Established in 1987, Nakumatt Holdings Limited stays ahead of the competition by providing quality, value, service, variety and lifestyle.

Nakumatt’s shop formats range from supermarkets to hypermarkets that showcase distinct world-class shopping floor layouts and amenities. All their branches hold a range of over 50,000 quality products

Thanks to their rich heritage and passion for retail excellence, Nakumatt supermarkets countrywide have carved out a niche for themselves as the ideal shopping and entertainment centres for the whole family.

They pride themselves on delivering Quality, Value, Service, Variety and Lifestyle enhancing products.

Management and policy

A key element of this company as a retail chain of super stores is corporate governance and sector compliance. Nakumatt pride themselves on conforming to local and international laws, policies and regulations governing business and related operations.

Nakumatt conduct their business with honesty and integrity. This ensures that they maintain high standards in all areas to

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Nakumatt Holdings is the company that owns Kenya’s leading chain of retail supermarkets. As the largest retail market player in Kenya, and currently expanding to the wider East African region, Nakumatt have 19 supermarkets dealing in general merchandise.

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improve the economy of both the country and the region.

The responsibility for managing the company at the top level rests with the Nakumatt Board of Directors, who meet regularly to provide corporate guidance and review operation strategies.

It is a dynamic management team that is committed to obtaining the best possible results so that the accumulated benefits can be passed on to the consumers through offering a wider range of quality products in an accessible and affordable way, providing excellent services and enormous benefits.

To ensure a clear focus of Quality across the organization and direct employee activities on Quality, customer focus and continual improvement, Nakumatt’s top management has given its commitment through a Quality policy statement, which states:

“Nakumatt Holdings Limited is committed to providing a variety of affordable, quality brands as well as excellent and superior quality service to our customers.”

Awards and certifications

Nakumatt Holdings have, in keeping with global standards, managed to bag a string of internationally-recognised awards and certifications. All the awards and certifications confirm Nakumatt’s world-class superiority. Some of these include:

• PriceWaterhouseCoopersEastAfricaMost Respected Service Sector Award

• KenyaBureauofStandardsISO9001:2000 Quality Management System

• PlanetRetailGlobalRanking• EastAfricaSuperbrand• GCRCreditRating

Branch network

All 19 strategically located Nakumatt outlets have been tastefully designed with wide aisles for a pleasurable shopping experience. Attractive display units for convenient shopping have been installed to hold well-defined product categories in a well-lit shopping environment with ample parking and convenient opening hours even on weekends and public holidays.

The Head Office and distribution centre has some 140,000 square feet of storage and office space. The total selling space of the Nakumatt outlets is approximately 1 million square feet.

Corporate strategy

Nakumatt have distinguished themselves from their peers on a 10-point differentiating aspects system that includes:

1. A Truly Kenyan outlook – Nakumatt are truly Kenyan and employ more than 3,000 indigenous Kenyans across their 19 branches.

2. Corporate governance and social investments – Nakumatt’s corporate governance is championed across the company and involves the directors, management and staff. On the Social investment front a KSh150million CSR budget has enabled Nakumatt to touch live in the environmental, educational, cultural and health sectors.

3. Commitment to managing a model business – Nakumatt have always maintained a lead in responsible business practice. Small wonder that they were the first retailers to introduce the Electronic Tax Register (ETR) across their branch network. They have also paid out around KSh420 million in taxes and are projecting to pay a total of KSh600 million.

4. Cutting edge IT system – Nakumatt have invested more then US$ 2 million to roll out the most advanced retail chains information technology system on this continent.

5. Nakumatt’s Mission – is to create a chain of world-class superstores in strategic locations delivering quality, value, service, variety and lifestyle with convenient opening hours giving everyone the opportunity to shop at Nakumatt.

6. Nakumatt’s wide variety – Nakumatt stocks a variety of more than 50,000 local and international products to cater for the more than 154 nationalities who shop with them.

7. Nakumatt’s locations – Nakumatt have strived with success to locate their outlets at the most strategic and convenient locations.

8. Smart Card rewards – Afford their customers a range of point-based benefits that include discounts service providers and partners, redemption of points fees and many more benefits.

9. Environment and quality policy – Nakumatt’s stringent environment and quality policy and processes ensure that their customers are afforded products and goods that meet world environment and quality standards.

10. Strategic expansion plans – Nakumatt’s vision for the future is centered on an achievable expansion plan into the region backed by a scheduled listing on the Nairobi Stock Exchange by the year 2009.

Tel: +254-20-650137www.nakumatt.net

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Sho

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Ret

ail The Village Market, Nairobi

A Multinational Shopper’s Delight

The international flavour of The Village Market in Nairobi is a shopping delight for the discerning bargain hunter. The Village is one of Kenya’s top attractions for the traveller who wants to sample and explore the very choicest of what this East African country has to offer.

The Village MarketShopping and Recreation Complex

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A walk within or around the Village Market gives one the feeling of being a true citizen of the world. Large numbers of people of different races and colours mingle here, shopping, socializing, lunching, wining and dining.

A weekend family outing at the shopping complex is something to savour for a long time.

Variety and luxury are just two words that may serve to describe the experience of visiting and shopping at the Village Market. The Village’s shopping experience can be a real pleasure as well as a challenge due to the difficulty of making choices on where to go within the complex and what to purchase. The variety of goods on offer is simply stunning and shoppers are seriously spoilt for choice.

When on a visit to Kenya, a tourist might wish to have a little taste of “home away from home” – at the Village Market, with its multinational ambience, this is easily arranged. With more than 150 stores, shops, offices and eateries offering a variety of products and services from around the region and the world, the Village Market is a treasure trove of shopping.

Conveniently located near the United Nations Centre in Nairobi, the Village Market is a global marketplace.

Every Friday, the Village Market hold an open-air Maasai market where colorful artifacts and traditional Kenyan crafts from over 300 traditional artists and vendors are on offer.

The Village Market is located at Gigiri, about 16 miles from Nairobi’s central business district. It is arguably the capital city’s most spectacular shopping complex, with its food

courts, restaurants, movie theatres, 20-feet-high water slides, bowling alleys, and many shops, this is one of the places that family and tourists tend to visit, during the day and well into the night.

Among the most popular places within the Village Market complex are the various eateries and cafes, which offer both traditional and modern cuisine at affordable prices. After one has done some shopping or simply walked around to view what items are on offer, it is usually time to sit down and relax in one of the cafes before making an order for a hot or cool drink/beverage. Coffee and tea, along with the various delicious tropical fruit juices are popular.

The variety of foods and cuisine on offer range from Kenyan maize meal-based (ugali) dishes to Italian pizza and Chinese fried noodles.

The Village Market hosts more than 300 events and activities annually making it one of the busiest shopping and recreation complexs in the region. With estimated foot traffic of up to 6,000 visitors daily, the Village Market is a good choice for organizations targeting various clientele for their products and services.

The complex’s marketing and public relations departments organize the events and exhibitions, usually choosing African themes, with art exhibitions being are a weekly feature in the mall’s exhibition halls. Kenyan-made curios and artifacts as well as other works

of art such as paintings are usually the main feature at the exhibitions, with traditional music and dances as an additional attraction.

International anniversaries and holidays, such as Halloween and Christmas, are celebrated in pomp and colour as visitors in their thousands come together to join in the merry and cheer of the season. The Christmas season is usually the busiest, with a lot of activity in every corner of the Village Market from the barber’s shops to the electronics outlets.

The famous Maasai Market, where one can view and purchase various offerings of traditional Kenyan fashions, curios and artifacts, usually takes place every Friday. For the tourist, small traders offer a wide variety of souvenir Kenyan items at good prices. These include colourful beaded necklaces, headwear and belts, among other things. Items of clothing include the famous kitenge, kikoi and khanga. There are also the famous weaved Kenyan kiondo baskets.

Ladies Day and the Car Boot Sale are among the most popular activities and events that the Village Market is proud to host all through the year. The “City within a City” concept works well among the residents of the surrounding up-market residential areas of Nairobi.

Tel: +254-20-7122489www.villagemarket-kenya.com

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CHAPTER 5Fashion

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Fash

ion Sanabora Design House Limited

• Graphics & Communication • Business Development Training • Product Design

A fusion of creativity and innovation

Effective use of Design improves prosperity and the generalwell being of society. It is on this ground that Sanabora Design House Limited was established way back in 2004, to enable enterprise development through design support.

The word ‘Sanabora’ is a literal translation of the Swahili words ‘very good’, a metaphor for the reputation Sanabora is committed to uphold.

To achieve the above goal, Sanabora offers design support and business development training tailored to enable competitiveness of enterprises in local and international markets.

This in addition to communication support offered to encourage conception of ideas and promotional materials that inform, motivate and educate consumers on productsoffered.

Sanabora prides its success in the application of creativity and innovation in meeting the needs of its clientele and the markets. This is on the belief that success in the corporate world today is likely to come through offering differentiatedproducts.

With a pool of highly qualified design and business professionals, Sanabora offers unmatched value in productand service delivery, a position that has earned Sanabora a strong client base in Kenya. Among these clients are; Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Export Promotional Council (EPC), German Technical Corporation (GTZ), United Nations Education and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), Africa Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), Oxfam - UK, Jetlink Express Ltd and the list goes on.

On its journey to becoming a benchmark for sustainable design in Kenya, Sanabora is keen on forming partnerships with those who seek to pave the way for Kenya in the global market place.

Graphics & CommunicationSanabora doesn’t just put words in your mouth. They scan you business to establish its initial impact, its clarity, content and potential for excellence. Asking the questions that your client might have about your business and evaluating waysin which they can improve your business by designing identity systems, publicity and promotional materials that supply the much needed pizzazz and well crafted enthusiasm needed to sell you and what you do.

Business Development TrainingSanabora Design House offers a wide range of short term enterprise development courses. Each training programme is tailored to meet the needs of individual businesses bothin the formal and informal sectors of Kenya.

Product DesignProduct design support is offered to business in developing the thousands of products required by consumers each year. Teams of experienced technical professionals lead clients through taking a product form concept to fulfillment of market needs.

Tel:+254 20 374 1240/46Cell:+254 721 828 699www.info@sanabora.com

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Sanabora - Contemporary african Design

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Fash

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KikoRomeo design and fashion house cuts a niche in outstanding designs with great emphasis on excellent cut, fit and finish.

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Ann McCreath and other partners founded thebusiness which deals in African fashion anddesign in 1996 and have since produced highquality fashion incorporating community tradematerials and craftsmanship.

KikoRomeo collections have been shown andwon accolades in Kenya at FAFA and overseas including Italy, Cameroon, South Africa and the Seychelles.

The design and fashion house’s core businesshas been garment production and retail ofKikoRomeo and Kikoti brands – both done infabulous African design. They include fashionand accessories for men, women and children.

KikoRomeo is currently developing a lineof recycled and organic items, to meet thegrowing demands of the international market.KikoRomeo lines are designed by AnnMcCreath together with Norbert Ochieng andMartha Gakii. In its outstanding design, greatemphasis is put on excellent cut, fit and finish.Most of the textiles are from Africa producedboth industrially and handcrafted.

KikoRomeo holding company Kiro Limited’sphilosophy is fair trade and commitmentto working with local artisans to promotingcommunity development through economicempowerment.

Kiro Ltd has developed a concept in which itworks in support of Africa’s heritage by actively promoting traditional skills and crafts.The KikoRomeo line incorporates a lot of handcrafting and hand-painting, to create unique individual items.

New KikoRomeo products are being introduced and will be designed using

recycled and organic material. Kikoti and the uniforms design are produced in a factory setting, incorporating textiles from the continent.

They are produced in bigger numbers, withlittle hand crafting, thereby reducing costs andprovide for the middle market with a smartAfrican fashion option.

KikoRomeo’s business sprouted in 2006, after venturing into business contracts with blue chip corporate firms by designing and making their corporate uniforms. Among the companies KikoRomeo landed successful contracts with are; Safaricom Customer Care, Air Kenya, KACA, Java Coffee House, Origins Safaris and Mercury Lounge.

In June 2007, a new line “Kikoti” (“the placewhere life began” in Maasai’s Maa language)was launched, with the aim of offering a moreaffordable African fashion to suit the middlemarket.

In November 2007, Kiro, East African Designer Store was opened in the Yaya centre together with other East African designers. This was to enable designers to retail their ready-made garments at a central spot.

Outlets:KikoRomeo has its studio on Mogotio Rd,Westlands, Nairobi. Collections are also soldthrough KikoRomeo, 2nd floor Yaya Centre,and KooRoo at le Rustique on GeneralMathenge Drive, Nairobi.

Tel: (254) 722 516317 / (254) 733 835438sales@kikoromeo.comwww.kikoromeo.com

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CHAPTER 6Healthcare

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The above words are said with an air of confidence and finality. But we are not done yet. “We have highly skilled and qualified nursing staff that is well grounded in bedside nursing quite apart from being registered nurses.”

The speaker is the Chief Executive Officer of the Nairobi Hospital, Dr

Cleopa Mailu. His first statement is about the doctors at the Nairobi

Hospital. The second is about the nursing staff.

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And this about the hospital itself:

“It is assumed, indeed believed, that if it fails at the Nairobi Hospital, then nothing can be done or, to put it another way, when all else fails, you have to go to the Nairobi Hospital. If you get to us alive, chances are you will survive.”

Dr Mailu says that this belief about The Nairobi Hospital is firmly held and buttressed by those who have been at the hospital, “brought in when they were on the brink and came back to life” and their relatives. And that fits in well with the hospital’s motto Lux Tenebris which translates as Light in Darkness.

Those who have been wheeled into the wards after they were mauled by wild animals or had been involved in freak or tragic accidents and were in a state of darkness have seen light after treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.

And the motto has an ironic twist to it too.

The foundation stone for the Nairobi Hospital was laid on October 20, 1952. That is the same day the colonial state herded the leaders of the nationalist movement into prison and declared a State of Emergency. The stone was laid by the Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, after he had sent the resisting Kenyans to jail. That was a dark day for Kenya, but the laying of the stone could be said to have lit a light in healthcare terms.

From the small facility of 57 years ago, The Nairobi Hospital is now a 14-ward, 302-bed facility, with Intensive Care and High Dependency units, Casualty and six theatres. Its 32-bed pediatric ward was opened recently and the aim is that the hospital catches them early so that they can stay with it throughout their life.

The highly skilled nursing staff and the best-of-the-best doctors are only two of the pillars of the Nairobi Hospital. The hospital not only

has the best skilled nurses, but also trains them.

It is instructive here to note that the current matron not only trained at the hospital, but was also a nurse there for 27 years. “Our nurses have a great attachment to the institution that trains them just as most people are greatly attached to their schools much more than they are to their universities,” says Dr Mailu.

The idea here is that nursing staff will undergo targeted training that will enable them to bond with the patients and ultimately meet their needs and yield excellent practice.

The Nairobi Hospital is reputed to have the best training for nurses and while many of them prefer to work at the hospital, there are others who join different institutions spread all over the country. That means the Nairobi Hospital trains nurses for itself as well as the country.

The hospital has over 400 consulting doctors who specialise in varied disciplines of medicine.

Those who practice at the hospital must be accomplished specialists recognised as such by the Doctors and Dentists Medical Board and must practice for at least three years before they can get admitting rights.

The third pillar of the hospital is the deliberate investment in advanced technology. “We challenge professionals to exercise what

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they were taught. We invest in technology to enable us to give the best healthcare.

“We have also invested in the best there is in information technology to drive our business, our front and back offices, ease our processes and enable us to serve our clients quickly, simply and efficiently”, says Dr Mailu.

The Nairobi Hospital has positioned itself as a market leader and Dr Mailu says that it has to innovate for others to follow or the healthcare sector in Kenya will stagnate!

That is to say the hospital intends to stay ahead of the competition or to be a market leader always. This is in tandem with the hospital’s stated corporate culture of caring about quality, providing the highest standards of healthcare and its belief that patient satisfaction is paramount.

Indeed, the Nairobi Hospital has positioned itself well to take advantage of the emerging and fast-growing field of medical tourism. Given its facilities, expertise and the infrastructure the country has, the Nairobi Hospital is in good stead to lead the way in welcoming patients from all corners of the globe.

This could well be the best part of the Nairobi Hospital: It is a non-profit institution. The Board of directors is voluntary and it prides itself on being a public hospital well run. Dr Mailu says “it is Kenya’s jewel, the hope of Kenyans when public hospitals go down.

The ten gentlemen who came together to found The Nairobi Hospital under the aegis of the Kenya European Hospital Association did not make this a private company, but opted to bequeath it to posterity.

Founding President Kenyatta, former President Moi and current President Kibaki have all been treated here, but it is a general hospital, admitting all and one paying patients. However, the hospital will not turn away a patient when there is an emergency because they do not have money.

Talking about the future is especially interesting for CEO and staff of the Nairobi Hospital, not only because they want to excel, but also because of what it is they intend to do.

“We intend to invest in innovative areas of medicine such as telemedicine and other cutting edge diagnostic and curative

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Dr. Cleopa Mailu

CEO, The Nairobi Hospital

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technologies. We intend to enter into strategic partnerships with other medical institutions in Kenya and beyond,” says a hospital brochure.

The Nairobi Hospital, true to its reputation and standing, has received several awards over the last two years, beginning with its being ranked sixth in Africa by the African Almanac list of the top 20 hospitals on the continent.

It was the recipient of the 2005 Johnson Midwives of the Year Award, has an HACCP certification in catering and has been awarded the Afya (Kiswahili for health) Excellence Awards in the rational use of medicine and in innovation and leadership.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007 the Nairobi Hospital was recognised by the Computer Society of Kenya and given the award of Best Health Applications. Still in 2006, UNICEF and Kenya’s Ministry of Health certified the hospital as baby-friendly.

Where does the inspiration come from? A brochure from the hospital informs that staff is inspired by the institution’s mission, vision and core values. The mission says that the

hospital seeks to “provide a regional centre of excellence for quality healthcare through efficient services and facilities”.

The Nairobi Hospital’s vision is to “be a leader in healthcare within Central and eastern Africa”.

This is to be done by staff being passionate about the quality of service, supporting, strengthening and involving staff, innovation, growth of institution and leadership by and through example.

The hospital’s core values revolve around visionary leadership, quality healthcare, compassionate care, professionalism, integrity, social responsibility and dynamism.

Tel: +254-20-2845000www.nairobihospital.org

Innovation provides horizon scanning to keep

us in the right direction - The Axion Artis dTC

Cardiac Angiography System

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Award-winning trailblazers

Avenue Group

“We want to be known for providing high quality healthcare at an affordable price.”

This, says Managing Director Diana Patel, is the driving force, indeed

the mission, of the Avenue Group, Kenya’s multiple award-winning

and trailblazing healthcare providers.

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The Avenue Group is unique as a provider of healthcare, having established Kenya’s first private and self-contained psychiatric facility in 1990, a time when most such patients had no place to go to other than the public Mathare Hospital.

That was but the beginning of the Avenue Group’s firsts, for, in 1994, the group led the way in providing home-based nursing care and in the same year pioneered the still rare service of rental of medical equipment.

“We want to be in the lead; we want to keep innovating and, that way, not only stay ahead of the competition, but also introduce the best healthcare products and services in Kenya,” says Diana.

In 1995 the group became Kenya’s first provider-based health management organisation (HMO) and the following year introduced the country’s first managed healthcare system.

The group’s last two firsts are not just trailblazers but assert emphatically The Avenue Group’s commitment to training and patient safety and comfort as pillars of excellence in healthcare. The Emergency Medical Technicians

Training Course commenced in 2000 and 2005 saw the introduction of the Medical Taxi. Medical taxi? “Exactly,” says Ms Etta Ligale, the Operations General Manager, “often times we realise that what a patient needs is not an ambulance, but transport to hospital.”

What comprises The Avenue Group? If you

stay in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city and you hear the name Avenue, it is highly unlikely you will think about any of the metropolis’ streets or boulevards.

Most Kenyans know Avenue Hospital, a 70-bed modern facility with male and female wards, a dedicated paediatric wing, maternity wards, a psychiatric wing, and theatre and mortuary services.

Next in the group’s stable is the flagship Lifestyle Clinic so called because it is situated on a facility of the same name in the Central Business District. Then there is the P J Place in Nairobi’s Industrial Area to complete The Avenue Group facilities in the capital.

There are three more clinics which are situated in Mombasa, Kenya’s world-famous coastal resort, Kisumu on Lake Victoria and Thika which is some 40 kilometres away from Nairobi.

It is the services offered at these facilities, say Diana and Etta, that set The Avenue Group apart from the rest. For example the 24 hour medical taxi is part of the group’s rescuen package which provide for high quality rescue, evacuation and transport services.

Avenue Healthcare (AHC) was founded in 1995 specifically to manage the Avenue Hospital Outpatient Department and offer mobile medical services to company clients and is the one tasked with operating the Mombasa, Kisumu and Thika outpatient clinics.

Apart from the outpatient services, Avenue Healthcare offers inpatient services,

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in-house clinics, special clinic services and medical examinations. Regarding examinations, Avenue Healthcare is licensed by the City Council of Nairobi, for example, to carry out tests for food handlers.

And Avenue doctors carry out routine preemployment examinations, including urine and stool, HIV, VDRL, widals, and chest x-ray.

The Special Clinics, which are housed at the Avenue Hospital Special Clinics Wing, include antenatal clinics, well baby clinics,

a diabetic clinic and Voluntary Counseling, Testing and Treatment (VCTT). Notice that most are VCT clinics but Avenue’s includes treatment hence the extra T in VCTT!

Avenue also offers training in emergency medicine, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation as well as First Aid training for corporates and the general public.

The medical taxi service includes scheduled doctor and late night casualty visits. This service also offers travel home from the group’s hospital or clinics and the vehicles

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are equipped with a wheel chair, first aid kit, sickness bags and radio call. The taxi comes complete with nurse aid, security guards and drivers who are trained in First Aid.

Avenue Homecare is a service that provides nurse aids under the supervision of qualified nurses and offers a less expensive alternative to hospital care, with medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches available for weekly or monthly hire.This has been hailed as a cost effective service carried out in an environment that is familiar and comfortable to the patients and, therefore enhancing recuperation in privacy and freedom and reduced risk of cross infection.This service is especially recommended for elderly and terminal ill patients, those addicted to substance abuse, post-surgery patients and general convalescents.

The Avenue Group has offers in-house clinics for corporate clients which enhance access to medical care and reduce time off work to seek treatment as well as personalised service for staff and their families. It is the group which furnishes and

equips the in-house clinics and manages them.The Avenue Group operates a diabetic clinic at Avenue Hospital and at the Lifestyle clinic whose services include advising patients on management of diabetics, diet, exercise and modification of one’s lifestyle, laboratory services and specialist referrals where necessary.

Indeed, of the many card products that Avenue Group has on offer, the Diabetics Card stands out because it guarantees one unlimited outpatient consultations at the Diabetic Clinic.

Most visitors and patients at the Avenue Group facilities are often pleasantly surprised to be informed that patients have rights such as the right to receive superior health care regardless of their race, tribe, national origin, sex, age, financial status or cultural preferences.

Patients are informed that they have the right to be treated with respect and courtesy, their personal privacy is respected and medical records handled with utmost confidentiality.

Indeed, it is also made known to patients that they have the right to demand to know the names, qualifications and professional responsibilities of their health care providers.

At Avenue Group they make it plain that patients have the right to treatment appropriate to their choice, age, physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural and intellectual needs.

Given that most will find a doctor’s notes cryptic, Diana enlightens that a patient, has the right to receive information about diagnosis and treatment plans in a language he or she easily understands, with explanations of alternatives, including risks, benefits and burdens of each.

What this boils down to, Etta takes over, is that at Avenue patients have the right to participate in decisions involving their health care and give informed consent to treatment.

Professional talks

The Group is well known for the health talks its professionals give for such clients and beyond. These acclaimed speeches revolve around varied and valued topics such as:

uHIV/Aidsu Alcoholismu Occupational health and safetyu Infectious diseasesu Rational use of drugsu Health, living and lifestyleu Malariau Smokingu Stressu Nutritionu Hygieneu Family planningu Breast canceru First Aid

The above are also available as full courses by Avenue Rescue Services.

AWARDS

It is not an idle boast when the Avenue Group executives say they believe in leading the way for the group is the winner of four Afya (by the Ministry of Health) awards.

These are:

u Quality, Affordable, Health Care (2003)uHealth Insurance and Finance (2006)uInnovative Leadership - First runner-up

(2006)uDiabetes Care (2006)

Tel: +254-20-3742907www.avenuehealthcare.com

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Kenyatta National Hospital plays a major role in healthcare delivery system in the country, East Africa and the whole of Africa region as provided for in its mandate. The hospital has an efficient and effective referral system and receives referral cases for specialized healthcare from other health institutions within and outside the country. KNH is the hospital of choice to the majority of the population in the capital city, Nairobi, and it’s environ due to its affordability and quality healthcare

The institution facilitates medical training for students of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Nairobi, The Kenya Medical Training College, and other higher learning institutions. This is in addition to facilitating research either directly and/or through other cooperating health institutions. The hospital also participates in national health policy planning.

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Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is the oldest hospital in the country, having been founded in 1901 as the Native Civil Hospital and then King George VI Hospital in 1952. It is currently the largest national referral, teaching and research hospital.

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Kenyatta National Hospital is well equipped to set stage for attaining continental and international healthcare standards. This has led to efficient diagnosis and patient management for better medical outcomes as well as enhanced its competitiveness in the contemporary healthcare industry at local, regional and international level.

KNH has comprehensive care centre that handles HIV/Aids patients, dispensing medicine, monitoring viral loads, and counseling. The centre has a patient support centre devoted to recovery of gender violence victims.

The Accident and Emergency facility was expanded to improve patient flow. Improved integration of emergency and support services has made it a one-stop patient management complex. The complex has an acute room, six emergency beds, laboratory and three spacious operating theatres dedicated to emergencies and surgery trauma patients as well as financial services, counseling and pharmacy. The hospital has also improved other services such as Radiology, Cardiology, Neonatal Critical Care Unit, laundry and power upgrade.

KNH provides specialized services like open-heart operations, brain surgery, complicated eye surgery (intra-ocular), skin operations using laser and plastic surgery.

Private Wing Wards

In an effort to improve quality of services and at the same time boost its financial base, KNH opened amenity wards which today form a fully fledged Private Wing occupying the 9th and 10th floors of the Tower Block. The Private Wing concept aims at providing quality healthcare at an affordable cost and retaining most of the professional staff within reach even as they continue with their private practice within the hospital.

The Private Wing wards have enabled the hospital to improve the quality of care and reach out to the corporate clientele. The quality of services provided in the Private Wing is comparable to that of other private hospitals. This facility has indeed given Kenyans an alternative quality medical care that is affordable and competitive to In addition, the existing services offered by KNH private hospitals have attracted clientele in some parts of Africa with

patients coming from the larger Eastern and Southern Africa region for specialized care.

Doctors Plaza

These facilities enable the specialist doctors to do private practice within easy reach of the hospital. The project earns the hospital revenue and helps keep many doctors within the hospital (KNH).

Key Statistics

Staff Capacity: 6,000

Bed Capacity: 1,800 beds

Average annual Outpatient attendance: 600,000 visits

Average Annual Inpatient attendance: 89,000 patients

Average length of stay: 7 Days

Annual budgetary allocation: KSh4.6 billion

Tel: +254-20-2726300www.knh.or.ke

Clinical Departments

Medicine Obstetrics& Gynaecology Dentistry Laboratory Medicine

Nursing Dermatology Paediatrics Pharmacy

Surgery Respiratory & Infectious Diseases Ophthalmology Radiotherapy

Radiology Accident and Emergency Anaesthesia Quality Assurance

Professional Support Departments

Medical Records Occupational Therapy Public Health Laundry

Medical Social Work Physiotherapy Nutrition Catering

Administrative Departments:

Administration Personnel Finance Supplies & Procurement

Public Relations Legal Planning Maintenance & Transport

Security

Specialized Units

Renal Unit The Heart Unit Interventional Cardiology Intensive Care Unit and HDU

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It is a private healthcare facility with a wide variety of medical services and some of the most modern equipment as well as highly qualified medical personnel who are dedicated to the provision of the best services in Kenya and beyond.

Both tourists and local residents of Nairobi and the entire eastern and Central African region are assured of an impressive world-class medical facility which provides a wide variety of

services, including a sophisticated diagnostics laboratory, a diagnostic imaging unit, a kidney centre, a laser kidney and endoscopy centre, a hearing aid centre, a physiotherapy centre, a children’s clinic and a chemist.

The all-inclusive ultra-modern six-storey complex situated along Ralph Bunche Road only a short distance from another top private medical facility that is the Nairobi Hospital,

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Upper Hill Medical Centre

An array of medical services is situated under one roof at the Upper Hill Medical Centre, which is ideally located in the middle of a rapidly growing business district of Nairobi.

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houses specialists in various medical fields that include allergies, anaesthetics, aurology, cardiology, cosmetics, dentistry, dermatology, endoscopy, ENT (ear nose & throat), gynaecology, laparoscopy, neurology, nutrition, obstetrics, opthalmology and pediatrics.

Other specialist medical fields offered at the Upper Hill Medical Centre, which is one of the most sophisticated privately-owned healthcare facilities throughout the eastern African region, including pathology, psychiatry and medical psychology, physiotherapy, plastic surgery, radiology, reproductive health, traumatology, urology and vascular surgery. There are also pathologists and various categories of paramedics at the facility.

A number of highly qualified general physicians and surgeons are located at the Upper Hill Medical Centre, which has numerous well-equipped, state-of-the art surgical theatres. Patients whose ailments do not require lengthy or complicated surgical procedures are normally treated and discharged on the same day. The health environment provided by this superlative medical facility is highly supportive of the various needs of patients.

Doctors and other medical staff at the Upper Hill Medical Centre, although hailing from different social and academic backgrounds, form a harmonious entity, dedicated to the provision of the best healthcare available anywhere at affordable prices. Support for continued professional education for members of staff ensures a workforce that is reliable, fast, and friendly. The highly trained and experienced staff is available for consultation on drug information.

The UHMC Pharmacy is conveniently located on the ground floor. It is dedicated to ensuring the health and well-being of every patient through stocking of an extensive range of prescription drugs and healthcare products. The health facility has partnered with drug manufacturers and suppliers for

the supply of drugs at discounted prices. The reduced cost is passed to customers ensuring low retail prices. Owing to continuing research and development in drug manufacturing, pharmacists must constantly keep abreast of new information.

At this Centre, the patient is provided with every available service, hospitality and care. Children are given particular attention because of their fragile and still growing bodies and minds. Safety enhancement is a highly valued feature of the Upper Hill Medical Centre, which is easily accessible from the Nairobi central business district, without going through the sometimes stressful traffic jams that have become a common feature on the roads of Kenya’s principal metropolis due to the rapid increase in the number of public and private vehicles. UHMC has good security and ample parking space.

In a region where good medical and healthcare facilities are at a premium, the Upper Hill Medical Centre is a unique enterprise. Services to corporate clients are provided on credit without requirement for a deposit. The process is easy and has no waiting time. UHMC Corporate Account members can receive services from any of the specialists or centres. The client is then billed through a central billing system.

Many organizations have chosen the Upper Hill Medical Centre as their preferred medical service provider. Reliable and consistently high service standards have been recognized by many corporate clients in Kenya. Some of UHMC’s leading partners include important public sector organizations like the Kenya National Assembly (Parliament), the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority (KACC), and the National Security Intelligence Services (NSIS).

Valuable private clients of UHMC include Zain (formerly Celtel Kenya Limited), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), PricewaterhouseCoopers, HTH Worldwide, the British High Commission, Oxfam GB, Jubilee Insurance Co., APA

Insurance Co., CFC Life, Heritage AII, Madison Insurance Co., AAR Health Services/Insurance, AON Minet, Health Management Solutions, and Apollo Insurance.

The reputation of the Upper Hill Medical Centre has continued to grow rapidly since it was established in 2001. It is highly rated both in Kenya and internationally as a first-class healthcare provider that provides unrivalled medical services within the eastern and Central African region. The Centre has been accredited by several governmental and international organizations while patients of all classes highly value its high standards of medical care.

Tel: +254-20-2721580www.uhmc.co.ke

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CHAPTER 7Coffee, Tea and Horticulture

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Best of Kenya interviewed CEO Mrs Louise Wanjira Njeru

Q: How can you describe the current state of Kenya’s coffee industry, considering the fact that it was once the country’s leading export crop, but has now been overtaken by horticulture and tea?

A: The coffee industry in Kenya is currently on a strong recovery path, with excellent prospects for local processing and branding, coupled with an upward, though still volatile, price movement since the year 2000. Kenyan coffee has witnessed a steady rise in both value and quality in recent years. The industry can now look forward to real growth and diversification of production.

Q: What distinguishes Kenyan coffee from that produced in other countries around the world? Is there anything that is special about coffee grown in Kenya?

A: Oh yes, Kenya leads the world in having the best coffee found anywhere. We produce very high quality and

aromatic Arabica coffee that is used in blending with coffees produced in other countries in order to improve their quality and make them milder and more appealing to the consumer. Arabica coffee is usually mild and aromatic, while the other main type of coffee, known as Robusta, is much stronger in taste. Robusta is the type grown in many countries around the world, especially in Latin America. Here in Kenya only negligible amounts of Robusta coffee are grown, mainly in the lowlands.

Q: What are the Coffee Board of Kenya and the other stakeholders in the industry doing to make Kenyan coffee even more popular around the world?

A: The main issues at the moment in marketing Kenyan coffee around the world revolve around value addition, quality assurance, packaging and branding. At the moment, Kenya is selling most of its coffee abroad as a commodity rather than a brand. Apart from drying and

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roasting there is little value addition in the coffee exported abroad from Kenya. We are shifting focus and looking at various ways to add value and sell pure, high quality Kenyan coffee abroad as a distinctive brand. Our neighbour, Ethiopia, is already branding its coffee but we are fast catching up with them.

Q: Which are the most important international markets for Kenyan coffee and what are the current trends in those countries?

A: The most important markets for Kenyan coffee at the moment are the Federal Republic of Germany, which imports around 30%, followed by the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark) with around 25% to 30% and the United States of America at 20%. There are other emerging markets, especially in Asia, with China, Japan, India and Iran coming up strongly. Others are Russia and the Middle East. Unfortunately, in the Arab countries, most people prefer the strong, low quality coffee of the Robusta type.

Q: When was the Coffee Board of Kenya established, what are its functions and how does it fulfill that mandate?

A: The Coffee Board of Kenya was established in 1935 for the purposes of regulation, research, marketing and development of the coffee industry in the country. Since its establishment, the CBK has evolved considerably and emerged rightfully as a key player within the Kenyan coffee industry. In 2002, there was a major restructuring that not only liberalized the industry, but also delinked the marketing function from the Board. The liberalization of the coffee industry had some serious financial implications for the Board, which is currently allowed by law to

charge only a 1% levy on the marketed coffee. This has necessitated some restructuring and downsizing of operations in certain non-essential areas. Regulation, research and development remain the core functions of the Coffee Board of Kenya. Research is conducted through the Coffee Research Foundation at Ruiru on the northern outskirts of Nairobi.

Q: What are the top accomplishments of the Coffee Board of Kenya and what challenges now face the Board and the coffee industry in general as it faces the future?

A: The CBK, through the Coffee Research Foundation, has developed several valuable varieties of coffee, which include the famous Ruiru 11. The other main commercial varieties are SL28 and SL34. The Blue Mountain variety is mainly grown in the Kisii highlands of western Kenya. We have managed to maintain the high quality of Kenyan coffee, although there have been declines in production volumes. Prices on the world market still fluctuate widely, depending on production and consumption elsewhere in the world. We still have challenges with productivity among smallholder coffee growers and diseases such as Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR). Low productivity, especially among smallholder coffee growers due to various factors such as poor farming and management techniques, increased soil acidity and climatic vagaries, still pose a major challenge to our coffee industry. For the CBK, the main challenge is how to maintain relevance and growth within a liberalized regime and within a smaller budget. Despite all these challenges, I see the future of the industry in Kenya as very bright; especially if we can produce and market high quality processed, packaged and branded coffee.

Tel: +254-20-315754www.coffeeboard.co.ke

CEO Louise W Njeru

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The Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union Limited, better known by its acronym KPCU, is one of Kenya’s iconic, best known and well-run non-governmental public institutions.

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It is also a unique institution because it is wholly owned by coffee farmers who vote in the leadership or management at all levels from the grassroots to the national office.

KPCU boasts more than 70 years of experience in the production and processing of coffee and representing the interests of Kenya’s farmers on all fronts.

Indeed, all coffee farmers in Kenya are shareholders of KPCU, with the membership of the union consisting of 3,000 plantation farmers and over 700,000 small-scale farmers who are represented through more than 600 co-operative societies.

Kenya’s coffee growing regions are divided into 15 electoral districts, each of which nominates one representative to sit on the KPCU Board. The Board is the supreme organ in the decision-making process of the Union.

The Board in turn delegates specific functions to the Audit Committee, Finance and Tender Committee, Staff Committee and Milling and Marketing Committee. These committees operate under specific terms of reference sanctioned by the Board.

Advisory committees oversee the day-to-day running of KPCU’s countrywide network of branches, with the specific mandate of ensuring the greater involvement of farmers in the decision-making process. The decisions of the committees are ratified by the Board.

KPCU is known for value adding services to farmers that include:

w Milling, polishing and grading;

w Quality control and liquoring;

w Transit storage facilities;

w Farmer education, especially on production of quality coffee;

w Provision of crop advances to finance production;

w Coffee nurseries for high quality seedlings;

w Value addition and marketing;

w Provision of farm inputs;

w Direct coffee sales and export;

w Designated clean coffee warehousing; and,

w Facilitation of joint small and medium scale coffee farmers’ business units to access credit and related services.

Through these services KPCU provides forward and backward linkages to farmers and consumers through vertical integration of the services.

KPCU not only keeps abreast of farming technologies but also embraces modern communication technologies to make its work more efficient and effective.

That is why the Union has modern information communication technology (ICT) facilities, which has seen all its branches across the country networked for faster exchange and flow of information. Farmers are, therefore, able to receive crucial information at branch level online.

Storage is an important service in the production of coffee, which is why KPCU has transit stores throughout the country whose total capacity is 80,000 tons. The Union operates mills across Kenya whose total capacity per hour is 34 tons.

As a responsible corporate citizen, it recycles waste coffee husks into Kahawa Coal (literally Coffee Coal), high energy coffee charcoal briquettes that serve as an alternative food fuel. The Union also

incorporates HIV/Aids awareness sessions in educational forums for farmers.

As part of its contribution to poverty alleviation and food security, KPCU supports educational programmes and rural micro-credit schemes to foster economic growth and wealth creation.

Tel: +254-20-2210288www.kpcu.co.ke

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Flowers are a natural expression of elegance and beauty, apart from performing functions that are vital to the planetary biosphere. To human society, flowers have since time immemorial signified intense feelings of romance, love and decorative importance. They are also used for the production or manufacture of different kinds of perfumes and aromatic fragrances.

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Kenya is a country of great natural beauty and one of the leading flower and ornamental plant producers in the world and certainly the top on the African continent. This East African country produces a wide variety of flowers and ornamental plants for markets in Europe, Asia and America. In 2008, Kenya’s floriculture produce was worth more than US$870 million (KSh64 billion) in foreign exchange.

Even with the global economic recession which started in late 2008, Kenya’s cut flowers and ornamental plants are still prized around the world, especially in Europe and North America. Other markets for Kenyan flowers and other horticultural produce are in the Middle East and the vast Asian continent.

The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) is a voluntary private association of the floriculture industry in Kenya. Formed in 1996 to represent independent Kenyan cut flower and ornamental plant growers and exporters, as well as to foster responsible and safe production of cut flowers and ornamental plants, the KFC also seeks to provide a common platform for growers and exporters to ensure the implementation of strict local and international standards.

Currently one of the richest, most influential and best organized industry organizations in Kenya, KFC is involved a variety of issues of concern to the stakeholders in industry lobbying, worker safety, environmental protection, industrial regulation, industrial development and floriculture company accreditation, as well as more weighty issues of global carbon dioxide emissions and international industrial diplomacy.

With its headquarters in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, the Kenya Flower Council currently counts a regular membership of more than 60 flower growing and exporting member companies and organizations owning 70

farms around the country, and representing around 60% of Kenya’s exports of cut flowers and ornamental plants. There are also 25 associate members from different countries of the European Union, which is by far the largest and most important market. The associate members are involved in the Kenyan floriculture industry through carrying out importation, provision of farm inputs and other related services.

The KFC very is active in promoting Kenyan flowers to European supermarkets, florists, and at trade shows in the United Kingdom, Holland, Germany and other European Union countries. The floriculture industry body has embarked on a well-organized global marketing for Kenyan flowers and ornamental plants. Globally, the board subscribes to the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) guideline system of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and to EurepGAP.

Domestically, the Kenya Flower Council is affiliated with the Kenya Horticulture Council, the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) and with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). It publishes a detailed Code of Practice and employs a rating system for its member companies, involving Gold Standard ranking, Silver Standard ranking and Associate rankings.

Efforts are currently underway to harmonize the activities of KFC with those of FPEAK under the umbrella of the Kenya Horticultural Council (KHC), which was established in 2007 with the main objective of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization and service delivery within the horticulture industry in Kenya.

Tel: +254-20-3876597www.kenyaflowers.co.ke

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authority

As the regulatory agency for the horticultural sub-sector, the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) aspires to be at the forefront in providing efficient, effective and quality service.

Established as a state corporation in 1967 under the Agriculture Act, HCDA is mandated to regulate the horticultural industry through licensing and application of rules as prescribed under the Act. HCDA also provides advisory and marketing services to the stakeholders in the industry for planning purposes.

HCDA ranks among the most important agricultural institutions in Kenya. Horticultural exports are among the top foreign exchange earners for the country, while the growing and processing of horticultural crops is a major industry employing more that three million Kenyans directly and indirectly.

The massive growth of the horticultural sub-sector under the supervision of HCDA is one of Kenya’s most important economic miracles.

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In 2008, recorded marketed horticultural produce in Kenya was valued at around KSh58 billion, a drop from the KSh67.2 billion in 2007, mainly due to changing climatic patterns. In 2004, Kenya’s total marketed horticultural produce was still worth only KSh32.5 billion.

The figures indicate that the value of the country’s horticultural produce, which includes cut flowers, fruits and vegetables, has almost doubled in just four years.

Rapid growth in Kenya’s horticultural sub-sector began in 1966 with the creation of the Interim Horticultural Development Council. A year later the council was converted by the government into the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA).

Since its establishment, HCDA has never looked back and is now focused on making horticulture the main source of income for Kenya and its people.

Horticultural farming in Kenya began during the early settlements of immigrant races under British colonial rule. Missionaries brought with them some fruit trees and vegetable seeds for growing in their kitchen gardens and so did the early settlers. There was no commercial activity as all the products were consumed at family/group level.

The Asian workers who came in during the building of the Kenya–Uganda Railway between 1893 and 1902 brought with them vegetables and fruits such as (mooli, karela, mangoes, gourds, drumsticks, etc) while the Europeans brought in cabbages, carrots, beetroots, rhubarb, plums, apples, pears, peaches and strawberries.

With the Dutch settlers came citrus, avocados, South African grapes, potatoes, fennel, kales, fenugreek and cape gooseberries, essential oils such as tung, geranium, eucalyptus and cedar. It is

noteworthy that indigenous Kenyans hardly participated in the introduction or growing of horticultural crops which were not part of their diets and were inaccessible because trade did not exist.

After independence in 1963, the government recognised early the need to develop effective marketing systems for the horticultural subsector however, because of the overwhelming demands on the young government to provide both political, social and economic changes, efforts to give priority to horticulture were slow.

Horticulture is a viable solution for Kenya’s need for cash crop diversification, enhanced nutrition, income generation, employment creation and foreign exchange earning in addition to providing raw material for the agro processing industries. The focus of the Authority is mainly on the smallholder farmers who use labour-intensive methods of production.

Horticulture offers high returns for small scale farmers with limited land resources and thus remains at the centre of focus by most government policies including the current Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes to which it can make substantial contribution. Over the years, HCDA’s functions have evolved with changing government policies and industry demands.

Vision

To be the centre of excellence in providing services in production and marketing of quality horticultural products both locally and internationally.

Mission

To promote, develop and facilitate production and marketing of horticultural products that meet customer driven needs at competitive costs through appropriate policies and technologies, and enhance socio-economic sustainability.

Objectives

To accelerate the rate of horticultural growth and production, the following broad objectives are pursued in the sub sector to facilitate increased production of top quality horticultural produce in order to:

• Meettherisingdemandformorefood

and nutritious diets for the ever-rising population

• Attainfoodself-sufficiencyandsecurityathousehold, local and national levels

• Provideprocessorswithdependablesupply of suitable raw materials

• Meettheincreasingdemandfortopqualityproduce in the export market

• Toearnforeignexchangebydiversifyingcrops grown in suitable agro-ecological zones

• Togeneratemoreemploymentopportunities within the horticultural sub-sector by introducing layout intensive enterprises and use of appropriate technology

• Toenhancedevelopmentinaridandsemi-arid areas through horticultural production under irrigation

• Tocontributetogenerationofincomeandalleviation of poverty

Tel: +254-20-3597356www.hcda.co.ke

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SOCFINAFCOMPANY LTD

PO BOX 10 –00232 RUIRUTel. 020 8011041 Fax 020 8011045 info@socfinaf.co.ke

Largest Private estate grower with 8% of national crop and 58 years of agronomy experience

Leading quality commercial millers and marketers

Our eight coffee plantations and mill are certified by several international certification bodies

We play a major role of safeguarding our workforce and environment as a policy

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CHAPTER 8Corporate Profiles

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Its area of jurisdiction is within the coastal belt, covering all the 13 districts of the Coast Province. Due to its positioning, it also serves a swathe of the expansive and semi-arid North Eastern Province.

The authority’s operational area has a total population of about 3 million people, and a region endowed with unique natural resources.

CDA’s fundamental duty is to initiate, plan, coordinate and implement integrated development programmes and projects within the coastal region and its environs. That explains why its vision is to be the lead agency in exploitation and development of resources for the betterment of the people of the province.

With the occasional cereal food deficit and food importation from neighboring regions, resulting in skyrocketing prices, the

Authority intends to close the food deficit gap by encouraging a deliberate shift from rain-fed agriculture to irrigated crop production.

To achieve these goals, the Authority has focused on the revival of Irrigation Schemes (IS), having conducted a feasibility study to identify potential areas along rivers that farmers could adopt.

Under the minor irrigation scheme the Authority embarked on the construction of a permanent weir in Vanga. The Vanga Irrigation Scheme is made up of five sub-schemes and abstracts its water from the Umba River, which is seasonal through temporary weirs constructed across the river.

Also in its arrangement is to build farmers’ capacity via training on crop production, marketing and improvement of irrigation infrastructure.

Kenya’s top notch regional development power house

The Coast Development Authority (CDA) is Kenya’s top-notch Regional Development Authority seeking to better the livelihoods of the nation’s populace.

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The programmes are as a result of a strategic study and research, conducted by the authority and which identified causes of underperformance. Weak scheme committees, lack of good governance, appropriate food production skills and group cohesiveness were identified as major drawbacks.

Others are capital deficiency, costly farm inputs, conflicts among clans due to undefined landownership, poor marketing linkages, bad roads leading to crop loses, lack of repair of facilities and irrigation infrastructure, donor inconsistency and intermittent funding by the Government of Kenya.

Lack of model irrigation schemes was also identified as a hitch. And in efforts to create such a model, the CDA has set funds to revive Chakama Irrigation Scheme to benchmark its revival endeavours.

The scheme is located 75 Kms to the west of Malindi town and 20 Km from the Malindi –Tsavo road at Kitsanga in Malindi district.

The scheme is within the arid and semi arid lands (ASAL) where the main economic activity is livestock keeping. Subsistence farming particularly in the Galana riverine is also practiced here.

The United States Aid for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) were co-partners in the initiative at inception while IFAD through the Ministry of Agriculture assisted with the rehabilitation and putting in place a new main canal in the 1990s..

The authority though, has identified areas of intervention such as increasing the participation of farmers through awareness creation, sensitisation and mobilisation, strengthening the scheme committees by training on roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders.

Improvement of irrigation infrastructure, training of farmers on appropriate irrigation methods, provision of market linkages and training on micro-credit as means to self sustaining schemes are continuously addressed.

On catchment conservation CDA has set a target of planting at least 100,000 tree seedlings in the Mwache catchment area, while also teaching the community on methods of tree-planting and caring.

A project on ranching which aims to promote the livelihood of the communities by transferring appropriate ranching technologies to farmers has also been established.

About 100 cattle were restocked in a ranch in Kilifi and a cattle crush constructed.

The water department has been charged with the responsibility of facilitating rural communities’ access to reliable and adequate water.

CDA is also undertaking, the Palm Product Use Project, which was started and made operational through the formation of the Palm Products Working Group (PPWG) in May 2007.

Priority has also been given to exploration of minerals in areas endowed with rich mineral deposits such as gemstones, iron ores, gypsum, silica sand and lead. There are also abundant deposits for building sands, limestone and salts which are mined on a small scale basis-in the Taita and Kwale districts.

The authority is also involved in the promotion of eco-tourism where it is the lead agency in the Technical Working Group

(TWG) in the Ishaqbini Conservancy.

The conservancy initiative brings together pastoral communities of Hara, Korissa, and Kotile where residents are engaged in advocacy against the translocation of the Hirola antelope to ‘safe havens’ outside Ijara.

Other projects in this cluster include; the Bodhai Community Conservation Project targeting the flora and fauna around Lake Jerey, construction of a water pan in Hulugho, livestock purchase and marketing and rehabilitation of Bodhai dispensary to improve access to health care facilities

There is also the integrated tree crops project

which seeks to empower farmers, strengthen public and private sectors with knowledge and skills to address production, processing, and marketing and credit issues.

The project has adopted the FAO Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach to address the production constraints in areas with favourable conditions for the production of mangoes, citrus and cashew nut.

Farmers groups are trained on various aspect of production such as nursery establishment, grafting/budding of seedlings and orchard establishment and management.

Another project undertaken by the CDA is the improvement of the Borstal Institute, which is a facility for juvenile delinquents who by virtue of their age cannot be integrated into the main Shimo La Tewa GK Prison system.

The institution currently houses almost 300 inmates with a daily staff attendance of some 30 people. Its capacity was 100 people at its inception by the colonial government.

Tel: +254-041-2224490www.cdakenya.org

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With greater clarity about global challenges, Safaricom’s main areas of focus remains meeting its subscriber and customer needs, offering unparallel quality service and continuing to improve on its communications coverage countrywide and regionally. In order to succeed in its core business, Safaricom has come to symbolise success and foresight. The Company takes pride in its unique understanding of a variety of customer segments where it continues to make a great difference in the field of modern communication.

The Brand

Being the leading telecommunications company operating in Kenya and East Africa, Safaricom provide a host of products and services for telephony, GPRS, 3G, EDGE, Data and Fax. The Company’s services are all geared towards growth. Having established a highly successful and recognizable brand name, Safaricom now seeks to make positive contributions to communities in direct ways through value added services and

The Better Option

Despite the global economic downturn, Safaricom Kenya is still the largest and most profitable corporate organisation in the eastern and Central African region. Although its profits dropped from a record KSh19 billion in 2007 to KSh15 billion in 2008 due to the economic recession and increased competition, Safaricom remains the telecommunications giant of Kenya. The Company is set for the future with great foresight and determination.

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financial support for community projects. Our commitment in giving back to the society seeks to address Health, Sports, Culture and Education.

The Company relies on its versatile and skilled employees to make it tick. That is why Safaricom has been exceptionally successful by always seeking to attract, develop, reward and retain outstanding individuals who we are committed to offering quality service and taking on challenging responsibilities and development opportunities.

Heritage

Having started its long and ultimately highly successful journey to corporate stardom as a department of the Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (KP&TC), the former monopoly operator, Safaricom was initially a State-owned entity with strong government involvement in its shareholding. The Company launched its operations in 1993 based on an analogue ETACS network and continued to develop innovatively, upgrading to GSM in 1996 (the licence awarded in 1999).

With a majority shareholding by the Government of Kenya through KP&TC, Safaricom Limited was incorporated on 3 April 1997 under the Companies Act as a private limited liability company before it converted into a public company with limited liability on 16 May 2002. By the time it was on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) the new telecommunications company was already on a highly profitable business trajectory.

By virtue of the initial 60 per cent shareholding held by the Government of Kenya, Safaricom was a State corporation within the meaning of the State Corporations Act (Chapter 446) the Laws of Kenya, which defines a State corporation to include all corporate bodies operating under the Companies Act wholly or partly owned or controlled by the Government.

The main strategic partner was Vodacom (Kenya) Ltd., a subsidiary of Vodacom Plc of Great Britain, with 35 per cent shareholding while a minority shareholder was Mobitelea at 5 per cent. Until 20 December 2007, the GoK shares were held by Telkom Kenya Limited (“TKL”), which was a State corporation under the Act.

Following the public offer and sale of 25 per cent of the issued shares it held in Safaricom through the NSE in March 2008, the Kenya Government ceased to have a controlling interest in the local telecommunications giant under the State Corporations Act. From that time on, therefore, the provisions of the State Corporations Act were no longer applicable. Safaricom thus became a public liability company trading vigorously on the NSE. The initial public offer was worth KSh50 billion but was oversubscribed by more than 200 per cent.

Interview with CEO Michael Joseph

Q: Safaricom is currently the biggest and most successful corporate entity, not only in Kenya, but throughout the East African region. How did you get there?

A: Safaricom was established in October 2000, some eight years ago, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Telkom Kenya. We started out with a very small group of about five people in June 2000, but we inherited some of Telkom Kenya’s network at the time. We had to work hard to revamp the communications network that existed at the time. The decisions that we made at the time (between June and October 2000) would have a huge impact on our success in the future.

Q: So, what is the secret of Safaricom’s huge success in the mobile telephony market since its establishment?

A: There is not one single secret for our success. In fact, it is a combination of

factors and the decisions that we have made from time to time, such as the tariff structure that we adopted at the beginning, charging our network users per second rather than per minute. Our customers found per second charges we settled for to be cheaper than the per-minute charging that was adopted by our rivals. Our customer base grew rapidly from then on. Our marketing strategies have also been adapted to the prevailing local market conditions.

Q: How do you assess the state of Safaricom and the Kenyan mobile telephony data transmission market at the moment, given the fact that several more players have either entered or are preparing for entry?

A: Safaricom is currently the market leader and we intend to remain there for as long as possible, although it will be increasingly more difficult in the future given the stiff competition offered both by newcomers and more experienced operators. We have to constantly adapt our operations in the volatile market conditions. Flexibility is one of the key factors for our success and we must maintain that competitive edge by providing our customers with the best possible services in the market. We must always design our products to provide us with a competitive edge.

Tel: +254-20-4273272www.safaricom.co.ke

Michael Joseph

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P&G is organized into three business units namely beauty, health and well-being and household care. The company boasts a wide product range that cuts across beauty, grooming, healthcare and snacks.

In Kenya P&G has built an enormous base of loyal consumers to its diverse set of brands with catchy names such as Pampers diapers and Always sanitary pads which are all leading players in their categories.

It’s no gamble when 200 million customers are satisfied!

Procter & Gamble (P&G) East Africa is one of the smallest subsidiaries of the multi-national company. It has however diligently kept 200 million customers spread across sub-Saharan Africa satisfied and happy by consistently supplying them with its high quality range of products.

It also provides Duracell batteries, Gillette shaving products, Oral B toothbrushes, Vicks Kingo lozenges and Ariel Washing Powder which was re-launched in the market recently. For consumers the combination represents, in its barest terms, the potential for getting most of the products they may need from the same company.

Andrew Plastow, the P&G Country Manager, is happy to be part of the success, “We offer a variety of products and most of our brands are market leaders in their own niches, he says.

P&G brands such as Always and Pampers have been blended into Kenya’s national psyche and as a result have become an integral part of the country’s history, reflecting customers’ faith in quality products and resonating with their passion.

Being mass brands, the products appeal to both the top end and low end consumers. Pampers is a market leader commanding about 70% of the diaper market in Kenya and is expected to perform even better as its popularity and consumption increase.

P&G is committed to the delivery of quality for its consumers, rewarding them for their loyalty and ensuring they get the best value for money.

P&G believes the Kenyan market has potential for growth as customer preferences become

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more sophisticated and quality driven. With the attractive appearances of the Company’s products and consistency in quality, the brands’ volumes, market share and turnover are also expected to increase.

Heavy Investment

Plastow attributes P&G’s success in part to the Company’s substantial investment in human resource development, which he says has been shaping employees and preparing them to take up future roles in managing the firm’s affairs.

“I’ve worked with the company for 12 years now in different positions, I started out small, but I’ve risen to the current position. There are several other individuals with similar stories, which is testimony to P&G’s strong emphasis on human resource development”.

With the growing economy and changing retail trends, the Company has been working hard to take its products to the consumer. Plastow says ensuring products are available in shelves is key to winning consumers. This calls for better distribution network (visible distribution.)

P&G has a continuous strategy of taking services closer to the consumers to serve them better. The firm also ensures it meets the Kenya Bureau of Standard (KEBS) minimum standards for all products.

History: The Power of Purpose

P&G’s story started in 1837 when distinguished entrepreneurs William Procter and James Gamble formed a humble, but bold new enterprise. What began as a small, family-operated soap-and-candle company, has grown into a multinational and thrived, inspired hugely by P&G’s

purpose of providing products and services of superior quality and value.

The power of P&G’s purpose is the one factor that has contributed to the company’s long heritage of growth. It first entered the East African market when it bought the Vicks Richardson Company, which was manufacturing Vicks lozenges, Vicks inhaler, Vicks Vaporub, Vicks Triangles and Vicks Kingo Lemon.

In 1992, it began an Always line to manufacture various variants of the brand.

Corporate Social Responsibility

P&G, in partnership with a local non- governmental organisation (NGO), has provided approximately 3.2 million free sanitary pads to 15,000 girls from poor families in a project that ended in December 2008.

Dubbed ‘Always Keeping Girls in School,’ the programme provided each girl from the target schools with free pads for every month in each school term. In addition, the girls also received education on issues of feminine hygiene, puberty and menstrual protection.

The programme whose immense effect was felt when enrolment of girls increased in both primary and secondary schools in the selected areas, targeted girls in their last two years of primary education in order to help them stay in school as they prepared for the final examinations.

The premise was that if the girls were able to stay in school and concentrate, they would be able to perform better and also compete on an almost equal platform with their boy counterparts. The programme is in line with Agenda Three of the Millennium Development Goals, which seeks to eliminate gender

disparity in primary and secondary education. The Company has recently expanded the Always Keeping Girls in School programme through a pilot with the Ministry of Education targeting 20,000 girls in over 200 schools. The Ministry of Education is using the pilot to collect data on the need for pads in schools.

P&G, through Population Services International (PSI) a social marketing NGO has a programme where they visit schools in areas with unsafe water sources to educate students on the importance of drinking purified water. They also provide them with free sachets of Pur, a low cost technology that purifies contaminated water, and a brochure to reinforce the message.

P&G has reached over 400,000 children with the free samples and education since the programme begun in 2007.

Tel: +254-20-3601300www.pg.com

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CHAPTER 9Banking and Finance

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Kenya Commercial Bank

KCB, as the Kenya Commercial Bank is popularly known, is the one financial institution that is making the biggest and most positive difference in the lives of many people, not only in Kenya, but also in other countries in the eastern and Central African region.

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It is a bank of many attributes, with a solid capital base, numerous branches country-wide and a wide variety of financial services and instruments.

Having established itself as one of the most reliable banks in Kenya, the KCB Group has looked beyond the boundaries of its original base to make itself into a regional financial giant and has become the preferred bank for big and small savers, traders, entrepreneurs and builders alike.

The KCB Group has transformed itself from a purely one-country-based, State-owned bank into the main player in the financial and banking sectors within the entire eastern and Central African region, with branches in Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Rwanda.

Solid Asset Base, Widest Outlets Network

The leading position occupied by the KCB Group in the region is securely buttressed by a formidable asset base of close to US$2.5 billion and the widest network of outlets, comprising more than 150 branches across the region and over 300 Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

Serving the Eastern, Great Lakes Regions

As a Financial Services Provider within the eastern and Central African region, the KCB Group has no equal. From its headquarters, which are situated in an imposing white-painted building right in the centre of Nairobi, KCB controls a vast financial business and banking empire. The giant financial institution, whose shareholding is now mostly in private hands with many small savers, prides itself on being the “Green Bank” of the region.

Destined for Greatness

The next destination in the strategic plan of the KCB Group in the Great Lakes Region is to move into Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) once

the security and political situation in those two countries stabilises sufficiently for sustainable financial and banking business. In Tanzania and Uganda, the KCB Group is already making a name for itself in the financial markets.

As a financial and banking institution, the KCB Group now consists of the Kenya Commercial Bank (a combined retail and merchant bank); Savings and Loan (S&L – a mortgage lender); KCB Uganda Limited; KCB Tanzania Limited; KCB Sudan Limited and KCB Rwanda Limited. The bank’s branches in the different countries are registered and licensed as autonomous corporations owned by the Group. The KCB Group is currently listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) and on the Kampala and Dar es Salaam bourses.

From State to Public Ownership

The Government of Kenya, the original and principal shareholder of the KCB Group, has gradually reduced its stake in the financial institution to the current 23.1 per cent through the public sale of its shares at the NSE. Last year, a second rights Issue by the Kenya Government, which raised additional capital in the region of US$80 million (KSh5.5 billion), was one of the largest at the most active bourse in the region.

Historically, the KCB Group can be described as the oldest financial institution in the eastern and Central African region, tracing its roots to 1896, when one of its progenitors, the National Bank of India, opened its first outlet at Mombasa, now Kenya’s leading port and second largest city. Eight years later, in 1904, the National Bank of India established a branch in Nairobi, which had become the headquarters of the newly constructed Uganda Railway.

Exponential Growth

In 1970, the Government of Kenya bought the remaining foreign-owned 40 per cent

stake in the National and Grindlays Bank to take full control of the then largest commercial bank in the country. National and Grindlays Bank was then renamed the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). Two years later, in 1972, KCB took over the ownership of Savings & Loan, which specialised in mortgage finance. KCB and its various financial services were growing rapidly.

The first branch of this giant financial institution outside Kenya was established in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1997 as Kenya Commercial Bank or KCB (Tanzania) Limited. Other branches have since been established in three of the largest Tanzanian urban centres of Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. In pursuit of its vision to be the best bank in the region, KCB extended its financial and banking services to southern Sudan. The South Sudanese subsidiary, KCB Sudan Limited, now has branches in Juba and Rumbek.

Further expansion to make the KCB Group the largest and most prestigious financial and banking institution within the eastern and Central African region took place in 2007 with the establishment of KCB Bank Uganda Limited. Then in December 2008 the latest subsidiary, KCB Rwanda, began its operations, with ready plans for rapid expansion.

KCB’s balance sheet now stands at KSh183 billion, making it one of the largest in the region.

Tel: +254-20-3270000www.kcb.co.ke

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Humble Beginnings

The beginnings of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya – simply Coop Bank to many Kenyans – can be traced back to January 1968, when it first opened business as a financial institution under the Co-operatives Department of the then Ministry of Agriculture. From the time of its registration in 1965, the bank had been restricted by statute to serving co-operative societies and unions, but since 1994 serves the entire market, albeit retaining a strategic focus on the co-operative movement.

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In 2003 the bank re-occupied its headquarters in Nairobi, Co-operative Bank House, after renovations following the extensive damage by the terrorist bomb blast of August 1998. Despite this major setback, in October of the same year, the Bank signed a contract with MoneyGram International to become an agent of the global company’s funds remittance business. In 2000, the bank became only the second bank in Kenya to interconnect all its branches in order to offer fully centralised banking.

Market Leadership

Coop Bank led the market in pioneering mobile banking in Kenya by launching M-Banking in 2004, a banking service delivered via mobile phones. M-Banking enables customers to access their bank accounts and carry out transactions such as getting bank balances, paying utility bills, registering for salary alerts and loading airtime on cell phones, among others.

Co-operative Bank recently expanded into stock broking by acquiring a 60% controlling stake in Bob Mathews Stockbrokers, now re-named Kingdom Securities Limited. This has enabled Coop Bank to move a step closer towards realization of a financial supermarket model. Coop Bank also operates two wholly-owned subsidiary companies, namely CoopTrust Investment Services Limited, which is a licensed Fund Manager and Investment Advisor; and Co-operative Consultancy Services (K) Limited, the capacity-building

and management advisory that specialises in providing subsidised consultancy to Kenya’s cooperatives.

Services to Co-operative Movement

With every one in 5 Kenyans being a member of a co-operative, the role of the Coop Bank as an apex financial institution for co-operatives becomes even more critical, as it affects the lives of the majority of Kenyans who directly or indirectly derive their livelihood from the Movement.

Coop Bank continues to enhance the capacity of the movement to offer products through their Front Office Service Activities (FOSAs) thereby reaching every Kenyan household with banking services even in locations that are unattractive to mainstream financial institutions. In addition to the conventional lending and deposit-taking service, Coop Bank is adding value to this relationship by launching Sacco Link, which is an IT-supported link that connects the FOSA banking outlets to Coop Bank systems. The bank then issues the Sacco Link Visa debit cards to members of participating co-operatives, thereby enabling them to access their money from any Visa ATM or other Visa-accepting outlets worldwide.

Co-operatives to Public Listing

The Cooperative Bank of Kenya was listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange on December 22 2008, with a public offer of 710.3 million

shares at KSh9.50 ($1.3), which raised around US$80 million (KSh5.4 billion). This was a vital boost to the Bank’s capital base, which stood at roughly US$100 million (KSh.7.4 billion) before the offer. The public share offer was made possible through the resolution passed by a Special General Meeting held on June 27, 2008, which approved the change in the status of the Bank from a cooperative society to a limited liability company. Under the new regime allowing for private individuals and corporate bodies to hold a stake in the Bank, its previous shareholding, which was previously limited to cooperative societies and unions, was ring-fenced and placed under Co-op Holdings Co-operative Society Limited as a strategic investor. The bank today has 116,000 shareholders.

Going Regional

Coop Bank is expanding footprint by venturing into the wider Eastern Africa, beginning with Uganda and Southern Sudan. The one feature that distinguishes Coop Bank’s regional strategy from its peers is the adoption of its successful co-operative banking model in the new markets. Already, the Southern Sudan operation will see the bank allocate a 30 per cent shareholding in the proposed Co-operative Bank of Southern Sudan to co-operatives in the new market.

Tel: +254-20-2776000www.co-opbank.co.ke

G. B. Muriuki

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Bank of the FutureKenya is a fast growing market for financial services and banking. A growing economy needs fast, reliable financial services. As a locally developed concept in financial and banking concepts, Equity Bank has had a steady, unrivalled run of success, showing the kind of innovation that other financialinstitutions can emulate. Equity, as it commonly known, is truly a financial institution for now and the future.

One of the biggest attractions of Equity Bank to the ordinary person is the easy and relaxed manner in which it transacts its business, without compromising quality and ethical standards.

It is a bank of the people, for the people and by thepeople. Opening an account of whatever nature with Equity is as easy as having a snack and Kenyans have been trooping to its outlets and branches in their hundreds of thousands.

Fastest Growing Bank in Kenya

Over the past few years, Equity Bank Ltd has been the fastest growing financial institution, not only within Kenya, but in the entire eastern and Central African region. The Bank has won various local and international awards for its pioneering efforts to bring the benefits of modern financial services to the common man and woman.

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The success story of Equity Bank has been like afairytale, capturing the financial worlds attention andearning many local and international awards. It is the onebank with which the ordinary Kenyan can most easilyidentify because it has opened a completely new chapterin financial services for them.

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It has become the preferred bank for the small saver, providing a vital and secure link between the rural trader or farmer and the complex modern world of financial transactions.

Established initially as a building society, Equity Bank commenced business upon registration in 1984 and has evolved from a relatively small microfinance institution to agiant, all-inclusive commercial bank that is now listed at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE), the leading bourse within the entire eastern and Central African region.

Before and soon after its listing on the NSE in 2004, Equity Bank experienced phenomenal growth with its focus on the “unbanked” segment of the population, which constitutedthe largest portion of the people of Kenya.

Excellent Services for the Small Saver

Success for Equity Bank is pinned on a deliberate strategy that relies heavily on Kenya’s important agricultural sector in the rural areas, where the majority of its customers are found. The bulk of the Bank’sdeposits and the majority of its lending target the rural folk. In the short-term, Equity Bank has made a major impact in the Kenyan financial sector, while, in the long-term, prospects for continued growth look fairly bright after institution of processes and systems aimed at ensuring sustainability of itsoperations at various levels.

With more than 3.1 million accounts, Equity Bank is currently home to around 48 per cent of all bank accounts in Kenya. This makes it the largest bank in the entire region in terms of customer base.

The solid foundation upon which Equity Bank transacts its financial and other business is underpinned by its massive shareholder fund base of over KSh18 billion complementedby an additional KSh7 billion of subordinated tier-two capital. The capital base makes Equity the most capitalised bank in the region.

The Bank is credited for taking banking services to the people through its accessible, affordable and flexible service provision.

Multiple Award Winner

In 2007 and 2008 consecutively, Equity was named the Best Bank in Kenya by Euromoney Awards for Excellence. Equity is also the holder of the 2007 Global Vision Award inMicrofinance “for initiating a concept of the future that will shape the global economy”. In 2008, the Kenya Banking Survey named Equity as the top ranked bank in Kenya, and the Renaissance Capital Bank Awards 2008 also named the bank as the Overall Best Bank in Kenya.

Equity Bank has also been named by Africa Investor as the 2008 Best Performing Public Listed Company in Africa (AI 100). The bank has been voted by the African Banker 2ndEdition as the Best Microfinance Institution in the entire continent. It won the African Business Award and the FT Financial Sustainable Institution in the emerging markets, Africa and Middle East by the FT and ther IFC. Equity enjoys an AA- Longterm and A1+ Short term credit rating from the Global Credit Rating Agency.

As it seeks to expand its activities even further afield, Equity continues to offer a variety of attractive and affordable financial services through its over 110 (and still expanding) branches countrywide networkin Kenya, supported by Alternate Delivery Channels, which include 550 Visa-branded automated teller machines (ATMs), 2,500 Points of Sale (POS) cash back services inall leading supermarkets as well as Internet and mobile banking channels.Equity has also gone regional with the

opening of Equity Bank in Ugandaand Equity Bank in Southern Sudan.

Adopting Modern Technology

Equity runs on a state-of-the art Global Robust Information Technology (GRIT) Computer System supported by Infosys, HP,Oracle and Microsoft. As a financial institution, Equity Bank is guided by principles and core values that can be translated into the following simple illustration:Dr. James Mwangi, CEO Equity Bank•Professionalism•Integrity•CreativityandInnovation•Teamwork•Unityofpurpose•Respectanddignityforcustomers•EffectiveCorporateGovernance which abbreviates as PICTURE.

Tel: +254-20-2736620www.equitybank.co.ke

Dr. James Mwangi, CEO Equity Bank

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CHAPTER 10Technology

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The development of ICT in Kenya is guided and governed by a well-thought-out strategy whose objectives include:

• Thepromotionofthedeploymentandexploitationof information, knowledge and technology within the economy and society as key drivers for socio-economic development.

This is given impetus by the modernisation and expansion of Kenya’s ICT infrastructure and services to improve universal access and service as well as the quality of service;

• ThetransformationofKenyaintoadestinationofchoicefor ICT-related Foreign Direct Investment with the potential to become a competitive regional and international ICT business hub.

This takes on board the development and promotion of a globally competitive local ICT industry for the development, production and sale of information, knowledge and technology products and services.

• TodevelopahighlycompetitiveICT-ledvalueaddedand

Driving Kenya’s economic transformation, the power of IT

The leveraging of information and communication technologies (ICT) isincreasingly critical to Kenya’s socio-economic development. Indeed,the Government of Kenya has made ICT a priority in its economicrecovery strategy, continuously putting in place sound and responsiveregulatory policies to enhance the socio-economic impact of the ICTsector and maximise its contribution to Kenya’s development.

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export oriented services sector driven by a dynamic ICT services sub-sector and manufacturing.

This emphasises the need to promote and facilitate the development of the private sector to serve as a key driver for the development of the economy.

• Tocreateadynamicknowledgebased,technology-driven, light and modern industrial sector that is export-led and globally competitive.

• Toimproveboththenationalhumanresource development and research and development capacities to meet the demands and requirements for developing this country’s information and knowledge-based economy.

• TomoderniseKenya’seducationsystemusing ICTs to improve and expand access to education, training and research resources and facilities, as well as to improve the quality of education and training and make the education system responsive to the needs and requirements of the economy and society, with specific reference to the creation of an information and knowledgebased economy and society.

The desire to achieve these objectives explains why the Government has put in place an ICT master plan which outlines the roadmap and implementation strategy to actualise public policy pronouncements spelt out in the National ICT Policy adopted in 2005.

A key objective of the policy is to make ICT more accessible and affordable to the wider population and therefore accelerate Kenya’s transformation into a prosperous society where day-to-day decisionmaking is driven by knowledge.

This kind of society, which is also envisaged in Kenya’s economic transformation blueprint, Vision 2030, is known as a knowledge society.

The Government recognises that Kenyans are increasingly becoming reliant on information and communications services to enable their effective participation in national economic and socio-political development.

The national ICT master plan aims to achieve the following objectives:

• EnhanceKenya’seconomiccompetitiveness through utilisation of its abundant human resources in Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO);

• Developaknowledge-basedsocietyandthereby enhance the quality of life of the Kenyan people;

• EnsureuniversalaccesstoICTforsustainable development through Digital Villages countrywide;

• StrengthenKenya’slearningopportunitiesand capacity to meet future technological challenges.

The achievement of these objectives is in turn dependent on the ongoing implementation of the following strategies:

• Expandinginfrastructurewiththeaimofmaking Kenya the ICT hub of Africa;

• DevelopingruralICTcentrestoensureawareness and application of technology throughout the country;

• AggressivelyreformingandenhancingICT research and development in all institutions of higher learning through Industrial Incubation Centres to ensure linkages between industry and academia in hardware and software development and Value Added Services (VAS);

• Revampingandextendinge-governmentthroughout the country to ensure exemplary service delivery to citizens;

• EncouragingICTentrepreneurshipwhilediscouraging the culture of dependency and unsuitable projects;

• Allocatingsufficientresourcesforhumancapital development and training for the industry (with emphasis on Business Process Outsourcing and VAS).

Tel: +254-20-2211960www.ict.go.ke

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga witness the completion of the final stretch of the

shoreend cable during the official launch of the East African Marine System (TEAMS) at the Fort Jesus,

Mombasa.

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It is crucial the rural areas are not left behind when it comes to Internet access

The Chief Executive Officer of the ICT Board, Mr Paul Kukubo, was interviewed by Best of Kenya.

Excerpts:

Q. What is the mandate of the ICT Board?

Our mandate is to position Kenya locally and globally as an ICT destination in terms of investment and in terms of activity in ICT. Secondly, we have an advisory role, which sees us act as a link between the private and public sectors in terms of ICT advice.

Our third mandate is capacity building, where we provide government and stakeholders with capacity and skills where they are required in order to raise the country’s capacity in ICT.

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World class connections: Tennis star Serena Williams joins students in a computer class at the school she

co-founded with global ICT giant Hewlett Packard, in Makueni District, which is named after her.

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Lastly, we are tasked with co-ordinating and implementing government projects and ensuring that prospective investors in Kenya in ICT are provided with relevant information.

Q. How about your vision and mission?

The vision of the ICT Board is that Kenya becomes a top-10 global ICT hub.

It is an ambitious vision, but that is what we are meant to be and it fits in well with Kenya’s economic transformation blueprint popularly known as Vision 2030 and which seeks to catapult Kenya into a developed economy by 2030.

We are important as a board in this regard principally because ICT is seen as a cross-cutting enabler of Vision 2030.

The mission of the Board is to rapidly and innovatively transform Kenya through the promotion of ICT for the socio-economic development of our society. We are very clear as a board that Kenya must be transformed and ICT holds the key to this transformation.

Q. What are some of the specifics?

initiatives or projects in which the ICT Board is involved or is undertaking with a view to realising the foregoing?

The flagship initiative is the business process outsourcing (BPO) programme, which is also quite clearly articulated in Vision 2030. The objective of the programme is to rapidly make Kenya a top BPO destination in Africa and compete with Egypt, South Africa, Mauritius, Morocco, Ghana and Senegal who have got very aggressive outsourcing initiatives.

What we basically mean is that there will be job creation by enabling our young people to

get work that is sourced from international markets and delivered over Internet-enabled networks. This is akin to export of skilled services, but it is all done from here and via Internet-enabled networks without people moving out of their geographical area.

We are confident this is an area of vast potential and growth because we are witnessing a lot of traction here already. Some of the firms that we are targeting have the potential to employ as many as 500 people each.

The second initiative involves the Kenya Transparency and Connectivity Project, which aims to create transparency in government interactions through conversion of government data into electronic format and connectivity to ensure that people are connected to the Internet in a way that they will be able to enjoy the benefits of a global economy.

Q. How exactly is the ICT Board going about this?

Under these objectives we have four projects of which the first one is e-services facilitation, which enables government services to be delivered electronically; the second one is making Internet services available in our rural areas or Internet access for Kenyan villages or the rural digital project. The third is content development through which we are encouraging the development of local software, local applications and local content editorial material so that Kenyans can start

using technology to store educational, cultural and publication material.

This is important because the Internet is a two-way pipe and if we do not have our own material flowing in this pipe, we will be overwhelmed by non-local material. The other project is called Government Shared Services. This a platform for sharing applications developed by a department across all government departments, thereby linking these departments together.

Q. Why is rural access to Internet of such concern to the ICT Board?

It is crucial that the rural areas are not left behind when it comes to Internet access for this will be an impediment to participation in the global economy via Internet-enabled networks.

A huge digital divide between rural and urban Kenya may mean that entrepreneurs based in the latter part of the country may not invest in the former. They key issue is for us to bring down the costs of Internet access to help bridge the Digital Divide between the rural and urban areas and this is why we are bringing in the international fibre optic cable.

Apart from driving down costs, the fibre optic cable will also provide high speed broadband access.

Tel: +254-221-1960/1 / +254-208-9061www.ict.go.ke

Mr Paul Kukubo

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From Digital Divide to Knowledge Society

The Permanent Secretary for Information and Communications,Dr Bitange Ndemo, was interviewed by The Best of Kenya. Excerpts:

Q. A key plank of Kenya’s ICT policy is to bridge the rural/urban Digital Divide. Is this achievable?

A. We can almost instantly bridge the gap between the rural and urban divide, especially given that Kenya has very many young people with sufficient education that can handle our rural ICT digital centres. They can collect content from the rural areas and share it with the rest of the world.

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We can create revenue models from these digital villages along the lines of Youtube, which is a multi-billion-shilling enterprise. All it entails is collecting information (content) and being able to share it with multitudes around the world.

Such content would be important for Kenya, for example, in terms of preserving our national heritage. Right now there may be no motivation for doing this, but if our young people are given the monetary incentives that come with sharing of information worldwide, they will be encouraged to work in these digital centres and help bridge that rural/urban divide.

With digital villages in place, the benefits of e-government will be evident and in this way government will have taken services closer to the people. People will not, for example, have to travel long distances to police stations or varied government offices to get forms they need to fill in order to get services. These will be available online in the digital village centres.

Q. Why does the policy lay a great deal of emphasis on creation of a knowledge society?

A. Because a knowledge society leads to greater innovation, sharing of information and creation of quick and multiple job opportunities, especially, for example, in business process outsourcing. This will also lead to cost reduction in terms of telecommunication. The benefits that will accrue from this fibre optic cable are simply enormous.

Q. Why the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting?

A. The reason why we must migrate is that the demand for frequencies is much higher than before and it is the digital format that creates more frequencies, the minimum being eight for every frequency, depending on the technology that is employed.

The more channels there are, the more entrepreneurs will be challenged to come up with content to broadcast and our airwaves will be filled with variety and there will be more opportunities for creation of jobs.

The creation of more channels, in fact, fits in well with the digital ICT villages we are creating in the country, especially in terms of gathering of content. The rural ICT centres will lead in gathering content for preserving and showcasing our heritage.

Q. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) seems to have a special place in the development of ICT in Kenya? Explain.

A. Business Process Outsourcing is an area of high potential as regards the creation of jobs and BPO is therefore a key plank in Kenya’s ICT strategy. Many firms, local and international, are outsourcing jobs and if we become a knowledge society we stand in good stead to attract these jobs. All we need to do is to train our young people to take advantage of these opportunities and to make Kenya a service hub. The service industry creates more jobs quickly and helps to sustain other industries.

Dr. Bitange Ndemo

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Kenya Data Networks

The transfer of huge volumes of information and data over both short and long distances has become a key component in the operation and development of both the public and the private sectors around the world.

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In Kenya, which plans to become a middle-level industrialised country within the next two decades in accordance with its Vision 2030 economic blueprint, information technology remains a very important sector for growth. In the short-term, Kenya plans to become the Business Outsourcing Centre (BOC) for the entire region within the next few years.

Kenya Data Networks (KDN) is Kenya’s largest and fastest growing private data carrier and infrastructure provider in the eastern and Central African region. KDN operates a combination of microwave radio and fibre optical links, over which it provides Layer 2 carrier services (Ethernet, Frame Relay) to corporate customers. Furthermore, KDN houses and maintains a number of international Internet gateways, which it sells to corporate customers such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Business Areas

As a private data communications carrier in Kenya, KDN has witnessed tremendous growth since 2006 to become the country’s largest private data carrier, operating on a similar scale as the state-run Telkom Kenya.

KDN started business when it was licensed as a Public Data Network Operator by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) in 2003.

As the communications regulatory body in Kenya, the CCK has also licensed KDN as a local loop operator that was also authorised to provide fixed line voice and data transmission services. KDN also owns an International Gateway Licence, under which it sells Internet connectivity to local ISPs.

Fully owned by the Sameer Investment Group, KDN, which has set up a number of companies both in Kenya and other African countries, is currently involved in a number of valuable projects in the telecommunications sector, although its core business remains that of data transmission. KDN’s motto is “Keep the data flowing”. The KDN Managing Director is Kai Wulff, a seasoned manager in the telecommunications sector.

Infrastructure

KDN started off by providing infrastructure via microwave radio in a hub-and-spoke fashion. Currently, it operates a number of base stations in Nairobi, Mombasa and upcountry (Embu, Meru, Kisumu, Diani and Malindi), which are connected via directed radio backhauls. This rather old but still reliable technology will eventually be completely superseded by more advanced fibre-optic infrastructure.

Fibre Optic Network

KDN has deployed the largest fibre optic network in the eastern and Central African region so far. With over 500km of Metropolitan fibre optic cable in Nairobi, 50 in Kisumu and Mombasa and 20 in Nakuru, Eldoret and Thika, KDN has the key towns in Kenya covered. The main backbone across the country, from Mombasa (through Voi, Nairobi, Nakuru and Eldoret) to Malaba (Kenya-Uganda border) was completed in 2006. Recently, KDN embarked on creating a number of redundant data transmission links, which will form figure eights on the main back bone.

The first phase links Malaba to Nakuru through Busia, Kisumu, Kisii, Kericho and Njoro. Then the link from Nakuru to Nairobi is backed up by the link through Nyahururu, Nyeri and Thika to Nairobi. The Nairobi to Mombasa leg is backed up by the link through Thika, Garissa, Garsen, Malindi to Mombasa.

The fibre optic cable also goes round Mt. Kenya to cover the towns of Nanyuki, Meru and Embu. The fibre cable is now the main backhaul for the 70-odd WiMAX base-stations in different parts of the country. Kenya is now truly on the path to becoming an electronically wired country. The laying of the fibre optic cables in the country should become the backbone of national future development. It will bring virtually all of Kenya into close links with the rest of the world.

In a largely agricultural but rapidly developing country like Kenya, the fast flow of data is vital in linking farmers and small businesspeople, especially in the rural areas, with essential services and potential markets. Kenya will soon become one of the few African countries that are able to receive and transmit almost unlimited volumes of information and data, thanks to efforts of companies like KDN.

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Philanthropic Projects

With the idea of providing connectivity to all, KDN, in conjunction with Kenya SchoolNet, is working on a project to donate free wireless communication and Internet access for connecting schools and marginalised youth and communities. KDN is also working with the Eagle Unlimited ICT4 E&D project, which strives to facilitate education, social and economical development to the marginalised, underemployed and physically challenged.

KDN Products & Services

Butterfly Wi-Fi

Intended to be used for wireless devices and LANs (Local Area Network) like in offices or homes, but is now often used for Internet access. It enables a person with a wirelessenabled computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) to connect to the Internet when in proximity of an access point called a hotspot.

KDN is now setting up mobile internet/networking products that end users with Wi-Fi enabled computers and PDAs to link to ISPs and other service providers or to their offices in a more or less transparent way to take advantage of the systems. KDN will market this under the Brand name Butterfly Freedom

The main advantages of Wi-Fi

• Usesanunlicensedbitofthebroadcastspectrum, this means less regulatory controls.

• ManyNotebookcomputerscomewithinbuilt Wi-Fi devices. 90% of Laptops produced last year were Wi-Fi enabled.

• ManyreliableandinexpensiveWi-Fiproducts in the market.

• WhileconnectedonaWi-Finetwork,it is possible to move about without breaking the network connection.

Butterfly ADSL

KDN has embarked on an exciting venture to offer services to the homes. This will through a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection. DSL is a very high-speed connection backhauled on fiber.

This enables KDN to provide fast, reliable and affordable internet to all its users.

Benefits of this service are:

• ConnectallPC’stotheinternetviaasingle broadband connection.

• Enjoyimprovedqualityon-lineactivitiessuch as gaming & Shopping

• EnjoyIPTvandVoIPservices

• AccesstoButterflyCameraatyourhouse for traffic updates.

• Enjoyincentivessuchasrebatesoninstallation, reduced cost of service, and bonus airtime for our broad-band service.

Butterfly Portal

Kenya has very low internet penetration due to lack of infrastructure and local content.

We are developing a “shopping mall” concept for internet services where users get free access to the internet.

The Butterfly portal by Kenya Data Networks will provide a platform that will provide Kenyans with an avenue to exchange information store it and develop the local internet market.

All clients connected to the KDN network across the country will have access to local content at no cost whatsoever.

We are seeking to enter into partnership with content providers interested in expanding their distribution channels. The Portal will be available to everyone using the Butterfly (metropolitan wireless

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Hi-tech turns Kenya green: KDN staffers Evelyne (above) plants a seedling with a local boy in Siaya while

Wangombe (below) joins students to plant a tree in Isiolo.

network) and KDN ADSL network across the country.

The Butterfly portal will provide content to schools across the country in the KDN i-schools initiative.

International gateway

KDN holds a license to provide Internet backbone and gateway services. Currently we are doing over 75% of all outbound internet traffic in Kenya. With our participation in the TEAMS, SEACOMM and other Submarine projects, we expect to bring faster, cheaper and efficient services including cable TV. We shall live up to our promise of providing low cost bandwidth that will generate reliable highspeed broadband service.

Izzytalk

VoIP allows one to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition, wireless “hot spots” in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly. This service enables clients get digital quality communication while at the same time save their company costs associated with the normal telephony.

This service converts voice into a digital signal that travels over the Butterfly Wi-Fi network To use this service, register your Softphone on your PDA or Laptop with the KDN 5 Million numbers provider and TALK within the butterfly network begins….

Home office

The home office solution is an extension of the services we provide to our corporate clients. We provide clients with a link from their homes to the office so that they are able to access the internet and the LAN at the comfort of their homes.

• WeuseWIFItechnologyi.eourbutterflyproduct in the areas where we do have the coverage and will even consider providing coverage in the areas where we do not have it. We use radio/antennae in the areas where we do not have the butterfly coverage.

• Theserviceisonanunlimitedaccessbasis and therefore no limit on the usage time.

Tel: +254-20-500000www.kdn.co.ke

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Isolutions Associates – Isols in short – is a Nairobi-based IT network security provider whose products reduce systems’ downtime while ensuring information confidentiality and integrity.

As network security consultants Isols concentrates on system hygiene, containment of viral outbreak, data availability, confidentiality and integrity.

The single most important reason for each Isols IT product is the satisfaction of the client. It is why it proudly asserts that its Reliable Support + Finest Products = Peace of Mind.

Founded in 2005, Isols provides comprehensive IT solutions because it has strategic relationships with stalwart global ICT companies. These include Kaspersky Labs, Tripwire, Cyberoam, Websence, InfoWatch and GFI Software.

These firms have in turn appointed Isols their authorised resellers. Isols is the sole authorised partner of Kaspersky Labs and Tripwire products in East Africa. Isols has in turn made making Kaspersky the security solution of choice in the region its primary goal.

The guiding light for Isols is the customer, which is why the company insists on customising its products or solutions to the customer’s unique needs.

Isols impressive and satisfied client base includes, but is not limited to, Kenya’s National Assembly, blue chip telephony firm Safaricom, banking giant Co-operative Bank, the Kenya

Revenue Authority, several government ministries, Centenary Bank of Uganda and government agencies across East Africa.

The IT security solutions Isols provides include:

∞ Anti-virus;∞ Content Filtering;∞ Firewalls, Integrated Security Appliance (UTMs);∞ Network Management;∞ Encryption;∞ Change and Configuration Audit;∞ Backup and Data Recovery;∞ Data Leakage Protection; and,∞ IDS/IPS

Corporate Antivirus

Isols specialises in high-performance virus protection and content security products and services. Its solutions have advanced centralized management capabilities that are scalable for any enterprise network or desktop.

Kaspersky Lab delivers the world’s most immediate protection against IT security threats, including viruses, spyware, crime ware, hackers, phishing and spam.

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Kaspersky Lab products provide superior detection rates and then industry’s fastest outbreak response time for home users, SMBs, large enterprises and the mobile computing environment. Kaspersky’s antivirus unique selling propositions include:

∞ Fast response to virus outbreaks;∞ Very small antivirus files; and,∞ Very low resource utilisation

Content Filtering Software

Most research findings have shown that less than half of internet usage during office hours is work-related. Websense content control/filtering solutions are tailored to ensuring that company internet usage policies are observed without causing too much discomfort among employees.

Network Management and Monitoring

Isols clients can manage their LAN from a single console, monitoring traffic and assessing their networks for vulnerabilities with network management tools. Isols solutions include Solarwinds, Retina Security Scanner and GFI array of products.

∞ GFI and Solarwinds solutions include:∞ Scans computers in the network for

security vulnerabilities∞ Monitors severs and routers to ensure

total integrity and availability∞ Remote/central deployment of

application and Microsoft patches; and,∞ Penetrating and testing and vulnerability

assessment.

End Point Security

The proliferation of consumer devices such as iPods, USB drives, smart phones and other has increased the risk of data leakage and malicious activity on networks. GFI End Point Security allows administrators to

actively manage user access and log the activity of iPods, USB drives, CDs, laptops and network cards.

Firewalls and Integrated Security Systems

Firewalls combine the best gateway technologies available from stateful inspection to VoIP. Firewalls are a means of protecting networks by implementing access control to and from the internet.

Isols offers both traditional firewalls like Cisco ASA and UTM appliances like Cyberoam.

Cyberoam’s unique user identity-based Internet Security Appliances solve today’s need to control individual user behavior to ensure comprehensive threat management.

It gives complete visibility into “Who is doing What” in the network and allows policies to be created at the user level based on work profiles.

Backup & Data Recovery

Data protection scalable from the desktop to the data centre is the benchmark for data backup and recovery in today’s IT environments.

Regardless of the type or size of business VERITAS backup solutions protect critical data, simplify the management of data, backup and recovery and provide consistent, reliable data protection.

Encryption

PGP secures e-mails, disks and volumes for office and home PCs. The solutions allow enterprises to deploy gateway and desktop-based encryption based on specific requirements for data security within an organisation.

PGP products can secure internal and external communications, data stored

on servers, desktops and laptops, and automated backups and data transfers.

Change Audit & Configuration Assessment

Tripwire is a change audit and configuration management solution that baselines (set approved standards) and then monitors the systems of unathorised changes. A client can monitor directory servers such as Active Directories, database systems and file servers, Exchange, IIS and network nodes (Cisco, Nokia, Nortell, Juniper) for configuration changes and issue user-friendly reports on the same.

Data Leakage Protection

InfoWatch develops anti-inside security systems that detect and prevent confidential data leakage through any communication channels. This solution protects the information from leaks on the whole perimeter of an informational system, both on communication servers and on workstations.

Consultancy

Apart from the foregoing, Isols enables clients:∞ Develop sound IT security systems;∞ Carry out vulnerability assessment

of networks before recommending security solutions;

∞ Implement, reconfigure and manage security solutions; and,

∞ Customise service agreement solutions;

Tel: +254-20-2349887+254-20-2113271Cell phone: +254-722 331935E-mail: info@isolutions.co.keWebsite: www.isolutions.co.ke

CEO, James Kinyua

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CHAPTER 11Transport and Logistics

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Since it was first developed in the time of British colonial rule in the late 19th Century, the Port of Mombasa has provided a main gateway for Kenya’s international trade.

With a history spanning many centuries, including when dhows called at the old port on the north side of Mombasa Island, the Port of Mombasa is today the premier port of call in East and Central Africa, handling about 13 million tonnes of cargo each year, including 3 million tonnes of transit shipment.

As Kenya’s biggest and busiest seaport, Mombasa is the doorway to a vast hinterland where people depend on agriculture and economic growth for their livelihood.

It essentially serves the hinterland of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Northern Tanzania.

The Port of Mombasa is a superb natural harbour with first-class shelter and an abundance of deepwater berths for large vessels such as bulk carriers, container ships, motor vehicle carriers and luxury cruise ships.

For those in trade – particularly transshipment consignments – the port offers a broad range of shipping services to key destinations around the world. The port’s major markets encompass Western Europe, Asia, the Far East, the Americas and the rest of Africa.

The port also provides anchorage and storage for regular feeder services between Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, Durban, Mogadishu, Djibouti and Dubai.

Container services are provided entirely by liner vessels, while other types of cargo are carried by a mixture of liner and hobo vessels.

The leading sea goods trans-shipment centre in the region

The port of Mombasa is excellently located on the east coast of Africa and midway between the South African port of Durban and other major ports in the Red Sea and Middle East.

Doorway to a vast hinterland: Aerial view of a section of the Port of Mombasa.

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The port is efficiently equipped to handle a wide range of cargoes, including dry bulks such as grain, fertilisers, cement and soda ash and liquid bulks such as crude oil and oil products as well as bagged products (coffee, tea, sugar, etc) break bulks (iron and steel, timber), motor vehicles, machinery and containerized cargo.

The fastest growing traffic is containers, which are handled at a dedicated terminal with Ship-to-Shore Gantry (STGs) cranes and a full range of yard equipment.

It is the best connected port of call in the East Africa region after Durban, with 17 shipping lines calling and direct connectivity to over 80 ports.

The Port of Mombasa is run by the Kenya Ports Authority, which was established on 20th January 1978 through an Act of Parliament.

It has a close working relationship with the neighboring Moi International Airport for clients intending to connect by flight to various destinations of the world.

The KPA envisions to be rated amongst the best top 20 ports in the world in terms of status and performance by the year 2010.

The port has round-the-clock (24/7) working schedules, a system that has been interfaced with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) systems, enabling flawless movement of crucial documents between the two institutions for the convenience of customers.

There is also a Container Freight Stations (CFS) component where customers using

CFSs can execute documents online. This is a brilliant IT system that helps in relieving saturated container terminals through a smooth flow of information on container movement.

The Authority’s mission is to facilitate seaborne trade in the most efficient manner by progressively benchmarking its operational targets to internationally acceptable standards.

With key objectives anchored on improvement of managerial, operational, financial, performance and IT compliance, the KPA targets to be a full e-port by the turn of the year.

Round-the-clock efforts are employed in ensuring that the port is well developed and maintained, with efficient facilities and infrastructure to meet up with customer needs.

The Authority aims at promoting the Port of Mombasa as a chief gateway to the Great Lakes region and also serves the Horn of Africa and beyond.

The KPA’s desire is to uphold and promote a clean, safe, work and rewarding environment and integrating its functionality in the development of the country by instilling sound corporate governance practices.

To achieve this goal, the KPA invests abundantly in Information Technology (IT) programmes which cover every aspect of port operations, competitively placing the Port of Mombasa among world ports.

Tel: +254-041-211299www.kpa.co.ke

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Ferry services, a crucial transit system, in the world-famous city of Mombasa, started early in the last century. Then they were manually operated pontoons tied by cables to both ends of the channel.

Later they were modified to use engine boat propulsion beforeculminating in today’s cherished vessels. The Kenya FerryServices (KFS) Managing Director Mr John Ria walked Best ofKenya through the development of the transit system.

Q. The Kenya Ferry Services is an integral segment of Kenya’s overall transport system. Briefly, what is the history of KFS?

A. The era of modern ferry operations began in Mombasa in 1937. Kenya Bus Services Ltd, a privately owned-company operating on a franchise arrangement with the Municipal Council of Mombasa, took over the running of the ferry services at Likoni and Mtongwe and introduced modern ferries named St Christopher, St Michael and Mvita in 1969 and Safina in 1975.

However, in November 1989 the Kenya Bus Services sold the ferries to the government, which in turn handed over the vessels and staff to the state-run parastatal Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to continue with the ferry operations.

KPA turned one of its subsidiaries into the Kenya Ferry Services Limited and commenced the modern operations.

Q. How many ferries does KFS operate and how reliable are they?

A. The Kenya Ferry Services runs five large vessels

which ply the Likoni channel that links Mombasa Island to the South Coast beach resorts, its agricultural rich hinterland - which serves as the bread and fruit basket of Mombasa - the southern part of Tanzania and the Congo region.

KFS also operates two ferry services across the 500-metre wide Kilindini channel, which runs horizontally to the shipping gateway into the port of Mombasa.

The Likoni crossing connects trunk road A15 between Mombasa Island and the Mainland South, leading to the Diani tourist haven, some 40 kilometres south and beyond to the Kenya-Tanzania border.

The Mtongwe ferry is a passenger-only service that operates between 0500hrs –1000hrs and 1600hrs – 2000hrs every day except Sundays and serves the residents of Mtongwe, a densely populated residential suburb situated on the south west of the mainland south of Mombasa.

KFS has a state-of-the art maintenance facility which, among other things, tremendously boosts vessel availability and reliability.

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Construction work is at an advanced stage on the mainland side which apart from containing parking lots for public service vehicles, will also house pedestrian and passenger shelters, public pay toilets and modern business stalls on both sides.

Q. How is the security of passengers organised both on board and across the channels?

A. In line with the International Ship and Port Security code, KFS has put in place an integrated surveillance system consisting of watch-towers, vehicle checks, passenger scrutiny at both ends of the channel and a meticulous crowd control system.

Plans are at an advanced stage for installation of Closed Circuit TV surveillance systems to detect any possible threats that might compromise maritime security. This is in addition to the well-trained KFS security personnel as well as the regular and secret Kenya Police officers on duty 24 hours a day.

Q. Huge ships and other sea-going vessels enter the Port of Mombasa through the Likoni channel; how do you ensure the safety of both the ferries and incoming and exiting vessels?

A. All vessels operating inside the Port of Mombasa are controlled through VHF radio by KPA lighthouse control tower. The ferries are similarly on VHF radio 24 hours a day. Ships and other incoming and exiting vessels have by law the right of way. Ferries therefore always allow them to pass before crossing the channel.

Q. Currently KFS operates ferries only at the Likoni and Mtongwe channels. Are there plans of broadening the services?

A. Plans are already underway to venture into providing services in a wider scope along Kenya’s coastline as well as diversifying their products to include sea cruises and party rides in the channels of Mombasa and nearby islands.

We are also laying strategies for entering the lucrative Lake Victoria market, buoyed by the imminent integration of the East African economies under the East African Community.

There are also plans for provision of bunkering for sea-faring vessels, a service currently monopolised by the private sector.

Tel: +254-041-2451351www.kenyaferry.co.ke

Q. What is the lifespan of a ferry and how do you guarantee the safety of the users?

A. The economic lifespan of most of our ferries is 25 years. We do however refurbish them to comply with international maritime standards in the event of expiry.

And, in tandem with International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) requirements, KFS has put in place various security and safety measures.

We have an elaborate internationally benchmarked safety policy that ensures the provision of all safety gadgetry and trained staff on board all our vessels.

The flat-hulled, twin-engine ferries currently in use can be navigated on one engine should the other fail. In the unlikely event of both engines failing, the Coxswain can either use the services of the onboard mechanics to address the problem, or summon tow services which are readily available on other ferries.

As a last resort the coxswain may use the anchor to stop the ferry until help arrives. The anchor is gravity-driven and does not rely on the engine. An anchor has not been so used since the start of the ferry service at Likoni in 1937.

The flat hull also provides sufficient displacement which ensures floating at all times. Vessel stability is further ensured by independent ballast tanks underneath that are filled with water to maximize stability and cancel any possibility of tilting.

The available space on board for vehicles and passengers is restricted and leaves absolutely no room for overloading. These vessels are structurally different from the ill –fated, cone-hulled Mtongwe I which sank in 1994.

On board all the vessels are modern safety gadgets and equipment, ranging from life rafts, life jackets, fire-fighting equipment and First Aid Kit, to mention but few, for use in an emergency.

These safety measures are complimented by a well-trained KFS staff in line with international sea-faring requirements.

Q. How many passengers use the ferries daily?

A. Each day, the ferries transport an average of 180,000 people to and from the South Coast and some 3,100 vehicles in scheduled 15-minute off-peak and 7.5-minute peak-time shuttles.

This translates into a whopping 67 million passengers and 1.1 million vehicles per year, with an average 8 and 5 per cent increase respectively over the last decade.

Projections for the next five years based on the above averages show that traffic is expected to peak at 74.5 million passengers and 1.38 million vehicles per year by 2010.

Q. How do you deal with congestion given the large numbers of people and vehicles crossing the channel?

A. Indeed, to keep up with the spiraling traffic demands, KFS has plans to purchase two new vessels to replace part of the current fleet of five.

The flat-hulled MV Nyayo has a capacity of 1,200 passengers and 60 vehicles, while MV Harambee and MV Kilindini together carry 1,440 passengers and 40 cars.

In a bid to streamline the increasing traffic, KFS has embarked on the construction of two public service termini on both sides of the channel.

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not even the sky is the limitKenya Airways, the national carrier, is truly the pride of Kenya and the entire African continent. It is the only airline in Africa that has so far escaped largely unscathed from the turbulence within the global air travel industry.

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In 2008, Kenya Airways, known to many as KQ, won the top Company of the Year Award for strategic planning and emergency preparedness. Its Human Resources Manager, Paul Kasimu, was voted Manager of the Year.

As one of the best managed companies in the country, Kenya Airways has been and remains an important emissary of Kenya’s booming tourism industry. The national carrier is the preferred choice for many tourists wishing to enjoy the country’s unrivalled natural beauty and hospitality.

KQ flies to more destinations around the world than any other African airline. It entered into a fruitful partnership with the Dutch national airline KLM through Shareholders and Master Cooperation Agreements. It has become an excellent strategic partnership.

From the time of the agreement that brought KLM aboard as a strategic partner, Kenya Airways has been a unique company, with three types of shareholding that include the Government and the general public.

In addition to the high recognition and numerous accolades that Kenya Airways has received between 1996 and 2008, both locally and internationally, the national carrier has been one of the Kenya Government’s most valuable investments. Among the numerous honours Kenya Airways has bagged are the African Airline of Choice, Best Regional Airline, Flying Blue and the Best Frequent Flier Programme run by the respected Travel News & Lifestyle magazine in 2008. Its onboard publication, Msafiri, was also voted the Best In-flight Magazine.

A two-year renewal of the registration of Kenya Airways for the International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) of the International Air Travel Association (IATA) was granted in 2007. In the same year, Kenya’s national flag carrier joined SkyTeam as an Associate Airline. Internally, Kenya Airways established a leadership centre known as the Pride Centre and also started the Flying Blue Service Centre. KQ has expanded its routes

on the African continent, starting with flights to Monrovia, Cotonou and Mayotte.

The airline owns a number of modern aircraft, including Boeing 787, 777, 767, 757 and 737-400. Other aircraft mainly used for internal flights include the Brazilian manufactured Ambraer 58. With the variety of modern state-of-the-art aircraft for domestic, regional and long-haul international flights it has, Kenya Airways has established itself as a safe and popular airline.

Established as a national carrier in February 1977, immediately after the demise of East African Airways, following the collapse of the East African Community (EAC), Kenya Airways has undergone tremendous growth from rather humble beginnings. With the few aircraft – including the Boeing 707s, MacDonnell Douglas DC-9s, ageing DC-3 turboprops and Dutch-made Fokker Friendships – it inherited from the collapsed East African Airways, the national carrier embarked on an ambitious strategic growth plan.

Kenya Airways soon began to purchase or lease newer aircraft while also modernising its ground maintenance and repair facilities as well as recruiting and training highly qualified personnel for various ground and flight activities. At its headquarters in the old Embakasi Airport in Nairobi and the nearby ultra-modern Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where it has its main operational centre, Kenya Airways has highly skilled personnel in fields ranging from aircraft maintenance and repair to in-flight hospitality.

Both in 2005 and in 2006, Kenya Airways was voted the Most Respected Company in East Africa, as its profits continued to soar. The airline reported a record pre-tax profit of KSh4,829 million (around $82 million at current exchange rates) on March 31st, 2006, marking a 24 per cent growth from the previous year’s figure of KSh3,882 million ($67 million).

During the same year, the airline won the prestigious African Aviation Award of the respected African Aviation magazine. It had earlier won similar awards for three consecutive years from the London-based publication between 1999 and 2001.

In 2005, Kenya Airways became the first airline in sub-Saharan Africa ever to achieve the IOSA standards of the IATA after rigorous verification and testing. The airline passed all the various safety and operational tests with flying colours. During the same year, KQ took delivery of two sparkling new Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, bringing its total of this ultra-modern long-range carrier to three.

The first aircraft of the type had been delivered a year earlier. Two new routes, one to Istanbul in Turkey and the other to Bamako in Mali and Dakar in Senegal were also launched the same year.

Tel: +254-20-642000www.kenya-airways.com

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Siginon is an ISO-certified company serving various countries in the world through its World Cargo Alliance (WCA) network. Siginon will be celebrating 25 years of existence next year, having been set up in 1985. It started from a humble clearing and forwarding firm with three staff members to its current state of being one of the market leaders in logistics and transportation, employing directly 258 employees.

With its head office in Mombasa, the gateway to the eastern Africa region, and branches in Nairobi and Eldoret, Siginon

boasts being strategically located in a hub of logistics both in sea and air cargo.

From a clearing and forwarding company, Siginon has over the years grown and expanded into fulltime logistics and transportation. Today their business is spread into the following fields;

The Siginon Transport Division, with a modern fleet of over 70 trucks, is run by professional staff and backed by tracking

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Siginon Freight Ltd

Siginon Freight Ltd (SFL) is a leading logistics solutions company in the region with various business units that include a road transport division, clearing and forwarding division, warehousing, Kencont Logistics CFS, Transworld Shipping, and Siginon Cargo Centre – an airline ground handling service.

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systems that ensure clients’ cargo is safe and delivered within the specified time. Siginon upholds integrity, working within the required rules and regulations of the law of the particular country being served.

Siginon boasts a three-year fatal accident-free record and endeavours to uphold this in the future.

The Siginon Cargo Centre Division is one of the four licensed transit sheds in Kenya, and the only one with locations both at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Eldoret International Airport. Cargo Centres offer airlines/planes cargo ground handling/warehousing services. With the world being what it is today, security and safety are paramount to the airlines. Siginon has therefore ensured full compliance in these areas.

The Siginon Clearing, Forwarding and Warehousing Division is the division charged with the responsibilities of providing logistics solutions to their customers through warehousing, clearing and forwarding. SFL offers both sea and air freight clearance.

With 24 years of experience, they have been in the forefront in giving personalised, friendly yet efficient services to their customers. SFL will give its customers the professional guidance having worked closely with KRA Customs over the years, and nurtured a professional relationship.

Their customers range from major importers and exporters in both the sea and air sectors, to the small businessman in this field.

Kencont Logistics, a fully-owned Siginon company, provides Container Freight Station (CFS) logistics, handling vehicles, and, more recently, containers imported into the country.

CFS act on behalf of the Kenya Ports Authority. Their proximity to the port (2.5km) has led to faster turnaround of cargo and safety and zero security incidence over the last five years,

making them the CFS of choice. In 2008 they handled 8,000 units of cars through their car terminal port.

Transworld Shipping, a subsidiary of Siginon, deals with all sea shippingrelated matters.

The Company’s mission is to be the best provider of logistics solutions to their esteemed customers’ satisfaction, using the latest technology, through a highly motivated professional staff. Their values revolve around customer service, integrity, quality and a safety culture.

Here every employee is expected to exhibit high standards of integrity and professionalism. The Company believes in upholding very high standards of morality, honesty, sincerity and openness. They promote and operate within a culture of transparency, honesty and respect for and upholding the laws of this country.

The Company always endeavours to proactively ensure a safe and clean environment and, under corporate social responsibility (CSR), Siginon remains a socially responsible and ethical corporate citizen and supports the community in its development activities.

Being a logistics company Siginon’s services are spread globally, working with agents in various countries. Their service delivery footprint is found in Europe, the Middle East, America, Africa, Australia and the Far East and she is a member of WCA, hence its global presence through various agencies that enable the picking up of cargo from anywhere in the world into the East African and Great Lakes region. Locally, Siginon covers the East Africa and the Great Lakes region.

Over the last 24 years, Siginon has evolved from a small clearing and forwarding firm to a giant within the logistics and transportation industry.

This growth has been phenomenal. Siginon’s business ethics and practices have been the cornerstone of this outstanding growth and success. In an industry dogged by corruption, Siginon has upheld integrity and received commendations to this end from law enforcement agencies like the Police Department.

It has been the envy of the industry in terms of skills, competencies and commitments in discharging their duties. Technologically, they have continuously invested in the latest and most relevant technology, putting them a step ahead of the best competition.

Knowing well that good businesses thrive from continuous investment, Siginon plans to invest an extra KSh1 billion in 2009 towards business expansion and growth strategy, over and above the more than KSh3.8 billion already invested. The return on investment in all their business lines has been at approximately 25% over the last 5 years.

Siginon has had a number of milestones marking part of their success. They range from the Sondu Miriu Hydroelectric Project, where they provided the logistics services to the main contractors in ensuring the project was completed within the schedule time, to the Mombasa Road, part of the Northern Corridor, in which they provided the main contractor on the road with all the logistics services.

They have also scooped the Lafarge Safety Award, in the Safety on the Road Category. Under CSR, Siginon has an education scholarship that takes seven children from a poor background in the Coast region through high school.

Tel: +254-041-2314150 www.siginon.com

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CHAPTER 12Property and Real Estate

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Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York-based global partner Newmark Knight Frank operate from over165 of ces, in 37 countries, in six continents inestablished and emerging property markets. With acombined staff number of more than 5,300, this major force in real estate is meeting the local and global needs of owners, occupiers, investors and developers worldwide. Knight Frank has 17 of ces in 9 countries in Africa, where Knight Frank is the only top London practice making a serious and growing commitment.

Since its inception in 1998, Knight Frank Kenya has grown to become a market leader in East Africa, offering a full range of property consultancy services, in all property sectors, which include agency (letting and selling), property management, valuation, building surveying, project management, development advice, site acquisition, research, corporate nance and investment management.This limited company, a joint venture with First Chartered Securities, forms part of the Knight Frank Global Network.

Knight Frank Kenya sets the same standard to professionalism and integrity in Kenya that is found in all of the Knight Frank Global Network. With an emphasis on transparency and accountability, Knight Frank Kenya has established itself as a leader in real estate in Kenya, raising the level of performance expectations within the marketplace. In Kenya, Knight Frank employs over 60 of ce staff and provides services in the commercial, retail and residential markets in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Knight Frank Kenya also works closely with Knight Frank Tanzania and Knight Frank Uganda and has done work through out East and Central Africa in various countries such as Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Mauritius and Seychelles completing a regional network that links with the Knight Frank group’s expanding Central and South African interests. In Kenya, Knight Frank is synonymous with the sale and rental of high quality residential and commercial property and currently manages over 400 prime market residential units and over of 1,500,000 square feet of commercial property controlling the upper end of the residential and commercial markets in Kenya.

Knight Frank Kenya’s clients include various leading banks, lending institutions and insurance companies, Diplomatic missions and Embassies, Oil companies, Universities, as well as many public sector institutions, manufacturers, agricultural enterprises, international investors, foreign governments, hotels and developers.

Trading as Knight Frank Kenya Ltd Knight Frank (Valuers) LtdLion Place Waiyaki Way, WestlandsP.O. Box 39773, Parklands, Nairobi, 00623 KenyaTel: +(254) (0)20 4440174 – 6 +(254) (0)20 4442167 – 9 +(254) (0)20 4440040Fax: +(254) (0)722-520773 or 733-603260 MobileE-Mail: info@ke.knightfrank.comWebsite: www.knightfrank.com

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Amenities and F acilities

• Swimming pool and Health Club• Children’s adventure play area• Satellite TV• Landscaped grounds, ponds and fountains• 24 hour security and alarm systems• State-of-the-art electronic access control system• Walled compound with electric fencing and guard service• Borehole water supply and storage tanks• Intercom and telephone provisions• Back-up generators• Lifts• Maintenance team on site

Gym Location Map

Riverside Park, Nairobi

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York-based global partner Newmark Knight Frank operate from over165 of�ces, in 37 countries, in six continents inestablished and emerging property markets. With acombined staff number of more than 5,300, this major force in real estate is meeting the local and global needs of owners, occupiers, investors and developers worldwide. Knight Frank has 17 of�ces in 9 countries in Africa, where Knight Frank is the only top London practice making a serious and growing commitment.

Since its inception in 1998, Knight Frank Kenya has grown to become a market leader in East Africa, offering a full range of property consultancy services, in all property sectors, which include agency (letting and selling), property management, valuation, building surveying, project management, development advice, site acquisition, research, corporate �nance and investment management.This limited company, a joint venture with First Chartered Securities, forms part of the Knight Frank Global Network.

Knight Frank Kenya sets the same standard to professionalism and integrity in Kenya that is found in all of the Knight Frank Global Network. With an emphasis on transparency and accountability, Knight Frank Kenya has established itself as a leader in real estate in Kenya, raising the level of performance expectations within the marketplace. In Kenya, Knight Frank employs over 60 of�ce staff and provides services in the commercial, retail and residential markets in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Knight Frank Kenya also works closely with Knight Frank Tanzania

and Knight Frank Uganda and has done work through out East and Central Africa in various countries such as Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Mauritius and Seychelles completing a regional network that links with the Knight Frank group’s expanding Central and South African interests. In Kenya, Knight Frank is synonymous with the sale and rental of high quality residential and commercial property and currently manages over 400 prime market residential units and over of 1,500,000 square feet of commercial property controlling the upper end of the residential and commercial markets in Kenya.

Knight Frank Kenya’s clients include various leading banks, lending institutions and insurance companies, Diplomatic missions and Embassies, Oil companies, Universities, as well as many public sector institutions, manufacturers, agricultural enterprises, international investors, foreign governments, hotels and developers.

Trading as Knight Frank Kenya LtdKnight Frank (Valuers) Ltd Lion Place Waiyaki Way, Westlands P.O. Box 39773, Parklands, Nairobi, 00623 Kenya+(254) (0)20 4440174 – 6+(254) (0)20 4442167 – 9+(254) (0)20 4440040Fax+(254) (0)722-520773 or 733-603260 MobileE-Mail: info@ke.knightfrank.comWebsite: www.knightfrank.com

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CHAPTER 13Media and Marketing

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Magazines publisher with a mission

Q. When did you first entertain the idea of going into publishing?

A. I have always loved writing. In high school, I was the editor of the school magazine in 1974.

When I finished high school I approached quite a number of publishers to publish my articles and Hilary Ng’weno, the publisher of the now-defunct Weekly Review – Kenya’s first analytical political and business magazine - gave me audience and hired me as his motoring correspondent in 1984.

He gave me lessons in writing and publishing which have been my guiding principles in writing and publishing.

He told me to do my research thoroughly before writing. He also advised me never to undermine or write something negative that would destroy my country.

Q. What motivated you to plunge into publishing?

A. The first article in the Weekly Review magazine got me a lot of compliments from readers. This motivated me to continue writing regularly.

I later joined the Daily Nation newspaper, also as a motoring correspondent, before I launched my own motoring magazine in 1991.

My inspiration in journalism has been Ng’weno, Isaiah Kabira (Head of the Presidential Press Service), Herman Igambi – a former Editor-in-Chief of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation - and esteemed News Editor and trainer Mutegi Njau (now of the trend-setting Royal Media Services).

Q. How many titles does Media7 Group own?

A. Media7 Group has six specialised niche magazines, namely the Motor Monthly, Lifestyle magazine (a young ladies’ lifestyle magazine), HM magazine (His Magazine – now the only men’s-only lifestyle magazine in East Africa) and Business Monthly (the only serious business magazine that is published monthly).

Others are Mum and Dad, (the first professional parents’ magazine) and Her Hanningtone Gaya

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(the first young women’s magazine which celebrates the unsung heroines).

We however intend to have seven titles and ultimately go into television broadcasting.

Q. Why must you publish all these magazines?

A. My main motivation in publishing all these titles is to inform Kenyans. I feel that Kenyans still do not have enough sources of well-researched and in-depth articles in both specialised writing and lifestyle.

Am an expert in motoring and a fellow of the Institute of the Motor Industry. I was the first African in the Commonwealth to hold that qualification.

Q. How do you find magazine publishing?

A. Magazine publishing in Kenya is extremely challenging.

Kenyan advertisers do not believe in advertising in magazines, therefore there is no advertising revenue to sustain magazine publishing. Kenyans do not like reading books or magazines, which undermines magazine circulation and subscription.

Most magazine publishers carry very shallow articles which are not well researched. The magazines appear sporadically and therefore disappointing to loyal readers, subscribers and advertisers.

Some magazine publishers do not go into the publishing trade with good intentions, which means their products can’t last. The high cost of printing and poor quality in colour printing is a major disadvantage in Kenya.

Q. Who are your target clients?

A. My target clients are Kenyans who love in-depth and well researched information. These are the clients who consume foreign magazines.

My magazines are well distributed throughout East Africa by our distributors. 70 per cent of our products are bought in Kenya, 20 per cent in Uganda and 10 per cent in Tanzania.

Q. Do you contemplate getting into weekly and daily publishing?

A. Yes. First I want to get into TV and then daily news publishing. This is because I see a gap in socio-economic news reporting. Indeed I want to change the Kenyan mindset and convince them that media content is more than the screaming politics that occupy Kenyan daily newspapers.

Am also tempted to get into weekly newspaper publishing.

Q. What is your take on the Kenya media?

A. The Kenyan media is stereotyped and copy-cat. This confuses the consumers. The Kenya media has refused to recognise

investing in human resources. My hope is to recruit the best professionals and pay them well to discharge their duties. My view is that the Kenyan media has for too long glorified mediocrity in its human resource pooling. I wish they can niche.

Q. Where do you see the Media7 Group in the next 10 years?

A. I see the Media7 Group being the pacesetter in professionalism with the best niche magazines, a TV station, and a respected socio- economic daily newspaper. I see myself achieving these even before 10 years elapse.

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King of Outdoor Advertising

Magnate Ventures Limited is Kenya’s outdoor advertising company of choice, with neon-lit billboards and creative imagery promoting a wide variety of products from both local and international firms.

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Its signage and advertising billboards are a common feature, dotting streets, buildings and other prominent places in the country’s main urban centres and major highways.

Magnate Ventures, now in its tenth year of operation, has developed into the leading promotional advertising and image projection firm in East Africa.

In 2008 the company was ranked sixth among the top 100 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) surveyed by reputable international accounting and polling firms, KPMG & Steadman.

Established in 1996 by indigenous Kenyan entrepreneurs, Magnate Ventures started operations after a two-year gestation period during which a solid foundation was laid forsuccess and future growth.

In 1999, Magnate Ventures made its first strategic acquisition when it bought Kenya Neon and General Signs, a long-standing firm and the best equipped signage company in Kenya at the time.

Through this acquisition, Magnate Ventures took a vital step in creating one of the strongest signage and image companies in the region. Association with a company that was already well known in the market gave Magnate Ventures a solid head start.

The company has since its first year of operation, experienced healthy growth patterns and is now well prepared to maintain sustained growth through expansion of its product lines and services to cover the entire East and Central African region.

Magnate Ventures’ focus is in strategic advertising development, printing, branding, supply, manufacture, installation and maintenance of indoor, outdoor signage and

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promotional materials. Its fundamental objective is to deliver highly visible and visually attractive images of customers’ products and services through creative artistic impression and strategic positioning.

The Company’s range of products includes billboards, screen printing, street lighting, suburban signs, bus shelters, digital advertising, electronic signage, wall branding services, road signs, and petrol station signage.

In recent years, Magnate Ventures has achieved rapid regional expansion and currently has operating bases in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan. Locally,

the Company enjoys unmatched presence in literally every location of mention. Magnate Ventures ensures that it meets the changing needs and requirements of the market by targeting technological changes in outdoor and indoor advertising and signage in readiness to meet customer expectations and demands.

The Company’s technological edge is maintained through constantly keeping in touch with developed markets and strategic partners. Use of the latest technology andequipment ensures increased efficiency in production and reduces delivery time, which results in cost-cutting and satisfied customers. The multi-skilling of company

personnel through vigorous training and development programmes ensures they are well equipped with new and appropriate skills and can, therefore, be in line with the changing trends in the market.

The Company now has close to 100 employees and an annual sales volume of around US$10 million.

Magnate Ventures is an ISO-certified Company, which means its services and products are of the highest international standards.

Tel: +254-20-550950/4www.magnate-ventures.com

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Located at Whitefield Place in Nairobi’s up-market Westlands citywithin-a-city, Exclamation Marketing is known for implementing creative and customised programmes that are designed to impact a client¹s specific business goals and objectives.

Unlike most advertising agencies whose promises sound the same and which appear to be all trying to employ as much jargon as

Why they acclaim Exclamation

Famed for its high standards and state-of-the-art advertising and marketing techniques, Exclamation Marketing Limited is a full-service marketing communications agency that offers advertising, public relations, and event management services.

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possible, Exclamation Marketing feels there is a better way to present its capabilities.The agency believes communication is the key to success and it is adept at effectively communicating clients’ messages to target audiences. Exclamation Marketing listens to clients’ needs, gains insight, and creates trusted extensions of marketing departments.

Founded in 1999, Exclamation Marketing serves big names in corporate Kenya as

well as non-governmental organisations and government entities. Over the years, Exclamation Marketing has provided PR and event management services to companies such as East African Breweries Limited, Old Mutual, Proctor and Gamble, HP, Bel International, Resolution Health, the World Bank, IFC (GOWE), Howard Humphreys, the Public Procurement Oversight Authority and more.

Exclamation Marketing has built a sound reputation for shrewd development and coordination of PR strategies, editorial material and media liaison. It is equally renowned for memorable corporate productlaunches, client celebrations, sports sponsorships, road shows and exciting experiential marketing activities.

On the advertising front, the Company believes in brand building campaigns which it implements in an integrated, cost effective and proactive manner. Chief Executive Officer Sue Omanga attributes the Company’s steady growth over the last 10 years to its commitment to client service, quality, creativity and innovation.

“We focus more on making the client win and not on award winning campaigns with no positive effect on the cash register or the clients’ bank account. There are many ads out there that are entertaining, but when it comes to building business for the client, they bring in very little. Our approach is different as evidenced by the long running campaigns that we have done for various clients and the long relationships we build.”

Exclamation Marketing has a fully-fledged audio visual department to capture, edit, catalogue and archive video and photography for all events. Besides capturing events, these images and footage are reserved as back-up to be used by media at the client’s request.Exclamation Marketing has bagged many awards for these exceptional services to

clients. Its energetic, fastpaced, and focused culture earned the firm the prestigious International Star for Leadership in Quality (ISLQ) award 2008 in Paris. ExclamationMarketing received the award in the gold category for its outstanding business achievements, perseverance and leadership in excellence and quality.

Other prestigious awards and recognitions Exclamation Marketing has won include:

• PublicSectorPRCampaignOfTheYear– 1st runner up – 2008 (By the Public Relations Society of Kenya – PRSK))

• PublicSectorPRCampaignOfTheYear–runner up – 2007 (By PRSK)

• BestStandAwardforExclamationMarketing Ltd at the Marketing Expo 2001

• 1stRunnersUpwiththePublicSectorPRCampaign of the Year, at the 2008 PRSK awards.

• 2ndrunnersupawardforthePublicSector PR Campaign of the Year at the 2007 PRSK awards in December.

• InternationalRecognitionAWARDinFrance presented by Bel Africa for outstanding work in Anglophone Africa - Oct 24th 2002.

Exclamation Marketing has its eyes on East Africa and is set to have a footprint in Uganda by the end of 2009.

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era of high competition in the Kenyan radio market, stations continue to try and replicate the programming, style and format of Capital FM with little success. We remain relevant, entertaining, informative and interactive all day: morning to morning. Our breakfast show ‘Capital in the Morning’ handles issues on the economy, society, and the political scene. It’s witty, fast-paced and full of laughs.

If you love ROCK!, want to know about the latest fashion and style, gadgets, hangouts, cool drinks, and hot outfits, our mid morning ‘Fuse’ show will take care of you – the young and upcoming socialite.

The afternoon airwaves on Kenyan radio are ruled by the ‘Afternoon Jam’-a fun-filled, raw, intelligent, and sometime cocky but always entertaining show, with the most unique style of music formatting each day-From the latest R&B, Slow Jams, 80’s classics, Neo Soul, and 90’s hits and New Jack swing.

Hits not Homework comes next, targeted at the young and young at heart, this show has attitude and energy, and gives the youth the chance to voice their opinions on everything from relationships, sex, partying, fashion, technology and much more. ‘Hits Not Homework’ plays the hottest and most current hip-hop, rap, crunk, and local tracks, coupled with music exclusives, interviews with your favorite artists and shout outs between different high schools, colleges and universities.

After the high octane energy of hits not homework –slow it down with ‘Late Night Capital’ our slow seductive way of winding down your evening. It will mend broken hearts, keep you in love and soothe your mind as you prepare to call it a night.

For all you night owls and international audience in different time zones, ‘Urban Nights’ is definitely your show, with hot jams and current affairs that will definitely hold your attention.

As your Official weekend Station we give you an equally amazing line up of non-stop mixes to put you in the mood on Friday and Saturday Nights.Watch out for the best syndicated countdown shows, including Rick Dees, Randy Jackson

98.4 Capital FM The Best Mix of Music!

‘We set the trends, and the others follow’. That’s one of the Capital FM’s philosophies, and remains Kenya’s most recognizable radio station, with its exceptional blend of music, energetic and witty radio personalities, fun interactive promotions and unique programming.

Launched in 1996, 98.4 Capital FM has created its own niche in the Kenyan radio market with its stand out style. Capital FM is a brand unlike any other in the Kenyan market, that continues to excite, entertain, stimulate and reward its listeners. Capital FM has the most loyal listeners of all stations, who have in turn been rewarded with consistent programming that continues to be a blueprint for the rest of the Kenyan radio market.

PROGRAMMINGIf you should ever traverse the airwaves moving from frequency to frequency, our guarantee is that you will not find a fresher, edgier sound than Capital FM Kenya.Capital FM Programmes have their finger on the pulse of the nation; our shows are informative, fun and definitely set the trend. With Kenya’s most energetic, witty, and lively presenters, we are often imitated, but never duplicated. In this

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and Ryan Sea-crest! The best of the best call Capital FM Home!

NEWSAs the company has grown, so has the News Department, confidently filling the competitive circle, where it has now earned the right to be one of the most respected news sources in the country. Speed, virtue, integral and expertise have played an integral part in this.

Comprising of a formidable team of journalists, editors, and news presenters, the Newsroom’s main task is to give out the information collected in a responsible, ethical and timely fashion. The objective of our in-depth news reports every top of the hour and informative features is to keep Kenyans abreast of the goings-on around them. Information is powerAs Kenyans become increasingly aware of their rights, more information is needed. And Capital News team is here, fully loaded, to meet their needs.

SALES AND MARKETINGThe Capital Sales team is client-driven, working as consultant rather than just regular sales representatives or account managers. Want to know more about our competitive rates, our account managers will be your perfect guides.Marketing in Capital FM is the nerve centre of the organization. Capital Marketing goes beyond the call of duty to link the client, the listener and the station. Capital Marketing keeps our award winning brand strong and recognizable. As part of our Social Corporate Responsibility, we initiate projects that uphold humanity and the rights of the less fortunate. We also sponsor organizations that do so.

CAPITAL CREATIVEThe 98.4 Capital Creative provides an integrated service available to all advertisers, advertising agencies, and promotions companies alike, forming a strategic arm of 98.4 Capital FM’s commercial production and promotions division.

They have consistently managed to keep up with high quality commercials and the best on-air promotions for the biggest brands in Kenya. The Creative Services department at 98.4 Capital FM is innovative, competent and will give your brand that extra edge needed to make an impact in the market.

EVENTSC.I.A (Capital Interactive Agents) is the unique arm of Capital FM that is charged with representing the brand on-ground. C.I.A. creates, develops, manages and, executes on-ground activations for the station and our clients and advertisers.

C.I.A. creates and manages opportunities for the listeners to experience the brand (98.4 Capital FM) and its attributes (The best Mix of Music) on a one-on-one basis. It offers experiential, on-site marketing to our clients and advertisers. C.I.A. consistently creates and develops cutting-edge promotions and activations that are unique and specific to each brand. From brand parties, to in-store promotions, road shows, cocktails, corporate parties, sports activations, launches, etc, we do it all!

While Capital FM delivers brand equity on air, C.I.A. delivers brand volumes. We make sure your target market interacts with, samples, and experiences your brand, redefining experiential marketing in Kenya through the creation of powerful and effective brand experiences!

CAPITAL DIGITAL MEDIAThe world has become a global village, and capital fm have found a way to connect all listeners worldwide through the Capital Digital media. This interactive media service that connects the Capital FM family to friends and fans all over the world by use of its website: www.capitalfm.co.ke.

In line with The Capital Group’s Mission, “To responsibly entertain, educate, and inform a

dynamic audience”. Capital’s Digital Media allows its audiences to make use of the powerful tool that is the Internet to access information ranging from:• News (www.capitalnews.com) , where one

can have access to breaking local and International news when it happens;

• Business (www.capitalbusiness.co.ke), with access to business news and features from industry experts;

• Radio (www.capitalradio.co.ke), where one can stream live radio, download ring tones, wallpaper, play games, enter radio contests, win tickets to events, and much more.

For Kenyans in the Diaspora, the website further serves the purpose of being one of the few links they have with home. The best part of it is that website users can not only listen to Capital FM from anywhere in the world, but they can also access breaking Kenyan news as well. With interactive and multimedia tools like live chat that allows listeners and presenters to interact, blogs, and music and video downloads, www.capital.fm.co.ke is a truly a community on the web, and a grand marketing tool that reaches a global audience who access our website. Capital Digital Media truly has a global presence that few companies in Kenya can boast of.

CBC TVCBC TV business television channel went live in February 2008 and ever since has been the source of business news on Kenyan television. CBC TV partnered with CNBC Africa to bring the Global business to your screen.

CBC TV on channel 47 is on the air round-the-clock, covering economic, financial and market analysis from around Africa and abroad. CBC TV promises to provide excellence in broadcasting.

TEL: 020-2210020 Website: www.capitalfm.co.ke

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Many classic adventure films were shot on location in Kenya, including The Snows of Kilimanjaro, starring Gregory Peck, King Solomon’s Mines, with Stewart Granger and Mogambo featuring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner.

Joy Adamson’s book Born Free was made into a hit movie filmed entirely on location in Kenya. George Adamson was to later take the trained lions that were used in the film and rehabilitate them in the wild.

The film’s stars, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, went on to form a charity – The Born Free Foundation – which continues to support conservation work in Kenya.

Hollywood’s greatest tribute to Kenya came with 1985’s Out of Africa. Adapted from Karen Blixen’s classic book, the film told the story of her life in colonial Kenya, with Meryl Streep in the lead role and Robert Redford playing her lover, Denys Finch Hatton.

Perfect Filming Locations

Some of the world’s best movies have been shot here

Kenya has long been a popular location for film production. Hollywood has a longstanding affair with Kenya that dates back to the 1930s.

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With stunning cinematography and a rich music score by John Barry, the film brought Kenya to life for audiences all over the world. It won 7 Oscars, including for Best Picture, another 22 awards and 17 nominations.

In 1989, Kenya was the location for the filming of Bob Rafelson’s historical drama Mountains of the Moon. This epic film won great critical acclaim for its vivid retelling of the conquest of the Nile, and the great adventure of the Burton and Speke expedition. Filmed in diverse locations including Lamu, Hell’s Gate and Lake Turkana, the film shows Kenya at its best.

Kenya has since served as location for several Hollywood blockbusters, including the sequel to Tomb Raider.

In 2002 Nowhere in Africa, a German language film about Jewish refugees struggling to create a new life in wartime Kenya, was shot on location in Baringo, Bogoria and Mt Kenya.

The film was a major success, winning over 14 international awards, including the 2003 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film. The 2005 box-office hit The Constant Gardener, from thriller maestro John le Carré, was also filmed on location in Loiyangalani, a small town located on the southeastern coast of Lake Turkana.

Kenya is a great destination for television wildlife productions. Many award winning wildlife series have been shot on location in Kenya by BBC Natural History, Discovery, Survival and other production houses.

The Masai Mara continues to be the backdrop for BBC’s popular Big Cat Diary, following the lives of the reserve’s predators.

The Masai Mara, Kenya’s world-famous game reserve, was recently named the Eighth Wonder of the World in a poll conducted by

ABC Television’s Good Morning America, in a telecast that took this spectacle into millions of American homes, live from the Mara.

Kenya hit the top of the US TV ratings with the arrival of Survivor Africa. The third series of the hit reality show was filmed entirely on location in the Shaba Reserve in Kenya.

For the producers, Kenya offered the perfect combination of beautiful locale, stunning wildlife and plenty of opportunity for adventure.

Subsequent productions have included the German film Nowhere in Africa, which won 14 international awards, including the Acemy Award for Best Picture, and was filmed on location in Nairobi, Mt Kenya and the Baringo-Bogoria region

The Kenya Film Commission

It is against this backdrop of a rich filming heritage that the Kenya Government established The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) in 2005 with an aim of promoting the Kenyan film industry locally and internationally.

The KFC was made operational in 2006 and instantly got into the serious work of offering detailed information on locations and liaison services on behalf of the Government.

As the international community increasingly looks to filming in Kenya, the Commission gives information on the locations best benefiting the clientele.

It also advises on film licensing and immigration requirements, as well as facilitating the filming process for filmmakers.

The KFC falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Communication headed by Minister Samuel Poghisio and run by board members appointed by the minister.

The Kenya Film Commission supports the Kenyan film industry by providing facilities for screenings and filming as well as organizing various workshops that form the source of education on production for local filmmakers.

The Commission has a well established database that lists filmmakers, agents, local talent, stakeholders and service providers of the Kenyan film industry.

The KFC is a full member of the Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI).

The Commission works closely with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) which has since inception provided an active intermediary role between foreign producers and relevant government ministries, negotiating reductions and waivers in licensing and location fees.

In a nutshell, the Commission’s business entails making Kenya a centre of excellence in film production. This includes helping to create an enabling environment for the development of a vibrant local industry as well as marketing Kenya as a leading destination for international filmmakers.

Tel: +254-20-2714073www.filmingkenya.com

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CHAPTER 14Education and Training

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Situated within the central business district of Kenya’s capital city, the history of this great academic institution goes back to 1956, but it did not become an independent university until 1970, when the then University of East Africa was split into three independent national universities. This led to the establishment of Makerere University in Uganda, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and the University of Nairobi.

Since it was established as an independent university, UoN has produced more than 120,000 graduates in a wide variety of fields.

Close to 65 per cent of Kenya’s top leaders and a sizeable proportion of middle-level managers of both public and private institutions have most probably passed at one time or another through UoN. The list of the UoN’s alumni often reads like a Who is Who in Kenya, while, in the other two East African countries, a sizeable number of leading technologists, scientists, managers and engineers have been through Kenya’s prime institution of higher learning.

In 2008, UoN had some 28,000 students, of whom 22,200 were undergraduates and 6,800 postgraduates. In 2009, the intake was 3,280 students for the regular, Module I courses.

Oldest, most prestigious university

The University of Nairobi (UoN) is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious public institution of higher learning in Kenya.

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Among those who received honorary academic awards from UoN last year were President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. They both received LLD Degrees (causus honoris) for the role they played in bringing about peace and reconciliation after the 2007 General Election crisis.

Seeking to maintain and strengthen its position as Kenya’s pioneer and still leading public institution of higher learning, UoN has launched several policy frameworks and introduced Module II degrees to cope with the rapidly growing demand for higher education in Kenya. Currently, there are more than 200 different academic programmes being undertaken at UoN. Through its Module II programme for continuing education, UoN opened up invaluable opportunities for Kenyans and people from other countries to access academic and research programmes in order to improve their education and better their living standards.

History

The idea of an institution of higher learning was first mooted in 1947, when the colonial administration drew up a plan for the setting up of a technical and commercial institute in Nairobi.

By 1949, the plan had grown into an East African concept, with the aim of providing qualified manpower for the entire region. In September 1951, a Royal Charter was issued to the Royal Technical College of East Africa, with the laying of the foundation stone taking place in April 1952. In the same period, the Asian community in East Africa had been planning to set up a college of arts, sciences and commerce

as a memorial to the revered Mahatma Gandhi.

In order to avoid duplication of effort, the Gandhi Memorial Academy Society agreed to merge its plan with those of the colonial governments in East Africa to form the Royal Technical College of East Africa in April 1954. The new institution opened its doors for the first intake of students in April 1956.

A working party under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Sir John Lockwood, was formed and, through its recommendations, the Royal Technical College of East Africa was transformed and became a university college under the name Royal College Nairobi, on 25th June, 1961.

The new college in Nairobi was still entitled to a special relationship with the University of London, whereupon it started preparing students in the faculties of arts, science, and engineering for degrees awarded by the University of London. On 20th May 1964, the Royal College Nairobi was renamed University College Nairobi as a constituent college of the inter-territorial Federal University of East Africa, and henceforth the enrolled students were to study for degrees of the University of East Africa rather than the University of London.

In 1970, as the three countries of the then East African Community grew further apart in their socio-economic and political outlook, University College Nairobi transformed itself into the first national university in Kenya and was renamed the University of Nairobi. Rapid expansion, both in the number of students from all the three East African countries and the physical facilities, followed and continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Several institutions within Nairobi that had

offered non-university courses were turned into campuses or constituent colleges of the University of Nairobi.

UoN has undergone a major restructuring since 1983, resulting in decentralisation of faculties and divisions through the creation of six separate colleges. Further expansion has resulted in the establishment of campuses both in and outside Nairobi.

In addition to the regular, evening and weekend programmes, classes are conducted at the university’s Extra Mural Centres located in provincial headquarters and other major urban centres. The University is proud of its distinguished record of achievements in teaching, research, development and consultancy while strategising for a greater future as the East, Central and Horn of Africa centre of academic, research and professional excellence.

Tel: +254-20-318262www.uonbi.ac.ke

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Core Values

• Anequalopportunityinstitutionwhichisopentoallqualified persons without distinction of ethnic origin, sex, sect or creed and no barrier based on any such distinction being imposed upon any person as a condition of his/her becoming or continuing to be a professor, lecturer, graduate or student of the University, or his/her holding any office therein

• Excellenceinallitsendeavours

• Integrity,transparencyandaccountabilityinallitsundertakings Maseno became a full-fledged University in 2001, 11 years after its establishment as a Constituent College of Moi University. After seven years of existence the University now boasts a number of well-conceived faculties, schools and academic departments offering a variety of degrees and diplomas in the arts and social

Maseno: A Fountain of Excellence

VisionTo be a Centre of Excellence in training, research and development.

MissionThe Mission of the University is to foster and develop academic excellence in basic and applied research at all levels of study by training practice-oriented manpower, who can contribute effectively to social, intellectual and academic development in the community, the nation and the community of nations.

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sciences as well as the biological and physical sciences.

Maseno University’s motto is, “a fountain of excellence”. It has been a reservoir of knowledge since its establishment as a constituent college of Moi University. It is arguably the only institution of higher learning around the world that is situated astride the Equator.

The sprawling twin main campuses of the university, referred to as College Campus and Siriba Campus, are situated adjacent to each other on opposite sides of the road around 25 kilometres from Kisumu City along the main highway to Busia and on to Uganda. They are located among the picturesque rocky hills and lush green valleys of an area known as Maseno, close to the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world after Lake Superior.

As one of the fastest growing public academic institutions in Kenya, Maseno University has recently established a third campus – City Campus – which is located in the central business district of Kisumu City.

Academic programmes

The University offers market-driven academic and professional programmes that include the latest in information technology and computer applications. Technological, structural, and methodological innovativeness is at the core of all academic programmes at the University.

It is worth noting that all degree programmes at Maseno University have the component of IT (information technology). This is to keep pace with current trends in the world, where IT skills are indispensable in the job market. It therefore does not matter whether one is taking Physics or Eco-tourism, Hotel and Institution Management or History, at Maseno University; the programmes are all with IT component. This has advantaged Maseno University graduates a great deal in the job market.

The Faculties and Schools at the University currently include the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; the Faculty of Education; the Faculty of Science; the School of Environment and Earth Sciences; the School of Public Health and Community Development; the School of Development and Strategic Studies; and the School of Graduate Studies.

Maseno University is the only public academic institution that does not carry out two separate programmes for regular (or government sponsored) and the so-called “parallel” (or self-sponsored) students as they are known in other Kenyan public universities, since both attend the same classes under the

same academic staff. The University simply refers to the self-sponsored as “direct intake” students.

Apart from the programmes listed below, plans are underway for the establishment of the School of Medicine and the School of Fisheries and Marine Engineering.

Physical expansion

One of the most imposing recent additions to the fast expanding Maseno University is the Kisumu City Campus, situated at the very centre of the lakeside metropolis. It is an impressive 14-storey structure that Maseno University recently acquired.

The City Campus also houses an annex known as the Maseno Information Technology Centre (MITC), which offers a wide variety of IT and computer courses. The MITC is the largest and most sophisticated IT and computer centre in Kisumu City at the moment. It attracts a large number of full-time and part-time students.

Maseno University is also the only institution of higher learning in Kenya that can boast ownership and management a tourist class hotel, the Kisumu Hotel, within the lakeside city. It has excellent accommodation and conference facilities capable of hosting up to 120 guests. The modern conference complex, just behind the hotel, offers a number of meeting halls and equipment that can host several meetings and conferences simultaneously. The Conference Complex can hold up to 600 conference delegates.

New projects

Among the new projects currently in progress are: the expansion of student and staff accommodation facilities through the

construction of innovative self-contained living quarters where students will have their own built-in kitchens and the expansion of lecture halls, science laboratories and office space.

The University also has a number of educational as well as income generating projects. They include a large well maintained farm for various crops, a medium-sized dairy plant, a poultry enterprise, a large tree nursery, a forest for wood and a botanical garden for plants with medicinal value. Plans are at an advanced stage to start a bio-fuels research and production centre for both the University and the surrounding community. The foundations have already been laid for the construction of a giant library that will be among the best in the world.

Administration

Maseno University has a well defined administrative and academic structure under the guidance of the University Council, which is ably headed by its Chairman, Prof. Nimrod Bwibo, MBChB (EA), MPH (Berkeley), FAAD (USA) MRCP (London), Hon.D.Sc (Egerton), EBS.

The administration of the University is headed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frederick N. Onyango, Fil.Kand and MSc (Uppsala), PhD (London, UK), FKNAS, EBS, MBS, SS. Under the leadership of Prof. Onyango, Maseno University has registered numerous achievements that include expansion of both the human capacity base and physical facilities. Maseno University is undertaking a number of projects that are of direct benefit to the surrounding community.

The forward looking and energetic administration under the leadership of Prof. Onyango is constantly seeking various means

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Maseno university quality policy

Maseno University is committed to quality through teaching, research and development; providing timely services to foster and develop academic excellence in basic and applied research at all levels of study by training practice-oriented manpower, to contribute effectively to social, intellectual and academic development. The University is committed to communicating exhaustively with its customers, and internally with its employees, to continually improve its services, products, processes, methods, and work environment to ensure each customer is receiving the highest quality service or product at the committed cost and on time. In order to realize this commitment the University Management will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through implementation of an effective quality management system based on the ISO 9001: 2000 standard.

to transform Maseno University into a hub of research and innovation, not only in Kenya but throughout the eastern African region. The University is well placed to play a major role in development and the uplifting of living standards of the people of Kenya and other parts of the African continent.

The Vice-Chancellor is assisted in his administrative duties by three Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Dominic W. Makawiti (Academic Affairs), BSc (UoN), S1 Teacher Cert. (KSTC), PhD (Kings College); Prof. Mary K. Walingo (Administration & Finance), BEd (Kenyatta) MSc (UoN), PhD (Hyderabad); and Prof. Stephen G. Agong (Planning, Research & Extension Services), BSc, MSc (UoN), PhD (Justus, Germany).

The future

With highly flexible study schemes, Maseno University is now poised for greater achievements as it lays out meticulous plans for a brighter future as an institution for academic excellence in Kenya and beyond.

Currently the following are the degree programmes offered at Maseno University:

Undergraduate programmes

• Bachelor of Arts (with IT)• Bachelor of Business Administration (with

IT)• BA in Sociology and Anthropology (with IT)• BA in Interior Design (with IT)• BA (Communication and Media Technology

with IT)• BA (Drama and Theatre Studies with IT)• BA in Urban and Regional Planning (with IT)• BA in Development Studies (with IT)• BA in International Relations and

Diplomacy (with IT)• BA in Political Science (with IT)• Bachelor of Arts in Music (with IT)• Bachelor of Arts in Textile, Apparel Design

and Fashion• Studies (with IT)• Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies (with

IT)• Bachelor of Arts in Economics (with IT)• Bachelor of Arts Education with IT

(Sandwich/Regular)• BSc in Biomedical Sciences and

Technology (with IT)• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of

Surgery (MBChB) (with IT)• BSc (Applied Statistics with IT)• BSc (Actuarial Sciences with IT)• BSc (Computer Science and Technology)• Bachelor of Science in Information and

Communication• Technology Management (BScICTM) at IAT• BSc Education (with IT)• BSc (Horticulture with IT)• BSc (Eco-tourism, Hotel and Institution

Management with IT)• Bachelor of Science (with IT)• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and

Dietetics (with IT)• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (with IT)• Bachelor of Environmental Science (with IT)• Bachelor of Earth Science (with IT)• Bachelor of Special Needs Education (with IT)• Bachelor of Arts Education with IT

(Sandwich/Regular)

Postgraduate programmes

• Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning & Management

• PGD in Computer Science• Postgraduate Diploma in Education• MA in International Relations• MA in Political Science• MA in Human Resource Management• MA in Social Development & Management• MA in History• MA in Kiswahili• MA in Linguistics• MA in French• MA in Religion• MA in Theology• MA in Geography• MA in Philosophy• MA in Literary Studies

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• MA in Music History• MA in Music Education• MA in Creative and Performing Arts (Music

and Theatre Studies)• MA in Women in History• MA in Ethnomusicology• MA in Economics• MA in Project Planning & Management• Master of Business Administration (Thesis

option/Project option)• MPH in Management of Health Systems• MPH in Epidemiology and Population

Health• MPH in Health Promotion & International

Health• MSc in Urban Planning & Environmental• Management• MSc in Biomedical Science & Technology• MSc in Community Nutrition &

Development• MSc in Cell & Molecular Biology• MSc in Aquatic Sciences• MSc in Theoretical Physics• MSc in Chemistry• MSc in Agro Forestry• MSc in Plant Biochemistry & Physiology• MSc in Plant Taxonomy & Economic

Botany• MSc in Plant Pathology• MSc in Microbiology• MSc in Genetics• MSc in Plant Breeding• MSc in Plant Ecology• MSc in Pure Mathematics• MSc in Applied Mathematics• MSc in Applied Statistics• MSc in Horticulture• MSc in Hospitality Management• MSc in Developmental Botany• MSc in Environmental Horticulture• MSc in Floriculture• MSc in Olericulture• MSc in Physiology and Biochemistry• MSc in Pomology• MSc in Soil and Water Management• MSc in Zoology• MSc in Family Development and

Technology• MSc in Physics• MSc in Urban Environmental Planning and

Management• MSc in Nutritional Science• MSc in Apparel Design• MSc in Textile Sciences & Conservation• MSc in Fashion Merchandising• MEd in Educational Psychology• MEd in Planning & Economics of Education• MEd in Creative Arts Education• MEd in Language Education• MEd in Educational Administration• MEd in Special Education• MEd in Curriculum Studies• MEd in Pedagogy• MEd in Educational Technology• MEd in Guidance and Counseling• PhD in International Relations• PhD in Planning• PhD in Philosophy

• PhD in Religion• PhD in Music History• PhD in Music Education• PhD in Ethnomusicology• PhD in Economics• PhD in Linguistics• PhD in Kiswahili• PhD in French• PhD in Planning and Economics of

Education• PhD in History• PhD in Business Administration• PhD in Special Needs Education• PhD in Biomedical Science & Technology• PhD in Public Health• PhD in Community Nutrition and

Development• PhD in Horticulture• PhD in Mathematics• PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology• PhD in Chemistry• PhD in Botany• PhD in Aquatic Sciences• PhD in Physics• PhD in Biomedical Science and Technology• PhD in Educational Communication &

Technology• PhD in Curriculum Studies• PhD in Special Needs Education• PhD in Psychology• PhD in Guidance and Counseling• PhD in Educational Administration• PhD in Evaluation of Educational

Programmes

Tel: +254-057- 351620www.maseno.ac.ke

Maseno is a top university as exemplified by its recently being placed seventh in performance contracting among the over 150 Kenyan corporations that signed Performance Contracts with the Government of Kenya. If only the universities in Kenya are to be considered among the corporations, then Maseno University is third. The University has won awards in the Total ECO-Challenge Kenya project for three consecutive years for protecting our environment by planting trees. All these achievements are within a short span of seven years of the University’s existence as a fully fledged Institution of Higher Learning. Moreover, with regard to Quality Assurance among the East African universities, Maseno University was recently ranked second according to criteria set out by the 22 participating universities.

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What began as a humble college of theology with only 22 students has not only developed into the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) with a sterling reputation to match, but also a standing that is anchored in the quality of education the institution offers and the international composition of its student community.

Popularly known by its acronym of CUEA, the university has vastly expanded its physical facilities and capacity to meet the challenge of growing student enrolment, itself a clear indication of the confidence the students and communities have in the institution’s academic programmes.

These programmes are grounded in the varied and changing demands of society and Church for which CUEA seeks to train personnel. The programmes are also anchored in the objective

of provision of quality and holistic education that adequately prepares students for such service. They are also in tandem with CUEA’s scripture-based theme of consecrating students in the truth as did Jesus with His disciples.

When launching the University’s year-long Silver Jubilee celebrations in February 2009, the Vice-Chancellor, the Rev Prof John Maviiri, was clear that the difference CUEA alumni are making in societies and church in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe attest to the quality of education offered by the university.

CUEA seeks to prepare leaders who are distinguished both by their academic and professional expertise and by high moral standards. The various faculties dedicate themselves to educating and training students in scientific methods

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The biggest private university in the eastern Africa region and it is still growing in terms of student numbers, faculties, facilities and campuses.

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of research, both in theory and practice, to enable graduates to contribute more meaningfully to the cultural, scientific and economic development of societies.

The eight countries which CUEA serves are members of the regional Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA), but students and staff are drawn from as far afield as Nigeria, South Africa and beyond, giving the university its enviable international character.

This is important in the sense that CUEA students are exposed to cultures that are as rich and as diverse as their own. This enables them to get a better understanding of their fellow countrymen and women as well as their neighbours, African brothers and sisters and the international teachers who train them to think and how to solve challenges and problems that beset them, their communities and countries.

In this regard, it is also important to note that while CUEA is a Catholic university, its students and staff are drawn from varied religious backgrounds. The University’s policy is to admit all applicants irrespective of their religious backgrounds as long as they meet the requirements set by the institution for admission. However, students are expected to respect Catholic teaching and practice.

CUEA in 2004 established the Office of Academic Linkages, which has seen the University forge beneficial partnerships with reputable institutions around the world and with key associations such as the Association of African Universities (AAU), International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), Association of Commonwealth Universities

(ACU), Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA), International Association of Universities (IAU) and the Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of Africa and Madagascar.

CUEA has invested heavily in information communication technology (ICT) in its endeavour to have this sector support academic excellence and promote global best practice in the University.

The autonomous ICT Department was inaugurated in September of 2007 in line with CUEAS’s Strategic Development Plan of 2001 to 2011 to raise the status of the University’s ICT systems and ensure that CUEA remains relevant and competitive in the higher education sector. This is why the ICT Department is at the forefront of new media development for CUEA.

Indeed, CUEA aims at becoming a paperless institution and to become leaders in innovation in the education sector. This is a vision that is driven by the Integrated Management System (IMIS) which covers the three primary areas of academics, library and finance.

The IMIS system helps CUEA manage various library processes, including book borrowing, cataloguing and inventory. It has improved revenue collection through enhanced debt collection. Thanks to IMIS the University’s business processes have been vastly improved and been documented both manually and in electronic format.

Again owing to IMIS’s e-learning system, lecturers are able to post notes, assignments and course projects as well as chat with

students while students are able to readily access lecture materials and lecturers in a virtual classroom.

As part of CUEA’s 25th anniversary celebrations and as a pointer to its future, the University opened the ultra-modern KSh300 million Kozlowiecki Hall at the centre of its new campus, which houses lecture halls, science laboratories and Kenya’s largest moot court, among other facilities.

Tel: +254-20-891601www.cuea.edu

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KU Honoured as Best Managed Centre of Academic ExcellenceKenyatta University was in 2008 ranked by the Government of Kenya as the best- run public university thus confirming its position as a leading academic institution providing quality education and training in the region.

The Chairman of Council, Prof. Onesmo ole-MoiYoi (4th right) and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olive Mugenda (centre holding the trophy) pose for a group photograph

with members of staff and students after the University was declared the best State Corporation in Performance Contracting out of 124 state corporations in the

2006/2007 performance contract evaluation.

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Over the years, KU has earned an enviable reputation for being a centre of excellence in research, teaching, learning and exemplary service to society. Also In June 2008, Kenyatta University became the first public university in Kenya to obtain the internationally recognised ISO 9001:2000 certification in Quality Management Systems (QMS).

As a result of this, academic programmes offered at Kenyatta University are some of the most sought-after courses, not only in Kenya, but throughout the East and Central African region.

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History

Kenyatta University traces its history back to when it was a colonial military barracks known as the Templer Barracks. In 1965 Templer Barracks was converted into Kenyatta University College, primarily a teacher training institution. Kenyatta University College (KUC) was elevated to a constituent college of the University of Nairobi in 1970.

In 1985 KUC was inaugurated by the then President, Daniel Moi, and was renamed Kenyatta University. This was done through enactment of the Kenyatta University Act by the Kenya National Assembly. Its separation from the University of Nairobi was the start of a major shift in focus from an institution that primarily trained graduate teachers to a fully fledged university offering other programmes as well.

The rapid development witnessed at KU in the last few years is grounded in its ten-year Strategic and Vision Plan (2005-2015). This visionary document outlines clearly the University’s ambition to remain competitive, and an endeavour to help achieve the national goals of eradicating ignorance and providing highly skilled and competent manpower in various fields.

Academic Programmes

Kenyatta University is the second largest university in Kenya. The University offers various certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in its fourteen (14) Schools, namely;

• School of Education• School of Humanities and Social Sciences• School of Health Sciences• School of Business• School of Economics• School of Pure and Applied Sciences • School of Applied Human Sciences• School of Engineering and Technology

Views of the new Northcoast Beach Hotel. It will be used for practical training for the students in the School

of Hospitality and Tourism.

Prof. Olive Mugenda, PhD, EBS, Vice Chancellor,

Kenyatta University, made history by becoming

the first woman VC of a public university.

The appointment of the VC was through a

competitive process.

The Kenyatta University monument – The Fountain of Knowledge.

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The architectural impression of the proposed post-modern Library. Construction is ongoing.

• School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development

• School of Visual and Performing Arts• School of Law• School of Environmental Studies• School of Hospitality and Tourism

Management and• Graduate School that co-ordinates all

postgraduate programmes.

Modes of study

The University offers a wide range of programmes through various modes of learning which suit different categories of learners. These are

• Full-time residential programmes. • Open/distance learning, • e-learning, • school-based, • part-time

As a result of flexibility in these learning modes coupled with the enhanced infrastructure in the University, the enrolment of students has grown from 6,000 in 1999 to over 25,000 in 2009.

Ten (10) reasons making KU the University of Choice

1. World-Class University Education2. Excellent Career opportunities for our

graduates3. Impressive physical environment

conducive for learning, research and social life

4. Flexible modes of learning5. Diverse Student and Community Support

Services6. Teaching Excellence7. Modern state-of-the-art learning

resources and study facilities

8. Highly Competitive, industry-current programmes

9. Growing Campus Network10. Strong Emphasis on Innovative Research

and Knowledge Transfer

Current Initiatives

The expansion of Kenyatta University has been truly phenomenal especially in the past three years. It is worth noting here that the University recently acquired a hotel, the Northcoast Beach Hotel to be used as a training facility for the students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism and as a source of the much needed income to the University.

ICT Infrastructure

KU has a campus-wide fibre-optic technology ICT infrastructure that includes a campus network based on, wide access to the internet for both students and staff to facilitate research, communication and learning. Another milestone in ICT at the University is the completion in 2009 of a 3-storey 600-seater Students’ Computer Centre, with brand new state-of-the-art computers.

School of Health Sciences

With the establishment of the School of Health Sciences and programmes in medicine, pharmacy and Public Health, the University has completed the construction of the Human Anatomy Laboratory that also houses the Thika Road Funeral Services. The University has also made substantial progress towards the establishment of a teaching and referral hospital which will be the first of its kind in the region managed by the University for teaching, research and referral.

Infrastructure development

Last year, the University also completed the construction of a Science Laboratory to be used by students in the Pure and Applied Sciences. In the same year, the University constructed the Arts Complex – a facility that hosts lecturers’ offices, computer laboratories and lecture theaters. At the moment, various projects are underway including the construction of the Students’ Centre, the School of Engineering complex, a new state-of-the-art automated library and more lecture theatres and hostels.

VISION AND MISSION

Our MissionTo provide quality education and training, through knowledge generation, research, innovation, creativity and community service.

Our VisionTo be a dynamic, inclusive and globally competitive centre of excellence in the provision of quality education and research for sustainable development.

Our identityKenyatta University is a community of scholars committed to the generation and dissemination of knowledge, and cultivation of wisdom for the welfare of society.

Our PhilosophySensitivity and responsiveness to societal needs and the right of every person to knowledge.

Key priority areas of the University’s Strategic Plan (2005-2015)

1. Academic Programmes for Sustainable Development

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Students in the new Student Computer Centre.

staff-recruitment, resource allocation and promotions.

(viii) Professionalism: . Kenyatta University will promote professionalism at all levels of its operations so as to realise its vision and mission.

(ix) Moral Integrity: Kenyatta University will strive to enhance interpersonal relations among staff and students.. The key values that the institution will strive to institute include integrity, honesty, tolerance and mutual respect.

(x) Democratisation: This will be enhanced through inclusive participation in decision-making and management. The principles of responsibility, accountability and academic freedom will be promoted at all levels.

(xi) Corporate Governance: Kenyatta University will adopt efficient and effective business principles The University will strive to institutionalise a corporate culture in the management of resources, and in all the decision-making processes.

(xii) Institutional Culture: To distinguish itself as a world-class institution, Kenyatta University will enhance a culture in which

staff and students are responsibly self-driven as a consequence of internalising self-prescribed institutional values as indicated in the Strategic and Vision Plan.

(xiii) Competitiveness: Kenyatta University aspires to be a University of choice in terms of attracting quality staff, students and financial support.

(xiv) Academic Freedom: Kenyatta University is a community of enquirers where intellectual liberty to pursue truth to its logical conclusion is upheld. The institution is committed to the enhancement of academic freedom.

(xv) Respect for diversity: Kenyatta University recognises, respects and encourages diversities emanating from religion, race, culture, gender, ethnicity, political and ideology.

For more information, contactThe Vice-Chancellor

P.O Box 43844-00100, Nairobi.Website: www.ku.ac.ke

Email: vc@ku.ac.keTel: (+254-20) 8710901-19 Ext.57200

DL. (+254-20) 812676/813459Fax: (+254-20)8711575

The new Human Anatomy Laboratory and the Thika Road Funeral Services.

2. Enhancing Research, Science, Technology and Innovation for societal development

3. Increasing Access and Equity in higher education

4. Quality and Relevance of Academic programmes

5. Institutional Management and Capacity Building

6. Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

7. Improving Physical Infrastructure and Facilities

8. Customer Focus Internal & External9. Financial Sustainability10. Monitoring and Evaluation of Institutional

performance

Kenyatta University’s Core Values

(i) Truth: Kenyatta University will encourage freedom of thought and expression of opinion. Intellectual and moral commitment to the pursuit of truth will continue to guide research, dissemination of knowledge and interpersonal relationships, both locally and internationally.

(ii) Excellence: In an effort to achieve its vision, Kenyatta University is determined to produce graduates capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.

(iii) Creativity: To cope with the constant change and challenges, the University will endeavour to cultivate creativity among staff and students. Creative people are flexible, adaptable and imaginative in anticipating and responding to situations as they unfold.

(iv) Self-Reliance: The University will strive to ensure that its graduates become independent workers, thinkers, job creators and well-grounded individuals in line with vision 2030. In addition, the University will strive to create an independent financial base, as well as having an innovative and well motivated workforce.

(v) Innovation: The heart of innovation is continuous renewal and betterment of existing situations. Innovation will be a key driver for institutional competitiveness and service. Kenyatta University will use innovative approaches in teaching and learning, in an effort to transform learners into creative thinkers.

(vi) Relevance:. Kenyatta University is determined to make its academic programmes relevant. The aim is to address regional and global challenges and to play a significant role in national development, with specific reference to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Vision 2030 targets.

(vii) Equal Opportunity: Kenyatta University will strive to be an equal opportunity institution where all persons are regarded equally in terms of student admission,

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JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGYIt is often said that the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is the academic symbol of Kenya’s ambitions to join the ranks of the industrialized and technologically advanced countries. It is an institution of higher learning with a short but rich history of research, innovation and high productivity. Students at JKUAT are at the cutting edge of Kenya’s technological advancement; an academic institution for entrepreneurs and industrialists.

Three years ago, JKUAT inaugurated its own enterprise company – JKUAT enterprise Limited – whose main purpose is to promote and encourage industrial and business ventures. The University is now engaged in a number of profitable industrial and business venture producing a number of highly valued products for the local and international markets, ranging from computer assembly (under the brand name Emado) and design of software (EstateXpress and NOVA University ERP) to the production of fruit juices and mushroom spawns (seeds).

The University’s engineering faculty has made a number of breakthroughs, including the design and production of

simple tractors and trailers for the small-scale farmer to motorized bicycles and other transport equipment. Only a few of the products and machinery have gone into full-scale mass production but there is high potential to propel Kenya’s industrialization process through collaboration with private enterprise.

Situated in Juja, 36 kilometres northeast of Nairobi, along the Nairobi-Thika Highway, JKUAT started in 1981 as a middle-level college (the Jomo Kenyatta College of Agriculture and Technology [JKCAT]) by the Government of Kenya, with the assistance of the Japanese Government. In 1978, President

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Jomo Kenyatta donated 200 hectares of farmland for the establishment of the college which is now charting Kenya’s path towards technological advancement as a leading local and regional technological academic institution.

JKCAT admitted its first batch of diploma students in the fields of Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology and Horticulture in May 1981. They graduated at the institution’s inaugural graduation ceremony in April 1984. On 1st September 1988, JKCAT formally became a constituent College of Kenyatta University and the name officially changed to Jomo Kenyatta University College of Agriculture and Technology (JKUCAT).

The institution was transformed into an autonomous university – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) – in 1994 through an Act of Parliament. Since then, JKUAT students’ population has continued to swell from a paltry figure of less than 2,000 in 1994 to over 15,000 students now, located on the main campus at Juja, with the three campuses of Karen, Nairobi and Taita Taveta.

Some students attend lectures at colleges in the Nairobi and Mombasa central business districts as well as 32 other centres spread around the country. Several technology and engineering research projects are currently taking place at JKUAT that could prove to be of great importance, not only to Kenya but to the entire African continent and other developing countries. Much of the research effort is going into the design and production of cheap but efficient agricultural machinery, transport equipment and energy apparatus.

The programmes on offer are unique, with a majority of them market-driven. The suitability of the courses on the job market has been well researched in collaboration with stakeholders who also provide the much-needed industrial attachment to students.

This makes JKUAT graduates exceptionally flexible and easily absorbed in the labour market. Furthermore JKUAT has forged partnerships and linkages with a number of research and academic institutions locally as well as internationally, all aimed at enhancing training and research capacity through sharing of resources and experiences for mutual benefit. More than 50 such collaborations currently exist.

OuR PROGRAMMES:FACuLTY OF AGRICuLTuRE

• DiplomainFoodTechnology• BSc.FoodScience&Postharvest

Technology• BSc.FoodScience&Nutrition• BSc.Horticulture• BSc.Environmental,Horticultureand

Landscaping Technology• BSc.(AnimalHealth,Productionand

Processing)• BSc.(LandResourcePlanningand

Management)

FACuLTY OF ENGINEERING

• B.Sc.Electrical&ElectronicEngineering• B.Sc.ElectricalandComputerEngineering• B.Sc.Telecommunication&Information

Engineering• B.Sc.GeomaticEngineering&Geospatial

Information Systems• B.Sc.MechanicalEngineering• B.Sc.MechatronicEngineering• B.Sc.Mining&MineralProcessing

Engineering• B.Sc.CivilEngineering

• B.Sc.Soil,WaterandEnvironmentalEngineering

• B.Sc.BiomechanicalandProcessingEngineering

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTuRE & BuILDING SCIENCES (SABS)

• DiplomainArchitecture• BachelorofArchitecture• BachelorofLandscapeArchitecture• BachelorofConstructionManagement

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

• BridgingCertificateinMathematics/Physics/Biology/ Chemistry

• BachelorofScienceOptions:Chemistry/Physics/ Mathematics/Pure and Applied Mathematics/Statistics and Actuarial Sciences/ Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Botany (Microbiology, Biotechnology, Plant Pathology)

• BSc.AnalyticalChemistry• BScChemistry(BusinessOption)• BSc.IndustrialChemistry• BSc.Biochemistry&MolecularBiology• BSc.Biotechnology• BSc.MedicalMicrobiology• BSc.MathematicsandComputerScience• BSc.ActuarialScience• BScFinancialEngineering• BSc.ControlandInstrumentation• BScCropProtection

SCHOOL FOR HuMAN RESOuRCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRD)

• DiplomainPurchasingandSuppliesManagement

Prof Mabel Imbuga

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• DiplomainBusinessAdministration• DiplomainMassCommunication• DiplomainCommunityDevelopment• DiplomainMarketing• DiplomainBusinessInformation

Technology• DiplomainPublicRelations,Advertising&

Sales• DiplomainMicrofinance• DiplomainHumanResourceManagement• BachelorofPurchasingandSupplies

Management• BachelorofCommerce• BachelorofBusinessInformation

Technology• BachelorofCooperativeBusiness• BachelorofCommerceandBusiness

Administration• ManagementandLeadershipatKIM• BachelorofDevelopmentstudies• BachelorofMassCommunication• PostgraduateDiplomainconflictresolution

and negotiation skills• PostgraduateDiplomainEntrepreneurship• PostgraduateDiplomainHumanResource

management• PostgraduateDiplomainManagementof

Non-Profit Organizations• PostgraduateDiplomainProject

Management

INSTITuTE OF COMPuTER SCIENCE & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (ICSIT) AND JKuAT IT CENTRE

• CertificateinInformationTechnology• CertificateinManagementand

Information Technology• DiplomainInformationTechnology• DiplomainManagementand

Information Technology• BSc.ComputerScience• BSc.ComputerTechnology• BSc.InformationTechnology

INSTITuTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOuS DISEASE (ITROMID)

• CertificateinHIV/AIDSManagementand Counseling

• DiplomainHIV/AIDSManagementandcounseling

• DiplomaClinicalMedicine• BSc.MedicalLaboratorySciences

INSTITuTE FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY (IEET)

Short Courses• EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentand

Environmental Audit

Prof Ali Mazrui

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• EnvironmentalleadershipProgram• Occupationalsafety,Healthand

Environment• BiogasEnergyTechnology• CleanerProduction,Pollution,andWaste

Management• SolarEnergyTechnology• EnergyManagement• WindEnergyManagement.

INSTITuTE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH (IBR)

Short Courses•CertificateinBasicMicrobiological

Techniques• CertificateinMolecularBiology• CertificateinBio-informatics• CertificateinPlantCellTissues&Organ

culture• CertificateinBiosafety&RiskAssessment,

Biopolicy and Bioethics

JKuAT KAREN CAMPuS

• BridgingCertificateinMathematics,Biology and Chemistry (Full Time)

• CertificateinInformationTechnology(Fulltime)

• DiplomainInformationTechnology• DiplomainBusinessAdministration• DiplomainMassCommunication• DiplomainBusinessInformation

Technology• DiplomainPurchasingandSupplies

Management• DiplomainRetailManagement• BachelorofScienceinInformation

Technology -Stage I• BachelorofScienceActuarialScience• B.Sc.MathematicsandComputerScience• BachelorofCommerce• BachelorofBusinessInformation

Technology• BachelorofPurchasingandSupplies

Management

• BachelorofMassCommunication• BachelorofLaws(LLB)

JKuAT NAIROBI CAMPuS

• BridgingCertificateinMathematics(BCM)• CertificateinInformationTechnology• CertificatenComputerTechnology• DiplomainInformationTechnology• DiplomaComputerTechnology• DiplomainPurchasingand

Supplies Management (part time)• BSc.ComputerTechnology• BSc.ComputerScience• BSc.ActuarialScience• BachelorofScienceInformation

Technology• BachelorofCommerce(BCOM-FullTime• BachelorofCommerce(BCOM)-Part

Time• BachelorofPurchasingandSupplies

Management (part time)

JKuAT TAITA TAVETA CAMPuS

• BridgingCertificateinMathematics,• BSc.Mining&MineralProcessing

Engineering• BachelorofPurchasing&Supplies

Management• BachelorofCommerce• BSc.Mathematics&ComputerScience• BachelorofScienceinInformation

Technology

JKUAT has a wide range of M.Sc and Ph.D. degree programs in most of its faculties and departments. Applications should be addressed to the Director, Board of Postgraduate Programs, JKUAT, P.O. BOX 62000 00200 Nairobi. Check out our website for more details. www.jkuat.ac.ke

Our VisionTo be an institution of global Excellence

in Training, Research and Innovation for Development

Our MissionTo offer accessible quality training, research, and innovation in order to produce leaders in the fields of Agriculture, Engineering, Technology, Enterprise Development, Health and other Applied Sciences to suit the needs of a dynamic world.

ISO Certification 9001:2008 JKUAT is the first university in Kenya to attain the 9001: 2008 ISO certifications in July 2009 for its Quality Management System which is a bold statement of the university’s commitment to quality provision of service in line with international standards. In addition, JKUAT launched the Quality Assurance Policy in July 2009 again emerging as the first university in Kenya to do so , to ensure that the quality of learning, teaching and research activities maintain the aspiration of excellence in compliance with dynamic market demands of the education sector.

Tel: +254-067-52711www.jkuat.ac.ke

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Makini excels in academic performance, leading with impressive results in national examinations and outstanding performances in sports and other co-curricular activities.

This is not by default but by design. The Makini Schools’ motto – Fanya kwa Makini – is Kiswahili for Work with Diligence. Every school programme and project is deliberate, planned and purposeful.

Makini has an excellent Board of Directors comprising highly esteemed and professional men and women of integrity as well as a very supportive Parents’/Teachers’ Association (PTA). Both the Board and the PTA are very involved in

policy formation and the guidance of the School.

The teaching staff is well-qualified and highly motivated. Teachers are friendly, caring and enjoy their work. Teaching is pupil-centred. Lessons are focussed and inter-active with a view to fostering a love for learning. Progress is carefully monitored at all levels and teachers work closely with parents.

Makini is all about pioneering and innovation. It was Makini that first introduced computers as an educational tool at primary school level in Kenya. The success of Makini is such that many schools, not only in Kenya but also in other

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The essence of Makini Schools is excellence in both academic and co-curricular areas.

Makini’s guiding philosophy is to provide holistic education based on Christian values in a supportive and pleasant environment.

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countries, turn to it for best practices, a service offered free of charge.

It is a tribute to Makini’s strong mentoring programme that many of its former staff have gone on to establish their own successful schools.

The pursuit of excellence at Makini starts at pre-school, where the classroom is reflective of the ethos of learning through play and practical activity. The primary school is an exciting, busy and friendly place for both pupils and staff and ensures that children learn through experience as well as having fun.

Makini believes in building high self-esteem in children and confidence in their abilities and strengths. It also encourages them to build friendly and considerate relationships with one another and with teaching and non-teaching staff.

Currently, Makini Schools comprise pre-school; a primary school, a secondary section and a commercial college. But 30 years ago, it began as nursery school with just 8 pupils under the leadership of the late Dr. Pius Okelo and Mrs. Mary Okelo, the founding Directors. Mrs Okelo is now a deservedly celebrated and much decorated icon locally and globally. In 2008, she was appointed Millennium Development Ambassador.

Makini is recognized for its consistent excellent performance in national examinations and co-curricular activities, making it a household name in Kenya and East Africa. From 1985 – the year that Makini enrolled its first candidates for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) Examinations – results have been impressive.

It was the start of a history of solid achievements of which the Makini community is proud. Makini consistently heads the examination lists and has produced top pupils in the country in

KCPE. It made history by becoming the first – and so far only – school in Kenya to produce the top girl in the country three times in a row. In 2000, Makini was not only No. 1 in the country but also made history when it won all the trophies in the Private Schools category at the Provincial Trophy Awards Ceremony. Since then, it has been top in the country 5 times and never been lower than 3rd.

Makini has not only shone academically but has performed equally well in co-curricular activities Pupils have represented Kenya on the national and international scene in sports such as Rugby, Swimming, Motor Cross, Tae-kwondo and Chess.

Students regularly win in the annual Music Festival and Nairobi International Show as well as competitions in Art, Science Congresses and Maths Symposia.

The secondary section also does well in both academic and co-curricular activities. It has won the award for best mixed private school in Nairobi three years in a row. It was also chosen to launch The Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP) programme – the 2nd in Africa.

The College provides professional qualifications offered by ACCA, CIM and CIPR. It has also established itself as a trail-blazer and is the first institution in East Africa to offer the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) programme.

Makini has won the African Enterprise Award and was the only educational institution among the top 100 mid-sized companies in Kenya in 2008. Makini was selected as a case study of success at Columbia University, USA, for their MBA programme. It is the only school in Kenya to participate in the Global Fund Project and facilitated many successful seminars on HIV/Aids awareness and prevention.

Educational outings form an integral part of school life. There are visits to parks

and museums, complemented by talks by artists, authors and motivational speakers. There are annual trips to countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The atmosphere at Makini is a happy purposeful one. Pupils are cheerful, polite, articulate and self-confident. They believe that, once in Makini, they will succeed and achieve their goals. Consequently, the School produces high achievers in all fields.

Makini counts among its alumni some of the best and brightest in Kenya. The Alumni Association was formed to foster these linkages.

Kenya’s first woman commercial pilot, Irene Mutungi, was a Makini product. Freda Laiboni also became the youngest in Kenya to receive her pilot’s licence while in Form 4. A former Sports Captain, Leon Adongo, gained a university scholarship because of his prowess in Rugby.

The School takes its social responsibility very seriously and the students are encouraged to give community service. Makini sponsors and offers scholarships to needy children. Students support various children’s homes and run to raise funds for charitable causes. They contribute to famine relief programmes and sponsor the Rhino Charge and other environment projects.

Makini promotes the spiritual development of the children and fosters tolerance for different religions by encouraging children to follow the religion of their choice.

The development and training of staff are integral components of school life. Staff are encouraged to upgrade their skills and qualifications and up-date themselves in their respective areas. Makini conducts regular in-house seminars and workshops.

Tel: +254-20-3874950www.makinischool.com