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UN Chief António Guterres Speaks on Ongoing Finance Bill Protests in Kenya

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Justus Kiprono
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UN Chief António Guterres Speaks on Ongoing Finance Bill Protests in Kenya
UN Secretary-General António Guterres. (Photo:Web)

United Nations chief António Guterres urges Kenyans protesting unfair tax policies in Finance Bill 2024 to do so peacefully and calls on leaders of Kenya and authorities to listen to them and show restraint, the UN Secretary-General said in a message on X (formerly Twitter) today.

“I urge the Kenyan authorities to exercise restraint and call for all demonstrations to take place peacefully,” he said.

Guterres was responding to a wave of demonstrations in the country, which escalated to hundreds of youths storming Parliament buildings in Nairobi and damaging property on Tuesday. Some of the largely peaceful protests have spiralled into civil unrest in many cities.

At least 15 people have been reported dead following the demos, five of them in front of the National Assembly when the police fired live bullets.

“I am deeply saddened by the reports of deaths and injuries – including of journalists and medical personnel – connected to protests and street demonstrations in Kenya,” the UN Chief stated.

In a full statement that Tuesday, the UN appealed for the government to investigate the deaths of all those who died during the protests and prosecute the guilty:

“We’re also very concerned about reported cases of targeted arbitrary detentions. It is very important that the rights of people to demonstrate peacefully be upheld.

“It is up also to authorities to ensure that those rights are respected and that all incidents of deaths in the hands of security forces be fully investigated,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Foreign missions in Kenya have also condemned the violence that has marked the ongoing Finance Bill demonstrations countrywide.

Two Dead in Somalia as Rain Pummels Mogadishu

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Justus Kiprono
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Two Dead in Somalia as Rain Pummels Mogadishu

Two children died on Monday in Mogadishu, Somalia, the authorities said, after being swept away by floodwaters caused by heavy rains that have pounded the capital over the past few days.

The torrential rain that soaked Mogadishu, swamping roadways and forcing road closures, was also blamed for displacing 325 families. Fast-moving water destroyed 11 houses, and officials were calling for voluntary evacuations after several drainage systems in the city broke water-level records.

By Monday night, emergency responders had conducted several water rescues and hundreds of people had been sheltered.

The extent of the destruction caused by the flash flooding won’t be known until it ceases, and then the residents and officials can begin surveying the damage.

The frequency and severity of such floods in Mogadishu have been on the rise over the years, leading to increased concerns about the impacts of climate change.

These climatic changes, combined with existing challenges such as political instability and poverty, amplify the impacts of such disasters, worsening the problems of the affected populations.

We Have No Plans of Switching off Internet – CA

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Justus Kiprono
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We Have No Plans of Switching off Internet - CA

Kenya’s ICT industry regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), has responded to claims that it was planning to shut down the internet on Tuesday during the planned demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 by the GenZs.

In a statement on Monday night, CA chief executive David Mugonyi clarified that the internet will be on as usual and that the rumours were untrue.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority has no intention whatsoever to shut down internet traffic or interfere with the quality of connectivity,” said CEO Mugonyi. “Such actions would be a betrayal to the Constitution as a whole, the freedom of expression in particular and our own ethos.”

The CA boss added that the presumed action would also be undermining the livelihoods of many Kenyans who rely on the net to earn their income.

He said that, however, when protests are ongoing, citizens should use the internet with respect to all as required by the country’s cyber laws.

His response came hours after many rights groups alleged that the country was planning to switch off the internet to tame Finance Bill protests.

Ndaraweta Girls Overcomes Odds to Win Bomet Central Football Championship

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Justus Kiprono
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Ndaraweta Girls Overcomes Odds to Win Bomet Central Football Championship

As schools are heading for half term break, it is a big championship week for Ndaraweta Girls High School after they were crowned winners in the Bomet Central Sub County School Games that ended over the past weekend.

Ndaraweta Girls won 2-1 over Chepngaina Secondary School, putting them on the verge of its first-ever County title after many years of struggling in the sub-zonal levels.

The game was played at Chepngaina playground as Ndaraweta Girls played all their games on the road this season as their home field in Ndaraweta was unplayable with poor field conditions to host the finals.

Jalody Chelangat and team captain Shirlyne Cheptoo scored the decisive goals, while Sharon Chepkirui netted a consolation goal for Chepngaina.

Speaking after the historic win, Captain Shirley said: “This win was not easy, but we put all our efforts into achieving this feat, and we are happy to win the title.”

On their way to finals, they overcame tremendous odds to beat the four-time unbeaten champions Chebonei Girls Secondary School earlier this month, which was also defeated 3-2 by Chepngaina.

The school’s volleyball team will also be taking part in their first-ever county championship, which will be held between July 3 and July 5 at the Itembe Secondary playground.

“I am happy to have won these two titles. This shows a sign of good things that are coming our way. We are now preparing for the challenges ahead of us,” said Ndaraweta Girls High School principal Norah Yegon.

From Bomet Central Sub County, Ndaraweta Girls will be heading to the county school games with the Tenwek High School football team, which defeated Kabungut Boys 2-0 in a thrilling match with goals from Veron Wanjala and Gideon Kipkulei.

Look up TV to Close After 6 Years

By
Justus Kiprono
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Look up TV to Close After 6 Years

Look Up TV, a free-to-air terrestrial channel that pledged to shake up the media industry with its up-to-par Swahili news and programmes, is closing after six years.

The shutdown affects less than 50 employees, including those working as editors and staff writers for its online news website, which will also be closed.

While announcing the closure at the end of a live Swahili news broadcast, journalist Tende Anyula said Look Up TV’s shutdown was effective immediately.

“Look Up TV’s journey that started six years ago is now coming to an end. Today is the last day for English and Swahili news programmes. The journey would not have been possible were it not for our team of journalists and audience. If you don’t find us, know we have ended our programmes,” said Anyula. “Thank you, viewers and fans.”

Look Up TV is closing down amid the continued economic strain in traditional media, whose fortunes have plummeted in the digital age as more and more people are shifting to online platforms.

The last few weeks have been especially grim for Kenyan journalism: Just in the past week, Nation Media Group (NMG) announced that it is shedding several hundred of its employees, including journalists, as part of a restructuring process to digital media, and, also, due to harsh economic conditions.

“As you are aware, the media landscape is undergoing rapid transformation: Changes in audience consumption habits, technology, and other macroeconomic factors have disrupted business models across the world,” Stephen Gitagama, NMG’s CEO, said in an internal note.
“We at the Nation Media Group have also faced challenges as a result of reduced earnings from traditional platforms occasioned by these unprecedented disruptions.”

Mr Gitagama added: “In order to reap the benefits of the new digital dispensation, we must accelerate that transformation. We must evolve into a leaner and more agile company that will innovate at pace and drive the efficient delivery of services to our customers. This will, unfortunately, necessitate a workforce reduction effective Friday, June 14, 2024.”

Inarguably, companies are spending more of their ad budgets to reach users on big tech platforms like Instagram and Google and are avoiding traditional media like newspapers and television, whose viewers continue to dwindle as years go by.

What Is This SC Shilingi Funds?

By
Justus Kiprono
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What Is This SC Shilingi Funds?
A photo taken during the launch of SC Shilingi Funds. (Photo: Web)

Invest while you save! SC Shilingi funds help you to invest your daily, weekly, or monthly savings in short-term money market funds that give an attractive rate of return, Standard Chartered Bank says, but many people don’t really know what this SC Shilingi Funds is;

SC Shilingi Funds is one of the investment products by Standard Chartered Bank Kenya. Precisely, it is a Unit Trust Investment.

A unit trust is a form of investment fund that pools together funds from multiple investors into a single fund managed by one fund manager with an aim to achieve a specific return within a given duration of time.

These unit trusts make money by investing in well-performing assets such as treasury bills, government bonds, corporate bonds, and shares, among many other different asset classes – for example, the money market funds – to spread and reduce the risk.

Unit investment trusts buy a fixed portfolio of securities and allow investors to redeem their “units,” similar to a mutual fund, Investopedia outlines.

How does SC Shilingi Funds work in Kenya?

How does SC Shilingi Funds work in Kenya?

As stated, because unit trusts, of which SC Shilingi Funds is one, provide access to a wider range of investments, the diversification makes it a low-risk option for investors who want a reliable and consistent income stream with a potential increase in returns over time.

In Kenya, the SC Shilingi Funds is available only to Standard Chartered Bank customers because to start investing, one needs to be logged in to the lender’s mobile application called SC Mobile Kenya App, which enables the buying and selling of units.

“No paperwork required as it is done directly from your SC Mobile App,” the bank says.

So, to start off, assuming you have opened an account with Standard Chartered Bank, follow these steps to start investing in SC Shilingi Funds now;

1. Download the SC Mobile Kenya App from PlayStore or Apple Store
2. Open the app and enter your details to log in
3. Click on the Investments tab
4. Choose SC Shilingi Funds
5. Start investing

How much do you need to invest in SC Shilingi Funds?

Standard Chartered Bank Kenya requires the first purchase of its unit trusts at SC Shilingi Funds to be at least Ksh500. But thereafter, the size of increments or additional investments is at the individual investor’s discretion.

SC Shilingi Funds has zero upfront charges for investments and withdrawals, which can be done anytime.

However, at the end of every maturity period, the investor is charged fund management fees that are normally below 2%.

Remember to ask for all fees and commissions in writing.

What is the interest rate of SC Shilingi Funds? (2024)

Unit trusts are usually made up of income shares distributed to investors either as interest or dividends monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or annually when they make income declarations, and SC Shilingi Funds is no exception;

Currently, SC Shilingi Funds pays returns at a 14% annual yield or 14.93% effective annual rate such that if you invest, for instance, Ksh100,000 as the initial and final investment amount, you will get exactly Ksh114,934.20 at the end of one year.

If you want to achieve returns that are better than inflation and are comfortable with lower potential returns during the period of investment in SC Shilingi Funds, you can risk locking your cash for two years or more for maximum capital appreciation.

Read: All Absa Money Market Fund Details in Kenya (2024)

ECDE Teachers Get Salary Increases in Elgeyo Marakwet

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howafrica
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ECDE Teachers Get Salary Increases in Elgeyo Marakwet
Governor Wisley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet County. (Photo: PD)

Salaries for Early Childhood and Development Education (ECDE) teachers in Elgeyo Marakwet County will rise immediately by Ksh4,000 as part of a new contract announced by Governor Wisley Rotich.

While delivering the State of the County address at the county assembly in Iten, the Governor said the salary increases affect three job groups of the ECDE teachers, and the highest will now earn Ksh18,000 per month, up from Ksh14,000.

“To motivate our teachers, we have adjusted their salaries by Ksh4,000, ensuring that the first, second, and third cohorts earn Ksh18,000, Ksh16,000, and Ksh14,000 respectively,” Governor Rotich said.

While emphasising the importance of early childhood educators in inspiring, encouraging and promoting children’s education, care and rights, the Governor said the higher salaries would also alleviate a perennial shortage of qualified teachers.

He disclosed that the county will confirm more of them in the coming year and will pay them the new salaries as it seeks to increase their number and, later on, their salary, as well, but in stages, by the same amount.

“In the financial year 2024/2025, we will increase their take-home pay by another Ksh4,000,” he announced, urging the county assembly members to support the forthcoming bill to facilitate these changes.

Governor Rotich stated that the county had already disbursed Ksh15 million to ECDE centres in nine wards to support learning activities and facilitate school feeding programs to entice young learners while supplementing their diets.

Mombasa Bans Sales and Use of Muguka in the County

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howafrica
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Mombasa Bans Sales and Use of Muguka in the County
Keeping Muguka out of the hands of kids is a top policy priority for Governor Nassir. (Photo: Tukio)

Mombasa has become the first county to ban the sale and use of muguka, a caffeine-filled stimulant that produces a mild high when chewed.

Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir issued Executive Order No. 1 of 2024 on May 23, and the first-in-the-nation directive takes effect immediately.

The order calls for sales and distribution of the products, known as jaba in the streets, to stop, and vehicles carrying the same from producer counties, mainly Embu, will be denied entry to the coastal city.

“Muguka has caused widespread damage, especially to our younger generation. We have tried to come up with ways to regulate its trade so that our children don’t get spoilt, but those dealing in it have refused,” Governor Nassir told the press.

Keeping Muguka out of the hands of kids is a top policy priority for the Governor, who said that its content, when one consumes just 20 leaves, is enough to make them have a toxic imagination.

Though muguka is inadequately regulated by Kenya’s NACADA, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and thus often sold without any scientific evidence of its safety or effectiveness, Governor Nassir said the executive order is in line with the constitution and that its violators will face civil penalties.

“Muguka have amphetamine-like substances that have certain mental effects. It is also true that more people use it because it is cheaper and more readily available,” Chokwe, a psychiatrist, says, adding that both bhang and muguka cause psychotic conditions. “It is a real threat.”

Government Unveils Plans to Register New Inua Jamii Beneficiaries

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howafrica
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Government Unveils Plans to Register New Inua Jamii Beneficiaries
A photo taken during the past Inua Jamii registration exercise. (Photo: Star)

The government has unveiled plans to register more beneficiaries into its needs-based Inua Jamii cash transfer programme, a national safety net for elderly and disadvantaged Kenyans.

According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, those targeted when the registration begins today include vulnerable senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“Household registration for Persons with Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer (PWSD-CT) and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) is starting tomorrow, Wednesday, May 22, 2024,” CS Florence Bore announced on Tuesday.

The CS added that those who will get registered will also be helped with account opening to enable them to receive a monthly stipend from the government as a cushion against poverty.

The registration drive, which targets to enrol an additional 500,000 households to the existing 207,000 beneficiaries, is part of what the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection started last September.

Though government personnel will be walking door to door in areas of Kenya while conducting registration, the Ministry said it is possible to self-register through USSD *222#, where one can select the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme in the displayed list of social protection services provided by the govt and enrol oneself for free.

After dispatching a total of Ksh2.07 billion benefit payments to Inua Jamii beneficiaries in March, the government said that those who will register in this cycle will start receiving support from next month.

What Is Mali by Safaricom?

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howafrica
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What Is Mali by Safaricom?
Mali seeks to invest in a well-diversified portfolio comprising short-term money market instruments of high quality. (Photo: Web)

If you normally make Mpesa transactions using the updated M-PESA Super App, I am sure you have come across Mali and probably asked yourself, or those around you, what that Mali by Safaricom is;

I bet many failed to know or gave inaccurate information about it. But here is the answer: Mali is a money market fund by Safaricom, the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, which aims to provide a stable return on investment for Mpesa users.

For that, its fund manager, Genghis Capital Limited, seeks to invest in a well-diversified portfolio comprising short-term money market instruments of high quality, like treasury bills and corporate notes, to limit market risk and guarantee capital protection.

How do you register for Mali by Safaricom?

To start investing in Mali, a money market fund by Safaricom, you need to meet some specific requirements to register an account;

“By opting in, you confirm that you are at least eighteen (18) years old and a registered and active M-PESA Subscriber for at least three (3) months immediately preceding the date of your application to open a MALI M-PESA account.

“Genghis reserves the right to verify with Safaricom the authenticity and status of your M-PESA Account and transactions and may decline your application if we are not satisfied that you have met these minimum requirements,” the mobile operator says.

If you meet all the above requirements, you can get the Mali account via the Mpesa app under the ‘Grow’ tab or by visiting *334#, selecting option 5, ‘Financial Services,’ and then clicking on MALI to start free registration.

What is the minimum to invest in Safaricom Mali in 2024?

Mali has a low minimum investment amount, which is affordable for many people in the country. Typically, new investors make an initial minimum investment of Ksh100 and can make top-ups of the same amount or above, which is why the MMF is designed for consumers who seek to invest while saving on Mpesa.

What is the interest rate of the Mali money market?

Safaricom Mali money market fund account yields between 8-10% as you build your savings, and the interest earned is compounded daily and paid at the end of each month.

When a Mali investor requests account liquidation, the funds plus the interest earned get processed after 72 hours, after which the funds arrive on Mpesa when a 15% withholding tax, 2% Fund Manager’s Fees and 0.20 Trustee Fees have already been deducted.

Read: All About CIC Kenya Money Market Fund in 2024

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