Monday, April 30, 2018

‘Rural energy funds should be disbursed without delay’

from NELLY MTEMA in Dodoma

SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Mr Job Ndungai, has directed the Minister for Finance and Planning, alongside his Energy Counterpart, to sit together and address issues involving timeliness when it comes to payments in all Rural Energy Authority (REA) projects.

Newborns destined for much better care

From NELLY MTEMA in Dodoma

THE government plans to improve provision of services to low birth weight new born children in all health centres and district hospitals in the country, saying the problem is on the increase in Tanzania.

Projects launched to check substandard drugs, vaccines

By DAILY NEWS Reporter

HEALTH, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Ministry has asked domestic and international health experts to assist in establishing vigorous and effective monitoring systems to check increasing substandard medicines and vaccines in the country.

Education budget up by 5pc to 1.4 trillion

From SYLIVESTER DOMASA in Dodoma

THE government yesterday unveiled a 1.4tri/- budget proposal, focusing on transforming the human capital towards improving the economy and moving to the middle income nation.

Mkuchika wants efficiency, transparency in projects

From NELLY MTEMA in Dodoma

MINISTER of State in President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance), Mr George Mkuchika has insisted on transparency and value for money in all projects as a means to address corruption issues in the construction industry.

All promised road work will be done

From NELLY MTEMA in Dodoma

THE Minister for State in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr Selemani Jafo, said all roads promised by President John Magufuli during his 2015 campaign are well coordinated.

Counterfeit goods destroyed

From DAILY NEWS Reporter in Dodoma

FAIR Competition Commission (FCC) has destroyed counterfeit goods worth 26bn/- within eleven months, it was revealed here over the weekend.

National youth council underway

From LUDOVICK KAZOKA in Dodoma

THE government is finalising the process of setting up the National Youth Council which will serve as the platform to bring together youngsters to seek solutions for challenges facing the group.

Unawareness, nonparticipation impede project execution

From MEDDY MULISA in Bukoba

LACK of citizens’ awareness and participation remains a serious impediment to smooth execution of development projects at the grassroots level.

Two years bond attracts 160bn/-

TWO years bond auctioned by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) last Wednesday received high investors’ attention after attracting bids worth 163.5bn/-.

Kenyan goods failed rule of origin test - sources

DAILY NEWS Reporter

KENYAN made sugar-based products were denied preferential access in Tanzania's market after the Kenyan authorities failed to prove without doubt that they were not made from duty free industrial sugar imports.

benefit from CBA loans

HAZLA OMAR in Arusha

TOUR Operators and Hoteliers in East Africa will now benefit from huge loans disbursed by the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), which intends to boost the travel and hospitality industries in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South-Sudan.

Citibank posts lowest NPLs in Q1

DAILY NEWS Reporter

CITIBANK has continued to lead the market with lowest non-performing loans in quarter one this year.

The bank's NPLs dropped to zero per cent in Q1 from 0.1 per cent at the end of last December.
The bank’s zero per cent NPLs presenting a nil-amount at the end of March compared to 157m/- at last December.

KenGen secures Sh18 billion World Bank loan guarantee

KenGen managing director and CEO Rebecca Miano. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG

In Summary

The approval allows the energy producer to attract long-term capital for its renewable energy development projects.
KenGen #ticker:KEGN said on Monday the World Bank’s approval will enable it raise up to Sh30 billion ($300 million) in long term commercial financing to be used to refinance its existing commercial loans.

By BRIAN NGUGI
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The World Bank will provide up to Sh18 billion ($180 million) to Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) in the form of risk guarantee allowing it to attract long term capital for its

Gang roughs up ex-NCBDA chairman Timothy Muriuki in defense of Mike Sonko

14 hours ago
A gang, suspected to be hired goons disrupted a press conference called by former Nairobi Central Business District Business Association (NCBDA) Chairman Timothy Muriuki. Mr Muriuki had called the media to give his stand on the state of Nairobi, which has been beset by many challenges including garbage and floods, at the Hotel Boulevard. But when he emerged and started his address, two men intercepted him, roughing him up as journalists watched and recorded the drama. The attackers, who claimed Mr Muriuki was out to tarnish Governor Mike Sonko's name, first tore his statement into pieces.

Where land is still cheap in Nairobi area

Visit Athi River for cheaper land as CBD, Upper Hill remain costly

A cement factory in Athi River, where land is cheaper compared to other parts of the larger Nairobi Metropolitan area. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

Land in the Nairobi Metropolitan area appreciated at an average rate of 3.7 per cent, down from a six-year average of 17 per cent.
At Sh4.1 million an acre, Athi River has the cheapest land in the metropolitan area, with an acre of land in Thika, Juja and Ongata Rongai at Sh9.2 million, Sh9.6 million and Sh9.9 million respectively.

By JOHN NGIRACHU
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Athi River has the cheapest land in Nairobi area while the Central Business District (CBD) and Upper Hill remain the priciest, according to the latest report by an investment company.

National Hospital Insurance Fund chief executive officer Geoffrey Mwangi talks about changes to healthcare purchasing, at Crown Plaza Hotel in Nairobi on November 2, 2017. The NHIF wants to register more Kenyans. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

The objective is to reduce cost of medical care and achieve universal healthcare.

By ANGELA OKETCH
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By AGGREY OMBOKI
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The government is seeking to register 8.5 million new members into the health insurance scheme, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said on Wednesday.

In Summary

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers said the industry is yet to pick pace following last year’s setbacks, including high inflation rates, drought and prolonged electioneering.
The Labour Day wage increment has become one of the biggest challenges to industry in Kenya, especially because it is not linked to productivity improvement.
KAM wants the government to considers a reduction of VAT on items such as milk, sugar, salt, rice, tea leaves, wheat, beans, cooking oil and paraffin.
Doubling the Sh1,700 that top contributors make to the NHIF ranks high on the list of targeted outcomes of ongoing review of the NHIF Act.

By LYNET IGADWAH
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By SAM KIPLAGAT
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Kenyan employers have warned against another Labour Day minimum wage increase, arguing that such a move will hurt an economy that is just beginning to recover from last year’s battering.

How crooks steal from your phone

Your phone is the new banking hall, and in it fraudsters roam

Kenyans lost more than Sh17 billion last year to fraud, and mobile phones aided much of the theft. PHOTO | FILE

In Summary

The following day the bank sent him a message indicating that the Sh450,000 transaction had been reversed.
The victims, like Mr Karanja, are left to lick their wounds in agonising silence.
In Nakuru, Mary Wambui says she was touched when someone called to plead that he had inadvertently sent her Sh5,000 on M-Pesa.
Questions abound on the security of mobile money transaction platforms, and also on the capacity of security agencies to tame the fraud.

By NATION TEAM
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Geoffrey Karanja, a Makuyu mechanic, was full of joy last Friday after receiving a call from a man

Ego has a unique power of tagging you with a false confidence of being who you are not. FILE PHOTO | NMG

A mobile phone trader in Nairobi. file photo | nmg

African heads of states and governments during the African Union Summit for the agreement to establish the Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali, Rwanda, on March 21, 2018. AFP PHOTO