Shocking statistics on the state of sugar in Kenya

Mumias Sugar Company. As state-backed firms are on the wane, their place is being taken by private millers whose market share has grown in the same period. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP  

In Summary

• South Nyanza (Sony) Sugar Company has also seen its share fall by five per cent, while Nzoia’s stake has declined by one per cent.
• As state-backed firms are on the wane, their place is being taken by private millers whose market share has grown in the same period.
• The report says Kenya imported 113,495 tonnes of sugar in 2008 while, as per July this year, it had imported 60,027 tonnes.
• Last year, Kenya imported 62,708 tonnes of sugar, with Inland Africa Logistics Ltd bringing in 9,550 tonnes — translating to 15 per cent of the total imports.

By SAMWEL BORN MAINA
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A government report has revealed shocking statistics on the state of sugar since 2005.

The most disturbing is that Mumias Sugar has lost half of its market share in the past four years.

South Nyanza (Sony) Sugar Company has also seen its share fall by five per cent, while Nzoia’s stake has declined by one per cent.

Parents spend a fortune on toys

(Left) A Zoomer worth Sh25,000 on display at the Nakumatt Kids & Co. store at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU 

By DOREEN WAINAINAH

In Summary

• From a miniature electric Mercedes to a 5-ft stuffed Minnie Mouse, today, it’s all about brand names when it comes to kids’ playthings.

‘Sit Zoomer’ or better yet ‘bed piny’, ‘ikara thi’, ‘ikhala’ or ‘dance Zoomer’, ‘Miel’, ‘Khina’, ‘ina’ and the little robot dog will do as commanded, even when this is done in vernacular.

The Sh24,995 robot toy is barely a foot long and a foot high and on its first week on the shelves, it sold out. Parents and their children were falling over themselves to see the little robot dog dance, walk and even sit on command.

Global slowdown opportunity for Kenya to put house in order

Opinion and Analysis

The sharp fall in both the local and the global markets this week is nothing but smart money trying to lock in its profits before it evaporates. BD GRAPHIC | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

By Mohamed Wehliye

In Summary

• Investors should sit tight given that whenever a turmoil of this nature has happened, this has been a great boon for investors who have medium and long term perspective. There are always opportunities in every threat.

It has been a very bad week for the world stock and currency markets. The tumble was triggered by troubles brewing in the Chinese economy and crash in commodity price, raising concerns about a prolonged global slowdown.

Five new county police bosses named in mini reshuffle

Politics and policy

Inspector General (IG) of Police Joseph Boinnet (centre) addresses the media alongside Deputy Police IG Grace Kaindi on July 22, 2015. Five new county police commanders have been named in a mini reshuffle. PHOTO | FILE |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By ZADOCK ANGIRA

The police commission has named five new county police commanders in a mini reshuffle.

Three of the commanders were recently reinstated after being vetted afresh by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

Delivering public value

Prasa looks to get public transport back on track

As a wholly-owned government public entity reporting to the minister of transport, the main responsibility of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is to deliver commuter rail services in the metropolitan areas, long-distance (inter-city) rail and bus services within, to and from the borders of the Republic of South Africa. This mandate is implemented in consultation with and under the guidance of the minister of transport.

Eco development boosts uMhlathuze’s economy

New business park to drive development

The John Ross Eco Junction, an eco-friendly industrial park in the city of uMhlathuze in northern KwaZulu-Natal, provides a convenient gateway to Richards Bay and Empangeni. The 195 000m² mixed- use commercial property development is expected to boost economic growth and create jobs in the greater uMhlathuze area, which has been identified as a high potential development node.
This is STANLIB and the Liberty Property Portfolio’s first foray into industrial property with the official groundbreaking in July last year. “It is our vision to create a dynamic and sustainable industrial development with strong links to the greater and central business districts of Empangeni and Richards Bay,” says Amelia Beattie, Head of STANLIB Direct Property Investments. The Liberty Property Portfolio is placing great emphasis on developing John Ross Eco Junction in an environmentally sustainable manner.
“We are looking at a broad spectrum of environmentally friendly building techniques such as rainwater capture, permeable paving, renewable energy sources and the conservation of indigenous plant life,” says Alex Phakathi, Fund Manager for the Liberty Property Portfolio in the STANLIB Direct Property Investments Franchise.
uMhlathuze is set to benefit from Transnet’s R33–billion spend on infrastructure, which is likely to attract further investment, leading to increased demand for real estate and job creation.
“Creating local jobs is a key part of this project. Although the development has been designed and will be managed by STANLIB, we have appointed a locally based contractor to carry out building work for the Tangawizi Motors development,” says Phakathi.
This will help ensure that John Ross Eco Junction is entrenched within the local community, he says. The development, situated at the intersection of the N2 Highway (linking Durban and Pongola) and the John Ross Parkway (connecting Richards Bay and Empangeni), is ideally positioned to provide easy access to railway, seaport and airport facilities.
A number of tenants have already signed up, including Tangawizi Motors (which represents Hyundai, Daihatsu, Renault and Honda) and black–owned private hospital group Melomed Richard’s Bay Proprietary Limited

City of Durban on the rise

Durban aims to be the full package

Traditionally, Durban’s striking coastline of soft sandy beaches and its subtropical climate made the city a natural holiday paradise, centered around one of Africa’s busiest ports and conveniently positioned to service the continent’s eastern seaboard. Durban has also always had a strong history and performance in manufacturing and agribusiness for nearly 150 years.
However, Durban Tourism and the Durban Investment Promotion team have worked aggressively with business partners to not only reposition Durban as a premier lifestyle and events destination, but also as an award-winning investment location, which is now home to Samsung Electronics, Toyota, Unilever and many others. The city launched an ambitious seven-year plan geared at boosting international visitors, called the Durban Visitor Strategy. If all goes to plan, this will attract five million tourists by 2020, inject R10- billion into the economy and support 74000 jobs.
To assist in the development of commerce between KwaZulu-Natal, Lusaka and Harare, SA Express’s direct flights into Africa are the perfect springboard. These flights provide a wide range of new possibilities for the province by linking Durban directly with a number of Southern African countries.
Tourism remains a main focus of the city’s six main business sectors. A major catalyst for the hotel industry — and a forceful show of increased investor confidence in the city — was the billion rand upgrade of the Beachfront Promenade, from Ushaka Marine World to Blue Lagoon.
Durban is not without its praise singers among the world’s media. The city has launched its new Smart Cities Campaign, a documentary that forms part of the National Geographic Campaign in Washington. The World’s Smart Cities Programme will feature up to 18 of the world’s most liveable cities, capable of providing the best places to live, visit, study and do business in. CNN voted Durban as one of the world’s top 10 most underrated cities. The recently published Master Card Global Destination City Index has predicted that Durban will be this year’s fastest growing city in Africa, and will be the second-fastest growing tourism city of 132 cities surveyed worldwide.
Durban has won the Vuna award and favourable investment grade credit ratings as a result of its financially strong local government, and has invested in a number of business enablers. These include a huge, expanding fibre optic system, and vigorous participation in Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) initiatives, often the start of partnerships for industrialisation and development. Indian foreign direct investment into Durban alone has topped R3-billion over the last four years.
The city’s economic growth outstrip average growth rates in South Africa, and are also higher than those of many other major centres. Durban is aiming at a growth rate of more than 5% — not an unachievable number.
Durban has the continent’s leading infrastructure base, including virtual infrastructure like globalised financial services. Durban has the most award-winning electricity distribution on the continent, a vast road network, and new opportunities for a partnership-accelerated water treatment and supply base.
There are large amounts of vacant land available at realistic prices across the 2300km² city. Durban leads the sub-continent in terms of port infrastructure, with Sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest harbour, plus the expanded King Shaka International Airport and Dube Trade Port Aerotropolis.
Durban is presently South Africa’s sole bid city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and possibly the 2024 Olympics.
Over 65% of the province’s economy is generated in Durban, and the Durban Chamber of Commerce is the country’s oldest and largest metro chamber.
Having the second-largest business and industrial base in South Africa provides many options for suppliers, support services and customers. The Durban Investment Dashboard for the City of Durban catalogues over 65 active “flagship projects”, with a cumulative value in excess of R620-billion. These have the potential to produce over 600 000 permanent jobs, and over R8-billion in new rates revenue for the municipality.
Durban has embedded manufacturing capacities and some of the country’s largest businesses. KwaZulu-Natal has the largest share of the most productive agricultural land in South Africa. This is providing much-needed rural and peri-urban employment across the whole province, along with further product beneficiation and renewable energy opportunities.
The region’s tourism sector stats continue to reflect growth in excess of 13%, and new trends are emerging such as a large rise in tourists from the United States.
The call-centre and business process outsourcing industries in Durban continue to grow and are expanding local job opportunities. The film and media sectors have a bright horizon, with new local production facilities in the pipeline.
KwaZulu-Natal has the inherent potential to become a massive power generation and waste recycling region.
The eThekwini municipality has done some good work on its own energy efficiency front, and on the green economy partnership platform known as the KZN Sustainable Energy Forum.

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