Equity, NOC in deal

By James Anyanzwa

National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Equity Bank have partnered to provide loans to consumers and retailers of the corporation's products.

The loan facility will cater for the purchase of NOC's Supa Gas cylinders, gas and other accessories.

LPG dealers and consumers seeking financial assistance will also benefit from Equity Bank loans.

"The bank will package financial products to reduce the entry barrier to cylinder ownership by enabling payment for the cylinders by affordable instalments," said NOC's acting managing director Mr Sumayya Athmani. Equity Bank is expected to control a collection account for NOC's customers who benefit from

CIC bets on the low-end market to drive sales

By FREDRICK OBURA

The Co-operative Insurance Company (CIC) has launched new insurance products that target small-scale enterprises and low-income earners.

According to the insurer, the low-end insurance products would address prohibitive premium costs and are designed to increase market penetration of the key economic sectors, notably agriculture and construction. "High administration costs and lack of elaborate distribution and payment mechanisms are often hindrance to insurance penetration...we want to address these handicaps and change the way insurance is priced and packaged to unlock growth," said Nelson Kuria, CIC Insurance Managing Director.

"The three products, Crop and Livestock, Mjengo plus and Jamii

Price middle and low-income houses fairly

Investment in middle and low-income residential housing is the latest cash cow, with those targeted toasting all the way to home ownership.

As the trend picks up in Nairobi and its environs, the reality that middle-level managers, bankers, investment analysts and all those other professions that form the bulk of the middle class can now own homes, is beginning to sink in.

Gone are the days when one's net salary had first to be in hundreds of thousands of shillings, before the thought of owning a house even crossed one's mind.

Also fading away are the days when owning a home was hinged on providing security in the form of huge tracts

What happens if House dissolves in June 2012?

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA

A constitutional crisis is in waiting. The exact date President Kibaki's tenure should end differs from the constitutional election timetable.

Constitutionally, President Kibaki and the coalition government's term is supposed to be in place until December 30, 2012.

But Kibaki, having taken oath of office on December 29, 2007, is expected to see his five-year term to the end.

The same applies to MPs who were sworn in on January 15, 2008.

Lawyers are united that under the new Constitution, in which the President has no powers to decide when to prologue Parliament, the yet to be established Electoral and Boundaries Review Commission will now have the powers to slice the terms of the coalition Government and end the current Parliament's term by five months.

"The new electoral body, with constitutional powers, will slice the terms

What happens if House dissolves in June 2012?

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA

A constitutional crisis is in waiting. The exact date President Kibaki's tenure should end differs from the constitutional election timetable.

Constitutionally, President Kibaki and the coalition government's term is supposed to be in place until December 30, 2012.

But Kibaki, having taken oath of office on December 29, 2007, is expected to see his five-year term to the end.

The same applies to MPs who were sworn in on January 15, 2008.

Lawyers are united that under the new Constitution, in which the President has no powers to decide when to prologue Parliament, the yet to be established Electoral and Boundaries Review Commission will now have the powers to slice the terms of the coalition Government and end the current Parliament's term by five months.

"The new electoral body, with constitutional powers, will slice the terms

What happens if House dissolves in June 2012?

By BEAUTTAH OMANGA

A constitutional crisis is in waiting. The exact date President Kibaki's tenure should end differs from the constitutional election timetable.

Constitutionally, President Kibaki and the coalition government's term is supposed to be in place until December 30, 2012.

But Kibaki, having taken oath of office on December 29, 2007, is expected to see his five-year term to the end.

The same applies to MPs who were sworn in on January 15, 2008.

Lawyers are united that under the new Constitution, in which the President has no powers to decide when to prologue Parliament, the yet to be established Electoral and Boundaries Review Commission will now have the powers to slice the terms of the coalition Government and end the current Parliament's term by five months.

"The new electoral body, with constitutional powers, will slice the terms

New management system to protect pension funds

By LUKE ANAMI

Pension funds should initiate a risk-based approach in the management of funds.This will ensure protection of members' cash, a financial service provider has said.

Alexander Forbes said the risk-based monitoring system of the activities of pension funds would ensure they operate within the pension regulatory framework.

The firm's Managing Director Sundeep Raichura said the proposed framework should be in place to safeguard pension funds.

He made the remarks during a workshop to sensitise trustees and pension schemes managers on the new supervisory approach yesterday in a Nairobi hotel.

SYSTEM adoption

Raichura, who supports the new approach,

Kenya moves to end oil crisis, calls for low pump prices

By JOHN NJIRAINI

The Government has moved to curb runaway oil prices by settling a protracted dispute with leading marketer KenolKobil and addressing bottlenecks in the supply system.

Energy PS Patrick Nyoike accused some big oil marketers of setting prices prompting others to react and thus end up hurting consumers who have seen prices soar from an average of Sh85 two weeks ago to Sh99 by on Friday.

"Companies have no moral authority to increase prices because we have enough products in the system," he said.

In the wake of a public outcry over rising pump prices in recent weeks occasioned by ranging disputes and capacity constraints, the Government said prices should

Nominees for the 2010 Kalasha Awards unveiled

By GEORGE ORIDO

The second edition of the annual Kalasha Film and Television Awards kicked off in earnest with the award panel announcing nominees in 29 categories.

The winners will be announced at a gala event on September 25.

It is gratifying to see a dozen new productions on the list among them Ndoto za Elibidi directed by Kamau wa Ndung'u and Erick Reding that has been nominated in five categories.

Riding high on the back of this Kiswahili film are nominations for Best Lead Actor Juma Williams, Supporting Actor Alfred Calypso, Supporting Actress Ummal Rajab, Best Director,

Slay corruption to free resources for growth

A report by Transparency International, the global anti-graft organisation, has pinpointed corruption as the biggest impediment to Kenya achieving the UN Millenium Development Goals.

The linkages in the corruption chain are found in the Government's procurement and the various levels of bribery that go with it.

One of the targets of MDGs is improved water access, but the TI report suggests that in Africa, a country's cost of connecting households to water sources may increase by Sh80 billion simply due to corruption.

There are other interesting findings, including the correlation between paying bribes, strong and effective anti-corruption laws and

Lay to rest ogre of tribal unity and alliances

Politicians seem unable to grasp the notion that the nation needs to heal and move on from the terror visited upon citizens at every election year.

How else does one explain the unsolicited calls for tribal unity and shoring up of numbers to give their ethnic groups a fighting chance at the national cake?

True leadership calls for tolerance, respect for everyone else's right to exist, hold an opinion, vote for a preferred candidate and join their religion of choice. It is time to discard retrogressive practices shrouded in ethnic cloaks.

Kenyans just voted for a new constitutional order, amid

GETTING TOUGH

BY GILBERT WANDERA

FOOTBALL WRITER

Ulinzi coach Benjamin Nyangweso says the title race for the Kenya Premier League (KPL) is still open.

Nyangweso does not believe his team was thrown an advantage by the 1-1 mid-week tie by Gor Mahia and Sofapaka and insists the race is still open.

As the league leaders face Mathare United tomorrow at Nyayo National Stadium, Nyangweso is cautious and warns that the fight may go to the wire.

Ulinzi's Geoffrey Kokoyo (left) and Kevin Kimani (right) of Mathare United in past matches. INSET: Ulinzi coach Benjamin Nyangweso (left) and his Mathare counterpart Salim Ali.

[PHOTOS: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

He said: "I do not believe we have an advantage. Any of the top teams can win it and so we will take

Kwale sugarcane project enters phase II

By PHILIP MWAKIO

Kwale International Sugar Company (Kiscol) plans to issue tenders for construction of design, supply, installation and commissioning of a 3,000 Tonnes of Cane per Day sugar plant with co-generation.

The firm, which was launched by President Kibaki in 2007, has invited tenders, in a paid up International Tender Notice advertisement, for the actual construction of the plant.

The facility is set to produce 3,500 tonnes of sugar and hopes to upgrade its daily production to 5,000 tonnes.

Kiscol is keen on establishing a green field sugarcane estate of 1,500 acres alongside a modern processing complex.

Its core

State effects plan to lease transport services

By MACHARIA KAMAU

The Government is reviewing its official transport system, and has eyes set on leasing transportation services, in a bid to cut costs and increase efficiency of official transport services.

The plan to outsource transportation services, which is expected to subsequently reduce the cost of delivery of services, is contained in the budget for this financial year.

And yesterday, the Finance Ministry invited motor vehicle dealers and leasing companies to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the provision of vehicle and transport services through leasing.

"The fleet to be leased will comprise approximately 1,500 vehicles of different

State effects plan to lease transport services

By MACHARIA KAMAU

The Government is reviewing its official transport system, and has eyes set on leasing transportation services, in a bid to cut costs and increase efficiency of official transport services.

The plan to outsource transportation services, which is expected to subsequently reduce the cost of delivery of services, is contained in the budget for this financial year.

And yesterday, the Finance Ministry invited motor vehicle dealers and leasing companies to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the provision of vehicle and transport services through leasing.

"The fleet to be leased will comprise approximately 1,500 vehicles of different

Audit trail of CDF more useful than allotment

Greed and self-interest have blurred the minds of some MPs, who now regard the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as their property to dispense with as they deem fit.

As a result, they have used CDF money to fill Constituency Management Committee offices with relatives and friends.

They reward them with jobs to ensure that the funds are directed to their own projects, without any short- or long-term benefits for their constituents. Which is why their claims that the allocation by Treasury was manipulated sounds hollow.

The truth is that the level of funding will actually go up by some Sh2

Stormy waters loom for struggling NSE

It is now apparent that low activity and dismal transaction levels at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) are putting a severe financial strain on all operators in this market.

The Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC) is the latest casualty in a market that has been struggling to get out of recovery mode for the past two years.

CDSC has reportedly petitioned the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to increase the level of funding and prevent the corporation from shutting down. Others hit by lean activity at the NSE are stockbrokerage firms and investment banks, which have seen their commissions and fees hit the floor.

FINANCIAL TROUBLE

Not even the CMA has been spared. Its surplus has been on a sharp decline over

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

PSV crackdown painted police as insensitive

It is either a serious lack of forward planning, or simply a public relations exercise by police at the expense of travellers.

How else would one explain the sight of school children stranded by the roadside and in bus parks because of a crackdown by the traffic police on Wednesday?

The traffic police officers have known for some time that schools were reopening this week.

Why on earth they chose to crack down on the so-called un-roadworthy matatus and other public service vehicles on the day most pupils were travelling to school, yet they had the whole of last week

Rethink arming of private security guards

As this newspaper revealed yesterday, draft Bills to be adopted by Parliament before the end of the year will drastically alter the face of the police as part

of reforms meant to entrench respect for the law within the force.

The National Police Service Bill 2010 and the Independent Oversight Authority Bill 2010 will improve accountability within the force and allow junior officers to question orders from their seniors that they deem unconstitutional.

Anything that seeks to improve the structure, management and competency of the police is welcome.

However, a word of caution. A third Bill, the Private Security

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

Ministry sends Sh9bn to schools

The Ministry of Education has released Sh9 billion to be distributed to all public secondary schools under the subsidised education programme.

Related Stories

Teachers deny signing for cash in fraud case

The money caters for the allocations for the new school term as well as pending disbursements from previous terms.

"This money was released on Friday and it is already being wired to schools in the republic," the ministry's public relations officer, Ms Virginia Wangari, said.

Allays fears

All the funds will be used for tuition and operations. The release of the money allays fears expressed by some secondary school

\'Exclusion of small communities shouldn’t be cause for worry\'

By Stephen Makabila

Even though ethnicity was one of the parameters for the 2009 National Census, not all communities were registered.

Kenya is home to about 42 tribes, but the Ministry of Planning took into account only 24 tribes, leaving out 18.

Munene Macharia of United States International University says failure to classify small tribes should not be a cause for worry.

"Bigger cultural groupings have been emerging through loose merger of minorities," says Prof Macharia.

But Nairobi lawyer Harun Ndubi argues that the new Constitution provides for protection of all cultures therefore smaller tribes should be recognised and their

Rock icon plans massive fund in Africa

By Nicholas Paisner

Tiring of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, 1980's rock icons have found a new thrill — private equity.

First, U2's Bono became a partner in media investor Elevation Partners. Now, Bob Geldof is looking to raise $1 billion for an African private equity fund, to be called 8 Miles.

Geldof's connection with the continent goes back many years. Since organising the Live Aid concert in the mid-1980s, he has campaigned for increased aid and debt forgiveness for African nations. His political contacts should help open commercial doors.

The musician's fundraising effort also coincides with a flurry of renewed

Wait for repeat count before attacking census

Government must move with speed and repeat the census exercise in the eight districts whose results were cancelled because the data defied common sense.

This should happen to prevent politicians from using it as a bargaining chip to blackmail the Government. Even more importantly, setting a date for a recount would allay fears that the Government is keen on perpetuating what many in the region see as over 40 years of injustice bred by marginalisation.

Most of the areas affected are in Northern Kenya although parts of the North Rift are included. It was unfortunate that some MPs from affected

Nock unveils service standards charter

By Patrick Githinji

National Oil Corporation of Kenya (Nock) has launched a service charter that boldly sets out the firm's commitment to deliver high quality services to customers and other stakeholders.

Among commitments is to pay suppliers within 30 days upon receiving supporting invoices.

"National Oil will honour payments within 30 days of receipt of invoices with all supporting documents except where provided otherwise in specified contracts, in each case payment will be made accordance within the term of the contract," the charter says.

Under the new payment schedule, Nock says it will pay staff claims and imprest on Tuesday,