Hill+Knowlton Strategies named the best transaction advisors- PR and Marketing for 2012

Hill+Knowlton Strategies East Africa has been named the transaction advisor of the  year - PR and Marketing in this year's Think Business Capital Markets Awards. The panel of judges unanimously awarded the agency for its role in managing top financial transaction ranging from IPOs, Rights Issues and Listings.

Making the announcement, Think Business Managing Director Ochieng Oloo said that the judges were impressed with the level of expertise that the agency has applied while managing financial transactions.

"Hill+Knowlton Strategies portrayed excellent use of communication and issues management in bringing to successful close various transactions in divers sectors of the economy," said Ochieng.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies, East Africa, a Joint venture between Scangroup Limited and Hill+Knowlton Strategies, runs a fully-fledged financial services practice, which manages a wide range of financial transaction projects in the banking, insurance and investor relations.

"Hill+Knowlton Strategies East Africa has carved a niche in Financial Communications having worked on several high-profile Initial Public Offers and Right Issues. We have helped our clients raise KES 44.5 billion between 2006 and 2012, and this amount is bound to rise by the end of this year as we complete ongoing transactions," said Alexander Doll, Managing Director H+K.

Doll also said that H+K has become a financial communications powerhouse and the company will continue to strengthen the financial practice through training and research to enhance the level of counsel the agency is providing to financial clients.  

Some of the key transactions H+K has managed include;

IPOs: Kenya RE , British American Investment Company, Scangroup and currently working on Umeme cross border IPO.

Rights Issue: TPS Serena Hotels, KPLC, Standard Chartered Bank, NIC Bank, CfC Stanbic, KCB

Bonds: Athi River Mining, Deacons

"We made a conscious decision as Scangroup to invest in specialized expertise to enhance our approach in managing diverse needs of our clients across sub Saharan Africa, and this recognition is proof that the approach has been successful," said Bharat Thakrar, CEO, Scangroup.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies East Africa Ltd covers Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and is headquartered in Nairobi. Some of its other corporate clients include Kenya Bankers Association, Nokia, Emirates Airline, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, P&G, Britam, MasterCard, StarTimes Media, Airtel, South African Tourism among others.

USAID LAUNCHES YOUTH SACCO IN KENYA

The Minister for Cooperative Development and Marketing, with the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA), is launching seven USAID-supported youth-led Savings and Credit Cooperative
Societies (SACCO) in Eldoret on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Sirikwa Hotel.

The Minister for Cooperative Development and Marketing, Hon. Joseph W.N. Nyagah and USAID's Youth Advisor, Dr. Roger Steinkamp, will preside over the occasion and will issue registration certificates to the County Youth Bunge SACCO Cooperative Management Committees.  This NYBA-managed SACCO initiative aims to motivate youth to form economic-oriented
self-help groups and by doing so further the Government of Kenya's progress towards Vision 2030.  The SACCOs will explore linkages with the public and private sectors, as well as donor agencies.  

Yes Youth Can, the largest USAID-supported program in the world, works in 25 of Kenya's 47 counties and has enabled more than one million youth in 20,000 villages to organize themselves into the National Youth Bunge Association, a system of village- and county-level bunges, or parliaments.  Youth bunges are registered as self-help groups with the Ministry of Gender & Social Development.  The program provides support for the economic development of Kenya's youth in their communities such as jobs, community service, responsible leadership, investments, and
partnerships.  NYBA leaders are elected democratically beginning at the village level.

The NYBA approached the Ministry of Cooperative Development and Marketing and USAID to help them form county SACCOs with the goal of serving all the youth and youth groups that are members of a village bunge network.  The county bunge SACCOs will not only be a safe place for youth savings but a source of loans for its bunge members.  The SACCOs will also seek to explore and attract private and public sector investment capital.  The NYBA leadership emphasized that these SACCOs will be controlled, managed and driven by youth.  The ultimate goal will
be to organize a National Youth Co-operative (NACO) to serve the county-level SACCOs.

African Laughter rolls out cheap, instant media and social media monitoring

In the run-up to Kenya's forthcoming election, Kenyan new media company African Laughter has today unveiled a phone-based media monitoring tool, 'Track-All © ', to deliver every media and social media mention on any subject as real-time alerts to phones.

"Reputation is the sum of what people and the media are saying – a fact that has driven a multi-million media monitoring industry worldwide, across corporates, political campaigns and as basic fuel for celebrity publicists. With this phone app, we've opened media monitoring directly to all who need it, made it effortless, and built software that analyses what's being said for its impact," said Jenny
Luesby, Managing Director of African Laughter Ltd.

TrackAll © analyses mentions on FaceBook and Twitter for 'sentiment', alerting monitors to positive or negative posts. It compares the mentions on different individuals, showing who is doing best with
their reputation. It also shows who is commenting most on a subject and top key words, as well as delivering all mainstream media coverage on the same subject.

"It's an all-in-one instant tool, that arrives real-time, and is simplicity itself to set-up," said Alakie Asige, African Laughter's Business Development Director.

The app was developed by Dennis Rwito, head of IT at African Laughter, and award winning young developer Isaac Osiemo, and took 8 months to build.

The company is launching TrackAll © with free 7-day trials to any user who wants to download the software. The application has different grades of service, offering from 1 to 5 users and 1 to 3 searches, as well as different levels of analytical software to give summary results on th key change points in general reputation.

Six month licenses cost from Sh60,000 to Sh120,000, depending on the range of monitoring built into the application.

"We believe these features of real-time updating and a phone-embedded system represent a first in reputation monitoring, pushing TrackAll © ahead of anything else in the market and creating a tool that will enable campaigners to see instantly the feedback on any event or rally," said Ms Asige.

African Laughter is a vision-driven Kenyan company founded in 2007 and specialising in content and technology based innovations.

Western Union Unveils New Education Initiative around UEFA Europa League to Deliver One Million School Days

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in global payment services and new Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League, and the Western Union Foundation, today announced they will turn every successful pass in this season's competition into funding to support one day's education for young people around the world.

Called PASS , the initiative will be fronted by former international football star Patrick Vieira and start during the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League Season 2012/13, which kicks off on September 20 across Europe. The initiative aims to reach one million school days over the next three seasons and builds on the work the company has already done to support education globally.

"Moving money for better is at the heart of what we do, and education is one of the main reasons our customers send money" said Hikmet Ersek, Western Union President and CEO. "According to UNESCO [1] , 71 million bright, hardworking students globally are not enrolled in secondary or vocational education. It's a tremendous loss of economic and human potential, since each extra year of school can increase an individual's potential economic opportunity. Through PASS , we intend to harness the power of football to build awareness of this challenge as well as deliver on-the-ground support that will make a difference to young people and their communities."

The initiative will provide teacher training and student scholarships through nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), with an initial focus on eleven countries – Brazil, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

"Where I come from, opportunities for a quality education are rare," explained Vieira the former Caen, AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester City FC and French international player, who was born in Senegal before moving to France at the age of eight and is currently football development executive at Manchester City FC.

"Football was my ticket to success, but for the vast majority of young people education is the key that allows them to become whatever they want to be. That's why I'm supporting this campaign. It will benefit students, teachers and schools across the world, particularly in places that need it most, like Senegal where I was born," said Vieira.

Through the UEFA Europa League's global audience, football fans from Africa, the Americas, Asia as well as Europe, will also be given the chance to add to the fund during the season through a range of online and social media mechanics.

David Taylor, CEO of UEFA Events S.A., commented:

"As well as being broadcast to fans in over 200 countries, European football is the aspiration for many players around the world and last season players representing 113 different countries were involved in the UEFA Europa League. Through Western Union's PASS initiative, some of those players will be able to give something back to their hometown communities beyond simply the excitement and entertainment they create on the pitch."

iAfya mobile health app for BlackBerry smartphones launches in Kenya

Avallain , an online education specialist that uses ICT to positively impact human development, announced a new mobile health app for BlackBerry® smartphone customers in Kenya. The iAfya app allows users to quickly and easily find comprehensive and trusted health information and resources at their fingertips from any location, which is ideal for people living and working in remote areas.

According to analyst firm, Informa Telecoms and Media, the number of people in Africa with access to mobile phones is over 560 million and exceeds those with access to the Internet by nearly five to one. Well designed, easy-to-use mobile applications therefore have a critical role in extending basic healthcare information to under-served communities.

Free to download on the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, the indispensible iAfya app is available for all BlackBerry smartphones running the BlackBerry® 7 OS (or higher), including the BlackBerry® Curve™ 9320 and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9220, which recently launched in Kenya. Whether someone is looking up symptoms or first aid tips for a family member, or a healthcare worker researching medical procedures and treatment options on the go, the iAfya mobile app offers quick and reliable answers to everyday health questions. The app also puts customers in direct touch with service providers - from insurance to healthcare professionals.

The app was developed by Avallain to support the iAfya initiative which is contributing to the long-term goals for mobile health services in Kenya. Avallain designed the iAfya app content according to Kenyan government guidelines to meet the highest quality standards, which are provided by the Ministry of Medical Services and the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.

"Access to even basic health information can be expensive and complicated for many
people in our society. iAfya provides a platform where people can access health information at their convenience for free," explained Shelmith Mumbi, Avallain's Content Manager, also a trained health professional. "iAfya aims to close the gap between the health workers and the public and improve the level of knowledge for health workers themselves, a critical group for any effort to improve public health," she added.

Connecting community health workers is important to help improve health care in Kenya. The iAfya app will also enable health workers in the field to access relevant and up to date health information while on the go, and help to improve service delivery.

Waldi Wepener Regional Director for East, West and Central Africa at Research In Motion added, "According to Canalys, the BlackBerry brand continues to lead Africa in terms of smartphone adoption. As well as connecting the Continent, we see the mobile Internet becoming the key platform for accessing information and services in areas such as education and health. We are pleased to support Avallain to help facilitate access to relevant health information for the people of Kenya and will continue to work with our many partners in the thriving Kenyan mobile development community to support the future of the East African ICT industry."

LAUGH INDUSTRY PROVIDES THE ULTIMATE KIDS EXPERIENCE

Thousands of children and parents alike were treated to exciting games and entertainment as they filled the Carnivore Grounds for the August edition of the Zuku Kids Festival.

Dubbed "the Ultimate Kids Experience" the event which was organized by Laugh industry is the seventh edition which aimed to celebrate musical talent among the children who attended the event.

There were various fun and learning activities, such as Blue Band art competitions, face painting, essay writing, radio & TV talent search and Mini Olympics.

Speaking during the event, Zuku Triple Play Managing Director Kamande Muiruri said the decision to sponsor the event was informed by the need to bring family together.

"Our products are pegged on family values and have become popular amongst the household. It is due to this factor that we want them to get first hand experience on our product offering," said Kamande.

This week, Zuku Triple Play unveiled new packages dubbed Basic TV/R1 Internet, Premium/R8 and Premium/R20, which currently are the most affordable broadband offerings in the market.

On her part, Caroline Mwangi, Category Manager, Spreads East and Southern Africa at Unilever ESA felt proud to be associated with the event terming it as a positive step in growing great children.

"While academics are important, talents form a crucial part of the extra –curricular activities, and such events as the Kids festival provide the necessary exposure for the children to help manage better in society," said Caroline.

Commenting about the event, Laugh Industry CEO Dan "Churchill" Ndambuki emphasized the importance of nurturing talent in children in their formative years as this boosts their self confidence.

"When a child believes in their talent, as parents we should encourage the same, you never know, this could be the doors that open opportunities to a successful future," said Dan.

Children and parents alike reeled in laughter as great comedians as Eric Omondi, Ayeiiiyah! Mc Jessy, Chipukeezy, Jalang'o kept the crowds in high spirits with their best dose of comic medicine.

Culminating the event was a huge Kids concert held at the centre stage, with some talented kids singing and dancing alongside the stars. There were exhilarating performances from established musicians such as Emmy Kosgei, Jimmy Gait, Mad Traxx and Nameless among others, who took to the stage to inspire, guide and also encourage the children.

Among the sponsors who supported the event include Zuku, Blue Band, Kenya National Library Services and Chase Bank.

ECOBANK GROUP INCOMING CHIEF EXECUTIVE ON MAIDEN VISIT TO KENYA

Mr. Thierry Tanoh, the incoming Group Chief Executive Officer– Designate of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is in Kenya for a two day visit. The trip marks his first official visit to the country since his appointment in July 2012 effectively taking over from Mr. Arnold Ekpe, who has been at the helm of the bank.

Mr. Ekpe is retiring from the Bank's service but will stay on until end of this year to facilitate a smooth transition.

His visit is viewed as an affirmation of Kenya's role as the financial services hub for East Africa and is a signal of Ecobank Group's focus on its Kenya and East Africa business in general.

Mr. Tanoh, who was introduced to the Bank during its June Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Togo, holds a French certified public accountant qualification and a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in the United States, bringing on board knowledge, experience and leadership to achieve all of the company's goals for the future.

While addressing the media at the Bank's head office in Nairobi, Mr. Tanoh affirmed his commitment to help the bank grow further: "I am more than honored to have the opportunity to lead this important bank. We have everything we need to be a leader in provision of financial services in Africa. With excellent management, functioning systems, the right values and culture, there is no doubt that we are on the right path to achieving our set objectives.

He said the Bank had a long tradition of operational excellence and strong execution and therefore aimed to refocus his attention and efforts on those core capabilities that will make Ecobank the best financial services firm in Africa.

Prior to his move to Ecobank, Mr. Tanoh, served as the Vice-President of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) overseeing Africa, Latin America and Western Europe regions where he spearheaded business development, deal structuring, and general growth of IFC business.

His work with international clients has given him broad perspective and knowledge of global financial services markets, and brings on board a wealth of experience across Africa.

As CEO, Mr. Tanoh is expected to spearhead the Group's progressive operations in 32 African countries while also scouting for new markets for business.

Airtel sponsors Obuya Cricket Tournament

Airtel Kenya today announced its sponsorship of the 2012 Obuya Youth Cricket tournament starting from August 21st to August 25th, 2012.

Airtel Kenya managing director Mr. Shivan Bhargava reiterated his company's commitment to the promotion of sports in Kenya going on to say that "We are committed to supporting the development of sports in the country and we will be supporting more sporting initiatives aimed at nurturing talent among the youth in Kenya."

Mr. Bhargava added that his Company is delighted to have the opportunity to offer cricket fans the opportunity to enjoy their favorite sport while accessing exclusive Airtel customer service and sales points at the games venues. The games will be played at Jaffrey's, Simba Union Club, Premier Club, Ruaraka and Sir Ali Muslims club.

Speaking about the sponsorship, the Chairman of the Obuya tournament Mr. Kennedy Obuya expressed his delight at the offer from Airtel appealing to more organizations to join in the promotion of the event to cater for more teams and better quality of the games in the future.

Mr. Obuya said the tournament which has been divided into three age group categories under 11, 13 and 17 will once again be played in a round robin basis featuring 20/20 over's each and will also be officiated by internationally qualified umpires with the International Cricket Council rules and regulations strictly being adhered to.

       The tournament was started in 2005 with the three Obuya brothers Kennedy, David and Collins who are all members of the national cricket team after Kenya's historic semi final place in the Cricket World cup in South Africa.  Simba Union club won the under 17 title last year after beating Obuya Academy 11 side in the finals. Uganda's select side are the defending champions of the under 13 category after beating Samaj school in the finals. The under 11 side was last year won by Obuya Academy side. 30 teams

The tournament is expected to attract 30 teams which will be drawn from Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru and Uganda.

Spinlet Powers Industry Night (Please Help Use)

Spinlet, Nigeria's premier digital music download service continues to  establish itself at the forefront of promoting both upcoming and established acts; providing numerous opportunities for Nigerian artists to explore and enhance their talent.

 The company announced further details today, about its sponsorship of Nigeria's biggest talent showcase event Industry Nite.

 Over the years, Industry Nite has attracted some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry   such as 2face Idibia, M.I, Wizkid, Faze, W4, DammyKrane, 9ice, Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, D'Banj, Vector, Ras Kimono, and many others.

 And, with support from Spinlet, the property has now become the most powerful platform to showcase upcoming talents within Nigeria.

 

Reaffirming   Spinlet's commitment to promote and empower Nigerian artists, Mark Redguard, Chief Marketing Officer of Spinlet remarked   "Just like everyone else, I look forward to Industry Nite every week. In a music industry that is constantly evolving, its good see a platform like this strongly spearheading change and empowering artists."

 "We are particularly passionate about our upcoming artists, and stars such as Dammy Krane, Burna Boy, Vector, W4 and so many young acts have been able to utilise this platform to further propel their career."

Mathew Ohio, the brain behind Industry Nite, also noted that Industry Nite had gradually metamorphosed from merely an artist platform into a platform set to rejuvenate the Nigerian entertainment industry. ''The response, from artists and music lovers across the country, has been amazing. Even more so the gradual shift in thinking and the strides Industry Nite is taking to develop the music sector and   enhance the careers   of   upcoming   and   established acts is something we are extremely proud of'', Ohio says.

 

Industry Nite holds every Wednesday, at the African Bar, Oriental Hotel, in Lagos.

 "We've got lots of great stuff lined up for our music lovers in the coming months, and that's something we're also looking forward to."

 Apart from Lagos, which is the official base of Industry Nite, other states have also had a taste of the pudding, including Edo, Oyo, Rivers and Abuja. 'Spinlet is particular about making sure we take Industry Nite to everywhere possible in Nigeria and beyond, everywhere there is talent. We are committed to making sure we create opportunities for talented Nigerians to make their voices heard' Redguard adds.

"The Spinlet/Samsung Campus tour, which is still running, is one of these initiatives, and the response so far, from Uyo, Benin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and other places we've visited has been tremendous."

MI-FONE LAUNCHES SMART FEATURE PHONE WITH A 60- DAY BATTERY LIFE

Africans want to access the internet but cannot afford a smart phone. In addition, the greatest challenge experienced with smart phone users is that the battery runs out quickly.

In a bid to provide solutions to these challenges , Mi-Fone the first African mobile Devices brand has launched the Mi3000 model. This is Africa's first smart feature phone with a 60 day battery standby time with EDGE connectivity

The Mi 3000 handset boasts beautiful candy bar design with a large 2.8 -inch Touch screen and keypad. Just like all other Mi-Fone handsets, t he Mi 3000 also comes with Mi-Apps with some free content that can be downloaded, and Opera Mini as default browser. Other features include p hone directory up to 1000 contacts, 1Gb Flash ,256 Mb RAM and a battery stand by time of up to 60 days

Following Mi-Fone's strategy to make available the latest technology at affordable prices, the company doesn't compromise on quality, and all the while, keeping the needs of its vibrant consumers in mind.

Commenting on the new entrant in the market, Mi-Fone CEO Mr. Alpesh Patel said that the Mi 3000 has the upper hand of long battery life, which is one of the greatest challenges for most competing brands.

The Mi3000 is a smart feature phone in that it is very similar to an Android smartphone but at lower price points.

"We all need to communicate, and having a handset that keeps us communicating addresses a crucial need among our customers," said Alpesh.

Adding, "A lot of consumers are using their device to access the internet and applications which quickly drains battery life. The Mi3000 addresses these concerns in a cost effective manner."

Mi-Fone has already differentiated itself from other low-cost handset manufacturers with its focus on music, local talent and its new "Mi-Apps Java" store. This will be instrumental in linking the acquisition of local music in capturing revenue streams, which are often lost to piracy.

The rapidly-growing mobile brand continues to stamp its authority in untapped markets of Africa market by carefully addressing the needs of the mass market African consumer in a quality and yet affordable manner.

The Mi 3000 also comes packed with a list of additional impressive features: 2.75G, Dual SIM, 2.8" Color display, Talk up to 15 hrs , 2MP Camera, Bluetooth and Support Memory Card .

Established in April 2008, Mi-Fone has already sold over 1.3 million units and is shipping to 12 African countries including: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, DRC, and Mauritius.

KENYA TRIUMPHS AT THE TOYOTA DREAM CAR ART CONTEST

Two Kenyan children, Naylee Nagda and Arkajyoti Ghosal have emerged the 6th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest winners. The two beat 1622 other national participants to clinch silver and bronze respectively in the renowned art contest. The contest's finalists included Smit Prakash Haria,Simon Munene and Nabeel Jayesh Chudasama.

The two winners will next week join other world winners in Japan for an honorary award presentation event at the Toyota Motor Corporation [TMC] headquarters in Japan.

The Toyota Dream Car Art contest is born of Toyota Motor Corporation resolve to cultivate creativity and innovation among children.

The global contest, which is open to children aged between 3- 15 years, originated from Japan in 2004, and has since been expanded from Asia to include North, Central, and South America; Europe; Oceania; Middle East; and Africa.

The celebrated contest dubbed "Your Dream—The Car of the Future" aims to create an opportunity for children—through drawing pictures of their "dream cars" —to develop their interest in cars and further nurture their dream to reality.

The two Kenyan finalists were recently hosted at the Toyota Kenya head office with their guardians to receive their certificates of participation from the Naoki Takeuchi Managing Director, Toyota Kenya.

Speaking at the event, Mr Naoki Takeuchi applauded the finalists for participating in the unique competition "it is our honour at Toyota to showcase as many dream cars as possible from Kenya to the world. It is in pursuant of our commitment to cultivate creativity and innovation among our children that Toyota crafted the "Dream Car" art contest. To have two children represent us in Japan not only showcases our nation's talent but goes to prop up Toyota's efforts in nurturing tomorrow's generation"

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is held annually all over the world cutting across 3 different age categories.

Minority CMC shareholders form bloc to demand delayed AGM

Minority shareholders at publicly listed motor company, CMC Holding Ltd today came together to demand that the Capital Markets Authority compel their directors to convene the overdue Annual General Meeting.


The shareholders, who last attended the company's AGM on March 4th 2011, have also accused the regulator of professional irresponsibility after the regulator granted its directors a 3-month extension to hold the statutory meeting under circumstances that they claim are baseless.


Speaking at a press conference, the shareholders representative Jeremiah Otaro also demanded a public publishing of their financial results for the period, accusing the regulator of failing to act within their powers to protect the shareholders interests.


"If CMA can penalize a listed company for failing to issue a profit warning, why hasn't the regulator penalized CMA for failing to publish the annual financial reports?. As shareholders we strongly feel that CMA has compromised itself in dealing with the CMC situation. We also believe that the best platform for we as shareholders to be participate in the developments on our company as has been debated in the media, is the AGM," Otaro said


According the Companies Act, section 132 (1)*, any shareholders with up to 10% stake may convene the AGM should the board fail to do so saw outside the stipulated 12-month statutory period.


The shareholders also questioned CMA's obligation in the decision of opting to temporarily appoint three non-executive directors to the CMC Holding Ltd board instead of pushing for the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) when the board was disbanded, pointing out that the regulator acted partially, and going against its role as an independent arbiter.


On September 12th 2011, Andy Forwarders Services Limited, a shareholder at CMC requisitioned for an EGM to discuss among other items, the company's poor performance for three consecutive years, coupled with the appointment of a new commission's agent by the management without the board's approval, plans to relocate the Land Rover and Volkswagen franchises to an alternative showroom at the cost of Ksh.250million as well as the reversal of salaries of 69 managers after four months of payouts.


Kindly send a crew to cover the event; for further information, kindly contact:
Jeremiah Otaro, Tel: +254 724 670 393, Kwanya Odidi tel: +254 721 490 985

*132 . (1) The directors of a company, notwithstanding anything in its articles, shall, on the requisition of members of the company holding at the date of the deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of such of the paid-up capital of the company as at the date of the deposit carries the right of voting at general meetings of the company, or, in the case of a company not having a share capital, members of the company representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having at the said date a right to vote at general meetings of the company, forthwith proceed duly to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the company.


(2) The requisition must state the objects of the meeting, and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the registered office of convening of extraordinary general meeting on requisition.

A DOUBLE FOR HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, has launched two high end smart devices into the Kenyan market. The HUAWEI Honor Smartphone and the HUAWEI Media Pad tablet.

Retailing at Kshs 31,999 the HUAWEI Honor is not only easy on the eye but also offers excellent features. Operating on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, this touch screen smart phone offers better power management offering up to 650 hours standby time, 9 hours talk time and has a power saving model that allows for 35% more power saving. This means customers can enjoy up 8 hours web surfing or up to 6 hours non-stop gaming.


It measures 61.5mm wide, 122mm in length, 10.9mm thick with a glossy black finish in a sleek body. It has a 4.0 inch LCD touch screen with 4 touch-sensitive controls at the bottom, supports 2G and 3G network and is Wi-Fi and GPRS enabled. The high definition 8MP camera has a rear-facing camera for crisp, quality pictures and a 0.3MP front-facing camera which allows for video chatting.


Speaking at the launch, Huawei Kenya Office CEO Mr. Wind Li said that Huawei was proud to be introducing these devices into the Kenyan market. "Kenya is now amongst the most technologically advanced African markets and we have seen an uptake in smart phone usage in the country. With HUAWEI Honor, we aim to increase the variety of choice Kenyans can make in the smart phone category based on the user experience that they want."
The Huawei Honor offers fully integrated social networking with quick access to Facebook & Twitter as well as access to Android Play store where the user can download almost 400,000 App's that are available. Its other features include MP3, MP4, java, fm radio and e-mail support.

On the home device front, the HUAWEI MediaPad Tablet will retail at Kshs 34,999 and is a sleek, slim, yet compact device weighing in at 390g and measuring 190mmx124mmx10.5mm. A first from Huawei Technologies in the Kenyan market, the Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet is a heavy weight performer offering up to 6 plus hours of user time, an attractive 7 inch high definition LCD multi touch screen, 1.3 MP fixed focus camera and a rear-facing 5MP auto-focus HD camera.
Its 1.2 GHz dual core and High Speed Packet Access – plus (HSPA+) will offer users faster processing and downloads which comes with 8 Gigs of Memory onboard as well as a memory card slot which can be extended up to 32 GB with a micro SD (sold separately).

"Kenyan people are now aware of technology and have responded very well to our IDEOS Smartphones. Being the first home device to be launched in the Kenyan market, we are confident that its uptake will lead to the introduction of many more home device solutions", said Mr. Wind Li. "We are therefore spreading our wings to target the home device market that is growing," he added.

Despite competition, Huawei Devices have cut a unique niche in the mobile device market as a result of favorable pricing. This has been evident in the sale of 210,000 IDEOS U8150; a milestone that led to the launch of IDEOS Ascend Y100 now retailing at Kshs 8,499, two weeks ago. The IDEOS Ascend Y100 offers a better User Interface and battery life and is targeted at first time smart phone users and those who yearn for a smart phone experience at an affordable price.

The two devices will be retailing at Safaricom retail stores and come with a massive 1.5 Gig's of Data pre-bundled at no extra cost.

World-Wide Action on Black Carbon, Methane & Other Short-Lived Pollutants Grows as Seven More Countries Join New Coalition

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan and the United Kingdom were today announced as new country partners in an international initiative to cut a range of climate-damaging pollutants that also have health and agricultural impacts.

The Stockholm Environment Institute has also become the first research institute to become a partner in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.

It brings to 21 the number of partners which are now part of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants which was launched in February this year.

The Coalition, the secretariat of which is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), is targeting world-wide emissions of black carbon or 'soot', methane and hydroflurocarbons (HFCs).

Fast action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants can have a direct impact on climate change, with the potential to reduce the warming expected by 2050 by up to 0.5 degrees Celsius.

At the same time, by 2030, such action can prevent millions of premature deaths, and avoid the annual loss of more than 30 million tons of crops.

The Coalition complements actions taken by countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other actions targeted at carbon dioxide.

The announcement of new national partners (see quotes from the new partners in the notes to editors), several of whom signalled their commitment to join at the last G8 Summit in the United States, came as members of the Coalition today discussed the progress of five international initiatives to accelerate action on these harmful pollutants.

The G8 also commissioned the World Bank, which is partner in the CCAC, to "…prepare a report on ways to integrate reduction of near-term climate pollution into their activities and ask the World Bank to bring together experts from interested countries to evaluate new approaches to financing projects to reduce methane, including through pay-for-performance mechanisms." The outputs will be available in early 2013.

The Initiatives were agreed at the first ministerial of the Coalition held in Stockholm, Sweden in April during the celebrations of the 40^th anniversary of the first UN Conference on the Human Environment.

Methane Emissions from Municipal Waste
Waste generated world-wide is responsible for an estimated one-third of global methane emissions—a greenhouse gas over 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide and one linked to the generation of ground level ozone that is not only damaging to crops but human health.

The Coalition is working with the Global Methane Initiative and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, which is partnered with the Clinton Climate Initiative, to assist urban areas to cut methane emission from across the waste chain including from landfills and pollution linked with organic waste like food.

The initiative is also planning to assist cities in reducing open burning of municipal waste, which results in harmful black carbon emissions.

A dedicated web-based platform, through which cities world-wide can share experiences, achievements and best practices, will be launched.

At today's meeting in Paris, the Coalition discussed progress on this initiative, including plans to work with an initial group of up to 10 cities during the next 12 months through measures such as waste inventories, enhanced composting and recycling, landfill management, and comprehensive waste sector planning.

Emissions from Brick Kilns
The manufacture of bricks in developing countries is often linked with significant emissions of toxic fumes including black carbon.

The Coalition is assessing how to assist countries to switch to more efficient and mechanized 'firing' technologies.

A recent study in India and Vietnam indicates that modernizing 35,000 old brick kilns in the region could cut black carbon emissions by 40,000 tons equal to 27 million tons of CO2.

Mexico, which has secured close to $1 million from the Global Environment Facility to carry out the first national assessment of SLCPs including those from itsestimated 20,000 traditional brick kilns, is planning a Coalition workshop inSeptember to advance action in the region.

The Coalition is also putting in place the awareness raising and knowledge generation needed to fast track demonstration projects.

Reducing Black Carbon Emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles and Engines
The Coalition discussed many different methods of reducing black carbon from heavy duty diesel vehicles and engines—emissions that are not only a health risk but contribute to melting in the Arctic.  

The use of low sulphur fuels opens up the possibility of one method - fitting particle or black carbon filters to heavy duty vehicles.

Efforts under the UNEP-hosted Clean Fuels and Vehicles Partnership, originally established to phase lead out of petrol, are now focused on reducing sulphur levels in transport fuels.  The Coalition is planning to build off of UNEP's existing sulphur reduction efforts to also tackle black carbon emissions.

Promoting Alternatives to HFCs
HFCs are increasingly being used  as replacements to CFCs in areas such as air conditioners, refrigeration and foams because they have zero impact on the ozone layer--the Earth's shield that filters out dangerous levels of the sun's ultra violet rays.

However studies indicate that some HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases and if these become widespread they could be responsible for emissions equivalent to 3.5 to 8.8 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2eq) - comparable to current annual emissions from the entire global transport system, estimated at around 6-7 Gt annually.

There are many climate-friendlier replacements available and opportunities to reduce HFC emissions through advanced technologies as well as best service practices.

The Coalition is catalysing awareness of the risks and the alternatives. This week it convened a packed meeting of industry and governments in Bangkok, Thailand aimed at fast tracking these aims.

Emissions from the Oil and Gas Industry
Venting and leakage from oil and gas systems account for over a fifth of global man-made methane emissions and represent estimated economic losses of $27 billion to over $60 billion a year.

An estimated one-third of these losses can be reduced at zero cost with existing technologies and practices. Meanwhile flaring also leads to emissions of black carbon.

Action is underway to address the issue through initiatives such as the Global Methane Initiative, the Natural Gas STAR International program, and the Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) Partnership.

The Coalition is planning to build upon those efforts by working with industry, countries and investors to catalyse accelerated action.

PAWA Salon Master Talk X With Teddy Mitchener

Pawa254 would like to cordially invite you for Pawa Salon X Master Talk with Professional Photographer Teddy Mitchener on the 26th of July 2012. Teddy Mitchener is a commercial and fine arts photographer with a varied background in the photography industry, having vast experience plying his trade in the USA, and now within the East African region. He is the founder and C.E.O of House of Fotography a company that combines technical expertise and art to bring you stunning visual imagery. Teddy Mitchener leads his team of highly talented photo and video professionals, who are dedicated to using their creativity to fuse art and science with breath-taking results.

The salon, held at Pawa254 Hub, will start at 4:30pm and run till 7:00pm after which refreshments will be served. Invite a friend, tell three others and plan to attend. We look forward to having you over. For more info, be sure to check out, and RSVP, the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/322501124511610/

Youths move to invest in real estate giving Kenya a new face

In a move that offers a lead to thousands of job seekers in Kenya, a group of four young entrepreneurs have bet their fortunes on the lucrative real estate sector, creating a 30-home multi-million development, Sigona Valley, as an exclusive gated community located in a serene environment in West Nairobi.

In their late 20s, the proprietors of Serene Valley Properties Limited launched Sigona Valley in March 2012, and have since sold 50 per cent of the homes, having raised secure non-bank, development finance to fund their project.

"One day as we sat talking, an idea took us that we need to defy the odds of employment and get into investment. Real estate was the boom, and we bought the idea," said Mr. Kimiti Wanjaria, Director, Serene Valley Properties Limited, the developer of Sigona Valley.

They are today putting in the estate's infrastructure, and holding their groundbreaking ceremony on the homes, which will be complete - in a genuinely stunning setting - from May to August next year. However, the denouement of their dream has been brought about through absolute determination.

"We approached 12 different banks, most locals, for funding, but they were more focused on our personal profiles and financial background and thus our ability to repay the loan if the project snarled." said Mr. Kimiti.

It was then that the four approached development funders for construction financing. These financiers are charged with promoting national development through funding private initiatives.

"The DFI was majorly concerned with the fundamentals of the project, its viability and the selected consulting team," said Mr. Kimiti.

This DFI offered 60 per cent of the project funding; an alternative source of funding that has "cushioned" the young investors from the still prevailing high interest lending rates.

"We then approached Hass Consult to model and manage the project on a pre-sale basis to raise ongoing funds from buyers' deposits," said Mr. Kimiti. The four graduates themselves provided the development land as their equity.

With unemployment rates in Kenya reported at 40 per cent in 2011, and 61 per cent of this group comprising of youths in the 20-35 age bracket, the four young property developers, are now profoundly repositioned and fully engaged in applying all they have learned, in a leap that many young professionals are now chasing.

According to data from the registrar of Companies at Sheria House, over 200 companies and 300 businesses are registered on a daily basis, with the number of youths seeking to register their own businesses rising significantly over the years.

About 90 per cent of businesses registered in Kenya each day are by people below 35 years.

The majority of the youthful entrepreneurs are interested in industries such as ICT, music, food and catering, transport, media, communication, design and fashion.

However, lucrative sectors such as real estate, which has remained dominated by high net worth individuals and corporations, is also offering opportunities for now a small vanguard of youth investors, thanks to a steady widening in options for access to capital.

"Real estate investment is mainly occupied by those with accumulated savings or investment seeking institutions, but youths have a wide range of opportunities they can exploit," said Ms Carol Kariuki, the Managing Director of The Mortgage Company.

Ms. Kariuki said youth can now access funds to purchase actual real estate assets either as individuals or investment groups, for rentals, trade in properties, or to become developers, or trade in Reits on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

At Sigona Valley, the young investors have priced the houses to attract the middle-income market segment to an area with significant growth and capital appreciation potential. The development is offering 3 and 4 bedroom villas in three different house designs for between Sh12m and Sh16m, in a tranquil gated community set on 4 acres, a stone's throw from Waiyaki Way and 5km from Sigona Golf Club.

Each of the 30 homes sit on approximately 1/10th of an acre with access to community facilities such as borehole water supply, solar hot water heating, waste water recycling and secured boundary walling.

The Sigona Valley development is costing the investors Sh350m.

THE SEVENTH EDITION OF THE KENYA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF

World Classics is the theme for 2012

The 7 th edition of the Kenya International Film Festival KIFF edition will take place from the 24 th of October to the 3 rd of November with calls for submissions running through to the end of August. This comes on the heels of last years' festival which saw a record 360 films and documentaries screened in six theatres spread across the country.

According to KIFF executive director Charles Asiba, there are 200 films that have been entered for the 2012 festivals whose theme is "World Classics".

He said: "I am very happy to announce the start of the preparations for the 2012 editions of KIFF. It is heartening to note that we have so far received 200 films to be screened at this years festivals. This overwhelming support that we receive from film makers is proof that KIFF has come of age and a testament of Kenya's growing influence in film in Africa".

Mr. Asiba noted that last year, which saw the screening of internationally acclaimed movie, "The First Grader" featuring Kenya's own Mr. Oliver Litondo playing the late Kimani Maruge, who was the oldest primary student in the world, was bumper year for KIFF with over 600 entries received, from 57 countries and 360 passing master and getting screened. 2011 also saw the festival being graced by one of Africa's foremost writer and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka of Nigeria.

The Kenya International Film Festival, is put together annually by the independent and privately ran Kenya International Film Festival Trust whose mandate, apart from organizing the festival, include training of film makers, organizing for a for exchange of ideas and meetings between film makers from across the continent.

In April this year, KIFF Trust together with the African Union, the Commonwealth Foundation and a private film company Film Africa, organized a four-day Pan-African Workshop for documentary film makers on Film and Democracy. The workshop drew participants from a number of African countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Seychelles and Kenya.

Mr. Michael Otieno who is the acting chairman of the trust said: "Despite the numerous international award winning films shot in Kenya such as "Out of Africa" and "Constant Gardener" , Kenya is yet to shoot an internationally acclaimed film with an entirely local crew and cast. We have the locations, we have the equipment and expertise but why are we not making these films. KIFF would like to change that by offering a platform for our local film makers learn from what the rest of the world is doing".

Mr. Asiba said KIFF board is reviewing a number of entries and will communicate the premier movie in due course.


He added: "I know that we set the standards very high last year by screening the " First Grader" as our premier film and the presence of Prof. Soyinka was icing on the 2011 cake. I promise you a bigger and better festival this year. Our premier movie will also fit the bill and no doubt raise the bar further".

Mr. Asiba said: "Film, which is over a century old, has evolved from the silent black and white movies to high-tech blockbusters. The 7 th Edition of Kenya International Film Festival wants to celebrate that journey, it will be nostalgic as it takes us down memory lane through the world classics theme and bring them back to the reality of the technology driven 21 st Century. We want to tag at peoples sentimentalities and motivate them to go to the cinema with these classics."

M.I AND NAETO C HEADLINE HENNESSY ARTISTRY 2012

The headliners for the 2012 edition of Hennessy Artistry have been announced. Hennessy Cognac revealed last week Friday, July 20, 2012 that rappers M.I and Naeto C have been selected to front this year's Hennessy Artistry project.

Hennessy Artistry is an annual project that promotes the blending of cognac with cocktails, music and entertainment, and facilitates experimental collaborations between Nigerian artists, providing a much-needed platform for them to express themselves.

"Every year, we look back and see how much Hennessy Artistry has evolved", says Hennessy Marketing Manager, Tokini Peterside. "It's been a fulfilling journey these past five years and we are proud to have worked with so many of Nigeria's most talented musicians. This year's project is even more significant because we are facilitating a collaboration between two uniquely gifted artistes who to date, have never worked together as a duo."

As is characteristic of Hennessy Artistry, M.I and Naeto C will record a track together, shoot a video for the track, and perform for fans at different venues across Nigeria.

"I'm definitely excited to be part of this year's Hennessy Artistry train," says Naeto C, a best-selling rapper and hit-maker who with hits like 'Kini Big Deal' and '10 over 10' has influenced Nigerian street lingo more than anyone in his category. "This is my first time as a headliner on Hennessy Artistry, and it's exciting for me because it is a good platform for artistes and the brand also adds great value."

A prized act at Chocolate City, M.I is no stranger to Hennessy Artistry. He says his third outing on the project is "pleasantly surprising and humbling". Critically and commercially acclaimed, M.I has won millions of fans for rap music in Nigeria, taking the genre and culture to heights hitherto unreachable.

This year's Hennessy Artistry project will be the first time that M.I and Naeto are performing together as a duo, and they have promised to deliver the most exciting Artistry track and music video to date. The highly anticipated combination of both hip-hop artistes on Hennessy Artistry is expected to bring forth remarkable music, while creating never-seen-before experiences for fans across Nigeria.

"It's an incredible honour to be part of this year's Hennessy Artistry. This is not my first year on the project, but it makes me feel I must be doing something good career-wise. What do you get when you lock M.I and Naeto C in the studio? No one can predict that, I tell you - and I'm sure you all can't wait to find out. I certainly cannot wait to reveal what we have been working on. Hennessy Artistry this year will be epic," M.I says.

Launched globally by Hennessy in 2006, Hennessy Artistry is an innovative music platform that was created to showcase 'the art of blending' by celebrating the vibrant multiculturalism of different music genres - contemporary, hip and inspirational sounds from around the world. 

Hennessy Artistry kicked off in Nigeria in 2007, with a cocktail mixing contest among renowned bartenders. In 2008, the project pitched some of Nigeria's best disc jockeys against each other in a DJ Battle. In 2009, Hennessy Artistry organized an urban music contest for up and coming artists, which was won by Ice Prince 'Oleku' Zamani, who has since gone on to become a major artiste. Hennessy Artistry then orchestrated in 2010 the comeback of Sir Shina Peters, and grouped him on a multi-genre collaboration effort titled 'Like a Bottle' with artistes Bez, Nneka, Ice Prince and M.I. A second collaboration track and music video followed in 2011 titled 'Toast to the Good Life', which featured Tiwa Savage, Banky W and Eldee the Don.

The Hennessy Artistry 2012 collaboration between M.I and Naeto C will mark the 6^th edition of the highly-anticipated yearly project by Hennessy Cognac.

KENYAN TO BE FETED AT L'ORÉAL-UNESCO REGIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

A Kenyan scientist is among 10 - African women who will win a KES 1.7 million (US $ 20,000) fellowship, by beauty products manufacturer, L'Oreal for her outstanding research in environmental science.

29 year old Mercy Ojoyi has been nominated to receive the prestigious 2012 L'Oréal-UNESCO Regional Fellowships For Women in Science (FWIS) in Sub-Saharan Africa at a colorful event to be held in South Africa tomorrow.


Ms. Ojoyi says she will plough back the money in her research work. It involves assessing dynamics of climate and its impact on natural ecosystems in East Africa using advanced remote sensing techniques. The study aims to specifically understand ecosystem dynamics in the Eastern Arc Mountains in East Africa, impacts on biodiversity, including anthropogenic and climatic factors.
.

"I am indeed honoured to receive the L'Oréal UNESCO fellowship, which will go a long way in helping facilitate my research requirements, particularly fieldwork, which is a major challenge with field data having to be collected in extremely remote and inaccessible areas," she said.


While congratulating Ms Ojoyi for her nomination, L'Oreal East Africa Managing Director Patricia Ithau commended Kenyan women for their contribution to science.


"I believe Kenyan women are strongly becoming influential forces in the field of science across the world," said Ms Ithau.


The scientific research areas being covered by this year's fellows include studies in computer science, microbiology, environmental science, pharmaceutical microbiology, environmental health, dermatology, genetics, biomedical technology and molecular biology.


Other winners are Vivian Boamah (Ghana); Tsige Ketema (Ethiopia); Fatemah Thawer-Esmail (Tanzania); Oluwasola Fasan (Nigeria); Mopo Leshwedi-Radebe (SA); Marisa Klopper (SA); Gerda Fourie (SA); Gcineka Mbambisa (SA); and Britt Drögemöller (SA).



Earlier in the year, the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Fellowship Program awarded another Kenyan, Peggoty Mutai in France. In 2009, two previous international FWIS laureates were awarded Nobel Prizes in chemistry and medicine, bearing testimony to the impact of the foundation's influence on scientific research.



ENDS//



NOTES TO EDITORS



The L'Oréal Corporate Foundation created the For Women in Science partnership with UNESCO in 1998. Since then, more than 1 000 women scientists across the globe have been distinguished by the L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards.



The L'Oréal-UNESCO Regional Fellowships For Women in Science (FWIS) in Sub-Saharan Africa was first piloted in 2010.



Three pillars of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme:



1. L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards : Only five women – one leading woman per continent - receive this prestigious award every year. They are called Laureates.



2. UNESCO-L'Oréal International Fellowships: 15 young women scientists (doctorate or post-doctorate) receive this fellowship annually.



3. L'Oréal–UNESCO National Fellowship Programme: These fellowships anchor the For Women In Science programme in 47 countries around the world where L'Oréal has a subsidiary, and thus assures the management and promotion of the programme.



In 2010, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science partnership started a new and exciting chapter with the introduction of two For Women in Science Regional Fellowships; one in Sub-Saharan Africa and the other in Arab States. This new chapter is an extension of the National Fellowship programmes.



For more information on the For Women in Science community, go to www.forwomeninscience.com



For more information, please contact:

Emily Manjeru

Gina Din Corporate Communications

Tel. O724 926 269

Email: emily@ginadin.com



Sara-Lea van Eeden,

Taryn Fritz Public Relations & Communications Tel. 083 446 6109

Email: sara-lea@tarynfritzpr.co.za





Best regards,



Emily Manjeru

Media Executive

0724 926 269









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Kenyans to experience the Olympics in a special way via Google+ and YouTube

The stage is set for the Olympics in London from 27th July to 12th August. Kenyans are waiting in anticipation for the gold medals their national team will be bringing in, and to them showing their prowess in the usual 1-2-3 style. Through Google+ and YouTube this Olympics experience will be brought into the homes, hearts and minds of Kenyans.

Kenya is one of the 54 countries who have the rights to live stream the Olympic Games online as YouTube has purchased non-exclusive digital rights to stream the live Olympic Games of Summer 2012. During the games, viewers can choose to watch each event via a live YouTube stream - if events are happening concurrently viewers will be able to choose which stream they want to watch. All videos from the games will also be stored on youtube.com/Olympics making this destination the one-stop-shop for all Olympic content.


The Kenyan Olympic page on G+ is the place to find rich Kenyan Olympic Team content. The page is being supported by 5 experienced sports journalists who will be on the ground in London with full access to the Olympic stadium and athletes. Supporting journalists will develop unique and up-to-date content (in some cases real-time content such as live Hangouts with Olympians) and share this content on the Kenyan Olympic Team ' s + page .


"The IOC's live streaming on its YouTube channel will consist of 11 different simultaneous high-definition broadcasts, all with English language commentary. There will be ten live feeds from London 2012, running 9am to 11pm (London time) (on some days, these will start early or finish later based on competition schedule), plus a 24-hour broadcast of the Olympic News Channel, which includes summaries of the latest results, general reports on different events, and interviews with athletes. The Olympics have a great unifying effect; we are excited to bring this magic even closer to Kenyans, and to ensure they follow their teams' progress every step of the way," said Stephen Nuttal, Google, Head of Sport, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).


While the IOC YouTube channel will allow people to stay up to date with the games, Google+ will enable actual engagement with national sports heroes and between fans. Kenyans can now follow the lives of the Kenyan Olympic team on the Kenya Olympics Google+ page which is being managed by Samsung.


Kenya House is a Brand Kenya project promoting the key opportunities or 'pillars' of Kenya; Trade, Export, Tourism, Investment and Sport through a physical location to be situated in London during the Olympic Games. A series of events have been developed to promote the 'pillars' of Kenya to tourists visiting London for the games. Google have collaborated on this project with the goal of extending the reach of Kenya House beyond its physical location - connecting the events and experiences in the House with an online audience both in Kenya and globally. A series of Google Hangouts from the London-based Kenya House will be broadcast to the public, where Kenyans will see firsthand the activities from the house in Stratford being used to showcase the most iconic aspects of the country.


"One of the big bets for this country has been the Olympics; we have such great sporting talent, we have an opportunity to share this talent and Kenyan successes with the world. We have a great opportunity to celebrate our talent and demonstrate our unity," explains Joe Mucheru, Google Kenya Country Manager. "We have a huge opportunity to share the Kenyan message online, forging this unity digitally - we want to share these plans with you all and let you know how you can get involved by using the large amount of content being developed with the end goal of supporting Kenya and the Kenyan team.


The Google Kenya team looks forward to sharing this special experience with everyone, and is looking forward to helping Kenyans share the information they care about with the people they care about. "We are happy to provide Kenyans with multiple ways to access and share the magic of the games," Joe concluded.

Send and receive Gmail on your phone as SMS

Email has become a part of everyday life. There's so much you do with it: apply for a job, make an inquiry, get notifications from your social network, receive photos or an invitation that makes you smile, and just communicate back and forth with your friends.

The Gmail team at Google puts in a lot of effort to make sure messages are delivered as soon as you hit "send". However, sometimes barriers arise between you and your email. What if you're not by a computer? Or your phone is not connected to the internet? Or the internet is down or too slow, so that emails just won't load?


To help solve these issues, we've created Gmail SMS. We're excited to be making this new service available in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. You can now send and receive emails as SMS messages using your mobile phone, regardless of whether or not your phone has an internet connection, like Wifi or 3G. Gmail SMS works on any phone, even the most basic ones which only support voice and SMS.




Gmail SMS automatically forwards your emails as SMS text messages to your phone and you can respond by replying directly to the SMS. You can control the emails received by replying with commands such as MORE, PAUSE and RESUME. Additionally, compose a new email as an SMS and send to any email address recipient - who will find your message in the right email conversation thread!



Receiving and sending your emails is fast and easy with Gmail SMS - you don't even need to get online to use Gmail.



You can register your phone from your Gmail account online in 5 easy steps:



    • In your Gmail account, click on your profile photo or account name at the top of the page and and click Account.
    • Click Open SMS settings in the "Phone and SMS" section.
    • Add your phone number to receive Gmail to that number.
    • Verify your phone number by entering the verification code that we sent as SMS to your phone.
    • Check the box for email forwarding to your phone.




Last but not least, receiving Gmail SMS is free of charge. Standard SMS rates apply when replying to messages, creating new messages and sending Gmail SMS commands from your phone. We hope you'll like it!



See a visual step-by-step guide on the Google Africa Blog .



Receive gmail via sms

SOS Children's Villages Kenya and CBA Launch New Partnership

Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) entered into an exciting partnership with SOS Children's Villages Kenya as part of the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

CBA is one of the largest privately-owned Kenyan bank, whose primary focus is Corporate, Institutional and Personal Banking. The bank is particularly active in providing a comfortable, elegant and secure environment for our corporate clients, institutional clients, foreign missions, NGOs and the aspirational end of the personal banking market to transact their financial business.

"The partnership with SOS Children's Villages Kenya is a great illustration of the Bank's commitment to serving communities in which it operates. CBA's CSR program places strong emphasis on education and are convinced that education is a means to empower children to become active participants in the transformation of their societies. Education is the essential path to get out of poverty. Jeremy Ngunze, CBA Group Head of Business Management says, "This focus on education is one of the reasons why SOS Children's Villages Kenya was considered a natural partner for the Bank". "As a bank we are not only interested in pursuit of material wealth, but rather the appreciation of a life rich with experience, lived by those who aspire to reach the pinnacle of self-actualization through education. When we were seeking out possible community-based organizations to support" he explains, "our principle driver, first and foremost, was credible and trusted NGOs with measurable and robust track records in community development work. We also wanted to focus on a CBO with a strong and dynamic education program. As one of the oldest, most trusted NGOs in Kenya – with homes and educational facilities that continue to positively impact the lives of hundreds of children and youth, SOS Children's Villages was a natural choice."

Ruth Okowa, the SOS Children's Villages Kenya National Director, concurs. "We are delighted that our discussions with CBA have culminated in this positive, long term partnership." As part of this agreement, CBA will participate in the organization's Adopt-a-House scheme, in which corporates contribute KES 900,000/- towards the general upkeep of 10 SOS Children every year. Ruth Okowa also explains that "taking care of our society's orphaned and abandoned children is a shared responsibility…we play our part in offering quality care to the hundreds of vulnerable children under our care, but we rely on friends and partners to help us meet the high costs involved. This crucial support from CBA will, therefore, ensure that the housing, education, nutritional and medical costs of 10 of our children are covered for a whole year."

In agreeing to participate in the SOS Children's Villages Kenya Adopt-a-House scheme, CBA will be joining several other partners who already actively support this program.

SOS Children's Villages is the largest child welfare organization in the world. Founded in Austria in 1949, the organization provides quality long-term care for orphaned and vulnerable children through its Children's Villages, SOS Schools, Family Strengthening Programs, Social and Medical Centers. In Kenya, SOS Children's Villages is active in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Meru, Kisumu and Marsabit. Our mission is to build families for children in need, helping them shape their own futures. We also share in the development of the communities our children come from.



To date over 10,000 children and youth have benefited from our programs and interventions, with over 1,000 currently under our care. CBA's sponsorship will benefit 10 SOS Children from the newly opened SOS Children's Villages Kisumu.

Ruth Okowa Chris Pasha

National Director Head of Marketing

SOS Children's Villages Kenya Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA)

Email: info@soskenya.org chris.pasha@cbagroup.com

FUNKE AKINDELE TO HOST GLO PRESENTS THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW

BASKETMOUTH was put on probation on this week's Glo presents The Big Friday show by our special guest celebrity host of the week, the beautiful and talented FUNKE AKINDELE. Our studio guest was the well known international DJ Humility.

 

We had our usual Glo presents The Big Friday Show Vlog segment brought to you by our Vlogger Stephanie. Stephanie gives us the weekly news on what is going on in the entertainment world and our GLO PRESENTS THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW PRANK where we pranked our studio guestDJ HUMILITY with the help of our host, FUNKE AKINDELE.

 

We also have on the show upcoming artists, SHUN DON who were given a task/studio challenge to complete in order to promote themselves at the end of the show. 

 

There's also the ASK/REPLY where Glo subscribers text in questions and MEET ME where a lucky Glo subscriber gets to meet DJ HUMILITY and ask him questions. Don't forget our weekly Glo presents Big Friday Show Countdown and the hilarious WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

 

This episode was shot at Deuces in Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

Catch all the fun on the Big Friday Show this Friday on MTV Base at 8:30pm CAT, in Nigeria on STV at 6pm and 11pm, in Ghana on Viasat 1 TV at 6:30pm and in Benin Republic on ORTB at 9:30pm.