Kenya joins league of countries in the world with massive deposits of rare mineral coltan
Kenya has discovered its first deposits of the valuable mineral coltan, the mining minister has annouced. The rare mineral is used to manufacture electric car batteries, mobile phones and other electronic devices. The Democratic Republic of Congo holds more than 70 per cent of the world’s coltan reserves, which have...
Public debt management head quits as Kenya grapples with inability to access foreign credit
Kenya has been tackling acute liquidity challenges caused by uncertainty over its ability to access funding from financial markets before a $2 billion Eurobond matures in June this year.
Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy leads way in world’s first white rhino IVF pregnancy
Northern white rhinos, which despite their name are actually grey, used to roam freely in several countries in east and central Africa, but their numbers fell sharply due to widespread poaching for their horns.
Changing Saudi Arabia set to permit alcohol sales in capital Riyadh as it relaxes social codes
Saudi Arabia, which was relatively closed off for decades, has in recent years relaxed strict social codes, such as segregating men and women in public places and requiring women to wear all-covering black robes or abayas.
Bruised by fluid stock market, Chinese finance sector executives rush into banned bitcoin
After Hong Kong’s open endorsement of digital assets last year, Chinese citizens are also using their $50,000 annual forex purchase quotas to move money into cryptocurrency accounts in the territory. Under Chinese rules, the money can only be used for purposes such as overseas travel or education.
US aviation woes persist as Boeing 757 loses nose wheel while during take-off in Atlanta
The report said the aircraft was lining up and waiting for take-off when the “nose wheel came off and rolled down the hill.”
Bank of Tanzania sets new policy rate at 5.5 per cent
Inflation in the East African nation fell to 3 per cent in December from 3.2 per cent in November.
Finance Minister: Kenya receives $210 million in loans from Trade and Development Bank
In a letter to the IMF published on Thursday, Ndung’u and the central bank governor said Kenya intended to go to international bond markets as soon as the market situation allowed.
African currencies under pressure but Ghana’s cedi to hold firm as Kenya’s slips to Ksh165 to the dollar
The Ugandan shilling is expected to trade in a stable range as dollar inflows from commodity exporters match low importer demand. Commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,800/3,810, compared with last Thursday’s close of 3,795/3,805.
In Africa’s first ‘safe city’ surveillance reigns but crime levels are rising as CCTV cameras don’t work
Nairobi launched its massive traffic surveillance system in 2014 as the country was grappling with a terrorism crisis. A series of major attacks by al-Shabab militants, including the September 2013 attack at Nairobi’s Westgate shopping complex in which 67 people were killed, left the city reeling and politicians under extreme pressure to implement solutions. A modern, digitized surveillance system became a national security priority. And the Chinese tech hardware giant Huawei was there to provide it.
