Kshs. 300 / Ushs. 9000 Tshs. 6000 / RWF. 2200 ISSUE 21 / 2018
INSIDE MEET GRACE MUENDO, A QUANTITY SURVEYOR WHO HAS A PASSION FOR FASHION INTERNET SOLUTIONS: WHAT NEXT AFTER THE REBRAND? FIVE ESSENTIAL STEPS TO CLOSE THE CLOUD SKILLS GAP IN KENYA
THE CEO WITH A MIDAS TOUCH
MS. CAROLINE MUNENE, AAR EAST AFRICA GROUP CEO. www.destinafrica.co.ke
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Editor’s note
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Save Our Country, Mr. President!
xit the second edition of the grand NYS heist, enter the Kenya power and sugar scandals. Yes! This is what is making headlines in our news every day. In fact, there have been so many corruption scandals in the country that it’s almost becoming a lifestyle. Just when you think the rampant corruption problem could not get any worse, you wake up to a new mega graft scandal coming to light. There is no doubt that scams happen daily in different offices and only differ in form and magnitude. Although the scandals have seen the purported looters charged in court, no one has been jailed yet. Actually, we have seen parliamentarians calling for press conferences arguing that their ‘people’ are being targeted. Others are demanding immunity from prosecution, arguing that they should not be arrested and sued over graft cases while in office. This is just absurd! Isn’t this what is keeping the corruption culture alive in Kenya? Although the President has in the past unveiled stringent measures to tackle the pervasive graft such as vetting officers, lifestyle audit and adhering to business code of conduct, nothing has materialized yet. Mr. President, Kenyans are tired. Corruption is bringing our country’s economy to its knees. Our sugar industries are dying. Cereal farmers in the North Rift region are crying, and most of all it is the poor who are hit the hardest. The big question should be: What are we teaching our leaders of tomorrow, the youth, whose unemployment rate is threatening the country’s role as a regional powerhouse? Is Kenya becoming Africa’s newest lootocracy?
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Contents 20.
INSPIRING WOMAN
5. EDITOR’S NOTE 10. GET INSPIRED 12. CORPORATE NEWS
24. COVER STORY
26.
Liquid Telecom Absa Group Safaricom Digifarm Al Futtaim Automotive
16. TECHNOLOGY Huawei Y5 Prime 2018
18. RENEWABLE ENERGY Steelstone Kenya Ltd : Providing a Competitive Edge in Renewable Energy
20. INSPIRING WOMAN Grace Muendo Internet Solutions: What Next After the Rebrand?
22. YOUNGPRENUER Username Investment: A Gateway to Property Solutions in Kenya
22.
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Africa 8
Editor-in-Chief : SUSAN ARMSTRONG
GET 25% OFF
EDITORIAL Features Editor JENNIFER NYAWIRA Features Editor SHABAN AHAB Assistant Editor ALEX NYAMU Digital News Journalist JOE
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Art Direction & Design CAITLIN SHARON Graphic Designer FELIX CONTRIBUTORS Corine Mbiaketcha Nana Peter Kamande Dr. Sylvia Mbugua Maj (Ret) Adow O Jehow Festus Waithaka MARKETING & DIGITAL Head of Digital and Marketing JACKSON THUITA Digital Content Producer AMANDA Digital Coordinator KATE ISSAH FINANCE & OFFICE MANAGEMENT Accounts – accounts@destinafrica.co.ke Head of Sales & Media STEVE – steve@destinafrica.co.ke
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© 2018 Destin Africa published by FORAFRICA MEDIA. Copyright subsists in all work published in this magazine. Any reproduction or adaptation, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited and is an act of copyright infringement which may, in certain circumstances, constitute a criminal offence. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Contents 32.
30. LEASING Ryce East Africa Limited: A pioneer in the Leasing Industry OPINION
32. CLOUD COMPUTING 34. SECURITY 36. DIGITAL MARKETING 38. CORPORATE FITNESS More Awareness Needed on Dementia Disease to Ensure Early Diagnosis and Better Management
36.
40.
40. MOTOR The All-New Audi A6 Executive Saloon
44. TRAVELWISE Air Tanzania Plans to Launch Boeing 787-8 Later this Month
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Get Inspired
provoking quotes by entrepreneurs and executives “I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me 30 years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.” ~ Aliko Dangote
“If you wake up deciding what you want to give versus what you’re going to get, you become a more successful person. In other words, if you want to make money, you have to help someone else make money.” – Russell Simmons “Many people don’t focus enough on execution. If you make a commitment to get something done, you need to follow through on that commitment.” -Kenneth Chenault
“One of the challenges associated with a company becoming large is that companies become hierarchical. They become bureaucratic. They become slow. They become risk averse.” – Kenneth C. Frazier “You can and should set your own limits and clearly articulate them. This takes courage, but it is also liberating and empowering, and often earns you new respect.” ~ Rosalind Brewer “I have this ability to find this hidden talent in people that sometimes even they didn’t know they had.” – Berry Gordy
“You can and should set your own limits and clearly articulate them. This takes courage, but it is also liberating and empowering, and often earns you new respect” – Rosalind Brewer “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” - Madam C.J. Walker “Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it.” - Earl G. Graves, Sr.
“You are where you are today because you stand on somebody’s shoulders. And wherever you are heading, you cannot get there by yourself. If you stand on the shoulders of others, you have a reciprocal responsibility to live your life so that others may stand on your shoulders. It’s the quid pro quo of life. We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.” www.destinafrica.co.ke
– Vernon Jordan
EABC 2018
V
ll
L e a s i n g
Connect to East AFrica`s Largest Fleet
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Africa 12 Corporate News
Liquid Telecom Named as Microsoft Gold Partner for Cloud Productivity
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iquid Telecom has announced that it is now a Gold Partner for Cloud Productivity in Microsoft’s Partner Network programme.
This prestigious accreditation is achieved only by the world’s top IT and telecoms companies and confirms that Liquid Telecom’s cloud services meet the highest standards in Africa – and that its cloud team are experts in their field with the technical skills to provide excellent customer-based solutions for Office 365 and Windows 10. “Our Microsoft Gold Partner status confirms our position at the forefront of Africa’s cloud. This is a statement to our customers that Liquid Telecom has the business and technical capabilities to deliver comprehensive and innovative Office 365 solutions across the region,” said David Behr, Group Chief Product Officer, Liquid Telecom.
365 solutions
“By achieving Gold Competency, Liquid Telecom has demonstrated a deep expertise and commitment that positions the company at the top of our partner ecosystem in Africa. Through its infrastructure, reach and local expertise, Liquid Telecom is delivering scalable and secure cloud
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services to businesses in the region,” said Amr Kamel, General Manager for Microsoft in West, East and Central Africa. Liquid Telecom has been offering cloud services and products in Africa since becoming an official Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) in 2017, leveraging its data centres and pan-African fibre network which stretches over 50,000km and connects more African countries on a single network than any other.
Earlier this month Liquid Telecom announced the availability of Microsoft Azure Stack to businesses operating in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, Mozambique and Mauritius. This marks the first time that the Azure Stack platform will be available locally in these markets, offering businesses greater flexibility, security and cost savings by deploying hybrid cloud architecture and scenarios.
Businesses can also use Liquid Telecom’s CloudConnect for Azure ExpressRoute to create direct high-speed connections between Azure data centres and Azure Stack cloud, bypassing the public internet.
Barclays Africa Relaunches as Absa Group with a Fresh New Look
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arclays Africa Group Limited has officially been renamed Absa Group Limited and started trading under its new name and new share code (ABG) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The name change marks the start of a new era for the group as a standalone African group with a new brand design fit for a forward-looking business in a digital age. No longer just a South African brand, the new Absa Group has a presence in 12 African countries and plans to open international offices in the UK and the US. “Our new name and brand are an expression of our new purpose and strategic direction, which commits us to growing in Africa,” Absa Group Limited Chief Executive Officer Maria Ramos said.
“We are rallying around a shared sense of purpose and identity while celebrating our diversity,” she said.
Absa Group launched a new growth strategy on 1 March 2018 as it separates from Barclays PLC. The strategy prioritises cultural transformation as well as restoring leadership position in the group’s core business areas, and developing pioneering propositions for customers and clients. The new Absa brand design is an expression of the group’s new purpose, which is: ‘bringing your possibility to life’. The rollout of the new Absa brand design in South Africa will be completed in 2019. The new Absa brand will also be rolled out to Absa Group’s Barclays banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania,
Uganda and Zambia by mid-2020, subject to approvals including from regulators in those countries. Product and service functionality will not be affected by the rebranding programme. In renaming Barclays banks across the continent, the group will be able to build on the pedigree of the Absa brand as a strong and stable bank. The brand has substantial equity - Absa was named the fourth most valuable brand (with an estimated value of R18.9 billion, or about US$1.5 billion) in South Africa by global brand valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance this year.
“We would like to build the brand as a bank that Africa’s people can be proud of, a truly independent African bank with global scalability,” said Ramos. “A single brand will enable us to unite behind a single identity, purpose and strategy; we are excited by the enormous opportunity we have to create a bank that Africa can be proud of.” www.destinafrica.co.ke
Africa 14 Corporate News
Safaricom’s Digifarm Opens Four Farmers’ Depots in Meru County 105,000 Farmers in Meru County to Access Affordable Inputs, Financing and Advisory Services through Their Phones
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afaricom (NSE: SCOM) in partnership with iProcure, FarmDrive and Arifu have opened four Digifarm depots in Meru County. Located in Laare, Nkubu, Mikindori and Meru Town, the four depots will offer quality, affordable inputs to farmers from Meru County. Since October 2017, more than 105,000 farmers from the county have signed up for the Digifarm service. “Digifarm leverages technology to tackle the challenges faced by farmers and to also empower farmers with solutions to grow their businesses. The service is specially tailored to cater to the specific needs of farmers in each of the counties it is available in, providing localised information and discounted inputs, “said Rita Okuthe, Director – Enterprise Business, Safaricom. Meru farmers will especially benefit from the all-round availability of inputs at the depots, especially during peak season, and access to advisory and technical information from experts stationed at each of the depots. Digifarm is an agribusiness solution tailored for small-holder farmers, providing them with financing,
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information on different crops and animals in addition to quality, discounted inputs. Farmers can enrol to and access Digifarm by dialling *283#.
For loan processing, the service relies on a big data model developed by FarmDrive to score farmers for financing, based on historical data on their farms. Previously, farmers have struggled to access adequate financing as formal lenders lack enough information to assess the farmers. The service also provides farmers with input recommendation specific to their locality, with the recommended inputs accessible at a discount or on credit at a Digifarm depot. Input recommendations are similarly data-driven and are informed by climate, current weather conditions, soil types and soil fertility. The depots are run in partnership with iProcure.
Launched in October 2017, Digifarm now serves more than 670,000 farmers and has opened 18 depots across the country. FarmDrive and iProcure were among five startups that qualified for Safaricom’s $1 million Spark Fund, which provided early-stage funding to firms innovating around the mobile phone
Al Futtaim Automotive Optimistic About CMC Business in the Region
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l-Futtaim Automotive has expressed optimism in the dealers’ market presence in the region, citing a renewed five-year dealership with Ford motors in Kenya and Uganda. The motor dealer also recently signed a deal with Renault trucks, to grow the commercial arm of the business and is building on the existing relationship with new Holand in all three countries.
“Our strategy is about finding global brands that want strong relationships with a local partner. We prefer to build strong relationships with our partner brands and use our geographical foot print to benefit both our partners and customers,’’ Said Colin Cordery, Al Futtaim Senior Managing Director-International. The group, which enjoys considerable success in the region, has presence in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania all under CMC holdings and is looking to expand their foot print to the rest of the region. Kenya accounts for at least 70% of the dealer’s business in the region.
Since acquisition by the AFG, the perception of the CMC holding brands has evolved over time and customers and dealers have begun to appreciate the experience and benefits that AFG brought to
Colin Cordery, Regional Managing Director, AlFuttaim.
the table. “We believe that with this, the brand will grow and regain its market share in the entire region” he added The strategy for CMC remains the same, to give the best experience to customers and brand partners. We are building new relationships with banking sector, our customers, partners while improving on our technology, our operating model and other basic business processes. “Our plan is to make sure we are delivering the best possible experience to our customers, for both luxury and commercial vehicles which drive our strategy in the region” he concluded.
Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim is one of the most progressive regional business houses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Al-Futtaim employs in excess of 40,000 people and operates through more than 100 companies. The group has significantly expanded its business operations in recent years through a strategic acquisition plan and has entered a number of new territories, increasing its footprint beyond the Greater Middle East to encompass Africa, South East and North Asia, Australia and Europe. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Africa 16 Technology
From Left: Derrick Alenga, Huawei Mobile, Eastern African Device Head, Steven Li, Country Marketing Head, Huawei Kenya, Derek Duh, Marketing and Nakhulo Khaimia, Communications Manager, check out the New Huawei Y5 Prime during the Launch at the Stanley Hotel.
Introducing HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 Bigger RAM (2GB) and 4G network(up tp 150Mps speed) and Full View Display, Allows You to Enjoy the Fun of Technology
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UAWEI has introduced another new phone HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 to their Y series family. The latest device in the market will be retailing at a recommended price; Kshs 9,999 on Jumia the only exclusive online retailer and also retail stores across the country. Speaking of the new device, Huawei Mobile Kenya, Marketing Head, Derek Duh said, “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Huawei Y5 Prime 2018 in the Kenyan market that is aimed at appealing to the tech savvy and socially fashionable youth
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as we focus on increasing our market share in the market by at least 40%.” He added, “HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 exceeds users’ expectation and offers more value, creating better user experiences to meet consumers’ interest on big memory(2GB+16GB), 4G LTE network and18:9 Full View Display and excellent photo-taking features.” HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 features the stylish design of HUAWEI Full View Display; the compact design perfectly integrates with the curved body to make
it comfortable to hold; the Android 8.1.0 system and the 3020mAh battery (typical value) ensure the powerful performance for even longer. HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 also features a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera with selfie toning flash, making selfies more artistic and expressive. HUAWEI bigger RAM and ROM with affordable price for running smoothly This smartphone is 2GB RAM and 16GM ROM ,it is very suitable for you operate more process and the Android 8.1.0 which brings consumers the best advantages of software and hardware integration. With the overall optimization, users can enjoy smarter experience, making your experience amazing; HUAWEI 4G LTE Network support this smartphone could support 4G network ,make you have high speed to experience the internet,the speed up to 150Mps(downlink)/50Mps(uplink), compare to 3G smartphone,it is almost
brightness for a better portrait shot. It also supports manual adjustment to change the brightness and create professional and artistic photos to their style. HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 also features a 13MP rear camera equipped with the HDR post-processing technology, bringing more artistic shots. With various filters and panorama support, users can experience the fun of photography.
From Left: Macqueen Njogu, Diana Chemutai and Winfred Mwangi pose with the New Huawei Y5 Prime during the Launch at the Stanley Hotel.
4 times speed than other brand phone, affordable price and amazing spec.
HUAWEI Full View Display for Better View Featuring a 5.45-inch 18:9 HD+ FullView Display, HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 is designed especially for the young generations. Compared with the 16:9 aspect ratio in the same body size, HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 can display 12.5% more content, offering a much wider view and striking visual experience. From watching movies to playing games, HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 can always provide users with the immersive experience.
To integrate HUAWEI FullView Display into the compact design while keeping the same reliability, HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 has combined the exquisite craftsmanship and advanced technology throughout the whole design, ensuring the sleekness, reliability and good experience of the FullView Display. HUAWEI Y5 Prime is available in Gold, Black and Blue. Meanwhile, the compacet design with the curved body, makes it more comfortable and natural to hold. Selfie Toning Flash to Celebrate the Art of Photography For the young generations who are keen on taking selfies, HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 features a 5MP front camera with the selfie toning flash, which automatically detects the lightings and adjusts the
HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 exceeds users’ expectation and offers more value, creating better user experiences to meet consumers’ interest on big memory(2GB+16GB), 4G LTE network and18:9 Full View Display and excellent photo-taking features
Smart Technology Brings New Experience Powered by AI facial recognition algorithm, HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 can automatically detect points of a human face and perform high accuracy mapping, conveniently unlock the screen when the phone lights up (available after HOTA upgrading). HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 also features the powerful receiver mode. The intelligent receiver can identify the surrounding noise during the call and allow users to activate the powerful receiver mode by pressing the volume up key, to ensure clear conversation anytime, anywhere. Thoughtful Features Enhances Daily Experiences A smart phone is always more than just a phone but the all-rounded assistant in our daily lives. HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 supports various thoughtful features to enhance our daily experiences. The karaoke mode allows you to hear your voice from the headset when singing with the karaoke app, so you can feel like a music star on the stage. HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 also includes user-friendly features such as the gesture wake , three-finger screenshot and Eye Comfort, making it the thoughtful partner of your everyday life.
HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 features a 3020mAh (typical value) battery, and a power saving 6.0 technology to reduce mobile power consumption and maximize battery life. With longer battery life, now you can enjoy more entertainment on your phone. HUAWEI Y5 Prime 2018 also features a three-card slot design to simultaneously support primary and secondary Nano SIM cards as well as a Micro SD card (not standard configuration) up to 256G (optional). With massive storage capacity and the convenience of switching between different SIM cards, this phone can satisfy all your needs in work, daily life and entertainment. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Africa 18 Renewable Energy
Steelstone Kenya Ltd : Providing a Competitive Edge in Renewable Energy By Shaban Ahab
Since its inception in 1985 the company can look back on a successful story of growth and product development as it has grown to be one of the leading suppliers and installers of solar water heating systems in Eastern and Central Africa region.
The firm ensures fast and effective solutions through provision of a complete range of high quality energy products and services for both domestic and industrial applications. The company design, assemble and imports its products in order to cater for all market.
The company’s products range and services include: thermo siphon solar, solar electrical, water heaters, solar collectors, evacuated tubes, designing to name but a few. Steelstone Kenya offers full scale support in every project stage. The services start with project planning, where the staff has a knack to determine the technical as well as commercial optimal solution. This helps the clients have a solid base of information on which a reliable investment plan can be build.
One of the many solar installation by Steelstone Kenya.
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teelstone Kenya limited has consolidated its footprint as one of the leading manufacturer, supplier and installer of solar water heating and electrical systems; all kinds of mechanical engineering, auto engineering, grinding and fluting of flour mill rollers, fabrication services and among other customized services and as the sole supplier of Haier H2O heater. With more than 15 years of experience, the company works closely with clients to develop innovative solutions and turnkey engineered solutions centered on mechanical and power solar; with the aim to provide every client with continuous
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preferences over the long-term. According to Eng. Arvinder Singh, this is the only company with a modern support centre in Eastern and Central Africa, which manufactures customized products to international standards.
Sunheat Solar System Steelstone Kenya limited a pioneer independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout Eastern and Central African. With extensive experience coupled with comprehending the challenges in the field of renewable energy, the Eng. says, the firm is in this venture to provide total energy solutions in Eastern and Central African.
Furthermore, the firm does the engineering and detailed planning, considering the technical, environmental and logistical challenges of the location, providing the customers with detailed cost for a turnkey solution. “We do site survey; this enables us to know the right product to be used. Besides, it has aided us to advise the clients on the changes and recommend where necessary,� he affirms. The products are designed and manufactured for high performance and durability and they are available in a variety of sizes, making them suitable for all applications; for instance, from a remote solar water heater powered lodge to a large scale power plant. Installation, commissioning and service of a solar water heater system are cost-effective, and packaged as a complete solution and are delivered directly to end consumers. The company focuses on engineering and quality products that they deploy in the market combined with tailored financial solutions. According to Eng. Singh a key sense of engineering, understanding
clients’ need, ability to execute projects and satisfying clients’ requirements is what the firm uses to secure business. The company has a highly experienced team with a workshop that is equipped with the latest technology. “We stock all kind of system based on user needs; all latest solar facilities under one roof,” he adds. On authority of Eng. Singh, the company purely deals in solar water heater; and this enables them to concentrate fully on one product. Additionally, as he explains, “we manufacture and install large scale systems. Furthermore, we import high quality pipes from Turkey that can resist high pressure and temperature considering that pipes blow up when it is too hot; we use this to deter leakages,” he clarifies. Apart from employing an efficient system, the firm has also ensured that their sites are well served and remotely monitored. They have trained installers that know their products and have hands-on experience using proven techniques. As he clarifies, they offer in house training to their employees, to tone up staffs’ skills. “We also work with government
We do site survey; this enables us to know the right product to be used. Besides, it has aided us to advise the clients on the changes and recommend where necessary
institutions like Nairobi University and Jomo Kenyatta University to set training criteria in future,” he adds. The company guarantees an extended warranty of five to seven years on products, and maintenance as agreed; this shows the confidence they have in their workmanship.
The exemplary after sales services of Steelstone Kenya, supports their clientele’s operations which leads to successful winning business all over Eastern and Central Africa. For instance, the firm offers follow ups and maintenance free of charge to their clients for one year. “All of these qualities enable Steelstone Kenya to satisfy the market needs with winning business strategies that results in the firm being able to offer unparalleled service to our clients,” he adds.
Additionally, in accordance with Eng. Singh, they are involved in design stage of the projects since the firm jointly works with other professional in construction industry. The long-term dedication and commitment they have with their clients has enabled them to significantly increase and maintain their customer base each year; from institution facilities, commercial and residential clients.
Solar Hot Water
Furthermore, the firm intends to maintain its best in class service since it is a one time job. “We do not just sell the products, but we sell the solution,” he insists. This has helped them remain apt in this industry.
Free sun energy! No more high bills FEA FE ATU URES Adopt jacket tank for heat transfer from glycol to water. 6DFULƪFLDO DQRGH WR SURWHFW WKH F\OLQGHU Ceramic lined tank can withstand higher pressure and temperatures. Backup electric heater available for all capacities. Suitable for regions with bad water quality i.e. salty water and hard water.
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Call: 0720940121/0717968820 or E-mail: info@steelstone.co.ke
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Africa 20 Inspiring Woman
Meet Grace Muendo, a Quantity Surveyor Who Has a Passion for Fashion For many people, especially the young generation, working full time and getting a second part-time job can be draining. It however requires appropriate planning since some companies may demand your full-time attention, even off-hours. Whereas many young adults think weekends is a time away from work and while them away aimlessly, Grace Muendo choose to make her weekends accounted for. During this time, she is not just busy dressing people up, but also helping them feel fabulous and confident. By Alex Nyamu
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Who is Grace Muendo?
I’m a young Kenyan adult, who works as a full time quantity surveyor and a part time blogger/fashion consultant. I’m a girl with a keen eye for detail. I know the ins and outs of the fashion industry because I’m passionate about it. I attend fashion shows in my free time to learn more about the industry.
How did you get started as fashion consultant/stylist?
I started by giving my friends advice on purchases and offering to shop for my family members. From there, I learned about trends and outfits as well as how to pair them and being organized enough to work within a budget. The rest, as they say, just fell into place.
Tell us more about UniqUrban - Bits of me?
UniqUrban is a fashion and travel blog featuring scenes in both Kenya and the United Kingdom where I lived for some time. It keeps up with the latest trends in the fashion industry and showcases outfits for a wide variety of clientele.
What inspired you to start the blog?
My friends encouraged me to open a website. After that, it was basically jotting down bits and pieces about me and my style and getting people hyped about reading and seeing my content. The feedback was great. I started getting questions on all types of outfits and how to pair them up. That is how I became a fashion consultant.
As a fashion stylist/blogger, what sets you apart from others in the industry?
You’ve seen my blog right? My passion for fashion goes deep and while everyone in the industry has their own style, I would categorize my style as modern and fun. I think that is why I receive a lot of consultations.
We also understand that you are a quantity surveyor. Can you tell us more about it? Quantity surveying is about administering contracts and coming up with Bills of quantities. We basically make sure things are running smoothly in a project (No cost overruns). Anything that can affect costs in a project goes through us.
Do you practice or you have devoted your time to fashion consulting?
I practice quantity surveying. Fashion con-
sulting is a side job. I mostly do it on the weekends so it works well for me.
What can you say you have achieved so far?
The answer to that is twofold. First, I have obtained my masters degree. Secondly, being a personal shopper for a few clients is great. These are achievements that make me quite pleased. I’m looking forward to more steps in future.
Have you faced any challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Like any other career, there are some challenges you encounter as a fashion stylist. To start with is inconsistency. Ideally you need to be consistent with your content. Organizing photo shoots, balancing quality edits, achieving deadlines and managing social media among others. It’s tough; I’m not going to lie. All I’ll say is if you’re driven, you’ll manage.
Secondly, gaining recognition is also hard. That’s because, the fashion industry market is saturated. Piece of advice, it’s important to find a niche and stick to it. Thirdly, getting hands on experience. I would like to undertake an internship but I really don’t have the time. I’m working on something though.
Another note of concern from my experience is that the fashion stylists I’ve met in Kenya are very reserved with information. What’s up with that? I think the more we share, the more we progress as an industry. It’s great to be competitive but not “jealous”.
What gives you the most satisfaction being a fashion consultant?
Seeing someone smile or get excited because I listened and got what worked for them. It’s priceless. I also get satisfaction from knowing my stuff. I can’t really say more about that. Finally, referrals. When someone refers you, you get an inner joy that tells you you’re doing well, you know?
Can you comment on the current trends in the fashion industry in Kenya?
In Kenya, I feel we don’t have our own style yet. We are still trying to recreate most of the western culture. We are also so conservative. What we do have though is the Ankara prints. Wildly beautiful...and people
are doing crazy, amazing outfits with the fabric like the sweatshirts, pants, bags and the recent umbrella designs. We also have a leather vibe going on. It’s cool. All the off-shoulders, cut-outs, kimonos and palazzo pants are all western outfits which we are assimilating quite well into our fashion.
What are your future plans and aspirations?
Breaking into menswear for my styling because I haven’t styled a man yet Have more fun shopping sprees. (PS: if you need a personal shopper because you don’t have time to go for shopping, hit me up on Facebook or Instagram)
Get a fashion internship.
Have my own studio and possibly finally join my brother in having our own merchandise.
Collaborate with more bloggers, photographers, models and brands. I aspire to keep inspiring people with my outfit suggestions and put Kenya on the map.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Don’t be discouraged by the numbers. We are many but when you are passionate and hardworking you’ll make a mark. Open that blog or attend conferences / talks where people discuss fashion issues. Also be humble and kind. In this life you need other people. Try to learn the most that you can. Research on the current trends in the industry is important, planning equally so.
Most remarkably, trust yourself. The only person who knows you are nervous is you, so pull yourself together.
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Africa 22 Youngprenuer
Username Investment: A Gateway to Property Solutions in Kenya The company is on a mission of providing the current and upcoming generation with a place they can call home By Jennifer Nyawira
upcoming generation with a place they can call home.”
Basically, Username offers affordable investment options for real estate solutions. The properties range between Kes 199,000 and Kes 430,000. “In fact, there was a time we sold a property for Kes 95, 000,” recalls the CEO. The company also offers a flexible payment mode of up to 12 months. Username measures its progress through issuing title deeds. So far, it has issued over 5,000 title deeds to its customers. Projects So far, the real estate company has done over 25 projects, out of which 20 are closed. Projects are measured through the number of units, inventory, revenue, as well as acre rage.
The first big project – Ngong Breeze - was launched in May 2016, and that was the beginning of great things. “It has been a journey. When we started in 2013, we only had a small pilot project at Konza City,” says Mr. Kimani. Today, Username launches a new project after every month.
The newest project is in Nakuru called Springfield-Nakuru. The hundred-acre project is being referred to as an Affordable Luxury. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Nakuru town and one kilometre from the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway. According to the CEO, the land is green and flat and a 50 by 100 (An eighth of an acre) plot goes for Kes 429,000.
Reuben Kimani, Chief Executive Officer, Username Investment Limited.
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stablished five years ago by three young entrepreneurs, Username Investment Limited started off as a small organization with an office at Veteran House, along Moi Avenue. The company started with a team of four people, but today prides itself on having created employment to over forty people. “As a property organization, Username Investment was established to address a certain gap in the market,” says Reuben Kimani, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “We realized properties are very www.destinafrica.co.ke
expensive and young people in employment or those in small businesses cannot afford to buy,” he adds. In regards to this, Mr. Kimani and his partners decided to give young people an opportunity to invest, especially in land. Most of the customers are aged between 20 and 35 years. In 2015, the young entrepreneurs left their formal employment to scale up Username to a corporate organization. They decided to do huge projects, create communities and make the land useable. “We don’t just sell land. Our business is creating communities and providing our current and
Another ongoing project is in Naivasha called The Vantage-Naivasha. It is ten kilometres from Naivasha town and is targeting people who want to invest in holiday homes. The property, which is on a raised ground, is selling at Kes 399,000 per plot. Most of Username’s projects are based in Ngong including Ngong Crescent and Ngong Springs that are already closed, as well as Ngong Blossom and Ngong Sunrise, which are 80 per cent sold out. The projects range between Kes 199,000 and Kes 349,000. According to Mr. Kimani, Ngong is a good investment area, since it is only 40 kilometres from Nairobi. Although the area has not been exploited compared to others, it is expansive and very accessible from the capital city.
of Vision 2030, political stability and the Presidents Big Four Agenda, the market is expected to grow going forward.
Despite these opportunities and developments, Mr. Kimani says that there are many things that investors should put into consideration prior to buying property. To start with is doing an extensive due diligence. It involves doing a search on a property that is on sale, site visit and visiting neighbors who will tell you the history of the property. Username Investment Ltd. staff members pose for a photo with the CEO, Reuben Kimani holding the trophy won during The Kenya Homes Expo as The 2018 Best Land and Investment Company.
“Our investment decision on the area was made after checking government plans and realized that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station will be based there,” reveals the CEO. Additionally, the Greater Southern Bypass will pass through Ngong. With these infrastructural developments, coupled with increased urbanization, Username is optimistic of increased demand for property in Ngong area.
Value addition Username does not only sell land, but also adds value to it through fencing, grading roads, providing water and electricity. In a nutshell, it provides a gated community to its customers. “We sell land to people knowing that they will either put it into use or sell the property to someone else.” The value addition part has been the selling point for most of the company’s properties.
Username also endeavors to restore sanity in the property industry, in line with its slogan – A traditional of trust. “We want to be known as a company that can be trusted by doing the right thing in an industry that is characterized by many challenges.” Furthermore, the real estate company has differentiated itself by offering first class customer experience, from taking potential clients for site visits, adding value to the property to issuing of title deeds. Risk management measures The real estate industry is growing at a higher rate this year compared to 2017, especially after the long electioneering period and the handshake. The graph is going up, something that presents greater opportunities. With the implementation
“At Username, we do everything for our customers, from taking them to free site visits and educating Kenyans and creating awareness on important issues regarding property investment.”
There is also the issue of documentation. Filling the right documentation step by step is important to make sure your property is secure. That includes letter of offer, agreement of sale or purchase, as well as land transfer documents.
Road ahead Since establishment, Username has grown by leaps and bounds to become one of the leading property companies in Kenya. Going forward, the company plans to expand in various vibrant counties, start building affordable houses and become impactful in many sectors of the economy. “Having been named The 2018 Best Land and Investment Company during the 26th Kenya Homes Expo, we want to continue walking the talk and cement our position,” ends Mr. Kimani.
Competitive edge “When we came into the real estate industry, we wanted to address the issue of affordability,” offers Mr. Kimani. Although there are many real estate companies in Kenya, a large percentage offers very expensive properties that are out of reach for many people.
Most remarkably, Username invests in areas with great potential for growth. Mr. Kimani says that they do research to find out where the government plans to do infrastructural development. We want our customers to give testimonials five to ten years down the line.
Username Investment Limited clients displaying their title deeds during a Title Issuance Ceremony.
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Africa 24 Cover Story
Ms. Caroline Munene, AAR East Africa Group CEO.
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The CEO with a Midas Touch There is no doubt that Ms. Caroline Munene is one of the most successful women in the region. She has not only managed to progress in her career, but she is also beautiful and brainy. Ms. Munene was recently appointed AAR East Africa Group CEO. She says her interest in leadership, her desire to improve herself as a leader and her ability to discover the difference between leadership and management contributed to this. The CEO’s aspiration is to develop the next business leaders at the Group through mentorship and coaching. We recently visited Ms. Munene at her office at George Williamson House and we had a brief chat with her and her rise to the top. By Jennifer Nyawira
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Who is Caroline Munene
define myself as a very passionate lady, who believes in applying herself fully in whatever she does. I’m also a learning and curious person, somebody with a lot of interest in knowing about almost everything. Besides, I’m a lady who loves change. I survive in an environment where there is constant change. Above all, I’m God fearing and believe that He has a purpose for everybody. He is constantly steering us towards our destination.
What was your first job like, and how have you managed to rise to the top?
After graduating from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Commerce (Insurance option), I joined Lion of Kenya Insurance Company Ltd as an intern, but was later confirmed as a permanent staff. During this period, I did a diploma in insurance (CII), the local diploma (IIK), as well as insurance certifications. After working for the company for five years, I moved to Pacific Insurance Brokers where I stayed for ten years. I also worked with other insurance companies including UAP and Madison prior to moving to my current organization.
I joined AAR in 2012 as the Insurance Principal Officer. In 2015, I was named the new managing director, and this year was promoted to the position of Group CEO. It has been a journey of 25 years. During this period, I did a master’s in marketing, since I had already taken an interest in it as a field of specialization. Today, I call myself a professional marketer and I can fit in any marketing environment.
One of the lessons I’ve learned about career is that you don’t have to start where you are supposed to be, but you’ll eventually find yourself there. It doesn’t matter where you start, somehow you’ll find your way. People should therefore apply themselves fully in what they do without worrying where they’ll end up.
What do you think made you to become the Group CEO? I think it’s my interest in leadership, my desire to improve myself as a leader, and trying to discover the difference between management and leadership.
Your plans to drive the Group forward?
Developing the next leaders of business at AAR Group. My roles will revolve around mentoring and coaching the managing directors on what it takes to run a business and what kind of mindset they should have to be successful. This will make them become more effective, productive and be able to run the company the way it should be. The desire is to take them to the next level of leadership.
What keeps you motivated?
Seeing people changing and becoming different through my interaction, adding value to them, giving them ideas, and improving them in a visible and tangible way. I usually ask myself whether I’ve what it takes to improve another person. Certainly, you cannot change or improve someone else unless you are improving. This keeps me searching for ideas and ways to practice what I know.
Who has had the greatest impact on your career?
I would say my parents because they shaped me to what I’m today. Being farmers, they taught me that hard work is not an option. My other role model was a gentleman in our village - Joe Murage. He worked in the insurance industry and I saw him as a picture of success. Mr. Murage motivated me to pursue a course in insurance. I remember him saying that if I want to become something, I had to study insurance professional papers. If you want to know why you are good at what you do and how you can be better, you’ve to go back in time to how
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Africa 26 Cover Story
you were brought up and the people who raised you up.
What gives you the most satisfaction in your career?
Being a good marketer and speaking about marketing with authority. This is what influenced me to do a Master’s degree in Marketing, since I wanted to understand both the practical and academic part of the field.
Secondly, being a good leader. I started seeking information on what it takes to be a leader and the challenges faced. I became an avid reader of books on leadership including those authored by John Maxwell and Paulo Coelho among others. You can learn a lot from books, especially when you make it a continuous exercise. The Bible is also a good teacher, it has profound wisdom. Thirdly is making people different by interacting with me; by giving them ideas to make their lives better.
What part of your job keeps you awake at night?
Just the part about people. How do I really add value to them? Sometimes we think www.destinafrica.co.ke
we are adding value to other peoples’ lives, but we are not. The biggest problem about impacting others is the diversity of human nature. People are influenced by different things, and this becomes a challenge when you are dealing with a huge team. It means you have to constantly change your method of delivery for different types of people.
How do you balance your work and family life?
By constantly evaluating my life, because it is not a question of ever getting the balance, but coming back to the balance. There is always the imbalance. It is about handling all the things in your life in the best way possible. One must also be selfaware to avoid swinging too much to the extremes.
Any challenges?
They have been many, but the issue lies on how you react to them. You have to develop a mindset or an attitude that whenever a challenge comes, you must accept it and understand that you may not have all the solutions. That means seeking help from others, since no one is a super-person. It also requires people to improve their capacity constantly as they rise up the career ladder. That can be achieved by
improving own self-knowledge, skills and relationships with others.
What your greatest piece of advice to young women looking up to you?
Your mind should never think from an inferior position. You must train your mind to overcome any idea of leaning towards inferiority.
Furthermore, you must seek continuous improvement. It must become an intense personal conviction that you are going to progressively change your life. That is what will drive you on a constant basis. It is the small things of today that will lead to the big improvements in future. I’ve been able to rise to the top due to the changes and improvements I make on a daily basis. Most remarkably, in your journey to success, it is not necessary to be selfish. You can be selfless and still get there.
How do you unwind?
I like to spend time with my family - my husband and daughter. They listen to me without giving me a hard time.
I’m also passionate about farming. It helps me release all the tension.
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Africa 28 Main Story
The company has now shifted from just focusing on connectivity into enterprise solutions
Internet Solutions: What Next After the Rebrand? By Jennifer Nyawira
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hen Richard Hechle joined Access Kenya three years ago as the new Managing Director, the company had just been bought by Internet Solutions (IS), a South African company that was founded in 1993. Mr. Hechle says that Access Kenya was well-known for its connectivity business, while Internet Solutions is a much bigger Pan-African ICT solutions company. In view of this, the need to rebrand into one brand message, Internet Solutions Kenya (IS-Kenya), was essential. “The re-brand was a culmination of the merger of both businesses and their transformation.”
IS-Kenya has in the recent years diversified from connectivity to enterprise solutions. According to the Managing Director, the market is changing and clients are demanding something different. “What we found from our corporate and SME base is that just providing connectivity is not enough.” Furthermore, the connectivity space is getting more competitive. The company is therefore leveraging on its countrywide network to provide different services. IS has a footprint across Africa in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Enterprise solutions They are split into two - connectivity and non-connectivity solutions.
In the enterprise connectivity business, IS-Kenya deals with managed VPN services, CloudWAN and managed internet break-up ports.
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On the other hand, the enterprise nonconnectivity solutions include penetration testing, email security, cyber resilience consulting, managed data centre services, virtual machines, managed communication services, VoIP and WebEx solutions. Other non-connectivity services include IT resources. “We deploy resources to our clients, as well as recruiting and deploying personnel to various large and small organizations.” IS-Kenya does that from an ICT personnel point of view.
In addition, through Continuity East Africa (CEA), the company is able to deliver business continuity planning, disaster recovery services and consulting, and work area recovery seats.
“We have also partnered with United States International University – Africa (USIUAfrica), where our work area and disaster recovery is located,” reveals Mr. Hechle. IS-Kenya experts also teach part of the curriculum, such as Business Continuity Planning, at the University. SME base “For the SME base, we endeavor to provide stable, efficient and cost effective internet access,” offers Mr. Hechle. One of the solutions offered on the nonconnectivity side is SME in a box. The solution is a bundled service, specifically designed for small enterprises to provide an internet connection, email, domain, VoIP, as well as buying or leasing
75
per cent of security issues that happen in an organization do not come from outside, but from within
Richard Hechle, Managing Director, Internet Solutions (IS).
equipment. In a nutshell, it is a one-stopshop solution for small and medium enterprises. Additionally, IS-Kenya provides other solutions such as web hosting, Microsoft Office 365, VoIP services and end point security services to its small clients.
In the pipeline Mr. Hechle says that IS-Kenya plans to launch new products that are set to disrupt the market. “In the pipeline, we have some very interesting developments such as providing our client base with a consumption-based variable billing model.” According to Mr. Hechle, it is a rate based on consumption, something that has never been done in the Kenyan market.
“The vision with our SME base is to provide them with a much more automated platform. We therefore want to have a client portal, with a checkbox where clients can choose what they want and to make payment easy and secure.” As well, the company looks to grow its presence in the continent by moving into Rwanda in the near future. “We are currently in discussion with potential acquisition partners,” says Mr. Hechle adding that “we are looking at a majority stake in the business.” IS will be operating in the enterprise space in the Rwandan market. IS-Kenya also plans to extend its partnership with Microsoft and integrate voice capabilities into Microsoft teams.
Managing network security According to the Managing Director, the company’s client base is lacking knowledge on how to be resilient. “75 per cent of security issues that happen in an organization do not come from outside, but from within,” he says. In regard to this, much focus should be directed at processes and people adhering to company’s policies. It is also important to provide in-house training to personnel. Due to this, IS-Kenya provides its client base with specific training, particularly at the board level, to give them a better understanding on the existing risks within the organization.
Our mantra is – we make the world work better. That means making sure we are efficient internally and relevant externally, and make peoples’ lives work better From a network point of view, the company also makes sure that its own network is resilient. Emerging trends In the recent years, there has been increased demand for basic connectivity that is more efficient and cost effective. That is why IS-Kenya has partnered with Surf and Facebook to meet the demand for low cost highly efficient internet connectivity by leveraging on their existing network to provide hotspots in densely populated areas across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Athi River and Thika among others.
“Currently, we have deployed 900 hotspots, and we are targeting 2000 in the next few months.” The idea behind this development is that people can log on to hotspots and buy cost effective bundles and have high quality connectivity at the same time. There is also a growing trend across cloud computing where people are demanding different solutions. For instance, the payas-you-go (PAYG) model is expected to continue growing in this space. PAYG is a payment method for cloud computing that charges based on usage.
With all these developments, IS-Kenya plans to remain relevant and stay ahead of the curve. That includes launching relevant and efficient solutions to its clients’ base. “Our mantra is – we make the world work better. That means making sure we are efficient internally and relevant externally, and make peoples’ lives work better,” concludes Mr. Hechle.
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Africa 30 Leasing
Ryce East Africa Limited: A pioneer in the Leasing Industry The company banks on its rich history and wealth of experience to remain at the top By Shaban Ahab is also slowly accepting this development, evidenced by the establishment and success of many leasing companies in the continent.
V.N. Srinivas, group managing director, Ryce.
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n recent times, the leasing industry has been experiencing steady growth. On one hand, it is characterized by many players who want to take advantage of the existing and available opportunities. The industry has become competitive, especially with the entry of banks. On the other hand, many corporates, SMEs as well as government institutions have started leasing as opposed to buying assets.
With this understanding, Ryce decided to venture into the leasing industry. The Ryce leasing division was launched in 2007, after identifying the benefits that current customers could get by leasing vehicles instead of buying. They were among the first players in the Kenyan market, something that gives them an edge over new entrants.
Since its establishment, the leasing division has grown tremendously. “We basically lease vehicles to corporate clients, and today, we have more than 350 units leased to various companies,” reveals Mr.
Ryce East Africa Limited is one of the companies that have entered into the leasing industry. “We were only selling motor vehicles and in 1995, we decided to diversify as we looked at the different ways we could expand the business,” says V.N. Srinivas, group managing director at Ryce. “Having dealt with vehicle dealers for a long time, we were looking at the current trends and how corporates are changing their policy in terms of purchasing vehicles,” he explains. In most of the developed countries, people prefer to lease as opposed to buying assets. Africa www.destinafrica.co.ke
SDMO generator.
Srinivas. This has been achieved through the company’s partnership with large corporates, FMCG distributors, banks, financial institutions and international schools.
History Founded in 1944, Ryce East Africa Limited is a pioneer member of the Sameer Group of Companies, which also includes Sameer Africa, Spire Bank, Sasini Tea and Nandi Tea Estates Ltd. Initially known as Ryce Motors, the company primarily operated as a garage, and later diversified into selling both second hand and new vehicles including Isuzu and Chevrolet.
In 1974, Ryce Motors rebranded into Ryce East Africa Limited, giving the company an opportunity to diversify further.
Diversification Today, Ryce has four fully fledged divisions – motor vehicles, leasing, motor bikes and engineering.
“In the motor vehicles division, we are the authorized dealers of Isuzu commercial vehicles in Kenya,” says Mr. Srinivas, adding that “We have been selling Isuzu vehicles for the last 30 years. The company has
Isuzu Truck line up.
vast experience in the automotive industry spanning over 50 years. Ryce has been the franchise distributor for KOHLER-SDMO power generators in Kenya since 1995 and sold over 2500 Dg sets to the private clients and more than 1200 Generators to the telecom network operations. “We have a good reputation of supplying generators in the market, especially when it comes to projects and high capacity generators,” offers Mr. Srinivas.
“We are also one of the platinum distributors in Africa.” This is a major milestone considering that there are only two platinum distributors in the whole of Africa.
In 2013, Ryce also felt that the motor cycle industry is among the fastest growing in the country. It therefore started assembling and distributing Hero Motorcycles in Kenya. Located in India, Hero MotoCorp Limited is the world’s largest manufacturer of two - wheelers, and manufacturers over 7 million units every year. With many years of experience and a rich history, Ryce has differentiated itself to become one of the leading companies
in the different sectors that it serves. “Basically, we are in a market where we feel there is growth and opportunities,” notes the group managing director. The company has grown steadily year after year, with a current annual turnover of Ksh. 3 billion, up from 400 million in 1994. “We look forward to proactively expand our activities to remain ahead of competition.” Why lease at Ryce? According to Mr. Srinivas, Ryce has been in the market for many years, which gives it wealth of experience and ability to provide quality products and services, as well as customer satisfaction. The company is also ISO Certified. Each division is guided by auditable quality processes based on the ISO 9001:2008 Standards, giving assurance of the quality of service delivered.
Furthermore, Ryce has a variety of motor vehicles from which clients can choose from. It also has the capacity to provide whatever number of vehicles required by its clients. “We provide a complete solution in all our four divisions.”
To lease with Ryce, clients must provide essential information including the type of vehicles needed, approximate kilometres driven in a month and number of years to lease. Based on these parameters, the company provides a complete package including monthly rentals.
Benefits of leasing Mr. Srinivas says that companies that lease vehicles are able to concentrate on their main business, since operational issues like fleet management and maintenance are handled by the lessor. In this case, Ryce Leasing insures and maintains the vehicle as per the lease agreement. Vehicles are also branded as per the lessee company’s logo. In addition, the lessee enjoys corporate tax benefit since leasing monthly rentals can be expressed on the balance sheet. By leasing, companies get an opportunity to utilize their capital to grow and expand their business. Leasing does not tie one’s capital compared to outright purchase.
Finally, the lessee does not bear the burden of disposing the vehicles. After the lease period, the vehicles go back to the lessor as per the agreement. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Africa 32 Cloud Computing
By Corine Mbiaketcha Nana
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he ability to find and retain cloud-savvy, IT staff continues to be considered as one of the key barriers to cloud adoption according to Oracle’s latest ‘You & IaaS’ survey.
As Infrastructure-as-a-Service adoption grows and the technology matures, the availability of staff with specialist skills is being surpassed by demand. The survey found that more than one-fifth (28 percent) of companies say that IT skills shortages have been one of their top issues in rolling out IaaS. Closer to home, a research study by RANITP (Research Academic Network on IT Policy), Research ICT Africa and University of Nairobi on the state of cloud service usage in Kenya, found that businesses highlighted DevOps, software development, system administration and networking skills as crucial for cloud delivery. In addition, they pointed out that information security as well as contract and project management skills are essential for migrating, maintaining and supporting cloud services.
No wonder, moving to the cloud is still deemed to be risky by some CIOs; but should it be? The reality is that the bigger risk is not moving to the cloud, which is rapidly proving itself as easier to manage, maintain and secure than traditional IT environments. In particular, cloud services are vastly more secure than many on premise alternatives, since leading cloud vendors such as Oracle invest in creating a highly robust security infrastructure that is continually patched and kept up-todate. This level of investment in security www.destinafrica.co.ke
Five Essential Steps to Close the Cloud Skills Gap in Kenya Enterprise If enterprise IT teams can close the cloud skills gap, the rewards will IT be well worth the effort
can never be matched in an on-premise environment. What I see from talking to CIOs across Africa is that the skills gap issue relates less to having cloud specific skills; it is instead a mindset challenge.
In his Africa blog post, Frank Rizzo, partner, Technology Sector Leader for Africa at KPMG says cloud computing is not driven solely by technical experts any longer, but by business leaders looking to leverage it from an overall business perspective. So what are the gaps and how can companies overcome them? 1. Hiring for the cloud era Creating a team for the future will inevitably affect the hiring process. Rather than look for new employees from
traditional, external sources - most likely direct competitors - CIOs should aim to recruit from cloud native companies. These staff are used to handling data in the cloud and with the cloud skills required.
Once onboard, there are two main options for how to make the most of this talent. Use the new hires to fill the gaps and educate the rest of the team, or build a completely new team that’s cloud-first by design. This approach can motivate the business and act as a catalyst for innovation. 2. Internal talent Don’t forget you already might have internal talent that has the potential to shine in a cloud world. Holding or attending ‘hackathons’ or offering existing staff the opportunity to volunteer to take part in new cloud projects could give you the opportunity to spot skills you didn’t know the team possessed.
This is an approach that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is taking. To support its strategic drive to enhance service delivery to taxpayers, KRA deployed a new Customer Relationship Management Solution (CRMS) that provides it with a single platform to better understand customer needs and respond to their demands more quickly and efficiently.
KRA has been undertaking extensive staff training programmes to guarantee superior customer interaction management with taxpayers. Its CRM training is divided into four areas based on the role various groups play, including end-user, back office staff and administrator training as well as the training of trainers. Change management initiatives and staff sensitisation workshops are also carried out to create system awareness. Another thing to consider is that some of the team’s existing expertise can be transferred to the cloud. In some cases, new cloud services in fact mirror their onpremises counterparts, making the transfer of skills more achievable. Re-training existing members of staff is also critical. There are a range of options to help organisations upskill their IT teams through training; from government programmes through to vendor academies, such as the Oracle Academy. The latter are useful for providing both the technical
skillset required and the necessary security and compliance training.
3. Think big Infrastructure cloud services enable businesses to operate elastically, at a vastly increased scale. This gives the company an amazing opportunity to change the dynamics of how they operate. Instead of just migrating individual databases, think bigger, consolidating the various data sets you have around the business into a unified dataset. There are multiple benefits of this. At a base level, you can have more applications per server and manage them all as one, and with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning becoming more widespread you can be prepared to take maximum use of these exciting emerging technologies by creating a single data asset. 4. Data orchestration Businesses are increasingly seeking to become data-driven. IT teams need to stop looking at data and processes as systems issues and instead regard them as profit opportunities. This means thinking about how business information can be turned into actionable insights that lead to customer engagement and profitable growth.
5. Advanced data management Data is the new oil for businesses: a huge source of potential wealth if mined, refined and distributed well. A core skill for enterprise IT teams is, therefore, how to store, manage and transport data. This means extending skills beyond technology to include data governance and compliance capabilities. Any enterprise that’s serious about leveraging the cloud to innovate and grow needs to have these skills entrenched in their IT teams. It is therefore vital that organisations go about building cloudready teams in the right way.
If enterprise IT teams can close the cloud skills gap, the rewards will be well worth the effort. The renewed, high-performing team will quickly demonstrate value to the C-suite and other key corporate stakeholders, while enabling a core competitive differentiator for the business. By Corine Mbiaketcha Nana, Managing Director Kenya Hub covering East, Central and West Africa at Oracle
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Africa 34 Security
By Maj (Ret) Adow O Jehow
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his letter intends to highlight on strategies to combat insecurity incidences that has remained our biggest challenges in the recent past. As we speak, Kenyans are in utter shock and perturbed by the manner in which innocent persons died in the hands of blood thirsty goons who operate and strike occasionally with impunity. Most parts of the once peaceful nation locals today live under utter total fear from all sorts of terrorist gangs who are politically and religiously motivated and from all sorts of social misfits and ragtag cattle rustlers whose main objective is to cause mayhem and anarchy to say.
It’s my opinion that the problem is far from what we purport, but lies with our ways of doing security business, our political approaches to sensitive matters facing the country, corruption and lacking political will and support needed to fight the vices. Most people luck genuity in reasoning when addressing national matters in social-political forums. Firstly, most Kenyans are tribal minded, corrupt, short sighted and unpatriotic when dealing with sensitive matters that affects our peaceful Kenyan society. We address issues superficially than critically face it and put a stop to it before spreading. We luck long term strategies, plans and rigid road map in tackling head on our security challenges. For instances, cattle rustling should have been eradicated in the North Rift long before the year 2000, but as it seems thrives on the existing political will and the support from sections of politicians in the said regions and our lackluster approach to the issue. Again, it will not help running after
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An Open Letter to CS Internal Security on Security Challenges in Kenya
ragtag individuals with heavy military wares while the heavy weight godfathers, paymasters and planners roam freely in safe houses in major centres. Our security personnel remain to bear the brunt of fighting the evil vice.
Let’s handle each case scenario separately as below; Terrorism- A global threat and complicated, but could be worn using new approaches that worthy under taking. These include but not limited to; • Deploying new anti-terror squad in all threatened areas to apprehend and quickly deal with situations, just as we quelled shifta menace in the early 90s in parts of the former NEP. The outfit be well trained and equipped to deal with terrorism entirely and safe guard our institutions from unwarranted attacks. • The elite teams to be drawn from persons with local knowledge and ready
to undertake the delicate missions as deemed unnecessary. The team be well vetted before their deployment and wellmotivated to serve the nation.
• Have long range patrols along porous borders and deal with suspected persons likely to be threat to national security. • Repatriate all suspect aliens, immigrants and refugees with likely criminal records to country of origin. • County commissioners serving in hotspot areas to be held accountable for all that occurs in respective regions and areas of jurisdictions. • Create funds to fight the vice as matter of urgency in order boost security forces operational capacity and reach at the time of need. The said funds to be dished as incentive to persons with firsthand information on suspected targets. Also institute a Control Room/ Operation Centre which would be manned by professional staff as ways to to swiftly deal with arising situations countrywide. Cattle Rustling: • All livestocks be branded a fresh and surveillance teams instituted to seriously monitor stock movements and threat levels in respective regions where the vice is rampant. • Empower local village headsmen, Chiefs and various council of elders to take the challenges head on in their respective counties. • Security patrols be enhanced in sensitive parts to apprehend suspected criminals in their hide outs, passage routes and their accomplices before they strike. • Table in parliament stringent legislations to be meted to all criminals/offenders, gangs, cattle rustlers, terrorists alike as deterrence t future offenders. • Counties to create remote crime monitoring operation centres as ways to monitor and quickly deal with livestock movement and rustlers too. Private Security Guards: In the new strategic shift, there’s need to empower our security firms to possess fire arms so to safeguard sensitive targets, logistic sites, banks, churches/Mosques, major hotels and super markets located in our cities. The police and military be left to do their primary core duties. • Once more again flash out criminal from
city estate to make cities habitable and conducive business environment
• Secure all vital areas, airports, seaports and military camps/police stations with strong fences, walls and barriers to avoid raid by criminals who want weapons for our benefits • Vet all ex-police and military personnel residing in respective counties as ways to curb their involvement with criminal activities and gangs. • The positively identified ex chaps be deployed to assist in security sites using their past knowledge gained from the disciplined forces. • Give amnesty to all criminals to surrender their ill-gotten weapons or else face full force of the law. • Weed out corrupt officials from all security agencies as stop gap to the menace facing the country • Liaise with security counter parts in the neighboring countries in the region as ways to dealing with cross border insecurity. • Modernize security apparatus, purchase new equipment, surveillance gadgets, retrain security officers, review their terms of references, salaries and welfare, post and reshuffle where possible while retaining refined and up to the task leadership in the forces. • Create/institute anti-Al-shabaab squad just like the old anti-shifta of early 90s, mainly composed of staff with local understanding and the needed knowledge in the area of operations. • Improve street lightings, police patrols and intelligence round the clock, monitor criminal activities for action to be taken. • Post capable, efficient and up to task officers to hotspots as lasting measures to tackling the security myriad facing NEP counties and elsewhere. It’s recommended that dedicated officers from the region be deployed to fight the vice as long term solutions. • Institute board of commissions to revisit past occurrences and come up with their findings, recommendations on witnessed security lapses. • Arrest culprits found culpable for sleeping on the job or corrupt officers blamed for failing to deliver their mandates and tasks as necessary. The writer is former Military Officer & Security Consultant based in Nairobi
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Africa 36 Digital Marketing
By PETER KAMANDE
Banking on Social Media Marketing to Drive Your Business Forward
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ocial media marketing presents one of the greatest opportunities for businesses of all sizes. For majority of companies across the globe, there is the slow realization that the traditional methods of marketing such as the newspapers, television and billboards are not effective as before. The rise of social media networks are greatly changing how things are done. As of the first quarter of 2018, Facebook had 2.19 billion monthly active users according to Statista. In the third quarter of 2012, the number of active Facebook users had surpassed one billion, making it the first social network ever to do so. Similarly, Twitter has an average of 336 million monthly active users, and this number is expected to grow exponentially going forward. With this wide market niche, companies are realizing the extent to which marketing through these sites can help them strengthen their balance sheets both in the short and long-term. This is especially for small and medium enterprises, which normally lack adequate capital to advertise in the traditional platforms.
A survey conducted by Regus, a renowned firm offering workplace solutions for businesses across the world, showed that 43 percent of businesses in the United States have successfully used social networking sites to attract new customers. In Kenya, large and small companies such as Safaricom, Kenya Power and financial institutions have embraced social media to market and solve customers’ queries, thus greatly improving brand loyalty. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Benefits There are various ways in which social media marketing can significantly play a part in the success of businesses across the world. High brand recognition It is true that, each opportunity a business has to increase the level of visibility in terms of content is highly crucial. With this in mind, social media networks serve as perfect tools for which firms can increase their brand’s voice as well as content. Through this, it becomes easy for a company to attract new customers as well as increase recognition to the existing customers, a factor which boosts sales.
For instance, in Kenya, institutions in all sectors of the economy have perfected this art, thus raising their brand awareness in a
Just like other channels of communication such as phones or emails, social networks offer companies an opportunity to interact with their customers great way. Besides, social media presence is key in enhancing web optimization which contributes to better ranking. Raising brand loyalty As indicated in a report published by the Texas Tec University, USA, brands taking part in social media channels have improved levels of loyalty from their customers. In other studies, it was concluded that 53 percent of Americans following specific brands on the social sites are loyal to these them, thus increasing the sustainability of these firms.
Reduced cost of marketing Unlike the traditional methods of marketing, sharing content on social media sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram is free. The sites also offers advanced, but affordable platforms to advertise or promote products or services. They are also effective since they have a wider reach and it is easy to target customers by the use of keywords, demographics as well as campaigns that are interest-based.
While it may seem an easy issue to handle, there are protocols which companies should adhere to while dealing with its online audience
Richer customer experience Just like other channels of communication such as phones or emails, social networks offer companies an opportunity to interact with their customers. Through this, companies can publicly demonstrate their ability to enhance customer experience. For example, if a customer complains regarding a product or service offered by a particular firm, it is important to take the right action as this may have long term implications. Engaging with the audience How a company engages with its clients online can make or break it. It means that there are numerous challenges which a business may encounter while marketing its products online.
While it may seem an easy issue to handle, there are protocols which companies should adhere to while dealing with its online audience. For instance, if the negative feedbacks are poorly handled, they may greatly damage the brand name, thus affecting turnover. With this is mind, companies should develop a well sound social media strategy in order to steer through the challenges.
Measuring the effect of social media marketing While there exist elaborate methods to measure the impact of marketing through the traditional methods, they do not exist when it comes to social media. First, there is the challenge of turning followers into customers. Also, the best tactics to use in order to have a large market niche on the social media is a major issue. These challenges remain a headache, thus adequate research on this area ought to be carried out to help these companies. Other challenges include privacy issues, adapting best practices as well as the amount of time which a firm should devote to social media sites. There is no doubt that social media remains a notable Marketing platform. If properly managed, it can greatly reduce the operational costs, as well as offer companies timely opportunity to interact with their customers. This will go a long way in improving the brand name, thus ensuring their sustainability both in the short and long-term.
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Africa 38 Corporate Fitness
By Dr. Sylvia Mbugua
More Awareness Needed on Dementia Disease to Ensure Early Diagnosis and Better Management
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etter health services and education have seen an increase in life expectancy in Kenya. Compared to half a century ago, a growing number of people are now living for over 60 years, or more. A World Health Organization (WHO) report of 2015 estimates life expectancy in Kenya at 63 years, up from 51 years at the start of the 21st century. Even as we strive to work harder so that we can enjoy a relaxed, long retirement, it is difficult to visualise unexpected life where you are not capable of recognising your loved ones, are not aware of your surroundings and cannot do basic things like dress and feed yourself without assistance. Dr Sylvia Mbugua, a Neurologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi helps shed some light on Dementia, the degenerative brain disease that robs people of their sunset years.
Is Dementia a disease, or simply the process of ageing? Dementia is a neurological disease characterised by deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to make decisions and perform everyday activities. Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing. “Early onset dementia� is rare but can occur. Dementia is a chronic and degenerative condition, affecting the ability of a person to process thought. The impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or motivation. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Is Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease one and the same? Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in people who are over 65 years, and contributes to about 60 to 70 per cent of dementia cases. Dementia can also result from a variety of conditions including chronic alcoholism, stroke, Wilson’s disease, herpes virus and HIV infections, thyroid disease and vitamin deficiency. What are the risk factors? Although age is the strongest known risk
factor for dementia, some people will develop dementia, while others live to a ripe old age with their mind as sharp as a 20 year old. Several things affect your risk of developing dementia – age, genetic factors, certain health factors and your lifestyle. If you have a family history of dementia, you stand a higher risk of developing dementia with time.
High blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes are also risk factors for dementia. Many studies have shown that people with one of these conditions during their midlife are about twice as likely to develop dementia later in life. If you have more than one of these conditions, your risk is even higher. Smoking and alcohol also put you at risk.
What can one do to reduce the risk? There is nothing you can do about ageing, or your genes, but you can do something about your health. Keeping your weight within the appropriate bracket, managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at healthy levels are important for your brain. Avoid head injury, smoking and depression. Regularly exercise as well as challenging your brain through cognitive mental and social activities is associated with a lower risk of dementia. A healthy diet, low in red meat and high in Omega 3 fatty acids, coconut and olive oil, lots of fruit and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes and vitamin E is recommended.
How do you diagnose dementia? Unfortunately, there is no one test to determine if someone has dementia. Doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia based on a careful medical history, a physical examination, MRI scans and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior associated with each type. Laboratory tests and MRI imaging are also done to exclude other causes of dementia which could be treatable especially in younger patients. What are the symptoms? The early stage of dementia is often overlooked because the onset is gradual and can go on for several years. Although the early signs vary, common symptoms
include progressive forgetfulness, losing track of time and inability to recognise familiar places.
As dementia progresses to the middle stage, the signs and symptoms become clearer and more restricting. These include becoming forgetful of recent events and people’s names, getting lost at home, having increasing difficulty with communication, needing help with personal care, experiencing behaviour changes, including wandering and repeated questioning. The late stage of dementia is one of near total dependence and inactivity. Memory disturbances are serious and the physical signs and symptoms become more obvious.
Is the condition treatable? In the case of most progressive dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease, there is no cure and no treatment that stops its progression. But, there are drug treatments that may temporarily slow down its progression. Once the neurologist has made a diagnosis, he will advise on medication that can help the patient. Dementia resulting from infective, thyroid problems and vitamin deficiency can be reversed. Caregivers and Society Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It is overwhelming not only for the people who have it, but also for their carergivers and families. The complete change in loved ones from people with strong personalities to dependents, unable to comprehend anything around them and attend to their activities of daily living, takes a big toll on caregivers and families and it is very important to educate and counsel them.
There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia in Kenya, resulting in stigmatisation and barriers to diagnosis and care. Often we hear communities branding old people as witches and ostracizing them from their homes because “they are behaving strangely”. People with dementia need care, love and understanding, the same care we accord children. The writer is a Neurologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital
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Africa
GREAT DRIVE
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motor
THE ALLNEW AUDI A6 EXECUTIVE SALOON www.destinafrica.co.ke
Africa 42 GREAT DRIVE
V
ersatility is at the heart of the all-new Audi A6 executive saloon. The colossal Chinese market also sees it as a technological status symbol, and so its fight is on three fronts, two of which are already heavily fortified by the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Road tester The new A6 follows in the tyre tracks of the recently overhauled A8 luxury saloon and swooping A7 Sportback, and as with those model ranges, every variant now features mild hybridisation.
At its core sits a more rigid hybrid aluminium chassis with suspension of five-link design attached to a rigid front and hydraulically mounted rear subframes. Traditional springs are available with either passive or adaptive dampers, but there’s also a pneumatic set-up that lowers the body by 20mm, then drops it by a further 10mm above 75mph in order to improve the car’s aero characteristics. Understanding the Audi A6 line-up Until Audi Sport serves up the inevitable S6 and RS6 firecrackers, the engine line-up is headed by the 3.0 V6 TFSI driven here. www.destinafrica.co.ke
As is de rigueur, it houses its turbochargers within the 90deg vee, and the exhaust manifold melds into the cylinder head for a quicker warm-up sequence. It’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that’s also found in the predicted best seller: a 2.0-litre 40 TDI model with 204bhp.
At launch, there will also be a 3.0 V6 TDI with 280bhp and a new entry-level diesel V6 in the form of the 45 TDI. Both models use a regular eight-speed automatic gearbox and also feature a self-locking centre differential.
Those S tronic cars with twin clutches, meanwhile, are fitted with quattro ‘Ultra’ four-wheel-drive technology, which uses a clutch to distribute torque to the rear, front-wheel drive being the more economical option in everyday driving. If that doesn’t sound particularly sporty, it’s because it isn’t.
The mild hybridisation comes in the form of a 48-volt system for six-cylinder engines and a 12-volter for anything else. The idea is that a belt alternator/starter connected to the crank recovers energy under deceleration and stores it in a lithium ion battery under the boot. That same
lows you to indulge your ears with a 1020watt ‘3D’ Bang & Olufsen sound system.
starter reawakens the engine after up to 40 seconds of dormant coasting at speeds between 34 and 99mph, and it allows start-stop to function at marginally higher speeds. For the more powerful system, the upshot is a fuel saving worth about 4mpg, claims Audi.
Does Audi impress with the A6’s design and interior? The balance of hard and soft edges is well struck, and the body is nicely adorned with some chrome and the fancy optional HD Matrix LED headlights of our test car. New bone lines exaggerate (create from scratch, in truth) haunches above the wheel arches, and the overhangs are shorter – something that never seems to do any harm to a car’s appearance. The optional, part-Alcantara sports seats are broad and set low. They’re almost as nice to sit in as they are to behold, and the perfectly singular thulk emitted as you swing shut the aluminium door could well be unmatched in all of automotive-dom. You might even open the door for a second time, just to close it again. The mechanism is a marvel.
Within, you’re met with Audi’s novel MMI digital architecture, which uses two touchscreens (8.6in for climate control and writing input below, 10.1in for everything else on top). This is where Audi aims to stand out from the crowd, and it looks mighty slick, even if all that glass does attract dust that readily catches any sunlight.
Is the initial effect of all the menus and lack of switchgear puzzling? Absolutely. Is it slick? Mostly, but there’s some latency between the haptic feedback from a command and the corresponding action. With familiarity, you’d probably grow to love the MMI, although there will always be the argument that a second display for climate control is distracting overkill. Meanwhile, Audi’s digital instrument cluster, known as Virtual Cockpit, is as effective and visually appealing as ever. Getting the Audi A6 out on the road On the move, the seven-speed S tronic ’box floats through its ratios in double time, to the extent that you can find yourself gliding along in top even in built-up areas. That’s great for fuel economy and refine-
ment, but the delay between foot punching accelerator, the correct cog being selected and torque making its way to the road is such that the overtake you’d planned is usually ancient history. Better to the keep the powertrain in Dynamic and the chassis in Comfort – something you can do in Individual mode.
The petrol V6 is a suitably silver-tongued unit, however, and emits just a faint growl when prodded, overlaid with the even fainter whine of spooling turbos. A 0-62mph time of 5.1sec puts the performance it delivers just shy of the equivalent BMW 540i xDrive’s and therefore far from embarrassing. Both cars unleash peak torque comfortably below 2000rpm, too, so progress in the A6 is never anything less than effortless.
Combined fuel economy is rated at 42.1mpg, which betters the BMW and gives the Audi a theoretical range of just under 600 miles. As for ride, the optional air suspension is difficult to fault on a macro level but can transmit a coarse road surface into the backs of your thighs with just a little too much clarity. The A6 nevertheless rides supremely well on smooth roads, but there’s just enough doubt in our minds to wait until we’ve had the car on British Tarmac before reaching any firm conclusions. What’s beyond question is the benefits resulting from Audi’s work on aerodynamics, particularly in regard to the turbulence caused by the door mirrors. Close your eyes and you could quite easily confuse an A6 for the flagship A8 on the motorway. Wind noise is fantastically distant, and al-
But back to that steering, because this car is supposed to be the first A6 that’s a credible driver’s machine. Our example was equipped with Audi’s Dynamic All-Wheel Steering system, which should be optioned with consideration. By swivelling the rear wheels the opposite way to the fronts – and up to a segment-leading 5deg – at speeds below 37mph, it makes this sizeable car feel usefully agile and shaves almost a metre from the turning circle. City-centre activities undoubtedly feel less burdensome. Questionable behaviour arises out on the open road, when the rears turn with the fronts to aid stability. No problem there. However, getting to that stage involves the front wheels momentarily decoupling from the steering column and turning a mite tighter into the corner independently. No other four-wheel steering system operates in this fashion, and while it’s undoubtedly effective, making the car feels unexpectedly agile, the process manifests as a fleeting but sudden quickening of the rack. The standard rack uses a speed-sensitive variable ratio but feels far more intuitive, so the car is more easily placed, even if it does nothing to address the absence of feel at the helm (which, frankly, when you’re smooching along in such noble serenity, isn’t such a disagreeable trait). Body control is generally first rate, although if you’re even just a fraction too greedy with your speed on corner entry, the A6 adopts a nose-heavy balance. It seems to possess an artificial rather than a natural dexterity. Plus ça change.
Lastly are the driver assistance features, of which there are 39 designed to make the A6 the go-to car for high-milers and fleet buyers. Lane-keeping assist is the most present, and it’s effective in isolation but probably more of a hindrance than a help if you’re attempting to make swift progress. It’s continually niggling the wheel as you scythe through corners. You can turn it off easily enough, but the problem is that Audi would lose half an NCAP star were it not to default to being active every time the car starts. www.destinafrica.co.ke
Africa 12 TRAVELWISE
Air Tanzania Plans to Launch Boeing 787-8 Later this Month
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ir Tanzania is launching Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner service later this month, scheduled to operate Dar es Salaam – Kilimanjaro – Mwanza route. The 787-8 is first ever wide-body order for ‘The Wings of Kilimanjaro’ and it is valued at $224.6 million at list prices. The aircraft will be operated by Air Tanzania, the flag carrier of Tanzania. Air Tanzania said, “The 787 Dreamliner will be the flagship aircraft as we renew and grow the Air Tanzania fleet. We aim to establish our long-haul capability by starting flights to Europe, Asia and the United States over the coming years and the 787 is the perfect aircraft to achieve this ambition.” www.destinafrica.co.ke
The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to midsize airplanes, the 787 will provide Air Tanzania with unmatched fuel efficiency and environmental performance, using 20 to 25 percent less fuel and with 20 to 25 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces. “I am pleased to welcome Air Tanzania as the newest member of the Dreamliner family,” said Van Rex Gallard, Vice President, Latin America, Africa & Caribbean Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are honored that Air Tanzania has chosen the 787 to operate its long-haul operations. The 787 will
significantly increase passenger numbers feeding on to its domestic flights thereby boosting overall tourism to Tanzania.”
This comes at a time when the Tanzania national carrier is expected to start direct flights from Dar es Salaam to Entebbe and Bujumbura next month. The development will not only bring convenience and cut travel costs, but will also bring competition to the doorstep of Kenya Airways and RwandaAir. Air Tanzania Company Limited is the flag carrier of Tanzania based in Dar es Salaam with its hub at Julius Nyerere International Airport and currently flies to destinations in Tanzania with a growing fleet of airplanes.
Hatubagui mtu yeyote
Pata bima ya afya kwa matibabu yote ya familia.
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A f y a Y e t u. B i m a Y e t u.
Africa
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