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APRIL 2019 STARTUPMAGAZINE.CO.KE
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WOMAN OF POWER Jyoti Mukherjee on founding Africa’s foremost ICT company and succeeding as a techpreneur
INTERVIEW Championing Infrastructure Development Across Africa
OPINION How Does One Get A High Paying Job?
OBAMA’S PHOTOGRAPHER SHAPING KENYA’S CREATIVE INDUSTRY Read how David Macharia, a self-taught photographer rose from a village photographer to working with Barrack Obama, former US President
TRAVEL
7 Wonders of Magical Kenya
April 2019
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April 2019
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Contents
14 How Emily Kamunde-Osoro aims to build people’s capacity through her thriving firm
16 Johnson Mwawasi expalains why Africa needs to package infrastructure project proposals efficiently to attract sustainable financing
30 Oroni Tendera writes about the 7 wonders of magical Kenya
26 Building the Intelligent Telco Enterprise: Growth Opportunities for African Telecoms Operators
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Contents 12
Techie
22
Jyoti Mukherjee on founding Africa’s foremost ICT company and succeeding as a techpreneur
14
Woman of Power
Mobile Lending Understanding Ubapesa’s peer-topeer lending
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Human Capital How does one get a high paying job?
How Emily Kamunde-Osoro aims to build people’s capacity through her thriving firm 26 16
Building the Intelligent Telco Enterprise: Growth Opportunities for African Telecoms Operators
Interview Championing infrastructure development an interview with Johnson Mwawasi
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Cover Story OBAMA’S PHOTOGRAPHER SHAPING KENYA’S CREATIVE INDUSTRY
Telcos
Coffee Break 30. 34. 35. 37. 38.
Travel and Leisure Book Review Pictorial Blog Review Song Review
How a self-taught phoographer rose from a village craftsman to working with globally renowned personalities
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INSIDE
>Innovation
A Sure Bet to Keep Africa Moving Forward
> Koto Housing
Build Your Dream House in Only 21 Days
> Interview; Andrey Yakunin Understanding the hospitality market in Russia
>Travel & Leisure What to Know about the Marine Parks at the Coastal Kenya
The Driving Force To a Successful Family Business Esther Muchemi, CEO and Founder, Samchi Group of Companies
January 2018 I startupmagazine.co.ke
Managing Editor Sylvester Habil Okumu sylvester@startupmagazine.co.ke
Photographer Versatile Photographers
Associate Editor Adisa Hudson Oroni Tendera
Kreative Hub Media
Contributors Perminus Wainaina Alice Kimuyu UN Environment Business Development Washingtone Terry Nickson Juma Marketing Executive Irene Okoth Operations Simpson Ayodi
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Editor’s Pen
Africa’s creative industry needs to go digital Technology and the digital revolution have opened doors for the continent to be a trailblazer for frugal innovation. For instance, digital cinematography gave rise to Nollywood, making it mushroom to become the third-largest film industry by value in the world, after Hollywood and Bollywood. It generates an estimated $500 to $800 million annually and is one of the largest Nigerian employers by sector, second only to agriculture. On average, more than 2,000 feature length movies are made each year. A feature movie sells an average of 50,000 copies at about $2 a DVD, offering Africans an affordable entertainment option. Nollywood’s model of rapid production and home
consumption is now being exported across the continent, with countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Mali adopting this model over traditional American or European features. Africa’s creative industry needs now to go “digital”. Research suggests that the highest growth within the creative industry is in technology-centered industries such as software programming and video games; the lowest is in music and film. While animation and game development is gaining traction in some African countries, there is ample scope and opportunity to develop this further. There is a pressing political recognition that creative industries can fuel growth. UNCTAD has been
publishing Creative Economy Reports. Two thirds of African countries have signed the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This convention calls for greater investment in the creative and cultural industries and for creative products from the south to have preferential access to northern markets. At the continental level there are several policy documents that support the development and growth of creative industries such as the 2008 Nairobi Plan of Action on Cultural Industries. Carlos Lopes www.weforum.org
April 2019
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StartUp Stories
Letters to the editor
Patrick Ngowi, founder of Helvetic Group of Companies TANZANIAN
“It was a business on the side, nothing serious, but I loved the fact that I was making money and I was becoming a bit independent. The very foundation of the little success I’ve achieved was formed during those years. I learned about profit and loss, about margins, about marketing and hiring the right people – I learned so many things at that stage”.
Inspirational Wachera I was happy to grab a copy of your last edition and get to read about Wachera Muriu’s story. Her entrepreneurial story inspires me a great deal. It is very hard to see a woman succeeding in a male dominated industry. For a long time, finance/credit has been viewed as a man’s world. And to see the likes of Wachera breaking the glass ceiling is simply amazing. Wambui Maina Entrepreneur, Nyeri
Patrick Ngowi is Tanzanian business celebrity who started as an entrepreneur at the tender age of 15. In the beginning, he earned money on the side during high school, but later he became a founder and chairman of Helvetic Group of Companies. Today, this is the fastest growing network of renewable energy companies in East Africa. Ngowi is also a chairman of the United Nations Global Compact in Tanzania. Patrick Ngowi is also a board member and advisor to several local companies in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Patrick Ngowi founded Helvetic Solar when he was 22 to provide renewable energy solutions for clients in Tanzania, the United States, making USD 8 million in revenues. In 2013, Helvetic Solar was awarded the Fastest Growing and Number One in Tanzania’s Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies Survey
“Fake it till you make it. I think it’s completely misunderstood and has lead to a lot of poor business practices. People should understand that every entrepreneurial journey is different and there is great value in starting from the bottom.” Etop Ikpe, CEO of Cars45, NIGERIAN Car45 is Nigeria's foremost car auction service provider with the goal of helping hundreds of customers to sell their cars. The platform offers an infrastructure for commerce that allows sellers and buyers of Nigerian used Cars to exchange value quickly, cheaply and with unhindered access to independent relevant information required for decision making. It has inspection centres at strategic locations across Nigeria to make it easy for our dear customers to sell their cars. Cars45 raised a USD 5 million Series A round from the Frontier Cars Group. Ikpe is an experienced entrepreneur with experience in transport, automobiles, mobile communications technology, and marketing. He was previously the Commercial Director of Konga, one of Nigeria’s largest e-commerce platforms, and formerly the CEO and Co-MD of DealDey
“SafeBoda is a plausible innovation, leveraging on technology to enable users to hail a motorbike at the tap of a mobile phone, while guaranteeing safety and a memorable experience.”
Ricky Rapa, Founder SafeBoda UGANDAN The young Ugandan entrepreneur is the co-founder and director of operations of SafeBoda, Uganda’s Uber for motorcycle taxis. He has been instrumental in growing the app into a large community of riderswho have embraced tech and made rides easier via the app. Rapa is also a serial entrepreneur who runs a raft of other busineses including Kampala Boda Boda City Tours which offers personalized fascinating tours across Kampala. He dropped out of school at a young age and started working as a security guarding before branching off to a commercial boda boda rider.
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April 2019
Fintech a force to reckon Technology today is shaping every aspect of our lives. It is now hard to live a day without the influence of tech in our lives. Fintech has disrupted our financial ways in unspoken ways. It is inherently hard to see the influence of financial technology but innovations like credit cards, ATM cards, PoS and mobile money are the results of fintech. Kudos to firm’s such as Fintech Group pioneering the use of such technology in our lives. Mohammed Abdi Via email, London
A treasure How many of us has ever visited the Nairobi Railway Museum? If you haven’t you’re missing out. There is a lot to learn about Kenya’s history and its colonial regime at the museum. The entrance fee is just a few bucks and you will learn a lot of history that you can never be taught in school. Your review was timely. Let’s visit our treasures. Ethan Jay Eldoret
HAVE YOUR SAY ONLINE The editor welcomes reader’s opinions but deserves the right to edit them for publication. Please email to info@startupmagazine.co.ke More comments are published online about news stories published on startupmagazine.co.ke
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News poa! Internet doubles coverage in April poa! internet, Kenya’s fastest growing community internet service provider (ISP), has announced it will double its network coverage area by the end of April, with the launch of services into six new areas acrossNairobi and Kiambu counties. The new networks will then be followed in June by the launch of six additionalnetworks acrossnew parts of Kenya, making the ISP five times their current size in just a few months. “Poa is already the fastest growing community ISP in Kenya,” said Andy Halsall, CEO of poa! Internet,“but we are now really accelerating our expansionplans to increase our networkreach to hundreds of thousands more people across Kenya”. The expansion programmeis set to rapidly move poa! up the rankings to become one of Kenya’s top tier internet companies.
poa! internet sales agent with a farmer in rural Kiambu
Kopa
Cent
Africa
cluding Ndumberi, Githunguri, Dagoretti, Waithaka, Kinoo, Kikuyu and Racecourse. “Our entire business model is based on continually delivering low cost unlimited internet access to those areas that are otherwise poorly served.” said Andy. “We are expecting to maintain our current exponential growth throughout 2019, and confidently expect to enter the country’s top tier internet providers during this year”. poa! offers their home broadband customers unlimited internet of speeds up to 4Mbps for just KES 1500 per month and has maintained the same price since launching the service in 2017; mostother competitors have raised their prices over this time. “This year will mark poa!’s biggest expansion ever as we work to end the digital divide across Kenya,” said Andy.
In 2019, poa! counts already their customer numbers in the tens of thousands and is continuing to experience rapid growth. The latest report from the Communication Authority of Kenya found them in 4th place with 7.5per cent market share. By the end of April, poa! will cover new areas in-
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News Broll Kenya predicts good tidings for the country’s logistics market Kenya’s expanding economy has spurred the growth of its logistics property market with the economic hub of Nairobi experiencing a 15% yearon-year increase in new warehousing supply, Broll Property Intel’s latest Kenya Logistics Snapshot Report reveals. The report covers the last quarter of 2018 and was released during the East Africa Property Investment Summit in Kenya’s capital Nairobi (10 April 2019) by Broll Property Intel, the research division of leading Pan-African property services group, Broll.
The report also zones into the various sectors that take up logistics or warehousing property space, including transport and storage (approximately 26 per cent); manufacturing and engineering (23 per cent); and, wholesale (22 per cent). “The demand from these users are mainly driven by improved infrastructure; government support with regards to tax incentives and SEZ status; expanding retail platforms; and, Mombasa Port’s throughput growth,” explains Ombwayo. With regards to new SEZs, the report states that the Special Economic Zone Act of 2015 has facilitated the establishment of these zones, aimed at reducing operational costs for potential investors in the production of goods and services. There are currently two privately owned SEZ’s in Kenya, which include the 907-acre Tatu City, located in Kiambu County; and, Africa Economic Zones on a 700-acre site, located in Uasin Gishu County.
On the occupancy front, the report showed that logistics occupancy levels registered a year-on-year increase of 4 per cent in Q4 2018. “The highest interest growth, from 67per cent in 2017 to 77 per cent in 2018, was noted for A-grade warehouse units, as most of the operators seem to appreciate higher specifications, which eventually translates to lower operational costs,” it notes.
“The volume of port throughput grew by 10 per cent in 2018, from 1.19 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in 2017, to 1.31 million TEU in 2018. This growth was driven by the performance of the SGR from Nairobi to Mombasa, which commenced commercial freight operations in January 2018. The next phase of the SGR, connecting Nairobi to Nakuru (Kenya’s fourth largest city), is anticipated to be completed by the first half of 2019,” the report notes.
In terms of average rental rates in Q4 2018, the report highlights that across the logistics market rental rates remained fairly unchanged in comparison to Q4 2017. However, A-grade warehouses achieved the highest net rental rates of between KSh50/ft²/ month – KSh80/ft²/month. Rental rates vary depending on specifications, amenities and location. B-grade warehouses account for some 920,000m² of space, taking up the highest share of the market. However, rental rates for B-grade warehouses were much lower, at between KSh25/ft²/month – KSh48/ ft²/month. Ombwayo notes that the divergence in rental rates between grades is creating a two-tiered
TECHIE
market.
The report showed that Nairobi’s supply of warehouses as at Q4 2018 stood at an estimated 1.2 million square metres, registering a 15% growth from close to 1.1 million square metres as at Q4 2017. Vivian Ombwayo, Broll Kenya’s Head of Research and Valuations, who contributed to the report, notes: “The Kenyan logistics sector is directly impacted by the performance of all sectors of the economy and in particular the industrial sector, which includes the import and export of goods (warehousing). The country’s logistics market is largely driven by manufacturing, transport and storage, as well as wholesale and retail, while the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has also facilitated the sector’s expansion.”
The report highlights that Kenya’s logistics market has continued to develop over the past decade, from the typical low specification ‘godowns’, to higher quality A- and B-grade warehouses. “With improved infrastructure, most operators are now considering relocating to less congested areas away from Nairobi City, such as Kiambu and Machakos counties where there is availability of relatively cheap land,” explains Ombwayo.
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Besides new SEZs, another key driver of growth and confidence in the market includes the expansion of port throughput attributed to major infrastructure investment into the new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) link to Mombasa.
With regards to lease terms in the Kenyan logistics market, the report notes that leases are typically for a minimum of 5 years and 1 month with fixed rentals and pre-determined annual escalations. Lease areas are quoted in square feet (ft²). Rents are based on net rental, which means service charges (electricity and water) are charged separately. In industrial properties parking is typically free. Generally, rents are quoted as net rents in Kenya shillings (KSh or US$)/ft²/month. Rents are payable on a quarterly basis in advance and exclude VAT payable of 16 per cent. The report notes that “rent free periods” are not usual in the market, but in certain instances 1 month may be negotiated.
Jyoti Mukherjee on founding Africa’s foremost ICT company and succeeding as a techpreneur
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WOMAN OF POWER How Emily Kamunde-Osoro aims to build people’s capacity through her thriving firm
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INTERVIEW Championing infrastructure investments-an interview with Johnson Mwawasi
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TECHIE
Jyoti Mukherjee on founding Africa’s foremost ICT company and succeeding as a techpreneur
“From my earliest days of starting Software Technologies Limited 29 years back and building STL into one of the largest and most successful software companies in East Africa, I have realized that success is down to six key attributes; planning, focus, self-belief, a positive attitude, love for those around you and working tirelessly and patiently.” Jyoti Mukherjee
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e Entrepreneur, and nurturer
trendsetter,
technocrat
Jyoti Mukherjee founded Software Technologies Limited in 1991. As the Group CEO, she has paved the way for the company’s continuous growth. Jyoti was born in India and her muchloved father, Laxmichand Kinger was a freedom fighter alongside Mahatma Gandhi. She picked up her core values from him and started to develop her understanding of the foundations of success. She learnt the philosophy of ‘Simple Living, High Thinking’ and working persistently to reach your goals. These values have been at the forefront of every aspect of her life. Women in Technology: Jyoti says, “As a woman in Africa, when you start or try to do something big, there is a perception that you must be a daughter or wife of an influential person. I believe women are not weaker and God did not give us male or female brains. You can be either a strong person or a weak person. My experiences, family and our STL team have helped make me a strong person. After working long enough with confidence in world of diversity, gender profiling is never my fad.” Challenges: Business is all about taking risks. “You start business with a risk, you continue business with a risk and you shut down with a risk,” she notes. When all other ICT vendors were happy making money from third party products, Jyoti took the risk of designing and developing STL’s own IP. When Kenya was still not accepted in the global market, Jyoti took the risk of marketing beyond East Africa. When large multinational companies entered East African market, Jyoti stood by to compete with them. In
2010 when Cloud computing was still a concept discussed in many forums, STL had already deployed their solutions (eBoard) on cloud with SaaS service. Today, STL continues to come up with innovative solutions to make its space known in the market. Overcoming obstacles ICT has been and continues to be a dynamic service in Africa. Players from every foreign country, briefcase players, lack of government policies and lack of SME finance have been the biggest obstacles for growth. However, STL has come up strongly crossing these hurdles organically growing year by year, embracing good governance and adhering to process orientation. Today, STL is ISO 27001 certified and follows CMMI processes with high level information security to deploy its solutions on cloud. New Horizons in Software: For over 29 years, STL has provided innovative software solutions, world class consultancy, support and education services. It currently serves over 200 customers across various industry sectors. Its clients include some of the largest enterprises and public sector players in the region. The Company is headquartered in Kenya and has a reseller network throughout Africa. It currently has a team of consultants and engineers servicing customers across Africa and beyond. STL focuses on providing customers with software solutions specializing in the areas of People, Processes and Governance. The dynamic business solutions include Human Resource Management System (HRMS), Effective Board Management Solution and Contract Management System among others. “Our eBoard solution helps board members to access detailed information relating to the Board activity of the company. We have rolled this out to hundreds of boards and I have been privileged to coach some of Africa’s most experi-
enced board members on how technology can help them improve corporate governance and increase transparency,” explains the executive. STL has an education affiliate, the Institute of Software Technologies Ltd (IST) that provides training services to corporate clients and students in Information Security, Databases, Block-chain, Cloud computing, Python, Java and many more. Jyoti says, “Surviving 29 years in the software industry is a challenge and you have to constantly innovate to maintain your market position. My current focus is to listen intently to customers and nurture my team. I want to continue expanding the horizons of STL and earn Kenya the recognition that local ICT companies can offer and develop quality IT solutions for the international market.” Social impact Through IST, Jyoti and her husband, Sanjiv, have invested heavily in sustainable skill-development in underprivileged or disenfranchised communities. IST offers several scholarship programs to the less fortunate members of society, giving them a chance to enhance their careers and subsequently better the livelihoods of those around them. Over 2,000 graduates and school leavers have benefited from scholarships from the institution. Jyoti strongly believes in giving back in terms of educating youth. “I am inspired by new technologies and people who make new contributions to add value to society. Helping young people to grow into their potential is one of the most inspiring aspects of my life. Some of them have gone on to work for big international companies and it makes me happy to know that I played a role in their success. My mission is to adopt new technologies and continuously sharpen peoples’ skills to help build strong communities in Africa.” April 2019
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WOMAN OF POWER
How Emily Kamunde-Osoro aims to build people’s capacity through her thriving firm A company cannot build a good team of working professionals without a good human resources function
a
s businesses move towards growth and diversification, they need to deal with ambiguity and complexity of the modern world. It is now easy to see why most businesses in the region are looking to strengthen their workforce with skills and mentality required to realize the prospects of a growing economy. Startupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
In this view, human resource consultancy firm Rise and Learn Limited was launched in Kenya with a major objective of tackling the high levels of unemployment. “We support professionals and entrepreneurs through training and development programmes” opens up Emily Kamunde-Osoro, the founding director of Rise and Learn during an interview with this magazine. Emily also serves as a global director of the International Coach Federation.
She has a wealth of experience in HR strategy development, leadership, career and organizational development across Africa and Middle East. Emily is passionate about leadership, people management and coaching. First job Emily graduated from Moi University in 2004 with a degree in Tourism Management and joined Kenya Airways as a customer service agent. After two years at the airline, she moved to Syngenta
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East Africa as a business assistant to the managing director.
ment. The best bet was to set up a consultancy firm.”
“My key achievements included setting up the HR organization at Syngenta East Africa with just under 40 employees. My responsibilities were later expanded to cut across our 4 business units in East Africa both commercial and production with over 3000 employees,” shares Emily.
That informed the birth of Rise and Learn Limited in 2017.
She worked at Syngenta for six years and acknowledges theposition was timely in developing her career as well as impacting that of others. Later, she resolved to look for a challenging experience and expand her impact. So, when a new opportunity came knocking, she quickly embraced it. “I joined Jubilee Insurance and the regional head of human resources in 2013 where I was responsible for the development and implementation of HR strategies across 5 countries with over 900 employees and 4000 sales representatives,” recalls the entrepreneur who holds an MBA in human resources. During her stint at Jubilee Insurance, she developed a leadership and coaching program for managers which she notes was adapted by FSD Africa and Creative Métier as a case study for financial institutions in Africa in 2016. Her accomplishments saw her win KiritDave Manager of the Year Award. Jubilee Insurance won company of the year awards for two consecutive years in 2013 organized by Kenya Institute of Management. In 2016, she attained a John Maxwell Coach, Speaker and Trainer certification. She was never settled though. Rise and Learn “While I had amazing experiences and really loved my job while working with these firms, I felt I was more ambitious and wanted to do more impactful thing beyond the borders or limits of employ-
Starting out as an entrepreneur, Emily was greatly concerned by the unemployment levels in the country. She wanted to fix this.“I desired to harness the creativity and energy of the youth to create job opportunities and build their capacity to do so,” explains the executive. She reveals that today’s youth lack the prerequisite skills such as emotional intelligence and problem solving to thrive in an increasingly challenging work environment. “Soft skills are now the biggest requirement by employers because they influence how one works or collaborates with other employees. Many graduates lack these vital skills.” Her firm aspires to train employees and entrepreneurs to be hands on through its bespoke training solutions. “We offer a number of services in the broad domain of HR and leadership, with a specific focus on HR outsourcing and learning programmes for entrepreneurs, SMEs and corporates.” Admittedly, all organizations need a human resource component. A company cannot build a good team of working professionals without a good human resources function, offers Emily. Today’s business environment keeps changing. There is a lot of automation, skills change and new ways of doing things. So businesses need people who are agile and prepared for future uncertainties. Leaders also need to be well cut to lead their employees and organization to growth and sustainability. Learn and Rise was created to help organizations thrive in such complexity and dynamism. It’s leadership and management programsoffer learnersopportunities for personal growth as they move higher in the organization.
“So far, our work has been credited to improve capacity, productivity and accountability across businesses,” she notes adding that, “Our programmes are also very practical. We provide on demand learning solutions offering learners flexibility and opportunity to learn virtually while leveraging on technology to access a wide range of courses. We use best in class instructional design methodologies including videos and animation.” Rise and Learn also works in partnership with other global leaders to help companies develop human capital capacity. In Januarythis year, the world’s largest human resources consulting firm, Mercer began a partnershipwith the organization to offer complimentary HR solutions. Rise and Learn is also a local partner for Erickson Coaching International, one of the largest coaching schools globally. Towards this end, Emily believes that coaching is a life-changing experience that dramatically improves one’s outlook on work and life while improving leadership skills. Going forward, she hopes to build more capacity by unlocking people’s potential, their sources of creativity and productivity. Lessons learned •You should channel your energy in to positive thinking. •There are natural challenges to every business and entrepreneur. Learn how to overcome them. •Lack of enough capital to steer your business to growth can be discouraging. You need to identify financiers who understand your plight and whom you can work with. •Many people have brilliant ideas but often lack enough confidence to actualize them. You need to face your fears. •Having the right talent is vital for the growth of any organization. •Creativity as a skill set is a big thing. You have to know how to get things done.
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INTERVIEW
Championing infrastructure investments-Johnson Mwawasi Lean Africa Consultants is an advisory firm incorporated in Kenya in 2015 that offers project finance and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) advisory services in Africa. The firm brings together a driven team of experts from different fields that jointly deliver quality services to clients. It recently hosted the inaugural edition of the East Africa Infrastructure Project Finance Conference in Nairobi. The high level conference sought to explore mechanisms that can increase investment in infrastructure in the regional market through efficient structuring of infrastructure projects. In the following interview with this magazine, Johnson Mwawasi, the organiser’s chief executive explains why Africa needs to package infrastructure project proposals efficiently to attract sustainable financing and why his consultancy is leading the way.
1.What did you set out to achieve with Lean Africa Consultants? Being in the construction for some time, I have seen major challenges faced by government contracting entities, EPC contractors and subcontractors that adversely affected the delivery of the projects on time and on budget. Projects that were fully funded were not left out either. It is clear that there are inherent problems that need to be addressed besides access to financing. Lean Africa was funded to help clients to efficiently structure, plan schedule and package infrastructure projects so as to attract sustainable and longer term financing and ensure successful completion of projects. 2.How has been the experience since starting out? Just like any other business, packaging and marketing a new brand can be an uphill task. It has not been exceptional for our brand. It has been a difficult journey with challenges like convincStartupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
17 ing business owners that you can deliver, that you have the expertise, that there is value in contracting a local advisor over a foreign one, and the list is endless. However, there is value in building networks as the first contracts we signed were product of relationship that I had established during my employment time. 3.Whom do you target with your solutions? We have set our sights on the entire African market with a vision to structure sustainable project financing solutions that addresses the needs, requirements and opportunities in the continent. We have a strategic plan that sets out the milestones and guides us to achieve our ultimate goal to serve the entire Africa.
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this right coupled with the population growth, we have a direct ticket to compete globally. 6.What are the social and economic benefits of infrastructure and project financing advisory to Africa and its investors? Research indicates that for every 1 US dollar invested in infrastructure, we stand to recoup 3 to 5 US dollar in the next 20 years. Infrastructure development drives economic growth and plays a big role in improving the lives of the people. Imagine what the new roads and electricity connections have done to the Kenyan population living outside the major cities? These investments are reshaping the lives of Kenyans who are now playing a role in building the nation.
4.Why should customer use your service/products? I am a strong believer of the school of thought that the African youth that have the key to turn Africa into the continent of the future. This is because we understand the African terrain, the challenges and the opportunities that it offers. We leverage on the expertise of international players to deliver the best for our clients and at relatively fair rate.
Our project financing advisory will ensure that these projects are structured properly so that the citizens get value for money. Proper planning and execution of projects will definitely assure investor confidence and thus attract direct foreign investment and private investment in infrastructure projects in the country. This will lead to improvement of lives in the entire country.
5.Is Africa well-resourced to compete globally? As I said before, Africa is the continent of the future. Africa is among the few regions in the world whereby investors can earn double digit returns on their investment. According to the United Nations, more than half of the global population growth between now and 2050 is expected to occur in Africa. Yes, Africa can compete globally, we only need to realize that we need to do things right! For Africa to compete globally, we need to invest in our people, in efficient infrastructure and energy so that we can industrialize the continent. If we do
7.What are the emerging trends infrastructure/project/investment financing and their impacts on your operations? Today, there is sufficient project financing around the world scouting for well structured, thought-out and well packaged projects. Investors, project lenders and donor countries are more than before keen on ensuring that they get their investment and margins back within their preferred investment tenures. Investors are keen to invest in infrastructure projects where governments have invested in proper and transparent procurement processes, where governments adhere to the rule of law, where governments
have put in place a conducive environment for business. If all these are in place, Africa needs not to beg for funds, it will actually attract sustainable financing partners for its infrastructure projects. These emerging trends of course present enormous opportunities for the consulting fraternity as things have to be done right going forward. 8.Have you faced challenges? Possible interventions? I am a strong believer that nothing worthwhile comes easy. Challenges exist to strengthen our resilience and make us stronger. We are still wading in a pool of challenges but this will not bring us down. How then do we become mentors for the youth if we throw in the towel on the way? We survive this by having mentors who have made their way before us; they build our stamina and give us reason to continue fighting. 9.Any future prospects? We recently organized a successful conference dubbed the 1st East Africa Infrastructure Project Finance Conference that brought together infrastructure development stakeholders in the region to discuss the importance of efficient structuring and planning of infrastructure projects in attracting sustainable capital for infrastructure. Our goal is to package the annual conference so as to reengineer how we conceptualize, plan, structure and implement infrastructure projects in Africa so as to ensure we achieve value for money and quickly improve the lives of Africans. Africa needs to realize that we are not going to live in this continent forever. We need to realize that time has come for us to do things right. We will not make any progress if we do not start to put the future of our continent close to our hearts.
April 2019
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Cover Story
Obama’s photographer shaping Kenya’s creative industry If Africa is the cradle of civilization, it is also the birthplace of creative exploration. Africa’s creative and cultural industries are an increasingly important piece of its transformation. These industries-photography, fashion, film, television, music, design and much more-have all too often been overlooked as legitimate avenues for job creation. But that is starting to change.
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ing pictures,” says David during an interview with StartUp team.
f Africa is the cradle of civilization, it is also the birthplace of creative exploration. Africa’s creative and cultural industries are an increasingly important piece of its transformation. These industries-photography, fashion, film, television, music, design and much morehave all too often been overlooked as legitimate avenues for job creation. But that is starting to change. In the world of photography, David Macharia name reigns supreme. He is a celebrated creative credited for transforming Kenya’s photography industry with his impeccable work. However, his rise to the top did not come by fluke, he says. It was gradual and organic. “Photography to me is inborn. I like takStartupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
He began his career in early 2000s as a receptionist for Mwangaza Studio. “I was young and ambitious and I really liked the place. As a receptionist my job entailed handling client’s issues, organizing for shoots and collections of photos among many other errands,” he says. Different photographers would come to the studio to process their photos and actually marveled at their work. Along the way, he felt in love photography and started to learn the ropes. He envisioned he could make a great photographer. Motivated by his immense love for the craft and the desire to make it big, he resigned, borrowed a camera and started taking photos of his neighbours at
Kangemi and they were thrilled. He then me a gentleman called Kanini mentored him and introduced him to wedding photography. “Kanini was one of the best photographers I have ever met. I would accompany him for shoots over the weekends and learned from him” he says. At the time, he charged KShs 50 for a photo. “House helps were my main clients since I was seeking to secure a business relationship with their bosses.” His good work quickly spread through the township and became an instant hit. David then started researching for photography lessons on the internet. He also studied the industry and realized that most photographers would take ages to deliver work to a client. He vowed to do it differently and deliver work on record time. “I would take photos, process them and
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David Macharia, CEO VERSATILE PHOTOGRAPHY deliver to clients within a short period. It earned me a lot of trust and connections to individuals in up market areas like Narobi’s Westlands, Kileleshwa and Hurlingham among others,” he says. David then started getting small gigs and assignments from newspapers. However, he says he did not do press photography for long as the pay was either not good or even nonexistent. He continued his work with zeal and passion and narrowed down to fashion and wedding photography. His work soon started to attract bigger clientele and realized that he needed to set up a studio but lacked enough money.
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He was shocked when he got an email from US Embassy in Nairobi asking him to be the official photographer of the then US President Barrack Obama at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in 2015.
So he devised a way in which he could accommodate his increasingly demanding shoots and identified a corridor at Hazina Towers in Nairobi’s CBD. “I stroke a deal with the guards at the building and they became my friends. So on Sunday, I would organize for client shoots at the corridors of the tower. I would then edit and process the photos and they would come out well, as if taken in a professional studio. Most small time clients were okay with the arrangement as my work spoke volumes,” he recalls. Back then, he did not envision that he would own a professional photo studio in the same building where his current studio stands at the 9th floor. Caroline Mutoko of Radio Africa>> April 2019
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20 says. The practical courses are both based in studio and outdoors.
Cover Story Group soon got wind of his good work. “I was requested to send some of my work portfolio and they were impressed. Patrick Quarcoo and pretty nearly everyone at Radio Africa were awed and got me a contract to cover a much publicized Victorian Wedding that was sponsored by Kiss FM in 2007,” he explains. The pay was handsome and opened doors to many opportunities. With some of the money he got from covering the Victorian Wedding, David bought a more advanced professional camera and given a desk at his friend’s office at 7th Floor in Hazina Towers. It was a little office where my desk doubled up as a reception. He named thecompany Versatile Photographers and hired a few assistants to help him with the work in production as it started becoming demanding. When the studio wasn’t big enough for shoots, he would visit homes or do shoots at the site. “Sometimes I would take clients to Uhuru Park for shoots that involved bigger audiences and it worked,” notes the entrepreneur. He got deep into photography, did a lot of research and started learning new tricks and skills. He further learned to mount photos online and even moved into a bigger studio on the 9th floor of same building in 2011. David did his work diligently. Fast forward a few years later he got the shock of his life when he got an email from US Embassy in Nairobi asking him to be the official photographer of the then US President Barrack Obama at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Startupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
“For instance every week we have an all day event where we teach photography at Lukenya in Machakos County. We have our own equipment which means we have the capacity to teach and handle bigger classes,” he explains. 2015. “They saw my work online and told me that my professionalism they were looking for. It was surreal and unbelievable.” “Interacting with Obama at the GE Summit was great, fun and eye opening. Did I mention the payment was great?” After the summit, David started thinking of how he could package photography as a curriculum and inspire young photography enthusiasts into the career. That informed the birth of Versatile School of Photography in 2015. The initiative runs a mentorship and training courses for people to learn photography and how to started a sustainable photography business. “If you have a camera at home and you don’t know photography hit us and we will teach you. And if you have an interest and skill in photography, we can guide you on how you can turn them into a professional business venture.” The school also has new innovation Versatile Creative Hub which offer mentorship in Creative Economy. The hub Is looking for partnership to visit all the counties to mentor more people since the job market changed and there is so many ideas out there that will offer solutions which will transform lives of our people. “Our training is hands-on and aligned to the market needs, and even enrolled students from across the region,” he
Along the way he set up Versatile Adventures, an arm of photography that focuses on wildlife, culture, tourism and environmental conservation. He has compiled images of the resources we have in our country to educate people about the potential we have as a country. The venture also aims to create awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and tourism to our economy. Major clients he has worked with •President Barrack Obama and US Embassy in Kenya •Kenyan government •Fairtrade Kenya. •Corporate such as GE, Radisson Blue, Kenya Wildlife Service among others. •A lot of SMEs •Celebrities Advice •Look for a mentor to guide you. •Start with what you have. •Look for something which adds value to people. •Learn how to scale your business into profitability. •Go global or go home
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MOBILE LENDING
Understanding UbaPesa’s peer-to-peer lending Fintech startups that offer mobile loans are allowing the populace to borrow money and make repayments at the touch of a button without having to worry about visiting banking halls to fill a physical loan application form or having collateral. UbaPesa is arguably one of the most successful examples of such an app. Since its launch last year, the app touts a very strong user base, allowing peer to peer lending in Kenya.
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Our concept was largely browed from Uber, a leading taxi hailing app. The app brought people together, those with a car to offer taxi services and those with a need to ride at a cost.
tartUp Magazine recently met the UbaPesa team led by its CEO George Wasike and CTO Ronald Mutuku to understand how people can invest and borrow via the platform. How did you conceptualize UbaPesa? The concept was conceptualized out of the realization that there are people who had money and they needed an investment vehicle to reap handsome returns. On the other hand, there were others who lacked money and they needed to borrow to finance their wellbeing. Practically, it would have been hard for these two to meet. So we came up with a platform to bring these people together, those with a need to borrow and those with money to lend. Why the name UbaPesa? Startupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
How has been the reception since then? It has been good and in line with our projection. We hope it gets better with time. We currently have about 200k app downloads and over 20k active users. We have lent over Kshs 300 million since May 2018. Who do you lend to? We lend to anyone who needs money and has a good credit score, from a low of Kshs 500 to a high of Kshs 7000. That range helps us manage cash effectively and meet the market needs. However as it stands, the demand is outstripping supply. Our model is quite unique. We don’t charge interest; instead, we charge a facilitation fee to the borrower. Our rates
are competitive priced. Can your platform be trusted? Yes it can be trusted. We have incorporated a lot of security mechanisms that detects and mitigate fraud instantly. We also employ robust algorithms that is able to uniquely identify a user and devices they are using as well as prevent multiple registrations. What is the impact of UbaPesa? We created a platform where people are able to invest their money and earn handsome returns. It has also enabled those in need of money to borrow and meet their pressing needs. Have you faced challenges? Curbing fraud is also quite a challenge but we have elaborate mechanism to keep that in check. This is not a big challenge but some people lack enough data to ascertain their credit worthiness. Important metrics or score points that can be used to
determine their financial needs have not been captured. In the process, they end up lacking access to important credit facilities.
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What lessons have you learned as an entrepreneur? There is no perfect time to start something, if you have a good idea just execute it. Identify a need and work your way around satisfying it, and always be persistent. What future prospects can we look forward to? We want to be a household name for anyone who needs a financial facility or alternative models of capital raising. Besides, any good innovation can only thrive if the government provides an enabling environment for it thrive.
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24
HUMAN RESOURCES
How Does One Get A High Paying Job? PERMINUS WAINAINA
d What is your ideal salary? Do you feel as though your employer pays you enough? When looking for a job, do you think the salary range given is too low?
Mr. Wainaina is the head of recruitment at Corporate Staffing, a human capital development and recruitment agency
As a professional, you should be remunerated according to the value you bring to the company. However, many of the times, you might feel as though the employer is taking advantage of you and paying you much less than you deserve. When you’re looking for a job, how do you ensure you get your desired salary? If you’re already working, how do you get your boss to increase your salary to match your expectations? Over the weekend, I was interviewing professionals for a communications position. Stella was the third interviewee. At the end of the interview, I asked if she had any questions. “Just one,” she said, “why is the position paying so low? I expected it to be higher
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April 2019
for such a position.” continued Stella. I explained to her how the employer had arrived at that figure. After my explanation, Stella had one more question. “This is what most companies are giving out there, but I don’t think it’s fair given the amount of work one has to do,” she paused for a while, breathed out, and then continued, “How does one get a high paying job?” Before looking at ways to increase your salary, let’s first look at why you need a job that pays well. Here are some of the top reasons why you should look for high paying jobs. i.Your next employer will consider your paying you based on your previous salary. Most employers will pay you what you were previously earning, or slightly higher. ii.It’s a measure of value. Your pay should be equal to the value you bring to an organization. iii.Higher pay increases your self-esteem. When you have a high salary, you’ll feel your effort and work do amount to the general output of the company. This,
25 in turn, can raise your self-esteem and confidence levels. Does your reason for getting a high paying job match any of the above? It is important to note that most employers will pay you according to the value you’re bringing. If the employer feels you bring value to the organization, they’ll likely pay you a high salary. However, if an employer sees your input is low, they’ll likely give you a lower salary. To start us off, let us look at some of the best-paid professionals in Kenya. The likes of James Mworia, Polycarp Igathe, Gideon Muriuki, and a few other names come to mind. What is it that these professionals have that others don’t? More importantly, what can you do to get you on the same level as these successful professionals? Here’s how you can get a high paying job. 1. Gain relevant professional skills Professional skills can be divided into two; hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical skills each field possesses. Each industry has its own technical skills you need. For example, the technical skills for an engineer are different from those of a procurement officer. Soft skills, on the other hand, are personal habits that will enable you to interact with others effectively. An example of soft skill is communication. Whether you’re a salesperson or an accountant, effective communication skills will help you in the workplace and even in life. When you grow your soft skills, you’ll be able to relate with your colleagues, bosses, and customers better. Already, this will put you ahead for better pay – and possibly a promotion. Examine yourself to see the soft skills you lack, and then look at ways to grow
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It is important to note that most employers will pay you according to the value you’re bringing. If the employer feels you bring value to the organization, they’ll likely pay you a high salary. However, if an employer sees your input is low, they’ll likely give you a lower salary. them. For instance, if you struggle with communication and presentation skills, you can read a book on how to improve the skill, ask for help from someone with great public speaking skills, or even take a short course on learning how to speak with confidence. Though all soft skills are important, there are some that you should give key attention to. Here are some of the soft skills that will help you through your career; •Communication skills •Emotional intelligence •Leadership skills •Influencing skills •Time and priority management skills 2. Have a proven track record Oftenly, you’ll see a professional ask for a higher salary. When you ask them why they feel the salary needs to be increased, they do not have a concrete reason. If you want to get a high paying job, you’ll have to show you’re worth it. For an employer, the bottom line is what value you’re adding. If you’re in sales, for example, you can look at the numbers. If you can show an employer your involvement in the company adds tangible value, they’ll be in a better position to give you higher pay. Before approaching the employer asking for better pay, ensure you have the facts and figures correct. The same goes for a job seeker. If you can prove your value, you’ll never be out
of a job. When you look at some of the highest paid professionals mentioned earlier, you’ll see they have a track record of success. Even when they leave a job, companies are already approaching them with lucrative deals. 3. Get a job you’re passionate about In a recent interview, one of the professionals had experience in three different sectors. He had barely worked for two years in any of the industries. When I probed further, he told me he was looking for a place that could pay him well. However, after he got a job, he’d eventually get bored and leave – despite the pay. His story is not unique. There are professionals who follow the money only to be dissatisfied and disappointed. When you follow a job you’re passionate about, you’ll give it your all –put in extra effort, work past what is expected, and look for ways to be better. In turn, this will give you success in your position, which will then translate to recognition from your superiors and that could increase your salary and professional status. If you have to make a choice between a job you’re passionate about and another that is paying well, go for the one you’re passionate about. Eventually, the money will follow your passion. In summary, you’d like to earn more than what you currently getting. If you’re looking for a job, you want to get a job and earn a lucrative salary. However, it all comes down to what you’re willing to do –what skills are you willing to learn? What track record are you willing to be exceptional at? What jobs are in the areas you’re passionate about? Once you answer these questions, you’ll be able to get a job that pays a high salary. April 2019 Startupmagazine.co.ke
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Building the Intelligent Telco Enterprise: Growth Opportunities for African Telecoms Operators
TELCOS
MARIAM ABDULLAHI
Mariam is the Telco Industry Head at SAP Africa
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W hile the telco industry may have seen its traditional revenue streams decline further in 2018, thanks in part to the popularity of over-the-top (OTT) services such as WhatsApp that offer low-cost alternatives to messaging and voice calling, the industry is still set for growth. According to the Africa Digital Outlook 2019 report by Ovum, mobile revenue in Africa is set to grow from USD54.9-billion in
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2017to USD68-billion in 2022. While voice revenues are predictably declining as cheaper OTT services continue to gain popularity among cost-conscious consumers, mobile broadband and digital services revenue are set to more than double over the same period (from USD13.1-billion in 2017 to USD32.1-billion in 2022). The pressures on traditional revenue streams has initiated an industry-wide goldrush for new innovations that can leverage the extensive infrastructure and data sets most telcos have access
to. Modern consumers are demanding greater convenience and improved experiences from the brands and companies they support at a time when those same consumers are permitting brands to become more intimate with them through increasingly sophisticated omni-channel marketing initiatives. However, without a well thought-out and future-focused digital strategy in place, Telcos will struggle to adapt to their changing consumer and business landscape. In fact, I’d be so bold as to say that, unless Telcos can move fast to drive
April 2019
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28 operational efficiencies, modernise and update their business models, we may very well see some of those slower on the uptake exit the market soon. For African Telcos that have the correct digital tools and strategies in place, there are immense growth opportunities. In 2019 we will see more focus in four key areas, namely Digital Experience Management, Artificial Intelligence, Data and Analytics, and Cloud. Digital Experience Management Customer experience will play a leading role in shaping the 21st century Experience Economy. Walker research even found that customer experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiators by 2020. To meet the modern customer’s expectations regarding customer experience, Telcos should integrate the back-office with the front office and deploy the technology tools that will enable them to marry experiential data with operational data. In 2019, Telcos need to ensure they have a holistic view of their customers across the marketing, sales and service departments, and develop a deeper understanding of individual and B2B customers, their needs and expectations. Measuring end-to-end experiential data is an emerging discipline, with new innovative tools giving organisations unprecedented access to measurable
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April 2019
intelligence about how and where they can optimise sales activities.
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Mobile handsets are arguably the greatest sources of individual customer data available today. And Telcos are at the forefront of Big Data custodianship as subscribers use an array of data-generating apps and services all linked to their mobile phone.
experiential data. Qualtrics, which was acquired by SAP in 2018, is an experience management platform that enables the integration of operational and experiential data to give organisations real-time feedback from customers on key activities. Callidus Cloud’s DataHug, a forecasting and pipeline management solution that provides data insights into the likelihood of success in a sales cycle, also tracks the engagement levels of prospects to give sales teams actionable
Artificial Intelligence The world witnessed an acceleration in artificial intelligence capabilities in 2018 as the much-hyped technology finally entered the mainstream. With AI now widely available and its maturity levels making it suitable for a range of industries, organisations are now faced with the task of determining where AI can add the most value, how to deploy and integrate it, and how to build toward a long-term horizon. To truly harness the power of AI, organisations need to set goals and objectives as well as continuously measuring effectiveness rigorously. In the telco industry, AI is useful in areas such as network optimisation (using AI to analyse the network status and implement predictive maintenance when needed); customer service (AI-enabled chatbots such as those on the SAP Conversational AI platform easing operational pressures by assisting customers with a range of well-defined interactions); and customer experience (an exciting and emerging application of AI, which can assist with integrating front-office and back-office records, pulling in external data sets, and developing offers – such as device or contract upgrades – tailored specifically to an individual customer’s preferences).
29 AI can also point the way to new, non-traditional revenue streams. Kenya’s Safaricom has started setting itself up as a platform for a range of consumer and business services, for example by launching a new ride-hailing service called Little Cab that offers free Wi-Fi for passengers and offering M-Pesa users to access credit lines via Fuliza, an overdraft facility in partnership with banks which reported a borrowing of 6.2B Kenyan Shillings in just one month. By leveraging customer data and behaviour, the telco can introduce a broad range of non-traditional telco services that add value and convenience to the customer experience. Big Data and Analytics Mobile handsets are arguably the greatest sources of individual customer data available today. And Telcos are at the forefront of Big Data custodianship as subscribers use an array of data-generating apps and services all linked to their mobile phone. These present huge opportunities to Telcos who can quickly analyse vast amounts of individual customer data, build complex and multidimensional customer profiles, and develop individualised customer offers and experiences to deepen brand affinity and increase share of wallet. The Vodafone Group is a great example of a telco taking advantage of its Big Data opportunities following a recent partnership with SAP to co-innovate in a Big Data Margin Assurance project. By using value proposition, customer usage data and analytics, Vodafone operating companies are now able to identify margin leakages on products and services and optimise margin instead of following the older ‘Average Revenue Per User’ metric. However, it is worth noting the importance of trust. If Telcos are to take ad-
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vantage of their Big Data opportunities, they must give customers assurance that they fully appreciate the responsibility of being custodian to customers’ most personal habits and preferences and take the necessary measures to protect and manage their data. Cloud Computing Cloud market giants had phenomenal 2018s, with Amazon cloud revenue up 49per cent in Q2 2018, slightly lagging market-leader Microsoft. This year looks no less exciting: Gartner predicts the global public cloud services market will grow by 17.3per cent in 2019 to reach USD206.2 billion. Organisations are accessing more SaaS, PaaS, IaaS and other as-a-service offerings than ever before as they shift away from capital expenditure and reorder their IT spend as operational expenditure to enjoy cloud’s cost containment and convenience benefits. One of the key challenges of cloud adoption in Africa is related to the matter of data residency vs data sovereignty; in other words, who owns that data, and where is it allowed to be stored? This has made it critical that cloud services providers have in-depth in-country experience of the data sovereignty and residency laws of various African countries and regions. Telcos have a mandate to provide near100per cent uptime, have extensive infrastructure and understanding of the various regulatory aspects that could impact cloud services. There is immense potential for Telcos to become private-managed cloud providers for data that is bound by data residency and sovereignty laws and enable Africa’s highgrowth businesses to more easily scale to new markets or geographies without transgressing any local laws.
PG. 30
TRAVEL Oroni Tendera writes about the seven wonders of magical Kenya
PG. 34
BOOK REVIEW In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau shows you how to lead a life of adventure, meaning and purpose — and earn a good living.
PG. 38
SONG REVIEW Ami Faku’s love song that celebrates the beauty of good men
April 2019
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At the back
Travel & Leisure
7 Wonders of Magical Kenya From the majestic Mt. Kenya to the pearly white sandy beaches at the coast, Kenya is indeed a paradise for holidaymakers. Here below is a list of 7 wonders of the world’s number one safari destination. By Oroni Tendera
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1.Kituluni Hill(The Anti-gravity Hill) Kituluni hill, located 12 kilometres East of Machakos town, is the only place on earth where water flows uphill for 20 metres before changing its course at the peak of the hill. The same mysterious result has been reported on stationery vehicles whose engines have been switched off and parked at the side of the road, next to the hill. The vehicle moves up the hill at a speed of 5kph unaided for a distance of approximately 1 km. The tarmac road that leads to Kituluni is punctuated with sharp turns and bends. Midway round the hill, irrespective of the driving speed, cars are usually jerked forward and suddenly accelerate without any visible change
on the speedometer. So far, no scientific study has been conducted to explain this rather bizarre phenomenon. 2.Saiwa Swamp National Park. Situated in Trans-nzoia county, 27 kilometres north of Kitale town, Saiwa swamp sits on 2.7 square kilometres of land, making it the smallest national park in Kenya. Despite its size, the park is habitat to rare and endangered semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope, endangered debarazza monkey, bush bucks, giant forest squirrels, black and white colobus monkey, amphibians and reptiles. The park is also home to the grey crowned cranes and about 372 other bird species. Saiwa Swamp National Park is open
daily (inclusive of weekends and public holidays) from 6:00 am to 6:00pm. The park entry fees are: Citizen Adults Ksh 350, resident adults Ksh 600 while nonresidents are charged 25 USD for adults and 15 USD for children. 3.The Great Rift Valley It is the dream of every adventurous traveler to view the Great Rift Valley, a mega fault-line that covers approximately one sixth of the earth’s circumference. The Great Rift Valley cuts across Kenya from north to south. The valley’s floor is marked by lakes and volcanoes. A perfect place to have a breath-taking view of the Great Rift Valley is at the edge of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, in Limuru. At this point, visitors will have a panorama view of the Great Rift Valley with its April 2019
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vast vegetation. This is a scenic sight to behold that will definitely turn any traveler to a poet. 4.Mt Kenya Mt. Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest in Africa after Mt. Kilimanjaro. The three main summits of the mountain, are: Batian at 5199 metres above the sea level, Nelion at 5188 metres and point Lenana at 4985 metres. Mount Kenya has diverse vegetation from the base to the summit. Furthermore the mountain has 12 remnant glaciers that are receding rapidly. An area of 715 km2 within the centre of the mountain is gazzetted National Park and as of 1997 it was
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listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mt. Kenya is 200km north of Nairobi and can be accessed by road from Nairobi to its nearest towns-Nanyuki and Meru. Travellers with keen interest in trekking and hiking are highly recommended to explore this destination. 5.Lake Turkana Situated in Northen Kenya, on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Turkana is the world’s largest permanent desert lake as well as the world’s largest alkaline lake in terms of volume. It is also the fourth largest salty lake in the world. The lake is home to
about 50 species of fish that includes 11 endangered species such as Barbus turkanae and chichlids. Lake Turkana also contains a sizeable population of Nile crocodiles and large water turtles. On the Eastern shore of the lake, lies Lake Turkana national park that is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The East and West Shores of Turkana are separated by the wide Suguta valley. The east shore of the lake can be accessed through Maralal and Marsabit to Loyangalani whereas the west shore can be reached via Kitale to Lodwar. Both shores have airstrips. Generally, it is a two day journey on road from Nairobi to either of the shores.
6.Diani Beach Diani beach is a composition of immaculate-white sands hugging the turquoise waters of the mighty Indian Ocean. Located 30 kilometres south of Mombasa in Kwale County, the beach is 10 kilometres long. The water is always shallow near the shore. Underwater sandbars near the surface easens wading. From the beach, visitors can have a clear view of the extensive palm trees that cover the coastal region. 7.Kakamega Rain Forest Kakamega rain forest is Kenya’s only tropical forest. It sits in the heart of western Kenya in the counties of Kakamega and Kisumu. Kakamega forest is a paradise of birds. 367 species of
birds have been spotted in the forest. Wildlife that live in the park include the tree pangolin, bush pig, duikers, mongoose, giant African water shrew, squirrels, porcupine, and bushbuck among many others. The park’s Flora is diverse and includes indigenous African soft woods as well as hardwoods such as the Elgon teak, red and white stinkwood. Visitors can access the forest through the Southern part at Isechano Forest station that is run by the Kenya Forest Service. There is a well-defined network of walking and hiking trails in the forest. The park entry fees are as follows: Non-citizens Ksh 600, residents Ksh 400 while Kenya citizens pay Ksh200 per day.
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A crater at L. Turkana
Kakamega forest
Rift Valley
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34
Coffee Break
Book Review In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau shows you how to lead a life of adventure, meaning and purpose — and earn a good living. Reviewer: 100startup.com
Price: USD 23, Amazon venture, committing little time or money, and wait to take the real plunge when you’re sure it’s successful. In preparing to write this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and from that group he’s chosen to focus on the 50 most intriguing case studies. In nearly all cases, people with no special skills discovered aspects of their personal passions that could be monetized, and were able to restructure their lives in ways that gave them greater freedom and fulfillment. Here, finally, distilled into one easy-to-use guide, are the most valuable lessons from those who’ve learned how to turn what they do into a gateway to self-fulfillment. It’s all about finding the intersection between your “expertise” — even if you don’t consider it such — and what other people will pay for. You don’t need an MBA, a business plan or even employees. All you need is a product or service that springs from what you love to do anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to get paid
Still in his early thirties, Chris is on the verge of completing a tour of every country on earth — he’s already visited more than 175 nations — and yet he’s never held a “real job” or earned a regular paycheck. Rather, he has a special genius for turning ideas into income, and he uses what he earns both to support his life of adventure and to give back. There are many others like Chris — those who’ve found ways to opt out of traditional employment and create the time and income to pursue what they find meaningful. Sometimes, achieving that perfect blend of passion and income doesn’t depend on shelving what you currently do. You can start small with your Startupmagazine.co.ke April 2019
Not content to talk in generalities, Chris tells you exactly how many dollars his group of unexpected entrepreneurs required to get their projects up and running; what these individuals did in the first weeks and months to generate significant cash; some of the key mistakes they made along the way, and the crucial insights that made the business stick. Among Chris’s key principles: if you’re good at one thing, you’re probably good at something else; never teach a man to fish — sell him the fish instead; and in the battle between planning and action, action wins. In ancient times, people who were dissatisfied with their lives dreamed of finding magic lamps, buried treasure, or streets paved with gold. Today, we know that it’s up to us to change our lives. And the best part is, if we change our own life, we can help others change theirs. This remarkable book will start you on your way.
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Silas Odero of Nyakinda Construction with Head of Business Banking at Co-operative Bank Moses Gitau during the launch of the Daily Loan Repayment Asset Finance program to enable bank borrowers to do daily repayment of loans taken to finance the purchase of Isuzu vehicles, such as the famous D-Max.
Joel Muigai, head of IoT Strategy, Liquid Telecom Kenya and Aswald Jumira, Group head of Innovation Partnerships installing IoT sensors in one of the controlled fish pond in Lake Victoria, Kisumu.
Mr. Daniel Ndonye Chairman, Alliance High School Endowment Fund, Wanjiru Githiomi- Nganga BimaNet CEO and Mr. Kihara Maina Treasurer of the Fund and CEO of I&M Bank pose with a cheque donation from BimaNet, Kenya’s first insurance aggregator.
April 2019
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April 2019
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Coffee Break
Blog Review Blog name: The Equity Kicker Founder: Nic Brisbourne Reviewer: Adisa Hudson
Favorite Recent Article
exit data.”
“This ‘staying private longer’ phenomenon isn’t just a European thing. In the U.S., companies are raising amounts of capital previously only possible through IPO with much greater frequency than they are here. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing is debatable (private companies have less scrutiny and therefore lower costs, but arguably the scrutiny makes them more disciplined) but the important point here is that it’s skewing the
About the Blog Nic Brisbourne is managing partner of Forward Partners, a firm committed to investing in the UK’s leading eCommerce startups. The Equity Kicker is where Brisbourne shares his thoughts on emerging investment opportunities, winning business models, and recent developments within the venture capital and startup world.
Paying your Electricity Bill Paying your Electricity Bill with M-Pesa (Safaricom) 1. Select “Pay Bill” from the M-Pesa menu. 2. Enter the Kenya Power business number 888 888 / 501200 / 800904. 3. Enter your full Kenya Power account number e.g. 123456-01. 4. Enter the amount you wish to pay which should be between KShs.100 and KShs.35,000.00 5. Enter your M-Pesa PIN. 6. Confirm that all details are correct. 7. You will receive a confirmation of the transaction via SMS.
Debit Card / Credit Card
How to Buy Kenya Power Prepaid Tokens via M-PESA Paybill Number 888880/501200/800904 • Go to Safaricom SIM Tool Kit, select M-PESA menu, select “Lipa na M-PESA” • Select “Pay Bill” • Select “Enter Business no.”, Enter Kenya Power Lipa na M-PESA PayBill Number 888880/501200/800904 and press “OK” • Select “Enter Account no.”, Enter your Kenya Power Prepaid Meter Number (e.g. 0100 xxxx xxxx x) and press “OK” • “Enter Amount”, between KShs.100 and KShs.35,000.00 and press “OK” • Enter your M-PESA PIN and press “OK” • Confirm all the details are correct and press “OK” • M-PESA HAKIKISHA. You will get a notification with the intended recipient’s name e.g. “Pay Kenya Power KShs.1,000.00 for Account 0100 xxxx xxxx x Press 1 within 20 seconds to STOP this transaction.” • Kenya Power will then generate prepaid token valid for your meter and send via SMS.
Paying your Electricity Bill with Airtel Money (Airtel) 1. 2. 3. 4.
Select “Airtel Money’’ from the menu. Click on “Make Payments”. Select “Paybill”. Choose Kenya Power Bill for postpaid bill OR Kenya Power Prepaid for purchase of tokens. 5. Enter the amount you wish to pay. 6. Enter your Airtel Money PIN. 7. Under the reference option, type your full Kenya Power account number e.g. 12345601. 8. Confirm that all details are correct. 9. You will receive a confirmation of the transaction via SMS.
You can check your Kenya Power bill by sending the first part of your account number e.g. 123456 by SMS to 95551.
Powering people for better lives
April 2019
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At the back
Song Review
Ami Faku’s love song that celebrates the beauty of good men Review by Oroni Tendera
Eastern Cape’s, South African rising star with a notable voice, Ami Faku, has just released her second solo single titled, Ubuhle Bakho. You can also hear Ami Faku’s brand new single across the world on any music streaming platforms including iTunes, Youtube and Sportify just to highlight a few. Following the highly successful release of her debut single, Ndikhethe Wena, Ami Faku returns with another love song, this time celebrating the beauty of good men. Chorus Ubuhle bakho / your beauty Bobe golide / is like gold Kukhanya konke / everything lights up Xa ukhona / when you are here Ubuhle bakho / your beauty Bobe golide / is like gold Kukhanya amehlo / my eyes light up Xa ukhona / when you are here “I wanted to create a song that was a bit
Startupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
different. A lot of love songs focus on women, so I wanted to do something for men. We need to appreciate the beauty of the men around us like gold,” expresses Ami Faku.“Ubuhle Bakho is another reminder why Ami Faku is a special musical gem to cherish. You can’t help but get emotional when you listen to the song and that speaks not only to Ami Faku’s phenomenal writing skills but also the depth and soul of her voice,” shares Ninel Musson, Director at Vth Season. Produced by Eternal Africa of EQO (Export Quality Only) and arranged by Raphael Benza of Vth Season who also did the A&R for the track, Ubuhle Bakho has all the right ingredients to make this single a South African favourite and classic that the country will enjoy for many years to come. Make sure to stream or download Ami Faku’s Ubuhle Bakho and follow her and @VthSeason online for more music updates on iTunes.
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