StartUp Magazine March 2019

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MARCH 2019 STARTUPMAGAZINE.CO.KE

KSHS. 400/ USHS. 9000 TSHS. 6000/ RWF. 2200

MY HUSTLE

From a Guard to a College Principal

INTERVIEW What You Need to Know About Travel Insurance

FINTECH GROUP Disruptive Innovation Happens Whenever New Technologies Alter The Way Markets Operate

OPINION How to Motivate Your Employees Without Spending Money

TRAVEL

Treasury of Kenyan History at the Nairobi Railway Museum

KOPACENT AFRICA: USING TECH TO OFFER SALARY ADVANCES Wachera Muriu talks about founding KopaCent and its innovative financing model March 2019

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March 2019

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March 2019

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Contents

14 Debbie Larry Izamoje talks about her passion for Africa’s digital opportunities and why her firm is the best bet to conect brands with consumers in Africa

20 Fintech Group GM Tony Mbugua talks how technology has always played a key role in the financial sector in ways that most people take for granted

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30 Great Potential Lies in Mining the Kenyan Diaspora Jewels

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Oroni Tendera takes us through the treasures of Kenya’s forgotten history at the Nairobi Railway Museum

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2019

Contents 24 12

Travel Insurance What you need to know about travel insurance

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My Hustle Juma Nyongesa went against the grain raising from a guard to a college principal

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KOPACENT AFRICA Wchera Muriu talks about her banking experienced and what informed her to setup a thriving credit firm that banks on tech and mobile money to finance salaried people.

Woman of Power Debbie Larry-Izamoje talks about her passion for Africa’s digital opportunities and why her firm is the best bet to conect brands with consumers in Africa

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Cover Story

Cover Story

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How to motivate your employee without using money

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Investments Great Potential Lies in Mining the Kenyan Diaspora Jewels

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Political Economy Election Related Uncertainties Tend to Hurt African Economies-Report

FINTECH GROUP Fintech Group GM Tony Mbugua talks how technology has always played a key role in the financial sector in ways that most people take for granted

Human Capital

Coffee Break 36.

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Travel and Leisure Book Review Pictorial Blog Review Song Review March 2019

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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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Creative Designer Published By

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publisher. Readers are advised to seek professional advice before acting on any information contained in this publication.

Important Information for Contributors to StartUp Magazine By submitting content before publication you confirm that:

Contacts 4th Floor, Bihi Towers, P.O Box 3875-30200, Nairobi Kenya.

Cell (+254) 724 113 683 (+254) 776 061 644 Email: info@startupmagazine.co.ke Website: www.startupmagazine.co.ke StartUp Magazine EA @StartupMag_EA

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Editor’s Pen

Financial technology fuels economic growth This edition provides a discussion on some issues associated with financial technology and digital finance. Fintech and financial inclusion has several benefits to financial services users, digital finance providers, governments and the economy; notwithstanding, a number of issues still persist which if addressed can make digital finance work better for individuals, businesses and governments.

The digital finance issues discussed in this magazine are relevant for the on-going debate and country-level projects directed at greater financial inclusion via digital finance in developing and emerging economies. In particular, we have featured a pioneer in financial technology in the region through a detailed interview. We also had time to sit down

Kopa

Cent

Africa

with an entrepreneurial woman whose firm banks on technology and mobile money to offer credit to salaried people.

Also we encourage you to flip through the pages and learn emerging issues in environmental conservation, human capital management and travel insurance among many more. sylvester@startupmagazine.co.ke

Your professional salary advance partners Who we are

KopaCent Africa is a Fintech company using technology and leveraging on mobile money to offer employees affordable salary advances.

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Employee benefits KopaCent Africa 7th Flr, Krishna Center Westlands Nairobi hello@kopacentafrica.com wachera@kopacentafrica.com +254 724539933 +254 721845868 +254 715725325 www.kopacentafrica.com

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How to apply

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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”.

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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Hallmarks of success James Mwaura the founder and CEO of Holiday Group of companies is a successful entrepreneur and we need to borrow important nuggets of professionalism and service excellence from him to succeed. I happen to be his client once and I was happy at the quality of their services. I am sure to return there when a need arises and to the boss, keep doing the good job. You are an inspiration to many people.

Anthony Maina Entrepreneur MYDAWA a timely innovation I downloaded MYDAWA app after reading about it in your magazine. At the time, I was just curious about the innovation and I wanted to know how it functions, little did I know it would play a critical role later when my niece got sick. We got a prescription from a doctor and ordered the medicine via the app and it was delivered in time. Thank you MYDAWA for the solution.

Linet Akinyi Nairobi Achieving your career goals in 2019 2018 was a fast year and for anyone who had important career or even life goals to achieve needed a lot of focus and determination. Some may have achieved their goals with others missing. However, when you set goals you really need to be pragmatic and set ones that are within your reach. Everyone knows their potential and we must set something real so that we are able to accomplish the goals rather than feeling demoralized when we fail to achieve them.

All the same I wish that 2019 will be more realistic to me because I am looking to set up my own business and nurture a career out of real estate consultancy.

Viola Bosire Via email, Nakuru

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 Young, African and Entrepreneurial? Apply for the Sh 10 million Anzisha Prize The Anzisha Prize program which is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation has just launched the call for 2019 applications. The prize is looking for Africa’s most innovative social and business entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 22. Young entrepreneurs who apply will have the opportunity to win a share of USD 100,000, connect to a global network of leaders and receive business consulting support.

The grand prize winner will win USD 25,000, 1st runner-up will receive USD 15,000 and 2nd runner-up will receive USD 12,500.

With the launch of the 9th annual Anzisha Prize, the organisers look forward to celebrating the stories of successful entrepreneurship such as the winner of last year’s prize, Melissa Bime. Melissa was chosen as the winner due to her innovative business model that demonstrated the importance of job creation and scalability. Applicants are advised that judging criteria requires them to show commitment to growing their venture into a job-creation engine with the ability to demonstrate their contribution to society.

Melissa Bime, Anzisha Prize 2018 Winner

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The prize is open to very young African entrepreneurs who have founded or co-founded a running

business in any sector on the continent. “The Anzisha Prize currently has 102 fellows within its network since the program started in 2011. We are proud to have our entrepreneurs represent over 30 African countries within a diverse suite of sectors. We encourage all nationalities to apply so that we can continue to support exceptional young job-starters who are improving lives and will become a part of a truly Pan-African network.” Josh Adler, VP of growth and entrepreneurship at African Leadership Academy.

Finalists selected will become a part of the growing number of entrepreneurs receiving targeted business and entrepreneurial support. In addition to the call for applications that close on 31 March 2019, the Anzisha Prize team will be visiting key regional hubs in the next few months to tell the stories of youth entrepreneurship as part of the annual Anzisha Tour.

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News 80 Million Youth to Benefit from the Rise of Digital Commerce in Africa-Research

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INSURANCE What you need to know about travel insurance

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The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with BFA has released Digital Commerce and Youth Employment in Africa, new research that shows 80 million young people will benefit from the rise of digital commerce in Africa by 2030. These findings indicate that the digital commerce sector has the potential of disrupting the future of work on the continent.

narios associated with the undeniable emergence of digital commerce.

Digital commerce, or e-commerce, is an emerging sector across Africa. By 2030, more than 10 percent of its largely informal workforce will be using digital platforms. These workers will participate in digital commerce as consumers and, with a supportive policy environment, may also become a new group of workers called iWorkers. These digitally connected young people who are entering the workforce will generate income in the ‘gig economy’, through direct employment with large platforms such as Amazon and Alibaba, and through small enterprises, eventually leading to more formalized work.

•Monitoring evolving trends and promoting a wider understanding by policymakers of the issues of digital commerce.

Tricia Williams, Senior Manager, Strategy and Learning at the Mastercard Foundation says, “A substantial number of young people could benefit from the rise of digital commerce in Africa, lifting themselves and families out of poverty. Policymakers have a distinct opportunity to shape the future of work for African youth by designing growth-enabling policies. These policies need to unlock the potential of digital commerce while addressing its risks.”

They include: •Gathering better data on digital commerce and employment.

WOMAN OF POWER Debbie Isamoje talks about her entrepreneurship journey and Africa’s underlying digital opportunities for PR and branding

•Prioritizing the development of digital commerce skills in digital customer relationship management and marketing.

David Porteous, Founder and Chair of BFA, recommends policymakers to “take a test-and-learn approach – targeted experimentation to formulate more comprehensive strategies and policies over time, such as a digital version of the public works program targeting youth or testing the exemption of certain labour and tax laws to encourage an active iWorker policy.” He further adds, “It is inadvisable to do nothing as the next few years provide a window of opportunity for shaping a more productive labour structure.”

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MY HUSTLE Juma Nyongesa went against the grain raising from a guard to a college principal

Digital Commerce and Youth Employment in Africa goes on to say that governments in Africa can immediately adopt three approaches to future-proof themselves and African youth for the various sce-

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INSURANCE

Here is what you need to know about TRAVEL INSURANCE

The average travel insurance policy covers a range of losses and injuries, although it’s important to select a policy that will provide enough coverage for your belongings.

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t here are many things to consider when planning a vacation or trip outside Kenya – where to go, what to pack, and what to do once you get there. No matter how well you plan, though, there are some things that are out of your control.

Valiveti Ratna Kumar – General Manager (Operations), at Kenindia Assurance spoke to StartUp Magazine about the relevance of Travel Insurance and the following are the excepts;

Q: What is Travel Insurance?

A: Travel Insurance is an insurance product that provides cover to policy holders when they travel overseas. Travelers get to select the type of cover they desire, depending on their personal circumstances and situations. Many people travel to visit family and friends, for vacation, education and work purposes and sometimes for business reasons. While travel can be exciting, things could go wrong. Personal luggage could get lost, an emergency situation might arise in a foreign country or even sickness and bad health may afflict travelers.

Kenindia Assurance has developed a cover to cater for all kind of client’s different needs.

Q: What exactly does Travel Insurance cover?

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A: The average travel insurance policy covers a range of losses and injuries, although it’s important to select a policy that will provide enough coverage for your belongings.

Travel Insurance caters for personal accidents like injury or death (if it’s a death, we compensate the next of kin), dental and optical cover, daily hospital cash benefits if/when bed-ridden and travel cancellation when forced to abandon. In cases of loss of luggage or its delay, Travel Insurance will cater for it.

Furthermore, in instances of hostage situations or hi-jacking or wrongful detainment, Travel Insurance will compensate the traveller for the number of days inconvenienced. It is important to note that the Travel Insurance policy is based on a number of days, precisely 1-180 days.

Q: So how does Kenindia Assurance cover me while outside the country?

A: In the likelihood that something happens, Kenindia would have already availed you (traveller) with a contact that you could reach through Europ Assistance, that will then offer either emergency evacuation, hospital monitoring, legal assistance and also overlook return of mortal remains in case of death or fatalities.

Q: Are children also catered for under Travel Insurance?

A: Certainly, Travel Insurance also caters to the younger travellers. All children under the age of 12 years of age can share the same Travel insurance policy as their parent for as long as they are accompanied.

Q: How many kinds of Travel Insurance does Kenindia have?

Q: Are there any exclusion?

A: We have about five (5) different covers under Travel insurance namely – Premium, Business, Schengen, Youths (for those up to 28 years) and incoming (for those repatriating back to Kenya). It is also important to note that frequent travelers can take an Annual cover.

A: Like any insurance policy, Travel Insurance may have a number of exclusions depending on the policy. Typically, travel insurance will not cover the loss or theft of baggage or cash left unattended, self-inflicted injuries, acts of civil unrest, and any pre-existing medical conditions.

Q: What are the Schengen states and what type of Travel insurance do you offer to them?

Q: Is Travel Insurance Expensive?

A: When visiting some countries in Europe like Finland, Slovakia, Greece, Iceland, Hungary, Norway- one of the VISA requirements is to have a minimum Schengen travel insurance and only Kenindia Assurance offers it.

A: Travel insurance is typically affordable and serves to safeguard against potentially huge financial costs while overseas.

The cost of a policy will vary depending on the type of coverage needed, the age of the insured individual, the travel destination, the length of stay and any pre-existing conditions.

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WOMAN OF POWER

Debbie Larrry-Izamoje: Connecting Brands With Consumers

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ebbie Larry-Izamoje holds Msc. in management from UCL (University College London) and a BSc in Information management from the University of Sheffield.

She is passionate about Africa and its underlying wealth of digital opportunities.

In the following interview with StartUp Magazine, she talks about entrepreneurship and how she helps brands connect with consumers online and offline in various industries through her thriving startup business-Image Boosters.

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How did you get started?

Immediately after my postgraduate studies I worked for a couple of months in a strategy agency in Lagos, Nigeria and branched out because of the need to focus on the over 200 millennials that formed my community ‘The Entrepreneurs Best-Friend’ on their professional journey through curriculum vitae, interview coaching, and career workshops.

But that was not enough for me, during consultation sessions I noticed that a lot of people needed to learn how to leverage digital marketing for their businesses or just communicate online and this was a problem Image Boosters was created solve. Image Boosters which I founded is a Digital Marketing and PR

15 agency in Lagos, Nigeria. We connect brands to consumers online and offline in various industries leveraging digital opportunities in local markets.

When did you decide to take a stub at entrepreneurship?

I get asked this question very often and I wish I bookmarked the exact day I decided to be an entrepreneur. Unfortunately, I do not have a date in my calendar I just know that I discovered that there was a community of people that needed me and I could not give them my full commitment until I had kicked off the business fully. I took some time out to study, to grow my knowledge of entrepreneurship and the market in Africa. It was after this that I decided to go fully into running my digital agency.

What does your company-Image Boosters-do?

Image Boosters was created out of the need to help SME’s communicate better in Africa. IMAGE BOOSTERS is a Data-Driven Digital and PR Agency that was founded in 2017. We work with leading brands and businesses by leveraging digital opportunities in our local market.

We are strategists, creators, designers and PR experts with a mission to connect brands with consumers online and create digital experiences for millions.

We are a team of young, passionate, hungry creatives that constantly endeavor to break from the norm and ensure that the stories we create not only shape the world beautifully but also adds value and empowers Africans as a whole.

How would you describe your main duties and responsibilities at the company?

My main duty is to ensure that the quality of work that Image Boosters offers to its numerous clients is up to standard , quality and value is what we strive to achieve at all times. I also ensure that the company’s goals and vision stay alive and that we continually adding value to its audience. I do what I can to make sure that clients are happy and also employ-

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ees stay motivated, while also checking for new frontiers and terrains that we can overcome across Africa.

What is the importance of branding for an individual or company?

At Image Boosters, we believe that your brand is your identity. Your brand goes way beyond a memorable logo or great use of colours, your brand sums up the promises, expectations, memories, and stories that you want to resonate with your customers. Great branding is about making a personal connection with your target audience which will, in turn, provide your employees with direction and motivation. This is why we take the corporate identity development of our clients very seriously because we know how important it is to get it right from the onset.

What role does your company play in shaping the above?

So far, we have been able to help several small and medium scale businesses discover, learn and grow their businesses to be sustainable using our vast digital marketing and PR efforts. We look forward to utilizing our prowess beyond the shores of Nigeria and leveraging on the diversity that exists within the African tech space. We have be part of building the foundation for so many businesses through our services and telling their stories effectively.

What important tenets of entrepreneurship have you learned as a young business woman?

Always stay true to yourself and your values. People will never forget who you are and what you stand for. I believe that a good name is better than wealth or riches and this has been my driver since the inception of my businesses.

Where would you like to see your company in the next few years?

we have carried out over the past years.

I hope that we would have worked with more African companies and be known for our ability to tell the stories of SME’s digitally. We are also aiming to be the go-to digital hub for brands and business looking to succeed and enter the Nigerian market especially. Most importantly to create more job opportunities where young, vibrant, out of the box thinkers can thrive.

Do you have anything else in the pipeline?

Image Boosters will be launching an innovative product in a few months which will be a game changer for digital marketing and tech across the board. This product will allow for better collaboration for startups across different African markets especially those looking to communicate and thrive in the Nigerian market. We encourage readers to sign on to our email list on www.imageboosters.com.ng to get more updates What do you do when you’re not working?

My favourite thing to do when I’m not working is watch a good movie or reflect. Due to my busy schedule, I barely get time to myself where I can reflect or just watch a good movie. I try to take time out every week for a lunch date or to the cinema. I’ve come to understand the importance of rest as an entrepreneur and I do so whenever I am chanced.

What is the single most advice would you give to a young woman entrepreneur looking up to you?

Do not rush the process. Celebrate every little win as if it were a massive success.

Always trust your instincts and never operate from a place of fear. Ensure you read a lot and you have enough knowledge about your industry and its trends.

With all this, the sky will be your limit.

I hope to see Image boosters getting the recognition it deserves for the great work March 2019

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MY HUSTLE

A guard who dared to dream about the values of hard work and sacrifice at an early age,” recalls Juma.

At that point in life, passing exams and getting a well paying job was the only option he had to salvage his family out of poverty, he says. So when he sat for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 1998, he passed well.

But the news was received with a mixture of excitement and sadness.

He was selected to Join Musingu High School but his father could not afford to pay for his studies at the school. Instead, he sent him to a local school, Eshikulu Day secondary school that was 35 kilometre away. His father sold a piece of land to pay for his school fees.

Nyongesa is the principal at the Kenya Institute of Development Studies. He also teaches as a part-time lecturer at Africa International University and Daystar University. StartUp Magazine team met him at his office in Nairobi as he shared his troublesome journey towards getting an education and important life lessons gained along the way.

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family. ‘In my family, when you come of age, you are supposed to take care of the welfare of your young siblings’.

uma was born 36 years ago in Matunda, Kakamega County. As a first-born child in a family of 11, they lived in abject poverty. His father was a peasant farmer and his income could barely sustain the Startupmagazine.co.ke

March 2019

“I recall when in primary school, I would come back from school and join my mother and to work in the farms so that we could be able to raise enough money for food and school fees. It taught me

He trekked daily for four years in search of knowledge.

Expectations were high when he sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2002. However, he earned a B minus mean grade and missed direct university admission with a point.

“The feeling of failure left me crippled and a disappointment to my family. Remember land had been sold to help me school,” he explains.

He was forced to stay home for a few

17 months but then decided to look for employment as he could not afford to join a tertiary institution through self-sponsorship. Between 2003 and 2004, he applied for recruitment at the disciplined forces and was lucky to get slot at Kenya Army.

“I was elated when I joined the army but that excitement was short-lived. Barely a month after reporting to the recruit training school in Eldoret, a parade was assembled and six names were called out including mine. We were asked to leave the school immediately. We were told that there was an error in our recruitment process but rumors abounded that a powerful politician was behind our ejection. We were expelled to pave way for his people. ” It was very devastating, says Juma.

He then accompanied his aunt to Limuru as a casual tea picker and later joined his cousin as a security guard in Nairobi.

“I worked as a security guard with Cornerstone Security for a monthly salary of `Kshs 3600. We rented a house in Kangemi with five colleagues paying Kshs 2500 monthly. We shared rent among the five of us hence my bill was 500.”

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“While at Kenyatta University he met some students who knew him from the village while in high school and was better than them in class,” he recalls.

This made his time at KU unbearable as word quickly spread to the village that Nyongesa’s son is now working as a watchman.

“For the first time in my life I felt that education was discriminatory and unfair to the poor. I had missed direct entry to university by a single point and lacked resources to proceed due to poverty. On the other hand, the privileged have a number of alternatives available to them even if they don’t do well in class,” says Juma with nostalgia.

His commitment and professionalism earned him recognitionas the customer care person of the month severally by the university student’s magazine. This is despite the background of how low security guards are regarded in society.

All this time he had accumulated money that could see him through a full semester as a self sponsored student, but then something happened that later changed his life in a major way.

As fate would have it, he volunteered to a new contract that G4S got at Daystar University.

“A new guard had been posted to Daystar. Being his first assignment, he had no money to keep him going before receiving his salary and I gladly hosted him in my one room shack in Athi River,” Juma says.

The new guard was assigned to guard residential houses for visiting faculty lecturers from Canada.

He was posted to work as a chief guard to the university’s main entrance in Athi River. He worked diligently.

“In one of their talks he narrated how I had helped him out and the Canadians asked to see me. I then hosted them for

Juma was posted to man a gate at an estate in Westlands, Nairobi and used to run to and from work in a bid to save enough money to further his education.

He worked at the firm for nine months and later applied for an opening at G4S and was recruited.

G4S doubled his salary with prompt payments, better uniform and working conditions.

First, he was tasked to guard Nyayo hostels at Kenyatta University.

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18 dinner in my humble abode and they got interested in what my future dreams were. I told them of my desire to go back to school and further my studies, and they said they were willing to support my education and that of my fellow guard,” explains Juma.

“We exchanged emails and they went back to Canada after a short while.”

Few months later, they sent an email to Juma and his friend asking them to look for admission in university of their choice. Juma secured admissions from three universities but a friend advised him to settle for Daystar University, for it will be an inspiring story to other people.

Juma joined Daystar University as an undergraduate to pursue a degree in Bachelor of Arts community development and business studies.

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March 2019

“I remember how going for my first class shocked everyone who knew me as a guard. The lecturer even had to confirm my admission and really took time for reality to sink in,” Juma explains passionately.

Immediately after graduation, Juma was employed as a credit officer at Barclays bank, then project officer before quitting to take up a tutor’s role at Kenya Institute of Development Studies (K.I.D.S) technical college.

“Within six months our department was leading in number and performance at the college. That earned me a promotion to be the academics administrator and later a principal at the Naivasha campus,” he recollects.

For a guard who dared to dream, he is now the principal at the Kenya Institute of Development Studies heading all the campuses.

Juma at a glance •He holds a Masters in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi and is now a PhD student at St. Paul’s University where he is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies.

•Has paid school fees for his 10 siblings, some of who are now in university and college, and sponsors 36 other pupils in high school, colleges and universities.

•He values education and encourages people to be the best version of themselves.

•His ultimate dream is to make Kenya Institute of Development Studies the technical institution of choice in the region.

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Talk to the Best Healthcare Providers with Ease and Convenience

•Daktari Africa is Kenyan Telemedicine platform approved by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board and by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (2016) •Enables affordable video consultations and prescriptions •Currently with over 400 doctors (including Specialists) and 600 clients signed up, the site receives over 100,000 hits monthly •Also available at a Goodlife Pharmacy near you

For more information please contacts us: KMA CENTRE, 7th floor, Mara Road, Nairobi Phone : 0204 931 184 E: admin@daktariafrica.com

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Cover Story

FINTECH GROUP: Expanding Horizons Disruptive innovation happens whenever new technologies alter the way markets operate. The same can be said about fintech.

f inancial technology (fintech) has a very long history. When most people hear fintech, they think about a revolutionary mobile app or a smart card which can help them pay for bills without ever touching a currency. But technology has always played a key role in the financial sector in ways that most people take for granted and might not ever see.

technology in Africa’s economy, the Fintech Group was formed in 1993. It set out to help financial sector players automate their operations via technology.

institutions better manage their financial operations and processes by utilizing our specialized software and algorithms,” he says.

“Today fintech is a commonly used term to describe new technology that seeks to improve and automate the delivery of financial service,” explains Tony Mbugua, the General Manager, Fintech Group International during an interview with StartUp Magazine team.

The company’s e-banking suites of products are robust and flexible mobility solutions for financial institutions that integrates with all known core banking solutions. These solutions include; finBridge, finSMS (SMS Banking), finMobile, finIB (Internet Banking), finISecure (Biometrics) Security and Postilion Switch.

The fintech industry is thriving globally and received USD 17.4 billion in investment in 2017 alone. According to EY’s 2017 Fintech Adoption Index, one-third of consumers utilize at least two or more fintech services and those consumers are also increasingly aware of fintech as a part of their daily lives.

He explains that in the 1990s, the term ‘fintech’ was rarely used, especially on the consumer front. “We were able to foretell the future of financial technology and better position ourselves to serve the sector, hence our name.”

For the past two decades, the firm has evolved to be a leading enterprise information technology solutions and service provider.

In understanding the role of financial

“We help business owners and financial

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March 2019

In addition, the firm has a robust, secure and scalable automated clearing, truncation and settlement solution called Chequepoint. “This solution integrates seamlessly with core banking systems and the central clearing systems hosted by the central/reserve banks, it is truncation ready, agnostic to scanners and is customized to meet set clearing and payment guidelines for different mar-

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Tony Mbugua, GM FINTECH GROUP kets.”

cy banking system.”

Chequepoint is currently deployed in over 60 banks across Africa.

In further understanding the roles played by other financial players in the economy, Mbugua says they developed more solutions that targets Sacco’s and microfinance institution. “When you deal directly with Sacco’s and MFI’s, you realize how important they are in providing financial services to people. Thus we developed specialized in-house enterprise solutions that are designed to help them automate their functionalities.

We have Finsacco for Sacco, finMFI for Microfinances, Leasepac for Leasing companies, FinMortgage for Mortgage companies among others.”

Recently, the firm introduced a new generation of smart point of Sales (POS) devices that will increase efficiency in payments for retail customers. The devices which will allow cash and cashless transactions across multiple platforms are aimed at delivering more reliable, sustainable, flexible and secure experience to different users.

Commenting on the launch of the POS devices in Uganda, Barry Ryan, the CEO of Fintech Group said, “We discovered a very specific need to produce a device that is reliable and flexible for the agen-

“

When you deal directly with Sacco’s and MFI’s, you realize how important they are in providing financial services to people. Thus we developed specialized in-house enterprise solutions that are designed to help them automate their functionalities.

Finfinancials modules can also be integrated with other applications as third>> March 2019

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Cover Story “We are happy to aide financial institutions in developing solutions that answer pressing economic challenges such as championing financial inclusion.”

party modules to meet specific functionalities in an organization. It can also be used in credit reporting by leveraging information about payment history to flag transactions that are outside the norm, used in insurance premium financing and debt management.

Data “In this era of digital inclusion, data has become a key ingredient in understanding consumer behaviours. As companies collect a lot of data, we provide them with solutions where they can be able to analyze and prepare reports on such data. Our experienced consultants have been able to provide robust, flexible and scalable for both internal and external reporting. These reports include regulatory reports and MIS Systems, CRB reports,” says the executive.

Advisory Fintech Group has a wealth of experience in providing consultancy and advisory services to Commercial and Central Banks across Africa. The services include; national payment systems (share switches and automated clearing and settlement) and core banking systems. This consultancy practice broadly covers; Project Management, Business Process Re-Engineering and Training.

Managed IT Services is a proactive process of managing IT infrastructure and/ or end-user systems, under a subscription model. “We provide Strategic consulting and outsourced services to help organizations transform their technology services into business information enabling centers using industry best practices. Delivery of Services is done by; Fulltime Onsite Engineer/s, On-call services, Hourly/Weekly Engineers and Startupmagazine.co.ke

March 2019

“

We discovered a very specific need to produce a device that is reliable and flexible for the agency banking system.

Remote Support Services,” shares Mbugua.

Mr. Mbugua acknowledges that Fintech is a certified Oracle Gold Partner with extensive experience in providing Oracle technology, business Intelligence and banking solutions. Fintech’s core banking solution is based on Oracle Flexcube UBS covering; implementation, testing, support and enhancements, including value adding Oracle technology services.

“They trusted our knowledge and expertise to deploy their solutions locally,” affirms the GM. By helping businesses reduce operational costs, increase efficiency and gain market share and work around the clock to meet unique customer needs, he believes the firm is playing a major role in social economic transformation of the continent.

As the general manager, Mbugua believes that the industry has its own challenges one needs to exceed customer expectation in order to thrive. “It is never a walk in the park. We are in constant competition with global players who are experienced with bigger financial clout.

You have to be very competent to stand out.”

Consumers are also driving change in the industry in a way that has never been seen before. “Millennials are demanding better banking experiences through digital devices.” he explains.

Besides, cloud is redefining the way we store, manage and access data. Companies no longer need to have servers in their premises to store data. Thus, it is key to stay abreast with such tech dynamics to stay relevant, he advises.

Despite the challenges, Mbugua is bullish about financial technology as it is going to play more important roles in human life. “People will continue to demand more access to seamless banking options, pay for bills, save funds and borrow money via devices and we will always be on the pulse to execute this.”

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Cover Story

KOPACENT AFRICA: Leveraging On Tech and Mobile Money To Offer Salary Advances Wachera Muriu talks about founding KopaCent and how it empowers people to live a better life through responsible financing

a

vibrant and expanding small business sector can be a major catalyst for inclusive growth but small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a difficult time accessing the financial services that can fuel that growth-FSD Kenya.

In Kenya, traditional bank financing is often severely constrained, especially for SMEs. In understanding their plight, Wachera Muriu initially formed KopaCent Africa to fuel SMEs growth by delivering appropriate financial products and services.

“I have been in financial industrial for ten years. I have a wealth of experience in corporate and retail banking, but when in joined Rafiki Microfinance Bank to focus on SME financing, the Startupmagazine.co.ke

March 2019

difficulties small entrepreneurs faced in accessing credit facilities was heart wrenching,” says Wachera Muriu while talking to StartUp Magazine at her office in Krishna Center in Westlands Nairobi.

She was moved by the inspiring stories of small-time entrepreneurs who ran impactful businesses but often lacked appropriate financial support to wheel their growth.

In 2018, Kenya’s overall GDP growth was projected at 6 per cent with SMEs contributing 3 per cent.

“SMEs make huge contributions to our economy through provision of goods and services that improves the lives of many people,” says the entrepreneur.

As at 2015 alone, SMEs employed more than 11 million people thus constituting about 80 per cent of Kenya’s total workforce.

“A growing SME sector has a positive impact on Kenya’s GDP through value

addition, increased output and profits.

Therefore, protecting and enhancing the prosperity of this sector is of strategic importance to the country’s economic wellbeing,” she adds.

More often, Wachera would hold candid conversations with entrepreneurs to understand their business model and outline what hinders their growth. “I critically analyzed their mandates, competitiveness and product offering among many other things and lack of appropriate financial assistance would often come out as a hindrance.”

So she started lending to them as a side hustle while still keeping her day job and as a service delivery manager at the bank.

Her efforts were transformative to say the least.

Soon, these entrepreneurs started to

FRESH.INSPIRING.ANALYTICAL

Wachera Muriu, CEO KOPACENT AFRICA grow and created more employment opportunities. With their growth, they needed more money to fund their operations. Her good works quickly spread within their circles, and she became a darling to these entrepreneurs.

Along the way her thriving side-hustle needed more attention than her day-job and resolved to focus on it.

Salary advances KopaCent Africa was thus registered on 1st June 2016.

A few months down the line she discovered a new niche. Lending to salaried people was more convenient and presented lesser risks. This is because they had a predicted income pattern as opposed to entrepreneurs whose incomes were irregular.

“In this line of business, it is not how much you lend but how much you collect that defines your growth. With salaried people, I found that I could lend and collect over 95 per cent of the money. That means our default rate remained under 3 per cent, way below the industry rates.”

due to the high cost of living. “Whereas a number of lifestyle adjustments can be made to ensure that your income fits your budget, it is difficult to adjust some important cash needs such as emergencies, medical fees, school fees, rent or occasions such as car repairs among others,” she explains.

She narrowed her focus to this niche.

KopaCent now leverages on technology and mobile money to offer employees affordable salary advances. “We are more flexible than mainstream lenders and we deliver requested advances in less than 30 minutes,” says the executive.

KopaCent’s salary advance loans offer one with an access to a bridging finance that allows them to meet their financing needs in a smooth manner.

Wachera understands that employees might encounter financial challenges in trying to make ends meet particularly

“We are convenient and transparent with no hidden charges. Our team works constantly to offer better experiences to customers,” she says adding that, “Our standard loan ranges between Kshs 5,000 to Kshs 60,000 but the limits can exceed that bracket.”

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(L to R) Some of KopaCent team members- Veronica Wanjiku, John Karanja, Wachera Muriu ( seated), James Kariuki, and Mercy Chemutai Providing cash advances within minutes have made the firm popular in this line of business. Other mainstream lenders would take days to approve a loan facility making KopaCent a perfect fit for instant financing, she explains.

Most of the KopaCent clients are middle income earners, with 65 per cent of them being male. With a trusted customer base and good relations, many of them repay the loan in stipulated time.

“We rarely have default issues except for a few cases,” she says.

Impact Being a seasoned financier, Wachera opines that there is a huge connection between credit and economic growth.

To begin with, fintech in particular has deepened financial inclusion and proStartupmagazine.co.ke March 2019

vided millions of people with access to financial services and products.

Secondly, digital lenders have provided people with quicker financial services in a seamless manner, making it easier for them to manage their financial obligations on a time to time basis.

Lastly, fintech providers that operate via online platforms can electronically provide increased convenience to users providing access to such financial services from any location. They don’t necessarily need to go to a banking hall to enjoy a financial facility.

In addition to playing such key roles in an economy, she hopes to see her brand grow to be a household name and have a continental foot print.

What you need to know about Wachera •She had a passion for entrepreneurship from a young age.

•While at Daystar University, she bought second hand clothes from Gikomba market and sold them at a profit to colleagues.

•She has tried a hand at entrepreneurship and failed severally, but every step has been a learning experience.

•She hires people based on integrity and trust.

•She is a people’s person and knows how to create and build relationships.

•She is an avid reader.

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HUMAN RESOURCES

How To Motivate Your Employees Without Spending Money

PERMINUS WAINAINA

Mr. Wainaina is the head of recruitment at Corporate Staffing, a human capital development and recruitment agency

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March 2019

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ecember was that time of the year when employees waited with bated breath for their annual performance incentives such as bonuses, gift vouchers, club memberships and other perks that management uses to motivate staff. As a business owner, the term employee motivation has a bitter-sweet ring to it. On the one hand, you do want your team firing on all engines and staying loyal to your brand. On the other hand, you lose sleep thinking about the massive expenditure involved. However, what if I told you that you could achieve the same levels of staff morale without burning a hole in your company account? It sounds implausible, but the truth is there are things that most employees value even more than a holiday voucher.

Sell Them Your Vision Most people value being part of a team that is successful and makes a difference in the grand scheme of things.

Making your company vision clear to every single employee and giving them a manageable role to play in achieving this vision works wonders. It sparks initiative, innovation and team spirit. Give your employees something meaningful to believe in and strive for and they will be motivated. Successful international brands such as Facebook or Apple have one thing in common- their employees live and breathe the brand. It’s not just a job but something they are proud to be part of.

Empower Them To Succeed As a recruiter, one of the things I hear often from job candidates is that they long to feel like they are in control of their career. One way to achieve this as a manager is to give them the mandate

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The modern workplace is comprised of a diverse team with varying lifestyle needs. Accommodating some of these unique needs can go a long way in motivating and retaining your best talent to make decisions regarding their work, within reason. Also, avoid micromanaging them and give them opportunities to shine such as taking the lead on a project.

Be honest and seek their input when making major decisions that affect them such as a company merger or budget cuts. Most importantly, provide them with the tools to do their work including a safe work environment and up-to-date technology.

Provide Mentorship Opportunities If money is tight and you can’t afford to pay tuition for courses, you can still ensure your employees enjoy career development through mentorship programs.

Do it yourself if you can, or set up a system where more experienced employees interact with fresh graduates. Often, the training goes both ways as seasoned employees learn new skills even as they teach the newbies. For instance, a management trainee can teach their supervisor/mentor how to use business technology to accomplish the same tasks they are being trained for. Practical skills training such as public speaking, time management, personal finances and personal branding are also a welcome incentive in lieu of cash tokens.

Adopt an Open Door Policy Often, employees feel like it’s them against the system when their concerns and ideas aren’t heard. I often encounter managers who say they simply don’t

have time for one-on-one engagements with employees given all they have to juggle. However, my advice is to consider it an investment. The more you are willing to engage them on issues, the less they may feel the need to complain.

In fact, chances are they start to comply with policies simply because they were included. Additionally, when employees view you as a friend, they are willing to work that much harder to ensure your company succeeds.

Embrace Flexibility The modern workplace is comprised of a diverse team with varying lifestyle needs.

Accommodating some of these unique needs can go a long way in motivating and retaining your best talent. For example, a post-grad student or a young mother may require flexible work hours.

A sales team may favor flexible payment structures. Then we have this valuable demographic called ‘millennials’. Research says that they thrive under flexible deadlines and prefer constant feedback on their work as opposed to periodic reviews.

Altering your systems to accommodate such needs can be done in a manner that will not affect your bottom line, yet, will ensure you have a productive and loyal team. One success story I admire in terms of workplace flexibility is Google’s policy that allows all employees to work on passion projects for 20% of their work time. This gives them time to learn and explore, often leading to innovations that benefit the company directly.

At the end of the day, you will find that most employees want to do a good job, and they will, if you create the right conditions for them to do so. So, this season, as you prepare to reward your top performers, consider offering them long term perks that will create more job satisfaction than a fat annual bonus.

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INVESTMENTS

Great Potential Lies in Mining the Kenyan Diaspora Jewels

ALICE KIMUHU

t Alice Kimuhu is the Head of Premium and Diaspora Banking at National Bank.

he diaspora community has played a significant role in the growth and resilience of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP). These communities continue to wield a significant amount of financial and human capital through their investments in their home country.

In the last five years, total diaspora remittances into Kenya have grown by at least 150 percent overtaking tea and horticulture as the country’s top foreign exchange earner. The inflows – whose variation is often countercyclical and not susceptible to changes in weather and

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March 2019

world prices – have been a stable source of foreign exchange.

However, while the growing diaspora remittances are welcome, they face numerous challenges with the main one being the prohibitive cost of remitting funds. The Sub Saharan region has the highest remittance costs recorded in the world, according to the World Bank.

Other challenges include; insufficient information on investment options, strict legislation around investor qualifications for Kenyans in the diaspora and high compliance costs faced by Kenyan banks and investment intermediaries.

Kenyan financial intermediaries, in their effort to collaborate with Kenyan diaspora investors, must find ways to democra-

31 tize investment and donation vehicles to facilitate an all-inclusive participation. It is equally important for these institutions to embrace and institutionalize transparency, for instance by creating formal vetting and ratings structures for funding recipients. This will meet the needs of the investors, and in turn incentivize them to invest in and donate to their countries of origin.

Diaspora remittances may be the only relationship that the unbanked relations of Kenyans in the diaspora have with the formal financial system. A great percentage of the received remittances are kept as savings.

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interested in long-term investments have an option of venturing into real estate financing through the National Homes products.

In February 2018, remittance to Kenya hit an all-time high of 21.2 billion Kenyan shillings, which in comparison with 2017 same period is a 47.5 percent growth, as recorded by the Central Bank of Kenya. This consistent average growth of remittances volumes speaks to the desire and drive of Kenyans in the diaspora to invest in the Kenyan economy.

for domestic household use, improved education and engagement of Kenyans in the diaspora can drive remittance growth and better investment back home. The government’s proposal to reduce the remittance charges to less than three per cent of the amount transacted will go a long way in helping grow the diaspora remittances.

Overall, diaspora remittances remain an integral part of the economy and if utilized well it can improve Kenya’s socio-economic development.

While 75 percent of the remittances is

With a steady stream of remittance receipts, financials institutions can utilize this data to evaluate the creditworthiness of recipients for microloans, consumer loans, and small business loans. As a result, the institutions and beneficiaries can drive the use of these remittances to more structured investment vehicles.

In some cases, remittances cushion households that face high-income volatility and shocks by smoothening their income stream.

In response to these challenges, financial institutions including National Bank continue to collaborate with stakeholders to provide proximity of required services and ease access to financial services for Kenyans in the diaspora and their dependents back home.

In the last few years, National Bank has signed various remittance partnerships in an effort to drive down remittance costs in line with the sustainable development goal 10 by engaging like-minded partners. Through its partners, the bank offers an array of investments plan including short terms ones that have the potential to yield more returns including short term investments in stocks, treasury bonds, treasury bills, money markets, REITS and mutual funds. Kenyans with

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POLITICAL ECONOMY

Election Related Uncertainties Tend to Hurt African EconomiesReport

ICAEW

ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports over 178,500 chartered accountants and students worldwide.

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March 2019

Most African countries have a positive economic outlook, apart from those with upcoming elections, according to ICAEW’s (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) latest report. In Economic Insight: Africa Q4 2018, launched last year, the accountancy body provides GDP growth forecasts for various regions including East Africa which is set to grow by 6.3per cent, Western and Central Africa by 2.5per cent, Franc Zone at 4.6per cent and South Africa by 1.2per cent.

t

ford Economics, provides a snapshot of the region’s economic performance. The regions include; East Africa, Central and West Africa, Franc Zone, Northern Africa and Southern Africa.

he report, commissioned by ICAEW and produced by partner and forecaster Ox-

According to the report; East Africa con-

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tinues to report the highest GDP growth on the continent even though the region’s economic growth is expected to ease slightly, from 6.8per cent in 2017 to 6.3per cent. Ethiopia reported the highest forecast at 7.8per cent, while the lowest forecast for the region was at -3.8per cent, by war-torn South Sudan.

However, lower growth ranking for some countries in the region demonstrate how large an effect political instability can have on economic prospects. For example Kenya’s growth rebounded to 5.4per cent this year after it dropped to 4.9per cent in 2017. The drop was attributed to political uncertainty during last year’s elections.

regarding land and property rights in South Africa ahead of polls in 2019 has frightened investors.

Michael Armstrong, Regional Director, ICAEW Middle East, Africa and South Asia said: “Political instability tends to peak around election time for some African nations. This scenario tends to dampen the GDP growth of some countries, since economic growth shares a complex relationship with both elections and accompanying political instability.”

In West and Central Africa average growth is forecast at 2.5per cent. Ghana’s forecast is expected to expand by a decent 5.2per cent, highlighting a stable economy. However, this is not so for Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria whose growth is forecast at 1.8per cent.

The weak performance can partly be attributed to the upcoming elections in February next year.

In North Africa, Libya and Algeria are set to hold polls in the near future, in December 2018 and April 2019, respectively. Nevertheless, Libya’s election will almost certainly not go ahead as the legal framework for it is not yet in place.

Incidentally, the two countries are the region’s fastest and slowest growing economies this year, at 14.7per cent and 2.3per cent respectively. Egypt which held elections in March 2019 to overwhelmingly return President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to power is expected to grow by 5.3per cent this year. The certainty of Mr. Sisi’s grip on power appears to be helping the country’s economic rebound.

There is little uncertainty about who will win elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in December, but political tensions are set to rise nonetheless, and are the main obstacle to the GDP growth forecast of 4.1per cent this year.

The elections narrative is still replicated in Southern Africa, being the slowest region with GDP forecast set to expand only by 1.2per cent. Election rhetoric

As a result, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is finding it difficult to convince them otherwise. The country is expected to post GDP growth of just 0.7per cent.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s government is suffering from post-election credibility difficulties, with international lenders and investors unconvinced that the scenario has improved in Harare – after violence and fraud allegations marred July’s election.

The Franc Zone is expected to see GDP growth of around 4.6per cent this year.

Cameroon is expected to post a GDP growth rate of 4.0per cent in 2018 – up from 3.2per cent in 2017. This is despite the unpopular re-election of President Paul Biya and the violence that accompanied his re-election.

PG. 34

ENVIRONMENT Scorecard Measures Nutrient Pollution in Kenya’s Lake Naivasha

PG. 36

TRAVEL & LEISURE Treasures of Kenya’s history at the Nairobi National Museum

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BOOK REVIEW Becoming Michelle Obama

Elections and accompanying political instability evidently have a complex relationship with economic growth.

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Scorecard Measures Nutrient Pollution in Kenya’s Lake Naivasha

ENVIRONMENT

UN ENVIRONMENT

UN Environment has been working with a broad range of partners to better assess the health of lake ecosystems in India, Kenya and the Philippines.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

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March 2019

e conomic activity in and around Lake Naivasha, and the rapidly growing population, have placed mounting environmental pressure on this important source of freshwater in central southern Kenya.

The lake provides an income for local fisherfolk, supports a vast array of flora

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and fauna, including waterbuck, hippos and some 350 species of water birds, and is a draw for local and international tourists. It also supports nearby flower and vegetable farms, a significant contributor to Kenya’s economy.

Its health, therefore, is vital-and the first step in preserving this ecosystem is to measure it.

Working within the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management, UN Environment organized a technical exchange in September 2018 between experts from the Philippines, India and Kenya on how best to preserve the lake’s environment and water quality. The partnership involves governments, scientists, policy-makers, the private sector, as well as non-governmental and international organizations.

The workshop set the stage for development of an Ecosystem Health Report Card, based on work undertaken in India and the Philippines as part of the Global Environment Facility-Global Nutrient Cycle Project. The Naivasha workshop marked the end of a Global Environment Facility(GEF) twinning project focusing on Lake Laguna de Bay in the Philippines and Lake Chilika in India.

Nutrient pollution loading was identified as a critical issue for all three lakes.

“The prevalence of nutrient pollution, caused largely by the overuse of fertilizers on farms, livestock runoff and untreated human wastewater releases, was identified among the most pressing pollution issues for all three lakes, but one which smart agricultural practices and improved wastewater treatment can help solve,” says UN Environment nutrient pollution expert Christopher Cox.

“

The scorecard approach uses a traffic light dashboard system to show whether a lake is `healthy’ or not, based on parameters that are important to local communities-like bird and fish counts, and water pollution

oped and put into use for Laguna de Bay in the Philippines and Lake Chilika in India. The scorecard has proven to be an effective, tried and tested, tool for assembling environmental health data into a coherent communication package that all audiences can relate to. The scorecards form the basis for assessment and feedback on the health of an ecosystem, including biodiversity and the effects of pollution. Through a consultation process with local stakeholders, a scorecard approach combines a robust approach with the flexibility to be adapted to the specific needs of a local lake.

The Ecosystem Health Scorecard for Lake Naivasha will provide data for communities, farmers, enterprises, and regulatory authorities in a format that can be linked to the process for reporting on the Sustainable Development Goal targets, in particular target 6.6 on water-related ecosystem health, target 6.3 on water quality including wastewater, and 6.5 which promoted cross-sectoral frameworks through integrated water resources management.

These are supported by cross-sectoral frameworks by UN Environment’s Framework for Freshwater Ecosystem Management, which uses principles of the 2030 Agenda to assist countries in protecting and restoring their water-related ecosystems.

“The scorecard approach uses a traffic light dashboard system to show whether a lake is `healthy’ or not, based on parameters that are important to local communities-like bird and fish counts, and water pollution,” says Lis Mullin Bernhardt, in UN Environment’s Freshwater Ecosystems Unit. “It can be applicable to any lake and ecosystem in the world and helps to highlight the role of nature and ecosystem services.”

Lake Naivasha and other water bodies are of critical importance for people and our planet. World Wetlands Day on 2 February each year is dedicated to raising global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet.

UN Environment, through its Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Landbased Activities, in collaboration with its Freshwater Ecosystems Unit, have been facilitating the implementation of initiatives and exchange of best practices through its programme of work.

In December 2017 UN Member States mandated UN Environment in a comprehensive Resolution to help implement a Framework for Freshwater Ecosystem Management to help countries protect and restore their water-related ecosystems in line with the 2030 Agenda, including through addressing water pollution.

Scorecards have already been develMarch 2019

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At the back

Travel & Leisure

Treasury of Kenyan History at the Nairobi Railway Museum

By Oroni Tendera

Startupmagazine.co.ke

March 2019

Visiting the Nairobi Railways Museum means stepping back in time and sideways into reality. One in which exhibits forming part of Kenya’s history are held. Where artefacts, photographs and old furniture lie in polished galleries while locomotives as old as 100 years stand distinctively at the museum’s yard.

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“It is not uncommon for a country to create a railway, but it is uncommon for a railway to create a country,’’ the words of Sir Charles Eliot in 1903, displayed a few inches past the entrance to the galleries, highlight the co-relationship between the construction of the Uganda railway and the creation of a country−Kenya.

The idea of a railway came into fruition in the late 1880s when both Germany and Britain had acquired territories in the East African region. Both colonies began to actively survey routes from the coastal region to Lake Victoria. As the Germans worked on the line from Tanga to Mt. Kilimanajaro the British surveyed a route from Mombasa. In December 1895, George Whitehouse stepped ashore in Mombasa and in May 1896, the first rails were laid of the project that would become known as the ‘Lunatic line.’ Its name was coined in a speech in London concerning the ever increasing costs of what appeared to be a futile exercise.

It was later formally named the Uganda Railway, which remained in use until 1926, when it was renamed the Kenya Uganda railway. In 1948 the Tanganyika Railway and the Kenya Uganda Railway amalgamated to form East African Railways and Harbours. When the three countries separated in 1977, the lines from Mombasa to the Tanzania and Uganda borders became Kenya Railways.

Museum Galleries The galleries hold an array of principal items used during the pre and post construction period of the Kenya Uganda railway lines. Some of the most outstanding features include an extraordinary bench seat that used to fit above the cowcatcher of the train to allow distinguished travellers on the lunatic line (modern day Kenya Railways) an excellent view of Kenya’s magnificent flora and fauna. Among such dignitaries were former American president Theodore Roosevelt and the Prince of Wales.

The Kenya Railways Permanent Way Inspector Bicycle Trolley is another item of interest that seem to have defied the test

Mountain Class locomotive display at the exhibition represents the ultimate development of steam traction in East Africa and was the most powerful metre-gauge locomotive gauge ever built.

of time. It was introduced by the railway administration in the early thirties as an experiment to provide a quick inspection rather than the slow method of inspection by push, where three to four men together with the trolley and the inspector would proceed out in line. The inspector Bicycle Trolley had a number of limitations. For instance, during dry weather, one could proceed cautiously, but when the rail head was wet, and travelling around sharp curves, the back wheel would often slip off.

A visit at the museum galleries is incomplete without viewing the historic plaque commemorating Kenya Uganda Railway’s exhibit at the British Empire exhibition in London in the year 1925 and the complete set of dining furniture recovered from the German warship S.M.S Konisberg after it was sunk in Rufiji delta south of Dar-es-Salaam in 1914 early in the first world war by a British task force.

Further on inside the museum is the ship’s compass binnacle from the ‘William McKinnon’, first passenger steam ship to sail upon Lake Victoria after it had been transported in pieces from Mombasa in 1900.

The Open-air Static Display

are on display. The oldest coach, labeled Exhibit 7 was built in 1899 as a first class coach. Its claim to fame is that it was the coach from which an unfortunate Superintendent of Police, Charles Ryal was dragged by a lion at Kima station, 80 kilometres from Nairobi in June 1900.

This incident has been portrayed in book form, The Man Eaters of Tsavo and also in film, The Ghost and the Darkness.

Mountain Class locomotive display at the exhibition represents the ultimate development of steam traction in East Africa and was the most powerful metre-gauge locomotive gauge ever built. Chief Mechanical Engineer H.W Bulman had to solve a problem after the Second World War: very large amounts of freight on offer, but limited line capacity to move it.

He solved it by turning the design logic of the Beyer Garratt on its head. The articulated chassis to cope with sharp curves was retained, but instead of keeping the weight per axle as low as possible so the locomotive could go on any track, Bulman asked for the largest and heaviest design that the main track from Mombasa to Nairobi could withstand.

The museum possesses two further steam locomotives which have been restored to full working order by a team of retired Kenya Railways engineering staff. They are used to haul occasional tourist excursions and are stored at the Central Workshops. It is possible to view these locomotives by advance appointment.

BONUS •The museum is situated in downtown Nairobi, adjacent to the railway station.

•It is open Monday to Sunday including public holidays from 8:00am to 4:45pm •Entry fee is: Non Residents Ksh 600, East Africans Ksh 500, Citizens Ksh 200.

•There are two art galleries at the museum.

The pride of the Kenya Railways Museum lies at the yard where old locomotives March 2019

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Coffee Break

Book Review BECOMING An Intimate Conversation With Michelle Obama Reviewer: Oroni Ibrahim

Price: USD 32.50, Amazon

IT’S not hard to understand why Michelle Obama’s Becoming became the fastest-selling book of 2018. One page in, and you find yourself wondering how you could feel such a deep connection to the former first lady without ever being blessed with her presence beyond a TV screen. Or, in this case, a 448-page memoir.

will carry with us into the future, like the uselessness of asking someone what they want to be when they grow up (epiphany: we play many roles throughout our lives, which makes it impossible to choose just one thing), and the importance of consistently reminding ourselves that our voices matter.

It is lessons like these, and so many individual, personal reasons, Perhaps it’s because she details her journey to the White House why people loved Becoming in such a real, intimate way—teaching us many lessons that we Startupmagazine.co.ke

March 2019

39

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FRESH.INSPIRING.ANALYTICAL

HOW EMIRATES SKYCARGO SUPPORTS KENYA’S GLOBAL EXPORT

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6 1.At Redlands Farm, flowers are harvested three times a day. Between January and February, the demand for flowers reaches its peak.

2.Before flowers land on the aircraft, they go through a meticulous process to ensure readiness for export. Here, a flower packer sorts out individual stems and grades them according to the length of the stem, size of the bulb and more.

3.Once the flowers have been sorted, they are then packed in bouquets, each containing 8

identical stems, which are covered with a protective sleeve to avoid damage when the roses are packed in boxes.

4.At the packaging stage, the bouquets are labeled with serial numbers that allow for easy tracking for customers.

5.Once the flowers have been sorted, they are then packed in bouquets and covered with a protective sleeve to avoid damage when the roses are packed in boxes.

6.An Emirates SkyCargo supervisor watches

7 as the Boeing 777 aircraft is loaded with a shipment of flowers to be transported to Maastricht, The Netherlands.

7.Emirates SkyCargo is the largest international airline cargo operator in the world, connecting customers to more than 155 destinations around the world.

March 2019

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March 2019

FRESH.INSPIRING.ANALYTICAL

Coffee Break

Blog Review Blog name: The Work at Home Woman Founder: Holly Reisem Hanna Reviewer: Adisa Hudson

Favorite Recent Article

About the Blog

Free Online Courses to Launch Your Workat-Home Career

This blog is dedicated to providing women who are looking for legitimate work or to start and operate a home based business. The blog covers various categories from time management, scam prevention finding your niche and more. It is a great source of content for entrepreneurial women.

Are you ready to make money from home this year, but you’re not sure what direction to take? Here are a bunch of free online courses that can help take the guesswork out of what work-at-home career path to take.

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

March 2019

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At the back

Song Review

Title: Trip Ella Mai Review by Oroni Tendera

After getting deep in her ‘feelings’ on “Boo’d Up,” Ella Mai is ‘trippin’ over a lover on her much-anticipated followup single, “TRIP.” The piano-laden mid-tempo finds the British songstress still in her bag of emotions and admitting to falling head-overheels for a love that wasn’t really there.

The catchy record is a cautionary tale but told from a place of healing where she’s able to love the lesson and personal growth.

“I put my feelings on safety / So I don’t go shooting where your heart be,” Mai sings.

“Cause you take the bullet trying to save me / Then I’m left to deal with making you bleed.”

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March 2019

Along with the song, Ella shared a personal message to her fans thanking everyone for their support and explaining why she wanted to drop this song before heading out on her first-ever headlining tour. “Sometimes we misinterpret, sometimes we don’t understand, sometimes we make mistakes,” she emotes.

“It doesn’t always make sense at the time but it’s always a life lesson. Awareness is key, my bad for trippin’ on you.”

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Call us in the month of April for free coaching awareness session in your organization

March 2019

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