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OCTOBER 2019 STARTUPMAGAZINE.CO.KE
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Inside
MY HUSTLE How I built My Winning Business Idea
OPINION Trade Wars, Commodity Price Slump Set to Threaten African Economies
MOTOR
CEMES: Empowering Micro and Small Enterprises to Play Important Social and Economic Roles
Will Autonomous Cars Stop the Love of Driving….?
TRAVEL
Rediscovering Machakos People’s Park by Oroni Tendera
SCAN ME
Alfred Sunza, CEO, CEMES
October 2019
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Get the product you want today and pay it off within 12 months.
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Contents
12 Teresiah Kairu: Scaling Corporate Heights at BitPesa
16 An inner drive to do things differently drove Catherine Mumbi out of employment into entrepreneurship.
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32 Will Autonomous Cars Stop the Love of Driving‌.?
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Oroni Tendera writes about the magical Machakos People’s Park
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October
2019
Contents 12
Women-In-Tech
22
Positive Impacts of Organic Cleaning Products on The Environment
Teresiah Kairu: Scaling Corporate Heights at BitPesa
14
Interview
24
My Hustle How I built My Winning Business Idea
18
Economic Report Trade Wars, Commodity Price Slump Set to Threaten African Economies
Letshego Kenya: Improving Livelihoods Through Innovative Financial Solutions 16
Organic Cleaning
26
Leadership Trust - The Key to Leadership
30
Health Policy Global Burden of Disease and Its Implication For Health Policy Design
Cover Story
Coffee Break
CEMES: EMPOWERING MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES TO PLAY IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ROLES The purpose of microfinance is to provide financial services to people generally excluded from traditional banking channels because of their low, irregular and unpredictable income
32. 34. 36. 37. 38.
Motors Travel and Leisure Book Review Pictorial Song Review
October 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
Creative Designer Kreative Hub Media
Contributors Njeri Muchunu Lily Williams Michael Armstrong Prof. Morgan Chetty
Published By
Business Development Washingtone Terry Nickson Juma Marketing Executive Irene Okoth Operations Simpson Ayodi
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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
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: (a) You (and/or other named contributors) are the sole author(s) of the content submitted; (b) The content you submit is orginal and has not previously been published (unless you specifically advise us on the contrary); (c) You haven't previously licensed the use of the content you submit; (d) So far as you are aware, the content submitted will not infringe any third-party rights, be defamatory or in any way illegal.
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Editor’s Pen
Inside the October Issue What would happen to Kenya’s economy if micro and small enterprises continued to face difficulties in accessing credit? CEMES is filling this gap by supporting micro and small entrepreneurs financially as Sylvester Okumu writes. In the ‘women-in-tech’ segment, we bring on board Teresia Kairu, the Chief Operations Officer of Bitpesa. Teresiah is a perfect model of a woman of substance. Banking on her 10 years experience in finance management, Teresia has established a firm niche for herself in the male-dominated industries of finance and technology. Moving forward, have you ever pictured yourself resigning from your current job to take over an idle company? Strange as it may sound, Catherine Mumbi dared to dream and took the risk. She is currently the CEO of Simply Mammoth Solutions-a marketing and creative agency that helps businesses accomplish their objectives through creative concepts.
And as the world accelerates towards an autonomous automotive future, what will happen to the world of driving when the steering wheel is removed? MHH international provides answers to this pertinent question in the motor section. Michael Armstrong, the Regional Director, ICAEW Middle East, Africa and South Africa writes in the opinion segment that most African countries are bearing the brunt of the US-China trade war. Michael also provides an analysis of ICAEW-Economic Update: Africa Q3 2019. For the travel connoisseurs, cruise with us to Eastern Kenya and rediscover magical Machakos People’s park. Ibrahim@startupmagazine.co.ke Editor Oroni Tendera
October 2019
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StartUp Stories
Letters to the editor “I saw a huge opportunity in the agricultural sector in our country and decided to work on a solution that could help farmers and the community transport their products and get timely payments.”
Now at the age of 21, Christion is the CEO and Co-founder of GebeyaNet, an agricultural e-commerce platform that connects smallholder farmers with the market and also facilitates logistics and pay-
ment systems for them. It’s like Uber and Amazon for farmers. The platform provides a service that is inclusive of USSD, website, GPS, SMS, call centre, as well as IVR services for both buyers and farmers. He aims to expand the services beyond Ethiopia by working with more farmers and organisations to have greater variety of agricultural products and to enable farmers to sell to their local market and also export to the rest of the continent.
“I have a goal of Increasing accessibility to organic foods to all urban households”
Catherine Nalukwago, 22, co-founder of Vertical and Micro Gardening UGANDAN Catherine is the co-founder of Vertical and Micro Gardening, an enterprise that has developed a product called The Vertical Farm, which makes urban farming a viable micro-enterprise for low-income households. The unit also has a vermicomposting core that supplies highly nutritious soil to all tiers and allows for a variety of crops to be grown in an
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I had the pleasure of accessing StartUp Magazine September 2019 edition and I must say it left me in awe. A look at the design and the well-articulated, researched and incisive content just raised the bar higher. Other players will struggle catching up with your professionalism. Keep at it. Wanjiku Maria Via Email
agro-ecological and organic manner. She was passionate about entrepreneurship from a young age. While at the University, she joined hands with two of her friends to help impoverished urban households in Uganda grow their food through sack gardening. In 2019, she was listed as one of the top 20 finalist for the Anzisha Prize Young Entrepreneurs in Africa.
Marvellous Nyongoro, 21, founder of The Housing Hub ZIMBABWEAN
On average, Zimbabwe has over 150 000 tertiary students, yet institutions have the capacity to accommodate just 30% of that figure. As a result, over 90 000 students have to opt for off-campus accommodation.
Well done copy
Digital credit
“Your best life is right ahead of you, and all you need is right within you”
Marvellous experienced difficulties of the off-campus accommodation search. His frustration birthed an innovative way in which he could use technology to ease the minds of his fellow students and their families.
Your travel pieces are well done. They deserve medals. Keep doing the good work Oroni Tendera because I always look forward for them. Amani Ahmed Via Facebook
Christian Kassahun, 21, Co-founder of GebeyaNet ETHIOPIAN Christina Kassahun is a self-taught developer and coder. By the age of 17, he had launched his first business, Synex Systems that developed various software products including lightweight cloud-based ERP.
Golden travel pieces
I’m impressed by the number of digital credit providers we have in the country. You captured many players and their visionary goals of deepening financial inclusion. However, steps should be taken to ensure responsible lending. That is key to ensure that the populace are not strained by the loans to the extent that they default. Atieno Ogolla Via Email
HAVE YOUR SAY ONLINE Marvellous founded The Housing Hub to reduce such high numbers. The Housing Hub is a service provider platform that uses smart technology. It enables tertiary students in Zimbabwe to book and make payments for off-campus accommodation online. The company employs students as agents, allowing them to earn income through commission. So far, the company has successfully allocated accommodation to over 2 000 tertiary students through its platform.
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 Kenya Power ramps up public sensitisation to beat fraudsters National Electric power distributor Kenya Power, has stepped up public awareness campaigns geared at raising awareness on billing process, as well as combating fraud and enhancing customer satisfaction.
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The campaign will also educate the public on how to protect themselves from fraudsters. One of the most common types of scams involves customers receiving an unsolicited phone call, electronic, or in-person communications by an individual claiming to represent the Company. The scammer states that they can receive a discount on their power service or their service will be disconnected if payment is not made immediately. The Company calls on consumers to use Paybill
888880 to buy electricity tokens and 888888 to pay for post-pay bills (other authorised channels are detailed in the KPLC Website. And all the payments, whether bills or connection fees, should be made to Kenya Power via the Company’s banking halls and authorized payment channels. No payment should be made to individuals. The public are encouraged to report instances of fraud to the police or SMS 95551 or the Company website.
In an elaborate communication campaign, the Company is seeking to enhance awareness on the firm’s official payment platforms and customer service interaction channels. According to the Company’s Acting Managing Director and CEO Eng. Jared Othieno, the twin campaigns, across various media platforms, will be used as an anti-fraud deterrent effort to mitigate losses by the firm and its customers. The campaigns dubbed: Power Sawa (Power to you) and Usichezwe na conmen (Don’t be conned/defrauded) will provide much-needed customer sensitization on the need to use official Kenya Power payment and customer engagement channels.
What is Little Corporate? A ride management system tailor made to provide logistics solutions for organizations.
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“We are aware of the challenges faced by our consumers and the mutual losses we have faced due to fraudulent activities. These campaigns will, therefore, provide a sensitization platform to enable us to mitigate the risks associated with fraud and other irregularities as part of our corporate revenue assurance and superior customer service delivery endeavours,” Eng. Othieno said.
No Price Surges No Cancelation Fee
The Power Sawa campaign, he added, will provide public education of topics such as the economic value of electricity, billing processes and customer connection services. The Usichezwe na conmen campaign will also highlight the company’s official payment channels for both pre-paid and post-paid customers.
Detailed Reports
In the recent past, the Company has undertaken several initiatives to improve business operations which include the billing process. Alignment of meters to the respective electricity distribution feeder lines to reduce energy losses and improve operational efficiency is one of these initiatives. Others include digitisation of the Kenya Power infrastructural assets in the Company’s information technology system and upgrading of its customer service management system. “The Company has rolled out a system that works for the customers, and that starts by sensitising them on the billing process,” said Eng. Othieno adding that “We continually strive to enhance our operational and technical efficiency by adopting technological innovations aimed at improving business operations and customer experience.”
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NEWS
Achieving UHC: A sustainable future for Africa to Kenya for H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment, to Mali for H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta’s leadership on national health reform, a nd to Ethiopia for H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde’s work on inclusive health coverage. Speakers are expected to include: H.E. Amira El Fadil, AU Commissioner of Social Affairs, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway and member of The Elders, H.E. Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO. A group of donors including KOICA, USAID, DFID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and Merck will make a formal financial presentation of USD $29 million dollars to WHO AFRO to support their Neglected Tropical Disease elimination work.
Conference Showcases African Leaders and African-Led Solutions On September 23, the `One by One Conference’ will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA. The Conference features African Heads of State, African Union leaders, Former Presidents, Ministers of Health, Agriculture, and Finance from across Africa to discuss how to best drive action on Universal Health Coverage in the context of increasing pressure on natural resources as a result of climate change on the continent. This Conference, hosted by the African Union, the Access Challenge, and The Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation, is meant to follow up on and compliment discussions held during two UN High Level Meetings – one on UHC and one on Climate Action.
The conference will be unique in its focus on the policy intersection between health and “environmental” imperatives like access to clean air, health and nutritious food. The Conference will focus attention on the imperative of leaders to understand the drive for UHC in the context of the limits imposed by climate change. The program will highlight leaders who are driving progress towards UHC from nontraditional sectors like water, sanitation, air and food systems and will identify opportunities for partnership between such nontraditional partners. The Conference features Funding Commitment Declarations and an Awards Ceremony, highlighting the leadership of the African Union and several Heads of State who are paving the way towards UHC in Africa. UHC leadership awards will be presented to South Africa for H.E. Ramaphosa’s bold actions,
The Executive Director, Yannick Glemarec, of the Green Climate Fund will speak to the significant work the fund is doing towards global climate and health interventions. “The climate crisis is a major threat to human health and well-being, particularly in developing countries. Prevention, adaption, and reduced emissions can help protect vulnerable communities by addressing threats to food and water security, sanitation, and even air quality.” “The drive for Universal Health Coverage is not about meeting the needs of one mother, it is about enabling African leaders to meet the needs of all mothers for many generations to come. This campaign is about building sustainable health systems with staffed and stocked health centers in every community in Africa.” H.E. Amira El Fadil, AU Commissioner for Social Affairs
Two-i is back at GITEX aiming to help cities in search of happiness
Julien Trombini & Guillaume Cazenave For the second year running, Two-i will attend Gitex 2019 to present its unique video analysis software, which is called the Map, aiming to improve happiness in the cities. This solution was inspired by the progressive sustainable development goals that Two-i shares with Dubai. Live analysis of demographic data, such as emotions, age and gender, helps to guide decision-making and
Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
measure the impact of initiatives. Happiness is a complex condition that involves a range of variables that are far from just detecting smiles on the faces. The goal is to foster diversity and inclusion for all. It is a virtuous cycle that begins with raw material processing, data collection, the study of data that leads to decision-making, which then leads to the generation of new data, which leads to new decisions, etc. Two-i is among the pioneers in the development of the Map: an interactive cartographic platform that collects and displays all the metadata generated from live video streaming. It allows the user to navigate in his own city and visualize in real time the levels of well-being in the different neighborhoods. By displaying a large amount of important information
in such condensed stats, the Map revolutionizes the way city management is perceived. In addition, it has been designed to comply with the constraints of data anonymization. Two-i has a very creative team, which is cracking the challenges of integrating traffic and flow management solution and connecting external data into its already sophisticated platform in order to generate fully comprehensive Urban Data analytics. Moreover, Two-i’s Research team in collaboration with French hospitals has started medical trials for pain detection and analysis to reduce hospitalization time and increase the effectiveness of analgesic administration. This project allows the company to dig deeper into understanding the complexity of emotions. Two-i will be happy to meet you and to present its new innovative solution, during GITEX 2019, at Hall 4, on the French Tech Pavilion.
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WOMEN-IN-TECH
Teresiah Kairu: Scaling Corporate Heights at BitPesa 6 offices in 2 continents,” she reveals. The COO attributes her success to the rich corporate culture of BitPesa and her core values. “My core values are excellence and reliability which I also look out for in other people. “
She smashed the proverbial glass ceiling and established a firm niche for herself in the male-dominated industries of finance and technology. Currently sitting at the helm of BitPesa as the Chief Operations Officer, Teresia Kairu banks on her rich 10 years’ experience in finance management with special interest in audit and transfer pricing. Words Oroni Tendera
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I joined BitPesa 4 years ago, and my growth here has been astronomical,” she says. In only 4 years, Teresia has witnessed the company growStartupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
ing in leaps and bounds. “I joined as a finance manager when we were just 10 people in one room. Right now, I am the COO, working collaboratively with a team of over 100 people, spread across
When Teresia joined BitPesa, she religiously focused on audits that her co-workers christened her ‘T-audit.’ “I had to go through many documents and data for different entities,” she adds, “I also had to source for auditors and ensure proper documentation.” Her first challenge at the firm, she says, taught her an invaluable lesson in managing complex projects. “Through this type of work, I learnt the need to be clear and communicative about the status of projects by having a firm grasp of what is going on,’’ she avers. Asked about her work philosophy, Teresia alludes to Mr. Adam Gouveia, BitPesa’s Chief Financial Officer. “When I was knee-deep executing my role, Adam
13 always reminded me to look ahead to bigger things and never lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing. This is my leadership mantra to date.” Teresia also looks up to their CEO, Elizabeth Rosseillo, as her source of strength. “Our CEO has been a great inspiration to me. As a woman and a tech entrepreneur, she remains relevant and grounded. She is so committed to this company and also to my growth,’’ She says emphasizing every word. Her journey to the top of the corporate ladder has not been a walk in the park. Teresia says many men in the industry still believe that talking about gender inequality is unnecessary and that if a woman is qualified, she would simply rise to the to the top just like a man
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without any additional support. “These men do not understand the implication of systemic privilege and bias that hold back even the most qualified women. We need to speak out and proactively pull women to the top.” However, Teresia admits that the decentralized communities that exist across the space has made it easy to reach out and connect with women. “This decentralized support has been pivotal to pooling resources, sharing knowledge and helping women climb up faster.” Moving Forward After an upcoming rebrand, the COO says that BitPesa is expanding its footprint in North and South Africa as well as the Middle East. The firm, collaborating with banking partners and corporate
organizations also envisions reaching more customers in new segments. “We are in the process of building more innovative financial products that exist internationally for frontier markets.” Having assumed the COO role 3 months ago, Teresia reveals that she is not only upbeat about capacity building but setting up everything from people to product. “In the last quarter, we have been focusing on aggressive hiring to accelerate our growth. Next quarter, it might be product or liquidity. Being in this role really requires me to think strategically and with great foresight,” she concludes.
October 2019
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INTERVIEW
Adam Kasaine, CEO LETSHEGO KENYA
Letshego Kenya: Improving Livelihoods Through Innovative Financial Solutions Words Sylvester Okumu
L
etshego Holdings Limited (“Letshego”) was incorporated in 1998, is headquartered in Gaborone and has been publicly listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange since 2002. Through its eleven country presence across Southern, East and West Africa (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda), its subsidiaries provide simple, appropriate and accessible consumer, Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
microfinance and savings solutions to underserved communities, or individuals who struggle to access traditional banking services. Letshego Kenya Limited, formerly Micro Africa Limited (acquired by the Letshego Group in 2012), is the largest credit only microfinance institution in Kenya. Letshego Kenya commenced operations in 2000, providing credit services to small and micro-entrepreneurs, salaried employees, and civil servants. In the following interview with StartUp
Magazine, Adam Kasaine, CEO, Letshego Kenya speaks openly about the firm’s presence in the country and how it supports over 20,000 customers with a wide range of innovative and reliable financial solutions to the urban, peri-urban and rural population. What was your mission at the outset? Our mission is to transform and improve lives of clients especially the underserved through provision of financial solutions while creating a rewarding and stimulating working environment for our employees.
15 How can your solutions be accessed? We have a wide network of 25 branches countrywide serving over 24,000 customers. What areas of interest do you target with your financial solutions? We strive to increase access to simple and appropriate financial solutions to underserved members of our local community. By ‘underserved’ we mean individuals who may or may not have a bank account, but find it challenging to access broader traditional banking services. Letshego Kenya offers the following solutions: Housing solutions -These are structured solutions to enable customers to provide financial support to consumers who may find it challenging to access traditional housing finance or Home Loans. Letshego’s housing solution includes partnerships with construction suppliers, so customers can access building materials to build residences or buildings on an incremental basis. These structures may be used as residences. Some customers use the buildings to generate additional income through property rental. Agricultural Solutions - Letshego’s agriculture solutions focus on providing small scale farmers with inputs to increase the quality of agricultural outputs and harvest volumes to achieve expanded income for sustainable growth. Education Eco-System Solutions - Letshego’s customised education eco-system solution for schools aims to support multiple stakeholders within a school environment, be it the school itself, teachers, parents, as well as providing fundamental financial skills training for learners. Consumer Solutions - Letshego has tailored financial solutions for individual entrepreneurs who require working capital to boost stock and future sales potential. Salary check-off Solutions that are de-
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signed for employees of Government entities, Quasi Government institutions and selected private institutions. Insurance Agency services offering insurance solutions as an added value to protect our customers from loss of earnings in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as critical illness, permanent disabilities, loss of life and destruction & loss of property. What would you say has been the greatest impact by your financial solutions? At Letshego Kenya, we are committed to improve our customer’s lives and impact their business. We have changed the lives of our customers through creating employment directly with our current workforce of 220 permanent staff and 100 direct sales teams and indirectly through the growth of the MSE sector. We have on boarded over 3000 new customers in affordable Housing and over 300 private schools with the Edu solutions that target the private sector. Why do you think you are best suited to serve the regional market? Our Business Model – Offering simple, appropriate and accessible financial solutions. Our Roots - A Pan African Company with Tailor made solutions for Africa’s excluded or underserved by being appropriate and inclusive in an ethical manner. Our Approach – to reach out to the underserved in the financial sector. Incremental financing through the unique inclusive housing solutions. Have you faced any unique challenges in your course of operation? If so, how have you mitigated them? The major challenge is the general economic conditions that affect client’s ability to pay their facilities. We have responded to this by ensuring we have robust credit criteria in offering loans that match the individual applicants’ personal level of affordability. For those cus-
“
We have changed the lives of our customers through creating employment directly with our current workforce of 220 permanent staff and 100 direct sales teams and indirectly through the growth of the MSE sector.
”
tomers who may find themselves facing challenges in making payments during the course of their loan, we remain accommodative in finding flexible ways those customers can repay their loans, without jeopardizing their current personal or family commitments. From your experience, what would you say are the key ingredients of running a successful micro-finance institution? Understanding your customers and their needs is key, tailoring solutions to meet those needs and Turnaround Time in providing the finances to them. What emerging trends do you see in your line of business and their impacts on your operation? •Digitization •Upcoming technology aided lending providers e.g STAWI •Regulation by Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) which has had a positive impact to Letshego Kenya and similar players in the microfinance industry. What are your plans in the foreseeable future? We plan to grow our innovative solutions through responding to our customer needs and emerging requirements. Other pertinent issue? None, we thank you for thinking about Letshego Kenya. October 2019
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MY HUSTLE
How I built My Winning Business Idea An inner drive to do things differently drove me out of employment into entrepreneurship. My company-Simply Mammoth Solutions won best expo solutions provider of the year -2019 at the Africa MICE Awards.
I
am Catherine Mumbi, the co-founder and CEO of Simply Mammoth Solutions−a marketing and creative agency that helps businesses accomplish their objectives through creative concepts, design and build in the following five areas: Exhibition Stands, Interior Design, Workspace Branding and Events Management. Born and raised in Kisumu, I always imagined how the city was like. I had big dreams…I still do…I would always push the boundaries in my imagination. Growing up I wanted to become a nurse, just like my mum. I liked caring for people and I would be consumed by compassion. Not one to stay idle, I went door to door in Kisumu town looking for a job and by evening I was an employee of a gift shop. In a month I moved on to a phone shop where I made loads of money selling phones and phones accessories before university came calling. I was admitted to Kenyatta University to study Family and Consumer studies amidst protests. Although I hadn’t wished for the course, after a short while I started liking its consumer aspect.
Catherine Mumbi, CEO SIMPLY MAMMOTH SOLUTIONS
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In 2003, while still a student, I participated in Miss Kenya western Kenya. The Emcee was impressed by my personality and offered me a job on condition that I complete my undergraduate studies. After graduating in 2004, he let me run a company he had registered but was not operational. This was the first time I experienced entrepreneurship. Client and staff accusation, talent management, Cashflow management, PR, Income generation, Negotiation ability are some of the skills I quickly needed
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to learn. Four months later I moved on to a new challenge in a marketing firm and went on to hold two other jobs with printing firms. I learnt a lot from my employers and colleagues, some deliberately mentored me while I watched some from afar. I learnt from their genius and mistakes. I will be forever grateful to them. After six years in employment, I woke up one day and realised that my inner drive to opt out on my own and do things differently was driving me crazy. I shocked my husband when I dropped the bombshell. He was scared for a while and thought that I would struggle without a job. Much to his chagrin, I resigned and took over an idle company he had registered−Simply Mammoth Solutions. Luckily, I got a good contract on my first day on the job and I have never looked back. In about a month I was shocked, happy and confused when I found out I was pregnant. We had been trying to have a baby for a while and i couldn’t believe it happened after I left employment! Now I had two babies to raise – a business and a real baby! I had a difficult pregnancy for the first three months. I knew I had to work otherwise it would not have made sense leaving employment. Armed with a supportive husband, I worked from home for the first six months before moving to our office. My pregnancy was very smooth after three months hence I achieved quite a lot before the baby came. We have expanded our scope of work from just focusing on below-the-line advertising to: Graphics design; Concept, design and build of Exhibition stands, Interior Design, Workspace branding and Event Management. Through my work with many of my clients, we have won many awards in exhibition stands service and most recently we were recognized by Africa MICE Awards 2019 as the best expo solutions provider of the year. God has blessed me with an amazing team both at home and at work. A wise woman once told me “For a woman to
Some of SMS team members at the Africa MICE Awards 2019 do much and great, for a woman to scale, she must surround herself with an army, an army she can depend on” I encourage my employees to be their own bosses. Through that, they have had tremendous growth, I have been able to get the best out of them, and get things done easily. This has also enabled me to get time for myself and family. In 2015, we conceptualized an event dubbed Women Words and Wine−a convention for female professionals to meet, exchange pleasantries and empower each other over a glass of wine. As a society I realised women are too busy to meet and catch up, laugh, exhale and share wisdom. Hence the birth of WWW. I am also passionate about mentoring and empowering young girls. I have been engrossed in empowering young women I work with who are beautiful, ethical, talented and ambitious. They form the bulk of my workforce. In 2016 I started a book club for high school girls in Kibera called KGSA, to empower their minds and broaden their perspectives about life. Reading expands your mind and reasoning and helps you discover amazing things in life about the world and its people. For instance, one may not get a chance to meet Richard Branson but through his memoirs, biographies, we get to learn about him, his great works and how he
did it. My recent favourite book is Shoe Dog - by the NIKE founder Phil Knight. A phenomenal true story of an outrageous dream, a dream team and persistence to stay alive and succeed in business. They gave of themselves and everything they had so that NIKE can become NIKE. That is despite the fact that Adidas was “the giant” when the dream was borntypical David and Goliath story. You will be amazed that what kept them awake at night was not Adidas but loans that they were just about to default, shipment that were late to arrive hence tying up all capital with no stock available , a bank that physically threw them out and called FBI on them, painful product quality issues from unethical manufacturers – the only ones available, law suits that leaned towards jail term, late salaries, unfair competition, ….the list is almost endless. Just like NIKE, in the middle of all the struggles, I am building an empire, a safe place for creatives, young and talented souls, who are passionate and committed to become the best. My advice to young girls? You are beautiful, don’t look for validation! Find what you love doing and do it as only you can. Find your purpose and work tirelessly towards making life better and honourable for you and others. Avoid negative energy. Find a solution and move on. October 2019
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COVER STORY
Alfred Sunza, CEO CEMES
CEMES: EMPOWERING MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES TO PLAY IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ROLES Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
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Words Sylvester Okumu
The purpose of microfinance is to provide financial services to people generally excluded from traditional banking channels because of their low, irregular and unpredictable income
U
nlike their counterparts in developed economies, micro and small enterprises face numerous hurdles in accessing credit, denying them an important growth line at best or accessing it at a very high cost. Despite this immense challenge they face, these enterprises are vital to developing economies. A study by CGAP indicates that SMEs generate more than half of formal employment opportunities worldwide-an even larger share in developing countries. The informal sector in developing economies, which consists mostly of MSMEs, provides jobs to more than half of the labour force and estimated to be at least 35 per cent of the GDP. With this hindsight, Centenary MicroEnteprise Services Limited (CEMES) was established in 2014 with a major mandate to do capacity building of small scale entrepreneurs through training and lending. “Our mission is to enhance financial inclusion and support micro and small entrepreneurs financially. Through this we strengthen communities and institutions as a way of fighting poverty,” says Alfred Sunza, CEO of CEMES Limited during an interview with StartUp Magazine at his office. “Most of these people were traditionally side-lined from mainstream financial services because they were deemed risky. They did not have collateral or any form of data that can be used to gauge their credit worthiness,” he adds. “However, because of the important roles they play in the society, we took a risk to finance them, an intervention that has paid off over time,” says Alfred. “We trained individuals and entrepre-
neurs on financial literacy and entrepreneurial development skills. However, this has quickly changed over time as we strengthened our lending capacity,” says the executive. “We came from an industry where individuals had to wait for over a month for a loan to be processed,” says Alfred who is a micro-finance expert adding that, “We wanted to change that because it wasn’t good enough for the economy.” A business person waiting for a whole month for a loan to be processed means that he will miss on an opportunity. He opines that the firm’s quickest turn around period for loans was motivated by such challenges that continue to dog the important sector. “We are people centered,” he explains, adding that, “Our products help people improve their working capital velocity and improve their lives.” The firm further enhances the experience of the clients it serves through a customer care centre. It is among the few financial institutions that boast of having a full functional customer experience centre. CEMES is also banking on technology to drive innovation, design and distribution of its products in the market. “This has set us on a different pedestal that has been key in high retentions of our clientele,” he opines. While people borrow for different reasons, the firm has adopted a mechanism to ensure responsible lending.“We do an appraisal to determine how much a borrower needs and can comfortably repay. For instance, if it is a micro business, we look at their business and only commit up to 50 per cent of their average daily sales to an installment, making it easy for them to repay.” “It doesn’t strain them. Our rates are also competitive and we have friendly repayment models that they can explore,” he explains further. It is no surprise then that the company
We have helped the disadvantaged households and entrepreneurs gain access to affordable services to help them finance income-generating activities, accumulate assets through savings, provide for family needs and protects themselves against any financial eventuality.
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is growing tremendously and now serves over 30,000 customers after five years of operation. Upto 15000 clients borrow actively. CEMES has a wide networking spanning over 29 branches across the country. It also has a franchise model-where individuals who have enough capital can utilize its brand and infrastructures to deliver credit facilities to the targeted market niche. The CEMES franchise model currently operates 52 touchpoints countrywide. “We want to reach more people and we can see there is a lot of headroom to do more,” avers the CEO. “I am always excited by the quality of micro-entrepreneurs we serve. They have trusted us as their reliable partner. We are always on cue to sort their pressing financial needs,” he explains. Many customers that the firm serves have been able to introduce new wares/ products in their business, grow and even diversify. Economic Importance of MFIs Alfred says MFIs have deepened financial inclusion as many people in Kenya were deemed unbankable-The purpose of microfinance is to provide financial services to people generally excluded from traditional banking channels>> October 2019
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COVER STORY because of their low, irregular and unpredictable income. “We have helped the disadvantaged households and entrepreneurs gain access to affordable services to help them finance income-generating activities, accumulate assets through savings, provide for family needs and protect themselves against any financial eventuality.� MFIs also pay levies and taxes to the government. Currently, CEMES supports over 500 young people through direct employment opportunities. Emerging Trends Other than creating employment, the company is aiming at fully automating the lending decision making process by use of data analytics- which has proven to be more objective-translating to a better repayment rate, better client retention rate and better company image. The government is also casting a keen eye on the financial industry to protect consumers and promote good practices, he says. As the CEO, Alfred accepts that the company has had its own challenges. For instance, financing was a big problem at inception. The firm did not have a solid financial base, and had to borrow funds for onward lending. This affected the cost of credit. He is however optimistic that in the near future the company will be able to trade fully with its own funds. Despite the challenges, he is bullish about the future and hopes they can bank on technology to enhance financial inclusion.
Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
Ready to Serve
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October 2019
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ECONOMIC REPORT
Positive Impacts of Organic Cleaning Products on The Environment
LILY WILLIAMS
Williams is the founder of Commercial Office Cleaning Services
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rganic cleaning products are natural products that offer much of the same cleaning power as those purchased commercially. Unlike most store-bought cleaners, however, they are made using ingredients found in nature and are safe for both the environment and for human health. When buying an organic cleaning prodStartupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
uct that has the “Organic� seal, it is made using materials from plants that have not been treated with artificial pesticides or fertilizers. Ingredients that may be found or used in organic cleaners include lemon, salt, vinegar, borax, witch hazel, waxes, and oils. Organic cleaning products should not contain chemicals or synthetic ingredients and can often be made at home. These cleaners are suit-
23 able for use in kitchens, bathrooms, or anywhere where cleansing is required. Products purchased commercially may come in refillable bottles, which also cuts back on waste. What Chemicals Are in Store Bought Cleaning Products There is a wide range of chemicals that can be found in the store-bought prod-
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Antibacterial soaps may include triclosan which can enable drug-resistant bacterial growth. Chemicals that can negatively affect life in the water include phosphates and ammonia, the latter of which is a chemical that most people are aware of that can be found in glass cleaners and polishing agent. Another common chemical found in most homes is chlorine. Toilet bowl cleaners, laundry
Toxic chemicals in cleaning products inevitably make their way into the environment. During the process of cleaning, the chemicals found in store-bought products go down the drain and into the sewage system. Cleaners in sprays can release their fumes and particles into the air and are carried outdoors by ventilation systems in buildings, homes, and apartments. When people use up their cleaners, the packaging is often thrown in the garbage where they end up in landfills and take up valuable space. Because there’s often remnants of cleaner still in the packaging, toxic chemicals can ooze from containers, drip onto the soil and seep into the earth and groundwater. What Do These Chemicals Do to The Environment? When household cleansers make their way into the water supply, their chemicals contaminate and pollute them. These chemicals are generally removed at treatment facilities, however, not all can be removed so easily. Certain chemicals, such as ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus can remain. This can further impact the environment and affect fish by causing accelerated growth in aquatic plants and algae that can result in overcrowding. Other chemicals that may remain in the water can affect the reproduction of underwater life. When chemicals enter the air they can contribute to smog and global warming.
ucts that are used for cleaning. These chemicals and the products that they are in can be problematic for both human health and for the environment. Common ingredients include Phthalates, which are often found in scented dish soaps and detergents. Because it is a scent, it may not appear on the label. This chemical is used to bind chemicals and scents and is harmful to animals.
whiteners, and scouring powders are some of the cleaning products that include this ingredient. Other chemicals that can be detrimental include sodium hydroxide, or lye, which is found in drain openers and oven cleaners and is toxic to fish.
Why Organic Cleaning Products Are Safe For The Environment As organic cleaning products are made of materials that are naturally derived they tend to have little negative impact on the environment. Organic cleaners degrade without leaving any harmful chemical residue or fumes and are less likely to harm animals or plant life. Because they do not contain toxic chemicals, they generally do not pose a threat to the soil or water and won’t contribute to global warming. Additionally, people often DIY their green cleaning supplies, which means less waste into landfills.
How Do These Chemicals Make Their Way Into the Environment October 2019
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ECONOMIC REPORT
MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
Michael is a Regional Director ICAEW Middle East, Africa and South Africa
Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
Trade Wars, Commodity Price Slump Set to Threaten African Economies
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Most African countries are bearing the brunt of the US-China trade war, as well as a slump in commodity prices which is greatly affecting exporters. This is according to the latest report from ICAEW – the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales – Economic Update: Africa Q3 2019. The report provides GDP growth forecasts for various regions including East Africa which is set to grow by 6.3 per cent, West and Central Africa at 3.4 per cent, Franc Zone at 4.7 per cent, and Southern Africa at 1.3 per cent.
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he report, commissioned by ICAEW and produced by partner and forecaster Oxford Economics, predicts that Africa’s growth rate is set for
a sluggish pace after a disruption in oil production in North Africa and with low international oil prices in Francophone Africa. The situation will be further fuelled by policy uncertainty, concerns over debt-landed parastatals and high unemployment in South Africa. Speaking during the launch of the latest report, Michael Armstrong, ICAEW’s Regional Director for Middle East, Asia
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In North Africa, the GDP growth rate is forecast to slow to 2.8 per cent due to fluctuations in oil production in Libya which compounded the effect of weak Eurozone demand on the region’s other economies.
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and Africa, said that the growth of some regions in Africa is being held back by the fluctuating price of oil. “The growth forecast for the Franc Zone this year is 4.7 per cent, due to a structurally low international oil price environment, which continues to weigh on growth in the region’s oil exporters,” said Mr. Armstrong. “While still expected to remain the strongest growing region on the continent, East Africa is projected to record a slightly lower real GDP growth rate of 6.3 per cent this year compared to 2018.The fact that the countries in the region are not as reliant on commodities as sources of income shields them from global shocks”, he added.
nomic outlook on the development of its hydrocarbons sector and GDP growth is forecast above 6 per cent p.a. over the medium term. However, extended delays in oil exploration and the widening twin deficits (due to an increase in public debt and increasing capital goods imports to support the nascent hydrocarbons sector) pose significant downside risks. Uganda, in partnership with Tanzania, plans to build the East African Crude Oil Pipeline which is worth $3.5bn. In North Africa, the GDP growth rate is forecast to slow to 2.8 per cent due to fluctuations in oil production in Libya which compounded the effect of weak Eurozone demand on the region’s other economies. Regional GDP growth for Central and West Africa is forecast at 3.4 per cent in 2019. This incorporates the impact of the Nigerian economy’s slow start to the year, as pipeline damage curtailed its oil production. Southern Africa is forecast to keep struggling, with a growth rate of 1.3 per cent in 2019. The region’s economic anchor, South Africa, is expected to show nearly-flat growth because of policy uncertainty, concerns over debt-laden parastatals and high unemployment. In the region’s other countries growth has been slowed by supply-side challenges, notably adverse weather conditions in the wake of two cyclones, a regional rainfall deficit and power rationing.
Delving deeper into the East African outlook, Uganda has a favourable ecoOctober 2019
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LEADERSHIP
Trust - The Key to Leadership
NJERI MUCHUNU
To aspire to leadership is an honourable ambition. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not!
Njeri Muchunu is a Leadership Curator and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She has extensive experience in the legal profession spanning over 17 years. She has worked in private legal practice, as an executive in the Corporate sector as well as the Public sector.
Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
D
o those you lead TRUST you? How do you know if they do (or if they don’t)? Trust and leadership go hand in hand. However, trust doesn’t come with your title. It needs to be earned. Trust is the glue which binds the leader to his/her followers and provides the capacity for organizational and leadership success. I recall one leadership experience which included an exceedingly awkward Board meeting where the Director did his level best to be invisible. Once the Board meeting officially started, these otherwise friendly, loving, and intelligent team
members became an unloving, judgemental and disgruntled horde of dysfunction. The change was so immediate and complete that at first, I thought they were all kidding around. I quickly found out I was wrong; it was genuine and severe organizational dysfunction. The problems discussed by each member were assumed to be “someone else’s” stubbornness or inadequacies. No one offered to help solve issues outside their own narrow responsibility. They were very serious about minor issues but completely ignored the most important responsibilities (and opportunities). The only thing they all could agree on was
27 that ultimately, it was the fault of the Leadership. I felt sorry for the Director; he kept his head down throughout the meetings and seemed completely absorbed in whatever he was writing. This unfortunate Director was the victim of high-level distrust by almost everyone in leadership. A team without trust is NOT a team, it’s a nightmare! I pray that no one reading this would ever endure such high-level dysfunction! What is trust? What does it look like when an organization trusts its leader? The question “Can I trust you?” is always on our minds whenever we interact with other people (particularly when we meet them for the first time) though we usually aren’t consciously aware of asking it. When I trust my surgeon, I allow him to use his scalpel to open me up. When I trust my accountant, I allow him to access to what I buy, spend, invest and waste. When I trust my spouse, I keep no secrets. Trust is the ability to rely on someone, to have confidence in their character, their strengths, abilities, and intentions. Trust requires vulnerability; allowing people to see the “real you.” Unless you create an atmosphere of trust as you lead your organization, business, school, home, Church, effective leadership is not possible. Trust is the foundation of all the characteristics of a Leader. Without it our efforts to cast a vision, or to live a life of character and virtue, or to serve others sacrificially will fail. The leader must have an unshakeable confidence and trust God every step of the way. The greatest leaders do not, at the end of the day, trust themselves – they trust in a Higher power because they realize and understand that they too are fallible beings. When those they lead falter and doubt, the true leader models a deep and abiding faith and looks within for wisdom that is
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beyond all understanding. Such wisdom kindles a passion that then encourages others to persevere. This is leadership! Our families, our businesses, our country, our churches, our places of work, and our communities desperately need genuine leadership.
HEALTH POLICY
Below are six keys to developing trust based on one of the best leaders that every lived - Nehemiah. If you have a moment, turn to Nehemiah and familiarize yourself with his story before continuing.
Global Burden of Disease and Its Implication For Health Policy Design
Seek God Many of us are Type-A leaders who like to charge ahead and make things happen. Yet, we must resist the temptation to rush ahead of God’s plans. Start by processing your honest emotions with God, seeking His will, and submit your plans to him. Spend time alone and as a team praying for God’s vision and wisdom as you plot your course. The team’s confidence in the vision and strategy is closely connected to our dependence and submission to Jesus. Know Yourself Another aspect of seeking God’s direction is to know yourself. You must be clear on your highest values, the non-negotiables, as well as the lower priorities you can be flexible about. You need to have an accurate view of your strengths and vulnerabilities. You need to know what pushes your buttons so when situations arise, you can be calm, decisive, and proactive rather than reactive. Then, those under our leadership can anticipate a consistent and supportive response.
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MOTOR REVIEW Will Autonomous Cars Stop the Love of Driving….?
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TRAVEL & LEISURE Khalid – “Talk” (Prod. by Disclosure)
Face Reality As leaders, it is vitally important that we deal with what is actually happening and not what we wish were happening. We can become adept at using creative October 2019
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metrics to hide lacklustre performance, glossing over programs that aren’t working, and avoiding difficult conversations. The first step toward becoming a trustworthy leader is to have and share an objective view of the facts and define reality for the team. We must resist tangling up the facts with our ego, misplacing blame, or over-spiritualizing poor performance. When we face reality and say what everyone knows but does not want to publicly acknowledge, we demonstrate a commitment to truth and instil confidence in our leadership. Serve As Leaders, we are called to be serve— those who tend to the needs of others above our own. A servant leader leads by example, humbly rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever needs to be done to accomplish the goal. A servant leader might have positional authority over others on their team, but does not lord it over the team. They are quick to admit mistakes, do the grunt work, take the blame from the outside, and shine the spotlight on others. A leader who consistently serves others builds trust and develops a team that is not only effective, but also joyful. Pay Attention Make eye contact, and hold it—both when you are speaking and listening. Nod from time to time to show you are understanding what is being said to you (and if you don’t understand, ask). Smile, especially when they do. And above all else, really focus and internalize what is being said to you—everyone needs to feel that they have been heard, even when you can’t give them what they are asking for. Trust Others First Human beings have a deeply-rooted tendency toward reciprocity. We are Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
naturally inclined to want to do favours, give gifts, and work to promote those who have done these things for us in the past. And the same holds true when it comes to trust—we are more likely to feel we can trust someone who has trusted us first. So, assign tasks and projects that reflect this trust. Socially, share personal (but appropriate!) stories, talk about your struggles and challenges, let them see your fallible, human side. Allowing yourself to be a bit vulnerable is a great way to project warmth. In closing, let me share a story which maybe a number of you have heard before:
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A servant leader leads by example, humbly rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever needs to be done to accomplish the goal.
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A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, “Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.” The little girl said: “No, Dad. You hold my hand.” “What’s the difference?” asked the puzzled father. “There’s a big difference,” replied the little girl. “If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go”. In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So, hold the hand of the person whom you put faith and trust in rather than expecting them to hold yours. How about you? Can you relate? How have great leaders earned your trust? Speak to us, we would love to hear your story.
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HEALTH POLICY
Global Burden of Disease and Its Implication For Health Policy Design
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he World Health Organization (WHO) and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), recently signed a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations that would increase awareness and understanding of health problems globally as well as the evaluation of strategies to address them. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report, in 2017, presented results described in seven scientific papers. The results covered mortality and life expectancy, causes of death and years of healthy life lost, years lived with disability, overall burden of disease, risk factors and the chances of each nation meeting 41 of the health-related indicators that are part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
PROF. MORGAN CHETTY
Morgan is a Visiting Prof, Health Sciences, DUT, Chairman, IPAF, CEO, KwaZulu Natal Doctors Healthcare Coalition (KZNDHC)
Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
The work done by WHO and IHME, and the GBD report offers a platform through which “strategies and progress can be tested and analysed”. It is imperative that all healthcare professionals have a broad understanding of the world’s healthcare challenges, and the work done to demonstrate the areas that need international agencies, health officials and other stakeholders, to prioritise resources and optimise activities. The monitoring of the GBD will help us refocus or intensify our efforts to meet the SDGs by 2030. Healthcare challenges are greater than the “bubble” we as health professionals operate within. We need to see the world out there and then broaden our vision on the challenges beyond our borders. This information will make us more effective and responsible healthcare professionals. It will also help us change the way we evaluate health of our patients and the challenges in our country and how small changes will benefit a population, a country and the world we live in. Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals A look at the findings on the SDGs – [IHME report] 1.Highest scores for availability of healthcare workers – physicians, nurses, midwives and pharmacists were in Cuba and many European Countries – lowest scores were in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2.Most nations have a 95 per cent likelihood of meeting SDGs targets for malaria incidence, as well as these for deaths of children under age 5, neonatal mortality and maternal mortality. 3.Most nations fail to reach their targets for reducing death from non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes or stroke or from suicide. 4.No nation has yet met the SDG target for overweight children, which is at or less than 0.5 per cent of children ages 2 and 4 years. 5.Males are more likely than females to die from non-communicable diseases and smoking, amongst other health problems. 6.Rates for male suicide far exceed rates of females (13.8 per 100 000 as compared to 4.0 per 100 000) 7.It is unlikely the goal of eliminating new HIV infections will be met. HIV remains a massive Public Health threat, particularly because global financing has plateaued. The debate is how best to galvanise accelerated action against HIV.
31 From the work done by the IHME, I will quote some of the leading causes of death and health risk factors. The finding of the study is that “each of the following caused more than 1 million deaths Worldwide in 2017”. This includes ischaemic heart disease, neonatal disorders, stroke, lower respiratory infections, diarrhoea, head injuries and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, there has been a rapid increase in death rates for which antibiotics use or resistance is a major factor such as tuberculosis and cellulitis. Murray of IHME stated and I quote “an unintended consequence of increased access to healthcare globally is the dramatic increases in mortality from diseases and disorders linked to pharmaceuticals, specifically antibiotic resistance and opioid use”. He further noted that “over the past decade, deaths from opioid use disorders globally increased by more than 75 per cent from 61,859 in 2007 to 109,520 in 2017”. When health loss is measured and reported in disability adjusted life years (DALYs) due to other risk factors, many of the common diseases, such as high blood pressure and smoking have changed little in rankings of the top 15 between 2007 and 2017. These factors are also prevalent in South Africa and are a major cause of NCDs. Ranking of risk factors based on all ages including DALYs: Increases: •High blood pressure in 1990 ranked fifth, in 2017 it was first •Smoking in 1990 ranked fourth, in 2017 it was second •High blood sugar in 1990 ranked 11th, in 2017 it was third •High body mass index in 1990 ranked 16th, in 2017 it was fourth Decreases: Unsafe water source in 1990 ranked 6th,in 2017 it was 14th;Household pollution in 1990 ranked seventh, in 2017 it was 16th; Unsafe sanitation in 1990 ranked ninth, in 2017 it was 20th “The world has seen several health success stories,” Murray said. “Investments made in poor countries addressing prenatal care and water and sanitation problems clearly have made a significant difference in people’s lives. Conversely, the combination of increasing metabolic risks and population ageing will continue driving problematic trends in non-communicable diseases. This represents both a challenge and opportunity and highlights the value of the GBD study to inform good policy decisions and strategic health planning.” This refers to both high economies and LMICs. From the IHME 2017 report, I will share data that shows a significant difference in the rankings and percentage changes of all ages, DALYs in 1990 as compared to 2017. This data
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will highlight a number of diseases we encounter daily in every day medicine including Sub-Saharan Africa. Drug use disorders increased 71 per cent; Diabetes increased 117 per cent; Alzheimer’s disease & other dementias increased 115 %; Neck pain increased 75 per cent; Age-related hearing loss increased 80 per cent; Depressive disorders increased 53 per cent; Tetanus dropped 90 per cent; Measles dropped 86 per cent In 2017, there were several differences in the rankings of all-ages DALYs between males and females •Road injuries was the fifth leading cause of DALYs for males, compared to 16th for females. Headache disorders ranked 18th for males and eighth for females. •Lung cancer ranked 12th for males and 27th for females. •Self-harm was 16th for males and 31st for females. The Global Burden of Disease study, published in 2017 also identified nations with high and low Life Expectancy as “measured by years a person can expect to live in good health, taking into account both death and disability in 2017”. •Top three countries were Singapore (74.2 years), Japan (73.1 years), and Spain (72.1 years) •Lowest were Central African Republic (44.8 years), Lesotho (47.0 years), and South Sudan (50.6 years). To conclude Murray said, “The burden of disabling conditions has serious implications for health systems and health-related expenditures. Global trends among non-communicable diseases indicate that more effort is needed to increase healthy life expectancy.” It is important for all health professionals to refer to the GBD reports regularly. It puts into perspective the challenges that the global communities face. These challenges are compounded when viewed against the data of the third world countries and amongst the LMICs. Much of the GBD data must be assessed in the context of South Africa as we prepare for NHI. It is data like this that will influence Health Policy redesign. It will also explain why NHI is a complex undertaking. We must review the GBD reports against our own healthcare status and complex challenges in a country with two drastically different healthcare systems. The GBD data will point us in the right direction, it will help us to prioritise the NHI implementation strategy and let all stakeholders know what partnership we need and the role of all stakeholders as we strengthen the health system not just to deliver healthcare, but to monitor and evaluate, measure and improve the further healthcare delivery in Africa. The article was first published in the Medical Chronicle – July 2019. October 2019 Startupmagazine.co.ke
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Motors
Will Autonomous Cars Stop the Love of Driving….?
Words MHH International-A Prestige Car Importer With the world possibly headed for an autonomous automotive future what about motorists? What happens to the world of driving when the steering wheel is removed? There are plenty of motorists who love the very act of driving; that feeling of being in control as we twist and turn, legally, along country lanes and major highways. Car makers love to highlight the relationship between car and driver but will that even still exist if the steering wheel is removed? The Steering Wheel Conundrum So much of what a car badge stands for is tied up in the relationship between the driver and car. This is especially true of Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
sports cars, hot hatches and the like. How a vehicle reacts to steering inputs is one of the key factors that determines how the owner feels about a car. If a sporty drive is promised, as with some of the prestigious cars we offer for sale, then even the small inputs from the steering will be quickly transmitted to the front wheels, giving the driver that sense of control. Remove the steering wheel, and the point of a sporting car seems removed entirely. Everything that makes a motor come alive in the hands, like taut suspension or the quick steering, is just not satisfactory when the driving is handed over to a computer. The focus now seems to be on comfort, relaxation and the ability to
turn round and play cards with the children. The truth is out there: One of the bosses of the mighty Porsche empire is know to have stated, “The Porsche sports car will be one of the last automobiles with a steering wheel”. Not Everybody Is At It Though On the plus side the BMW brand has never shown an autonomous concept car without a steering wheel, even when the concept idea is looking deep into the future. Its Vision iNext SUV, shown earlier this year, featured a wheel that retracted in ‘2Ease’ autonomous mode. Premium car makers seem to favour BMW’s approach, imagining a world where autonomous driving co-exists with traditional methods of control. Let the car deal with
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Peugeot e Legend
humdrum journeys but hand over to the driver when the roads get interesting. This means the car needs a split personality – cosseting and distracting when in autonomous mode; responsive and focused when in manual mode. That we could perhaps live with. Bentley showed it can be done with its recent EXP 100 GT electric coupé concept. The owner can choose between autonomous and manual mode and the car reacts accordingly. Peugeot explored the same idea with its truly exquisite 2018 E-Legend coupé concept (pictured), described by some as the ‘acceptable face of autonomous driving’.
The styling of the car harks back to elegant, sporty coupés of the 1970s, and, like the Bentley, offers distinct modes for when the owner is being driven or doing the driving themselves. Peugeot seems to understand that driving pleasure isn’t just about pushing the car to its limits, but is also nostalgic for the golden days of motoring. The Law Requires The question remains whether people will still be allowed to drive cars if and when the autonomous alternative becomes widespread. The technology is a very long way from being ready to encompass all roads, so that argument is still to come. Certainly, for the technology to take off
it would need to be able to deal with conventionally driven cars on the highways, for instance, but what if the time comes and we all know what ‘authorities’ are like, when we will have to be fully autonomous by law to save us from ourselves? Not for a long time yet, thank goodness. Nobody minds technology that mitigates or defends from accidents; that’s all the better: In the end though it is about the freedom of the road. So driverless cars are still a long way off but cars that are great to drive are right here, right now. Have a browse at our mixed selection of great vehicles and see what you would like to drive October 2019
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Travel & Leisure
Rediscovering Machakos People’s Park by Oroni Tendera
“The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life,” Agnes Repplier. It is Saturday afternoon. The Machakos heat is almost unbearable. I am in a tuk-tuk taxi, with two other passengers, packed like sardines in a can. The driver shows no sign of worry or hurry. My clothes are soaking in sweat. I run out of patience. “Are we planted here forever?” I mock his Startupmagazine.co.ke October 2019
laxity. He breaks into a thunderous laughter, before rolling the key in the ignition. The tuk-tuk roars into action and hits the road, Kenyan style. The woman on my left slumps against me as we approach the Machakos-Nairobi highway. “Excuse me, mama. Kindly give me some space. I
am quite uncomfortable,” I plead, gasping for air. “I am not your mother,” she grumbles before muttering innumerable curses in her native language. She assumes an upright sitting posture. Silence rules. The driver turns left, a few kilometers past the governor’s office. We
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follow a long narrow tarmac road, overtaking other tuk-tuks. A boy runs across the road abruptly, the driver sways past him, narrowly missing a stationary motorcycle parked in the middle of the road. “There is a problem with the front wheel,’’ says the driver in rhythmic coastal Swahili, applying the brakes. Instead of dancing to the musicality of his accent, I nod in agreement. The driver jumps out of the tuk-tuk. I force my way past the hefty woman besides me, following the driver. She clicks and stones me with a cruel stare. The driver inspects the tyre. “Nothing unusual!” he remarks. We return to our seats. My neighbor
puffs up instantly at my sight. I wear a sarcastic grin in self-defense. We get back on track, destined for the historical Machakos People’s Park. “Where are we?” I ask impatiently. “Open your eyes. We are entering Machakos people’s park!” the driver exclaims pointing at a blue gate in front of us. I cannot wait for further instructions. My patience is on trial. After parting with Ksh 100, I jump out of the tuk-tuk and run towards the gate. Children playing at the gate laugh at me. Perhaps at the sight of a super-slender man, running like a suspended marionette.
“Entry fee?” I ask the security guard at the gate. “Entry to the park is free like air for individuals and groups of less than 10,” he says patting me gently on my back. Concrete pavements snake through the park. A water fountain stands distinctively near the entrance. Every Saturday, holiday makers and business people converge here at the People’s park. Face painters and happy-go-lucky children. Slay-queens and the pedicurist. Love-birds and the ice-cream man at the Lover’s corner garden. School girls and commercial photographers. University students bargaining for skateboards amid laughter. Senior citizens reliving their youthful days at the bar. An artificial lake overlooking the park gets hold of my attention. I walk past a bouncing castle, a revolving merry-goround and screaming zip-liners. Large water bodies have always driven me crazy. In 2014, I almost spent the whole day boat riding at Lake Tanganyika. This was barely a month after I had had a nasty experience with the Congolese marine at the Rwanda-Congo border. Excited by the sight of lake Kivu at Kamembe in western Rwanda, I dived into the lake without a second thought. I swam, unknowingly crossing the international border. Were it not for my mastery of Kingwana dialect of Kiswahili, I would have found myself crying behind bars in a foreign country. “Welcome to Maruba dam. I charge Ksh100 for boat rides,” a middle-aged man standing at the shore of the lake announces at us rather than to us. I step forward. I am later joined by a lady and a man. We board the canoe and venture into the dam like free spirits, rowing it gently, taking dozens of selfies. Conscious of my past experience with large water bodies, I remain cautious. One lap around the dam quenches my curiosity. I bid my three new friends farewell and retrace my way back to the gate, burning with a strong desire to rediscover the gems of magical Machakos county. October 2019
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Coffee Break
Book Review
Author: Draymond John Reviewer: Oroni Tendera My biggest takeaway from The Power of Broke came as I reflected on investments I’ve made over the last 20+ years. On occasion, when entrepreneurs take on new
Blog Review
The Power Of Broke capital they change their mentality on the value of each dollar, even when they continue to hold a big percentage of the ownership. I literally remember countless conversations with company leaders, following an investment, where statements like the ones below were made: •“We changed the way we buy inventory,” •“We can afford to gamble now,” •“I know the first round didn’t work, but if we just do more it will be better,” •“What made us successful in the past won’t work in the future,” and more. However, as I read the book and then reflected on the conversations and actions of some of our most successful partner company leaders, I realized there was a common trait or theme. They all fully respected each dollar that was spent. There was a leader that audited a $20,000 bill at the end of a $72,000,000 sale; leaders that have called to complain about airline baggage fees; and even leaders that refused to claim a business expense on any alcohol they consumed while traveling; and many more statements like this… I want to stress, these leaders are not cheap, they are frugal and respect every dollar. I agree with Daymond John, the power of feeling broke drives creativity, energy, focus and often is the key to success.
Overall, worth a read, and I would encourage you to create a formal book club within your organization to actively engage your leadership and employees in discussion, and possibly even learn a little something about and from those you work with!
Hubspot’s Marketing Blog Founder: Susan Gunelius Reviewer: Adisa Hudson
data, and research that people around the world quote.
About the Blog
What I Like About It: While Hubspot’s Marketing Blog provides really insightful content, it’s not the only valuable resource there. There’s also a Sales Blog, as well as an Agency Blog, and more free marketing resources than you have time to read.
Hubspot’s Marketing Blog is a great resource for marketing. Hubspot is one of the thought leaders in the marketing world, and constantly releases reports,
What I Like About It: Because each business expert has his or her own area of thought leadership, all the content is well-written and specific to that niche.
Link https://www.hubspot.com
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Some additional powerful take-aways from The Power of Broke include: •Money does not make the company, but can certainly break it. Often large injections of capital change the way entrepreneurs read and interpret the market, making larger bets that don’t pay off. •Authenticity speaks to customers, you and your people are the brand. The marketplace has never been more democratized. Hope, honest and vulnerable content will resonate. •A brand is not launched with a product, but grows over time. •To achieve success, get hungry and stay hungry. You don’t need to be broke to practice the power of broke. •Setting goals will provide a roadmap to success. Make shorter term goals that move on to longer term goals. •Love what you do, if needed, you would do it for free. •View every opportunity as the key to the next opportunity.
FRESH.INSPIRING.ANALYTICAL
Ola Energy Global CEO Mazine Binramadan (left) with Millicent Ononyi, general manager of the local subsidiary, during a press briefing in Nairobi. Ola Energy, formerly Oil Libya is rebranding all its retails outlets. GSK Pharma Kenya General Manager George Onyango explains how the disk Seretide accuhaler works to Jasmine Arita of Rangechem Pharmacy during a visit to the pharmacy in commemoration of the World Pharmacists Day.
Sanlam Kenya Chief Financial Officer Kevin Mworia with Sanlam Life CEO Stella Njunge and Sanlam Kenya Group CEO Patrick Tumbo after a turn-around strategy SAP Africa Code Week enhances digital skills training capac- meeting to boost operating efficiencies. ity in Kenya with series of Train-the-Trainer sessions
October 2019
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At the back
Song Review
Let You Love Me Rita Ora Linda Hill
Prior to the release of the Song a year ago, Rita Ora had been plotting her big comeback for years, and it was definitely worth the wait. The British singer returned to the dance floor with the video for her single Let You Love Me. Let You Love Me is the leading song from Ora’s sophomore album Phoenix, which should hit the shelves on November 23. The title is pretty symbolic, since the singer spent years trying to actually record it, and its release will give her an opportunity to rise again and burn brighter than ever. “I had a bit of an issue, publicly, with putting out music which got me really, really, kind of devastated, and I was really down, and then I was really angry, and then I was really frustrated, and then I was really happy that it was happening… It was all these emotions, so my album is definitely a roller-coaster of emotions. There’s a lot of ups and downs, but I’m very, very proud of it,” said Ora about her upcoming record.
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October 2019
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