Author: Ableditor

Uganda is stepping up its campaign to attract international investors into its mining and critical minerals sector, with officials putting the country’s estimated mineral wealth at between $4 trillion and $12 trillion. Ugandan officials presented the investment opportunities at the Africa Down Under mining conference in Perth, Australia. The country wants to increase mining’s contribution to economic growth by attracting capital and technology into exploration, extraction and mineral processing. Critical minerals are becoming increasingly important globally because of their use in manufacturing, energy technologies, electronics and other strategic industries. Uganda’s investment pitch comes as countries compete to secure alternative sources…

Global logistics company DP World and Kenya-based GulfCap Africa have signed a shareholders’ agreement advancing plans for a 222-hectare Special Economic Zone in Mombasa. The project is expected to strengthen Kenya’s manufacturing, logistics and export capacity while connecting local businesses to regional and international markets. The first phase will cover 40 hectares, with the wider development designed to attract both local and foreign investors. More than 60 companies have already expressed interest in establishing operations within the industrial park. Once fully developed, the project is expected to support more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The investment comes as Kenya…

Kenya’s foreign direct investment has risen to a record Sh414.1 billion ($3.2 billion), more than double the Sh194.1 billion recorded in 2022. President William Ruto said the increase reflects growing investor confidence in Kenya’s renewable energy, digital economy and manufacturing potential. Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi, the President said the government was working to position Kenya as a regional production and services hub. The administration is seeking to attract more capital into manufacturing, technology, energy and other sectors capable of creating jobs and expanding exports. The latest FDI figures come as Kenya faces growing…

Farmers have been urged to complete harvesting and properly dry their crops before the expected October-November-December rains arrive. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that September provides an important window for farmers to clear mature crops from their fields and prepare for the coming rainy season. The warning is particularly important for farmers with maize and other crops still in the fields. The department said the dry conditions expected across much of the country in September should be used to complete harvesting, drying and safe storage. Farmers have also been advised to conserve soil moisture through practices such as mulching…

The government has set aside Sh10 billion to modernise smallholder tea factories, promote value addition and improve earnings for thousands of farmers. Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh said Sh4.5 billion had already been released, with Sh1 billion going towards factory modernisation while the remainder has supported fertiliser subsidies. The announcement came as the government flagged off 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser at the Port of Mombasa for distribution to Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) farmers. The consignment is the first of 99,000 metric tonnes scheduled for distribution ahead of the rainy season. Mr Ronoh said timely delivery would help farmers…

Kenya is ready to increase maize imports from Uganda as the country confronts a looming grain shortage, but the government wants tighter controls on grain drying and aflatoxin contamination. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said Uganda was well positioned to supply part of Kenya’s maize requirements as the two countries seek to expand agricultural trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. However, he said increased trade must be accompanied by stronger post-harvest handling to ensure grain entering Kenya meets food safety standards. The move comes as drought and poor crop performance threaten Kenya’s maize supplies. The country could require…

Kenya’s milk supply has come under pressure after prolonged dry and cold weather reduced pasture and fodder available to dairy cattle. The Kenya Dairy Board says the country is experiencing temporary supply constraints rather than a complete milk shortage, but fresh milk stocks have fallen in some supermarkets and retail outlets. Government data shows that formal milk deliveries to processors declined by 3.7 per cent, from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million litres in July. Preliminary figures suggest deliveries fell further in August as dry conditions persisted. The shortage has been felt more sharply in fresh pasteurised milk…

Egerton University has stepped up efforts to help farmers cope with climate change through the development of high-yielding, drought- and disease-resistant crop varieties. The university’s Agro-Science Park, working with public and private sector partners, has developed several varieties targeting challenges posed by unpredictable rainfall, emerging pests and diseases. Among the varieties released are Egerton Mbaazi M1, M2, M3 and M4 pigeon peas, 29 new cassava varieties, and Tasha, Ciankui and Chelalang beans suited to warmer areas. The university has also developed Nyota and Mwangaza groundnuts, new sorghum varieties, finger millet and chickpea varieties. Agro-Science Park Director Professor Paul Kimurto said…

Kenyan hockey has produced celebrated players, memorable teams and international moments, but behind many of those success stories stands a coach whose influence has stretched far beyond the touchline. Kevin Lugalia has spent two decades turning young hockey players into champions — and, just as importantly, into professionals, university graduates and national-team players. His journey began humbly. As a student at Musingu High School in the late 1990s, Lugalia initially tried football but soon returned to hockey, the sport he understood best. At Moi University, he became both player and coach, eventually graduating in 2005. His relationship with hockey was…

There is a strange contradiction at the heart of modern Kenyan life. We spend Monday to Friday complaining about traffic, noise, screens and concrete, then spend thousands of shillings driving out of Nairobi on Friday evening to find the very things we have spent the week trying to escape. Silence. Trees. Stars. Space. Now, a growing property opportunity is emerging around that desire: owning a glamping camp, countryside cabin or nature home that can double as a private retreat and a short-stay business. From the open landscapes of Kajiado and Machakos to Naivasha, Nanyuki, Laikipia and the wider Rift Valley,…