BIC EAST AFRICA REAFFIRMS IT'S COMMITMENT TO THE KENYAN ECONOMY

 BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers recently reaffirmed its commitment to the Kenyan economy and to job creation. On a media tour hosted at the company’s manufacturing plant in Kasarani, Nairobi, BIC showcased its manufacturing excellence, and its commitment to local production, innovation, and sustainable economic growth across East Africa. 

BIC’s Kasarani factory serves as a pivotal hub for manufacturing essential products that cater to both domestic and export markets. This facility is a cornerstone of BIC’s broader Horizon strategy, launched in 2020, which aims to expand its core product categories through consumer-centric innovation and localized operations. Annually, the Kenyan plant processes millions of units, enabling the region to benefit from homegrown industrial output that supplies markets across East Africa and beyond.

Commenting on the occasion, Paloma Lengema, General Manager at BIC East Africa, said: “Local manufacturing is at the very heart of our operations. We are immensely proud to play a significant role in strengthening regional value chains, creating meaningful employment, and delivering products that meet local needs through sustainable practices. Our Nairobi plant is far more than just a production site; it’s a strategic asset that actively supports Kenya’s industrialization goals and contributes to BIC’s global growth. Kenya remains a focal point for us at BIC with a strategic vision to the future.”

BIC East Africa's extensive supply chain and distribution network generate substantial indirect employment, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of local businesses and service providers. Through its expanding operations, BIC East Africa continues to create direct and indirect employment opportunities, invest in workforce development, and partner with local suppliers to boost trade. 

BIC East Africa launched its own subsidiary in Kenya in 2019 after being distributed in the country and the wider Eats Africa region through HACO Industries. Since 2019, BIC has employed over 300 Kenyans, further supporting Kenyan families and communities. 

BIC East Africa is poised for continued growth and impact. The company's commitment to the region extends beyond stationery to its broader product range, which includes lighters and shavers, all designed to meet the diverse needs of East African consumers. As part of its global Writing the Future, Togetherinitiative, BIC is committed to enhancing learning conditions for 250 million students by 2025 and has already positively impacted over 200 million students globally. 

In Kenya, this commitment is exemplified by initiatives like the Buy Me and BIC Will Donate a Pencampaign, which has distributed 1.5 million pens since its launch, reaching 150,000 students this yearalone. Similarly, BIC East Africa’s penmanship program, Express Myself with My BIC Pen has benefited over 50,000 students, empowering them through self-expression and creativity. These initiativesunderscore BIC's unwavering focus on education and sustainable development, aligning with both national and global objectives for a brighter future

SGA SECURITY PARTNERS WITH ELECTRIC TRANSITS AFRICA (ETA) TO INTRODUCE ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN KENYA

In a strategic move towards enhancing sustainable operations, SGA Security Kenya has partnered with Electric Transits Africa to introduce Electric Vehicles (EVs) to its Security Alarm Response fleet.

The newly acquired Electric Vehicles will support SGA's rapid alarm response services while contributing to a measurable reduction in the company’s carbon emissions, underscoring SGA’s commitment to its sustainability agenda, aligning operational excellence with environmental responsibility.

“We are proud to be the first security firm in Kenya to adopt electric vehicles in our fleet operations,” said SGA Kenya Country Manager, Lucas Ndolo. “This collaboration with Electric Transits Africa is more than just a fleet upgrade; it is a meaningful step in our long-term goal of building a more sustainable, eco-conscious future for our business and the communities we serve,” added Ndolo.

Electric Transits Africa (ETA), an electric mobility company in East Africa, will provide the vehicles as well as technical support to ensure a smooth integration and performance.

“We are very proud to support SGA in its ambition to reduce its climate impact and to position it as a frontrunner in sustainability. The deployment of these electric vehicles is a pilot initiative, with plans to scale in the future as part of a broader strategy to shift towards clean, energy-efficient mobility solutions across all SGA operations,” said Electric Transits Africa, Co-Founder and CEO, Wout van Blommestein.

By integrating electric vehicles into daily security operations, SGA Security Kenya aims to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon footprint and encourage innovation in green mobility within the private security sector.

“SGA Security Group has adopted ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) principles as part of its strategy. Therefore, I am very proud of this excellent initiative as it fits into our sustainability goals and contributes to a cleaner, more resilient future,” said SGA Security Group, Chairman & CEO, Jules Delahaije.

“We celebrate the successful partnership between SGA Security and Electric Transit Africa—two innovative Dutch affiliate companies—whose collaboration marks a significant step toward a greener future with the integration of electric vehicles into the SGA fleet,” said Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Henk Jan Bakker.

"The successful unveiling of electric vehicles as part of SGA Security’s fleet is a remarkable milestone in the journey toward net-zero carbon emissions. This initiative not only reflects a strong commitment to sustainability but also demonstrates how green innovation can be seamlessly embedded into core business operations," said Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Peter Maddens.

According to the Energy and Petroleum Authority (EPRA), the number of electric vehicles in Kenya in 2024 rose by 41.1 per cent compared to 2023 due to national and private sector efforts to decarbonise the transport sector. This growth can be attributed to government initiatives such as the frameworks and policies guiding e-mobility and favourable incentives on electric vehicles, and an increase in the private sector e-mobility companies, as well as strategic efforts to incorporate sustainable mobility in business operations.

"The integration of electric vehicles into SGA Security’s fleet is a powerful demonstration of how private sector leadership can accelerate the shift toward sustainable mobility and a cleaner, healthier future for all," said UNEP, Head of Sustainable Mobility, Mr. Rob de Jong.

The transport sector accounts for approximately 25 per cent of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, which is the primary greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the transport sector in Nairobi alone contributes to about 60 per cent of the city's air pollution

HIGH COURT REJECTS PARADIGM INITIATIVE'S BID TO JOIN DATA PROTECTION CASE AS FRIEND OF THE COURT

An application by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) to participate in a data protection case against X Corp (formerly Twitter) as an Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) has been dismissed by the High Court in Nairobi.

In the case before the court, the petitioner, Felix Kibet, sued X Corp, the Attorney General, the Communication Authority of Kenya, the Kenya Film Classification Board, the National Cohesion & Integration Commission and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner seeking orders to compel X Corp to delete all Kenyan accounts using aliases or unofficial names, prohibit and remove content deemed pornographic, lewd, hateful, or disrespectful, and require the government to ensure that social media platforms are safe and constitutionally compliant. 

While seeking to be an amicus curiae (friend of the court), PIN indicated that the petition was raising issues of digital rights and digital anonymity, which are relatively new in Kenya, and that the court may necessarily have to draw interpretative inspiration from other jurisdictions.

Paradigm Initiative also argued that it has extensive experience in digital rights and digital anonymity and was therefore in a unique position to assist the court by providing impartial and enriching submissions on the issues. It argued that the petition before the court was of public interest raising questions on the interpretation and application of constitutional provisions on freedom of expression and the right to privacy in the digital age, and corresponding obligations under international law.

While seeking to be admitted as an amicus curiae, PIN had indicated it would address two issues: anonymity of digital users vis-à-vis the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy and the international and domestic legal framework.

While opposing their inclusion in the case as an amicus curiae, the petitioner, Felix Koskei and the Communication Authority of Kenya argued that the Brief had taken partisan positions. 

In Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance-v-Mumo Matemo & 5 Others, the Supreme Court formulated the guidelines on the role of an Amicus Curiae as being: the Brief is to be limited to legal arguments, the Brief should be neutral, the Brief should have fidelity to the law, the Brief should be novel and stay away from legal points already raised and it should bring in a new expert perspective.

The court ruled that while undoubtedly PIN had the requisite expertise to serve as a friend of the Court, it was inclined to agree with the petitioner and the 3rd respondent that the Brief can be reasonably interpreted as advocating one side over another in the present case, admittedly either without it expressly doing so or seeking to do so.”

The organisation (PIN), the court stated, has in a published report titled ‘Devolved Impunity-The State of Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya’ taken a view that touches on one side’s possible view of matters at issue in the petition before the court, and it cannot be said that PIN would be viewed as non-partisan. PIN’s case was dismissed on the ground of being viewed as non-partisan.

“For those reasons, the application has failed the Supreme Court’s test in Trust Society as there is a reasonable perception of partisanship in the Brief or the nature of the applicant that can be ascribed to the applicant’s intention to join as an Amicus Curiae; and also based on its prior and ongoing role within commentary on digital freedom and the state of freedom of expression in Kenya and Africa as a whole,” the judge added

DNA PARTY NOW HOME OF KIKAO YOUTH MOVEMENT

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA)has today announced a union with the KIKAO

Youth Movement in a strategic partnership poised to reshape the landscape of youth political engagement in Kenya. This historic integration establishes DNA as the official political home for a new generation of leaders, with KIKAO's grassroots network formally becoming the foundation of the newly launched DNA Youth Movement urging youth to participate in the elections and political space. 

Speaking during the kikao merger with DNA Bright shitemi CEO and the chairperson of the kikao wing said  they will use DNA to propel the youth agenda and  injection of new generation aspirants and leaders into the political space. "This is the party for the youth, for all Kenyans that hope for a better future. Together we will

change the DNA of our leadership and our country.”

The announcement made by DNA Party Leader Hon. Godfrey Kanoti during a press briefing in Nairobi saw KIKAO Youth Movement which has representation in over fourty counties appointed to key leadership positions within the Democratic National Alliance in the following  positions Deputy Party Leader,Chepkoech Towett,Deputy National Chairperson,Bright Shitemi, Secretary Public Policy and Economic Affairs,Stanley Muchiri, Secretary Political Affairs,James Okumu,Secretary Mobilization, partnerships and fundraising,Eugene Ochieng, Secretary Publicity and Information,Jagero Oduor.

The newly formed DNA Youth Movement will serve as a robust platform for political education, mentorship, and leadership pathways towards 2027 general elections expected to be Youth Tsunami following the recent Gen Z protests which has called for proper accountable governance system in Kenya. 

ABSA EMPOWERS YOUNG WOMEN IN TECH THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH GILRCODE

Absa Bank Kenya has partnered with GirlCode kicking  off the 2025 edition of the GirlCodeHack  a Pan-African women-in-tech Hackathon set to empower 100 young women in Kenya aged 18-35 to solve realtime problems in FinTech,

Cybersecurity, and AI through a 30-hour innovation sprint.

 

Scheduled for October 11-12, 2025  the hackathon will run simultaneously across seven African cities, including Nairobi. Themed “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI”, the winning team will walk away with a grand prize of Kes 725,802. The competition is open to university students, recent graduates, and young professionals, where participants can register in teams of twos to fours.This is more than double the number of participants in last year’s hackathon that the bank is targeting through the ReadytoWork platform, a mobile-based initiative designed to equip youth with digital and employability skills.

“This hackathon is a gateway to opportunity. By creating inclusive spaces like GirlCodeHack, we are not only investing in the future of tech but also advancing key Sustainable Development Goals, especially on quality education, gender equality, and decent work. This is how we ensure young Kenyan women are part of shaping real-world solutions,” said Absa Kenya’s Chief Operations and Digital Officer, Julius Kamau.

In a push to enhance inclusion and diversity, the hackathon has been designed to attract participation from a wide range of counties to ensure nationwide representation. Speaking on Absa’s continued support, Tamu Dutuma, Absa Group’s Head of Strategy and Transformation said that the bank is committed to diversity, inclusion and youth empowerment in technology.

Last year’s competition, which was held across five cities, attracted over 400 young women from across the continent. Kenya’s winning team developed a web application to empower women and girls with accessible, gamified information on sexual and reproductive health. Other standout innovations included a carbon footprint calculator aligned with government caps, a data-driven agriculture platform, AI-powered mental health tools, blockchain-based land registries, and mobile fraud detection solutions for African SMEs.

These innovations showcased the participants’ technical insight, creative thinking, and deep understanding of the local context.

“Our mission is to expose 10 million women and girls to technology by 2030,” said Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO and Founder of GirlCode. “With Absa’s partnership, we are scaling impact and ensuring more women see themselves not just as coders, but as problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders.”

This year’s hackathon will take place in Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Gaborone and will be backed by experienced industry professionals as mentors to guide teams throughout the 30-hour experience. Participants will gain technical skills, mentorship in solving real problems and exposure to Africa’s growing digital economy.

Women aged 18-35 are encouraged to apply by 8th August, 2025 through the ReadytoWork App available on Android and IOS.

 

TEAM EVOLVE CASTIGATES THE GOVERNMENT OVER DECISION TO IMPORT RICE

Team Evolve lead by rights activists and scholar Professor Fred Ogola has this morning condemned  the government’s decision to Import 500,000 Metric tons of duty free rice in to Kenya under  Gazette Notice No. 10353 of July 28, 2025, permitting the importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of grade one milled white rice duty free until December 31, 2025 at a time farmers in Kenya have said they have enough rice harvest.

According to professor Fred Ogola who addressed media in Nairobi,Kenya  the leading economy in the East African region should be prioritizing investment in agriculture to guarantee food security. Staple food commodities such as maize, rice,sugar, wheat, onions, tomatoes, and vegetables ought to be produced locally.Tanzania has made significant investments in rice production, achieving 2.4 million metric tonnes in 2023. Todate Tanzania produces enough rice for domestic consumption and maintains a surplus for export. This was made possible by Tanzania banning rice imports and focusing heavily

on attracting investment into the sector.

Kenya  national annual rice consumption is  approximately one million tons, and local

production covering only 300,000 tons, Kenya urgently needs to support domestic

production rather than expose local farmers and value chain businesses to unfair and

destructive competition.The government is being deliberate and intentional in sabotaging local rice farmers by allowing cheap, duty-free imports to flood the market every year as opposed to investing in and protecting the sector.

Professor Ogola has said Kenya’s rice producing regions have the capacity to produce over 1.5 million metric tons annually if given focused investment.By issuing this gazette notice, government officials have created a haven for cronies and unscrupulous businessmen to profit through duty free imports a decision that undermines hardworking local farmers and importers who pay taxes of up to 35% on rice.

Ogola has exposed the government of having aided similar duty-free quota of 500,000 metric tons was in force from May to November 2024,according to USDA data, the imports under that quota were lower than expected, and there was no significant decline in retail rice prices for

households. This proves that duty-free importation does not reduce prices, it only

enriches a few connected individuals.

Local rice farmers in Mwea, Ahero, and Bura have ample stocks, with harvesting ongoing until the end of December. Flooding the market with cheap imports will destroy their livelihoods, force mass job losses, and disrupt national food security.

Local traders, millers, input suppliers, logistics workers, and small retailers will suffer

unfair competition with many facing imminent closure if these imports continue unchecked given the rising operational costs and punitive taxes. This policy benefits foreign exporters and politically connected elites, not Kenyan taxpayers or producers. It creates jobs abroad, enriches a few insiders, and destroys

Kenyan livelihoods.

Team Evolve has  demanded Immediate cancellation of Gazette Notice No. 10353 and the duty-free rice import quota,Reinstatement of the 35% import duty to level the playing field and protect Kenyan producers, traders, and workers,Redirection of public investment toward strengthening irrigation infrastructure,supporting local millers, cooperatives, and input suppliers, and boosting marketing and value addition under the National Rice Development Strategy.The government should Mobilize all relevant state agencies and departments to attract an integrated investment in the rice sector, not limit it to a few players or foreign governments.

 TEAM “EVOLVE” has vowed to continue speaking for the common Kenyan calling on

the government to act now and cancel this harmful duty-free quota, prioritize local

production, and protect Kenya’s economic future.Furthur the team advocates for realistic transparent and time bound strategy which must be implemented to reach self sufficiency in rice production by 2030 given that local production is still a paltry 300,000 metric tons.Kenya must open up space for multiple investors instead of monopolizing the sector in favour of the government of Japan. Kenya must be built by Kenyans according to Kenyan resources all the time.

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DAP KENYA PARTY LEADER MOVES TO QUELL COUP IN THE PARTY

Fast growing political party in the western Kenya region Dap Kenya run by the powerful former cabinet Secretary and western Kenya political supremo Eugene Wamalwa is now in limbo following wrangles that threaten to split the party. 

Deputy party leader Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembea and youthful first time Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya have staged a coup to change the party leadership.

Speaking to journalists in a tense press conference held at the party headquaters in Karen party leader Eugene Wamalwa flanked by Secretary general and former Tongaren Member of Parliament Dr. Eseli simuyi and other party officials have assured the public that there is internal dispute resolutions methods that will be used to quell the disunity and a NEC meeting to be held in two weeks time that will settle the issues internally.

Deputy party leader George Natembea speaking in a different venue in Karen said he is spearheading change to ensure the party has a National look alluding there is no reason to attend a party meeting where everything speak same language.

DNA PARTY UNVEILS IT'S MALAVA BY-ELECTION CANDIDATE

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) had today in Nairobi unveiled it's Candidate for the Malava Constituency By-Election which fell vacant following bthe death of veteran Member of Parliament Malulu Injendi. 

Hon. Joab Manyasi will fly the flag of the party for the upcoming Malava Constituency high voltage  by-election which has the president's aide Farouk Kibet frequent the area every weekend for the now infamous "empowerment forums" .

Speaking to journalists at the party headquaters in Karen Hon. Manyasi expressed confidence in clinching the seat pledging to be a voice for the ordinary citizen, emphasizing the importance of inclusive representation and servant leadership.He is a respected civil engineer, youth advocate, and public servant with deep roots in Malava.previously he contested the Malava parliamentary seat in 2017 under Ford Kenya and again in 2022 under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). 

His unveiling marks DNA’s strategic expansion in Western Kenya and reflects the party’s commitment to nurturing homegrown, accountable leadership.“We are offering not just a candidate, but a movement,” said Hon. Godfrey Kanoti, Party Leader of DNA.

The newsly launched DNA party is associated  with Prime cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and is committed to running an issuebased campaign grounded in grassroots dialogue, civic education, and constituency engagement.