Kenya

President Ruto plans compulsory 2.75pc NHIF deductions

President William Ruto’s plan to make it mandatory for every household in Kenya to contribute 2.75 percent of its income to fund a new social healthcare fund will see the government take at least 20 percent of the monthly pay from Kenyans earning Sh50,000 and above in the latest onslaught on payslips.

(Business Daily)

Tanzania 

President Samia: Changes are for reforms, not punishment

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has said the recent minor reshuffle in her cabinet eclipsed by the appointment of new ministers, and other leaders meant to steer reforms in the government and not a punishment.

(Daily News)

Uganda

Supreme Court Justice Kisaakye retires early after controversy

Supreme Court Lady Justice Esther Kitimbo Kisaakye has decided to retire early from the Judiciary.  The details of her retirement decision are communicated in a letter written to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni dated July 18th 2023.

“Article 144 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda permits a Judicial Officer to retire at any time after attaining the age of sixty years. I am now aged 63 years . In accordance with the said article, I hereby tender in my early retirement from the Supreme Court,” reads the letter.

According to the letter, Dr Kisaakye says that Museveni appointed her to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court on October 12th, 2009, and by the time she wrote this letter, she had served in the Supreme Court for 13 years and 10 months.

(The Independent) 

Rwanda

Kagame promotes US-sanctioned general

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has promoted a general recently sanctioned by the US for having a hand in the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in what could either be a show of defiance or protestation against the labelling.

Brig-Gen Andrew Nyamvumba was named alongside several other top army officials in new positions.

But he is now a fingered man after the US Department of Treasury listed him among six people considered warmongers in eastern DRC.

It said Andrew Nyamvumba was among those who “helped fuel the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo”.

(The East African)

Somalia

President Mohamud and former Hiiraan governor reach deal to ease tensions in Hiiraan Region

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and former Hiiraan Governor Ali Jeyte Osman have reportedly reached a breakthrough agreement.

After several days of intense negotiations, facilitated by Ugas Yusuf Ugas Hassan, the influential clan chief of Hawadale, a deal has been struck to ease political tensions in the Hiiraan region. (Radio Dalsan)

Trade and Financial Services Round-Up: 

Kenya

Kenya’s African payment platform bid under review

Cairo-headquartered African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has started reviewing Kenya’s bid to host a pan-African settlement house for intra-African trade deals, a top official said in Nairobi Wednesday.

Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s executive vice president for Finance, Administration and Banking services, said the trade financier’s top decision-making organ has taken up Kenya’s application.

Central Bank of Kenya Governor Kamau Thugge disclosed in July, Nairobi’s proposal to host the pan-African payment and settlement system (Papss) which facilitates intra-African payments in different national currencies on the continent.

(Business Daily)

Tanzania 

USAID gives Dar 60bn for Heshimu Bahari

US Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued an aid of 25 million US dollars (almost Tsh60 billion) for Heshimu Bahari (respect the ocean) activity for five years.

USAID Heshimu Bahari Activity Chief of Party Mr Sadiki Laiser told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday that a further 13 million US dollars has been pumped for the project that will proceed up to 2027.

“In support of the above objectives and to achieve Heshimu Bahari development goals, the activity will implement these under contract programme to support a wide range of community-based conservation efforts around areas important for marine biodiversity and climate adaptation across Tanzania,” Mr Laiser said.

The programme will build the technical and administrative capacity of local organisations to enhance the impact of their activities and perform critical research.

(Daily News)

Uganda

Airtel Uganda sweetens IPO with free shares offer

Airtel Uganda will offer free shares to investors participating in its Ush801.33 billion ($215.16 million) initial public offer (IPO) which opened on Wednesday, in an effort to spur uptake of the shares.

The offer, which has been opened to Kenyan investors, will see the incentive shares issued to qualifying investors on a pro-rated basis, with higher application volumes guaranteeing one more free share.

Retail investors in the IPO will receive between five and 20 free shares per 100 bought, while professional investors will access between 10 and 37.5 units per 100 purchased.

(The East African)

Rwanda 

Businesses brace for new night-time regulations

Businesses, such as bars and nightclubs, are bracing for the impact of new regulations, which set a closing time for all night-time activities. The regulations come into effect tonight at midnight.

According to Rwanda Development Board (RDB), commercial entertainment venues such as restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and liquor stores must close at 1:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday and at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The new guidelines, which are meant to regulate night-time entertainment and noise pollution, take effect on September 1.

Establishments such as pharmacies, supermarkets, factories and call centres are exempted from the new regulations.

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethiopian construction works launches expansion plan to become africa’s leading construction firm

With the goal of becoming the top construction firm in Africa, the Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation (ECWC) is launching an expansion strategy to develop its presence in Kenya and South Sudan. It also intends to establish branches in additional African nations, such as Egypt, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and others.

The company is already working on a USD 60 million project in Djibouti with the assistance of a regional building firm while constructing roads that connect Ethiopia with its neighbours. According to the CEO of ECWC, Yonas Ayalew, the company is completing the legal requirements for its offices in South Sudan and Kenya.

(2Merkato)

Somalia

South West leader inaugurates major road construction project in Baidoa

South West leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, popularly known as ‘Laftagareen,’ officially commenced the first phase of a significant road construction project in Baidoa.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the esteemed presence of Ismail Abdirahman Sheikh Bashir, the Federal Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, and a delegation of Members of Parliament under his leadership.

(Radio Dalsan)