Monthly Archives: December 2005

Telecommunications, ATM’s and foreign aid

Balancing Act

Balancing Act’s latest newsletter (No. 285) is a special issue on telecommunications developments in Kenya. Notable points include;
– Expect more ISP mergers (after Wananchi and ISPKenya)
– VoIP could cut the cost of international corporations communications costs from US$5,000 to US$700 a month.
– A looming financial crisis at Telkom could force the government to sell some shares in Safaricom to Vodafone or to the public via the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
– New call centers have difficulties finding people with the right voices to work there – and their preference for candidates who have had some international exposure.
– The jail sentence hanging over the head of Shem Ochuodho.

Pesa ATM’s

Pesa Point now has 60 ATMs installed around the country. My bank has pesa point but I will take a pass on them because of the additional cost (30/=per cash withdrawal)except for emergencies of if I am very far from my own Bank’s ATM. Pesa Point’s unique stand-alone ATM’s are popping up in all sorts of unexpected places such as the grounds of KICC and a restaurant opposite Hooter’s with little fanfare. The company should have a web site or better way to market/advertise each new ATM added, besides a statement from the MD.

Foreign Aid
President George W. Bush’s administration plans to overhaul the US foreign aid system and align programs more with US political interests. E.g. the State Department could take over the independent US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Corporate briefs

air

Kenya Airways has added a once a week 777 direct flight from Mombasa to London. There are several charter airlines that operate flights on this route – serving the tourism boom at the Coast.

East African has also added flights to Malindi

Agriculture

Sasini slump: Sasini reported a loss of 387 million shillings for the year, down from a profit of 771m the year before. Operations generated only 12 million shillings which was a steep drop from 209m in 2004. The company blamed the poor performance on over supply of tea in world markets. Sasini also entered the horticulture business during the year and will maintain a focus on the premium tea sector where demand is high.

Banking

NIC Bank has extended its banking hours and will now be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Communications
New communication Minister Mutahi Kagwe is an advocate of using the government’s shareholding in Safaricom to restructure Telkom Kenya. In an October interview in the Financial Post, he says Telkom is inefficiently run and he believes it can achieve efficiency and connectivity levels similar to India and Mauritius. Hopefully he can restore confidence to the sector after two years of Tuju’s confusion. Surprisingly dropped in the cabinet re-shuffle was Permanent Secretary Rege who has been an active player in the satellite and mobile communications sectors.

Energy
The National Oil Corporation pulled out of the running to to buy BP Oil’s Kenya assets.

Housing

Kenya Commercial Bank staff pension fund will construct 252 houses along old airport road in Embakasi.

Publishing

Cosmopolitan magazine will discontinue its Kenyan issue and resume distributing the South African one locally.

Rail

The concessioning of Kenya Railways may be delayed after pensioners of the corporation filed a suit to stop the deal until their interests are secured.

Jamhuri, jobs, sports

White Christmas
The Panari skating rink will open on Friday December 16

bank jobs
bank manager (Ref: BM/12.01) At the Mombasa branch of an international banking group. Applicants must have bachelors degree, MBA or AIB would be an advantage with eight years banking experience, 3 of which are senior level. Job entails managing corporate, retail, and personal portfolio with a focus to growing the SME and personal banking business. apply though Deloitte consulting at esd@deloitte.co.ke by December 23.

East African Development Bank
– director of legal affairs (Ref 121/CB/FN). Applicants should have masters’ degree in law, be specialized in corporate/ commercial/ banking/ finance law and preferably have 10 years experience with at least 5 in a senior management.
– director of operations (Ref: 271/CD/FN) to oversee projects/operations of the bank. Applicants should be graduates with at least 10 years experience, at least 5 of which are at senior management levels of a commercial, investment, or development bank.
Apply though Hawkins & associates at hawkins.associates@khigroup.com or www.hawkins.co.ke.

Other jobs
At Merali’s certified public accountants:
– audit manager Nairobi: must be compliant with IFAC requirements, and be a fully qualified CPA/ACA/ACCA with 5 years experience.
– senior audit professional Mombasa; must be compliant with IFAC requirements, and have 3 years experience.
Apply at reception@meraliscpa.com.

nation media group
– assistant help desk administrator. applicants must have bachelors’ degree in IT or computer science and a Microsoft certification.
– internet sales executive – freelance. Applicants should be university graduates, with diploma in sales and 2 years sales experience.
Apply at hrrecruit@nation.co.ke by 14 December.

Sports

Friday 10 PM World Cup Soccer Draw

Saturday
8:45 AM Pakistan vs England 1st ODI, LIVE
3:30 PM Liverpool vs Boro
6 PM Chelsea vs Wigan Athletic & Bolton vs Aston Villa & Charlton vs Sunderland
8 PM Newcastle vs Arsenal
11:45 PM Real Sociedad vs Villarreal

Sunday
6 AM Middleweight Bout Ronald “Winky” Wright vs Sam “King” Soliman
1:30 PM Al Ittihad vs Al Ahly
7 PM Man Utd vs Everton
10:45 PM Barcelona vs Sevilla

Monday
8:45 AM Pakistan vs England 2nd ODI
1:15 PM Deportivo Saprissa vs Sydney FC
10:30 PM Tottenham vs Portsmouth

next Sunday7 PM Arsenal vs Chelsea

Some fun (& non-cabinet) jobs

skating instructors in Kenya!
To work at the solar ice rink at the new Panari Sky Centre. Applicants must have experience in teaching figure skating, speed skating, and ice hockey and can work part time at the job. Apply by 15th December to the managing director at info@panarihotel.com, quoting reference – ice-skating rink instructor.

team assistant: communications
At the World Bank’s water & sanitation program (WSP-Africa) team. Applicants must have qualifications in secretarial studies or office management and 3 years relevant experience at an international, large, or private sector organization. More details available at their site and apply to the finance and administration officer at wspaf@worldbank.org by December 16.

Writers
At Drum East Africa Magazine
senior staff writer: (REF HR-SW-12-05) Applicants must have journalism degree and 6 years experience.
staff writer: (HR-SW2-12-05) Applicants must have journalism degree and 1 to 3 years experience.
sales executive (HR-SE-12-05) Applicants must be university graduates with, diploma in marketing and 2 years selling experience.
Apply by December 21 to the group human resource director at P.O. Box 49010-00100 Nairobi.

Also technical manager (HR-TM-12-05) at the nation media group. Applicants must be university graduates in engineering with media experience. Apply to the group human resource director at P. O. Box 49010-00100 by December 20.

Various
Kenyan jobs from jobsinghana.com (linked from YAP)
– General Manager
– Business Development Consultant Financial Services
– General Manager
– Production Manager Manufacturing and Production

Kenya Gazette issue

By request: Major portions of the Kenya Gazette are available online courtesy of Kenya Law Reports who post the notable directives by ministers and government officials while leaving out death/estate matters which take up ½ of a typical gazette issue. Hat tip: Kenyan Pundit

Telkom update: From the Kenya Gazette: Telkom Kenya moves closer to offering per second billing by first moving from billing calls every three minutes to per one (1) minute.

Mr. Minister, Sir!: Coming soon: A new Mercedes, to go with a new minister’s flag. Presenting the 2007 S-Class.