Category Archives: Nairobi City Council

This Nairobi life

Cooling on pesa point: Several banks recently signed on to be a part of the Pesa Point ATM network, and now they are passing on the charges to the customer after a brief free trial period. If I use a pesa point ATM it will cost me 30 shillings per transaction, which negates the attractiveness of the flat fee banking concept which I signed on for. Henceforth, I will only use pesa point ATM’s for emergency withdrawals.

Development freeze: The Nairobi City Council has suspended proposals for property conversions / development activities (e.g. to apartments & offices) in Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Thompson, Lavington, Riverside and Westlands for a period of six months while it reviews the development policies which have transformed (and some say destroyed) these Neighbourhoods.

No escape: Plans for a Christmas holiday at the Coast may be put on hold because all major hotels have been fully booked, leaving no space for domestic tourists.

No water: The city could face a serious water shortage after talks stalled between a water company and its workers.

But there are opportunities:

Job: In the position of the finance officer at the national anti corruption campaign steering committee of the ministry of justice and constitutional affairs. Applicants must have b.com degree, CPA (K), 5 years experience, and good knowledge of the Government of Kenya and development partners’ finance and accounting systems. Apply to the director, P. O. Box 72546-00200, Nairobi by December 16.

Consulting:  Opportunities at the Tourism Trust Fund (link fixed) in the fields of business planning, marketing planning, legal, environmental impact, quantity surveying, project monitoring & evaluation, architectural services, civil & structural engineering, landscape design & architecture, financial planning and conservation. Contracts are for one year with the possibility of renewal and application dossiers can be obtained by emailing info@ttkenya.org with “panel dossier – standard” in the subject line, with your name and address in the message only. Closing date for applications is December 14.

Help improve the business climate

You (the public) are invited to comment/recommend which of the 1,300+ licences required of businesses in Kenya should be deleted or simplified. E-mail your views to licenses@tradeandindustry.go.ke by December 2 and a complete list of licenses can be accessed on page 5 of this link.

PDF Roll

Start a Bank in Kenya
The Central Bank of Kenya has published an updated list of new prudential guidelines that cover the licensing of banks and which ensure that depositors funds are safeguarded.

Future banking trends
According to IBM, key trends that will drive global banking in the future will include;
– Customers taking control
– Specialized niche competitors
– A new workforce
– Regulated transparency
– Sharply focused technology

High flyer
Here’s a summary of a 2004 report which ranked Kenya Airways as the 7th most profitable airline in the world. An extensive report on KQ’s recent performance appeared (amid the referendum dust) in the Nation on Tuesday.

Cashing Out
Top shareholder are cashing in their gains at the Nairobi Stock Exchange including one Kapchorua’s top 3 – selling 480,000 shares at 170 shillings (81.6m) and one of Barclays top 10 shareholders – selling 600,000 at 265 shillings (159m).

New court
In an update to the residents lawsuit against the Nairobi City Council, a valuation court has now been set up to hear objections in about 8,500 cases raised by tax payers to the new rates. It was quietly gazetted by the Minister for Local Government in September, comprises 10 members (10 members – 3 lawyers, 4 valuers, 3 professionals) and will begin sitting from December 6th at City Hall, Nairobi.

jobs

Country manager at Africa Now (enterprising solutions) based in Kisumu. Apply by December 2 at info@africanow.org and check for further details at their site.

Paralegals – 13 positions at the Legal Resources Foundation Trust (LRF), to work at prisons in Nairobi, Thika, Kitale, Nakuru, Kisumu and Meru for 6 months beginning in January ‘06. Applicants should have certificate in paralegal/human rights training from a reputable institution, diploma in community development or social work and at least one year’s experience in community or social work, among others. Apply to info@lrfkenya.org by November 25.

R&R

WC to Malindi: Newly crowned F1 champion Fernando Alonso and his Renault team will return visit to Kenya in December. This has become an annual event that involves team building and physical training at the Malindi estate of the team principal Flavio Briatore.

TV debate: The Media Owners Association has convened a debate on the proposed draft constitution which will be broadcast on most of the major television and radio stations on Tuesday, October 18, at 7:30 PM. Members of the Cabinet from both fruit camps will answer questions sent ahead by members of the public via e-mail. In the countdown to the 2002 general elections attempts were made to have a televised debate featuring the presidential candidates, but which didn’t take place since the big two candidates, Uhuru Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki, never committed.

Good week for investors: Last week saw the completion of a successful rights issue by Uchumi, confirmation of the Kengen IPO for 2006, and partial privatization of the management of the Kenya & Uganda railways by a South African firm after an extensive bidding process. Meanwhile, right issues have emerged as the preferred investment vehicle for privatizing state companies as they enable firms to raise new capital, gain new shareholding & management and reduce government ownership – since the government opts not to take up its allocated rights – this happened at KCB, Uchumi, and next at KPLC.

Paint obsession: The Nairobi City Council wants the City to look good but only in terms of appearance. They have issued a notice to building owners who don’t paint their dilapidated buildings – which the council considers to be a nuisance – or they will be fined 1,500 shillings per day and charged in court under the publish health act. There are so many old buildings crumbling on the inside and with cracked sidewalks on the outside, that paint is the least of their problems. The Council has also taken to painting road markings, while not really bothering with potholes or pavements.

Debt Relief: The Kenya Planters Coffee Union (KPCU) has again extended its debt moratorium window, this time by 3 months to December 31. This is a waiver on all interest above 18% on coffee farmers debts accrued between 1992 and 2001. Enquiries can be made to the firms’ lawyers.

Tivo, Catholics and Mayor Dick

Catholic Church Insurance
According to the East African, the Nairobi Catholic Church has been licensed to start an insurance company, which it hopes will save it from paying out $20 million in premiums each year. This struck me as odd because I just learnt that, in Pakistan, drivers carry no car insurance, because one can’t insure “against the will of God” – which is what accidents are.

“TIVO” comes to Kenya
Also in the East African, Multichoice (K) expects to release personal video recorders on the Kenyan market by June 2006, which will allow viewers to record programs while watching others from their DSTV satellite dish packages.

Nairobian’s Revolt
Long before the constitution became a national debate issue, a group of Nairobians had taken on the Nairobi City Council charging that, since the City did not provide services, accountability, transparency, security, or enforcement of zoning laws residents should not pay any rates or taxes to the City and went to court with their fight. They are collectively known as “We Care About Nairobi DO IT!” and can be reached at P O box 66116 Nairobi Tel: 4447737,4448072 Email:wecandoit@wananchi.com Website: www.wecandoit.co.ke Office: Viking house near Pavement Restaurant & Westlands Roundabout. To show instant support of We Can Do It, court action against City Hall. SMS to 2929 on either Celtel or Safaricom plus your name. (SMSs are charged at 5/- above normal rate. A % of the cost goes toward the legal fund.) They are also open to associate membership at a cost; for individual, at an annual fee of Kshs 2. 000 and to institutions for an annual fee of Kshs 50,000

Westlands Roundabout

The much-derided traffic lights will be re-activated by the Nairobi City Council this month. They are part of a study being funded by a Japanese firm. Traffic jams up to 1.5 kilometres long and caused by the lights were measured during February/March when the lights were last used. No indication how long the study will continue, but maybe KISS FM will probably start another campaign to shut them down, as they did before.