Arusha — Financing business ventures is one of key issues to feature prominently in next month's regional entrepreneurship conference.

The East African Business and Entrepreneurship Conference and Exhibition to be held in Nairobi.

The conference will also discuss manufacturing and infrastructure.

The event will provide an opportunity for businesses and governments to discuss ways of strengthening entrepreneurship in East African Community (EAC).

"One year after the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, we saw the need for a critical follow-up on the actual tangible impacts of initiatives like 'Trade Africa' or 'Power Africa' that have come along with large funds to promote entrepreneurship. This is why we will have two sessions on the opportunities and experiences to access those funds and on the requirements for other ways of financing," said EABC executive director Lilian Awinja. The conference is organised by the East African Business Council and investment agencies of EAC member states.

On the session, financial Institutions such Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) will elaborate on the key issues relevant for the financing of entrepreneurial enterprises.

By David Muchui

Twenty five cargo planes carrying miraa have left for Somalia after flights to Aden Adde International Airport resumed on Wednesday.

The spokesman of Nyambene Miraa Traders Association (Nyamita) Kimathi Munjuri said that business was back to normal after a one-week suspension.

On Wednesday, only two cargo planes went to Mogadishu due to lack of sufficient supplies.

"The 25 planes, all full to capacity left for Somalia today (Thursday). The demand was very high following the suspension," Mr Munjuri said.

He, however, said miraa traders were waiting for answers on concerns emerging from the recent suspension of flights by the Somali government.

Mr Munjuri had earlier said that miraa traders lost about Sh500 million in the seven days that cargo flights to Mogadishu were suspended.

"Only five planes have been operating when the Somalia government cancelled cargo flights last week. For the first three days, there were no significant flights as traders were reorganising themselves," Mr Munjuri said.

In the last one week, cargo planes ferrying miraa have been using Galcaio, Las Anod, Bassaso and Baladweyne airports in Somalia.

More than 15 cargo planes deliver the stimulant to Mogadishu every day.

By Atul Shah

To fully appreciate why cyber crime merits a robust and well-coordinated security and policy response, one has to look no further than the billions that cyber criminals siphon each year from the Kenyan economy.

Kenyan companies conservatively lose Sh15 billion annually to cyber crime but this figure could be significantly higher, considering that most victims are not even aware that they are vulnerable.

A recent study on the state of cyber security in Kenya shows that 70 per cent of Kenyan businesses are vulnerable to cyber crime, yet most of them are ignorant of this.

The government is the most vulnerable to cyber criminals, according to the report. Banking is a close second due to its increasing reliance on technology and third parties to perform and enhance management and transfer of money. Financial services and mobile banking are ranked third in vulnerability.

The prospect of more than Sh15 billion being stolen each year through shadowy digital networks is terrifying, especially in an economic environment where private and public entities are forever grappling with budget constraints.

Part of the reason for the growing prevalence of cyber crime in Kenya is the country's increasing digitisation, which has inadvertently exposed Kenyans to these crooks.

Furthermore, key stakeholders do not fully appreciate the full range of the risks they are exposed to or how to mitigate them.

The cyber security policies instituted in most Kenyan companies do not reflect the magnitude, complexity, and full range of risks they face. This hit-and-miss approach can be costly.

For instance, many organisations embrace the bring-your-own-device trend without factoring in the risks. This policy permits employees to bring personal mobile devices (laptops, tablets, and smartphones) to the work place and to use them to gain access to privileged company information and applications.

COMPROMISE CYBER SECURITY

Granted, this can help save costs and even act as an incentive to younger employees. However, it can compromise cyber security. Staff can access proprietary company information on their personal phones, including passwords, and share it with third parties either intentionally or unknowingly.

It is no surprise that employees (insider threats) account for 80 per cent of data-related fraud in Kenyan companies. Data fraud can include leaking sensitive confidential information or sharing trade secrets with competitors, both of which can cost billions in terms of reputational risks, lost business opportunities, and litigation.

Companies, therefore, need to be aware of the loopholes and understand how to seal them, while still giving their staff the privilege of using their own devices. Specialist risk managers can help seal these loopholes as well as other more complex ones.

The need for companies to contract specialist risk managers who can cut through the complexity of cyber security and deliver practical mitigation guidelines cannot be overstated.

No company is too big to be hacked. Leading US bank, J.P. Morgan, whose $235 billion market value is more than 10 times the $20 billion combined market value of all the listed firms on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, was not spared. The bank suffered a high-profile hack in August 2014, just two months after it had committed $250 million to cyber security.

Kenyan companies need to start making significant budgetary allocations to cyber security. More significantly, they need to understand that they cannot secure their businesses against cyber criminals through sporadic one-off spending. Mitigation efforts have to be consistent and long-term as cyber criminals are constantly evolving to beat the system.

Cyber security is no longer an IT challenge; it is a broader problem for individuals, businesses, and governments. This is a topic that needs detailed discussion if the loopholes through which more than Sh15 billion is stolen by cyber criminals each year are to be plugged. Mr Shah is the chief executive officer, PKF Kenya.

BLOG

By Samantha Cole

Today is exactly one year since public reports of the UN 2015 Geneva "criticism" of Canadian Mining Companies.

On September 15, 2015, online media reports exposed the UN Human Rights Committee discussions in Geneva, Switzerland in which there was much focus on the activities of mining companies from Canada.

In the usual non-committal manner in which the UN does everything, the Human Rights Committee "addressed a series of concerns" about the problems caused by Canadian mining companies who operate mines around the world.

Was that was the best they could do?

Only to address concerns?

Women are being raped, men are being killed, village homes are being destroyed, environments are being poisoned, in certain areas in the world, these Canadian mining companies are causing devastation and misery beyond description and the most these UN officials were able to come up with, was that they "addressed a series of concerns".

In an article published by "The Diplomat" on September 15, 2015, reported:

•  Barrick Gold, were allegedly involved in a mass rape of 137 local women aged between 14 and 80 in Papua New Guinea.
• Acacia Mining (Barrick's daughter mining company in Africa) were liable, "through complicity, for killing and injuring of locals at the North Mara mine by police guarding the mine," … .
• Violence at the North Mara project was allegedly perpetrated by mine security and local police… ..
• Likewise, allegations of extreme violence, killings, and the mass rape targeting local women in Papua New Guinea, where Barrick Gold has managed the Porgera mine… ..
•  Barrick Gold's (practices) was also called out by the local alliance Justice Foundation for Porgera for the "catastrophically changed" subsistence and livelihoods of landowners in Papua New Guinea.

It is undisputed that the Canadian Government has ignored the complaints about mining companies operating overseas. The Government is perfectly aware of the public scandals of mining companies involving illegal activities such as corruption, bribery and fraud,not to mention murder, violence, rape, environmental disasters, etc – but they take no notice.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have a special unit to investigate Canadian companies operating overseas who are reported to be involved in corruption or fraud or other illegal activities. The RCMP will bring these Canadian mining giants such as Barrick Gold to account for their corruption and fraud activities overseas.

Similarly, in the UK, the Serious Fraud Unit (SFO) have been very successful in the past year cracking down on British companies who are guilty of corruption, fraud and other such crimes in Africa.

Acacia Mining, Barrick's daughter company, has had a shocking run over the past 14 months in Tanzania since Bloomberg first published the story of the US$ 115 million case that Acacia are facing from the local mining company, Bismark Hotels (Mining) Limited for financial damages arising from Acacia losing Bismark's mining concession. In this case, allegedly, Acacia is also involved in a very serious case of possible corruption and fraud involving at least one or more officials in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

If that was not enough this year, they have also been found guilty of tax evasion to the tune of US$ 41 million. And, the headaches continued with the public lambasting of their company in the Tanzanian Parliament.

There is more (like 255 legal cases against them) but let's not labour the point… .

Needless to say, our friends in the UN Human Rights Committee have not taken any notice of the crimes and illegal activities by Barrick Gold and Acacia Mining:

In 2015:

Chile, Dominican Republic, Philippines, USA, England, Papua N Guinea, Canada, Tanzania, Argentina.

In 2016:

Dominican Republic, Tanzania; Argentina; USA, Papua N Guinea.

All around the world, these two mining companies are causing havoc, distress and misery.

Human Rights Watch published this report last year:

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ToxicWastes/RightToInformation/HRW.pdf

The report states clearly that Barrick Gold are known for problems involving human rights and hazardous substances and wastes. In addition, the report exposes "Barrick Gold had also not been transparent… .. " and "sexual violence".

Will someone in the UN Human Rights Committee stand up, ONE YEAR later, and have the courage to say to Barrick Gold and Acacia Mining, who together making up the biggest gold miners in the world, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

In Swahili, we say TUMECHOKA!!

Are you, in the UN, all talk or do you really care ?

PRESS RELEASE

Illegal mining activities of serious concern to Mineral Resources Committee

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources is seriously concerned about ongoing illegal mining activities, which are rife in the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Mpumalanga. The Committee learned with shock from the media that some illegal miners are trapped underground at a derelict mine in Langlaagte, Johannesburg.

"Although the Committee is aware of the sophisticated nature of the syndicate involved in illegal mining activities, it remains adamant that through cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies, relevant government departments and the Chamber of Mines, illegal mining can be curbed," said Mr Sahlulele Luzipo, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources.

Throughout its oversight visit to illegal mining hot spots in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, the Committee discovered that foreign nationals make up a large proportion of those participating in illegal mining, and calls on the Department of Home Affairs to strengthen security at all ports of entry.

Mr Luzipo said that since illegal mining does not only take place at disused and derelict mines, it is incumbent on the Chamber of Mines to demonstrate effective self-regulatory measures. "They also need to play their part and show us how they are fighting the scourge in places where legal mining operations are taking place," he said.

Along with the strengthening of legislation dealing with illegal mining, the Committee believes that a multifaceted approach involving all relevant stakeholders will yield positive results.

The Committee further calls on all spheres of government to speak with one voice on matters of this nature, taking a cue from the Department of Mineral Resources as the overseer and policy custodian.

Issued by: Parliament of South Africa

By Otiato Guguyu

NSE-listed Flame Tree Group is betting on the Mozambican economy by putting up a water tank manufacturing plant.

The manufacturer and distributor of plastic tanks, cosmetics and snacks announced the opening of its new water tank facility, a branch of Rino Tanques Lda, in Nampula, to serve the northern part of Mozambique.

The firm's managing director, Heril Bangera, said Tuesday that the company has not been able to cater for the northern part of Mozambique, adding that the move will now strengthen its market reach.

Previously, deliveries to northern Mozambique would take a turnaround time of 8 days to and from Maputo.

By Victor Juma

Motor dealer DT Dobie is set to start assembling Volkswagen vehicles, including light trucks, at the Thika-based Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers plant in which it has a 32.5 per cent stake.

The company, which took over the VW franchise from CMC Holdings, has been importing the German vehicles fully built from markets such as South Africa.

Volkswagen South Africa CEO Thomas Schafer said the German multinational will later this year start assembling some of its models in Thika, having stopped local assembly in the 1970s.

"We were in Kenya in the 1960s and 1970s and resuming operations here is part of our Africa strategy," Mr Schafer said in a statement.

"The Volkswagen Group is excited to be here and we will start operations immediately."

Mr Schafer signed an agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch VW's local assembly at the Thika plant where the government has a 35 per cent stake.

The other shareholder in the plant is CMC Holdings whose equity is 32.5 per cent.

Among the VW models to be assembled are light trucks and the Vivo — a passenger car that will be the first to be put together locally.

"I am happy to welcome back the Volkswagen Group, currently the largest car manufacturer in the world, back to Kenya," Mr Kenyatta said in a statement.

By Elisha Otieno

Doctors in Migori have threatened to begin street protests over delayed promotions barely a week after nurses demonstrated about similar grievances.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) has already issued a seven-day strike notice to the County administration.

"We want immediate promotion of all doctors and all arrears paid. And this includes our consultants who the county administration has stagnated citing lack of vacancies," read part of the notice signed by Dr Ouma Oluga, the union's national secretary-general.

The notice continued: "We need employment of more doctors to address staff shortage because currently we have only 48 doctors and 10 of them are in school… we further demand that salaries be paid latest third of every month, failure to which no doctor will report for duty."

The planned strike will further plunge the health sector into crises however the union's Migori branch chairman said they are ready for dialogue.

"We are ready for constructive dialogue before the expiry of the strike notice otherwise we are set for the industrial action," said Dr Joseph Otieno.

The County's health officers said they "were still monitoring the situation before responding appropriately".

"Their promotions are already being addressed because we just promoted nurses. This strike is just calculated to paralyse health services in this county, and they do not have any basis to down tools," said a Health official who requested for anonymity.

When the 550 nurses went on strike operations in the 209 facilities were affected forcing residents to be transferred to private hospitals.

The county government sought temporary court orders that stopped the strike, pending the hearing and determination of the matter at the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

But some of the nurses said "although they will be physically present in the hospitals due to the court order, we do not have the morale to work until the matter is heard and determined".

Lady Justice Monica Mbaru of the Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered the respondent – Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) members to return to work immediately, pending the hearing and determination of the petition made by the county administration.

Mr Tom Kwanga, the county's legal officer, sought the court orders after the nurses remained adamant on their demands, even snubbing a meeting with Governor Okoth Obado.

Edited by Philip Momanyi

A group of disgruntled mineworkers who travelled from Kuruman to Centurion have vowed to stay at their employer's headquarters until their salaries have been paid.

The mineworkers, who have been staging their protest since last week Tuesday, claim the directors of Diro Resources have failed to pay them their salaries since April.

"From Tuesday we've been demanding our salaries from our directors but they ran away," said Lesego Seleke, who is one the 36 protesters who travelled the 530km to Gauteng by taxi.

Last week, a group of mineworkers took the company's chief financial officer hostage but released him following an agreement for all directors to meet with them over their demands.

Seleke said they have since been told that the company was under business rescue and that they would be compensated once the process had been completed, but that on Friday, when a potential investor offered to pay for their salaries the directors rejected the offer. The mineworker said their bosses have not pitched for work at their Centurion offices the entire week.
 

"These people have run away from us, we know they have been deducting money for UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund], medical aid and retirement yet that money doesn't appear with the relevant institutions. They are crooks, used us and left, now nowhere to be found," Seleke told News24.

"We've just been living in hope; our children no longer go to school because we can't afford it. Last week a colleague's child died we couldn't even contribute to the funeral."

Nine women are also taking part in the protest.

EFF lending a hand

The group has the support of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Northern Cape, which says it's also been struggling to get in touch with the directors of Diro Resources.

"The reality is that those workers are angry; the company has not been paying them for some months now. We support their decision to go and demand their salaries," said NUM regional co-ordinator Lucas Phiri.
 

He also claimed their attempts to assist have not been successful because the employers are nowhere to be found.

"We are also looking for the employers; if you find them please tell them NUM also wants to talk to them."

An Economic Freedom Fighters branch in Centurion has become involved in the matter. The party says the workers approached it asking for help.

"We felt they couldn't be left on their own without any support. So we've decided to help in whichever way possible; make sure they get food and help with trying gather more information regarding their situation," said EFF Tshwane south convenor Lephoho Thato Motloung.

Several attempts to contact Diro Resources by phone and by text message were unsuccessful at the time of publishing.

Africa's foremost thinkers on migration will convene in Addis Ababa for the Tenth African Development Forum (ADF) in Addis Ababa Ethiopia from 15-17 November on the theme, “Migration and Africa’s transformation.” Jointly convened by the Economic Commission for Africa in partnership with the African Union and the African Development Bank, the Forum has become a unique platform for business, civil society and political leaders to thrash out some of the most pressing issues relating to Africa's transformation.

“The theme stems from the recognition of the central role of migration as an important enabler for inclusive and sustainable development. We seek to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the role of international migration in promoting inclusive growth and transformation in Africa,” says ECA’s Chief Economist and Deputy Executive Secretary, Abdalla Hamdok.

Mr. Hamdok adds that the forum will provide an opportunity for African policy makers to analyze issues, review progress, discuss policy options, strengthen partnerships and explore consensus on devising suitable strategies for making migration work for Africa’s transformation.

“The central premise guiding the discussions at the Forum is that international migration plays a critical role in the continent’s endeavor to develop and improve welfare, peace and stability and provide jobs for our growing population,” he underlines.

He notes that Migration continues to shape dynamics across countries with the youth, mostly migrating in search of jobs and education.

The issue of migration has become a major subject of debate internationally. According to experts, some reports in the media have fed into existing stereotypes, especially on the numbers of Africans leaving the continent, the links to criminality, global asylum and related issues. This has entrenched a lopsided approach to the issue. Mr. Hamdok expects the Forum to elevate the discussion and aim to emerge with a deeper understanding of the issue.

Expected at the 10th edition of the ADF are African Heads of State and Government, policy makers, representatives from development partners, UN agencies, academia, civil society organizations and the private sector. A number of parallel events will take place from 13-14 November, whose aim will be to shape the outcomes of the Forum.

As in past such Forums, a consensus on a number of key questions of regional mobility on the continent, demographic dividend, skills and employment creation is expected. In addition, participants are expected to touch on leveraging human and financial resources of Africa’s diaspora and address new directions and trends in African migration.

The African Development Forum (ADF) is a flagship biennial event of the Economic Commission for Africa that offers a multi-stakeholder platform to debate, discuss and propose concrete strategies for Africa’s development.

The Forum is convened in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and other key partners to establish an African-driven development agenda that reflects consensus on African development matters.