Musician Diamond Platnumz is among famous personalities who have landed jobs in the Tanzanian government.

The 'Zuwena' hitmaker has been appointed as a member of the Tanzania End Malaria Council, by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu.

The appointment was announced by Tanzania's Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu on Tuesday morning while marking the world Malaria Day.

" As you are aware in every 100 people in Tanzania 75% of them are under the age of 35 and it is this fact that has seen President Samia Suluhu appoint singer Diamond Platnumz  to the End malaria council as the youth representative and ambassador." said Mwalimu.

Added "Diamond has a following of over 15 million on social media and we believe his influence will help us in the campaign against malaria."

Another singer appointed to the council is Shilole who will also be representing her fellow female musicians and youth.

Mwalimu noted "Shilole has a following of over 9 million and we believe she will also be of help to our campaign."

The African Development Bank and ILX Management B.V. (ILX) signed a partnership agreement to scale up investments and spur institutional investor capital mobilization for Sustainable Development Goals and climate-focussed private sector projects in the Bank Group’s regional member countries.

The signing ceremony took place at the offices of ILX Management in the Netherlands capital Amsterdam.

ILX’s investors are the Dutch pension fund asset managers APG Asset Management, (on behalf of ABP and bpfBOUW) and Achmea Investment Management, (on behalf of Pensioenfonds Vervoer), with other Dutch and European pension fund participants in ILX successor funds expected to join in the future.

ILX Fund I provides a scalable $1 billion private credit investment strategy to be deployed across emerging and developing countries, co-financing with global Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) and other DFIs.

The cooperation arrangement enables the African Development Bank to deliver on its ambition to mobilize financial resources from institutional investors to bridge the significant financing gap required to meet the Bank’s High Five priorities: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

This partnership will allow the Bank and ILX to support non-sovereign operations in these key priority sectors. The High 5s are intrinsically linked to the SDGs.

At the same time, the arrangement offers ILX Fund pension fund participants the opportunity to benefit from the AfDB’s long-standing track record of successfully investing in key economic sectors across Africa.

All loan investments are SDG or Climate Finance-focused while offering attractive risk-adjusted returns, combined with robust environmental, social and governance (ESG) safeguarding.

APG Asset Management, the Netherlands’ largest pension provider, together with Achmea Investment Management have committed $1,050 million to Emerging Market private credit fund ILX Fund I, to invest in four key economic sectors; energy access & clean energy, sustainable industry & infrastructure, inclusive finance and food security.

ILX invests in loan participations arranged by Multilateral Development Banks and other leading DFIs in support of their SDG and Climate focused projects across the Emerging Markets and Developing Economies. 

ILX received grant funding in its development phase from: KfW, the German Development Bank, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

They strongly supported ILX's role in mobilising large scale pension fund capital for the leading MDBs and other DFIs in support of their SDG and climate-finance-related investments in emerging markets.

Hassatou N'Sele, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the African Development Bank Group, commented: “We are very pleased to be partnering with ILX to mobilize institutional capital with a Sustainable Development Goals focus. Our objectives are aligned, and the African Development Bank has a strong track record of structuring and financing projects with a strong development impact.” 

Manfred Schepers, Founder and CEO of ILX, said: “We are delighted to have established this strategic partnership. The launch of this partnership demonstrates AfDB’s strong commitment to engage actively with European pension funds, as a key partner in its mobilization effort and contribution to sustainable growth across the African continent. We look forward to a long-term partnership with AfDB on behalf of our pension fund investors, which are becoming key counterparts to finance SDG and climate-finance projects across the emerging markets.”

Kitty van der Heijden, Director-General for International Cooperation, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands said: “With this agreement, Dutch pension funds, ILX and the African Development Bank join hands to increase investments in the SDG and climate goals on the African continent. A very welcome step, as the challenges in achieving the SDGs, and the need to integrate the global climate commitments in African countries’ development pathways, are more urgent than ever.”

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is handing over Ujiplus back to the Terik Community who hold the indigenous traditional knowledge of the product.

The product, a deworming porridge, was an initiative of the communities’ schools.

The community had requested partnership with KEMRI to support in scientific formulation and clinical trials of Ujiplus, a unique porridge with herbal deworming properties derived from the communities’ traditional herbal practices.

Prof Elijah Songok, the current Acting Director General of KEMRI had taken up the community’s request for partnership and together with his team of researchers at KEMRI carried out safety studies of the innovation including clinical trials leading to the approval and licensing of the product for use in Kenya as a supplement to national schools deworming programs.

Ujiplus is made of ordinary porridge flour fortified with herbal extracts. Clinical trials done in various schools in Kenya indicated to be not only highly nutritive, deworms and clears child skin infections.

The processing of the product was done at Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI).

Through TEPAD, the community received funding from the Canadian Government (Grand Challenges Canada) and Africa Academy of Science to confirm the safety, efficacy and market potential of Ujiplus.

The children from the communities’ schools of Kapsengere, Kapko, Kipchemwon, Soi, Chepkurgung and Gambogi were the first to volunteer for the clinical trials that confirmed the safety and efficacy of Ujiplus.

“We are here to hand back the product to the owners” Prof Songok said while providing sample bales of Ujiplus to Kapsengere Primary School ECD children.

“We in KEMRI work with communities and whatever belong to communities we hand them back” We urge communities in Kenya who have unique herbal products that we can partner with to come forward and work with us. We will not take away your innovation. We are a public institution and serve communities.”

While receiving the sample products, John Bor Chairman of Terik Council of Elders thanked KEMRI and KIRDI on behalf of the community.

He requested the two institutions to continue the partnership with the community through TEPAD.

Elisha Abwao, the TEPAD project coordinator intimated that the project had registered a start-up company Terik Foods Ltd to mass produce Ujiplus and other value-added products, and that community members will be invited to apply for shares in Terik Foods when it is up and running.

“The community need not get worried about the Intellectual property rights of the innovation for Terik Foods has already patented the product with Kenya Intellectual Property Institute (KIPI)”, said a jubilant Abwao.

Stanbic Bank in partnership with Radio Africa are excited to announce the upcoming second edition of the Stanbic Yetu Festival, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 10th, 2023, in Nairobi.

Following last year's highly successful event, which offered attendees an electrifying musical experience, this year's festival will feature an exceptional lineup of both Kenyan and international Rhythm and Blues artists.

Stanbic Yetu Festival has announced the main headline act as Boyz II Men - one of the most iconic R&B groups in the music industry’s history.

The group has redefined popular music and continues to create timeless hits that appeal to fans across all generations.

The band has penned and performed some of the most celebrated and best-known classics of the past two decades.

The group's 4 Grammy Awards are just the tip of the iceberg.

Throughout their 25-year career, Boyz II Men have won an incredible nine (9) American Music Awards, nine (9) Soul Train Awards, three (3) Billboard Awards, and the 2011 MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

They have also won a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well and a Casino Entertainment Award for their acclaimed residency at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, which has been ongoing since 2013.

The group’s mega hits include “End Of The Road”, I’ll Make Love To You”, “One Sweet Day”, “Its So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday”, “Motownphilly” and “On Bended Knees”. We expect Kenya to witness the greatest music show this year.

Kenya is the first leg of their first ever Africa tour.

They will also perform in Uganda and South Africa.

The concert will also showcase some of the best Kenyan Dj’s including DJ G-Money (Conrad Gray), DJ Forro (Andrew Waititu), Dj Shaky (Allan Wainaina) , DJ Grauchi (Zacchaeus Ngani), CNG (Charles Githumbi) and DJ Cream ( Derrick Kamau).

The first edition of the Stanbic Yetu Festival took place last year with multi award winning star, Anthony Hamilton together with Otile Brown and June Gachui.

The event was highly successful with most attendees voting it “the best organized music event in Kenya”.

Stanbic Bank and Radio Africa Group through The Stanbic Yetu Festival seeks to leverage music, a powerful human connector, to bring to life Stanbic’s brand promise “IT CAN BE” by creating a soulful and magical live musical experience in Kenya.

The Government has made good its pledge to KEMRI by advancing Kes. 100 million to establish a training hub for vaccine manufacturing in the country.

The pledge for funding was made by President William Ruto during his recent tour of Brussels in Belgium during which the president announced Kenya’s commitment to have local training hub for manufacturing of vaccines and other medical products as a top priority for his government.

The funding to KEMRI will be used to recruit the first cohort of trainees in vaccine manufacturing who will include highly talented graduating students from local universities competitively recruited to join KEMRI for the programme.

As part of the curriculum, the trainees will be attached to vaccine manufacturing companies in Europe, Korea and Japan to for in-depth practical exposure.

The program shall also recruit Kenya postdoctoral fellows from the diaspora to work with KEMRI to carry out Research and Development Projects under KEMRI scientists on vaccine development.

 “We have a very highly talented team of Kenyans out there in USA, Canada, Europe among others who are completing or have completed their PhD programs in vaccine and drug research that KEMRI will be reaching out to,” Prof. Elijah Songok, Acting Director General, KEMRI said while welcoming the government’s move to fund the initiative.

“Many of them are looking for a way to contribute to such home initiatives but there has been limited platforms for engagement. KEMRI shall provide one such an avenue,’’ Prof. Songok intimated.

Apart from the lessons learnt from the COVID-19, Kenya is racing against time to be self sustainable in vaccine. GAVI (Global Vaccine Initiative) the organization that has been supporting Kenya and other countries to access affordable vaccines for their Immunization programs shall cease support from 2027.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs Arts and Sports and Trace Eastern Africa Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate in youth development.

The objective of this MOU is to establish a framework for cooperation between the Parties in the field of youth development to provide platforms that equip the youth with the requisite skills and knowledge in the creative industry, enabling them to become competitive in the job market.

The partnership aims to promote and maintain the existing relationship between the two Parties, recognizing the importance of sharing available resources in the two institutions.

The transformative power of delivering programs that empower the youth with practical work and life skills, and enabling them to be easily absorbed into mainstream economic activities was also acknowledged.

Under the MOU, the Ministry and Trace will collaborate to provide opportunities for the youth to get the requisite skills and knowledge, specifically in the creative sector, equipping them to become competitive in the job market.

The Parties will not be compelled to work exclusively for or with the other under this MOU.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, The Arts and Sports Ababu Namwamba praised the partnership as a significant step towards empowering the youth and creating an enabling environment to nurture and empower the youth in Kenya.

“The agreement will start with the first cohort of 15 top talents who will benefit from scholarship in form of training, progressing them through the recording conveyor belt and unleashing them to the world, once ready, through the TRACE platforms.” He said

He also spoke to the opportunity that Trace, as a global company, presents to the creative industry through distribution of Kenyan music through all its clusters and enabling artistes earn royalties from those countries.

On his part, the Managing Director, Trace Eastern Africa, Mr. Danny Mucira expressed the company's commitment to providing technical support and capacity building of the Ministry staff where needed.

"We are going to be able to look at how we use Music to drive inclusivity for young people by creating a platform where we discover talent, expose talent internationally and enable them to commercialize their creativity in markets beyond Kenya and East Africa."

“Our commitment is to provide and input content with a Kenyan perspective dynamic that empowers our young people with skills that enable them to succeed, stand up and shine, not only in Kenya but also from a global economic perspective," he added.

He also reiterated that Trace would provide necessary liaison, allocate staff time, create awareness, coordinate cross-ministry efforts, provide skill absorption opportunities, and provide necessary training through its Trace Academia free online application to ensure the goal of this MOU is achieved.

Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has cited health challenges to the reason he has been absent in the anti-government protests steered by the Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

The Orange democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader on Friday revealed that he stayed away from the anti-government protest because he underwent surgery that he said could not allow him to actively participate in the civil unrest, championed by his party leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking in Mombasa after Iddu lfitr prayers, Joho however said his heart is deeply embedded to the Azimio ideologies and that of ODM leader Raila Odinga.

"I went through  some surgery, I am recovering and that is the main reason why you have not seen me where you should see me but I want it to be known that I’m 100 percent fully subscribed to the ideologies of Azimio and that of Raila Amolo Odinga, Mimi ni ODM na ODM ni Mimi,."said Joho.

Joho regretted that he couldn't take part in the demonstration that are aimed at bringing down the cost of living.

He slammed the Kenya Kwanza government for it's continued rhetoric instead of delving on serious matters affecting the public.

"The reason why we are going on the streets is because life has become unbearable, people are suffering yet the government is playing politics, they should act as a government you can't keep on talking, you must act," said Joho.

Joho has been missing in action since the last general election where Azimio leader lost to Kenya Kwanza administration.

The government has declared Monday, July 11, a public holiday.

In a gazette notice released today, Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki said the public holiday will be to mark Idd-ul-Fitr.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (I) of the Public Holidays Act, declares Friday. 21st April. 2023, shall be a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr,” read the notice.

Muslims in the country are expected to start the exercise of sighting the crescent moon onThursday evening, to mark the end of the holy month of Ramdhan.

Kitui Flour Mills, the parent company for wheat and maize flour brand Unga wa Dola has launched a new edible oil brand, Dola Cooking Oil the latest addition to its portfolio as part of its strategy to diversify in a bid to meet consumer demands for high quality food.

The launch of the edible oil to be manufactured in Kilifi County has spurred the local economy with creation of jobs at the company’s Vipingo-based plant.

“We are pleased to launch Dola cooking oil which demonstrates our commitment to the Kenyan market as a company rooted in Kenya for over 50 years,” said Kitui Flour Mills Finance Director Anwar Bajaber.

The company notes as living standards rise, consumer demands for safe, high-quality food is evolving in Kenya, seeing potential to expand downstream to meet their expectations, leveraging our extensive experience and distribution network to provide safe, healthy and sustainable products through its value chain.

“We will continue to invest in and grow with Kenya, with a common vision of a safe, dynamic and innovative path forward in the food sector and are keen to continue to identify and pursue opportunities to do so working with our partners and stakeholders,” Bajaber added.

The edible oil market in Kenya is expected to progress at a CAGR of 13.37% in revenue and 4.75% in volume during the forecasting period 2023-2028 according to market intelligence firm Research and Markets.

Retail sales of edible oils continued to grow rapidly as edible oils are a kitchen staple that most local consumers continue to purchase. 

The growth rate in retail volume sales of edible oils will remain robust throughout the review period, aided by population growth, urbanization, and post-pandemic economic recovery.

Femi One, the super successful award-winning rapper, has just released her highly anticipated EP titled "Dame Toka Mwiki".

The EP, which features nine tracks, showcases Femi One's unique style and sound, and promises to be a hit among her fans and music lovers alike.

"Dame Toka Mwiki" is a testament to Femi One's artistry and versatility, with each track displaying a different aspect of her talent.

From the hard-hitting "Heshma" to the more introspective "Kulia Kushoto", Femi One's EP is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates great music.

Speaking about the EP, Femi One said, "I'm so excited to share 'Dame Toka Mwiki' with my fans. This EP is very personal to me, and I hope that it resonates with everyone who listens to it. I want to thank everyone who has supported me on this journey, and I promise to continue making great music."

Femi One has been making waves in the Kenyan music scene since she burst onto the scene in 2015. With numerous hits to her name, she has cemented her place as one of the country's most talented rappers.

"Dame Toka Mwiki" is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.