East Africa

East Africa

Details: Julius Mbaluto; East Africa; 27 February 2023; 487

Singida comes on stream this year

Shanta Gold Limited (AIM:SHG, OTC:SAAGF) has increased the total gold resource for its acreage in Tanzania and Kenya to just shy of 3.7mln ounces (oz), a three-fold increase in five years, it said.

Mining reserves or the most certain category accounted for 625,000oz, with its producing New Luika (NLGM) gold mine in Tanzania now having an estimated mine life out to early 2028.

Reserves also included 231,000oz from the new Singida operation in Tanzania, while the resources overall were boosted by 1.76mln oz from West Kenya.

Eric Zurrin, chief executive, said: “Exploration drilling at NLGM, resource and reserve definitions at Singida, and excellent progress at our high-grade West Kenya Project have all contributed to the impressive longevity and quality of Shanta's portfolio of East African gold assets.

“During 2022, Shanta has once again extended the life at NLGM with new reserves, now through to Q1 2028 from Q4 2026 (when measured at the end of 2021). This marks the fourth consecutive year in which we have extended the mine life by at least another year

“We spent US$2.1mln on exploration in Tanzania, less than half of that incurred in 2021 due to priority over Singida construction funding, returning overall 92,500oz of new reserves at NLGM.

“As Singida moves into production in the very near term and transitions from a cost centre to a cash generator, our exploration focus will pivot back to mine life extension in order to unlock long-term shareholder value.” Proactive

Details: Julius Mbaluto; East Africa; 27 February 2023; 383

North Kyoga regional police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Patrick Jimmy Okema. Photo | File

What you need to know:

Out of the 11 escapees, nine were pending in court and two were still under investigations.

Two police officers have been arrested following the escape of 11 suspects from lawful custody at Dokolo Central Police Station.

It is alleged that on February 23, 2023, at an unknown time in the night, the 11 suspects escaped from heavily guarded cells at the police station in Dokolo District.

The escapees include Raymond Ojok who faces charges of theft, Innocent Owiny (burglary and theft), Allan Adep (burglary and theft), Daniel Okwir (assault), Ivan Epong (theft of Shs1.2million), Michael Eboga (going armed in public), and Oscar Ebwor (malicious damage, criminal trespass and assault).

Others are Aron Oryee Aron and Patrick Ekadu, who all face charges of defilement, Ronald Okodi (being in possession of dangerous weapons and Isaac Okello (theft).

On Sunday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Patrick Jimmy Okema who is the North Kyoga region police spokesperson confirmed that “a case of escape from lawful custody has been registered at Dokolo Central Police Station under CRB 138/2023.”

In a press statement, Mr Okema said it was established that the doors to the cell were not tempered with.

“Rather, the suspects exited the cells by cutting one of the iron bars on the ventilators,” he explained to journalists.

He said two officers who were deployed for night duty as cell guards have all been arrested on charges of neglect of duty.

“The scene has been documented by the Scenes of Crime Officer, statements recorded from suspects (cell guards), files are being compiled on criminal charges and will be submitted to the resident state attorney for legal advice,” he added. By Bill Oketch, Daily Monitor

Details: Julius Mbaluto; East Africa; 27 February 2023; 1207

KIGALI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Torrential rains from March to May could trigger potential disasters in different parts of Rwanda, the country's weather agency has warned.

Rwanda Meteorology Agency said in its latest forecast that heavy rains of between 500 mm and 600 mm were forecast in parts across the country from March to May.

The forecast rainfall could potentially lead to disasters such as flooding, landslides, strong winds and other extreme weather-related events in some parts of the country, it warned.

It, however, also forecasted lighter rainfall in southeastern parts of the country, and most parts of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, from May 20 to 25.

The agency advised the general public, especially farmers to use the forecast for planning purposes in regard to crop planting, harvesting and management activities.

"Agriculture extension workers should encourage farmers to plant fast maturing varieties and adopt agricultural practices that increase or improve soil water holding capacity," it suggested.

Last year, at least 150 people were killed and 300 more injured in Rwanda due to disasters which included floods, landslides, windstorms, and rainstorms induced by climate change from January to September, according to information from the Ministry of Emergency Management. - Xinhua

Details: Julius Mbaluto; East Africa; 27 February 2023; 426

Taita Taveta executive secretary Shedrack Mutungi, UBA Kenya Bank CEO Chike Isiuwe, Devolution PS Teresiah Malokwe and Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Chairman James Mureu during the partnership between UBA Kenya Bank Limited and the State Department of Devolution event aimed at Launching The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program at Serena Hotel Nairobi on February 27 2023.
Image: WINNIE WANJIKU

Kenya has a market gap of Sh2.4 trillion for SME financing.

In Summary

•Since inception in Kenya 2015 The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program has disbursed equivalent of Sh394.8 million to a total of 692 Kenyan entrepreneurs

•UBA will jointly with the State Department of Devolution to open up this opportunity to start-ups and SME’s in every county.

Some 5,000 entrepreneurs in the country are set to benefit from a training and funding initiative in the 47 counties.

This is follows a partnership between United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the 47 counties where 100 Small and Medium Enterprises from each devolved unit will receive $5000 (Sh634,500) in capital to scale up businesses.

The grants will target entrepreneurs who have a business idea or an early stage business from the zero to three years.

UBA bank Kenya managing director Chike Isiuwe said the partnership will see the lender scale up its branch network to finance SMEs

“Through the program we will support MSME growth across the counties by providing secured and unsecured loans, business advisory and access to market and networks,” said Isiuwe.

The partnership will see UBA work with the counties and select development partners to support funding for county projects with special focus on health, infrastructure, water and sanitisation and education.

UBA working with the State Department of Devolution will open up the opportunity to start-ups and SME’s in every county.

Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Program lead Maureen Amakabane says it will take 12 weeks from training to disbursement of the funds.

“I think the goal is to try and see if 100 entrepreneurs from every county can apply for the programme. The seed capital that you receive is standard across Africa,” said Amakabane

The program has over the last seven years provided seed capital to 15,847 young entrepreneurs across 54 countries.

In 2021, the foundation says it disbursed $980,000 (Sh 111.8 million) to 196 Kenyan entrepreneurs.

Last year 207 beneficiaries from Kenya were awarded seed capital to grow their business.

“Over the years, agriculture is one of the leading industries that actually received the capital. And that's not based on any anything just because I think the foundation receives more entrepreneurs in the agricultural space,”

Since inception in Kenya in 2015 The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program has disbursed equivalent of USD $3,460,000 (Sh394.8 million) to a total of 692 businesses in Kenya. BY JACKTONE LAWI, The Star

Details: Julius Mbaluto; East Africa; 26 February 2023; 405

A photo collage of President William Ruto (left) and Azimio Leader Raila Odinga (right) KENYANS.CO.KE

The persistence and consistency of Azimio Leader Raila Odinga to keep the government in check has seen key political figures in Kenya Kwanza hatch ploys to tame the opposition chief.

President William Ruto’s government resorted to threatening international sanctions on Odinga should he continue with his anti-government protest rallies.

Some of Ruto allies like the vocal Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei want Odinga's privileges slashed for undermining the Kenya Kwanza regime.

"Kenya should suspend annual African Union(A.U) subscription until the full amount of money that Tinga used of 2B as an envoy of infrastructure. Next will be the removal of privileges of the office of the former Prime Minister eg cars, security, office," he affirmed.

ODM Party leader Raila Odinga addressing residents in Kakamega on February 25, 2023 TWITTER RAILA ODINGA

Odinga on his part has maintained that Ruto’s government is illegitimate and that his victory was snatched at the polls.

His overtures have seen him give the government a 14-day ultimatum to reduce the cost of living failure to which the country will be engulfed in mass action.

Kenyans.co.ke sought the opinion of political and governance experts on the implications of such a move.

Edwin Kegoli a political analyst, revealed that such a move would not impact Odinga as he had a thick political skin to survive.

“What would it cost Odinga if he is not to fly out or be treated as a special person abroad?" he paused.

"Odinga has been through worse in his political journey and such a move by the government would only embolden him and heighten his activities,” he added.

According to Kegoli, this is just a gimmick to embarrass and humiliate Odinga.

His sentiments were however refuted by Javas Bigambo who opined that Odinga was now facing a shrewd, tactful, persuasive and quick-footed politician in President Ruto.

“Odinga is a ferocious campaigner and political tactician, who has always made moves to survive and reinvent himself, however, he is also facing off with a shrewd opponent in Ruto,” he stated.

“It is easy to tell that termination of Raila's AU job was influenced. Raila is working hard to soil his credibility. He needs to have substantive grounds upon which to stand.

Secondly, he is being profiled as chaos oriented. He needs to front his claims with evidence for credibility. The lack of evidence is what made Supreme Court dismiss his claims as hot air,” he added.

Furthermore, according to governance and political analyst Martin Andati, Odinga had sent shivers in the Ruto administration.

“The Ruto administration is panicking about the activities of Raila hence resorting to sanctioning strategies. This gives Raila more impetus to push harder as it means he is making serious headway,” he observed.

Kenya Kwanza leaders are adamant that Odinga’s international recognition stand to suffer greatly if he continued with his threats against the government.

"It is not unusual for governments across the world to place sanctions on individuals and organisations with a high appetite for causing political and economic instability," Belgut MP Nelson Koech revealed.

According to Koech, the globalisation of markets and production means the international community has insurable interests in Kenya’s political and economic stability.

Odinga has since declared that the government has 11 days to act on his ultimatum on the cost of living.

Azimio principals led by Raila Odinga at Jevanjee garden during the National Prayer Day on February 22, 2023 TWITTER RAILA ODINGA By ANZUGIRA PEREZ, Kenyans.co.ke