WINKER

When the world was busy developing technology some decades ago, Africa slumbered and was left into the analogue world. Fast forward, the continent is forming its own revolution in technological development as it tries to catch up with the rest of the region. In Kenya for example, M-Pesa, Kenya's mobile payment system, has revolutionized mobile technology solution for millions and thereby providing many people with access to banking services wherever they are. The local innovations have since propelled Kenya to be ranked third in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2018 coming after South Africa and Mauritius and 80 globally. Catherine Kimani, a software engineer at Andela is in agreement that young developers have the potential to create solutions for Africans if encouraged to use their skills and intelligence. Catherine is a beneficiary of the Andela programme that identifies and nurture talent in software development. A first class BA graduate in computer...

After completing his Strategic Management Masters Degree course at the Kenya Methodist University (Kemu) in 2011, Mr. Abdul Aziz Omar applied for a government job and made it to the 30 shortlisted to attend the interview. He waited for interview dates and three months down the line, he received no communication. It is only through his trip to the local post office that he realized his appointment letter had been sent through the postal address. Abdul, now Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at M-Post sadly lost the job as the letter had indicated that if they didn’t hear from him in a week’s time; it would be assumed he was not interested. “It is through this disappointment that led us to co-found M-Post,” Says Mr. Twahir Mohammed, a Bachelors of Science degree in information Technology holder, a Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), with whom they schooled together at Sheikh Khalifa Secondary School in Mombasa. M-Post is a service that turns mobile phones into formal pos...

Voi, the largest town in Taita Taveta county in Kenya, has increasingly become a major tourist attraction place with both local and foreign tourists trooping to sample the major attraction places, with the greatest being The Tsavo East National Park, one of the largest parks in Kenya. Visitors also like to sample the traditional diet of the Taita (Main tribe in Voi), called Kimanga (a mashed combination of beans plus either cassava, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, or bananas), which is normally prepared during special occasions like weddings. This is accompanied by Mbangara, a Taita traditional drink made out of sugarcane, corn and cassava. “I just fell in love with the local delicacy, Kimanga during my visit to the town. Interestingly they use a special sauce called Mwachaka, to spice up the food” says Fred Maina, Founder and Incharge of Production at Mwachaka Group. Mwachaka is a Taita word meaning hot chili. The pepper is ground, mixed with natural spices and cooked to make a s...

Mark Twain, a renowned American comic writer once said “Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside. This saying goes a long way in confirming Kenya’s over reliance on Ugali ( a corn or maize flour meal prepared by stirring in hot water till it hardens ) as their main staple food, that every family puts on the table at least once every day. A research done by Assistant professor at Premier University in Bangladesh, Haradha Kumar on Food and Nutrition Scenario of Kenya in 2014 reported that maize is the basic staple of the Kenyan diet, accounting for about 65% of total staple food caloric intake. However, even as citizens continue to prefer the readily available meal, reports indicate that Kenyans eating Ugali are at high risk of malnutrition. The report by the Ministry of Health’s Safety Food Unit released in July 2018 shows that consumers are being deceived by manufactures who label their products as fortified- contain e...

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, things which can never be expressed in words, emotions which cannot be explained that easily. This means a picture can portray more information than words. A photograph may depict emotion, enabling the viewer to perceive the essence of the story without a word being written or spoken. Photography has since then evolved to the digital era where today in Kenya; it has been made easy by use of smartphones. However, a new trend of taking photographs during events is taking shape in Kenya, with the introduction of Picha Booth. This is a photo booth that allows you to capture photos in a fun and exciting way. It is hired out to clients for events such as weddings, birthday parties, showers, office parties and corporate events. Picha Booth is a relatively new concept in Kenya that was founded by one Nyambura Kinyori, a communications and marketing graduate who took a bold step to venture into this risky area.. However, the now Chief Executive...

Improvon Group, one of Africa’s most established logistics and warehouse property specialists, in partnership with Actis, a leading investor in growth markets, have announced the launch of Nairobi Gate Industrial Park. Located off the Eastern Bypass, the 103-acre development is aimed at offering state-of-the-art industrial and logistics accommodation for local and international companies, with quick access to key logistics and transport hubs such as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the Inland Container Depot. The park, dubbed ‘Next Level Logistics’, is a unique “build to suit” concept to Nairobi that has been necessitated by the demand for modern, flexible and efficient warehousing facilities. It offers flexibility and scalability for occupiers’ operational needs. The development is estimated to cost US$110 million USD (KES 11 Billion) by completion, according to Improvon CEO, Stefano Contardo Phase 1 of Nairobi Gate will be complete in the second quarter of 20...

Godfrey Mawira is an engineer with United Nations World Food Prgramme. He is also a researcher on sustainable energy and founder of Eco-mandate, a firm promoting renewable energy in Kenya. While on an assignment by UNWFP in Kakuma, one of the largest refugee camps in Kenya, he noticed massive deforestation by the refugees to use the trees for firewood. Kakuma hosts thousands of refugees fleeing from conflicts in their countries such as South Sudan, Somalia, democratic Republic of Congo and Sundan, among others. Kakuma suffers from pressure for demand for firewood which is the primary source of cooking and this has led to the massive exploitation of existing woodlots. In a bid to reduce deforestation, I did a research on alternative source of energy and that is how the Sun Bucket was born.” Says Mawira. The Sun Bucket is a portable cookstove that stores the sun’s energy and later used for cooking any type of meal Historically, Sun Buckets began as a student project at the Unive...