- By Mwangi Sammy Kenya electricity generating company, KenGen, is set to reduce dependence on emergency power following improved water levels at the Seven Forks dams as a result of enhanced rainfall in the catchments. The level of Masinga Dam, the main reservoir of the Seven Forks cascade has gone up from 1041.3 metres above sea level as of January 1, 2010 to 1052 metres by April 12, 2010. The improved hydrology has enabled KenGen enhance the performance of the company’s hydro-power stations in the Eastern region from 6 Giga Watt Hours to 8.75 Giga Watt Hours (GWH) per day. “The enhanced hydropower generation has in effect displaced the expensive thermal emergenc…

- The Kenyan Government has committed itself to compensating the country's leading mobile phone service provider Safaricom, the fee it paid for the 3G licence, if the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) decides to lower the fee or scrap it. With Safaricom paying US$25 million to the CCK for the 3G licence, the new players in the mobile telephony sector, Orange, Zain Kenya and Essar Telkom have petitioned the CCK to scrap the fee, saying that it is too high. On its part, Safaricom through its Managing Director Michael Joseph has insisted that if the fee is scrapped or reduced, the company should be refunded the US$25 million. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infor…

- The world economic crisis has changed business mindsets across the globe with new markets now being considered in trying to cushion the effects of a similar crisis in future. One such market, Africa, where the economic crisis came as an aftershock, is now getting economic suitors. The Muslim World which has for long been seen through the eyes of its radical religious and political stances is now seeking a binding economic relationship with the African continent. According to the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation, Africa has a tremendous capacity to develop into a recognizable economic powerhouse in the foreseeable future. In light of the recent financial crisis and wit…

- In a bid to boost sales, Toshiba has appointed Mitsumi as the official distributors of its products in the Eastern Africa region as well setting up a sales and support office in Nairobi, Kenya to facilitate easy operations. The partnership will among other things enhance after-sales backup and support for Toshiba customers within the region. The partnership will also enable Mitsumi to have direct access to official Toshiba stock that is air freighted in from Germany and South Africa, which will cut down on time between placing an order and having it delivered to PC resellers. Toshiba management said it settled on Mitsumi due to its large retail network and expects to net some US$20,…