Category: Business Daily

The cost of connecting the country’s rural areas and slums to the electric grid is projected to rise by Sh165 billion, following waves of new settlements that will require the installation of new transformers.

As part of its constituency electrification programme, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec) expects to spend Sh22 billion on 15,325 new transformers alone between 2017 and 2030.

Africa steps into this new year standing at an inflection point, one defined not by what the world once promised to do for the continent, but by what Africa is now positioned to do for itself, and ultimately, for the planet.

The forces shaping the next decade, demographic acceleration, geopolitical realignment, economic restructuring, and ecological urgency, are converging in ways the world has never experienced.

Glencore Singapore Pte Limited and ChemChina UK Limited bought Turkana oil for $28.34 million (Sh3.65 billion at prevailing rates) under a scheme that was meant to test the appeal of the oil in the global markets.

Disclosures from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum show that ChemChina bought 240,150 barrels while Glencore took up the remaining 174,627 barrels. Both deals were closed between 2019 and 2022.

Pay-television firm Multichoice Kenya Limited has received the Court of Appeal’s approval to pursue a Supreme Court challenge in a dispute involving criminal prosecutions of architects and contractors arising from a Sh895 million collapsed commercial construction project.

The approval followed a ruling allowing the company to file a late application seeking permission to escalate the dispute to the apex court. The Court of Appeal held that Multichoice had satisfactorily explained why it missed the initial deadline for filing the certification application.

Each year, the world generates over 50 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste), making it the fastest-growing solid waste stream globally.

Much of this waste finds its way to developing regions, particularly in Africa, where regulation and infrastructure for safe disposal remain limited.

The consequences are severe: toxic substances seep into soil and water systems, informal recyclers are exposed to hazardous materials, and valuable resources such as metals are lost instead of being recovered.

Kenya is no stranger to this challenge. With rising digital penetration, a growing middle class, and the constant upgrading of devices, the country produces thousands of tonnes of e-waste annually.

Yet only a fraction is properly collected or recycled. The majority is either dumped in landfills or handled by informal recyclers operating without safeguards. This reality has sparked a growing conversation on the need for structured systems that balance environmental protection with economic opportunity.

One of the approaches gaining traction is the circular economy – a model that emphasises keeping products, components, and materials in use for as long as possible. Instead of treating discarded gadgets as waste, the circular economy reimagines them as resources that can be repaired, refurbished, or recycled.

Across Africa, circular practices are beginning to take root in sectors such as plastics, agriculture, and textiles. Now, the spotlight is increasingly turning to electronics.

In Kenya, collaborative partnerships are emerging to address this gap. Companies, recyclers, and community organisations are beginning to align efforts to both reduce the hazards of unmanaged e-waste and unlock opportunities for reuse.

For example, some manufacturers are partnering with licensed recycling facilities to channel obsolete ICT equipment into safe collection and disposal systems.

This reduces the risk of harmful substances entering the environment while also allowing valuable metals and components to be recovered.

At the same time, refurbishment of ICT equipment is creating a bridge toward digital inclusion. Schools, community institutions, and underserved populations often lack access to functional computers and devices because of cost.

Restored equipment offers a pathway to address this digital divide, giving students and communities access to tools essential for education and livelihoods in an increasingly digital economy.

Environmental experts argue that these interventions cannot be left to government regulation alone.

‘Circular economy partnerships are critical in Africa because the scale of the challenge is too big for any one actor,’ notes an independent sustainability consultant.

‘When businesses, recyclers, and community organisations come together, you not only address the environmental risks of e-waste but also create social and economic benefits.’

This shift aligns with Kenya’s green transition agenda, which emphasises sustainable industrial practices and responsible waste management as part of the country’s Vision 2030 goals. It also connects with global efforts under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Still, challenges remain. Public awareness about safe disposal options is low, and incentives for returning old devices are limited.

Infrastructure for collection and recycling is concentrated in a few urban centres, leaving much of rural Kenya underserved.

Addressing these gaps will require not only corporate action but also policy innovation, consumer education, and stronger enforcement of extended producer responsibility guidelines.

Despite these hurdles, the momentum is encouraging. Partnerships between industry players and recycling organisations in Kenya demonstrate that circular approaches are not abstract concepts as they can be operationalized.

When obsolete devices are collected, hazardous materials are neutralized, and refurbished equipment is redirected to schools, the ripple effects are clear: healthier environments, empowered communities, and a more resilient economy.

As Africa continues to grapple with the twin challenges of rapid digital growth and mounting waste, the lessons from the HACO – WEEE initiatives point to a broader truth: sustainability is most effective when it is collaborative.

The task ahead is to scale these efforts, embed circular practices into policy and business culture, and ensure that the story of technology in Africa is not just about innovation, but also about responsibility.

Kenya is banking on three power plants and increased supply from Ethiopia this year to boost its unused electricity capacity, commonly known as the spinning reserves, and avert widespread power rationing amid a fast-rising demand.

The State Department for Energy expects a boost from three geothermal plants in Menengai with a combined generation capacity of 70 megawatts (MW), the country’s oldest geothermal plant, whose output has been increased now generate 63MW, and imports from Ethiopia, which are expected to double to 400MW from December this year.

Africa steps into this new year standing at an inflection point, one defined not by what the world once promised to do for the continent, but by what Africa is now positioned to do for itself, and ultimately, for the planet.

The forces shaping the next decade, demographic acceleration, geopolitical realignment, economic restructuring, and ecological urgency, are converging in ways the world has never experienced.

The cost of connecting the country’s rural areas and slums to the electric grid is projected to rise by Sh165 billion, following waves of new settlements that will require the installation of new transformers.

As part of its constituency electrification programme, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec) expects to spend Sh22 billion on 15,325 new transformers alone between 2017 and 2030.

Many countries have invested significantly in the integration of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) into national health systems to improve accessibility of health services and achieve universal health coverage (UHC), expand and diversify health care markets, and protect and preserve cultural heritage, biodiversity, and intellectual property.

In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published its second Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine to serve as a compendium of TCIM policy, regulation, and practice with contributions from 179 member states.

In March 2022, WHO launched – with significant contribution from the Indian government – its first Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, India as a global knowledge centre with a strategic focus on evidence and learning, data and analytics, sustainability and equity, and innovation and technology to optimise the contribution of traditional medicine to global health and sustainable development.

Following GTMC’s launch and the subsequent Traditional Medicine Global Summit (TMGS) in 2023, an open policy window now exists to further support countries’ attempts to strengthen governance around traditional medicine and its integration.

WHO estimates that more than half of the global population lacks access to conventional medicine and the opportunity to avail themselves of modern healthcare services. In developing nations such as Kenya, the world health body reports that around 80 percent of individuals rely on traditional medicine (TM) for their primary healthcare needs.

A preference for natural or holistic approach, a desire for a high degree of autonomy in self-management, and a perception of absolute safety contribute to the rising use of TM products. Indeed, growing evidence continues to show the benefits of TM products in disease management in such cases as cancer, non-communicable diseases, and other serious illnesses.

The potential of TM products in managing pandemics such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, achieving UHC, and improving the overall quality of healthcare services further underpin the need for ensuring public health through a robust regulatory framework.

TM products also have important economic implications. The global market for such products is expected to reach $5 trillion (Sh645 trillion) by 2050, growing at annual rate of 7.0 percent.

The use of TM in Kenya is widespread particularly in rural areas. Studies by Good and Marshall estimate that the ratio of TM practitioners to patients in Kenya is about 1:378 in the rural areas and 1:833 in the urban areas. In contrast, the studies estimate that the overall trained medical doctor patient ratio is about 1:7,142.

The development and utility of TM remain low in the country on account of the many challenges it faces.

The main problems affecting this practice include stigmatisation due to poor perceptions and attitudes, inadequate efforts to conserve medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge, modernisation, exploitation of communities that own the knowledge, issues on safety, efficacy and quality, access, and lack of a national policy and regulatory framework.

However, a healthcare system struggling to cope with demand, high costs, and adverse effects of conventional therapy as well as increasing drug resistance, have all served to give TM a lifeline in Kenya.

Moreover, there has been a steady increase in the number of scientific work that continues to validate therapeutic claims on medicinal plants made by TM practitioners.

Keeping in step with global trends, the government has unveiled an ambitious plan to integrate traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system by 2028, marking a major shift in how the country approaches healthcare delivery, regulation, and cultural heritage.

The move aims to transform a long-standing informal practice into a regulated, evidence-based and collaborative health sub-sector, with practitioners working alongside conventional medical professionals within national health facilities.

The framework will be anchored on safety, scientific rigour, innovation and respect for indigenous knowledge, with strong protections for biodiversity and equitable benefit-sharing enshrined in the Constitution.

TM complements biomedicine by delivering holistic, person-centred, and culturally responsive care. It emphasises prevention and balance – body, mind, and environment – while addressing lifestyle and psychosocial factors often overlooked in conventional treatment.

Therapies like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and yoga are increasingly used alongside biomedical interventions to ease pain, reduce side effects, and improve quality of life for chronic conditions.

Additionally, TM offers trusted, accessible care where biomedical services are limited. Integrating safe, evidence-informed traditional medicine into health systems will expand primary health care and strengthen equity, while collaboration between biomedical professionals and TM practitioners builds trust and coordinated care.

Scientific study of traditional medicine can also unlock new therapeutic insights, creating synergy that improves outcomes and delivers truly comprehensive healthcare. Importantly, TM is often deeply embedded in the cultural practices and beliefs of Kenyan communities.

It reflects a rich history of knowledge passed down through generations, often in oral or experiential forms. This can foster a strong sense of identity and continuity in communities.

Kenya’s geological endowment presents a comparative advantage that, if efficiently leveraged, can catalyse sustainable economic transformation.

The country is endowed with mineral belts and deposits, including precious metals, strategic elements and rare earths spread across Kwale, Taita Taveta, Turkana, Kitui, the Mozambique Belt, among others.

The deposits encompass titanium, soda ash, limestone, gemstones, gold, rare earths, copper, niobium and construction and industrial minerals.