Ndiho Media,LLC.

By Paul Ndiho

One of Kenya’s biggest stores – Uchumi, is planning to spread its footprint across east Africa.  The retail giant is bouncing back several years after it was declared bankrupt.  Uchumi hopes to open at least eight new branches by 2014, as it expands into Rwanda and South Sudan to tap into the growing middle-class market.

The African development bank says Africa has the one of the fastest growing middle class populations in the world.  Some financial experts attribute the growth to increased investments in the service sector– and sound economic and business policies.  As a result, both foreign and local investors are considering investing in Africa, especially in retail stores. Kenya’s Uchumi supermarkets is one of a kind, it is the only stocks-listed supermarket group in east Africa.

Jonathan Ciano, Uchumi’s chief executive officer says the company is preparing to tap into the growing middle class, and take the supermarket concept to communities that have never had one.

“We have cast our eyes even further, saying we want to have at least five more branches in Tanzania, additional branches in Tanzania, three more in Uganda and approximately six or seven in Kenya in the next two years. Minimum and that is what it is, we are counting on those that we have precipitated their growth, or they are building up or be determined.

Economic forecasters say investors expect Uchumi to perform better in the medium term, after making significant investments in branch expansion in the region over the past two years.

The company emerged from a four-year receivership in early 2010 and its shares were re-admitted for trading on the stock exchange in mid-2011.

The firm is still working on how it will get into Rwanda and south Sudan, but the first six stores to be opened elsewhere this year have been approved by the board of directors.  The C.E.O. says that the opportunities for retailers are not confined to big cities like Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

“Most of us are spoiled because we have been brought up in the cities – Kampala, Dar es Salaam, but we have our brothers and sisters who are 300 kilometers in the hinterland, who have never seen a supermarket and you open one there and you can see the excitement as they all get employed and embodied into it, quite interesting,”

Critics say that Uchumi’s sluggish sales in the last two months of 2012 sent pretax profits plunging by 35 percent– to $1.56 million dollars, for its fiscal first-half year that ended December.

However, Ciano dismisses those claims and says that the sales have been going on well, adding he expected that trend to continue and that the growth of the company showcases the numerous opportunities available in Africa.

“Africa was called the dark continent. They didn’t know the sun was right in the middle of Africa. It is a very bright continent, when you come to the infrastructure; it’s an ongoing development that is why we are developing countries.”

Some analysts say that both foreign and local investors have nearly tripled their shares in Uchumi since last year and the demand for quality products in supermarkets will continue to climb because more and more people are rising into the middle class.

By Paul Ndiho

One of Africa’s largest mobile phone companies is working on expansion plans that could see the firm spend billions of U.S. Dollars on the continent. MTN telecommunications group, which has a market value of over 30 billion dollars, is eyeing Africa’s data market– a market that has yet to be fully tapped.

Incorporated in 1994, MTN is arguably Africa’s biggest mobile phone company, operating in 21 countries. It also provides internet service to businesses in 13 countries, spanning three continents.  The Tele-communications giant is set to spend up to 8 billion dollars in acquisitions and investments on the continent.

MTN is also one of 15 telecom providers to make the cut to a second-round of bidding for an operating license in Burma, also known as Myanmar, according Sifiso Dabengwa, its chief executive.

“We still are looking at growth in terms of mergers and acquisitions opportunities; there are areas which we are keen on getting licenses. We are participating in the Myanmar licensing processes where they will license two operators, between now and June this year. There are some countries in Africa on the north coast that we would still be interested in going into and also other countries stand alone, which we believe have good opportunities which we can create value from.”

The south african-based mobile operator which has a market value of $34 billion is interested in acquiring a North African provider, to help diversify its earnings.  MTN expects to repatriate nearly 135 million of its funds tied up in Iran this year– and the company has been talking with the Iranian central bank and U.S. Authorities on returning its dividends without violating sanctions.

A U.S. Court has delayed a $4.2 billion lawsuit against it by Turkish rival Turkcell, pending a separate Supreme Court decision.  Turkcell alleges that MTN used corrupt practices to win an Iranian operating license.

However, an external committee appointed by MTN has, found the allegations to be false and that the company’s lawyers are confident that the Washington, dc court will throw out the case because it did not fall under its jurisdiction.

Still– the top executive says the data market in Africa is not being maximized and there is room for growth.

“Most of our markets are still under 10 percent, the key issue is that the penetration of devices that would drive data is still low, i think affordability of the devices is still a problem and as devices become more affordable, as prices come down, we will have more 3g handsets, more limited functionality smart phones, and that will definitely drive data. Internet penetration is still below 10 percent in most countries, so the opportunity is still very big.”

In 2010, MTN invested in fiber-optic cables, as well as growing its access to broadband capacity on undersea cables.  Analysts say that MTN predominantly uses independently owned outlets to distribute its products and services, but it also has its own branded stores.   The Tele-communications giant employs more than 34-thousand employees.

MTN recently received a license in Ethiopia to provide essentially all services other than standard voice calls.  The east African nation has a very limited Tele-communications industry.

By Paul Ndiho

Last months, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) welcomed its new member from the republic of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces (RSLAF). The advanced team joined Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti in the fight against al Shabaab. The 850-strong contingent will be deploying shortly into southern Somalia where they will operate alongside the Kenyan contingent.

Sierra Leone became the fifth African Country to join Amisom forces in Somalia, in the fight against al Shabaab a hardline Islamist group with links to al Qaida which has risen from obscurity to international prominence in the last couple years.

Critics of the Sierra Leonean government say the soldiers are needed back home to prevent possible violence, since they contend that their country is still recovering from the civil war that ended in 2002. Last month, while speaking to VOA, President Ernest Bai Koroma dismissed those critics and said that it was his country’s time to payback time to the international community.

“Now if we have gotten to a point wherein we have transformed our country from a warring country to a country that is moving on in development and growth, there is a need for us to support other countries who are now in the position that we were in some years back.”

The Sierra Leonean deployment will permit the Kenyan troops in Southern Somalia, to withdraw one battalion from the sector as per UN Security Council Resolution 2036 that was passed in 2012.

“We will be joining in the rest of the other contingents in AMISOM to ensure that we will be able to implement the African Union mandate in Somalia. The peace process is currently on enforcement; however the news is telling people that Somalia is getting back to where it was, so our main focus now is to assist in the stabilization of Somalia.” Said Lt. Colonel Abubakar Conteh, Sierra Leone Contingent, AMISOM:

Sierra Leone was engulfed in a civil war for more than a decade that left more than 50,000.00 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. It was regional forces under the umbrella of The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group or ECOMOG that intervened and restored calm. Now Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces feel that it’s their turn to partake in such missions.

“We are now partakers of global peace enhancement, and of course during our own ten years of civil war, people came from different countries to support our peace achievement, and now that we have the opportunity to reciprocate that particular aspect, we are very happy:”

A resident of Free Town share the same sentiments.

“I’m happy because this shows that our country is improving, we are now members of the international community, our soldiers are being called up for peacekeeping missions, it makes me really happy,”

The AU Peace and Security Council authorized the integration of a contingent of RSLAF into AMISOM early last year. Since then, AMISOM troops, in support of the Federal Government of Somalia, have pushed Al-Qaeda affiliated al Shabaab terrorists from much of south-central Somalia.

By Paul Ndiho, Washington D.C.

A clinic in London is treating more than 100 patients a year, who are receiving counseling. A study last year by the University of Chicago suggested social media addiction can be dangerous.

Earlier this year, a study found that social media is more addicting than alcohol and cigarettes.  Millions of people around the world are getting addicted social networking websites such as Facebook, twitter, and Instargram. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school and region to connect and interact with other people. Users can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

Despite the obsession, some researchers are suggesting that these social networking sites are very addictive. Gemini Adams is a self-confessed addict. She says its drugs, not alcohol, but Facebook and she uses Yoga is part of digital detox. She won’t use Facebook now for more than half an hour at a time – and once a week she’ll go 24 hours straight without internet altogether.

“I’d signed up to every aspect of Facebook and was utilizing every sort of part of it. Checking in wherever I went and I remember just feeling really kind of revolting and just, you know, gnarled up inside physically because I hadn’t been exercising. And I was just in this position, hunched over a computer and you know my eyesight was worse.”

Despite these concerns, more and more people are flocking to facebook to catch up with old friends make new ones, build up their social networking skills and even shopping.

Social media is now a recognized addiction.  According to a study published last year by the University of Chicago found it can even be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. Research shows likes and re-tweets give users a burst of the addictive neurotransmitter dopamine. But a lack of endorsements can provoke jealousy and anxiety. So how much is too much?

“Psychiatrists say the alarm bells start to ring if you’re looking at Facebook, Twitter and all the other Social Media Networks more than 10 times a day. And if that amounts to more than 5 hours, then you might have a problem or see a doctor.”

You’d be surprised to know what people use the social networks for and how much time they spend on it.

Critics say no one is more addicted to social media right now than the media. But some media executives could not disagree more.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Richard Graham treats around 100 social media addicts a year at this clinic in London. His patients range from young to old people.

“They start to miss or avoid doing the necessary things in life, even at a fundamental level of self-care. They delay eating or avoid eating or drinking, delay sleep, miss meetings or delay getting into work or college. There are certainly some young people easily passing 9, 10 hours a day using social media.”

In today’s increasingly connected world, switching off may be a lot harder than it sounds. A study commissioned by ESET, almost half of internet users worldwide connect to the web using portable devices as the primary connection device: laptops, ipads, smart phones, and tablets. And that this is indicative of the demand for Wi-Fi hotspots and the need to stay connected at all times.

Technology experts warn that staying connected might be convenient, but users should guard against criminals prowling networks or some people using social media to saying the wrong things. And for addicts — treatment begins with complete abstinence. And for avid users, the sky is the limit.

By Paul Ndiho

Research in Motion (RIM) dropped its name in favor of the BlackBerry as it unveiled its first two phones with the new BlackBerry 10 system.  The long awaited BlackBerry Q10 will have a physical keyboard, while the Z10 has only a touch-screen keyboard. In full disclosure, I’m an avid fan of Blackberry customer takes a closer look.

Amid sagging sales in Europe, Asia, North America, and in the developing markets, Blackberry is back – And its generating a buzz in the smart phone market.  Research in Motion (RIM) re -designed the system to embrace the multimedia, apps and touch-screen experience prevalent today.

Unveiling its long-delayed new devices, Thorsten Heins, BlackBerry CEO, said the new phones will give the existing – brands a run for their money.

“Today is actually not the finish line. It’s the starting line.”

The new Blackberry phones will not hit the U.S market until mid-March. Investors did not like that, and sent the stock down more than 8 percent at one point. But CEO Heins was quick to defend the setback.

“It’s not a delay. We always said we would be launching in the first quarter of 2013. So I think we are keeping our word. The reason is that the European process, their testing process is, let me say, quite shorter than with U.S. carriers.”

Analysts say the delay could hurt the already struggling smart phone maker and question  whether there’s time for the once-pioneering BlackBerry to catch up to Apple’s trend-setting iPhone and devices running Google’s Android system.

“The market they are competing against is not static. So a phone today that has a beautiful high-res display, well, right now there are one or two phones that have even higher resolution displays but in 3 months’ time who knows.”

RIM is promising a speedier device, a superb typing experience and the ability to keep work and personal identities separate on the same phone.

Some fans of the phones could not hide their love for the blackberry.

 

“From a technology perspective, I think what’s very cool about this- this is a restart. This is a re-launch of BlackBerry.”

Financial analysts are starting to see some slight room for a comeback. With smartphone sales growing, the BlackBerry 10 can succeed without iPhone and Android users switching.

However, some critics say regardless of BlackBerry 10’s advances, the new system will face a key shortcoming: It won’t have as many apps written by outside companies and individuals as the iPhone and Android.

“They are at the mercy for the time being of how these two devices do in a hyper competitive market. The idea is to draw out the unique attributes of the platform, the use case, etc. We’ve seen another platform, Microsoft’s; come out with what I think is a truly innovative and unique user experience that hasn’t really moved the needle for that particular platform in the competitive marketplace.”

Overseas, the brand power of BlackBerry has also been plummeting. Once it was seen as a status symbol for the elite. In recent times, iPhone and Galaxy have taken over that privileged spot. But its comeback means they are ready to compete and increase it 3.4 percent share of the global market.

Last year Blackberry expanded its presence in Nigeria, and announced the first official BlackBerry branded retail store in Lagos. The move made the expansion of RIM’s footprint in Africa from its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and underlines the company’s commitment to its partners and customers in one of the world’s fastest growing mobile markets. Where half of Nigeria’s 4 million smartphone owners use BlackBerrys, and use among the wealthiest segment of society is forecast to increase six fold by 2016.

By: Paul Ndiho

Growing internet and mobile phone penetration has inspired the Kenyan government to build an IT focused city called Konza. The government’s initiative is expected to take 20 years to complete but it is already being touted as Africa’s silicon savannah.

 

An innovations revolution is unfolding in Africa and the East African Nation of Kenya is taking the lead.  Young people are creating new technologies and applications that are driving the country’s economic growth and turning Kenya into a high tech hub that is being promoted as Africa’s answer to America’s Silicon Valley.

Located 70 KM from the capital Nairobi, the project dubbed Africa’s Silicon Savannah will be constructed on a 5,000-hectare of land at a cost of 14.5 billion US dollars.  The I -T city is expected to be complete in the next 20 years and will create more than 20,000 IT jobs by 2015 and more than 200,000 jobs by 2030.

“If we start with Africa we are already at the top three probably after South Africa and Egypt who got into this ICT business a while before us. So we compete very well and we are increasingly competing for position number one because of the innovations, the city that we are putting in place, the government policies and investments to make an enabling environment in order for ICT business to thrive.”

Africa’s silicon savannah is part of an ambitious government plan to develop infrastructure in east Africa’s biggest economy by 2030. Africa is the world’s fastest-growing mobile phone market and was estimated will be home to 738 million handsets, or nearly three mobiles for every four of its people, by the end of 2012, according to an industry survey done in 2011. Kenya’s telecoms industry was among the fastest growing with 29.7 million out of 40 million people having mobile phones.

“Technology will largely impact Africa with mobile penetration and because of the various ways that we have skipped ahead of out predecessors in the west and so mainly because of the mobile phone and the penetration that has happened in Africa.”

Innovation centers in Kenya like iHub and mLab are helping to incubate and train developers to launch their start-ups and access markets and funds so that come 2030, Konza will be a truly Kenyan affair.

Mobile app developers come to mLab to test their young innovations, on a technical and business front. The mLab has close to 100 different types of mobile handsets used for trials.

“We don’t want a situation whereby Konza city is there there’s all that real estate and there’s all that infrastructure there but the people… the tenants of that city or the residents are being international companies.”

The developers say the city will provide, universities, science parks and establish modern living facilities that cab attract high caliber professionals to the modern lifestyle that will be created there.

The government is expected to finance 5 percent of the total cost then lease land to private investors who can build and run industries in different identified areas.

By Paul Ndiho

In Detroit, Michigan the home of American automobile industry, Car makers are appealing to egos and a buyer’s desire for status to push a new wave of luxury cars at the North American International Auto show ended this week and will run through January 27th.

Excitement and optimism are dominating the North American International Auto Show. Car lovers say there is a serious luxury vibe this year, as carmakers strive to draw more affluent consumers into showrooms.

The Continental GT Speed Convertible, which makes its debut at the Detroit auto show, is no exception. This car has it all – says Bentley CEO, Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber — there’s only one way to describe it.

“Dream on wheels. It’s a dream on wheels.”

Luxury carmakers in North America held their footing despite a slow recovery from the economic downturn and were able to reinvest in those brands. At the end of 2012, automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all reported strong finishes.

At the BMW stand all eyes are on the new 4 series Coupe. Lead designer Adrian van Hooydonk says he designs specifically with the American consumer in mind.

“I saw with my own eyes that people actually use cars differently here. Of course a car is something you absolutely need in and between most American cities. People drive further than in Europe and people see cars as their most important personal accessory.”

U.S. automakers are upping their luxury game too. This new Corvette Stingray has everyone here buzzing. The Stingray is the latest version of America’s most iconic sports car the 2014 Chevy Corvette. The show-stopper is only the 7th model ever designed and is the first and most highly anticipated reveal at this year’s North American International Auto Show.

Tadge Juechter, Corvette’s Chief Engineer says the car is sexy looking, but it feels even better.

“The big story is the way it feels behind the wheel. The way it wraps around you and hugs your body, makes you part of it, so you feel totally in control. It’s super super responsive, it’s a very different kind of driving experience than what people have had before.”

Many analysts predict 2013 sales could slightly back off last years five-year high due to the fog of uncertainty still emanating from Washington.

But nowhere is the recovery of the industry more evident than in Motor City itself. The big three U.S. automakers all reported increases in sales in December. And between them – are rolling out at least 12 new models between them.

TrueCar.com’s Larry Dominique says after bankruptcys and bailouts, the glamour are back in Detroit.

“This Year is different than other years. Going back 3-4 years the auto show was depressing. What we’ve seen over the last 3-4 years is step by step resurgence of energy and excitement. What I’m seeing this year is a tremendous number of debuts from European, Asian manufacturers and domestics. Also seeing a wide range, everything from luxury to entry level vehicles. So what you’re seeing is a tremendous number of reveals, world debuts and overall a lot of energy and excitement.”

In 2012, U.S. auto sales topped out at nearly 14.5 million new vehicles, the best performance since 2007.

Many analysts predict 2013 sales could slightly back off last year’s five-year high due to the fog of uncertainty still emanating from Washington.

But nowhere is the recovery of the industry more evident than in Motor City itself. The big three U.S. automakers all reported increases in sales in December. And between them – are rolling out at least 12 new models between them.

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz expects to sell a record number of vehicles this year in the United States. Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche.

“Last year for the first time we sold more cars in the U.S. than in any other market and therefore for us the U.S. market is the number one market and we are putting a lot of focus and emphasis with our great new product being launched in this market.”

Analysts are looking for a sneak preview of the redesigned 2014 Acura MDX, which will appear as a thinly disguised “concept.”

GM’s first luxury hybrid, the 2014 Cadillac ELR, will make its public debut at the show, about a year ahead of the projected on-sale date. The two-door ELR is an upmarket companion to the Chevrolet Volt and is likely to be priced above $60,000.

Among the more mainstream vehicles coming to the show are the Nissan Resonance, a preview of the redesigned 2014 Murano crossover; the Honda Urban SUV concept, which teases the redesigned 2014 Fit subcompact, and the Fiat 500L, a compact five-passenger people-mover that will be marketed as a companion to the tiny Fiat 500 hatchback.