Kenya Bitter Truth

By strive masiyiwa __Look beyond what you see [Mufasa] I’m often asked how I get my news and what advice I would give entrepreneurs [young or old].  We live in a time when getting sufficient news is not the issue; quite the contrary, if you have access to the Internet you can be constantly barraged with a deluge of “news”.  The most important thing for me is ensuring I have access to good, reliable news sources.  I have a list of news sources that I have carefully researched so I know who wrote the article, and what they stand for, because it is so easy to be manipulated these days. Keep your eyes open. I have also put strong filters on all my news sources [using the tools available on my browser and more]. This does NOT mean I read only news sources that I agree with! That would not only be silly, but dangerously myopic.    Every morning I start my work day by scanning my news sources: they're all newspapers, journals, and newsletters, which I access directly, and not through a So...

By strive masiyiwa Opportunities for #SolutionSeekers: __IFC launches a new tech VC fund; Africa Business Heroes on stage! I’m very pleased to share with all of you that a few days ago, the International Finance Corporation [IFC] launched a US$225m Venture Capital [VC] fund to invest in early stage tech startups in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Pakistan. Last year, all these regions together received less than 2% of $643bn of global venture capital funding. I know many of you entrepreneurs on the platform have shared for years how tough it is to find the #VentureCapital you need to grow and scale your businesses. The IFC’s new VC funding platform is looking to invest in innovative businesses focused on climate-tech, agritech, edutech, healthtech, food security, e-commerce, e-mobility, and other disruptive tech sectors as well.  As some of you know, IFC has been great partners with us, too, at our Cassava Technologies. If you’re an entrepreneur with an early stage startup, ...

3am Thought Click here to signup into Odibets and play to win big. All That Matters I shared a post about a former powerful man who was at the peak of a political formation. He is going through tough times. From his Tweets, you realise that the man is going through pain.... Many times, we forget basics in life when times are good. Life has several ups and downs.... And there things we should never mess with when in position of influence. Family and God......... Investment in Family and God are two things that everyone should do - whether poor or rich. When I held a critical position in the Business Desk at the Standard Group, my phone always had calls from the who is who in this country. I was always being invited to events. Many companies were ready to pay my air ticket. Many powerful businessmen looked for my number. To say the truth, I had no idea how much my salary was, or when it came because by being in my position, there was an assured amount of money and extra benefits that cam...

By Gordon Opiyo Click here to signup into Odibets and play to win big. 3am Thought Hidden Treasure There is something precious in everyone, and it takes someone with a revelation to see that hidden treasure. I know of a woman who was treated badly in a previous relationship. The boyfriend, and his family treated her like trash. Badmouthing her because she had three children from three different men. She was always made to feel that she did not deserve to be anything. Her life was a mess, and she felt worthless and useless When she moved on, she met a man who appreciated her, not based on her dark past, but based on what he could see in her. The Lady was made to feel like a Pearl, like someone precious.  This other guy looked at the three children as a treasure, and added one of his own. Within one year, she started a business dealing in beauty products and clothing. Since she was talented in talking sweetly ( mdomo tamu) her business prospered and she became a big brand. And made h...

By Dr.Paul Bundi Karau Day 1: Johannesburg, Botswana.   We landed in Johannesburg at 12 midnight, and waited for 6 hours to catch the next flight to Gaborone.  Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is less busy and less imposing compared to our own JKIA or OR Tambo in Johannesburg. It resembles our Kisumu Airport. The staff were welcoming and jovial, and nobody questioned our reasons for visiting their country. We were to learn over our day long stay in the city that this is a contented and peaceful nation, enjoying plenty, and they have no hint of disatisfaction or suspicion over foreigners.  A note on history; Botswana comprises chiefdoms which became a British protectorate. One of the famous chiefs was Khama, Chief of the Bamangwato, and Mashoeshoe, Chief of the Tswana. The founding father, Sir Seretse Khama, and his son, the 4th president, Ian Khama are scions of this heritage. On Thursday 20th we visited a number of government offices to see...

By Strive Masiyiwa Click here to signup into Odibets and play to win big. "Not all readers are leaders... __But all leaders are readers!"* By now most of you will have seen the streaming videos from the inaugural two-day summit on African business that was held last month in New York. If you weren't able to tune in to the Global Africa Business Initiative discussions Live, I'll share the link below. It was a real honor for me to have been the co-Chair alongside Africa’s most senior global diplomat, Ms Amina Mohammed, the Deputy SG of the UN.  One of the key events was a fireside chat in which I interviewed Mr Robert Smith, the wealthiest African-American with a net worth in excess of $5bn according to Forbes. Mr Smith is an engineer who went into telecoms [like me] but he later went into banking before setting up his own multi-billion dollar private equity investment company known as Vista Equity Partners.   Back in 2019, I am sure some of you will rememb...

Nyamakima and Kamukunji hasolas are crying wolf as their stock delay being cleared in Mombasa due to huge container pile up. Previously, before all the clearing and forwarding was reverted back to Mombasa, the containers would be offloaded from the ship and directly loaded on SGL freight train for onward transmission to Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in Athi River, Embakasi or Naivasha, where the traders would swiftly clear them. The traders are nowadays forced to waste alot of days in Mombasa following up the Clearing of their cargo.  Revitalising the economy of Mombasa means unconvincing the traders and making them incur losses as they follow the slow clearance of their goods. Ni god, ni god manze!