post bank and chase bank kenya in patnership

Chase bank customers will now be able to access banking services from Post bank branches and agents country wide through the Post Bank Point OF Sale (POS).

The partnership between the two banks that was launched yesterday will see customers of Chase bank, withdraw cash, deposit cash and inquire their account balances from any Post Bank or Post bank agent.

According to the Post Bank Managing Director, Dr Nyambura Koigi, Post bank is among the first financial institution to have the POS, and is providing an opportunity for other institutions to access their customers through its use.

“We are opening it up for others to use and get more savings and national involvement. We are happy to welcome chase bank into our networks. We reach the people in the village,” Dr Koigi said.

Chase bank customers that have been banking through the over 22 Chase bank branches, 201Chase Popote agents and over 1200 Kenswitch ATMs, through the partnership, would have an additional 99 Post bank Branches and over 550 Post bank agents to transact from.

Chase Bank Managing Director, Zafrullah Khan said that the partnership would allow the use of technology to provide convenience to their customers.

Mr Khan added that the partnership with Post Bank is an addition to other alternate business channels that Chase bank has adopted,  to improve customer access and satisfaction.

“Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers that travel can now access their bank accounts. Chase bank already has mobile and internet banking services and now, customers can walk into a Post Bank branch or agent,” Mr Khan said.

Kenswitch Managing Director George Wainaina said that the sharing of banking halls between the two banks, provides affordable, safe and convenient banking.

Kenswitch is the company that has provided the link between the two banks through the use of the POS.

Mr Wainaina further stated that the use of the agency banking by Chase bank will reduce cost of financial access for its customers and improve efficiency.

“Post bank has a well spread geographical network. Agency banking; proximity, security, liquidity and similar customer experience at the branch and the agent for customers,” Mr Wainaina said.

Dr Koigi added that post bank customers will not be able to access their accounts through Chase Bank, but increase in Chase Bank networks and systems would lead to it.

Mr Khan concluded by stating that Chase bank customers should not expect any extra charges from transacting with Post bank.

more tax on tobacco is better for kenya

The Kenya government will stand to gain more revenue from an increase in taxation of tobacco products according to the International Tobacco Control Policy.

Principal Investigator International Tobacco Control (ITC), Geoffrey Fong said that there is need to re-increase taxation of tobacco products in order to get added revenue and reduced demand.

“Increase in tax, the government does not lose any income, but demand goes low. Reduction on demand is not as high as that on increase on tax. Government spends more on treating diseases caused by tobacco,” Mr Fong said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) requires that taxation on Africa Tobacco products be at 75 per cent whereas, that of Kenya is currently at 55 per cent.

According to representative of the WHO Africa resource center, Ms Kellen Namusisi, the increase in tax by the Kenya government, has not exerted enough pressure to reduce the purchase of tobacco products.

“Kenya maybe among the top in Africa, but the overall price is still low. We still need to raise the prices; few people smoke, smokers smoke less,” Ms Namusisi said.

The government of Kenya through the Tobacco Control Act prohibits smoking in public places, calls for the establishment of smoke-free zones in cities and buildings, banning tobacco advertisement and placing larger warning labels on cigarette packs. 

                                                      Geoffrey Fong from waterloo uni

Addressing the press at a Hotel in Nairobi, Mr Fong said that the ITC is starting a survey project in 19 districts to investigate and report about the use, perception of people using tobacco and the types of tobacco frequently used in Kenya. 

“The ITC project has been done before in 22 countries. It is to help the government and civil society make policies that reduce tobacco use,” Mr Fong said.

Research scientist Dr Jane Rahedi said that in the year 2008-2009 the prevalence of male smokers was 18 per cent and that of woman was less than 2 per cent. 

An increase in the youth consumption was also noted; 2001, 14 per cent increased to 18 percent in 2007.            
     

                       

She added that apart from the tobacco law enact other legislation that are necessary include pictorial health warnings that will occupy 50 per cent of the surface.

“Taxation should be 70 per cent of the retail price. We will do the project from October to December. We will evaluate and understand the impact of tobacco control, ”Dr Rahedi concluded.

sakudas supporters come in large numbers

Some supporters of new elect Kajiado North Member of Parliament were denied entry into parliament to witness the swearing in ceremony of the new members.

The supporters  of Moses ole Sakuda, arrived at the parliament in three buses and a van, to witness their MP being introduced to the parliament, but the gate officers allowed only a few in.

Moses ole Sakuda of The National Alliance Party (TNA) who won the Kajiado North seat on Monday with a total of 25,568 votes was sworn in to parliament to begin his term as MP.

Ms Cecilia Koisenke said she is pleased that her preferred MP was elected and believes that he will bring development to the county.

“We are now confused; the people who brought us here, have gone. We expect he will make good roads for us. If he was able to bring us water, he should be able to bring change,” Ms Koisenke added.

Another Mr M Kaitei said that though he had been locked out, he is happy that the new MP had broken the curse that had left their community out of leadership for 30 years.

“We came to celebrate with him. He is the leader of the whole Kajiado not only Keek Onyokie community. We will wait for him. We will still give him another chance come 2013,” Mr Kaitei said.

Mr Sakuda was considered one of the stronger contestants, as he managed to make inroads through his in-laws; being married to a Kikuyu and speaking the language eloquently, gave him an edge in wooing the community's 122,401 residents.

                                                    tna.co.ke

However, not all the supporters were pleased about being locked out of the swearing in ceremony.

Ms Peris Muthoni was angry for having arrived first at the parliament buildings and being left out with other late comers.

According to Ms Muthoni, she was denied entry because of her attire, accent and lack of identification.

“At 11 am we were here. We hope when we take our problems, we will not have to go through this; we will not be locked out. Many have entered but few of us have been allowed in. We feel bad to be left out, yet he asked for our votes,” Ms Muthoni said.

The supporters, who came from different parts of the Kajiado North county, were after the swearing in ceremony to grace a party for the new MP.

“After this we will go for a party. It was organized by the MP. Everyone will be able to fit there,” One of the supporters said.

Kenya youth summit

Kenya youth  are expected to attend a  nationwide summit  to exchange ideas on how to economically and politically empower themselves and develop the nation.

The summit that is expected to be held in January 2013 is organized by the Brand Kenya Board and will be a two day event that will consist of not less than 10 county forums.

CEO Brand Kenya Board, Mary Kimonye said that there is need to focus on the youth because they are energetic, curious, adventurous with a never to die attitude, and are best resourced to give the economy & society the innovative thrust it needs for takeoff.

According to the Brand Kenya Board Marketing director,Nzilu Musyoki, the start for preparations of the summit will be October with a budget of 31.6 Million.

“ The objective of the youth summit is to offer a platform for the youth to set up a leadership agenda for Kenya.This is a small budget. The brand has given 4.8 Million, we stiill need about 25 million,’ Mr Musyoki said.

Mr Musyoki further stated that other agendas of the summit would be to promote peace and reconsiliation among the youth as well as to promote civic duty to the youth.

Justice Ministry representative Mr Killian Nyambu requested that the summit not be limited to Nairobi, as all the youth in the nation need to build confidence.

He also said that there is need for the youth to sit and dialogue with others, in order to have a peaceful election.

“ We want to throw a challenge to the youth; nature of voluntarisim. There is alot of good things that can happen to us. Young people need confidence in themselves,” Mr Nyambu said.

                                              pic from youth alive kenya

The United Nations Development Programme representative Ms Joan Mdindi, said that the youth consist a high percentage of the population and therefore have power to change the world.

She said that as patners for the youth summit, the UNDP has a youth agenda that will focus on entrepreneurship, protection, education, reproductive health of the youth and youth volunteer programs.

“ To achieve , we must promote patriotism, peace , increase awarness in government and enhance programmes for consititution implementation,”Ms Mdindi said.

Ms Mary further stated that the youth unemployment rate in Kenya stands at 25 per cent;  male unemployment at27 per cent and female at 27 per cent.

Mr Harron Wachira a participant at the Brand Kenya Board  meeting held yesterday  at the Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, attributed youth poverty to bad governance, barriers, lack of motivation, failure to define business and promotion of handout culture.

Why i am not voting for Camp Mulla this time round!

So their tracks are so awesome and cool and talk about partying and having fan and having swagger and stuff….they are talented, but there are certain reasons as to why I would not vote for camp mulla baby!!!

Have you seen them perform live….wololo!!!!! is all I can say….. They are poor stage performers, the rhymes and skill is up but when it comes to entertaining the crowd…WAKO DOWN!!!

Am thinking if they have enough money to make a poor 4 million shillings video…they should have hired luch or ogopa make a fancy nice video not worth all that, and use the rest to invest in a choreographer…or better yet get coached by Ian Mbugua on the importance of stage presence.

If you watched them at the finale of a Tusker Project fame 5, you would know what I am talking about….the stage had just been electrified by Jackson (if I recall right) than they came in…and changed the mood from” wow!!!” to “what just happened!!!!” same case at the big brother stage…these are stages with great audiences and pulling a Kelly Rowland after a Beyonce performance is a no no….

And how many are they anyway…, who really knows how many they are… were they four, am guessing they became five….so is it a groupie “ama ni band yao ya mtaani”…….to build a brand you must make certain guys know your name….Apart from Ms Karun the others names are just jumbled up…

                                         from http://campmulla.wordpress.com

Okay “hongera” on getting the nomination…if you win well and good, if you do not go back to the drawing board and look at yourselves. I mean you have been put against D’banj…, live alone patriotism…what else will make me vote for you. After all pia sisi tulisaliti alex at the Big Brother Stargame House.

I will not get down to the attire….unique maybe the statement you try to bring out… but all I see is shaggy. I mean even rock bands dress nicely and they are “ROCK BANDS”. Do not get me wrong, I ain't no hater…just putting down my opinion, dress the part… get more fans…role models and stuff

I believe camp mulla have great potential…but getting vibe that you get drunk at Galileo and misbehave is not such an encouragement for older fans…you are viewed as young and foolish instead of young vibrant with great potential, even Justin Bieber is young, but composure and proper guidance …means long term success.

I feel you guys but I do not fffeeeeelll you guys, your music is dope but hey! there is just that element of representing  some Kenyan youth, that I just do not feel. i try but nope...haifiki!!

And its time you guys became philanthropic, it comes with the title “celebrity”…learn from others Cecilia mwangi…wahu…even octopizzo

All in all, my vote this time is not with Camp Mulla, am hoping in future it will...

Peace out!!!