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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Martin K.N Siele

Martin K.N Siele

Email Martin@gengetonedon

Martin K.N Siele is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

US Ebola center in Kenya runs into legal hurdles

The US and Kenya signed an agreement to set up an Ebola biocontainment center for Americans exposed to the virus.
Health workers carry out hand sanitizing, handwashing and temperature screening procedures for travelers at the Kanyaruchinya checkpoint near Goma.
Health workers screening for Ebola in eastern DR Congo. Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images

Kenya’s mobile money tax plans threaten M-Pesa growth

President William Ruto’s administration wants to impose a new 16% value-added tax on services by payment platforms.
A customer conducts a mobile money transfer, known as M-Pesa, at a Safaricom agent stall.
Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

Energy shortfall ‘problem’ scuppers Kenya’s $1B Microsoft data center

The Kenyan president’s comments that poor power capacity held back plans for the flagship project confirms Semafor’s exclusive reporting that it had stalled.
The Olkaria geothermal complex in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.
The Olkaria geothermal complex in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. Donwilson Odhiambo/Semafor.

Heineken subsidiary threatens Asahi’s bid to acquire Diageo breweries in Kenya

An antitrust complaint to Kenya’s competition authority could jeopardize the $2.3 billion acquisition.
Beer bottles pass through a conveyor belt along a production line at the East African Breweries’ microbrewery.
Monicah Mwangi/Reuters

Kenya’s electric bus startup BasiGo ramps up inter-city expansion

The company is in talks with fuel retailers to roll out further infrastructure.
A worker charges an electric bus at a charging station in Kigali, Rwanda.
Atulinda Allan/Xinhua via Getty Images

Kenya’s bourse bets on M-Pesa to attract retail investors

Leading telcos are expected to soon roll out trading services on their mobile money apps.
A man holds up his mobile phone showing a M-Pesa mobile money transaction page in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Dec. 31, 2014.
Noor Khamis/File Photo/Reuters

Kenya launches $824M pipeline IPO amid transparency fears

The country’s first IPO since 2015 is part of a bid to fund infrastructure projects.

Battle looms for African football broadcast rights

Changes to the Africa Cup of Nations cycle, and a new football tournament, look set to spark a new scramble for media rights

Kenya pushes back as US eyes more African health deals

A handful of countries have signed agreements with Washington but a Kenyan court case has raised growing data privacy concerns.

Kenya eyes new energy deals as power cuts intensify

A seven-year moratorium on signing new power purchase agreements was lifted last week.

Kenya sounds alarm as Tanzania unrest hits regional trade

Nairobi’s trade minister warns electoral violence is damaging investor confidence.

Tanzania’s President Samia in lead amid poll protests, internet shutdown

Tanzanian protesters clash with police, defy internet shutdown to demand election cancellation.

Kenyan banks want to enter Ethiopia despite the risks

A new World Bank report highlighted the challenges Kenya’s telco Safaricom has faced in the gradually opening Ethiopian economy.

Uber and Bolt’s bet on Kenyan safaris sparks price cut fears

The ride-hailing firms are entering the lucrative safari market for the first time.

Africa is on cusp of AI ‘data boom’: Helios Towers CEO

Data consumption will quintuple over the next five years, the CEO of Helios Towers, one of Africa’s largest telecoms infrastructure companies, told Semafor.

DR Congo minister says ‘you cannot look at Africa with American eyes’

At Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion summit, DR Congo’s minister of communications discussed how perceptions of conflict in the country impact investment.

Why international schools are booming in Kenya

A growing middle class and expatriate population is driving demand and investment into the thriving sector.

PFL Africa taps Kigali for semifinals event

It would mark the latest win for Rwanda in its push to attract major international sporting events to the country.