The East African Community recorded a 16.4 per cent rise in international arrivals between September last year and January this year, according to the latest figures by Forward Keys, which monitors future travel patterns by analysing 16 million flight reservation transactions each day. The top 10 origin countries all retained their places from earlier in the year, including other African markets, which also saw growth. Visitors to Kenya were up 6.4 per cent, while in Uganda they went up by 11.7 per cent. The report paints a rosy picture, with forward bookings from February to July running 16.5 per cent ahead of the equivalent period last year. ForwardKeys, however, says long-haul connectivity could be improved for all EAC key airports. Source: Standard Media

Kenyans for the first time have a clearer picture of what the Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) project will mean for Lamu County’s economy following the publication on February 13, of a report on the environmental and economic impact of the infrastructure corridor project. The Lapsset Development Authority unveiled a detailed strategic environmental assessment report that has revealed how the county can achieve a localised industrial revolution buoyed by the massive infrastructure projects in the offing. The report has debunked myths and misconceptions on infrastructure spending by showing the dividend projects such as Lapsset are expected to yield. These benefits will be felt across various counties and natural justice demands that we first have a look at Lamu, where the project begins. Lamu County depends on the fishing industry and this is where the Lapsset project will have its biggest impact. Fishing accounts for three out of four jobs for locals but the industry is yet to scale up and diversify into value addition to create more skilled jobs to increase earnings. As a result of lack of infrastructure, many fishermen rely on this for subsistence and not as a source of gainful employment. However, as the report indicates, this is set to change with the proposed fishing port, which is to be a part of the larger Lamu Port. By constructing a fishing port and creating capacity for fishermen to venture into the deep sea to exploit the rich fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone, they will...

Kenya Railways has received another batch of locomotives and rolling stock as preparations for commissioning the standard gauge railway enter final stage. Three passenger locomotives, eight coaches and 120 open-top wagons arrived at the Mombasa port aboard two ships from China on Friday. This consignment brings the total number of locomotives delivered so far to eight (for freight) out of the expected 43, two shunting locomotives out of the eight that have been ordered and 330 wagons out of a total of 1,620 expected. The first batch of locomotives arrived in the country in January with the second, third and fourth batches arriving in February. The SGR train services will be commissioned on June 1. Kenya Railways managing director Atanas Maina said the train will uplift the country’s economy and help address the growing congestion on the roads. “SGR operations will stimulate economic activities especially in the areas traversed by the line,” he said in a statement. “Given that Kenya’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the region, the SGR will add a lot of value to the transport and logistics sector by increasing mobility, reducing congestion at the port and eliminate inefficiencies in movement of both people and freight.” The latest stock has been inspected and is currently being subjected to tests, which began this month. The passenger train completed its maiden test journey between Nairobi and Mombasa on March 8. Operations will feature freight and passenger train services with the latter operating two types of trains:...

This Year’s International Women Day was a remarkable one for the East African Community women as the crucial Gender Bill that make provision for gender equality, equity, protection and development in the Community was passed. The bill, dabbed, ‘EAC Gender Equality, Equity and Development Bill 2016’, whose mover is Hon Nancy Abisai was passed by East African Community Legislators sitting in Kigali, Rwanda on International Women Day. It is commendable that the region has recognised the immense contribution women make towards social, economic and political development of the Community. The importance of gender equality in the success of various development programmes instituted across the region cannot be underestimated. The bill, which prohibits all forms of exploitation, cruel, inhuman or degrading practices is a welcome move that if enacted and enforced by all the partner states will see an end to rampant exploitation of women and disadvantaged groups across the region. Though different partner states have made strides in gender equality, some are still lagging behind in crucial aspects of the gender bill. Though we are not where we would want to be, the number of women in decision making positions has risen drastically over the past few years in all partner states. Rwanda remains a tool of bench marking, not only for the region but also for the rest of the world; more than 60 per cent of key positions are held by women. Rwanda was ranked position one in this year’s global parliamentary gender equality. Tanzania made history by...

Kenya has embarked on development of a new Cruise Terminal at the Port of Mombasa scheduled for completion by end of July just before the next cruise season. The cruise ship terminal will provide state-of-the-art facilities for cruise passengers and liners calling at the Mombasa port. It will include, a VIP lounge, immigration, customs, port health facilitation lounges, ample parking, food courts, duty free shops, forex bureaus and banking facilities. The government has invited cruise liners wishing to make Mombasa their home port for discussions on formulating  appropriate incentives and concessions. “I invite cruise itinerary planners, cruise liners and cruisers to consider Kenya and the region for their next cruise season and get to experience the Magical Kenya,” said Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala. According to the CS, cruise liners are expected to enjoy priority berthing over all other types of vessels. They will get incentives including exemption from payment of light dues, disembarking and embarking charges and passenger dues.    Source:Media Max

Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPC) has cut the cost of transporting fuel to neighbouring countries by nearly a third in a bid to win back business lost to Tanzania. Pipeline costs for products headed to Rwanda, Congo, Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan from the port of Mombasa will be $44.55 (Sh4, 579) per 1,000 litres, up from $59.32 (Sh6, 098). This will see the importers save about Sh1.52 per litre for fuel transported on the pipeline and picked in Kisumu or Eldoret for neighbouring countries. Countries such as Rwanda and Burundi have stepped up fuel imports through Tanzania’s main port in Dar es Salaam, arguing that Kenya’s route is expensive and experienced contamination of cargo. Mombasa is facing increased competition from neighbouring Tanzania where the government is expanding the port of Dar es Salaam and plans to spend $10 billion building a new one at Bagamoyo, 52 kilometres (32 miles) north. KPC managing director Joe Sang said the move to cut the cost will help the state corporation re-capture the lost regional petroleum market share. “We have lost our market share especially in Rwanda and Burundi. We must get this rightful share back and this calls for proactive and strategic thinking. We not only want to regain the lost market, but also extend our operation into new frontiers in the region,” said Mr Sang. The lower charges dubbed a promotional rate will start in April. The Kenya Transporters Association earlier said importers from regional countries were opting to route shipments...

It remains unclear whether the East African Community Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016 will ever be concluded as debate on it was on Wednesday adjourned by the regional Assembly now sitting in Kigali. Following a motion moved by Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Dr Susan Kolimba, under the House’s rules of procedure, a key report on the Bill presented by the committee on agriculture, tourism and natural resources could also not be adopted. Dr Kolimba’s motion for adjournment –which may be moved without notice – under rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly was partly down to the fact that business leaders have requested for further consultations, while the Tanzanian government is yet to submit its views on the Bill. But MP Valerie Nyirahabineza (Rwanda), chair of the committee on agriculture, tourism and natural resources, remains optimistic that after they include more views from stakeholders during the next sitting in Arusha, in May, the Bill will be passed “without doubt.” “This is a Bill everyone wants, including members of the business community who have insisted on having further consultations. In May, we shall make amendments but ultimately the Bill will pass,” Nyirahabineza told The New Times after the day’s session. Earlier, during the session, Nyirahabineza presented a report in support of the Bill and reminded the Assembly that EAC Partner States are signatories to various international agreements on environment. “It should be noted that Polythene materials like plastic bags are a menace to the environment and...

Members states of the East African Community under the Lake Victoria Basin Commission have held a joint regional policy steering meeting that looks at implementing programmes and projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of  people living in the Lake Victoria basin. Several programmes  are currently running under the Lake Victoria Basin Commission which include population, health and environment, Lake Victoria Environment Project and Lake Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation Programme. The Permanent Secretaries in the line ministries of water and environment from the East African Community states signed an assessment report of the progress that has been made in the last 6 month on the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the welfare, restoring life, the environment and livelihood of the people living in and around the Lake Victoria basin The Joint Steering Committee emphasized the need to continue to improve  current projects at hand to help mitigate the challenges faced by communities living in and around the Lake Victoria basin The national project coordinator revealed that  Uganda  has  made progress in  waste water treatment, solid waste management and alternative livelihoods for the people living around the Lake Victoria basin The Lake Victoria Basin Commission is expected to sit again after 6 months in another East African Community State where they will again review the progress of the Four programmes under way.   Source: NTV News

Rwandan High Commissioner to Kenya H.E James Kimonyo has unveiled new incentives to Kenya businesses wishing to establish or grow business in the country. “With just 12 per cent of inter-country trade among African nations there is so much opportunity and room for growth between us,” he said at the second edition of the Rwanda Business Forum at a Nairobi Hotel. The envoy unveiled new incentives to investors planning to invest in the country that together with Kenya are among the top ten fastest growing economies in the World. He cited the Standard Gauge Rail from Mombasa as an important development that will boost trade between the two economies. “Despite the dark past Rwanda had gone through we have moved on and are ready to proudly be part of the community of nations that every investor wants to come to,” he said. He added that the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame has continued to ensure stability of the country, business reforms that inspire investors from near and far to invest their significant resources in Rwanda. Like Kenya, he said, Rwanda seeks economic development and long-term transformation by unleashing the potential of her citizens to be more productive and through beneficial partnerships with the private sector. Some of the new steps include zero rates for raw materials imported for the manufacturing industry. Ambassador Kimonyo whilst acknowledging that Rwanda was a landlocked nation is heavily investing in Air transport and that a new state of the art International Airport was currently...

The East African Legislative Assembly sitting in Kigali for the fifth session of the Third Assembly from March 6-16, used the International Women’s Day marked on March 8, to pass a Bill that will among other things protect women and children against gender-based violence, force EAC partner states to provide free primary and secondary school education for all, and protect the rights of civilians during war. “There is a need to make primary and secondary education compulsory, accessible, all inclusive and available for free to all considering the pupil-teacher ratios,” said the chairperson of the committee on general purposes Dr Odette Nyiramilimo. The general purpose committee handled consultations on the Bill with the partner states. If the region’s presidents assent to it, their governments will be required to provide universal free primary and secondary education. Most EAC partner states are already implementing a form of free primary education. The law will also make EAC partner states more accountable for the deaths and plunder that governments through their armed forces mete out when there is internal conflict. Human rights abuses “In circumstances where conflicts have occurred, and in times of armed and other conflicts, partner states must take such steps as are necessary to prevent and eliminate incidents of human rights abuses,” reads the Bill. This Bill will affect countries where security forces have orders to shoot and kill civilians. Civil society organisations are excited that the region can now take to task South Sudan and Burundi, where recent conflicts have...