M-Pesa lands in South Africa

South Africa’s largest mobile phone operator Vodacom has teamed up with Nedbank to unveil an M-Pesa mobile-based cash transfer service, similar to the successful on operating in Kenya.

The service was developed by Britain’s Vodafone, the majority shareholder in Vodacom, and part owner of Kenya’s Safaricom. Read more:

Safaricom of Kenya Will Protect Its Margins in Price War, CEO Joseph Says

CEPPP's would like to recognize the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

Given the problems many countries, Kenya being no exception, face concerning the management of their water resources, these countries have come to the conclusion that the solution to their problem may rest in the private management of these services and resources. In Kenya, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation closely works with the Kenya Water Industry Association (KWIA)and the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Organizations Network (KEWASNET).

There is need to open a new niche for thinking in demand management matters by developing a series of guidelines for private management, TORs and contracts to implement emerging values and principles in the context of the new trend of Public-Private Partnerships.

CEPPP's would like to recognize the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

Recent high incidents of insecurity in Kenya and other parts of Africa have made clear the importance of government collaboration with the security industry. The benefits of such collaboration are often clearly seen as a lesson from various disasters such as the bombing of the US Embassy as well as cases of fire outbreaks.

The resources owned and controlled by security industry dwarf those available to local autorities. Better agreements and incentives to bring the full capabilities of industry squarely into the national response agenda will be indispensable in effectively responding to large-scale catastrophes. It is critical, therefore, to foster the development of public-private-partnerships within the security sector.

CEPPP's would like to recognize the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

Housing Finance to set up fund for property

Housing Finance is planning a property fund, which it expects will be a key driver of its business in the coming years.

The fund, according to the managing director Mr Frank Ireri will be structured in away that it will bring all key players in the housing industry to help them meet supply challenges.

“We have now made supply a key driver in our strategy and the property fund fits well within it,” Mr Ireri told the Nation in Nairobi on Wednesday.

The housing market in Kenya has over the years faced a huge supply challenge for both government and private sector players.

With availability of only about 35,000 housing units in urban areas, the deficit remains huge from a growing demand of 150, 000 units every year.: read more.

CEPPP's would like to recognize the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

The provision of education, at all levels, is largely provided and financed by governments. However, due to unmet demand for education coupled with shrinking government budgets, the public sector in several parts of the world is developing innovative partnerships with the private sector.

Private education encompasses a wide range of providers including for-profit schools (that operate as enterprises), faith-based schools, non-profit schools run by NGOs, publicly funded schools operated by private boards, and community owned schools. Said differently, there is a sufficient market for education.

The main rationale for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programs is the potential role of the private sector for expanding equitable access and improving learning outcomes. In low income countries excess demand for schooling results in private supply when the state cannot afford schooling for all.

In high income countries, however, differential demand leads to a demand for private schooling, as a sophisticated clientele demands different kinds of schools. By providing demand-side financing and contracting private organizations to provide support services, governments can provide better choices to parents and grant them an opportunity to fully participate in their children’s schooling. Effective regulatory frameworks and contractual instruments to ensure quality and effective use of public resources becomes paramount.

CEPPP's would like to recognize the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

Environmental issues

In December 2006, the Governments of Kenya and Ugandan jointly concessioned the Kenya-Uganda railways. Since then the operational performance has not improved with the concessioning due to absence of a strong rail operator. Read More

CEPPP's would like to recognize the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

Tullow Oil Expands in Kenya, Ethiopia With Africa Oil License Acquisitions:

Tullow Oil Plc, which plans to produce its first oil in Ghana later this year, will expand exploration in Kenya and Ethiopia with the acquisition of interests in six licenses from Africa Oil Corp.

Tullow agreed to buy a 50 percent interest in Blocks 10BB, 10A, 12A and 13T in Kenya; and the South Omo Block in Ethiopia, the London-based explorer said today in a statement:Read more.

Chevron buyout boosts Total Kenya’s profits

Total Kenya announced an eightfold increase in its half-year net profits helped by higher fuel prices and proceeds from Chevron Kenya, which the oil firm bought in June 2009.

The oil marketer’s net profit stood at Sh302 million in the six months to June 2010, compared to Sh36 million in the same period a year earlier: read more

CEPPP's would like to recognise the contribution of the following entities in this sector.

KCB launches online payment system for tourism sector

Kenya Commercial Bank has launched an on-line payment solution targeting the tourism sector as e-commerce takes root in the country.

The solution will speed up and make reservation and management of online payments easier for service providers, with KCB following in the footsteps of I&M Bank, which launched a payment gateway earlier this year.:Read More.

CEPPPs involvement on PPPs in local government is meant to provide clarification on the legislative authority for public private partnership at the metropolitan, city and municipal councils. We are also keen to assist local governments in determining when public private partnership should be considered in the delivery of services

In cases they choose to take up PPPs, CEPPPs shall provide guidelines on how local governments can prepare themselves for delivery of services using public private partnership. We will achieve this assignment by setting out recommended guidelines for each stage of the partnership-building process.

Given the various levels of understanding of PPPs among councilors, technical officers and subordinate staff, CEPPPs endeavours to describe the characteristics of public private partnership and the various forms it can take, and address specific themes such as:

(a)    the potential benefits and risks of PPP as well as common fallacies related to this form of service delivery
(b)    broad guidelines as to when PPP should be considered
(c)    the legislative changes as well as the legislative authority that local governments now have for involvement in PPPs
(d)    the unique policy, procedural and organizational issues of PPPs compared to traditional approaches to service delivery and infrastructure projects
(e)    ways local government can prepare for PPPs, including the adoption of policies, the revision or elaboration of existing procedures and identification of required organizational changes
(f)    guidelines to help local governments select the appropriate approach for the delivery of services and infrastructure, including an evaluation of the types of projects and aspects of service delivery that lend themselves to PPPs
(g)    overall criteria to help determine potential public PPPs
(h)    the process of designing an effective implementation strategy for PPPs, including advice and guidelines on how to establish a project team, refine the scope of a project, select the preferred procurement process, establish a schedule for the delivery of the service, design an appropriate communications strategy and obtain the necessary approvals
(i)    detailed guidelines on the selection of a private sector partner, including the evaluation of proposals and various options for selecting a private partner depending on the nature and scope of the project or service to be delivered
(j)    advice and suggestions to help local governments negotiate effective contracts in the public interest
(k)    the legislative requirements of the Local Government Act on the ratification of
contracts to ensure that the public interest is maintained, including when and how local governments must involve all stakeholder in key decisions.