Crown Paints spent over Ksh 2 million during this year’s Crown Your Art Competition where three primary schools emerged as winners. The competition involves primary schools across the country submitting their artwork and the final artwork from the top ten nominees are uploaded on the microsite for the public to vote for their favorite artist.
While awarding the winners over the weekend, Crown Paints PLC Group human resources manager Nicholas Wanambisi said education correlates with the economic development of any nation and urged all stakeholders, particularly the corporate sector to work together for an educated and empowered society.
“We want to encourage and support Kenyan parents to take their children to school as it is the only equalizer to a successful and sustainable future”, Wanambisi argued. The human resource boss said his paint firm will continue to support education initiatives that aim at inspiring both teachers and learners across the country.
Misufini Primary School in Mariakani emerged as the winner of the hotly contested competition by walking away with over Ksh 400,000 in cash prizes that went to the top student and the school. Oljogi Primary School in Laikipia North came second by walking away with Ksh 275,000 that went to the top student and the school while Valley Bridge Primary School in Mathare was the second runners-up by pocketing a cash prize of over Ksh. 200,000.
Besides the cash prizes, the winning schools will have their perimeter walls painted and will be awarded branded benches and bins. The winners also had a chance to tour Crown Paints (K) PLC Mogadishu Road Factory to learn firsthand how paint is made.
The paint firm spends over Ksh 300 million every year on corporate programs whose objective is to transform people’s lives.
FORMER MEDIA CEO, IAN FERNANDES JOINS BOARD OF PR AGENCY – ENGAGE BCW
……Ian will be responsible for driving growth, transformation, and strategic decision making at the agency.
Nairobi, Kenya, 7th October 2021…Ian Fernandes, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mediamax Networks , MD of Nation Broadcasting and Digital and MD of KTN has been appointed to the Board of Engage BCW, a multi-award winning Kenyan Public Relations and Communication agency.
Ian’s appointment to the Engage BCW Board, as Executive Director, seeks to add value to the PR agency as it targets its next phase of growth.
With a proven track record in growing and scaling businesses gained over a 27-year career spanning the media, technology and communication industry, Ian will support the Engage BCW management team with driving growth, transformation, innovation and strategic-thinking to leverage on the massive business opportunities in Kenya and the Sub-Saharan region.
Keen to take on new challenges at Engage BCW, Ian said, “There is now a fine line between PR and advertising, with many brands now realizing that what your consumers say about you, is now more important than what you say about yourself. We have had to relook at established ways, to come up with new solutions to meet client needs.”
He added, “The time has come for public relations and storytelling to reinvent itself with solutions that serve these new requirements.”
Ian started off his career as an ICT consultant at KPMG, and later joined the Standard Group in 1993, as the IT manager. Within four years, he rose through the ranks to be appointed as both the Managing Director of KTN and the Group Technical and Production Director, serving both the television station and Standard newspaper respectively. In his 7-year stint as MD, he transformed the TV station from a company that was in receivership to becoming profitable and the country’s leading TV station.
In 2005, he joined Nation Media Group (NMG) as the Managing Director in charge of the company’s Broadcasting Division. In 9 years at NMG he oversaw the business turnaround of NTV Kenya, launched NTV Uganda and was responsible for the strategy and formulation of the group’s new Digital Division.
In 2014 he moved to Mediamax as the CEO, where he served for 5 years, during which time he disrupted the Kenyan newspaper market by re-launching People Daily as Africa’s first national free newspaper, relaunched K24 TV with revamped program content and re-formatted the group’s seven radio stations including Kameme FM, Milele FM, Meru FM, Mayian FM, Emoo FM, and Pilipili FM to become forerunners in their respective categories.
Crown Paints has launched a new generation of environment-friendly, water-proof, and high-efficiency stone imitation paint in the market. The new product targets contractors, quantity surveyors, architects, and homeowners who desire a premium finish without mining many stone mountains and saving natural resources.
Crown Paints Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rakesh Rao said the launch of granite finish paint was timely as the country is experiencing an increase in residential and commercial projects. Dr. Rao said the product will tap into the country’s growing property market as it offers multiple surfaces application.
“Many Kenyan consumers are consistently looking out for unique paint solutions for their homes or projects that are more affordable yet stand out”, Dr. Rao explained.
Data from the 2021 Economic Survey covering the 2020 calendar year showed the country’s construction industry registered a double-digit growth rate of about 12 percent as the sector remained largely interrupted despite the prevailing coronavirus pandemic.
Granite countertops, slabs, and tiles have become a popular way of bringing natural beauty, character, and style into people’s homes. Dr. Rao however, said natural granite was quite expensive, heavy and requires a lot of care to remain appealing. “We’ve introduced new Crown natural granite finish paint which is 100 percent alternative to granite”, Dr. Rao argued.
The NSE listed company boss said high-end German technology was employed to achieve the granite effect which can be applied on almost any surface. The paint is also exceptionally good for both interior and exterior surfaces which provide a granite-like finish at a lower cost.
The new product comes in a four-pack paint system which includes an undercoat, granite flakes, bonding agent, and a silicone topcoat. The paint is water and dust resistant, retains color, bridges cracks, and is non-combustible. It is specially designed to care for the environment as it has low volatile organic compounds with no added heavy metals such as chrome, mercury, and lead.
From left Sandile Shoko Quality Assurance Manager, Crown Paints, Grace Ekirapa Brand Ambassador, Dr. Rakesh Rao Group Chief Executive Officer, Crown Paints, and Terrtanne Chebet Brand Ambassador are all smiles after the launch of a new generation of environment-friendly, water-proof and high-efficiency stone imitation paint in the market
The OPPO Reno6 5G has been launched in Kenya featuring Ultra-slim, Retro design, with OPPO Reno Glow that shines in multiple colors at different angles.
The new device is available for pre-order at Ksh 59,999 at any OPPO store or online on Jumia, Masoko, Kilimall, and Sky Garden.
Reno6 5G Specs
Reno6 5G has a stylish ultra-slim retro design with a thickness of 7.59mm, weighs 182g, features OPPO Reno Glow and comes in two new colors: Aurora and Stellar Black.
On the front of Reno6 5G, the 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate delivers a more vivid and smooth viewing experience.
Oppo Reno6 5G is equipped with numerous photo-enhancing functions including its exclusive Image Clear Engine and Color temperature sensor and Flash Snapshot, which enables users to capture clearer shots of moving subjects or take quick-capture photos.
Reno6 5G also provides creative post-production tools like AI Palette, which can turn your images into the style of those popular content creators online with just one click.
The phone comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage added to OPPO’s self-developed RAM Expansion technology, allowing one to add 2GB/3GB/5GB of ROM storage memory if RAM space runs out.
The large battery is 4,300 mAh with a 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, and can be fully charged in 28 minutes and enables all-day usage even with a very low battery.
In the latest episode of Inside Africa, CNN meets a group of trailblazing Kenyan women who are carving their own paths to success. From doctors to content creators, they are using the power of online platforms to amplify their voices and help others flourish.
Gatuiri Irauka is an award-winning Kenyan food blogger and baker. Her brand is known as “Leo Tunapika?”, a Swahili phrase that means “What are we cooking?”. Irauka did not have any formal baking training and her business began with her making cakes for friends. The transition from word-of-mouth to internet success coincided with the increasing rise of social media. She tells the program about this growth, “The blog was a hobby, so I didn’t think much about how it can make money. Because I think even the first paying gig I got as a blogger was maybe 2015, 2016. But over time, and with the growth of social media, it has grown to the point of now scaling in the sense that I even started having to acquire equipment because now I shoot my own content.”
Dr. Amakove Wala works for the Aga Khan Foundation as their global advisor for health and nutrition. She is also the vice-chair of Kenya Healthcare Federation and sits on the Kenya Private Sector Alliance board, representing the Kenya Healthcare Federation. Wala has now founded many businesses, including one which helps women find jobs through training and placement. She speaks about her advice to other women, “I have this saying that I love living by, it’s called, do you – the world will adjust. This basically translates to, given the things that I’ve gone through in life, there’s a lot that society dictates on a woman on how she should behave, what she should do, and whatnot. And I think that places us in boxes that do not help us live to our potential.”
Adelle Onyango is a Kenyan media personality, podcaster, and founder of the Adelle Onyango Initiative. She tells CNN about the importance of talking through difficult issues, “I think one way of destigmatizing certain topics that have been deemed taboo is by story-telling because then people are seeing, or in a podcast hearing, people who sound like them, have names like them, talking about places they know, are living this reality, then it becomes not a detached thing.”
Christine Khasinah-Odero is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Supamamas. She explains what her platform does, “It’s a platform that empowers moms to be the best that they can be. We put events together where they come to network, where they come to learn from experts and, of course, connect with each other. It provides a wonderful platform where moms can vent, be themselves, have a good laugh, and go back home knowing that they can be whatever they want to be.”
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the hospitality industry has experienced some of the biggest downturns in history. One of the highly affected sectors includes meetings and events, which saw its uptake plummet as companies moved almost everything to the digital realm.
However, as various governments across the globe eased restrictions and offered safety guidelines in response to the pandemic, the hospitality industry is gradually resuming its operations and diversifying its portfolios.
This has been further supported by vaccination efforts that are currently underway, a move that has seen corporate meeting planners prime themselves well for the return of in-person meetings.
Hotels have been innovating in an overdrive, finding solutions to intractable problems like pandemics, and discovering new opportunities to be more efficient at a greater scale of business. A good example is Sarova Hotels and Resorts.
Sarova Hotels and Resorts has been delivering true hospitality in meetings and events for decades and has meeting spaces available at all the 7 properties in the country. The hotel has enhanced its conferencing facilities to provide appropriate and creative meeting and event solutions, without compromising on the experience or the flexibility that meeting planners require.
Prioritizing guest safety and well-being, the hotel has been assisting event planners with arranging convenings that observe the stipulated health and safety guidelines as well as ensuring frequent on-site temperature checks during conference meetings.
Moreover, Sarova is offering flexibility on rates, space, and contract terms in response to clients’ current needs. It has endeavored to work with clients in addressing health and environmental concerns, with measures such as creating physically distanced meeting sets, as well as sharing environmental impact practices.
Among Sarova’s innovations include the Makutano Conferencing Centre at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa located in Mombasa– a conferencing solution that goes over and above what’s expected.
With an expansive space for social distancing, the Makutano Conferencing Centre combines modern and artistic architecture with the warmth of the coastal colors and finishes. The facility is a representation of how Sarova continues to innovate and find creative ways of using indoor and outdoor spaces to keep COVID-19 at bay. It carries large aisle ways with dedicated lanes to help manage traffic and prevent crowding.
“There’s a natural inclination for people to want to meet and interact in person,” said General Manager Sarova Whitesands, Francis Msengeti. “One of the most important considerations for conferencing venues is to cultivate trust and create systems that will put guests at ease, that is why this Makutano conferencing facility exists.”
The state-of-the-art facility, apart from implementing the safety protocols for COVID-19 as outlined by the Ministry of Health, offers a taste of hybrid conferencing in Kenya with premium audiovisuals including two HD video walls, surround audio wireless presentation a VIP holding room, and a secretariat.
It also provides a relaxed ambiance that seats up to 300 persons and with separate boardrooms, giving both local and international visitors a new feel of class, safety, and a sense of belonging.
As more people receive COVID-19 jabs and the pent-up demand for travel picks up, it is more important than ever that businesses, the government, and other stakeholders recognize the role meetings and events will play in our ability to make a full economic recovery.
“By following the Ministry of Health’s guidelines and implementing safety measures, we, at Sarova are hosting professional meetings and events at our hotels across the country and are confident that these important gatherings can happen safely once again,” concluded Mr. Msengeti.
The hotel has conferencing facilities at Sarova Panafric, Sarova Stanley, Sarova Woodlands, and also hosts meetings at its lodges including Sarova Lionhill Game Lodge, Sarova Mara Game Camp and Sarova Shaba Game Lodge.
The Carole Kinoti Brands are set to hold this year’s Fashion On The Road Golf Tournament slated for 27th and 28th August at Muthaiga Golf Club.
The event is set to bring together stakeholders in the fashion industry, buyers, the business community, and golf enthusiasts to have a candid conversation around the growth of the creative economy. The tournament will also bring together diplomats, government officials among others to have a firsthand feel and celebrate the fashion industry in Kenya. At least 300 guests and 100 exhibitors are expected at the event.
The Chief Guest at the event will be Hon. Amb. Amina Mohamed, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Heritage, and Culture. The CS is expected to be accompanied by various Value Chain partners. These include the Strathmore Business School, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, Kenya Prisons Services, Ministry of Trade and Enterprise Development, Ndarugu Metropolis Project and Brand Ambassadors Connie Aluoch and Mwenesi Musalia.
“We are excited to have this tournament. Coming at a time the world is going through one of the worst pandemics in history, the event is set and gives hope to those within the sector that we can still do it. We have ramped up new efforts in preparation for the FoTR Golf Tournament 2021 and will continue to intensify our quest for solutions around the fashion industry by engaging women, people with disabilities and youth in value addition processes and the creation of Made in Kenya fashion products,” said Carole Kinoti, Founder and CEO of the Carole Kinoti Brand.
“We have great guests attending this event. Having so many government dignitaries in attendance allows those who will be present to have a one-on-one experience and a chat with the officials on challenges they face,” added Carole.
The event shall also feature a panel of discussion that will bring together women and experts in the creative and fashion industry to break down the sector, investment opportunities, and challenges.
