Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) Second Season set to commence with an introduction of a Mobile App Challenge

China’s AVIC International Holding Corporation in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is back with the second season of their youth empowerment project, Africa Tech Challenge. The first season was in form of a technical challenge that saw the three most outstanding participants walk away with full master’s degree scholarships in the most prestigious engineering schools in China as well as cash prizes of $1500, $1200 and $900 for the top three teams. The most coveted award was the top two teams (Kabete TTI and Nyeri TTI) signed a commercial contract worth $100,000 to go into local manufacturing of spare parts. In a bid to encourage more youth to take up and utilize their technical and innovative skills, ATC Season Two is back and bigger than ever. There will be two competitions (Technical Challenge and Mobile App Challenge) with cash prizes amounting to 10,000 $ for the Technical Challenge’s top six teams and 8000$ as cash prize for the top three individual winners of the Mobile App Challenge. Our ATC objectives are to empower the youth by upgrading their technical & Information Technology skills to high professional skills that will enable them to get internships and jobs, as we decrease the huge unemployment rate facing Kenyans. Our other objectives are to cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship and facilitate self-employment among the youth. This will be achieved by the intense training that we will provide in both competitions.

In order to push the youth empowerment agenda, cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship and facilitate self-employment among the Kenyan youth, we encourage the participants to enhance their creativity through developing a Mobile Application that meets a specific criteria in this year’s new competition, the Mobile Application Challenge. It targets the recent graduates and fourth year students with IT backgrounds. Once it’s completed, the Mobile Application will be supervised by a panel of experts to determine the three best applications. The top three winners get a chance to walk away US $5,000, US $2,000 and US $1,000 respectively. The overall winner will also get a six month incubation period with GearBox of i-Hub, one of ATC’s partners. This year’s Mobile Challenge will be taking place at Kenya Technical Teachers College (KTTC) in Nairobi. Fifty applicants will be chosen and they will start the contest on 27^th July at KTTC which will be in the form of training+Hackathlon (Elimination competition) that will last for two weeks, until August 8^th. Applicants are required to apply online via our website, avicatc.org

The second season of the Technical Challenge will begin with an intensive nationwide recruitment process of teams from different technical training institutes and universities around the country undergoing a rigorous training from the Chinese experts on how to use raw materials and machines as well as gaining the best techniques to use during the competition. Marks will then be awarded on skill, accuracy and precision, cost of production and quantity of raw materials used.

Training commences on 27^th July-1^st August 2015, followed by four regional competitions from 3^rd August to 7^th August. There will be twelve finalists who will proceed to Shamberere Technical Training Institution in Kakamega, for final training from 10^th August-29^th August and the final competition will be held at the same school on 30^th- 31^st August. The six winning teams will be awarded with a cash prize and the three most outstanding participants with scholarships to study in the most prestigious Engineering Universities in China.

During the competition, the participants will also have the opportunity to interact with invited business leaders during the ATC Talks. These talks are meant to guide and mentor the participants and will feature different CEO's, Entrepreneurs, Financial Advisers and Business Leaders.

Mortein Doom launches social media campaign dubbed - Pamoja Tuendelee Kuangamiza Malaria

Ahead of the Malaria Day this coming month, Reckitt Benckiser  launched a social media campaign geared to raise awareness of the disease to mothers as the cold season sets in. RB is focused on healthier lives for people and believes that it is part of their mandate to be actively involved in promoting the achievement of health related goals in Kenya. 

The strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Health and implementation of initiatives around the World Malaria Day, is a clear demonstration of their commitment. Malaria can be eliminated in Kenya, which is the reason why RB, through our flagship brand, Mortein Doom, has for the 3^rd year running, partnered with the Ministry of Health, to spread the message that malaria is preventable. 

In reality, Mortein Doom aims to make every home a pest-free haven by continuously providing innovative products that will ensure peace of mind in every home.  In support of the goal to achieve a malaria free country, Mortein Doom has invested in the development of a variety of Mortein Doom products including the insecticide spray, and liquid electrical mosquito repellant, all of which are easily accessible from shops and leading retailers countrywide.

Speaking on the launch, Reckitt Benckiser Company Manager Sachiv Varma said,

• Together, we have achieved a lot but we need to do more. RB will continue identifying more partnership opportunities with health sector players, investing in  community education programs, as well as introducing innovative products to the market e.g. Mortein LED.
• I must commend all of the organizations represented here today, for their efforts to fight Malaria. However, there is still much to be done. The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics released in December 2014, estimate that there were about 198 million cases of malaria in 2013 and an estimated 584, 000 deaths. Further, WHO indicates that most malaria cases and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a child dies every minute from malaria.
• Despite these gloomy statistics, I am happy to also note that there is great progress that has been made through the years, with regard to fighting this life-threatening disease. According to the WHO, malaria mortality rates among children in Africa have been reduced by an estimated 58% since the year 2000.
• This means that through continuous efforts, we can bring this disease under control.



Sachin Varma, RB Country Manager.

• As we prepare to mark the World Malaria day this Saturday 25^th April, let us maintain the spirit of collaboration that is evident in this room today. I am certain that our joint efforts will steer us to achieve the goal to reduce incidences of malaria in countries by 75%, in line with World Health Assembly targets for 2015."   



Dan Mwangi, Spoken Word Artist – Presented

Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia gives a speech during the media breakfast

Konza Technopolis Unveils Smart Technology Plan

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Konza City Technopolis is looking at developing its Phase 1 infrastructure through smart technology to reap the benefits of innovation and connectivity.

In a demonstration of expending technology to bridge infrastructure operations and improve service delivery to citizens, the Techno City has embarked on development of Phase 1 to world class smart city building standards using smart technology solutions.

Eng. John Tanui, Konza Technopolis Development Authority Chief Executive Officer, said smart concepts will be designed into the City using state-of-the-art internet and telecommunications networks to enhance on the city’s efficiency and integrate infrastructure and services.

Speaking at the on-going Connected East Africa in Kwale County, he said Konza City will use a single converged Internet Protocol (IP) network as the platform to plan, build, and manage day-to-day city operations.

KoTDA sponsored the KONZA ICT Innovation Awards at the Connected East Africa Summit. There were 586 applications narrowed down to 6 category finalist. Applications were received from the – US, Germany, Egypt, UK and Ethiopia.

“The Konza IP network will allow for significant new efficiencies in every aspect of life within Konza, enhancing productivity, improving availability of and access to public services,” said Eng. Tanui.

“Smart technology in Konza City will be integrated in Transportation Operations, Sanitary Collection, Treatment & Re-use Operations, Storm Drainage Operations, Water System Operations, Electrical System, E-Governance Data Centers, Security Parking and Informational Signage Landscaping,” he added.

Eng. Tanui further noted that the smart technology integration was benchmarked from best practices of smart cities globally and will create “added value by improving efficiency, enhancing economic potential, reduced costs, opening the door to new business and services, and improving the living conditions of Konza City citizens.”

Additionally, the Techno City will harbor the Konza Campus, a shared ICT platform for education systems for both local and international universities. Excellent ICT infrastructure poised to make Konza City an e-government commerce giant targeted at government agencies and the private sector would vastly improve efficiency and citizen services through cloud-based IT infrastructure.
Kenya's leading ICT players are expected to form the bulk of pioneer investors and partners in Konza, with good interest registered by telecom operators and leading banks to locate their data centres and other ICT investments in Konza

“KoTDA is keen to work and partner with other stakeholders to improve the innovation space in the country,” said Eng. Tanui while urging the private sector and government agencies to take advantage of the Konza techno ecosystem by locating their new investments in Science and Technology in Konza City.
Further, Eng. John Tanui said the Authority is confident the legal and legislative approvals will accelerate the Technopolis progress.

According to Eng. Tanui, a tremendous opportunity lies in recent passing of key bills such as the Public Private Partnership bill into law which will “be a major contributor to easing budgetary constraints on social expenditure, directly enabling the Government to broaden and deepen balanced development while  developing the techno City’s infrastructure in affordable and sustainable ways.”

Upon completion of Phase 1, Konza City is expected to create over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Technopolis is expected to host various amenities including ICT research centres, a university complex, offices, residential houses and parks. The city will be implemented as a public private partnership, in which the Government will take a minimal role, developing the public infrastructure and regulatory guidelines.

The Government of Kenya in 2014, through the Konza Technology City Development Authority (KOTDA), signed a 5-year Master Delivery Partner 2 (MDP2) Agreement with a consortium led by major international civil engineering firm Tetra Tech (Denver, USA) to develop the 400-acre Phase 1 of Konza Technology City.

MDP2 is assisting KOTDA with the roll-out of on-site public infrastructure and the leasing of serviced land to developers and tenants. MDP2 will also create a strong brand for the project and enhance KOTDA’s management capacity.

Naijas Invade Rotary Club of Nairobi East

Last week the Rotary Club of Nairbi East was privileged to host 5 Nigerians from the Rotary Club of Maryland in Nigeria.  RTN Kehinde Bello a Consultant Project Manager and a Certified Engineer), RTN Bola Oyebade presently the Founder and Principal Partner of BO Consulting a Management, RTN Adewale Sanni  A professional in the Aviation industry and RTN George Ikpekhia currently works with Emirates Airlines as the Station Manager at Lagos graced as by visiting some of the projects we are doing in Nairobi.

Boosting our efforts geared to preventing martenal and child mortality. These gentlemen in partnership with Rotary Club of Nairobi East donated mosquito nets to expectant and new mothersat the Korogocho Centre Clinic, Nairobi. The mosquito nets are part of an aftercare package given to mothers who deliver at the facility. The clinic has been adopted by Rotary Nairobi East.

President Elect Nana Wanjau, Rotarians from Rotary Club of Maryland and the 
New Mothers at Korogocho Center Clinic

Rotarian Bola Ayebade from Nigeria with President Nana with donating a mosquito net
to a new mother.

Rotarian Bola Ayebade from Nigeria with President Nana with donating a mosquito net
to a new mother.