MKU launches Kes20 Million hotel

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Home Tags Deogratius

Feature

MKU launches Kes20 Million hotel

Staff Writer - June 2, 2021

Mount Kenya University has launched a Kes20 million hotel at its main campus in Thika. The hotel will be the training ground for MKU...

MOST POPULAR

African economies have been challenged to boost their investment in research to power the continent’s industrial transformation by accelerating development of homegrown innovations that reinforce autonomy, sustainability, and technological sovereignty. Speaking during the official launch of the African Research and Innovation Hub (ARIH) on the sidelines of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, the Group Chief Economist and Managing Director for Research at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Dr. Yemi Kale noted that while Africa accounts for less than 3% of global research output, it bears a disproportionately higher share of global challenges. “Even more concerning, our research and development spending averages under 0.5% of GDP, far below the global average of 2.2% and far less than the over 4% invested in countries such as South Korea and Israel. However, history shows us that deliberate investment in research ecosystems has been the foundation of industrial transformation. Sustained competitiveness requires research, innovation, and the industrial capacity to transform ideas into products and services that can stand at the frontier of global markets,” Dr Kale said. The hub is a joint initiative of Afreximbank, the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat that aims to promote and commercialise African research and innovation. It provides a platform for academics, researchers, and students to contribute their knowledge and expertise towards advancing Intra-African trade and industrialisation. “ARIH’s mission is to transform intellectual capital into industrial competitiveness and trade-led growth. Studies indicate that if Africa merely doubles its R&D spending to 1% of GDP by 2030, we could unlock an estimated $60–70 billion annually in additional value across agriculture, digital technology, and manufacturing. This would boost productivity, reduce import dependence, and expand Africa’s share of global trade,” Dr Kale argued. Throughout IATF2025, ARIH is running sessions bringing together participants from academia, enterprise, policymakers and investors. Besides the co-convenors, Algeria's Ministry of Higher Education is providing technical coordination for the sessions that include roundtables and pitch sessions for innovative projects and startups. University lecturers and students, as well as scientists and researchers affiliated with National Research Institutions from Africa, and the Diaspora including the Caribbean, have the opportunity to showcase their innovative research and scientific prototypes. Hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, IATF2025 is co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, and is projected to facilitate trade and investment deals worth over US$44 billion. IATF is a platform for businesses to showcase their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. IATF aims to tap into opportunities from AfCFTA’s single market of over 1.4 billion people and GDP of over US$3.5 trillion. The ongoing IATF2025 is in its fourth edition with the last three editions of IATF cumulatively generating over $118 billion in trade and investment deals and attracting more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors.

African Employers Welcome a Fresh Start with the African Development Bank...

October 8, 2025

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS TOPS THE GLOBAL TV MARKET FOR 17 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

March 27, 2023

Kenya Airways posts first H1 profits in a decade

August 22, 2024

Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation extending fundraising partnership...

January 23, 2020

HOT NEWS

Lifestyle

Teaching someone to fish: the false dichotomy of relief and development

Main Story

KALRO LAUNCHES APPs FOR AVOCADO FARMERS

Feature

Prime Bank launches SimbaPay – International Money Transfer Service

Gadgets

EQUITY BANK FETED AS OVERALL BEST BANK IN KENYA

EDITOR PICKS

Emirates (www.Emirates.com) is marking a near-full return to operations, with 96% of its global network now restored, following a period of disruption. In the past weeks, the airline has progressively resumed services across the Americas, Europe, Africa, West Asia, the Middle East/GCC, the Far East and Australasia. Today, the airline operates to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with over 1,300 weekly frequencies, representing 75% of pre-disruption capacity. The airline is offering more flights, more seats and more options each day while reaffirming Dubai's position as a vital hub through which global travel moves. Even as it operated with a reduced schedule, Emirates carried 4.7 million passengers* during the disruption, a testament to the enduring demand for travel and the trust that travellers continued to place in the airline to get them where they needed to go. The Emirates experience, wherever you’re going Wherever Emirates customers choose to fly, they can expect a best-in-class onboard and onground experience, defined by exceptional comfort, genuine hospitality, and a level of service that has set the standard for long-haul travel. Onboard, customers enjoy a unique culinary experience, with regionally inspired, multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs and complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Emirates' award-winning ice inflight entertainment system offers more than 6,500 channels of the best global content in almost 40 languages, including movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more, ensuring there is no such thing as a long flight. And for those who need to stay connected, high-speed Wi-Fi keeps customers reachable at 40,000 feet. Emirates now has Starlink connectivity live on 28 aircraft, delivering ultra-fast, reliable internet in the air. Enjoy flexible travel and rewards Emirates is giving customers more reasons to travel with confidence with flexible rebooking, Dubai Connect stopover experiences and enhanced Skywards benefits: Flexible bookings: Customers booked from 2 April will enjoy added flexibility, with one free date change included across all cabin classes. Customers who have booked with Emirates can also hold a fare for 24 hours free of charge. Dubai Connect: For customers with extended transit times in Dubai from 6 to 26 hours, Emirates' Dubai Connect programme turns a long layover into a comfortable stopover, courtesy of the airline. Eligible customers will enjoy complimentary hotel accommodation at a 4 or 5-star property, airport transfers, meals, and, where required, a UAE entry visa. Available to passengers across all cabin classes with qualifying connection times, Dubai Connect can be booked up to 12 hours ahead via Manage Your Booking (https://apo-opa.co/4d25rcf) on www.Emirates.com. Terms and conditions apply (https://apo-opa.co/42SvsG9). Skywards: From 8 May to 31 August 2026, Emirates Skywards members can enjoy accelerated access to the programme's premium tiers through reduced tier requirements and Bonus Tier Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights. *Between 1 March and 30 April Emirates operates five weekly flights between Dubai and Entebbe, ensuring consistent connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Uganda. Passengers can explore flight schedules and book their journey from Entebbe by visiting Emirates’ official website: https://apo-opa.co/4usnAXF.

Uganda Rejoins Emirates Airlines Global Network

July 2, 2026

Africa’s Energy Shift Starts With Technology

July 1, 2026

African Mining Week (AMW) – taking place on October 14 to 16 in Cape Town - will highight the growing role of mining services companies as critical enablers of Africa’s transition from resource - rich to project - ready. As the continent works to unlock an estimated $8.5 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, these firms are emerging as key drivers of capital mobilization, technical delivery and accelerated project timelines. A structural shift is underway. Mining services companies are no longer confined to contractor roles - they are evolving into integrated project partners, shaping how mines are financed, engineered, built and operated. Their influence now sits at the intersection of capital markets, infrastructure development, energy systems and industrial policy, positioning them as central players in Africa’s next phase of mining - led growth. This evolution is already visible in project activity across the continent. In April 2026, Metso inaugurated a new regional hub in Cape Town, strengthening its bulk material handling and services capabilities across Africa. The facility enhances automation, logistics and lifecycle services across key commodity value chains - including coal, platinum group metals and manganese - directly supporting South Africa’s strategy to scale mineral exports and industrial output. Geopolitics is further amplifying this trend. Major global economies are increasingly leveraging their EPC and mining services companies as strategic tools to secure supply chains and expand influence. Institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States are backing American participation in African mining, while China, Europe, Canada and Australia continue to embed their services companies into financing and development frameworks across the continent. Australia’s Lycopodium is advancing Namibia’s Twin Hills project, while China’s JCHX Mining Management is supporting copper production at Botswana’s Khoemacau Mine. In Guinea, XCMG Machinery is contributing to development at the Simandou iron ore project – one of the largest untapped deposits globally. Across key mining jurisdictions, this shift is accelerating project pipelines. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia and South Africa are increasingly relying on mining services firms to fast-track national geomapping exercises, exploration, scale production and advance beneficiation. Against this backdrop, AMW will bring together global EPC firms, mining services providers, investors and African developers. The event is set to catalyze partnerships and deal-making, with a focus on strengthening execution capacity, unlocking financing and accelerating the delivery of mining projects that can anchor Africa’s industrial growth and global supply chain integration.

Africa Mining Powers Business

June 30, 2026

Third Africa Islamic Finance Forum Confirmed for Nigeria March 2018

March 23, 2018

EABL signs lease deal for office space in upcoming Garden City...

March 14, 2018

Facebook Introduces Messenger Rooms and More ways to connect

April 27, 2020

Tag: Deogratius

MKU launches Kes20 Million hotel

MOST POPULAR

African Employers Welcome a Fresh Start with the African Development Bank...

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS TOPS THE GLOBAL TV MARKET FOR 17 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

Kenya Airways posts first H1 profits in a decade

Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation extending fundraising partnership...

HOT NEWS

Teaching someone to fish: the false dichotomy of relief and development

KALRO LAUNCHES APPs FOR AVOCADO FARMERS

Prime Bank launches SimbaPay – International Money Transfer Service

EQUITY BANK FETED AS OVERALL BEST BANK IN KENYA

EDITOR PICKS

Uganda Rejoins Emirates Airlines Global Network

Africa’s Energy Shift Starts With Technology

Africa Mining Powers Business

POPULAR POSTS

Third Africa Islamic Finance Forum Confirmed for Nigeria March 2018

EABL signs lease deal for office space in upcoming Garden City...

Facebook Introduces Messenger Rooms and More ways to connect

POPULAR CATEGORY