Welcome to Volume One of 'Best of Kenya'
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KENYA V o l u m e 1 Welcome to Volume One of ‘Best of Kenya’ ‘Best of Kenya’ is a celebration of the success of varied and valued enterprises in both Publisher: Intermac Communications Limited private and public sectors and sets a trend we will continue in the coming months with Volume II. Sales Director: Simon Mugo Sales Team: Chris Nyaoro, Leonard Sichemo, We are all proud to join the distinguished GVP family and, through showcasing success in Shane Mwigereri, Derrick Wanjawa enterprise and entrepreneurship, play a role in marketing Kenya to the rest of the world as a place where business survives and thrives. Editorial Director: W Kwendo Opanga We hope that by celebrating these success stories and taking their uniqueness to the Editorial Team: Matthew Gathigira, Mike Ngwalla, world, we will encourage many more entrepreneurs and enterprises to devise ways and Matiko Bohoko means of joining the very best locally and globally. Administration: Josephine Wambui, Stephen Otieno Please sit back and enjoy the features on and images of articles on Kenya, its sporting Creative Direction: Allan Anjeo, Extreme Designs prowess, uniqueness, banks, hotels, education, birthplace of Barrack Obama Snr, the father of the 44th President of the United States of America, among other delightful Photography: Walter Boermeester, Yahya Mohamed, articles. Sam Ouma, Noor Khamis, Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya Film Commission, Department of Film Services. We single out one enterprise for special mention. This is the story of Ranalo Foods, a well liked eatery in Nairobi that is run by an amiable and humble couple that started their Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the business from the humblest of beginnings and locations. accuracy of the information in Best of Kenya Vol.1. Neither Best of Kenya nor Intermac Communications In Volume II we will dwell at length on Kenya as a tourist destination and also look at the Limited can take responsibility for any errors or government’s blueprint – Vision 2030 - for transforming the country into a developed omissions. nation by 2030. All rights reserved: No part of this publication shall be reproduced, copied, transmitted, adapted or modified Karibu in any form or by any means. This publication shall not be stored in whole or in part in any form in any retrieval system. Contact details: B E S T O F Vision Plaza, Second Floor, Room 37, Mombasa Road. Telephone: +254 20 2525253/4/5 Cellphone: +254 72 240 1739 / +254 72 278 7345 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] KENYA Website: www.GVPedia.com Regional Head Offices Bangalore • Brussels • Cairo • Casablanca • Copenhagen • Dubai • Johannesburg • London • Santiago • Singapore • Sydney • Washington DC Best of Kenya 1 Hotels & Casinos 2 Best of Kenya National Anthem O God of all creation, Bless this our land and nation. Justice be our shield and defender, May we dwell in unity, Peace and liberty, Plenty be found within our borders. Let one and all arise With hearts both strong and true. Service be our earnest endeavour, And our Homeland of Kenya, Heritage of splendour, Firm may we stand to defend. Let all with one accord In common bond united, Build this our nation together, And the glory of Kenya, The fruit of our labour, Fill every heart with thanksgiving. Best of Kenya 3 Foreword from the President I am pleased to write a foreword for this attractive and insightful publication about Kenya. Foreword In this book, you will find many things said about Kenya, some of which may be new, and others that you already know. It is my hope that the book will enable readers to broaden their knowledge of our country and experience a new understanding and perception of Kenya and its people. Kenya remains a relatively stable and peaceful nation, despite the challenges we have faced over the years. The stability and success of our nation demonstrates that we are a resilient people, and we are always ready to find solutions to our problems. And more importantly, we have been swift to seize the challenges that confront us and transform them into opportunities for enhancing the political, social, and economic development of our society. In this respect, the Grand Coalition Government, working together with Parliament, passed various legislation this year to enable the government to implement various reforms to ensure transparency in the management of the affairs of our nation. I am confident that, as a people, we are capable of overcoming the problems we face, and building a united, stable and prosperous nation. I therefore want to assure our friends and well-wishers that Kenyans are determined to uphold our nationhood. We are committed to living in unity, while recognizing the diversity of our people. Indeed, all of us, regardless of ethnicity, race or religion, are inextricably tied together, with a common destiny. That destiny, as spelt out in Vision 2030, aims at building a prosperous and equitable nation that is an example to the region and the world of what Africa is capable of achieving. Accordingly, the theme of this publication is not only appropriate but also timely. Over the last six years, the government has implemented a variety of reforms to make our country investor- friendly. We welcome investors to take advantage of the unique and abundant opportunities we offer to put their money in various sectors of our economy. Indeed, Kenya is today one of Africa’s most well endowed countries in terms of human capital, entrepreneurship and work ethic. The country has a large portfolio of investment opportunities, ranging from the diverse natural resources and a vibrant agricultural sector to sophisticated infrastructure as well as the financial and information services sectors. In this regard, Nairobi has grown to become the region’s financial, transport and tourism hub, while Mombasa is the gateway to the Eastern Africa region. Investors will find well developed infrastructure, including roads, railways, air transport, and telecommunications linking Kenya to the rest of Africa and the world. Investors will also be happy to know that Kenya has a large pool of highly talented and skilled labour. This publication is, therefore, also an invitation to investors, friends and well-wishers to visit Kenya. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Kenya is a land of contrasts – of enchanting landscapes, a snow-capped mountain on the Equator, expansive savannas that are home of the Big Five and countless, varied wildlife in their natural habitats that make Kenya a true safari country. Moreover, Kenya’s coastal region tells the story of hospitality and of timeless contacts with the rest of the world, a story that is still eloquently told by the numerous historical monuments and sites, while the beautiful, white sandy beaches and an all-year-round warm climate assure our visitors a fun-filled holiday experience. Welcome to Kenya. H.E. Mwai Kibaki President of the Republic of Kenya 4 Best of Kenya Foreword from the Prime Minister It is my pleasure to write the foreword to this useful fact-book on Kenya, especially at this particular time when our country has regained its balance following the political crisis that engulfed it in early 2008. Kenya is back in business as a gateway to the vast and fast growing African market on the eastern seaboard. We have reclaimed our reputation and position as the destination of choice for investment, trade and tourism in Eastern and Central Africa. We in Kenya firmly believe that the private sector provides the main engine for sustainable economic growth. The Government of Kenya is firmly committed to working closely with both the domestic and foreign private sector to generate wealth in the fight against poverty and underdevelopment. Kenya offers guaranteed lower production and operational costs and faster business set-up than most other countries, through the following measures: • a one-stop-shop system for required licenses upon entry. • a ten-year Corporate Tax holiday and a 25 per cent tax rate reduction for 10 years thereafter. • a ten-year withholding Tax holiday on non-resident remittances. • duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on imported or locally sourced raw materials, construction equipment and other business inputs except motor vehicles and some fuels. • a 100 per cent investment deduction on capital expenditure within 20 years. • exemption from Stamp Duty. The Government places great emphasis on providing a conducive and enabling environment for business. Maintaining Kenya’s highly skilled labour force is a top priority alongside issues of security, affordable energy supply, responsiveness of the public sector to business needs, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring a pleasant multicultural environment to live in. Kenya’s unique geographical position offers time flexibility in cross-interaction with businesses in other time zones from Auckland in New Zealand to Los Angeles in the U.S., without loss of sleep! Nairobi is the regional hub for air and sea transport for East, Central and Southern Africa, offering daily air connections to West Africa and other parts of the world. As a founder-member of the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Kenya offers access to a vast market of more than 400 million people. Kenya hosts a large number of regional bodies, multinationals and international organizations. This, together with the multi-racial fabric of Kenyan society, makes most cities and urban centres in this country global in matters of faith, education, culture, cuisine and character. Welcome to Kenya! You will enjoy visiting or doing business in Kenya. Raila Amolo Odinga Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya Best of Kenya 5 BEST OF THE WORLD Welcome to the world’s premier platform for showcasing and Growth and Opportunity networking governments, leading companies and entrepreneurs in business, tourism and lifestyle.