President William Ruto on Saturday led the country in marking this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, with a strong call for unity and patriotism among Kenyans.

Speaking in Bungoma County which hosted the 61st Madaraka Day, the President said Kenya will never go back to politics of ethnicity, personalities and exclusion.

He said his agenda is focused on the development of the country irrespective of how people voted during the last General Election.

“I want to assure Kenyans that we will never go back to politics of ethnicity, personalities and people not being in centre of power,” said President Ruto.

He also sent a stern warning to Government officials on the misuse of public resources.

“All government officials, beginning with me, shall be held accountable for resources under their supervision,” said President Ruto.

He asked those who have grabbed public land in Bungoma to surrender it to pave the way for the expansion of the Masinde Muliro Stadium, airport and other development projects.

President Ruto used the occasion to enumerate his administration’s achievements in the agricultural sector, and promised more development projects across the country.

This year’s Madaraka Day theme is Agriculture and Food Security.

The President noted that investments in agriculture remain key to expansion of the most important value chain in our economy and in ensuring that there is enough food to feed citizens.

“Agriculture’s direct contributions to our GDP is 25 per cent, while its indirect support to other economic pillars, such as manufacturing, boosts the GDP by a further 27 per cent,” President Ruto said.

The President pointed out that under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the country will reduce hunger, fight poverty and improve the health of Kenyans.

“I am particularly delighted that agriculture and food security are the chosen theme of this year’s celebrations,” President Ruto said.

He appreciated the determination of small-scale farmers, who are the strongest in the agricultural sector in Kenya, in their effort to produce more food.

To enhance social inclusion and a robust thriving economy, the President said the government has deployed an agriculture-led Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

“Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, we will reduce hunger, fight poverty and improve Kenya’s health outcomes,” President Ruto said.

He said local farmers have defied systemic and structural limitations to make a contribution to household and national food security requirements, and to propel the economy.

“Consequently, we have worked effectively with farmers and other food system value chains to transform their productivity beyond subsistence and enhance the country’s food security,” said President Ruto.

As part of the efforts to reform the sugar sector, President Ruto said the government has written off KSh110 billion worth of sugar factory debts accumulated over 40 years.

The President said reforms have been carried out in coffee and tea, among other sectors, to ensure that farmers get good returns on their investment and improve the country’s economy.

“Measures are underway to boost coffee productivity from 2kg to 10kg a tree, and from 50,000 metric tonnes to 102,000 metric tonnes a year by 2027,” he said.

President Ruto announced that the government is writing off KSh6 billion debt owed by coffee cooperatives.

He said the government will continue to champion afforestation and the restoration of degraded landscapes and mobilise Kenyans to plant trees to restore the environment.

“We have made progress towards fulfilling our commitment to build 100 dams and 1,000 small dams in different parts of the country, to facilitate sustainable water use and increase irrigated land by 500,000 acres by 2026,” said the President.

To control livestock diseases and pests, President Ruto said the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) produced 35 million doses of various livestock vaccines in 2023.

To enhance access to credit by farmers, the President announced that KSh1 billion has been allocated to the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) in the next financial year.

“Additionally, we are collaborating with Afriexim Bank to provide KSh15 billion to AFC to support increased lending to farmers,” he said.

He said the government has secured quota-free and duty-free access to the 27-member European Union market for exports of Kenyan farmers under the Economic Partnership Agreement signed between Kenya and the EU.

” I also wish to report that during my recent visit to the US, we negotiated the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, an instrument which has enhanced access to the US market for African exports, and catalysed the rapid growth of Kenyan exports, especially in the textile and apparels industry,” said Dr Ruto.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

DRC Systems, a premier IT solutions provider headquartered in Gandhinagar, India, is proud to be a participant in GITEX Africa 2024 (www.GITEXAfrica.com) that allows opportunities to learn and share about transforming technologies.  DRC Systems has been revolutionizing the tech landscape since 2012, with a commitment to empowering businesses globally through advanced technology, DRC Systems has established itself as a leader in delivering innovative, secure, and lasting solutions across various sectors.

DRC Systems prides itself on a team of experts proficient in diverse technological domains, ensuring that clients receive state-of-the-art solutions tailored to their needs. Utilizing agile development methodologies, DRC Systems guarantees flexibility and timely project delivery, adhering to the highest industry standards for data security and integrity. Company’s extensive clientele includes esteemed institutions, enterprises, government agencies, international brands, industry leaders, and dynamic start-ups.

Keeping international market in sight, recently, DRC Systems accomplished a significant milestone by earning the prestigious CMMI Level 3 Certification from the US-based CMMI Institute. The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a globally recognized performance improvement framework that helps organizations enhance their operations and deliver high-quality services. This accreditation reflects DRC Systems’ proficiency in software development and its ability to consistently meet or exceed customer expectations. With CMMI Level 3 certification, the company is well-prepared in targeting major government projects as well as high-end corporate projects in the international markets.

DRC Systems offers a broad spectrum of IT solutions designed to bolster businesses of all sizes. Company offers services such as Mobile and Web Applications: Crafting efficient web and mobile applications that reflect your brand identity and meet your specific requirements; Digital Process Automation: Enhancing business processes with intelligent automation systems, integrating artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, and smart analytics; Cloud Services: Developing tailored cloud-based solutions that provide businesses with the convenience and flexibility they need; Augmented Intelligence: Leveraging AR and VR technologies to transform product design and development, customer experience, marketing, advertising, and more; E-commerce: Building robust e-commerce platforms that drive significant business growth and E-learning: Creating engaging and interactive e-learning solutions that harness the expertise of our skilled team.

DRC Systems excels in conceptualizing, designing, and developing digital solutions across a multitude of industries, each with unique challenges and requirements. Company’s industry-specific expertise includes: Healthcare: Developing solutions that enhance patient care and leverage data-driven insights for improved decision-making; Finance: Creating applications that automate tasks, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide exceptional customer experiences; Retail: Enhancing customer journeys through personalized e-commerce solutions that boost online sales; Public Sector: Developing systems that increase efficiency, improve transparency, and deliver citizen-centric services and Education: Implementing advanced technologies to create immersive learning environments and empower educators with powerful tools.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

DRC Presentation Africa: https://apo-opa.co/4c2EfZ0

For more information on how DRC Systems can transform your business with cutting-edge IT solutions, please visit our website at www.DRCSystems.com or contact our media relations team at pr@drcsystems.com.

Headquarter: Gandhinagar, India | Other Offices in U.A.E and U.S.A

Elm (https://apo-opa.co/4bFOQJs), a pioneer in digital solutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Numeryx Technologies, a French company with expertise in implementing and developing business solutions, to foster cooperation, explore and promote business prospects, as well as enable digital transformation by implementing joint initiatives and exchanging technical expertise and knowledge.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Alameen Shawqi Al-Hazmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Integrated Solutions Group at Elm, and Mr. Mozer Al Ayadi, Chief Executive Officer of Numeryx Technologies, in the presence of various officials from both sides. The MoU outlines enhancing business opportunities, leveraging both the companies’ expertise in the European and African markets, along with the local market in Saudi Arabia, in the development of information technology activities, as well as exploring potential investment and cooperation prospects.

Majid bin Saad Al Arifi, the Official Spokesman and CEO VP of the Marketing Sector at Elm underscored the significance of the MoU with Numeryx Technologies. He went on to explain how this cooperation will contribute to building digital infrastructure in order to improve service quality and performance efficiency in Europe and Africa. Al-Arifi further stated that this MoU mirrors the dedication of both parties in developing cutting-edge technical solutions that support sustainable development, adding that this cooperation positively impacts the efforts to empower entrepreneurship and the digital economy in the region.

Additionally, Al-Arifi further indicated that the MoU echoes Elm’s interest in contributing its pioneering expertise and knowledge of digitalisation and the development of  technology infrastructure, which would facilitate the advancement of digital transformation in a variety of industries. He asserted that both parties will work together to introduce cutting-edge digital platforms in the public and private sectors, as well as provide advisory services, project management services, solutions, and business processes.

Both parties will collaborate on plans under the terms of this MoU, exploring potential long-term and short-term prospects in the global targeted markets and evaluating the investment requirements and opportunities in the digital economy sector regionally. Elm will also offer business accelerators and investments for start-ups, in addition to providing its leading expertise in delivering digital services with the greatest security and reliability standards.

The partnership involves the exchange of expertise and knowledge in the realm of digital transformation across the public and private sectors. Its primary objective is to share expertise among the respective teams from both sides about the different aspects of digital transformation and keep them informed about the latest advancements and innovations in this field.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Elm.

The African Banking Digital Transformation Report, a collaboration between pan-African publication African Banker and Backbase, creators of The Engagement Banking Platform, is a cornerstone in Africa’s financial news landscape, offering in-depth insight into the digital revolution being undertaken by the banking sector across the continent.

A growing African population – forecast to be 2.49 billion by 2050 – coupled with spectacular increases in the number of devices such as smartphones and tablets (mobile phones now account for 75% of web traffic in Africa) is the perfect recipe for an explosion in digital banking. Benefits include speed, convenience, and enhanced user data, meaning that banks can much more readily tailor solutions for their clients. In 2021 – the last year for which full figures are available – 55.07% of the African population owned a bank or mobile money account, compared to 23.33% in 2011. 

Digital: the way forward

The 2024 edition of The African Banking Digital Transformation Report revealed that 76% of banks rank digital transformation as either their top priority or among the top three, while the remaining 24% also view it as important. With almost half of the continent unable to access any form of bank account, including approximately 60% of women, this result reflects the opportunity for banks to grow their customer base through an inclusive digital offering. 

“I really see AI as a game-changer, both internally and externally” 

This year, cloud computing was the most cited technology being incorporated into digitisation strategies. This overtakes Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity&Resilience as the primary driver since our 2023 survey. The result can be explained through the growing sophistication of AI solutions, which sees it spill over into other technology areas including Cybersecurity.

Interviewed for the report, Ecobank Group Chief Digital Officer Nvalaye Kourouma said: “I really see AI as a game-changer, both internally and externally” because AI-powered tools help overcome language barriers for engaging customers in different countries. “We now have the capability to build local natural languages into our AI interactions so that language and writing are no longer barriers. Speech and image can be used to communicate more effectively. AI opens the door for a different level of engagement with our customers, so it’s encouraging,” he added.

The 2024 edition of the Report draws on comprehensive survey data from more than 150 banks spanning 35 countries, providing an in-depth analysis of current digital banking trends, key innovations, and digital transformation progress. This release underscores Backbase’s commitment to fostering technological advancements and driving financial inclusion in Africa.

The African Digital Banking Transformation Report was launched during GITEX Africa 2024, which took place 29 – 31 May in Marrakesh, Morocco. The report is available to download now: https://apo-opa.co/3R7BVI0

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Banker.

About Backbase:
Backbase is on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer. We are the creators of The Engagement Banking Platform – a composable platform that empowers banks to accelerate their digital transformation through progressively modernizing their main customer-journeys. From onboarding to servicing, lending and investing, our platform streamlines every aspect of the customer- and employee-journey. Pre-integrated with leading core systems and cutting-edge fintechs, it allows institutions to unlock innovation at scale, driving instant value creation.

Industry analysts Forrester, Gartner, Celent, Omdia and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership. More than 120 financial institutions around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform — including AIB, Banorte, Barclays, BIAT, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO, BNP Paribas, Banque Saudi Fransi, BRD, Citibank, Discovery Bank, First National Bank, HDFC, Ila Bank, KeyBank, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Navy Federal Credit Union, OTP Group, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, Standard Bank, Saudi National Bank, Société Générale, Truist and TPBank.

Backbase is a private fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam where it has its global HQ, with regional offices in Atlanta (Americas HQ), Cardiff, Dubai, Hyderabad, Kraków, London, Mexico City, Singapore (Asia HQ), Sydney, and Toronto.

For more information visit www.Backbase.com.

About African Banker:
African Banker is the leading publication dedicated to reporting on the banking industry across Africa. With insightful coverage on finance, politics, business, technology, energy, and resources, African Banker provides in-depth analysis and commentary on the trends shaping the continent’s financial landscape.

As a trusted source of information, African Banker brings a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Africa’s banking sector, and a unique readership following them.