Tata Chemicals Magadi Managing Director Swaminathan Nagarajan and other board members during the launch of a 10 tons per hour electric calciner, the first of its kind in the global soda ash industry, on July 22, 2025. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard] Tata Chemicals Magadi has announced a significant expansion plan for its soda ash mining activities at Lake Magadi, which aims to increase production to 600,000 tonnes within five years. The firm’s managing director, Swaminathan Nagarajan, said this will increase exports of soda ash through Mombasa. Soda ash is a crucial element of Kenya’s emerging mining economy. The Kenya National Bureau…
Author: By Philip Mwakio
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has rolled out the new Electronic Government Procurement (E-GP) system to boost transparency and root out graft in its tendering processes. KPA Managing Director William Ruto said the move aims to streamline procurement procedures, reduce manual processes, and foster greater transparency. He emphasised the importance of embracing technological advancements to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency. Follow The Standard channel on WhatsApp “The E-GP system is a transformative milestone that aligns us with Kenya’s broader vision for a modern, accountable, and efficient public sector,” he said. The training, facilitated by officials from the National Treasury, is…
Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi at Pandya Hospital, on July 27, 2025. [Philip Mwakio, Standard] Kenyan activist Mwabili Mwagodi was reportedly injected in the head, back, and hands with a syringe by suspected Tanzanian security agents who held him incommunicado for three days in Dar es Salaam. /* Container styling */ .fade-out-overlay { position: absolute; top: -80px; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 60px; z-index: 1; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)); } .paywall-container { position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; padding: 25px; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0,…
Tourists at the Nairobi National Park. [File, Standard] Plans by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to hike park entry fees negate the country’s ambitions to grow the number of international tourists to 5.5 million by 2027, tourism players have said. They noted that the arbitrary increase of fees by the State over the years has affected the country’s global standing as a safari destination. Ms Jackyne Njau, a tourism experience strategist, said wildlife was the country’s superstar in the tourism sector before Kenya even built hotels and resorts. “Wildlife roamed the wild in their plenty across the Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo…
Former Seafarers Union of Kenya General Secretary Andrew Mwangura. [File, Standard] Unregistered agencies are taking over the recruitment of Kenyans seeking jobs aboard international ships, sparking concerns of poor pay and working conditions. Unionists have warned that the situation threatens the integrity of Kenya’s seafaring industry and could affect thousands of Kenyans seeking jobs. It has also emerged that out of 13 manning and crewing agents licensed to recruit Kenyans, only six have verifiable agreements with shipping lines as principals, compounding the problem. “This glaring disparity raises serious questions about regulatory enforcement and the true value these agencies provide to Kenya’s…
Former Seafarers Union of Kenya Secretary General Steve Owaki (left) and young sea cadets during a media briefing in Mombasa where they called on the government to speed up the issuance of seafarers identification documents. [File, Standard] Veteran seafarers and maritime experts have sounded the alarm over the activities of an unregistered firm allegedly recruiting Kenyans to work aboard foreign ships without authorisation. The company, whose officials have reportedly been hosted at a luxury beach resort, has conducted recruitment exercises for over a month without a licence from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). Former Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) Secretary-General,…
Under water life with different species on display. [Robert Menza, Standard] Sylvan Mghanga holds the artifact of the oldest wooden helm of a ship while he leans forward to peer inside a gigantic aquarium with pictures of a shipwreck and floating fish. He rolls the helm, a steering wheel of a ship, backwards with the skill of a seasoned captain, taking his passengers back to the 15th century’s history of marine life and shipping business at the Kenyan coast. The helm metaphorically represents leadership or control, and the one inside the Maritime Museum gives visitors a sneak peek into the…