LETTERS
CS Treasury Ukur Yatani [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Covid-19 has extensively suppressed world economies over the past one year -Kenya’s included.
Thousands have had to contend with substantial pay cuts as their employers endeavoured to align to the tough times. In a report released last year, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) noted that almost 4.64 million people had lost their jobs by June 2020 up from 2.94 in March 2020 when the first confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported. As it stands, the situation could be worse.
Despite the suppressed economic progress, the tax revenues collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have maintained an upward trajectory, especially in the past four to five months. In December 2020, for instance, KRA surpassed its revenue collection target for the month by Sh2 billion after posting a collection of Sh166 billion.
Production of soft drinks slumped last year the first time in nearly a decade hurt by health safety measures imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Flour price goes up Sh9 driven by expensive maize
Summary
The price of flour has increased by up to Sh9 for a two kilogramme packet on high cost of maize, a move likely to spark a rise in inflation.
Millers are not getting sufficient grain at the market as farmers horde their produce in anticipation of high prices in future, pushing a two kilogramme packet of Jogoo brand to Sh109 from Sh102 last month.
A 90kg bag of maize has now hit Sh3,000 from Sh2,500 a month ago as millers grapple for limited stocks in the market.
Tuesday May 18 2021
By GERALD ANDAE
PHOTO / WORLD
By Xinhua Published: May 16, 2021 07:31 AM
A worker goes about his work at a state-owned milling plant in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, April 3, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)
A woman sorts out coffee berries at Rui-Ruiru Coffee Factory in Mathira, Nyeri County, Kenya, Nov. 5, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)
After several years of suffering, the worst for coffee farmers in Kenya seems to be over as global prices hit a new high.
A kilo of Kenyan coffee in the global market is going for as high as 7 U.S. dollars, bringing back the glorious days for the country s farmers.
Sometime in 2019, the global price of a kilo of Kenyan coffee hit 189 shillings (1.75 U.S. dollars), the lowest in over three years.
Church Service Derailed After Robbers Steal Ksh 1M Equipment
A stock photo of a church congregation worshiping
File
Reports indicate that the thieves dug a hole through the wall of the pastor s restroom in order to access the church store.
According to pastor Joshua Owiti, the thieves made away with giant speakers, amplifiers, wireless microphones, consumer units, electrical switches, ten plastic chairs, and other electric materials.
An undated file image of a live recording of a church service.
File
Owiti wondered how the thieves were able to dig a hole at night at a time when police ought to be enforcing the curfew protocols.