Pension savings under threat from inflation

Kenyans saving for their retirement through company sponsored pension plans are facing their biggest enemy in the current economic climate that is saddled with galloping inflation.

The big issue is how to ensure that the purchasing power of their retirement savings is not eroded by the long-term effect of rising prices or inflation.

The situation is not looking good so far this year according to fund managers, with monthly inflation at near 30 per cent and threatening to balloon due to escalating food and energy prices.

This is the fastest that general prices have risen in the Kenya since the mid 1990s. If the situation persists, Kenyans who are about to retire could find that their pension will be buying less than it could a few years ago and that their savings could run out faster than planned.

Insurance firms, which control 40 per cent of the Sh180 billion private pension management industry, will in the coming months face an even rougher time justifying the returns they are currently offering trustees compared to inflation levels.

The industry is suffering mostly due to an unexpected surge in inflation and post-election violence that affected the Kenyan economy at the beginning of the year.

Last year also saw a massive fall in share prices as investors sold shares, which were generally considered to be overvalued compared to other asset classes such as property, fixed income securities such as Treasury bonds, offshore shares and commodities such as gold.

The industry has over the last three years relied heavily on the stock market to boost investment returns, because these securities tend to generate outsized capital gains during good times.

...///...Suite de l'article:

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9183&Itemid=5812

Why Water Rights Are Women's Rights


Having an ample supply of safe water is something most of us don't think much about. Turning on the kitchen tap or running a bath is usually an effortless decision. Yet, when we flush the toilet, we use as much water as most people in Kenya use in an entire day.

Imagine that day....


Lire article complet : http://www.alternet.org/water/93903/why_water_rights_are_women's_rights/

MARALAL LODGE

Gender equality still a long way away for Kenyan women

Kenya has a long way to go in achieving gender equity.

This is according to a report released on Thursday by the Institute of Economic Affairs on Women Socio-Economic status in Kenya.

The report reveals that little progress has been made in achieving affirmative action despite enactment of key legislation.

According to the report gender inequality still remains a thorny issue in political , social and economic spheres where representation of women in decision making is still wanting and has consequently undermined economic growth and social development.

The report however reveals that despite gender related challenges facing the country, a slight improvement has been made through policy developments and enactment of key legislation which include sexual offences act, the passing of gender policy bill and a presidential decree of a 30% affirmative action in public appointments.

High poverty levels among women have also been blamed for gender inequality.

Statistics reveal that poverty head count was high among women at 50% in rural and 46% and urban areas.

The report is now recommending the following towards bridging the gender gap:

-- Enhancing female representation in leadership positions
-- Community policing and removal of gender based violence
-- Property co-ownership arrangements
-- Economic empowerment and access to credit for women
-- Engendering macro and micro economic policies
-- Budget processes that favour women
-- Networking and pro active participation of women in both local and international economic opportunities
-- Statistics reveal that poverty has gender dimensions especially in patriarchal societies where men arte expected to play a critical role as providers.

Although overall poverty declined from 55% in 2005-2006 the poverty head count was high among women at 50% in rural and 46% in urban areas.

Source :http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=51583

Health Cover for Poor Women


...many Kenyans often find themselves in such difficult situations due to inability to afford medical bills and many have painfully and helplessly watched as the worst happened to their sick, for failure of funds to get them treatment.

These problems have been fuelled by the fact that access to medical covers has for long been a nightmare to many, with available medical schemes being too expensive, thus locking out many.

Because of this, many people have had to rely on government medical subsidies, which in some cases do not come in handy when a problem strikes. However, access to cover is likely to increase as micro-finance and insurance companies find a niche in the informal sector to launch new products.

In a bid to help the poor women in society access medical care, Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT), launched a medical insurance cover that costs as low as Sh10 per day or Sh3,600 per year and underwrites all in-patient expenses for a member’s entire family, with no exclusion clauses for chronic illnesses and maternity. Surgery costs above Sh15,000 are also covered...

Article complet : http://allafrica.com/stories/200807310158.html

Photos du jour, au Lodge de Maralal, Samburu District

Artist: SCHILLER
Title: Dream Of You

I've been here all the time
as far as i know doing right
i've always waited for the moment
that you would come through my door
but this brought loneliness ... so far
i lay my hand onto my heart
is this a life i want to live?
is this the dream i had of you?

... the dream i had of you?

now I'm standing here alone
waiting on my own
for something that will fill the emptiness inside...
the moment that you're mine
but this is loneliness ... i know i lay my hand onto my soul
is this what life has got to give?
is this the dream i had of you?

... the dream i had of you?

Pour ecouter :


http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/13/1811927/15.%20Schiller%20Mit%20Heppner%20-%20Dream%20Of%20You%20%28Fernseh%20Fassung%29.mp3







Artiste : SCHILLER
Title : Let me love you

I don't want you to give what you don't have
Don't make a vow that you can't keep
I don't want you to change your positions
Don't hang around just to please me
But I have one request
and if you don't think it`s senseless
let me give you something else

Let me love you
Let me love you
Free of all rituals, nothing habitual
Something you can sink your teeth into
Let me love you..
Let me love you
Free of where have you been
Freedom what's take command
Something you can fall right back into
My love for you
my love for you..

We can go deep if you need to
I won't draw a line that runs against you
Don't hold back if you are afraid to
A sensual sin is what awaits you
But i have one request
and if you don't think it`s senseless
let me give you something else

Let me love you
Let me love you
Free of all rituals, nothing habitual
Something you can sink your teeth into
Let me love you
Let me love you
Free of where have you been
Freedom let's take command
Something you can fall right back into
My love for you
my love for you..

Let me love you.

Pour ecouter :


http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/13/1811927/LET%20ME%20LOVE%20YOU.mp3

Le Kenya en proie à des pénuries alimentaires

Face aux pénuries alimentaires liées à la hausse des prix et aux précipitations très modérées au Kenya, le gouvernement du pays doit distribuer des graines aux agriculteurs, provenant notamment de Tanzanie, pour espérer pallier aux récoltes modestes de cette année.

Le gouvernement du Kenya a commencé à donner aux agriculteurs des graines pour les cultures alimentaires traditionnelles lundi, espérant faire augmenter les réserves face à l’augmentation constante des prix de l’alimentation et aux craintes de pénuries alimentaires.

Les précipitations très modérées, une crise sanglante après les élections politiques au début de l’année, et les prix en hausse rapide des produits utilisés dans l’agriculture tels que les fertilisants, sont des facteurs qui ont ralenti la production alimentaire au Kenya.


Voir aussi : http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gUnVFBT-i5SrHoBDd94bieEq8cPA

Au Kenya, qui sort d'une grave crise post-électorale, 1,2 million de personnes ont un besoin urgent d'aide alimentaire, selon l'ONU. La production agricole a été fortement perturbée par les violences.

Voir aussi : http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=127898

According to UN agencies, 1.2 million people in the country are in dire need of food aid due to the drought and effects of the post-election violence.

Voir aussi : Kenyan newspaper of 26/7/2008

According to UN agencies, 1.2 million people in the country are in dire need of food aid
WFP requires $35 million (Sh2.27 billion) to address the food situation in Kenya.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/440892/-/item/1/-/e77ion/-/index.html



Voir aussi : Entretien avec Josette Sheeran, directrice du Programme alimentaire mondial

http://www.lemonde.fr/organisations-internationales/article/2008/07/23/josette-sheeran-un-desastre-alimentaire-guette-14-millions-de-personnes_1076311_3220.html#ens_id=1076405

“The number in Kenya is expected to rise due to poor performance of the long rains in some parts of the country.”

Despite the Government’s assurance that the situation was under control, the UN agencies warned that the situation might worsen by the end of the year.

“If the short rains also fail, then the number of people in need of assistance in Kenya and other countries may explode.”

LECTURE AGREMENTEE D'UN ACCOMPAGNEMENT MUSICAL

Artiste :Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Title : African Sky Blue

African sky blue, your children wait for the dawn
African sky blue, soon a new day will be born
African sky blue
African sky blue, will you bless my life?
African sunshine, soon you will warm your children's eyes
The african river water will dance and leap in your morning light
African sunshine
African river water, will you bless my life?
Oh will you bless my life?
Oh will you bless my life?
Oh will you bless my life?
What can I know?
What can I dream?
What can I hope?
What will the future bring?
You shine through me, but will you see me through?
African sky blue
African thunderstorm, your soldiers march through the air
The african rain will fall and wash away all my tears
African falling rain
African falling rain, will you bless my life?
Oh will you bless my life?
Oh will you bless my life?
Oh will you bless my life?
The warrior's now a worker and his war is underground
With cordite in the darkness he milks the bleeding veins of gold
When the smoking rockface murmurs, he always thinks of you
African sky blue, will you see him through?
Hum-oh-hum
Hum-oh-hum...


POUR ECOUTER :

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/13/1811927/08%20African%20Sky%20Blue.mp3



Reflexions lues dans la presse kenyane de ce jour...

Wrong signals on

Kenya should take note of recent shifts on the HIV pandemic and plan its future actions accordingly.

First was the announcement a month ago by senior officials of the World Health Organisation and UNAids that while HIV remains the biggest health challenge in man’s history, it no longer posed the danger of a global epidemic.

An HIV epidemic, they said, is only a reality in Africa, not the rest of the world.

Although seemingly unrelated, last week, a major pharmaceutical transnational, Roche, announced that it was suspending its HIV drugs research division for ‘‘lack of new scientific advances’’. This development comes soon after most of the world, including Kenya, suspended research on a vaccine against HIV.

These disappointments viewed with the new thinking – that HIV is mainly an African problem – could eventually shift the West’s attention to other ‘‘profitable’’ diseases in their own backyard.

This could translate into less funding for HIV control in Africa, less investment in new drugs, diagnostic tools, and vaccines. This is a development that could totally cripple Aids programmes in the country.

Not to be caught unawares, the Government must fund most of these activities from the national budget. Actually this should have happened a long time ago to minimise programme disruptions for lack of donor funding.

It is time Kenya, and Africa in general, took their destiny in their own hands.


Source :

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=24&newsid=127551



KENYA: PMTCT services not reaching rural women

"Women attending antenatal care services are never tested for HIV in remote areas of Samburu district [in the northwest]. The services are only available at ...

Lire article : http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79440





Kenya: 80% des personnes malades du sida ignorent leur maladie

Quatre personnes sur cinq infectées par le virus du sida au Kenya ne savent pas qu'elles sont séropositives et environ deux-tiers des 37 millions d'habitants de ce pays n'ont jamais subi de tests de VIH, souligne une étude publiée mardi.

Selon cette étude intitulée "Enquête sur le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine au Kenya", 57% des personnes touchées ont indiqué n'avoir jamais subi de tests de dépistage tandis que 26% ont affirmé être séronégatives avant d'être ensuite testées séropositives.

"Quatre personnes sur cinq infectées ne connaissent pas leur état. Presque deux-tiers des Kenyans indiquent ne jamais avoir été testés et sont donc inconscients de leur état", ajoute l'étude.

Le responsable du programme national sur le sida, Ibrahim Mohamed, a indiqué que "16% (des Kenyans) ne voulaient pas connaître les résultats du test ou redoutaient que les autres en soient informés".

"14% n'étaient pas au courant de l'existence du test VIH ni de l'endroit où se faire tester tandis que 5% avançaient l'éloignement des centres de test comme obstacle principal" à cette démarche, a-t-il ajouté.

Quelque 1,4 million d'adultes au Kenya vivent avec le virus. Le pourcentage de malades est passé de 6,7% en 2003 à 7,4% (de la population adulte).

Cette étude, effectuée entre août et décembre 2007, est la première étude conduite depuis 2003. Elle ne concerne pas les enfants.

"Nous avons progressé sensiblement mais le taux de malades du sida parmi nos familles et communautés demeure, de manière inacceptable, élevé, et son impact est important", a souligné le ministre de la santé Beth Mugo, lors de la publication de cette étude.

Lire article : http://www.romandie.com/infos/news2/080729180240.76qkmley.asp

Je ne publierai que le lien de cet article decouvert sur le Net, preferant m'abstenir de tout commentaire par respect des convictions de chacun.

Je me permettrai cependant de souligner la difference entre le necessaire et l'inutile.....

LIEN : http://northernhillsmteam.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/the-blacks-in-africa/#comment-512