Kenya Policy Briefs

Role of Fintech in Enhancing Credit Usage Among the Un(der)-Banked

Davis Bundi — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Market regulator need to develop mechanisms to make digital loan data publicly available to assist in drawing broad market trends.
Need to tame predatory lenders to protect the consumers and competitors and increase consumer trust through a sound regulatory framework.
Level the playing ground through common market standards to enhance competition and business conduct for the regulated and unregulated digital lenders.

Fredrick Odhiambo — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Lenders are designing loan products with flexible terms to respond to the unique needs of farmers in a bid to improve access to credit.
However, these products are moderately flexible thus are not improving access to credit for farmers as envisaged.
Lenders should redesign loan products to make them more flexible by providing flexible options such as bullet payments and credit lines.
Lenders should also educate farmers on full product features to increase their financial literacy in order to improve their agency.
Government should provide credit guarantee schemes for institutions that lend to farmers to encourage the lenders to design more flexible loan products.

Maurice Oyoo — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Kenya has lagged behind in technology development for coconut production, product diversification and product utilization.
Morphological variation exists. This variation cannot be exploited reliably because it’s uncertain how it will impact on nut production.
There is narrow genetic variation among coconut trees at the Kenyan coast. This hinders meaningful crop improvement.
Research on coconut is hindered by the long juvenile phase of palms and long- term of field evaluation.

Joshua Owade — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Despite the critical role of cowpea leaves in the ASAL as a food security crop, drought, diseases and pests remain major challenges to be addressed. Prioritizing alternative water sources and extension services is recommended.
The gender of a household head influences the use of cowpeas leaves in the ASAL. There is need for food security initiatives to adopt gendered approaches in the promotion the value addition approaches and utilization of cowpea leaves.
Even though the cowpeas leaves are the main vegetables in ASAL households, the fresh forms are highly perishable; households in the ASAL areas need to employ the complementary utilization of both the preserved and fresh forms to assure food security.
Limited knowledge on value addition technologies coupled with lack of equipment remain major limitations on processing, preservation and improved consumption of cowpeas leaves.
Dehydrated products from cowpea leaves contain adequate amounts of limiting minerals and hence provide possible food vehicles for dietary diversification of the diets of the populations vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

Peter Ndiba — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Regulation of engineering education by both Commission for University Education and Engineering Board of Kenya resulted in uncoordinated directives.
The University (Amendment) Act No. 48 of 2016 that sought to address the duality by vesting accreditation mandate on CUE, created gaps in the regulation of the engineering profession that require mitigation.

Angela Maina — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

There is need to involve the youth as major stakeholders with regard to matters concerning their health and wellbeing.
It is important to leverage on technology to come up with innovative digital solutions to solve current health challenges.
Youth peer counsellors ought to be engaged in hospitals to allow the youth to more freely share their issues.

John Mbugua — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

For the fundamental changes introduced in the education system to achieve their desired outcomes, the government through its various agencies needs to adopt a more inclusive and collaborative sectoral plan approach.
The Curriculum for teacher education needs to be revised to be in tandem with the new school system. Teachers’ training in universities and colleges should focus on equipping teachers with the relevant skills, knowledge and right attitudes for successful implementation of the competence-based curriculum.
Learning and teaching resources should be incorporated in the sectoral-wide approach to educational plans for effective implementation of the new programme

Parita Shah — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Education and awareness of local communities is key to the survival of inland wetlands.
Partnerships between communities, public and private institutions is the way forward.
Educational curricula must be revised to start teaching citizens at all levels to understand the benefits of wetlands conservation and sustainable development.

Tom Ondicho — 2021-08-31

Key Messages

Men are experiencing higher levels of controlling behaviours from women, and higher levels of violence perpetrated by women since the onset of COVID-19 in Kenya.
Obstacles to disclosure and access to services are exacerbated by the fact that access to and supply of support services has been disrupted by the restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is an urgent need to improve policy responses and to make essential services accessible and open to all abused men in need of support and help during COVID-19.