Civil servants are missing out on Sh2.5 billion in travel benefits and subsistence allowances monthly after restrictions imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus suspended meetings and out of town assignments.

The World Bank in its latest review of Kenya’s expenditure says the country will save up to Sh30 billion in the year to June 2021 or Sh2.5 billion monthly from civil servants reduced local and foreign trips — which often involve lavish travel allowances.

Britain’s new points-based immigration system, set to be implemented from January 2021, has lowered the requirement for job applicants to minimum skill level of A-level or equivalent from degree-level under the 27-member EU bloc system.

Britain’s Home Office says the new system will “provide greater flexibility and ensure UK business has access to a wide pool of skilled workers”.

The relaxed visa rules will enable Kenyan professionals in fields such as IT, accountancy, plumbing and electrical works to compete with other migrants.

Kenya’s earnings from tea in five months to May dropped by Sh1.3 billion as the sector suffered from effects of the Covid-19 that hit commodity trading in the world market.

The Tea Directorate said the demand of the beverage has been low in the review period, which also impacted negatively on price per kilo, having dropped to Sh223 from Sh238 in the corresponding period last year.

The University of Nairobi plans a phased reopening following its closure due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This was announced by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama in an address to the University community on July 10, 2020.

The re-engineered University of Nairobi’s Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) has been launched.

Presiding over the online launch, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama, highlighted the challenges the newly re-engineered will address.

COVID-19 continues to have vast effects on children and families. To this end, the University of Nairobi in collaboration with the Training Center in Communication held a webinar on ‘The Social Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Families.’

The panelists were drawn from various disciplines including media, engineering and health. Representing the University of Nairobi was Dr. Peter Akuon from the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Consumers can now sigh in relief after KRA deferred a new tax for six months. The taxman has delayed a 5.5% excise duty, which was expected to start on July 1 in line with the Finance Act. The tax arising from annual inflation adjustment will be effective from January 2021 instead of July 1, in line with the Finance Bill of 2020. READ MORE

Kenya’s current account deficit narrowed to 5.2 percent of GDP in the 12 months to May 2020 compared to 5.6 percent of GDP in the 12 months to April according to the latest CBK weekly bulletin. READ MORE..

The Central Bank of Kenya(CBK) has invited investors to bid for KSh 60 Billion worth of Treasury Bonds. The proceeds will be used for budgetary support. READ MORE..

The University of Nairobi Senate has approved a framework to guide collaboration agreements on dual and joint degrees.

The dual and joint degree programmes are a form of higher education qualifications that are rapidly gaining traction worldwide in institutions of higher learning. Benefits to the respective institutions and students include providing local students with international exposure, enhancing quality for collaborating institutions, and offering opportunities to build strong academic and institutional research partnerships.