Here is an interesting piece on securing passwords "Top ten Linkedin hacked passwords"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/06/11/unbelievable-top-10-hacked-linkedin-passwords/
A good image will to along way in safeguarding your professional image in Linkedin.
Cheers.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Condolences
Corpri sends sincere condolences and God's peace to the families, relatives, friends, colleagues and indeed all Kenyans for the loss of six Kenyans in the Ngong Helicopter Crash.
Let us continue to make the security of all Kenyans and the various enterprises they operate a primary concern for us all. Let us also continuously pay close attention to the security of our aircrafts.
Let us continue to make the security of all Kenyans and the various enterprises they operate a primary concern for us all. Let us also continuously pay close attention to the security of our aircrafts.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Internet Security and Business
Last week i had the misfortune of my email account being hacked. My personal data was compromised and i still cannot fully detail the extent of the damage. I also regret that this may have caused a ripple effect of abuse on my friend's, colleague's and associate's accounts.
It all started with an innocent looking email from a friend. It was so enticing since it related to business and online trading. I fell for it and the results were a disaster. I quickly tried rectifying the account while away from Nairobi over the weekend but the same proved futile i had to wait as the criminals vandalised my account. I am glad that the error has now been rectified.
Had the account contained any business data and information, it would call for a declaration of a Personal Investment Disaster.
Now i have come to think about it, today we can literally trade at the comfort of our office or house thanks to Mobile and Online Trading.
You can make offshore investments as you work here in Kenya at the click of a button. Today you can invest in a public company through Mpesa. For instance AIB Capital has recently introduced AIB Mobile service for trading in stocks. This is possible due to enhanced Internet connectivity and the magic of mobile money (what i call the 'pesa mkononi' revolution).
Large and Small enterprises are now turning to e-solutions to manage their ventures in a more cost-effective means. Cloud computing is now the preferred solution to handle shared data within an organisation and has revolutionalised application of computer programmes. Internet providers and software developers are competing to introduce new and innovative produsts by the minute.
The above brief exposition is the reason why we must take On-line security most seriously. Imagine the loss a business can incur if its systems are compromised or the government if a hacker infringes its system, as it happened for the Kenya Police Website awhile back. Confidential information can be shared with and billions lost through to criminals.
Let us all take Internet security seriously and this includes the security of our mobile phones, tablets, PCs the list is endless....atleast i am now very keen on this and have learnt valuable lessons the hard way.
It all started with an innocent looking email from a friend. It was so enticing since it related to business and online trading. I fell for it and the results were a disaster. I quickly tried rectifying the account while away from Nairobi over the weekend but the same proved futile i had to wait as the criminals vandalised my account. I am glad that the error has now been rectified.
Had the account contained any business data and information, it would call for a declaration of a Personal Investment Disaster.
Now i have come to think about it, today we can literally trade at the comfort of our office or house thanks to Mobile and Online Trading.
You can make offshore investments as you work here in Kenya at the click of a button. Today you can invest in a public company through Mpesa. For instance AIB Capital has recently introduced AIB Mobile service for trading in stocks. This is possible due to enhanced Internet connectivity and the magic of mobile money (what i call the 'pesa mkononi' revolution).
Large and Small enterprises are now turning to e-solutions to manage their ventures in a more cost-effective means. Cloud computing is now the preferred solution to handle shared data within an organisation and has revolutionalised application of computer programmes. Internet providers and software developers are competing to introduce new and innovative produsts by the minute.
The above brief exposition is the reason why we must take On-line security most seriously. Imagine the loss a business can incur if its systems are compromised or the government if a hacker infringes its system, as it happened for the Kenya Police Website awhile back. Confidential information can be shared with and billions lost through to criminals.
Let us all take Internet security seriously and this includes the security of our mobile phones, tablets, PCs the list is endless....atleast i am now very keen on this and have learnt valuable lessons the hard way.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Moi Avenue Blast: Business and Security
My empathy to the victims and entrepreneurs of yesterday's blast along Nairobi's Moi Avenue. Let us work hard to make our country a safe haven for investments and trade.
I hope that entrepreneurs take individual and collective measures to ensure the security of their enterprises. May God restore the hopes and dreams represented by the hardworking business men and women who were affected.
I hope that entrepreneurs take individual and collective measures to ensure the security of their enterprises. May God restore the hopes and dreams represented by the hardworking business men and women who were affected.
Wise Advice for Small Entreprenuers
Murori Kiunga has very sober advice for small enterprises on the best strategy to grow their business though focus and determination as opposed to what i call 'jumpy - jumpy' joe. Enjoy reading the article in the Business Daily
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Make+sure+your+businesses+have+distinct+legal+identities+/-/1248928/1415338/-/6lifsa/-/index.html
Monday, May 28, 2012
Corporate governance for parastatals
There is ongoing debate on the role of the Board of Directors in state corporations in Kenya. The Boards seem to have unending conflicts with the management. The role of the state through the minister is also very confusing since ministers seem to hire and fire at will.
The suggestion of an oversight body to supervise all parastatals has come up strongly. The Prime Minister has opposed the creation of an oversight body to supervise Parastatals since this would only create government bureaucracy.
I must say that i buy the Prime Minister's suggestion since government bureaucracy does not attract investment both from local and foreign investors.
I believe that it is the high time the government embraced corporate governance principles in all corporations. If for no other reason, since these state corporations belong to the Kenyan public. The Board of Directors need to be appointed independently and its role separated from that of management. Interference from other state agents needs to be eradicated.
The suggestion of an oversight body to supervise all parastatals has come up strongly. The Prime Minister has opposed the creation of an oversight body to supervise Parastatals since this would only create government bureaucracy.
I must say that i buy the Prime Minister's suggestion since government bureaucracy does not attract investment both from local and foreign investors.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Business investment: Views from UN Experts
South-East Asia / Agrofuel: UN rights experts raise alarm on land development mega-projects
GENEVA (23 May 2012) – Two United Nations experts on food and indigenous peoples today urged South-East Asian states not to sideline the human rights of communities across the region who derive their livelihoods, traditions and ways of life directly from their natural environments.
“Governments must not be seduced by the promises of developers when assessing large-scale land acquisitions for export-led crops and agrofuel production,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, highlighting acute cases of competing land interests in South-East Asia, where agrofuel developments are rapidly expanding.
“Development is not always the outcome, however many jobs and export dollars a project promises to yield,” the independent experts stressed. “New economic opportunities, and new, more intensive uses of land, must not be at the expense of the human rights of local populations.”
“Governments must step up their vigilance in regard to large-scale land acquisitions to ensure that the fundamental rights of these communities are not violated, be they small-farmers, fishers, hunters, foragers or craftsmen,” they said.
Moves to convert 1-2 million hectares of rainforest and small-scale farming plots to an export-led crop and agrofuel plantation in the Meruake region of Indonesia could affect the food security of 50,000 people. Some 3,000 hectares of so-called ‘idle’ land has been converted to sugar cane for agrofuel production in the Isabela region of the Philippines, with a further 8,000 hectares due to be added, meaning a major land transformation and uncertain impacts for the municipality’s 45,000 inhabitants.
“Large-scale monocrop developments mean a wholesale shift in land use and land access,” warned the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, noting that the benefits of these projects accrue principally to multinational firms who export agrofuels or food crops to international markets.
“All too often, this is to the detriment of existing land users. If the environment they depend upon is repurposed, degraded and placed off limits, their ability to produce or to procure food – and thus their right to food – will be severely threatened,” De Schutter said.
“These are mostly indigenous families whose traditional livelihoods are rooted in their local environment,” Anaya warned. “Communities are often ancestrally tied to the areas in question and may not possess official deeds to the land, making their tenure highly vulnerable in the face of land conversion deals.”
”Converting bio-diverse forest land to intensive monocropping can entail wide environmental impacts, from the loss of forest-dwelling game species in Meruake, to reduced resistance to flooding and landslides in Isabela,” the Special Rapporteurs noted. “We must also be sensitive to the impacts of sudden influxes of workers on local food access, traditions and ways of life.”
The UN experts expressed concerns about an apparent lack of adequate consultation and transparency in both land acquisition processes. In neither case are indigenous communities believed to have been sufficiently informed and consulted about the land acquisitions and their repercussions on local life.
They also noted that major question marks hang over the land lease and compensation arrangements through which land is changing hands in Isabela, while in Meruake police intimidation and the signing away of land rights under coercion have been alleged.
Both experts urged the South-East Asian Governments “to align – as a matter of urgency – their biofuels and investment policies with the need to respect land users’ rights as detailed the voluntary guidelines on land tenure*, as adopted by States this month in Rome within the Committee on World Food Security.”
(*) Check the Voluntary Guidelines: http://www.fao.org/nr/tenure/voluntary-guidelines/en/
GENEVA (23 May 2012) – Two United Nations experts on food and indigenous peoples today urged South-East Asian states not to sideline the human rights of communities across the region who derive their livelihoods, traditions and ways of life directly from their natural environments.
“Governments must not be seduced by the promises of developers when assessing large-scale land acquisitions for export-led crops and agrofuel production,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, highlighting acute cases of competing land interests in South-East Asia, where agrofuel developments are rapidly expanding.
“Development is not always the outcome, however many jobs and export dollars a project promises to yield,” the independent experts stressed. “New economic opportunities, and new, more intensive uses of land, must not be at the expense of the human rights of local populations.”
“Governments must step up their vigilance in regard to large-scale land acquisitions to ensure that the fundamental rights of these communities are not violated, be they small-farmers, fishers, hunters, foragers or craftsmen,” they said.
Moves to convert 1-2 million hectares of rainforest and small-scale farming plots to an export-led crop and agrofuel plantation in the Meruake region of Indonesia could affect the food security of 50,000 people. Some 3,000 hectares of so-called ‘idle’ land has been converted to sugar cane for agrofuel production in the Isabela region of the Philippines, with a further 8,000 hectares due to be added, meaning a major land transformation and uncertain impacts for the municipality’s 45,000 inhabitants.
“Large-scale monocrop developments mean a wholesale shift in land use and land access,” warned the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, noting that the benefits of these projects accrue principally to multinational firms who export agrofuels or food crops to international markets.
“All too often, this is to the detriment of existing land users. If the environment they depend upon is repurposed, degraded and placed off limits, their ability to produce or to procure food – and thus their right to food – will be severely threatened,” De Schutter said.
“These are mostly indigenous families whose traditional livelihoods are rooted in their local environment,” Anaya warned. “Communities are often ancestrally tied to the areas in question and may not possess official deeds to the land, making their tenure highly vulnerable in the face of land conversion deals.”
”Converting bio-diverse forest land to intensive monocropping can entail wide environmental impacts, from the loss of forest-dwelling game species in Meruake, to reduced resistance to flooding and landslides in Isabela,” the Special Rapporteurs noted. “We must also be sensitive to the impacts of sudden influxes of workers on local food access, traditions and ways of life.”
The UN experts expressed concerns about an apparent lack of adequate consultation and transparency in both land acquisition processes. In neither case are indigenous communities believed to have been sufficiently informed and consulted about the land acquisitions and their repercussions on local life.
They also noted that major question marks hang over the land lease and compensation arrangements through which land is changing hands in Isabela, while in Meruake police intimidation and the signing away of land rights under coercion have been alleged.
Both experts urged the South-East Asian Governments “to align – as a matter of urgency – their biofuels and investment policies with the need to respect land users’ rights as detailed the voluntary guidelines on land tenure*, as adopted by States this month in Rome within the Committee on World Food Security.”
(*) Check the Voluntary Guidelines: http://www.fao.org/nr/tenure/voluntary-guidelines/en/
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Facebook IPO
Hi, of course you know that the buzz word relating to Initial Public Offers (IPO) in the recent days has been the facebook IPO. An IPO in simple terms means through which the public buys a portion of a company. both small (retail) and large investors (institutions) invest through an IPO. The attention generated from this IPO probably resembles that generated by Safaricom in East Africa. I believe that we can all learn from facebook's history and progress.
You can read information on the IPO on Forbes.com just follow the link below.Visionary Business Structure
I have had very insightful discussions with friends on political Leadership in Africa. I however i believe that as business leaders we can draw a lesson or two from our discussion.
Our main point of discussion was that effective leaders must have a vision. They must then come up with a strategy for achieving the vision and move to implement it. A leader must be sensitive hand over to the next generation of leaders once their vision is achieved so that we can have a cycle of good and effective leaders.
A business whose corporate structure is organised around my simple guide on leadership, and focuses on people is bound to enjoy prosperity in the long haul.
Monday, May 14, 2012
True Kenyan Spirit
Human face to justice and Business
Just back from a training on trial advocacy. Well im just tired from the study lessons and insightful interactive sessions that were intensive.
The main lesson from the training was that i need to put a human face to my work as an advocate. Our profession has been described as hostile. We cant wait to win to prove that we are the best. We are highly competitive. We treasure using legal lunguage to prove that we know it all. We intimidate both inside and outside our legal engagements. The conclusion is this, we must tell stories that people can relate to. Like telling a story to a grand mother.
On the same note business and investments is all about people. Corporations are run for and by people. Businesses exist through people and for the benefit of communities. We cannot delink our businesses from the communities we operate them from.
Have a people-oriented week.
The main lesson from the training was that i need to put a human face to my work as an advocate. Our profession has been described as hostile. We cant wait to win to prove that we are the best. We are highly competitive. We treasure using legal lunguage to prove that we know it all. We intimidate both inside and outside our legal engagements. The conclusion is this, we must tell stories that people can relate to. Like telling a story to a grand mother.
On the same note business and investments is all about people. Corporations are run for and by people. Businesses exist through people and for the benefit of communities. We cannot delink our businesses from the communities we operate them from.
Have a people-oriented week.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Young Venture Capitalist on the Go..
Chaeck out the story Joshua Kushner on Forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/05/02/the-26-year-old-vc-who-cashed-out-in-instagram/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/05/02/the-26-year-old-vc-who-cashed-out-in-instagram/
Image of an ideal board of directors
Well here are some cartoon photos that provoked my thoughts. Tell me what you think about them.
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| Add caption |
Monday, April 30, 2012
Lessons from Base Resources Ltd's Kwale Mining project
On Saturday i attended a Mind speak discussion organised by Rich Management. The guest speaker was Tim Carstens the Managing Director of Base Resources Limited. Base Resources is an Australian mining company listed on the Austlian stock exchange. Its market capitalisation is 244 Million Dollars. The company is currently engaged in Mineral Sand mining at Kwale. The company estimates that there are 1.4 billion tonnes of mineral sand deposits. Exploration will take about thirteen (13) years and it estimates that the project will earn the company about 1 billion dollars.
Most interesting to me was the process of convincing strategic investors to fund the project. Mining being a capital intensive business, the company first set out to convince local fund managers. Interestingly, local investors were not willing to invest in mining. It remained a foreign trade to them. Talk of missed opportunities. The project is therefore funded by foreign investors including banks that gave credit facilities.
The second most fascinating thing was on the project's community approach. Recalling that last week i shared my brief thoughts on Responsible Business, the company gave me new insights on, community mutual-benefit and partnership. Tim was very candid that without the support of the local community mining projects can be disastrous. The company has incorporated various community aspects to the project including having a data base for all skilled and semi-skilled workers from the neighbouring community.
Tim also shared that the by-products of the mining process especially clay can be used by entrepreneurs in income-generating ventures (better than making traditional pots). The company's investment in infrastructure will also go along way to benefit the community both during and after the project. The company's balance between business interests and community interests in commendable.
I hope to visit Kwale to experience the progress being made in the mining sector and hope to have a few investors on my train.
Most interesting to me was the process of convincing strategic investors to fund the project. Mining being a capital intensive business, the company first set out to convince local fund managers. Interestingly, local investors were not willing to invest in mining. It remained a foreign trade to them. Talk of missed opportunities. The project is therefore funded by foreign investors including banks that gave credit facilities.
The second most fascinating thing was on the project's community approach. Recalling that last week i shared my brief thoughts on Responsible Business, the company gave me new insights on, community mutual-benefit and partnership. Tim was very candid that without the support of the local community mining projects can be disastrous. The company has incorporated various community aspects to the project including having a data base for all skilled and semi-skilled workers from the neighbouring community.
Tim also shared that the by-products of the mining process especially clay can be used by entrepreneurs in income-generating ventures (better than making traditional pots). The company's investment in infrastructure will also go along way to benefit the community both during and after the project. The company's balance between business interests and community interests in commendable.
I hope to visit Kwale to experience the progress being made in the mining sector and hope to have a few investors on my train.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Panel discussion on Corporate Governance
I enjoyed this discussion on corporate governance. Have a look at it.
But i cant help think of how such information can reach young people in my home village on the slopes on Mt. Kenya. Anyway please follow the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1JU05YP44I&feature=relmfu
Responsible Business
I came across a lecture, that provoked my thought on responsible business.
So when can we say that a company is carrying out responsible business. Well there are two perspectives to look at it. One is that the company's activities are ethical and contribute to social well being. But we all know that all companies cannot plant trees and take care of the environment. The second is that the company has some corporate social responsibility activities, build a school, plant trees, dig a bore hole and the list is endless. But we also know that these projects may not have the long term impact required as compared to the main business of the company.
I think that the only way to be a responsible business is to balance the various competing interests. Carry out CSR but balance it with business activities that promote the well being of people, whether directly or indirectly.
Here is the link to the lecture by Lynn A. Stout on Corporate Governance- What do shareholders really value?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Eoy988728&feature=relmfu
So when can we say that a company is carrying out responsible business. Well there are two perspectives to look at it. One is that the company's activities are ethical and contribute to social well being. But we all know that all companies cannot plant trees and take care of the environment. The second is that the company has some corporate social responsibility activities, build a school, plant trees, dig a bore hole and the list is endless. But we also know that these projects may not have the long term impact required as compared to the main business of the company.
I think that the only way to be a responsible business is to balance the various competing interests. Carry out CSR but balance it with business activities that promote the well being of people, whether directly or indirectly.
Here is the link to the lecture by Lynn A. Stout on Corporate Governance- What do shareholders really value?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Eoy988728&feature=relmfu
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Protecting Minority shareholders
I believe that although the majority shareholders have their way, we should also listen to minority shareholders. The balance between the interests of the two classes of investors is key to having a healthy company. Enjoy reading a related article in today's business daily through the link below.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Kenya+trails+neighbours+in+protection+of+shareholders+/-/539552/1389304/-/v3yii2z/-/index.html
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Kenya+trails+neighbours+in+protection+of+shareholders+/-/539552/1389304/-/v3yii2z/-/index.html
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Responsible exploration and development
As we explore oil, invest and develop, which i totaly support, lets also mitigate the effect of such exploration on future generations. This applies more particularly as regards to the environment. In the case of Turkana, let us develop and at the same time envision Turkana in 100 years and maintain a balance between rights and obligations.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Best strategy to resolve commercial disputes
I came across this quote that afformed my belief that we should as much as possible, avoid draging commercial disputes to coourt:
"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbour to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man" Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Alternative resolution of disputes depends on the good will of the parties. Advocates should also help parties resolve the dispute. At the end of the day, it pays to resolve a dispute amicably rather than taking the judicial process. This process will be faster and more efficient. In addittion business and investments will not be adversely affected by court disputes.
So lets agree and move on with business, shall we.
"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbour to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has superior opportunity of being a good man" Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Alternative resolution of disputes depends on the good will of the parties. Advocates should also help parties resolve the dispute. At the end of the day, it pays to resolve a dispute amicably rather than taking the judicial process. This process will be faster and more efficient. In addittion business and investments will not be adversely affected by court disputes.
So lets agree and move on with business, shall we.
The blog is back!
I last posted on this blog in September last year. I have been keenly researching within and without on the true purpose of this blog. I wanted to do something from deep within, something that i am passionate about as a person and an advocate. I wanted to contribute towards change in a different way.
Well soul searching is over folks. Today i received news about an investment i had made that affirmed my decision. I am now very keen to share information, ideas, news, views, experiences and insights on the rights of Corporations.
Briefly, if a corporation is a separate person in law, does it have rights? What about responsibilities? It is obvious that we cannot do without investments, in the very least that is how we create jobs for our skilled and unskilled workforce.
But how do the rights of corporations and the right to development and enjoyment of resources balance with the rights and responsibilities of human beings? Thats my purpose, thats my passion. Lets keep the discussion going.
Well soul searching is over folks. Today i received news about an investment i had made that affirmed my decision. I am now very keen to share information, ideas, news, views, experiences and insights on the rights of Corporations.
Briefly, if a corporation is a separate person in law, does it have rights? What about responsibilities? It is obvious that we cannot do without investments, in the very least that is how we create jobs for our skilled and unskilled workforce.
But how do the rights of corporations and the right to development and enjoyment of resources balance with the rights and responsibilities of human beings? Thats my purpose, thats my passion. Lets keep the discussion going.
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