This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
Kenya is facing a wave of layoffs, with thousands of workers losing their jobs since July. The latest to join this list is betting firm Betin, which has announced the closure of 500 retail outlets, affecting 2,500 Kenyans.
The firm cited the government's hard stance as the reason for its decision, stating that it had no option but to issue redundancy notices to its staff.
According to the firm, the government's actions have left it with no choice but to close down its retail outlets. This move is part of a larger trend of companies seeking to remain afloat in the current economic climate.
On a related note, the government has announced plans to ban the import of second-hand electronic gadgets effective from January next year. This move is aimed at reducing the country's e-waste problem, which has been a major concern in recent years.
Kenya has been used as a dumping ground for electronic waste from developed countries, with the country generating over 44,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. The government plans to introduce strict regulations to deter imports of obsolete electronics and make importers and sellers responsible for disposing of them when they have outlived their usefulness.
Under the new regulations, sellers of electronic gadgets will have to adhere to a deposit return scheme, where a certain fee will be added to the gadget price. This fee will either be refunded to the buyer when they take back the product or used to purchase a new product.
The government aims to implement these regulations by March 2020, with the goal of reducing the country's e-waste problem and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
