The Weekly Pulse | 13th September 2020

1st ever locally manufactured ventilator certified by government 

The 1st ever locally manufactured ventilator developed by Kenya Association of Manufacturers’ (KAM) Automotive Sector, led by Mutsimoto Limited, was yesterday certified by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). 

The ventilator, dubbed Pumuaishi 3.0, was unveiled in April this year and has been undergoing standards evaluation for certification at KEBS. Following certification, the ventilator shall be patented and produced for both local and export markets. 

Pumuaishi 3.0, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilator, which can be used on paediatrics and adults weighing up to 180kgs. This ventilator can go for a minimum of 24 hours without power, making it efficient in the event of power outages. It can also be charged using solar power, so it can be used in an ambulance 

Some of the companies that provided key experts in the development of the ventilator are Mutsimoto Motor Company, Mobius Motors, Kenyatta National Hospital and the Aga Khan University, among others. 

KAM, KPMG launch Policy Toolkit to guide Economic Rebound 

KAM in partnership with KPMG launched a Manufacturing Resilience and Sustainability Policy Toolkit. 

The Policy Toolkit recommends that overarching interventions are needed to aid the country’s economic and manufacturing sector’s recovery from the impact of COVID-19 as businesses navigate challenges caused by shocks arising from the virus.  

Policies developed to drive economic resilience and sustainability should target four areas: continuously addressing the health emergency, supporting liquidity of businesses, maintaining links between employers and employees and rethinking the current economic model with a view of aligning it to the new world the pandemic is creating. 

The Policy Toolkit shall aid in charting forward the growth, development, and resilience of the manufacturing sector to attain the 15% contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as envisioned in the Big Four Agenda. 

KAM, UNIDO launch Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) Index – Kenya Report 

KAM in partnership with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) launched the Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) Index – Kenya Report. Kenya has ranked position 115 out of 152 in the Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) Index Report, 2020.  

The Report benchmarks the ability of countries to produce and export manufactured goods competitively. It provides a yardstick against which Kenya can compare its manufacturing competitiveness on a global level.