CDH Conversations

Brazil is considering several bills that may result in imprisonment for failure to comply with that country's mandatory vaccination regulations. If passed into law, citizens of Brazil may be imprisoned for refusing to vaccinate and for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 vaccinations.

Njeri Wagacha talks to Iain Usiri, CEO & Co-Founder of Ramani, a point-of-sale distribution business in Tanzania.

Ramani raised USD 32 million in its Series A round last year and has grown month on month by 68%.  Not even yet 30, Iain talks about: being a young leader, running a growing business, and not being afraid to pivot, Chesterton's fence fallacy and the importance of being intellectually humble.

Chairperson, Tim Fletcher and CDH Partner Njeri Wagacha speak to Graduate Programme Manager, Boipelo Mathodlana.

They highlight a few of their expectations which include the below amongst others:-

CDH Conversations Podcast hosted Director Bongani Masuku and Associate Tshepiso Rasetlola from the Employment Law Practice, where they discussed the general principles of retrenchments and, how it affects fixed-term contract employees.

The episode focused on severance pay in respect of fixed-term contract employees by highlighting the CCMA case of SA Revolutionary  Allied Workers Union on behalf of Ntshangase & Others and Mjayeli  Security Services which dealt with the question whether fixed-term contract employees are eligible to be paid severance pay. The employees  had been on a fixed term contract (FTC) or a period in excess of 24  months and earned below the threshold. The commissioner found that the  employees in this case had been terminated for reasons relating to the employer's operational requirements and were entitled to being paid severance in terms of section 41 (BCEA) both by reason of their retrenchment and by reason of the amendment to section 198. 

Great consideration to be taken in setting the period of employment in FTCs, and in any subsequent extensions and/or renewals. If below the threshold, then provision to be made for the payment of severance should employment terminate, and they meet the requirements of section  198B(10)(a). Proper advice must be obtained when considering terminating  FTCs and the ramifications thereof both in terms of section 189 and  198B.

Njeri Wagacha talks to Fred Waithaka, Head of Legal and Regulatory at  Safaricom PLC. Fred talks about his journey to becoming a lawyer and moving into the regulatory space. He speaks about Safaricom's strategic growth and its mission to identify new growth areas with the intention of delivering a superior customer experience.

This year CDH, Njeri Talks Law and the East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA) have partnered for a podcast series. In this first podcast, CDH Kenya partner, Njeri Wagacha talks to Eva Warigia, Chief Executive Officer of EAVCA, and Andrew Fassnidge, founder of Africa Tech Summit. They discuss the upcoming Africa Tech Conference, its origins, deal-making in the venture capital space, investing in Africa and why Africa is the investing destination in 2023.

Thandiwe recently completed the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) advanced training and secondment programme. ILFA is a capacity building Africa focused organisation founded in 2006 to enhance the quality of legal services and strengthen the rule of law in Africa.

In the first episode of Njeri Talks Law for the year, Njeri Wagacha speaks with Pat Mbugua, Head of Legal, Client Coverage, Corporate  Commercial and Institutional Banking, East Africa, at Standard Chartered  Bank Kenya Limited. Pat was runner-up for the Lawyer of the Year at the  2022 Nairobi Legal Awards.

Congratulations to Thandiwe Nhlapho on successfully completing the International Lawyers for Africa advanced training and secondment programme at Debevoise & Plimpton. Thandiwe has been away in London since September 2022 to enhance her professional development, which she discusses in this episode of CDH Conversation.

Every month CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha publishes a podcast 'Njeri Talks Law'. In this final podcast for 2022, Njeri extends her gratitude to her listeners for accompanying her on your journey and provides a summary of her 2022 podcasts. 

Njeri recaps her conversations with:

In addition, Njeri looks back on her conversations with Tim Fletcher, CDH's Chairman on a shaky start in law, "white privilege" and bridging the inequality gap. She also engages with CDH Kenya Partner, Shem Otanga on Data Protection Regulation in Africa.