Standard Group Managing Director, Print, Neema Wamai and Think Business CEO, Ochieng’ Oloo, review agreement notes after signing the deal at the Group head offices along Mombasa Road.[PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA]

By James Anyanzwa

NAIROBI; KENYA: The Standard Group Ltd and Think Business have signed a media partnership agreement to host this year’s banking awards.

Through the collaboration, the media group will promote and popularise the ‘Banking Awards 2013’ through all its media outlets.

They include, among others, print, online, television and radio broadcast. Under the deal valued at Sh4 million, the Group will also publish an extensive supplement on the banking sector.

The partnership was signed by the Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei and Think Business Chief Executive Ochieng’ Oloo at the Group Centre in Nairobi, yesterday. “We are pleased to be associated with such an important event that has helped in shaping banking in Kenya over the past eight years,” said Shollei.

The event to be held on April 30, will also coincide with the launch of the Banking Survey 2013.

 Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore will deliver the keynote speech. Oloo thanked the Standard Group for sharing the vision of the awards and for supporting the growth of the banking sector. The Chief Judge for this year’s awards will be Dr George Njenga, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Strathmore University.

More than 40 entries have been received for the different categories and the judging process has commenced.

The event will see various banks awarded in different categories, including the ‘Best Bank’ in Kenya in 2013, customer satisfaction, technology use, product innovation, SME banking, mortgage finance, micro-Finance and the most efficient bank. Others include corporate banker of the year, best recovery award, fastest growing bank among others.

Other categories introduced this year include the bank with the lowest charges and the best deposit taking microfinance institution.