KENYA – East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has announced the resignation of Paul Gallagher as non-executive director of the company’s board after serving for over two years.

The Nairobi Stock Exchange-listed firm said Gallagher’s resignation took effect on March 31, after serving the position in the board since his appointment in July 2016

“The board of EABL takes this opportunity to appreciate the commitment and invaluable contribution made by Mr Gallagher during his tenure on the board and wishes him the best in his endeavours,” EABL said.

EABL launches new programme to promote gender balance

The brewer has also launched a new apprenticeship programme that aims at promoting gender balance by supporting female students undertaking courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in universities across East Africa.

Announcing the launch of the new initiative in Kenya, KBL Managing Director Mrs. Jane Karuku said EABL is committed in elevating and empowering female talent in appreciation and support of a diverse culture as an intrinsic factor to the business success.

“At EABL, we are always striving towards achieving gender balance by making deliberate decisions that are aimed at that. Last year, women constituted a third of our workforce here and I am pleased to say that the number has gone up to around 40 percent this year.

We remain committed towards this and it is for this reason that we are pushing the empowerment agenda further.

We recognise the need to nurture and grow young talent by creating opportunities such as the STEM programme as this is part of our responsibility to the community,” Mrs. Karuku said.

The initiative was launched as a means of inspiring and empowering young professionals within the organisation.

Local sourcing of raw materials

Additionally, EABL has unveiled plans of engaging more farmers in its contract farming scheme as it seeks to increase locally sourced raw materials especially for its low-end Senator keg beer.

The firm is banking on more contract farming initiatives in six counties in Kenya: Kakamega, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Baringo, Bungoma and Laikipia to sustain output at its Nairobi brewery and the new US$150 million plant in Kisumu.

Lawrence Maina, General Manager at East African Maltings Limited (EAML), EABL’s sorghum supply chain subsidiary, said:

“Acceptability of the crop has been phenomenal and we expect an upturn of 40 per cent in the grain delivered to the plant in the two seasons.

We are looking at upwards of 10,000 tonnes in March and about 4,000 in the short rains in September.”