Author: Eva Nyambura

Safaricom finally rolled out its newest product on Wednesday, M-Pesa 1 Tap. The solution, as its name suggests, is a Tap and Go payment method that enhances the monetary settlement of services and products for M-Pesa customers. According to Safaricom, the pilot for this service has been ongoing for some time, having started as an internal program where 1500 of Safaricom employees participated by paying for meals at the telco’s café using an NFC-enabled Card. Reports have however emerged that the mobile service provider stole the idea from Jonathan Gikabu, Managing Director Innovase Limited. According to George Murithi, who also…

The supposed rivalry between Octopizzo and Khaligraph Jones just took yet another turn. Octopizzo took to his facebook page after Papa Jones released a new hit, Toa Tint, addressing his haters. Octopizzo has been going in on Jones after he appeared on The Trend, looking a shade lighter. The Ivo Ivo hit maker alleges that he was Khaligraph’s mentor. The rapper had this to say on his facebook page: Once upon a time there was 2 Amigos, one of them was called Omolo, Omolo was a short FAT BLACK kid, he always talked very fast and caught feelings easily. Next…

Leading paint manufacturer, Crown Paints on Wednesday introduced a new range of textured finishes named Crown Italia Series in line with its commitment to offer innovative products in the East African region. “With shifting consumer preferences and greater international exposure, Crown is seeing a trend emerge where the customer is changing their approach to buying paint and related products. Consumers today are far more aware of aesthetics and want their homes and offices to be an extension of their personality and to also reflect the same. They are increasingly looking for interesting fashion finishes, special effects and specific colours, all…

Retail Trade Association of Kenya (RETRAK) chairman, Mr  Wahome Muchiri, said the prices of commodities are determined by the suppliers, and they are doing their best to address the situation, in a statement issued to newsrooms on Thursday. “We are inclined to pursue this engagement so as to provide relief for our customers,” Mr Wahome said. Most basic commodities are currently in short supply including essential foodstuff such as maize meal, sugar and dairy products, with their prices going up by upto 40%. “We are embarking on an engagement process with basic commodities suppliers to manage the prevailing shortage,” said…

Boaz Ochieng from Ugenya, Siaya County is said to have been killed by his in-laws on Tuesday night after allegedly beating his wife to death. Ochieng died on the scene after the wife’s brothers attacked and beat him mercilessly at his home in Odiado village, Kagonya sub location. Confirming the incidence, area Assistance Chief, Francis Onyango Baraza, said that the deceased had a quarrel with his wife, Celestine Achieng’, before battering her to death. “According to reports from residents, the man also forced his wife to consume unknown poisonous substance which contributed to her death. This irked the brothers’ in-law,”…

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will from Thursday, kick-start the  biometric voter verification until June 9, 2017. Voters will be able to clarify their details during the one month-long exercise. “A similar exercise for Kenyans in the Diaspora that is; Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Africa  will take place on May 15 – 30, 2017,” said IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati. Speaking at the IEBC head offices in Nairobi, Chebukati announced that 10,000 gadgets have already been distributed countrywide for the exercise which will run parallel with the ongoing audit of the voters register by audit firm, KPMG.…

In the recently concluded Jubilee party nominations in Kwanza Constituency,Trans Nzoia county, Dr. Abraham Sing’oei won the Member of Parliamentary seat. Sing’oei, was battling it out with Joshua Werunga, a director in the Ministry of Water. A dissatisfied Werunga sought to contest the results. The matter is yet to be resolved by the Jubilee party tribunal. It is however said that Noah Wekesa, former Minister for Forestry and Eugene Wamalwa, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of water, are going for a negotiated democracy. A source says that the two, Noah and Eugene, want Dr. Sing’oei to relinquish the position. Trans…

Safaricom on Wednesday posted a Sh45.1 billion net profit in the year ended March 31, 2017 representing an 18.3 per cent increase from the previous year. MPESA was the largest revenue contributor in the period under review growing by 32.7 per cent to Sh55.1 billion driven by 14.6 per cent increase in 30 day active customers to 19 million as well as a 35 per cent growth in monthly usage per customer to 10 transactions per month. Mobile data revenue on the other hand grew by 38.5 per cent to Sh29.3 billion while voice service revenue went up by 2.9…

Safaricom CEO,Bob Collymore’s contract has been extended by another two years. Collymore took over from Michael Joseph, the founding Safaricom CEO in August 2010. As the company’s CEO, he has seen the company grow enormously reaping more revenue and high profits in the Kenyan market. He was to serve an initial contract of three years which was renewed for a further two years in 2013. Safaricom Chairman, Nicholas Ng’ang’a said the board made the decision to let Collymore continue steering the company’s growth. “He has successfully navigated the company through very difficult times,” Ng’ang’a said on Thursday when the company…

Rapper Khaligraph Jones made an appearance on Ntv’s The Trend, with a lighter skin tone. Papa Jones, as he is popularly known, claimed that his skin was lighter because he was drinking clean water and did not get too much sun. Yesterday, Octopizzo called him out on social media, telling Khaligraph that he could always open up about any self esteem issues he might be having. Khaligraph has constantly denied the rumors of him bleaching but there are those that still believe he could be onto something. Octopizzo went in on Papa Jones on Instagram saying:  “Ndugu Omollo, nilikua nataka…

The Zambian government on Monday asked the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga to stop interfering in its business. Raila Odinga had called for the quick release of treason-accused United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema. Kampamba Mulenga, Zambia’s chief government spokesperson,  said that Mr Odinga should know that Zambia is a sovereign State whose three arms of Government deserve respect. Ms Mulenga said Mr Odinga’s call for the release of Mr Hichilema is not in tandem with the tenets of democracy which demand that those accused of committing crimes are tried before the courts of law which should prove…

Three Kenyans and a Somali refugee have been arrested in South Sudan on their way to Libya. The four are believed to be part of ISIS. Said Ahmed Dabow, Adan Sheikh, Mohamed Abdi Mohamed and Somali national Abdiqani Abdishakur Shobaywere were arrested by South Sudanese security officers while seeking facilitation to travel to Libya. They were arrested following an intensive operation between security agents across the East African region. Police are now pursuing two Kenyan suspects Ali Hussein Ali and Ibrahim Abasheikh believed to be recruiting Kenyan youths on behalf of ISIS. The four have been working together with Mohamed…

SportPesa, on Tuesday launched operations in Tanzania. The sports betting firm has had successful operations in Kenya since 2014 and the UK, making it the largest betting firm in Kenya. Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, Minister for Sports in Tanzania, urged SportPesa to replicate its success in Kenya to lift the standards of sports in his nation. “We welcome SportPesa to Tanzania and are eagerly looking forward to see the company partnering with our institutions to develop sport in this country as it has done for our neighbours,” he said. Mwakyembe said the Government of Tanzania will support initiatives aimed at giving…

Wafula Chebukati, IEBC chairperson says that August 8 campaigns will officially kick off on May 8. Chebukati also says that all measures have been put in place to ensure the  August exercise is above board. Among the key initiatives, he says, will be deployment of 47 electoral managers, who will work closely with county security bosses unlike in 2013 when the Commission only had 16 managers. “We are fully committed to ensure we deliver a free, fair and a transparent election,” Chebukati said. Chebukati also notes that in the past, the commission only interacted with security officers a day before…

Likoni and Mtongwe ferry channels had their operations suspended on Tuesday by Kenya Ferry Services officials due to high tides. Hundreds of commuters and motorists are stuck at Likoni following flooding at the ferry crossing channel caused by heavy downpour. The heavy rains at the Coast region have left behind a trail of destruction. Learning has also been disrupted in most parts of Kilifi County with school heads forced to send pupils home. Six people died after a perimeter wall collapsed on them on Monday. The collapsed perimeter wall separates the pandya hospital and mbaraki girls high school. Among those…