Author: Francis Muli

Safaricom customers can now enjoy free data customized to their usage user profiles. The new data campaign allows subscribers access to free data for the next 90 days. “The campaign seeks to empower more customers to take their offline passions online as part of the country’s digital transformation agenda,” CEO Peter Ndegwa said in a statement on Wednesday. To access the data, dial *544# and select Free Data from the options provided. Read: Safaricom Feted for Being Top Taxpayer By KRA Data from the Communications Authority shows that at least 25 million people access the internet using broadband connections, leaving…

Sidian Bank, an SME focused bank, has recorded a consolidated net profit of Ksh114 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss of Ksh7 million recorded in a similar period in 2020. The profit for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is more than the Ksh72 million profit before tax recorded in the full year ended December 31, 2020. The improved profitability was attributed to increased lending in the period which grew interest income on loans as well as lending fees. Transactional and channels business also increased in the period enhancing the profitability. Further, loan…

Even as major football leagues across the globe come to a close, punters will now be looking to cash in through other sporting activities. According to betting firm 22Bet Kenya, the break of major domestic leagues is an opportunity to promote other sporting activities across the globe such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) games. “The world of sports is wide just like any other sector. A pause in major football leagues such as the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Champions League is not an end to sporting activities. We have other games such as the NBA which…

A number of websites might soon become inaccessible in Kenya. This could easily happen if a Computer, Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) bill, 2021 sponsored by Garissa Member of Parliament Aden Duale is passed. The bill proposes that the government block some websites, making them inaccessible. The bill further discourages the use of electronic mediums to promote pornography, terrorism, extreme religious or cult activities. It proposes that the National Computer and Cybercrimes committee recommend specific websites that should be accessible to Kenyans. It further specifies in the amendments that no one shall knowingly use computer systems to upload pornographic content, manufacture…

The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has distanced itself from investigations that unearthed the Arror and Kimwarer dams saga. This comes months after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji dropped charges against former PS Kamau Thuge, and instead turned him into a state witness. On Wednesday, EACC Vice-chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit told the Senate that the investigations were done by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Ms Lepuchirit held that the PS should not have been left off the hook, since a PS has the authority to incur expenditure. “EACC had nothing to do with the investigations. We have also…

Kenya’s obstructive stance on innovative tobacco-free oral nicotine products (ONDS) is denying thousands of smokers desperate to quit cigarettes an extraordinary opportunity to have informed choices and save lives. That’s according to international medical experts who addressed the Africa Tobacco Harm Reduction Forum hosted by the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA). “By lagging behind the rest of the world in its stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR), the Kenyan government is blocking the escape from tobacco-related disease and death for 30,000 smokers a year, with no chance of reprieve,” CASA Chairman Joseph Magero told the webinar. “Kenya’s ongoing ‘quit or…

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has announced plans to officially launch its Harmony Operating System on June 2, 2021. The open source OS was first launched on Internet-of-Things wearables and tablets in 2019, is designed for various devices and scenarios. Huawei has projected that devices equipped with the Harmony OS will hit 300 million by the end of 2021, with 200 million out of those in Huawei devices. Huawei expects the number of devices equipped with HarmonyOS to reach 300 million by the end of 2021, including more than 200 million for Huawei devices. Read: Huawei Could Soon Launch Gmail Alternative,…

An international consortium named the Global Partnership for Ethiopia has been awarded a licence to operate telecom services in Ethiopia. The impact investment consortium aspires to support Ethiopia’s digital transformation and positively enhance the lives of its citizens. The partners in the consortium are led by Safaricom Plc, a partner member of the Vodafone Group, and will establish a new operating company in Ethiopia which aims to start providing telecommunications services from 2022. In addition to Safaricom, the partnership includes: Vodacom Group; Vodafone Group; Sumitomo Corporation – one of the largest international trading and business investment companies; and CDC Group…

Telkom’s financial services platform T-kash has been integrated into the government digital services platform, eCitizen. This integration with the eCitizen Portal will enable T-kash customers to pay for National and County Government Services that are to be found on the Portal. T-kash customers will be able to make digital payments for services offered by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA); Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Business Registration Service and Immigration Services. The list also includes bundled services under the Civil Registration Department, Office of the Attorney General, Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Construction…

The ICT Authority (ICTA) is unable to take over the running of a Ksh16 billion fibre network run by Telkom Kenya due to lack of a maintenance budget, it has emerged. According to ICTA CEO Katherine Getao, the Treasury is yet to allocate funds for the National Optic Fibre Backbone (Nofbi) Phase 1, which is run by Telkom without a licence. “We are currently collecting levies from telcos that use Nofbi Phase 2 but we have not been able to obtain management contract for Phase 1 which is being operated by Telkom Kenya. We need money to enable us to…

TikTok is rolling out a feature that will allow creators to select, delete, block and report harassing comments in bulk. They will be able to select multiple messages, up to 100 and choose what action to take on them. Prior to this update, creators had to go through the messages, selecting one by one for deletion, blocking or reporting. TikTok’s algorithm can catapult users to instant stardom, making the mass action tool against harassment useful. Some users may not know how to handle sudden attention and mean comments can easily affect them negatively. This is a right step for TikTok…

Kenya’s Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has approved 40 new standards to improve information and cyber security while protecting consumer privacy. The new guidelines provide tactics and approaches that persons or administrators in charge of institutional data security can employ to protect it. In the field of information technology, this includes auditors, managers, management teams, trainers, and assessors. “Consumers are increasingly adopting digital technology, the data generated creates both an opportunity for enterprises to improve customer engagement and a responsibility to keep it safe,” Kebs managing director Bernard Njiraini said. The new principles, he claimed, will aid in maintaining data’s…

Safaricom’s share price at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has hit an all-time high of Ksh43.50 after the telco won the Ethiopian Telecommunication licence under the Global Partnership for Ethiopia consortium. On Monday, the telco recorded a surge in investors crowding its counters to buy shares, prompting the rise in price per share. The Safaricom led consortium that includes Vodafone, Vodacom, CDC Group and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation won the award after submitting a financial bid of $850 million (Ksh91.8 billion). The Consortium beat the MTN Group to clinch the licence in Ethiopia, one of the world’s last major closed telecoms…

Netflix is reportedly planning to expand its service offering to include video games. A report by The Information says that the company is looking to recruit an executive to head the division. The report claims that the video-streaming app has already approached a number of “veteran game industry executives” regarding the new position. Netflix is allegedly looking to launch a “bundle” video game service that will allow users access to a number of video games at a monthly rate. Read: Here is The List of Films to Expect On Netflix This Year “Our members value the variety and quality of…

Twitter rolled out Spaces this year after the launch in 2020. The feature has become popular for users discussing multiple issues on the platform. Recently, the company announced that any users who have 600 or more followers can host spaces. Twitter has now introduced another feature allowing users to schedule meetings. Users who wish to host a Spaces meeting will now be able to schedule a specific time which they can share with their followers. This way, the same followers can schedule to attend the meeting and not just chance on on-going conversations. Twitter says that scheduling spaces was one…