Author: Francis Muli

Kenyans borrowed at least Sh1.2 billion from Mshwari and Fuliza every day in 2020, an indication of increased reliance on debt due to the economic slowdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the NCBA financial report released on Monday, Kenyans took a total of Sh432 billion Mshwari and Fuliza loans, averaging Sh1.18 billion everyday. The total figure increased 30 percent from Sh330 billion in 2019. The pandemic resulted in massive job losses as well as a slow-down in businesses, forcing Kenyans to find alternative means for survival. Read: Kenyans Borrow Ksh1 Billion Daily From Fuliza In Six Months According…

Taxi-hailing service Bolt has launched its Bolt-food delivery service in Kenya as the country goes into lockdown occasioned by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company said it has already onboarded 200 restaurants including KFC, Big Square, Pizza Mojo, Urban Gourmet Burger, Debonairs Pizza, Steers Ohcha Noodle Bar, The Chef House, Wings Kenya Alchemist, Shokudo Japanese, Barista & Co, Mercado, Awash Ethiopian restaurant, Charlie’s Bistro and Bao Box, among others. Bolt has plans to make new additions on the list on a daily basis. “Food delivery has been a popular request for quite some time and we are…

Android smartphones have always come pre-installed with Google services. However, US users can now get Android phones that do not come with Google experience. The eFoundation which normally offers refurbished Android smartphones “deGoogled” the phones since 2019. Due to the small number of available phones for refurbishment, the company focused its supply to Europe. However, it seems the stocks have now risen and the Google-free handsets will be available for US consumers. “We have removed many pieces of code that send your personal data to remote servers without your consent. We don’t scan your data in your phone or in…

Equity Bank Group will withhold dividends for the second year in a row after posting an 11 percent drop in 2020 net profit to Ksh20.1 billion. This is as compared to Ksh22.6 billion announced in 2019. Loss provision grew five folds with restructured loans hitting Ksh171 billion or 32 per cent of the total loan book. ”The impact of Covid-19 pandemic made the year 2020 an exceedingly difficult year characterized by lost jobs, unemployment, lost investments and human misery,” Equity Bank Group CEO James Mwangi said. Net interest income grew by 23 per cent to Ksh55 billion up from Ksh45billion…

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has issued a notification of a scheduled sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 2.30pm aimed at concluding urgent business, and consider a motion to alter the calendar of the house. This follows the Presidential Address of March 26, where President Uhuru Kenyatta asked County Assemblies of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru, National Assemby and the Senate to adjourn sittings due to escalating Covid-19 infections. “In a proclamation made on Friday, 26th March, 2021 during his Fifteenth Address on the Coronavirus Pandemic, His Excellency the President set out nation-wide measures…

Former Redeemed Gospel Church  Bishop Morris Mwarandu has passed on. The Bishop, who was 73 at the time of his death, has been battling high blood pressure and diabetes for years. He died at Nairobi West Hospital while undergoing treatment on Saturday. “We have lost mzee. Right now we are praying for God’s strength for his son who is now heading the church, his family, and the entire congregation because Bishop was so many things to us.  He had been sickly but was always in high spirits,” said Frederick Musembi, a pastor who serves at his church, the Lord’s Gathering…

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives on Sunday exhumed a body of a 66-year-old man from Laikipia, thought to have been killed by his 44-year-old son. Henry Maina Muthangu was allegedly murdered by his son Jackson Nderitu Maina, who is eying his property as an inheritance. The exhumation exercise was conducted following the arrest and interrogation of Mr Maina over his missing father, who villagers thought had travelled for business. The body was exhumed under the supervision of chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor. Read: Kenyan Woman’s Remains Exhumed In US After Lover Buried Her ‘Secretly’ “Tafuta mali yako kama kijana wachana…

Homeboyz Radio has terminated the services of ShaffIe Weru, Neville Muasya and Joseph Munoru aka DJ Joe Mfalme following public outcry over gender insensitive remarks on the radio station. The trio were accused of victim shaming a victim of sexual violence during the Lift Off morning show on Homeboyz radio. “Homeboyz Radio and its parent company, Radio Africa has terminated the services of Shaffie Weru, Joseph Munoru and Neville Muasya” a statement from the radio station reads. Read: EABL Suspends Advertising on Radio Africa Citing Gender Insensitive Remarks by Homeboyz Presenters “The termination follows a comprehensive review of the comments…

City Jeweller Nagin Pattni is dead. The 83 year old jeweler, whose full names are Shri Nagindas Gordhandas Challa died on Friday March 26 in Nairobi. The family issued a statement describing Pattni as “a great soul who touched the lives of many and brought a smile to all.” Nagin Pattni is renowned for selling engagement and wedding rings in  business spanning 40 years. The jeweller who has sold rings to countless Kenyan couples is said to have held nuptials in high esteem. “He started and build up the firm to where it is today through honesty and hard work.”…

East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) has suspended advertising on Radio Africa Group following victim shaming remarks made by Homeboyz Radio presenters on air. Shaffie Weru, Neville and DJ Joe Mfalme made the remarks during their Lift Off breakfast show on March 24. In a statement, EABL expressed their dismay at the conduct of the presenters who have since been suspended. “As a responsible corporate citizen that upholds and champions gender inclusion, diversity and human rights, we support the ongoing investigations. EABL and the Guiness Brand are significant advertisers on a variety of programmes on Radio Africa Group.” The statement reads.…

Following the President’s directives on social gatherings and in places of worship, the interfaith council has suspended worship gathering in the affected counties. Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Nakuru and Kajiado counties were declared Covid-19 hotspots in yesterday’s presidential address. Interfaith council Chairman Archbishop Anthony Muheria issued a statement Saturday morning saying that people in the affected areas will revert to online-worship. “Therefore, in the areas where total restriction has been imposed, we will revert to on-line worship. This will mean that each faith community will organize to have their worship relayed online for the benefit of the congregants.” He said. Read:…

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has disposed of 119 unclaimed bodies to ease strain on city morgues. The bodies, which were predominantly male, were disposed of between March 17 and March 24. NMS had issued a notice in the dailies prior to the exercise, alerting the public of the unclaimed bodies lying in various morgues, 105 of them at the City Mortuary. “Pursuant to Public Health Act Cap 242, interested members of the public are asked to identify and collect the named bodies within seven days, failure to which the Nairobi Metropolitan Services will seek authority for disposal,” read the…

As more people rush to get their Covid-19 vaccines, internet scammers are also working overtime to come up with ingenious ways of duping people. The latest scam is in form of vaccine surveys promising rewards to users who supply the information. A number of users reported to the US  that they had received texts and emails asking them to complete a limited-time survey about the Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna vaccine. Read: Eight Online Scams You Should Be Wary Of The trick lies on the next step, where users are asked to supply their credit card information or bank account number.…

Kenyans will from June this year enjoy increased Internet speeds, ICT Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng’ has said. The government is already on course with plans to increase the country’s internet capacity by up to tenfold for better efficiency. During a visit to the Telkom Kenya offices in Mombasa, Ochieng’ said the increased usage of internet in the country had necessitated the increase in bandwidth. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that Kenya’s bandwidth internet capacity rose twofold to 6.2 million Mbps from 2016 to 2019. Read: ICT Ministry Unable To Account For Ksh12 Billion “We will…

Diarrhoeal diseases are the leading cause of death in Kenya with over 37,600 deaths every year, a new report compiled by The Standard has shown. Globally, Diarrhoeal diseases kill around 525,000 children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Diarrhoea is usually caused by a virus, or sometimes, contaminated food or water. In most cases in Kenya, it is caused by contaminated water. According to the Water Bottlers Association of Kenya (WBAK), many Kenyans are not able to access clean drinking water due to over-taxation, which has made the commodity expensive for the low-income earners.…