Author: Francis Muli

Facebook has criticized the long-standing internet and social media blackouts imposed in Tanzania, Uganda, Chad and Ethiopia between January 2020 and February 2021. The company said the shutdowns were counterproductive and violated citizens human rights in this digital age. British tech research firm Comparitech released the 2020 internet disruption report which showed that internet and social media shutdowns in Africa happen during the election period or in cases of civil unrest. The report said that the shutdowns in Tanzania and Uganda were ordered by the incumbent governments in a bid to silence the opposition, giving them the upper hand in…

Safaricom has been ranked by umlaut as having the best network for data and calls across the country, for the fourth year in a row. This follows “Drive Tests” carried out by umlaut across different locations assessing the different mobile networks for call and data performance. umlaut found Safaricom to be the only mobile operator to deploy Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services across the country including in rural areas, therefore contributing to the operator achieving the best call set-up time. “It is an honour to yet again be ranked ‘Best in Test’ for the fourth year in umlaut’s independent network tests.…

The NCBA Bank is on the spot after one of its customers accused the lender of auctioning their vehicle despite re-paying their loan. Documents in our possession indicate that NCBA through its asset financing arm financed Urban Digital Services to purchase an Isuzu FRR in September 2020, with a repayment period of five years. The financing worth Ksh5.1 million was to attract an interest of 13 percent per annum, with the first repayment set for October 5, 2020. Urban Digital services was to pay Ksh111,620 per month, but fell behind at the beginning of 2020, prompting the lender to repossess…

Ride-hailing service Bolt is set to launch e-scooter services amid an expansion plan to centers and smaller towns following a Sh19.8 billion injection from a US private equity firm. Bolt Country Manager Olaoluwa Akinnusi will introduce the scooters as it expands beyond the 16 urban centres already covered. The global company has secured Sh19.8 billion from American private equity firm, D1 Capital Partner. The funds will also be channeled towards investing in security tools and expanding the company’s food delivery services. Read: Bolt Lite Expands To Nakuru And Kisumu Security measures to be implemented include facial verification tools to help…

When a loved one dies, families and friends mourn and get involved in organizing how they can give an honorable send-off for their beloved. People take time to slowly try to come to terms and plan a life ahead without their loved ones. Unbeknown to many mourners, fraudsters have now taken advantage of these trying times to expertly rob the dead. When this story first broke, The Standard reported a case of fraudsters who had swept the late Reverend Kania’s bank accounts clean using his mobile phone. The Reverend passed on in July 2020 and as mourners including Deputy President…

Bonchari MP John Oroo Oyioka has passed on. The legislator passed on on Monday evening at Aga Khan Hospital in Kismu. Oyioka had been unwell for several months. He was elected to the seat in 2017 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, after failing to clinch the seat in 2013. National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi mourned Oyioka as an active member of the Departmental Committee on Education, Research, and Technology.\ “It is sadly another dark moment for us as a Parliamentary fraternity. Very sad to learn this evening that we have lost the Member of Parliament for Bonchari Constituency,…

Microsoft, Stanbic Kenya Foundation, and the Kenyan Government have partnered to equip over 50,000 entrepreneurs with digital skills. The move will “address a digital skills gap within the market” by way of digital learning and skilling initiative. “The digital landscape is transforming rapidly, and Kenya must adapt to the new changes to keep the citizens employable. The Kenya Government believes technology will play a key role in transforming the economy and creating employment,” CS for Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, Betty Maina said. “In this regard, we welcome the private sector in supporting the government’s efforts to advance our digital…

The government last week kicked off the exercise of issuing Huduma Namba cards in Nairobi. With increasing questions from those who registered for Huduma Namba on when and where to collect the cards, the Ministry of Interior gave users a way forward on the choice of collection points. The ministry advised users to select their preferred collection point once they receive an SMS. The short message sent to the phone number you provided during registration contains have a link that must be clicked to allow you to access the Huduma Namba portal. Read: How To Select Your Preferred Huduma Namba…

Embu businessman Patrick Njiru Kuria, who is facing a Ksh9 billion tax demand from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), has been ordered to pay KRA Ksh10 million. Kuria will be required to pay the amount within two weeks, or else the taxman will be allowed to recover the full amount. “Since the factual circumstances relating to the Appellant’s business are not in doubt and taking all the facts into account, an order for payment of a reasonable amount would be appropriate in the circumstances,” ruled Justice David Majanja. His company, Paleah Ltd, is facing closure if KRA moves to recover the…

Google has given two Kenyan organizations, ChildFund international and Epuka Ugaidi Sh11 million each towards the development of child-safe content that will spur learning while deterring the recruitment of children into crime networks. Google issued a statement saying Childfund will be mandated with carrying out research on a national level, conducting community, school, and media-based training. The organization is also expected to engage in policy development with the aim of preventing online sex trafficking. Epuka Ugaidi has been tasked with enhancing its platform’s visibility. The organization promotes youth creativity in short films, poetry, and music through workshops, training, and hosting…

Safaricom last week announced that its home fibre double speeds were permanent. On the same breath, the company announced that its home internet is no longer unlimited and introduced a “fair usage policy” (FUP) that will cap usage to a certain volume. Safaricom explains in its terms and conditions that “Customers will be given a bundle to browse at either 3Mbps or 5Mbps. Once you hit the threshold, the speeds will be throttled to 1 mbps for the validity period of the bundle. The 4G for home plans are subject to a Fair Usage Policy.” The telco further breaks it…

Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji is dead, his family has confirmed. Haji is the father to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji, and has been ill for a while. The former Cabinet Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Affairs died at the Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi on Monday morning aged 80. He served as the chairman of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) taskforce. He had been flown in from Turkey on Saturday where he had been since December for treatment. His Janaza prayers are set for Monday at 4.00 pm in South C Mosque and thereafter burial will…

The Central Organization of Trade Unions(COTU) secretary-general Francis Atwoli has condemned the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for its decision to adjust prices upwards for petroleum products by an all-time high In a statement, Atwoli says many Kenyans are facing the most difficult moments in their life owing to the hard economic times the country is facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.. “It is outrageous and insensitive for the Authority to allow for increases of up to Ksh8.19, Ksh5,51 and Ksh5.32 per litre for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene respectively when such move will automatically lead to increased prices…

Motorists will dig deeper in their pockets for fuel in the next 30 days, as the prices of Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene increase by Ksh8.19, Ksh5.51 and Ksh5.32 per litre respectively. This is according to o price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which puts the retail price per litre of Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene at Ksh115.18, Ksh101.91 and Ksh92.44 in Nairobi starting midnight. “The prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2018, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates…

Kenyans have expressed different opinions after former ‘Tahidi High’ actor Peter Kamau Kinuthia alias Omosh announced that he is bankrupt and unable to provide for his family. In an interview, Omosh revealed that life has not been well since he was axed last year from ‘Tahidi High’ show, following the outbreak of Covid-19. “I just want a job, even if I will be getting Ksh200 a day. I don’t mind about class and even if someone decides to start a hotel business where I can sell uji and tea, I am okay with that,” a teary Omosh said. Speaking to…