Author: Francis Muli

TV47’s news segment and weekend entertainment show ‘Bomba La Sanaa’ are among the most-watched programme, a new study has shown. Soap operas ‘So Much Love’, ‘Destiny’ and the adults-only ‘Garden of Eden’ also ranked highly, according to the new research by One Pulse Limited. TV47’s breakfast show ‘Morning Cafe’ is also popular with viewers. The majority of TV47 viewers are in Nairobi, Kisumu. West Pokot, TransNzoia, Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Nyeri, Nakuru, Machakos, Mombasa, and Embu. The survey conducted in a single day with a possible sample size of over 13,000 respondents shows that most viewers are in the 18-60 years…

Facebook is rolling a News feature that will ensure the safety of journalists in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and other countries from attacks meted against them online. Journalists who are on Facebook can register voluntarily on the platform in order to benefit from the safety and security features that will further protect their personal accounts. Users will also be able to extend the protection to their linked Instagram pages and apply for Facebook’s blue badge verification. Read: Facebook Rolls Out New Campaign To Help Spot Fake News “Journalists serve an essential role by keeping us informed and connected with…

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Musician Jay-Z have announced a 500 bitcoin pledge (worth about $23.3 million) towards BTrust, an endowment fund aimed at promoting Bitcoin. Through his Twitter account, Dorsey said that the development will initially focus on Africa and India, but that both he and Jay-Z would give zero direction to the plans. BTrust is on the hunt for three board members, with its application forms stating clearly that their mission is to “make Bitcoin the internet’s currency” Read: PayPal to Allow Customers to Transact with Cryptocurrency According to TechCrunch, Africa and India are two interesting markets for…

Whatsapp announced sometime last year that it was working on multi-device support. Now the company is working on a feature that will allow users to log out of an account on a linked device. The feature was spotted in Whatsapp Beta update 2.21.30.16. The log out feature is said to work on both Whatsapp and Whatsapp business accounts, meaning users will no longer have to delete or uninstall the app to log out. WaBetaInfo reports that the log out feature will allow users to unlink from a device by logging out from their Whatsapp account. Currently, users only have the…

Facebook has released its Community Standards Enforcement Report for October through December 2020. The Community Standards and Enforcement Report tracks the tech giant’s progress and commitment to making Facebook and Instagram platforms safe and inclusive. The quarterly report shares metrics on Facebook’s performance in preventing and taking action on content that goes against Community Standards while protecting its community’s safety, privacy, dignity and authenticity. The latest report shows some positive strides towards improvements in prevalence, providing transparency and accountability around content moderation operations across different Facebook products. It includes metrics across 12 policies on Facebook and 10 policies on Instagram.…

Telkom and Airtel have been given the green light to resume their proposed merger talks, again. The rather unexpected turn of events took place after the High court quashed a letter from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). In its letter, EACC had barred the questionable sale of Telkom’s assets during the merger period, effectively halting the talks. High Court judge Jairus Ngaira in his ruling said that EACC’s move to stop the sale or recover assets already sold was illegal. “It follows that to the extent that the respondent purported or attempted to recover public property or prohibit its…

On Thursday, February 11, the family of former cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae held a funeral service for the patriarch at the Maxwell SDA Church in Nairobi. The service was attended by his family members, government representatives including Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and his health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe, top political leaders including ODM leader Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and dignitaries from the private sector. Nyachae who died on February 1, 2021, aged 89 will be buried at his Nyosia home in Kisii County on Monday. Read: Nyachae Family Moves Ex-Minister’s Funeral Service To Gusii Stadium…

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has awarded contracts to five companies to roll out telecommunications cellular mobile network infrastructure and services in 101 sub-locations across the country. The project is being implemented through the Universal Service Fund (USF) that seeks to avail communications services in underserved and underserved areas in Kenya. Safaricom PLC, Airtel Networks Kenya Ltd, American Towers Company (ATC) Kenya Operations Limited, Seal Towers Limited and Alan Dick & Company (East Africa) Limited were awarded the contract to roll out the infrastructure and services in the sub locations spread across 17 marginalized counties in Kenya. Read: Mobile…

The Grassroots Business Fund (GBF), a global impact organization that utilizes the power of blended capital to invest in traditionally under-financed businesses, has announced the spin-off of its Latin America team into a new fully-fledged unit operating as Andes Impact Partners (AIP) with its headquarters in Lima, Peru. AIP launched APF-I in November 2020 with an initial focus on Peru and Colombia and a possibility to expand to other markets in the region. The fund targets inclusive businesses that incorporate underserved, vulnerable or low-income communities in their supply chains, helping to improve incomes and the quality of life of these…

China has banned the BBC World News just a week after the UK stripped Chinese owned CGTN of its license in Britain. The Chinese National Radio and Television Administration issued a statement saying the BBC was barred from airing or broadcasting in China. According to the regulator, BBC had “seriously violated” requirements that news reporting be “true and impartial” and undermined China’s national interests and ethnic solidarity. As a result, BBC failed to meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year will be denied, it added. Read: BBC Forced To Retract Offensive…

You have probably already heard some buzz about the latest social media platform, Clubhouse. The network allows people from around the world to come together to talk, listen and learn in real-time. Clubhouse has already gained traction due to its audio style of engagement which is a first in the current social media setting. Unfortunately, the social media platform is currently operating as an invite-only network, meaning an existing user must send you an invite before you can access it. Now Facebook seems to have already set its sights on the new kid on the block. Mark Zuckerberg only recently…

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) PLC has won international contract to drill three geothermal wells in Djibouti. The company signed a Ksh709,822, 630 (USD 6,452,933) contract with Office Djiboutien De Development De lenergie Geothermique (Djiboutian Office of Geothermal Energy Development) (ODDEG). The ceremony, in Galla Le Koma, Djibouti, was attended by Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter, and KenGen Managing Director & CEO Mrs Rebecca Miano. Speaking during the event, Hon. Keter pointed out that African nations shared the common aspiration of delivering electricity to their people, which, he said, provided an opportunity to work together to meet the continent’s…

Microsoft reportedly held talks to acquire Pinterest, which is valued at $51 million. The Financial Times have reported that the talks which were held in recent months are not currently active.  This means that Microsoft failed to secure what would have been its biggest deal yet. The Tech Giant is reportedly applying the strategy in efforts to lure big online services to use its Azure Cloud services. The market is largely dominated by Amazon’s AWS services, and Microsoft could gain some customers from big names like Pinterest. Read: Google Discover Feed Reportedly Displaying Short TikTok-Style Videos Last year’s talks with…

Giant telco Safaricom has announced a Ksh18 billion dividend to investors for the financial year ended December 2020, equivalent to Ksh0.45 per share. Announcing the dividend, Safaricom cited good financial performance and the need to support investors amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The dividend will be paid on or about March 31 to shareholders on record as of March 5. “This is in recognition of the company’s solid half-year performance and to support our shareholders during these difficult economic times occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic,” the statement read in part. Read: Safaricom Announces Reduction Of M-Pesa Transaction Charges The government, which boasts…

East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) sacked the acting managing director Stephen Nthei while he was on his 40-day annual leave, Kahawa Tungu can reveal. Nthei’s 40-day annual leave started on Monday, February 8, and the board announced his replacement two days after he proceeded to his leave. This writer learns that Nthei was the casualty of a board disagreement over the sale 2,000 acres of prime but idle land in Mavoko, Machakos County, that belonged to the company. Read: Daniel Kiprono Appointed Portland Cement MD In An Acting Capacity The land worth over Ksh10 billion was to be sold in…