Author: Francis Muli

Whatsapp has moved to reassure users by explaining in detail how the recent update on their privacy policy will affect them. The app has received global criticism after it emerged that users had to either accept the app or delete their Whatsapp accounts. Alternative messaging apps, Telegram and Signal have reveled in the backlash towards Whatsapp, creating memes and crafting messages to attract users who have been downloading the apps in droves. Both apps have seen a surge in user registration and have consistently highlighted the need for a more secure messaging app. The calls and backlash have prompted Whatsapp…

Benson Wairegi, the chief executive officer for Britam has extended his stay in office beyond his retirement date, which was set for December 31, 2020. The company is yet to announce a new CEO close to two weeks after the date that was announced last year. Reports by Business Daily indicate that the CEO, who has served the company for 40 years, has extended his stay in office “to offer continuity and smooth transition to a new leader”. “Mr Wairegi is still in office. At the appropriate time, the board will announce the new CEO,” Business Daily quoted a source.…

The State is seeking to amend the law to make a provision that will make Annual General Meetings (AGMs) options. If the MPs approve the amendments to the Companies Act 2015, companies will have the option of holding virtual, physical or hybrid AGMs. The Bill found under section 14,  of the Act, is titled The Business Laws (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2020. It says: “Section 3 of the Companies Act is amended — (a) in the definition of the term “general meeting” by inserting the words “which may be a physical, virtual or hybrid meeting’ immediately after the words “general…

The Inspector General (IG) of police Hillary Mutyambai, Attorney General (AG) Kihara Kariuki and Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) George Kinoti were conspicuously missing from retired Chief Justice David Maraga’s last event. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji was also missing in the event. As a sign of co-operation and goodwill, it is expected that the heads of the aforementioned state agencies should have either attended the event or sent representatives. Maraga handed over the instruments of power on Monday to Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu on Monday, January 11, 2021 bringing to an end his tumultuous reign…

Kenya’s official registry of the .ke domain on Jan 11 morning announced that there was an issue affecting connectivity to its network. Users who tried to access any website with .co.ke or .ke domain were not able to access the sites. KENIC announced on their twitter page that was an issue affecting their network. “We would like to notify you of intermittent connectivity to KENIC’s network. Our technical team is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. We will keep you updated as soon as the issue is resolved.” Read: How .Ke Domain Providers, KeNIC Swindled Unsuspecting Buyers…

Facebook has reportedly shut down accounts belonging to people affiliated to Uganda’s Ruling Party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. The accounts belonging to at least 50 officials have been shut down just a few days before Uganda goes to the polls. “This month (January), we shut down a network of accounts and pages in Uganda that were involved in + coordinated inauthentic behavior + aimed at influencing public debate ahead of the election,” Kezia Anim-Addo, Facebook communications manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, told AFP. “They were using fake or duplicate accounts to manage pages, commenting on other people’s content, posing…

Kenya’s public debt will surpass the Ksh10 trillion mark, following the government’s move to agree to include parastatal debts to the public debt. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had required that the government include parastatal and county loans as part of the country’s national debt. Cumulatively, parastatals and counties loans amount to Ksh3.4 trillion, which will be added to the country’s debt of over Ksh7 trillion. “The authorities noted the importance of expanding debt coverage to include counties, a non-guaranteed debt contracted by the extra-budgetary units, and State-owned Enterprises (SOEs). They planned to take a gradual approach to monitoring contingent…

A spooky demonic game by the name “Charlie charlie’ has taken the internet by storm and now every social media platform has people participating in the challenge. The game entails balancing two pencils or pens across each other on a piece of paper marked ‘yes’ and ‘no’ and calling out for the demon. The creepy part is that the pen then makes a movement pointing to acknowledge that Charlie is there. The creepy game first appeared online in 2015 when it trended on Twitter after players reported being haunted by the mysterious demon. Rumours have since been going round that…

Multiple Hauliers, the company that owns Porsche Centre Nairobi has lost dealership for the luxury Germany car, Porsche. The contract termination will be effected end of January 2021, and the Porsche Centre Nairobi will completely seize from offering parts and service to clients in March 2021. Porsche AG, which owns the franchise, is expected to transfer the dealership to a new entrant in the market, which has been shaky due to the reduced demand of luxury cars. The dealership sold 125 units within the first eight months after the franchise was opened in 2014. Cayenne brand received the highest orders…

Microsoft is set to unveil new updates on Teams to improve the experience for users working from home. One of the most notable features is the ‘Dynamic view’, which is designed to help users stay focused by allowing side by side views of the participants and the presentation. The feature also allows you to customize how the information will be displayed on your screen. Instead of searching for participants, you can pin the people you want to keep track of  on your screen. The Dynamic View will also allow you to see when someone starts participating and when they raise…

Milele FM presenter Alex Mwakideu  and former co-host Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o have hinted at a radio reunion this year. Mwakideu and Jalang’o worked as co-hosts in the #AlexNaJalas morning show at Radio Maisha and Milele FM, before going seperate ways last year after the latter faced differences withhis employer, the Mediamax Network Limited. in an Instagram post, Mwakideu posted a banner written “Alex na Jalas, captioned “The time is now! Cc @jalangoo”. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ22oDyBfZL/ On his side, Jalang’o posted the same banner, captioned “New year…New Things!! #AlexNaJalas” https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ22VWPna_3/ Read: Jalang’o Among Those Fired From Mediamax, Claims He Resigned Jalang’o was fired…

Impeached Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has announced that he is taking a 10-year sabbatical from politics, and is ready to withdraw case challenging Nairobi gubernatorial election. Speaking on Saturday in Makueni County, Sonko said that “Nairobi is bigger than one person”, urging authorities to allow the by-election to go on instead of vetting his nominee for deputy governor Ann Kananu Mwenda. “I will stay away from politics for 10 years since people say God’s time is the best. Even when Uhuru failed in 2002 he waited until 2013. Nairobi is bigger than anyone. Because Nairobi is big and it needs…

Search efforts for missing Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 that crashed in Indonesia have resulted into recovery of human body parts and a bag belonging to a passenger, the authorities have said. According to reports by AFP, flotilla of warships, helicopters and divers were deployed off the Java Sea Coast in rescue efforts. The plane took a nosedive just four minutes after take-off from the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Jakarta on Saturday. “As of this morning, we’ve received two (body) bags, one with passenger belongings and the other with body parts,” Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus said. Read: Indonesia’s Sriwijaya Flight Loses…

A Sriwijaya Airflight #SJ182 has reportedly lost contact after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia today. The budget airline released a statement saying “the Boeing 737-500 was on an estimated 90 minute flight from Jakarta to Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province on Indonesia’s Borneo Island.” The flight had a total of 60 passengers aboard: 56 passengers, among them seven children and six crew members. Read: Passengers Recount New Protocols As Domestic Flights Resume “The missing plane is currently under investigation and under coordination with the National Search and Rescue Agency and The National transportation Safety Committee,” Indonesian Transportation Ministry…

Kenya will start verifying Covid-19 certificates using an electronic system effective January 11.  The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mutahi Kagwe said the ministry has rolled out the system which will be used to authenticate certificates at the country’s border points. “I, therefore, wish to notify travelers to first visit an authorized laboratory to take an RT PCR COVID – 19 test and be issued with Trusted Travel ( TT ) codes that can be verified by airlines and Port Health authorities,” he said. “In-bound travelers from countries yet to onboard to the Trusted Travel Initiative will use a tool made…