Author: Francis Muli

Google People cards now allows users to add their profile to be found on the Google search engine. You can add your name, what you do,phone contact, social media profiles, email and more. Google Profile Cards has been available in India, and is now live in Kenya and the rest of Africa. “For those without a formal website, or for people who share a name with many others, this is an easy way to create or distinguish their presence on Search,” Oluminde Bologun, Head of Consumer Apps, Sub Saharan Africa at Google said. Read: How to Export your Google Photos…

Deputy President William Ruto now says the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process has no legal framework, just a day after he urged the undertakers of the process to consider his views. Speaking to Citizen TV on Thursday night, Ruto faulted the BBI task force, saying that it was not meant to amend the Constitution. “The manner in which this process has been conducted has no legal framework. Fortunately, there are people who are listening and some concerns raised have been taken on board. We are all in this process. At some point it will become clear…We do not have a…

Alphabet’s Project Loon Helium Balloons in Kenya have gotten a new software to run its navigation system using Artificial Intelligence. The software will use a set of written and executed algorithms deeply reinforcing a learning based flight control system that is said to be more effective than the older human-made algorithm. The system is already operational in the Kenya’s Project Loon fleet of Balloons. Loon first launched commercial internet services in Kenya, after running a series of tests. The project aims to connect internet to people living in underserved areas in the country. Read: Scare as Google Internet Balloon Fall…

Tanzanian artiste,  Naseeb Abdul, otherwise known as Diamond Platnumz, continues to set standards in the African Music Industry after his latest song, “Waah” a collaboration with Popular Congolese musician Koffi Olomide, hit one million views within 8 hours of its release. Diamond broke the record previously set by Nigerian artiste Davido when he released his song “Fem” in January. The song garnered one million views within nine hours of its release, a first for an African artiste, at the time. Diamond has been flying high on YouTube, after he recently achieved yet another feat by being the first artiste in…

Just one month after it was registered, Shop ‘N’ Buy was among the companies that won multi-billion tenders from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA). Shop ‘N’ Buy was registered on February 14 with James Cheluley listed as the sole director for the firm. A day after Cheluley visited KEMSA and asked to supply the agency with PPEs in the wake of Covid-19, the firm was awarded a Ksh1 billion tender. Appearing before the Senate Health Committee, Cheluley said that he had not done any business with KEMSA before. He says that he learned that the agency needed the items…

The Kenya Revenue Authority has updated its iTax system in preparation for digital tax payments which will commence in January. KRA will start taxing individuals and firms operating in the digital marketplace using the fully integrated and automated iTax system which replaced the Integrated Tax Management System. The automated iTax system will increase revenue collection by shortening the time taken to file returns. The iTax portal will enable users file their PAYE, VAT, Corporate Tax, Partnership Tax Returns and Excise Duty. Read: KRA To Start Collecting Tax From Google, Netflix And Other Online Businesses From January Digital services will attract…

The government will now require professionals working in Kenya’s ICT sector to register their services so as to continue practicing. A new Information and Communication Technology Practitioners Bill 2021 outlines the requirements which are bound to increase the burden of compliance to operate in the fast-growing sector. “Every person eligible to be registered as an ICT practitioner may apply in the prescribed form to the Registrar for registration in the register, and every such application shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee,” reads the bill in part. Read: Government Orders Training on Safe Internet Use to Reduce Cyber Vices The…

A company in Russia has developed a productivity software called MyOffice, which will help African governments keep their data within the borders. MyOffice is a productivity software designed in a way that competes with Microsoft’ Office 365. The small Russian company is targeting 26 African countries and has already struck deals with governments in Cameroon, Burundi and Congo. Read: Microsoft To End Support For Internet Explorer in 2021 MyOffice is considered much cheaper than Microsoft Office 365, but also offers the additional advantage of storing data right in the confines of the continent. Cameroon got 500 free MyOffice licences and…

Netflix has partnered with a British firm to label all its content with age ratings generated by an algorithm. The British Board Film Classification, which also rates films in Cinemas, worked with Netflix to develop the technology. The age ratings will help parents manage their children’s profiles better, as they can now filter out inappropriate content. The British government welcomed the move, saying it will would aid in efforts to protect children against online harm. Read: Netflix to Cancel Dormant Subscriptions Digital and Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage said: “This government is committed to ensuring new technology is safe for everyone…

If you are a supporter of Deputy President William Ruto and hoping that he’ll take a substantive position on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional amendment proposals, then you’ll be disappointed. Addressing journalists today alongside a number of MPs, Ruto remained adamant that he wanted a consensus on some issues, but remained non-committal in either supporting of opposing the Bill which has already been published. Despite several journalists pushing him to come clear on whether he’ll support or oppose the BBI if the secretariat ignored his proposals, Ruto gave the questions a wide berth, at some point warning the journalists…

Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, Innovation and Youth Affairs is working together with the Communication Authority to build capacity, awareness and publicity around the country’s Online Child Protection Policy. Principal Secretary, Mr Jerome Ochieng said: “Online child protection has become of great importance. We are working together with the Communication Authority and our main objective is to ensure that we continue to build capacity, awareness creation and publicity.” Mr Ochieng pointed out that as the country continues to have more applications online, increase its ICT infrastructure and improve on the digital space, the biggest emerging threat is cybersecurity. “We need…

At least 488 units of affordable houses have been completed, inspected and handed over to the government. The government has now started allocating the housing units located along Park Road in Ngara, and the sale will be closed at the end of this week. “For all those who have registered on BomaYangu and have chosen Park Road specifically as your preferred scheme, kindly note we are closing the sale this coming week,” said Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga. One-bedroom unit will go for Ksh1 million, two bedrooms for Ksh2 million and a three-bedroom unit for Ksh3…

US President-elect Joe Biden has been urged to reject the influence of Big Tech companies on his administration. 32 antitrust, consumer advocacy, labor and related groups said this in a letter. Reuters reported this month that a majority of the people on Biden’s transition team were executives from technology companies, with just a few of them being outspoken tech critics. This cast doubts on who would have more influence in the administration moving forward. The groups urged the President-elect to exclude executives, lobbyists and consultants who work with or for the Tech giants; Facebook Inc, Amazon Inc, Google, Apple Inc…

The National Treasury has not yet released funds to the 290 constituencies since the beginning of the current financial year, it has emerged. This has led to the suspension of  multi-billion shillings National Government Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF) projects countrywide. Ksh41.7 billion had been allocated to the NG-CDF in the 2020/2021 fiscal year, and by now the constituencies should have received at least Ksh20.85 billion. Addressing the matter with Treasury Principal Secretary Julius Muia, the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said that implementation of projects such as roads, schools and health facilities were stalling for lack of the money.…

Facebook’s oversight Board has already received its first batch of cases for their review. All the cases involve posts that had originally been recommended for removal by the social media network. Since the Oversight board started operations in October, about 20,000 incidents have been forwarded to them for review. Among the first cases chosen for arbitration: A post about breast cancer, showing female breasts, and an image of a dead child on a post questioning the retaliation against China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims. Read: Facebook Appoints Maina Kiai as a Member in Oversight Board The oversight board is…