Author: Francis Muli

Whatsapp is rolling out its latest update to the app with improved wallpapers and stickers. “Make your chats personal and distinguishable by using a custom wallpaper for your most important chats and favorite people, and you never need worry about sending the wrong message in the wrong chat ever again,” Facebook said in an email sent to The Verge. The app will allow users have custom wallpapers for every chat with a choice for different wallpapers on light mode and dark mode. Read: Whatsapp Announces New Features For Business “Watch your chat wallpaper automatically transition as your phone device setting…

The Employment and Labor Relations court has ordered the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi not to hold a special AGM to eject embattled CEO Mercy Wambua. Ms Wambua had gone to court to have the meeting which had been slated for Saturday stopped, arguing that the move would violate her rights. Havi had written to Wambua’s deputy to organise the meeting, among the agenda being commencement of recruitment for Wambua’s replacement. An interparties hearing for the case is slated for December 4. Ms Wambua was first suspended in September on claims of gross misconduct and abuse of…

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) is planning to introduce a digital platform to keep commuters informed regarding pick-up and drop-off timings for the last mile buses. The Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) vehicles are available for commuters to complete the last mile into the City Centre and for those who wish to be ferried to their respective termini to board their respective matatus. The electronic system will be integrated in the termini outside the City Centre to alert users of the Last mile buses’ expected timings at the different stages. Read: Matatus To No Longer Access CBD Starting November -NMS NMS…

Facebook has completed a deal to acquire customer relationship management start up, Kustomer. Facebook did not disclose the value of the deal, but the WallStreet Journal placed the deal at a little over $1 billion. Kustomer is a New York Based start up that was founded in 2015. Kustomer uses a software that creates a single screen interface for businesses to engage its customers online. It also allows for automated conversations using Chat bots. The CRM tools will help Facebook manage interactions with customers through the phone, email, text or direct messages in specific apps including Whatsapp and Messenger. Read:…

The cost of living in November shot to a seven-month high of 5.46 per cent from 4.84 per cent in October. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the inflation was hinged to higher food costs, even as businesses recover from the effects of Covid-19. “This was a net effect of increase in prices of several food items which outweighed decreases in the prices of others,” said KNBS. Among the food items whose costs increased include milk with a 500 milliliters pack being priced at Ksh49 from Ksh48 last month. A kilo of tomatoes retailed at an average…

Nokia has partnered with Airtel in a three year deal that will see them equip the city with high speed 4G and 5G hardware. The project which took off in June is expected to cover multiple sites with plans to upgrade the existing 2G, 3G and 4G radio access network (RAN) coverage in semi-urban and urban areas as well as the highways. Also targeted are the Central business districts in Nairobi and the rest of Kenya. “We are excited to partner with Nokia on this project. Its technology portfolio improves our network quality considerably and also allows us to move…

A Chinese contractor, China City construction Group Co. Ltd has been accused of disregarding environmental safety measures in Isebania. The company has been hired in the construction of Ahero-Isebania road, but has in several instances exposed the residents to danger in its works. One of the residents who spoke to Kahawa Tungu says that the company is currently doing excavation works of murram in Nyakach sub county with great impunity at the cost of the locals. “My house is less than two metres from where they excavate as opposed to various NEMA acts. Heavy machines involving trucks ,tractors and bulldozers…

Italy has fined Apple $12 million (about Sh1.3 billion) for misleading its buyers about the iPhone’s waterproof feature. Reuters has reported that the Italian Competition Authority, Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGSM) imposed the fine for false reports by the company which affected the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus models. Apple was accused of not being clear about the iPhone’s water resistant claims. According to a press release by the AGSM, Apple said that the iPhones are water resistant for up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to 4 meters. Read: Apple Unveils iPhone 12…

When Uber first made its debut in Kenya in 2016, city dwellers were elated. Taxis were now more accessible, orderly, clean and affordable. Riders embraced the changes in the industry that previously decried rogue and expensive trips. Your taxi driver now smelt fresh, greeted you with a smile and played your favourite music as he meandered through the Nairobi streets with utmost decorum. Taxi drivers who had been in the Industry were not quite welcoming. As riders celebrated affordable prices, seasoned drivers decried reduced profits. Here was a new company, signing up new drivers with a whole list of demandst…

Kenya recorded six million cyber attacks targeting both private and government institutions in 2019, the annual report tabled in parliament says. According to the report which explores the state of National Security, the cyber crimes reported include cases of SIM Swapping, hacking incidents, Insider threats, identity theft and Web Application attacks. Most of the crimes were committed with an intent for financial gain. The report further says that Cyber crimes are common in key government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), saving and credit cooperative societies, banks and telecommunications service providers. Read: Maraga Warns Of Surge In Cyber-Crime Cases Due To…

The NCBA Group has issued a profit warning to its investors, meaning its profits will dip by more than 25 percent in 2020, as compared to 2019. This is the first time the lender is issuing a profit warning since the merger between NIC and CBA Banks was finalised. In a statement, the lender attributes the fall to increasing rates of impairments due to delayed repayments and on assessment of additional stress that could emerge due to Covid-19. “The Group will continue to take a conservative provisioning outlook. The earnings for the current financial year are expected to be substantially…

Mobile operators have raised concerns over some proposals in the Frequency Spectrum Management Guidelines 2020 by the Communications Authority (CA) The proposals include setting aside spectrum for use by the national and county governments; and additional penalties to service providers in cases of interference and under-utilization. Service providers are also in dispute with the proposal to have some operators exempted from paying spectrum fees that could run into billions of shillings. Read: CA Exposes Debt That Led To Telkom Transmitters Being Switched Off, Eaton Towers Ordered To Restore Services Spectrum fees are paid by operators to allow them occupy specific…

Lenders will resume listing loan defaulters with Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs) in January, following the expiry of grace period ordered by the government in March due to Covid-19. Data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows that non-performing loans (NPLs) rose to Ksh403.9 billion in October, up from Ksh349.9 billion at the end February. Since March,  workers and businesses have defaulted on loans worth Ksh53.95 billion, according to CBK. “NPL increases were noted in the transport and communication, energy and water, tourism, restaurants and hotels and real estate sectors, mainly due to disruptions of the businesses. The increases in…

Even as the Ugandan campaigns for January 14, 2021 elections reach a crescendo, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s government seems to be doing away with any dissenting voices through frustrations. The latest to face Museveni’s wrath was Isaack Otieno Okero, a Kenyan national who had gone to Uganda as an election observer representing the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). IFES is a US-based NGO that engages in advancement of democracy. Mr Okero was staying in Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, and had stayed there for two weeks, when he was informed that he had visitors. The visitors, he was informed by…

Somalia has recalled its ambassador to Kenya Mohamud Ahmed Nur and sent away Kenya’s ambassador to Somalia Mr Lucas Tumbo “for consultations”. In a statement, Somalia accused Kenya of infringing its sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The Federal Government of Somalia notes the Kenyan government’s attempt to infringe upon the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia and hereby expresses its deep regret with the Kenyan government’s continuous interferences in the internal and political affairs of Somalia,” the statement read in part. “Therefore, the Federal Government of Somalia summons its Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya and instructs the…