Author: Francis Muli

Whatsapp could soon introduce voice and video calls for its desktop version. Version 2.2043.7 of the app is said to contain an update that will place it in direct competition with video conferencing apps such as zoom and Google Meet. The update was first spotted by WABetaInfo, the official Whatsapp News website. Whatsapp’s mobile version already supports voice and video calls for a limited number of people. The number was increased from four to eight earlier this year following a huge demand for video conferencing facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic period. The new update will give users the added option…

Mwananchi Credit Limited has signed up Felix Odiwuor Kodhe, popularly known as Jalang’o, as its brand ambassador. During the tenure, Mwananchi Credit will use Jalango’s image rights as well as influencer services to grow the brand for a one-year renewable period. Mwananchi Credit Ltd is famed for growing from a one-man lending shop with a loan book of only Ksh30,000 to a leading logbook and civil servants loans provider in Kenya with over seven branches and 200 employees. “With a big dream, we simply discovered that there was an opportunity for a fairly priced micro-lending platform for the masses who struggled to…

Sweden is the latest country to ban Huawei and ZTE telecoms from its 5G network. The ban follows a new legislation that came into force in January 2020 after an examination by the Swedish Armed forces and security service “to ensure that the use of radio equipment in these bands does not cause harm to Sweden’s security” The swedish telecoms regulator cited security issues in its ban which was announced in a statement. Huawei, the market leader in 5G networks and ZTE are expected to remove their existing installations in the country by January 1, 2025. Strained relations between the…

The US Justice Department has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Google in what is considered a landmark case against tech companies. Google is accused of “unlawfully maintaining monopolies in the markets for general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising in the United States.” The suit seeks to restrain Google and effect remedies for the damages caused by its conduct so far. Among the solutions being sought include fines, enforcing a divestment, or enforcing a change in business practices, or all of them. The suit comes after a year long investigation of Google, where the tech giant is…

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have today received the final draft of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report in Kisii State Lodge, setting stage for a constitutional referendum. The report recommends a raft of changes to the 2010 Constitution, aimed curbing pertinent issues including post-election violence, inclusivity and corruption. The report proposes formation of a youth commission to address issues affecting young people, including increasing grace period for HELB repayment to four years. In the proposals, political parties will access money from party fund on the basis of inclusivity of women, youth people with disabilities. If passed,…

The Equity Group is embroiled in a Ksh800 million tax tussle with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over transfer of assets to Equity Bank. In a case filed in the High Court, KRA says that the money entails capital gains tax from asset transfers that it says were completed in January 14, 2015. However, Equity Group argues that KRA affixed the date of transfer and tax demand wrongly on the alleged transfer of assets worth Ksh34 billion. “It is a common ground that the transaction involved the transfer of the banking business from the respondent (Equity Group Limited) to a…

The final draft of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report could be unveiled today in Kisii at the Kisii State Lodge by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Speaking at the Mashujaa Day Celebrations in Kisii on Tuesday, the Head of State dismissed claims by his deputy William Ruto and his Tanga Tanga allies that the anticipated BBI constitutional reforms are meant to create positions for individuals. The President stated that the reforms will help the country among others deal with chaos and violence that have become common after every General Election. This, he said, will be achieved by…

President Uhuru Kenyatta in his Mashujaa Day Speech today congratulated the youth for their innovative abilities which are helping to solve the country’s problems. Speaking at the event in Gusii Stadium, the President outlined the tranformative programmes and projects that the youth have undertaken. He said it was a good starting point for young people to look for a problem and solve it. President Kenyatta mentioned projects in the recent exhibition at attended at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani, Taita Taveta County. The exhibition showcased geospatial, airborne geophysical, cyber and national security industrialization projects. Read:…

NRG Radio presenter Rachel Muthoni Njeru popularly known as Mwalimu Rachel now says she asked for Ksh1.5 million from Sailors Gang new producer for their Youtube channel and not the singers. In a post on her management company website, Mwalimu Rachel says that the Gengeton singers who are under her management bypassed her to sign a contract with a new producer, which she had negotiated. According to her, she had promoted them and even uploaded their first hit, Wamlambez, on her Youtube Channel on April 5, 2019, before starting Sailors official Youtube Channel on July 17, 2019. “On 5th April…

Revisiting Kenya’s history as early as 1800s to the latest, President Uhuru Kenyatta outlined the milestones achieved by the country’s heroes, both locally and internationally, in his Mashujaa Day Celebrations speech. The President outlined the struggle for a better Kenya including changes in Constitution and the sacrifices made to date. “Our founding fathers and our constitutional heroes did not intend our constitutional order to enslave us. They constructed it to serve us, and when it ceases to serve us we are meant to rethink it,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta. The President, talking about the impending constitutional change through the Building…

Deputy President Dr William Ruto played a ceremonial role in Kisii during the 11th Mashujaa Day Celebrations, even as he delivered an ’empty’ speech before welcoming the President. Ruto who spoke after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga seemingly had not prepared a speech for the celebrations, or maybe abandoned his speech for  reasons only known to him, after Mr Odinga’s speech. Mr Odinga’s speech was full of history, recognising Kenya’s heroes from the Abagusii community, and it was expected that Ruto would follow suit or even do more. Ruto talked about heroes from the community such as Otenyo Nyamanteri who…

South Africa is now targeting licence fees from users who watch Netfix in the country. The South African Broadcasting Corporation has proposed that a regulation be implemented to expand the definition of a TV Licence to include streaming services such as Netflix. Deputy Communications Minister Pinky Kekana presented SABC’s proposal to the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee. The leading broadcaster argued that the expanded definition of a TV licence currently in use is outdated and needs to be amended to reflect the current situation. SABC said that the proposed regulation would see Pay-TV service providers such as Multichoice (DSTv) and streaming services…

Kenyan TV series Monica premiered on Showmax in 2019 and became an instant hit among fans. Brenda Wairimu’s was praised for her unlikely “fish-out-of-water” role as a girl from the ghetto who cons her way to a better life. Four months later, Monica was nominated for Best TV Drama and Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama (for Brenda Wairimu) at the 2019 Kalasha Awards. Now the drama series, which was first released in 2018, is getting a third season which will premiere first on Showmax in early 2021. Currently in production, Monica follows Brenda Wairimu (Subira, Disconnect) in the…

It was more of a business relationship rather than a helping hand, NRG Radio presenter Rachel Muthoni Njeru popularly known as Mwalimu Rachel has insinuated in her recent tweets over strained relationship with Sailors Gang. Over the weekend, it was reported that Mwalimu Rachel, who has been the singing gang’s manager, denied them access to their Youtube Channel, allegedly demanding Ksh1.5 million from them. Consequently, Sailors were forced to release their new hit in a different Youtube account, as they abandoned their original account which has over 100,000 subscribers. The account is in the hands of Mwalimu Rachel. Mwalimu Rachel…

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi walked out of a council meeting that was meant to decide the fate of troubled CEO Mercy Wambua on October 19, Kahawa Tungu can authoritatively report. According to inside sources, Havi vowed to write Ms Wambua’s judgement alone, even as it seemed that the council members had decided to reinstate her following a disciplinary case that saw her suspended. Before Havi could write and make public his judgement, the council had its judgement ready and shared with the media, in an event that the President was conspicuously missing. In the statement, the…