Author: Francis Muli

YouTube has started rolling out its short video making tool “YouTube Shorts” to compete with the popular Chinese app, TikTok. Creation of the video making tool was announced a few months ago and now, the beta version is being rolled out in India. “We’re excited to announce that we are building YouTube Shorts, a new short-form video experience right on YouTube for creators and artists who want to shoot short, catchy videos using nothing but their mobile phones.” YouTube announced in a blog post. Shorts operates a bit like TikTok, and will allow users to create short 15 second long…

Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has recommended the expulsion of Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) managing director Steven Maina Githaiga for lying about his date of birth. In a letter dated September 10, 2020, EACC CEO Twalib says that Mr Githaiga was first registered in 1979 and issued with a National Identity Card No. 1901968 indicating his year of birth as 1953. However, in 2015, Mr Githaiga applied for change of his date of birth on his National Identity Card from October 20, 1953 to October 20, 1958. “This change was approved by National Registration Bureau on the…

Google has partnered with Safaricom and Equity Bank to create free websites and online profiles for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in a bid to increase exposure for their businesses across the globe. The Google-led project dubbed “Getting Kenyan Businesses Online (GKBO)” seeks to get more businesses online in a region where many business owners still think that going online is difficult and complicated. To get started, business owners will be required to log onto www.kbo.co.ke and fill in their details to create a free website. Google will provide the necessary assistance to get businesses online for free. Read…

Facebook Messenger has added a joint video viewing feature on the app. Dubbed “Watch Together” the feature allows you to view videos on Facebook Watch while you see live videos from your friends. The feature is rolling out today on Android and iOS. To use the feature, you have to be in a messenger room or video call, swipe up on a video call or Messenger Room and tap the new Watch Together option. Facebook will offer video suggestions for you to watch together, or you can check through the categories or search for a specific video. The feature allows…

The price of a litre of Super Petrol has gone up by Ksh1.48 while that of Diesel and Kerosene has gone down by Ksh0.12 and Ksh0.50 per litre respectively. A litre of Super Petrol in Nairobi will now retail at Ksh105.43, Diesel at Ksh94.51 and Kerosene at Ksh80.78. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) says that the average landed cost of imported Super Petrol increased by 2.65 percent from US$ 319.23 per cubic metre in July 2020 to US$ 327.69 per cubic metre in August 2020. “The prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (Via) in line…

Hewlett Packard (HP) closed its operations in East Africa last week leaving hundreds jobless. The company left a number of its partners without a business citing “internal re-organization” plans. Reports emerging indicate that the environment had become tougher for HP’s scope of business driving its operations to dormancy. HP is said to have been operating as a shell company for many years and was hit hard by counterfeits and weighed down by the Kenya’s unfriendly tax laws. The company held its annual GM earlier in September where they resolved to close its business in the region. The notice to wind…

The number of businesses on Lipa na M-Pesa platform has crossed the 200,000 mark, Safaricom has said. This makes the platform, which was launched in 2012, arguably the most preferred alternative to cash especially during the Covid-19 pandemic period. The service caters for businesses by providing higher transaction and account limits, more secure payments and easy integration with business systems and other financial services. “The mobile phone has today become the most preferred alternative to cash and its popularity only continues to grow. More than ever, an increasing number of businesses are discovering the numerous advantages of cashless payments resulting…

Apple is expected to unveil new products and speculations are rife that the Apple Watch 6 and iPad Air 4 will be in the line up in its digital event slated for September 15. Apple earlier announced that it would unveil its 5G iPhone 12 a few weeks later than usual this year. Usually, the company unveils its iPhone in September, meaning that it might not be among the products slated in tomorrow’s unveiling. According to Bloomberg, the iPhone might not be released until October. In typical style, the company does not mention what it intends to reveal during the…

Virtual Influencers or Robots are the next generation brand ambassadors already in use by some of the biggest corporate companies. As they become more popular, there is also a need for virtual modelling agencies. 16-year-old Lucas Klubb identified this need and with a creative mind and graphic design skills, he founded Klubb visuals to provide online marketing solutions for brands. He has a passion for graphic design in its 2D and 3D forms. Lucas has gravitation to filter-making, CGI avatar creation, and commercial graphic design. Klubb says he works with 3D avatar visuals, which are the most popular as well…

Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi has been taken to court for allegedly grabbing a three-acre land in Muthaiga, Nairobi, belonging to a private company. According to Mount Pleasant Ltd, the Equity Bank executive used the police to trespass into the property, that he has laid claim. It is alleged that that on June 15, 2020, Mwangi went to the piece of land with police officers, kicked out the guards and installed his own. According to Mount Pleasant Ltd, the property registered under Land Reference No 214/20/2 was bough from former finance minister Arthur Magugu and his wife Margaret Wairimu at…

Oracle has won a deal that will see it manage TikTok’s US operations. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the company has been selected as a ‘trusted tech partner’ as opposed to acquiring the company’s US operations in full. The deal will reportedly see Oracle help TikTok run the US operations using their own cloud technology. Details of the deal have just emerged after Microsoft announced that it was no longer acquiring TikTok after ByteDance rejected their offer. Microsoft was considered the frontrunner in the acquisition of the Chinese owned company after they started their negotiations way before US…

Huawei Technologies has collaborated with Education for All Foundation, UNCESCO & UNICEF on raising social awareness on the importance of safeguard education in armed conflict across the world. In Kenya, Huawei has been lighting up its office building in white color from September 8 to 10 in response to the September 9 UN International Day to Protect Education from Attack. Huawei has always been attaching great importance to boost education wherever it operates. As Huawei’s CEO, Ren Zhengfei, emphasized, strong education is the foundation of a country’s prosperous future. Huawei strongly supports this international day to draw more international attention to…

Deputy President William Ruto has told off critics, saying that intimidations and threats will not deter him from running for the top seat. Speaking in a church function in Kitengela, Ruto said that he was ready to face the alleged ‘Deep State’ and the ‘System’. “Threats and intimidations will not deter my quest for the top seat. I am ready to face the ‘deep state.’ They have the deep state and the system, we have God and wananchi,” Ruto said. Ruto also urged leaders to preach peace and focus on uniting the country rather than dividing the country on ethnic…

Diamond Platnumz’s radio station Wasafi FM has been shut down for one week for airing explicit content. Tanzanian Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) said that the station violated communication regulations by airing offensive language. Wasafi FM In a statement apologised to TCRA and Tanzanians for using inappropriate language in their shows ‘Switch’ and ‘Mashamsham’. “In line with the TCRA directive, the management of Wasafi FM would like to apologise to TCRA and Tanzanians for using inappropriate language in our shows ‘Switch’ and ‘Mashamsham’ in violation of the communications act. We humbly accept the penalty from TCRA and sincerely apologize. We will…

Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi has surrendered to the police at Langas Police Station in Eldoret. Sudi had allegedly gone into hiding after police camped in his home last night seeking to arrest him over hate speech and incitement remarks. “As a law abiding citizen I have presented myself at Langas Police Station early this morning even before the officers arrive. It was unnecessary to be treated with a lot of drama by sending contingent of police officers to my home. I was away the time police arrived at my place. Thank you all for standing with me,” he posted on…