Author: Francis Muli

Whatsapp has introduced a feature that will allow users to check the contents of viral messages in its latest efforts to curb the spread of misinformation. The Facebook-owned messaging platform is piloting the feature in six countries from this week. Users will now be able to conduct a Google search on forwarded content to fact check information and claims contained therein. The fact-check will be made possible by a magnifying glass that has been added next to messages forwarded through chains of five or more people. Tapping the icon will commence a Google search of the message contents, with the…

Samsung Electronics has launched the Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the most powerful Note series yet. In its Galaxy Unpacked virtual event livestreamed from Korea, Samsung also launched Tab S7 and S7+, versatile tablets for productivity and creativity; Galaxy Watch3, a premium smartwatch along with advanced health features; Galaxy Buds Live, stylish and ergonomic earbuds with amazing sound quality; and Galaxy Z Fold2, the next generation foldable smartphone with enhanced refinements. The Galaxy Note20 series comes in two versions: Galaxy Note20 Ultra, designed for Note fans who demand the ultimate in power and productivity, and Galaxy Note20, for broader…

Health workers in Kiambu, Busia and Migori counties have received personal protective equipment worth Ksh7.5 million from the M-Pesa Foundation as part of an ongoing effort to distribute PPE’s to seven counties. Each of the three counties received N95masks, gowns and googles which are essential items in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 among health care workers. “Being on the front line, health workers are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. This is why as M-Pesa Foundation, we partnered with KMPDU to supplement governments efforts in sufficiently equipping health workers with the necessary PPE’s as they work to save lives,”…

This is a fight that Kenya must win. We must be transparent so that when you do your business… your business succeeds not on the basis of who you know but how you do your business. These were the exact words of President Uhuru Kenyatta in May 2019, as he declared intensified fight against corruption. A year and two months after the promise, corruption seems to be the order of the day, not only in the state house but also deeply rooted in the first family and the President’s closest friends. The recent revelations of the rot in the Ministry…

MTN Group is seeking to sell part or all of its $243 million stake in Jumia Technologies. The biggest African wireless carrier is looking to pay down debt through the sale and enter into new markets, according to sources familiar with the matter. MTN had previously marked Jumia as a non-core business but has revived plans for a sale after Jumia’s shares surged 142 per cent this year, recovering from a dip in 2019. The sources, who requested anonymity, intimated that no final decisions have been made regarding the matter. Jumia, dubbed ‘ Africa’s Amazon’ operates in 14 countries including…

Hosea Kiplagat, a Moi-era politician now risks losing his Karen home over a Ksh378 million debt owed to the Bank of India. Kiplagat, also a former chairman of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, is said to have guaranteed two firms, Eldoret Concrete Poles Limited and Timber Treatment Limited to take the loan on May 14, 2018. Debt recovery firm Garam Investments has announced the auction for Kiplagat’s home between August 25 and August 28, amid a court order temporarily freezing the sale of the home. “It is developed with a three-bedroom (master ensuite) main house complex, son’s two-bedroom guesthouse (one…

Instagram Reels, Facebook’s attempt to challenge TikTok has launched in over 50 countries including the US, Brazil, India, France, Germany Australia, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, UK and several others. The feature is available on both Android and iOS. The plans to launch Reels have been on track way before TikTok’s current problems in the US that have cast uncertainty on its future. Instagram is determined to lure some of TikTok’s creators with the launch of Reels. Reels is a video editing tool designed to let Instagram users create short TikTok style videos lasting 15 seconds to be shared on stories, feed,…

Shoprite has announced plans to close City Mall branch in Nyali, Mombasa, a move that will see at least 115 workers rendered jobless. In a notice to the Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFW), Shoprite said that the branch is no longer viable due to reduced customer footfalls. “Endeavour to continue trading at the Nyali branch is no longer viable. Financial and other data will be provided and discussed at a proposed meeting. It is contemplated that the intended date of termination on account of redundancy will be August 31, 2020. There are currently 115 persons employed…

Airtel and Telkom Kenya have dropped the merger talks after facing headwinds in obtaining approvals from the authorities, which they have been pursuing since last year. In a statement, Telkom Kenya said tha move was a result of “challenges experienced in getting all the approvals required to complete the transaction” and is now “evaluating alternative strategic options”. “After carefully reviewing the available options, Telkom has opted to adopt an alternative strategic direction and will no longer be pursuing the proposed joint venture transaction. This decision has been mutually agreed with Airtel Networks Kenya Limited<‘ Telkom said in a statement. On…

Over 5,500 frontline healthcare workers will continue receiving monthly communication bundles following Safaricom’s move to extend the communication support that was provided for three months from April 2020. The initiative will see an equivalent of 195 Terabytes of data, 10 million voice call minutes and 33 million SMSs allocated to 5,529 frontline health workers as identified by the Ministry of Health. Each health worker is set to continue receiving a monthly bundle consisting of 12GB data, 600 minutes and 2,000 SMSs for an additional three months. Dr Rashid Abdi Aman, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Health noted that health workers…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) this week unveiled a new app that will allow taxpayers to keep up to date with their payments. Over the years, KRA has transformed its services and adapted to new technology to enhance customer experience. Systems such as iTax, iCMS, Soma Label and others have been integrated to simplify and facilitate taxpayers processes. The mobile application called M-Service is the latest addition, built with the aim of facilitating tax compliance and easing the payment process. The app will also help with verification of processes such as PIN authentication and a Tax compliance certificate. Services available…

Barely a week after he announced that he had stopped taking alcohol, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has now confessed to God publicly, asking for the forgiveness of his sins. In a post on his Instagram page, Babu shared a photo of him kneeling down in church, and asked God to forgive him his sins. “God I’m a sinner may you forgive me of my sins,” posted Babu. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDYjxM6nlE7/?utm_source=ig_embed Last week, the vocal legislator said that he had stopped taking alcohol and was on the way to rediscovering himself and reformation. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Babu…

Edgar Obare will be charged with revealing ‘private’ information about Youtuber Natalie Tewa. Obare will be arraigned on Monday and charged for linking Tewa to Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, whom he said accompanied the politician to Dubai to see ailing ODM leader Raila Odinga. Joho travelled with MP Junet Mohamed to Dubai aboard a chartered private Jet. Obare was arrested on Friday in Kisumu before he was taken to the DCI headquarters for questioning. Obare is being held at Gigiri Police Station, awaiting arraignment on Monday. “Am in Gigiri police station still awaiting interrogation thank you so much for the…

690 more cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the country, raising the tally to 22,053 after testing 5,393 samples in the last 24 hours. The youngest in the new infections is six months old and the oldest 83. Males are 492 in number and females 198. In a statement, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that 58 more patients had been discharged from hospitals and home-based care programmes, raising the number of recoveries to 8,477. Five more patients had died, raising the toll to 369. Nairobi accounted for 535 patients, Kiambu 56, Kajiado 28, Nyeri 24, Busia nine, Machakos seven,…

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has issued a seven-day strike notice over the revenue sharing stalemate. The nurses’ union has vowed that its members will down tools if the Senate will not have resolved the stalemate within seven days, since most counties have not paid health workers for the last three months. “We warn the government that we together with all health workers and other county public servants, we will bring this country to its knees on Monday 10th if these issues are not addressed with the urgency that they deserve and specifically the issue of the salary…