Author: Francis Muli

Google will no longer back up photos and videos from Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram by default. Previously the Google app created folders to store photos and videos from social media platforms. Google said the changes are meant to save internet resources as “people are sharing more photos and videos” during the Covid-19 pandemic. The feature was said to use up bandwidth and take up a lot of memory on devices. YouTube and Netflix made similar moves earlier this year to reduce internet traffic owing to more people using broadband at home due to the Covid-19 lockdowns. The Android Police website…

President Uhuru Kenyatta today at Harambee House, Nairobi met a section of Western Kenya leaders to discuss development projects in the region. The leaders in today’s meeting were Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), Wilbur Ottichilo (Vihiga) and Patrick Khaemba (Trans-Nzoia). Other Western Kenya leaders present were Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli. In a statement from the  Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU), it was reported that the President and the leaders discussed the ongoing Government efforts to revive the ailing sugar sector especially Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories. “The Head of…

Prof Isaac Macharia has been appointed Equity Group Holdings Board Chairman to take over from David Ansell, who has gone to retirement. Ansell has been at the helm for nine years, and opted not to offer himself for re-election during the 16th Equity Group Holdings Plc Annual General Meeting. Previously, Ansell worked as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Ecobank Transnational Inc. and as the Regional Director for Citibank in Kenya. He also served in the subsidiary Boards of Equity Bank Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda. He served as the Board Chairman in  Rwanda. He is the…

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has come up with a revised standardization mark scheme in a bid to ease the product certification process. Any manufacturer applying for the Standardization Mark (SM) will be issued with a permit valid for two years. This will be available from today. “Under the revised SM scheme, manufacturers will be issued with a permit that is valid for two years instead of one year as has been the case. Manufacturers will also be able to apply and make payment for the SM Permit online. Additionally, the SM Permit will also be prepared and transmitted…

Chief Justice David Maraga today officially launched the electronic filing system which will see processes in the Nairobi courts go digital. The electronic system will require lawyers, police, DPP and members of the public to register on the portal and log into the system. To access the portal follow this link https://efiling.court.go.ke. During the launch, Chief registrar Anne Amadi revealed that the process to digitize the courts had encountered challenges including resistance from inside and outside forces. President of the Law Society of Kenya, Nelson Havi, who was also in attendance at the launch called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to ensure…

Nominated Senators Beatrice Kwamboka and Mary Senata today exchanged blows outside Parliament after the elections of vice chair for health committee was postponed. Narok Senator Ledama Olekina was poised to clinch the post against Ms Seneta, before the melee ensued. On Seneta’s side was a number of senators led by Deputy Majority Chief Whip Farhiya Ali, but they were unable to Marshall the numbers needed to win. Seneta’s side was accused of forging Senator Millicent Omanga’s signature who did not attend the meeting, and had not declared her side. “You can not tell me anything , mimi ni mtu wa…

The Nation Media Group (NMG) is set to retrench a number of its workforce in a new restructuring move, owing to reduced revenues. In a media statement dated July 1, the company said it was going through hard times due to the effects of Covid-19 on the economy. “This pandemic has resulted in global uncertainty and unparalleled challenges impacting most businesses adversely. Many companies have either shutdown or substantially scaled down operations due to the drastic decline of revenues. The media Industry has not been spared with media houses globally including NMG, having been severely impacted,” the statement read in…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law the 2020/2021 Budget, the Finance Bill 2020 and the 2019/2020 Third Supplementary budget. The 2020/2021 budget contains a Sh56 billion stimulus package to cushion Kenyans during and after the Coronavirus pandemic and Sh128.3 billion allocated to the Government’s big four agenda. The Finance bill 2020 which has been signed into law contains several amendments aimed at cushioning Kenyans in the current economic crisis. Some of the amendments in the finance act include zero rating of VAT in essential food items such Maize, cassava and wheat flour for a period of six months in…

Today marks one year since the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore passed on. In celebrating the first anniversary, Safaricom has changed the profile pictures of all its social media pages, to honour the man who was regarded as a mentor and a leader to many. “A year ago, today, Bob’s light left us. While it was a sad and difficult time for all of us, we take courage that his dream of doing business for good lives on in our work, our customers and our vision.  Bob lived a purposeful life. He touched and transformed many lives within Safaricom, Kenya…

Facebook has defended its hate speech policies amid an advertising boycott by some of the biggest brands pushing them to do more on content regulation. “We have an industry-leading record in how we deal with dark side of the internet,” said Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president for global affairs. “Facebook has developed the world’s most sophisticated machine learning and artificial intelligence systems to root out hate speech and misinformation,” he said. Some of the world’s biggest brands have put their social media advertising budgets and campaigns on hold to protest the social media Network’s complacency towards divisive and racist content…

Safaricom has appointed its Head of Investor Relations, Ilana Darcy as the interim Chief Finance Officer (CFO) effective July 1. Ilana will take up the position previously held by Sateesh Kamath who was promoted to Vodafone CFO. The role is Safaricom’s second most powerful after the and if confirmed, Ilana will be the second most powerful employee at the giant telco. Announcing her appointment, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Ndegwa said that she would be responsible for the overall financial planning, management and oversight of the organization. Read: Safaricom CFO Sateesh Kamath Takes Up New Role In Vodafone Ilana…

Season 5 of the popular TV reality show in Africa, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), will premiere Sunday, July 19 on DStv and GOtv across Africa. This announcement follows the conclusion of the online auditions back in May which recorded over 30,000 entries from BBNaija hopefuls across Nigeria. BBNaija season 5 will be broadcast live and 24/7 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv Max and Jolli (Plus) packages on channel 29, with the live eviction shows and weekly highlights aired on Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Urban and Africa Magic Family. DStv viewers will also follow the drama this season with the DStv…

Magistrate Teresia Murigi has acquitted Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) branch manager Sayid Ibrahim in Ksh26 million Wajir county embezzlement suit. The Magistrate ruled that evidence on record did not establish a case against him. In the case, the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission said that Ksh26 million was withdrawn for the purchase of two luxury vehicles for the county but instead, only one second-hand vehicle was purchased at an inflated price and a balance of Ksh12 million pocketed. Among those mentioned in the case include nephew of Wajir Governor Mohammed Abdi, Mr Osman Abdi Jimale who is said to have purchased…

Former Agriculture cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri is being investigated over money laundering allegations, it has emerged. A Magistrates Court has allowed  Assets Recovery Agency to probe Mr Kiunjuri’s accounts at Equity Bank. The bank will be required to surrender account opening documents, statements of accounts, cheque deposits, withdrawal slips and electronic cash transfers. “That the honourable court be pleased to issue orders to investigate and inspect the books of accounts related to the following bank accounts domiciled at Equity Bank in the name of Mwangi Kiunjuri and any other account,” ARA said in a petition to the court. The investigations are…

The owners of Waterfront Karen mall have sued Shoprite over Ksh520 million in anticipated loss, that they say they stand to lose after Shoprite closed shop in the mall. Two companies that own the facility, Crossroads Limited and Karen Waterfront Phase Two Limited, have gone to court claiming that they had a 10-year contract with Shoprite, that did not provide for termination. The companies are owned by the family of late billionaire Nelson Muguku. According to Daniel Muthanji Muguku, a director of the two firms, Shoprite was the anchor tenant of the high-end facility and was key to pulling shoppers…