Author: Francis Muli

Netflix users in Kenya have increased by 700 percent in the last three years. According to Statista, active Netflix subscribers in Kenya have grown from 3,700 in 2016 to over 29,500 in 2020. Netflix launched in Kenya in 2016 as part of its global expansion plan that year. This was when they switched their services from being available only in a few countries enabling Kenyans access to their services. The brand has grown steadily in Kenya with a big number of the urban population easily identifying with it. The site advertises heavily on Youtube, Instagram and Google so much that…

Google is continuously improving its Maps feature to help people navigate easily as more cities open up post the Covid-19 pandemic. You will now see relevant alerts from transit agencies regarding the mandatory procedures required before boarding, such as wearing a mask and sanitizing. Google maps is also making it easier to see how crowded a transport station normally is. However, if the historical data is not available, you can still view live data for ‘crowdedness’. For Kenya, you will be able to note how crowded your matatu stage is before you head there. You will also be able to…

Kirinyaga MCAs have voted to impeach governor Anne Waiguru following a chaotic session that was held today in the County Assembly chambers. 23 MCAs voted to impeach Waiguru, while four abstained. Six members were absent from the session. The impeachment motion was tabled by Mutira Ward MCA David Kinyua. Waiguru is accused of gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct. Kinyua accuses Waiguru of gross violation of the Constitution by failing to deliver the annual State of the County address to the County Assembly. The governor is also accused of using her office to improperly confer a…

Apple has been granted a patent that will allow their phones to take ‘synthetic group selfies’, which are becoming a new reality thanks to the Corona virus pandemic. The new patent outlines a software that is set to operate like a group Facetime. One person will be able to invite several contacts to take a selfie and the software will superimpose in different positions behind the organization. According to patentlyApple, this is just one of the 57 newly granted patents for apple that were published by the US Patent and Trademark office. The synthetic selfie will be made up of…

Twitter is developing a new in-app verification system. This was announced by reverse engineer Jane Wong and later confirmed by Twitter. An added ‘request verification’ option will now be available in the redesigned settings screen. According to Twitter, the feature is yet to be launched to the public. Apart from an edit button, the verification system is one of Twitter’s most requested features. Twitter had an adhoc verification system prior to 2017 which unfortunately, ended in consumer confusion globally. The company used the system as a confirmation that someone who was perceived as a high profile personality, was indeed who…

Equity Founder and former chairman Mr Peter Munga has been accused of swindling a business associate and friend Mr Joseph Kamau Ksh150 million. In Court papers, Mr Kamau who owns Bethany Vineyards says that Mr Munga bought three million shares from the company in 2011, and has refused to pay. The deal was agreed after Mr Kamau and his company failed to pay a loan of Ksh40 million he had taken from Equity Bank. In the deal, Mr Munga was supposed to clear Mr Kamau’s loan and remit the balance to him and his company. In a bid to remain…

Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel is celebrating its 10-year presence in Africa, where it operates in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Bharti Airtel established its presence in Africa when it acquired Zain Telecom’s Africa operations in June 2010 and prides itself of over 110 million customers across the continent. Recently, the company was listed on the London and Nigerian stock exchanges. Airtel Africa employs more than 3,300 people across Africa, with another 1.6 million people earning through working with Airtel Africa as entrepreneurs and in its distribution network. Read: Airtel Geared for Fresh Price Wars With Safaricom At the time…

The High Court has allowed the police to continue investigating Diamond Plaza owner Madatali Chatur over human trafficking allegations. The Kanu-era billionaire had filed an application in Court seeking to stop the investigations saying that the investigations were breaching his rights. In a ruling delivered by Justice Weldon Korir, the Court found that the application was based on speculations and fears. “The impression I get is that the petitioner wants this court to protect his purported “clean record”. The court has no such powers. So long as the respondents (police) are acting within the confines of the law, they should…

AirBnB has reported a surge in local bookings in the US and around the world since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the CEO, the number of nights booked locally between May 17 and June 3 was greater than the number during the same period last year. More countries are seeing a surge in domestic holidays including Germany, Portugal, South Korea and New Zealand. News of local tourism is welcome for the tourism industry which has been greatly affected by the travel restrictions worldwide. In Kenya, the international flights are yet to resume and the tourism and hospitality sector have…

Co-operative Bank group finance and strategy director Patrick Nyaga has been appointed the CIC Insurance CEO. Nyaga will take over from Elijah Wachira who has been holding the position since October 9, 2019, when the then CEO Tom Gitogo resigned. Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has already cleared him for the position. Nyaga has been serving as a member of CIC board of directors since June 2011. “He has key strengths that well position him to drive CIC Group business at this critical position, which include great links and experience with cooperative movement who are CIC’s core and primary market segment…

Prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant against Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics vice chairman and the de facto leader of the Samsung Group Conglomerate, so as to have him detained while they investigate fresh allegations against him. Lee is accused of accounting fraud that was allegedly committed during the merger of two Samsung companies, Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T, with an aim of helping him gain more power. Lee attended hearings in Seoul this week and is awaiting a decision on whether he will be rearrested. Courts can order detention of up to 20 days before the prosecutors are required to…

The number of defaulted loans is at a 13 year high, according to data from the Central Bank of Kenya. The ratio of Non-performing loans has risen from 12.5 percent to 13.1 percent, the highest since August 2007 when it stood at 14.41 percent. The recent statistics show the cash flow burden that workers and businesses have gone through since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in March this year. Defaulted loans rose by Sh11.1 billion to stand at Sh366.8 billion in April when the government imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the Corona virus, affecting the economy. Due…

Two suspects have been arrested in Nyamira today following the loss of Ksh20 million worth of shoes from the Bata Shoe company, through fake e-gift vouchers. In a tweet, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that shoes worth over Ksh7 million were recovered from the suspects. “Following the loss of goods worth over Ksh. 20 Million by Bata Shoe Company through fake egift vouchers by fraudsters presented to several Bata shops within Nairobi, two suspects have today been arrested by  @DCI_Kenya Serious Crime detectives at Keroka, Nyamira County,” tweeted the DCI. “Intelligence leads saw the recovery of the assorted…

As a matter of urgency, most Kenyans want the government to address the issue of Corona Virus (COVID-19)  pandemic, food security and unemployment as the top priorities. According to the latest research conducted by Infotrak between May 28 and June 1, Kenyans also want government to pay keen attention to poor infrastructure especially roads and electricity, access to healthcare, access to clean water, high cost of living and the quality of education. Other issues that currently concern Kenyans are; reliable transport, cost of doing business, insecurity, disaster management ,corruption and alcohol/substance abuse. Read: Covid-19: Kibos Sugar Company Donating Unique Cardboard-made…

Former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai has faulted the agency for barring its staff members form taking part in #BlackLivesMatter protests in US and other parts of the world following the murder of George Floyd. In a series of tweets, Kiai termed the move as grotesque and dangerous distortion, saying that UN is conflating the right to protest and racial equality with political partisanship. “I’m hearing that @UN is telling staff that participation in protests “in the current circumstances may not be consistent with the independence and impartiality required of us as international civil servants”. This is a…