Author: Francis Muli

Recently, Safaricom moved its chatbot Zuri to Whatsapp in addition to the existing Facebook Messenger and Telegram. Zuri is an automated machine customer care agent that helps subscribers to access common services such as marketing messages management, chargeable SMS services deactivation, get PUK  and M-PESA reversal. Zuri can also be used in buying data bundles, airtime top up, managing Safaricom home internet, getting usage statement and M-PESA Statement. How to use Zuri Save +254 722 000100 on your contact list as “Safaricom Zuri” Open your WhatsApp and start a new chat Select Safaricom Zuri from your list Send the word “Start” to…

Choppies Supermarket has now put up for sale its retail equipment and property in Kenya. In a circular to shareholders, the cash strapped retailer says that the move will enable it settle the current liabilities. “Operations have since been scaled down to only two stores and negotiations are ongoing to sell equipment to local operators and/or existing landlords to clear some of the outstanding liabilities,” said Choppies in a circular to shareholders. The Retailer had over 15 outlets that it acquired from Ukwala Supermarket in 2015. In the recent times, Choppies has laid off a total of 583 workers as…

Ethiopia has denied reports of a deteriorating relationship between its Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, following a failed meeting mid this month. In a statement to Kahawa Tungu, Ethiopian Embassy in Kenya says that the meeting, which was supposed to be held in March 16 between the two leaders was postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances”. The Embassy says that President Sahle-Work Zewde represented the Prime Minister in an earlier meeting, but did not explain why the March 16 meeting was postponed to a later date. Read: Ethiopian Airlines To Spend At Least Ksh500 Billion On New Airport…

The world’s economy is already feeling the heat of the coronavirus (Covid-19), with several economic activities brought to a halt following the confirmation of at least 340,000 cases and close to 15,000 deaths globally. In Kenya, several key economic sectors are set to be affected, which could see the country’s GDP affected downwards by 10 to 25 percent, according to a recent report by investment firm Cytonn. The key sectors of the economy affected by the Coronavirus pandemic include Tourism, Agricultural, and Manufacturing which were hit the hardest hit due to shutdowns in major markets and the disruption of the…

Nandi governor Stephen Sang has accused national and religious leaders of holding hypocritical prayers at the State House yesterday. In a tweet, Sang says that the prayers should have started with repentance from politicians from both the government and the opposition, starting with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Dr William Ruto. “The level of hypocrisy in yesterday’s #NationalPrayerDay at State House was sickening. It should have started with repentance especially by us in leadership (both government and opposition) led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto,” he wrote. Read: Kenya to Receive Sh18 Billion Donation From US…

Police in Uganda and Ministry of Health officials have arrested 30 Chinese nationals who escaped from a quarantine centre on Friday, March 20. The Chinese Nationals had been quarantined at hotel facility in Entebbe after arriving in the country. After escaping on Friday, the Chinese men retreated to an apartment in Naguru where they were arrested alongside their house helps. The case of the Chinese went viral after they were captured on camera escaping from the facility, with citizens blaming the government for negligence. https://twitter.com/nbstv/status/1241441451646627840 The foreigners were returned to the quarantine facility after screening and samples taken for testing.…

Uganda has confirmed its first coronavirus case, making it the fifth country in East Africa. The case is of a 36-year-old Ugandan man who arrived from Dubai at 2 am Saturday on aboard Ethiopian Airlines plane. He was taken to Entebbe Grade B Hospital after exhibiting coronavirus-like symptoms, and after tests he was confirmed to be infected. Health Minister Ruth Jane Aceng said that the passengers who came into contact with the man have been traced and quarantined. Read: Ksh7 Billion Acquired Through Mop Up Of Old Ksh1000 Notes Released In Fight Against Coronavirus “The confirmed case had travelled to…

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has released to the government Ksh7.4 billion towards the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country. CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge said the money was from the mop-up of the old Ksh1,000 banknotes. “As you recall in September last year we concluded the demonetisation of our currency relating to our old generation Sh1,000 banknotes. That matter was concluded and as a result of that, Ksh7.4 billion worth of banknotes never came back to the system. “That money would have been held by people who, for whatever reason, did not want to subject themselves to the…

Russian investment bank Renaissance Capital  has projected that Co-op Bank stock could hit a target price of Ksh21.40 in the near future, implying an upside potential of45 percent. This comes a day after Co-op Bank announced a Profit before Tax of Ksh20.7 Billion for Full Year 2019 compared to Ksh18.2 billion recorded in 2018, a growth of 14 percent. Profit after Tax was Ksh14.3 billion compared to Ksh12.7 billion in the previous year a 12,4 percent growth attributed to non-interest income. “Co-opbank continues to clean-up its loan book, with the ratio of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) improving to 9.9 percent in 2019…

Currently, over 244,500 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus (covid-19) and over 10,000 covid-19 deaths reported globally. This is according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking cases reported by the World Health Organization and additional sources. In Kenya where seven coronavirus cases have been discovered, the government has urged Kenyans to use cashless transactions to avoid more infections. In turn, Safaricom scrapped transaction fees for amounts below Ksh1,000, a move that was emulated by other telcos including Airtel and Telkom. Read: Safaricom Not Charging MPesa Transactions Below Sh1,000 For 90 Days Over Coronavirus Outbreak There are at…

The government through the Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has been singing the Gospel of preventing infections of the coronavirus, first by avoiding crowded places. However, the government and the journalists seem to be the first to break the rule by congregating close to 100 journalists in one place. A few moments ago, the Media Council of Kenya called for the suspension of live coverage of media briefing in a bid to prevent the congregation of a large number of journalists and media practitioners in one location. Read: Coronavirus: Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau Under Self-quarantine After US trip Every time…

Co-operative Bank Group has recorded a Profit before Tax of Ksh20.7 Billion for Full Year 2019 compared to Ksh18.2 billion recorded in 2018, a growth of 14 percent. Profit after Tax was Ksh14.3 billion compared to Ksh12.7 billion in the previous year a 12,4 percent growth attributed to non-interest income. In terms of non-interest income, which comes from fees and commissions on loans and advances, the company grew by 33 percent to Ksh17.3 billion up from Ksh12.8 billion. Read: Co-op Bank Launches Import Finance Product for MSMEs Co-op Bank, as it is popularly known, registered 4.8 million customers on its…

The Kenyan shilling has been hard hit by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, now hitting a seven-month low. As of today morning, one US Dollar was trading for Ksh104.55 from Ksh104.15 on Wednesday and Ksh103.72 on Tuesday. The drop comes just hours after the government of Kenya confirmed three more cases of Covid-19 in the country, bringing the total to seven. “Our view of a depreciated shilling still stands, given the uncertainty surrounding the spread of the coronavirus in the country, as well as spill over fears from the global scene,” said NCBA in a note to customers. Read: Kenyans To…

Director of Digital Innovations and Diaspora Communications at the State House Dennis Itumbi together with his other colleagues have been fired. Dennis Itumbi and the four were fired from the President’s Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) and posts abolished after Interior CS demanded that Public Service Commission Chairman Stephen Kirogo do away with the posts. PSC allegedly complied with the demands of Matiangi and abolished the position through a letter dated 18th March and addressed to CS Fred Matiangi. Analysts are now questioning if CS Matiangi has the powers to fire State House staff. Others sent home include James Kinyua (Events…

All Currency notes deposited in banks from the public will be quarantined for one week before release, the government has announced. Addressing the media in State House, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) governor Dr Patrick Njoroge said that they had removed caps on bank and mobile money transfers, to encourage cashless transactions. For instance, Kenyans will now be able to make bank transfers over Ksh1 million, unlike previously when all bank transactions were capped to Ksh1 million. “To ensure the virus is not transmitted via cash, all cash exiting banks will be quarantined for one week. Mobile money transactions shall…