Author: Francis Muli

Safaricom has unveiled revamped PostPay plans for bundled voice, data and SMS with no-expiry. The new plans will be available on a 30-day basis with any unused resources rolling over to the next month. Previously, customers had to visit Safaricom Shops and fill application forms but now the no-expiry PostPay is available on the Safaricom App, webpage or USSD. Customers will have the option of choosing from plans that are within their predefined credit limits or topping up to qualify for higher limits. Read: Safaricom Chatbot Zuri Moved To Whatsapp From Facebook Messenger The plans will be offered at five…

A Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi has ordered for the unconditional release of Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director Daniel Manduku after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) failed to charge him. The MD had been arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday and spent the night behind bars. The KPA boss is accused of abusing his authority by unlawfully recommending to KRA gazettment of Nairobi Inland Cargo Terminal (NICT) as a KPA peripheral facility to a firm that did not tender for provision of container warehouse services in Nairobi. Read: KPA MD Daniel Manduku Now Using Uncouth…

Co-operative Bank has launched the Import Duty Finance to the Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya. The product was launched to Co-operative Bank customers involved in the Import business. Import Duty Finance (IDF) is a financing product for importers designed to help them to have a seamless process during clearing and transportation of imported cargo from the port of origin to the final destination. The Import Duty Finance solution ensures prompt payment of duty and other related costs, ensuring timely delivery, as well as saving them from incurring high storage and demurrage charges. Read: Reprieve For Customers As…

The outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus has become the concern of the world, with every country fearing of even a single case. So far, more than 89,000 cases of the infection have been reported globally, most of them in mainland China. Deaths have also been confirmed in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, France, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy and Iran. The virus has spread to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. Read: Spreading Rumours About Coronavirus Will Attract Sh5 Million Fine – Oguna However, in Africa the cases have…

Kenya Power has announced plans to engage in garage business and lease it idle land in a bid to boost revenues. It is not yet clear how much the two ventures will bring in for the power distributor, whose revenues for the year ending June 2019 shrunk by 92 percent. “We have a transport section and we want to open that as a public garage since it is idle at the moment. We also want to lease out idle land. The garage sits on huge land and we will liaise with insurers to give us an opportunity to repair vehicles.…

Garissa governor Ali Korane is set to be grilled by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) over Ksh233 million donor funds allegedly diverted to personal accounts. It is alleged that the funds were donated by the World Bank to the county for infrastructural development through the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), but have since been squandered. The money is said to have been withdrawn in cash by county officials and close allies of the governor. To cover the misappropriations, the county indicated on paper that the projects were done, but on ground the projects could not be verified. Read: How…

Malindi GK prison warder has been arrested in Ruaka, Kiambu County for allegedly killing his girlfriend whom he met on Facebook. Tairus Mwangi is said to have brutally murdered Purity Karwirwa on Wednesday, February 26, in Ruaka. The suspect is reported to have bludgeoned Purity Karwirwa multiple times in the head, nose and back using a hammer. According to an autopsy report, her hands also bore defensive injuries indicative a struggle before death. The relationship of the two started on Facebook and went on for one and half a year, riddled with conflicts and regular fights. According to the deceased…

China Southern Airline, the carrier that ferried 239 passengers from China to Kenya on Wednesday, has suspended its flights to Kenya until further notice. This follows public outcry, with Kenyans seeking to have all flight to and from China suspended to avert the risk of having the dreadful coronavirus in Kenya. However, according to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the move was not because of the coronavirus but due to “decreasing volume of passenger flow.” Read:  Court Orders Suspension Of Flights From China As Uhuru Forms Coronavirus Task Force “Due to the decreasing volume of passenger flow,…

All the 239 passengers who arrived in Kenya aboard a China Southern flight should be quarantined at a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) facility, the High Court has ordered. The Court further tasked KDF to trace the passengers, make sure they are re-examined and then quarantine them either at the KDF facility or another specially guarded unit. Justice James Makau said the order applies to “all the 239 passengers that they let into the country aboard a Chinese flight CZ 6043 which landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on February 26, 2020 at 7:29am”. Read: Court Orders Suspension Of Flights…

The High has issued an order suspending all non-essential flights from China and other coronavirus hot spots from entering Kenya for 10 days. The order comes minutes after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued an Executive Order over coronavirus, forming a task force comprising of Health CS and counterparts from Defense, Foreign Affairs, ICT and Transport. The President said that Kenya is an international transport hub with 70 percent of passengers in transit, posing a great risk to those in the points of entry and exit. “There is a significant threat arising from the potential spread of the coronavirus to Kenya from…

Kenya Airways has confirmed Allan Kivaluka as the managing director and CEO, after serving as an acting CEO for two months. The appointment will take effect on  April 1, 2020. “It is particularly gratifying to me that the Board agreed to support the appointment of Allan to the full role of substantive CEO. During his short time as acting CEO of KQ, Allan has thrown all his energy into this role, whilst still maintaining his position of CEO of Jambojet,” KQ Chairman Michael Joseph said. Kilavuka was the CEO of Kenya Airways’ subsidiary, Jambojet. Kilavuka will join the Boards of…

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has suspended a planned investigation of the Nairobi County functions transfer to the National Government. A directive to investigate the matter had been issued by deputy speaker Kithure Kindiki to two house committees, but the mover of the motion Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen sought an adjournment motion to discuss the matter. “This matter remains suspended until Tuesday 2.30pm when I will give a comprehensive ruling,” he said. Kindiki’s directive was quashed after Minority Leader James Orengo termed it unprocedural and went against the standing orders since it was an adjournment motion, which does not need resolutions.…

The US government has warned that terrorists could be planning an attack in a major tourist hotel in Nairobi yet to be identified. According to information from the US embassy in Nairobi, the hotel is believed to be popular with tourists and business travelers. “Exercise increased vigilance when visiting or staying at hotels in the Nairobi area. If staying at a hotel, be aware of the hotel’s evacuation plan. Plan ahead of time how you would exit the hotel in case of an emergency,” said US in a statement. The Trump administration has also advised those within Nairobi to…

At least 110 employees of the Kenya Power company have been fired in the last one month over electricity theft, illegal connections and fraud. This was revealed by Kenya Power Managing Director and CEO, Bernard Ngugi during a crackdown in Embakasi to weed out illegal connections and fraudsters. “In the past 12 months, we have had to lay off close to 100 staff members. They were fired for perpetrating fraudulent activities such as illegal connections, electricity theft, vandalism, collusion with fraudsters and cartels as well as conflict of interest,” Ngugi said. Read: Kenya Power Profits Dim By 92PC From Ksh3.27…

Safaricom’s DigiFarm platform has won the Best Mobile Innovation for Emerging Markets in this year’s Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO). The platform provides smallholder farmers with convenient access to a variety of services, including discounted inputs, financing and advice on best farming practice through a 2G enabled mobile phone. According to the judges, Digifarm was recognised for demonstrating very impressive collaboration between stakeholders, demonstrating how relatively simple and, by today’s standard, ‘old’ technology can be used to improve the lives of millions. Read: Safaricom Chatbot Zuri Moved To Whatsapp From Facebook Messenger DigiFarm was created through a partnership with mobile solutions…