Author: Francis Muli

The Central Bank of Kenya has published a discussion paper on the Central Bank Digital Currency inviting the public to comment on the issue. The Discussion Paper outlines CBK’s development and potential applicability of a Central Bank digital currency and is inviting public participation in the potential adoption of a digital currency. A key opportunity where CBK sees potential value is the use of CBDC in facilitating cross-border transactions, while it is difficult to quantify the benefits, CBDCs may have the potential to lead to efficiency gains by flattening the multi-layered correspondent banking structure and shortening the payment chains,” it…

If you have been on Google today, you have probably seen a ‘Let’s help kids be internet awesome’ banner. In honour of Safer internet day, the tech giant has rolled out the game aimed at helping young kids stay alert, smart, and safe online. Children are now accessing the internet at a younger age and it is imperative that their experiences are safe and reliable. Google collaborated with digital safety experts to develop the ‘Be internet Awesome program that comprises a number of tools designed to keep kids safe online. Google is keen on engaging both schools and parents to…

Passengers aboard the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) will be required to pay their fare using a special toll payment card as opposed to cash. Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga said that passengers will use a card loaded with points to make payments before boarding the buses. The cards will be loaded through a designated vendor located at the termini or via M-pesa. “BRT will be cashless. There will be a card that will also integrate commuter rail payment. Methods of topping up include normal MPesa paybill or you simply go to a designated vendor,” Hinga said on…

Samsung officially unveiled its latest Galaxy series during Wednesday’s Unpacked event. The company announced all premium iterations of the S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra to all markets, including Kenya. Samsung’s Galaxy S22 features a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that’s brighter and smarter with its fast refresh rate. The display can reach a peak brightness of 1,300 nits and can adjust the refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ boasts a larger 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with a dynamic refresh rate of 10Hz to 120Hz and a brightness of 1,750 nits. Read: Samsung Expected to Unveil…

Tech company, HP  and local authorities have seized more than 7000 counterfeit items in Kenya and Tanzania. According to a report, officials from the computer manufacturer collaborated with local authorities in Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, and Mwanza to raid commercial outlets dealing in counterfeit products. Local authorities raided multiple business facilities between July and September 2021, based on intelligence provided by local HP partners. During the raid, ten significant suppliers of counterfeit HP printer cartridges were shut down. The most common counterfeited product recovered from the facilities are the HP toner cartridges. The cartridges are reportedly designed to look like…

TikTok is updating its community guidelines to make it safer for its over one billion monthly users. The company is introducing a series of policy changes targeting content uploaded to the app. The company announced on Tuesday that it would crack down on videos that critics say glorify eating disorders as well as dangerous viral challenges. The company says it will start removing videos that promote extreme forms of disorderly eating such as short-term fasting and overexercising. Although eating disorder-promoting content is already prohibited on the network, news reports have frequently revealed that users are exposed to videos depicting dangerous…

Meta suspended its plans to continue with the development of the kids version of Instagram in September last year. A section of religious leaders has now called on the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg to permanently drop the plans to develop the app. The group of Reverends, Rabbis, and other religious leaders sent out a letter to the CEO through advocacy group Fairplay and their Children’s Screen Time Action Network “After much meditation and prayer, we assert that social media platforms that target immature brains, practice unethical data mining, and are inspired by profit motives are not a…

Instagram has launched enhanced features that will make it easier for users to delete content including posts, comments, and other activity from the platform as part of Safer Internet Day. According to the Meta-owned photo-sharing app, the new account controls allow users to delete comments and posts in bulk, view past interactions on their accounts and search for content by date. “We’re rolling out ‘Your Activity,’ a new experience for people to see and manage their IG activity in one place. People can bulk manage (delete, archive) their content (posts, stories, IGTV, and Reels), their interactions (comments, likes, story sticker…

Google has announced plans to expand its two-step verification requirement for log-ins after the company recorded a 50 percent decrease in account breaches since the launch late last year. Google’s Two-step verification requires users to confirm their identity through a notification pop-up sent to their smartphone every time they attempt to log in to a different device. This gives an extra layer of protection in the event that cybercriminals attempt to hack accounts. “This decrease speaks volumes to how having a second form of verification can be effective in protecting your data and personal information. And while we are proud…

The Communications Authority of Kenya partnered with gaming platform, Usiku games to launch of an online game dubbed ‘Cyber soljas’ aimed at keeping children safer online. In an event to mark Safer Internet Day 2022, the authority noted that technology has made it easier for children to access devices such as smartphones and tablets, resulting in an increase in online threats. This has made privacy protections for minors necessary. According to the Disrupting Harm in Kenya Report published in October 2021, children spent about 10 hours online per day after the Covid-19 outbreak compared to about 20 minutes per day before the outbreak. Read: Gumzo Unveils Online Platform for Tutors to Support Online Education During The Pandemic Period Internet access has provided educational…

Music streaming platform Mdundo has announced a 22 percent increase in its user base for the last quarter of 2021. According to records from the company, the userbase increased from 16.3 million in Q3 to 20 million in the last quarter of 2021. This was driven by a high demand for an easy-to-use music platform on the continent, coupled with the Mdundo’s aggressive growth plans. The company’s partnerships with leading consumer brands such as MTN Nigeria, Safaricom, Vodacom Tanzania, Standard Chartered Bank and Guinness have also contributed to its growth, and helped the company gain traction in the mass, middle class market…

Meta is considering shutting down Facebook and Instagram in Europe over the region’s unfavourable data regulations. According to the company formerly known as Facebook, EU’s regulations prevent them from transferring, storing, and processing Europeans’ data on US-based servers. Meta said that if no new framework was adopted, it would be forced to shut down operations in the continent. The company says that processing user data is crucial for business and advert targeting. “​If we are unable to transfer data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, or if we are restricted from sharing data among our products…

TikTok sensation and social media Influencer, Azziad Nasenya, has trademarked her name and a logo bearing the first letter of her first name. The 21-year-old reportedly started the process in November last year when she applied to register the trademark name with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KiPi). The government parastatal is mandated with the administration of Intellectual Property Rights. The intent to trademark the name was published in the parastatal’s journal for 60 days to allow any parties in opposition of the trademark to come forward. “NOTICE is given that any person who has grounds of opposition to the…

Telegram has rolled out a number of updates including easy-to-make video stickers, compact animations, and extra emoji for better reactions and enhanced navigation between chats. Users will also be able to review unseen reactions. Users who do not have any experience creating animated stickers using programs such as Adobe Illustrator can now have it easy on the latest version of Telegram. They will be able to import regular videos as stickers from other apps using any video-editing software. The company has made it easier to react to messages in version 8.5. By pressing and holding on a reaction in the…

Manchester United Striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, has become the most followed human being on Instagram after clocking more than 400 million followers. The Portuguese footballer already broke the record for the most followed person in September 2021, with more than 300 million followers at the time. The star who recently celebrated his 37th birthday took to the app to thank his fans for all the messages. “Life is a roller coaster. Hard work, high speed, urgent goals, demanding expectations… But in the end, it all comes down to family, love, honesty, friendship, values that make it all worth it. Thanks for…