Author: Francis Muli

Spotify has rolled out its self serve ad platform Ad Studio in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Jamaica to allow more e artists across the globe to use the advertising medium. Ad Studio allows artists, brands and businesses to run their audio and video ads on the music-streaming platform. The tool provides users with  flexibility and control in the setup and management of their ads. Ad Studio helps the creators make custom ads for free in as little as 24 hours. Advertisers will be given access to background music mixes, voiceover talent, audience targeting and real-time reporting. Read: M-PESA, Airtel Money…

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s Facebook page has been hacked. The Office alerted Netizens of the incident on Twitter, saying a resolve was underway. “We wish to inform the members of the public that our Facebook page has been temporarily hacked and we are working towards resolving the issue,” ODPP said on its official Twitter account. The Facebook account was hacked on Tuesday night and now goes by the name  Fam Hâm Mộ Của QuanCon. The alleged hackers posted the same Twitter message published on the ODPP’s twitter page alerting users about the hacking. Read: Jambojet, KAA…

E-commerce giant, Jumia has appointed Betty Mwangi as its Chief Executive Officer. Mwangi os taking over the role from Sam Chappatte. She is expected to help the company accelerate its corporate growth as it continues cementing its roots as the number one shopping platform. Betty brings with her a wealth of engineering experience spanning 20 years in the telecommunications, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. Read: e-commerce Platforms Suffer as More Kenyans Prefer to Transact on Social Media- Report Prior to her appointment, Betty served as Group Commercial Director for Britam Group PLC from 2016 to 2021. She joined the firm in 2013.…

While digital lending apps conveniently offer quick loans in minutes, the harassment and bullying that follows has become a common issue for many Kenyans who borrow from the apps during emergencies. A Twitter user going by the handle @BigsmallKe recently shared his ordeal at the hands of a popular lending app, Zash Loans which belongs to the bigger KopaKash company. The tweep narrates that he just landed himself a new job, and needed to relocate immediately.  He was short of Sh5,000 to facilitate his move, and Zash loan came in handy, offering him Sh3,500 to be repaid in seven days.…

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) has announced a new partnership with Crown Motors Group, the official distributor of the Nissan brand in Kenya, to offer motor vehicle financing. The motor vehicle financing scheme dubbed ‘Beba Leo’ targets small and medium-sized enterprises across the country. Under the scheme, SMEs will receive 100% financing over 60 months to acquire new vehicles to be used for their business and will receive comprehensive insurance cover. “Despite providing a huge share of global employment, SMEs still face major challenges when it comes to raising capital for their businesses and accessing funds to grow their business potential.…

Showmax is offering new and existing subscribers a Black Friday 2-for-1 deal that will see customers pay for one month of Showmax and receive an additional month at no extra cost. The promotion is expected to run between 25 November and 9 December 2021 The offer is available for all packages including Showmax, Showmax Mobile, Showmax Pro and Showmax Pro Mobile which range from KSh 300 per month. Earlier this year, the streaming platform released the first Showmax Kenyan Original crime series, Crime and Justice, which has been nominated for three Kalasha Awards – Best TV Drama, Best Actor (Alfred Munyua)…

Absa Bank Kenya PLC has signed a tripartite financing agreement with CMC Motors Limited and Avenue Lease and Rentals to supply 240 vehicles to the National Police Service (NPS) under the ongoing government’s vehicle leasing initiative. Under the tripartite agreement, the single cab Ford Rangers will be leased to the NPS for a four-year period by Avenue Lease and Rentals. Absa will provide Ksh1.2 billion in financing to Avenue Lease and Rentals to acquire the vehicles from CMC Motors who will also service and maintain the units over the four-year period. The first 100 units were delivered to NPS today,…

Kenya Airways (KQ), Kenya’s national carrier, in partnership with Embraer S.A, the multinational aerospace manufacturer and Africa Airlines Association (AFRAA), is co-hosting a three-day aviation Innovation summit dubbed “Africa Aviation and Travel Innovation.” The three-day event will take place in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme: “Enhancing Intra-African Trade Through Aviation and Travel,” from November 22 to November 24, 2021, and will bring together stakeholders from aviation, tourism, technology, and start-up industries, to discuss ways to build resilient and sustainable business strategies post-COVID-19. The Aviation innovation summit is designed to explore opportunities with local start-ups, small and medium-size enterprises to co-create innovative solutions with aviation stakeholders while contributing to the…

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK)has flagged 12 lenders with hidden mortgage charges. CAK was probing information on 27 lenders forwarded by customers and found the information by 12 to be incomplete, unclear, and unfavourable. The charges that drove up mortgage rates include costs for origination, booking, valuation, mortgage and title transfer, commissions, brokers’ fees, legal fees, insurance and stamp duty The 12 include KCB Bank, NCBA Bank, Absa Bank Kenya, DIB Bank Kenya, Mayfair Bank, Consolidated Bank, Victoria Commercial Bank and Bank of Baroda. “As at 30th June 2021 eleven (11) banks had revised their terms and conditions and…

Safaricom subscribers will now be able to buy airtime using the company’s overdraft facility, Fuliza. The feature will allow users to access higher amounts of airtime credit compared to Okoa Jahazi. Fuliza was launched two years ago in 2019. Since then it has grown to be one of the most profitable products for Kenya’s largest telco. It will enable users to access significantly larger airtime amounts than they currently can through Okoa Jahazi. Read: How to Use Fuliza Overdraft Service by Safaricom Okoa Jahazi allows users to borrow credit at a 10 percent fee once their airtime value goes below Sh5.…

Kenya Airways (KQ) has made a few changes in its latest cost-cutting efforts. The National carrier has halved pilots  for all trips and asked them to fly faster on the Nairobi-Guangzhou route. KQ says the changes are in accordance with Kenyan  flight operations regulations laws, the manufacturer’s flight crew training manuals and the agreement with the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa) Through its Secretary-General Murithi Nyagah, ther union has however disputed the move, saying that directing pilots to cruise at a cost index of 300 on the route is illegal and poses a risk to passengers and crew. Read: KQ Increases…

The government has deregistered at least 2,540 companies for failing to disclose their owners and beneficiaries. This follows an order issued in October last year by the Attorney General requiring that the entities provide personal information of shareholders who own more than 10 percent or exercise control in a firm. “2,540 entities were struck off the register in 2020. This was an influx. This was occasioned by enforcement of the beneficial ownership information disclosure requirements since the BOI e-register was operationalised on October 13, 2020,” read a statement from Business Registration Service. Business Daily reports that at least 6,000 firms…

A shop attendant in Machakos has emerged as a hero after he refused to register a sim card for Wanted terror suspects broke free from the Kamiti Maximum Security Prisons last week. According to the DCI anti-terror unit, the three attempted to make contact with the underworld. “Immediately after their arrival in Machakos, the convicts had refreshed, taken breakfast and bought caps to conceal their faces, in readiness for the rest of their journey.” The DCI wrote in a statement. Read: Three Terror Convicts Who Escaped From Kamiti Prison Arrested in Kitui The three bought two mobile phones and two SIM…

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has commenced investigations against Justice Said Chitembwe Juma following allegations of impropriety and gross misconduct against him. In a statement on Monday, Chief Justice Martha Koome said that Justice Chitembwe will be formally served with the complaints, and required to respond within 14 days. “Upon deliberations, the JSC resolved that the Petitions be served upon the Honourable Judge for his response within 14 days of service,” said Justice Koome. Thereafter, the petitions and Chitembwe’s response will be considered by a panel that has been set up by the Commission. The panel will present its findings…

In the last 24 hours, 18 people tested positive for Covid-19 from a sample size of 3,982. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 254,728 and the positivity rate to 0.5 percent. The cumulative number of tests conducted so far are 2,801,983. 21 people have recovered from the disease in the past 24 hours. Out of these, 16 have been discharged from the home based care and isolation program while 5 have been discharged from various health facilities across the country. Read: Kiambu Leading in Suicide Cases as 483 Kenyans Take Their Lives in 3 Months Currently,  351 patients…