Author: Francis Muli

Instagram posts will now appear as Twitter cards on the platform. This means that if a user on Twitter shares an instagram link, a preview of the post will be shown in the tweet. Normally, Instagram links on Twitter appear as a URL. Twitter users then have to click on the URL to view the contents of the post. The Twitter cards were available until 2012 when Instagram founder Kevin Systrom said that Instagram wanted more control of its content and would only allow users to view posts on Instagram. As an alternative, Twitter users resorted to using third party…

Kenya Power has launched investigations against staffers illegally selling tokens at discounted prices while pocketing the money, further denting the financial situation of the company. According to reports, the staffers, who use a web of unidentified mobile numbers, manipulate the Kenya Power token system to generate tokens for unsuspecting customers, who opt for the cheaper options offered by the fraudsters. The suspected fraudsters bank on popular social media platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook to lure customers. “Last month, we were alerted by members of the public and the media of communication that was being circulated by unscrupulous people purporting…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Scottish investors to take advantage of the improving business environment in Kenya to invest more in the country and the African continent. The President thanked the investors for the growing number of Scottish businesses in Kenya saying the Kenyan Government was committed to continuing supporting their investments to thrive. President Kenyatta spoke on Wednesday in Edinburgh, Scotland during a business meeting with the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA). SABA is a membership organization of Scottish companies with commercial interests in Africa. During the roundtable meeting hosted by Diageo, the President and the Scottish captains of…

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have launched state-of-the-art, fully-equipped television and radio studios at its headquarters in Nairobi. The studios were officially opened by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Robert Kibochi on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at the newly-constructed Strategic Communications Office at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi. The new office block will be used for various productions that will enable continuous flow of information to Kenyans and the wider audience. “KDF considers Strategic Communication as a vital activity that will support future military operations as well as the national interest,” said KDF in a statement. Read: KDF Widows, Widowers…

Comedian Eric Omondi has stirred up a buzz on social media after he revealed that he had doubts regarding the paternity of his son with journalist Jacque Maribe. In an Instagram post, Eric said that he had been begging Jacque for a DNA test for the last seven years, but she would have none of it. Eric recounted their meeting with Jacque, saying they had a one night fling when both were working at Radio Africa Group Ltd. According to Eric, they had used the necessary precautions and he was quite surprised when Jacque announced her pregnancy two months later.…

BasiGo, an electric vehicle startup has announced the launch of its operations in Nairobi. The company will introduce a clean energy option to the public transport industry which is currently dominated by fossil-fuel matatus and buses. The company intends to begin selling locally produced electric buses made using parts from BYD Automative, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer. The buses will have a capacity of 26 or 36 seats and a range of 250 kilometers, allowing them to make round journeys. “For years, diesel-powered buses have been the only viable solution for bus operators in Kenya. We are excited to provide…

Mdundo music platform has recorded 16.4 million unique users for the quarter ending September 2021. The African digital music platform says the 10 percent growth from the previous quarter was due to a significant rise in users based in Tanzania, Kenya and Sourth Africa. Tanzania recorded 4.1 million unique users, which was the highest in the quarter followed by Nigeria with 3.1 million users and Kenya with 2.6 million unique users. Kenya’s figure grew 13 percent making up 15 percent of the total audience using the platform within the period. “The rapid growth across the region further establishes our platform…

Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu has lost Ksh52 million, after failing to complete payment for a half a billion property he intended to acquire in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). Waititu had paid the Ksh52 million as a deposit to acquire the office block but was unable to complete payments for the property. The amount was paid to General Properties Ltd three years ago, but lenders were not willing to advance Waititu a loan to complete the payments. In his court argument, Waititu accused the sellers of misrepresenting the true income of the commercial building which led to banks denying…

Kenyan meat exporters will have to comply with new regulations set by Saudi Arabian government to continue exporting meat to the country. In a statement, the Saudia government said that any export that does not comply with the new regulations will not be accepted in the market. “Notice is hereby issued that in order to comply with the requirements of technical regulations of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) No. (SFDA.FD 996:20) related to chilled and frozen livestock meat, the SFDA require all exporters of refrigerated slaughtered animals and their unpacked parts to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to…

The Ministry of Education has announced mid-term for secondary schools following increased cases of unrest in schools. The mid-term will begin on Friday, November 19 to Tuesday, November 23, according to a circular issued by Education PS Dr Julius Jwan. “As you are aware, the Ministry of Education issued school term dates vide Circular Ref No MOE/CONF/G5 dated 3rd December 2020. It has been decided that the half-term break will commence on Friday, 19th November, 2021. The students will report back on Tuesday 23rd November, 2021,” the circular read in part. Read: Schools Unrest: Chavakali Boys Secondary School Dormitory On Fire…

Three Chinese national have been charged with operating a business in Nairobi without the requisite permits. The National Police Service (NPS) said that the three accused Wang Peng, Wang Hao and Gan Liyu were charged with operating a business unlawfully at the China Centre in Kilimani. The three were apprehended after a multi-agency team comprising of DCI and immigration department officers visited the Befresh Organics Limited business on October 25. The trio pleaded guilty to the charges and were remanded at Nairobi’s Industrial Area prisons. They will be sentenced today. Read: Chinese National Deng Kai Suspected of Money Laundering, Human…

Two Kenyan drivers have been fined charged by a court in Loitoktok for ferrying scrap batteries to Tanzania without a licence. Francis Njoroge and Isaac Njama admitted to the courts that they were transporting the products without a requisite licence from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) The duo risks a jail term of up to 20 years each or a Sh20 million fine each. Read: Basilio Kimani, Matatu Driver who Returned Sh20,000 Rewarded The two drivers are the first victims in violation of a 2015 law that was imposed to criminalize exportation of scrap metals.  The scrap metals act…

The cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has posted a 24.5 percent increase in October compared to a similar period last year, new data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has shown. This follows the reintroduction of the 16 percent VAT tax from July 1, 2021, which had been scrapped in July 2016 to encourage Kenyans to use cleaner sources of energy. Currently, refilling a 13kg cylinder of cooking gas now costs Ksh2,513.74 on average as compared to Ksh2,019.14 in October last year. Refilling a 6-kg cooking gas is averaging Ksh1,300. Since the taxes were scrapped in 2016,…

Kenyan fresh farm food distribution startup Twiga foods has raised Sh5.56 billion from various Western and Africa-based investors. The funds will be channelled towards the company’s expansion into East and West Africa. Last year, Twiga foods announced that it would be expanding into new markets in Rwanda, Tanania, Nigeria and Ghana. The expansion was however slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic which disrupted business in several countries. “We’ve been fairly successful in Kenya. So, we want to consolidate our dominant position, clear out our proof of concept and expand to the neighbouring countries,” Twiga Foods Co-founder and CEO, Peter Njonjo…

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused Health CS Mutahi Kagwe of planning to sack over 800 workers at the Kenya Medical and Supplies Agency (KEMSA). In a statement posted on his social media accounts on Monday, Babu urged the Cabinet Secretary to shelve the “draconian and irrational plan” and make sure that only those who were involved in KEMSA scandal are sent home “What is the rationale for sacking the entire watt force including a cleaner who was never involved in the KEMSA scandal? What are the steps the Ministry is taking to ensure that those who will be…