Author: Francis Muli

Audio-based social network, Clubhouse, is no longer invite-only.  App founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth announced that the app is now open to all interested users. Around 10 million users who had signed up are on the waiting list, and will be added slowly over time, a spokesperson for the app said. During the announcement, Clubhouse also revealed a new logo, a waving hand and app icon. “The invite system has been an important part of our early history,” Clubhouse says in a blog. “By adding people in waves, welcoming new faces each week in our Wednesday Orientations, and talking…

YouTube has developed a feature that will allow viewers tip content creators. Dubbed Super Thanks, the feature will allow users to purchase an applause animation that will be submitted to the creator. They will cost about Sh200 to Sh5000, depending n how much one wants to tip the YouTuber. The names of the tipper will appear on the video’s comment section, with a celebratory animation and a colorful comment. The content creator will be able to view and respond to the message, just like the regular messages. YouTube started testing the feature last year and has now rolled it out…

Netflix has provided more insight into its gaming plans, saying that the focus will be on mobile games and will be included in users’ monthly subscriptions. The streaming company revealed this during its Q2 earnings call on Tuesday. The company issued a statement, saying that nearly a decade into original content production, they wanted to learn how their customers value games. “We view gaming as another new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, animation and unscripted TV. Games will be included in members’ Netflix subscription at no additional cost similar to films and series. Initially,…

Nairobi County has commissioned a total of 1283 Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship beneficiaries who will form the 12th Wings to Fly and the 2nd Elimu Scholarship class respectively.  In total, 10,705 academically promising scholars from humble backgrounds who sat the 2020 KCPE examinations have officially been commissioned to join the Wings to Fly & Elimu Scholarship Programs. Of the 10,705 scholars, 1,705 scholars will be joining the Wings to Fly Program while 9,000 will be joining the Elimu Scholarship program. Equity Group, who have been at the forefront of championing secondary school education scholarships for eleven years now has so far…

Huawei has partnered with the Ministry of Education’s State Department for Vocational and Technical Training to enhance ICT development within technical education and training. The MoU will see institutions from across the country enhance capacity building among their 150 trainers while offering industry-level training to over 1000 students. The collaboration will also offer support in administering ICT skills survey to allow for a better understanding of the state and level of ICT skills and better address them. It will also help with the provision of industry linkages and opportunities to the students to offer job or internship opportunities through the…

Kenya’s FIA rally stars Hamza Anwar, McRae Kimathi and Jeremy Wahome have expressed confidence ahead of the third round of the African Rally Championship that kicks off on Friday July 23 to Sunday July 25 in Tanzania. The trio who are sponsored by Safaricom and Kenya Airways will be making their debuts in Tanzania giving their Ford Fiestas a second outing after last month’s Safari Rally. “I am thrilled at this opportunity because it is my first time to take part in the African Rally Championships. It is a new challenge but from the experience I gathered at WRC Safari…

Samsung has announced the next Unpacked Event slotted for August 11 at 1700hrs Kenyan time. The company is expected to unveil the next version of its foldable smartphone, Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3. The tech giant is also expected to unveil its new Galaxy watches which will be the first to use the new combined Wear platform. The first generation Z Fold was originally plagued by issues with its display such as peeling screens. The company seems to have redeemed itself with better screens with Z Fold 2, and leaks from the latest Z Fold 3…

Twitter could soon allow users to log in by using their google accounts connected to their Android phones. This will help users easily log in to their accounts without having to enter their details on the social network. It will also help users minimize the number of passwords required to access different websites The feature is apparently being tested by users enrolled with twitter’s beta testing program. There are plans to develop a similar function for iOS users. Users who already use their google accounts on the platform will easily be logged in without having to enter a password if…

WhatsApp has introduced a  new feature allowing users to join in and leave group calls as they wish. The feature works in similar ways to other videoconferencing apps such as Zoom and Google Meets. This means that users will have the flexibility to join a group call without the members having to call them again to join, incase they leave. Read: WhatsApp Rolls Out Face, Fingerprint Authentication for WhatsApp Web This also means that apart from just calling a contact, invites will be sent out to allow people to join in. You will be able to see who is on…

The National Treasury is unable to account for Ksh2.58 billion advanced to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) by the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom). According to documents scrutinised by auditor general Nancy Gathungu for the year 2018/19, KDF was to receive Ksh6.5 billion from the African Union. However, according to a letter dated July 26, 2018 by former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich to then Defense PS Torome Saitoti, Kenya was set to receive Ksh8.5 billion from AU. Treasury Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Julius Muia was unable to explain the discrepancy when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Public…

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has taken to twitter to denounce a parody account that managed to obtain verification using his name and details. The verification of the account @HEBabuOwino1 elicited mixed feelings among netizens, given the tough process one has to go through to get verified. Ironically, the MP’s official account @HEBabuOwino remains unverified, despite his status and 177k followers. However, it is up to Babu Owino to obtain verification for his account since one has to apply to Twitter. The youthful MP took to Twitter to denounce the video, saying his opponents must be behind the fake account.…

Video-conferencing app, Zoom will start charging VAT for its services effective August 1. The company is registered with KRA as a non-resident supplier of electronic services. It is among a host of companies obligated to remit the 5 percent digital tax which was implemented in January this year. The move will most likely affect corporate companies who use the services from zoom. Basic account users can host up to a maximum of 100 participants per meeting. Pro users can host more people, and have more features. “Like many companies with a growing international presence, Zoom is routinely evaluating its indirect…

Britain has revealed that it is holding Chinese-state-backed corporations liable for “a pervasive pattern of hacking” that had been experienced in the country. This included hacking incidents on Microsoft’s Exchange Servers that occurred early this year. The British Ministry said the attack affected more than 250,000 servers worldwide. “The cyberattack on Microsoft Exchange Server by Chinese state-backed groups was a reckless but familiar pattern of behaviour,” British foreign minister Dominic Raab said in a statement. “The Chinese Government must end this systematic cyber sabotage and can expect to be held accountable if it does not.” Read: U.S. Considering Banning TikTok…

More governments petitioned Twitter to take down various content posted by journalists and news outlets in 2020, data from the social network has revealed. Twitter said in the report that they received 361 legal demands to take down content from 199 verified journalists and news outlets in the second half of 2020. This was a 26 percent increase from the first half of the year. The transparency report released twice a year comes amid increased scrutiny of content allowed on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter by governments worldwide. The report details the enforcement of policy rules and the information and removal…

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has shortlisted three candidates to take over the position of Chief Executive Officer now held by Mercy Wambua. LSK said that it had received three applications for the position, with two being shortlisted and interviews set for Friday, July 23. The three who applied for the position include Mutua Ngumbau Nzioka, Juliette Akoth Jakaila, and Josephat Mutunga Mutisya. “After reviewing the here applications for completeness and conformity with the requirements that had been set out in the advertisement, two managed to be shortlisted,” said LSK. The two who were shortlisted for the interviews include…