Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

iWayAfrica Kenya has been granted approval to acquire the terrestrial and VSAT customer base of Callkey Networks, a Nairobi-based corporate communications service provider and a subdivision of ImaraSat. iWayAfrica is currently available in 44 countries across Africa and prioritizes in designing, installing and operating networks to suit customers’ requirements. iWayAfrica partnered with CallKey to help increase its local presence and meet it 200-strong customer base.The government was also involved as they aim to improve the reach and efficiency of internet connectivity. The deal only adds to the ever growing competition in the internet provision sector. Read: Airtel Kenya Subscribers Jump to…

Member states within the Common Market for Eastern and South Africa (Comesa) have come to an agreement over the current state of telephone roaming charges. According to reports the member states have agreed to abolish telephone roaming charges which could be the beginning of more cost effective services for customers within the bloc. “Although pricing of voice services in many African countries was becoming competitive and comparable with the rest of the world, the cost of broadband continued to be out of reach of most people,” ministers from the bloc stated in a final report that resolved to adopt uniform…

Following the dispute between the Ndegwa family and the financially unstable retail chain Nakumatt Supermarket over the closure of its Junction Mall in Nairobi, the supermarket’s current financial situation has been revealed to the public. The Ndegwa’s closed off the company from its Junction Mall premises claiming the supermarket has failed to pay debts. After a year of verbal exchanges and disagreements the feud was finally brought to light and as a result the Ndegwa family made unwanted headlines. Read: Nakumatt Shuts Down NextGen Store Indefinitely (Photos) Earlier this week the supermarket was able to secure a court injunction which mandated…

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation(MFTBC) have announced the launching of their new line of Fuso FJ1623R trucks in Kenya. MFTBC along with Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV) under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia (DTA) have worked hand in hand with Simba Colt the official distributor of Fuso Trucks in Kenya in building trucks that ‘meet the needs of the local consumers’. According to Simba Cooperation Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Kotecha the trucks were created to fit the growth potential shifting to developing markets in African countries and particularly in Kenya. Read: LSK Warns EACC Against Probing Supreme Court Registrar, Esther Nyaiyaki “Kenya…

Kenya Airways (KQ) is reported to have sold two Boeing 737-700 airplanes in an effort to improve its current financial position. The transaction was arranged by the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed national carrier and his been confirmed in a September filing by UK-based Air Partner. “Air Partner Remarketing has successfully sold and delivered two B737-700 aircraft and a GE engine for Kenya Airways,” the aviation services firm said in the statement. Read: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Closes, Delays Flights A price guide by Chicago-based Boeing revealed that a new B737-700 cost $82.4 million (Sh8.4 billion). Earlier, Air Partner announced that KQ had…

Online Taxi hailing company, Uber has increased its rates for select vehicles driven by highly-rated drivers in what the company believes will provide customers with a better experience. The new service dubbed ‘UberSELECT’ costs Sh100 instead of UberX’s Sh80 with the charge per minute and per kilometre being Sh4 and Sh43 respectively. “We believe our customers should be allowed more choice in the way they travel,” Loic Amado, Uber’s general manager for East Africa, said in a statement. Read: Safaricom and Qualcomm Launch Countrywide “3G Experiential Tour” The new price is an increase from the original Sh2.40 per minute and Sh33.60 per…

Students in their first year will have to wait a little bit longer for their education loans as Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) disbursements will not be issued after thousands did not sign loan application forms. Helb Chief Executive Officer, Charles Ringera has stated that no loans will be awarded until all the necessary application forms are signed and submitted. He added that Helb is currently processing over 104,000 online applications submitted by the September 8 deadline. 74,541 have been signed while 29 per cent are still in need of the necessary signature. “We may rush to award loans and…

October will mark the end of the subsidized Sh90 maize flour following a move by the Treasury that saw it allocate another Sh3 billion to compensate for maize import costs from August. The move now means Sh6.7 billion has been spent to help relieve customers from the high cost of flour. According to Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, the plan is set to end in a few weeks and the government is expecting that fresh maize harvests will be availed for millers. Read: Government Subsidized Maize Flour Available At Sh. 90 “We have extended subsidy programme to mid-October, therefore, requiring additional resources…

Safaricom is currently testing an alternative method for its MPESA users to reverse cash transactions through text. The service once activated will allow customers to reverse transactions to mistaken recipients. The telecommunications company is currently testing it among its employees. According to reports, the mobile network provider extended the trial to a selection of customers on Wednesday. Read:New M-Pesa Payment Processing Solution, Paygate, Launched for Kenya and Tanzania After sending money to the unintended recipient customers will have to send the transaction code via SMS to the number 456. From there the transfer will be cancelled. The process will be…

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was temporarily shut down by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and was issued with a directive to delay all flights. The airport was shut down on Thursday for an hour to allow for the military practice their drills ahead of the October 20 Mashujaa Day. https://twitter.com/KenyaAirways/status/915632141261787136 Read:Kenya Ranked Second Largest Market In Africa By Uber Kenya Airways (KQ) released a statement to its customers, apologizing and informing them of potential delays at JKIA. “We wish to advise our esteemed guests travelling through JKIA on Thursday 5th October that we expect slight flight delays due to…

Kenya’s leading mobile network operator Safaricom Limited has sacked 52 employees in a move to to put an end to fraudulent activities. This comes after the company sacked 36 employees over corruption last year as well. The employees were sacked for their involvement in asset misappropriation, fraudulent expense claims and corruption. “While the number of investigations carried out during the year was substantively the same as Financial Year 2016, the number of staff dismissed for fraudulent behavior increased to 52,” Safaricom said. “This was primarily due to an enhanced review process, which targeted a single area of concern and unearthed fraud…

Jambojet has teamed up with Safaricom to promote Lipa na M-PESA service and increase bookings. According to reports the campaign will allow customers to pay for their flights using the Safaricom service and earn discounts and redeemable points. The three week campaign has been labelled ‘Buy and Fly with Lipa Na M-PESA and Jambojet’ with the aim of increasing the airlines bookings as the company prepares for the holiday season. Jambojet revealed that it has clocked over 2,000,000 passengers since started in 2013. Read: Kenyans Can Now Book Madaraka Express Ticket Via MPESA They will also be looking to Safaricom to…

Guinness has signed a deal with Arsenal legend Theirry Henry which will see 12 consumers stand a chance to win Ksh 1 million each along with the chance to watch a football match with him. As part of the deal the French international will visit Kenya in December to help open a community pitch in Ndakaini, draw support for the program and aid the Guinness brand in building its market share in Kenya. Henry is currently the second assistant manager for the Belgium National Men’s soccer team. He is also famous for his achievements at Arsenal FC, Barcelona, New York…

Naivas Supermarket has unveiled its Digital Retail Strategy through its payment network service called ‘Naivas Pay.’ The new service will allow customers to pay directly from their Bank account via mobile, internet, and card. The service will put an end to merchants having to rely on costly point of sale devices and eliminate logistical issues of having to handle cash on a daily basis. “Naivas Pay which we are launching today is part of our larger Retail Strategy. We believe going digital is neither a project nor a phase of our strategy but rather a mindset in what we do…

After several trials over the course of four months Safaricom has announced that they will now extend their MPESA 1Tap to Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nyeri. The service will be available for all Lipa Na M-PESA merchants and subscribers. The new service will ease the process of making and receiving cashless payments while also improving the accuracy and privacy of Lipa Na M-PESA. “As a trusted, easy and convenient cashless payment solution for more than 70,000 businesses in Kenya, Lipa Na M-PESA is ready to advance to become a more seamless solution. M-PESA 1Tap builds on a strong foundation built…