East Africa
AWS to Launch re/Start Programme in Kenya
Image sourced from Blog dbi services Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced that it would launch its re/Start programme in Kenya alongside three in South Africa, totalling 12 cohorts launched across Africa since October 2020. AWS re/Start cloud skills training programme will be launching four cohorts in Africa this month — including launching for the first time in Kenya — as part of the program’s rapid expansion plans this year. The cloud company is collaborating with getINNOtized, a tech company with roots in Germany that’s driven by creating social impact in Africa, and with Ajira Digital, a Kenyan government initiative driven by the Ministry of ICT, Innovations, and Youth Affairs to empower over one million young people to access digital job opportunities in Kenya. AWS re/Start is a fr...
New M-PESA Update Allows Users to Send Money to Multiple People
Sourced from Tech Weez. Safaricom has introduced a new M-PESA app feature that allows users to send money to up to five people at the same time. According to Gadgets Africa, a big reason why the telco may have introduced this feature is to make it easier for companies to pay employees via the app. “Most times you’d have to send them their dues one by one which can be tedious. Now this update should help ease that pressure. We’re not sure yet if it lets you select different amounts for different people but if that’s the case it’s even better.” MTN Bids for Ethiopian Telco Licence Alongside Vodacom and Safaricom MTN Group has reportedly made a bid for an Ethiopian telecommunications licence alongside Vodacom Group and Safaricom. Finance ministry adviser, Brook Taye says that the consortium o...
Uber Won’t Charge Trip Cancellation Fees in Kenya
Sourced from CNet. Uber revealed that it will no longer charge fees to Kenyan users, specifically in Mombasa and Nairobi, who cancel their rides. In an email to users, the ride-hailing platform says, “At Uber, we are always monitoring rider experience, market dynamics, and fare structures. This is to ensure our app continues to be a reliable and affordable option for you. With this in mind, we are removing all trip cancellation fees.” “Please note this has been implemented across all our products in Nairobi and Mombasa. As always we will continue to monitor your experience on our app, to ensure Uber remains your first app of choice.” This comes shortly after the company announced the expansion of its services throughout the country. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_f22.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: lef...
Liquid Telecom Announces New Identity in Uganda
Image sourced from MyBroadband Liquid Telecom has unveiled its new identity as Liquid Intelligent Technologies in Uganda. As part of the rebrand, the pan-African technology group also revealed its plan to go from being a telecommunications and digital services provider to a full one-stop-shop technology. Over the last two decades, Liquid has established itself as a leading pan-African digital infrastructure provider with an extensive network spanning over 73,000 KM. This rebrand to Liquid Intelligent Technologies highlights the organisation’s expansion of its Cloud business, Cyber Security services, and other technologies added to its existing telecoms and connectivity capability. This also furthers the Group’s aim of accelerating growth by providing tailor-made digital solutions to busine...
vivo Partners with Jambo Shoppee to Expand Footprint in Kenya
vivo has partnered with Kenyan online retailer Jambo Shoppee to increase its footprint across the East African country. According to a Master Card study on consumer spending in February 2021, it revealed that 79% of consumers in Kenya are shopping more online since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the partnership, vivo is confident that the online visibility of its products will increase – giving potential customers a wider range of choices. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_454.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_454.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } “The Kenyan Smartphone market offers a favourable competitive landscape; with consumers considering online purchasing options, this partnership will give our users a wide range of choice and will see them enjoy the best mobile phones ...
Airtel Africa Refutes Plans to Exit Kenyan Market
Sourced from Comms MEA Airtel Africa has denied reports that it plans to halt operations in Kenya. The rumours were reported by Techweez after Prasanta Das Sarmato, CEO of Airtel Kenya, assessed the viability of the company after The National ICT Policy 2019 was signed. “Equity Participation, a clause in the policy states that only companies with at least 30% substantive Kenyan ownership, either corporate or individual will be licensed to provide ICT services.” The telco, however, has said that it would not be leaving the Kenyan market – “we remain committed to delivering quality and value for money products and services to all our customers whilst ensuring effective, uninterrupted communication is achieved across the entire country.” Airtel goes on to say that it would cont...
Harmonize – Attitude ft Awilo Longomba & H Baba
Check out this new piece of music coming from Harmonize – “Attitude” ft Awilo Longomba & H Baba out now. Tanzanian music heavyweight Harmonize returns to the fore with a brand new song titled “Attitude” with a star lineup of Awilo Longomba and H Baba. We’re still basking in the euphoria of his previous release “Vibaya“. “Attitude” has a monster of a beat, as Harmonize takes his creativity towards the popular Makossa flavour. He does well to put on the legendary Awilo which he also samples on his new song. We are sure this would be another cross-country hit tune. It was produced by Master Garzy. Listen to Harmonize – “Attitude” ft Awilo Longomba & H Baba below & share. [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined...
Safaricom Forced to Split Dividend Payouts by CBK
Image sourced from Techweez The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has pressured Safaricom into dividing its dividend payouts in order to “shield the weakening shilling when the telecommunications firm seeks dollars for repatriation to foreign investors”, reports Business Daily. Kenya’s local currency has faced immense pressure in recent months following the collapse of the tourism sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to people familiar with the matter, the CBK’s push is one of the “key factors for the firm to break its tradition of making a single dividend payment in August or September” – this comes after the telco announced its first-ever interim dividend of Sh0.45 in February. “Safaricom has to buy dollars from the market then repatriate the dividends. The dollar demand associated w...
Calls for Safaricom to Share Telco Infrastructure by Kenya Competition Authority
Image sourced from Techweez The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has approached Parliament with new laws that would require the country’s telco’s – mainly Safaricom – to share their private infrastructure on a commercial basis. “The authority’s view is that ab initio infrastructure provisions in the sector should have been separated from the mobile network operators. Primarily regulations should have been developed to ensure that third parties provide the infrastructure. Unfortunately, this did not happen,” says CAK Director-General, Francis Wang’ombe Kariuki. “It is with this reality that we opine regulations should be promulgated and enforced in regard to infrastructure sharing on a commercial basis and in case of dispute, the sector regulator [Communications Authority of Kenya] may ...
Safaricom is Testing a Digital Health Passport Programme
Image sourced from Techweez Safaricom has begun testing Afya Moja – a mobile health records system – in partnership with Nakuru County. The initial pilot programme will see over 100,000 people be part of the integrated electronics medical records program. According to TechIsh, Afya Moja is a simple mobile-based Digital Health Passport that receives and securely stores patient information. With the platform, users can access a copy of their health information, and share it with trusted healthcare providers. “So, a doctor can for example, upon receiving consent from a user, have access to their medical background, helping them effectively handle whatever [medical] situation is at hand.” Steve Chege, Chief of Corporate Affairs at Safaricom, says “what we aim to do through Afya Moja, is to mak...
Harmonize – Vibaya
Check out this brand new song coming from Harmonize – “Vibaya” out now. Kode Gang boss Harmonize is back with another banging tune titled “Vibaya” shortly after the previous one “All Night“. There is no guest artiste and Harmonize owns the entire song with his melodious vocals. We’re certain you would get to love this new song upon listening as the Tanzanian singer brings his A-game on the track. The song was produced by the amazing B Boy Beatz. Listen, enjoy Harmonize – “Vibaya” below & share. https://www.naijamusic.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Harmonize_-_Vibaya_NaijaMusic.com.ng.mp3 Download [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Be...
