Author: Susan Mwenesi

MTN Business Kenya has filed a case in court against Iphone Global over a Sh8.2 million ($ 97,604.21) debt that accrued from internet services provided to the latter in 2007 and 2010. The Business Daily reports that MTN submitted that defunct UUNet had failed and neglected to make any payment for the services and instead only made empty promises. UUNet was to be pay on a monthly basis on receipt of invoices from the plaintiff who then had a meeting with the company directors and it was agreed on how the debt would be paid. It later emerged that UUNet…

A new entrant, Kendy Money Transfer Ltd has joined the money transfer market in Kenya offering citizens a bouquet of solutions to send money and make payments within Africa and abroad. The  Pan African Remittance Service provider  is one of the money transfer companies recently issued with a license by the Central Bank of Kenya. The company cross transfers remittances between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Niger, Mauritania, Ghana and Gambia and some of the services provided by Kendy Money Transfer to recipients include transfers to cash, bank deposit, mobile wallet, and bill payments.…

Kenya is on a mission to rid its government agencies of ghost workers and yesterday the country’s president Uhuru Kenyatta was the first civil servant to take part in an exercise that will have all government employees register have their details captured digitally. Known as the Capacity Assessment and Rationalization of the Public Service (CARPS) Programme, the exercise will have all employees in Ministries, Departments and Agencies at the National and County governments  physically present themselves at the identification centers with the following documents: Original ID card; duly completed biometric data form; original academic and professional certificates; letter of 1st…

Global management strategy firm McKinsey has signed an agreement that will see it serve and advisory role to the Equity Bank Group in the implementation of the bank’s 3.0strategy. On hand to close the partnership agreement at Equity Bank Headquarters was Global Managing Director Mr. Dominic Barton and Equity Bank Group, Managing Director, Dr James Mwangi. Equity Bank’s engagement with McKinsey, will guarantee the bank access to a pool of global management resources required to fuel its transformational 3.0 strategy geared at changing banking to a lifestyle. The strategy will turn Equity Bank from the conventional banking model;-Somewhere you go;…

Peter Koinange is the new Regional Manager for the Mombasa Access Kenya office group and appointment coming in the midst of the ongoing integration of AccessKenya Group and Internet Solutions Kenya, following the company’s acquisition by Dimension Data in 2013. To take the reins immediately Koinange will be bringing to the company 8 years experience in business leadership and management spanning sales and client services from Jamii Telkom where he was the Head of Enterprise-Coast region. “I am happy to be joining a formidable team and look forward to contributing and sharing in many successes within the AccessKenya group not only…

Online real estate market place Lamudi Uganda has partnered with Zion Estates for a satellite city known as Satr City in Matuga Mbugu that will feature own shopping mall, commercial area and taxi park.  To be completed by next year, the city will sit on a 900 acre plot of land, Zion estates will provide the amenities for tenants in order to alleviate the need for them to go all the way to central business district to cater for their needs. This is a new trend in Uganda to have cities within a city. Shakib, Country Manager of Lamudi Uganda commented, “We’re…

The growth potential of the African hardcopy peripherals (HCP) market remains intact and this is despite suffering a slight decline in Q2 2014 according to the International Data Corporation whose latest figures show the region experienced year-on-year declines of 1.6% in volume and 2.8% in value during Q2 2014. South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria which are the biggest IT markets have all reported a strong recovery in shipments from the corresponding period of 2013, but the remaining markets all came under considerable inventory pressure after experiencing a particularly strong Q1 2014. Tender activities within the government sector, coupled with growth…

Ambitious big data analysis project, Nafsi, has started with TA Telecom launching trials in Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa in a project that will use mobile technology to collect data from individual countries and map the personalities of the people living there. Nafsi, which means “soul” or “being” in Swahili and Arabic, allows individuals across Africa to take a mobile-ready psychometric test to identify their personality type and will involve hundreds of thousands of people living across the continent. Developed alongside Egypt’s first certified life coach and psychologist, Ahmed El Aawar, Nafsi uses a series of questions delivered by…

The government of Kenya through the ministry of devolution has opened the Mombasa Huduma centre being the first one in the coast region with Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru lauding the efforts of the centre started operations. “The Mombasa Huduma Centre serves an average of 1,200 customers per day. To date the centre has served more than 35,000 customers. The total revenue collected in this centre so far is more than Kshs. 31,525,582.00,” she said. The Cabinet Secretary further added that the government has entered into a partnership with the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) to collect revenues on behalf of…

Emirates is offering Kenyan travellers up to 25 percent discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares to a range of exciting destinations around the world. This new offer for fares will apply when booked between August 27thand September 6th 2014 for travel period starting August 27thuntil December 3rd, 2014. The rafts of savings mean that passengers can fly economy class, for example, form Nairobi to Dubai from as little as $564. Other destinations include Guangzhou from $984, Ahmedabad from $440, Mumbai from $452, Beijing from USD1239, Hong Kong from $977, Istanbul from $543, London Heathrow from $958, Washington DC from…

For Ksh.13,500 you can own a Nokia X2 which is now available for sale in Kenya promising upgraded specifications, more popular Microsoft services and asmoother, easier user experience  “The Nokia X2 was designed to help the next billion people connect to the mobile Internet and cloud services, affordably,” said Kingori Gitahi, Product Manager, Microsoft. “Following on from the great reception we saw to the first Nokia X device, we’re pleased to offer the next step in the line-up with the affordable Nokia X2.” Among the notable features of the device are a larger 4.3” ClearBlack display, a 5MP rear-facing, autofocus…

UK-based GSMA has waded into the embedded SIM card row between mobile network operator Safaricom and Equity bank which wants to roll out mobile banking and money transfer services in Kenya. The Business Daily reports that GSMA wrote to the Communications Authority of Kenya warning that embedding the SIM card between a normal SIM card and the device could potentially allow for the harvesting and revealing sensitive data passing the system. The association added that the thin SIM is capable of bypassing any security technologies, such as cryptographic keys to record sensitive data and make it available to third parties…

Facebook has announced that it will reduce click-baiting headlines on News Feed in a bid to help people find the relevant and most interesting posts while at the same time reduce spam and stories people do not want to see. Basically, “Click-baiting” is when a publisher posts a link with a headline that encourages people to click to see more, without telling them much information about what they will see. Posts like these tend to get a lot of clicks, which means that these posts get shown to more people, and get shown higher up in News Feed. “However, when…

Telecommunications firm MTN plans to lay off about 850 managerial staff, a move attributed to slow growth as well as tough competition in the market. According to Reuters, despite the company’s growth over the last twenty years, it has been facing competition from Vodacom which dominates the market. MTN’s South Africa’s revenue fell by 7 per cent to 19.2 billion rand ($1.8 billion) in the first half of this year while its margins also went down. “We have just received a massive retrenchment notice at MTN Group -0.05%,” said Marius Croucamp, a spokesman at the Solidarity Union, which largely represents…

A partnership dunned ‘Africa Together’ between the International Data Corporation (IDC) and Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) has been formed with the purpose of helping ICT firms in the country penetrate high-growth markets across the African continent. According to statistics, ICT usage and penetration is still low despite the continent experiencing economic growth especially when it is compared to the rest of the world. IDC’s latest forecasts show IT spending across Africa (excluding South Africa) reaching $26.4 billion by 2018, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.03% — close to double the worldwide figure of…

The Kenyan government will soon launch an online platform that will make it possible for citizens living abroad access government services. While speaking at the commissioning of the Kenyans Diaspora Expo to be held in New York, Mr. Zachary Muburi the director, diaspora and consular affairs directorate said that it will also be easy to access documents by the end of this year. The Daily Nation reports that the platform is expected be a one-stop point for all government services, much like the Huduma Centre. “There are a number of things that the diaspora wants the government to do for…

 A total of 175 employees from the exiting yuMobile will be absorbed by rivals Safaricom and Airtel as part of the buyout by the two telecoms that is expected to be sealed this week. According to the Business Daily, 150 out of the 197 yuMobile employees will be taken to Safaricom while Airtel will take 25.22 employees will however not be absorbed and will instead be paid to retire. Early this year, employees from yuMobile filed a case in court seeking to stop sale of the telecom until their fate is known. “The transaction is now almost coming into a…

Sudatel Telecom Group (STG)  has announced an EBITDA of $75 million profit as preliminary results for the first half of 2014 , an increase of 17% year-on-year and reflecting an improved EBITDA margin of 32%, compared to 27% in H1 2013. In a statement, the Khartoum-based company declared revenues of USD233 million, while net income increased 41% year-on-year to $24 million. “STG is strategically considering smart investments in Sudan and West Africa operations to continue business improvements, and enhance position in all markets,” said STG board chairman, Abdelrahman Mohamed Dirar. “Data, on both fixed and mobile platforms, is the strategic direction and focus for…

Pre-paid and post-paid subscribers on Tigo Ghana can now access the all products through a unified short code, 555 as the company has unveiled the installation of a world-class IVR (Interactive Voice Response). The code will make it easier for customers reduce the inconvenienceof customers memorizing different short codes for the various services and products not to mention enhanced customer experience. Customers can either call 555 and follow the voice prompt or dial *555# and follow the instructions on their mobile screen and they will be guided to the various products and services including data and voice bundles, Tigo cash…

Airtel Tanzania customers can now send and receive money between Airtel and Tigo Tanzannia after former launched a cross border service that will enhance secure, fast and easy mode of money-transfer services between the companies’ mobile money wallets. The service is the first of its kind and will benefit Tigo customers as well. Commenting on the introduction, Airtel Tanzania Managing Director Sunil Colaso said, “This partnership with Tigo is a world first service allowing customers to transact directly to their e-wallet or respective recipient’s e-wallet. With off-net charges removed, it means lower cost and less hassle in withdrawing cash, therefore…

Uganda’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) stand to benefit from a new iWayAfrica managed infrastructure and services solution that will ensure that all IT processes are managed on a single strict service level agreement. These include business email; data storage and collaboration; network security, bandwidth monitoring and reporting, offsite electronic data and email backups; offsite electronic data and email archives; and enhanced network monitoring and support. The solution was created by pan African telecoms operator Gondwana International Networks (GIN)’s iWayAfrica while the new product offering has been done in conjunction with managed services company, SevenC Computing. Winston Smith, General Manager,…

LinkMii is permitting both customers and businesses to get and stay connected to each other by using the latest gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, and the internet. The portal of LynkMii is enabling all business owners to post details pertaining to their products and services to their mobile customers as per geographic location. This will enable all of their prospective clients to review any businesses located near them offering certain services or any special promos that are currently available. LynkMii is now available on the mobile world. Designed to let businesses take advantage of the amazing mobile connections channel, LynkMii…

Justin Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of One Africa Media (OAM) has been nominated as a finalist for the southern Africa chapter of the EY World Entrepreneur Award for 2014 in the emerging category, the nomination being a tribute to a man who co-founded the Private Property brand –South Africa’s leading real estate portal. The award programme mainly recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. One Africa Media (OAM) CEO Justin Clarke has been honoured with a nomination as a finalist in the southern Africa chapter of the…

Stakeholders in the Kenyan Tourism industry are counting losses of up to Sh40 billion occassioned by a drastic drop in arrivals, not to mention less 20 per cent occupancy that is a result of recent acts of terrorism in the country. Speaking at a press conference The Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Education Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) said that the issuing of  travel advisories by key tourist markets has dealt a big blow to the industry. “We are going through a hard time. The figure of Sh40 billion is a conservative estimation,…

The AMPION Venture Bus conference will be held in Kigali Rwanda on October 19 this year bringing together (ICT) entrepreneurs, developers to network with the region’s best ICT brains. At the conference entrepreneurs will also get the opportunity to pitch in front of investors. The conference will mark the culmination of the inaugural AMPION ICT bus tour that will start es Salaam on October 11 and go through the other East African Community countries. Douglas Ogeto, the acting country manager of the project, said the venture is expected speed up entrepreneurial potential in the regional bloc and urged ICT innovators…

 The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has called for a meeting this Friday with Safaricom and Equity Bank over the use of embedded SIM cards preferred by the bank for their telecommunications and mobile banking services to be rolled out soon. In a petition, Safaricom opposed to the move citing security concerns for mobile subscribers as using this kind of SIM card will mean that they will have to ride on the primary SIM card used by the subscriber. According to the Business Daily, the CA will be ruling on the matter after the meeting, but not on the same…

Nigeria mobile network operators (MNO)s are evolving as far as their business models are concerned and are now increasingly scoping outsourcing models in collaboration with third-party infrastructure providers rather than deploying and owning their entire network infrastructure themselves. According to global consulting and advisory services firm International Data Corporation (IDC), the new evolution has been spurred by the pressing need to optimize or even reduce costs relating to network operations and maintenance fees. This quest to sustain profitability is not unique to Nigerian operators, with the trend proving popular globally. But there are distinct forces at play within the Nigerian…

Equity Investment Bank, a subsidiary of Equity Bank Group’s has penned an agreement   with global investment services firm, Exotix Partners LLP, as part of its market development strategies. The partnership will allow the two Investment Banking players to collaborate closely on their respective research, sales and trading platforms. Under the arrangement,  EIB will execute Kenya and East Africa fixed income and equity trades for Exotix’ international and regional institutional clients.  EIB’s Equity and Fixed Income sales team will be integrated within Exotix’ Global Frontier sales teams. The EIB research team will follow a sector specialist research approach across East Africa, and…

Kenya has been facing insecurity challenges that have led to loss of life and seen some sectors such as tourism get crippled prompting the country to come up with means to counter them the latest being getting an American company to monitor information exchanged between citizens. The Business Daily reports that over the next two months there will be a roll out of digital personal identification cards and a telecoms surveillance network to remotely intercept voice and text messages between people. Yesterday Interior secretary Joseph ole Lenku said Kenya is negotiating with American firm Richmar and Associates for the supply…

After discovering that most companies in Kenya do not have adequate female representation on their board membership, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) will coordinate a series of forums targeted at creating more diversity in company boardrooms. A recent survey of 57 of the 61 companies listed on the NSE indicates that of a total of 467 directors, only 43 are women out of which only four occupy the position of chairperson. This is also in the spirit of fostering best practices in corporate governance spearheaded by NSE and they will take place during the course of 2014 and 2015. The…