Debt is one of the most stressful things you can go through in life. It can not only financially debilitate you but can have untold and severe effects on your health, both physically and mentally. The last thing you may want to do is contemplate taking on more debt. That’s even if you felt it was possible to secure the loan you need. With a guarantor loan, however, things are a little different. In most cases, there are no credit checks and as long as you have a guarantor with a healthy credit history, you can secure a loan for…
Author: Zainab Ismail
Running a construction business isn’t easy. There are a lot of little things you need to take care of each day and if you aren’t careful you can quickly find yourself spending more money than you’re able. But with a few simple changes, you can start saving your construction business a little bit of money and generate more of a profit. Here are 5 tips you can use if you have a construction business and you want to start saving some money: Hire the Right People The most important thing you can do is hire the right people. This goes…
HSEVEN, a Morrocan startup accelerator has launched “HSEVEN DISRUPT AFRICA”, a 6-month program promising to provide a seed investment of €150,000 plus an eventual investment of €500,000 to €1.5 million. Targeted at 10 seed and early-stage startups with 2 to 5 founders that are eager to impact Africa through innovative services, products and business models, the program has launched a global call for applications, followed by an international selection roadshow in New York, Montréal, San Francisco, Shanghai, Dubaï, Londres, Amsterdam, Paris, Casablanca. “We will bring the best Moroccan, African, and African-at-heart entrepreneurs from all over the world to build impactful world-class…
Uber has partnered with JUMO, a fintech firm to launch JUMO Drive, a unique digital vehicle finance product to increase its fleet of cars in Kenya and across Africa. After a similar deal with Kenya’s Sidian Bank, Stanbic Bank and South Africa’s Wesbank and a recent deal with CMC Kenya and Suzukifor UberCHAPCHAP. Uber’s appetite to grow its fleet across Africa is not waning. Jumo Drive is set to launched across Africa in 2019. According to JUMO Founder and CEO Andrew Watkins-Ball, “JUMO Drive is another way that we are making it easy for small businesses to access great choices:…
Tradestable treasure hunt has become one of the highest engagement fanclubs according to a case study by Eskimi fanclub. The study indicated that users spent 16 and above years of time playing tradestable this year. TradeStable.com.ng is a free classifieds website where you can buy and sell almost everything, close to you in Nigeria. Users can post an ad for free or browse through the categories to find thousands of free classifieds for cars, houses, mobile phones and gadgets, computers, pets and job offers in your region. In just over a year, TradeStable became one of the leading players in…
Farmers in Ghana will now be able to receive and request for scientific information on weather, soil and crop related conditions of their farms thanks to Syecomp Business Services Limited, The leading Ghanaian geospatial survey and mapping company is expected to launch a service to provide meteorological information services on agriculture for smallholder and commercial farmers being the first service of its kind in Ghana The company’s Chief Operations Manager Mr. Solomon Elorm Allavi said that the negative impact of climate change, water scarcity and food security on the productivity of smallholder and commercial farmers in Ghana needs to be…
Intergr8, a well and established associate of Cisco South Africa has been awarded as the best services partner by the multinational network services provider and global vendor for the year 2014. Cisco south Africa honored integr8 with this coveted award at an event held recently in Kloofzicht, Muldersdrift in Gauteng. Integr8 has proved its credentials as a channel partner capable of designing and implementing Cisco solutions purpose-built for businesses. The national managed ict services provider has largely put its main focus and commitment in its ability to sell both Cisco branded services as well as collaborative services which has earned the…
There has been a rising scuffle between the Cameroonian and Vietnamese employees of the mobile telephone provider Viettel Cameroon just four months to its official opening. According to reports by employees of heavy recruitment of Vietnamese executives to the company while sidelining the Cameroonian workers interest into the same offices causing tension between the two sides. The employees have reiterated that Viettel Cameroon currently has 317 predominantly senior employees out of a total of 600 on staff. Company heads of challenged this claim with the estimate that the number of Vietnamese recruited is between 100 and 150. At the signing…
Asus has announced the introduction of new products to add to its product portfolio at the annual Computex event in Taiwan. The Taiwanese pc and tablet manufacturer has made the announcement that it is introducing a number of new hybrid gadgets which include the Transformer Book V, Transformer Book Flip and the Transformer Book T300 Chi in a bid to strengthen its innovative product portfolio The product announcements come at a time when the industry has been experiencing a growing demand of converged products. According to the company the Transformer Book V is a revolutionary gadget that will address…
Kenyans have been urged to join the process of creating Sustainable Development Goals, which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) next year. The SDGs to be launched in September 2015 aim to get rid of poverty and work towards better and more equitable nations where all citizens have access to their basic necessities. Safaricom Head of Corporate Responsibility Sanda Ojiambo encouraged all Kenyans to register their support and ideas towards the initiative through Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #myKenya to raise a voice about the development goals that matter to them. “Now is the moment for Kenyans via…
Africa’s growing mobile network footprint is helping to drive up demand for electronic test equipment in the telecommunications sector. This is according to research firm Frost & Sullivan, which says “telecom operators are increasingly looking for spectrum analysers to test and validate the mobile networks to improve the quality of their service as signal strength in Africa is very poor.” This testing is being done in the world’s fastest growing mobile market, which the GSMA forecasts to grow 43% by 2017 to hit 346 million unique subscribers. And Frost & Sullivan reports that the electronic test equipment market earned revenues…
Electronics giant Samsung is attempting to curb fake phone sales in Botswana as part of its ‘buy genuine campaign’. The campaign is in line with efforts by the country’s telecommunications regulator, the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), which kicked off a drive against fake phones last year. Selling fake phones in Botswana risks fines of up to P2 million or jail terms of 10 years. “Registered devices, unlike the cheaper knock off or even grey varieties, are covered by a 24-month warranty to give the consumer peace of mind,” said John Moir, country manager for Samsung Botswana. “We want to…
50 kenyan students and software developers have completed an intensive training courtesy of IBM which will enhance their technical and entrepreneurial skills. The IBM team also developed plans to stimulate female entrepreneurship, improve agribusiness, and develop the workforce through internships for university students. Drawn from 13 countries, the 15 IBM specialists comprised the eighth IBM Corporate Service Corps team since 2010 to spend one month providing assistance in Kenya. This pro bono, problem solving IBM initiative assists government, educational institutions, small businesses, and not for-profit trade and social service organizations throughout emerging markets. During an intensive two-week period, IBM team…
Japanese firm Softbank has unveiled a robot called Pepper, which it says can read human emotions. It uses an “emotional engine” and a cloud-based artificial intelligence system that allows it to analyse gestures, expressions and voice tones. The firm said people could communicate with it “just like they would with friends and family” and it could perform various tasks. It will go on sale to the public next year for 198,000 yen ($1,930; £1,150). “People describe others as being robots because they have no emotions, no heart,” Masayoshi Son, chief executive of Softbank, said at a press conference. “For the…
Airtel Kenya Managing Director Adil El Youssetta has lauded the government for licensing three Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), which do not own a communication infrastructure. “Kenyans are hungry for choice. The move will not only provide a chance to compete on equal grounds but also allow for innovation,” said Youssetta. He was speaking in Eldoret during the launch of their flagship store in the town. The Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) licensed Zioncell, Tangaza Pesa and Fincell (a subsidiary of Equity Bank) as MNVOs, allowing them to provide all forms of services to customers using the communications infrastructure of…
Samsung Electronics has launched the world’s first smartphone powered by the Tizen operating system. The Samsung Z will go on sale in Russia in the July-to-September quarter. Most Samsung phones currently use the Android platform, but the South Korean firm has been working with chipmaker Intel to develop Tizen as an alternative operating system. It is seen as a way to make Samsung less dependent on Android’s developer, Google. The company will show off the phone at the Tizen Developer Conference, being held this week in San Francisco. It did not disclose the device’s price. Samsung is currently the world’s…
Google has launched a service to allow Europeans to ask for personal data to be removed from online search results. The move comes after a landmark European Union court ruling earlier this month, which gave people the “right to be forgotten”. Links to “irrelevant” and outdated data should be erased on request, it said. Google said it would assess each request and balance “privacy rights of the individual with the public’s right to know and distribute information”. “When evaluating your request, we will look at whether the results include outdated information about you, as well as whether there’s a public…
The government has been beseeched to urgently lift the ban on Bacteria Thurensis (BT) cotton technology so as to increase efficiency and yield cotton growing counties. Speaking during a Governors’ brief on the state of food security at a hotel in Nairobi on Thursdaykisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, said BT technology will see less environmentally hazardous pesticides needed to curb the ball worm and weed infestation. The previous government had banned importation of BT cotton technology until a taskforce that was created gave their findings on its safety. The report by the taskforce is expected to be released by the end…
Google has imposed restrictions on where people can get extensions for its Chrome browser. In a blogpost, the search giant said it was now going to allow only extensions hosted in its online store to be added to Chrome. Before now it has been possible to add the extras via many different websites but Google said this is often how malicious extensions infect a browser. The change means older extensions added outside the store will be disabled. Extensions are a popular way for people to add extras to their browser that lets them, for instance, grab video clips, play games,…
London’s transport authority has announced it does not believe Uber’s car service is breaking the law by using an app to determine charges. However, Transport for London added it would invite the High Court to give a binding ruling on the matter “given the level of concern among the trade”. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) has claimed the app equates to being a taximeter, which private vehicles are not allowed to use. It plans a demonstration on 11 June. The organisation announced the action earlier this month, saying it intended to cause “severe congestion and traffic chaos for large…
Members of the east African region are currently deliberating on how they can put up regional internet exchange points to contain local Internet traffic and reduce costs associated with traffic exchange between Internet Service providers. In a weeklong forum jointly organised by African Union Commission, East African Communications Organisations, The East African Community and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the 11 partner states are focused on ensuring that internet traffic is routed locally, which according to experts will help improve Internet service providers efficiency. The countries present include; Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritius, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea.…
Intel Corporation is going to invest in the electroniceducationalresources to allow youths get access to quality education in a pleasant manne r as acommitment to modern teaching and learning techniques. The company announced this at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria Education Network Conference 2014 (Edunet) tagged “Fostering Technology Entrepreneurship in Nigerian Universities, This year’s Edunet targets University students in Nigeria and seeks to help them identify ways to draw on resources and structures as well as exploit emerging technology opportunities which enhance learning. According to, Mr. Stanley Muoneke, Strategic Relationship director for West Africa at Intel, “our participation in…
Google is to start building its own self-driving cars, rather than modifying vehicles built by other manufacturers. The car will have a stop-go button but no controls, steering wheel or pedals. Co-founder Sergey Brin revealed the plans at a conference in California. “We’re really excited about this vehicle – it’s something that will allow us to really push the capabilities of self driving technology, and understand the limitations,” said Chris Urmson, director of the company’s self-driving project. He added that the cars had the ability to “improve people’s lives by transforming mobility”. But some researchers working in this field are…
About 839 million workers still earn less than $2.00 a day as workers in developing countries are increasingly moving to better jobs and joining the middle class, but, the International Labour Organization said. “The developing countries are generally in a process of catching up with the advanced economies,” ILO chief Guy Ryder told reporters in Geneva ahead of the release of the agency’s annual World of Work Report on Tuesday. Since the global financial crisis of 2007, the convergence between conditions in the developed and developing worlds has picked up speed. Some 30.6 million more people have been added to…
Equity Bank has officially launched its Network Operator (MVNOs) strategy and will unveil its roll out plan by July 2014. The Bank has hailed their MVNO as the ‘next big thing’: Equity 3.0. The Equity MVNO accords Equity Bank the opportunity to continue its mission of furthering financial inclusion and innovative service offerings for all Kenyans by presenting their financial services offering on to a single platform which will make banking services more accessible, flexible convenient and more affordable. Meanwhile, Equity has said it has developed a strategic partnership with Airtel which will support Equity’s delivery of MVNO services without …
Apple is requesting a retrial after a Californian jury ordered Samsung to pay the US company $119m (£71m) in damages for infringing two of its patents. Apple had been seeking damages of $2.2bn after accusing Samsung of copying five patents including the “slide to unlock function”. The US company also filed a permanent injunction to prevent Samsung using the patents it was found to have infringed. Samsung filed court documents too but the contents have not been made public. During the original trial Apple had accused Samsung of “systematically” copying features distinctive to its iOS software. Samsung denied that it…
FOR 18 months, Domino’s Pizza negotiated with a local consortium to open the world’s biggest pizza-delivery chain in South Africa, but then made a sudden about turn and announced a deal with Taste Holdings instead, court documents show. The local consortium, now a Mauritian-registered company called International Foodservice Concepts (IFC), has now lodged court papers revealing e-mails between it and senior Domino’s executives to show that the deal was all but complete, except for the final signature. IFC is made up of three prominent businessmen — RJ van Spaandonk, Rodney Ichikowitz and Keith Warren. Warren was the general manager for…
Samsung Electronics plans to unveil a smartwatch that works as a stand-alone phone in the next few months making another run at that perennial technogeek dream. Samsung’s watch-phone will be able to make and receive calls without being tethered to a smartphone, something most smartwatches on the market now can’t do, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. It will also take photos, send email and come with GPS, Bluetooth and a heart monitor, the people said—a suite of features that would make the gadget-toting James Bond proud. (The fictional British spy used a wrist walkie-talkie in the movie…
The media council of Kenya has warned radio Talk shows with vulgar content of strict repercussions after numerous complaints by the public. A survey was conducted found not only were the shows not following the journalistic code of conduct but were also hosted by untrained personnel. The council commissioned a survey titled ‘the Media Monitoring Report on Radio Talk Shows’, which was unveiled yesterday and found 54 per cent of respondents indicated there is a problem of obscenity in radio talk shows because the hosts were not in control of the discussions and thus let them spiral out of control.…
The law society of Kenya has accused Political activist Moses Kuria for a Facebook post that they claim is hate speech. Law Society of Kenya LSK Secretary Apollo Mboya wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko to investigate and prosecute the author of the post and those who commented on itaccording to the daily nation on Wednesday “The posts incite the public to violence targeted at specific community and may very well constitute hate speech which if not curbed, [could] plunge the country into chaos,” Mr Mboya wrote, insisting that LSK had been informed of the post…