Author: Kaluka wanjala

Consumers are bracing for the peak shopping season with the December holidays on the horizon. The thought of long queues and crowded malls may put shoppers off, but more consumers are opting to shop online. E-commerce is becoming increasingly popular in Kenya. New data from Aleph Group, a leader in the digital and technology fields, reveals new insights and changes in Kenyan consumer trends, with the numbers pointing to solid growth in the online shopping industry. ‘Social media and e-commerce have reshaped Kenyan consumer behaviour, notably during peak shopping seasons,” said Rachel Karanu, Client Partner Lead for East Africa, Aleph Group. “Online…

Airtel Money Kenya has signed a partnership with Naivas Supermarket that will allow Airtel Money customers to deposit and withdraw cash across Naivas branches countrywide. The deal is part of Airtel Money’s proactive strategy to expand its agent footprint and get closer to the customer.  Speaking during the signing ceremony, Airtel Money Managing Director, Ms. Anne Kinuthia-Otieno said the partnership, will significantly bolster their ongoing efforts to enhance access to financial services for their customers through their Mobile Money platform. “Today marks a significant milestone for us, as we join hands with Naivas Supermarket to bring enhanced convenience to our…

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has announced the approval of Safaricom’s Ziidi Money market Fund. The regulator announced that today saying  Ziidi Money Market Fund has been approved as a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS).  The fund will be accessible through the M-Pesa platform and will be competing with the existing Money Market Funds (MMFs) offered by most of the leading financial institutions in kenya. Safaricom already has the Mali product which is also considered to be a Money Market Fund. It will be interesting to see how the two products will co-exist. For Ziidi Money Market Fund, Safaricom has partnered…

Kenyan ISP, Mawingu, has announced that it is expanding to Tanzania with the acquisition of Habari, an Arusha-based ISP with operations across 7 regions in Tanzania. Mawingu has raised KSh 1.9 Billion ($15 million) of debt and equity financing to enable this expansion into East Africa. This is in addition to the Ksh 1.12 billion the ISP received back in 2023. Habari has been in operation for over 25 years delivering Internet and ICT solutions to rural households and businesses across Tanzania. Through this acquisition, Mawingu will be able to accelerate the availability of its service in areas that have…

Family Bank Group’s Profit Before Tax for the nine months of 2024 grew by 8 per cent to KES 3.26 billion, up from KES 3.02 billion in the same period last year. This growth was driven by a significant increase in income across various revenue streams. Total interest income surged by 29% to KES 14.6 billion, buoyed by a 20% rise in income from loans and advances, which reached KES 10.6 billion. The loan book expanded by 11.3% to KES 94.2 billion. Our investments in government securities yielded more with a resultant 65% jump in interest income attributable to higher…

LG Electronics (LG) has announced a series of organizational changes and executive appointments following the approval of its board of directors. This restructuring aims to accelerate the company’s mid- to long-term strategy, “Future Vision 2030,” by enhancing inter-organizational synergy and innovating its business portfolio. The restructuring focuses on regrouping LG’s business operation units to maximize the potential of existing businesses, strengthen platform-based service operations, accelerate B2B initiatives and secure new growth engines in promising sectors. These changes are designed to enhance efficiency through the strategic selection and concentration of capabilities, thereby creating greater synergy between businesses and bolstering future competitiveness.…

Kenya Airways (KQ) has been awarded Africa’s Best Airline Website 2024 and Africa’s Best Airline App 2024 at the 4th Annual World Travel Tech Awards. KQ’s website was recognized for its user-friendly design and intuitive features, ensuring that travelers can access comprehensive, up-to-date information at their fingertips. The recently revamped website includes a price histogram to help customers make informed booking decisions, inspirational travel deals, a trip planner for easy destination selection, and a responsive mobile interface. KQ’s award-winning airline app stood out for its ease of use and features that simplify customers’ travel. From booking to pre-departure services, the app integrates innovative functionalities that…

ariika has announced the successful conclusion of its Series A extension equity round of $3 million, led by Beltone Venture Capital, a subsidiary of Beltone Financial Holding and UAE-based investment group Citadel International Holdings. This strategic investment marks a significant milestone for ariika to accelerate its growth trajectory locally and regionally. It also serves as a testament to ariika’s robust performance, achieving over 3x year-over-year (YOY) sales growth on a USD basis, with strong and sustainable profitability. ariika is transforming a USD20 billion home and décor industry in MENA, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of approximately 10%…

Binance today announced the appointment of key compliance and investigations hires as it continues to expand its compliance program and staff amid the industry and company’s rapid maturation. Binance expects to increase its compliance staff to 645 employees by the end of the year, which is a 34 percent growth between November 2023 and the end of 2024. As of today, we employ over 1,000 compliance staff and contractors. Todd McElduff, former PayPal executive, joins as Enterprise Compliance Director Recent compliance hires include Todd McElduff, who joins Binance as its Enterprise Compliance Director. The Enterprise Compliance team at Binance is…

Hotpoint Appliances have today unveiled a festive-season campaign, running until January 12, 2025, that will allow buyers of LG products to win exciting prizes, including a KES1 million grand prize, home makeovers or a trip for two to Malaysia. The campaign, titled Win A Million, ushers in the end-year festivities, during which buyers of LG products will enjoy discounts ranging from 5% to 45% on select items. “The campaign is part of Hotpoint Appliances’ commitment to providing quality, innovation, and value to its customers, ensuring they can celebrate the season in style,” said Hotpoint’s Managing Director, Shailesh Kanani. During the campaign,…