Author: Kaluka wanjala

On Monday, e-Taxi drivers held demonstrations in Nairobi demanding better pay. They claim the rates offered by the platforms are not sustainable. Bolt has issued a statement regarding this but the company is yet to confirm if ity has reached any agreement with the drivers. “Bolt is aware of the drivers’ strike and we respect their right to peaceful demonstrations. As a business, we consistently work towards enabling our driver partner’s entrepreneurial journey through our platform,” the company said. Bolt did not address specific issues raised by the drivers but went ahead to say, “ Bolt upholds local legislation and…

In a move that can be termed ‘ridiculous’, Posta Kenya is planning to raise annual Mpost rates by up to 2,000%. The corporation published a notice on X (Twitter) indicating that the new rates have been in effect since 5th July 2024. The corporation has taken down the X post as of writing this. From the notice shared, corporate customers will now be required to pay Ksh 9,450 per year while individual customers will be paying Ksh 2,000 every year. Mpost has confirmed these price changes saying, “Dear all our valued client, our pricing structure has transitioned from ksh 400…

Absa Bank Kenya and Old Mutual have today partnered to unveil a new bundled insurance product dubbed, Linda Biz. This product offers assets, medical and life insurance addressing the specific risks faced by SMEs. Speaking during the launch of Linda Biz, Absa Bank Kenya MD and CEO Abdi Mohamed underscored the need to invest in the SME sector, which continues to be underserved by insurance solutions, ensuring their comprehensive risk management and financial stability and access to credit. Linda Biz Benefits Linda Biz offers insurance for losses against fire, political violence, riots and strikes, floods, business interruption, burglary, loss of money…

Safaricom has added 598 5G sites in Kenya in just one year. The company revealed this in its latest annual report. As of March 2024, the telco had 803 active 5G sites up from the 205 sites it had last year. With 803 sites, Safaricom is the leading 5G operator in Kenya dwarfing Airtel’s 690 sites. Airtel Kenya launched its 5G services in Kenya last year while Safaricom 5G went live in Kenya back in October 2022. “Since the activation of our 5G service in March 2021, and its subsequent launch in October 2022, we have greatly expanded network access,…

In a world where technological advancements often leave behind the most vulnerable, Zero Bionic stands out as a beacon of hope, using the power of innovation to create a more inclusive society. Co-founded by Kevin Opondo, Zero Bionic is revolutionizing assistive technology, making significant strides in prosthetic innovation to empower individuals with disabilities. This was one of the innovations showcased at the launch of 7th edition of the National Science and Technology Annual Exhibition 2024 by Young Scientists Kenya [YSK]. Zero Bionic’s flagship innovation is a state-of-the-art robotic arm designed to translate signs and gestures into speech, addressing the communication…

Summary The third season of Tanzania’s Digital Accelerator Program has come to an end with a Demo Day event. This was a three-month acceleration program was in partnership with MassChallenge and Huawei. The program featured workshops, mentorship sessions, and most recently a learning tour in Shenzhen, China, experiencing cutting-edge technology and 5G networks. The Demo Day event, held in collaboration with various ventures and accelerators, underscored the growth, scope, and diversity of Tanzanian startups. The Digital Accelerator Program started with 20 startups, and from these, seven finalists emerged. These are MITz Kits, Afya ya Mnyama, Mkanda Salama, Go Go App,…

 d.light has closed a new securitization facility that will purchase $176 million of receivables in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This financing is provided by social impact-focused asset management company African Frontier Capital. With this new facility, d.light’s total securitized financing has a total purchasing value of $718 million. This is for all the 5 separate facilities since 2020. It has previously set up four facilities, beginning in 2020 and including two in Kenya and one each in Nigeria and Tanzania. In February, d.light announced that its $110 million securitization facility, Brighter Life Kenya 1 Limited (BLK1) successfully repaid its entire senior debt…

About 600 stakeholders from over 30 countries in Africa and beyond came together from July 8 to 10 at the inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss education technology for resilient and inclusive learning in Africa. Participants reached a consensus that integrating technology into learning systems in Africa is now a necessity, not a luxury. Hosted in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the conference concluded with a collective call to action on 10 recommendations for governments and other EdTech stakeholders. “Investing in education in Africa is not only about Africa; rather, it is about investing…

Young Scientists Kenya [YSK], has received 1,780 project abstracts for its 7th edition of the National Science and Technology Annual Exhibition 2024. Speaking at this year’s exhibition launch event, National Director, Dr. Eng. Victor Mwongera, says this represents a 138 percent increase in submissions compared to last year. This year’s exhibition is scheduled to take place between 19th to 23rd of August 2024. “This year, we are keen on sustainability under our theme – ‘Using STEM to Champion Climate Change Solutions”, said Dr. Mwongera. “The exhibition will have 200 students and 100 teachers showcasing their projects, with an additional 1,300…

Liquid C2 has announced the expansion of its Cloudmania business into the Egyptian channel partner ecosystem. Cloudmania is Liquid C2’ award-winning distribution business unit for cloud and cyber security solutions with operations in 35 countries across the Middle East and Africa. Cloudmania’s strategic partnership with Microsoft has allowed it to equip numerous partners with cloud and cyber security services and solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Azure solutions, within a fully supported ecosystem. “Extending Cloudmania’s reach to Egypt reflects our confidence in the Egyptian economy following the launch of Liquid C2 in Egypt a year ago. We see Egypt as the anchor country of…