Author: Kaluka wanjala

In our quest for better living, the technology we use has evolved from simple landlines to sophisticated ecosystems that now manage our homes with a tap on our smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy ecosystem in 2024 exemplifies this evolution, offering an interconnected network of devices that work together to simplify our lives and enhance our well-being. Innovations in Smart Home Integration Imagine a world where your devices operate in perfect harmony, seamlessly simplifying your daily routines. The 2024 Samsung Galaxy ecosystem delivers just that, with new features like the Galaxy Ring and enhancements to existing tools such as Samsung Flow, pushing…

Bayobab Kenya has announced the completion of a long-distance fibre network that is set to connect Mombasa to Malaba and Busia. Bayobab Kenya is part of Bayobab Group, the digital infrastructure business arm of MTN Group. This completed fibre network runs up to the border of Kenya and Uganda where it interconnects into Uganda for onward connectivity to Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It follows the Kenya Railway metre guage route covering over 1,000 kilometres on the Kenyan side. Since it spans across many towns, it is able to offer connectivity to these underserved towns…

Wasoko and MaxAB have announced the completion of their merger following the signing of preliminary terms in Q4 2023. This merger was conducted as an all-stock transaction and the new entity is set to have a new name. When announcing the merger last year, MaxAB CEO Belal El-Megharbel, stated: “This merger is the culmination of developing excellent teams, a lot of hard work over the years and a commitment to innovative solutions adding up to our unique offering to retailers. The newly formed entity will leverage on Wasoko and MaxAB’s localised online and offline expertise across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt…

iColo has today announced the installation of solar panels at its facilities in Kenya, making it one of the greenest global connectivity hubs in the country. The data center operator has successfully added and commissioned over 650 kilowatts (kW) of new solar installations across its two data center campuses in Nairobi and Mombasa. Over 450kW of this new solar capacity is available within iColo’s NBO campus, where over 60 national and global networks aggregate, and will support continued campus expansion. The nearly 200 kW of remaining capacity will be utilized on iColo’s growing Miritini Mombasa campus. “Our solar investments are…

Absa Bank Kenya has reported profit after tax of Kshs10.7 billion for the half year ended 30 June 2024. This is a 29% increase over the same period last year. For the six months period, loans and advances closed at Kshs.316.3 billion, with the Bank booking Kshs. 64 billion in new gross lending to critical sectors of the economy. In the period, total revenues rose 16% to stand at Kshs. 31.8 billion, underpinned by growth in funded income at Ksh. 23 billion. Additionally, non-funded income grew by 8.4%, reflecting both the strength of the legacy revenue streams and the robust double-digit…

Bolt has today announced an increase in its base fare across all ride categories. This is in response to the recent protest by drivers who demanded better pay. Uber raised its base fare last week by 10% and it seem like Bolt is reacting to that move with today’s announcement. This price change is good news but not enough according to the drivers I have spoken to. Most want Bolt and Uber to lower the commission they charge the drivers and not just hike the base fares. They argue that the taxi hailing apps take so much money for every…

LOOP is working to rebrand its Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solution to LOOP Flex. The company has had a BNPL solution but we do not hear much about it as much as we do the other solutions on the market. The company is actively promoting the use of LOOP Flex as you can see from the photo above. The photo above shows that LOOP Flex is ‘coming soon’ which indicates that the official relaunch is expected in a few weeks or months. I am not sure how long LOOP Flex has been in operation as the company hasn’t shared…

TikTok has announced the launch of its inaugural Safety Advisory Council and the expansion of its #SaferTogether community education campaign. By partnering with key stakeholders, including policymakers, members from academia, NGOs, and community leaders, TikTok aims to foster a collaborative approach to ensuring a secure and positive platform environment. This announcement was made at TikTok’s Safety Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.  The Safety Advisory Council  Since 2020, TikTok has established nine regional Safety Advisory Councils alongside the U.S. Content Advisory Council, each composed of experts in areas such as youth safety, free expression, and hate speech. These councils play a…

Binance has today announced that users in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia can now buy and sell crypto assets using mobile money. With the introduction of Binance’s One Click Buy and Sell (OCBS) feature, users can easily purchase crypto assets and sell assets directly from their mobile money accounts. This new feature is part of their global fiat on-ramp/off-ramp offering, developed in partnership with Transfi. To buy or sell crypto assets with mobile money, you will need to update to the latest version of the Binance app. Binance says it applies rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols and robust security measures…

OPPO has officially launched the Reno 12 series in Kenya. The company unveiled this series yesterday which saw the unveiling of two smartphones in the lineup, the OPPO Reno 12 5G and the OPPO Reno 12 F. Both phones are currently available on pre-order across the country. Those who pre-order get the OPPO Enco Buds2 at no cost.  The OPPO Reno 12 5G and the OPPO Reno 12 F are available for Ksh 69,999 and Ksh 49,999 respectively. This is a bit higher compared to the Reno 11 series. With the Reno 12 series, AI takes center stage as the…