Author: Kaluka wanjala

The Xiaomi Redmi 13 series was expected to launch in Kenya on January 31 but the launch date was pushed forward. The company pushed the launch date to February 10 (this weekend). This will be the first major smartphone release by the company in Kenya in 2024 and I am excited to see what it has to offer. According to Xiaomi, the Redmi Note 13 represents the “epitome of innovation and iconic excellence.” Giveaways Xiaomi is currently running a social media campaign from today till February 10th that will see lucky individuals win amazing giveaways including tickets to the launch…

Two weeks ago, we shared news about SafeBoda’s plans to re-enter the Kenyan market after a 3-year hiatus. The company paused operations in Kenya due to the tough economic times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In its return to Kenya, SafeBoda is not only resuming its services but also introducing its new taxi hailing feature, SafeCar. This option will be seamlessly integrated into the main SafeBoda app. It will function much like other popular cab-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt. It is always good to have more players as this means the end user stands to benefit…

Visa is set to host the first demo day of its Africa Fintech Accelerator program in Nairobi on February 13th. Launched in June 2023, the program aims to empower emerging fintech start-ups across the continent by providing expertise, connections, technology, and investment funding. The event will see the first cohort of fintech start-ups from 18 African countries pitching to key players in the ecosystem, including funding partners, angel investors, and venture capitalists. Among the participating fintechs are Duqha and Power from Kenya, OkHi from Nigeria, and Eversend from Uganda. Visa has also opened applications for its second cohort, welcoming Seed…

A few days ago, we told you about Cashlet, the new app by Sycamore Capital. The app was officially unveiled in Kenya after the company successfully exited the CMA Sandbox. Cashlet makes it easier for kenyans to save and invest in money market Funds (MMFs). When it comes to investing in MMFs, the norm has always been to invest in the different options available through different platforms as there were no easily accessible options that had a number of select MMFs centralized in one place. This made the processes of choosing difficult and investing in different MMFs was equally as…

Google Cloud has officially opened its new cloud region in Johannesburg, South Africa. This expansion is expected to revolutionize the continent’s tech landscape, providing businesses with access to cloud services, encouraging innovation, and contributing to the growth of the internet economy. This announcement happened the same day Oracle announced that it will set up a public cloud region in kenya. What is Public Cloud? Before diving into the details of Google Cloud’s latest venture, let’s briefly understand what public cloud entails. In simple terms, a public cloud refers to a computing environment where resources, such as virtual machines, storage, and…

Oracle has announced its intention to establish a public cloud region in Nairobi, Kenya. The is part of Oracle’s wider strategy to expand its global cloud infrastructure in Africa. The announcement comes after a meeting between an Oracle delegation led by Scott Twaddle, Senior Vice President responsible for OCI Product and Industries, and Kenyan Government officials, including President William Ruto, President of Kenya, and Eliud Owalo, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy in Kenya. Oracle’s decision to base the new cloud region in Nairobi is set to capitalize on the country’s renewable energy sources…

Carry1st has announced a strategic investment from Sony Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Sony Group Corporation. This significant partnership marks the inaugural investment from Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, established by Sony as a commitment to fostering the growth of entertainment businesses across the continent. The African gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by the rapid adoption of technology. With over 200 million unique players, the industry is expected to reach a market size exceeding $1 billion in 2024, according to data from Newzoo and Carry1st. Despite limited formal console presence, the African gaming sector presents a promising…

The Kenya National E-Commerce Strategy 2023 was launched on December 13 by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy. This was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Industry, and supported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This plan is designed to provide an enabling environment for the development of trusted e-commerce services accessible to all, laying the groundwork for enhanced growth, competitiveness, and accessibility of services within the sector. The Three Pillars The strategy is structured around three main pillars: E-Commerce Infrastructure, E-Commerce Services, and E-Commerce Skills Development. Each pillar…

Zoho Invoice has announced integration with M-Pesa to offer a seamless way for businesses to simplify their payment processes. Before diving into the integration process, it’s essential to generate the necessary app credentials in Daraja 2.0, Safaricom’s Developers Portal. Here’s a quick overview: How to Set Up the M-PESA Integration in Zoho Invoice Once you have the required credentials, let’s proceed with the setup in Zoho Invoice: Receiving Payments from Customers Once the integration is complete, you can start receiving payments from customers seamlessly. Here’s how: Other Actions – Edit and Delete Integration Zoho Invoice offers flexibility with the ability…

Apollo Agriculture has announced a financial partnership with Swedfund and ImpactConnect. The injection of a combined $10 million in debt investment marks a pivotal moment for the agri-tech industry in Kenya and beyond, as Apollo Agriculture gears up for rapid expansion to drive increased profits, sustainable farming practices, and enhanced food security across the continent. Apollo Agriculture’s mission is to assist small-scale farmers in Africa in maximizing their profits and adopting sustainable agricultural practices. The injection of $10 million from Swedfund, the Swedish development finance institution, and ImpactConnect is set to accelerate the startup’s growth trajectory, At the heart of…