Author: Kaluka wanjala

The Gulfcap Investment Bank has received the necessary approval from the Capital Markets Authority to register the Ziidi Shariah Money Market Fund. The fund is a Shariah-compliant investment product designed to cater to the growing demand for Islamic finance in Kenya. The CMA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wyckliffe Shamiah, while commenting on the approval, said, “This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote Islamic finance within Kenya’s capital markets. We believe Islamic finance holds immense potential which can be unlocked through creating an enabling environment for such opportunities to thrive”. The Ziidi Shariah Money Market Fund will…

For years, Samsung’s Galaxy S series has set the benchmark for Android smartphones, often rivaling Apple’s iPhone lineup in innovation and performance. Many would argue that Samsung played a key role in making Android a mainstream alternative to iOS, pushing the boundaries of mobile technology with each new release. But the competition has only gotten tougher. Other smartphone manufacturers have been aggressively stepping up their game, making every new Galaxy Ultra release a crucial moment for Samsung. That brings us to the big question: How does the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra compare to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra?…

Late last year, Safaricom introduced M-Pesa Ratiba to simplify the process of setting up recurring payments for M-Pesa customers. Ratiba can be set up to handle sending money to chosen M-Pesa accounts at certain intervals, and to handle recurring payments through M-Pesa Paybill and Buy Goods numbers.  You can automate payments to your landlord for rent, to your internet provider, etc. You do not have to think about these payments and this can be convenient if you have so many recurring payments every month. So, how do you set up standing orders with Ratiba? Steps to Follow If everything is…

Safaricom has announced a sponsorship of KES 5 million for the 2025 Magical Kenya Open (MKO) tournament, set to take place from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd February 2025 at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.  As the official technology partner, Safaricom will provide high internet connectivity through the provision of a Cell on Wheels (COW) on ground to support live broadcasting, 4G enabled scoring devices, and airtime to ensure streamlined communication throughout the globally recognised event. “As we mark 25 years of transforming lives, we continue to be at the forefront when it comes to supporting sports in Kenya.…

Visa has today launched its Tap to Add Card technology in Kenya. This technology allows cardholders to add their Visa contactless cards to digital wallets with a simple tap on their mobile device. The technology is supported by digital wallets globally, ensuring seamless integration with existing digital wallet experiences. “We are excited to bring the enhanced security and simplicity of Tap to Add Card to East Africa,” said Chad Pollock, VP and General Manager, Visa East Africa. The solution provides cardholders with greater peace of mind when adding a card to a digital wallet, knowing their information is protected by…

TransUnion Kenya and FICO are leading the charge in transforming the country’s financial landscape with new risk solutions that are designed to broaden access to credit and empower financial institutions. By leveraging enriched data and analytics, lenders can now make more informed decisions, which foster greater economic empowerment and build a more resilient financial ecosystem.  The two new solutions at the heart of this transformation are TransUnion’s CreditVision Variables solution and the FICO Score. Together, they address critical challenges in risk assessment and financial inclusion. CreditVision Variables provides an enhanced view of consumer financial behaviour, analysing over 145 data sources…

OceanHub Africa has announced the launch of the sixth cohort of the OceanHub Africa accelerator. This 12-month program aims to support up to 24 of Africa’s most promising impact-driven for-profit startups dedicated to preserving and restoring the health of the ocean. The initiative will have two intakes in March and July 2025, and the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  The organizers said, “Our accelerator is committed to nurturing environmentally conscious and profitable ventures. We strive to foster an economy that effectively combats global warming, overexploitation, and pollution of the oceans. Leveraging our extensive network of stakeholders and…

Visa has announced the appointment of Michael Berner as the Head of Southern and Eastern Africa (SEA), effective immediately. He will oversee all Visa operations in 24 markets in SEA and will report to Visa’s Regional President of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), Andrew Torre. Michael will continue to be part of Visa’s CEMEA regional leadership team and will be based in Johannesburg. Michael has held previous roles at Visa, including Senior Vice President, Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring, CEMEA, having joined the company in 2019 as Country Manager. Michael is a highly experienced executive…

Africa Tech Summit Awards announced the 2025 winners, recognising the leading entrepreneurs and ventures shaping the tech industry across the continent. The awards ceremony was held last week during the seventh edition of Africa Tech Summit Nairobi. Lauren Adair, Director of Africa Tech Summit, said: “The Awards were created to celebrate tech companies driving business and growth across a range of sectors and it was fantastic to host so many finalists doing this, all in one room. A huge thank you to our independent judging panel and to everyone who joined us in recognising their achievements, cheering them on and closing the…

WhatsApp has made some changes to its app introducing WhatsApp chat themes that allow users to customize their chats. With chat themes, you can change the colors of your chat bubbles and wallpapers.  WhatsApp chat themes and the new wallpapers are available on all WhatsApp versions but not on the WhatsApp for Business app yet.  Steps to change WhatsApp Chat Theme With WhatsApp chat themes, you can turn your chat bubbles and background to your favorite colors. There are some pre-set chat themes that you can apply by following these steps; You can apply the same chat theme to all…