Author: Kaluka wanjala

In a bid to address the growing need for financial literacy, Old Mutual Group successfully hosted a comprehensive financial education training program for journalists from various media houses in Kenya.  The training, aimed at enhancing the understanding and reporting of financial matters, comes on the back of a recent study by Old Mutual highlighting critical financial challenges faced by many Kenyans. According to the Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor, a significant portion of the Kenyan population struggles with effective financial management, especially when it comes to utilizing key financial solutions such as savings, investments and insurance. The study also revealed…

For thousands of Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa, being able to share the cash fruits of their labour with loved ones at home is now easier than ever, thanks to the recently forged partnership between MTN MoMo and EcoCash, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile money service. The partnership, which brings together the strength of MTN and its popular MoMo app and the extensive reach of EcoCash, operated by Econet Wireless, provides a reliable, efficient and affordable way to move money directly into EcoCash electronic wallets, says Kagiso Mothibi, CEO for Fintech, MTN South Africa. “Many Zimbabweans in South Africa using MTN MoMo as…

Equity Group and DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, the German Development Finance Institution (DEG), announced the launch of the German Desk for the East African market. The German Desk is part of Equity Group’s efforts to reach out to a broader range of European SMEs and entities. It will provide comprehensive relationship management and financial services to European SMEs, and their local partners in the region. The German Desk will offer a wide range of services, including account opening, trade facilitation and finance, transaction banking, credit lines, introductions, and investment throuh financing. These services are designed to ease…

Microsoft has announced the launch of a new skilling initiative in Kenya, a groundbreaking programme aimed at training 1 million people in AI and cybersecurity by 2027. This initiative is part of Microsoft’s commitment to democratise AI and empower individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy, aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Digital Masterplan. With a population of approximately 50 million, a median age of 19 years, and a significant portion of the workforce employed in the informal sector, Kenya presents a unique opportunity to bridge the skills gap and drive economic growth through digital transformation.…

Latitude59 Kenya’s pitch competition has announced that its has received over 382 applications from 37 countries. Startups were invited to apply for the pitch competition back in September ahead of the Latitude59 Kenyan Edition Conference later this month. The top 10 startups have been selected and invited to the Latitude59 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia, where they’ll have the chance to win a prize pool of one million euros. The competition’s top ten startups will have the opportunity to pitch live on the main stage at Latitude59 in Nairobi on 28 November. They will also receive personalised pitch training from Latitude59…

The much-anticipated drama series 4 Play will debut on Showmax on 21 November 2024, bringing a bold and unapologetic look at contemporary life in Nairobi. Created by James Kombo of CJ3 Entertainment, 4 Play follows the lives of four men—Malik, Allan, Edu, and Michael—as they navigate love, ambition, and friendship against the vibrant, gritty backdrop of Nairobi’s nightlife.Featuring a stellar cast that includes Daniel Weke, Elsaphan Njora, Maina wa Ndungu, and Bilal Wanjau, 4 Play also stars renowned personalities like Patricia Kihoro and Habida Moloney. The series is directed by Mwangi Rurengo, Janet Chumbe, and Mkaiwai Mwakaba, with Abigail Arunga…

Kenyan communications firm Aquila East Africa has officially expanded operations into Rwanda and Uganda, marking a significant step for East African SMEs in the regional market. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, SMEs contribute over 30% of Kenya’s GDP and employ more than 80% of the workforce, underscoring the economic potential of local businesses. Aquila’s regional expansion aligns with its 2023-2026 strategic plan, which focuses on promoting economic development and strengthening market linkages across East Africa. Kester Muhanji, Aquila’s Managing Director, emphasized the importance of this expansion: “As a Kenyan-based firm, we are proud to bring our services…

This Black Friday, crypto-enabled payments are expected to be at the forefront of consumer spending, especially for premium and collectible items, as revealed by Binance and its payments partner, Fivewest. With last year’s trends indicating a strong preference for high-end fashion and dining, consumers are increasingly adopting crypto wallets and digital assets for their purchases, reflecting a shift toward mobile-based, seamless transactions. In 2023, Binance observed that premium apparel and collectible items dominated consumer purchases through its gateway, followed closely by spending in food outlets. These insights align with global trends of consumers gravitating toward quality and experience-based purchases. With…

Liquid C2 has announced the introduction of Secure360, a comprehensive combination of cyber security services and solutions designed to address the growing complexity of cyber threats across the continent. Secure360 encompasses four key domains: Governance, Risk, and Compliance; Cyber Threat Assurance; Cyber Defence Services; and Cyber Security Solutions. Unlike traditional reactive methods, Secure360 employs proactive intelligence-driven threat mitigation strategies that prioritises prevention and preparedness rather than reactive remediation, empowering businesses to stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital environment. Additionally, it offers a holistic, multi-layered defence in-depth approach, enabling customers to achieve end-to-end security, safeguard critical data, mitigate risk, and maintain…

Red Hat has announced the introduction of new capabilities and enhancements for Red Hat OpenShift, the industry’s leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes, as well as the technology preview of Red Hat OpenShift Lightspeed. The new features, delivered with the general availability of Red Hat OpenShift 4.17, are designed to accelerate innovation across the hybrid cloud without compromising on stringent security and compliance requirements. As AI-enabled and edge applications continue to be a top priority to deliver better user experiences, organisations are integrating new infrastructure and environments in order to meet the needs of these applications. These sprawling,…