KCB donates 8000 tree seedlings inaugural green day
KCB Bank Kenya has contributed 8,000 tree seedlings for planting during the launch of the country’s maiden green holiday at
Read More
Author: Newsroom
Improving lives and financial inclusion in Kenya, one smartphone at a time
Jane Omondi sells freshly cooked fish from a stand on a bustling roadside in Utawala, a low- to medium-income neighborhood
Read More
With the El Niño, all bets are off
Scribe: Otiato Guguyu Behind the lens: Immanuel Kaunga Bytes: Jobic Ojanji Visual Intelligence: Jacob Ayoo Audio storyteller: Leonida Owaga As we stand on the brink of the impending El Niño floods, I’m reminded of a lesson drawn from a community whose very identity is intertwined with this natural phenomenon. Whenever the topic of my community arises, and I mention that I am a Manyala, I often receive quizzical looks that beckon for further explanation. It’s as if I need to clarify that I belong to one of the Bantu-speaking tribes, clustered under the umbrella of Luhyas. However, it becomes infinitely easier to convey my origin…
Read More
How Absa Bank is empowering Kenyans through digital savings
Lenders are offering frugal Kenyans higher returns to keep their money in bank accounts as the competition for deposits starts
Read More
Consumers dodge high taxes, shift to illicit alcohol
Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) is urging the government to reconsider its tax policy on spirits to tackle the dual challenge of declining revenue collections and the growing threat of illicit alcohol trade. In Kenya, spirits have faced annual double-digit excise tax increases since 2015. This has exacerbated the affordability issue, compounded by soaring input costs like ethanol, which has surged by 61 percent, according to Mark Ocitti, Managing Director of KBL. For the quarter ending in September, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) recorded a 20.7 percent decline in spirits revenue performance for the first time in years. This shift in consumer spending patterns suggests a…
Read More
How Equity’s instant top-up option works
Imagine a scenario where you’re right in the middle of a transaction, be it buying goods, paying bills, sending money, or topping up your airtime through *247#, Equitel, or the Equity Mobile App, and suddenly, you find yourself with insufficient funds. It can be incredibly frustrating, can’t it? The need to interrupt your payment process to search for alternative funds or not being able to meet your immediate needs when there are no alternatives at hand can be quite frustrating. Equity’s top-up option But here’s the exciting part – while tuning in to Gospel Sunday on Citizen TV recently, we stumbled upon a game-changing solution
Read More
Kenya Re extends a helping hand to people with disabilities
As part of its Niko Fiti corporate social responsibility initiative, Kenya Re has initiated the distribution of assistive and mobility devices. This effort aims to provide support to over 390 individuals with disabilities residing in Kachibora and Saboti sub-counties within Trans Nzoia County. The distribution will be carried out in three phases, ultimately reaching 1,000 individuals with disabilities across various regions of the country. This initiative aligns with Kenya’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity, enabling a broader participation in activities that enhance people’s livelihoods. During the event held at Kachibora Sub-county hospital in Trans Nzoia county, Kenya Re’s Group Managing Director, Dr Hillary Maina
Read More
Little App drivers now accepting card payments
The taxi hailing service, Little App, has partnered with Absa Bank Kenya and digital payments heavyweight, Visa, to introduce an innovative Near Field Communication (NFC) payment feature. As players in the transport sector aim to enhance efficiency, this collaboration aims to streamline and expedite the payment process for Little App taxis by enabling drivers to accept card-based payments using an Android smartphone. The new platform utilizes Absa’s Mobi Tap app, which transforms a smartphone into a point of sale (POS), allowing customers to simply tap their contactless debit or credit cards on the driver’s Android phone or tablet to make a payment. “The introduction of
Read More
US-based Hope grows regional presence with SMEP stake
Delaware-based HOPE Advancement Inc has acquired a majority stake in SMEP Microfinance as global investors intensify their hold on the micro-lending business in Kenya. The acquisition received approval from the Central Bank on July 27 and was given the green light by the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u on August 4th. “The acquisition is expected to strengthen SMEP MFB through an injection of additional capital to support business expansion, an upgrade of information technology infrastructure, and the reconstitution of the board to enhance governance,” explained the Central Bank. Currently, SMEP is estimated to hold a market share of 5.09 percent in the microfinance banking sector…
Read More
Govt needs more extension officers in arid counties
Donor partners are urging the government to play a more active role in the arid counties to assist farmers in transitioning from traditional practices, providing advice, and collecting data that can make a difference in Kenya’s dry regions. During a meeting with the Ministry of East Africa and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS), the donors emphasized the need for the government to encourage pastoralists to move away from overstocking vast herds of livestock, shift from planting maize to drought-resistant crops, and promote the use of feedlots. Swedish Ambassador Caroline Vicini shared her recent experiences in ASALS, where she encountered a woman who had planted maize…
Read More