Author: David Indeje

Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is building a feature to organise separate groups in larger structures dubbed Communities. According to Meta, users will be able to receive updates sent to the entire Community and easily organise smaller discussion groups on what matters to them.   “At the center of every Community on WhatsApp is a description and menu of groups that people can choose to join. This provides a structure and organization to conversations among larger and more complex groups that allow people to focus on what matters to them,” the company said. “That way people can receive updates sent to the…

Hotel chain Sarova Woodlands took over management of Kisumu’s Imperial hotel, after having entered into a 7-year agreement with the Gilani Family, the owners of the facility.  This will bring Sarova’s number of operating hotels countrywide to 8, with the 93–bed hotel having been renamed Sarova Imperial Kisumu.  Other hotels by Sarova include; Sarova Stanley and Sarova Panafric in Nairobi, Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa, Sarova Woodlands, and Sarova Lion Hill in Nakuru City.  Sarova Hotels Group Managing Director Jimi Kariuki said that having a presence in Kisumu City and in the larger Western Kenya region has always been…

Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves rose by Ksh.61.5 billion ($533 million) to a record high of $9,352 billion in the week ended April 8, 2022, the Central Bank data showed Friday.  According to the CBK data from the Weekly Bulletin, forex reserves are now at Ksh.966.2 billion ($8.373 billion) compared to Ksh.904.7 billion ($7.84 billion) previously. This is equivalent to 4.98 months of import cover. Cytonn Investments says the reserves were boosted by the USD 1.0 bn proceeds from the Eurobond issued in July 2021, USD 972.6 mn IMF disbursement, USD 130.0 mn World Bank loan financing received in June 2021,…

Elon Musk will no longer be joining  Twitter’s board of directors CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet on Monday. Agrawal said, “Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he will no longer be joining the board.” “I believe this is for the best. We have and will always value input from our shareholders whether they are on our Board or not. Elon is our biggest shareholder and we will remain open to his input.,” the CEO added. https://twitter.com/paraga/status/1513354622466867201?s=20&t=6159mZuddZFwknrs9Ai8bw Musk who owns a  9.2% stake in the social media…

Customers in Kenya will now be able to pay for goods and services through Lipa Na M-Pesa from any network.  This is after Kenya’s leading telcos Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom announced merchant interoperability through their mobile money services. The merchant interoperability however will entail the ‘Lipa Na M-Pesa Buy Goods Till’, excluding the Paybill option whose consideration has been pushed to a later date. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) termed the move as an important step in the evolution of Kenya’s payment services, as it allows customers of these mobile money providers to make payments to any merchant regardless…

In a concert at the Jain Bhavan Auditorium in Nairobi, the Safaricom Youth Orchestra displayed a mastery of art and harmony as they played charmingly intimate pieces to the audience. This was the first physical event in 2 years.  Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Safaricom Youth Orchestra did not fail to impress. As a result, it held its  8th Safaricom Youth Orchestra graduation ceremony. Themed “Play it Forward”, students were encouraged to go out into the world and make a difference through acts of kindness such as volunteering their skills or mentoring others who are pursuing the same musical path. …