Author: Muindi

Copia Global is planning a fresh round of layoffs, the latest cost-cutting move at the Kenyan e-commerce startup. The layoffs may impact up to 30 per cent of its staff, including its permanent workforce.  In a statement quoted by Techtrendske, Copia said it will be undergoing a limited restructuring of its operations in response to the economic downturn and constrained capital markets.  The company is optimizing several key processes to provide better service to its customers and drive sustained operating profitability. According to a statement from Copia, “This limited restructuring process is intended to ensure that during these economically challenging…

Safaricom PLC and other mobile money operators have reviewed their charges following the enactment of the Finance Act 2023. As a result, M-PESA mobile transfer charges have increased from 12% to 15%. In contrast, the excise duty rate for calls, SMS, and Internet services has decreased from 20% to 15%. “We will be reviewing our calls, SMS, data, fibre, and M-PESA pricing to reflect the increase in Excise duty rates on fees charged on mobile money transfer services from 12 per cent to 15 per cent and the decrease in the Excise duty rate on telecommunications services from 20 per cent…

Kenya’s Court of Appeal has lifted an order issued in June suspending the implementation of the Finance Act 2023. A bench of three judges led by Justices Mohammed Warsame, Kathurima M’Inoti and Hellen Omondi ruled that: “We have no doubt in our mind that the Finance Act and the Appropriation Act are interdependent. While the former provides for generation of the funds, the latter provides for the expenditure,” the judges said. “There can be no expenditure where the mode of generation of the funds has not been provided for.” The court ruling discussed the appeal of a conservatory order issued…

Kenya is on high alert after an attempt to hack the e-Citizen platform. The e-Citizen is a digital payment platform for all government services. The platform allows for the payment of various services, including the application for national IDs, passports, driving licenses, visas, business permits, tax filing, property transfer, land rent, and marriage certificates.  On Thursday, following complaints from the public that the platform was not accessible, the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) said it had established that “increased/abnormal global internet traffic targeted at several CIIs in Kenya aimed at disrupting essential services.” According to NC4, those targeted…

MultiChoice Kenya has announced a price adjustment for its DStv for Business packages, effective August 1, 2023.  The new prices range from Ksh 1,350 for the Stay Basic package to Ksh 13,300 for the Play Ultra package.  Despite the price adjustment, MultiChoice continues to offer value to its customers with a variety of packages to choose from and a commitment to bringing customers the entertainment they love. In a statement, MultiChoice said, “Across the African continent, DStv continues to offer value to its customers with a variety of packages to choose from to keep your guests, patrons, customers and staff…

Safaricom and EDOMx have partnered to launch Faraja, a service that will enable more than 32 million customers to buy on credit from businesses on Lipa Na M-PESA. Faraja enables customers to make purchases between KSh. 20 and KSh. 100,000 at zero interest fee and complete the payment within 30 days. “We begin with Kenya, but our eyes are on the global market because innovative concepts such as Faraja will go a long way in encouraging creativity in the digital financial sector to fulfil inclusivity goals and true sector deepening. There is no doubt the global digital financial frontier is…