Author: Muindi

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies, has established an expert focus group to work towards international technical standards for the metaverse. The group aims to develop a roadmap for setting technical standards to make metaverse services and applications interoperable, enable a high-quality user experience, ensure security, and protect personal data. “The metaverse and its layers of technologies can help human development and progress,” says ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “The work of this ITU focus group is the first step in ensuring that these technologies work well and that they work for…

Kwara, a fintech startup, has raised a $3 million seed extension led by DOB Equity, Globivest, and the founder of Kobalt Music. The new funding brings the total seed amount raised by the startup to $7 million. According to Cynthia Wandia, CEO, Kwara, they have spent the last three years uplifting the credit union sector in Kenya, becoming the leading core banking provider in Kenya. “Our clients grow up to 4 times faster than other credit unions and serve members up to 100 times more efficiently,” she said concerning acquiring the Kenya Union of Savings & Credit Cooperatives (Kuscco) ‘s…

Cosmetics, liquor, fruit juices, and non-alcoholic beverages are set to become more expensive as the National Treasury has proposed to increase the current rates of excise duty stamps by 300 per cent. The Excise Duty (Excisable Goods Management System) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 propose to raise the stamp fees for cosmetics from 60 cents per stamp to KSh2.50, fruit juices and non-alcoholic beverages will go up by 267 per cent to KSh2.20 from 60 cents. The cost of a stamp affixed on a beer bottle will double to KSh3 from KSh1.50, while those for wines, spirits and tobacco products are set…

Mitchell Cotts Freights Kenya Limited, in collaboration with Perishable Movements Kenya Limited and Fresh Handling Kenya Limited, unveiled Kshs 30.0 million in dry cargo and cold storage facilities at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The cold storage occupies 1,943 SQM, whereas the dry cargo storage will take up 4,174 SQM, summing up to 7,609 SQM of total space occupied by the facilities in JKIA at the landslide of the air-cargo terminal. Both facilities are designed to provide more space to preserve horticultural products to mitigate losses incurred by exporters. “The improvement of standards of service in the aviation industry is…

Global premium smartphone brand TECNO has launched the “PHANTOM X2” smartphone with a 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G chipset in Kenya. Priced at Ksh 68,000 and Ksh 83,000 for the Phantom X2 and the Phantom X2 Pro, the smartphones come in stardust grey and moonlight silver colours. https://twitter.com/TECNOMobile254/status/1615443131108843526?s=20&t=05iNMX0vWeKWDBT_Dadn-g TECNO PHANTOM X2 is powered by the outstanding MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G chipset, which is built on 4nm fabrication and runs at 3.05GHz. The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor makes the PHANTOM X2 a superior gaming and multitasking smartphone with immersive experiences for TECNO customers. TECNO PHANTOM X2 comes equipped with the highly…

Tea earnings increased by 28.8 per cent to KSh 136.6 billion in 2022 from KSh 106 billion in 2021 at the Mombasa Auction. According to the East African Tea Traders Association (EATTA), during the review period, farmers sold 481.9 million kilogrammes of tea at an average price of $2.29 (Ksh283.502), an increase from the $1.99 (Ksh246.362) registered in 2021. The volume sold through the auction increased by 11.4 million kilogrammes from 470.5 million kilos traded in 2021. “Despite the challenges witnessed during the year, for instance, increased drought, prices remained above $2 (KSh247.6), unlike in 2021 when more than half…