In August this year, misconfigured power apps from Microsoft led more than a thousand web apps to mistakenly expose 38 million records on the open internet, including data from a number of COVID-19 contact tracing platforms, vaccination sign-ups, job application portals, and employee databases. Many people’s phone numbers and COVID-19 vaccination status were visible due to the leak. This recent sensitive information exposure comes months after a joint report by Article 19, Kickanet and Pollicy revealed that in an effort to curb COVID-19, the Kenyan government used various contact tracing apps, digital surveillance technologies, and biometric technologies to track and trace citizens without regard for…
Author: Khusoko
Khusoko
Khusoko provides market insights into Africa's business investment as well as global trends that impact East African businesses.
Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) in partnership with the Ministry of Education, The Embassy of Ireland, and BLAZE by Safaricom Tuesday kicked off the annual four-day National Science and Technology Exhibition for secondary school students. The exhibition, which was officially kicked off by President Uhuru Kenyatta, will showcase 111 entries by 214 students from 30 counties via YSK’s platform www.yskexhibition.co.ke/register. “I am also pleased to note that 5 of the 65 participating schools are Special Needs Schools; and that there are more girls than boys participating in the exhibition (120 girls and 94 boys). Thank you, YSK for helping release the…
Only 20 per cent of Kenyans ( 11 million out of about 55 million Kenyan population) have any form of Health Insurance even as the country is geared towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This is according to the Draft Kenya Comprehensive Medical Report that showcases that the health sector is facing increasing low levels of public health insurers penetration, and low levels of overall UHC. The report proposes changes to the current health insurance regulatory framework in a bid to increase penetration as well as enable the private sector to contribute to achieving the government’s goal of UHC. https://khusoko.com/2020/07/16/kenya-unveils-policy-documents-to-support-primary-healthcare/ The…
End month government flows failed to materially ease liquidity strains in the interbank market. As a result, the overnight cost of funds continued to nudge higher to 6.63% on Friday, up 13.40bps in the week. The dislocations reflect the lagged effects of the heavy funds outflow in September in government borrowing (IFB sale) as well as the tax remittances. Tax outflows may still be felt into this month. At the same time, government borrowing may still be another source of pressure. In addition to a generally lower liquidity quantum, distribution was also squeezed. Despite the said pressure, the central bank…
Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said the nationwide curfew came and containment measures have been extended for additional 30 days in an effort to curb the further spread of Covid-19. According to CS Kagwe, the 30-day extension will also ensure the Government achieves its targeted mass Covid-19 vaccination program across the country. The decision follows a meeting between the National Emergency Response Committee on Covid and President Uhuru Kenyatta. “This is for two reasons. Number one is that we are still as far as the positivity rate is concerned we are still above the WHO recommended figures in terms of…
Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei won the women’s London Marathon Sunday in two hours, 17 minutes and 43 seconds. Jepkosgei, the reigning New York Marathon champion, triumphed her personal best of 2:18.40 on her debut at the London Marathon, becoming the seventh fastest woman in history. “To win a race like this is something special,” Jepkosgei said, after the race. “This is the greatest performance of my career. I dedicate this to my child and my coach.” In the men’s race, Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia won a time of 2:04.01. Kenya’s Vincent Kipchumba took second, and Ethiopia’s Mosinet Geremew finished third. Top…