Technology Archives

Bitcoin Surges to Ksh. 13 Million as Expectations on Trump’s Crypto Plan Rises

The red-tracking digital currency raced through the $100,000 (around Shs13 million) for the first time on Thursday, fuelled by positive vibes on Trump’s incoming administration policy on the virtual money. This hallmark is indicative of increasing institutional acceptance fees, regulatory certainty, and optimism over the futures of digital resources under Trump’s presidency.

List of Nationals Awarded During Jamhuri Day

More than 500 Kenyans were honored with the presidential awards to mark this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations that were held at Uhuru Gardens on Thursday. President William Ruto awarded citizens from the different fraternity for their efforts and work towards the nation demonstrating Kenya’s recognition of hard work and commitment.

Highlights of the Honorees

Head of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS)

Out of the seventy four distinguished awardees this year, one of them was Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

The Order of the Burning Spear honor comes in three classes: Chief Burning Spear (CBS); Elder Burning Spear (EBS); and Moran Burning Spear (MBS), and is bestowed on public dignitaries, professionals and members of public service who have distinguished themselves.

Other beneficiaries were a Luo Ohangla musician Prince Indah, and actresses Sarah Hassan and Brenda Wairimu.

The Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) is received for the service and mostly for brave and selfless people.

Moran with the Honorary Membership of the Order of the Golden Heart (MGH)

Praising Douglas Kanja, Inspector General of Police and Other Five Members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), this was the third category of honor, in the Order of the Golden Heart.

Grand Prior of the Sacred Tribunal of the Order of the Golden Heart (GPH)

The second tier dignity was received by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, its recipients usually include Deputy Presidents, Speakers of Parliament and senior public servants.

Order of the Burning Spear: CBS, EBS, MBS.

Order of the Golden Heart: Lastly, Chief (CGH), Elder (EGH), Moran (MGH).

These are: Distinguished Conduct Order (DCO), Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Silver Star and the President’s Commendations for military and civilian formations.

Purpose of the Awards

These honors are awarded during national events to reward individual’s devotion to the country with the intention to promote such services throughout the country as the government demonstrates its support to recognizing accomplishment in services, arts and security.

The event was a testimony that there exist a lot of talent in the Kenyan society, as well as the fact that Kenyans are the backbone of the country’s development.

Konza Tells SMEs to Embrace the Digital Realm to Improve on Efficiency and Competitiveness

Embracing of new technology for implementing changes makes small business to penetrate the world market, reduce complexities and sustain itself within the Kenyan economy space.

Why small business entities should consider digital transformation

SME is the driver of the economy in Kenya; hence, there is an essential need for business adoption and integration of technology. While addressing an economic empowerment event organized by Abojani Investment, The Chief Executive Officer of Konza Technopolis Development Authority, John Paul Okwiri underscored the role of going digital on SMEs.

Specifically in the usage of digital tools, SMEs should do more. They should be using technology to run their businesses and reach customers,” Okwiri stated.

Increasing efficiency and market access

Digital tools offer SMEs countless opportunities to enhance efficiency and access new markets

Digital Financing Tools: Mobile wallet and other form of online banking enhances completing of transactions, controlling of cash inflow and outflow as well as the overall operation of any financial activities.

Analytics Tools: More than anything, the results should make SMEs realize the need to decode what their customers want from their products so that the firms can come up with creative and effective marketing tactics that will engage customers.

E-commerce Platforms and Social Media: Offer SMEs the ability to access customers around the world without need to invest heavily on physical structures.

Leading Kenya’s Tech Revolution

The Konza Technopolis, a centerpiece of Vision 2030, right now stands as an important project which seeks to place Kenya as a world tech hub.

Tax Benefits: Many tax incentives of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) are favouring investments into technology skill and digital networks.

Subsidized Internet: Under the National Broadband Strategy to extend to growth areas that currently lack the internet connectivity.

Digital Hubs: The Jitume Programme is extending innovation stations in every county; aiming to ensure that the youth and minority groups are trained on vital digital skills and employment.

Okwiri said these endeavors seek to create solutions that will generate 2 percent of Kenya GDP by 2030, a move towards a future anchored on innovation and technology.

The title of the work looks like this: Empowering the Future Workforce

OUK, Kenya’s first fully fledged, fully digital university is also located in the Konza Technopolis. OUK makes education more convenient to the teach and learn due to the available online means hence making education flexible to students all over the country.

Also, the government is to create 1,450 digital centres across the country, which adds to the drive for digitisation and tech-related employment.

The Rise of Tech as the Solution to SMEs Impossible Dilemma

The message from Konza is clear: The available research implies that SMEs need to adopt technology as a key means of sustaining their organizations and expanding. As seen above, effective use of digital tools in operations enable SMEs to establish more efficiencies, communicate and market their products to customers as well as sell them to the global market thus support the overall economic development of Kenya.

Known for its continued gradual advancement in becoming one of the premier African technology hotbeds, the SMEs have a mighty innings in steering this change. Will your business will be in this digital revolution? Allow me then to present to your attention Konza Technopolis as a way forward.

Why Ruto Cancelled Adani’s Airport and Energy Deals: A Story of Scandal, Pressure, and Politics

The Billionaire, the Bribery Scandal and A President’s Dilemma

Kenyan President William Ruto canceling multi-billion-shilling deals with India’s troubled Adani Group has caused political and business circles to sit up. What caused this dramatic change of events and what lies in the Kenyan future after it?

Mounting Opposition: From Clergy to the Street

Street protests and demonstrations against the unpopular agreements on airport construction and transmission of power line crossed the country for months while the ruling elite stood firm to support those projects. However, the shoe was on the other foot when the American authorities charged Gautam Adani and six directors of his company with having conducted a $2 billion bribery and fraud conspiracy.

Realizing that, he entered the world stage and ignored demands for reforms at home while containing dissent within the limits. Was it an act of political survival or is it truly fight against corruption?

Adani Under Fire: Fraud, Bribery and Its Consequences Across the World

Adani was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice of offering $250 million in bribes to win the rights to develop and sell solar energy to the nation, extensive fraud to investors and the broader public, as well as obstruction of justice. Adani rejected the charges, described as false.

The fallout was immediate: Adani shares tumbled and Kenyan authorities started doubting that the conglomerate would be capable of fulfilling its commitment.

Sacring Kenya’s National Assets

Even more problematic to outsiders were questions to Adani’s ability to finance the deal – only 30 percent of the needed amount was assured. Even more disturbing was the belief that some important assets such as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport might be sad if Adani used it as security and later failed to service international debts.

“And it seems we did not have much confidence about how Adani would finance these projects. Continuing would have strengthened corruption perceptions,” observed the senior official.

The Breaking Point: What Video Convinced Ruto To React?

The indictment held out to Ruto the perfect chance to turn the deals in his favor, regain the public’s trust while at the same time wooing foreign collaborators.

When the president scrapped the deals, he achieved severing ties with a firm entangled in corruption allegations as well as stimulating resurfacing concerns of Kenyan people’s loss of sovereignty over crucial assets.

No Compensation? Kenya’s Legal Safeguards

Fortunately for Kenya the the deals were still at preliminary stages, the government is thus not likely to incur penalties in case of termination. The integrity clauses enabled Kenya to get out of the agreement without paying the Indian company for losses as envisaged by Adani.

Human suffering and political and public scandal

The cancellation has attracted political lenses with influential politicians accusing Adani of entering Kenya to enrich some political players.

Speaking to The Independent, Barrack Muluka, a political analyst, said: “Adani is just a sovereign guise.” But the back bone is in the government.”

However, Nelson Amenya who leaked such deals has turned into a national icon thanks to his cries for radical openness.

What’s Next for Kenya?

The demise of the schemes is a concern to Kenya’s public-private partnerships and has left a-banter regarding future investors scrutiny.

Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi, at first a defender of the projects, is now in the firing line. President Ruto has fired a warning shot at all persons involved in corruption by promising to crack the whip hard adding that the sovereignty of this country and its integrity are something that he will not negotiate for.

The photographic history and the statistics of each reformist educate the viewer with a global lesson on accountability.

The Adani crisis gets worse internationally and it has presented the reality and significance of risk assessment while forming partnerships with overseas counterpart. In Kenyan context, it is a sad ode to the fact that the public good cannot be a subsidiary of private gain.

What do you think that is a recent great move by President Ruto? Creative policy-making, or mere accommodation of the highest state official’s vision or political necessity? So let us know in the comments below!

Uber Raises Ride Prices Following Drivers’ Recent Protest

Uber said it had raised the minimum fare to KSh 220 as a result of the drivers’ demonstrations and the high living standards in East Africa and other areas. They have also realized new service categories for drivers to earn more money with what we have today as Uber Comfort and Chap Chap Priority. Uber stated that for them to improve the drivers’ levels of satisfaction; they have started the reward programmes that give the right cash bonuses, and incentives for the foremost performing drivers, coupled with more operational partnerships to cut operating expenses. The reward programmes have been existing even before some of the protests; it is how the platform tries to take care of drivers.

Drivers' Protest

Ride-hailing app Uber has announced a price increase across its services a month after protests by digital taxi drivers over the existing pricing models. The new pricing model, which includes raising the minimum fare from KSh 200 to KSh 220, aims to curb instances where drivers request additional payments—a trend that has caused discomfort among clients recently. About a month ago, drivers from various ride-hailing platforms staged protests demanding a review of prices, which they claimed were exploitative and left them with very thin profit margins.

Pricing strategy and earning of Uber drivers
In a bid to address issues to do with the pricing of the rides as well as the remuneration of drivers, the company outlined several factors that go into the determination of fares including the minimum fare and the price per kilometre, starting price as well as the price per minute. However, the firm had expressed concerns regarding the new emerging voices from the drivers and other stake holder urging Uber to effect fare hike to enhance the dissatisfaction among drivers.

Uber Comfort
To increase driver earnings, Uber has come up with numerous categories of services including, Uber Comfort for which customers are willing to pay. This category demands specific standard of the vehicles used, it can be newer models as a way of offering customer a superior experience.

Reward programs on Uber

Uber Care: This program rewards the 30 most highly rated active drivers and the top active drivers with completed trips with cash bonuses.

Uber Pro: Persons are grouped in the colour code of drivers Blue, Diamond and Platinum. The drivers who gain the Diamond status are eligible for the bonus of KSh 10,000. Additionally, to cut down the operating and maintenance cost for the drivers, Uber stated that it had tied up with some strategic suppliers who offered spare parts at a cheaper rate and maintenance

Chap Chap Priority

The other option is Chap Chap Priority, which is only operational during peak hours and costs drivers an extra KSh 110 on each trip.