Author: David Indeje

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city will host Google’s first product development center in Africa. The center will develop transformative products and services for people in Africa and around the world.  “The potential for Africa to become a leading digital economy is right on the horizon and Google is committed to accelerating Africa’s digital transformation through human capital and enabling ‘African-led solutions to African and global problems’ through better products,” said Nitin Gajria, Google in Africa MD. https://twitter.com/sundarpichai/status/1516425703427825667?s=20&t=FTdqjfzlLHouoqvqNZvrfg It will be hiring engineers, product managers, UX designers, and researchers. “We’re looking for talented, creative, and collaborative people who can help solve difficult…

Netflix Inc. reported a drop in subscriber numbers in the first quarter, losing a net 0.2 million streaming customers for a total of 221.64 million worldwide at the end of March.  The streaming platform said its main challenge for membership growth is continued soft acquisition across all regions. Netflix informed that in addition to its 222 million paying households, it estimates that the streaming service is being shared with over 100 million additional households. “Account sharing as a percentage of our paying membership hasn’t changed much over the years, but, coupled with the first factor, means it’s harder to grow…

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…