Author: Lynet Awino

American media services provider Netflix Inc plans to expand operations in Africa having invested $175 million in film production. According to the global entertainment giant, its investment in Africa since 2016 has already created a positive impact – from a broad economic perspective and on people’s lives.  “Expanding our business here is good for Netflix,” the firm said. According to Netflix’s newly launched report on its impact in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, it has created 12,000 jobs on the continent and intends to build on this success beyond just three countries. “We have undertaken this report to reflect on Netflix’s…

World food prices declined for the 12th consecutive month in March, the United Nations food agency said on Friday. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food price index, based on worldwide prices for 23 food commodity categories, covers prices for 73 different products compared to a baseline year. “While prices dropped at the global level, they are still very high and continue to increase in domestic markets, posing additional challenges to food security,” Maximo Torero, FAO’s chief economist, said in a statement. “This is particularly so in net food-importing developing countries, with the situation aggravated by the depreciation of their…

Safaricom has revamped its 4G Wi-Fi proposition to reduce router prices by introducing daily allocation packages for its home customers as an alternative to the fibre service.  The daily allocation bundles offer 105GB (3.5GB awarded daily) for Ksh 2,999; 150GB (5GB awarded daily) for Ksh 4,100; 240GB (8GB awarded daily) for Ksh 6,299, and 540GB (18GB awarded daily) for Ksh 12,499, all at a speed of 5Mbps and with a validity of 30 days. New Data Prices BUNDLE SIZE  DAILY DATA PRICE (KES) SPEED 105GB 3.5GB 2,999 5Mbps 150GB 5GB 4,100 5Mbps 240GB 8GB 6,299 5Mbps 540GB 18GB 12,499 5Mbps…

Tripadvisor has released its annual list of the best nature destinations for 2023. Mauritius has been named the most popular destination on Tripadvisor’s flagship category this year, followed by Kathmandu in Nepal, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and Hurghada in Egypt. Kenya’s capital Nairobi has been ranked 11th “as the safari capital of Africa”. “Nairobi is an energetic, modern city that serves as a fascinating introduction to both wildlife and nightlife. Music clubs pulse with life, shops and markets bustle, and a mélange of restaurants will tempt your palate in this former Maasai watering hole. Top sights include the Karen…

Safaricom PLC has launched the M-PESA Africa Shared Services Operation Centre (SSOC) to oversee service operations and technical support for five African markets. The $2 million investment in Nairobi will oversee service operations and technical support, including incident monitoring and resolution in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho, Ghana, and future markets the service expands to.  M-PESA platform operations in the five markets were previously handled across several points in Africa and Europe. The SSOC brings the entire platform in-house to a single point in Kenya for the first time. In addition, the platform will enable Safaricom to manage platform changes and upgrades,…

Somali lender, Premier Bank, has acquired a 62.5 per cent stake in Kenya’s First Community Bank Limited (FCB). First Community Bank Limited was licensed in 2008 and is classified as a small bank with a market share of 0.3% as of December 31, 2022. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, completion of the acquisition will be effective March 27, 2023. Premier Bank will make history as the first Somali bank to own more than half of a banking subsidiary in Kenya. “The acquisition will strengthen the trade and investment ties between Kenya and Somalia,” the CBK said in a…