Author: Muindi

Kenyans living and working abroad sent a record-breaking US$427.2 million in remittances to Kenya in August 2024, surpassing previous highs. The increase was driven by higher inflows from America and Australia. Kenyans living and working abroad sent a record-breaking US$427.2 million (KSh55.2 billion) in remittances to Kenya in August 2024. This marks a 3.1% increase from July 2024 and a 20.6% increase from August 2023, driven by higher inflows from America and Australia. Remittances from the United States and Australia drove the surge, offsetting declines from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Since 2015, diaspora remittances have been Kenya’s primary source of…

Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, has significantly upgraded internet speeds for home and business customers. This move addresses the growing demand for faster data transfer and processing. According to the upgrade, the telco offers a new “Platinum Package” with speeds of up to 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) for KSh 20,000 per month. This caters to users with high-bandwidth needs like 4K/8K streaming, online gaming, large file transfers, and virtual reality.   OLD SPEEDS NEW SPEEDS  PRICE (KES) BRONZE 10 Mbps 15 Mbps 2,999 SILVER 20 Mbps 30 Mbps 4,100 GOLD 40 Mbps 80 Mbps 6,299 DIAMOND 100 Mbps 500 Mbps…

Kenya is steadily moving towards a greener, more sustainable future, and the electric vehicle (EV) industry is playing a crucial role in this transformation. On September 22, 2024, the nation’s largest electric bike manufacturer, Spiro Kenya, showcased its prowess at the largest electric vehicle parade held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in Nairobi. The parade featured an impressive lineup of electric four-wheelers, three-wheelers, and two-wheelers, all gathered to celebrate Kenya’s progress in embracing EVs and positioning itself as a leader in the transition to a green economy. Among the diverse fleet of vehicles, Spiro Kenya stood out by…

Kenya has released a performance benchmarking study aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions in energy-intensive industries. The study, conducted by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), focused on the cement, sugar, tea, dairy, flower, fast-moving consumer goods, and hospitality sectors. The study revealed variations in energy efficiency performance among these industries. While some sectors outperformed international benchmarks, others, such as tea and sugar, lagged. EPRA recommends adopting electricity efficiency utilization ratio benchmarks as a cost-effective way to mitigate emissions and reduce production costs. The study will inform the establishment of energy performance benchmarks and metrics for the targeted industries. Daniel…

Back in the early 2000s, paying my university fees meant dressing up and making a trip to the bank to deposit the money in person, and of course, the visit was laced with the greater respect of ‘where money lives.’ Fast forward to today, and the ways of banking have significantly changed, and the future of money is here with us. Modern consumers can effortlessly move money from their bank accounts to mobile wallets using basic or feature phones, while the more affluent transact through their wearable devices. As technology continues to evolve and customer needs become more specialized, the…

In today’s digital age, smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. However, their constant presence has led to a concerning rise in smartphone addiction, negatively impacting mental health, relationships, and productivity. To address this growing problem, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) has developed devices designed to curb excessive smartphone usage. The Global Smartphone Addiction Crisis Smartphone addiction is a widespread issue, with studies revealing high rates of problematic usage worldwide. A recent meta-analysis found that nearly 60% of smartphone users felt they were using their devices too much. In the United States alone, 48% of adults reported feeling addicted…