Author: Khusoko

After years of growth, the global technology sector entered a downturn in the second half of 2022, thanks to a combination of inflation, rising interest rates, and faltering supply chains. As a result, companies that just months before hadn’t been able to hire fast enough suddenly had to shed jobs en masse.  In fact, Crunchbase estimates that there have been nearly 160,000 layoffs among US tech companies so far in 2023 (in addition to the 93,000 that were lost in 2022). In Europe, meanwhile, tech startups laid off some 40,000 workers between March 2022 and March 2023. Many of the companies behind these…

Safaricom Plc has announced the appointment of Dr (Eng.) John Kipngetich Mosonik and Ms. Murielle Lorilloux as non-executive directors to its board, effective from 23rd August 2023.  Dr Mosonik is a seasoned technocrat with over 35 years of experience in various sectors, including engineering, telecom, infrastructure, petroleum and mining.  He has served as a Principal Secretary and a Chief Administrative Secretary in the Kenyan government. He holds a Doctorate Degree and a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Ms Lorilloux is the Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at Vodacom Group, a subsidiary of Vodafone Group, which partly owns Safaricom.  She has over…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has a new boss, Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo, who has been appointed as the Commissioner General. Mulongo, a former member of the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA), will take over from Rispah Simiyu, who has been holding the position in an acting capacity since February. According to a gazette notice issued by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u on August 22, Mulongo’s appointment became effective from August 22, 2023, and will last for three years. Mulongo brings to KRA a wealth of experience in public finance and revenue management, having served as a member of CRA for…

Xiaomi Africa recently launched an online photography campaign to invite fans to showcase their photography skills using Xiaomi phones.  The campaign, dubbed #SafariWithXiaomi, attracted over 1,000 entries from across Africa, who shared their photos on social media platforms. The campaign promised the Xiaomi fans winners a 3-day trip to Maasai Mara, one of the most famous wildlife destinations in the world. Xiaomi Africa honoured its promise and took six winners and three professional photographers to the Mara, where they had an unforgettable experience. The winners were Patrick Philemon Kulinganila from Tanzania, John Oluwamokamiyo, Samson Osas, Victor Onokaye, Emmanuel Kenechukwu from…

In a rapidly advancing world of technology, smartphone companies face the challenging task of maintaining innovation while also embracing sustainability. OPPO, a leading player in the industry, has taken a significant step towards environmental responsibility through its sustainable upgrade initiatives, particularly its trade-in initiative. Through a partnership with mobile phone re-commerce platform Badili Africa, this platform allows customers to exchange their old smartphones for newer models, contributing to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and sustainability goals. At the core of these programs lies a simple yet powerful concept – the refurbishment and reuse of traded-in smartphones. Customers are encouraged to…

The END Fund, a leading collaborative philanthropic fund dedicated to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), has announced the appointment of Tsitsi Masiyiwa as Board Chair. She succeeds William (Bill) Campbell, who led the fund since its inception in 2012. NTDs are a group of diseases that affect over 1.7 billion people worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. They cause disability, stigma, and poverty, and hinder economic and social development. The END Fund works with partners to deliver treatments for NTDs such as intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis. Under Campbell’s leadership, the END Fund…