Barclays branches to offer free WiFi

Liquid Telecom has put WiFi into banking halls at 10 of Barclays Bank of Kenya’s flagship branches in Nairobi, as well as its head office in Bishop’s Gate, Ngong Road, in a Sh7.6m project that makes Barclays the first bank in Kenya to offer its customers free Internet access in its branches. The project is aimed at enabling Barclays’ customers to access Internet banking services and other online content for free via WiFi through a secure network that is fully independent from the bank’s fibre connection, at speeds of 2Mbps. Liquid Telecom has provided connectivity for Barclays Bank of Kenya for 9 years, with the latest extension in the partnership coming as part of Barclays’ investment in value addition services for its customers to increase their exposure to its online banking optionsand improve the overall customer experience. Barclays is keen to encourage its customers to use its digital platforms to do their banking, and is rolling out the free WiFi to help clients…
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Etihad Airways Introduces Tailor-Made Fares

Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi official carrier has introduced flexible rickets where passengers can choose what they want and pay for only that. "When it comes to booking a flight, not everyone has the same needs. Some guests like to travel light and on a budget, whilst others may want to make last-minute travel decisions, or carry extra baggage. " Etihad Airways while introducing their new offering said. From 14 September they will introduce Fare Choices, offering passengers the option to choose your ticket flexibility, baggage allowance, and many other benefits. Passengers can select a fare with the relevant services, giving them the power to pay for what they really need.
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Diaspora Chamber Announces Annual Trade Conference

The East African Chamber of Commerce (EACC), a USA registered nonprofit that organizes annual trade conferences in an efforts to promote trade, entrepreneurship and investment opportunities between the East African region and the Diaspora in the U.S.A. With a goal of repeating successes from prior years and expanding in areas that had great benefit to attendees last year, this year’s conference will include targeted business field trips from Thursday, October the 15th and will conclude with investor presentations and a capstone dinner on Saturday, October the 17th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in North Dallas, Texas. The 2015 conference slogan is ““Powering America-East Africa Collaborations”.”. The organization has been successful in attracting impactful investors and government leaders over the years, and they plan to continue this theme by identifying opportunities and implementation strategies that are mutually beneficial to participants. The 2015 conference will cont…
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Employers Lobbied for breastfeeding-friendly workplaces

Kenya has joined the rest of the world in marking World Breastfeeding Week, which is held every year from 1st to 7th August to advocate for exclusive breastfeeding of infants.  This year’s theme – “Breastfeeding and Work, Let’s Make it Work!” – calls for concerted global action to enable women to combine breastfeeding and work in the workplace. Speaking when he presided over the launch of the awareness campaign at Safaricom’s Michael Joseph Centre, Hon. James W. Macharia, Cabinet Secretary for Health, urged employers to establish breastfeeding-friendly workplaces. “Breastfeeding is vital to the growth and health of our babies and is thereby the very foundation of a healthy and productive Kenya and key to achieving our Vision 2030,” declared the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health. “The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children feed exclusively on breast milk for the first six months of their lives, so whether a woman is working in the formal, non-fo…
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Development Company Opens Warehousing Estate Sale

Tilisi Developments Limited has opened sales for land parcels with ready-made infrastructure and paperwork for buyers to put up warehousing facilities, as studies show warehousing in such short supply in Kenya that the gap is curbing GDP growth, seeing as much as a third of agricultural output wasted, hurting the health system, and curbing the development of the country's retail and manufacturing Tilisi is one of the first developers to move to offer such a product in the country, setting aside 86 acres of its 400-acre master-planned development for warehousing and repackaging facilities and providing all the supporting infrastructure for the site along the Nairobi- Nakuru highway and less than 10 minutes away from both the Northern and Southern bypasses. The estate is providing access roads, water and electricity supplies, ICT connections, sewage connections, matatu stops, street lighting, solid waste transfer stations, and parks and eating facilities for the warehouse s…
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Real-time traffic information for Kenyans

Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has partnered with Google to launch a mobile application that offers motorists access accurate and real-time traffic information, based on crowd-sourced data from other road users. Waze, is a free GPS-based mobile application that has already been used in other countries as a traffic information tool. It collates information generated by other users on the same route, to share information on accidents, impassable sections of the road route, traffic jam, and advices on alternative routes. “Mobile technology has evolved from being just a tool that enables interpersonal communication. With this partnership, we are furthering our mission to transform lives by enabling our customers get to their destinations faster, having offered them vital information to enable them plan their journeys better.” said Sylvia Mulinge, General Manager- Consumer Business at Safaricom. She said, “The use technology enables us all generate some data, which when harnessed an…
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Global Entrepreneurship Summit Comes to Nairobi

Launched by President Obama in 2009, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) brings together entrepreneurs and investors from across Africa and around the world annually to showcase innovative projects, exchange new ideas, and help spur economic opportunity.  The 2015 GES agenda will focus on generating new investments for entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women and youth.  The selection of Nairobi as host city for the 2015 GES underscores how Africa -- notably Kenya -- has become a center for innovation and entrepreneurship.  Kenya is a world leader in mobile money systems, like m-pesa, and a driver of innovation through technology research and incubation labs like “iHub.” and Nairobi Garage.

Since 2009, GES has emerged as a global platform connecting emerging entrepreneurs with leaders from business, international organizations, and governments looking to support them. This is the first time GES will take place in sub-Saharan Africa.

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NSE Amends FIS Trading Rules

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has amended its Fixed Income Securities (FIS) Trading Rules. This follows a formal approval from the regulator; the Capital Markets Authority (CMA). The FIS Trading Rules cover how NSE Market Intermediaries access the Automated Trading System (ATS) of The Exchange. They also detail the obligations of NSE Market Intermediaries including their order management of trades in Fixed Income Securities executed on the same platform. The amendments are in Section 5.2.2 (ii) and 5.2.3 of the Trading Rules and include the creation of a Restricted Board where restricted FIS offers shall trade and the trading restrictions on the Restricted Board. The Restricted Board will be used to trade Fixed Income Securities arising from public offers targeting sophisticated investors who include; high net worth individuals, authorized schemes, collective investment schemes, banks and their subsidiaries, co-operative societies, pension or retirement funds a…
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CBK lifts remittance provider suspension

The Central Bank of Kenya has lifted the suspension on remittance provider Dahabshiil Kenya following the Kenyan government suspension of all licensed remittance providers on 7 April 2015. The authorities have carried out a comprehensive review of Dahabshiil Kenya’s operations, policies and practices. They are satisfied that the company complies fully with the law, and operates strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing practices. Going forward, Dahabshiil will now benefit from access to the Kenyan Ministry of Interior’s new Integrated Population Registration Services database, which the Ministry has introduced in order to facilitate local customer due diligence. This is an industry-wide directive. The Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshiil Group, Mr. Abdirashid Duale, said: “We are delighted to resume our services in Kenya. The Dahabshiil network operates in 126 countries, including Kenya, the UK and the USA, and we respect and comply with the laws of ea…
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M-KOPA Solar Connects 200K Homes

Kenyan mobile technology company M-KOPA has powered up 200,000 homes across East Africa – having doubled the number of homes connected to its solar home systems in the past eight months. The average M-KOPA household has over five inhabitants. Accordingly, M-KOPA is now providing power to over a million people across East Africa. Jesse Moore, Managing Director and Co-Founder, M-KOPA Solar, says, “It took us two years to connect our first 100,000 homes and just eight months to connect our second 100,000 homes. We are pushing hard to grow even faster and reach our goal of one million homes by the end of 2017.” M-KOPA is now selling 500 new systems each day across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It has a network of over 1,000 direct sales agents and 85 customer service centers across East Africa.
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Kenya’s digital migration tussle

The race for digital migration all across the world has caught Kenyan media stations unawares and rushing to changeover their analogue signal to digital terrestrial broadcasting. The Kenyan Government had initially set the deadline for digital migration to December 2013. That deadline following a push by the Media Owners Association to postpone was moved to June 2014. Come June 2014, the migration did not happen as the deadline was later pushed to February 2015. This date was well in line with the deadline set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for all African Countries to have migrated to digital broadcasting by June 2015. The government through the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) seems determined to keep its promise but since December 2013, 3 of the most popular broadcasting stations in the country seem to only have been resting on their bellies. Now, the country for a second week running is facing a media blackout with broadcasters such as…
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Online Consultation Websites for Business Registration

With the following online business consultation websites, the hassle of registering businesses and companies in Kenya is easy and flawless. From filling in the forms to attaining KRA VAT and Pin, the services you get from these businesses will hasten and full proof the process of getting started with a business in Kenya. Dealpoa.com Deal Poa is probably one of the most forthwith online registration website supported by valuable content on various aspects of registering and running a business in Kenya. For the registration of a company, this will cost you between Ksh.20000 and Ksh. 35000 depending on your prefered package. More of their services include, Business Name, Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Company, KRA PIN & VAT, Tax Compliance Certificate and AGPO Tender Certificate. Inc.co.ke (INCORPORATOR) A brain child of Genius Executives, the company that popularized the renting of furnished and serviced office workstations, INCORPORATOR provides individu…
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How to Register a Limited Company in Kenya

The process of registering a Limited company in Kenya will usually take a minimum of 7 days with all the proper documents provided. The following steps and process will usually be taken into consideration when getting started. Name Search & Reservation The first step to registering a business in Kenya is conducting a business name search that will cost around Kes. 600 and in the event that it is available reserving it for registration. This should be done with regards to the law in writing and accompanied with the prescribed fee. Fees is dependent on the nominal share capital of the company. The average cost is Kes. 35, 000. Documents Documents for incorporation of a company (i.e. memorandum and Articles of Association) should be drawn by a lawyer, who should submit the same to the Registry together with the prescribed forms and fees. These forms are obtainable at the Registry. Applicants who are willing to register a Private company would need to fill in the f…
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Commuter rails: What Kenya needs

Kenya's capital Nairobi is home to over 4 million people, most of whom rely on the public transport system of Nissan PSVs and buses even with the worst traffic congestions which could be eased by the construction of commuter rails similar to the Syokimau Commuter Rail. Economic progress for Kenya at this moment is as primary as the oxygen with which we breathe. For the next five decades, government and leadership in Kenya will be judged by their ability to turn the country from rags to riches. Not posturing, not politics. As of now, Kenya is involved in two primary railway projects, the Standard Gauge Railway and the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project. The Standard Gauge Railway will build a railway line from Mombasa to Kigali through Kampala while LAPSSET intends to connect Juba and Addis Ababa from the Port of Lamu. The common thing about the two projects is that they are set to pin Kenya as the undeniable East African powerhouse. …
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Top online websites for Kenyan diaspora mobile top up

One of the challenges of Kenyan business innovators in the 21st century has been to look for ways to connect Kenyan diaspora communities to opportunities in the country. This includes the sending of instant mobile phone airtime top up. Whether on special occasions such a birthdays or festivities such as the Easter holiday, Kenyans in the diaspora like every other family member or friend are always looking for ways to send money, gifts or even packages to their loved ones in Kenya. Recently, techpreneurs are taking advantage of the niche to develop platforms that allow people in the diaspora to send mobile phone airtime straight to the receivers phone within a few minutes. It doesn't come cheap though since you will probably spend 10% more to send that airtime. Here's a list of websites that you can send mobile phone airtime by Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and Yu Mobile from the diaspora. TelephoneKenya.com In association with mobile operators in Kenya, TelephoneKenya by…
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Best Kenyan Mobile Banking and Finance Apps

Banking and finance apps are one of the most sought after pieces of innovation in Kenya aiming to serve millions of citizens who are banked with a possibility of luring the unbanked to diverse product offerings. While innovation and creativity in the Kenyan banking industry has been limited to SMS banking for a while, accredited finance institutions are quickly targeting native mobile application users more on the Android platform than any other mobile operating system. We have come up with a list of the available apps on various platforms prominent among them being the Google Play Store. This banking apps at the least will ease your hassle and reduce the time you have to spend in queues in various banking halls. Barclays Bank of Kenya Along with its Internet Banking service, the Barclays Bank of Kenya is among the banks in Kenya to have a complimentary mobile application launched in June 2013 that serves both personal and business clients. The application is availab…
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Be a smart buyer, avoid fraudsters

Following the appearance of an article in one of the local dailies about fraudsters targeting popular classified websites, it is our duty also to send out a message of caution to our users. The nature of classifieds is such that any person with an internet connection and with intention to sell a product or service can do so within minutes of signing up. While classified websites including Biashara.co.ke do their best to moderate and regulate advertisements, it would be difficult to detect fraudsters whose intention is well disguised and malicious towards buyers. For this reason, it is your role as a user or buyer subscribing to a product or service advertised to ensure that you verify the credibility of the seller before sending them any money. Some fraudsters will even go to the extent of using force when there is a physical meeting. Ensure that you do not expose yourself to such intentions. Beware! Daily, we take time to moderate each advertisement to ensure th…
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How to Effectively Write a Classified Ad on Biashara.co.ke

Biashara.co.ke is a free online classifieds website that allows its registered users to advertise their products and services with the click of a few buttons. When you create an ad on biashara.co.ke, you instantly create a unique business profile that guarantees that you could be someones next call. A call that could make a difference for your business. While the registration and ad posting process is flawless, we have left it up to to the creativity of the seller to create an ad that will capture the attention of buyers on the website and straight from search engines such as Google. This is however not always the case. We have witnessed some few mistakes that people are making when creating their ads. Here are a few pointers that we will help your products and services easy to discover. 1. Ad Title & Keywords The title is the voice of your ad. A title should be short and to the point. Limit the number of words to around 7 words that make up a sensible statement wit…
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Biashara.co.ke: Kenya’s First Online Integrated Business Center

Biashara.co.ke is a Kenyan e-commerce website working with a revolutionary business model that will combine free online classifieds, business directory listings and business news. Entrepreneurs, businesses and companies will use the platform to promote their products & services, make sales and inform the public using the popular blog platform. Here's what you will be able to do with Biashara.co.ke Sign up and Login swiftly via Facebook Add Products to the market place to unlimited categories-Agriculture, Art & Design, Cell Phone, Computer & tablets, Education & Books, Entertainment, Fashion, Home Appliances, Real Estate & Housing, Jobs & Classifieds, Motors & Travel, Services, Sporting, TV, Video & Audio. Create your multiple Company profiles with an exclusive 830*300 banner on the Biashara Pages. Add a blog. This could be internal bulletins, press releases or even nice professional articles (that's if you're in the mood). Inv…
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Apple develops tool to remove and detect flashback trojans

Apple has said it is developing a tool to detect and remove flashback trojans that is said to affect more than half a million mac computers. It is said to be working with internet service providers to disrupt the command network being used by hackers to exploit the malware.Trojans are infections  that can expose computers to control of hackers. In a message posted in Apple’s website’s support section,the company said it had fixed a “Java security flaw for systems running OS X v10.7 and Mac OS X v 10.6. Two security updates were released eight weeks after java ‘s developers oracle issued a fix for another computer system. It suggested users of macs running earlier version of it system  software  should disable java in their web browser preferences. In addition apple said its working with Internet service providers to shut down a network of servers hosted by the malware  authors,which the code known as flashback relies on to perform many of its critical functions. …
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