Media Articles
Can technology eliminate corruption?
DAILY NATION By JOHN WALUBENGO
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
The government has in recent times put more pressure in the implementation and use of the Integrated Financial Management Information (IFMIS) platform within ministries.
IFMIS is a computerised financial system aimed at capturing and reporting government expenditure in near real-time.
It is assumed that by automating the financial processes across all government departments and agencies, it would be easier to reign in on the rampant corruption and pilferages frequently occasioned by government officials when dealing with tax payers money.
Use ICT to enhance learning, schools urged
SATURDAY NATION By MUCHIRI GITONGA
Saturday October 12,2013
Schools in Nyeri County have been challenged to invest in the last mile connection of the fibre optic cable to enable students access information.
The county executive for Education, ICT and Youth Affairs Mr Elijah Nguyo said schools were key partners in the county’s development plan and would play a big role in the realisation of its vision.
“I don’t know the reason why school managements should not invest in last mile connection of the fibre optic cable and take advantage of the ICT to enhance communication and learning,” Mr Nguyo said.
Tech company eyes bigger slice of emerging markets
DAILY NATION By CHARLES WOKABI
Saturday October 12,2013
Tech giant IBM has embarked on a three-prong strategy to expand its footing in the increasingly competitive emerging markets.
Speaking at the ongoing IBM Interconnect 2013 forum in Singapore, IBM chairman, chief executive and president Ginni Rometty said the firm is determined to get the most of the fast-growing consumption of technology in the developing markets by maximising its products offering.
“Our success in the growth markets is largely pegged on expanding our market reach, developing our IT infrastructure and leading in provision of IT services in the key industries driving growth,” she said.
Phone firms switch off unlisted users
DAILY NATION By LILIAN OCHIENG'
Thursday October 10,2013
Mobile phone firms on Wednesday blocked unregistered SIM cards from their networks following an order by President Kenyatta.
The President on Wednesday ordered immediate mop-up of all unregistered SIM cards to prevent their use by criminals.
“Move with speed in ensuring that the unregistered SIM cards are disabled completely. We do not want unscrupulous people to use them in perpetrating criminal activities,” he said during a meeting with mobile phone company bosses at State House, Nairobi.
Police fail to link telcom CEOs with SIM card crimes
BUSINESS DAILY By OKUTTAH MARK
Wednesday October 9,2013
Mobile telecom executives Tuesday came under intense pressure as security agencies deepened investigations into the deadly terrorist attack on Westgate mall three weeks ago.
Police said the corporate executives had been questioned over the violation of SIM card registration rules that has allowed continued use of non-registered lines to make calls on their networks.
Safaricom’s Bob Collymore, Airtel’s Shivan Bhargava and Telkom Kenya’s Mickael Ghossein spent between two to three hours at different CID offices in Nairobi recording statements on measurers they have taken to prevent use of unregistered SIM cards or sale of pre-activated ones.
Phone firm CEOs warned of arrest over unlisted lines
DAILY NATION By MUTHOKI MUMO
Tuesday October 8,2013
Four mobile phone company bosses have been warned that they face arrest for allowing phones with unregistered SIM cards to make calls and send messages using their companies’ networks.
The warning came as it emerged that the police are trying to trace the telephone numbers they suspect were used by terrorists who killed 67 people during last month’s attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.
The police and the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) on Monday said the four top executives risk arrest for the sale of pre-activated SIM cards.
KDN ups stake with new voice unit
BUSINESS DAILY By OKUTTAH MARK
Monday, October 7 2013
Telecoms firms offering voice services are braced for stiffer competition after the new owners of Internet firm Kenya Data Networks (KDN) said they were entering the market in search of a new stream of revenues.
KDN that recently re-launched as Liquids Telcom Kenya after the 80 per cent acquisition by the Mauritius firm said the firm was changing strategy to offer home Internet and entertainment content.
The firm will offer fixed line services through the Internet, where on-net calls will be free. Charges for calls to other networks will be released during launch in the first quarter of 2014.
How to avoid email spam
SUNDAY NATION By CARLOS MUREITHI
Sunday September,6 2013
We’ve all had those awkward moments when we check our email inbox and find some new messages, only to read them and wonder how they got to us.
Email spam. Most read like adverts. Indeed, they are, but you are not familiar with who sent them and whatever they contain at most times doesn’t add up, even though they might have some details that are of interest to you.
Spam accounts for 90.4 per cent of all email, according to a report Symantec, a security vendor. They are annoying. Plus deleting them takes time.
Nairobi County’s e-payment stopped in Sh1.5bn dispute
BUSINESS DAILY By GALGALLO FAYO
Thursday September 4,2013
Nairobi County government has been stopped from awarding the e-payment system tender until the conclusion of a dispute where a technology firm is seeking Sh1.5 billion for breach of contract.
Justice Jonathan Havelock directed the county government to halt the tendering process and await the determination of the suit filed by Hausraum Limited whose hearing is set for October 15.
The company claims that the county terminated the implementation of an e-payment system in July without giving a six-month notice stipulated in the contract signed with the defunct City Council of Nairobi.
Airtel wades into insurance to boost mobile cash service
BUSINESS DAILY By DAVID HERBLING
Wednesday September 2, 2013
Mobile phone operator Airtel Kenya has unveiled a low-cost life insurance cover to its subscribers to boost its market share in the money transfer market dominated by M-Pesa.
The company will provide the life cover ranging between Sh25,000 and Sh100,000 in partnership with Pan African Insurance to its subscribers at a weekly charge of between Sh15 and Sh45.
Payments will be made through Airtel’s mobile money transfer service and the operator hopes the insurance offering will boost the transfer of cash through its network and grow subscriber base.
It’s unclear whether Airtel will earn a commissions from the premiums paid to Pan African Insurance.
Kisumu brothers turn passion into a Sh25m IT firm
BUSINESS DAILY By DALTON NYABUNDI
Tuesday Octomber 1,2013
any successful entrepreneurs among members of the Asian community in Kisumu trace their fortunes to inheritance, but not Satwinder Singh and Kuljeet Singh Rupra who have built one of the biggest IT firms in western Kenya.
Unlike his peers who went knocking on office doors for a job opportunity upon graduation and others who took positions in family businesses, Satwinder armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in IT and the love for computers set out to leave a mark in a field he had interest in since childhood.
While in college, he had exhibited great passion for IT with his colleagues often seeking his help in computer maintenance and repairs. His undying quest to build a name for himself in IT drove him into setting up a repair shop while still in university.
Fire disasters open investment window for software expert
BUSINESS DAILY By PONCIANO ODONGO
Tuesday October 1,2013
A Kenyan in the diaspora saw the gap and has opened an institution of learning to train experts to deal with emergencies as the first step towards preventing the loss of property and life during a disaster, especially fire.
The entrepreneur, Desmond Ng’ang’a, a software engineer in the UK, says he felt such institution could build a human resource capacity to effectively respond to disasters.
He, therefore, joined hands with other partners in Kenya and the UK to start International Centre of Technology Fire & Rescue on Thika-Garissa road.
STATE, FRANCE TELECOM AFFAIR IN TELKOM KENYA GOES SOUR
THE STANDARD BY JAMES ANYANZWA
Sunday September 29,2013
The state appears to have given up on Telkom Kenya. Indications are that the National Treasury is no Longer Keen on growing its shareholding from the current 30 per cent in the troubled entity.
The State appears to be protesting what it feels to be a ‘let down’ by Orange – previously operating as France Telecom. The firm took up a 51 per cent shareholding of Telcom Kenya ltd (TKL) in 2007.
This was on the premise that it would transform the then underperforming State operator into a regional giant with world-class status.
President briefed on laptop project
SATURDAY NATION By JOHN KANUTHU
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The ministry of education is ready to rollout the laptop project in primary schools, the President was told on Saturday.
Education cabinet secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi told the President that digital content for the laptop project roll out in primary schools and teacher training manuals are ready.
The minister added that he is a waiting a need assessment from the ministry of Energy to facilitate the powering of schools.
At a meeting at State House Nairobi Prof Kaimenyi said the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has finalized development of the digital content, which is ready for uploading to the laptops.
Counties told to stop levying fee to Internet firms laying cables
SUNDAY NATION BY CHARLES WOKABI
Sunday September 29,2013
Counties have been warned against levying fees to Internet service providers, saying this could slow down the expansion of services.
In an interview with the Sunday Nation, Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the national government was peturbed by the growing tendency of counties to charge the way–leave fees, saying this could disappoint investors.
“We don’t have a problem with counties generating revenue, but we discourage them from imposing fees on investors laying terrestrial fibre in different parts of the country,” Mr Matiang’i said.
Sh8.7bn dam to supply Konza city water
DAILY NATION By CHARLES WOKABI
Friday September 27,2013
African Development Bank has given a Sh8.7 billion loan for a dam to supply water to the proposed Konza city.
Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, AfDB regional director of the East African Resource Centre Gabriel Negatu said the financing agreements for the $100 million (Sh8.5 billion) Twake Dam, whose construction begins next year, have already been finalised.
Source of water
Located in Makueni county, the dam will be the main source of water for Konza Technopolis residents.
Senators push for ICT at county level
DAILY NATION By JEREMIAH KIPLANG'AT
Friday September 27,2013
enators have asked the national government to ensure all the counties are connected to vital institutions based in Nairobi.
According to them, modern technology such as video conferencing tools and other ICT tools will reduce the need to regularly travel for appointments at the Treasury, Senate, Ministries and other institutions.
A motion moved by Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday requires the national government through the Ministry of Planning and Devolution to ensure the 47 devolved units are linked to relevant national institutions.
New study sees major role for social media in public service
Business Daily By David Herbling
Wednesday September 26,2013
Improved technology use could help the public to give government departments quick feedback on service delivery, a new survey shows.
The study dubbed Huduma calls on State departments to use platforms such as SMS, Facebook and Twitter to collect complaints, feedback and queries on their work.
The recommendations are based on findings of the research by United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), African Institute for Health and Development (AIHD) and Infonet which shows that more than half of Kenyans are dissatisfied with government services.
Rationale for introducing laptop project in Class One
DAILY NATION By KENNEY BUHERE
Friday September 20,2013
A key feature of the government’s plan to integrate ICT in teaching and learning is that the integration will begin in Class One.
The government has laid out an elaborate programme that will culminate into the actual delivery of laptops in primary schools ready for use in curriculum delivery come January 2014.
Well-meaning parents and newspaper readers have suggested that the laptop project could be best introduced in Form One and not in Class One.
The choice of Class One was thoughtful.
Embu resident creates crime reporting software
DAILY NATION By CHARLES WANYORO
Thursday September 19,2013
A crime reporting software that can trigger multiple alerts to warn members of the public has been created in Runyenjes, Embu town.
The helpline smart card can trace the crime victim’s location, identity and release SMS alerts and tweets to help broadcast the crime to those following the network.
Amos Njeru, a software developer, said the helpline receives queries in the county where the crime occurs which speeds up response.
To access the service, one has to purchase a Sh100 smart card which enables a toll free service.
The Kenya Polytechnic graduate said in the event one doesn’t have the local county helpline number, you can send an SMS with the name of the county to the indicated number.
More Articles...
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- Techno Brain launches training for finance professionals
- Safaricom warns against high county levies on fibre network
- Sh9bn laptop plan hit by tender hitch
- Banks urged to share ICT platforms
- Safaricom eyes new revenue stream with e-payroll kit
- ICT head in plea on high way-leaves
- SUPPORT FIBRE OPTIC PROJECT, COUNTIES URGED
- Exams to go hi-tech in future, says Knec boss
- Electricity and stores pledge in laptops plan