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Since 1986

Safaricom takes on plastic money with mobile wallet

BDM-PESA2406cBusiness Daily By Okuttah Mark

Tuesday June 25, 2013

Telecoms service provider Safaricom Monday launched a new financial service that enables consumers to pay for goods and services using mobile money without incurring transaction charges.

Kenya’s leading mobile phone company launched what is effectively a mobile money wallet as it deepened its foray into the financial services market, aiming to take control of Kenya’s transformation into a cashless economy and reap its benefits.

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Lobby given powers to lead talks on new digital migration timeline

cofexSATURDAY NATION By MUTHOKI MUMO

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 2013

A consumer lobby has been has been granted more power by the government to spearhead negotiations on Kenya’s stalled digital migration.

During a press briefing on Friday, the ministry of Information and the Communications Commission of Kenya revealed that they had struck a compromise with the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) to review the digital migration roadmap.

Under the deal, Cofek will withdraw the cases which it is filed against the government in court. The lobby, in turn, will be given powers to convene and chair a nine-member stakeholder forum that will negotiate a new digital migration timeline and framework with the government-led Digital Migration Committee.

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Educate public on digital migration, says governor

digitalBusiness Daily By RACHEL KIBUI

Friday June 21, 2013

Migration from analogue to digital television may not succeed until the public is sensitised on the new technology, Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has said.

The migration, whose deadline is September in Nairobi, has received little public sensitisation outside sales pitches by some vendors. Mr Mbugua said the regulator should sponsor programmes across media platforms to inform Kenyans of the benefits of digital television.

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State to borrow Sh50bn for first phase of Konza

Bitange-NdemoBusiness Daily

Wed, June 19, 2013

The government intends to borrow Sh50.5 billion ($600 million) to fund the first phase of Konza Techno City scheduled to start in December.

Information and Communications PS Bitange Ndemo said the concessional loans being negotiated with Brazil, Russia, India and China would finance roads, railway, telecommunication, water and sewerage systems within the 5,000-acre technology park.

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CCK reviews prices for broadcasting frequencies

cofex

Wednesday June 19, 2013
Broadcasters with more than one frequency per broadcast
spot or site will from next
month pay higher fees for the spectrum.
 The Commission today revised the broadcasting frequency fees in
 an attempt to address the existing disparities in the distribution and
 use of broadcasting spectrum in the country. The new charging
methodology shall ensure fair distribution of broadcasting frequencies,
 and promote competition in the sub-sector. In addition, the methodology will enhance
plurality and diversity of views and opinions as envisaged in the ICT Sector Policy Guidelines
and the Kenya Information and Communications Act, CAP 411A.

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Airtel strikes deal with Total

AirtelpxDAILY NATION By NATION CORRESPONDENT

Thursday June 20, 2013

Airtel Kenya has announced a partnership with oil marketer, Total, allowing customers to pay for fuel though Airtel Money.

Total petrol stations will be converted to agents where customers can register for Airtel Money, deposit cash, withdraw cash as well as pay for their utility bills.

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Laptops budget on the line in bid to avert strike

laptopBusiness Daily By EDWIN MUTAI

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s flagship One Laptop for Every Class One pupil project was on Tuesday among the raft of budget lines on the chopping board as the Treasury sought money to employ more teachers and pay them enhanced allowances to avert a looming national strike.

Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich told Parliament’s Budget Committee that some Sh20.7 billion was urgently needed to meet the teachers’ demands and avoid a paralysis of the education system.   

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Stiff competition forces shutdown of Swift Global

liquidTHE STANDARD By Jevans Nyabiage

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Liquid Telecom, the new owners of Kenya Data Networks (KDN), has wound up Swift Global in a restructuring process that has made several positions redundant.

“Swift Global has been closed since it was not viable to run as an entity,” Liquid Telecom Chief Executive Officer Nic Rudnick told Business Beat. He said services that were offered by the Internet service provider have been transferred to KDN.

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Budget: Did ICT win or lose?

walubengoDAILY NATION By JOHN WALUBENGO

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

After the Treasury Cabinet Secretary's presentation of the budget in Parliament, it is useful to interrogate the numbers allocated for the ICT Ministry.

These numbers are taken from the medium term expenditure report which informs what the minister summarises on the budget statement.

This ICT sub-sector report says that the ICT Ministry is responsible for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development, Broadcasting and Film industry development, Dissemination of Public Information, Development of National Communications Capacity and Infrastructure, and Public Relations Services through its agencies.

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Hackers and viruses now stalking smart phones

cybercafeDAILY NATION By Sam Wambugu

Sunday June 16 2013

Computer viruses have plagued consumers for many years now, causing companies to spend heavily on installing every kind of firewall known to mankind to keep their security software updated.

Smartphones are the new laptops – just with a smaller, sexier design. As smartphones continue to progress and consumers continue to use them for everything from taking pictures to managing their financial portfolios, viruses and hackers will continue to find new hunting grounds, and computer security software companies will continue to transform their mobile virus protection software.

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Sh53bn for laptops as teachers cry foul

laptopDAILY NATION By BENJAMIN MUINDI

Friday June 14, 2013

The government Thursday allocated Sh53 billion for the much-hyped laptop project, but failed to provide cash for recruitment and promotion of teachers.

This instantly drew the wrath of the teachers union, which threatened to call a national strike to protest “a deliberate and mischievous attempt to undermine teachers and destroy the profession”.

Presenting his maiden Budget statement, Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich allocated Sh53.2 billion for the laptops to be given to Standard One children next year, but gave only Sh119 billion for the salaries of the teachers currently on payroll.

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Matiang’i pushes for laws to curb slums near Konza

konzatechBusiness Daily By Okuttah Mark

Thursday, June 13 2013

Three counties near Konza Technology City will have uniform bylaws to prevent informal settlements within a 10-kilometre radius of the project, ICT Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i has said.

Dr Matiang’i said Makueni, Machakos and Kajiado counties will have uniform bylaws to prevent slums which would undermine the international investors’ appeal.

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WALUBENGO: Queries over Microsoft's laptop deal

walubengoDAILY NATION  By JOHN WALUBENGO

Wednesday,June 12, 2013

The announcement that Microsoft will provide funding for computer programmes in Kenyan schools has caused a storm in social media. 

The debate is whether our Standard One pupils are better off with Microsoft software on their laptops as compared to other alternatives such as Open-Source software.

The Kenya Publishers Association has added its voice on the debate saying that Microsoft is likely to come with content that is more tailored to the West.

Software is the "fuel" that runs the physical device which in this case is the laptop.  There has been two clashing philosophies around software - the Proprietary vs the Open-Source groups.  

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Merger of agencies to streamline ICT in Kenya

ICTkenyaDAILY NATION By MUTHOKI MUMO

Monday, June 10   2013

Kenya’s information communication technology sector is headed for sweeping changes likely to yield a leaner, more efficient governance system as the new administration takes shape.

A presidential directive issued late last month will make it mandatory for institutions tasked with overseeing the management of technology in government operations and selling Kenya as an ICT hub to be consolidated into one overarching body.

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KNUT OFFICIALS WANT TEACHERS TRAINED IN ICT BEFORE PUPILS GET LAPTOPS.

laptopTHE STANDARD BY EDWIN CHESEREK

FRIDAY JUNE 7, 2013

Education union officials in the North Rift are worried over teachers’ preparedness in the implementation of the laptop project. They said though the Government has rolled out plans to train teachers, it would take time to acquaint themselves with the gadgets.

The officials suggested that the Government should give priority to other challenges facing the education sector instead of the over ambitious project.

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Government plans issue of third signal distribution licence

cofexThe Standard By Frankline Sunday

The State has agreed to grant a third digital distribution licence through a competitive process.

The exercise will, however, be designed to suit local media owners in what is hoped to end a protracted battle between local broadcasters and the Communication Commission of Kenya ( CCK).

Cabinet Secretary to the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology Dr Fred Matiangi yesterday said a third licence will be floated and local broadcasters will be given priority.

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CCK DIFFERS WITH MINISTRY ON DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION LICENCES

CCKpicsDAILY NATION BY MUTHOKI MUMO

FRIDAY JUNE 7 2013

The communications industry regulator appears to be reading from a different script from its parent ministry on the controversial digital signal distribution licences.

While ministry of information and communication says it will issue a third digital signal distribution licence, the communications commission of Kenya has remained cautious.

“While the Commission is desirous to issue another licence the constraint on the spectrum resources presents a limitation,” CCK director-general Francis Wangusi said yesterday.

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Matiang’i outlines his priorities as ICT Cabinet Secretary

FredMatiang27ipxDAILY NATION By JAMES RATEMO and OKUTTAH MARK

Thursday June 6 2013

ICT Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i speaks to the Nation on his priorities for the industry.

Q) What will be your priority as cabinet secretary for ICT?

A) We are determined to ensure government remains a facilitator in the ICT industry and will not dwell on issuing directives. For issues like Mobile Termination Rates you have to negotiate with all the players. We are in the process of commissioning a study on MTR that will also encompass mobile data rates to help us make an informed decision on the way forward.

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Voter kits probe goes to France and Canada

voterDaily Nation By Bernard Namunane

Wednesday June 5, 2013

Investigations into the failure of electronic kits during the last General Election have been extended to three foreign countries.

It was established Tuesday that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission investigators want to find out the roles played by suppliers of the kits based in France, Canada and South Africa.

Investigators are expected to hand in a report of their findings to vice-chairman Irene Keino and commissioner Ruth Onsongo this week.

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How about computer laboratories for every school? State mulls over laptops

uhuruTHE STANDARD By Augustine Oduor and Leah Gondi-Ogondi

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Kenya: The Government is now considering a computer laboratory model for every school to integrate Information and Communication Technology as opposed to one laptop for a child proposal.The House Committee on Education, Science and Technology yesterday heard that the cost implication of the Jubilee pledge to provide all Standard One children with laptops may not be viable, after all.

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