Kenya’s tax regulator eyes millions in revenue as it implements digital taxes on local and foreign Internet companies and entrepreneurs pay a 1.5% tax on goods and services sold and offered online…
Kenyan government takes another shot at infringing privacy and digital rights
The Kenyan government has passed a new bill that will allow it to demand the private mobile phone data of its citizens in the name of national security. These come against the backdrop of digital righ…
Kenyan lawmakers want M-Pesa split from Safaricom’s operations
The Kenyan Senate reportedly wants its Largest telecom provider, Safaricom, to be split into two separate firms — Mobile Services and M-Pesa. A move that could have dire effects…
Kenya blocks rogue digital lenders from blacklisting borrowers
After temporarily suspending negative blacklisting of borrowers due to the pandemic, Kenya’s Apex bank turns up the heat on unregulated money lending apps, with a new policy that stops them from black…
Charges on mobile money waived for Kenyans amidst coronavirus scare
The Kenyan government through its apex bank, CBK gives directives on mobile money transaction charges waiver as an emergency measure to reduce cash exchange as COVID-19 cases increase…
Kenya’s controversial identity management system given the go-ahead, pending an implementation plan
A Kenyan court has declared the controversial Huduma Namba system legal pending a constitutional implementation plan. The system proposes intrusive data processes and harsh consequences for those who …
Netflix to start charging Kenyans in local currency
Netflix appears to be improving its services for subscribers in Kenya as it recently reviewed prices and started charging in their local currency…
Idle frequency spectrum to be taken back from telcos, broadcasters by Kenyan regulator
To mitigate black market actors from taking advantage of idle frequency spectrum, the Kenyan Communication Authority has released new guidelines it hopes will ensure that allocated spectrum will be us…
Safaricom loses petition not to disclose business contracts
Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecoms recently lost its petition not to disclose potentially senisitive business information to the Competition Authority of Kenya. Said rejection may be for good r…
How Safaricom helped Kenya attract foreign investors
With 79.8% market share on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) to attract foreign investors, Kenya’s biggest telecom provider and its banks ensured that the NSE close 2019 ahead of other African st…
Despite past issues with misappropriation, Kenya okays Airtel-Telkom merger
Issues with misappropriated public funds notwithstanding, the Kenyan government has finally approved the merger between Airtel Kenya and mostly state-owned Telkom Kenya.…
Kenya launches open contract portal, though all contracts expired months ago
Makueni county in Kenya recently launched its online open contract portal to allow stakeholders to bid to execute government contracts, though every contract currently expired since May 2019.…
Red Cross brings blockchain-cash to rural Kenyans
Red Cross recently launched a mobile-based local currency system powered by blockchain to improve trade and economy in rural areas and slums in Kenya.…
The Kenyan government may soon lift the ban on flying drones
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), which had banned the flying of drones in November following its legalisation in March, plans to lift the ban in the coming weeks.…
Iris scan for Kenyan biometrics may have been motivated by donor pressure
Kenya to initiate a programme to collect biometric identification of HIV patients through eye scans to increase funding from US HIV donor President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).…
Kenya’s obsession with licences puts Swvl operations on hold
Swvl, the Egyptian ride hailing company seems to have suspended its operations in Kenya due to regulatory issues around licensing — a growing trend in the East African nation.…
Did Kenya really win the battle against SportPesa and Betin, 2 of its biggest betting companies?
The battle between sports betting companies SportPesa, Betin and the Kenyan government may have come to an end, for now.…
6 things Airtel’s IPO prospectus tell us about the African telecom market
Airtel’s IPO prospectus gives further perspective on the mobile market across Africa amongst other interesting facts…
Digital foreign exchange platform, BitPesa is easing cross border payments across Africa
Sending money in and out of Africa is expensive and the transaction process is time-consuming. Sub-Saharan African B2B and foreign exchange company, BitPesa has innovated around this challenge and all…
Nigeria’s CcHUB fully acquires Kenya’s iHub
Nigeria’s CcHUB fully acquires Kenya’s iHub, the first move of its kind in Africa…
